Through the eyes of three authors

Renowned Chautauqua influenced speaker Betty Jean Steinshouer will present a view of Florida’s history through the eyes of three eminent authors -- Harriet Beecher Stowe, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas -- at LaBelle Heritage Museum’s third of four 2015/2016 Special Speaker Programs, made possible by a collaboration with the Clewiston Museum in a grant from the Florida Humanities Council, on Wednesday, February 17, at 7 p.m. The museum is located at 360 North Bridge Street, and overflow parking is available at Harold P. Curtis Honey Co., 355 North Bridge Street, immediately across the street from the museum courtesy of Rene Curtis Pratt.

Betty Jean Steinshouer, no stranger to LaBelle Heritage Museum regular program attendees, will assume the character of each of the three renowned authors for her presentation in LaBelle and will also appear at the Clewiston Museum, 109 Central Avenue, on Thursday, February 18, also at 7 p.m., in a similar but entirely different program in which she assumes the persona of various women writers who escaped to Florida over the years for a variety of reasons. Both programs are open to the public at no charge as they are funded by the Florida Humanities Council through its grants program.

Venture Crew

Venture Crew 514 will be selling hot dogs, chips, and drinks this Saturday Feb. 13, in the Kiwanis parking lot. They are raising money for equipment, and summer camp. We will be there from 10a.m.-1p.m. Come on out and show your support!

Wild game dinner

First Christian Church Disciple Men’s Annual Wild Game Dinner will be February 20 5-7 p.m. Just a $10 donation! The church is located at 138 Ford Ave. 863-675-1366.

OCA spaghetti dinner

The Ortona Community Association will hold a spaghetti buffet dinner February 13, from 5-7 p.m. at the Ortona Community Park Building, 2086 Ortona Locks Road (Highway 78A). The all-you-can-eat spaghetti buffet features pasta with delicious original recipe meat sauce, tossed salad, hot garlic bread, green beans, dessert, coffee, and iced tea, all for $8.00. Funds from this charitable event support programs for Ortona children and the Ortona library. For information contact Fran Way at 863-675-7880 or email franwayrn@aolcom.

Conservation board to meet

The Hendry Soil and Water Conservation District will hold its regularly scheduled Board meeting on February 25, 2016 at 1 p.m. in the large conference room of the Dallas B. Townsend Agricultural Building. Meetings are open to the public.

‘We All Need Trees’ poster extension

The Hendry Soil and Water Conservation District has extended its first poster contest based on the NACD theme “We All Need Trees” until February 19 in order to let Hendry County K-8th grade students more time to get their entries completed. Poster board and entry forms are still available in our office in the Dallas Townsend Ag Building on Pratt Blvd. LaBelle, or call Noreen at 863-674-5700 ext. 107 for details.

Gardeners to meet

The LaBelle Garden Club will meet Monday, February 22, at 7 p.m. for a talk by Sonja Crawford on how the kids in 4-H cultivate their beautiful vegetable garden. It will be at the Dallas B. Townsend Agricultural Center in LaBelle at 1085 Pratt Blvd. LaBelle. For more information, call President Dave at 863-342-8233 or Nikki at 239-564-2005. Refreshments served. Bring a treat if you’d like to share something. Check out the website LabelleGardenClub.org, which is chock full of information on the unique conditions of gardening in LaBelle.

Valentine’s safety

Valentine’s Day, February 14, marks the beginning of National Condom Week. Originally started on the campus of the UC-Berkeley in 1978, NCW has become a reminder for people to get educated about Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV/AIDS, and unwanted pregnancies. Sexual abstinence is still the surest way of avoiding these, but condoms do reduce risks. During this week, many local businesses in Clewiston, LaBelle and Moore Haven will have “condoms jars” with a variety of condoms free for the taking. Some other businesses offer health department condoms all year around. Take care of yourself and your partner.

American Legion events

Feb. 12, 19, 26, 5-7 p.m. Fridays, Weekly Fish Fry, $8 a plate. Dessert available. Dining room is open to the public.

Feb. 13, Sat. 11 a.m. -1 p.m., Hamburgers done your way for $3, fries $1.

Feb. 13, Sat. 5-7 p.m. Annual Steak by the Ounce Dinner, $1.00 per ounce, and small charge for additional sides and dessert. Public welcome.

Feb. 14, Sun 2 p.m. “Four Chaplains Ceremony” being held at the First Christian Church.

Feb. 18, Thurs. 7 pm, American Legion General Meeting

Feb. 19-21, Fri. to Sun. Open to the public all weekend for Swamp Cabbage Kick-Off!

Feb. 20, Sat. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Auxiliary Poppies at ACE Hardware

Feb. 20, Sat. 6-10 p.m. Swamp Cabbage Kick-Off Party, Wrist-bands $10 All you can eat build-your-own-burger buffet, Live music outside, Budweiser on tap. Karaoke inside from 7 p.m.

Feb. 21 & 28, Sun. Auxiliary Buffet Breakfast. 8-11 a.m., $8, public welcome!

American Legion Post 130 is located on SR80 West, across from the shell station. For further information call 863-675-8300. Dining room is smoke free.

Four Chaplains Ceremony

The First Christian Church of LaBelle is hosting The Four Chaplains Memorial Service on Sunday, February 14, at 2 p.m. The American Legion Post 130, VFW 10100, Masonic Lodge 379 and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Explorers will present a commemorative patriotic and faith based service honoring the 4 chaplains of WWII. The First Christian Church is located at 138 Ford Ave., LaBelle. Light refreshments will follow. Please join us in supporting our Veterans. Open to the public!

VFW POST 10100 events

Feb. 13, VALENTINE DINNER, Surf and Turf, Serving at 5 p.m. $15.

Grilled Hamburgers cooked to perfection, serving begins at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m..

BINGO every Sunday at 2 p.m.

Turkey Shoot 2nd and 4th Sunday, starts at 1 p.m.

We are located on Hwy. 29 next to the Rodeo Grounds. For further information call 863-675-8008.We are a SMOKE FREE DINING ROOM!

Ortona Bingo

The Ortona Community Association (OCA) is hosting Bingo every Friday evening through the winter season. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. when hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken patties, snacks , ice cream, coffee and soft drinks are sold. The last cards are sold at 6:45 p.m. and Bingo begins promptly at 7 p.m.

Bingo and other OCA sponsored events are held in Ortona’s spacious new community center, located in the Ortona Community Park, 2086 Ortona Locks Road (Hwy 78A) The park is approximately 500 feet beyond the Ortona Firehouse. For information, contact Fran Way at 863-675-7880 or email franwayrn@aol.com