The Old Becomes New

Historical and environmental attractions are nothing new to Martin County, but this week we discussed how 'old' attractions are evolving into something 'new.'

Broadcasting LIVE from beautiful Hutchinson Island’s Elliott Museum, Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast turned co-host Robin Hicks-Connors (aka History Lady) into a guest as the crew focused on the future of two of Martin County’s key attractions.

Big plans are in store for a new Elliott Museum complete with world class exhibits. What kind? Check out the show's audio and you'll learn what kind.

The Florida Oceanographic Society’s Coastal Center continues to fine tune and expand to fulfill their mission of educating locals and visitors alike on the area's unique ocean and coastal environments, and the need for all to be stewards of the environment.

Eve Samples Stuart News article about people trashing Bathtub Beach Reef Park caught a lot of attention. What does the person (Mark Perry) who initiated the areas first beach clean-ups over 25 years ago feel is the solution? Listen to the show and you'll know.

Is relief on the way for the shallow Cross Roads area of the channel leading into the Manatee Pocket and the St. Lucie River? Yes it is, but not as soon as hoped for.

Taking the show on the road is a blast! Where where the show broadcast from this Friday? Tune in and find out—that's part of the fun.

Have a story or a remote location idea? E-mail them to talkintourism@gmail.com.

Show's audio available here.

Explore a 'new' island--the past, present and future--and, why is our 'poster child' being trashed?

Back from Green Turtle Cay, but next show host Gary Guertin and co-host Robin Hicks-Connors are back on an island. What island? Our very own Hutchinson Island of course!

Another remote broadcast this week, this time LIVE from the Elliott Museum on beautiful Hutchinson Island in Stuart, Florida. Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast will explore the past, present and future of what visitors have found to be classic tourist attraction in beautiful Martin County.

Robin, who is CEO of the Historical Society of Martin County, will talk about the past, present and exciting future plans for the Elliott Museum, how many visitors do they attract each year, and about the unique collections and displays visitors and locals will find in the museum.

Florida Oceanographic Society’s executive director, Mark Perry, will also join the crew and share his vision of the continued development of the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center and why this attraction is vital to the continued education of locals and visitors alike, as well about the importance of our ocean and coastal resources.

Also, why is Bathtub Reef Beach, one of Martin County’s most valuable resources, being 'trashed?' Eve Samples recent Stuart News article seems to have stirred up a hornets nest of opinion. Talkin' Tourism will talk about this concern and what can be done. Have an opinion? E-mail Talkin' Tourism: talkintourism@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you.

Tune your radio dial to WPSL 1590 AM or listen to us live from your computer by going to http://www.wpsl.com/ on Friday, August 28, at 10 a.m.

What's a Legendary Diver, Top Resort Manager, Lear Jet Pilot and a Gnome 'Without a Home' have in Common?

ANSWER: They were all on (or mentioned) Talkin' Tourism's live radio remote from Green Turtle Club Resort and Marina on Friday, August 21.

As promised, Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast radio hosts took the show on the high seas (or in this case, high altitude) and broadcast from beautiful Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas.

What a great time! Green Turtle Club Resort and Marina manager Molly McIntosh, Brendal James Stevens of famed Brendal’s Dive Center and Talkin Tourism pilot (for this trip) Steve Postill covered all aspects of the Treasure Coast/Islands of the Bahamas connection.

It was another FLAHAMA(TM) mission of goodwill and more Treasure Coast “dots” were revealed and connected on this trip, including a lady who used to regularly bring her boat to Pirates Cove Resort and Marina, the self-declared “Bahamian Sister” of a local Stuart charter captain, the Grady-White boating group out of Vero Beach, and many more.

Listeners learned how affordable private air charter is to the Bahamas. They also witnessed first-hand a typical island challenge that Talkin' Tourism hosts had to overcome during this week's show (called 'no current--thank goodness for generators).

Special thanks to Molly McIntosh, Linda, John and the entire staff of Green Turtle Club and Marina for their awesome hospitality.

Brendal, we will be back to take that special dive trip we missed this time, count on it!

It’s a great show. Grab a Kalik or a Sand's and enjoy this week’s Green Turtle edition, you won’t be sorry. Download it HERE.

See photos from the trip here:
'See' you on Friday!

All about Green Turtle Cay in the Out Islands of the Bahamas

As promised, this week’s show takes to the seas once again as Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin and co-host Robin Hicks-Connors cross the Gulf Stream once again to visit our friends and neighbors in the beautiful Bahamas.

The show venue is being hosted by Green Turtle Club Resort and Marina.

Some Green Turtle Cay factoids:

• Green Turtle Cay was one of the first islands settled in The Bahamas in the 1770’s by Revolutionary War Loyalists.
• It was named for the many green sea turtles found nesting on the beaches.
• The small island is one mile wide by 3 miles long.
• The museums, galleries, shops, and pastel-painted gingerbread homes are uniquely reminiscent of turn-of-the-century New England.

Green Turtle Club Resort & Marina resort manager Molly McIntosh, who has lived on Green Turtle Cay for twenty years, will certainly be able to provide Treasure Coast listeners (and listeners world-wide) fantastic insights about the where to go, what to do, and who to see while vacationing on this beautiful Out Island in the Bahamas.

Are there any Treasure Coast/Green Turtle Cay “connections”? Who else will be around the guest table this week. Find out by tuning your radio dial to WPSL 1590 AM or your computer to www.WPSL.com at 10 a.m. on Friday (August 21).

Haborage Grille in the news

Nice review of Harborage Yacht Club & Marina's Harborage Grille in this week's Hometown News. Read the full story HERE.

August 14 Show -- Hot Caribbean Nights -- uploaded!

Here's the LINK to last Friday's show. Enjoy!

Tune in this Friday to find out what Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin was doing walking down Skyline Drive in Jensen Beach on Saturday with an alligator...and where in the heck did it's tail go?

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Parker

Harborage Grille Summer Prix Fixe $19.95

Harborage Yacht Club & Marina invites the public to 'test drive' the Harborage Grille. Enjoy a 3-course dinner (soup or salad, entrée and dessert) for $19.95. Available Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Featured wines 50% off. Reservations strongly suggested. For more reservations or information, call (772) 692-4000, extension 3.

'Hot Caribbean Nights!' and Green Turtle, here we come!

A lot of show 'housekeeping' occurred today as Gary and Robin settled in and recapped the great National Marina Day event last Saturday. Many thanks to those who participated and a special thanks to the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center for giving us the opportunity to witness the release of a three-month old osprey back to the wild.

As promised, we recapped the remainder of the past shows that weren't touched last week. The diversity of topics covered by Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast over the last eight months is amazing.

Today's guest, Ken Coe, talked about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of the Treasure Coast, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties 5th annual Wine Tasting and Golf Tournament, entitled Hot Caribbean Nights. The date for the event is next week, Thursday, August 20 and the location is at Champions of Summerfield in Stuart.

Harborage Yacht Club’s very own Chef Mark will be the featured chef in the VIP Backstage tasting area. Go, Mark! How many wines will be offered? It's definitely more than 60! Ken documented that many event attendee’s come from outside the Treasure Coast area to attend, including a young man by the name of “Teddy Bear,” who teaches bartending at Penn State University.

Here are the particulars on the event:

WHAT
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of the Treasure Coast,
Martin, St Lucie and Indian River Counties 5th annual Wine Tasting & Golf Tournament

WHEN
Thursday August 20th, 2009.

WHERE
The Champions Club at Summerfield
3400 SE Summerfield Way, Stuart Florida.

Golf/Breakfast at 7:00 a.m., shotgun start @8:00 a.m.
Wine Tasting/5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Island Steel Band, raffle ticket with every entry, silent auction. Island attire encouraged.

Other topics included a discussion on why some Floridians are not pleased about Florida's state beach water quality rankings. Listen to the audio of the show HERE to learn what must be fixed by 2018 that may help better our beach rankings and more, so quit reading and get listening!

Don't forget to listen in next week when Talkin' Tourism broadcasts live from Green Turtle Cay!

National Marina Day audio ready for download

Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast's special Saturday, August 8, broadcast during National Marina Day is now available for your listening pleasure HERE.

Special Talkin' Tourism Live Remote for National Marina Day

Talkin' Tourism was on the road (or under the bridge) with a special Saturday edition on August 8 to celebrate National Marina Day at Harborage Yacht Club and Marina.

It was a great day for participants and attendees alike. Among the 'happenings' was an osprey release (see video below) by the Treasure Coast Wildlife Center (TCWC) along with the display of many birds, which thrilled both children and adults. Thanks Dan, Ed and all the TCWC volunteers.

The Talkin' Tourism on Florida’s Treasure Coast team brought listeners interviews with a number of participants as well as Michael Shanley, National Marina Day committee chairman, Dan Liftman, aide to Congressman Alcee Hastings, and Nicholas Dellacroce, male lead in the feature film Natalie, Queen of Scots that is currently in production in Martin County.

The show's audio can be listened to or downloaded HERE. Listen in and share the day as Harborage Yacht Club and Marina celebrates National Marina Day on Florida’s beautiful Treasure Coast.

Special thanks to Greg and Carol Wyatt, owners of WPSL 1590 AM, WSTU 1450 AM and WJNX 1330 AM La Gigante for assisting with the remote broadcast from under the beautiful Roosevelt Bridge.





View photos from National Marina Day below.

National Marina Day--VIP reception and Saturday celebration

August 7 Recap: April Castoro, National Marina Day, Filming on the Treasure Coast and Bahamas Challenge to Return!

Here's the recap of the August 7 show and some teases to entice you to listen to the show:

Guest April Castoro, Esquire, a graduate of the Martin County High School’s Academy of Travel and Tourism (now the Academy of Business and Marketing Management with a focus on the Hospitality industry) explained how the Academy shaped her work ethic and ultimately led to her desire to be an attorney. She's pleased to be working in her hometown, and she gave great credit to the Martin County school system.

Surprise guest Jim Knoska, of Yacht Watchman and a participant in National Marina Day, told the listening audience about his company’s unbelievable product that, via the Internet monitors ALL systems on a boat from any location in the world.

Saving the most exciting updates for last, Natalie, Queen of Scots writer/director Brian Carroll gave an update on the feature film, which is being shot on the Treasure Coast. They are more than half way through the filming schedule, and according to Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin, "Having personally screened the rough cut of some of the scenes…it is awesome!"

Why was Earl Miller, the general manager of the Bahamas Tourist Office, and Linville Johnson, the deputy director of religious markets, at Harborage Yacht Club during the week? And why were they also spending time with Tom Colucci, executive director Treasure Coast Sports Commission? Listen to the show and you'll know...an old challenge is getting ready to spring back to life again!

What wild events happened in the Treasure Coast area “This Week in History?" Last, but not least, what famous bear endorsed by the U.S. Department of the Interior celebrated his birthday August 7th and is 65 years old?

Listen to the show and you'll know the answers to these questions and more! Download the show HERE.

National Marina Day tomorrow!

Listeners and blog followers....hope you can stop by the National Marina Day celebration at Harborage Yacht Club & Marina (955 N.W. Flagler Avenue, Stuart, FL 34994) tomorrow. Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast will be doing a special Saturday show under the Roosevelt Bridge tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by and say "hello" to Talkin' Tourism host Gary Guertin and Robin Hicks-Connors.

And, don't forget to register for a 3-Night/4-Day Abaco Beach Resort at Boat Harbour Stay for Two, including dockage and room tax, at the FLAHAMA booth.

Bring the kids! Free water-taxi shuttle from the City of Stuart docks to Harborage Yacht Club. Food, fun, and so much more!

Questions? Call Harborage Yacht Club & Marina at (772) 692-4000.

Read the Palm Beach Post story on National Marina Day HERE.

Former tourism academy student goes legal and more film industry news

This week on Talkin' Tourism on Florida's Treasure Coast, a former Martin County Tourism Academy graduate who went on to Miami International University will share her tourism insights and her new career as an attorney.

Additionally, Brian Carroll of Lobsterback Entertainment, the writer and director of the children's independent feature Natalie, Queen of Scots, which is currently in it's third week of filming on the Treasure Coast, returns to the Talkin' Tourism studio to update the listening audience on how filming is progressing and give us more of a national look of why film producers in New York and Los Angeles are once again looking at smaller towns and cities in Florida as potential locations for filming.

Gary and Robin will also detail the big National Marina Day celebration planned this Saturday at Harborage Yacht Club & Marina from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., where they'll be doing a special show of Talkin' Tourism from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Come on out and be a member of the live audience. Who know's, maybe you'll become a guest on the show!

Tune in on your computer (http://www.wpsl.com/) or the radio (WPSL 1590 AM) tomorrow at 10 a.m. to listen to the show live!