Winter the dolphin and his special friend Safety Harbor resident Andrew Hall were recently featured on “The Doctors,” a nationally syndicated television talk show. Andrew, 20, was critically injured last year after a drunk driver struck him while he was standing on a sidewalk. Hall struggled to survive and lost his left leg as a result of the accident. He also suffers from Cerebral Palsy and spent several years learning how to walk. Doctors at Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, who also make Winter’s prosthetic tails, will be donating a prosthetic leg to Andrew.

Andrew is in a wheelchair and his family does not have a handicap accessible van to transport him in. The Safety Harbor firefighters who saved him are reaching out to the community to raise $35,000 to purchase a handicap-accessible van for Andrew and are planning several fundraising events to reach this goal. The Safety Harbor Professional Firefighters will be the benefactor of the 3rd Friday Music Series March 19, from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. A street festival is also being planned for Saturday, April 10 and a golf tournament will take place at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club in June. If you would like to make a donation, please make checks out to the “Safety Harbor Professional Firefighters” and put “Andrew Hall Van Donation” in the memo line. Donations can be dropped off at or mailed to Safety Harbor City Hall at 750 Main St. – Safety Harbor, FL 34695.

Please e-mail Winter at winter@cmaquarium.org for more information.

Meeting a dolphin is one of the items on a list Hall made of things he wants to do before he dies. Thanks to CMA and “The Doctors” TV show, that dream came true and Andrew was able to get in the water with Winter and former talk show host Montel Williams, and learn more about her story of survival. Both Hall and Winter have a lot in common.

Watch her in video now!

CMA’s stranding team recently rescued an otter pup in Indian Rocks Beach. She was lying in the sun in an open field near a tennis court. CMA volunteer “Sunny” responded to the call, so that’s the name the female pup received. The three-month-old weighs about three pounds and is enjoying getting used to her new environment.

This is the time of year otter pups are spotted trying to make it on their own. You may remember “Oscar,” who was found near a dumpster last year in Largo. If you see any otter pups, please do not approach them and please immediately call our stranding line at 727-441-1790 ext. 234. Some people describe them as looking like brown ferrets from a distance.

Adult female otters have litters of anywhere between one and six. In nature, not all can keep up and some can get left behind or encounter obstacles. Otter moms nurse and assist in the development of vital life skills in their first year of life. Mom will often catch and release pray for the pups to practice their skills. Without mom to protect them, pups are vulnerable to predation and lack life skills related to finding food.

North American river otters are fresh water animals and can be found throughout all of North America in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. They are in the Mustilidae family, which also includes ferrets, skunks, weasels and sea otters. North American river otters are not endangered and due to decreased habitats, are often found in residential neighborhoods or other populated areas.

A 5K race that includes a Wheelchair division that will be held on the course of the St Pete Grand Prix (not during the race). Anyone can enter…a great family event! It is a fundraiser for CAF (Challenged Athletes Foundation), San Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, Shoot For A Cure, American Spinal Research Organization & Embracing Florida’s Wounded Heroes. One of CAF’s goal is to encourage participation in athletics for challenged people, thereby improving their outlook on life. Everyone who signs up to participate receives a FREE admission ticket to Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Register at www.GrandPrix5K.com

VISIT WINTER NOW!!!

March 5, 2010

Nine-year-old Jessica Rendleman travelled from Greensboro, N.C. to CMA for a very special meeting with Winter. Last year, she entered Scholastic’s “Meet Winter the Dolphin Contest.” More than 500 kids across the nation applied and only one grand prize winner was chosen. After spending the morning with Winter, Jessica said, “This is the very best day of my life. Meeting Winter was so amazing. She is such a special dolphin.” This was the first time Jessica has met a dolphin.

Jessica entered the contest because during the most difficult of times, dolphins have always made her smile. When she was younger, she had cancer and had to have several surgeries. In between visits to Johns Hopkins Hospital, her parents took her to see dolphins at the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Since then, Jessica has always loved dolphins and wants to be a marine mammal veterinarian when she grows up. As a special surprise, she also got to have lunch with the CMA trainers to learn more about what it’s like to work with dolphins.

As Scholastic’s grand prize winner, Jessica received a trip to visit Winter, a one-night stay at the Sandpearl Resort, a $500 travel voucher, a Winter prize pack and a Nintendo DS Game system. Ten runners-up received a copy of Winter’s Tail, a Winter Nintendo DS game and a Winter plush doll.

CMA will continue its free speaker series Thursday, March 18 with “All About Dolphins: An Update.” The presentation will explore how dolphins live, feed, breed and get into trouble. It will also showcase how CMA helps rescue, rehabilitate and hopefully eventually release them back into the wild. Guests will also learn what they can do to help dolphins survive in the wild.

“All About Dolphins” will include the following:

6 p.m. – Snacks/Welcome

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Presentations by CMA’s Director of Education Joe Malo and CMA’s Manager of Marine Mammal’s Abby Stone

7:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Question and Answer Session

As part of this free program, CMA will host “All About Otters” April 15. Click here to see speaker series lectures planned for the entire year.

Click to Adopt an Resident Otter at CMA!

Winter was featured on “The Doctors” this afternoon. Visit http://www.thedoctorstv.com/ and click on “Featured Videos” and “Helping Andrew Heal” to see the segment on Winter, Montel and Andrew.

CMA recently hosted a special meeting between former talk show host Montel Williams, Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics patient Andrew Hall and Winter the dolphin. The encounter was filmed by the nationally syndicated talk show, “The Doctors,” and aired Monday, March 1. Locally, the piece aired at 3 p.m. on WFLA News Channel 8. Montel Williams hosts a segment on the show called “Living Well with Montel.”

Andrew Hall, 20, is a Safety Harbor resident who was critically injured last year after a drunk driver struck him while he was standing on a sidewalk. Hall struggled to survive and lost his left leg as a result of the accident. He also suffers from Cerebral Palsy and spent several years learning how to walk. Doctors at Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, who also make Winter the dolphin’s prosthetic tails, will be donating a prosthetic leg for Hall.

Meeting a dolphin is one of the items on a list Hall made of things he wants to do before he dies. Thanks to CMA and “The Doctors” TV show, that dream came true and Hall was able to get in the water with Winter and learn more about her story of survival. Both Hall and Winter have a lot in common.

The Safety Harbor firefighters who rescued Hall are trying to raise $35,000 to purchase a handicap-accessible van for Andrew and are planning several fundraising events to reach this goal. The Safety Harbor Professional Firefighters will be the benefactor of the 3rd Friday Music Series March 19, from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. A street festival is also being planned for Saturday, April 10 and a golf tournament will take place at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club in June. If you would like to make a donation, please make checks out to the “Safety Harbor Professional Firefighters” and put “Andrew Hall Van Donation” in the memo line. Donations can be dropped off at or mailed to Safety Harbor City Hall at 750 Main St. – Safety Harbor, FL 34695.

March 1, 2010

CMA’s stranding team rescued an otter pup Sunday afternoon in Indian Rocks Beach. She was lying in the sun in an open field near a tennis court. CMA volunteer “Sunny” responded to the call, so that’s the name the female pup received. The three-month-old weighs about three pounds and is enjoying getting used to her new environment.

This is the time of year otter pups are spotted trying to make it on their own. You may remember “Oscar,” who was found near a dumpster last year in Largo. If you see any otter pups, please do not approach them and please immediately call our stranding line at 727-441-1790 ext. 234. Some people describe them as looking like brown ferrets from a distance.

Adult female otters have litters of anywhere between one and six. In nature, not all can keep up and some can get left behind or encounter obstacles. Otter moms nurse and assist in the development of vital life skills in their first year of life. Mom will often catch and release pray for the pups to practice their skills. Without mom to protect them, pups are vulnerable to predation and lack life skills related to finding food.

North American river otters are fresh water animals and can be found throughout all of North America in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. They are in the Mustilidae family, which also includes ferrets, skunks, weasels and sea otters. North American river otters are not endangered and due to decreased habitats, are often found in residential neighborhoods or other populated areas.

Adopt a CMA Resident Otter Now

CMA recently hosted a special meeting between former talk show host Montel Williams, Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics patient Andrew Hall and Winter the dolphin. The encounter was filmed by the nationally syndicated talk show, “The Doctors,” and will air Monday, March 1. Locally, the piece will air at 3 p.m. on WFLA News Channel 8. Montel Williams hosts a segment on the show called “Living Well with Montel.”

Andrew Hall, 20, is a Safety Harbor resident who was critically injured last year after a drunk driver struck him while he was standing on a sidewalk. Hall struggled to survive and lost his left leg as a result of the accident. He also suffers from Cerebral Palsy and spent several years learning how to walk. Doctors at Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, who also make Winter the dolphin’s prosthetic tails, will be donating a prosthetic leg for Hall.

Meeting a dolphin is one of the items on a list Hall made of things he wants to do before he dies. Thanks to CMA and “The Doctors” TV show, that dream came true and Hall was able to get in the water with Winter and learn more about her story of survival. Both Hall and Winter have a lot in common.

The Safety Harbor firefighters who rescued Hall are trying to raise $35,000 to purchase a handicap-accessible van for Andrew and are planning several fundraising events to reach this goal. The Safety Harbor Professional Firefighters will be the benefactor of the 3rd Friday Music Series March 19, from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. A street festival is also being planned for Saturday, April 10 and a golf tournament will take place at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club in June. If you would like to make a donation, please make checks out to the “Safety Harbor Professional Firefighters” and put “Andrew Hall Van Donation” in the memo line. Donations can be dropped off at or mailed to Safety Harbor City Hall at 750 Main St. – Safety Harbor, FL 34695.

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