Lots to do this spring in Southwest Florida

This past blustery weekend gave us outdoors types a breather — time to sit on the porch and ponder future plans, perhaps. Good thing. There's much to do this spring. Here's a roundup.

Get earthy: Earth Day technically isn't until April 22, but you can start early at FGCU, which is hosting an open-to-thepublic event this Saturday. Festivities run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Library Green. The Celebration of Sustainability will feature speeches from FGCU President Wilson Bradshaw as well as some of Lee County's green stars — Commissioner Ray Judah and Dr. Winn Everham, to name a few.

All kinds of coalitions and non-profits will have displays and info. And for the irreverent touch: sessions on recycled fashion, composting, permaculture and a breath workshop. Not to mention free food — always a draw among collegians. Info: kekokal@eagle.fgcu.edu or search on Facebook.

Help sailors: Whether you sail yourself or just like to see kids on the water, May 2 is a date for you. The annual River District Regatta sponsored by the Fort Myers Sailing Club once again will raise money for the non-profit Edison Sailing Center. The center isn't just about teaching how to come about or read the wind. Its instructors and supporters have opened up the waterways to children, adults and people with disabilities who may never have had the opportunity to experience boating. It also has brought in internationally recognized yachtsmen and women to our community and produced some of its own national caliber sailors.

How to get involved? Register for the race at www.fortmyerssailingclub. com or call 349-5168. Or come up with something you can donate for the fund-raising raffle that accompanies the regatta, which happens on the Caloosahatchee downtown. Donations are tax deductible and will go toward student

scholarships. You can also just buy a raffle ticket.

 

In the spirit of the event, West Marine has committed to hold a Community Day Event to benefit the sailing club from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 29 at its South Fort Myers store. That's the one at 12901 McGregor Blvd. Everything you buy that day will be discounted to wholesale pricing and 5 percent of the gross sales will be donated to Edison Sailing Center.

Want to learn more? On the Saturday before that event — April 25 — students and instructors will have a booth set up in the store to answer questions about boating programs and to sell 50/50 raffle tickets. Contact store manager Eddie Cedeno at 481-7447, ext. 3, for details. Check out Edison Sailing Center at www. edisonsailingcenter.org.

It's not a BOGO, but: Southwest Florida Yachts announced that part of its 25th anniversary celebration this year means anyone who charters a sailboat or power yacht for three days or more will receive two free days of cruising time for cruises between May 1 through Dec. 13. Not a buy-one-get-one deal, but pretty nice still, considering the cost of chartering boats to learn or just cruise. Vic and Barb Hansen, the original owners of the North Fort Myers-based school, are excited to offer this deal for their fleet of 24- to 43-footers. "Helping people cruise and experience this beautiful area of America is a labor of love," Mrs. Hansen said. Get details at www. swfyachts.com or call 656-1339.

Give your two cents: If you live in between Fort Myers and Naples, a public meeting this week could interest you. A 930-acre preserve in southeast Lee County now has a restoration plan the public can view and offer input. The Imperial Marsh Preserve will be the topic of discussion at a 5:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday, April 1, at the Estero Recreation Center.

The plan — called a land stewardship plan — is the product of Lee County Conservation 20/20 staff. It discusses how to manage the land, which combines five parcels purchased between 2000 and 2007 to form the Imperial Marsh Preserve. The plan is critical because the remote preserve is home to numerous state and federally listed plant and animal species, including Big Cypress fox squirrels, wood storks and Florida panthers. The preserve also is connected to other conservation lands. Check out the plan at www.conservation2020. org/stewardshipplans.cfm. The meeting is at 9200 Corkscrew Palm Blvd., Estero. Can't make it? At least plan a visit to the preserve. It's an amazing bit of open space in our getting-more-crowded-daily county. Makes you feel like you're as far away as Okeechobee even though you're still right here in Lee. Get directions and details at www.conservation2020.org.

— Betsy Clayton is a freelancer based on Pine Island and also is Lee County Parks & Recreation's waterways coordinator. Contact her at boatingbybetsy@ yahoo.com.