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.
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     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

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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.

Annual W.O. Beauchamp Jr.
Memorial Law Day draws a crowd
2026 ‘Ishie Day’ may be May 21 
By Jeff M. Hardison © May 8, 2026 at 2 p.m.
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     FOWLER’S BLUFF – Longtime residents in the Fowler’s Bluff community of that part of the unincorporated areas of Levy County know that sometime in early May there are a lot of law enforcement and other vehicles parked at an afternoon gathering on a Friday.
     The first Friday in May had become the Annual W.O. Beauchamp Jr. Memorial Law Day, for at least the past 20 years or so.
     That was until this year – 2026. Then, that Friday event that would have happened on May 1 or May Day was put back by one week. Hosts for the event decided that May 1 was too soon of being “the first Friday in May.” So, to avoid someone not showing up from that being the case, the first Friday of May was actually delayed this year until May 8.
     The first day of May, and not just the first Friday in May, but the first day of May is an annual event from a perspective beyond Levy-Gilchrist.
     May 1 is known as International Workers Day, a global holiday celebrating labor, workers’ rights, and the historic fight for an eight-hour workday. It is a public holiday in more than 80 countries, often featuring parades and rallies. 
     The Annual W.O. Beauchamp Jr. Memorial Law Day celebration with its Levy County roots has grown to include Gilchrist County, and to a degree, the entire set of counties in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which includes all of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties.
     The financial sponsors of the annual event this year for their primarily Levy-Gilchrist cohorts are the Honorable Levy County Judge Bustamante, the Honorable Gilchrist County Judge Sheree E. Lancaster, the Honorable Eighth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Brian Kramer, the Honorable Eighth Judicial Circuit Public Defender Stacy Scott, the Honorable Levy County Sheriff Bobby McCallum and the Honorable Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz.
     The late Honorable Judge W.O. Beauchamp Jr. (May 25, 1940 - June 20, 2000) served as the Levy County Court judge for 20 years, was then appointed as one of the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court judges and continued in that position for seven years until his death in the year 2000. The event is to memorialize and honor him and his legacy. Showing respect, honor and remembering him is one of the cornerstones of this annual event, usually held in the Fowler’s Bluff Community.
     The late Judge Beauchamp was known to be a “firm but fair” judge.
     Speaking of working and guests, the guest list for this event has grown far beyond just the elected and appointed workers of jurisprudence in Levy County, and now Gilchrist County.
     Skipping past the specifics of this year’s event, some may pause to remember another former annual get-together that has faded into the ether.
     Another event that happened in May in years past was in recognition of a very hardworking Levy County employee.
     The Law Day event happens so closely to this former event that it is maybe no wonder that the Levy County Law Day has grown to give more workers an afternoon respite next to a river in Levy County.
     That former May event was known as “Ishie Day.”
     Norwood Franklin Ishie (June 22, 1911-Nov. 29, 1979) was 68 years old when he passed away in Williston Memorial Hospital, according to records. Ishie had retired as courthouse custodian and county purchasing agent, according to records. Since 1974, he had worked as a bailiff for the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Levy County until he retired.
     Historically, Mr. Ishie had been honored annually on the third Thursday in May (which will be May 21, 2026) in a celebration that officially became called “Ishie Day.” That celebration of workers was held in the community of Fowler’s Bluff on the Suwannee River. The event was established 57 years ago by a proclamation then by the members of the Levy County Board of County Commissioners (in 1969) to recognize Mr. Ishie’s contributions to the county, according to records.
     The members of the Levy County Board of County Commissioners in 1969 were Chairman R.B. Davis, Vice Chairman David Meeks, and commissioners Donald Holmes, L.K. Blitch and Sam Standridge, according to records.
     Before that official naming of Ishie Day, legend has it that there was an annual day in spring when some guys from the Levy County Courthouse set would relax and recognize their friend and coworker who went the extra mile to perform his duties. Ishie was known to do more than what might have been expected of him as a worker.
      Just like Levy County Law Day, which the late Judge Beauchamp established to honor the law, as well as the people involved with the laws’ enforcement and administration, and perhaps even the legislators who created the laws, Ishie Day was a day of recognition, honor, and some fried fish and fun.
     These annual Law Day events in Levy County -- with a couple happening at Judge Lancaster’s riverside retreat in Gilchrist County due to necessity from the piece or property undergoing improvements on some years -- have been and are relatively somber; however, they are celebratory and fun as well. Traditionally, for at least the past 20 years and probably longer than that, the menu has included deep-fried mullet, fried hush puppies (from an established family recipe), cornbread, and “swamp cabbage” or boiled cabbage palm (again, with a recipe making it extraordinarily delicious), cake and tea.
     This year, pork and macaroni and cheese were added to the menu, as those items may have been a “new tradition” for some years, even if the total menu might not have been reported always. Obviously, one journalist does not notice every single thing – even the announcement of date revisions that were noted at the outset for this year’s gathering at the tables.
     Swamp cabbage was not expected this year due to the recent set of wildfires throughout Florida that have claimed palms, pines, oaks, as well as the lives of some wildlife.
     The cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), or swamp cabbage, is a hardy, salt-tolerant fan palm native to the Southeastern United States, and it is the official state tree of Florida and South Carolina. It grows up to 40–60 feet tall and is named for its edible immature bud (“heart”), which has a cabbage-like flavor. Harvesting: While not protected from removal on private property in many areas, cutting the “heart” (the bud) kills the tree, and doing so on public lands requires permits. Although it is the state tree of Florida and South Carolina, this designation does not automatically confer legal protection, as noted by Florida Statute 15.031. This statute was enacted in 1953 to formally recognize the sabal palmetto as Florida’s state tree. The designation honors its ecological and cultural significance to the state, as it is a native palm species found throughout Florida’s coastal and inland regions. Chapter 15 of the Florida Statutes, which governs the duties and functions of the Florida Secretary of State.
     As for the 2026 Annual W.O. Beauchamp Jr. Memorial Law Day in Fowler’s Bluff, it was again jampacked with people – probably more than ever before.      
    To see the 2025 story, click HERE.
     To see the 2024 story, photos and video, click HERE.
     To see the coverage from the event in 2022, click HERE.
     To see the coverage from the event in 2019, where Congressman Dr. Neal Dunn was among the honored guests, click HERE.
     To see the 2017 Law Day event (although it is tagged in one point as the “2014” version) click HERE.

Wreath-making class set for Bronson
Information Provided By Levy County Extension
Published May 2, 2026 at 9 p.m.
     BRONSON – Everyone is invited to learn, create, and connect with a wreath-making class in Bronson.
     Scheduled to be on Wednesday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Levy County Extension Office, 625 N. Hathaway Ave. (U.S. Alt. 27), Bronson, this indoor class requires no prior experience and is perfect for beginners and plant enthusiasts alike.
     Building on a metal frame foundation, participants will design a one-of-a-kind wreath using natural materials such as pinecones, mosses, seeds, plus artfully interwoven ribbon and embellishments. No experience is needed. Participants are just to bring their imagination and curiosity. Nature Coast Master Gardener volunteers will be on hand in this relaxed, indoor setting, where people can socialize, learn (or relearn) a bit of science, and create something they will be proud to display on their doors.
What to expect
     • Hands-on wreath-making from natural materials
     • Supportive, inclusive instruction
     • A welcoming, creative atmosphere
Details
     • All materials and instruction included
     • $11 materials fee
     • No experience necessary
      A unique, display-worthy wreath adds a warm, inviting touch to a home. In past GardenART classes, 97 percent of the 74 participants reported being extremely satisfied. Enrollment is limited to 25 participants. 
     Call 352-486-5131 to reserve a seat. Payment is accepted in person (cash or check) or online via Eventbrite (search “Levy County Extension”; service fees apply). For questions or to request program accommodations, contact Barbara L. Edmonds at 352-486-5131. The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution.
     

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.