CKWC takes 32 firsts
Next up – district show


Some of the Cedar Key Woman’s Club crafters who participated are seen here. They are (seated, from left) Tammy Reed, Leslie Vassal, Donna Bushnell, and (standing, from left) Marci Wilcox, Judy Duval, Rosemary Danesi, Pat Stephens, Dawn Callahan and Jean Garbaty.
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Story and Photo By Donna Bushnell of the CKWC
Published Feb. 11, 2026 at 8:15 a.m.
     CEDAR KEY – The Cedar Key Woman’s Club (CKWC) recently held its annual Arts and Crafts Show, with 51 entries by members.
     The CKWC had 32 first place entries that are going to be entered into the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Florida District #5 Arts and Crafts Show later this month.

Artist and author brings history
and love to nursing home
Folks talk about turpentine and pines

Artist Carolyn Cohens (left) and Tri-County Nursing Home Admissions Coordinator Melanie Durrance stand on either side of Cohens’ sister Charlie Mae Ward. Ward and Durrance played together as children when they lived in the Town of Otter Creek decades ago.

Story and Photos By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 7, 2026 at 2:15 p.m.
     FANNING SPRINGS – More than a dozen of the 81 residents at Tri-County Nursing Home and Rehabilitation in the Gilchrist County part of the City of Fanning Springs enjoyed hearing from author and artist Carolyn Cohens on Friday afternoon (Feb. 6).

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     Cohens, 77, an accomplished artist, author and historian, was recently visiting with her sister Charlie Mae Ward, 71, a resident in the nursing home.
     That visit led to Cohens speaking with Admissions Coordinator Melanie Durrance about the turpentine industry in the area from decades ago, in no small part, because Durrance and Ward used to play together as children in the Town of Otter Creek decades ago.
     Durrance said she remembers those days. She would play in the streets of the Town of Otter Creek, as well as to leave her bare footprints on the floor where the turpentine still was located, and the gooey turpentine would show those footprints, while not sticking to her feet.


This painting by Carolyn Cohens, she said, shows how children played together long ago in Levy County even before the federal government forced schools to integrate. Children did not see skin color as a barrier to them having fun together, she said.


Una Courtney and Carolyn Cohens (standing) provide a photo opportunity as the two friends greet each other at Tri-County Nursing Home on Friday afternoon (Feb.6).

     Una Courtney, a resident at the nursing home, heard about Cohen’s stories from the days of turpentine in Levy County. Courtney told Cohens that she used to have a clay cup that was used to collect the sap from pine trees and would then be distilled into turpentine.
     Someone had taken Courtney’s pine sap collecting cup, she told Cohens.
     Cohens said she plans to give Courtney one her antique pine-sap collection cups from the heyday of turpentine production as a Valentine’s Day gift.
     The conversations Cohens had with Tri-County Nursing Home Administrator Heather Snellgrove, NHA, Tri-County Nursing Home Activities Director Dawn Cross and others brought a gallery showing of Cohen’s art to be viewed by the nursing home’s residents Friday afternoon as the artist spoke to the group of residents and staff.
     Like Durrance, Cohens and others in the building that day, Snellgrove has a connection with pine trees. Her grandparents moved to Dixie County long ago and they worked with pulpwood from pines. They owned Snellgrove Stumping of Dixie County.
     Pulpwood is timber specifically harvested to be reduced to wood pulp for manufacturing paper, cardboard, fiberboard and engineered wood products.


Fanning Springs Mayor Trip Lancaster is seen with artist Carolyn Cohens shortly before she began telling people about the paintings she brought for people to enjoy at Tri-County Nursing Home.


These four paintings are among those Carolyn Cohens created, and they show scenes from the days of pine sap being used in Levy County to create turpentine at a mill there.
     Fanning Springs Mayor Howell E. “Trip” Lancaster III came to see the presentation on Friday afternoon, too.
     Afterward, residents and guests of the nursing home enjoyed a chance to speak with Cohens about her work as an artist, as an author and as a historian.


Nathan Whitfield is seen near the pine and turpentine artwork by Carolyn Cohens. Of the two pieces he purchased, the one to the leftmost in this picture is now his.

     Nathan Whitfield, 66, a resident of the nursing home bought a couple of Cohen’s paintings.
     “The one on the left reminded me of what my kinfolk went through,” Whitfield said as he pointed to a painting showing a cup that collects pine sap for conversion to turpentine.
     Many of Whitefield’s family members were involved with pine trees and turpentine in Taylor County, he said, adding that he knows people in the Tri-County Area of Levy County, Gilchrist County and Dixie County are continuing to work in agricultural interests to provide lumber and other products from pine trees today.
     Based on historical data, large-scale, traditional turpentine production, which was once a major industry in Florida, has declined significantly. While turpentine can be derived from pine resins present in Florida's forests, such as longleaf pine, modern turpentine is now largely replaced by synthetic alternatives.
     Whitfield spoke about his travels from Alaska to the Carolinas as a fiberoptic cable installer from years ago, and from the years when he worked at his father’s (William Fletcher “Bill” Whitfield – March 30, 1917-Jan. 23, 1984) gas station in Cross City. His father was a World War II veteran.
     Whitfield mentioned that while he now lives at the nursing and rehabilitation facility in the Town of Fanning Springs, he still has kin in Taylor County.
     As for the two paintings he bought from Cohens, Whitfield said, “She captured the essence of what the county used to be. When I see something I like, I buy it. I wish I had more money so I could buy more of these paintings.”


Carolyn Cohens speaks about her paintings, sharing stories about each one as she goes around the room.

     Cohens said she is honored and pleased to have been invited to provide the people with a chance to see these works of art she created.
     Normally, many of these pieces are at the Historic Chiefland Train Depot in Chiefland. Cohens said people who want to have her provide them with a tour of the museum can arrange it by calling Chiefland City Hall.
     Cohens has decades of service in Levy County as she has provided many Black History programs in the Levy County Courthouse as well as in the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum and elsewhere.
     To see just a few of the many relevant stories, photos and videos to this story, click as noted below:
     ● Sept. 28, 2025 -- Museum reopens, heralding phenomenal recovery, click HERE.
     ● Feb. 9, 2024 -- Fine art, literature and performing arts add to history program in Cedar Key, click HERE. 
     ● Feb. 5, 2023 -- History unfolds presently in Cedar Key; Integrated cemetery may be the first from Florida’s past, click HERE.
     ● Feb. 12, 2022 -- Artistic love washes over island; Historian of the Year graces Cedar Key click HERE.

Taste of the Nature Coast
helps people in Tri-County Area again

Top Chef Award recipient Bruce Greenlee (at right) is the owner and chef at Heavy B’s BBQ. He is joined here by his wife Amelia L. Greenlee and son Andre Greenlee, who help in the award-winning local barbecue venture.
Photo Courtesy of Ashley and Tom Andresen 

Information Provided By TCCRC Manager Beverly Goodman
Photos courtesy of Ashley & Tom Andresen
Edited By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 7, 2026 at 10:15 a.m.
     CITY OF FANNING SPRINGS – Three hundred people from the Tri-County Area enjoyed another Annual Taste of the Nature Coast event at the Suwannee River Fair Pavilion in the City of Fanning Springs on Thursday night (Feb. 4).
     Making a comeback in 2023 after a three-year hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event included 13 different restaurants, caterers, and food trucks who participate in the 2026 Taste of the Nature Coast. 
     The event was hosted by Tri-County Community Resources to raise funds for Tri-County Community Resource Center (TCCRC). 
     It raised more than $25,000 to support the sustainability and work of the TCCRC. Tickets were sold out for the event.
     This event is among the methods used to fund the TCCRC, which helps people in the Tri-County Area by working in partnership with the public by providing services, resources, and information to benefit the needs of our community.
     The TCCRC came into existence from a shared belief that no one in the community should have to struggle alone. For years, residents and leaders in Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties recognized the gap in local access to essential services.
     While TCCRC is the physical hub where services are delivered, TCCR works behind the scenes to identify community needs, build partnerships and to secure the funding and support needed to keep services going.
     The Resource Center thrives because of collaboration. Partnership for Strong Families, the lead community-based care agency for the area, is a recognized leader in place-based prevention. The City of Chiefland makes it possible for the center to exist by providing a welcoming space. 
     The TCCR and Partnership for Strong Families presented two partner awards this year -- Community Investment Award, to Suncoast Credit Union, for granting more than $200,000 in financial support to the center to support literacy, disaster preparedness and recovery, and adult scholarship programs; and the Community Builder Award, to the Chiefland Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), for collaborations of a wide variety, from providing Blessing Bags of hygiene items, transporting nonperishable food from the food bank to the resource center’s emergency food closet, beautification of the exterior of the TCCRC’s garden beds, and assistance in procuring a regional LDS grant to assist with funding storage expansion and a New Parent Support Program for expectant families and expectant mothers.
     Attendees at the event on Thursday night voted for their favorite tastes in a variety of categories.
     Here is the Chef Award Winner list: Top Chef – Heavy B’s BBQ; Most Creative – Off the Beet; Best Sweet Treat – JK Waffle Brew Café; and Favorite Signature Sip – Moo’s Lemonade.


Chef Cindy Wiley’s ‘Brunch Grazing Table’ is seen being visited here at the 2026 Taste of the Nature Coast. 
Photo Courtesy of Ashley and Tom Andresen 


The 2026 Taste of Nature Coast medals, seen here, are awarded to all 13 participating chefs and their teams.
Photo Courtesy of Ashley and Tom Andresen

      Following are the participating providers for the 2026 Taste of the Nature Coast, as well as what each chef made.
      ● American Grace Cafe: Fish & Chips, Venison Chili, Cowgirl Cold Brew, and a Cream Tea Refresher;
      ● Bar-B-Q Bill’s: Tomato Basil Soup with Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese, Shepherd’s Pie, and Peanut Butter Banana Cake;
      ● Black Prong Bar & Grill: Grilled Sticky Peanut Shrimp;
      ● Elle Cocina Tex-Mex: Cowboy Style Brisket Street Tacos;
      ● Green Barn Prime: Cajun Steak Bites and Scratch Banana Pudding;
      ● Heavy B's Barbeque: Smoked Brisket, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, Macaroni & Cheese, and Baked Beans;
      ● JK Waffle Brew Cafe: OG Iced Coffee and a Turtle Brownie Waffle;
      ● June Hutto's Cake & Cookies: Frosted Homemade Sugar Cookies;
      ● Moo’s Lemonade: Homemade Lemonade, Sassy Soda, and Boba add-ins;
      ● Off The Beet: Labneh with Crostini and Pork Ribeye with Balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes;
      ● Quincey Cattle Beefs Brisket & Burgers: Smoked Beef Barbacoa Tacos, Brisket Queso, and Bourbon Bread Pudding;
      ● Side Dish Catering at Lottieville Farms: Brunch Grazing Table with Mocktails, Swamp Bites, Banana Ham Flim Flams, Potato Cakes, and Brunch Sundaes; and
      ● The Vine and Branch Deli: Tomato Basil Soup and Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Ice warning issued in Levy County

This picture of part of the equipment panel for a 2016 GMC Terrain SLE shows a warning about ice. All of the lights and warnings went away after the seatbelt was fastened. These are the initial lights shown at the start of the engine.

Story and Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:45 p.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     LEVY COUNTY – After needing to add air to four tires of a 2016 GMC Terrain SLE on Feb. 3, one intrepid, illustrious and prolific journalist still made it to the Levy County Government Center before the opening prayer and pledge for the Levy County Board of County Commissioners meeting that Tuesday.
     “I love this GMC that my wife Sharon and I bought from Big Bend Chevrolet Buick as we traded a 2013 Nissan Juke as part of the payment,” Hardison said.
     The vehicle showed the tire pressure was low on all four tires that morning, and he brought the air pressure up to the right level by using the $2 air pump at the Jiffy Crossroads (formerly Carter’s Crossroads) on the corner of State Road 345 and Levy County Road 347.
     The 70-year-old multiple award-winning journalist said the vehicle gave him other messages both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings (Feb. 3 and 4).
     “Ice Possible. Drive With Care,” the car showed him.
     The man who was born in St. Petersburg, and who has served readers at daily and weekly newspapers from Gainesville to Jasper to Naples, and from Melbourne to St. Petersburg, and several stops in-between, said he has never seen snow or slid in a vehicle on icy streets. He also did not see snow in any of the states he visited in the United States, or in West Germany, Mexico or Australia.
     Likewise, this is the most modern vehicle he has owned, and it has gizmos he has not completely mastered yet.
     “So, the car, from my perspective is thoughtful,” he said late Wednesday afternoon. “It warned me to be on the lookout for ice on the streets. And the people at Big Bend were thoughtful, too. They replaced the four tire sensors that stopped working the day we bought the SUV ‘as is.’ They gave some leeway compared to the ‘as is’ that I know.”
     Even though the Chevrolet dealership, as well as the local Ford, Jeep, Chrysler and other dealerships have not bought an ad on the local 15-year-old daily news website, the man said that he and his wife are leaning toward buying another vehicle from Big Bend in Chiefland.
     “We previously bought more than a few vehicles from the Chrysler-Jeep people in Chiefland,” he said, “before we went to a Jenkins Hyundai dealership in Leesburg (Lake County) for the Juke. I think the people at Big Bend were the best in regard to going beyond what is expected.”
 

Hart Springs planned for 100 more RV sites
New waste transfer site choice probable
By Jeff M. Hardison © Feb. 3, 2026 at 8 a.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     TRENTON –Gilchrist County Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a plan that has been in the making for years, and which provides 100 RV slots near to the Suwannee River at Hart Springs Park and Campground.
     In another action by the County Commission, they unanimously approved County administrator Bobby Crosby with going forward in a move to purchase either 20 or 40 acres of land off of Gilchrist County Road 340 for a new solid waste transfer site.
     Rather than expand on the main site, which is relatively close to schools in the Bell area, the commissioners agreed that the new site is a better idea. This way, too, there will not be a need to demolish the existing Gilchrist County Animal Shelter that is near to the main solid waste transfer site.
     If the county succeeds in buying acreage where Crosby is focusing now, then it will be a solid waste transfer site – just like those that already exist in the county. This is not a future landfill.
     Gilchrist County Attorney David Miller “Duke” Lang Jr. confirmed with Gilchrist County Clerk and Comptroller Todd Newton there is not issue with seeking other 20- or 40-acre properties that some sellers may want to offer the county for this addition to the county’s infrastructure.
     Newton reminded the attorney that the only possible issue he sees with the county buying land for the future solid waste transfer site addition is to be certain that the county does not pay more than appraised value at a fair market price.
     Further discussion by the County Commission led to the 5-0 vote for Crosby to do what he needs to move forward with the county potentially buying the property, and to find the difference between possible prices for 20 acres versus 40 acres at this site.
     The property is about five miles north on U.S. Highway 129 from the current main solid waste transfer site and scale and then going east on CR 340.
In Other Action
     In other actions by the County Commission, it voted to approve a change order to a construction plan and related costs that were found needed after the Suwanee River Water Management District completed reviews for permits.
     Commission Sharon A. Langford and other commissioners said they dislike change orders on construction projects, but all conceded this instance was not something that could be worked around or known before the SRWMD’s involvement.
     In regard to requests from Gilchrist County Fire Rescue, there was a 4-1 vote of approval, with Commissioner Sharon Langford voting against buying a Ram 2500 truck for $67,210.
     The commission voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of medical equipment, including a Zenix Monitor/Defibrillator, EMS, Standard Configuration.
     The defibrillator from ZOLL Medical Corp. costs $49,000. It was the lion’s share of the total $54,788.65 in EMS equipment approved for purchase.
     Of the total of approximately $122,000, grant funds cover most of the cost, with the county needing to put in a 25 percent match of $31,000.
     The county’s fire chief explained this funding was from a switch required from a previous grant that would have bought a command vehicle, but that vehicle could not be purchased with the limited funds available. As Commissioner Sharon Langford argued against the pickup truck purchase, the fire chief noted the county would still have to pay $31,000 due to the structure of the grant, even if only the medical supplies were bought and the truck was not.
     This grant reallocation allows for the truck and the medical equipment for the same amount of match by the county, he explained.
     As a matter of principle, Langford stayed with her choice and voted against buying the truck, although the 4-1 vote made the truck and medical equipment purchases both happen.
     In another action, the County Commission agreed to lease four CAT motor graders for five years. The total for five years for those four graders is about $1.7 million, according to records.
 

State Parks offer free admission
in celebration of
George Washington’s birthday
and America’s 250th anniversary

This American eagle is from a Florida Department of Environmental Protection archive. It was taken at Lake Kissimmee State Park, in the Lake Wales area.

By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 31, 2026 at 7 a.m.
     TALLAHASSEE -- As the United States of America begins commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) invites residents and visitors to explore some of the places where history unfolded in this state.
     In honor of President George Washington’s birthday, Florida State Parks will offer free admission from Friday, Feb. 13, through Monday, Feb. 16, encouraging visitors to experience the landscapes that shaped the nation’s earliest chapters, the FDEP noted.
     George Washington (Feb. 22, 1732-Dec. 14, 1799) was America's first President. He was known for several things, including telling the truth.
     The United States of America started with 13 states, which were formerly the 13 British colonies located along the Atlantic coast. These colonies declared independence in 1776, becoming states that ratified the United States Constitution to form the initial Union, with Vermont, Kentucky, and others joining later.  
     Florida became the 27^th state on March 3, 1845, admitted to the Union alongside Iowa as a slave state, following Florida’s time as a United States territory organized in 1822 after Spain ceded it to the United States of America in 1821.
     Florida was the third state to secede from the Union, officially joining the Confederate States of America on Jan. 10, 1861. Despite having the smallest population among Confederate states, Florida provided essential supplies like beef, pork, salt and cotton, while contributing roughly 15,000 troops to the war effort.
     After the Civil War, which was from April 12, 1861 to April 9, 1865, Florida underwent a tumultuous Reconstruction era (1865 to 1877), characterized by federal military occupation, the abolition of slavery (officially marked by Emancipation Day on May 20, 1865), and readmission to the Union in July 1868.
     As for the FDEP and Florida’s state parks now, the FDEP notes that these parks are more than just being destinations for outdoor recreation.
     “They are living connections to the people, places and events that helped define America long before it became a nation. From barrier islands and riverbanks to forts and frontier settlements, these sites offer visitors a chance to walk the same ground where history was made,” the FDEP noted in a Jan. 30 press release. 
     “As the nation reflects on 250 years of independence, Florida State Parks invite visitors to experience history not just through exhibits, but through the landscapes themselves,” FDEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert said. “Our parks offer meaningful connections to the people and events that shaped our nation.” 
     Visitors can explore Revolutionary War-era connections at parks including:
     ● Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where a frontier trading post facilitated commerce between Native Americans and British settlers. 
     ● Big Talbot Island State Park and Fort George Island Cultural State Park, where plantations once produced indigo and Sea Island cotton that helped support the British cause. 
     ● Tomoka State Park, the site of a British indigo plantation along the Tomoka River. 
     ● San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park, where control of the fort shifted during periods of British rule. 
     ● Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park, Amelia Island State Park and Fort Clinch State Park, which were connected to small military conflicts and border tensions with the neighboring colony of Georgia. 
     Please note, the FDEP states in its Jan. 30 press release, free admission applies to day-use only and excludes Skyway Fishing Pier State Park and Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. All other fees, including for overnight accommodations, special events, concessions and rentals from park vendors, will remain in effect.

Rocket hunter films
snorting deer and a slow airplane

This is a picture of the two deer that are ‘seen’ in the video that was created after the man heard the familiar sound of the snort of deer on a cold night. This still shot was created from one frame of the 16-second video.

Story, Photos and Videos By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 31, 2026 at 8 a.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     LEVY COUNTY – With the temperature close to freezing, an intrepid, illustrious and prolific journalist ventured a Levy County planted pine forest late Thursday night (Jan. 29).     The field was formerly a hayfield, and Jeff M. Hardison had visited it often in search of Moon shots as well as rocket launch videos before, back then. He had established a relatively good success rate for still shots of the Moon, and was progressing with rocket video captures. He always had permission from the private property owner before using the area for photos.
     The photojournalist had learned of a probable 11 p.m. launch from a rocket pad 150 miles to the east in Brevard County on Jan. 29. He knew his formerly trusty Canon camera had essentially “given up the ghost” although he kept it as a backup camera, and on occasion it still serves him well there.
     He was destined to wait 25 minutes in the cold, but there was no rocket launch noticed to the east that night.
     Hardison had sauntered through a mild version of briar and bramble in between rows of short, young pine trees (three to four feet tall) as he sought the visual video treasure from detecting flying metal in the night sky. 
     By the way, the young pines may be pine saplings, but perhaps they prefer to be known instead as short, young pine trees.
     Carrying a relatively lightweight plastic chair, a powerful flashlight, and a Cannon EOS Rebel T7 camera with a 75-300 mm lens, he found his place in the short planted forest without bumping any trees.
     The Moon was waxing -- close to its being full, which is set to happen Feb. 1 (Sunday), at 5:09 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, according to astronomical data sources.
     And then, the man heard the snorts of two deer. They were about 50 feet in front of him. He first heard that sound on a different venture into that field on a much darker night years ago. That first time, in the pitch black did start his heart beating a tiny bit more quickly, before he used resources to see the creatures without scaring them away.


Click on the PHOTO to see and hear two deer of Levy County on a late Thursday night *Jan. 29, 2026) in a planted pine forest.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved

     Needles the Community Cat of Jemlands (2017-Feb. 8, 2024) was not with the man in the field on his most recent venture into a field somewhere in Levy County on the night of Jan. 29, 2026, although this brave feline creature had followed his human pal into one field on every occasion at night for that friendly, feral feline’s seven-year tour of duty as the Community Cat of Jemlands.
     To see one link to one of the many stories, photos and videos about Needles (so-named from the pine needles in which he was found, blending in with the pine needles to hide), click HERE.
     Needles became the poster cat, and first official cat, for the former trap-neuter-release program of the old Levy County Animal Services.
     On the late night of Jan. 29, the photographer lifted the heavy flashlight with one hand and pointed it at the deer. He lifted the camera with his other hand as its long lens made it a tad cumbersome for a one-armed shot.
     He verbally told the deer that he saw them, and made a sound that some animals respond to by coming toward him. These deer may have become deaf from some person or person exploding materials nearby in earlier nights, disturbing some human neighbors in a few structures thereabouts.
     “I'm waiting for you - I'm waiting for you SpaceX rocket. When will you launch?” the journalist thought.
      As noted, he aimed his flashlight at the deer and videotaped them briefly – about 16 seconds – letting them know that he saw them.
     These critters, like several of their fallen cohorts, are too domestic to consider to be deer to be hunted by a real hunter seeking venison. There are plenty of poachers and bad sportsmen in the area, though. Hence, this herd is thinned to two from their 15 or so ancestors over the past 12 years they have been noticed in this part of unincorporated Levy County.
     Deer remains are seen littered on several Levy County roadsides nowadays. This scene is happening again as turkey buzzards and black buzzards dine on those remnants during this part of the year, even more than when poachers kill them outside of the normal annual hunting period for deer in Florida, and then litter the local landscape with carcasses.


To see and hear the video of the slow-moving airplane flying over the planted pine forest on Jan. 29, 2026, at about 11 p.m., click on the PHOTO. DO NOT watch this if strobe lights affect you in a negative manner. Also, like the deer video, it is ‘jumpy’ because this is through a long lens that was held by a man on a very cold night and he was not using a tripod. And it can be noticed to go out of focus at a point in those 38 seconds from a manual focusing experiment being conducted.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved

     To practice focusing, the cameraman aimed his machine at a slow-moving airplane passing overhead. Even with almost a full moon, it was too dark to capture a good still photo or video of the plane without different equipment.
     From prior experience, the rocket launch coverage may have been better.
     The SpaceX launch may have been “scrubbed,” delayed or canceled because it was not noticed going up between 11 and 11:07 p.m. It was so cold, that's the total minutes the 70-year-old Florida-born journalist spent -- once positioned, after spending a good 15 minutes before 11 p.m. preparing and trekking out into the forest of little planted pine trees.
     The journalist has seen one large wolf during his many daylight adventures in his most recent 20 Levy County adventures. Although not photographed, that wolf was in the Turkey Town area. No wolf, bobcat or other animal would be foolish enough to tangle with this man, though.
     The animals must sense this human is not to be considered for meal purposes.
     Even a relatively large alligator somehow knew not to bother Hardison while he was photographing a separate alligator at the time. That one pictured alligator became named “Swooshy” from its long tail. The photographer did not immediately notice that other big alligator behind him some years ago, as he then left the area relatively quickly by walking to whatever vehicle he was using at that time.
     Meanwhile, with another experiment helping the man to create best photographic practices by using the “other” Cannon for space-oriented nighttime shots, better video of distant rocket launches are more likely than ever before by this journalist.
     “I have covered some NASA activity, including the Orbital ATK CRS-7 Launch as HardisonInk.com, a member of the news media, invited to Brevard County in April of 2017,” Hardison said.
     The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, with the Orbital ATK Cygnus pressurized cargo module, launched from the pad at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Brevard County – back then.
     As Orbital ATK’s seventh commercial resupply services mission, CRS-7 launched to the International Space Station on April 18, 2017. Cygnus delivered 7,600 pounds of supplies, equipment and scientific research materials to the space station. Liftoff was at 11:11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on that April morning eight years ago.
     Atlas V rockets are still being used as of early 2026, but the platform is in its final phase of operations before retirement. While production ended in 2024, ULA is flying the remaining 10 to 15 purchased rockets for high-priority missions, such as Amazon Kuiper satellites, NASA’s Starliner, and national security payloads, with retirement expected by the late 2020.

UF/IFAS Levy County Extension offers
take-home teacups and tiny plants class
Program set for Feb. 11
By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 22, 2026 at 9:15 a.m.
     BRONSON – The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is offering participants a chance to go home with teacups and tiny plants by participating in a two-hour class on Feb. 11, according to information provided by ISA Arborist Barbara L. Edmonds.
     An ISA Arborist is a tree care professional certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Edmonds also earned TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) certification. TRAQ is a specific ISA credential for arborists who pass specialized training to systematically assess and manage tree risk, ensuring public safety by identifying hazardous trees and recommending mitigation. TRAQ professionals use standardized methods for risk assessment, combining written exams with practical field evaluations.
     And while Edmonds’ arboreal qualifications are noteworthy, this event planned for Wednesday, Feb. 11, promises to be another of the many enjoyable UF/IFAS offerings that are even more fun than tree-health assessment ventures.
     The Teacups, Treats and Tiny Plants Class is inspired by the warmth of home, Edmonds notes, even in the wintertime.
     “This cozy make-and-take class invites participants to pot easy-care succulents into charming teacups, creating a sweet indoor bouquet -- no experience needed!” she wrote.
     Edmonds, who leads local UF/IFAS efforts to help individuals become Master Gardeners in another separate program, notes that this class is guided by UF/IFAS Extension Nature Coast Master Gardeners.
     “This hands-on workshop blends teacups, succulents and artistic design,” Edmonds said. “Each piece is unique!”
     She notes, too, that actual results vary since each participant will choose the teacup and plant from a selection of cups and plants. Everyone is bound to enjoy the bonus of a take-home craft, she said.
     Past GardenART participants shared that they most enjoyed the social aspect, hands-on activities and opportunity to learn something. In their own words they describe GardenART as “fun” and “a lot of fun.” They talked about making memories with friends and proudly said, ‘I made that,’” Edmonds added.
     The class is scheduled to take place Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the IF/IFAS Levy County Extension Office, 625 N. Hathaway Ave. (U.S. Alt. 27), in Bronson.
     This indoor workshop is perfect for beginners and plant enthusiasts alike, Edmonds said.
Registration options:
     • $10 material fee- in person with cash or check; or
     • online at by clicking HERE — $10 plus $2.51 service fee.
     Contact Barbara L. Edmonds at 352-486-5131, ext. 105, to pre-register, with questions, or to note special accommodation needs.
     In partnership with state, federal and county governments, UF/IFAS makes scientific research and teaching accessible and ready-to-use for everyone.
     All UF/IFAS Extension programs and services are open to all people -- without regard to race, color, age, gender, religion, national origin or disability.

CKS DECA Cornhole Tournament
and Luncheon set for Feb. 21
Information Provided
By Cedar Key School DECA
Published Jan. 30, 2026 at 4 p.m.
     CEDAR KEY -- The Cedar Key community is invited to attend the Annual Leanna Bryan Cornhole Tournament and Luncheon on Feb. 21 in the Cedar Key School (CKS) Gymnasium.
     The gym doors open at 10 a.m. on that Saturday.
     This is a fun-filled community event benefiting DECA student competitions, travel, and scholarships.
     This exciting event will feature a cornhole tournament, additional games and activities, and a delicious luncheon for all participants and guests.
     Meals are prepaid at $20 and include a choice of Pulled Pork or BBQ Chicken. Cornhole team entry is $25 per team.
     In addition to tournament participation, sponsorship opportunities and DECA merchandise will be available for individuals and businesses who wish to support student leadership development and career readiness. A bake sale will be occurring to support the ongoing medical expenses of a local family with a child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
     DECA prepares students for careers in marketing, management, finance, hospitality and entrepreneurship. These fields are essential to the growth and success of the Cedar Key community. Proceeds from this event directly supports student development, leadership training, competitive experiences and scholarship opportunities.
     Community members, local businesses, families, and supporters are encouraged to attend and take part in this meaningful and fun community fundraiser.
     For more information, sponsorships, or registration, contact Nicole Gill at nicole.gill@levyk12.org, or contact any CKS DECA member.

Horsehead Nebula image
digitally captured in Tri-County Area
Potential rocket launch coverage exists

The image of a horse's head may be noticed in a dark area of this image captured from deep space late Wednesday night (Jan. 28).

Column and Photo By Jeff M. Hardison © Jan. 29, 2026 at 11 a.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     JEMLANDS – A cloudless, relatively dark sky, planning and patience provided a formula for local amateur astronomer Jeff M. Hardison to capture a specific image from deep space using a ZWO Seestar S50 during a two-hour span on Jan. 28, ending after 11 p.m. that night.
     This telescope integrates a 50-millimeter (1.97 inches – almost two inches) triplet apochromatic refractor, an ASI462MC astronomy camera, an alt-azimuth mount, as well as an artificial intelligence-powered controller into a 3 kilograms (almost seven pounds) device. It finds, tracks and stacks images of deep-sky objects (nebulae, galaxies) and solar system objects (the Sun, the Moon, and planets like Saturn and Jupiter) via a smartphone app.
     Creating pictures of planetary objects is possible using this smart telescope, but the quality is not as good as seeing those planets through a “normal” telescope, he noted.
     Hardison “scoped out” the Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) by letting his smart telescope stack the collection of photons as the Earth turned and everything else in the universe moved in a relative manner.
     This nebula is a famous, dark absorption nebula in the constellation Orion, located approximately 1,375 light-years away from Earth.
     The Horsehead Nebula is designated Barnard 33 (B33) because it was cataloged as the 33^rd entry in the Barnard Catalogue of Dark Markings in the Sky, compiled by American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard in 1919. While discovered earlier by Williamina Fleming in 1888, the dark nebula received its “Barnard” catalog number due to Barnard’s pioneering work in photographing and documenting dark nebulae.
     The nebula appears as a dense, cold cloud of dust and gas shaped like a horse’s head, silhouetted against the glowing red hydrogen emission nebula IC 434. 
      The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists have noted the nebula is approximately five light-years “tall” and represents a stellar nursery where stars are in the process of forming. It is characterized as a “pillar” of dust and gas that is being eroded by radiation from nearby, hot, massive stars (specifically Sigma Orionis).
     Its distinct, iconic shape resembles a horse’s head, which is visible because the thick, cold dust of the nebula obscures the light from the glowing nebula behind it, NASA noted.
     The nebula is not permanent. Astronomers estimate it has about five million years left before it is completely disintegrated by high-energy starlight, meaning its shape will slowly change, NASA noted.
     The nebula is a frequent target for NASA’s telescopes. The Hubble Space Telescope has provided close-up images, and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured the sharpest infrared images of the nebula’s structure to date.
     As noted, the object was first discovered on a photographic plate in the late 19th century by astronomer Williamina Fleming (1857–1911).  Fleming was a Scottish-American astronomer who went from being “a domestic worker” to become the first woman to hold an official title at Harvard University. She is best known for developing a stellar classification system, discovering the Horsehead Nebula (1888), 10 novae, and in excess of 300 variable stars. 
     To visually observe the Horsehead Nebula from Earth, a telescope with an aperture of at least 6 to 8 inches is generally required, used in conjunction with a dedicated H-beta filter and from a very dark sky location.
     While it is a notoriously difficult visual target, smaller 4-inch scopes with advanced equipment (night vision) or large 12-plus inch scopes are often preferred for clearer views.
     Hardison noted that he used his telescope to capture and stack photons from IC 434, which is a bright emission nebula in the constellation Orion that acts as a luminous backdrop for the Horsehead Nebula. It is named IC 434 based on its position in the Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (IC), an extension to the New General Catalogue (NGC) used by astronomers to identify deep-sky objects.
     “I again spent time on one of my hobbies that I am using to share information and a picture with readers and viewers around the world of this daily news website,” Hardison said. “Many people know that I focus coverage on the Tri-County Area of Levy County, Dixie County and Gilchrist County. However, on occasion, I look beyond those geopolitical boundaries.” 
     The 70-year old, multiple award-winning former daily and weekly newspaper journalist, and current daily news website owner said he enjoys looking at objects in space by just looking up, or with various binoculars and telescopes. He plans to potentially capture more rocket launches, having published a few already, in the near future by using a traditional camera at night as he films from a neighbor’s field because the neighbor said he can do that.
     “There are too many trees on The Ink Pad property in Levy County,” Hardison said, “to capture rocket launches from the launch pads in Brevard County. The rockets are 150 miles to the west.
     “I have some friends in a nearby astronomical village, as well as my friend who is in the planted pine tree farming realm, who also will let me use their observing field,” he continued. “But going back and forth at night by using only parking lights on the road into the village is a challenge. And even though I have done that before a few times, I don’t want to put the parking lights’ photons out into their neighborhood when I can walk out into a planted pine forest of small trees now.”