PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON SC PERMIT NO 437
Volume 2 Issue 21
February 6, 2009
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Valentine’s Day “island style” By Evans Craddock I am addicted to Valentine’s Day. I blame my father. It first started when I was around five years old, and my dad took me to the annual Father/Daughter Valentine’s Dance at the YMCA. Truth be told, I didn’t have a clue as to what Valentine’s Day meant. All I knew was that I got to wear a dress, have a special dinner (chicken fingers and fries), and my dad’s bald head always seemed a little shinier that night; as if he got “extra clean” for the big day. When coming up with Valentine’s Day surprises, my dad always kept it fun and easy, and the best part was, he made all of his Valentines (I have three sisters) feel like they were somebody special. Just in case you’re trying to come up with something that will make your Valentine’s) feel special, here’s a list of 10 dates that will keep you entertained, whether you enjoy fancy dinners, or just want to enjoy the Islands. 1. Wine and dine. This year, The Jasmine Porch at the Sanctuary Hotel is featuring a special Valentine’s Day Tasting Menu with items such as pan seared wild striped sea bass and a white chocolate raspberry swirl cheesecake for dessert. For Reservations, call (843) 768-6000. 2. Seabrook Island Equestrian Center. Ride horses throughout the scenic trails on Seabrook Island, or sign up for a morning beach ride to start the day off with a bang. For more information, call The Seabrook Island Equestrian Center at (843) 768-7541. 3. Sea Island Horse Show at Mullet Hall. Starting at 8am on February 14, the horse show will feature riders of all ages in the Hunter/Jumper ring. Not only is the show taking place in a lovely part of Johns Island, it will also feature some of Valentine continued on page 4
I n s id e
Easterbrook page 10
Happy Valentine’s Day from Lucky Dog Publishing and the crew at The Island Connection T he
I sl a nd
Connection. . .
Delete apathy page 13
A Lab gets wings page 13
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February 6, 2009
Seabrook Town Council – January 27, 2009
“I know this is a little late to say,” said Mayor McNulty as he officially opened the day’s meeting, “but we recently lost Councilman Tom Flynn and our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and family. He was a member of Council, but he was also a friend and he will be missed.”
Financials
The Island Connection Lynn Pierotti Publisher
[email protected] Kristin Hackler Managing Editor
[email protected] Swan Richards Graphic Designer
[email protected] Ali Akhyari Assistant Editor
[email protected] Brittany Urbach Reporter
[email protected] Becca Finley Copy Editor/Reporter
[email protected] Chelsea Langan Advertising
[email protected] Interns Jennifer Millar Bridget Hinkebein Bri Horahan Ashley Anderson Evans Craddock Contributors Dr. Charles Bensonhaver David Farrow Melissa Gray Sarah Dargan Harper Eric Horan Kiawah Conservancy Lynda Fox Dwight Ives Nick Strehle Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS Future deadlines: February 11 for submissions.
Mayor McNulty reported on the financials for 2008, noting that there was nothing unusual. The total revenues for 2008 were $1,143,789, which is $114,789 better than what the Town had budgeted. Compared to the 2007 year end total of $1,074,066, the Town is up $69,723 from last year. In terms of expenses, the total for 2008 was $538,796, which was $44,696.24 more than budgeted and slightly more than 2007’s total expenditures of $500,131. The bottom line, though, was that the Town’s total revenues for 2008 were $604,993, compared to $575,935 in 2007. “So this was a better year than last year,” said the Mayor. “What happens in 2009, I don’t know.” But for the fun of it, he said, the Town staff looked back at the first month’s revenues in business licenses over the past five years. In 2004, the Town received $31,000 in the first month; in 2008 it was $49,000 and this year, they were already up to $50,000. “Maybe it’s timing,” said the Mayor, “but it looks good so far.”
Earth Days Seabrook resident Linda Sivert gave a presentation to Council regarding Earth Week, an exciting event being planned by an ad-hoc committee on Seabrook. The last Earth Day event took place in 2006 and only lasted a day. But the Earth Week committee already has so many events planned that this years festival will encompass a full four days: April 20 – 25, 2009. “Participating groups include the Seabrook Island Natural History Group, the POA and the Garden Club,” said Sivert. “We’ll be discussing topics such as alternative transportation, recycling, and energy consumption.” Tom Fox will be conducting beach walks as well as bird and reptile walks, Billy McCord of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources will give wildlife talks
Monday, February 9
Seabrook elections Voting volunteer Gene Corrigan addressed Town Council regarding the elections for the open seat on Council, which will take place on March 31. Corrigan noted that letters would be sent out to all 15 poll volunteers, who would be serving in three shifts on the day of the election. To date, the Town has received three candidates, and as the time for submitting names for the open seat has closed, the following Seabrook residents will be running for the available seat: Wayne Billian, Jerry Cummin and Tom Prevost. Corrigan will be going to the Charleston County Board of
Elections to get the names set up for polling boxes the day of the elections. “All the lines are laid, as a Navyman would put it,” said Corrigan. He also noted that the regular elections for Seabrook would be coming up in November and that whoever was elected in the March elections would have to run again in November. “it’s never too soon to start looking for candidates,” said Corrigan. “I don’t think we’ll suffer from a lack of candidates,” said the Mayor. “Last election, we had two people running for each position.”
Clarification on CERT status Councilman Savin stated that he wished to clear up the misinterpretation of CERT as being disbanded. Only the tax group has dissolved, not the group itself. All of the equipment and savings belong directly to CERT and the incorporation has not been disbanded. Joe Sanders to BZA The Mayor was glad to announce that the opening left on the BZA by Alan Thompson’s move to another committee would be filled by resident Joe Sanders. “Joe will make a good replacement,” said the Mayor before noting that, “You may not know this, but Joe was a Colonel in the Army.” He smiled, “He was a Colonel Sanders.” FEMA pump station project on schedule Joe Hall was unable to make it to the day’s meeting, but the Mayor read his report, which noted that the next scheduled station for repair is the largest one located on Island Pine Drive. The work began on February 1, as February is historically the lowest time of activity for waste water. The contractor for the Council continued on page 3
Civic Calendar
St. Johns Fire District Commission 7pm St. Johns Commission Building 3327 Maybank Highway, Johns Island
Wednesday, February 11 Seabrook Island Planning Commission All meetings will be held at 2:30pm at the Town Hall unless noted otherwise on the Town bulletin board.
Thursday, February 12 Johns Island Council Meeting NEW DATE (Moved due to a public hearing on the Maybank Corridor on February 5) 7pm – 8pm Berkeley Electric Co-Op, Maybank Rd.
Monday, February 16 Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC Publishers of Island Eye News, The Island Connection and The Folly Current.
and demonstrations and Patty Romano is planning a series of kids programs. Booths will be set up with green displays from local companies and among the items that will be given away are reusable grocery bags with the events logo and garden herbs provided by the Garden Club. The location is tentatively planned to take place on the Seabrook Island Real Estate lawn just before the gate and it will all be completely free and open to the public. “Would it be possible for the Council to make this an official event?” asked Sivert. “And maybe make a speech? And a contribution?” The Council smiled, but the Mayor nodded, asking how much the group needed to put on the event. Sivert said the total would be a little less than $4,200 for the whole four days. “Well, with the stipulation that the event remains open to the public, including all activities,” said the Mayor, “and that the name be changed to Earth ‘Days’ instead of Earth ‘Week’ since it’s only four days long, I motion that we pay for the whole deal. $4,200 for Earth Days.” The motion was approved unanimously and a surprised Mayor received a quick, happy hug from Earth Days committee member Lynda Fox.
President’s Day Kiawah offices will be closed
Monday, February 23 Kiawah Island Board of Zoning
Appeals 4pm - 5pm Town Hall Council Chambers
Tuesday, February 24 Seabrook Island Town Council All Town Council meetings will be held at 2:30pm at the Town Hall unless noted otherwise on the Town bulletin board.
Monday, March 2 Kiawah Island Environmental Committee 3pm - 5pm Town Hall - 2nd Floor Conference Room
Tuesday, March 3 Kiawah Island Town Council 2pm - 4pm Town Hall Council Chambers Kiawah Island Ways and Means Committee meeting 8am Kiawah Island Municipal Center’s 2nd Floor Conference Room
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Kiawah Island Town Hall 21 Beachwalker Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 Phone: 768-9166 Fax: 768-4764 Email:
[email protected] Seabrook Island Town Hall 2001 Seabrook Island Road Seabrook Island, SC 29455 Phone: 768-9121 Fax: 768-9830 Email:
[email protected] Johns Island Council Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Hwy, John’s Island. Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113 Charleston County Council 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston (843) 958-4700 City of Charleston 75 Calhoun St. (843) 724-3745
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February 6, 2009
Letters to the editor... Dear Editor: Surprise – the battle to put homes in harm’s way on a dynamic sand spit at the southwestern end of Kiawah Island, past the county’s Beachwalker Park, is still raging. Last fall, public outcry convinced U.S. Representative Henry Brown to withdraw legislation that would have provided low-cost federal flood insurance for houses built on these shifting sands. But this hasn’t stopped Kiawah Development Partners, which still plans to construct 50 houses on this sandy spit. Over the Christmas holidays, the Kiawah group struck again, securing a permit from the State Department of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management to build a bulkhead, or retaining wall, to shore up the sands enough to put in a road to facilitate development. Building on this spit is a ludicrous idea. The history of these shifting sands and inlet shows that, although the spit has recently grown as the developers declare, it remains capable of great change and lies at an extremely low elevation. Every 30 to 50 years, this shifting sand spit rearranges itself by becoming completely severed from Kiawah Island. A storm or tide rips through and transforms the spit into a sand bar or small island. The spit appears to be in constant motion, which would create a real problem for any houses constructed there, which wouldn’t move so easily. OCRM showed great insight in granting the permit, reducing the length Council continued from page 2
project will have one lane of Island Pine Drive open during the day and both lanes will be open at night. When the pump station it complete it will be enclosed by a fence painted Charleston green.
Bike path crossing Town Administrator Randy Pierce reported that the access from the bike path to the crosswalk at Bohicket Marina was unfriendly to pedestrians and bikers as it tended to become muddy in inclement weather. He proposed that the patch of crossing space, which encompasses roughly 325 square feet, either be filled in with crushed granite on a compacted rock bed, which would run around $2,115, or create a concrete pathway which would run around $2,925. Asphalt, he said, would be too expensive as the area would have to be graded out and prepared before work could be done. As roller bladers often use the bike path as well, Council agreed that a concrete access would be better than granite. The Mayor also remarked that if they were going to create the access, they should also consider putting in traffic slowing devices around the crosswalk. “It would make it safer for cyclists and would slow people down on the road,” he said. “If we do one, we should do the other.” Mayor McNulty motioned that the Town spend $3,000 for the access with the stipulation that the Town Administrator look into placing speed
of the bulkhead from 2,783 feet to 270 feet. Still, any hardened structure could be detrimental to the area. Hardened structures along estuarine shorelines often lead to loss of valuable wetlands and natural buffers, which may increase erosion on adjacent shorelines. Also, the bulkhead could ruin prime wildlife habitat. We must preserve ecological buffer zones where nature has the ability to absorb sea level rise. Otherwise, one bulkhead will create demand for another, and we will fight an ongoing battle over hardening every inch of the coastline. With sea levels rising in the next five decades, Dr. Orrin H. Pilkey, a James B. Duke professor of Earth Science emeritus at Duke University and renown expert on coastal geology, believes that shoreline retreat on the South Carolina coast could be as much as 2000 feet inland per foot of sea level rise because of the slope of the land. Increased sea level rise also brings greater potential for overwash, with storm surges and tides reaching further inland than anyone has ever seen. Under these circumstances, constructing 50 homes onto this historically dynamic sand spit is especially unwise. Let us hope that developers look at Folly Beach and its solutions to these problems and decide to create a park on the Kiawah spit instead. Folly Beach’s parks are on each end of the constantly shifting barrier island, welcoming people and wildlife. Folks on Kiawah, Seabrook, Rockville, Johns Island and the Charleston
community should take action to stop the folly of continuing to build on an unstable area and stay informed on the Coastal Conservation League’s website. Smarter strategies to address sea level rise should be every citizen’s concern. Environmental activist and artist, Mary Edna Fraser Oak Point Road, James Island Dear Editor: Nick Strehle had a very convincing article about the importance of soil testing in the Jan. 23 issue of The Island Connection. It might be helpful to the readers to know that Clemson offers a very thorough soil test for SC residents. The results are reported to the gardener both online and in print mail. The report shows the soil’s fertility and pH levels and makes recommendations on what to add to the soil. A gardener may take a soil sample to the Clemson Extension Office, 259 Meeting St., Charleston, and it will be mailed to Clemson for $6. At the Clemson Home and Garden Information Center website, the procedures for gathering soil samples are explained in detail: http://hgic.clemson. edu/factsheets. Clemson now offers a soil sampler mailer for $15. They may be ordered from www.clemson.edu/psapublishing. Carol Ann Smalley Kiawah Island, SC
restricting devices on either side of the crosswalk. The motion was approved unanimously.
Beach Patrol cart Town Administrator Peirce reported that the Town had voted last year to spend $15,000 on a new beach patrol cart, but were waiting until the first quarter to purchase it. However, beach patrol had found a demo for sale with only 1 ½ hours of drive time on it for $11,500. Along with the $9,000 received from insurance on the last vehicle, the Town would only have to spend $2,500 total. Council approved the expenditure unanimously. Go green, but how? Mayor McNulty announced that the Town had received $129,000 from the Charleston County Green Belt program strictly for the purchasing of green space and parks within the Town. However, the Town doesn’t have too many places to by land and as the funds can’t be given to pay down the Seabrook Island Green Space Committee’s debt, the Town is at a loss over what to do with it. “There’s not much you can get for $129,000 out here,” said the Mayor. The Town, however, is open to suggestions. “If you come up with a great idea, we’d love to hear it,” he said. Oh, deery me Council proposed the passage of Council continued on page 11
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Dear Editor: “It ain’t over till it’s over,” i.e. Yogi Berra, and it’s not over yet. The OCRM has denied KDP permission to build a revetment wall on the Kiawah River. The revetment would have run 2,700 ft. from Beachwalker Park, a public county park, toward Cap’n Sam’s inlet. There’s 5,640 ft. in a mile, if that gives some perspective of the length. The OCRM did allow the area of erosion next to the high land to be protected by the revetment wall, but denied that portion which would run down the river and would be placed in what is pure beach sand for almost a half a mile. Now here comes KDP asking the court to reverse the OCRM decision and to force the OCRM to issue the permit for the full length. I’ve been here for 70 years and seen what damage this unbridled development has had on where I live. This revetment takes the cake. The worst environmental degradation in our area would happen right under our eyes and would do its damage for a long, long time. The appeal by KDP is before the court. Pressure by the public is needed to head off the reversal of OCRM’s decision. Sidi Limehouse Resurrection Road Johns Island Editor’s note: OCRM stands for Office of Coastal Resource Management and KDP stands for Kiawah Development Partners.
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our local riders from the Seabrook Island Equestrian Center. For directions or general questions, call (843) 795-4386. 4. The Notebook. Chances are, your Valentine might already have this movie in their personal DVD collection. It’s a great love story, and it also touches close to home since it was filmed in the Charleston area. 5. King Street Grille. No Valentine? No problem. General Manager Gessell invites everyone to come out to King Street Grille for delicious food and a good time. “It’s a fun atmosphere, and we offer a menu with something for everyone,” said Gessell. 6. Angel Oak Tree. It’s open daily from 9am to 5pm, it’s free, and it’s the perfect place to give your Valentine that card you’ve been saving. 7. The Piggly Wiggly. Don’t forget your PFC card! Stop by the Pig to pick up the ingredients to make your valentine a special supper, or better yet, make the dinner together. 8. Rosebank Farms. Although the farm is closed until March, the barnyard is open for animal visits; the perfect place for the wee Valentines. 9. Bohicket Marina. Walk around the Marina and take in the lovely views. Stop by Fischers for some lunch, or rent a boat for the afternoon. For more information on reservations, call Bohicket Creek Boat
February 6, 2009 Rentals at (843) 768-1280. 10. Home. There’s no place like it. Take notes from Cooper and Beth Williams of John’s Island, and whip up some of their special hot chocolate recipe that Cooper describes as “heaven in a cup”. While Cooper admits he and Beth got the recipe from their friends, they do take credit for the name “Cham Bay Loco”. According to Cooper, all you need to make “Cham Bay Loco” is your regular hot chocolate, add a splash of Chambord liqueur, and then finish it off with a decent amount of Bailey’s Original Irish Cream. Cooper also added that when it comes to anything good; it’s usually “all Beth”. So this year, whether your Valentine is your dad, your grandmother, or your four-legged furry companion, keep the basic Valentine’s principles in mind. Keep it simple, enjoy each other’s company, and don’t be afraid to splurge a little bit.
Protecting the Terrapin
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Provided by the Kiawah Conservancy
amed for the diamond pattern on top of its shell, the Diamondback Terrapin is the only turtle that lives in brackish water (a combination of salt and fresh water). Although their coloring varies, all Diamondback Terrapins have a unique pattern of wiggly, black markings or spots on their body and head. Their feet are strongly webbed with especially large, flat hind feet. They are sexually dimorphic, with the males being significantly smaller than the females in weight and carapace length, though the males tend to be larger in warmer regions. Adult diamondbacks mate in the early spring and lay clutches of five to 12 eggs in the early summer. During incubation, the eggs are vulnerable to predation by crabs, crows, gulls, rats, foxes, raccoons and mink. Hatchlings are also at risk from these predators when they emerge in the late summer or early fall. However, one of the biggest threats to terrapins is accidental drowning in recreational crab traps. During the breeding season, terrapins are even more susceptible to drowning in crab traps as a large number
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of males tend to follow a single female if she goes into a crab trap. The placement of a Bycatch Reduction Device (BRD) on crab traps dramatically reduces the likelihood of accidental terrapin drowning. Additionally, research has shown that crab traps outfitted with BRDs actually catch more crabs. BRDs are currently being used in a number of costal states and on Kiawah Island. The Kiawah Conservancy encourages crab trappers to utilize BRDs, and now is the time to have them installed. If you already own a crab trap, you can take your trap to the Heron Park Nature Center to be outfitted with a BRD free of charge! Traps should be labeled with your name and number. Please contact the Heron Park Nature Center (843-768-6001) to set up a mutually convenient time to drop off your trap. The Kiawah Conservancy at the Heron Park Nature Center is always hosting fun, environmentally educational events. Their Conservation Matters Series is taking place at 1pm on the first Wednesday of every month until May 2009. For more information, please visit www.kiawahconservancy.org.
February 6, 2009
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St. Johns goes to Washington By Kristin Hackler
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he future of America stood at the classroom door, eagerly shaking hands and introducing themselves. They were taking a break from their regular classes at St. Johns High School to share their memories of a field trip that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. Elijah Smith, Carlton Coten, Leroy McGill and Elizabeth Robinson were among a group of thirty students given the incredible opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. to witness the inauguration of the first African-American President. “You felt the optimism of the crowd during the inauguration,” said Elijah. “You were just instilled with a sense of hope and pride.” The trip to Washington began long before the sun came up on Saturday, January 17. The bus of thirty students and ten teachers and volunteers rolled out of the St. Johns parking lot at 3am. The group passed the time by singing songs, doing word searches and watching movies, all of which centered on the theme of the inauguration. By the time the bus arrived at their hotel in Springfield, Virginia, the students were so excited they could hardly stand it. “I’d never been to D.C. before,” said Carlton. “It was a real culture shock. Some things were similar, but a lot was different. For example, I noticed that they use public transportation, like the Metro,
SJHS students Carlton Coten, Elijah Smith, Leroy McGill and Elizabeth Robinson share memories of their trip to the presidential inauguration. a lot more than we do. It’s a beautiful city. challenge to the Charlestonians. During a Seeing it on paper and seeing it in person regular visit, it would be difficult for a novice traveler to figure out the train timetables. is an entirely different experience.” The crowds were also a shock for the “Imagine 40 rookies trying to figure out rural island residents. “It was amazing the rail schedule along with two million being in a crowd of two million people,” other rookies,” volunteer coordinator John said Leroy. “I remember looking down Olson laughed. “Getting from point A to at my shoes for a few minutes and when point B was a bit of a challenge.” So much I looked up, I was lost.” He quickly of a challenge, that the group ended up reconnected with the group, but pressing walking considerable distances instead through the crowd was like fighting a tidal of taking public transportation, simply because it was faster. “We left the hotel flood. The D.C. Metro proved to be a bit of a at 5am,” said Olson, recalling the day of the inauguration. “The bus dropped us off at 7am and we walked 23 blocks to the Mall, where we stayed until 12:30pm. By the time we caught the shuttle to where our bus was parked, it was 5:30pm.” The students were tired and hungry, but happy; and they were incredibly thankful for the layers of clothes they brought with them as the temperature in downtown D.C. never topped 26 degrees. Thanks to a warm clothing drive put on by PATSY ZANETTI AND STUART RU MPH Kiawah Island, all of the students were able to bundle themselves from head to toe in thick sweaters and heavy jackets. Using a little creative thinking, Elizabeth even thought to grab a pair of green wool socks and wear them as gloves during their four hour wait in the Mall. When asked what their favorite 3072 Marsh Gate Drive 2773 Old Forest Drive 3553 Seaview Drive part of the trip was, the students Lake views, short bike to wellness Tidal marsh view, .76 acre lot Ocean and golf views 5 BR/ 3.5 BA, 3,015 sq ft cntr, 3 BR/ 2.5 BA, 2,050 sq ft 4 BR/ 4 BA, 3,608 sq ft $699,000 $1,299,000 $1,750,000
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agreed that it was simply the fact that they were there. “People were dancing and singing,” said Elizabeth as she recalled walking in a long chain with the rest of her group through the Mall. “Just being there was so wonderful. It was such an historic moment.” The students emphatically thanked everyone who donated their time, money and clothing to their trip. Elijah, Carlton, Leroy and Elizabeth all pointed out that they couldn’t have had this amazing opportunity without the help of generous donors from Kiawah, Seabrook, Johns Island and beyond. Without them, these thirty students would never have this wonderful memory and the bright, hard light in their eyes that speaks of inspiration, wonderment and hope. All four students are now passionate about government and want to learn more. Carlton is certain he wants to get into government as soon as possible. “There is so much need for leadership in our daily lives,” he said, and pointed out the success of author Bertie Bowman who had visited the school recently. At the age of 13, Bowman got a job sweeping the steps of the Capitol and eventually worked his way up to become a hearing coordinator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His book Step by Step is available at the St. Johns Library. The impression of the trip was obvious. The students were determined that they not only wanted to make a difference, but that they could make a difference. And that knowledge makes all the difference in the world. To show their thanks to the islanders, students from St. Johns gave a slide presentation of their field trip following the Feb. 3 meeting of Kiawah Town Council.
INAUGURATION CROWD PHOTO BY ERIC HORAN
The Seabrook Island Wind and Hail Group (WHIG) invite all who are interested to a discussion of wind and hail (hurricane) insurance issues. Dropped policies? Rising costs? Confusing language? Saturday, February 21, 2009 3:30 - 4:30pm Seabrook Island Town Hall 2001 Seabrook Island Road
February 6, 2009
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Tea with Jane: the Jane Austen yearly social
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very year, the Jane Austen Society holds a tea in honor of the great author’s birthday and to celebrate a new year of reading and sharing the love of Austen’s literature. The annual tea was held at Gage Hall on Archdale Street in downtown Charleston. Though attendance was down from last year, the Society’s spirits were high and the food was as plentiful and delicious as ever. The ceremony opened with Society member Nita Hite giving a toast to Austen, laughing that, “Anyone who loved orange wine would be a friend of mine!” She closed with her glass raised solemnly to the gathered crowd. “To Jane Austen,” she said. “May she live forever in our minds.” Hite’s toast was followed by professional Victorian storyteller Kim Poovey, who, dressed in traditional Victorian garb, addressed the crowd in the character of young Jane Austen, regaling the audience with tales from her life. Tea was served promptly following the performance. “That spread is outrageous!” one attendee exclaimed, and she wasn’t exaggerating. The ladies served jasmine tea with all the accoutrements, fresh squeezed lemonade and more tea time treats than the crowd of 45 or so attendees could handle. By the end of the event, Society members and guests alike were taking home baggies stuffed with leftovers of ham salad, pimento cheese, chicken and cucumber sandwiches, cookie bars, cookies and every type of chocolate imaginable. During the festivities, people were invited to bid on raffle items, which included a Jane Austen action figure and a t-shirt that read “Imagination is Everything – Jane Austen”. A sales table of Jane Austen memorabilia even provided a much coveted copy of Jane Austen, an Illustrated Treasury featuring removable memorabilia
Staff report attendee. Jackie Leer, a member of the Jane Austen Society, agreed with her, and pointed out that, to her, Jane Austen has always meant romance, fun and adventure. “It [her books] takes us from this world to a more beautiful place, but most of all, it’s the romance. I love being a part of it, part of the mood of it and the air of it.” Speaker Nita Hite of course encouraged everyone who attended the annual tea to read Jane Austen, if they hadn’t already. “If you haven’t read her,” said Hite, “don’t watch the movie, pick up one of her books. We’re purists!” To find out more about the Jane Austen Society, please visit www.jasna.org, call 800-836-3911, email info@jasna. org or write to US/International Membership Secretary: Mrs. Bobbie Gay, 7230 N. San Blas Drive Tuscon, AZ 85704.
(Above) Kim Poovey portrays Jane with tales of her life. (Right) Part of the spread put out by society members. (Below) Nita Hite gives the toast to honor Jane.
including hand written letters, drafts and more, by Rebecca Dickson. Members of the Hat Ladies (not to be confused with the Red Hat Ladies), were also in attendance, sporting lovely Victorian-inspired headgear. “Jane would have liked the Hat Ladies’ hats,” smiled one
Facts about Jane Austen: • She would cover up her writing so that people wouldn’t know that she was writing so much. • She loved to dance and typically walked about 25 miles per week. • She loved orange wine.
www.islandconnection.sc
February 6, 2009
From the heart
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By Ashley Anderson
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ur Lady of Mercy held its 12th annual auction entitled “Blessings from the Heart” in the Emerald Ball Room at the Marriott Hotel on Lockwood Drive on Sunday, January 25. Attendees of the silent auction browsed around each room, bidding on a variety of items from antique pianos and a vacation in Scotland, to gift certificates for tacos. During the event, buyers enjoyed the music of a smooth jazz band
(Above) Sister Mary Joseph and Mary Dubois. (Below) OLM volunteers.
Earth Days are coming
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By Lynda Fox
he Town of Seabrook Island is now the proud sponsor of Earth Days 2009: Sustainable Seabrook. In an unanimous vote during the Seabrook Town Council meeting on January 27, Mayor Frank McNulty and the Town Council voted to have the Town sponsor this event. So, what happened to Earth Week? Since the event actually runs for four days, Mayor McNulty pointed out that a better name for the event would be Earth Days. So Earth Days it is! The only condition put on the Town’s sponsorship was that all events be open to the public, including the trail and beach
walks behind the security gate. Therefore, Earth Days 2009: Sustainable Seabrook will be an inclusive event for residents of Seabrook Island, Johns Island, Kiawah Island and all s u r r ou nd i n g areas. Earth Days co-chairs Linda Sivert and Linda Mesaros and the other six committee members are hard at work planning more than 22 events covering alternative transportation, recycling, energy conservation, habitat, kids programs and green displays. Save the dates: Wednesday, April 22, through Saturday, April 25. So, everyone, see you there!
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and drinks from the cocktail bar. All bids and donations went to the Our Lady of Mercy outreach program. “The proceeds of the event are used to support all the activities of the Outreach; primarily health services, emergency services and educational services,” said the Director of Development Griff Hogan. The annual auction is one of the largest fund-raising events for the Catholic Community in Charleston.
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February 6, 2009
Easterbrook rejoins the Choraliers
Charleston’s pride: Noisette roses
By Dr. Charles Bensonhaver
By Nick Strehle
lsie Easterbrook, a Seabrook Island resident and noted performer/piano teacher, has rejoined the Island Choraliers. She was the original pianist for the group, serving for five years. She has taught piano at the Hartt School of Music, Charleston Southern University and privately. Elsie graduated from the Hartt School of Music in piano performance and further honed her skills in master classes, including classes at Columbia University. She has served as a music critic, piano adjudicator and extensively as a community organizer in the arts. She is widely known in music circles, becoming personally acquainted with artists such as Van Cliburn, Leonard Bernstein and Eugene Ormandy. Kiawah resident and Choralier John Benzel welcomes Elsie’s return, saying,
“She [Easterbrook] is exceptionally capable and has a very nice way about her,” Seabrook resident and Choralier Jim Tilson says, “I am inspired and motivated to have her return as we will be much the better.” Elsie is thrilled to be back, saying, “It will be fun returning to the Choraliers and sharing in their love of music.” Elsie enjoys a Permanent Professional Certification with the Music Teachers National Association. She will work with students of all ages and levels. If you have an interest in taking lessons, call her at 843-768-4008. The Island Choraliers will perform their major Spring Concert at the Church of Our Saviour in late March. Plan to attend and enjoy!
PetsPetofHelpers the Week RIBBONS: Hi! I’m a 4-year old dark brown tabby female. I’m sleek and silent and I like my peace and quiet. I would be happier in a childless and dog free home. Spayed, vax, chip, fee.
GRETCHEN: Hi! My name is Gretchen. I was brought in to Pet Helpers because my previous owner passed away. I’m sweet, playful and housebroken. I really don’t like being in a kennel. I need a nice warm house where I am loved. Spayed, vax, chip, fee. Pet Helpers is located at 1447 Folly Road, James Island. Hours: Mon – Fri from 11am – 6pm and Sat from 11am - 5pm. Closed: Sundays and Holidays. For more information, please call 843-795-1110.
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ocal plant lovers are familiar with Charleston’s reputation for being a tremendous hub for plant and flower propagation. Now, with the help of the Charleston Horticulture Society, Charleston is receiving calls from all over the world thanks to the newly published book by Virginia Kean, Noisette Roses: 19th Century Charleston’s Gift to the World. Dr. Alexander Garden gave a description of Charleston in the 1800s that is just as true today as it was when he placed pen to paper after a long day of farming: “Our long hot summers enervate and unbrace the whole system. Were you to sweat out, for two or three summers, the finer part of your good English blood and animal spirits and have every fiber and nerve of your body weakened, relaxed, enervated and unbraced by a tedious autumnal heat intermittent under a sultry suffocating and insufferable sun, you would then be made in some manner a judge of the reason for our taste of fire … Instead of fire and life of imagination, indifference and a graceful despondency would overwhelm your mind.” The founders of our glorious Charleston endured many years of this sweltering heat as they transformed the local landscape into an area of trade crops and flowers to mask the trials of the time. One man in particular, John Champneys, endured countless hardships in order to finally breed the wonderfully heat and disease tolerant rose that Charlestonians like to call their own: the Noisette roses. Although John Champneys bred the Champneys’ Pink Cluster nearly 200 years ago, we are still enjoying its endless displays of fragrant blossoms. Noisette Roses: 19th Century Charleston’s Gift
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to the World can only be purchased for $17 at the Charleston Horticultural Society (CHS) located at 46 Windermere Blvd. (at the end of the shopping strip and across from the library). At 86-pages long, this book provides insightful historical information, pictures and current local projects that embody this rose’s history. In addition to this lovely book, the CHS seeks to inspire excellence in Lowcountry horticulture. With membership open to all, CHS has grown to more than 1,200 individual and business/organization members. CHS holds monthly lectures from September through May; publishes “The Vine”, their member newsletter, three times a year; presents distinctive garden tours; produces Plantasia, a green market for plant lovers each spring; offers the “Looking at the Layers of the Landscape” program, a history of Charleston’s horticultural and landscape traditions; grants the 1830 Award each year which honors exemplary horticultural service and creative vision in the Lowcountry, as well as other CHS educational programs and projects. For more information, please contact CHS at 843-579-9922 or visit www.charlestonhorticulturalsociety.org. Nick Strehle is a Purdue University Agronomy Major, certified irrigation contractor and EPA WaterSense Partner for Sunburst Landscaping Inc., leading Sunburst’s clients into the next generation of water management. For more information, contact Sunburst at 843-768-2434.
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February 6, 2009
CSO presents Giora Schmidt
Freshfields Art Walk and Wine Tasting Spend a relaxing evening at Freshfields Village during the annual Art Walk and Wine Tasting on Friday, February 13, from 5 to 7pm. Stroll through the Village, sip wine and discover a wide variety of art on display in participating galleries and stores. All participating stores will provide fruit, cheese and a sampling of different wines. As you wander from gallery to gallery, enjoy the jazz sounds of The Cobblestone Duo, who will perform in various locations. Participating stores: Dobbin Gallery - features artist Sandra Baggette from Port Royal, SC. She will present a new series of floral oil paintings painted just for the show. Carolina Clay Gallery - hosts several artists. The Old Rangoon - features local Kiawah Island artist Jane Iwan (exhibiting a collection of Asian scenes in oils). Photographics - features a wide selection
Council continued from page 3
resolution 2009-01, which would allow the Seabrook Island Property Owners to thin the island deer herd for the 2009 season. “Group feeding is up and deer are being seen on porches,” said a representative of the POA. “We’d like to cull another 60 or 70 deer, roughly 10% of the current population.” The herds were culled by about the same amount this past September, but the numbers are up again, and strong. The POA would like to do the culling before breeding season starts up again in the spring. The person hired to do the culling will follow all of the guidelines as stated by the required licensing, including shooting only at night with a small caliber and silencer, shooting mainly does and shooting at a downward angle. The meat from the culled deer will be processed at the POA’s expense of $200 a deer and given to local homeless shelters. The meat processer has volunteered to donate his services in making sausages out of the meat as well, instead of just grinding it for hamburger. The licensing is all in place, the POA just needed permission from the Town to use a firearm on the island. As the current Town Code allows for this exception as long as it is voted upon, the Town voted unanimously for the POA to thin deer herds through use of firearms within the Town’s jurisdiction and for that purpose only.
WHIG party meeting Resident Bill Mowat announced that the Seabrook Island WHIG party, which stands for Wind and Hail Insurance Group, will be holding a meeting at Seabrook Town Hall on February 21 from 3:30pm – 4:30pm. The meeting is open to the public and residents of both Seabrook and Kiawah are invited
of fine-art photography and original Lowcountry paintings. Come meet our visiting artists: watercolorist, Elizabeth Drozeski will be featuring new works, along with original oil paintings by Shar Duffy and Michael Cyra; and fine-art nature photography by Pam Cohen. Artizom Brennan’s The Spot - hosts artist Amelia Rose Smith (Charleston native). Ms. Smith will be on site and displaying her artwork. Green Tomato – features the work of glass engraver Christina Murphy Booth. The artist will be on site with custom engraved crystal and glass. GDC - features Becky Davis Botanicals. Custom ordering available at GDC Home. Visit www.bdbotanicals.com to check out her work. For more information, please call Freshfields Village Guest Services at 843-768-6491.
to attend. “We have two goals,” said Mowat. “We want to help educate people about what is possible with their wind and hail insurance and we hope to influence Columbia about dealing with the increasing costs of this insurance on our islands.” He noted that the WHIG group needed help communicating with their legislative friends. “There are issues that we need to draw attention to,” said Mowat. “And the only way this can be changed is through grassroots effort.”
By Emily Rybinski
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he Charleston Symphony Orchestra will feature soloist Giora Schmidt (violin) at its Merrill Lynch Masterworks Series, conducted by Maestro David Stahl, on Saturday, February 7, 2009, at 8pm in the Gaillard Auditorium, located at 77 Calhoun Street. Violinist Giora Schmidt has “an acutely focused, gleaming sound that recalls Perlman in his prime”, says The Miami Herald. Born in 1983 to professional Israeli musicians, Schmidt began playing the violin at the age of four. At 13, he met Maestro Itzhak Perlman at the Perlman Music Program and at 16 was invited by Perlman to study under him full-time at the Juilliard Pre College. Schmidt continued his studies with Perlman at the Juilliard School as well as with late violin pedagogue, Dorothy DeLay.
Visitor’s Bureau report Katie Chapman of the Charleston Visitor’s bureau reported that this year’s Be A Tourist in Your Own Town program was a huge success. A record 61 attractions and restaurants participated. And feedback from the attractions as well as pass holders has been very positive. She also noted that the Society of American Travel Writers has chosen to have the SE annual chapter meeting in Charleston this June. Members will have the opportunity to experience Seabrook as a pre-trip option. And finally, the media department is promoting value-added packages to visitors. The latest one is the “Good Neighbor, Great Getaway” package available to NC, SC, GA residents. We’ve seen great media interest in this year’s Food + Wine Festival. We’ve heard from folks like Atlanta JournalConstitution, Southern Living, Charlotte Taste magazine, Esquire and Michelin Travel Guides. The next Seabrook Town Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 24 at 2:30pm in Seabrook Town Hall.
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Photo by Chris Gordon
Schmidt was the first prize winner of Philadelphia Orchestra’s Greenfield Competition in 2000, the recipient of a 2003 Avery Fisher Career Grant, and in 2005 won the Classical Recording Foundation’s Samuel Sanders Award. When not touring, Schmidt is on the faculty of the Juilliard School and the Perlman Music Program. Don’t miss Giora Schmidt perform Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 as part of a dazzling evening of music, including Beethoven’s illustrious Symphony No. 5. Individual ticket prices range from $20 $60. Student tickets available for $5 (college students must show ID). Tickets can be purchased at the Gaillard Auditorium box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at: www.charlestonsymphony.com. (Convenience fees apply.)
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Do you know your Charleston?
ive years ago this week, I gave a speech at the Confederate Home. Back in those days, I was managing editor and one of the founding principals of the Charleston Mercury. For reasons I have never understood, titles seem to boost my IQ. Be that as it may, I have given scores of speeches to folks spanning from the National Miniature Book Club to the board members of Wachovia Bank. The one at the Home was the toughest. The crowd to whom I spoke knew Charleston intimately, much more than I. As I stood in front of them, almost paralyzed, I wondered what I could say to this room of august Charlestonians who had braved one of the nastiest days we had that winter—constant rain and highs in the low 40s—to come hear what I had to say. Suddenly, it clicked. I have said many times that old Charlestonians are not so much resentful as they are bemused by the change that is taking place both here and abroad. I began talking about the changes in Charleston, and I saw their look of curious alarm grow. I began to explain that Charleston had pretty much remained where it was for more than a 100 years. The group of Charlestonians I was
February 6, 2009
By David Farrow speaking with pretty much lived in the same city that their parents knew. I was not only the last generation to see what the people in this room saw; I was the last age group. I was born on the cusp of a paradigm shift. Today, changes that once took a generation now take two and half years. It’s scary to me because when I was 30, people still went home for dinner at 2pm. You David Farrow couldn’t buy beer on Sunday except at a bootleggers and you couldn’t buy a drink save at a Blind Tiger. Change was taking place at a rate that was expected. Little old ladies in tennis shoes still stood in front of bulldozers to block old buildings from being razed, but those ladies in tennis shoes have gone the way of the shrimp man and the vegetable ladies. I spent two years in Georgetown, SC. When I came back, I found that Charleston had changed more in those two years than it had in the 20 years I was married. Many of the people to whom I
spoke that day were gone. Countless people who lived downtown were gone – so many, in fact, that for the first time in 340 years, the peninsula has no representation on City Council. But there are other more fundamental changes as well. Na note c h nolog y – the ability to build computer chips the size of electrons – isn’t coming. It’s here. While we weren’t looking, society as a whole was being replaced by the culture. Longtime traditions are being eradicated with nothing but television and the Internet to replace them. The family unit that consisted of a father and mother and children under one roof that people my age and above grew up with has been destroyed as surely as Stalin killed the Kulaks in the 1930s. Thirty years ago, divorce was unthinkable and hard to obtain. Today, it is the norm. In 30 years, the majority of people who knew life before divorce, computers and in vitro fertilization will have passed on. My generation was still defined by the War Between the States. Then 9/11
happened. The nation was not the same as it was after the planes flew into the Pentagon, the Twin Towers and the countryside of Pennsylvania. The future isn’t coming, folks. It’s here. I thought about this as I stood in the ballroom of the Confederate Home, speaking to this crowd. How could I convey this? The group to whom I was speaking had grandparents that could remember what it was like before The Late Unpleasantness. These were people who still believed that it took four generations to breed a gentleman; it took six to breed a Charlestonian. The germ of what I wanted to say to them popped in my head as the frigid wind rustled the live oaks in Washington Park. The Confederate Home was built in 1800 as a hotel. I asked them, “What if you were a young girl dancing with your intended in this very ballroom in 1840? Could you possibly know that, 40 years later, you would be a destitute widow sitting in this very ballroom?” Change is rapid and merciless these days. What would take two generations to change 50 years ago now takes five years. The past has caught up with the future, leaving only the now. We don’t understand that: yet. We will. To comment, share a story or ask a question, please write to David@ luckydognews.sc. Check out David’s blog at http://davidfarrow.wordpress.com and see his page on Facebook.
SINHG for your “souper” By Lynda Fox
SINHG-ers enjoy the festivities.
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he Seabrook Island Natural History Group Soup Supper was a great success this year. Held on January 25, the Soup Supper is the big winter party for SINHG members and guests. SINHG Vice President Pete Hubbard was in charge of putting together the supper with the help of 30 SINHG volunteers, all of whom did a “souper” job. This year’s potluck selection was amazing, with 40 delicious soups and
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a vast array of breads, all brought in by members. SINHG members are great cooks. That’s why there are always several food field trips every semester! And, like the rest of the meal, the 25 desserts were well enjoyed. The 163 attendees thoroughly enjoyed the evening. There was only one small glitch when the PA system failed at an inopportune moment, but the SINHG-ers were undeterred in their enjoyment of the evening.
February 6, 2009
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Your Valentine’s Day Date with Mother Earth By Bri Horahan
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pend Valentine’s night, February 14, at the studio of Mary Edna Fraser on James Island from 5-11pm. Local artists Tina Christophillis and Jeff Kopish will showcase their work alongside Mary Edna Fraser’s Batik mono and oil paintings. 50 Houses on Kiawah Sand, a documentary film by Celie Dailey, will be shown at 6 and 8pm, followed by a Q&A with Nancy Vinson, Program Director for Air and Water Quality at the Coastal Conservation League. This show is a celebration of love for Mother Earth that will increase the awareness of her needs. Live music will be performed from 7-11pm by Sweetgrass, Lime and the Coconuts, ending with Howard Dlugasch’s acoustic performance. Bowens Island, the Wine Shop and Alchemy Coffee will provide roasted oysters, veggie chili, coffee and drinks. It is a paperless event to encourage green living; therefore, admission cost for the evening is $20 at the door and $15 with student ID. The studio is located at 1723 Oak Point Road,
James Island. “Delete Apathy: Promoting Environmental Activism” is the name of the show that hopes to make the public aware of the proposed development of a “spit” of land on the southern tip of Kiawah Island. Mary Edna Fraser, the show’s host and in-house artist, is also a licensed pilot, who has been watching this spit of land morph for the past 30 years from the cockpit of her grandfather’s 1940s Air Coop. She, Nancy Vinson and Dr. Orrin Pilkey have lent their voices to environmental activism for the Charleston area in the ultimate goal of preserving this land in its natural state. Visit www.coastalconservationleague. org and www.deleteapathy.com for more information on the show, or contact Mary Edna Fraser through her website www. maryedna.com.
A Labrador gets her wings
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By Melissa Gray
www.islandconnection.sc
Photos by Ashley Anderson
Mabel and Melissa Gray, WHLR Board Member and founder of Daisy’s Place. Mabel is helped off the airplane in Charleston by co-pilot Dale James then poses with Dale, glad to be on solid ground.
ild Heir Labrador Rescue (WHLR) and Pilots N Paws teamed up to bring a 10 year old black Labrador Retriever, Mabel, from a shelter in Knoxville, TN, to a safe and loving foster home in Charleston. Mabel was flown from Knoxville to Atlanta by one volunteer pilot and was then transported by another pilot from Atlanta to the Johns Island airport, where she was greeted by WHLR volunteers. Pilots N Paws is an all volunteer organization, made up of pilots who donate their time, airplanes and fuel to fly animals across the country to safe havens and rescue organizations. WHLR recently launched Daisy’s Place, an organization dedicated to saving and finding loving homes for Labs and Lab mixes six years of age and older. With the crumbling economy, shelters across the country are becoming more over crowded with each passing day. Most older dogs never even make it to the adoption floor. If they are not taken into a rescue, they are euthanized simply because of their age. Mabel is currently available for adoption through WHLR/ Daisy’s Place. If she does not find her forever home, Mabel will spend the rest of her golden years being cared for by WHLR and a loving foster family. For more information on how you can adopt Mabel or other WHLR Labs, visit www.wildheirlabradorrescue.org.
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February 6, 2009
Morning fog
Never-too-much-chocolate brownie cake
By Eric Horan
M
y friend Doug Gardner and I passed through the Sea Pines Plantation gate on Hilton Head just before sun up this spring morning. We were headed to Lake Mary in the Forest Preserve to photograph wading birds. They spend long hours, days even, gathering nesting materials and preparing for their chicks to arrive. In another month, the island will be filled with hundreds of birds, tending to their clutch of chicks full time. But this trip, we were intent on photographing their nest building. The rookery in the Forest Preserve used to be on a small island in the middle of Lake Mary. For a few months each spring it served as home to egrets, herons and ibis. We launched our kayaks into the glass-smooth water in a heavy fog, counting on the fog lifting with the sunrise. The fog did eventually lift; but while waiting, I got this nice image of my friend paddling. Eric Horan publishes a calendar of his work every year and his columns discuss the picture for each month. You can view and/or purchase his 2009 calendar at www.southernlight. biz. Photo tip: With each situation you encounter outdoors, plan your gear and how you want to approach your subject. You need to pay close attention to the weather, light direction and quality for the time you will be out. When in coastal waters, study the tides. (Check with local papers, tourist guides or my annual wall calendar Lowcountry 2009, South Carolina.) Once in the field, remain open to the unexpected. Your spontaneity can bring new opportunities. In our case, we could have sat in our boats, grumbling while waiting for the sun to burn through the fog. Instead, we managed to capture some nice kayaking shots. Extra precaution should be used when shooting birds on the nest and extreme care taken when they have chicks. You do not want to scare birds off their nests or worse, startle young chicks to flee the nest prematurely. The chances for their survival would not be good. The local waters are full of alligators with others predators on land such as raccoon, fox and bobcat, waiting for such a mishap. With nesting birds, it’s best to use a photo blind or position yourself with a long lens far enough away to prevent disturbing any natural behavior.
Ingredients: 1 (18.25 ounce) package devil’s food cake mix 1 (3.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix 4 eggs 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup water 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 in Bundt pan. Have all ingredients at room temperature. In a large bowl, stir together cake mix and pudding mix. Make a well in the center and pour in eggs, sour cream, oil and water. Beat on low speed until blended. Scrape bowl, and beat four minutes on medium speed. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool. In the dark about chocolate If you’re having some trouble telling the difference between all the baking chocolate on the shelf, check out this quick reference guide: Unsweetened (chocolate liquor): Made with about 50 percent cocoa butter, this is pure, unadulterated chocolate. Use it in cooking and baking, but don’t bother eating it straight. Bittersweet: Made by adding cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla to chocolate liquor. Bittersweet chocolate has a dark, rich taste. Use it in baking. Semisweet: This variety is made the same way as bittersweet, but with more sugar. A classic for chocolate chip cookies. Milk chocolate: Sweet and creamy, this chocolate is made with milk solids, which give it its light color. For some people, milk chocolate is a clear winner over dark. White chocolate: Because it’s made with cocoa butter and not chocolate liquor, white chocolate isn’t strictly chocolate. Use it in baking, but don’t expect a chocolatey taste-it’s sweet and mild. Source: allrecipes.com
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February 6, 2009
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Red-Tailed Hawk
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By Sarah Dargan Harper
he Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is our most common hawk and perhaps the most easily recognizable, with its large, stocky body and conspicuous tail. They are found as far north as Alaska and their range extends south to Panama. They feed mostly on small mammals, but will occasionally feed on snakes, birds, rabbits and perhaps the neighborhood Chihuahua (or Yorkie). But don’t pull out your bb gun just yet: these birds are protected by federal law. The handsome Buteo in my photograph is a juvenile. He (or she) has somewhat lighter plumage, a brown striped tail and lighter irises. Be careful not to confuse a Red-Tailed Hawk with a Red-Shouldered Hawk, which is slightly smaller, more evenly streaked, and lacks the speckled breast band of the Red-Tailed Hawk. You may recall the raspy, screeching call of the Bald Eagle often heard in movies and TV shows. These are actually recordings
of Red-Tailed Hawk vocalizations which have been inserted to make the Bald Eagle sound more appealing (or perhaps more intimidating or powerful?). In reality, the call of the Bald Eagle is a faint chirping which sounds more like a whistle. So next time you are driving around the islands, keep an eye out for this beautiful bird. In the last couple of weeks, I have seen a Kestrel, a Merlin, ospreys, Red-Shouldered and Red-Tailed Hawks on the Sullivan’s Island causeway. I’ve also spotted a Cooper’s Hawk and a Sha r p - Sh i n ned Hawk while driving down Middle Street. It’s a miracle I haven’t caused a head-on collision… Sarah Dargan Harper is a Sullivan’s Island resident, an avid bird watcher and a passionate bird care advocate. If you have any questions or need help with bird identification, you can contact Sarah at
[email protected]. Photo by Sarah Dargan Harper
Communication: words vs. meaning
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BY Dwight S. Ives, MA, MA, LUTCF
eople communicate according to interpretations of information gathered after passing thru their prism of cultural differences. Words are the vehicles by which this is achieved. But, cultural interpretation can skew them with humorous results. Consider the following: Before entering graduate school, I sought adventure, experience, and a job. A position as an instructor/political consultant with the National College Republican Committee under the Chairmanship of the now infamous Jack Abramoff, was offered to me. What a perfect job! I was touring the US while participating in politics on a grand scale and serving my hero, Ronald Reagan, as a “Youth for Reagan” representative in major colleges and universities. My humorous offbeat campaign strategies for fictitious candidates caught Jack’s attention early on. I was assigned to the mid-west team under the leadership of Paul “Pablo” Ulman. As we both possessed warped senses of humor and arrived from opposite coasts, we hit it off famously from the start. But early on, we realized that Jack was less than candid about the touted “rewards” for outstanding service that he openly dangled in front of us. Paul sent me on special assignment to Rapid City, South Dakota, to greet the visiting Secretary of the Interior James Watt, who was “in trouble” with President and Mrs. Reagan for his remark discounting the Beach Boys as popular icons. The Reagans made it ultimately clear that they were devoted fans of the group, much to the chagrin of Watt. While on assignment, I visited a local college. Upon leaving one of the buildings, I was approached by a well-dressed young Asian man who was obviously taking a survey. I heard him say, “Do you believe in youth in Asia?” “Yes, of course!” I emphatically replied. His eyes widened as if I had caught him off guard. He then sought my statistical data for his research. This was curious to me until I realized later that he was actually asking if I believed in “euthanasia”! A few months after my completion of double master’s degrees, I was recruited by a southeastern regional insurance company with the stipulation of promotion within three years or less. Months later, Hurricane Hugo hit. Sales soared. Each customer had a story. One woman related the misfortunes of her family, including her brotherin-law, who had his leg “split open clear up to his crutch” and a brother who “died of cancer of the lung and phosphate gland.” The devastation of Hugo spread claims adjusters thin and they were desperately overworked. I was sent as an assistant to relieve the pressure. Most policyholders could communicate effectively, but others had their own way of describing events. Several people reported that their “screamed in porch” needed repair, while others thought they should be paid twice under the claim of “double ‘dimity” since Hugo was an accident. One woman said that the “chastity” of her car was bent and needed repair. One sweet older lady insisted that her house flooded. I was required to point out that her house was not covered for flood. She still insisted until I asked the rhetorical question, “Did water come into the house thru the hole in the roof?” which was covered by the policy. Instantly she responded, “Yes, suh…yes, suh! You is right, it flooded from the roof!” She was very glad that she had made the last premium payment so that the policy did not collapse on top of her. As scheduled, and less than three years later, I was promoted to management. My duties included auditing, recruiting, instructing, and problem solving. A lady living near Honey Hill was frantic since she had received a refund check that said she was over age. She did not want to loose the policy and sought help. I was dispatched by the District Manager to her. I made a 100 mile round trip to her house to find out that, much to her relief, she was not “over age”; the check clearly stated that she was receiving $1.20 for “overage” on her account. She had paid too much.
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