Next week on Wednesday, April 12 the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board will meet for their monthly meeting at 10 a.m. in the Woman’s Club Room at the Boca Grande Community Center. This meeting has a couple of interesting requests from a property owner on Gilchrist Avenue that have drawn attention from island island residents, particularly in regards to a historically-contributing home on one of the old Crowninshield properties. 

The Adam family, owners of 161/181 Gilchrist Ave., have requested permission to change the status of the small cottage that sits at the front of the property from contributing to non-contributing. They intend to demolish the building, as it has become structurally unsound due to years of disrepair. 

They have also requested an allowance for the gulfside home on the property, which is not historically contributing, to be demolished. 

The public is allowed to attend but seating is limited.

Donations are down in the blue barrel at Barnichol Hardware, and that makes Jane Caple a bit concerned. They are down in all of the island’s barrel locations, in truth. The group that has worked with island residents to fight hunger in our area, Englewood Helping Hand, has Boca Grande volunteers driving to the pantry weekly to help stock shelves. Lately, though, the donations to take have become less and less.

The Johann Fust Library Foundation will present “Poetry in the Garden” next week, featuring original work by the Live Poets of Boca Grande. The poets will read a collection of their original haiku and other works. This year’s event will be enhanced by the soothing music of Julie F. Cornwall on the cello.

Sign up sheets are now available for the 2023 Howl at the Moon Tarpon Tournament, to be held on Sunday, May 28 from 7 to 10 p.m. in Boca Grande Pass. Some proceeds from the tournament benefit the Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum, the event’s host. The entry fee is $700, with a non-refundable $100 amount donated to the GIMM. Under normal circumstances, 25 percent of the proceeds goes to the museum. The remainder will be split 60/40 between the first and second place teams. 

It’s not every day that a photographer with the body of work that Susan Wood has is featured in a slideshow on the side of a building on a tiny island like ours. It happened, though, on March 30, as the second in a series that celebrates the senses called “Art After Dark.” The J.McLaughlin store hosts the events, which are held for charity. Wood, a world famous photographer to the stars of movies, music, fashion, and politics, as well as a highly skilled photojournalist capturing down-to-earth happenings, was thrilled to be part of it. 

On Saturday between 9 and 10:30 a.m. you’ll find that spring is not only in the air, it’s in the water too. Join Tonya and Steve Bramlage on a guided tour of the East side ponds to observe upland and aquatic plants to see how they thrive in a compact, dense environment. Wednesday, April 12 from 8 to 11 a.m. Ken Blackshaw will lead a social birding tour meeting at the kiosk area. Ken has been birding for nearly 70 years all over the world. He has written and edited numerous books, and was fortunate to have Edith Andrews as his mentor. Birders of all levels are encouraged. On Thursday, April 13 from 9 to 10 a.m. Maura Qualls and Ann Weaver will lead a monthly walking tour through the Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve Butterfly Habitat meeting at the Members entrance area. Join them as they examine the many plants, flowers, and pollinators that are present in the garden.