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HUTCHINSON ISLAND, FL - Like more than a dozen manatees that washed ashore in the last week, the one that turned up on a Treasure Coast beach Thursday was a victim of the cold weather.

But unlike the other manatees, this one was still alive.

The 6-or-7 year old mammal washed up behind the Princess Condominium.

Beachgoers and condo residents stood vigil over the manatee, some donating towels and blankets to keep it warm.

"She is still alive, still breathing, she's hanging in there, she's pretty emaciated," says Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Manatee Biologist John Cassady. "Probably hasn't eaten in a while. But she's holding on right now."

A rescue ambulance from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution arrived just after sunset.

Onlookers jumped in to help carry the manatee to the ambulance.

It's an afternoon they'll never forget.

"I've been here since it first came on the beach," says David Brand, a visitor from Canada. "I wouldn't want to desert it."

The manatee was transported to the Miami Seaquarium. Unfortunately it did not survive the drive.

Officials at the Sequarium say even though the manatee looked OK on the outside, it likely suffered severe internal stress from the cold temperatures.

Anyone who sees a sick or dead manatee should call the Florida Fish and Wildlife's manatee hot line at (888) 404-3922.

Turtle Beach Construction is the company that built the large home at 4545 South Ocean Drive, as you come onto Hutchinson Island. To get to their web site, CLICK HERE and then click on their link to "a recently completed beach home", which will give you a complete tour of the house. It is incredible and well worth the long wait for the movie clip to load. The clip took almost 7 minutes to load via Comcast, so if you are using dial-up, it may take as much as an hour to load.

Islandia I "Rules and Regulations" have been added to the Islandia I Management page under "Important Documents."

T.G.I.F.s for Islandia I are held on the second and fourth Fridays in the Social room.

"The FSBPA is a very different kind of state association - which is the source of our effectiveness" is the start of their brochure. This is a non-profit corporation that is vital to getting local beach projects off the ground. We need a lot of our Islandia families to join this organization to help give it influence on beach projects across the state and particularly on Hutchinson Island.

Take a few minutes to click on the link below and please give your consideration to joining this group.

An E-mail distribution list has been established so that when changes occur on the Islandia web site, we can send an e-mail to notify you. If you would like to be added to this distribution list, click HERE. Please include your building and unit numbers so we can put you on the appropriate notification list.

To be removed from the distribution list click HERE or just send me an e-mail at golphinut@comcast.net.