Mullet Meadow opens
Eighth-generation Cortezian Kira Taylor gets a helping hand from Cortez Village Historical Society president Cindy Rodgers as she cuts the ribbon to officially open “Mullet Meadow” June 14. The whimsical gnome village was born after Hurricane Milton sent an Australian pine into the center’s roof. For safety, the remaining trees near the center were removed — but with limited funds to clear the stumps, the CVHS turned the obstacles into an opportunity. The ribbon-cutting took place during the Cortez Summer Social at the Historical Society, 11655 Cortez Road W., Cortez. Islander Photos: Robert Anderson
From left, Kris Martinez, Bob Hooper, Allen Garner, and Cindy Rodgers — collaborators on the construction of “Mullet Meadow”, a fisher-gnome village — pose for a photo on June 14 before the official ribbon cutting. Speaking at the Cortez Summer Social, Rodgers told attendees, “In a place that is already rich in maritime heritage, we have added a touch of whimsy and wonder.” She called the village “a tribute to creativity, community and the enduring spirit of Cortez’s fishing legacy.”
Cortez Village Historical Society volunteers Sharon Otis and Susynne McElrone prepare lemonade and cake for families to enjoy following the ribbon-cutting ceremony for “Mullet Meadow” June 14. The refreshments were part of the Cortez Summer Social, a community event celebrating local history, creativity, and the unveiling of the new fisher-gnome village.
Sisters Camila, 5, and Sofia Martinez, 2, enjoy a slice of cake together after the unveiling of “Mullet Meadow,” a newly constructed fisher-gnome village, during the Cortez Village Historical Society’s Summer Social on June 14.
Attendees at the opening of the “Mullet Meadow” June 14 at the Cortez Cultural Center relax and converse under tents. Contributor Cindy Rodgers told attendees, “In a place that is already rich in maritime heritage, we have added a touch of whimsy and wonder.” She called the village “a tribute to creativity, community and the enduring spirit of Cortez’s fishing legacy.” Islander Photos: Robert Anderson
Kye Taylor, 6, takes the wheel in a mockup of a big fishing trawler on the grounds of the cultural center.