Page 4 - Martin Downs Bulletin - February '20

Page 4, Martin Downs

Treasure Coast Library Foundation

Outdoors Engaging Readers And Tracy Walder present on a “Spy and Espionage” panel

before April Henry, Paul Doiron, Peter Swanson, and
Writers For 26 Years Shari Lapena intrigue us with a “Mystery and Thriller”
Don’t Let The Winter BookMania! remains a discussion. April Henry will also visit the students at
Jensen Beach High School on the preceding Friday.
Rough Seas Keep You From favorite destination for a In addition to the Barnes & Noble cafe for snacks and
wide and diverse audience
coffee, hamburgers and hotdogs from the Martin County
Fishing! of savvy South Florida Sheriff’s Office Barbecue Grill Team are available for
readers and writers. During cash-only at the event. The afternoon panels include “A
By Jim Weix the one-day festival on Dog’s Perspective” with Clive Wynne and Spencer Quinn,
No, I’m not Saturday, March 28 at followed by a “Larger Than Life” biography discussion
suggesting you do Jensen Beach High School, with the authors of Becoming Dr. Seuss and The Life and
what that crazy guy did prominent and emerging Afterlife of Harry Houdini. The festival ends with the
recently. He had to be writers participate in popular “Historical Fiction” panel with Allison Pataki,
rescued after he took themed panel discussions Martha Hall Kelly, and Mary Doria Russell.
his 14-foot aluminum before Barnes & Noble BookMania! is sponsored by The Library Foundation
boat out into the ocean book signings. Presented by of Martin County to inspire our community through the
in rough seas. Hopefully the Martin County Library J. Salas humanities and literacy. It proves to be so inspirational that
the Coast Guard gave System, the event has been previous authors encourage their publishers and peers to
him a certificate for delightful for both authors and attendees. Hank Phillippi experience BookMania! “I am still glowing in the aftermath
a commonsense boat Ryan says, “This was one of the best events I’ve ever been of your wonderful event,” writes author Anne Hillerman.
safety class. to in my entire life. Thank you thank you thank you, it Paul Kix continues, “I loved BookMania!, and truly
Instead, try surf fishing when the seas are too rough to was perfection in every way.” New and seasoned attendees appreciated the hospitality ... You guys have a great thing
safely go out into the ocean in a boat. Even if your boat love the event too saying, “Twenty-five years and better going.” Susan Wiggs, author of Between You & Me wraps
can handle the rough seas, you are going to come back each year! This is a blessing to our community!”, “I have up nicely, “I had the best time! Wow, what a fantastic event
pretty well beat up. Not so with surf fishing, most of the never been before and now I am hooked!,” and “Fabulous and group of people. The venue was great, too, and many
time. tribute to reading and the authors we admire.” thanks to the bookseller. Thank you so much for including
You can catch pompano, snook, whiting, sheepshead, This year, authors Don Bentley, Sonia Purnell, and me. It was an honor, and the weather was a treat!”
flounder, and black drum. I have also caught tarpon.
Unless you are already a seasoned surf angler, take a
trip down to the beach and talk to a few anglers. You will United Way To Hold Third Annual
learn what equipment you might want and what is biting. Tikis from page 1
This time of year, pompano is popular.
Sand fleas are a popular bait for pompano and you can start the year off right. In its first
get them at many bait shops. You can also catch them at year, Tools For Success provided over
the beach, which is a fun activity in itself. 8,300 children with supplies for their
Just as there is an art to reading the ocean, the same classroom, saving Martin County
applies to reading the surf. I look for changes in how the families over $58,000. This program
surf retreats. You will find areas where there is a runout has a lofty goal of supporting all
that is different than the rest of the retreating water. These Martin County schools by year five.
often wash out more food, like sand fleas, and fish will be United Way of Martin County invests
waiting for them. in programs that strive to enhance
Some anglers prefer an incoming tide. The surf reaches healthy living, improve education, and
further up the beach and washes out food that wasn’t being support financial stability.
reached before. It will also bring fish in closer to the beach. Sponsors include Bank of America, Left to right: Carol G. Houwaart-Diez, Mark Roberts, Dana Denzel, Jamie
My most memorable trip was by accident. I simply C&W Business Systems, Cleveland Gall, Christopher Gall, Kyle Offringa
went to the beach to see what other anglers were catching. Clinic Martin Health, HBK CPAs and
I grabbed a light spinning outfit with a silver spoon. As I Consultants and Publix. Since 1972, the United Way has been working to create
walked the beach, I noticed some tarpon. Visit http://www.UnitedWayMartin.org/Tiki to learn long-term social change and provide support to Martin
I hooked one and when it jumped, I realized that my more and register today. County residents by investing in programs that strive to:
equipment was no match for it. I figured that it would head About United Way enhance healthy living, improve education and support
out to deeper water and simply spool me. Instead it ran United Way of Martin County’s mission is to improve financial stability.
parallel to the beach. lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community. Photos by Liz McKinley
With my line fast disappearing, I began to chase it.
This created an audience. Some cheered me on and some
cheered for the fish. After numerous 200-hundred-yard
sprints, I got the fish nearshore.
By that point everyone seemed to be siding with the fish Locally Sourced Produce
and wanted it safely released. I spent 15 minutes rolling
around in the surf wrestling with the tarpon so I could get Organic & Gourmet Food
my spoon out of its mouth. There were cheers as the fish
was successfully released. and Country Store
It was fun, but I also learned a valuable lesson. I’m too
old and out of shape to pull that stunt again. Eat Better...Spend Less...
Editor’s note: Jim Weix is an avid hunter, angler,
conservationist, as well as an outdoor writer. Jim is And Leave with a Smile!
included in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s Hall of
Fame, for his work in helping restore thousands of acres
of wetlands. Jim is a Broker Associate with The Keyes
Company. He can be reached at (772) 341-2941 or by
email: jimweix@jimweix.com.

. Leave the hustle & the
. Farm Fresh Eggs bustle and get a taste of SW Citrus Blvd. Florida Turnpike Martin Downs Blvd.
. Local Beef the “real” Martin County.
. Local Honey Martin Hwy.
. Local Coffee
. Local Orange Juice 3706 SW Citrus Blvd
1 mile from
. Local Chips & Salsa Palm City Martin Downs Blvd.
Local Fruits &
Vegetables in season (772) 888-3103