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More Attractions and Activities News

• Recreation: Bonita's Gerardo pressing for new record
• Local tennis: Tropical Junior Series at Cambier Park next week
• Fishing Report: Fay foils fishing

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The First Choice Pregnancy Center is due — for its inaugural fishing tournament, that is — this weekend.

The Fort Myers nonprofit organization will hold its inaugural First Choice Summer Slam this Saturday, June 28.

Fishing starts at dawn, with check-in at D&D Bait and Tackle (at 3922 Pine Island Rd. in Matlacha) at 4 p.m. sharp.

Cash prizes are $1,500 for first-place, $1,000 for second, $500 for third and $250 for fourth, based on hooked redfish, trout and snapper. Cost is $200 per boat of three and $50 for each additional angler, while at least one person from each team must attend a captain’s meeting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Matlacha Oyster House (3930 Pine Island Rd).

For more info, call (239) 242-4220,.

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Time to stop making holiday excuses and start your Fourth of July with the annual Moe’s Firecracker 5K, which celebrates its 30th birthday this Independence day.

The holiday race, again presented by the Gulf Coast Runners, will be held on Friday, July 4, at 7 a.m. in front of the old Pippin’s Restaurant site at 1340 Ninth Street North.

Members of the running club can pre-register for $7. Non-members and day of the race entries cost $10 apiece.

You can pick up entry forms and race T-shirt at the Naples On the Run store (2128 Ninth Street North), or sign up by phone by calling (239) 434-9786 or online at www.active.com. You can also register by visiting the Gulf Coast Runners’ official site (www.caloosacatchandrelease.com).

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If you’re looking for a way to beat this stifling summer heat, try ice.

Germain Arena offers public skating during the following hours over the summer: Monday-Friday, noon to 1:45 p.m.; a Friday “Late Skate” from 8:30-10:45 p.m.; Saturday, 1-2:45 p.m. and 3-4:45 p.m.; Saturday Night, “Pizza and Pop” from 7:30-9:45; Sunday at 1-2:45 p.m. and 6:45-8:30 p.m. For more information, call (239) 948-7825.

For Lee County readers, there’s public skating at The Skatium (2250 Broadway, Fort Myers) on weekdays from 1 to 2:50 p.m., then on Friday nights from 7:30-9:30; on Saturdays from 4-5:50 p.m. and 7-9; and on Sundays from 7-8:50 p.m. For more info, call (239) 461-3145 or go to www.fmskatium.com.

In addition, the City of Palms Figure Skating Club will hold its second annual “Summer Chiller” this Friday through Sunday at The Skatium. This U.S. Figure Skating sanctioned event will feature free skating, short programs, jumps and other artistic performances.

For more info, call (239) 694-8951 or visit The Skatium’s Web site at www.fmskatium.com.

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OK, ladies, time to break out the eye black.

The American Softball Association will hold its national championship for 35-and-over women’s slow pitch softball from Aug. 8-10 at the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers. If you’re interested in entering your team, you’ve got to do it by July 31.

For more info, call (239) 533-7407 or send an e-mail to adornoli@leegov.com.

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Nature lovers, the Alligator Amblers chapter of the Florida Trail Association has a handful of events that might interest you this summer.

On Sunday, July 13, there is a seven-mile canoe/kayak trip from Telegraph Creek into Babcock Swamp. Paddlers need their own equipment and the public is invited, but there’s space for just 10 paddlers. Then on Saturday, Aug. 9, there is a roughly four-mile paddle trip down Snook Haven and along the Myakka River. Rentals are available for this trip, but again, space is limited.

For more info on either paddle, or to reserve your spot, contact Frank Grieco at (239) 246-0259 or by email at fair325@aol.com.

The Florida Trail Association is an organization of volunteers dedicated to building and maintaining hiking trails for the public, emphasizing wilderness ethics and teaching environmental awareness. The Alligator Amblers chapter serves members in Collier, Lee and Charlotte Counties. You can learn more about the group at www.amblers.floridatrail.org.

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The Calusa Fly Fishers Club monthly meeting will be held tonight from 6:30-8:30 at Rutenberg Park (6490 Southpointe Blvd.) in Fort Myers.

The free meeting begins with some hands-on fly-tying instruction by Andrei Stroman, followed by a casting demonstration with Capt. Scott Swartz and a fly fishing program for the final 90 minutes.

Local anglers are encouraged to come out and talk some fly fishing, fine tune your casting, learn how to tie new patters and more. For additional info, call Joyce Rehr at (239) 472-3308 or e-mail her at CaptFlyRod@aol.com.