CORTEZ – It’s been a year filled with successes and a few challenges for the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) as the board laid out plans for enhancements to the FISH Preserve at its annual membership meeting on May 13.
“We’ve been truly blessed from a financial standpoint,” FISH Treasurer Jane von Hahmann reported at the meeting.
Despite being rained out on the second day of the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival in February, the non-profit netted $43,000, which supports the FISH Preserve. Von Hahmann also reported a $50,000 anonymous donation designated to help pay down the mortgage on Fisherman’s Hall and a portion of the preserve.
“We have some big projects coming up,” she said.
With a $165,000 grant from the Barancik Foundation, the preserve will have trails, two bridges and a picnic area installed. The funds must be used within 18 months. FISH is contributing an additional $15,000 to that initiative.
A donation from Kiwanis of $16,000 will possibly be used toward the cost of a third bridge.
“Phase IV of the preserve is finished; that’s the last and final phase of digging dirt. Now we have the job of connecting everything up with walkable trails,” she said. “Father and son Alan and Alex Garner have been doing work on planning improvements for the preserve for about a year, which includes signage at the preserve, an additional entrance sign and a kiosk where visitors can sign in and obtain educational materials. We are discussing the grand plan with a tower and possibly a canopy walk. We have some big ideas.”
Von Hahmann also noted the November 2023 donation of $50,000 for trails and bridges at the preserve from Dr. Terry Bert, the wife of the late John Stevely. Stevely was one of the original FISH board members.
FISH’s goal for the recent Giving Challenge of $15,000 was exceeded; the organization received nearly $20,000.
Board member Karen Bell gave a festival report.
“It was a good festival, as good as it could be considering the rains,” Bell said.
Bell said FISH donated $4,000 to the Organized Fisherman of Florida for their help in setting up the festival.
Bell also gave an update on the progress of the refurbishment of the old volunteer fire station.
“The fire station used to be Cortez’s only fire station,” she said. “I remember they used to have in the fall, maybe two or three or maybe four mullet fries. It was so cool, the ladies used to bring pies or cakes and big pots of coffee.”
The volunteer fire department had been owned by Anna Maria Fire District and in their deed the building had to go to another non-profit, according to Bell.
“It was deeded to the Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage,” Bell said. “By fall we should be ready to use it. It’s nice to see it come back to life.”
