By Mary Pringle for The Island Eye News

One of our very favorite turtles is known as CC001415 in the database for the genetics research project that the Turtle Team has participated in for 13 years. She has nested at least 16 out of 29 times on the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. The Google map shows her locations. Some of the pins for the Isle of Palms are on top of each other and not visible. This amazing project identifies individual nesting loggerheads from our collection of a fresh eggshell from each nest. Inside the shell between the membranes that line it lies the secret of her identity where a few of her cells are picked up as the egg travels down her oviduct to receive the shell before being laid. For 13 years, we have put an eggshell from every nest in a vial of alcohol for SCDNR to collect and send to the University of Georgia where Dr. Brian Shamblin is conducting this research project which spans North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and parts of Florida, reading the DNA of thousands of loggerhead sea turtles. It has been said by many that these turtles only return to the beach where they were hatched, but this project has proved that to be wrong. Some turtles can nest in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia all within one season whereas others tend to prefer to stay closer to home. The amazing results from this research show not only where an individual has nested over the years but also records how many eggs are laid and how many hatchlings are produced. Our special girl, #1415, was nesting in 2010 when the project began. That means she might have been nesting for decades before that year as well since they can live more than 100 years. She usually lays five nests during a season at two week intervals. Then, like other loggerheads, she takes a year off to rest up and recover her strength after laying about 600 protein-rich eggs before doing it again. In 2010, she nested at Cape Romain and at Kiawah andFolly Beach. In 2012, she was at Seabrook and again on Cape Island in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. In 2014, she went to Cape and Bulls Islands and once to the Isle of Palms and twice to Sullivan’s Island. She must have liked our neighborhood because in 2016 she nested twice on the Isle of Palms and twice on Cape Island. After that she came back in 2018 and this time laid five nests, all on the Isle of Palms.

She did not take 2019 off and laid five more nests on the Isle ofPalms. Our early results show that she is back this year and laid 142 eggs in Nest No. 2 at 5th Avenue on May 18 and 137 eggs in Nest No. 7 just a half block away at the 5A path on June 1. These healthy nests had hatch success rates of 94% and 96%. We are guessing that three more of our 2022 nests will belong to #1415 as well, but the results are not in yet.

As of Aug. 3, Isle of Palms has recorded 41 nests and 14 hatchings. Sullivan’s Island has recorded 13 nests and four hatchings.

Ever wonder how South Carolina came to be nicknamed the Palmetto State?

While, yes, the state does have many palmetto trees scattered around the entirety of the state due to its large species population within the borders of South Carolina, this tree also has a historical significance to the state.

The nickname is derived from South Carolina’s state tree, the sabal palmetto.

Also called the cabbage palmetto, sabal palm, inodes palmetto and the Carolina palmetto, the sabal palmetto was designated as the official state tree by Joint Resolution Number 63 all the way back on March 17, 1939.

This palmetto tree was symbolic toward the defeat of the British fleet at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island during the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. This was due to the fact that the fort was built from palmetto logs, which absorbed the impact of the cannon balls and would not shatter.

Hence, South Carolina earned its nickname: the Palmetto State.

The Battle of Sullivan’s Island was the first decisive American victory over the British Royal Navy during the Revolutionary War and took place on June 28, 1776.

“The ferocity of the British naval bombardment had no great effect on the fort. Sabal palmetto trunks embedded in deep sand proved pliable and sturdy enough, absorbing iron balls like a sponge,” wrote the National Park Service of the battle.

At the time, Charleston residents were unaware if the fort had been victorious against the British or if it had been captured following the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

The fort’s commander, Colonel William Moultrie, had then sent a boat to inform the residents of the good news. Loud cheers were said to reverberate through the streets.

“The defense had been a major victory for the Americans in Charleston. General Lee wrote, ‘The behavior of the Garrison, both men and officers, with Colonel Moultrie at their head, I confess astonished me.’ Six days later the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. Afterwards, the South Carolina General Assembly renamed the fort, Fort Moultrie, in honor of the commander of Fort Sullivan,” wrote the American Battlefield Trust.

As for the palmetto trees themselves, sabal palms are native to the southeastern parts of the country.

“The cabbage palmetto is found in the coastal plain region from North Carolina to Florida. The palm inhabits maritime forests, “islands” within salt and brackish marshes, and the edges of ponds. It is also a commonly planted tree in urban areas throughout South Carolina,” states the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

The palmetto tree can grow to a height of 33 feet tall and its leaves can grow to about 3 feet across. They are formed with a spongier, scattered tissue and more malleable cells than most other trees, which allow them to bend with the wind during major storms such as hurricanes and tropical storms.

In addition to their many other attributes, these trees flower during the month of July and can be quite fragrant, attracting many types of pollinators.

As for size, according to Plant Real Florida, the University of Florida conducted several age and growth rates of sabal palms, the preliminary results indicated that, under average conditions in the wild, these plants can require 10 to 15 years of growth or more from seed to the first sign of a trunk at ground level. After this initial growth spurt, the trunks will grow about 6 inches per year. Meaning, a standing sabal palm with 20 feet of trunk is at least 50 years old.

The palmetto tree can be seen as a figure of significance in nearly every aspect of the state’s inception. It has been adopted as the state’s nickname, is included in the state seal, is on the state flag, is in the Pledge to the Flag of South Carolina, and can be seen in everyday life while carrying on day-to-day activities within the state.

This story was originally published September 14, 2022 5:00 AM.

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) — From the shops to the sand, leaders across the Lowcountry’s beaches said this is the first Labor Day weekend “back to normal” since before the pandemic.

Sullivan’s Island mayor Patrick O’Neil said although the threat of rain resulted in a slightly quieter weekend than anticipated, local leaders are happy to see the Labor Day crowds return.

“We continue, everyday, just to see exponential growth of the foot traffic that’s coming through,” said Kathleen Arnold, fine art consultant at Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan’s Island. “The traffic is constant, back and forth. People walking to the restaurants, people heading to the beach.”

Arnold said in her experience, the tourism season on Sullivan’s Island typically lasts from May until Labor Day weekend every year. However, after seeing tourist travel ebb and flow “practically year-round” in recent years, she expects the season to last through October or November.

“People want to escape the hustle and bustle of life, so they come here,” Arnold said, attributing the steady growth of tourism to Charleston’s “small-town charm.”

Leaders at Folly Beach agree. Mayor Tim Goodwin said stores there are struggling to keep up with an increase of both foot traffic — and car traffic — from tourists and locals this summer.

“Sunday was a pile of people out here,” Goodwin said. “The first time this year we’ve seen traffic backed up as far as it was.”

Goodwin encouraged anyone heading to the water to use the free Beach Reach app. Created by the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments, the app provides live traffic cameras, maps and beach policies for three of Charleston’s most popular beaches.

The mayor said the biggest challenges facing store owners at Folly Beach are a lack of workers and employee burnout. As a result, some stores are struggling to keep their normal hours.

Click here to learn more about the town of Sullivan’s Island.

While he watched his mother fight cancer, Matt Miller of Greenwood, South Carolina, never knew he would end up in a similar battle. “I always remembered her saying ‘I knew I had cancer. I just went to the doctor for my diagnosis,’” said Miller. “I didn’t truly get what she was saying until I also knew for myself.”

In late 2019, Miller was diagnosed with stage two colorectal cancer. Not long after, he underwent emergency surgery. “I was fortunate to dodge chemotherapy and radiation but was forced to accept surgery as the only option to remove the mass,” Miller said.

This fall, his musical group, The Jake Bartley Band, will be headlining the LOWVELO finish-line block party. This annual fundraising event will be held on Saturday, Nov. 5, and 100% of the money raised by participants will fund lifesaving cancer research at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center in South Carolina. Participants can choose from four routes, stationary cycling, a virtual ride option or volunteering.

It’s a special time for survivors to gather; for Miller, this gives him a chance to support lifesaving cancer research following his own lifesaving treatment.

“Without organizations like MUSC stepping up through LOWVELO and connecting the funding dots, we would still be in the Stone Age of cancer research and treatment development,” said Miller. “LOWVELO is invaluable to those of us fighting.”

Hollings director Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D., said this event brings together survivors, the community and Hollings researchers and clinicians in a powerful way. “Cancer touches everyone in some way. And this event is an opportunity for us to celebrate the advances we’re making and support research that will provide tomorrow’s cures as well,” said DuBois. “It’s so fun every year to see the excitement of the people who support us. It inspires us to work harder.”

An exciting addition to this year’s event is a Hollings rally line. Three of the routes will start at Brittlebank Park in Charleston and go past Hollings Cancer Center on Calhoun Street as participants then head to and across the Ravenel Bridge and through some of the most scenic areas of the Lowcountry. Another addition is a rolling lane closure throughout downtown and across the Ravenel Bridge, allowing riders more room and minimizing the impact on local neighborhoods.

“Similar to Charleston hospitality, there is really no route quite like the LOWVELO routes. They are so unique,” said Medalist Sports President Chris Aronhalt, who helps manage the event. “The scenic and breathtaking routes of LOWVELO take riders through the historic streets of downtown, across the famous Ravenel Bridge, through beautiful neighborhoods east of the Cooper River, into the Francis Marion National Forest and along stunning beach views on Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms. It’s a mix of all the best the Lowcountry has to offer.”

The LOWVELO fun starts this month with the annual Glow Blue Week, Sept. 19 to 23, held on the MUSC campus. Hollings Cancer Center will be lit up in blue all week long. Registration for the ride will be free, and the LOWVELO team will be handing out fun swag around campus. The week features a special glow-in-the-dark stationary cycling class on Wednesday, Sept. 21; participants can reserve their spots.

On Thursday, Sept. 22, LOWVELO team members will be on the MUSC Greenway with information, fun swag items and a chance to ride Bucky the mechanical bull from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They also will be out there from 9 p.m to midnight.

On Friday, Sept. 23, the second LOWVELO as a Lifestyle Lunch and Learn will be held. Participants can join in person or online to hear from Sundar Balasubramanian, Ph.D., a world-renowned expert in yogic breathing and stress release. Also joining him will be a Wellness Center trainer who will teach mobility exercises.

On Friday, Nov. 4, the evening before the Nov. 5 LOWVELO event, there will be a packet pick-up party at Firefly Distillery. MUSC participants have two opportunities to get their packets at Hollings on Nov. 3: from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

No matter how people choose to participate, everyone involved is invited to join in the block party at the finish line, with live music, food and fun to celebrate cancer survivors and honor loved ones lost to the disease. This includes volunteers. It takes more than 300 volunteers to make the event a success, so people are needed for a variety of positions, from manning a rest stop to being an event photographer.

Miller said participants can expect a diverse and entertaining show. He and The Jake Bartley Band will be playing everything from country to funk and dance tunes and are excited to be part of the big LOWVELO block party. Miller knows how very fortunate he has been and offered up some advice for others fighting cancer.

“Surround yourself with others that have fought and won and don’t be afraid to reach out to a counselor or therapist for help also,” he said. “Keep your head up! Just like me, you didn’t ask to be in the cancer club, but you’re here now and part of a group of fighters that are all fiercely cheering for you to win.”

The month of November is the perfect time to visit the United States. With summer coming to an end and winter just around the corner, this is the perfect time to visit America and witness the colorful scenery before it gets too cold.

You can do so many things in November if you’re planning a trip to the U.S. You can hike, go camping, explore national parks, see fall foliage, attend festivals or college football games, see concerts, or participate in other activities that are only available during this time of year.

The following is a list of the top places in the U.S. that you could visit in November 2022.

Wasatch Mountains

Salt Lake City is a bustling city in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. The state’s capital has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Salt Lake City is home to numerous recreational activities, including skiing, hiking, and biking.

In addition to its outdoorsy appeal, Salt Lake City is also known for its many art museums and music venues.

If you are looking for a unique place to experience beautiful Fall colors in the U.S., Wasatch Mountains should be on your list.

Portland

There are many things to do in Portland, one of the most famous cities in the U.S. It is a great city for foodies and has many restaurants and bars to visit. There are also several museums to enjoy, such as the Museum of Science and Industry, the Oregon Historical Society, the Oregon Maritime Museum, the Oregon Zoo, and much more.

The views from Portland are fantastic, so there are plenty of places to go hiking or to see the sights from above.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs is ideal for visitors seeking sunny weather and outdoor activities. The city experiences an average of over 300 sunny days per year, making it the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors.

Denver Hot Springs

Denver has it all, whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush or some peace and quiet.

Denver is a famous city among tourists and residents alike due to its rich cultural heritage and vast recreational opportunities. There are over 50 parks worth visiting, which include Red Rocks Park, Confluence Park, and Cheesman Park.

If you’re craving local cuisine, try one of the many award-winning restaurants, such as Yard House, Gordon Biersch Brewing Company, and Barrelhouse Flatbread & Beer House. It’s also worth noting that Denver is home to the famous Coors Brewery.

Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, and golfing in the beautiful desert landscape or dip in one of the city’s many pools and hot springs.

Houston

Houston is known as a thriving city, full of culture and entertainment. The city has something for everyone with its many museums, historical sites, and events.

There are many museums in Houston that you can visit. The Museum of Natural Science, which is home to more than 55 million artifacts, is one of the largest museums in Texas. You can also visit the Houston Zoo or the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.

If you are interested in architecture, check out the Houston Heights neighborhood or Hermann Park. If you love local cuisine, you will not be disappointed either.

Phoenix

November is a great time to spend time in the sunshine state of Arizona. The weather is warm and sunny, and everything is green.

Arizona has more than 60 national parks, covering 1.5 million more than any other state. The Grand Canyon is the most famous, but the state also has plenty of hiking trails, deserts, mountains, and canyons. November is also the peak travel season in Arizona, so you’ll want to book early.

Blue Range Mountains Near Asheville

Asheville is the perfect place for a romantic getaway in November. Asheville has everything from hot springs and caves to breathtaking views. It’s all waiting for you in Blue Range Mountains near Ashville.

The city is home to a vibrant arts scene, with festivals, art museums, and renowned chefs adding to the social scene.

San Diego To Warm Up

San Diego is one of the most visited tourist sites in the U.S. It is known for its beaches, tropical weather, and its zoo. You can also visit San Diego Sea World and San Diego Botanical Gardens.

You can stay in San Diego at the beginning of November when it is still warm. It is an excellent time to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking or biking. You can see local museums or shopping centers if you prefer to stay inside.

Although it is not too cold in November, it may get colder in December, so be sure to bundle up.

Kauai

Kauai is the most popular spot in Hawaii, and for a good reason. It’s a beautiful island with gorgeous beaches, jungles, and fantastic hiking trails. It’s also home to famous places like Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and Waimea Canyon State Park.

In November, Kauai will be one of the best places to visit in the U.S. The island is expected to be warmer than it has been in recent years because of climate change, which means you’ll have an even better chance of seeing gorgeous clear skies.

Overall, it’s a great place to go on vacation because there are many things to do and see.

San Antonio

In November, San Antonio is one of the best places to visit in the US. If you plan a trip, check out the city’s attractions, like the San Antonio Zoo, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and Alamo Plaza. And if you’re looking for a place to stay, consider staying at one of the many hotels in town.

San Francisco

November is the perfect time to visit San Francisco. The Golden Gate Bridge will be lit up in gold and orange, and it’s a beautiful time for a stroll on Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alcatraz makes for an excellent trip with friends. You can also spend time exploring the city’s iconic sights, like the cable cars or Golden Gate Park.

Oahu For Tropical Escape

Oahu is the best place to visit in the U.S. in November because of its mild weather and beautiful scenery. The average temperature in November is 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

The scenery on Oahu is stunning, with its white sand beaches and turquoise waters. There is also a lot to do on the island, from hiking and snorkeling to visiting Waikiki Beach.

Charleston

November is a great season for visiting Charleston, South Carolina. There are plenty of historical sites, such as the McLeod Plantation Historic Site, the Charleston Museum, and the Old City Jail.

The city offers so much more than just history, however. From the Battery to Sullivan’s Island and Mt Pleasant, it’s easy to see why people love coming to this fantastic place.

New York City For Central Park Fall Vibes

New York is a city that many people dream of visiting. This place is known for the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway theatres, and much more.

This city has a lot to offer, so it is a great place to visit in November. The best way to get around New York City is by car or public transportation. You can visit places like Ellis Island, Central Park, and Coney Island.

Many tour companies also offer day trips to New York City if you’re staying somewhere around.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the U.S., and for a good reason! It’s home to some of the country’s most iconic attractions, including Hollywood, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the Walk of Fame.

There are also plenty of world-class museums and art galleries to explore, as well as dozens of parks and hiking trails. And, if you want to get out on the water, there are dozens of picturesque ports along the coast that offer fishing and boating.

There’s simply a little something for everyone in Los Angeles.

Conclusion

The month of November is the perfect time to visit the United States. So many activities are only available during this time of year. Hiking, camping, exploring national parks, the fall foliage, and festivals are just some of the options.