The non-profit Wildlife Center of Venice will present Harm di Blij at the Community Center Auditorium on Tuesday, April 3, at 10:30 a.m. Di Blij will speak on the topic of 'Wealth, War and Women: the Geography of (Mis)Fortune.'

The Wildlife Center of Venice is the destination for more than 90% of sick and injured wildlife found on Gasparilla Island. Without the center, injured animals would have to be transported to Sarasota or to Fort Myers.

"The center is incredibly important to the wildlife of this island," said supporter Nancy Lingeman. "From baby owls that have been abandoned to pelicans trapped in fishing line to gopher tortoises that have been run over by cars, the Center takes injured animals and rehabs them for release. There isn't a time limit on how long they will work with an animal. The kindness, caring and knowledge of the people at the Center are amazing."

If you see a sick or injured animal, please contact the Center at (941) 484-9657.

Tickets to the Harm di Blij lecture are $25 and can be purchased at The Loose Caboose. Call Nancy at 964-0097 for more information.

It is that time of the year again. If you plan to submit a space request to the Boca Grande Community Center for next season, now is the time.

BY LIZA STROUT -

Within three days of arriving on Gasparilla Island for the first time, Bud Konheim owned a house here.

“I called an old friend from Phillips Exeter, Mike Holmes,” Bud said. “I was raising money for the school’s endowment. We talked for a while and caught up with each other. At the end of the conversation, I asked him, ‘Where in the hell is 941?’”

Ever heard of a penny social? On Saturday, March 31 from to 1 to 4 p.m. you will get your chance to partake.

The following are the links (all seven of them) to the Friends of Boca Grande children's programs meeting on Tuesday, March 6. Speaking at the podium are Principal Rosa Ramos, Friends Chairman Pat Chapman and Friends Executive Director Marta Howell. 

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Ax is a harsh word. Maybe it gets people’s attention in a negative way. Was it appropriate in last week’s headline? That depends on who you talk to.