Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Release of Sea Turtle – Amelia Island, Florida

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AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (May 5, 2008)- On May 17th at 11 am, the Wild Amelia Festival in combination with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center will host a special event at Main Beach Park. Vida, a female juvenile loggerhead sea turtle, will be released and returned to the Atlantic Ocean.  She stranded on a beach in St. John’s County near St. Augustine, Florida on December 19, 2007 and was observed to be very lethargic due to the cold weather.  Vida was transferred to the GSTC on Jekyll Island, Georgia and has been returned to health by their excellent staff. Join us as Vida makes her exciting trip back to the wild on Fernandina Beach. Main Beach Park is located at the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and North Fletcher Avenue on Amelia Island, Florida. Following the release the staff of GA Sea Turtle Center will do a presentation at the Atlantic Recreation center about what they do at the center.

The Wild Amelia Nature Festival held from May 16 – 18, 2008 will showcase the bioregion and natural treasures of Amelia Island and the surrounding area of Northeast Florida. Information about the Festival can be found at www.WildAmelia.com.

The Civil War Era – Hilton Head Island, SC

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Hilton Head Island was home to thousands of Union soldiers during the Civil War. Find out why they were here and how they spent their time. Historic photographs, maps and artifatcs tell the story of Hilton Head from 1861-1865. Meet at the Discovery House of The Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn. $5 per person. Reservations are not required.
Coastal Discovery Museum Honey Horn Plantation Hilton Head Island,SC 29926
843-689-6767 Ext 223
www.coastaldiscovery.org

Reclaiming Past Glories Tour – Jekyll Island, Georgia

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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, Saturdays only, 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm, approx. 60 minutes, $10 Adults, $5 Children 6-12, Free under 6

For more information about daily tours and other specialy programs contact the Jekyll Island Museum at 912-635-4036.

Tequila Herradura Shrimp Tacos for Cinco de Mayo

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On May 5th in the United States, we celebrate Mexican culture and ancestry – similiar to what we do for Irish heritage on St. Patrick’s Day, German heritage with Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year for Chinese ancestry. The holiday is actually not the “Mexico’s Independance Day” (which is September 16). Cinco de Mayo commemorates one of the most significant victories for the Mexican militia over the French army in 1862 and now serves as a reason to celebrate every aspect of the Mexican culture.

Regardless of your ethnic origin, you can still enjoy Cinco de Mayo, and what better way than to by creating your own Mexican fiesta complete with delicious Shrimp Tacos.

The recipe below is by Sam “The Cooking Guy”: Tequila Herradura Shrimp Tacos, and is an absolute favorite of ours. Savory and festive, this recipe blends the traditional Mexican flavors with a new twist – making them the ultimate addition to an authentic Cinco de Mayo menu. And who said, that you can only enjoy a mexican menu for Cinco de Mayo anyway? Tequila Herradura Shrimp Tacos is perfect for any gathering of friends, and is best enjoy with Margeritas. We prefer using Wild Georgia Shrimp for this recipe!

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