NEW&NOW LITERATI
ELIZABETH PALACE PHOTOGRAPHY
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Above: Yulia Konovnitsyna curates You Should Read boxes. Below: The new seagrass nursery tanks at Manatee Lagoon are functioning ecosystem replenishers.
The next time you find yourself recommending a book to a friend with the words, “You should read…,” consider gifting them a You Should Read box instead. West Palm Beacher Yulia Konovnitsyna recently launched an online shop that pairs purposeful best-selling books, unique crafts from small makers, and other gifts to enrich the reading journey. “Self-help books embody hope and joy for me,” Konovnitsyna says. “They were my safe space from the darkness of family dys-
function, culture shocks, language barriers, career glass ceilings, spiritual plateaus, relationship pivots, self-love—and maybe, one day, a way toward enlightenment.” While Konovnitsyna curates a different box each month, customers can also shop by persona, from “Black Voices” to “I Don’t Read Much” types. Boxes can be purchased on-demand or as a monthly subscription, and each features ecofriendly packaging and customizable add-ons like a handwritten card, bookmark, stickers, and more. A percentage of proceeds fuels the Emerging Artists Fund, which aims to support the works of small and independent authors and artists. Konovnitsyna continues to think outside the box: she launched a local book club in collaboration with 1909 and an event component with “guided adventures” to allow readers to further immerse themselves in the pages of their next great read. (youshouldreadbox.com) —S.S.
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COURTESY OF MANATEE LAGOON
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As if the adorable sea cows that congregate during our chilly winter months weren’t enough of a draw, the 16,000-square-foot Manatee Lagoon An FPL Eco-Discovery Center now has a new feature to explore: three above-ground seagrass nursery tanks. Beyond serving as an educational resource for visitors, these tanks are also functioning ecosystem replenishers. Once the seagrass (grown with water from the Lake Worth Lagoon) matures in the tanks, it will be transplanted into specific areas to benefit manatees and their environment. According to data shared by Manatee Lagoon, one manatee eats an average of up to 10 percent of its body weight in aquatic vegetation each day. Seagrass beds also help maintain water quality and clarity. “Seagrass is critical to our
marine ecosystems, including the Lake Worth Lagoon, because it provides food and shelter for our beloved Florida manatees and other marine life,” says Zack Greenberg, manager of Manatee Lagoon, which is located in West Palm Beach. “The new seagrass nursery exhibit will educate and inspire Manatee Lagoon visitors to preserve and protect Florida’s wildlife for future generations while facilitating seagrass growth.” (visitmanateelagoon.com) —S.S.
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4/25/24 2:43 PM