Folly Current - November 13, 2009

PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID FOLLY BEACH, SC PERMIT NO 27

Vol. 2 Issue 2

Folly Beach’s Newspaper

November 13, 2009 w FREE

Sanderling By Sarah Harper

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he Sanderling is a small sandpiper that is found in the Lowcountry in the fall and winter months. These birds migrate to the tundra in Canada and Greenland each spring for the breeding season. Breeding plumage is a rich mottled brown with a white belly. The bird in the photo, which I took on Sullivan’s Island, is in its winter plumage. Sanderlings are easily recognizable by their foraging habits: groups of three to six birds quickly

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Dargan’s Birds run along the shore line, probing their beaks in the sand in search of crustaceans and tiny mollusks. They are quite tolerant of humans and will oftentimes scurry between beachgoers, barely evading their feet.

$1.6 millon plan fails on page 5

DOT presents bridges on page 6

Photo by Sarah Harper

Look for Sarah’s bird column to regularly appear in the “Outdoor Life” section of the Folly Current. If you are something of an aviary enthusiast or just want to figure out what type of bird you keep seeing in your neck of the woods, be sure to keep an eye on Outdoor Life. If you have a bird question or would like to share your bird experience, you can contact Sarah at dargan3484@gmail. com.

Dog needs your help on page 12

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November 13, 2009

Happy Birthday

The Monarch parade

Folly Beach resident and ex-Mayor Laverne James celebrated his 75th birthday on October 27. At least part of that birthday was spent at the City Council meeting that evening, where he was recognized by Mayor Carl Beckmann. The Folly Current hopes that Mr. James had a wonderful birthday celebration and wishes him a great 75th year. Happy Birthday!

Photos by Deborah Palmer

Second grader Beau Hollingsworth’s nose serves as a launch pad for a monarch butterfly on Folly Beach. Billy McCord from the SC Department of Natural Resources recently caught and tagged over 100 monarch butterflies on Folly Beach during the butterflies’ annual winter migration to Mexico. Students from Sullivan’s Island Elementary’s kindergarten and second grade were lucky enough to witness the release of the butterflies up close and personal (from their very own noses)!

staff photo

Laverne James, former Folly Beach Mayor, turns 75.

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November 13, 2009

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Folly Beach City Council Staff Report

Dogs on the beach Addressing concerns that have arisen since the City began passing legislation banning dogs on the north end of Folly Beach for the sake of migratory birds, Mayor Carl Beckmann reiterated his arguments for the ordinance. First, he pointed out that Folly Beach has always been a bird sanctuary and the ordinance is consistent with that dedication. Second, he clarified that the legislation is not a dog ordinance but a people ordinance. He has stated that the ordinance would not be necessary if dog owners would control their pets. The ban has birthed some controversy. Arguments against the ban suggest that a few people are ruining it for everyone and that a lack of enforcement on the City’s part is, at least, partially responsible for the purported dangers of off-leash dogs playing in areas designated for migratory and nesting birds. The lack of enforcement issue has also been brought up during recent discussions concerning litter and alcohol on the beach. Bohrn again Relic hunter Robert Bohrn spoke to Council regarding a monument for 19 Civil War soldiers buried on Folly Beach. Bohrn had participated in the discovery of the soldiers in 1987, and wrote an account of the fallen men - African-American members of the 55th Massachusetts regiment - in the October 30 edition of The Folly Current. At the meeting, he expressed great passion and appreciation for the soldiers’ service and sacrifice for the United States and asked the City Council to support a monument in any way they could. He pointed out that there are many Civil War era monuments all over the Lowcountry while Folly Beach, a very important locale for the war, has very little. “They deserve a monument,” Bohrn said. “We should stand up as Americans in a time of war and recognize their sacrifice for our country.” Bohrn also suggested that Folly Beach could actually celebrate its creation in 1863, which is when the soldiers were documented to have been living on the island. According to Borhn, they created a small town on Folly Beach building roads, digging wells, and opening stores to support the 10,000-13,000 people who were stationed on the island. “We’ll be glad to help you in any way we can,” Mayor Beckmann said before presenting Bohrn with a coupon for a family dinner in appreciation of his efforts. CARTA becoming Folly friendly? Council member Tom Scruggs presented an update on CARTA’s test route that ran during weekend days during the busy college beach season this past year. The route was designed for

College of Charleston students. However, the route was so successful that the college is seeking a permanent route that would run seven to eight times a day during the week from a shopping center on James Island. The route would finally provide a regular mode of public transportation for Folly Beach residents to travel the Charleston area. Furthermore, Scruggs stated that he was planning to attend an upcoming CARTA meeting and that the City should attempt to attain a seat on the CARTA board. Doing so, he said, would help make CARTA more considerate of Folly Beach. “I believe we can get a seat on there,” he said. Grinch can’t ruin Christmas spirit Mayor Carl Beckmann announced that Christmas lights will be put back on the bridge in time for the holidays. The Mayor had expressed his frustration at a previous meeting after vandals destroyed the lights. Beckmann and his wife have been responsible for putting the lights up and maintaining them. “Hopefully, we’ll have a lot more on them,” he said. Ordinances The largest issue of the entire night was the failure of Resolution 50-09, which would have awarded a contract for the Public Safety Expansion to the lowest bidder; Emory J. Infinger & Associates. The measure failed by a 4-3 vote with Council members Dave Stormer, Eddie Ellis, Tim Goodwin, and Tom Scruggs

providing the “nay” votes. For details on the controversial vote, see “$1.6 million expansion falls flat” on page 5. Second reading was passed on two ordinances which established the budgets for the Water Utility and Sewer Utility. They were passed by a 6-1 vote with Council member Eddie Ellis voting “no” on each ordinance. He did not discuss why he was against the budgets. Council unanimously passed an ordinance that authorized and directed the Mayor and City Administrator to switch their Workers Compensation Fund money to the South Carolina Municipal Insurance Trust. It was stated that the current company has largely ignored the City, provided poor customer service, and is increasing their rates. Senior citizens could begin receiving discounts from the City on particular building and construction fees. The ordinance seems designed to simply honor senior citizens who are residents of Folly Beach. Council member Scruggs brought to light a couple of potential issues with the ordinance, however, pointing out that builders could claim they plan to live in a new building to be constructed and end up renting it. While there was no resolution to the issue, the Council passed the ordinance unanimously. The City Council passed five ordinances as part of their “approval of consent, agenda” which means they were all passed with a single vote and without discussion. In the order in which they appeared on see Council on page 11

 PetsPetofHelpers the Week  Nippy

Bug Bug is a 1-year-old lab mix who has been at Pet Helpers for almost five months.  He is lean and athletic and is slightly shaggier than a lab.  He is a very friendly guy who would love a family who is home enough to spend some quality time with their canine companion.

Nippy is a one-year-old male who was turned in to Pet Helpers when his owner became ill and was no long able to care for him.  He’s on Rainbow Row in the shelter, waiting for a family. He’s a social guy and is relaxed around strangers. Maybe he’s the one for you!

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. Call Pet Helpers at 795-1110. Adoption fees: $125 cats & dogs (6 mo. or younger), $100 for 6 mo. or older. $55 for rabbits. Includes spaying/neutering, shots, heartworm check, leukemia check, deworming, microchip, collar and tag. Visit www.pethelpers.org.

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Lynn Pierotti Publisher [email protected] Ali Akhyari Editor [email protected] Kristin Hackler Managing Editor [email protected] Swan Richards Graphic Designer [email protected] Lori Dixson Account Executive [email protected] Richard Brendel Advertising 843-478-0896 [email protected] Interns Dylan Sharek • Contributors Sarah Harper Mayor Carl Beckmann Megan Carroll Chad Hinkle Vince Perna Robert Lucas Captain Geoff Bennett

Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS Future deadlines: November 18 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”.

Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC

Publishers of The Folly Current, The Island Eye News and the Island Connection.

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November 13, 2009

Letters to the Editor Send your letters to the editor to: [email protected]

Island Editorials

Note: Be sure to sign your letters. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

County abuses tax payers Dear Editor, Laws were passed several years ago to help protect property owners from having their property taxed into eternity. Everyone has had a chance to mull over their County Property Tax bills by now. If you haven’t, take the time to do so and review the County Budget Analysis on their website. County Council boasts that there hasn’t been a millage rate increase in ten years. That’s true and there hasn’t been. But what they fail to tell you is that they have found other ways to get more of your tax money without having a millage rate increase. This year, it’s called “reducing sales tax credits”. This ploy, combined with a substantial increase in the School Board Bonds, caused the property tax for most property owners to go up approximately 10%. This has created millions to be added to the County coffer and more of your tax money that they can spend next year. Blame it on the economy and reduced tax revenues, blame it on what you want to, but the bottom line is an incredible property tax increase. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck. And while County Council was busy reducing the tax credits causing an increase in your property taxes, they were just as busy increasing the County Council operating expenses by 61.5% due to $746,763 being added to the Contingency Fund. Also, the County Administrator’s operating expenses were increased 630% due to $300,000 being added for consultant fees. You think maybe County Council and the Administrator may be playing games with us? These two line items in the budget alone added over $1 million to the County Government operating expenses. And not one word of this was mentioned in the budget narrative analysis that they so professionally prepared. Well, the property tax increase for this year is a done deal. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get the sales tax credits back next year when the economy recovers. You think? Probably not. Once they get their hands on your tax money, you don’t stand a snowball’s chance of getting it back. They’ll just devise another ploy to get more of your tax money without calling it a millage rate increase next year. Pennell M. Clamp Palmer Creek Bend, Folly Beach Welcome to the edge of insanity! Dear Editor, I am a passive person and I tend to go along with our leaders, be they local or national, but I find myself unable to stay quiet any longer.  My family moved to Folly Beach 14 years ago and we have loved every minute of living on the edge; until the last couple of years when we feel like we are

living in a police state.  I will elaborate … I was recently ticketed for coming into Folly Beach right at the speed limit sign which dropped the speed limit to 35mph.  I was going 42 because I had just left the speed for 45mph.  I was treated rudely and sat waiting for my ticket while our police force stood outside their cars, laughing and joking. My friend told me to tap on the horn and ask them if they could please hurry along and I told her I would probably be arrested. I suggest residents and business owners attend the next court session on Folly Beach, because it would enlighten you about the lack of business at your establishments.  You would be outraged at the ridiculousness of what our local enforcement agents are doing to Folly Beach. At a recent session, here’s what I came away with: Welcome to Folly Beach.  You stand a 50/50 chance of receiving a speeding ticket either on your way in or out, so just know that this is in your future.  We have wonderful beaches but you will probably get ticketed for having an open container, or the wrong container, or the wrong size container, so you should probably arrive with a keg because I don’t believe that is a law yet.  If you should drop any litter at all you could be cited for a littering ticket, up to a $1,000 fine and prison time. We love to see you surf on our waters, but make sure you know the rules because there are restrictions. You cannot surf within six blocks of the pier from April 15 until September 15 between the hours of 10am and 6pm.  Our signs are not posted, but you can stop in City Hall and check regulations before you surf or get ticketed at least $150. We have parking, but you must know the rules or you might have to leave your car because you won’t be able to afford the tickets. We have great restaurants and we want you to come and support them, but there are no parking spaces.  The food is very reasonable, but a cab fare may leave you feeling doubtful if it is worth it; but at least you don’t have to worry about parking.  We love dogs, but we have restrictions on them, also.  After a recent court session, we found out that if your dog jumps out of the car without a leash, you can be cited for having an unruly dog. If you try to protest that your dog gets excited and you would be leashing him before you reached the beach, you will probably get cited for disorderly conduct with an officer and if you then try to put your enthusiastic, excited dog on a leash in front of the officer and you have to pull on him because he is a dog and not listening you, you will probably get cited for cruelty to animals.  No exaggeration – this just recently happened and this individual requested a jury hearing. Also during this session, a man from Europe was cited for wearing a thong swimsuit and he was in the police station requesting a copy of the rules because nothing was posted. I walk the beaches and streets of Folly and I have noticed there is not any litter, which is nice, but the reason is because no one is coming to Folly.  We have plenty of parking spaces because no one is coming to Folly. We have had a family from Tennessee who rent next door to us for two weeks every year for the past five years and they informed me this was their last year.  They got a speeding ticket on Ashley Avenue going 37mph.  They got ticketed for having a cabana on the beach – evidently there are certain times that it is allowed but I haven’t bothered to check.  They also were told if it wasn’t off the beach, it would be removed and disposed of and they would receive an additional fine.  They were on vacation but were unable to find parking in downtown Folly Beach so they ordered Domino’s

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or went into Charleston.  Is this okay with everyone?  I believe it is time we speak up.  J. Bennett Folly Beach resident living on the edge with this insanity. Lay off law enforcement Dear Editor, I have seen the leash law enforced.  Officer Bryan does the best he can do.   According to the tide, Folly Island is 6.8 miles long or 7.2 miles long.  It is the same difference as asking Pedro, Jimmy and Public Safety not only to police Folly, but also my fair City.  Let us concentrate on criminal activities. Ohlandt, C.H Sr. East Artic Avenue

Litter bugs could give City over $19,000

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By Ali Akhyari

n late October, police officers gave the City a chance to prove how the new “attitude” toward litter might manifest itself after fining 11 Vanderbilt students nearly $20,000 for litter and underage drinking violations. A resident called police to report a pile of beer cans, cups, and other garbage that had been left on the beach. An officer responded to the call and investigated the incident, following a trail of beer cans from the beach to the litterbugs’ base camp which consisted of two vacation rental homes filled with the students who were in town for a wedding. All together, 11 individuals were cited for the trash left on the beach. Seven of them were also cited for underage drinking. Each ticket was written for $1092 for a possible total of $19,656 to the City. Additionally, the violators were also forced to go back onto the beach and pick up the trash that was left. This is a great example of victory in the fight against litter. While it is difficult to catch someone in the act, it is not impossible. It does take a bit of luck and effort, though. In this case, a couple of things had to happen to prevent this event from turning into just another example of environmental abuse and lack of enforcement. First, a resident who saw the trash on the beach contacted police to report it. Too often, it seems easier to just pick up the trash or even leave it there. The second thing that happened is that the police officer attempted to find out who was responsible. It may also be the case that officers might be unwilling to track down a litterer because of the high chance of failure. As a result, the litterbugs were caught and the burden did not fall on residents and the City to maintain the beachfront. Furthermore, the incident could put a nice chunk of money into the City’s budget. This brings up a couple of more interesting issues, however: court and future enforcement. see Litter on page 6

November 13, 2009

From the Mayor’s Desk By Carl Beckmann

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e certainly have had some beautiful weather during the month of October and I hope y’all enjoyed the beach as much as we have. I wanted to update you on the “trash”  or litter issues the Council is reviewing. The Committee is continuing to review all notes from the public hearing, along with e-mails and phone calls dealing with the litter issue. ALL comments have been reviewed to make certain we have not left out a concern or suggestion. We have reached a point where each member of Council has an issue or two to work on.  Our next meeting may be the last week of November or the first week in December. Stay tuned! We have a lot of work that needs to be done to review all the possibilities and make recommendations for policy, legislation or enforcement. We would like to wrap up our discussions by the end of the year and get any legislative action into the works during January or February. This is a very complicated issue with no single right answer.  November ushers in the Holiday season and the City is getting ready. If you would like to help put up decorations, please call Mrs. Elizabeth Beckmann at 588-9230 to volunteer. She will add you to the volunteer list and give you the dates and times. There might be some type of reward for all helpers! Also, the street light wreaths are for sale! As a reminder, the City is in the transition phase with the County for the Consolidated 9-1-1 Center. When completed, all radio dispatch functions for the City of Folly Beach will move to the Charleston County 9-1-1 Center. If you recall, the Council voted to move the dispatch function to Charleston County as part of a county wide operation 9-1-1 Center. All municipalities in the Charleston area will be on board by 2012. The City of Folly Beach will be one of the first to utilize Charleston County Dispatch along with North Charleston Police and Fire, St. John’s Fire and St. Andrews Fire. We feel this will be better protection and response for the residents of Folly. Most of our dispatchers will transfer to the County, so the local knowledge will not be lost and, most of all, they will not be out of work.   Has anyone heard any good rumors lately?

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$1.6 million City expansion falls flat

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By Ali Akhyari

n a controversial decision that ended with flared tempers and name calling, the City Council voted 4-3 against a resolution that would have resulted in the City spending $1.6 million for a 5000 square foot expansion of City Hall and the Public Safety Department. Council members Dave Stormer, Eddie Ellis, Tom Scruggs and Tim Goodwin made up the majority of the expansion’s opposition. Mayor Carl Beckmann believes it’s “all political”, adding that there is no other explanation for anyone to vote against the expansion. “It’s a slap in the face to staff,” he said, to those who have worked hard on the current plan. At the end of the City Council meeting, Beckmann took a moment to publicly criticize the opposition. “What Council has done proves this Council has no regard for staff, workspace or otherwise. This is the eleventh hour, do-nothing Council. I’m looking out for the residents of this City and you, my friends, are not,” he said. As the opposing Council members began to object, Beckmann banged his gavel to officially end the meeting. Mayor Beckmann said that if any of the four opponents had issues with the plan, they should have spoken with him about it before the vote. However, none of them, according to Beckmann, were willing to sit down and address the plan. Instead, they waited until the last moment to “blow the project out of the water”. “It’s sad. If that’s not political, then I don’t know what is,” he said. However, the Mayor’s own comments could epitomize two of the largest reasons for the plan’s failure: miscommunication and fact misrepresentation. For example, while Beckmann claims that no one concerned about the expansion tried to talk to him about the plan,

Stormer said that he sent the Mayor and the City Administrator memos as early as November of 2008 suggesting alternatives and expressing a need for a “neutral” architect. He claimed that neither replied to him. Ellis publicly referred to Beckmann’s statement as a lie. Stormer, who has been the plan’s antagonist from the beginning, believes that the process used to develop and present the plan was questionable and resulted in a fallible cost assessment. For example, while attempting to sell the project to the public, Beckmann claimed that no tax increase would be necessary for the expansion. However, there was no accounting for the estimated $50,000 per year in maintenance and operation cost which the extra space would require, in addition to having to furnish 5000 square feet of additional space, Stormer argued. PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) money was also an issue, as it is the reason the project could supposedly be done without raising taxes. However, some consider this a “hidden” tax in and of itself. PILOT funds are the result of the City taking 15% of the Water Utility’s revenue. Of course, that is money that is paid by residents and water bills have been raised to account for PILOT since its inception in 1997. While it’s not technically a tax on residents, they are the ones providing the money. This is important because the funds are currently used to pay the debt service on the current City Hall building, which is scheduled to be repaid in full in two years. Additionally, while the City currently has a kennel for dogs and cats, the expansion actually removes the kennel, and the $1.6 million plan doesn’t include room for a new one. This was a problem for at least one Council member, Eddie Ellis, who voted against the plan. Beckmann said that they are looking into leasing an adjacent lot and building a kennel there, but the cost was not factored into the “tax-free” project. One of the most agitating aspects of the issue arose from the “us versus them” attitude taken by the most outspoken proponents of the plan: Mayor Beckmann

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and Public Safety Director Terry Boatwright. Both made statements that attacked the character of anyone who might vote against the project. Reiterating a previous speech to Council, Boatwright pleaded for approval before exclaiming “It blows my mind!” in reference to the fact that some Council members might not put their stamp of approval on the plan. “You can’t tell me you care a flipping thing about the employees and not provide them with the tools they need,” he added. “This is not something you need to be playing politics with.” However, every member of the Council has agreed that space is needed. Boatwright’s statement was taken personally by Scruggs, who pointed out that the Chief has a “pretty nice job”, gets a nice paycheck from the City and a free car to drive, as well as other benefits paid for with tax money to which he has the luxury of not contributing. “You don’t live here,” Scruggs said to Boatwright before explaining that he should use tax payer’s money responsibly. Whether unintentional or strategic, the inability to focus on facts and communicate effectively created a schism on Council, making any compromise on the project an impossibility. Of course, the fact remains that the City’s staff needs more space. “The ball’s in their court,” Beckmann said, referring to the those who voted against the plan. “It’s all political.” For Council member Stormer, the success of his vote is an opportunity to explore alternatives which he feels were neglected in the face of the $1.6 million expansion, and will encourage his fellow Council members to do the same. “Bottom line remains that Public Safety needs space,” Stormer says. “There are options that have not been explored that need to be explored.” In the meantime, those directly affected by the dramatized delay can only hope that the City Council returns to the drawing board with an agreeable spirit.

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November 13, 2009

Bridge replacement runs into debate Staff Report

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n November 3, representatives from the State’s Department of Transportation (DOT) met with residents at Father Kelly Hall to discuss the replacement of the Folly River and Folly Creek bridges which have been labeled as “functionally obsolete and structurally deficient”, receiving a score of 32 out of 100. As a result, the project should be paid for through Federal funds and construction is expected to begin in the Fall of 2010 or Winter 2011. However, opinions on how the bridge should be constructed and whether it should even be replaced are still varied among those who spoke up at the meeting.

The largest debate came from residents of Waterfront Point who argued the proposed bridges place a larger impact on their properties than any other resident or business, particularly Crosby’s Seafood. “[The proposed plan is] protecting businesses at the detriment of home owners,” Sheila Hollis explained. Bringing the bridge closer to Waterfront doorsteps would also increase noise and light pollution for those residents who currently enjoy a relatively quiet marsh view. The plan “disproportionately” protects Crosby’s instead of residents. Three other Waterfront residents spoke up in agreement with Hollis, arguing that trees would have to be removed and the traffic advantages that come with the proposal are only temporary while the impact on them will last forever. “I’m very dismayed and very upset,” Waterfront homeowner Randy Hunter said. Earlier in the year, the DOT presented Folly Beach with four possible alternatives and weighed the opinion Staff photo of residents. The vast majority, they said, were Residents and SCDOT representatives discuss the proposed plan in favor of the “preferred to replace the Folly River and Folly Creek Bridges alternatives” which were

S u dok u

presented on November 3; Folly Creek Alternative 3 and Folly River Alternative 2. Both choices swing the new bridges on a more pronounced curve to the north of the existing bridges. These choices reduce the amount of traffic impediments which would be experienced with other options and eliminates the need for a detour. Not everyone was from Waterfront Villas and their opinions on the alternative were quite different. One resident, whose name we were unable to catch, pointed out that Crosby’s has been there for decades and deserves more protection than people who “have come from afar”. Another individual suggested they follow the design of the Ellis Creek Bridge which is visually appealing and allows for less obstructed views of the surrounding marsh. Still, there is the opinion that bridges don’t need to be replaced at all. The current plan includes bike and pedestrian lanes. Furthermore, there is Litter from page 4

In the end, these students will have to come to court if they don’t simply pay the approximate $2100 for their tickets. Indeed, on an individual scale, that is a lot of money for a mistake on the beach and there may be lawyers speaking on their behalf. The judge will have to decide whether or not the violators will have to pay the fines in full. The judge’s decision was a point of debate when the City Council was working on how to handle the litter problem. Even if the City works to enforce litter laws and establishes a precedent that Folly Beach is not Charleston County’s waste basket, there was no guarantee that the judge would support the fines. If violators aren’t exposed to penalties that are stiff enough to curb litter, why should the City waste manpower writing tickets on the beach? The initial ticketing may seem like a small victory. However, the implications of what happens now that the tickets have been written is huge. How these litterers are received in the Folly Beach Court could be a measurement of how much “walk” will follow the City’s “talk”. Of course, it’s still early.

Folly music scene Woody’s Mondays – Jerry Cooper Drop-in Tuesdays – Open Mic night 11/13 - Owen Beverly 11/20 - Justin Burke 11/21 - Howard Dlugash Chill and Grill Thursdays - The Hawkes 11/13 - Jupiter’s Garden 11/14 - Guilt Ridden Troubadour 11/20 - Suspicious Package 11/28 - Elise Testone & Slanguage Planet Follywood Fridays and Saturdays - Dan Clamp

Solution on page 11

Level: HARD

a possibility of the old bridges serving as fishing piers. There are still a couple of steps that have to be taken, though. First, the project must receive its “FONSI” (Finding Of No Significant Impact) which says the impacts which the project will have on the surrounding community are relatively light. Then the State will have to engage in property acquisition. However, perhaps the most important step is that they still have to accept comments. Anyone who would like to comment on the bridge replacement project has until November 18. Residents who would like to make an official comment should send a letter to: James “Jae” Mattox, III, P.E. SCDOT Program Manager 955 Park Street - RM 403 Columbia, SC 29201 He can also be e-mailed at: Mattoxjh@ scdot.org

Folly Beach Crab Shack Mondays - Hank Marley open mic Tuesdays - Trivia Wednesdays - Dave Grunstra Thursdays - Folly Beach Bluegrass Society

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Fridays - Folly Dogs Saturdays - Sara Smile Surf Bar Sundays - Dangermuffin Mondays - Lonesome Squirrel and the Nuts Acoustic Jam BLU 10/13 – Calvin Taylor 11/14 - Jerry Cooper (2-5pm) 9pm-12am - Shane Clark Duo 11/15 - Nikolai Svishev (11-3pm) (8-11pm) Ted Mckee Duo Folly Beach Brewing Company 11/13 & 20 - Howard Dlugash Sand Dollar Social Club 11/13 & 14 - Fat Alice 11/20 & 21 - Johnny Mac and the Booty Ranch Vince Perna is a Folly Beach real estate expert who also loves music. If you want to know if you can live on Folly, you can find him at 31 Center Street or by calling 588-3800.

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November 13, 2009

Exchange Club news By Robert Lucas (Top left photo) Public Safety Officer Pedro McTeer, Firefighter Thomas Glick, and Exchange Club President Brett Barker. At the October Exchange Club meeting, Pedro McTeer was named Public Safety Officer of the Year and Thomas Glick was named Firefighter of the Year. Chief Boatwright singled out McTeer for successfully solving a string of robberies on the island, and cited Glick’s work ethic and constant preparedness. (Bottom left photo) Mayor Carl Beckmann presents a donation to Exchange Club Treasurer Mae Holmes, with a contribution towards the Exchange Club Flag Drive. The City of Folly Beach and Fred Holland Realty were the final contributors to the Flag Drive. Their contributions raised the fundraising total to $1300, which has funded the purchase of sixty flags for future displays.

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November 13, 2009

Folly Curren

November 13 Friday, November 13 Folly Farmers Market At the Folly River Park every Thursday – Sunday from 10 am until … Only South Carolina produce will be sold at the market. For more info, call Christine Wilkerson at jcbdw@ bellsouth.net. Holiday Festival of Lights From November 13 through January 3, James Island County Park hosts the 20th anniversary Holiday Festival of Lights. For festival hours and fees, please call 795-4FUN or visit www. holidayfestivaloflights.com. Folly Beach Bird Walks This walk focuses on the southern shoreline of Folly Beach. We hope to see some winter resident songbirds such as ruby-crowned kinglet, yellow-rumped warbler, and yellowbellied sapsucker. Pre-registration required. 8:30am-10:30am. Course # 21179. Meets at: Folly Beach County Park. Age: 16 & up. Free. To sign up, call 795-4386.

Saturday, November 14 Folly Farmers Market See November 13 for details 7th Annual Blessing of the Vine and Chili Cook-off From 1pm-5pm. Featuring live music by Smoky Weiner and the Hot Links, picnicing under the oaks, Irvin-House wines, food and crafts from local vendors, BBQ by Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ, and a Chili Cook-off. If you are interested in participating in the Chili Cook-off, please call to reserve your spot and chance to win $500 in cash and prizes. Admission is $5 per car.   

Sunday, November 15 Folly Farmers Market See November 13 for details

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Cruise to Capers The first 40 new or renewing donors to the Mount Pleasant Land Conservancy to register for this trip will be able to participate at no cost. Tax-deductible annual contributions start at $35 for individuals and $75 for families.  Individual donors receive one complimentary adult ticket.  Family donors receive two complimentary adult tickets and two complimentary children’s tickets. For more info, visit www.mountpland. org or call John Girault at 884-1060.  2nd Annual Rural Mission Oyster Roast 3-6 pm at Bowen Island Restaurant, Folly Beach. There is no better place for roasted oysters on a November day than Bowen Island Restaurant. Tickets $25 and children under 12 are $5. This includes oysters, drinks, hotdogs and chili, music and great fun. Tickets are available Rural Mission at 768-1720, at the door, or through Etix online. www.ruralmission.org.

Monday, November 16 Folly Design Review Board The Folly Beach Design Review Board meets the third Monday of every month if there is an applicant. Please call ahead to confirm whether or not a meeting will be held for the month and at what time. The DRB meets at the Folly Beach City Hall. For more info, call DRB chair Peter Fennelly at 425-0186.

Tuesday, November 17 Folly Beach Community Promotions Committee The Community Promotions Committee meets the third Tuesday of the month if there is an applicant. Applicants turn in their application to the municipal clerk by the Thursday before the meeting. Please call to verify meeting time before attending: Mary Cunningham at 588-7000 ext. 4.

November 13, 2009

9

nt Calendar

- November 27 Thursday, November 19

Sunday, November 22

Folly Farmers Market See November 13 for details

Folly Farmers Market See November 13 for details

Free Legal Clinic: Landlord and Tenant Issues (adults) At 6pm, Mark W. McKnight, Esq., will provide a 30-45 minute lecture on landlord and tenant issues followed by an open question and answer session at the Johns Island Library. For more information, call the SC Bar Pro Bono Program, 1-800-395-3425, ext. 158, or log on to www. scbar.org/clinics.

Tom Cat Neuter-a-Thon Male cats will be neutered for just $11 at this event. Microchips will be also available at the reduced rate of $10.  Cat owners must make an appointment and only tame cats are eligible. Please call Pet Helpers at 302-0556 to secure a spot.  Pet Helpers Spay and Neuter Clinic, located at 1447 Folly Road. For more info, visit www.pethelpers.org or call 795-1110.

Friday, November 20

Thursday, November 26

Folly Farmers Market See November 13 for details

Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, November 21 Folly Farmers Market See November 13 for details Charleston Sea Kayaking Kayak Trip Trip starts at 9:30am at the Sunset Cay Marina on Folly Beach.  Lunch at the marina restaurant starting around noon.  Rental kayaks available from Sea Kayak Carolina for only $30 - call 225-7969 to reserve a kayak or bring your own kayak and paddle for free.  See www.meetup. com/The-Charleston-Sea-Kayaking-MeetupGroup/ for more details. Lowcountry Artisan Collective’s Best of the Best Show Noon to 6 pm at Number 10 Storehouse Row on the old Naval Base in North Charleston. The event showcases more than 25 fine artists, representing every medium the Lowcountry has to offer. A portion of the proceeds benefits local non-profit Operation Home. A private Preview Party takes place Friday, November 20, from 6 to 10 pm. For more information on the Best of the Best show, email [email protected]

Folly Farmers Market See November 13 for details The City of Folly Beach offices will be closed today and tomorrow.

Friday, November 27 Folly Farmers Market At the Folly River Park every Thursday – Sunday from 10 am until … Only South Carolina produce will be sold at the market. For more info, call Christine Wilkerson at jcbdw@ bellsouth.net. A LowCANtry Holiday From Friday, November 27 – Monday, December 28, at the South Carolina Aquarium. Celebrate the holiday season with your family at the South Carolina Aquarium on a natural and festive adventure. A very welcome guest from the North Pole will make special appearances in the Great Ocean Tank at select Aquarium dive shows each day from December 1 through December 23. For more info, call 577-FISH (3474) or visit scaquarium.org.

www.follycurrent.com

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November 13, 2009

One stinky horn

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y first job when I moved to Charleston was as a naturalist at a plantation/museum in Summerville, and part of my job was to become increasingly familiar with local flora and fauna. As I learned, I also found that I have a passion for learning about local “fungi”, or mushrooms, and to this day I still keep an eye out for familiar edible mushrooms or new varieties to identify. However, my most recent discovery was an encounter of the bittersweet variety. Coming home one day, I picked up on a most noticeable and foul odor as I attempted to unlock my front door. I wrote it off as a “freak smell”, but on leaving the house later on, I noticed that the smell was still there. The following morning it remained and when I still smelled it that afternoon, I knew I needed to investigate, find and discard the dead animal that had to be rotting somewhere near my house. I figured my beagle, Boo, had dug up another mole. There was no other explanation. As I tracked the odor I found myself stumbling across something which looked like a red alien that had begun to hatch out of an egg but died before it made it out. It was most unusual looking and after a quick look in my identification book, I found that my yard was host to the Columned Stinkhorn mushroom. Just to be sure, I kneeled down and took a whiff. Big mistake! The mushroom certainly lives up to its name. I was unable to eat for a few hours after that sickening sniff and I still feel nauseous every time I think about that horrid smell. The Columned Stinkhorn (Clathrus columnatus), as it turns out, is a member of the stinkhorn family

By Ali Akhyari

of mushrooms. According to then disgust. Jennifer Barbour, a Naturalist for The Columned Stinkhorn the Kiawah Resort, all stinkhorns can be easily confused with the share a couple of traits. First, they Stinky Squid, which is also a all sprout from what looks like member of the stinkhorn family. an egg just above the ground’s In fact, I originally thought this surface. Secondly, the fruiting was a Stinky Squid, but found body, which is the part most that the Stinky Squid is born people recognize as a mushroom, from a brownish “egg”. They is covered with a foul smelling both share the red arms that are slime. fused at the top. However, the The Columned Stinkhorn slime produced by the Squid is is named for the three or four supposed to be greenish in color “arms” that rise from the egg. and the fungus itself seems to be Staff photo These arms, or columns, are fused Note the brown “slime” on top half of the inside of limited to the northeast United at the top, creating a very unique the mushroom; an identifying characteristic of States. Furthermore, the arms mushroom that resembles an old the Columned Stinkhorn. of the Columned Stinkhorn are lantern. The arms are generally separated at the base while the orange to red and very porous, and it produces a very Stinky Squid’s are fused into a short stem. dark brown-black slime along the inside, top half of the The Columned Stinkhorn is an elegant mushroom in mushroom. This stinkhorn’s common range is from the an Addams Family sort of way. It’s edibility is unknown, Carolinas to Florida as well as along the Gulf Coast into but who would want to eat such a foul smelling mushroom Mexico, and it tends to show up in the winter months. in the first place? Since first discovering this mushroom The slime is what produces the unmistakable odor. To in my yard, I have found several others that have sprouted confuse it with a rotting carcass is not an understatement and more “eggs” that promise to produce more. Despite as the smell attracts various flies. In fact, the flies are used my passion for mushrooms and nature, I have been to help the stinkhorn reproduce. The flies feed on the unable to convince myself to let nature take its course slime as they would a dead animal, unwittingly picking up and consequently decided to remove the existing eggs. If the mushroom’s spores in the process and then spreading you catch the scent of one, you will understand. them to new areas where they can initially amaze and

www.follycurrent.com

November 13, 2009

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Early November fishing report

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rue to form, fishing this fall is great. Fish are eating steadily during the cooler weather, and if you’ve been out on the water recently, you probably noticed that you have the water to yourself; even on some weekends. With hungry fish and less crowds, now is the time to get fishing! Redfish are present and active. With the fish eager this time of year, you should spend more time throwing artificial plastic lures. There are many options available. On our fishing trips, we’ll often switch between paddletail grubs and jerk shad, among others. We usually fish the grubs attached to a ¼ oz. jighead. You’ll find jigheads in all different colors. I usually choose unpainted, but it’s just a matter of your preference. Chicken on a Chain and Texas Roach are hot colors for the grubs, but check your local tackle shop to get an idea of what’s working. For jerk shad, I favor lighter colors and will use both Gulp! and D.O.A. lures. Try fishing the jerk shad on flutter hooks. These hooks have a weight on their shank that imparts additional action when you are working it in the water. With all of the above, try changing the speed of your retrieve, as well as the color of the lure. What was hot one day might not necessarily produce the next. Redfish are responding well to live bait, too. Mud minnows suspended underneath a popping cork have been working the

By Captain Geoff Bennett weights, but I am partial to the ¼ oz. You can add splitshot above the shrimp if you want to work it deeper. I try to have enough weight so that I can bounce the shrimp along the bottom and if I can do that without adding weight to the line, all the better. See you on the water!

best for me. Casting this rig along grass banks has been very effective in locating fish. When you approach an area, try to stay as far away from the bank as possible so that your longest cast just reaches the target. Fish will sit surprisingly far off grass banks and quite far out along oyster beds, too. You can gradually move in closer if needed. As always, cuts or live bait on the bottom with a Carolina Rig is a very effective tactic. Right now, I favor cut mullet or smaller live baitfish. Cracked crab works great, but often gets picked to pieces by little fish before a redfish can get to it. Trout will happily eat the paddletail plastic grubs mentioned above. When working an area, make sure to try a very slow retrieve every so often. Sometimes that slower speed can be the ticket for

S u dok u -sol u tion

trout.  It sounds crazy, but I’ve had several occasions recently when trout would only eat these artificial lures, even when live mud minnows or live shrimp were presented under popping corks. Over oyster beds, try “live lining” D.O.A. 3” plastic shrimp. Live lining just means letting the shrimp drift naturally through the water column. The D.O.A. shrimp come in a variety of Council from page 3 the agenda, the resolutions that were passed were as follows: 1. Resolution 48-09 allowed the City to spend $1500 to provide turkeys to all City employees at Thanksgiving and Christmas. 2. Resolution 51-09 provided an unspecified amount of money for the 2009 Christmas Parade. 3. Resolution 52-09 gave an unspecified amount of money to the Folly Beach Senior Citizens Club. 4. Resolution 53-09 approved an historical marker at the corner of West

Capt. Geoff Bennett operates Charleston Charter Fishing providing fly fishing and light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of fly rods, artificial and live bait fishing options with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 324-3332, visit his website at www.charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing. com.

Indian and Center Streets, recognizing and commemorating the 19 Union soldiers that were discovered buried there in 1987. 5. Resolution 54-09 submits that the City will donate $500 toward the purchase of an historical marker at the Community Center “in recognition of one of the most historically significant finds in the State of South Carolina”. The summary provided by the City did not specify if the “find” was the 19 Union soldiers or something else. For the second successive regular Council meeting, an ordinance to ban styrofoam was postponed.

Folly B each T i d e Ch a rt

www.follycurrent.com

Date

High Tide

Low Tide

Nov 13 Nov 14 Nov 15 Nov 16 Nov 17 Nov 18 Nov 19 Nov 20 Nov 21 Nov 22 Nov 23 Nov 24 Nov 25 Nov 26

4:41am/4:51pm 5:33am/5:41pm 6:20am/6:27pm 7:06am/7:11pm 7:49am/7:54pm 8:30am/8:35pm 9:12am/9:16pm 9:53am/9:58pm 10:35am/10:41pm 11:19am/11:29pm 12:05pm 12:20am/12:54pm 1:15am/1:45pm 2:10am/2:37pm

10:47am/11:00pm 11:40am/11:48pm 12:30pm 12:33am/1:17pm 1:16am/2:01pm 1:57am/2:44pm 2:37am/3:26pm 3:17am/4:07pm 3:57am/4:49pm 4:38am/5:32pm 5:25am/6:17pm 6:17am/7:04pm 7:15am/7:53pm 8:17am/8:42pm

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November 13, 2009

Police Reports The following is a summary of police reports originally provided by the Folly Beach Public Safety Department. However, this report lacks the reports from the week containing Halloween weekend as an employee absence in FBPSD resulted in reports being unavailable. October 20- A homeowner reported that his rental home had been broken into. Pry marks were noticed on the elevator, and the sliding glass door had been left open. A computer was the only thing listed as missing. Possible fingerprints were obtained from the door and the victim and his son were sampled for DNA. October 22- An intoxicated woman tried to take the term “protect and serve” to its most extreme when she stumbled up to a police officer and demanded he give her a ride home. In addition to having trouble standing, she was slurring her speech and had bloodshot eyes. If there had been any doubt to her intoxication, she then attempted to hug and kiss the police officer. When he held her off, she made the same move on another officer that had responded. They offered to call her a cab or contact a friend, but

she became belligerent and told the officers that she could “kick their a$$”. They advised her to go home and she responded by swinging at one of the officers and hitting him in the chest. She was arrested for disorderly conduct. October 23- While walking in front of City Hall, an officer noticed a man laying on the steps of the law office located next door. The man appeared to be very intoxicated when he awoke and admitted to drinking at a local bar. He stated that he was staying at a friend’s house and pointed to the Holiday Inn, suggesting that he didn’t know where he was. Officers obtained his identification and learned he was wanted in Florida for violating probation. However, the State of Florida said they would not extradite him. Officers determined that the subject could not take care of himself and arrested him for disorderly conduct. October 24- Eleven Vanderbilt University students who were staying in two rental houses for a wedding were tracked down by police who followed their trail of beer cans after a resident reported a large amount of litter on the beach. When police arrived, they discovered a large

Stolen dog, needs meds $500 REWARD

amount of empty beer cans and solo cups and were actually able to follow a trail of trash to the back of a rental house. The back deck was also strewn with cans and cups. The officer went to the front door and rang the door bell. A woman came downstairs but turned around when she saw the officer. Once inside, the officer found several guys who were passed out. The rental company was contacted and they evicted the visitors, as well as others in another house who were part of the same group. Between the two houses, 11 littering citations were issued for $1092 each as well as seven underage possession of alcohol citations, also for $1092 each. October 25- A surfer reported that a Surftek surfboard with a picture of a duck on an egg was stolen from his truck, which was parked at the beach access by the pier, while surfing one day. He also stated this was the second time he had a board stolen from that particular area. October 26- An officer became suspicious of a couple when he noticed their vehicle parked alone in an empty lot with the lights off and engine running. He approached the car and called for backup. When asked what they were doing, the subjects stated they were picking

A BLU Thanksgiving

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Fonzy, a beloved labradoodle, was stolen from Folly Road on November 6. He is very important to the lives of several members of our Folly Beach community and needs his medication. He is a wonderful dog and his owner/friend misses him very much. If you have any information that could reunite Fonzy with his owner, please call: (843) 754-4242.

up “A.C.” but could not describe A.C., nor tell them anything else about him. The female passenger began to reach under her seat and would not cooperate when the officer told her to stop. The officer also noticed a plastic bag tied at the end. The woman finally exited the vehicle with the driver. The officer was unable to locate any narcotics in the car and called for a K-9 officer based on his suspicions. The dog helped the officers locate an amount of crack/cocaine in the driver’s sock. He was arrested for possession of the drug and for intent to distribute while in close proximity to a playground.

provided

here are all kinds of Thanksgiving traditions out there. Sometimes it’s a family of 60 coming together at a relative’s home. Sometime’s its a group of friends who can’t celebrate this time of thanks with family members ... or maybe in avoidance of family members. If you’re among those who are thinking of spending your Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant, BLU is providing a holiday buffet that is guaranteed to make your mouth. If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to sample the fare at BLU, you know the chef has the skill to put a sophisticated flavor into a menu that is not intimidating or flagrant. What you get is terrific, Charleston-quality food at reasonable prices in a seaside atmosphere you just can’t find anywhere else. The Thanksgiving buffet will have soup, salad, and other cold appetizer options such as Lowcountry Vegetable Slaw and Chili Roasted Pumpkin Seeds, assorted fruit, and a vegetable and antipasto display. A shellfish option will provide shrimp, oysters and sushi. A couple of delicious turkey options will be available from the carving station and the entrees are too delicious to list here, but here is “sample”: Pulled Smoked Duck Pot Pie and Crab Encrusted Mahi with Cranberry Chutney. Of course, your traditional Thanksgiving “fixin’s” and desserts will be avaible with BLU’s own unique twist. Adults will only have to pay $28.95 for this amazing Thanksgiving menu while children under 12 eat for $14.50. Kids four-years old and under eat for free. www.blufollybeachcom

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November 13, 2009

By Megan Carroll

C

irque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant sucked the life right out of me. It was one of the worst film’s I’ve seen this year, hands down. All I wanted to do was get up and actually enjoy the rest of my Sunday, but I took one for the team. The series of books written by Darren Shan was wonderfully written, imaginative and a total joy to read. I am not sure what happened between the book and the screenplay, but the ball was dropped. I find it extremely frustrating and confusing when the filmmakers/ screenwriters don’t tap into the author’s voice and vision. From DarrenShan.com, under the frequently asked questions section, Shan states, “I have nothing to do with the movie side of things”. This speaks volumes as to why the film was made so poorly. When directors, screenwriters and authors work closely together, you see the benefits of that relationship in the film, such as with director Spike Jonze’s and author Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. This film was overstuffed, scatter-brained and had zero character development. The story felt rushed and lacked feeling. The viewer had nothing to connect with on screen and that all comes down to Weitz not taking the time to create a film with which the audience could relate. And what makes it even more frustrating is that he had an excellent cast at his finger tips and a series of books which could have turned this film into the next Twilight saga. John C. Reilly was the saving grace for

me. He was brilliant, and really tried to make the prosaic script work. Visually, the film was dated; another piece of evidence that Weitz lacks vision and imagination. It felt like a made-for-TV movie on the ABC Family Channel. The person in charge of costumes and makeup could not have been over the age of 5; you could see exactly where the costumes ended and the actors began. It was so bad it was almost laughable. Weitz and the other half of the screen writing team,

Brian Helgeland, never allowed this film to actually rise from the grave. They stunted the magic that was Cirque du Freak, the frightening story of a boy who chooses a life of adventure and unknowingly fulfills his destiny. Ignore this film and get the books, because Weitz failed miserably in his attempt. The only thing Weitz created was a colossal bore of a teen vampire film which felt like a CW sitcom.

Charleston Sea Kayakers one year celebration

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ee why millions of visitors come to Charleston each year while enjoying Charleston’s rich cultural heritage -  with the Be A Tourist in Your Own Town pass! Sponsored by the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Count on News 2, the Be a Tourist in your Own Town pass provides residents of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties with free, one-time admission to 33 area attractions and discounts at 24 restaurants for the entire month of January, 2010. An individual pass is $20, and a family pass good for up to four individuals of any age is just $50!  Passes will go on sale November 1, and will only be available through December 31.  Purchase your pass at any of the four Official Charleston Area Visitor Centers, online at www.beatourist.net, or by calling 853-8000.

The Charleston Sea Kayaking Group invites you to join them for their 400 (plus) member and one-year celebration on Saturday, November 21 at the Sunset Cay Marina on Folly Beach. This coastal kayaking group was founded one year ago and has grown to more than 400 members. They have completed more than 70 kayak trips and have more kayak adventures planned on their schedule. Celebration day begins at 9:30am with an informal paddle launching from the boat ramp at Sunset Cay Marina. Bring your kayak and explore the Folly River and surrounding tidal creeks. Return to the marina around noon for lunch. A special menu with special prices will be available at the marina restaurant. Eat, drink and socialize on the deck overlooking the Folly River. The group’s sponsor, Sea Kayak Carolina, will have a limited number of kayaks available for the paddle. Call the shop at 225-7969 if you wish to reserve a rental kayak. Not ready to paddle? Lunch starts around noon -- this is a great opportunity for anyone who is not a member to stop by and check out the group. More info on the web at www.meetup.com/The-Charleston-Sea-Kayaking-Meetup-Group/ or www. SeaKayakCarolina.com.

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I

November 13, 2009

Buckhannon announces candidacy for Congress

sle of Palms businessman Dr. Ryan Buckhannon has announced that he plans on challenging the five term incumbent Congressman Henry Brown Jr. for the U.S. House of Representatives First Congressional District. “I believe that I have made a difference in my community through hard work and fiscal responsibility,” says Buckhannon in regards to his bid for the First Congressional District House seat. “I now want to take that experience and work to make a difference in Washington by correcting the poor decisions that have consistently added to the country’s debt and put our children’s financial future in jeopardy.” Buckhannon, who received his Doctorate degree from the National University of Health Science in Lombard, IL, has been happily married to his wife Sonya for sixteen years and is the father of ten year old triplet sons: Ashton, Beck and Collin. He is the owner and founder of Buckhannon Brothers, Inc., a local tile company, and is currently serving his third term on the Isle of Palms City Council. Decreasing the size of government As a Representative, Buckhannon’s main goal is to decrease the size of the federal government. Quoting President Ronald Reagan, Buckhannon states that “Government’s first duty is to protect the

change.”

people, not run their lives.” He points out that today’s government has become a selfdefeating cycle of handouts and bailouts. “Eliminating the government waste and attached pork within every department of the Congress need to be our number one priorities before any new government programs are created,” says Buckhannon. This includes fixing improper Medicare payments, which total around $17 billion on a yearly basis, and fixing improper Medicaid payments, which run close to $33 billion annually. And on the issue of

health care reform, Buckhannon believes that we need to start with tort reform, a loser-pays legal system and the ability to purchase health care insurance across state lines. The bill that passed in the House this past Saturday will impose a new eight percent payroll tax on employers who do not cover specified percentages of their employees’ health insurance. “That is an additional 8% that has to come from somewhere, ultimately from cutting wages or other benefits,” says Buckhannon. In the end, the full cost of this bill will be over $2 trillion. The new House bill is clearly just more of the same. Increased government intervention and higher taxes will not improve the health care system. Increasing the enrollment in a costly and troubled government program will only add to the rising costs of care. Fixing the tax system “We need to replace our antiquated tax code with a fair tax system that will not punish the producers and reward the non-producers,” says Buckhannon, noting that South Carolina small business employers account for over 97% of the state’s employers, and 50% of its privatesector employment.  “I represent that group,” he states.  “I know firsthand that the harder we work and the more successful our company becomes, the greater the tax burden that we have to bear.  It needs to

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Belief in the Constitution Buckhannon believes that the problems with the economy, healthcare and illegal immigration did not start in January, 2009, with the election of a new president.  “These problems started long ago when some elected officials forgot who they were supposed to be representing,” says Buckhannon. The answer, he states, is less government intervention, less government spending, and a return of the power back to the people of this great land.  “The government has forgotten that our future should be guided by the Constitution,” says Buckhannon. “It is in essence the instruction manual by which our country should be run.  I plan on bringing the Constitution back to the government and holding accountable those who do not.” Preservation of our State’s natural resources As a supporter of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA), Buckhannon plans on continuing to support the protection of South Carolina’s beautiful coastline and barrier islands, which are both essential to a healthy environment and serve as an economic resource for the State through tourism. “At the time, Reagan belied that ‘this legislation [CBRA] would enhance both wise natural resource conservation and fiscal responsibility’,” says Buckhannon. “It was designed to save American taxpayers millions of dollars while, at the same time, taking a major step forward in the conservation of our magnificent coastal resources.” As a City Councilman on the Isle of Palms, Buckhannon has seen first hand both the devastating effects and financial impact of building too closely to a coast which is continually shifting in response to the forces of wind, wave, and tidal action.  “The development of the CBRA was a proactive action to save taxpayers an estimated $1.3 billion since its passage in 1982,” Buckhannon states. For more information, write to Buckhannon For Congress, #23 27th Ave, Isle of Palms, SC,  29451, call (843) 224-0667, or visit www.VoteBuckhannon.com.

November 13, 2009

Halloween Carnival

a f r i g ht e n i n g l y f u n e n d to O ctob e r

T

staff report

he Exchange Club’s annual Halloween Carnival was an absolute delight. Although the event was geared toward younger children, that didn’t prevent pirates, witches, and all manner of costumed trick-or-treaters of all ages from enjoying themselves. With a slight chill in the air as night closed in and a not-quite-full moon illuminated the island, Folly Beach kicked the Halloween carnival into full swing. Spirited youngsters bobbed for apples, played ring toss, and explored the “haunted graveyard”, while members of the community provided a fun and safe environment in full Halloween garb, which was the sweetest treat of all.

www.follycurrent.com

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November 13, 2009

November grace

photo by Chad Hinkle

November waltzed into view with the stately grace of eternity. As the day fell, it became apparent that wandering eyes would be blessed. Those who allowed their gaze to leave the concrete, the television, and the everyday mundane, felt their soul take flight for a few fleeting moments. Wandering clouds trapped the energy from a fading day. Like the remnants of a campfire, they held its memory and glowed like celestial embers. The icy blanket of the universe raised the sun’s energy into copper and white goosebumps beneath a ragged gray beard, burning into consciousness the promise of a cold, but glorious winter.

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