Island Eye News - August 7, 2009

Since May 2005

Sullivan’s Island

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Isle of Palms

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Goat Island • Dewees Island

Uncovering the Mound

2000

By Dylan Sharek

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here used to be a gangly oak tree in my Aunt Maureen’s backyard. No matter what time of day or the weather, you could find me, my sister, and cousins amidst its gnarled limbs. The tree consumed much of our summers, and our activities revolved around the endless hours of innocent fun that it provided. Just off Middle Street and Station 21 on Sullivan’s Island, there’s a landmark that harkens back to that sort of playground fun. To many on the Island, that place is known simply as “the Mound”, a mysterious, 30 foot anomaly hidden among the Town’s sea level streets. On any given day, countless children can be seen climbing the Mound’s overgrown base and battling its steep, weeded slopes. Once at the top, there’s no easy way down. “Ow, ow, ow, ow,” four year old Landon Fleming muttered as he slid down the mound on his rear, the ride of choice when there’s no leftover cardboard slabs to be found at the foot of the steep hill. Randall Fleming, a Charleston local, brought Landon and his brother, Harrison, age five, to the Sullivan’s Island Park for some traditional fun this past

Wednesday. “Come on guys, y’all want to play in the bamboo forest?” he asked when they reached the bottom. As the boys hurried to get lost in the bamboo groves which occupy much of the right side of the mound, Fleming headed off after them. “Have a good day,” he said, smiling over his shoulder. Formerly an American army ammunition store and mortar battery, the area now known as the Mound barely resembles its original appearance on the Island. Constructed in 1898 for $175,000, the earth and reinforced concrete structure was part of the Endicott System of seacoast defense and was active from the outset of the Spanish American War through much of World War II. Named after Capt. Allyn K. Capron, a member of the U.S. Volunteer Calvary who was killed in action during the Spanish American clash, the embattlement never saw any action. The grassy area atop the Mound, where sightseers now register amazing views of the Charleston Harbor, the Ben Sawyer Bridge, and Middle Street, was once a man-made pit

PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON, SC PERMIT NO 437

August 7, 2009

FREE

Volume 5 Issue 7

1943

see The Mound on page 4

Photos of Battery Capron-Butler provided by Fort Sumter National Monument.

Inside Island Eye

Disaster Preparation page 11

Camp Kids page 18

Paul Tucker: boat captain page 21

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August 7, 2009

Sullivan’s Island Town Council Paving the way Council member Madeleine McGee met with Transportation Secretary Buck Limehouse to discuss several aspects of Sullivan’s Island traffic, including Middle Street repaving and traffic control devices. While the information had not been officially confirmed, McGee related that Middle Street repaving is not expected to begin until January of 2010, nearly a year after it was expected to start. Mayor Carl Smith blamed the delay on 1st Congressional District Commissioner Danny Isaac, remarking that Department of Transportation (DOT) funds which were supposed to be used to repave Middle Street were diverted to

Staff Report

the area around Isaac’s home on Myrtle Beach. On another matter, McGee discussed the possibility of installing four-way pedestrian crosswalks at key intersections, as well as lowering the speed limit on Jasper Boulevard to 30mph. If the speed limit was lowered to 30mph, it would allow streetlegal golf carts to legally travel from Sullivan’s Island all the way to Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms. Back it up The presentation of the Commercial District Master Plan is still being delayed by the “reverse-angle” parking aspect of the plan. Reverse-angle parking works

the same as standard parking, except that it is designed so that vehicles can pull into the space in reverse. The design is supposed to make it easier and safer for a car to leave the space and enter the flow of traffic. Sullivan’s Island would be the first municipality to have reverse-angle parking in the state of South Carolina. However, the State’s Department of Transportation does not seem willing to permit reverse-angle parking. Council member Madeleine McGee suggested that the Town start looking at alternatives. Council member Pat O’Neil suggested that the Town present the idea as a test, which might make it easier for the DOT to swallow.

Seabreeze with a twist Waterspout spotted near the Isle of Palms

Thanks to Isle of Palms resident Joanie Teel for grabbing this snapshot from her roof of a waterspout forming over the ocean this past weekend. “I woke up this morning and saw this waterspout  / tornado outside of my window,” she writes. “It was just offshore near Breach Inlet.”  Share your island photos with the Island Eye News! Submissions can be sent to info@luckydognews. com.

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No definitive date has been set for the presentation of the Commercial District Master Plan to island residents. Marine Patrol Police Chief Danny Howard stated that Sullivan’s Island may be co-operating with Charleston County in the future with the County’s marine patrol division. The County, he said, is trying to work with various local municipalities in order to get some extra manpower for the patrol. While the County has plenty of equipment, including boats and helicopters, there is a relative shortage of people to operate the see SI Council on page 4

August 7, 2009

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IOP Town Council – July 28, 2009

Citizen’s ccomments Kellen Correia, representing the Friends of the Hunley, requested the Council’s permission for a small film crew from Half Yard Productions to film on the beach. The company has been contracted by National Geographic for a documentary about the famous submarine. They’d like to use Sullivan’s Island as a backdrop and the Isle of Palms presents a good location from which to do so. The Council approved and filming will occur on August 13, for five to six hours in the morning. Correia assured Mayor Cronin that the small, four person crew doesn’t have any heavy equipment and will access the beach only by foot. The documentary is set to air next November. Reviewing the Plan Planning Commission chairman Ron Denton approached the Council to explain the Commission’s review of changes recommended to the Isle of Palm’s Comprehensive Plan. He noted that there were two new elements to the plan: transportation, which was already in the plan, but is now State mandated as a stand alone element; and priority investment, which can best be explained as communities working with each other, especially when it’s more economically effective than other alternatives. In addition to tightened grammar, the plan has had five major adjustments since it’s last review: there is a need for a parking study, erosion management was redefined, traffic counts should be determined, the language of the Planned Development District (PDD) with Wild Dunes was cleared up, and storm water quality should be reassessed. Mayor Cronin thanked Denton for the Planning

Isle of Palms 886-6428 www.iop.net Tuesday, August 11 Public Works Committee Meeting 4pm 1303 Palm Boulevard Public Safety Committee Meeting 5pm 30 J.C. Long Boulevard

Wednesday, August 12 Recycle Municipal Court 10am 1207 Palm Boulevard

Tuesday, August 18

Commission’s work in reviewing the plan and opened the floor to any questions from the Council. Council member Michael Loftus asked Denton where the number .02% came from as the probability of a noise complaint on any given night on the Isle of Palms. Denton explained his process, which included dividing the average number of complaints each year over the summer days during which they are highest. Councilman Brian Duffy asked Denton if he had considered excluding commercial complaints from the residential complaints. “I think knowing the ‘just residential’ complaint number will significantly skew your figure. What happens in the commercial and resort areas has nothing to do with residential livability,” said Duffy. Councilman Ralph Piening asked Denton if he was confident in the data, to which Denton replied that it’s the only data they have. The information comes from the police department and the numbers have been improving over the last three years. Mayor Cronin ended the discussion, stating that it can resume at the next meeting after the Council has had time to look over the changes.

the Public Safety Committee’s meeting in support of permanently closing Cameron Boulevard at the intersection of 41st Avenue. The Council then voted and approved a request to the Department of Transportation, asking them to close off Cameron and make permanent stops signs at the intersection. Councilman Piening thanked Noel Scott for getting citizens active in voicing their opinions on the matter. Off the clock The Council congratulated Employee of the Month Officer Sharon Baldrick for her quick response to a possible break-in in progress in Wild Dunes on her day off. She identified the suspect in the immediate area and detained him. The suspect was determined to be responsible for previous burglaries, including the theft of an ATV. The Council also congratulated the safety sweepstakes winners of the month: Debbie Suggs, Bernard Gourdine, Shaun Gadsden and Stephen Hicks. see IOP Council on page 4

Ka-ching! Mayor Cronin was pleased to inform the Council that the City should end up coming in around three hundred thousand dollars under budget after the fiscal year ends. The funds may be used to eliminate a property tax increase, bolster the disaster recovery funds, or it could be saved for projects in the future, such as dredging the Marina. On Cameron Boulevard Councilman Marty Betelli reported that several citizens attended

Wednesday, August 19 Municipal Court 10am 1207 Palm Boulevard ------------Sullivan's Island 883-3198 www.sullivansisland-sc.com Tuesday, August 11 Municipal Court 10am 1610 Middle Street Wednesday, August 12 Recycle

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

Lynn Pierotti Publisher [email protected] Kristin Hackler Editor [email protected] Swan Richards Graphic Designer [email protected] Ali Akhyari Assistant Editor [email protected] Chelsea Langan Advertising [email protected] 843-327-2662 Ashleigh McHenry Advertising [email protected] Interns Micah Brown Chris Marchewka Dylan Sharek Ellie Smith • Contributors Barbara Bergwerf Brett Carlson Bobby Cummings David Farrow IOP Rec Center Hank Lightcap Poe Library Tony McKie John McMullen Mary Pringle Smoky Weiner Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS Submit your letters to the editor to: [email protected] Future deadlines: August 12 for all submissions.

For updates on the 2009 turtle nesting season, visit www.bergwerfgraphics.com

Civic Calendar Ways and Means Committee Meeting 5:45pm 1207 Palm Boulevard

L u cky D og Pu bl i sh i n g of S C , L L C

Planning Commission 6:30pm 1610 Middle Street

Thursday, August 13 Board of Zoning Appeals 7pm 1610 Middle Street Tuesday, August 18 Regular Council Meeting 6pm 1610 Middle Street Wednesday, August 19 DRB Meeting 6pm 1610 Middle Street

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.com under “advertising”.

Civic

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IOP Council from page 3

equipment. In exchange for offering a policeman to be trained and available for marine patrol, Sullivan’s Island would also have certain rights to the County’s marine patrol equipment. Furthermore, the Town will have an extra person who can operate a boat in an emergency situation because of the training. Want to serve? The Town announced that several Board and Commission seats are up for re-appointment and interested persons have until August 13 to turn in an application. It was stressed that an incumbent who wants to serve again is not automatically reinstated, which means every seat is up for reappointment. Interested persons should contact Town Hall at 883-3198 for more information. A happy ending The Town Council applauded the terrific handling of the Town budget in these tough economic times, as Sullivan’s Island is ending the fiscal year with a $238,000 surplus. That’s a lot of cornbread. McGee catches Sabbath Tax Novice Council member Madeleine McGee recently discovered a potential $12,000 oversight in the Town’s budget when she asked about a particular section of the budget about which no one was certain. It turned out to be sums of Sabbath alcohol tax collections. When restaurants and bars obtain a permit to serve alcohol, they are only permitted to serve it six days a week: Monday through Friday and one day during the weekend. In order to serve alcohol on the seventh day, a restaurant has to pay an additional $3000 every year. In the Town’s budget, McGee noticed $9000 under an ambiguous heading. It turned out to be the amount collected for the Sabbath Tax, which accounted for only three restaurants that had paid. However, there are more than three restaurants that serve alcohol all week on the island. No one could be sure at the time of the Town Council meeting on July 21 where the money was; whether it had been put in an inappropriate part of the budget or if it had been paid at all. Jason Blanton, the Town’s Comptroller, has been charged with investigating the matter. The Mound from cover in which 16 twelve-inch mortars were housed. Branching from the cavernous center, offshoot tunnels stored ammunition and shells. In 1909, the battery was split into two, the northern half becoming Battery Butler, dedicated to founding father Pierce Butler, and the southern half remaining Battery Capron. It acted as a command bunker for most of the next decade before half of its mortars were stripped and scrapped in 1919. At the time of its decommissioning in 1942, the battery acted primarily as a ballistics training facility. In 1947, Battery Capron became property of the State before officially being handed over to the island in 1975. After the fort’s retirement, the

Where were you? Mayor Cronin commented that the Disaster Preparedness Expo on Sullivan’s Island was poorly attended and that next year, when the Isle of Palm’s hosts the Expo, attendance must be amped up. He also added that he hopes it won’t take a hurricane for citizens to get interested in disaster preparation. Surfing the airwaves Mayor Cronin informed the Council that

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August 7, 2009 the radio station WIOP 95.9 has begun broadcasting from Mount Pleasant. He has met with their management and seeing as they claim the IOP as their City of license, they’ll be more than happy work with the Council. Approaching election Mayor Cronin reminded everyone that the town will have an election November 3 and that packets for applications will be available at noon on Monday, August 17. Packets and petitions must be submitted by Friday, August 28.

Pet Helpers Pets of the Week

Johnny 5: Hey! My name is Johnny 5 and I am quite the conversation piece with my groovy ears. I am a Terrier mix and less than a year old, so I’m yours for the training. Come take me home and let’s get the town talking about my cute self!!!

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Wentworth – Hi I am yet another black cat passed over for years simply because of the color of my fur….and the fact I have an ugly wart on my head. I am a 4 ½ year old male. I know I am not the prettiest cat but don’t judge a book by its cover, I have a lot to offer. Come and see what I can offer you.  Adoption fees include spay, neu- Pet Helpers is located at 1447 Folly Rd Hours: Mon. – Fri. from 11am – 6pm ter, vaccinations, testing, and Sat from 11am - 5pm. microchip ID Pet Helpers Low Cost Closed: Sundays and Holidays. Spay-Neuter Clinic 302-0556, call For more information, call 795-1110 for appointment. or go to www. pethelpers.org.

oddest thing happened: people started playing on it; sliding down its hills on cardboard, exploring the bamboo forests that slowly began consuming its perimeter, and enjoying the bird’s eye views it afforded. There was a ditch at its base where children would set up ramps and attempt their best Evel Knievel imitation on bicycles. When the cavern in its center was fenced off, it immediately became a climb that had to be made by adventurous children. William “Red” Wood, who was a member of the Sullivan’s Island Town Council for 30 years, has seen the battery through all the phases of its lifecycle. “In the early days, my wife’s family used to go to the mortar battery during hurricanes to protect themselves in the tunnels … But I can also remember my kid used to slide down that thing

all the time. I even made him a sled,” said Wood. And when the Town received an opportunity to commandeer an old train caboose from the Railroad Society, the foot of the battery was the natural choice for its resting place. However, with the development of the area surrounding the battery, more children began arriving and playing around the old structures, and injuries around the battery increased. “Some kids were doing things they shouldn’t be doing. We couldn’t keep them out of the tunnels …one kid fell in [the mortar pit],” Wood recalls. And then the train caboose slowly turned from an homage to the Town’s early railroad history to nothing more than a makeshift restroom and smoking lounge. Some time right before Hurricane

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Hugo, the decision was made to raze the caboose in order to curb some of the loitering and injury issues. Still, the injuries occurred. And in the 1990s, an unconfirmed rumor of a sexual assault within the battery’s tunnels spurred further precautions. In the late 1990s, the tunnels and mortar pits at Battery Capron and Battery Butler were finally filled. There’s a lot to be discovered at “the Mound”; mystery for those who don’t know about the unusual hill in the middle of a low-lying island, and there’s history for those who do. In a world where carefree fun is increasingly hard to find, the Mound will continue to thrive, overgrowth and all.

August 7, 2009

6 A rainbow arches over Sullivan's Island after an early morning rain shower on July 31.

Houses built on sand

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ately, rescue personnel have related the stories associated with many victims who found themselves at the mercy of the sea while swimming out to exposed sandbars on Sullivan’s Island. Whatever their reasons for attempting such hazardous swims, those who know better can only shake their heads. But, too look at it from another perspective, what are our tiny barrier islands if not glorified sandbars? Erosion is a common occurrence on barrier islands. After all, it is the ebb and flow of nature that amassed the sand and shaped it in the first place. It is only in recent history that nature’s course has been viewed as problematic on our Lowcountry beaches as the American right to

By Ali Akhyari

property is argued in Neptune’s court. But nature does not care for our logic. In order to preserve their right, property owners have taken to using erosion control measures such as sandbags in order to fight nature’s will and preserve their ocean front views. However, the State is making it more difficult for property owners to put up that fight. Sullivan’s Island Mayor Carl Smith along with Council member Mike Perkis recently criticized the State’s Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) department after attending a related workshop where OCRM Project Manager Bill Eiser announced that sandbags would no longer be permitted for chronic erosion problems. Mayor Smith suggested that the State was

Dewees from within

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taking a hardened stance on their “retreat policy”, which suggests people move farther away from the actual tide lines instead of trying to fight a force as persuasive as the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, he questioned a policy that doesn’t allow residents to protect their property, but simultaneously allows the State to protect their roads. He wondered how the Town could possibly explain this to an affected property owner. Bill Eiser says that the OCRM’s stance is not a new regulation, but a more literal interpretation of the term “emergency”. Sandbags will only be used to protect property in the event of an emergency as defined and interpreted by the State. According to State law: “Emergency” means any unusual incident resulting from

By Dylan Sharek

o those living on the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, and Mount Pleasant, Dewees Island is a bit of an enigma. Many view it as an exclusive club, available only to a handful of people wealthy enough to build a home on a private island. Some could even be convinced that the island exists only one day a year as nothing more than another forgettable anchoring point for viewing the Forth of July fireworks.

So when I was assigned to cover an art show on Dewees, it was fair to say I was skeptical that the article would interest anyone other than the 50 or so people living on the island during the summer. And if the article went to print towards the end of the season (the art show runs through Labor Day), that number would halve; pertinent only to the island’s 26 year round residents. Dewees continued on pg 22

Dewees Island artists show off some of their handiwork.

www.islandeyenews.sc

photo by lynn pierotti

natural or unnatural causes which endanger the health, safety or resources of the residents of the State, including damages or erosion to any beach or shore resulting from a hurricane, storm or other such violent disturbance. “We do not consider a chronic erosion problem that has persisted for years, or decades, to be an emergency,” he says. Eiser also points out that not all State property is exempt from the hardened erosion policy; just State roads. The logic behind the exemption is that these threatened roads may provide access to properties that are not being subjected to erosion. The see Houses on page 8

August 7, 2009

Daily

Flip Flop Ball No ties, no heels, no worries. The casual theme of the Flip Flop Ball has made it an island hit for the past three years, and this year it was no different. Celebrating the 4th Annual Flip Flop Ball on Gold Bug Island, attendees enjoyed a full pig pickin’ provided by Charleston Bay Gourmet, music by Two 3 Ways and Kim Lhuillier & Tom Dittrich, and an open bar. Ginny Deerin, the founder of WINGS for Kids (the non-profit after-school program which the Ball benefited), was thrilled with the turnout and looks forward to an even bigger party/fundraiser next year. For more info, visit www.wingsforkids.org.

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August 7, 2009

Local contractors lend a hand to Operation Home

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ast Friday, the staff of the Charleston division of David Weekley Homes donated their time and all necessary materials to assist Operation Home, a Mount Pleasant based non-profit organization whose mission is to increase safety and accessibility in the homes of low income families, in making repairs to the home of a Mount Pleasant woman and her disabled son. The repairs were made to the home of Vera Capers, a Mount Pleasant woman who cares for her son, who has cerebral palsy. One of the primary repairs the group made was replacing the damaged floor at the front door, which had been worn by her son’s wheelchair. Ms. Capers was struggling to get her son’s wheelchair through the door because the floor was almost worn away completely. Due to the recent loss of her job, Ms. Capers was unable to make the repairs on her home using her own resources. Other repairs included replacing bad railings on an existing wheelchair ramp, replacing damaged floors in the bathroom, hanging doors throughout the house,

and repairing damaged kitchen cabinets. “We are very grateful to Elliott and the entire David Weekley Homes team for donating their time and resources to make a positive difference in the life of one of our clients,” said Anna Hamilton, Operation Home’s Executive Director. “We cannot do our work without the support of the community.” Operation Home was originally founded by Sullivan’s Island residents Emily and Todd Abedon. There are over 150 families who have requested help from Operation Home. Other groups who are interested in volunteering can call 568-7455 for more information or visit www. operationhome.org

Houses from page 6 loss of such a road would create an erosion-induced hardship for property owners that would not otherwise have been effected by the erosion. Furthermore, Eiser says that any highway owned by the State, County or even a local government can be protected in the same way for the same reason. Property owners and local governments have been quick to ask for sandbag protection to provide fast, temporary relief from erosion in the past. Although OCRM has permitted the sandbags, they have sometimes been reluctant, often attaching a metaphorical wag-of-the-finger in the form of warnings, strict guidelines, and headache inducing bureaucracy. No more. Perhaps past experience has convinced OCRM to take a harder stance. After all, the interpretation of emergency is not new within the department. Even when sandbags were allowed at Wild Dunes in 2008, it was made known that the erosion there was not an emergency and blame was pointed at property owners and the City for failing to be proactive. State House

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Representative Mike Sottile, who was the Mayor of the Isle of Palms at the time, criticized the State for dragging its feet. However, it was later learned that the City did not even have an official Beach Management Plan, which the State had required over a decade earlier. The Plan is a prerequisite for receiving public funding for renourishment. Despite the blame, several properties in the Wild Dunes area of Isle of Palms were permitted to use 50 gallon sandbags as the high tide came in beneath buildings and the City scrambled to put together a beach nourishment project. However, many of the property representatives received fines for failing to maintain the bags and/or remove them as they had agreed. Residents of Charleston’s barrier islands certainly have much to think about. The State’s take on erosion gives many island residents a new reason to feel uneasy about the ocean view that had previously provided solace. As one stands at the shoreline and a receding wave pulls the sand from beneath our feet, that potential must remind us that, in the end, nothing is permanent.

August 7, 2009

Warm up for the 5th Annual Barrier Island ECOthon Provided by Brett Carlson

Time to start stretching out those hamstrings and adding on to those early morning runs. The 5th Annual Barrier Island ECOthon will take place in three months on Sunday, October 25, over Charleston’s naturally beautiful barrier islands of Capers, Dewees, Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s.  The ECOthon is a 35 mile sprint style adventure race with paddling, swimming, running and biking, offering competitors a rare chance to be fully immersed in nature while challenging their physical

abilities. All funds from this year’s competition will benefit both the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Charleston Tibetan Society. Previous ECOthons have donated over $10,000 directly to improving the lives of Tibetans around the world, as well as assisting and inspiring many people affected by cancer.  The Barrier Island ECOthon is designed as a genuine opportunity to experience nature while doing something positive for yourself. Regardless of your goal, each

The ECOthon will be 35.6 miles and consist of the following disciplines to be completed as an entire team: Race schedule: Paddle: 5 miles on the Intracoastal Waterway and wildlife-filled tidal creeks. Run/trek: 10 miles along dynamic beaches and maritime forests. Swim: 0.6 mile in open ocean across tidal inlets. Bike: 20 miles on paved roads with views of ocean and Charleston harbor. Divisions: Volunteer, solo, teams of 2, teams of 3 Details: The entry fee is $80 per racer ($85 after Oct 10): includes a t-shirt, sponsors’ gifts, a post-race awards party, and the opportunity to participate in a distinctively unique event. Great kayak rental prices available through Coastal Expeditions.

G ina Rowe

stroke, stride and pedal will bring benefit in helping yourself and others through the proceeds of this unique charitable event. For additional info, contact Brett

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at [email protected] or call 530-0843. Online registration is available at ACTIVE.com

Op-Ed Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ

heats up Sullivan’s Island

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 By Tony McKie, Talent Buyer for Home Team

e at Home Team BBQ want to thank everyone for our warm welcome to the island.  After many months of careful planning, our dream of bringing Charleston’s best BBQ, ribs, blues and jazz club to Sullivan’s Island has finally come to fruition.   Now, as the last days of ocean play are upon us, football season is set to begin and the school year looms over our heads, the summer still has many highlights and surprises left at Home Team before the generous tourists go back home and the locals begin to settle.  August sees the start of Bob Hilton’s Electric Jam on Tuesday nights. Bob has been around Charleston for some time and has many contacts with this city’s finest musicians, so expect to see faces that you haven’t seen around these parts for some time.  If you have an instrument and really want to play it with a band, this is a prime opportunity.  On Saturday, August 8, one staple local blues band returns to the site of many a summer weekend nights at the old Bert’s Bar.  Johnnie Mac & The Booty Ranch are ready, the question is, are you?  The very next week on August 15, The Jamie McLean Band debuts their originals at a Home Team BBQ for the first

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time.  Many of you may remember Jamie as the lead guitarist for New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  Other highlights include Betsy Franck & The Bareknuckle Band (8/21), Bloodkin (9/6), and Josh Roberts & The Hinges (9/18), as well as the continuance of Free Bluegrass Wednesdays with featured acts Radio Pirates, Bluestone Ramblers, Blue Plantation and Athens, Georgia’s Packway Handle Band. There is certainly something for everyone at Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ.  Our formula says great barbeque and burgers CAN be complemented with a wide variety of blues, bluegrass, country and rock and roll; all offered at free or low admission prices. Andrew Higdon at Hope Sound, Inc. and our sound tech, Scott Rosenbrook, have the music sounding just right. It is a great feeling to have so many talented artists looking forward to gigs at our establishment.  It is even better knowing that a customer may have just had the time of their life here. Home Team BBQ is located at 2209 Middle Street on Sullivan’s Island and West of the Ashley at 1205 Ashley River Rd. For a full music schedule, visit www. hometeambbq.com.

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Do You Know Your Charleston

August 7, 2009

Our counterparts to the north

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By David Farrow

t is Sunday, July 26, just after noon. It is foggy and 62 degrees. A moderate, but steady rain is falling on the verdant countryside. It is beautiful for me since three days ago at this same time, it was 90 degrees. Heat seeped into my every pore as I sped towards the Charleston International Airport to begin my sojourn to Portland International Jetport and parts north. Right now in Charleston it is 85 degrees with 67 percent humidity. On the island it is 93 percent humidity with no wind. Even this late in the day, one can barely discern the field across the street. For me, this is a delightful diversion. For the people in Maine, it is the summer that wasn’t. There has been maybe a week of sunny weather since Memorial Day. The temperature hasn’t reached 80. By and large, there’s dancing in the street when it hits 72 degrees and it is partly cloudy. This is the second time I have been up here since May, and I have seen one sunny day. Round these parts, people are getting cranky. I don’t recall ever wearing a sweat shirt at the end of July. However, I am in a different world. I had lunch yesterday in Rockland on my way to the ferry to Islesboro. Rockland is your basic

Maine Coastal town. There is some Lincolnville, the architecture is tourism and a pretty healthy dose classic New England, 150 year of art. It is my understanding that old shingled Cape homes sit next Rockland became trendy after all to manufactured houses with a the beautiful dozen cars for people sale in the front discovered yard. Camden down Maine is not the road and a rich state, the art people but it is not could no longer impoverished. afford the rent, The coast is so they moved not growing the the art, the same way as galleries, and the Charleston/ the restaurants Myrtle Beach up the road corridor. As wholesale. I’m the road winds told that it through the lush helped that the David Farrow, Charlestonian. foliage, there is fish rendering little farmland. plant closed. One thing that I find The soil is rocky and the growing interesting is that the road to the season is very short. This year it sea in South Carolina goes from will be abbreviated if the window the mountains to the Piedmont to box situation is any indication. the beach. In Maine, there is very If one were to be traveling little beach. One winds his way through Mullins or Loris, there around a mountain, only to come would be the remnant of the out on the shore. It’s surprising sharecropping, the fields once that there is no warning. The replete with cotton or tobacco mountain is on one side of the now supplanted by planned road, and the Atlantic on the communities. Here, there other. They play very little half doesn’t seem to be the room for rubber. Compared to the South McMansions, nor the appetite. Carolina of today, the state of There are no signs of the Maine is sparsely populated. As devastation of war, no generals one traverses the countryside haunt the town squares, no from Augusta to the ferry at resentment towards New Jersey

Send your letters to the editor, concerns, discussions and stories to: [email protected]

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just for the accent. (Here, there is little tolerance for those from off, period. People from Portland are treated with the same regard and esteem that somebody from Yonkers would be at the South Carolina Society Hall.) Refreshingly, there is no new money from Atlanta. Instead, Mainers slog through the seasons with good humor and a steel determination. I’ve been here in January. To treat life otherwise would spell death. At first blush, one might think there is no connection between Charleston and Maine. They don’t shag. There are no beach shacks hidden away. They have no idea who The Tams are. There are no bikinis. The upside to that is there are no thongs. (Although I am told the French Canadian men at Old Orchard are reason to look away.) The one thing that bonds Charleston and Maine is not tolerating being told what to do or how to do it. You don’t like it? Flights leave daily. I bet you could sell “We don’t give a rat’s behind how you do it in Massachusetts” bumper stickers round these parts. I bet they would sell like hotcakes. Read more by David Farrow at davidfarrow.wordpress.com.

Daily

August 7, 2009

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The coastal homeowner’s checklist for hurricane season By John McMullen, Coastal Home Projects

When a hurricane is threatening to hit our coast, the primary concern is to protect the ones we love. But you also need to take the necessary steps to protect your home and memorabilia as much as possible. Following are five simple steps you can take to minimize the potential damage to your home (and wallet) in the event of a hurricane. 1:Check your insurance policy to be sure you have enough coverage. Be sure you are properly insured with flood insurance, wind and hail insurance, a home owner’s policy and contents policy. It’s always good practice to inventory your personal property and take photos or video of the contents of your home on a regular basis. You can also buy additional insurance coverage for “Extended Replacement Costs” to help with increased cost of material and labor after the storm. Contact your insurance agent to be sure you are properly covered. 2: Install storm shudders over every window and exterior door to protect your home from wind driven debris. Just one blown-out window can damage the entire contents of you home. According to the

Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), storm shudders are the most effective tool for protecting your home during a storm. Think of it as buying an insurance policy. The big difference is that the storm shudders physically protect your home from loss rather than just covering the expense of the loss. If you are considering storm shudders, the following list explains a few of the many options available on the market: • Storm panel shudders: Made of corrugated steel or aluminum. These shudders are permanently attached to the walls in tracks around windows and doors. Each piece overlaps the next. They are removable and stored when not in use. • Accordion hurricane shutters: One or two piece shutters permanently housed beside

the window. They unfold to protect the window during a storm. • Colonial hurricane shutters: Permanently fixed decorative shutters attached to the window frame with heavy “old style” hinges. They fold together to protect the window. • Roll down hurricane shutters: Another form of permanent shutter attached to the wall above the window. They are lowered down either manually or by a hand crank. Some versions have automatic devices. • Plywood hurricane shutters: Plywood is still the most inexpensive, yet highly effective option for all hurricane shutters. When properly fabricated with fasteners every 12 inches, they will hold up to high winds and take almost any impact from a storm. 3: Inspect the roof of your home to be sure all roofing material is secured properly. According to www.disaster. org, a simple inspection of your roof will reveal if there are any loose or missing shingles and roof caps. Check the drip edge around the perimeter of your roof to be sure the roofing material is securely fastened. If the wind gets under your roofing, it can easily rip off large sections and expose your home to water damage.

4:Check the windows, doors, exterior siding, and trim for proper weather seal and caulking. Weather stripping and caulking is a simple and inexpensive, yet very effective preventive measure. Any opening in your siding or trim is an opportunity for potential water damage. 5: Clean up the landscape around your home to minimize potential damage from wind driven debris. Remove weak or dead trees and limbs from your property. It also helps to clean out gutters and remove any debris from the roof to be sure water flows freely off the roof. If you are in a flood zone, consider moving cars, boats and golf carts to higher ground. It may be prudent to rent a storage unit at your local mini storage to house these items. Do not wait until the last minute to prepare for a hurricane. Contractors are inevitably busy taking care of their primary customers in the event of a potential hurricane landfall, and the material to build storm shudders runs out quickly at the local hardware stores. Now is the time to prepare for a hurricane, as the old adage remains true; “It’s better to be safe, than sorry”. John McMullen is a professional remodeling contractor. Since 1986, John has been doing everything from professional painting and remodeling to building custom homes on Bald Head Island, N.C. John has been working on beach houses since 1996, fixing specific problems caused by the coastal environment. He is the author of The House Care Kit, a Homeowners Guide to Carefree Home Maintenance. View it online at www.HouseCareKit. com

Disaster Awareness Day Sullivan's Island and the Isle of Palms held their annual Disaster Awareness Day at the Sullivan's Fire Department on July 22. Several disaster assistance companies, including local fire and rescue departments, were on hand to answer questions from residents.

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Friday, August 7 Sports signup begins at IOP Rec The following sport leagues will have registration sign up open from August 3 – August 21: Fast Start & Youth Soccer, Adult 3 on 3 Basketball and Adult Softball. For more info or to sign up for a team, call the Recreation Center at 8868294 or visit www.iop.net. The IOP Recreation Center is located at 24 28th Avenue. Adult Day Care opens on Johns Island Sea Islands Adult Day care offi-

August 7, 2009

cially opens its doors. Located at 3627 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island, the Center offers hot meals, safe transportation, personal care, fun activities, and Alzheimer’s respite. RN on staff and grants are available. For more info, call 559-4137. Tonic at The Windjammer Grammy nominated rock band, Tonic, will be performing at The Windjammer on Isle of Palms. Tickets are $20 in advance and can be purchased at The Windjammer online at www.etix.com. Tickets sold at the door will be

$25. Doors open at 8pm and opening act Chris Holly will take the stage at 9pm. For more information visit, www. windjammeriop.com or e-mail [email protected].

Saturday, August 8 National Lighthouse Day Celebrate National Lighthouse Day at Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse from 10am to 2pm with an Open House and tour of the historic Coast Guard District and Lighthouse base. The Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse is located at Station 18 & 1/2 and I’On. Shaggin’ on the Cooper Dance the night away under the stars at the NEW Mount Pleasant Pier.  The Coppertones, a formallydressed six-piece party band is sure to keep you dancing all night long.  Gates open at 7:30pm and music starts at 8:30pm. Tickets are $8 and will only be available for purchase at the event (no advance tickets will be sold).  No

Is l a nd E y e

August 7 refunds or exchanges.  For ages 3 and up. Call 795-4FUN (4386) for more info.

Tuesday, August 11 IOP residential rental licenses due Owners and agents of Isle of Palms residential rental properties must renew rental licenses by August 31, 2009.  Owning or operating rentals without an Isle of Palms residential rental license is a violation of City ordinances. For more info, contact the Building Department at 886-9912. 

Sunday, August 16 7th Annual First Day Festival At Liberty Square in front of the SC Aquarium and Maritime Center. Celebrate the upcoming first day of school with kid’s games, boat rides, exhibitors, food court and more! Lowcountry Food Bank will also be accepting non-perishable food items during the festival. For more info, call 965-4190 or visit www.charlestoncity.info/mocyf.

Wednesday, August 19 National Aviation Day Café Medley “over the hump” wine tasting  Wine tastings at Café Medley are always educational, with one of the best sommeliers in

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August 7, 2009

e C ale n d ar

- August 29 Charleston providing a new and interesting selection every week. Call ahead for this week’s theme and specials. From 6pm to 9pm. Purchase your own Cafe Medley wine glass for $10 and your first tasting is free! Bring your wine glass, and all future tastings are only $5. A selection of 3 cheeses is $10 while 5 cheeses is $15. For more information, call Café Medley at 7934055. Located at 2213 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island.

Thursday, August 20 Moultrie Camp No. 27, Sons of Confederate Veterans meeting Monthly meeting at The Point Grill, Patriots Point Blvd. Dinner at 6pm followed by speaker and meeting at 6:30pm. Interested parties are invited to attend.

Saturday, August 22 Islamic Ramadan day 11th Annual Half Rubber Tournament At the Isle of Palms Recreation Center. Participants must pre register by Wednesday, August 19. Registration Fee: $15 per person. Teams:  3 or 4 person teams. Ages 16 and up. Prizes awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. For more info or to register, visit www.iop.net or call 886-8294. Reggae Concert Series: Mystic Vibrations   Bring your chair or blanket, kick back, and enjoy this outdoor reggae concert at James Island County Park.  gates opening at 7:30pm and music beginning at 8:30pm. $8 for adults (13 and up) or five Greenbax; children 12 and under

13 are free.  Annual Gold Passes will be honored.  For more info, visit www.ccprc.com/ reggae or call (843)-795-4FUN (4386). 

Wednesday, August 26 Women’s Equality Day Café Medley “over the hump” wine tasting  Wine tastings at Café Medley are always educational, with one of the best sommeliers in Charleston providing a new and interesting selection every week. Call ahead for this week’s theme and specials. From 6pm to 9pm. Purchase your own Cafe Medley wine glass for $10 and your first tasting is free! Bring your wine glass, and all future tastings are only $5. A selection of 3 cheeses is $10 while 5 cheeses is $15. For more information, call Café Medley at 793-4055. Located at 2213 Middle St, Sullivan’s Island.

music by 17 South. Great food by local vendors and of course, Irvin House wine! There will also be a Lucy look-alike contest. Admission is $5 a car and don’t forget your picnic blanket and chairs. For more info, call 559-6867 or visit www.charlestonwine.com WakeFest VI Wakeboard Festival At Trophy Lakes on Johns Island. Free admission, open to anyone and everyone of every age and skill level. $30 to ride, $35 day-of. Registration at 10am in the ProShop, riding starts at 11. Catering by Sa-

Friday, August 28 Surf Seining: Seining Sullivan’s This area has been a seining hotspot for generations.  Help us catch and discover a variety of marine critters at the first ever CCPRC seining program on Sullivan’s Island.  A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Pre-registration required. Ages 6 & up. Meet at Station 30. Fee: $9/$7 CCR Discount. 5:00pm-6:30pm. For more info, call 795-4386.

Saturday, August 29 IOP residential rental licenses due: final day 6th Annual Family Grape Stomp at Irvin House Enjoy grape stomping and harvesting, picnicking on the lawn, live

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vory Sushi. Call for more details: 559-2520. Concert on the Cooper Come out to the new Mount Pleasant Pier for the new Concerts on the Cooper series featuring Spunjwurthi. Gates open at 7:30pm and music starts at 8:30pm. Tickets are $8 and will only be available for purchase at the event.  No refunds or exchanges.  For ages 3 and up. Call (843) 795-4FUN (4386) for more info.

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Lighten up!

August 7, 2009

C e l e b r a t e N a t i o n a l L i g h t h o u s e d a y o n S a t u r d a y, A u g u s t 8 Join the National Park Service as we celebrate National Lighthouse Day at the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse on Saturday, August 8, 2009. An open house special event takes place from 10am to 2pm on the grounds of the US Coast Guard Historic District at 1815 I’On Avenue on

Sullivan’s Island. The Historic District represents the evolution of events important in United States maritime history from 1895 to 1962. 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 this lighthouse stand out from others: • Instead of having the traditional circular shape, it is three-sided, 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. • It is the only lighthouse in the country to have both an elevator and siding. • The light was the second brightest in the Western

hemisphere with 28 million candlepower, but was reduced to 1.5 million to accommodate Sullivan’s Island residents. It 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. It was on August 7, 1789, that Congress passed an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys and public piers. In honor of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the first federal lighthouse, Congress designated August 7, 1989, as National Lighthouse Day. This recognition has encouraged communities and citizens groups to dedicate

What do you wish you knew when you were ?

themselves to the preservation of these historic structures. As part of the anniversary, lighthouses, where feasible, were open to the public. “It is in the spirit of public access that park staff and volunteers invite the public to explore the grounds of the U.S. Coast Guard Historic District,” said Superintendent Bob Dodson. The grounds, quarters’ cupola and boat house will be open to the public from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, August 8. Because of safety concerns, only the base of the lighthouse will be open. A U.S. Coast Guard representative will speak about lighthouse maintenance at 11am. The nonprofit Save the Light organization will report on the progress of preserving the Morris Island Lighthouse. Refreshments will be served. All activities are free and open to the public. For more information, call the park at 8833123. thehingecharleston.com

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Y o u t h G i v e s B a c k c o n c e r t sc h e d u l e d f o r A u g u s t 8 & 9

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harleston is blessed with a thriving music scene, and the bands of tomorrow are growing today in our high schools and colleges. Awendaw Green and The Hinge’s Youth Gives Back concert brings together the Lowcountry’s premiere veterans and the young crop for a weekend of music, relaxation, shared tips and instruction from established musicians. A benefit for Camp Happy Days, an organization that brings laugher and light to the lives of

children with cancer, Youth Gives Back will feature two full days of music, including a music industry seminar for the young bands involved (open to the public). The Youth Gives Back premiere band line-up includes The Explorers Club, Sol Driven Train, Leslie, Ten Toes Up, Charlton Singleton Jazz, The Fire Apes, Doug Walters and Friends, Fireworks Show, The Wyatt Garey Band, Joel Hamilton, Cary Ann Hearst, Danielle Howle, and the Hungry Monks. Participating

young bands include The Whisperjets, Slanguage, Trouble in Transit, Coletrain, the Aquatic Hobos, The Makeshift, The Three Dudes, WeJohnStevens, The Gojos, Introducing Fish Taco, and Bodies Full of Magic. “Youth Gives Back is designed to give the young bands of Charleston a stage to play on and wake up their music philanthropy potential,” says organizer Eddie White. “I am most proud of helping the young bands of Charleston grow and develop. The question of this event is ‘What do you wish you knew when you were 16?’” Two day tickets are $20 (one day $15) and available at Etix. com, the Sewee Outpost, Shem Creek Music, Encore Music, and 52.5 Records. Student tickets are $10 and under 12 are free. Respectful overnight camping is welcome. No outside coolers, please. Bring a chair! Awendaw Green is a music venue located in Awendaw, SC, founded by a group of music philanthropists. Our vision is to network local artists and bands with each other and music enthusiasts and fans. The Green is home to a music venue and a

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professional  recording studio for budding musicians looking to get their music out into the world. The Hinge is a connecting point for musicians, providing a place for bands to rehearse and network. www.thehingecharleston.com

Directions Awendaw Green is located at 4879 Hwy 17 N Awendaw. Drive 15 miles north of Charleston on Highway 17. Awendaw Green is next door to Hidden Ponds Nursery, which is next door to The Sewee Outpost in Awendaw.

Financial

August 7, 2009

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The paradox of thrift

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W e a lt h r e p o r t f o r t h e w e e k e n d i n g J u ly 2 4 , 2 0 0 9 By Bobby Cummings

he second quarter earnings season started just like the Fourth of July; with a bang! The hard-hit financial sector delivered some good news last week as companies such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase announced earnings that pleased the market. In the tech sector, Intel and IBM provided support, too. On the other hand, widely watched General Electric came out with earnings and guidance last Friday that was disappointing and the stock dropped 6% by the end of the day. The good news was that the big drop in GE stock did not take the rest of the market with it – perhaps a sign that investors don’t view GE as the bellwether stock it once was. By the end of the week, after all the news and noise, the S&P 500 index had surged 7% and had almost recaptured its recent June 12 high. Going forward, investors will keep a close eye on the rest of the earnings reports, looking for any sign that profits are being generated by revenue growth instead of relying on cost cutting. As you know, you can’t cost cut your way to 15% profit growth each year, so eventually we’ll need to see solid revenue growth before investors will feel confident that we’re out of the woods.

of dollars in home equity loans and using that money to finance an unsustainable lifestyle. Of course, this spending above our means also meant that the level of economic growth was unsustainable, too. This all abruptly shifted in August 2008 as the personal savings rate went from 0.8% that month to last month’s 6.9%. Yes, it is generally a good thing that consumers are saving again. The big question is: have we learned our lesson? Is this new frugalness just temporary or is it the new normal? The answer to that question has major implications for the worldwide economy over the coming years. Bobby Cummings is the owner of Cummings Wealth Management Group. 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 (6), daughter Keenan (3), and son, Banks (7 months). 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. To find out a little more about Cummings Wealth please visit the following web address: www. cummingswealth.com

Notes: S&P 500, DJ Global ex US, Gold, DJ-UBS Commodity Index returns exclude reinvested dividends (gold does not pay a dividend) and the three-, five-, and 10year returns are annualized; the DJ Equity All REIT TR Index does include reinvested dividends and the three-, five-, and 10-year returns are annualized; and the 10-year Treasury Note is simply the yield at the close of the day on each of the historical time periods. Sources: Yahoo! Finance, Barron’s, djindexes.com, London Bullion Market Association. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indices are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. N/A means not available.

Americans socked away money at the highest monthly rate in 15 years last month, according to the Department of Commerce, and that’s good news: mostly. The personal savings rate (the percentage of personal disposable income that is saved each month) rose to 6.9% in June, which is well above the average savings rate over the past decade. A higher savings rate may reduce our dependence on foreign countries financing our deficits, which is a good thing, but paradoxically it might lengthen our recession. If we collectively save “too much”, it could stunt economic growth as consumption slows down and fewer goods and services are produced and delivered. This “paradox of thrift” may hurt the economy in the short-term, but could be very beneficial in the long run. A higher savings rate also helps cushion families against unforeseen financial setbacks, like the loss of a job, etc. To put the 6.9% in context, here’s how the number looks over roughly the past 50 years:

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Notice that from the 1960s through the 1980s, the personal savings rate averaged a healthy 8.3% to 9.6%. During the 1990s, there was a noticeable decline in the savings rate as consumers started a nearly 20-year spending binge. As we started the new millennium and all the way up to September of last year, consumers were on a spending rampage as they not only burned through their income each month, but, in some cases, borrowed money to support their habits. In August 2005, near the peak of the housing bubble, the personal savings rate was actually a negative 2.7%. This amazing financial alchemy was aided and abetted by consumers pulling out billions www.islandeyenews.com

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The place may change, but the music stays here

t the new Home Team BBQ on Sullivan’s Island, my significant other and I saw Big Bill Morganfield and his band play the blues. He played several songs written by Muddy Waters, which is not unusual for your average blues band. What made this compelling is that Muddy Waters’ real name was McKinley Morganfield, and he was Big Bill’s father. A picture of his dad was right there on the wall of the stage and I thought how odd that must have been for him. Also in the band was bass player and singer Mookie Brill, who has played with numerous blues luminaries throughout the years. Mookie himself can vocally imitate Muddy and other blues greats, but that wasn’t needed as Bill had the timbre in his voice that only DNA can give. Every now and then he uttered a sound or a syllable that sounded like Muddy was there singing it. We went back Saturday

August 7, 2009

By Smoky Weiner

just to hear them again. A few days later, the same significant other and I saw the Michael Jackson tribute band, “Who’s Bad?”, which fortunately was around long before his demise. They were okay, but it made you see that the man is just not going to be easy to imitate. The lead singer did a pretty good job, especially in the way he vocally imitated both Jackson’s early and later years. I thought that the guitarist was extremely good, but that the rhythm section did not distinguish the songs’ rhythmic signatures very well. They played the disco rhythms when the singer was doing the Jackson Five stuff and that was clearly not working for me. Other than that, they were very energetic and had the crowd involved. The show was sold out. Now they need to go to Vegas. On another island note, I sure miss “The Shanty” (now Poe’s), and the late, great Thomas

Barnes. Thomas owned The Shanty as well as the old Blind Tiger downtown and the Outback on Folly Road that is now the home of Buffalo South. He died of leukemia a couple of years back, not long after his cook, the late great violinist Hawke Morfii, was killed on his bike riding home from work. I also miss Bert’s, but I was very glad to see Bert’s owner Tim Runyon sliding around his old place in its new form as Home Team BBQ. HTB (as I will now acronym it) really did a nice job with the place in about every way. It has more light and it looks earthy without looking artificial. Check the schedule and go see Skye Paige or Louis Dixson or one of the blues bands they have there now. They are bringing music and food to Sullivan’s that wasn’t there before. The past was great, but the future looks very promising and we know that’s not always the case when

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a place changes hands. Some of you remember that before The Shanty, that building that is now Poe’s was called The Doghouse. I think it should be re-opened with our own Governor as proprietor. After all, he’s going to need a job and who knows more about a doghouse than him? I, Smoky Weiner, will officiate the grand opening. Primarily from Folly Beach, Smoky can be found anywhere good music is heard and if you’re lucky, you might catch him playing with his own band, Smoky Weiner and the Hot Links. Smoky also hosts a weekly jam at Bowens Island (1870 Bowens Island Road) every Wednesday at 8pm. He provides the drums, bass and amps. Admission is $3 for musicians and $5 for the general public.

August 7, 2009

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Turtle rescue takes a sad turn By Mary Pringle

Jimenez and Captain Hopkins standing by to lift it on to the dock. Unfortunately, the turtle died very soon - before the DNR truck arrived. The necropsy was performed the following day at the Aquarium. Boaters in the ocean as well as in marinas and waterways constantly need to stay on the look out for sea turtles. They are often seen this time of year rising to the surface for air, and because of this, boat strikes are fairly common. The good samaritans on the Eco Tour boat were very sad that their rescue was in vain. However, valuable information is gained by these post mortem necropsies. This turtle’s blood supply had completely bled out of its body. Researchers are able to determine their age, sex, reproductive stage, and general state of health. On our two islands we’ve documented nineteen sea turtle strandings (deaths) this season. The public should always help by reporting injured or dead sea turtles by calling 8866522, which is the Isle of Palms Police Department. If you would like to have an interesting and educational experience, we encourage you to take a tour with the Barrier Island Eco Tour company. They teach the public about all aspects of our beautiful, natural ecosystem. Visit their website at www.nature-tours.com or call 886-5000 for reservations and questions.

PHOTOS BY Barbara Bergwerf

uly is a busy time for boat traffic and a busy time for sea turtles on our islands. Recently, a sub-adult (juvenile) loggerhead was spotted in the Intracoastal Waterway at Dewees Inlet by the staff of the Barrier Islands Eco Tour boat during one of their tours. This turtle had evidently been struck by a boat propeller and was severely wounded. Robert Hopkins, Master Captain and Naturalist, and Courtney Heuring who were leading the tour, gave their customers quite a demonstration in rescuing and caring for one of our area’s most precious natural resources. They spotted the young turtle, which was not yet full-grown, floating in the water and navigated their boat close to it. When they grabbed it, the loggerhead started thrashing around in an Volunteers help carry the injured sea turtle off of the tour boat. attempt to escape their capture. They The boat landed at the Isle of Palms Marina were able to wrestle it onboard, much to the and the Island Turtle Team was called to surprise of their tour group. People are lucky come and help with the rescue. Mary Pringle to spot a sea turtle briefly as it surfaces to get and Barbara Bergwerf responded and Sgt. a breath, but hardly ever get to have one as Bobby Jimenez of the IOP PD was already on a fellow boat passenger. It was soon obvious the scene. They contacted the Department of to all that the wound was severe, cutting all Natural Resources and prepared to have the the way through the body from the carapace turtle transported to the SC Aquarium’s Sea (upper shell) into the body cavity and through Turtle Hospital. There was much excitement the plastron or lower shell. But since the and wonder from the passengers as the turtle turtle was still alive, they hoped that the was placed on a table to be removed from injury would not be fatal. the boat by Mary and Courtney, with Sgt.

CAPTIONS: 001 Louise Welch, Regional Executive Director of the Carolina Red

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August 7, 2009

CAMP KIDS

Campers share some of their favorite parts of attending day camp at the Isle of Palms Recreation Center: 

Cameron Hay - Age 9

Kelsey Hay - Age 6

Cameron has been coming to Camp Summershine for five years. His favorite game to play at camp is Capture the Flag. His favorite field trip is going to Blackbeard’s Cove because he likes playing miniature golf. When he’s not at camp, he likes to play lots of sports and is really active outdoors. He plays the piano and is also starting guitar lessons. His favorite color is aquamarine and his favorite food is tomatoes.

This is Kelsey’s forth year at Camp Summershine, as Kelsey was also a former Wee Camper. Her favorite game to play at camp is Pac-Man: the tag game. Her favorite field trip is going to the Splash Zone because there is a lot of fun stuff to do. When Kelsey is not at camp, she likes to play with her brother, eat snacks and ride her bike. Her favorite food to eat is her Dad’s pancakes and waffles, and her favorite color is aquamarine

Nous jouons Lacrosse*

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sland kids were given the opportunity to learn about one of the oldest team sports in the Americas this past July 27 weekend. With the help of Lowcountry Lacrosse, children learned the basic guidelines and participated in several practice games. *Even though the invention of Lacrosse is attributed to the Native Americans, it was a French missionary who named the game Lacrosse, or le jeu de la crosse. Nous jouons Lacrosse means “We play Lacrosse”.

National Principal of the Year finalist

Lucy Beckham, Principal of Charleston County School District’s Wando High School, has been named a finalist for the prestigious MetLife/NASSP National Principal of the Year award. Principal Beckham was named the South Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year in December 2008. “Wando High School has

become a national example of high school excellence under Lucy Beckham’s leadership, and we could not be more proud of her today,” said CCSD Superintendent Dr. Nancy McGinley. “She shows just how critical principals--as school leaders who set the tone and vision for schools--are to achieving ‘The Victory in the Classroom’.”

The MetLife/NASSP National Principal of the Year program began in 1993 as a means to recognize outstanding middle level and high school principals. The program annually honors secondary school principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students as well as demonstrating exemplary contributions to the profession. In one week, Ms. Beckham will travel to D.C. with the other national finalists to compete in the final stage of the program.

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August 7, 2009

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Spreading sweet jams across the islands

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By Hank Lightcap

olly Beach’s Surf Bar and Dangermuffin may be in for some tight competition next year when the City Paper’s “Best of Charleston: Best House Band” vote rolls around. But fortunately for the Danger guys, it’ll be from Dunleavy’s and their alter ego, Acousticmuffin. After a year of regularly bringing down the roof at Surf Bar on Sunday nights, Dangermuffin has brought their self-described “organic, sand-blasted folk rock, with a sweet jam spread” to Dunleavy’s Pub on Mondays. Their acoustic show is comprised of drummer Steven Sandifer, formerly of The Biscuit Boys and The Drew Emmitt Band, thumping an upright bass. He’s joined by banjo player Mike Sivilli, who is known for his ripping electric leads. The Folly boys will kick off their East Cooper week at Dunleavy’s on Monday, August 10, followed by an acoustic performance at the Awendaw Green Barn Jam on Wednesday, August 12, and finally wrapping it up with a headlining electric performance at the Windjammer on Friday, August 14. (This show will also be recorded for their upcoming album). A lineup of three Charleston shows in a week, let alone three in the Mount Pleasant area, is rare for this troubadour trio. Their July tour took them from Nashville to West Virginia to the Floyd Fandango in Floyd, Virginia, where they played alongside notables like MOFRO and Buckwheat Zydeco for

an enthusiastic out-of-town audience. On their return, they headlined a packed Friday night gig at the Pour House on James Island. Although even Acousticmuffin shows are a danceable affair, it’s the plugged-in rockers like Friday night’s Windjammer gig that really get the crowds moving. With a scaled-back drum kit, hollow body guitar, and acoustic guitar run through a bass amp rounding out their trio, Dangermuffin bucks the bass player standard, allowing lead vocalist Dan Lotti to emphasize the bass notes in his rhythmic playing. The arrangement still provides a full rock band sound, but also crosses the bridge for folk and singersongwriter fans. “We call it postroots,” says Lotti. In addition to touring in Colorado this time last year, Dangermuffin received national attention with a spot in the April/May issue of Relix magazine, which featured the Allman Brothers on the cover. “Sometimes a band sticks in your mind, like good batter sticks to your ribs,” read the review. “It’s their catchy hooks, round-the-fire looseness, yet polished groove, which leaves Charleston, S.C. based Dangermuffin lingering in our ears. Delicious from the first bite, the trio’s raspy Southern style coolly imbues deep layers of subtle flavors.” Island residents have three chances to sample those flavors this week. Take as big a bite as you want!

Name: Stella Kerr Age: 6 ½ years Owner(s): Rob, Boo and Robert Kerr Breed: Golden Retriever Stella Kerr is a Lucky Dog because she came to Sullivan's Island as a puppy and has enjoyed 6 ½ years of island living at its best. In addition to having a large backyard and great neighbors, human and canine, she gets to regularly run and play on the beach with her favorite toy, her tennis ball. Stella is also big on community service. Each time she goes to the beach she brings along an extra bag for trash. Stella is the Island's number one canine litter patroller. She can smell a discarded can across the beach and stand by it until Mom retrieves it. Talk about being able to teach an old Mom new tricks! Thanks to Stella, the Station 23 beach path is litter-free. Send your lucky dog story to: [email protected]

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August 7, 2009

Igneous inspiration at the Poe When is a rock not a rock? When it is a pet! And not just any pet ... a pet that doesn’t need feeding, walking or cleaning up after.  Thirty four rocks were transformed  this past Tuesday, July 28, by local children as part of the Poe Library summer reading program.  The Anderson  family (Jake, Brady and Jessica), from Isle of Palms  are seen here painting their new pets.  

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY Poe Library

Eye Spy

Do you know what this is?

Kids, send your guess for this week’s Eye Spy to info@ luckydognews.com or call 886-NEWS. Please include your mailing address with your submission. The first one to send in the correct answer will receive a coupon for a free ice cream at Café Medley on Sullivan's Island. Congratulations to Alex Ulmer for guessing the Island Time Beach Shop in our July 10 issue! Congratulations to this week's winner, Nyna Fabrizio, for guessing Dunleavy's Pub's clover. Send your guess for this week's Eye Spy to [email protected] www.islandeyenews.com

August 7, 2009

E

ven though Paul Tucker was sitting in a small office, his eyes weren’t seeing the pale walls and low light house plants. They were further away, watching thin bands of white ocean froth as they twisted in Escher-like patterns across the marine blue water. Still in his early 50s, Tucker is among a growing number of fishermen and boat captains who have lost their jobs both to the economy and to the current demands placed on maritime employees. “I was with the Department of Natural Resources for 16 years,” said Tucker, a long time resident of Sullivan’s Island. “Then I picked up another job for a while and when I came back, they said I wouldn’t be able to perform my job anymore.” For someone with such a wealth of oceanic and maritime knowledge, Tucker was blown away. After almost two decades with the Department of Natural Resources, Tucker can read an ocean surface as easily as a children’s bedtime story. He can run fishing boats, tug boats, dive boats and yachts and has several years of commanding both small and large crews. He has spent thousands of days on the water, to the point where his steps still sway to a nonexistent swell as he walks on land. But he can’t do

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I want to be out there by kristin hackler

maintenance. “It’s a problem that could be solved if I just had an engineer or a first mate that could handle the basic maintenance,” said Tucker. “As it is, people are looking for just one person who can do everything.” But most of the time, a boat owner will not find someone who both knows the ocean intimately and can still handle the bending, crawling and climbing needed to sail a boat from point A to point B. “I’ve fished from Nova Scotia to the Bahamas and I’ve even built boats,” said Tucker, “but I can’t find a job that doesn’t require work that I simply can’t do anymore.” While he’s looking for work, Tucker takes time every once in a while to follow one of the passions that brought him to South Carolina: playing electric bass. “I played with Sea Level for a while, then with Chuck Lovell of the Rolling Stones and most recently with the Jumper Cables, a local band that used to play at Bert’s Bar on Sullivan’s and the Windjammer on the Isle of Palms,” said Tucker. “I enjoy it, but my real love is on the water. I have year’s of fishing knowledge and I’m more than capable; I just can’t do the physical work to keep a boat running on my own.”

Tournament results

1: Mad Banana, captained by Clinton Chamness, with a 31.56 pound king mackerel. The winning catch was made by first place Youth Angler, Anna Chamness. 2: Bitta Sweet, captained by Stuart Harkins, with a 28.82 pound king mackerel. The catch was made by second place Youth Angler, Anna Marie Barfield.

Paul Tucker stands on Sullivan's Island, a place he now calls home.

If you’re interested in talking with Paul Tucker, either about captaining a boat or as a hire for fishing/diving expeditions, you can reach him at 345-3098 or email [email protected].

7: Ham-It-Up, captained by Stephen Ham, with a 24.44 pound king mackerel. The catch was made by third place Lady Angler, Angela Ham.

9: Nautigull, captained by Chad Sullivan, with a 23.32 pound king mackerel. The catch was made by third place Youth Angler, Cole Suggs.

8: Black Cat, captained by Jamey Steward, with a 23.68 pound king mackerel.

10: Over Bark, captained by Field Hucks, with a 21.67 pound king mackerel.

3: Team Seafox/Suzuki, captained by Ryan Balderson, with a 27.19 pound king mackerel. 4: Juggernaut, captained by Bert Harvey, with a 27.14 pound king mackerel. The winning catch was made by first place Senior Angler, A.C. Harvey. 5: Miracle, captained by Fred Larsen, with a 24.84 pound king mackerel. The winning catch was made by first place Lady Angler, Amber Larsen. 6: Fishboans, captained by Curtis Boan, with a 24.72 pound king mackerel. The catch was made by second place Lady Angler, Joelle Vincent.

The Sullivan’s Saltwater Classic, a Southern King Fish Association sanctioned event hosted by Blue Water Promotions and benefiting the Sullivan’s Island Volunteer Fire Department, took place over the weekend of July 24. Meals and entertainment were provided for the competitors at the Fish Fry Shack, and the main event took place on Saturday, July 25.

Class of 23 1: Seadaze, captained by Michael O’Neale Sr., with a 23.41 pound king mackerel. The catch was made by second place Senior Angler, Michael O’Neale, Sr. 2: Phat Chance, captained by W. Allen Horrex, with a 20.43 pound king mackerel. 3: In 2 Deep, captained by Kevin O’Neale, with an 18.51 pound king mackerel. 4: Team Sperry Topsider, captained by Bryan Baxter, with a 16.17 pound king mackerel. 5: Miss Jenn IV, captained by Ronald Greene, with a 15.25 pound king mackerel.

Saltwater Recreational Fishing License fees:      * Annual resident - $10      * 14-day resident - $5      * Annual non-resident - $35      * 14-day non-resident - $11

22 Dewees continued from pg 6 But this is less of a story about an art show and more of a revelation about one of the area’s most gorgeous and avant-garde barrier islands. Despite being just minutes from modern day civilization, it’s easy to get lost in the unspoiled views of the marshlands and Castawaylike jetties of earth that speckle the waterways throughout the twenty minute ferry ride from the Isle of Palms Marina to Dewees aboard the Aggie Gray. By the time I arrive, I’ve already taken two pages of notes on the beauty of the ferry ride alone. Anne Anderson, one of the very few permanent residents on the island, meets me at the dock. She’s short, middle-aged and lively, with brownish red hair and featuring a permanent pair of sunglasses. After exchanging hellos, she immediately tells me that, “We [Dewees Islanders] consider ourselves a part of the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, and Mount Pleasant.” It sounds rehearsed and probably is, but over the next forty-five minutes, it becomes exceedingly clear to me that Mrs. Anderson feels it is important to unravel the misconceptions surrounding Dewees. She guides me to golf cart #125, where we meet up with her

August 7, 2009 husband. He’s taking the return ferry back to Isle of Palms for wine, golfing, and pasta salad. The island’s inhabitants are completely reliant on the mainland for food and other goods, since one of the island’s founding covenants is to never have a strip mall or even a stoplight. After saying our goodbyes, Anne and I shuttle off to the Landings Building, a glorified treehouse dedicated to the study and preservation of the nature on the island. We breeze through a 15-minute tutorial led by the island’s naturalist, Lori Wilson, on the turtle population and the resident’s loyalties to its preservation. They reveal that of the island’s 1200 plus acres, only five percent will be disturbed by the 150 planned homes that the island may eventually harbor. “We live in accordance with nature and most people don’t know that about Dewees,” Mrs. Anderson says. As we exit the building and once again board cart #125, Mrs. Anderson casually mentions the many donations islanders make to local wildlife fundraisers, the countless hours spent searching for harmless solutions to the island’s increasingly aggressive alligator problem, how the residents use strictly eco-friendly electric golf carts, and how the houses are nestled deep in the woods to foster that sense of living with nature. “It’s not a place for everyone and maybe that’s why people don’t get it…you get wet when it rains here,” she smiles. We pull up to the Huyler House, the island’s community building where the art show is being held. Titled, “Dewees From Within”, the collection looks more like an art-heavy living room than a traditional art gallery. Seeing my surprise, Mrs. Anderson says, “Everything is created by property owners or by their extended families. Almost all of the families have some sort of art ability. They’re very talented.” And she’s right. There’s Allen

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Mitchell’s hand-made fly rod, constructed entirely of local bamboo, silk thread, and recycled brass. There’s reused bottle caps moonlighting as magnets created by the island’s children. There’s a mirror framed by iron tresses dredged off of the island’s sea floor. And besides one or two kitschy pieces that could have been found in any number of shops downtown, this stuff is good. Within all of it, there is one essential element. From a quilt capturing a crane’s flight to eye-popping photos by Tom Jenkins of burning island sunsets and oft-unseen heron mating rituals, it comes to me: Dewees Island is not inhabited by stuffy, holier-than-thou naturalists, but by people that truly care about nature and are willing to do whatever they can to protect it. For most of the residents, their homes are less an escape or expensive island getaway, and more a way of ensuring that nature will always be protected somewhere, even if it is just a 1200 acre island. Proceeds from “Dewees From Within” will be contributed to the island’s nature projects. (right and above right) Examples of some of the works on display at the Dewees art show.

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