By Randy Moore, Publisher & Editor –It’s always a pleasure to recognize great people in our community. Paige Bakhaus is the newest recipient of our Englewood Spirit Award. Paige owns Hooked on SUP with two locations at Don Pedro Island State Park and Stump Pass Beach State Park. She launched her business in 2011 after moving here from Georgia in 2008. Learn more about Hooked on SUP by visiting HookedonSUP.com.
Paige and her dedicated team of guides rent paddleboards and kayaks to locals and visitors. They also provide lessons and take groups on fun and educational tours to beautiful destinations including a hidden lagoon full of starfish, sponges and shark teeth.
Her major contribution to our community is fostering conservation by encouraging people of all ages to explore and enjoy our natural environment. Or as Paige likes to say, “People protect what they love.” Paige’s guides are not just certified instructors. They’re also certified as Florida Master Naturalists through a program managed by the University of Florida. I earned by own certification in 2012.
It’s small business owners like Paige that serve on the front line of public education related to environmental stewardship. The day-to-day dedication of her eco-tour company enhances public awareness at the local level. That means more individuals – adults and children – valuing marine life, birds, other wildlife, and natural habitat that are all essential to our region.
Coastal communities like Englewood, Boca Grande and Venice suffer when our local waterways are polluted. Many of us witnessed the consequences of impaired water conditions a few years ago with the extended outbreak of red tide caused in part by poor decision-making. That included discharging billions of gallons of nitrogen and phosphorous (mostly from fertilizer) that ended up being redirected into the Gulf of Mexico. The chemical “stew” fed harmful algal blooms to make them much worse.
The challenges with water quality management are complex in a fast-growing state like Florida, but it doesn’t help having so many politicians that are ambivalent about environmental issues. Unfortunately, dolphins, manatees and birds can’t vote or make donations. They depend on human representation. Please make environmental stewardship a high priority when evaluating candidates for elected positions at every level of government.
Please join us in congratulating Paige for her well-deserved award. Our prior Englewood Spirit Award winners include Lata and Robert Coykendall with Englewood Loving Light Yoga Center and the senior pet-loving nonprofit One More Day Foundation. Visit LovingLightYoga.com and OneMoreDayFoundation.com.
We also announced in our sister magazine South County Healthy Living that Mike Levine has received our Venice Lifetime Achievement Award. Mike owns Home Instead Senior Care of Venice. He’s been a long term supporter of many nonprofits including The Salvation Army and Senior Friendship Center.
