Bikers galore open watermelon fest

Jesse Lancaster (left), who sang the Star Spangled Banner, solo and a cappella, and Suwannee Valley Rotary Club President Jaime Hinote, are seen a few minutes before the start of the Tour de Melon Bicycle Ride. The Levy County Sheriff’s Honor Guard helped open the event before the start of the race as Lancaster sang the national anthem. The LCSO as well as the Chiefland Police Department, and many others made the fundraising activity a success again this year.
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Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © June 7, 2026 at 2 p.m.
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     LEVY COUNTY – About 200 bicycle riders and at least one reclining tricyclist launched on their ventures into Levy County, Dixie County and Gilchrist County on Saturday morning (June 6 {the anniversary of D-Day}).

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This is a view before the Levy County Sheriff’s Office cruiser moved to help keep participants safe during the start of their ride. This is the driveway leading from the College of Central Florida's campus in Levy County -- other than the driveway that provides access to U.S. Highway 19. This driveway crosses the Nature Coast State Trail (often referred to as part of the greenway and trail system) is a 32-mile paved, multi-use rail-trail that runs through Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties.


This two-minute video shows about 95 percent of the riders starting. Some stragglers began their journeys after the big group started. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved

     Some of the riders went for 50 miles. Some went for 100 miles. Others did not ride so far. They were all part of the effort by the Rotary Club of Suwannee Valley (based in Chiefland) to raise money for the club to donate for various charitable causes.
     The start and finish line was at the campus of the College of Central Florida that is just south of the City of Fanning Springs.
     The ride serves as an earmark for the start of the traditional Chiefland Watermelon Festival, which is hosted by the Woman’s Club of Chiefland. While the festival has been happening for several decades, the Suwannee Valley Rotary Club only came into existence in 2011.
     To see some of the 2024 coverage of the Tour de Melon and other watermelon festival happenings from 2025, click HERE. (There are several related links at the bottom of this linked coverage.)
 

Playground closed, springs open
at Blue Springs of Levy County
Information Provided
By Levy County Board of County Commissioners
Published June 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
     LEVY COUNTY -- The Levy County Board of County Commissioners, in coordination with the Levy County Public Works Department, recently announced that the Blue Springs Park Playground Area will be temporarily closed due to the installation of new playground equipment beginning on Monday, June 8, through Friday, June 12.
     The playground is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, June 13 at 10 a.m.
     The remaining areas of the Blue Springs Park will remain open to the public during this construction phase.
     Blue Springs Park is located at 4550 N.E. 94th Place, Bronson. It is in the unincorporated area of the county to the west of Bronson off of U.S. Alt. 27.
     The staff of Levy County appreciate the public’s patience, understanding and cooperation as these improvements are completed to enhance the park experience for residents and visitors.
     For additional information, please contact the Levy County Public Works Department at 352-486-5127.

July 3, Friday
CITY OF WILLISTON
     5 p.m.-after dark -- Stars and Stripes Forever hosted by the City of Williston. Line up for parade participants will begin at 3 p.m Parade begins at 5 p.m. Go to Horseman’s Park, 803 S.W. 19th Ave. beginning at 7 p.m. Fireworks begin at dark. If you are interested in participating in the parade or would like to reserve booth space at Horseman’s Park, please contact the City of Williston Customer Service Center at 352-528-3060 or email forms and inquiries to Latricia.Wright@willistonfl.org.

INDEPENDENCE DAY 2026
July 4, Saturday
TOWN OF INGLIS
    4-10 p.m. --  The Town of Inglis is scheduled to host its Independence Day and America’s 250th birthday celebration at South Levy Recreation Park, 8350 Levy County Road 40 East (aka Highway 40 East), Inglis. The event is free and will feature free food and drinks, live music, water slides and games for kids, a beer tent hosted by AMVETS Post 447 and fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

TOWN OF BRONSON
    5 p.m. --  Rock and Roll Fireworks Fun - The Town of Bronson is celebrating America's 250th birthday with a parade starting at 5 p.m. After the parade the public is invited to James H. Cobb Park, 220 Picnic St. for  local talent singing favorites and songs befitting the holiday and culminating with a band covering multiple music genres. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket as well as your dancing shoes and good voice. When darkness arrives, the fireworks begin. To sign up for the parade, donate to cover the fireworks or offer to volunteer to help pull it all together that day, call Councilman Reggie Stacy at 352-507-3968 or Bronson Town Hall at 352-486-2354.

CITY OF CEDAR KEY
     10:45 a.m. -- The Cedar Key 4th of July Golf Cart Parade hosted by Cedar Key Eagles #4194. Cart line up in the parking lot of the community center – Sixth and F Streets. Noon - There will be a BBQ Dinner and music at the Eagles #4194, Corner of B and Third Streets. BBQ Dinners $10 and kids receive a FREE red, white and blue popsicle.
     9:15 p.m. – Fourth of July Celebration hosted by the Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce. Fireworks will start at 9:15. Best places for viewing are the city park, Dock and First Streets or at the Airport Bridge. 

     Publisher's Note: For other Individuals, business interests, cities, towns, villages, hammocks, communities and the like in the Tri-County Area who want to let everyone in the world know about their planned open event to celebrate the United States of America having gained its independence from being a colony 250 years ago, send a Word document with the information to hardisonink@hotmail.com. And for the viewers who fail to notice "their" friends' or cities' events, that is because they were not sent to hardisonink@hotmail.com. (We do not use social media posts due to some of them being bogus, or jokes, etc.)
 

Café On Wheels

The Café On Wheels food trailer is seen on June 2 parked near to the former cafeteria of the old Bronson High School. Food trucks are noticed on occasion during times when the Levy County Commission meets in the Levy County Government Complex in Bronson. This trailer has a chicken logo as part of its branding.


This plaque on the wall outside of what has become the Levy County Government Complex Cafeteria notes, in part, that it was constructed in 1995 by the Levy County School Board, when Superintendent of Schools Paul D. Johnson, was joined by School Board Chairman Wayne E. Beauchamp, Vice Chairman Ted Alexander, and School Board members G. Frank Etheridge, Ricky Lowe and Jennefer Shuster as they were elected to serve the people in those roles. EMO Architects of Tallahassee and M.M. Parrish Construction Co. of Gainesville are noted on the metal plaque as being part of the whole that brought this structure to fruition a few decades ago.
Photos By Jeff M. Hardison © June 4, 2026 at 10 a.m.

Hart Springs overflow traffic directed
to the improved Otter Springs Park
By Jeff M. Hardison © June 3, 2026 at 12:15 p.m.
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     TRENTON – The official start of summer is a few weeks away, but the temperature has reached a point where people are going to visit county and state parks in the area to enjoy the cool water coming from the springs.
     Hart Springs and Campground in Gilchrist County is such a popular destination that there may be times when it reaches maximum capacity for visitors.
     The Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners on Monday (June 1), asked staff members to direct people to the recently renovated Otter Springs Park and Campground. The park recently was returned for the county to oversee it. And for visitors who have not been there in some months, the road leading into the park and campground has been significantly improved, according to what Gilchrist County Commissioner Tommy Langford mentioned. 
     During discussions about the upcoming chip and seal projects in Gilchrist County, that road was mentioned as already being improved.
     Otter Springs Park and Campground offers many opportunities for fun family activities including camping, swimming, hiking, canoeing, fishing and several facilities to accommodate groups for family reunions, parties, weddings, meetings or any other social gathering. 
     The campground offers more than 100 campsites with electric, water and sewer hook-ups, several tent camping spots and four cabins. 
     Visitors can enjoy swimming in the pool, there – as well as in the springs. The pool is heated during the winter. Otter Creek spring is a second magnitude spring located in the picnic area. There are also several hiking trails that lead to the Suwannee River, a small basketball court and a volleyball net are available.
     The address to Otter Springs Park & Campground is 6470 S.W. 80th Ave., Trenton, although it is in the unincorporate part of the county between the City of Trenton and the City of Fanning Springs.
 

Petals & Pathways
brings connection, creativity, and calm
Free program helps
dementia patients and caregivers
By Barbara L. Edmonds, ISA Arborist
UF/IFAS Levy County Extension
Published June 3, 2026 at 7 a.m.
     BRONSON -- Sometimes the act of planting a seed, arranging pressed flowers, or creating with natural materials can spark conversation, stir memories, and brighten someone’s day.
     Petals & Pathways is open to adults experiencing symptoms of dementia seeking social interaction, as well as for people diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers.
     This July, the University of Florida Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Levy County Extension, and the Haven Foundation of North Central Florida offer Petals & Pathways, which is a plant-based wellness program. This is a free four-week therapeutic horticulture (TH) program for adults, designed to nurture social connection and well-being.  
     Rooted in principles of therapeutic horticulture, the program uses plant-based activities to encourage social engagement, stimulate cognition, and promote an overall sense of wellness through both active and passive participation. The indoor location is walker- and wheelchair-accessible, and no gardening experience is needed. Participants simply need curiosity and a willingness to enjoy the experience.
     The four-week program is scheduled to be held Wednesdays -- July 8, 15, 22, and 29 -- from 10 to 11 a.m. in the cafeteria of the Levy County Government Complex (the former Bronson High School), 310 School St., in Bronson. Each week features a different hands-on activity: July 8 - Sowing Calm: Wheatgrass for Caregivers; July 15 - Leaf It To Me: Botanical Cards & Tags; July 22 - Grapevine, Herbs & Handmade Wreaths; and July 29 - Tiny Plants, Lasting Smiles.
     Levy County Horticulture Program Assistant Barbara L. Edmonds, TH volunteers, Hospice Dementia Care Program Manager Nita Howard, and staff members will lead the program.
     Participation is limited to 20 individuals. To register, call Levy County Extension at 352-486-5131 or sign up online through Eventbrite by searching “Levy County Extension.” For questions, ASL interpreter, or program-related accommodations, contact Barbara L. Edmonds at 352-486-5131. The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution.

Palms Medical Group offers
free services to student athletes
By Kyler Burk, Director of Marketing
Trenton Medical Center Inc., doing business as Palms Medical Group
Published June 1, 2026 at 9:30 p.m.
     HIGH SPRINGS -- Parents with children who play sports can rest assured this summer, as Palms Medical Group is offering free sports physical examinations at all locations for young athletes in the community.
     These physicals may be completed at any time during operating hours throughout June and July.
     Palms Medical Group offices are located in the following communities: Bell, Branford, Chiefland, Fleming Island, Gainesville, High Springs, Lake City (2), Live Oak, Starke, Trenton and Williston.
     “Our mission, to enhance the health and wellbeing of our communities, often begins with our youth,” Palms Medical Group CEO Anita Rembert said. “What a wonderful way to carry out this mission, investing in the future generation of athletes. By offering these physicals at our locations, we are lowering the barrier to entry for them to become the athletes they aspire to be.”
     NOTE: Sports physicals do not include the new Florida High School Athletic Association EKG requirement for incoming freshmen or new sophomore, junior or senior athletes. For performance and interpretation of EKGs, parents and guardians can visit https://www.whoweplayfor.org/.
     To schedule a free sports physical, call 888-730-2374 or visit https://palmsmg.org/.
 

Crops Rowed

As people drive around the Tri-County Area of Dixie County, Gilchrist County and Levy County, they see farms where crops are put into rows. Some are more visible as rows from the roads. This photo on a corner of Southeast 97th Terrace in Trenton (Gilchrist County) is probably peanuts, and these rows are clearly visible for passersby. Farming is a significant economic engine in the Tri-County Area, as is tourism. Driving around and looking at farms and ranches is leisurely for some people who enjoy the rural countryside. As for Gilchrist County being a destination, it is best known by tourists for its freshwater springs that feed into the Suwannee River and the Santa Fe River, where swimming, fishing, boating and other river-oriented activities abound as well.
Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © May 28, 2026 at 10:15 a.m.

Spoonbill Spotted

A Roseate Spoonbill finds its supper Thursday evening (May 14) at low tide in a saltmarsh to the north of Cedar Key.

Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © May 16, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     LEVY COUNTY – Wildlife abounds in the Tri-County Area of Levy County, Gilchrist County and Dixie County.
     Levy and Dixie counties are next to the Gulf of Mexico as well as having scenic rivers through them. Gilchrist County is known for being the Springs Capital of the World.
     A drive through part of Levy County Thursday evening (May 14) brought a traveling journalist to apply the brakes and try to capture a Roseate Spoonbill on video as it enjoyed its supper. It was a challenge and no tripod or other thing to steady the camera was used. Still, it turned out relatively well for watching this bird eat.


A Roseate Spoonbill is a large, long-legged wading bird named for its distinctively flat, spatula-shaped beak. There are six species worldwide. While most are white, the American species—the Roseate Spoonbill—features bright pink feathers similar to a flamingo. In this short video, it can be seen eating as a small white bird joins for the meal. To see and the video (the sound is mostly passing cars), click on the PHOTO.
Photo and Video By Jeff M. Hardison
All Rights Reserved

Shell Mound Boat Ramp
closes starting May 28
Information Provided By Tacia Guthrie, Administrative Assistant II
Levy County Board of County Commissioners
Published May 13, 2026 at 3 p.m.
     BRONSON – The Levy County Boar of County Commissioners note the temporary closure of the Shell Mound Boat Ramp begins Thursday, May 28,  as part of a grant-funded improvement project through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Florida Boating Improvement Program (FBIP).
     The project will include dredging of the navigation channel, an essential improvement aimed at enhancing boater safety, improving navigational access, and supporting the long-term functionality of the facility. Funding for this project was applied for in 2023 and awarded in 2024 through the FBIP grant program. The closure is expected to last approximately three months, with reopening anticipated later this summer.
     To safely accommodate construction operations, equipment, and personnel, approximately half of Shell Mound Campground will also be temporarily closed for the duration of the project. 
Levy County recognizes the inconvenience this temporary closure may cause residents and visitors during the peak summer boating season. However, due to grant funding requirements and project timelines, the construction activities must be completed during this timeframe.
     The County appreciates the public’s patience, understanding and cooperation as these important improvements are completed. 
For updates on the project and reopening timeline, please contact Levy County Public Works at 352-486-5127 or visit the Levy County official website.

UF architecture students’ participation
at Vista Camp leaves part of a legacy
Column and Photographs Provided by Debbie Meeks
Published May 8, 2026 at 8 p.m.
     LEVY COUNTY -- Vista Camp, or “The Vista,” is located within the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge on the banks of the lower Suwannee River in Florida.
     This 14-acre historic site is in the heart of the Refuge, near the Fowler’s Bluff community of unincorporated Levy County. It is currently closed to the public, except for specific scheduled events.
     At Vista Camp, a project supported by the University of Florida’s Gulf Scholars Program concluded with an appreciation lunch, and I’ll be honest — listening to the students present their work very nearly brought me to tears. They described guiding visitors through the site in a curated way, creating a conversation between the people, the buildings, and the landscape. They didn’t merely design and build benches and railings, they framed the history and nature of the place, allowing visitors to create their own memories in relation to it. They get it.


A student asks a question during the presentation.


Class wrap-up for the semester shows students enjoying some of their work.

How the project came about.
     Some months ago, Professor Charlie Hailey called Lower Suwannee Refuge Headquarters and asked for permission to tour the Vista Camp for his upcoming book about Florida fish camps. Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges volunteer Debbie Meeks helped Professor Hailey obtain the permission he needed, and the two discussed the needs and challenges of Vista. One could say, Charlie’s fish camp book sparked a mutually beneficial partnership between UF and the Refuge that was facilitated by the Friends.
     What these students were asked to do was genuinely hard.
     Work on the Refuge presents difficult parameters: no digging since the site has possible archaeological importance; a location that experiences periodic flooding; and being short-handed requires little or no ongoing maintenance. The students rose to meet all these challenges, then added a few of their own, carefully weighing environmental impact and aesthetic appeal in every decision. The material choices alone show deep thinking is required. They used cypress -- not just for its natural resistance to rot and insects, but because it mirrors the materials of Vista’s historic structures. The Cummer Lumber Co., original owners of the Vista Camp, logged cypress throughout Florida; so, the remaining buildings are constructed almost entirely of cypress from their sawmills. The students designed their work to belong here, practically and culturally.
     To address wet conditions at this riverside location, their constructions are supported on either charred cypress (Shou Sugi Ban) or biochar concrete blocks. Charring creates a rot-resistant outer layer on the wood and, as the students noted, echoes the prescribed burns so essential to healthy habitats on the Refuge.
     Biochar concrete is where the students’ thinking becomes especially inventive. Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by heating organic matter — wood, agricultural waste — at high temperatures with little oxygen, a process called pyrolysis. Its porous structure makes it an ideal material for capturing and storing CO₂, effectively locking carbon away rather than releasing it. Research suggests that adding even 1 percent biochar by mass to concrete mixes could sequester 0.5 gigatons of CO_₂ annually and reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of cement-based industries by 20 percent. By using biochar as aggregate in their footings, these students weren’t just solving a structural problem — they were turning a carbon intensive building material into a carbon sink.

Significant stops along the walk.
     At the caretaker’s house, a beautifully angled bench offers a pause and turns visitors toward the river — but the angle isn’t arbitrary. It is inspired by the geometry of the surrounding oak grove, reflecting the trees’ own kind of architecture. Notice how the ends of the rail and bench don’t simply stop; they dive into the ground and reemerge, a gesture that ties the furniture to the earth itself.

Professor Charlie Hailey is seen near an angled bench on the property.

     At another stop near the main house, a wide, flat bench sits beside the sign marking the height of the 1948 flood. This piece is intentionally omni-directional: you can sit facing the house or the river. You can lie down, spread out lunch, or open a box of watercolors. It asks nothing of you except that you be present.


Describing construction of the lounger.

     Finally, at the Suwannee River’s edge, two oversized ergonomically designed lounge chairs invite relaxation and appreciation of the gift the Refuge’s protected land and heritage sites offer the community. 
That’s the through-line in all of it: presence. Every decision — material, angle, height, footing — was made in service of helping people actually be somewhere. Not pass through, not glance at, but inhabit. These students designed for slow attention in a landscape that deserves it.
     The Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges are so grateful to Professor Charlie Hailey and the entire Reflective Building: Design/Build with the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge studio for pouring their time and thinking into the Vista Camp. The studio included Sara Abdo, Carla Caballero Alvarez, Ryan Chillinsky, Clowey Jabour, Brielle Jean Baptiste, Francesca Meza Venegas, Alexander Mirenda, Ahmik Paul, Jazlyn Perloff, Noa Tako, Natalie Ulmer, Hannah Vogel, Julie Waldrop, and Kya Williams. 
     Although this special place is not open to the public yet, it is a step closer -- thanks to them. What they’ve built will outlast the semester many times over.

Henry Beck Park reopens
Information Provided By Lev County Commission
Published May 1, 2026 at 2 p.m.
     BRONSON -- The Levy County Board of County Commissioners, in coordination with the Levy County Public Works Department, announced on Friday morning that Henry Beck Park is scheduled to reopen to the public tomorrow (Saturday, May 2) at 10 a.m.
     Henry Beck Park, 3770 S.E. Levy County Road 343, Morriston, was closed due to problems from smoke and fire in nearby wildfires.
     The closure took effect April 23 and was necessary due to the Cow Creek Road forest fire and is being implemented out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of all residents, park visitors, and fire personnel.
     The County Commission noted that it appreciates the public’s understanding and cooperation following the recent fire event that necessitated the temporary closure of the park.

Be CrocWise and GatorWise this summer

(Top left: American alligator adult. top right: American crocodile adult. Bottom left: American alligator hatchling. Bottom right: American crocodile hatchling.)

Information and Photos Provided
By Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Press Office
Published April 29, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
     TALLAHASEE -- Florida is well known for its American alligators, which belong to an order of reptiles called Crocodilia; however, they are not the only native crocodilian species found in the state. The American crocodile also inhabits coastal regions of southern Florida. Florida is the only place in the world where both alligators and crocodiles coexist in the wild.
Identifying American alligators and crocodiles
     Alligators have a rounded “U”-shaped snout and typically only their top teeth are visible when their jaws are shut. Crocodiles have a narrow “V”-shaped snout and typically both their top and bottom teeth are visible when their jaws are shut. Adult alligators are primarily dark gray in color with a lighter-color underside, although juvenile alligators will have light-colored stripes on their sides for camouflage. American crocodiles are a brownish-gray color and are generally paler colored than alligators.
     Alligators are found throughout the southeastern United States, including every county in Florida, and prefer freshwater lakes, slow-moving rivers and their associated wetlands; but can occasionally be found in brackish or saltwater. American crocodiles are found in tropical and subtropical coastal regions of the Americas, including the Caribbean, with the northern end of their range in southern Florida. They are primarily found in coastal brackish or saltwater ponds, coves and creeks, but are occasionally seen in inland freshwater areas due to the area’s extensive canal system.
Alligator and crocodile behavior
     While alligators and crocodiles tend to live in different water bodies, they share many of the same behaviors. For example, alligators and crocodiles will occasionally travel across land to get from one waterbody to another. When traveling on land, they are not actively hunting for prey.
     Like alligators, crocodiles rely on external sources of heat to regulate their body temperature. Crocodiles control their body temperature by basking in the sun with their mouths open, called “gaping,” or moving to areas with warmer or cooler air or water temperatures.
     The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) works to keep Floridians and visitors informed about alligators and crocodiles. Some ways to reduce conflict with alligators and crocodiles are:
     ● Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator or crocodile. If someone is concerned about an alligator or crocodile, they should call the FWC’s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (866-392-4286), to determine if a contracted nuisance alligator trapper will be dispatched to resolve the situation.   
     ● Keep pets on a leash and away from the water’s edge. Pets often resemble their natural prey. 
     ● Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet. Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn. 
     ● Never feed an alligator or crocodile. It’s illegal and dangerous. When fed, they can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food. This can lead to an alligator or crocodile becoming a nuisance and needing to be removed from the wild. 

Cedar Key Beach
and park visit provides insight

A seagull stands on Cedar Key Beach on Friday as the Gulf of Mexico sparkles with dots of sunlight seeming like flashbulbs from fish's little cameras lighting up as the fish take pictures of this seagull who is the star of the moment.

Story, Photos and Videos By Jeff M. Hardison © April 25, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     CEDAR KEY – A visit to the city park and beach in the City of Cedar Key on Friday morning (April 24) provided insight about this destination.
     The park and beach are just part of the many adventure areas of this destination in Levy County. Marine life is definitely under the water that is not able to be seen through in that part of the Gulf of Mexico, as demonstrated by the commercial fishing crews, as well as people who fish recreationally, and the pelicans and other birds that eat fish, crabs, clams, oysters and the like, which are active there. 


VIDB – A couple of the many motorized boat in the area are seen here, as is one pelican dive-bombing for a fish and another bird appearing to outrace a boat going to the right. Click on the PHOTO  to see and hear the video. Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved


Seagulls and sandpipers visit some fish parts on the edge of the surf. The wind is coming from the Gulf of Mexico to create the whole soundtrack of this relatively short video. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved



Two seagulls prepare to take flight.


Four seagulls stand after moments earlier all being cozily huddled into the sand and almost being unseen. Once notice, though, they stood.


A bird looks at some fish remains on the edge of the surf at Cedar Key Beach on Friday


Resting on a blue Croc for contrast, a ‘Mermaid’s Necklace’ is seen here. Whelk eggs are housed in a tough, leathery, spiraled string of connected capsules known scientifically as a whelk egg casing or whelk egg capsule string. These strings, sometimes called a ‘Mermaid's Necklace,’ can contain hundreds of capsules, each holding dozens of developing larvae. This was found on Cedar Key Beach on Friday.


Two birds that may be Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) stroll on Cedar Key Beach.


Pelicans sit on pilings as one flies away.


Fifteen of the many pelicans waiting for human fishermen to come to land their boats and give them scraps seem to know Cedar Key is a good location for seafood.


A couple of paddleboarders enjoy the Gulf of Mexico on Friday morning after launching from Cedar Key Beach.


One of the commercial fishing boats in the area of Cedar Key on Friday makes its way through the water.

     The public beach at Cedar Key (often called City Park or Lil Shark Park) is a very small, intimate beach. It is a 300- to 400-foot-long sandy stretch that is not very wide. The water there is not clear. 
     On Friday morning, the park and beach were relatively empty and enjoyable. A number of children seemed to be enjoying the playground as their shouts of joy were heard on occasion.