With Ozzie in rehab, library ‘Coloring the Earth’ contest has special meaning
With Ozzie, our celebrity eagle, now recovering at CROW on Sanibel, could there be a more appropriate theme for this year’s Tenth Annual “Coloring the Earth” contest, than “bald eagles in Southwest Florida and ways to protect them”?
For 10 years, this Earth Day celebration at the Cape Coral Library has welcomed kids all across Lee County to participate in a contest connecting artistic talent with environmental issues in the immediate community. This year’s event, however, seems to have been . . . well, prescient. The contest has a real (celebrity) eagle struggling with serious injuries on Sanibel.
Throughout the 10 years of “Coloring the Earth,” the contest has presented environmental challenges for children to think about, research and identify through art – ways to clean waterways, efforts to protect Florida’s unique species such as butterflies, dolphins, manatees and seashells – but this year’s theme appears to have been brought to the doorstep of those researching ways to protect eagles.
Winners will be recognized and their artwork featured at the Cape Coral Library beginning Wednesday, May 6, at 6 p.m. The public is invited and encouraged to attend this award ceremony.
Other programs coming in May to the Cape Coral Public Library:
– Friday, May 8, at 10 a.m.: Come see and hear about the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Sally Stein, director of public programs for the sanctuary, will provide information on this ancient cypress forest.
– Wednesday, May 13, at 2 p.m., Book Talk: “The Art of Racing in the Rain” by Garth Stein.
– Saturday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m.: The Southwest Florida Military Museum will present a program on the museum’s progress.
– Wednesday, May 20, at 9:30 a.m.: Join a Hatha Yoga group in the library meeting room.
– Wednesday, May 20, at 1 p.m.: Learn the value of native plants in landscapes.
Reminder: All branches of the Lee County Public Library will be closed for Memorial Day, May 25.
Check the Lee County Library System’s website at www.leelibrary.net for continuing programs, including story times, Books and Banter, English caf, Craft Corner, Chess anyone?, Read Down Fines and others.
In the library art gallery:
Portraits by nine artists who participated in the Open Portrait Sessions with a model offered through the Cape Coral Art League are on exhibit in the library gallery through May 13. Held Tuesday mornings at the art league from January until April, the sessions provided a costumed model who posed for artists – for a nominal fee. For more information on the open portrait sessions, e-mail facilitator Marianne Bell at rbmb2@comcast.net. Visitors to this library exhibition will enjoy the different interpretations of one subject.
Beaded jewelry designed by Pamela Pearson is on display in one of the cases. Each of her pieces is unique and has a story behind it that explains the inspiration or the materials that were “repurposed” to create it. In 2014, Pearson won an award at the Sanibel Shell Show and the winning piece is part of this exhibit.
Doll house miniature room boxes and other hand-made miniature displays by Jacqui Grindley are on exhibit in one of the cases. Grindley displayed her work in January and is back again with new work.
Jewelry as well as glass pieces by Dale Eulitz are on display in one of the cases. Eulitz exhibited last March and is revisiting us with new work.
May 14 through June
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the “Coloring the Earth” contest, winning entries from this year, as well as some from previous years, will be exhibited on the gallery walls. This contest, open to children across Lee County, has been sponsored by the Friends of the Cape Coral Library and headed by Alessia Leathers. For this special anniversary exhibit, the Friends of the
Cape Coral Library are providing frames so the artwork will be displayed professionally.
Also displayed will be reused and recycled material creations by kindergarten, first and second grade students at Gulf Elementary School in Cape Coral. These will be in the cases.
Clay figures and illustrations of endangered species will be displayed in the two-shelf case. These were created by students in the Children’s Art Class at the Cape Coral Art League. Canvas paintings will also be displayed.
Cape Coral Library hours:
9 a.m. 8 p.m., Monday Wednesday; 9 a.m. 6 p.m., Thursday; and 9 a.m. 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
Getting a library card is free and easy. Just visit library.lee-county.com to apply online or stop by your library.
All Lee County Library System programs are free and open to the public. A sign language interpreter is available with 48 hours’ notice. Call the Deaf Service Center at 461-0334 (voice) or 461-4348 (TTY). Assisted living devices are available. The Lee County Library System also offers free access to books, DVDs, videos, books on CD, electronic resources and other items from a vast collection.
The Lee County Library System makes it possible for people who ordinarily couldn’t visit the library to enjoy reading through the Bookmobile, Books-by-MAIL, Talking Books and Literacy programs.
All of the money the Friends of the Cape Coral Library raise is through book sales, dues and other events which are used to purchase materials, furniture and other items that can not be included in the County library budget. Books, CDs, DVDs, etc. are accepted throughout the year for the two book sales, April and November, the major fundraisers. Small quantities can be delivered to the library circulation desk. Books can also be picked up at your home if you have a large donation which is tax deductible. (A receipt can be provided.) Leave a message on hotline: 349-2572 or e-mail capefriends.org.
Patty Duncan for the Friends of the Cape Coral Lee County Library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral; 239-533-4500; TTY 485-1141.