NEW EACH DAY - DAILY DEVOTIONAL
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NEW EACH WEEK
Gary Miller's Outdoor Truths Ministry, April 20, 2026
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Cedar Key Lions induct six new members,
elect incoming board of directors
and award two Lions 

New members of the Cedar Key Lions Club are (from left) Johnny Polasik (not present Stephanie Polasik)  - Owners of Pelican Vacation Homes; Laura Gregory - Operating Manager of Low Key Tiki Bar; Molly Salkaln, Laurie Adams and Bud Adams - The Island Hotel and Restaurant.

Story and Photos Provided By Rory Brennan
Cedar Key Lions Club Media Relations
Published April 23, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.
     CEDAR KEY -- At the 2026 Cedar Key Lions Club Induction Dinner held at The Island Hotel and Restaurant, the Cedar Key Lions and President Robert Belair were honored to welcome Lion George Niles, vice district governor, Florida District 35L, from Orange Park to preside over the induction of six new members, as well as to induct the club’s elected incoming 2026-27 Cedar Key Lions Club Board of Directors, and award two club members the prestigious Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.

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Seen here are (from left) Cedar Key Lions Club President Robert Belair, Community Outreach Greg Martin, Secretary Heather Lang, 1st Vice President B.J. O’Brein, 3rd Vice President Dave Schiess, Board Member Donna Bushnell, 2nd Vice President Bob Piscura, Media Relations Rory Brennan, Treasurer Faye Sanders and Board Member Susan Rosenthal.


Cedar Key Lions Club members Donna Bushnell and Greg Martin are seen as Lions Vice District Governor George Niles of Orange Park presents to those two Lions the prestigious Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellowship Award.


Donna Bushnell holds the Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for humanitarian service.


Greg Martin (left) holds the Lions International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellowship Award with Lions Vice District Governor George Niles of Orange Park.

     Cedar Key Lion Donna Bushnell has been a Lion since 2017. She has sponsored two members and was the 2nd vice president for five years, and will now be serving on the board for her second year. 
     Bushnell was the club’s chairperson for the KidSight Program, getting members retrained and reorganized after the club had a four-year hiatus from providing the program. With her efforts and organizational skills, the Cedar Key Lions Club screened more than 180 children in the club’s 2024-2025 year in the three counties that it supports. 
     “She is always the first one to sign up for supporting our events, and to bring us ideas on ways to help our community when there is a sudden need,” Cedar Key Lions Club President Robert Belair said. “Last year, Lion Donna championed a club drive that provided infant formula that was in short supply to our local community, as well as being a Christmas angel, by leading the toy drive for the Head Start Organization, when budget cuts caused a shortfall in their program, thus ensuring, no child goes without a present on Christmas.” 
     Lion Greg Martin has been a member of the Cedar Key Lions Club since 2021 and is the current club secretary. 
     Club President Belair, on presenting the Humanitarian Services award, said, “We thank Greg, who, working with our club treasurer, got our club designated as a 501(c)3 this year allowing us to enlist more partners in helping us through funding or service programs that were not available to us before.
     “Lion Greg and his wife, Lion Nancy are champions of our Tri-County Outreach Program, traveling throughout the area to food banks promoting our vision program, as well as partnering with other nonprofit organizations to better align our efforts with the need of the community. Lion Greg has also taken on the task of writing grant request and headed up the Lent food drive utilizing drop boxes and Saturday morning donation table in Cedar Key,” President Belair added.

Scientists share joy of seeking answers
Nature Coast Student Organization
celebrates at
Inaugural Community Science Night

Alex Walus (right) welcomes everyone as Smitty Smith joins her at the lectern to open the first-ever Community Science Night at the UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station in Cedar Key on Friday (April 17). The students said they intend to make this an annual event.

Story, Photos and Video By Jeff M. Hardison © April 18, 2026 at 7:30 a.m.
All Copyrights Protected By Federal Civil Law
Do Not Copy and Paste to Social Media or Elsewhere
     CEDAR KEY – Dr. Mike Allen, director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Nature Coast Biological Station (UF/IFAS NCBS), said he wholeheartedly endorsed undergraduate and graduate students hosting a community-focused night of science on April 17.
     Visitors learned about six specific projects by three graduate students and three undergraduates, as well as more from the nine undergraduate and nine graduate students who were among the people at this event and who are conducting innovative research all along Florida’s Nature Coast, too. 
     Dr. Allen mentioned that he wants people to know there are UF graduate students involved with wildlife ecology and conservation; fisheries and applied sciences; soil and water ecosystem sciences; as well as students from the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and the UF Biology Department.
     This UF/IFAS NCBS open house was a resounding success despite it being on the third floor, and the elevator that was working that very morning not working that evening. And with it being 83 degrees Fahrenheit, the fans at the event helped cool the room because the air-conditioner was not working then either.
     Walking up and down 55 stairs was good exercise for some people who do not normally get that workout. The NCBS director apologized to every for the elevator and A/C shortcomings and he thanked them for coming to the open house.
     This event was definitely a stellar one for the Nature Coast Student Organization, which is now in its second year officially although it has its foundation from UF students unofficially for four years now, Nature Coast Student Organization President Alexandria ‘Alex’ Walus said in an interview that evening.
     Miranda Mays was among the six presenters, as were Walus, Smith, Amelia Gomez Uribe, and Maddy Meeker.
     Visitors connected with this next generation of natural resource professionals during the open house event. UF/IFAS NCBS students and researchers presented six research posters and provided short “flash talks” that included a wealth of information about ongoing project topics focused on snook thermal refuge, hurricane impacts on the Cedar Key islands, seagrass ecology and more.
     “We’ve put a lot of effort into creating a welcoming space to build connections, spark collaborations, and show the community what we do,” said Nature Coast Student Organization Vice President Finella “Fia” Campanino, NCBS-affiliate Ph.D. student in the UF/IFAS School of Natural Resources and Environment. “The presence of our community matters.”
     Nature Coast Student Organization Founder and Treasurer Megan Siemann, Ph.D., was noted to be among the leading forces to bring this Inaugural Community Science Night to fruition and she was applauded near the start of the event for her work in that regard.
     The open house also provided an opportunity for the people in the community to see a glimpse at some of the many exciting renovations and upgrades at UF/IFAS NCBS. The resilience of the people of Cedar Key is reflected in the work of these scientists and student scientists at the research facility. Another benefit from the elevator being on the fritz that evening was people having a chance to see the excellent carpentry that resulted in new, sturdy wooden stairs and handrails.



Nature Coast Student Organization President Alexandria ‘Alex’ Walus (right) welcomes everyone to the event on the third floor of the Nature Coast Biological Station in Cedar Key on Friday evening (April 17, 2026. She is joined by Lindsey ‘Smitty’ Smith, who explained the itinerary for the event. Dr. Mike Allen apologized for the elevator and the air conditioner not working. Click on the PHOTO to see and hear the video.
Video By Jeff M. Hardison – All Rights Reserved


Nature Coast Student Organization Vice President Finella ‘Fia’ Campanino is at the lectern where she gave a short presentation (‘flash talk’) about how fish make sounds.


Alex Walus stands near the display related to the work that she and UF/IFAS NCBS Research Assistant Professor Marc J.S. Hensel are conducting as they seek to unlock the predator-prey dynamics in a changing coastal ecotone.


Part of the poster by Alexandra Walus shows how tropicalization affects the strength of top-down control on marsh community structure and ecosystem function.


In this graphic of the poster, various predators are seen in their dynamic relationships with marshes and mangroves. Alex Walus shared her insight from the first year of this four-year project when asked by a visiting journalist.


The poster on the left shows ‘Banking on the Marsh: Where is the Spartina alterniflora seed bank and how might it affect population dynamics?'

     One of the six posters asked "Banking on the Marsh: Where is the Spartina alterniflora seed bank and how might it affect population dynamics?"
     The students working to find answers there are Riley Harper, Idella Jones, Stasia Pietraszun, Carrie R. Adams and Laura K. Reynolds.
     All of the researchers were ready, willing and able to answer questions and speak about their projects with everyone who was interested. It was quite a night of enlightenment for many visitors.
     Nature Coast Student Organization President Walus said the current graduate and undergraduate students in this organization intend to continue the group into the future. Her project is in its second year, and she plans to share results after it is completed through her four-year program of doctoral-level study. 


UF/IFAS NCBS Research Assistant Professor Marc J.S. Hensel (left) speaks to a Cedar Key resident at the event.


A student shares what she is seeking to find with a listener.

Some of the food and treats that were enjoyed by people at the event are seen here.


A dock leading from the NCBS appears to be restored after suffering significant damage from hurricanes.


Looking toward the big concrete fishing pier from the third floor of the NCBS shows one boat in the foreground and another boat and perhaps a jet ski in the distance on the Gulf of Mexico.


Once known as the 'honeymoon cottage' and other names, nothing remains of a former landmark after hurricanes swept the island on a few occasions in recent years.’


This clam sculpture seen on the second floor of the NCBS on Friday (April 17) is destined for relocation. A researcher helped a visiting journalist remember the scheduled event was on the third floor. He thanked the helpful person and mentioned that he knew that, but this art beckoned to him as a probable photo to be published -- even though it was fine art rather than active science. This piece includes scientific insight about clams, which are a relatively significant part of the local economy for Cedar Key. Click HERE to see the Aug. 17, 2025 story and photo – Clam of the Day.


Here is the UF/IFAS NCBS Mobile Lab.


Oh. There is the door to the second floor, two thirds of the 55 steps are completed toward the goal of reaching the third floor on April 17. Behind this door, a clam sculpture was found. It is going elsewhere relatively soon.


The three-story UF/IFAS NCBS stands in all its glory with blue skies on April 17 in Cedar Key. The building is looking much better than just after being signficantly damaged from hurricanes.

First Published Feb. 1, 2011 at 8 a.m.
     On Feb. 1, 2011, HardisonInk.com came into existence on the Internet. On All Saints Day - Nov. 1, 2011, The Christian Press section on The Life Page of HardisonInk.com started, which was about nine months after the start of the daily news website. The name "The Christian Press" was derived from an encounter a decade earlier in 2001 in St. Petersburg, when and where a man mentioned to a journalist that this particular journalist must work for "The Christian Press." Although the presumption by the man about that journalist was incorrect and misplaced, the name sounded good. And the journalist said that if he could work for The Christian Press, then that certainly would be the publication to serve.
     Since Nov. 1, 2011, The Christian Press section of this page has run daily devotionals from several individuals who contributed over the past years. There were two days in 2018 when the daily devotional did not run due to a journalist requiring emergency orthopedic surgery on broken bones in his left arm and wrist. That surgically added metal, though, makes that part of that arm even more able to withstand forces. Many daily devotionals are pulled from Strength for Service to God and Country (Whitmore & Stone © 1942; Renewed 1969 by Norman E. Nygaard; Second revised edition © 2002 Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, Providence House Publishers). The journalist who is the sole proprietor and owner of HardisonInk.com (Jeff M. Hardison) notes his appreciation for the use of those devotionals from that now-defunct publishing company, and for the many other contributors who have helped people over the past decade-plus now. Strength for Service to God and Country's daily devotionals include many from a time when the United States of America was a partner in a World War, both WWI and WWII. This journalist welcomes contributions of daily devotionals. Daily devotional authors are asked to please send only their original works to hardisonink@gmail.com. Americans are reminded that all religions, having no religion and or being a person who endorses anti-religion are all protected as part of the freedoms from government intervention, as are other benefits from being an American.
 

Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time
FACE THE EAST

Read Philippians 3:10-14

     They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
-- Habakkuk 1:9 (KJV)

     One of the weaknesses of a good deal of living is the disposition to look back. Lot’s wife tried it, and the result was ruin. Cunningham, the noted college track man, when he was at his best, lost a race. He was running swiftly and strongly in that peculiar way of his which ate up distance and promised victory. Almost unconsciously, in his anxiety to know how far the second man was behind him, he glanced back over his shoulder, lost his stride, and his competitor passed him and won. 
     (Glenn Vernice Cunningham was an American middle-distance runner, who was considered as the greatest American miler of all time. He received the James E. Sullivan Award as the top amateur athlete in the United States in 1933.)
     Paul was perhaps the greatest man of all Christian history. And the secret of his greatness is, in part, contained in those immortal words which were the motto of his life: “Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.”
     The key to his life were the words of the text, “The set of their faces is towards the east.” Get the idea! Create the habit! When the day dies, bury it. Get rid of it, else it may prove to be a burden for your back and shackles for your feet. Be in at the birth of the new day. In it lies the promise of an unspoiled day. A brand new chance to make something new, and fine, and immortal, lies ahead. But remember that those who make life fine are the ones who move forward and upward with their faces fixed on the smiling, glowing east.
     O GOD, our Father, the Father of all mankind; let Thy blessing rest upon us as we linger a moment with Thee. Give to us now the consciousness of Thy very presence. Enfold us in Thy love; keep us always near Thee. Glorify Thyself through us, as Thou dost lead us through this tangled maze of life; crown us at the end of it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Rev. Dr. William R. Harshaw (1855-Jan. 1, 1948) 
Former Executive Secretary, Presbyterian Synod of Minnesota
Strength for Service to God and Country
(Whitmore & Stone © 1942; Renewed 1969 by Norman E. Nygaard; Second revised edition © 2002 Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, Providence House Publishers)
 

Outdoor Truths
By Gary Miller © April 20, 2026 at 7:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time