PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID FOLLY BEACH, SC PERMIT NO 27
Vol. 1 Issue 8
Folly Beach’s Newspaper
February 6, 2009 w FREE
Great dates for Valentine’s Day By Brittany Urbach and Bri Horahan Although there are hundreds of fun things to do in the Charleston area year round, coming up with creative ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day can be a headscratcher. So to help out the date-planning challenged and those simply tapped for new things to do, we’ve created a list of traditional, original and off –the-wall dates, one of which is sure to impress that special someone:
Dates on the cheaper side
Combine any of these spectacular items to create the ultimate inexpensive Valentine’s Day. Mix and match foods, wine, gifts and sentimental gestures to come up with a unique gift which comes from the heart. Your Valentine will be impressed and delighted by your incredible dedication. ♥ Spend your date at home Write a little poem on a card just for him/her, share a bubble bath, play some relaxing music (Tord Gustavsen’s Changing Places is a beautiful, classic jazz album) and just enjoy each other’s company. An inexpensive, possibly suggestive dinner could include the following: Red wine ($6 - $14) A hors d’oeuvres platter consisting of any or all of the following: Dates ($6 / lb) stuffed with herbed goat cheese ($6 - $8) and wrapped with bacon ($3 - $4). This delicious treat is a fiesta in your mouth, as the sweet juices from the date pairs perfectly with the salty flavors of the bacon and cheese. Shrimp scampi ($3 - $9) see Dates on page 9
I N S I D E
Enjoying oyster season on page 2
Folly Gras on page 5
Surfing green on page 11
2
February 6, 2009
CIVIC
Letter from Mayor Carl Beckmann
City gets a new toy Two of Folly’s finest stand in front of the City’s brand new fire truck. The City decided to obtain two new trucks when Public Safety officer Chief Terry Boatwright came across a great deal that allowed them to buy two vehicles for almost the same price as the one for which they had budgeted. The other vehicle is a ladder truck and was expected to arrive before this issue of the Folly Current. Photo provided by Terry Boatwright
An oyster exchange
T
here’s a chill in the air; the mark of our short and inconsistent winters. The surface of Folly Creek remains glassy from a lack of wind, but the incoming tide keeps the water moving. The center of a small pier jutting out into the water is covered with a roof and walls. Inside, a long wooden table is surrounded by people in coats and gloves, hunkered over and feverishly at work with their hands. Steam is rising, but the bodies stacked side by side keep the source a secret. Then a man turns around, chewing and swallowing with a smile on his face. In his hand is a stubby, knife-like tool. His change in position has opened up a small window to reveal the source of his satisfaction: a pile of oysters taken from our very own Folly River. Yep, it’s oyster season. For those fortunate enough to avoid Belle Hall’s oyster-extravaganza, you might have found yourself at the Folly Beach
By Ali Akhyari Exchange Club’s Oyster Roast at Bowen’s Island on January 25. While some may have felt a void in their heart by missing the huge crowds and impossible parking situations at one of the Southeast’s top festivals, the Exchange Club’s oyster roast was an extremely cozy, friendly, and fun experience. It was easy to feel comfortable in the atmosphere provided by a quiet marsh, an old wooden pier, and people you’ll probably see again. Folly Beach mayor Carl Beckmann was there, shuckin’ oysters along side everyone else. Young, old, and everyone in between scooted past each other while the oyster shells were being continuously split. In a place like that, it’s hard to miss something and hard to distance yourself from it. You can’t help but enjoy yourself and be a part of it all. The $20 admission was a steal as it included all you could eat oysters and hot dogs which were replenished throughout
the afternoon. A local Folly band, The Shakin’ Martini’s, kept things hopping in the background with strong vocals, talented musicians and a slide guitar. You were even allowed to bring a cooler full of your favorite beverage at no extra charge. The oyster roast is a staple of life on our barrier islands and the Folly Beach Exchange Club’s version is the epitome. People squeezed into a small space in order to enjoy some of nature’s wonderful medley and the company of neighbors; braving the elements with joy on their face and the knowledge that our experience here is unique. Conversations were exchanged, hands shaken, and laughter abounded, all because of the annual oyster roasts put on by our locals that rekindle the warmth in our hearts, no matter how cold it gets outside. Be sure you don’t miss the next one. See page 8 for pictures.
www.follycurrent.sc
W
e have a crisis situation occurring on Folly Beach. That crisis is the Red Bay Laurel wilt disease spreading on the Island. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the trees affected are located in and around the 9th through 13th Arctic, Ashley, Cooper and Tabby. If you have Red Bay Laurel trees/bushes in your yard that appear to be “wilting”, please notify my office. If you desire to cut the trees, please cut as close to ground level as possible and leave the trees on the street, but above all, notify the City when you do this. There have been several articles in The Journal and Folly Current concerning this disease. The disease has been verified by the SC Forestry Commission and SC DNR and unfortunately there is no way of stopping the Ambrosia Beetles from moving from tree to tree. All we can do is slow the process by removing the dead and dying trees and burning them. This disease has been spreading up and down the Coast from Jacksonville, Florida, to Folly Beach and James Island. In conjunction with the Forestry Commission and DNR, our efforts are to slow down the spread of the disease north of Folly. Council will consider an Ordinance on how best to do this beginning in January. The bids are in and a decision will be made on January 27 for the contractor to remove some of the abandoned boats in the river. The SC DNR also has a list of the abandoned and derelict boats as their clock has begun ticking on the 45 day period and fines will soon be issued. This includes all boats that appear abandoned and/or derelict. Lastly, I want to tell you about our “Folly Gras Parade” coming on February 21. Based on Mardi Gras, our Folly Gras parade will be “Folly style”! Call Mary Cunningham for further information. This is another ongoing effort to help all of the businesses on Folly throughout the winter.
February 6, 2009
3
civic
City Council report
T
he following is a summary of the activity from the Folly Beach City Council’s January 27 meeting.
Don’t touch that tree The Council took a bold step against the spread of Laurel Wilt Disease, a fungus that is attacking native Redbay Laurels thanks to an alien beetle. In an effort to slow the spread and buy some time while environmental agencies figure out how to solve the problem, the Council passed first reading of an ordinance that reflects recommendations from the Department of Natural Resources and the SC Forestry Commission. If a person suspects a Redbay to be infected, they are to contact the City’s Building Official. If the tree is found to be infected, the property owner is responsible for cutting the tree into manageable, three foot pieces and the City will pick them up. If the City discovers an infected tree on a property, they will notify the property owner and that entity will have 10 days to cut the tree as noted above. If not, the City will cut the tree and charge the property owner for the service. The ordinance also makes it illegal to cut healthy Redbays or to remove Redbays from the property on which they sit if they’ve been cut. Violators will be subject to a fine between $100 and $500 for failure to comply with the ordinance. The City has acquired a burn site in the infected area of Folly Beach where infected wood will be taken for disposal. Burnings are expected to take place on Wednesdays. Can you not hear me now The City Council was faced with a new version of the noise ordinance they have been wrestling with recently. Previously, business owners argued that their input and concerns were not reflected in the ordinance. However, this ordinance seems to be something everyone can live with according to DJ Rich of Planet Follywood. He encouraged the Council to pass the ordinance with as little change as possible. Stranded no more The Council voted unanimously to award a contract to the Salmon Dredging Company for the abandoned and derelict boat removal in and around the Folly River for an amount of $29,950. Their bid was the lowest of six while the highest was $61,798. However, there was some concern that the removal of one boat in particular would negatively impact some local fisherman. The boat in question is one of the first in Folly Creek and has
Civic Calendar February 10 City Council Workshop 7pm
Staff Report a portion of it sticking out of the water. Apparently, it has become a habitat for many fish and is one of the better fishing spots in the area. Mayor Beckmann stated they would attempt to leave the boat where it is in the interest of concerned fishermen. He stated they would try to cut off the stern and use buoy markers so other boats can avoid the same fate while protecting the “inland reef”. Are you being compensated? Council member Tom Scruggs announced that he, along with Council members Dave Stormer and Charlie McCarty, were interested in forming a “Compensation Committee” whose goal would be to conduct a compensation study. The study would compare similar municipal jobs in the City of Folly Beach with those of comparable municipalities nearby in an effort to make sure employees are being paid what they should. The work would also establish a range of salaries for a job that would allow consideration of experience, longevity, skills and other characteristics when it comes to proper compensation. The other municipalities which the Committee would examine are: Bluffton, Carolina Beach, Goose Creek, Hanahan, North Myrtle Beach, Oak Island/Holden Beach, Sullivan’s Island and James Island Public Service District. The rest of Council seemed content to let them go about the business of getting the information. The Isle of Palms recently conducted their own compensation study with the same goals and research. It was discovered that much of their workforce was underpaid, but it allowed them to address problems such as high turnover in certain departments. New Deputy, new truck The City has recently hired a new Deputy Fire Chief who will also be getting a new 2009 Chevy Tahoe with a $23,210 price tag. However, the purchase of the new vehicle came with some debate. Council member Scruggs did not believe the City should spend the money and that
the purchase was unnecessary. The money was not included in this year’s budget and was the reason Scruggs called the purchase, “a bit extravagant”. While other Council members contended the Tahoe would allow the new Deputy to operate a command center out of the back of the vehicle, Scruggs asked what the City had been doing in the past without the truck. Beckmann argued that most other Fire Departments have SUV’s for the same purpose. The Council voted 5-1, Scruggs casting the dissenting vote, to purchase the Tahoe. The vehicle will also be available for the Deputy Fire Chief’s personal use. Everything else The Council passed first reading of an ordinance that will update the City’s code dealing with alcoholic beverages. According to the current code, the legal drinking age is 18 on Folly Beach. Furthermore, liquor was not included among the list of beverages that are regulated by the code. The ordinance will bring this section of the City’s codes in compliance with State law. The Council passed a resolution to spend no more than $40,000 on a traffic study which will be conducted by Wilbur Smith Associates. They also agreed to give $2000 to the Fort Johnson Booster Club. They voted to give $1500 to the Folly Beach Garden Club who will use the funds to build a meditation garden at the Community Center. Additionally, Council members passed a resolution that set a $1000 minimum bid for the newly established commercial zones on the front beach. Four zones have been established from 3rd Street East to 3rd Street West where the rental of umbrellas, chairs, and personal watercraft can be conducted. They also passed first reading of an ordinance that increases the amount of money that can be spent without a purchase order from $100 to $500. In addition, a payment voucher or request for a check has to be submitted, signed by a department head, with receipts attached.
Spring Cleaning? Redecorating? BUY OURS - CONSIGN YOURS Upscale consignments for the home. Check us first for BEST selection and prices.
Lynn Pierotti Publisher
[email protected] 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] Becca Finley Copy Editor/Reporter
[email protected] Interns Jennifer Millar Bridget Hinkebein Bri Horahan Ashley Anderson • Contributors Brianne Horahan Becca Finley Mia Burmeister-Laws Ashley Anderson Toni Catoe Brittany Urbach Eric Horan Haley Merrill Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS Future deadlines: February 11 for submissions. 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”.
1214 Fairmont Mt Pleasant next to GDC off Coleman We're here mon-sat 10-5:30 or call 843-216-0056 Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC Publishers of The Folly Current, The Island Eye News and the Island Connection.
www.follycurrent.sc
4
B
eyond the surf shops, hotels, and bars that crowd the shores of Folly Beach, there lies the remains of a classic, vacant sanctuary: a playground surrounded by nothing but a few homes to cast shadows on the shoreline. These memories of a young Folly Beach rest in the nostalgic eyes of local resident Bill Awtrey. 88-year-old Awtrey has been visiting Folly since his father built their beach home there in 1931. His wife and childhood companion, Theresa, also moved into the home her family had built nearby that same year. Both of their fathers worked for the Standard Oil Company, which is now Exxon. The two spent their summers playing in the wide open spaces and woods of Folly Beach with the trees, dunes, rocks, and sea as their jungle gym. “Theresa was always that little girl that tagged along. She was always such a good climber. We’d say ‘Theresa go climb up that limb!’ If it would hold her, her brother and I would go up it. She was our little tester,” said Awtrey. Theresa laughed, “I can’t believe my mother turned me loose with those two boys!” Decades of childhood memories are still fresh in their minds. Awtrey even recalls one of Theresa’s first attempts to
February 6, 2009
A Folly hero By Ashley Anderson read. One of the few homes around the corner was up for sale and the sign read, “Apply 111 Wentworth”. She decoded 111 Wentworth to be “I went north”. As they were driving by, she said, “I wonder where they went? How far up north?” The two chuckled at the memory as if it had been yesterday. Perhaps Theresa and Bill can replay these memories with ease because, in a sense, they have such a young relationship. These newlyweds were married just six years ago at an Air Force Base Chapel. Recent regulations on the base required that couples have three months of marriage counseling prior to being wed. Awtrey was shocked. “Between my wife to be and me, we’ve had almost 113 years of previous marriage! You want us to go for three months to counseling?” said Awtrey to the chaplain. Born and raised in West Columbia (formerly New Brooklyn), Awtrey moved back to his parent’s vacation home in Folly permanently when his former wife passed away in June of 2001. Awtrey graduated from Clemson University in 1941, while it was still a military academy. He applied for pilot training and graduated from Williams Air Force Base in Arizona in 1944. Awtrey flew a P-38 World War II
fighter plane before he was shipped off on the original Queen Elizabeth to Scotland and then to the southern coast of England where he began flying missions. By July, Awtrey was stationed at a beachhead strip in Normandy, where the D-Day landings occurred. He also gave support to ground forces during the Battle of the Bulge. Awtrey served from May of 1944 until July of 1945. Had the war continued, he would have flown back to the States to reequip and headed to the far east. By the time he arrived home, the atom bombs had been dropped and the war had ended. Awtrey returned home with 51 holes in his plane. “My most exciting experience during
the War was while I was the wingman for a man named Lawrence Bloomer from North Dakota. Everyone called him Scrappy. Scrappy shot down five German FW 190’s in just 15 minutes. Being his wingman, I was there for it all,” said Awtrey. Awtrey lost 55 out of the 315 members of his graduating class in the War, along with two of his flying school classmates. He remained in the Air Force and attained his master’s degree in international relations and geo-politics from Georgetown University. see Awtry on page 6
FIVA looks to future By Toni Catoe
H
appy New Year!! I hope your holiday season was marvelous. Let us all be thankful for what we have and our wonderful quality of life here on the Folly Islands. The Folly Island Voters Association or FIVA will continue to keep you informed about what is happening in our City. However, we can use some help. In order to let you know what is going on, some involvement is necessary on your part. The zoning re-write, traffic study, and vending ordinances are just a few of the things that are happening in our City right now. This year we have made greater use of the straw poll. We appreciate your responses very much. Results of the straw polls are being forwarded to the City administrator so that she can share the information with the Mayor and other
City officials. We have a membership of about 300 people, (a good cross-section) so our responses provide them with a good idea of how people feel about issues. You can look to see more straw polls in the future. Due to a continuing conflict with other City meetings, we have moved the FIVA meetings to the fourth Thursday of every month. The meetings are held in City Council Chambers at 7:30pm. If you have any suggestions for topics for the coming year, please do not hesitate to let us know. The “official” e-mail address is
[email protected], or you can contact me directly at fiva.
[email protected] or call me at 588-2055. I look forward to working with you in the coming year and hope to see you at the next meeting.
Pet Helpers Pets of the Week
GRETCHEN
Hi! My name is Gretchen. I was brought in to Pet Helpers because my previous owner passed away. I’m sweet, playful and housebroken. I really don’t like being in a kennel. I need a nice warm house where I am loved. Spayed, vax, chip, fee.
RIBBONS
Hi! I’m a 4-year old dark brown tabby female. I’m sleek and silent and I like my peace and quiet. I would be happier in a childless and dog free home. Spayed, vax, chip, fee.
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.
www.follycurrent.sc
5
February 6, 2009
It always goes down smooth
W
Staff Report
hat do you call a chili cook-off, hot dog eating contest, lots of fun and lots of people on Center Street? The first annual Taste of Folly, of course. Despite threats of rain, the event was a huge success. Half of Center Street was closed to vehicular traffic, but it was as busy as the Fourth of July weekend. People crowded the streets and our local restaurants made it easy for festival goers to sample the eclectic flavors of Folly Beach. If you were visiting from an area off the island, one of the first booths you probably came to was a classic: Woody’s. They were selling their one of kind pizzas by the slice. Off the bat, you had to know this was a good place to be. You can’t miss with Woody’s. Just across the road, the new restaurant Blu, which will be opening with the Holiday Inn sometime in March, complimented Woody’s casual aura with something a bit more upscale. They offered some delicious shrimp and chicken skewers over blue cheese coleslaw with a scallop to top it off. The Folly
Beach Brewing Company, a newer addition to the Center Street crew, offered samples of their many fine brews that can’t be found any where else in the area. Of course the Crab Shack and Locklear’s wouldn’t let visitors step foot on Folly Beach without first sampling their classic Lowcountry seafood. Hey, you can’t come to the beach without having some hushpuppies. Am I right? There was no shortage of food or fun. In addition to the many vendors who graced the main drag, a jump castle kept the kids in high spirits and the Oscar Rivers Trio and Walkin’ Mike Wolk provided the music. Later, Mayor Carl Beckmann and the rest of the City Council applauded the Taste of Folly as a huge success, not only as a great event but also as an economic booster shot for local businesses during the slow winter months. D.J. Rich was commended for his work in organizing the event. See page 8 for pictures
The Big Easy comes to Folly Staff Report There’s no denying that we are in hard economic times. Our local businesses are suffering as much as anyone. However, the City of Folly Beach is making an effort to bring more business to the beach with “Folly Gras”. In the Mayor’s own words, it is like Mardi Gras, but Folly style. In the wake of the recent “Taste of Folly” event, which was a very successful private venture, Mayor Carl Beckmann announced the City will be hosting the first Folly Gras parade designed to bring people out to the beach during the slow winter months. Folly Gras, he says, is “nothing more than having a little fun and helping the businesses”. It’s an opportunity for people to take advantage of the off-season and get together for some fun as a community. If you want to participate, be prepared to get into the swing of things. Those who want to be part of the parade are required to dress up in some sort of costume. Golf carts have to be decorated as well. But that’s like saying you have to put chocolate syrup on your ice cream, right? What a sacrifice. So get your costume ready and get into the
Planet Follywood - 32 Center Street Feb 13, 14, 20, 21- Dan Clamp
Surf Bar - 103 W. Cooper Avenue
spirit o f things. Folly Gras will be held on February 21 at 2pm. For more information, contact Mary Cunningham at 588-2447.
FB Crab Shack - 26 Center Street Feb. 12 & 19- Folly Beach Bluegrass Society (Thursdays)
Feb. 8- Dangermuffin Feb. 9- Graham Whorley Feb. 11- Justin Burke Feb. 15- Dangermuffin Feb. 16- Graham Whorley Feb. 18- Justin Burket
Sand Dollar - 7 Center Street Feb. 6 & 7- On the Hunt
Folly music scene www.follycurrent.sc
8
February 6, 2009
February 6, 2009 Dates from Cover with cocktail sauce ($2 - $3). A classic appetizer, which never loses its popularity. Oysters are a traditional aphrodisiac. You can purchase them fresh at Crosby’s. Hummus ($2 - $3) and pita chips ($3 - $6). A delightful snack to munch on while the lamb chops are simmering away in the oven. Honey ($2 - $4) with pecorino cheese ($7 -$8 / lb). Drizzle honey over wedges of pecorino cheese and enjoy the incredible combination of this salty and sweet delicacy. Pecan ($2 - $5) crusted brie ($7 $10). Warm the brie and pair it with apple slices, pita wedges or crackers to create an out-of-this-world flavor. All of these hors d’oeuvres go perfectly with a bold glass of red wine—and remember, it doesn’t have to be an expensive wine. There are many delicious wines under $10. Visit a vineyard: If you are into wine, head out to Wadmalaw Island’s Irvin House Vineyards for a wine tasting. $2.50 covers a guided tour, a taste of their five wines and a wrapped glass. Every Thursday - Saturday from 10am to 5pm. For more info, visit www.charlestonwine.com. Taste some tea: Begin at America’s only tea garden, Charleston Tea Plantation, located on Wadmalaw Island. Take a free tour of the plantation’s fields and their working tea factory. Afterward, have a free taste of their teas. For more information, call 843-559-0383. Take a ride through downtown: According to a cabbie at the Black Cab Company, if you tell the driver, “God Save the Queen!” you can get a ride anywhere downtown for only $5! Enjoy the arts: Stroll down the romantic streets and alleys of Charleston, visiting the open galleries of local artists. Don’t forget the free samples of pecan pralines on Market Street! Afterwards, step into one of the many restaurants and bars downtown for a night of free music and dancing.
Dates on the town ♥ An inexpensive dinner for two and a movie afterwards is a classic Valentine’s Day gift. One of the most romantic places to go to the movies is The Terrace on Maybank Highway. The Terrace offers a variety of wine, beer, snacks and soft drinks to enjoy during the film, all in an intimate, cozy setting. ♥ A carriage ride ($20 per person) throughout downtown Charleston—this is not only romantic but an excellent way
9 to learn or refresh your knowledge about the rich history of Charleston. ♥ Design your own personal tour through the various art galleries in downtown Charleston. It’s a great way to enjoy each other while observing gorgeous paintings and photographs (free!). ♥ Visit Charleston Cooks! for couples’ cooking classes. Three different classes are being offered on February 14. This “Couples’ Night” features a Romantic Italian Valentine’s Dinner, scheduled for 6:30pm. The price is $120. Just a few of the tasty treats are “Crispy Risotto and Mozzarella Fritters.” For more info, call 843-722-1212. ♥ To Kill a Mocking Bird is playing at the Memminger Auditorium, February 11 February 28. $29 Adult, $27 Seniors (60+) and $22 Student admission. For more info, call Charleston Stage at 843-577-7183. ♥ The Charleston Ballet Company will be performing the Masterpieces of Dance February 14 - February 15 at the Sottile Theatre. Adult tickets range from $35-$45. Enjoy the creations of choreographers Twyla Tharp, Kennedy Center Honors Inductee and George Balanchine. For more info, call 843-723-7334. ♥ If music is your thing, then be sure to check out blues singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist Leon Russell at the Pour House on James Island, February 13 February 14. Admission is $25. For more info, call 843-571-4343. ♥ Camellia Walks at Middleton Place Plantation, February 7 - March 26. $25 Adult, $5 Child and Free 6 and under admission. Offers a half hour guided tour of the “original and authentic 1950s era Camellia gardens”. For more info, call Middleton Place at 843-556-6020.
Going all out Planning a Valentine’s Day date with all the bells and whistles isn’t too difficult. Here are some great ways to give your Valentine an all out night out:
♥ Take your Valentine to the jewelry store just before your dinner and present her with her favorite selection during dessert. ♥ Do an art walk through downtown Charleston or any of the art shops on the islands a few days before Valentines. Then, on the big day, present her with her favorite painting or photograph from the trip. ♥ Spend two nights at the Charleston Place Hotel, which is offering a Sweetheart Package, complete with a carriage ride, afternoon picnic, spa amenities, a dozen roses and Godiva chocolates. For more info, call 1-800-611-5545. ♥ Spend two nights at the Sanctuary on Kiawah Island with either their Sanctuary Romance Package, which includes dinner at the Ocean Room Prime Steakhouse, couples massage and rose petal turndown, or their Villa Romance Package, which includes a canoe trip, bike rentals and dinner at the Ocean Room. For more info, call 843-768-2121.
The philanthropic date For the couple who already has everything, why not have a philanthropic date for Valentine’s Day? ♥ Donate the money that you would spend on a date to different charities. Or, buy a gift for your date that will benefit those who need it. ♥ Heifer International will use proceeds given to them to furnish impoverished families around the world with various animals in the hopes of eliminating hunger. Heifer animals include chicks, sheep, rabbits, beehives, guinea pigs, llamas, goats, donkeys, ducks, pigs, geese, camels, oxen, water buffalo and cows. For more info, visit www.heifer.org. ♥ Buy a pair of shoes and give a pair to a child in need when you purchase them from Toms Shoes. Visit their online store www.tomsshoes.com, or go to either Palmetto Moon location or Worthwhile on King Street to find the pair for you or your Valentine’s date.
A date with Mother Earth Bri Horahan
Spend Valentine’s night, February 14, at the studio of Mary Edna Fraser on James Island from 5-11pm. Local artists, Tina Christophillis and Jeff Kopish, will showcase their work alongside Mary Edna Fraser’s Batik, mono and oil paintings. 50 Houses on Kiawah Sand, a documentary film by Celie Dailey, will be shown at 6 and 8pm, followed by a Q&A with Nancy Vinson, Program Director for Air and Water Quality at the Coastal Conservation League. This show is a celebration of love for Mother Earth that will increase the awareness of her needs. Live music will be performed from 7-11pm by Sweetgrass, Lime and the Coconuts, ending with Howard Dlugasch’s acoustic performance. Bowens Island, the Wine Shop and Alchemy Coffee will provide roasted oysters, veggie chili, coffee and drinks. It is a paperless event to encourage green living; admission for
♥ Treat your Valentine to a delicious meal at any one of downtown Charleston’s critically renowned restaurants. Several highly recommended restaurants that are sure to satisfy the most demanding taste buds include: McCrady’s (which is currently booking its special Valentine’s dinner), SNOB (Slightly North of Broad), Cypress, Magnolia’s, High Cotton, Oak Steakhouse and Peninsula Grill. ♥ Create an over-the-top cheese platter with a variety of wines. Food and wine expert Drew Harris at Café Medley on Sullivan’s Island would be more than happy to help you with your pairings and selections. Call 843-793-4055.
www.follycurrent.sc
the evening is $20 at the door and $15 with student ID. The studio is located at 1723 Oak Point Road, James Island. “Delete Apathy: Promoting Environmental Activism” is the name of the show that hopes to make the public aware of the proposed development of a “spit” of land on the southern tip of Kiawah Island. Mary Edna Fraser, the show’s host and in-house artist, is also a licensed pilot, who has been watching this spit of land morph for the past 30 years from the cockpit of her grandfather’s 1940s Air Coop. She, Nancy Vinson and Dr. Orrin Pilkey have lent their voices to environmental activism for the Charleston area in the ultimate goal of preserving this land in its natural state. Visit www.coastalconservationleague. org and www.deleteapathy.com for more information on the show, or contact Mary Edna Fraser through her website www. maryedna.com.
10
Folly Beach Police Reports: January 16 A resident reported that she had become the victim of internet fraud two days earlier after complying with an e-mail in which the sender, posing as her e-mail provider, asked for her e-mail address and password in order to avoid erasing unused contacts in her address book as a maintenance operation. On January 16, she attempted to access her account but the password had been changed by the bandit. The subject, posing as the victim, also contacted the people in her address book claiming to need $2200 because she was in London and lost her wallet. Officers provided the victim with the phone number of the local FBI office to investigate further. January 16 An officer pulled over a vehicle for traveling 13mph over the posted speed limit on Center Street leaving Folly Beach. The driver was unable to produce a license but assured the officer it was good. However, the officer discovered that “good” must have meant “suspended” after a short investigation revealed that fact in addition to several other priors and that the car did not belong to the driver. Officers were unable to locate the actual owner of the vehicle and it was towed while the driver was arrested. January 19 A man staying with a friend reported that wood working tools had been stolen from his truck within the previous two days. He had last seen them on January 17 and noticed them missing on January 19. He estimated the value of the tools at $4500. There were no suspects at the time of the report. January 19 A local business was broken into sometime after closing time in the early morning and reported around 12:26pm that day. It was believed that the culprit entered through a small bathroom window which had been painted shut before taking $759 from the cash register and drop bag. There were no suspects at the time of the report.
February 6, 2009
Police Reports
January 20 A Kangaroo convenience store employee called police to report that a man who appeared homeless was scaring people in the parking lot and had even pulled out a knife. Upon arrival, the man was still in the parking lot holding a cup of coffee, which was taken away from him for fear of it being used as a weapon as he began to get belligerent. When asked for identification, the man responded, “that is the $50,000,000 question”. Officers were unable to find identification on the man and arrested him for disorderly conduct under the name John Doe and was later identified as an Illinois resident. January 20 A resident reported that a decorative surfboard worth $500 had been stolen from the side of his house. He had last seen the board on January 9. There was no evidence to identify a suspect. The board was a 7-8 foot Sea and Sand long board.
January 21 After responding to a call, an officer was directed to a vehicle containing an intoxicated individual. The officer turned on his blue lights and watched the driver sneak over to the passenger side of the car. The officer approached the vehicle and the “passenger” opened the car door at the officer’s request. He could smell alcohol and noticed the woman was slurring her speech and slow in her movements. He asked her to step out of the vehicle and she responded by trying to close the door on him. The officer stopped the door and informed the woman she would not be able to stay in the vehicle. At this point, the woman hit and kicked the officer every time he tried to pull her from the vehicle. In addition, the woman’s dog attempted to bite the officer with every attempt. She kept fighting the officer until another officer arrived to distract the dog while he forced her from the car. She was arrested and charged with assault and public intoxication. January 22 Police responded to one of our local convenience stores in reference to a
group of people suspected of shoplifting. The officer arrived and identified the suspects, two girls and three guys, and found two bottles of Bud Light Lime and one bottle of Smirnoff Ice in their car. After they could not agree on where they purchased the beer, video evidence showed the group of five steal the three beers. All five were arrested for shoplifting and the nine dollars worth of merchandise was returned to the store.
January 23 When a dispatcher observed two intoxicated individuals in front of the fire house, a police officer was dispatched. He noticed both were very intoxicated and in no shape to drive and offered to call them a cab and escorted them to the Public Safety officer, despite some lack of cooperation from the woman. The dispatcher was unsuccessful with the cab companies and the woman began to act up again. He agreed to let her call a sober friend, but she responded by “playing games” and not calling anyone. The officer offered to attempt a cab ride again when the woman started being uncooperative, at which point she was placed under arrest. The man was allowed to take a cab and told to go straight home when it arrived. With the help of the cab driver, who was directed to contact police if the man strayed from his instructions, police found the man when he got out of the cab at Mariner’s Cay where he admittedly did not live. The duo was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. January 23 A man was offered a ride back to his house after refusing to leave a local bar. The man had no identification but offered his name and date of birth. On the ride to his home, it was discovered that the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office had a warrant for the man. He was placed under arrest, put on trespass notice at the bar, and picked up by a Sheriff’s deputy later that night. January 24 At about 5:19am, an officer observed a vehicle drive over the center yellow line a couple of times while leaving Folly Beach and conducted a traffic stop. He saw only a driver but noticed a passenger sit up after the vehicle came to a stop at which point another officer was called to assist. The officer got the male passenger out of the vehicle and patted him down. The other officer noticed an opened 32 ounce bottle of Schlitz. The female driver was unable to produce any identification or vehicle documentation. She was cited for driving over the center line, having an open container in the car, and they were allowed to leave. January 24 A pick-up truck was pulled over for suspected drunk driving. The officer observed a strong odor of alcohol and noticed several empty cans of Milwaukee’s
www.follycurrent.sc
Best Ice in the truck bed, an opened twelve pack of the same beer behind the driver’s seat, and 32oz Mountain Dew that had been re-filled with beer. The driver, already in an agitated state, miserably failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI and having an open container in a moving vehicle. The subject was handcuffed with his hands behind his back and seatbelted into the vehicle. On the ride to the Charleston County Detention Center, the subject unbuckled himself and attempted to bring his hands in front of him. He was advised to stop doing so and any continuation would be considered resisting arrest. He continued. The officer pulled over, further restrained the subject with some opposition, and took him to jail. He was additionally charged with resisting arrest and his driver’s license was taken after refusing a breathalyzer. January 24 A female driver was pulled over after cutting off a police officer while making a turn. She appeared in an “altered state” and unaware of her surroundings. She refused a field sobriety test before dispatch informed the officer that her license was suspended. Except for saying “I’m in love”, her continuous rambling was largely incoherent. She was arrested for DUI and her traffic offense. January 25 A woman requested an “information only” report after a casual boyfriend ripped a side mirror from her car. She claimed the man also pushed her out of the vehicle, resulting in minor injuries but didn’t want to press charges. The officer realized he had seen the woman the day before when she was so intoxicated that she couldn’t walk and didn’t know her name. January 25 A 22 year old man was discovered sleeping in a men’s restroom. When an officer made contact, he was sure the man was on some sort of mind altering substance as he was “dazed and confused” and unaware of his surroundings. A search uncovered a small amount of marijuana, one pill of ecstasy, and 1.5 pills of diazepam which he had a prescription for. He was arrested for drug/ narcotic violations, this being his second offense. January 25 An officer pulled over a Maryland driver for going 50mph in a 35mph zone at 9:45pm. The vehicle’s registration had been expired since March of 2008 and the driver could not produce proof of insurance. The vehicle was towed and the driver given a citation for speeding and the expired registration. A taxi was contacted so the driver’s travel could continue.
February 6, 2009
Help Surfrider attack pollution Provided by Haley Merrill
I
11
Surfing
t’s so easy to say “plastic” at the grocery store checkout counter. The plastic bags are both lightweight and strong—you don’t have to worry about the handles breaking like the paper bag handles often do. Plus, you don’t have to buy small bags for your lunch or the bathroom trashcans. You’re reusing, and that’s environmentally friendly, right? The thing is, even if you reuse that plastic bag, that plastic will never go away. Plastic, while it certainly has made life better in some regards, is not biodegradable. It photodegrades, which means the sun breaks it down into smaller and smaller pieces until we can’t see it, but even though we can’t see it, it’s still there. These small pieces get eaten by the microorganisms in the ocean and then begin to work their way up the food chain until they’re eventually concentrated in the stomachs of large fish, seabirds, and mammals. Plastic yields no nutritional value and is not easily digested, so usually the plastic just sits there, slowly leaking poison and taking up valuable space. Eventually, the afflicted animal starves to death. Researchers recently found a dead sea turtle off the coast of Hawaii with more than 1,000 pieces of plastic in its stomach and intestines. Others have found dead seabirds in Alaska with stomachs full of
plastic, while others have found that some baby penguins are dying in South Africa because their parents are regurgitating mostly plastics at meal times. The North Pacific Gyre is an area of the ocean twice the size of the continental US where it’s estimated that roughly 100 million tons of plastic are trapped. Here, plastic pieces outnumber zooplankton, the building blocks for the marine food chain, by 6 to 1. In order to reduce the amount of plastic in the environment, the Surfrider Foundation Charleston Chapter and Charleston Waterkeeper will be running a Rise Above Plastics campaign for the month of March, starting with an oyster roast kick off party on February 15, from 2-5pm at Bowens Island. The campaign will focus on education on the permanence of plastic and ways in which people can decrease their use of plastics. It’s all you can eat oysters and all you can drink beer, plus live music from The Toasted Beats and Moonlight Ale. Tickets are $15 in advance (sold at Folly Brewing Co, Ocean Surf Shop, Mellow Mushroom, Las Olas, Air, Charleston Watersports, and Halfmoon Outfitters in Mount Pleasant) and $20 at the door. All funds raised will go to support the campaign and other Surfrider projects. Visit www.charlestonsurfrider. com for more info.
A January clean up
W
ell, January has been a pretty disheartening month as far as surf goes. It’s been really cold, and we’ve even seen some flurries. But, when it looked like January was going to go “gentle into that good night”, she decided to give us something to remember her by. We saw some choppy, waist/chest high surf on January 28. The winds were relatively calm despite predictions of howling gusts up to 30mph, which didn’t show up until the late afternoon. For anyone who was able to get out of bed and avoid work the next morning, the sight was beautiful. Winds calmed down and switched off-shore, giving Folly surfers a great clean-up session. It wasn’t huge, but it was definitely fun. The waves were clean with plenty of lines; it was even going down at the pier. Hopefully, we’ll have more of the same, or better, in February.
Photos by Marty Morganello
Folly Beach surfers had the benefit of a nice clean-up session on January 29. Above: Longboarders at the pier enjoy the fruits.
www.follycurrent.sc
12
February 6, 2009
Morning fog
M
By Eric Horan
y friend Doug Gardner and I passed through the Sea Pines Plantation gate on Hilton Head just before sun up this spring morning. We were headed to Lake Mary in the Forest Preserve to photograph wading birds. They spend long hours, days even, gathering nesting materials and preparing for their chicks to arrive. In another month, the island will be filled with hundreds of birds, tending to their clutch of chicks full time. But this trip, we were intent on photographing their nest building. The rookery in the Forest Preserve used to be on a small island in the middle of Lake Mary. For a few months each spring it served as home to egrets, herons and ibis. We launched our kayaks into the glass-smooth water in a heavy fog, counting on the fog lifting with the sunrise. The fog did eventually lift; but while waiting, I got this nice image of my friend paddling. Eric Horan publishes a calendar of his work every year and his columns discuss the picture for each month. You can view and/or purchase his 2009 calendar at www.southernlight.biz. Photo tip: With each situation you encounter outdoors, plan your gear and how you want to approach your subject. You need to pay close attention to the weather, light direction and quality for the time you will be out. When in coastal waters, study the tides. (Check with local papers, tourist guides or my
annual wall calendar Lowcountry 2009, South Carolina.) Once in the field, remain open to the unexpected. Your spontaneity can bring new opportunities. In our case, we could have sat in our boats, grumbling while waiting for the sun to burn through the fog. Instead, we managed to capture some
nice kayaking shots. Extra precaution should be used when shooting birds on the nest and extreme care taken when they have chicks. You do not want to scare birds off their nests or worse, startle young chicks to flee the nest prematurely. The chances for their survival would not be good. The local
www.follycurrent.sc
waters are full of alligators with others predators on land such as raccoon, fox and bobcat, waiting for such a mishap. With nesting birds, it’s best to use a photo blind or position yourself with a long lens far enough away to prevent disturbing any natural behavior.