Island Connection - December 11, 2009

8/14/2019 Island Connection - December 11, 2009

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KI Council continued on page 7

In reading the attendance roll or the day’s meeting, Mayor Wert noted that Councilman Burnaord was still inCaliornia visiting amily and that own Administrator umiko Rucker is recovering rom surgery and will return to work by mid-December.

Arts Council recognizesLenni Freeburg

Councilman Charles Lipuma announcedthat Arts Council charter member LenniFreeburg will be leaving Kiawah early next year and will be retiring rom herposition in the Arts Council. Lenni hasbeen the mastermind behind events such

as the Jackson Pollock lm premiere, theBill Jameson painting demo, artist Mary

Whyte’s creativity lecture, Rick Reinert’spainting demo and the series on womenin art. “We have a small token o awardor Lenni Freeburg,” said Lipuma as hehanded Lenni a plaque, commemoratingher years o service. “Lenni is a talentedartist and her beachscapes are exquisite,”said Lipuma. “We’re going to miss her

and we wish her well.”Lenni thanked the Council or the

plaque and recognition, noting that she

wanted to give “special thanks to Mayor

Wert and Leo Fishman, who’s creativity and oresight helped establish the ArtsCouncil, which allowed us to reach outto other islands, as well as Kiawah.”

First reading o Ordinance 2009-11,Business License Amendment “Tis is required i we’re going to changebusiness license unding,” said Mayor

Wert in regards to Ordinance 2009-11, which changes business license rates by classication as addressed in the budgetordinance. Te Mayor noted that thechange was taken into account in thisyear’s budget, which expires June 30,2010. A public hearing on Ordinance2009-11 will be held on January 5 at1:45pm beore the next own Council

meeting. Te rst reading was approvedunanimously.

Island Beach Service Beach FranchiseContract Amendment Council unanimously approved the

extension o the Island Beach ServiceBeach Franchise agreement to December31, 2010. Te contract was awarded in2008 with the option to renew annually through 2010. Municipal Judge Appointment Mayor Wert moved to reappoint C.Gregory Brown as the own o KiawahIsland Municipal Court Judge or a term

to expire January 31, 2014. CouncilmanOrban remarked that Judge Brown has“done a good job over the past six years.No complaints.” Te Council approvedthe reappointment unanimously.

BZA appointment As Carol Fishman has decided not be onthe Board o Zoning Appeals or anotherterm, Chairman Ron Richie suggestedresident Ron Hacker as a replacement.Hacker has been a property owner onKiawah or 14 years and a ull timeresident or nine years. He was act iveon the KICA Covenant ComplianceCommittee or ve years and chair orthree years. He is currently Chair o theKICA Appeals Group and a member

o the Strategic Planning Committee.Te Council approved his appointmentunanimously and Hacker will serve aterm beginning January 1, 2010, andexpiring January 1, 2014.

Approval o 2010 own Council and Committee Schedules and HolidaysTe Council approved their Council andCommittee schedules, as well as theirholiday schedules, or 2010. Copies o theschedules will be available both onlineand at Kiawah own Hall.

Personnel MattersDuring an executive session ollowing lastmonth’s meeting, the Council approvedraises or the Kiawah own sta. In

order to make it ocial, Council votedunanimously to approve the raises duringthis month’s ocial Council meeting.

Arts Council closes 2009 seasonCouncilman Lipuma reported that the

Charleston Symphony Orchestra concerton the Freshelds Green on November 7,

which was held in conjunction with theKiawah House our, was outstanding,and the PURE theatre production o Te ragedian on November 12 wasspellbinding. Te CSO Holiday StringsConcert with Yuriy Bekker on December3 rounded out the 2009 Arts Season, butLipuma reminded the Council that they

have a “ull slate o exciting perormancesin January and February next year.”

Council says “nay” to horses“We need to make a note aboutkeeping horses o the bike path,” saidCouncilman Orban. “I didn’t realize wehad to put up a sign about no horses onthe bike path, but they a re not allowed.”Orban also noted that the paving o the path and the Parkway is essentially complete, and the landscapers are wellinto planting out the bike path. Tecontractors are working on the newguardrails and all work looks to becompleted by January 1. “It will look even better when the landscaping isdone,” said Orban, noting that the nal

touches, such as laying down new sod, will be completed in early spring. He alsonoted that the new road markings will bepainted in once the weather warms up,as the paint needs a temperature o 55degrees or more in order to cure properly.

Regarding recycling In terms o the recycling/solid wasteprogram, Councilman McHugh reportedthat the Homeowners Association

Kiawah Island Council – December 1, 2009

Mayor Wert (let) and Councilman Lipuma (right)award Lenni Freeburg or her service on the Arts Council.

Mondy, Dcmbr 14

St. Johns Fire District Commission7pmSt. Johns Commission Building3327 Maybank Highway, Johns Island

Kiawah Island Board o Zoning Appeals

4pm - 5pmown Hall Council Chambers

Tusdy, Dcmbr 22

Seabrook Island own Council All own Council meetings will be heldat 2:30pm at the own Hall unless notedotherwise on the own bulletin board.

Dcmbr 24 nd 25 nd

Jnury 1

Kiawah and Seabrook oces will beclosed

2 December 11, 2009

Civic Calendar

The Island

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submissions.Op-Ed articles do not necessarily reect the opinion o Lucky Dog News or its writers.

Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC

Publishers of Island Eye News,

The Island Connection and The Folly Current .

K iawah island Town h all 21 Beachwalker DriveKiawah Island, SC 29455Phone: 768-9166Fax: 768-4764Email: [email protected]

seabrooK island Town h all 2001 Seabrook Island RoadSeabrook Island, SC 29455Phone: 768-9121Fax: 768-9830Email:[email protected]

Johns island CounCil Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric Co-op located at 3351Maybank Hwy, John’s Island.Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113

CharlesTon CounTy CounCil 4045 Bridge View Dr, N Charleston(843) 958-4700

CiTy of CharlesTon75 Calhoun St.

(843) 724-3745



A public hearing or Ordinances 2009-08 and 2009-09 was held at 2:25 beore the own Council meeting. As there were nocomments, the public hearing was closed at 2:30pm.

FinancialsFor the ten months ending on October31, 2009, Mayor Holtz reported that

revenues are $732,302.69, which is$53,607.54 better than budgeted, but stil l$183,176.61 less than last year-to-date.“Tis is indicative o what’s going on withall municipalities,” said Holtz. “But we’reexceeding our budgeted revenue, which isgood.” Expenditures or the ten monthsare $437,134.47 against a budget o $460,029.06, and the excess o revenuesover expenditures tota l $295,168.22,

which is down rom last year’s excess o $470,839.80. “We’re running about 37%less than last year in surplus, but it’s stilla surplus,” said the Mayor, noting thatthe discrepancy is mainly due to businesslicense ee income.

Councilman Jerry Cummin askedabout the Utility Commission loan

line item, which states $440,000 asthe total o the loan in the Seabrook Island budget, but is listed as $438,000in the Utility Commission budget.Council asked Joe Hall o the Utility Commission about the discrepancy later in the meeting, and Hall explainedthat they had initially requested aloan o $438,000, but all o the bondinstruments were written in units o 10,

so the bond is covered at $440,000 andthe loan is or $440,000.

Becoming acquainted with disaster As the Seabrook own Council hasrecently added two new Councilmembers - Councilmen Sam Reedand erry Ahearn - newly appointedMayor Holtz asked that Scott Cave rom

Atlantic Business Continuity Servicesreturn to Council and briey runthrough the own’s new ComprehensiveDisaster Plan. “Tis i s a major projectand we want to make sure everyoneknows what’s going on,” said Holtz.

As he did or last month’s meeting, Caveran through the plans major points,noting the tabs which discuss how tohandle potential threats to the ownincluding specic responses to individualentity emergencies (own Hall, Utility Commission, etc.), and pointed out thattraining and maintenance o the plan arenecessary or its eective implementation.“Tis is a living document that needs tobe maintained,” said Cave.

Councilman Ahearn asked i the plan

includes provisions or the supply o uelin case o an emergency, and Cave repliedthat a vehicle is scheduled to leave theisland in case o an advance warningemergency. As or ueling the generator,own Administrator Pierce noted thatthe new own generator has a 1,000gallon propane tank, which will allow itto run or up to two weeks. CouncilmanSavin also pointed out that there’s uel at

the Seabrook Island Club, and the Utility Commission has a 20,000 gallon tank

which “could run or months”.

Te green space controversy “Let’s talk about charities and green

space,” said Mayor Holtz. “Te previousCouncil did not g ive to any non-protsor charities because they were unable to

determine which organizations shouldhave the money and they’re all good.Tere are none that do not deserve help.”Tat being said, Holtz brought up therecent request by the Seabrook IslandGreen Space Conservancy or a donationo $10,000 to sponsor their gala event inMarch, 2010. “Tey help all o Seabrook and have done great things,” said Holtz,“but I know i we approve one, we’ll haveten more coming.” Te rest o Councilagreed, stating that, even though theGreen Space Conservancy is a goodcause and an excellent organization, theCouncil should continue its policy o notdonating to charities and non-prots.“We’re not a charity,” said Joe Crispyn,

Assistant reasurer or the Conservancy.

“We’re a non-prot 501 (c)3 organizationestablished or the benet o Seabrookers.” He reminded Council that,over the past ten years, the Conservancy has preserved more than ten acres o land on the island at an appraised valueo $6 million. “Our 2010 plans includepreserving the access road running romthe Freshelds circle to the Seabrook gate,” said Crispyn.

Conservancy President Dick Hughesconcurred with Crispyn, pointing outthat the Conservancy has used primarily individual contributions to purchase theland. “We regard support rom the ownas a way o equitably sharing amongstall o the citizens,” said Hughes. “I parto the money applied to the water billreund were applied to support green

space, all o the citizens would havecontributed to something that is or their

wellbeing.”Councilman Savin asked why no

one had to come to the Council aboutthe issue until ater the water bill wasreunded, and Hughes claried thathe is ocusing on next year’s reund.“I you could support us, you couldmake the point that this is a reundto the community, not a charitablecontribution,” said Hughes.

Te Council listened, but in the end,Mayor Holtz stated that he appreciatedthe Conservancy’s position, “but I’mmaking a motion to continue to notsupport non-prots and charities.” TeCouncil agreed unanimously. “You have

a good point,” said Holtz, “But we’re notgoing to bend on this one.”

Report rom Public Saety Councilman Savin reported or thePublic Saety Committee, noting that heand own Administrator Randy Peircehave gone through the Committee’s

SI Council continued on page 5

Seabrook Town Council – November 24, 2009

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December 11, 2009 3



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J o h n s I s l a n d C o u n c i l – D e c e m b e r 3 , 2 0 0 9 Chairman Chris Cannon announced that Congressman Leon Stavrinakis romDistrict 119 has conrmed that he will attend the January Council meeting toconduct an inormal question and answer session with the Johns Island Council.

Private Sewage reatment acilities

Chairman Cannon conrmed thata letter expressing the Johns IslandCouncil’s disapproval o CharlestonCounty becoming liable or privatesewage treatment plants was ocially delivered to the County Council. Teletter opposes private sewage treatmentplants mainly because the ailure o theplant projects would be borne by the taxpayer. However, Cannon elt that theapproval is pretty much a done deal.

Zoning approvals and upcoming eventsCannon reported that the CharlestonCounty Board o Zoning Appealsapproved, with conditions, the removal

o a 28 inch diameter breast height(DBH) Grand Water Oak at 4195 Betsy Kerrison Parkway or the construction o a proposed elevated water storage tank.

Also, the request to remove eight grandtrees in St. Johns Woods will not bediscussed by the City o CharlestonBoard o Zoning Appeals until January at

the earliest. As or upcoming meeting dates,

Council member Brownlee reported thatCharleston County’s zoning decision onthe Beeserry Landll has been deerred,or the third time, until the December 17meeting, and Cannon reminded everyoneabout the Greenway meeting at the Johns

Island Library (3531 Maybank Highway)on Monday, December 7, rom 11 – 7pm.He encouraged everyone who could, toattend.

Johns Island road improvementsCannon brought a copy o theimprovements suggested or JohnsIsland intersection improvements whichcould be implemented while study anddesign progresses or the Maybank and Sea Islands projects, to the extentunding is available. Cannon asked thatthe Council members go through thesuggestions and determine which onesthe Council will support and which

ones they eel are unnecessary. Tereare six road improvement suggestionsin total, including: two right turn lanesat Brownswood Road and MurraywoodRoad; Widen a portion o road tomaintain three lanes rom Maybank Hwy. to Brownswood Road; buildinga right turn lane onto Bohicket Road

rom Plowground Road and a letturn lane rom Plowground Road ontoBohicket Road which would involvea bridge replacement and grand treeimpacts; building a let turn land ontoMurraywood Road rom River Road,including a bridge replacement andgrand tree impacts; a right turn lane onto

Maybank Hwy. rom River Road witha trac light timing study; and a rightturn lane onto Plowground Road romRiver Road.

“I there’s anything I would say was acomplete waste o money, I would say it’s that one,” said Cannon, in reerenceto the right turn lane onto PlowgroundRoad rom River Road, pointing outthat, “I you’re turning right, you’re notgetting in anyone’s way in the rst place.”Cannon also elt that the rst suggestion,the two right turn lanes at BrownswoodRoad and Murraywood Road, was alsounnecessary.

In terms o the 526 extension issue,

Council member Brownlee remarkedthat he elt that suggested route numbers11 and 36 will be the two nal scenariossuggested by the extension study. Councilmember Henry Chavis stated thatMaybank, Main and River Road traccould be reduced by 50% with the 526extension.

Police enorcement on the island Council member Rich Tomasreported that, during the Long Rangeransportation Study meeting held at

West Ashley High School on Tursday,November 19, Mayor Holtz o Seabrook Island stated that he would sign a letter

written by the Johns Island Council

to the Charleston County Sheri’sDepartment requesting more policeenorcement on Johns Island. BothCouncil members Brownlee andTomas have kept a lookout or morepolice enorcement on the island sincetheir meeting with Charleston County Sheri Al Cannon a ew months ago,and neither has seen an improvement inpolice coverage o the island.

Tomas stated it would be worthwhileto write a letter requesting urther tracenorcement on Johns Island. “At least

we’d have it on the record,” said Tomas.“I think this will send a message and wecould see i Kiawah will sign it, as well.”

Te next Johns Island Council meeting will be held on Tursday, January 7, at 7pm at Berkeley Electric Co-Op, located at 3351 Maybank Hwy. For more inormation, call Chairman Chris Cannon at 343-5113.



December 11, 2009 5

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implementation schedule and arecurrently waiting or the own attorney to get back with them on some questionsbeore orming the ocial Committee.

Report rom Roads CommitteeCouncilman Sam Reed, as the head o the Roads Committee, stated that heeels condent that progress is beingmade toward improving the saety o roads on Johns Island. He reminded

Council about the all day Greenway drop-in meeting at the Johns IslandPublic Library on Monday, December7, and noted that the Roads Committee

which he had chaired under the Property Owners Association would most likely continue in its present orm under theauspices o Seabrook Island. Te RoadsCommittee will continue to work withthe Kiawah Roads Committee, which isheaded by Dr. Paul Roberts, Presidento the Kiawah Island Community

Association (KICA).In terms o working with the Kiawah

Roads Committee, Councilman Reedmade his rst motion as Chair o theRoads Committee, asking the ownto contribute $1,000/month toward

continuing the services o JeromeHoward, a Johns Island resident who hasbeen instrumental in introducing theGreenway concept to Charleston County Council.Holtz, however, asked that they holdthe motion until December so that they could clariy the details o the agreement.Reed withdrew the motion.

Island entity Liaison OfcerCouncilman erry Ahearn has beenappointed as the Liaison Ocer betweenthe Island’s many organizations andbusiness entities, and or his rst report,

Ahearn noted that he has been incontact with both the Seabrook IslandClub and the POA. He pointed out thatthey are both interested in cooperatingand brought up the issue o the own’s

website and how they would both like orthere to be a joint website which wouldprovide inormation about Seabrook,

as well as links to the various otherentities. Mayor Holtz recommended that Ahearn work with Councilman Jerry Cummin, chair o the CommunicationsCommittee, who has some experience inbuilding websites.

Report rom CommunicationsCommitteeCouncilman Jerry Cummin, heado the Communication Committee,reported that his Committee is workingon a project to determine what radiosare available on the island and how tosync them with each other so that they

will be able to communicate in case o a disaster. He noted that CouncilmanSavin is in charge o acquiring two

satellite phones, “but we need to knowhow we’ll communicate with other islandentities,” said Cummin, “so that’s one o our projects.”

Appointment o Mayor Pro-emMayor Holtz motioned that CouncilmanRob Savin, as the most senior Councilmember, be appointed as Mayor Proempore. Te motion was approvedunanimously.

Zoning changes on the island own Administrator Randy Piercereported that the zoning map orSeabrook Island is updated every year,and this year, the only real change is to

Jenkins Point as per the recently passedOrdinance which allows or a one acresubdivided lot to be rezoned as SR-1.“One housekeeping issue is that on theown map, an old construction routenear Pelican Watch is designated as aneasement, though it actually belongs toPelican Watch and is private property,”

said Pierce. Te Council approvedthe changes to the own zoning mapunanimously.

Te boundaries o Captain Sams Spit Councilman Cummin asked whether ornot the own is satised with the currentboundaries in place around Captain SamsSpit. Pierce stated that a survey had beendone o the property by a survey group inCharleston. At the time, the boundaries

were approved by the Council, but ownattorney Steve Brown is checking intothe legality o the platted coordinates.“We do have an agreement with Kiawahthat says the boundary will alwaysremain where the cut goes in place,” saidPierce, reerencing the regular dredging

o the Kiawah Island River which hasbeen done twice in the past and is beingprepared or a third dredging, “Sohopeully we have everything in place tolay a solid boundary.”

Report rom Utility Commission As the sole sur vivor o the own o Seabrook Island’s 1985 IncorporationCommittee, Joe Hall remarked that theown o Seabrook Island was or iginally

zoned or 3600 residential units; anumber which, as ar as he understands,has been reduced to 2600. “Te ownlooked at the percentage o impermeablesuraces on the island such as roo coverage and asphalt roads, and throughthe years has put 42 acres o land intogreen space. It cost thousands to get thatdone,” said Hall. “It’s just a point youought to know and be proud o.”

Councilman Savin asked Hall abouta recent incident reported to him by an island resident, wherein she ound

that “black stu” was coming out o her aucet. Hall reported that this hadoccurred all over the island this pastsummer due to a low amount o chlorinein the water system; the result o a aulty chlorine distribution system. “It’s actually mildew that grew in the storage tanksand permeated the system,” said Hall.Te problem has since been corrected.Lastly, Hall reported that the oodingproblem at the corner o Marsh Henand the back o Seabrook Island Road isbeing repaired with the installment o aback blow valve.

Second reading o Ordinance 2009-08: membership o various committeesCurrently, the own o Seabrook Island’s

Public Saety Committee consists o onemember o Council. Tis Ordinanceadds the phrase “plus two additionalat-large members to be determined by the Public Saety ocial and approved by own Council.” Te second reading wasapproved unanimously.

SI Council continued rom page 3

Council continued on page 7







Friday, december 11

First Day o Hanukkah

“Visiting artist” receptionTe Wells Gallery at the Sanctuary onKiawah Island will host a “Visiting Artist”

wine and cheese reception between 5 and8pm. Four artists rom the Seabrook ArtGuild have been invited to display theirpaintings at the gallery rom December11 through December 31, 2009. Tey are: Robert LeFevre, ina Mayland, Dan

Prickett and Colleen Wiessmann.Equestrian Clinic at Mullet Hall Ronnie Anderson rom Don Stewart Stables

will oer hunter, equitation, and jumperclinics Saturday and Sunday with a ewprivate/semi private sessions available Friday aternoon and at sunrise throughout the

weekend. Pre-registration required. 8:30am-5:30pm. Course # 21566. For more ino,call 796-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.

Sing We Now o Christmas Join the Island Choraliers with “Ourmusical git to our island riends andneighbors” rom 7 to 8 pm at Te Churcho our Saviour on Betsy Kerrison Blvd.

Admission is ree; no tickets are needed. A

ree-will oering will be taken.

Saturday, december 12

Pat Conroy book signing 1pm to 3:30pm at Blue Bicycle Books. Teamed Southern author will be signingcopies o his latest novel, South o Broad .Secure a place in line by getting ticketsor the signing on December 11. Tere is

no charge to attend. For ino, go to www.bluebicyclebooks.com or call 722-2666.

Christmas at the Sottile Te Charleston Men’s Chorus will presentChristmas at the Sottile , a concert lled with

joyul and sacred holiday music as only theCharleston Men’s Chorus can sing it. SottileTeatre, 44 George St. at 3pm. Admission is$15/adults; $10/seniors; Free/children under6. ickets at Monster Music & Movies(West Ashley) and Royall Hardware (Mt.Pleasant). For more ino, call 720-8505 or

visit www.cmchorus.com.

Barrier island adventure with CoastalExpeditions

Join Coastal Expeditions rom 10am –3pm or a guided walk on Bull Island,Cape Romain National Wildlie Reuge.Te walk begins on Bull Island, where webegin to discover the maritime orest. We

will explore the resh water impoundmentsand be inspired by awesome views o Bone

Yard Beach. For more ino and to register,Call Coastal at 843-884-7684. www.coastalexpeditions.com

A Blue, Blue Christmas with the King Michael Viljac and the Elvis ribute Band

will perorm your avorite holiday songs

as perormed by the King o Rock andRoll himsel at the Glenn L. Jeers VFW,located at 1411 Stuart Engals Blvd. inMount Pleasant. ickets are $10 and may bepurchased by calling 345-9084.

Seabrook COVAR meeting 10am at the Lake House

Great Outdoor Gear SaleCome out to James Island County Park 9am to 12pm or your chance to get greatdeals on great gear. We’re selling some o the tents, kayaks, mountain bikes, campingaccessories, and more that we’ve used. Formore ino, call 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.

Saturday, december 12

Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw Every Wednesday and Saturday at CawCaw Interpretive Center in Ravenel o Hwy 17. Walk through many distincthabitats to view and discuss a variety o birds, butteries, and other organisms.Pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-in registrations at Caw Caw are welcome.8:30am-12pm. Course # 21743. Fee: $5/Free or Gold Pass Holders. For more ino,call 795-4386 or visit www.ccrpc.com.

Kiawah Island Marathon!Te race starts at 8am. For more ino, visit

www.kiawahislandmarathon.com.

Charleston Ballet presents:Te Nutcracker December 12 & 13 Gailla rd Auditorium,and December 19 at the N. Chas.Perorming Arts Center. Set in the streets o downtown Charleston circa 1865, the ballethas teamed with the dance programs andchildren o the Dorchester 2 school districtor this massive holiday production. Tistreasured classic is the perect remedy orthe hustle and bustle o the holiday season.ickets may be at 723-7334 or at the CBBox Oce at 477 KingStreet.

Sunday, december 13

Gemenids meteor showerOne o the most visible meteor showethe year, the meteors should become between 9 and 10pm, peaking at 2amDecember 14 with as many as 50 me

per hour.

Charlton Singleton rio presentsChristmas Jazz VespersCircular Congregational Church,150 Meeting St. at 6pm. For moreinormation, please call 577-6400 or [email protected].

monday, december 14

Bulls Island archery-only deer hunTe harvest o surplus animals is oneused to manage wildlie populations.Reuge hunting permits are required.more ino, visit w ww.ws.gov/caperomor call 928-3368. December 14 – 19,

WedneSday, december

Pet Lie Care Plan seminar at Sun DCat MoonStarting at 6pm, Dr. Ruth Roberts wbe speaking about developing a lie caplan or your pet. She will touch on nvaccine protocols, wellness testing, asas using ood and supplements to helthe quality o lie high or pets as theLeashed and social dogs are welcomeMaybank Highway Johns Island, 437

www.sundogcatmoon.com

Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw

Every Wednesday and Saturday at CaInterpretive Center in

Ravenel o Hw Walk thro

many dhabitatview adiscua vario bird

butterand other

organisms.Pre-registrati

is encouragedbut walk-ins a

welcome. 8:3012pm. Course

21743. Fee: $5Free or Gold Holders. For mino, call 795-or visit www.com.

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Island ConnDecember



urday, december 19

Holiday Popsuest conductor Darko Butorac, theeston Symphony Orchestra Chorus,he Charleston Children’s Choruse o Charleston’s most honored

ons celebrating riendship, goodwill,oliday sounds o the season. Gaillardorium, 77 Calhoun St. at 8pm.sion is $20-45/adults; $5/children.ore ino, call 723-7528, and visitcharlestonsymphony.com.

elpers Open Houseus or Pet Helpers Holiday Opene rom 11am-3pm. Holiday treats,photos with your pet, and plenty o cheer! 1447 Folly Road, James Island.110, www.pethelpers.org.

er Waterowl Wetland Bird HikeNature Adventures Outttersng Naturalist rom 10am –on a wonderul hike along Te

Wells marshland trail by the Naturervancy’s Washo Reserve. Registrationed. $10 each. All proceeds willt Te Nature Conservancy. Calle Adventures to register at 928-

or e-mail: [email protected]. www.eAdventuresOuttters.com.

Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw turday, December 12.

Music Collective’s Unsilent Night nt Night is Phil Kline’s roving soundation: boombox holiday caroling.at the City Gallery at Waterront34 Prioleau St. and ends in Marione, King & Calhoun St. From

pm. For more ino, visit ww w.usiccollective.org.

day, december 20

Messiah Sing-A-Long perorm with the Charleston

hony Orchestra and sing al l o yourte Messiah hits. Citadel Squaret Church, 328 Meeting St. at 6pm.

ssion is $15/adults; $5/children. Forino, call 723-7528, and visit ww w.stonsymphony.com.

al Christmas Bird Count,ellanvilleion all birders! Meet at . W.m’s on Pinckney Street in

ellanville at 7am or a ull day o g. Craig Watson, US Fish & Wildlie,he walk at North and South ibwin.s $5. For more ino: Cape Romain

Observatory; [email protected]

monday, december 21

First Day o winter

tueSday, december 22

Dylan Tomas’ Christmas in Wales

“Dylan Tomas’ Christmas In Wales” isa dramatic perormance o Tomas’ 1955beloved radio story “A Child’s Christmasin Wales”. Veteran perormer ClarenceFelder portrays the author, accompaniedby violinist Nonoko Okada, utist ReginaHelcher Yost and cellist imothy O’Malley perorming traditional carols. Presentedby Actors’ Teatre o South Carolina andChamber Music. Circular CongregationalChurch, 150 Meeting Street. December22 and 23 at 7pm. ickets: $17 generaladmission. ickets are on sale now by calling 763-4941 or online at www.ChamberMusicCharleston.org .

Seabrook Island Art Guild meeting Te Seabrook Island Art Guild meets on

the third uesday o every month at theProperty Owners Association building at3pm. I you would like to join the Guild,membership dues are $20/year. For moreinormation, please contact Robert McBrideat 768-3696.

WedneSday, december 23

Te Night Beore ChristmasChris Weatherhead and Michael Easlerrom Actors’ Teatre o South Carolina

join Chamber Music Charleston utistRegina Helcher Yost, clarinetist CharlieMessersmith and bassoonist SandraNikolajevs or this special Classical KidsSeries concert. Circular CongregationalChurch, 150 Meeting Street at 1pm.

ickets: $4-$10 general admission. icketsare on sale now by calling 763-4941 oronline at www.ChamberMusicCharleston.org . Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw See Saturday, December 12.

Friday, december 25

Christmas Day

WedneSday, december 30

Early Morning Bird Walks at Caw Caw See Saturday, December 12.

thurSday, december 31

New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Family Celebration5:30pm – 10pm. Ring in 2010 with riendsand amily, eaturing live entertainment andreworks at Night Heron Park on Kiawah

Island. Featuring a ull a la carte dinnermenu until 9:30pm and live music with aparty band. Other activities include trainrides, jump castles & party avors or all.Te reworks nale begins at 10pm romthe Night Heron Park Soccer Field! Formore ino, visit www.kiawahrecreation.comor call 768.6001.

Kamp Kiawah: New Year’s Eve Bash7:30pm – 12:30am at the Sanctuary Discovery Room. Ages 3 – 11. Ring in theNew Year at the Sanctuary pool! Enjoy

pizza party, pool games and a water crat.Fireworks show on the beach! For moreino, visit www.kiawahrecreation.com orcall 768.6001.

Snyder Grand BallFeaturing Quiana Parler and Friends, withDJ Natty Heavy in the Shark ank atthe South Carolina Aquarium. $125 perperson. Open bar and hors d’oeuvres. ww w.snydergrandball.com or hotel packages andmore ino. A portion o the proceeds benetCharleston Area Terapeutic Riding.

December 11, 2009 9

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But most o the attention was towardthe tree itsel, where a temporary stagehad been built near its base. Next toit, an inatable movie screen ashedinormation about the event, and laterscrolled through the lyrics to severalavorite holiday carols.

Just beore the ocial lighting at6pm, Property Owners AssociationEvents Coordinators Lynne Madison,Karen Sewell and Mimi Montaguetook the stage and thanked all o thevolunteers who stepped orward to makethe night’s event possible. “We couldn’t

do it without you,” said Karen Sewell. With that, they introduced Scott

Wallinger, President o the POA, whothanked everyone or attending andpointed out that they all had a lot tobe thankul or this year. “Tis year,

we celebrate the new Club acilities andLake House – they’re an early Christmaspresent that we bought or ourselves,”

he smiled. And beore kicking o theevening’s caroling, Wallinger asked ora moment o silence to acknowledge theSeabrook Island residents who passedaway over the last year, as well as toacknowledge the US soldiers servingaround the world.

At the end o the moment, Wallingerled the crowd in a hearty countdown,and as the crowd shouted “one!” the gianttree sparkled to lie. Seabrook residentCaitlyn Berl immediately led the crowdin a rousing rendition o “O, Christmasree”, as resident Jan Hanchrow playedthe keyboard.

Special thanks go to the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association ormaking the tree lighting event possiblethis year. “It was icing on the cake tohave such wonderul weather and a ullmoon, too!” smiled Events CoordinatorCo-Chair Karen Sewell.

For more inormation about the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association, visit www.sipoa.org.

ree lighting continued rom cover

on Calendar ecember 31



10 December 11, 2009

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A s the temperatures cool in November, our winterducks return to Kiawah. In the duck world, thereare two camps - dabblers and divers - and each has

a dierent eeding strategy. Dabblers eed at the water’ssurace or tip over and graze on plants and invertebratesin shallow water. Divers swim in deeper water ater sh,

invertebrates, and vegetation. Kiawah’s ponds are almostall too deep or dabblers, so most o the ducks we see hereare divers.

Ducks can be seen on all o Kiawah’s waters: salt marsh,ponds, and ocean. Tousands o scaup and scoters bobaround the ocean and are best viewed with a spotting scope.Hooded Mergansers are much easier to spot: they can beound in the Kiawah River as well as most o the largerponds, and the male’s ashy plumage is a crowd pleaser.

Another merganser, theRed-Breasted, can beound in the river andlarge ponds such as WilletPond. Other ducks oundon Kiawah are the Ruddy Duck, the Bufehead, and

the Blue-Winged eal. Although it may look

like a duck and act likea duck, some duck-likebirds are not ducks atall. Tere are severalduck look-a-likes oundon Kiawah in the winter.Pied-Billed Grebes are

small diving birds ound in many o Kiawah’s ponds.Common moorhens and American Coots are chicken-like birds that wade and swim in shallow and/or deep

water. Loons in their less showy winter plumage areoccasionally ound in the Kiawah River, but are moreoten ound in the sur or open ocean. At this time o

year, cormorants are practical ly ubiquitous in open waterand can oten be seen basking in the sun, drying their waterlogged eathers.

About the author: Sarah is a Naturalist with the KiawahIsland Nature Program. o contact her with comments or personal stories, email her at [email protected].

Duck! Incoming winter waterfowlBy saraH ernst

(let) Hooded Mergansers show of their beautiul winter plumage. (above) Anhingas are oten mistaken or ducks as they oten appear in duck habitats.

KIAWAH ISLAND RECREATIONDeceMBer 11 – DeceMBer 18

FRIDAY, December 11Heron Park Nature Center:8:30am – 3pm

urtle racks: 8:30am – 3pmOrganic Beach Bag Coloring:8:30am – 3pmPick Up Games: Basketball:2pm – 3pm

SAURDAY, December 1232nd Annual Kiawah Island Gol Resort Marathon!Race start is 8am. For moreinormation, please go to www.kiawahislandmarathon.com

SUNDAY, December 13Heron Park Nature Center:8:30am – 3pmurtle racks: 8:30am – 3pm

Organic Beach Bag Coloring:8:30am – 3pmPick Up Games: Volleyball: 2pm – 3pm

MONDAY, December 14Heron Park Nature Center:8:30am – 3pmurtle racks: 8:30am – 3pmOrganic Beach Bag Coloring:8:30am – 3pmPick Up Games: Basketball:2pm – 3pm

UESDAY, December 15Heron Park Nature Center:8:30am – 3pmurtle racks: 8:30am – 3pm

Organic Beach Bag Coloring:8:30am – 3pmPick Up Games: Volleyball: 2pm – 3pm

WEDNESDAY, December 16Heron Park Nature Center:8:30am – 3pmurtle racks: 8:30am – 3pmOrganic Beach Bag Coloring:8:30am – 3pmPick Up Games: Soccer: 2pm – 3pm

HURSDAY, December 17Heron Park Nature Center:8:30am – 3pmurtle racks: 8:30am – 3pmOrganic Beach Bag Coloring:8:30am – 3pmPick Up Games: Volleyball: 2pm – 3pm

FRIDAY, December 18Heron Park Nature Center:8:30am – 3pmurtle racks: 8:30am – 3pmOrganic Beach Bag Coloring:8:30am – 3pmPick Up Games: Basketball:2pm – 3pm

For more details and reservations or ollowing activities, including times or Nature ours, or all o these activities, please visit www.kiawahrecreation.comor call the Heron Park Nature Center at 843.768.6001. *Nature ours available daily. imes are tide dependant.

PHOTOS BY Jamie ROOd



W ith enormous populationgrowth and ever moreexpensive coastal-area homes,

it is simply not possible or a single insurerto collect enough premiums to cover all

possible property loss. In 2008, HurricaneIke cost exas insurers more than they had collected in premiums in the previous38 years.

o get the highest solvency ratings romagencies like Standard & Poor, companiesmust be able to cover losses rom twoonce-in-a-hundred-year storms in a row.Sometimes, even with the widest possiblepool, insurers can’t do this. Tey are“overexposed” and have to greatly increaserates or retreat rom coastal areas.

In 2007, the South Carolina General Assembly passed the Omnibus CoastalProperty Insurance Reorm Act. As onepart o that act, the state expanded theareas that could be covered by the SC

Wind and Hail Underwriting Association.Commonly known as the Wind Pool, thisindependent association was created by the state in 1971 to serve as the insurer o last resort or homeowners and businessesin a narrow coastal zone.

Te 2007 expansion also allowedcompanies to write other types o property and casualty independent o wind coveragein the expanded area. Tese provisions

have proved worthwhile as at least 13additional insurance companies now covercoastal South Carolina.

Recently, I have heard some outrageously misinormed and exaggerated statements

about the impact o the Wind Pool, suchas: “Te Wind Pool area is purely arbitrary and politically inspired. Te Wind Poolhas caused rate hikes in surrounding areas.I have to use the Wind Pool coveragebecause my insurance company won’tcover me anymore.”

None o the above is true. Here’s what’strue: you have options.

Don’t get me wrong. I, or some reason,you really do have to avail yoursel o WindPool coverage, South Carolina has the bestmanaged Wind Pool in the United States,but there are numerous insurers who arenot over-extended in coastal areas thatcan provide the total property insurancepackage or you.

So, shop around. You don’t have tocall me. Tere are lots o good insuranceagents to help you with your homework.

Just don’t sit in the Pool complaining. Dosomething!

Jules Anderson is president o AndersonInsurance Associates and chairman o the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers o South Carolina (IIABSC).

There are optionsoutside of the Pool

By Jules anDersOn





Charleston County’s EnvironmentalManagement Department recently held their 2009 Creative Recycling

Art Contest to celebrate America RecyclesDay 2009. Te contest was a success orCharleston County. A total o 68 adultsand students entered the contest, which

required artwork to be made using only recyclables and discarded material.

Joseph Lemon, an eleventh gradestudent at St. Johns High School, wonsecond place in the student category andreceived a git certicate to Artist &Crasmen Supply or his sculpture “Youcan’t see the picture i you’re in the rame”made rom wood rames, spray paint,glue and transparencies. In a close third,twelth grade student LaAndrea Clinton

won a copy o the book Secrets o Rusty Tings; ransorming Found Objects into Art , by Michael de Meng or her pieceentitled “News Carrier”. Both students

were taught by art teacher Dona Dowling,editor and publisher o the school’s literary

magazine.First place winner or the student

category was Kyle Heck o NorthCharleston rom Charleston County School o the Arts or his work “Dragony Morning”.

Te contest showed that one person’strash can be another person’s art, with

entries demonstrating how cardboard,ink cartridges, bottle caps, plastic bottles,newsprint and other “trash” can be madeinto one-o-a-kind, creative art pieces.

America Recycles Day is celebrated year-round and culminates every November 15

to remind citizens that recycling is working,and the important part each o us plays in its on-going success. Te nationwide celebration is designed to encourage people torecycle and buy products made rom recycled materials. For more inormation on AmericaRecycles Day, visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

St. Johns sees the“new“ in renewable

Te “News Carrier”, by LaAndrea Clinton, wonthird place in the America Recycles competition.



14 December 11, 2009

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as iVes sees it DO yOu KnOW yOur cHarlestOn

A s children great and small start their Christmas wish list, Brad

and Jennier Moranz are polishing up on their talents to bringyou a resh, new Broadway-quality Christmas show. Join Johnny Fortuna, the Elvis impersonator who does Elvis better than Elvis himsel,and Brad and Jennier, who will brighten up your holidays with theirzany comedy and toe tapping tunes. ickets are on sale now at www.etix.com or by calling them at 1-800-514-3849. For more inormation, call416-8453.

The CharlestonChristmas Special

By DWiGHt s. iVes

T he C harlesTon

C hrisTmas s peCial

10 perormances only at the CharlestonMusic Hall, 37 John St. in DowntownCharleston, directly across the street

rom the Visitor’s Center.

Show times are:Friday, December 11, at 7pmSaturday, December 12, at 2pm and 7pmSunday, December 13, at 3pmTursday, December 17, at 7pmFriday, December 18, at 7pmSaturday, December 19, at 2pm and 7pmSunday, December 20 at 3pm

W hy do people spend scads o money to move to a place they consider

a unique, idyllic garden spot, andthen work with all their might to change it?

Why do some people think that some sort o minor celebrity status entitles them to demandthat everyone change or their benet?

Pete Ambrose is an anachronism. In acountry that demands designer lettuce, thetruck armer has plied the same earth or 35years. He is one o only roughly ve ruit andvegetable armers let in the area. He ownsand operates what is known as a “Community Supported Agriculture” arm or CSA. Rockland

Avenue LLC is a 130-acre arm where peoplepurchase a “share” at the start o a growingseason and then pick up their supply o ruitsand vegetables each week.

In economic hard times, Ambrose truly livesthe lie o a armer. He makes a liv ing rom thesoil. His “u-pick” business thrives or only twomonths a year, and i ormer NASCAR driverErnie Irvan and his wie, Kim, have their way,

Ambrose will have to close up shop because thecouple who bought the 49-acre lot next doorthree years ago eel inconvenienced.

Kim Irvan told the Post and Courier that,“she and her husband didn’t know about the

u-pick operation when they moved in threeyears ago”.

Apparently, Pete Ambrose’s business iscausing the Irvans’ pain and suering andthey want it to stop orthwith. In a grotesquescene straight out o Te Amityville Horror, asmany as 60 cars an hour roll down the dirtroad in April and May to pick berries. Astraumatic as that scenario may seem to theaverage American, imagine Ernie and Kim’sastonishment and dismay when they oundthat “Te cars are noisy and stir up dust”, and

Ambrose’s customers even had the temerity to“wander onto her land to pet her horses”.

Te armer, whose amily spans generationsin the area, points out the remarkableobservation that “arms tend to stir up dust”.He also allows that the Irvans might have had a

clue that their part o the shared road might bea tad dusty what with their building, their barnand other buildings being positioned along thedirt road instead o another, less dusty part o their property.

Perhaps not.

Kim Irvan bemoaned their dire straits with

A good thrashingof graciousness

By DaViD FarrOW

Graciousness continued on page 15



December 11, 2009 15

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the East Cooper branch o Respite Care, oering a patient careprogram rom 10am until 1:45pm, uesday and Wednesday inthe church’s ellowship hall.

“He loves it here,” said the wie and careg iver o a patient whohas suered rom dementia or the past six years. “I don’t haveto ght to bring him here. Tey’re wonderul people becausethey make each person eel special and the support group is anabsolute l iesaver.”

wice a month, Respite Care oers a support group orcaregivers. One session is typically educational, with speakers

visiting rom across the United States, oering advice and helpultips or dealing with dierent mental disorders. Te secondsession is simple support. Friends, relatives and spouses o thosesuering rom dementia come together to pour their hearts out,leaning on each other or help and learning that, although theirdaily lives may be dierent, their basic experiences are similarand that there is hope even in their darkest times.

Laura Steanelli is the director or the Johns Island brancho Respite Care, which oers their services rom 10am until1:45pm, uesday and Tursday at the Episcopal Church o Our Saviour on Betsy Kerrison Blvd. Although both programshave strong arts & crats and interactive programs, the group atChurch o Our Saviour seems to love singing more than anythingelse. Volunteers will oten drop by to play songs on the church’supright piano and participants sing along, either by ollowing alead or humming happily to the melody.

Betty emple, a resident o Wadmalaw Island, has beenmarried to Chub or 59 years and or the past ten years he hasbeen suering rom Alzheimer’s. “Chub built our house; builtthe whole thing,” said Betty. “Te plumbing, the electrical… all o it. Now he can’t change a light bulb.” For her, theRespite Care program has been a blessing. “He calls it ‘work’,”she smiled. “When it’s time to go to Respite Care, he says he’s‘going to work’.” Te breaks provided by the program have beenparticularly benecial to Betty, as Chub has a hard time doinganything without her. During a recent hospital stay, Chub wasound wandering the hal lways, looking or her. “It’s a sad thing,”said Betty. “o me, the worst thing is to lose your mind. I think

I could deal with physical problems much better.”

Another requent visitor to the Johns Island Respite Care, Jenny Weinstein, nodded in agreement with Betty. Her husband,Bill, rst came to Respite Care as a “volunteer”, but ater severa lmonths o attending, he’s now comortable as a participant inthe program. Although Bill and Jenny have only been marriedor nine years, Jenny is quickly learning how to keep up with hisneeds, and her experience as a ull time nurse has helped withher understanding and handling o his disease, though it hasn’tmade it easy since she still works 12 hour night shits on the

weekends. “I just let him do as much a s he can,” said Jenny. “Westill have neighbors who come by, which is great, and he has agood riend who still takes him out to play gol. I encourage himto stay in touch with people and I’m always looking or activitiesor him to do.”

Both women pointed out how benecial the Respite Careprogram has been or both o them. “I just want to emphasizehow special this program is,” said Jenny. “It’s been so helpul toBill and me.”

Teir husbands were waiting in the hall or them ater theprogram, and as Betty approached Chub, his eyes lit up andhe reached or her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Betty leaned down and kissed him gently on the head, running a handthrough his sot hair. “How could you not love this wonderulman?” she said, hal smiling and hal to hersel . Both couples letthe church hand in hand, the women happy or the break andprepared or another day o challenges with little reward, exceptthat they know just how deep their love is and are wil ling to giveeverything or it .

For more inormation about Respite Care and local programs and times, or to learn how you can volunteer with the program, visit www.smlccharleston.org, call executive director Carla Greene at 327-7470 or 723-1611, or email respite [email protected].

*Based on estimates rom the Aging, Demographics and Memory Study (ADAMS) 2009. Facts and statistics on Alzheimer’s diseaseand other orms o dementia provided by the Family Caregiver

Alliance National Center on Caregiving and the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2009 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.

the comment, “I don’t want the ghting.It’s tearing us up”. She and her husband,a ormer NASCAR driver whose careerincluded 15 career Winston Cup victoriesand a terrible crash at Michigan Speedway in 1994, have decided to take control o the situation the old ashioned American

way: they are going to sue.

Te civil suit seeks attorneys’ ees as

well as a declaration that the covenants o the Selkirk Property Owners Associationto which both parties belong are beingviolated. Tey prohibit retail andcommercial activities but allow “generally accepted” arming practices. Ambrosesays selling shares and running a u-pick berry business are basic arm practices.Te Irvans maintain that the practices arecommercial activities, and an injunctionhas been led to stop the on-sitecommercial activity.

One might honestly inquire whetherthe Irvans’ horse arm is a non-protorganization.

Pete Ambrose believes he is acing ruin

i the Irvans win. “We’d just have to giveup,” he said. “I can’t see how we wouldmake it.”

Te issue,o course, is the interpretationo the covenant. Be that a s it may, no matterhow it shakes out legally, the arm was therelong beore the NASCAR couple. It justgoes to prove the old Charleston axiom,“You can’t buy graciousness. It has to bebeaten into you at a very young age.”

Caregiver continued from coverGraciousness continued from page 14



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Island Connection - December 11, 2009