all about the water
1
st
Anniversary Issue September 2016
The premier marine, aerospace, and industrial supplier on the Georgia Intracoastal Waterway • Superior Products • Competitive Pricing • Outstanding Customer Service • Exceptional Product Knowledge
Life Raft Sales & Service Inflatable Boat Sales & Service Marine Paints Fire & Safety Equipment Yacht Chandlery & Supplies Saltwater Fishing Tackle Expedited Shipping & Deliveries
2827 River Drive Thunderbolt, GA 31404 (912) 354-7777 (800) 673-9391 www.riversupply.com Visit us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/riversupplyriverservices
Captain Tripp Lang’s Charters
I n the T ides 05 Editor’s Note 06 Community Updates 08 Contributor Appreciation 10 Gray’s Reef - September 11: Joe Ferguson 11 Did You Know? Filefish 12
Artist Kelley Luikey
15
Advertiser Appreciation
16
Women of the Water: Amy Thurman
912-674-1085 or 912-674-0838
20 Charting Memories with Savannah Jack’s
912-223-5306 for rates & reservations
26 Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
Visit us on Facebook:
28 Tybee Island Maritime Academy
C&M Charters
30 The Bitter End CoastFest Announcement About the Cover: Reseate Reflection, shot near Beaufort, SC. Photo by Kelley Luikey
Special thanks to Todd Kasper for suggesting “In the Tides” as our table of contents title! SouthernTidesMagazine.com
Captain Mitch Martin
Call
24 Manatees are Here!
September 2016
www.FishSaintMarys.com
Inshore & Near Coastal Charters
22 Best of the Coast Survey Results
31
Inshore Fishing & Sightseeing Cruises
3
Staff Publisher/Editor – Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
Specializing in redfish (spot tail bass), tarpon, sheepshead, trout, flounder, striper, cobia, and shark.
Captain Brian Woelber (912) 308-5991 Savannah
Assistant Editor - Amelia Dence amelia@southerntidesmagazine.com The Bitter End Columnist - Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill jgaryhill@gmail.com One More Cast Columnist - Captain Brian Woelber captainbrian@onemorecast.com Gray’s Reef Contributor - Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov Contributing Photographer - Kelley Luikey naturemuseimagery@gmail.com Contributing Writer - Cathy Sakas cathy@marinesanctuary.org Many thanks to Ms. Robin for her assistance proofing this issue!
It’s not just ART ... It’s a STORY.
Tell us YOUR story. Mitch Pennington Custom Metal Work
912.659.2663
Visit us on our Facebook Page
Copyright © 2015-2016 All content herein is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in whole or part without express written permission. Southern Tides is a free magazine published monthly and can be found at multiple locations from St. Marys, GA, to Beaufort, SC. PO Box 30724 Wilmington Island, GA 31410 (912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com www.SouthernTidesMagazine.com Visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/southern-tides-magazine Follow us on Instagram at southern_tidesmag Follow us on Twitter at Southern Tides Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, GA
To subscribe, mail check for $25.00, payable to Southern Tides Magazine, to the address above. Subscription is for one year/12 issues. Thank you for your support! 4
SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
E ditor’s N ote T
welve months ago we offered the first issue of Southern Tides Magazine to the coastal community. It seems like just yesterday I clicked “send” and uploaded those first pages to the printer, and I held my breath for the entire five days it took to get my hands on the finished product. (Actually, I do that every time we go to print.) The feedback we received then, and since, has been amazing! This first year, we’ve had ups and downs, made small tweaks to the design, added new regular content, developed mutually-supportive relationships with organizations in the community, spotlighted some amazing artists, and had some great adventures. Our objective from day one was to bring you, our readers, content related to our coastal waters and islands with a balance between research, education, conservation, and of course, boating. We have a lot of hurdles to cross yet, such as growing our advertiser base, working out issues with subscription mailings (they’re coming!), increasing our distribution locations, increasing our interaction on the South Carolina side, and getting our website and store launched. Some days it seems like a 500-pound elephant, but we’re tackling it one bite at a time. We tried to pack as much into this issue as possible. Our first “Best of the Coast” survey results were fun to tabulate and we look forward to making it an annual event. We were pleased to bring back our first featured artist, photographer Kelley Luikey. Since our first cover featured her photo of roseate spoonbills, we thought it fitting that our first anniversary cover should as well. Thank you Kelley! At the suggestion of staff and several readers, I reluctantly consented to be the subject of this month’s “Women of the Water” series. Last month when I interviewed Cathy Sakas for the article about her, she suggested it as well and offered to write it herself. The woman is a living legend on our coast – what an honor to have her write about me! We’ve offered a special thank you to our advertisers on page 15. This magazine would not exist without them, so please be sure to mention their ads when you shop with them and thank them for making the magazine possible. The other side of making this magazine possible is the content and the people who contribute it. Learn who they are (page 8) and please feel free to reach out to them! All of this culminates into what you’re holding in your hand (or reading online) right now, and it’s all for you, our readers. Thank you for picking Southern Tides up every month, reading what we’ve put on these pages for you, for subscribing, following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and for reaching out to us. THANK YOU! I hope you enjoy this issue! Stay cool and hydrated, and we’ll see you out there!
Amy Thurman
Editor-In-Chief
amy@southerntidesmagazine.com September 2016
SouthernTidesMagazine.com
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Doggie Ladders • Barnacle-free Design • Available in wood or aluminum • Install on docks, pools, piers, or seawalls When you love your dog and your dog loves the water, this is the only option!
www.doggieladders.com (912) 507-7333
GameDay Sportz
Community Updates Ike Jr. Update
By Chantal Audran, Curator, TIMSC You may recall last fall when Southern Tides ran an article on Ike Jr., the loggerhead sea turtle hatchling found on Ossabaw Island. This straggler was adopted by the Tybee Island Marine Science Center (TIMSC) as their 2016 Marine Debris Ambassador. The program allows stragglers an increased chance of survival while also providing education opportunities for visitors and center staff. Plus, we all get to see the little guy grow! Ike Facts: • Ike hatched on Sept. 22, 2015 from Nest #62 on Ossabaw Island • Ike was a straggler of his nest. A straggler is a live hatchling left behind in a nest after it has naturally hatched. Stragglers are often weaker or genetically deficient, decreasing survival. • It is estimated only one out of 4,000 hatchlings survive into adulthood. Sea turtle hatchlings are unfortunately a perfect snack size for numerous predators, both on land and at sea. On September 14, 2015, lke’s nest was partially depredated (preyed upon) by a raccoon, losing four eggs. • Ike is provided with various enrichment activities and tools, such as PVC toys, shrimpsicles (frozen shrimp snacks), and live feedings of crustaceans such as shrimp and fiddler crabs. These stimulate or rouse the hatchling’s senses, much like a mobile on a baby’s crib, to provide mental stimulation, hone innate hunting skills, and prompt assimilation to a live, wild diet. • Ike will be released, into the Sargasso Sea, a critically protected habitat in the Atlantic Ocean where mats of floating sargassum seaweed provide food and shelter for hatchling sea turtles during the first decade of their lifecycle. This allows him to miss the risk of predation he would normally face en route.
• Racks are all aluminum with marine-grade hardware • Easily raise and lower kayaks and paddleboards • Reduce clutter and trip hazards on dock • Protect from theft
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Photos, from top to bottom: Close-up of Ike; Ike in his tank; Four different stages of growth. Photos provided by TIMSC
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SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
Jekylly Island Shrimp & Grits Festival - September 16 For a fun family weekend, plan to attend the Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival on Friday, September 16, through Sunday, September 18. Expect fun for all ages including a Kid’s Zone, a craft brew fest, wildlife demonstrations, a cooking contest, live music on three stage featuring David Nail in concert, over 100 art and craft vendors, and of course, great food - including many variations of the festival’s namesake and a great southern tradition, shrimp and grits. The festival is free to enter though tickets are available to purchase for special events. For more information visit www. jekyllisland.com/signatureeventscategory/shrimp-and-grits-festival.
St. Marys Rock Shrimp Festival - October 1 Rock shrimp, a southeastern delicacy, has its own festival! Saturday, October 1, from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., on the waterfront in downtown St. Marys. Hosted by the St. Marys Kiwanis Club, the event will include 5K and 10K races, a parade, arts and craft vendors, a songwriter’s showcase and other live entertainment, car, bike and tractor show, and of course food vendors serving up freshly cooked rock shrimp! For more information visit www.smkiwanis.com.
Electric Avenue DJ & Sound in conjuction with the
Kiwanis Rock Shrimp Festival is pleased to present the
St. Marys Songwriter’s Showcase
Featuring music & storytelling with:
Jeremy Michael, Plain Jane Glory, Kim Page, and Rick Farrell Saturday, October 1 5:00 - 8:00
(musicians will also play at various event locations throughout the day)
Free to the public!
For more information call 912-510-6219, email stmaryssongwriters@gmail.com or visit our Facebook Page St. Marys Songwriters Showcase
Thank you for reading Southern Tides Magazine! HOGANS’ MARINA Dockage Dry Storage Boat Rentals Kayak Rentals Bait House Fuel
912-897-3474 36 Wilmington Island Road Savannah, GA 31410 hogansmarina.com
Southern food with Caribbean flair prepared with fresh local ingredients
It takes a lot of effort and a lot of hands to put this together every month. Southern Tides Magazine would like to thank those who’ve contributed to our first successful year in print!
T hank You!
Our Reg ular Co ntributo r s : ( a l l s ect i o n s in alphabe t ical orde r )
(912) 201-3630 2815 River Drive • Thunderbolt, GA Visit us on Facebook for daily specials! Locally owned and operated
We get you back on the water ... Yamaha Sales & Service
John “Crawfish” Crawford (UGA MAREX) Contributing Naturalist
Amelia Dence (Southern Tides Magazine) Assistant Editor
Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill (Southern Tides Magazine) The Bitter End Columnist
Dory Ingram (FHI Sea Turtle Conservation) Contributing Writer & Artist
Michelle Riley (Gray’s Reef NMS) Gray’s Reef Columnist
Michael Sullivan (SkIO) Contributing Writer
Erin Weeks (SC DNR) Contributing Writer
Captain Brian Woelber (One More Cast Charters) Fishing Columnist
Brian Fritts - Owner
(912) 354-0400 Thunderbolt, GA
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SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
Previous Contributors: Carl Berube Photography Lindsay Gardner (SARP) Writing Chris Hines (GRNMS) Writing Meggan Hood (JIA) Writing Keely Kasper Photography Debbie Kearney (TIMSC) Writing Chad Larsen (GRNMS) Writing Kelley Luikey Photography Gene Maxey (CCMP) Photography Lisa Olenderski (UGA MAREX) Writing Breanna Ondich (GSTC) Writing
Perry Peace Photography Connie Polk (CSC) Writing Cameron Rhodes Writing Steven Rhodes Photography Elena Richards (SRK) Writing Peggy Riley Writing Cathy Sakas (GRNMSF) Writing Cody Shelley (TIMSC) Writing Chelsea Spaulding Photography Bridgette Thurman Graphic Design D. Walker (CCMP) Writing
Featured Artists: Amber Angeloni (Jan 2016) Acrylic on Cypress Wood Kenneth Carroll (Nov 2015) Photography - COVER Tyler Dominey (Oct 2015) Metal Art Dory Ingram (Aug 2016) Tissue and Polymer Assemblages Kelley Luikey (Sep 2015 & 2016) Nature Photography - COVER Charles Maley (Dec 2015) Fish Rubbing/Prints Alexandra Nicole (Apr 2016) Painting Mitch Pennington (Mar 2016) Metal Art Joseph Shields (Jul 2016) Photography - COVER Laura Tillman (May 2016) Driftwood Decór
Special Thanks: Nancy Butler - GA DNR CRD - Your endless support, last minute images, countless questions answered, font of information, and for being a Goddess! Jen Hilburn - Altamaha Riverkeeper - Years of friendship, keeping me in the loop, introductions, and contributing info! Barbara Ryan - St. Marys Magazine - Always answering my endless questions and keeping me in the loop! Jessica Scott - Jekyll Island Authority - Bailing me out with material, photos, and information, sometimes at the last minute! Bubba Strickland - Hogans Marina - Making introductions, suggestions, sharing ideas, and your support and encouragement from day one!
Organizations: Altamaha Riverkeeper Chatham County Marine Patrol Chatham Sailing Club Clean Coast Fishin’ For Jamie Georgia DNR Georgia Sea Turtle Center (JIA) Geechee Sailing Club Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary GRNMS Foundation NOAA Oatland Island Wildlife Center Ogeechee Riverkeeper One Hundred Miles
September 2016
Port Royal Sound Foundation Satilla Riverkeeper Savannah Riverkeeper Sea Grant Georgia Sea Grant South Carolina Ships of the Sea Museum Skidaway Institute of Oceanography South Carolina DNR & MRRI St. Marys Riverkeeper The Dolphin Project Tybee Island Marine Science Center Tybee Island Maritime Academy UGA MAREX Aquarium Waddell Mariculture Center
SouthernTidesMagazine.com
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September 11:
Northeast and Great Lakes Regional Director for NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, was superintendent of Gray’s Reef at the time of the R/V Joe Ferguson dedication. “Many in the sanctuary program had worked with Joe. He was an extraordinary educator with unbounded enthusiasm for the ocean and coastal environment,” said Bohne. “We wanted to remember Joe, Ann, [and] the students and teachers lost that day on their journey to one of America’s underwater treasures. We
Honoring Joe Ferguson
By Michelle Riley
Communications and Outreach Coordinator Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
M
ore than 400 small boats are owned and operated by NOAA programs nationwide. Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS) owns two small research vessels, the R/V Sam Gray and the R/V Joe Ferguson. As Americans mark the 15th anniversary of the attacks of September 11 with a National Day of Service and Remembrance, we invite our coastal neighbors to remember Joe Ferguson, for whom the NOAA R/V Joe Ferguson is named. Joe was director of the National Geographic Society’s education and outreach program. Beginning in 1999, the Society funded a marine research and education project called the National Marine Sanctuaries Field Studies Program, to explore many of our national marine sanctuaries. Gray’s Reef was one of the first field study sites; for several days, teacher and student teams learned about the sanctuary through a variety of activities. Two years later, an education mission was scheduled at our sister sanctuary—Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, off Santa Barbara, California. Joe and his colleague Ann Judge were leaders of a team of three under-served sixth grade students and their three Washington D.C.-area teachers. On September 11, 2001, they boarded American Airlines Flight 77. They and their fellow passengers perished that day as their hijacked plane was flown into the Pentagon. The staff at Gray’s Reef named the vessel in Joe Ferguson’s honor, in recognition of all he had done to educate students about the marine environment. He was strongly committed to improving geography education in America’s classrooms and won the affections of teachers who participated in professional development sponsored by the Society. Reed Bohne, a Savannah resident who currently serves as the
R/V Joe Ferguson at sea. Photo provided by GRNMS
felt it fitting and right to name a vessel in their honor and have it continue to serve our area, teaching young students and training scientists of the wonders of the ocean world through the window of Gray’s Reef.” The R/V Joe Ferguson, a 41-foot catamaran, was recently refitted and upgraded, and is back at sea this month. The Ferguson has a capacity of two crew and ten scientists or educators, and allows people to stay aboard the vessel overnight. The boat provides a safe working platform for research, training, rescue, and educational operations and is an essential component of the equipment that enables marine scientists to conduct important experiments and observations in Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary. Gray’s Reef superintendent Sarah Fangman stated, “Americans will never forget the great loss that occurred on September 11. At Gray’s Reef, we are honored to step aboard the Joe Ferguson and be reminded of the passionate educator who helped bring the national marine sanctuaries to so many.”
For questions, email: michelle.riley@noaa.gov
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D id Y ou Know? Filefish are closely related to triggerfish. This explains why several of us thought the photo posted in the July issue was a triggerfish. • The planehead filefish, Stephanolepis hispidus, has a long, barbed and retractable dorsal spine, small pectoral fins, and a fan-shaped tail; they typically mottled brown or olive-green in color. •
They’re often referred to as “leatherjackets” due to their rough skin.
• The name “filefish” may have come about when dried fish skins were used for sanding and smoothing in wooden boat construction. • The planehead filefish can reach 11 inches but averages about 6.5 inches in length. Other filefish species can range in size from the pigmy filefish (six inches) to the scrawled filefish (over three feet). • Found in areas with soft sand or mud bottoms; inshore they can be found around docks and obstructions. Filefish date provided in part by John “Crawfish” Crawford, UGA Marine Extension Above: The barbed dorsal spine is a key disinguishing feature. Photo by NOAA Ocean Explorer Team
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G limpses of our Coast with
Nature Muse Imagery By Amy Thurman Photography by Kelley Luikey
I
n the first issue of Southern Tides Magazine, we interviewed photographer Kelley Luikey, of Nature Muse Imagery, and featured several of her amazing photos, including one of roseate spoonbills on our cover. In honor of our one-year anniversary, we’re touching base with Kelley again to see what she’s been up to and share more of her work. In last year’s issue, Kelley stated, “I finally feel like I’m combining all the things I love successfully,” referring to her love of the water and this coastal area, diving, teaching naturalist classes for kids, and getting out there to catch the light, flora and fauna, then sharing it through her photos. This photographer, who doesn’t think twice about laying
on her stomach in the surf for an hour or crawling through marsh mud to get the perfect shot is still doing that and more. She and Delk Haigler, friend and fellow photographer, have begun offering photography classes in night shooting – one of Kelley’s favorite times to shoot, and they look forward to offering more courses. She’s also had her photography featured on local billboards through a program called ArtPop, that promotes local artists on unused media space, such as billboards. When a billboard isn’t in use by paid advertisers, ArtPop works with the billboard owner to display the works of artists in that area. When the billboard space is purchased, ArtPop simply moves the artist’s display to another unused space. Kelley’s photography 12
SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
Opposite: Pellies by the Sea, taken near Port Royal Right: Awaken, taken at dawn on Hunting Island.
Left: Aglow, sunflower fields at Donnelly Wildlife Management Area.
Right: Amber Waves The shrimp boat Amber Waves makes her way out to sea from the Harbor River.
Top: Black Skimmer, Black skimmer munching on sea whip in the surf. Right: Kelley Luikey in front of her ArtPop billboard featuring her photo Cloudscape.
was featured on a billboard in Beaufort until that board was rented and is now on a billboard near Ridgeland. “It’s really neat to see your photos on a billboard,” Kelley said, “and it’s a great opportunity for artists to get their work in front of more people.” Also this year, Kelley sold 30 pieces to a medical center in North Carolina, and has another large sale in the works at print time. Locally, she’s putting together a display for MacDonald Marketplace on St. Helena Island. “I knew when I walked in that I wanted to display there,” she said. “It’s such a great old family-owned building and when you walk in they greet you – just so welcoming!” In addition to prints of her work, Kelley will also be offering note cards and other small gift items featuring her photos. Possibly the biggest step Kelley took this year was to leave her job and focus on her photography as a business. It’s a big step but one she’s managing well. “It’s exciting to be able to do it full-time and spend more time shooting.” Which means more time to cruise the tidal creeks in her jon boat, walk our beaches in the predawn hours, and crawl through pluff mud so she can continue to share glimpses of our beautiful coast we might not otherwise see. Thank you Kelley!
Want to see more of Kelley’s work and purchase your favorite piece? Visit MacDonald Marketplace on St. Helena Island, her website www.naturemuseimagery.com, or find her on Facebook by searching Nature Muse Imagery. 14
SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
Southern Tides Magazine is funded almost entirely by advertising revenue. We wouldn’t be here without the businesses that choose to advertise with us each month. Thank you for having faith in us to reach your target customers!
Thank
You!
A very special thank you to the five companies that have advertised in Southern Tides since our very first issue (in alphabetical order):
Hogans’ Marina • Island Outboards • Isle of Hope Marina River Supply & River Services • Tortugas Island Grille
A big thank you to our current advertisers as well! We’re grateful for your business!
Adams Bait House • C & M Charters • Captain Tripp Lang’s Charters Doggie Ladders & GameDay Sportz • Dolphin Magic • Electric Avenue D.J. Expert Marine Construction • Ft. McAllister Marina & Fish Tales Goodbread House • Hale Marine Services • Maritime Metalworks Ogeechee Marine • One More Cast Charters Pinault’s Defensive Solutions • Sail Harbor Marina & Boatyard Southern Tide Metal Works • The Landings Marinas Thunderbolt Charters, Ltd. • Towboat Savannah • Waterline Up Southern Tides Magazine looks forward to welcoming the following new advertisers in the October issue: Ambos Seafoods • Dock Supply • GA DNR • St. Marys Boat Services
Women of the
Water
Amy T hurman By Cathy Sakas Edited by Michelle Grisamer
A
my breezed onto the deck of Wyld to meet with me after she’d been kayaking for several hours with family and friends. Her blue eyes caught my attention right away and I thought it appropriate for a woman of the water to have blue eyes that perfectly reflected the afternoon sky over the Herb River. Although obviously not comfortable talking about herself, we found common water at many depths, such as the fact that we’re both military brats – Army for her, Navy for me. Like many with a military background, God, country, and family order her life. Her Army-influenced upbringing continued to impact her life into adulthood. She joked that this was why the man in her life, a retired Army Ranger, was the only man who’s ever been able to put up with her. And why she’s never lived in the same zip code longer than seven years before moving to coastal Georgia, though she states unequivocally that she’s finally putting down roots here and couldn’t be happier. Amy loves the water. She paddles, swims, snorkels, sails, loves to fish, does occasional boat delivers, and writes about boats and the water. Her passion is the ocean, the marsh, the 16
coast – and everything that lives on it or in it. Born near Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, she grew up landlocked. Her first encounter with the ocean was at age 18, when she went to Malibu Beach, California, on vacation with friends. “It brought tears to my eyes. This vast, huge thing, so powerful. I felt this big,” she gestured with a quarter-inch space between her thumb and forefinger. She didn’t get her first look at the Atlantic until she was 31, from the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland . “I always seem to do things backwards,” she laughed. A good example of this backwards tendency was the purchase of her first boat. In 2005, while still living near Atlanta, she saw an ad for a sailboat while flipping through a local magazine. “I looked at that ad and thought, ‘I can’t afford to move to the coast yet, but I can afford that boat.’ I bought it three days later. I didn’t know the first thing about how to sail,” she said, rolling her eyes. But she learned quickly with the help of friends on Lake Lanier where she kept the 25-foot sloop, which she named Write of Passage. Within a couple years she was doing boat deliveries on the East Coast and to the Caribbean. About nine years ago, after numerous trips to this area, SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
OppOpposite Page: Amy learning to harvest oysters for an article last fall. Photo by Frank Roberts This page clockwise from top left: Kayaking near Pigeon Island. Photo by Todd Kasper Two gun training with pistol and rifle. Photo by Mike Pinault Working the mainsail during a close race. Photo by Nicola Breymaier Helping Trapper Jack release baby alligators in the wildlife preserve. Photo by Trapper Jack
Amy moved to our incredible coast for good. This is home, where this woman of the water is most comfortable, with the Atlantic just beyond the tree line of that outer-most barrier island and the smell of salt water and marsh mud. As for writing, Amy’s first efforts came early in her life, around age eight, when her teacher gave a Halloween writing assignment. Her first story literally opened with “It was a dark and stormy night…” Like any good writer she read a lot, but unlike most little girls reading Nancy Drew novels, she rewrote them in her head. She remembers thinking, “if she’d written it like this, it would read so much better.” Although she enjoyed school writing assignments and wrote for her school paper, her career as a published writer didn’t begin until the terrorist attacks on 9/11. A few days after the attacks, needing to put it into words, she vented her anger and outrage in an e-mail message to several friends. They encouraged her to submit the heartfelt letter for publication. “It was a time when our priorities were crystal clear,” she recalled. “We were all reminded that nothing is certain and life is meant to be lived.” She put together a few samples of her writing, including the piece on 9/11, and took them to the editor of the local paper. “I just wanted her to tell me if I had any talent at all or if I was a complete hack.” A few hours later, she was stunned when the editor called and offered her a weekly column in the paper. She was even more September 2016
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Left: Sea trial in Naragansett Bay. Above: Amy with a black drum she caught while fishing in the St. Mary’s River. Photo by Todd Kasper
stunned when, after a couple columns had come out, readers began writing to her. “It was strange to have people sending me fan mail, but I loved it! I really liked the ones who disagreed with me though,” she said, laughing. One such reader wrote, “Dear Ms. Thurman, I’ve enjoyed your column for the last couple years but I was very disappointed in your recent use of the word ‘butt.’” Amy’s response? “Dear Mr. [name withheld], I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my column and I appreciate your comments. Considering the family-oriented nature of the newspaper, I found the word ‘butt’ preferable to the word ‘ass.’” She likes to stir the hornet’s nest but states with a laugh that she’s “worked hard to be this free.” And although she comes across as a bit sassy at times, her guiding force is integrity. “Without integrity, you have nothing. You are nothing,” she says. She tries to give her best and be the best person she can, every minute, every day. So what does she project for the future? For the magazine: selling enough ads to give Southern Tides a glossy cover, expanding the distribution area, and launching the website she’s building to go along with the print version. That’s in addition to her two side jobs – offering personal safety and firearms training to women and working charters for Bull River Cruises – and her volunteer work with the Red Cross. From a personal standpoint, she looks forward to getting her captain’s license, joining NOAA’s volunteer dive team, becoming a better kayak guide, publishing a few books, and planting a garden. All of which she’ll balance with spending more time with her three grown children, her young granddaughter, the man in her life, and their animals. She does stay busy! Before we both needed to go our separate ways I asked one last question, “Is that a compass rose around your neck?” Touching the small, silver pendant reverently, Amy said, “My daughter gave me this and I wear it every day. It took me a long time to find my way to the water, to this place on our coast. This is home.”
Waterfront Dining Fresh Local Seaf d Live Music
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SATURDAY, 6pm OCTOBER 22, 2016
Benefiting the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s Education and Research
at the Maritime Center on Lemon Island
Join us for an evening benefiting education and research with famed National Geographic Explorer, DR. ROBERT BALLARD, discoverer of the wrecks R.M.S. Titanic, Bismarck and Yorktown. We will also honor Environmental Steward, NANCY SCHILLING. Guests will enjoy a seated lowcountry dinner, engaging discussion, live musical entertainment and silent auction. ♦ ONLY
50 SEATS REMAINING ♦
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ISLE OF
HOPE
MARINA Complimentary Loaner Cars! • Located in scenic and historic Isle of Hope • New water, electric, fuel, and pump-out systems • High-speed Wi-Fi and TV available at every slip • Laundry facilities on premises, bicycles, Wall Street Journal, and more! • 4000 feet of concrete floating docks (including 600 feet of deep-water face docks)
YACHTS UP TO 220 FEET AND TRANSIENT BOATS WELCOME! Join us for our Pavilion Series with live music, drinks & dancing - every third Thursday!
(912) 354-8187 50 Bluff Drive Savannah, GA VHF Channel 16
C harting Memories
with Savannah Jack’s By Amy Thurman
Nautical charts have been around in some form since humans first began navigating the seas. They’ve helped us find distant shores, avoid shallow water, and see where we are in relation to the world at large. In today’s world of GPS navigation, charts have almost become a thing of the past, except to some of us diehard old salts who just can’t bring ourselves to put our complete faith in electronics. And for some of us, there’s a certain nostalgia around paper charts. The chart of your home waters that you know as well as you know your own driveway, or the one of some distant point you visited by boat and looking at it brings back fond memories or good boat stories. So it isn’t surprising that these charts have long been used as décor – actual paper charts that are framed to hang on the wall, or any number of painted or sketched likenesses that artists have rendered throughout the years. And now there’s another means of
displaying your favorite charts – having them printed on household items you can use or decorate your home or boat with. A local company, Savannah Jacks, will take your favorite chart and put it on any number of items for you, preserving your memories and that sense of nostalgia in a more permanent way. Savannah Jacks owner Kristen McAdams was born and raised in Savannah and grew up on the water. “My father had me boating, fishing, and crabbing from the day I was born and my mother instilled in me a love of the beach,” she said. “I feel most at home on the boat, riding around our local rivers and creeks or digging my toes in the sand on Tybee beach. My husband and I now carry on these traditions with our three boys and enjoy it even more seeing them experience it.” Kristen, who is a school psychologist by day, started Savannah Jacks eight years ago to give her a creative outlet. “I’ve always loved the beauty of nautical charts for their aesthetic value, but also for the memories and feelings they evoke. They’re a map of my lifestyle, if you will. I enjoy being able to bring this to everyone’s home, customized for their specific coastal places and memories.”
Savannah Jack’s line can be found at: www.savannahjacks.com Facebook.com/SavannahJacksBrand Polka Dots (Whitemarsh Island) Annabelle’s (Sandfly) River Supply (Thunderbolt) Smith Brother’s (Downtown Savannah) Rivers & Glen Trading Co. (Downtown Savannah)
PINAULT’S DEFENSIVE SOLUTIONS
The shower curtain and towels (opposite, top), cutting board, ice bucket, and coozie (opposite, bottom), throw pillows and blanket (this page), are just a few of the many items charts can be placed on. They now even offer a dog bed. “Anything that’ll sit still long enough, I’ll put a chart on,” Kristen said. Photos by Kelly Boyd
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NRA Certified, Former Military and Law Enforcement Instructors Rifles • Shotguns Semi-Auto Pistols • Revolvers Ammo • Reloading Supplies Benchmade Knives Holsters, including Can-Can $25 FFL Transfers If we don’t have it, we can order it! 3766 Hwy 17, Suite 103 Richmond Hill, GA
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912-856-0398
Bahia Bleu/Morningstar Marina 2812 River Drive, Thunderbolt, GA
Best of the Coast
Areas are defined as follows:
SCL - SC Lowcountry (Beaufort, Bluffton, HHI) SAV - Savannah Area/Chatham County NCG - North Coastal GA (Richmond Hill to Darien) GIA - Golden Isles (Brunswick, Jeckyll, St. Simons) STM - St. Marys/Camden County
Best Marina
SCL - Harbour Town Yacht Basin SAV - TIE : Hogans’ Marina Landings Harbor Marina NCG - Kilkenny Marina GIA - Morningstar Golden Isles Marina
Best Boat Ramp
Survey Results
SAV - Rodney J. Hall Boat Ramp NCG - Demeries Creek Boat Ramp STM - St. Marys City Boat Ramp
Best Kayak Rental/Tour
T
SCL - Beaufort Kayak Tours SAV - Moon River Kayak Honorable Mention: Delegal Creek Marina GIA - Southeast Adventure Outfitters STM - Knuckleheads Kayak Adventures
he votes are in for Southern Tides Magazine’s first ‘Best of the Coast’ survey! Results are listed by category, then by area (north to south). Results outside of the coastal area are listed under the nearest area to their location. In instances where the results were tied, both entities are listed and both will receive a certificate. Second place winners are not listed unless the votes were extremely close – those results are listed as honorable mentions. If an area or category is not mentioned, there were either not enough votes received or there were multiple entities named with only one vote each. If a business name is listed incorrectly, we apologize. Every effort was made to determine the proper name. In the case of inshore and offshore fishing charters, the captain’s name is used rather than the charter name as that’s how most of the votes were cast. It wasn’t a bad showing for our first run at this – thank you to all who participated!
Congratulations Winners!
Best Jet Ski Rental
SAV - Tybee Jet Ski & Watersports
Best Dolphin Tour
SCL - Spartina Marine Education Charters SAV - TIE : Bull River Cruises Captain Mike’s Dolphin Adventure GIA - Dolphin Tours of Jekyll Island
Best Eco Tour
SCL - Spartina Marine Education Charters SAV - Bull River Cruises GIA - Credle’s Adventures (Lady Jane)
Best Bait House
SCL - Beaufort Boat & Dock Supply SAV - Bandy’s Bait House NCG - Kilkenny Marina GIA - George’s Bait STM - Bucaneer’s Bait & Tackle
Best Fishing Club
SAV - Savannah Sport Fishing Club GIA - Hickory Bluff Club 22
SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
Best Boat Supply Store
Best Inshore Fishing Charter
SCL - Captain Danny Rourke SAV - Captain Judy Helmey Honorable Mention: Captain Brian Woelber NCG - Captain Mark Lewis STM - Captain Tripp Lang
SAV - River Supply
Best Boat Service
SAV - Hale Marine Services Honorable Mention: Dolan Yacht Services NCG - Robert Bacot GIA - Hampton Point Marina STM - Hickory Bluff Marine
Best Offshore Fishing Charter SAV - Captain Judy Helmey GIA - TIE: Captain Mark Noble Captain Wade Robinson STM - Captain Scott Griffin
Best Boat Detailer SAV - Waterline Up
Best Canvas/Upholstery
Best Sailing Club
SAV - D. Designs, Inc. (Sarah Nolan) NCG - Coastal Canvas Products GIA - Stitches by Ruth
SAV - Rhodes 19 Club (The Landings) GIA - Golden Isles Sailing Club
Best Sailing Program/Training
Best Daytrip by Boat
SAV - Savannah Sailing Center GIA - Dunbar Sailing School
(Ranked by # of total votes)
Daufuskie Island Wassaw Island Cumberland Island
Best Seafood Market
SAV - Russo’s Seafood Honorable Mention: Bowie Seafood GIA - City Market Seafood STM - White House Seafood
Best Weekend Trip by Boat (Ranked by # of total votes)
Daufuskie Island Cumberland Island Blackbeard Island
Best Local Seafood Restaurant SLC - Marshside Mama’s Cafe SAV - The Wyld Honorable Mention: Sundae Cafe
Best Lighthouse
(Ranked by # of total votes)
TIE: Cockspur Island Light Tybee Island Light St. Simons Island Light
Best Dockside Restaurant/Bar SCL - Marshside Mama’s Cafe
SAV - The Wyld Honorable Mention: A-J’s Dockside NCG - Fish Tales GIA - Coastal Kitchen & Raw Bar STM - Lang’s Restaurant
Best Charitable Organization (Ranked by # of total votes)
Gray’s Reef Nat’l Marine Sancuary Foundation Coastal Conservation Association Clean Coast Savannah Riverkeeper Ogeechee Riverkeeper Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers The Dolphin Project Ossabaw Island Foundation Tybee Island Marine Science Center UGA MAREX Aquarium Port Royal Sound Foundation
Best Dock Builder/Supply
SCL - O’Quinn Marine Construction SAV - Dockworks
Best Boat Dealer
SCL - Hilton Head Boathouse SAV - TIE: Searay of Savannah Custom Marine (Statesboro) GIA - Dunbar Sales STM - Hickory Bluff Marine September 2016
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Manatees are
Here!
The transmitters used are designed to break away if snagged and don’t restrict the manatees movements. Photo by Sea to Shore Alliance (USFWS permit #MA 37808A-0)
By Amy Thurman
A
lthough we have a number of interesting creatures that make their homes in our local waters, we also have a few that just come for a visit. Who doesn’t love the sea turtles that nest on our local beaches each year? But another much-loved visitor is the Florida manatee and there have been a number of sightings in both South Carolina and Georgia this summer. Manatees, sometimes known as sea cows, are mammals; they reproduce through live birth, have sparse hair on their bodies and around their mouths. Calves are around three feet long and weigh about 60 pounds at birth. Mature manatees average about 11 ½ feet and can reach up to 13 feet in length, weigh an average 2,200 pounds but can reach 3,500 pounds, 24
and can live for about 50 years. Their pectoral flippers are used in similar ways to human hands (touching, feeling, manuervering) and the vertical movement of their broad, flat tails propel them through water. Manatees are social creatures and communicate with squeaks and chirps. When in their home waters these herbivores dine on sea grass, algae, and water hyacinth, though when they venture into Georgia and South Carolina they favor our marsh grass. Florida manatees, Trichechus manatus latirostris, are a sub-species of the West Indian manatee Trichechus manatus linneaus. They make their home in warm Florida waters but can venture north into Georgia and the Carolinas, or as far west at Louisiana, when water temperatures rise above 68 degrees. Although approximately 3,300 manatees live in Florida, it’s unknown how many migrate each summer. The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division, working with the Georgia Aquarium and Sea to Shore Alliance, and others, have developed a tracking project to learn more about this endangered species. GPS transmitters are attached to the manatees’ tails and monitored to observe their movements. The device doesn’t impede their ability to maneuver and will break away if snagged on anything. SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
If you spot a tagged manatee, you can help. Call 1-800-2-SAVE-ME and provide the date, time, location, color of the manatee tag, and if there are other manatees present. Clay George, a wildlife biologist in the Nongame Conservation Section of the GA DNR Wildlife Resources Division says photos are also helpful. “We welcome people to send us photographs of any manatees they happen to observe. Many manatees have scars on their bodies and notches on their flukes from boat collisions that can be used to track their movements over time. We have received photos of at least two manatees this summer from the Savannah area that we were able to match to manatees that have been seen in Georgia previously. The only thing we ask is people should never pursue, touch, feed or give water to manatees in order to get photographs.” It is not only illegal to interfere with manatees under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, but can also put them in danger. If you encounter a manatee, maintain a safe distance and enjoy the rare moment.
Above and bottom right: This manatee was spotted in Thunderbolt, near Savannah Bend Marina. Photo by Captain Michael Purvis Bottom left: Assessing a manatee before release. Photo by Sea to Shore Alliance (USFWS permit #MA 37808A-0)
To report a tagged, injured or stranded manatee in Georgia, call:
1-800-2-SAVE-ME In South Carolina call:
1-800-922-5431 One surprise to researchers monitoring the transmitters over this summer and last summer show that manatees venture further up into tidal creeks than once thought. By studying their movements more might be learned about protecting their natural habitat and how to reduce the number of boat strikes, which accounts for 28% of manatee deaths in Georgia waters since 2000.
The DNR would love your photos! If you’re able to photograph a manatee (without luring them with fresh water) send them, along with pertinent information to clay.george@dnr.ga.gov in Georgia, or report them online in South Carolina at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/manatee/sight.htm.
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman
By Amelia Dence
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Pet Friendly! (912) 882-7490 www.g dbreadhouse.com info@g dbreadhouse.com 209 OSBORNE STREET . Marys, GA 31558
If you’re anything like me, you enjoy being outdoors and everything it entails, whether it’s fishing, hiking, camping, or a multitude of other activities. However, many women like me only have the basic skills to participate in these activities and would enjoy learning more. That’s where a program like the Georgia Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) can come in handy. BOW is a non-profit program developed and run by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) to teach women of all ages outdoor skills. Whether you’re a novice, have intermediate skills, or want to add to a vast library of knowledge, the program offers training in a variety of outdoor recreational activities. Multiple sessions are offered throughout the year, with each providing a wide range of activities and courses. Course topics for the upcoming Fall BOW program (November 4-6) include: fishing, introduction to scuba diving, archery, shotgun, tree climbing, nature photography, outdoor cooking, working with dogs, and wilderness survival, just to name a few. Kelly Phillips, from Orange Beach, Alabama, and previous BOW participant, loved the program. “It’s a step to encourage women to be more outgoing as well as to show their strengths,” she said. When Jody Rice, with the GA DNR Wildlife Resources Division, was asked to spearhead the Georgia chapter of this national program, he wasn’t sure about it at first. Being raised as an outdoorsman and, along with his wife, raising his own children in the same manner, it was easy to assume that anyone who enjoyed these types of activities already had a means to pursue them. But conversations with his wife led him to realize that large numbers of people don’t have the resources or opportunities to learn outdoor skills. The goal of the BOW program is to empower women to not only learn new skill sets but to incorporate those 26
SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
Opposite page, top photo: A participant learns to shoot in Introduction to Handgun. Opposite page, bottom: Kayaking is one of the many activities offered. This page: A woman “kisses” her catch! Photos by Alicia Pastiran, ABP Digital Art
Maritime Metalworks skills into their lifestyle. Whether it’s learning how to tie a knot in a fishing lure or to backpack the Appalachian Trail, the BOW program offers valuable resources for women to learn. Once participants have participated in basic BOW workshops they have the option to advance to Georgia’s Beyond BOW (BBOW) program that offers more specialized and advanced training. The coastal Georgia BBOW program focuses on expanding skills specifically geared towards the coastal lifestyle, such as surf casting and crabbing. BOW has approximately 40 partner organizations that assist in providing training and support, such as Glock, that sponsors a Women’s Handgun Preparedness course, in which women are given basic handgun instruction. The knowledge and confidence one gains through BOW programs will last a lifetime. The program instructors encourage and empower women to take control, to learn, and to integrate their newfound skills and abilities into their own lives. And it’s just plain fun!
For more about the program, visit http://www.georgiawildlife.com/BOW
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Boat Repair • Bottom Painting • Fiberglass • Boat Storage
A Visit with Tybee Island Maritime Academy By Amelia Dence
T
ybee Island Maritime Academy (TIMA) sits nestled among cozy beach cottages and is only a stone’s throw from the beach. This gem of a school combines traditional learning concepts with a hands-on, project-based approach intended to spark each student’s natural curiosity for learning. I recently had the pleasure visiting the school and meeting with principal Patrick Rossiter, an educator for over 36 years who has obviously found his calling. The interview also gave me, as a mother, a glimpse into what my son’s education might look like in a school that utilizes the area’s natural resources as tools for learning. Bringing a charter school to Tybee Island was the brainchild of Mayor Jason Buelterman. The academy was founded four years ago, by retired educator Carolyn Jurick and a group of dedicated community members. Mrs. Jurick was the first charter school principal in the state of Georgia. TIMA is a charter school for grades K-5 that takes the Georgia state curriculum and applies it in a way that emphasizes the maritime world. 28
“We’re a project approach school focused on the port, the logistics associated with the port, the islands, the waterways, and navigation, in addition to all of the marine aspects of that,” Rossiter explained. Teachers employ a variety of maritimebased tools to teach students the concepts dictated by the state of Georgia. For example, teachers use maritime signal flags to teach vocabulary to the younger students. Educators strive for a hands-on approach to learning and often use the beach as a tool for teaching. “We might be talking about the formation of deltas; there’s no better way to do that than at the beach. You can literally see the fan, the alluvial fan, develop as a result of the water running down. It’s just a wonderful, wonderful concept and probably the greatest outdoor classroom in the country,” Rossiter said. However, even though much of the teaching is centered around a maritime approach, children are not limited to learning only through this theme. In this project-based school, teachers act as facilitators for children to choose SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
topics for three different group projects that they must complete during the school year. This concept allows students to have input on the selection of group projects on any occupation or subject they find interesting and empowers them to learn about that topic independently. As an example of another theme based project, Rossiter explained, “Last year our kindergarteners did a project on farms and it included going to the farm, it included various animals, what jobs had to be done; the entire aspect of running a modern day farm.” Principal Rossiter was kind enough to give me a tour of the school and I was impressed with what I saw in each classroom we visited. Students were actively engaged in their learning environment and teachers were utilizing a variety of methods to engage individual student’s styles of learning; the one-size-fits-all approach was noticeably absent. In its place were methods that utilized auditory, hands-on, visual, and verbal learning techniques that kept students engaged. Through it all I saw a group of people, children and adults alike, who were genuinely enjoying their school day. TIMA is a lottery based school; anyone in Savannah and the surrounding Chatham County area can apply. Visit their website www.TybeeIslandMaritimeAcademy.com for more information.
We Want Your
Storm Stories
Have a great story about a storm you experienced on or near the water? We want to hear them! To share your story, email:
amy@southerntidesmagazine.com
Deadline:
Opposite page: 5th grade teacher Tammy Smith with her class on Tybee Beach to examine a sea turtle nest after the hatchlings . Above: Second-graders learn moon phases with Oreo cookies. Photos provided by TIMA
September 2016
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September 23 Photo’s welcome too!
The Bitter End Turning a Blind Eye
G
By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill
ood day one and all, and welcome to this month’s first anniversary edition! It’s hard to believe Amy has kept me around this long. I’d hoped to come up with some sort of theme for this auspicious occasion, but I couldn’t find anything that worked, so you’re stuck with my usual ramblings. For the last many years, I’ve worked in the marine business as a tour operator/ boat captain, and as such I’ve worked with, and listened to, many of my professional counterparts. It never ceases to amaze me how much of the same information we all use, often repeated in almost the same words. I guess Charles Caleb Colton was right when he said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” And I’m not one to argue with that as I have stolen some of my best stuff from others.
However, over the last few years I’ve learned that I needed to put a little time into verifying these stolen tidbits. It seems that both the facts and the myths get passed along from one guide to the next. There’s a mixture of truths, half-truths, and downright inaccuracies that get passed along as the gospel truth. I believe as guides we should pass along scientific as well as historical facts as accurately as possible. I read one of my competitor’s Trip Advisor reviews and their narrator was called out on several inaccurate details. Now I’m not saying the guide intentionally tried to deceive; I figure they’d heard it from others and passed along the information as it was told to them or as they remembered it. I call this “hand-me-down theology,” kind of like basing your relationship with God on what your mother or grandmother believed without ever digging out the truth to formulate your own beliefs. One of these hand-me-downs I’ve heard many times repeated about our eastern brown pelican. I love pelicans (they’re one of my favorite birds), they remind me of Pterodactyls, and who doesn’t love those, right? Our brown pelicans, standing about three feet tall and with about a seven- foot wingspan, are one of only two species found here in North America, the other being the white pelican, a much larger cousin. You can’t help but notice pelicans dive-bombing for their food when you’re around the water. But did you know that the 30
most common cause of death in these prehistoric-looking birds is blindness? This is due to repeated diving with their eyes open (so as not to lose their prey) and after about eight years they lose their sight. Or do they? I’m sure most of you have heard this and maybe even repeated it to others, but is it actually true? Let’s start with a look back at how long pelicans have been around. These creatures don’t just look prehistoric; the species dates back 40 million years and are virtually unchanged. That’s an incredibly long time to have survived for a species that only lives an average of eight years. So how long do they live?
In fact, twenty to thirty years is nothing unusual. One pelican tagged in Florida in 1931, was found again in 1964 and was still in great health and doing fine. Of course it’s easy to believe they go blind from repeated diving, often from heights as great as 60 feet. But do pelicans go blind? Yes, but not from diving. The condition is thought to be caused by eating diseased fish, often found where “dead” water, or water that is overly warm and with low oxygen levels, which causes botulism. This disease can cause blindness, as well as paralysis. When that happens it can be so severe that the pelican can no longer hold up their heads and drown. We’ve have all heard the passage by Dixon Lanier Merrit, “A wonderful bird is the pelican. His beak can hold more than his belly can.” Or can it? We live in the most informationrich era in the history of mankind. Don’t turn a blind eye, go check the facts. See y’all on the water! Email Captain Gary: jgaryhill@gmail.com
Brown pelican Photo by Amy Thurman
SouthernTidesMagazine.com September 2016
22nd Annual
CoastFest Saturday, October 1, 2016 10am - 4pm
Celebrate Georgia’s Coastal Natural Resources! Something for everyone! Native American Programs with Jim Sawgrass Black powder demos • Cannon firings Working bee hive • Learn to kayak Indigo snakes • Turtles • Birds of prey Shrimp touch tank • Stingrays • Giant Aquarium Pirates & parrots • Fishing Rodeo
Enjoy the day at this Free Family-friendly Event
CoastFest is Hosted by Georgia DNR Conservation Way at US 17 South Brunswick, GA Near the Sidney Lanier Bridge For information call 912.264.7218 or visit CoastalGaDNR.org
September 2016
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Before you head out there ...
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912-224-8313 2604 Causton Bluff Road Savannah, GA