Calendar

APRIL 4

Come out and run the sixth annual Wounded Warrior and Lone Sailor 5K/10K on April 4 in Baldwin Park. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. in Blue Jacket Park. All donations will be benefiting the Camaraderie Foundation, based out of Orlando. Visit cfnl5k.org

Come hear from acclaimed author Laura van den Berg as she reads from her new novel, “Find Me,” on Saturday, April 4, at 1:30 p.m. Already honored with many literary awards for her past work, she has received outstanding reviews for her new book by the national media. The event will take place at the University Club of Winter Park, located on 841 N. Park Ave. Admission is free. Call 407-488-4163.

APRIL 7

Black bears used to be a threatened species, now they are routinely spotted in suburban areas. UCF Professor of Biology Dr. Daniel Smith will discuss “Living with Black Bears, the management of their native habitats and the influence of suburban development” at the Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society’s meeting on April 7. The meeting at Harry P. Leu Gardens is free and open to the public. Although it will begin at 7 p.m., attendees are encouraged to come early for refreshments and to mingle with other native plant enthusiasts.

APRIL 8

Learn about beekeeping benefits as Phil Robertson, a University of Florida-certified advanced beekeeper and keeper of three hives, addresses how backyard beekeeping benefits neighborhoods and how it is practiced. The event will be held at the Winter Park Garden Club on April 8 at 10 a.m. The event is free. Call 407-644-5770.

APRIL 10

Join the Central Florida Mineral and Gem Society, a not-for-profit educational organization, at a Rock, Mineral, Gem, Jewelry & Fossil Show on April 10, 11 and 12 at the Florida National Guard Armory. Show times are as follows: April 10 from 1 to 6 p.m., April 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and April 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vendors will be offering beads, minerals, gemstones, custom jewelry, fossils, artifacts, metaphysical stones, etc. There will be a silent auction and door prizes, as well as demonstrations of faceting stones, cabochons, wire wrapping and chain mail. Admission is at $5 for adults and $2 for students. Visit cfmgs.org

APRIL 11

Stop and smell the roses as the spring season begins when the city’s Parks & Recreation Department’s Landscape Division will host its first Park Avenue Garden Tour on Saturday, April 11, at 9 a.m. Join a city horticulture specialist on this flowery, two-block tour will share an intimate glimpse into Park Avenue’s eye-catching planters, topiaries, hanging baskets and more. Attendees will learn about plants fit for a Florida garden that include over 30 species. The one-hour morning tour begins at Garfield Avenue (behind the Central Park main stage), continues through the meandering sidewalks in Central Park, and reaches its final destination at the blooming Central Park Rose Garden. Space is limited. Please RSVP by Friday, April 3, to 407-599-3397.

Spend a fun afternoon nibbling on delicious food, sipping wine from Napa Valley and shopping from local and national boutiques at the fifth annual Wine Women and Shoes event on April 11. The event, featuring MIX 105.1’s CJ Robinson as the emcee, will go from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Ports of Call at SeaWorld Orlando. 100 percent of the ticket proceeds will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. General admission tickets are $85 and VIP tickets $135. Visit winewomenandshoes.com/orlando or email Maureen Mikel at [email protected] for more information.

The Central Florida Orchid Society will hold its annual spring Orchid Show and Sale on April 11 and 12. Guests are invited to the Bahia Shrine where the event will go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Plant vendors and supplies vendors will be on site with a large variety of beautiful, flowering orchid plants and potting and mounting supplies. The Society’s members will also take care of repotting for attendees’ plants. Admission is $5 and parking is free. To see the awarded entries, and for more information, visit cflorchidsociety.org

APRIL 12

Enjoy an Ice Cream Social to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, at the Winter Park Civic Center, located at 1050 W. Morse Blvd. in Winter Park. The Friends of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida will transform the center into a fun, family-friendly place. The event will feature delicious ice cream and treats, cake, games, contests, door prizes, a silent auction, and entertainment for the whole family. Scheduled activities and attractions include create a sundae, an old-fashioned cakewalk, pin the cherry on the sundae, a barbershop quartet and a special appearance by ventriloquist and magician Jacki Manna. Cost is $6 in advance and $8 at the door. Tickets are available at both Ronald McDonald Houses and from the Friends of RMHCCF Steering Committee. Call 407-677-1552 or visit rmhorlando.org/events

APRIL 15

Learn how to create linear features within floral arrangements with Emily Baeder and Mary Louise Trescott at the Winter Park Garden Club on Wednesday, April 15, at 10 a.m. Participants are to bring their own container and plant material. A payment of $10 is due April 8. For more information, call 407-644-5770.

ONGOING

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is launching Curiosity Tours presented by Fifth Third Bank, “The Curious Bank,” that explore the stories and spaces of the arts center. The 45-minute tours, with time following for a Q&A, are available Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. The tours are free to the public with the first spots filled from a waiting list of guests who previously contacted the arts center. Registration is available online at drphillipscenter.org for designated Saturdays. Each tour hosts a maximum of 20 people.

Every two seconds, someone in the world suffers from a stroke. Stroke groups challenge survivors to get beyond their doctor-imposed, therapist-imposed, family-imposed and self-imposed limitations thanks to the support of fellow survivors. The Bcenter Stroke Support and Social Group provides resources, hope and direction. The events is free and held every third Monday of the month from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Winter Park Civic Center. For more information, contact [email protected] or call 888-942-9355.

Orange County is hosting the Mayor’s Neighborhood Challenge is a friendly, free competition which gives neighborhood and community organizations activities that can help their neighborhood thrive by becoming more healthy, green and involved. Participants fill out scorecards and are provided with a toolkits. Neighborhoods that complete this Challenge will be recognized based on their level of achievement, and winners will be honored during the Orange County Community Conference on July 18 and receive great prizes. Applications are now being accepted and the Challenge is set to end on June 12. To start the challenge, neighborhood groups should contact Emily Hanna at 407-836-7371 or [email protected]