Southern Tides all about the water
December 2020
Merry�Christmas!
Make your list and check it twice! We have a wide variety of great gift ideas for your favorite boater! • Aftco and Grundens • Toadfish can coolers and oyster knives • Sperry and OluKai footwear • Yeti cups and coolers • Broad selection of rods and reels • Tackle • Costa Sunglasses • Stocking stuffers • Gift cards, & So Much More! The premier marine, aerospace, and industrial supplier on the Georgia Intracoastal Waterway
2827 River Drive Thunderbolt, GA 31404 (912) 354-7777 (800) 673-9391 www.riversupply.com
Life Raft Sales & Service Inflatable Boat Sales & Service Marine Paints Fire & Safety Equipment Yacht Chandlery & Supplies Saltwater Fishing Tackle Expedited Shipping & Deliveries
Visit us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/riversupplyriverservices
The Boatyard is proud to oer:
Marina: (912) 897-2896 Boatyard: (912) 897-1914 606 Wilmington Island Road Savannah, GA 31410 www.sailharbormarina.com
50-ton 17-foot-beam Travel Lift Air Conditioning Installation/Repair Electronics Installation/Repair Canvas/Sail Repair Emergency 24/7 haul out Complete Painting Services Fiberglass/Blister Repair Prop/Shaft Repair Gas/Diesel Mechanics Sailboat Rigging Services Marina Facilities on Site Deep Water Pickup/Delivery Services Over Land Pickup/Receiving
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year From All of Us at Sail Harbor!
Isle of Hope Marina and Carefree Boat Club of Savannah 50 Bluff Drive - Savannah (912) 354-2684 www.iohmarina.com • VHF Channel 16
SAVANNAH at ISLE OF HOPE
of
• Unlimited Usage • Great Availability • No Maintenance, Repairs, or Slip Fees • Nationwide Access • More great Member Benefits!
savannah@carefreeboats.com
In the Tides CREW
Issue No. 64 December 2020
Publisher/Editor Amy Thurman amy@southerntidesmagazine.com Editorial Assistant Jennifer Farmer info@southerntidesmagazine.com
7 Editor's Note 9 Cold Water Boating 11 Drones Monitor Tybee Dunes
Consulting Naturalist John "Crawfish" Crawford crawfish@uga.edu
12 Art on the Half Shelll 15 First Calf Sighting
The Bitter End Columnist Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill theoriginalcaptaingator@gmail.com
17 Season of Giving 19 Christmas Fun
Around the Reef Columnist Michelle Riley michelle.riley@noaa.gov Contributors Michael Sullivan UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
20 Community Updates 22 The Bitter End
Lisa Holden Contributing Photographer
Copyright Š 2015-2020
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, S.C.
(912) 484-3611 info@southerntidesmagazine.com www.SouthernTidesMagazine.com Visit us on social media: www.issuu.com/SouthernTidesMagazine.com Facebook.com/southern-tides-magazine Instagram @southerntides_mag Southern Tides Magazine is printed by Walton Press, Monroe, Ga.
Subscribe to Southern Tides:
Visit www.squareup.com/store/ southern-tides-magazine $25 for one year/12 issues. (plus $1.15 credit card processing fee) Thank you for your support!
About the Cover:
A scene from Brookgreen Gardens, in Murrells Inlet, S.C. Visited last month by Captain Gator and recently during the Nights of a Thousand Candles by readers and contributors, John and Lisa Holden. Photo by Lisa Holden
December 2020
Southern Tides Magazine
Letters to the Editor:
We love hearing from you! Questions, comments, ideas, or whatever you'd like to share, please do! Send your thoughts to any of our email addresses listed above. 5
If you don’t see this behind your boat ...
Call us. We’ll come get you! Serving Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah and St. Catherines Island
$159
an mem nual bersh ip
Service provides for ALL recreational boats you own, borrow or charter, anywhere in the world!
• Call your local tower for special signup discounts • Fast, experienced, and reliable service • BoatU.S. 24-hour dispatch services, call: 800-888-4869 • Towing service with ALL the benefits of membership in BoatU.S.
Towing • Soft Ungroundings Jump Starts • Fuel Delivery
For 24/7 Response, Call:
912-507-BOAT (2628) Visit us on Facebook!
From our family to yours, may you have a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Editor’s Note Goodbye 2020!
W
hat a year. What. A. Year. Each time we thought it couldn’t get any more bizarre, any crazier, any worse, it proved us wrong. There are as many meme’s floating around the internet making fun of 2020 as there are memes making fun of politicians, and that’s saying something. I’m sure I’m not alone in being happy to see this year done. But some good came out of 2020, too. Two things in particular come to mind. The first is that people got back outdoors again. Anything related to the water has been in high demand. Boat dealers sold out their inventories and boat manufacturers struggled to keep up with demand. Marinas and boat service providers had their best years in a long time as people took to the water. What better way to escape the confines of your house and social distance than being on a boat? Local marine-related businesses thrived this year, and that’s a good thing for our entire coastal community. The second is that people took a good hard look at their priorities this year. I can’t speak for others and won’t share the stories I’ve been entrusted with, but for my part, I paid far more attention to how I spend my time. Granted, I’ve been a little slow on the uptake, but I’m taking real steps toward making more time for family and friends, and making more time for the things I enjoy. It’s hard to make the change from putting work first to putting life first, but I’m determined. If anything, 2020 proved that nothing good is guaranteed and it’s up to us to make good things happen. As the final days of 2020 wind down, I hope you each give some thought to the good to come out of this year, and the lessons we’ve learned. Let’s ring out this year of mayhem with a positive attitude! Goodbye 2020! I also hope you all have a blessed and beautiful Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever spiritual moment you celebrate. See you out there!
Top left: Meme credited to Imgur, hopefully with permission from Universal Pictures. Top right: Meme credited to DeMilked. Above: My favorite meme of 2020, Mayhem! Credited to Daily Candid News, hopefully with permission from Allstate.
Amy Thurman
Editor in Chief amy@southerntidesmagazine.com December 2020
Southern Tides Magazine
7
• Apps, burgers & fresh local seafood • Full bar • Indoor & outdoor dining • Live music on weekends • Open seven days
Come by boat!
912-319-2174
JEKYLL HARBOR MARINA • • • • • •
Dockage and Dry Storage Gas/Diesel Wifi, Cable TV Courtesy bicycles Pool Pump-out
912-635-3137
reservations@jekyllharbor.com
www.jekyllharbor.com
ZACHRY'S - Providing fresh seafood in Glynn County for over 35 years!
1 Harbor Road
Jekyll Island, Georgia
ST. MARYS BOAT SERVICES Full Service Boat Yard 50-ton hoist 50-ton mobile crane Fiberglass Repair • Painting
Do-It-Yourself Welcome!
1084 New Point Peter Road St. Marys, GA 31558
(904)219-2869
info@stmarysboatservices.com
Cold Water Boating Safety
Surviving the Water
If you can't make it to the boat or get out of the water: • At the first sign of falling, try to clamp a hand over your nose and mouth to minimize the possibility of inhaling water when your reflexes force you to gasp. • Remain calm and push to the surface as quickly as possible and get your head above water. • While you still have some dexterity in your fingers, button or zip your clothing to maintain a barrier so the water closest to your skin will retain your body heat as long as possible. If you’re wearing a hat or hood, pull it tight. Kick off heavy boots. • Assume the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP Bring your knees up, clasp your hands together at your chest, and keep your head out of the water. This will allow less heat to escape your core and increase your chance of surviving until help arrives. If this position is too difficult or unstable, cross your calves, bend your knees and pull your legs close to your body. Cross your arms and tuck your hands flat under your armpits. Your life jacket or float coat is imperative in helping you maintain these positions, and in signaling with the attached strobe and whistle.
A
lthough our coastal waterways aren’t as crowded during the winter months, many of us still spend quite a bit of time on the water. Whether you fish, sail, or kayak, or if you work on or around boats or docks, accidents can happen in seconds and you could find yourself in the water. At print time, water temperatures in coastal Georgia are in the low 60s. In comparison to air temperatures, that may not seem like much, but body heat is lost 25 times faster in cold water than in cold air. Hypothermia begins when your body’s core temperature drops below 95 degrees – which is less than four degrees below normal. When the air temperature and the water temperature equal 100 or less, it’s time to take precautions, especially when boating or working alone. It’s far better to feel a little silly wearing a life jacket or float coat than to slip and fall in the water and not be around later to joke about it. According to the BoatU.S. Foundation website, the body goes through four stages when immersed in cold water: cold shock, swimming failure, hypothermia, and post-rescue collapse. The first two stages can occur within 30 minutes, and 75% of cold-water accident victims don’t live to stage three.
First Aid for Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia
Get medical help immediately for anyone you suspect might be suffering from hypothermia, but until help arrives you should perform first aid. It’s imperative to keep the victim as still as possible, avoid jostling and rough handling to avoid serious health hazards, including cardiac arrest and stroke.
Do:
•Shelter the victim from the elements as much as possible. If that isn’t possible, carefully move him to a sheltered location and position him face up with a blanket or padding beneath him. •If he’s unconscious, check for breathing and a heartbeat and begin CPR if necessary. •If awake, keep him as still as possible. •If you have dry clothes or blankets, remove wet clothes carefully. Wrap the victim in warm dry clothing, towels or blankets and a warm hat. Hot water bottles wrapped in clothe can be used but only on the torso. If you lack any other means of providing warmth, direct body heat will help. Wrap whatever clothing or material you have around both of you. •If he’s awake, you can give him warm, but not hot, liquids. Warm tea with honey or slightly cooled hot chocolate can help since sugar can still be absorbed into the system even if the stomach has shut down.
• Stage 1, Cold Shock – When falling into cold water, you will involuntarily gasp for air as your muscles contract. The initial shock can result in panic, hyperventilating, and in some cases can lead to heart failure. This stage can last three to five minutes. It’s imperative that you try to keep your wits and focus on staying afloat with your head above water.
Don’t:
•Don’t apply heat to the legs or arms. This forces cold blood to circulate back toward internal organs, which can lower the core body temperature causing “after drop,” which can be fatal. •Do not massage the victim or allow a hot bath. Rough handling and movement can lead to cardiac arrest. •Don’t allow the victim to consume alcohol, which will cause the body to lose more heat.
• Stage 2, Swimming Failure – Within three to thirty minutes you will lose muscle coordination and swimming will become nearly impossible. • Stage 3, Hypothermia – After about 30 minutes, your core body temperature will drop dangerously low. Your body type, size, physical fitness, or clothing are no longer factors. You will likely lose consciousness and your chances of survival are greatly diminished. • Stage 4, Post Rescue Collapse – Just because you’ve gotten out of the water doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Your body will react to the surrounding air, and blood from your cold extremities can circulate into your body core. Blood pressure will likely drop and heart problems can develop. December 2020
Southern Tides Magazine
Stay Safe! Wear A PFD or Float Coat! Data compiled by Amy Thurman. Sources include BoatU.S. Foundation and various first aid manuals.
9
(formerly Adams’ Bait)
We Have Shrimp! Shrimp • Frozen Bait • Squid • Eel Balley Hoo • Cigar Minnows • Finger Mullet 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Mondays
Visit Us at the Thunderbolt Boat Ramp
Your authorized Yamaha dealer, serving
South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
Let us help you get on the water today!
912-667-1703
Call Captain Mike for your custom charter!
With Mike
912-659-1838
• Inshore / near shore • 3, 4, 6 or 8 hour trips • Everything provided
Call Today!
2827 River Drive (912) 354-7777 2323 Rowland Avenue (912) 354-0400 Thunderbolt, Georgia
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year From all of us at Hogans’ Marina! 912-897-3474 36 Wilmington Island Road Wilmington Island Visit us on Facebook!
Dockage • Dry Storage • Bait House • Fuel Kayak & Boat Rentals • Snacks & Drinks • Parts • Tackle
Drones Monitor Tybee Dunes
By Mike Sullivan External Affairs Manager UGA Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Tybee Island's dune system can provide some protection from storms and inland flooding. Image by Mike Sullivan, UGA/SkIO
I
n recent years, some coastal communities have begun building man-made sand dunes as an alternative to hard structures like sea walls to protect their beaches from natural erosion and the effects of storm surges. Now researchers at the University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography are studying the man-made dunes on one Georgia island to determine if man-made dunes really are the best answer to the beach erosion problem. Every five to seven years for the past few decades, the Army Corps of Engineers has pumped thousands of tons of sand onto the beaches of Tybee Island to renourish the beaches that became reduced by natural erosion and the influence of the Savannah River ship channel. In the last renourishment, completed in early 2020, the Corps included some additional sand. The City of Tybee Island used the sand to form dunes to supplement the existing dune system. What is not known is whether this is a good longterm solution compared with other remedies like sea walls and rock revetments. “We know sand dunes are protective, and that building dunes is better and cheaper than building seawalls,” UGA Skidaway Institute researcher Clark Alexander said. “The goal of our project is to determine how they function after you build them, and how they change so we can better manage them in the future.” Alexander and his team are using drones and high-tech mapping technology to monitor the dunes to see how well the dunes effectively stand up to the forces of nature. “We want to monitor the dunes and let Tybee know how they are changing, where they are changing most rapidly and where they might want to concentrate future deposits of sand,” Alexander said. It takes four to five days for the drone to survey all the Tybee beaches. During each flight, the drone will take thousands of overlapping pictures. The drone team begins by placing markers on the ground. They pinpoint the markers’ positions and elevations using a global positioning system that is accurate to within a couple of centimeters (less than an inch). Using these markers as known reference points, geographical information software analyzes the drone pictures and creates a three-dimensional model of the beach December 2020
Southern Tides Magazine
and dunes. By comparing the results of the surveys over time, Skidaway researchers monitor the changes in the dune system. Like many barrier islands, Tybee’s beaches do not erode uniformly from one part of the island to another. This project will help the city to better predict what sections are going to need attention before others. Alexander points to the center of the island which has multiple rows of dunes and actually developed additional dunes naturally with each renourishment project. On the other hand, the north and south ends of the island are subject to a greater rate of erosion and some sections had no dunes at all until the manmade dunes were built there. The results of this project will be felt far beyond the shores of Tybee Island. Alexander and his team plan to produce a “best practices” manual that can be used by other coastal communities. “So that other communities, if they do decide to build dunes, they will have a starting point for how to monitor them,” Alexander said. “This may be applicable to Jekyll Island that is trying to figure out how to protect their upland while their beaches are eroding. And St. Simons Island has sections of their island that are at risk.” Alexander said beach renourishment was the first step to move away from hardening a shoreline, and describes dune building as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable solution. “Dunes are a good solution instead of having a pile of rocks that may or may not protect you over the long term, and are really ugly, if you want to be frank,” he said. “Building dunes, creating habitat, helping to recreate the natural environment and let it function for us as it has in the past. I think this is the next step down that path using natural solutions to the problems we generate by our desire to live right at the coast.” The project is anticipated to run for three years at $70,000/year with support from the City of Tybee Island, through a grant from Georgia’s Department of Community Affairs, and from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Alexander hopes to identify and obtain additional funding to allow the project to continue throughout the typical seven-year span between beach renourishments. 11
Art on the Half Shell Designer and artist Alana Grosse shares her talent with these beautiful repurposed oyster shells, and her story, in a recent interview with Southern Tides.
Southern Tides: Your shell designs are available on your LĂ naChele Designs Facebook page. Can you explain the significance of the name? Alana Grosse: LĂĄnaChele designs is actually the name of my freelance graphic design business. I work part time as a graphic designer and do some contract work as well. Eventually I'd like to come up with a business name to reflect just my oyster shell art. My first and middle names are Alana Michele and growing up, whenever my mom and my grandmother would call my name to get my attention it was always "Alana Michele!" said very fast. And usually when they said it like that, they meant business! So "Lana Chele" is what you got and it stuck with me. Close friends ended up calling me that and still do. ST: How long have you been doing this? Do you have plans for future growth? AG: I've been painting since I was a teenager but this is the first full year that I have painted the oyster shell ornaments. I don't plan to make it a full-time job, but more of a seasonal one. ST: We've featured your dad, Mike Smith, and his Live by the Tides line of art. Clearly creativity runs in the family! It also seems that your creations are influenced by your upbringing. Is this a family thing? AG: In my freetime I also help my dad with his business. I designed his logo and website and design the art on his apparel. As to my designs, yes, they are definitely inspired by my life on the coast. I've always had a creative gene and
so do both of my parents. I have a Bachelor in Fine Arts and am a graphic designer by trade, but doing on the computer all of the time doesn't always help me get my creative energy out, especially when the art I am doing is for other people. I needed to find a way to do art for me and express myself. I find numerous ways to do that, whether by interior decorating, landscaping and gardening, or just painting. Last year I thought it would be so fun and meaningful to do handmade Christmas gifts, so I started making oyster shell jewelry and hand painted ornaments. They were a hit and I ended up getting several requests to paint some to sell. My goal was to paint a few every month in 2020 so I'd have a good selection to sell this Christmas. But then the pandemic happened and in addition to working from home, I starting having to help my two boys with their virtual learning while watching my 2-year-old daughter. It didn't leave me a lot of time to paint. But once the kids started back to school a couple of days a week in October, I was able to find time to start painting again and have been able to sell quite a bit of my hand painted and decoupaged ornaments. Going into 2021, I'll be setting the same goal for myself and even taking orders for custom designs. ST: How can we order your ornaments and jewelry? Do you take custom orders? AG: Currently I am just selling them on my facebook page, LรกnaChele Designs. But next year, I hope to have a name for the oyster shell business and dedicated Facebook and Instagram pages. I'm happy to talk to clients about custom designs!
Most of Alana's designs are inspired by local marine and wildlife, such as the crab and pelican on the opposite page, and the egret and redfish, above. She also does decoupage of local maps on some shells (right).
For more info, visit Alana on Facebook!
facebook.com/lanacheledesigns
art
Southern food with Caribbean flair, prepared with fresh local ingredients!
(912) 201-3630
2815 River Drive Thunderbolt, GA
We’re still serving! Info at: tortugasisland@yahool.com www.tortugasislandgrille.com
Tight lines everyone! But stay away from my Daddy’s trout holes or I’ll send Ri�le to bite you!
Get out on the water with one of our Mercury Re-powers! 2604 Causton Bluff Road • Savannah, GA (912) 376-8776 • HaleMarineInc@gmail.com
First Calf Sighting Hope for the 20-21 Right Whale Calving Season
13-year-old Chiminea with her first calf, photo taken Dec. 6. Photo provided by Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, NOAA permit #20556-01
T
he decline of the right whale population isn’t new news. The highest count since the turn of the millennium was in 2011, when the species numbered 477 whales. But that number dropped drastically to less than 366 in just nine years. NOAA has documented 31 deaths and 11 injured whales just since 2017, mostly resulting from ship strikes and entanglement in commercial fishing gear. Birth numbers have dropped as well, in part due to plankton changes in the waters of New England and Canada, where right whales spend most of the year. Right Whales travel to the warmer waters off South Carolina, Georgia and North Florida during calving season where multiple conservation organizations track and observe them, contributing to our knowledge and understanding of the species. The Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute (CMARI) aerial survey team spotted the first live mother-calf pair on December 4, off Cumberland Island. The mother, Catalog #4040, nicknamed Chiminea, is a 13-year-old female and this is her first documented calf. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spotted a second pair off St. Augustine, Fla. that same weekend, and a charter captain spotted a pair of right whales off the coast of Tybee Island on December 6, as well. “It’s encouraging that several whales have already been spotted so early in the season, especially because so few whales have been seen in the Southeast in recent winters,” said Clay George, senior wildlife biologist for the GADNR Wildlife Resources Division. “We’re all keeping our fingers crossed that this year will finally mark a return to normal calving rates. In the 2000s we were seeing almost two dozen calves per winter on average, and the species was growing at a healthy clip. Since 2010 we’ve been seeing half that many, and meanwhile, unprecedented numbers have been dying from ship strikes and fishing rope entanglements in the Northeast U.S. and Canada. The number of whales has fallen from 475 whales in 2010 to less than 375 whales today, which is a precipitous decline for a long-lived species like a right whaleNeedless to say, a lot is riding on this year’s calving season.” December 2020
Southern Tides Magazine
Readers are reminded that federal regulations prohibit approaching within 500 yards of these whales. Please keep a close eye out and reduce speed to avoid hitting or injuring a whale. Reporting any sightings can help researchers. Right whales spotted from Florida through North Carolina should call 877-WHALE-HELP. To read more about what's being done to protect these whales from extinction, visit www.narwc.org/right-whalenews.html. 15
Join us at Fish Tales and Ft. McAllister Marina!
Visitor Services Partner of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Canoe and Kayak Rentals Guided Paddling and Boat Tours Authentic Swamper Homestead Boardwalk and Observation Tower, Gift shop and Cafe www.okefenokeeadventures.com
Drink specials • Great menu items Live bait Dockage Dry Storage
Fish Tales 727.3473 • Ft. McAllister Marina 727.2632 3203 Ft. McAllister Road • Richmond Hill, GA • SM 605
4159 Suwannee Canal Road Folkston, GA 866-THE-SWAMP
Surfing • Kayak • SUP
Instruction • Tours • Rentals
1 Old Hwy 80 • Tybee Island, Georgia • (912) 786-4000 • www.northislandkayak.com • Visit us on Instagram!
A Season of Giving "Make a career of humanity … It will enrich your spirit as nothing else possibly can. It will give you that rare sense of nobility that can only spring from love and selflessly helping your fellow man. You will make a greater person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929 - 1968, Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Leader This holiday season, consider going beyond material gifts. Volunteering your time to a cause dear to your heart is a rewarding experience. If you simply can't fit it into your schedule, a gift of money will help fund the organizations on this page in their efforts to make our world a better place. If you're struggling with what to give that hard-to-shop-for person on your list, consider a membership, pledge, or "adoption" in their name.
Animals
Knowledge
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France, 1844 - 1924, French poet, journalist and novelist
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” ~ Albert Einstein, 1879 - 1955, German-born physicist These organizations strive to educate our communities about our amazing coastal region. LowCountry Institute - lowcountryinstitute.org Port Royal Sound Foundation - portroyalsoundfoundation.org South Carolina Sea Grant - scseagrant.org Tybee Island Marine Science Center - tybeemarinescience.org UGA Marine Extension & Georgia Sea Grant - marex.uga.edu
Nothing evokes the warm-and-fuzzies quite like animals, both the pets who are members of our families, and the wild creatures that inhabit our coast (and beyond). Consider volunteering, donating or adopting! Pet Rescue: Coastal Pet Rescue - coastalpetrescue.org Humane Society - search online for your nearest branch One Love Animal Rescue - oneloveanimalrescue.com Note: Even if you're looking for a specific breed, you can still rescue an animal in need by search for rescues dedicated to that breed. Wildlife: Coastal Conservation Association - ccaga.org Georgia Sea Turtle Center - georgiaseaturtlecenter.org Oatland Island Wildlife Center - oatlandisland.org The Dolphin Project - thedolphinproject.org Your nearest sea turtle project - seaturtle.org
Nature
" There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more." ~ Lord Byron, 1788 - 1824, English poet and politician We live in the most beautiful place on earth. Our marshes and waterways are among the last remaining pristine areas of our nation’s coast, largely due to groups like this that work hard to protect it. Altamaha Riverkeeper - altamahariverkeeper.org Clean Coast - cleancoast.org Coastal Wildscapes - coastalwildscapes.org Georgia Natural Resources Foundation - gnrf.org Gray’s Reef Nat’l Marine Sanctuary Foundation - graysreefnmsf.org Ogeechee Riverkeeper - ogeecheeriverkeeper.org One Hundred Miles - onehundredmiles.org Ossabaw Island Foundation - ossabawisland.net Satilla Riverkeeper - satillariverkeeper.org Savannah Riverkeeper - savannahriverkeeper.org St. Mary’s Riverkeeper - stmarysriverkeeper.org Tybee Clean Beach Volunteers - tybeecleanbeach.simpl.com
People
"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." ~ Albert Pike, 1809 - 1891, American writer, attorney, soldier, and Freemason If you’d rather help out your fellow humans, consider one of these organizations. Abilities Unlimited, Inc. - facebook.com/AbilitiesUnlimitedInc American Red Cross - redcross.org CASA - casaforchildren.org Disabled American Vets - dav.org Fishin’ For Jamie - facebook.com/Fishin-For-Jamie Old Savannah City Mission - oscm.org Second Harvest Food Bank - nwpafoodbank.org Southeastern Guide Dogs - savannahpuppyraisers@gmail.com Team Rubicon - teamrubiconusa.org Want to help a Vet? Here's a great list of more options: militarybenefits.info/how-to-help-veterans-during-theholidays/ December 2020
Southern Tides Magazine
17
Marine Products, Services and More • Serving the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry
river drive marine group Billy Gartside 912-844-1804 billygartside@yahoo.com
Waterline Up
Boat Protection Experts Serving the Savannah Area since 2003
Justin Hill 912-660-3763 a3opax@gmail.com
Marine Electronics Sales Troubleshooting Service Installation Wiring Installation/Repair
Garmin Authorized Service Center
Keeping you headed in the right direction!
912-777-4139
maricomnavigation@comcast.net www.maricomnavigation.net
Parties • Open Houses Fishing Tournaments • Poker Runs We’ll come to you!
• Catering at your dock • Food cooked fresh to order • Menu designed to your needs • Call ahead service
(912) 695-2617
(315) 406-0804
theburgerboat.com steviedsenterprises@gmail.com
Follow Us to Find Our Location!
Facebook.com/TheBurgerBoatSAV instagram.com/theburgerboatsav
t-tops / half towers / bow rails / upper stations / crow’s nests leaning posts /poling platforms / custom aluminum /stainless needs
James Gartside 912-631-4104 j.gartside@comcast.net PROP DOCTORS LLC 3327-B Russell Street Thunderbolt, GA 31404
• Prop Scan Technology • Propeller Repairs & Sales • Locally Owned & Operated
info@propdoctorsllc.com
Now servicing outboard props!
Word Search
Word List Angels Boat Parade Bow Candy Carol of the Bells Christmas Tree Worms Coal Deck the Palms Eggnog Elves Gifts Good Tidings Heavenly Holy Hot Buttered Rum Icicle Lights Jesus Jingle Bells Jolly Old St. Nick Joy to the World
Stocking Stuffer Ideas
Sure, you could go to the drugstore and load up on candy, but why not mix in a few fun items too?
Boat music (download gift card) Bottle or can coozie Bottle opener in a unique design Compass Filet knife Fishing lures Gift cards from Southern Tides Advertisers! Hand warmers
Jerky – beef, venison, gator Key float Lip balm Metal or paper straws Mini bottles of favorite liquor Oyster gloves Oyster knife (hand carved) Pocket knife or multi-tool
Propane tank gauge Southern Tides Subscription! Sunglass croakies Sunscreen (yes, even in winter) Ear muffs or warm hat Waterproof gear bag Waterproof phone case Wine bottle stopper
Happy New Year! December 2020
Merry Christmas Mistletoe Nativity Noel North Star Oh Holy Night Oyster Roast Peace Peppermint Shrimp Pine Cones Port and Starboard Red and Green Santa Sea Stars Seas N Greetings Snow Stockings Wreath Yaupon Holly
Southern Tides Magazine
19
Community Updates E-15 Warning Stickers Ineffective
CIRCA 1870
G OODBREA D HOUSE
BED & BREAKFAST INN Four andard gue r ms & two suites, all wi large private ba r ms. ay wi us and visit Cumberland Island and hi oric . Marys! Pet friendly. Dietary needs met.
Call for special Southern Tides Rates!
(912) 882-7490
www.g dbreadhouse.com info@g dbreadhouse.com 209 Osborne . . Marys, Georgia
With the boat in tow, you head to the gas station to fill her up. At the pump you find a fuel prohibited for use in boats, E15 gas, being sold alongside approved E10 fuel. What’s to prevent you from misfueling? A little warning label about the size of a pack of gum that’s often hard to notice, difficult to understand, and too often fails to protect consumers, said boat owners and other non-road-engine users in a recent National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) survey on the effectiveness of current E15 warning labels. This survey is being used to help persuade EPA regulators, currently reviewing E15 labels, to offer a more effective warning. Survey takers were shown the existing orange E15 warning label and a red prototype label with pictographs. Respondents were more than four times as likely to say that the prototype label more clearly conveys the idea of a "warning" for consumers than the current label. What made the difference? The prototype’s red color and visual reinforcement was cited as more effective than the real label. Where the label is located on the pump can also be improved: 70% of respondents noted that inconsistent placement of the E15 label on fuel dispensing pumps made it harder to locate and less effective. “EPA has some work to do in regard to educating consumers at the pump with more effective ethanol fuel labeling that better communicates the hazards of E15 for boat engines and other small motors,” said BoatU.S. Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy. E15 is prohibited by federal law for use in recreational boat engines, off-road vehicles and small engines. In addition to supporting improvements to the ethanol content warning label type, size and location on the pump, BoatU.S. supports public education efforts, evaluating the adoption of different fuel pump nozzle sizes, ceasing misleading marketing of ethanol fuels such as “Regular 88” fuel (containing 15% ethanol), evaluating the use of physical barriers and keypad systems, and offering a dedicated pump for E0 (0% ethanol) fuel. Current Label
Proposed Label
Safe Harbor
Rigging Services, LLC Proudly Serving Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida
New Landowner's Guide Released
Are you a Georgia landowner interested in conservation? Take a look at DNR's updated Landowner's Guide. This free, comprehensive guide explores wildlife and habitat programs that offer technical and financial assistance to help manage your property, as well as land conservation incentives. For simplicity, conservation programs in this guide are divided into three main sections: • Technical Assistance: Developing a Plan for Managing Your Land. • Financial Assistance for Management Practices. • Land Conservation Incentives. To download the guide visit: bit.ly/land_guide2020
231-578-5087 info@safeharborriggingservices.com www.safeharborriggingservices.com
John S. Ramsey, Owner Authorized
Dealer
20
Southern Tides Magazine
December 2020
Invasive Cuban Treefrog Spotted
Laura Stevenson was taking out the trash Halloween night when she spotted it: a large, odd-looking frog in the driveway of the family’s Kingsland home. “I thought, ‘Holy cow, that’s the biggest frog I’ve ever seen!’” Stevenson said. Intrigued, the Indiana native did what she usually does when she sees something interesting and unfamiliar: She took photos and Googled it. What Stevenson learned, and biologists later confirmed, was spooky. The frog was a Cuban treefrog. These Caribbean amphibians turned up in Key West in the 1920s and have gradually spread north, hitchhiking on vehicles, boats and plants. Now established across much of Florida and, as of 2017, in New Orleans, their advance has come at the expense of native wildlife, particularly treefrogs. Cuban treefrogs grow big – females can top 5 inches long – readily eat other frogs and can out-reproduce natives such as green treefrogs. In Florida, the invaders are blamed for declines of some native treefrogs. DNR documented Georgia’s first Cuban treefrog in 2004. More reports followed, many along the coast, with Savannah and Brunswick emerging as hotspots. Yet no breeding population has been confirmed. Daniel Sollenberger, a DNR senior wildlife biologist, knows it’s likely a matter of time before this mega-treefrog with oversized toepads gains a foothold here. But he also knows that dealing with invasive species is more effective before they become established. And he is urging people to report sightings. Here’s how, plus some identification keys: • If possible, catch the suspected Cuban treefrog alive, put it in a clear container and email a photograph to daniel.sollenberger@dnr.ga.gov for identification. • Confirming the ID is important: Native species such as squirrel, barking and Cope’s gray treefrogs could be mistaken for Cuban treefrogs. • Tip-offs beyond the animal’s size: Cuban treefrogs have exceptionally large toe pads, “bug eyes” and usually numerous small warts. The coloration of the frogs varies widely. • The breeding call of males has been described as a high-pitched snoring rasp and compared to the sound of grating a stone. Listen. • One caution: Cuban treefrogs emit a skin secretion that can irritate a person’s eyes and nose. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. • Like most of their amphibian kin, Cuban treefrogs will eat anything they can stuff in their mouths, from green treefrogs to Christmas lights.
Ken’s Seafood Support Your Local Seafood Industry! Oysters Shrimp Fish Gator Tail Crawfish Blue Crabs Scallops And More!
FRESH! Tue - Thu 12-6 Fri - Sat 10-6 Sun 11-5
9270 Ford Ave.
Richmond Hill
(912) 756-8868
Call Ahead For Oysters!
We’re working for you! • Protects, defends and restores the watershed by monitoring pollution and polluters. • Talks with legislators about bills that could better protect the watershed. • The 14,000 miles of the Altamaha watershed includes Ocmulgee, Oconee, Ohopee and the Golden Isles.
We can’t do it without you, become a member now! www.altamahariverkeeper.org
Cuban treefrog found in the driveway of Kingston resident Laura Stevenson. Photo by Laura Stevenson
December 2020
Southern Tides Magazine
21
Fishable Swimmable Drinkable Water!
The BitterEnd A Christmas Gift By Captain J. Gary "Gator" Hill
His Excellency, President Lincoln: I beg to present you, as a Christmas gift, the city of Savannah, with 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, and also about 25,000 bales of cotton. Major General William Tecumsah Sherman. Public Domain Image
T
hese are the words written to President Abraham Lincoln by William Tecumseh Sherman on December the 22, 1864. (On a side note, it took me longer to write this column than it did for Sherman’s troops to make the actual march.) By September of 1864 the city of Atlanta had fallen. Well, burned, according to what I remember from Gone with the Wind. However, many of the confederate soldiers had fled west, or north into Tennessee. This presented General Sherman with a dilemma, he could either use his entire army of over 125,000 men and chase the remnants of this scattered army, or make his way on towards Savannah. He elected to do both, giving about 60,000 of his men to Major General George Thomas, to give chase and harry the mostly defeated forces into the rolling hills of the Volunteer State. With the remaining 65,000 he pushed onward to south and east, his eye on the prize, that being the crown jewel: Savannah. By late November, his epic 285-mile march was underway, burning and raiding as they went. Even today, a keen eye can trace much of the route he took through the countryside. Spread out in a swath about 20 miles wide, his caravan snaked through towns and farmlands, carrying out what would be later described as a “War of Total Denial.” You see, Sherman had cut off his own supply line, his troops were moving at about ten to fifteen miles per day, which made it hard for them to keep precious food stuffs. So, he dispatched what would come to be known as “Bummers,” to acquire what was needed. By raiding and appropriating from the civilian populace he accomplished a twofold objective. One to feed his ravenous army, the second to bring the horrors of seceding to people who, until then, had been pretty much untouched by the war. Farms were stripped bare, houses and once proud plantations were torched. Even the railways were put to the flame; the rails were ripped up and placed in huge fires that were so hot the steel became malleable; it was then twisted into loops that were referred to as Sherman’s Neckties. Before Sherman could take Savannah, he had to take Ft. McAllister, so he ordered the commander of the right wing, Major General Oliver O. Howard to accomplish this. Once the battle engaged, on December 13, Howard accomplished in a
mere fifteen minutes what had been unobtainable in the prior three years. The 230-man garrison under the command of Major General George W. Anderson quickly succumbed to the superior force of about 4,000 men. With the fall of McAllister, Sherman now had control of the backdoor entry into Savannah. A week later, on December 20, 1864, General William Joseph Hardee evacuated his troops from Savannah. Troops at Fort Jackson, the center of naval operations on the Savannah River, prepared for evacuation as well. They set to destroying anything they couldn’t take with them, lest it fall into enemy hands, and sinking ships of the confederate fleet, denying the north of those precious assets. A pontoon bridge was hastily built to allow Hardee’s men to escape into South Carolina, where they continued to harass northern armies until April 1865. Savannah was officially surrendered on December 21, 1864, by Mayor Richard Dennis Arnold. Many mixed emotions still abound today. Some say that Arnold was scared and should not have surrendered, others feel that this action is what led to the beautiful city being spared the ravages of war. But, either way, the City of Savannah became a beautiful Christmas present from General Sherman to President Lincoln. With that, Merry Christmas to all of you and thank you for indulging me and suffering through my ramblings each month. May your holidays be blessed and find you in good spirits and health, and filled with love during this special season. As always, peace and love, shrimp and grits … I'll see you on the water!
Email: TheOriginalCaptainGator@gmail.com
22
Southern Tides Magazine
December 2020
435 Hunt Drive
Burnside Island
Seller motivated!
Total renovation, 3BR, 2BA! New electrical, plumbing, foam insulation in exterior walls and attic. Interior walls has additional insulation. Open with a fantastic new gourmet kitchen. Huge GR, Sun Room, Covered Patio, Butler’s Pantry and separate laundry room. Wait til you see the master bedroom and bath. Luxurious shower and sitting area in master. Fenced backyard and two driveways with access to backyard for the larger “toys”. Great storage over the carport with a pull down access. Golf cart approved!! $319,000
GORDONSTON
101 Edgewood Road
Located on a huge corner lot with welcoming open arms. The main home has four bedrooms and two baths. Large open floor plan. Living Room with FP opens to the DR and then Kitchen with breakfast room. A full wrap around screened porch. Beautiful staircase to upstairs with two large bedrooms and a full bath. There is a carriage house that is ready for your guests. Studio apartment on second floor of garage. Washer/dryer hookups for main house on one side and for apartment on the other. Great area for walking and biking. Very close to downtown and the beach. $409,000
WILMINGTON ISLAND
Here is the one that you have been waiting on. Sweet brick bungalow with open great room. A kitchen that is big enough for all the cooks. Eat in area and bar in the kitchen. Large master bedroom with ensuite bath. Two more good sized bedrooms and a hall bath. No carpet in the entire house. Single car garage with laundry on an elevated area at the rear. Lots of storage. The lush backyard with extended patio is ready for your outdoor cooking and oyster roasts. Totally fenced in so you can bring your family pets. Very easy to show. $242,000
1112 Cobb Road
WILMINGTON ISLAND
7108 Walden Park
Special first floor condo! Current owner has redone all the floors and numerous other updates. Split bedroom plan. Each bedroom has its own bath and a walk-in closet. Large open living area open to dining room and kitchen. Eat-in bar at kitchen. Separate laundry room off kitchen area. Screened porch and a separate office off the living area. Wonderful double pool, grilling area, workout room, tennis and a place to use for a common office. Reserve the main building for private get togethers to include a kitchen. A billiards room too. Gated community, close to downtown and the beach. $149,000
SOUTHSIDE
37 Kingslan Court $120,000
g n i m o C ! n o o S
6349 Abercorn St. Savannah, GA 912.352.1222 Find me on:
Lyn McCuen 912.224.0927
lyn@coldwellbanker.com www.lynmccuen.com @lynmccuen
TYBEE ISLAND
Relax and enjoy in this recently converted 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom vacation condo. All new updates including a brand new King-Sized Bed, and a new in-unit Washer and Dryer. The living area features updated furnishings and a well-equipped kitchen with breakfast bar seating for 2, additional table seating for 4, stovetop and oven and full sized fridge/freezer. The living room is furnished with a sleeper sofa and a 32in flat-screen TV, with DVD player. Furnished private balcony with a glimpse of the ocean. $239,900
!! NEW !!
1217 Bay Street, Unit A 232
GEORGETOWN
Spacious 3BR and 2BA home on corner lot. This neighborhood is located close to all roadways. Shopping and amenites close by. Georgetown amentites very close. Elementary school even closer. This home has a very open floorplan with a separate master on one side and the other three bedrooms on the other. Easy access to the hall bath from all three secondary bedrooms. One has a double entry door which would be a great office if needed but has a closet. The neighbors are looking for some amazing new next door buyers. Great community. $239,000
1 Emmet Court
SOUTHSIDE
What a special property. Tucked away but still very convenient to everything. Wonderful open floorplan from GR to Kitchen. Beautiful Savannah grey FP in the GR. Two bedrooms, two baths and a sunroom are also on the first floor. Upstairs is a huge master bedroom with a large bath and two closets. Also an office or additional bedroom. Outside is a great private deck, detached 2 car carport and a large workshop. Inground sprinkler for the great garden area. Whole house deep well shared with adjacent property. New pump. Really special and unique. $320,000
CO
NT
E ING
NT
9369 Whitefield Avenue
THE LANDINGS
g n i m Co Soon!
$665,000 3 Sundew Road
Living Shorelines
We Prepare and Install Living Shorelines Living shorelines provide a natural and stable alternative to sea walls. Zulu is pleased to offer installation where stabilization and shoreline restoration is needed. • • • • • •
Assembled with bags of recycled oyster shells Stabilizes eroding shorelines or failing bulkheads Plantings of native grasses enhance stabilization Encourages growth of oysters, which provides water filtration Provides habitat for multiple fish and crustacean species Increases resistance to flooding
For more information or to discuss your shoreline stabilization project, email us: rusty.batey@zuludiscovery.com.
zuludiscovery.com
(912) 544-5520