Since May 2007
PRESORT STANDARD
Volume 13 Issue 8
“Yellow Sky” 6”x8” plein air oil, by Colleen Parker.
Kiawah Municipal Center to Host
Second Annual Fine Art Show
PLEIN AIR ARTIST AND MEMBER OF THE KIAWAH
A R T G U I L D S H A R E S H E R C R E AT I V E P R O C E S S
BY COLLEEN PARKER
For The Island Connection
K
iawah’s Municipal Center on Betsy
Kerrison Parkway is hosting a fine
art show on Saturday, July 27th, from
10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is free and
light refreshments will be provided. Eight
members of the Kiawah Art Guild will
display original representational and abstract
paintings and all works are for sale. Residents
and guests of Kiawah, Seabrook, and John’s
Student Report
Page 6
FREE
Island are welcome. If you have yet to visit
our beautiful new facility, this is an excellent
time to do so.
The guild was formed over 25 years
ago. Its members, which number over
forty, participate in local shows and charity
fundraisers. Membership is open to any
painter who is a property owner. Artists work
with oil, acrylic, pastels, and watercolor.
In addition to studio painters, the guild
has a dedicated plein air group. Plein air
paintings, affectionately known as “on the
Mystery Plant
Page 8
spotters,” must be done in a relatively short
period of time due to the rapidly changing
light. Painting on location poses many
challenges, from wind to bugs to heat,
not to mention the frequent distraction
of onlookers. It is a frustrating, yet highly
rewarding discipline that allows painters to
study light and color from life rather than
photographs. Outdoor paintings are fresher
because they are spontaneous. And yes,
Fine Art Show continues on page 3
Swim Across America
US POSTAGE PAID
CHARLESTON SC
POSTAL PATRON
PERMIT NO 437
July 19, 2019
Library
book sale
set for July
26, 27
BY JEANELL MARVIN
For The Island Connection
L
ove a bargain? Come to the
Charleston Friends of the Library
Johns Island Book Sale on Friday,
July 26 and Saturday, July 27 at the Johns
Island Branch 3531 Maybank Hwy.,
29455. Browse through more than 10,000
gently used books, CDs, DVDs, and
audio books at prices that can’t be beat.
WHO: The Charleston Friends of
the Library is a non-profit volunteer
organization that raises money through
book sales to help fund library services,
equipment, training, materials and public
programming. The Friends collect and sort
donated books for resale to raise money.
WHAT: Books, DVDs, and CDs, will
be available with prices starting at $1 for
paperbacks and $3 for hardback books.
Items include mysteries, romances, classics,
children’s books, local histories, cookbooks
and a variety of non-fiction topics.
Children’s books start at just $0.50 each.
WHEN:
• Friday, July 26 from 9:00 a.m.-
5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, July 27 from 9:00 a.m.
– 4:00 p.m.
• Admission is free Friday and
Saturday.
• A special event for Friends of the
Library members will be held at
the Johns Island Branch, Thursday
evening, July 25 from 5:00 p.m.-
7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Johns Island Branch 3531
Maybank Hwy., 29455
WHY: Find great books, great bargains
and support your local Library.
For more information on our John’s Island
Book Sale, visit CharlestonLibraryFriends.
org.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @
chslibfriends
Page 9
2 July 19, 2019
daily

Do you take clean water for granted?

I N T H R E E S H O R T Y E A R S , W W M H A S I N S TA L L E D
O V E R 9 0 N E W W E L L / F I LT R AT I O N S Y S T E M S ,
Lynn Pierotti
publisher CHANGING THE LIVES OF OVER 300 PEOPLE
lynn@luckydognews.com
BY CATHY COLEMAN
Tina Arnoldi For The Island Connection
managing editor
ICeditor@luckydognews.com

“N
on-potable water.
drinking. No washing. No
Jennifer Tuohy personal use.” A serious
message for a serious problem that
contributing editor impacts our island neighbors. The Sea
jennifer@luckydognews.com Island Water Wellness Mission currently
has 50 families on Johns and Wadmalaw
Alejandro Ferreyros Islands on a list for new well and filtration
senior graphic designer systems, and many more are suffering
alejandro@luckydognews.com
from contaminated water.
In 2016, through the distribution of
healthy foods to local families-in-need, it
Lori McGee became clear that access to healthy water
sales manager was often a concurrent problem. Shirley
lori@luckydognews.com Salvo and Bill Britton, of Sea Island
Hunger Awareness Foundation (SIHAF),
collaborated to address the issue. The
Water Wellness Mission (WWM) was
Senior Staff Writer founded and now exists as a SIHAF
Gregg Bragg program. This volunteer organization
relies on donations to fulfill our goal:
Contributors providing new wells and filtration systems
Colleen Parker to the hundreds of people on our barrier
islands who live with contaminated water.
Jeanell Marvin
Cathy Coleman
Over 98% of
Wendy Kulick
Cassell Presnell donations to
Carlie Joye Water Wellness
John Nelson Mission goes
Colin McCandless
Dave Williams
toward well/
filtration
systems
Contaminated water puts our
neighbors at risk for many illnesses.
Hydrogen sulphide, iron and saltwater are
common contaminants, which can result
No
Sea Island Water Wellness Mission team working on a well install. Photo provided.
in eye irritation, ear infections, coughing,
headaches, nausea, and diarrhea.
Microbial contamination, or fecal matter,
can seep into wells if septic systems are
too close in proximity. Dysentery and
gastroenteritis are maladies these families
risk living with every day.
Some families have no access to
water at all. Bottled water may be the
only water source for an entire family’s
drinking, bathing, and cooking—an
expensive proposition, which often means
proper hydration is all but impossible.
One family of four shared that they
spend about $50s a week for drinking and
bathing water, a cost they can ill afford.
There are many painful stories to hear.
One grandmother lives with her seven
grandchildren who range in age from 3
to 18. The iron and salt content in their
water made it undrinkable, and their sink
and tub were stained brown with rust. A
little boy stated that he never felt clean,
and there were “blobs of stuff” on him
when he got out of the bath. The recipient
of a new well said he was still afraid to
drink the water, so our quality control
man drank a glass with him.
We can eradicate this problem—and
we’ve already begun. In three short years,
WWM has installed over 90 new well/
filtration systems, changing the lives of
over 300 people, including men, women
and children, the elderly and the infirm.
Those in need of clean, safe water are
identified through churches, volunteer
groups, news articles, and by word of
mouth. Our list of applicants is need-
based, with the direst at the top.
WWM funds and secures all permits
for new well and filtration systems, and
our field supervisor oversees the entire
process. The new well water is tested
for purity and mineral levels. Finally,
our quality control volunteer visits each
family to get feedback on the potability
and use of the water.
Water Wellness Mission is proud to
say that over 98% of donations go toward
well/ filtration systems, which cost about
$6,500 each. With your help, we can
remove all of those danger signs from
the yards of our island neighbors. Please
visit waterwellnessmission.org, or search
Facebook for Sea Island Water Wellness
Mission.

Civic Calendar
K iawah Island Town H all
Published by 21 Beachwalker Drive
Lucky Dog Publishing Kiawah Island, SC 29455
of South Carolina, LLC Phone: 768-9166
P.O. Box 837
Town of Kiawah Planning Commission Town of Seabrook Fax: 768-4764
Meeting
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 Aug. 7, 3 p.m.
Ways & Means Town Council Seabrook Island Town H all
843-886-NEWS Committee Meeting Kiawah Town Hall Meeting 2001 Seabrook Island Road
July 23, 2 p.m. July 23, 2:30 p.m. Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Future submission deadline: Kiawah Town Hall Public Works Seabrook Town Hall Phone: 768-9121
July 24 for the Committee Fax: 768-9830
August 2 Issue Arts & Cultural Aug. 12, 10 a.m. Planning Commission Email: lmanning@townofseabrookisland.org
Events Council Kiawah Town Hall Meeting
Op-Ed articles and letters to the editor do not Aug. 1, 2 p.m. Aug. 7, 1:30 p.m. Johns Island Council
necessarily reflect the opinion of Kiawah Town Hall Public Safety Seabrook Town Hall Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric
Lucky Dog News or its writers. Committee Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Hwy, Johns
Ways & Means
Town Council Aug. 14, 2 p.m. Island.
Committee Meeting
Meeting Kiawah Town Hall Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113
Aug. 20, 2:30 p.m.
The Island Aug. 6, 2 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
Seabrook Town Hall
Charleston County Council
Connection 4045 Bridge View Dr, N. Charleston
958-4700
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC News Updates
Publishers of Island Eye News, Online at City of Charleston
The Island Connection facebook.com/ 75 Calhoun St.
islandconnectionnews 724-3745
& SiP Magazine
July 19, 2019
arts & events
Fine Art Show continues from cover
special portable equipment is required. The
group has become very close and supportive.
Kiawah and the surrounds afford so many
artistic possibilities, though they sometimes
venture out in order to paint something more
vertical than our local landscapes.
I started painting 11 years ago in
preparation for retirement. I had wanted
to paint as long as I could remember but
never had the time. After taking lessons
and workshops for a few years, I decided to
make the great outdoors an extension of my
3
studio and have never looked back. I have
always been inspired by the Impressionists,
who took their easels into the field, made
possible by the invention of the metal paint
tube. When I paint outdoors, the scene is
forever etched in my mind, more so than
any photograph I have ever taken. I can look
at a plein air piece I have done and feel the
wind, the temperature, hear the birds, and
also recall the annoying things that might
have happened. This practice makes artists
better studio painters because it teaches us to
observe and apply these observations to the
interpretation of the photograph.

hey you!

We want your input

PA R T I C I PAT E I N T H E I S L A N D
CONNECTION’S READER SURVEY
STAFF REPORT
For The Island Connection
us do that, please take a few moments to
answer the “Reader Survey” available on
our website (islandconnectionnews.com).

A
s a community paper for Kiawah,
Seabrook, and Wadmalaw Islands,
we want to hear from our readers
about how we can best serve you. To help
If you would like to provide content
in any of the topics listed in the survey,
please include your name, email and area
of interest at the end of it. All contributors
receive a byline and 2-3 sentence bio.

Tid e Char t
Date High Tide Low Tide
Jul 19 11:06am/11:26pm 4:55am/5:00pm
Jul 20 12:04pm 5:46am/5:56pm
Jul 21 12:20am/1:03pm 6:38am/6:55pm
Jul 22 1:15am/2:03pm 7:32am/7:57pm
Jul 23 2:11am/3:03pm 8:27am/9:00pm
Jul 24 3:08am/4:03pm 9:22am/10:03pm
Jul 25 4:05am/5:00pm 10:18am/11:04pm
Jul 26 5:01am/5:55pm 11:12am
Jul 27 5:55am/6:46pm 12:01am/12:04pm
Jul 28 6:48am/7:35pm 12:54am/12:54pm
Jul 29 7:37am/8:21pm 1:44am/1:41pm
Jul 30 8:24am/9:04pm 2:30am/2:26pm
Jul 31 9:09am/9:45pm 3:13am/3:08pm
Aug 01 9:52am/10:24pm 3:54am/3:49pm

Hurricanes, storms, etc., are NOT included in the predictions.

Tidal current direction changes and tide time predictions can be
very different. Tide predictions are PREDICTIONS; they can be
wrong so use common sense.
Source: saltwatertides.com
4 July 19, 2019
Donate today to help Mt. Zion kids
MAKE YOUR GIFT GO FURTHER, WRITE A CHECK BEFORE THE
TA X - F R E E W E E K E N D O N A U G U S T 2
BY WENDY KULICK
For The Island Connection
C
ontrary to what you might think,
the items below are not part of
a list of supplies the Charleston
County School District (CCSD) provides
to its teachers. These are just some of the
items purchased over more than the last
10 years for students and teachers at Mt.
Zion Elementary School through the
generosity of property owners on Kiawah,
Seabrook, and Johns Islands.
School Supplies
• School uniforms (red or white
shirts and khaki or navy pants)
• Scissors, both blunt- and pointed-
tipped
• Crayons, 24 pack
• Construction paper and art
supplies
• Black & white composition books
• Glue sticks and bottles of glue
• Two-pocket, three-pronged plastic
folders – plastic only, please
• Individual pencil sharpeners and
erasers
• Rulers
In light of the needs of Mt. Zion
students, we again ask for your support.
daily
Since teachers often need to supply ear the state’s tax-free weekend, which begins
buds, headphones and other supplies for this year on August 2.
their students, this year we ask you to Please make your check payable to
“Support Mt. Zion Kids” and mail it to
Wendy Kulick at 38 Marsh Edge Lane,
Kiawah Island, SC 29455. If you prefer to
In addition to the provide the supplies themselves, and you live
school supplies
on Kiawah, you may leave donated school
we donate to Mt. supplies on the front porch of the Kulick
residence. Please be sure to include your
Zion students, name and address with supplies if no one
Islanders is home when you deliver them. For those
have provided of you on Seabrook, please leave donated
school supplies on the front porch of Elaine
more than 1,500 Davis’ house at 1002 Crooked Oak Lane. If
classroom you have any questions, feel free to contact
Wendy by phone (843.768.7466) or via
volunteer hours e-mail (wkulick@bellsouth.net).
for more than 15 Stores which Support Education
years Another way we can help the students
at Mt. Zion is by shopping at various
participating stores. This program works
no matter where you live. Just remember
to ask your cashier at Harris Teeter to
make a monetary donation and let us do
enter the school number “3455” into the
the shopping on your behalf. We will use
register when you use your VIC card. By
funds received to purchase supplies and
doing this, a portion of what you spend
uniforms as needed throughout the school
is donated to Mt. Zion Elementary each
year, and we hope to raise enough to be
time you shop and purchase “Together in
able to continue to provide these necessary
Education” items. If you have an Office
teaching supplies. Your support goes even
Depot credit card, please ask the sales
further if we receive your donations before
associate at the register to credit Mt. Zion
July 19, 2019 5
Seabrook Island neighbors
Own property in an
show their 4th of July spirit
Opportunity Zone?
Let’s talk.
I have buyers interested in
Elementary (school ID# 70090775). The
school will receive 5% of any purchases
you make all year long. Staples also has a
rewards program, which can be used for
your property.
purchases. Finally, if you have a Target
credit card, you can register on the Target
web site for Mt. Zion Elementary. These
businesses donate a portion of sales dollars
to local schools.
Volunteer in the Classroom!
In addition to the school supplies we
donate to Mt. Zion students, Kiawah,
Seabrook and Johns Islanders have
provided more than 1,500 classroom
volunteer hours for more than 15 years.
You need not have teaching experience
to volunteer, only a willingness to help
the students in our local schools. This
assistance may be for an hour, a week,
or an entire day; Mt. Zion students and
their teachers will appreciate however
much time you can give. Just talk to
your friends and neighbors who have
donated their time and they will tell you
how rewarding an experience it is! If you
want to help out in the classroom, mentor
a student, tutor or read to classes, please
contact one of the Volunteer Coordinators
for Mt. Zion, either Sandy Williams at
sandrawilliams13@comcast.net or Elaine
Davis at ebdavis@comcast.net.
map src: scopportunityzone.com
The winner of the mailbox contest was 3305 Seabrook Island Road.
Photo courtesy Seabrook Island Garden Club.
Alejandro J. Ferreyros
(843) 202-9226
alejandro@sanddollarsc.com
Commercial Brokerage
Sanddollarsc.com • (843) 530-8100
2205 Middle St Suite 203 • Sullivan’s Island, SC • 29482
6 July 19, 2019
The vendors of the Farmers Market
F
ire Ant Farms is a small, yet growing
organic farm owned by Anthony
Natoli and Ellen Waldrop, local
residents of Johns Island, South Carolina.
The title of their farm was the product of
an inside joke between the two when their
first ever farm was overrun with the pests.
It became a permanent name because
of the jest and because they could not
get rid of fire ants on their farm if they
wanted to since they do not use pesticides,
poisons, or chemicals on their products to
keep them organic and healthy. They not
only embraced the fire ants, but they also
named their farm after them!
The farm located on Natoli and
Waldrop’s 11-acre property on Johns
Island is almost an acre of planting
grounds with two greenhouses, filled
with in-season vegetables and herbs. Also
located on the property are plenty of farm
animals, including their energetic dogs,
and even bee hives.
Natoli and Waldrop have been selling
their seasonal products—crisp vegetables,
fresh eggs, and, as a newer edition,
delicious honey—at the Johns Island
Farmers Market ever since they started
their farm two years ago. Sometimes they
bring extra products from other local
farms like Spade and Clover Gardens and
student report
F I R E A N T FA R M S
BY CASSELL PRESNELL & CARLIE JOYE
For The Island Connection
Lowland Farms.
Fire Ant Farms loves being a vendor
at the market. When asked their favorite
part, they said, “I like it because we get to
talk to everyone, face-to-face. We build a
relationship with our customers and we all
know each other’s lives.” When their loyal
customers are not able to make it to the
farmers market the next Saturday, they
drop by the farm to pick up groceries.
Natoli and Waldrop are diligent, kind,
and reliable people who work hard to
make their customers happy. They love
being their own bosses, making decisions
about everything happening on the farm,
even though it can be tough.
The hardest time for farming is in the
summer because overwhelming heat and
humidity make it difficult for the plant
seeds to grow. The best time of year for
Fire Ant Farms is usually the late fall,
but Natoli and Waldrop work all year to
provide products to the Farmers Market
and local Charleston restaurants. Whether
planting new garden beds or crops,
harvesting ready plants, or preparing for
the next season, Fire Ant Farms works
from dusk until dawn
So, plan to see them on your next
trip at the farmers market and connect
with them online (FireAnt_Farms on
Instagram and FireAntFarmsSC on
Facebook). Let them know you want to
visit their amazing farm in person!
Cassell Presnell and Carlie Joye are high
school students at Charleston Collegiate
School. Cassell Presnell is a member of the
archery program, the Thespian Society,
and the National Junior Honors Society.
She is an aspiring author with hopes to go
to Northwestern University in the future.
Carlie Joye is also a member of the archery
program and Thespian Society. She has been
an active participant in school plays for three
years and hopes to focus on art, zoology, or
film in the future. Her first choice of college
is Savannah College of Art and Design.
July 19, 2019
Turtle nest numbers hurtle past all-time record
H I G H E S T N U M B E R O F N E S T S O N S O U T H C A R O L I N A’ S B E A C H E S
SINCE RECORD KEEPING BEGAN
BY SCDNR
For The Island Connection
W
ith several weeks of nesting
season remaining, sea turtles
have laid the highest number
of nests on South Carolina’s beaches since
record keeping began in the early 1980s.
Staff and volunteers have counted
6,978 nests by ground survey across the
coast. The previous record, set in 2016,
was 6,446 nests.
The South Carolina Department of
Natural Resources oversees a network of
local sea turtle volunteer groups along the
coast, many of whom have been reporting
their own broken records in recent weeks.
Volunteers and staff from Edisto and
Kiawah Islands surpassed their all-time
records on June 29 and 30, and beaches
from Hilton Head Island to Garden City
have since followed suit.
“This has been a tremendous season so
far, and we are grateful for our dedicated
network of volunteers in South Carolina
who make this large-scale conservation
effort happen,” said biologist Michelle
Pate, who oversees SCDNR’s sea turtle
program.
Hatching season has also recently begun,
with the first hatch of the year occurring on
Hilton Head Island on June 27.
wildlife
The 2019 season has been marked by
numerous unusual events, beginning with
an early start date and including a nest
laid by a Kemp’s ridley, the world’s most
endangered sea turtle. Volunteers and staff
have also documented a high number of
so-called ‘day nesters,’ female sea turtles that
come ashore in broad daylight to nest rather
than under the typical cover of darkness.
“Day nesters tend to be pretty rare,
isolated events,” said Pate. It’s not clear
why so many females are nesting during
daylight hours this year, but some
possibilities include harassment during
emergence at night and extremely dry
sand conditions due to a lack of rain,
which can hinder females from digging a
nest cavity.
Record-breaking years have become
increasingly common across the southeast
in recent years. Sea turtle biologists are
optimistic that the increasing trend signals
the beginning of recovery for loggerhead
sea turtles (whose nests make up the
vast majority of South Carolina nests),
which were listed as threatened under the
Endangered Species Act in 1978 due to
steep declines in their numbers.
During this period when nesting and
hatching seasons overlap, it’s especially
critical for beachgoers and beachfront
homes to respect the laws intended to
7
protect sea turtles. Higher nest numbers their path to the ocean.
bring higher chances of interactions “Sea turtles are wild animals – let
between humans and sea turtles, nature take its course and allow them
Both state and federal law prohibit the to use these beaches like they have
harm of or interference with sea turtles or millennia,” said Pate.
their nests. Sea turtles perceive human beings
With the start of hatching season,
as predators, and harassment encompasses
SCDNR staff and volunteers along the coast
any activity that changes a sea turtle’s natural
will begin to inventory hatched sea turtle
behavior. That can range from approaching
nests to determine the success of each nest.
nesting females to get photos (which can
Please report any violations to SCDNR’s
cause turtles to return to the ocean and lose
24-hour wildlife hotline at 1-800-922-
valuable energy) to ‘assisting’ hatchlings on
Sea Turtle Nesting/Hatching Season Reminders
• Report all sick/injured/dead sea turtles and nest disturbances to the SCDNR at
1-800-922-5431 so that staff/volunteers can respond as soon as possible.
• Respect boating laws and boat cautiously, especially in small tidal creeks where
sea turtles like to feed. Boat strikes have emerged as the leading cause of death for
sea turtles in South Carolina.
• Keep artificial lights off the beach at night during nesting season – this includes
beachfront property lights (interior and exterior) and flash photography, which
can disorient nesting mothers and hatchlings.
• Always respect sea turtles by observing them from a distance on the beach. Individuals
that violate federal law by harming or interfering with sea turtles or their nests can be
subject to civil penalties of up to $25,000 and up to a year’s imprisonment.
• Keep our beaches and ocean clean by avoiding single-use plastics. Plastic bags
and balloons are among the most common trash items found on South Carolina
beaches and can cause injury or death when sea turtles mistake them for food.
• Support our program for continued conservation of sea turtles in South Carolina.
8 July 19, 2019
mystery plant

Can you identify this mystery plant?

T H E S E 6 - P O I N T E D F L O W E R S A P P E A R L I K E Y E L L O W S TA R S
ON A DARK BACKGROUND
BY JOHN NELSON
For The Island Connection

E
very morning before dawn I take
the dogs outside to do their thing.
The other day there was a clear sky
with a bit of haze, but still a good many
stars to see. Now my house is not exactly
downtown, but it is in the city limits,
and we suffer from considerable light
pollution which is getting worse just about
everywhere. Being the middle of summer,
patches of haze would obscure the quiet
twinklers, and then move on. At one point
I saw something moving: the tiniest speck
of light, constant and shining, quietly
zooming along. A plane? A satellite? Who
knows? It disappeared a short time after
that, covered by some haze again: a silent
little pre-dawn greeting from the skies
above. It was a sort of magical moment
somehow…and then the girls were eager
to go back inside for their breakfast.
But you don’t have to look up at the
dark sky to see stars: there are plenty in the
plant world to consider, like this week’s
Mystery Plant, which offers its stars down
near the ground.
Here is a plant in the lily family which
is widespread in just about every state
of the eastern USA, and from the Great
Plains down to Texas. (Sorry, Florida:
here’s one you don’t have.) It grows in a
variety of habitats including wet to dryish
woods and prairies. The plants usually
occur singly, not so much in patches.
There will be a solid, stocky little base,
bulb-like, from which arises a cluster
of very narrow leaves, bright green. The
foliage ranges from smooth to fairly hairy.
Most people seeing this plant prior to the
flowers usually assume that it is some sort
of grass. Flowers in the summer are bright
yellow, often a sort of lemony-yellow
shade, and at the top of a rather short stalk.
There are three sepals and three petals
which are essentially indistinguishable,
so let’s call them “tepals”. Six stamens are
within, producing pollen. These 6-pointed Our Mystery Plant has a number of John Nelson is the curator of the A. C.
flowers appear like yellow stars on a dark near relatives: there are seven or eight Moore Herbarium at the University of South
background, and they are showy and recognized species in the United States, Carolina, in the Department of Biological
attractive in a diminished sort of way. The mostly in the Southeast (and including Sciences, Columbia SC 29208. As a public
ovary of the flower is below all the tepals, Florida), and then a good many more service, the Herbarium offers free plant
that is, inferior. At maturity, and after the in the southern hemisphere, especially identifications. For more information, visit
tepals have shriveled up, this ovary will southern Africa. Enjoy this little www.herbarium.org or call 803-777-8196,
have swelled into a somewhat tubular wildflower, and allow it to expand your or email nelson@sc.edu.
capsule, and if all went well, will contain astronomical concepts.
a number of seeds. The seeds tend to be
dark, nearly black, and minutely pebbled [Answer: “Yellow star-grass,” Hypoxis hirsuta]
on the surface.
July 19, 2019
Swim Across America Kiawah, August 4
RAISING FUNDS FOR CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS
Photos provided by SAA Charleston. Photo credit Rivers Rudloff.
BY COLIN MCCANDLESS and why it’s important to support charity
For The Island Connection events such as the 2nd annual Swim Across
America (SAA) Charleston-Kiawah Island
M
open water swim, a fundraiser to support
ore than 1.7 million new MUSC’s Hollings Cancer Center, held
cancer cases are expected to be
August 4 at Kiawah Resort.
diagnosed in 2019, according
to the American Cancer Society. Cancer Weekend festivities kick off that
Friday, August 2, as Freshfields Village
is the second leading cause of death in
the United States and most of us have hosts its Music on the Green summer
been affected by cancer whether through concert series featuring ‘Swim Across
personal experience, a family member, or America Night.’ U.S. Olympians will
a friend or co-worker. be in attendance, and there will be a
prize raffle, with proceeds benefiting the
That’s why research that leads to new SAA fundraiser. Additionally, stores in
treatments and clinical trials is so critical,
Freshfields Village have agreed to donate
a percentage of evening sales to SAA.
The swim clinic and pool party
at Kiawah’s Night Heron Park is on
Saturday. The 4:30 p.m. event is open to
all participants (and their children) who
registered as a swimmer or volunteer for
the SAA open water swim. An Olympic
swimmer will be on hand to dispense tips
and pose for photo ops. “It’s a laid back
and fun time,” said SAA Charleston-
Kiawah local event director Brad Johnson.
On Sunday, the open water swims
begin at 8:15 and 8:30 a.m., depending
on whether participants have elected to
do the half-mile or the mile-and-a-half
9
course distance. While the Saturday event
is geared toward younger kids, the open
water swim is for those ages 14 and up.
Plan to arrive early to receive important
safety instructions and hear speakers from
Hollings Cancer Center and the CEO of
Swim Across America talk about their
partnership, called “Make Waves to Fight
Cancer.”
Olympian Jenny Thompson, the most
decorated female swimmer in Olympic
history, who won 12 medals (eight gold) in
her career spanning four Olympic Games
SAA Kiawah continues on page 10
10
arts & events
SAA Kiawah continues from page 9
(1992-2004), is joining the Sunday open
water swim.
Corporate teams from Boeing,
Blackbaud and Merck and sports clubs
including Palmetto Masters Swim, Swim
Charleston and Charleston Triathlon
& Multisport Club, LLC, have already
registered. Team Hollings Cancer Center,
the beneficiary, also has a team. People
can join an existing team, form a new
team, or register as an individual through
the registration page on the event website,
swimacrossamerica.org, where you can
also donate or register as a swimmer or
volunteer.
No prizes are on the line; it’s all about
supporting a worthy organization and
raising money for invaluable cancer
research that may save your life or that of
a loved one some day. Johnson, 43, is a
cancer survivor who was diagnosed at age
27 with a rare and aggressive form of neck
cancer. He recovered from the dreaded
disease thanks to his participation in
what was, at the time, a new clinical trial
to treat cancer.
Johnson touted the SAA model, which
provides funding to high-risk, high-
July 19, 2019
reward projects that show major potential
to have a significant impact on the cancer
research community. SAA, a national
nonprofit that hosts swimming-related
charity events supporting cancer research
and clinical trials, works with local
beneficiaries to fund these new projects
in their infant stages, when accessing
funding is challenging, he explained.
SAA has provided $80 million in
grants to their beneficiaries that have
turned into an estimated $200 million in
new funding.
If you can’t donate to SAA, event
volunteers are needed, on both land
(registration, check-in) and by sea to
serve as eyes on the water. Prospective
volunteers should register through the
website so they can learn the hand signals
and other information to make this a
successful event.
After the swim, participants can
replace those burnt calories by enjoying
some fresh, delicious fare served by Verde,
the official SAA 2019 food sponsor.
And if you have time, Johnson
encouraged folks to stick around and
explore the island. “People are welcome to
stay and enjoy everything Kiawah has to
offer,” said Johnson.
July 19, 2019
Protect yourself and your investment
this hurricane season
I
f you have a home in the Charleston
area, then you are familiar with
Hurricane Season. Typically, the
season runs June 1 through November
30, but storms have been known to show
up earlier or later. The past few years in
Charleston have been particularly active
– with Hurricane Matthew in 2016,
Irma in 2017, and Florence and Michael
in 2018. While we have managed to
escape a direct landfall, each hurricane
has brought its own challenges. The key
to surviving this period of uncertainty is
proper preparation. If you have a coastal
home in the Charleston area, now is the
time to prepare for the hurricane season.
Every Hurricane Season is Different
After each hurricane season, it is
important to reassess your home and
supplies. Prior to the start of hurricane
season, our team purchases the supplies
necessary to secure our clients’ homes –
floor protection, batteries and flashlights,
straps, zip ties, and gas. For those of you
in the area during Hurricane Matthew
you might remember the gas stations
running out of fuel when the storm was
two days from landfall. After that season,
we added fuel to our list of pre-hurricane
purchases. Make sure you learn from past
Hurricane Preparedness 2019
BY NAUTILUS COMPANY
For The Island Connection
storm seasons so you can build a more
comprehensive home preparation plan
and hurricane kit.
Protect Your Investment
It’s important that you protect your
investment, and this means being able to
quickly and efficiently prepare your home
- from window coverings to furniture
protection. For our clients, we make sure
we know what materials are needed for
every home, and we have those materials
available the moment they are needed. If
you need window protection, now is the
time to make sure you have all the supplies
on hand. After you have secured your
home, take the time to photograph the
11
inside and the outside with the window
protection in place. These photos can be
used for insurance claims if you incur
damage.
What if I don’t live in Charleston full-
time?
Charleston is a popular vacation spot
and many homeowners have vacation
homes in the area. Nautilus Home
Management started our Named Storm
program to help our clients who do not
live in Charleston full-time or do not
want the hassle of preparing their home
before a hurricane. With this program, we
spend time evaluating a home’s potential
storm issues, and taking the necessary
steps to minimize storm impact. We
analyze our clients' homes, purchase
materials necessary to protect it in the
eye of a storm, and ensure we have
adequate manpower to effectively prep
the home for the storm. We’re here to help
our clients stay informed of conditions
here in Charleston, as well as aware of
South Carolina’s emergency plans and
procedures. Whether you choose to do it
yourself, or hire a company like Nautilus
Home Management, make sure you have
a plan in place before a storm is headed
our way.
 July 23
ONGOING
WHAT: Black Refractions: Highlights
from The Studio Museum in Harlem
WHERE: Gibbes Museum of Art
WHEN: May 24-Aug. 18
MORE INFO: The only Southern
venue selected to host the first traveling
exhibition highlighting the full breadth
of The Studio Museum in Harlem’s
permanent collection. Exhibition includes
works by Jacob Lawrence, Romare
Bearden, David Hammons, Fred Wilson,
Kerry James Marshall, Titus Kaphar,
Kehinde Wiley and Lorna Simpson.
Black Refractions is a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to share these incredible works
of art with the Charleston community. For
information visit GibbesMuseum.org.
WHAT: Beachfront Lights Out
WHERE: all seaward, beachfront
properties
WHEN: 9 p.m.- 8 a.m.
MORE INFO: US Fish and Wildlife
Service discourages the use of outdoor
lights when not required, in order to
protect nesting sea turtles. When on the
beach at dark, use red filters on flashlights.
Artificial light such as flashlights without
filters are prohibited on the beach at night.
This includes flashlights on phones as well.
Mondays
WHAT: Farmer’s Market
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 4 - 8 p.m.
MORE INFO: Shop locally grown
organic produce along with specialty food
products, delicious treats, fresh seafood
and Lowcountry crafts. Or come hungry
and enjoy BBQ, take-away dinners, sweets
and more.
WHAT: Charleston Coastal Choir
WHERE: Church of Our Savior
WHEN: 1 p.m.
MORE INFO: Local, mixed community
chorus, open for membership. Season runs
October through March. For information
contact Director of Music, Van McCollum
at 404.401.0678 or vanmccollum@
bellsouth.net.
Tuesdays
WHAT: Kick-it at Bohicket
WHERE: Bohicket Marina
WHEN: 6:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Face painting, a balloon
artist, DJ and sand art bracelets. Co-
sponsored by The Town of Seabrook Island
& Bohicket Merchants Association. For
questions call Todd at 248.719.0076.
WHAT: Wine Tasting
WHERE: FortyEight Wine Bar and
Kitchen
WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: The tastings usually feature
2-4 bottles of wine last until those bottles
run out. Donations are accepted and all
proceeds go to Lowcountry Food Bank, a
non-profit that feeds families in need with
warm healthy meals.
Island Connection Calendar
First and Third
Tuesdays
WHAT: The Charleston County Public
Library Bookmobile
WHERE: Parking lot behind Hege’s
WHEN: 10-11 a.m.
MORE INFO: Bookmobile is back the
first and third Tuesdays of the month. The
schedule for the summer is July 17, August
7 & 21.
Wednesdays
WHAT: Kids Fish
WHERE: Bohicket Marina
WHEN: Check-in at 8:30 a.m., Fishing
from 9-10 a.m. and 10-11 a.m.
MORE INFO: For ages 4-14. Cost is
$7.00- includes bait, tackle, rod and reel.
Check-in 8:30- Fishing 9-10 a.m. and
10-11 a.m. Co-sponsored by The Town of
Seabrook Island & Bohicket Merchants
Association. For questions call Todd at
248.719.0076.
WHAT: Timbers Kiawah Concerts in
the Courtyard
WHERE: The Courtyard between Hege’s
and Java Java (Freshfields Village)
WHEN: 6-8 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join Timbers Kiawah in
The Courtyard every Wednesday for live
music with Chris Dodson, outdoor kids
games, local art and beverages provided
by Timbers Kiawah. The series will run
through Wed., Aug. 29.
WHAT: Starlight Cinema
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 8:30 - 10:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join us for a movie
under the stars each Wednesday night
through Aug. 15. The free, outdoor movie
series will feature recent hits and classic
favorite family-friendly movies. Guests
are encouraged to bring beach chairs and
blankets.
Thursdays
WHAT: Live Music at The Andell Inn
WHERE: The Andell Inn Hotel,
Freshfields Village
WHEN: 6-8 p.m.
MORE INFO: Relax with cool jazz
every Thursday evening in the lounge of
the Andell Inn Hotel. Drinks and food
available. No cover charge. 843.793.6050.
AndellInn.com.
Thursdays & Sundays
WHAT: Live Music
WHERE: 48 A Wine Bar
WHEN: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Featuring 48 wines
by the glass every day. For details visit
FortyEightWineBar.com.
Fridays
WHAT: Acrylic Painting and Pottery
WHERE: The Frog Gallery
WHEN: 10-noon
MORE INFO: Beginner to intermediate
classes include individual instruction in
drawing, composition and color. Students
can work in clay on the wheel or use the
slab method to create. Techniques on
glazing will be taught and projects will be
fired off site. $40 per person and includes
all materials. Contact Donna Horack
843.343.4170 to reserve space.
Saturdays
WHAT: Johns Island Farmers Market
WHERE: Charleston Collegiate campus,
2024 Academy Rd.
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Local farmers, vendors
and artisans, live music, food trucks.
Charleston’s only year-round market.
JohnsIslandFarmersMarket.com.
Third Saturday of the
Month
WHAT: Sea Islands Cars & Coffee
WHERE: Freshfields Village, Kiawah
WHEN: 9-11 a.m.
MORE INFO: This free event will feature
antiques, classics, exotics, concepts and any
other cool cars. Coffee and other refreshments
available for purchase by Java Java Coffee
House. If you have any specific questions
about the event, please contact Bruce
Stemerman at bstemerman@gmail.com.
TUESDAY, JULY 23
WHAT: Moranz Entertainment presents
Let the Good Times Roll 2019
WHERE: East Beach Conference Center
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Producers Brad and
Jennifer Moranz have once again gathered
some of the country’s best singers, dancers,
and musicians for this summer’s all-new
show. The Moranz duo brings the fun
back to Kiawah this summer in an all new
2019 presentation of Let the Good Times
Roll!, a musical variety show featuring the
best of pop, rock, Broadway and country
tunes. Purchase tickets https://www.
kiawahisland.org/events/
TUESDAY, JULY 23, JULY 30
AND AUGUST 6
WHAT: Walk on the Wild Side
WHERE: The Preserve Nature Trail
WHEN: 9:00 AM
MORE INFO: A family-friendly guided
nature tour exploring The Preserve Nature
Trail. Examine a variety of wildlife-
friendly habitats as we look for signs
of birds, alligators, and other wildlife
species. See majestic views from the Blue
Heron Pond Tower and beyond. https://
kiawahconservancy.org
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24
WHAT: Sundown Festival
WHERE: Night Heron Park, Kiawah
Island
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
MORE INFO: Enjoy the summer evening
in Night Heron Park as the sun sets on
the day. Live band, southern lawn games,
inflatables, photo booth, games, and crafts
are available throughout the evening.
kiawahresort.com
FRIDAY, JULY 26
WHAT: Charleston Margarita Festival
WHERE: Brittlebank Park
WHEN: 7:00 p.m.
MORE INFO: Sample some of the
best margaritas in The Holy City and
indulge with delicious food. Visitors can
also enjoy live music from Charleston’s
favorite artists at Brittlebank Park.
charlestonmargaritafest.com
FRIDAY, JULY 26 & 27
WHAT: Charleston Library Book Sale
WHERE: John’s Island Branch
WHEN:: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
MORE INFO: Books, DVDs, and CDs,
will be available with prices starting at
$1 for paperbacks and $3 for hardback
books. Items include mysteries, romances,
classics, children’s books, local histories,
cookbooks and a variety of non-fiction
topics. Children’s books start at just $0.50
each. CharlestonLibraryFriends.org
SAT., JULY 27 - AUGUST 4
WHAT: Shark Week
WHERE: South Carolina Aquarium
WHEN: All Day
MORE INFO: Celebrate the weird,
explore the wild, and discover the
wonderful side of the ocean’s most
misunderstood creature: the shark! You’ll
find ongoing shark activities happening
around every corner, including special
dive shows and programs, and photo
opportunities all centered on sharks, the
most jawesome of apex predators. Shark
Week activities are free with Aquarium
admission or membership.
scaquarium.org/sharkweek
TUESDAY, AUGUST 6 & 7
WHAT: SCORH Rural Grant Writing
Workshop
WHERE: St. Christopher Camp &
Conference Center
WHEN: All Day
MORE INFO:New grant-writers looking
for content about writing, implementing
and sustaining HRSA grants, to include
Federal Office of Rural Health Policy
(FORHP) funding opportunities. Contact
Lindsey Kilgo at
803-454-3850 or lkilgo@scorh.net
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
WHAT: All You Need is Love: CJO
Plays the Beatles
WHERE: East Beach Conference Center
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: The music catalog of
The Beatles is vast and has been long
recognized as some of the best-loved
music of all time. On this special night
on Kiawah Island the Charleston Jazz
Orchestra will pay tribute to one of the
world’s greatest bands. Joining them on
stage to perform these Beatles classics
will be the ever-versatile vocalist Kanika
Moore. Purchase tickets https://www.
kiawahisland.org/events/
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
WHAT: Dave Koz and Friends
WHERE: Lowcountry Jazz Friends
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
September 27
MORE INFO: Building on the massive
success of their Summer Horns projects,
Dave Koz And Friends are returning to
the road with the brass-fueled, feel-good
tour of the summer. Joining GRAMMY®-
nominated saxophonist Dave Koz will
be Gerald Albright (saxophone), Rick
Braun (trumpet), Kenny Lattimore
(vocals), Aubrey Logan (trombone and
vocals) and Adam Hawley (guitarist).
lowcountryjazzfest.com
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
WHAT: Sea Island Show Series
WHERE: Mullet Hall Equestrian Center
WHEN: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
MORE INFO: Mullet Hall Equestrian
Center at Johns Island County Park hosts
horse shows year round that are open to
the public for spectating. Spectators are
invited to enjoy the shows for free.
ccprc.com
WEDS., SEPTEMBER 25–27
WHAT: American Quilter’s Society
QuiltWeek
WHERE: Charleston Area Convention
Center
WHEN: TBD
MORE INFO: Each AQS QuiltWeek
show features a variety of programming
including special exhibitions, workshops
by renowned instructors, contests and a
Merchant Mall with the latest machines,
fabrics and tools for quilters of every skill
level. americanquilter.com
14
Hurricane Preparedness 2019
G E T P R E PA R E D F O R H U R R I C A N E S E A S O N
Dave Williams.
T
he best way to be prepared for Hurricane season
is by understanding the foe you are up against,
arming yourself with knowledge, and remaining
calm. Each storm is different and presents a unique set
of potential impacts. Never generalize about a looming
tropical cyclone and have a trusted local meteorologist
where you can get accurate, reliable forecasts.
‘Tis the season
BY DAVE WILLIAMS
For The Island Connection
By far the most devastating part of a landfalling
hurricane is the storm surge. This is the water rise
with the onshore winds in a tropical system. In the
Lowcountry, this would be the part of the hurricane
directly north of the eye. For instance, 30 years ago Hugo
made landfall at the northern tip of Isle of Palms, while
a 20 foot plus storm surge expanded into Bulls Bay and
inundated McClellanville. Best way to avoid storm surge,
EVACUATE.
Winds are another impact with a hurricane nearby.
One of the biggest problems here is when debris becomes
airborne missiles. Tree branches, garbage cans, two by
fours from damaged structures can all fly through the
air and down powerlines, or hurt you or your property.
Prepare for this by securing lose outdoor items, pruning
trees & shrubs and always protect your windows, tape
doesn’t do the trick either.
Tropical systems transport copious amounts of rainfall
making freshwater flooding another vast threat. The
previous two threats are mainly within a short distance of
the coast, while flooding from rain can spread hundreds
of miles inland! Torrential rain on creeks, streams and
rivers can swell very quickly causing flooding, but can
persist for days and even weeks as watersheds drain back
to the coast. To avoid this type of flooding, again –
evacuate and move to higher ground.
A few other impacts to be aware of are dangerous waves
and currents, beach erosion, and tornadoes. These are
more tertiary concerns, but nonetheless cause damage,
injury, and even death.
July 19, 2019
The most important thing to consider is adequate
insurance for your property as stuff can be replaced. If
asked to evacuate, do so, because lives cannot be replaced.
Lessons are learned with every storm and applied to
future forecasts and preparedness plans. Last year, the
two storms that stand out vividly are hurricanes Michael
and Florence.
Florence posed a threat close to home, evacuations
were ordered for much of the South Carolina coast. The
storm surge went into the southeast North Carolina coast.
Fortunately, it had weakened to a category one hurricane
at landfall, but a much higher swell was generated earlier
when the storm was more intense. It had nowhere to go
but on shore.
That wasn’t all with Florence; feet of rain fell near
the North/South Carolina border and historic flooding
occurred along the Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers.
It took over a month for all of this water to drain out
through Winyah Bay in Georgetown.
Then there was Hurricane Michael, the first category
five to strike the US since Andrew in 1992. Mexico
Beach in the Panhandle of Florida was unrecognizable in
the storms wake.
It is possible to be impacted by a storm any given
hurricane season. Some storms are more dangerous than
others. The preseason forecasts for high or low activity
are quite useless when your home is impacted. The most
valuable piece of information to remember is – it only
takes one, so be prepared.