the island connection - april 22, 2016

8/18/2019 The Island Connection - April 22, 2016

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P RE S ORT S T A NDA RD

U S P O S T A GE P A I D

C HA RL E S T O N S C

P E RMI T N O 4 3 7

P O S T A L P A T R O N

San Luca Hits The SpotPage 7

ume 10 Issue 1 April 22, 2016FREE

SINCE MAY 2007

Charitable TennisPage 9

Gullah FestivalPage 11

Book Tour continues on page 10

Seabrook Island Clubelebrates 25th Anniversary

BY KELLY BUTORACFor The Island Connection

his year marks the 25th Anniversary since the SeabrookIsland Club’s opening in 1991. Seabrook Island harborsits own rich history, from the Colonial Era and pirate

through Revolutionary skirmishes and the Civil War tomporary times. Te island is named for the descendantsbert Seabrook, a successful businessman, landowner and

cian. Te island changed hands several times before townporation in 1987.Affectionately known as “On Board in April,” a group

perty owners with a shared vision of the island unified andred the Seabrook Island Club 25 years ago. In 2009, theunderwent a total rebuilding program and now has some ofst, modern facilities on the East Coast.day, Seabrook Island is a private, oceanfront communitywo championship golf courses, a tournament grade tennis

center, a full-service equestrian center, a fitness and aquaticscenter and long, unspoiled beaches.

In 1996, Crooked Oaks and Ocean Winds golf courses were the first in South Carolina to become certified membersof the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf. TeSeabrook Island Racquet Club has 15 professionally maintained

Har-ru courts and 2 pickle ball courts, hosts the Alan Flemingournament each year and was recently named the 2016Best ennis Club in South Carolina by the Volvo Car Open. Additionally, the Seabrook Island Equestrian Center is one of thefew on the East Coast to offer beach rides.

To celebrate its 25th Anniversary, the Seabrook Island Club ishosting the 25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee for members on April 30, a night of live music, dancing, cocktails and exciting cuisine.

Mary Alicecomes toKiawah

‘A LOWC OUNT RY

WEDDING’ AUTHOR

STOPS IN AT THE

SANDCASTLE

BY GREGG BRAGG

The Island Connection Staff Writer

Mary Alice Monroe may live onIsle of Palms, but she lovesKiawah Island, too. She has been

a frequent guest author for the “KiawahReads” program; “Sweetgrass,” “urtleSummer: A Journal for my Daughter,”“Te Beach House” and “Te Butterfly'sDaughter,” just to name a few. Monroeplans to visit Kiawah’s Sandcastle againat 3 p.m. May 3, 2016, reading from andsigning her latest book, “A Lowcountry Wedding.”

Te book is the fourth installment inMonroe’s Lowcountry Summer Series

and has the twist of introducing a fourthcharacter.

“‘A Lowcountry Wedding’ introduces Atticus, a mysterious fourth sibling,among the endearing half-sisters Carson,Harper, and Dora who have formedstrong bonds, thanks to their devotedgrandmother, ‘Mamaw,’” Susan Zurenda,a marketing outreach coordinator with Magic ime Literary Publicity inSpartanburg, summarized. “A minister, Atticus brings comfort as a mentor andconfidante to Carson and Harper as theyanticipate their weddings and to Dora asshe struggles with the marriage proposalof her devoted beau. Ironically, Atticus is

living a lie. His true identity [is] unknownto his sisters, and this secret eventuallytests the strength of the family. Teauthor raises important questions aboutacceptance, commitment, and the truedefinition of family.”

Monroe’s commitment to the


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The IslandConnection

Lynn Pierotti

publisher

[email protected]

Jennifer Tuohy

managing editor [email protected]

Swan Richards

senior graphic designer

[email protected]

Lori McGee

sales manager

[email protected]

Alejandro Ferreyros

graphic designer

[email protected]

Ralph Secoy

contributing photographer

Staff Writers

Gregg Bragg

Contributors

Kelly Butorac

Joe Stubel

Lorraine Leary

Donna Mundy

Maria Gurovich

Martha Zink

Published by

Lucky Dog Publishing

of South Carolina, LLC

P.O. Box 837

Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482

843-886-NEWS

Future deadlines: April 27

for submissions for the

May 6 Issue

Ed articles and letters to the editor do not

necessarily reflect the opinion of

Lucky Dog News or its writers.

cky Dog Publishing, LLC

blishers of Island Eye News,

The Island Connection,

The Folly Current

Civic CalendarK IAWAH ISLAND T OWN H ALL21 Beachwalker Drive

Kiawah Island, SC 29455Phone: 768-9166Fax: 768-4764

SEABROOK ISLAND T OWN H ALL2001 Seabrook Island RoadSeabrook Island, SC 29455Phone: 768-9121Fax: 768-9830Email: [email protected]

JOHNS ISLAND COUNCILMeetings are held at the Berkeley ElectricCo-op located at 3351 Maybank Hwy, JohnsIsland.

Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113

CHARLESTON COUNTY COUNCIL4045 Bridge View Dr, N. Charleston958-4700

CITY OF CHARLESTON75 Calhoun St.724-3745

April 22, 2016

Town of Kiawah

Ways and MeansCommittee Meetingues, April 26, 2 p.m.Kiawah own Hall

Town CouncilMeetinguesday, May 3, 2 p.m.Kiawah own Hall

Planning CommissionMeeting

Wed, May 4, 3 p.m.Kiawah own Hall

Arts and CulturalEvents CouncilMeetingTurs, May 5, 3 p.m.Kiawah own Hall

EnvironmentalCommittee Meetingues, May 10, 3 p.m.Kiawah own Hall

Public SafetyCommittee Meeting

Wed, May 11, 2 p.m.Kiawah own Hall

Board of Zoning and AppealsMonday, May 16 4 p.m.Kiawah own Hall

Town of Seabrook

Town Council April 26, 2:30 p.m.Seabrook own Hall

Planning CommissionMay 4, 2:30 p.m.Seabrook own Hall

Ways & MeansMay 17, 2:30 p.m.Seabrook own Hall

Town CouncilMay 24, 2:30 p.m.Seabrook own Hall

Planning Commission June 1, 2:30 p.m.

Seabrook own Hall

Ways & Means June 21, 2:30 p.m.Seabrook own Hall

Town Council June 28, 2:30 p.m.Seabrook own Hall

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Town of Kiawah Island Aprilcouncil meeting report

BY GREGG BRAGGThe Island Connection Staff Writer

he pledge began at 2:04p.m. on April7 and the extra few minutes wouldcome in handy after what would

end up being a three hour meeting. Tosefamiliar with pop culture icon Gilligan’sIsland know tiny ships can get tossed inthe time it took for Kiawah’s town councilto conduct its meeting. Minutes requiredsome tweaks before being approved. Testormy metaphor proved apt since citizenscomments began under partly cloudy skies.

Kiawah resident Dennis McGill beganhis contribution with some questionsabout transparency and the minutesOKI had just finished approving. “Inoticed the minutes from March 4 don’t

include any of the comments or questionsasked [by residents]. It only includes themayor’s comments, not anything else,”said McGill.

Te meeting had been the wrap-upof another round of forensic audits.Te detailed review showed two formeremployees were paid a revised total ofover $200,000 more than intended whileat least four current employees were paidover $90,000 beyond approved levels.Council was asked some very piercingquestions which were not reflected in theminutes. McGill extended his observationsto include minutes of a meeting held onMarch 8. “Tere is no indication why

[OKI] accepted a bid of $40,000 insteadof the low bid of $18,000 [to rework thetown’s website]. We can’t count on TeIsland Connection to make it to everymeeting. Tis is not complete, it is not openand it is not transparent,” he concluded.

own administrator Stephanieillerson was first to respond for the town,saying residents were welcome to comeand listen to the full tapes of the meeting.Her response was quickly followed by themayor, who claimed the town had “widelatitude” regarding what to include in the

minutes. “Nothing suggests the minuteshave to be a verbatim account,” he said.

Wendy Kulick was next in lineand addressed her comments to thecorrespondence item on the agenda.“I recently learned that Kiawah IslandUtility was sold to South West WaterCompany, an out of state utility operatorin early March. Te 2005 Development

Agreement between KRA and the ownstates in Section 14(b)(2) that the Utilitymust ‘negotiate first with the own andallow the own to make the first purchaseoffer, before seeking purchase proposalsfrom other persons [along with the rest ofthe ordinance]…’ Kulick said.

“On March 2, 2016, the State PublicService Commission approved the Utility’sapplication for expedited considerationand approval to enter into an amendedand restated Utility Service Agreement and

waiver of hearing, both seemingly designedto keep this transaction from the public eye.

“Please correct me if I am wrong, but ifthe Utility complied with the requirementsof the 2005 Development Agreement, theown was notified of its intent to sell wellin advance of the consummation of thetransaction and the current application tothe PSC. Assuming the own knew ofthe intent to sell and decided not to makean offer, when was this issue discussed

and decided? Tis issue has not beenon the agenda for the public portions ofown Council meetings at any time inthe last six months and there has been nosuggestion the matter was being discussedin Executive Sessions. Why has thismatter not been made public before now,and does the process by which the sale

was consummated violate the terms of theDevelopment Agreement? If the Utilitydid not have written correspondence withthe own Council and if the sale is inviolation of the Development Agreement,

is the transaction legal?” asked Kulick.Purchase of the utility had been on

the town’s radar as recently as the 2015retreat (see Te Island Connection article‘OKI Retreats to Set Agenda’). Howeverthe mayor responded that several attemptsto purchase KIU in the past constitutedand exhausted OKI’s “Right of FirstOffer.” Councilmember Labriola addingthat monthly meetings with [KP] hadn’trevealed any concrete plans and OKIhad only been aware of the sale for a fewdays. Further, he also felt OKI hadpreviously exercised its rights but passedmore because of the convoluted details thepurchase would have represented than the

price of the asset.Bruce Stemerman, chair of the

Kiawah Island Community Association, was next with a pitch for the KiawahIsland Motoring Retreat. He is alsoco-chair of the Retreat, along withOKI councilmember Wilson and waspresenting council with a framed posterof this year’s retreat to thank the town forits $90,000 support of the event, which

will benefit several loca l charities.Steven raynum was the final

presentation before council businessbegan. raynum works for CoastalScience Engineering, the firm which haspresided over Kiawah’s beach nourishment

program. He was in chambers to presentthe complete annual beach report for2015. Te presentation is available attown hall but the summarized good newsis “we’re healthier than we were in 1999,”said raynum. He emphasized the pointKiawah continues to accrete sand, inthe aggregate, and CSE will continue tomonitor trouble spots.

Councilmember Weaver addressedthe first item of new business, saying the

Ways & Means committee had approved$9,000 per year for a “subscription” to


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irMedCare network. Te helicopterortation service provider has agreedke Kiawah residents to medicalies when needed, and limit theires to whatever the passenger’snce will pay. Te service representsto mitigate delays encountered with

ortation provided by Charlestonty Emergency Medical Services. Tisre will work its way through OKI’s

al process for full approval.

K Dickson won unanimous approvalntinue its work improving drainagethe parkway.e next three items of new business dealthe new municipal complex and wereseparately, but were actually a packageCouncilmember Labriola introducedpic by noting 2016 was an electionor OKI and the municipal complexstill be in the process of construction.ntments to the committee, updatingharter and selection of a projectger are essential to continuity, saidola. He was trying to anticipate everyngency, including the possibility ofplayers on town council, but didn’t

on the ensuing debate.don’t understand the grand plan,Do we mean for new people towhat has been decided?” asked

ilmember Johnson, stating cosmeticandscaping concerns had yet to bessed.briola reminded the room thereeen a public hearing and both thecipal Complex committee and they had approved the landscaping.cilmember Wilson chimed in tonything which deviated from the

established $9.250 million ceiling wouldconstitute a change order and have togo before council. Concerns faded aftera protracted debate and all items wereunanimously approved with Johnsonrecusing herself from voting on committeemembers. Cedrus Development will bepaid $18,900 to be the town’s eyes andears on the endeavor.

Councilmember Wilson, reporting forthe budget committee, said a workshop has

been scheduled with an external auditor.Councilmember Johnson reportedtwo new bob-kittens had been found andreported by the environmental committeeand announced the group’s next meetingdate. Arts Council is winding down forthe year with two Spoleto events, one ineach May and June. She had also attendeda Board of Governors meeting on behalfof the town again this year.

Councilmember Weaver said the publicsafety committee had formed an ad hocgroup to study fire prevention, including:

1. Assessing the implications of pastfires

2. Checking existing town ordinances

in search of opportunities forimprovement

3. Looking for high impacteducational opportunities (e.g.sprinklers and remote monitoring)

4. Determining if the town has theright to regulate rental properties

Te results will be known later thisyear and will be used to update theComprehensive Emergency Plan.

Te town administrator gave her reportthrough a number of staff surrogates

who attended the meeting. Damagedboardwalks are still being addressed as aretrash receptacles on the beach. Revisedschedules for picking up the trash arebeing floated. Te boat abandoned on theeast end of the island has been removed.

Te mayor reported a zoning change forthe existing municipal building he thinks willprovide the community association with somelatitude. Te facility is currently designated“community support” and will be changed to

“commercial.” Te update will prevent the sitefrom being used as a sewage drying field, forexample, allowed by the current classification.He continued his report saying he and MayorRon Ciancio of Seabrook had collaboratedon a letter to Charleston County CouncilChairman Elliott Summey asking for help

with area roads. “We’ve waited long enough. We need more than promises and a plan,” saidthe mayor, forcefully summarizing the intentof the letter.

Dennis McGill was first in line forthe second round of citizens’ comments.McGill filed a lawsuit against OKIalleging Freedom of Information Actviolations in June, 2015. He seemed

frustrated by the lack of a settlementhe expected the ratification of this verymeeting. He undertook the case at hisown expense, accepted OKI’s choiceof mediator. Te mediator, in turn, hadrecently negotiated a settlement andMcGill ca lled on OKI and their attorneyto make it official.

Wendy Kulick was next saying shehad noticed Paul Roberts’ transportationreport posted on the own’s website onMarch 1, 2016. She wanted to know who

commissioned the report, when, and if it was town council, why the report was notdiscussed at the March 1 town councilmeeting. Kulick was told no money hadexchanged hands for the report.

Kulick observed the mayor [at thelast town council meeting] had directedthe town’s lawyer to follow up with theU.S. Attorney’s office regarding allegedembezzlement. “Why has it taken so longfor any action to be taken against the two

former employees?” asked Kulick.She then suggested a “treasurer’s report”be added to town council meetings. Tereport would compare expenses to theannual budget, improve transparencyand make it far more difficult forembezzlement to occur in the future.

Kulick closed out her comments byraising the same question about the minutesfrom the March 4 meeting mentionedearlier. “If a member of the public came toown Hall to read these minutes, he or she

would have no idea what questions wereasked and what responses were provided,”she said. ”Te own’s code states responses

will be provided in two weeks, whenever

possible, and the mayor has statedresponses will be provided within 30 days.Clearly neither of those time frames hasbeen honored,” said Kulick.

Dave DeStefano thanked council forhis assignment to the Municipal Complexcommittee. Art Morgenstern confirmedthe sale of the utility and asked what thesale price was but details of the privatetransaction were not available.

Tere was no executive sessionscheduled and the meeting adjourned.


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April 22, 2016 April 22, 2016

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Tide Chart

Date High Tide Low Tide

Hurricanes, storms, etc., are NOT included in the predictions.Tidal current direction changes and tide time predictions can bevery different. Tide predictions are PREDICTIONS; they can be wrong so use common sense.

Apr 22

Apr 23

Apr 24

Apr 25

Apr 26

Apr 27

Apr 28

Apr 29

Apr 30

May 01

May 02

May 03

May 04

May 05

Source: saltwatertides.com

9:06am/9:34pm

9:42am/10:08pm

10:17am/10:41pm

10:52am/11:14pm

11:28am/11:51pm

12:09pm

12:34am/12:57pm

1:26am/1:54pm

2:26am/2:56pm

3:31am/4:01pm

4:35am/5:04pm

5:37am/6:04pm

6:36am/7:02pm

7:33am/7:57pm

3:03am/3:03pm

3:41am/3:36pm

4:18am/4:10pm

4:56am/4:45pm

5:35am/5:24pm

6:17am/6:08pm

7:04am/6:59pm

7:57am/7:59pm

8:55am/9:06pm

9:54am/10:15pm

10:53am/11:22pm

11:49am

12:24am/12:43pm

1:22am/1:36pm

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A ccording to a press release from theCoastal Conservation League andthe South Carolina Environmental

Law Project, last Friday, April 15, Administrative Law Judge Ralph K. Anderson, III issued an order staying theconstruction of a 2,873 foot long verticalbulkhead at Captain Sams Spit, whichhe authorized in March. In his AmendedOrder on Remand, dated March 22,2016, Judge Anderson gave approvalto the structure after being directed bythe Supreme Court to consider theirDecember 2014 ruling. On March 23, theday after the Judge issued his opinion, theCoastal Conservation League, representedby the South Carolina EnvironmentalLaw Project, filed motion asking the Judgeto stay the effect of his decision. On April

15, after CCL and Kiawah DevelopmentPartners, II submitted written arguments, Judge Anderson issued an order preventingthe construction of the vertical bulkheadhe approved.

Judge Anderson’s Order on Remandcomes after the Supreme Court’s 2014ruling that the public benefits fromprotecting the Kiawah River shorelinein its natural condition and that coastalresources such as the Spit must be used to

the maximum benefit of t he public ratherthan solely benefiting a private developer.Te Supreme Court has previously haltedconstruction on the spit at CCL’s request,and the Judge’s decision was based onthese prior rulings. Amy Armstrong, chiefcounsel for SCELP said that the order“is necessary to prevent destruction anddegradation of a valuable public resourceand is consistent with the Supreme Court’sprior decisions.”

“We remain committed to protectingthis beautiful, fragile, and unstable dunefield from the damage this massive wall would cause,” Dana Beach, ExecutiveDirector of the Coastal ConservationLeague, said. “Kiawah Island, andSouth Carolina, can’t afford to havemulti-million dollar houses built in thisdangerously erosional location, and wecannot accept the loss of irreplaceable wildlife habitat from this ill-conceivedproject.”

Te press release also stated that CCLand SCELP filed a notice of appeal of Judge Anderson’s Order on Remand in theCourt of Appeals, while simultaneouslyfiling a motion to transfer the appeal tothe Supreme Court.

Judge halts decisionauthorizing construction

at Captain Sams Spit

h’s Fire Commission meetingthe St. Johns Fire District

fied the conventional wisdomsts meetings are boring.fireworks and firefightersd pairing, the meeting couldd that way. Te press hadand was present as Barbaramother of a former StJFDnd part of a group calledCitizens of Charleston, read

to the commission. Herere a laundry list of grievancesief Colleen Walz. According& Courier newspaper, the

ote of no confidence had beenpercent of firefighters in the

timing of the public furorarly interesting.s scheduled to appear beforeCounty Council for a thirdaring the week following itsing. Final approval of bonds

unt of $9.9 million hung inas well as approval of the

udget. Te funding had beenential by the Commissionng/upgrading both facilities

and equipment. It would also provide ameans to include additional personnel onStJFD apparatus to the collective safety offirefighters.

Te Commission and its chairman, John Connolly, responded to thecomplaint with a letter to CharlestonCounty Council supporting Chief Walzsaying, in part:

“While we encourage the entiredepartment and the public… to expressany concerns with the District, we havenot found any reason to doubt Chief Walz’leadership, dedication and commitmentto her employees and the citizens of[StJFD]…

“Since joining our district over two

years ago, Chief Walz has made toughdecisions, but we believe her decisions were sound and a lso made with the bestintentions for the department and thecitizens we serve…

“We remain committed to our dutyand stand with our Chief…”

Te County ultimately approved thefunding request and the Commissionembarked on a closer examination of thegrievances presented. Te final response,

after two years of tough decisions by Walzand the Commission i nvolving personnel, would take a twist because of Unioninvolvement.

Bruce Burding, who is forming a localchapter of the International Association ofFirefighters--L3883 that currently claims39 members, has stepped in as de factospokesperson for the Concerned Citizensgroup. “Te union’s involvement in this was purely to give advice a nd s end thedocument to the International Associationof Firefighters legal department forreview,” Burding said. “Our job[s] asunion leaders and members are to ensurethe safety and legality of anything that we may be asked of our members and

under our fair representation clause of ourby-laws.” Burding, who previously worked for

StJFD and North Charleston FD, now works part time for the South CarolinaFire Academy. He left North CharlestonFire Department under a cloud. Askedabout the incident, Burding said “I wasreleased due to the Sexual Harassmentcharge that was not properly investigated.Te South Carolina Employment

Commission during appeal also found inmy favor to where unemployment benefits were reinstated. Te day I was terminated,I was hired by St. Johns Fire District. Myaccuser was terminated three weeks afterI was.”

Asked how he had become involved with the Concerned Citizens of Charlestongroup, Burding said, “Te members ofthe Executive Board, stated … there were personnel that were curious aboutsubmitting a vote. I can honestly say thatI don’t know what group started it , butbasically it went from station to stationshowed them the vote of no confidence, ifthey agreed [they were instructed] to sign;if they did not agree with anything that

was stated not to sign.”Burding said he has not seen the

signature sheets, which he said were takento a notary along with the department’spersonnel roster. “Te notary then wrotethe percentage and number of signatureson the notarized sheet,” Burding said.“Tis sheet, along with the roster, and acopy of the VONC, were all notarizedand were turned into the Commissionby the resident that read the letter. Te

signatures were destroyed after exiting thenotary, due to the threat of repercussions.” According to Burding the department hasapproximately 102 employees, of which 39are current members of the union.

Burding said one of the issues raisedby the complaint involved deployment ofresources. Kiawah and Seabrook see a lotof visitors at vacation time. Te numberof vacationers increases populationdensity and is accompanied by a risingrisk of incident. Chief Walz respondedby sending additional personnel andequipment to the area. Burding felt themove was inappropriate, indicating heshould have been consulted before leavingother regions to the mercy of chance.However, as a right to work state, SouthCarolina law renders such consultationsdifficult, at best.

Te fact that a Union is involved atall in this issue has been questioned. According to South Carolina case law,(Branch vs City of Myrtle Beach, decidedby the South Carolina Supreme CourtMay 15, 2000) “Unlike private employees,public employees in South Carolina do nothave the right to collective bargaining.”

However, Burding responds to this bysaying, “My hope one day is that the ideaof a union within an organization is nota pain in the ___, but a better way to get workers and bosses to be able to talk, even when they really don’t want to. I have beeninvolved in this since 1996. It has alwaysbeen the biggest uphill battle due to ourstate laws with unions in government.Firefighters are not alone, these laws affectlaw enforcement, EMS, teachers, as wellas any other State, Municipality, Countygovernments.”

Te Commission however, was stillfaced with making an official response, which was completed in time for its April

meeting. Interestingly, and in the normalcourse of the agenda, the financial reportpreceded the Commission’s response. Tereport included mention that employeecontributions to health insurancepremiums hadn’t gone up in the last threeyears. Te contrary claim had been amongthe list of grievances, so the fact drew theCommission’s attention and opened to t hedoor to a response. Chair John Connollydelivered the response, which read in part;

“It is disconcerting that Ms. Robertsonand her group chose not to approachany member of the [Commission priorto the March meeting] so that theirconcerns could have been researched andaddressed constructively. Instead, theychose to notify the media, [CharlestonCounty Council] and a variety of entitiesthroughout the county, state and acrossthe country ... just about everyone exceptthe [StJFD].

“As Chair I have taken a close look atthe various issues raised. I can tell youthat many of the complaints are, at best,exaggerated, taken out of context, andsome are just totally false. Terefore, those‘accepting all to be true,’ as directed by the

no confidence letter itself, were misled…“We do think it is important to note thefollowing: When Chief Walz was hired,she was given a clear directive to identifyareas in which the level of professionalism within the department could beenhanced… As is usually the case, some ofthese changes have encountered resistanceand caused discomfort…

“Tat said, we will certainly continueto strive to provide our employees andthe taxpayers of this community witha department that promotes only thehighest standards while demandingaccountability from everyone.”

Fire Commission stands behindSt. Johns Fire Chief


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5/16

22, 2016

5

Tide Chart

Date High Tide Low Tide

Hurricanes, storms, etc., are NOT included in the predictions.Tidal current direction changes and tide time predictions can bevery different. Tide predictions are PREDICTIONS; they can bewrong so use common sense.

Apr 22

Apr 23

Apr 24

Apr 25Apr 26

Apr 27

Apr 28

Apr 29

Apr 30

May 01

May 02

May 03

May 04

May 05

Source: saltwatertides.com

9:06am/9:34pm

9:42am/10:08pm

10:17am/10:41pm

10:52am/11:14pm11:28am/11:51pm

12:09pm

12:34am/12:57pm

1:26am/1:54pm

2:26am/2:56pm

3:31am/4:01pm

4:35am/5:04pm

5:37am/6:04pm

6:36am/7:02pm

7:33am/7:57pm

3:03am/3:03pm

3:41am/3:36pm

4:18am/4:10pm

4:56am/4:45pm5:35am/5:24pm

6:17am/6:08pm

7:04am/6:59pm

7:57am/7:59pm

8:55am/9:06pm

9:54am/10:15pm

10:53am/11:22pm

11:49am

12:24am/12:43pm

1:22am/1:36pm

civic

A ccording to a press release from the

Coastal Conservation League andthe South Carolina EnvironmentalLaw Project, last Friday, April 15,

Administrative Law Judge Ralph K. Anderson, III issued an order staying theconstruction of a 2,873 foot long verticalbulkhead at Captain Sams Spit, whichhe authorized in March. In his AmendedOrder on Remand, dated March 22,2016, Judge Anderson gave approvalto the structure after being directed bythe Supreme Court to consider theirDecember 2014 ruling. On March 23, theday after the Judge issued his opinion, theCoastal Conservation League, representedby the South Carolina EnvironmentalLaw Project, filed motion asking the Judgeto stay the effect of his decision. On April15, after CCL and Kiawah DevelopmentPartners, II submitted written arguments,

Judge Anderson issued an order preventingthe construction of the vertical bulkheadhe approved.

Judge Anderson’s Order on Remandcomes after the Supreme Court’s 2014ruling that the public benefits fromprotecting the Kiawah River shorelinein its natural condition and that coastalresources such as the Spit must be used to

the maximum benefit of the public rather

than solely benefiting a private developer.Te Supreme Court has previously haltedconstruction on the spit at CCL’s request,and the Judge’s decision was based onthese prior rulings. Amy Armstrong, chiefcounsel for SCELP said that the order“is necessary to prevent destruction anddegradation of a valuable public resourceand is consistent with the Supreme Court’sprior decisions.”

“We remain committed to protectingthis beautiful, fragile, and unstable dunefield from the damage this massive wall

would cause,” Dana Beach, ExecutiveDirector of the Coastal ConservationLeague, said. “Kiawah Island, and

South Carolina, can’t afford to havemulti-million dollar houses built in thisdangerously erosional location, and wecannot accept the loss of irreplaceable

wildlife habitat from this ill-conceivedproject.”

Te press release also stated that CCLand SCELP filed a notice of appeal of

Judge Anderson’s Order on Remand in theCourt of Appeals, while simultaneouslyfiling a motion to transfer the appeal tothe Supreme Court.

Judge halts decisionauthorizing construction

at Captain Sams Spit

ures were destroyed after exiting they, due to the threat of repercussions.”ding to Burding the department hasximately 102 employees, of which 39rrent members of the union.rding said one of the issues raisede complaint involved deployment ofces. Kiawah and Seabrook see a lotitors at vacation time. Te numbervacationers increases populationy and is accompanied by a rising

f incident. Chief Walz respondedending additional personnel andment to the area. Burding felt the

was inappropriate, indicating hed have been consulted before leavingregions to the mercy of chance.ver, as a right to work state, Southina law renders such consultationsult, at best.e fact that a Union is involved at

this issue has been questioned.ding to South Carolina case law,ch vs City of Myrtle Beach, decidede South Carolina Supreme Court5, 2000) “Unlike private employees,

c employees in South Carolina do not

the right to collective bargaining.”ver, Burding responds to this by

g, “My hope one day is that the ideanion within an organization is not in the ___, but a better way to getrs and bosses to be able to talk, eventhey real ly don’t want to. I have been

ved in this since 1996. It has alwaysthe biggest uphill battle due to ourlaws with unions in government.ghters are not alone, these laws affectnforcement, EMS, teachers, as welly other State, Municipality, Countynments.”e Commission however, was stillwith making an official response,

was completed in time for its April

meeting. Interestingly, and in the normalcourse of the agenda, the financial reportpreceded the Commission’s response. Tereport included mention that employeecontributions to health insurancepremiums hadn’t gone up in the last threeyears. Te contrary claim had been amongthe list of grievances, so the fact drew theCommission’s attention and opened to thedoor to a response. Chair John Connollydelivered the response, which read in part;

“It is disconcerting that Ms. Robertsonand her group chose not to approachany member of the [Commission priorto the March meeting] so that theirconcerns could have been researched andaddressed constructively. Instead, theychose to notify the media, [CharlestonCounty Council] and a variety of entitiesthroughout the county, state and acrossthe country ... just about everyone exceptthe [StJFD].

“As Chair I have taken a close look atthe various issues raised. I can tell youthat many of the complaints are, at best,exaggerated, taken out of context, andsome are just totally false. Terefore, those

‘accepting all to be true,’ as directed by theno confidence letter itself, were misled…

“We do think it is important to note thefollowing: When Chief Walz was hired,she was given a clear directive to identifyareas in which the level of professionalism

within the department could beenhanced… As is usually the case, some ofthese changes have encountered resistanceand caused discomfort…

“Tat said, we will certainly continueto strive to provide our employees andthe taxpayers of this community witha department that promotes only thehighest standards while demandingaccountability from everyone.”

civic


6/16

April 22, 2016

daily

he world today is a differentplace than what it was when we

were growing up. In fact, ourhas changed dramatically in just

ast few years given the escalatingility in the Middle East, significante and pestilence outbreaks, massivegration flows as a result of cultural/ous divides and wide ranging actsror. Tis has resulted in large-scalef life, compromised personal libertyngoing fear in our daily lives. Teses to world stability present seriousnges to leadership both in the USelsewhere and fully understandingrger picture remains challenging.

t week, Te World Affairs Councilarleston, a regional thought leader

esenting and discussing events thatt our world, hosted Mr. Andrewa Fellow in Middle Eastern AffairsAmerican Foreign Policy Council

Washington D.C., at Te Citadelni Center in downtown Charleston.came highly qualified to present anew of the continuing volatility in

Middle East and ISIS: Te Islamicof Iraq and Syria. In addition to

ffiliation with the Middle Easterns group, he teaches at Americanrsity and at the school of Advanced

national Affairs at Johns Hopkins

rsity where he is a candidate for hisPeek also previously served as agic adviser to the top US and NAO

commanders in Afghanistan.Peek asserted that there is no one

terrorist organization more feared or witha greater global reach then ISIS, whichnow controls a landmass roughly the sizeof Massachusetts. ISIS’s primary objectiveis to erase the existing borders in theMiddle East and create an independentSunni state that practices strict allegianceto Islamic law. Te complexity of thevarious religious factions involved, newand emerging alliances with Russia,combined with a lack of a meaningfulpresence of Western forces today, allcontribute to the ongoing challenges inthe region. Peek believes that this growing

conflict will not be resolved quicklyand certainly not without sustainedcooperation with a multitude of regionaland international partners. While thepresentation content was sobering, Peekeffectively supported WAC’s charter thatgetting the best information out to the

widest group of people is a key startingpoint toward effective resolution.

Te World Affairs Council ofCharleston was founded in the early 1980sand operated for many years under thename Foreign Affairs Forum. When I satdown with Chuck Bensonhaver, presidentof WAC, he explained that the council isa non-partisan, not-for-profit organization

serving as an informational/educationalresource for people interested in a broaderand more in depth understanding of world

events. Membership in the organization iscomprised of individuals from all walksof life and typically includes people whohave worked or served abroad. Tereare currently 286 active members in theCharleston chapter with the majorityof members equally represented fromMt. Pleasant/IOP/Sullivan’s Island,the Charleston Peninsula and John’sIsland, Seabrook and Kiawah islands.Bensonhaver proudly pointed to thepartnership with Te Citadel and thecontribution made by Al Tibault, theretired foreign services official who nowserves as head of Programs for WAC, forramping up the quality of subject matter

and speakers.Memberships in the council run

from the fall to spring, with a total of6 events in each season. Prospectivemembers are welcome and encouraged toattend a meeting. Prospective membersmay attend one meeting as a guest for anominal charge of $20 per person andno preregistration is required. Te $20guest fee can be applied towards themembership fee. In addition to the above,

WAC also offers a program to memberscalled Great Decisions. Several groups ofeight to 14 are organized in January of thenew year and starting soon thereafter, thegroup meets twice a month through May.

Before the discussion series begins, GDgroup members receive a current briefingbook published by Te Foreign Policy

Association. Te book highlights eightof the most thought-provoking foreignpolicy issues currently facing America.It provides background information,current data and policy options for each ofthe eight issues. Led by one of the group'smembers, each discussion focuses on oneof the eight topics.

Bensonhaver, Tibault, and othermembers of the executive committee arerightfully proud of the programs that

WAC offers and look forward to growingtheir membership. Visit their websiteat WACCharleston.org and learn moreabout an interesting and timely programright here in the Lowcountry.

Te final speaker of the 2015/2016season is Chris Day, Assistant Professorin Department of Political Science at theCollege of Charleston. His talk, scheduledfor May 2, will be on “Te Conflicts of

Africa: New Forms, New issues, New Worries for the United States.” It beginsat 6 p.m., at the Citadel Alumni Center,69 Hagood Ave., Charleston. A receptionstarts at 5:15 p.m.

Day spent many years in conflictenvironments in South Sudan, Liberia,Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone,Uganda and other countries as an aid

worker, with the UN, Doctors WithoutBorders and other humanitarian groups,

and also in India and Sri Lanka, beforepursuing an academic career whichbrought him to the College of Charleston.

Charleston World Affairs Council bringsn depth understanding of world events

BY JOE STUBELFor The Island Connection


7/16

22, 2016

7

daily

San Luca hits the sweetspot on SeabrookN E W M E X I C A N G R I L L R E C E I V I N G P O S I T I V E

R E V I E W S F R O M C O M M U N I T Y

abrook resident Nancy Keeney,wner/operator of San Luca’s

Mexican Grill, is determined toa success of her new restaurant

01 Landfall Way (just outside theook gate). She moved here from, Georgia with her two daughters,el and Heather, and her son Ryan

he express purpose of opening therant.

Te chef at our favorite restaurant [in] came to me with the idea. I was

ovide financing and keep the bookshe did the cooking and managed

tions,” Keeney said. Negotiations

all but complete when, true to theramental stereotype, the chef justd away from the deal a week beforeng.eney, a huge fan of Seabrook’s charmtrong sense of community, inkedease agreement anyway. She wasdent about what she was doing if not,ari ly, what she was walking into and

d ahead. Te entire family pitched inan the building to Keeney’s exactingards.is included tackling a noise issuedining area. Te gorgeous looking

adds ambiance but the “hardwoods”been blamed for amplifying crowd

to raucous effect. Attempts toy the issue most recently includedon the underside of the tables, butons had never been tried, so Keeney

Te barrier, combined with betterrequired R-30 insulation, not onlynt sound from ricocheting intoconversations but also produce aintimate setting. Te update even

ded an opportunity to address thecolor of the walls.ck paint on the walls covered heart

heartwood Keeney estimated to0 years old and is now very rare.

net sources say heartwood comesthe non-living center of longleaf

trees which can grow to 120 feetake up to 150 years to mature andve 500 years. One inch of heart pine

represents 30 years growth. Deforestationand overharvesting since colonial days hasleft only 3 percent of the original Longleafpine forest (Virginia to exas) intact.Keeney took the coveted heartwood off the walls, planed the wood bare and putit back up. Te entire room is brighterand more authentic looking. Better still,a valuable natural resource was saved inthe process.

Once renovations were complete,it was time to do some cooking. Tefoundation of any Mexican restaurant isbased on chips, and those at San Luca’sare wafer thin, crunchy good and goodfor you, too. Because they are only cooked

once, says Keeney (most refry pre-cookedchips) they aren’t greasy. Despite theirdelicacy, they are perfectly adequate toconvey fresh, homemade salsa, whichseems to dissolve on contact with a solidbut tasty kick to spice receptors. You’llimmediately worry about running outunless you also happened to order quesoand/or guacamole. Te two standard fareitems may seem hard to improve on butKeeney has found a way. She even makesher own flour tortillas which are so tastythey may soon be Lowcountry legend.Everything is fresh, in fact, and it hasmade an impression.

Community associations on both

Kiawah and Seabrook each have blogsand/or list-services where members canpublicly communicate and San Luca’s hasbeen repeatedly mentioned on all three

with the mass majority of the commentsbeing positive. “I was very pleasantlysurprised by San Luca's Mexican Grill,”read one. “Beginning with an outstandingextra-large margarita and delicious tortillachips. Te people working there are verypleasant, and the service was excellent.Prices are reasonable.”

“I went to San Luca on Monday forlunch--six of us and it was spectacular.Te guacamole was the best I have eatenanywhere, all of our food was fabulous,”read another.

“Te chicken and beef tacos were verygood, the service was excellent and theatmosphere was friendly and welcoming,”another satisfied customer wrote. “Teowner is fantastic. I highly recommendyou visit our newest restaurant.”

Alas, there have been intermittentissues with slow service, as the shiny newrestaurant gets up and running along thelines of “good help is hard to find.” Tereare exactly as many Kiawah/Seabrookresidents interested in food servicepositions as you might expect. Tose whoare interested tend to live further out and which means a long drive out here fromsomewhere else and finding reliable servers

can be a chore. However, Kenney willsolve that problem, too, like she has al l theothers. enacious and determined, she’sin this family business for the long hauland has some good ideas for cultivatingcustomer loyalty;

1. Keep the price of margarita’s low soSan Luca’s becomes the preferredlocal “watering hole”

2. Keep food prices reasonable3. Discounts for employees of other

area businesses4. Discounts for residents5. Mirror the signage and other

architectural trends of localentitiesHowever, the grand plan is even bet ter.

Keeney hopes to host a big Cinco DeMayo party intended to mark the officialgrand opening of San Luca’s MexicanGrill. Details are still being worked out,so you’ll just have to stop by to see whatKenney has in mind! “C’ya on the Cinco.”

San Luca Mexican Grill, 1001 LandfallWay, Seabrook Island, 854.999.1321.


The guacamole

was the best

I have eaten

anywhere, all

of our food was

fabulous


8/16


9/16

22, 2016

9

tennis

Charitable forehands and backhandson Seabrook play for BIFMC

BY LORRAINE LEARY

For The Island Connection

On Wednesday, March 9, the Seabrook Island ennis Players hosted their annualfundraiser for the Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic. Morning play for themen started at 10 a.m. followed by noon time refreshments and a “Meet and

” with BIFMC Co-Founder, Dr. Charlton Davis, BIFMC boardmember, Vascott, Clinical Director, Brenda Falls, Nurse Manager, Wanda Weart and Susanus, BIFMC office volunteer.e women’s play commenced in the afternoon followed by a wine and cheeseion at 4 p.m. for all tennis participants and guests on the ennis Center’s veranda.

Pickett and Ms. Weart spoke about the non-profit medical home’s healthcarees, the efforts of volunteer physicians, nurses and support staff and the patients. On behalf of the clinic, both expressed their gratitude to the Seabrook Islands Community for their continual support through the years and kind donations.$4,500 was raised for the “Miracle on Maybank.”

rook Island Tennis Players.


10/16

April 22, 2016

k Tour continues from cover

tennisarts & events

onment is once again manifestedLowcountry Wedding.” Delphine

ottlenose dolphin, saved from adeath entanglement in fishing nets

in the series, is back. Delphine getsant, but the joy of the event spiralsmirror for the evolving lives of thesters as the pregnancy introducesader to the consequences of polluted

waters.onroe always stays plenty busy withseems like a million irons in thehe practices what she preaches as anconservationist in general, a “turtleler” on the Isle of Palms, a board

ber of the South Carolina Aquarium,oard of Te Leatherback rust,

Charleston Literacy Volunteers. Shefrequent speaker at book festivals,rences, and private events, but alwaysme for residents of the Lowcountry.

Te Kiawah community are my kindople for so many reasons,” Monroen an email interview. “First, theyciate the bountiful blessings of their

nment; the wetlands, salt marsh,and maritime forests [and celebratethrough educational programs and

rt. Te wildlife is plentiful, from songorebirds to our reptiles--sea turtles andors. Kiawah is also a community thatciates the Arts. I’ve been the selectedr for a few of the Kiawah Readsams over the years and I am honoredve ‘A Lowcountry Wedding’ includedar. I come to Kiawah as often as I can,ak, participate in programs and to visits. I’m especially happy that Kiawah is

one of my first events for the ‘A Lowcountry Wedding’ book tour!”

Her novels have made some of the mostrenowned literary lists including the New

York imes, USA oday and the SouthernIndependent Booksellers Alliance. Shehas received numerous awards, includingseveral Readers’ Choice Awards; the 2014South Carolina Book Festival Award forExcellence in Writing; the 2015 South

West Florida Book Festival Distinguished Author Award; R Lifetime Achievement Award; and the 2008 South CarolinaCenter for the Book Award for Writing.Monroe was also featured at the NationalFestival of the Book. Her novel “TeButterfly’s Daughter” won the InternationalBook Award for Green Fiction In 2011.Te “Butterfly’s Daughter” was alsoselected as a finalist for the 2012 Book ofthe Year by the SIBA. Finally, Monroe’snovel, “Te Beach House,” will be adaptedinto a Hallmark Channel Original Movie,starring three-time Golden Globe nominee

Andie MacDowell. It will premiereexclusively on the network in 2016.

If you would like to attend the booklaunch of “A Lowcountry Wedding” atKiawah’s Sandcastle on May 3, 2016,contact the Sandcastle at email [email protected] or call 843.768.3875.For more information about Monroe’s work,visit her website www.maryalicemonroe.com or contact Angela May by [email protected]. Believe it ornot, the web site has a lot more information,including a way to win your very ownLowcountry Wedding maryalicemonroe.com/news/.

Haygood/Gradytournament set

for May13-15BY STAFF REPORTFor The Island Connection

he 6th annual Haygood/GradyMemorial ennis Championship,Dinner and Silent Auction takes

place May 13 through 15 at the KiawahIsland Golf Resort. Te tournament,a USA sanctioned and a SC Level 2event, honors the memory of a woman

whose hope and smiles inspired everyone who knew her and worked with her atthe Kiawah Island Golf Resort, PrinellaHaygood. Te weekend also honors

Linwood Grady who helped start thetournament and tragically also lost hisbattle with cancer in 2013. Proceedsbenefit Roper St. Francis Cancer Care,as well as an education trust for Prinella’stwo young sons.

Te tournament begins 4 p.m., Friday,May 13 at the Roy Barth ennis Center(see sidebar for divisions and registrationinfo), and the dinner and auction takeplace Saturday, May 14 from 6 p.m.at the East Beach Conference Center.Silent auction highlights include artworkand jewelry by Charleston artists, hotelstays and spa packages, dining and golfcertificates, wine tasting for 20, boatingand fishing excursions, tennis lessons and

more. ickets are $65 for dinner withoutentry into the tournament, children under5 are free, 6-12 yrs old $15, purchasetickets at www.haygoodgrady.com.

Tournament Divisions• Ranked NRP Men’s & NRP Women’s Singles: Open,2.5-4.5 (SE)• Ranked NRP Men’s & NRP Women’s Doubles: Open,2.5-4.5

(FMLC)• Ranked NRP Mixed Doubles: Open (FMLC)• Ranked NRP Combined Mixed Doubles: 5.0,6.0,7.0,8.0,9.0

(FMLC)• Ranked Senior 50 NRP Men’s & Senior 50 NRP Women’s

Doubles: 3.0-4.5 (FMLC)• Ranked Senior 50 NRP Combined Mixed Doubles: 6.0,7.0,8.0

(FMLC)• Play will not begin before 4:00PM on Friday, May 13th

ournament ID: 700033116, $70 for the first event, $10 for eachadditional event.Register online at: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/ TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=176522 Contact Jonathan Barth for questions, 843.568.1468.


11/16

22, 2016 11

arts & events

n the Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation in celebrating the Sea Islandsullah Culture with two exciting events. Te Gullah Gala, a Reception to Meet andreet Artist, Mary Whyte and her Johns Island models will be held on Friday, Mayto 8 p.m. at Te Sandcastle, Kiawah Island. Heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by therom the River Course will be served. ickets are $100.

n Saturday, May 14, 3 to 7 p.m. the Second Annual Gullah Celebration will beat Freshfields Village, Kiawah Island. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 atoor (12 and under are free) Featuring Lowcountry Voices (gospel choir), Gullahne catered by the Stono Market & omato Shed Café, Sweetgrass Baskets, wineeer and silent auction items featuring Jewelry, Fine Art, including a painting ofin Sams Creek, by Sergio Roffo.ase consider purchasing tickets, buying a sponsorship, and/or donating ann item. For sponsorships or to donate auction items go to fightislandhunger.org

ntact Shirley Salvo at [email protected] or 843.709.1406 or Amy [email protected] or 260.417.1022.e Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation is a non-profit organization workingound to provide food to Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island residents of all

who have difficulty providing food for themselves. Volunteers assist in growingious produce, picking up donated food for distribution, preparing meals andring food to families with children, the elderly, those with disabilities and veteransir homes. Currently, there are over 23,000 residents on Johns and Wadmalaw

s, of which 3,700 are at or below the poverty level. Te most disturbing statistict 90 percent of the children on these islands are living below the poverty level.F organizations are:

• Backpack Buddies of Seabrook • Hebron Zion Presbyterian Emergency Food Bank• Holy Spirit Catholic Church Food Pantry (fully funded by Holy Spirit Catholic

Church)• Meals on Wheels of Charleston (meals to the Sea Islands)• Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Food Pantry• Rockville Presbyterian Meals on Monday• Stono Baptist Blessing Basket• Sweetgrass Garden Co-opIn addition SIHAF has developed three new outreach programs:

Crock Pot Cooking ClassesElementary school students on the Sea Islands are excited about learning to prepare

nutritious, tasty food in a crock pot. SIHAF volunteers meet with students for six weeksafter school. At the la st class, each student receives a crock pot, measuring cups/spoons,spices, a Crock Pot Recipe Booklet and a certificate.Frierson Elementary Garden, Wadmalaw Island

All grade levels have their class plots planted with strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce,peppers, spinach etc. Students are planting rows of corn, watermelons, beans, two plumtrees, a lime tree and a pear tree. Students have planted flower seeds inside to transplantoutside later.Sea Islands Water Wellness Mission

Recently the organization learned there are families on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands who do not have clean, safe drinking water. SIHAF will provide assistance with new wells, repairs to existing wells and/or water filtration systems. For additional information,please contact Bill Britton, Project Coordinator, [email protected] or 843.421.6360.

elebrate the Sea Islands’ Gullah CultureT W O F U N D R A I S E R S F O R H U N G E R A WA R E N E S S

F O U N D AT I O N P L A N N E D

BY DONNA MUNDYFor The Island Connection

in Sams Creek, by Sergio Roffo.


12/16

Island Connection Calendar May 14ays

e Oil Classes& Huff Art C enter located

Marina, Wednesdays and.m. - 1 p.m. opics include

applying composition elementstings, edge work, brush anduse. Painting from still life

Email [email protected].

dge GroupLa ke House. Te Mondayp needs new players. For more please contact Ilse Calcagno

317.

aysPracticee 2nd, 3rd, and 4th uesday

h. Located at Te Lakeprey 2. Open to all newe returning to the game, andwho wants a chance to practicewho are learning the ga me.ny questions, please contactpson at [email protected].

eon County Bookmobile comess Village on the first uesday

nth from 10 – 11:30 a.m.obile will be parked in the lote’s and Java Java.

WednesdaysLake House Yoga 8:30 a.m. Join us for Rise and Shine Yoga with Patti Romano, formerly known atGentle Flow Yoga. Rise and Shine Yogais an all-levels practice focused aroundfinding your day’s intention, set up yourselffor success and be ready to shine.

FridaysFriday Indoor Pickleball12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at St. Chris topher’sCamp. For further information, pleasecontact Mary orello at 843.768.0056.

SaturdaysHomegrown10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Johns Isl and Farmers’Market. Every Tird Saturday at 3546Maybank Highway Johns Island.For more information, visit www. johnsislandfarmersmarket.com.

2015 Sea Island Cars and Coffee9 - 11 a.m. Te third Saturday each monthat Freshfields Village.

SundaysSunday Afternoon MatineesTe Lake House hosts Sunday Matineesat 1 p.m. in the Live Oak Hall. You are welcome to bring your favorite snacks orrefreshments. Water and popcorn will beprovided.

Ongoing Wine astings FortyEight - A Wine Bar475 Freshfields Drive, 6 p.m.complimentary Wednesday, April 27 Hall Winery of NapaComplimentary Wine asting Tursday, April 28 Spindrift Winery ofOregon Complimentary Wine asting

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

Sunset – 7:56 p.m., Moonrise – 8:28p.m. Come on down for a time of visitingand enjoying the beauty of SeabrookIsland at night. We’ll gather just northof Boardwalk 6. A great way to completeyour celebration of Earth Day. Put thesedates for the Full Moon Bonfires on yourcalendar: Saturday, May 21, Monday, June20, uesday, July 19

MONDAY, APRIL 25

BIFMC Golf Invitational FundraiserTe Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinichosts its ninth annual golf invitationalfundraiser. Te tournament is the largestfundraiser of the year.

SINHG Beekeeping ripBeekeeping at the Middleton Plantation.Full details regarding each of these tripsare available on the SINHG web site,sinhg.org. to sign up please contact JuliaTogmartin [email protected],740-501-8154.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

Lake House Lecture Series7 p.m. opics of i nterest to Seabrookersof educational, cultural, or wellness value.“Happiness Advantage,” by Lisa Burbage,learn about making lasting lifestylechanges. Free

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27

OLMC Golf ournament Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreachhost its 23rd Annual Golf ournament atTe Golf Club at Briar’s Creek on JohnsIsland. Te golf tournament begins withregistration and lunch at 11:30 a.m. anda shotgun start at 1 p.m. Dinner and anawards ceremony follows. o register orlearn more, visit olmoutreach.org or call(843) 559-4109.

CER 10th Anniversary CelebrationOyster Catcher Community Center. AllSeabrook Island residents are welcometo join us, this event will give residentsthe opportunity to meet those of yourneighbors who have been trained to assist

our community in the event of naturalor man-made disasters. If you havequestions, please contact John Reynolds [email protected], if you plan toattend the celebration RSVP to Cindy Willis, cwillissc@ya hoo.com. Toseattending are asked to bring a “heavy” horsd’oeuvre to share.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29

Kiawah Island Landscape Symposium,Plant Sale and Lunch9 a.m. - 1 p.m. KICA Maintenance (22Kestrel Ct.) Tis is truly a one-stop shop!Listen to a series of informative speakersoffering expert advice for your homelandscaping and maintenance, or explore avast selection of annuals, perennials, nativeplants and tropicals for sa le. For moreinformation, contact [email protected] or843-768-3875.

Lowcountry Art and Artisans ShowcaseLocal artists, crafters and creators willexhibit their wares on Kiawah Island thisspring at the semiannual event at theSandcastle Community C enter on Friday, April 29 from 4 - 7 p.m. and and Saturday April 30 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Celebrate Kiawah4 - 7 p.m. Sandcastle CommunityCenter. All Kiawah property ownersare invited to KICA’s annual poolside

party.Complimentary for all associationmembers. Invited guests are welcome to attend at a cost of $25 perperson. Please RSVP to [email protected] 843-768-3875.

Seabrook Island Club 25th AnniversaryCelebration A night of live music, dancing, cocktailsand exciting cuisine for club members.

Bohicket Matina’s 3rd Annual DolphinSlam$200 entry fee per boat, up to 4 people perentry fee. Cash awards! Enjoy free beer andgreat Food by Nacha Mama’s aqueria.Each additional person only $20. ww w.bohicket.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 1

Piccolo Preview 4 p.m. Te City of Charleston Officeof Cultural Affairs and the own ofKiawah Island Arts & Cultural EventsCouncil present a sampling of somefavorite musical elements as harbingersof the 2016 Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Teprogram will include performances fromseveral of the events chosen for this year’sfestival. Admission-free and open to thepublic. Holy Spirit Catholic Church,icketRelease: 4/15. Complimentary ickets Available at Kiawah own Hall 843-768-

9166 or online at www.kiawahisland.org/specialevents

TUESDAY, MAY 3

Artist of the MonthPat Ryan’s paintings and driftwoodcreation will be showcased at t he Seabrook

Island Lake House gallery all month long;opening reception on May 3, 5-7 p.m.

Book Launch3 p.m. Launch and signing of ALowcountry Wedding by Mary AliceMonroe, at Kiawah’s Sandcastle, call843.768.3875 for more information.

MONDAY, MAY 9

Kiawah Island Garden Club GardenParty 10 a.m., at the home of Edna Roberds.Tere will be a garden stroll with mimosas,followed by a ea with many delicioustreats.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11

Mark Gingerich Workshop At the odd & Huff Art Center, May 11and 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Te class willbe held at the Bohicket Marina studio andthe cost is $290. For more informationemail [email protected].

FRIDAY, MAY 13

Te Gullah Gala A Reception to Meet and Greet Artist,Mary Whyte and her Johns Island models will be held 6 to 8 p.m. at Te Sandcastle,Kiawah Island. Heavy hors d’oeuvresprepared by the chef from the RiverCourse will be served. ickets are $100.

Haygood/Grady Memorial ennisChampionshipTe tournament begins 4 p.m., Friday,May 13 at the Roy Bart h ennis Center.Register online at: http://tennislink.usta.com/ournaments/ournamentHome/ournament.aspx?=176522Contact Jonathan Barth for questions,843.568.1468.

SATURDAY, MAY 14

Second Annual Gullah Celebration3 to 7 p.m. at Freshfields Village, KiawahIsland. Admission is $15 in advance and$20 at the door (12 and under are free).Featuring Lowcountry Voices (gospelchoir), Gullah Cuisine catered by theStono Market & omato Shed Café,Sweetgrass Baskets, Wine/Beer and Silent Auction items featuring Jewelry, Fine Art -to include a painting, Captain Sams Creek,by Sergio Roffo - and much more!

Haygood/Grady Memorial ennisChampionship Dinner and Silent Auction6 p.m. at the East Beach ConferenceCenter. Silent auction highlights include

artwork and jewelry by Charleston artists,hotel stays and spa packages, dining andgolf certificates, wine tasting for 20, boatingand fishing excursions, tennis lessons andmore. ickets are $65 for dinner withoutentry into the tournament, children under 5are free, 6-12 yrs old $15, purchase tickets at www.haygoodgrady.com.

ril 22


13/16

l 22, 2016 13

arts & events

n the Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation in celebrating the Sea Islandsullah Culture with two exciting events. Te Gullah Gala, a Reception to Meet andreet Artist, Mary Whyte and her Johns Island models will be held on Friday, Mayto 8 p.m. at Te Sandcastle, Kiawah Island. Heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by therom the River Course will be served. ickets are $100.

n Saturday, May 14, 3 to 7 p.m. the Second Annual Gullah Celebration will beat Freshfields Village, Kiawah Island. Admission is $15 in advance and $20 atoor (12 and under are free) Featuring Lowcountry Voices (gospel choir), Gullahne catered by the Stono Market & omato Shed Café, Sweetgrass Baskets, wineeer and silent auction items featuring Jewelry, Fine Art, including a painting ofin Sams Creek, by Sergio Roffo.ase consider purchasing tickets, buying a sponsorship, and/or donating ann item. For sponsorships or to donate auction items go to fightislandhunger.org

ntact Shirley Salvo at [email protected] or 843.709.1406 or Amy [email protected] or 260.417.1022.e Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation is a non-profit organization workingound to provide food to Johns Island and Wadmalaw Island residents of all

who have difficulty providing food for themselves. Volunteers assist in growingious produce, picking up donated food for distribution, preparing meals andring food to families with children, the elderly, those with disabilities and veteransir homes. Currently, there are over 23,000 residents on Johns and Wadmalaw

s, of which 3,700 are at or below the poverty level. Te most disturbing statistict 90 percent of the children on these islands are living below the poverty level.F organizations are:

• Backpack Buddies of Seabrook • Hebron Zion Presbyterian Emergency Food Bank• Holy Spirit Catholic Church Food Pantry (fully funded by Holy Spirit Catholic

Church)• Meals on Wheels of Charleston (meals to the Sea Islands)• Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Food Pantry• Rockville Presbyterian Meals on Monday• Stono Baptist Blessing Basket• Sweetgrass Garden Co-opIn addition SIHAF has developed three new outreach programs:

Crock Pot Cooking ClassesElementary school students on the Sea Islands are excited about learning to prepare

nutritious, tasty food in a crock pot. SIHAF volunteers meet with students for six weeksafter school. At the la st class, each student receives a crock pot, measuring cups/spoons,spices, a Crock Pot Recipe Booklet and a certificate.Frierson Elementary Garden, Wadmalaw Island

All grade levels have their class plots planted with strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce,peppers, spinach etc. Students are planting rows of corn, watermelons, beans, two plumtrees, a lime tree and a pear tree. Students have planted flower seeds inside to transplantoutside later.Sea Islands Water Wellness Mission

Recently the organization learned there are families on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands who do not have clean, safe drinking water. SIHAF will provide assistance with new wells, repairs to existing wells and/or water filtration systems. For additional information,please contact Bill Britton, Project Coordinator, [email protected] or 843.421.6360.

elebrate the Sea Islands’ Gullah CultureT W O F U N D R A I S E R S F O R H U N G E R A WA R E N E S S

F O U N D AT I O N P L A N N E D

BY DONNA MUNDYFor The Island Connection

in Sams Creek, by Sergio Roffo.


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April 22, 2016

gardening

he Kiawah Island Garden Clubgathered at the beautiful ChurchCreek Nursery on Johns Island to

learn about the extensive operation andbuy plants for their gardens. Nancy Hart,the owner since incorporating in 1991, ledthe group through the many greenhousesand fields. She was a psychology major incollege. Before entering graduate schoolshe worked one summer in a plant nurseryand found her true calling. Te nurseryencompasses 18 acres and grows and sellsthousands of plants each year.

Among the plants Nancy showed us were many which require “ful l sun,” which in our area means just 4 hours a day. A popular garden color these days is limeand a wonderful example of a plant thatcolor is carex evirello, an evergreen grass.It also comes in a variegated variety, carexeverest. Another beautiful plant, which

deer don’t eat, is Agastache, also known asButterfly Mint or Hyssop. Native yarrowcomes in various pinks and reds and othersuccessful native plants are wild ageratumand Joe Pye Weed, eutrochium.

Te Garden Club members weresoon filling carts and boxes with flats ofperennials and succulents in amazingcolors and textures, and enjoying theopportunity to buy plants which areusually only available on a wholesale basis. Afterwards the Club met for lunch at theOsprey Clubhouse.

Te next Kiawah Island Garden Clubmeeting will be a Garden Party, at thehome of Edna Roberds, on Monday,May 9 at 10 a.m. Tere will be a gardenstroll with mimosas, followed by a ea with many delicious treats. It will be a wonderful and fitt ing end to a great yearof Garden Club events.

Kiawah Island GardenClub meets at Church

Creek NurseryBY MARTHA ZINK

For The Island Connection


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22, 2016 15

volunteer spotlight

Barbara anddward Fitzpatrick

ueens, New York natives,Barbara and Edward Fitzpatrickhave been married for almostars. Ed and Barb’s sisters wentool together. Ed worked at a deline day, during a “bread strike,”came in to purchase some bread.had some bread stored under

ounter for my regular customers,made sure to give her 2 loaves,”mbers Ed. However, it wasn’t untilf Ed’s sister’s wedding when Edarb reconnected. Tey exchangedletters while Ed was in the Navy.nt on to work for Goldman Sachsyears. Barbara was a stay-at-homeuntil her youngest child turned

ars old and then she managed alic school cafeteria. Although,

had a vacation house in ampa,d all of their 6 children and 21children live up north, in 2007decided to retire in Charleston,d.

Tey were encouraged to volunteer with the Neighborhood House soupkitchen by Ed’s sister and brother-in-law, Ellen and Charles Sanaga.“We have been enjoying coming forclose to 9 years. We love helping--it’sgratifying.” Some of the clients havebeen coming as long as they have beenvolunteering. But they both hope thatone day people won’t have to rely onNeighborhood House’s help. Until thatmoment comes, they will always bethere volunteering and serving meals.

Volunteer Spotlight is a column inTe Island Connection highlighting

members of the community who givetheir time to help others. If you know of avolunteer who deserves the spotlight email [email protected]. If you’ dlike to get involved with Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach and makea positive change in someone’s life contact Maria Gurovich via phone 843.559.4109or email [email protected].

BY MARIA GUROVICHFor The Island Connection


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the island connection - april 22, 2016

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