PRESORT STANDARD

US POSTAGE PAID
CHARLESTON SC
PERMIT NO 437
Volume 2 Issue 14 FREE October 31, 2008

A true tale from

Mullet Hall
Sidi Limehouse, Rosebank Farms

T
he year was 1948 and I was ten years old. I called him Mr.
Brown. Mr. Brown called me Mr. Sidi. Mr. Brown, somewhere
in his 90s, was an old black man and I was a young white boy.
We were friends. He was educated; Johns Island educated. Mr. Brown
told me one day, “If you know, you know and if you don’t know, well,
you just don’t know.” Mr. Brown felt it was his duty to teach me
everything I should know and Mr. Brown said I should know about
Brutus Garrett. It seems that Brutus, 100 years earlier, had panicked
in a hurricane and that Brutus was now a haint:
Brutus come bak each year in October when de full moon be high
and you can see the marsh shines all de way to Kiwah. In them day,
Mr. Legare had some kind o’ chine what him could look on and dis
ting tell de pression. Was October de last. Mr. Legare ping de bell and
say fo tell eby body must come to de big house. Him say de pression is
low and we must take care of eby ting. Was maybe it was a gale comin.
Eby animal, all de people must leave de creekside an go to Big Field
(Big Field is where Mullet Hall Equestrian Center is now located). Big
Field had a barn big enuf to hol eby body.
People say Brutus musta been liquored up. Brutus laugh and Mr.
Legare say de chine don know what him talkin bout. He take Gal;
Gal been e mule an him ride Gal out to Jemmy Ilant (Jemmy Island is
out in the marsh opposite Rhett’s Bluff). Say him fa pic last little bit o
cotton. When Mr. Legare hear what Brutus done, he jump on he horse
and take Laboard wit him to fetch Brutus. When dem get to de creek
de tide been comin fas and de wind blow and dem turn back. When
de people see em comin and ain’t got much as Gal wit dem, dey cuss
Brutus a while but den pray fo em. He get real dark and de wind blow.
De win blow so hard he ring de bell. Preacher Bishop say Brutus ring
de bell. De people start fo wailin and nashin dey teet. Mr. Legare say
fo eby body get in de loff of de barn and huddle up. Was a terruble
night.
In de mawnin was real quiet. Mr. Legare say fo feed de critter and
take em back home. He send Laboard, the preacher and Boobie to look
Shooting the moon
for Brutus. Dey ain’t find hide nor hair. Eric Horan | November / 2008

I knows you gwynn ax bout Gal. Well a mule be smart, smartest
animal dey is. Mr. Bryan say when de storm obor, Gal been stannin
in he yard.
De buzzart find Brutus. Laboard take a bateau and look on him and
say he was too bad to bring to the hill so him bury him in de marsh.
Mr. Legare say it wasn’t right to leave Brutus in the marsh but eby body
he ax to fetch em come back say dey couldn’t fin him. He bin way in
de middle of de marsh and dey loose de place where he been. Brutus he
ain’t loose em. He know ain’t posed to be buried in de marsh. Every
True Tale continued on page 14
A
bout this time last year, my wife, Jan and
I headed down the Chechessee River in
anticipation of this Harvest moonrise.
It was nearing sunset and high tide when we
anchored onto a small oyster bank. There was
just enough high ground to bring out my tripod,
chairs and a picnic basket with dinner. I mounted
my camera with a 500mm lens onto the tripod.
With all attention on the horizon, in this case
Parris Island, we awaited the emerging light to
the sounds of the tide washing against the oyster
shells.
Photographing the moon in the fall offers a
distinct advantage. During autumn, the path of
the moon is shorter than usual with a decreased
period of darkness between sunset and moonrise.
What this means to the photographer is that you
have more to work with in creating an image.
In this case I had the tree line of Parris Island, a
twilight blue sky and the orange moon as it lifted
The Moon continued on page 4

I n s id e T he I sl a nd Connection. . .

page 5 SINHG page 9 GREEN BUILD page 11 PET EXPO

2 October 31, 2008
Sea Island Parkway resolution turned down
“In the spring of 1996, as many as 850 the air and brought the house down by
people, mostly Johns Islanders, packed St. ripping them apart, thus showing the Sea
John’s High School gymnasium to taunt, Island Parkway authority what it could do
boo and interrupt state transportation with its money. The issues which brought
department officials and representatives of so many people, black and white, on a
a private corporation whose proposed toll warm evening to the predominantly black
road crossing Johns Island they had come high school on Johns Island included
to discuss. A highlight was reached when the constitutionality of the kind of joint
one of the critics, Ken Schneider, raised public and private roadway which was
a fistful of hundred-dollar bills high in proposed and whether the plan ought not
be submitted to a county-wide popular
The Island referendum. But the primary issues where:
whose interests should be served and how?
And is “development” irresitable?”
Connection ~A Place Called St. Johns by Laylon Wayne
Jordan and Elizabeth H. Stringfellow
Lynn Pierotti
Publisher During the Charleston County
lynn@luckydognews.com Planning /Public Works Committee
meeting on Thursday, October 16, a
Kristin Hackler resolution for Charleston County to
Editor “request the South Carolina Deptartment
kristin@luckydognews.com of Transportation to to do all things
necessary or helpful for the study,
Ali Akhyari
Assistant Editor planning, development, construction
Green Space Gala correction
ali@luckydognews.com
Heather Boggs Holbrook
Bev Hoover and Sue Holloman were
Contributing Editor
heather@luckydognews.com the co-chairs of the Green Space Gala,
not Barbara Measter, as was reprted in
Brittany Urbach The Island Connection although she was
Reporter assistant chair and a big hand in helping
brittany@lukcydognews.com publicize the event. Thanks also go to
Carol and Jim Gearhart, who arranged
Swan Richards the layout for the silent auction, and Janet
Graphic Designer Gorski, who helped with computer input.
swan@luckydognews.com
Thanks as well to all of the board
members of the Green Space Gala who
Jane McMackin
helped make the event possible, including
Marketing Director
Chelsea Langan
Advertising
chelsea@luckydognews.com
Monday, November 3
Civic Calendar 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Kiawah Island Ways and Means
Contributors Committee meeting
8:00am
Chris Brooks
Sarah Ernst Kiawah Island Municipal Center
Lynda Fox
Eric Johnson
Chelsea Langan
Tuesday, November 4
Kiawah Island Town Council
Mandi Sandstrom
Elizabeth Stringfellow Meeting
the 5th graders of 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Charleston Collegiate Town Hall Council Chambers
City of Charleston Council meeting
Published by
Lucky Dog Publishing 5:00pm
of South Carolina, LLC 80 Broad St., downtown Charleston
P.O. Box 837
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
Charleston County Council meeting
843-886-NEWS
7:00pm
Future deadlines: Second floor – Lonnie Hamilton III
November 5 for Public Service Building, N. Charleston
submissions.
Wednesday, November 5
Seabrook Island Planning
Commission Work Session
All Planning Commission meetings will
be held at 2:30pm at the Town Hall
unless noted otherwise on the Town
bulletin board.
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC
Publishers of Island Eye News,
The Island Connection and Thursday, November 6
The Folly Current. John’s Island Council Meeting
www.islandconnectionnews.com
and operation of a limited-access cross-
island toll road on Johns Island” was
turned down in a five to three vote, with
Councilman Darby abstaining.
Councilman Thurmond presented the
resolution to County Council and noted
that both the Town of Seabrook Island and
the Town of Kiawah Island had adopted
resolutions in support of the construction
of a limited-access cross-island toll road
on Johns Island. “It was the best option
in 2001 and it’s the best option in 2008,”
said Thurmond on the proposed toll
road. “Contrary to what the Coastal
Conservation League says, I feel that this
will actually limit development because it
would be a limited access road.”
Councilman Inabinett, however, felt
that the proposed toll road was a good
idea, but only in concept. “I thought I’d
made up my mind [on the cross island
toll road], but after countless numbers
of emails and calls from Johns and
Wadmalaw Island residents, I decided
Mac Stanton and Janice Franklin for
helping with the silent auction, Ray Gorski
for running the computerized checkout,
Wayne Billian for handling the tickets,
Jerry Cummin for taking care of name
tags and registration, Jean Mitchell for
helping Barbara Measter with publicity,
Carl Voelker for setting up the tables and
room layout, Don Smith for assisting in
the event’s coordination and Sally Haas
for donor coordination. We look forward
to an even greener 2009!
Berkeley Electric Co-Op, Maybank Rd.
Kiawah Island Arts Council
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Town Hall - 2nd Floor Conference Room
Monday, November 10
St. John’s Fire District Commission
meeting
7:00pm
St. John’s Commission Building
3327 Maybank Highway, John’s Island
Tuesday, November 11
City of Charleston Council meeting
5:00pm
80 Broad St., downtown Charleston
Wednesday, November 12
Kiawah Island Planning Commission
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Town Hall Council Chambers
Seabrook Island Planning
Commission
All Planning Commission meetings will
be held at 2:30pm at the Town Hall
unless noted otherwise on the Town
bulletin board.
I only endorse the concept.” There were
too many unanswered questions, he
said, for him to be comfortable with the
resolution. Though Inabinett did not go
into the questions extensively, he cited
several concerns about the locations of
on/off ramps, the number of land owners
who would be effected and the rates of
traffic ingress/egress. “I can not, at this
point, support the Cross Island Parkway
unless my questions are answered,” he
concluded.
After Council voted not to endorse
the resolution with a five to three vote,
Councilman Inabinett proposed that
a committee be formed consisting of
representatives from Kiawah Island,
Seabrook Island, Johns Island, the
SCDOT and County Council to take a
comprehensive look into transportation
on Johns Island and present their results
to Council. the motion was seconded
by Condon and passed 6 to 2 with
Councilman Darby abstaining.
Monday, November 17
Kiawah Island Board of Zoning Appeals
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Town Hall Council Chambers
Kiawah Island Town Hall
21 Beachwalker Drive
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Phone: 768-9166
Fax: 768-4764
Email:asimmons@kiawahisland.org
Seabrook Island Town Hall
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, John’s Island.
Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113
Charleston County Council
4045 Bridge View Drive, North
Charleston
(843) 958-4700
City of Charleston
75 Calhoun St.
(843) 724-3745
October 31, 2008
How smart is the SmartCode?
“I want this island to stay rural, but I
understand that it’s going to be developed,”
said Celia Fontenot, a resident of Johns
Island. Fontenot has dropped by the Johns
Island library to learn about the City’s
newest plan for Johns Island, a zoning
structure designed to “keep towns compact
and rural lands open, while reforming the
destructive sprawl-producing patterns of
separated use zoning.” Fontenot’s concerns
did not rest so much on the development
of Maybank Highway, which she noted
should be developed, but rather on the
“grid system” approach that ties in with
the new SmartCode. “I don’t have small
children anymore, but I would fight this
if I did,” she said, pointing out that the
traffic could harm children riding bicycles
and playing in the streets in residential
areas. She also shunned the developers
for building such expensive homes when
it was obvious that affordable housing
was needed for today’s young adults. “We
shouldn’t be this kind of community,
where families with two incomes can’t
even afford a home.” The Portrait
Homes development where she lives, has
practically halted mid-construction, with
weeds growing up between piles of lumber
and over vacant lots; a constant eyesore
that is visibly bringing down the value of
her home. “These people shouldn’t start
building other projects until they finish
the ones they started,” said Fontenot.
By Kristin Hackler
Tom Fox, who is handling the Harris
Teeter development at the corner of River
and Maybank, showed his support for the
plan when he dropped by earlier in the day.
Christopher Morgan, division director
for the City of Charleston Planning
Commission, noted that the pitchfork
proposed for the top of Maybank would
box off the Harris Teeter development
nicely, making it easily accessible from
almost every direction.
City councilman Tim Mallard also
made it a point to drop by, asking Morgan
some specifics about the Maybank highway
and the pitchfork proposal. Morgan
demonstrated how the traffic would flow
away from Maybank before reaching
the Maybank/River intersection to help
dispserse traffic.
According to the TPUDC (Town
Planning and Urban Design Collaborative)
out of Baltimore, Maryland, the company
hired by the City of Charleston to study
the zoning within the Urban Growth
Boundary (UGB) on Johns Island, the
SmartCode system will divide Johns
Island into five distinct transect zones:
Transect zone 1, T-1, is the most rural
of the transect zones. White described
these areas as the most natural, either
completely forested or with a walking trail,
similar to the Angel Oak historic site. T-2
3
allows for human habitation with large
lots, mainly agricultural or possibly rural
commercial) and tucked into the woods.
T-3 is defined as sub-urban with more
traditional neighborhoods, ideally similar
to James Island’s Riverland Terrace. T-4
is general urban with buildings closer to
the road and featuring small, one story
commercial buildings while T-5 is similar
to downtown Charleston’s lower King
Street. Other zoning codes would include
Civic spaces similar to Waterfront Gardens,
St. Michael’s Church and Whitepoint
Gardens, and Gathering Places, which
would be places where streets become
walk able spaces with community gardens,
parks and/or outdoor dining.
Representatives from TPUDC were
present to assist residents in explaining
how the zoning worked, with Maybank
as the central corridor with three distinct
T-5 areas (the intersection of Maybank
and River, the area around the Fat Hen
restaurant and the Main and Maybank
intersection) and the surrounding areas
within the Urban Growth Boundary
becoming increasingly more rural as they
approached the County line.
More information is available at the
City of Charleston’s website under Johns
Island Code. For more information on
the SmartCode system in general, visit
SmartCode Central.

Kiawah ranked second

Other visitors were more favorable
toward the SmartCode zoning, particularly River and noted that the plan would likely
larger land owners and property investors. include one to two new signals before

Provided by the Charleston Visitors Bureau

F
or the sixteenth consecutive year, readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine
honored Charleston as a Top 10 travel destination in the U.S. Charleston
was honored with a number 2 slot - topped only by San Francisco. Last year,
Charleston ranked number 3 in the poll behind San Francisco and New York City.
This year, New York takes the number 3 slot, right behind the Holy City.
Mary Thornley, Chairman of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau,
noted that the people of Charleston enjoy welcoming guests, and their hospitality
shows, “Charleston is friendly indeed. There is a sense of pride in this place that isn’t
found everywhere. Locals love the Charleston area with a passion, and visitors can
sense this right from the start.”
In other local rankings, Kiawah Island was lauded as the number 2 island in North
America. Kiawah is in good company with Vancouver and Nantucket rounding out
the top three choices.
Additionally, the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island was ranked the number 3 resort in
the mainland US. The top two spots went to Kenwood Inn & Spa in Sonoma and the
Inn at Thorn Hill & Spa in Jackson, NH.
The full Reader’s Choice Awards will be published in the November 2008 issue of
Condé Nast Traveler.

www.islandconnectionnews.com
4 October 31, 2008
Johns Island
transportation committee
E
ditor’s note: Following the motion
approved by the Planning and
Public Works Committee on
October 16 to establish a committee to
study transportation infrastructure issues
on Johns Island, staff worked with Mr.
Inabinett to establish some structure
to the formation and membership of
the committee. This structure was to be
approved at the October 30 session of
Charleston County Planning and Public
Works, which fell past our publication date.
For updates to this committee structure,
please visit www.charlestoncounty.org.
Membership – 9 members
A representative appointed from each
municipality which is on or adjacent to
Johns Island:
1 from Charleston
1 from Kiawah Island
1 from Seabrook Island
1 from Rockville
Five representatives will be appointed
by County Council. Eligible appointees
off the horizon.
and rivers feeding into the Port Royal
Sound are key to maintaining the health
of this unique embayment system. To find
must reside in the unincorporated area
either on Johns Island or Wadmalaw
Island.
Application period: Beginning
Wednesday, October 22, ending
Thursday, November 6. Applications
will be considered at the November 13
committee meeting and approved by
Council at the November 18 meeting.
Municipalities would be requested to
deliver to Council the names of their
appointees before November 13.
Staffing: Charleston County
Transportation Sales Tax Program staff
will provide support for the committee.
TransSystems is still under contract
to the County and can present the
analysis of the 52 traffic improvements it
reviewed in the 2001 and 2008 studies,
and the ULI can also provide assistance
as a Phase II Technical Assistance Panel
project following its analysis of the
Maybank Highway Project.
For more information, please contact
Charleston County Public Works at (843)
202-7600 or visit www.charlestoncounty.
org.
www.islandconnectionnews.com
out more and for volunteer opportunities,
The Moon continued from front page
contact the Lowcountry Institute at http://
Preservation of the Chechessee River
www.lowcountryinstitute.org. To see
more of Eric Horan’s work or to purchase
his new 2009 calendar visit http://www.
southernlight.biz/
Photo tip-exposure: The photographer’s tried and true ‘Sunny 16’ rule* is a
standard guidepost for setting proper exposure – even when shooting the moon. This
works because the light on the moon is actually reflected sunlight. With a digital
camera, you can check your histogram for details on highlights. My settings of
ISO 250 with f/5.6 and 1/2000th shutter speed is equivalent to the ‘Sunny 16’ rule,
which would translate to f/16 and shutter speed of 1/250th second.
* Sunny 16 Rule - If you choose an aperture of f/16 in full sunlight, then your
shutter speed should be the same as your ISO setting. This will give you an excellent
starting place for proper exposure.
Gymkhana date moved
Due to excessive rains Friday,
Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding
Gymkhana at CATR Farms has been
moved to Saturday, November 1.
Gymkhana, a multi-game equestrian
event performed to display the training
and talents of horses and their riders, will
feature 25 of the most exciting games
played on horseback, a Giant Tack and
Equine Accessory Sale and Exchange,
Concession Stand and Bake Sale and an
all day Halloween Trail Obstacle Course.
Open to riders, horses and ponies of all
ages and skill levels. Gymkhana will
be held from 9:00am - 3:00pm. All
proceeds directly benefit CATR and the
Charleston Pony Club. CATR Farms is
located at 2669 Hamilton Road, Johns
Island. For more information, call CATR
at 843-559-6040 or email catrfarms@
wildblue.net.
October 31, 2008
The “Star” of a SINHG Trip
by Lynda Fox
M
embers of the Seabrook Island
Natural History Group are
out and about enjoying some
exciting fall trips, and the trip committee
has already developed terrific trips for the
spring season, both old favorites and new,
which run from January to May. These trip
descriptions will be emailed to members
and be posted on the SINHG website at
the end of this month.
“What’s on the Beach?” is a popular
SINHG trip that took place Monday,
September 29, and will be repeated this
spring. The trip was led by retired marine
biologist and Seabrook Island resident Tom
Fox. He and the group of participants
spent two hours walking along the water’s
edge on North Beach at Seabrook Island.
It was a picture perfect beach day
with a warm sun and cool breeze. Tom
identified the creatures found by the
group and talked about their lives. His
vivid and graphic descriptions allowed the
participants to imagine what life was like
for each marine inhabitant.
One “star” of the trip was a live starfish
walking along the bottom of a tidal pool.
Another favorite was a horseshoe crab
molt – a perfect replica of the horseshoe
crab which had crawled out of its external
skeleton in order to grow.
Every walk on the beach is different.
I wonder what the group will see on the
5
spring “What’s on the Beach?” trip?
Visit us at www.sinhg.org for more
information on the trips and how to become
a member. If you are a SINHG member and
your contact information has changed, please
notify Paula Adamson, 2500 Cat Tail Pond
Rd., to ensure that you continue to receive all
communications in a timely fashion.
SINHG November Speaker: Roger Stroup
Date: Thursday, November 13
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Temple Conference Center at Camp St. Christopher
Roger Stroup is the State Historic Preservation Officer for the
South Carolina Department of Archives and History. He has a
Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina where his major
fields of study were Southern and South Carolina History. He has
also been a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps, the Director/
Curator of the Historic Columbia Foundation and the deputy
director of the South Carolina State Museum. Roger serves on a
variety of state and community boards, including the Heritage
Trust Advisory Board of the Department of Natural Resources,
the Old Exchange Commission, and the Drayton Hall Advisory
Council.
Refreshments start at 7:00pm followed by the lecture at 7:30pm.
Please note: the location for this event is the Temple Conference
Center at Camp St. Christopher. Please carpool if possible. There
are some parking spaces close to the Conference Center and there
is a large gravel parking lot behind the dining hall. As always,
(top) Fox and the group examine a horseshoe crab molt.
these presentations are free for SINHG members and $5 for non-
(bottom) The “star” of “What’s on the Beach?”
members. If you are a Seabrook Island resident and not already a
member of SINHG, now would be a good time to join!
www.islandconnectionnews.com
6 October 31, 2008
L
ong ago, in agricultural
communities of the Southeast,
families would gather together in
the fall to celebrate the onset of harvest
season and give thanks for the plentiful
growth of crops by enjoying a day of food,
music, dancing, crafts, and games. The
harvest season tradition continues this
November right here in Charleston, but
with a modern touch. In the spirit of the
Southern colonial autumn celebrations of
days past, Charleston County Park and
Recreation Commission hosts Harvest
Festival on Saturday, November 1 at
Mullet Hall Equestrian Center within
Johns Island County Park.
C’mon down from 11:00am to
5:00pm for the best down-home delights
like hayrides, a crafters market (great
for holiday shopping!), lots of delicious
traditional country fare available for
purchase, and much more. Dance the
day away to live foot-stompin’ bluegrass
by five local bluegrass bands. Keep the
kids busy with a variety of fun country
games and activities such as the stick
pony corral, lassoing demonstrations,
pumpkin decorating, and scarecrow-
making contest. And bring your carved
pumpkin for a chance to win a Gold Pass.
Old-fashioned down-home cuisine such
Mullet Hall Harvest Fest
by Mandi Sandstrom
as barbecue and kettle corn will also be
available for purchase as well as icy-cold
beverages.
A special addition to this year’s event
will be a weekend trail ride. Equestrians
are invited to ride the 20-miles of Mullet
Hall trails during the day, camp out with
their horses at night, and participate in
Harvest Festival activities on Saturday.
Fees are $5 per person. Kids 12 and
under and Annual Gold Pass holders are
admitted free. For more information,
please call 795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.
com. Brought to you by Piggly Wiggly
and your Charleston County Parks.
Harvest Fest music schedule
12pm The Plantation Allstars
1pm Southern Flavor Bluegrass
Band
2pm Hungry Monk Music
3pm Yee Haw Junction
4pm Bluestone Ramblers
(Upper left) A visitor tries his hand at
lasso throwing, (upper right) kids test
out the stick pony course and (right)
attendees listen to bluegrass.
www.islandconnectionnews.com
October 31, 2008
Now that’s dedication
T
he Sea Island Habitat for
Humanity held their largest ever
dedication of homes on Saturday,
October 18, almost a month after the
original date which was pushed back due
to the threat of tropical storm Hanna. A
total of 37 homes were dedicated from
phases one and two of the Brownswood
Place development, located just off of
Brownswood Road on Johns Island.
Andy Beck, executive director of the Sea
Island Habitat for Humanity, thanked
the many volunteers who put so much
time and effort into building the homes.
“You’ll never know how much you are
appreciated for what you’ve done for this
community,” said Beck. “We built this to
be a safe and secure place to call home,” he
said, addressing the new residents, “Now
it’s up to you to keep it that way.”
Reverend Capers of Bethel & Salem
Presbyterian Churches followed Beck,
reading from Micah 6:6-8. “Micah
would call this [Brownswood Place]
a divine intervention,” said Capers
and encouraged its new inhabitants to
make the Brownswood Community a
community of faith. Before introducing
Amy Sanchez, the Brownswood Home
Owners Association Vice President who
would be welcoming each family to their
new home as Andy Beck gave them each
a new Bible, Reverend Capers took a
moment to pray over the 63 adults and
99 children who would be taking up
residence in the new community, “May
God bless this community,” he prayed,
“and may God bless the Sea Island Habitat
for Humanity.”
www.islandconnectionnews.com
Bring home the green
S
ea Island Habitat for Humanity
kicked off the first of three “Green
Build Blitzes” on October 21 at their
McCloud Place development off Bears
Bluff road on Wadmalaw island. Five
homes are being built on the property’s
seven acres, with two of the acres being
set aside for conservation at the request of
the land donors. All of the homes being
built will be constructed using techniques
outlined by EarthCraft, which covers site
planning, energy efficiency, sustainable
materials, and indoor air quality.
Rather than clear-cut and cultivated
lawns, a “plant save” on the property
will be implemented along with the use
of native plants and garden space. The
Coastal Conservation League and their
energy conservation partners joined
this groundbreaking effort to bring
sustainable, energy-efficient housing
to the Lowcountry. Each week, a new
house goes up, from floor system to roof,
with lunch being provided by the day’s
sponsors. This past week, the Lowcountry
Housing Trust provided lunch from
Sprout, the Lowcountry USGBC provided
lunch from Daily Dose, the I’on Group
had lunch from Five Loaves Café, Jenny
Bloom prepared lunch provided by the
7
Sustainability Institute and the Coastal
Conservation League brought in food
from Soul Vegetarian South. Each day,
an “energy tool kit” was also raffled off to
participants.
The homes, when completed, will
provide a 10% - 20% savings on the
residents’ energy and water bills and in
order for the new residents to become
eligible for the home, they have to give
500 hours of “sweat equity” and go to 20
hours of home maintenance classes, with a
focus on sustainable home practices.
Phases two and three of the Green Build
are coming up this November. Monday –
Friday, November 3 – 7 and November 10
– 14, join the crew at McCloud Place and
give back to the community while learning
about all the little, and big, things you can
do to have a more efficient, less expensive
and sustainable home.
Sea Island Habitat for Humanity (SIHH)
is an ecumenical non-profit that exists to
provide low-income housing to working
families from James Island to Edisto Island,
SC. For more information, please visit www.
seaislandhabitat.org. For more information,
please call Anne Russell at (843) 768.0998
x109 or email volunteer@seaislandhabitat.
org. 
10
Species of the month:
long-tailed skipper
Provided by Sarah Ernst, Naturalist
O
ut of all the butterflies that visit
our gardens in fall, the winner of
the cute and cuddly award has to
be the long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus).
The long, iridescent scales of this butterfly
give it a fluffy appearance and radiate
colors of brilliant green and blue. While
most skippers are small and nondescript,
the long-tailed skipper reaches about two
inches and has distinctive ‘tails’ on its hind
wings. Skippers are named for their rapid
but low flight, as if they are skipping from
flower to flower. This makes the long-
tailed skipper an entertaining butterfly to
watch.
In the agricultural world, however,
the longtailed skipper has an unsavory
reputation as the dreaded bean leaf-roller.
The caterpillars love legumes such as
beans and peas; it will roll over leaves to
create a little tent in which to rest during
the day. At night they come out to munch
on the leaves. These secretive habits make
the caterpillar difficult to find in the
wild, but a glimpse reveals it to be just as
colorful as the adult; grenish-yellow with a
yellow stripe, black spots, and a red-brown
head. When it comes time to pupate, the
caterpillar seals itself in a large, curled-up
leaf lined with silk.
One to three weeks later, it will emerge
as a fresh adult butterfly. The long-tailed
skipper is easy to attract to your garden
with typical butterfly-friendly plants such
as lantana or annuals. They are a common
butterfly that specializes in disturbed
areas such as fields, yards, and roadsides.
While they can be found at Kiawah at
any time during the warm months, their
population tends to be particularly dense
in late summer and early fall.
For more information about activities
Heron Park Nature Center at (843)
768-6001.
Spooky by nature
Join the Heron Park naturalists for
a Halloween Night Exploration (van
tour) on October 31 from 6 pm – 8 pm.
For more information, call the Heron
Park Nature Center at 843-768-6001.
www.islandconnectionnews.com
Sundays at Johns
By Eric Johnson
O
n Sunday, November 16, at
3pm Johns Island Presbyterian
Church will feature visiting
singer and pianist Kelvin Chan and
Jennifer McGuire in concert. In a
program entitled “American Portraits,”
the duo will perform pieces by Barber,
Copland, Ives, Hoiby, and more. Chan
is already no stranger to the American
stage with credits at the Cincinnati
Opera, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh,
Theatre de la Jeune Lune in Minneapolis,
and the American Repertory Theatre in
Cambridge, MA just to name a few. He
has also served as Artistic Co-Director
of the all-male vocal ensemble Cantus.
McGuire is currently staff accompanist
at Vanderbilt University and the
Nashville Symphony Chorus, where she
has worked with conductor Leonard
Slatkin and composer John Corigliano.
In addition to her American stage credits
with the Cincinnati and Dayton Operas,
she has performed in Austria and Italy.
Please go online at www.jipc.org or call
559-9380 to reserve your free tickets, as
space is limited. The concert is presented
free of charge with donations accepted at
the door.
October 31, 2008
About the Venue
Johns Island Presbyterian Church
has had a long and fulfilling ministry
to the Johns Island area. Organized in
1710 with the present sanctuary built
in 1719, the church is, to the best of
our knowledge, older than any to be
found of any denomination in the
five major cities of Colonial America,
namely Charleston, Williamsburg,
New York, Philadelphia, or Boston.
Johns Island Presbyterian offers a
variety of ensembles and musical
activities open to all ages, with
current opportunities including vocal
and handbell ensembles. The Sundays
at Johns concert series will feature
guest artist concerts each year, as well
as concerts and events featuring the
church’s own ensembles.
Eric Johnson, Director of Music
Johns Island Presbyterian Church is
located at 2550 Bohicket Road, Johns
Island. For more information call (843)
559-9380 or visite www.jipc.org
October 31, 2008
Freshfield’s Rescue Row
Sponsored by the Freshfield’s specialty pet supply store PAWS, this event
featured dogs from several local rescues, including Lowcountry Lab, Greyhound
Crossroads, Jack Russell Rescue and Lowcountry Lab Rescue.
Shirley Bissett and Ginny Foreman look forward to welcoming you to the Jane Austen
Society.
A sensible society
“My idea of good company is the company of clever, well-informed people who have
a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.” ~Jane Austen
A
t Berkeley Electric Co-op, ankles
were sprained and Victorian
games of courtship were played
out in the minds of 20+ readers, gathered
for the monthly meeting of the South
Carolina Jane Austen Society. Once
a month, Austen-ites from Greenville
Over 6o soup choices range to Rock Hill and even Savannah get
from healthy, hearty, light, together to discuss the latest theme
hot or cold, we’ve got chosen by the Jane Austen Society of
the soup for you! North America. This year, the topic is
“Siblings in Austen’s novels” and Ruth
Anderson of North Charleston led the
discussion, focusing particularly on this
month’s book, Persuasion.
All
soups are Though the topic may not seem too
made with FRESH engaging to the novice Austen reader,
ingredients daily these bibliophiles do not disappoint with
their lively discussions and contagious
passion for the 19th century novelist.
And if discovering the secret passages
and cobwebbed cupboards of meaning
3125 Bees Ferry Rd. (in Bi-Lo Shopping Center) ● 769-9800 within Austen’s novels is not enough to
w w w.ladl e ssoups.co m encourage a visit, the Society includes
a high tea with each meeting. Shirley
Bissett, a resident of Seabrook Island,
www.islandconnectionnews.com
11
is the Society’s hospitality director and
the spread of cookies, sweets and savory
treats she coordinated and provided was
more than the group could have eaten
in three meetings. Piping hot tea was
available at all times, with cream and
lemon options, and a bright display of
flowers brightened up the typically dreary
community room. “Come by just once
and you’ll be hooked,” Ginny Foreman,
the Society’s regional coordinator smiled.
“Some of our members know everything
there is to know about Austen, some are
just Elizabeth Bennet girls and some
are novices, but we always have a great
time.”
The Jane Austen Society meets on
the third Saturday of every month at
1:30pm at Berkeley County Electric,
located at 3351 Maybank Road on Johns
Island. Once a year, the Society hosts
what is considered to be the “best tea
in Charleston” in January at Gage Hall
in downtown Charleston. For more
information, contact Ginny Foreman,
Regional Coordinator, at 884-4398.
12
Shades and spirits on
Johns Island
Excerpt from A Place Called St. Johns,
from the diary of Elizabeth Stringfellow, 1920–1930
reprinted with permision of Elizabeth Stringfellow
O
n certain nights, we would hear
drums start to beat loudly in
one direction, and soon other
drums would join in, until a symphony of
percussion filled the night air. Unwilling
to get up and find out, we would not know
whether the instruments were an invitation
to all black people within hearing to a “ring
dance” or just resounding noise intended
to frighten away “hags” – evil-doing spirits
who, so we were told, pestered the living
and could slip through a crack in a floor
and snatch the unwary mortal away. (That
was why you sometimes carried a broom
and swept away your own footprints as
you went, denying the canny spirits one
means to find you out.)
We learned from black people about
“frizzled chickens”, domesticated birds
born with feathers “growing backward”
that you never let get near you. One wild
bird lighting on your windowsill forecast
impending death in the unfortunate
household; two birds meant two deaths.
At the burial of an aged woman, infant
grandchildren were passed over the coffin
at it slipped into the ground. The symbolic
passage of the baby “over to the other side”
would, it was devoutly believed, protect
the child from an early death.
Everybody knew who the “root
October 31, 2008
doctors” were. Most famous was Doctor
Buzzard, who resided some miles away
in Beaufort town. He was a power in
the black communities, for a fee fixing
little necklaces with bags of leaves, nail
clippings, and nobody knew what all, to Charleston Collegiate
announces Open House
ward off all evil spirits or bad “spells” put
on you by mortal foes.
One summer night, three black men
went to hunt raccoons in a wooded area Provided by Charleston Collegiate
C
next to the old graveyard at St. Johns
harleston Collegiate School will allowed the school to be far more diverse,
AME Church on Johns Island. At length,
have an Open House for general with a minority enrollment of almost 25%.
following hours of fruitless endeavor after
admission (for grades preschool CCS is fully accredited by the Southern
tomorrow’s dinner, they were resting,
-12) on Saturday, November 8, at 10:00 Association of Independent Schools
lounging among the old stones, when a
am. Visitors will have an opportunity to (SAIS) and the Southern Association of
raccoon, fresh frozen in mid summer,
tour the campus, meet the Head of School, Colleges and Schools (SACS). The school
fell into their midst from an old oak tree.
and visit with teachers and parents. is a member of the National Association of
The men, said the whispers, might have
The Charleston Collegiate environment Independent Schools (NAIS), the South
been just a little in their cups. Needless
values creativity, compassion for others, Carolina Independent Schools Association
to say, they were astonished. But they
a passion for learning, and vibrant (SCISA), the Palmetto Association of
were able to assemble a context from
diversity. Charleston Collegiate School Independent Schools (PAIS), the National
their folk traditions to explain what had
is a nonsectarian, independent school Center for Independent School Renewal
happened. Disembodied spirits, shades of
organized as a Lower School (PS-5), (NCISR), the Education Records Bureau,
dead friends and relatives who haunted
Middle School (6-8), and Upper School and the Coalition of Essential Schools.
the earth, doing evil or good according to
their wont, knowing they were wanting, (9-12). It offers a traditional liberal arts To schedule a visit on another date,
had chosen to help them find dinner. curriculum and seeks to develop students please contact Hacker Burr at 843-559-
academically, athletically, and artistically. 5506 ext. 224. For more information, visit
A Place Called St. Johns is available
CCS is the only co-educational, www.charlestoncollegiate.org. Charleston
for purchase at Rosebank Farms, as well as
non-sectarian, preschool through Collegiate is located at 2024 Academy Drive
Indigo Books in Freshfield’s Village.
12th grade, independent school in the on Johns Island.
metropolitan area. This distinction has
www.islandconnectionnews.com
October 31, 2008 13

American Music
Celebration
Held at Freshfield’s Village Green on October 5, the Town of Kiawah
sponsored this spectacular day of local music, which featured the
sounds and songs of Joey Gilmore, the Wiyos, Studebaker John & the
Hawks, the Nouveux Honkies and Roots Rock and Western Punk
Swing.

Photos by Christian Hartsel, Akers, Ellis and Truluck

Eagle Scout program

helps migrant children
By Chris Brooks
Eagle Scout candidate Will Henry Lawrence from Troop 79 in
Charleston has completed his project to paint, repair and upgrade the
playground equipment at the Migrant Children Headstart Center at
St. James United Methodist Church on Johns Island. Eagle Scout
candidates must complete a project which they plan and direct as one
of the major requirements for earning the prestigious Eagle Scout
rank, the highest rank in scouting. Will Henry is not a newcomer
to the Mission. He has served the Mission as a member of the youth
program at St. Michaels Episcopal Church for a number of years. He
selected the Mission to benefit from his efforts and his work team’s
efforts because of a
desire to contribute
to the needs of
migrant children and
the Mission. This
work will provide a
brighter and more
attractive place for
the many migrant
children who stay at
the St. James Center
for years to come.
We are very
appreciative to Will
Henry for his hard
work and desire to
help the Mission.
Congratu lations
on completing this
major step toward
the Eagle Scout rank.
Looks great…Thank
you scouts!
Boy scout Will Henry and his work team paint
the playground equipment they repaired at St.
James United Methodist.
www.islandconnectionnews.com
14 October 31, 2008
th
Following is a collection of spooky Halloween poems written by 5 graders at Charleston Collegiate,
True Tale continued from page 1
located on Academy Road on Johns Island. Happy Halloween!
year on the full moon you can hear
em. He call out to eby body, “Take me, Tattoos Snakes
Dark Haunted House
O Jesus, to solid ground.” Moses last By Sam Hutchisson By Andrew
By Sarah Cheatham By Mimi Bordeaux
year he don’t believe bout Brutus be no Westmoreland
haint. Well him coon dog tree a coon Tattoos are frightening The dark is oh so scary
on Jemmy Islant. He ride him mule an I am in a haunted house!
The people watch you cry You never know if someone Snakes snakes
Buster been wid him fo walk. while getting one It makes me
Or something will come up and grab They give me the
It kinda been de first col and was de They are very deadly you!! shakes. Shiver down
day ob the storm of 1848 by 100 years. You can also see little eyes peeking at My back.
Permanent for life I won’t even touch
Now a haint trap in de marsh for 100 you I look up at the ceiling
years, he restless. Moses dem had to They freak me out them
When you’re walking alone at night To see a vampire bat.
walk cross de big marsh for to get to The needle is huge With a rake.
You can also hear footsteps behind
Jemmy Islant and fetch de coon for No! If you see one give I scream and run up
you.
Sunday dinner. Moses is a sensible man Never! And BANG it hits you it a double The stairs
and he don’t believe in no haint. Well, Not at all! It waits for you to come into your Take. I turn to see a monster
he do now and Moses ain’t gyain back room Snakes snakes With
in dat marsh for efen 100 coon been I will never get one
It grabs you and you don’t want to I’m starting to ake. 1million
tree on Jemmy Islant. know the rest
Hairs
Moses say de dog was to de tree and The black widow is watching
Snakes Now I am tired of this house
barkun eby breth. All of a sudden de By Kyra Westerberg Vampire Bats
mule put he head up high and strain By Derek I jump and flee
By Matt Gomez Rodriguez
he ears. Den de mule balk. Stop in Like a mouse
It’s waiting
he tracks. Den Moses see what de I will never ever go
mule see. Dey was a little place in de In the corner Vampire bats, Creepy
Scary spiders Back
marsh ups a little taller than all around. Of your room. They look like rats! Slithery
Slice By Robbie To
Den he hear say, “Here I is. Please for Its watching With fangs and wings Hempton
move me to de hill.” And dere was a No not even That
You to come They’re SCARY things!
man pointing to the ground and wailin Never House
Through the Your blood they suck,
“move me to de hill.” Moses den say Will I mess I think spiders are NO!!!!!
Door. Then you run out of luck! With them!! creepy and scary.
to heself, “mule, move me to de hill.”
Musta been a sight: de dog, de mule wit With its fuzzy One thing that creeps me out about spiders
Legs giant fangs My brother’s dirty diaper
Moses, all been behind Buster. That their fangs and their furry bodies are
There’s no way By Nathaniel Reyes
So Mr. Sidi, I knows you like de Scarier than throw up oh my.
marsh for crab, hunt fish, and eby ting To escape.
but please don’t go in the big marsh It climbs up My brother’s stinky diaper
when the moon full in Oct. The haint Your bed right It smells like
what is Brutus, he still axin somebody My grandmother’s garbage
Next to your
for please take he body to the hill. Spiders
Pillow.
In the afternoon By Evan
Things that scare me SMACK!!
Sometimes my parents Leonard
By Kate Simmons No more black widow.
Ask if I can change
Math!!! Creepy crawly
That goblin from the abyss Eight legs
Haunted houses scare me
By Olivia Pritchard First thing is shout is
It’s not where I want to be. Here and there
No! Giant hairy
I tried to yell
Math is scary Sometimes I have no choice Arachnids
But instead I fell.
Math is spooky But to change that Everywhere
Then I got a chill
I don’t like it Killer from the cave All those
Lucky I saw my brother Will Creepy crawlies
I don’t want it When I change that
Then we saw a bat I hate
How do people want to Monster from under the bed,
And a really fat black cat. learn it Them so
I always pass out.
Walking down the hall I wish I could quit it but I despise
And tangled on a web on a wall. my mom does not Those spiders
Was a creepy crawling spider Why won’t
Math is like a curse that
They go!!
That made us both turn whiter. will not stop!

www.islandconnectionnews.com
October 31, 2008 15

A hayride back in time

By Chelsea Langan

I
f a day trip back in time to experience old fashioned
fun sounds good to you, Legare Farms is the place
to go.   Only the slightest upgrades have been
added to land that would otherwise only be grazed or
plowed.  Tractor-pulled hayrides and gum ball machines
filled with fish food are about as mechanically advanced
as it gets, but who needs mechanics when you’ve got a
corn field maze, a pumpkin patch, a horse shaped tire
swing, mountain of mulch, live farm animals, climbable
oak trees, pony rides and boiled peanuts?  Not to mention
the scuppernong jelly and subsequent educational
opportunities.  Everyone in the family is covered.
The entrance to the farm is an antique-like playground.
The first thing you notice is a horse-shaped tire swing
hanging in the middle of the picnic area.  Beyond this lies
a treasure trove of old fashioned good times.  The tricycle
dirt race track leads to an open play field surrounded by
swings, low reaching oaks, painted tractor tire obstacles,
and monkey bars.   Atop a “mountain of mulch” sits a
shovel and a bucket to ensure a fun mess is made.  As you
cross the back gates to the larger field, a sign warns that
“manure happens”, and you’re on your way to see the live
farm animals.
In the back field, there are even more options to
consider. You could wait in line for a hayride, but they’re
giving pony rides just a short walk away. The hayride then, the crops may have changed, but the traditions have
and the impending line can wait, but not for long. After stayed almost the same. As one of the few fully functioning
you’ve packed into the hay-filled trailer hitched to a family-owned farms left, Legare Farms combines the best
tractor with approximately forty other farm goers, you’re of the old fashioned farming traditions with modern day
taken on a pleasant, scenic ride to a herd of cattle.  The marketing to keep its legacy alive. You can sponsor, rent,
cows know what an approaching hayride means: treats! or adopt their animals, throw parties with hayride and
The herd makes a hilariously slow dash to the trailer to bonfire themes, send your kids to their summer camp,
claim their share of the goods. The treats are hand fed, participate in Civil War re-enactments, or go on bird and
excitedly thrown at the cows by giggling children, and butterfly walks.  Yes, farms are online these days, and for
strategically placed on the rail of the trailer to watch their more information visit www.LegareFarms.com.
surprisingly long tongues extend and curl to grab them.
It’s a simple, spectacular sight to see.
A walk past the gumball machines in front of a large
lake full of jumping fish, wading turtles, and lurking
alligators brings you to the corn maze. All of a sudden
you swear you saw it in a movie.  The paths are narrow,
the corn is dying, and suddenly you are on your own wild
adventure. Let the kids lead the way. Their inner Power
Rangers emerge and they set the perfect tone throughout
the maze.  “We’re on a mission!” a 5 year old shouts with
conviction.  Aside from the dramatics of the maze, it’s a
great way to test your inner GPS.
The Legare family has been farming on John’s Island
since the 18th century when an original Charleston
Ayden Langan wonders how he’s going to escape from the
settler by the name of Soloman Legare took hold.  Since corn maze.

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