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Riding Out the
'Rona
by Laura Lucy
So, how did quarantine treat you? I saw all of you out there on social media with your elaborate sidewalk chalk murals, gourmet meals, fresh baked goods daily, epic blanket forts, hard core workouts, and TikTok dance-offs. Good for you! Me? Oh, I’m fine. We’re fine. Everything’s fine. By our second week of sheltering in place, my husband had grown a beard that made him look like an extra on Game of Thrones, and we started making lots of references to The Shining. Everyone thinks introverts had it so easy during quarantine. I’m sure the ones who live alone did! But is anybody thinking about us introverts who are trapped in a home with a couple of chatty extroverts? Someone needs to organize a telethon for me that will raise money for a she-shed. But really, as far as global pandemics go, we had it easy. Unlike when we face hurricane clean up, we had Wi-Fi, electricity, and plenty of potable water. My husband and I already both worked from home, so our jobs were largely unaffected. If anything, I worked more because part of my job became getting information about our ongoing operations and the impact of COVID-19 out to the public. We added online learning for our daughter to the list of daily tasks. Vivi is a bright second grader but also very social. Once we got past 30 minutes of whining about wanting to go to school instead of having to do work online, she breezed through her actual assignments in about 15 minutes a day. I’m interested to see how things shake out in the new school year given the difference in engagement from teacher to teacher, even among classes in the same grade at the same school. Vivi has made other adjustments to her busy schedule, without losing the busy. Weekly piano lessons became ukulele lessons since we don’t have a piano at home. She was playing songs by the second lesson. We uploaded videos to be critiqued for Irish dance homework. And let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve had a work Zoom meeting while your kid simultaneously has a Zoom tap class on the other side of the wall. And speaking of Zoom, I made it through quarantine with only seeing accidental nudity in the background once during a video conference. Like many families, we also faced the challenge of a birthday in quarantine. Vivi turned 8 in May and had to give up the huge party she usually has with dozens of friends in a park for a front yard gathering of a few neighbors six feet apart. Zoom and FaceTime www.OntheCoastMag.com | www.facebook/OntheCoastMagazine/
RIDING OUT THE 'RONA (cont.) calls with friends before the party and yard signs and a Harry Potter cake and gifts during the party took the sting out of having to cancel her customary over-the-top celebration. As of this writing, things are slowly starting to open up again. Lulu’s in Destin was kind enough to reopen the day before Vivi’s birthday, so we were able to keep one annual tradition alive by going to lunch. As locals, we have never appreciated the beach more than we do now. The slip and slide has provided Vivi with hours of entertainment, but I’m of an age where it’s not a good idea to propel yourself across a plastic sheet in the yard. Even though we had our moments envying friends with boats and pools, it’s hard not to be grateful for how easy we had it. Our hearts go out to everyone who missed out on proms, graduations at all levels, meeting new grandbabies, getting to say a final goodbye to a loved one. All of that makes searching half a dozen stores for toilet paper back in March seem inconsequential. We’re working on getting back to normal, or at least finding our new normal. Small playdates are happening. Hugs and handshakes are not. The last two months of the school year were like nothing we had ever seen, and we are hoping for a normal-ish summer. While the Girl Scout camp I had planned to send Vivi to for her first sleepaway experience has been called off, there are murmurings around town of day camps that might happen. We are ready! One-armed Wally’s gator wrestling lessons? Sounds amazing! Know of a scared straight program run by convicted felons? Sign us up! Carole Baskin’s tiger cub camp for kids? We’re there! Jason Vorhees is reopening Camp Crystal Lake? Seems like a legit camping experience for my kid. Is there a camp for husbands? Just kidding, I think I’ll keep him…if he shaves.
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Sea turtle facts: • They are endangered. Sea turtle facts:
Endangered Endangered Sea Turtles Sea Turtles
• They are endangered. • A favorite food is jellyfish. • A•favorite food is jellyfish. They can navigate thousands of miles without a smartphone. • They can navigate thousands of
miles without smartphone. • Mama cana lay about 500 eggs in a season. • Mama can lay about 500 eggs in a season. • The east coast of Florida incubates more • The east coast offemales; Florida our gulf coast incubates more incubates more females;males. our gulf
By Valerie Lofton By Valerie Lofton
Every year, two things happen along our Florida beaches: tourists and sea turtles come back to their nesting Every year,arrive, two things happen along our Florida beaches: grounds. Sea turtle season is from May to October. tourists arrive, and sea turtles come back to their nesting
grounds. Sea turtle season is from May to October. Sea turtles arrive after traveling hundreds of miles, being their after natural instincts to swimof back to the same Seaguided turtlesby arrive traveling hundreds miles, being beaches where they were born. A single female may nest guided by their natural instincts to swim back to the same four or more times in one season, leaving each nest with beaches where they were born. A single female may nest 70-170 eggs. Shein waits after dark to begin long, four or more times one until season, leaving each nesther with laborious journey, dragging her body along the sand, 70-170 eggs. She waits until after dark to begin her long, instinctively seeking high ground to digalong her nest leave laborious journey, dragging her body theand sand, her eggs to incubate. The whole process can take an hour instinctively seeking high ground to dig her nest and leave or more. her eggs to incubate. The whole process can take an hour
coast incubates moretomales. • Florida is home about 90% of the world’s nesting loggerheads. • Florida is home to about 90% of the world’s nesting loggerheads.
or more. After about two months, the nest will hatch and during the evening, when the sand off, the hatchlings After about two months, the nestcools will hatch and during know it’s time to go! They dig their way to the top of the evening, when the sand cools off, the hatchlings theit’s nest, looking thedig light onway the to horizon, know time to go! for They their the topwhich of leads them to their water home. the nest, looking for the light on the horizon, which
leads them to their water home. The world has seven species of sea turtles, and four them has nestseven on Walton County beaches. Theofworld species of sea turtles,The andKemps four Ridley, the only daytime nester and of them nest on Walton County beaches. Thesmallest Kemps of them about 60nester lbs. The and Ridley, the all, onlyis daytime and Green smallest Loggerhead sea turtles are each 350-400 lbs. And of them all, is about 60 lbs. The Green and lastly, thesea Leatherback turtle can reach up to Loggerhead turtles aresea each 350-400 lbs. And 2000 lbs. lastly, the Leatherback sea turtle can reach up to
2000 lbs. When you compare Walton County to most beaches the east coast,County you may When you along compare Walton tonotice mosta big difference in numbers of nests. With an beaches along the east coast, you may noticeaverage a big of 60 nests a year along our 27 miles of coastline, difference in numbers of nests. With an average the of same stretch of beach across from us may see 30,000 nests. 60 nests a year along our 27 miles of coastline, the same This is due sandacross temperature. incubates more this land stretch ofto beach from usThe mayeast seecoast 30,000 nests. This females, and we incubate more males. The turtles normally do our best is due to sand temperature. The east coast incubates more thistoland head back to the place they were born to nest, explaining to help females, and we incubate more males. The turtles normally to do our them best survive. our low nest numbers. Their greatest enemy is man. head back to the place they were born to nest, explaining to help them survive. We pollute their home, we kill them our low nest numbers. Their greatest enemy is man. Our sea turtle girls and boys travel in the gulf stream onWewith commercial fishing poaching is pollute their home, we killand them Sargassum (brown seaweed) until they are a bit larger. After still very active. Our sea turtle girls and boys travel in the gulf stream on with commercial fishing and poaching is they leave that floating home, waters untilstill very active. Sargassum (brown seaweed) untilthey theynavigate are a bitthe larger. After about 20 years of age when instinctively they know it’s time How can you make a difference? Sea turtles need three they leave that floating home, they navigate the waters until to mate. That’s when our male sea turtles meander along things often and flat. three about 20 years of age when instinctively they know it’s time How can that you we make a overlook: difference?clean, Sea dark turtles need the east coast, meeting up with pretty sea turtle girls, before to mate. That’s when our male sea turtles meander along things that we often overlook: clean, dark and flat. swim in up thewith gulfpretty waters again and continue thethey east finally coast, meeting sea turtle girls, before to They need a clean beach to nest on at night. When we leave mate. They are important on both sides of the coast! chairs, toys, tents, sand castles, they finally swim in the gulf waters again and continue to They needtowels, a clean boats, beach to nestumbrellas, on at night. When we leave and holes, we are hindering the work the mama sea turtle mate. They are important on both sides of the coast! chairs, towels, boats, toys, umbrellas, tents, sand castles, With four species of endangered sea turtles needing the dryandneeds to do to lay her nest. Her eyesight is very good holes, we are hindering the work the mama sea turtle in beaches for nest sites, we have a responsibility as owners of the water, butlay not sonest. goodHer on land. When she bumps With four species of endangered sea turtles needing the dry needs to do to her eyesight is very good ininto 18 • Tell them sawsites, it in ON COAST Magazine beaches foryou nest weTHE have a responsibility as owners of 18 • Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine
the water, but not so good on land. When she bumps into
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When you go to the beach, remember #cleandarkflat and this When you goato the beach, remember #cleandarkfl and this will make big difference for sea turtles on anyat beach in the will make a big diff erence for sea turtles on any beach in the world! world!
continued
things or or falls fallsin inholes, holes,ititmakes makesititharder harderfor forher, her,and andshe shewill will things turn around and go back to the water and may dump her eggs turn around and go back to the water and may dump her eggs in the the sea, sea, never neverto tohatch. hatch. in They need need aa dark dark beach beach free free of ofany anymanmade manmadeobstacles. obstacles. They White lights lights disorient disorientadult adultsea seaturtles turtlesas aswell wellasashatchlings. hatchlings. White This includes includesflflashlights, bonfifires, houselights, lights,condo condolights, lights, This ashlights, bon res, house street lights, string lights from events on the beaches, etc. street lights, string lights from events on the beaches, etc. Flash from cameras will blind them and they can fall victim Flash from cameras will blind them and they can fall victim to not not fifinding the water water and and become becomean aneasy easytarget targetfor for to nding the predators. predators. They need need flflat beachesto tonavigate navigateback backtotothe thewater watereasily, easily, They at beaches they don’t don’t become become trapped trappedininaadeep deephole holeororhindered hindered so they by large large sand sandmountains. mountains.We Wehave havedocumented documented by adultsand andhatchlings hatchlingstrapped trappedinin adults holes.One Onefemale femalesea seaturtle turtleon on holes. ourbeaches beachesfell fellininaadeep deephole hole our and andthe thesand sandcaved cavedininon onher. her. ItIttook took66people peopletotodig digher herout. out. As Asan anair airbreather, breather,she shewas was lucky luckytotolive. live.
South Walton Turtle Watch is a local group that was formed in South Walton Turtle Watch is a local group that was formed 1995 by Sharon Maxwell and works under a permit issued by in 1995 by Sharon Maxwell and works under a permit issued the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission It allows trained volunteers to monitor and excavate sea (FWC). It allows trained volunteers to monitor and excavate turtle nests, collect data and work with injured or dead sea sea turtle nests, collect data and work with injured or dead turtles. Most counties in Florida and other coastal states have sea turtles. Most counties in Florida and other coastal states volunteer groups that work with sea turtles during nesting have volunteer groups that work with sea turtles during and hatching seasons. Our volunteers commit to six months nesting and hatching seasons. Our volunteers commit to six of being the of team. The beaches are walked at sunrise months of part beingofpart the team. The beaches are walked at and when nests are found, each one is identified by species sunrise and when nests are found, each one is identified by and measured and marked with stakes, tape and a protective species and measured and marked with stakes, tape and a sign. When you see a sea turtle or sea turtle nest, please protective sign. When you see a sea turtle or sea turtle nest, be respectful and view from a distance. Never touch a sea please be respectful and view from a distance. Never touchturtle a or turtle shine or any lights onlights them.on Never walk through nest. Ifayou sea shine any them. Never walk a through think a seathink turtle is inturtle danger ordanger injured,orcall the local nest. If you a sea is in injured, call sheriff the office and off they the local turtle watch group. local sheriff icewill andcontact they will contact the local turtle watch group. For more info, visit www.southwaltonturtlewatch.org For more info, visit www.conserveturtles.org www.southwaltonturtlewatch.org www.carrrefuge.org www.conserveturtles.org www.carrrefuge.org
Why WhyYou YouShould ShouldCare Care About AboutOur OurOceans Oceans Did health of of ourour oceans is imperative to to Didyou youknow knowthe the health oceans is imperative our survival on this planet? Our oceans produce most of of our survival on this planet? Our oceans produce most the wewe breathe, they feed us,us, and regulate ourour theoxygen oxygen breathe, they feed and regulate climate. Today, wewe can allall serve as better stewards climate. Today, can serve as better stewards forforour and thethe marine lifelife residing ouroceans oceans and marine residing within depleting withinthem. them.Over Overhalf halfof ofthethe depleting marine have been marinemammal mammalpopulations populations have been seen ingesting or entangled in plastic. seen ingesting or entangled in plastic. Play Playananactive activerole rolein inyour yourlocal local community by supporting conservation community by supporting conservation focused such as as thethe focusedorganizations, organizations, such Gulfarium. You will learn, explore, Gulfarium. You will learn, explore, and become inspired to help make and become inspired to help make a difference. Celebrate marine a difference. Celebrate marine life. Form a beach clean-up life. Form a beach clean-up event with your friends and event with your friends and family. Together we can help family. Together we can help preserve our planet for preserve our planet for future generations. future generations.
20 • Tell them you saw it in ON THE COAST Magazine
CONTENTS
T E C H N O L O G Y ™
S T A T E P O I N T
Taking good care of your smartphone should be a priority all year long. However, in summer, doing so may seem like more of a challenge, as you find yourself onthe-go and frequently in situations that may compromise your device. Use these tips to protect your smartphone with style.
Take Care From barbecue sauce in the park to salt and sand at the beach, the summer means more opportunities for sticky situations. Use a handsfree headset whenever necessary. You may also consider throwing hand wipes into your beach bag or picnic basket so you can always capture that Instagram shot on the fly without mucking up your screen.
Use a Case These days, there is no excuse not to use a phone case, even if style is important to you. With so many colors and designs available, you can find one that complements your fashion sense, and protects your device from drops and falls. If you have a love affair with the latest and greatest, you can take heart that just like smartphones, cases are also improving, getting sleeker and gaining more functionality. For those with the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus for example, check out options like the Clayco Iris clear case, which features a transparent, damage-
resistant back, sleek design and multiple color options. Other models offer convenience and functionality, like i-Blason’s Transformer, which has a holster capable of 360-degree rotation, and a kickstand that allows for hands-free movie viewing.
Prevent Water Damage If you are headed to the water or out on a boat, it’s important to keep your phone safe and dry with protection designed with water resistance in mind. For example, a NexCase Waterproof phone pouch is compatible with many models of phones, won’t interfere with the touchscreen or camera, and can be used to hold IDs, cash keys and credit cards while adventuring. When it comes to reliable water resistance, pay attention to the IP rating (or Ingress Protection Rating) of the case. An airtight design, such as the iPhone 7 Plus WaterProof case, has a water resistance rating of “7,” which means that your phone can be fully submerged in water as deep as one meter for a period of up to 30 minutes.
Be Smart Remember that during temperature extremes, your unattended vehicle can become extremely hot very quickly without climate control. So, don’t leave your device behind when you exit your car, as these conditions can have damaging effects on its hardware and functionality. From sun to surf, take steps to give your smartphone the royal treatment. Your device will work better and last longer if you do.