Island Eye News - October 2, 2009

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Sullivan’s Island urricane Hugo struck the Isle of Palms on September 21, 1989. This powerful storm destroyed the natural landscape of the island and demolished many homes and businesses. In an effort to restore a portion of the natural beauty, a group of concerned citizens organized the Plant-APalm Committee. The Committee sponsored numerous events, soliciting donations and grants to raise money fro the purchase and planting of over 800 native Sabal Palmetto trees along Palm Boulevard. This marker is a tribute to those who served on the Plant-A-Palm Committee. The Isle of Palms and its people are sincerely grateful.” Phyllis Shaffer smiled widely as she looked up at the sign which had just been revealed in a small ceremony at 21st Boulevard. “I’ve never seen my name in gold before,” she laughed. But according to all of the Isle of Palms residents and Council members who attended the ceremony, it was the least they could do for the sparkling, vivacious woman and the rest of the Plant-A-Palm Committee At 9am on September 21, Palm Boulevard at 21st Avenue was shut down for about an hour as the City of the Isle of Palms acknowledged this hard working, visionary committee which was formed just a short year after Hurricane Hugo devastated the island. Chaired

October 2, 2009

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Put aside the paddle page 23

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Civic Isle of Palms City Council September 7, 2009

Comprehensive plan City Administrator Linda Lovvorn Tucker pointed out several key elements that have been added to City’s ten year Comprehensive Plan. Worth mentioning is the fact that a “transportation” element has been given its own consideration. Furthermore, the beach section of the plan addresses erosion on the north end of the island. Additionally, as the City has entered into an agreement with the County of Charleston regarding the Clean Water Act, the plan has been written to conform to the Act in regards to storm water treatment. Thanks to the Planning Commission, further parking management is in the plan as the City looks to mitigate offisland pressures that are exacerbated during the summer. Finally, land use and zoning maps will be included. Former Council member Jane McMackin praised the work that has been done on the Comprehensive Plan and hopes that the Council will utilize the plan often. She stressed that the plan encourages the protection of residential neighborhoods and character of the island which many residents appreciate. Ain’t it accredited The Isle of Palms Police Department officially received its State’s Accreditation and was recognized for that accomplishment. Accreditation provides an assurance that the Police Department is capable and aware of common police practices according to a generally agreed on set of principles in law enforcement. “The Isle Palms Police force is an asset not just to the City but to the Country,” said Wayne Dewitt of the Berkeley Country Sheriff’s Office who presented the City with a plaque for the accreditation. Worth the money? The City Council awarded a contract to Liollio Architecture for the sum of $19,440 for renova-

tions to City Hall by a 8-1 vote. Dee Taylor was the lone wolf on the vote as he had previously made a motion to award the contract to Ron Denton, a member of the City’s Planning Commision, who offered a bid nearly $6,000 cheaper than Liollio. The difference in cost was largely due to a donation of services from Denton. However, the motion failed by a 5-4 vote in the Ways and Means meeting. A potential conflict of interest was a significant factor in the decision. Council member Mike Loftus defended his support for the more expensive firm saying that the cheaper option is not always the best deal, pointing out the poor construction on the Island's old firehouses. The City would be better served going with an “expert” in this scenario than saving a few thousand dollars, he reasoned. Closing 41st The City unanimously agreed to proceed with a permanent closure of Cameron Boulevard at 41st Avenue according to recommendations from the Ways and Means Committee. The closure has been part of a traffic test designed to improve summer congestion at the all too important intersection leading to Wild Dunes which now includes a three way stop. The South Carolina Department of Transportation also provided plans for a potential round-a-bout at the intersection which can be considered by the City. Round-a-bouts have proved to be a popular and successful traffic calming device in nearby Mount Pleasant. The Ways and Means Committee also suggested that the City spend $21,000 to fund a new “performance-based compensation program” for City employees, and $18,000 for an energy efficient Front Beach lighting project. The Compensation program changes the City employee's annual raise to a merit based salary increase. The money is needed to compensate

six months of adjustments that need to be made according to the system. Also, the City has received a $35,000 grant from BCDCOG (Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester Council of Governments) for the lighting plan. The Isle of Palms lineman The transition to a cooperative analog communications system for public safety departments with the County is proving to have more headaches than expected. Problems on the Isle of Palms, including dropped calls and “blurps”, are persisting throughout the county. According to Fire Chief Ann Graham, the system lacks “oomph”. However, there is some hope on the horizon in the form of more towers throughout the Charleston area that should boost service. Rec news The City’s Recreation Department was chosen as the 2009 Agency of the Year by the South Carolina Parks Association. The designationis an honor for the City which has come a very long way in the past eight years as the City has consciously worked to create an impressive public recreation facility and programs which include a staff wellness challenge. The Isle of Palms Connector will be closed to vehicular traffic from around 7am to 10am on October 3 for the annual Bridge Run. Residents and visitors should be aware of the temporary closing whether you are participating in the run or planning to leave the island. Where the sidewalk ends A group of residents who live on 21st Avenue petitioned the City to fix a dangerous sidewalk on that road. The City Council stated that they did not immediately have money to fix the problem but would seek it out. However, the sidewalk raised a couple of issues for the Council. First, there was the concern that residents felt the need to send a

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September 18, 2009

certified letter to get something accomplished instead of just calling on their City and trusting that it would be taken care of, according to Council member Barbara Bergwerf. Second, Council member Mike Loftus expressed concern that this issue had actually been previously raised and that the City did not appear to be proactive in addressing it. Mayor Dick Cronin stated that the City has met the Department of Transportation, and it is on the list of projects for the City. Loftus stated that the City can do a better job. Short signage By the slimmest of margins, the City Council passed first reading of an ordinance that provides for a consistent sign to be conspicuously placed within short-term rental properties that states City laws that are relevant to visitors. Council members Carol Rice, Ryan Buckhannon, Dee Taylor and Marty Bettelli were on the "nay" end of the vote after Planning Commission member Sandy Stone expressed his apprehensions with the intricacies of the sign. A budgetary surplus Despite the economic doldrums being experienced throughout the country, the City has actually ended their 2009 fiscal year with a surplus and the Council has the unique problem of deciding what to do with the extra money. The conundrum has allowed the City to go into their next fiscal year without raising the millage for residents. They will also have the option of boosting the general fund, contributing to disaster relief savings and funding capital projects. However, Mayor Cronin stated that there is a positive aspect of having unallocated money to use as opposed to dedicating it immediately. The Council unanimously approved putting the money into the general fund as an unallocated amount.

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September 18, 2009

Civic Sullivan’s Island Town Council September 15, 2009

Right of ways The Council continued to discuss the possibility of protecting smaller parcels of land from development or sale to adjacent private property owners by using a small local land trust organization; Mount Pleasant Open Space. Council member Kaynard wondered why the Town needed to put such restrictions on property when the Town has not had any problems protecting the land without deed restrictions. However, Council member O’Neil, who initiated the project with Mount Pleasant Open Space, explained that while the current Council has no desire to sell the property, there is nothing to stop future Councils from doing so. The deed restrictions that a land trust can provide will be in effect regardless of what a future Town Council might look like. Furthermore, he added that the potential is there as the Town has recently been asked by a property owner to sell such a piece of property in order to extend their yard. The Town Council unanimously agreed to “test” protect two parcels of land, the Dump Site and the landing on the Sullivan’s Island side of the old Pitt Street bridge. Booze hounds In an effort to curb the Vegas atmosphere that apparently comes to life in the commercial district at night, Police Chief Danny Howard investigated the jurisdiction that police have on private property. The main issue seemed to focus on being able to keep people from drinking outside, such as in parking lots adjacent to restaurants. It was reported that people can not currently be prohibited from drinking beer or wine in a private parking lot, but can be prohibited from drinking liquor.

Isle of Palms 886-6428 www.iop.net

Monday, October 5 Public Safety Committee Meeting 5pm 30 J.C. Long Boulevard Tuesday, October 6 Public Works Committee Meeting 4pm 1303 Palm Boulevard Recreation Committee Meeting 5:30pm 24 Twenty-Eighth Avenue

Wednesday, October 7 Municipal Court 10am

Dogs are taxing The City Council is looking to increase the fees for non-residents to obtain a dog license on Sullivan’s Island. This is a non-issue for most residents since it will not affect them. However, increasing the freedom people have to take their dogs on the beach was a concern. Furthermore, a non-resident who attended the meeting stated that she would be willing to pay more for a license if the Town would extend the days that dogs are allowed on the beach. Council member Perkis stated that the Council may consider Labor Day to Memorial Day restrictions in order to increase the times that dogs are allowed on the beach. Zoning the Commercial District The Town previously discussed the possibility of changing the zoning laws for the commercial district to allow a residential home at the request of a property owner who wants to build a house for his son. Residential homes are not currently allowed in the commercial district. As the discussion continued, the Council realized that duplexes are allowed and considered banning those while allowing single family homes. However, they agreed to allow property owners who would be effected by the change to discuss the matter with the Planning Commission before making any decisions. That meeting has not yet been scheduled. The Town is still considering a Commercial District Master Plan which was presented by hired consultants to the Council earlier this year, but any progress on a public presentation has been delayed due to the discussion over reverse angle parking, a new parking concept which is not favored by the State’s Department of Transportation. A meeting with the DOT was

Civic Calendar

1207 Palm Boulevard

Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee 11am 1207 Palm Boulevard

Tuesday, October 13 Real Property Committee Meeting 8:30am 1207 Palm Boulevard Board of Zoning Appeals 5:30pm 1301 Palm Boulevard

Wednesday, October 14 Municipal Court 10am 1207 Palm Boulevard Planning Commission 4:30pm 1301 Palm Boulevard

expected to take place on September 17 for a final decision on the matter. Being classy Randy Robinson reported that the Town could be receiving an increased ISO rating which could make flood insurance more affordable for island residents. Fire Chief Anthony Stith also mentioned that the Town’s ISO rating in regards to fire prevention increased from a 4 to a 3 and could go as high as a 2 with the new dispatch service, which the Town will go online with next year. Flu shots for Town employees Council member Jerry Kaynard announced that Town employees, their families and members of Town Council will be offered regular flu vaccinations as well as H1N1 (swine flu) vaccinations. “With the concern of pandemic levels of H1N1 and infection levels that could reach up to 30% of the population, the Town is taking steps to be confident that the see SI Council on page 17

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

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] Lori Dalton Advertising [email protected] Chelsea Langan Advertising [email protected] • Interns Paul Robinson Dylan Sharek • Contributors Barbara Bergwerf Dr. Lucas Cole Bobby Cummings David Farrow Julie Hussey Dimi Matouchev National Park Service 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: October 7 for all submissions.

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

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Monday, October 5 Special Council Meeting 6pm 1610 Middle Street Committees of Council 6:30pm 1610 Middle Street

Tuesday, October 6 Municipal Court 10am 1610 Middle Street Wednesday, October 14 Planning Commission 6:30pm 1610 Middle Street

Wednesday, October 7 Recycle

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. Op-ed articles do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Lucky Dog News, or its writers. All advertising rates are listed at: www.islandeyenews.com under “advertising”.

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Civic

September 18, 2009

Sullivan’s takes shaky approach to accreted land By Ali Akhyari

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here’s an old saying which goes, “You can’t please them all”. Variations abound on this single cliche’ and it seems that the Sullivan’s Island Town Council now has their own variation with the most recent developments on the accreted land issue. It goes something like this: “If you can’t please them all, try anyway.” But that’s not fair. After all, in addition to the 220 official opinions they’ve received from residents, they have also received a letter from Governor Mark Sanford that reiterates the importance of being able to see the ocean from your deck and real estate values. It should come as no surprise then, that at their regular meeting on September 15, the Town Council stated that they would not be going with any single accreted land plan, but instead would need to treat different areas differently. The Town has already received a request from several front beach homeowners to build a row of dunes in front of their homes. Another letter suggests that homeowners should be able to cut down all plants and trees completely for the sake of vistas. In his letter, Governor Sanford asks Mayor Carl Smith, “Is there

no way for [home] owners to do self pruning - so there isn’t yet another invisible tax on ocean front homes?” Sanford mentions another letter from island resident Robert Hood which suggests property owners be allowed to completely remove all trees and vegetation so flowers can be planted, and says Hood has “very reasonable points” in regards to the huge decline in property values that will occur if ocean views are obstructed by trees. However, not all opinions suggest that real estate values are more important than our environment. Larry and Susan Middaugh, who religiously attend City Council meetings, regularly point out the importance and value of the maritime forest which is naturally growing in the accreted land. Of course, there is also the option of building a row of sand dunes. While doing work for the State’s Ocean and Coastal Resource Management division after Hurricane Hugo, Dr. Tim Kana of Coastal Science and Engineering noticed that properties which had dunes located seaward of their property received significantly less damage than those properties which did not and recommended that dune construction take

place for future protection. Kana’s company was the chosen contractor for the accreted land plan. “I would recommend dune construction today for the same reason in any of these rapidly accreting areas,” Kana says. The dune that was suggested for Sullivan’s Island at the public hearing is only a fraction of what Kana says should be done to protect the island from storm damage, but it would still provide better storm surge protection than any other option. The amount of sand needed to build the dunes is approximately 100,000 cubic yards and would cost the Town an estimated $500,000. I certainly don’t claim to know what will make people happy on Sullivan's Island.  But I do know that there is great room for improvement over the status quo if residents of the island chose to seize the opportunity,” Kana says. With residents already maintaining drastically opposing opinions and Governor Sanford stepping in on behalf of those who prefer clear-cutting to natural growth, does the City Council stand a chance of forming their own philosophy on how the

accreted land should be handled? It will take courage, that’s for sure. But was there ever really another option besides one that will allow everyone to get a little of what they want? While the Town considers the future of this property, there have not been any protests or demonstrations. So far, the Council has had the luxury of referring to the consultants proposals and waiting on the results of that work. However, Council member Buddy Howle correctly pointed out that eventually the consultants’ work will be done and the Town will have to make a conscious decision on the future of the accreted land. “It’s up to us to decide what we want to do. We’ve got to do it,” Howle said. It comes down to values. The Council will have to make a public statement as to what values are most important under their leadership and their decision on this matter will determine what those values are. The Council needs a governing philosophy. That is the crux of the debate. There has not been an official philosophy with which the see Accreted land on page 22

IOP homes: the next generation Staff Report

The Isle of Palms short term rentals meeting on September 16 was a far cry from the meetings of two and three years ago, when every mention of the words “short term rentals” caused at least a sharp word or two to fly and at worst, sparked a full on redfaced debate. Today, however, the formerly contentious topic was approached with cool aplomb by both the City Council and the Planning Commission, all of whom walked through the issues step by step under the statistics-assisted guidance of Mayor Cronin. To keep things simple, Mayor Cronin divided the topic into two sections: zoning issues and livability issues. Under zoning, the Mayor reported that the average size of new homes built on the Isle of Palms is between 3,800 and 4,051 square feet, and of the 17 new homes built last year, not one of them was built as a rental. This is surprising compared to previous years, where the building of rental homes peaked at 50% of new home construction in 2003 and approached that number again in 2006 with 43% of new homes being built as rentals.

As for livability, Mayor Cronin agreed with her, and the majority stated that, of the 1,787 rentals of the meeting consisted of on the Isle of Palms (including discussions circling around Wild Dunes), 275 are long term preventative measures that rentals and 1,512 are short term could bring the Isle of Palms to rentals, with 816 of the short an eventual amicable balance of term rentals found in Wild Dunes. residential and rental homes on Council member Mike Loftus the island. added that this means that about “I think the overriding 40% of the homes/dwelling units mood seems clear,” said Town on the Isle of Palms are rentals, Administrator Linda Lovvorn as there are roughly 4,600 homes Tucker. “We should look to a on the Isle of Palms today. Mayor vision of the Isle of Palms in 10, Cronin also made a note of the 15, 20 years and not so much noise complaints received over at today’s complaints. We need the past two years. In 2008, 111 to have more of a focus on the noise complaints were reported future of the island and allowing while so far this year, 93 noise it to multiply to whatever end that complaints have been filed with may be. In 15 years, do we want the Livability officer. 7,000 square foot homes on every Council member Barbara plot of land you can see? We want Bergwerf pointed out that she to be more visionary.” felt the local rental agencies are Mayor Cronin, the Council working hard to ensure that their and the Planning Commission renters abide by the island’s agreed. The main issues that the livability laws; the real question Planning Commission were given is what will the Council do about to tackle were the preservation of the future? Do the short term greenspace, the issue of density rentals create noise in residential (How does the Isle of Palms retain districts? “This is our challenge,” the neighborhood feel and prevent said Bergwerf. “Plan for our homes from being packed in like future.” sardines), and the conformity The Council wholeheartedly of new homes with the current www.islandeyenews.com

surrounding neighbhorhoods. Cronin admitted that there are still many roads to travel, but they’ve made progress and he hopes to continue. “We should become a quiet, peaceful community which is comfortable for everyone,” he said.

September 18, 2009

Letter to the editor... Greetings Neighbors: During the 30 years I have known Sandy Stone I have had the pleasure of interacting with him through community service at the Exchange Club, recreation department as a coach, through the scouting program and as a competitor in the real estate business. Sandy took over my duties back in the 80s as the “Youth Committee Chairman” at the IOP Exchange Club. For over 10 years he organized and ran the annual “Kids Fair” and fun day. We would set up booths at the Rec. Department (later in the Red and White parking lot) and have ring toss games, dart games and food for the whole community each September as the children got settled back in school. Sandy organized and coordinated the Christmas event, got Santa on the fire trucks for our annual Christmas gathering, worked with the “Youth of the Month” and “Youth of the Year” award that annually resulted in a College Scholarship for a deserving student. Sandy was a staple at the Recreation Department as “Coach Stone” for over 15 years

Civic

while many of our children were learning the rules of the game and in many cases the rules of life through Coach Stone. He continues to support the youth teams. When Stella Maris was looking for volunteers to start up a scouting program, Sandy was there volunteering again to help with the children of our community. Sandy worked with many of our sons and parents though the scouting experience. When you compete with someone in business in a market as close as ours, you learn a great deal about the individuals involved and here we are supporting him. His leadership in volunteerism, and in business, strengthens our community and will bring a well-balanced approach to our City Council. We appreciate Sandy’s longterm commitment and devotion to making life better for this community. We support Sandy Stone for City Council this November 3, and hope you will too. Bill and Nita Casey 811 Palm Blvd. Isle of Palms, SC

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SI puts squeeze on vacation rentals

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Staff Report

ast year, the Sullivan’s Island Town Council came under fire after discussing the possibility of raising business license rates for restaurants and bars by 200%. When those business owners began attending meetings and debating with Council members, the Council decided to raise those rates by only 50%, which was still significantly higher than the 10% increase which other businesses received. Discussions on that rate increase suggested that local restaurants/bars were not paying as much as they would in other, similar areas. However, the negative impacts that some residents and the Council believed those businesses were having on the community was also a concern. Now, according to Council member Mike Perkis, it’s time to address vacation rentals. The Town Council passed first reading of an ordinance that will significantly raise business license rates for many owners of vacation rentals. The ordinance

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will create a tiered rate system for vacation rentals based on how much income is produced. Property owners that only had to pay a base rate of $1000 in the past could be paying 75% more without making any additional money. The logic, according to Perkis, is that higher revenues for rental properties suggest that the properties are being rented more frequently. Consequently, the Town incurs an additional impact because of those extra visitors, Perkis said. The increased rates reflect a desire to charge property owners for creating that increased burden on the Town. Possible impacts might be more trash to be picked up or police having to spend time with a vacationer when they could be providing service to residents. The existing rate system charges a base rate of $1000, which is doubled for nonsee rentals on page 22

September 18, 2009

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Haunted ghost tours….

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Ooooooooo! By Lori Dalton

ts dark out there on the harbor and after hearing about pirates, sailors, soldiers, fishermen, construction workers, police, families and ships who drift through the dark waters night after night, you will never see seaport life the same again. Want something fun to do with your family and friends that give you a taste of spooky things this October? I highly recommend a boat ghost tour with Sandlapper Tours. Founded by Bryan and Timothy Collins, brothers and natives of Charleston, Sandlapper offers the only “Ghost Tour by Boat” in Charleston. Ghost stories are part of the enchanted Holy City. Charleston’s forts, houses and ships are the centerpiece of many of the South’s most famous ghost stories. This tour gives you a great way to explore the sites that cannot be reached on foot, and the cool breeze and dark waves

of the harbor add to the magic of the evening. The tour is one and a half hours long and departs MondayFriday at 7pm, and 8pm on Saturdays. Cost is $22 for adults and children 16 years and up. Children under 16 years of age are $16. There is a cash bar on the ship, and we enjoyed a nice glass of red wine while we sailed the harbor, listening to tales about centuries-old ghosts, such as the mysterious solider that comes back night after night to haunt new brides. For those looking for something a little less scary, Sandlapper Tours also offers nature tours, their famous sunset tour, and history tours. You need to book soon as the “Ghost Tour by Boat” will end in November and won’t be back until early spring. Call 849-8687. You can also book your tickets online at www.sandlappertours.com.

Color me Kathy By Kristin Hackler

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here’s a painting that looks a shade too familiar hanging in the front window of Sandpiper Art Gallery on Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island. The wild face of a Doberman smiles from a cool blue-green background and the myriad of colors creates more of the impression of solid colors than actually composing them. It takes a minute, but if you’re a bourbon lover, you’ve already snapped your fingers in recognition. It’s the same artist who painted the rainbowstreaming muzzle of a race horse on Woodford Reserve’s commemorative 2006 Kentucky Derby bottle. Artist Kathy Sullivan moved to Charleston just over a year and a half ago after spending 12 years in Louisville, Kentucky, where her career received the kind of jump start that you only read about in novels. “I was driving by Churchhill Downs with a friend of mine who’s also an art dealer, and he was telling me about how he was taking some paintings

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by the Downs later that week,” said Kathy. “I asked him why he wasn’t taking any of mine, to which he pointed out that I didn’t paint.” She smiled, but for Kathy, that was a challenge. She went home, painted a few pieces, and gave them to her friend to show the people at Churchill Downs. They bought one of them on the spot and today, Churchill Downs displays more than 25 of Kathy’s oil paintings. Other painting sales came almost as easily, with the national insurance corporation Humana purchasing four of her paintings and spirits distributor Brown Forman requisitioning a massive 10 foot tall painting from the burgeoning artist. Between her first sale and her later sales, Kathy moved away from her initial goal of a PhD in Art Therapy from the Art Institute of Chicago and began to focus more on her own art. After working with her friend and mentor Susan Howe at the American Academy of Art, Kathy see Sullivan on page 7

September 18, 2009

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Sullivan cotinued from page 6 fully realized her passion for working in oils. Her ability to capture the subtle colors of any given image and elaborate on them in her paintings has made her works as enjoyable as they are recognizable. Although Kathy had never been to Sullivan’s Island, it only took a call from her sister, Jenny, and an invitation to stay in the Sanford family home for her to fall in love with Charleston. After a month on the island, Kathy packed up her bags and moved to Mount Pleasant. Today, Kathy’s greatest passion is painting unique and vibrant animal portraits; particularly of family dogs. One of her favorites is a painting that she did from a still of her two Bassett Hounds. The pair is peeking out of the backseat window of her car. One is able to rest her whole head on the sill, while the other is only able to get half a snout in the air. The portrait is warm and poignantly endearing; especially since the shorter one, Duke, passed away this past September. Although there is a wide variety of Kathy’s original oils at Sandpiper Gallery, she is also doing animal portraits on request. Her most recent commission, a painting of a Labrador, was commissioned after the dog’s owners saw her painting of a black lab in the gallery window. “I love how many people love dogs,” smiled Kathy. “And I love to paint that love. One day I’ll get to kids, but right now, I’m all about the dogs.” For more information about Kathy Sullivan, visit www.kathysullivanart.com, call 737-3373 or email [email protected]

Kathy Sullivan with her commissioned painting of a Labrador.

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September 18, 2009

Sullivan's

A visit from Malawi

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Beach & River Sweep September 19, 2009

little over two years ago, Hannah. “I like helping people in Sullivan’s Islander Dr. need and when we’re taught about Carolyn Thiedke travelled the word of God, we’re taught to Malawi in southeastern Africa about helping each other.” During to work with the program Doctors her time on Sullivan’s Island this without Borders (or Medecins year, Hannah has visited the sans Frontiere) as a physician Aquarium in Atlanta – “there in an HIV project. While there, was so much cool stuff! I loved Dr. Thiedke met and befriended walking through the underwater several of the locals, but there tunnel,” she smiled – and Fort was one small girl that grasped Moultrie, where she learned more her heartstrings the moment they about the slave trade between her met. Hannah Mpinganjira lived country and Sullivan’s Island. “When I went back home to near the project offices and one day, as Dr. Thiedke was walking Africa, I had fun with my family home, Hannah ran up to her and and saw all of my friends that I asked if she would be her pen pal. missed, but I couldn’t wait to “I was totally enchanted by her come back,” said Hannah. Today, request, her grasp of English and Hannah is in eighth grade at her spunk,” smiled Dr. Thiedke. Christ Our King. Over the months they developed a wonderful relationship and eventually, Dr. Thiedke asked Hannah if she would like to come back to the United States with her and attend school. Hannah was overjoyed and after shuffling through the piles of international paperwork, Hannah attended her first semester at Christ Our King in Mount Pleasant this past school year. Hannah returned home this summer, but came back at the beginning of the school year, excited about completing her first full year of American school. “I like studying religion the most,” said Hannah Mpinganjira

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September 18, 2009

Do You Know Your Charleston

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When we were as cool as we thought we were

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ne of my fondest memories of my youth was the summer of 1968. My best friend was 14 and I was 15. I lived on South Battery and he lived around the corner on Legare. That was the endless summer, a time before life would start slapping us around. My friend and I had taken up surfing, which was a pretty ambitious thing for two land-locked boys with no driver’s license to do. Among the most uncool things one could do is show up in front of a bunch of surfer dudes with a Jan and Dean attitude, riding in a car with Burl Ives softly and soothingly wafting through the window. We took the bus. As dawn broke, I would walk around the corner, longboard in arm. He’d be standing in front of his house, and together we would walk through the splendid ruins of lower Legare to Tradd, then into a rising June sun; a red rubber ball that promised a soul stoned picnic. Transistor radios David Farrow, Charlestonian. were as ubiquitous as cell phones are

By David Farrow

today, and as we turned onto Meeting Street, Archie Bell and the Drells were tightening up, and Paul McCartney was admonishing that it’s the fool who plays it cool. We would arrive at the Fireproof Building across from the Timrod Hotel, the sun cascading across the newly replaced cobblestones of Chalmer’s Street. The old SCE&G bus chugged up to the stop, and workmen, servants and two teenaged white boys with surfboards 10 feet long piled on, and we were off to Folly Beach. As the sun tipped the tops of the trees and spilled out onto the furrowed fields of James Island, the bus wound down Harborview Road and up Fort Johnson Road. There were some nice developments off those roads, but overall there was nothing but creeks crackling with shrimp and fields replete with tomatoes. After Fort Johnson Road, Folly Road became flat rural. Back in those days, it wasn’t even worth annexing. The bus rumbled past the shrimp boats and the restaurants where that night’s dinner was pooling and schooling in the Folly River. Finally, we passed through the endless vistas of salt marsh down the causeway past the flat islands and the lighthouse down Center Street. It was 7:30am. The Folly Pier and Atlantic Ocean loomed in front of us. Carrying our boards, the transistor tuned to WTMA Tiger Radio, Jerry Butler was never going to give her up; The Temptations wished it would rain. As we walked down the beach, we were frankly glad that it wasn’t. Young girls walking dogs on the beach were fine tuning their appeal for two young boys. Communications had already separated these children from their parents. Eric Clapton and Otis Redding defined their teenage angst. No

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matter our race, class or gender, we were children of privilege compared to our parents’ hardships of World War II and the Great Depression. Is it just me, or are the girls better looking and more risqué than they were then? I know that must make me seem ready for Bishop Gadsden, but not having kids, it seems to me that they are a tad more (sophisticated?) than we were. These were summer days that went on forever – life was endless, life was good. We were indestructible, fine looking children on better looking days. Of course, it wouldn’t be long before the vagaries of life would start slapping us around, but for those long summer days, life was perfect. Fish were jumping and the cotton was high. For us, life’s misadventures were but a dark ship’s smoke on the horizon. It was the last time we would have it all figured out with the certitude of a snake handling pastor. Time was meted out with the rolls and swells of the ocean; breakers laughable to anyone from California would bring us yards to the beach. For the first time, we were not from James Island, Hanahan or below Calhoun. We were from Charleston. It would be a long time before we realized how important that would be. We were not Democrats or Republicans, Episcopalians or Elks, Liberals or Lions. We were 15 year old surfer dudes. It would be the last time that we were as cool as we thought we were. To read more by David Farrow visit www. TheCharlestonTimes.com.

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September 18, 2009

Over the Edge

Celebrate

for a good cause

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n Wednesday, September 16, more than 50 Greystar Real Estate team members and volunteers joined with Operation Home to make repairs and renovate six homes over a two day period in James Island, Mount Pleasant, Huger, Awendaw and McClellenville. The repairs, which included fixing roofs, building wheelchair ramps, installing new kitchens, rebuilding foundations and reinforcing flooring, resulted in more hospitable and safe living conditions for lowincome residents as part of an effort to prevent homelessness or displacement. “As more than 2,300 homes in the Tricounty area lack complete kitchen or plumbing facilities, not including those with faulty electrical systems, roofing or other structural issues, there is a tremendous need for the entire community to help non-profits carry out their work,” said Anna Hamilton, Executive Director of Operation Home. One of the ways that the community helps Operation Home continue its assistance to the disadvantaged of the Lowcountry is through the annual “Drum it Up! For Operation Home” event, which will be held this year on Sunday, October 25, from 6pm to 9pm at the Red Drum Gastropub on Coleman Boulevard. This amazing event has

been the major fundraiser for Operation Home, raising over $100,000 last year alone. “This year our donors have been so generous,” says Hamilton. “When the community comes together to support others who need help, it is truly amazing.” The night will be fun and festive, featuring live and silent auctions, drumming by Adande Drummers, friends, food and good drink. Auction items range from a Basketball package from Coach Bobby Cremins, to a rocking pair of Jimmy Choo boots that you might want to wear on your Ladies Night Out, to a fabulous vacation in Costa Rica or stately St. Simon’s Island. Tickets for the event are on sale at www.operationhome. org and are $100 per person. For more info, call 5687455. Red Drum is located at 803 Coleman Blvd. Mount Pleasant. Since 1997, Operation Home’s mission is to help people remain in their homes by increasing safety and accessibility through the coordination of critical home repairs for low income residents of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties. Headquartered in Charleston, Greystar is national real estate company offering expertise in multifamily management, development and investment throughout the United States.

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ontinuing to bring legitimate art to Folly Beach, At the Bridge gallery owner Suzan McNeil will be hosting a new art exhibit called “Over the Edge” featuring two of Charleston’s most talented artists. The event kicks off with a free open house on October 17 from 5-10pm with heavy hors d’oeuvres and drinks provided. The exhibit will display the art work of Tyler Blanton, whose art is intelligent, thought provoking, and created using a variety of mediums. Blanton has been featured in various downtown galleries and has received several awards at Spoleto. Shepherd will be returning to “the Bridge” for the second time. Last year he blessed Folly Beach with unique constructions of art that you rarely see in today’s watered down art culture. He has a very interesting way of showing the world the fantastic that we often overlook in everyday life. It is a refreshing view that reminds one of the wonder of life and reinvigorates the soul to seek it out. If you missed R.T. the first time around, do not punish yourself by missing it again. Over the Edge is a fantastic opportunity for Folly Beach to connect with world-class art. Give yourself a treat and come to At the Bridge on October 17. The exhibits will be on display through November, but the opening party is a one time experience.

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September 18, 2009

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Taste of Charleston expands its palette

et ready for the 29th annual Taste of Charleston scheduled October 9-11, 2009. The threeday celebration of Lowcountry cuisine is being hosted by the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association and will feature some of Charleston’s finest, nationallyrenowned chefs. There are four special events this year, including: Iron Chef Competition will be held Friday, October 9, at the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s Palmer Campus in downtown Charleston and will showcase the Institute’s new, $7-million facility, pitting some of the best local chefs in a heated head-to-head battle in their state-of-the-art amphitheater kitchen. This event will be held 6 – 9pm and is $20 per person. Taste of the Kitchen will be held Saturday, October 10, also at the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s Palmer Campus in downtown Charleston. There will be two sessions for the event: 10:30am – 12:30pm and 12:30 – 2:30pm. Cost is $45 per person. There will be fun by the forkful as celebrity chefs take the culinary stage to show how chefs do it and Culinary Institute chefs take participants into the kitchens to cook hands-on. Add the wine and beer classes and the buffet lunch, and

you have a full plate. Taste of the Arts on Gallery Row will be held Saturday evening, October 10, 6 – 8pm, at various art galleries in downtown Charleston. The art walk combines Lowcountry art with the culinary arts and will showcase the talents of local artists while offering guests a sampling of appetizers from a variety of Charleston’s favorite restaurants. This event will be held 6-8pm and is $20 per person. Taste of Charleston (Main Event) will be held on Sunday, October 11, at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. The event will showcase a sampling of the taste-tempting delights served at more than 40 of Charleston’s finest restaurants. Additional highlights include the legendary Waiter’s Wine Race, food and wine pairings, a selection of specialty and imported beers, cooking demonstrations, the Best of the Taste contest, live music with East Coast Party Band on the main stage and a Kids Corner (complete with a petting zoo). Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Tickets for all events may be purchased at local Kickin’ Chicken restaurants or online at www. harlestonrestaurantassociation.com.

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A snip for safety

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n September 25, more than two hundred Isle of Palms residents stood at 30 J. C. Long Blvd. in celebration of a project that has been a long time in the making. As the late summer sun wavered in the building's windows, IOP Council members past and present counted an enthusiastic "1,2, 3!" as they cut the ribbon on the island's new Public Safety facility. At 31,000 square feet, the new Public Safety Building is designed to house both the Fire and Police departments, and it is built to withsand the wind and water assult of a category three hurricane. The building is replete with "green" features, including a solar water heating system, energy efficient lighting, and construction materials containing a high level of recycled content. "The unique natural diversity of the Isle of Palms constantly reminds us of the importance of environmental protection," said Mayor Cronin. "I invite everyone and their children to come visit this beautiful new facility."

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Friday, October 2 Lowcountry Red Trout Celebrity Classic Fishing Tournament October 2 – 4 at The Landing in Shem Creek, contact tborczyk@cff. org to register.

Saturday, October 3 Full Moon Harvest Paddle on Awendaw Creek At 7pm, meet at the Buck Hall Recreation Area for a paddle up the waterway to Awendaw Creek. The trip will end by 10pm. Boats,

September 18, 2009

paddles & all safety equipment provided.Call 928-3316 to register or email [email protected] . $39 each. SCARE Hunter Pace & Trail Ride at Poplar Grove Poplar Grove and SCARE (South Carolina Awareness and Rescue for Equines) are hosting a trail ride at the Poplar Grove Seed Orchard between 8am and 4pm. Cost is $40 for riders and $15 for non-riders and includes lunch. To register, call (803) 720-7062 or e-mail [email protected].

Moja Arts Festival presents: CSO Gospel Choir  African-American Sacred Songs III will highlight the evolution of gospel music. Saint Matthews Church, 405 King Street, downtown Charleston. Tickets are $10 and are available at the Gaillard Auditorium ticket office or at the church one hour before the performance. Free Football Combine for students Velocity Sports Performance in Mount Pleasant is hosting a FREE Football Combine for grades 5-8.   10am – 12pm.  Deadline to sign up is Thursday, October 1. Space is filling quickly and limited to the first 150 athletes who call 2841395 to register. Billy Jonas at Wando High School Using sing-alongs, bang-alongs, whisper-alongs, and improvised songs, Billy Jonas’ primary instrument is the audience. At “Kids Rock”, 3pm at Wando High School for $10 per person in advance or $15 at the door. Call 881-3780 or go to creativespark.org for advance tickets. CPR class hosted by the IOP Fire Department Starting at 9am, the class will be held in the training room of the new Isle of Palms Public Safety Building. Class will end by 5pm. Cost is $20. For more info, call Chris Puckhaber at 475-3040 or email him at [email protected]. 17th annual IOPConnector Run/ Walk for the Child Starting at 8am at the foot of the IOP Connector on the Isle of Palms. For more info or to sign up, visit www.IOPConnectorRun.com or call 886-8294.

Monday, October 5 Annual delinquent tax sale The Charleston County Delinquent Tax Division will hold the annual Delinquent Tax Sale for unpaid real estate and mobile home property taxes. 

Is l a nd E y e

October 2 The sale will begin at 9:30am in the Charleston County Council Chambers on the second floor of the Lonnie Hamilton III, Public Services Building located at 4045 Bridge View Drive in North Charleston. For more info, contact the Delinquent Tax Division at 958-4570. Surf Fishing with Capt. Ben Floyd Starting at 6:30pm at The Charleston Angler in Mount Pleasant. Free. To register, call 884-2095 or email [email protected].

Tuesday, October 6 AARP East Cooper Chapter  The AARP East Cooper Chapter meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 6pm at the Mt Pleasant Senior Center on Von Kolnitz Road. For info, call Debra Whitfield 8499548 or Mark Kieber 881-3062.

Wednesday, October 7 The League of Women Voters presents “Health Care Reform – What’s Next?” Starting at 6:30pm at the Charleston County School District Building Board Room at 75 Calhoun Street, downtown Charleston. The event is free and open to the public. Ask questions and get answers on the many facets of healthcare reform. For more info, go to the LWVCA web site http://charleston. sc.lwv.org. The East Cooper Dementia Caregiver Support Group Carla Green, LMSW, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, will speak on Grief: Now and Later.  This session will be held from 9:30 - 10:30am at All Saints Lutheran Church, 2107 Hwy. 17 North, Mt. Pleasant.  Please call Ginger, 8105576, for more info. Bi-Island Fire Prevention Parade Get ready for loud sirens!  The annual Fire Prevention Parade hosted by the Sullivan’s Island and Isle

Seel's inv its 1 883-5030

2213-B Middle St, www.seelsfishcamp.com www.islandeyenews.com

Join us for the 1/2 price T Double rewards point $5 Working Man's spec Special kid's menu Wine Tastin Fish Fry

September 18, 2009

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e C ale n d ar

- October 16 of Palms Fire Departments and in cooperation with many area agencies, will begin at 4:30pm. Join us at the Sullivan’s Island Fire Station at 2050 Middle Street for fun, refreshments and fire prevention education. After School Adventures: Climbing and Crabbing Come enjoy the afternoon climbing and crabbing. All equipment needed is provided. Pre-registration required. 3:30pm-6pm. Course # 21239. The group meets at Palmetto Islands County Park. Age: 6-12. Fee: $12/$10 CCR Discount. For more info or to sign up, call 795-4386.

Thursday, October 8

Island Club meeting Join the members of the newly rennovated Island Club next to the Fish Fry Shack on Sullivan's Island. 7pm with catering from Home Team BBQ and a wine tasting by the Green Heron. For more info, email jcagle7960@aol. com. Meet the Cover Girl at Aubergine Home Collection

From 6 – 9pm, enjoy snacks and an open bar while perusing the silent auction items. First 20 shoppers receive a “swag bag” of goodies. With the purchase of a Pet Helpers Day Planner, receive 20% off all bed linens, fabrics and accessories. In the Queensborough/ Publix Shopping Center off of Hwy 17. For more info, 884-8100 or visit www.Auberginehome.com.

by phone at 881-3780.   Join the annual East Cooper Kitchen Cantata This is an interdenominational gathering of men and women  who love to sing Christmas music. The group meets weekly on Thursday afternoons from 1:303pm beginning October 8. Eastbridge Presbyterian Church. Cost:  $10. Contact: Anne Bushong at 886-6855 or cdranne@comcast. net.

Friday, October 9

Monday, October 12 Columbus Day

Thursday, October 15

Habitat Happy Hour From 6pm – 9pm at the Windjammer on the IOP. Tickets are $20 and include two draft beers, appetizers, and music from the Ocean Drive Party Band. Tickets available at the ReStore 469C Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant (849-8002), at the East Cooper Habitat Office,

Taste of Charleston 29th annual Taste of Charleston scheduled October 9-11, 2009. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com or call 452-6088. THAT Big Book Sale At the Gaillard Auditorium on Friday and Saturday from 9am - 7pm, and Sunday from 10am – 3pm, with items marked half price on Sunday. For more info, visit www. charlestonlibraryfriends.org or call 805-6978.

Saturday, October 10 IOPNA 2nd annual Oktoberfest From 6pm to 10pm at the Exchange Club on 201 Palm Boulevard. Judge Michael Molony will be the guest speaker for the evening. The admission for the Oktoberfest is a covered dish and a donation. We look forward to seeing you there! Edgar Allan Poe:  Back from the Grave Staged within the labyrinthine passageways of Fort Moultrie, Back from the Grave takes you into the “dream inside the dream” of Poe’s mind in a hauntingly original performance art event.  Advanced tickets are $30 and VIP tickets are $55.  Tickets will be available on site for $40 regular and $65 VIP.  Purchase

vites you to celebrate year anniversary

week of Oct 5-11 for: Tacos from 3-6pm ts on your "Locals Only" card cial and "Locals Only" specials u on Tuesday's "Kid's Night" ng Thursday 7-9pm y all day Friday www.islandeyenews.com

1558 Ben Sawyer Boulevard (8812600) or at the Windjammer.

Friday, October 16

An Evening with the Stars! Goodwill’s 30th Anniversary Gala will be held at the Francis Marion Hotel, beginning with a Registration Cocktail Reception at 6:30pm. Tickets are $65 per person or $120 per couple. Francis Marion Hotel, 387 King Street, Downtown Charleston. Visit www.palmettogoodwill.org/gala or call 377-2845.

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Soldiers through Time

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Provided by the National Park Service

n Friday and Saturday, October 2-3, 2009 Fort Moultrie will present a Soldiers Through Time living history event from 10am to 4pm each day. Park rangers and reenactors will portray soldiers of the major time periods of Fort Moultrie’s history from the Revolutionary War through World War II. On Friday, re-enactors will present World War II Coast Artillery programs throughout the day from 10am to 4pm. On Saturday, re-enactors will portray important periods in the history of Fort Moultrie by wearing uniforms from the American Revolution, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War and World War II. Visitors will be able to see the changes that took place in the uniforms, weapons, and related items carried and used by soldiers from 1776 to 1945. On Saturday, these re-enactors will be available from 10am to 4pm with formal presentations at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm. All activities and programs will take place inside Fort

Moultrie and are free. The year 2009 marks the bicentennial (200th year) of the Fort Moultrie one sees today. Located on Sullivan’s Island, there have been three forts on this site since 1776. The first Fort Moultrie, build of palmetto logs and sand, is the location of the first major Patriot victory of the American Revolution on June 28, 1776. Abandoned after the war, this fort was replaced by a second Fort Moultrie in 1798, but was destroyed by an 1804 hurricane. The current Fort Moultrie was completed in 1809 and was not closed by the US Army until 1947. For more information, call the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center at 883-3123 x 20.

September 18, 2009

Boat tour to historic Lighthouse Island

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n Sunday, October 25, the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge is offering a tour to Lighthouse Island to view two historic lights. A slide presentation on the history of the two lighthouses will be given at the Sewee Visitor and Environmental Education Center at 10:30am. Following the presentation, participants will drive to the McClellanville boat landing, adjacent to the Town Hall, and board the Coastal Expeditions Island Cat ferry at noon to travel to Lighthouse Island. The ferry will leave Lighthouse Island at approximately 3pm to return to the mainland. Built in 1827, the conical lighthouse stands at 65 feet. Its light, powered by a whale oil wick lamp, was visible from a distance of 14 miles under the most favorable circumstances. In 1857, a 150-foot octagonal lighthouse was built. Installed on the 150-foot tower was a prismatic lens that was visible for approximately 19 miles and dramatically reduced the number of shipwrecks off the

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Cape. The 1857 light was taken out of service in 1947 when coastal navigation techniques made it obsolete. Both lights are a significant maritime landmark and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The 1827 lighthouse is the oldest of its kind still standing in the United States. Lighthouse Island is located in a National Wilderness Area. Therefore, there are no facilities or dock on the island; participants will wade ashore and walk a dirt path to the lighthouses. Wear appropriate footwear for water and pluff mud! Bring insect repellant, water and snacks and dress for the weather. The transportation fee is $35 per person. Boat space is limited to 35 passengers. Please reserve your space with a check made out to Coastal Expeditions. Mail your check to the Sewee Visitor Center, 5821 Hwy 17 North, Awendaw, SC 29429. For more information, contact the Center at 928-3368 between 9am and 5pm, Tuesday - Saturday.

September 18, 2009

Financial

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(Almost) everything you wanted to know about bonds

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n the financial world, stocks tend to get most of the attention. But if you’re going to make progress toward your longterm goals, you need to be aware of all types of investments — and bonds can be an important part of your portfolio. Many people, however, don’t fully understand how bonds work. So before you invest in them, familiarize yourself with the “bond basics.” Here are a few of them: • Bonds are “debt” instruments. When you buy shares of stock, you’re actually becoming an owner — although one of a great many — of a company. But when you purchase bonds, you are, in effect, loaning money to whomever issues the bond — a business or the government. If you hold the bond until it matures, you’ll get your principal, or “par value,” back (provided the issuer doesn’t default) and, along the way, you’ll receive regular interest payments. A bond’s interest rate is known as the “coupon.” • Bond prices will fluctuate. Your bond’s interest rate will not change over the life of the bond. However, bonds are subject to “interest rate risk,” which means that when interest rates rise, the prices of bonds can decrease,

By Dimi Matouchev

so if you sold your bond before off by sticking with investment- look for a bond that offers “call it matured, you could lose some grade bonds and staying away protection” — a guarantee that of the value of your principal. from the “junk.” the bond can’t be called before For example, suppose you own a • Some bonds can be “called.” a certain time. To determine if $1,000 bond that pays a 4 percent A callable bond is a bond that can bonds are appropriate for your interest rate. If new bonds are be redeemed — or “called” — by individual situation — and, if issued at 5 percent, no one will the issuer before its maturity. If so, what type of bonds — see pay you the full $1,000 for your interest rates have declined since your financial advisor. By adding 4 percent bond, so if you wish to the bond was issued, companies bonds to your portfolio, you sell, you will have to offer it at a can call bonds and reissue them may well give yourself a broader discount. Conversely, if market at the lower, prevailing interest platform for success. rates fall to 3 percent, your 4 rate, thereby saving money on This article was written by percent bond will become highly interest payments. As an investor, Edward Jones, located at 1505 desirable, so you could sell it for this could be cause for concern, Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms, SC more than the $1,000 par value. because if your bond is called and 29451. For more information, • Different bonds have different you want to reinvest the proceeds please call the Edward Jones “ratings.” If you buy a corporate in another bond, you’ll likely have offices at 886-9229 or visit their bond, you can choose between to accept a lower coupon rate. website at www.edwardjones. investment-grade bonds — those Consequently, you may want to com. receiving the higher “grades” issued by rating agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poors — and “junk” Presented by Bobby Cummings, CFP®, CFBS, CLTC bonds — those getting the lowest grades. “When one door closes another door opens; but, we so often look so long Higher-quality bonds and so regretfully upon the closed door, we do not see the ones which carry less risk of default but pay a lower interest open for us.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell rate than “junk” bonds, which must offer higher The Markets rates to attract investors On September 16, the S&P 500 index reached a milestone that has occurred who may be worried only three other times since World War II. about default risk. The rare occurrence was this – the index closed 20% above its 200Generally speaking, day moving average. The other three times it happened were 1975, 1982, you’re probably better and 1986, according to Bloomberg. So, how did the stock market perform subsequent to those feats? Well, the news is good for the bulls. A year later, the index had gains ranging from 13% to 20%, according to a research note from Birinyi Associates as quoted by Bloomberg. On a longer-term basis, both 1982 and 1986 turned out to be good times to invest in the market. Starting in August 1982, the stock market took off on a nearly 18-year secular bull market that was one of the greatest in history. Conversely, if you got in back in 1975, you had to wait seven years before participating in the new bull that began in 1982. We will need the benefit of history to know if last week’s piercing of 20% above the 200-day moving average foreshadows a new, long-term secular bull market. However, we have enough history to know the current rally is very impressive indeed.

Finding your financial anchor

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 10-year 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 applicable or not available

A concept known as “anchoring” may influence whether the stock market is due for a correction or not. In a famous 1974 paper titled Judgment Under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases, Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman defined anchoring as follows: In many situations, people make estimates by starting from an initial value that is adjusted to yield the final answer. The initial value, or starting point, may be suggested by the formulation of the problem, or it may be the result of a partial computation. In either case, adjustments are typically insufficient. That is, different starting points yield different estimates, which are biased toward the initial values. We call this phenomenon “anchoring”. As it relates to the stock market, what you pick as your “initial value” may greatly influence whether you are bullish or bearish right now. Let’s illustrate this point using two hypothetical investors: •

I. M. Bearish picks the March 9, 2009, bear market low close of 676 on the Financial continued on pg 16

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16

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Eliminate your power leaks

nconsistency in golf can be caused by two things. An inefficient swing is the first reason. The second is not having the proper equipment setup. While one of the above is enough to cause frustration on the course, a combination of the two will produce disastrous results. An inefficient golf swing is a swing that has what I call “power leaks”. In other words, the inefficient swing generates enough power on the backswing to reach a 100mph club head speed, yet at impact the club head speed is only 92mph. That 8mph loss in club head speed equates to about 20 yards on average. If you look at the illustration provided, you will see that the shaft of the club is bent toward the ball well before impact. This golfer reaches maximum mph halfway down on the downswing (instead of at the ball) and ends up decelerating through the ball. Some inconsistent and inefficient swing faults are, coming over the top, decreased rotation of the lead hip on the downswing or casting, to name a few. On the other end of the spectrum, equipment plays a

September 18, 2009

By Dr. Lucas Cole

big part in golf. If Tiger Woods played with Corey Pavin’s equipment, he would surely struggle. Now since he is Tiger Woods, he would probably adjust on the back nine and shoot five under to get back to even par. But hey, he’s Tiger Woods. Let’s look at the illustration I provided once more. This time we will say that the golfer in question has a flawless swing. The shaft is still bent toward the ball well before impact. The shaft in the club is not set up for the golfer’s swing speed and is releasing too early. Being fit for the proper shaft will likely eliminate this problem. If you haven’t been fit for clubs lately, then you are doing yourself a disservice; and when I say “fit”, I mean actually hitting balls on a launch monitor to determine swing speed, club head speed, ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, etc … All of these measurements can be optimized by finding the right shaft, club head and ball for your game. Three things you can do now to promote more consistency and efficiency in your game: Take some lessons from your local golf professional. Golf

professionals can identify your swing faults and teach you how to swing properly. Find a golf shop with a launch monitor and make sure you have the proper equipment set up for your game. Never buy clubs right off the rack! Always get fit first. Most golf shops will charge nothing for this service if you are buying your club(s) from them. There are dozens of club brands and hundreds of shaft options; find the best one for you. If you fail to get setup properly then you are setup to fail. Visit your local golf fitness instructor. A qualified golf fitness professional can identify the areas of your body that need more flexibility, stability or mobility. After they identify the cause of your swing faults, they can prescribe the proper exercise regimen to help eliminate swing faults. Dr. Lucas Cole maintains a private chiropractic practice in Mt. Pleasant, SC, and is a Titleist Financial continued from pg 15

•

S&P 500 index as his initial value. This is his anchor. I. M. Bullish picks the October 9, 2007, all-time closing high of 1,565 on the S&P 500 index as her initial value, and, hence, her anchor.

From the standpoint of I. M. Bearish, he looks at the 58% increase in the S&P 500 index between the March 9 low and last Friday and says, “After that incredible rise, this market is way overdue for a correction.” Conversely, I. M. Bullish looks at the 31% decline in the S&P 500 between the October 9, 2007 high and last Friday and says, “This market has lots of room to soar since it is still well below its all-time high.” The concept of anchoring is critically important for investors because where you plant your anchor could either limit or expand your ability to understand extreme moves in the market. Anchoring on the March 9, low makes it difficult to fathom that the market can keep moving higher. Anchoring on the October 9, all-time high gives you the green light to think it can keep going up. Anchoring applies to life, too. Dwell on an unhappy past and you are effectively tossing your anchor in a stormy sea. Focus on the possibility of a bright future and you are effectively www.islandeyenews.com

Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Instructor. He helps his golfing and tennis patients, whether they are in pain or not, play better and have more fun. He uses the protocols that touring professionals rely on weekly to keep them at the top of their game. He can be reached at 843- 4168593 or at carolinagolfdoctor@ gmail.com. setting sail in the azure waters of an exotic location. Some people might simply call this being a pessimist or an optimist. Knowing where to “anchor your anchor” could be the difference between success or failure – in the markets and in life. The above material was prepared by PEAK. Bobby Cummings is the owner of Cummings Wealth Management Group.. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional 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 (8 months). Bobby Cummings is a financial advisor practicing at 1275 Ben Sawyer Blvd in Mt. Pleasant, SC.  He offers securities and advisory services as an investment adviser representative of Commonwealth Financial Network®, a member firm of FINRA/SIPC and a Registered Investment Adviser. He can be reached at 884-9898 or at bobby@cummingswealth. com.

September 18, 2009

Sailing toward the sunset by Dylan Sharek

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s the Palmetto Breeze pulled away from the docks at Morgan Creek Grill this past Tuesday, Captain John Borden announced, “Next stop, Bermuda!” And while we knew that wasn’t where we were headed, for two hours we were transported somewhere eerily similar. Ominous clouds hung over the Isle of Palms inlet before the newest sunset excursion offered by Charleston AquaSafaris departed. Minutes after motoring out, passengers were delighted to see a vibrant and stratified rainbow dominating the view from the catamaran’s starboard side. With all the signs of a bothersome rainstorm passing, the cruise took on another life as the 20 or so passengers let out a collective sigh of relief. Captain Borden, a middle-aged man born of the same mold as Jimmy Buffett, belted a guttural honk from a conch shell to announce the boat’s departure. Rene Russell, a traveled 12-string guitar player and Morgan Creek regular, plugged in and strummed Stephen Stills’ “Southern Cross”, followed by Buffett’s “A Pirate Looks At 40.” The guests hovered at the cash bar, which offered the usual selection of domestic and import beers and each of the popular wine varietals. Seared tuna, pimiento cheese rolls, and satay chicken kept everyone on their feet. The clouds overhead morphed from red to rainbow to a beautiful canary yellow. As Dewees Island came into the ship’s view, the captain cut the motor and sailed. After reaching the breakwaters past the Isle of Palms coastline,

PHOTOS BY Kim Little and Vince Bono

the Palmetto Breeze turned around, chasing the impending darkness home for the most tranquil hour one will likely ever experience. There’s plenty of sunset cruises in the Charleston area, but this one encompasses the natural beauty of the Dewees Island and Capers Island inlets, making it something truly special. It’s not Bermuda, but with a little imagination, it very well could be. The Palmetto Breeze leaves the Morgan Creek Grill at 6:30pm every Tuesday. The sunset cruise features complimentary soft drinks, bottled water and appetizers along with a cash bar. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling the restaurant at 886-8133.

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17 SI Council from page 3 day to day function of government and services will continue,” Town Administrator Andy Benke told the Island Eye News. The flu shots are a benefit of the wellness program and a benefit package for Town employees and will not be extended to island residents. The brown plague What would the Charleston area be without mosquitoes? Paradise. But no matter how much energy and poison you use, there are always going to be mosquitoes. However, some residents have referred to mosquitoes as an issue that needs to be addressed with the accreted land management plan. As a matter of point, Town Administrator Andy Benke provided some information regarding mosquitoes on Sullivan’s Island. Benke says that there are over 3500 species of mosquitoes in the southeastern United States and that the island has been seeing more of the brown salt marsh mosquitoes lately, whose populations have been aided by northeast winds and tides. He also stated that data collected suggests that Sullivan’s Island has a 15 bite per minute ratio, while McClellanville has a rate of 60. But perhaps the most important piece of information was that the County is responsible for battling mosquito populations and that they should be contacted for requests and complaints. To contact Charleston County Mosquito Control with questions or concerns, please call (843) 202-7880.

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Rest your hooves with Shuttle Hogs By Paul Robinson

ow often a paddle at have you two o’clock debated on Saturday over driving to morning. We see a great band are providing or going out for a shuttle some excellent route that local food, only to is safe and decide on staying reliable,” says home because you Jewell. In didn’t want to deal partnership with bar scene Shuttle Hogs owners Jason McGehee and with traffic and terrible Mick Jewell. Charleston parking? Home Green Taxi, Team Barbeque understands your the local hybrid taxi company, dilemma and is offering a unique this new shuttle service not only solution to bringing the want-to- takes the hassle out of finding be music/barbeque patron back parking in busy commercial to the night scene. districts, they help to keep the Mick Jewell and Jason McGehee roads safe by providing your own of Home Team BBQ have recently on-call designated driver. seized the opportunity to provide The shutter service is simple. guests of the Sullivan’s Island If it’s just you or if you’re with Home Team BBQ with the option a group, Shuttle Hogs can pick of using a late night shuttle you up from your house and take service called “Shuttle Hogs”, you straight to your Home Team which travels the broad range of destination. When you’re ready to Charleston County. “The weekend go home, just give them a call and shuttle travels from West Ashley you’re on your way. “If you need to the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s more room than our 12 passenger Island, and back over the Ravenel van, we can call Charleston Green Bridge to West Ashley,” says Taxi and we will accommodate Jewell. “We’ve seen too many you,” says Jewell. guests of our Sullivan’s Island Shuttle Hogs also provides restaurant up the creek without private transportation and package football trips which include barbecue catering to South Carolina Gamecock Football Games. For $75 you can ride to the football game, eat barbecue, and have a ride home. Bring your own alcohol, but Shuttle Hogs will provide sodas, mixers, ice and cups. “We want our customers of Home Team BBQ to receive safe transportation and the best possible service we can provide,” says Jewell. Rates start at $10. Additionally, Shuttle Hogs is available for private service including and not limited to airport pickups, wedding parties, sporting events and concerts. Call 424-1323 for pricing or booking information.

September 18, 2009

Who was Ben Sawyer?

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Provided by Julie Hussey

enjamin Mack Sawyer was the Chief Highway Commissioner/Executive Director of the South Carolina Department of Transportation (known at the time as the SC Highway Department) between the years 1926 and 1940.    Nicknamed “Builder Ben”, Sawyer oversaw a period in South Carolina during which the number of roads in the highway system nearly doubled and the number of paved roads grew from 228 in 1925 to 6,537 in 1940.  In his book The South Carolina Highway Department 1917 – 1987, author John Hammond Moore writes Sawyer’s “career seems to have been a rare example of the right man and the right

job coming together at the right time”. Recognized as a honest, jovial man full of energy but never too busy to share information about his department, Sawyer transformed the department from a full time staff of 250 to a fully functioning state agency with several thousand employees.  Born in 1890 near Salley in Aiken County, SC, Sawyer died in a tragic accident from a leaking gas heater at the age of 50 just five years before construction was completed on the bridge which now bears his name. Progress continues on the Ben Sawyer Bridge Rehabilitation project as deck pan installation wraps up for the approach spans and rebar placement is complete for 3 of the 12 spans.  The With framing completed on the new bridge’s steel for the swing span control house, construction begins on closing in has arrived from Florida the building’s walls.  and is being erected at the former Navy Base in North Charleston.  Crews at the old Navy Base are also working to construct the new control house. For more information on the Ben Sawyer Bridge Project, visit www. bensawyerbridge.com. photo provided by scdot

Bi-Island Fire Parade

Get ready for loud sirens!  The annual Fire Prevention Parade hosted by the Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms Fire Departments and in cooperation with many area agencies, will begin at 4:30pm. Join us at the Sullivan’s Island Fire Station at 2050 Middle Street for fun, refreshments and fire prevention education.

www.islandeyenews.com

September 18, 2009

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The only games men can play in a skirt

he 38th Annual Charleston Scottish Games and Highland Gathering was held at Boone hall Plantation from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturday, September 19, 2009. The Scottish Society

of Charleston, Inc sponsors this annual event, which was held in great weather even though the forecast was for rain. The games were an excellent opportunity for Charleston area residents to see major entertainment without having a large travel expense to see events designed for the whole family. The Charleston Scottish Games are the second oldest in the south and have been ranked as a top 20 travel event several times. This year Jessica Aydlette, who lives in Goose Creek and teaches at Stall High School, gave an exhibition. She is undefeated since February 2006, holds two world records in the heavy and light sheaf, ranked #3 in North America, Caber Toss National

Champion in 2006 and her favorite event is the hammer toss. There were 10 professional and 15 amatuer male competitors from across the US and Iceland. Several new records were set at the Charleston games. One of the day’s highlights was the noon ceremonies with the Parade of Clans, 55 different ones in their colorful Tartan Kilts, and

IOP Wellness Festival

On September 17, the Isle of Palms Recreation Center hosted their annual Wellness Festival. With more than 20 medical and therapeutic companies featured, participants could get information on living wills, restoring optimal mobility after injury, hearing, massage therapy, nutrition, optometry, podiatry and more.

www.islandeyenews.com

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the mass band performance of 22 drum & pipe bands. This year SAMS (Scottish American Military Society) held a General meeting and led the Parade of Tartans with a mass display of flags. Overall it was an incredible experience and a true tribute to the stong Scottish heritage of the Lowcounty.

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September 18, 2009

photos by barbara bergwerf

IOPNA Soccer Team

The love of reading

Aloha, middle school!

Eye Spy

Middle school kids thoroughly enjoyed luau-themed first dance of the school year at the Isle of Palms Recreation Center. There was plenty of dancing and even a limbo contest. The next middle school dance at the Recreation Center will be Friday, November 13 from 7-10pm. The cost is $5 at the door.

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he Island Eye News spent some time at the Children's Garden School on Sullivan's Island this past week. Editor Kristin Hackler read one of her favorite Dr. Seuss stories to the three and four year old pre-school class as part of their Community Helpers series.

Do you know what this is?

4th annual Read for the Record

Kids, send your guess for this week’s Eye Spy to: [email protected] 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. Nobody guessed correctly that last issue was the chairs from the Dunes Property sign on Palm Blvd. Send your guess for this week's Eye Spy to: [email protected]

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n October 8, more than one million children and adults are expected to team up with a single “Hungry Caterpillar” to help break a world record and draw attention to the early education crisis affecting millions of at-risk young children here in the U.S. and across the globe.   Last year, Jack’s Cosmic Dog Owner, Jack Hurley read to more than 120 children. This year he is offering a free “Very Hungry Caterpillar” book to any teacher/ mentor/educator who would like to participate.

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Books can be picked up at Jack’s Cosmic Dogs, 2805 Hwy 17 N, Mt. Pleasant, just three miles north of the IOP connector.

September 18, 2009

Edgar Allan Poe:

Back From the Grave A P e r f o r m ance A r t E v ent

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was a child and she was a child in this kingdom by the sea…” says the memorable poem “Annabelle Lee” by Edgar Allan Poe. Many believe it was written on Sullivan’s Island when Poe was stationed at Fort Moultrie. “Edgar Allan Poe: Back from the Grave” takes you into the “dream inside the dream” of Poe’s mind in a hauntingly original performance art event. Staged within the labyrinthine passageways of the Fort, Poe’s characters come to life through vignettes performed by Contemporary Theater Lab and amazing special effects from Wonderworlds. Musical entertainment from Little City Musical Theater, audience participation plus a reception from Poe’s Tavern add to the festivities. This year’s event features all new vignettes and characters. VIP ticket holders begin the evening with libations at one of Sullivan’s Island’s most interesting houses, Mugdock Castle. This will be the first public opportunity to see the newly enlarged medieval style home where a lavish cocktail party including an open bar will begin the evening at 7:30 followed by a short walk to the fort for an exclusive 8:30 performance. Advanced tickets are $30 and VIP tickets are $55. Tickets will be available on site for $40 regular and $65 VIP. Purchase by phone at 881-3780. If it’s a dark and stormy night, bring an umbrella. The show will go on rain or shine. “Edgar Allan Poe: Back From the Grave” is not suitable for children under 12 years of age. Adult ticket holders can bring children to a new Friday event at no additional cost at the fort auditorium on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 PM. Movies and actors will introduce children to Poe’s work. Tickets for Friday night only are $5 per child. The event is being produced by Creative Spark Center for the Arts in cooperation with the National Park Service at Fort Moultrie with sponsorship from Poe’s Tavern and the City Paper.

Next week try Folly

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By Ali Akhyari

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he Holiday Inn on Folly Beach claims to be the only true beachfront hotel in the Charleston area; every room has an ocean view and you need only walk through the lobby to reach the sand. Last year it was purchased by Avocet and underwent an amazing renovation that closed the building for the entire winter. Today, the Folly Beach Holiday Inn boasts a multi-million dollar nautical theme that separates it from any other Holiday Inn experience. From the entryway opening directly onto the ocean to the recessed salt water fish tank and the jellyfish-inspired chandelier, it is a sight to behold. But the crown jewel of the entire masterpiece is the newly redesigned ocean side restaurant BLU, which can be appreciated by walk-in diners as well guests of the hotel. The first thing you will notice about BLU is that it shares the same funky yet elegant beachfront characteristics as every room in the hotel. Ceiling to floor windows provide an uninhibited view of the pier, and the soft glow of the nighttime lighting is convincing of a tropical getaway. The ocean view is available from every seat in the restaurant, with several doors that allow easy access to the beach. The kitchen fills a gap in the island’s food chain that was left when 11 Center Street, a tapas restaurant and wine bar, closed last year. The head chef of BLU has created an eclectic menu that boasts a conscious intricacy without being pretentious in an otherwise casual world of dining choices. “Sharing plates” describes a marriage of tapas and group appetizers with a wise assortment of sandwiches for a larger appetite on the lunch menu. The dinner menu is significantly expanded with mouthwatering entrees and a kid’s menu, and both include classic and unique salad opportunities that range from your typical wedge to a pineapple or crab and avocado salad. Duck shooters, shrimp bruschetta, and andouille encrusted pan-fried grouper are just a few of the sharing plates items. BLU is also a member of the local Sustainable Seafood Initiative and uses local meat and veggies as much as possible, which means their menu highlights our Charleston area fare with international influences while supporting the local economy. Though a day trip to Folly beach is a perfect chance to indulge yourself in BLU’s amazing menu and drink selections while simultaneously feeling that Lowcountry ocean breeze, hearing the sound of waves pounding the sand and feeling the sun’s warmth or relaxing in the shade, the restaurant is equally inviting at night when you will most likely find yourself under a blanket of stars while the moon’s reflection dances on the water and you dig into your Yellow Fin Tuna Nicoise. BLU is a fantastic marriage of class and casual that accentuates the worldclass dining that Charleston is known for while keeping things classically Folly. For an experience you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the Lowcountry, next week try Folly. Moreover, why not try BLU?

Saturday, Oct. 10 Fort Moultrie Sullivan’s Island

Friday, Oct. 9

Special children presentation

www.islandeyenews.com

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September 18, 2009

Palms from cover by Robert Chestnut and Jack Sims, the Committee burst into life when Phyllis Shaffer met Robert Chestnut, “A man who was more vocal, bossy and pushy than me”, as Phyllis elaborated in her speech. With the help of Robert’s friend Ollie Olivier, owner of Palm Trees Ltd, the Committee began sending out mailers, collecting donations and planting native Sabal Palm trees along Palm Boulevard. Today there are more than 850 Sabal Palms along Palm Boulevard, and the Committee is still taking donations in order to finish the tree lined drive from 21st to Breach Inlet. “We’ve come a long way,” said Phyllis. “But the people on the Isle of Palms have not changed. We still care about each other and we’re still a strong community.” “There are not many dates in our memories where we can site where we were and what we were doing,” said Mayor Cronin. “Hugo was one of these. Today, we’re celebrating the citizens who embarked on a project that lifted the spirits of the people of this island and its visitors. I’m looking forward to

20, 40, 60 years of these palms being the signature and future of our island.” According to Ollie Olivier, we can expect at least 60 years or more out of the Committee’s palm trees. In fact, no one has ever been able to document the lifespan of a palm tree, as they do not have growth rings like most trees. Ollie did point out that there is one palm in Aiken, SC, which has been documented at 165 years old, “So these could be here for a while,” he smiled. Thanks go out to all of the members of the Plant-A-Palm Committee, whose names are also inscribed in gold on the Plant-A-Palm plaque: Chairmen Robert Chestnut and Jack Sims, Chuck and Pauline Blair, Dick Boyce, John Bozzelli, Malcolm Burgin, Pam DeFratus, Al Gibson, IOP Mayor Carmen Bunch (19952001), Peatsy Hollings, Ceal Irwin, Johnnie Reed, Charlotte Riley, Phyllis Shaffer, Laura Skatell, Bonne Taylor and B.B. Weavil. To donate to the Plant a Palm Project, contact Debbie Suggs at the Isle of Palms City Hall, 8866428.

rentals from page 5 residents and those without an office on the island. It then charged an additional $8.80 per $1000 for those properties that collect more than $50,000 in revenue per year. However, property owners who make at least $20,000 a year from their vacation rentals will begin to see an increase with the new ordinance and that increase will become more significant as the revenues increase. If the ordinance passes as it was currently written during first Accreted land from page 4 Council members can use to make decisions. They have discussed the various considerations: conservation, money, vistas, and storm protection among many others. However, they have not yet compiled the results of those discussions into any meaningful doctrine. In other words, the Council has not stated in a united voice that environmental conservation is their greatest concern, or that maintaining vistas is number one, or that protecting real estate interests is what the Council is most interested in. As a result, the Council has revealed their support

Isle of Palms Mayor Cronin with former Mayor, now Representative, Sottile at the Plant A Palm ceremony.

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reading, then vacation rental rates would look like this: Those with revenues of less than $20,000 would be charged the base rate of $1000 (double for non-residents). Those with revenues between $20,000 and $30,000 would have a $10 per $1000 additional fee, an increased rate of 14% over the previous rate. Revenues between $30,001 and $50,000 will have a $15 per $1000 fee, which is an 82% increase. Properties that bring in more than $50,000 will have a new rate of $20 per $1000; an increase of 120%. for “pocket” applications, treating different areas differently. However, Council member Howle reminds us of the writing on the wall and the giant elephant in the room: decisions have to be made and somebody is not going to be pleased. The Town Council was scheduled to hold a meeting on September 29 at 6:30pm to develop some direction which they can give to the consultants for one final plan to be presented to the public. However, that meeting was cancelled so that the Council would have more time to go over the details. Another meeting had not been scheduled by our publication deadline.

September 18, 2009

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Trading a paddle for a pedal

ast week was a typical example of why so many people decide to settle in the Lowcountry. Perfect temperatures in the mid 70s, low humidity and skies so clear you could almost see Bermuda from our coastline. This beaches return to empty stretches of cool sand and softly tumbling surf and the waterways wave goodbye to yachts bound for the Virgin Islands. This is when locals hit the waters in every means of buoyant conveyance they can find; and recently, they’ve been finding some incredibly unique and entertaining ways of enjoying the thousands of miles of waterways in the Lowcountry. On a recent trip along Shem Creek, some exhausted novice kayakers were just making their way back from Crab Bay in the Charleston Harbor when another set of kayaks whipped by them, kicking up a small wake. Besides the speed and ease with which the new kayaks

Staff report

slipped through the water, what struck the struggling kayakers as odd was that the other kayakers weren’t using their arms to paddle; they were using their feet. Using a unique set of underwater flippers, the new Hobie Mirage kayak moves through the water by kicking a set of shallow fins from side to side. The kayaker simply places their feet on the pedals and “steps” in a motion similar to stair stepping while reclining. The movement of the fins from side to side allows the kayaker to convert the effort of the human body into forward thrust, and the movement creates less exertion on the body, so even someone who exercises on a minimal basis would be able to pedal for long distances. One of the pioneers of the Hobie Mirage movement is Half Moon Outfitters on Coleman Boulevard. In fact, if you see a set of army-green kayaks kicking down a nearby creek, it’s probably a pair of their demos. As more and more people learn about these low-impact, long distance kayaks, Half Moon has been making their store demos available for rent; and at $40 a day, the cost is well worth the experience. Having poor upper arm strength, I opted to take one of these kayaks out with a friend during the first few days of gloriously cool post-Labor Day weather. After being out on the water for four hours I was tired, but not overly so, and we had seen more of Charleston Harbor than either of us had seen by standard kayak. The trip around Crab Bay was extended to “Well, we can make it to the Mount Pleasant shoreline” and then, “But the Pitt Street Bridge isn’t that far away”. After beaching at the Pitt Street bridge, we stretched our legs and took a leisurely pedal back to Shem Creek,

Brad Bebenroth from half Moon OUtfitters pulls out the "fins" to demonstrate how they operate.

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Pedaling through Shem Creek on the new Hobie Mirage kayak.

slipping under the docks of several beautiful waterfront homes along the way. Since the Hobie Mirage comes with standard paddle options (just flip the rudder in and tuck the flippers so they’re flush with the underside of the kayak), we were able to shake up the routine a little by paddling with our arms. This option also makes it easy to cruise through shallow waterways in which the flipper system is a little to deep too handle. If you have racks, Half Moon Outfitters will let you take the Hobie Mirage demos wherever there’s water, as long as you have it back at the end of the rental period. The pedaling system is fairly self-explanatory, but their staff is more than happy to walk through it with you. If you’re in Mount Pleasant, the Shem Creek Marina is a perfect launching point for either up-creek pedaling or gliding out into Charleston Harbor. But longer trips are possible, with kayakers having taken the crafts as far as Morris Island (from Shem Creek) and Capers Island. An added bonus is that the kayaks are incredibly well balanced and come with plenty of storage room, which makes them ideal for fishing trips. For more information on the Hobie Mirage and other wild water sports and sports equipment at the Half Moon Outfitters visit www.halfmoonoutfitters.com or drop by one of their stores: 425 Coleman Boulevard (Mount Pleasant - 881-9472), 94 Folly Road Blvd. (West Ashley in the South Windermere Shopping Center - 556-6279) or 280 King Street, downtown Charleston - 853-0990.

Completing the Seabrook community

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hanks to the recently completed Island House, residents of Seabrook have the final piece of a $31 million puzzle, completing the island’s goal of becoming a truly residential community created by and for the island residents. The new Island House is a 34,000 square foot multi-use facility designed to accent the natural beauty of the Lowcountry barrier island while providing quality dining and space for entertaining. Its humble earth tones are juxtaposed against an elegance completely designed by the residents who have anticipated the Island House’s completion since its conception. The facility succeeds as an icon of the community not only because of its design but also because it is the manifestation of the community’s, not hired consultant’s or contractor’s, desire. This is a collective masterpiece in which every resident of Seabrook can take pride. The inherent passion is evident throughout the structure. Between the three structures composing the Horizon Plan - The Island House, the Lake House and the Beach House - Seabrook Island now boasts two indoor/outdoor and heated/unheated pools, a 6,000 square foot ballroom, an impressive golf shop, two restaurants, an expanded exercise center and an inviting library that overlooks a thriving pond and sprawling live oaks. The Beach House highlights the ocean with an uninhibited 180 degree view of the salty Atlantic and a swimming pool for a peaceful break from the ocean water. The Island Clubhouse is, perhaps, the pinnacle of an amazing community achievement. This triumvirate promises to harness the spirit of the island’s inhabitants and irresistibly call on those fortunate enough to hear her voice.

The indoor pool at the Lake House Entrance to the Island House

Island House grand opening

The library at the Lake House

Arial view of the Island House Paid advertising by seabrook real estate