The Shark Reports Part 1

Seafood Festival, a success for the Sharks
10.20.11
Taryn Epperson: Shark Correspondent

The 2011 Seafood festival was one of the biggest Cedar Key has seen in years. Various Cedar Key School [CKS] clubs, sports teams, and classes were all surprised by the outcome.
Jr. Classmen Montana Beckham said "That was one of the biggest festivals I`ve seen in all my years of growing up here, even my dad told me that this was the most people he`s seen in 30 years."

CKS clubs, classes, and sports that had a booths in the park included: FFA (Fish Sandwiches and French Fries), Florida Future Educators of America [FFEA]and Kindergarten(Funnel Cakes), Future Business Leaders of America [FBLA]( Hotdogs), Journalism/Yearbook(Smoked Mullet), Jr. Class(Clam Fritters), Cross Country[CC] and Student Government Association [SGA] (CC: Parking cars, Root Beer Floats ), 4th grade(Smoked Mullet Dip, and Fish Chowder), Safety Patrol(Bottled Water), Parent Teacher Organization [PTO] (Hamburgers and Shrimp Kabobs), Marine Science( Clam Chowder, and Shark Sauce), Lunchroom Association(Smoothies), and the Cheerleaders(Parking Cars). Cross country coach Mr. Brad Penny said "This was a very successful festival for CC"

This Seafood Festival was one of the best for CKS clubs, teams, and classes; CKS students look forward to another successful year in 2012.

Oysterman Association has Successful Year at Seafood Festival
10.20.11
Montana Beckham: Shark Correspondent

Cedar Key`s Oysterman Association participated in the Seafood Festival on Oct. 15th & 16th selling fried oysters and shrimp.

This year Troy Beckham, Vice President of the association, helped run the festival. Beckham was asked how this year`s festival compared to previous years, he said, "I`ve been to every one of these festivals for the past 30 years of my life and I have never seen more people present than this year."

Beckham has lived in Cedar Key his entire life, working on the water as commercial fisherman. He has spent many days of his life fishing, clamming, or harvesting oysters. The association has 50 members, including Beckham, most members work not only to pay bills but to keep the oyster industry going. The work is very laborious and dying out, members are doing all they can to keep it alive.

The Oysterman Association sold out of 30 gallons of shucked oysters and 500lbs of shrimp at the Seafood Festival. Members helping had their dues paid and costs covered; the rest of the proceeds they made go to Cedar Key School.

Seven Things You Learn Growing Up In Cedar Key
Claire Brown, Shark Correspondent

1. You learn that patience is key: Ever heard the phrase "On Island Time?" People who live in Cedar Key live on island time. Ever been stuck behind a golf cart when you`re running late for work or school? Ever had the car in front of you stop in the middle of the road so that the driver can converse with a pedestrian? To tourists this may sound annoying-but all islanders have learned that this is just part of the lifestyle. Don`t blow your horn or get angry because chances are the person in front of you is your child`s school teacher or a local preacher and you will be running into them again soon.

2. You learn how to clean a mullet: Smoked mullet, a Cedar Key tradition. If you grew up here, chances are you knew how to clean a mullet for smoking before you entered high school. Most people learned from their dad or their high school marine science teacher, Mr. Richard Whitman. You may not enjoy the process, but nevertheless, you know how to do it. And don`t be ashamed by how you smell afterwards, the locals understand.

3. You learn to go without: There is not a movie theater a few blocks away. The closest mall is 60 miles. Want fast food? You have to drive half an hour to Chiefland. Growing up in Cedar Key you learn to go without these things that most other people have. (I`m not complaining though, if I lived near a mall I would probably be broke.) You learn to make do with what is available to you. A lot of local kids enjoy fishing, kayaking, basketball at the park, or hanging out at the beach.

4. You learn that family is more than common blood: Cedar Key students will usually graduate with about five other students that they started Pre-K with. This, along with the fact that class sizes rarely exceed 17, contributes to the family-like relationships between classmates. You have to get along with the people in your class because there are only a few of you! The good thing about this is you will most likely be able to forever remember the name of every person you graduated with.

5. You learn to entertain yourself: Whether it`s going to the park to shoot basketball or play guitar, spending hours soaking up the sun on Joe Rains, or strolling down Dock Street and listening to the bands on Saturday nights- Cedar Key kids know how to entertain themselves. I mean, you have to. As I said in number three, you can`t just drive to the local movie theater to ease your boredom.

6. You learn to behave: We live in a tiny town. Everyone knows everyone, and while this creates a family-like community, it also means that there aren`t many secrets. Growing up in Cedar Key, you are never alone; there is always someone watching you who is aware of how to get in touch with your parents. So, most of us have learned to conduct ourselves rather well. At some point in our lives all Cedar Key kids hear the following from their parents: "So and so told me they saw you..." (followed by the action our parents were never supposed to know about).

7. You learn you are blessed: It may take leaving to make this final point clear. However, at some point in a Cedar Key kid`s life it dawns on them that we truly are blessed to have been raised where we were. I mean, how many people can say they grew up on an island? Not a huge amount! Growing up here, we were exposed to things many others weren`t. How many people watch the sun rise over the Gulf of Mexico while they`re on their way to school in the morning? How many people watch it set on their way home from work? How many kids can walk from school to the beach in two minutes to gather live specimens for their Marine Science fish tanks? We are a lucky bunch, if you ask me!

Personally, I couldn`t think of a place I would rather have grown up. With this year being my senior year, I`m dreading having to leave for college. Growing up, I remember hearing teenagers talk about how they "can`t wait to leave this town." I`m just thankful that I never felt that way. I know there`s a lot more out there in the world to be experienced but Cedar Key will always be home and nothing can alter that.