Giant Manatee Toy Travels to Virginia

Brett Smith and his "cuddle-buddy" Noodles the manatee. (Photo courtesy Christine Smith)

By Janice Nearing
Director of Public Relations

This year’s giant plush manatee from Save the Manatee Club’s donation drawing at Blue Spring State Park went to a very happy youngster in Virginia.  “My son Brett loves “Noodles” the manatee,” said Christine Smith, the delighted boy’s mom.  “Noodles is a great cuddle buddy while Brett reads books, and my son pretends to play blocks with him and sings to him.”

Christine and her husband David have been visiting Blue Spring for the last 10 years.  Each December, they drive to Florida and spend time visiting areas where they can see manatees.  “We stop at Blue Spring, Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, and Crystal River,” explains Christine.  “This year, we brought along our two-year old son for the first time.  We stopped by Save the Manatee Club’s education table set up at Blue Spring, talked to the enthusiastic volunteers there, and we decided to get 10 tickets for a chance to win the giant manatee.  Winning Noodles is a great way to remember our first trip to see manatees with Brett!”

Ranger Wayne Hartley and SMC Staff and Volunteers at the 2009 Blue Spring Manatee Festival. (l-r) Terry Nearing, Ranger Wayne, Janice Nearing, Debra Brown, Doug Brown, Rita Cordy, Jessie Gilmartin, and Eliana Campos . (Photo by Terry Nearing)

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