Community Highlights week of April 4
* Pool party set for April 7
Join The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Kohl’s Kids Safety Program for a free pool safety party on Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the North Fort Myers Aquatic Facility, 5170 Orange Grove Boulevard, North Fort Myers.
Learn ways to help your family stay safe while having fun in and around the swimming pool.
“In the state of Florida, we lose the equivalent of three classrooms of preschoolers to drowning each year”, said Michele King, director of the Child Advocacy Program at The Children’s Hospital. “We must keep our children safe with layers of protection and constant adult supervision when they are in or near water.”
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under age 5 in the state of Florida and is preventable.
Safety tips include:
* Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water.
* Teach children basic water safety tips.
* Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.
* Have a telephone close by when your or your family is using a pool or spa.
* If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.
* Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.
Free admission and refreshments. For more information, call Kohl’s Kids Safety Program at 239-343-5224.
* Ninth annual Easter Bunny Toy Run set for April 7
On Saturday, April 7, Harley Davidson of Fort Myers and the Harley Owner Group Southwest Florida Chapter will host the ninth annual Easter Bunny Toy Run to help provide toys to patients at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
The event includes an escorted route, entertainment, giveaways and a free post-run meal. Don’t ride a bike, but want to help? No problem! Just bring your items for donation, such as arts and craft supplies, toys and games, to Harley Davidson of Fort Myers the week preceding the event and riders will deliver them for you. No stuffed animals, please.
Pre-Registration for Bike Night will be held April 6 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Harley Davidson of Fort Myers or register from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Harley Davidson of Fort Myers on Saturday, April 7
The registration fee is $5
The 17-mile ride will be from the point of registration (Harley Davidson of Fort Myers, 2160 Colonial Boulevard) to The Children’s Hospital of SW Florida, a part of the Lee Memorial Health System, located at HealthPark Medical Center (corner of Summerlin and Bass Roads).
For more information, visit www.swflhog.com or call 239-209-7968.
* Lee County Commission Forum
The Southwest Florida Young Republicans will be hosting a forum for the Lee County Commission candidates Tuesday, April 3, from 6-9 p.m. The event will be held at Ballyorney in Fort Myers, 13851 S. Tamiami Trail. In attendance will be commission candidates John Manning, Gerard David Jr., Steven “Sonny” Haas, Frank Mann, Ray Judah, Charlie Whitehead and Larry Kiker. This forum is free and open to the public. For more information, or to submit candidate questions, contact Rickey Nelson at president@swflyr.com
* Garden Club of Cape Coral
The Garden Club will hold a Small Standard Flower Show on Friday, April 27, 3-5 p.m., and Saturday, April 28, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The flower arrangements will be judged by National Garden Clubs Inc. This will be held in the meeting room of the Cape Coral Library. For more information. contact Marty Ward, 549-7516, or Paula Novander 945-6548.
* ‘Legally Blonde the Musical’
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre is like totally going blonde with “Legally Blonde the Musical” playing April 5 through May 13. This new smash hit musical is based on the novel Legally Blonde and hilarious 2001 movie of the same title that starred Reese Witherspoon.
Elle Woods is a popular sorority girl whose favorite past times are shopping, planning mixers and her adorable dog, Bruiser. This underestimated blonde doesn’t take no for an answer, so when her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle teaches the snobs a thing or two and proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.
Legally Blonde is directed by Seth Reines. You may have seen Seth’s work in numerous productions for Broadway Palm including the recent hit Brigadoon. Choreography is by resident choreographer, Amy Marie McCleary, whose work you may have seen in Hairspray!, Holly Jolly Christmas and Annie, just to name a few. The cast includes numerous Broadway Palm alumni and a furry friend making her acting debut, Roxy Vogt, who will be playing Bruiser.
Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Starting in May, performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $27 to $51 with group discounts available for parties of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.
* Casting call
The organizers for Latin Dance Live, Inc., a major three-day dance event, scheduled for April 20-22 in downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach, are hosting a Casting call for Latin music performers; singers, dancers and Latin bands, to perform at Latin Dance Live.
The casting call for auditions is scheduled for Sunday, April 1, from 1 – 4 p.m. at Harborside Event Center, 1375 Monroe Street Fort Myers.
Performers are requested to perform Latin music. The music genre preferred is Salsa, Merengue, Latin Pop, Latin Jazz, Bachata, and Mambo.
All performers will be scheduled to perform either during the Latin Music Walk evening on Friday, April 20, and/or at the Latin Dance Live Festival, scheduled for Saturday, April 21.
The auditions are for a non-paying gig, but offer a great opportunity to get incredible exposure in front of potentially 5,000-10,000 attendees. All performers will receive admission to the event’s Welcome Party and the Prestigious Latin Dance GALA, as well as inclusion in the event’s Program and Website, as one of the performers.
Latin Dance Live, is the most sensational Latin Dance Event ever to come to the City of Fort Myers. Opening with Latin Music Walk on Friday, April 20, at 7 p.m., in Downtown Fort Myers, attendees will dance away the evening to awesome Latin music in restaurants, clubs and in the streets. A major surprise is planned for all attendees to Latin Music Walk. The event will continue on Saturday, April 21, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Latin Dance Live Festival at Harborside Event Center. The festival will offer activities inside and outside of the Harborside Event Center. Attendees will be able to enjoy workshops, dance performances, cultural presentations, a special movie presentation of the Cuban Pete documentary, food and merchandise vendors, live Latin music performances and more. Finally, Latin Dance Live culminates on Sunday, April 22, on Fort Myers Beach at the Latin Dance Live Beach Party.
For more information visit www.latindancelive.com . For vendor or sponsorship information call Bob Encarnacion, executive producer.
* Open call for auditions
An open call for auditions has been set for Thursday, April 5, frm 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at 3105 S. Broadway, Fort Myers.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will produce For Another Place, Another Time, an historical account of the arrival of the Ancient Jews to the American Continent.
Actors, singers, dancers (unpaid positions only). Artists and set construction also needed.All ages, all looks.
Performance dates are June 7, 8, 9.
Call 239 677-8833 for additional info.
* Literacy Council seeks volunteer tutors
The Literacy Council is seeking volunteer tutors to help Lee County residents who want to learn English or improve reading skills.
No foreign language or teaching experience is necessary, only the desire to help and the ability to commit an hour, twice a week. To you it’s only a couple hours; to students it’s the chance to change their lives.
For more information call the Literacy Council at 676-5202.
* Restful Yoga
The North Fort Myers Community Center will YOGA classes on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 p.m .-7:15 p.m.
Yoga classes are $30 per month and space is limited. Terri Fields, yoga instructor, has been practicing yoga for 15 years. Yoga also improves circulation, increases energy, strengthens and tones the entire body. Yoga is great physical and mental exercise for all ages. Register by call 239-533-7440 or on-line at www.leeparks.org. For more information regarding the yoga classes please call 239-652-4512.
* American Merchant Marine Veterans
The American Merchant Marine Veterans holds a luncheon meeting the third Tuesday of the month at 11:30 a.m. at Gulf Coast Village, 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral. The luncheon is $13.
For more information call 239-728-3169 or 239-543-4072.
* Treasure! Exhibit discounts
Visiting the Imaginarium Science Center has just become easier on the wallet thanks to a new rack card providing a discount coupon during its annual traveling exhibition period. The Treasure! special exhibition runs through May 20, and the rack card highlights this exhibit offering as well as the many interactive exhibits and educational programming opportunities available at the Imaginarium.
Thanks to the Lee County Arts and Attractions Grant administered by the Southwest Florida Community Foundation with funding supported by the City of Fort Myers and the Lee County TDC, the new museum rack card lists exhibit highlights, gives location and contact information, and offers a discount coupon. Rack cards are available at more than 400 sites in hotels, motels, and attractions throughout Lee and Collier counties.
As part of their visit to the Imaginarium Science Center, guests will be able to explore the special exhibition, Treasure!, as well as other popular interactive science exhibits like the Sporty Science Arena virtual simulator with five sports selections, Dino Discovery fossil dig, Animal Lab, SEA-to-SEE touch tanks with stingray feedings, live animal encounters, science demonstrations, a 3-D movie, and the brand new IMAG-TV Studio.
For more information call 239-321-7420 or visit www.imaginariumfortmyers.com.