Folly Current - November 27, 2009

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

Vol. 2 Issue 3

Folly Beach’s Newspaper

November 27, 2009 w FREE

Design our Cover Early winter swell hits Folly Contest Page 7

Winter is swell

photo by Kristin Hackler

On November 12, Folly Beach received, what will hopefully be, the first of many winter swells. Above, an unidentifed surfer takes advantage of the pulse at the pier. If this is you or you can identify this man, let us know. The Washout was a touch bigger, as it usually is, and saw relatively clean and consistent chest high waves.

I N S I D E

BLU bourgon dinner on page 6

Oil spill clean up on page 11

Help Pet Helpers on page 14

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Exchange Club update Provided by Robert Lucas

Halloween proved very productive for the Exchange Club. Thanks to everyone who made it out for the Haunted House at the hut and stopped by the Exchange Club popcorn booth at the carnival. The Haunted House’s first year success points to this becoming an annual event. US flags and popcorn were given to children at the carnival and parents were encouraged to take free literature on shaken baby syndrome and shopping safety. The Exchange Club also held its One Nation Under God Breakfast on November 7 at the Crab Shack. Charlie

McCarty and Margie Miller spoke about service and the impact of religion on US history and government. Pastor Ally Deal of Folly Beach United Methodist Church provided the Invocation and Benediction. Lastly, Fred Holland Realty is the latest contributor to the Exchange Club Flag Drive. The new flags arrived after the Veterans Day Flag Display had been put out, but are on hand for next summer’s holiday displays. Be sure to stop by the Exchange Club tent to purchase hamburgers and hotdogs at the Christmas Parade.

Photos provided

Clockwise from top: US Coast Guard Auxiliary member Charlie McCarty  speaks at the Exchange Clubs One Nation Under God Breakfast; Bailey Ohl, Chapel Barker and Bryn Barker play at the Exchange Club Haunted House; Janet Brennan, Mae Holmes and Brett Barker from the Exchange Club give out popcorn and U.S. flags at the Halloween Carnival.

November 27, 2009

Folly Beach man arrested in CVS robberies

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Staff Report

icholas David Swanson, a 25 year-old Folly Beach resident, was arrested on the evening of November 19 and charged with the armed robbery of two CVS pharmacies in the Charleston area resulting in the theft of over 1000 Oxycontin pills. Swanson is accused of entering the CVS store on Harborview Road on November 13 and another on November 18 on Maybank Highway. In both instances he told the pharmacist he had a gun, although a weapon was never shown. The robberies occurred about a week after Swanson, who was working at a restaurant, lost his job for being late. Oxycontin is a time release form of Oxycodone, a prescription opioid used for the relief of moderate to high pain and is also known as “Hillbilly Heroin” and “Kicker”. According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 10mg of Oxycodone taken orally is equivalent to 10mg of injected morphine. Abuse of this legal

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narcotic has increased dramatically since its introduction in 1996 and has spread throughout the United States. Swanson has not been connected with similar robberies at a Mount Pleasant and Myrtle Beach CVS which also recently occurred. He is facing two counts of armed robbery and his bond has been set at $500,000. He was being housed at the Charleston County Detention Center.

November 27, 2009

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Folly Beach City Council

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he Folly Beach City Council held its regular meeting on November 10 at 7pm. The work session which had been scheduled at 6pm to discuss litter was cancelled. All members of Council were present. Expanding criticism The City did not discuss the City Hall expansion except to debate when and how another meeting on the matter should be held. However, that didn’t mean that the public didn’t have anything to say. Pennell Clamp expressed his displeasure with the Council’s indecisiveness. “You had the right to vote the way you saw fit,” he said. Then he added, “It doesn’t appear this City Council has the ability to get things done.” He noted that the City has “put the cart before the horse” as it expanded its Public Safety Department over the past few years before providing them with a proper place to operate. He also criticized Tom Scruggs’ idea to give employees raises instead of using the money to expand facilities, calling it “appalling”. The end result, he said, is that the City has to go back to the hard working residents and ask for more money to do what could not be done the first time. Local businessman DJ Rich said the City needs to work together and make concessions in order to get things done for the benefit of the City. “Let’s get the ball rolling,” he said. Finally Ken Holland admitted that the Council’s job is a tough one and he thanked them for serving. However, he added that the public has not been properly informed and did not know there were any other options beside the $1.6 million expansion Mayor Carl Beckmann presented. “Get together. Put the politics behind,” he said. Part of the rush for those who supported the $1.6 million plan was the low construction prices and the fact that the bids were only good through November 30. However, Administrator Toni Connor-Rooks said that all the bidders agreed to extend their offers for an additional 60 days. The City scheduled a meeting only nine days after this one for November 19 in which a hired facilitator, Kathy Church, was required for the meeting to progress. Eddie Ellis was the only one who voted against the meeting, stating it was a waste of taxpayer money to hire a facilitator. Details on that meeting can be read on page 5 in the article “Church takes on the City’s state of mind”. College of CARTA Isaiah Nelson, Vice President of the student body at the College of Charleston, returned to Folly Beach to further discuss the CARTA route he helped establish over the summer. Originally, CARTA agreed to two trial routes that ran for two months each, mainly to get College of Charleston students and other downtown folks to Folly Beach. The route was considered a great success by Nelson. As a result, Nelson is now asking CARTA for an uninterrupted

Staff Report route that would run from April through September and asked the City Council ot support his goal. “I’m thanking you for your past support for this,” Nelson said to the Council. Later in the meeting, the Council unanimously passed Resolution 56-09 which expressed support and approval of the extension of the CARTA route in 2010. Stalling the bridge Waterfront neighborhood resident Francis Cantwell asked the City to postpone any decision in which a bridge replacement option is chosen until the South Carolina Department of Transportation and/or the City met with residents of the Waterfront community. At a public hearing regarding the bridge replacement, several members of the community expressed displeasure and concern that their homes would be disproportionately impacted by the suggested alternative which swings the

new bridge out at a much larger angle, bringing noise, traffic, and light much closer to their homes. Mayor Beckmann responded by saying the City would have to sign off on any plan before the State could begin the project.

Lynn Pierotti Publisher [email protected]

Resolutions and ordinances The Council unanimously passed all resolutions and ordinances that were before them. The first on the list was R49-09, which authorized the City to assume a claim deductible with the South Carolina Municipal Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund. They simultaneously passed R56-09, the CARTA resolution mentioned earlier, as well as R55-09 which names the memory garden at the Community Center the “David Israel Memory Garden”. The Council also passed second reading of Ordinance 19-09, which gives senior citizens a discount on building fees.

Kristin Hackler Managing Editor [email protected]

A retro ride By Ali Akhyari

It seems that the newest fashion trends always seem to be a revival of something from 20-30 years ago. A wise person once said there is nothing new under the sun. I think it was Martha Stewart. In either case, the various recurring fashion trends always seem to manifest themselves in cities. Larger cities have always been the hub for “culture”. People tend to wear their characters on their sleeves, pants, shoes, hats, cars and anything else in order to make a statement about themselves without having to actually talk to somebody. After all, the light is green and horns are for honking. The speed and popularity of the City lends itself to the bicycle. Traffic gets too heavy. It’s a waste of gas and time if you simply want to get from your house to your local bar, deli, job or coffee shop. It’s better for the environment and the exercise ensures your skinny jeans will continue to fit after a few Fat Tires, in the loosest sense of the word. As a result, it was only a matter of time before the bicycle became just another fashion accessory. Because of that, the bike has been undergoing a retro fashion makeover. Now introducing... the city bike. Growing up, I can remember when the 10-speed was like the Ferrari of bicycles. “Gears” on a bike? I dreamed of how much faster I could go. At least 10 times faster I reasoned. That became common place, of course, and before long the average bike had 21 gears. Like everything else in our society, the bicycle wasn’t broken but we continued to fix it with limitless accessories. Ninety-nine percent of people didn’t need 21 gears. They didn’t even need 10. Especially here in the Lowcountry where our mountains are literally mole see Single Speed on page 7

Notice

The City of Folly Beach has received a request to name the recreational dock located in the Folly River park as follows:

Ali Akhyari Editor [email protected]

Swan Richards Graphic Designer [email protected] Lori Dalton Advertising [email protected] Richard Brendel Advertising 843-478-0896 [email protected] Ben Jordan Advertising [email protected] Interns Dylan Sharek • Contributors Sarah Harper Jules Witcover Nelson Ohl Megan Carroll Hangerhead Robert Lucas Vince Perna 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: December 2 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”.

The Karen Stringer Dock

If citizens of Folly Beach would like to protest the naming of the rcreational dock located in the Folly River Park as stated above, please send all comments to: Toni W. Connor-Rooks, City Administrator, P. O. Box 48, Folly Beach, SC 29439. Comments must be received on or before November 16, 2009.

FC04

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Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC

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

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November 27, 2009

Folly Beach should go nude By Hangerhead

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example, while most “hip” municipalities will use the internet’s ability to instantaneously update people, the City of Folly Beach will only post a piece of paper on the front door of City Hall. Legally, that’s all their obligated to do. It’s the bare minimum. But they are certainly not restricted from other forms of communication that are more advanced than paper and scotch tape. For example, on November 10 the City Council was supposed to meet at 6pm for a scheduled work session in regards to litter followed by a regular City Council meeting at 7pm. As late as 5:50pm on November 10, the agenda was posted on the front door stating a meeting was taking place at 6pm. However, anyone trying to attend walked into an empty room. The Mayor explained the meeting had been cancelled the day before because the Council was not prepared. The one primitive piece of technology used by the City, tape and paper, was not even updated to correctly inform the public. No one bothered to walk downstairs and write “cancelled” on it. The media wasn’t even notified. Furthermore, at that meeting the Council scheduled another meeting for November 19 to discuss the highly debated City Hall/Public Safety expansion. Odds are you didn’t know about it because the City did not post anything about it on their website. At least they taped a piece of paper on the window at least 24 hours before. Of course, it took the Council

about 45 minutes just to agree to have a meeting and it turns out they had to spend money to hire what they referred to as an “honest broker” to run the meeting because the Council members apparently can’t communicate effectively amongst themselves on the matter. That’s like hiring a painter to hire a painter. The smart person skips the first one. The City and the Council are doing a poor job of communicating with the public and eachother. Get with the times, Folly Beach. Using paper and tape to inform the public is like using a horse and buggy to pick up trash. Actually, that could be quaint. Of course, you’d have to legislate horse diapers. Who knows how long it would take to agree on diaper colors? Folly Beach, you’re sexy. Take a page from the porno playbook and join us in the new millennium. Hike that skirt up and show off those legs. Don’t be ashamed to parade yourself out in public. Take it off, baby! We want to see it! Let’s get transparent.

Letters to the Editor

solo cup.  What about the City of Folly that doesn’t empty their waste cans that are overflowing with animal (dog) feces and are there week after week, rained on and dumping onto the sand.  Is this not littering and also causing a health hazard?  Please post the court date of this spectacle so maybe we will be called for jury duty so we can vote NOT Guilty!

Thank you from Pet Helpers Dear Editor, I want to take this opportunity to thank Lynn Pierotti, Publisher; Ali Akhyari, Editor and staff of The Folly Current newspaper for their support of Pet Helpers Rescue & Adoption Center as well as the Pets of the Week column featuring adoptable homeless pets at Pet Helpers shelter, which has resulted in helping many cats and dogs find new homes. The Folly Current does a wonderful job of covering all of Folly Island and the activities, ‘happenings’, City news and other events as well as featuring articles provided by Pet Helpers as we work to protect, shelter, and assist pets in need. Their coverage has helped make our fundraisers successful. Pet Helpers shelter and Spay Clinic operating expenses along with our new shelter building loan balance (at $2.4 million dollars) averages a staggering $100,000 payment a month (that’s correct), so the financial success of these events is critical to helping operate Pet Helpers and to care for the over 275 animals that are in our shelter daily, waiting for re- adoption and forever new homes. All animals taken in at Pet Helpers are kept until adoption – some wait for years, but all are given 100% full medical care, spayed, neutered, tested, ID microchipped, vaccinated and receive additional care as needed. To learn more about Pet Helpers, a non profit 501(c)3 animal rescue adoption center founded in 1978, please visit our web site www.pethelpers.org or come by our beautiful new Adoption Center and low cost Spay Clinic at 1447 Folly Road, James Island or call 795-1110. It is truly a unique and fun experience, and the animals love visitors! Sponsorships of the new shelter, programs and events as well as donations are tax deductible.

Island Editorials

olly Beach should be a nude beach. There, I said it. No other business, art, or culture has taken advantage of every new technological advancement in media as quickly and efficiently as pornography. As soon as the internet exploded as a truly publicly accessible world, it was inundated with pictures of naked people doing naked things. I’m not making any argument for or against nakedness here. Indeed, many a boyfriend and husband would have red marks on their cheeks in the shape of a feminine hand if naked people were walking around the beach. I’m simply trying to point out that the concept of public nakedness is not new and the City of Folly Beach could actually take a lesson from the pornography industry when it comes to “transparency”. One of the most important issues to discuss in the relationship between a government and its citizens is transparency; the willingness of that government to be open and honest with the people. In other words; naked. It’s not necessarily the case that City representatives and their corresponding government are prudes, there is no denying that they are at least unwilling or unable to communicate as efficiently as possible with the public, resulting in a constipation of information and municipal bloating. People tend to wear more clothes when they feel like that. In the year 2009, it’s a shame that the City doesn’t use its website to truly keep people informed. For

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

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

City can’t walk the walk (Response to: “Litterbugs could give City over $19,000”) Dear Editor: Are you serious?  How can Folly Beach talk the talk when they aren’t even capable of walking the walk.  Evidence of this is the City mowing the right of ways onto Folly Beach and not picking up the trash before they start the mowers.  One piece of trash becomes dozens and is left until the next mowing.  These young people would be better served doing a public service and picking up the trash that the City left instead of being fined such ridiculous amounts of money that they probably don’t have.  How much are you going to fine for cigarette butts that have littered our beaches, front yards, and streets?  These do more damage to the environment and marine and bird life then cans and solo cups.  Google “marine wildlife images necropsy” and see how many creatures have ingested a Bud can or a

J Lee Folly Beach Editor’s Note: The City Council has expressed a desire to force violators to pick up trash as community service in addition to maximum fines to help discourage littering. Also, the court date for the offenders noted in the “Litterbugs” article has been set for December 4. Have fun!

Mayor Gershwin Dear Editor, I read with humor the article about Mayor Beckmann and his temper tantrum in City council. I recalled another egomaniac that Folly Beach encountered in the 1930’s - George Gershwin.  George Gershwin stayed at Folly while writing “Porgy and Bess” and felt he had contributed so much to Folly because of his name recognition that it should be renamed “Gershwin Island”.  Sounds like the same old song with Mayor Beckmann. P. Shirley Charlotte, NC

Hangerhead can be found carving images of partially nude women into bar counters around Folly Beach and frequently finds himself staring wistfully at the heavilyclothed tourists perusing the pier. You can reach him by e-mail at: [email protected]

see Letters on page 5

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November 27, 2009

Church takes on the City’s state of mind

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By Ali Akhyari

s a result of their admitted inability to previously expressed in the public forum make any progress the City’s expansion resulting in the immediate identification of issue the Folly Beach City Council some problems. One of the main issues for hired a facilitator, Kathy Church, to head a those who opposed the $1.6 million project Special Meeting on November 19, which was was that the process skipped what should intended to be an honest discussion on various have been the very first step: consideration of options for the City’s expansion. alternatives and a needs assessment process. Council member Dave Stormer pointed out The Council came up with approximately that while at least 11 meetings have occurred seven options which included using the where the plan was discussed, the real issue original $1.6 million plan, building a separate was never actually discussed. There were no facility on City owned property, downscaling standards, he said. The Council never got to the original plan, purchasing a nearby private consider options prior to Mayor Beckmann’s property with structures, using the old Water presentation of the plan. Plant, renting office space, and redrawing the current plan. Discussion quickly shifted to a criticism of the Mayor and foreshadowed the But as the Council examined the various co-location schism that Church identified options and developed criteria with which and put on a pedestal. Eddie Ellis to evaluate them, the face of debate reared suggested the original process had not been its ugly head. Council member Beck later transparent and criticized the Mayor for Staff photo suggested that since the Council members Kathy Church tries to keep the City Council focused on the task of evaluating options trivializing their concerns. He also wanted could not even agree on what constituted a for City expansion. However, the hired facilitator found herself getting drawn into the Council to share in the responsibility of reliable source for information, it would be the abyssal debate the Council has been getting sucked into for months. developing a plan with the Mayor, contrary difficult to make progress. However, they to how the previous plan was developed, so agreed to use cost, square footage, City services an agreement on how much money to spend, necessary provided, professional benchmarks/models, and the need square footage, or any other criteria did not require any that the “we don’t have to rely on the Mayor for truth”. Scruggs echoed that comment by saying that the strong for temporary space as criteria to evaluate the various consensus, while co-location did. options. However, when it was suggested that keeping all The facilitator finally moved past the issue by excluding Mayor/weak Council system they are employing is not departments in one building, or “co-location”, be used it from the list of criteria to be used and a plan was conducive to teamwork and said Mayor Beckmann as a criteria, Church decided that the Council needed to developed that would allow the Council to evaluate the basically presented a plan and expected everyone to agree on this point alone. She also weighed in with her agreed upon options at a future meeting. Every Council “fall in line”. Mayor Beckmann, who made his opinion opinion, siding with McCarty who said the current trend member was given an assigned criteria they would use of Council well known at their October meeting, was is to keep all departments in one building. Of course, to evaluate every expansion option. They are expected to especially quiet and had to be cajoled into speaking by some Council members did not think co-location should come together at a future meeting to reveal their data and Church. Laura Beck expressed the main counterpoint to Stormer, Ellis and Scruggs, saying that the Council be a deal-breaker when considering the small size of Folly possibly choose a direction. had no business “micromanaging” the project and their Beach. Church, though, would not let the Council move Several interesting points and opinions were raised on without addressing this issue. For reasons unknown, at this meeting as a result of Church’s facilitation. main responsibility was fiscal. She said that no member of Council is a professional in the field and they should Church began the meeting The Folly Current is truly a by giving Council members listen to the hired architects in regards to how the City Letters from page 4 ’neighborhood’ newspaper dedicated to an opportunity to express should expand its facilities. Pet Helpers also partners with the City our Folly community. On behalf of all any issues that had not been of Folly Beach Animal Service, offering at Pet Helpers including our four-legged low cost spay neuter assistance and help kids, thank you for your support of Pet to all Folly residents in need, as well Helpers and the many animals we shelter as assisting in the care of ‘Found’ pets and for those who wait to be saved. picked up on Folly and held at the Folly City Animal kennel. Please note that any In the last issue of The Folly Current we incorrectly credited the Folly Beach Lost or Found pet should immediately Carol Linville Exchange Club with the annual Halloween Carnival which was accompanied by be reported to Folly Beach Public Safety President, Founder several pictures. However, the Halloween Carnival was actually the result of the hard at 588-2433. All ‘found’ pets should be Pet Helpers work of the Folly Beach Civic Club. In fact, the Civic Club has been providing the brought to the Folly animal city kennel 1447 Folly Rd. family friendly carnival for local residents for the past 34 years. We apologize for any after notifying Folly Public Safety. confusion. James Island, SC

Correction

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November 27, 2009

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BLU means bourbon

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Staff Report

LU restaurant and bar on Folly Beach is continuing its series of unique and clever libation tastings with its “Bourbon Dinner” on December 1. Combined with wonderful culinary creations, five different bourbons will be paired with four different courses in the BLU dining room. With floor to ceiling windows providing the only obstacle between you and the sand of Folly Beach, this is a truly indulgent way to experience food and beverage. The evening begins at 7pm with a “Cocktail Hour” featuring Jim Beam Red Stag, a black cherry flavored bourbon. The first course will feature Booker’s, a hot and smooth bourbon that boasts a strong vanilla and caramel flavor. That will be paired with bacon, eggs and coffee. By that they mean braised pork belly, quail egg, and bourbon-coffee barbecue. Subsequent courses will feature grilled romaine salad, a duo of beef, and a “Manhattan” dessert. It would be criminal to completely ruin the surprise of this appetite-whetting menu, but only knowing how “bacon, egg, and coffee” translates at BLU, you can imagine what sort of treat is in store. Furthermore, those courses will each feature a different bourbon consisting of Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s, and Bakers. The Bourbon Dinner will take place on December 1 at 7pm. BLU is located on the bottom floor of the Folly Beach Holiday Inn; 1 Center Street. For more information visit www. blufollybeach.com or call 588-6658.

S u dok u

Bad news for the news business By Jules Witcover

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his is a very bad and sad time for the newspaper business, and not just because circulation is falling, papers are folding and reporters are losing their jobs. A radical dumbing-down of American journalism is going on. Competition for advertising and citizen attention from the Internet and cable television has bred a new generation of multi-tasking quasi-journalists engaged in all manner of nonsensical sideshows. Reporters once had their hands and their minds full ferreting out and reporting the important news of the day and carefully analyzing their significance. Now too often they are wasting their time, and that of readers, with mindless shorthand “twittering” of the insignificant and absurd. Many reporters on campaign trails, instead of first focusing on the story they are supposed to be exploring and writing in depth, are obliged to stand before television cameras and offer off-the-cuff summaries that in print would be mere headlines. The uneven phenomenon of blogging, information and thoughts whether of fact or fiction delivered with little or no editorial review, often comes from writers with little or no journalistic training or discipline. While some have been positive contributions, too many others are mere self-serving rants. All this is part of what now is known as “the new media”, which in its best aspects brings new and constructive voices to the gathering and transmission of news.  But with it also has come an excess of unproductive invective, bias and outright propagandizing frowned on for years by “the old media” of traditional mainstream journalism. What brings all this to mind right

Folly music scene Woody’s Mondays – Jerry Cooper Drop-in Tuesdays – Open Mic night Chill and Grill Thursdays - The Hawkes 11/28 - Elise Testone & Slanguage Planet Follywood Fridays and Saturdays - Dan Clamp 12/12 - Shakin Martinis

Solution on page 11

Level: EASY

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

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now is the inevitable but no less regretted passing of more and more old-school  reporters who for decades have combined thorough investigation and research with earned personal credibility. In the past couple of weeks, two of the very best of “old media” who were known for their relentless digging combined with dedication to real rather than feigned “fair and balanced” news reporting have passed from the scene. A few weeks ago, the journalism community was shocked by the sudden death at 77 of John Mashek, the longtime Washington correspondent of such major newspapers as the Boston Globe, Atlanta Constitution and Dallas Morning News, and of U.S. News and World Report magazine. As a fair-minded panelist for three presidential or vice-presidential debates, in each one he brought perception and integrity to these critical national political institutions. His passing came only a week after the death of Jack Nelson, the retired Washington bureau chief of the Los Angeles Times, an intrepid investigative reporter who earlier won a Pulitzer Prize at the Atlanta Constitution, and later at the Times made major contributions to the Watergate investigations and other governmental wrongdoing. Their journalistic styles were different but equally effective. Nelson was a fearless and at times fearful pursuer of evidence of corruption and injustice, particularly during the civil rights revolution in his native South. Mashek was a thoroughgoing acquirer of high-level sources from Congress to the White House whose own relentless interrogations, always cloaked in good humor and good will, produced see Bad News on page 13 Fridays - Folly Dogs Saturdays - Sara Smile Surf Bar Sundays - Dangermuffin Mondays - Lonesome Squirrel and the Nuts Acoustic Jam BLU 11/27 - Ted McKee Duo 11/28 - Rotie (2-5pm) Shane Clark Duo (9-12) 11/29 - Nikolai Svishev Sand Dollar 11/27 & 28 - Nu Attitude 12/4 & 5 - Shem Creek Boogie Band 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 27, 2009

The Lowcountry and solar energy

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he prospects for residential and commercial use of solar energy along the beaches and throughout the Tricounty area are very good. This is hardly a surprise. Many area residents already use solar powered garden and walkway lanterns, but not many realize that using the sun to provide hot water for your home or small business makes good financial sense. Running your evening bath, morning shower, dishwasher and washing machine account for 25 to 30% of the annual electricity bill in most US households. An optimally designed solar hot water heater can save 80 to 85% of your hot water heating cost. In fact, a 30 square foot roof top collector - large enough for a household of two people and occasional guests - would cost around $2700, not including the storage tank, though most systems make use of your existing hot water heating tank. Installation will run between $ 1500 and $ 2500, and additional water storage tanks cost between $500 and $1000. The average household power demand in South Carolina is 1200 kwh/month. Using that figure and an average cost per kilowatt-hour (kwh) of $ 0.11/kwh (a typical cost for the Lowcountry), the Single Speed from page 3 hills, there’s little need for more than a single speed bicycle. My father-in-law introduced me to the fad. He’s an avid biker and has, on more than one occasion, ridden one of his bicycles from his home in the Piedmont of North Carolina to Charleston for a visit. Upon a visit back home when my wife wanted to take one of his bicycles for herself, he revealed his newest “toy”: A white city bike. He had converted one of his road bikes to a single-speed demon. All the gears were gone. There weren’t a bunch of cables running through the bike like tubes on a hospital patient. He had even replaced the water bottle holder, which was attached to the frame, with a bottle opener. It was elegant in its simplicity and cool. I wanted one. It reminded me of the single-speed, “He-Man” bicycle I had as a kid. I only needed one gear then, and we only need one gear now. If you look at the various bicycles around town, you’re going to start seeing what used to be road bikes with 21-24 speeds stripped down and reduced to a single-speed city bike. It’s named because people have realized that in your generally flat-roaded city, there is no need for a bunch of gears. It’s designed for city life: simple and fast. With the correct gear ratio, you can pretty much pedal it anywhere you need to go with a single speed. While I was able to zoom around corners on my father-in-law’s city bike, I was also able to get back up the steep driveway just by lifting myself out of the seat where I normally would have

By Peter Silveston

photo provided

Roof installed solar hot water heating panels on a private residence (Figure taken from a US Dept. of Energy publication “An Introduction to Solar Hot Water Heating – The other Solar Technology” money saved per month is roughly $33, assuming a 25% saving through solar heated hot water. The story gets even better. If you pay federal income tax, you can deduct up to

30% of the cost of your solar hot water heater from your federal income tax bill in the first year, as well as the opportunity to deduct a further 30% from your South Carolina state tax bill. This means your

changed gears. It forces you to work a little more, which is a good thing in a world where we pay $20-$30 a month to shed calories on a treadmill while watching CNN. The more equipment you have, the more likely something is going to break. A single-speed bike is simple. Occum would be proud. More importantly, city bikes look slick. The process of converting an old road bike to a new city bike opens up a door to customization you won’t be able to resist. Paint, stickers, handlebars, pedals and even streamers. Your imagination is your only limit. Furthermore, this trend transcends money and style. You can use as much or as little of either as you’d like. Yard sales are a perfect place to find a cheap, old bike for unique parts or even an entire bike that you can convert. If you have money, you can buy new, polished accessories from your local bike shop. For those with a little know-how, the conversion can be do-it-yourself. You will probably have to buy a few new parts such as a tensioner, but you can always get some help from a bike shop if you get confused. If you’re interested in making the jump to a single-speed city bike, there’s a great video on YouTube that takes you through the whole process. Just type in “How to build a single speed bike” and look for Charlie the Bikemonger or use this link: http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=93M9lvl8LM8&feature=related. Get back to basics and get on a singlespeed.

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investment in a solar hot water system could potentially return between 14 and 22% of its cost. Why does solar hot water heating look so good for our location? The Charleston area enjoys about 230 days of full or nearly full sunshine in a year. We receive an annual solar radiation of about 1900 kwh/m2/yr, which is only about 10 % less than Southern California. Solar hot water heating is a booming business there. How does it work? Solar hot water systems are simple. Water circulates through a solar collector that could be located on the roof of a house or through one at ground level. The collector is a coil of piping fixed on an insulated, black surface and held in a glass covered flat tray. The heated water collects in a tank and is re-circulated as needed. The solar heater has a panel shape. One panel can be used or several standard sized units can be connected together. The panel shown is fixed to the roof and is unobtrusive even when they are visible from ground level. Depending on the roof’s orientation, panels can be raised and tilted to better capture solar radiation. Nonetheless, in most installations, the heaters would not be seen from the street. see Solar on page 11

8

November 27, 2009

Folly Curren

November 27 Friday, November 27

Friday, December 4

Day after Thanksgiving Kayak Trip Starting at 2pm, Join in a relaxed, guided kayak trip on the Folly River suitable for new paddlers.  Only $30.  Contact Sea Kayak Carolina to register at 225-7969 or visit www. SeaKayakCarolina.com for more info.

Seashells by the Seashore Stroll along Folly Beach and search for treasures from the ocean.  Gather a few keepsakes and learn to identify some different types of shells and the organisms that call them home.  A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Pre-registration required. 1:30 – 3pm. Course #21633. Meets at Folly Beach County Park. Fee: $9/$7 CCR Discount. For more info, call 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.

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.

Wednesday, December 2 Folly Island Yoga Every Wednesday from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Holiday Inn. Cost is $40 for 4 sessions. For more info, call Jenny at 607-9911.

Thursday, December 3 Charleston Symphony Orchestra Holiday Strings Concert Featuring Yuriy Bekker and the CSO’s renowned string section. The program will feature Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 3, Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, Corelli’s Christmas Concerto, and more. 7:30pm at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Complimentary tickets are available now at Kiawah Island Town Hall 768-9166.

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“The Nutcracker” Presented by Becky’s Box of Puppets 10am, G.M. Darby Building, Mount Pleasant.  Featuring nearly 30 puppets, including some up to four feet tall. Groups welcome.   Please make advance reservations by calling 849-2061. Tickets:  $3/child. Mount Pleasant Recreation Department.  Contact Tina Carter at 849-2061 or visit www.townofmountpleasant.com.

Saturday, December 5 19th Annual Reindeer Run The Reindeer Run is a family-oriented, pet-friendly 5k run/walk through the lower peninsula of downtown Charleston. The race begins at 9am and starts/finishes at South End Brewery at the corner of State and East Bay. Runners are $28/$33 after November 21. Walkers are $23/$28 after November 21. To register, visit www.reindeerrun.org, Half Moon Outfitters or Piggly Wiggly.

Sunday, December 6 Johns Island Creek Canoeing Winter paddling means no bugs, fewer people, and pleasingly cool temperatures.  This canoe trip will take advantage of high tide to poke our way into Penny’s Creek on Johns Island and navigate our way back out to the Stono River. Pre-registration required. 9am – 5pm. Course

November 27, 2009

9

nt Calendar

- December 12 #21578. Meet at CCPRC Headquarters. Fee: $58/$48 CCR Discount. For more info, call 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.

Monday, December 7 Pearl Harbor/Remembrance Day

Tuesday, December 8 Folly Beach City Council The Folly Beach City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm. www.cityoffollybeach.com. Folly Beach City Hall, 21 Center St., (Folly Beach), 588-2447.

Wednesday, December 9 Folly Island Yoga Every Wednesday from 6pm to 7:30pm at the Holiday Inn. Cost is $40 for 4 sessions. For more info, call Jenny at 607-9911. Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw Every Wednesday and Saturday at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel off Hwy 17. Walk through many distinct habitats to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms.  Pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-in registrations at Caw Caw are welcome. 8:30am-12pm. Course # 21743. Fee: $5/Free for Gold Pass Holders. For more info, call 795-4386 or visit www.ccrpc.com.

Thursday, December 10 Darkness2Light Prevent Now! Program   At the Johns Island Public Library from 11:30am  until 1pm. Learn more about Darkness2Light’s efforts to prevent child abuse, as well as their Stewards of Children program. There is no fee and a light lunch will be served. Please RSVP to [email protected].

Holiday Business After Hours Soak in the sights, sounds and flavors of the holiday season among other area professionals in Embassy’s beautiful atrium, decorated with all the trimmings.  Mix and mingle and jingle the night away and make some great new business connections! December 10 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. Embassy Suites Charleston - Historic - 337 Meeting Street. Cost: $20 Chamber member, $40 non-member. To register visit www.charlestonchamber.net.

Friday, December 11 Folly Beach Bird Walks Birding experts from CCPRC and the South Carolina Audubon Society explore Folly Beach in this partnership program.  This walk focuses on the southern shoreline of Folly Beach. The program is free, however pre-registration is required. 8:30 – 10:30am. Course #21616. Meet at Folly Beach County Park. For more info, call 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com. Sing We Now of Christmas Join the Island Choraliers with “Our musical gift to our island friends and neighbors” from 7 to 8pm at The Church of our Saviour on Betsy Kerrison Blvd. Admission is free; no tickets are needed. A free-will offering will be taken.

Saturday, December 12 First Day of Hanukkah Folly Beach Christmas Parade See ad on page 15. Great Outdoor Gear Sale Come out to James Island County Park 9am to 12pm for your chance to get great deals on great gear.  We’re selling some of the tents, kayaks, mountain bikes, camping accessories, and more that we’ve used.  For more info, call 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.

www.follycurrent.com

10

November 27, 2009

American Robin

Fishing excellence continues in November

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By Captain Geoff Bennett

he middle of November was witness to a week of heavy storms followed by a week of huge daytime tides. The result was stained and choppy water that tempered the trout bite. With the water clearing as I write this, I expect fishing to return to its normal late fall excellence.  Make sure to treat yourself to some fishing with family and friends as the holiday season begins! Redfish were less effected by the poor conditions than the trout. Artificial lures remain the theme. While fishing in skinny water and on the flats, we also continue to trend to more delicate presentations. The flutter hooks that I had been using with weights on the shank have been replaced with weightless hooks. I’ve been reducing the size of the plastic lures, as well. When sight casting to redfish, try to lead the fish by a few feet and bring the lure across its nose. Hitting the fish with the lure will more than likely cause it to spook and flee instead of drawing a strike. While not as prolific as in the summer, we are still finding “tailing” fish up in the grass. When redfish are rooting in the weeds for crabs and other crustaceans, their noses are to the ground while their tails wave above the water. Besides being an amazing sight to see, tailing fish are engrossed in digging up food and are more approachable than a fish just cruising along. You can literally toss a lure right next to a redfish while its nose is in the dirt. When it raises its head, a little twitch of the lure and it’s on! Gulp! 3” crabs are an excellent choice and are

By Sarah Dargan Harper

very effective. You may need to add a small split shot weight a few inches above the hook so that you can cast a good distance when it is windy. Trout are growing bigger every day as they continue to gorge on the shrimp and other bait fish that now fill our waters. When conditions have displaced the trout from your usual fishing holes or you find them already occupied by fellow anglers, trolling can be a very efficient method of locating new fish. We will traditionally troll 1/4oz. jigheads with different colored plastic paddletail grubs. Throwing the lure a good distance behind the boat, drive along see Fishing on page 14

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T

he American Robin is a migratory member of the Thrush family and can be found throughout most of the United States year round. They winter as far south as Mexico and they migrate as far north as Canada during the summer. Males have a bold reddish-brown chest, while females’ chests are a lighter brown with white on the lower chest. Juveniles have a very speckled chest. Their calls are soothing to the ear and are separated into distinct phrases, somewhat like a mockingbird or a brown thrasher. Their diet consists of insects and other invertebrates (including worms, of course!). They will also feed on nuts and berries.

November 27, 2009

Oil spill clean up declared a success

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Staff photo

Tar balls and oil, like the one pictured above on Folly Beach, washed ashore on area beaches from Sullivan’s Island to Edisto as a result of an oil spill that occurred on October 19 in Charleston Harbor. While clean up efforts were successful, we’re unsure if the responsible party has been held accountable.

Solar from page 7 Panels can also be located on walls or can be free standing. There are about a dozen installations in the greater Charleston area. If you are interested in seeing an installation and hearing about its performance, the SC Solar Council conducts an annual day-long tour in October. If you want to explore installing a unit in your house, check with the SC Solar Council, created by the SC

11

Staff Report

t took about 10 days, 550 man hours and $330,000, but the Coast Guard-led clean-up effort, which followed an oil spill in the Charleston Harbor, was completed on October 30. Laboratory tests and witness accounts led investigators to believe the John F, a 600 foot cargo ship, was responsible for the oil spill. The ship reported a 10 gallon oil spill on October 19 while trying to transfer heavy bunker fuel from a barge off Crab Bank in the harbor. Within the next few days, clumps of oil and “tar balls” began to appear on area beaches, which included Sullivan’s Island and Folly Beach, and stretched as far south as Edisto Island. Sullivan’s Island seemed to get more clumps of oil which were held together by sand. Folly Beach, on the other hand, saw a lot more tar balls. The balls were pitch black, malleable, sticky, shiny and ranged from pea-sized to slightly larger than a golf ball. However, while the John F reported a 10 gallon oil spill, the huge area impacted by tar balls that washed up along area beaches is consistent with a spill that would have involved a few hundred gallons of oil according to a Coast Guard article that appeared on Military.com on

Office of Energy. The Council is also the local chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. The address is: SC Solar Council, Wade Hampton Building, Suite 408, 1200 Senate Street, Columbia, SC, 29201. The Council website is www. SCSolarCouncil.org.

November 11. The John F was still identified as the responsible party in that article. The Coast Guard Charleston Sector led the investigation and clean-up efforts. Over 50 people cleaned and assessed approximately 60 miles of shoreline and came from the Coast Guard, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the Department of Natural Resources as well as contractors from Moran Environmental Services. Over 2600 bags were used to collect sand and oil debris from the spill. The Coast Guard was satisfied with the clean up effort and considered the job complete on October 30 after 10 days of work. The owner of the John F was notified of possible liability. The $330,000 cost was paid from a Coast Guard trust fund dedicated to oil spills. As of our publication deadline, Lucky Dog Publishing had not received a reply from the Coast Guard Charleston Sector whether the John F had reimbursed any of the $330,000 or incurred any fines for the spill. We will update that part of the story at www.follycurrent.com if and when we receive a reply.

Folly B each T i d e Ch a rt

The author, Pete Silveston, is a retired professor of engineering and currently serves as secretary-treasurer of the SC Solar Council.

S u dok u -sol u tion

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Date

High Tide

Low Tide

Nov 27 Nov 28 Nov 29 Nov 30 Dec 1 Dec 2 Dec 3 Dec 4 Dec 5 Dec 6 Dec 7 Dec 8 Dec 9 Dec 10

3:04am/3:29pm 3:56am/4:20pm 4:46am/5:09pm 5:35am/5:58pm 6:24am/6:47pm 7:13am/7:36pm 8:04am/8:27pm 8:55am/9:20pm 9:49am/10:17pm 10:44am/11:17pm 11:40am 12:20am/12:38pm 1:24am/1:37pm 2:27am/2:36pm

9:18am/9:32pm 10:15am/10:21pm 11:09am/11:09pm 12:00pm/11:58pm 12:49pm 12:47am/1:38pm 1:37am/2:28pm 2:28am/3:18pm 3:21am/4:10pm 4:17am/5:03pm 5:15am/5:58pm 6:18am/6:55pm 7:23am/7:52pm 8:29am/8:49pm

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November 27, 2009

Police Reports The following is a summary of police reports originally provided by the Folly Beach Public Safety Department from October 31 through November 12. October 31- A 19 year old man was seen by a police officer driving through a stop sign and sliding into Bert’s Market around 2:30am. When asked by the officer, the subject stated he did not have his license on him. However, he produced it after being asked again. The driver smelled of alcohol and he admitted to drinking while visiting a friend on Folly Beach. He was arrested for reckless driving and disregarding a stop sign. His car was towed. November 2- A vehicle was about to exit the post office parking lot on East Indian but stopped in the middle of the road, blocking a police car that was passing by. The driver reversed back into the parking lot and let the officer by, then turned in the opposite direction. The officer turned around, followed the vehicle and pulled it over. The driver smelled of alcohol and his eyes were glazed. He admitted to drinking a bottle of wine while fishing, and a little bit more earlier in the day. He was unsteady and almost fell while performing a field sobriety test and it was discovered that his license was suspended. He was arrested and charged with DUI and DUS. Although he originally reversed his car to let the officer pass, he was also charged with “failure to yield right of way”.

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November 2- A vehicle with two male occupants was pulled over on Folly Road in the vicinity of Little Oak Island for traveling 46mph in a 35mph zone. Two officers were on the scene and the driver pointed out that there was a near empty container of beer in the front console which he handed over to police. He was asked to exit the vehicle and the other officer asked the passenger out of the vehicle. A small bag of cocaine was seen in the passenger’s side of the car and a small bag of marijuana was located in his pocket. Both were arrested and the car was towed. The driver was charged with having an open container, speeding, expired registration and a broken tail light. The passenger was charged with possession of cocaine and simple possession of marijuana. November 3- A woman was passed out in the front yard of a home in which she did not live. An officer responded and recognized the woman from a previous encounter and knew she did not live at the address. She was advised to move on. However, the officer noticed the woman weaving in and out of the roadway as she walked a couple of blocks. For her safety and the safety of others, she was arrested for “public intoxication/disorderly conduct”. November 5- A vehicle was pulled over for speeding on East Ashley. The driver appeared nervous to the officer and was asked to get out of the vehicle and also asked if he had any drugs or weapons.

The subject stated he had a small amount of marijuana in his pocket which was retrieved. No other drugs were found in the vehicle. He was cited for simple possession of marijuana and “careless operation” of a car. November 5- A man and woman were thought to be having sex on the beach around 1pm. When officers arrived, they did not notice the couple having ‘relations’, but did notice they were in possession of open containers of alcohol. Both were charged for the offense. However, the woman was “grossly intoxicated” and gave a false name to police. When they could not find any evidence of the person she claimed to be she was arrested and later gave her real name. She was additionally charged with public intoxication. November 6- An officer noticed an intoxicated subject with whom he had a previous encounter a few weeks earlier. The subject had been wanted by Charleston Police at that time, but they could not locate the warrant because it had not yet been entered into the system, so the subject was released. It turned out that he was still wanted, but he gave the officer a different name. He revealed his true identity when the officer informed him that he was wanted. He was arrested on that count and also charged with public intoxication and providing false information.

Shipbuilding 101

olly Island, formerly known as Coffin Island, has a ship load of history of its own which includes it’s mark as the temporary camping grounds for  Union Army  soldiers during the Civil War. It was referred to as a sea island city at the time.  In recognition of Folly’s history, Ship Shapes Maritime Arts is launching a series of maritime history talks and classes at the Folly Beach Baptist Church Fellowship Hall with an introduction to model ship building on Tuesday, December 1, from 10am to noon. The talk will focus on the highlights of  Charleston’s Maritime History from 1670, and the the History of model ship building. There will be a demonstration, group discussion, and a display of Mr. Thomas-Moore’s model ships. Moore has been a professional model shipwright and lecturer for fifty years. He is well  received and admired  for his storytelling, and acclaimed for his custom model ships and restoration work around the Photo Provided world. Bill at work in the studio restoring an antique ship model. Model Ship Building 101 with Mr. Thomas-Moore will officially begin on December 8 and continue through December on Folly Beach. Call Diane Sher at 762-6280 for reservations 10, 15, 17 and January 4, 7, 11, and 14 at 10am and 1pm for a and more information or visit www.shipshapesgallery.blogspot. total of eight weeks. No experience is necessary and everyone is com. welcome. The fee for this special crafts course is $125, and there Mr. Thomas-Moore  built the first authentic model of the is an additional charge of $75  for materials,  which includes CSS H. L. Hunley Confederate Submarine in 1997 for the everything you need: the Model Shipways model kit of the Hunley Commission. The five-foot model is currently  in the “Schooner, Blue Nose,” tools, and all supplies. Participants will permanent collection at the Charleston Museum. In 2000, actually build an authentic, historically significant ship Mr. Thomas-Moore was commissioned to build the eight foot model using the techniques that the old masters used. Folly Beach Baptist Church is located at 77 Center Street see Model Ships on page 15

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November 7- Staff from the Holiday Inn reported a man passed out on the beach. When officers arrived, the subject was only able to mutter incoherently and could not answer questions. He was arrested for his own well being. On the ride to the detention center, the man began to threaten the officer’s family, saying things like he would take care of his family while the officer is at work. At the jail, he started a fight with another inmate and had to be restrained. He was charged with public intoxication and threatening a public official. November 10- An unknown person slashed the tires on two different vehicles. One victim had only arrived in town the day before and was renting the property. A witness saw a suspect at that vehicle when the tire popped and called to him. The suspect ran away and officers were unable to locate him. November 10- A woman was found crying in her parked car, still running, in front of the County Park after hours. The officer approached the vehicle and noticed several empty cans of Mike’s Hard Lemonade. The driver stated she had been in a fight with her ex-boyfriend and after ordering her to exit her vehicle, she appeared unstable on her feet. It was later discovered that her license and license plate had been suspended from a previous incident. She was cited for the open containers and the vehicle was towed. November 10- It was discovered that a driver was driving with a suspended license after an officer pulled the vehicle over for having only one functioning headlight. November 12- Officers responded to a report of a strange man walking around. Upon arrival, the backdoor of a nearby apartment was found open and the area was cleared. Other apartments were searched and the subject was discovered in the upstairs room of an apartment. It was discovered that he was wanted by Dorchester County and he was transported to Summerville where he was handed over to County authorities.

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November 27, 2009

By Megan Carroll

W

ith the holidays just around the corner, we’re all trying to save our pennies, so in the spirit of things I decided to cruise downtown to the $1 kiosk and see what I could find. There was a pretty good selection of films there and I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Up in stock. This animated film was on my must see list, but I never got around to seeing it. Hands down, Up is one of the best animated films of the year and is packed with family fun for everyone. The film is a Disney-Pixar comedy-adventure about an elderly balloon salesman, Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), who finally fulfills his and his wife’s lifelong dream—participating in a great adventure where he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away into the “wild blue”, floating over the untamed jungles of South America. What he doesn’t know is that he has floated away with a lot more than just his house. He has a stow-away aboard in the form of a rambunctious eight-year-old named Russell (Jordan Nagai). The unlikely pair go on a hilarious journey together. With films like Up it is no surprise that the Oscars have expanded their animated film roster this year. Up has everything including an exceptional plot, great voice actors and stunning visuals. I hope this film vies for top honors at the awards. When it comes down to it, the storytelling is what captured my attention and would be most appreciated by any adult who has read stories to their children. The plot is plausible and the first 30 minutes of the film is some of the finest storytelling I have had the pleasure of hearing or seeing. The beginning montage transports you into the lives of Carl and his wife Ellie and is beautiful, funny and heartbreaking. Filled with surprise and intrigue, it tells a timeless tale of adventure and aging that touches on every emotion. One moment I was crying and the next laughing hysterically. It is an incredible story that will make good family time viewing at home over the holidays. So if you are looking for the next WALL-E, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. or Toy Story, Up is the film for you and your family! Bad News from page 6 similar constructive results. The deaths of Nelson and then Mashek followed only months after the passing of a third “old media” giant, reporter/columnist Robert Novak, whose journalistic inside scoops were legendary. For all his increasingly conservative views, Novak combined the old-time shoe-leather reporting of Nelson and the exhaustive accumulation of sources of Mashek in the service of quality, reliable newsgathering. All three men, regardless of personal political persuasions and affiliations, were good friends in a Washington political community marked most of the time by robust competition among aggressive yet collegial news professionals. In the intensifying era of new journalistic technologies and reporting techniques, the passing of such men dedicated to the perhaps more restricting and inhibiting standards of the older generations is inevitable. But their departure from the Washington political scene, beyond the personal aspect, is no less a loss to the tradition of great, trustworthy reporting in America.

www.follycurrent.com

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November 27, 2009

Help Pet Helpers win $10,000

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our local Pet Helpers has the opportunity to win $10,000, but only with your help. Local community support is required for the America’s Favorite Animal Shelter contest sponsored by Care2.com and Adopta-Pet.com. The animal shelter or rescue group with the most votes will win the grand prize, which would go a long way to help Pet Helpers end the euthanasia of all adoptable cats and dogs by keeping all animals until adopted and providing low cost spay/neuter surgeries. The contest ends on December 15, which provides plenty of time to show how much we care about our local shelter and the furry friends it protects. The winner of the contest is determined by the number of local citizens and supporters, who can vote for their shelter or group by going to www.care2.com/ animalsheltercontest  and searching by zip code for your shelter.  At this site, people can also invite their friends (via email) to vote for that same favorite shelter. The contest aims to raise awareness about the importance of supporting pet adoptions and taking action to save homeless animals’ lives. All participating animal shelters and rescue groups, including Pet Helpers, are part of the Adopt-a-Pet.com network.

Provided Pet Helpers has seen an increase in abandoned animals and a decrease in charitable giving in the past year. The grand prize of $10,000 would enable Pet Helpers to continue to support adoptable pets in their facility. “As we enter this holiday season and the economic crisis deepens, we commend groups, like Pet Helpers, which promote the need for pet adoption to save animals’ lives,” said Randy Paynter, CEO and founder of Care2. “We are excited to work with Adopt-a-Pet. com’s network of shelters and rescue groups to support a cause that really matters to our members and so many others – the welfare and adoption of animals.” “Ten thousand dollars would make a huge impact on the kinds of support we can provide to our animals,” said Carol Linville, President and Founder of Pet Helpers, “We encourage all of our local supporters and citizens to visit the web Fishing from page 10 banks covered with oyster beds and other structures, paying special attention to creek mouths and cuts in the bank. The goal is to find a speed that keeps the lure swimming close to the bottom but not so low that it repeatedly gets hung up and stuck. Clearly, having a trolling motor makes this a much easier exercise, but it can be done while running a boat’s engine. If you are running your engine, you may want to try trolling your lures even farther behind the boat to account for the noise possibly putting off the fish. Kayakers will find that they have the perfect vessel for this tactic given its stealth. Remember to set the drag on your reels lightly, not only so you can

site and vote for us.” How the contest works: The contest runs from November 5, 2009, through December 15, 2009, on Care2.com’s website. Anyone can simply go to www.care2.com/animalsheltercontest and vote for their favorite shelter or rescue group. The shelter or group that receives the most votes nationwide wins the grand prize of $10,000. Care2 is also giving away a total of $13,500 to the next nine groups with the highest votes, as well as $500 at random each week during the contest period to ensure every shelter and rescue group has a chance to win, providing Pet Helpers another opportunity to support its cause. Shelter supporters can also invite their friends and encourage them to vote for Pet Helpers.  The results of votes for shelters and groups are updated in real-time. The 20 people who recruit the detect a soft trout strike, but also so if you do snag the bottom you will not immediately break off the lure. See you on the water! 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 843-324-3332, visit his website at www. charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at [email protected].

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most friends to vote will receive a $50 gift certificate sponsored by Care2. Visitors can keep track of who has recruited the most people to vote for their favorite shelters. About Pet Helpers Pet Helpers is a private, non-profit 501(c)3 Adoption Center and Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic that serves communities across the Lowcountry.  The shelter’s mission is to end the euthanasia of all adoptable cats and dogs by keeping all animals until adopted; providing low cost spay/neuter surgeries; offering humane education programs; pursuing animal cruelty prosecution; and initiating animal welfare legislation.  Each year a dedicated full-time staff, supported by 180 volunteers, cares for homeless or rescued animals, and assists the Lowcountry’s residents with their animal needs. Citizens can support their local group by voting for Pet Helpers at http://www.care2. com/animalsheltercontest. About Care2 With more than 11 million members and 400 non-profit partners, Care2.com is the most popular online destination for people who care to make a difference. Whether you’re passionate about animal welfare, the environment, green living or human rights, Care2 puts the tools for change in your hands.   About Adopt-a-Pet.com  Adopt-a-Pet.com is a non-profit pet adoption charity that helps shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, pet rescue groups, and pet adoption agencies advertise their homeless pets to adopters for free. Adopt-a-Pet.com is all about getting homeless pets into homes, using the power of TV, the Internet and a toll-free phone number to connect adopters with shelter pets and help pets go from alone to adopted.

November 27, 2009

15

Over the Edge and goodbye

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staff report

n October, art lovers received quite a treat at the opening of “Over the Edge”, a collaborative art show featuring Tyler Blanton and R.T. Shepherd at the At the Bridge art gallery. Although featured artist displays are temporary in nature, the art and artists left such an impression on those who experienced it that the gallery’s owner, Suzan McNeill, is hosting a relatively unusual “closing party” on November 27 to say goodbye to Tyler Image provided by Suzan McNeill Don’t miss the closing party to celebrate Tyler Blanton’s Folly Blanton.

S

Be a Tourist in your Own Town

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 are available now 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.

Beach Art show.

Blanton is a wonderfully talented artist whose magical personality and globetrotter background glow in the textures of her very unique works. Her art is wonderfully expressive and rich, drawing the viewer into a subconscious discussion with the ghost of Blanton’s inspiration. Regardless of whether you attended the opening and have seen the art or not, this final opportunity to see this artist and her work on Folly as part of the Over the Edge show is nothing less than a pure treat. “It has been a blast,” McNeill said. “The gallery has never looked so exciting, big, and wonderful.” Shepherd’s work will also be available for viewing and will continue to hang for another month. His extremely personal style ranges from paintings, to singed love notes, to collective sculptures. However, a small discussion with the artist will also help reveal layers of meaning that might otherwise remain hidden. For those who will be around this Thanksgiving holiday, find another reason to be thankful by viewing Blanton’s talent one last time at the At the Bridge gallery located at 83 Center Street on Folly Beach. The party will begin at 5pm and go on as the energy dictates. Wine will be served, as well as a small assortment of post holiday food.

www.follycurrent.com

Model Ships from page 12 model of Captain Blackbeard’s flagship, the “Queen Anne’s Revenge” for the Queen Anne’s Revenge Restaurant on Daniel Island. He has lectured on Charleston’s Maritime History and the History of Model Ship Building across the northeast and south, including the Mystic Seaport,

Oceanographic Institute, North Carolina Maritime Museum, Port Columbus Civil War Naval Museum in Georgia, the Citadel, plus many other venues in Charleston and the south. He and Diane Scher owned and operated the former Ship Shapes Maritime Gallery in downtown Charleston, and established The Charleston Harbor Society. 

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www.follycurrent.com

November 27, 2009