March News
Matanzas Voices
March 2018
Friends,
What does history have to do with protecting the environment?
It's a good question, and one I've been thinking a lot about since Matanzas Voices joined Friends of Matanzas, a citizen-supported advocate for the Matanzas River. We believe that oral history and documentary work are inherently activistic: the more people are educated about the delicate, finite systems and resources around them, the more they understand, value, and protect them.
That line of thinking highlights the importance of "memory keepers," people who are bearers of tradition and local history. Enter: Phil Cubbedge, one of the few remaining commercial oystermen in northeast Florida. No one knows the river quite like Phil, who is in this month's Voices Spotlight.
Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, May 26th! We're hosting an evening screening event at Genung's Fish Camp to showcase some of our newest work. We hope to see you there!
Have a happy Easter Weekend!
Kind regards from our Matanzas,
Anna Hamilton
Project Director
Matanzas Voices
www.MatanzasVoices.com
Thanks to our members!
Thanks to everyone who shared their St. Patrick's Day evening with us at Genung's Fish Camp for the annual Friends of Matanzas membership meeting! We were buoyed by the enthusiasm, good food, and beautiful scenery (check out that sunset!).
Did you miss it? Are you interested in becoming involved with Matanzas Voices, the Matanzas Riverkeeper, and Friends of Matanzas? Shoot us an email at matanzasvoices@gmail.com for more information.
Voices Spotlight: Phil Cubbedge
"Oystering is like a dying breed. It is phasing out," says lifelong oysterman Phil Cubbedge.
Phil, whose family has lived in the area for generations, descends from shell fishermen. He picked up the trade from his father, who once had an oyster house on Lena Street in St. Augustine. Commercial oyster harvesting in northeast Florida has dwindled over the years, due to increasingly polluted waters, river closures, and regulations. Plus, it's a hard job.
"We go out there eight or ten hours. It's a long day."
Read on to hear more from Phil, one of our last commercial oystermen.
Save the Date: 5/26/18
Our next screening event will be Saturday, May 26th, 2018! Please join us at Genung's Fish Camp in Crescent Beach for a sunset screening of some of our newest Voices additions.
The event is free and open to the public. We'll provide the snacks, and beer and wine will be available for purchase in the bait shop. Please bring your own chair!
We look forward to seeing you there.