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Volume 9 Issue 6

July 3, 2015

FREE

Freshfields
feeds kids
FUNDRAISER
F E AT U R E S
J U D I T H PA I X A O ,
32 LOCAL STORES
BY JENNIFER TUOHY

The Island Connection Editor

F
Front: Mary Rohaley, Mary Edna Fraser, Barbara Rivers of MUSC, Tate Nation, Tricia Cordina
Back: Jana Davis, Stephanie Poe, Stephanie Massey, Colleen Mooney, Karen Hewitt Hagan

PHOTO BY JACK ALTERMAN

Dueling Demos, Art Show

come to Sandcastle
F R I E N D S O F M U S C C H I L D R E N S H O S P I TA L H O S T
FINE ART SHOW AND SALE ON KIAWAH ISLAND
BY TRICIA CORDINA
For The Island Connection

he Friends of MUSC Childrens Hospital Fine Art Annual,

a free art show and sale, will be held at the oceanfront
Sandcastle Community Center on Kiawah Island, Friday,
July 10, from 3 to 8 p.m. A portion of this events proceeds will
help build the new Childrens Hospital and Womens Pavilion at
the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
The one-day event features the original works of nine well
known Charleston artists: Jennifer Black, Susan Colwell, Laura
Lloyd Fontaine, Mary Edna Fraser, Karen Hewitt Hagan, Kevin

Ladybugs Flying Free

Page 9

LePrince, Tina Mayland, Tate Nation and Karen Weihs. It will

include many diverse styles including batiks on silk, oils on
Venetian plaster, Expressionistic acrylics and Impressionistic and
Abstract oils, some on gold leaf. Jack Alterman, photographer,
will also be offering for sale his new book My City Charleston.
The show will kick off with a sneak peek and artist
demonstrations from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by a reception from

MUSC Art continues on page 11

Volunteer Spotlight

Page 12

ollowing the success of her

fundraiser at The Resort Shop last
year, Sea Glass Jewelry designer,
Judith Paixao has been invited back to
help raise more funds for the Sea Islands'
efforts to support the local Backpack
Buddies program.
The weekend of July 17 through July
20, Paixao will help shoppers design
a beautiful piece of sea glass jewelry
for themselves, while donating a large
percentage of each purchase to Backpack
Buddies Seabrook Islands, a nonprofit
group whose mission it is to supply
weekend food and snacks to elementary
school children attending Mt. Zion
Elementary School and living below the
poverty line.
This year however, The Resort Shop
is not the only Freshfields VIllage store
helping feed needy children.
"After last year's event, a few merchants
approached me wanting to participate, and
'Freshfields Feeds Kids' was born," Joanne
Threlfall of Backpack Buddies said. "This
year 32 merchants have stepped up to be
involved by donating either a percentage
of their profits or hosting raffles and other
fundraising activities in their stores that
weekend."
The stores include:
Beachwalker Rentals
Coastal Footwear
Derma Medical Aesthetics
Harris Teeter
Holly & Brooks (Friday only)
Indigo Books
Island Mercantile

Freshfields continues on page 13

Fishing Report

Page 14

July 3, 2015

civic

Lynn Pierotti
publisher
lynn@luckydognews.com
Jennifer Tuohy
managing editor
jennifer@luckydognews.com
Swan Richards
senior graphic designer
swan@luckydognews.com
Lori McGee
sales manager
lori@luckydognews.com
Alejandro Ferreyros
graphic designer
alejandro@luckydognews.com
Ralph Secoy
staff photographer
Staff Writer
Gregg Bragg
Contributors
Tricia Cordin
Senator Chip Campsen
Wilfred D. Wiehn
Zachary Huey
Herb Frazier
Geoff Bennett

Published by
Lucky Dog Publishing
of South Carolina, LLC
P.O. Box 837
Sullivans Island, SC 29482
843-886-NEWS
Future deadlines: July 8
for submissions for the
June 17 Issue
Op-Ed articles and letters to the editor do not
necessarily reflect the opinion of
Lucky Dog News or its writers.

Seabrook Island town

council meeting, June 2015
BY GREGG BRAGG

The Island Connection Staff Writer

he start of Seabrooks town council

meeting was uncharacteristically
delayed, if youre concerned about
12 minutes. The room was already filled
with residents perfectly content just
being inside, out of the June heat. They
also appreciated the chance to impact a
public hearing, even if it did run longer
than scheduled. Specifically, Seabrook
Ordinance 2015-02. The beach
ordinance accumulated enough requests
for changes council recommended tabling
the scheduled second reading. Language
requested by residents will be applied
before the matter is reconsidered.
The pledge for the June 23 council
meeting happened followed quickly by
the Mayors financial report for May. His
account boasted $56,000 more in revenues
than projected. The bonus puts Seabrook
$140,000 ahead of revenues for the year,
and $90,000 ahead of this time last year.
Expenses were higher than expected
because an additional $13,500 was spent
on roads and landscaping (tis the season
for pine straw). The town is still $30,000
- $40,000 under their expense budget
for the year. This positive cash flow helps
in the march toward the unwritten goal
of contributing to the emergency fund
each year. The fund balance is currently
in the neighborhood of $1.5 million,
concluded Mayor Ahearn.
Sam Miller, a representative of the Alan
Fleming, Sr. Tennis Tournament spoke
next during the first installment of citizens
comments. He was in chambers to request
up to $5,000 from Seabrook toward
the tournaments $20,000 budget and
become its Premier Sponsor. He opened
with a description of the tournaments
35 year renown, which has mushroomed
to national prominence. 386 people
.. from 20 states visited Seabrook

Civic Calendar
Fri, July 3

Wed, July 8

Mon, July 20

Independence Day
Holiday
Seabrook Island

Planning Commission
Regular Meeting
2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall

Seabrook Island
Property Owners
Association (SIPOA)
Board Meeting
1 - 3 p.m.
Seabrook Island Lake
House

Mon, July 6
Environmental
Committee Meeting
3 - 5 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall

Tue, July 7

The Island
Connection

Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC

Publishers of Island Eye News,
The Island Connection,
The Folly Current

last year .. generating $330,000 in

business, most of which was spent here,
pitched Miller. As the events Premier
Sponsor, Seabrook would be mentioned
along with the tournaments advertising,
most conspicuously at the tournaments
banquet.
Promoting Seabrook is something
of a cause clbre for councilmember
Ron Ciancio, who expressed immediate
interest in sponsorship. However, ATAX
money, the most likely bucket to draw
from, has already been allocated for the
year, lamented Ciancio. Contributions, if
any, would have to come from the general
fund. Spending general funds, in turn,
means a different series of conversations
council agreed to have as the topic closed
out.
Councilmember
Don
Romano
reported attending a Seabrook Island
Property Owners Association Planning
Committee meeting on June 11. The
Property/Landscape
Improvement
Committee spoke on the issue of aging
housing. Landscaping was identified
as a way to address this issue. Contract
landscape company The Greenery will
continue to assist in finding ways to
address aging property. There was also a
report on Sustainable Seabrook Audubon,
which focused on a range of items, said
Romano. Ways to become better stewards
of the environment and maintain the
coveted Audubon certification include,
for example;
Greening the community
Planning for sustainability
Sustainability in action
Romano concluded his report with a
brief on strategic planning. A list of 25
issues has been developed by SIPOAs likenamed committee. The list is currently
being circulated more widely among

Kiawah Town Council

Meeting
2 - 4 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall

Planning Commission
Meeting
3 - 5 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
Public Safety Meeting
3 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall

Mon, July 13
Board of Zoning &
Appeals Meeting
4 p.m.
Council Chambers,
Kiawah Town Hall

Tue, July 28
Seabrook Town
Council Meeting
2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall

Wed, August 5
Seabrook Planning
Commission Work
Session
2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall

residents to solicit input and prioritize. A

distillation of 7 to ten of those items will
be included in the 2016 strategic plan.
Councilmember John Gregg segued
into a discussion of the clubs strategic
plan as a follow up to a meeting held in
mid-June. Results included a new mission
statement, maintenance of existing
goals, and new metrics. The group will
use these new metrics in the hope of
measuring success more accurately. The
plan is presently in circulation amongst
the committee and the club board for
approval and adoption later this summer,
said Gregg before moving on to his report
on public safety.
June 2 and 3 saw Seabrook in the middle
of hurricane preparedness exercises, Gregg
said went well. He emphasized the effect
disaster mitigation has on community
rating, used to determine insurance rates
for residents. Although Seabrook enjoys a
good community rating, improvements
save money and are well worth municipal
attention. Scott Cave is preparing a report
on the early June session and a review will
be scheduled.
June 11 cast Seabrook as host of
Disaster Awareness Day. Gregg spent some
time in the run up to the event promoting
FREE LUNCH, apparently to good
effect. The annual event was well attended
by Seabrook residents on their home turf.
Councilmember Gregg said Kiawah will
host next years installment but expressed
his hope Seabrook residents will still
attend, despite the par five distance. He
and the rest of council concluded the
topic with praise of Town Administrator
Randy Pierce for his shrewd planning and
handling of the event.
Councilmember Ron Ciancio reported
the Seabrook; Make It Uniquely
Yours ad campaign has ended and

K iawah Island Town H all

21 Beachwalker Drive
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Phone: 768-9166
Fax: 768-4764
Seabrook Island Town H all
2001 Seabrook Island Road
Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Phone: 768-9121
Fax: 768-9830
Email: lmanning@townofseabrookisland.org
Johns Island Council
Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric
Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Hwy, Johns
Island.
Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113
Charleston County Council
4045 Bridge View Dr, N. Charleston
958-4700t
City of Charleston
75 Calhoun St.
724-3745

July 3, 2015

civic

This flyer detailing the town of Seabrook's beach rules will be distributed by beach patrol
officers when giving out warnings to offenders, as well as being distributed at rental
agencies and made into signs to be posted at strategic beach locations.

results were coming in. Conde Nast

responded with ad results exceeding the
number of exposures promised. The
original guarantee of 700,000 ended up
being 711,000 incidences of traffic the
campaign drove to the towns website.
Winners of the contest have been selected
and informed of their good fortune. They
will have the rest of the year to redeem
their prizes. The remaining effort will
focus on building a campaign around
the experience of the winners for the rest
of the year. Strategies will continue to

evolve around these results as we move

forward, concluded Ciancio.
Mayor Ahearn reported next months
council meeting would go forward on July
28 as originally planned. His long delayed
trip to Africa has been rescheduled for the
end of July and coincides with another,
planned absence from councils meeting.
However, only three council members
need to be present to satisfy the technical
definition of a quorum. Randy Pierce
offered to make the meeting available
to the mayor by phone to the approving

Tid e Char t
Date

High Tide

Low Tide

Jul 03
Jul 04
Jul 05
Jul 06
Jul 07
Jul 08
Jul 09
Jul 10
Jul 11
Jul 12
Jul 13
Jul 14
Jul 15
Jul 16

9:42am/10:17pm
10:33am/11:06pm
11:26am/11:57pm
12:22pm
12:50am/1:21pm
1:46am/2:21pm
2:44am/3:22pm
3:43am/4:23pm
4:43am/5:22pm
5:41am/6:17pm
6:37am/7:10pm
7:30am/7:59pm
8:21am/8:44pm
9:08am/9:27pm

3:44am/3:43pm
4:31am/4:35pm
5:20am/5:28pm
6:10am/6:25pm
7:02am/7:25pm
7:56am/8:29pm
8:52am/9:34pm
9:49am/10:38pm
10:47am/11:38pm
11:42am
12:35am/12:36pm
1:27am/1:27pm
2:16am/2:15pm
3:01am/3:01pm

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

snickers of attendees, while the mayor

wondered about cell reception from atop
an elephant.
Councilmember John Turner reported
on beach patrol, in light of beach rules and
the new signs he has worked to implement.
Beach patrol, it seems, has issued over 40
warnings, mostly to residents, who seem
to have the hardest time complying. It
is important to get these signs up, said
Turner. He also wants to broadcast the
rules in digital and paper formats to avoid
unpleasant exchanges and support the
efforts of beach patrol.
The utility commission report was
brief. Delivery of fresh water was running
at a slight loss which was made up for by a
profit from the disposal of wastewater. Jeff
Bostock also informed council the Eagle
Island pumping station, essential for
water pressure and delivery to Cassique,
was now on-line.
Ordinances for first reading included
2015-06, an amendment to the economic
interests filing procedure for candidates
interested in running for town council.
It was passed unanimously. Ordinance
2015-07, an amendment making SIPOA
the primary permitting agency for
changes to plants in the Beach as Trust,"
zone also passed unanimously.
Ordinance 2015-02, scheduled for
a second reading, was tabled pending
changes, as mentioned above. Ordinance
2015-03, an amendment to Seabrooks
development
standards,
passed
unanimously with changes. Ordinance
2015-05 passed unanimously without
changes but a whole lot of discussion.
Ordinance 2015-05 is a bond

authorizing debt in the amount of

$5.5 million for the utility. The official
description is a bit cumbersome but works
like refinancing your home. Remaining
debt is paid off in favor of new debt at
improved rates. Although it will be ten
years before any savings are realized, the
hope is to stabilize rates residents pay and
keep the water running.
Seabrook Fire Commissioner Sue
Holloman introduced Community Risk
Reduction Officer Gary Lohr. Actually,
she made him introduce himself as
the representative of the St. Johns Fire
District. The collaboration also signaled
the end of citizen's comments and the
meeting was adjourned.

July 3, 2015

July 3, 2015

opinion

Remove Confederate flag

from statehouse grounds
To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable
because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.
~ C.S. Lewis

unday evening while participating in the Bridge

to Peace event my sister witnessed an act that
encapsulates Charlestons reaction to the brutal
Emanuel AME Church murders. While 15,000 held
hands in unity across the Ravenel Bridge, a man stretched
his hands toward heaven and declared at the top of his
lungs, This is how we riot in Charleston!
This man personifies why we should be proud of how
Charleston has dealt with this unspeakable tragedy--as do
the victims families with their statements of forgiveness
and charity toward their loved ones murderer. In human
terms the families responses are inexplicable. It is not
until I reflect upon the above quote by atheist turned
Christian philosopher, C.S. Lewis, that it makes any
sense at all.
Their response is a Christian response. It flows from
the gospels message of sin separating us from a holy God,
Christ paying the penalty for these sins, and offering
reconciliation with God. Having been forgiven of much
empowers the forgiven to liberally forgive in kind.
When the debate leading up to the removal of the
confederate flag from the capitol dome in 2000 erupted, I
was one of only two Republican members of the General
Assembly that supported its removal. I did so for one

BY SENATOR CHIP CAMPSEN

For The Island Connection

simple reason. It did not meet the criterion flags must

meet to fly over a capitol. The timeless and universal
criterion for a flag to fly atop a capitol is that it be the flag
of an existing government that has jurisdiction over the
people. I was captive to that logic. The flag failed the test,
so I argued for its removal on these grounds.
My late father, George Campsen, Jr., was in the
General Assembly when the flag was placed over the
dome in 1962. In 2000 he organized over 90 percent of
the surviving members of the 1962 General Assembly,
along with several former governors, to sign a petition he
drafted. It indicated they placed the flag over the dome to
commemorate the four-year centennial of the Civil War
and had simply neglected to provide a take down date.
Their intention was never to fly the flag indefinitely. They
petitioned the General Assembly to remove the flag from
the dome, which it did later that year.
Syndicated columnist George Will referred to these
arguments as the Solomonic solution to the flag debate.
This history is relevant because it constituted common
ground to remove the flag from the dome in 2000. In
light of Charlestons reaction to the Emanuel AME
Church shootings, I suggest common ground likewise
exists today for removal of the flag from the statehouse
grounds.
The common ground of which I speak transcends and
is more powerful than issues of race and heritage. It is
yet another biblical principle found in Romans 14:19,
pursue what makes for peace and mutual upbuilding.

The witness of Emanuel AME Church pursuing peace

and mutual upbuilding demonstrates that love is greater
than hate. Congregants at St. Michaels, St. Philips, First
Baptist and other Charleston churches followed their lead
when they literally encircled the church Sunday morning,
bathing it in prayer as the Emanuel congregation
courageously refused to permit evil to keep them from
worshiping. Sunday night the Charleston community
demonstrated an outpouring of unity when over 15,000
held hands across the Ravenel Bridge. The unknown man
who declared, This is how we riot in Charleston, and
many others, followed suit.
In responding to this tragedy let us not focus upon
what outsiders say. Let us focus upon us, the relationships
in our communities and state. Let us follow the examples
set before us. If the confederate flag on our statehouse
grounds upsets a significant number of citizens, lets
remove it in the name of peace and mutual upbuilding.
Lets do this as a reciprocal act of charity and grace
extended to the fallen, their families, and the congregants
of my friend and colleague, Senator Clementa Pinckney.
They have demonstrated inimitable forgiveness, charity
and grace before God and a watching world. Both in life
and in death they have shown us how to love, forgive and
pursue peace and mutual upbuilding. It is now our turn
to follow their example.
Senator Chip Campsen represents Charleston, Beaufort
and Colleton Counties in the South Carolina Senate.

July 3, 2015

opinion

The truth about offshore drilling

on the Carolina coast
elow are the 4 most prominent
arguments we have heard in support
of allowing offshore drilling along
the Carolina Coast. Below them are facts
that lead one to believe the arguments that
support offshore drilling are inconsistent
with the facts and thus simply not true.
1. We need the jobs offshore drilling
will bring to our state
2. We need the tax revenue that oil
will generate
3. We need to be energy independent
4. Todays technology makes an oil
spill highly improbable
In examining the above every citizen
should take into consideration the
following facts.
Jobs: South Carolina already has
attracted and continues to attract major
industries generating thousands upon
thousands of new jobs. Boeing, Mercedes
Benz, Chrysler Daimler, BMW and now
Volvo, have found a home here. Unlike
oil, these are clean industries that pose no
threat to the attractiveness of our area to
new business, tourists, and as a place to
raise a family and / or retire.

BY WILFRED D. WIEHN
once beautiful Santa Barbara California
beaches, now blackened with smelly,
sticky oil sludge, dead birds and sea life.
This is the result of only 22,000 gallons
reaching the shore of the more than
100,000 gallons now in the ocean from a
pipeline leak.
Think not only of the people who live
and work there. Think also of those who
flew there for a weeks vacation, to enjoy,
sunbathing, swimming, surfing, fishing,
dining at the fine beachfront restaurants,
and breathing the the fresh crisp, salt air.
They probably wonder if there is such a
thing as oil spill vacation insurance. Will
they ever go back? And think of the lost
revenue the business owners will suffer.
If you believe it cannot happen here
then you dont believe tankers go aground
and break up, onshore and offshore
pipelines rupture, oil platforms catch fire,
drilling accidents happen and you will
never need to worry about you property
values plummeting from the site and
smell of a nearby oil refinery. There is no
absolute guarantee it will not happen here,
and if there were, scientists may be able to
predict an earthquake but they can not

daily

letter to the editor

No news on forensic
Kudos for coverage of
audit as Kiawah prepares Kiawah Council Meetings
to defend FOIA lawsuit
Dear Editor,

For The Island Connection

Tax revenues: The tax revenue

generated by these industries as well as
the new goods and services businesses
that will spring up to support population
growth will more than supplant any tax
revenue from oil.
Energy Independence: We are already
a net exporter of oil. In 2014 the United
States became the world's largest exporter
of oil, surpassing both Russia and Saudi
Arabia in oil exports. And our petroleum
refineries are not even operating at full
capacity. And we are also the largest
producer of natural gas in the world. So
we are already energy independent even
without development of our huge deposits
of northwest oil shale. More importantly,
there are other sources of renewable clean
energy we should be investing in. As some
of you may know, Saudi Arabia is investing
billions in Solar and Wind Power as they
look to generations beyond.
Today's advanced Oil Technology: If
you believe the oil industry claim that
today's technology makes oil spills a
highly improbable possibility, you may
have missed recent news showing the
latest leak polluting the 8.7 miles of the

July 3, 2015

stop one from rupturing the long pipeline

that is sunk into under-sea oil.
Our coastal shore line from Myrtle
Beach, south to Kiawah & Seabrook
Islands, and beyond to Hilton Head, and
all the rivers and marshes in between are
unquestionably at risk. So we must ask
why do we really need oil rigs, pipelines
and oil tankers off our coast when we
dont have to do so.
A well informed resident of Seabrook
Island, tells us that the key person in the
process of state participation in offshore
oil exploration and subsequent leasing
is the Governor of a state. The Federal
government acts under the assumption the
Governor of a state will act in accordance
with the best interests of its People. Since
our Governor has stated the State of South
Carolina wants to be included for seismic
testing, she is obviously ignoring the
overwhelming objections of the people
she represents. No matter what Big Oil
puts in TV commercials, the oil business
is a dirty industry that we neither want
nor need along our coast.
Wilfred D. Wiehn is a resident of Johns
Island.

BY GREGG BRAGG

The Island Connection Staff Writer

ollowing the resignation of Kiawah's

Town
Administrator,
Tumiko
Rucker, it has emerged that the plan
to have her return from her pre-arranged
medical leave to assist in selecting her
replacement has changed. In an interview
with The Post & Courier newspaper, it
emerged that Ruckers status had been
changed to a suspension with pay.
Additionally, following the subsequent
resignation of the town's treasurer on May
21, the town council allocated $35,000
for an independent, forensic audit of the
town's finances. The results of an executive
session held on June 15 have not been
made public, but the published agenda
contained an item to recieve an update
on the results of the forensic accountants
findings.
According to the same agenda, the
council also discussed the Freedom of
Information Act lawsuit and pending
FOIA requests of Kiawah resident and
retired Judge, Dennis McGill. For
months, McGill has taken exception
to what he sees as the towns lack of
transparency regarding the purchase
of land for a new municipal campus.
According to McGill his attempts to get
answers to his questions on this issue have
all failed, and consequently, he felt he had
no recourse but to file a complaint with
the Circuit Court.
The complaint McGill filed includes
three primary components;
1. A non-disclosure agreement TOKI
signed to protect the identity of the
seller and/or location of the parcel
cannot be used as a foundation to
hide the rest of the process from
public view. Therefore, TOKI
claims that no decisions were
made and no votes were taken,
after executive sessions, are false
and a violation of both the letter
and spirit of the Freedom of
Information Act.
2. TOKI
violated
its
own
procurement
ordinances
by

spending over a hundred thousand

dollars spread across at least 21
different occasions, all without
a public vote. (TOKIs attorney,
Dennis Rhoad, defended the
actions during the March town
council meeting saying disclosure
of individual actions would have
compromised the non-disclosure
agreement with the seller. We
might as well have done the whole
thing in public, said Rhoad.)
3. Salaries paid to executive staff
of TOKI, are inordinately high
and may be out of line with both
state law and the TOKI Human
Resource guide.
The town council has said publicly that
it beleives the FOIA lawsuit is unfounded.
The town will fully and properly
respond with a supported denial of those
allegations, Rhoad told The Post &
Courier last month.

I am always pleased when the Island

Connection arrives, filled with news
about the people and events of our local
communities.
As a resident of Kiawah, I particularly
appreciate the paper's coverage of local
governments. Over the last few years,
Kiawah's Town Council, unfortunately,
has gone against a nationwide move
toward greater transparency. The Council
has instead conducted an unusual
number of "executive sessions" in
violation of the Freedom of Information
Act. Communities across the nation are
using technology to move toward greater
transparency to provide citizens with
more information, finding that this not

only assists leaders in improving its ability

to serve its constituency but saves money
as well.
I would be remiss if I didn't congratulate
you on the coverage under Gregg Bragg's
byline. His approach is thorough, and
he has the unique talent to make dry
government business come alive. We need
more information from our government
entities, not less.
Our household appreciates the work
of all of you at the Island Connection.
Freedom of the Press is our great legacy
and depends on organizations such as
yours.

Fran Wermuth
Kiawah Island

About Letters to the Editor

All letters submitted to The Island Connection must bear a full name, address and
phone number for verification. Only the authors name and city will be printed.
Submissions are accepted via email to jennifer@luckydognews.com or mail to
PO. Box 837, Sullivans Island, SC 29482.
Letters may be edited for length and readability. The Island Connection reserves the
right to reject letters that are libelous, unseemly, not individually addressed to The
Island Connection or that have been previously published elsewhere. The Island
Connection will not publish letters endorsing political candidates.

July 3, 2015

July 3, 2015

books

arts & events

Fat Hen gets published Ladybugs flying free at

Magnolia Gardens

NEW COOKBOOK FROM ISLAND

FAV O R I T E R E S TA U R A N T
STAFF REPORT

For The Island Connection

at Hen, a Johns
Island restaurant,
has published its
first cookbook. "The
Fat Hen Cookbook,
Celebrating
French
Lowcountry
Cuisine,"
features dozens of recipes
from the kitchen of
Chef and Owner Fred
Neuville. Recipes cover
entrees, sides, soups,
salads,
brunch
and
more. The cookbook is
available for purchase at
the restaurant or via Fat
Hens website at www.
thefathen.com.
Fat Hen will be
hosting a Birthday Bash
and Cookbook release
party in July at "The
Coop," Fat Hens outdoor waiting and events area. The Coop features
a rotation of 8 draft beers and 4 tap wines and will be open, weather
permitting, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and during
Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

BY HERB FRAZIER

For The Island Connection

ore than 150,000 ladybugs will

fly free July 25 at Magnolia
Plantation and Gardens during
the Lowcountrys largest release of the
environmentally friendly insect.
A red Volkswagen beetle, resembling
a gigantic ladybug, will arrive at 10 a.m.
to signal the start of the ladybug release.
Hundreds of children, some dressed in
ladybug costumes, will scatter throughout
gardens to find the perfect spot to release
their share of ladybugs.
Prizes will be awarded for the best
ladybug costumes. Categories will be
children under two, three to six and seven
and older. A face painter will attend the
event. Car pooling and early arrival is
encouraged. The event ends at 1 p.m.
The popular ladybug is a natural
predator to harmful insects such as aphids,
scale insects and other small insects.
Some of the groups that will setup
nature displays are:
Audubon Center at Beidler Forest
Cypress Gardens, butterfly display
Grice Marine Laboratory at the
College of Charleston
Keep Charleston Beautiful, an

anti-litter campaign
Keeper of the Wild, a wildlife
rescue center
Reptile Innovations
Turtle Survival Center
A $15 adult general garden admission
is required to participate. The admission
for children six to 12 is $10. Children
under six are free.

July 3, 2015

Tate Nation & Karen Hewitt Hagan square off for a Dueling Demo at Friends of MUSC
Children's Hospital Fine Art Annual on July 10, 2015.

MUSC Art continues from cover

5 til 8 p.m., including libations (provided
by Salthouse Catering and Blue Water
Convenience Stores) and light appetizers
(provided by CRAVE Charleston
Catering).
Tate Nation and Karen Hewitt Hagan
will be doing a Dueling Demo at 4 p.m.
Although they will be painting from the
same photograph, their paintings promise
to be wildly different (Tate/Expressionism
with acrylics and Karen/Impressionism
on gold leaf). This is an excellent chance
to see the works as they are being created
and learn about the artists inspiration.
These paintings will be available for sale
at the show also. Other artists will be
demonstrating throughout the event.
More than 100 small, large and oversized
original paintings also will be on display
and for sale at this event.
The new MUSC Childrens Hospital

and Womens Pavilion is set to open its

doors in 2019 and requires $50 million in
philanthropic funding. It will combine
an advanced, future-proof design with
a patient-centered environment that
empowers doctors, nurses and families
to create a compassionate, innovative
community of care. Darius Rucker
and his wife, Beth, are the honorary
co-chairs of the fundraising campaign
to help build the new hospital. To learn
more about the campaign, please visit
imagine.musckids.org.
A demonstration schedule, directions
to the event, and a preview page for
art pre-sales may be viewed at www.
HaganFineArt-MUSC.com. Art lovers
will be admitted through the main gate
at Kiawah by telling the attendant that
they are going to the Art Show at The
Sandcastle. Please call Tricia Cordina,
President of Friends, at 843.814.9430 for
more information.

12

July 3, 2015

volunteer spotlight

Ralph Mastrangelo

GIVING BACK TO HONOR HIS

FA M I LY S H I S T O R Y
BY ZACHARY HUEY

For The Island Connection

Editors Note: Volunteer Spotlight is a column in The Island Connection highlighting

members of the community who give their time to help others. If you know of a volunteer
who deserves the spotlight email jennifer@luckydognews.com.

here are many parallels between

a successful volunteer and a
successful father. Both require
dedication and diverse talents. Both
can be difficult at times and can be
thankless jobs. However neither fathers
nor volunteers get involved for praise.
They do their best simply to help another
life flourish. On this Fathers Day, Our
Lady of Mercy Community Outreach
wants to thank all of our volunteers who
are fathers, as well as all men who raise
children and make a difference. One such
father who volunteers with OLM is Ralph
Mastrangelo.
Ralph was born in Brooklyn and grew
up in Queens, New York. After marrying
his wife Liz, they made their home in
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Now their
time is split between Franklin Lakes and
Kiawah Island. They have three daughters,
one residing in Boston, a second in Bend,
Oegon, and the third in Hoboken,
New Jersey. His professional career was
spent working on Wall Street managing
operations, technology and financial
services businesses. It was an exciting time
with market changes inducing innovation
and rapid response.
Along with a busy professional life,
Ralph felt the need to get involved
in volunteering. As a young father he
supported his daughters activities, but
living in New York City opened his eyes
to a diverse range of social and economic
conditions, prompting him to give back to
the larger community. He recalls:
I was happy to try to help where help
was needed . . . I particularly enjoyed my
volunteer work in education and health
care. I volunteered at Junior Achievement
of New York. I served on local school
advisory committees and a private school
foundation providing support for needy
students in the community. I became
involved in health care at the New York
Downtown hospital, serving a large
immigrant population in downtown
Manhattan as well as the Wall Street
community. I ultimately served on the
hospital board during the events of
9/11 and in subsequent years, as it was
the closest hospital to the World Trade
Center, and faced the many challenges of
a rebuilding downtown community.
Now as a member of the Kiawah
community, Ralph volunteers for
committee work at The Kiawah Island
Community Association and became a
mentor and business student coach at The
Citadel in Charleston.
As is the case with most great ideas,
Ralph got involved with Our Lady of
Mercy Community Outreach Services
because of his wife. They were introduced
to the organization by good friends
on Kiawah. They attended the annual
auction, met Sister Mary Joseph, and
learned about the outreach mission and
programs. The values closely aligned to

their own, so Liz volunteered first and

loved it.
Ralph got involved after his wife, and
has stayed active in a variety of ways. He
joined the Our Lady of Mercy Community
Outreach board this past year, served on
the Finance Committee, and has done
volunteer work at Neighborhood House
in downtown Charleston where lunch
is served daily to people experiencing
poverty. Ralph loves being out in the
community serving people, especially at
a special place like Neighborhood House
which is celebrating 100 years of service
in Charleston.
Volunteering with Our Lady of
Mercy Community Outreach is a special
opportunity for Ralph to combine his
interests in education and health care for
immigrants and people living in poverty.
The work resonates on a personal level
for him as well, My grandparents were
immigrants in Brooklyn and I learned of
their many struggles from my father and
saw first-hand the fruits of their labor.
My hope is that through the work of the
Outreach, others can receive the help
they need to ultimately be successful
and positive forces in their families and
communities.
In Ralphs opinion an important
contribution of a volunteer is to help people
feel good about themselves and support
their prospects for the future. No one
among us can control all of the variables
all of the time. Giving people financial
support is often helpful and necessary.
Helping with health and educational
needs is absolutely fundamental to
making truly sustainable positive changes
in peoples lives. Another key piece to
having a positive impact is having access
to positive role models and mentors. So
many Our Lady of Mercy Community
Outreach volunteers are doing just that
every day.
In honor of Fathers Day, Ralph shared
what he would impart to his children,
as well as what his father shared with
him: What should a father say to ones
children? They already know it. They
already do it. Share your good fortune! For
by any measure, to whom much is given,
much is expected. Volunteering is a good
way to share. My dad imparted to me a
true sense of fairness and charity when
he shared his good fortune one particular
Christmas with a young immigrant
family. Stuck with me, I guess!
For more information on how to
get involved with Our Lady of Mercy
Community Outreach contact Zachary
Huey via phone 843.559.4109 or email
zachary.huey@olmoutreach.org. The
organization is currently seeking summer
camp counselors.

July 3, 2015

13

arts & events

Freshfields continues from cover

Java Java
JMcLaughlin
Kiawah Fine Jewelry
Kiawah Spirits
Kiawah Wine
King Street Grille
Ladles
LaTela
Leggiadro
Lilly Pulitzer (Sunday only)
Palmetto
Island,
Featuring
Tommy Bahama
Peyton William Jewelry
Roberta Roller Rabbit
The Resort Shop, Home of the Sea
Glass Jewelry event
The Spot
The Station at Freshfields
Seacoast Sports and Outfitters
Southern Sports Presented by
Island Tide
Urban Nirvana Hair
Urban Nirvana Spa
Village Dentistry
Village Optical

Vincents Drug Store

Wonder Works
Wyndham Resort Rentals
"We want to make people aware that
not only visitors, but residents as well,
should patronize these stores that so
generously give to so many worthwhile,
local charities and organizations,"
Threlfall said.
One of the reasons Threlfall is so
excited to launch this new fundraising
effort is that she has been approached by
two additional elementary schools that
would like to participate in our program.
"Between the two schools there are
approximately 100 to 125 children, the
majority of which are homeless. I have
told them that I will have to see how our
fundraising proceeds over the summer
before we commit, as I do not want to
accept, then get mid year and no longer
have the funds to continue."
Hopefully this event will generate a
substantial amount of funds to keep the
program running and providing even
more needy children with two breakfasts,
three dinners, fruit, juice and milk as well
as assorted snacks and protein to keep
them going through the weekend, all year
long.

14

on the water

July 3, 2015

It's summertime and

the redfish are jumping
BY GEOFF BENNETT
For The Island Connection

hough the summertime shift

into high temperatures has been
brutal, it certainly hasnt slowed
the fishing down. Anglers trying to catch
a bite should try fishing early in the
morning, where they can find fish blitzing
bait on the surface as well as calmer winds
thatll allow them to see fish upon the
flats. Alternatively, the evening usually
offers cooler weather as well as a chance
to catch tailing redfish on big flood tides.
Fishing for redfish has yielded great
results. Though the large schools of
redfish have now since broken up, anglers
can still find pods of up to ten to twenty
fish, mostly on the flats. Placing a scent
trail in the water and an easy meal in front
of schools redfish is a tactic that normally
results in success. Putting cracked blue
crab or live mullet on the bottom with
enough weight to hold it stationary is
recommended. A size 3/0 combined
with a heavy test line works as a great
combination.
Trout fishing also continues to
improve. Recently, a large number of
midsize trout have been available for
catching. Before this, there were only
a small number of big trout that were
ready to breed. Fishing mud minnows on

jigheads can be quite effective and also lets

one get his or her bait in front of trout into
deeper pockets. Using size 1/8 jighwads is
recommended. Anglers can use heavier
jigheads but should make sure their size
is not significantly bigger than their bait.
Spanish mackerel are plentiful and
can be best found in the morning. When
finding groups of fish busting bait on the
surface, be sure to throw reflective casting
jigs and to reel each of them quickly
through the school. Also make sure when
fishing to move your boat slowly around
the school; running through a pod of fish
will just result in putting them down.
Also, if you know fish are present but not
up top near the surface, try trolling Clark
Spoons at various depths and at different
speeds.
The months of July and August will
especially provide a significant amount
of high tides towards the evening. This
results in some exciting angling, as fishers
can see the backs and tails of redfish as
they put their noses in the mud in the
hunt for crabs. These resulting tides are
known as tailing tides.
Sight casting to redfish as well as the
chance to eat them is thrilling. Though
it oftentimes is a long process in stalking

July 3, 2015

15

on the water

a fish and positioning yourself for just

the right cast, finally landing that hardearned redfish is in itself a truly rewarding
experience.
Capt. Geoff Bennett operates Charleston
Charter Fishing providing light tackle and
fly fishing charters. Clients choose from a
full menu of fly rods, 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 at www.
charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him
at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.

Island Connection Calendar

July 3
ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

Monday Bridge Group

9 a.m. at the Lake House. The Monday
Bridge Group needs new players. For more
information, please contact Lori Muenow
at 843.768.2314 or Ilse Calcagno at
843.768.0317.
Seabrook Stitchers
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. June 1 - August 25 at the Lake
House. For more information, please contact
Denise Doyon at dendoyon@gmail.com.
Farmers Market at Freshfields Village
4 - 8 p.m. Pick from the freshest produce
and local crafts all summer long.
Storytime at Johns Island Library
10:30 a.m. Mondays, July 6, 13, 20 and
27 is Babygarten Storytime (under 24
months with adult). 10:30 a.m. Mondays,
July 6, 13, 20 and 27 is Young and Restless
Storytime (18 30 months with adult).

Mah Jongg Practice

1 - 4 p.m. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday
of the month. Located at The Lake
HouseOsprey 2. Open to all new
players, those returning to the game, and
anyone else who wants a chance to practice
with others who are learning the game.
If you have any questions, please contact
Helen Thompson at hmtsbsc@gmail.com.
Storytimes at Johns Island Library
10:30 a.m. Tuesdays: June 9, 16, 23, and
30. Time for Twos (2 3 years old with
caregiver).
Kick it at Bohicket
Every Tuesday night from Memorial Day
through Labor Day. Kick It has been a
HUGE HIT, featuring a jump castle, face
painter, DJ, and shag dancing on the patio!
Come Join us every Tuesday throughout
the Summer! Special thanks to the Town
of Seabrook Island, and the Bohicket
Merchants Association for their support!

Mingo Point Oyster Roast & BBQ

6 - 9 p.m. Continues through August 31.
Enjoy an authentic Lowcountry experience
at Kiawahs most popular family outing.
A riverside oyster roast, an all-you-can-eat
buffet featuring Southern BBQ specialties,
live entertainment, a kids coolzone, live
gator presentations and a local artisan craft
market.

Straw Market Social

6 - 9 p.m. Continues through August 11
at the Kiawah Resort. Enjoy an evening
filled with live music, buckets of beer and
dining specials from Southern Kitchen, an
ice cream social by Inn Side Scoop, weekly
wine tastings, a sidewalk sale along the
boardwalk and arts & crafts for kids!

Tuesdays

Lake House Yoga

Wednesdays

8:30 a.m. Join us for 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 days intention, set up yourself
for success and be ready to shine.
Freshfields Village family movie nights
8:30 p.m. Freshfields Village is about to get
a bit more star-studded, with 15 weeks of
movies under the moonlight.
Climb for a Cause
Each Wednesday throughout this summer,
Wild Blue Ropes on Folly Road will
designate a local charity to receive $5
from every Challenge Pass ticket sold
for that day. For more information, or
consideration of your local cause, please
contact Jacqueline@wildblueropes.com.
Summer Wonder Workshops
First class: 10 a.m. Second Class: 11 a.m.
Join Wonder Works in Freshfields for their
weekly Summer Wonder Workshops with
various themes and activities. Call the shop
at 843.768.4383 to reserve your spot today.

Thursdays

Sunset Raw Bar at The Ocean Course

6 - 9 p.m. through September 3 Kiawah
Resort hosts live jazz guitarists at The Ocean
Course raw bar. Raw oysters on the half
shell, shellfish shooters, ceviche and lobster
rolls are offered along with beer, wine and
signature cocktails. Priced a la carte.

Fridays

Preschool Zone
10:30 a.m. All throughout April. 351
Maybank Highway, Johns Island
Regional Library. 3 - 6 years old must
be accompanied with an adult. Call
843.559.1945 for more information.
Friday Indoor Pickleball
12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at St. Christophers
Camp. For further information, please
contact Mary Torello at 843.768.0056.
Photographics Art Shows
4 - 8 p.m. July through August.
PhotoGraphics Portrait Photography
and Art Gallery in Freshfields Village
will be hosting art shows. July 3 & July
10: Michael Cyra. July 17 & July 24:
Sally Reynolds. July 31 & Aug 7: Sheryl
Stalnaker. Aug 14 & Aug 21: Chris
Rutigiano. Aug 28: Group show.
Concerts on the Village Green
6 - 9 p.m. Enjoy the sweet sounds of
summer every Friday at Freshfields Village
during the Music on the Green concert
series, which features popular acts from
around the Southeast.

Saturdays

TaeBo with Elizabeth

9:45 a.m. Throughout June at The Lake
House. TaeBo is a program combining the
best variety of different exercise disciplines
to provide an overall workout.

Homegrown
10 a.m. 2 p.m. Johns Island Farmers
Market. Every Third Saturday at 3546
Maybank Highway Johns Island.
For more information, visit www.
johnsislandfarmersmarket.com.
2015 Sea Island Cars and Coffee
9 - 11 a.m. The third Saturday each month
at Freshfields Village.
Sippin Saturdays at Irvin House
Vineyards
12 4 p.m., the winery and distillery
will serve up a different local food vendor
and musical group to entertain locals and
visitors. Visit www.charlestonwine.com.
Full Moon Bonfire on Seabrook
8:07 p.m. moonnrise. 8:32 sunset.
Thursday, July 30; Saturday, August 29;
Sunday, September 27. Well gather
just north of Boardwalk 1. With the
completion of the cut and the abundance
of turtle nests near Boardwalk 6, the
bonfire will return to just north of
Boardwalk 1.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
Independence Festival
6 - 9:30 p.m. Fireworks take off in the
park at 9:15 p.m. Night Heron Park hosts a
patriotic evening filled with Food Trucks,
Fireworks and lots of Festivities. Live
music, southern lawn games, train rides,

face painting and more.

THURSDAY, JULY 2
Seabrook Island Artist Guild Art Sale
5 - 7 p.m. on Thursdays; 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on
Fridays. The sales run through Friday, July
3. The Artist Guild will host its art show
and sale in the Lake House on Seabrook
Island. Take a break from the heat and
come see what our local artists have in
store for you.
Walk and Restore
9:30 - 10:20 a.m. Meets at the McLeod
Plantation Historic Site. Restorative yoga
professionals lead participants along short
walking loops, stopping intermittently
to stretch, relax, and practice restorative
yoga to build strength, flexibility, balance.
Register for six or more classes and receive
a discount. Ages 16 & up. www.ccprc.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 4
18th-Century Artillery Program at the
Powder Magazine
1 - 4 p.m. Arm yourself with knowledge!
The Powder Magazine is offering an
educational program on one of our
nations most historic days, the Fourth
of July. This program on 18th-Century
Artillery, which is included with regular
admission at the Powder Magazine on 79
Cumberland Street. For more information
call 843.722.9350.

July 15
Independence Day at Night Heron Park
6:30 - 10 p.m. Food will be served until
9:30 p.m. Fireworks in the park begin
at 10 p.m. Festivities include: live music,
tiedye, face painting, train rides, carnival
games, and much more!
Celebrate Americas Independence at
Home of Arthur Middleton!
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. On July 4 and 5,
Middleton Place will be celebrating
Independence Day. All events are covered
with General Admission. For more info, go
to www.MiddletonPlace.org.
Magnolia Gardens History Fair
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. On the nations birthday,
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens will
celebrate Lowcountry history and culture
during the 3rd Annual History Fair. For
more information 843.571.1266, ext. 206.

FRIDAY, JULY 10
Friends of MUSC Childrens Hospital
Fine Art Annual
3 - 8 p.m. The public is invited to attend
a free art show and sale to be held at
the oceanfront Sandcastle Community
Center at 1 Shipwatch Road, Kiawah
Island. A portion of this events proceeds
will help build the new Childrens
Hospital and Womens Pavilion at the
Medical University of South Carolina in
Charleston. Please call Tricia Cordina at
843.814.9430 for more information.

SUNDAY, JULY 12
The 25th Annual Charleston Sprint
Triathlon Series Continues
7 a.m. at the James Island County Park.
The a 600-yard freshwater swim in the
lake continues with a 12-mile bike ride
through the park and out and back on
Riverland Drive, and finish with a flat
5K run. Participants must be comfortable
swimming 600M in open water and riding
a bicycle on roads open to traffic.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Moranz Entertainment: Get on Your
Feet
7:30 p.m. at the East Beach Conference
Center. Sponsored by the Town of Kiawah
Island Arts and Cultural Events Council.
Long-time Charleston entertainers Brad
and Jennifer Moranz are producing an
all-new summer show, Get On Your
Feet! featuring the biggest hits of rock,
pop and country. This high-energy musical
revue stars a professional cast performing
their version of hits from Billy Joel, Bruce
Springsteen, Elvis Presley, The Beach
Boys, Celine Dion, Darius Rucker and
many more. Complimentary tickets will
be available at Kiawah Town Hall. Call
843.768.9166 or visit online at www.
kiawahisland.org/specialevents.