April 3 Calle Sur Latin American ConcertLatin American instrumental and vocal duo Calle Sur performs a distinctive concert. Jekyll Island Club Hotel. 635-2600. 7:30 p.m. Reservations.

April 4 - 6 Bennet Waters Foundation Golf ClassicPopular golf classic and auction gala to benefit the Bennett Foundation for Morquio research. Guest speaker Heather Whitestone McCallum, 1995 Miss America. For more information, call 1-877-4JEKYLL.

April 5 G.E.O.R.G.I.A. Oyster Reef RestorationUGA MArine Extension’s G.E.O.R.G.I.A. program needs volunteers to bag oyster shells for their reef restoration project. For more information contact Ashby Nix at 912-264-7323 or email anix@uga.edu.

April 10 Give My Reguards to Broadway ConcertPianist Scott Douglas of Atlanta performs a variety of wonderful tunes from Broadway. Jekyll Island Club Hotel. 635-2600. 7:30 p.m. Reservations.

April 10 - 12 Marty Lyons Foundation Celebrity WeekendJoin in for a great cause at the Marty Lyons Foundation Auction and Celebrity Golf Classic. Jekyll Island Convention Center. For more information, call 912-46-0808.

April 19 Shell-e-brate Earth Day!Come to the Georgia Sea Turtle center to Shell-e-brate Earth Day with the sea turtles. For more information, call 912-635-4444 or visit www.georgiaseaturtlecenter.org.

April 26 2008 Red Bug Motors Invitational Join Red Bug Motors for a fun filled day of golf. Scramble format with foursomes. Tournament benefits the oncology nursing society foundation. Entrance deadline is April 10. For more information, call 912-635-9330.

April 27 Sunday Dinner DanceThe Sunday Dinner Dance in the Grand Dining Room with gormet food and Wayne Tate’s “Four and Easy” band. Jekyll Island Club Hotel. 635-2600. 6:00 p.m. Reservations.

May 2 -3 Turtle Crawl and Nest FestCelebrate the start of the annual sea turtle nesting season at the Jekyll Island Beackdeck. To register for the triathlon, visit www.gamultisports.com. For more information, visit www.jekyllisland.com.

May 2 - 31 Reclaiming Past Glories Tour Celebrate Historic Preservation Month with a special behind the scenes tour of Hollybourne Cottage! Reservations. For more information, call 912-635-4036.

May 10 Summer Waves Season Opening! Happy 20th birthday, Summer Waves! Get your season passes now and celebrate! Park opens every weekend starting May 10th. Download the complete schedule at www.summerwaves.com For more information, please call 912-635-2074.

June 17 - August 7 In Service of Others Tour Explore the hidden world of the hired help at this upscale turn of the century resort. Reservations. For more information, please call 912-635-4036.

June 27 - 29 Jekyll Island Foundation Sea Turtle WeekendA weekend of activities celebrating the beauty of Jekyll Island and honoring the one-year anniversary of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. All proceeds benefit the Jekyll Island Foundation. Visit www.jekyllislandfoundation.org.

July 2 - July 30 Hands on History Tour Embark on a guided learning adventure for family fun! Wednesdays only, 9:30 am and 11:00am. Reservations. For more information, please call 912-635-4036.

July 4 CelebrationMusic and fireworks on Jekyll Island’s beautiful beach, plus live entertainment. For more information, please contact 1-877-4JEKYLL or visit www.jekyllisland.com.

July 5 Fireworks at Summer Waves! Visit Jekyll Island’s water park for a wonderful night of brilliant fireworks. For more information, please call 912-635-2074 or visit www.summerwaves.com.

August 15 - 17 Beach Music FestivalVisit the beautiful beach of Jekyll Island and listen to musical greats The Swinging Medallions, the Rickey Godfrey Band, and Second Chance. For more information, call 1-877-4JEKYLL

August 30 - September 1 Jekyll Island Gold Cup Adult Soccer TournametRegional and National adult soccer teams for for the gold as they compete in this three day tournament For more information please call 1-877-4JEKYLL.

September 19 - 21 Shrimp & Grits: The Wild Georgia Shrimp FestivalA weekend celebration of two of Georgia’s most beloved foods. The festival features a cook-off, live entertainment, and a kid-friendly fun zone. For more information please call 1-877-4JEKYLL.

Tags: Jekyll Island April Beachscape, Jekyll Island Events, jekyll island georgia
Posted in April 2008, Beachscape | No Comments »

A Hospitality Hero is someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty to help guests feel at home during their stay on them for their hard work on behalf of this beautiful island that we all love.

Cindy Smith is the Hospitality Hero at The Beachview Club. As a front desk agent for the past two years, Cindy routinely goes out of her way to make guests of The Beachview Club feel right at home. Guests often write letters or praising Cindy’s work.”She is extremely friendly, and our guests love her,” said Jimmy Dunn, general manager. “Anything that is asked of her she’ll do.” Cindy has even been known to bring home baked goods from her own kitchen to celebrate a regular guest’s anniversary or birthday. For more information on The Beachview Club, visit www.beachviewclub.com. Also, see page 2 of Beachscape for an in-depth look at the hotel.

Celeste George is a front desk clerk at the Quality Inn and Suites. Guests love her in part because it’s obvious that she loves what she’s doing. “She is great with our guests,” said Heidi Cook, general manager. “She always jumps right in to help, and she has the ability to calm a situation and keep our guests happy.” Celeste is relatively new to the hotel, having started work in December 2007, but her charm and presence are strongly felt at the Quality Inn and Suites. The Quality Inn and Suites is situated in the middle of Jekyll Island and is the closest hotel to the Island’s three 18-hole golf courses and the Tennis Center. The Quality Inn specializes in golf packages year round. The property bedroom apartments. Beach access is directly across the street. The Quality Inn is currently undergoing major improvements which include replacing most of the furniture. Please visit their website at www.jekyllislandquality.com.

Felicia Savage, who works in engineering maintenance at the Jekyll Oceanfront Hotel, can do just about anything, according to General Manager Michelle Blackstone. “In a predominately male department, Felicia has proven she can do anything anybody else can do,” Blackstone said. “We count on her quite a bit.” From patching a wall to replacing a toilet, Felicia jumps right in. Felicia has been with Jekyll Oceanfront Hotel for the past three years, and during that time she has been chosen as employee of the month several times. During the hotel’s major renovations, Felicia took the lead by planning and directing the work. But most of all, Felicia has earned the respect of her colleagues. And, Blackstone adds, “She’s always smiling.” This spring the hotel is undergoing massive changes in a multi-million dollar re novation project. Fourteen buildings will have a complete overhaul from the electricity to the roof and everything in between. With 260 guest rooms and villas on 15 beautifully landscaped acres, plus 14,000 square feet of event space, the Jekyll Oceanfront Hotel is the island’s largest oceanfront hotel. Check out their website at www.jekyllinn.com.

Rose Meixsel, front desk clerk at the Oceanfront Inn and Suites, receives an extreme amount of favorable guest comments according to General Manager Jason Smith. “She receives no less than three positive guest comments in any given week,” Smith said. “People hunt me down to tell me about the quality of her service.” Rose makes it a point to warmly greet everyone who visits the Oceanside Inn. She makes the registration process painless. The Oceanside has many winter guests who visit annually and children who visit the hotel, and she even keeps dog treats for visiting canine guests. Rose is an extremely loyal employee and has been with the Oceanside Inn and Suites for the past eight years. The Oceanside Inn and Suites has recently completed $1.6 million in renovations, including the new Sand Bar Grill, the island’s only true sports bar. This sports bar is a true multi-pool tables. The Inn offers 178 guest rooms with views of the ocean including 26 suites. The Inn has updated all guest rooms and expanded its meeting space for a total of 7,500 square feet. Check out their website at www.oceansideinnandsuites.com.

Assistant Front Office Manager Tammy Young works tirelessly for the benefit of guests at Villas by the Sea. Tammy is a very dedicated employee having worked at Villas by the Sea
for many years. In addition to her front desk duties of scheduling and handling guests’ requests, Tammy is in charge of planning activities for the many winter guests who visit the Villas each year. “She took on the task of managing our winter guest activities and she does a great job,” said Ryan Merritt, sales manager for Villas by the Sea. “She works tirelessly and she goes above and beyond every day.” Villas by the Sea offers hotel suites or one-, two- or three bedroom vacation rentals. Situated on 17 acres, guests will find nature trails that meander through the property. Having completed nearly $3 million in renovations since 2003, work continues to constantly upgrade and improve the property. A larger beach deck is being added, as well as new landscaping on the grounds. New outdoor lighting fixtures adorn the property. And five boardwalks are being connected to for a better walking experience. Please visit them online at www.jekyllislanda.com

Barbara Williams, executive housekeeper for the Days Inn and Suites, is an excellent employee and supervisor. Not only is she recognized as a Jekyll Island hospitality hero, she has in the past won national recognition as the Days Inn Housekeeper of the year from a pool of 1,800 applicants. Barbara has been with Days Inn since 1999. During that time she and her staff have always earned great quality assurance scores. In her position, Barbara supervises a staff of 20 employees and deals deftly with the language barriers that she routinely encounters with her staff.“She is an example of what all executive housekeepers should be,” said Shirley Rayhon, general manager. “She is dedicated to her staff, the company and especially the guest by going the extra mile whenever it is required of her.” This AAA-rated beachside hotel offers 124 rooms and suites and a convenient location right next to the convention center. the highest rating that Days Inn can bestow. The Schooner’s Landing breakfast area has been renovated with new carpet and furniture so that guests may enjoy their complimentary breakfast in comfort and style. Check out their website at www.daysinnjekyll.com.

Ken May, housekeeping department, who recently received the Jekyll Island Club Employee of the Year award is also recognized as the hotel’s hospitality hero. Ken has worked with the hotel for just that time, his work has been excellent and his attitude exemplary. Ken has also been recognized as “Employee of the Month” several times during his tenure. Ken was commended for his work by General Manager Kevin Runner at the club’s annual awards banquet.”Ken’s dedication to his job, this hotel, our guest and his fellow employees does not go unnoticed. Please accept my personal thanks for a job well done.” settings: The Clubhouse, the Annex, Sans Souci, or one of the cottages - Crane or Cherokee. This historic hotel launched a $4.2 million renovation earlier this year. The project will completely refurbish the public areas and guest rooms in the hotel’s Clubhouse, Annex and Sans 32-inch television. The Jekyll Island Club is now a smoke free facility. Outdoor courtyard areas and verandas are still available for smoking. The hotel has also added 5,000 square feet of conference space to the existing ballroom. The Jekyll Island Club Hotel, constructed in 1886-1902 has been designated a Historic Hotel of America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Please visit their website at www.jekyllclub.com

Tags: Jekyll Island April Beachscape, jekyll island beach vacation, jekyll island georgia, jekyll island hospitality heroes
Posted in April 2008, Beachscape | No Comments »

The Jekyll Island Fire Department Emergency Volunteers recently had several members receive service awards for ten years of service. Over the last ten years this group of dedicated individuals has spent hundreds of hours training, fund raising, and providing assistance to the Jekyll Island Fire Department. The Volunteers are responsible for providing much needed equipment to our emergency services. Some equipment came in the form of grant monies which were written for the department by key members of the volunteers. Other equipment was purchased with funds raised by all the volunteers utilizing just pure hard work on their end. Jekyll Island would like to thank every member of the volunteers for helping make our department as a whole what it is today. It is a pleasure having such dedicated people whose sole purpose is to help others! Ralph and Susan Steffan and Chip Ward also received a very nice retirement plaque as they announced they would be resigning after the awards and were surprised with a badge embossed plaque as keep sake for their years of service. Jekyll Island’s deepest appreciation goes out to all of these hard working and talented individuals.

Tags: Jekyll Island April Beachscape, jekyll island beach vacation, jekyll island fire department, jekyll island georgia
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The Jekyll Island Arts Association is pleased to host the Eighth Annual Glynn County High School Students’ Juried Art Show. Running from April 22 - May 5 at Goodyear Cottage in Jekyll’s Historic District, the exhibit will feature some of the best of our students’ work. The show is open to all high school age students in Glynn County who are enrolled in a formal art program in the County’s public or private schools. This year the participating schools are Glynn Academy, Frederica Academy and Brunswick High School. Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded at this ‘for exhibit only’ show, with none of the artwork being for sale. Stopping in to visit David Veater’s Glynn Academy art class not only provided a glimpse of the students painting or sketching, but also a look at some of the wonderful projects that will be in the upcoming show. One eye-catching project was an array of realistic looking cardboard clothing, made using a technique called recto verso - meaning that both the front and back are realistically completed. Caitlin Barrow, a senior at Glynn Academy, likes the freedom provided to interpret set programs at her school. She says, “everyone works well together and is open to others’ ideas and art interpretations.”

Show coordinators for the Arts Association, Jim and Theresa LaPean, encourage the community, the participating students, their teachers, families and friends to come and share in the excitement of a variety of mediums on display. This exhibit is always an exciting opportunity to see what these talented teens have accomplished in the past year.

Everyone is welcome to view this exhibit by our young local artists and to attend the opening reception at Goodyear on April 27 from 1-3pm. Admission is free at the gallery and the shop where regular hours are Monday - Friday, noon - 4pm and weekends from 10 - 4pm. Call 635-3920 for more information.

Tags: glynn county schools, Jekyll Island April Beachscape, jekyll island arts association, jekyll island georgia
Posted in April 2008, Beachscape | No Comments »

Passport to the Century

Travel into the past. Hear the remarkable story
of the Jekyll Island Club in the American Gilded
Era, and enter two restored cottages filled with
rich tales and elegant furnishings.
January 2 - May 26, 2008
• 11 am, 1 pm & 3 pm daily
May 27 - September 1, 2008
• 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm & 3 pm daily
September 2 - December 5, 2008
• 11 am, 1 pm & 3 pm daily
$16 Adults • $7 Children 6-12
Free under 6 • approx 90 min

Reclaiming Past Glories

Tour the last Jekyll Island Club Cottage to be
preserved. Hear about the family that resided
in this vacation retreat and discover the steps
required to preserve the structure. Don’t miss
this rare sneak peak inside a cottage that is
only open to the public in honor of Historic
Preservation Month!
May 3-31, 2008 • Sat only • 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm
$10 Adults • $5 Children 6-12 • Free under 6 •
approx 60 min

Reclaiming Past Glories

May 2-31
Celebrate Historic Preservation Month with a special
behind the scenes tour of Hollybourne Cottage!

In Service of Others

June 17 - August 7
Explore the hidden world of the hired help at this
upscale turn of the century resort.

Hands on History

July 2 - July 30
Embark on a guided learning adventure for
family fun! Wednesdays only, 9:30 am and 11:00am.

For more information, visit our website at
www.jekyllisland.com.
To make reservations
contact the Jekyll Island
Museum at 912-635-4036
Tours operate daily except Christmas Day & New Year’s Day.
Tour availability & pricing subject to change.

Tags: Jekyll Island April Beachscape, jekyll island history, jekyll island museum, Jekyll Island tours
Posted in April 2008, Beachscape, History comes Alive | No Comments »