Calling all photographers: enter the Matanzas River photo contest!

We want to see your best photos of the Matanzas River!

Together with the Matanzas Riverkeeper and the South Anastasia Communities Association, we're delighted to announce our first-ever photo contest in celebration of the Matanzas River.

We're accepting photo submissions in four categories: Landscape, People/Recreation, Wildlife/Nature, and Weather. Our submission window opens 9/10/18 at noon, and closes 11/5/18 at 5pm. Send any questions to matanzasvoices@gmail.com, and refer to the guidelines below.

Happy photographing!

#MatanzasRiver #OurRiver

Contest Guidelines

● Eligibility
○ This contest is open to all.
○ There is no submission fee.
○ Photos must be taken on the Matanzas River and/or her tributaries.
○ All images must be original work by the submitter.

● Submissions
○ Submission window opens Monday, September 10th, 2018 at 12pm.
○ Submissions must be emailed to matanzasvoices@gmail.com with the subject line “Matanzas River photo contest 2018.”
○ Images should be titled, “yourname_category” (example:
JohnSmith_Wildlife/Nature).
○ Limit 8 entries per person, with a maximum of 2 entries per category.
○ Photos should be submitted in a jpeg format (filename extension .jpg) with a resolution of 200-300 dpi.
○ A brief description should accompany the photo including your name, date and location of the photo, and any other details you would like to include.
○ All photos must be received by 5pm, Monday, October 8th, 2018.

● Consent
○ When you submit a photo you consent to have it posted on sponsoring organizations’ websites and/or social media sites, and considered for post-contest exhibition.

● Prizes
○ Winners in each category will be chosen by representatives from the sponsoring organizations and notified mid-October.
○ Winners from each category will receive a prize to be determined by the
sponsoring organizations.

Questions? Email matanzasvoices@gmail.com.

May News

Matanzas Voices

May 2018

Friends,

I've always loved this time of year, when the chaotic days of spring stretch into the lazy days of summer. The mullet start running on the beach. Surf picks up. Afternoon rainstorms give us a break from the heat. 

It also means that Matanzas Voices is gearing up for some new work, from interviews to events.

Along those lines: prospects of stormy weather pushed us to postpone our oral history screening event. It was initially scheduled for Saturday, May 26th. The new date is Saturday, June 16th. The menu (fried shrimp, Hyppo pops), time (7pm), and place (Genung's Fish Camp) remain the same. It is a free, family-friendly event. See you there!

This month we're also pleased to announce that we've joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) "Voices of the Fisheries" oral history database. This comprehensive resource is a powerful tool for charting and understanding how marine and coastal livelihoods are changing—that's a goal we can get behind.

Kind regards from the Matanzas,

Anna Hamilton
Project Director
Matanzas Voices
www.MatanzasVoices.com 

Screening event rescheduled for June 16th

We watched with trepidation as subtropical storm Alberto was forecast to reach St. Augustine Memorial Day weekend—as Voices participant Hugh Mercer says, "dealing directly with nature is a chancy proposition."

That's why we decided to postpone our oral history screening event at Genung's Fish Camp to Saturday, June 16th. We hope you can join us at 7pm for fried shrimp and Hyppo pops, followed by a sunset screening at 8pm!

Voices Spotlight: Adam Morley

June 1st officially catapults us into hurricane season in Florida—and we don't have to tell you that the last two years have been doozies for our northeast Florida corner.

By their nature, hurricanes bring sudden, often devastating and permanent change. That's why we're interested in the storm stories of our region, and why we're sharing the experiences of people like Adam Morley, local boat captain and fish camp manager, who got a firsthand glimpse into 2016's Hurricane Matthew.

"It was definitely one of those 'don't try this at home' stories," Adam says. "But I'd never listen to those warnings."

Read more...

Matanzas Voices now included in NOAA's Voices of the Fisheries

We are pleased to announce that Matanzas Voices' collection has been included in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) "Voices of the Fisheries" oral history database! The cross-posting will help scholars and researchers more easily locate our work on the changing ways of life in coastal northeast Florida. You can search collections here.

April News

Matanzas Voices

April 2018

Friends,

Some real talk for a second: As the manager of a small but growing oral history project, it's often hard to know how to measure the successes and failures of a project like Matanzas Voices—the "value" of stories can be hard to quantify.

Which is why we were humbled and grateful to start our month off with some pretty cool news: Matanzas Voices is featured in an essay in Southern Cultures, the University of North Carolina's quarterly about the histories and cultures of the American South. Our essay sits alongside some important work being done on foodways, climate change, and coastal resilience, and we appreciate the opportunity to elevate our local story into the wider, more regional context.

And speaking of coastal resilience: In our Voices Spotlight this month is Fred Green, a man who—pardon the generalization—remembers "how things used to be." Now in his nineties, Fred grew up in Crescent Beach before there was electricity, at a time when residents relied on cisterns for potable water, and the mail service came on a boat. Fred's memories are valuable insights into the evolution of St. Johns County, and we're happy to share his story with you.

Lastly, we are ramping up for our sunset screening event, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 26th at Genung's Fish Camp. We'll be debuting some of our newest oral histories! We look forward to seeing you there.

Kind regards from the Matanzas,

Anna Hamilton
Project Director
Matanzas Voices
www.MatanzasVoices.com

Matanzas Voices in Southern Cultures

We're pleased to announce that Matanzas Voices is featured in the newest issue of Southern Cultures, the University of North Carolina's quarterly about the histories and cultures of the American South.

The theme for the spring 2018 issue is coastal food. Our essay sheds light on Matanzas Voices and the need for localized, community-based documentary and history initiatives. Interested in a copy? Follow the link:

Access the Issue

Voices Spotlight: Fred Green

It isn’t often that we get to establish the legacy of the landscapes around us, but that’s precisely the opportunity afforded to Fred Green in the 1960s as a county commissioner for St. Johns County.

Green helped plat and name the roadways in and around Crescent Beach, officially tying the stories of friends and family to the streets of the area.

When Green grew up in Crescent Beach, "we didn't have electricity," he says. "And the mail service was by boat." Read on to hear more from one of our newest Voices additions.

Read more...

Join us for a sunset screening!

Matanzas Voices is hosting a sunset screening of our newest oral histories atGenung's Fish Camp on Saturday, May 26th! This event is free and open to the public. Gather for appetizers and mingling at 7pm. Films begin at 8pm. Beer will be available for purchase on site, but bring your own lawn chairs. We're looking forward to seeing you there!

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.

Read more...

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.

February News

Matanzas Voices

February 2018

Friends,

Spring is springing, and it's springing fast! It's one of my favorite times of year on the river, as we shrug off the cold, gray dormancy and transition to blooms, warmth, and activity.

It's also one of my favorite times of year in St. Augustine, as festival season starts up. I've got two events in particular on my radar this Spring: the Minorcan Heritage Celebration, which takes place this Saturday, 3/3, and the Saint Ambrose Catholic Church Fair, on Sunday, 3/18 (tip: come early for the chowder). Both offer unique glimpses into old St. Augustine, and the communities who have helped sustain it.

Spring is a time of new beginnings, so it's only appropriate that Matanzas Voices is cookin' up a new initiative. For the first time ever, Voices is commissioning two filmmakers to bring their story ideas about the Matanzas River to the screen. Read on for details!

Sometimes, though, what we start doesn't always end how we think it will. That's the lesson we learn from Hugh Mercer, who is this month's Voices Spotlight. "Dealing directly with nature is a very chancy proposition," Mercer says. "She's a sort of a jealous thing."

And finally, we're pleased to invite you to the Friends of Matanzas annual meeting at Genung's Fish Camp on Saturday, March 17th. Join us to learn about ways you can help protect the Matanzas River watershed. We hope to see you there!

Kind regards from our Matanzas,

Anna

Anna Hamilton
Project Director
Matanzas Voices
www.MatanzasVoices.com

Tell your story: accepting film pitches

Today is the FINAL DAY for submitting your ideas for our first-ever film competition! We are commissioning two filmmakers to bring stories about the Matanzas River to the screen. Be sure to send your pitches tomatanzasvoices@gmail.com by 5pm this afternoon!

Voices Spotlight: Hugh Mercer

Originally from Sayville, New York, Hugh Mercer comes from an "aquaculturally-bent" family. He followed in his father's footsteps working for the renowned Bluepoints Company, a northern purveyor of shellfish, before answering a 1967 ad in a fish journal about a pompano project in St. Augustine.

The plan did not go as expected.

"We started Holmer Farms, which was a fish farming proposition. And we dug what the then superintendent of the [Fort Matanzas National Monument], a man named [George F.] Schesventer, called 'unsightly ditches in the marsh.'"

That was just the beginning of his troubles. Read one to hear more from Hugh Mercer.

On the hunt: historic eateries

We always look forward to your feedback, and welcome ideas and suggestions for project themes, events, and interviews. This month, we're particularly interested in your suggestions about historic/bygone eateries. Which restaurants do you miss? Which were central to St. Augustine and her communities but are no longer here? Drop us a note any time at matanzasvoices@gmail.com.

Protecting the river: Friends of Matanzas meeting 3/17

Interested in protecting the Matanzas River watershed? Please join us for the Friends of Matanzas annual meeting on Saturday, March 17th, to learn about ways you can get involved. The event is a potluck at Genung's Fish Camp from 4-7pm.

Friends of Matanzas is a citizen-supported advocate for the Matanzas, and is the umbrella organization overseeing both Matanzas Voices and the Matanzas Riverkeeper.

We hope to see you there!

January News

Matanzas Voices

January 2018

Friends,

This month, our newsletter is curated a little more thematically than usual.

For one, it's a new year. As we salute 2017 and greet 2018 with new ambitions, hopes, and resolutions, we're taking some time to reflect on what we've accomplished in the past year and to set our intentions for the year ahead.

Secondly, it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Today the nation remembers and honors the indescribably hard work and commitment of those who stood up against inequality and injustice—especially when it wasn't the easy or popular thing to do.

...which is why, throughout January, we're thinking about the weight of our particular history and asking ourselves questions about representation and belonging along the Matanzas: To whom does this space belong? Whose history is well represented, and whose isn't? How can we do better?

Those are all questions Gordie Wilson grapples with every day, as Superintendent of the Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas National Monuments. He's this month's Voice's Spotlight. 

Bygone historical sites like the Monson Motor Lodge are at the front of our minds this month as St. Augustine recognizes the power of its local civil rights movement. Though the Monson was the site of a well-photographed swim-in in the 1960s, the lodge was demolished. The Monson is a reminder to think about what histories might be hidden or invisible in our landscapes.

With this in mind, Matanzas Voices wants to amplify new voices and perspectives with our first-ever short film competition! Two filmmakers will be awarded $1,000 to bring their ideas to the screen. Read on for details.

Lastly, we want to say THANK YOU for all of the support we received during our year-end fundraising campaign. We're so humbled. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We can't do this without you.

Happy New Year, and happy Martin Luther King Day!

Kind regards from the Matanzas,

Anna

Anna Hamilton
Project Director
Matanzas Voices
www.MatanzasVoices.com

Voices Spotlight: "Gordie" Wilson

"I can't believe I get paid to do this some days," says Gordie Wilson of his job as Superintendent of the Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas National Monuments.

Stewards of our historical sites face some of the most difficult challenges: fairly and accurately interpreting history, ensuring sites and artifacts are properly preserved, managing tourism, among many other charges.

Read on to hear what this balance is like from someone on the inside.

Reckoning with the past

To many St. Augustinians, this is a familiar image—and one they'd rather forget.

In it, James Brock, the owner the St. Augustine bayfront Monson Motor Lodge, pours acid into a pool of civil rights activists integrating a whites-only pool. The photo of this swim-in garnered national attention and was, along with other events in the St. Augustine Movement, instrumental in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

Nineteen years ago, the Monson was the embroiled in controversial demolition plans; a Hilton Hotel sits in its place today. The removal of this historical site left many historians with questions of whether or not—and how—communities should distinguish "good" and "bad" history.

For a first-hand account of the Monson swim-in, listen to a moving StoryCorps recollection from two of the protestors.

Calling all local filmmakers! Matanzas Voices is accepting proposals for short films about life on the Matanzas River. We're looking for under-the-radar stories, be they portraits of shrimpers, deep dives into the river's changing ecology, profiles of educational initiatives, or anything else that sheds light on our unique region! Two applicants will be awarded $1,000 apiece to bring their ideas to film. Send your brief (one paragraph) pitch, resume, and example of your work to matanzasvoices@gmail.com by February 28th.

Thankful for YOU!

We are humbled and buoyed by the support we received during our year-end fundraising campaign. We are so grateful for your generosity! Now, let's put those donations to work,

shall we? Be on the lookout for more voices, more events, and more stories from the Matanzas River soon. 

We want to hear from you!

We always look forward to your feedback, and welcome ideas and suggestions for project themes, events, and interviews. Drop us a note any time atmatanzasvoices@gmail.com.

December News

Matanzas Voices

December 2017

Friends,

Suffice to say, it's been quite a year for Matanzas Voices.

First: we’re officially official! After collecting our first five interviews by way of the Matanzas Riverkeeper and a seed grant from the Florida Humanities Council, we got the green light to develop as our own project under the Friends of Matanzas, Inc. Friends of Matanzas is a community-organized advocate for the Matanzas River, and we can’t think of a better sponsor for Voices, whose mission is to document life and work along our river. Drop us a line if you'd like to learn more about Friends of Matanzas and how you can get involved.

We made our debut last spring at an event at the Council on Aging. Attendees gave us lots of great feedback, insight and ideas, for which we’re humbled and grateful. The responses I got from folks speak to a strong sense of place: "Our environment is now changing very quickly," one attendee told me. "It's nice to hear the past so we know how we must protect it into the future." I couldn't agree more.

This year also brought us a tremendous opportunity to grow Matanzas Voices. A generous donor has pledged to match every dollar you give up to $25,000. That means for every $50 you gift, we receive $100, every $100 = $200, and so on. We have big plans for the year ahead and are grateful to everyone who has chipped in so far. But we still need your help in meeting our fundraising goal.

It’s also been a sobering year. With two hurricanes in eleven months, our communities are thinking hard about the climate’s “new normal,” adaptation, and the precariousness of living along Florida’s rapidly developing coast. Nothing illustrated this more for us than the loss of the Matanzas Innlet Restaurant, a beloved icon in Summer Haven. Only a few months after we interviewed Marian Kimrey—whose parents built the eatery in the 1950s—Hurricane Matthew stomped in and crippled the restaurant. It was bulldozed in July.

In the year ahead, we’ll dive deeper into the people, places, and histories that make our region unique. Stay tuned for updates on projects, events, and exhibits we have in the works...we’re so excited we can hardly stand it.

Happy holidays! 

Kind regards from the Matanzas,

Anna Hamilton
Project Director
Matanzas Voices
www.matanzasvoices.com

Fundraising Alert!

A generous donor has pledged tomatch every dollar we can raise up to $25,000 until December 31st. If you like what we're doing, consider chipping in to help us meet our goal!

You can make a tax-deductible donation online, via snail mail,  or make a monthly pledge via Patreon(which also gets you behind the scenes exclusives). Get to know your river and support Matanzas Voices!

In memoriam: Matanzas Innlet Restaurant

Hurricane Matthew crippled Summer Haven's iconic Matanzas Innlet Restaurant in October 2016. It was demolished in July 2017. 

Marian Kimrey's parents built and operated the beloved eatery in the 1950s. Check out her interview to learn more about this icon's vibrant past. "If I had a nickel for every shrimp I ever cleaned or breaded," Marian says, "I'd be the most wealthy person."

Read more...

Your Voice on: Food

We're still on the hunt for your ideas about food traditions of the Matanzas. Whether they're oyster roasts, Minorcan clam chowder or takeout on your porch, we're all ears! MatanzasVoices@gmail.com

November News

Matanzas Voices

November 2017

Friends,

When I started Matanzas Voices, I didn't know what the future would hold. I didn't know if it would work, if anyone would like it, or if it would be sustainable.

What I did know is that it was an important project, that our Matanzas River's story is unique and deserves to be told.

So here we are, on the ground documenting the stories of people whose lives and work have shaped our northeast Florida coastal communities. In just the past month, I've recorded stories of floods and buried treasure, Florida Cracker cattle, shrimp boats, and artesian springs. I'm so looking forward to breathing life into our local history—and sharing it with you.

On our radar this November: we're growing Matanzas Voices, and hope you'll consider supporting the project! A generous donor is willing to match every dollar you give (up to $25,000) from now through December 31st. Read on to learn more!

We're also rolling out some new material, which I invite you to explore. Today we're unveiling our "Storms" feature, which serves as a memory bank of residents' experiences in major storm events. This month, boat captain Adam Morley comes face to face with Hurricane Matthew. Words to the wise: don't try this at home.

We're happy to have you with us.

Kind regards from the Matanzas,

Anna Hamilton
Project Director
Matanzas Voices
www.MatanzasVoices.com

Fundraising Alert!

A generous donor has pledged tomatch every dollar we can raise up to $25,000 from today through December 31st. We need your help! If you like what we're doing, consider chipping in to help us meet our goal.

You can make a tax-deductible donation online, via snail mail,  or make a monthly pledge via Patreon(which also gets you behind the scenes exclusives). Get to know your river and support Matanzas Voices!

New Feature: "Storms"

Floridians are still reeling from hurricane damage, first from Matthew in October 2016 and Irma in September 2017—which is why we're unveiling a "Storms" feature to document the fallout from major storm events as they impact our region.

In our first installment, Adam Morley does everything you're not supposed to do: kayaks straight into Hurricane Matthew. 

"It was definitely one of those 'don't try this at home' stories," Adam says. "But I'd never listen to those warnings." 

Read more...

Voices Spotlight: Frankie Pacetti

New to Voices? Dive into our archives to explore our interviews—like this one, with Frankie Pacetti. Frankie is a Minorcan descendent with deep connections to St. Johns County. She spent many weekends at her family's fish camp on Pellicer Creek, where she now lives full time.

"Everybody would come down on the weekends and go fishing and everybody would get together as a group," Frankie says. "When you're a kid you don't appreciate what you've got.”

Read more...

Your Voice On: Food

Each month, we want to hear from you about specific themes and topics. We'll incorporate your ideas as we move forward!

This month: what are some of your food traditions?

Let us know:
MatanzasVoices@gmail.com