Don’t forget your best friend when it comes to this week’s seasonal festivities. Yappy Hour will be held on Wednesday, March 21 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the Pink Pony Courtyard between Dolphin Cove and Hudson’s Grocery.

For humans, imported beer will be served and a wine tasting will be held.

Suncoast Humane Society will be bringing therapy dogs and adoptable pets, and Cats N Dogs of Port Charlotte will be offering free doggie bags.

Custom jewelry and hair wraps will also be available.

BY LIZA STROUT - Jim Grant grew up in a simple, uncomplicated town.

“Saginaw, Michigan was the kind of place where you didn’t have to lock the doors. My dad owned Grant’s Grocery, which my grandfather started,” Jim said.

Jim’s first job was at the family business.

Lawrence “Larry” Wechsler, a resident of New York City, Boca Grande and Millbrook, N.Y., died on Thursday, March 15, 2012.

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - When word got out that the Friends of the Boca Grande Community Center were thinking about dropping their after-school program and the Munchkins program, the reaction from the community was one of instant anger. Parents and island residents let that be known to Friends Executive Director Marta Howell on Tuesday, March 6.

She told the crowd at an impromptu meeting that Friends was no longer going to fund the programs.