Zoom Author Talk - Jason Vuic

January, 2025 FRIENDS hosted a Zoom Author Talk with best selling author Jason Vuic. Vuic wrote The Swamp Peddlers: How Lot Sellers, Land Scammers, and Retirees Built Modern Florida and Transformed the American Dream. The event, held at the Pine Island United Methodist Church in Pine Island center, drew a variety of residents who listened and interacted with the author via a Zoom broadcast on a giant screen at the front of the church.

Vuic, a Florida native and University of Florida graduate, is a historian and journalist who has written extensively about Florida's unique history. In his book, he explores the fascinating stories of land development in Florida, focusing on the individuals and companies that played significant roles in shaping the state's landscape.

FRIENDS enabled residents and seasonal visitors to learn about their state’s history by talking with a national expert on the topic. Vuic inspired attendees to learn more about the history of development in Florida and how that impacts today’s politics and natural resources. This program was free to the public.