Nest #16 found today!

As of June 21, 2009, Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol has identified 16 loggerhead turtle nests on our beaches. Last year there were over 60 nests found.

If you are visiting Seabrook Island during turtle nesting season, here are some helpful hints to help us protect the loggerhead turtles.

• Observe the nesting areas from a safe distant. Do not disturb markers or protective screening over turtle nests. The nests are being studied and protected.
• Avoid walking on the dunes along the beach.
• Don't disturb a turtle that is crawling to or from the ocean or laying eggs. Watch from a distance.
• Lights out on beach front homes at 10 p.m. It is a good idea to avoid shining lights on the beach at night. Female turtles may be frighten away from nesting. Bright lights can interfere with baby turtles' ability to find the sea.
• Bring food and drinks in plastic containers instead of glass and cans. Cans are especially harmful to animals when washed into the water where they confuse wildlife. Plastic drink holders can and do entangle birds, fish, and turtles.
• Remove all personal property from the beach at dark so that turtles can come ashore unobstructed.
• Do your part to spread the word about creating safe nesting environs for the loggerhead turtles.
  

DID YOU KNOW?: Loggerheads lay 4 to 7 nests per season, typically about 14 days apart. The average number of eggs per nest ranges from 100 to 126. The eggs typically incubate for 50 to 60 days. And, then the nest "boils" to reveal turtle hatchlings. The hatchlings instinctively know to get to the ocean.

Dining on Seabrook Island

Within the gates of Seabrook Island, South Carolina, dining options are limited to the restaurants owned and operated by the island's private club.

Recently the Seabrook Island Club has revamped more than its buildings. Its food venues have undergone makeovers.

Located in the old Island House building, Bohicket's Lounge is open for lunch only, 11:00 am-2:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Bohicket's Lounge will offer a limited menu of pre-made cold sandwiches, hot dogs, and snacks as well as full bar service through July.

Dress code for Bohicket's Lounge is "sports casual." Golf and tennis attire are appropriate. Jeans are permitted, provided they are not torn or baggy. Beach wear including bathing suits, cover-ups, tee shirts, short shorts, gym shorts and cut-offs are not permitted. Hats are not to be worn.

The Island House Restaurant is closed.

The new Pelican's Nest is now open at the oceanfront Beach Club area. The Pelican's Nest is open for lunch and dinner. Pelican's Nest will be open 7 days a week from 11 am until 9 pm. A take-out menu consisting of salads, sandwiches, and pizza is available by calling 843-768-7785 (take-out is not available after 3 pm on Sundays). Click here to download the take-out menu.

Special events at Pelican’s Nest include:

• Live music/entertainment every Friday and Sunday night from 5-9 pm;
  
• Fish Fry Buffet on Sunday evenings beginning at 5 pm. Due to the popularity of the buffet and Pelican’s Nest, no reservations are accepted at this time.

Casual beachwear, cover-ups and footwear are required while dining or at the bar. Pool users are required to dry off prior to entering the dining areas.

June Happenings at Freshfields Village

Freshfield Village, located at the crossroads of Kiawah, Seabrook Island, and John's Island, is gearing up for summer fun for the whole family!

Summer events include: Farmer's Market on Mondays; Starlight movies on Wednesdays; and Music on Fridays.

The entertainment schedule for June 2009 is below:

• Monday, June 15th, June 22nd, June 29th, Farmer's Market on The Village Green
  4-8 pm. local farmers and artisans will offer for sale a variety of local produce and unique handmade crafts.
  
• Wednesday, June 10th, 9 pm, Starlight Cinema on the The Village Green- Akeelah and the Bee;
  Wednesday, June 17th, 9 pm, Starlight Cinema - Fantastic 4 - Rise of the Silver Surfer;
  Wednesday, June 24th, 9 pm, Starlight Cinema - The Rookie
  
• Friday, June 12th, Music on the Green on The Village Green, 6-9 pm, Featuring Shrimp City Slim;
  
Friday, June 19th, Music on the Green on The Village Green, 6-9 pm, Featuring Men of Distinction;
Friday, June 26th, Music on the Green on The Village Green, 6-9 pm, Featuring David Archer Trio

Looking for something new in Charleston?

I'm always on the lookout for new things to do while visiting Charleston, South Carolina. Here are a couple of fun new shops which have recently opened in the Charleston area.

• WineStyles-a wine store and so much more. WineStyles is located in Mt. Pleasant Towne Centre at 1628 Palmetto Grande Drive, Mt. Pleasant, SC. WineStyles is designed to look like an Old World wine cellar. Here you'll find wines organized and displayed by "style" categories instead of by regions or varietal of grape. You can read more about Mt. Pleasant's WineStyles shop by visiting its website: WineStyles.
• MoonPie General Store-The first MoonPie store opened Memorial Day 2009 at 48 N. Market, Charleston, South Carolina. For those of you not from the South, you may be asking, "What the heck is a MoonPie?" A MoonPie is a huge cookie shaped concoction of marshmallow sandwiched between two graham crackers dunked in chocolate. Mmmmm! Enjoy your MoonPie with a RC cola and you're experiencing a true Southern tradition. The new MoonPie store will be serving up fresh MoonPies and cold RC colas.
  

Go Fish!

Attention all fishermen and women!

Beginning July 1, 2009, all people saltwater fishing for fun in South Carolina will be required to have a fishing license.

This new legislation specifically affects those people who have fished from the shore (beach, bank, private dock, free public pier, etc.) and harvested shrimp and/or crab without a license in the past.

Saltwater Recreational Fishing License fees are as follows:

• Annual Resident - $10
• 14-day Resident - $5
• Annual Non-Resident - $35
• 14-day Non-Resident - $11

There are some exceptions to the required saltwater fishing license. If you are fishing from a licensed commercial public fishing pier or a licensed chartered boat, you are not required to purchase a license (technically, you would be using the license owned by the pier or boat).

If you are casual crabbers like my family, you will not need a license when fishing, crabbing, shrimping with three or fewer drop nets or fold-up traps; or when crabbing with three or fewer hand lines with a single bait and no hooks (chicken necking).

For more information, visit the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website. You can read more about the new law at Charleston's Post and Courier online newspaper.

To purchase a saltwater fishing license online, visit SCDNR. A license can be purchased at most sporting goods stores throughout South Carolina.

If you are visiting Kiawah or Seabrook Island, Seacoast Sports located in Freshfields Village is the closest fishing license seller.