Catching up

Mike Gaffney was kind enough to send me some photos from the Animal Welfare Auction. A great annual event that is an afternoon of fun and helps a great cause. Anyone who lives here or visits can see we have a LOT of 'extra' cats and dogs around here. We're lucky enough to have concerned and involved people who work hard to take care of these animals as best as possible; health issues, adoptions, spaying and neutering are only the visible side of what gets done. Until homes are found these dogs and cats (sorry, no chickens!) are fostered by individuals who feed them, take them to the vets, socialize them, house/litter train them and love them before they go to a permanant home. So if you couldn't make the auction but would still like to donate, let me know and I'll direct you to the right place.

Bob was the Master of Ceromonies (with his sidekick John). They did a great job!

No, John, Bliss is not for auction!

Marsha explaining what it's all about

Smile for the husband (and yes, the champage was for auction)

Not your average bank teller (good to see you out of the suit, girl!)

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Mary Ann from Coralations sent me this last week and I've been meaning to get it posted...today is the day. Freddy is Digna Feliciano's nephew whom VG took to court for intimidating his workers. Which is exactly what VG is trying to do to Culebra...funny how that works.

Today [Feb. 27], Victor Gonzalez showed up for a hearing in the case he launched against Freddy. The charges were dropped. Gonzalez tried to push a local policeman to testify, when Freddy's attorney argued that the judge ruled for mediation. The previous two court dates, no one showed from the plaintiff's (Gonzalez) side. Gonzalez said today that he had no problem with Freddy....his problem was with "the gringos and Digna Feliciano"....He also indicated that he was taking action for his workers because they are afraid of Freddy...Freddy indicated he has no problem with the workers and they are speak to each other.... By the 20th it looks like the road to the OP was again blocked, only this time upland of the intersection of the muellecito access road and next to the illegal house. It appears the workers living their have introduced some farm animals to the area....which should make the reforestation of the endangered plants even more challenging. As far as we know, the muellecito area is still open to date, but at last visit on the 21st, the historic access/picnic area was now connected to one of the illegal roads Gonzalez made along the shore...(on the shore) Cars were now passing through the old parking picnic area and then down the shore on a road that was built on top of the boulder forest. http://coralations.phanfare.com/4581168_5047287#imageID=94028551 People were parking directly behind the shark pen. Unsustainable.... By the 21st of Feb, "No Pase" was painted on road to the OP..... with backwards N http://coralations.phanfare.com/4581211

And just so you know, Mary Ann, who works tirelessly for Culebra to stay a healthy, strong and beautiful environment, on both land and sea, for now and future generations, does this often thankless job for no gain and a LOT of out of pocket money not covered by any grants she can get (and if you tried or want to ever take a stab at writing a grant proposal, you'll understand even more the side work that goes into her days and nights). So if you are inclined to give to yet another very worthy cause, Coralations would be one to take to the bank.

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And last, while this might not seem to have anything to do with Culebra, to me it has a lot to do with exactly Culebra, but also, any and everywhere else we put up roadblocks to our dreams. Last night I watched the video/documentary A Man Named Pearl (Netflix has it). It's a story about a man named Pearl Fryar who, back in 1984, had one goal. To have his yard win the Garden Club award for the best yard. Except that Pearl is a black guy in South Carolina. Not a rich black guy either. Not trained in horticulture. Not trained as an artist. But a man with a dream and the determination to make it come about, with little and at times no money. Okay, so far it sounds pretty la la, so what...but then we meet Pearl and it's about a whole lot more than overcoming seemingly 'can't be done' issues and making a dream happen. Check it out; Pearl rocks! For those of you on facebook, Winthrop University has got a page on him there as well.

Take a little Pearl along with you today. “There’s always gonna be obstacles. The thing is, you don’t let those obstacles determine where you go.”