Wine tasting to benefit wildlife center
A wine tasting will be held at the Loose Caboose on Tuesday, Nov. 24 to raise money for the Venice Wildlife Center.
Located in a rural area of Venice, it is only one of two refuge and rehabilitation centers from the Tampa area to Sanibel and on average fields one to two calls a day from Boca Grande.
There will be hors d’oeuvres, live music and a silent auction featuring many items such as a wine basket donated by the Boca Grande Club, a round of golf for four with cart rental at The Gasparilla Inn and Club, local artwork, a fishing rod and reel, jewelry from local vendors and more.
“We have a number of pieces of art, and Patti Middleton is doing a framed piece for us,” said Nancy Lingeman, a volunteer with the wildlife center who is helping with the event. “We have a couple of really nice signed photographs and one of them a limited edition. We have a big pottery bowl from Sue Shaffer, Ann Dever’s husband donated two pieces of her jewelry, we have three really great baskets. We even have something donated that is listed as a ‘sound system,’ and I can’t tell you what that is, but it’s expensive. A lot of the local people have really pitched in and helped tremendously. I cannot thank them enough for the amount of donations and help they’ve given us.”
Sally Simon, an author from the area, will also hold a book-signing at the wine tasting. The hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer will be provided by Blanche and Jacques Boudreau, owners of the restaurant.
The Boudreaus, Lingeman and another island resident, Mark Kramer, are always on the clock, ready to pick up and transport sick and injured wildlife. When more visitors are on the island, it seems as though their work is sometimes never done.
“I think that part of it is because the people now are much more aware that there is something they can do,” she said. “They realize that and are more readily calling and following up because they know there is a place that will take them.”
Kevin Barton, the manager of the center, said they currently have approximately 200 animals and birds at the facility, but during peak season they average 300.
The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 each. Call the Loose Caboose at 964-0440 for more information.
