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on the gulf

NEWS & PREVIEWS

Reading Fest

Returns to

River District

        

   The Lee County Library System’s annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival returns to the Fort Myers Regional Library in Fort Myers’ Historic River District on March 4. Admission is free.

   The Reading Fest will host 25 authors for all ages from 10am-4pm on the Library’s outdoor campus on First St.

   Attendees can hear author presentations, meet best-selling authors and have their books signed. The celebration also features youth writing award presentations, arts and crafts, and information about storytelling programs. Every child and teen attending will get a free book.

   Among the author lineup scheduled to attend are bestselling authors for adults, teens and children, including Newbery Award-winning youth writers Meg Medina and Lauren Wolk. Featured teen authors include Florida Teens Read writer, Axie Oh and historical fiction crossover novelist, Ruta Sepetys. Adult authors include Kristin Harmel and Alka Joshi; thriller writers Kendra Elliot, Joseph Finder, Gregg Hurwitz and Melinda Leigh; romance writers Sarah MacLean and Vanessa Riley; and Jennifer Lonoff Schiff, author of the popular ‘Sanibel Island Mystery’ series. 

   Attendees wishing for exclusive access to meet and mingle with some of the authors can attend An Evening with the Authors, a fundraising dinner, March 3, 5:30-8:30pm, at the Edison Restaurant on McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. Reservations are recommended. Proceeds from An Evening with the Authors benefit the Southwest Florida Reading Festival.

   Best-selling author Alka Joshi will be appearing at South County Library on March 3, 11am-12pm. Reservations are suggested. South County Library is located at 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy. In Estero. For information, call 533-4832.

   Fort Myers Regional Library is located at 2450 First St. in Fort Myers. For information, call 533-4832, or visit readfest.org.

Naples Ikebana

Celebrates

50th Anniversary

     

   The public is invited to attend the Naples Ikebana International Chapter’s Annual Luncheon and Japanese Floral Art Demonstration on March 22 at the Vineyards Country Club in Naples. The presentation features the Ikenobo School of Ikebana, by Sensei Stephanie English, assisted by Sensei Marcia Norberg. 

   The Naples Ikebana International Chapter is one of the larger chapters in the United States, enjoying a membership of around 80 active members. Monthly meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month, November-May at the Naples Botanical Garden in Naples. Meetings are open to the public. 

   The Chapter has a history of offering Demonstrations of Japanese Floral Arranging by instructors of the Schools of Ikenobo, Ohara, Kado Sensho Ikenobo and Sogetsu, plus Japanese inspired cultural and artistic programs. 

Ikenobo, the featured School at this year’s 50th Luncheon Celebration, is referred to as, ‘the Origin of Ikebana’ and is over 550 years old. Ikebana began with Ikenobo which led to numerous other schools being taught and enjoyed throughout the world.

   Sensei English has honed her skills over a span of the last 30 years, traveling around the United States, Canada and Japan to study with Ikenobo Professors and other learned Sensei. Her awareness of natural floral materials growing in her northern and Florida locations and how these materials are incorporated into her Ikenobo floral designs. 

   Assisting Sensei English will be Marcia Norberg, who also has been immersed in the Ikenobo School for 22 years. Although she lived in Asia for seven years, Marcia began her study of Ikenobo with lessons in Naples, Florida, in 2000. She has also studied in Kyoto, Japan. 

   The Luncheon is March 22, 9:30am-1:30pm. Reservations are required. The Vineyards Country Club is located at 400 Vineyards Blvd. in Naples. A Silent Auction & Raffle will begin at 10am, followed by the Ikenobo demonstration at 11am, and lunch at 12:30pm. 

   For information about Ikebana’s 50 Anniversary Luncheon, visit ikebananaples.com.

For information about Ikebana monthly meetings, call 643-7275. Naples Botanical Garden is located at 4820 Bayshore Drive in Naples.

Outdoor

Opera Festival

in Cambier Park

    

   Opera Naples presents their annual ‘Festival Under the Stars,’ March 21-April 5 in Cambier Park in downtown Naples. The multi-day outdoor opera festival will be conducted by Opera Naples Artistic & Music Director, Maestro Ramón Tebar, and features the Naples Festival Orchestra, Southwest Florida Symphony, Opera Naples Chorus, Opera Naples Resident Artists, and some of the best international opera artists in the world. Festival Under the Stars is presented in collaboration with Naples Art Institute and Grand Piano Series. 

   The Festival lineup features: 

   March 21: Opera Stars Concert, starring acclaimed Soprano, Jennifer Rowley. 

   March 28 & 30: Carmen, Georges Bizet’s fully-staged opera, sung in French with English supertitles. 

   March 29: Zarzuela & Flamenco, an evening of classic Spanish music and dance, featuring Mezzo soprano Maria Antúnez and tenor Martin Nusspaumer, accompanied by Maestro Ramón Tebar on piano.

   April 2: ‘A Night at the Opera,’ with Opera Naples Resident Artists performing with the Southwest Florida Symphony and world-renowned guest artists.

   April 4 & 5: Frida, an opera celebrating the life and legacy of artist Frida Kahlo, with Maestro Ramón Tebar conducting the Naples Festival Orchestra with the Opera Naples chorus. 

   All performances are at the Cambier Park softball field. 

   Additional performances taking place during the festival include Columbus Children’s Foundation’s ‘An Evening of Hope,’ featuring Jonathan Teleman on March 22 at 7pm at Cambier Park and a collaboration with the Grand Piano Series on March 25 at 5pm at Moorings Presbyterian Church, featuring the duo of Dominic Cheli and the Milana Strezeva. 

   ‘Festival Under the Stars’ will also include a Family & Community Day on March 26. Free to the public, it will feature a performance of ‘The Ugly Duckling,’ by the Opera Naples Resident Artists.

   Cambier Park is located at 755 8th Ave. S. in downtown Naples. Moorings Presbyterian Church is located at 791 Harbour Dr. in Naples. Call 963-9050 for information.

Niki Butcher's

Debut Book

     

   Niki Butcher, artist and photographer, and wife of photographer Clyde Butcher, has published her debut book, Daydreaming, a collection of over 140 beautifully hand-painted photographs created over five decades. 

   The large coffee table book is printed on high-quality matte paper and spot varnished for protection, and bound in light pink linen with a waterproof coating and silver foil embossed details on the cover and spine. 

   “Using my photographs and oil paints, I am able to turn landscapes into dreamscapes and reality into fantasy,” Niki explains. “When I moved to Florida in 1980 from California, I was fascinated with the Florida culture. It was so different from California. The unique old mom-and-pop roadside stops, the fascinating characters, the beauty of the landscape, and the most amazing pastel colors of the Florida skies. I couldn’t resist taking photos of this beautiful state. 

   ”She continues, “I want people to remember old Florida and what is left. I hope this book helps bring attention to Florida’s unique heritage and culture and that it brings attention to help preserve it for future generations.” 

   The book is divided into six parts: Roadside Attractions & Nostalgia Inspired By Nature, Art Deco Beginnings, Historic Gems, Capturing the Human Spirit, and Fantastical Ideas.

   The first 500 books sold will be autographed by Niki.

Daydreaming is available at Clyde Butcher’s Venice Gallery & Studio and Big Cypress Gallery, and online at nikibutcher.com. For information, call 941-486-0811.

   Clyde Butcher’s Venice Gallery & Studio is located at 237 Warfield Ave S. in Venice. His Big Cypress Gallery is located at 52388 Tamiami Trail in Ochopee.

Children's Museum

Celebrates

Indian Culture

     

   The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is hosting the cultural exhibit, ‘Namaste India’, featuring the arts, foods, traditions, and future of India. The exhibition compares the similarities and differences between their lives and those of children in the country of India in hopes of encouraging global awareness and cultural appreciation. 

   'Namaste India’ features a variety of immersive environments including a dhaba (restaurant), marketplace, tuk tuk (motorized rickshaw), home and school, as well as iconic spaces like the Taj Mahal and Bollywood.

   ‘Namaste India’ features a variety of experiences:

   Bollywood: Families can walk a red carpet and pose for a glamorous photo op dressed in colorful sarees and other traditional clothing. Visitors can watch clips from famous Bollywood movies and the biggest film industry in the world.

   Tuk Tuk: Guests take a simulated ride in a three-wheeled tuk tuk, a motorized rickshaw found throughout India.

   Cricket: Visitors will learn about the second most popular sport in India. Children can practice ‘bowling’ (throwing a ball) at a wicket target.

   School: Families will learn about a traditional school day for children in India. Students will study the geography and diversity of India as well as learn Hindi words and numbers.

   Family Home: Visitors will explore a traditional home featuring an entrance decorated with a rangoli and filled with other traditional Indian art forms. Children can practice yoga in the home’s backyard.

   Marketplace: Children will test their senses by smelling popular spices like turmeric, cumin and cloves. Visitors can try block printing, a traditional Indian art form.

   Dhaba: Families can prepare roti, a traditional flatbread cooked in a clay tandoor oven.

   Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is located at 15080 Livingston Rd. in Naples. For information, call 514-0084.

'Ding' Darling

Fundraiser Stars

Teddy Roosevelt

     

   To meet the challenges of Sanibel’s hurricane recovery, ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge is hosting a fundraising event, ‘Go Bully for ‘Ding’: An Evening with Teddy Roosevelt,’ March 6 at Broadway Palm in Fort Myers. The event starts at 5:30pm.

  The evening’s entertainment features popular Refuge personality and Teddy Roosevelt reprisor, Joe Wiegand. He has been bringing President Roosevelt to life for more than a decade and has performed in all 50 states and overseas, including a White House performance in honor of Roosevelt’s 150th birthday in 2008. The evening will include a performance and audience interactions, as well as dinner, drinks, and a live auction. Reservations are strongly recommended.

   All profits will support the hurricane recovery efforts of the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.

Broadway Palm is located at 1380 Colonial Blvd. In Fort Myers. For information, call 292-0566.

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Comedian Kevin Nealon will be appearing at a benefit for the Recovery of the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on April 24 at the Broadway Palm
Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers.

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Best-selling author, Alka Joshi will be appearing at the SWFL Reading Festival in downtown Fort Myers on March 4. She will also be meeting fans at the South County Library in Estero on March 3.

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The Naples Chapter of Ikebana International celebrates its 50th year at a luncheon, March 22

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Charlie Hunter performs with Kurt Elling, March 17 during the 43rd Sarasota Jazz Festival.

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Marie Selby Gardens presents the exhibition, 'Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature,' at its downtown Sarasota campus thru June 25.

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Tatum Bates plays Hamlet in FGCU's production of Shaespeare's classic at TheatreLab, April 14-23.

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Opera Naples presents 'Festival Under the Stars,' a series of outdoor concerts in Naples' Cambier Park, March 21-April 5.

Niki Butcher's debut book, Daydreaming features 140 hand-painted photographs of Florida.

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left to right: Ty Cobb, Thomas Edison and Connie Mack, Manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, in Terry Park in Fort Myers.

Joe Wiegand portrays Teddy Roosevelt at the 'Go Bully for 'Ding'' fundraiser, March 6 at Broadway Palm in Fort Myers.

SPRING TRAINING

JetBlue Park

1500 Fenway South Drive

Fort Myers

888-733-7696

        Mar 2: vs Philadelphia Phillies

        Mar 4: vs Houston Astros

        Mar 5: vs Miami Marlins

        Mar 6: vs Detroit Tigers

        Mar 10: vs Toronto Blue Jays

        Mar 12: vs NY Yankees

        Mar 15: vs Tampa Bay Rays

        Mar 17: vs Atlanta Braves

        Mar 18: vs Baltimore Orioles

        Mar 20: vs Pittsburgh Pirates

        Mar 22: vs Minnesota Twins

        Mar 24: vs Atlanta Braves

        Mar 26: vs Minnesota Twins

        Mar 28: vs Atlanta Braves

all games start 1pm

Lee County Sports Complex

Hammond Stadium

14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway 

Fort Myers

800-338-9467

        Mar 1: vs Philadelphia Phillies

        Mar 3: vs Boston Red Sox * 

        Mar 5: vs Detroit Tigers

        Mar 7: vs Baltimore Orioles

        Mar 11: vs Boston Red Sox

        Mar 13: vs NY Yankees

        Mar 14: vs Pittsburgh Pirates

        Mar 16: vs Tampa Bay Rays

        Mar 17: vs Baltimore Orioles

        Mar 19: vs Oakland Athletics

        Mar 21: vs Tampa Bay Rays * 

        Mar 23: vs Toronto Blue Jays

        Mar 25: vs Oakland Athletics

        Mar 27: vs Pittsburgh Pirates

all games start at 1pm except * 6pm

Lee County Sports Complex

Hammond Stadium

14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway

Fort Myers

768-4210

    Apr 6: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

    Apr 7: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

    Apr 8: vs Dunedin Blue Jays *

    Apr 18: vs Jupiter Hammerheads

    Apr 19: vs Jupiter Hammerheads

    Apr 20: vs Jupiter Hammerheads

    Apr 21: vs Jupiter Hammerheads

    Apr 22: vs Jupiter Hammerheads *

    Apr 23: vs Jupiter Hammerheads **

    May 2: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

    May 3: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

    May 4: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

    May 5: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

    May 6: vs Dunedin Blue Jays *

    May 7: vs Dunedin Blue Jays **

    May 9: vs Tampa Tarpons

    May 10: vs Tampa Tarpons

    May 11: vs Tampa Tarpons

    May 12: vs Tampa Tarpons

    May 13: vs Tampa Tarpons *

    May 14: vs Tampa Tarpons **

    May 30: vs St Lucie Mets

    May 31: vs St Lucie Mets

    Jun 1: vs St Lucie Mets

    Jun 2: vs St Lucie Mets

    Jun 3: vs St Lucie Mets *

    Jun 4: vs St Lucie Mets **

    Jun 6: vs Clearwater Threshers

    Jun 7: vs Clearwater Threshers

    Jun 8: vs Clearwater Threshers

    Jun 9: vs Clearwater Threshers

    Jun 10: vs Clearwater Threshers *

    Jun 11: vs Clearwater Threshers **

    Jun 28: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers

    Jun 29: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers

    Jun 30: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers 

    Jul 1: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers *

    Jul 2: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers *

    Jul 3: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers *

    Jul 14: vs Clearwater Threshers

    Jul 15: vs Clearwater Threshers *

    Jul 16: vs Clearwater Threshers **

    Jul 25: vs Clearwater Threshers *

    Jul 26: vs Palm Beach Cardinals **

    Jul 27: vs Palm Beach Cardinals

    Jul 28: vs Palm Beach Cardinals

    Jul 29: vs Palm Beach Cardinals *

    Jul 30: vs Palm Beach Cardinals **

    Aug 8: vs Bradenton Marauders

    Aug 9: vs Bradenton Marauders

    Aug 10: vs Bradenton Marauders

    Aug 11: vs Bradenton Marauders

    Aug 12: vs Bradenton Marauders *

    Aug 13: vs Bradenton Marauders **

    Aug 22: vs Daytona Tortugas

    Aug 23: vs Daytona Tortugas

    Aug 24: vs Daytona Tortugas

    Aug 25: vs Daytona Tortugas

    Aug 26: vs Daytona Tortugas *

    Aug 27: vs Daytona Tortugas **

    Sep 5: vs Bradenton Marauders

    Sep 6: vs Bradenton Marauders

    Sep 7: vs Bradenton Marauders

    Sep 8: vs Bradenton Marauders

    Sep 9: vs Bradenton Marauders *

    Sep 10: vs Bradenton Marauders **

all games start at 7pm,

except *6pm, **12pm

Hurricane Stories

Wanted

     

   In response to the emotional impact of Hurricane Ian, Alliance for the Arts, in partnership with the Gulf Coast Writers Association, has initiated an Oral History Project titled ‘Storm Stories.’ They are asking for stories written by those who survived Hurricane Ian, who volunteered in its aftermath, and who witnessed heroic deeds. Everyone is welcomed to share their stories. 

   ‘Storm Stories’ will have a dedicated, unmanned voicemail, as well as a way to submit written and recorded responses, allowing you to share your unique experience and express your emotions. All ages can submit stories, there is no fee and no word limit, although Gulf Coast Writers may edit stories for publication. 

   Local artists will use these stories as inspiration to create artworks to be displayed in a multi-media exhibition at the Alliance for the Arts in September 2023 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Ian. The exhibition will also feature the documentary-style photography of Kinfay Moroti’s.

   Alliance for the Arts Executive Director, Molly Deckart explains, “Just tell your story about your experience through and after Hurricane Ian in whatever capacity you feel fit—uncensored and unbridled. It could be stories of resilience or trauma or pain or loss. It could be a wide range of feelings. It is meant to be cathartic and therapeutic.”

   While ‘Storm Stories’ covers all of Lee County, Alliance for the Arts plans on expanding this project to the entire state of Florida. 

   Call 744-3047 to tell your story. Call 939-2787 for information about ‘Storm Stories’ and Alliance for the Arts. Visit gulfwriters.org or artinlee.org for information. The Alliance for the Arts is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. 

Sarasota

Celebrates Jazz

     

   The Sarasota Jazz Festival presents concerts featuring popular musicians, classic films, open jam sessions, and a jazz club crawl, March 13-18.

   As Music Director of the 43rd Sarasota Jazz Festival, Grammy award winner, trumpeter Terell Stafford has assembled an impressive collection of acclaimed musicians playing a wide range of jazz styles and genres. From the Latin rhythms of saxophonist Paquito D’Rivera to the progressive explorations of trumpeter Christian Sands, from the traditional sounds of pianist Dick Hyman to the modern jazz of guitarist Charlie Hunter, the festival features the legend saxophonist Houston Person, newcomer Lizz Wright, and acclaimed bassist Marcus Miller.

   The Jazz festival features concerts performed indoors under the Ulla Searing Big Top on Regatta Island at Nathan Benderson Park, film screenings in the Burns Cinemas in downtown Sarasota, and a ‘jazz club crawl’, as well as late night open jam sessions.

   The Festival opens with a VIP Reception on March 13, followed March 14 by a Jazz Trolley Club Crawl, including 10 bands at 10 locations throughout downtown Sarasota. Trolleys will run 5-10pm, starting at the University Town Center mall. Concerts are March 15-18, under the Ulla Searing Big Top, starting at 6pm. 

   Cabaret-style late night jam sessions follow concerts on March 17 (led by La Lucha) & March 18 (led by Synia Carroll) on the second floor of the Nathan Benderson Park Finish Line Tower. Musicians are asked to sign up before the sessions and bring their own instruments (piano, bass and drums will be provided).

   Films will be screened at 9:30am on March 16 & 17. 

SCHEDULE

   March 13: VIP Reception (tba)

   March 14: Jazz Trolley Pub Crawl (5:30-9:30pm)

   March 15: Lizz Wright, Christian Sands Trio concert (6pm)

   March 16: ‘The Benny Goodman Story’ film (9am)

   March 16: Marcus Miller, Allen Carmen Project with Gumbi Ortiz concert (6pm) 

   March 17: ‘Miles Davis - Birth of Cool’ film (9am)

   March 17: Kurt Elling with Charlie Hunter, Dick Hymans & Diego Figueiredo concert (6pm)

   March 17: Late Night Open Jam - led by La Lucha (9:30pm-12am)

   March 18: Paquito D’Rivera, Houston Person & Tony Monaco concert (6pm)

   March 18: Late Night Open Jam - Synia Carroll (9:30pm-12am)

   The Sarasota Jazz Festival is produced by the Jazz Club of Sarasota, a nonprofit organization. The main stage events are produced in partnership with Circus Arts Conservatory.

   Ulla Searing Big Top is located on Regatta Island at Nathan Benderson Park, at 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, off N Cattleman Rd, in Sarasota. Burns Court Cinemas is located at 506 Burns Lane, downtown Sarasota. University Town Center Mall is located at 140 University Town Center Drive in Sarasota. 

   For information about the Sarasota Jazz Festival and Sarasota Jazz Club, call 941-260-9951.

Selby Gardens

Presents the

Art of Tiffany

     

   For its annual Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition Series, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens presents ‘Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature’, showcasing the creativity and innovation of Louis Comfort Tiffany, who revolutionized glassmaking and American decorative arts, and believed that inspiration for art and design should be found in nature. It marks the seventh edition of Selby Gardens’ annual Jean & Alfred Goldstein Exhibition, which examines the work of major artists through the lens of their connection to nature.

   This immersive, multidisciplinary show, on view through June 25, features original horticultural displays throughout Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus, complemented by a curated gallery experience featuring more than 40 authentic Tiffany pieces inside the Museum of Botany & the Arts. It will be the first exhibition of its type to be presented in a botanical garden.

   Louis Comfort Tiffany, one of the most influential American artists and designers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was closely associated with Art Nouveau, an international style of art and design characterized by organic lines and natural form. He founded Tiffany Studios and served as the first design director of Tiffany & Co. 

   Tiffany’s celebrated stained-glass windows and lamps will inspire stunning horticultural displays in Selby Gardens’ world-famous Tropical Conservatory and throughout the grounds of its 15-acre Downtown Sarasota campus. Accompanying the horticultural displays will be outstanding examples of Tiffany’s work, in various media, on view in the Museum of Botany & the Arts, including lamps, vases, and other objects. 

   The exhibition will also explore the group of often unnamed artisans who helped Tiffany achieve his vision.

‘Tiffany: The Pursuit of Beauty in Nature’ will be on view at Selby Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus from February 12 through June 25, 2023. A rich schedule of educational programs and special events will be developed to complement the show. 

   Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ Downtown Sarasota campus is located at 1534 Mound St. in Sarasota. The gardens are open 10am-5pm daily. For information, call 941-210-0874.

'Hamlet' at FGCU's

TheatreLab

     

   The Bower School of Music & the Arts at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Theatre Program will present William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, directed by Theatre professor Barry Cavin. Performances will be in FGCU’s TheatreLab. The production will run from April 14-23 with performances April 14 & 15, 21 & 22 at 7:30pm and April 16, 22 & 23 at 2pm. There will also be a discussion with the cast and crew following the 2pm performance on April 22.

   The cast includes Tatum Bates as Hamlet, Alexandra Adams as Horatio, Charles Davidson as Claudius, Chloe Chan as Gertrude, Janie Kate Knowles as Ophelia, Liberty Barber as Laertes, Robin O’Connell as Polonius, Karinna Crespo as Gravedigger, Isabella Onken as Osric, Bianca Arello Resin as First Priest, Lily Grace as Player Queen and Katherine Taylor as Lucianus/Gentleman/Sailor/Messenger/ Lord.

   TheatreLab is located in FGCU Arts Complex, 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers. For information, call 590-1000.

Vintage Base Ball

at Terry Park

     

   On March 26, Edison & Ford Winter Estates will host its annual Vintage ‘Base Ball’ Tournament at historic Terry Park in Fort Myers. Vintage base ball (baseball in the 1860s, was spelled with two words) is played by 1860s rules, which include using wooden bats, no gloves and lemon peel baseballs. Players will wear vintage uniforms and the umpires will call the game according to the rules used during the time period. Gates will open at 9:30am with the first game starting at 10am.

   Teams will play several consecutive games throughout the day in a small tournament format. Teams include the Vagabonds Base Ball Club (Fort Myers’ home team), Awkwards Vintage Base Ball of Central Florida, Bradenton Shamrocks Vintage Base Ball Club, Early Riser Base Ball Club of Detroit, and the Wyandotte Stars Base Ball Club (Michigan). 

   Terry Park was once the hub of baseball’s spring training, and where Thomas Edison was a frequent visitor. Construction of the original ball field began in 1923. The Philadelphia Athletics began playing their spring training games in Terry Park in 1925 and continued to play in the park until 1936.

   Over the next five decades, other major league baseball teams used the ballpark to play their pre-season exhibition games, including the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Hall of Famers such as George Brett, Roberto Clemente, Ty Cob, Jimmy Foxx, and Babe Ruth are just some of stars that graced the fields at Terry Park.

   Thomas Edison was also a die-hard baseball fan and visited Terry Park on a several occasions to watch the Athletics play, even seizing one opportunity to participate in the team’s batting practice session. 

   According to historic documents, Ty Cobb volunteered to pitch to the 80-year-old Fort Myers resident, Thomas Edison, who subsequently hit a line drive that knocked Ty Cobb down. A few days later the entire team visited Mr. and Mrs. Edison at their Fort Myers’ estate and toured the property and had lunch with the legendary inventor.

   For baseball fans wanting to learn more about the history of spring training and the baseball legends that played in Fort Myers, Edison Ford program manager, Holly Shaffer, will give a presentation on March 24 & 25, at 11am. 

   A new baseball exhibit is planned to open this spring at Edison & Ford Winter Estate. The exhibit will feature original artifacts and photographs connecting Thomas Edison, Connie Mack and baseball in Fort Myers, and will trace the long history of Fort Myers as a Spring Training site.

   Terry Park is located at 3410 Palm Beach Blvd. in Fort Myers. The Edison & Ford Estates, open daily 9am-5:30pm, is located at 2350 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. For more information, call 334-7419. 

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HERTZ ARENA

11000 Everblades Pkwy. 

Estero

948-7825

    Mar 8: vs South Carolina Stingrays

    Mar 10: vs South Carolina Stingrays

    Mar 11: vs South Carolina Stingrays

    Mar 22: vs Newfoundland Growlers

    Mar 24: vs Newfoundland Growlers

    Mar 25: vs Newfoundland Growlers

    Apr 5: vs Jacksonville Icemen

    Apr 12: vs Jacksonville Icemen

    Apr 14: vs Atlanta Gladiators

    Apr 15: vs Atlanta Gladiators

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