river tidingsand you’ll save money by using less paper. - carpool with friends and neighbors when...
TRANSCRIPT
April 2011
Volume 6, Issue 2
Thank You! April
River Center
Sponsors
Jupiter Dive Center
April Davis
Sponsors help make the River
Center’s education programs
and events possible.
www.loxahatcheeriver.org
Z. Rial
“Back Ridin’ on a Gator”
River Tidings
*** Calling All Shutterbugs! ***
The Loxahatchee River District, River Center, and Friends of the Loxahatchee River are excited to announce the second annual Loxahatchee River Amateur Photography Contest!
The competition is open to all local photographers, and includes a 17-and-Under category for children and teens.
Photographers may submit pictures for competition in the Flora, Fauna, Riverscape, and Human Dimension categories.
A cash grand prize of $300 will be awarded, and first place entries in all categories will receive cash and additional prizes.
Submitted photographs will be judged on Friday, April 29th at 7 p.m. at the River Center. Participants and guests are encouraged to attend the free public event.
Returning judges for the 2011 contest include professional photographers John J. Lopinot and Jason Nuttle. Joining them this year is Keith Lovett, Director of Living Collections at the Palm Beach Zoo.
Please be sure to submit your photographs by Friday, April 29th at 4 p.m. Submissions are $5 per photograph with all proceeds going to benefit the River Center’s environmental education programs.
An additional Creative and Clever category will also be open for submissions that have been digitally altered or enhanced. Photos submitted to this category will be on display at the River Center throughout the week of April 25th.
Visitors to the River Center and online viewers will vote for their favorite Creative and Clever photo all week, with final votes taking place during the contest judging event on Friday, April 29th.
There is no fee for submissions to the Creative and Clever category.
Creative and Clever photographs will not be eligible as grand prize winners, but other prizes will be awarded.
For more information on the upcoming contest or to submit photographs please contact Callie at the River Center by calling (561)743-7123. To download registration information and contest details please visit our website at www.loxahatcheeriver.org.
Upcoming Events:
- April 7 & 21- Yoga for Kids,
3:30 p.m. $5/child, ages 3-10,
Parents are welcome to attend.
RSVP to Callie at (561)743-7123
- Sat, April 16 - “Green” River
Cleanup, Volunteers will take
donated kayaks and canoes onto
the Loxahatchee River as part of
the Great American Cleanup, 8
a.m. to 12 p.m. Contact Melissa
to register, Call the River Center at
743-7123 or send an email to
- Fri, April 29 - Loxahatchee River
Photo Contest Public Judging
Event, 7 pm. to 9 p.m. Call Callie
at (561) 743-7123 or email
to register or volunteer.
2011 Loxahatchee River Amateur
Photography Contest
2010 Grand Prize Winner “Loxahatchee
Sunrise Sunbeam” by Michael Dubiner
Page 2 River T id ings Volume 6, I ssue 2
The River
C e n t e r ’ s
second annual
Night on the
Loxahatchee
benefit was a smashing success,
raising over $7,400 for the
center’s environmental education
programs!
Over 140 guests attended
the one-of-a-kind event where
they were treated lionfish
hors d ’oeuvres, f i l le t ing
demonstrations, unique local art,
and much more in an effort
to raise awareness of these
venomous fish invading our local
waters.
Chef Tommy Williams served
l i onf i sh hors d ’oeuv re s
blackened and fried as he shared
cooking tips for
the delicious
buttery meat.
Guests enjoyed
capture and filet
demonstrations
of the venomous
fish from Randy
Jordan, founder
of Lion Tamers USA, who used
the lionfish’s delicate side fins
as a garnish for the sushi dish he
prepared during his presentation.
One lucky guest even went
home with a Lionfish Cookbook,
d o n a t e d b y t h e R e e f
Environmental Education
Foundation (REEF), just one of
many amazing door prizes
raffled off during the event.
Guests learned lionfish
basics during an intimate
presentation by Zack Jud, of
F lo r i da In te rna t i ona l
University (FIU), whose
presentation focused on
local research and eradication
efforts led by FIU and the
Loxahatchee River District.
Featured at the Night on the
Loxahatchee was an elegant,
larger than life l ionfish
watercolor by Michelle Nicole
Lowe. Vibrant lionfish and
marine themed art of all
mediums was on display
throughout the center and two
intricate sea life print by artist
Jim Barry were a hit in the raffle.
Guests to the Night on the
Loxahatchee got to place the
final votes for the River Center’s
Kids Lionfish Coloring Contest
and local children Andrew
D’Amato, Emma Simon, and
Zachary Grieve were announced
as winners during the fundraiser.
Tropical tunes by Mark
DeLeon serenaded
guests as they viewed
over twenty splendid
silent auction items
donated by local
businesses. An original, hand-
made lionfish print bag was the
prize of the auction that also
included a SCUBA certification
a n d W i F i
N e t b o o k ,
among other
items.
Guests delighted
their palates
with flavorful
Caribbean catering
by local restaurant legend Food
Shack, complimented by a
variety of robust
w ines , s ea sona l
beers, and unique
microbrews donated
by Total Wine &
More and Southern
Eagle Distributing.
Over twenty volunteers
graciously donated their time and
efforts helping to make the 2011
Night on the Loxahatchee our
most exciting event yet!
Committee members Jorge
Aquino, Baret Barry, Pat Gostel,
and Suzanne Mechler worked
tirelessly alongside River Center
staff to create a once in a lifetime
experience that guests will
remember.
The River Center looks
forward to hosting another
amazing Night on the
Loxahatchee in February of
2012! You can become part
of this memorable event by
contacting Melissa at the River
Center by phone at (561) 743-
7123 or through email to river
Night on the Loxahatchee Benefit Sold Out Event
Event Donors
Thank You!
60 Minutes Photo
Alma’s Go Pets
Amber Moran
Aurora Cruises &
Travel
Ayleen Howard
Food Shack
Gunster Law Firm
Hard Exercise Works
Jim Barry Art
Jupiter Country Club
Jupiter Dive Center
Jupiter Outdoor
Center
Katherine Morse
Kristine Dow
Mark DeLeon
Michelle Nicole Lowe
Millay Imagery
Pat Gostel
PRP Wine International
REEF
Sea Tow
Tom Green
Vindo Group
Thank You Night on the Loxahatchee Sponsors!
Kids Yoga Returns To The River Center
Angel Bear Yoga has come to
the River Center!
Get your yoga on with River
Center educator Callie Sharkey at
3:30 p.m. on select Thursdays
throughout the spring.
Kids ages 3 to 10 are welcome to
attend, and parents are encouraged
to participate, though it is not
required.
Angel Bear Yoga is a program
designed specifically for children. It
teaches them basic yoga poses
based on elements of nature and the
environment.
Kids yoga costs $5 per child and
adults are free!
Each session lasts about 45
minutes and all participants should
bring a yoga mat or towel.
To view scheduled yoga sessions
please visit our online calendar at
www.loxahatcheeriver.org.
To receive weekly updates
regarding Kids Yoga and other
upcom ing ch i ld ren ’s even ts
please call Callie at the River Center
at (561) 743-7123 or send an email
Page 3 River T id ings Volume 6, I ssue 2
www.loxahatcheeriver.org
“Green” River Cleanup on Sat, April 16
Hop in a canoe, kayak, or
paddleboard and help clean up the
Loxahatchee River!
The River Center and Loxahatchee
River District, in conjunction with Keep
Palm Beach County Beautiful, are
hosting another Loxahatchee River
Cleanup on Saturday, April 16th from
8 a.m. to 12 p.m. This fun family event
is part of the Great American Cleanup.
The cleanup will be held at
three locations throughout Jupiter.
Volunteers can cruise Coral Cove Park
West in their own boats, or paddle
around Burt Reynolds Park in kayaks
donated by Jupiter Outdoor Center.
Families with small children can
canoe throughout Riverbend Park
cleaning the Wild and Scenic
Loxahatchee River in boats provided
by Canoe Outfitters of Florida.
To further the positive impacts of
the cleanup, we encourage volunteers
to use 5-gallon buckets and washable
gardening gloves in place of plastic
garbage bags and vinyl gloves. Some
buckets and gloves will be provided by
the River Center on a first come first
served basis.
Pick-up tools and some snacks will
be provided at each location, and
volunteers are welcome to bring their
own as well. Some water will be
available at both locations but
participants should bring a refillable
water bottle.
Volunteers ages 16 to 18 will need
a signed parent consent form to
participate. An adult must accompany
volunteers age 15 and younger.
All volunteers are encouraged to
pre-register for the River Cleanup,
although on-site registration will be
available.
Registration packets are available
for pick up at the River Center, by
phone at 743-7123 or by email to
Contact the River Center to register!
(561) 743-7123
Page 4 River T id ings Volume 6, I ssue 2
Going Green
- When printing utilize both
sides of the paper. Many
software programs offer a
double-sided printing option
and you’ll save money by
using less paper.
- Carpool with friends and
neighbors when running
errands or attending the
same event. You’ll use less
gas and have more fun
spending time with loved
ones!
- Add a touch of spring to
your clothes by hanging
them outside to dry in our
gorgeous Florida weather.
You’ll save energy and feel
refreshed soaking up sun.
www.loxahatcheeriver.org
Creature Double Feature - Florida Coontie Plant & Atala Butterflies The Coontie plant,
a feathery, fern-like
s h r u b o f t h e
evergreen family,
has recently gained
much recognition as
the host plant of the
larval Atala butterfly,
a native Florida
insect once thought to be extinct.
The Coontie may be one of the most
primitive, slow growing plants on
Earth, taking up to 30 years to grow
5 lbs. Meaning “flour root” in the
Seminole language, Coontie’s large
storage roots were originally used by
the natives to create flour and starch.
The practice quickly caught on
commercially in the early 1900’s as
factories began to develop throughout
south Florida. Coontie flour was
especially popular as an ingredient of
arrowroot biscuits.
Commercial harvesting, paired with
the area’s significant development
during the mid 1900’s, and subsequent
destruction of their pine flat woods
habitat caused Coontie p lant
populations to suffer a severe decline.
With few Coontie host
plants left in their limited
south Florida habitat,
Atala butterfly populations
soon began to decline.
By 1965 Atalas had
s u f f e r e d s u c h a
population decrease that they were
thought to be extinct.
Recently the Coontie has made a
comeback, as more south Florida
gardeners focus on designing their
landscape around native plants. Along
with Atala butterfly reintroduction
efforts by nature centers throughout
south Florida, the recent increase
of Coontie plants available to
larval Atalas
has given rise
t o t h e i r
populations,
and scientists
no longer fear
extinction of
the Atalas.
To view the Coontie plant and
Atala butterfly’s unique symbiotic
relationship up close, visit the River
Center’s gardens. You can also enjoy
the beautiful butterflies and promote
Florida natives by adding Coontie
plants to the landscaping around your
home.
For more information regarding
Coonties and Atala butterflies please
visit the University of Florida’s
Department of Etymology page at
h t t p : / / www. e n t nem de p t . u f l . e du
/creatures/bfly/atala_hairstreak.htm.
Volunteer Roundup Sat, April 16 - Family River Cleanup - Improve your local environment
by volunteering at the River Center during the Great American Cleanup!
Paddle along the Loxahatchee river in donated canoes and kayaks or walk
along the shores picking up litter. Go extra “green” by utilizing buckets and
washable gardening gloves instead of plastic garbage bags and vinyl gloves.
8a.m. to 12 p.m. Multiple locations throughout Jupiter, Call Melissa at
(561) 743-7123 or email [email protected] for details
or to register!
Fri, April 29 - Photo Contest Judging Event - Help our staff setup and
cleanup the River Center for the Loxahatchee River Photography Contest
Judging Event. 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For more info or to register as a
volunteer please contact Callie by calling (561) 743-7123 or send an email to
Sat, May 14 - Food & Wine Festival - Sign up to volunteer as a River
Center docent at the Friends of Jupiter Beach Food & Wine Festival! 12 p.m.
to 6 p.m. Contact Melissa at (561) 743-7123 for details.