Dear Friends,
No Rain, No Rainbows is one of the positive-minded slogans seen everywhere across the Hawaiian islands. It's one of those reminders that with the great comes the less-than-great. And so it is with the month of June.
Each morning there is something new in the garden -- tomatoes have turned red and are suddenly so heavy they're touching the ground. Eggplants grow another few purple inches overnight. And so do the vines, except the vines on Georgia's barrier islands seem to leap a few feet every day and threaten to cover anything that stands still -- like a stalled car.
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Tomatoes in Emily's kitchen garden |
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The only things longer than the vines are the lines. Long lines of customers at Harris Teeter, even longer lines of automobiles creeping between the two roundabouts on Frederica Road. But those lines are filled with visitors, who are a welcome sight to the restaurants, hotels, retailers, and other businesses that suffered mightily during the pandemic.
The summer sunsets almost break our hearts, and the evening breezes that blow in off the sea and marsh help to calm and refresh our souls. Thankfully those breezes also help keep the insects at a safe distance. But when you get away from the wind and hike a maritime trail, the mosquitoes, chiggers, gnats, and ticks are unsparing. So, too, is the heat when the winds don't blow.
Swatting skeeters and roasting under the summer sun are the tolls we pay for the privilege of living on a barrier island. May your upcoming holiday be safe and full of family, friends, and fun. And should it pour on your picnic, may the day be punctuated with one of those miraculous exclamation marks of color. No Rain, No Rainbows.
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Emily Ellison
Executive Director
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WE'RE BACK!
OYSTER ROAST 2022
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Photo by Chris Moncus Photography |
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You read it right!
After more than a year of postponing, cancelling, and rescheduling events,
we have put the proverbial stake in the sand, and unless we're hit with health restrictions or high water, next year we are going to host the
Land Trust's annual Oyster Roast!
Please mark your calendars for
February 5, 2022
and save that date for this fun, much-loved community event
that will be held under the stars (and other twinkling lights) at
Gascoigne Bluff.
Details regarding ticket sales, entertainment, and menu items
will be provided over the coming months.
Get your shucking knives ready!
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CANNON'S POINT PRESERVE UPDATES |
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Cannon's Point Preserve has hosted several exciting camps, groups, and research projects recently. Click HERE or on the images below to read more and to see a list of some of the beautiful wildlife spotted within the Preserve's 644 acres. |
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College of Coastal Georgia
Undergraduate Research
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Southeast Conservation Corp Trail Maintenance at CPP |
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NOTE: Cannon's Point Preserve is CLOSED on Sunday and Monday, July 4 & 5,
but will be open for normal hours on Saturday, July 3.
To help us keep the Preserve open during future holidays,
please consider signing up to be a volunteer HERE.
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HONORING LAND TRUST VOLUNTEER
BOB MUIR
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Bob Muir is a volunteer extraordinaire, having donated nearly 500 hours of service to land conservation over the past five-plus years. He was presented with the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2017 and has been one of the most popular docents at Cannon's Point Preserve.
Since Bob and his wife Linda will soon be relocating, we wanted to give a special salute to this great friend of the Land Trust for all that he has given to us and to the community.
Thank you, Bob!
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“Volunteering at CPP has been
the best 5 years of my retirement.”
To become a member of the dedicated family of SSLT Volunteers,
Thank you!
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In June the season for ticks and mosquitos continues full bore, so be sure to pack bug spray and wear long sleeves and pants when you visit Cannon's Point Preserve and other Land Trust properties or take any hikes on the wild side.
It has been reported that the US could see a higher than average tick load this year due to a relatively warm and wet winter and an early spring. They may not be pretty, but we should still welcome the opossums that can eat nearly 5,000 ticks in a season and the snakes that remove nearly that many more by eating the small mammals that are unwitting hosts to ticks.
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The month of June also welcomed the 2021 hurricane season. According to NOAA, experts do not anticipate the historic level of storm activity seen in 2020. However, it is predicted that there will be 13 to 20 named storms (39+mph winds) including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (111mph winds or higher).
To be storm ready, our friends at Golden Isles Fund for Trees ( GIFT) believe protecting your trees from hurricanes is as important as protecting your home. This includes having trees inspected by a certified arborist and following other recommendations listed HERE.
If you or someone you know might need assistance evacuating during a major storm, you might want to REGISTER with the Hurricane Registry, a list of those with special health or access needs that is maintained by health departments in the 8 Coastal Georgia counties.
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UNCOVERING HISTORY AT STOLLAWAY |
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Last month, SSLT Volunteer Coordinator Marty Moody reached out to Arny Stoller, son of the original owners of the "Stollaway" property on Frederica Road. This small greenspace has been under the care and protection of the Land Trust since 2004, but few of us knew much about its history. Through Marty's communications with Arny, she uncovered some fun and interesting facts about Minna and Nathan Stoller and the mid-island property they so loved.
Click HERE to learn more. |
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Members Ann Pequigney and Wayne Kissinger
Bryce Canyon National Park
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Member Phil Belt
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
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SSLT hats continue to move across the country as our members head out on adventures near and far. Make sure to pack your Land Trust cap when you travel over the next few months, and let us know where in the world you are. If you don't plan to leave the coast this summer, we would still love to see you in your SSLT hat, and we hope you'll enjoy the great outdoors on Land Trust properties. Send us an email or tag us on social media at @stsimonslandtrust to be featured!
Don't have a hat? Let's fix that!
Call our office at (912) 638-9109 to order yours today.
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This month we proudly welcomed our newest Pennies for Preservation partner, Maggie's Boutique, an Island landmark for more than 47 years. Adgate Cole, the boutique's president, is generously donating 1% of the shop's proceeds to help preserve St. Simons Island.
During its nearly 50-year history, Maggie's has catered to the island and its casual, coastal atmosphere. Throughout the year, shoppers find stunning and comfortable resort wear that's suitable for every occasion. And during football season, the shop is known as the "Lady Dawg Headquarters" and is filled with all that is Red & Black in honor of our Georgia Bulldogs. Licensed University of Georgia clothing and accessories are available for you and your favorite Bulldog fans.
Additional brands include Krazy Larry, Lysse, Marble, NYDJ, Clara Sunwoo, Foxcroft, Focus, Multiples, a la carte, and many more in both missy sizes (0-16) and women's sizes (0X-3X).
"In 1974 Maggie’s opened her doors and our family has been watching this wonderful community grow and grow for 47 years. We are grateful to the St. Simons Land Trust for continuing to support keeping our Island green, beautiful and welcoming to all. Maggie’s Boutique is proud to support SSLT through the
Pennies for Preservation program."
-- Adgate Cole, President & Merrill Edens, Manager
Maggie's Boutique
Thank you to Adgate, Merrill, the entire Maggie's team, and their countless loyal patrons for helping protect 70 acres at Oatland North.
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Adgate Cole and Merrill Edens |
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1% Wednesday
The Land Trust's ninth 1% Wednesday Industry Grouping highlighted our dedicated activity/wellness partners. Learn more about each locally owned business and ways to support them by clicking HERE.
Read more about the individual businesses
by clicking on the links or images below.
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Let's Keep it Local!
Please remember to continue supporting our Golden Isles businesses
and the Land Trust's dedicated Pennies for Preservation partners.
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Participating businesses raise contributions by either:
1) Collecting a voluntary 1% or specific dollar amount donation from their
customers' receipts/invoices.
OR
2) Donating 1% of their companies' proceeds or services.
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Thank you to all participating Pennies for Preservation businesses,
their teams, and their patrons!
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DOWNTOWN BRUNSWICK'S NEW VOLUNTARY GIVING PROGRAM |
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Square Roots is a newly developed community partnership dedicated to the preservation, restoration and broadened awareness of Brunswick’s public green spaces.
Similar to the Land Trust's Pennies for Preservation program, Square Roots' partners represent the hospitality, culinary, retail, manufacturing, media, service and professional industries. These businesses create a funding source that helps bring the story of Brunswick's modern colonial city to life. Learn more HERE and be sure to support the participating Square Roots partners when you're in Brunswick.
"Signature Squares has been a leading force in the revitalization of downtown Brunswick . . . this ongoing conservation work has been made possible by the hard work of volunteers who not only did the deep digging and heavy lifting but also forged strong partnerships with the City of Brunswick and local businesses. Now, those and other businesses have the opportunity to multiply their support through SQUARE ROOTS' voluntary 1% contributions from their clients, customers, and downtown visitors.
As we have seen with the Land Trust’s Pennies for Preservation program, such collaborative efforts bring together the entire community for overall community good. Great work!"
--Emily Ellison, Executive Director, St. Simons Land Trust
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SSLT BOOK NOOK - STAFF PICK |
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Over the next three months, the Land Trust's "Staff Pick" will include books from the late Eugenia Price's St. Simons Trilogy. These works of fiction provide perfect summer "beach reads" while you're on "island time!" This month, we are featuring Lighthouse.
In this enthralling first novel of the St. Simons Trilogy, the author (who was a resident of SSI for many years) shares the compelling story of James Gould, a young man with a passionate dream. The gripping story unfolds as Gould follows his dream to St. Simons. Along the way, he encounters hardship, peril, failure, and success. Read more HERE.
Visit local bookstore G J Ford Bookshop to purchase the books in this trilogy and many other captivating reads about St. Simons. Not in town? You can purchase the trilogy online HERE.
by visiting many of the landmarks she mentions in her books,
including Cannon's Point Preserve and, of course,
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July 4 & 5 -- Cannons' Point Preserve is CLOSED for the Fourth of July holidays so that our docents and staff can celebrate with family and friends.
February 5, 2022 -- SSLT ANNUAL OYSTER ROAST, Gascoigne Bluff, SSI
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2021 SPONSORS: |
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HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!
AND, AS ALWAYS,
FROM ALL OF US, TO ALL OF YOU,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!
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