The Folly Current

PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID FOLLY BEACH, SC PERMIT NO 27

Folly Beach’s Newspaper

Vol. 1 Issue 16

Global warming and hurricanes: A love affair

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May 29, 2009 w FREE

Hurricane Season 2009

By Ali Akhyari

he southeast coast of the United States affords its residents luxuries which people from all over the world travel here to experience. The lush marshlands, the salty breeze and the unique ocean views are the idea of paradise for many. But all the benefits of coastal living come with a price. Hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and coastal residents are very aware of the Lowcountry’s potential for disaster as this date comes and goes. This is especially true in 2009 as we approach the 20 year anniversary of Hurricane Hugo. On the back drop of that disastrous storm, it has never been more imperative to be prepared for hurricane season; and part of being prepared is being aware. Every year, people turn to various sources for a hint of what to expect out of the Atlantic Ocean. William Gray, of Colorado State University, is one of the most popular and analyzed hurricane forecasters in the United States. Along with his protegé, Philip Klotzbach, he has spent many years analyzing data and developing models that are designed to reflect an understanding of tropical storm activity in the Atlantic Basin, the most inconsistent tropical storm corridor in the world. Fortunately, the odds seem to be in favor of an average hurricane season, as opposed to the above average year that was correctly predicted last year. According to Klotzbach and Gray, there is a 67% chance of one or more tropical storms hitting the East Coast of the U.S. this year. That is see Hurricanes on page 9

I N S I D E

Vacation rentals on page 3

Shaggers Holiday on page 8

Bluegrass birthday on page 12

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“T

o m e TheM

he Memo”. It sounds a bit like a B rated thriller wherein a mutant piece of paper terrorizes a small New England town one sleepy autumn night. The memo, though, will be the highly anticipated report which the City will receive from hired consultants with findings and suggestions for improving the traffic problems on Folly Beach, a result of their research, expertise, and teamwork with the community. The City hired Wilbur Smith & Associates (WSA) out of Raleigh, NC, to conduct the traffic study. “The final product will be a plan that the City can use as a guide for future capital investment and to apply for funding through a variety of sources,” Will Letchworth, WSA representative, says. They have already surveyed the island and discovered several problems, as well as possibilities, for improvement. “I have been impressed by the associates from WSA, and hope that the suggestions they give to help deal with the impact of visitors to the island will be well received and will help our quality of life,” Council member Laura Beck said. She and fellow Council member Dave Stormer are

May 29, 2009

City brakes for traffic By Ali Akhyari

“[Being] pedestrian friendly is the main focus of what we are trying to do,” Beck said. “We are also working hard to deal with the speeding cars on Folly.” Approximately 60 residents packed themselves into Father Kelly Hall at the Our Lady of Good Council building to express their grievances about traffic, offer suggestions and to hear what the City is planning to do about it during a May 11 public meeting with WSA. Letchworth stressed his desire to work with the residents in developing solutions and goals for the island. “The success or failure of this planning process will depend heavily on the information shared with us by the public,” Letchworth admits. “This project is off to a great start.” There was no shortage of ideas Staff Photo and complaints from the residents Concerned residents identify problem areas for who attended the meeting and traffic consultants on a large map of Folly Beach. Mr. Letchworth had to remind the audience several times that the heading up the City’s Traffic Committee, which will continue to discuss the issues and solutions.

Folly music scene

Planet Follywood Fridays and Saturdays - Dan Clamp Folly Beach Crab Shack Mondays - Live Local Music Tuesdays - Trivia Wednesdays - Dave Grunstra Thursdays - Island Duo Friday - Folly Dogs Saturdays - Live Local Music Surf Bar Sundays - Dangermuffin

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meeting would not end before everyone was heard, as gasps of exhaustion could be heard whenever a person was not called upon among the many raised hands. He was also forced to remind the group that their job is to develop strategies for traffic flow and pedestrian safety, as comments inevitably turned to keeping visitors off the island all together. The room erupted in applause whenever someone alluded to the nuisance of visitors and suggestions for keeping them away, even suggesting a $10 charge for anyone to cross the bridge onto Folly Beach. However, many well-intentioned residents brought some important issues to light for the consultants and gave suggestions for traffic control apart from installing a private gate at the end of Folly Road. With beach weather upon us, the focus of many residents was on ways to improve the congestion associated with the weekend summer traffic, though many year-round issues were discussed as well. “This is not a Center Street problem,” see Traffic on page 10 Center Street Kitchen Thursdays - Folly Beach Bluegrass Society BLU 5/30 Tropicools 5/31 2-5pm Graham Worely 9pm-12am Jeff Caldwell Vince Perna is a Folly Beach real estate expert who also loves music. If you want to know if you can live on Folly, you can find him at 31 Center Street or by calling 843-588-3800.

May 29, 2009

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civic

Crafting the future Folly Beach C o u n cil ta k e s o n v acatio n r e n tals

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veryone loves the beach. That fact is never more apparent than in these times when the temperature climbs as high as the midday summer sun, and the crowds flock to the islands for a bit of relief, relaxation and fun. As the Lowcountry’s barrier islands have become more accessible over the years, more visitors are taking advantage of the opportunity to share our slice of paradise. Sometimes it’s just for a day. Other times it might be a weekend or even longer. To accommodate overnight guests, many homes have been replaced by short-term vacation rentals and a unique dynamic has evolved as a result. As homes inhabited by long-term residents are replaced by short-term rentals, neighborhoods are being transformed and issues of ‘livability’ and ‘property rights’ are beginning to rear their heads. Some Folly Beach residents may recall the “Clarion Study”, which was an attempt to get professional feedback on how the City could approach their zoning laws more efficiently and deal with issues like short-term rentals. For about two years, the Planning Commission worked on the rewrites of the zoning laws. However, it was quickly noted by Council that shortterm rentals were basically left out of the new plan. Council member Charlie McCarty, who has also served on the Planning Commission, has led the charge to deal with short-term rentals since the Council received the new zoning rewrite a few months ago. McCarty has expressed his disappointment in the Planning Commission’s reluctance to address the issue and has encouraged Council to deal with it. “The Planning Commission has punted and we are the receiving team,” he told his fellow Council members at a recent workshop. “We owe these residents who live here full-time some protection. We promised it to them three years ago.” Aaron Pope, Assistant to the Folly Beach Building Official, worked with the Planning Commission on the rewrite and has been walking the City Council through each section. According to Pope, the Planning Commission was at a loss as to how to control short-term rentals since they are spread throughout the island. “The cat is out of the bag,” Laura Beck said. The only real attempt to deal with shortterm rentals was to treat all properties the same and limit the number of “events” a homeowner could host in order to avoid the complications that accompany large groups of people gathering at a property. However, the Mayor referred to this concept as “ludicrous” and the rest of Council thought this approach could infringe on a person’s constitutional freedom to assemble.

Staff report McCarty has pointed out several times Cronin, the City considered a point that it is not impossible to legislate short- system, in which properties would accrue term rentals and protect livability. There points for violations. Instead, they adopted an ordinance that allows are ways, he says, to livability officer to write laws that do not “It is not impossible their cite a property owner/ necessarily impact manager if police feel that well-intentioned legislate short- there have been repeated residents, but will catch to violations. The citation problem properties at rentals and brings them before the the same time. The term livability judge who can Isle of Palms, he says, protect livability.” revoke their business is an example. license. This encourages About two years property owners and/or managers to be ago, the Isle of Palms City Council was more mindful of who is allowed to rent going through the same livability issues as their homes. residents began to come together, asking “Last year we had one property owner the City to do something about the shortterm rentals that were destroying their cited and two others notified that a neighborhoods with noise, trash, and citation would follow the next violation,” overflowing parking. The Isle of Palms Cronin says. “Those properties had no adjusted their building codes to try and more violations last year.” control the size and number of bedrooms “The ordinances, the Livability officer a building could have. and the Court have worked well. We look “Our livability ordinances detail, for for civil behavior and respect for neighbors rental properties, the allowed overnight from everyone who lives [in] or visits the occupancy, max anytime occupancy, and City. We communicate this [extensively] overnight parking, as well as other rental to property management firms and rental requirements for postings and licensing,” property owners,” says Cronin. Isle of Palms Mayor Dick Cronin says. The City of Isle of Palms was only able In addition, they have created a to tackle the problem once they identified “livability court” which deals specifically their goal of wanting to accept visitors, with the issues legislated in their livability while simultaneously protecting the ordinances. The court has its own judge residential nature of the island. There can and a full-time livability officer who be no plan without a goal. investigates complaints. While the court The Folly Beach City Council seemed might hear appeals from property owners to be working toward ways of controlling who are accused of a violation, it also short-term rentals without impeding deals with other livability issues such as see Rentals on page 5 underage drinking. According to Mayor

 PetsPetofHelpers the Week Gulliver



Merlin

You will never see such a handsome big boy in your life, until you lay your eyes on me!  I’m a West Ashley stray…about 5 years old and as cool and low key as they come.  I adore being pet and love the kitty treats, as you can tell by my size in my photo!  I am absolutely huge and a lover of life. Come get me and show me to your kitchen!!

I’m an extremely spunky big guy who loves to play and really digs toys! I like balls, ropes, squeakies and rawhide and love to be entertained! I was rescued off the streets of Folly Beach and am dying to go home with you today. I’m fairly young and ready for my free training classes offered here with my adoption. Just look for the handsome big guy with the huge heart waiting for love!

Pet Helpers is located at 1447 Folly Road, James Island. Hours: Mon – Fri from 11am – 6pm and Sat from 11am - 5pm. Closed: Sundays and Holidays. For more information, please call 843-795-1110.

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Lynn Pierotti Publisher [email protected] Ali Akhyari Editor [email protected] Kristin Hackler Managing Editor [email protected] Swan Richards Graphic Designer [email protected] Brittany Urbach Reporter [email protected] Richard Brendel Advertising 843-478-0896 [email protected] Interns Jennifer Millar Bridget Hinkebein Bri Horahan Ashley Anderson • Contributors David Farrow Daniel Culpepper Vince Perna Published by Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS Future deadlines: June 3 for submissions. The Folly Current, 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 Folly Beach. 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 Folly Beach market. Complete ad creation is $50, however, changes of up to 30% of the original ad are included at no extra cost. All advertising rates are listed at www. islandeyenews.com under “advertising”.

Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC

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

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May 29, 2009

Do you know your Charleston

An informal Tea By David Farrow

Island Editorials

I had occasion to go to the First Flush Tea Festival at the Charleston Tea Plantation a couple of Saturdays ago. It was out on Wadmalaw Island, not far from Rockville. As my friend John Trott, whose father lives a stone’s throw from the property, reminded me, the plantation was started as an experiment by the Lipton Company back in the 60s. I want to congratulate the PR departments of “The Bridge” at 105.5 and the tea plantation. The event was a family affair, replete with funnel cakes, and attracted thousands of people with young families, as well as senior citizens, out to a great concert on a perfect May afternoon. I went by myself. I sat under a sprawling live oak, its tendrils draping the ground which was splashed with shafts of sunlight, and enjoyed some iced tea and tomato pie, grooved on the music and watched thousands of people parade in front of me. It was an incredible cross-section of Lowcountry humanity, from toddlers to people on walkers, and all races passing by. There was a young girl with green hair and darned attractive nose rings dressed in a manner that one hoped her mother knew nothing about, to women in their 60s, walking erect and proud with a confidence borne only by living life head on. Lawyers and executives dressed casually in polo shirts and khaki shorts, hippies in jeans and old men with their pants up around their sternums shuffled along. There were an inordinate amount of young parents who knew nothing of the recession. On the whole there was money; not scads of money, but these people were either keeping up with their bills or on their appearances. What struck me the most, though, was that I didn’t know a single one of them. Who on earth were these people? I reflected back some 30 years when I went to the Spoleto finale at Middleton Place. That also attracted quite an eclectic crowd and was certainly a high point of my year. The thing is that even though there were thousands there, you could always find a couple of hundred people with whom you had at least a nodding acquaintance. Not so here. There wasn’t even a faint glimmer of recognition as the procession moved

on. Finally, I heard a voice call my name, and I discovered my friend John Trott right behind me. I sat with him and his neighbors, one of whom I vaguely knew, and had a perfectly grand afternoon. Trott was as puzzled and amazed as I at the fact that we didn’t know anyone. I’ve known John for almost 50 years (that’s a little scary) and between us, I would say we have at least a few thousand people with whom we could strike up a conversation. We were bemused. There were a lot of factors: our age, the influx of population, etc., but one thing struck me in the midst of our ruminations under the oaks. The children in strollers will see a totally different world 50 years from now. Not only will every vestige of the Old South be obliterated, but I suspect the New South will be a memory as well. Half a century from now, I have serious doubts that we will be celebrating Confederate Memorial Day or Carolina Day on the Battery, despite the best efforts of my contemporaries. There simply won’t be enough people to care. Those two Charleston holidays – one signifying great victory, the other ignominious defeat – will be replaced by other more relevant occasions celebrating other victories. The events leading up to the commemorations will not even be mentioned in the history books. It didn’t matter that grand afternoon. Given the events unfurling in all of our lives, I suspect it soon might, but as John and I stood eating boiled peanuts and laughing, there were enough distractions to not think about the “uncertain” future (when on earth was it ever certain?). Reality was Shawn Mullins, iced tea, laughs with an old friend and a sterling afternoon in May. Sometimes, that’s as good as it gets. Want to read more? Visit David Farrow’s blog at davidfarrow.wordpress.com.

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Correction L a u r a B e c k n ot i n v ol v e d w it h S u n & s k i

In our May 15 edition of The Folly Current, we incorrectly stated that Council member Laura Beck was involved with the “Sun & Ski” rental company who received a variance on the new Franchise Ordinance at a recent City Council meeting. However, Ms. Beck is NOT involved with Sun & Ski. She is a member of the SunCart Rentals LLC, which is not involved with the front beach, Franchise Argreements and was not at all involved with the story written about in the City Council report from our May 15 edition. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.

Letters to the Editor Dear editor: While on our recent trip to Folly, I picked up a copy of The Folly Current. I read the article concerning the City Council meeting and had to throw in my two cents. We have been coming to Folly for longer than I can remember. We now have a three year old son and Folly gives us the ultimate in family fun. I was shocked to see the “Myrtle Beach” atmosphere this year. I know that as a tourist, we contribute to the problem, but we are very mindful of the Island and its charms. We do not go to Myrtle for any reason. The crowds, noise and pollution are just some of the reasons. When we returned to our room and heard the music from the pier, I commented, “I did not know we were in Myrtle Beach, this sucks.” Please, enjoy the tourism industry, make use of the money it brings in, but keep Folly true to its nature: a place where a family can have fun without the hassle of Myrtle Beach. Sincerely, Ryan Hand and family Simpsonville, SC

Send your letters to the editor to: [email protected]

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May 29, 2009

Hook, line, and stinkers Kids catc h i n g s u m m e r f e v e r Provided by Daniel Culpepper

In the hope of getting the 2009 summer off to a good start for the local youth, kids 16 and under are invited to a free day of fishing at the Folly Beach Pier on June 6. The Folly Beach Anglers Fishing Club and the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Department are teaming up to sponsor a free day of fishing as well as a tournament at the Pier for local kids in recognition of their first Saturday out of school. Don’t worry if you or your child is inexperienced! Plenty of volunteers will be available to help you catch fish. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish in each of the following categories:

Girls 12 and under, Boys 12 and under, Girls 13-16 and Boys 13-16. Fishing rods will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own if they have them as supplies will be limited. Don’t miss this opportunity to toss a line in the water, have some fun and spend some quality time at the beach at no cost. For more information, contact Daniel Culpepper at [email protected]

Rentals from page 3 anyone’s right to use their property while, at the same time, protecting the residents who live on the island throughout the year. The City will continue to address these issues in the coming months as they work through the new zoning codes. Residents are encouraged to come to City Council meetings and let their representatives know their ideas on the future of Folly Beach.

www.follycurrent.sc

May 29, 2009

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Folly Curren

May 29 Friday, May 29

Wednesday, June 3

Folly Moonlight Mixer From 7pm – 11pm, local DJ Rob Duren will spin the hottest oldies and beach music around.  Advance tickets are $10 and $8 for Charleston County residents.  If available, tickets purchased on-site are $10.  Only 600 tickets will be sold for this event.  No refunds or exchanges.  Call 795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com for more information and additional Mixer dates.

Book Signing & wine and cheese reception “Do Old Dogs Dream,” Author Harold J. Creel, Jr. will be signing books at Pet Helpers from 7pm – 9pm. Pet Helpers, 1447 Folly Road, James Island All evening proceeds benefit the rescue and care of Pet Helper’s senior canines. The Grey Muzzle Foundation, a national organization, will be on hand to share information on the care of senior dogs.

Saturday, May 30 Folly Beach Wahine Classic May 30-31 – High tide 2pm. See their ad on page 2. For more info, call Nancy Hussey at 343-4047 or email  [email protected]. Barefoot Beach Sweep Surfrider Foundation and Charleston Waterkeeper are continuing the Rise Above Plastics Campaign by teaming up with Barefoot Wine to sweep Folly Beach, and we need your help!  Check-in will be under the Folly Pier at 3pm.  At 5:30pm, all participants are invited to attend the afterparty.  If interested, go to www. charlestonwaterkeeper.org for early registration for the sweep. Folly Beach Exchange Club Fish Fry The Exchange Club will be hosting a Fish Fry at the Folly River Park located at 80 Center Street. Tickets will be $11 for fried catfish, hush puppies and two sides and will be available throughout the month from Exchange Club members, as well as at the event.

Sunday, May 31 Male cat Neuter-a-thon Pet Helpers Spay & Neuter Clinic, 1447 Folly Road, James Island. Cost is $11 per cat. By appointment only. For more info and to make an appointment, please call 302-0556.

www.follycurrent.sc

Folly Beach Utility Advisory Board meeting The Utility Advisory Board (UAB) meets the first Thursday of the month at 5pm. Please call before attending to verify that the UAB will be meeting this month. For more info, call Belle Condon, Deputy Director of Utilities, at 588-2447 ext 1833 or email Bcondon@ cityoffollybeach.com. Body, Mind & Spirit for Dogs and their People Dogs of all breeds – and their well behaved people - are invited to attend a special Wild Heir Labrador Rescue (WHLR) benefit from 6 to 9pm at Fetch Doggy Day Care at 1990 Ashley River Road in West Ashley. All proceeds from the evening will go towards surgery costs for Callie. For further info, visit www.wildheirlabradorrescue.org. After Work Sea Kayak Tours: Folly River Float Relieve the stress and unwind from a hectic day with a relaxing kayak trip to watch the sunset and the moonrise behind Folly Island.  Bring along a friend from the office, but leave work behind!  Pre-registration required. Ages 16 & up. Fee: $36/$30 CCR Discount. 5:30pm8:30pm.

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May 29, 2009

nt Calendar

- June 12 Friday, June 5 Folly Summer Celebration Series: Arts, Crafts & Music Held on the first Saturday of the month from June – September, the Folly Summer Celebration Series will be held at Folly River Park from 11am – 7pm. This month’s feature is Shrimp City Slim, who will be performing at the pavilion from 2pm – 5pm. Admission is free! Leslie McCravy 5K Run to Benefit Pet Helpers Come out for a morning run to help raise money for Pet Helpers in memory of Leslie McCravy. Start and finish by the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier, Folly Beach; race begins at 8am. Cost: Early - $25 through June 1 includes t-shirt. Late - $30 after June 1st includes t-shirt while supplies last. Register at www.pethelpers.org or www.active.com Amateur and Pro Disc Golf Tournament at Trophy Lakes Carolina Watersports at Trophy Lakes on Johns Island will be hosting an all day Amateur and Pro Disc Golf Tournament, open to the public. 3050 Marlin Road, Johns Island. For more info, call Matt   at 559-2520 or email  Matt@ CarolinaWatersports.com. Trident Literacy 1st annual Ride-A-Thon This motorcycle charity run’s goal is to raise $20,000 to support literacy. The event begins and ends at 205 Goose Creek Boulevard, Creekside Square Shopping Center. Bikers will leave at 12pm and return by 3pm. Cost to register is $15 per bike, and $5 per passenger. Riders may get more information and register online at www.tridentlit.org, or call 747-2223.

Sunday, June 7

tricountysurvivors.org or by calling 873-9929.

14th Annual Sea Island Habitat for Humanity Golf Benefit This event is all about fun with a shotgun start, putting contest, hole-in-one challenge and great prizes! Come build a house with a golf club at the beautiful Osprey Point Golf Course. Contact Christa Lewis at 843-768-0998 x 111 or [email protected] for more details! 11am @ Osprey Point Golf Course, Kiawah Island. James Island Farmers and Crafters Market Selling local produce, bakery items, jams, jellies, ciders, boiled peanuts, fresh herbs, jewelry, photography, pottery, and clothing with live music on the deck. First and Third Sunday of every month, 11am to 3pm at The Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy. 571-4343, www.charlestonpourhouse.com.

Tuesday, June 9 Folly Beach City Council The Folly Beach City Council meets second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm. www. cityoffollybeach.com. Folly Beach City Hall, 21 Center St., (Folly Beach), (843) 588-2447.

Friday, June 12 Moonlight Mixer Dance the night away under the stars at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier.  From 7pm – 11pm, local DJ Rob Duren will spin the hottest oldies and beach music around.  Beverages and food will be available for purchase. Advance tickets are $10 and $8 for Charleston County residents.  If available, tickets purchased on-site are $10.  Call 795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com.

4th annual Tricounty Cancer Survivors event At the Charleston Elk Lodge off Cosgrove Avenue. Please register online atwww.

www.follycurrent.sc

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May 29, 2009

photos by Bonne Isenhour

The Islanders Shag Club’s annual Shaggers Holiday started at 6pm on Friday night with music by Mr. Jim Bowers. The party continued on Saturday with hot dogs with all the fixin’s and Pat & Lamars famous PJ. Man, was that stuff GOOD. The party continued all day with lots of fun, food & of course shagging. The highlight of the party was the annual Ms. Shaggers Holiday Contest where the male members of the club dress in their best

www.follycurrent.sc

women’s apparel. After some hard decisions by our judges a new queen, Lamar Hardy was chosen. After which Ms. Betty Brown spun the tunes well into the night. The event was blast for everyone. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Islanders Shag Club you visit www. islandersshagclub.com for an application, You don’t even know how to shag...we can teach you!

May 29, 2009 Hurricanes from cover up 17% from last year. Gray says there is a 60% chance of at least one category 1-2 hurricane making landfall (up 16% from last year) and a 45% of at least one category 3-5 hurricane making landfall (up 14% from last year). Last year, there were six major storms while Gray predicted nine. Despite the great amount of research and analysis Gray introduces into his predictions, even he says that it is impossible to accurately predict with any certainty what the Atlantic has in store for us this early in the season. However, statistics do not lie and the numbers show a huge decrease in major hurricanes (category 3, 4, or 5) making landfall in the eastern United States over the last 43 years, compared to the previous 43 years. From 1923 to 1965, there were 24 major hurricanes to hit versus just 7 from 1966 to 2008. This phenomenon has many people asking “why”. The most popular theories have pointed to global warming. Famous personalities like Al Gore have paraded the theory in front of the public and shown that an increase in tropical storms and hurricanes is exactly what many scientists predict will happen in conjunction with global warming. Hurricanes get their massive amounts of power from warm tropical waters. So it stands to reason that warmer water equals more fuel for hurricanes. Mark Saunders, professor of climate prediction at the University College London, recently published his research in the journal Nature which suggests a correlation between increased water temperature and increased hurricane activity. This explains why 2005 was a record breaking year for hurricanes and why 2007 saw relatively few. Saunders’ study focused on a band of water from around Puerto Rico and Northern South America to the coast of Africa where Atlantic hurricanes are born. His study suggests that with every one degree Fahrenheit increase in water temperature, hurricane activity will increase about 50 percent. In 2005, the average water temperature in this region was 1.4 degrees higher than normal. That year there was a total of 28 named storms and 13 hurricanes. However, in 1971, when water temperatures were the coolest they have been in recorded history, there were only 13 named storms and six hurricanes. While Saunders’ study focused solely on water temperature correlations, he admits that changes in wind patterns actually have a larger impact on hurricane activity than water temperature. A recent study conducted by the federal government uses this last fact to suggest that global warming may actually decrease the number of hurricanes we see. Wind shear, a change in wind speed or direction, is a crucial factor in the development of hurricanes, which is why El Nino and La Nina shifts are so closely watched during hurricane season. Shifts between El Nino and La Nina change wind shear over the

9 Atlantic. Increased wind shear disrupts hurricane formation, resulting in fewer hurricanes. Chunzai Wang, a research oceanographer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), states that an increase of one degree Celsius in water temperatures in the Indian and Pacific Oceans increases wind shear by up to 10mph in the Atlantic. Wang’s study was based on observations and records of landfall hurricanes instead of computer models. However, critics say Wang used poor data that was rejected by the Nobel Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Furthermore, he only studied hurricanes that make landfall in the U.S., which can be as few as 10 percent of all Atlantic hurricanes. That panel has already stated that man-made global warming has likely already increased hurricane activity. However, Klotzbach says that global hurricane activity has not increased at all over the past 30 years in relation to warmer ocean temperatures. He says that the only area where hurricane activity really fluctuates is in the Atlantic, which he attributes to the multi-decadal increase in the Atlantic Ocean thermohaline circulation (THC). Ocean salinity, not global warming, is what drives this mechanism, according to Klotzbach. According to their data, the number of major hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean was only about 1/3 as many from 1970 to 1994 as they were from 1945 to 1969, when the earth was actually experiencing a small cooling cycle and the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were significantly lower. He suggests that increased hurricane activity in the Atlantic is a cyclical event. When comparing the recent increased activity since 1994 to activity from 1950-1964, the numbers are basically the same, although water temperatures (and fashions) were cooler in the 50s and 60s. Researchers on both sides of the global warming fence use different sets of data and details to support their arguments. As the debate continues, it is apparent that the relationship between hurricane activity and global warming is too poorly understood to make a firm conclusion. In the meantime, Mother Nature is content with continuing her work behind a few shrouds of mystery. Regardless of what prediction or theory you choose to follow, one thing is certain: The South Carolina Lowcountry is right in the line of fire for Atlantic hurricanes. It is important to be prepared. For a wealth of emergency information, visit www.charlestoncounty. org. Click on “Departments”, then “Law Enforcement/Public Safety” to find information on emergency management and preparedness. Also, check out the www.scprepares.org website for emergency number lists, emergency kit preparation, tips on handling pets, as well as methods for dealing with disasters from tornadoes to biological emergencies. Detailed information on Klotzbach and Gray’s predictions can be viewed at http:// hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/

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A green innovation

ll of us use energy every day: for transportation, cooking, heating and cooling rooms, manufacturing, lighting, and entertainment, just to start. The choices we make about how we use energy impacts our environment and our lives. Did you know that the United States alone uses an average of one million dollars worth of energy each minute, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? We make up less than five percent of the world’s population, yet we manage to consume nearly one fourth of the world’s energy. The average American consumes six times more energy than the world average. There are many things we can do to use less energy and use it more wisely. Two main ways to save energy are energy conservation and energy efficiency. Many people think these terms mean the same thing, but Have you ever seen a water heater like they are different. Energy conservation is this? This is an example of a tankless any behavior that results in the use of less water heater; one of several items energy. Turning the lights off when you Innovative Creations can install for leave the room and recycling aluminum homeowners who want to save money cans are both ways of conserving energy. and the environment. Energy efficiency is the use of technology that requires less energy to perform the same function. A compact fluorescent light bulb that uses less energy than an incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of light is an example of energy efficiency. The decision to replace an incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent is an example of energy conservation. With the new stimulus bill recently passed, there has never been a better time see Green on page 11

Name that ’cane 2009 There are six lists of names that rotate every year for naming hurricanes. Names are typically removed from the lists each year as the names of significant storms are retired, like Hazel (1954), Fifi (1974), Hugo (1989), Andrew (1992) and Katrina (2005). Three names were retired from the 2008 Atlantic season. Hurricanes Gustav, Ike and Paloma will be replaced by Gonzalo, Isaias and Paulette and will be in rotation in 2014. Gustav first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Haiti before striking Cuba as a Category 4 and finishing up in Louisiana as a Category 2. Gustav was responsible for 112 lives, mostly in Haiti, and causing $4 billion worth of damage in Louisiana. Hurricane Ike struck the Turks and Caicos Islands and Great Inagua Island in the Southeastern Bahamas on September 7 as a Category 4, before hitting Cuba followed by Galveston, Texas, as a Category 2. Ike killed over 80 people and caused an estimated $19.3 billion in damage. Since tropical cyclones were first named in 1953, 70 names have been retired, the first two being Carol and Hazel in 1954. Paloma was the second strongest November hurricane on record, reaching Category 4 status before hitting Cuba and destroying an estimated 1400 homes and causing $300 million in damage. The naming of hurricanes has been traced back to a tradition in the West Indies that is still practiced today, where storms were named for the Catholic Saint’s Day on which they landed. For example, hurricane San Filipe struck Puerto Rico on September 13, 1876. When another storm struck exactly fifty years later, the storm was christened San Filipe the Second. Hurricanes are named alphabetically, although the letters “Q” and “U” are always left out and the lists only go to “W”. If the list is used up for the year and storms are still forming, the storms are then named alphabetically from the Greek alphabet, Alpha to Omega.

2009 Storm Names Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fred

www.follycurrent.sc

Grace Henri Ida Joaquin Kate Larry

Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam

Teresa Victor Wanda

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May 2- A Blackberry and Sidekick cell phone were stolen from a woman’s pants pocket while she was swimming in the ocean. She discovered the theft when she returned from the water. May 6- A 24 year-old woman was enjoying herself by jumping off the docks at the Turn of the River condos. However, the fun was cut short when police were called. She was observed to be having trouble standing without the aid of a nearby fence. With the belief that she was doing nothing wrong, she admitted to drinking, being intoxicated, and jumping off the dock. She was then arrested for disorderly conduct. May 8- During a routine traffic stop, a woman in the rear of the vehicle was seen holding an open container of Budweiser beer. She was cited for having an open container. May 9- Officers responded to 97 Center Street at 2:04am in reference to a man possibly beating up his wife or girlfriend. Upon arrival, the subjects were coming out of the marsh covered in blood. Both subjects stated that neither one had hit the other, and that the blood was the result of the man breaking the passenger side window causing cuts on their hands and face. Neither claimed to remember Traffic from page 2 Letchworth noted. “It’s a Folly Beach problem.” He has identified four main issues so far in his research and communication with residents. Summer/weekend traffic, poor parking practices by visitors, long and straight roadways that encourage speeding and inadequate roadways that cannot accommodate parking, pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicular traffic. “The need to discourage speed by vehicle drivers is essential,” Stormer says. “Drivers are not aware that the cross streets have minimal sight distance for those drivers attempting to cross or enter the main thoroughfare.”

May 29, 2009

Police Reports

what they were even arguing about. They appeared intoxicated and were treated by EMS before being arrested for disorderly conduct.

May 10- A man was assaulted while walking down the beach with a friend. The assailant approached the two men in an agitated state. He left, but returned and punched the victim on the left side of his face twice, knocking him down and breaking the man’s cheek bone, which will require surgery. May 14- Two individuals entered a store and ran out with four boxes of Franzia wine. One box was dropped and returned to the store. Video surveillance showed the two men being dropped off in a white Mercedes station wagon. Neither the vehicle nor the suspects could be located. Officers were able to get a detailed description of the suspects from the video. The value of the stolen wine was $45. May 15- A man’s checkbook was stolen after letting a drunken female acquaintance into his apartment. She arrived at 3am and left around noon. However, she returned a few hours later, again in an intoxicated state. On May 16, the victim received a call from his bank stating that the woman was refused service when she tried to cash a check for $1250 on his account, which is Better signage which would properly direct visitors to different parts of the island was one suggestion which would help traffic flow more efficiently on Folly Beach, according to Letchworth. He also pointed out that the current public right-of-ways are underutilized, uncared for, and are often blocked. Making these areas more appealing for parking and directing traffic to these areas is another way Letchworth says traffic congestion could be eased. Mayor Carl Beckmann has stated that there is enough parking for everyone who comes to Folly Beach if the right-of-ways are considered. Making Center Street two lanes in order to utilize the outside lanes for angled parking and wider sidewalks was another idea which

when he called police.

May 15- Two fire trucks, two police cars, and an ATV towing a jet ski responded to the pier around 3:30pm where a 20 year old man jumped off the structure. Witnesses pointed to the man as he was swimming to shore. An officer approached the man and showed him all the people who had to respond to his dangerous stunt. He argued that he didn’t see a sign saying he couldn’t, at which point the officer showed him the sign. The man had no identification but stated he was from Georgia, but living in Alaska. He was arrested for disorderly conduct. May 15- Officers responded to a fight between two males at 6:50pm in the pier area of Arctic Avenue. When officers arrived, one of the subjects began to walk away. When asked to stop, he began to run. The officer gave chase and the subject continued running after being told to stop again. The officer caught up to the subject at 201 East Arctic after he stopped and threw his hands up in exhaustion. He smelled “heavily of gross alcohol cosumption”, was slurring his speech and was visibly agitated. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and failing to stop for police. He was also discovered to have several unpaid tickets for which he was also charged. The other subject involved could ease congestion and encourage safety year-round. Traffic circles, speed humps, stop signs and traffic lights were a few of the ideas that were tossed around to help residents and visitors maneuver the streets of Folly Beach more safely and efficiently. While many of the suggestions for improvements could make maneuvering Folly Beach much easier and safer for pedestrians, it could also help the business community, Stormer says. “Another reason for placing the pedestrian first is to make Center Street pedestrian friendly and encourage stopping and shopping at the businesses,” he says. “Currently, Center Street is vehicle

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in the fight did not seem intoxicated and did not seem to be the aggressor. May 16- An individual was robbed by a hotel employee as they walked across the Folly Beach Holiday Inn parking lot. The victim was carrying $200 cash in his hand when the employee simply grabbed the money and ran. The victim gave chase, but the suspect was too fast. Other employees also tried to help, but could not catch him. The employee was identified by staff and police were given the suspect’s information. May 16- An apartment resident called police and demanded that his downstairs neighbor be arrested, reporting that the neighbor had threatened him with a hammer after he had asked the neighbor to stop making noise at 9pm. The suspect stated that he was installing a door lock given to him by the landlord inside of his apartment when the complainant began yelling for him to stop. He said the complainant then entered his apartment at which point he forced the man out of his home, pushed him against the wall, and told him to leave him alone. Both men were told to stay inside of their respective apartments and to leave the other alone.

oriented with four lanes of traffic and minimal sidewalk capacity. We believe that encouraging pedestrian safety will increase pedestrian activity.” Letchworth stated that the Wilbur Smith plan would consist of short-term, as well as long-term, strategies. Shortterm strategies are ideas which could be implemented to impact traffic and safety in the next year or two. Using traffic control officers on Center Street and Ashley Avenue during peak traffic times is critical to the short-term strategies, as well as the use of additional signage and speed enforcement, Letchworth says. The longterm strategies would be plans that might require more financial investment and construction and could feasibly become realities in the next five to ten years. “It will be up to Council to find the funding in the budget or through available grants,” Beck stated. Letchworth expects to be back on Folly Beach in June to see what a busy Saturday is like. If all goes according to plan, they hope to have a draft report to the City sometime in August of this year. Residents are encouraged to contact Mr. Letchworth with any suggestions, concerns, or comments. Will Letchworth can be called at 919-755-0583, faxed at 919-832-8798 and e-mailed at [email protected]. You can also reach him through regular mail at: Wilbur Smith Associates 421 Fayetville Street, Suite 1303 Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

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May 29, 2009 Green from page 9 to make energy efficient improvements to your home or business. The government will pay back 30 percent of the cost of these improvements through tax credits. People should also realize that now is the time to invest in building improvements, especially green improvements. One day, many of these new technologies will be required by our government if we wish to eliminate the burden we bring upon our environment. Innovative Creations Ltd. is a new company in the Charleston area that focuses on helping home and business owners cut their energy consumption in half through educating and providing the proper tools to achieve maximum energy efficiency. Every product that the company sells and installs has a payback period of five years or less. This means that the money you save in energy costs will equal the amount spent on the improvements in no more than five years. They provide top quality products such as ComfortGuard radiant barrier insulation, which shields the building from radiant heat and in turn cuts the A/C run time in half and increases the comfort of the building. Another product the company provides is an energy management system which recycles and reuses wasted electricity drawn from the building’s motors. In addition, this system serves as a surge protector for the entire building. The company considers these, along with tankless water heaters which they supply as well, the three best energy saving products on the market today. Innovative Creations Ltd. also provides many more energy saving products, but it doesn’t just stop there. They also provide solar panels and wind turbines so that you can go off the grid and power your own homes and businesses yourself. In

fact, renewable energy is a 55 percent tax credit from the government on the whole system! You pay less than half the cost, which allows your payback on the system to be much faster. The point is, we have the technology and the knowledge to cut our energy usage in half, saving our planet as well as our cash. There is no reason why anyone should

not have a specialist visit their home or business in order to help them cut energy usage. Innovative Creations Ltd. will send a Solution Specialist to your home, free of charge, to develop your custom home Energy Conservation/Efficiency

Plan. To schedule an appointment with one of these Solution Specialists or for information on the products and services provided by Innovative Creations Ltd. visit InnovativeCreationsLtd.com, or you can contact Zach Bennett at 364-7664 or [email protected].

Folly Beach Tide Chart

www.follycurrent.sc

Date

High Tide

Low Tide

May 29 May 30 May 31 June 1 June 2 June 3 June 4 June 5 June 6 June 7 June 8 June 9 June 10 June 11

12:18am/12:58pm 1:15am/2:00pm 2:12am/3:01pm 3:08am/3:59pm 4:02am/4:54pm 4:55am/5:45pm 5:46am/6:33pm 6:34am/7:18pm 7:20am/8:01pm 8:04am/8:42pm 8:47am/9:22pm 9:28am/10:01pm 10:09am/10:39pm 10:49am/11:15pm

6:38am/6:50pm 7:34am/7:53pm 8:29am/8:57pm 9:24am/10:00pm 10:16am/10:59pm 11:07am/11:54pm 11:55am 12:45am/12:40pm 1:32am/1:24pm 2:16am/2:05pm 2:58am/2:45pm 3:38am/3:23pm 4:16am/4:01pm 4:54am/4:39pm

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T

he air is humid, but a calm onshore breeze sneaks onto the back deck of the Center Street Kitchen and keeps this particular Thursday evening comfortable. Slowly the regulars begin to shuffle in. More will follow. They bring in velvet-lined cases which contain their particular instrument of expertise and are warmly greeted with a smile by a short, gray haired fellow in a floral print, button-up shirt; a man who’s quick to laugh and light up a cigarette. He’s been setting up the microphones and making sure the bar tab is ready. His name is Jaime McDonnel and he’s been an integral part of the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society since day one. He’s also one of the few that didn’t bring a case. McDonnel, who graduated from USC with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, plays the washtub bass. The washtub bass, McDonnel says, is an original bluegrass instrument. It is, literally, an old metal washtub turned upside with a long pole coming out of the middle with a wooden arm attached near the top that holds the thick, single string from which the music flows. It’s got a crack in it that has been welded closed and McDonnel refuses to get a new one. His embrace of the aged instrument is an embodiment of the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society and acts as the perfect, subconscious symbol for the Society’s existence. Bluegrass, according to McDonell, is rooted in Celtic and Gospel music. There is also an association with poverty and the washtub bass is an example of how music thrives no matter what the circumstances. It is an essential and intertwined part of the human spirit.

May 29, 2009

By Ali Akhyari

staff photo

Participants of the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society get things started while others wait their turn.

In May, the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society celebrated their seven year anniversary. The original idea belonged to Jamie Wilson, a mandolin player. She put up some flyers around the island, looking for musicians who wanted to play. McDonell was one of two people who originally showed up to share his love of bluegrass. For seven years now, he’s consistently shown up and played his washtub with anybody else who wants to jam. The society, he says, is constantly evolving. Like nomads, they have never stayed in one place for too long. By design or by surprise, they’ve moved from the Holiday Inn, to Bowen’s Island, to the Crab Shack and several other Folly locales. They play for free drinks in exchange for entertaining visitors in whatever establishment they happen to be in. But more than that much more than that - they play for the love of music. “It’s not about any one person,” McDonell says. “It’s

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about the music.” Currently, they’ve made a home at the Center Street Kitchen. As many as twenty people will show up on any given night. Some are individuals, others are part of a group. They range from a 10 year old girl named Jenna who blows everyone away with her voice and talent on the fiddle, to musicians in their 80s who can still show ‘em how it’s done. Some musicians are amateurs, others are well known in the field. They all wait their turn to rotate onto the stage while enjoying being a part of a living, breathing bluegrass animal. “You never know from one week to the next who’s going to walk through that door,” McDonell says. The Folly Beach Bluegrass Society is the longest running show of its kind in the area. In addition to their regular ‘happenings’, they are hired to play events and parties as a collective. But currently, you’ll be able to catch them on Thursday evenings on the deck of The Center Street Kitchen. There’s nothing like musicians putting some life into the breath of the ocean on a warm summer night , transferring the sound from one soul to another as it’s poured onto the nearby streets of Folly Beach. Whether you want to listen to some eclectic bluegrass over some classic southern cooking and a cocktail or you want to participate, do yourself a favor and experience the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society. But if you’re in the latter group, Jaime McDonell has at least one thing to say, “If you’re picking, I’m buying your beer”. Visit the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society on myspace at: www.myspace.com/follybeachbluegrasssociety