A Peek Into The Deep: New aquarium brings sea creatures to Branson - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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A Peek Into The Deep: New aquarium brings sea creatures to Branson - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Posted: 13 Dec 2020 04:25 AM PST Steve Bitter sounds a lot like a proud papa -- but he's got more "children" to care for than he can count. Bitter is the director of husbandry at Branson's brand-new Aquarium at the Boardwalk, and he's responsible for more than 7,500 sea creatures, along with 16 aquarists and life support specialists. It's a passion that was born when Bitter was just a kid himself. "I grew up in the Arizona desert and visited the California coast when I was about 7 or 8," he remembers. "This started a lifelong fascination with the world underwater." A job in a pet store's fish department -- "I had a ball watching them, caring for them and talking about them with customers" -- eventually led Bitter to the Marine Aquarium Conference at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. "I was overwhelmed to learn that caring for fish in aquariums was a real profession in an amazing industry," he marvels. "Over the last 15 years, I moved to Tampa and worked at The Florida Aquarium as a senior biologist, then went home to Tempe, Ariz., and worked as the curator at Sea Life. From there, I became part of Sea Life's global development team and opened seven aquariums in the U.S., China, Japan, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. "Last year, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to come and work on this beautiful aquarium project," he says. "My wife, Heidi, and I moved to Branson, and we love the community. It's been a joy to work with Kuvera Partners on building the aquarium, and now that we're open, I'm especially excited that I get to work with the really fantastic husbandry team that we have at this facility." Being in on the ground floor meant Bitter guided a "complex process" to choose the animals the aquarium would house. "We began working on it during the early aquarium design process because we wanted to pair 'star species' with themed environments," he explains. "For example, we planned for lobsters, crabs and eels to live in habitats that are part of a shipwreck zone, and we included rays and sharks in the large coral reef touch pool. Many revisions and additions were made along the way, considering the guest experience; the relationships and dynamics among the species; ethical sourcing; and our ability to house them at the highest standards for their entire lives." Perhaps the biggest challenge was the largest exhibit, the Grand Aquarium, "designed to showcase the diversity and splendor of the tropical oceans." "With this in mind, we wanted to have as many animal species as possible, but we had to make sure they could all live together in harmony for their entire lives," he relates. "Tropical reef fish often have much more complex social lives than we give them credit for, and they also have dynamics with other species that we had to account for. So, it was a challenge to select fish that wouldn't push each other around for territory, compete for food, or try to eat one another. "Because I've been fortunate in my career to work closely with so many remarkable species, I was able to use my knowledge of each fish's habits and behaviors to choose animals that fit into the aquatic community we wanted to build," he continues. "In the end, we were able to create this habitat with over 2,000 individuals from nearly 100 species all living together. The Grand Aquarium houses everything from sharks and rays to small damselfish and wrasses. So far, I've been really pleased at how well the animals have settled in together, and I'm looking forward to seeing them continue to thrive." Bitter explains that some of the animals needed new homes -- among them the blacktip reef sharks, who were born at other aquariums that had run out of room -- and some were sourced in the wild, but "we spent countless hours researching the origin of every single animal to make sure they came to us from sustainable and transparent sources and were handled very carefully along the way." He also got to share one of his own conservation goals in the Observation Station exhibit. "Since really getting serious about aquariums, I've been in love with corals, and I'm especially delighted by the relationship of corals with other animals," he enthuses. The seven individual windows along one wall in the Observation Station "are meant to be special views into the coral reef ecosystem where guests can see how tiny invertebrates depend on corals. Corals perform what I think is the most important work in the ocean, and I was lucky enough to do some coral reef fieldwork with Coral Restoration Foundation during my time in Florida. Unfortunately, nearly all of the corals in the Florida Reef Tract have disappeared in our lifetime. I hope that our aquarium will inspire guests to learn more about coral and help the Coral Restoration Foundation restore that area." Visitors to the aquarium can also meet some of the animals up close, and Bitter has worked diligently to make the experience a good one for everyone involved. "We have two touch experiences, one with rays and sharks, and another with cold water invertebrates like sea anemones and sea stars," he says. "We get the rays and sharks used to light touching in the course of normal care and during feeding times. So, they don't get especially bothered by the touching in the touch pool, as long as guests follow the guidelines we provide. We ask that our guests use a two-finger touch on specific zones of the animals. This not only keeps the guests safe, but also keeps the stimulus consistent for the animals so they don't get startled or perturbed. We think this allows for a really terrific guest experience, as it allows the guests to feel shark skin (rough) and ray skin (smooth and slippery) and to appreciate the unique aspects of each. "At first glance, the invertebrates are less reactive, but the touch experience is still quite exciting," he adds. "The sea stars are echinoderms, and they have a unique texture unlike anything else. Anemones actually have a light stinging cell on each tentacle -- not dangerous though! -- so they stick to the fingers of anyone who touches them." One thing Bitter doesn't have to worry about is his sea creatures contracting the coronavirus. It is limited to mammals, "and here at the aquarium we only have coldblooded animals, so the animals in our care are not susceptible to covid-19." "However," he adds, "we are very conscious of guest safety, and we are taking numerous steps to protect their health, including timed entry, mandatory face coverings, social distancing and constant cleaning. One area we focus on in the animal care department is the operation of the touch exhibits, since there is human-to-animal contact there. Fortunately, our best information is that saltwater is a disinfectant for covid-19, so any worry about the animals spreading the virus between guests doesn't seem to be an actual risk." The Grand Aquarium houses everything from sharks and rays to small damselfish and wrasses, Bitter says. (Courtesy Photo) Visitors to Branson's brand-new Aquarium at the Boardwalk can get into the exhibits in a variety of ways. (Courtesy Photo) Bitter says some of the animals needed new homes, and some were sourced in the wild, but "we spent countless hours researching the origin of every single animal to make sure they came to us from sustainable and transparent sources and were handled very carefully along the way." (Courtesy Photo) Branson's brand-new Aquarium at the Boardwalk is intended for kids of all ages. (Courtesy Photo) Branson's brand-new Aquarium at the Boardwalk offers two touch experiences, one with rays and sharks, and another with cold water invertebrates like sea anemones and sea stars. (Courtesy Photo) The seven individual windows along one wall in the Observation Station "are meant to be special views into the coral reef ecosystem where guests can see how tiny invertebrates depend on corals," says Steve Bitter. "Corals perform what I think is the most important work in the ocean." (Courtesy Photo) More News FAQ Aquarium at the Boardwalk WHEN — Hours vary by day; please check the website for the most up-to-date schedule WHERE — 2700 W. 76 Country Blvd. in Branson COST — $19.99-$39.99 INFO — (417) 335-FISH or www.aquariumattheboardwalk.com

Online shopping can still be local - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com Posted: 12 Dec 2020 03:23 PM PST For some, the phrase "online shopping" elicits thoughts of Amazon or Wayfair or Overstock. But there are many local small businesses that offer online ordering, and some have expanded their web presence this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 has expanded online shopping from a matter of convenience to a matter of safety for some, and for those who aren't comfortable going into stores but want to keep their money in the local economy, there are plenty of options. Rochelle's Boutiques, a women's clothing and accessories store with locations in Mystic, Watch Hill, the Velvet Mill in Stonington, and Newport, expanded its website to the point where staff do photo shoots once or twice a week and add about 50 items online per week, owner Rochelle Gallo said. "If the pandemic hadn't happened, I told the managers we would've honestly never taken the website as seriously as we have," Gallo said. She "never really had the time to consistently focus on it" before, but the two-month closure at the beginning of the pandemic gave staff the time. In the spring, she got a space in the Velvet Mill for administrative purposes, for managers to work on website sales and social media. But because of its central location in the atrium, people were trying to shop. Rochelle's moved into a bigger space in the Velvet Mill, using the front as a retail space that's open Friday through Sunday and the back for photo shoots. She said the No. 1 Christmas gift this year is masks. Gallo said she would normally be ordering sparkly dresses this time of year, but they "kind of have replaced that with loungewear and 2-piece sets and matching sweaters and sweatpants, so I think it's just being relatable to what's happening." Most clothing is under $100. Lee's Toy & Hobby in Groton has had a website since 2009, and owner Pete Marcus said sales have definitely been up during the pandemic. "We have actually been doing very well, and I think part of it is what we do," noted Lisa Marcus, his wife. "I mean, people need things to do, and we have things for people to do." Pete Marcus added, "We've been blowing through puzzles ($7.99-$39.99), can't even get them fast enough. We've got like five different puzzle companies, and they're struggling to get the product." Second to puzzles in popularity is plastic models, he said, because as a small store, Lee's ends up with discontinued items and therefore interest from across the country. Other items include board and card games, collectible dolls, electric trains, science kits and art supplies. In Mystic, Bethany Perkins said online orders have increased for her boutique, B. Carver's, which mostly sells home goods and accessories. Perkins said one popular item is the cocoa sampler basket ($34), which includes three types of hot cocoa, handcrafted marshmallows, a mug and a whisk. Other bestsellers are the teak cutting board ($36-$74) and Frasier fir candles ($15-$32). She said of this year, "It's certainly been challenging, but we've got some wonderful, wonderful customers who have been so supportive, whether it's online or calling for private shopping." Ellen Cummings, owner of Flavours of Life, The Fair Trade Store in New London, said "in the last four or five months, we've been working very hard, every week, trying to put more of our products up online, because we understand that shoppers are reluctant, some of them, to come downtown." She said fair-trade socks ($16) have been popular. Different pairs of the socks from Conscious Step benefit different causes, such as early detection of breast cancer, species facing extinction and planting trees in Uganda. Another popular seller is the Ruth Bader Ginsburg felt ornament ($23). The felt ornaments are "handmade by talented artisans in mountain villages of Kyrgyzstan," and the collection has a variety of celebrities and historical figures, including Prince, Maya Angelou, Mick Jagger, Alexander Hamilton, Andy Warhol and Eleanor Roosevelt. For Yali Stonington, owner Anne Fix said one item that became popular over the summer was kaftans ($125), a type of long, loose robe or tunic. "I think because more people were at home, free-flowing kaftans made a comeback, as did the pajamas, which have always sold really well." She said hand towels ($26-$28) are always a good seller, especially now with people washing their hands more. Yali, which sells textiles and home goods from Turkey, closed its Stonington Borough storefront two years ago and went predominantly online, though Fix also does pop-up shops, such as one happening now at Grand & Water Antiques in the Borough. Local gift ideas (or ways to treat yourself): Gift baskets, gourmet food and more Azalea in Niantic has themed gift boxes ranging from $40 to $140. The "Winter Cheer" box includes hot cocoa mix, a candle, a wooden tree ornament, and five vanilla caramels, while the "Bye, 2020" box features a cotton face mask, hand sanitizer, candle and a "This won't last forever" greeting card. Also appropriate for 2020 may be a mug with the phrase "The world is falling apart around us & I'm dying inside" ($19) from Hang the Moon in Mystic. It's a quote from "Schitt's Creek" character Moira Rose, and the shop has other items inspired by the TV show. Other finds include vegan cookbooks ($15-$25), "mystery boxes" ($50-$100) for teachers or nurses or moms, and prayer candles ($16) bearing the faces of Beyonce, Anthony Bourdain, Lizzo, Carol Baskin and more. If you're finding that your tea towels, oven mitts, wine glasses, mugs and cocktail napkins simply don't have enough snark, existentialism, references to alcohol or words we can't print in a family-friendly newspaper, then Queenie's Gift Emporium is the place for you. The Bowerbird in Old Lyme also has unique gifts, including a book on making desserts in ice cube trays ($17), New Yorker puzzles ($14.95-$19.99), a mouse cutting board set ($22.99), milk frother ($13.99) and sleep shirts themed around cats or dogs ($25.99). Other local gift shops and home goods stores with online ordering include Bayberries in Niantic, Mystic Knotwork and Adore in downtown Mystic, Bestemors Imports and Garden Specialties in Olde Mistick Village, and The Vegan Potter in Stonington. And for books, there's Bank Square Books in Mystic. In need of soap? You can order handcrafted bars and more in a variety of scents from Main Street Soap Emporium, Naturali Home and Becca Rose, all based in Mystic. Local stores that sell adult clothing online include Trove Men's Provisions and Tidal River Clothing Co. in Mystic and Coastal Crab and Grace in Niantic, while Bluebird Day in Stonington Borough sells high-end baby and children's clothing. Local small businesses that ship various gourmet and specialty foods and beverages include Mystic River Chocolate Café, Munson's Chocolates, Extra Virgin Oil & Sticky Situations, Tiger Lily Tea, Craftsman Cliff Roasters and Farmtrue. Chambers and elected official push shopping small "There was a huge learning curve for a lot of the small businesses, and most of them now have an online presence," said Tony Sheridan, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut. "One of the areas that I always remind people: Some wonderful gifts that are available locally are through our museums, like Florence Griswold and Lyman Allyn and the aquarium." He also is hearing of people looking to support local food banks rather than buying gifts. The chamber is running its annual Holiday Shopping Trail until Dec. 24. People can shop from participating local businesses for a chance to win prizes, such as $500 to spend at a local business. Sheridan said Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz is coming to the area Monday to promote the concept. As part of the state's campaign to promote local holiday shopping, Bysiewicz also held a Zoom news conference Wednesday featuring Norwich businesses. Norwich Community Development Corp. President Jason Vincent recommended local businesses take advantage of social media to promote their online sale of products and services. "It tends to be free and there's a large audience of people there to drive the traffic and raise awareness of what services they have on the internet," he said. "Word of mouth is one of the great ways to do it, and social media is a great word-of-mouth tool." Angela Adams, executive director of the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is trying to help boost online marketing for local businesses. It has its own shopping directory on its website, norwichchamber.com, with more than 100 businesses listed. Adams said the chamber also created a shop local Facebook group for Norwich area businesses, which is open to customers as well as businesses wishing to network together. e.moser@theday.com

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