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Announcements: Cedar Key Lions Club Sponsors Health Fair
February 21st, 2012

Announcements: WHAT EFFECT DO BEES HAVE ON WILDLIFE HABITATS?
February 19th, 2012

Announcements: Hunter safety Internet-completion course offered in Levy County
February 17th, 2012

Announcements: AsK A LAWYER - LEGAL OBLIGATION TO STOP AND RENDER AID
February 17th, 2012

Announcements: Between the river and deep blue Gulf: The past and future of oysters in Florida’s Big Bend
February 17th, 2012

Announcements: Love is everlasting when you honeymoon at the Cedar Key Thomas Guest House"
February 14th, 2012

Announcements: LARC on the Move
February 14th, 2012

Announcements: Kathy Green Hudson - Withdraws
February 13th, 2012

Announcements: Friends of the Bronson Library Winter Book Sale
February 13th, 2012

Announcements: Cedar Key Library Presents:
February 11th, 2012

Announcements: Family Destroyed by Drug Abuse in Pierce Kelley’s New Novel
February 10th, 2012

Announcements: Fraternal Order of Eagles, Cedar Key Aerie 4194-People Helping People.
February 9th, 2012

Announcements: Free workshops helps veterans gear up for success in civilian job market
February 9th, 2012

Announcements: Yankeetown-Inglis Woman`s Club Spaghetti Dinner
February 9th, 2012

Announcements: OFF TO THE FAIR!
February 8th, 2012

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Hidden Coast Paddling Festival Comes to Cedar Key October 2013

Hidden Coast Paddling Festival Comes to Cedar Key October 2013

Submitted by Pam Darty, Refuge Ranger

The Hidden Coast Paddling Festival has become a celebrated event along our Gulf communities and Cedar Key is in line to host the fourth annual festival October 4-6. After the community of Suwannee made a smashing success of the 2012 Hidden Coast Paddling Festival with a theme of `Celebrate Wildlife in the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge` everyone wants in. The proof was in the initial planning meeting.

Willing partners filled the meeting room at the FWC Senator George Kirkpatrick Marine Lab - from government agencies and local businesses, to people with a passion for paddling and outdoor enthusiasts -- your neighbors. Each and every one hopes to entice eager paddlers to the culturally and environmentally-rich paddling venue of historic Cedar Key and the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge.

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Liz Sparks, Recreation Planner, facilitated the meeting. Armed with her Wildlife-focused Festival Planning Toolkit, which lists all necessary steps in planning, among others: logistics, promotions, sponsors, tour guides, vendors, entertainment, and most important, volunteers, the festival began to take on form.

Focusing on wildlife as last year`s festival did can help increase sustainable tourism as gleaned from the 2012 SCORP (State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan) which reveals that wildlife viewing is the second most popular outdoor activity for visitors to Florida (visiting the beach is number one). Wildlife viewing is a major component of tourism revenue and brings an estimated 3 billion dollars annually to Florida`s economy. The vast public lands along the Big Bend coast sustain abundant species of wildlife and holding a wildlife-focused festival is a responsible way to entice visitors and benefit local communities.

To continue the success of the annual festival the group of volunteer partners are looking for more individuals like themselves who want to bring fame, friendly folks, and a flotilla of kayaks to the Old-Florida-flavored fishing village October . Do you have expertise, interest, or experience that might add to the success of the 2013 Hidden Coast Paddling Festival? A few hours of your time a month until the festival comes to town would help immensely.

The next planning meeting is March 27th from 9:30 until 11:30 at the FWC Marine Lab in Cedar Key. If you`re able to help the community effort in any way, call Pam at 352/493-0238, x223.

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