Community In The Know

Educational presentations for seniors set

Charlotte County Community Services is offering low-cost educational and informative presentations for seniors this spring. Presentations will be held at Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center, 23400 Harold Ave., Port Charlotte. All presentations are $3, and registration is required. To register for a presentation, call 941-627-1074.

Free transportation is provided through Charlotte County Transit Service vans. Reservations for transportation can be made by calling 941-575-4000 and making reservations at least three days in advance.

The schedule is as follows:

¦ 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 2: Wildlife Photography for Beginners

¦ 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 6: Cognitive Decline – Why Am I Losing My Memory?

¦ 10:30 a.m.-noon Wednesday, March 13: Back Health & Balance

¦ 10:30 a.m.-noon Wednesday, March 20: Dog Behavior Class

¦ 10:30 a.m.-noon Wednesday, March 27: The Proper Planting & Pruning of Woody Ornamental Trees

For more information, call Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center at 941-627-1074.

Free tax help offered

Florida SouthWestern State College is partnering with the United Way to offer free tax preparation services to the public. This community-focused event, coordinated by NISOD award-winning Professor William Van Glabek, will be made available at noon-4:30 p.m. Monday, March 4, at the FSW Punta Gorda Campus, 26300 Airport Road, Punta Gorda.

Van Glabek, a recipient of the NISOD Faculty Excellence Award, is renowned for his exceptional contribution to FSW and the community through initiatives such as the Vita Tax program and the highly effective Insurance Villages after Hurricane Ian. His efforts have proven pivotal in delivering nearly $7.5 million in settlements and advocating for the expansion of educational and vocational opportunities for FSW students.

Charity auction to benefit Crossroads Academy

The GFWC Women’s Club of Port Charlotte is holding a charity auction on Sunday, March 10, at the clubhouse, 20271 Tappan Zee Drive, Port Charlotte, to benefit Crossroads Hope Academy. The club is a nonprofit group of women that raises funds for various charities in Charlotte County, and they have held this event for several years. Items can be previewed starting at 1:30 p.m., and the auction will commence at 2 p.m. Items can also be viewed on the website of the auctioneer, Jimmy Gee, at www.jimmygeeauctions.com . Cash only.

Garden club offers scholarships

After a very successful season of fundraising, the Punta Gorda Garden Club is now offering several PGGC Higher Education Scholarships. Applicants must be graduating high school seniors or current college students (including previous winners of a PGGC scholarship). Home-schooled students who meet the criteria are also eligible to apply. A written essay and three letters of recommendation are required with the application. Requirements include a B or better grade average, evidence of financial need, and a desire to major in agronomy, botany, conservation, ecology, environmental sciences, environmental engineering, floriculture, forestry, horticulture, landscape design, plant pathology, marine biology or related fields.

The deadline to apply is April 1. Application forms are available in the guidance offices at Charlotte, Port Charlotte and Lemon Bay high schools, Charlotte Technical School, Community Christian School and Florida South-Western Collegiate High School, or at www.pggc.org/posts/2024-scholarship.

For additional application information, contact the school counselors or aid officers, or PGGC Scholarship Chair Nancy Knaus at 413-297-7187 or nancyknaus@yahoo.com . ¦

The post Community In The Know first appeared on Charlotte County Florida Weekly .