PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID FOLLY BEACH, SC PERMIT NO 27
Folly Beach’s Newspaper
Vol. 1 Issue 5
December 19, 2008 w FREE
Folly Beach City Council
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he Folly Beach City Council held their regular meeting on December 9 and revisited the “Beach Franchise Ordinance” which will regulate business that is conducted on the front beach. The ordinance was originally introduced by Council member Laura Beck, but failed by a 4-3 vote at the last meeting of Council. Mayor Carl Beckmann encouraged those who voted against the ordinance to come up with something before January 1 in order to avoid an “open season” on Folly Beach in terms of beach merchants. Council member Eddie Ellis answered the call with a re-tooled ordinance referred to as 39-08. Ellis prefaced the introduction of the ordinance by saying, “I don’t support commercial activity on the public beach.” He went on to say that he didn’t support the original ordinance because it included the rental of boogie boards and toys that reminded him of Myrtle Beach. He pointed out that there did not seem to be any objections to the business that has been conducted in the past, but the inclusion of boogie board rentals would create a competition with businesses that exist off the front beach that did not need to exist. Although Ellis voted against the original concept, he says he used Beck’s ordinance as a model for 39-08. The main difference in the two ordinances is that it shortened the list of products and services that would be allowed to be rented to: beach chairs, umbrellas and watercraft only. Beck introduced an amendment to put boogie boards back on the list, but it failed on see Council on page 3
I N S I D E
These are just a few of the “wild animals” having a blast at the Folly Beach Christmas Parade on December 13. Check out page 8 for more pictures of the holiday fun.
Paper or plastic on page 5
Extras on page 9
PHOTO BY: Tim McManus
Pet certificate on page 11
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December 19, 2008
Holiday gas By Hangerhead
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t has been quite a pleasure seeing the gas prices fall with the autumn leaves. The impact on my wallet for Thanksgiving travel was something for which I was thankful and the Christmas trip should be even better. For about a year now I’ve hesitated to go to the gas station, wondering if I was even going to make to the pump as I waited until the needle nearly bottomed out before purchasing fuel at $3.50 a gallon. I even started riding the bus whenever it was possible in order to fight the financial strain. I was one of many Americans changing their driving habits, not only to fight high gas prices, but also to keep enough spending cash around for groceries or electric bills. However, I am concerned that our return to relatively low gas prices may have an undesired, negative effect. To see how, we need to understand the reason many of us started riding the bus, driving less, and carpooling.
For most, it was probably a simple matter of saving money. Paying two and half times as much as we were used to for gasoline had a huge impact on those of us that live from week to week and month to month. We kept hearing warnings from politicians and other leaders expounding the need for alternative sources of energy. We were suddenly told on a national scale that we needed to conserve our resources. Projections of oil supplies were all over the place. Now, where have I heard these arguments before? Ah yes, these have been the suggestions of environmentalists for years; well before gas prices became an issue. My fear is that a great habit of being conservative with oil will be broken now that prices have returned to a manageable state. The fact is, we have needed to conserve oil for a long time and we still need to conserve oil. Our efforts to be conservative should not depend on how
Tourist season starts in January!
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ive yourself or someone else the gift of Charleston and discover why millions of people visit the Charleston area each year. Sponsored by the South Carolina Federal Credit Union, the “Be a Tourist in Your Own Town” pass offers local Tri-County residents free one-time admission to 37 area attractions and discounts at 24 family restaurants. Passes go on sale November 1, 2008 and are valid for use during the month of January 2009. This program has become a favorite for residents of Berkeley, Charleston and
Dorchester counties over the years and makes a wonderful gift for holidays, birthdays and anniversaries. Individual passes cost $20 and Family passes, for up to four people of any age, sell for only $50. This year’s added features include the AirTran vouchers and Southeastern Wildlife Exposition discounts. “Be a Tourist in Your Own Town” passes may be purchased by logging on to www. beatourist.net, calling 843-853-8000, or visiting any local official visitor center in the Charleston area.
much a gallon of gas costs. Even if gas was 50 cents per gallon, it would not change the fact that it is a non-renewable resource. It would not make it more environmentally friendly. It would not stop polluting our air or waterways. Cheaper gas is not better gas. It’s still just gas. We desperately need to continue conserving. We still need to carpool and ride our bikes whenever we can. We need to continue utilizing public transportation. You can have thirty people riding on the same gallon of gas. It’s amazing. But we can’t forget about the changes we’ve made. We can’t stop seeking an end to our addiction to oil. But now that gas prices have fallen, do you still hear as many politicians demanding plans for a reduction in our dependence on oil? While high gas prices may have made sudden conservationists out of many people, we should not return to abusing
the environment simply because we can afford it. If we demand more of ourselves, then we can demand more from our representatives. Don’t be hypnotized by the falling gas prices. Stay alert. While gas is more affordable today, it’s not always going to be. If you continue being conservative, you won’t be taken by surprise when gas prices rise again. It will happen. There is only so much oil on this planet. Plus, it’s the right the thing to do. Hangerhead spends his evenings wandering throughout Charleston, philosophizing and pontificating on soap boxes and street corners, sharing his life views and ignoring the strange stares at his ubiquitous cranial aerial. He doesn’t believe in cell phones or email, but we can usually find him in one of his usual hiding places. So if you wish to comment or question Hangerhead, please write to
[email protected].
Injured sea turtles reach record numbers
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Provided by the SC Aquarium
beaches. Despite the Aquarium’s hospital being essentially at capacity, staff responded to the need, working quickly to adjust animal and tank locations in order to provide relief to the inundated North Carolina rehabilitation facilities. Transported from North Carolina by DuBose Griffin from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the
see Turtles on page 4 Dr. Shane Boylan and volunteer Kayla Spry caring for a Kemps Ridley turtle.
www.follycurrent.sc
Photo by Barbara Bergwerf
he November arrival of four cold stunned sea turtles has broken the 2007 record of 11 patients in the South Carolina Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital at one time. Two green sea turtles and two loggerhead sea turtles were admitted to the hospital after the recent onslaught of cold weather which led to the major cold-stunning event in North Carolina. Hard shelled sea turtles rely on their surroundings to regulate their body temperature and sudden temperature drops in the waters cause them to become lethargic and immobile. This makes migration to warmer waters, a necessity for their survival, impossible. Over 65 sea turtles suffered cold-stunning and stranded on North Carolina
December 19, 2008
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civic
Council continued from cover a 4-3 vote with Council members Beck, Charlie McCarty and Mayor Beckmann voting in the minority. The ordinance divides the beach into two sections. Section One is from 3rd Block East to 3rd Block West and is the area where the allowable rental businesses can operate. Section Two is the rest of the beach. “Lessons, Classes or Camps, which do not require a franchise agreement” are allowed on every part of the beach as long as they do not interfere with the any of the franchises in Section One, as well as wedding photography. Business licenses are required for all activities permitted in the ordinance. It also limits the number of rental businesses that can operate in Section One. There can only be two personal watercraft rental businesses, as well as two beach chair and/or umbrella businesses for a maximum of four. Section One will still be segmented into a grid and companies will still be required to bid on particular sections of the beach. However, an interesting point that Ellis noted is that a single company can bid on several different aspects of business. For example, a company could bid on one section of beach as a watercraft rental company and another as a beach chair rental company. The ordinance passed by a 6-1 margin with Council member Tim Goodwin casting the dissenting vote. Goodwin later withdrew a similar ordinance he had
planned to introduce.
Opine tree Several residents spoke during the public comment section of the meeting. Most of them commented on the City’s increasing attempt to regulate. Joel Flores, an employee at the AM-PM store, requested that the Council not include boogie boards in the list of items allowed to be rented on the beach. He argued that businesses would have a hard enough time surviving without businesses that rent boogie boards asking to share the market. Other residents argued that there is a new attempt to restrict business activity nearly every month. “The overregulation is hurting businesses,” Mike _, owner of Snapper Jack’s added. To the contrary, he pointed out that anything the City could do to help businesses would be appreciated. One individual stated that the business community contributes about $3.1 million to the City’s annual budget while residents contribute less than $500,000 and asked that the City stop listening to the “vocal minority” and pay attention to the “paying majority”. Postponing the Noise The City Council agreed to postpone voting on a proposed noise ordinance until members of the business community have an opportunity to meet with Mayor Beckmann and Tim Goodwin, crafters of the ordinance. Mayor Beckmann stated that it was
an effort for members of the business community and the Council to “get on the same page”. Members of the business community previously met with members of the Council to discuss and negotiate the proposed noise ordinance. However, after seeing the finished result, members of the business community argued that the ordinance did not reflect the conversations and agreements that they understood to have taken place. The ordinance would have allowed for fines or jail time, as well as the shutting down of any noise source if it could be heard from more than 100ft away, in addition to many other regulations affecting the entire island. The Council is expected to have another version of the ordinance at their January meeting.
Light it up Council passed first reading of three ordinances that update the City’s codes dealing with “lighting”. The ordinances are 21-08, 29-08 and 31-08. A resolution to adopt an “encroachment enforcement policy” will be postponed until January or February. The resolution will deal with the clearing of the City’s right-of-ways. The City Council is scheduled to meet again on December 30 for the purpose of passing second reading of the new franchise beach ordinance mentioned above. Check with the City Hall for an exact time as it was not available by our print deadline.
Gifts from the heart
Ali Akhyari Editor
[email protected] Kristin Hackler Managing Editor
[email protected] Swan Richards Graphic Designer
[email protected] Brittany Urbach Reporter
[email protected] Richard Brendel Advertising
[email protected] Chelsea Langan Advertising
[email protected] • Contributors SC Aquarium Mary Gatch Sierra Gibson Hangerhead Jeffrey Knighton Emily Laurie Cortney Ness Erin Sobony Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS
Make, bake, and decorate
This is an excellent recipe for homemade ornaments. The dough is very easy to work with, and once baked, the ornaments are very firm and easy to paint. Ingredients: 1 cup salt 2 cups flour 1 cup water 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Water-based paints Place dry ingredients in a bowl, add the water and oil, then stir until blended. Once the dough holds together, make it into a ball and knead it with your hands to make a smooth texture. Place the dough on a cutting board, and using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a pancake shape that is a bit thicker than you would use for regular cut-out cookies. Cut out the ornaments with cookie cutters, design your own ornaments using a blunt knife, or shape dough with your fingers. Punch or carve a hole into the top of the ornament. Bake at 250 degrees until hard (for one to two hours). Once cooled, paint with water-based paints if desired, or glue on glitter using white household glue. Thread a string or ribbon through the hole and hang the decoration on the tree or elsewhere in your home. These ornaments can be reused year after year.
Lynn Pierotti Publisher
[email protected]
Future deadlines: December 31 for submissions.
Folly Beach Police Reports From (last date of previous report through December 10) December 6- Officers responded to a victim who claimed his vacation condo had been broken into while he and his wife had been away. The door jam had been damaged and appeared to have been forced open. The victim stated he found the deadbolt and door unlocked and the other doors pulled shut. No items were noticed to be stolen or missing, but he did notice some dresser drawers opened slightly and a light left on. The neighbors did not notice or hear anything. However, they pointed out that a neighboring unit had been broken into and a car had been stolen from the parking lot recently. There were no suspects at that time. December 7- At approximately 3:15am, an intoxicated male entered Bert’s Market and refused to leave after being asked to do so. When police arrived, the subject stated that he needed help and wanted to go to “detox”. The officer took the subject to “1 West” and advised him that he was being placed on trespass notice at Bert’s.
www.follycurrent.sc
The Folly Current, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina LLC, is a free, independent newspaper published every two weeks and is for and about Folly Beach. Copies are mailed free of charge to every active mailbox in our coverage area and are also available at area businesses and by subscription to non-islanders. Subscriptions are $30 per year for non-residents and are available by sending a check to Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 837, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482. Contributions of information, pictures and articles are welcomed and are used according to space limitations and news value and cannot be returned except by special request. Our editorial content is primarily dedicated to the area of distribution; ad space is open to all businesses who want to reach the Folly Beach market. Complete ad creation is $50, however, changes of up to 30% of the original ad are included at no extra cost. All advertising rates are listed at www.islandeyenews.com under “advertising”.
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC Publishers of The Folly Current, The Island Eye News and The Island Connection.
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December 19, 2008 Turtles continued from page 2
Closing doors on our children Provided by Sierra Gibson & Jeffrey Knighton
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he Boys and Girls Club, a non profit organization, announced on Monday December 8 that by December 12 all seven of their afterschool locations will be shutting their doors. This action also closes the door on the futures for many children of the Lowcountry. This is an absolute outrage. The children in the club range between the ages of 5 and 18 and span the Lowcountry. Locations are in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkley Counties. According to the enrolment figures provided by the Post and Courier, this will effect at least 600 children, not to mention future generations that will not be able to utilize the Boys and Girls Club. Volunteers and staff assisted the children with their homework and incentives were given for good grades and behavior. Positive energy filled these rooms each day. Inside, the children had their own gym, game room, arts and crafts, computer lab, recording studio and were feed nutritious meals. With all these wonderful programs, the children were able to enhance their knowledge while eating healthy and participating in physical activities. However, this holiday season will
mark the end of these activities in the Lowcountry. No more help with homework, no safe place to be when parents are working, no more mentor guidance and no more healthy meals. Starting this week, over 600 children will not have a place to go after school. Six hundred children, once guided by the hands of our community, will be standing in front of closed doors. They need their Boys and Girls Clubs. Something must be done to save not only their home and their safe place, but also their hopes and dreams. People need to understand that the future of Lowcountry, and the Palmetto State as a whole, relies on the youth. Sierra Gibson is a College of Charleston student majoring in mass media with a concentration in journalism, a resident of James Island area of Charleston County and a former staff member at the Shay Unit Boys and Girls Club in Charleston County. Jeffrey Lee Knighton, Chairman of “Southern Customs, New Ideas,” is a resident of the West Ashley area of Charleston County. He is a political activist and a community organizer. He has a Masters Degree from Virginia Commonwealth with a concentration in education policy.
four sea turtles received treatment immediately upon arrival. Dr. Shane Boylan, Aquarium staff veterinarian, admitted the turtles and began slowly warming their core temperatures, providing vitamin and antibiotic injections to prevent pneumonia. “The new patients are doing well,” said Kelly Thorvalson, Sea Turtle Rescue Program Coordinator. “The greens have been a little slower to respond but all have started to show an interest in food, which is a really good sign. It’s an exciting time to come to work,” remarked Thorvalson. “Every day the Hospital operates, the Aquarium is making a difference far greater than just these twelve - we’re doing our part to help save the species.” Even with over 14 turtle hospital volunteers, care for the twelve turtles costs over $350 a day, an all-time high for the Aquarium’s hospital, a private non-profit. To help support the Hospital, the Aquarium is offering holiday gifts that will delight any turtle lover: Turtle Lovers Gift Basket Delight the turtle fan in your life with this great gift basket featuring exclusive items including personally autographed copies of New York Times Best-Selling Author Mary Alice Monroe’s books, complimentary general admission for two to the South Carolina Aquarium and two tickets for a private Behind-the-
Scenes Tour of the Sea Turtle Hospital. Turtle Hospital Nurse Join the team and get up close to sea turtles at the South Carolina Aquarium’s Turtle Hospital. Help feed and care for the Aquarium’s rescued sea turtle patients at South Carolina’s only dedicated sea turtle rehabilitation facility. This incredible gift offers a truly memorable opportunity to help endangered and threatened sea turtles recover from critical injuries. To get an up-close look at all twelve patients, representing three species of sea turtles, the Aquarium is offering exclusive Behind-the-Scenes tours of the Hospital throughout the holidays to all Aquarium visitors. The tours, conducted on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1pm, offer a firsthand look at the efforts of the Aquarium’s team of trained professionals as they care for sick and injured sea turtles each day through the Aquarium’s renowned Sea Turtle Rescue Program. Attendees will meet the Hospital’s current “patients,” and hear about the intensive treatment and daily care that help to nurse the vulnerable turtles back to health. Tickets to the Behind-the-Scenes Tours of the Turtle Hospital can be purchased on-site at Aquarium admissions or by phone: 577-FISH (3474). Advance reservations are recommended. For more information on tickets and prices, please visit: scaquarium.org.
PetsPetofHelpers the Week BLACK AND WHITE CAT I am a sweet and petite female domestic short hair, almost two years old. I love to be petted so much that I will jump up to meet your hand, but I am not crazy about being picked up.
LUCY Hello! My name is Lucy. I’m a 5-year old, female, Hound/Lab mix. I was turned in as a stray. I am super laid back. I get along with other dogs and I’m housebroken.
Pet Helpers is located at 1447 Folly Road, James Island. Hours: Mon – Fri from 11am – 6pm and Sat from 11am - 5pm. Closed: Sundays and Holidays. For more information, please call 843-795-1110.
Support your community, support your local paper. Tell them you saw it in The Folly Current! www.follycurrent.sc
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December 19, 2008
Paper or plastic? By Mary Gatch
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e’ve become accustomed to the regular question in the grocery check-out line, “paper or plastic?” There has been a lot of debate over which is the better option from an environmental perspective, but the undisputed best response to the question is “neither”. Using reusable shopping bags is a simple and painless way for us to make a positive impact on the environment by reducing the amount of waste going to landfills. As you are out shopping for gifts and groceries over the holidays and looking ahead to a new year, this is a great time for a resolution to avoid disposable bags altogether. A new continent was recently discovered on Planet Earth. It’s located about 800 miles north of Hawaii in a rarely traveled section of the Pacific Ocean. It’s a large mass twice the size of Texas and growing. As it turns out, this new continent is actually a huge garbage patch comprised of 80% plastic and weighing an estimated 3.5 million tons. It’s an area of our oceans where circular currents converge to form a ‘resting place’ for much of the garbage we have added to our oceans. How does all of this garbage get into our oceans and make its way to the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’? You may have seen plastic bags and other trash blowing in the wind or left on our beaches. Wind-blown bags often combine with storm water destined for the oceans. You’ve also seen lots of plastic bags lining our causeways. Many of these bags are not overtly thrown into the marsh; rather, they are casually left in the back of pickup trucks for the wind to easily lift and discard them in the marsh. While all of our wonderful marsh sweepers do their best to keep our areas clean, much of this litter makes its way to the ocean. The US EPA estimates that each year, people around the world use between 500 billion and one trillion plastic bags – more than 100 billion bags of those bags being used in the United States. Only 1% to 3% of these plastic bags get recycled. And while recycling does reduce waste, it isn’t a good solution from an economic standpoint. It costs about $4000 to process and recycle one ton of plastic bags, which can then be sold for approximately $32. Plastic bags are made of petrochemicals, a nonrenewable resource, and take hundred of years to breakdown. The many plastic bags that wind up in the environment pose a health hazard to wildlife (especially to birds and marine animals). In the US, San Francisco, Oakland and Portland, Oregon, have enacted bans on plastic shopping bags. Several countries have either banned plastic bags or mandated that stores charge a fee for each bag: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Ireland, Israel, and South Africa. Whole Foods stopped offering plastic bags and offers
10 cents for each reusable bag provided by the customer. IKEA charges for bags that were once given away. Most DwellSmart customers opt out of a bag or bring their own, but we have cornbased, biodegradable bags when needed. The news about paper bags is nearly as bleak. They require four times more energy to produce per-bag than their plastic counterparts. In 1999, 14 million trees were required to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used that year. This presents a “double whammy” for greenhouse gases, due to the energy required to produce the bags and the reduction in trees to absorb greenhouse gases. Toxic chemicals are also used in the manufacture of most paper bags, contributing to air and water pollution. The recycle rate for paper bags is higher, but only 10% to 15% of them have a second life. And for the great majority that ends up in the waste stream, they do not degrade or breakdown significantly faster than their plastic counterparts, due to the lack of light, water, and oxygen in modern landfills. And each paper bag in the landfill takes about 9 times as much space as a plastic one. So consider using a reusable bag for everyday shopping. The “paper or plastic” habit is surprisingly easy to kick and is a simple step we can all take that collectively has a great impact. I’ve had my string bags for seven years, and they look brand new; each bag holds up to 40 pounds Nobody knows how long this plastic bag was stuck on this of groceries! unfortunate shorebird. And, if you are still looking for holiday gifts, consider a reusable tote bag or produce bag – they make great gifts and stocking stuffers. Mary Gatch is an owner of DwellSmart, a one-stop shop for healthy and environmentallyfriendly products. Mary lives on Sullivan’s Island with her husband James, daughter Julian, and son Adam. You can contact her by e-mail at
[email protected] or by visiting the store at 615 Johnnie Dodds Blvd (located in Mount Pleasant between Eco Fitness and Twin Rivers Bowling).
www.follycurrent.sc
December 19, 2008
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An extra experience by Chelsea Langan
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ew jobs could pay minimum wage, make you wait in your car three hours burning your own gas to keep warm in 40 degree weather, choose to terminate employment and yet still manage to send you home smiling: participating as an extra in the big movie production that just so happens to come to town is one of those jobs. The movie Dear John is filming in various locations in Charleston for a few months, along with its dreamy lead actor Channing “The Chan” Tatum, and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to almost be a part of it. It’s ridiculous. But, it was fun! The film set reminded me of a honeycomb abuzz with worker bees. Everyone was running around, tending steadfast to the production. The site of this particular shoot was at the end of Sol Legare Road, a long stretch of scenic waterfront that begins next to the Folly Road Piggly Wiggly just before you reach Folly Beach. A tent and a couple of large cranes holding big bright lights were set up around the last little causeway which ends at the boat landing. Street lights were set up as props and, although he got to rehearse in a long green trench coat, Channing had to walk under the street lights in shorts carrying a long board when
the cameras were rolling on that unusually cold fall night. They said that’s one of the reasons he gets paid such massive amounts of money. As far as the movie production hierarchy goes, I was at the very bottom. I was given a walkie-talkie, but I was only allowed to listen. All they wanted me to do was drive my car through the background while they were filming. I was told to sit in my car in the parking area of the boat landing and pretty much eavesdrop until I was called. It was exceptionally interesting to be able to hear everyone coordinate over the walkie-talkies. They referred to Channing as “The Chan”. I’m pretty sure I overheard all of the most fundamental staffers including the director, production assistants (PA’s), shuttle drivers, the police officer who was screening traffic, and I swear I thought I heard “The Chan” do a brief sound check. The most I did while on set that day was drive ever so carefully through the
mob of people working on the narrow causeway to reposition my car … twice. Ultimately, however, they “wrapped” me, and I was politely sent home. Everyone I met that worked for the movie seemed genuinely polite. A gentleman driver and myself were even asked to return to the set a couple days later, which, according to the casting call rep, is quite an accomplishment. Apparently, not many extras are asked back and I was thrilled. Two days after my first tryst with the Dear John production, I returned to the same location to make a second attempt at a cameo. Again, it was really my car that landed the job. They wanted a dark car to follow as they filmed a scene in a purple Volkswagen sitting on the back of a trailer pulled by a truck. However, before everyone got on the road, they had to hold a safety meeting. Everyone had to attend, including the lead actors. Channing was looking absolutely dreamy standing
next to the speaker as I tried to pay attention to the safety issues. He stood two precisely calculated desperate leaps in front of me, yet somehow I managed to restrain myself. But I digress … We were told to follow at various distances behind the filming contraption. Because of this, I seriously doubt my car will be in the movie. By the time they had mounted the camera on the hood of the Volkswagen so that it could record my car, we were trailing behind the farthest we had all day. However, I’m totally pleased with the whole experience. My long intermittent waits in the car between takes didn’t compare to the other extra, who had to sit in his car the entire four and a half hours. On top of that, they fed us a crab leg dinner, my favorite, at about six o’clock. Oddly, they called it lunch. I learned a lot of interesting things about the movie business, including the fact that at one point in filmmaking history, filmmakers had to technologically advance the camera to be able to keep up with the rapid speed of Jackie Chan’s fierce moves. I would say the Chan on our set had some fierce, effortless moves of his own.
Green holiday tips from Charleston County
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t is really very easy to be environmentally conscience during the holiday season,” said Theresa Martin, marketing specialist with Charleston County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department. “This time of year, we create more waste, due to parties and gift giving, so we need to be mindful about how we are responsible for our sensitive environment here in Charleston County.” Tips from Charleston County on how to “go green” over the holidays: •
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Give your gifts in reusable bags instead of using wrapping paper. Wrapping paper is not recyclable, while most bags can be reused (particularly for holiday shopping). Recycle all cardboard boxes at one of the more than 30 Charleston County Recycling cardboard drop sites. Compost your real Christmas tree with Charleston County by bringing it to the Bee’s Ferry Landfill from January 3-10, 2009. Receive a free bag of compost in return for your tree. Many people give electronics, such as TVs and computers, as gifts over the holidays. If you are replacing old electronic equipment, remember to recycle your old electronics with
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Charleston County Recycling. Make a New Year’s resolution to compost and recycle everything you can.
Other green tips that you can practice to help save money and the environment: Decorations • Decorate with cranberries, popcorn, pinecones and homemade ornaments. • Put all lights on timers to save energy. • Make decorations out of natural items such as found seashells, holly, fresh flowers, apples and nuts. Then compost what you can. • Decorate your home with poinsettias, which may be cut back and saved for another blooming season. Wrapping gifts • Buy recycled greeting cards or make your own cards. • Use satin ribbon, which can be ironed and reused year after year. • Recycle foam packing peanuts at local packaging stores. • Be creative with gift wrap, such as using cloth napkins, dish towels, T-shirts and cookie tins. • Save boxes, wrapping paper, tissue paper and bows for reuse. • Save this year’s greeting cards and
reuse them next year as decorative gift tags or cut the front off and reuse them as postcards. Parties • Serve food on china, ceramic or stoneware plates with silverware instead of using plastic, paper or styrofoam products. • After the party, recycle glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles #1 and #2, aluminum cans, steel cans and all paper products (except for wrapping paper and greeting cards, which are not recyclable). Presents • Make edible items such as homemade jams, salad dressings or muffins. • Break off a piece of a plant and repot it for a friend. • Give your time by offering free babysitting, yard work or a car wash. • Give tickets to a play, concert, show or sporting event. • Make a donation to a charity in someone’s name. For more information on how you can be green during this holiday season, contact the Charleston County Solid Waste and Recycling Department at 843-720-7111 ext. 29 or visit http://recycle.charlestoncounty. org.
www.follycurrent.sc
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December 19, 2008
Music
Local, organic muffins
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By Cortney Ness
is the season to be with those who are close to you and to help others, so let’s do exactly that. Let us recognize one of our own fine bands that we can proudly say is based right here on the sandy beaches of Folly. Give a shout-out to local band, Dangermuffin! This folk/Americana/reggae/rock band is comprised of Dan Lotti on vocals and guitar, Mike Sivilli on guitar and vocals, and new drummer and percussionist Steven Sandifer, once a member of the Biscuit Boys. These three men effectively compliment each other as they come together to write and perform their own astounding songs, as well as blow the crowd away with their incredible covers (and with influences such as the Avett Brothers, Band of Horses, Mason Jennings and My Morning Jacket they definitely blow the crowd away). Their covers range from Bob Marley’s ‘Stir It Up’ to Ben Harper’s ‘Diamonds on the Inside’ to Tom Petty’s ‘Last Dance With Mary Jane’. But back to their own songs … Dangermuffin has released two albums to date and if you are already a fan of the band, you will be glad to hear that they will be sticking around our area for the winter and spring as they work on songs for a third album, which is to be released Folly Beach Crab Shack 588-3080 24 Center Street Trivia Nite every Tues Planet Follywood 588-7380 32-A Center Street Every Thur, Fri, Sat Dan Clamp Conch 633-0100 11 Center Street Mon Trivia Nite Thurs Folly Beach Bluegrass Society Chill & Grill 588-2060 14 Center Street 12/17 the Hawkes
this spring/summer. Their first album, Emancee, was released on October 13, 2008, with a track list of six songs including ‘Outlaw’s Plan’ and my personal favorite, ‘Real Monster’. The second album was released recently on November 27, 2008, and is titled Beermuda. This album has a track list of ten songs, including ‘Banjo Love’ and ‘Free Man’. When asked which of their songs is most meaningful to them, Dan replied “Free Man,” because, “It’s all about being independent and liberating yourself from that which oppresses you. We feel it every day on Folly and enjoy the fact that we are able to create music for a living.” Wow. How could you not be a fan? Stretching across a selection of genres, Dangermuffin could be labeled a “jam band” as they play those folk-music guitar picks that make you want to slap your knee and stomp your foot. The crisp, accentuated beats of the drum create a rock & roll energy, while a slightly scruffy yet smooth voice articulates and rolls through the clever lyrics. If any of this sounds even a bit appealing, check out their “Upcoming Shows” list at www.myspace. com/dangermuffin, where it’s ever so easy to catch one of their shows as they’ll be performing at a number of our local hot
spots, including: Home Team BBQ, Juanita Greenberg’s, the Silver Dollar, Surf Bar, Taco Boy and the Pourhouse for their pre-New Years show where they will be opening for Outformation. From the website you can also purchase/download their album Beermuda or visit iTunes and download both Beermuda and Emancee! Either way, spread the holiday cheer by
Local Folly musicians Dangermuffin will soon be taking their organic, home-grown style on the road.
Gifts from the heart
12/19 Stratton Lawrence 12/20 Graham Whorley Sand Dollar 588-9498 3 Center Street 12/12 & 13 Johnny Mac and the Booty Ranch 12/19 & 20 Jeannie Wiggins Band 12/26 & 27 Hed Shop Boys 12/31 Hed Shop Boys Surf Bar 588-2009 103 W. Cooper Ave Sun Dangermuffin
supporting our rising local band, because once their third album is released they’ll be touring regionally and performing at festivals representing our own Folly Beach. So be proud of this organic groove called Dangermuffin and have a Holly Jolly Christmas!
Honey walnut spread/topping
Folly music scene
www.follycurrent.sc
A nice way to present walnuts ready-to-eat is to crack them in large amounts beforehand, put the nuts into the kitchen mixer and chop them quite small. Then pour runny honey into the mixer and make a delicious spread. Pack the mixture in nice jars and tie a decorative spoon to the outside with a bit of ribbon or lace. You could even include a little hole-punched card on the string with suggestions for use. What’s it good for? Everything from salad topping to layering on fresh goat cheese, topping your vanilla ice cream, layering between sheets of phillo dough for a quick baklava, folding into croissants, mixing with turkey bread stuffing, making quick tartlettes: the list goes on!
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December 19, 2008
Adopt the purr-fect gift certificate Provided by Emily Laurie
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dding a pet to the family is a serious, long-term commitment. It’s a decision that needs input from everyone who would be involved in caring for the animal. When considering adopting a pet, there are many questions that need to be addressed thoughtfully: What type of animal would have a personality most compatible with the person or family? Who would be the primary caregiver of the pet? How much will it cost to feed and provide veterinary care? Who would look after the animal during trips? Could someone be allergic to the pet? It is extremely important that the primary pet caregiver, whether it’s you, a friend or loved one, is 100% involved in the adoption process. Instead of buying a puppy or kitten as a gift, consider giving a loved one a Pet Helpers gift certificate instead. This not only promotes responsible adoption, but also gives your loved one a chance to make a personal connection with the animal. Shelters too often bear the brunt of these unexpected gift decisions. If the
recipient decides the pet is not that cute anymore, it is too much work, or they just weren’t ready for the responsibility, it is often the local shelter that takes these animals back. Carol Linville, Pet Helpers Founder/President, states, “We need to remember that pets can’t simply be returned or discarded like a broken toy. And that if you’re adopting an animal as a gift, you have to look at every issue that may occur: such as moving, allergies, medical cost and training.” If you’re looking for that purebred pup and you think you can only get it from a breeder…think again. 10% of Pet Helpers’ pups are purebred, and there are millions of healthy mixed breed animals currently awaiting good homes, too. Pet Helpers adoption fees include your animal being spayed or neutered, up-to-date with vaccinations and micro chipped. So if you’re still thinking about adopting as a gift, a Pet Helpers gift certificate may be the best gift you give your family this holiday season. For more information call 795-1110 or visit www.pethelpers.org.
(above) SMOKY: I’m an 8-year old male. I’ve been here since my owner brought me here in 2004. I’m very shy at first, but if you give me a chance, I’d like to get to know you. (right) MAUI: Hi! My name is Maui. I am a 9-month old Hound. I have a lot of energy. I’m super sweet and I get along with other dogs. Just need an owner who can keep up with my energy. I’d make a great running partner and I can keep you company for walks on the beach or at the dog park.
www.follycurrent.sc
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Arts
December 19, 2008
Thoughts from a Folly artist : painted remains By Erin Sobony
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magine a pig-tailed toddler sitting cross legged, Crayola curled in her fist, engrossed in the whirl of color and lines she’s creating. Her mother and father are in awe as she describes the vivid image as “duck.” The form actually resembles a duck, and the parents laminate it and hang it proudly at the local high school where the toddler’s father teaches. That duck may in fact have looked like a mere blob of color, but it was my first clear memory of creating art, and the emotionally evocative nature of that moment determined that from then on, creating art would be a life long passion of mine. The process of making art has always given me a feeling of serenity. When I was teaching, I saw the same effect on children who, from their past records, would normally be misbehaving. This caused me to wonder exactly how important the aesthetic appreciation of self expression is to a person. Art provides different modes of expression, but it does not end there. There are moments that represent a turning point in our perspective on life. Spending a long weekend with a beautifully quirky friend of mine in Chicago represented one of those moments for me. We spent a whole day exploring The Art Institute of Chicago. Pollocks and Kandinskys draped the walls in magnificent shapes,
Erin Sobony stands in front of her tribute to her cat, Eddie.
texture, and colors. I saw the infamous Georges Seurat painting for the first time and was stunned by the mere size of it. The next room displayed candies covered in brightly colored foil wrappers, all piled up into a neat rectangle. The artist’s note to the public encouraged us to interact, but I’m not sure how as a women in uniform scolded us for touching the art. It was at that moment that I decided displaying in galleries or museums was not quite how I wanted my art to be seen. Though I will always love going to museums and am grateful for the existence of these cultural establishments, I personally wanted something different; I just wasn’t sure what that ‘different’ was. The next pivotal moment in my blossoming art career, however, was not as pleasant. I lived in a charming place called German Village where the roads were brick and the houses were old and full of character. I tend to enjoy occasional moments of solitude and after work I would either read or paint in my backyard with my two cats and dog. Sometimes my three year old neighbor would join me, working beside me on her own canvas. On this particular day I was busy working on a deadline was stubbornly ignoring my cat Erin, who would not stop stepping on my work. He soon stopped bothering me, but within the hour I received a tearful phone call. For some reason I knew what was to follow. In a dreamlike state I walked to the front door and someone handed me a box, telling me not to open it. I felt warmth exuding from the bottom and a girl with mascara streaming down her face kept saying “I’m sorry”, over and over. My own tears floated down my cheeks as I mechanically turned around and like my tears, I felt as if I was floating. What was I going to do with my sweet Eddie, who had unconditionally loved me for years? My decision was difficult. I couldn’t imagine Eddie’s soft, rabbit-like fur being no more. So I decided that I would recreate it. Driven by a desire to display my compassion and empathy, Eddie’s death compelled me to do something
www.follycurrent.sc
extraordinary to commemorate my beloved animal friend. Eddie’s ashes will forever remain with me in the bright, vibrant hues of my painting, representing perfectly what he once was; a bright and vibrant light in my life. Art, like the pursuit of happiness, evolves and changes with discovery and knowledge. Whether through teaching a friend how to apply paint and seeing pure joy when their loved one comes to life in her brush strokes or watching my pig tailed niece work vigorously, cross legged, Crayola in fist, I have learned that art is an ever evolving journey of self discovery. Erin is a Folly resident who attained her education at Ohio State University, but competently completed a degree in Art Education at the University of South Carolina. She continues the pursuit in everyday inquiries of her surroundings. If you would like to see more of Erin’s work check out her website at www.paintedremains.com.