Since May 2007 PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON SC PERMIT NO 137 POSTAL PATRON
FREE
VOLUME 17 ISSUE 14
Communication Changes Afoot on Kiawah Island
Kiawah Conservancy Announces First Johns Island Property Preserved
BY THERESA STRATFORD
A
OCTOBER 6, 2023
For The Island Connection
s they say, communication is everything, and on Kiawah Island, Town officials take that seriously. When the Communications Manager Erin Pomrenke presented the Town’s Communications goals, future strategies and more at Town Council’s Fall Retreat on September 11, it was clear that communication really does mean everything, or at least a lot, to Kiawah Island residents. For example, Pomrenke, who has only been the communications manager since March of this year, said the open rate for their e-newsletter is 58%, while the national average for e-newsletter open rates sits at just 22%. She also noted their high engagement rates on social media. While the typical engagement on most social media platforms sits at 1% to 5% on average, Pomrenke noted that their LinkedIn account is at 11.56%, their Facebook account has a 11.79% engagement rate, Instagram is at 5.98% and the platform previously known as Twitter is about average, at 1.94%. As for publications and how they disseminate news to their constituents, the Town Council questioned Pomrenke on whether doing both Town Notes, which is a quarterly digital and printed publication, along with a weekly e-newsletter, was a good use of the communication department’s time and resources. The quarterly Town Notes can be viewed digitally, but they also have printed copies in Town and KICA office lobbies and send to about 100 residents in the mail. Pomrenke said that the last edition of Town Notes was viewed about 200 times online. With the e-newsletter successful open rate at 58%, many Council members wondered about the need to have both news outlets. Pomrenke stated that she has other ideas to increase the e-newsletter open rate even more by partnering with KICA to have them send it out to their email list as well. Council Member Bradley Belt suggested that they no longer print the Town Notes because of the expense and the amount of people and resources involved. “Some of the content is (continued on page 2) repeated from the
Visit us
JENNIFER WILSON WOODY
T
For The Island Connection
he news has been circulating for some time now among Kiawah, Seabrook, and Johns islanders: Rosebank Farms will soon move to a new location at the entrance of Kiawah River. After Rosebank Farms owners Sidi Limehouse and Lousie Bennett broke ground at the farm stand’s new location, the Kiawah Conservancy was presented with a unique opportunity to acquire the property that they had so gracefully occupied for the past several years. At the heart of the Conservancy's mission is a commitment to preserve and protect the natural places and wildlife corridors of Kiawah Island and its surrounding environs. After many months of planning and negotiation, the Conservancy is excited to announce the preservation of 4368 Betsy Kerrison Parkway, our first preserved property on Johns Island and a venture that the Limehouse Family is incredibly pleased with. According to Louise Bennett, “Sidi and I are
extremely happy to see this property preserved by the Kiawah Conservancy. We know that the Conservancy will ensure the property remains as it should, a true and natural part of Johns Island.” Bennett also noted that they are very happy about Rosebank Farms’ move to their new location at the entrance to Kiawah River and are grateful to the Conservancy for extending their time at the current location until the new space is complete. This acquisition is just one part of the Kiawah Conservancy’s ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance the natural wonders that make our area so special. By safeguarding these areas, we provide a haven for wildlife, protect native flora and fauna, and maintain the scenic beauty that captivates us all. We encourage you to join us in this endeavor by supporting the Kiawah Conservancy’s conservation initiatives. For more info about this project or other efforts undertaken by the Kiawah Conservancy, please contact our land preservation specialist, Collie Farah, at 834-768-2029 or collie@kiawahconservancy.org.
Research Project for Loggerhead Turtles Supported by the Town BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
I
t’s no secret that the Town of Kiawah Island’s Turtle Patrol is an important asset to not only the loggerhead sea turtles they support, but to the people of the island who value protecting wildlife and their fragile ecosystems. Volunteers of the Turtle Patrol have the unique opportunity to monitor nests and hatchlings by marking and taking care of the nests they find along the beach. Since 1973, hundreds of residents of Kiawah Island have participated in the Turtle Patrol program, which runs from May 1 to October 31 every year. Trained by SCDNR, Kiawah Island sees about 200 to 400 turtle nests each season. In fact, since 2017, Kiawah Island has the densest nesting beach of all the developed beaches in South Carolina. According to the Turtle Patrol, nests without a protection program have a low hatch rate, typically under 10%. Hatch rates on Kiawah, with help from the Turtle Patrol, are over 70%. During the September 5 Town Council meeting, the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol was asking for the Town’s support for another initiative.
After the Kiawah Island Community Association gave their blessing and through the assistance of the Kiawah Conservancy, the Turtle Patrol was asking for the Town’s approval of sending a letter to constituents expressing support for a vitally important mission for the loggerhead sea turtle population. For more than a decade, the Northern Recovery Unit Loggerhead DNA Project, headed by the University of Georgia Professor Dr. Brian Shamblin, has been responsible for research of the female turtle population along the beaches of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and northern Florida. The basis of the study is to extract maternal DNA from loggerhead sea turtle eggs to identify the individual female associated with each nest and develop a census of the nesting population. This research has identified over 10,000 unique females by egg samples taken from every single nest laid during a nesting season. Scientists have learned invaluable information about loggerhead nesting patterns along 1,000 miles of the southeast coastline through this study.
OUR WEBSITE HAS:
WWW.LUCKYDOGNEWS.COM
For example, it was through the Northern Recovery Unit Loggerhead DNA Project, that they were able to determine that Kiawah Island had the densest nesting area of all of South Carolina’s developed beaches. Now, the project is in need of funding since it is no longer federally funded by a grant. On September 5, the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol asked the Town to support the letter that they wanted to send out via the Town’s e-newsletter in a fundraising effort for the project through the Kiawah Conservancy. Since the Kiawah Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) organization, they will collect the funds to ultimately disseminate to the Northern Recovery Unit Loggerhead DNA Project through UGA. Since the Kiawah Island Turtle Patrol is a Town of Kiawah Island entity, they cannot participate in soliciting for donations, but they can support the effort through the Kiawah Conservancy. KICA has expressed support for the fundraising effort as well. Lynne Sager, coordinator and permit holder for the (continued on page 3)
EXCLUSIVE DIGITAL CONTENT ABILITY TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER MORE PHOTOS & VIDEOS UPDATED EVENTS SO YOU NEVER MISS OUT ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY
islandconnectionnews . com