Archaeologists Search for 400-Year-Old Spanish Mission on St. Simons Island

March 20, 2012 in Knowledge, Local Community, Nature | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

St. Simons Island, Georgia has a rich history spanning from Native Americans to Spanish Missions to the Plantation Era through today. For several days this month, UNF archeologists searched oceanfront Neptune Park for evidence of a lost Spanish mission. Archaeologists searched for the Santa Cruz y San Buenaventura de Guadalaquini Mission that was located on the south end of St. Simons Island from 1606 until 1684.

Historical documents indicate the Spanish mission was located on the south end of St. Simons Island and UNF archaeologists believe Neptune Park and adjacent lighthouse area was a prime candidate because of the deep, natural channel just off the beach, where ships could get close to land.

The archaeologists were looking for evidence of Spanish pottery, pieces of olive jars and Spanish tableware suggestive of a mission site. After digging a grid of holes, the team found no signs of the 400-year-old mission at the Neptune Park site. The dig did, however, uncover plenty of Native American pottery.

In the second half of the 16th century, Spain established religious outposts in Florida and Georgia in order to spread Christianity to native inhabitants. Today, some of the mission locations are known, while others remain lost.

Source articles:

The Florida Times-Union – March 5, 2012

The Florida Times-Union – March 14, 2012

Hodnett Cooper’s 3rd Annual Bustier Cabaret

March 19, 2012 in Charity Events, Local Community | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Join the ladies of Hodnett Cooper at Ziggy Mahoney’s on March 24, 2011 for an unforgettable evening… the third annual Bustier Cabaret, a fashion show benefiting the American Cancer Societys Relay for Life.

Tickets are $10 in advance, available at Hodnett Cooper (520 Ocean Boulevard), or $12 at the door. Live music by “3 of Us.” A great time for a great cause!

What:      BRAS FOR THE CAUSE, the 3rd Annual Bustier Cabaret

Where:   Ziggy Mahoney’s – 206 Retreat Village (Winn Dixie shopping center), St. Simons Island, Georgia

When:    Saturday, March 24, 2011, 7:30-9:30 pm

Why:      Benefiting the American Cancer Society

Where to Retire? A Husband and Wife’s Journey to Decide

March 12, 2012 in Blog Info, Local Community, Retirement | Tags: , | Leave a comment

We really enjoyed this two-part article in the Florida Times Union written by Bill Besser. After six years of investigative travel and countless discussions, he and his wife have narrowed their retirement location to two island spots: St. Simons Island, Georgia and Sanibel Island, Florida. With his wife leaning toward St. Simons and Bill leaning toward Sanibel, the articles detail their consideration process. They agree to decide after a tie-breaking visit to each island. With a love for both destinations, they consider housing costs, healthcare, the community, activities for the grandchildren, opportunities to get involved, restaurants and fishing.

Clearly struggling with the decision, read through their process to see which of two islands they’ve chosen to call home.

Part 1:  St. Simons Island, Georgia

Part 2: Sanibel Island, Florida

 

Panko Crusted Lump Crab Cakes with Saffron Aioli

March 9, 2012 in Food and Restaurants, Recipes | Tags: , | Leave a comment

by Guerry Norwood

Crab Cake Ingredients

  • 16 ounces lump crab meat
  • 1/4 cup finely diced celery
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh chives
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 1/4 cups panko (see notes) or fine dried bread crumbs
  • Saffron Aioli (recipe follows)
  • Fresh chives, rinsed and cut into 1-inch lengths

Preparation

  1. Sort through crab and discard any bits of shell.
  2. In a large bowl, combine celery, minced chives, mayonnaise, egg, mustard, and hot sauce; mix well trying not to break up lump crab.. Add crab and 1/4 cup panko; stir gently just to mix.
  3. Put remaining 1 cup panko in a shallow bowl. Shape crab mixture into 6 to 8 cake. Turn each cake in panko to coat on all sides, pressing gently to make crumbs adhere. Place cakes slightly apart in an oiled 12- by 17-inch baking pan.
  4. Bake in a 475° regular or convection oven until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. With a spatula, transfer crab cakes to a platter. Spoon a dollop of Saffron Aioli onto each cake. Garnish platter with fresh chives. Serve hot.

Saffron Aioli Ingredients

  • Tiny pinch saffron threads, about 20 strands
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons warm water
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup “Georgia” extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

In a small bowl, soak the saffron threads in the warm water for 20 minutes. In a deep bowl, combine the egg yolks, garlic, and salt, and whisk to combine. Very slowly, dribble in the olive oil, whisking all the time. You can add the oil a bit more quickly after about half has been absorbed, but go very slowly at first or the mayonnaise may “break.”

Add the saffron and its soaking water, then use the lemon juice to swirl around in the saffron-soaking bowl to catch any remaining saffron essence. Whisk the lemon juice into the aioli. Add a few grinds of pepper. The aioli should be made at least 4 hours before using, and will keep, refrigerated, for up to 48 hours.

European Fallow Deer Sightings on St. Simons Island

March 7, 2012 in Knowledge, Local Community, Nature | Tags: , | Leave a comment

by Guerry Norwood

Recently there have been a number of deer sighting all over St Simons Island. The deer are more prevalent on the less populated north end of St Simons Island, but recently they have been spotted all over the Island.

European fallow deer are found here on the Georgia Coast and come in three colors—dark brown, white and spotted. Just because a female fallow deer is one color does not mean her offspring will be the same color. In fact, she could give birth to any of the three color phases. Male fallow deer have a palmed antler much like that of a moose. If the antler is nine inches across, it is considered to be a good-sized antler. These antlers will fall off each year and regrow in the spring. Their first antlers typically are unbranched spikes. Deer two to four years of age usually produce slightly larger antlers with more points. Their antlers become palmated and have many points once a buck reaches five or six years of age. Antler size usually increases as bucks grow older. Deer five to nine years old produce the largest antlers.

At birth, fawns have a coat slightly darker than the common color phase spotted with white. Newborn fawns weigh about eight to eleven pounds. Adult females (does) weigh between 65 and 100 pounds; adult bucks usually weigh between 175 and 225 pounds. Does tend to reach their maximum size between four to six years of age and bucks reach maximum body size at five to nine years of age. Fallow deer live in herds of around 70 members and prefer to live in wooded and marsh areas. They eat grass, leaves, nuts, berries, corn and bark.

We are happy to share an island with these beautiful animals. Visit Arkive for more fallow deer information and photos.

Starfish on the St Simons Island Beaches

March 1, 2012 in Knowledge, Local Attractions, Nature | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

by Guerry Norwood

In the last week or so there have been a numerous starfish on the St Simons Island beaches from Massengale Park south to the St Simons Island Pier. The starfish get caught up in the Johnson Rocks at high tide.

Starfish are beautiful animals that can be a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, although all resemble a star. Even though they are commonly called starfish, these animals are known more scientifically as sea stars, as they’re not fish. They do not have gills, fins or a skeleton. Sea stars have a tough, spiny covering and a soft underside. If you turn a live sea star over, you’ll likely see its’ hundreds of tube feet wiggling.

These iconic marine animals are fascinating creatures. Sea stars move using their tube feet, and have an advanced water vascular system that they use to fill up their feet with seawater. They do not have blood, but instead take in seawater through the sieve plate located on top of the sea star, and use that to fill up their feet. They can retract their feet using muscles or use them as suctions to hold on to a substrate or the sea star’s prey.

The Darien Waterfront Wine & Gourmet Shop

February 29, 2012 in Food and Restaurants, Local Attractions, Local Community | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

by Guerry Norwood

The Darien Waterfront Wine & Gourmet Shop is located in the Shops at 107 Broad Street in historic district of downtown Darien, Georgia. They have a wide variety of wine, beer and cheese.

While you are in the store picking out a wine, don’t forget to check out their selection of gourmet food, including Buckhead Certified Angus Beef Steaks, Alaska Wild Caught Salmon, Bahamian or Maine Lobster Tails, New Zealand Rack of Lamb, Center Cut Pork Chops, Ashley Farms All-Natural Chicken, and other fine meats. Their grocery selection also includes locally caught Georgia Wild Shrimp, along with Georgia made Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese and Sugar Marsh Cottage Gourmet Chocolates. Most of their offerings are top-of-the-line and on the expensive side. The Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese is one of our favorites. It is fine hand crafted brie cheese made in Thomasville, Georgia.

Directly behind the store is the Waterfront Wine Bar with a beautiful view of the Darien River. It is open from 5 to10 every Friday and Saturday night. Enter through the Wine Store, then sit down and enjoy a beer, a glass of wine, along with an hors d’ oeuvre or desert while you watch the boats go by and the sun set over the river. Their wine & beer list includes an assortment of red & white wines from around the world, either by the glass or by the bottle, import & domestic craft beers, and sparkling & dessert wines. Pair one of them with an antipasto plate, artisan cheese plate, crab cake plate, or a dessert plate. There may even be live music at times!

Be sure to sign up for their email list for notice of special events and wine tastings.

“Georgia Liquid Gold” from Georgia Olive Farms

February 28, 2012 in Food and Restaurants, Knowledge | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

by Guerry Norwood

Georgia Olive Farms, an agricultural cooperative formed in 2009, in Lakeland, Georgia is the leading East Coast producer and marketer of olive trees and Georgia Olive Farms Extra Virgin Olive Oil. In 2011, Georgia Olive Farms conducted the first commercial harvest of olives east of the Mississippi River since the late 1800s. The olives harvested were pressed into extra virgin olive oil, which is marketed under the Georgia Olive Farms label. Right now there is a very limited supply of the 2011 harvest of the Chef’s Blend of Georgia Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Georgia Olive Farms is working with farmers and investors to provide sustainable, locally produced olive oil to east coast consumers.

The efforts of Georgia Olive Farms should result in a significantly reduced carbon footprint for olive oil consumed on the east coast. Each year, Georgia Olive Farms will be the first to harvest olives in the United States and can provide the very freshest olive oil to U.S. consumers, especially on the east coast.

While most may assume that growing olives in South Georgia is a radically new concept, south Georgia olives are, in reality, a tradition older than our nation. In archeological excavations of 16th century Franciscan settlements from Florida up through Georgia, olive pits have been found. Also, in the early 18th century, British settlers arriving to St. Simons Island, Georgia found olive trees growing alongside oranges near the lighthouse. These olives were most likely brought to the new world by Spanish explorers as far back as 1526. It is known that Spanish explorers sailed with olives aboard, and they are attributed with introducing the sour orange to the east coast of America.

 

Olive Affairs in Darien, GA

February 27, 2012 in Food and Restaurants, Knowledge, Local Attractions, Local Community | 2 comments

by Guerry Norwood

Olive Affairs is located in the downtown historic district of Darien, Georgia at 106 Broad Street. Olive Affairs features fine gourmet olive oil, vinegars and other olive-related products. They also carry a very limited supply of “Georgia Liquid Gold” which is a 2011 harvest of a chef’s blend extra virgin olive oil from the Georgia Olive Farms in Lakeland, Georgia. They also sell their Award Winning Gourmet Olive Tapenade, Vegan Olive Tapenade, Italian Olive Oils, Gourmet Modena Aged Balsamic vinegars, muffaletta sandwiches, breads and much more. Next time you are in Darien, stop by and check out this very unique shop.

 

St. Simons Island Named an “Ultimate Spring Escape” by Southern Living Magazine

February 24, 2012 in Knowledge, Local Attractions, Local Community, Vacation Rental | 2 comments

Hodnett Cooper is thrilled that Southern Living magazine, the preeminent source for Southern culture, travel, events and lifestyle, has named St. Simons Island one of its favorite spring vacation destinations. In the article, Southern Living describes St. Simons Island:

“The beaches and golf courses of this Atlantic escape vie for king of the island. About 80 miles north of Jacksonville and 85 miles south of Savannah, St. Simons has multiple golf courses, pristine coastlines, and plenty of outdoor activities to fill those sun-drenched Spring Break days. If you’re bit by the shopping bug, venture to the island’s southern tip to Pier Village to pick up an extra pair of sandals or an easy beach read. Local restaurants specialize in seafood dishes, and The Coastal Kitchen offers a raw shrimp and oyster bar.”

Southern Living goes on to describe accommodations through Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals:

“Hodnett Cooper Vacation Rentals offers condos and villas for couples or families on any budget, including daily and weekly rentals.”

We look forward to sharing St. Simons Island with Southern Living readers who have not yet been to our island…during Spring and all year long!

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