Dinner and a Speaker
Alice, Delores, Dot and Liz left the condo and walked back to the Community Center where they had initially gone to sign in for the Festival the morning they arrived in Cedar Key. It wasn't a long walk so they arrived in plenty of time to make themselves comfortable at one of the many banquet tables. The Festival coordinators organized an evening for a relaxing dinner and a highly admired speaker. The dinner was included in the initial registration fee but this was no ordinary festival dinner. It was truly a cut above the typical banquet dinner. The organizers really went above and beyond on this one. Their attention to detail was obvious.
A very beautiful "Welcome" display where the open bar was being set up.
The Buffet Line being set up
The beautiful center pieces set up at each table.
The open bar was sponsored by Drummond Community Bank. That was a nice surprise.
Everyone is arriving
Alice in the orange shirt chatting with a friend
Everyone's getting comfortable
"Speck & Malibu"
A quick group photo
Orange U Thirsty?
The Orange Roughies
Dinner lasted for about an hour, from 8 - 9 p.m. Right around 9:15 or so, one of two presentations were given. The first was Tom McLaughlin, President of the Florida Paddling Trails Association. He presented to the city of Cedar Key the Blueway Sign. This designates Cedar Key as a BLUEWAY COMMUNITY and a part of the Florida Circumnavigational Paddling Trail System. A Blueway is a water path or trail with launch points, camping, picnic locations and points of interest for paddlers. They are typically developed to encourage recreation, education and community development.
Then at 9:30, Dr. Harvey Lillywhite took to the podium. He is the Director of the University of Florida Marine Research Lab on Seahorse Key. He spoke to the audience about how he and his graduate students have researched the symbiotic relationship between the world's only white cottonmouth snakes and the five species of birds that form a rookery on Seahorse Key which is part of the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge.
It was a fascinating and educational presentation highlighting the rookery and how the over 600 cottonmouth snakes that are isolated on the island depend on the fish that fall out of the nests, and not the birds themselves, for food.
After the presentation was over, the audience stood and applauded, cleared their tables, expressed their thanks to the event coordinators and speakers and then headed back to their sleeping quarters for a good night
Then at 9:30, Dr. Harvey Lillywhite took to the podium. He is the Director of the University of Florida Marine Research Lab on Seahorse Key. He spoke to the audience about how he and his graduate students have researched the symbiotic relationship between the world's only white cottonmouth snakes and the five species of birds that form a rookery on Seahorse Key which is part of the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge.
It was a fascinating and educational presentation highlighting the rookery and how the over 600 cottonmouth snakes that are isolated on the island depend on the fish that fall out of the nests, and not the birds themselves, for food.
After the presentation was over, the audience stood and applauded, cleared their tables, expressed their thanks to the event coordinators and speakers and then headed back to their sleeping quarters for a good night
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