Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Free Holiday Family Matinee – Savannah

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SCAD celebrates holidays with free, family-friendly movies and seasonal refreshments

SAVANNAH, Ga. — The Savannah College of Art and Design invites the local community to SCAD Presents Holiday Matinee, a family-friendly celebration of holiday spirit, Saturday, Dec. 20, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The free event, open to the public and held at SCAD’s historic Trustees Theater, 216 E. Broughton St., features screenings of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” at 11 a.m. and “The Polar Express” in 3-D at 2 p.m. Guests also may enjoy complimentary popcorn and beverages, sing-alongs of favorite holiday classics and more.

“Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” (47 minutes), featuring the vocal talents of Burl Ives, recounts the tale of a shy, young reindeer whose shiny red nose has made him the laughingstock of all Christmastown. Frustrated by their inability to fit in, Rudolph and his friend Hermey, the elf who wants to be a dentist, set out on their own. However, they soon find themselves pursued by the Abominable Snowmonster. They flee to the island of Misfit Toys in the Arctic wilderness, where prospector Yukon Cornelius comes to their rescue. Returning to Christmastown, they learn that bad weather may cause Christmas to be canceled. But Rudolph’s headlight—his illuminated nose—saves Christmas by serving as a beacon to guide Santa’s sleigh.

“The Polar Express” (99 minutes) in 3-D showcases the Academy Award-winning team of Tom Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump,” “Cast Away”). This inspiring adventure is based on the beloved Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Trustees Theater will provide 3-D glasses to all attendees.

Children of all ages will delight in the festivities, which begin at 10 a.m. and last throughout the afternoon. In addition to the free film screenings, guests can take pictures in a snowy winter wonderland, join a sing-along of classic holiday tunes and enjoy a visit with Santa Claus.

The following day, Sunday, Dec. 21, SCAD will serve complimentary apple cider, hot cocoa and holiday cookies at its two retro diners, the Streamliner Diner, 120 W. Henry St., and Bobbie’s Diner, 1402 Habersham St. This event, which takes place from 1-3 p.m., is also free and open to the public.

10K Mud Run Event in Jacksonville

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National Multiple Sclerosis Society—North Florida Chapter
Announces Plans for a New Fundraising Event
–Inaugural ‘Mud Run’ Event Planned for February—

Jacksonville, FL (December 9, 2008)—The North Florida Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS-NFL) will add a new fundraiser to their roster of events beginning in 2009. The MS Mud Run Jacksonville will be held February 28, 2009, marking the first time an event of this type will be held in Northeast Florida, announced Jennifer Lee, President of NMSS-NFL.

The MS Mud Run Jacksonville is a 10K, boot camp-style obstacle course race, with most of the obstacles surrounded by (or consisting entirely of) mud. Individuals, teams of two and teams of five will compete for prizes and the satisfaction of a doing a dirty job very well. “The point is not to finish fast, but to finish with style,” said Lee.

“Mud Runs and similar events have been established in many cities around the country and have been quite successful, with thousands of people participating” added Lee. “We thought this type of event would be a great addition to our fundraising efforts and provide a terrific entertainment opportunity to participants and spectators alike here in Northeast Florida. And it’s a perfect tie-in to the MS positioning of “Join the Movement.’”

NMSS-NFL is well known for its Walk event in the Spring and its Bike event in the Fall. These events, with others, helped the Chapter raise $2.2 million for MS programs and research during 2008.

The MS Mud Run Jacksonville will be held on a parcel of open property at Cecil Commerce Center, from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM on February 28, 2009. Food and beverage vendors will be available and entertainment is planned throughout the day to provide a festival atmosphere for the event. A registration Web site will be available beginning January 1, 2009 at www.mudrunjax.com. Registration fees are $40 per person and each participant will agree to raise a minimum of $100 for NMSS-NFL. Simple online fundraising tools will be available to participants to help them make the fundraising easy.

Volunteer opportunities and event sponsorships are available for individuals and companies wanting to become involved. For information about volunteering, sponsorships or the event in general, visit www.nationalmssociety.org/FLN or call (904) 332-6810.

Record Number of Injured Sea Turtles at South Carolina Aquarium

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Twelve patients representing three sea turtle species currently under the expert care of the Sea Turtle Rescue Program

Photo By: Barbara Bergwerf

Photo by: Barbara BergwerfCharleston, S.C. – December 12, 2008 – The November arrival of four cold stunned sea turtles has broken the 2007 record of 11 patients in the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital at one time. Two green sea turtles and two loggerhead sea turtles were admitted to the hospital after the recent onslaught of cold weather which lead to the major cold-stunning event in North Carolina. Hard shelled sea turtles rely on their surroundings to regulate their body temperature and sudden temperature drops in the waters cause them to become lethargic and immobile. This makes migration to warmer waters, a necessity for their survival, impossible. Over 65 sea turtles suffered cold-stunning and stranded on North Carolina beaches. Despite the Aquarium’s hospital being essentially at capacity, staff responded to the need, working quickly to adjust animal and tank locations in order to provide relief to the inundated North Carolina rehabilitation facilities.

Transported from North Carolina by DuBose Griffin from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the four sea turtles received treatment immediately upon arrival. Dr. Shane Boylan, Aquarium staff veterinarian, admitted the turtles and began slowly warming their core temperatures, providing vitamin and antibiotic injections to prevent pneumonia.

“The new patients are doing well,” said Kelly Thorvalson, Sea Turtle Rescue Program Coordinator. “The greens have been a little slower to respond but all have started to show an interest in food, which is a really good sign. It’s an exciting time to come to work,” remarked Thorvalson. “Every day the Hospital operates, the Aquarium is making a difference far greater than just these twelve – we’re doing our part to help save the species.”

Even with over 14 turtle hospital volunteers, care for the twelve turtles costs over $350 a day, an all-time high for the Aquarium’s hospital, a private non-profit . To help support the Hospital, the Aquarium is offering holiday gifts that will delight any turtle lover, give the opportunity to be a Turtle Hospital Nurse, or share a Turtle Lovers Gift Basket.

Turtle Lovers Gift Basket
Delight the turtle fan in your life with this great gift basket featuring exclusive items including personally autographed copies of New York Times Best-Selling Author Mary Alice Monroe’s books, complimentary general admission for two to the South Carolina Aquarium and two tickets for a private Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Sea Turtle Hospital.

Turtle Hospital Nurse
Join the team and get up close to sea turtles at the South Carolina Aquarium’s Turtle Hospital. Help feed and care for the Aquarium’s rescued sea turtle patients at South Carolina’s only dedicated sea turtle rehabilitation facility. This incredible gift
offers a truly memorable opportunity to help endangered and threatened sea turtles recover from critical injuries.
To get an up-close look at all twelve patients, representing three species of sea turtles, the Aquarium is offering exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Hospital throughout the holidays to all Aquarium visitors. The tours, conducted on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1:00 pm, offer a firsthand look at the efforts of the Aquarium’s team of trained professionals as they care for sick and injured sea turtles each day through the Aquarium’s renowned Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Attendees will meet the Hospital’s current “patients,” and hear about the intensive treatment and daily care that help to nurse the vulnerable turtles back to health. Tickets to the Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Turtle Hospital can be purchased on-site at Aquarium admissions or by phone: (843) 577-FISH (3474). Advance reservations are recommended. For more information on tickets and prices, please visit: scaquarium.org.

The South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program helps to ensure that sea turtles have a vibrant future in our oceans. When an unhealthy or injured sea turtle is found along the coast, it is brought to the Turtle Hospital by the Department of Natural Resources where staff and volunteers monitor and take care of this threatened animal in the Aquarium’s state-of-the-art facility. The Turtle Hospital is the only dedicated turtle rescue and rehabilitation facility in South Carolina. Thirty-two rehabilitated sea turtles have been successfully released to the wild as a result of the Program. The Turtle Hospital and Sea Turtle Rescue Program, a conservation program of the South Carolina Aquarium, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, is currently caring for 12 sea turtles of three different species.

For more information on the South Carolina Aquarium visit http://www.scaquarium.org/