While the weather has been funny, it's Florida after all, and our beaches remain beautiful.
It’s Beach Time
While the weather has been funny, it’s Florida after all, and our beaches remain beautiful. Some mornings, if you’re up early enough, you’ll see the fishermen casting from the shore. The midday and afternoon beachgoers have been enjoying the sun and surf. We love having our visitors return for the spring season and know they are happy to be here. As the beach continues to be our most popular feature, we hope all those who visit help do their part in ensuring the beaches stay pristine. Please take all your belongings with you at the end of your beach day, dispose of all your trash in the trash receptacles, and fill in any holes dug during your time in the sand. We are so glad many of you love our little slice of paradise. Enjoy the beach and remember to reapply that sunscreen!
And the winner is...
Last month, we had a gift certificate compliments of the Shell Shack up for grabs, and the lucky winner is Laura Walker from Ocilla, Georgia. Congrats, Laura!
APRIL GIVEAWAY
This month we are giving away a fishing shirt from KC Sportfishing. US Veteran–owned and operated, KC Sportfishing offers a variety of fishing charters and cruises that will meet everyone’s boating desires, including sunset cruises. Red snapper season is coming up, so be sure and book your charter with them today. To place your name in the hat, send an email to Kathy at [email protected].
Meet Mexico Beach
This month, we are delighted to introduce Cathey’s ACE Hardware. Originally opening their doors in 1974, this family-run hardware store is in its third generation of operations. They have all the standard hardware supplies—from paint to plants, beach chairs to coffee pots—and more. With their previous storefront having been destroyed by the storm, their new store is bigger, brighter, and open for business. They are open Monday through Saturday. If you’re in the area, be sure and stop by; you just might be surprised what you can find at the hardware store.
Mexico Beach Annual Photography Contest
April 1–July 31
Get ready to print those pictures and try your hand at our annual photography contest. The 21st Annual Mexico Beach Photography Contest opens for submissions on April 1 and runs through July 31. We welcome all photographs taken in Mexico Beach—past and present. Categories are Around Mexico Beach, Sunrises & Sunsets, The Beach, Fishing & Boating, People, and Flora & Animal Life. We hope you will capture Mexico Beach through your “eyes” and enter our photography contest.
Come check out a book, or two, or three from the Mobile Library! The Mobile Library will be set up at City Hall, located at 201 Paradise Path, near the covered pavilion from 12:30 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. The Mobile Library is open to the public and will be stocked with books for all ages (print and audiobooks) and DVD movies. Library patrons will be able to register for a library card and borrow and return items. So, if you don’t have a library card, don’t let that stop you. Patrons who place requests for items at other libraries can pick up those items from the Mobile Library, so patrons are not limited to the titles on the vehicle. With a nice selection of books, there will be something for everyone to read. Reading is a wonderful activity you can enjoy while at the beach, so be sure to stop and experience the benefits of the library being brought to you.
First fishing tournament of the summer! The GollyWhopper Classic’s official date is still to be determined, but we know it will be in June, so get ready. Both the Captain’s Party and the Weigh-In will take place at the Mexico Beach Boat Ramp, located at 109 44th Street. This year’s categories will include Red Snapper, Grouper, and King Mackerel. There will also be a youth division (14 & under). More information will be forthcoming, so check our website for updates!
Ready to fish without having to purchase a license? The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering license-free fishing days for those wanting to test the waters. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone who doesn’t already have a fishing license to experience fishing, take young people fishing, or introduce a friend to fishing without having to purchase a State of Florida–issued fishing license. On the listed days, the fishing license requirement is waived for all recreational anglers, including both State of Florida residents and nonresidents.
Mexico Beach is a Leave No Trace community, and we appreciate your assistance in helping us keep our beaches clean. Any items left on the beach unattended from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. will be removed and disposed of by the City of Mexico Beach. Items include, but are not limited to, tents and tent frames, beach chairs, coolers, umbrellas, toys, etc. Also, please fill in any holes before you leave and please remain off the sand dunes and out of the sea oats to ensure their continued nourishment. There are boardwalks and walking paths that can be accessed to reach the beach. Your assistance with these requests will keep our beaches beautiful and pristine. For full details on this ordinance or questions, click here or contact City Hall at (850) 648-5700.
Crab and Shrimp Bread Bowl Dip
This delicious dish is a great appetizer and party favorite! We publish it compliments of the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association Seafood Cookbook (www.mbara.org).
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
6 ounces small shrimp, rinsed and drained
6 ounces crabmeat, drained, flaked, and cartilage removed
2/3 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1 round loaf sourdough bread
Assorted fresh vegetables
PREPARATION
In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and mustard until smooth. Stir in the shrimp, crab, 1/3 cup Monterey Jack cheese, and onions.
Cut the top fourth off the loaf of bread and carefully hollow out the bottom, leaving a 1/2-inch shell. Cube removed bread and set aside. Spoon seafood mixture into bread shell. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Wrap tightly in heavy-duty aluminum foil and place on baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Unwrap, bake 20–25 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and dip is heated through. Serve with veggies and reserved bread cubes. Enjoy!
We love our teachers
Teachers and educators have helped shape who we are. Here are some funny and relatable thoughts for teachers:
—Teacher’s retirement motto, “I used to teach; now I have no class”
—Old teachers never die—they just grade away.
—The teacher that laughs last at the principal’s joke isn’t far from retirement.
—“Smartness runs in my family. When I went to school, I was so smart my teacher was in my class for five years.” —Gracie Allen
—The splendid thing about education is that everyone wants it. Like the flu, you can give it away without losing any of it yourself.
—The money is no better in retirement, but the hours are.
“More Than One Way to Skin a Cat”
This expression has been around for several hundred years; it goes back to a more agricultural time when animals were skinned for their pelts. It’s generally thought to be derived from the British expression “There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream.” But, generally speaking, it means that different people may have different ways of doing things.
