Ien-oct-31

Since May 2005

PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON SC PERMIT NO 437

V ol u me 4 Is s u e 13

S U L L I VA N ’ S I S L A N D

Sullivan’s sees master plan

A

BY ALI AKHYARI

s the East Cooper area has grown, more and more visitors have discovered much of what Sullivan’s Island has to offer. Generally, one thinks of the beach as the Sullivan’s Island destination that draws the crowds and which clogs the local streets and yards in the summer. However, the island’s commercial district has recently become a destination as well, generating new customers for local business owners, but also bringing with it a whole new set of problems for residents. Recently, the Town’s City Council hired Seamon, Whiteside and Associates with partner Urban Edge Studio to come up with a new design for the commercial district in order to solve the various problems plaguing residents. It was a project that Bill Eubanks, Urban Edge Studio Director, admitted was difficult, but one that he was happy to take on as a Lowcountry resident who often visits Sullivan’s Island himself. Eubanks said there was unprecedented interest in the planning process among many residents with a lot of input to digest. A lot of changes and design choices were made according to information offered by residents, he said. “The success of this charrette was partly due to the charrette team and its efforts, but mostly due to the passion, participation, ideas and commitment of the planning staff, the Council, stake

see Plan on page 16

Lighthouse adopted on page 6

•

I S L E O F PA L M S

•

FREE

October 31, 2008

G O AT I S L A N D • D E W E E S I S L A N D

Our 13th issue comes out on October 31...we had to have a little fun. Happy Halloween!

Sno Day!

Three fifth grade classes from Sullivan’s Island Elementary were rewarded for good behavior on Thursday, October 23 with free sno cones at the Green Heron and an afternoon at the park.

I n s i d e

I s l a n d

Gullah Ghosts on page 8

E y e

Halloween safety on page 16

2

I

Competing for compensation

f you’re going to be a firefighter, police officer or any type of government employee, what better place to do it than the Isle of Palms. It’s a small community right on the ocean and if you’re going to patrol the streets, why not do so in the face of an ocean breeze and palm trees? It would seem that potential workers would be lining up around the corner for such an opportunity. However, the City has had some difficulty keeping and recruiting some of those very employees. To find out why the City has had some problems hiring employees, they contracted the Archer Company to conduct a compensation study in which the salaries of the City’s employees were evaluated to determine whether or not those salaries are competitive with surrounding areas. The study was the result of a meeting between members of last year’s Personnel Committee. They realized that the City was having difficulty finding and retaining CDL drivers in the Public Works Department as well as in the telecommunications area. They decided to pursue a compensation study that would encompass all governmental departments as the City also wanted to update the job descriptions for all City employees. That study was completed and presented in the spring of 2008. It gave a series of three salaries for each job: low, range and high. The low salary is what the Archer Company suggests is the very least that should be paid for that job. The range is what is considered the competitive number and the high is the most that should be paid. Higher numbers would be reserved for employees who displayed proficiency, excellence and longevity in their job. The results from the study suggested that many Isle of Palms employees are underpaid and need adjustments just to meet the minimum recommendation by the Archer Company. They evaluated the various jobs within the City and

Civic BY ALI AKHYARI

ranked them by points according to various requirements of that job which were divided into four categories: job function, responsibility, job environment and aptitude. According to the study, salaries within the City’s Police Department require the most adjustment. Archer’s recommendations stated that nearly $68,000 would be needed to adjust salaries to the minimum and $223,000 to adjust to the competitive range. That’s a change of 6.22% and 22.3% respectively; the highest averages in the study. The Fire Department came in second with a suggested 3.9% adjustment for the low salary and 19.5% for the competitive range, followed by the Recreation Department at 3.2% and 17.6% and the Public Works Department at 2.9% and 15.4%. All in all, the Archer Study suggested an additional annual expenditure of $113,969 in order that all City employees be paid the minimum recommendation and an annual adjustment of $622,085 to be paid within the competitive range. However, members of the Personnel Committee, who carefully studied the report, say that the numbers could be misleading. The City wanted to see how they compared with surrounding municipalities with which they compete for employees in the greater Charleston area. According to the Personnel Committee, the study included areas in Greenville, Horry County and went as far as Wilmington, NC and Savannah, GA. Although the study states that the Archer Company worked with the City to determine what municipalities to use, the Personnel Committee says that these distant municipalities may have provided numbers that skewed the study away from a result that would have truly represented the Charleston area. Unfortunately, they say there is no way to pull the desired information out of the study they were given. Regardless of what the numbers turn

October 31, 2008

out to be, the Personnel Committee admits that there have been some issues of turnover that require attention. The City spends money to train new employees, especially police and fire personnel. Often, the City pays for the trainees for several months before they can become functional employees. If an employee leaves for a better paying municipality, then the Isle of Palms has basically shouldered the financial burden of providing a fully trained employee for a competing area. It is not only a matter of paying a fair amount, but of also spending money on training

as well. Although the Personnel Committee admits the study is not really what the City was looking for, they say it at least provides a skeleton off of which they can work. Ways and Means Committee Chairperson Dee Taylor says the City will have to do their own leg work in order to get the information they really need. Early next year, they will begin the arduous task of contacting the surrounding Charleston municipalities in order to gather that financial information that will allow them to

Sullivan’s Island www.sullivansisland-sc.com Contact: Lisa Darrow or Andy Benke at 883-3198 Town Hall: 1620 Middle Street

Isle of Palms Contact 886-6428 (City Administrator Linda Lovvorn Tucker) City Hall: 1207 Palm Boulevard Recreation Center: #24 28th Avenue

Civic Calendar

Monday, November 3 Special Town Council Meeting 6:00pm (Committees of Council directly after) Wednesday, November 12 Planning Commission Workshop 5:00pm (Regular meeting at 6:30) Thursday, November 13 Board of Zoning Appeals 7:00pm

www.islandeyenews.sc

see Study on page 10

Wednesday, November 5 Public Works Committee 4:00pm Thursday, November 6 Livability Court 5:00pm

Tuesday, November 11 Board of Zoning Appeals 5:30pm Public Safety Committee 5:30pm

Wednesday, November 12 Planning Commission 4:30pm Recreation Committee 5:30pm

Thursday, November 13 Real Property Advisory Committee 8:30am

October 31, 2008

3

Sullivan’s Island Town Council

The Sullivan’s Island Town Council held their regular meeting on October 21 at 6:00pm at Town Hall.

A commission to plan A couple of weeks earlier, the Council member Jerry Kaynard suggested that the Planning Commission be expanded to include two more members for a total of nine and he introduced the first reading of an ordinance that would do just that. However, in order to comply with Robert’s Rules of Order, Council decided to discuss the matter before the ordinance went up for vote. Kaynard justified the increase in several ways. First, he noted that Sullivan’s Island is fortunate to have so many applicants interested in serving on the Planning Commission. He said the Commission could benefit from the qualified applicants that were turned down in the face of incumbents. Kaynard argued that the Planning Commission has had a heavy workload lately and that burden was likely to continue and/or increase in the near future with the accreted land study scheduled to be finished in December. He also argued that there is a goal for diversity in the Town’s commissions and boards and that two more people would help to increase the diversity. Kaynard noted that surrounding municipalities, such as the City and County of Charleston, have nine person Planning Commissions. Hal Currey, Chairperson for the Planning Commission, was on hand and was asked his opinion on the matter. “I’ve spent most of my career with small groups of people,” Currey said. “The ideal group is between five and seven people.” Currey argued that more people on the Planning Commission did not necessarily translate to more help. Instead, it simply increases the amount of people to deal with, he said. In terms of diversity on the board, he noted that, among Planning Commission members, there is a front beach resident, a 30+

STAFF REPORT

year resident, a Marine, an attorney and an ex-Isle of Palms Planning Commission member. Addressing Kaynard’s concern that good applicants are being left out, Currey reminded the Council that there were several candidates for Town Council that did not get elected. the Council should also be increased to include some of those people by that logic, he said. He also pointed out that while the City and County of Charleston has nine member Planning Commissions, they also represent a lot more people compared to the relatively small Town of Sullivan’s Island. Referencing a past concern of Kayard’s about having a quorum, Council member Pat O’Neil noted that increasing Planning Commission membership to nine does not significantly increase the odds for a quorum. In fact, there was only a 1% difference in the percentages. The ordinance later passed first reading.

Sleep tight Responding to complaints from residents about early morning deliveries in the commercial district, the Town seems ready to put a foot down. One shop that has been the subject of complaints is the Pantry convenience store. Police Chief Danny Howard stated that officers had responded to complaints on two occasions because of the noise. Administrator Andy Benke noted that he had been in contact with the company and had been assured they would work with the delivery service on a solution. However, the response seems to be that the most efficient route for the company prevents them from changing their delivery schedule. That argument may not matter soon, however, as the Town Council is suggesting an ordinance that would regulate when deliveries could be made. Attorney Lawrence Dodds was charged with researching the legality of dealing with the problem and crafting an ordinance. By changing the zoning,

Arborscape fines sawn in two STAFF REPORT

Arborscape Tree Preservation appeared in court on Sullivan’s Island last month for using heavy machinery in the island’s protected RC-1 zone known as the accreted land area earlier this year. They had been charged on three separate counts as the equipment had been used on three different properties that abut the conservation area. The fine for each violation would have been about $1,000; however, the judge cut each fine in half. The incident occurred earlier this year during the winter months when residents are allowed to trim particular vegetation in the accreted land area. Several residents hired Arborscape to do the trimming on their properties. Arborscape then proceeded to use heavy equipment on three separate properties, which is illegal. On those same three properties, it was also discovered that various trees had been illegally cut down and removed, although the culprit has yet to be identified.

he said that the Town could regulate the businesses by telling them when they could get deliveries. The Council also suggested making it a criminal offense so that police officers could write tickets to delivery drivers for delivering too early. The latter, however, is something Dodds said is a matter of trade regulations and he would have to investigate it further. The Council decided to hold a special meeting regarding the issue on November 3 at 6:00pm at Town Hall preceding the regular Committees of Council meeting.

Feeling the pinch On behalf of the Ways and Means Committee, Council member Mike Perkis stated that the Town has their expenses under control. However, although the Town is only in the first quarter of the fiscal year, low revenues are a source of concern. Revenue from business licenses are down 40% from this same time last year. Although things could even out by the end of the financial year, Perkis says the Town could be feeling the pinch of the nation’s financial crisis. As a result, they are looking at ways to scrimp and save, just in case. Taking advantage of the new $250,000 FDIC guarantee, Perkis suggested the Town buy a five month CD from First National Bank of South Carolina which could provide an additional $8,000-$10,000 for the Town. The money would draw 5% interest instead of the 1% it’s getting with Wachovia. Pulling small amounts ‘here and there’ could add up and help the Town, Perkis said. The Council voted unanimously to go ahead with the plan. Fired up for wellness Over the past few months, the Town has been participating in a Wellness Program accompanied by a friendly competition. It was announced that the Fire Department won the contest by losing the highest percentage of body fat among competitors. They were awarded with a six month PrimeTime Fitness membership on Sullivan’s Island, as well as a cash prize that happened to be donated by the Fire Department.

Accreted land accreting progress It was announced that Coastal Science & Engineering is approximately 75-80% finished with the task items associated with their survey of the accreted land. The Council was hopeful to have a draft of work from CSE by the end of November with pubic meetings to follow.

see Council on page 19

www.islandeyenews.sc

Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC

Publisher of the Island Eye News, The Island Connection and The Folly Current Lynn Pierotti Publisher [email protected]

Kristin Hackler Managing Editor [email protected] Ali Akhyari Assistant Editor [email protected]

Heather Boggs Holbrook Contributing Editor [email protected] Brittany Urbach Reporter [email protected] Swan Richards Graphic Designer [email protected] Jane McMackin Marketing Director

Chelsea Langan Advertising [email protected] •

Contributors National Park Service Dimi Matoucher Charleston County Mary Gatch Kiley Bennett Chelsea Langan Lowcountry Red Cross Bobby Cummings John Nelson • Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 www.islandeyenews.sc 843-886-NEWS (6397) FAX 843-883-0907

Submit your letters to the editor to: [email protected] Future deadlines: October 5 for submissions and photographs.

The Island Eye News, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina LLC, is a free, independent newspaper published every two weeks and is for and about the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Goat Island and Dewees Island. Copies are mailed free of charge to every active mailbox in our coverage area and are also available at area businesses and by subscription to non-islanders. Subscriptions are $30 per year for non-residents and are available by sending a check to Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 837, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482. Contributions of information, pictures and articles are welcomed and are used according to space limitations and news value and cannot be returned except by special request. Our editorial content is primarily dedicated to the area of distribution; ad space is open to all businesses who want to reach the Island Eye News market. Complete ad creation is $50, however, changes of up to 30% of the original ad are included at no extra cost. All advertising rates are listed at www.islandeyenews.sc under “advertising”.

4

October 31, 2008

Sullivan’s Island Elementary: strong as ever

A

s many of you may already know, there has been a recent buzz about Charleston County School District’s “School Redesign Initiative” in the works. The redesign plan was proposed at the September 8 school board meeting by Superintendent Dr. Nancy McGinley with the hopes of maximizing school effectiveness and efficiency. During this meeting, McGinley presented 16 draft criteria for school redesign, which was reviewed by 900 community members during seven public sessions. Community members participating in the sessions filled out surveys rating the criteria. In closing, the 16 criteria were modified to 12, which were based on what community members found most important. The 12 criteria were placed under three main categories— Educational Quality, Demographic Factors, and Facility Conditions. Recently, many Sullivan’s Island residents were caught off guard by the mention of Sullivan’s Island Elementary School (SIES) in the October 15 issue of The Post and Courier’s article, “School-building projects advance”. The article states that Councilman Paul

DAILY

BY BRITTANY URBACH

Gawrych “suggested moving kids from Principal King says Sullivan’s Island Sullivan’s Island Elementary to Mount does not fall under most of the criteria, Pleasant’s future Mount Pleasant thus there is no fear of it closing. One of Academy and Whiteside Elementary the criteria schools will be evaluated on schools.” is their enrollment vs. building capacity. “The comment was out-of-the-blue,” Principal King says enrollment has not says PTA President declined dramatically “The comment was and the capacity of the Louise Kohlheim of Gawrych’s out-of-the-blue,” says PTA building is by no means suggestion in the only at 50%. As for article. “There is no President Louise Kohlheim facility conditions, danger of Sullivan’s of Gawrych’s suggestion in “We’re not some kind of Island falling into the article. “There is no shriveling school,” says failure.” Principal King, “the danger of Sullivan’s Island To clarify the Sullivan’s Island facility falling into failure.” situation to worried is in no way declining.” Sullivan’s Island Gawrych’s suggestion residents, SIES is an “excellent rated” in the “School-building projects school and there is no worry of it advance” article was a great shock to shutting down. “I don’t have any fears SIES since Sullivan’s Island has given that Sullivan’s Island is closing down,” them permission to renovate the school says SIES Principal Susan King, “I just with $10 million in the budget. feel very secure.” Although renovations have not Contacts from the Office of officially started yet, the school does Communications at the Charleston have permission for expansion and preCounty School District say there are no projects are already in the works. The schools that have been isolated at this renovation plan includes adding point and they’re trying to dispel any additional classrooms and will tie in rumors aimed at specific schools with wellness. The school plans to shutting down. receive a new heating and cooling

www.islandeyenews.sc

system, new plumbing, a new skin on the school, bigger windows for additional light and more, says Principal King. Carol Killough, President of the Friends of Sullivan’s Island Elementary, is positive about the future of SIES with its fantastic parent support, cutting edge technology, location, and excellent school ratings. Killough believes the ocean front aspect of the school creates hands on environmental access for the elementary students learning about the fundamentals of the eco-system, making SIES a unique learning environment. If the school were to shut down, “There would have to be some logic to closing a school that’s keeping their averages high,” says Kohlheim. “We would certainly not go down without a fight.” The presentation of the final recommendations of schools to the county board is currently set to take place January 12, 2009. To learn more about the “School Redesign Initiative” and view statistics, visit www.ccsdschools.com, then click on the “School Redesign Initiative” link on the left column of the page.

October 31, 2008

O

Just kickin’ it

DAILY

n Thursday, October 16, members of the Isle of Palms Fire and Police Departments took on members of City Hall and the Recreation Department in a friendly “Kickball Invitational” a team building exercise designed by Ben Hull of the Recreation Department. “This kickball invitational is an attempt to bring wellness and camaraderie to all IOP City departments,” Hull says. The winning team is recognized on the official trophy of the invitational, and the winner this year was the City Hall/Recreation Department squad. They won the first match 8-5 while the second match was a 3-3 tie. “I guess you could say our ringers beat their ringers,” Mike Loftus laughed. The match was the second annual kickball match and part of a larger Wellness Program in which the City is participating, Hull says. In addition, many City employees come to the Recreation Department on a day to day basis to take part in workout routines. He adds that a monthly “game day”, perhaps kickball or basketball, is being planned for City employees to participate in as a group. Congratulations to the Second Annual IOP Kickball Invitational champions!

Members of the Isle of Palms Fire, Police and Recreation Departments as well as members of City Hall played in the “Second Annual Kickball Invitational” as part of the City’s new Wellness Program

A trolley’s eye view

The Sullivan’s Islanders first annual Sullivan’s Island Historic Tour of Homes and Buildings was a huge success. Both tours were near capacity. Resident author Roy Williams gave those lucky enough to get a seat an entertaining and accurate look into the unique history and character of Sullivan’s Island during a quaint trolley ride through the island. The Sullivan's Islanders focus is to protect our open green spaces, and to preserve and promote the unique culture of our island. Next, they plan to host a demonstration by the Birds Of Prey Avian Conservation Center as well as other future activities.

www.islandeyenews.sc

5

6

Sullivan’s Island lighthouse goes to the park

October 31, 2008

J

oin the National Park Service as they mark the transfer of ownership of the Charleston Light on Sullivan’s Island from the Coast Guard to the National Park Service on Sunday, November 9. The program begins at 2:30pm with music by Ward & Joel of Sol Driven Train. SC Poet Laureate Marjorie Wentworth joins local officials, including Msgr. Lawrence McInerny of Stella Maris, at 3:00pm for the symbolic key transfer on the grounds of the US Coast Guard Historic District at Station 18 1/2 and I’On. The grounds will be open for touring. From 1:00 to 5:00pm, artists with Creative Spark’s Art on the Beach will display their work in the historic boat house.

All activities at the lighthouse event are free and open to the public. For more information, call Fort Moultrie at 8833123.

Shedding light on historic lighthouse PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

The United States Coast Guard Historic District on Sullivan’s Island is a core sampling of federal maritime architecture that reflects 113 years of the national commitment to safeguarding America’s coastline, both militarily and domestically. Originally constructed as a United States Life-Saving Station, it transitioned to a Coast Guard station

and is now owned by the National Park Service. This district is composed of six buildings and structures that are contributing to the historic character of the district. Five of these structures were listed on the National Register, June 19, 1973, as the Unites States Coast Guard Historic District. The 1962 Lighthouse was declared eligible for inclusion on the

Facts of the Charleston Light

Commissioned on June 15, 1962, as the last lighthouse to be built in the United States. The Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse replaced the original Charleston harbor light (otherwise known as the Morris Island Lighthouse) which was built in 1876. Several unique features make the Sullivan’s Island lighthouse stand out from other lighthouses. Instead of having the traditional circular shape, it is threesided, a feature meant to make it more wind resistant. The result is that it can withstand gusts up to 125 mph as demonstrated by its ability to hold up against Hurricane Hugo in 1989. The Sullivan’s Island lighthouse is also the only lighthouse in the country to have both an elevator and siding. The light was at one point the second brightest in the Western hemisphere with 28 million candle power but was reduced to 1.5 million candle power to accommodate Sullivan’s Island residents. Even with this reduction, the light can still be seen 27 miles out to sea on clear nights. The Coast Guard chose the location because of its historic importance as being the site of the only U.S. life-saving station in South Carolina. Plans are in the works to get the lighthouse specifically placed on the National Register as it was declared eligible for such nomination in 2007. Although today the Sullivan’s Island lighthouse has the traditional black and white color scheme present in most lighthouses, it was originally painted white and red-orange (like that seen on Coast Guard helicopters). Local residents petitioned the government to change the color to the black seen today. The bright orange color still remains, as the inside of the lighthouse was never altered.

National Register by the Keeper on October 26, 2007. The district is located on Sullivan’s Island which acts as the northern barrier island protecteing the entrance to Charleston harbor. It is bordered on the north by Ion Street, to the east by

www.islandeyenews.sc

Station 18 ½, to the south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the west by private land. The six contributing buildings and structures enclosed within these boundaries cover approximately five acres.

October 31, 2008

DAILY

One Nation, Under God

(Left to Right) Jim Raih, President of the Exchange Club, Nickolas Strickland, Reid Hagler, Lauren Medich and Nancy Cunnane, teacher at Sullivan’s Island Elementary.

The Isle of Palms Exchange Club recognized three third grade students from Sullivan’s Island Elementary on October 23 during their annual Oktoberfest dinner meeting. The students were assigned by their teacher, Ms. Nancy Cunnane, to write an essay on the topic of “Why America is the Best Country in the World” for the National Exchange Club’s essay contest, “One Nation Under God”. All three students won the Americanism Award, an award sponsored by the National Exchange Club to promote pride in our country, respect for the flag and appreciation of our freedoms.

Red shoes and oleander tea

7

Deep secrets of Charleston’s haunted past

T

BY CHELSEA LANGAN

rue tales of death, philandering, Charleston’s own stunningly torture and haunting are the themes beautiful Lavinia Fisher was quite of the many local historic tours possibly America’s first female serial available. Whether it’s a ghost tour or murderer. Standard hospitality at her themed, such as Bulldog Tours’ R rated Six Mile House, an inn six miles from version of the historic downtown tour, the city, consisted of a deadly cup of Charleston offers much to stimulate and oleander tea, burglary, dismemberment spook the senses. A leisurely stroll and finally, for those lonely travelers, downtown reveals the whispered history some company in the mass grave in the of our City and all notions of southern back yard. It wasn’t until one traveler etiquette vanish. who disliked tea escaped that the The Charleston peninsula alone was authorities were notified. Lavinia and the site of many sinister happenings. her husband were apprehended together Although the tour guides are happy to and taken to the Old City Jail. At her tell the tales today, hanging, Lavinia asked the topics were the record crowd if rather taboo years anyone had any ago. Ironically, messages for the devil it’s no secret that they wanted her to the local culture deliver before valued keeping deliberately jumping to such secrets. In her death. She is one spite of this, of the most however, decades recognizable ghosts of painful truths said to haunt her emerged. unmaintained grave in Historians, and the back of the the more verbose Unitarian Cemetery, of the locals, just the grave of the judge couldn’t help that sentenced her to themselves. death, as well as the “The Big Old City Jail There are an estimated 400 cemeteries Brick” was the .Interestingly, she still in Charleston. name of the finest wears the white bordello to bless the Holy City with its wedding dress she died in and still presence. The girls wore red shoes to enjoys robbing tourists of their jewelry. display their availability. Needless to Next time you’re cruising the Ashley say, red shoes were very much a faux River, try not to think about the fact that pas among high Charleston society. It the submersing pluff mud of the Ashley was told, however, that many of the was a burial ground for thousands of wives knew where their husbands were. prisoners who died at the Old City Jail. After years of tolerance, the epidemic In short, the Ashley River is a vast of transmitted diseases convinced the cemetery. Prisoners were piled on top City to enforce the laws. In an attempt of each other like firewood and carried to conceal the existence of the Brick, to the river in a wrought-iron, checkerlawmakers changed the name of the patterned “paddy wagon”. Furthermore, street from Beresford Street to Fulton see Ghosts on 10 Lane. A failed attempt it was indeed.

www.islandeyenews.sc

8

We got hosed

October 31, 2008

A true Mullet Hall tale

DAILY

SIDI LIMEHOUSE, ROSEBANK FARMS

Firemen admire a new fire hose recently obtained by the Sullivan’s Island Fire Department.

The year was 1948 and I was ten years old. I called him Mr. Brown. Mr. Brown called me Mr. Sidi. Mr. Brown, somewhere in his 90s, was an old black man and I was a young white boy. We were friends. He was educated: Johns Island educated. Mr. Brown told me one day, “If you know, you know and if you don’t know, well, you just don’t know.” Mr. Brown felt it was his duty to teach me everything I should know and Mr. Brown said I should know about Brutus Garrett. It seems that Brutus, 100 years earlier, had panicked in a hurricane and that Brutus was now a haint. Brutus come bak each year in October when de full moon be high and you can see the marsh shines all de way to Kiwah. In them day, Mr. Legare had some kind o’ chine what him could look on and dis ting tell de pression. Was October de last. Mr. Legare ping de bell and say fo tell eby body must come to de big house. Him say de pression is low and we must take care of eby ting. Was maybe it was a gale comin. Eby animal, all de people must leave de creekside an go to Big Field (Big Field is where Mullet Hall Equestrian Center is now located). Big Field had a barn big enuf to hol eby body. People say Brutus musta been liquored up. Brutus laugh and Mr. Legare say de chine don know what him talkin bout. He take Gal; Gal been e mule an him ride Gal out to Jemmy Ilant (Jemmy Island is out in the marsh opposite Rhett’s Bluff). Say him fa pic last little bit o cotton. When Mr. Legare hear what Brutus done, he jump on he horse and take Laboard wit him to fetch Brutus. When dem get to de creek de tide been comin fas and de wind blow and dem turn back. When de people see em comin and ain’t got much as Gal wit dem, dey cuss Brutus a while but den pray fo em. He get real dark and de wind blow. De win blow so hard he ring de bell. Preacher Bishop say Brutus ring de bell. De people start fo wailin and nashin dey teet. Mr. Legare say fo eby body get in de loff of de barn and huddle up. Was a terruble night. In de mawnin was real quiet. Mr. Legare say fo feed de critter and take em back home. He send Laboard, the preacher and Boobie to look for Brutus. Dey ain’t find hide nor hair. I knows you gwynn ax bout Gal. Well a mule be smart, smartest animal dey is. Mr. Bryan say when de storm obor, Gal been stannin in he yard. De buzzart find Brutus. Laboard take a bateau and look on him and say he was too bad to bring to the hill so him bury him in de marsh. Mr. Legare say it wasn’t

see de haint Brutus on page 10

www.islandeyenews.sc

October 31, 2008

9

DAILY

Linda Tucker appointed to Charleston Green Ribbon Committee

C

harleston County’s newly selected Green Ribbon Committee will hold its first meeting at 9:00am on Friday, October 31 in County Council’s committee room at the Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Services Building (4045 Bridge View Drive; North Charleston, SC 29405). The Green Ribbon Committee has been tasked with serving as a board of advisors and working with a consulting firm to draft the plan by reviewing and evaluating existing county and municipal environmental and solid waste policies, practices and procedures; gathering input from the public regarding environmental and solid waste issues; and acting as a liaison between municipalities and Charleston County Government for shared environmental sustainability and solid waste concerns. At the meeting, committee members will be given an overview of the current Solid Waste Management study process, which was authorized by Charleston County Council. Additionally, committee members will have an opportunity to get to know each other, discuss the need to elect officers at a

PROVIDED BY CHARLESTON COUNTY

future meeting, and address necessary administrative tasks. The meeting is open to the public. The Charleston County Green Ribbon Committee consists of the following 15 members, who had to be residents of Charleston County and had to be qualified in one of the following categories: David Crutchfield: One member must be qualified by experience or training in the field of energy management, preferably certified by the Association of Energy Engineers as a Certified Energy Manager, or be qualified by experience or training in the field of renewable energy systems. Scott Fennell: One member must be qualified by experience or training in the field of transportation of solid waste. Sue Schweikart: One member must be qualified by experience or training in the field of solid waste management. Alec Cooley: One member must be qualified by experience or training in the field of recycling. Jeffrey Baxter: One member must be qualified by experience or training in the field of real estate development.

Art von Lehe: One member must be representative from a small qualified by experience or training in municipality west of the Ashley River. the environmental sciences. Louis Mintz: One member must be a For more information on the Green resident in the Bees Ferry corridor. Ribbon Committee and for other Rahim Karriem: One member must Charleston County news and be a resident within one-half mile of the information, visit the County’s Web site current incinerator. at www.charlestoncounty.org. See more Herb Fraser-Rahim and John on Charleston County’s green Votaw: Two members will be at-large initiatives: representatives of the community. http://www.charlestoncounty.org/GreenI Laura Cabiness (Charleston), Jody nitiatives.htm Peele (Mount Pleasant) and Renee Patey (North Charleston): Three members will be appointed (one each) by Sullivan’s Island the city of Charleston, residents should be the city of North Charleston and the town getting better receptions on their of Mount Pleasant. cell phones soon. Linda Tucker: One The new “stealth” member will be a cell tower is demunicipal signed to be a minirepresentative from a mal eye-sore and small municipality east has been reschedof the Cooper River. uled to be finished Carl Voelker: One by November 1. member will be a municipal

www.islandeyenews.sc

Up, up, and away

10

DAILY

Free car wash for veterans

G

lasspro is providing free car washes to honor all veterans for their service at both of the company’s car wash facilities on Tuesday, November 11. Veterans can receive their complimentary car wash at the Glasspro Pit Stop on Hwy. 17 North across from Towne Center in Mount Pleasant or the Glasspro Car Wash at 608 St. James Avenue in Goose Creek. They will only need to inform Glasspro at either facility that they are a veteran for their free wash. According to Paul Heinauer, President of Glasspro, “We believe it is important to recognize and thank those who have served our country with their dedication and courage. It is our hope that this program will in some small way underscore the importance of supporting our military veterans by the general public.” Glasspro has recently opened the Glasspro Pit Stop in Mount Pleasant, and has been operating the Goose Creek

de haint Brutus from page 8

Car Wash since 2004. Glasspro operates nine retail auto glass repair and replacement facilities in the Lowcountry, including Mount Pleasant, Walterboro, North Charleston, Summerville, Goose Creek, Georgetown, Myrtle Beach, Bluffton and a new repair center in Florence.

right to leave Brutus in the marsh but eby body he ax to fetch em come back say dey couldn’t fin him. He bin way in de middle of de marsh and dey loose de place where he been. Brutus he ain’t loose em. He know ain’t posed to be buried in de marsh. Every year on the full moon you can hear em. He call out to eby body, “Take me, O Jesus, to solid ground.” Moses last year he don’t believe bout Brutus be no haint. Well him coon dog tree a coon on Jemmy Islant. He ride him mule an Buster been wid him fo walk. It kinda been de first col and was de day ob the storm of 1848 by 100 years. Now a haint trap in de marsh for 100 years, he restless. Moses dem had to walk cross de big marsh for to get to Jemmy Islant and fetch de coon for Sunday dinner. Moses is a sensible man and he don’t believe in no haint. Well, he do now and Moses ain’t gyain back in dat marsh for efen 100 coon been tree on Jemmy Islant. Moses say de dog was to de tree and barkun eby breth. All of a sudden de mule put he head up high and strain he ears. Den de mule balk. Stop in he tracks. Den Moses see what de mule see. Dey was a little place in de marsh ups a little taller than all around. Den he hear say, “Here I is. Please for move me to de hill.” And dere was a man pointing to the ground and wailin “move me to de hill.” Moses den say to heself, “mule, move me to de hill.” Musta been a sight: de dog, de mule wit Moses, all been behind Buster. So Mr. Sidi, I knows you like de marsh for crab, hunt fish, and eby ting but please don’t go in the big marsh when the moon full in Oct. The haint what is Brutus, he still axin somebody for please take he body to the hill.

October 31, 2008

A Rebel Yale

PHOTO CREDIT: TOM MATAOSKY

Graeme Crews and Leigha Mataosky at Yale University

Leigha Mataosky, a resident of Isle of Palms, and her debate partner Graeme Crews, both seniors at Academic Magnet High School, traveled to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, on September 26, to compete in the Yale University Invitational Speech and Debate tournament. Leigha and Graeme, the only competitors from South Carolina, ultimately placed 1st in Public Forum Debate to claim the title of Yale University Public Forum Debate Champions. The competition included 189 teams from all over the United States. Leigha and Graeme, cocaptains of Academic Magnet’s

Study from page 2

make proper salary adjustments. The City already made some adjustments when they put together the budget for the 2008-2009 cycle. However, because the study was finished toward the end of the budget process, the City was unable to properly evaluate the study. The City, however, did allot additional money to adjust salaries in what they considered the most crucial areas of government using the study as a tool and with the small amount of money available. The Personnel Committee noted that Isle of Palms employees are more than just people who come into work and fill vacancies. They make up a unique network of personal

Ghosts from page 7

the Old City Jail, Citadel Stadium and the parking garage on Broad Street were all built on burial grounds. The original wrought-iron fence of the old cemetery adorns the perimeter of the parking garage. In closing, the tour guides encouraged everyone to check their cameras for ‘orbs’ that show up on digital cameras when pictures are taken in the dark. The usually round, white

www.islandeyenews.sc

Speech and Debate team and 2008 S.C. State Champions, were elated when after three years of hard work, they finally came out on top at a national level tournament. Graeme and Leigha are extremely excited and are looking forward to duplicating the results of that tournament at the University of Florida “Blue Key” Debate Tournament, the Glenbrooks Tournament in Chicago, and Harvard University later this year. Being seniors, Leigha and Graeme are both applying to Ivy League schools and hope that their success in debate will be a key to admission later this year.

relationships. “We’re still a small town,” Taylor says. The Personnel Committee says that they want to properly pay their highly appreciated employees what they deserve, it will just take a little more time to figure out what that actually means. They want to obtain and reward good, qualified employees. A “pay for performance” plan is currently being worked on. They also want to conduct exit interviews that will allow the City to determine why the employees are leaving, as it may have nothing to do with salary at all. “The effort is not complete,” Taylor says. “It’s still a work in progress.” balls of light are said to be spirits. However, the patterns of light can sometimes take on wild and suggestive shapes of ghostly figures.

To find out more about Bulldog Tours and their many tours of Charleston, from the Haunted Jail tour to Charleston Strolls, visit www.charlestondungeon.com or call (843) 722-8687.

October 31, 2008

DAILY

Wild Dunes collects food for East Cooper Community Outreach

W

SPECIAL TO ISLAND EYE

ild Dunes conducted a community food for East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) in September. George Picadio led the effort. 149 bags weighing 1900 lbs were collected. The drive was held in response to the current economic situation and the high demand on emergency food for East Cooper residents who live in situational and generational poverty. Also participating in spreading the word and gathering the bags were Dean Sheridan, Doug Thomas, Larry Pierson, Ann Emery, Kathleen Ginas, Debbie Stanley and Donna Nicholson. Jack Little, ECCO executive director, said, “It is so encouraging to see the residents of Wild Dunes responding in such a tremendous way. The groceries collected will help many

T

unsuspecting families who have ended up in situations they never imagined could happen to them.” ECCO, founded after hurricane Hugo, is dedicated to serving people in situational and generational poverty. Basic services include emergency food, clothing, and financial assistance for rent and utilities. Health services are offered including a medical and dental clinic and a prescription assistance program. Educational programs consist of GED, WorkKeys and soft skills. For more information on contributing or volunteering contact Greg Nevers, Volunteer Coordinator, at 849-9220 or email [email protected].

Chamber Night at the Islands

On October 23, the Charleston Chamber of Commerce held their annual Chamber Night at the Islands at the Sand Dunes Club on Sullivan’s Island. The event, hosted by the Joint Area Business Council Steering Committee, featured a delicious dinner, beach music and dancing, as well as giving attendees a great opportunity to network with other local business owners. For more information on the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.charlestonchamber.net.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCRE

Above: Dunhill Staffing.From Left to Right -

Sarah Beabout, Environmental Express Jack Beabout, Kimberly Bivens, Katie Whitman, Melinda & Neil Whitman all with Dunhill Staffing Systems of Charleston

Right: Left to Right - Rob Fifield, Bauer International, Michelle Kelly Fifield and Shannon Brown, Clear Channel Communications

Trident students promote “Wake Awareness”

rident Academy’s middle and upper school art students have recently been involved in a “Wake Awareness Project”. As part of this crosscurricular project involving marine science and art, students brainstormed ideas for short, catchy phrases that asked boaters to decrease their speed to prevent wake, then designed and painted five large 4x4 and 4x8 signs. On Oct 22, Captain Shane of Barrier Island Eco Tours transported 18 middle and upper school students to docks on the Isle of Palms and Goat Island to deliver the five large signs and spoke to them about the local environment and the erosion caused by

PROVIDED BY PAULA URBANO

natural and manmade events. “Over the years, boat traffic has increased to the point of being scary,” Trident Academy Art Teacher Paula Urbano, a part-time Goat Island resident, said. “I have seen boats five abreast racing each other and throwing huge wakes. I really believe that humorous signs will help educate boaters to be more aware of the wakes and the damage they are causing. If they would just stay in the center of the channel, it would help.” This project was initially started in 2006, when Ms. Urbano’s students first created and posted three “wake awareness” signs on Goat Island. Those

11

signs are still intact and these new signs will be part of an ongoing effort to education new boaters not familiar with boating etiquette, safety and environmental concerns. The Goat Island Neighborhood Association worked with the students by donating money toward materials and the manpower needed to install the signs. IOP residents Ernie and Kara Melin have bought a sign for their dock, as well. Who knows, maybe the project will become an outdoor art gallery for students to show off their art work while promoting community awareness of the waterways. Then maybe traffic will slow down. Trident Academy is a coeducational independent day school for K-12th grade students with learning differences to include those diagnosed with the following disabilities: dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, central auditory processing disorder, nonverbal learning disabilities and ADHD/ADD.

www.islandeyenews.sc

14

W

October 31, 2008

Act now to avoid surprises at retirement

ith the future always clouded by uncertainty, planning for retirement is difficult. By understanding and preparing to deal with uncertainty, however, we can still look forward to a future where anything is possible. For example, we have to make certain assumptions when planning for retirement. What will be our living expenses? How much income will we have? What numbers should we use for inflation and investment return? After all that, some things can, and will, change the most well thought out plan. A new study, “The Future Shock of Retirement” (03/08) by Jonathan Cohen, Matthew H. Scanlon, and Matthew O’Hara of Barclay Global Investors, explores “future shocks” to the American Retirement System and what they mean to the post-retirement living

Business

BY BOBBY CUMMINGS, CFP, CFBS, CLTC

standards of Americans on the doorstep of retirement. Social Security and Medicare (2007): As the generation of baby boomers enters retirement – those born between 1946 and 1964 – the ratio of workers to retirees will decrease markedly. The U.S. Congressional Research Service expects that during the 75-year period ending in 2025, the percentage of retirement age individuals will more than double from 8.1% to 18.2%. This change will reduce the ratio of potential workers to retirees by more than 50%, from 7:1 to 3:1. Further, by 2010, longevity will have increased by almost 15 years since 1940. Life expectancy is projected to grow by one year each decade through 2050. This will adversely impact the stability of Social Security and Medicare. At current rates, assuming no changes to current benefits and given expected demographics, the present value of our fiscal imbalance is estimated at $68.5 trillion. That number will continue to rise in the years ahead. U.S. fiscal policy has yet to respond to these demographic changes, placing Social Security and Medicare in jeopardy. Currently, 6.9% of federal income taxes go toward these two programs. By 2020, as much as 26.6% of all federal income taxes will be required to sustain

current Social Security and Medicare benefits for the greatly expanded retirement population. “The simplest thing that has to happen next year is to raise taxes,” says Cohen. “While this will increase assets, you also have to reduce liabilities. The only way to reduce liabilities is to reduce benefits… there is no other way to do it,” he adds. The authors believe that many people will have to purchase comprehensive health insurance in the future. Home Equity: We have seen during the last year how the appreciation in our homes can vanish. The study indicates that most mechanisms for capitalizing on part of one’s housing equity, such as reverse mortgages, are fraught with waste due to structural inefficiencies. The authors conclude that only 40-50% of our home equity will be available for supporting non-housing retirement expenses. So, what should you be doing now to prepare for such changes? Scanlon offers practical advice; “First, if you have revolving debt, get rid of it as soon as possible. Second, if you are not saving fully in a 401(k) retirement plan, do so immediately. It is never too late to start saving. Make sure that you are not in risk-adverse types of investments. Third, it is almost certain that capital gains rates will not be lower in the future and probably will be higher. Whatever investment you’re in, make sure it is tax efficient,” he adds. The facts are clear: This country has a

huge and growing deficit, and the new president will have to make some unpopular, but necessary, decisions. Some of the assumptions you made when planning your retirement are likely to change. Now is the time to take more control of your future.

Bobby Cummings is the owner of Lighthouse Financial of Charleston. He is a Certified Financial PlannerTM and Certified Family Business Specialist and has been in business since 1990. Bobby’s focus is providing comprehensive financial planning and investment advice to business owners, professionals, retirees, and people planning for retirement. He lives on Sullivan’s Island with his wife Kristin, son Tanner (5), and daughter Keenan (3). There are expecting their 3rd child in January 2009. If you wish to learn more about the ideas and strategies in this article, or if you have any questions about your financial or estate plan, you are invited to reach Bobby via email at [email protected] or by contacting his office at (843)884-9898. Bobby Cummings is a registered representative of and offers securities, investment advisory, and financial planning services through MML Investors Services, Inc. member SPIC (741 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464) Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice and are not intended as investment advice or to predict future performance. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Sea Biscuit Café welcomes new owners

S

BY BRITTANY URBACH

ea Biscuit Café has been a favorite place to dine among Isle of Palms’ residents and visitors for nearly 23 years now. On this past July 4, new owners Lori Melsopp and Wendi Szymanski took over Sea Biscuit Café with the hopes of running it the same as always, with some slight tweaks on the menu and restaurant operations. As the former owner of “The Delivery Room Café” located in the Trident Medical Arts Building, Melsopp is not new to the restaurant business and anticipates a bright future for the Sea Biscuit Café. “The future would be to do catering and probably some small parties,” says Melsopp of their slight business changes. They will also be opened on Mondays, Memorial Day through Labor Day. The two new owners have also made some small tweaks to the potato salad and cole slaw. They’re also now occasionally offering seafood such as mahi and salmon, as well as some pasta dishes as specials. Swing by Sea Biscuit Café located on 21 J C Long Blvd. to try their new specials, meet the owners, and learn how to have your next party catered.

www.islandeyenews.sc

October 31, 2008

How will elections affect your investments?

N

ow that both political parties have held their respective conventions, the campaign season shifts into high gear. As a citizen, you’ll want to hear how the candidates plan to address issues of importance to you. But as an investor, you might be particularly interested in how the election results can affect your investments. Based on what happens on November 4, should

G

Business

PROVIDED BY DIMI MATOUCHER

you make any changes to your portfolio? To answer that question, you may find it useful to review the history of the financial markets under different political scenarios, according to Ned Davis Research. Since 1901, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has shown an average annualized return of about 12 percent

Café Medley to open on Sullivan’s

ourmands now have a new place to get their fix on Sullivan’s Island. The former Sweet Shoppe/Scoops location next to High Thyme restaurant on Middle Street has been transformed into a coffee, wine and beer connoisseur hub as new owners Michelle and Drew Harris try their hand at providing high quality treats to islanders at reasonable prices. The name explains it all. Café Medley will be a place to stop for a quality cappuccino in the morning and a bottle of small production single vineyard cabernet sauvignon in the afternoon. Along with their varied beverages, the Harris’ plan on providing breakfast pastries from a local bakery, eight flavors of gourmet ice cream with seasonal changes, and after dinner desserts prepared by the former pastry chef for The Sanctuary. Michelle even hinted at the possibility of locally made chocolates and treats in the future, as well as more savory items such as takeand-bake quiches, “but we’ll start off slow,” she laughed. Drew Harris, the general manager at Atlanticville restaurant, will be handling the wine and beer selection and promises that you won’t find anything on their shelves that you would find in the grocery store, but that doesn’t mean they’ll all be expensive, either. “We plan on having ‘under $20’ and ‘under $15’ sections for wine, as well,” Michelle assured, noting that good wine does not always have to be expensive wine. Drew will also have a range of domestic and imported beers, including small production, high gravity selections. The Café will even host regular wine and beer tastings, as well as new coffee “cuppings”, where visitors can sample some of their roaster’s single batch beans from around the world. Most importantly, though, Michelle asserted that Café Medley is all about the locals. “We want to be a convenient spot for locals to visit, as well as a cozy place to sit down and have a cup of coffee in the morning or a decadent dessert after dinner. We also want to be known as an affordable, so the neighbors can let their kids come by and not worry about them spending too much.” Café Medley plans on opening in early November and their hours will run from 7:00am – 9:00 p.m. and will be closed on Mondays For more information, please call 793-4055.

under Democratic presidents, compared to about 8 percent under Republicans. When Democrats have controlled Congress, the Dow’s average annualized return has been about 11 percent, compared to about 8 percent when the Republicans were in control. Since 1925, long-term government bonds have returned more than 7 percent under Republican presidents, compared to about 3.4 percent under Democrats. When Republicans have controlled Congress, the bond market also fared better than when Democrats were in charge, though the difference isn’t as pronounced as in the comparison between presidents of different parties. But while it’s interesting to study the past, it’s not necessarily instructive about the future. It’s true that by changing our tax laws, government spending and industry regulations, any given president and Congress can have an impact on economic growth, jobs, interest rates and inflation and all these factors, in turn, can affect the financial markets. Still, it’s impossible to predict just how these forces will influence the investment world. Political candidates often make promises that never turn into reality, and even if they do, they can have unintended consequences. Even more importantly, however, is the fact that the free-market forces of our capitalistic system are likely more powerful than political forces in

www.islandeyenews.sc

15

determining the ultimate performance of investments. As a country, we have experienced many political changes and upheavals, but, over time, our economy has always proven resilient enough to provide opportunities for those people with the faith to invest for the future. Here’s the bottom line: No matter who wins the presidency in November, and no matter which party controls Congress, you don’t need to change your investment style or revamp your portfolio. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should be oblivious to new policies and their potential impact on your investments. In fact, it’s a good idea to review your portfolio at least once a year with your financial advisor, who can recommend any changes that might be beneficial. So, when it’s time to cast your ballot, support the candidate who best advocates your concerns on a range of issues. But when it comes to your portfolio, make sure to “vote” for investment strategies, such as buying quality stocks and bonds, holding them for the long term and building an investment mix based on your goals and risk tolerance. This article was written by Edward Jones, located at 1505 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms, SC 29451. For more information, please call the Edward Jones offices at (843) 886-9229 or visit their website at www.edwardjones.com.

16

G

The “trick” to safety this Halloween

October 31, 2008

houls and goblins will take over the night, but even scary creatures need to be safe and celebrate Halloween right. Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and automobile collisions. The Carolina Lowcountry Chapter wants your family to have a safe Halloween so we’re providing these lucky 13 lyrical tips: *Map out the route that you plan to roam, so adults are assured, you will find your way home! *From the bravest of superheroes to the noblest of knights, everyone should remember to bring their flashlights!

Plan from cover

holders and residents of Sullivan’s Island,” Urban Edge Studios states on their blog. After several public meetings and walkthroughs where residents and business owners were able to voice their opinions and concerns, designers got to work on a plan. On October 16, they presented the long awaited rough draft of their “Master Plan”. They took the public’s help, combined it with their own data, and identified the major problems the commercial area experiences and offered several options for the Town to consider as solutions. Pedestrians: Sidewalks! The team suggested sidewalks in order for people to avoid walking in the grass and on the street. They offered a couple of options for visible crosswalks at crucial intersections, as well as lighting for safety. They stated that bicycle lanes would probably not be necessary as traffic calming devices (explained below) would minimize danger. However, a bike lane onto the island from the Ben Sawyer Bridge as well as a lane on the Mount Pleasant side was suggested. Traffic: The two-fold problem identified with off-island traffic was excessive speed and the tendency for visitors to enter and park in residential neighborhoods. So the goal was to reduce speeds and keep commercial traffic in the commercial district.

PROVIDED BY THE CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY CHAPTER OF THE RED CROSS *If you visit a house where a stranger resides, accept treats at the door and, please, don’t go inside. *When you get ready to put on your disguise, use face paint instead of masks, which will cover your eyes. *Always remember, before you embark, to wear light-colored clothing to be seen in the dark. (And remember to use reflective tape, even on bikes, skateboards and brooms!) *Whether you walk, slither or sneak, do it on the sidewalks and not in the streets. *As you roam through the neighborhood collecting your treats, please look

Eubanks noted that people tend to drive a speed that they feel comfortable driving, as opposed to the posted speed limit. Highway 703 (Ben Sawyer Bridge Blvd.) coming onto Sullivan’s Island and Middle Street are excessively wide, according to Eubanks, which lends itself to excessive speeds. Narrowing those roads would keep people from flying onto the island and driving too fast through the busy commercial district. They offered some landscaping and beautification ideas, including a tree laden median on 703 as a traffic calming device and a better “entry experience”. The bicycle lane would also narrow traffic lanes. They also suggested narrowing Middle Street to 11 feet, and to alleviate fears of claustrophobia, it was noted that the narrow lanes of downtown Charleston are only eight to nine feet wide. Eubanks noted that the current design encourages people to drive straight across Middle Street onto Station 22 1/2 as they enter the island to look for parking. They suggested closing 22 1/2 just past Dunleavy’s to vehicular traffic and creating an alley behind Dunleavy’s that would also run between Off the Hook and Dunleavy’s to force traffic to stay on Middle Street. Beyond the closing, the road would be narrowed, creating an avenue that could only be accessed on foot, bicycles or golf carts. This would help to keep visitors out of the residential area.

both ways before crossing the street. (And cross from the corner.) *Wigs, capes and costumes are flammable attire, so avoid open flames to prevent a fire. *Use a glow stick instead of a candle so your jack-o-lantern isn’t a safety gamble. *You may fly on a broom or a space ship from Mars, but please be on the lookout for drivers in cars. (And don’t hide between parked vehicles.) *Monsters and zombies should stay off the lawn, and only visit homes with their porch lights turned on. *You may be dressed as a werewolf,

Parking: The parking problem is inherently tied to the traffic problem. In order to relieve the stress residential neighborhoods experience, the team designed more parking spaces in the commercial district in several ways. First they suggested parallel parking on the Poe’s side of the street and reverseangle parking on the other. Reverse-angle parking is the same as angled parking except you have to back in. This is an alien concept in South Carolina, according to Eubanks, but much safer on busy streets, as it creates a better line of sight when leaving. They also suggested a turn-around at the Fire Station so that cars would be encouraged to stay on Middle Street to look for a spot in the commercial district instead of turning onto a side street and entering a residential neighborhood. One of the more radical concepts was turning the mound beside the Fire Station into an amphitheatre with possible parking on top. They also suggested utilizing some of the area behind Poe’s and Exit Realty for parking. By increasing the amount of parking in the commercial district, they reasoned there would be less of a spillover into the residential neighborhoods. Eubanks prefaced the presentation with a warning that not everybody was going to be happy with every aspect of the plan. For example, the Town’s current zoning has some commercial lots split-zoned so that the front-half is commercial and the back half is residential. In order to utilize the area behind Poe’s and Exit Realty for parking, Eubanks suggested an “overlay” zoning district that would allow those specific commercial lots to be split-zoned into thirds so that the front third remained commercial, the middle for parking, and the rear remained residential. The smaller thirds would reduce any expansion a business owner might consider there while retaining a buffer between the residents on Jasper Boulevard. The difficulty faced by designers became apparent as contradictory complaints were made by people wanting the same things. While most residents wanted the commercial district

www.islandeyenews.sc

a cat or a frog, but be cautious around strange animals, especially a dog. *Have a grown-up inspect your candy when you’re done trick-or-treating, to remove open packages and choking hazards before eating. For a detailed list of Halloween safety tips for motorists, parents and homeowners, visit www.lowcountryredcross.org and click on NEWS. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or contact the Carolina Lowcountry Chapter, www.lowcountryredcross.org, 843-764-2323, ext. 386.

restrained to the commercial district, at least one person claimed that part of the plan goes against island philosophy. Resident Pat Votava presented a difficult argument when she condemned the aspect of the plan that increased parking in the commercial district because it increased density. She also condemned the concept of an overlay district as a way of usurping current zoning laws so that the commercial district could be expanded into a residential zone. As a resident of Jasper Boulevard, the additional parking behind Poe’s and Exit would put traffic between the restaurant and Jasper. Furthermore, by splitting the split-zone into thirds, the extra third steals space from the commercial segment as well as the residential segment for parking. Eubanks noted that an overlay district does not override the existing zoning codes. Instead, it creates a “blanket” of additional regulations that apply only to that overlay zone. The plan also suggested moving Town Hall to the commercial district, which would allow police to have more of a presence as well as providing more parking afterhours. Some residents took advantage of the fact that several Town Council members were in attendance to ask if the Council wanted the island to grow. Everett Presson stood and spoke on behalf of Town Council saying they “don’t want one more single person coming on Sullivan’s Island”. He said the Council doesn’t want growth, but wants to control what’s happening in the commercial district. The designers stressed the fact that the plan is strictly conceptual at this time and were open to additional meetings with residents of Jasper Boulevard who are concerned about the potential impact on their neighborhoods. There are more steps in the process and Town Council will ultimately decide what to do with the suggestions. To see various details of the planning process and the plan itself visit: www.ls3p.com/SullivansIsland.htm The Sullivan’s Island Town Council is scheduled to meet again on November 18 at 6:00pm at Town Hall.

Olie turns 100

October 31, 2008

Anybody know a good ark builder?

17

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BETTY DILLON

Over 200 friends and family gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Olie Moorer.

That’s why it’s called the Lowcountry. Anybody who may have forgotten received a reminder when heavy rains inundated the many low-lying areas in and around Charleston on Friday, October 24. Widespread flooding occurred and was more severe than the typical flooding we see during normal storms. Betwen six and eight inches of rain was reported and flooding as deep as three feet.

On October 24, Tommie Sue Moorer, more commonly known as “Olie” turned 100 years old. Her nickname is a contraction of “Old Lady”, her daughter Betty Dillon says. Olie and her husband used to call each other Old Lady and Old Man. However, the younger children had trouble pronouncing it and it came out “Olie”. About 200 people turned out to celebrate the event at Sunrise Presbyterian Church where Olie is a member and elder. At the party were pieces of memorabilia such as a 97 year-old doll, a high chair and part of her old high school basketball uniform which consisted of a skirt and bloomers. Sullivan’s Island Mayor Carl Smith was on hand to present a resolution from the Town recognizing the milestone birthday girl. She also recited “It takes a heap of living in a house to make a home” by Edward Guest which Olie learned as a young girl. Dillon says the poem tells a lot about who Olie is and her philosophy. Today Olie enjoys crossword puzzles, sitting in her porch swing and college basketball (She’s a big fan of Bobby Cremins). She is also a lifetime member of Presbyterian Woman. Olie has twin daughters, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

www.islandeyenews.sc

S

Nature

October 31, 2008

Big trouble from a little Chinese plant

uch a friendly plant, and so easy to please! But once you’ve got it in your backyard, it may never want to leave. This is one of those plants from far away, an introduced species that has actually been popular in Southeastern gardens for a while now. It is a native of southern Asia, mostly India and China. If you start looking into it, you’ll discover that many of our favorite garden plants - in fact, most of them have their original homes somewhere else. Various introduced species in American gardens stretch back well into the colonial period. Consider “Cherokee” rose (from China, which doesn’t have anything to do with the Cherokee Indian tribe) or Chinaberry (from India). Both were introduced for gardens well before the Revolutionary War. Of course, there are more recent introductions, too. Ginkgo and Dawn redwood are much more recent introductions and both are very popular trees. Many introduced plant species tend to go a bit crazy once they reach their new homes (Japanese honeysuckle is surely the best example of such a detestable weed), but certainly not all of them. Our Mystery Plant this week is

BY JOHN NELSON

one of those species which does have the potential to get out of control, depending on where it is planted. Botanists have traditionally placed this species in the verbena family, although recent research suggests that it is better considered a member of the mint family. It’s a perennial herb with smooth stems and dark green, opposite leaves, stalked and shaped like valentines...valentines with teeth on the edges. The leaves are sort of stinky when crushed up, smelling a bit like bad peanut butter. This plant blooms in the late summer or fall and

can put on quite a show. Dozens of small tubular flowers will be crowded into a head. In bud, the corollas are a reddish magenta and when completely open, they turn a bright pink. The corolla has five prominent lobes at the end and the stamens stick way out at the top. In flower, the plants put on quite a spectacle and can be encouraged to bloom more by PHOTO BY SARA LINDSAY frequent deadheading. The flowers are quite fragrant, too, sometimes filling the air on a still day with a fresh, spicy perfume. Big, blooming plants attract plenty of hummingbirds and butterflies, too. This species is not tolerant of frost, and

I

everything above ground will die during that first really cold night. The plants will come back, though. They have plenty of living roots and runners down below. If you have any interest in growing this plant, be aware that it can spread, especially in warmer areas, becoming a beautiful pest. In fact, plenty of gardeners out there who planted it in their yards wish they never had, because it can be hard to control. I’m not much of a gardener, but I would think that if you really want this thing in your yard, it should be put it in a big, sturdy flower-pot. And keep it there! John Nelson is the curator of the Herbarium in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. As a public service, the Herbarium offers free plant identifications. For more information, visit www.herbarium.org or call 803777-8196. Answer:

“Glory bower,” “Kashmir bouquet,” Clerodendrum bungei

18

Pumpkins: life after Halloween BY MARY GATCH

love seeing all of the pumpkins during the fall. With modern growing and commerce practices, many food items are seen throughout the year, but pumpkins have kept their seasonality and most are grown close to home. Pumpkins help keep us connected to the best of all of our fall memories. But pumpkins have become a bit underutilized. They are often bought solely for decoration and carving, but pumpkins have much more to give. If you have any un-carved pumpkins, you may be able to roast the pumpkin seeds or discover all of the flavorful dishes you can make with pumpkins. If you go to www.allrecipes.com and search on pumpkin, you’ll find more than 650 recipes made with pumpkin – everything from pumpkin burgers to pie. And, if you’ve carved a jack-olantern, cool days will allow you to enjoy your art a while longer. But most of you may have noticed that it doesn’t take long for Mother Nature to start reclaiming her work. If you throw the pumpkin in your garbage can, it will likely make its way to the incinerator to be burned with the rest of the trash. This year, you can

www.islandeyenews.sc

have a little more fun and nourish your soil by composting your pumpkin. If you already have a composting bin or area, you can add your pumpkin as you would other vegetable scraps. But, if you’ve never composted before, a pumpkin is a simple way to start.  For un-carved pumpkins, remove the insides for cooking (you can also compost the insides; composting the seeds may result in pumpkin plants next year).  Remove any candles or wax.  Find a spot in your yard for your pumpkin’s final resting spot. This should be out of the way of daily activity. A sunny spot will speed the composting process.  Place your carved pumpkin in the spot and smash it a bit or allow kids to have fun smashing it a lot.  Cover it with a layer of leaves and, let nature do its work. Worms will turn your pumpkin into nourishing compost. This is the easiest way to compost and it’s surprisingly painless. You may not enjoy the smell of a pumpkin rotting in your garbage can, but there’s no bad smell as vegetables naturally degrade in an environment with fresh air and some sunshine.

see Pumpkin on page 23

October 31, 2008

S

Hard water vs. soft water

ullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms residents are still sharing backup water due to a leak in the water main under Charleston Harbor. The water is slightly “slimier” than it used to be because of the degree of softness in the water, a condition created by low levels of minerals or “hardness” in the backup water. The two islands received “60 milligrams per liter of hardness on

19

BY BRITTANY URBACH

average before. Now they’re getting 30 milligrams per liter on average,” says George Gross, Isle of Palms Water and Sewer Commission’s General Manager. The water line has been repaired and is back underwater in its original position. However, in the interest of caution, Public Works wants to fully test the line before providing water again, because the area where the pipe had

been lying has been disturbed with their work. They want to make sure that everything is sturdy and the pipe won’t shift or move, creating more problems in the future. But it should be back online very soon. For more information, please visit www.charlestonwater.com. Soft Water Statistics:  “Soft water takes less soap to get more lather,” says Gross.  Has higher levels of sodium than hard water and lacks the other minerals of hard water, making the taste slightly salty and undesirable.  Better for household chores, as it doesn’t leave soap scum and build up. Hard Water Statistics:  Tastes better due to higher mineral content.  Can cause build up in pipes and eventually lead to clogging.  Soap scum tends to form on

Council from page 3

dishes, in sinks, and showers due to the lack of lather hard water creates with soap.

Ordinances In addition to the Planning Commission ordinance, the Council also passed two additional ordinances. The Council passed first reading of an ordinance that would prohibit any new bars or restaurants within 300 feet of an existing bar or restaurant between Station 22 1/2 and Station 22.The Council also passed second reading of an ordinance that will bring the Town’s smoking ban into compliance with State law.

www.islandeyenews.sc

October 31, 2008

20

Donate your books for Christmas to Trident Literacy

Trident Literacy Association is collecting new and gently used children’s books for the children of their adult students for Christmas through December 18. Books for babies through teens will be accepted at all seven Trident Literacy sites in the Lowcountry. “Many of our students do not have books in their homes. By giving them books for their children, we encourage parents to read with their children, and that improves everyone’s reading abilities,” explained Eileen Chepenik, executive director of Triden Literacy. Bring books to any Trident Literacy site. Sites are located at: 5416-B Rivers Avenue, North Charleston 1935 Reynolds Avenue, North Charleston 472-E Meeting Street, Charleston 325 E. Main Street, Moncks Corner (Trident United Way Service Center) 102 Goose Creek Boulevard, B-4, Goose Creek 117 S. Main Street, Summerville (Trident United Way Service Center) 622 Bacons Bridge Road, Summerville (Goodwill Training Center) Trident Literacy Association is a leading provider of basic literacy, GEDprep, English as a second language and computer instruction for adults in the tri-county. For more information call 747-2223.

A good Halloween scare BY KILEY BENNETT, 9 YEARS OLD, 4TH GRADE

On October 30, 1938, a great scare was put forth in America. The Village Playhouse reenacted the city-flushing story the War of the Worlds. The scary tones in their voices and the way they interpreted the program made it sound like a real news report of something that was actually happening when it was truly just a story. I liked the sound effects and the drama. The sound effects were amazing because they used everyday life items to imitate other sounds, such as a microphone held behind a fan to make the humming noise of a plane, and as the plane was shot down by the aliens, they struck a dollar in

the fan blades to make it sound like trees getting hit by the plane. When the emergency crew was assisting injured citizens over the gravel, the girl doing the sound effects walked in a box full of gravel. The drama was so real that some people took into consideration that this was really happening. Even after announcing that the story was a dramatization, people had already evacuated homes and buildings and others were frightened and upset. All in all, it was an amazing play and I recommend it to all, and don’t forget, Happy Halloween!

FIND THE SIX GHOSTS

www.islandeyenews.sc

October 31, 2008

ISLE OF PALMS RECREATION CENTER www.iop.net, 886-8294 Visit website or call for a full schedule of events Special Events

Halloween Carnival and Costume Contest Friday, October 31, 2008 5:00pm-7:00pm FREE for all ages Jump Castles, Carnival Games, Obstacle Course, Temporary Tattoo Booth, Face Painter, Halloween Candy and More. The costume contest will start at 5:30pm. Youth & Adult Programs Volleyball Open gym, Wednesdays Youth, 4:00pm -5:00pm 16yrs +, 5:00pm-6:30pm

Youth Drawing Wednesdays 4:00pm-5:00pm $15 per class Call for more Information

Adult Tae Kwon Do (12+ yrs) Lower belts:Monday 6:30-7:30pm Wednesday 7-7:45pm Brown/Black belts: Wednesday 7:45-9:15pm Saturday 10:00-12:00am

In order to qualify for “Youth of the Year/Month”:

*Must live on the Isle of Palms or Sullivan’s Island or be a descendant of the past or present member of the Isle of Palms Exchange Club. *Must demonstrate excellence in leadership, community service and academics. *Must be hard-working, involved in the community and school activities. *Must demonstrate good sportsmanship, good citizenship, have good attendance in school. *Write an Essay titled: “America’s Youth – Stepping Forward to Change the Beat of America”. *Send a resume of their activities during high school. *Write a short essay on their Goals and Aspirations for the future. *Fill out the application that will be given to the applicant and return by January 2, 2009. Meeks/Sotille Scholarship:

Isle of Palms Rec Kinderpuppy (8 wks – 5 months) New class begins October 20 Mondays 6:30pm-7:30pm $90 residents/$95 non-residents

Mommy & Me Children 3 yrs and under Accompanied by an adult September thru May Wednesdays (except 1st Wed. of the month) 9:30am-11:00am FREE

Jump Start - SPACE AVAILABLE (4 - 5 yrs by September 1, 2008) Monday/Wednesday/Friday $110 +$5 non-resident fee and/or Tuesday/Thursday $75 +$5 non-resident fee 9:00am-noon Call for more information-886-8294 Adult Co-Ed Tennis New session October 21 Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:30pm-7:30pm $85 resident/$90 non-resident

Women’s Tennis Tuesday & Thursday 9:00am-10:00am New session October 21 $85 residents/$90 non-residents

New session October 21 Tuesday & Thursday 4:15pm-5:15pm $80 resident/$85 non-resident Youth Tennis (9 - 12 yrs) New session October 21 Tuesday & Thursday 5:15pm-6:15pm $80 resident/$85 non-resident Youth Sports

Youth Basketball IOP Residents registration October 20 - 24 Non-Residents registration October 27 – November 14 Age as of Feb.28,2008 $30 resident/$35 Non-resident Exercise Classes

Sports Conditioning Tuesdays & Thursdays 5:15pm to 6:15pm $60 resident/$65 non-resident $7 per class

*Must live on the Isle of Palms or Sullivan’s Island or be a descendant of the past or present member of the Isle of Palms Exchange Club. *Must demonstrate excellence in leadership, community service and academics. *Must be hard-working, involved in the community and school activities. *Must demonstrate good sportsmanship, good citizenship, have good attendance in school. *Write an Essay titled: “America’s Youth – Stepping Forward to Change the Beat of America”. *Send a resume of their activities during high school or college. *Fill out the application that will be given to the applicant and return by January 2, 2009.

Students who receive the Youth of the Month/Year award will: *Be honored along with their parents and siblings at a monthly IOP. *Exchange Club meeting. *Receive a monetary award along with a plaque for their

$60 residents/ $65 non-residents/6 weeks $7 per class

Conditioning Xpress Mondays & Wednesdays 5:00pm-5:30pm $30 resident/$35 non-resident/month $5 per class Total Body Challenge Tuesday thru Friday Every day a different challenge 8:00am to 9:00am $7.00 a class/or buy # of classes

Mat & Floor 101 Wednesdays, 1:45pm to 2:45pm $50 resident/$55 non-resident/6 weeks $10 per class Home School Fitness Wednesday & Fridays 10:00am-Noon Free Open gym setting

Yoga (16 yrs +) 12:30pm to 2:00pm Tuesdays & Thursdays $80 resident/$85 non-resident/session $10 per class Evening Yoga (12 yrs +) 5:30pm to 6:30pm Mondays & Wednesdays

Be a Youth of the Year! Youth Tennis (6 - 8 yrs)

21

accomplishments. The Youth of the Year will be nominated to the South Carolina District Exchange Club for their Youth of the Year competition and if they win they will be nominated to the National Exchange Club’s Youth of the Year competition. In 2007, SC had a National Winner who received $10,000 towards her college education. In 2008, the IOP Exchange Club had a state winner who received $2000 towards her college education. Students who win the Meeks/Sotille Scholarship award will: *Be honored along with their parents and siblings at a monthly IOP Exchange Club meeting. *Receive a monetary award which will be determined after our annual Oyster Roast in January. All proceeds from the oyster roast go to the scholarship winners. In 2008 4 - $2000 scholarships, 1 - $1500 scholarships, and several smaller scholarships were given.

www.islandeyenews.sc

Jump Start participant gets to sit at the wheel of the fire truck

Applications can be requested from: Elizabeth Grantham [email protected] All applications, essays (2), and resumes are due by January 2, 2009 for both the YOM/Y and Meeks/Sotille Scholarships.

22

Automotive

COMPLETE SERVICE & REPAIR FROM FAMILY SEDAN TO HIGH PERFORMANCE

KARL TROY

843-747-1342

BMW  PORSCHE  MERCEDES  VW AUDI  FERRARI  LAMBORGHINI 4560 Rivers Avenue North Charleston, SC 29405

w w w . e u r o p e a n r o a d a n d r ac i n g. c o m

Computers

12 years experience ►On-site computer repair ►Wirelss networking & security ►Small business network design & installation

Mi cr oso ft Ce rt ifi ed

Beauty

Beauty

and the

Beach

Gina Rowe and Catherine Wheeler 883-9101 2205 Middle St., Suite 101 Sullivan’s Island

Advertise Here

$50


Quality Computer Services ►Over

Island Business Directory

870-3312

Advertise Here

$50 per issue

per issue

Call 843-327-2662or email [email protected] 6 issue minimum

Advertise Here

$50 per issue

Advertise Here

$50 per issue

Call 843-327-2662or email [email protected] 6 issue minimum

Health Benefits

For individuals and families Contact your local Agent TODAY!

Bob Fairbairn 843-530-4693

Authorized Agent for:

Massage

October 31, 2008

Cleaning

Organic Cleaning With a Twist!


Home Spa Pkgs/Signature Amenities


Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
Residential & Commercial

Be Smart • Be Pure • Maidpure www.maidpure.com 843-576-9465

Home Plans

Over 400 Coastal Home Plans from 25 Designers & Architects

Visit us at www.CoastalHomePlans.com or call

886-5500

Print Shop

massage airbrush tan facials waxing

843-883-9131

Call 843-327-2662or email [email protected]

Call 843-327-2662or email [email protected]

2213 MIddle Street Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482

COPY  PRINT BIND  SCAN SURF  SORT  FAX  PACK SHIP

Painting

Pet Sitting

Advertise Here

Advertise Here

per issue

per issue

6 issue minimum

Southern

Paint & Restoration

6 issue minimum

Locally owned by IOP resident

*Beach/park dog outings *Mid day walks

*Special needs care

Interior & Exterior Licensed & Insured

843-478-0516 Jeff Antley Owner

Pet Sitting

PET NANNIES

Pet and Home Sitting Service 843-442-8400 843-412-5026 Rates $11-$15 per visit

Call for overnight Travel with peace of mind! Insured and Bonded

www.petnannies.org

·Sullivan’s Island ·Mt. Pleasant

·Isle of Palms

Karen Ward-Linker Cell: 452-3729 Office: 242-7547

www.islandpaws.org

Real Estate rēinvented

Get BACK 50%

Full service Real Estate Broker offers a buyer agent reward of 50% of the buyer’s agent commission. 747-4762 w w w. r e h a v a . c o m

[email protected]

$50

$50

Call 843-327-2662or email [email protected]

Call 843-327-2662or email [email protected]

Remodeling

Sweet Treats

6 issue minimum

6 issue minimum

Carolina Cupcake Company

 Complete bathroom remodeling  Tub to shower conversions  Fiberglass Replacements

w w w .c h a r l e s t o n c u p c a k e . c o m

or

“These are not your mother’s cupcakes!”

Everything except Paint & Wall Paper

1-800-BATHTUB 843-856-2775

1226 Pherigo St . Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Louise Conway 345-4932

If you have any questions, please contact the Isle of Palms Business License Office at 886-9912 or come by 1301 Palm Boulevard, Isle of Palms, SC 29451. The Town of Sullivan's Island requires that anyone conducting business on the Town of Sullivan's Island obtain a Town Business License. 2008 Business Licenses are due by February 1, 2008 or will be subject to penalties. If you have any questions, or to obtain a license, please contact Town Hall at (843)883-3198, 1610 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, South Carolina 29482.

October 31, 2008

Auto donations

Oktoberfest, island-style

National Advertising Network

DONATE YOUR CAR-HELP DISABLED CHILDREN WITH CAMP AND EDUCATION. Quickest Towing. Non-Runners/Title Problems OK. Free Vacations/Cruise Voucher. Special Kids Fund 1-866-448-3865

Items for sale

MEMORY FOAM THERAPEUTIC NASA VISCO MATTRESSES WHOLESALE! T-$299 F-$349 Q$399 K-$499 ADJUSTABLES - $799 FREE DELIVERY 25 YEAR WARRANTY 60 NIGHT TRIAL 1800-ATSLEEP 1-800-287-5337 WWW.MATTRESSDR.COM

Miscellaneous

Reach over 30 million homes with one

buy. Advertise in NANI for only $2,795 per week! For information, visit www.naninetwork.com.

Real estate

COLORADO acreage $35,000! In Rocky Mountain canyon with trout fishing stream on property! Very private, gated ranch, adjoins gov’t. lands. $1,000.00 down. Owner finance. 806-376-8690.

Timeshares

BUY TIMESHARE RESALES SAVE 60-80% OFF RETAIL!! Best Resorts & Seasons. Call for FREE TIMESHARE MAGAZINE! 1-800-639-5319 www.holidaygroup.com/flier

23

The Isle of Palms Neighborhood Association Oktoberfest was held on Saturday, October 25 at the IOP Exchange Club. Approximately 70 people attended. Members enjoyed German beer, brats and homemade dishes from neighbors while enjoying the beautiful sunset on the waterway. To find out more about the Isle of Palms Neighborhood Association, please visit www.saveiop.com or call Catherine Malloy at 886-3171.

Top: (left to right) Larry Stafford, Terri Stafford, Ann Evans, Carol Rice and Seth Rice. Bottom: (back, left to right) Pat Bruce and Mark Chesnut (front, left to right) Carey Barati and Laurie Chesnut

Pumpkin from page 18 Mary Gatch is an owner of DwellSmart, a one-stop shop for healthy and environmentally-friendly products. Mary lives on Sullivan’s Island with her husband James, daughter Julian, and son Adam. You can contact her by e-mail at [email protected] or by visiting the store at 615 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mount Pleasant (between Eco Fitness and Twin Rivers Bowling).

www.islandeyenews.sc