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Artist & Photographer We are honored to feature a copy of one of Barnie Slice’s paintings on the cover of our January 2009 publication. He is well known all over the state of South Carolina and beyond. His vast subject selections for paintings and photography, reveal his joy for life through years of experiences and extensive travels, both locally and abroad. His heart is as big as the outdoors and always enjoys the company of family and friends. Continue reading to learn more about this wonderful man, painter and photographer, Barnie Slice. Barnie was born in Columbia, South Carolina and has spent most of his life painting scenes of his state from the mountains to the sea. He retired from his thirty-one year career with Sears in 1991 and started his own business as a mural artist painting murals in more than 375 schools across the Carolinas. He painted his first painting at the age of 16 while in high school and has been painting since. In 2004 he had to give up his mural career due to a shoulder injury but is now painting acrylic and watercolor paintings full time. His works include landscapes, seascapes and a variety of other subject matter including house and animal portraits, vintage automobiles and aircraft as well as fish and other animals. Barnie is a member of the Seacoast Artist Guild of Pawleys Island and is an active member of the Prince George Gallery in Georgetown, Applewood’s House of Pancake Restaurant and other galleries around the state. His credentials include two paintings in the White House in Washington, DC during the Reagan Era and being the first South Carolinian to win the South Carolina Saltwater Fish Stamp Contest in 1998-99.

41 Pierpont Ct., Pawleys Island, SC 29585 Phone: 843-235-9531 E-mail address: [email protected]

Articles and Upcoming Events . . . How to Protect Oleanders Low Country Herbs Society Meeting What Do You Want in 2009? page 4

PUBLISHER:

Volume 4 Issue 1

Schaefer Design Studio P.O. Box 2221 Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Coastal Carolina University - Jan. 2009 Cultural Calendar page 5 Winyah Bay Heritage Festival page 6

GRAPHIC PRODUCTION:

Dollars & Sense page 11

Sherrill “Shea” Schaefer

ADVERTISING ACCOUNTS: “Blue Trail” to be Created on Waccamaw River Winter/Spring Home Repair & Remodeling Projects page 13

Bruce Schaefer

PHOTOGRAPHY: Bruce Schaefer

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Richard Camlin - Georgetown Nicole LaBrie - Murrells Inlet Timothy Loebs - Surfside David X. Ognek, Surfside Beach Stephanie Sands - Myrtle Beach Sherrill Schaefer - Surfside Beach

Bruce & Shea

The Coastal Journal is a monthly publication and is distributed FREE along the Grand Strand, Surfside Beach, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Litchfield, Georgetown, and Conway. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material, in part or whole, designed by Schaefer Design Studio and appearing within this publication is strictly prohibited. The Coastal Journal 2009 ©

The Moveable Feast Cultural Council Leader Steps Down page 14

843-421-2363 • e-mail: [email protected]

View The Coastal Journal on-line:

www.coastaljournal.sc Click on individual ads to go directly to our advertisers websites. 3 COASTAL JOURNAL

How to Protect Oleanders From Winter Damage

Oleanders (Nerium oleander) are distinctive and beautiful large, flowering shrubs that thrive with little care but most cultivars can be damaged or killed by winter cold. Step 1 Oleanders are very heat and drought tolerant once established, and will grow especially well in seaside gardens, tolerating salt spray and wind. Oleanders generally grow best in the coastal areas of South Carolina.

Step 2 To solve the “winter cold” problem, we must first understand our enemy. Cold weather can cause all types of problems for plants in South Carolina. Some causes of winter damage are Lack of Hardiness: Use plant hardiness zone maps to help in selecting plants for particular locations. Early or Late-Season Frosts: Early frosts in the fall cause damage on plants that are normally adapted to an area. Plants need adequate time to get used to outdoor conditions before temperatures freeze.

Step 3 CARE OF PLANTS AFTER A FREEZE Don't hurry to prune or remove your damaged plants. Some plants may appear dead, but they are not. Corrective pruning should not be started until the full extent of the damage can be determined. Injury to foliage and tender shoots should be visible within a few days, but it may be several months before damage to larger limbs can be determined. Wait to see if any live green foliage reappears or gently scrap under the outer layer of bark to see if green wood is present. Once you have determined the extent of damage, remove any dead wood. There is very little that can be done to revive plants suffering from the extreme effects of freezing. Watering cold-damaged plants that appear wilted will not help to revive them.

Step 4 NOW FOR THE CLIMAX: THE SOLUTION - AVOIDING WINTER DAMAGE Allow plants to harden in the fall before cold weather begins. Do not stimulate new growth by applying excessive nitrogen or pruning in early autumn. Plants that are diseased or deficient in nutrients are more susceptible to winter injury than healthy ones. Corrective measures should be taken in time so they won’t affect cold acclimation. Water plants during late summer and autumn to prevent them from entering the winter under drought stress. Drought predisposes plants to winter injury and cankers. Avoid low spots that can create frost pockets and sites that can have rapid changes in temperatures. Flowers and leaf buds can be damaged when they are prematurely stimulated to open by warm days, and then subjected to freezing temperatures at night. Pack potted plants close together and cover them with a translucent plastic sheet that does not touch plants. Mulch or mound soil around pots to insulate the roots. Protect plants in exposed locations by wrapping burlap or building a lathe structure around them.

Low Country Herb Society Meeting Submitted by Stephanie Sands The Low Country Herb Society's January meeting begins at 10AM on Tuesday, the 13th, at St. Paul's Waccamaw United Methodist Church in Litchfield. From Hwy 17, turn onto Willbrook Boulevard, then turn right at the Coastal Carolina University Waccamaw Center. Continue past Midway Fire Department to the parking lot of the church. The meeting will begin with a social time and herbal-themed refreshments provided by LCHS members. Erynn Benjamin will give a presentation on "Green Challenge-Living Organic." Future meetings include: February 10th. "Native Herbs, How To's and Wildlife by Colette of the Nature Conservancy, March 10, "Top Ten Reasons to Grow Herbs" given by Erynn Benjamin, April 14th, luncheon at Carefree Catering with a demonstration by Chef Jeff Tuttle, and May 12th, the year end potluck picnic at the home of Pam Dunn. Membership in The Low Country Herb Society is open to everyone in the Grand Strand area who has an interest in the cultivation and uses of herbs. Meetings take place the second Tuesday of the month, September through May. Members take turns providing the herbal treats served at each meeting. Dues are $20 per year and include the quarterly newsletter which contains interesting and little-known information about herbs as well as many delicious recipes. The Low Country Herb Society was founded at Brookgreen Gardens in October of 1986 to share information on the cultivation, propagation, and many uses of herbs, including culinary, medicinal, cleansing and crafts. Each December, LCHS members decorate wreaths for sale to benefit the Tidelands Hospice at the annual Festival of Trees. Other community projects include maintaining the LCHS Herb Garden next to the Rice Museum in Georgetown, the annual herb and plant sale in April, and awarding a $1000 scholarship to a graduating senior planning to study horticulture. There is a holiday luncheon every December featuring herbs, and a potluck picnic in May to end the year.

What Do You Want In 2009?

For more information go to [email protected] or call 237-4808 and come to the meeting on January 13th!

By Timothy W. Loebs, MA, LPC

There are usually five steps or stages to getting what you want. The first step usually involves a process called “wishing”. I wish I made more money, I wish I was 20 pounds lighter, I wish I could stop smoking. However, as we all know, just wishing won’t do it. The second step to getting what you want is just that, “wanting”. I want to make more money, I want to be 20 pounds lighter, I want to quit smoking. When you get to the “wanting” stage there seems to be more power and energy associated with it. This means that you’ve gone past the dreaming (wishing) stage (which is important to the process) to a more directed focus of wanting (having a desire). Most people don’t get what they want because they never get past the first two stages of wishing and then wanting. I call this the “wishy-washy” loop as they never get past wishing and wanting. The third stage to getting what you want is called “planning”. Many people skip or bypass this step which is essential to getting what you want. It’s the same as writing your goals. By planning and writing down your goals, you get the idea out of your head, past the “wishy-washy” loop and you begin to give the idea substance. There is power in the written word versus keeping everything in your head. Now that you have a focus and a plan the next step is “doing”. Putting your plan into action. Remember though, even the best of laid out plans don’t always go as planned. Be aware of obstacles that might distract you from focusing on your goals. These might be inner obstacles like your emotions. You might have a problem with rejection if making more money means selling your idea. Or there could be outer obstacles. You want to stop smoking and everyone around you is smoking.

Even if the obstacles seem too great, don’t even think about giving up! If a goal is worth having, it’s worth fighting for. Consider getting help. Make dealing with obstacles that show up part

of your plan in step three. Expect resistance. This only means that you are doing something. No goal, no obstacles! The final stage is just that, “having”.

Have a great 2009! If I can be of any assistance in supporting you with having what you want in 2009, I would be honored to do so.

Heart & Mind Institute Counseling & Hypnosis Center 1018 16th Avenue NW • Surfside Beach, SC 29575 843-650-8940 • e-mail [email protected] 4 COASTAL JOURNAL

January 2009 Cultural Schedule Coastal Carolina University Department of Music Operatic Arias, Duets and Transcriptions Concert

Coastal Carolina University Theatre “Miss Julie”

Sunday, Jan. 18, 3 p.m. • Wheelwright Auditorium

By August Strindberg

Treat yourself to an afternoon of operatic arias, duets and transcriptions with Ann Benson, mezzosoprano; David Bankston, tenor; and Philip Powell, piano. Bankston and Powell are longtime Coastal Carolina University music professors and performers. Benson, a faculty member at Columbia College, has sung extensively in the operatic and choral repertoire, including the title role in “Tosca” with the New York City Opera in Lincoln Center. Admission: Free with ticket

Kenneth J. Martin, director Thursday, Jan. 29, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 3 p.m.

“Abbey Road LIVE – Magical Mystery Tour”

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m. Wheelwright Auditorium

Thursday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m.

Four lads from Athens, Ga., recreate the magic of the Beatles’ great late-period recordings in this exciting live stage show. The studio masterpieces from such classic albums as “Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour” and “The White Album” were never performed live by the Beatles, who stopped touring in 1966. “Abbey Road LIVE” is not your typical Beatles look-alike tribute act. It brings to life many of the more mature Beatles songs in a raw and spirited fashion, while remaining true to the original recordings. Premium Performance Admission: $25 first floor rows A-M and balcony section I $20 first floor rows N-S and balcony section II Coastal Carolina University and HGTC students: $10 (one per valid CCU ID) Coastal Carolina University and HGTC faculty/staff: $10 (two per valid ID) Senior citizens: $5 discount Teens (ages 11 to 17): $5 discount Children (ages 10 and under): $10 (must be accompanied by an adult)

Faculty Recital International Holocaust Remembrance Day Tuesday, Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. Recital Hall, Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts In 2006 the United Nations General Assembly designated Jan. 27 as a day of remembrance to honor the victims of the Holocaust. To commemorate this event, Coastal Carolina University faculty members Philip Powell, piano; Patti Edwards, soprano; and Anne Dervin, clarinet, will perform “Songs of Remembrance” by Ruth Lomon. The critically acclaimed work is a setting of Holocaust poetry. A pre-concert lecture will be given by Anne Dervin. Admission: Free with ticket

Friday, Feb. 6, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m. Edwards Black Box Theatre Written in Denmark in 1888, “Miss Julie” is a powerful drama about gender and class. Raised by a proto-feminist mother and a traditionalist father, Julie is ill at ease in the aristocratic society of her upbringing. On Midsummer’s Eve she dares enter forbidden territory and finds herself engaged in an epic struggle with her father’s valet, Jean. One of the foremost naturalistic dramas of all time, “Miss Julie” is a groundbreaking work. Strindberg’s innovations—cutting out intermissions, the use of real props and natural light—heralded a new era in modern theater. More than 100 years later, the play still has major relevance and emotional impact. General admission: $12 Alumni/senior citizens: $8 Coastal Carolina University and HGTC students: $3 (one per valid student ID) Coastal Carolina University and HGTC faculty/staff: $6 (two per valid ID) Teens (ages 11 to 17): $3 Children (ages 10 and under): Free (must be accompanied by an adult)

Spectrum 2 Concert Jan. 31, 8 p.m. Wheelwright Auditorium Coastal Carolina University’s bands and chamber ensembles will present the Spectrum 2 Concert. This concert is held in conjunction with the third Annual Coastal Honor Band and Scholarship Festival and will feature numerous Coastal Carolina University student and faculty groups in non-stop performance. Admission: Free with ticket

More more information about upcoming cultural events, contact Coastal Carolina University 843-349-2502 or www.coastal.edu 5 COASTAL JOURNAL

Wendy Allen has been selected as the 2009 Winyah Bay Heritage Festival featured

Wendy is also eager to share information she has learned. When asked about her

artist. Her gyotaku of a red drum, also known as spottail bass, on rice paper incorpo-

interests in nature and conservation, she responded that “we are all born with an innate

rates fishing as another element of our local outdoor heritage. The committee believes

curiosity about our world. The trick is to nurture this curiosity throughout our lives so

that Wendy’s art, as well as her conservation ethic and background as an educator and

we can continue to observe, enjoy and conserve the world we share with all living

naturalist, are a perfect match.

things. Living things and their interactions with the environment are much more complex and interesting than we could ever imagine and with each new scientific discov-

Gyotaku is a Japanese fish printing technique used originally to record information on

ery, dozens of new unsolved questions emerge.” Wendy adds, “When it comes to the

fish. Wendy was first introduced to this art form thirty years ago by a colleague who

environment, most people want to do the right thing. Education is key to empowering

had a framed fish print hanging in his home. The example she saw “was printed in

people to make informed decisions.”

black ink on light paper and looked like a fossil.” Wendy found the print intriguing and was determined to learn more about the printing process. After coming across a pub-

Wendy Allen graduated from Lehigh University in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science

lication that described how it’s done, she went to a fish market and purchased a cou-

degree in Biology. She worked as the first public education coordinator for the

ple of weakfish to make her first prints. A few years later Wendy took up fishing with

Wetlands Institute near Stone Harbor, New Jersey. She moved to South Carolina in

her husband, Dennis, and began to print fish on a regular basis.

Gyotaku shows

1978 to join her husband, returned to graduate school and in 1980 received a Masters

almost every detail on a fish, including the scales and fins, which led her to also use

of Education from the University of South Carolina. A large part of her career has been

this printing process as an activity to teach children about fish anatomy.

spent working concurrently for USC’s Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences as an environmental educator and for the Belle W. Baruch Foundation where

Although she may not say this about herself, locals regard Wendy as a fishing expert.

she started the Bellefield Nature Center, now the Hobcaw Barony Discovery Center.

When asked about her fishing interests, Wendy said it “is a means for me to get outdoors

She has worked for the North Inlet - Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

and experience nature and, as such, my favorite fishing approaches are those that max-

since 1992, first as education coordinator and since 2001 as its manager, overseeing

imize the potential to observe, discover and experience - wading the salt marsh flats with

the reserve’s integrated program of estuarine research, education and stewardship.

a camera or a fly rod, casting into pounding surf, or quietly paddling salt creek shallows.”

Fishing has been and will continue to be a part of the heritage of Winyah Bay, from the commercial fishing of sturgeon for caviar to today’s emphasis on recreational sport fishing for many different species.

Wendy has been releasing every spottail she catches for years, initially due to reports of declining numbers and later, simply out of reverence for a magnificent fish. Wendy prefers “to see spottails tailing in the salt marsh or chasing mullet in the surf than as fillets in a fry pan.” For the committee this is a prime example of her conservation ethic. Wendy is also eager to share information she has learned. When asked about her interests in nature and conservation, she responded that “we are all born with an innate curiosity about our world. The trick is to nurture this curiosity throughout our lives so

As this year’s featured artist, Wendy Allen is the perfect fit because she has the scien-

we can continue to observe, enjoy and conserve the world we share with all living

tific background of the subject she transforms onto rice paper and because she has

things. Living things and their interactions with the environment are much more com-

explored local waters for three decades. As a result, she knows where fish will be and

plex and interesting than we could ever imagine and with each new scientific discov-

why they will be there. This year, thanks to Wendy, gyotaku will be a new featured dur-

ery, dozens of new unsolved questions emerge.” Wendy adds, “When it comes to the

ing the festival to help both children and adults learn and appreciate the art of fish print-

environment, most people want to do the right thing. Education is key to empowering

ing. If there ever was a conservationist to emulate, it might just be Wendy Allen - and

people to make informed decisions.”

one can always hope that Wendy might reveal one of her secret fishing spots.

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Many investment values are down. Now what? Depending on your time horizon and risk tolerance, one or more of these tips may prove useful. 1. Be realistic about how long it will take to recover. If an investment looses 50% of its value, how much must it recover to get back to its original value? a) 125%, b) 100%, c) 50%. Answer: b) 100% Example: A $100 investment, now worth $50 gains 50% in value. This will bring the value to $75. If a $50 investment gains 100% that will bring the value back to $100.00. Now assume an annual rate of return and apply the Rule of 72 (72 divided by the interest rate equals the time in years to double your money). If the assumed return is 8% a year, it will take 9 years to go from $50 to $100.

2. Re-evaluate your investments. Two

criteria might be 1) How far am I from retirement, or when I will need to access my investments (such as college expenses). If you are within 5-10 years of retirement (the Red Zone) or other need for your investments, consider safer savings and investments for your portfolio. You might consider investment grade bonds, treasury bills and bonds that offer a higher degree of safety than stocks and provide dividend income and 2) What is my current asset allocation? Market action (defined as gains and losses in the value of your investments) may cause an imbalance in your investment asset allocation. For instance, you may feel comfortable with a mix of 40% bonds and 60% stock. Because of market action, your portfolio now has 70% of its value invested in stocks. This asset allocation may be too aggressive for your circumstances and goals.

3. If you do not have a regular investment program, start one. Understandably, money is tight for many people. However, two time- tested principles should not be overlooked: pay yourself first and dollar cost averaging. Paying yourself first, regardless of the amount, is one way to gain some peace of mind. You will be taking care of yourself and you will accumulate a rainy day fund. A dollar cost averaging program is where you invest a defined amount at defined intervals. An example is $25 a month on the 15th. This will result in more shares being purchased for the same amount of money as a lump sum purchase. The stock markets are at lower levels than their recent highs. History tells us they are likely (no guarantee they will, but they always have) recover to their previous highs. Remember: Buy Low – Sell High.

4. Perhaps most importantly, don’t panic. It is a well-known and accepted fact of human nature that when emotions go up, intelligence goes down. Investors are prone to make the wrong decisions at the wrong time when emotions are involved. This includes buying decisions as well as selling decisions. 5. Stay invested. By trying to time the market, or liquidating at the wrong time an investor runs the risk of missing a major move up in the markets. Missing a rally, a good month or series of months may have a serious impact on your investment returns. Example: Dow Jones Industrial Index closed at 8046 on 11/17/08 and 8604 0n 12/18/08 – an increase of 6.9%.

David X. Ognek, Financial Services Professional 843-238-5330 • [email protected]

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“Blue Trail” to be Created on the Waccamaw River Contact: Jamie Mierau, Director, River Protection, 202-347-7550 American Rivers, Winyah Rivers Foundation’s Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER®, and the Pee Dee Land Trust will collaborate on the project. Contacts: Gerrit Jobsis Southeast Regional Director for American Rivers 803-771-7114 Christine Ellis Waccamaw Riverkeeper for Winyah Rivers Foundation 843-349-4007 Jennie Williamson Executive Director for Pee Dee Land Trust 843-661-1135 Thanks to a generous grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, American Rivers, along with its partners, Winyah Rivers Foundation’s Waccamaw RIVERKEEPER®, and the Pee Dee Land Trust, will begin work in Horry and Georgetown Counties to create a blue trail on the Waccamaw River. The goals of this three year project are to improve recreation opportunities as well as public support for the river to assure it remains healthy. Collaboration with communities in Horry and Georgetown Counties to establish the Waccamaw River Blue Trail is essential to the project. Blue trails, the water equivalent to hiking trails, help facilitate recreation in and along rivers and are used by paddlers, anglers, hikers, picnickers, and those seeking a little solitude. While the blue trail will improve recreational opportunities, it will also help to educate citizens, local governments and the elected officials about the importance of the river as a community asset, increase community involvement in the river, and support conservation. “A healthy Waccamaw River that provides the community benefits of clean and flowing water, recreation and nature-based tourism will depend on the protection of this incredible resource” said Gerrit Jobsis, American Rivers’ Southeast Regional Director. The Waccamaw River is a signature natural feature of Horry and Georgetown Counties in South Carolina. The river provides multiple community benefits including scenic landscapes, diverse and significant fish and wildlife populations, drinking water supply, and recreation and it is an economic engine that serves this growing region. However, as a consequence of unchecked development many rural woodlands and agricultural areas are being paved over. Protecting the natural character of the surrounding watershed is essential for a healthy Waccamaw River.

Winter/Spring Repairs and Projects Add Comfort and Value to Your Home From general maintenance to a more complex remodeling project, Manna Custom Builders is a name you can trust to follow through from start to finish.

Many homeowners have general maintenance needs or project ideas, but are unsure of whom to call or trust. Manna Custom Builders understands this dilemma and wants to be the builder that you can trust to repair a door, remodel a kitchen, bath or add additional living space, according to your needs and desires. Traditionally, people begin to take action for their spring projects after the first of the year. During colder months, leading up to spring, ideas are flowing, goals are being set, and so the projects begin. Your home is more than just a shelter, it’s one of the greatest investments you will ever make, and to maintain repairs, remodel or add additional space, allows more comfort for you, the homeowner, and increases the value of the home as well. The demand for trusted services of home maintenance providers or high quality remodelers has been so great that many homeowners put off necessary repairs or projects. Manna Custom Builders started a maintenance division several years ago to meet the needs of the homeowner who is searching for a company they can trust to do repairs or projects, regardless of size, without being overcharged. They want homeowners to feel confident that when they call, they will receive prompt attention, quality service at a reasonable price, and someone who will be there for the lifetime of their home. Manna Custom Builders is competitive in their general maintenance pricing as well as remodels, additions and custom builds, and want to be the company that you call to get ready for spring, summer, fall or winter - anytime during the year! They have an on-site designer ready to draw your plans, small or large, and help you make the right decisions to see your “dream-project” come true. Their designer can use existing plans, provide options or help you create what you envision. As with any project, there are necessary steps to take before arriving at its completion. One step at a time, Manna Custom Builders will eliminate unnecessary worries and help you through the process by handling all the details and necessary steps of your project. Estimates are always free and Manna Custom Builders has a proven reputation of quality workmanship.

Call or stop by their office to see what they can do for you! For more information, please visit their website at

www.mannacustombuilders.com

“The blue trail project will help us to engage local citizens in the stewardship of their watershed,” said Waccamaw Riverkeeper, Christine Ellis, who serves as the local voice for the Waccamaw River. “This project is among our top priorities for the watershed because of the benefits for the community and for the long-term health of the river.” Jennie Williamson, the Executive Director of the Pee Dee Land Trust (PDLT) said, "This day in time, you can't just do nothing and expect natural areas to stay the same. As people look for more ways to protect the Waccamaw, PDLT can offer some of the tools that help take care of such a well-loved river." This blue trail is part of a larger effort and it will serve as an innovative model for how to bring people back to their rivers through recreation and work to protect and restore these valuable assets. American Rivers also recently launched an ambitious network of blue trails on the Congaree and Wateree rivers in South Carolina and have published the Blue Trails Guide (www.BlueTrailsGuide.org) to help other communities who are interested in developing blue trails. American Rivers is the leading national organization standing up for healthy rivers so communities can thrive. American Rivers protects and restores America’s rivers for the benefit of people, wildlife and nature. Founded in 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and supporters nationwide, with offices in Washington, DC and the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, California and Northwest regions. Visit www.AmericanRivers.org

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The Moveable Feast January & February 2009

This popular series of literary luncheons, each featuring an exciting author at different Waccamaw Neck restaurants, is held every Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fee is $25 and most feasts are followed by a signing at Litchfield Books at 2 p.m. Reservations are requested by the Wednesday prior to the feast by visiting the office inside The Chocolate & Coffee House in the Litchfield Exchange, online (www.classatpawleys.com) or by phone, 235-9600. Jan. 9 - John Thompson (Armageddon Conspiracy) at Rocco’s In this first novel, Uber-fundamentalist Christians frame the wrong man when they steal a billion dollars in a thriller set in the world of Wall Street finance. Framed for murders he didn’t commit and falsely accused of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars, Brent Lucas is alone and on the run. Wounded and fleeing from both the FBI and his would-be killers, Brent runs to Maggie DeVito, his ex-fiancée, a beautiful cop assigned to a federal anti-terrorism taskforce. Convincing her of his innocence, he must now survive long enough to prevent a strange alliance of Christian extremists and Muslim terrorists.

Jan. 16 - Ken Burger (Swallow Savannah) at Salt Creek Café This debut novel of longtime Post and Courier sports columnist Ken Burger, pivots on the character of Frank Finklea, a former Oklahoma oil field worker who comes to South Carolina in the 1950s with an opportunist’s instincts and a coal black heart. In Bluff County, where there was talk that the federal government was building the world’s biggest atomic bomb factory, Finklea would find his angle, one that would propel him out of the muck and into corridors of power. Just the sort of power that could be abused with impunity.

Jan. 23 - Frances Cheston Train (A Carolina Plantation Remembered) at Carefree Catering Train recalls the magic of summers spent at Friendfield Plantation in the 1930’s, golden days insulated from the hardships of the Depression and filled with innocence, kindness and uncomplicated fun. This tender, minutely observed and humorous memoir is packed with detailed descriptions of everyday life and the romance of bygone days in the Lowcountry.

Jan. 30 - Daniel J. Crooks Jr. (Lee in the Lowcountry: Defending Charleston & Savannah, 1861-1862) at Inlet Affairs Early in his career, General Lee applied himself to the challenge of defending the young Southern Republic and two of its key cities: Charleston and Savannah. Charleston historian Danny Crooks examines Lee’s first year serving the Confederacy, a year of confusion and convoluted loyalty. Using Lee’s own words and those of his contemporaries, the reader comes to understand why Lee, and only Lee, could bring order to the early chaos of the war.

Feb. 6 - Marjorie Wentworth (Shackles) at Rocco’s

Randy Gerber Steps Down as Cultural Council Leader After four years at the helm of the Cultural Council of Georgetown County, Randy Gerber has stepped down as the organization’s Executive Director. Gerber was named as Executive Director in 2004, after serving on the regional arts council’s board of directors. “Under Randy’s leadership, the Council experienced dynamic growth in programs and budget, said Acting Board Chair Barbara Passmore. “Additionally, Randy’s experience in the business world helped introduce financial systems and organizational processes that make the Council a much stronger organization.” Between 2004 and 2008, the Cultural Council’s budget grew from $80,000 a year to more than $200,000 a year. It added art classes for youth and adults; collaborated with area art organizations to create “Treasures of the Tidelands,” a spring arts fest; assumed responsibility for and expanded Pawleys Island Youth Arts, a music/arts scholarship program for area youth renamed “Young Treasures”; increased art grants to local artists; helped fund artist residencies in local schools; and successfully found funding for after-school arts programs at Teach Me People and at the Carvers Bay Library. “There’s a ‘right time’ for everything,” said Gerber. “In 2004, it was the right time for me to step up as Executive Director. Now the time is right for me to step back. We have a strong slate of officers for 2009, a talented staff, and dedicated volunteers. In particular, Barbara Passmore and her husband Laurie have dedicated countless hours to help build the Council. Board member and office volunteer Bari Heiden is the tireless institutional memory. And Administrator Sarah Collins, an arts management graduate of the College of Charleston, handles a broad range of responsibilities, including graphic design, Web site, Email newsletter and grant writing. And finally, the support of the former Council Chairman Billy Cave was invaluable when I stepped into the job in 2004. Without all these people, the Cultural Council would not have achieved what it has to date.” Gerber, who continued marketing consulting during his tenure at the Council, plans to expand those activities, while offering discounted grant writing services to local non-profits. Gerber will also continue working with the Cultural Council by assuming project management and lead instruction for the successful “Digital Arts & Life Program” at Carvers Bay Library. In 2009, the program will continue at the Carvers Bay Library, and will expand to an additional Georgetown County Library Site. Additional expansions are also planned in 2010 and 2011. While the Cultural Council conducts a search for a new Executive Director, Acting Chair Barbara Passmore will handle those duties.

What is the Cultural Council?

Based on a true story, Shackles describes what happens when a group of little boys search for buried treasure in their backyard on Sullivan’s Island, and dig up a bit of history — a set of shackles used centuries ago on slaves who were held on the island. This poignant story, written in lyric prose by South Carolina’s Poet Laureate, is beautifully illustrated by artist Leslie Darwin PrattThomas.

The Cultural Council of Georgetown County is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to helping the County's arts and cultural organizations reach more people, while helping people - especially youth -- find opportunities to experience arts and culture.. The Council administers the Artist-in-Residence Program in area schools, Young Treasures Scholarship Program, Treasures of the Tidelands Spring arts festival, and Art classes, among other efforts, as well as offering grants to artists and organizations.

Feb. 13 - Patricia Causey Nichols (Voices of Our Ancestors) at Austin’s

The Cultural Council is funded, in part, by Individual and Family memberships. Additional operating support comes from the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. Corporate-level patrons include Coastal Carolina University, Plantation Federal Bank, Time-Warner, and WebsterRogers LLC.

In Voices of Our Ancestors Nichols offers the first detailed linguistic history of South Carolina as she explores the contacts between distinctive language cultures in the colonial and early federal eras and studies the dialects that evolved even as English became paramount in the state. As language development reflects historical development, her work also serves as a new avenue of inquiry into SC’s social history from the epoch of Native American primacy to the present day.

The Cultural Council's Board of Directors includes Chair Barb Passmore, Treasurer Susan Butler, Secretary Bari Heiden, Ron Charlton, Barriedel Llorens, Bob Jewell, Thom Martin, Sandra Quinn, Patricia Shortt, Bill Sirmon, Peggy Stokes, and Julia Wilson.

Feb. 20 - Jim Harrison & Jerry Blackwelder (Pathways to a Southern Coast) at DeBordieu Beach Club In the inimitable Harrison style, this long-awaited reprinting includes oils, watercolors and pencil sketches of sand dunes, salt marshes, lighthouses, palmetto palms and fishing shacks ~ all hauntingly beautiful and capturing the peculiar beauty of the Southern coast. In accompanying text, Blackwelder explains how important the coast has been to the South, discussing its surrounding folklore and its traditions, its natural history and ecology, always returning to its natural beauty.

Feb. 27 - Charles Todd (A Matter of Justice) at Ocean One Todd’s 11th Inspector Ian Rutledge historical mystery takes place at the turn of the century, in a war far from England, where two soldiers chance upon an opportunity that will change their lives forever. To take advantage of it, they will be required to do the unthinkable, and then to put the past behind them. But not all memories are so short.

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Litchfield Exchange 14329 Ocean Hwy. (Highway 17) PO Box 2626, Pawleys Island, SC 29585 Office: 843.237.3035

www.CulturalCouncil.info

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