Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

National Maritime Day – St. Augustine, Florida

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Celebrate National Maritime Day at the St. Augustine Lighthouse on Saturday May 22, 2010. with a musical program entitled Let the Waves Roll High!

Explore the history of the historic light station and at 3 p.m. set sail to a shanty hear bold tales and foc’sle tunes suitable for he entire family while learning about life aboard a tall ship during days gone by.

Admission is $9 adults, $7 children 12 and under and $7.50 for seniors. Admission is always half-price for St. Johns County residents with proof of address. For more information, call 904.829.0745 x208.

The Players Championship 2010 at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra

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The 2010 THE PLAYERS Championship at the TPC Sawgrass takes place on May 6th – 9th, 2010, in Ponte Vedra Beach.

golfThe creation of TPC Sawgrass as host to THE PLAYERS was based on a few unique concepts. First, it would be the permanent home of THE PLAYERS, and it would be owned by the player. The course would be built with spectators in mind creating the first true “Stadium Course,” designed especially for the  fan experience.  Then the TPC would be a course of great design and character accessible all all golf fans. All these ideas were combined into the design.

The famous golf course architect Pete Dye was assigned the task. Commissioner Deane Beman wanted a course design that would favor no particular player or style of play. To meet this goal, an extensive effort was made to design a balanced golf course. There had to be a selection of short, medium and long holes within the categories of par-3s, par-4s and par-5s. There had to be both right and left doglegs. The course routing was laid out so no two consecutive holes ever played in the same direction.

National Coastal Educator to Headline May 1 Fair

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Daylong Environmental Education Fair Hosted by Friends of A1A

A nationally acclaimed presenter, Michael Klubock, will serve as the guest speaker and lead a beach clean-up at the Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway’s first ever Environmental Education Fair on Sat., May 1 in Marineland.

Klubock is the Founder and Executive Director of the Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education and his specialty is inspiring youth to become good stewards of the coastal environment.

The event, which is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will be at the University of Florida Whitney Labs on the west side of SR A1A in the Town of Marineland. Registration for the free event begins at 8:30 a.m. and it is expected to draw 500 persons, ranging from environmental advocates to families and children.

Klubock said he shares with his audiences the impact that carelessness – such as leaving broken lawn chairs on the beach or cutting fishing line and tossing it into the ocean – can have on the coastal environment.

“Litter is a thing that is visible,” he said. “If people realize that one piece of trash has importance, that’s one more level of protection. We have to honor and appreciate the beauty of our environment and with that love and beauty comes protection.”

In the afternoon, Klubock will lead the event participants on a short beach clean-up that will conclude with an aerial fly over to photograph the event.

Other activities will include 14 indoor and in-the-field workshops, 40 exhibitor and vendor booths, science fair projects, environmental activities, storytelling, clowns and face-painting and music.

Friends of A1A is a non-profit organization that implements the corridor management plan for improvements along the 72-mile Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway through St. Johns and Flagler counties.

The Master of Ceremonies will be Frank Gromling, an author, radio host of “Cover to Cover” on WNZF and publisher for Ocean Publishing in Flagler Beach. Others expected to be on hand at the Fair are the Mayor of Marineland, Jim Netherton, and the President of Friends of A1A, Barbara Jenness.

Box lunches ($5) and beverages will be available on-site for a nominal charge. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information about the Environmental Education Fair please visit www.scenica1a.org or call the Friends of A1A at 904.425.8055 in St. Johns County or 386.585.3679 in Flagler County.

Friends of A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway protects, preserves, and enhances resources along the A1A National Scenic Byway. This citizen’s advocacy group partners with municipalities, governmental agencies and other civic groups to maintain and improve resources along the corridor.

Designated in 2002, the Byway is rich in history, nature, archeology, culture, scenery and recreation. The Friends of A1A’s efforts benefit residents and travelers alike by maintaining the identified intrinsic resources while allowing economic development.

Taste of St Augustine 2010

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Savor the unique tastes of St. Augustine during this flavorful event that showcases more than 30 area restaurant’s signature dishes. All the fun takes place at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, which will be transformed into a culinary marketplace offering the participating restaurants “signature tastes” as well as cookbooks, cooking equipment and other specialty food items.

Throughout the afternoon and evening restaurants are judged for the “best of” ‘upscale dining’, ‘ethnic tastes’, ‘family dining’, ‘desserts’, and ‘The People’s Choice Award’.

New this year is the “Race to the Taste” – A 5K run starting at Anastasia State Park and ending at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre (with an off-road course set on the park’s trails). The only 5K in St. Augustine tied to an extraordinary culinary event. Registration is $20 in advance, $25 day of.

Admission is $5 and taste tickets are $1 each with restaurants charging between 1 and 5 tickets per taste.

Saturday, Apr. 24, 2010 Noon to 8 p.m.
St Augustine Amphitheater, 350 A1A Beach Boulevard, St. Augustine, FL
904.829.3295

15th Annual Gamble Rogers Folk Festival – St Augustine, Fl

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Experience the very best in folk music at this annual three-day festival starting on Friday, Apr. 30 and continuing through Sunday, May. 2, 2010 in St. Augustine, Florida. This event celebrates he music, stories and dance that made Gamble Rogers famous. This year, Gamble Rogers Folk Festival performance will take place at a variety of Downtown St. Augustine venues. Headlining artists include Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Loudon Wainwright III, John Cowan Band, Janis Ian, Greg Brown, Pierce Pettis, Patty Larkin, Catie Curtis, Ellis Paul, Michael Johnathon, Michael Smith, David Wilcox, Mark Erelli, Danny Schmidt, Peta Brown, Doug & Telisha Williams, Antje Duvekot, Cheryl Wheeler, The Farewell Drifters, & Sam Pacetti.

Various Downtown St. Augustine Locations
Admission: $59.50 for advance 3 day passes, $29.50 for Friday Night, $19.50 for Saturday DAY, $29.50 for Saturday NIGHT, & $19.50 for Sunday day.

For more information visit www.gamblerogersfest.org