Apr 10, 2013 10 min read

Pine Island Elementary School: April 12

Pine Island Elementary will be holding its 4th annual Springfest on April 12 from 5-8 p.m. Springfest 2013 will have bounce houses, alien lazer tag and much more. There will also be games, prizes, live music, food and drinks, and fun for the whole family. The Wax Hand Man will be making an appearance, and there will be wonderful silent auction items. The entire community is invited and we look forward to seeing you on April 12.

Pine Island Potter’s Guild: April 13

Are you fascinated with the process that turns clay into beautiful and useful pottery? Do you collect pottery created by hand? Have you always wondered about different kinds of kilns and why each is used? This Saturday, April 13, is your chance to watch pottery-making demonstrations, talk to potters about their work and, perhaps, add a special piece to your collection.

Members of the Pine Island Potters’ Guild will hold their last show and sale of the season Saturday from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Koucky Studios on the corner of Stringfellow Road and Baypoint Road, 2.3 miles north of the four way stop on Pine Island. Besides their current work, potters will have a special Seconds Sale of pieces that didn’t turn out quite as expected. A drawing will be held and you might be the lucky winner of a new piece of art!

Under the direction of teacher, Chuck Koucky, pottery guild members and students are building a fifth kiln at the studio. This wood-fired kiln produces special effects caused by wood ash.

Susan Johnson, new student at Koucky Studios, is excited about her classes.

“I’ve collected pottery for a long time. After only three classes, I’m learning a lot and have already made some pieces. Now I’m looking forward to the show. I’ll learn more by seeing a collection of pottery made by different people and talking to them about their methods,” she said.

Pine Island Potters’ Guild is open to all interested potters and the invitation is extended to others who collect pottery or just want to learn more about this creative art. They hold a show and sale each second Saturday of the month, November through April. For more information on the show or pottery classes call 239-410-2852.

St. James City Civic Association: April 14

Saint James City Civic Association (located at 4th and Lemon) is hosting a Sunday Funday on April 14 from 1:45-5 p.m.

Come out and enjoy an afternoon of bunco, poker, black jack and more.

The admission price is $10 for pre-sale tickets. The price includes light snacks and a chance to meet friends, new and old, for a few hours of fun. Beverages will be available for purchase.

There will be door prizes and 50/50 raffles, and silent auction items.

The Civic Association is in the process of buying a new stove to replace the 45 year old stove currently in the kitchen. This is a fund-raiser to help with the costs of maintaining a great neighborhood landmark that has been around for 50 years!

Call Cindy at 282-9478 for tickets.

St. James Civic Association: April 15

Constructing another two lanes of Pine Island Road between Chiquita and Veterans/Burnt Store will be discussed Monday, April 15 in St. James City. Two employees of the Florida Department of Transportation, design engineer Kevin Intle and public relations Debbie Tower, will explain the proposed design and construction schedule for this summer for Pine Island Road.

Widening to four lanes does not involve the road west through Matlacha and Island Center; the new road is just the two miles east of Veterans/Burnt Store to Chiquita.

If you have questions about highway medium, cross over lanes, new construction south of existing lanes, traffic problems, you will get answers. The meeting will be at the St. James City Civic Association building on 4th Avenue and Lemon at 7 p.m. All persons are welcome.

Matlacha Civic Association: April 16

Celebrate the last Matlacha Civic Association meeting of the season with guest speaker Betsy Clayton on Tuesday, April 16 at Bert’s Bar at 5 p.m.

Clayton will speak on features and attractions along the 190-mile “Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail.” Matlacha Community Park is one of the “put-in” paddle launch sites on the Calusa Blueway Trail.

Join us for light refreshments at our end-of-season meeting. Bring your MCA dues, $5 per person.

Golden Brush: April 16

The Golden Brush Painting Group of St. James City Civic Association will sponsor a workshop on April 16 from 1-4 p.m. with Deborah Swetsch. The medium is silk scarf and the topic is chair yoga. This is the second workshop offered with Swetsch due to a waiting list.

All workshops meet at SJCCA building on corner of 4th and Lemon Street. For information or to sign up call MaryAnn at 283-9337 or Melissa at 283-5203.

Pine Island Garden Club: April 18

The Pine Island Garden Club is excited to welcome Mr. Glen Stacell as our guest speaker for our April 18, 2013 meeting. Stacell has lived and worked the in Naples area for the past 40 years. He has a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Western Illinois University and taught Biology, Environment Science, Earth Science, Physical Science, and General Science for 36 years before retiring in 2004.

Stacell, in collaboration with Dr. Gary Schmelz, has published two books on Native Wildflowers of S.W. Florida. He is currently active on the board for the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and conducts swamp and island tours for that organization. Glen also does a wildflower program for the CREW Land and Water Trust.(www.crewtrust.org)

Stacell’s presentation will give us a look at the many local wildflowers in our area.

Monthly Garden Club meetings are held the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Fishers of Men Evangelical Lutheran Church at 10360 Stringfellow Road and begin at 9 a.m. with coffee and refreshments followed by our guest speaker’s presentation and finishing up with a brief member’s business meeting.

Club meetings are free and open to everyone. If you are interested in attending a meeting or becoming a member (annual dues are $20), please call Kathie Reiter, Membership Chairman, at 283-3176.

Please visit our website: www.pineislandgardenclub.org., for membership information and events.

Guided Kayak Nature Tour: April 19

The Mangrove Mazes of Matlacha Pass Kayak Tour with GAEA Guides – Guided Kayak Nature Tours will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in Matlacha. Visit the Mangrove Mazes and Tunnels of Matlacha Pass, “Nature’s Cathedrals.” Lots of birds, fish and critters in these mysterious tunnels. Includes all equipment and a Florida Master Naturalist as your guide. The fee is $50 per person. Reservations needed. 239 694-5513.

Gambling Trip: April 22

Allstar Charters and Sarah Furia are doing a free day trip to the Seminole Immokalee Casino on Monday, April 22. You pay $30 and get $30 free play plus a $5 food voucher and your round trip to Immokalee. We will be picked up at 9:30 a.m. from the boat ramp at Pine Island Cove and leave the casino at 5 p.m.

Call Sarah Furia for reservations at 283-8410. There can be a pick up at the Winn-Dixie parking lot at 9:45 a.m. Make sure you bring a photo ID. If mailing a check make it out to Allstar Charters and mail to Sarah Furia, 4990 PinFish Lane, St. James City, FL 33956.

Guided Kayak Nature Tour: April 26

The Matlacha Pass Backwaters Kayak Tour with GAEA Guides from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Wander through some fascinating mangrove creeks, see many birds (white pelicans, may be here from the North), manatees and dolphin. Learn about the critters and the ecology of the estuary. Eat lunch on the water in this tranquil area. Fee is $50 per person includes all equipment and a Florida Master Naturalist Guide. Cape Coral. Call for your reservation at 239 694-5513.

Sandbar Productions LLC: April 27-28

Sandbar Productions LLC, is pleased to announce Barge Party VII to benefit Pine Island Little League to help offset the cost of uniforms, equipment and other necessities. The public is invited join the fun. Donations requested are $5 per person or just $20 per boat.

Barge Party VII will begin on Saturday, April 27 12-6 p.m. with live entertainment featuring Grayson Rodgers Band followed by Rex Bongo and The Damn Outlaws. The party will continue on Sunday April 28 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. with music by Corkey and The Troublestarters then continuing with Bryan Lee and Blues Power.

The location will be Two Pines Sand Bar in Matlacha Pass, which is _ mile east of marker #79 (GPS 26.68223 -82.09352).

For complete details visit website www.SandbarProduction.com.

Donation are also being accepted online.

Wounded Warrior Anglers: May 26

The Original “Redfish Poker” Fishing Championship will be held on Sunday, May

26, with lines in the water no earlier than 7 a.m. and check in at the Olde

Fish House Marina no later than 4 p.m. The Captains Meeting will be at the Olde

Fish House on Saturday, May 25, at 7 p.m. a member of the team and all kayak participants must be present.

Ultimately, “Redfish Poker” Fishing Championship is played just like seven card stud

poker with the best five card hand winning the championship, but with a unique twist. The unique twist is how the teams receive their cards to play the hand. Each team or individual will receive a playing card for each slot redfish between 18″ to 27″ with a maximum of seven cards for the team or individual. Where it becomes fun is that an 18″ redfish that is typically around 2 1/4 lbs. is now equal to that 27′ redfish about 8 lbs. This makes it more fun because the average angler has effectively had the playing field leveled to compete with local professional redfish tournament fishermen.

All fish will be photographed on an approved “Redfish Poker” fishing championship measuring board with each fish laid with the nose to the front and the belly against the bottom board and released in their home waters to rejoin their school. When the team or individual returns to the weigh masters station they must bring their camera or smartphone with the proper USB cable. One weigh master will download the pictures and then all of the team’s pictures will be reviewed by two weigh masters to determine how many cards are warranted.

Wounded Warrior Anglers has developed this concept for tournament fishing to make the event more enjoyable and increase the ability for anyone to win. This original concept is the merger of the card game poker and a photo and release fishing tournament and is now known as “Redfish Poker.” The Original “Redfish Poker” Fishing Championship will be an annual event on Memorial Day Weekend with an emphasis on raising funds for Wounded Warrior Anglers.

For information visit redfishpoker.eventbrite.com/ or call 423-620-9103.

Pine Island Boat Club: Dec. 14

Mark your calendar for the Pine Island Boat Club Christmas Light Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 14. Party to follow for all participants in the parade. Call Dave Fairbanks, chairman to sign up, at 239-558-5275. More information to follow at a later date.