Lovers Key State Park Visitor Center underway!
 President's Message
Some seven years ago the FOLKS Board of Directors shouldered the daunting task of creating a Visitor Center for our Park. It made no sense that the second most visited Park of 174 Parks in the State system did not have a Visitor Center.
As you may have seen in the media, the Florida Legislature with the Governor’s approval has granted the Park Service the funds to make this dream a reality! Design of the building is now underway! Budgets are being developed and FOLKS is staying closely involved in the process.
Park visitors will experience a new and exciting range of classes, lectures, special events, fundraisers, community programs in our planned facility. We also plan to incorporate state-of-the-art exhibits that explain the unique variety of the ecosystems featured in our beautiful barrier islands.
There is still much to be done in the days ahead, and we pledge to keep you informed of progress through this letter. For now we wish to thank the many of you who have helped in realizing the dream. It has been the support of friends, certain individuals, community groups, and the efforts of the local governments of Bonita Springs, Estero and Fort Myers Beach that have brought us to where we are today.
So stay tuned, there's more exciting news to come! And we will be asking for your continuing support! Thanks.
Rich Donnelly, President FOLKS
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Mark your Calendars!
Save the Dates!
2017/2018 Season of FOLKS Special Events
Check our website and upcoming E-News for more details as these events draw near.
Songwriters at Sunset Free Live Acoustic Musical Concerts on the Gazebo
First Thursday of the Month
Dec. 7, 2017
Jan. 4, 2018
Feb. 1, 2018
March 1, 2018
April 5, 2018
Great Outdoor Adventure Day
Dec. 2, 2017
Santa on the Sand
Dec. 10, 2017
Parrotthead Tropical Beach Party on the Beach
Jan. 15, 2018
FOLKS Annual Board Meeting
January 23, 2018
Nautical Flea Market
Feb. 9-11, 2018
Valentines Vow Renewal on the Beach
Feb. 14, 2018
Wine Tasting on the Beach
March 21, 2018
Luau on the Beach
April 11, 2018
Turtle Trot 5k and Family Fun Day
May 12, 2018 |
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Lovers Key State Park Interpretive Events
July, 2017
Fri. July 7, 10 am
Beginning Birding
Fri. July 14, 10 am
Black Island Bike Tour
Thurs. July 20, 10 am
Lovers Key Fishing Clinic
Fri. July 21, 10 am
A Walk on the Wild Side
Fri. July 28, 10 am
Sea Turtle Talk
Space is limited – Call for Reservations: 239-463-4588
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Calling all Volunteers!
Our Annual Turtle Trot 5k and Family Fun Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 12, 2018. We are currently putting the committee together to begin planning for this special event. This event is one of our signature fundraisers, and we would love you to get involved by volunteering for the FOLKS. Please contact Todd Richards at todd@loverskeyadventures.com if you are interested in lending a hand for this year's event.
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Lovers Key Sea Turtle Nesting Update
 Total nests as of June 30: 44
Non-predated nests: 13
Partially predated Nests: 14
Completely predated Nests: 14
Lost Nests (Storm Surge): 3
False Crawls: 99
Hatched nests: 0
According to Park Service Specialist, Robert Hughes, "Sometimes predators, such as raccoons, get to the nests before we do, and they eat some or all of the eggs. If they eat some, the nest is partially predated; if they eat all, it's completely predated. If they don't get to the nest at all, it's non-predated." |
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Lovers Key native plant restoration a success!
By Robert Hughes, Park Service Specialist
As the exotic, non-native vegetation was removed, what remained were large bare areas. Now that most of the exotic vegetation has been eradicated, the habitats are returning to functioning ecosystems that support native plants and animals alike.
Thanks to 20 years of dedicated work by the Lovers Key staff and volunteers, the restoration of the native plant community of Lovers Key State Park has been a success!
When Lovers Key State Park and Carl E. Johnson County Park merged in 1995, vast areas of the park were covered with exotic, non-native vegetation including large Australian Pines. Due to prior development, much of Black Island lacked any vegetation at all! As the non-native vegetation began to be removed, the bare areas that remained needed to be re-planted with native vegetation.
To achieve the aim of restoring these areas, the park started a native plant nursery in 1997. Park volunteers and staff collected seeds from various native plants within the park and planted them in containers. As the exotics were removed, planting workdays were scheduled and these nursery-grown native plants slowly replaced the invaders.
Over the years, most of the exotic vegetation in the park has been eradicated. Lovers Key is now in the Maintenance Phase of exotic removal. This means that, since fewer and fewer non-native plants are being removed, the need for replacement vegetation has been reduced.
The native vegetation that has been planted has been very successful in reproducing on its own. Due to the success of our re-planting effort, Park Management recently determined to scale back the operation of our native plant nursery. From this point on, the nursery will be exclusively focused on growing rare or threatened native coastal plants and other native plants for the park’s Butterfly Garden.
When you come out to Lovers Key State Park, whether it’s to enjoy the beach, hike and bike the trails or kayak the estuary, pause and take a look around. Much of that restored native vegetation around you is due to the hundreds of hours that park staff and volunteers have put in over the years to make this native plant restoration a huge success!
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Calling Volunteers!
 There are many ways to volunteer your time and talents at Lovers Key. Whether you're a people person or more hands-on, we need you now! You don't have to be a full-time resident to lend a hand. Please take our Volunteer Interest Survey to let us know what you like to do, and that you're willing and able to help. |
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Wear your Support for FOLKS
The FOLKS merchandise sales are growing every month!
Merchandise sales account for the largest portion of our fundraising efforts.
 If you haven't yet purchased a FOLKS tee, tank,cap, or cookbook, consider one for yourself or for a friend, and you'll be contributing towards our fundraising efforts towards our future Visitors Center. All of these items make excellent gifts too!
FOLKS colored tees and tanks are always available on our website. To see all styles and colors visit http://friendsofloverskey.org/shop.html.
The sale of merchandise, shirts and cookbooks is an important fundraising activity. All proceeds go to the support of Lovers Key State Park. A primary goal of the Friends of Lovers Key is to help fund the development and construction of a Visitors Center at the Park.
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From the FOLKS Love'n to Cook Cookbook
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Beef Barbeque
1 bottle BBQ Sauce
1 bottle Chili Sauce
1 small bottle Ketchup
2 T. Prepared Mustard
1/2 C. Brown Sugar
1 Onion chopped
Salt, Garlic Salt to taste
1 Cup Water or enough to total 4 Cups Liquid
Liquid Smoke
Beef Brisket
Small boneless pork loin
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Brown all sides of roasts. Brush with liquid smoke. Cook in dutch oven for 7 hours or overnight at 200°. Pour off juice and cool. Either shred or thin slice and layer in a pot or crock pot with BBQ Sauce and cook for 1 1/2 hours at 350°. If using a crock pot let cook on low all day.
– from the kitchen of Flo Alexander, Bonita Springs, FL
The FOLKS Love'n to Cook Cookbook gives you 200 pages of delicious and inventive recipes from FOLKS members and local chefs. Original illustrations throughout by FOLKS Board Member Rich Donnelly. Purchase yours at the FOLKS online store.
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 Lovers Key #1 on Trip Advisor
TripAdvisor currently lists Lovers Key State Park as #1 of the 52 "Things to Do" for Fort Myers Beach. In fact, the culmination of positive ratings earned the park the Certificate of Excellence for both 2015 and 2016.
"Easy access to wonderful sugar sand beach. Lot of trails to explore. Good place to spot frigate birds and swallow tail kites and Rudy turnstones and lots of other shore birds. Shelling was above average as well. "
– Visitor from Grand Marais, Minnesota
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The Friends of Lovers Key, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed by the citizens of the community to support Lovers Key State Park and is registered as a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, your Membership and Donations are tax-deductible.
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Sponsor Spotlight
 Truly Scrumptious has been pleasing customers at Ft. Myers Beach since 2008. In addition to their lovely restaurant, owners David and Michelle Pyle also offer delicious and affordable catering for all occasions.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus feature traditional American comfort food favorites prepared from family recipes with the freshest ingredients. They also serve a delightful variety of desserts, ice cream, and hot or cold beverages.
Truly Scrumptious scoops up Ice Cream Club ice cream, which was voted best ice cream by the readers of the Miami Herald, South Florida Magazine, Palm Beach Life and Palm Beach Illustrated. All 30 flavors are made from hormone free dairy, and they follow an allergen awareness program to ensure quality control.
Support our generous sponsor and stop in 7 days a week from 7am to 10pm for a taste of something Truly Scrumptious!
Truly Scrumptious
7205 Estero Blvd
Santini Marina Plaza
Ft Myers Beach, FL 33931 (map)
239-765-2200
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FOLKS would like to thank the following New Business Sponsors for their support as we fund raise for the future Visitors Center. Please consider visiting their businesses and supporting them as well. Business Partners help support the environmental education mission of the Park.
Add your business to the list!
Contact Shelley-Sue Williams at (516) 381-3518.
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