2018 I Love Edisto Auction - Edisto Island Open Land Trust

An army of volunteers helps on EIOLT auction night!

Live Auction Item - Nice!!

The Edisto Island Open Land Trust continues to grow each year with a rising tide of programs that benefit the community such as public lectures and young naturalist training. Many members of the land trust are local landowners that have already conserved private properties, but the organization continues to add members and expand their reach. The sold out I Love Edisto party and auction on June 23 is about fundraising efforts that protect both tracts of land and historical structures. Another opportunity to join in the fun and support conservation comes November 11 during the EIOLT annual oyster roast.

EIOLT Director John Girault spoke from the stage to thank the Town of Edisto Beach for their help in securing the Edisto Civic Center. Edisto Mayor Jane Darby is just one of the longtime volunteers for the I Love Edisto auction. “EIOLT works to protect Edisto Island so that future generations can enjoy this beautiful place,” said Darby. “I enjoy working each of their events because I know that I am contributing in some small way to their preservation mission.” This same sentiment resonates with many of the regular EIOLT supporters.

Salt marsh Society Members
Brian and Aleta Riesberg

VIP's Kirby Tupper and Wendy Griffin

A birding trip to a local rookery in ColletonCounty, is the type of item that can only be found at this EIOLT event. A sculpture of an American Oystercatcher by a master woodcarver on the auction drives home the message of habitat protection. A handmade potting bench, shooting lessons, cordless yardwork equipment, and a week’s stay at a mountain cottage are just a few more of the items that drove the bidding up. A focus on the Hutchinson House project provided bidders a chance to fund a safe viewing area. It’s exciting to think about how preserving the past, and protecting precious natural resources, is uniting many voices to join the chorus of conservation at the Edisto Island Open Land Trust.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view a past blog entries about EIOLT click 2018 Coastal Geology Lecture - 2017 Oyster Roast - 2017 Lowcountry Landscape Lecture with Richard Porcher - 2017 I Love Edisto Auction - 2017 Tomato Open - 2016 Oyster Roast - 2014 Oyster Roast - 2014 Spring Birding - 2013 Oyster Roast - 2012 ACE Basin Mtg. - 2009 Spring Birding with Patrick McMillan

To view past blog about the Edisto Chamber Business of the Year click on 2017 - 2016

To view past blog entries from 2017 at Edisto click on Holiday Business After Hours - Billfish Tourney - Bingo - Jim Bost Memorial - Shark Tourney

To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Serpentarium - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book 

2018 Edisto Chamber of Commerce - Business of the Year

Lisa Harrell congratulates Wilbur, Florence and
Jerome Kizer of the Edistonian

Local business leaders and members of the Edisto Chamber of Commerce gathered for their annual dinner meeting on Wednesday June 13, The Edisto Civic Center meeting facility is a comfortable setting to enjoy light refreshments during a cocktail hour, followed by recognition of town officials and an invocation before supper. After a review of the past calendar year Executive Director Lisa Harrell recognized The Edistonian as the 2018 Business of the Year, citing three generations of ownership.

           

Jack DiLuna, Lisa Harrell and Geno Middleton

“The Business of the Year nominees are chosen by the chamber board, and then the chamber members are asked to cast ballots to determine the winner,” said Harrell. Edistonian owner Jerome Kizer came to the stage to accept a plaque from Harrell, but quickly recognized his mother in the audience with other family members and employees. Whether one needs gasoline, groceries, beach items or even home decorum the Edistonian remains a great place for one-stop shopping on Edisto Island.

            

“Our Martha Whetstone Service Award goes to the founders of the Edisto Island Youth Recreation program, Geno Middleton and Jack DiLuna,” said Harrell. When these two gentlemen came to the stage, they shared how island youth are having a tough time finding facilities to play ball games and how grateful they are for community support from local churches and the Edisto Chamber. The need to provide safe community gatherings for active youth is only increasing, and the youth recreation program is raising awareness for the future.

To view the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past blog about the Edisto Chamber Business of the Year click on 2017 - 2016

To view past blog entries from 2017 at Edisto click on Holiday Business After Hours - EIOLT Oyster Roast - Billfish Tourney - Bingo - Tomato Open - I Love Edisto Auction - Jim Bost Memorial - Shark Tourney

To view past blog entries from 2016 at Edisto click on Serpentarium - Jim Bost Memorial - Dolphin Slam - Cobia Tourney - Spring Shorebird Synergy - Bovine Bones on Beach - Edisto River book 

2018 Grosse Savanne EcoTour in Louisiana Outback

Roseate Spoonbills posturing at their rookery

The migration of neo-tropical songbirds in spring makes the avid birdwatcher giddy with anticipation of viewing buntings, tanagers and warblers. Larger wading birds congregate in nesting colonies known as rookeries, safe areas to raise their young feathered flock. A recent trip to Southwest Louisiana delivered an up close viewing experience for both scenarios during an eco tour at Grosse Savanne, including prothonotary warblers and roseate spoonbills.

            

Bobby Jordan and I spot birds using teamwork

My first visit to Grosse Savanne came in the Fall of 2013 for a saltwater fishing excursion, learning that the 50,000-acre property owned by Sweet Lake Oil Company is under the stewardship of Field Operations Manager Doug Miller. He is a graduate of McNeese State, located in nearby Lake Charles, and he serves on the Ducks Unlimited USA Rice Partnership Committee. Eco-tourism manager Bobby Jordan took us to the rookeries at Grosse Savanne and explained that the property has three main components. “We have a large cattle operation here, we run hunting and fishing trips out of our lodge, and we provide ecotourism experiences,” said Jordan.

            

Protonotary warbler is a neotropical migratory songbird

Our drive from the field office to the rookery location illustrated his message, passing freshly sprouting rice fields and a cattle drive under the watchful eye of cowboys on horseback. Spring is also crawfish production season and they have many shallow impoundments flooded with enough water to cover their array of crawfish traps. Switching out of a pick up truck and into a UTV vehicle Jordan drove us the rest of the way down a muddy dike which had been freshly topped with fill dirt. When his keen ear picked up a familiar note he hit the brakes and a vibrant yellow prothonotary warbler posed on the edge of the wood line for us to admire.

            

“The warblers have been here for about two weeks now, and they are arriving after crossing over the Gulf of Mexico,” said Jordan. Just then a large pink bird flew over, causing us to crane our necks for a glimpse. “I don’t want to give away anything, but we have a ways to go down this road yet, and I think you will like what you find.” The swamp here is rich with wildlife and we stopped to view a large rat snake, a nutria and alligators along the way, before the road ended and Jordan led us down a trail he cleared by hand.

            

Gator covered in duckweed at bird rookery

“We don’t disturb this area very much so expect to see some larger alligators,” said Jordan. Sure enough a 10-foot alligator covered in green duck weed was lying still on the opposite bank. A few steps more and Eureka! The scrub shrub habitat gave way to a grove of small cypress trees surrounded by swamp water with each tree holding clusters of nesting roseate spoonbills, and a few other species too. “The rookeries here are active in April and May and by late April we have the first chicks hatching in the nests.”

            

Little blue herons, snowy egrets, great egrets, block-crowned night herons and cattle egrets occupied some tree limbs but the larger pink spoonbills seemed to dominate this rookery. Despite some biting horseflies, this part of the Creole Nature Trail did not exact too heavy a price on us, and we were able to use binoculars and cameras to record some beautiful visuals while standing on firm ground very near to the nests. The fact that some birds were still building nests while others already had produced chicks meant that we saw a very active day at the rookery with lots of posturing and flying, always keeping the picturesque pink birds posing perfectly.

Published June of 2018 in Charleston Mercury

To view past blog entries from Grosse Savanne click on 2013 EcoTour - 2013 Redfishing

To view past blog entries about saltwater fishing in SW La. click on 2018 Bull Reds in Bad Weather at Calcasieu Pass - 2013 Sheepshead Slam in Black Bayou 

To view past blog entries from Louisiana click on 2018 Lake Charles Seafood with Chef Lyle Broussard - 2010 Houma Duck Hunt - 2013 New Orleans Dining - 2013 Audubon Aquarium -  2015 Crawfish Etouffe / Tony Chachere - 2017 Audubon Insectarium - 2017 Rue Royal Dining - 2017 Photo Journal 

2018 Jim Bost Memorial Won by Change Order

Second place youth angler
from Tina's Trippin' and 17.4-pound mahi

The Marina at Edisto Beach hosted the annual offshore tourney on June 16 that honors the memory of Jim Bost, a longtime Edisto resident and affirmed bluewater fisherman. Ten boats elected to head out to sea in calm and hot conditions, and marina manager Brian Bell commits a portion of the tourney proceeds to conservation via the Harry Hampton Fund. The first place dolphin weighed 24-pounds and was reeled in by Clayton Stoddard on Change Order, earning Captain Carl Brown and crew the $1200 first place pay day.

T-shirts available in Ship's Store

Change Order crew with First Place dolphin

The second place dolphin weighed 20.9-pounds and was caught by youth angler Greyson Bullard aboard the Laid Back. Third Place went to a 19.6-pound dolphin caught from Keepin' it Reel.

The first place Lady Angler went to Mary Hunter Brown aboard Change Order for her 4.4-pound mahi mahi.

The Harry Hampton Fund received $1680 to continue its work supporting the marine resources of South Carolina. All photos are by Madelyn Harrell.

To view past blog entries from the Jim Bost Memorial click on 2017 - 2016

To view past blog entries on Migratory dolphin off S.C. click 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2007

To view past blog entries from the Edisto Billfish tourney click on 2017 - 2016- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

Nice Dolphin Right Here!!

2018 Ford EcoSport Titanium to WNC Nature Center

Rear hatch swing door allows good access to your supplies

Asheville's Wildlife Park

There is a current TV commercial about the 2018 EcoSport, and I can report that after driving the Titanium 4WD model up to Asheville, this compact SUV is just a neat vehicle with nice technology. Fun, capable and connected is the pitch from Ford Motor Co. and the EcoSport delivers. Heading up the Saluda grade into Western North Carolina, older cars were making their way to the right side lanes, but this Ford never tired of the fast lane. I utilized the 8-inch touchscreen to switch between navigation and satellite radio, heading for my first visit to Asheville's Wildlife Park.

EcoSport with moonroof crossing Gashes Creek Bridge

A public swimming pool facility adjacent to the WNC Nature Center was jam packed with folks looking to cool off in the summer sun. One keeps driving uphill to reach the Nature Center, which is nestled among a public soccer field complex and the winding Gashes Creek near Swannoa. The Southern Appalachian Mountains are the reason for this facility, and the desire to provide a connection between that ecosystem and the public, including an exhibit with over 60 species of animals on a 42-acre campus. The facility is run by the Asheville Parks and Recreation Department and is a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Sync 3 Dash system features voice-recognition,
Apple Car Play, 911 Assist and Valet Mode

The Lightening Blue color and the ebony black leather seats go well together. The 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with a 6-speed automatic with select shift run smooth, providing great gas milage that goes 27 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Push to start ignition and rain-sensing wipers are just a couple of the modern conveniences on this Ford. The air conditioning has a nee MAX A/C button that works well when just getting into a hot car that needs cooling, or perhaps roll back the moonroof to get a larger puff of outside air. You can't drive with the rear hatch swing door open, but when trunk access is required this is such a good feature - and not just your ordinary fifth-door option.

To view past blog entires about Ford Motor Co. click on 2017 Raptor