A career as a newspaper reporter seems an unlikely breeding ground for an obsession with fossils. But Mark Renz traded the clicking of a typewriter for the sloshing of a shovel and hasn’t looked back. Since the early nineties, his name and work as an avocational paleontologist, have become familiar to fossil collectors all over the world.

His five lavishly illustrated books on fossils are highly regarded for their entertainment and scientific value. Megalodon, Hunting the Hunter is an iconic coffee table book among fossil shark collectors; the title says it all. Desert Sharks provides an in-depth discussion of the inhabitants of a Peruvian deep salt-water lagoon 5-10 million years ago. The La Belle Highway Pit, excavated by Mark and a crew of hard-working volunteers, produced about two thousand mammal fossils for the Florida Museum of Natural History. Giants in the Storm provides a detailed account of the team’s recovery of those 500,000 year old fossils. Fossiling in Florida, A Guide for Diggers and Divers is a useful field guide that is likely to be found the pockets of most fossil hounds along the East Coast. Finally, Doug’s Ark, a work of fiction for young adults, has been described as “A fascinating novel…inspired by a pile of dirt!”

Mark is also author of three books on DVD, including the stunningly beautiful photographic publication of Florida Time Forgot, revealing pockets of Florida wilderness as it might have appeared in the time before man or beast occupied it. Sharks in the Sand explores the prehistory of sharks (and marine mammals) of the Peruvian desert-now located over 2,100 feet above sea level. For younger readers, Megalodon Mystery is sure to inspire a lifelong passion for fossils.

In addition to being a noted author and lecturer, Mark, along with his wife Marisa, operate Fossil Expeditions, one of the oldest fossil collecting guide services in Florida. Operating along the Peace River, their trips are guaranteed to provide a day of fun and productive fossil collecting for shark’s teeth, marine and land mammals and sometimes very fine Native American artifacts.

George Powell began his fossil collecting hobby as a child. Now retired, George devotes his time to sharing his knowledge of the fossil world. He freely donates his time to Aurora Fossil Museum where he is currently a "Friends" board member and is quite well known on the fossil show circuit all over the United States. George is a member of the Aurora Fossil Club, Maryland Geological Society, American Fossil Federation, North Carolina Fossil Club and National Capitol Fossil Society. George’s displays are unique and reflect a long time commitment to the hobby of fossil collecting—-partial dentitions of sharks and some nearly complete associated specimens of marine mammals as well as one of the finest collections of early seal fossils.

In the autumn of 1992, George began, with a crew of volunteers, the excavation of a large associated set of shark teeth from the then, rather poorly documented Parotodus benedini. This collection proved to be most valuable to the scientific community, resulting in the publication of Reconstructed Dentition of the Rare Lamnoid Shark Parotodus benedini (le Hon) from the Yorktown Formation (Early Pliocene) at Lee Creek Mine, North Carolina which George co-authored with Dr. Bretton Kent. George later donated a cast of the dentition to the Aurora Fossil Museum and it is now part of our permanent display.

In 2010, George and a team of volunteers from the Friends of the Museum began preparation of large Yorktown whale. His presentation demonstrated the work and skill needed to properly prepare a fossil for long range preservation.

The Annual Fossil Auction

The annual fossil auction was held on Saturday afternoon at the museum Learning Center. With over 100 bidders, the Friends of the Museum were quite successful in raising funds for new and on-going museum projects. The winner of the museum's 2011 megalodon Raffle tooth was Mike Young of Rock Falls, Illinois. Congratulation and "thanks", Mike!

Friends member, John Keklak, had no shortage of people signing up for the fossil auction.

"Around Town" Activities from Festival

Dave Bohaska of the Smithsonian Institution discusses the evolution of whales with Joy Herrington of NCFC.

Our Official Raffle Boy

Dylan has attended the festival every year since his birth. In 2006, he got to help show off the huge Raffle tooth.

Dylan was back in 2007, again helping to raffle the huge C. megalodon tooth. His bright smile proved irrestible to most. Thanks Dylan!

Dylan is beginning to be recognized on the streets of Aurora. In 2008, as our "Official Raffle Boy", he was again helping Miss Anne sell tickets for the big raffle tooth. His efforts are appreciated.

At Fossil Festival 2009, few could resist Dylan's efforts at selling raffle tickets for the "big tooth". Thanks Dylan!

Dylan's raffle partner was unable to come to festival this year so he took a break from his regular duties. He still managed to hold the big tooth for a photo.

One notable absence at festival 2011 was Dylan. We all missed you Dylan but look forward to your visit in 2012.