provided to The Santiva Chronicle
As the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) enters its 2024 event season in support of the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, it announces dates and sign-ups for four major events: two Distinguished Author lectures, Go Wild for “Ding” – Into the Night, and the “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament. Visit dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/events for information about the events and links to tickets or registration.
“We are back in full-force this season to raise funds for refuge needs following destruction from Hurricane Ian in 2022,” said DDWS Executive Director Ann-Marie Wildman. “We’ve returned with our traditional fundraisers plus a couple of truly exciting lectures by in-demand authors that promise to sell out quickly.”
Prolific and top-selling novelist Barbara Kingsolver speaks with her daughter and co-author Lily Kingsolver at a special lecture Jan. 11. Tickets go on sale starting Nov. 30.
Together, the Kingsolvers have published the children’s picture book Coyote’s Wild Home, due out Nov. 28. Lily’s first book takes young readers (recommended ages 6-9) into an Appalachian forest, where a girl and coyote pup each have their first woodland adventures. On their separate journeys into the wilderness, the two intertwine paths to the delight of readers.
Her famous author-biologist mother is known for an extensive bibliography of bestselling novels such as Poisonwood Bible, Prodigal Summer, and, most recently Demon Copperhead. Laurie and Bill Harkey sponsor the lecture.
Florida’s favorite murder-mystery-with-a-twist writer, Carl Hiaasen appears Feb. 29, with ticket sales opening Dec. 7. Both Distinguished Author lectures start at 10 a.m. at The Community House on Sanibel Island. Tickets are $25 each.
Hiaasen — a former Miami Herald columnist who uses Florida’s political system as fodder for chart-topping crime novels like Squeeze Me, Tourist Season, and Hoot – will talk about corruption, scandal, and how to turn them into humor and fiction.
His latest novel, part of his young-readers series, Wrecker follows the adventures of a Key West boy dealing with “smugglers, grave robbers, and pooping iguanas.” The Szymancyk Family sponsors the Hiaasen lecture.
Tickets for DDWS’ biggest annual fundraiser on Feb. 7 are limited and selling quickly. This year’s Go Wild for “Ding” – Into the Night delves into the “afterhours” world of refuge Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night Herons.
“We have seen the night herons bounce back strongly at the refuge and throughout the islands following Hurricane Ian, with lots of new chicks offering hope for the future,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. “Join us to celebrate them, nature’s resiliency, and the recovery of our beloved refuge at this year’s Go Wild.”
The annual dinner and live auction event takes place at the refuge and features live entertainment, plus always a few surprises. Expect the traditional auction of an original, carved Jim Sprankle Feather Pin, including membership into the prestigious Flock of the Feather Club. Reservations are required for Go Wild at $150 per person.
Registration also has opened for the 12th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament on May 10, 2024. Participation is limited to 60 boats for this one-of-a-kind catch-and-release tournament benefiting water-quality research and refuge programming.
Sponsorships are available for both the tarpon tournament and Go Wild. Contact April Boehnen at aprilb@dingdarlingsociety.org for more information. Visit dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/events to learn more about “Ding” Darling’s 2024 event season.
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