Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Week of Valor in Jacksonville, Florida

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Week of Valor is held November 4-12, 2009 in Jacksonville, Florida. The week begins with the arrival of the Blue Angels on Wednesday, November 4, and ends with the Veterans Day Parade on Wednesday, November 11.

The Week of Valor will highlight the Sea and Sky Spectacular and Veterans Day Parade as well as ship tours aboard Navy and U.S. Coast Guard vessels, speakers bureau, featured assets from military branches, military movies, and more.

The community is encouraged to wear patriotic colors, raise your American Flag high and show the nation how Jacksonville honors and celebrates our military community!

Week of Valor Nov 4-12, 2009


WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4
Sound of Freedom Navy Band during the First Wednesday Artwalk downtown.

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5
Make A Scene Downtown Movie
A military-themed movie will be shown on the side of the CSX building.
Northbank Riverfront Park, 7:30 p.m. Men of Honor
Bring your picnic baskets, folding chairs and blankets and enjoy a free movie.
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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6
Search and Rescue Demonstration

Noon in front of The Jacksonville Landing on the St. Johns River.
Fri Nov 6 – HSL-48 at noon

Jacksonville Sea and Sky Spectacular Pre-Flight Party
Seawalk Pavilion, 6-10 p.m.
Meet and Greet: get an autograph from your favorite performers

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SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7
Sea & Sky Spectacular 9 am – 3.30 pm

USS Klakring
(This vessel is not ADA compliant)
Northbank Riverfront
U.S. Navy frigate available for free guided ship tours.
Tour Hours: 1-5 p.m.Visit the website for more details.

Search and Rescue Demonstration
in front of The Jacksonville Landing on the St. Johns River.
Sat Nov 7 – HSL-60 at 3 pm

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SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8
Sea & Sky Spectacular

USS Klakring
(This vessel is not ADA compliant)
Northbank Riverfront
U.S. Navy frigate available for free guided ship tours.
Tour Hours: 9 am – 1 p.m.Visit the website for more details.
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MONDAY NOVEMBER 9

USS Klakring
(This vessel is not ADA compliant)
Northbank Riverfront
U.S. Navy frigate available for free guided ship tours.
Tour Hours: 1-5 p.m.Visit the website for more details.

Vietnam Veteran Recognition Ceremony
10 a.m. at NAS Jacksonville, Hanger 117
Ceremony to recognize Vietnam Veterans hosted by Congressman Ander Crenshaw.

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TUESDAY NOVEMBER 10
USS Klakring
(This vessel is not ADA compliant)
Northbank Riverfront
U.S. Navy frigate available for free guided ship tours.
Tour Hours: 1-5 p.m.Visit the website for more details.

USCGC Maria Bray
(This vessel is not ADA compliant)
Northbank Riverfront
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter available for free guided ship tours.
Tour hours: 11 a.m. – noon; 1-5 p.m.

USCGC Shrike
Northbank Riverfront
11 am – noon and 1-5 pm

Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce 7th Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon
Prime Osborn Convention Center. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m.; Luncheon is from noon-1:30 p.m.
Tickets: Civilians – $30 Active Duty/Reservists/Veteran Units – $25. corporate Tables available.

Mayor’s Older Buddies Meeting
Metropolitan Park – 10:30 a.m.

Make A Scene Downtown Movie
Northbank Riverfront Park, 7:30 p.m.
Free and open to the public. Bring your picnic baskets, folding chairs and blankets and sit back and relax while you enjoy the feature presentation of Night at the Museum 2.

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WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 11
Veterans Day Parade
11:01 a.m. Downtown Jacksonville
This year’s parade honors our veterans with military units, marching bands, decorative floats, giant balloons, JROTC units, and more!
Live entertainment in front of the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts
-  Orange Blossom Performers – 9:45 a.m.
-  Jacksonville Harmony Show Chorus – 10:30 a.m.
-  Rebecca Hewitt – 10:45 a.m.
The parade will begin at the Prime Osborn Convention Cneter, continue down Water St., left on Newnan Street to Bay Street and will end at the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Make A Scene Downtown Documentaries
Military-themed documentaries shown in the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts – Terry Theater
Movies begin at 1 p.m. and will show throughout the day.
-  Fly Girls
-  The Tuskegee Airmen
-  Aircraft Carrier!

USS Klakring
(This vessel is not ADA compliant)
Northbank Riverfront
U.S. Navy frigate available for free guided ship tours.
Tour Hours: 1-5 p.m.Visit the website for more details.

USCGC Maria Bray
(This vessel is not ADA compliant)
Northbank Riverfront
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter available for free guided ship tours.
Tour hours: 9 a.m. – noon; 1-5 p.m.

USCGC Shrike
Northbank Riverfront
9 am – noon and 1-5 pm

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12
USS Klakring
(This vessel is not ADA compliant)
Northbank Riverfront
U.S. Navy frigate available for free guided ship tours.
Tour Hours: 1-5 p.m.Visit the website for more details.

Check the official website for Valor Week Event updates

Week-of-Valor

CoastFest 2009 – Brunswick, Georgia

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CoastFest is a family-oriented environmental festival where participants learn about Georgia’s coastal resources and have some fun at the same time. CoastFest 2009 takes place on Saturday October 3, 2009 from 10.00 am – 4.00 pm in Brunswick, GA. Admission is free, so it’s perfect for the family!

Each year more than 7,000 visitors come to the festival to learn about our nature and the coastal environment. This year you’ll find exibits from over 85 area coastal, environmental, educational and resource organizations.

coastfest Brunswick Georgia

Since 1995, Coastal Resources Division in support of the three-week national ‘CoastWeeks’ event held in all 50 states to celebrate the nation’s waters and shorelines has hosted CoastFest on the first Saturday in October.

Art Activities for Kids, Cannon firing demonstrations, Creek Indian encampement, face painting, Living history demonstrations, Touch tanks and much more.

Program Schedule:
10.30 Magician
11.00 Birds of Prey
12.00 Creek Indian Heritage
12.30 Magician
1.00 Creek Indian Heritage
1.45 Magician
2.30 Snakes
3.15 Creek Indian Heritage

Where is CoastFest?
Department of Natural Resources HeadQuarters, Conservation Way at US 17 South, Brunwick
Near Sidney Lanier bridge

For more information call 912-264-7218
www.coastalGaDNR.org

2009 Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival

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The 5th annual Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival takes place October 18-25, 2009. Discover “Where Fine Art & the Bounty of The Sea Come Together,” during a week long event showcasing locally harvested seafood, Low country cuisine, area andregional artists, live music and entertainment, fishing tournament, boat tours, children’s
activities, fireworks and more.
The festivities begin on the May River with the Blessing of the Fleet and Boat Parade at 2 pm at historic Church of the Cross on Sunday, October 18. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the Gospel Music on the bluff or join the parade in your own boat.

Monday again focuses on our local waterways as Al Stokes, Manager/Wildlife Biologist IV, presents a tour of the Waddell Mariculture Center during a seafood “lunch and learn” event from 10:00 am until 12:30 pm. The Bluffton Oyster Company will provide the delicious lunch buffet on the grounds of the center at Victoria Bluff. Tickets are $25.00 a person and can be reserved by calling 843.815.6278.

Wednesday night at six at Seven Oaks, Mary Alice Monroe, the New York

Bluffton Art and Seafood Festival, South Carolina

Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including Time is a River, Sweetgrass, Skyward, The Beach House, The Four Seasons, and The Book Club, will discuss her newest novel, LAST LIGHT OVER CAROLINA, which masterfully takes readers back to the South, to a shrimping community on the coast of South Carolina, and into the lives of a shrimper family. Also on hand will be Larry & Tina Toomer, owners of the Bluffton Oyster Company, who will share their personal experiences as a local couple involved in the shrimping industry. No charge but reservations only, 843-815-6278; donations to Friends
of the Rivers will gladly be accepted.

On Saturday, October 24, the two-day open-air street festival of visual and performing arts opens at 10 a.m. in Historic Downtown Bluffton. More than 50 by invitation-only artists from near and far will be showcasing their talents in all media. The Street Art Market continues until 5 p.m. and resumes again on Sunday, October 25 at 10
a.m. Musicians at several stages throughout the historic district will be performing along with strolling entertainers. Over twenty restaurants will also line the downtown streets offering a true taste of the Low Country.
Saturday night, Rockin’ on the Dock, a Seafood Extravaganza with music by the B-Town Playaz is scheduled at the Bluffton Oyster Company from 5:30 -8:30 p.m. capped off with a fireworks finale at dusk.

For details and a complete schedule of events, call (843)-757-2583 or go online to www.blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.com.

Bluffton Seafood Festival

Folly Beach Fishing Pier Tournament Sept 26th, Charleston

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Folly Beach Fishing Pier is said to be one of the best destinations in the Lowcountry for pier fishing. So why not make a trip out to Folly Beach and try it out for yourself?

On Saturday, September 26 you can participate in the monthly Pier Tournament at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier. This is the last pier tournament of the summer so you don’t want to miss your chance to win! Prizes will be awarded for Big Fish 1, 2, and 3, and King Mackerel categories.

Registration fee is $12 ages 13 and up, $7 ages 3-12, and $14 for King Mackerel. Registration for all tournaments begins at 6:00am and takes place on-site only. Tournaments end at 4:00pm and prizes are awarded at 4:15pm.

For information call the Folly Beach Fishing Pier at (843) 588-FISH (3474) or visit www.follyfishingpier.com.

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Folly Beach Fishing Pier Charleston South Carolina

Experience the Okefenokee Swamp by Kayak

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Okefenokee Swamp near Waycross, Georgia, is just fascinating. The landscape itself is fascinating with the black water and the reflections of the trees in the surface. You can see  birds everywhere; herons, egrets, ibis, and more depending on the time of year.

You can  paddled through the canals, and there are trails meandering through prairies filled with aquatic plants and bordered by islands of grasses, shrubs and trees. The swamp is basically a large basin filled almost entirely by rainwater. The still water retards

Okeefenokee Swamp
Tom Monahan, Up The Creek Trips

organic decay and creates a peat layer on the bottom supposedly several feet thick. This peat layer has accumulated over thousands of years. When the peat dislodges, rises to the surface and forms floating islands. Grasses come  first , then shrubs and then eventually trees such as the Cypress. “Okefenokee” is an indian word that means “Land of the Trembling Earth”.

Suwanee canal
Long canals in the swamp

Periodic fires rage the landscape and return areas to prairies, but the swamp always bounces back. It’s the never-ending circle of life for the swamp.
It’s very still, and very quiet, except for the occasional splash in the water from a fish, turtle or maybe alligator, or the birds. This landscape has looked the same for a very long time. You can’t hear traffic, it’s just peaceful and quiet. But then of course, a plane will fly by and remind you that you’re actually living in the 21th century after all.

Our favorite outfitter is Up the Creek Xpeditions from St Marys. They run a guided kayak tour through the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, and sometimes they even go out at night. For more information visit www.upthecreektrips.com or call 912.882.0911

Alligator babies are hatching in August, and fall migration starts in September. So make your plans to visit this beautiful area!









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Click here to view the brochure for the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge, it has some beautiful photos in it!

Photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development