| "Ding" Cartoon |  | |
Almost exactly 100 years ago to the date, "Ding" Darling published his Easter Morning political cartoon in the Des Moines Register.
Timeless humor, like so many of Darling's Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoons.
Click on the cartoon to see it enlarged!
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This Saturday, April 19
Click the image above to get the list of activities. Visitors will also be able to enjoy talking with more than 16 Plein-Air artists along Wildlife Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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| At the Nature Store |  | |
Add some fun and unusual eggs to the kids' Easter baskets this year - alligator, snake, tortoise, and other eggs that they can hatch and "grow".
Stop in today to pick some up for the kids and grandkids at only $4.99 a piece.
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| Wildlife Sightings! | |
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Happy, hoppy Easter, compliments of this Refuge ambassador - a marsh rabbit photographed by Danielle Lynch.
Click HERE for current Wildlife Sightings
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"Ding" Darling Theodore Cross High School Photo Contest Winners!
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At a special ceremony on Saturday, April 12, the Wildlife Society announced
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First Place winning photo by
Maxx Pollack
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the finalists and winners of the inaugural "Ding" Darling - Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest at the Refuge. Sponsored by the Theodore Cross Family Charitable Foundation, the competition invited high school students in... READ MORE
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First place winner Maxx Pollack, third place winner James Klein, Deputy Refuge Manager Joyce Palmer, second place winner Alejandrina Arroyo-Pena, Amanda Cross (daughter of Theodore Cross) and Jim Hellmuth (a lifelong friend of Theodore Cross)
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Upcycle! Off to a Great Start
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Fort Myers artist Jonas Stirner took first place in the juried art competition.
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Inaugural Event a Success!
Well-attended and profitable for our artists, the inaugural Upcycle! Art Fest proved a huge success on Wednesday, April 16, at the Refuge.
In tribute to "Ding" Darling the artist, this event's mission was to provide an artistic venue to showcase fine art and craft of the highest quality made from recycled and re-purposed material. Attendees walked away with a greater understanding and appreciation about the importance of recycling and ultimately protecting our wildlife.
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Crowds filled the "Ding" Darling Visitor & Education Center to view and purchase unique, re-purposed works.
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A Hearty thank you to the planning committee and many volunteers. The planning committee included:
Barb Lund - Chair Jess Shelton, Lorraine Capps, Andrew Corke, Maryann Czarnecki, Dru Doyle, Susan Koff, Sarah Lathrop, Gavin McGimpsey, Birgie Miller, Toni Ory, Carol Rothman, Trudy Sampson, Chelle Walton, Toni Westland, Ann-Marie Wildman  | | Thrilled customers who purchased an original sculpture by artist Andrew Corke at the inaugural Upcycle! Art Fest. |
 | | The original Osprey "Sculptire", which was donated by artist Andrew Corke, was up for silent auction with all proceeds going to support conservation efforts at the Refuge. Cal and Jill Werner, standing with Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik, were the successful bidders. |
 | | A special thanks to Cip's Place and Ann-Marie Wildman for their support of Upcycle! Art Fest. |
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Tarpon Tourney: "Catch -the Fever!"
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Are you ready to catch tarpon? Less than three weeks to go till the May 3rd tournament and the talk is starting to liven up. People I know who fish for Tarpon are starting to get the symptoms for the sickness known as "Tarpon Fever". There is no known cure, and those who have the affliction usually came down with the disease the first time they heard their reel drag scream, they picked up the rod and saw that big silver monster come straight out of the water. And if they remembered to bow to the "King" they got the thrill of fighting a fish that runs, jumps and fights like no other fish they ever had on the end of their line.....the Michael Jordon of . . . Click here to read the full article written by tourney participant Les Boyle.
Click here to register today or call 239-292-0566. Only 10 spots remain! Registration deadline is April 25, 2014.
Thanks to all our sponsors, who are solely responsible for funds raised at this 100% awarded tournament:
Title Sponsor:
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| Clyde Butcher Lecture Ends Series | |
A grand finale to our 2014 Lecture Series! Here, the fine art landscape photographer signs copies of his book after one of his two lectures.
Special thanks to 'Tween Waters Inn for providing overnight accommodations for Clyde and his wife. 
 | | Thanks to our 2014 Lecture Series Sponsor for making this season a success! |
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These are just snapshots of some of the things taking place at your Wildlife Refuge. Please check our website at www.dingdarlingsociety.org to learn more! 
Sincerely,
Designed by Jess Shelton and Intern Sarah Lathrop |
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