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FOLLY BEACH, SC
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Vol. 1 Issue 16 Folly Beach’s Newspaper May 29, 2009 w FREE

Global warming
and hurricanes: Hurricane Season 2009
A love affair
By Ali Akhyari

T
he southeast coast of the United
States affords its residents luxuries
which people from all over the
world travel here to experience. The
lush marshlands, the salty breeze and
the unique ocean views are the idea of
paradise for many. But all the benefits of
coastal living come with a price.
Hurricane season officially begins on
June 1 and coastal residents are very aware
of the Lowcountry’s potential for disaster
as this date comes and goes. This is
especially true in 2009 as we approach the
20 year anniversary of Hurricane Hugo.
On the back drop of that disastrous storm,
it has never been more imperative to be
prepared for hurricane season; and part of
being prepared is being aware.
Every year, people turn to various
sources for a hint of what to expect out
of the Atlantic Ocean. William Gray, of
Colorado State University, is one of the
most popular and analyzed hurricane
forecasters in the United States. Along
with his protegé, Philip Klotzbach, he
has spent many years analyzing data and
developing models that are designed to
reflect an understanding of tropical storm
activity in the Atlantic Basin, the most
inconsistent tropical storm corridor in the
world.
Fortunately, the odds seem to be in
favor of an average hurricane season, as
opposed to the above average year that was
correctly predicted last year. According to
Klotzbach and Gray, there is a 67% chance
of one or more tropical storms hitting the
East Coast of the U.S. this year. That is

see Hurricanes on page 9

I
N
S
I
D
E Vacation rentals on page 3 Shaggers Holiday on page 8 Bluegrass birthday on page 12
2 May 29, 2009
TheMemo
“T
he Memo”. It sounds a bit
like a B rated thriller wherein
a mutant piece of paper
terrorizes a small New England town one
sleepy autumn night. The memo, though,
will be the highly anticipated report
which the City will receive from hired
consultants with findings and suggestions
for improving the traffic problems on Folly
Beach, a result of their research, expertise,
and teamwork with the community.
The City hired Wilbur Smith &
Associates (WSA) out of Raleigh, NC,
to conduct the traffic study. “The final
product will be a plan that the City can
use as a guide for future capital investment
and to apply for funding through a variety
of sources,” Will Letchworth, WSA
representative, says. They have already
surveyed the island and discovered several
problems, as well as possibilities, for
improvement.
“I have been impressed by the associates
from WSA, and hope that the suggestions
they give to help deal with the impact of
visitors to the island will be well received
and will help our quality of life,” Council
member Laura Beck said. She and fellow
Council member Dave Stormer are
City brakes for traffic
By Ali Akhyari
“[Being] pedestrian friendly is the
main focus of what we are trying to
do,” Beck said. “We are also working
hard to deal with the speeding cars
on Folly.”
Approximately 60 residents packed
themselves into Father Kelly Hall
at the Our Lady of Good Council
building to express their grievances
about traffic, offer suggestions and
to hear what the City is planning to
do about it during a May 11 public
meeting with WSA. Letchworth
stressed his desire to work with the
residents in developing solutions and
goals for the island.
“The success or failure of this
planning process will depend heavily
on the information shared with us
by the public,” Letchworth admits.
“This project is off to a great start.”
There was no shortage of ideas
Staff Photo and complaints from the residents
Concerned residents identify problem areas for who attended the meeting and
traffic consultants on a large map of Folly Beach. Mr. Letchworth had to remind
the audience several times that the
heading up the City’s Traffic Committee,
which will continue to discuss the issues
and solutions. Folly music
scene
Planet Follywood
Fridays and Saturdays - Dan Clamp
Folly Beach Crab Shack
Mondays - Live Local Music
Tuesdays - Trivia
Wednesdays - Dave Grunstra
Thursdays - Island Duo
Friday - Folly Dogs
Saturdays - Live Local Music
Surf Bar
Sundays - Dangermuffin
www.follycurrent.sc
meeting would not end before everyone
was heard, as gasps of exhaustion could
be heard whenever a person was not called
upon among the many raised hands. He
was also forced to remind the group that
their job is to develop strategies for traffic
flow and pedestrian safety, as comments
inevitably turned to keeping visitors off
the island all together. The room erupted
in applause whenever someone alluded to
the nuisance of visitors and suggestions for
keeping them away, even suggesting a $10
charge for anyone to cross the bridge onto
Folly Beach.
However, many well-intentioned
residents brought some important issues
to light for the consultants and gave
suggestions for traffic control apart from
installing a private gate at the end of Folly
Road. With beach weather upon us, the
focus of many residents was on ways to
improve the congestion associated with
the weekend summer traffic, though many
year-round issues were discussed as well.
“This is not a Center Street problem,”
see Traffic on page 10
Center Street Kitchen
Thursdays - Folly Beach Bluegrass
Society
BLU
5/30 Tropicools
5/31 2-5pm Graham Worely
9pm-12am Jeff Caldwell
Vince Perna is a Folly Beach real estate
expert who also loves music. If you want
to know if you can live on Folly, you can
find him at 31 Center Street or by calling
843-588-3800.
May 29, 2009 3
civic
Crafting the future Folly Beach
C o u n cil ta k e s o n v acatio n r e n tals Lynn Pierotti
Publisher
Staff report lynn@luckydognews.com

E
veryone loves the beach. That fact
is never more apparent than in
these times when the temperature
climbs as high as the midday summer
sun, and the crowds flock to the islands
for a bit of relief, relaxation and fun. As
the Lowcountry’s barrier islands have
become more accessible over the years,
more visitors are taking advantage of the
opportunity to share our slice of paradise.
Sometimes it’s just for a day. Other times
it might be a weekend or even longer. To
accommodate overnight guests, many
homes have been replaced by short-term
vacation rentals and a unique dynamic
has evolved as a result.
As homes inhabited by long-term
residents are replaced by short-term rentals,
neighborhoods are being transformed and
issues of ‘livability’ and ‘property rights’
are beginning to rear their heads. Some
Folly Beach residents may recall the
“Clarion Study”, which was an attempt
to get professional feedback on how the
City could approach their zoning laws
more efficiently and deal with issues like
short-term rentals. For about two years,
the Planning Commission worked on the
rewrites of the zoning laws. However, it
was quickly noted by Council that short-
term rentals were basically left out of the
new plan.
Council member Charlie McCarty,
who has also served on the Planning
Commission, has led the charge to
deal with short-term rentals since the
Council received the new zoning rewrite
a few months ago. McCarty has expressed
his disappointment in the Planning
Commission’s reluctance to address the
issue and has encouraged Council to deal
McCarty has pointed out several times Cronin, the City considered a point
that it is not impossible to legislate short- system, in which properties would accrue Ali Akhyari
term rentals and protect livability. There points for violations. Instead, they adopted Editor
ali@luckydognews.com
are ways, he says, to an ordinance that allows
write laws that do not
necessarily impact
“It is not impossible their livability officer to
cite a property owner/
Kristin Hackler
Managing Editor
well-intentioned manager if police feel that kristin@luckydognews.com
residents, but will catch to legislate short- there have been repeated
problem properties at violations. The citation Swan Richards
the same time. The term rentals and brings them before the Graphic Designer
swan@luckydognews.com
Isle of Palms, he says, livability judge who can
is an example. protect livability.” revoke their business Brittany Urbach
About two years license. This encourages Reporter
ago, the Isle of Palms City Council was property owners and/or managers to be brittany@luckydognews.com
going through the same livability issues as more mindful of who is allowed to rent
residents began to come together, asking their homes. Richard Brendel
Advertising
the City to do something about the short- “Last year we had one property owner 843-478-0896
term rentals that were destroying their cited and two others notified that a richard@luckydognews.com
neighborhoods with noise, trash, and citation would follow the next violation,”
overflowing parking. The Isle of Palms Cronin says. “Those properties had no Interns
adjusted their building codes to try and more violations last year.” Jennifer Millar
Bridget Hinkebein
control the size and number of bedrooms “The ordinances, the Livability officer Bri Horahan
a building could have. and the Court have worked well. We look Ashley Anderson
“Our livability ordinances detail, for for civil behavior and respect for neighbors
rental properties, the allowed overnight from everyone who lives [in] or visits the •
Contributors
occupancy, max anytime occupancy, and City. We communicate this [extensively]
David Farrow
overnight parking, as well as other rental to property management firms and rental Daniel Culpepper
requirements for postings and licensing,” property owners,” says Cronin. Vince Perna
Isle of Palms Mayor Dick Cronin says. The City of Isle of Palms was only able
In addition, they have created a to tackle the problem once they identified Published by
“livability court” which deals specifically their goal of wanting to accept visitors, Lucky Dog Publishing
of South Carolina, LLC
with the issues legislated in their livability while simultaneously protecting the
P.O. Box 837
ordinances. The court has its own judge residential nature of the island. There can Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
and a full-time livability officer who be no plan without a goal. 843-886-NEWS
investigates complaints. While the court The Folly Beach City Council seemed
might hear appeals from property owners to be working toward ways of controlling Future deadlines:
who are accused of a violation, it also short-term rentals without impeding June 3 for submissions.
deals with other livability issues such as
underage drinking. According to Mayor see Rentals on page 5 The Folly Current, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina
LLC, is a free, independent newspaper pub-

 PetsPetofHelpers
with it. lished every two weeks and is for and about
Folly Beach. Copies are mailed free of charge
“The Planning Commission has punted


to every active mailbox in our coverage area

and we are the receiving team,” he told
his fellow Council members at a recent
workshop. “We owe these residents who
live here full-time some protection. We
promised it to them three years ago.”
Aaron Pope, Assistant to the Folly
Beach Building Official, worked with
the Planning Commission on the rewrite
and has been walking the City Council
through each section. According to Pope,
the Planning Commission was at a loss as
to how to control short-term rentals since
they are spread throughout the island.
“The cat is out of the bag,” Laura Beck
said.
The only real attempt to deal with short-
term rentals was to treat all properties the
same and limit the number of “events” a
homeowner could host in order to avoid
the complications that accompany large
groups of people gathering at a property.
However, the Mayor referred to this
concept as “ludicrous” and the rest of
Council thought this approach could
infringe on a person’s constitutional
freedom to assemble.
the Week
Gulliver Merlin
You will never see such a handsome big I’m an extremely spunky big guy who
boy in your life, until you lay your eyes loves to play and really digs toys! I like
on me!  I’m a West Ashley stray…about balls, ropes, squeakies and rawhide and
5 years old and as cool and low key as love to be entertained! I was rescued off
they come.  I adore being pet and love the streets of Folly Beach and am dying
to go home with you today. I’m fairly
the kitty treats, as you can tell by my size
young and ready for my free training
in my photo!  I am absolutely huge and a
lover of life. Come get me and show me classes offered here with my adoption.
to your kitchen!! Just look for the handsome big guy with
the huge heart waiting for love!
Pet Helpers is located at 1447 Folly Road, James Island.
Hours: Mon – Fri from 11am – 6pm and Sat from 11am - 5pm.
Closed: Sundays and Holidays.
For more information, please call 843-795-1110.
www.follycurrent.sc
and are also available at area businesses and
by subscription to non-islanders. Subscrip-
tions are $30 per year for non-residents and
are available by sending a check to Lucky
Dog Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 837, Sullivan’s
Island, SC 29482. Contributions of informa-
tion, pictures and articles are welcomed and
are used according to space limitations and
news value and cannot be returned except
by special request. Our editorial content is
primarily dedicated to the area of distribution;
ad space is open to all businesses who want
to reach the Folly Beach market. Complete
ad creation is $50, however, changes of up to
30% of the original ad are included at no extra
cost. All advertising rates are listed at www.
islandeyenews.com under “advertising”.
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC
Publishers of The Folly Current, The Island
Eye News and the Island Connection.
 4 May 29, 2009
Do you know your Charleston
An informal Tea
By David Farrow
I had occasion to go to the First Flush
Tea Festival at the Charleston Tea Plantation
a couple of Saturdays ago. It was out on
Island Editorials
Wadmalaw Island, not far from Rockville.
As my friend John Trott, whose father lives a
stone’s throw from the property, reminded me,
the plantation was started as an experiment by
the Lipton Company back in the 60s.
I want to congratulate the PR departments
of “The Bridge” at 105.5 and the tea plantation.
The event was a family affair, replete with funnel
cakes, and attracted thousands of people with
young families, as well as senior citizens, out to
a great concert on a perfect May afternoon.
I went by myself. I sat under a sprawling live
oak, its tendrils draping the ground which was
splashed with shafts of sunlight, and enjoyed
some iced tea and tomato pie, grooved on
the music and watched thousands of people
parade in front of me. It was an incredible
cross-section of Lowcountry humanity, from
toddlers to people on walkers, and all races
passing by. There was a young girl with green
hair and darned attractive nose rings dressed
in a manner that one hoped her mother knew
nothing about, to women in their 60s, walking
erect and proud with a confidence borne only
by living life head on. Lawyers and executives
dressed casually in polo shirts and khaki shorts,
hippies in jeans and old men with their pants
up around their sternums shuffled along.
There were an inordinate amount of young
parents who knew nothing of the recession.
On the whole there was money; not scads of
money, but these people were either keeping up
with their bills or on their appearances. What
struck me the most, though, was that I didn’t
know a single one of them.
Who on earth were these people?
I reflected back some 30 years when I went
to the Spoleto finale at Middleton Place. That
also attracted quite an eclectic crowd and was
certainly a high point of my year. The thing is
that even though there were thousands there,
you could always find a couple of hundred
people with whom you had at least a nodding
acquaintance.
Not so here. There wasn’t even a faint
glimmer of recognition as the procession moved
on. Finally, I heard a voice call my name, and
I discovered my friend John Trott right behind
me. I sat with him and his neighbors, one of
whom I vaguely knew, and had a perfectly
grand afternoon. Trott was as puzzled and
amazed as I at the fact that we didn’t know
anyone. I’ve known John for almost 50 years
(that’s a little scary) and between us, I would
say we have at least a few thousand people with
whom we could strike up a conversation.
We were bemused. There were a lot of
factors: our age, the influx of population, etc.,
but one thing struck me in the midst of our
ruminations under the oaks. The children in
strollers will see a totally different world 50
years from now.
Not only will every vestige of the Old South
be obliterated, but I suspect the New South
will be a memory as well.
Half a century from now, I have serious
doubts that we will be celebrating Confederate
Memorial Day or Carolina Day on the Battery,
despite the best efforts of my contemporaries.
There simply won’t be enough people to care.
Those two Charleston holidays – one signifying
great victory, the other ignominious defeat – will
be replaced by other more relevant occasions
celebrating other victories. The events leading
up to the commemorations will not even be
mentioned in the history books.
It didn’t matter that grand afternoon.
Given the events unfurling in all of our lives,
I suspect it soon might, but as John and I stood
eating boiled peanuts and laughing, there were
enough distractions to not think about the
“uncertain” future (when on earth was it ever
certain?).
Reality was Shawn Mullins, iced tea, laughs
with an old friend and a sterling afternoon in
May. Sometimes, that’s as good as it gets.
Want to read more? Visit David Farrow’s blog at
davidfarrow.wordpress.com.
www.follycurrent.sc
Correction
L a u r a B e c k n ot i n v ol v e d
w it h S u n & s k i
In our May 15 edition of The Folly Current, we
incorrectly stated that Council member Laura Beck
was involved with the “Sun & Ski” rental company
who received a variance on the new Franchise
Ordinance at a recent City Council meeting.
However, Ms. Beck is NOT involved with Sun &
Ski. She is a member of the SunCart Rentals LLC,
which is not involved with the front beach, Franchise
Argreements and was not at all involved with the
story written about in the City Council report from
our May 15 edition. We sincerely apologize for any
inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.
Letters to the Editor
Dear editor:
While on our recent trip to Folly, I picked up a copy
of The Folly Current. I read the article concerning the
City Council meeting and had to throw in my two
cents. We have been coming to Folly for longer than
I can remember. We now have a three year old son
and Folly gives us the ultimate in family fun. I was
shocked to see the “Myrtle Beach” atmosphere this
year. I know that as a tourist, we contribute to the
problem, but we are very mindful of the Island and
its charms. We do not go to Myrtle for any reason.
The crowds, noise and pollution are just some of the
reasons. When we returned to our room and heard
the music from the pier, I commented, “I did not
know we were in Myrtle Beach, this sucks.” Please,
enjoy the tourism industry, make use of the money
it brings in, but keep Folly true to its nature: a place
where a family can have fun without the hassle of
Myrtle Beach.
Sincerely,
Ryan Hand and family
Simpsonville, SC
Send your letters to the
editor to:
info@luckydognews.com
May 29, 2009 5

Hook, line, and stinkers

Kids catc h i n g s u m m e r f e v e r
Provided by Daniel Culpepper

In the hope of getting the 2009 summer
off to a good start for the local youth, kids
16 and under are invited to a free day of
fishing at the Folly Beach Pier on June 6.
The Folly Beach Anglers Fishing Club
and the Charleston County Parks and
Recreation Department are teaming up
to sponsor a free day of fishing as well as
a tournament at the Pier for local kids in
recognition of their first Saturday out of
school. Don’t worry if you or your child is
inexperienced! Plenty of volunteers will be
available to help you catch fish.
Prizes will be awarded for the biggest
fish in each of the following categories:
Girls 12 and under, Boys 12 and under,
Girls 13-16 and Boys 13-16. Fishing rods
will be provided, but participants are
encouraged to bring their own if they have
them as supplies will be limited.
Don’t miss this opportunity to toss a
line in the water, have some fun and spend
some quality time at the beach at no cost.
For more information, contact Daniel
Culpepper at dntculpepper@comcast.net

Rentals from page 3

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

www.follycurrent.sc
6 May 29, 2009
Folly Curren
Friday, May 29
Folly Moonlight Mixer
From 7pm – 11pm, local DJ Rob Duren will
spin the hottest oldies and beach music around.  “Do Old Dogs Dream,” Author Harold J.
Advance tickets are $10 and $8 for Charleston
County residents.  If available, tickets purchased
on-site are $10.  Only 600 tickets will be sold
for this event.  No refunds or exchanges.  Call
795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com for more
information and additional Mixer dates.
Saturday, May 30
Folly Beach Wahine Classic
May 30-31 – High tide 2pm. See their ad on
page 2. For more info, call Nancy Hussey at
343-4047 or email  ssc@surfesa.org.
Barefoot Beach Sweep
Surfrider Foundation and Charleston
Waterkeeper are continuing the Rise Above
Plastics Campaign by teaming up with Barefoot
Wine to sweep Folly Beach, and we need your
help!  Check-in will be under the Folly Pier at
3pm.  At 5:30pm, all participants are invited to
attend the afterparty.  If interested, go to www.
charlestonwaterkeeper.org for early registration
for the sweep.
Folly Beach Exchange Club Fish Fry
The Exchange Club will be hosting a Fish Fry at
the Folly River Park located at 80 Center Street.
Tickets will be $11 for fried catfish, hush puppies
and two sides and will be available throughout
the month from Exchange Club members, as
well as at the event.
Sunday, May 31
Male cat Neuter-a-thon
Pet Helpers Spay & Neuter Clinic, 1447 Folly
Road, James Island. Cost is $11 per cat. By
appointment only. For more info and to make
an appointment, please call 302-0556.
www.follycurrent.sc
May 29 -
Wednesday, June 3
Book Signing & wine and cheese
reception
Creel, Jr. will be signing books at Pet Helpers
from 7pm – 9pm. Pet Helpers, 1447 Folly
Road, James Island All evening proceeds
benefit the rescue and care of Pet Helper’s
senior canines. The Grey Muzzle Foundation, a
national organization, will be on hand to share
information on the care of senior dogs.
Folly Beach Utility Advisory Board
meeting
The Utility Advisory Board (UAB) meets the
first Thursday of the month at 5pm. Please call
before attending to verify that the UAB will
be meeting this month. For more info, call
Belle Condon, Deputy Director of Utilities,
at 588-2447 ext 1833 or email Bcondon@
cityoffollybeach.com.
Body, Mind & Spirit for Dogs and their
People
Dogs of all breeds – and their well behaved
people - are invited to attend a special Wild
Heir Labrador Rescue (WHLR) benefit
from 6 to 9pm at Fetch Doggy Day Care at
1990 Ashley River Road in West Ashley. All
proceeds from the evening will go towards
surgery costs for Callie. For further info, visit
www.wildheirlabradorrescue.org.
After Work Sea Kayak Tours: Folly River
Float
Relieve the stress and unwind from a hectic day
with a relaxing kayak trip to watch the sunset
and the moonrise behind Folly Island.  Bring
along a friend from the office, but leave work
behind!  Pre-registration required. Ages 16 &
up. Fee: $36/$30 CCR Discount. 5:30pm-
8:30pm.
 May 29, 2009 7

nt Calendar
- June 12
Friday, June 5 tricountysurvivors.org or by calling 873-9929.

14th Annual Sea Island Habitat for

Folly Summer Celebration Series: Arts, Humanity Golf Benefit
Crafts & Music
This event is all about fun with a shotgun start,
Held on the first Saturday of the month
putting contest, hole-in-one challenge and
from June – September, the Folly Summer
great prizes! Come build a house with a golf
Celebration Series will be held at Folly River
club at the beautiful Osprey Point Golf Course.
Park from 11am – 7pm. This month’s feature
Contact Christa Lewis at 843-768-0998 x 111
is Shrimp City Slim, who will be performing
or advancement@seaislandhabitat.org for more
at the pavilion from 2pm – 5pm. Admission is
details! 11am @ Osprey Point Golf Course,
free!
Kiawah Island.
Leslie McCravy 5K Run to Benefit Pet
Helpers
Come out for a morning run to help raise money James Island Farmers and Crafters
for Pet Helpers in memory of Leslie McCravy. Market
Start and finish by the Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Selling local produce, bakery items, jams,
Pier, Folly Beach; race begins at 8am. Cost: jellies, ciders, boiled peanuts, fresh herbs,
Early - $25 through June 1 includes t-shirt. jewelry, photography, pottery, and clothing
Late - $30 after June 1st includes t-shirt while with live music on the deck. First and Third
supplies last. Register at www.pethelpers.org or Sunday of every month, 11am to 3pm at The
www.active.com Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy. 571-4343,
www.charlestonpourhouse.com.
Amateur and Pro Disc Golf Tournament
at Trophy Lakes Tuesday, June 9
Carolina Watersports at Trophy Lakes on Johns
Island will be hosting an all day Amateur and
Pro Disc Golf Tournament, open to the public.
Folly Beach City Council
The Folly Beach City Council meets second and
3050 Marlin Road, Johns Island. For more
fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm. www.
info, call Matt   at 559-2520 or email  Matt@
cityoffollybeach.com. Folly Beach City Hall, 21
CarolinaWatersports.com.
Center St., (Folly Beach), (843) 588-2447.
Trident Literacy 1st annual Ride-A-Thon
This motorcycle charity run’s goal is to raise Friday, June 12
$20,000 to support literacy. The event begins
and ends at 205 Goose Creek Boulevard,
Moonlight Mixer
Creekside Square Shopping Center. Bikers
Dance the night away under the stars at the
will leave at 12pm and return by 3pm. Cost to
Folly Beach Fishing Pier.  From 7pm – 11pm,
register is $15 per bike, and $5 per passenger.
local DJ Rob Duren will spin the hottest oldies
Riders may get more information and register
and beach music around.  Beverages and food
online at www.tridentlit.org, or call 747-2223.
will be available for purchase. Advance tickets
are $10 and $8 for Charleston County residents. 
Sunday, June 7 If available, tickets purchased on-site are $10. 
Call 795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com.
4th annual Tricounty Cancer Survivors
event
At the Charleston Elk Lodge off Cosgrove
Avenue. Please register online atwww.

www.follycurrent.sc
8 May 29, 2009
The Islanders Shag Club’s annual Shaggers
Holiday started at 6pm on Friday night with
music by Mr. Jim Bowers. The party continued
on Saturday with hot dogs with all the fixin’s
and Pat & Lamars famous PJ. Man, was that
stuff GOOD. The party continued all day with
lots of fun, food & of course shagging.
The highlight of the party was the annual
Ms. Shaggers Holiday Contest where the
male members of the club dress in their best
www.follycurrent.sc
photos by Bonne Isenhour
women’s apparel. After some hard decisions
by our judges a new queen, Lamar Hardy was
chosen. After which Ms. Betty Brown spun the
tunes well into the night. The event was blast
for everyone.
If you or someone you know is interested in
joining the Islanders Shag Club you visit www.
islandersshagclub.com for an application, You
don’t even know how to shag...we can teach
you!
May 29, 2009
Hurricanes from cover
up 17% from last year. Gray says there is
a 60% chance of at least one category 1-2
hurricane making landfall (up 16% from
last year) and a 45% of at least one category
3-5 hurricane making landfall (up 14%
from last year). Last year, there were six
major storms while Gray predicted nine.
Despite the great amount of research
and analysis Gray introduces into
his predictions, even he says that it is
impossible to accurately predict with any
certainty what the Atlantic has in store
for us this early in the season. However,
statistics do not lie and the numbers
show a huge decrease in major hurricanes
(category 3, 4, or 5) making landfall in
the eastern United States over the last 43
years, compared to the previous 43 years.
From 1923 to 1965, there were 24 major
hurricanes to hit versus just 7 from 1966
to 2008.
This phenomenon has many people
asking “why”.
The most popular theories have pointed
to global warming. Famous personalities
like Al Gore have paraded the theory in
front of the public and shown that an
increase in tropical storms and hurricanes
is exactly what many scientists predict
will happen in conjunction with global
warming.
Hurricanes get their massive amounts
of power from warm tropical waters. So
it stands to reason that warmer water
equals more fuel for hurricanes. Mark
Saunders, professor of climate prediction
at the University College London, recently
published his research in the journal
Nature which suggests a correlation
between increased water temperature and
increased hurricane activity. This explains
why 2005 was a record breaking year for
hurricanes and why 2007 saw relatively
few.
Saunders’ study focused on a band
of water from around Puerto Rico and
Northern South America to the coast
of Africa where Atlantic hurricanes are
born. His study suggests that with every
one degree Fahrenheit increase in water
temperature, hurricane activity will
increase about 50 percent.
In 2005, the average water temperature
in this region was 1.4 degrees higher than
normal. That year there was a total of 28
named storms and 13 hurricanes. However,
in 1971, when water temperatures were the
coolest they have been in recorded history,
there were only 13 named storms and six
hurricanes. While Saunders’ study focused
solely on water temperature correlations,
he admits that changes in wind patterns
actually have a larger impact on hurricane
activity than water temperature.
A recent study conducted by the federal
government uses this last fact to suggest
that global warming may actually decrease
the number of hurricanes we see. Wind
shear, a change in wind speed or direction,
is a crucial factor in the development of
hurricanes, which is why El Nino and La
Nina shifts are so closely watched during
hurricane season. Shifts between El Nino
and La Nina change wind shear over the
Atlantic. Increased wind shear disrupts
hurricane formation, resulting in fewer
hurricanes.
Chunzai Wang, a research
oceanographer at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
states that an increase of one degree Celsius
in water temperatures in the Indian and
Pacific Oceans increases wind shear by up
to 10mph in the Atlantic. Wang’s study
was based on observations and records of
landfall hurricanes instead of computer
models. However, critics say Wang used
poor data that was rejected by the Nobel
Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change. Furthermore, he only
studied hurricanes that make landfall in
the U.S., which can be as few as 10 percent
of all Atlantic hurricanes. That panel has
already stated that man-made global
warming has likely already increased
hurricane activity.
However, Klotzbach says that global
hurricane activity has not increased at
all over the past 30 years in relation to
warmer ocean temperatures. He says that
the only area where hurricane activity
really fluctuates is in the Atlantic, which
he attributes to the multi-decadal increase
in the Atlantic Ocean thermohaline
circulation (THC). Ocean salinity, not
global warming, is what drives this
mechanism, according to Klotzbach.
According to their data, the number of
major hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean
was only about 1/3 as many from 1970
to 1994 as they were from 1945 to 1969,
when the earth was actually experiencing
a small cooling cycle and the levels of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were
significantly lower. He suggests that
increased hurricane activity in the Atlantic
is a cyclical event. When comparing the
recent increased activity since 1994 to
activity from 1950-1964, the numbers
are basically the same, although water
temperatures (and fashions) were cooler in
the 50s and 60s.
Researchers on both sides of the global
warming fence use different sets of data
and details to support their arguments.
As the debate continues, it is apparent
that the relationship between hurricane
activity and global warming is too poorly
understood to make a firm conclusion. In
the meantime, Mother Nature is content
with continuing her work behind a few
shrouds of mystery. Regardless of what
prediction or theory you choose to follow,
one thing is certain: The South Carolina
Lowcountry is right in the line of fire for
Atlantic hurricanes. It is important to
be prepared. For a wealth of emergency
information, visit www.charlestoncounty.
org. Click on “Departments”, then “Law
Enforcement/Public Safety” to find
information on emergency management
and preparedness. Also, check out the
www.scprepares.org website for emergency
number lists, emergency kit preparation,
tips on handling pets, as well as methods
for dealing with disasters from tornadoes
to biological emergencies.
Detailed information on Klotzbach and
Gray’s predictions can be viewed at http://
hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/
www.follycurrent.sc
9
A green innovation
A
ll of us use energy every day: for
transportation, cooking, heating
and cooling rooms, manufacturing,
lighting, and entertainment, just to start.
The choices we make about how we use
energy impacts our environment and our
lives. Did you know that the United States
alone uses an average of one million dollars
worth of energy each minute, 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year? We make up less than
five percent of the world’s population, yet
we manage to consume nearly one fourth of
the world’s energy. The average American
consumes six times more energy than the
world average.
There are many things we can do to use
less energy and use it more wisely. Two main
ways to save energy are energy conservation
and energy efficiency. Many people think
these terms mean the same thing, but Have you ever seen a water heater like
they are different. Energy conservation is this? This is an example of a tankless
any behavior that results in the use of less water heater; one of several items
energy. Turning the lights off when you Innovative Creations can install for
leave the room and recycling aluminum homeowners who want to save money
cans are both ways of conserving energy. and the environment.
Energy efficiency is the use of technology
that requires less energy to perform the same function. A compact fluorescent light
bulb that uses less energy than an incandescent bulb to produce the same amount of
light is an example of energy efficiency. The decision to replace an incandescent light
bulb with a compact fluorescent is an example of energy conservation.
With the new stimulus bill recently
passed, there has never been a better time see Green on page 11
Name that ’cane 2009
There are six lists of names that rotate every year for naming hurricanes. Names
are typically removed from the lists each year as the names of significant storms
are retired, like Hazel (1954), Fifi (1974), Hugo (1989), Andrew (1992) and Katrina
(2005). Three names were retired from the 2008 Atlantic season. Hurricanes Gustav,
Ike and Paloma will be replaced by Gonzalo, Isaias and Paulette and will be in
rotation in 2014.
Gustav first made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Haiti before striking
Cuba as a Category 4 and finishing up in Louisiana as a Category 2. Gustav was
responsible for 112 lives, mostly in Haiti, and causing $4 billion worth of damage
in Louisiana. Hurricane Ike struck the Turks and Caicos Islands and Great Inagua
Island in the Southeastern Bahamas on September 7 as a Category 4, before hitting
Cuba followed by Galveston, Texas, as a Category 2. Ike killed over 80 people and
caused an estimated $19.3 billion in damage.
Since tropical cyclones were first named in 1953, 70 names have been retired, the
first two being Carol and Hazel in 1954. Paloma was the second strongest November
hurricane on record, reaching Category 4 status before hitting Cuba and destroying
an estimated 1400 homes and causing $300 million in damage.
The naming of hurricanes has been traced back to a tradition in the West Indies
that is still practiced today, where storms were named for the Catholic Saint’s Day
on which they landed. For example, hurricane San Filipe struck Puerto Rico on
September 13, 1876. When another storm struck exactly fifty years later, the storm
was christened San Filipe the Second.
Hurricanes are named alphabetically, although the letters “Q” and “U” are always
left out and the lists only go to “W”. If the list is used up for the year and storms are
still forming, the storms are then named alphabetically from the Greek alphabet,
Alpha to Omega.
2009 Storm Names
Ana Grace Mindy Teresa
Bill Henri Nicholas Victor
Claudette Ida Odette Wanda
Danny Joaquin Peter
Erika Kate Rose
Fred Larry Sam
10
May 2- A Blackberry and Sidekick cell
phone were stolen from a woman’s pants
pocket while she was swimming in the
ocean. She discovered the theft when she
returned from the water.
May 6- A 24 year-old woman was enjoying
herself by jumping off the docks at the
Turn of the River condos. However, the
fun was cut short when police were called.
She was observed to be having trouble
standing without the aid of a nearby
fence. With the belief that she was doing
nothing wrong, she admitted to drinking,
being intoxicated, and jumping off the
dock. She was then arrested for disorderly
conduct.
May 8- During a routine traffic stop, a
woman in the rear of the vehicle was seen
holding an open container of Budweiser
beer. She was cited for having an open
container.
May 9- Officers responded to 97 Center
Street at 2:04am in reference to a man
possibly beating up his wife or girlfriend.
Upon arrival, the subjects were coming
out of the marsh covered in blood. Both
subjects stated that neither one had hit
the other, and that the blood was the
result of the man breaking the passenger
side window causing cuts on their hands
and face. Neither claimed to remember
Traffic from page 2
Letchworth noted. “It’s a Folly Beach
problem.”
He has identified four main issues so far
in his research and communication with
residents. Summer/weekend traffic, poor
parking practices by visitors, long and
straight roadways that encourage speeding
and inadequate roadways that cannot
accommodate parking, pedestrians,
bicycles, and vehicular traffic.
“The need to discourage speed by
vehicle drivers is essential,” Stormer says.
“Drivers are not aware that the cross
streets have minimal sight distance for
those drivers attempting to cross or enter
the main thoroughfare.”
Police Reports
what they were even arguing about. They
appeared intoxicated and were treated by
EMS before being arrested for disorderly
conduct.
May 10- A man was assaulted while
walking down the beach with a friend.
The assailant approached the two men
in an agitated state. He left, but returned
and punched the victim on the left side of
his face twice, knocking him down and
breaking the man’s cheek bone, which will
require surgery.
May 14- Two individuals entered a store
and ran out with four boxes of Franzia
wine. One box was dropped and returned
to the store. Video surveillance showed
the two men being dropped off in a
white Mercedes station wagon. Neither
the vehicle nor the suspects could be
located. Officers were able to get a detailed
description of the suspects from the video.
The value of the stolen wine was $45.
May 15- A man’s checkbook was stolen
after letting a drunken female acquaintance
into his apartment. She arrived at 3am and
left around noon. However, she returned
a few hours later, again in an intoxicated
state. On May 16, the victim received a
call from his bank stating that the woman
was refused service when she tried to cash
a check for $1250 on his account, which is
Better signage which would properly
direct visitors to different parts of the
island was one suggestion which would
help traffic flow more efficiently on Folly
Beach, according to Letchworth. He
also pointed out that the current public
right-of-ways are underutilized, uncared
for, and are often blocked. Making these
areas more appealing for parking and
directing traffic to these areas is another
way Letchworth says traffic congestion
could be eased. Mayor Carl Beckmann
has stated that there is enough parking
for everyone who comes to Folly Beach if
the right-of-ways are considered. Making
Center Street two lanes in order to utilize
the outside lanes for angled parking and
wider sidewalks was another idea which
www.follycurrent.sc
when he called police.
May 15- Two fire trucks, two police cars,
and an ATV towing a jet ski responded to
the pier around 3:30pm where a 20 year old
man jumped off the structure. Witnesses
pointed to the man as he was swimming
to shore. An officer approached the man
and showed him all the people who had to
respond to his dangerous stunt. He argued
that he didn’t see a sign saying he couldn’t,
at which point the officer showed him the
sign. The man had no identification but
stated he was from Georgia, but living
in Alaska. He was arrested for disorderly
conduct.
May 15- Officers responded to a fight
between two males at 6:50pm in the
pier area of Arctic Avenue. When officers
arrived, one of the subjects began to walk
away. When asked to stop, he began to
run. The officer gave chase and the subject
continued running after being told to
stop again. The officer caught up to the
subject at 201 East Arctic after he stopped
and threw his hands up in exhaustion.
He smelled “heavily of gross alcohol
cosumption”, was slurring his speech and
was visibly agitated. He was arrested for
disorderly conduct and failing to stop for
police. He was also discovered to have
several unpaid tickets for which he was
also charged. The other subject involved
could ease congestion and encourage
safety year-round. Traffic circles, speed
humps, stop signs and traffic lights were
a few of the ideas that were tossed around
to help residents and visitors maneuver
the streets of Folly Beach more safely and
efficiently.
While many of the suggestions for
improvements could make maneuvering
Folly Beach much easier and safer for
pedestrians, it could also help the business
community, Stormer says.
“Another reason for placing the
pedestrian first is to make Center Street
pedestrian friendly and encourage
stopping and shopping at the businesses,”
he says. “Currently, Center Street is vehicle
May 29, 2009
in the fight did not seem intoxicated and
did not seem to be the aggressor.
May 16- An individual was robbed by
a hotel employee as they walked across
the Folly Beach Holiday Inn parking lot.
The victim was carrying $200 cash in his
hand when the employee simply grabbed
the money and ran. The victim gave
chase, but the suspect was too fast. Other
employees also tried to help, but could not
catch him. The employee was identified
by staff and police were given the suspect’s
information.
May 16- An apartment resident called
police and demanded that his downstairs
neighbor be arrested, reporting that the
neighbor had threatened him with a
hammer after he had asked the neighbor
to stop making noise at 9pm. The suspect
stated that he was installing a door lock
given to him by the landlord inside of
his apartment when the complainant
began yelling for him to stop. He said the
complainant then entered his apartment at
which point he forced the man out of his
home, pushed him against the wall, and
told him to leave him alone. Both men
were told to stay inside of their respective
apartments and to leave the other alone.
oriented with four lanes of traffic and
minimal sidewalk capacity. We believe
that encouraging pedestrian safety will
increase pedestrian activity.”
Letchworth stated that the Wilbur
Smith plan would consist of short-term,
as well as long-term, strategies. Short-
term strategies are ideas which could be
implemented to impact traffic and safety
in the next year or two. Using traffic
control officers on Center Street and
Ashley Avenue during peak traffic times is
critical to the short-term strategies, as well
as the use of additional signage and speed
enforcement, Letchworth says. The long-
term strategies would be plans that might
require more financial investment and
construction and could feasibly become
realities in the next five to ten years.
“It will be up to Council to find the
funding in the budget or through available
grants,” Beck stated.
Letchworth expects to be back on Folly
Beach in June to see what a busy Saturday
is like. If all goes according to plan, they
hope to have a draft report to the City
sometime in August of this year.
Residents are encouraged to contact
Mr. Letchworth with any suggestions,
concerns, or comments. Will Letchworth
can be called at 919-755-0583, faxed
at 919-832-8798 and e-mailed at
wletchworth@wilbursmith.com. You can
also reach him through regular mail at:
Wilbur Smith Associates
421 Fayetville Street, Suite 1303
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
May 29, 2009 11

fact, renewable energy is a 55 percent tax not have a specialist visit their home or Plan. To schedule an appointment with
Green from page 9
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to make energy efficient improvements to system! You pay less than half the cost, usage. Innovative Creations Ltd. will information on the products and services
your home or business. The government which allows your payback on the system send a Solution Specialist to your home, provided by Innovative Creations Ltd.
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time to invest in building improvements, half, saving our planet as well as our cash.
especially green improvements. One day, There is no reason why anyone should
many of these new technologies will be
required by our government if we wish to
eliminate the burden we bring upon our
environment.
Innovative Creations Ltd. is a new
company in the Charleston area that
focuses on helping home and business
owners cut their energy consumption in
half through educating and providing the
proper tools to achieve maximum energy
efficiency. Every product that the company
sells and installs has a payback period
of five years or less. This means that the
money you save in energy costs will equal
the amount spent on the improvements in
no more than five years.
They provide top quality products
such as ComfortGuard radiant barrier
insulation, which shields
the building from radiant
heat and in turn cuts the Folly Beach Tide Chart
A/C run time in half and
increases the comfort of the Date High Tide Low Tide
building. Another product
May 29 12:18am/12:58pm 6:38am/6:50pm
the company provides is an
energy management system May 30 1:15am/2:00pm 7:34am/7:53pm
which recycles and reuses May 31 2:12am/3:01pm 8:29am/8:57pm
wasted electricity drawn
from the building’s motors. June 1 3:08am/3:59pm 9:24am/10:00pm
In addition, this system June 2 4:02am/4:54pm 10:16am/10:59pm
serves as a surge protector
for the entire building. June 3 4:55am/5:45pm 11:07am/11:54pm
The company considers June 4 5:46am/6:33pm 11:55am
these, along with tankless June 5 6:34am/7:18pm 12:45am/12:40pm
water heaters which they
supply as well, the three June 6 7:20am/8:01pm 1:32am/1:24pm
best energy saving products June 7 8:04am/8:42pm 2:16am/2:05pm
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They also provide solar June 11 10:49am/11:15pm 4:54am/4:39pm
panels and wind turbines so
that you can go off the grid
and power your own homes
and businesses yourself. In

www.follycurrent.sc
12
T
he air is humid, but a calm onshore breeze sneaks
onto the back deck of the Center Street Kitchen
and keeps this particular Thursday evening
comfortable. Slowly the regulars begin to shuffle in.
More will follow. They bring in velvet-lined cases which
contain their particular instrument of expertise and are
warmly greeted with a smile by a short, gray haired fellow
in a floral print, button-up shirt; a man who’s quick to
laugh and light up a cigarette. He’s been setting up the
microphones and making sure the bar tab is ready. His
name is Jaime McDonnel and he’s been an integral part
of the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society since day one.
He’s also one of the few that didn’t bring a case.
McDonnel, who graduated from USC with a degree
in Broadcast Journalism, plays the washtub bass. The
washtub bass, McDonnel says, is an original bluegrass
instrument. It is, literally, an old metal washtub turned
upside with a long pole coming out of the middle with a
wooden arm attached near the top that holds the thick,
single string from which the music flows. It’s got a crack
in it that has been welded closed and McDonnel refuses
to get a new one. His embrace of the aged instrument is
an embodiment of the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society and
acts as the perfect, subconscious symbol for the Society’s
existence.
Bluegrass, according to McDonell, is rooted in Celtic
and Gospel music. There is also an association with
poverty and the washtub bass is an example of how music
thrives no matter what the circumstances. It is an essential
and intertwined part of the human spirit.
By Ali Akhyari
staff photo
Participants of the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society get
things started while others wait their turn.
In May, the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society celebrated
their seven year anniversary. The original idea belonged to
Jamie Wilson, a mandolin player. She put up some flyers
around the island, looking for musicians who wanted to
play. McDonell was one of two people who originally
showed up to share his love of bluegrass. For seven years
now, he’s consistently shown up and played his washtub
with anybody else who wants to jam. The society, he says,
is constantly evolving.
Like nomads, they have never stayed in one place
for too long. By design or by surprise, they’ve moved
from the Holiday Inn, to Bowen’s Island, to the Crab
Shack and several other Folly locales. They play for free
drinks in exchange for entertaining visitors in whatever
establishment they happen to be in. But more than that -
much more than that - they play for the love of music.
“It’s not about any one person,” McDonell says. “It’s
www.follycurrent.sc
May 29, 2009
about the music.”
Currently, they’ve made a home at the Center Street
Kitchen. As many as twenty people will show up on any
given night. Some are individuals, others are part of a
group. They range from a 10 year old girl named Jenna
who blows everyone away with her voice and talent on the
fiddle, to musicians in their 80s who can still show ‘em
how it’s done. Some musicians are amateurs, others are
well known in the field. They all wait their turn to rotate
onto the stage while enjoying being a part of a living,
breathing bluegrass animal.
“You never know from one week to the next who’s
going to walk through that door,” McDonell says.
The Folly Beach Bluegrass Society is the longest
running show of its kind in the area. In addition to their
regular ‘happenings’, they are hired to play events and
parties as a collective. But currently, you’ll be able to catch
them on Thursday evenings on the deck of The Center
Street Kitchen. There’s nothing like musicians putting
some life into the breath of the ocean on a warm summer
night , transferring the sound from one soul to another as
it’s poured onto the nearby streets of Folly Beach.
Whether you want to listen to some eclectic bluegrass
over some classic southern cooking and a cocktail or you
want to participate, do yourself a favor and experience the
Folly Beach Bluegrass Society. But if you’re in the latter
group, Jaime McDonell has at least one thing to say, “If
you’re picking, I’m buying your beer”.
Visit the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society on myspace at:
www.myspace.com/follybeachbluegrasssociety