KEYS WEEKLY’S OWN MARK HEDDEN SPEAKS AT BOTANICAL GARDEN

Wildlife photographer and writer discusses Ballast Key

The Key West Botanical Garden Society presents Mark Hedden, writer, photographer and semi-professional bird watcher on Saturday, March 18 at 1 p.m. in the Toppino Nature Chapel at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden. Hedden’s subject is “South of Southernmost,” a photo project that focused on wildlife and environs of Ballast Key, a once private island that has now been incorporated into the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Hedden is a photographer, writer and semi-professional birdwatcher. He has lived in Key West for more than 30 years and is the executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society. He also writes the Wild Things column, largely about birds, for the Keys Weekly. His photography work tends to focus on nightscapes, wildlife documentation and street photography. He did shoot a wedding once and has nearly recovered. His work has appeared in the New York Times, BirdWatching, Birding, and Birder's World.

The garden is located at 5210 College Road on Stock Island. Admission is free for members and $5 for non-members. The event will also be recorded and available after this date on the Garden’s website. More information is at keywest.garden or 305-296-1504.

— Contributed

The Monroe County Tourist Development Council has funding available to governmental entities and non-profit organizations for capital projects.

The project/facility must have the primary purpose of promoting tourism and must fall into one of the following categories:

Convention Center, Sports Stadium, Sports Arena, Coliseum, Auditorium, Aquarium, Museum, Zoological Park, Nature Center, Fishing Pier, Beach or Beach Park Facility, Channel, Estuary, or Lagoon, Public Facilities in Accordance with Conditions set forth in the Florida Statutes.

The deadline for receipt of applications is April 18, 2023 , and applications must be downloaded from Demandstar (www.monroecounty-fl.gov/bids).

For more information, please call the TDC Administrative Office at: 305-296-1552, and ask to speak with Ammie or Maxine.