Since May 2007
PRESORT STANDARD
Volume 12 Issue 2
SC Supreme Court rules on
Captain Sams Spit
F O U R T H R U L I N G I S T H I R D W I N F O R C O N S E R VAT I O N I S T S
BY GREGG BRAGG
The Island Connection Sr. Staff Writer
T
he Supreme Court of South Carolina ruled unanimously
in favor of the South Carolina Coastal Conservation
League’s case against Kiawah Partners’ efforts to construct
a bulkhead and revetment 2783 feet along Captain Sams Spit.
The April 18 decision marks the fourth time the SCSC has ruled
on this issue, and represents the third win for CCL, the plaintiff,
and its legal representatives, the South Carolina Environmental
Law Project.
SCELP was led by Executive Director and General Council
Amy Armstrong. She and her colleagues Michael Corley,
Jessie White, and Amelia Thompson won once again for CCL.
Mary Meets George
Page 5
FREE
Armstrong says SCELP has invested hundreds of thousands of
dollars to defend The Spit, which she insists is a public resource
worth defending.
“The Spit is one of only three of its kind remaining on the
South Carolina coast available to everyone. Every time KP tweaks
their request for a revetment and files with Administrative Law
Court, we have to start from scratch. It takes time to produce
the [typically] 25 pages necessary to prevent immediate action,
usually on short notice, and get it referred to the Supreme
Captain Sams Spit continues on page 2
Ernst & Young Gift
Page 9
US POSTAGE PAID
CHARLESTON SC
POSTAL PATRON
PERMIT NO 437
April 27, 2018
Sundials and
Plantings
BY MARTHA ZINK
For The Island Connection
T
he Kiawah Island Garden Club
met on a cloudy day in March to
dedicate the sundial they presented
to the Town of Kiawah, to “honor past,
present, and future members who
volunteer their service to our beautiful
island.” The sundial had been placed
in the garden area directly behind the
lobby of the new Municipal Center and
surrounded by flowers, of course.
Club member Donna Pomian found
the perfect sundial and worked closely
with Rusty Lameo on its installation.
Mayor Craig Weaver expressed the
appreciation of the Town, as did town
councilmember Diana Mezzanote, who
helped with coordination between all the
groups. It is a beautiful garden feature to
be enjoyed by all.
The garden club then went to a meeting
room to hear John Tarkanay, a local
landscape architect with a degree from
Ohio State, speak about “Landscaping
for the Weather.” His advice was to “be
creative and responsible.”
Tarkanay has worked closely with
the Town and hotel in designing the
entrances at the Main gate, the entrances
to the Ocean Course, Cassique, River
Course, The Sanctuary and the grounds
of Freshfields as well as many homes
and condominium grounds. He has also
designed new landscaping throughout
the island. Along the sides of Governor’s
Dr., Ocean Course Dr., and Flyway for
instance, he replaced lawn grass with pines,
magnolia, and Sweetgrass, African iris and
milkweed, and in shady areas he planted
ferns. He showed many slides of before
and after landscaping, after Hurricane
Hugo and more recent storms. When the
Sanctuary was being built, 175 live oaks
with 30-inch diameters were moved and
replanted along the entrance drive, with
the loss of very few. Tarkanay gets most of
his trees from an Orangeburg tree farm.
The Town of Kiawah and John
Tarkanay, believe in sustainability and
Garden Club continues on page 4
On The Water
Page 10
2 April 27, 2018
civic

Lynn Pierotti
publisher
lynn@luckydognews.com

Katy Calloway
managing editor
katy@luckydognews.com

Jennifer Tuohy
contributing editor
jennifer@luckydognews.com
Captain Sams Spit.
Alejandro Ferreyros
senior graphic designer Captain Sams Spit continues from cover
alejandro@luckydognews.com Court,” Armstrong previously told the
Island Connection.
Lori McGee The Kuwaiti Investment Company
sales manager was the original, large-scale developer on
Kiawah, and excluded The Spit from use
lori@luckydognews.com
in its 1978 master plan. The consortium
that would eventually become Kiawah
Carla Foxworth Development Partners bought out
sales executive the Kuwaitis in 1988. KDP’s 1994
carla@luckydognews.com development agreement with the Town of
Kiawah Island also preserved The Spit in
its natural state, but a revised agreement
Senior Staff Writer
in 2005 put The Spit on the menu for the
Gregg Bragg first time.
KDP fought to preserve the new option
Contributors of developing The Spit seeking permits
Martha Zink to build revetments and/or bulkheads to
Lori Leary stem erosion, support roads, and facilitate
construction. Because of litigation
Barbara Burgess
initiated by CCL at the time, development
Shirley Salvo was held in abeyance. KDP sold The Spit
Geoff Bennett and all its other holdings to out-of-state
Jennifer Meshanko developer State Street Partners, operating
Kay Hyman locally as Kiawah Partners. Along with
development rights, KP inherited a $50
Ali Buendo
million loan the previous developer
secured from Bank of America, which
leveraged The Spit as collateral.
According to Steve Traynum, a scientist
with Coastal Science & Engineering, The
Spit accretes 1-10 feet of sand per year. He
estimated The Spit lost at least ten years of
accretion because of Hurricane Matthew,
painting a picture of The Spit as it was in
2007. Hurricane Irma made matters worse.
There are sparse dunes remaining along the
West end of Kiawah. The Spit, also suffered
numerous breaches.
Portions of the Beachwalker parking
lot, sections of which were already
cordoned off due to erosion, fell into the
river, along with more real estate around
the narrow neck of The Spit. The only
exception to the SCSC’s decision was to
allow erosion control for 270 feet in the
area adjacent to the Beachwalker County
Park parking lot, an option Kiawah
resident and SCELP board member Greg
VanDerwerker doesn’t think will be
exercised.
Charleston County is currently
enjoying a 99 year lease on the park,
which is technically owned by KP.
VanDerwerker told The Island
Connection the SCSC’s decision “is a
great win,” but says the fight isn’t over.
Although the option of rehearing the
case exists, the unanimous vote throws
shade on the possibility. VanDerwerker
says that there is a case currently pending
with Judge Anderson’s Administrative
Law Court. The request would allow
utility lines (water/power), and a wall of
sheet pile to be driven vertically into the
dunes and away from the river, to support
road/construction/traffic. Whatever the
decision, the case could be appealed and
end up with the SCSC.
The hope of VanDerwerker specifically,
CCL, SCELP, and conservationists is that
PHOTO COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF KIAWAH RIVER
the SCSC will perceive the sheet pile
alternative the same way it did the bulkhead
it just voted against. Previous testimony
cited again in justification of the SCSC
decision included the comment “…
a vertical bulkhead alone, without
anything to protect the toe against
reflective wave energy, would cause ‘even
more exacerbated erosion.’” Although
farther inland, unchecked erosion would
find its way to the sheet pile proffers
VanDerwerker.
Laura Cantral, Executive Director
of CCL said in an email to subscribers,
“This week… the state Supreme Court
denied a developer’s request to build a
half-mile long bulkhead and revetment
on the neck of Captain Sams Spit. This
is a huge win for our coast and you. The
Spit is one of the last undeveloped beaches
in South Carolina. The Supreme Court’s
decision is a monumental step in the
right direction… Our fight to protect
this special place isn’t over yet. We have
challenged other permits from the Spit’s
would-be developers and will continue to
keep you informed and involved as they
move through the court system.”
The Spit is a nesting ground for the
threatened Piping Plover, diamondback
terrapins and the endangered Loggerhead
Turtle. It is also home to a pod of Bottlenose
Dolphins that display the extremely rare
behavior of “strand feeding.”

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 Environmental Town of Seabrook Fax: 768-4764
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 Committee Meeting
Town Council May 8, 2 p.m. Planning Commission Seabrook Island Town H all
843-886-NEWS
Meeting Kiawah Town Hall May 2, 2:30 p.m. 2001 Seabrook Island Road
May 1, 2 p.m. Seabrook Town Hall Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Future submission deadline: Public Safety
Kiawah Town Hall Phone: 768-9121
May 2 for the Committee Ways & Means
May 11 Issue Fax: 768-9830
Planning Commision May 9, 2 p.m. Committee Meeting Email: lmanning@townofseabrookisland.org
May 2, 3 p.m. Kiawah Town Hall May 15, 2:30 p.m.
Op-Ed articles and letters to the editor do not Kiawah Town Hall Seabrook Town Hall Johns Island Council
necessarily reflect the opinion of Ways & Means Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric
Lucky Dog News or its writers. Arts Council Committee Meeting Town Council Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Hwy, Johns
Committee May 22, 2 p.m. Meeting Island.
May 3, 2 p.m. Kiawah Town Hall May 22, 2:30 p.m. Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113
The Island 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
April 27, 2018
civic

Sanford applauds decision

on Captain Sams Spit
STAFF REPORT
The Island Connection

O
n April 19, Representative Mark
Sanford released the following
statement in response to the
South Carolina Supreme Court's ruling
to deny the construction of a seawall on
Captain Sams Spit:
"I applaud their decision. In balancing
private property rights with public cost
and access, and I believe this makes sense.
I have fought for the environment and land
conservation in all the years I have been
in office because of how important it is
to retaining South Carolina's competitive
advantage in the way that we look and
feel as a state. Indeed, a good part of what
makes life so special in the Lowcountry is
its open space and access to public space.
As we continue to grow as a region, I
think it's important that we not develop
every inch in instances like these. In that
vein, yesterday's ruling - like the one in
2014 - serves to highlight the importance
of protecting the public's access and use
of the accreted shoreline at Captain Sams
Spit because as surely as Mother Nature
can accrete shoreline, she can take it away,
and taxpayers shouldn't be left to hold the
tab as tides and shorelines ebb and flow
on this front."

Tid e Char t
Date High Tide Low Tide
Apr 27 7:07am/7:21pm 12:42am/1:05pm
Apr 28 7:51am/8:04pm 1:29am/1:47pm
Apr 29 8:33am/8:45pm 2:15am/2:29pm
Apr 30 9:14am/9:27pm 3:00am/3:11pm
May 1 9:56am/10:10pm 3:46am/3:54pm
May 2 10:41am/10:57pm 4:34am/4:40pm
May 3 11:29am/11:48pm 5:23am/5:29pm
May 4 12:23pm 6:16am/6:23pm
May 5 12:44am/1:24pm 7:14am/7:22pm
May 6 1:47am/2:30pm 8:15am/8:27pm
May 7 2:54am/3:38pm 9:19am/9:35pm
May 8 4:01am/4:44pm 10:21am/10:41pm
May 9 5:04am/5:45pm 11:20am/11:43pm
May 10 6:02am/6:40pm 12:13pm

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 April 27, 2018 April 27, 2018 5
daily daily

Mary Whyte meets George W

you’re in Dallas let’s talk “art.” He enclosed the card and
telephone number of his personal assistant.
Mary called the assistant and was surprised when she
said: “Oh yes. You’re the artist.” They proceeded to pick a day
when a visit would be possible. The assistant helped Mary
get a hotel room in Dallas close to the Presidential Library.
Mary had to be vetted to get through Security. Mary called
the assistant before she left, asking what the appropriate
dress would be. The assistant let her know the President
would be in a suit that day as he had appointments later in
the day. Mary wore a navy blue suit, with a rhinestone pin
on her shoulder that depicted the American flag.
George W. Bush has a presidential library and museum
located on the campus of Southern Methodist University.
Local artist and civil rights activist Mary Whyte. Mary was able to walk to the Library from her hotel, and
Photos provided. she was met by the Assistant to the Chief of Staff. The
Personal Assistant escorted Mary to Bush’s office, which is
BY BARBARA BURGESS nicely decorated with some antique furniture, plus paintings
For The Island Connection
mostly by Texas artists. Coffee appeared immediately and
the conversation centered primarily on painting. Bush

S
eabrook artist Mary Whyte had a surprise note in
her mail one day. Her manager called her and said:
“You are not going to believe who wrote to you
today.” It turns out to have been a handwritten note from
former President George W. Bush. Mary had sent the
former President a book of an art exhibit of hers called the
“Working South.” She had seen a book he wrote called
“Portraits of Courage: A commander in chief’s tribute to
America’s warriors.” It is a portrait of 66 former soldiers
who had been wounded. The President painted head and
shoulder portraits of each veteran and wrote about each
one. Mary was moved by his book and she wrote to the
President wishing him well in his endeavors. She hardly
expected to hear back from him, so his return note came
as a great surprise. His note said: “Dear Mary, You’ve
picked the hardest medium, watercolors. Next time
asked how long she had been painting, what artists did she
admire most, which ones had most affected her work. They
asked each other what paintings they were working on at
the moment. They talked about Winston Churchill who
had taken up painting during his career as a politician and
written a book on it. It is called “Painting as a Pastime” and
when you look it up on the web it shows next to George W.
Bush’s book on wounded warriors.
He mentioned to Mary that he had tried watercolors
but couldn’t master it. Mary said she would be in Dallas
in the future teaching a course on watercolors and Bush
said, “Lets get together and paint.”
Bush asked Mary if she had seen his book. She said she
had but only a friend’s copy. He gave her a copy of the
book, which he signed:
“From one artist to a really fine artist.” Mary took a
picture of the autographed page putting her pin of the
American flag in the upper corner.
The Chief of Staff personally escorted Mary to the
Bush Museum. Only 20 Presidents have a presidential
museum and Mary spent 2 hours going through it. The
museum is open to the public. It is filled with Bush
memorabilia such as a butterfly ballot from Palm Beach,
Florida, a replica of Mr. Bush’s Oval Office, the bullhorn
he used at ground zero and a gnarled steel beam from the
World Trade Center demolished on September 11, 2001.

The Sundial in front of the new Kiawah Municipal Center. PHOTO BY MARTHA ZINK

alternative to liriope). Tarkanay suggested

Garden Club continues on page 4
reward homeowners who plant accordingly
with “Naturally Kiawah” signage on
their mailbox posts. Suggestions include
reducing lawn area, using native plants
and pine trees, installing soft surfaces
and not clear cutting lagoons. Bio-swales
(ditches filled with native plants) help
collect rainwater. A rule of thumb is “if
it floods once, it will again.” Salt tolerant
plants include Cypress trees, Spartina
Patans grass, and Breeze grass (Lomandra
longifolia, which is a salt spray resistant
that after flooding and freezing have
visibly damaged plants such as Sago
palms, wait until spring to see if plants
have survived. We should know soon if
they put out new growth.
The Garden Club will meet on May 7
at Cinder Creek for a casual lunch at 12:30
to celebrate the end of a successful and fun
year. Also, to honor the Royal Wedding,
there will be a workshop on May 18 to
make teacup floral arrangements. Please
go to KiawahGardenClub.org for details.
6 April 27, 2018
daily
Foundation honors
Dr. Victor Agusta
RECIPIENT OF K-S EXCHANGE
CLUB ANGEL OAK AWARD
BY LORI LEARY
For The Island Connection
D
r. Victor Agusta, volunteer
physician at Barrier Island Free
Medical Clinic, was presented
with the 2017 Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange
Club Foundation Angel Oak Award on
Wednesday, March 21.
The ceremony was held at the Seabrook
Island Club. The prestigious award was
established by the Kiawah-Seabrook
Exchange Club in 2012 to “recognize a
volunteer who has made an outstanding
contribution to the people or quality of
life of Johns Island, Wadmalaw Island,
Kiawah Island, and/or Seabrook Island.”
Dr. Agusta, nominated by BIFMC
Board Chairman Dr. Jim Hayes, was
one of the original volunteer physicians
to practice at the free clinic, and is now
in his eighth year of treating low income,
uninsured workers and residents on Johns,
James and Wadmalaw Islands. He is also
one of the biggest volunteer physician
recruiters for the organization.
The recipient of the Angel Oak Award is
presented with a $5000 contribution to the
Left to right: Exchange President Bob
Leggett; Dr. Richard Ulmer, BIFMC
Medical Director; Dr. Victor Agusta,
Honoree; Alan Armstrong, Exchange Club
Angel Oak Committee Chair.
Photo provided.
charitable organization of his or her choice;
Dr. Agusta chose to donate the award to
Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic.
arts & events
Annual Gullah
Celebration benefits SIHAF
FIGHTING HUNGER ON JOHNS
AND WADMALAW ISLANDS
BY SHIRLEY SALVO
For The Island Connection
T
he Sea Islands Hunger Awareness
Foundation (SIHAF) will be
presenting its Fourth Annual
Gullah Celebration at Freshfields Village
on Saturday, May 19 from 3-6 p.m.
Festivities will include music, a large
silent auction, craft vendors, a children’s
art show, and Gullah food as well as
wine, beer and tea. The Deninufray
African Dance and Drum Production
will entertain at 3:30 p.m. and the Low
Country Voices will perform at 4:30 p.m.
The proceeds from this event are
the major source of funding for the
Foundation’s Sea Islands Blessing Basket
food distribution program, quarterly
fresh produce giveaways, and the Water
Wellness Mission. SIHAF also provides
financial support for seven other partner
organizations, which help feed needy
children, low income families and elderly
individuals on Johns and Wadmalaw
islands.
This year’s Gullah Celebration is
dedicated to Donna Mundy, former board
member and enthusiastic supporter of
SIHAF, who passed away in March of this
year. Donna was a dedicated and widely
honored educator, a skilled consultant
who provided pro-bono services to many
non-profit groups, and one of the guiding
forces behind the formation of SIHAF
and the growth of its various activities.
The Blessing Basket program currently
provides canned goods and other food
staples, as well as bread, meat and fresh
produce, to almost 250 individual clients
each month to help supplement their diet.
SIHAF must raise over $40,000 a year to
fund this effort alone. The Blessing Basket
has added about 45 new clients just in
the past two months and the number
of recipients is expected to increase
throughout 2018.
The Water Wellness Mission offers new
wells and filtration systems to families
who have been living without clean,
running water in their homes. Since the
program started in the spring of 2016, 15
wells have been installed at no cost to the
families. The average cost to dig a well and
install a filtration system is $5,000. Right
now there are 26 families on the waiting
list.
In addition to these programs, SIHAF
offers financial support to Backpack
Buddies of Seabrook, Fields to Families,
the Hebron Zion Presbyterian Church
Emergency Food Bank, Meals on Wheels
of Charleston (delivering meals to
residents of Wadmalaw and Johns Islands),
the Rockville Presbyterian Church Meals
on Monday, Sweetgrass Garden and the
Wesley United Methodist Temple Take
Out Ministry.
Tickets for the Gullah Celebration can
be purchased in advance at the SIHAF
website, FightIslandHunger.org, where
additional details are available, including
information about sponsorships,
auction donations and other support
opportunities. Tickets are available at
Indigo Books will also be available on site
on May 19.
8 April 27, 2018
daily
WaterProof needs volunteers
TEACHING KIDS TO SWIM
S AV E S L I V E S
Amy Myers of WaterProof, Inc. teaching children to swim.
STAFF REPORT
The Island Connection
W
aterProof is a volunteer 501c3
organization of members of
the Seabrook, Bohicket and
Kiawah communities that has been
giving free water safety and swimming
instruction to kindergarteners and first
graders of local schools for the last 6 years.
This year’s 2-week, morning, teaching
program called “WaterWise” will run
May 14 - 25.
Volunteers are needed to help with
PHOTO COURTESY OF TIDELINES
swim lessons. WaterProof provides swim
lesson training and certification. SLED
background checks and youth protection
training will be also provided. Lessons
take place at the pool of the Boy Scout
Camp “Ho Non Wa” on Wadmalaw
Island and carpooling is recommended.
This is a fun and rewarding way to
give back to our community. If interested
please contact Derek Fyfe at Derekfyfe@
yahoo.com.
daily
SC high school writing
finalists announced
LOCAL STUDENTS AMONG CONTENDERS
STAFF REPORT
The Island Connection
F
orty-one high school juniors and
seniors from across the state have
been named finalists in the fifth
South Carolina High School Writing
Contest. Johns Island residents, Maria
Traver and English Calhoun Walpole,
both juniors at Charleston County School
of the Arts and Jasmine Smith, a senior at
Porter-Gaud, are among the finalists.
“We started in 2013 with 23 finalists,”
said Steven Lynn, dean of the South
Carolina Honors College and founder of
the contest. “We are really impressed with
the quality and quantity of writing we’ve
received this year.”
As in years before, the topic is “How
can we make South Carolina better?”
“These students are our future leaders,
and it’s important to understand their
viewpoints. They could have solutions—
or the seeds to solutions—to the problems
we are facing now and in the future,”
Lynn says.
Students respond in the genre of their
choice—poetry, fiction, essay, drama,
letter—within a maximum of 750 words.
The contest is open to juniors and seniors
in public, private and home schools.
Writings by the finalists will be included
in an anthology published by the South
Carolina Honors College.
Nationally recognized poet Sam
Amadon, an assistant professor of English
and creative writing at the University
of South Carolina, will judge this year’s
contest.
Amadon spoke to the finalists April
12 on the university’s campus for Round
2 of the competition, which included a
second, timed, writing test with students
responding to an impromptu topic.
The Honors College partners with
the university’s School of Library and
Information Sciences to present the
contest.
First-place winner will receive $1,000
and the Walter Edgar Award, funded by
SCHC alumnus Thad Westbrook and
named for his professor, a South Carolina
historian and writer. The second-place
winner will receive $500 and the Dorothy
Skelton Williams Award, funded by an
anonymous donor and named for the late
upstate public school educator. The third-
place winner will receive $250.
Winners will be announced
mid-summer.
April 27, 2018 9

Ernst & Young Gifts $20,000 to Kiawah Cares

F O U N D A T I O N S U P P O R T S S T. J O H N ’ S H I G H S C H O O L S T U D E N T S

PHOTO PROVIDED
Steve Payne from Ernst & Young presents a check for $20,000 to SJHS students and faculty. Left to right: Jane
Payne, Steve Payne (Ernst & Young), David Harris (Trident Technical College VP of Instruction), Kimiyonn Sadler,
Zuriah Zepke, Jimmy Bailey (KCF), Davion Green, John Zepke, Stephen Larson (SJHS Principal), Michael Thomas.

STAFF REPORT
The Island Connection

A
primary focus of the Kiawah Cares
Foundation (KCF) is supporting
education throughout Johns and
Wadmalaw islands. Now, thanks to a
generous donation from multinational
professional services firm Ernst & Young,
the foundation will be able to continue
this mission by providing vital resources
to high school students on Johns Island.
EY donated $20,000 to the foundation
to support KCF’s partnership with St.
John’s High School (SJHS). KCF will use
this gift to purchase required textbooks for
dual credit courses at Trident Technical
College.
“Through both philanthropy and
services, EY has an unparalleled
commitment to education,” said EY
representative Steve Payne. “Building a
better working world starts with shaping
the minds and skills of tomorrow’s leaders,
and it is our great privilege to help support
their opportunities all over the world.”
The dual credit courses offered by SJHS,
in conjunction with Trident Technical
College (TTC), allow students to earn
college credit while still in high school.
This credit can then be used toward a
degree at many colleges and universities.
This credit can then be used towards a
degree at many colleges and universities.
KCF, through a separate partnership
with the Kiawah Women's Foundation
and Kiawah's Best Friends Fund, has also
secured funding to transport the students
to and from TTC for these courses.
“This year, we significantly expanded
our Dual Credit opportunities for our
students with over 90 courses being taken
just this Spring Semester,” said SJHS
Principal Steve Larson. “We know that if
students begin building a college transcript
while in their junior or senior year of High
School, it significantly increases the rate
of success in post-secondary schooling.
Now, with this generous gift from EY,
our students are able to focus on their
college courses without worrying about
the financial strain it may cause.”
Of the partnership with D9 schools,
KCF Chair Jimmy Bailey said, “We
believe strongly in community support
of our future generations. Over the past
5 years Kiawah Cares has forged strong
relationship with D9 faculty to provide
needed resources. We want island students
to know we care for and about them.” For
more information on KCF, the programs
it supports, and how to make to a gift
to the foundation, visit KiawahCares.
org or contact KCF at 843.768.9194 or
kiawahcares@kica.us.
About EY
EY is a multinational professional services
firm headquartered in London, England.
EY is one of the largest professional
services firms in the world and is one
of the "Big Four" accounting firms. For
more information on EY, visit EY.com.
About Kiawah Cares
Kiawah Cares (KC) is a community outreach
program established and coordinated by the
Kiawah Island Community Association.
KC partners with nonprofits, schools and
faith-based organizations that serve Johns
and Wadmalaw islands to celebrate the
community, as well as work together to address
social issues on the islands. The mission of
KC is to create community partnerships and
contribute to improving the overall quality of
life on the Sea Islands. The 501(c)3 Kiawah
Cares Foundation serves as the funding
mechanism for the outreach program.
10
Warmer waters wake up fish
O
n the heels of a chilly January,
temperatures have soared higher
over the last few weeks. Warmer
water temperatures made for happy fish
and the spring bite is well underway. The
usual suspects, redfish and trout, will
be the primary targets and both will be
increasingly more active. Don’t wait a
couple months, get your line in the water
and start catching now!
Over the last few months, redfish have
been doing their best to avoid hungry
dolphins. Now they will switch modes
from survivors to predators. Redfish still
remain in huge schools and the most
productive fishing will be at low tide when
they are concentrated. These fish will be
spooky so you’ll want to be quiet and slow
on your approach. On many days, the
best option is to post up and wait for the
school to swim within range of you.
During this time of year, these big
schools of redfish will often turn their
noses up at artificial lures. So, instead of
casting at them to no avail, we’ll fish bait
on the bottom. Put out chunks of blue
crab or cut mullet on size 3/0 circle hooks.
Place your rod in the rod holder and leave
the rod alone when you see a fish begin to
eat. The circle hook does all the work for
you and when your drag starts to sing you
are in business.
on the water
BY GEOFF BENNETT
For The Island Connection
Tamisha Broadwell from Georgia. 7lb redfish caught using a mud minnow under a
popping cork. Photo by Geoff Bennett.
With the end of February being quite
warm, the trout bite has slowly begun.
Artificial lures will be your best bet. Fish
these lures slowly and try to let them sink
to the bottom. These fish are sluggish
as well and it pays to get the lure right
April 27, 2018
in front of their nose. Plastic lures that
imitate small minnows are a good choice
and the Zman 3.75” Streakz in smokey
shad is our go to choice. Matched with a
1/8oz. or 1/4oz. jighead, this combination
will work well throughout the year.
Please strongly consider practicing
catch and release of trout throughout
their spawning season in the spring. Water
temperatures dropped into the low 40s in
January and South Carolina’s Department
of Natural Resources fears there was a
significant trout kill. The agency is urging
catch and release and notes that putting
trout back in the water as opposed to your
cooler after tough winters can go a long
way to protecting the fishing stock.
See you on the water!
For a decade, Capt. Geoff Bennett
has operated Charleston Charter Fishing
providing light tackle charters. Clients choose
from a full menu of artificial and live bait
fishing options with charters tailored to their
desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt.
Bennett is committed to providing a safe and
enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels
and ages. For more information, call Capt.
Bennett at 843.324.3332, visit his website
CharlestonCharterFishing.com or email him
at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.
April 27, 2018
volunteer spotlight
Alyssa Gallo
BY JENNIFER MESHANKO
For The Island Connection
Alyssa Gallo. Photo by Maria Gurovich.
V
olunteer service has been an
integral part of Alyssa Gallo’s
life. Growing up in New York,
she served as a volunteer camp counselor
and basketball coach. After attending her
first two years of college at The Catholic
University of America in Washington,
D.C., she transferred to the College of
Charleston to be closer to her parents in
Bluffton, SC. Alyssa will be graduating in
May with a degree in Anthropology.
Even though Alyssa has only lived
in Charleston for a couple of years, she
has definitely made an impact in the
local community. She helped establish
The Lonon Foundation, a nonprofit
organization that helps children affected
by a parent or caregiver's cancer diagnosis
find comfort, heal and grow from their
shared experiences. Alyssa was the
foundation’s director of marketing, but
now serves on their board of directors.
Alyssa was introduced to Our Lady of
Mercy Community Outreach when she
decided to complete her Anthropology
internship with the organization. She
assisted with the Yes, I Can! After School
and the English as a Second Language
programs. Alyssa enjoyed helping with
the programs so much that she decided to
continue volunteering after her internship
was over.
“I love the sense of community in
volunteering with the Outreach center,”
says Alyssa. “I’ve gotten to know all of
our ESL students and our students in the
after school program, and I genuinely
enjoy coming to volunteer every Tuesday
and Thursday to see their smiling faces.”
Being bilingual, Alyssa was able to impact
a student’s life by assisting them with a
job search. “I felt that this was a huge deal
because they are trusting me to help them
with a career path.”
Alyssa believes volunteering at Our
Lady of Mercy Community Outreach is
an experience “you’re never going to forget!
The people who work and attend classes at
OLMCO are some of the best and most
hardworking people I’ve ever met.”
daily
Charleston Animal Society
CEO to step down
BY KAY HYMAN
For The Island Connection
C
harleston Animal Society’s Chief
Executive Officer, Joe Elmore, will
bring his tenure to a close in late 2018
or early 2019, pending a national search for
the organization’s next chief executive.
“My goal was to lead the organization
out of crisis and bring the Board’s dream
of the first No Kill Community in the
Southeast to realization,” Elmore said.
“Charleston County has been a No Kill
Community for five full years now. Our
fire is out; It’s time to fight fires elsewhere.”
Under Elmore’s leadership, Charleston
Animal Society launched the boldest
animal rescue initiative ever undertaken in
the Southeast – No Kill Charleston, a 3-year
initiative achieved in its first year. Last
month marked the 5th anniversary of that
achievement and Elmore said the No Kill
Community is here to stay. Not only did the
Animal Society achieve that landmark feat,
it also launched No Kill South Carolina to
help the state’s 375 animal organizations
save tens of thousands of lives each year,
inspiring other states to do the same.
Elmore will work closely with the Board
of Directors this year to find a new chief
executive to sustain the organization’s
success and drive its next 5-year strategic
plan beginning in 2019.
11
“Joe has helped all of us in Charleston
County and South Carolina reimagine
what animal rescue can be,” said
Charleston Animal Society Board of
Directors President Hank Greer. “His
accomplishments are overwhelming and
he has been recognized as one of nine
innovative leaders nationwide for their
incredible efforts in animal lifesaving.”
Elmore specializes in organization
turnarounds following crises. Although
having committed to only 3 years at
Charleston Animal Society, he has
remained there over 6 years, which is
longer than anywhere in his 30-year
nonprofit career spanning 6 states and 3
times overseas. During that 6-year tenure,
Charleston Animal Society set numerous
lifesaving records and became a national
model for lifesaving success, along with
being a major educational venue, both
nationally and globally, for best practices.
“One of our proudest achievements is
being South Carolina’s most honored charity
for over 5 years and we expect this year will be
the sixth,” said Hank Greer. “The incredible
lifesaving team that Joe has organized and
developed is second to none in the nation
and will continue setting the pace as the
Southeast’s flagship for animal rescue.”
 April 27
ONGOING
First Monday of the month
WHAT: Mayor’s Night In
WHERE: Charleston City Hall
WHEN: Registration 4:30, Meeting 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: A chance for citizens to
meet with the Mayor one-on-one for five
minutes about any topic. Meetings are
held on a first come, first served basis.
Charleston-sc.gov.
First and third Tuesday every month
WHAT: Charleston County Book Mobile
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 10 – 11 a.m.
MORE INFO: Parked Behind Hege’s and
Java Java. Sponsored by the Charleston
County Public Library, ccpl.org.
Mondays
WHAT: Seabrook Island Bridge Group
WHERE: The Lake House
WHEN: 9 a.m.
MORE INFO: The Monday Bridge
Group welcomes new members. For more
information, please contact Ilse Calcagno
at 843.768.0317.
WHAT: Charleston Coastal Choir rehearsal
WHERE: Church of Our Savior, Johns Island
WHEN: 1-2:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Charleston Coastal
Choir, a local mixed community chorus,
is seeking new members to bring fun
and enjoyment to the low country. For
info contact Van McCollum, Director
of Music at 404.401.0678 or via email
vanmccollum@bellsouth.net.
Tuesdays
WHAT: Tango Lessons/Practice
WHERE: MUSC Wellness Center, 45
Courtenay Dr.
WHEN: 7:30-8:30
MORE INFO: Charleston Argentine Tango
Society offers a free one-hour tango lesson
and practice. The MUSC gym charges $5 at
the entrance, but lessons themselves are free.
Everyone is welcome, not just couples.
Wednesdays
WHAT: Lake House Yoga
WHERE: The Lake House
WHEN: 8:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Rise and Shine Yoga with
Patti Romano, formerly known at Gentle
Flow Yoga. Rise and Shine Yoga is an all
levels practice focused around finding your
day’s intention, set up yourself for success
and be ready to shine.
WHAT: Kids Fishing Tournament
WHERE: Bohicket Marina
WHEN: 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
MORE INFO: A Fishing Tournament just for
kids ages 4-14. Two rounds of fishing. Arrive at
least 15 minutes before your desired round. It’s
only $7 per participant which includes all bait
and fishing rods. Every tournament produces 3
winners which will receive a tournament shirt,
bait, bucket and bragging rights. Questions call
248.719.0076.
WHAT: Sea Islands Book Club
WHERE: John’s Island Regional Library,
3531 Maybank Highway
WHEN: 2 p.m.
MORE INFO: Adult discussion of Dead Wake:
The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson.
Thursdays
WHAT: The Joy Project Jazz Quartet at
The Andell Inn
WHERE: The Andell Inn Hotel,
Freshfields Village
WHEN: 6-8 p.m.
MORE INFO: Jazz every Thursday evening
lounge of the Andell Inn Hotel. Drinks and
food available. There is 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.
Third Friday of the
Month
WHAT: Homeschool History Days
WHERE: Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St.
WHEN: 10-11 a.m.
MORE INFO: A special program for home
schooling families. These programs feature
one of our field trip classes, a chance to
go through the Museum, and an activity.
Free with paid admission. To register visit
CharlestonMuseum.org.
Fridays
WHAT: Adult art classes, multimedia
WHERE: 3280 Loft at Bohicket Marina,
1897 Andell Bluff Way, Seabrook Island
WHEN: 10 a.m. - noon
Island Connection Calendar
Saturday
WHAT: Johns Island Farmers Market
WHERE: Charleston Collegiate SChool,
2024 Academy Rd.
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MORE INFO: Charleston’s only year-
round farmers market, highlighting
produce and locally produced goods
and foods. Live music, kids activities.
JohnsIslandFarmersMarket.com for details.
FRIDAY, APRIL 27
WHAT: Project Trio
WHERE: Turtle Point Clubhouse
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Brought to you by the
Kiawah Arts and Cultural Events Council.
Tickets are complimentary, available to the
public April 13. Visit KiawahIsland.org/
events for tickets and information.
WHAT: Tax Workshop for Small
Business Owners
WHERE: 4050 Bridge View Dr., N
Charleston
WHEN: 9 a.m.-noon
MORE INFO: IRS sponsored workshop
is a public service for those who have a
small business or are thinking about going
into business. To register or for more
information call 843.740.6160.
SATURDAY, APRIL 28
WHAT: 5th Annual Dolphin Slam
WHERE: Bohicket Marina
WHEN: lines in 7 a.m.-3 p.m.
MORE INFO: April 26 is last day to
register. $200 entry fee, $25,000 prize for
State Record Dolphin. Reception on the
dock 3-9 p.m. Awards at 8 p.m. For info
visit Bohicket.com.
WHAT: Mullet Haul 5 and 10K Trail Run
WHERE: Mullet Hall Equestrian Center
WHEN: 8:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Dash then bash at the
Mullet Haul 5K/10K at Johns Island
County Park. Awards ceremony and
post-race party with delicious food, cold
beverages, and live music. Open to ages 10
and up; parent/guardian must sign waiver
for ages 16 and under. Fees: 5K: $32/$26
Move IT! Pass Holder; 10K: $36/$28
Move IT! Pass Holder. For info visit
CharlestonCountyParks.com.
WHAT: Air Force Thunderbirds at Air
and Space Expo
WHERE: Joint base Charleston, N.
Charleston
WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Thunderbirds
perform around 3 p.m.
MORE INFO: Air and Space Expo is a
free event. The Thunderbirds fly the F-16
Fighting Falcon, and their 45-minute
demonstration may include as many as 40
aerial moves.
WHAT: Rededication of Waterfront
Park
WHERE: Vendue Plaza, Waterfront Park
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: City of Charleston will
officially rename Charleston’s Waterfront
Park to Joe Riley Waterfront Park. The
Charleston Parks Conservancy and the
City will unveil commemorative elements
reflecting the former mayor’s dedication to
parks and public spaces. Current Mayor
John Tecklenburg and former Mayor Joe
Riley will speak.
MONDAY, APRIL 30
WHAT: Birding on Ocean Winds Golf
Course
WHERE: Meet at the Island House
WHEN: 9-11 a.m.
MORE INFO: Join Seabrook Island
Birders will be riding in golf carts along
the first nine holes. Bring binoculars,
hats and sunscreen. Water will be
provided. Membership required. Visit
SeabrookIslandBirders.org for more info.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2
WHAT: Assistance for Veterans
WHERE: Johns Island Regional Library
WHEN: 10 a.m.-noon
MORE INFO: Veterans or spouses of
veterans can meet with an accredited VA
claims representative to find out about
the Aid and Attendance benefit. Veterans
and widowed spouses who require the aid
and attendance of another person may
be eligible for additional benefits for care
assistance in the home or in an assisted
living community. No appointment
needed. Call for info 843.559.1945.
FRIDAY, MAY 4
WHAT: Pet Helpers 40th Anniversary
Party
WHERE: Joe Riley Stadium
WHEN: 7 p.m.
MORE INFO: Celebrate Pet Helpers’
40th anniversary with the Charleston
Riverdogs. Tickets are $10 and available
at Riverdogs.com/groups, password:
PETHELPERS.
SATURDAY, MAY 5
WHAT: Food Truck Rodeo
WHERE: Feshfields Village
WHEN: noon-4 p.m.
MORE INFO: Kiawah Women’s
Foundation annual event raises money and
awareness for at-risk youth on Johns Island.
KWF provides weekly meals for 300 kids
on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. For
details visit KiawahWomensFoundation.
org.
WHAT: Knit and Purl: Knitting Group
WHERE: Johns Island Regional Library
WHEN: 10-11:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Bring your knitting
materials and join us each month to
knit with fellow crafters. All skill levels
welcome. Call for info 843.559.1945.
WHAT: Tosca
WHERE: The Gaillard Center
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Puccini’s classic opera
performed by the Charleston Symphony
Orchestra in association with the Daniel
Island Performing Arts Center. The
gala benefit will serve to support area
arts organizations including the Daniel
island Performing Arts Center and its
contributing organizations. For tickets and
info visit GaillardCenter.com.
WHAT: Adopt-A-Highway, Betsey
Kerrison Clean Up
WHERE: Meet at Lake House
WHEN: 8:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Spring clean up. For info
please contact Rich Siegel at Richard.
Siegel2552@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, MAY 6
WHAT: Piccolo Spoleto Preview
WHERE: Holy Spirit Catholic Church
WHEN: 4 p.m.
MORE INFO: City of Charleston
Office of Cultural Affairs and the
Town of Kiawah Island Arts & Cutural
Events Council present a sampling of
the upcoming season. For free tickets
visit KiawahIsland.org/events or call
843.768.9166.
MONDAY, MAY 7
WHAT: Big Brothers/Big Sisters Golf
Fundraiser
WHERE: Kiawah Island Club’s River
Course
WHEN: Shotgun start at 11 a.m.
MORE INFO: 4 player scramble. Lunch
and beverages provided. Play is followed
by an awards ceremony. Prizes for the
winning teams, hole-in-one contests, silent
auction and numerous raffle opportunities.
For more info contact Gordon Robertson
at 843.266.5218.
TUESDAY, MAY 8
WHAT: S.C. History Series: Is South
Carolina History Relevant?
WHERE: Johns Island Regional Library
WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: As 21st-century technology
brings the world to our fingertips, the
distant past might seem increasing
irrelevant. In the Lowcountry of South
Carolina, however, our past continues
to shape the world around us. Join
CCPL’s historian, Dr. Nic Butler, for an
exploration of the many reasons why it’s
important to study South Carolina history.
Call for info 843.559.1945.
WHAT: The Week South Carolina
Rebelled: April 14-21, 1775
WHERE: Johns Island Regional Library
WHEN: 11:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: During the same week
of tension in Massachusetts that led to
shots fired at Lexington and Concord, a
series of events in Charleston led South
Carolina’s political leaders to commit to
armed resistance against British aggression.
Join CCPL’s historian, Dr. Nic Butler, for
a discussion of the long-forgotten spark
that ignited the American Revolutionary
War in South Carolina. Call for info
843.559.1945.
THURSDAY, MAY 10
WHAT: Hops and Vines
WHERE: McLeod Plantation, James
Island
WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Event features live music
from Dave Landeo and food from the
Dashi Food Truck. Admission is $15
advance or $20 on-site and includes
two drink tickets. Space is limited. Visit
CharlestonCountyParks.com for tickets.
Dogs are not permitted.
SATURDAY, MAY 12
WHAT: CATR Student Horse Show
WHERE: Brickhouse Equestrian Center
WHEN: 9-11 a.m.
MORE INFO: Students show off
their equestrian skills. CATR presents
scholarships and volunteer awards. All are
welcome. For more info on Charleston
Area Therapeutic Riding visit CATR-
program.org.
TUESDAY, MAY 15
WHAT: Sea Islands Book Club
WHERE: Johns Island Regional Library
WHEN: 2 p.m.
MORE INFO: ‘Cigar Factory”
by Michelle Moore. Call for info
843.559.1945.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16
WHAT: World Affairs Council of
Charleston
WHERE: The Citadel Alumni Center
WHEN: 5:15-8:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: “Seven Deadly Threats
to the United States and what we can
do about them”. The last meeting of the
season features Col. (Retired) Joseph
J. Collins, active duty Army officer
for 28 years, senior Pentagon official,
distinguished scholar and author of books
focusing on national security issues.
WACCharleston.org for details.
SATURDAY, MAY 19
WHAT: Bee-wonderful with Charleston
Beekeepers
WHERE: Johns Island Regional Library
WHEN: 2 p.m.
MORE INFO: Learn about bees and
beekeeping in Charleston from a member
May 26
of the Charleston Beekeepers. Call for info
843.559.1945.
WHAT: SIHAF Gullah Celebration
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 3-6 p.m.
MORE INFO: 4th annual event
features live music, African dancing
and drumming, silent auction, craft
vendors, children’s art show Gullah food,
wine, beer and tea for purchase. All
proceeds benefit the Sea Islands Hunger
Awareness Foundation. For tickets visit
FightIslandHunger.org.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 23
WHAT: Round Table Discussion with
Councilwoman Johnson
WHERE: Johns Island Regional Library
WHEN: 12:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Discuss concerns and
issues with Councilwoman Anna Johnson
of Charleston County District 8.
THURSDAY, MAY 24
WHAT: Hops and Vines
WHERE: McLeod Plantation, James
Island
WHEN: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Event features live music
from Emily Curtis and the Braised in the
South food truck, which was winner of
the 2017 Food Network show “Great Food
Truck Race.”
Admission is $15 advance or $20 on-site
and includes two drink tickets. Space is
limited. Visit CharlestonCountyParks.com
for tickets. Dogs are not permitted.
SATURDAY, MAY 26
WHAT: Low Country Seafood
Luncheon
WHERE: Wadmalaw Island Community
Center
WHEN:
MORE INFO: Chef Barry Waldrop
of Stono Café provides a traditional
southern meal. $18 ticket includes lunch
and live music. More info and advance
tickets available by calling Bertha
Middleton at 843.557.8408 or Bob Cox at
843.696.2385.
14 April 27, 2018
daily

Kiawah Partners makes

impact with donations
GIVING TO OVER 70
O R G A N I Z AT I O N S I N 2 0 1 7
BY ALI BUENDO
For The Island Connection

I
n 2017, Kiawah Partners supported more
than 70 nonprofit organizations, schools,
businesses and community associations
with in-kind and monetary donations
totaling $431,405. The majority of the
charitable gifts were related to improving
health and education within the Charleston
region.
Some of the larger partnerships in 2017
included providing opportunities for Special
Olympics, Medical University of South
Carolina, Chase After a Cure, The First Tee,
American Heart Association and College of
Charleston, among many others.
“It has always been Kiawah Partners’
mission to give back to the community that
we are lucky enough to live in,” said Chris
Randolph, Partner of Kiawah Partners. “We
are proud to not only support these causes
with our monetary donations but also with
our time. Our executives and employees
serve on many non-profit boards throughout
the Lowcountry and donate hundreds if
not thousands of hours of service to the
community.”
In addition to in-kind and monetary
donations, one of the other ways that Kiawah
Partners shows its support is through hosting
charity golf tournaments at the Kiawah
Island Club at no cost to the charity.
The John Kresse Invitational is one of the
five charity golf tournaments that Kiawah
Partners hosts every year. The fundraising
event is held on Kiawah Island in October and
founded by legendary College of Charleston
former basketball coach, John Kresse.
“The College of Charleston is thankful for
the extraordinary partnership with Kiawah
over the last 13 years,” said John Kresse,
former College of Charleston basketball
coach and founder of the John Kresse
Invitational Golf Tournament. “Without
their generous donation of the golf course
for our tournament, we would not be able to
provide scholarships to hundreds of student-
athletes.”
Other organizations that held charity golf
tournaments on The River Course in 2017
include:
• Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic
• Boy Scouts of America - Coastal
Carolina Council
• Ronald McDonald House
• National Kidney Foundation
The residents on Kiawah Island are
also very involved in philanthropy. One
example is Kiawah Island resident, Terry
Weaver, co-founder of the Kiawah Women’s
Foundation. The foundation is a result of
neighbors joining together to support causes
across the Lowcountry.
Weaver’s foundation started the Backpack
Buddies Program on John’s Island, another
cause Kiawah Partners has supported over
the years. The program provides healthy,
shelf-stable meals for more than 290 children
to take home over the weekend in an effort to
combat hunger.
“It is refreshing to have neighbors who
are also committed to philanthropy,” said
Weaver. “We’ve formed special bonds
through our volunteerism. It’s one of the
many things that brought me to Kiawah, and
makes this a more fulfilling place to live.”
Along with the in-kind donations,
Kiawah Partners also granted land
easements to various community groups
and environmental organizations in 2017.
Rather than further develop property owned
by Kiawah Partners, they agreed to transfer
728 acres to Kiawah Island Community
Association (KICA) and the Kiawah Island
Natural Habitat Conservancy, totaling
$5,377,000 in value. These easements were
done with preservation and protection of the
natural habitat in mind.
As Kiawah Partners reflect on the
positive impact made by their philanthropic
partnerships last year, they are motivated
get even more involved in the Charleston
community this year.
“As we considered our annual budget for
2018, we decided to increase our nonprofit
contributions,” said Randolph. “The
Lowcountry is important to us, and we
always want to play a role in making it better.”