The pioneer history of Caladesi Island in Pinellas County will come to life through stories and pictures shared by Terry Fortner, a descendent of Swiss immigrants who made the barrier island their home beginning in the late 1880s.

The Friends of Boca Grande Community Center will present the latest in their Lifelong Learning forum, “The Brain and Healthy Living,” on Friday, Feb. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center. The cost of the one-day symposium is $45.

The 2012 Boca Grande Art Alliance “Art in the Home” Tour has been slightly modified, but with a last-minute generous decision will still feature seven homes.

The Thursday, Feb. 16 tour, hosted by the Boca Grande Art Alliance, will not feature the Fuller home. Instead, Susan and Tom Bowers’ home will be featured.

The event will take place from 1 to 5 p.m.

Gasparilla Island State Park Ranger Jason Bennett holds a sandwich tern he rescued at the north end of the Park’s Sea Grape parcel on Tuesday. The bird, which had a broken wing, was turned over to Blanche Boudreau at The Loose Caboose.                          

Photo by Donna Lutton

The Lemon Bay Cheerleading Squad will be holding two car washes in February at the Boca Grande Fire Department. They will be held on Saturday, Feb. 11 and Saturday, Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. They will also pick cars, trucks and golf carts up anywhere on the island. The girls are trying to raise money for new uniforms, as theirs are approximately eight-years-old. You can reach their coach to make arrangements at (941) 323-0058. Ask for Diane.

Photo submitted by Tim Kerns Photography

When Boca Grande residents and visitors think of spring, they think of the Strawberry Festival. This year it will be held on Saturday, March 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature a bargain sale, a wine grab, and much more. Including, of course, strawberry shortcake.