Island Eye News - October 2, 2009

Since May 2005

Sullivan’s Island

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Isle of Palms

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Goat Island • Dewees Island

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October 16, 2009

FREE

Volume 5 Issue 12

Poe’s keeps kids cool

photos by Mic smith

Cajun cooking arrives on Sullivan’s

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By Dylan Sharek

hef Eric Rosson comes out of the kitchen of Seel’s on Sullivan’s restaurant bearing an extremely carbonized frying pan. A peculiarly sweet yet savory aroma emanates from the vibrant red mixture within. “It’s a roux,” Chef Rosson explains, an almost even mixture of a fat (in this case, oil) and flour. One of the stalwart staples of traditional Louisiana cuisine, roux is used to thicken gumbos, gravies, and stews.

It’s incredibly time consuming to make as a roux must be constantly nurtured and stirred. In the moment it takes to answer the phone or to stir a companion pot, the rich, viscous sauce can burn, rendering it completely useless. Chef Rosson’s roux is complimented with Cajun seasonings and the sauce in his hands is waiting for the addition of see Seel's on page 7

On Friday, September 18, 2009, at 8am Sullivan’s Island Elementary School held a dedication of their new playground sun shade. All of the SIES students and teachers gathered under the sun shade for the dedication to thank Poe’s Tavern of Sullivan’s Island for its generous donation. The dedication included a brief lesson on the importance of sun safety and a ribbon cutting.

Inside Island Eye

Fire Parade page 8

SPECIAL Halloween Calendar pages 12-13

Ben Sawyer Update page 21

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Letters to the editor... Dear editor, I have known Barb Gobien as a neighbor and friend for many years. She moved to the Isle of Palms to live and bring up her family in an ideal, one of a kind environment.   My husband and I are here for the same reasons.   We know that there are very few barrier islands like ours that are still communities where neighbors know and care about one another, where you can walk in peace along the beach, lost among all the wonders of nature and still be within comfortable driving distance to a major cultural, culinary and entertainment destination like Charleston. You can look.   I have.   There is just nothing like it.  It is worth preserving. But the character of the island has changed over the years, and much of it has not been good for the quality of life.  Change is inevitable, and change is not necessarily bad.  Modernization, beautification, and eco-friendly development with serious consideration given to its impact and long term effect on the quality of life is the real key to preserving and increasing the value of real estate on the Isle

of Palms.  Sooner or later there will be no more vacant property to develop.  Then we will have to deal with what has been done to the Island.  There is more to increasing the value of your property, the house that is your home, than mindless short-term activity that maximizes today’s return on investment.  Barb Gobien understands this. I support her in this.  It is time to get her and like-minded others on City Council.

Dianne Karig

Isle of Palms, SC _____________________________ Dear editor, I am writing in support of Barbara Bergwerf’s bid to continue serving on the Isle of Palms City Council. I’ve known Barbara since we both volunteered for the Isle of Palms Turtle Team in 1999. From the first I was struck by her intelligence, her can-do attitude, and most of all, her loyalty and honesty. In an age of negativism, Barbara maintains optimism. She consistently seeks objectivity, listening openly to all arguments. I’m proud of how this Council has successfully dealt with thorny problems. As we face a

new election, the Isle of Palms faces new challenges. Bergwerf has remained steadfast in her belief that our island must have a vision for the future that takes a long view toward the protection of our neighborhoods and our fragile landscape, and the preservation of our quality of life. Who among us, as we dreamed of beach walks and sunsets, envisioned living next door to a mini-hotel? We’ve seen for ourselves what destruction can occur in a short span of time. Yet, we’re aware of the need for smart growth and maintenance. Barbara Bergwerf’s actions speak louder than my words. Her record as a two-term member of the Planning Commission and our current City Councilwoman speaks to how this candidate will best serve all our interests, without prejudice or self gain. Her background in government and as a small business owner lends a unique perspective to many issues facing our island. I’ve known Barbara Bergwerf for years, have worked professionally with her, and I can vouch that Bergwerf is exceedingly informed, dedicated, honest and fair. What more can we ask for in our elected official? I strongly support her bid to continue on our City Council. Vote for Barbara Bergwerf on November 3!

www.islandeyenews.com

October 16, 2009

Mary Alice (Monroe) Kruesi 7 2nd Avenue

___________________________ Dear Isle of Palms residents, I’ve known Barbara Bergwerf for about ten years. During that time I’ve spent many hours working with her with our Loggerhead Nest Protection Program on the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. Since I’ve met her, I’ve constantly been impressed with her intelligence and her work ethic. She is always willing to drop whatever she is doing and accompany me to the site of a nesting or stranded turtle as well as to a nest that is newly laid or beginning to hatch no matter what time of day or night it might be. Her photographs of these events have been very valuable to our conservation efforts of these animals. As a retired professional photographer, Barbara has developed a website that we are all proud of that includes not only our work with the Island Turtle Team but also documents the efforts she helps accomplish at the South Carolina Aquarium’s see letters on page 3

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October 16, 2009 letters from page 2 Sea Turtle Rescue Program and Hospital. You can see this amazing work at www.bergwerfgraphics. com. Her photographs have been used in two successful children’s books; one with author Mary Alice Monroe, Turtle Summer and the award winning Carolina’s Story. Barbara is the retired owner of a successful small business which she ran for over 20 years and managed as many as seven employees. Her college degree in government and her ongoing interest in the politics of our island, as well as her experience on the Isle of Palms Planning Commission, make her a very capable and effective member of City Council. Please vote to keep her on Council on November 3. I know I will.

Mary Pringle Isle of Palms

___________________________ Dear editor, I have had the pleasure of working with Doug Thomas, candidate for Isle of Palms City Council, during our 30 years of employment at General Motors. We first became acquainted when we worked together at the Inland Division of General Motors in Dayton, Ohio. I was the General Foreman of the Brake Hose Assembly Plant and Doug provided the engineering support for our plant. He and his people were always responsive and gave a superb effort to provide and maintain our production equipment. Later, after our retirements, we met again at Wild Dunes. I asked him to help me with the Wild Dunes Community Affairs Committee when I became chairman and he readily agreed. He continues to serve as an active member on that committee. I have also learned that he will be the next president of the volunteers at The East Cooper Regional Center. He

will do a great job as they move into their new hospital. He is a hard working, dedicated straight shooter. His focus will be to respond to the wishes and needs of all residents on the Isle of Palms. I will vote for Doug Thomas and I hope you will too.

Tom Geraghty Isle of Palms

____________________________ To the editor,   And the myth goes on. What does it take to dispel the spread of an untruth that is, the untruth that if the candidates the IOPNA endorses are elected, resident-friendly Council members will then shut down all rentals on our island.  I continue to hear as I move about the island in restaurants, shops and in casual conversation, that this is the goal of the IOPNA.  I personally have worked publicly and privately to perpetuate the concept that this is an island that welcomes all; both residents and tourists.  It is also a stated goal of the IOPNA.  But despite my passion as a citizen to make this clear, I continue to hear remarks to the contrary. I have espoused support of businesses in front of the Council.  I have written letters to the editor espousing the belief that we on the Isle of Palms need to ensure that there is always a place for both.  I hear these “shut down rentals” comments from folks that do know better, as well as those who do not follow island politics.  I question where this untruth comes from.  I have now read that candidate Sandy Stone believes he should be elected so that there is “balance” on our Council.  I remember prior to the ‘07 election when there was no balance, and  no complaints from Mr. Stone then. In fact, there was only one Council member that spoke out strongly and consistently for residents’ concerns.  I also remember when the realtors and some business

owners hired Rod Shealy, the political operative from Columbia convicted for campaign law violations, and formed the “Isle of Palms Community Association” just two months prior to the ‘07 election. That title was meant to confuse our citizens since we, the IOPNA, had initiated our organization one year earlier as the “Isle of Palms Neighborhood Association” precisely because we had no response from Council to our concerns.  The Community Association’s purpose was to shut down our slate of candidates.  Mr. Stone, now calling for balance in this election, never cared about balance then.  He was in fact a CHARTER member of the Isle of Palms Community Association, and one of their most ardent participants.  This is in the published record. Mr. Stone is now seeking balance on the Council and is also now preaching that we need to be “concerned” about “pressure” on our community from  development in Mount Pleasant and Awendaw.  But for seven months, from January to July of this year, when the Planning Commission was reviewing the Rental Ordinance, lot size and house size at Council’s request, he continually lectured to the PC that “there is no need to tweak the rental ordinance because there will never again be a building see letters on page 4

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

Tuesday, October 27 Public Hearing

6:30pm 1207 Palm Boulevard

6pm 1610 Middle Street

City Council Meeting 7pm 1207 Palm Boulevard

Wednesday, October 21 DRB MEETING 10am 1610 Middle Street

Sullivan's Island 883-3198 www.sullivansisland-sc.com

Tuesday, October 20 Regular Council Meeting

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 Christy Cone, MD Bobby Cummings Jeri England Dr. Jennifer Esse David Farrow Richard Hricik Norman Khoury Catherine Malloy Dimi Matouchev Sarah Reynolds SCDOT Richard Schaffer, MD

Submit your letters to the editor to: [email protected] Future deadlines: October 23 for all submissions.

Wednesday, October 21 Recycle

Tuesday, October 20 Ways and Means Committee Meeting 5:45pm 1207 Palm Boulevard

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

Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS

Civic Calendar Isle of Palms 886-6428 www.iop.net

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

Wednesday, October 28 Tree Comm Mtg 7pm 1610 Middle Street

The Island Eye News, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina LLC, is a free, independent newspaper published every two weeks and is for and about the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Goat Island and Dewees Island. Copies are mailed free of charge to every active mailbox in our coverage area and are also available at area businesses and by subscription to non-islanders. Subscriptions are $30 per year for non-residents and are available by sending a check to Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 837, Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482. Contributions of information, pictures and articles are welcomed and are used according to space limitations and news value and cannot be returned except by special request. Our editorial content is primarily dedicated to the area of distribution; ad space is open to all businesses who want to reach the Island Eye News market. 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”.

October 16, 2009

4 to see these businesses thrive all year around.  We are more boom like before”.  Does he now than just “concerned” about the believe that all development ends health of our commercial areas; at the Connector?  If folks want we are doing something about it!  to come here as day trippers, will I am also the Chairperson of the they not want to come for longer IOPNA Observer Corps, which than that?  Will there never be sends volunteers to ALL the City a time again  (as he says there meetings, of which there are eleven won’t be) when development will to twelve a month.  That ensures once again invade our traditional transparent government!  Don’t be taken in by false neighborhoods and have a negative effect on our quality of gossip or slick advertising.  I am life?  I attend all the meetings not a political activist, unless you of the Planning Commission (I call being passionate about the have missed only two in almost beautiful place my husband and two years), so I know this back I chose to retire to as being an activist.  I just believe that for the pedaling is true.  He also says he has been a right to live in this beautiful place resident of the island for 35 years, comes the duty to protect its and that he attends City meetings.  character.  And I believe that that I never saw him at a meeting before character is a wonderful blend two years ago.  I have been going of tourists and residents.  This to Council meetings off and on is God’s good earth, and we are since 1986, when we first bought lucky enough to be part of it.  It is our home.  I have always had an our responsibility to share it with active interest in who represented others while ensuring quality of us, even while we rented it the life for ourselves.  And that, my first ten years, using it often in friends, is not a myth; that is the the off seasons, finally moving in truth. permanently in 1996.  Where was   he his first 33 years?  Was there Diane Oltorik no concern for  who represented Isle of Palms us then?   And  Mr. Stone, who _____________________________ professes to be an “independent”, is on the Board of Directors of the Charleston Trident Association Dear editor, of Realtors.  How independent is On September 5, 2009, that? our dear wife, mother and   I went to an early meeting grandmother of 81 years passed of the Community Association before I got involved with the IOP away on Sullivan’s Island after Neighborhood Association and  I a long illness. the outpouring was appalled at what I heard.  of family and friends has been That shock is what led me to be phenomenal. We would like to active in the IOP Neighborhood take this opportunity to thank Association.  I am the Chairperson the Town of Sullivan’s Island for of the IOPNA and work very hard all they did. The Fire, Police and with the New Resident Outreach maintenance departments went Program in order to introduce our above and beyond to support us restaurants and retailers to our and help us cope with our loss. We are truly blessed to be a part new residents. It is a tremendously of such an amazing community. successful program.  As well as providing information on island life to our new residents, we also Sincerely, include generous coupons from The Beans our restaurants and retailers.  Sullivan’s island We as an organization want

IOPNA looks to the future

letters from page 3

by Catherine Malloy, IOPNA president

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’m proud to sing the praises of the IOPNA’s contributions to our island home. The number of our participants has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years and has truly influenced our work to preserve our sense of community in residential neighborhoods. I’m also grateful for everything the members of this organization do in forging relationships with new residents, island businesses and City government officials to promote a healthy, thriving community. IOPNA works to achieve a balance between residential living and tourism. IOPNA’s involvement in the community is a true testament to the power of this grass roots organization to make the political process more responsive to islanders -- not special interest groups -- and that is very exciting. While the IOPNA is not a political organization, we were originally formed because we had grave concerns about the path our City was taking.  Very large houses were being built to be rented out (by the night, if so desired) by as many as 28 people and it terrified us.  It became clear that City Council was totally out of balance with only one or two Council members taking an active interest in listening to the concerns of residents.  The IOPNA was born with the intent of electing candidates to City Council who would work to preserve the residential quality of the IOP.  Since that last election we have worked to make the island a great place to live.  We sponsor three social events a year where neighbors can get to know each other.  We personally meet and welcome all new residents who move here.  We are currently sponsoring a soccer team and are making plans for our first service project for our older neighbors.  While politics is not our primary goal, we must not and will not ignore elections.  We will always support any candidate who truly desires to keep our City residential.  That holds true in the upcoming election.  Three City Council candidates have clearly indicated they want the island to maintain its neighborhoods with

www.islandeyenews.com

families living in them.  They feel the IOP should be a Community and not a Commodity.  It’s that simple. We have heard numerous rumors through the grapevine that the IOPNA wants to close down all rentals.  We would love to have anyone produce credible evidence that we have ever said or written any such thing.  We have never said this and, in fact, we have always supported the right of a resident to rent his home to a number of people that is reasonable for that particular neighborhood.  Why would this rumor be perpetuated? Is it a scare tactic?  You can find everything we stand for at our website, www.iopna.org   If you hear something that doesn’t make sense, please call me anytime at 886-3171 or send me an email at [email protected] In our effort to identify neighborhood-friendly candidates and to help educate our neighbors, we invited all those running for office to answer a simple questionnaire.  The questions and each candidate’s response can be found on our website, www. iopna.org.  To our delight, both mayoral candidates responded in a neighborhood-friendly manner, giving our board much food for thought and deliberation. Dick Cronin was endorsed and we thank and appreciate Jimmy Ward for his effort and thoughtfulness. However, three candidates for City Council chose not to respond while three candidates chose to respond. Barbara Bergwerf, Doug Thomas and Barb Gobien returned answers that show them to be concerned about the issues that impact our neighborhoods and threaten to diminish the quality of life on the island.  Please read their answers and see why we are endorsing them.  For more information about Barbara, Doug and Barb, go see them at www.youtube.com. Type their last name and “IOP” in the search box to see their videos. We believe they will work to keep the IOP a great place for families to live.  They will see to it that IOP remains a Community and not just a Commodity.

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Stop by and see us, y'all!

Paws for prayer

n Saturday, September 26, St. Mark's Lutheran Church on the Isle of Palms held their annual Blessing of the Animals. The ceremony included a song and a prayer, followed by an individual blessing of each pet. After the service, the animals were rewarded with treats and each received their own colorful bandana.

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October 16, 2009

hen you notice the Ben Sawyer Bridge starting to close on your way back to Sullivan's Island, take a moment to visit Costless Outlet in the old Habitat for Humanity building and meet the friendly staff. Costless is contantly receiving shipments of low-cost, high quality items and their inventory changes on a daily basis. You can find everything from 70 inch big screen TVs and Adidas sneakers to Electronics and Christmas decorations. Be sure to use the coupon in their ad on our calendar page.

www.islandeyenews.sc

October 16, 2009 Seel's from cover peppers and onions, though to some Cajun and Creole chefs, adding anything other than fat, flour and dedication to a roux is blasphemous. Chef Rosson’s roux, however, is a symbol of his cooking at Seel’s on Sullivan’s: hard work and tradition with a uniquely individual spin. Chef Rosson is a middle-aged man with a trustworthy chef’s stomach earned from an entire lifetime spent, in some capacity, around and in kitchens. Growing up in New Orleans, Rosson was exposed to classic French, Spanish, Italian, Cajun, and Creole cooking. His grandfather owned three restaurants in the City and many mornings the two would walk into the French Quarter and pick out fresh seafood and produce. Rosson’s grandfather instilled the culinary values of “food for the soul” and “food is life” mantras into young Rosson; a culinary code which he clearly lives by today. After moving to Charleston in the mid-1990s to pursue a degree at the former Johnson & Wales University, Rosson completed the program in just 18 months and left as a neo-classical chef with a

distinct Cajun flair. He returned to New Orleans and apprenticed at several prestigious French Quarter institutions including Broussard’s and La Louisiane before returning to Charleston in 2000, where he worked at Poogan’s Porch. Two months ago, Rosson was hired by Harry Seel and Bobby Riggs as the head chef at Seel’s on Sullivan’s. And while the menu may still feature its fair share of the no-frills seafood of a casual ocean-side restaurant, Chef Rosson’s influence is quickly becoming apparent; especially in the restaurant’s daily specials. Rosson is incredibly fond of “inducing flavors”, culling ingredients that work together to form something soulful, cohesive, and well-rounded. One of his favorite dishes to prepare is a Pasta Jambalaya - a tomato based rotini pasta stew loaded with vegetables, sausage, seafood and soul. Later in the week, he’s planning on testing out his crabstuffed flounder and a stuffed mushroom gumbo on the specials menu. Charleston’s Gullah cuisine history is not far removed from Chef Rosson’s Cajun upbringing, and his “food for the soul” and “food is life” beliefs are certainly in line with the area’s food culture.

This week, Seel’s on Sullivan’s will celebrate its one-year anniversary on Sullivan’s Island. And while it’s going to take more time for the restaurant to truly solidify itself in the tightly knit Sullivan’s Island restaurant

7 community, bringing on Chef Rosson’s creative and passionate cooking will be a great step towards the restaurant creating its own niche on the island.

Chef Eric Rosson (left) with Seel's on Sullivan's owner Harry Seel.

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Advertorial

October 16, 2009

How to select a hearing aid

Sparking fire awareness

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On Wednesday, October 7, the Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island celebrated Fire Awareness Month with a crossisland parade, followed by free pizza and safety demonstrations at the Sullivan's Island Fire Station.

By Dr. Jennifer Esse, Au.D.

eople with hearing loss often delay a decision to get hearing help because they are unaware of the fact that receiving early treatment for hearing loss has the potential to literally transform their lives. Start with a visit to your audiologist. An audiometric evaluation will be completed to determine if you are a hearing aid candidate. If you are, you will want to consider the following: What do they look like? The size and shape of the hearing aid may be one of the first things to consider when selecting an instrument. Hearing aids may be divided into two main styles: In-the-ear (ITE) and behindthe-ear (BTE). Over the past ten years, hearing aids have become considerably smaller. People who are concerned with cosmetics can now wear hearing aids with greater comfort. What do they sound like? There is no doubt that consumers are more satisfied with the latest digital technology. Advanced digital technology allows the hearing aid to be adjusted with more precision.

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It should not give you feedback (ex: whistling, squealing), and it should restore your ability to enjoy soft sounds (ex: leaves, rustling, birdsong). What features are available? Directional microphone technology is an industry standard in today’s hearing aids. Research has shown that many hearing aid users prefer directional technology for listening in noisy situations. If you are an active person, then directional hearing aids will result in enhanced speech intelligibility in more listening situations. Multiple memories should be a consideration when selecting hearing aids. A memory is a location to store hearing aid settings that are designed for a particular listening situation. While many hearing aids are automatic, some hearing aids have user controls in the form of a toggle switch, volume wheel, push button, or remote control that enable the wearer to adjust hearing aid parameters. Hearing continued on page 16

October 16, 2009

Daniel Island to host championship

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By Richard Hricik

igh drama will play itself out on Thursday, October 22 through Sunday October 25, 2009, as the Nationwide Tour Championship plays on Daniel Island. The tournament will mark the end of the Nationwide season and will be the final competition to determine the Top 25 players who will earn their PGA tour cards for the following year. A pro-am is scheduled for the two days prior to the opening round on Thursday and a practice round will be played on Monday. The event will be contested on the par 72 Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Course at a yardage of 7,446 yards. The course, designed by Rees Jones, has won numerous awards, including South Carolina’s New Course of the Year when it opened in 2006. The purse will be $1 million with $180,000 going to the winner, equaling the largest pool of prize money ever offered on the Tour. The field will consist of the Top 60 money winners determined by the previous week’s totals, and the no-cut format will

encourage aggressive play as each player tries to finish in the top 25 and earn a spot on the PGA Tour. Presently, two out of three PGA Tour members played on the Nationwide Tour and 78 of the 125 players who qualified for the 2009 FedEx Cup are former Nationwide Tour players, including Jim Furyk, Ernie Els, David Toms, Tom Lehman and Zach Johnson. The Nationwide Tour’s “Tickets Fore Charity” program allows 100% of the proceeds for each ticket purchased to be designated to benefit any one of roughly fifty local charities, including East Cooper Community Outreach, Louie’s Kids, and Camp Happy Days, just to name a few. Tickets are only $30 for a weekly pass or a ten pack for $200 and are available by calling either 856-7900 or 1-800677-2293. Tickets may also be purchased online at www. nationwidetourchampionship. com through Ticketmaster. There is free parking with shuttles and kids under 12 are free.

Sullivan’s Islanders to sponsor island management talk

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Provided by Norman Khoury

s the town of Sullivan’s Island considers changing the current land management plan for the town’s 90+ acres of front beach land that is protected by the agreement with the Lowcountry Open Land Trust, The Sullivan’s Islanders group  has identified several east coast barrier islands that have developed successful land management plans.  Speakers from these communities have been invited to participate in a series of “Best Practice” lectures to be held over the next twelve months to educate all interested island residents on the most successful and best practices used to manage the natural environment of these barrier islands and  to enhance residential property values. The first speaker in this series is Dave Achey, the Director of Land Management for the Kiawah Island

Community Association.  The Kiawah Island Community Association (KICA) is a not-forprofit corporation established in 1976 through a formal declaration by the island’s original developer.  It governs and manages the business and property that contribute to the overall ambience and property values of Kiawah Island.  KICA maintains millions of dollars worth  of landscaping, leisure trails and other infrastructure.  These facilities are owned in common by all KICA members, and help to enrich life on the barrier island.  KICA upholds the covenants and  enforces the rules and regulations that help conserve the natural green spaces and  preserve property values for the properties managed by KICA. All of the talks  will be free and open to the public. Please join us on Monday October 26, 2009, at 6:30pm at the Fort Moultrie Visitor’s Auditorium  for the first in what we hope will  be a series of learning experiences for all Islanders. If you would like more information about our organization, please contact Karen Coste at cscharlotte@ bellsouth. net or Larry Middaugh at larry.middaugh@ gmail.com

www.islandeyenews.com

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Do You Know Your Charleston

October 16, 2009

The ghost of John Domingo

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egan Trumpy smiled as the people gathered around her. A Charleston city guide since July, the 23-year old NYU graduate with a degree in drama had found her niche. Embellishing stories that were already utter balderdash, Megan cared nothing for the veracity of the tales, only their effect as she watched the children clutch a little closer to their parent’s hemlines, the young girls grasping the biceps of their boyfriends. She embraced the angst as a personal gift. It was not about the story, it was about her; her long silky blonde hair, her body perfectly sculptured by her T-shirt and jeans, her perfect faux London accent. She reveled in the looks of horror on the faces young and old as she described the mass grave the group was standing over. A harvest moon cast a cold shadow and caused a shiver to tremble through the hearts of children and grandparents as she described the mass murderer who abducted scores of hapless

By David Farrow

sailors from ships and ladies of ill repute from Six Mile, tortured and buried them right on this spot. “You might want to tell them that you are standing on what was once a creek bed -- Kinda hard to form a mass grave out of a creek, dear.” The pronouncement came from a man older than her father with

a superior attitude and a funny accent to top things off. He was scruffy and disheveled, but elegant at the same time; dressed in what she could only describe as an un-pressed version of “the uniform”: wrinkled khakis and a broadcloth shirt with button down collars. He had slightly longer gray hair and a beard. What impressed her, though, were his eyes; eyes that burned through her like a laser. This man took her psyche to a place hitherto yet fathomed – a place that echoed with the demented laughter of a soul devoid of hope. The name “John Domingo” reverberated through her head. It was a name fraught with evil, although she’d be hard pressed to explain why. Just as quickly she realized where she was; standing by the graveyard, her tourists laughing because they thought it part of the show. She recovered with aplomb, giving the rest of the tour with her usual wit and charm. Walking back to her car parked on Concord Street, she walked by the north side of the Customs

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House. And there was the man, again. He seemed a bit more disheveled in the light; somewhat … decayed. Megan quickened her step, the slap of her sneakers against the sidewalk growing louder in her ear. The previously busy streets now echoed with the solitary sound of her movement. In moments, the world around her began to shift and another market building began to take shape. It was no longer 10 at night, but late dawn. The sights, sounds and smells that began to assault her senses were entirely foreign. She had slipped 100 years into the past. She noticed the man closer now, his face a leer. Just as the market was transformed, the man’s face began to shape-shift into an ageless black man. John Domingo! She knew it as well as she knew her own name. His head twisted grotesquely towards her, and she screamed silently as the ancient root doctor’s spirit took over her body. For all intents and purposes, Megan Trumpey no longer existed. John Domingo, the most powerful root doctor to ever live in Charleston, admired his new fine body and flaxen hair. The average person would see no difference save for the eyes. Her eyes were dead. As the possessed body of Megan walked back towards the market, a high pitched laughter began to reverberate through the bars and restaurants. On Anson Street, dogs howled and cats hissed. Evil was now in session. Order in the court. To be continued…

12 Halloween happenings around Charleston Following is a list of fun, frightening and family-oriented Halloween events taking place around Charleston County during the month of October:

All month long Haunted Walking Tours Take a haunting walking tours of the Old City Jail, Charleston’s most haunted building. Tours depart on the hour from 7-10 p.m. nightly. Tickets can be purchased

October 16, 2009 at Bulldog Tour’s offices at 40 Market Street for $18/adult and $10/child. Scary’um Aquarium See article on next page. Sandlapper Tours Some of Charleston’s most haunting places simply can’t be reached on foot! Take a Haunted Harbor Tour with Sandlapper Tours and discover all the ghouls and ghosts lingering in Charleston’s harbor and its

historic offshore forts. Please consult www.sandlappertours. com for departure times. Tickets are $22 per passenger. Myrtle Maze and Pumpkin Patch Get lost at Johns Island’s Legare Farms in their gigantic Myrtle Maze and Pumpkin Patch! Children 11 and up can explore the winding paths for $6 while even smaller ghouls can get lost for just $3. The farm is open on the weekend: Fridays from 3pm to 10pm, Saturdays from 10am to 10pm, and Sundays from 1pm to 6pm. Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Boone Hall Farm’s is hosting its annual Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Mount Pleasant for the entire month of October. Open from 9am until 6pm Monday through Saturday, and from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday. Consult www. boonehallplantation.com for full pricing details. West Family Farm’s Corn Maze Located in Monck’s Corner and open only on the weekends. Call 408-2284 for details.

October 15-18, 22-25, 27-31 Boone Hall’s Fright Night Featuring four all-new attractions, Boone Hall’s Fright Nights promises to continue its tradition of Halloween horrors! The attractions are open from dark until 10pm during the week and from dark until midnight during the weekend. Attraction prices range from $5-$10, but an “All You Dare To Scare” pass is just $25. October 17, 23, 24 Halloween Extravaganza St. Paul’s Academy’s hosts its 30th Annual Halloween Extravaganza in Hollywood. A 40-minute haunted hayride and several Houses of Horrors will scare kids and adults alike!

Is l a nd E y e

Hallowe

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children. For more information, call 889-2702.

October 21 Halloween Trunk or Treating Get a jump start on Halloween festivities with the IOP Methodist Halloween Trunk or Treating festival. Children from four years thru 5th grade are invited to wear their costumes and come to the church parking lot for lots of treats, games, food and FUN! The event runs from 5:30 - 7pm and it's free. The church is located at 21st Avenue and Palm Blvd on the Isle of Palms. Contact iopyouth@ gmail.com or call 886-6610 for additional information.

October 24 Monster Dash and Goblin Gallop Support Louie’s Kids by taking part in Sullivan Island’s 5K Monster Dash and children’s-oriented Goblin Gallop. This fundraiser’s festivities begins at the Fish Fry Shack at 8am. For more information or to register, please visit www.simonsterdash.com.

October 29 Ghastly Ghosts Haunted Trail Explore Kiawah Island’s Night Heron Park while trekking the “Ghastly Ghosts” haunted trail. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 768-6001.

October 30 Halloween Festival Get your face painted and participate in a costume contest at the Halloween Festival at Mount Pleasant’s Towne Center!

Join us Tu Kid's

5-10 .99¢ special kids for each ch

F&B

5$4 Rumple & Grand Miller & Yuenglin feature movie www.islandeyenews.com

October 16, 2009

e C ale n d ar

een Events Admission is free.

Nighttime at the Museum Do the statues come to life at the Charleston Museum once everyone’s gone and the doors are locked? Come find out at the Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting Street. Tickets range from $5-$10 for members and $10-$20 for nonmembers. Reservations can be made at charlestonmuseum.org or by calling 722-2996. Pumpkin carving and maze Did you forget to carve your pumpkin? Get your last minute pumpkin carving and painting in at Kiawah Island’s Night Heron Park. $10 per pumpkin. Or spend Halloween eve lost in the haunted maze. Admission is $8 per person. Please call 768-6001 for more information. Old Village Halloween Celebration Dare to get your face painted or even peek behind that trick-ortreat door at Mount Pleasant’s Old Village Halloween celebration. This free event takes place at the Darby Building. For more info, please contact Florine Russell at 8492061. Fish or Treat Trick or treat for ghoulish goodies, play games, see divers in the deep dark, listen to spooky stories, and have a ball at the South Carolina Aquarium’s “Fish or Treat”. $5 for members, $8 for non-members. Event runs from 5pm – 7:30pm.

October 31 Halloween Carnival From 5-7pm, the Isle of Palms’ Halloween Carnival at the IOP Rec. Center (28th Ave.) will

13 Aquarium goes Scary’um For a completely unique Halloween experience that's fun and educational, bring your kids to the South Carolina Aquarium for the “Scary’um Aquarium” extravaganza. Throughout the month of October, “bouys and ghouls” of all ages will be able to enjoy this family-friendly Halloween adventure which features special educational exhibits about the creatures of the night and deep ocean marine life through stories about the "Legends of South Carolina". The event will also feature new additions to the Aquarium, including new educational and interactive exhibits, spooky dive shows, crafts and a brand new weekly story time for toddlers on Wednesday mornings at 9:45am. Families enter the Aquarium under the giant bat and are given the opportunity to haunt around the Aquarium’s regional exhibits while tracking

down the curious case of the Lizardman through the family-friendly Camp Carolina. Venture into the dark and misty Stumphouse Tunnel staying clear of the dwellers above, and puzzle over the creepy hidden creatures of the deep ocean without getting too close. An audio tour is available for download from the Aquarium’s website for the Legends of South Carolina experience, as well as a list of special daily educational programs that run seven days a week at various times. On Saturdays, you can

delight children with its costume contest, jump castles, obstacle course, temporary tattoo booth, face painter, balloon artist, and fortune teller. The best part? It’s free! BOOOey Fest John’s Island Trophy Lakes and Carolina Watersports BOOOey Fest will bring fun and fright to the water. Participants in the slalom and freestyle contests are encouraged to wear their Halloween best! More details can be found at carolinawaterskischool. com or by calling 559-2520. Halloween Carnival The Folly Beach Civic Club will host its 34th annual Halloween Carnival at the Folly River Park on Halloween night! The event runs from 6:30pm - 8:30pm with a costume contest at 7:30pm.

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

even participate in a “spooky Halloween crafts” program and a scavenger hunt from 10am2pm. Special programs, such as the annual favorite Fish-or-Treat, will be available to aquarium members and memberships will also be available for purchase. Kids dressed in a Halloween costume will receive $2 off the regular price of admission. For more information, contact the Aquarium at 577-FISH(3474) or visit their website at scaquarium.org.

Advertorial

The Thermage procedure

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By Richard Schaffer, MD & Christy Cone, MD

n the rapidly advancing world of non-surgical aesthetic treatments, it is sometimes difficult to discern which procedures might best address your specific anti-aging needs. One procedure we have found quite remarkable for a youthful restoration of your skin is Thermage. Thermage is a safe, noninvasive, single treatment cosmetic procedure that is clinically proven to tighten, contour and rejuvenate your skin through the stimulation of your own collagen. The Thermage procedure is an FDA approved non-invasive treatment for wrinkles. In addition, it improves skin tone, contour, laxity and texture. It involves no surgery or injections and after only one treatment, improvements are seen immediately and continue to accrue over the following six months. Results can last for years depending on how you care for your skin, your overall skin condition, and the way your skin ages. Unlike lasers, Thermage is effective on all skin types and colors and unlike injectible

wrinkle-fillers, it works on your entire face. One of the most common questions we get regarding Thermage is "How does it work?" To address this question, we must talk a bit about how your skin works. Generally speaking, there are three distinct layers to the skin: the outer epidermis, the collagen-rich layer known as the dermis, and finally the deepest inner subcutaneous layer. The subcutaneous layer contains both fat and collagen. As your skin ages due to sun exposure, genetics, and the natural aging process, your skin begins to sag and wrinkle because of collagen breakdown. Thermage is able to tighten and Thermage continued on page 16

October 16, 2009

Financial

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Plan for retirement – this week and every week

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ou might not see it on your calendar, but October 18 – 24 is National Save for Retirement Week. This event, endorsed by Congress, is designed to promote the benefits of saving for retirement and to encourage workers to take full advantage of their employersponsored retirement plans — so you may want to use this week as a starting point to do just that. For many of us, the need to boost our retirement savings is critical. In fact, some 53% of Americans report that the total value of their household’s savings and investments, excluding the value of their primary home and any defined benefit plans, is less than $25,000, according to the 2009 Retirement Confidence Survey, sponsored by the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Also, the decline in popularity of defined benefit plans — the traditional pension plans that make payments based primarily on years of service — is

By Dimi Matouchev

one reason saving for retirement has become such a major issue. From 1986 to 2008, participation in defined benefit plans among full-time workers in private industry declined from 76% to 24%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In many cases, defined benefit plans have been replaced by defined contribution plans, such as 401(k) plans — which means that much of the responsibility for adequately funding retirement has shifted from the employer to the individual. Given these factors, it’s clear that you must be proactive in building resources to achieve the retirement lifestyle you’ve envisioned. So consider taking the following steps: Contribute to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan. If possible, try to put as much as you can afford into your 401(k) or other tax-advantaged, employersponsored plan, such as a 403(b) or 457(b). It’s a good idea to spread your 401(k) dollars among

the available investments in a way that reflects your risk tolerance and time horizon. And as your income increases, try to increase your 401(k) contributions. Due to the prolonged economic slump, some employers have cut back or eliminated their 401(k) matching contributions, but if one is offered, put in enough to earn it. Open an IRA. Even if you contribute to a 401(k), you are probably still eligible to open an IRA. A traditional IRA can grow on a tax-deferred basis, and a Roth IRA grows tax free, provided you’ve had your account for at least five years and don’t begin taking withdrawals until you’re age 59 1/2. Plus, an IRA provides more investment options that a 401(k) plan. Rebalance your investment portfolio regularly. During the long bear market, many new retirees faced difficulties

when they were forced to tap into investment portfolios whose value had dropped significantly. You can help avoid this problem by periodically reviewing and rebalancing your investments. For example, if you know you’re going to retire within the next five years, you may want to consider shifting some assets into shorterterm investments that may not be as susceptible to market volatility. A financial advisor can help you review your specific situation. By making the right moves, you can turn every week into a “Save for Retirement” week. And you’ll probably be glad you did once your actual retirement week arrives. This article was provided by Edward Jones, located at 1505 Palm Blvd on the Isle of Palms. You can reach them at 886-9229 or visit www.edwardjones.com.

Can your portfolio survive the next drop in the market? Presented by Bobby Cummings, CFP®, CFBS, CLTC

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nvestors lost $30 trillion in market value during 2008, according to Bloomberg. How much of that was yours? The recent bear market was just the latest in a long string of market declines that have pummeled family finances. Here are a few examples: w From early 1973 to late 1974, the S&P 500 Index lost nearly 50%. w In just 10 trading days in October 1987, it plunged 31%. w During the 2000-2002 bear market, the widely watched index lost nearly 50%. w From the October 2007 peak to the March 2009 nadir, the S&P 500 lost more than 50%. Clearly, devastating declines in the stock market happen with frightening frequency. There are some people who believe that the best investment strategy is to simply buy a diversified portfolio and hang on to it for dear life (and for years) through the roller-coaster markets. Try telling that to investors who are still underwater on investments that they’ve held for more than a decade. We believe that buy, hold,

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and hope for the best is not an investment strategy. It’s a train wreck. Billionaire investor George Soros said, “It’s not whether you’re right or wrong that’s important, but how much money you make when you’re right and how much you lose when you’re wrong.” Nobody can predict the future, but there are sensible proactive risk management strategies that investors can implement to help limit their exposure to these massive market meltdowns. Remember, a 50% loss means you need a 100% return to get back to break even. That’s a tall order in any environment. One of the tools we use at Cummings Wealth Management Group to help investors assess the risk in their portfolio is the Family Index Stress Test(SM). We’ve identified seven economic scenarios that we believe have some chance of occurring over the next few years. Based on these scenarios, we “stress test” your portfolio to help determine where it may be vulnerable. Based on this analysis and our investment Portfolio continued on page 16

16 Thermage from page 14 renew your skin’s collagen in all three layers of the skin by using Capacitive Radio Frequency (CRF) technology. CRF safely heats both the dermal and subcutaneous collagen network causing an immediate tightening. More importantly, it stimulates new collagen formation in these layers for long-lasting results. As this new collagen stimulation continues, improvements in the skin become even more noticeable over the following four to six months. The Thermage procedure is fast and safe, and requires no Hearing from page 8 Attention must be given to what is called the “telecoil” or “t-coil”. With this special circuit, phone signals can be picked up and amplified. Telecoils are also used with public hearing systems, so that the hearing aid wearer may listen to a PA system directly through the hearing aid, such as in a church or theater. One of the most important aspects of an enjoyable hearing aid experience is that you like the sound quality. So when you visit your audiologist, make sure that you address sounds

downtime from normal activities. During the treatment you will feel a brief heat sensation. This indicates that your collagen is being stimulated and tightened. The procedure may take as little as 20 minutes or up to two hours depending on the size of the treatment area. By no means is Thermage as dramatic as a surgical face lift, but it does provide those who may not want or need to do surgery with a nice, non-invasive alternative for skin tightening and rejuvenation. For more information visit the AesthetiSpa Cosmetic Skin & Laser Center at www. aesthetispa.com. that are displeasing to you. The audiologist is capable of adjusting your hearing aids based on your experiences. Some types of hearing losses are more conducive to restoration of rich sound quality than others. Hearing aid studies have shown that people who have a positive outlook on life enjoy hearing aids more. This means there is a willingness to try hearing aids, adapt to new solutions, and keep frustration at a minimum when obstacles arise. Take charge and be determined to improve the quality of your life with today’s modern hearing aids!

October 16, 2009

IOPNA set to deliver more Gift Bags

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Special to the Island Eye

nce again the IOPNA’s New Resident Outreach Program has put together another set of Gift Bags to deliver to another group  of new residents.  The bag will contain coupons from both new business donors as well as coupons from existing and/ or previous contributors to the Gift Bags from earlier in the year.  Pictured here is a new business on the IOP called “The Beach Spa”.  This  darling little cottagelike setting definitely has a “come on in and relax” look about it.    The Gift Bag committee is very appreciative of the generous coupon provided by owners Anita and Bill Wilson.  Another new business on the island is “Island Roots Landscaping”.  Owner Daniel Bushong has also provided a generous contribution to these latest Gift Bags.   Participating for the first time is Acme Cantina, owned by Bobby Simmons. Diane Oltorik, New Resident Outreach Program chairperson, is very pleased that Mr. Simmons sought the IOPNA out in order  to participate with a generous coupon.  She also acknowledges that two other contributors, Morgan Creek Grill (Carla Pope, Manager)

Portfolio from page 15 process, we then offer suggestions on how to restructure it so your portfolio has an opportunity to profit regardless of whether the market goes up or down. To participate in our complimentary Family Index Stress Test(SM), call us at 8849898. The world is changing fast and this test can help highlight where your portfolio might need to change, too. It’s free and completely confidential. 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 www.islandeyenews.com

and Huck’s Lowcountry Table (Terri Crowe, Manager, and J.J. Kern, owner) also donated generous coupons  and  are repeat contributors.  East Cooper Habitat for Humanity Restore (Hanna Reed, Restore Manager)  is also a contributor for the first time and they are providing a very nice coupon.  “The continued understanding that this program is good publicity for businesses is what allows the Gift Bag to be such a successful way to introduce and encourage our new residents to support our restaurants and retailers on the island,” says Ms. Oltorik. With this next set of Gift Bags ready to deliver, the total number of Bags delivered so far this year will be thirty-six.  “We have 24 contributors and we are so grateful for the response to this concept.  It is a wonderful way to build a sense of community on our island,” Ms. Oltorik stated.  She hopes this program will continue to foster strong ties between residents and business.  Ms. Oltorik believes that this program, originating last December on a one year trial basis, will be continued indefinitely.

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). If you wish to learn more about the ideas and strategies in this article, or if you have any questions about your financial or estate plan, you are invited to reach Bobby via email at bobby@cummingswealth. com or by contacting his office at (843)884-9898. 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 843-884-9898 or at [email protected].

October 16, 2009

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Runners and walkers make their way across the IOP Connector.

By Sarah Reynolds Mount Pleasant Recreation Department

icking off at 8am on Saturday, October 3, the 17th Annual Isle of Palms Connector Run and Walk for the Child hosted over 1400 registered runners and walkers. Supported by local business sponsor donations and participant Overall results for the 5K Run: fees, net proceeds from the event will be donated to support the local Female Overall 5K: prevention of child abuse and other 1st - Elizabeth Currey, Mount Pleasant, 20:38 child-related charities. The race began at the foot of the 2nd - Sheldon Fowler, Mount IOP Connector on the Isle of Palms. Pleasant, 20:48 Runners participated in either a 5K or 3rd - Carter Monroe, Sullivan's a 10K run while walkers walked 5K, Island, 21:03 enjoying beautiful views of the Atlantic Male Overall 5K: Ocean, local creeks, marshes and the 1st - Neville Miller, Mount Intracoastal Waterway. Following the Pleasant, 15:58 race, awards were presented to overall 2nd - Sam Metzger, Charleston, 17:14 winners, masters, grand masters and 3rd - Reynaldo Soto, Goose age group winners in both the 5K and Creek, 17:27 10K runs. Female Masters: The event was presented this year Betsy Jessup, Mount Pleasant, by title sponsor Bi-Lo. Each year, 22:29 the run/walk is organized by the Male Masters: Exchange Clubs of Mount Pleasant Jerome Brinkley, Charleston, and the Isle of Palms, the City of 19:11 Isle of Palms and the Town of Mount Female Grand Masters: Pleasant. For further details about Judy Osborn, 25:43 the Isle of Palms Connector Run and Male Grand Masters: Walk for the Child, visit www.ioprun. Joe Dipiro, Mount Pleasant, com. 21:15

Running with HALOS PHOTO BY Sarah Reynolds

Conquering the IOP Connector

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Overall results for the 10K Run: Female Overall 10K: 1st - Anne-Wyman Cipolla, Charleston, 39:14 2nd - Heather Knight, Mount Pleasant, 39:15 3rd - Amy McDonaugh, Irmo, 42:08 Male Overall 10K: 1st - Hunter Hicklin, Birmingham, AL, 36:13 2nd - David Quick, Mount Pleasant, 36:53 3rd - Tyler Cross, James Island, 38:11 Female Masters: Camelia Marculescu, Charleston, 43:36 Male Masters: Brendan Silver, Mount Pleasant, 39:14 Female Grand Masters: Lori Pope, Charleston, 51:32 Male Grand Masters: Bob Schlau, Kiawah Island, 41:43

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HALOS, Inc., a Charleston agency serving abused and neglected children, was represented in the recent Isle of Palms Connector Run and Walk for the Child on October 3. Friends, volunteers, staff and board members walked and ran in the annual event. “The HALOS family really came out in force for this event to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect in our community,” says HALOS Executive Director Kim Clifton. “HALOS receives a donation each year from the proceeds of this event and we want to show how much we support and appreciate the efforts of the race organizers and the sponsors of this year’s race.” HALOS, Inc. is a Charleston based non-profit agency founded in 1997 by Dr. Eve Spratt. The mission of the organization is “To provide resources and special opportunities to abused and neglected children and their caregivers through partnerships with faithbased and other community organizations.”

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October 16, 2009

October 16, 2009

I

What brings us together as islanders

want to express my appreciation to the many who participated in and attended our gathering for the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo on Saturday, September 19. At least 50 neighbors and friends came together, not to relive the terrible experience, but to enjoy the stories, pictures and memories of a pivotal lifetime event. Irene Lofton made eyes glisten with her heart-rendering recitations from Broken Bridge. Red Wood related vignettes of Hugo tales with advice of lessons learned. Our Chief Danny Howard

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By Jeri England

informed us of improvements in our before-storm and after-storm actions in a most reassuring manner. Doctors Dot and Jamie Moore displayed a power point presentation based on their book Island in the Storm and all were available to answer a myriad of questions. In the background, the now infamous DVD filmed just after Hugo displayed a house-byhouse, street-by-street picture of the hurricane’s wrath, quietly reminding us of our vulnerability. But mostly it was a celebration of the gathering of neighbors

who had perhaps not seen each other in those twenty years, and the social warmth that was recreated that day reminded us that we are a strong community and that it often “takes a village”. Let’s not let twenty more years pass by without this communication.

(Above) Chief Danny Howard discusses the many improvements the Town of Sullivan's Island has made to their evacuation process and hurricane recovery program. (left) Irene Lofton reads from her book of post-Hugo poetry, Broken Bridge.

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Pork and politics

Jimmy Ward, Isle of Palms mayoral candidate, addresses a group of supporters during a recent barbeque at his house.

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October 16, 2009

Shackles wins Moonbeam Award

egacy Publications proudly announces Shackles, By Marjory Heath Wentworth with illustrations by Leslie Darwin Pratt-Thomas, has won the Silver Medal in the national 2009 Moonbeam Children’s Book awards for multi-cultural children’s books.  Based on a true story, Shackles describes what happens when a group of young boys search for buried treasure in their backyard on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, and

dig up a bit of history – a set of shackles used centuries ago on slaves who were held on the island. Neighbor and friend Mr. Green is summoned – and tries to explain the painful hidden history of Sullivan’s Island. One out of every three African Americans had ancestors who were brought to Sullivan’s Island and were held or perished in the slave trade. This important story reminds us of a piece of American history that is too often forgotten or overlooked.

Academy students whirl through time

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t. Pleasant Academy 4th graders and their 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Sue Hopkins, recently joined author Mary Gordon Kerr for a book signing and reading of her new book, What Lies Beneath the Whirlpool of Time, at Barnes and Noble in the Mount Pleasant Towne Centre.  The book was written during the 2007-2008 school year with the weekly involvement of the students.

Poe Library events

Hours of operation:  Monday & Friday: 2 – 6 Wednesday: closed Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday: 10 – 2

Story Times: 2-4 Year Olds Tuesdays from 10:30-11am November 3, 10, 17 and 24

  3-5 year olds Thursdays from 10:15-11am Nov. 5, 12, and 19   Do it Yourself Crafts with Grace Dunbar Saturday, November 7 Thanksgiving Crafts 10am-12 noon.

Eye Spy

Do you know what this is?

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. Congratulations to Abby, who guessed last week's Eye Spy: the chairs from the Dunes Property sign on Palm Blvd. Send your guess for this week's Eye Spy to: [email protected] www.islandeyenews.com

PHOTO BY Deborah Henson

October 16, 2009

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The need to keep Charleston green

hen you recycle one aluminum can, you save 95% of the energy that was used to originally make it. That 95% is enough energy to run a household television for three hours,” says Jenny Bloom, Charleston’s Recycling Educator. The Garden Club of Isle of Palms, founded in 1948, recently gathered at The IOP Exchange Building for an evening with guest speaker Jenny Bloom. Bloom’s enthusiasm resonated throughout the room as she explained Charleston County’s current recycling programs, the importance of teaching young people about the impact of recycling and what everyone can do to help. “When a plastic bottle goes in to the normal trash can and not the recycling blue bin, that plastic bottle will sit for 400 to 1000 years and never fully break down,” explained Bloom. “Plastic bottles are not bio-degradable, they are photo-degradable, meaning they only break down into smaller pieces. You are looking, at best, at seven life generations until that one plastic bottle deteriorates, but only into smaller pieces.” According to Bloom, only one out of every ten plastic/glass bottles in Charleston County find their way to the downtown Recycling Center located at 13 Romney Street. “We have buyers for all of the plastic and glass labeled 1 and 2. Anheuser Busch buys all of the beer bottles,” said Bloom. “If the item in question has a category of 3 - 7, we still accept them and want them,” she said. “If you are in doubt and are wondering if the item in question can be recycled, put it in the bin. Separate glass bottles with plastic bottles and paper with paper. Let us worry about sorting the rest,” Bloom urged. On the docket for the Charleston County Environmental Managing Department is an initiative to increase the current 10% recycling rate to an aggressive 40% recycling rate. The County Council asked for the initiative roughly one and a half years ago and with three and a half years to four years left go to, there is yet to be a significant increase in recycling. Part of the reason lies with the long wait between recycling bin pick-ups. With the residential blue bin collection trucks coming through once

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By Paul Robinson

every two weeks, commercial businesses and residents are often accumulating more recyclable materials than they can handle and throwing the run-over into the regular trash. However, Jennie Davis, Public Information Officer for Charleston County, stated that, “The Charleston County Environmental Management Department is currently working on the best way to meet County Council’s new recycling goal of 40%.” The push for more widespread and efficient means of recycling in Charleston County is becoming more and more necessary as the County’s population expands and more events are being held in the area. The 7th Annual Ballpark Festival of Beers held at Joe Riley Stadium on October 3, did not offer recycling to the 20+ vendors serving out of bottles only. With roughly 2,000 tickets sold for the event, an estimated 6,250 bottles of beer never made it to the recycling center. However, smaller initiatives, such as Mayor Joe Riley’s unveiling of the first recycling bin at a Charleston City park on Monday, October 5, are beginning to take place. Unfortunately, change needs to happen a little faster than that. On December 31, 2009, the garbage incinerator on Spruill Ave in North Charleston will be shut down. According to The Lowcountry Chapter of the Sierra Club, the incinerator burns 70% of household trash accumulated in Charleston County. Incinerators across the Nation are being dismantled due to the out of date technology and the harmful/ deadly emissions, but that leaves just the Bees Ferry Landfill to pick up the slack. Currently, the Bees Ferry Landfill only brings in 30% of Charleston County’s trash. After the incinerator closes, the landfill will be taking on 100% of Charleston County’s trash and the life expectancy of the landfill will be cut in half from 25 years to 12 years. “If we are able to increase the 10% recycling rate to 40%, this will become much less of an issue,” said Bloom. According to Folly Beach’s Mayor Carl Beckmann, “County Council is embarking on a quest to have more recycling options for local businesses and the guests of Folly Beach. We are pushing to have a stationary recycling station on Folly and for the summer of 2010, we could

implement this with the guests of Folly Beach and increase the amount of recycling options to them. When guests are leaving Folly Beach, they could easily drop off their cans and bottles in the public bin.” Some area businesses and municipalities are taking matters into their own hands and hiring privately owned companies to handle their recycling. Aaron Siegel, owner of Home Team BBQ, has a business-size recycling container at each of his locations on Sullivan’s Island and West Ashley. With the help of a private hauling service, Home Team BBQ has a weekly pick-up to meet their recycling needs. “We try as much as we can to recycle and have less of an environmental impact on the local area. Making the effort to have a private recycling service and having your employees commit to is our way of doing our part,” said Siegel. Home Team BBQ also utilizes a private sustainable composting business that transfers their food waste to a pig farm in the

Charleston area. Kiawah Island has also taken the initiative to hire an outside company for their recycling needs. According to Rusty Lameo, Chief Code Enforcement Officer for Kiawah, “We have seen an increase in recycling each year at Kiawah. In 2009 we recycled 23.5 tons, which is up from 21.72 tons in 2008. Seeing those numbers rise means progress. With Kiawah implementing a 35 gallon roll out recycling trash can program for the residents with weekly pickups, we can educate and provide convenience to our residents and do our part.” For more information on how to recycle and help Charleston County reach their goal of 40%, visit www.CharlestonCounty. org. For more info on receiving recycling bins for your home or business, please call 720-7111. Contact Susan Wallace at 4426450 for information on The Isle of Palms Garden Club.

Ben Sawyer Bridge closure date narrows

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Provided by the SCDOt

he Ben Sawyer Bridge Rehabilitation Project has reached several milestones over the past few weeks.  Concrete has been placed for the first of two deck pours on both the northern and southern approach spans. At the former Navy Base in North Charleston, crews have set the two trusses for the swing span bridge and lifted the control house into place.   Reaching these critical points in the schedule enables the project team to narrow the window for the seven day (168 hour) closure of Ben Sawyer Boulevard, including the closure of the Intracoastal Waterway. The 168 hour closure can be expected to occur between the dates of November 1, 2009, and January 31, 2010, but not to begin between December 15, 2009, and January 3, 2009.  The project remains on schedule for a May 2, 2010, contract completion date for the replacement of the existing bridge and the consequent demolition of the old bridge.

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Background on the seven day (168 hour) closure:  To minimize disruption of traffic during the rehabilitation of the Ben Sawyer Bridge, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) challenged designers and contractors to use the latest construction engineering to meet the bridge rehabilitation requirements while only completely closing the bridge for seven days, or 168 hours.  PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. was awarded the project’s design and construction contract in the fall of 2008.  Their winning plan includes the construction of the bridge’s swing span off site while building new northern and southern approaches adjacent to the existing bridge.  All seven days (168 hours) will be used in a block to remove the old swing span, slide the old bridge east off of its foundations, slide new approach spans onto the existing foundations, and then jacking the new swing span into place. Because the clock will be ticking, careful planning and coordination is required to assure staff, equipment, and even the weather is right for the closure countdown to begin.    

The following is a synopsis of some of the activities of the Isle of Palms Police Department during the month of September. Patrol September 2, 2009: At approximately 1am, an officer on patrol stopped to speak with a male subject operating a bicycle on Palm Boulevard without lights. While the officer spoke to the subject he determined that the subject was in possession of a quantity of marijuana. He was charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana and NRVC for an unpaid traffic ticket. September 3, 2009: An officer on patrol stopped a vehicle on Palm Boulevard for speeding and while speaking to the driver, determined that he had no license in his possession and it was suspended for not paying a previously issued ticket. The driver was charged with DUS 3rd offense, Habitual Offender, Speeding, and NRVC. September 6, 2009: Officers responded to a Charleston Blvd. residence where a citizen calling 911 reported that a woman had been stabbed in the neck and a male was holding down another male in the front yard. The first officer to arrive was told that the male being detained had stabbed the female that was lying on the ground approximately 20 feet away, and advised that the victim and the suspects are married but legally separated. The officer immediately placed the suspect in handcuffs and placed him in his vehicle. He then retrieved a black tactical knife that had been lying on the ground near the suspect. First Responders from the fire department arrived and treated the victim until EMS arrived and transported her to the MUSC Trauma Unit in Charleston. The victim sustained stab wounds to her back, neck and face. Officers protected the crime scene and obtained statements from witnesses. Investigators were notified and responded to the residence to process the scene, to the hospital, and to headquarters to meet with the suspect. The suspect was charged with Assault and Battery with the Intent to Kill

Police Blotter

and transported to the Detention Center. He appeared before a Magistrate on 9-7-09 and was placed on a $100,000 bond.

September 7, 2009: A vehicle was stopped on Palm Boulevard for an equipment violation and while running a computer check of the driver's license it was determined that the license was suspended. The driver was charged with DUS and NRVC for an unpaid traffic ticket. A passenger in the vehicle was allowed to drive the vehicle from the area. September 9, 2009: Just after 2am, an officer on patrol observed a vehicle on the Connector weaving in and out of the lane of traffic. Once the vehicle was stopped, the officer detected an odor of alcohol from within the vehicle and investigated. A female passenger was taken into custody for having two unpaid traffic tickets, and was charged with NRVC two counts. The driver was observed attempting to hide something under his seat and was taken into custody for possession of a quantity of marijuana located on his person. He was charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana 4th offense. September 11, 2009: A resident of Sparrow Drive reported that over a period of time, she had over $90,000 worth of checks forged against her bank account. A checkbook was missing, and all forged checks were written from the missing checkbook. An Investigator has been assigned to the case. September 11, 2009: Just before midnight, an officer on patrol in Wild Dunes attempted to stop a golf cart as it made a right turn onto Morgan Place Drive and when it did not stop, the officer pulled up next to the vehicle and verbally told him to pull over. The cart went onto the green of the nearby golf course where the operator jumped from the cart, allowing it to roll into a pond. Located in the cart were a telephone, wallet, and garage door opener. A computer check of the license found in the wallet indicated that the driver was under suspension in North Carolina for DUI. The cart was towed from the pond. An Arrest

Warrant was prepared for the subject, since the officer was able to verify his identity by the photo on the license. The following evening the subject came to police headquarters and tried to report that the golf cart had been stolen. He eventually admitted that it was not stolen and he had been the one driving the golf cart. He was taken into custody and charged with Failure to Stop for a Blue Light and Siren, DUS, and False Information to a Police Officer. September 12, 2009: Just before midnight, officers responded to an overturned vehicle collision, car vs. tree, on JC Long Boulevard. After first aid was administered to the driver for a laceration, he was administered several Field Sobriety Tests, which he failed. He was transported to headquarters for a Datamaster Test that he refused. He was charged with DUI and transported to the Detention Center. September 15, 2009: An officer responded to a hazardous material spill of gasoline at the gas station on Palm Boulevard and directed traffic while fire department personnel cleaned up the spill. September 18, 2009: An employee of the local grocery store observed a pickup truck leaving the parking lot of his business and noticed that the truck had two beer carts that belonged to a local beer distributor. The employee followed the truck and called the police to advise them of the possible theft. The truck attempted to evade the employee by turning into a neighborhood. An officer located the truck and determined that the subject driving had stolen two beer carts worth $600 from the store. The subject was arrested and charged with two counts of Petit Larceny and Simple Possession of Marijuana for marijuana found in his pocket when arrested. September 19, 2009: Just after 2am, an officer on patrol observed an oncoming vehicle cross over into the officer’s lane of traffic. The officer turned around on the vehicle and observed it enter a residential neighborhood, running through several stop signs, then drive over a railroad tie attempting

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to evade the officer. The vehicle stopped abruptly and the driver placed the ignition keys on the roof of the vehicle. The driver was taken into custody, charged with Reckless Driving, No Proof of Ownership, and Failure to Change Address. September 20, 2009: An officer on patrol observed a vehicle turn into the opposing lane of traffic and immediately overcorrect. The officer stopped the vehicle to investigate and while approaching the vehicle observed the female driver holding a debit card out of the window as though she were presenting her driver's license. The officer detected an odor of alcohol and requested that the driver submit to several Field Sobriety Tests, which she failed. She was transported to headquarters and administered a Datamaster Test, which registered a .15% level of alcohol. The driver was charged with DUI and transported to the Detention Center. September 22, 2009: At approximately 2:30am, an officer on patrol observed a speeding vehicle on the Connector and noted that the speed of the vehicle increased to 84 miles per hour. Once the vehicle was stopped the officer immediately detected an odor of alcohol. The driver submitted to several Field Sobriety Tests, which he failed, and was transported to headquarters to be administered a Datamaster Test. He was charged with DUI, Open Container, and Failure to obtain a SC DL. September 22, 2009: An officer on the Connector stopped to speak with a male subject walking barefoot on the shoulder of the road. The subject made several confusing statements and said that he was looking for his vehicle. The subject’s parents, who live in Myrtle Beach, were notified and stated that the subject has a history of mental illness. For the safety of the subject he was taken into Emergency Protective Custody and transported to a local hospital for observation. For the complete police blotter, please visit our website at www.islandeyenews.com

IOPNA Octoberfest 2009

October 16, 2009

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IOP Council candidate Barbara Gobien with one of the island's newest, youngest residents.

Back from the Grave

C

reative Spark and the National Park Service put on an excellent show on October 10 with the 4th Annual Edgar Allan Poe: Back from the Grave event at Fort Moultrie. Actors stratigically placed throughout the Fort performed excerpts from several of Poe's works, including Murder at the Rue Morgue, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Man Who Was Used Up, The Pit and the Pendulum and The Masque of the Red Death. Special thanks go to Vince Graham, who welcomed VIP pass holders to explore his beautiful home, Castle Mugdock, and enjoy food and drinks before they attended the event.

The Isle of Palms Neighborhood Assocation celebrated their annual Ocktoberfest at the IOP Exchange Club on October 3. Participants enjoyed a potluck of German fare and a speech on noise violations given by Livability Court Judge Michael Molony.

Pictures and videos from the event are posted at www.islandeyenews.com.

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