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PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON SC PERMIT NO 437

Volume 2 Issue 23

March 6, 2009

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PHOTO BY Jim Chitwood

Kiawah’s native iris By Sophia McAllister

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ne of the many pleasures of springtime in the Lowcountry is the sight of an expanse of bright blue or purple flowers with yellow and white accents, overflowing with spiky green foliage. Iris virginica, aptly called the Southern Blue Flag Iris, is a wetland species native to coastal plains from Virginia to Florida and west to eastern Texas. The Blue Flag returns year after year along streams, in ditches, sparse woods, and meadows where there is full sun or partial shade and moist soil. In ideal conditions, it will grow to four feet. Normal height is one to three feet tall. The plant grows from rhizomes that spread underground and form thick, strong mats that help stabilize edges around a variety of bodies of water, both fresh and brackish. The leaves shoot up from the base in a fan and are flat and pointed in the shape of a sword. Southern Blue Flag can be naturalized in the home garden if given the proper environment: plenty of sun and rich, moist soil. It is a perfect plant for the border of a marsh or lagoon, and it can be used to good effect in a water garden with other native wildflowers. The root of the Blue Flag is toxic if ingested without proper preparation; however, Native-American tribes of the Southeast used it extensively for medicinal purposes, including skin and liver ailments and shock after alligator bite. References: SC Native Plant Society: www. scnps.org, US Dept of Agriculture Plant Database: www.plants.usda.gov.

Blue Flag facts: • • • • • •

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Flowers from May to July.  Although the seed is large and kernellike, there is no documentation of wildlife consumption. Iris versicolor is the northern version of the Blue Flag Iris. Iris is Greek for “rainbow”. The name “Blue Flag” comes from its flower color and the old word for Iris. Other common names include: American Blue Flag, Dagger Flower, Dragon Flower, Flag Lily, Harlequin Blueflag, Liver Lily, Poison Flag, Snake Lily, Water Flag, Water Iris. The species has been implicated in several poisoning cases of humans and animals who consumed the rhizomes, which have been found to contain a glycoside, iridin. The sap can cause dermatitis in susceptible individuals Plant with other native wildflowers like Marsh Milkweed, False aster, Cardinal Flower, Blue Lobelia, Bunchflower Lily, Foxglove Beard Tongue, Sweet Black-eyed Susan, and Orange Coneflower. PHOTO BY Pamela Cohen

I n s id e

page 5 SIPOA

t h e

I sl a nd

Con nection. . .

page 10 Seabrook Art

page 12 all seasons

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March 6, 2009

Seabrook Town Council – February 24, 2009

Financials “One month doesn’t tell you much,” reported Mayor McNulty as he read through the Town financials for the month of January. Revenues were $77,241.45, which is a positive variance from the budget of $55,272.34. “But so much of it is a matter of timing that it doesn’t mean much,” McNulty explained. “We expected a fall off in

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] Chelsea Langan Advertising [email protected] Interns Jennifer Millar Bridget Hinkebein Bri Horahan Ashley Anderson Evans Craddock Contributors Chris Brooks Ann Cleveland David Farrow Lynda Fox Olivia French Dwight Ives Tom Kulick Christa Lewis Sophia McAllister Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS Future deadlines: March 11 for submissions.

business licenses, but they seem to be okay so far.” Expenses for the month were $23,660.12, $15,639.15 less than budgeted, leaving the Town with a total of $53,581.33 in excess of revenues over expenditures; a number comparable to this same time last year, which came in at $55,940.24. “What’s a little scary is when you look at the income from the investment pool,” said the Mayor. The Town had budgeted an income of $2,412.24, about half of what they received last year at this same time, but only received $898.14. “We could put the money under Joe’s mattress and get more interest than that,” the Mayor joked. However, the Council is staying positive and Town Administrator Randy Pierce noted that home remodeling has gone up compared to previous years. However, new construction has dropped significantly, with only half the number of houses being built in 2008 compared to 2007, and the last permit for new construction was applied for in November of last year. “We’ll just have to track this as we go along,” said the Mayor. Comprehensive Plan progressing nicely Jerry Cumming reported that the new chapters of the Comprehensive Plan were coming along nicely and would be on time for a “timely filing”. “If we finish in April, we’ll have a full month to review all nine sections,” said Town Administrator Peirce. Luckily, the Plan is not a “major book” and not a whole lot has changed on Seabrook since

Hard driven road Councilman Holtz, Chair for the External Affairs Committee, reported that the Johns Island Town Council holds a meeting to discuss potential solutions to the road problems on Johns Island before each monthly meeting, “But nothing’s happening, nothing’s coming out of it,” said Holtz. “They need more meat on the bones of the statement ‘Fix Our Roads First’. I’m pushing politely at the meetings for a plan, but so far, nothing concrete.” Mayor McNulty noted that he and Mayor Wert of Kiawah were called by the Urban Land Institute to speak at their recent panel hearing on Maybank’s development, but were told that they were only there to discuss Maybank, and no other project. “I told them that we can’t look at this in a vacuum,” said the Mayor. Holtz agreed, stating that ULI worked hard on their solution, but they didn’t look at the network.

What’s a Fourth of July without fireworks? The POA has completed their budget for the year and one of the items cut was the fireworks on the Fourth of July. “They came to me and asked if we could do it,” said the Mayor. “I think it’s okay for the Town to do the fireworks.” After speaking with Town attorney Steve Brown, the Mayor found that they could pay for the fireworks as long as the event was open to all Seabrook residents, including the ones who live at Bohicket Marina. “If the POA won’t let them through the gate, though, we can’t pay for it,” Mayor McNulty noted. “But it’s my feeling that we’re a municipality, and municipalities have fireworks. This is the type of thing the POA won’t pick up again, and if we can do it legally, we should step up and do it.” Council agreed unanimously to pay the $7,500 for fireworks on the Fourth of July as long as all residents of Seabrook Island were able to attend. UnCERTain future Although CERT voted to disband their corporation in order to be insured individually through the Town, they hit a snag when they found that, by law, they couldn’t keep their assets: they would have to be distributed to a similar non-profit organization or municipality. “So the assets will have to go to someone else,” said Mayor McNulty, “or back to us. Last month, Council continued on page 3

Correction: The Kiawah Conservancy and Heron Park Nature Center As a clarification from the article “Island wide recycling” in Volume 2 Issue 22 of The Island Connection, it needs to be pointed out that The Kiawah Conservancy and the Heron Park Nature Center are separate entities.  The Heron Park Nature Center is run by the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, which runs several nature programs and has many naturalists on staff to speak with property owners and guests alike.  The Kiawah Conservancy is a non-profit “Land Trust” that is dedicated to the preservation of natural flora and fauna on Kiawah Island and its environs.  Recycling of varied materials, including fluorescent bulbs, can be dropped off at the Heron Park Nature Center or specific materials (paper, aluminum, glass...) can be placed in the labeled recycling dumpsters on Sora Rail Road.  The Kiawah Conservancy is located at 80 Kestrel Court on Kiawah Island.

Civic Calendar Monday, March 9

Wednesday, April 1

St. Johns Fire District Commission 7pm, St. Johns Commission Building 3327 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island.

Seabrook Island Planning Commission – work session All Planning Commission meetings will be held at 2:30pm at the Town Hall unless noted otherwise on the Town bulletin board.

Wednesday, March 11 Seabrook Island Planning Commission All Planning Commission meetings will be held at 2:30pm at the Town Hall unless noted otherwise on the Town bulletin board.

Monday, March 16 Kiawah Island Board of Zoning Appeals 4-5pm, Town Hall Council Chambers.

Tuesday, March 24 Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC Publishers of Island Eye News, The Island Connection and The Folly Current.

the last Plan was drawn up ten years ago. Seven out of the nine sections are already complete and Peirce noted that they were pretty well into the eighth section already. “Are we still going to hold a public hearing?” Asked the Mayor, referencing discussions earlier last year which involved public hearings as part of the Comprehensive Plan’s approval. “Yes,” said Peirce, “Once all the sections are done and reviewed, we’ll do something through the POA and the Seabrooker.”

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.

Thursday, April 2 Johns Island Council Meeting 7pm – 8pm, Berkeley Electric Co-Op on Maybank Rd. Kiawah Island Arts Council 3pm - 5pm Town Hall - 2nd Floor Conference Rm.

Monday, April 6 Kiawah Island Environmental Committee 3pm - 5pm Town Hall - 2nd Floor Conference Rm

www.islandconnection.sc

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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March 6, 2009 Council continued from page 2

we said we didn’t want that equipment back, but it seems more and more that with each step, the Town gets more involved in CERT than anyone intended it too.” McNulty explained that when CERT was started, everyone agreed it was a good idea as long as the volunteers were not attached to the Town. “I felt it should stay that way, so I met with some CERT people [John Thompson and Ron Bourne], and told them that as far as I was concerned, they should get their own insurance,” said the Mayor. “They can always come to the Town and ask for a donation for CERT and if the Town decides to donate money to them, that would help cover the cost of insurance. I can’t make any promise that the Town will pay the insurance, though.” Peirce stated that he spoke with John Thompson, who agreed that the idea of getting their own insurance and asking the Town for donations from time to time would be fine. McNulty also pointed out that CERT could use the $5,000 some odd dollars left in their account to pay for their first year’s insurance. “The [CERT] board met and dissolved the non-profit,” Councilman Savin, a former member of CERT, stated. “And as far as I know, your meeting has not been communicated to the board of CERT and the agreement has not been approved.” “It’s up to them, if they want to do it,” said the Mayor. “I think what happened is that no one realized that the assets would have to go back to the municipality. The board decided to dissolve the corporation, but when they found they didn’t have carte blanche to do what they wanted with the equipment, that triggered the problem that took place after the board meetings. So as far as I’m concerned, it’s in their court. They can keep the corporation as it is and come to the Town for donations.” Councilman Savin, however, argued that the problem was, and still is, that if they remain a not-for-profit, the volunteers will become personally liable for insurance situations. “They can be insured, but someone could sue them collectively and individually. With the Town’s insurance, only the Town would be liable, but this way, there’s a double liability if you are a member of the corporation.” “But we can’t put them under our policy as a corporation,” explained the Mayor. “That was part of the problem. The corporation was dissolved so we could insure them individually.” Savin argued back that if the corporation remained a not-for-profit, they would still be individually liable. “Why doesn’t the town want CERT?” Savin asked. “The Town doesn’t want the responsibility for CERT,” the Mayor replied. “I wasn’t too happy with that [the individual insurance through the Town] to start with, but Steve [Brown, Town attorney] said it was okay.” The sticking point was when the Town would have had to take responsibility for CERT’s equipment, which more or less would have made them a committee of the Town, “and

it was never planned that way,” said McNulty.” If it had been proposed that way in the first place, the Town would have said no. There’s some point where we have to say no. You guys have to get your own insurance.” Ideally, the Mayor explained, the corporation would solve their insurance problem and would be able to stay the way they are. “I’m not saying their not valuable, they are. But if there is a disaster on Seabrook, it’s going to be all of Johns Island and how many firemen do we have? By the time the fire department gets here, and God knows how long that will be, we’ll need them and that’s how CERT fits in. They’re the first ones in and will get things done before the fire department gets here. But they’re here to assist the fire department.” “Strange way to look at a safety organization by Council,” said Savin. The Mayor offered that Savin could propose that CERT be made a part of the Town, though he remarked that “I don’t feel it should be, and I don’t think Council felt that way in the first place.” Savin replied that Council seems to be out of touch with what’s going on in the country in term of preparing for disaster. “As it stands now, there is a Citizen’s Reserve Corp, CERT and the Lowcountry Medical Reserve Corp, all prepared to respond to disaster.” However, he made the motion, which was not seconded and failed. Work beginning at Royal Pine In the midst of the CERT discussion, Joe Hall gave a quick report on the repair work on the repair work at the number one pump at Royal Pine. “Last month I sent in a written report and I lied,” he apologized. “Three days after I turned it in, we found that the new control cabinet had not yet arrived from the manufacturer.” Since the contractor must have all materials on site before beginning work on the pump, the project was delayed by the cabinet manufacturer until the cabinet arrived on the 15th. “Work has now begun,” Hall assured Council. Hall also reported that the Utility Commission was taking steps to protect their customers from identity theft and would be discussing plans at their next meeting, which was held the day after Seabrook Town Council. “It should be fairly simple since we don’t take credit or debit cards and that’s 90% of theft,” said Hall, but the process might require

an approval from the Town. He noted that he would send the information to Council as soon as he found out. Councilman Holtz asked Hall what would happen with the Town’s water and sewer in case of a disaster/ emergency, and Hall replied that, in the event of a disaster, all the water, electricity and sewer would be turned off and would not be turned back on until all the circuits were checked. However, the process of checking, which would normally have taken several months, has been greatly improved by new technology and building materials so that the Town could potentially be “back online” after a full tidal surge in roughly three weeks. “My best guess, though, is that if there is a major disaster, it would be about three months before people would be allowed back on the island and for everything to be back online,” said Hall. Rumple strips Town Administrator Peirce reported that he had found potential rumple strips for the crosswalk at Bohicket Marina. It would be a series of five strips, each strip four inches wide and ¼ an inch tall, spaced out over four feet. “The vibration would let drivers know that something was coming up,” said Peirce, “and the first thing they would see is a sign that says ‘Pedestrian Crossing 500 ft.’.” The strips would be placed in both directions, both going on to and coming off of the island. Peirce also noted that this was the least aggressive way to let drivers know that they were coming into a certain area. Councilman Holtz noted that he would

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like to test the strips before agreeing to install them, jokingly remarking that, “If my car can handle it, anyone’s can.” Peirce said that he had requested a location of an example and would notify the Councilmen once one was found in the area. Disaster Awareness Day Piece also asked if the Town would again be contributing $1,500 to the Disaster Awareness Day which was held jointly with Kiawah Island last year. The Mayor asked that Peirce find out from Kiawah if anyone from Seabrook had attended the festival last year before committing to this year’s contribution. Master list of Town entities’ evacuation plans Mayor McNulty noted that it bothered him that all of Seabrook Island’s entities’ evacuation plans are not in one place. “We need a Town plan that incorporates all of these plans,” he said. In the event of an emergency, the Mayor would become the director for the Town and would have to make sure that all evacuation plans took place. Councilman Holtz remarked that what bothered him was the lack of implementation. “We don’t have the staff for it,” he said. Savin replied that this issue was what CERT was started for. ”They’re very dedicated and very honest,” said Holtz, “but I don’t think they [CERT] could do much.” Mayor McNulty agreed, stating that all CERT could do is help the fire department. Councilman Savin Council continued on page 5

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Your voice

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Island Editorials

bout a year ago, some wag in a letter to the editor in another publication claimed that Charleston had become a commodity, not a community. While that might be true on the peninsula, different communities are striving to retain and, in many cases, redefine their neighborhoods. The aim of these pages is to help you, the residents, voice your opinions on where you feel your community needs to go. We recognize that these are scary times, but these times are no more terrifying than any other. The toothpaste is out of the tube, but now we know where it is. We just need to agree on how to clean it up. That’s where these pages come in. The folks at Lucky Dog are curious to see what your solutions to the problems might be. More importantly, what do you think the problems are? We suspect that as time goes on, the concerns of Sullivan’s Island will be those of Seabrook Island, and they will only grow greater over time.

What you will find is fact clothed as opinion – not the other way around. We hold true to the proposition that those who are willing to give up liberty for security will achieve neither. Your liberty is the ability to speak out about your concerns without fear of being censored. The fact that this paper reaches many of the areas not especially covered by other, larger concerns is an opportunity to let voices reign, where elsewhere they are just chatter. Things are going to happen in the world, the state and the county that will affect the lives of everyone reading these words. Will you agree with everything you read? Lord, we hope not. The only way to examine issues is to hear all sides, then make your decision. What we need is your input, your opinion – your voice. Many of you are not native to these shores, many of you are. The influx of population in the last ten years has altered the Sea Islands and surrounding areas in ways unimagined before Hurricane Hugo.

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complained of “Roaring late night traffic, drunken behaviors such as property trespass and home invasion; as well as alcohol fueled arguments, public littering, defecation, fornication and urination” on and around nearby private property. Presson also referenced an email he had sent out, asking a portion of the island how they felt about the proposed suggestions: according to Presson, 32 people agreed with the idea while 26 were against it. As Presson stated himself, it was not the landslide he had hoped for either way. Though not a public meeting, Mayor Smith invited comments at the end of the Committee’s presentation. The first to speak was Judge Steven Steinert, who suggested that everyone “relax” a bit and work on enforcing our current ordinances. He wondered why Council was approving three more outdoor dining areas that “will surely increase the noise” in the business district.

Letter to the editor...

Dear David, I really enjoy reading your article in the Island Connection. You have a wonderful way of expressing thoughts that have surfaced so many times in my mind and I suspect in others. My husband and I are new to the Charleston area, but we have grown quickly to love its history and we enjoy the total immersion whenever we get the chance. Sorry we missed your tours. Looking forward to the next David Farrow column! Our best, Mary and Ben Zamara

The 21st Century crept up on the Lowcountry as the 20th snuck by. There is a sense of separation from one community to the other as various new alliances rise and fall. The conventional wisdom is that we are knocking on the door of 1929 and the Great Depression: we could be. On the other hand, we could be facing events more daunting than those of Charleston harbor in April of 1861. A community is not the culture, not society. It is your neighbors. It is people willing to help clean up after a storm or disaster. It is a special relationship that conveys from the bad times to the good. It is not something that could be sold for all the tea in China. It is not, nor has it ever been, a commodity. Let us hear from you. To quote Abraham Lincoln, “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.”

Kiawah & Seabrook: Oh, the roads

Sullivan’s & IOP: Silent Island

n Thursday, February 26, a select committee met at the Sullivan’s Island municipal center in front of an overflowing crowd to discuss the island’s proposed noise ordinance regulations; in particular, a suggestion that “the town consider stopping amplified music at 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends”. Mayor Smith opened the meeting by explaining the origins of the ordinance, and then gave the floor to committee representative Councilman Presson.  Presson stated that he has, and will be, keeping a close eye on the growing business district. “The business district has changed dramatically over the last few years. We have to stay on top of it,” said Presson. He stated that the proposed ordinance would help to prevent the business district from infringing on the neighborhoods and surrounding residences. One neighborhood group calling itself ‘Quiet Island’

March 6, 2009

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t’s like the fourth stroke of the wheels on a locomotive: Fix our roads first, fix our roads first. You hear it so often that it has become a part of the natural background of life on the islands: a bothersome part, but there nonetheless. But it’s true. The roads do need to be fixed, and with the country’s current financial situation, it seems to be the only way to immediately help Johns Island’s slowly deteriorating infrastructure. Dr. Paul Roberts of Kiawah Island has pointed out several relatively small, inexpensive projects around the islands that, with a little TLC, could provide smoother traffic flow and increased safety across the board. As the wars between Cross Island Parkway supporters and new road

naysayers continue, everyone more or less agrees that we need to fix the roads in existence. Why not get behind these smaller initiatives first and tackle the bigger projects as we go? Given time, even the most outrageous ideas are shaped by those it would affect. The Cross Island Parkway has evolved significantly since it was first proposed in 1988. Originally almost a superhighway in concept, the Cross Island has morphed through time and influence into a two-lane, limited access, ground level throughway with discussions underway to place it within a conservation zone, so that it would always run through conserved, protected land. But first things first: let’s see what we can do about these unsafe roads.

Folly Beach: Much ado

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he Folly Beach City Council recently passed second reading of a noise ordinance for the City. It will replace an old ordinance that wasn’t working. The problem is that noise ordinances rarely work. That’s because the very concept of noise is relative to the person hearing it. It’s impossible to legislate relativity on any consistent basis. The idea is well meaning, but it’s an issue that should be resolved with neighborly inquisition and common sense. Ironically, Council member Eddie Ellis unknowingly pointed this out himself while trying to support it. According to the ordinance, loud lawn equipment is not allowed to run between 11pm and 7am in the interest of peace

www.islandconnection.sc

and quiet. When it was suggested that the time should be moved back to 8am or 9am, Ellis pointed out that a line had to be drawn somewhere. He said a person who was upset with noise at 7am could resolve the issue themselves with their neighbor. Legislation has to be focused. When you start considering specific groups, legislation will never be fair because it will always be exclusive. This is supposed to be about “preserving the public health, peace, welfare and good order” of our environment. What force of nature prevents us from using common sense before 7am? Let’s take Ellis’ own advice, give ourselves some credit, and take care of things ourselves.

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March 6, 2009

SINHG travels back in time by Lynda Fox

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n two recent Seabrook Island Natural History Group trips, participants traveled back in time. The Basket Making with Longleaf Pine trip was with Caw Caw Interpretive Center instructor Thomas Thornton. It included a discussion of the historical uses and decline of longleaf pine forests. Participants coiled and wove pine needles to begin making baskets and most looked forward to completing their projects at home. When finished, the baskets will be beautiful and useful one-of-a-kind works of art. Before construction logging began around the Lowcounty, longleaf pine forests were plentiful. Baskets made from the needles were both utilitarian and decorative. The other journey back in time was the Revolutionary War Lowcountry Tour. The guide, David Reuwer, is a Revolutionary War historian and editor of American Revolution magazine. He helped participants imagine that they were enlisting in the militia to stop the Redcoat invasion of Charles Town in the 1770s. He helped them understand the British occupation of Charles Town and South Carolina in the 1780s. Participants traveled by bus, and by imagination, to the Battles of Sullivan’s Island, Breach Inlet, Stono Ferry, Parker’s Ferry, Jacksonborough, Wappetaw, and the Seige of Charles Town.

A look into Seabrook life

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he Seabrook Island Property Owners Association held their annual community meeting at Charleston Collegiate on Saturday, February 21, as part of a weekend-long look into Seabrook life. The SIPOA meeting was followed by the Seabrook Island Annual Club meeting and was preceded by a Newcomers mixer on Friday, February 20, in the Deveaux Room at the Island House. During the weekend, Seabrookers were invited to peruse the artwork of local artists at the 22nd Annual Seabrook Arts and Crafts Show at the POA Community Center. There were five tables at the POA meeting for people to peruse during breaks: The Seabrook Property Owners Association (SIPOA), Earth Days, the Seabrook Island Natural History Group (SINHG), the Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy (SIGSC), and the Wind and Hail Insurance Group (WHIG). One of the most popular tables this year was the Earth Days display, with information on all of the events being planned for the four day celebration in late April. The table was manned by event coordinators Linda Sivert, Linda Mesaros, and Patti Romano. Other tables provided great information on the many activities available to islanders, as well as needed information for those new to living on a barrier island. PHOTO BY Lynda Fox

Revolutionary War Lowcountry Tour participants at Fort Johnson.

Seabrook Island Natural History Group’s display table.

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Council continued from page 2

argued with Holtz, stating that he had never been to a CERT meeting. “When things happen, we’re left with what we have,” he pointed out. He then stated to the Mayor that he had attempted to coordinate an all-island-entities evacuation plan, “but met a touch of resistance”. He remarked that although he had been appointed the Chairman of the Public Safety committee, Pierce had scheduled meetings with island entities addressing island-wide evacuation without notifying Savin.

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”Whether you like it or not, that’s it,” said Savin. Peirce did not reply to Savin’s statements, but did note that all of the island’s evacuation plans had been received and approved by Charleston County. Charleston Visitor’s Bureau Katie Chapman of the CVB reported that the Food and Wine festival was quickly approaching and would take place March 5 – 8, with the culinary village and wine tasting tents in Marion Square being one of the main attractions.

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Seabrook Earth Days schedule

Wednesday, April 22: Recycling Day 8:30am: Refreshments. 9am: Welcome Ceremony with Earth Days Proclamation by Mayor McNulty. 9:15am: Event signup: free home energy audits by Berkeley Electric. 9:15am: Recycling displays all day with giveaway fluorescent light bulbs donated by Berkeley Electric. 9:15am: Green displays including solar panels and recycling. 9:30am – 11:30am: Speaker Program includes a corn mug give away, with mugs donated by Linda Mesaros; Jenny Bloom of Charleston County Recycling Center (how the recycling center operates, and uses of recycled materials); Jill Cain of Habitat for Humanity (deconstruction program to save money and reuse materials) and Ben Lee of the Sustainability Institute (using resources in the home more efficiently). 1:30pm: Refreshments. 2pm: Keynote presentation: South Carolina’s Coastal Hammock Islands – Oases in the Saltmarsh. Join DNR wildlife biologist Billy McCord on a beautiful educational photographic voyage. Event Sponsor: Seabrook Island Natural History Group (SINHG). Giveaways: Earth Days logo bamboo caps for the first 80 participants. Free raffle tickets for a SINHG trip of your choice for two.

Thursday, April 23: Alternative Transportation Day 9am: Refreshments. 9am: * Bicycle Ride: Bicycling isn’t just Fun and Exercise; It’s Also Transportation. Event Sponsors are providing gifts and discounts for participants in this 4.6 mile scenic ride. The ride starts at Freshfields Village, with $5 gift certificates for any shop for the first 50 participants, followed by a visit to Newton Farms and receive a coupon for one free reusable grocery bag, valid for day of event. Next, drop by Java Java and get a coupon for 20% off any drink, valid for day of event. Ladles is the next stop, with $5 gift certificates for four participants, randomly selected; then SeaCoast Sports, which is offering coupons for 20% off bike accessories, valid for day of event. Finally, join SINHG for free raffle tickets for a SINHG trip of your choice for two. 10am: Seabrook Great MPG Rally: Sign up and enter your vehicle to compete in a 25 mile rally for bragging rights to “highest miles per gallon” (four categories of vehicles, observing speed limits) Giveaways: four gas cards for $25 each. 10am: Alternative Transportation – Energy Efficient Vehicles: literature and displays. 10:30am: * Bicycle Tune-ups (safety check, greasing, etc.). Event Sponsor: Mike at Atlantic Bike will tune up your bike for $20 (regularly $25) by appointment only – signups start at SIPOA.org on February 27. 1pm – 3pm: * Birding and Ecology: A Walk on the Beach, Boardwalk, and Six Ladies Trail. Join trail guides Carl Helms (a biologist and birder), Don Smith

(a landscaper and naturalist), and Jim Gearhart (a landscaper and naturalist); Giveaway: free raffle tickets for SINHG trip for two. Note: Meet at the POA Community Center & Pool parking lot. Friday, April 24: Exploration Day 9am – 11am: * Reptile Ramble. Join Carlos Estol (a reptile biologist), Don Smith (a landscaper and naturalist), and Jim Gearhart (a landscaper and naturalist) on a trek along Hidden Oaks Nature Trail and Camp St. Christopher Trails; Giveaway: free raffle tickets for SINHG trip for two. Note: Meet at Hidden Oaks trailhead on Hidden Oak Road. 1pm – 3pm: * Afternoon Beach Exploration with marine biologist Tom Fox. Giveaway: free raffle tickets for a SINHG trip of your choice for two. Note: Meet at the POA Community Center and pool parking lot. 2pm: * Horizon Plan Site Tour (exterior) of Palmetto Lake, led by Jeff Bostock. Giveaway: reusable Earth Days logo shopping bags. Note: meet at the Racquet Club parking lot. 3:30pm: * Horizon Plan Site Tour (exterior) of Island House – led by Chuck Fox. Giveaway: reusable Earth Days logo shopping bags. Note: meet at the Island House site. Saturday, April 25: Flora and Fauna Day 9am – 1pm: * Kids’ Program: Bring your adults, too! Enjoy refreshments, wildlife friends from the SC Aquarium (turtles, frogs, then a gator later!), critter crafts from cool things we throw away, Recycling Olympics, and lively wildlife

Healthy homes are essential

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By Chris Brooks

he Rural Mission staff and our dedicated volunteers daily witness, the despair and hopelessness in the faces of rural Sea Island residents who are living in severely substandard homes. They see what it does to the lives of people to whom such poverty seems inescapable. This is especially difficult for elderly citizens and for children. The occupants of these unsafe, unhealthy homes are at serious risk of illness, accidents, fire and mental depression. A healthy and safe start for any child must begin with a decent, secure and nurturing home; the foundation of family stability and opportunity. Elderly residents need a safe and warm home, free from the risks of accidents. Like everyone else, they wish to stay in their homes and familiar surroundings if at all possible, provided that their home is safe and healthy. The Rural Mission has sought for 40 years to give these individuals a better chance at life and a decent place to live. The Rural Mission is now partnering with Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Inc. and others to start making progress in correcting this problem; one family and one household at a time. The Mission is placing a new emphasis upon not only providing a decent and adequate home for very low income families, migrants, the elderly and children, but also a safe and

healthy home. The Mission has 40 years of experience in repairing and rehabilitating homes that are often simply unlivable prior to the giving of our volunteers and our staff. As we seek to repair/rehab a home, the Mission will be looking to remove mold and fungus, infestations, water damage, improper sanitation and questionable drinking water systems. We will be winterizing, adding insulation, repairing windows and holes in the walls and floors. Leaky roofs will be repaired, faulty electrical systems will be replaced before fires occur and ederly residents will benefit from handicap fixtures and accesses. These corrective measures will be of the highest benefit in homes where the elderly and young children are present. Chronic illnesses such as asthma and other respiratory illnesses, allergies, intestinal illnesses and COPD are highly prevalent among underserved rural residents in deteriorating homes. These health concerns should improve under this partnership and the occupants of homes where remediation has occurred should enjoy a better and healthier life. Please ask how you can help. Contact the Rural Mission through Chris Brooks at 725-9698 or [email protected].

www.islandconnection.sc

March 6, 2009

videos. Prizes for all our great kids! Event Sponsor: Patti Romano of Planet Bonehead. 9am – 1pm: Electronic and Hazardous Waste Pick-up by Charleston County. Note: bring your items to the real estate parking lot. 9am – 1pm: Document shredding by Shred 360, on the real estate parking lot. Giveaway: document shredder 1pm: Refreshments. 1:30pm – 2:15pm: Sustaining Seabrook Island Wildlife Habitat-One Back Yard at a Time. Presentation by Don Smith, landscaper and naturalist. Event Sponsor: Seabrook Island Garden Club, giving away herb plants. 2:30pm – 3pm: Ambrose Farms: Sustainable Gardening presentation. 3:30pm: Gator Getters! Ron Russell will bring a live gator and discuss safety and respect. Event Sponsor: Patti Romano of Planet Bonehead. 4:30pm: Raffle Drawing for SINHG trip of your choice for two (Winner need not be present, need not be a SINHG member, and need not be a Seabrook Island resident). Winner will receive a certificate to be used with trip sign-up within the 2009-2010 SINHG year. *limited space, pre-registration begins April 1 at www.sipoa.org Earth Days co-chairs Linda Sivert and Linda Mesaros, and their committee (Jody Turner, Carl Voelker, Patti Romano, Don Smith, Marcia Hider and Lynda Fox) hope that everyone comes away from Earth Days 2009 educated, exhilarated, and ready to make Sustainable Seabrook a priority.

March 6, 2009

Art opening at the Wellness Center

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hen Pat Van de Graaf saw the plans for Our Lady of Mercy’s new Wellness Center in late 2007, her first question to Sister Mary Joseph, Director for Our Lady of Mercy Outreach, was, “What’s going on the walls?” The question sparked quite an adventure for Pat as she considered and tossed out ideas until coming up with a winner: why not ask the local schools to donate their students’ art? As a professional framer, Pat offered to frame the selected pictures and mount them on the walls of the Wellness Center, complete with gallery-style name tags. When the Wellness Center finally opened, Pat was ready with fourteen original works of art; framed, tagged and ready for placement. The students were thrilled to have their artwork on display, but none of them had the chance to see them in place; until this past Wednesday. Students and art teachers from all four participating Johns Island schools were invited to an artist’s reception and a tour of the new Wellness Center, including a chance to see their art in permanent display. Art teacher Dana Dowling posed in a picture with her student, Carl Middleton, in front of his painting “Music #4”. Carl, a student in Dana’s self-contained autistic class, had mimicked the artwork of William Johnson, a Florence, South Carolina, native known for using bold black outlines and bright, solid colors in his paintings. The character in the painting exhibits large hands, grasping the keys of a saxophone. “He’s done a whole series of these,” Dana said proudly. Tishira Waring, formerly a student at Mt. Zion and now attending Capers Preparatory, posed next to her mom for a picture of her painting, “Big Lady”, and Lamar Hunter of Mt. Zion bravely smiled next to his drawing “Me and Andy Warhol”, though he mentioned that his artwork this year is “much better”. Angel Oak Elementary sudents Devin Boynton and Andrea Garcia were both placed right at the entrance to the Wellness Center and their art teacher, Ms. Kneisley, proudly posed with Devin for some pictures, while little Andrea got some shap shots by himself with his self portrait and with his family. “I couldn’t believe the artwork we received from Andrea,” said Pat. “I just looked at it and said, ‘This can’t be the work of a kindergartener,’ but it was and it’s so well done.” Later, as the artists, their families and the art teachers gathered in the new conference room for homemade brownies and soda, Dana pointed out to the students that, “No matter how old you are, make a note of this in your school folder; that you have art in a permanent collection at Our Lady of Mercy.” Before leaving, each of the students thanked “Ms. Pat” for the beautiful job she did with the framing. Sister Mary Joseph thanked her and all the teachers and parents, as well. “We always appreciate getting the teachers involved,” she smiled. If you haven’t seen the artwork at the Our Lady of Mercy Wellness Center, or would like to see the new facility yourself, drop by for OLM’s 20 year anniversary celebration on Saturday, October 17 from 11am – 4pm. For more information, please call 559-4109 or visit www.olmoutreach.org. From art teacher Dana Dowling’s class at St. Johns High School: “Rejoice” by Chanquetta Brown, 10th Grade “Music #4” by Carl Middleton, 11th Grade “Seeking” by Victoria Clow, 12th Grade “Girls, Girls” by Maria Ramerez, 10th Grade “Portrait, pencil” by Jose Diego, 10th Grade From art teacher Mrs. Anderson’s classes at Haut Gap Middle School: “Dizzy” by Keith Williams, 8th Grade “Girl with Balloons” by Debrah Zuniga, 6th Grade “Girl with Bubbles” by Rakeem Coleman, 6th Grade “Baby Me” by Chandler Brown, 6th Grade “What Do I See?” by Christopher Sager, 6th Grade From art teacher Mrs. Corbett’s classes at Mt. Zion Elementary: “Me and Andy Warhol” by Lamar Hunter, 4th Grade “Big Lady” by Tishira Waring, 4th Grade From art teacher Ms. Kneisley’s classes at Angel Oak Elementary School: “Self Portrait” by Devin Boynton, 5-1 “Self Portrait” by Andres Garcia, K-1

www.islandconnection.sc

8 Saturday, March 7 Horse Trail Ride at Poplar Grove Lunch will be served, and the event is free.  Bring your own horse and potable water for your horse to drink. Riders meet at 9am and the ride begins at 10am. Poplar Grove is located at 4245 Ten Shillings Way, Charleston, SC  29470. For more information, call 843-571-3248

Sunday, March 8 Daylight savings begins. “Spring” those clocks forward one hour.

March 6, 2009

Island Connect

purchased at the Gibbes Museum of Art Store or online at www.gibbesmuseum. org/events.

March 7 -

Monday, March 9 Judy Glattstein, Into the Woods: Flowers and foliage for the shady garden Free to Charleston Horticultural Society members and $15 for non members. 6:30pm at the Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting Street. Call (843)5799922 or visit our website at www. charlestonhorticulturalsociety.org.

Johns Island Presbyterian presents “A German Spring” Starting at 3pm, Johns Island Presbyterian Church will feature Ralph and Erika Blanco, piano and violin, in concert. The program will include timeless masterpieces by Beethoven and Brahms. Please go online at www.jipc.org or call 559-9380 to reserve your FREE tickets, as space is limited. The concert is presented free of charge with donations accepted at the door.

Wednesday, March 11.

CSO presents: A musical response to the Schoen Collection Inspired by the current exhibition The American Scene on Paper: Prints and Drawings from the Schoen Collection, this recital will include a selection of American composers. Guests can enjoy the prints and drawings created during the 1930s and 1940s as they listen to the CSO Brass Quintet in the stunning Gibbes Rotunda. 2:30pm at the Gibbes Museum of Art. Tickets are $7 for museum members, $15 for nonmembers. This price includes performance and museum admission. Tickets can be

Friday, March 13

Freshfields Annual St. Patrick’s Day Street Party Join us from 5:30-8:30pm for Freshfields Village street party, along Freshfields Drive between King Street Grille and Carolina Clay Gallery. King Street Grille will cater the event with authentic Irish dishes and enjoy music from the Hungry Monks. For more info, call 768-6491or email info@ freshfieldsvillage.com.

St. Johns Rotary Club The St Johns Rotary Club meets regularly at 7:30am each Wednesday morning in the multipurpose room at Berkeley Electric Cooperative located at 3351 Maybank Highway, Johns Island.   Please be reminded that you are always welcome as a guest at our Club.   For more information please contact Martha Harris at 559-6955.

PURE Theatre’s production of Hogs by Rodney Lee Rogers March 13 through April 4, at the Circular Congregational Church 150 Meeting Street, Downtown Charleston. Tickets are $30 and available at www.puretheatre.org or by phone at 843.723.4444 or 800.838.3006. Based on Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People, Rodney Lee Rogers’ adaptation updates the action to a small, coastal, southern town, in this world premiere production of Hogs.

First Annual Gourmet & Grapes at The Sanctuary Indulge in a five star culinary experience within the quarters of The Sanctuary Hotel. Guests are invited to test their palates with distinguished wines from around the world, and experience delicious cuisine from our Sanctuary chefs and renowned celebrity chefs from across the nation. March 13 – 15. Sanctuary guest packages and day passes are available. For more info, call (800) 6542924.

Saturday, March 14 CSO presents Merrill Lynch Masterworks: Karen Gomyo  CSO resident conductor Scott Terrell takes the podium for this Masterworks concert.  Sharing the stage for Dvorak’s Violin Concerto is famed Canadian violinist, Karen Gomyo. Tickets: $20 - $60; $5 students (with ID). Show starts at 8pm at the Gaillard Auditorium, 77 Calhoun St, Downtown. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 554-6060, at all Ticketmaster Outlets and at www. charlestonsymphony.com.

Sunday, March 15 Ides of March

Barcino Baroque  3pm at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour. Featuring local artists Ricard Bordas, counter tenor, and Margaret Kelly Cook, soprano, performing their program of enduring songs of the Baroque Period, accompanied by Baroque instrumentalists playing harpsichord, violins and viola da gamba. This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available starting March at Kiawah Town Hall, 843-768-9166.  

Tuesday, March 17 Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Seabrook Island Art Guild (SIAG) meeting The Seabrook Island Art Guild meets on th third Tuesday of every month at the Proper Owners Association building at 3pm. If you would like to join the Guild, membership dues are $20/year. For more information, please contact Robert McBride at 768-3696

Wednesday, March 18

Native gardening and rain barrel demonstration Are you interested in tips that can help you create and sustain an attractive garden or landscape while protecting the environment and potentially saving on your water bill? From 6pm to 8pm at DNR Fort Johnson Marine Center, James Island. For more info, call (843) 953-9354, or email [email protected]. St. Johns Rotary Club See Wednesday, March 11.

COVAR meeting COVAR (Council of Villa Associations and Regimes) will meet on Saturday, March 14, 10am - 12 noon, at the Seabrook Island Community Center. The agenda will include public statements by candidates for the Seabrook Island Town Council, and the election of COVAR officers for 2009-2010. All villa owners are welcome to attend. Contact Carroll Gantz, 768-3780, or [email protected]

www.islandconnection.sc

March 6, 2009

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ction Calendar March 22

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Seabrook Camera Club Contests

Thursday, March 19

Saturday March 21

CSOL Symphony Designer Showhouse From March 19 through April 19, 2009, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra League (CSOL) presents its 32nd annual Symphony Designer Showhouse. at The Maison du Pré Inn. The showhouse, including a boutique and courtyard café, will be open daily from 10am to 4pm and from 1 to 4pm on Sundays, excluding Easter. Tickets are $20 at the door, or $15 in advance, and may be purchased online at www.csolinc.org. For further information, please call (843)7234pm at Episcopal Church of Our Saviour.  The College of Charleston Orchestra is open by audition to all students on campus, both majors and non-majors.  The CofC Chamber Orchestra gave a outstanding performance  last year, don’t miss out this year!  This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available starting March 9 at Kiawah Town Hall, 843-768-9166.

Freshfields Boat Show Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, join some of the top names in boat suppliers and builders with information on charters, fishing equipment, marine services and more, including fly fishing and cast net demonstrations, as well as an in-water presentation from Charleston’s award winning Dragon boat team. For more information, please call 843-768-6491 or visit www.freshfieldsvillage.com.

Friday, March 20 First day of Spring!

Sunday, March 22 College of Charleston Chamber Orchestra 4pm at Episcopal Church of Our Saviour. The CoC Orchestra is open by audition to all students on campus, both majors and non-majors. The Orchestra gave a outstanding performance last year, don’t miss out this year! This event is free and open to the public. Tickets are available starting March 9 at Kiawah Town Hall, 843-768-9166.

Magnolia Gardens contest: Field trip to gardens April 13, meet at Real Estate PL. Photos due April 23 at April meeting for contest. Winner in paper. Boats Afloat contest: Photos due at September meeting; winners in paper. Same Day Photo Shoot contest: shoot photo on day of October meeting, bring it at 7pm for judging.  Christmas Party:  “Something for the Holidays” December 8  ** Note: For some contests, winners will be in local papers, for others, there are often cash prizes. Details of all contests and field trips will be sent out prior to each one. For more information, please call Judy Bailey at 768-4142.

Ta k e a p a g e Johns Island Regional Library 3531 Maybank Highway 559-1945 Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10 – 8 Friday & Saturday: 10 – 6 Sunday: 2 – 5 Wee Reads (under 24 mo w/ adult) Mondays, March 9, 16, 23 and 30 at 10:30am Family Storytime (6 months – Preschool with adult) Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21 & 28 at 11:00am *Word: Beyond the Basics (adults/ young adults) Tuesday, March 10 from 10am – 12 *Excel Basics (adults/young adults) Tuesday, March 24 from 10am – 12 *Excel: Beyond the Basics (adults/ young adults) Tuesday, March 31 from 10am – 12 *All computer classes are free. For more information please call 559-1945 and ask for the Reference Department. Class space is available for 8 participants per session. Oh Baby! (24 months and younger with an adult) Thursdays, March 12, 19 & 26 at 4pm Knitting Group (adults) Thursday, March 19, from 6–7:30 pm Please note change to Thursdays! AARP Free Income Tax Assistance Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21 and 28, from 10am – 2pm First come, first served with the last person accepted at 1:30pm. Assistance in Spanish/Español will be available. Club Anime! (ages 12-19) Saturday, March 7 from 3 - 4:30pm and Tuesday, March 10 from 4 -5:30pm “Flip” Out for Teen Tech Week (grades 6 -12) Wednesday, March 11 from 3:30 – 4:30pm

www.islandconnection.sc

Celebrate Teen Tech Week 2009 by filming a cool video with Ms. Donna and her nifty video camera that will promote Teen Reading @ John’s Island Library. Saturday Movie: Beverly Hills Chihuahua (all ages) Saturday, March 14 at 3pm Rated PG, 91 minutes. Learn more about the actors and check out books to take home from our book display. Sea Islands Book Club (adults) Tuesday, March 17 at 2pm We’ll be discussing Ricochet by Sandra Brown. Copies of the book may be obtained from the Reference Desk for check out while supplies last. Teen Movie: Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist (grades 6 -12) Wednesday, March 18 from 3:30 – 5:30pm Rated PG-13; 89 minutes. Free Legal Clinic: Wills, Estates & Probate Tuesday, March 24 at 6pm An attorney from the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Program will provide a 30-45 minute lecture on wills, estates, and probate followed by an open question and answer session. For more information, call 1-800-395-3425, ext. 158, or log on to www.scbar.org/clinics.

Displays

Jewelry Display Deanne Pace will display her handcrafted sterling silver jewelry. Each piece is individually created using traditional silversmith techniques, often incorporating gemstones. Photography Exhibit Barbara Radin Fox, a member of the Seabrook Island Art Guild, Folly Beach Art Guild, and Seabrook Island Camera Club, will exhibit her photographs. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Philadelphia Magazine, and many other publications.

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March 6, 2009

Art for the sake of it

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o matter what one does for a living, their lives are enriched inimitably through that experience. This fact couldn’t be more evident than it was at the Seabrook Island Art Guild’s Art Show on February 20 – 22. More than 45 artists from Seabrook and the surrounding islands displayed their work to a delighted crowd over the weekend. Each art piece was something to talk about and they all had a story. Robert McBride’s pottery display featured a handful of smoke-fired clay shoes with leather laces, each of which was inscribed across the sole with the words, “The older the shoe, the shorter the laces”. He was a member of the Potter’s Guild in Toledo, Ohio, and still makes bowls and dishes on request. Eve Herbick’s depiction of the little blue fruit stand on Betsy Kerrison, entitled “closed for the season”, sparked a discussion on how long the building had stood there and if anyone ever remembered seeing it open. Her painting of a Utah mountain stream was inspired by a picture sent to her from her son. Colleen Weissmann expressed her frustration with today’s economic climate with a painting entitled “distant dream”. Herbick said that Weissmann had described it as “showing the difficulty of our time, also how we’ll surmount it and get past,” pointing to an uplifting squiggle of white in the midst of a thick collision of colors blending into a brown, lugubrious chaos. Stan Ullner’s photo, aptly named “untitled”, was a bright spot of playful, photographic humor. Although the shot was a black and white of a gourd poking its stalk out of a plastic bag and sitting in a bucket, the actual items were not immediately recognizable, inspiring people to wonder if the chiaroscuro objects were perhaps a face, or a snake smoking a cigar. In all, the show was well attended and by all counts a success and the artists anticipate an even better show next year.

Participating artists:

Jim Bannwar, Jan Berg, Eleanor Bertrand, Peter Boatti, Roberta Scott Boatti, Ada Byrnes, Kathleen Chamberlain, Ron Chamberlain, Walter Czander, Leilani DeMuth, Stephen DeTurk, Barbara Fox, Jan Genosi, Donna Griffith, Lisa Hartzog, Eve Herbick, Bob Hider, Francoise Hobson, Pat Huff, Lee Hurd, Twila Jackson, Bob LeFevre, James Maravel, Tina Mayland, Bob McBride, Charles Measter, Susan Mullin, Dora Ottelin, Suzy Quick, Joan Reed, Lee Rogers, Patrick Ryan, Patricia Schaefer, Sandy Scott, Gertrude Simon, Joe Stevenot, Ed Stormer, Brenda Tilson, Laura Todd, Stan Ullner, Lisl Urban, Pat Van De Graff, Mary Walker and Colleen Weissmann.

Laissez le bon temps rouler Charleston Collegiate School held a Mardi Gras celebration as a fundraiser for the New Orleans Winterim trip (to rebuild homes from Hurricane Katrina). Faculty and students in all grades were invited to purchase a ‘gold’ dubloon and dress up in traditional Mardi Gras colors. Each division then voted on a King and Queen, and the Middle and Upper Schools had a zydeco dance-off. Pictured are the King and Queen of the Lower School, Roger Ploch and Ling Shapiro. PHOTO BY Olivia French

Over 6o soup choices range from healthy, hearty, light, hot or cold, we’ve got the soup for you!

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March 6, 2009

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Golden anniversary

Keep your WHIG on

n Saturday, February 21, the Wind and Hail Insurance Group, otherwise known as WHIG, held a public workshop geared toward educating coastal homeowners on the intricacies of wind and hail insurance and to gather support in their fight against the insurance’s recent dramatic increases. Formed a little over six months ago, WHIG currently consists of Seabrook property owners Terry Aheam, Peter Boatti, Janet Gorski, Bill Mowat (Chairman of the group), Larry Weissmann, Roberta Boatti, Frank Farfone, Roy Mathis and Peggy Johnson. All are concerned about the skyrocketing increases in their wind and hail insurance premium and, through the formation of WHIG, decided to do see what they could do about it. During their brief presentation, Chairman Bill Mowat explained the issues that WHIG will be tackling: the limited market competition (“There is no competition for the Wind and Hail Pool.”), limited oversight of the Association (“While the government wrote the wind and hail pool law in 1971, they did not write in how they’d watch it, so there is no oversight.”), limited transparency of the Association’s actions, rate discrimination structure (“The areas to the north and south of us pay 20% less in premiums. Why? They aren’t more or less likely to get hit by a hurricane than we are.”), fees and tax issues (“Agents earn 10%, just for shifting the insurance. It shouldn’t be that high.”), enhancing the Pool’s products and strengthening the mitigation feature. WHIG member Janet Gorski composed letters to Senator McConnell and Representative Stavrinakis, encouraging

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them to address these issues and to “find a solution to the problem that is burdening numerous residents of the South Carolina coast”. She encouraged everyone to send a copy of the letter to both McConnell and Stavrinakis, pointing out that, “If something is a creature of state law, we need to change the law by speaking to the legislatures.” Copies of the letters can be found on the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association website at www. SIPOA.org. During the question and answer period, several island residents stated that they had already been forced to become “self insured”, which in most cases meant that they have no wind and hail insurance at all. Peter Boatti pointed out that mortgage companies can make you get wind and hail insurance, using his own experience as an example. “When State Farm dropped me,” he said, “I got a letter from my mortgage bank almost immediately which said I had to be covered in thirty days.” Guests at the meeting included Seabrook Mayor Frank McNulty and Seabrook Councilmen DuBois, Holtz and Savin, as well as Joe Bustos of the Mount Pleasant Town Council, David Cannon of the Edisto Island Property Owners Association and members of the Kiawah Island Community Association. Bustos and Cannon both remarked that they would share this information with their constituents and would do what they could to help address the issues.

By Tom Kulick, SJFD Commissioner for Kiawah Island

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magine back to April 1959. The South Carolina General Assembly has just passed Act 369 creating the St. Johns Fire District (SJFD). At this point in time, the District covered only Johns and Wadmalaw Islands and consisted of volunteers with minimal equipment. It wasn’t until the early and mid-1970s that Seabrook and then Kiawah began to be developed, and the Fire Department had to evolve in order to protect greater numbers of increasingly larger homes and massive condominium complexes. The Department has come a long way! Currently, the SJFD has 121 professional, full-time personnel composed of 106 certified firefighters plus dispatchers, maintenance and administrative staff with a budget of almost nine million dollars. Oversight is provided by seven Commissioners representing all four of the islands in the District. The Commissioners are appointed by the Governor with the advice of the Charleston County Council. 2009 will be an exciting year to celebrate this milestone both within the Department and throughout the community. For the past few months, a committee consisting of firefighters, officers, administrative staff and several of the Commissioners, have been working on projects to commemorate this event.

For more information on WHIG, visit the SIPOA website at www.SIPOA.org or email [email protected].

Pet Helpers Pets of the Week 

SCRUFFY: Okay...here’s my scoop: I really am an adorable, three year old male, Jack Russellish fellow and GREAT with adults, but I have big issues with any other animals or children being in my personal space. I want to be your one and only love... but will be yours forever. Come get me!

MOLLY:  Aren’t I crazy adorable?! I’m all dressed up for St. Patrick’s Day and ready to go home to your party. I’m a HUGE bundle of love - weighing in at about 19lbs, but I have gorgeous long hair and am the belle of the ball. If you like a woman with a little meat on her bones, then I’m the one for you! Adoption fees include spay, neuter, vaccinations, testing, and microchip ID Pet Helpers Low Cost SpayNeuter Clinic 302-0556, call for appointment.

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Pet Helpers is located at 1447 Folly Road Hours: Mon. – Fri. from 11am – 6pm Sat from 11am - 5pm. Closed: Sundays and Holidays. For more information, please call 843-795-1110. www. pethelpers.org

www.islandconnection.sc

On Friday, June 12, the District will host The Tri-County Fire Chief’s Association annual golf tournament at Oak Point Golf Course to raise funds for the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation (http://golf.firehero.org). This event is open to the public. To receive an information package regarding sponsorship and/or participation, please contact either Battalion Chief Wayne Carter, [email protected] or Fire chief Karl Ristow, [email protected]. The following day, June 13, firefighters and their families will gather at James Island County Park for a picnic to celebrate the anniversary. Two other events that will be open to the community are in the works and will be announced once finalized. Also, a new Department patch will become part of firefighters’ uniforms and vehicle decals that highlight the Department’s 50 years of service. The staff is putting together a history of the Department that will be distributed throughout the District. Firefighters, all other SJFD employees, and the Fire District Commissioners are very proud to be participating in this 50th anniversary year. The community should be pleased to have such a professional group of firefighters protecting them, and the Department looks forward to the community’s involvement in celebrating this milestone for the Department.

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Why gardeners dig All Seasons

he Garden of Eden must have smelled like this. It’s the back lot of a former home just off the intersection of River and Maybank, and it is piled high with a rainbow array of soils, mulches and aggregates; and the steam coming off of a bed of mushroom compost is filling the air with a smell that can only be described as “life”. In 2000, Sherry and Greg Tucker bought a small artist’s house behind Kerr Drug on River Road, Johns Island and turned it into All Seasons, an organic gardener’s dream store. Piled high with a wide variety of organic soil amendments, fertilizers, fungicides and insecticides, the shop has truly made a name for itself; not because they encourage organic gardening practices, but because they are one of the few places in the state that offers pure, 100% mushroom compost and you can buy it by the truckload. A by-product of the mushroom growing industry, mushroom compost can vary from company to company, but it usually consists of some blend of composted wheat or rye straw, peat moss, used horse bedding straw, chicken manure, cottonseed or canola meal, grape must, soybean meal, potash, gypsum, urea, ammonium nitrate and lime. Although many recommend using this compost in moderation, usually blended with top soil or potting soil, Greg Tucker points out the success of several planting beds where he has used only mushroom compost as his soil and has achieved brilliant results. “Last year we planted snap dragons in a mound of mushroom compost around our sign,” he remarks. “When they blossomed, we would have visitors stopping every day on their way out to Kiawah and Seabrook, just to get a picture of those flowers.” He also points out that they are one of only a few providers that do not cut their compost with any amendments like top soil, leaving it for the buyer to decide if they want to

March 6, 2009

By Kristin Hackler blend it or not. “A lot of companies will cut their compost with top soil, which usually contains tons of seeds,” Tucker explains. “So when gardeners plant out their beds, they’ll often find weeds growing in them before anything else.” Because of this, and although it’s a cut into their pockets, the Tuckers offer only the real deal; and at the same price you would purchase the “cut” compost. As a former science teacher for First Baptist church school in downtown Charleston, Tucker certainly knows what he’s talking about. Spread across his desk when you walk into the shop are soil analyses, chemical composition charts and scientific studies on soil amendments that make one thank the heavens that there are people in the world that can not only read those charts, but can Greg Tucker holds up a fresh clump of mushroom compost. explain it in simple layman’s terms; and once; or six broccoli, six strawberry plants, two heirloom Tucker does an excellent job. tomato plants … really, anything you’d like to have fresh Besides fill dirt, screened top soil and mushroom and readily available on your front porch. “We have one compost, All Seasons also offers aggregates such as shell customer on James Island that has six of these,” Tucker sand, slag, granite size 57, ROC (FBLC), limestone size smiles. “He loves how easy they are to maintain and he 789, river rock and Plantation mix; mulches such as the grows a huge amount of vegetables.” decorative red and brown, as well as hardwood, pine bark, If you’ve ever had a gardening question, whether cypress (both natural and playground certified) and cedar; conventional or organic, drop by and ask the Tuckers. and pine straw, including the long lasting, beautiful long Both Sherry and Greg are highly knowlegable and even leaf pine from North Carolina. They even deliver. their sons Jake (age 14) and Ean (age 8) would be happy For the porch gardener, All Seasons is one of the first to help as they are often at the shop after school and on stores in the area to carry the Earth Box, a maintenance- the weekends, helping their parents and sharing in the free growing system which controls soil conditions, joys of gardening. eliminates guesswork and more than doubles the yield of For more information about All Seasons, visit their website a conventional garden with less fertilizer, less water and at www.allseasonsmulch.com or call them at 559-5829. All virtually no effort. The whole Box is no more than four Seasons is located at 1820 River Road, Johns Island. feet long and a foot wide, and can grow 16 bean plants at

www.islandconnection.sc

March 6, 2009

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Sea Island Habitat ReStore earns top honors By Christa Lewis

The luck of being double Irish (With a pinch of Scotch) By  Dwight S. Ives, MA, MA, LUTCF

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he name Ives is English in origin, but it’s also very Irish, rising from the name of the sixth century evangelist Princess Ia (or Hai), sister of St. Erc.  According to historical records, the Princess sailed from her native Ireland with 777 of her countrymen to Cornwall, England.  The English mispronounced her name, corrupting it from Ia to Ia-ves, hence the birth of the Ives surname. She was later canonized, becoming St. Ives of St. Ives, and was immortalized in the eighteenth century puzzle-poem “As I Was Going to St. Ives...”.  Her feast day is February 3. In the very early 17th century, the first Ives arrived in Boston in the colony of Massachusetts.  From there, the family multiplied and prospered, producing a distinguished lineage of military officers, explorers, preachers, teachers, artists, and musicians. Members of the Ives family married founding fathers of Stamford University. Others became military officers. Colonel William Ives was dispatched by President U.S. Grant to explore and report on the status of the  Grand Canyon area. The Colonel’s response was that it was a worthless piece of real estate.  However, Brayton Ives, an 1861 Yale graduate also serving under Grant, distinguished himself at age 24 by becoming one of the youngest Brigadier Generals ever to serve in the military.  Others more memorable members of the family include: James Merritt Ives of the famed 19th century lithographing team Currier and Ives; Charles Ives, the composer, who won a Pulitzer Prize; Burl Ives, who was a noted musician and actor; and the aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, who is a distant cousin. A descendant of these notables is Dwight S. Ives, Customer Service Associate and member of the second shift security team for the Kiawah Island Community Association (KICA).  Dwight continues the family traditions thru his education and training.  Oh, and what about the double Irish and a pinch of Scotch, you say?  On his mother’s side, Dwight’s Italian great-great grandfather married the Irish red-haired Mary Brighton before making his way to the United States in the nineteenth century. Dwight’s great-grandmother on his father’s side hails from the Scottish and equally distinguished Dunbar line.   NOTE:  The costume Dwight is wearing was specifically designed for him by fellow Irishman, Bruce Bryson (master costume designer), of Theatrics Unlimited, Inc. located at 981 King Street, downtown Charleston.

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he Sea Island Habitat ReStore received national top honors for a market with a population of less than 50,000 at the Habitat for Humanity National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in January. Melody Bailey, the Sea Island Habitat ReStore Manager, was present to accept the award. Bailey announced the award at the Sea Island Habitat volunteer appreciation party on Saturday, February 7. Bailey said, “We work hard each year to make sure that our sales stay strong – this year was an exceptional year. For the volume of merchandise that we sell, you would think that we have a lot of staff, but we don’t. This award is possible because of our loyal ReStore volunteers that know our challenge, and work alongside us to raise more money for the Habitat mission.” The Sea Island Habitat ReStore opened in 1999 and fully funds between six and eight Habitat homes per year. The store’s three main purposes are to (1) provide additional funding to support the home building goals, (2) expand opportunities to serve a broader base of the low-income community by providing low cost materials and (3) provide good stewardship of sustainable resources in the community. For additional information on the Sea Island Habitat for Humanity ReStore, you can visit them at 3304 Maybank Hwy. on Johns Island or check them out on the web: www.seaislandhabitat.org and click on the ReStore tab. They can also be reached at (843) 768-0998. Sea Island Habitat for Humanity, the third oldest Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the world, is an ecumenical, Christian housing ministry open to all. The mission of Sea Island Habitat is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness on the sea islands of South Carolina, and to make decent housing a matter of conscience in our community. Established in 1978, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity has built more than 260 homes, serving 1,100 children and adults.

Dwight is an original member of the first archaeological team at Charles Towne Landing and returned later to work with the USC team under the direction of Dr. Stanley South of National Geographic fame.  He followed this by working with Jim Fowler of TV’s Wild Kingdom at the Landing.  In College, Dwight served as a USGS Seismic Tech and geology lab assistant while earning dual majors in Developmental Psychology and History with minors in English and Marine Sciences.  He graduated from the National College Republican Fieldman School to become a political instructor/ consultant.  Returning from Washington, DC, he earned dual Masters in Business Administration and Management.  He has done PR work for Crystal Gayle, Frank Abagenal of the movie “Catch Me If You Can”, and the “Christmas Show” produced by Brad and Jenifer Moranz.  Dwight works Security at Kiawah Island for KICA. Dwight Ives, honorary leprechaun.

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Have we deleted apathy yet?

he dirt driveway that leads to the private studio of local artist Mary Edna Fraser has an arched roof of old pine and oak limbs, which would have made for total darkness on Valentine’s night had it not been for the Christmas lights strung along the way. There was a high table surrounded by laughing women, and one of them shone a flashlight, pointing in the direction of the studio where a bluegrass band, Sweetgrass, entertained a crowd gathered in a circle of tiki torches. Surrounding them were tables laid with finger foods, coffee, wine and a chiminea warming the middle of the group. Fraser and Celie Dailey could be seen through the windows of the studio preparing for the second showing of 50 Houses on Kiawah Sand, a documentary film by Dailey which shows the transformation of Captain Sam’s Inlet at the southern tip of Kiawah Island and discusses the instability of the land in the hopes of stopping development on it. The night’s protest was an awareness event for the Coastal Conservation League’s (CCL) efforts to stop the development and a chance to show love for Mother Earth on Valentine’s Day. More than thirty people gathered in the one room studio to view the film for the first time. The production began at Captain Sam’s spit as Nancy Vinson, CCL

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By Bri Horahan employee, and Orrin Pilkey, g e o l o g y professor at Duke U n i v e r s i t y, explained the implausibility of development of the spit and the destruction it would cause to the ecosystem of the beach and dunes. T h e protest of the development on Captain Sam’s began when a bill was proposed to Congress that would allow the houses built on the land to be covered by Federal Flood Insurance. The bill failed, but plans by the land’s owners, Kiawah Development Partners (KDP), are still underway to build a bulkhead along the marsh side to protect the future homes and infrastructure. Vinson credited the film with doing a “great job of laying out the facts of the matter as to how foolish it is to try and stabilize the area, to even build a road on it, to build houses”. A Mount Pleasant resident, Tanja Nielson, who heard about the event from a

with their unique art and creations. It was literally a sensory overload with various styles of music for your ears, artwork and film galore for your eyes; and delicious steaming oysters and stew, wine and coffee for your nose and taste buds. Fraser said that the “energy and people and mix of young and old and the fact that there’s not an apathetic soul here means the world to me; I’m delighted”.

friend, said that she had no idea that these developers were proceeding so aggressively with the land. Nielson thought that “The film was really beautifully done and eye opening”. The film has been sent to ETV and is available on the CCL’s website www. coastalconservationleague.org. Overall, the night was a success. Fraser and Vinson were both astounded by the large turnout. Vinson noted that they had a number of “people from all different walks of life... the arts community, visual and musical, attended to look at the facts and get up in arms to delete apathy”. The night was full of local artists entertaining

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(top, center) Mary Edna Fraser sings an original protest song with a friend. (above) Nancy Vinson of the Coastal Conservation League presented the original documentary “Delete Apathy”.

March 6, 2009

Do you know your Charleston?

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Lady Charleston

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By David Farrow

ack when I gave tours in 1979 and in the ensuing years, there was a bumper sticker that read, “We Don’t Give A (#%&*) (sic) Darn How You Do It In New Jersey.” To tell you the truth, we still don’t. Actually, many didn’t seem to be enamored enough with their birthplaces to stick around. I understand that. When I was growing up here, I thought Charleston was a stifling place – a place with no opportunity, a place where your business was everybody else’s. I went off more than once to find something I thought missing, only to find that it was missing in me. The thing is, I grew up in Charleston, a small city surrounded by farmland. Everybody knew everybody; not by choice, but by birth. The core of the people living Below Broad was related. My family is descended from Rene Ravenel, the leader of the Huguenot Expedition. He got here in 1686, so I couldn’t swing a flounder without hitting a cousin. To be honest, there are a few cousins I wouldn’t mind trouncing with a flounder. Still, I have always come home. Before I left the last time, I was managing editor of the Charleston Mercury and wrote a weekly column for the Post and Courier. This was during the end of the transformation from Charleston, an old city rooted in customs and mores that have become caricatures for commodities - to Atlanta East, an urban area the size of Charlotte trying to contrive a common purpose and be hip with the same attractive mien of a sixtyyear old man amid a Girls Gone Wild party at Lauderdale. A lot of natives such as myself are saddened by the change: some are distraught. What I think is interesting is the refrain of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth in the back bars of old clubs about how it’s all changed, how much the area has grown. My thought has always been, “You sold it. What on earth

did you expect?” A lot of people were caught in the middle. In the rush to create communities, the landmarks were eradicated. In the rush to turn the Lowcountry into a Bizzaro theme park, the natives in between became confused. As long as real estate was moving, many were eager to increase their David Farrow. market share. The dulcet tones of “jobs, jobs, jobs” became a siren call for the reasonable. No mention of for whom -- be they construction workers from Charlotte or illegal aliens that mow the lawns for the condo regimes. The economy hummed right along … until it didn’t. What most of the people who live here now don’t remember is that the natives remember a life before money, a time when Charleston was an old lady with threadbare clothes and a razor sharp wit, a time when one could walk down the street, see a friend on the porch and by the end of the night have all your friends from childhood laughing and talking into the night. That Charleston is gone, due to the vagaries of age as much as anything else. What it has been replaced with is an artifice that increased taxes to the point that the natives could no longer hold onto the ancestral homes. Truth became spin. What I find interesting in this shifting paradigm is that the state has become more intrusive as prosperity wanes into a memory. We natives were already punchdrunk from being told that “We are changing things because it’s good for the City.” Not the people, mind you, -- the City. I write a blog, and I got a lot of local feedback that I wasn’t sure I could use. I post this column on that blog, and last

time was overwhelmed by native reaction. A friend named Ed wrote, “I can always count on you for your take of things. Although we have separate but equal political views, I find with you, you never want to come to a battle of wit unarmed. I am not an original Charleston native. As you know, I was sent here by the Navy because this was the only town I had never been thrown out of. Now it is 24 years later and I still haven’t been thrown out. Of course His Highness, the mayor, still has time. Keep up the good work.” A man named Don penned, “True journalism versus opinion - reading that masquerades for news these days is what you offer. Keep it up; it is preferable to the clank of sycophantic spurs in the public square.” A lady whom I shall refer as “GiGi” wrote, “The Praying Mantis is in amber. Only you can take the DNA out and document the last two decades of Charleston’s history ( 1950’s & 60’s) before someone let the secret out and sold our neighborhood and displaced our families.” Another belle named Pat implored, “Do please keep informing newcomers about how unique Charleston was before the great Ohio migration, since it is barely distinguishable from any other Starbucks/ Pottery Barn/GAP encrusted barnacle of a town. My grandparents would keel over in shock if they weren’t already dead. Long live Gullah!” Our landmarks, our touchstones to the familiar, have been replaced by a contrived culture that translates into a shopping outlet on the beach. The new Myrtle Beach has achieved an identity as “Biker

Branson By the Sea”. New Charleston is bereft of any real identity. The pineapple and fountain at Waterfront Park and the new Cooper River Bridge are landmarks corporate media use to foster a false sense of community. To us, the shrimp man and the flower ladies were Charleston. Twenty years ago, you would walk down Legare Street and say hello to everyone you saw, because you were so taught. In return, whether you knew them or not, the powerful and the meek would smile and return your greeting warmly. Today, one finds aloofness - a sense of entitlement that only new wealth engenders. We old timers understood wealth. We understood that graciousness could not be bought. During our childhood, Charleston was still stripped of wealth by the occupation of a foreign power -- the ruins of an ill-advised war and 130 years of economic depression and grinding poverty were evident. I like the “come-yas” as much as the “been-yas”. People all over the world have been lured by opportunity and climate. There’s a lot of valuable talent. What I worry about is that new people have no sense of history – neither ours nor theirs, for that matter. The majority don’t know that Charleston sits on a violent earthquake fault. The lessons of Hugo were posted on the bulletin board, then the sand dunes were bulldozed to erect high-rise condos and somehow this was thought to be a good idea. What concerns me is that the people who moved recently will find that we are not Charlotte-bythe-Sea. We are Charleston. We are a people who endured a lot of history together. We encourage you to join us, but we really don’t give a rat’s behind how you did it in Muncie. To read more from David Farrow, visit his blog at davidfarrow.wordrpess.com.

Overcoming obstacles: Jill Siegal Chalsty Provided by Anne Cleveland of Charleston Collegiate

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t takes a great deal of courage to get over some of the agonizing hurts we experience as adolescents, but Jill Siegal Chalsty not only faced the bully who had made her life miserable in high school; she turned the experience into a quest to help others. On February 13, Mrs. Chalsty shared her story with the middle and upper school students at Charleston Collegiate School as part of the school’s “Making a Difference” speaker series. As a neighbor and supporter of Charleston Collegiate, she enthusiastically offered insights into how the students can learn to overcome obstacles in their daily lives. After Mrs. Chalsty met her childhood tormentor at her tenth high school reunion, she undertook a year-long research project to discover how young people can avoid the kind of pain she had suffered. She interviewed students, local business owners,

teachers, parents, and administrators and found that a common theme emerged: students lacked the life skills which enabled them to lead successful lives. With a background in film and television, Mrs. Chalsty marshaled the support of local and national community leaders, including HUD Secretary Jack Kemp.  In 1992, she launched a non-profit educational reform organization, the Community for Education Foundation, whose Overcoming Obstacles program offers  educators curriculum materials and training so they may teach relevant life skills to their students. Mrs. Chalsty’s Overcoming Obstacles program is exactly what the faculty at Charleston Collegiate had been searching for to meet the needs of its diverse student body. The school hopes to be the first in the area to utilize the program. (l to r) School director Hacker Burr with speaker Jill Chaltsy, Anne Cleveland, and www.islandconnection.sc

John Chalsty.