Greetings from Horizon at 77th!
Spring is finally here in Myrtle Beach! We are busy gearing up for Summer 2013 and all of the fun that it will bring. We are busy with improvements to make the stays of each of our guests the best that they can be. Make your vacation plans today - call or book online! Our vacation planners are ready to help you plan your memorable beach vacation.

News from Horizon at 77th
Improvements and Updates
We have completed all of our general maintenance and general cleaning. We want to be sure that Horizon is in tip-top shape for all of our treasured guests. We are also upgrading our fitness center. We have purchased new equipment for you to enjoy during your stay at Horizon.

What's Happening at Shoreline Cafe'
Shoreline Cafe' is currently running dinner specials on Friday and Saturday nights. We are offering both a Salmon and a Prime Rib Special. We have also added several healthy options including veggie burgers, black bean burgers, sweet potato fries and smoothies. We are having karaoke every Friday night from 6pm-9pm at our very own Shoreline Cafe'. We have updated our music selection to include all of today's hits. We will be offering a Family Karaoke Night beginning in June on Tuesday evenings. Following Family Karaoke Night, there will be glow bubbles on the oceanfront lawn.

Vacation Giveaway
Congratulations to Brian Taylor! He is the winner of our 2012 Vacation Giveaway! He has won a two-night vacation getaway to Horizon at 77th! Click here and sign up for our email list and maybe you will be the winner of our 2013 Vacation Giveaway!

News from the Beach
Sea Turtle Season is Almost Here!
Loggerhead turtles are an endangered species of sea turtles (and our state reptile) found in our area. Loggerhead turtle nesting season begins in May and lasts through October.

Persistent population declines due to pollution, shrimp trawling and development in their nesting areas - among other factors - have kept this beautiful creature on the endangered species list since 1978.

These sea turtles can grow to be three feet long and almost as wide! They often grow to weigh between 250 and 350 pounds. They are primarily carnivores - munching on jellyfish, conchs, crabs and fish. Sometimes they even eat seaweed.

Female sea turtles will crawl out of the ocean to lay her eggs. She will spend between 30 and 45 minutes digging. She will then lay around 100 ping-ping ball-sized eggs. Once her eggs have been laid, she will return to the ocean and will never see the eggs or her hatchlings ever again. It will take between 45 and 65 days for the eggs to hatch depending on the temperature of the sand. It is estimated that only 1 out of 1,000 of these turtles makes it to adulthood. Nests can often be lost to predators such as raccoons, dogs, ghost crabs, sea birds, ants, as well as shoreline erosion and human predation.

There are some things that you can do to help when you visit the beach:

• Do not disturb them. If you see an adult coming on shore - keep your distance. She may return to the sea without laying her eggs. After too many failed attempts she may just release her eggs into the ocean.
  
  
• Be sure to fill in holes that you dig on the beach. These tiny turtle hatchlings can fall in the holes and become trapped!
  
  
• Turn off flashlights and keep other artificial light sources low after the sun goes down. These artificial light sources may confuse the females and may cause them to head in the wrong direction because they use the moon for guidance. Artificial lights could also cause the hatchlings to go in the wrong direction.
  
  
• Do not touch the hatchlings. They must be allowed to crawl to the ocean on their own.
  
  
• Pick up your trash. Be sure to take your tents, chairs, coolers and trash with you when you leave the beach. Turtles may become tangled in these items as they leave the beach. Plastic bags can actually be deadly for these turtles. They may mistake a plastic bag for a meal of jellyfish.
  
  
• Leave established nests alone. Don't make their odds even tougher. These turtles are protected and it is a federal crime to bother sea turtles, their hatchlings, or their nests.
  
  
• If you see a sick or injured turtle on the beach or if you find a nest, please contact the North Myrtle Beach Sea Turtle Patrol at (843) 283-6670 or the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-922-5431.

Myrtle Beach Regulations
As folks make their way back to the beach this summer, please keep these regulations in mind. These are the laws of Myrtle Beach and help make the beach safer and more fun for everyone.

• You cannot change clothes or bathing suits in public restrooms.
• Fireworks are prohibited in the Myrtle Beach City limits. You will see them everywhere during the 4th of July weekend, but they are prohibited by law.
• No grilling or fires are allowed on the beach. This also includes public or city-owned land adjacent to the beach.
• In the event of an emergency, lifeguards will need a clear path to the ocean, so all umbrellas must be at least ten feet behind the lifeguard stands.
• Myrtle Beach is a family beach, therefore, thong swimsuits and other inappropriate swimwear are not allowed.

Employee Spotlight
Annick Gubbels | Front Desk Agent
Our featured employee for this quarter is Annick Gubbels. Annick is 20 years old and is currently attending the Hotel Management School in Maastricht, The Netherlands, which is also where she was raised.

When she is home in Holland, Annick lives with 5 friends in an apartment that is close to her school. She enjoys shopping, playing volleyball and spending time with her friends when she is out of school and doesn't have to study. On weekends and some evenings, Annick works part-time in a restaurant.

In order to join us here in Myrtle Beach, Annick had to leave her family and friends back in Holland for five months! However, she thinks it was well worth it to be able to spend her time working here at Horizon.

"We are lucky to have Annick working with us! She brings a smile with her with everything that she does." says Debbie Braden, manager at Grande Shores.

Groups
Class Reunions
Are you looking for the perfect place to have your class reunion? Horizon at 77th has the right space and can accommodate large groups - the perfect setting for you and your classmates to reconnect. Let our trained Group Sales staff help you put on the event of a lifetime. You get everyone together and we'll take care of the rest! Visit us online for more details and to contact Group Sales, call us at 1-877-624-3680.

If you'd like more information on hosting your event at Horizon at 77th, give us a call at 1-877-624-3680.

Guest Comments
"I like the location, the convenience of a parking garage, the room was very clean and relaxing, the sizes of the rooms were great, I LOVED that the kitchen came with so many things (toaster, pots, glasses, can opener) and the staff was top notch. LOVED that the entire hotel was non smoking. Seth and Jennifer at the front desk were AMAZING. I'm so glad we stayed here, it was a wonderful weekend." Leslie Stewart, Lexington, SC

"Our stay was everything we hoped it to be. We get away from the "rat-race", called our jobs, as often as possible. Because of its closeness, Myrtle Beach is our favorite local destination. The staff at Horizon at 77th were all very pleasant and friendly. Housekeeping went the extra mile. We love to cook, and when we asked for a scrubbing pad so that we could keep the frying pan clean, it mysteriously appeared in our suite. Kudos. With its attached garage, parking was quick and easy. There were spaces in the garage where we could park while we registered. Although not right on the water, the view from our suite was 'fab'." Bill Waisnor, Charleston, SC

Click here to read more Guest Comments.

Fun in the Sun
Myrtle Beach Fun Facts

• The moon-booted footprints of Colonel Charles M. Duke, Jr., astronaut and South Carolina Native, are displayed on the special events plaza at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
• Myrtle Beach currently has 595 street names, from Abby Lane to Yucca Avenue, with more on the way.
• It is illegal for anyone to use, fire, shoot, discharge, sell, offer for sale, store, exchange, give away or possess any fireworks in the city of Myrtle Beach.
• Metal detectors and metal detecting is allowed on the beach, but it is not allowed in the dunes or in the beach access street ends!

Travel Tips
When you arrive at Horizon, have your license plate number with you. When you check in, it will save you time. You won't have to go back to your car to jot down your license plate number. It's super easy - just take a photo with your phone - no paper or pen is needed. If you have guests traveling to meet you, this information will be needed from each guest registering their car before they receive their parking pass.

If you want someone to be able to have access to your reservation information, add them to your reservation. Often a married couple will assume that one spouse has automatic access to the other's reservation. That is simply not the case.

Monthly Recipe - Trudy's Chocolate Eclair
Trudy is our Night Auditor here at Horizon, and she has been with our company for ten years! She has been gracious enough to share her recipe with us!

• 2 packages of graham crackers
• 2 (3 oz) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
• 3 cups milk
• 1 (8 oz) container cool whip
• 1 (16 oz) container chocolate frosting

Instructions

1. Line the bottom of a 9x13-inch pan with graham crackers.
2. In a large bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well.
3. Stir in whipped topping to pudding mixture.
4. Spread half of mixture over graham cracker layer.
5. Top with another layer of graham crackers and the remaining pudding.
6. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers and frost with chocolate frosting.
7. Refrigerate until at least 6 hours to set. If there are any leftovers, refrigerate.