NOVEMBER 13, 2009 MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – In a joint press release, the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce/Convention & Visitors Bureau and Porter Air announced nonstop, twice-weekly service on Porter Airlines from Toronto City Centre (Island) Airport (TCCA) to Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) beginning Feb. 28, 2010, through May 30, 2010. One-way fares start at $179 plus taxes and are available to book now via FlyPorter.com.

The investment in this service signals a continued, growing interest from Canadian travelers in visiting the Myrtle Beach area. Though not the first international service for Myrtle Beach International, it is the first in the area in several years. This new growth clearly positions Myrtle Beach as an attractive and accessible destination in the Canadian travel marketplace.

“The Canadian travel market is colossal for the Myrtle Beach area,” said Brad Dean, president and chief executive officer of MBACC/CVB. “Canadians already have access to Myrtle Beach through nonstop service from Niagara Falls, N.Y., via Direct Air; however, Porter’s new international service from Toronto will inspire even more Canadian guests to visit the area through these fast and affordable flights. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Porter and more Canadians to Myrtle Beach.”

The lucrative Canadian market is the largest international market for visitation to the United States. In 2008 South Carolina welcomed almost a million Canadian visitors, on average spending 7.2 nights in the state; more than 85 percent of Myrtle Beach’s international visitor base is made up of Canadian visitors, with Ontario the destination’s top international market overall.

To tap into the Canadian market in more depth, the MBACC/CVB recently announced the appointment of Kimberly Hartley, president and executive director of Travel Solutions by Design (Corp.), as the director of Canada for the Myrtle Beach area. Hartley is well-known and respected throughout the travel industry as a leader and expert in destination sales and marketing in Canada.

"I am excited to be able to bring the Myrtle Beach area to the forefront and promote the destination to retail travel agents and consortiums; tour operators, wholesale and motorcoach companies; meeting, incentive and corporate group planners; as well as the trade and consumer media,” Hartley said. “Canadians know of the Myrtle Beach area, but they really do not know all about what the area has to offer today's visitor - it is an exciting and fun destination, offering something for everyone.”

Flights from Toronto on Porter Airlines begin just a few weeks before the extremely popular Canadian-American Days Festival, which attracts thousands of Canadians to Myrtle Beach each March. The strategic timing of the flight schedule was crucial, as more than 40 percent of Canadian travelers to South Carolina visit in the first quarter of the year.  

“As Ambassador to Canada, I enjoyed working with Brad Dean and the team at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce,” said the Honorable David Wilkins, former South Carolina Speaker of the House and former United States Ambassador to Canada. We collaborated on promoting Myrtle Beach to Canadians, and when Porter Airlines brought me and a large contingent of Canadian dignitaries to Myrtle Beach, we struck up a relationship that has now evolved into a partnership. This new air service will open up more travel and trade opportunities between our state and Canada than ever before.”  

Through its convenience, speed and service standards, Porter excels in bringing simplicity and sophistication to leisure and business travelers. The carrier serves many Canadian markets from Toronto as well as Chicago and New York (Newark) in the United States. Its new route to Myrtle Beach is the farthest south Porter has ever flown.  

“Myrtle Beach is an excellent leisure destination for our passengers,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “It appeals to everyone from families to sports enthusiasts and is a good match with our successful seasonal program in Mont Tremblant. We now provide top flight golf and ski options to suit all tastes.”

In July Horry County, S.C., announced plans to continue an airport landing fee incentive program started in 2008, which included the elimination of landing fees on all non-U.S. routes among other incentives for domestic flights to the destination. The program has attracted other important carriers such as Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air to begin service from key domestic markets like Chicago, Ill., and Allentown, Pa.  

“Myrtle Beach has long been recognized as the ultimate golf experience with more ‘Top 100’ golf courses than any other golf destination in the United States,” said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. “Our research tells us that nonstop flights to Myrtle Beach are a critical consideration for golfers because less travel time means more time on the golf course. Toronto has been one of our top golf markets for many years, and Porter Airlines will provide a valuable service to the Myrtle Beach area by offering affordable direct flights for families looking for a beach vacation and for golfers to experience our great courses.”

Based on 2006 visitor research, the MBACC estimates that 6 percent of travelers fly to Myrtle Beach. Some 14 million travelers visit the destination each year.

By Chris Carbone, President Seacoast Anglers Association

NOVEMBER 7, 2009 LITTLE RIVER, SC ―The weather has cooled down some with the ocean water temperature bouncing between 65° and 72°.

The Kings have moved away from the beaches and are in deeper, warmer water for the winter. To catch them you have to go WWO (Way Way Out!). There may be a few stragglers close in but not very many.

The Flounder bite has been good. The big story this week was a 14 lb. Flounder caught in Williams Creek in Cherry Grove. The fish was weighed at Platts Seafood in Cherry Grove and when dressed out the head alone weighed 3 lb.! As always, you are just as likely to catch one offshore as in the creeks or around the jetties. They like the mud bottom so look for that on your fishfinder. Using Gulp baits or live mud minnows or mullet works.

When using live bait, remember to match the size of the minnow to the hook. Most hooks should be Eagle Claw Wide Bend or Kahle hooks, size 2 or 4. Flounder will be in the ICW as well, so try there.

The key to big Speckled Seatrout is live bait! Live bait will get you Speckled Seatrout right into the winter from here on out. But you will have to work for them. Live shrimp are still in the creeks so be prepared by bringing your castnet in the boat or banks. Hang shrimp on a short leader (about 12-15 inches) under a small float and make sure the  shrimp is moving. Very light tackle and NO noise is what it takes. Use a net to land them.

Red Drum continue to be caught in Dunn Sound, Bonapartes Creek and the ICW and they have been catching huge Red Drum in and around the Little River Jetties. Again, live bait is best.

Black Drum and Croaker are at the mouths and sides of the creeks. The bigger ones are in the ICW whenever a creek empties into it. They are catching them off the piers in the ICW as well. They eat most any cut bait on a #4 hook.

Nothing new on Sea Bass! They are a good day of fun. However, you may catch 30-40 of them but will only have 4-5 keepers! The Caudle Reef , the LR Offshore Reef, the 390/390 and Christina’s Ledge are reportedly producing keeper size Seabass as well as Atlantic Ledge. Look for any structure on your fishfinder and it will likely produce Seabass. Use squid or Fish-Bites for bait.

Along with the Seabass will be Triggerfish, White Grunt and Sheepshead which are all good eating fare. Take the kids with you as with this kind of fishing they catch fish all day long.

You can start to pickup Whiting on the bottom about a mile off the beach. Drift over live bottom and you will get results. Trouble is, you will also get lots of small Sharks which give you lots of action but tear up tackle.

Bluefish seem to be everywhere now. Mostly at the jetties and near shore chasing any bait they can find. You can catch them on lures, cut bait, live bait... they will go for anything. Fun to catch, not all that good to eat but make great bait for catching other fish.

Catfish are in the ICW. Most have been caught from Barefoot Landing to the Little River Swing Bridge. The anglers that have been catching them are using cut bait and slow drifting at the top or bottom of the tide. If you like Eels you will find them there as well.

Don’t forget... if you fish there you have to have a SC Freshwater Fishing License!

Anglers are catching Pompano, Sheepshead, Black Drum and some Flounder from Cherry Grove Pier as well.

Stop Wishin’...Go Fishin.’

If you have info on the local fishing, email THE ANCHOR at SeacoastAnglers [at] aol.com and let us know.

The SAA November Fish report is brought to you, in part, by Marine Service Center, West Marine, Eugene Platts Seafood Market, Boats US and Coggeshall’s Marine.

NOVEMBER 11, 2009 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of North Myrtle Beach are proud to announce that the NCAA Division II and Division III Fast-Pitch Softball Spring Training Event will be held in North Myrtle Beach February 26 thru April 2, 2011.

This event is sponsored and administered by the National Collegiate Sports Invitational (NCSI) and the NCSI Event Committee.  Anticipated NCAA Division II and Division III Softball Teams, in the five week national spring training event, will bring 40 teams for the 2011 competition, with an average of 640 athletes, 160 coaches, 40 NCAA officials and various NCSI Event Directors.  

“We are excited to welcome these collegiate teams to our community.  And we are confident that this will be a long-term and growing relationship over the coming years.  The chamber in conjunction with the city will continue to grow our sports tourism efforts,” stated Marc Jordan, President/CEO of the Chamber.

For more information on the National Collegiate Sports Invitational please visit www.ncsiathletics.com.

By Trenton Smith, North Myrtle Beach Online.com

NOVEMBER 11, 2009 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC ―This week, fall sports for North Myrtle Beach High School came to a close, but not without an outstanding effort from all of North Myrtle Beach’s athletes.
 
The Lady Chiefs were impressive, with four region championships.

The Chiefs football team, despite their overall young age, fought hard and made it to the playoffs. In the first round, the Chiefs lost to a very good North Charleston team 47-27.

The Lady Chiefs volleyball team had a near flawless season, going undefeated within the region and going 3-0 against cross-town rival Myrtle Beach. Megan Johnson led the team throughout the year, but in the end, the Lady Chiefs lost to the Bluffton Bobcats in the third round of the state playoffs.  Bluffton then won the lower state championship 2 days later in their next match. 

Much like the North Myrtle Beach football team, the girls were very young and the future of the team looks bright. With only a few juniors and even less seniors, the girls have a good chance of clinching the lower state championship and quite possibly, the state championship, in next year’s season.

The girls fought hard against Bluffton with many volleys going on for minutes straight. Moriah Jones and Megan Johnson worked well up front, while all girls showed their skills in serving from behind the line. Down by seven points in the last game, the Lady Chiefs held on and seemed to be making a comeback after a hard spike by Grace Jones, but missed serves hurt them. There were quite a few close calls around the net that made a major difference for the Lady Chiefs.

The Lady Chiefs cross-country team finished 15th out of 24 teams in the state tournament, with Benjamin Jenerette placing 12th overall in the entire state with a time of 19:43.86, taking just over six minutes and twenty one seconds per mile.  As an eighth grader, Jenerette has the chance to make a big impact in the future. Caroline Keener ran the second best individual time for the team at 22:44.16. But, Jill Transou was not far behind with a time of 23:01.41. All of the girls together averaged a team time of 22:30.44, a little over 3 minutes off-pace of the state champion, Hilton Head High School.

This season the Lady Chiefs swim team made quite a splash as well, coming in 18th overall in the entire state. Rachael Houston and Meredith Siler took 22nd and 23rd place respectively in the 50 yard freestyle event, while Barbara Long claimed 21st and 16th place in the 200 yard and 500 yard freestyle events. Also, the team placed 14th overall in the 400 yard freestyle relay. Alexa Ussery was the first to take to the water in the relay event, followed by Meredith Siler, Rachael Houston, Barbara Long, Jarrett McCray, Paige Kline, Brooke Hagler, and Haley Mizell anchoring the team.
 

By Jim Hulen, North Myrtle Beach Online.com

NOVEMBER 9, 2009 MYRTLE BEACH, SC ― A bright, cloudless Sunday with temperatures in the high 60’s compelled . . . no, demanded an outdoor adventure.  Fortunately, the American Culinary Federation of Myrtle Beach enticed thousands to make an outing at the Market Common in Myrtle Beach for a gastronomic adventure.

While parking was difficult to come by, the mouth-watering aromas kept people determined to find a spot even if it meant walking several blocks.

For a $10 donation or $5 for children ages 4-11, tasters entered the big tent and sampled as much soup as they could handle. Providing background music, the Charlie Lee jazz combo was set up near the tasting tent.

This year the competition was divided among several categories – broth, cream, vegetarian and low country.  Judges sampled all soups in all categories and made their decision.  The winners were:

Broth        ― First - Roy and Sid’s American Kitchen for White Bean Chicken Chili
               ―Second – Gordon Biersch for Marzen Chedder Soup
               ―Third – Sawgrass Dining Room for Smoked Chicken and Corn Chowder
Creams    ― First – Springmaid Beach Resort and Conference Center for Smoked                                 Salmon Bisque
               ―Second – Tommy Bahama for Butternut Squash Soup
               ―Third – WaterScapes at the Marina Inn at Grand Dunes for Parsnip and                                Apple Soup
Vegetarian ― First – HTC Eric Wagner for Chilled Pumpking Soup with McIntosh                                        Apples
                ―Second – Bovines for Pumpkin Chipotle Bisque
                ―Third – Fontinello’s Italian Cusine for Rustic Roasted Red Pepper Soup
Low           ― First – Divine Fish House for Carolina Creekside Gumbo
Country     ―Second – The Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bistro for Leek and Potato                                   Truffle Soup
                 ―Third – Captain John’s Seafood Grill for Low Country Gumbo

Well, while the judges have spoken, attendees offered differing opinions.

Ailene Laurenzano and her husband, Paul, live in Seagate Village and attend a lot of the Commons Events. They moved five and a half years ago from Queens, NY.  

Since they have been here, Laurenzano says they have been through some good times and some bad times. Laurenzano is a double lung transplant recipient that she says she was saved by going to Duke University. “God just shines on that hospital,” says Laurenzano.

Her soup favorites, after 10 tasting, were those from HTC with the barley.  

My favorite soup, even before I knew the judges’ decision, was the Leek and Potato Truffle Soup from the Brentwood Restaurant.  I challenged Laurenzano to compare it to her favorites.

Laurenzano said, “My husband is on a low salt diet and so I use very little salt so that influences my thinking.  The Brentwood soup was very good but a little salty.”

OK – everyone’s preferences comes from their life experiences!  So I have to express mine.  

I enjoy any fare that offers multiple textures, a variety of spices, and an orchestration of sweet and sour. Two organizations, in my opinion offered that combination in their soups – the Brentwood Restaurant and the Cherry Grove Deli.

Also, one of the imponderables in taste preferences is the life stories behind each chef.  In my opinion, that is the one ingredient that tends to overwhelm any other. Chef Eric Masson’s  career began in Brittany, France and obtained his first degree was from the culinary school in Brest, and then moved to Noirmoutiers where he attended another culinary school. Then Eric served time in the French Army, where he was the Colonel's private chef and catered parties from 15 to 400 people. After the Army, Eric helped a financier to open a restaurant in Paris called Le Quincampe

Contrasted with Masson is John Dashkavich who owns Cherry Grove Deli right across from Boulineau’s where the Pie House was once located.  This is their first Souper Supper because they just opened last November.  John Dashkavich’s life story is very simple, he loves cooking and so does his wife, children and grandchildren.

His grandson and granddaughter were in, visiting to learn how to make a success of a deli business. John kept stressing “We make everything from scratch. We make our own sides. I even cook our own meats.  We don’t buy any cold cuts.  I make our own roast beef, corned beef, pastrami, turkey and ham,” said Dashkavich.  

Dashkavich felt the Souper Supper was good for them. It got their name out to locals.