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• Local tennis: Chickee Classic at Cambier Park starts next week
• Recreation: Bagel Run provides quality warm-up
• Fishing: Take a day at the beach

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NAPLES — Just three days remain to register for the third annual Fast Cat 5K, held Saturday at Estero High School.

Pre-registration costs $15 for adults, $12 for runners under 18, with a family maximum of $50. All race day registrations are $20 per person, with all registered runners receiving Puma gear bags. Awards will be presented to the top three runners in each age group.

The race starts at 7:30 a.m. to avoid the heat and will be a challenging run through trails around the high school.

Packet pickup is scheduled for 1-5 p.m. on Friday at The Run Shoppe in Cape Coral.

The event, presented by Jeff Sommer’s 3D Running Club, is sponsored by Puma and The Run Shoppe. All proceeds will benefit the running club and go toward season expenses for the Estero High running programs.

You can download an entry form at www.3Drunners.org/races.php, or visit the 3D Running Club’s official site at www.3Drunners.org. For more information, contact Sommer, the Estero High athletic director and running coach, at 239-768-2925 or 239-287-6482.

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announces that waterfowl hunters can apply for their Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) permits beginning at 10 a.m. next Tuesday. The free permits are for waterfowl hunting in STA 1W, STA 2, STA 3/4 and STA 5 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis through the Total Licensing System.

To apply for a permit, hunters must first obtain an application worksheet at any FWC Regional Office, or from the Web at http://MyFWC.com/hunting/waterfowlWrkshts.html to select dates and time periods. Hunters can then apply at any tax collector’s office, through the toll-free telephone number at 1-888-347-4356, or for a small convenience fee, via the Internet at www.wildlifelicense.com/fl. Permits are not available from license agents, such as sporting goods stores. Applications are not accepted through the mail.

The FWC increased the number of permits per hunt for STA 1 West from 25 to 35 to reflect the expanded hunting opportunity. Second, the designated entrance for STA 2 has changed and is now 8 miles north of the Palm Beach/Broward County Line on the east side of U.S. 27. Third, each youth permit allows for one or two youth hunters to be supervised by one or two non-hunting adults. Previously, the combination of two non-hunting adults and one youth hunter was not permitted.

STA brochures and maps are available at http://myfwc.com/hunting/wma/WMA_RegionMaps0809.htm.

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In association with the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce's summer program, Sanibel Wellness has launched a new Web site: SanibelHealthRetreats.com. The Web site brings together island businesses to offer vacation packages, workshops and retreats that include accommodations, healthy meals, fitness, nutrition, health services, and island activities.

The program is in its initial phase of coordinating accommodations, products and services and is looking for more island individuals and businesses to participate by joining the group's vendor list, or, by designing and hosting a

retreat of their own.

A meeting of interested individuals and businesses is scheduled for Tuesday from noon-1:30 p.m. at the Sanibel Community House at 2155 Periwinkle Way. The intention of the meeting is to have an open discussion of ways of working together to provide all-inclusive guest stays, workshops and retreats. A delicious, healthy lunch will be served. If you or your business is interested in participating, please RSVP by contacting Sanibel Wellness at 395-1100

or sanibelwellness2402@mac.com.

Other businesses already on board with the program include the Sanibel Community House, Bailey's, Holiday Inn Sanibel Resort, Island Nutrition Center, Ocean's Reach Resort Condominiums, Select Transportation, Tarpon Bay Explorers and Reservation Central.

One of the programs that is currently in development is Relax and Renew, a flexible, personalized 3-5 day stay that focuses on one of three themes:

1. The Sanibel Soother provides the ultimate in stress relief by packaging together such services as aromatherapy massage, stretch classes, stress management instruction and deep relaxation;

2. The Mini Yoga Adventure offers the opportunity for participants to either learn beginner's yoga or to hone their existing yoga practice;

3. Meditation in Paradise is an opportunity to learn how to develop a meditation practice that meets individual goals of stress management, health improvements such as lowering blood pressure, or improving specific aspects of life such as relationships.

Additional programs being developed are an annual Sanibel Yoga Adventure with Brian to be held this Nov. 8-15, Relationship Week scheduled for the second week in February 2009, a women's spirituality program entitled The Goddess Retreat in early May 2009, and At Peace in Paradise, a 5-day meditation retreat in late May 2009.

If you have an idea for a retreat, would like to participate in one, or are interested in providing goods or services, please attend the meeting on Aug. 26 or contact the staff of Sanibel Wellness at 395-1100.

* * *

If you're inspired by all the Olympic runners, and the Fast Cat 5K isn't enough, check out Collier County's oldest race, the John Clay 5K, held Saturday, Aug. 30 at 7 a.m.

The race starts at Lowdermilk Park and will be hosted by the Gulf Coast Runners Club. It's been held since the late '70s for all those Southwest Florida runners brave enough to race in the August heat -- which will be less trying at the early morning start.

Same day race registration for the John Clay 5K starts at 6:30 a.m., or you can preregister at gcrunner.org.

The cost is $10 for pre-registration or students, and $15 the day of the race for non-students. For more information, contact George Dondanville at 434-9786.

* * *

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has scheduled two public workshops to receive comments regarding proposed changes to freshwater turtle harvest rules.

The workshops are in response to concerns over increasing demand for Florida turtles amid tighter harvest restrictions in other states. Proposed rules would restrict individuals to a five-turtle-per-day bag limit, except for species that already have more-restrictive limits.

The FWC encourages interested persons to participate in the workshops, which will take place Sept. 11, 1:30-4:30 p.m., at the Okeechobee County Civic Center, 1750 U.S. 98 North in Okeechobee, and Sept. 12, 9 a.m. – noon, at the FWC’s South Region office, 3900 Drane Field Road, in Lakeland.

* * *

Summer is winding down, but there’s still time for the 10th annual Summer Slam, the final qualifying event in the Caloosa angling tournament series.

Held Sept. 12-14 at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Spa in Fort Myers Beach, the Summer Slam is the last chance for anglers to qualify for the Caloosa Grand Championship in November.

To qualify, anglers just need to score fish in the Summer Slam. Tournament fish include snook, redfish, snapper and a daily mystery fish. The top three teams will receive trophies, and the top five finishers will receive cash prizes ranging from $1,000 to $7,000.

Meals, water and Budweiser products are also included with registration.

For more information or to enter, go to www.caloosacatchandrelease.com.

* * *

Hosted by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the second-annual RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Tournament will be held Oct. 3-5.

Teams, individuals and junior anglers under 16 can participate.

Roland Martin, legendary angler and television host of the “Fishing with Roland Martin Show,” will again host the three-day tournament, a benefit to raise funds for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida water quality programs.

The kick-off party and auction, which is open to the public, is Friday, Oct. 3, at the Naples Harbour Yacht Club. Anglers will launch from Naples, Goodland and Chokoloskee on Oct. 4 and 5, followed by an awards ceremony.

In a change from last year’s tournament, organizers have added a fly fishing and junior divisions to this year’s RedSnook Catch and Release.

To register for the RedSnook Catch and Release, contact Meghan Clancy at 239-403-4200. Registrations will be accepted until Sept. 22.

For more information about the tournament, go to www.theredsnook.com or www.conservancy.org