Crab season opening soon and Everglades City celebrates the blessing of the fleet

Patricia Huff

Excitement comes to Everglades City when stone crab season opens every year on October 15! Last Sunday we started the celebration with the 3rd annual “Blessing of the Fleet.”

Local fishermen and their families arrived at the Rod & Gun Club on their crab boats as visitors and residents welcomed them with applause and local children lined the dock with rose petals. Pastor John Gilmore from Copeland Baptist

Mission, Pastor Morris Dantin from Chokoloskee Church of God, and Pastor Jim Fross from the Everglades Baptist Church blessed each vessel, praying for their safety. Earlier in the afternoon there was a frog jumping contest with Damien Taft the proud winner taking home first prize.

Children jumped rope and played outside on the steps of the old historic building while inside the Rod & Gun Club the adults enjoyed

the music of “Whole Tones” from Marco Island and tasted the home baked goods being offered by volunteers from the area churches.

The “Best Homemade Dessert” contest was held with Joanie Griffin from Joanie’s Blue Crab Café in Ochopee winning the Blue Ribbon and first place with her delicious coconut guava layered cake; Jack Bozzo (chef at Joanie’s Blue Crab Café) came in second for his coconut guava cheesecake,

and Barbie Stokes of Chokoloskee was the third place winner with her guava cake filled with nuts.

Congratulations to the ‘Rod and Gun Club’ and organizers of this community event which honors our crab fishermen who head out in the early morning hours to pull in the stone crabs that we enjoy on our table every season. We’re proud to have you as part of our Everglades area community!

Lt.

Mark Milligan was recently honored with the 2011 Distinguished Public Service Award from the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. Lt. Milligan has worked in our community for the past nine years and has given generously of his time. We appreciate all the extra work he does on a regular basis and his involvement with the youth of our area. Congratulations, Lt. Mark, and many thanks!

Come meet photographer Tyler

Mc­Donald who is exhibiting his wildlife photographs in the Museum of the Ever­glades. The Friends of the Museum will host a reception on Thursday, October 22, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The Mu­seum is located at 105 West Broadway in Everglades City. For more information and events in the Everglades area, visit www.evergladesmulletrapper.com

Patricia Huff has lived in Everglades City for the past 16 years and is the Pub­lisher of the local newspaper The Mullet Rapper.