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in attendance. To protest discharges? No. Why would any county resident vote for them who have done nothing to stop lake discharges?

Three. Safety was a word thrown around a lot by speakers. Safety for the Glades communities is why the Army spent $2 billion on this project. Ok. So, if safety is such a big deal, why does the Corps allow so many people to live literally up against the outside of the dike? Pahokee and Belle Glade had hundreds of residents living within a few feet of the foot of the dike. Why weren’t they moved?

ABOVE: Smoke from the burning sugar cane fields over the dike and behind the speakers crowned the celebration. LEFT: To me, it seemed as if everyone wanted to claim a share of the credit. There had to be 20 of those oversized scissors to cut a symbolic ribbon with. BELOW: An aerial view of the Herbert Hoover Dike.

Afterwards, I sat at Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina Tiki Bar enjoying a fried shrimp basket with hush puppies while I worked. Something slowly drifted down into my basket from the sky.

Sugar cane ash. I laughed. What a fitting way to end the day.

Let’s grow with Florida together.