The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page N006

hdlejxintAlbp 6 THE PALM BEACH POST REAL NEWS STARTS HERE I THURSDAY, APRIL4, 2013 MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR: JAMES SNYDER, 76 Ex-White House aide now go-to guy of Loxahatchee Kathy Vigtieau Crystal Tree Plaza I 06' 691-3223 1-888-672-1423 Cruise by the Homes Rich and Famous Jupiter Island Luncheon Cruise Cruising Tuesday Thursday 2 hour St Lucie River Cruise Saturday Call about these and other cruises Call also for private charter information Family Reunions, Birthdays, Weddings or any occasion. www.isianapnncesscruises.com FacXok" Sails from The Finest Kind Marina, Stuart James D. Snyder sits in his kayak behind his home in Tequesta. richard graulich the palm BEACH POST By Michelle Kaplan Special toThe Palm Beach Post James D. Snyder is what one might call a renaissance man.

Historian, author, journalist, CEO, world traveler, athlete and student of life. After a career as a White House communications officer he went on to form his own firm, Snyder Associates Inc. He "retired" to Florida, but wasn't ready for a life of country clubs and canasta. "What am I going to do?" said Snyder. "I love to write, love to research.

I was already living here and I realized there wasn't much history written about the area about Jupiter." He volunteered at the Jupiter lighthouse leading tours. Except he noticed one problem. "The story we told was pretty flimsy. I really started looking into the archives at all the records," said Snyder. The result was a book and informed tourists.

Snyder's natural quest for learning has taken him around the world. It has led him to mounds of research that led to seven books, including; "Life and Death on the Loxahatchee: The Story of Trapper Nelson," "Five Thousand Years on the Loxahatchee," and "A Light in the Wilderness: The Story of Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and the Southeast Florida Frontier." The latest, just released, is "The Cross and SerYihs QumjtV Food ih Reiaxep Aiwkphebe pleasure? Picking up the National Enquirer at the barber shop to see what the celebrities are up to. What's your favorite food? Seafood and linguini, ice cream. What's on your nightstand? "Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea" by Barbara Demick If you could have lunch with afamous person, who would it be? Make it two: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. "Delicious and Plentiful" Reasons to go "Atmosphere, service and good tooa at reasonable prices" CUISINES the Mask." His love of history and the Loxahatchee River is at the heart of most of his books.

His exhaustive research has made him a recognized expert on Jupiter-area history. It was this unique perspective and deep understanding of the area that led to his recent appointment to the Governing Board of the Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District, the leading authority on the 14-mile stretch of the Loxahatchee River. The district is mostly responsible for recycling wastewater for irrigation needs while putting fresh water back into the environment. It also is involved in preservation and education. "Most important- i 1 689 I JUPITL'K KD ly they're the governing agency that monitors the quality and flow of the Loxahatchee River," said Snyder.And the agency does much, much more.

"They do many exciting things. Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, wildlife conservation, animal rescue. They're sponsors of the River Center, an educational facility with tanks full of live critters that are indigenous to Loxahatchee." When he's not on a book tour or a speaking engagement, you'll likely find Snyder kayaking down the Loxahatchee..