It’s Turtle Time! 🐢 - The E-Newsletter from the City of Mexico Beach

Photo by Sandie Yarbrough It's Turtle Time May is the beginning of sea turtle nesting season, and Mexico Beach is home to a few of our hardshell friends. Year after year, these remarkable creatures return to our beaches to nest, making this stretch of coast an important part of their journey. As you enjoy your time on the sand, we ask that you help us protect them by keeping a few simple guidelines in mind. Use red light covers on phones and flashlights at night, and Leave No Trace, which includes taking all belongings with you at the end of your beach stay and filling in all holes. Please be respectful and give nesting turtles and marked nests plenty of space. Never approach a turtle or hatchlings! A little care goes a long way in keeping Mexico Beach a safe and welcoming home for our sea turtles.

And the Winner Is... Up for grabs last month was a gift bag with goodies from Centennial Bank, and the lucky winner is Curt D. from Covington, KY. Congrats, Curt!   MAY GIVEAWAY This month’s giveaway is a prize pack from Bracewell’s Flooring & Fencing. Family-owned and operated, Bracewell’s Flooring & Fencing provides and installs a full range of flooring and fencing solutions. With over 50 years of experience, they are dedicated to delivering quality craftsmanship and helping bring your home improvement projects to life. When you’re ready to fix that fence or update your floors, be sure to visit Bracewell’s in Mexico Beach. To place your name in the hat, send an email with your contact info to Kathy at kathy@mexicobeach.com.

MEET MEXICO BEACH This month, we’re pleased to introduce Mr. Sam Buccierie, Public Works Director for the City of Mexico Beach. Sam joined the City in 2023 as a General Maintenance Supervisor and has recently been promoted to Public Works Director in 2026. With a background in management, maintenance, and public service, he has quickly made an impact in his new role. Sam is already overseeing several key projects, including the Canal Parkway cul-de-sac, pickleball court repairs, 15th Street pedestrian bridge, and park improvements throughout the city. Originally from Ohio, Sam has called this area home since 2002. Known for his approachable nature, he’s often out and about, so if you see him around town, be sure to say hello and congratulate him if you haven’t already.

PUNCH ON THE PORCH MAY 8 Let’s celebrate travel, tourism, and Mexico Beach! In honor of National Travel and Tourism Week, the Welcome Center is hosting Punch on the Porch on Friday, May 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We’ll be serving light refreshments and our signature punch, sharing the latest tourism updates, and offering fun giveaways to celebrate everything that makes Mexico Beach an unforgettable destination.

FARMERS & CRAFT MARKET MAY 9 & 23 Come spend the morning at the Mexico Beach Farmers & Craft Market at Parker Park, located at 2500 Highway 98. Vendors will include produce, fresh jellies, one-of-a-kind crafts, and much more. Each market is sure to have new vendors, so be sure to come every time. If you’d like to be a vendor, sign up now. This market is put on by the Special Events for Mexico Beach, Inc.

ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST APRIL 1–JULY 31 It’s time to showcase your talent and the beauty of Mexico Beach that you’ve all captured over the years. The Annual Mexico Beach Photography Contest opens for submissions on April 1 and runs through July 31, 2026. Photographs can be from past visits taken within the city limits of Mexico Beach. Entry is free, just send in those pictures! Click here for more information.

READ ABOUT ALL EVENTS HERE

A FRIENDLY REMINDER: Mexico Beach is a Leave No Trace community, and we appreciate your assistance in helping us keep our beaches clean. Any items left on the beach unattended from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. will be removed and disposed of by the City of Mexico Beach. Items include, but are not limited to, tents and tent frames, beach chairs, coolers, umbrellas, toys, etc. Also, please fill in any holes before you leave and please remain off the sand dunes and out of the sea oats to ensure their continued nourishment. There are boardwalks and walking paths that can be accessed to reach the beach. Your assistance with these requests will keep our beaches beautiful and pristine. For full details on this ordinance or questions, click here or contact City Hall at (850) 648-5700.

COBIA WITH LEMON CAPER SAUCE We publish it with the compliments of the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association cookbook (MBARA.org). INGREDIENTS 1 ¼ cobia fillets 1/3 cup flour ¼ tsp salt ¼ tsp pepper 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped   Lemon Caper Sauce: 1 Tbsp flour 1/3 cup dry white wine ½ cup low-salt chicken broth 2 Tbsp lemon juice 1 Tbsp capers Salt and pepper DIRECTIONS Cut fillets into 4 pieces. In a shallow dish, stir flour, salt, and pepper. Coat fish pieces in flour mixture (reserve remaining flour mixture). In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Place coated fish in oil. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until fish flakes easily with a fork; remove from heat. Lift fish from skillet to serving platter with slotted spatula (do not discard drippings); keep fish warm. For caper sauce: heat skillet (with drippings) over medium heat. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper; cook and stir for 30 seconds. Stir in the wine and cook for about 30 seconds, until thickened and slightly reduced, then stir in the chicken broth and lemon juice. Cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce is smooth and slightly thickened. Stir in capers. Serve sauce over fish, sprinkle with parsley, and enjoy!

MOTHER KNOWS BEST Mothers and mother figures tend to have very knowledgeable insight and wisdom. Here are some fun quotes from moms and about moms: Mama does everything for the baby, who responds by saying “da-da” first. —Mignon McLaughlin If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands? —Milton Berle Most mothers are instinctive philosophers. —Harriet Beecher Stowe My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it. —Mark Twain Honey, I’m your mother. It’s my job to strong-arm people into seeing how amazing you are. —Beverly Goldberg from The Goldbergs My mother’s menu consisted of two choices: take it or leave it. —Buddy Hackett Why don’t kids understand that their nap is not for them but for us? —Alyson Hannigan Being a mom has made me really tired and so happy. —Tina Fey My mother used to say, “The older you get, the better you get. Unless you’re a banana.” —Rose Nylund from Golden Girls

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