Dear Friends,
When I was a young reporter on the news desk at The Atlanta Constitution, Jingle Davis was who I wanted to be.
Jingle was known as a "stringer" at the paper, someone who called in stories from around the country, but primarily from Georgia's barrier islands. She reported from Cumberland, Sapelo, Jekyll, Ossabaw, Little St. Simons, the Altamaha River and other locations along the coast. Her book -- Island Time -- is about St. Simons, where her family has lived for three generations. In an interview she gave to Georgia Trend Magazine several years ago, she said, "I had lived on the island for so long, and had so many great stories from my grandmother and my parents" that writing the book was a natural fit."
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Saltmarsh adjacent to the Land Trust's newest 3-acre property along Kings Way
Photo by Benjamin Galland featured in Island Time
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Called an "illustrated history," the book includes photographs by Benjamin Galland, another island native and a Land Trust Ambassador. Although Jingle Davis had lived on St. Simons all her life and was knowledgeable about the history of the island, her research for the book uncovered fascinating nuggets, such as "the first pottery made in the Americas was probably made on or near St. Simons Island, close to 5,000 years ago.” I no longer want to BE anyone else, but Jingle Davis and Ben Galland are two of the many people I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving, and their book is the Land Trust's November "Staff Pick."
I am also profoundly grateful to live in such a place as this. It has been said so often that it verges on cliche, but when I returned to the island recently from being out west, I couldn't believe how lucky I was to be crossing over the causeway and returning home to St. Simons. It's also sometimes hard to believe my good fortune in working with so many people who are dedicated to coastal conservation, who give so much of their time, talents, and treasures to preserving the irreplaceable environmental and cultural features of this island.
This is indeed a Thanksgiving season like no other. But gratitude is still on the menu. May your holiday weekend be filled with blessings, may you and yours be safe and well, and may much of your time be spent outside. From all of us at the Land Trust, thank you and Happy Thanksgiving.
Emily Ellison
SSLT Executive Director
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#OptOutside on Land Trust Properties! |
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Many of you are probably familiar with REI's #OptOutside initiative that began in 2015. If not, this is when the company closes its doors on the busiest shopping day of the year (Black Friday) and encourages its employees and patrons to spend time outdoors instead. We encourage you to do the same on Land Trust properties!
Although Cannon's Point Preserve is not open today, many other publicly accessible Land Trust properties such as Guale Preserve and the John Gilbert Nature Trail are available for quality outdoor time.
Cannon's Point will be open during normal hours (9am-3pm) on Saturday, November 28, and Monday, November 30. And thanks to Land Trust Conservation Volunteers, the Preserve's walking trail along the saltmarsh has been recently cleared and is a pleasure to hike.
We hope you are able to take advantage of the fine weather this holiday weekend and visit our protected properties. And don't forget to take your camera along to snag photos for our Photography Contest! |
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Cannon's Point Preserve Updates |
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I Give My Time Because . . .
Over the last weeks, our Cannon's Point Preserve Docents have been sharing with us why they choose to volunteer at the Preserve. Below are a few of those reasons:
To meet new people.
To learn more about the island.
To share the Preserve's history and ecology with visitors.
To spend time in nature.
If you're motivated by any of these or similar reasons to become involved in the work at Cannon's Point, please let us know. We would love for you to join our corps of dedicated volunteers who help us to properly manage our properties and keep CPP open for the community.
Sign up to be a volunteer HERE
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Plein Air on Preserved Land
We love seeing residents and visitors enjoying the beauty of protected land in so many different ways. Recently, artist Laurel Daniel led a plein air workshop at the preserve. The workshop was hosted by our Pennies for Preservation partner Anderson Fine Art Gallery.
Learn more about this and other upcoming workshops HERE. |
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Long-tailed skipper
Learn more about BAFA surveys HERE.
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BAFA Count Totals
Cannon's Point Preserve Manager Stephanie Knox, and other Butterflies of the Atlantic Flyway Alliance (BAFA) volunteers, have completed the 2020 BAFA counts inside the Preserve.
In total, the group counted 154 gulf fritillaries, 10 cloudless sulphurs, 4 palamedes swallowtails, 2 monarchs, 2 zebra longwings, 2 long-tailed skippers, and 1 common buckeye.
Other butterflies were spotted outside of research plots but were not added to the data collected.
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If you've never hiked the beautiful walking trail along the marsh at Cannon's Point Preserve, view our short Virtual Visit below for a sneak peek!
View all CPP Virtual Visits HERE. |
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The World's GREATEST Day of Giving |
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We are only days away from this year's day of Global Giving! After Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, please join us on GivingTuesday (December 1) to show how much this community values the preservation of St. Simons.
Every one-time donation, new membership, membership renewal, tribute gift, pledge payment, and donated hour of volunteer time proves that even during a year filled with unknowns and hardships, we ARE making lasting impact on St. Simons - TOGETHER.
And, we are thrilled to announce that a generous donor
has provided a CHALLENGE GIFT of $10,000
that comes through on GivingTuesday!
So, let's rally together next Tuesday to preserve and protect
the natural and scenic character of the island we love.
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As a way to honor the island's natural beauty and encourage everyone to get out on conserved land during the holiday season, we are sponsoring the Land Trust's first-ever Photography Contest lasting through January 4.
If you will be at home on St. Simons, or visiting the coast over the holidays, we hope you'll show us what you love most about Land Trust properties through your camera lens. Take a moment to snag photos of the landscape and wildlife that surrounds you or the people who accompany you.
Learn more and submit photos HERE. |
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The Land Trust's first-ever Restaurant Week
will be held from January 16-23.
Local restaurants made our annual Oyster Roast possible for TWENTY YEARS. Therefore, instead of asking for their support in 2021, our efforts are going to support THEM! We hope you'll join us in giving back to those who have for so long fed and nurtured this community.
Note: All current SSLT members will receive a coupon (one per household) to be used at participating restaurants during Restaurant Week, so be sure to renew your membership before January 16!
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Sea Island Forge Benefits SSLT |
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SSLT Book Nook - Staff Pick |
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Looking for the HOTTEST gift this holiday season?
Remember, now through December 31, 2020, if you purchase a Fire Kettle from Sea Island Forge and use the promo code SSLandTrust2020, a portion of your purchase will be donated to the Land Trust.
This promotion includes free delivery
in Glynn County.
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This month's Land Trust "Staff Pick" is an ideal gift for the holidays and a perfect way to Keep It Local.
Island Time
by award-winning journalist Jingle Davis and Land Trust Ambassador Benjamin Galland (whose photos are a stunning accompaniment to Jingle's words) offers a fascinating history and celebration of St. Simons' coastal community.
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Please remember as you're shopping for holiday gifts
that our local businesses continue to need our support.
Let's Keep it Local!
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Participating businesses raise contributions by either:
1) collecting a voluntary 1% or dollar amount donation from their customers' receipts/invoices, 2) donating 1% of their companies proceeds or, 3) providing in-kind services to the Land Trust.
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Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest Pennies for Preservation Partner and our first vacation-rental company,
Beth and Adam Witt, owners of Lilmar Properties, love what they do and have a passion for property management and the vacation rental experience. Lilmar Properties was built on the foundation of family, fun and love. “The Lilmar Difference” gives both vacationing guests and property owners a personal and boutique experience that exceeds their expectations.
"There is so much joy in sharing the beauty and magnificence of St. Simons Island with our guests. Beth and I are honored to partner with the SSLT and the Pennies for Preservation Program to help preserve our wonderful island for residents and visitors for many years to come."
-- Adam & Beth Witt, Owners of Lilmar Properties
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The Land Trust's fifth 1% Wednesday Industry Grouping
highlighted our dedicated lodging partners.
Learn more about each local business and ways to support them
by clicking here and the links below. |
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Be sure to also follow our #OnePercentWednesday posts on social media!
Thank you to all participating Pennies for Preservation businesses,
their teams, and their patrons!
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November 17 - January 4: SSLT Photography Contest
December 19 - 21: Cannon's Point Preserve is CLOSED
January 16 - 23, 2021: SSLT Restaurant Week
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Thank you to all our 20th Anniversary Sponsors! |
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The Land Trust is producing a 2020 Annual Report to be sent to all constituents early next year. To ensure your name appears on our list of annual donors, we hope that you will consider joining our membership or renewing your membership TODAY. Also, if your contact information has recently changed, please let us know.
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Note: Memberships can be paid monthly or quarterly with direct, online payments.
Thank you for your continued support!
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