PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID FOLLY BEACH, SC PERMIT NO 27
Vol. 1 Issue 6
Folly Beach’s Newspaper
January 9, 2009 w FREE
Franchise ordinance
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staff report
esidents and business owners will have some new regulations regarding the front beach this new year. The City Council met on December 30, in order to pass a “Beachfront Vending Ordinance”. By passing the ordinance before the new year, the regulations will currently be in effect. While many residents were against vending of any sort on the beach, Mayor Carl Beckmann says the ordinance, which allows some vending, will prevent Folly Beach from turning into a Myrtle Beach type of atmosphere. Unfortunately, the Folly Current was unable to obtain a current version of the ordinance before our deadline. But according to the previous version, only a few types of businesses will be allowed to vend on the beach including jet skis, umbrellas, and chairs. The sale of any item is prohibited while rentals are allowed. This commercial activity will only be allowed between 2nd Street East and 3rd Street West, roughly in the Commercial area. That area of the beachfront will be divided into zones which business owners can bid on. Beckmann adds that businesses on Center Street will benefit from the ordinance since they will be able to bid on the available spaces as well. However, some businesses are worried that any more competition will stress an already depressed financial situation. “We are not extending our commercial district, but protecting our beach,” Beckman wrote on the City’s website.
I N S I D E
Meaning of Christmas? on page 3
2009 Polar Bear Plunge
Local CSA on page 3
Changing energy on page 12
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Folly spirits
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January 9, 2009
By Ali Akhyari
he island has a liquor store again. It has been about a year since Folly Beach had its own liquor store. Since then, any resident wanting a spirituous substance would have to drive off the island. But no more. Co-owners Lauren Dean and Michael Riffert have opened the Folly Beach Red Dot situated behind Bert’s on East Cooper. “Oh, my God. We’re so glad you’re here,” is one of the many exclamations Dean has heard visitors to the Red Dot say. The store is unlike any liquor store with which you’re probably familiar. Dean and Riffert are both six year Folly Beach residents and believe in the “keep Folly, Folly” mentality. They have worked with the purpose to create a “wine store that sells liquor”, as opposed to the sanitized, cut-out liquor store that people are used to seeing. There’s an ambiance about the Red Dot that screams “Folly”. Well, scream probably isn’t the right word. It’s more like a whisper. The same way the Atlantic ocean whispers as one sways in a hammock between two Palmettos, pushed by a breeze that brushes away the day’s cares. With some reggae tunes slinking from the speakers, the store embodies the laid back attitude that one expects from Folly Beach and is inclusive of all types of residents. Dean and Riffert worked with the owners of 11 Center Street, which boasted the most impressive wine selection in the area, to find out what types of wine Folly Beach residents preferred. Using that information, the middle of the store is dedicated to a fine selection of wines with a range that should please anyone. Currently there are over 60 different wines with a low, medium, and high price range and run the broad range of varietals and blends. Furthermore, these are not your “run of the mill” wines, Dean says. They are quality wines. But for those that can’t find exactly what they’re looking for, the Red Dot has a very unique feature: the “Wish List”
board. It’s a dry erase board where people can request particular wines and liquors that the store does not currently have. When the store fulfills the wish, the person who requested it will receive a phone call letting them know it has arrived. For the wine drinker, it can be Christmas all year long thanks to the Wish List. It doesn’t hurt for the store to buddy up with Bert’s in a location just a block away from the beach. They plan to carry an admirable assortment of airplane bottles for beach convenience. This way you can have your margaritas without lugging a handle, the way it should be. I’ll leave it up to your imagination to come up with a few more of the (above) Lauren Dean and Michael Riffert recently opened the Folly Beach Red Dot and ended the year long drought of a wine/liquor store on Folly Beach. (below) The “Wish List” one of the many unique endless possibilities. features that separate the Folly Beach Red Dot from other liquor stores in the area. It’s an opportunity Residents are already for residents to request wines and liquors that aren’t already being carried in their impressive glad to have the Red Dot in inventory. operation and like it better exists on Folly Beach, resulting in an work to keep their prices fair and than the store that closed a year ago. especially scrutinizing study of their plans competitive instead of taking advantage “There’s a lot more inventory. This is by the powers that be. But they’ve trudged of their neighbors as the only store of its Folly Beach. This is classic,” Harry Ericson through and opened a high quality wine kind on the island. They are currently says of the store. store that sells liquor of which Folly boasting the lowest price on Firefly Sweet Riffert says the idea to open the store residents can be proud. Tea Vodka in the area. Be sure to stop in came when the old liquor store closed. He The co-owners say they will consciously and soak it all in. and a friend complained that someone needed to open a new one when the friend suggested that Riffert do it, to which he responded, “Okay”. However, he needed a business partner and asked his friend Lauren Dean to keep an eye out for anyone that might be interested. Dean began thinking of possibilities when she looked in the mirror and realized she was the partner she was looking for. It took them five and a half months to obtain their liquor license. This is much longer than the average time, which Riffert attributes to the “free spirit” attitude that
“Be a Tourist in Your Own Town” passes
Passes offer local Tri-County residents free one-time admission to 37 area attractions and discounts at 24 family restaurants. Individual passes cost $20 and family passes, for up to four people of any age, sell for only $50. “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.
www.follycurrent.sc
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January 9, 2009
Have we lost the meaning of Christmas? By Dr. Jackie McKool and Jeffrey Knighton MPA.
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ver this Christmas holiday two friends of mine told me their stories of wanting to lend a helping hand to a needy child through a local church, but they could not afford to help! I was told that the items on these needy children’s “wish lists” were financially out of reach for the would-be givers. The churches did not even offer another way for them to help if they could not afford the pricey gifts. This is outrageous. These children were asking for (and expecting) high-ticket items such as X-Box 360s and ten gear bicycles. These would be out of my budget as well. I consider myself your typical middleincome person, as are my friends. We certainly are blessed and don’t lack for our basic needs. However, especially in these lean economic times, we have to reign in the purse strings and deny ourselves many of our past luxuries. Even respected Christian financial advisors such as Dave Ramsey and Larry Burkett teach us to be “good stewards” of our finances. What kind of example are we sending when we are entertaining these extravagant wishes? Please don’t misunderstand me, I love helping people who are in need and the Bible teaches us that we are to be the hands and the feet and the heart of Jesus and his representatives here on Earth. In fact, since both Jeffrey and I did not have family in town, we ended
up spending our time at the Veterans Hospital visiting and praying with those brave soldiers who, like us, did not have family with whom to share Christmas. It did not cost us a dime and it really helped others in need feel loved. My question is, how do some of these Christian charity organizations define “needy?” Is giving to someone who simply might not be as well off as the “Jones’” a need, or are we becoming enablers by fulfilling these extravagant wishes? There was many a childhood Christmas for me where the child next door received more than I and yet I still had plenty. There’s always going to be someone who has more than we do. Whatever happened to the simple things in life that used to give us great joy? A ministry such as Operation Christmas Child, which Ashley River Baptist participates in, asks participants to fill a shoebox with some wonderful necessities like shampoo, toothbrushes, and modest toys, and then give them to children who normally have NONE of these things. This is more my understanding of being a blessing to someone. Wouldn’t we as the Church better serve those who might not have as much as the “Jones’” if we were lead by example and teach the parents good stewardship so they in turn could pass this onto their children? Wouldn’t we be serving these children better by
demonstrating true love by showing them just how valuable they are, how smart they are, how loved they are and spend a little time with them, rather than just giving them extravagant, overpriced possessions? The former represents more of the true meaning of Christmas than the latter. Couldn’t we take these less fortunate children out Christmas caroling, to a nursing home, to a Christmas pageant, or a multitude of other things that could show what the true meaning of Christmas is? Then maybe those of us who want to bless someone can do so, and in turn get blessed as well! About the writers. Dr. Jackie McKool, a resident of the West Ashley Community in Charleston County is a local Christian chiropractor who is a volunteer for local charities and ministries in South Carolina. You can contact Dr. McKool at (843) 571-6440 or
[email protected] Jeffrey Knighton, also a resident of the West Ashley Community in Charleston County, has been a leader in many community outreach programs for over 14 years. He has a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Public and Non-Profit Organizational Behavior and Structure. You can contact Mr. Knighton at (804) 874-0620 or
[email protected]
Community Supported Agriculture
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egare Farms is now offering shares in their Community Supported Agriculture or CSA program for the 2009 year. A CSA is a way for the food buying public to create a relationship with a farm and to receive a weekly basket of produce. By making a financial commitment to a farm, the community helps to support the farm as the crops are being grown. Members help pay for seeds, fertilizer, water, equipment, maintenance, labor, etc. In return, the farm provides, to the best of its ability, a
Special to Folly Current healthy supply of seasonal fresh produce throughout the growing season. By becoming a CSA member, you help to create a responsible relationship between the food you eat, the land on which it is grown and those who grow it. This is the second year that Legare Farms is offering its CSA program. The first year of the CSA was extremely successful for both the farm and the participating members. “This was a wonderful experience for us,” says farm owner Helen Legare. “We met some great people
and were able to build lifetime relationships with many of our members.” Legare Farms also offers shares in their antibiotic and hormone free beef. Shares will cost $355 each for the vegetable CSA. Shareholders will receive produce for 15 weeks starting in May and ending mid December with a break mid summer. Starting and ending dates are weather dependent. Shareholders will receive approximately half a bushel of produce which will contain some fruits, but mostly vegetables. Legare Farms offers five drop locations to pick up
the produce. The locations are in North Charleston, West Ashley, James Island, Mount Pleasant, and Legare Farms on River Road, Johns Island. Other location may be added for 2009. Shareholders have the opportunity to purchase meat, eggs, pickles, jams, and salsas when they arrive at the drop locations. Anyone interested in becoming a shareholder in Legare Farms CSA should call 843-5590788 or e-mail legarefarms@ bellsouth.net
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] Chelsea Langan Advertising
[email protected] • Contributors Bud Bryan Mia Burmeister-Laws Bobby Cummings Hangerhead Jeffrey Knighton, MPA Dr. Jackie McKool John Nelson Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS Future deadlines: January 14 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”.
Civic Calendar Tuesday, January 13
Monday, January 19
Folly City Council 7pm
Design Review Board call City Hall for times
www.follycurrent.sc
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC Publishers of The Folly Current, The Island Eye News and The Island Connection.
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January 9, 2009
Saving the world starts at home By Hangerhead
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ome people blamed the smoking ban. Others say it was a change in the building’s ownership which resulted in a much higher rent. Whatever the reason, everyone who lives on Sullivan’s Island recalls the closing of Bert’s Bar, the beloved watering hole. I think some regulars are still recovering from the loss. Almost a year to the day, the Green Heron closed its doors on the same island. No more delicious sandwiches wrapped in love, foil, and sometimes entertaining sarcasm. No more toys and candy to delight the youngsters walking into their own personal wonderland. In our current financial crisis where people are getting laid off, jobs are scarce, and money is tight, it is difficult to make an argument for people to buy local, especially since it usually means spending more money. The United States market has been flooded for years with more affordable foreign goods and American businesses are drawn to inexpensive outsourcing in other countries. One could argue that our government made firing American workers popular before the current fad. However, the closing of our island businesses will not result in jobs
being shipped overseas. It results in local jobs lost and the loss of the lifelong dream of a friend or neighbor, as well as the loss of a locally based community resource. There are so many factors that can be attributed to businesses like these failing, especially these days. Like rising costs and market fluctuations, many of these factors
are out of our control. However, local residents and visitors do have at least some say in whether our local businesses will fail in the next couple of years. We can make a conscious effort to patronize these businesses instead of those larger corporate companies off the island. We can shop on our side of the bridge whenever possible. Despite the financial strain, many of your neighbors are spending money in your local papers to remind you of their business’ existence. When thinking about where to eat, which dentist/doctor to visit, or where to have a drink after work, remember the places that are reaching out to you. Christmas has already passed, but it will come again and there will be other holidays, birthdays, and occasions in the
meantime which will require the purchase of something. Our local stores have some of the most unique, character filled gifts you can find. Remember them. Our local businesses exude the island flavor that drew most of us here. The new Red Dot on Folly Beach is one of the coolest and coziest wine/liquor stores you’ll probably step foot in. It’s because it is a Folly store that has reggae playing in the background. Bert’s Market is a superbeachy Red & White that you can walk into with nothing on but sand on your feet and a bathing suit. From Dunleavy’s and Seel’s on Sullivan’s Island to the Marina Market on Isle of Palms, our local islands have their own unique resources. It would be criminal to trade that in for a made-inChina Wal-Mart t-shirt or a Thick Burger from Hardee’s. The food is much better and you’ll find a much more entertaining t-shirts on the island, I guarantee you. We should be proud of our islands and should demonstrate that pride by supporting the businesses that exemplify what island life is all about. It’s the residents that have always had the power. It’s just a matter of wielding it. 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].
PetsPetofHelpers the Week CECILIA: Hello! My name is Cecilia and I’m a sweet, affectionate pastel Calico! I’m almost 2 and love to perch on the shelf in our Kitty Cat Room with my friends. I hope you come to visit me soon!
HERMEY AND MOONRACER: Hello! We are 2 month old, Brindle/Terrier mixes. We were found and brought in to Pet Helpers. We are super sweet and are just puppies. We need a loving home with lots of love! 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
January 9, 2009
Surfing
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Pop surfing By Ali Akhyari
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anta was good to me this year. Actually, it was my family who was good to me; I’m 29 years old and learned that Santa Claus was not a real person a long time ago. It was a devastating 2005, but I digress. On Christmas, my mom informed me that a brand new surfboard would be arriving at my Charleston home a few days after Christmas. This was very exciting news for me as I needed a new board to replace my Merrick Flyer, but haven’t had the financial means to do so in a very long time. I purchased the Flyer in a very used condition for about $250 and it has served me well. But there’s nothing like the buoyancy, speed, and overall capabilities of a brand new board. About a month before Christmas, I learned that a California company was selling Anacapa surfboards for $279 with free shipping. Since it is a Merrick design, I thought this was a great opportunity and attempted to sway my family to get this for me as a combined birthday/Christmas present since my birthday is exactly a week before Christmas. Sometime after I sent the e-mail blast to relevant family members, I visited charlestoncrystalball.com to check the waves. There were none so I decided to read the perpetual genius that occurs there in the form of a message board. As I scanned through the inane philosophies of other locals, I noticed some comments about the $279 surfboard deal. Someone referred to Anacapa as “Ana-crap-a” in conjunction with the belief that surfers should not buy pop-outs (a surfboard created on a manufacturing line). I have to admit, there was a moment when I thought, “What have I done? I must send an e-mail to my family canceling my request. I can only hope that it is not too late and that the surfing gods will not hold me in contempt.” However, my simple desire for an affordable board that is not waterlogged and dinged to death began to override my guilt. I am very aware of the pop-out debate, but it’s not always as simple as choosing to support or bury a shaper. To me, it was more about an elitist mentality in the world of surfing that made me very comfortable with getting an Anacapa board. Elitists in general make me sick, but in a surfing arena where words like peace, nature, and oneness abound, it is
even more nauseating. I suppose there are a lot of different types of surfers since they are all human beings and we are extremely varied within our identifying DNA. But in my humble opinion, “surfing elitist” is a contradiction in terms. The word “surfer” to me creates a vision of a person who is seeking harmony with nature and always has some piece of wisdom to impart that he/she has taken from the ocean. But as I look around, I see that this vision can not be applied to all. Earlier this year when I was coming off the beach with my board after a good day of waves, there were four or five guys hanging out on the walkover, watching everybody surf. They were all wearing the same gear: hats with flat bills, shirts with words like “Quicksilver” and “Billabong” in large print, and flip-flops that come from the surf shop. They looked like exact copies of another surfer I used to hang out with who I’ll call “Precious Metal”. He would only wear surf clothing such as t-shirts that cost $40-$50 because elitists will pay that much to look like a surfer, even when they’re out of the water. There’s nothing wrong with wearing the clothing, but to look down on someone who doesn’t is a form of pop culture that drove me nuts in high school. When I saw the group, I immediately became anxious as I walked by. One guy asked how the waves were. I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic since they had been
Tangled up in mystery plants By John Nelson
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f you are a cocker-spaniel, you may not want to look at this picture! Here’s a plant with a kind of brutal winter beauty; the drying leaf stalks topped with a constellation of brown, spiny burs. You might have a feeling that this is a plant that wants to spread itself around, if it can. And it wants you to help. This is a member of the sunflower family (and the botanists have determined that it a relative of the common ragweed). It is an herb that is widely distributed in North America, is easily found throughout southern Canada as well as every one of our United States. It is an extremely successful weed, usually found on disturbed ground, agricultural fields, cattle lots, roadsides, and places that are being excavated. The plants get to be two to three feet tall with lots of attractive, dark green leaves. Blooming takes place during the summer and each plant produces a number of small, drab flowers. Male and female flowers will be produced on the same individual plant. (Such a plant
Photo by Tony Adcock
is termed “monoecious,” and another good example of such a plant would be corn.) However, it is what those female flowers develop into that has really made a name for this species. see Mystery Plant on page 9
www.follycurrent.sc
watching the 75 or so people catching waves in the water for about 20 minutes. I replied that it had been really fun. The guy smirked and a couple of them turned to watch me leave as they whispered something and laughed. I felt like I was in high school again. I guess I wasn’t wearing the right brand of board shorts or maybe my board was too dirty. I don’t know. I wondered why they weren’t in the water, since they looked like surfers. A long time ago, I realized that one of the stupidest things I’ve ever done was to try and please the elitists, the cliques. I’m not going to start again now. I’m not rich. I don’t have $600 to throw down on a new Channel Islands Flyer and neither does my family. I’m not going to spend $40 on a t-shirt in order to identify with Pop Surfers. I realize this may seem a bit strange in the South Carolina barrier island’s community where the beer flows like wine, but not everyone can throw money around in order to pull off the surfer clothing that magazines tell you to wear. There will be a foot of snow on the beach in my homeland of Costa Rica before I let someone make me feel bad for not sacrificing my rent for a new board. I went through that trip in high school and I’d like to think that I’ve matured a lot since then. Don’t misunderstand. I completely understand the argument about pop-outs. It’s a different debate. If I ever get to a point when I can spend the money on a new, hand-shaped board without starving for a month, then I will. But should I be chastised for buying an affordable pop-out? Am I not entitled to experience the ride of a new board just because I don’t make enough money? I started surfing for several reasons, but it begins with my passion for nature and the ocean in particular. I thought it was beautiful the way a surfer could have a relationship with a huge, God-given, moving wall of water. For the same reason I’ll walk into the woods with a backpack and tent, I moved to the beach and got into the water. I don’t think you can brand that.
January 9, 2009
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Historic and Island Homes
The vanishing island cottages from vanishing is to have the community leaders answer Island Homes . the question, “What makes our community unique and Please let me encourage your own thoughts by sending attractive to loyal visitors?” and then act on the answer by an email to
[email protected] or call me at protecting those positive attributes. 843-810-1000. Let me know what you would be interested A second option, says Bedenbaugh, is for the citizens to in learning. You can also view this article at any time in the develop communication systems that encourage positive future on my websites at www.HistoricAndIslandHomes. action in protecting their local resources. “Write articles com or www.RealEstateMIA.com in local papers, set up informative meetings and seminars, use your passion for what you believe, but back it up See you around Charleston! with facts,” says Bedenbaugh. “Find those persons who Mia is trained in historic real estate by the National Trust have successfully won protection in similar communities for Historic Preservation. around our state and utilize their experience.” Although some may feel that protecting historic homes slows a community’s economic progress, Bendenbaugh argues the opposite. For example, he says that “Folly Beach still has that traditional South Carolina beach feel that has attracted generations of beach lovers to the area for decades. Embedded in its small business district of family owned businesses and neighborhoods is an innate sense of community that is lacking in the modern beach side developments that have appeared over the past thirty years. This is what makes Folly Beach unique among beach side destinations in South Carolina. If protected, it will create a more loyal visitor base and sustainable economy over a greater period of time. More on cottages in the This picture of a typical cottage was contributed by David Schneider of Schneider next article of Historic and Historic Preservation, LLC. in Anniston, Alabama who completed surveys for the
Founder of Island West Real Estate dies of cancer
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Provided by Bud Bryan
was convinced by oyce Bennett, her friends to open the founder of her own real estate Island West Real Estate died Saturday, company. Her 6 December, 2008 company managed after suffering with about 100 vacation cancer over the and/or long term past two years. A rentals, plus Buyer memorial service and Seller Sales representations and was held Saturday, 13 December in auctions. Savannah. Prior to her Joyce and her cancer she sold the company the husband first came to Maggie Beckmeier, Folly Beach soon after they were married. Joyce Bennett, the founder of who later sold the company to Her husband, Jesse, Island West Real Estate was a pilot and they had to move to the present owners, Jon & Lisa accommodate his job. However, as Weitz. Jon & Lisa have changed the soon as they could they returned to company name to Avocet Properties Folly Beach. She wanted to feel the and have moved the company to it’s sand between her toes while looking new location at 38 Center Street, out over the ocean. Folly Beach. Joyce made many friends in the During the time she was away from Folly she went to real estate school Folly Beach area, and will be greatly and received her Agents, and her missed. Brokers Licenses. After returning to Prayers for the Bennett Family Folly, she opened an ice cream parlor would be greatly appreciated. at first, and then after Hugo, she
Sullivans Island Historic District work. He had several favorites, but called this cottage “Sullivans Island in a nutshell” - the shutters are a fanciful shade of purple.
Mystery Plant from page 5 Each flower has a tiny inferior ovary (same goes for everything else in the sunflower family, by the way). As the ovaries grow, following pollination, they are ultimately covered up by a special “involucres”, a sort of wrapping that is abundantly equipped with pointed, soft spines. LOTS of them. As the season wears on, the involucre’s spines harden, becoming quite stiff, thus forming the recognizable burs. Of course, the burs will detach themselves quickly just as soon as some unfortunate critter runs through them. The same thing will happen with obliging socks and trouser legs, so you need to be careful around this stuff. Clearly, the spiny burs make an effective means for this plant to get its seeds into new areas; in this case with the help of an animal. If you have ever tried to comb these things out of Fluffy’s fur, you will know what I am talking about. A bur, once attached, is only going to get more deeply embedded in fur, often
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needing to be cut out (carefully) from a tender ear with a pair of scissors. I have an idea that the burs sometimes are attached so deeply that they will never fall out on their own, and following the demise of whatever animal might be carrying them along, would still be associated with the carcass. In such a case, doesn’t it make sense that the seeds within the burs would benefit, upon sprouting, from an immediately available concentrated dose of fertilizer in the soil? (By the way, those of you who are familiar with the paintings of John James Audubon will know his depiction of the now-extinct Carolina parakeet, a flock of them noisily chattering away in a patch of our Mystery Plant.) John Nelson is the curator of the Herbarium in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. As a public service, the Herbarium offers free plant identifications. For more information, visit www. herbarium.org or call 803-777-8196.
Answer: “Cocklebur,” Xanthium strumarium
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by Mia Burmeister-Laws
he word “cottage” comes from the early Middle Ages and can mean different things to different people. For the purpose of this column, “cottage” will refer to the small and often quaint homes that were initially built along our coast as getaways for the wealthy. In the 1800s in Charleston, the affluent were the only ones that could afford these second homes and who had the luxury of time to enjoy them. Back then, a cottage was a simple wooden structure, consisting of only the necessary sleeping and day rooms and a small kitchen; quite dissimilar to today’s beach cottages, which seem to consist of a minimum of three bedrooms, stainless steel appliances and at least two baths, one of which is required to be a garden tub/shower combo. The original cottages had the bare minimum and required minimal upkeep. Their footprints were smaller in square footage than the average sized house, allowing them to be nothing more than a simple retreat, a place to relax. It may well be this quest for bigger and better that is pushing out some of the last tributes to our islands’ simpler pasts. Although current changes in our market might make these cottages attractive again in the future, they are still disappearing at a slow but steady rate. Sullivan’s Island has recently taken action as a community to protect their historic cottages and homes with the addition of a Historic District, which, according to the National Register, protects homes approximately 50 years or older. Folly Beach has also shown recent interest in protecting historic structures on the island. I consulted Michael Bedenbaugh, the Executive Director of the Palmetto Trust of South Carolina - our State Partner to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to answer a few questions. According to Bedenbaugh, the most important step a community can take in protecting their historic cottages
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January 9, 2009
Police Reports Incident reports for December 7 through December 28. December 7- A vehicle was pulled over for traveling 40mph in a 30mph at 2:22pm. Upon approaching the driver’s side, the officer detected an odor of marijuana. The subject admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day, but not in the vehicle and consented to a search which revealed a small amount of what appeared to be marijuana in the floorboard and a glass pipe that contained a strong smell of marijuana. The subject was cited for simple possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and speeding. A friend was called to pick up the subject. December 11- An individual reported that a 42” Plasma television had been stolen from a particular property she manages. The last tenants left on November 30 and the television was present during a walk-through of the property afterwards. The complainant noted that access to the property is granted via a punch pad. December 12- At approximately 11:46pm, a vehicle was observed switching lanes without a turn signal and at a dangerous rate of speed on Center Street. It came to a sudden stop at the stop light before turning left onto Ashley without a turn signal. A traffic stop was initiated and the officer observed a smell of alcohol coming from the subject. Furthermore, the subject had slurred speech and difficulty following directions. He agreed to a field sobriety test which he promptly failed. The subject was arrested and later refused a Datamaster test. December 13- An officer observed a female stumbling across West Cooper in what appeared to be a state of intoxication before getting into a vehicle. The officer approached the vehicle and observed her to be grossly intoxicated. She agreed to stay at a friend’s house on Folly Beach and was escorted away by her friend who was not intoxicated. Approximately one hour later, the officer
followed a vehicle after it failed to use a turn signal. The vehicle swerved on the road and nearly struck the sidewalk on the bridge leaving the island. A traffic stop was initiated and the vehicle had trouble pulling over. However, once it stopped, the driver was discovered to be the same woman who had been previously warned. She had difficulty standing and was unable to perform basic field sobriety tests. She was arrested for DUI and forcibly placed into a drunk tank after she became argumentative with jail staff during the intake process. December 14- An individual watching over a house on Arctic for a friend reported that she suspected someone of trespassing on the property after a lock box had been stolen from under the house a week earlier. An investigation of the property revealed a bedroom that had been used and a backpack full of toiletries and identification. The suspect was identified with the information and located. December 15- An officer stopped a vehicle driving erratically on E. Erie at 3:36am. The officer detected a strong odor of alcohol and performed a standard field sobriety test which the subject failed, including an inability to stand on one leg. Subject was arrested and later refused a Datamaster test. A half empty bottle of vodka was discovered on the floorboard. Subject was charged with DUI and transporting liquor with a broken seal. December 18- Officers responded to a call regarding a subject trespassing at the Kangaroo. The employee stated the subject refused to leave after being asked and stated he did not have any papers saying he was on trespass notice. Subject was issued a city summons for trespass after notice and also issued a trespass notice. December 20- At approximately 7pm, an officer arrived at the scene in reference to a theft from a motor vehicle which had been parked down by the Coast Guard Base. Victims had gone to see the lighthouse and noticed that a small,
passenger side window had been broken out upon their return. Approximately $706 worth of merchandise had been stolen. The suspect left a shirt wrapped around a rock with glass fragments from the window. A search of the surrounded area turned up nothing. December 21- At approximately 2:33am officers responded to a white male walking in the roadway on Folly Road at Anchorline. The subject appeared intoxicated and admitted to being so. He stated he was from Myrtle Beach and had been at a party when two males ran him off after talking to their girlfriends. He stated he had fallen into a pond and lost a shoe. He was unable to produce a contact person and had no identification, claiming he left his wallet at the party. He said he would rather be arrested than go back to the party as he had no where to go. The subject’s wish was granted and was arrested for public intoxication. December 21- At 11:43pm police received a call that an individual had stolen a Budweiser from the Pantry convenience store. After receiving a description and direction, police located the subject who tossed the beer onto the ground and ran. Subject was handcuffed, cited for shoplifting, and placed on trespass notice. The can of Budweiser was returned to the store. December 28- Subject was pulled over for a driving violation. It was discovered that the driver was operating the vehicle on a suspended license and an unpaid parking ticket. Subject was arrested and booked. December 28- Victim parked his Camaro at 8 Center Street at approximately 7pm. Upon his return at 7:46pm it was discovered that an unidentified subject had thrown a rock
Conch 11 Center St. 633-0100 Nathan Calhoun: 7-10 p.m. Tuesdays. “Open Stage” with the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society: Open mic acoustic. 7-10 p.m. Thursdays. Jeff Houts: acoustic classic and contemporary rock. 7-10 p.m. Sundays. Crab Shack 26 Center St. 588-3080 Shakin’ Martinis: Shag and classics. 6pm on Friday, January 9. Pier View Beach Bar & Grill 1 Center St. 588-6464 Rotie: acoustic guitar. Tuesdays. . Sand Dollar 7 Center St.
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through the driver’s window and stolen a TomTom GPS unit. Case closed pending further evidence. December 28- Officers reported to a call regarding a theft from a trailer at a construction site. The victim stated the larceny had to have occurred sometime between December 24 and December 28. The door of the trailer was found open. The victim stated it had been locked with two padlocks. The lock on the back of the trailer was missing and the latch appeared to have been cut off. An inventory of the tools inside revealed that several items had been stolen: a power saw, a chop saw, a table, an air compressor, and three nail guns. The items were valued at approximately $2000. December 28- At approximately 2am, an officer observed a female and male leaving the Sand Dollar Social Club and entering a parked vehicle. The female, who seemed to be intoxicated due to an apparent difficulty in walking, got into the driver’s seat. The officer observed the vehicle swerving between lanes on Center Street in addition to the license plate light being out. A traffic stop was initiated. As the officer approached the vehicle, the male passenger waved a Charleston City police badge and asked if he could drive the vehicle. He was refused due to his own level of intoxication. The officer detected an odor of alcohol on the driver who was slurring her speech and unable to produce proof of car insurance. She was unable to follow directions or properly perform the field sobriety tests. The subject stated she had “congenital diabetes” and became angry when informed there was no such thing. Subject was taken into custody and booked.
588-9498 Rev. Dr. Johnny Mac & The BootyRanch: Friday, January 9 and Saturday, January 10. The Cool: Playing classic rock and pop. Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17. Surf Bar 103 Cooper St. 588-2009 Dangermuffin: 8-11pm Sundays.
Folly music scene
January 9, 2009
M
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
artin Luther King, Jr. day is celebrated on the third Monday of January and is one of only four federal holidays commemorating an individual person. This year, it will be celebrated on January 19, 2009. Although the campaign for a holiday in King’s name began soon after his assassination in 1968, the day was not signed into law until President Ronald Regan passed it in 1983, and it was not celebrated by all 50 states until 2006. South Carolina was the last state to recognize the day as a paid holiday for all state employees. Dr. King is celebrated as the spokesman for the nonviolent civil rights movement and was successful in getting the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed in Congress.
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Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born Michael King, Jr. on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. Five years later, King’s father changed both their names to Martin Luther, after the Reformation leader. Known for leading the civil rights movement in the United States Advocating nonviolent protest against segregation and racial discrimination. King skipped the ninth and 12th grades and entered Morehouse College at age 15 He received his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston University in 1955. When King received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he was the youngest man ever to receive the honor. Argued that he was morally responsible for disobeying unjust laws in his ‘Letter from
Six million signatures were collected for a petition to Congress to pass the law naming a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was termed by a 2006 article in The Nation as “the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S. history.”
His publications include: • • •
Facts about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: •
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Birmingham Jail’, written in 1963, the same year as his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. King’s doctrine was influenced by the non-violent teachings of Mohandas Gandhi. King was Time Magazine’s first African American Man of the Year. Was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. James Earl Ray was convicted of the killing and sentenced to 99 years in jail. Ray, an escaped convict, pleaded guilty to the crime in March 1969. He died in 1998.
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Stride Toward Freedom, (New York: Harper & Row, 1958). The story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Measure of a Man, (Philadelphia: Pilgrim Press, 1959). A selection of sermons. Why We Can’t Wait, (New York: Harper & Row, 1963). The story of the Birmingham Campaign. Strength to Love, (New York: Harper & Row, 1963). A selection of sermons. Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? (New York: Harper & Row, 1967). Reflections on the problems of today’s world, the nuclear arms race, etc. The Trumpet of Conscience, (New York: Harper & Row, 1968). The Massey Lectures. Sponsored by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (Posthumously).
Sources: MSN Encarta; Garrow, David J. “King, Martin Luther, Jr.” World Book Online Reference Center. 2006. World Book, Inc. 13 Jan. 2006; Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute Site: http://www.stanford. edu/group/King/ ; TheKingCenter.org; Nobelprize.org: http://nobelprize.org/index.html
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Dynamics of energy usage is changing
January 9, 2009
By Bobby Cummings, CFP, CFBS, CLTC The world of energy is undergoing dramatic change. Throughout the 1990s, crude oil prices in the United States averaged $20 a barrel, with highs of $35 during the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War and lows of $11 after the 1998 emerging market crises, according to the Energy Information Administration. Since then, petroleum prices have skyrocketed. “Oil, the Economy and the Stock Market,” a white paper by Joseph H. Davis, Ph.D., and Roger Aliaga-Diaz, Ph.D., of The Vanguard Group, cites past oil price increases caused by oil supply disruptions centered in the Middle East. Notable oil supply shocks include the 1956 Suez Crises, the 1973 Arab Israeli War, the beginning of the Iranian Revolution in 1978, the onset of the IranIraq War in 1980, and the Persian Gulf War. Today, some analysts believe the dramatic rise in oil prices from $20 a barrel in 2001 to more than $140 in 2008 (before its recent dramatic drop back below $100) results primarily from the first global demand shock. Throughout this decade, the global economy has expanded robustly and commodity demand has surged. China and India have more than doubled their combined share of oil consumption since 1990, and many experts anticipate that China’s demand for oil will double again in the next two decades. Economists have long observed that oil price shocks tend to precede U.S. recessions as consumer discretionary spending declines and further investment plans stall. According to the study, the U.S. economy would have avoided five out of the past six recessions had oil prices remained unchanged. Many emerging economies employ subsidies that keep domestic fuel prices far below the world price. As a result, these countries consume far more fuel than they would otherwise. By one
estimate, countries with fuel subsidies accounted for virtually the entire increase in worldwide oil consumption last year. “Without this artificial demand stimulus, world oil prices would have been significantly lower,” says economist Robert H. Frank at Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management. With a $2 per gallon subsidy in effect, gasoline sold in the world market at $4 would sell for $2. “The problem is that when the price of a good is below its cost, people use it wastefully. The external costs like dirtier air and increased congestion are hard to measure, but are nonetheless substantial,” says Frank. The good news is that the world, including poorer, rapidly developing countries, is taking more of an interest in renewable energy sources. A recent article in the Economist, titled “The Power and the Glory,” reported that China has a large wind-generation capacity which is expected to grow by two-thirds this year, and that the country is the world’s second largest manufacturer of solar panels. Brazil has the second largest bio-fuel industry, which already provides 40% of the fuel consumed by cars there. South Africa is leading the effort to develop a new class of safe and simple nuclear reactors. The world of energy is changing.
expecting their 3rd child in January 2009. If you wish to learn more about the ideas and strategies in this article, or if you have any questions about your financial or estate plan, you are invited to reach Bobby via email at
[email protected] or by contacting his office at (843)884-9898. To find out a little more about Lighthouse Financial please visit the following web address: www.lighthousefin.net Bobby Cummings is a registered representative of and offers securities, investment advisory, and financial planning services through MML Investors Services, Inc. (741 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464) member SIPC. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Bobby Cummings is the owner of Lighthouse Financial of Charleston. He is a Certified Financial PlannerTM and Certified Family Business Specialist and has been in business since 1990. Bobby’s focus is providing comprehensive financial planning and investment advice to business owners, professionals, retirees, and people planning for retirement. He lives on Sullivan’s Island with his wife Kristin, son Tanner (5), and daughter Keenan (3). They are
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(above) Wind energy is an option in areas of vast plains including the central US, out at sea and at the tops of skyscrapers. (middle) Solar panels are being incorporated into everything from cars to roof shingles. (below) Tidal turbines have been used successfully in such places as Roosevelt Island in New York.