CEO CHATTER WITH JACK LIGHTON
Dear Friend of LMC,
The month of June is upon us, and here at Loggerhead Marinelife Center we are happy to report that on the 9.5-mile stretch of beach we monitor, our research team has reported nearly 4,000 sea turtle nests to date. June and July is the peak of sea turtle nesting season here in Palm Beach County, Florida – so we ask that our community please help us keep our local beaches clean and dark. This helps to promote and protect nesting sea turtles who visit our coastline.
Calling all runners and walkers – June marks the return of a very popular event, our seventh annual Run 4 The Sea! This fun four-mile run and one-mile kids fun run allows our guests to enjoy a beautiful morning adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean and one of the most important sea turtle nesting beaches on our planet. From custom sea turtle inspired medals to excellent food and beverage, Run 4 The Sea allows us to come together as a community to celebrate our magnificent local ecosystems and environments.
Summertime often is the season we get to enjoy fun outdoor experiences and travel. Loggerhead’s summertime programs allow our guests to enjoy innovative conservation experiences close to home, like our Biologist Beach Walks, and for younger guests, our fun Junior Marine Biologist (JMB) summer camp program. For those who like to “migrate,” please consider joining LMC on our fun eco-adventure program, SWIM, which stands for Serving the World’s Imperiled Marine Life. Our SWIM eco-adventures will take vacationing guests to the fantastic destinations of Maui, Hawaii and Padre Ramos, Nicaragua. On these eco-adventures, you will participate in sea turtle research and rescue projects to help local biologists better understand the population distribution of these animals, and discover the other abundant marine life and ecosystems that comprise this beautiful archipelago. Space is limited, so please sign up for the adventure of a lifetime!
Looking to keep your little hatchling busy this summer? Some limited spaces remain in LMC’s JMB summer camp, which is sure to offer a fun, educational and highly unique experience for young adults between the ages of 6 and 17.
Conservation is a cornerstone of what we do here at LMC, and our latest sort report is in. With the help of our community, we were able to clean up our local beaches and the Juno Beach Pier, removing 311.5 pounds of marine debris from our beaches and 88.2 miles of used fishing line from the Juno Beach Pier. We offer our sincere thanks to all who are involved in our cleanup efforts and look forward to our next Blue Friends Beach Cleanup on Saturday, July 14 at 8:30 a.m. here at LMC. Please join us!
One of the best ways you can help increase your personal conservation contribution is to purchase a reusable water bottle or coffee mug. LMC’s gift store is stocked up for the summertime with fun mission-themed gifts that increase our conservation impact and help support LMC’s mission.
We thank you for your passion for our mission and for helping us increase our education and conservation impact. We look forward to visiting with you on campus soon!
With Gratitude,
Jack E. Lighton
President & CEO
RUn 4 the sea
Calling all runners! Join us on June 16 from 7-10 :30 a.m. and enjoy running along scenic A1A at the seventh annual Run 4 the Sea and support Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s mission of sea turtle and ocean conservation! The event features a fun one-mile run for children and a four-mile run for adults, as well as a post-race celebration with music and breakfast.
The four-mile race starts at 7 a.m.
Cost: $45 (includes a t-shirt and custom finisher medal).
There will also be a one mile Kid’s Run beginning at 8:15 a.m.
Fun run registration fee is $10 (includes a child’s t-shirt and medal)
Not in the area? Don’t worry, you can still participate and support Loggerhead Marinelife Center by joining our virtual run! You can earn a race medal and t-shirt by participating as a virtual runner – plus, you’re given the flexibility to run anywhere at any time you desire.
Learn more: marinelife.org/run
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Save-The-Date
Annual July 5 Beach Cleanup for the Turtles!
Each year, there are many coastal celebrations around July 4th that leave unwanted debris on our beaches and coastal parks from celebratory fireworks, streamers and/or balloons. Join LMC staff and volunteers as we trek our local beaches and collect discarded debris to keep our oceans clean, blue and trash free!
If making a cleaner ocean for marine life isn’t enough, cleanup participants will each receive one drawing ticket for a chance to win several awesome prizes, including a sea turtle adoption and plushie! Cleanup will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the back deck of LMC and last until 10 a.m. Debris removed from all cleanup efforts get sorted, recorded and properly disposed by LMC staff and volunteers.
what’s new in Rehab?
Did you know sea turtles can receive nebulization treatments? A nebulizer is used to deliver medications in the form of mist that can be inhaled to target infections in the lungs. Timing breaths to deliver the treatment can be very difficult with sea turtles as they can hold their breath for long periods of time. Our rehabilitation staff created a nebulizer chamber to successfully deliver the medication. When working with wildlife, thinking outside the box is often required. The image shows the nebulizer chamber (wheelbarrow with a cover) being used to treat Guy Harvey, the sea turtle. The nebulizing unit is secured to the inside wall of the wheelbarrow, which creates the medication mist. The covering traps the mist, so the turtle will inhale the medication whenever it takes a breath. Guy Harvey’s treatment takes nearly 60 minutes to complete. This allows plenty of time for the turtle to take a sufficient number of breaths to have an appropriate contact time in the lungs. This nebulization delivery method has worked well for lung infections in past sea turtle patients.
Knowledge is power!
Hatchling Programs are BACK – Sign-up now!
Tickets for our Hatchling Release and Biologist Beach Walk programs are now on sale! These programs are designed to give guests an unforgettable experience as they get a front-row look at sea turtle hatchlings making their first steps to the ocean.
The Biologist Beach Walk program is a unique opportunity for guests to learn more about the research efforts of the LMC Research Team. With permission from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a permitted staff member will lead guests down onto Juno or Tequesta beaches to discuss the nesting and hatching processes of sea turtles. After an introduction to these processes, guests may have the opportunity to witness a live excavation, watch a sunrise hatchling release and create their own data sheets to take home as a memento.
Dates: Aug. 1 – Sept. 10, 2018
Cost: $12/person
Time: 7-9 a.m.
The Hatchling Release program at Loggerhead Marinelife Center is a unique experience that allows our visitors to learn about sea turtles and the nesting and hatching process. The program begins with an after-hours experience to view our current patients in our outdoor sea turtle hospital yard, followed by a presentation and ends with a trip to the beach to see LMC staff release sea turtle hatchlings into the ocean through a zero-impact night scope.
Dates: Aug. 1-31, 2018
Cost: $18/person
Time: 8-10 p.m.
We run our programs rain or shine and only stay off the beach in the event of lightning. During this waiting period, guests will be onsite enjoying their presentation. We do not cancel the program due to inclement weather. If the forecast calls for rain, we recommend guests wear raincoats or ponchos. No umbrellas please. We can only accommodate 30 people per program and dates fill up quickly. There are no refunds on tickets.
Turtle Walk Registration Selling Out FAST!
It’s that time of year again for sea turtles to begin their annual trek to our beaches for summertime nesting, and YOU can watch them!
Join LMC staff and volunteers on our unique Turtle Walk program, which brings you up close to nesting sea turtles in a safe and responsible setting to experience a sight you won’t soon forget. Guests will enjoy an educational presentation prior to walking down to the beach to watch a nesting sea turtle lay her eggs.
To register for a Turtle Walk, please visit marinelife.org/turtlewalk.
Want to go behind-the-scenes first? Evening Guided Tours are now offered before each Turtle Walk for a tour of our outdoor sea turtle rehabilitation area, including a tour of our outdoor Sea Turtle Hospital Yard. To register, visit www.marinelife.org/calendar and select your desired dates. Public Evening Tours take place every Tuesday – Saturday at 5:15-6:30 p.m. Private dates and times available based on availability. Contact Sue Thompson at [email protected] for more details.
Junior Marine Biologist Camp – Is your camper a Conservation Kid? Registration for our Junior Marine Biologist summer camp is open with limited spaces left available.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s summer camp programs are interactive, educational and stimulating. Each camp is geared towards children ages 6* through 17. Students participating in the Jr. Marine Biologist summer camp program will gain an understanding of various nature-related topics such as (but not limited to) ecology and marine biology with a conservation emphasis. Camp hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Late pick-up (5 p.m.) is available for an additional fee.
This summer, choose from four hands-on, feet wet camp sessions throughout the summer, including Ocean Adventures, Sea Turtle Savers, Conservation Kids and Field Experiences sessions.
Ocean Adventures – Explore Florida’s coastal ecosystems and all the marine animals that live there! Campers will journey from mangroves to coral reefs as they explore different habitats for the incredible diversity of flora and fauna. Campers will learn about the importance and complexity of coastal habitats, learn to take samples and use observation to collect data, enjoy snorkeling excursions and more. Ocean Adventures encompasses sea turtles and their marine environment, as well as behind-the-scenes access to our sea turtle hospital.
Sea Turtle Savers – Join us for our all-new camp session dedicated to aspiring sea turtle researchers, veterinarians and biologists! Our Sea Turtle Savers session will give your sea turtle lover an opportunity to be a marine science researcher, veterinarian and marine biologist throughout the week for a hands-on experience they won’t soon forget. Campers will learn the process of rescue to release as they participate in rescue and rehabilitation simulations, take a behind-the-scenes tour of our sea turtle hospital, learn how to conduct a sea turtle nesting survey and spend a day in the life of LMC staff.
Conservation Kids – Ready, set, SAVE! Watch as your child turns from camper to Conservation Kid as they learn the importance of ocean conservation for sea turtles, the ocean and their future. Campers will learn how to responsibly enjoy the outdoors while having fun fishing, canoeing and snorkeling safely for marine life. Each Conservation Kid will receive a Sea Turtle Safety award upon completion of the camp session and leave with tools and resources to implement responsible practices in their own community.
Field Experiences (Ages 14 – 17) – Got a budding scientist on your hands? Our Field Experiences camp is designed to prepare high school-aged kids for a future in biology or other related sciences. Campers will spend their days making observations about the local environments and experience them first hand. Activities will include snorkeling excursions, habitat transects, seining for fish, lab experiments, dissections, sea turtle nesting surveys and more. *Additional fees apply.
Want a glimpse into what our summer camps will be like? Check out our 2017 camp blog here>>>
To register for our camp sessions or to learn more, visit marinelife.org/camp.
Scholarships available for qualifying children ages 6-17. More details on website.
New opportunity for college students interested in conservation education
The LMC education department is currently seeking a public programs intern for the 2018 summer season
The education department is currently accepting college level interns to assist with the development, implementation and facilitation of current and future public programming offered at LMC. The internship is an unpaid position and housing is not provided. Students interested in this program will be working under the programs coordinator and assisting in various projects, including, but not limited to:
- Facilitating currently offered public programs as needed
- Training and supervision of LMC volunteers to lead regularly scheduled public programs
- Brainstorming and assisting in the design of new, innovative and mission-centric programming
- Assisting with the tracking and maintaining budget for on campus programming
- Monitoring and communicating inventory needs for more than 20 various programs
- Collecting and coordinating the repurposing of recycled material donations for various crafts and campus events
- Maintaining relationships with LMC volunteers and LMC staff members involved with programming
- Facilitating payment for all regularly scheduled paid public programs
- Daily tasks including creating education materials and content for monthly eNewsletter, monthly programs calendar and program social media content.
- Completion of an intern project to be determined within the first week of hire. Education staff will assist with the program scope, direction and reach. The project objectives include the following:
- Learn how to successfully design and structure one complete educational program
- Write age-appropriate program curricula and create Standard Operating Procedure and supplemental training materials
- Implement program on campus at LMC. Interns will carry out their final program and facilitate the program to LMC staff members at the end of their internship.
Other duties as assigned
Requirements:
- Comfortable speaking with the general public, including various age ranges and ethnic backgrounds
- Detail oriented and organized
- Self-motivated and willing to learn
- Desire to implement spread awareness of marine science education through interactive and enthusiastic programming, both free and fee-based
- Willing to work outdoors in Florida’s heat, rain, and wind as needed
All interns must be currently enrolled university students (full or part time) pursuing a degree in a related discipline (i.e. marine science, biology, environmental science, education). All interns must also possess a valid driver’s license and be able to pass a criminal background check and drug test.
Terms offered: Spring, summer, winter; start and end dates variable based on departmental needs.
To apply, please send your resume and cover letter with three references to education@marinelife.org. Re: Public Programs Internship
Conservation Education Focus: Working Vacation – REGISTRATION CLOSES July 30.
Join SWIM, which offers participants the unique opportunity to explore beautiful ecosystems and local culture while assisting local organizations in daily conservation efforts like mangrove restoration, sea turtle monitoring programs and marine animal research and rescue in Nicaragua or Maui, Hawai’i.
“One of the coolest things about SWIM is that everyone you meet on the trip has that passion for conservation,” says Susan Graham, former Nica SWIM participant. “I definitely would recommend going on a SWIM trip. I mean, what better excuse do you have to travel other than saving the world?”
In partnership with Sos Nicaragua, Loggerhead Marinelife Center staff is welcoming guests to travel with our staff biologists to assist with sea turtle research, conservation and community awareness campaigns in the small town of Padre Ramos, Nicaragua.
SWIM guests will assist in conservation efforts within Estero Padre Ramos Natural Reserve conducting activities including sea turtle nesting activities, in-water sea turtle mark and recapture studies, debris audits and community clean-ups.
“To see marine conservation applied effectively within a community is something everyone should experience,” says Hannah Campbell, associate director of education. “The SWIM program allows guests to see first hand how the efforts of community members, scientists and local authorities can all work together for a common goal for the best interest of all parties involved… including the sea turtles!”
2018 dates:
The Honu of Maui, Hawai’i (June 24-30) – SWIM MAUI IS SOLD OUT!
Hawksbills of the Pacific, Nicaragua (August 12-18) – Don’t miss out, sign up now, only two seats remaining!
Payment plans and student/educator discounts available. For more information about SWIM programs, visit marinelife.org/SWIM.
Conservation Corner
Sea Turtle Awareness Course
In partnership with Jupiter Dive Center, Loggerhead Marinelife Center hosted the first Sea Turtle Awareness Course of 2018. During the Sea Turtle Awareness Course, SCUBA divers learned about sea turtle ecology and man-made threats, how to identify different sea turtles species, and how to respectfully observes turtles underwater. The class then completed two dives, and witnessed one hawksbill and 13 loggerhead sea turtles in their natural habitat. 
May Beach Cleanup Results
Every month, following each Blue Friends Society and private beach cleanup, Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s conservation department sorts and records each piece of trash removed from the beach. In May, four beach cleanups were evaluated, with 6,214 pieces of debris removed from Florida’s beaches. Data shows that over 90 percent of debris collected this month was plastic. The strangest items found were a hot glue stick, a case of DVDs, and a toy snake.
Nesting NEws
MORNING SURVEY – The leatherback nesting season is starting to slow down and leatherback nesting typically ends by July. So far this season we have recorded 145 leatherback nests along our survey area. We have recorded more leatherback nests than in 2017, however, this will not be a record breaking season for leatherback nesting. Loggerheads began nesting in late April, and we are currently averaging over 100 new loggerhead nests each night. We are currently on track to have an average nesting season this year and may record over 10,000 loggerhead nests. As of June 5, 2018 we have recorded 2,761 loggerhead nests. Loggerhead nesting typically peaks in late June to early July, so our biologists are very interested to see how this season pans out. On May 24th, we recorded our first green turtle nest on Juno Beach. Green turtles typically nest in alternating high and low nesting years, so we were anticipating this year to be a lower season due to the high nesting season we had last year. The green turtle nesting typically peaks in July to August.
NIGHT TIME SURVEY – The night crew has had a very successful season, with almost 100 encounters with nesting leatherbacks to date. We have had a number of new turtles (i.e., neophytes) in addition to some old girls tagged at the beginning of The Leatherback Project. One turtle, Ursa, was just the sixth tagged turtle on Juno Beach back in 2001! She has been nesting with us for a very long time. One interesting neophyte was Lynne. She nested at 5 p.m. on Juno Beach amongst a large crowd. This is unusual behavior for sea turtles, but is not unheard of. We are guessing that she was desperate to lay her eggs.
During our nightly surveys, we have collected nearly 1,000 samples from leatherbacks for researchers at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida International University, Monash University, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida. These projects deal with disease prevalence, health, epibiota, and stable isotopes. Nightly patrols for leatherbacks will end on June 15, but that doesn’t mean our work is over. After this time, the night crew will switch to focusing on a number of projects in loggerhead and green turtles.
RESEARCH REPORT
We are happy to introduce our summer research department Interns, Kylie, Gabriella, Emily, and Grace. They will be assisting our research technicians and staff while gaining invaluable field experience on one of the busiest sea turtle nesting beaches in the world!
Kylie Ariotti
Hometown: Jupiter, Florida
I received a bachelor’s degree in environmental science with a minor in biology from Florida State University. While in Tallahassee, I had the pleasure of interning and then working with Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, a public aquarium and marine education center in Panacea, Florida. There, I cared for and educated the public on over a 100 species of marine animals, along with assisting with sea turtle rescues and rehabilitation. As a Jupiter Florida native, Loggerhead Marinelife Center has been a place I have frequented for as long as I can remember. I’m super excited and lucky for this opportunity to work with Loggerhead Marinelife Center as a sea turtle nesting field technician intern for the 2018 nesting season. Can’t wait to see what this season has in store.
Gabriella LeFevre
Hometown: Rockton, Illinois
I am so excited to join the LMC team as a nesting season intern this summer before heading back to Drake University to complete my B.S. in Biology and B.A. in English. So far in my undergraduate career, I have participated in ethnobotanical research of the American persimmon and phylogenetic research in New World blackbirds. During the former, I learned how historical management of trees leaves fingerprints in the landscape for centuries, which gave me a greater sense of concern for our impact on the environment. This past academic year, I have focused on the evolution of plumage complexity according to avian color vision – it’s way cooler than human vision. These experiences helped me confirm a career in research, specifically field research, so I look forward to getting out there to uncover how sea turtles are both studied and protected.
Emily Kelly
Hometown: Marshfield, MA
I attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I received my Bachelor’s of Science in biology in 2017. As an undergraduate, I became involved in a forest conservation laboratory on campus. I completed a senior honors thesis, studying the impacts of hyperparasitoids on the biological control system targeting winter moth in the northeastern United States. After graduation I knew I wanted to apply my growing conservation skills to a field I am more passionate about: marine biology. I accepted an internship assisting in the monitoring and conservation of the estuary ecosystem at Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Cape Cod. Most recently I interned aboard the New England Aquarium whale watch boats, collecting data on humpback whale sightings and educating passengers on ocean conservation. I am excited to continue my work in conservation and expand my sea turtle knowledge at LMC this summer!
Carle Dugan
Hometown: Wellington, Florida
I am extremely happy to be back home working with the LMC team as an intern before returning to Florida State University to complete my BS in Chemistry. This past academic year, I have been fortunate enough to participate in a research study focusing on mercury health effects on Goliath grouper. During that project, I was able to learn how melanomacrophages can be used as a biomarker for environmental impacts on marine life. I’m enjoying working on nesting turtles to gain more field work experience and practice skills necessary for future endeavors. My past and current experiences are helping me determine that I want to continue working towards a career in oceanography. I plan on furthering my studies of the ocean by attending graduate school for marine chemistry. I would love to continue working with marine creatures (whale sharks would be my ultimate dream) in the future and devote my life to them.
VOLUNTEER Spotlight
The Volunteer Department would like to recognize Linda Whalin as May’s volunteer of the month. Linda has been volunteering at Loggerhead Marinelife Center since September 2015. Over the course of that time, rarely has Linda missed a shift. We are thankful to have her working in sea turtle rehabilitation every Thursday morning.
Since she began volunteering at LMC, Linda has donated over 500 hours. Linda spent 20 hours caring for our sea turtle patients and cleaning tanks in the month of May. She has volunteered 111 hours so far this year. Linda, a Jupiter resident, has been passionate about ocean conservation and animals her whole life.
Thanks for all that you do, Linda!
MASCOT CORNER: What are you doing this summer?
Hello Friends,
Fletch here, the lovable and huggable mascot for the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. What are you doing this summer? Going camping, traveling to a tropical beach, visiting Europe or the Great Wall of China? Did you know that your family can take Fletch along as “Fletch The Explorer?” Just print me out and pack me in your suitcase – I don’t take up much room! When we arrive at our vacation destination, take me along on your sightseeing adventures. I would love to take pictures with the family as we explore the area. Then send the pictures of our travels to [email protected] and I will post the pictures on my Loggerhead Marinelife Center web page. Click here to print out “Fletch The Explorer
Maybe your not traveling this summer and your family needs some fun activities to occupy their days. Then check out Fletch’s activity page for over 50 fun conservation activities for the kids and family to do this summer. Click here for the Fletch activities page.
If activities aren’t your thing, I do have a number of coloring pages. Print out a picture, color the picture and then send the finished picture back to [email protected]. I would love to see the finished picture. Who knows, I may post the picture to my Loggerhead Marinelife Center web page. Click here for the Fletch coloring page.
Also, stay posted to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center Web, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages for fun family activities at the Center this summer. Activities like Turtle Walks, Biologist Beach Walks, Beach Cleanups, a turtle release and summer camp for the kids. If you have some spare time this summer, just stop by the Center and visit our sea turtle patients, picnic in the park and enjoy the beach. Make your visit to the Center a family fun day! Who knows, you may even catch Fletch at the Center for that special selfie moment. You never know!
Have a turtle-y fun-tastic summer!
Adoption Spotlight
Summer is here, and bright colors, fun prints and cute sea turtles are a necessity! For a limited time only, LMC’s new reusable sea turtle bag will be used in any sea turtle adoption purchase that includes a bag. Purchase yours while supplies last! marinelife.org/adopt
Shop where it counts
Sweet summertime! Ready to hit the beach and need some new beach essentials? We have everything you need for a one-stop shop! Plus, all proceeds go directly toward sea turtle and ocean conservation! Don’t forget to grab your reusable cup to keep your drink ice cold at the beach and reduce your plastic waste! Keep your phone safe while taking those selfies by the water with this waterproof case! With all this beach gear you will be sure to have a perfect summer!
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Vendor Spotlight: T5 Customs
Name: Michael Thiem
Name of business: T5 Customs
Gift Store Item: Laser-etched Turtle Tumblers
Location of business: Stuart, Florida
Dream superpower? I wish I had the power to heal. Mentally, physically, emotionally. Animals and people. That would be amazing.
How was your business founded?
I started my business in January of 2005 with very little knowledge of the things I do now. After being laid off from a good paying job with very short notice, I decided to take the leap of faith and open my own business. I had extensive background in plastic fabrication, scale models and prototypes and product design and development, so I borrowed money against my house, bought the equipment I needed (only what I could afford) and rented some space. It was scary at first and I worked many long nights and weekends. Having a family with three young children and all that goes with it, I had to succeed to provide for them. That was my motivating force. Success is earned through hard work and dedication to your goal… there are no shortcuts. After a few short years I purchased my first laser engraving machine and taught myself how to use it. Very soon, I was creating new products for my customers and creating lots of new exciting things. I engraved everything from cutting boards and coffee cups to guns and rocks. I found some new direction! I now have six lasers of different kinds for different applications and I still love doing it. I also do small label digital print and specialize in small labels for fishing rods, lures and warning and safety labels for equipment and manufacturers of many different types of products.
What was the inspiration?
My inspiration for the more recent boards I have been making with shell inlays and sea turtle and marine life designs was inspired by my love for the sea and the beauty and diversity it brings to our lives. I wanted to create natural products that could be used functionally but also would bring art, design and color into the home. I also have a long history with the sea and Juno Beach. My parents met on the original Juno Beach Pier around 1960 while fishing. My mother had caught a large snook and it was wrapped around a piling. My dad, a fearless young angler, climbed down the piling in his bare feet and freed the fish so she could catch it. They have been inseparable ever since, and they still go fishing together almost 60 years later. Some of my fondest young years were spent fishing on that same pier and walking with my grandmother on the beaches – even spending many hours with her dear friend Eleanor Fletcher, aka “The Turtle Lady,” marking nests and watching the turtles lay their eggs. I guess you could truly say I love the sea because it is a part of me.
What was the initial response to the designs?
The first shell inlay cutting board I made was the sea turtle of course – and everyone I showed it to was absolutely astonished and the beauty of the shells inlaid into the woodgrain. They all said “I want one!” I have made a number of other designs on different blocks and boards and the response from friends and customers has been astounding to say the least. This is a part of T5 that I am very excited to nurture and grow into perhaps an entirely new business, and one I personally enjoy the most.
Tell us about your product and what separates it from similar products?
All of the wood that I use in the cutting boards is renewable. Whether it is acacia, bamboo or teak, it is all farm raised and replanted year after year on the same land to preserve our environment. I also personally have a hand in each piece and everything is made here in my production shop in Stuart. These products will never be mass produced in an offshore factory somewhere like many of the products out there. I love what I do, have a passion for sharing that with others and try very hard to reflect that in all of my work.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve heard when it comes to chasing your dreams?
The journey to your dreams always starts from within. We all have gifts, passions, hopes and fears within us, but often it is fear that holds us back from finding out who we truly are and what we can do. Don’t let fear take you down the broad road of failure. If you’re going to fail, fail forward doing something you love and are passionate about. Success is a journey, not a destination, so don’t be afraid to try.
What do you love about your work?
My work is creative and the only boundaries are those that I set myself. I also enjoy sharing what I do with others and helping them get excited about their own possibilities and ideas. Sometimes if I am fortunate, I get to be the spark that starts a creative fire for someone else. There is truly no better feeling.
Where do you find ideas for the designs?
Nature. That is as simple as it gets. This earth is the greatest gift that we could ever have and the joy it brings me every day to be part of it, to see it in every detail, is where my inspiration is born. The sun, the sea, the sky and all the amazing creatures are here, and all we have to do is appreciate it.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center in the News
Every month, Loggerhead Marinelife Center receives coverage through dozens of news articles and segments about the Center’s groundbreaking rehabilitation and research efforts, unique educational programs, global conservation initiatives, signature events and more. In 2017, LMC’s media coverage grew over 116 percent, with over 1.47 billion impressions in just one year! We expect to grow even more next year as we amplify and accelerate our ocean conservation and education impact.
Sea Rescue – Featuring Loggerhead Marinelife Center
In October 2016, Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s marketing & communications team received an inquiry from a production team that was contracted to work on an episode of Sea Rescue, a nationally-known educational television program that highlights stories of marine animal rescues all across the country. The episode featured a particular sea turtle that was rescued by LMC’s hospital staff. After nearly two years, Sea Rescue aired the episode on Saturday, May 19, 2018 about the sub-adult loggerhead, named Walter, who ingested a fishing hook and line from a recreational angler and was later transferred to SeaWorld. This episode showcases LMC as a leader in sea turtle rehabilitation, as well as a collaborative conservation partner with other rehabilitation facilities like the one at SeaWorld.
LMC Featured in The Scottish Sun
Last month, our public relations team received an inquiry from the PR team at Discover the Palm Beaches, who was sending a travel writer named Matthew Bendoris from The Scottish Sun to the Center as inclusion of the writer’s trip. After coordinating a behind-the-gates tour for Matt and his family, we received coverage inclusion in his 1,100-word article about the Palm Beaches. The Scottish Sun is a national Scottish newspaper with a daily circulation of 248,419 and distribution throughout Scotland. The Sun’s website also has more than 3,450,000 unique monthly visitors. This global coverage clearly communicates and showcases LMC as a world class tourism destination in the Palm Beaches. It also helps fulfills LMC’s vision to be recognized locally and internationally as the leading authority in sea turtle education, research and rehabilitation.
THANK YOU TO OUR outstanding SUPPORTERS!
Thank you to the sponsors of the seventh annual Run 4 The Sea: Roger Dean Stadium; Garden of Life; Bright Ideas Marketing; Lakeshirts and Blue 84; Anchor Bank; Downtown at the Gardens; Futures of Palm Beach; Michelle Tucker Team – Florida Living Realty; and Orange Theory Fitness. Special thanks to our in-kind sponsors: Coastal Obsession, Subculture Coffee, Boxed Water, Jersey Mike’s, Trader Joe’s, Burrito Brothers, Jupiter Bounce, Card My Yard and The Petting Zoo.
Thank you to Payton Peins for creating a fundraiser on Facebook that raised $170 to benefit LMC. Payton is a marine biology student from Virginia who recently visited the Center to celebrate her 20th birthday. Payton is now also a proud parent to one of our sea turtle patients, Eau-tis. Thank you, Payton. We look forward to your future visits. 
A special thank you to our June Blue Friends Society Beach Cleanup sponsor: Cornall, Ewing, Bellino & Associates, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Thank you to the beautiful oceanside Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Resort & Spa for hosting our May 17th Blue Friends Society Social. Blue Friends Society members and their guests were able to enjoy delicious bites, libations and a great selection of raffle items donated by community partners including local restaurants, golf clubs, artists and more. This raffle helps to offset the cost of hosting each social, allowing all of the membership funds to directly benefit LMC’s mission. Thank you to the Marriott for all that you do for LMC! 
MANATEE LAGOON
Have you ever visited Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center? We are very thankful to have this wonderful partner in conservation here in the Palm Beaches! During your visit, you’ll learn about manatee and ocean conservation. While attending the center, you may see a few manatees in the lagoon and learn about how manatees play an integral role in the overall health of Florida’s ecosystems.
We encourage you to take the time to spread information about the gentle sea cow, especially if you live in South Florida or a place where manatees congregate during manatee season. The Manatee Masters at Manatee Lagoon will provide you with all of the educational materials you will need to spread awareness. For additional information about manatees, please refer to Manatee Lagoon’s activity calendar.
LMC is grateful to partner with Manatee Lagoon, which features a multifunctional educational center, a manatee webcam, two levels of observation areas and so much more. We are excited to watch the center grow as a world-class educational facility in Palm Beach County. Together, we can continue to raise awareness about the sea turtle and the manatee, and help inspire our neighbors, friends and family to be leaders of ocean conservation. Pre-registration is required for events.
Manatee Lagoon Tour – Join us on a walking tour of our visitor center and learn about manatee anatomy, physiology and the importance of GPS tracking devices, as well as the Lake Worth Lagoon.
Mindful Moments Yoga (Adult) – Join Manatee Lagoon for yoga classes against the beautiful calming backdrop of Lake Worth Lagoon.
Manatee Tales Story Time – Listen as a Manatee Master storyteller reads colorful books about aquatic species that live in Lake Worth Lagoon. Children ages 2 to 5 are welcome.
Junior Aqua Lab – A series of four experimental activities that deal with some of the properties of water. Ages 9 to 14.
Children’s Art Class – Every Saturday express your creativity with a different art theme each week.