Seabrook Won’t Remain Mute Anymore
NOISE ORDINANCE TAKING EFFECT
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
Mayor John Gregg “sounded off” about the possibility of Seabrook Island having its very own noise ordinance at the May 23 Town Council meeting.
According to Town Administrator Joe Cronin, the Town does not currently have a noise ordinance and hasn’t since at least 2017 when he started in the role at Seabrook Island.
Of course the Town’s code enforcement has the power to issue violations for “public nuisances,” as a general term, and there is official regulation by the Town on discharging fireworks specifically, but no noise ordinance exists for Seabrook Island at this time.
Also, Seabrook Island Property Owners Association addresses “noise” in their rules and policies, stating: “Radio, TV and music volume should be low and not disturb neighbors. Loud noise that disturbs quiet enjoyment may be reported to the Seabrook Island Gatehouse at 843-768-6641.”
Season’s First Sea Turtle Nest Found on Seabrook
WHAT A NICE SURPRISE FOR MOTHER’S DAY
A(continued on page 3)
Cronin clarified, “Since most of the properties within the town are located behind the SIPOA gate, this is an issue that has historically fallen under the purview of SIPOA. SIPOA enforces rules and regulations relating to noise, but those rules only apply to properties which are part of SIPOA. The town is the only entity that would have town-wide jurisdiction over excess noise and other nuisances.”
How Could Our Garden Grow? RAIN GARDENS PROPOSED AS SOLUTION TO STANDING WATER
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
nyone residing in the Lowcountry, especially near the coast, has to learn to live with a certain amount of flooding. But when the water is pooling in your yard for sometimes days on end, it could be time for a solution.
The Kiawah Conservancy presented their solution in the form of rain gardens at the May 2 Kiawah Island Town Council meeting. Lee Bundrick, senior ecological health and conservation coordinator for the Kiawah Conservancy, spoke about two upcoming rain garden projects they have planned to help with some of the flooding in and around the town. However, these rain gardens will also serve an educational purpose.
In 2022, the Kiawah Conservancy was given
funding from the Town to install demonstration rain gardens to help educate residents, property owners and contractors on their aesthetic and function.
The Kiawah Conservancy will use these demos as an opportunity to discuss the potential that rain gardens have for water mitigation practices. These efforts come after they published their Naturebased Solutions Manual for Kiawah Island, which identified 13 different practices that they deem as acceptable for use on the island.
The Kiawah Conservancy also looked at the potential options that rain gardens have on marsh protection for water mitigation.
“A lot will come from marsh rescue practices that we might see in the future,” Bundrick added. “In particular, we want to
(continued on page 4)
WBY JANE MAGIONCALDA
For The Island Connection
hat better way to celebrate the holiday than finding Seabrook’s first loggerhead sea turtle nest on Mother’s Day morning?
Lucky walkers Nettie, Neva, Rachel and Marshall Carter, plus Valerie and Mark Doane, spotted the tell-tale tracks leading up to the nesting site. The nest was just a little short of the high tide line, so it was relocated to a safer spot higher in the dunes. This nest contained 123 eggs, which is just over the average nest size of 120.
The Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol monitors the entire beach every morning by walking four zones that extend from Captain Sams Inlet to the North Edisto inlet at the end of St. Christopher’s Camp. The team expects to find many more nests on our beaches through August. The incubation period for nests is approximately 60 days, so the turtle nesting season lasts through October. During this time, patrol members will carefully monitor the nests to ensure the eggs are safe from predators and other dangers. After hatching, the baby turtles will make their way to the ocean, using moonlight as a guide.
Loggerheads are a threatened species and are protected by federal and state laws. Always remember, lights out by 10 p.m. through sunrise, stay off the dunes and away from nests, fill in any holes or level any sand structures, keep plastics off the beach, and remove all trash and property when you leave the beach. If you see a nesting turtle or emerging hatchling, keep your distance and notify SITP at 843-310-4280.
SITP is licensed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources under SCDNR MTP#543 and is financially supported by the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association, the Town of Seabrook and public donations. More information can be found on their web site, at siturtlepatrol.com.
Members of the Seabrook Island Turtle Team monitor the beach each morning.
PHOTO COURTESY OF JANE MAGIONCALDA
PUBLISHERS OF The Island Eye News, The Island Connection & SiP Magazine
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CONTRIBUTORS
Theresa Stratford
Jane Magioncalda
Hannah Lees
Beth Wright
John Nelson
Marianna Mcgaha
Marci
Geoff Bennett
AWe need a new generation of leaders
nother Biden/Trump matchup? No thank you. At a time in our history where over two-thirds of us allegedly feel that the country is headed in the wrong direction, nominating an 82-year-old or a 78-year-old who can only serve one term and will be a lame duck in two years is not the answer. There is no two-year solution to our problems; we need a new generation of leaders to turn this ship around.
BY ROM REDDY
As I have repeatedly said in this column before, we the people must rise up and start the process of righting the ship. I recognize that each of can have different priorities. However, I cannot help but wonder if the majority of us end up with somewhat similar top priorities when we put country first. My top five, in no particular order, would be fix inflation and the economy; fix crime; fix the border; restore our traditional American values; and reclaim our standing in world affairs. Based on my priorities, I graded Biden and Trump on their records and how likely they are to address these issues in the one term they would have left. Your priorities may be different, but you can still use this process to assess these or other candidates versus making an ideological choice based on party affiliation, mainstream or social media narratives or candidate name-calling that results in reverse Darwinism – the survival of the unfittest.
Economy/Inflation: Trump: F; Biden: F
Our core issue this century is out-of-control spending. We have run deficits every year since 2000. That means the government spends more than it takes in during a fiscal year. The government has to borrow the deficit every year by issuing securities. Our total debt is an accumulation of our annual deficits. At the beginning of this century, we had about $5.5 trillion in total debt. One billion is 1,000 million. One trillion is 1,000 billion or 12 zeros. Starting the century with $5.5 trillion of debt, we have grown that debt to $31.5 trillion by accumulating deficits every single year. In 2016, Trump promised he would eliminate the national debt in eight years. Instead, he had a record increase for a one-term president in the modern era. Debt increased from $19.9 trillion when he took office to $27 trillion when he left, with a record $3 trillion added to the debt in 2020, allegedly for handing out massive Covid checks fueled through a flawed approach. Biden doubled down and increased the debt from $27 trillion to $31.5 trillion in his two-plus years, including a massive $2 trillion America Rescue Plan giveaway. While Trump and Biden followed a reckless fiscal policy of borrowing, they encouraged the Federal Reserve to pump additional liquidity into the system by increasing the federal balance sheet from $4 trillion to $7 trillion under Trump and up to almost $9 trillion under Biden so far. You don’t need to be an economist to know that inflation is basically too much money chasing too few goods. Handing the keys to either one of these two individuals can only do harm and will result in continuing the 20-year record of ever-increasing debt, an increasingly problematic economy and a loss of confidence in the stability of the dollar.
Crime: Trump: D; Biden: F
While crime is definitely getting worse by the day, our sense of uneasiness with crime started well before Biden. Remember the Black Lives Matter riots, the burning and destruction of property, the tearing down of statues that represented our history and the dramatic increases in crime in New York, Chicago, Baltimore and elsewhere? All that happened on the Trump watch. By cloaking all crime in racist rhetoric, Biden has just made it worse. Ironically, Blacks suffer the most from this idiotic rhetoric. In 2019, the FBI’s
own data showed that 6.9 million people were arrested for serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. Of this group, 51% were Black. On the other side, approximately 55% of murder victims were Black. So a lot of Blacks are being killed by other Blacks. That is not racism. It is a problem perpetuated by socioeconomic and other factors and can be solved if they are acknowledged. Neither Trump nor Biden did the two things that have proven to impact crime. First, violent crime is often committed by the same set of individuals – 77% of federal and state prisoners are re-arrested within five years. So, violent offenders must stay locked up. Second, the “broken window” theory of law enforcement, which states that vigorously policing minor infractions like vandalism, shoplifting and trespassing decreases the incidence of major crimes. Trump and Biden pontificated about crime but did nothing to make sustainable change in their first term. I don’t see either of them having any meaningful impact in their second and last term.
Open borders: Trump: C; Biden: F
Trump famously talked about ending illegal immigration during his first campaign. At least he made an effort, built a partial wall and instituted a stay-in-Mexico policy. However, change that is not sustainable is not change at all. It is optics. Data shows only modest improvements during the Trump era and the wheels coming off during the Biden era. U.S. Border Patrol encounters that do not include the “got-aways” showed 310,000 border encounters in 2017, the first full year of Trump. This climbed to 859,000 in 2019 and then dropped back down to 405,000 in 2020, the last year of Trump. So, a lot of talk but not so much in results. Along comes Biden, opens up the border and the Border Patrol encounters soar to 1.7 million in 2021 and 2.2 million in 2022, with the Border Patrol estimating an additional 1.2 million “got-aways” during the Biden years. In two years of Biden, there were over 5 million illegal entries, which violates U.S. law and singlehandedly disqualifies him from running. A one-term Trump presidency will definitely improve these numbers, but, as already demonstrated, does not create lasting change. Therefore, I consider both of these men unqualified to do something that is critical to us having a country in the future. For those who believe illegal immigration is OK, our system requires you to work to change federal law, not support violating the law because you don’t agree with it.
Our standing in the world: Trump: C/D; Biden: F I have lived all over the world, and I can tell you that the world looks to America to lead. As an Aussie told me recently: “It scares us to see what America is becoming. We need you guys.” Trump appeared to have the right instincts internationally and was wary of the powerful military industrial complex that only benefited when we were at war. However, like most poor leaders, he was unable to convince anyone of his vision and ruled by presidential order. Most of his accomplishments internationally, from Iran to the Abraham Accords to peace with North Korea to exiting the Paris Accords to isolating China, have all been reversed or will be. While we were at peace during his presidency – which counted in my grading – we were also quickly exiting our world leadership role due to his unpredictable and unstable leadership style. Biden is in a class by himself. To say he is an embarrassment on the world stage would be an understatement. His Afghan withdrawal and his timid approach with Iran and China have our staunchest allies looking for other partners. Ukraine has been a $200-billion money pit, and, as I (continued on page 3)
Civic Calen dar
TOWN OF KIAWAH Town Council
Tuesday, June 6 at 1 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
Planning Commission
Wednesday, June 7 at 2 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
Public Safety Committee Wednesday, June 14
Kiawah Town Hall
Environmental Committee
Wednesday, June 14
Kiawah Town Hall
TOWN OF SEABROOK
Public Works
Monday, June 5 at 12 p.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
Environment and Wildlife Committee
Thursday, June 8 at 1 p.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
Town Council Work Session
Tuesday, June 13 at 1 p.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
Planning Commission
Wednesday, June 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
Noise Ordinance (continued
from page 1)
Gregg announced at the meeting that the issue was raised by a resident recently concerning repeated noise during evening hours from a nearby source. “The resident would like the Town to undertake regulation on noise,” he said.
The issue of noise was briefly addressed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Short Term Rentals, but Gregg said that he would like to see regulation that is not restricted to short term rentals only.
Gregg addressed each member of Council for comment on the possibility of a noise ordinance to gauge their level of interest in the Town undertaking such enforcement.
Council Member Jeri Finke, who is also a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Short Term Rentals, said, “We recommended in the Ad Hoc Committee’s 2022 report that council discuss the possibility of a noise ordinance. I am in favor of moving forward with some kind of noise ordinance, along with other nuisance issues in an overall ordinance. I am in favor of that research and possibility.”
Council Member Pat Fox said, “Noise is one of the many nuisances that comes up with short term rentals, but that permeates to long term residents too. It can be a problem across the board. So I agree, looking into this would be good. I’m not saying we need to pass it, but it would be good to look into because it is one of several nuisances that keep popping up. And it isn’t just a short term rental problem; it’s a problem throughout the community.”
Council Member Dan Kortvelesy said, “Yes, I am in favor of continuing with the research. As always with these ordinances, who is going to enforce it? Since we only have code enforcement, and they range from part time on certain days to full time in the summer, and this is not just a summer issue, who do you call? So research will be good. I had a complaint once from someone that actually lived on Johns Island who said that there was noise coming from Salty Dog and going up the river, so there were various people being affected by that. They asked if we had a noise ordinance. But those are the questions that our ordinance will have to address. So, my answer in a roundabout way is yes, but there are just going to be
things that we need to be mindful of.” The Salty Dog Café is known for their live music and is located in Bohicket Marina, which is within the Seabrook Island town limits.
Lastly, Council Member Barry Goldstein, who was attending the meeting on video, said, “I am in favor of a stand alone ordinance, not associated just with short term rentals. Like everything else, we’ll have to craft an ordinance that will be best for this town and we’ll have to figure out how to enforce it as the town’s code enforcement grows. We may need additional officers, but yes, we should look at a noise ordinance and focus it around our town.”
Gregg added that Cronin worked on a noise ordinance for the town he worked with prior to coming to Seabrook Island, which was Fort Mill. “I think his experience puts us in a good position to move forward with a noise/nuisance ordinance.”
He also admitted that the town has a challenge with all enforcement regulations that go well into the evening hours. “It is a challenge we have currently and will continue to have until or unless we decide we want to have 24-hour service of code enforcement officers, and I don’t see that happening.”
He continued, “Do not be misled that if we regulate noise and other nuisances that it will be the end of the discussion. If you have it on the books and don’t enforce it, you will most certainly hear about it.”
He gave Cronin permission to work on a regulation of noise and other nuisances. Cronin said, “We spoke about this with the Ad Hoc Committee for Short Term Rentals. I will say that if you find a noise offensive, it doesn’t matter the type of property it is coming from. It is something we are continuing to evaluate and enforcement is a key component.”
Finke concluded the conversation on a noise ordinance for the town by saying, “It is worth really getting down into the weeds on this issue. What would we put in that type of ordinance and how would it be enforced? And how would we pick the enforcement? So, I want to add that at the end of the summer when we present the Short Term Rental Report, we want to present that whole complete package.”
Reddy or Not (continued from page 2)
said before, he does not realize that Ukraine cannot be a war that is won through a corrupt proxy regime. He cannot define what the end game is as we incrementally inch toward a military confrontation and unite historical adversaries China and Russia. The international community also recognizes the folly of trying to make deals with a one-term president, further complicating our ability to get back to the head of the table. American values: Trump: D; Biden: F
This is an area where we have strayed long and far. America has always been a country founded on the ability of an individual to have an opinion and freely express it and still be friends with someone who has a different opinion. From censoring speech and opinions to weaponizing government agencies against those who disagree with you, we certainly have our Founding Fathers turning in their graves. Our mainstream media is corrupt and a disgrace. While sexual preferences are a matter of personal choice, they are a matter of choice for adults – not children. From abortion to gun violence to other social issues, we can find solutions that we can live with if we do not vilify someone who disagrees with us, call them names and attack them on social media. This cultural drift started before Trump, continued and accelerated during his presidency and has gone off the rails under Biden. Trump does not have the moral authority to shift opinions on these issues. Biden does not have the will. I recognize that not everyone will agree with my opinion. Even if you partially agree, please make the effort to analyze the track record and the results achieved by the various candidates. Look for a leader. There are three essentials to leadership: humility, clarity and courage. Do not form your opinions from the mainstream media, negative ads and name-calling. List the things important to you and see if any of the candidates have the leadership skills and track record of achieving results in your areas of interest. Fully understand that both Trump and Biden will be one-term presidents in their 80s, with all the drawbacks of being lame ducks within two years. We can make better choices.
This column will eventually endorse national and local candidates by name with reasons for the endorsements. But I will let you form your own opinions first. God bless. Reddy or Not represents the opinion of Lucky Dog Publishing owner Rom Reddy but not necessarily that of the newspaper. In keeping with the paper’s philosophy of publishing all opinions, the publisher welcomes responses, which must be limited to 300 words and will be published on a space-available basis.
focus on rain gardens because they are a fairly simple concept.”
Bundrick defines rain gardens as a depression in the ground that collects excess stormwater run-off from impervious surfaces and allows the water to sink into the ground.
The EPA states that a rain garden is “a depressed area in the landscape that collects rainwater from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground.”
The idea is to limit the amount of runoff going into stormwater ponds. The groundwater recharge will ensure that there is no standing water in the rain garden for a 24-hour period. This means that once the water is in the rain garden, it is gone within 24 hours.
“It is a fairly functional component to the landscape but does provide aesthetic appeal as well,” Bundrick said.
The Kiawah Conservancy team looked at different sites for the rain garden demos in or around the Town’s limits. The sites need to be functional in the sense that they need to provide a purpose for education and demonstrations, but also work as a rain garden should.
Bundrick said they identified that one rain garden would go near Council chambers – next to the open field by the visitors parking lot.
“This site would generally focus on capturing rainwater that would come from the walkway in that area that would drain into there,” he said.
Bundrick said they also looked at Rhett’s Bluff Boat Landing as a potential site for a rain garden. “This site runs into the swell that goes to a drain and then to
the marsh,” he explained. “So this would be capturing water from an impervious drainage area. This would help limit the excess water that would go straight to the marsh.”
Bundrick said that they are currently just waiting to install the rain garden in the identified locations, and that installation should only take about a day.
“Once the rain gardens are installed, we will hold workshops that will be available
I N S I D E T H E B O X O U T S I D E T H E B O X
to the public, as well as contractors, and Kiawah Island employees interested in learning more about them,” he said.
Bundrick also said that they will be working with Clemson Extension on hosting the workshops.
He concluded the presentation by clarifying that he knew that Rhett’s Bluff was technically outside of the gate of the Town of Kiawah Island, which funds Kiawah Conservancy.
“The designs will come from public funds, but Kiawah Conservancy will pay
for the cost of materials and installation for that particular location,” he said.
The rain gardens will incorporate all native plants into a conceptual design. The plants would be all different colors and some would be seasonal.
Kiawah Conservancy suggests using native plants for rain gardens like spicebush, river oats, blue flag iris, spider lilies, swamp milkweed, scarlet sage, and blue mistflower, among others.
For more information, visit kiawahconservancy.org/rain-garden.
RAIN GARDEN WORKSHOP WITH CLEMSON EXTENSION
TheKiawah Conservancy will host a Rain Garden Workshop with Clemson Extension and Weston + Sampson Engineers. Join to learn more about how to install a rain garden, how they can help with local stormwater issues and how they benefit the ecosystem.
This workshop will begin with a presentation by Ami Scaroni with Clemson Extension. After the presentation, participants will visit the rain garden site at the Kiawah Island Municipal Center, hear from Kim Morganello with Weston + Sampson Engineers and install plants in the garden.
In addition, all participants will receive a copy of the Kiawah Conservancy’s Nature-Based Solutions Manual for Kiawah Island.
Where: Town Hall (4475 Betsy Kerrison Parkway)
When: June 23 from 9 am-12 pm
This workshop and garden installation is funded by a generous grant from the Town of Kiawah Island. Seating is limited and registration is required.
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The award-winning Gadsden Glen, now welcomes the Charleston community. With costs in-line with the area, Medicare and insurance coverage allows you to select Gadsden Glen for your short-term post-acute rehabilitation, setting you on a course of improved health and wellness.
Warrior Surf Foundation
Golf Tournament Announces Winning Teams
BY HANNAH LEES For The Island Connection
Thank you all for coming out and golfing with us at our 7th Annual Golf Tournament. With your generosity and support, we were able to raise over $330,000 over the entire weekend. I appreciate everyone's patience with me while we tally up the final numbers and the winning scores, as I know you are all anxious to see who won.
I would also like to thank everyone that participated in the waiting period for golf carts at the beginning of the tournament. I appreciate your patience with us, as we were slowly getting golf carts from the Links Course and from the tournament Wild Dunes had before ours.
Without further ado, the winning teams are below.
1ST PLACE: Myatt and Bates, 41- Chris Gray, Dan Garrison, Nick Belcher and Rob Grimett
2ND PLACE: A Better Choice Home Care, 43 - Matthew Rossino, Alan Myrick, Ric Freeman, and Troy Wentland
3RD PLACE: Up South LLC - The Roost & Family, 44- Eddie Stroud, Spencer Hurteau, Dennis Shafer and Tom Hull
Those who have won, please email at hannah@warriorsurf.org, or call me at 803-727-4393 to arrange a pickup time for the winning items. Thank you and congratulations.
LAND FOR SALE
• 101 acres may be subdivided
• 3,900 ft. on paved road frontage
• Potential for development or recreational use with future resale potential
• Perfect for Recreation – Hunting, Shooting, Fishing, ATV, Hiking, Biking
• Wetland & Phase one study complete
• Close to Volvo U.S.operations & Lake Marion
• Sales Price $1,100,000
RYAN HAMRICK 706.224.8420 / rhh1434@gmail.com
BRIAN LUCIER 864.237.4812
America the Beautiful
JOIN THE 2023 PATRIOTIC MAILBOX DECORATING CONTEST
BY BETH WRIGHT
For The Island Connection
Jointhe fun, show your patriotic spirit, and decorate your mailbox in red, white and blue — or anything and everything you love about our country. Show your American pride this year, Seabrooke Style.
The first prize is the coveted “Most Patriotic Mailbox” blue ribbon award. To enter the contest, send your name and your address to seabrookislandgardenclub@gmail. com. Don’t wait! Only 25 households can enter the contest. The deadline to register your mailbox is July 1, and the judging starts later that day at 1 p.m. with the winner being announced on Sunday, July 2.
All Seabrook Island residents are eligible to enter. Have fun, and good luck to all.
The Numbers are In
CURRENT SHORT TERM RENTALS, BUSINESS LICENSES ON SEABROOK
BY THERESA STRATFORD
For The Island Connection
Seabrook Island Town Administrator Joe Cronin reported on the final numbers at the May 23 Town Council Meeting as of the renewal deadline of April 30 for the current short term rentals and business licenses on Seabrook Island.
Short Term Rentals are at 540. Last year was 570.
Nichole Nettles, Seabrook Island’s Short Term Rental Compliance Manager has begun enforcement activities to see if anyone who was renting on the island last year is continuing to do so without a renewal. She is also looking to see if there are any new rental properties without a permit.
Business Licenses are at 1,634, which equals out to be just under $483,000. Last year was 1,335, which equaled $378,838.
Town Administrator Joe Cronin
said that this is a more than $100,000 increase. He said the majority are contractors, and that he attributes the increase to enhanced code enforcement activity over the past year. “Our code enforcement is out there all day looking for those licenses. The number one violation is from contractors working without a license,” he said. He attributes the increased rate to the fact that the town brought the fees in line with other communities three years ago. “The increase in the amount of money would be from that increase in rate that we enacted a few years ago and just newly licensed businesses,” he said. For more information on short term rental permits, visit townofseabrookisland. org/str.html. For more information on business licenses, visit townofseabrookisland. org/business-licenses.html.
Growing Gardens and Friendships
SEABROOK ISLAND GARDEN CLUB’S ANNUAL END OF YEAR LUNCHEON
BY BETH WRIGHT For The Island Connection
Members of the Seabrook Island Garden Club gathered on May 11 to celebrate another year of cultivating friendships, learning about gardening and more. The festive, annual, end of year luncheon was held in the Atlantic Room of the Island House and was well-attended with 77 members joining in on the fun. Special thanks are owed to the Chair of the End of Year Luncheon Committee, Deb Duerr, and her team for planning the menu, décor, door prizes and everything that made this event so memorable.
After outgoing President Karen Nuttall called a brief meeting to order, prior meeting minutes were approved and the treasurer, Patti Tully, provided a financial status update. Julie Minch, Chair of Programs and Events, delivered an exciting update on plans to create a monarch butterfly waystation near the garden plots. Next, the slate of new officers for the 2023-2024 year was announced and approved. It included: President – Carol Price; Vice President – Sally Boudinot; Treasurer – Patti Tully; Co-Recording Secretaries – Ann Bavier and Melissa Andrews; and Corresponding Secretary – Blair Pugh.
After the business portion of the meeting was concluded, Karen provided a heartwarming address to members reflecting upon her last two years while serving as president of the organization. Prior to this assignment, she held the offices of Vice President and Chair of Programs and Events. Carol Price presented Karen with an appreciation gift of a lovely marble engraved charcuterie tray with accessory utensils. A delicious threecourse plated lunch and dessert pastries were enjoyed, and the afternoon concluded with the drawing of door prizes, more socializing and photos.
The Seabrook Island Garden Club celebrated another great year and ushered in a new slate of officers at their May 11 luncheon.
Lots of people in the Southeast and beyond grow this plant as a shrub or hedge without really knowing its identity. It is a native evergreen, and it is widely cultivated as a popular yard plant, especially in the South. There are several popular horticultural forms, various of which are excellent for use in topiary.
Here in town, I’ve seen a tall variety with weeping branches. Some of these forms resemble the common boxwood, with its slow growth and tiny leaves, but boxwood is completely unrelated to our mystery plant. All boxwood leaves occur in pairs. Our plant has leaves alternating singly on the stems.
It grows naturally from Virginia to Eastern Texas. In the Carolinas, it is a coastal plain plant, commonly seen in maritime forests and extending into counties of the inner coastal plain. In its natural habitat, it can be a small tree or perhaps more commonly either a slender or broadly-branched shrub. On larger plants, the bark is attractive, smooth and gray. The plants are evergreen, bearing small, leathery leaves that snap if bent end to end. The margins of the leaves are shallowly scalloped; this sort of leaf margin is said to be “crenate.”
The flowers are small and white and not particularly showy, but they are fragrant and bees love them. The female plants produce beautifully conspicuous red berries, which are quite lustrous as
A widely cultivated yard plant
BY JOHN NELSON For The Island Connection
well. Some varieties have yellow fruit. I hope that you will remember from botany class that when you have a tree species that has separate “male” and “female” individuals, the term for such a species is dioecious. The term monoecious, which you also hear sometimes, is used for a species whose separate male and female flowers are found on the same individual, such as corn. But back to our mysterious
of caffeine is available from the dried leaves. In fact, there is a notion that the American colonists developed a taste for this tea, which would have been a good backdoor way of avoiding the British tax on “real” tea.
Native Americans apparently brewed the leaves to make a beverage. Traditional and perhaps somewhat speculative histories indicate, as well, that very strong versions – or perhaps very large doses –of these brews were sometimes used in ceremonial events as a way of purging the system through vomiting. The scientific name alludes to this tradition.
Otherwise, the plant actually became rather important through much of the South, at least into the early 1800s, and then again during the Civil War, as an acceptable tea – properly diluted, of course. It is sometimes still served today, but I’ll probably stick with Earl Grey.
You might want to read more about it in “Black Drink: A Native American Tea,” by Charles Hudson.
In addition to being an important component of our maritime forests and other coastal ecosystems, as well as a very pleasing landscape plant, this native has had an additional interesting association with humans: A considerable amount
John Nelson is the retired curator of the Herbarium at the University of South Carolina, in the Department of Biological Sciences. As a public service, the Herbarium offers free plant identifications. For more information, visit www.herbarium.org or email johnbnelson@sc.rr.com.
shrub.
PHOTO BY LINDA LEE
Local surgeon re-invents an unfriendly medical system
hen was the last time your doctor greeted you by name when you called his or her office and was ready to address your concerns on the spot? If you’re shaking your head because that concept seems foreign, you probably aren’t alone.
Most of us know the drill. We call our doctor’s office in anticipation of a receptionist answering and scheduling an appointment for some time in the future. We wait days or even weeks just to experience 10 minutes of face time with an RN – often never seeing the doctor. But what if I told you there’s a clinic in Mount Pleasant with the sole mission to prioritize patients and defy and re-invent a tired, unfriendly system?
When you call The Men’s Center, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll get to speak with Dr. Denny Kubinski or his RN, Jeff Haught. A Sullivan’s Island resident and prostate cancer surgeon for more than 17 years at Roper Hospital, Kubinski left his hard-earned stability behind the day he opened The Men’s Center in October 2022.
“If you call me, I will call you back as soon as I can. I didn’t have time to call my patients before. Now I get to provide an intimate experience,” the former cancer surgeon said.
Kubinski eventually reached a point where he no longer wanted to work under the thumb of a system with incentives that did not align with his goals and aspirations. Ultimately,
insurance companies dictated the treatment he was providing for his patients. His overhead was extremely high, he had to satisfy an army of administrators and he often felt obligated to see a new patient every 10 minutes.
Though he was expected to enter a treatment room, computer in tow, and begin robotically checking off boxes, Kubinski refused to give in to the system because it diminished his ability to interact with his clients in a thoughtful, patient-focused way. He was already working in an atmosphere that mandated that he treat 24 to 30 patients a day.
Instead of carving into time with his patients, Kubinski took his computer home, often satisfying his paperwork requirements at the dinner table and on weekends. This plan was not conducive to a healthy work/life balance, and quality time with his family suffered. He and his wife, Christina, share an 8-year-old son, Dorn, and a 6-year-old daughter, Halina.
“I don’t feel like I took a breath for 15 years of practicing, and then suddenly, I had this epiphany that sort of shocked me. I realized I didn’t want to go back to that. So I applied to business school,” he said.
Kubinski enrolled in the Health Sector Management program at Duke University, where he attended classes virtually while still working tirelessly
through the Covid-19 pandemic at Roper Hospital. He said other doctors in his classes also were struggling with an insurance-dictated medical system.
In May 2022, Kubinski graduated with his MBA, and, one month later, he quit his career as a surgeon. Just four months after leaving Roper, he opened The Men’s Center. For the first time in his career, there is no red tape, and, instead of checking off boxes, he has begun connecting the dots. He schedules no more than six new patients a day.
Kubinski’s mission to provide a comfortable, inviting environment has been intentionally curated in the clinic’s layout and design. Unlike most doctors’ offices, The Men’s Center is just downright cool. The waiting room, known as “The Shop,” is where you’ll find a big-screen TV streaming sports, chilled soft drinks, snacks such as protein bars and chips and the “wall of fame,” where Kubinski displays items like the baseball jersey his brother wore in the major leagues and a picture of the golf course where he scored his first hole-in-one. There also are portraits of Kubinski’s childhood idols: athletes Steve Garvey, Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson and musicians Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth.
“I wanted my patients to identify with the men on the walls – men who are ultimately their age and who they likely grew up with.”
There’s also a wall of medicines and supplements that Kubinski has heavily researched. He only buys from companies that test supplements to ensure they work the way they say they will.
The Men’s Center gives Kubinski the opportunity to do more than just blood work. He offers treatments that aren’t available in insurance-driven models. Much of what Kubinski now does for his patients doesn’t have an insurance code. He is not beholden to a system that doesn’t allow him to provide the help a person really needs.
“It’s so rewarding to hear clients say things like ‘you just made my life better,’ ‘my sex life is better,’ ‘my relationships are better,’ ‘my energy has improved’ and ‘you have enhanced my quality of life.’ That’s what this clinic is,” Kubinski said.
Read the full article at: luckydognews. com/the-island-connection-news/businesscharity.
Dr. Denny Kubinski and his wife, Christina, in front of The Men’s Center.
PHOTO BY LAURA ANDERSON
Satisfy Your Summer Sweet Tooth DESSERTS FROM
THE ISLANDS TO THE CITY
BY MARIANNA MCGAHA
For The Island Connection
The weather is warming up, tourist season has arrived, and desserts are ready to make headlines. When thinking of the Charleston food scene what comes to mind most often is its seafood, BBQ and traditional Southern cuisine options located around every corner. However, the Lowcountry also has a sweet tooth and offers locals and tourists alike some delectable dessert options that offer unique flavor experiences, as well.
Just along the barrier islands one can find a multitude of tasty after-dinner favorites. One option along Folly Beach is The Pineapple Hut. The Pineapple Hut is a modern dessert truck offering pineapple Dole Whip, a dessert pineapple lovers once had to travel to Disney or the Dole Plantation in Hawaii to find. The Pineapple Hut has put their own spin on this beloved treat and has made the tropical soft-serve dairy-free, creating a popular dessert option for everyone, including vegans.
Another widely popular option for dessert along the islands is the Co-op’s frosé, available on Sullivan’s Island, Isle of Palms and Kiawah Island. Enjoy this boozy, after-dinner treat with a boat charter while watching the sun set over the downtown Charleston skyline.
For another alcohol-inspired dessert option on the islands, stay on the lookout for Booze Pops, a popsicle truck for grown-ups that regularly frequents the beaches and other areas around the metro.
Across the Cooper, dessert lovers might try The Crazy Mason milkshake bar in Mount Pleasant. The Crazy Mason offers overthe-top milkshakes with an absurd amount of toppings, ranging from Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to an entire slice of key lime pie, all inside a souvenir mason jar. Austin Conway, manager of the Mount Pleasant Crazy Mason, recommends trying The No Ordinary Cheesecake shake, which features cookies n’ cream ice cream in a vanilla iced mason jar rolled in crushed Oreo cookies, then topped with a slice of cheesecake, Oreo wafer cookie, crushed Oreo cookies and finished with chocolate sauce and whip icing.
He also recommends The Sweet Cheesus shake, which features strawberry cheesecake ice cream in a strawberry-swirled jar with a vanilla buttercream rim rolled in crushed cones, topped with a slice of cheesecake, fresh strawberries, graham cracker crumbs, and finished with strawberry sauce and whipped icing.
“Visitors also cannot go wrong with any of our waffle desserts,” said Conway. The Crazy
Mason offers a variety of waffle desserts, including the Crazy Butter Cup Waffle, the Crazy Cookies ‘N’ Cream Waffle and the Crazy Turtle Waffle.
For those looking to venture into downtown Charleston, consider stopping by Carmella’s, a traditional Italian cafe and dessert bar with a bit of Lowcountry flair. Carmella’s features three signature items that never come off their menu: their cannoli cake, peanut butter chocolate cake and carrot cake.
“The cannoli cake and carrot cake are family recipes from my Uncle Dennis Raffa out of Philadelphia, who was pivotal in my training in the dessert business,” said Chef Brian Solari. “The peanut butter chocolate cake is an item that we played around with for a while before we perfected the recipe. It's a blend of chocolate cake and chocolate brownie with a peanut butter honey mousse filling.”
Solari recommends pairing any of their desserts with an Espresso Martini. “We use fresh espresso in the cocktail, which really gives it an added punch as well as freshness.”
sandwich, a boston cream pie ice cream sandwich and much more. There is no better way to put the cherry on top of a delicious meal than following it up with a mouthwatering dessert. Whether you’re looking for ice cream, pies, cakes or a mixture of these options, Charleston’s sweet tooth and diverse range of confectionaries will not disappoint
Another delicious option in the downtown area is Kaminsky’s Dessert Cafe, where desserts are made in-house daily. Kaminsky’s offers a variety of award-winning desserts by the slice, including their two layer cake, three layer cake, pies, New York cheesecakes, flavored cheesecakes, cobblers, cookies and brownies. Kaminsky’s also offers a multitude of enticing specialty coffees and signature dessert martinis ranging in flavors from chocolate to key lime pie and more.
For a more laid back or casual dessert option, try out Peace Pie, a gourmet ice cream sandwich shop in the heart of downtown Charleston. Peace Pie offers pie-inspired ice cream sandwiches where visitors can indulge in a banana cream pie ice cream sandwich, a cherry pie ice cream
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The Wayward Prince: A Timely Mystery
A timely release for Sullivan’s Island’s most prolific best-selling author, Leonard Goldberg, “The Wayward Prince” has the daughter of Sherlock Holmes trying to find the prince, third in line of succession to King George V.
This is the seventh mystery in the “Daughter of Sherlock Holmes” book series. Goldberg has released an installment in this series each year since the first one was published in 2017.
To the delight of Sherlock Holmes fans everywhere, Goldberg brought to life a previously unknown illegitimate daughter of the great detective, Joanna Watson, who happens to possess his uncanny knack for sleuthing.
The mystery begins in 1918, as Prince Harry, third in line of succession, disappears. Joanna presumes him to be kidnapped, and soon a ransom note appears. The fabled crown jewel, The Sovereign’s
JBY MARCI SHORE For The Island Connection
Orb, a golden globe surrounded by a jewel-encrusted cross, is requested in exchange for the safe return of the prince.
As usual, Joanna is the coolest head in the room when making deductions, even when characters from past cases are revealed to be part of the plot, making this a personal case for her.
Goldberg, aside from being a renowned physician, research scientist, professor and bestselling novelist, is obviously a fan of the original Sherlock Holmes series, and he infuses that into this entire series. If you haven’t read any of the books in the series, it is helpful if you start with the original “Daughter of Sherlock Holmes.” The main characters are fleshed out in that book, with subsequent mysteries in the series focusing more on the task at hand.
Goldberg’s style moves along a good pace and is perfect for the fast-paced
mind who enjoys a mystery while slowing down on the beach. “The Wayward Prince” will be available July 11 and can be pre-ordered online.
Leonard Goldberg is originally from Charleston and currently lives on Sullivan’s Island, where he spent summers growing up. His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and sold more than a million copies worldwide. Goldberg is a consulting physician affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center, where he holds an appointment as clinical professor of medicine. A soughtafter expert witness in medical malpractice trials, he is boardcertified in internal medicine, hematology and rheumatology and has published more than 100 scientific studies in peerreviewed journals.
PART TIME CHARLESTON WRITER JOSEPH BAUER PENS NEW NOVEL
oseph Bauer writes fiction fulltime from his homes in Charleston and Cleveland. His most recent published novel, “Too True to be Good”, was released in April by Archway Publishing from Simon and Schuster. It is the third in a series (enjoyable in any order as each is an independent plot) featuring an older, lonely, overweight citizen from Pittsburgh, Stanley Bigelow, who is called into secret military projects because of his special engineering skills and obscurity.
In his debut novel, “The Accidental
Patriot”, round the clock FBI protection and a specially trained German shepherd named Augie are deployed to keep Stanley safe and improve his physical fitness as he designs an ingenious underground drone base and trains the soldiers in Charleston who will assemble the structure overseas. Readers acclaimed the book, saying things such as, “not your typical thriller . . . a book you can’t put down . . .I thought I was reading Tom Clancy.” Bauer’s second book, “The Patriot’s Angels”, takes the same and a few new characters in a story of domestic terrorism and election meddling. Once again, Stanley is endangered and desperately needs the aid of his loyal K-9 guard.
“Too True to be Good” takes Stanley and Augie’s journey to the next level, as the CIA, FBI and Washington. DC detectives try to unfurl a foreign-born plot to kill the United States president. The fastpaced smart thriller is told in short chapters and is only 274 pages.
Bauer says his novels put a premium on gentle humor and the average man and woman. “I write about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Loyalty, love, and service. And a dog to help with all three,” he says.
Bauer has recently contracted for four novels with Running Wild Press and the Seymour Agency, New
York and Los Angeles collaborators who publish fiction distributed to bookstores worldwide while presenting the work to film and streaming producers. Running Wild and Seymour will be publishing and promoting his next novel, “Sailing for Grace”, next year.
To learn more or to contact the author, email joseph.bauer125@gmail.com, or call 734-277-4606.
around the islands...
ONGOING
WHAT: VITA Tax Assistance
WHERE: Johns Island Library (3531 Maybank Highway)
WHEN: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MORE INFO: Call 800-726-8774 to schedule an appointment. For any other questions refer to ccpl.org.
WHAT: Baby Storytime (ages 0-2 with adult)
WHERE: Johns Island Library
WHEN: Mondays at 10 a.m.
MORE INFO: Bond with your baby and introduce them to the wonders of storytime when you join us for simple stories, songs, rhymes and fun. Space may be limited. For more information, visit ccpl.org.
WHAT: Toddler Storytime (ages 2-3 with adult)
WHERE: Johns Island Library
WHEN: Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
MORE INFO: Join us for stories, songs, rhymes and fun and support your child’s developing skills. Space may be limited. For more information, visit ccpl.org.
FRIDAY, JUNE 2
WHAT: Spoleto
WHEN : June 2-June 11
WHERE : All over the Charleston area
MORE INFO: The annual Spoleto festival will be running until June 11. For more informationan events times and dates go to spoletousa.org/current-season/ schedule.
SATURDAY,
JUNE 3
WHAT: High Tide Festival
WHEN : June 3
WHERE : Riverfront Park 1061 Everglades Ave, North Charleston
MORE INFO: High Tide is an adults-only (21+) immersive music + lifestyle experience focused on creating special moments set against a picturesque, coastal venue, making the destination as important as the journey. From our sun-kissed lineup, made up of some of the world's best DJs, to the art, culinary, and beverage experiences, High Tide is a day about making the kind of memories that will last a lifetime. We are for the adventurers, the dream chasers. The ones who dance until the sun comes up, who live now, worry later. The spontaneous trippers, The sunset sippers. The ones who celebrate today, because tomorrow might be too late. We are for the coastal vibes and the sun-drenched skies. We are for life-long memories with friends by your side. Visit: hightidefestival.com.
WHAT: Charleston Symphony Orchestra Chorus
WHEN : Saturday at 1 p.m.
WHERE : Charleston County Public Library 68 Calhoun Street
MORE INFO: Join members of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Chorus (CSOC) for a celebration of American music and poetry. The CSOC will perform the complete Frostiana by Randall Thompson, encompassing seven complete Robert Frost poems in a choral setting. The chorus will also perform two pieces by Aaron Copland. Directed by Larry Speakman (guest conductor) and accompanied by Susan McAdoo. For more information: ccpl.org/events/ charleston-symphony-orchestra-chorus-performance.
SATURDAY JUNE 10
WHAT: Celebrity Paws In The Park
WHEN : 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE : Riverfront Park 1001 Everglades Avenue, North Charleston
MORE INFO: Celebrity Paws in the Park, presented by Crews Subaru, is the
largest fundraising and community event of the year for Charleston Animal Society. Join thousands of humans and their canine companions at Riverfront Park, 1061 Everglades Avenue, North Charleston, SC on Saturday, June 10, 2023 for our celebratory “Walk for Animals”
WHAT: Charleston-Kiawah Open Water Swim
WHEN : Mandatory Check-in: 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m., Rolling Start at 8:30, Post Event Celebration at 10 a.m.
WHERE : Night Heron Park
MORE INFO: Join the Charleston - Kiawah Island Open Water Swim and Fight Cancer with Swim Across America. Swimmers of all ages and levels are invited to take part in our sixth Kiawah Island charity swim on Saturday, June 10. Your participation will help us "Make Waves to Fight Cancer" and raise money locally for cancer research at Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. For more information visit swimacrossamerica.org or contact jana@ swimacrossamerica.org or jana@swimacrossamerica.org.
FRIDAY, JUNE 23
WHAT: RAIN GARDEN WORKSHOP
WHEN : 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
WHERE : Kiawah Town Hall, 4475 Betsy Kerrison Parkway
MORE INFO: The Kiawah Conservancy will host a Rain Garden Workshop with Clemson Extension and Weston + Sampson Engineers. Come join us to learn more about how to install a rain garden, how they can help with local stormwater issues, and how they benefit the ecosystem.
This workshop will begin with a presentation by Ami Scaroni with Clemson Extension. After the presentation, we will visit the rain garden site at the Kiawah Island Municipal Center where we will hear from Kim Morganello with Weston + Sampson Engineers and install plants in the garden.
In addition, we will provide a copy of the Kiawah Conservancy’s Nature-Based Solutions Manual for Kiawah Island to all participants.
This workshop and garden installation is funded by a generous grant from the Town of Kiawah Island. Seating is limited and registration is required. To register go to: kiawahconservancy.salsalabs.org/ RainGardenWorkshop/index.html.
Go Fish
CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT TO GET OUT ON THE WATER
BY CAPTAIN GEOFF BENNETT
For The Island Connection
Great fishing conditions have arrived. Weeks full of warm temperatures and sunny weather have made our fishery come alive. Bait is everywhere, and fish are eagerly chasing it down. Anglers have a full host of options now that our seasonal species have arrived to compliment the traditional targets of redfish and trout. Time to get out on the water!
Fishing for redfish is very productive. Blue crab fished on the bottom is very effective. Remove the shell and legs of a blue crab and cut the body in half. Put a size 3/0 circle hook through the hole where the flipper fin used to be, and make sure the hook point is exposed. No need to keep the rod in your hands; instead put it in a rod holder. Once that rod starts to bend, don't pick it up until the drag starts “screaming.”
We've found consistent trout action on artificials as an alternative to the traditional popping corks. Small plastic artificials that mimic small baitfish have been getting crushed. The Z-man 3 ¾-inch streakz in smoky shad is an excellent choice. Paired with an ⅛-ounce jighead, these lures worked best when moved slowly through the water column. Trout will usually hit when you lift them up in a jigging motion.
The flounder bite has been picking up as well. We've been catching lots of flounder with mud minnows under a popping cork. Of course, the more traditional method of fishing finger mullet along the bottom around structures is still a prime technique. Move the bait slowly, and when you think you have a bite, wait a few seconds (if you can) before setting the hook.
My favorite summertime fish is the ladyfish. Ladyfish are becoming increasingly present with the warmer water. These lively fish will smack bait under a popping cork and make your drag zing. Their hard runs and acrobatic jumps make these fish so entertaining. You'll often catch them in the same spots you target trout.
See you on the water!
Since 2009, Capt. Geoff Bennett has operated Charleston Charter Fishing providing light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of artificial and live bait fishing options with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 843-324-3332, visit his website at charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@ charlestoncharterfishing.com.
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