The Jekyll Island Convention Center now has several small events under its belt and is proving to stun guests with its beauty and attention to details. A whole extra restroom just for the ladies? A color scheme reflective of being either marshside or ocean side? Sea glass sea turtle tiles lining the floor? The center has it all. What a well-planned design!

The College of Coastal Georgia held its graduation here May 5, and a Chamber of Commerce champagne toast on Thursday. This past weekend, the Center hosted the Dinner and Diva opera and gourmet three-course meal performance on Saturday, as well as the Sunday Mother’s Day gospel celebration. There wasn’t an empty sea to be found at both of this celebrations. Every guest to each event was wowed by the magnitude of the Center and said as much.

Phillis George, Ph.D., Director of Service-Learning for College of Coastal Georgia, said of the Thursday business tours: “I want to thank you and the Chamber for extending an invitation to join you on such a beautiful occasion last night. The Jekyll Island Convention Center is truly a magnificent structure, which will be the envy of many convention complexes and Chambers of Commerce nationwide. We’re so very fortunate to be benefactors of this visionary ‘gathering place.’ I’m already thinking of ways in which we might bring a national service-learning conference to the Center! Thanks, once again.”

We are off to a marvelous start and can not wait for Sunday to host the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony with Gov. Nathan Deal, followed by a public open house reception. We hope to see you there and hear your thoughts on this brilliant new center. The ceremony starts at 4pm Sunday May 20, with self-guided tours and live music following.

This is more than a ribbon cutting. This is the dawn of a new day for Jekyll Island and the Golden Isles!

Ribbon Cutting and Public Open House Details:

4pm Sunday May 20

Jekyll Island Convention Center

www.jekyllisland.com

It’s been 125 years since the Jekyll Island Club was established and that gives cause to celebrate! Help mark the anniversary at this inaugural event that allows guests to experience what life was like for the members of the original Jekyll Island Club who claimed the island as their exclusive retreat.

The Founder’s Day Celebration event will feature a progressive dinner through three key Jekyll Island historic cottages while dining on truly gourmet dishes and learning the storied background of the Island. Costumed guides will lead attendees through Moss Cottage for hearty bites of appetizers, and then take guests to Indian Mound Cottage for dinner treats. A final stop for dessert and dancing will be held inside the Morgan Center. All dishes will be prepared by the acclaimed chefs at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and created to reflect similar dishes on which the
millionaires would have dined.

More than an evening of dancing and dinner, the progressive party also marks than 25^th anniversary of the renovated Jekyll Island Club Hotel. In addition, the evening will recognize the significant preservation work completed in the historic landmark district over the last decade. Millions of dollars has been invested in restoring for adaptive reuse Crane and Cherokee Cottages and the J.P. Morgan tennis court.

Indian Mound, Goodyear and Mistletoe cottages have been restored and are now actively used as house museums. All road surfaces in the district have been repaved in tabby concrete, and the restoration of bicycle and walking paths and the Avenue of Palms along Old Plantation Road complete a remarkable preservation effort. Former and current preservation staff will be on hand as special guests of the Jekyll Island Authority to recount the significant accomplishments.

As Jekyll Island moves forward with progress on the Jekyll Island Convention Center and dawns into a new era, now is key time to revisit the history which built our legacy and celebrate our storied history!

The progressive dinner is meant to be a night of fun and history, glamour and dining. In line with the times of the Millionaires Club, cocktail attire is requested for the outdoor party.

The Founder’s Day Progressive Dinner will be held from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Dinner starts at Moss Cottage in the Jekyll Island Historic District. Tickets are $125 per couple and include appetizers, dinner, dessert, and champagne.  A cash bar is available. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Visitor Information Center at 912-635-3636 an online at www.jekyllisland.com.

What a way to go out! In the third and final concert of the 2011-2012 Music and Merlot series, the Jekyll Island Authority and Jekyll Island Club Hotel brought real pop to the stage. Pop, Motown, country, and rock-n-roll classics, to be exact.

Stealing the spotlight for this final installment of the series were the all-male a cappella group, the UGA Accidentals. This University of Georgia ensemble took to the stage with energy, life and talents so strong it was impossible to take your eyes and ears from the stage.

From the opening number- a stellar version of Jackie Wilson’s “Higher and Higher”- to the remake of Cee-Lo Green’s mainstream hit “Forget You” and the classic UGA fight song, every performance was a crowd-pleaser. A full house was just what these showcase deserved and was just what it got. Not an empty seat to be found!

Toes tapped. Heads nodded. Fingers snapped. It was impossible to sit still as the enthusiastic young men danced and belted out their tunes. “Glee” has nothing on these fellas!

If you missed the weekend’s rendezvous, you missed an utterly excellent show. Hopefully we’ll bring these boys back next year.  Until then, be sure to check our web site this week to see video of the show! (www.jekyllisland.com)

Also visit the UGA Accidentals web site to upcoming performances: www.theugaaccidentals.com.

Georgia Sea Turtle Center Volunteer Wins
International Award

For the past five years, Gary Buckles has dedicated a large part of his life to a single cause: the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Since 2007, Buckles has been an active volunteer at the sea turtle research, rehabilitation and educational facility on Jekyll Island. Several days a week, he wakes at 4 a.m., driving from his home in Folkston, to be at the center hours before it opens in order to ensure that the facility operates as efficiently as possible.

This month, his dedication to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center was recognized by an international audience. On March 16, Buckles was awarded the International Sea Turtle Society’s Ed Drane Volunteerism Award, an international award that recognizes one volunteer from around the world who has made a significant contribution to sea turtle conservation.

Chosen from a field of dozens of applicants, Buckles won the award for his ongoing devotion to and passion for sea turtle conservation. Prior to retirement several years ago, Buckles was an air traffic control, and came to the Sea Turtle Center with no formal training in veterinary medicine or marine life research. However, after years of acting as a jack-of-all-trades for the center, he has gleaned a deep understanding of what goes into sea turtle conservation and why the preservation of the sea creatures is imperative.

“This has been such an inspiring venture for me,” Buckles said. “Sea turtles are the barometer for the health of our ocean, our overall ecosystem. Doing anything I can to assist in their continued conservation is important. Winning this award is an incredible honor. But working at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, as closely as I am allowed to do, has been a true gift for me.”

Having Buckles work at the center has also been a major aid for staff and other volunteers, said Dr. Terry Norton, Director and Veterinarian of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. Buckles proves a devoted volunteer who never misses a shift, and is able to perform a variety of duties that help the center operate smoothly, Norton said.

“We have many great volunteers and Gary is, as this award shows, a caring, committed member of our team,” Norton said.

Jeannie Miller, Volunteer Coordinator at the center, echoed Norton, stating that Buckles has learned a diverse skill set since coming on board at the center. During his volunteer hours, Buckles mans a variety of stations, from assisting with sea turtle surgeries to working in the gift shop if needed.

“Gary comes in at the crack of dawn, stays 10, 12 hours, and leaves at night fall,” Miller said. “He loves being here and we love having
him.”

Currently, Buckles is in the Caribbean, working with the St. Kitts Sea Turtle MonitoringNetwork. For several years, Buckles has spent three months of the year in St. Kitts working with the network for a sea turtle tagging and nesting program. He first joined the GSTC International Team in 2008 and was such a benefit to the team, that Dr. Norton and Dr. Kimberly Stewart, the Director of St. Kitts Sea Turtle Monitoring Network, have invited him to come back each year and haveexpanded his duties to be that of a Research Assistant.

“Sea turtle conversation and research has become my life,” Buckles said. “My wife and I are now passionate about this cause. It’s a strange turn, for sure, but one that has honestly fulfilled me. It is a mission I plan to continue as long as they will have me.”

About the Georgia Sea Turtle Center: Established in 2007 on Jekyll Island and operated by the Jekyll Island Authority, the GeorgiaSea Turtle Center was developed as an institution devoted to the rehabilitation of injured sea turtles and preservation of the delicate balance of the oceanic ecosystem. Through sea turtle rehabilitation, research and education programs, Georgia Sea Turtle Center Executive Director Dr. Terry Norton and his staff work to increase awareness of habitat and wildlife conservation challenges, promote responsibility for ecosystem health and empower individuals to act locally, regionally, and globally to protect the environment. For information visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

About the International Sea Turtle Society Ed Drane Volunteerism Award:
The Ed Drane Award for Volunteerism was established in memory of Ed Drane who was Treasurer of the ISTS for more than 20 years. This award is presented annually to a person working outside their professional life to voluntarily commit a significant portion of time, energy, and passion to the conservation of sea turtles. They do not seek academic or monetary credit for their efforts but they make a significant contribution to the study and conservation of sea turtles. For information visit www.seaturtlesociety.org.

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Bird enthusiasts took a positive step last week towards informing the public about the sensitive population of Wilson’s Plovers nesting
on Jekyll Island.

Jekyll Island Conversation Manager Ben Carswell and Jekyll Island birder Lydia Thompson met Thursday with members of the Coastal Georgia Audubon Society and Georgia Sea Turtle Center Americorp volunteers to post signs on the beach to alert the public about the nesting Plover birds. The volunteers also created a fenced-off area to protect the birds they found nesting in the area.

By roping off the area and raising signs, the conservation team is hoping to create awareness about the plover population and
take additional steps to further Thompson’s recently organized campaign, Operation Plover Patrol.

The plover is a critical bird for Jekyll Island and the coastal southeast as a whole, but in recent years, the sand-dwelling bird’s
numbers have dwindled. In the last decade, the plover population has hit record lows, with only about 6,000 left in the wild.

On Jekyll Island, the population numbers have fallen likely because of a lack of eco-education. It’s not uncommon to see dogs or humans walking through the sand dune homes of the birds. Part of Thompson’s project will include public education tools about the sensitive nature of Jekyll Island’s south-end beach, where the birds reside and rest while migrating.

Thompson launched Operation Plover Patrol earlier this year in an effort to preserve the sensitive population of the birds. The beach monitoring campaign is an effort to establish baseline data for accurate plover counts on Jekyll Island, as well as a way to better understand the behaviors of
the birds, and how human interaction impacts the fluffy grey creature’s natural habitat.

Through the campaign, which recently received additional support from the Jekyll Island Foundation, Thompson is seeking volunteers to participate in beach monitoring sessions. Each two-hour session, timed to the birds typical daily routines, requires little work. Volunteers simply sit or walk the beach, and make notes on Thompson’s prepared worksheet. Individuals can volunteer in groups, or alone, and can participate once or several times.

The plover monitoring project is part of a larger effort Thompson is hoping to initiate next year, which will require grant funding to help identify crucial needs of the birds and how to remedy the ever-decreasing population.

Plovers are imperative to the natural balance of the Jekyll Island and coastal southeastern ecosystem. They, too, birds feed on sand
fleas, spiders and other beach-based insects that often bother humans and pets.

“More plovers means fewer pests,” Thompson said. “These are birds that are also good indicators of the overall health of the eco-system. A healthy plover population brings a healthy beach.”

To volunteer in Operation Plover Patrol, contact Lydia Thompson at 912.270.2995 or email birdjekyll@gmail.com. Bird counting surveys will also be available at the Jekyll Island Welcome Center.

Historically, Jekyll Island has been home to some of golf’s
greatest names. Acclaimed golf course designers such as Donald Ross, Walter
Travis and Joe Lee laid out the barrier island’s praised courses which have
been played by some of the biggest names in the history of the sport.

Today, the island’s hallowed golfing grounds are still visited by
some of golf’s biggest names. Although sometimes, those big names may come in
smaller bodies. Now in its 10^th year, the annual U.S. Kids Golf
Tournament on Jekyll Island has helped produce some of the next generation’s
legacy-making golfers.

One of several regional tournaments hosted by the U.S. Kids Golf
league, the Jekyll Island cup is considered a key tournament in the annual
ranks of link play. Many of those players are now old enough to go on to
professional-level tee times, specifically from the 2004 and 2005 years when
competition was remarkably tough.

Lexi Thompson is one such golf headliner. Thompson, who won the
Girls 8 & Under division in 2004 and finished second in the Girls 9
division in 2005, is now on the LPGA Tour. The 17-year-old with an impressive
swing won her first LPGA event last September, making her the youngest LPGA
winner ever.

Other 2004 and 2005 participants have also found success. From the
2004 Jekyll Island cup, Lee McCoy has now committed to the University of
Georgia and McKenzie Talbert is committed to Clemson. Already on the greens is
Smylie Kaufman, who now plays at Louisiana State University, as does Lexi
Thompson’s brother, Curtis Thompson. Taking a swing on Vanderbilt’s golf team
is Kendall Martindale, and Rachel Rohanna now plays at Ohio State.

Participants of the following year have also had luck with their
swing. A 2005 player, Austin Degrate is committed to Texas A&M. Two fellow
2005 players have been called by the Ivy Leagues, with Courtney Hooton
committed to Harvard, and Mariah Stackhouse, who is ranked No. 4 in the 2012
class by Golfweek magazine, has committed to Stanford.

“We at Jekyll Island are extremely proud to host this golf
tournament each year,” said Beth Burnsed, director of events of the Jekyll
Island Authority. “The degree of talent we see each year is amazing. This year
promises to be no different. The next generation of golf professional can be
found at this annual tournament. It is a true honor to be the home of this
tournament.”

The 10^th annual U.S. Kids Golf Tournament on Jekyll
Island will be held March 24 and 25 at the Jekyll Island Golf Club. For
complete details, visit www.jekyllisland.com or www.uskidsgolf.com.

About
Jekyll Island Golf: Jekyll Island has been a golf
destination since 1898, when members of the Jekyll Island Club constructed the
first course on the island near what is now the present-day airport. As
Georgia’s largest public golf resort, Jekyll Island offers 63 holes on four
golf courses, each offering players something a little different.

From the historic links design of Walter
Travis’ Great Dunes, the family tees added onto Pine Lakes by Clyde Johnston,
to the competition-ready Oleander, Jekyll Island Golf Club offers something for
golfer of all levels to enjoy.

Eddie picket has a vision. It combines two of his favorite past times: music and friends. It involves bringing the community together. It is a dream that is already becoming a reality.

Picket, known throughout the Golden Isles for his unique musical style as a member of the Wharfratz and a frequent presence on area stages, started the Americana Blues Festival last year. The concert is, as the name would suggest, a showcase of Americana and blues music, two genres not commonly found in the Golden Isles.

“This is a more unique, niche market of music,” Pickett said. “In big cities, you might find this more commonly. But we rarely have such shows. And we need them.”

To fill that need, Pickett is continuing the showcase he launched last year at SeaJays Waterfront Café and Pub on Jekyll Island. The inaugural concert was not the success Pickett had imagine when planning out that first show. The inaugural concert was even better.

“We had such great response last year we knew we had to bring this concert back again this year,” Pickett said.

But Pickett isn’t satisfied with just a second year of the festival. He has his sights set higher, hoping to make this an annual Jekyll Island landmark event. To help keep the Americana momentum going from last year, Pickett has scheduled some of the biggest names in the genre to play on the Jekyll Island stage.

Blues guitar super player Bob Margolin will hold the headliner rights to the fest, brining is legendary talents to the stage. A former member of acclaimed blue band Muddy Water, Steady Rollin, as Margolin is nicknamed, is sure to impress both new and seasoned blues fans.

Hailing from Ohio, The Turkeys will likewise bring a signature touch to Jekyll Island with their genuine Americana sounds. North Star, too, will hone in on their blues leanings to add sparks to the stage.

“Whether you are a huge fan of blues and Americana music or have never heard it before, once you leave this festival, you’ll be energized by the groups you hear,” Pickett said.

Aside from discovering new great bands in a relaxed setting, the musical showcase will be a time to help a good cause. All proceeds from the
concert will go to benefit the Hospice of the Golden Isles. Last year, several hundred dollars were raised and donated to the same cause, a fact with which Pickett takes great pride.

“We do this festival for two reasons,” Pickett said. “It’s a chance to share this unique music with the Golden Isles, as well as support a
very important organization that helps the whole community. I can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday night.”

The Americana Blues Festival will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at SeaJays Waterfront Café and Pub, 1 Harbor Road, Jekyll
Island. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. For more information, visit www.jekyllisland.com.

This was not the type of trivia to which I have become accustomed. This was tricky trivia, with twists and turns not only in the questions, but in
how those questions are answered.

“We keep it lively,” said Chris Lyon, game keeper of the Wednesday evening trivia session held January through March at the Sandbar and Grill.

Indeed. The trivia night is divided in three rounds, with 10 questions in each round. But players don’t just answer the questions. They have to answer based on a theme. On a recent Wednesday night, for example, one segment required all answers to rhyme with the word “bell.”

“Name the actress who recently was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Marilyn Monroe,” Lyon asked at the start of the trivia night.

This answer, my two-man team and I knew. Michelle Williams. Quickly, my team mate and I wrote down our answer, feeling good about starting off on the right foot. Just two questions in and we already had two right answers.

That positive feeling ended just as quickly as it had begun. Finishing up round one in last place, we thought round two may turn our way. It didn’t. By the start of round three, Lyon had taken misery on We Just Work Here (our team’s name, being as my partner in trivia crime, Kathryn Hear, social media manager for the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, and I were the only two members of the team). Lyon offered us a trivia life raft, through which we could triple our score on one of the 10 questions in the round. If we got the answer right, that would be 36 extra points; if we got it wrong, we were surely doomed.

We chose to triple our score on the Movies and Televisions category. We’d gotten all those right so far, so it seemed the logical option. And it worked. That category brought a 3-part question, and with answers in round 3 being worth more points, our right answer brought our score way up. Again, Kathryn and I started feeling good about being the sole proprieties of We Just Work Here. These other teams, they had eight, 12, 15 people on their squad. We had two and were nonetheless treading water a respectable pace.

Pop! Our bubble burst as the final questions were asked and the final scores were tallied. We had come in dead last by a long shot. The winning team- the apparently super geniuses from the Georgia Sea Turtle Center staff, who made up team Super Teal- had more than doubled our score.

Lyon, often giving us sympatric looks, told us not to be discouraged.

“You at least had fun, right?” he coached. “Remember, there is always next week.”

Yes, next week. The final Wednesday trivia of the season. There is always next week, and it’s a safe bet We Just Work Here will just be there. Hopefully with our heads held high and our scores even higher.

But we stand by the fact that, despite our terrible scores and despite our lack of sports knowledge, we, by far, we had the best team name of all the players. After all, We Just Work Here. And that made us winners in our book.

On any given day, Gretchen Greminger counts herself as lucky. She has her ideal job, being curator for the Jekyll Island Museum, and gets to come to that job everyday on this scenic barrier island. But this week, Greminger changed her mind. She’s not lucky to have her dream job in a dream location. She’s extremely lucky to have her dream job in a dream location that also attracted the cast and crew of one of her favorite television shows.

“I love watching ‘Royal Pains,’” said Greminger while sitting on the Jekyll Island wharf, overseeing the filming process. “I’m so excited to be there go-to person here on Jekyll Island and see how all this media magic is made.”

Greminger was surrounded by a buzzing cast and crew Wednesday as the USA Network’s “Royal Pains” crew filmed a portion of several
upcoming episodes on the Jekyll Island Wharf throughout the day. Dozens of prop organizers, set directors, camera men and general chaos-calmers filled the wooden seaside dock, all pretending the area was actually The Hamptons. Jekyll Island is, in fact, an ideal stand-in for The Hamptons, being that the island has an air of class and legacy of elegance, but remains attainable and open for the casual visitor. The lovely spring weather, with sunny skies, rolling tides and warm breezes, made the location all the more appealing.

“In New York right now, it would be rainy, gray and just not too pleasant,” said location scout Ryan Schaetzle. “But look at it here. This day, this place, it’s all just wonderful. When looking for a spot to shoot, I knew Jekyll Island would be perfect. It has the three key ingredients: great weather, beautiful scenery and extremely welcoming people.”

When searching the eastern seaboard for the right fit for the show, Schaetzle didn’t have to hunt for long. A Georgia native and graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism, Schaetzle has long known of the state’s jewel island.

“Everyone loves it here and I knew the Jekyll Island Authority, the people of the island, would all welcome us with open arms,” Schaetzle said. “They have gone out of their way to accommodate us and I know we are all very impressed.”

Exact details of the episodes being filmed on the island couldn’t be revealed, but filming staff did let a few plot pointers slide our way. The episodes being shot revolved around the fiction Harbor Fest, an oyster-shucking festival set in The Hampton. During the episode, a seafood restaurant owner- played by Donal Logue- is shucking shells and slices his finger. The star of the show, Dr. Hank Lawson, played by Mark Feuerstein, rushes in to assist. From there, the show plays out its usual theme: A concierge doctor to the rich and famous in The Hamptons works his charm on patients. And that’s all we’re allowed to say.

What we can reveal, though, is that Jekyll Island is just as excited to have the “Royal Pains” as they are excited to be here. Wharf restaurant Latitude 31, which was closed Wednesday to the public because of the filming, acted as headquarters for the cast and crew, with staffers providing
excellent service and snacks to the crew. A big thank you to them, as well as the patients island guests and residents, for welcoming the “Royal Pains” folks with such warmth.

Jekyll-ites, pleasae take notice of the following two advisories. All biking paths are now open at Great Dunes park, and Latitude 31 on the Jekyll Island Wharf will be closed Wednesday for filming of the USA Network “Royal Pains” TV series. Please read on for complete details.

In conjunction with the first day of Spring, officials with the Jekyll Island Authority announced today that construction to the walking and bicycling paths at Great Dunes Park is now complete. The paved lane is now fully open and accessible to the public.

The bike path at the newly-renovated beachfront park had been under construction and closed for several months due to construction of the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Now that construction of the center is complete, the park and bike path are fully accessible to the general public.
All detours around the center and park have now been cleared.

Great Dunes Park officially opened the first phase of the park in summer 2010, with the second and final phase unveiled earlier this
year. With the bike and walking paths now open, all work on the park is now complete.

About Great Dunes Park: Jekyll Island’s Great Dunes Park is approximately 20 acres of beachfront space, enhanced by several picnic pavilions, a deck for beach events, a play area, beach access for the public, paved biking lane, and more. The open play grounds include an 8,000-square-foot environmental area for families to enjoy the natural wonder of the barrier island.

The park encompass sand dune restoration where appropriate, and also incorporates structural features to protect the environment, such as bio-swells to capture and treat storm-water run-off, sea-turtle-friendly lighting, and signage to educate visitors about the environment. Pedestrian-friendly markings guide guests throughout the entire beachfront park. Community members are encouraged to take advantage of this
beautiful, accommodating oceanside space!

Advisory: Jekyll Island Historic Wharf Access Limited During ‘Royal
Pains” Filming

The USA Network “Royal Pains” television series will be filming portions of an upcoming show today March 20 through Thursday March 22
on Jekyll Island. The filming will be held at the Jekyll Island Historic Wharf and Latitude 31° seafood restaurant and the ‘Rah” Bar.

Crews will be setting up equipment today and breaking down sets on Thursday. During those two days, the wharf, Latitude 31° and the “Rah”
Bar and dolphin tours will remain open. However, Latitude 31° will be closed during actual filming Wednesday. Public access to the wharf will also be limited on Wednesday, but dolphin tours will remain open.

Please be advised of these changes and plan accordingly.

For more information about Great Dunes and Jekyll Island, visit www.jekyllisland.com.

The greens of the Jekyll
Island Golf Club were abuzz with activity Friday morning and afternoon as teams
playing in the annual Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational their began
practice round ahead of this weekend’s competition

Now in its 13^th
year, the collegiate event has grown to be one of the premier golf tournaments
in the nation. This year, nearly 400 golfers making up 54 Division III college
golf teams will take to the Jekyll Island course, battling for a winner’s
trophy.

Established in 1999 by Oglethorpe
University golf coach Jim Owen, the praised tournament has grown beyond his
wildest dreams, he said. When the event started, he could only convince three
teams to sign up: his own, Augsburg College in Minnesota, and Williams College
in Massachusetts. Fast forward a few years, and the tournament is one of the
most herald showcases nationwide, having a two year wait list with 20 teams
asking to come on.

Playing in this year’s
tournament are some of the best Division III college golfers out there. Eight
of the top 10 men’s teams will be playing, as will four of the top 10 women
teams. Overall, 16 of the top 25 men’s teams and 14 of the top 25 women’s teams
will compete in the 2012 games.

“Some consider us a more
important tournament than the NCAA National Championship rounds,” Owen said.
“It’s amazing how popular and successful this event has become.”

Student athletes from across
the nation will be present at the event. Colleges from as far west as
California- which brought two teams- and as far north as Vermont, Michigan, and
Minnesota are scheduled to tee off on the Jekyll Island championship courses.
Altogether, the 376 players in the invitational represent more than 20 states
in this massive showing of future golf stars.

Walking through the Jekyll
Island Golf Club parking lot Friday, it was apparent that the entire country
has received word about the golfing showcase. License plate tags from Ohio,
Vermont, New York, Louisiana and more fill the lot, outnumbering Georgia plates
by a few dozen. That’s not to say Georgia was left out of the tournament.
Several state teams, including local’s at the College of Coastal Georgia, will
compete to clinch a victory.

“Word is out and people are
excited,” Owen said. “In many parts of the country, they aren’t as lucky to
have warm, spring afternoons so early in March. They certainly aren’t as lucky
to have beautiful public golf courses like Jekyll Island. People travel cross
country, across the south and across the state just to be here.”

The tournament couldn’t have
become such a winning event on its own. Owen credits the staffing and
leadership under the Jekyll Island Authority‘s Golf Club department, for
establishing and maintaining the highly-regarded reputation of the event.

“I can’t thank Jones Hooks,
Eric Garvey, Rob Ellis and the entirety of both the authority and the golf club
for the impeccable job they do in sponsoring, hosting and assisting with the
event,” Owen said. “Without their guidance and follow-through, this showing of
golfing skills would not be possible. We’re honored to be able to call Jekyll
Island our golf home away from home.”

Jekyll Island Golf Club
professional Ellis was quick to add that “because of Owen, the event is a
success, a huge success,” he said. “Through his excellent leadership, his
organized visions and his determination, this event has grown tremendously.
With that growth has come a bright reputation and shining future for Jekyll
Island. We are honored to host this event and look forward to all the years to
come.”

The Jekyll Island
Collegiate Invitation will be held Sat., March 17 and Sun., March 18 at the
Jekyll Island Golf Club, 322 Captain Wylly Road, Jekyll Island.

Music and Merlot Wraps Up Season With
Upbeat Performers

As the third concert in the annual Music and Merlot three-part series, the Jekyll Island Authority and Jekyll Island Club Hotel are teaming up to bring audiences an evening filled with two of life’s best gifts: wine and music.

For the final installment of this year’s series the UGA Accidentals will bring their a cappella masterpieces to the Morgan Center stage. An Athens and University of Georgia tradition for more than 30 years, the UGA Accidentals are sure to please eardrums while the variety of wines and cocktails featured during the evening are sure to please taste buds.

Formed in 1974, the UGA Accidentals is the oldest collegiate a cappella group at the University of Georgia. Void of instruments and using only their collective voices, the male-based band features contemporary music, a few classics, and some choral pieces. On average, the group includes about 14 rotating singers, all of whom have a history of performing.

Since 2000, the rotating group has released three albums, including the most recent CD, the Christmas-themed “Home Alone with the Accidentals,” which was released in 2010. The group actively tours throughout the Southeast, and regularly ranks high in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella.

Aside from the a cappella showcase, the evening concert will also feature a VIP reception prior to the show. VIP Tickets include hors d’oeuvres at an exclusive pre-concert reception, a complimentary glass of wine, and a ticket to the performance. A cash bar will also be available.

For the first time this year, the Jekyll Island Authority is teaming with True Vine Wine and Gourmet to give away five pairs of tickets to the March 31 show. A free raffle drawing will be held every Friday in March at True Vine, 1523 Newcastle Street, Brunswick. Winners will be posted on Facebook as well as contacted personally. Since launched March 2, the two Friday ticket raffle drawings have been awarded to Brunswick residents John Harper and Pauline Regan. Be sure to stop by the wine and beer shop for a free entry and chance to win.

Music and Merlot was originally launched as a once-a-year gathering for Jekyll Island Club Hotel guests, island visitors and community
residents. The event grew to be so popular it was expanded this year into three separate concerts with various themes.

Since stretching the concert series into three session, the Jekyll Island Authority has found great success and a growing popularity among both local and tourist audiences, said Beth Burnsed, director of events of the Authority.

“We’ve had terrific attendance at each show and are so excited to round out our year with this entertaining, upbeat group,” Burnsed said. “We are all looking forward to next year when we plan to gain and even more diverse crowd through a variety of concert themes. It will be just as much, if not more, fun than this series.”

A new Music and Merlot series will begin again in the fall of 2012.

About the show: General Admission to the show is $20 before March 31, and is $25 March 31 and at the door. Tickets can be purchased at the door or by calling the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center at 912-635-3636.

General Admission to the show is $20 before March 31, and is $25 March 31 and at the door. Tickets can be purchased below, at the door,
or by calling the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center at 912-635-3636.

VIP tickets are $50. Space limited to this popular reception, so reservations must be made by March 20. Both general admission and VIP tickets can be purchased by calling the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center at 912-635-3636.

For more information, visit the Music and Merlot website: www.jekyllisland.com/music-merlot.

Authors galore are making their way to Jekyll Island for upcoming signings and reads. All these events will be held at Jekyll Books at the Shoppes at the Old Infirmary, 101 Old Plantation Road, Landmark Historic District. To pre-order books, call 912-635-3077. Hope to see you there!

- March 16 – Award winning author and Jekyll resident, Pamela Bauer Mueller, will be signing her newest book, Water to my Soul, on Friday, March 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- March 24 – Local authors, Dorothy Young and Hal Stufft, will be signing their new book, A Full Plate of Retirement, on Saturday, March 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- March 31 – Darien author, Taylor Schoettle, will be signing his new naturalist guide, A Beachcomber’s Guide to Georgia’s Barrier Islands, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Schoettle’s other titles will be available, as well.

A gentle chatter rustled through the Grand Ballroom at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Outside, the brilliant spring sun shone into the room, the warm day pairing with the room’s atmosphere like a fine wine with a gourmet meal.

A fine wine and a gourmet meal were, in fact, the reasons the two dozen or so individuals had gathered on Jekyll Island. It was time for another of the hotel’s acclaimed chef demonstrations. Being the last chef demo until September, the class was rather full, bringing both amateur chefs and mere food admirers into the hotel’s glamorous hall.

At the front of the make shift cooking classroom, hotel chefs Lewie Mashburn and Brian Steckenrider stood in their pressed white coats, heads topped with signature tall white hats. More than their starch attire, their talents were put to use in the menu’s masterful lineup. To pay homage to the lovely season of coastal spring, the two had drummed up dishes in line with Spring Tapas.

First up on the docket was the Serrano Ham and Manchego Cheese Crostini. Following a short history lesson on the roots of Tapas- Spanish for “small bites”, the tiny tastes were once used in Europe as coverage for beverages when dining outdoors, to keep drinks free of pesky fly invaders- Chef Steckenrider gave step-by-step instructions on how to piece together the simple ham-and-cheese appetizers. In the end, his message was clear: make it how you want it. Don’t be afraid to take twists and turns, mix up sauces and toppings to have some fun with your food.

How the chefs had the crostini’s prepared, though, seemed just right. The fried capers and whole grain mustard sauce Chef Steckenrider had topped on the thinly sliced ham and soft cheese bites were the star of this starters dish. Popping with salty flavors, the tiny touches brought the sampling to life.

Chef Steckenridge then moved on to his second line-up: the Fried Potato Blinis with Shrimp. A slight nod to the day- March 14 marks National Potato Chip Day- the thin, homemade potato chip became a star after being topped with the cool shrimp cocktail and caviar sprinkling. Throw in a dollop of cream freche and the dish is sure to impress at your next cocktail party.

Chef Mashburn was next at the table, whipping up first a marvelous stuffed grape leaves. Two varieties sat on the plate: a vegetarian lentil and sweet potato-filled leaf, and a lamb and onion variety. Both were excellent, if not completely different, in taste and texture. The grape leaf medium brought a nice, earthy texture to each sample, with the lentil version sweet, salty and soft, and the lamb on the more savory,
meaty side. Attendees unfamiliar with grape leaves had their eyes and taste buds open to one of the best dishes to route from the Mediterranean. Topped with a rosemary demi sauce, the dish was also paired with a mushroom risotto cake and julienne vegetables. Light, simple and simply delicious.

After the food was gobbled and plates cleared, the chefs mixed and mingled with the crowd, all of whom were clearly pleased with what they had found at the demonstration. Whether they came looking for a light lunch or were hoping to find a few new cooking techniques, no one walked away disappointed. Well, there may have been some disappointment, but that was only because we’ll all have to wait until September before we can experience this gourmet afternoon excursion again. But at least we have lovely food memories to keep us satisfied until fall!

It’s been 125 years since the Jekyll Island Club was established and that gives cause to celebrate! Help us mark the anniversary at this inaugural event that allows guests to experience what life was like for the elite members of the original Club who claimed the island as their exclusive retreat.

Spend an evening like a Jekyll Island Club millionaire in the first-ever Founders’ Day Celebration. The event will feature a progressive dinner through three key Jekyll Island cottages while dining on truly gourmet dishes and learning the storied background of the Island. Costumed guides will lead attendees through Moss Cottage for hearty bites of appetizers, then take guests to Indian Mound Cottage for dinner treats. A final stop for dessert and dancing will be held inside the Morgan Center. All dishes will be prepared by the acclaimed chefs at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and created to reflect similar dishes on which the millionaires would have dined.

While guides take guests through the three stops, they will relive the history and heritage of each station as well as provide their extensive knowledge on the wealthy original founders, and their vision for this millionaires playground.

Tickets are $125 per couple and include appetizers, dinner, dessert, and champagne.  A cash bar is available. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Jekyll Island Visitor Information Center at 912-635-3636 or go online, http://jekyllisland.com/Events/AnnualFestivals/FoundersDay.aspx

We look forward to dining, dancing and celebrating with you!

Did you catch The Brunswick News yesterday? If you missed it, here’s info about the Georgia Sea Turtle Center going above and beyond its mission to come to the aid of a stranded owl.

Turtle Center branches out for injured owl

3/12/2012
By MICHAEL HALL The Brunswick News

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s primary focus is rehabilitating and caring for injured or orphaned sea turtles.

But occasionally the center will pitch in and help with other animals as well, said Dr. Terry Norton, the veterinarian who is executive director of the center.

The turtle center received a call several weeks ago from a Brunswick resident who found a great horned owl chick that had fallen from a tree. Upon advice from a rehabilitation technician at the Sea Turtle Center, the resident placed the baby bird in a small basket hoist to lift the chick back to its nest.

The plan failed because the chick’s parents were gone.

That is when Norton decided to make sure the bird survived.

“We really are here to work with sea turtles, but we try to help out where we can,” Norton said.

In this case, there were no other options to save the great horned owl, Norton said.

He kept the bird at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center for a short time, nursing it back to health. But long term care at the center was not feasible because of limited space and time resources, Norton said.

Today, the owl chick is healthy and is being further rehabilitated on St. Catherine’s Island. Part of the rehabilitation process includes making sure the bird does not become acclimated to living with humans.

“We want to make sure the owl remains an owl,” Norton said.

The owl will remain on St. Catherine’s Island until it is ready to be transferred to a rescue program for birds of prey in South Carolina, Norton said.

The turtle center has aided in the rehabilitation of several dozen birds since its opening in 2008.

I bite into my gloriously blackened fish fillet, instantly wondering if the dish has been brought in only moments earlier from the water rolling
near my window. The shrimp, too, has the same fresh texture and blackened-spice reverberation that tingles on the tongue. Next, a bite of fried oysters, and I am sure this seafood platter must have been caught only moments after I ordered.

In fact, everything on the new, improved menu at Fins on the Beach tastes this way. Fresh. Local. Seasonal. As it was meant to be eaten. As
it was meant to be served.

Launched Monday, the new Fins food line-up is indeed impressive, featuring an array for seafood dishes cooked in a variety of ways. Blackened, grilled or fried are options on most dishes, and an entire section on the menu is devoted simply to sauce. The Jekyll and Hyde Shrimp selection includes seven sauce options: plain ole grilled pesto, sweet Georgia bbq, zesty orange, sweet Thai chili, buffalo, mango habanero, and the specialty boom boom sauce.  So many options, so many shrimp!

Looking for a lighter side? No problem. The menu includes a low-calorie, Lite Side option, with a sampling that includes Key West salmon salad, served with a mango dressing, as well as a grilled wild Georgia shrimp platter, grilled Atlantic salmon and fresh grilled Flounder.

The menu, too, features an array for Cajun-inspired dishes, most coupled with two sides (I suggest the red beans and rice, steamed mixed vegetables or parmesan potatoes). Aptly named, the Cajun shrimp screams of New Orleans, complete with a rich, spicy butter-based sauce for dipping bread.

Spicy is, in fact, that pairs as well with Fins as does the craft and domestic beers selection or wine offerings. Spicy is, in fact, a word
almost required when describing Fins foods.

To hear new general manager Jerry Bacon and new head chef Richard Ronston tell it, the menu was written to create a central focus on the spices used
in each dish. Here, spicy does not mean heat. Spice is not meant to depict a fire of the mouth, but a seasoning. A seasoning to perfection. Hints of red
pepper, thyme, dill and garlic beckon from the food, while in the background, tamer, and slightly hidden undertones of paprika, black pepper and lemon hum simple with certain dishes.

“Spice doesn’t mean hot,” said Bacon. “Spice, that means flavor. Spice, it means just that- spices. We understand how to flavor food, season
it, and do it well.”

Bacon isn’t bragging. He is merely telling the truth. From the complimentary basket of hushpuppies (complete with remoulade sauce for dipping)
to the shrimp, oysters and seasonal fish dished up at Fins, every bite taste like it was prepared by a master chef. And shockingly, the prices listed next
to each item aren’t what you’d expect from the flavors you get. Just as Jekyll Island is the people’s park, the people hidden island gem, Fins on the Beach is
the people’s restaurant.  Menu flavors to menu prices, Fins exudes an attainable feel, and excludes overpriced options.

Located smack dab on oceanfront property, the seaside restaurant offers not only scrumptious menus, but also serves up delectable views of the Atlantic, plus daily food and drink specials. Twice a week this beachfront eatery also brings a scoop of entertainment. Thursdays from 8 to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 5 to 8 p.m., the patio in front of the restaurant will be filled with live entertainment, as well as the island’s only Bloody Mary bar on
Sundays.

Whether stopping by for some fresh Georgia wild shrimp or for a cool, tall beverage, make sure Fins on the Beach is a top priority on your Jekyll Island itinerary.

Fins on the Beach is located at 200 North Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island. For information, call 912-635-3522 or visit www.jekyllisland.com.

We’re starting a new series here on Jekyll. Every Monday, we’ll post Bright Beginnings- an island-based photo we hope will help brightenup your Monday. That day back in the 9-to-5 can be a bit of a drudge– but these snapshots of island life should light up your day back at the office! Check in every Monday on our Facebook page and blog (www.blog.jekyllisland.com) for a shimmering seaside view!

Today’s post: Double palm trees frame the rolling waters of the Atlantic near the front doors of Fins on the Beach. It’s a bit gray here today, but warm and nonetheless lovely. The sun promises to shine soon. In the meantime, watch as the waves cascade onto the sands. And grab a bite of grub or a specialty drink at the oceanside Fins on the Beach. The beachfront restaurant launches a new menu today! Yum yum!

Jerry Bacon has known all his life he was born to be in the food business.

“With a name like ‘bacon’, you don’t have a whole lot of options as to where you can place your energy,” Bacon laughed. “Working in a
restaurant has always been my forte.”

Bacon is bringing his more than three decades of food and restaurant industry know-how to Jekyll Island, joining the team as the new general manager for Fins on the Beach. Prior to coming to Jekyll Island, Bacon worked as general manager for several Savannah restaurants, including Savannah Beach’s Dolphin Reef, a 350-seat, ocean front premier dining experience.

Bacon, too, has put in his fair share of time in the kitchen. In his career tenure, Bacon has worked as a chef, studying under German master chef Heinz Ulbrich for five years, as well as stints as a waiter, and bartender.

“I have done everything there can possibly be to do in a restaurant, from wash dishes to oversee operations,” Bacon said.

That wealth of restaurant knowledge will be put to use in the oceanside Fins at the Beach as it undergoes a series of changes stretching beyond new management. The restaurant is also welcoming a new executive chef, kitchen veteran Richard Ronston, who will introduce several new additions to its already popular menu.

Chef Richard will spice up the Jekyll Island Authority-owned restaurant when it extends its hours for spring and summer guests on March 12. Chef Richard promises to add a touch of his signature heat and Cajun flare to several of the seafood dishes.

The new menu will feature and extended variety of seafood options, all of which is caught locally, seasonally and brought in daily. Fare for the calorie-conscious patron has also been added the menu, with a section of lighter dishes. And of course, there are the daily entrée and drink specials, as well as rotating dessert options to keep in mind.

“The key lime pie is made in-house, and we’ll have some amazing new specials to really wow the crowds,” Bacon said. “And yes, we will have bacon on some items. While we are keeping some of the favorite dishes, we are also refreshing the menu. It is really spectacular.”

Drink specialties are included on the new menu, too. Fins on the Beach will be the only island restaurant with a Bloody Mary bar on Sundays, and will likewise feature altering happy hour specials every day.

Aside from new food and drink items, the restaurant will additionally be offering live entertainment twice a week, on Thursday and Sunday evenings on the outdoor patio, weather permitting. However, don’t expect a rowdy concert. Bacon assures the bands will be mellow, family-friendly and highly entertaining ensembles.

“Perfect for conversations and enjoying the restaurants unbelievable view,” Bacon said. “These changes have really brought Fins on the Beach up to a higher standard for both our loyal local customers and our new guests and tourists. Our goal is to put the fun back in Fins and deliver outstanding food with impeccable service.”

Starting March 12, Fins on the Beach will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Happy hour with rotating drink specials will be served from 3 to 5 p.m. on weekdays; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; and 12:30 to 3 p.m Sundays. Daily specials will be offered for appetizer, entrees and desserts. While Fins does not deliver, take-out is available. Live entertainment will be held at 8 p.m. Thursdays and 5 p.m. Sundays.

Fins on the Beach is located at 200 North Beachview Drive, Jekyll Island. For information, call 912-635-3522 or visit www.jekyllisland.com.

Jekyll Island and the new Jekyll Island Convention Center were the star of the Associated Press this weekend. Did you see the AP piece? If not, it’s post below. Enjoy!

Although Georgia’s new beachfront convention center on Jekyll Island won’t open for two months, its staff is already booking dozens of meetings and trying to win back business from groups that moved their annual gatherings to other resorts years ago.

What Jekyll Island had to offer had grown outdated and musty, so officials undertook a $50 million makeover with the 128,000-square-foot convention center as its centerpiece. The idea is to reverse years of slumping vacation and meeting business on the state-owned island about 70 miles south of Savannah. Construction on the convention space finished last month, and Gov. Nathan Deal plans to attend a grand opening ceremony May 20.

“That’s what we’re holding on for, once the new conventions start coming,” said Butch Bishop, co-owner of Jekyll Island’s one grocery store and a variety store that sells T-shirts and rents fishing equipment to tourists. “Our business had dropped off several years in advance of the construction. This was needed.”

Other key pieces of the project — two new convention hotels and 40,000 square feet of space for shops and restaurants — won’t be finished for another two years. But that hasn’t stopped the Jekyll Island Authority, the agency that manages the island, from aggressively wooing the new venue’s first visitors.

More than 200 meetings and conventions have already been scheduled between this summer and 2016. Jekyll Island spokesman Eric Garvey said the groups vary in size, but each event includes at least one overnight stay. Altogether, the convention center’s initial bookings are expected to bring $40 million worth of meeting expenses, hotel bills, dinner checks and souvenir shopping.

Garvey said the authority has set a goal of landing 120 conventions a year, roughly doubling the island’s previous convention business. Part of that strategy involves going after convention groups that once were regular customers on Jekyll Island, but stopped coming years ago because it lacked modern lodging and meeting spaces.

“We lost a lot of business down to Amelia Island and Sawgrass and that area” in Florida, Garvey said. “So we’re working hard to win it back.”

In the past decade, complaints piled up from convention groups about Jekyll Island’s outdated meeting space and hotels. Some groused the meeting rooms weren’t big enough. Others noted leaky fixtures, musty carpets and an overall lack of frills in their hotel rooms.

The island’s previous convention center was built in 1961. And Jekyll went for 35 years without a new hotel until a Hampton Inn & Suites opened in 2010.

The aging amenities cost Jekyll Island the annual convention of more than 1,000 Rotary Club members from western Georgia. After meeting on the island for 40 years, the group pulled out in 2003 and started gathering in Sandestin, Fla.

Margie Kersey of Lawrenceville, the district governor for the Rotary group, said Jekyll Island staffers have called to invite her and other leaders to come tour the new convention center in hopes of luring back their business. She said they might consider it, especially after the new hotels nearest the center have opened in 2014.

“The convention venue and the hotels are the two huge, huge things for us,” Kersey said. “Believe me, there is a very vocal contingency that would love to stay right here in Georgia. I’ve got my fingers crossed. I’m one of the Rotarians who loves Jekyll.”

He says the island’s staff is working to win back groups that moved their annual gatherings from Jekyll to other resorts in places like Florida.

This undated photo shows the new 128,000-square-foot convention center on Jekyll Island, Ga., which will open May 20, 2012. Officials say more than 200 meetings and conventions have already been booked. The state poured $50 million into the convention center and other improvements in hopes of boosting conventions and tourism on the state-owned island. (AP Photo/The Brunswick News, Bobby Haven)

The Association County Commissioners of Georgia also left Jekyll Island behind several years ago and now holds most of its conventions in Savannah. Spokeswoman Beth Brown said the group, which has about 1,200 members attend its annual meetings, is looking “very closely” at a possible return to Jekyll but hasn’t committed yet.

Private developers are building two hotels to serve meeting groups using the convention center, but they won’t be ready for some time. The 135-room Hyatt Place is slated to open in spring 2013, while a 200-room Westin should be finished by early 2014. The island has other hotels, but they’re not adjacent to the convention center.

Jekyll Island’s makeover was planned as a shared public-private venture with taxpayers footing the bill for the convention center, development of a beachfront park and new roads to tie the whole project together. Private partners were brought in to build hotels and shopping areas.

But now the state is taking over part of the development that was supposed to be privately funded. Plans for the project’s $18 million in new retail space hit a snag last month when the developer had to bow out because it was unable to get financing to start construction.

Garvey said the Jekyll Island Authority has taken over the retail development, it will now be built with at least some state funds. No final decisions have been made, but Garvey said that it’s possible another private partner might share the development and that overall construction could be scaled back to spend as little as $6 million.

Jekyll Island officials have insisted the retail development be finished before the last hotel opens two years from now.

“We’re going to get it done, and we’re going to do whatever it takes,” Garvey said.

Jekyll Island’s old shopping center was torn down to make way for the next construction, and its former tenants now occupy trailers in a parking lot overlooking the beach.

Bishop’s variety store is one of them along with a bank, an ice cream shop, a beauty salon and a liquor store. Bishop said he’s eager to move into a new permanent home by the convention center, where he’s betting more customers will come through his door. But he’s not impatient either.

“We’re willing to wait for it to be done right,” Bishop said. “Putting off the expense of moving for a little while longer is not going to upset us either.”

___

Online: Jekyll Island website: http://www.jekyllisland.com