Kiawah ‘elves’ create decorative pieces for roadways
JBY ELISABETH ST JOHN For The Island Connection
oan Collar’s workshop at Night Heron Park buzzed with excitement and brimmed with greenery and ribbons, as volunteer elves gathered to make wreaths, mailbox decorations, and neighborhood sign decorations.
Inspired by longtime Land Management Supervisor Leila Gable, the Kiawah Island Community Association’s Lands and Roads employees spent the early part of Thanksgiving week trimming evergreen shrubbery and gathering the greenery to the Pavillion for the purpose of making the decorative applications. As decorative items were finished and labeled with the planned location of the piece, the men and women who maintain Kiawah’s roadway landscaping came by to pick up, place and secure the newly created decor.
Joan Collar talked of a time decades ago when she was new to the island and attended a community party. The decorations were flat ribbons stapled to the wall. When she commented to the then-mayor, his reply was to give her the job to decorate the island. Ever since, she has been leading a group of energetic women and men to create the masterpieces, utilizing Palmettos and other native plant greenery.
Happy Holidays to all from all the Kiawah Island elves who are involved in making the island look festive!
Election on Seabrook Island garners two new council members
BY THERESA STRATFORD | For The Island Connection
Two new town council members will join the municipality of Seabrook Island in January after the recent election on November 4. Current town council members Dan Kortvelesy and Gordon Weis will be replaced by Pat Faulkner and Thomas Hund.
Returning to Council will be Ray Hamilton and Darryl May, as well as Mayor Bruce Kleinman, who were all re-elected. Jim Ferland was also re-elected as utility commissioner.
The votes were as follows:
Mayor – Four-Year Term:
• Bruce Kleinman - 235
• Write-In - 26
Town Council Members – Two-Year Term:
• Pat Faulkner - 223
• Ray Hamilton - 244
• Write-In - 10
Town Council Members – Four-Year Term:
• Thomas J. Hund - 224
• Darryl May - 222
• Write-In - 10
Utility Commissioner:
• E. James Ferland - 267
• Write-In - 0
There were 2,218 registered voters, and a total of 328 ballots cast. Voter turnout totaled 14.79% on Seabrook Island.
In May of 2025, the Seabrook Island Town Council voted to approve four-year staggered terms starting after this election. The council members who will serve two-year terms from this election will be up for re-election in two years, but those would be for four-year terms. Council members supported this change due to the terms having longer continuity, and the Council could get more done versus in just two years. Opposing views to the four-year staggered terms were in regards to the possibility of some people deciding
not to run for office because four years is much longer than two years.
It is important to note that if a council member or the mayor had to quit in the middle of their term, there would be a special election if they had more than six months left in their term. If they quit within six months of their term ending, the seat would remain vacant until the regular election took place.
The town will host a swearing-in ceremony for Kleinman, Hamilton, May, Hund, Faulkner and Ferland on Jan. 6, 2026, at noon at Seabrook Island Town Hall.
Seabrook Island Town Administrator Joe Cronin said, “We look forward to having our two new council members come on board, and of course, welcoming back our incumbents. We will reach out sometime soon to get you some orientation materials before you all come on board. So, congratulations to all.”
The results of the election were certified by the Charleston County Board of Canvassers on Nov. 6, 2025.
Photo of Kiawah Island elves.
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Beyond Our Gates exceeds donation to area nonprofits
The Beyond Our Gates Foundation of Kiawah and Seabrook didn’t just meet their goal for their fall grant fundraising campaign; they exceeded it.
The Beyond Our Gates Foundation of Kiawah & Seabrook is a public 501(c)(3) endowment-based, grant-making community foundation. The mission is to improve the lives of their less-fortunate neighbors in the five nearby Charleston Sea Islands by investing in them, connecting them to urgently needed resources and empowering them to build a future filled with hope and opportunity. As a grant-making foundation, Beyond Our Gates does not directly provide services to the local community. Instead, it fundraises from the residents of Kiawah and Seabrook Islands and awards grants to outstanding nonprofits that are doing essential work in struggling neighborhoods near where they call home.
In June of 2025, Beyond Our Gates announced a hefty goal of raising $500,000 in grants by the fall. On November 20, they announced that they exceeded the goal, raising $545,000, and would donate grants to 25 deserving nonprofits in the area that serve the disadvantaged Sea Island community.
Beyond Our Gates Foundation of Kiawah & Seabrook was established in late 2022 by Kiawah homeowners Brian and Karen McDonagh. In fall 2023, they awarded an inaugural series of $300,000 in
Town of Kiawah Island
Board of Zoning Appeals
Monday, Dec. 15, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Arts Council Board
Monday, Jan. 5, 9 a.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Ways and Means Committee
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 10 a.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
grants to 16 amazing nonprofits serving the critical needs in the adjacent low-income communities. The second series of grants, totaling just over $500,000, was awarded in fall 2024. This most recent fundraising effort in 2025 was their third series of grants, and it was also the highest amount they have donated in a grant cycle since they were established.
“The catalyst for forming Beyond Our Gates started back in 2019 when Karen and I were saddened by the closure of the Rural Mission, which had been serving the at-risk populations of the five Charleston Sea Islands for over 50 years. Over the next few years, we spent significant time in the low-income communities across the Charleston Sea Islands, raising our awareness of the widespread poverty and severe deficit of essential resources and services that exist in these areas,” Brian McDonagh said.
Not only was this year a record-breaking amount raised by Beyond Our Gates, but they also saw a record-breaking number of applications for the grants by area nonprofits.
“As the needs of the Sea Islands and Charleston region continue to grow, the Beyond Our Gates Foundation remains dedicated to expanding opportunities, strengthening families and helping communities thrive.”
For more information on Beyond Our Gates, visit beyondourgates.org.
(Continued on page 3)
Planning Commission
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Town of Seabrook
Public Safety Committee
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Utility Commission
Wednesday, Dec. 17, 8:30 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
K iawah iSland Town h all 4475 Betsy Kerrison Parkway Kiawah Island, S.C. 29455 843-768-9166
SeabrooK iSland Town h all 2001 Seabrook Island Road Seabrook Island, S.C. 29455 843-768-9121 lmanning@townofseabrookisland.org
JohnS iSland c ouncil
Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Highway, Johns Island, S.C. 29455 Chairman Chris Cannon: 843-343-5113
charle STon c oun T y c ouncil 4045 Bridge View Drive N. Charleston, S.C. 29405 843-958-4700
ciT y of charle STon 75 Calhoun St. Charleston, S.C. 29401 843-724-3745
Brian and Karen McDonagh.
Beyond Our Gates
Continued from page 2
2025 Beyond Our Gates Foundation Grant Recipients
• Arts, etc. – Provides literary, visual and performing arts programs to K-12 students on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands.
• Backpack Buddies Kiawah – Combats childhood hunger among at-risk students in Title I schools on the Sea Islands.
• Backpack Buddies Seabrook – Combats childhood hunger among atrisk students in Title I schools on the Sea Islands.
• Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic – Offers free primary care to uninsured adults living or working on the Sea Islands.
• Begin With Books – The Dolly Parton Imagination Library affiliate delivers free books monthly to infants and toddlers to foster early literacy.
• Bridges of Hope – Supports children and families in the Charleston area coping with the death of a loved one.
• Camp Happy Days – Supports children diagnosed with cancer and their families through free year-round programs and crisis resources.
• Charleston Area Senior Citizens – Enhances the lives of economically challenged seniors in the Charleston area.
• Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding – Empowers children, adults and veterans with disabilities through therapeutic horsemanship programs.
• Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center – Works to prevent abuse, protect children and heal families from trauma.
• Edisto Island Youth Recreation – Provides essential recreation and athletic opportunities for youth on Edisto Island.
• Fields to Families – Collects, grows and distributes fresh local produce to food banks and service agencies across Charleston, combating food insecurity.
• HALOS – Supports kinship-care families by providing financial and social assistance to children raised by relatives.
• James Island Outreach – Delivers emergency food, medicine, utility aid and home repair to low-income residents of James Island.
• Kids on Point – In partnership with the College of Charleston, provides year-round academic, athletic and enrichment programs for under-resourced youth.
• Lowcountry Orphan Relief – Provides support services and aid to children suffering from neglect, abuse or abandonment in the Charleston area.
• Operation Home – Helps Charleston-area residents remain safely in their homes through accessibility improvements and critical repairs.
• Our Lady of Mercy Outreach – Addresses root causes of poverty through emergency resources, education, job assistance and health initiatives.
• Paraclete Foundation – Supports home repairs and upgrades for low-income residents on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands.
• Sea Island Hunger Awareness Foundation – Through its Blessings Basket program, provides nutritious food to residents in need on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands.
• Teachers’ Supply Closet – Provides free classroom supplies to Title I teachers across the Charleston area.
• The Lonon Foundation – Offers psychosocial support to children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer.
• The Swing – Provides financial assistance to breast cancer patients and their families throughout the Lowcountry.
• Turn 90 – Helps individuals re-entering the community after incarceration through life-skills training, case-management, work readiness and job placement.
• Vision To Learn – Provides screenings, eye exams and prescription glasses to K–12 students in Title I schools.
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
You may have seen her featured on CBS Sunday Morning or PBS. Perhaps you have seen her work locally at the Gibbes Museum of Art or The City Gallery. She has been featured in local magazines, and her We the People exhibit travels to various galleries nationwide.
Mary Whyte, a former 25-year resident of Seabrook Island, is a renowned watercolor painter who captures the essence of the human experience and has been recognized as one of the foremost figures in American art.
Though Whyte no longer lives on Seabrook Island, many of her paintings were inspired by its scenery and the people of the Sea Islands. Her influence is still widely impacted by her connections with the Seabrook Island Artist Guild.
In fact, December 3, 2025, was named Mary Whyte Day in a proclamation designated by the Town of Seabrook Island. (Continued on page 6)
“Eden” by Mary Whyte
Mary Whyte Day
Continued from page 4
Whyte was present at the Seabrook Island Real Estate facility to accept the recognition on December 3.
She was there to present and share her latest book, An Artist’s Life: Unlocking Creative Expression . The book casts an inspiring reflection on her decades-long artistic journey through personal accounts and hard-won lessons. The book reveals how perseverance, imagination and passion have fueled her life.
“For over 25 years, Seabrook Island and the surrounding area were the inspiration for many of my paintings. It is a pleasure to return to the magic,” she said.
Michael Younginer, president of the Seabrook Island Artist Guild, thanked the town for the Mary Whyte Day Proclamation at the November 18 Town Council meeting.
He said, “Seabrook Island is a community, not a resort, and Mary helped that to become a reality because of the important way she saw things, not just for the beauty of the art around us, but also because she helped us see the people that are a part of our community. She helped to integrate Seabrookers with the community of Johns Island. She’s a uniter. She was one of the founding members of the Seabrook Island Artist Guild. She spent 25 years here, and she is still a part of who we are. Her effects are still being felt.”
Mayor Bruce Kleinman presented the proclamation on December 3 to Mary Whyte.
For more information on Mary Whyte, visit marywhyte.com.
For more information on the Seabrook Island Artist Guild, visit sipoa.org/ seabrook-island-artist-guild.
Sustainability workshop educated Seabrook residents on native plants
BY ELISABETH ST JOHN For
Lauren Harris, director of the Barrier Island Environmental Education Program Conference Center, announced that there is a session on Wildlife Monitoring planned for February 3. In a second workshop in the Sustainability Series, led by Rebecca Allen and Nathan Hundley, she introduced the current topic of invasive plants and what to do about them.
What plants are invasives? Those that are non-native and have characteristics unbecoming or damaging to the Lowcountry environment, its flora, and wildlife. Named offenders, such as Elaeagnus (Thorny Olive), the Common Reed (Phragmites Australis), or Kudzu were brought in from other countries to employ in waterway containment, soil erosion and soil conservation. Others were brought surreptitiously or openly for ornamental purposes, including some our favorites for color in the landscape, Nandina and Chinese and Japanese Wisteria. Another decorative favorite is the Chinese Tallow, or Popcorn Tree. Its aggressive nature has been the intentional focus of the Department of Natural Resources.
For the past decade, under a program of planned elimination, a percentage of the Popcorn Tree’s roots grew back yearly, although at a declining rate. Hundley got down on hands and knees to demonstrate how a tree might be injected with the prescribed herbicide. He showed that an angled axe cut into the heart of the tree gives opportunity for the liquid to be sprayed into the wood. If it grows back, the process must be repeated the next season. A look at the list of plants being replaced at Seabrook Island can be found online. (Continued on page 7)
Two Communities. One Harmonious Mission.
Continued from page 6
The native replacement plants are also listed there.
Invasives also tend to thrive and reproduce more rapidly than native plants, displacing plants that feed and sustain the migratory bird population on their long journeys. Some are almost impossible to remove. In the case of the non-native grass, Phragmites, it feeds no wildlife and will fall over like a wall and form a dam that literally chokes waterways. This invasive grass can grow over 12 feet tall when it matures. Difficulty in managing common reeds will result in a unique management tactic. The invasive reed will be cut to the nub, then covered with black tarping, which will heat, choke out, and prevent photosynthesis and re-establishment of the plant. Over a period of years of denying water and sunlight to the reed, it is hoped the root system will die underneath the tarps.
Not only plants but some invasive insects and vertebrates were talked about and identified. Red Fire Ants, Asian Longhorned Beetle, and the Yellow-legged Hornet are invasive insects that can cause serious damage. The Red-eared slider can outcompete native turtles such as yellow-bellied sliders. Armadillos and feral hogs, as well as Mediterranean Geckos, are all animals that should be reported to DNR when sighted. DNR will document, remove, and/or monitor the invasives.
For more information on native plants, removal of non-natives, and the sustainability workshops, contact Lauren Harris, Director of the Conference Center, at lharris@stchristopher.org. Please mark your calendar for February 3 at 6 p.m. and join friends for the Wildlife Session of the workshop series.
The Barrier Island Environmental Education Program is a ministry of St. Christopher’s Camp outreach program, inviting public and private school age children to come learn about, and experience hands-on, the unique island vegetation and wildlife. Camp St. Christopher is located just south of Charleston on Seabrook Island. For more information, please refer to the website, stchristopher.org/about-barrier-island, or contact Jared Crain, jcrain@stchristopher.org.
Butterfly enthusiasts are on the lookout for monarch butterflies now through March as the colorful insects move into warmer parts of the Southeast, and they need help spotting them. Researchers across the region say winter sightings are important because not all monarchs migrate to Mexico like most people expect. Some stay in the Deep South during the cold
(Continued on page 11)
Nathan Hundley demonstrates a herbicide injection on invasive trees.
AROUND THE ISLANDS
ONGOING
WHAT: 36th Annual Holiday Festival of Lights
WHERE: James Island County Park
WHEN: Through Dec. 31
MORE INFO: The 36th annual Holiday Festival of Lights returns to James Island County Park beginning Nov. 14, bringing one of the Lowcountry’s most beloved holiday traditions back for the season. The festival will be open nightly from 5:30 to 10 p.m. through Dec. 31. The festival features more than 750 light displays along a three-mile driving route, plus attractions including the Festival Express train, a 50-ton sand sculpture, an old-fashioned carousel, a climbing wall, and marshmallow roasts. Visitors can also shop for gifts, enjoy snacks, and see live entertainment on select evenings.
WHAT: Aquarium Aglow
WHERE: South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston
WHEN: Select evenings in December
MORE INFO: This December, the South Carolina Aquarium opens on select nights after dark for transformed by captivating colors and inspiring illuminations. The Aquarium Aglow holiday series features new immersive installations, photo ops, sweet treats and “Scuba Claus.”
WHAT: Letters to Santa
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: Through Friday, Dec. 19
MORE INFO: Families can continue a beloved holiday tradition by dropping letters to Santa in the special red mailbox located near the Christmas trees on The Village Green. Santa’s elves will collect every letter and deliver it directly to the North Pole. Be sure to include a return address—Santa loves writing back!
WHAT: A Christmas Carol
WHERE: Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St.,
Our community calendar keeps you updated on local events. From festivals to workshops to family-friendly gatherings. Stay connected and never miss out on the excitement.
will warm your heart, reminding you that the love of family is the greatest gift of all. Tickets available at palmettocityballet.org.
WHAT: Mrs. Alice’s Afternoon Tea at Linnette’s
WHERE: Dunlin Resort, 1030 Sound Dr., Johns Island
WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays in December with seatings at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
MORE INFO: Where Southern hospitality meets British sensibility, The Dunlin, Auberge Collection debuts a new Festive Afternoon Tea Service designed and curated by Alice NaylorLeland of Mrs. Alice. Featuring a delightful sweet and savory menu by Executive Pastry Chef Elizabeth Grant, it balances the regional flavors of the Lowcountry with the storied English traditions of the Afternoon Tea ritual.
SATURDAY, DEC. 13
WHAT: Kiawah Island Marathon & Half
Marathon
WHERE: Kiawah Island Golf Resort, 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive
WHEN: 8 a.m.
MORE INFO: 47th Annual Marathon on Kiawah Island, where 26.2 miles (or 13.1 miles) has never looked so beautiful. The race will start and finish in the beautiful West Beach Village. Along the way, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of maritime forests, marshes, and grand homes as you run throughout the community.
WHAT: Holiday Movies on The Green - A Christmas Story
WHERE: Freshfields Village WHEN: 6 p.m.
WHEN: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: King Street will be shut down to through traffic from Queen to Calhoun, roughly 1/2 mile. Strolling guests can enjoy music, shopping, dining, and more.
WHAT: Chanukah in the Square
WHERE: Marion Square, downtown Charleston WHEN: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
MORE INFO: The City of Charleston’s official menorah lighting with food, music and community celebration.
TUESDAY, DEC. 16
WHAT: Axon Orkestra WHERE: Turtle Point Golf Course, 1 Turtle Point Ln., Kiawah Island WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Axon Orkestra is a sonic boom of ripping grooves and soaring strings, rooted in its members’ musical journeys and adventures around the world. Sonic stories and sonorities collide in this eclectic off-the-beaten-path musical mix, merging urban and village music styles, percussive strings, and irresistible rhythms into both original music and reworkings of regional classics. At its core is a trio of violin, guitar, and bass, combining decades of deeply rooted experience in musical communities across Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Ethiopia, and France.
SATURDAY, DEC. 20
WHAT: Vodkas & Latkes in the Barbara Pearlstine Social Hall
WHERE: Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, 90 Hasell St., Charleston WHEN: 7 p.m.
SUNDAY COFFEE & CLASS WITH THE RECTOR- 8:45am SUNDAY WORSHIP- 10:00am
Coffee & Fellowship following Worship Service
Womens Bible Study Fellowship - Mondays at 10:00am Healing Prayer Service - Tuesdays at 1:15pm Men’s Bible Study - Thursdays at 7:30am
Local author and former attorney David Schaeffer releases legal thriller
BY SYDNEY AKERS | For The Island Connection
Initiation at the Scum Pond is a story 30 years in the making. Inspired by a case former attorney David Schaeffer took on in the 1990s, the legal thriller follows attorney Daniel Slater as he fights for justice for a mother and her son, following his life-altering paralysis from fraternity hazing. Full of shocking twists, contentious trials, and near-crushing secrecy from the university and the victim, this novel entertains and educates readers on fraternity hazing culture and its dangers.
Schaeffer published three nonfiction books over the past 15 years through Mercer University Press and began Initiation at the Scum Pond in 1995, incited by his disturbance at the hazing incident involving his client.
“It was a very emotional case….Writing it was therapeutic for me,” he says. Though he had not creatively written before, Schaffer grew to love the writing process, especially scenes focused on dialogue and character development. This first novel has always been special to him as the culmination of much of his work as an author, even after expanding to other genres such as plays, songwriting, and nonfiction.
Schaeffer hopes that Initiation at the Scum Pond will be as impactful as it is page-turning in raising awareness about fraternity hazing on college campuses. The events in this book, though fictional, are based in reality. Even though federal and state laws such as the Stop Campus Hazing Act have been passed to require universities receiving federal funds to report hazing incidents, hazing still occurs and has far-reaching effects.
Schaeffer cycled through many versions of this book, going through 50 or 60 drafts before he knew it was ready to publish. As an attorney, he “did a lot of the early work … at the office,” writing whenever business was slow. Before he had a computer, the earliest manuscript was handwritten, the story pouring out of him.
Now living in a relaxing place such as Kiawah, he is able to write without interruptions, getting down any thoughts as soon as he has an idea, sometimes for six to eight hours at a time. “If I get a new idea in the middle of the night, I get up and start typing.” It was through this unrestricted writing style, a deep love of editing, and his determination to finally publish the book after a recent cancer diagnosis that he successfully debuted his book in November.
Schaeffer advises aspiring authors to “stop talking about writing a book and just sit down at the computer and start typing.” He firmly believes that focusing so much on making a first draft perfect can hinder a writer from ever realizing their dreams. Though his career as an attorney was fulfilling and allowed him to help people, he has “always looked for things beyond just the actual work.” From writing books and playing soccer to climbing mountains, singing, and acting, projects and activities keep Schaeffer inspired and ambitious. Schaeffer’s books, including Initiation at the Scum Pond , can be found at Indigo Books on Kiawah Island and at Buxton Books in downtown Charleston.
Beautifully renovated 2BR/2.5BA villa with sweeping marsh and sunset views. Updated throughout with new HVAC, air filtration, LVP flooring, modern lighting, and a refreshed kitchen with stainless appliances and leathered granite. Both bedrooms have renovated ensuite baths, and each level opens to a spacious screened porch. Includes full-size washer/dryer, Nest system, covered parking, and access to the community pool plus nearby tennis, pickleball, fitness, beach, and golf. Move-in ready.
EXCLUSIVELY LISTED BY: $649,000
Seabrook Island
Author David Schaeffer.
Keeper of the Wild annual roast keeps animals safe in our developing state
BY ELISABETH ST JOHN | For The Island Connection
Here’s a suggestion for a meaningful holiday gift: a ticket to the Oyster Roast benefitting Keeper of the Wild. Better yet, for only a little more, get two tickets so you can enjoy your gift together on February first. The Oyster Roast at Magnolia Plantation is held in the carriage house along the Ashley River, serves oysters plus various chilis including vegan options, and hosts an auction with a variety of memorable, often handcrafted, items. To contribute auction items, please contact Suzanne at 808-341-9021.
Funds raised at this oyster roast help rehabilitate those clever creatures which are a treat to see in the wild – squirrels, deer, opossums, raccoons, foxes, skunks, and otters. They quietly groom and function as nature’s workers, keeping the environment cleaned up to reduce danger to humans. You may fuss at deer eating your flowers, but their browsing curbs the undergrowth so that fires are less likely to spread!
of life by eating insects and keeping the woods and fields safer for human recreation. Animals that have been healed but are unable to “make a living” in the wild due to their condition are employed in teaching school-aged children about wildlife. One such zoo is located on the property of Magnolia Plantation.
South Carolina’s population growth since the days of the pandemic has been exponential, and, in the Lowcountry, growth continues with the fastest rate in the nation. Since 2001, South Carolina has lost thousands of acres of farmland annually, reducing habitats for native wildlife and increasing the possibility of damaging nature as we cross the pathways animals need to find food and shelter.
Keeper of the Wild rescues, rehabilitates, and releases back into the wild orphaned and injured animals. Volunteers provide much of the staffing, which gives wild animals the chance to live and do their work in the circle
Please consider donating a bag of oysters to Keeper of the Wild in honor of your family member or friend if you are unable to attend the annual oyster roast. You can do so at keeperofthewild. org. And, if you have a heart for helping, shelter volunteers are always needed and welcome. For volunteering opportunities, please also see the website. Tickets to the oyster roast are available now at keeperofthewild.org/oyster-roast.
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TIDE CHART
DATE HIGH TIDE LOW TIDE
SAT, DEC. 13 3:01 A.M., 3:05 P.M. 9:01 A.M., 9:18 P.M. SUN, DEC. 14 3:54 A.M., 3:55 P.M. 9:58 A.M., 10:05 P.M. MON, DEC. 15 4:43 A.M., 4:44 P.M. 10:50 A.M., 10:50 P.M.
TUE, DEC. 16 5:29 A.M., 5:31 P.M. 11:38 A.M., 11:33 P.M. WED, DEC. 17 6:13 A.M., 6:15 P.M. 12:23 P.M. THU, DEC. 18 6:55 A.M., 6:58 P.M. 12:14 A.M., 1:05 P.M. FRI, DEC. 19 7:36 A.M., 7:40 P.M. 12:54 A.M., 1:45 P.M. SAT, DEC. 20 8:15 A.M., 8:17 P.M. 1:32 A.M., 2:23 P.M. SUN, DEC. 21 8:52 A.M., 8:53 P.M. 2:10 A.M., 3:01 P.M.
MON, DEC. 22 9:28 A.M., 9:30 P.M. 2:47 A.M., 3:39 P.M.
TUE, DEC. 23 10:03 A.M., 10:09 P.M. 3:26 A.M., 4:18 P.M.
WED, DEC. 24 10:40 A.M., 10:52 P.M. 4:09 A.M., 4:58 P.M.
THU, DEC. 25 11:21 A.M., 11:41 P.M. 4:55 A.M., 5:42 P.M. FRI, DEC. 26 12:09 P.M. 5:49 A.M., 6:30 P.M.
Monarchs
Continued from page 7
months, either resting or even laying eggs. Scientists want to understand why that happens and how it affects the species’ long-term health.
The project, called Monarchs Overwintering in the Southeastern States or MOVERS, is asking residents in Georgia, the Carolinas, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas to report any monarchs they see. That includes adult butterflies, eggs, caterpillars, and chrysalises.
Dr. Sonia Altizer, a University of Georgia ecology professor and director of Project Monarch Health, said each sighting helps answer a bigger question. She said the reports can reveal whether monarchs “can overwinter as non-breeding adults in the southern U.S. and how this might affect future population numbers.” They can also show whether winter breeding changes their spring migration pattern.
Researchers have already seen signs that monarchs behave differently in the Southeast. “Our research shows that monarchs in the Southeast don’t always follow the same behavior patterns of other monarchs,” said Dr. Michael Kendrick with South Carolina DNR. He said more monitoring can guide future conservation plans.
The butterfly is listed as a species of greatest conservation need in many states, including Georgia and North Carolina. “So monitoring overwintering populations and learning more about their behavior is critical,” said Gabriela Garrison of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Susan Meyers of Monarchs Across Georgia said anyone can take part. “If you enjoy being outdoors and exploring your local ecosystem, this is an easy activity that can be done alone or with friends or your family,” Meyers said.
Reporting a sighting is simple. Volunteers can upload photos and notes online through Journey North or the iNaturalist app. Details about what the butterfly is doing – such as resting, flying or drinking nectar – help scientists better understand its status. Checking milkweed plants for eggs and caterpillars is also encouraged.
Nearly 850 sightings were reported last winter, a number that researchers hope will continue to grow. “When we come together as a community as we have here, we stand a better chance of protecting the monarch butterfly for future generations,” said Anna Yellin, a wildlife biologist with Georgia DNR.
Seabrook Island Real Estate is collecting pet food and supplies for the Charleston Animal Society through the end of the year We also extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who contributed to Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army Angel Program. Your generosity is overwhelming!
Drop off donations at the Seabrook Island Real Estate Office 1002 Landfall Way, just before the Gate
Holiday Drop-In Hours
Monday through Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm | Saturday: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
