IC Apr 20 2024

Quality Health Care on the Way

TRIDENT MEDICAL CENTER COMING TO JOHNS ISLAND

BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection

As Johns Island, Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island see an influx of new residents and visitors, the need for quality health care in the area also increases.

Both Roper and MUSC will be closer to the entrances of Kiawah and Seabrook, and now Trident Medical Center is coming to Johns Island — at the corner of Maybank Highway and Zelasko Drive.

Trident Medical Center’s Chief Operating Officer Landon Smith presented preliminary plans to the Kiawah Island Town Council members on April 2.

Although the long-term plan is to one day have a full-fledged hospital on Johns Island, the shortterm plan is to build a freestanding emergency center on the property.

This would be Trident’s fifth freestanding ER in the Lowcountry. They also have emergency departments in Centre

(continued on page 3)

Working Together

NEWLY-ELECTED COUNCIL HAVE COMMON GOAL OF LIVING IN PARADISE

BY JENNY PETERSON For The Island Connection

Bradley Belt and Darryl May, Council Members from Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island respectively, have a lot in common.

They both moved into their properties full time during the COVID-19 pandemic; they both were lawyers; and they both were inspired to run for council after seeing what they believed was a lack of transparency and communication with residents over large development proposals on Charleston’s beloved barrier islands.

May was part of a group of five residents (council members and mayor) on Seabrook Island who specifically ran on a platform of more transparency and communication with residents, resulting in an almost entirely new council body in 2024.

Developers are consistently showing interest in the barrier islands’

(continued on page 2)

Sunrise on Easter Morning Draws a Crowd

The Easter Sunrise service on Kiawah was sponsored by the Church of Our Saviour on Johns Island. On Easter Sunday, over 1,000 people arrived from all directions before sunrise. They came from the east and west, walking on the beach, and also from the Sanctuary Hotel and other beach paths. Many rode their bikes and also brought their dogs. It was a special event topped off with an awesome sunrise. The weather was ideal, and, following the service, more than 100 stayed for water baptisms in the ocean.

MYLO N EWS

UNLOCK

THE LOWCOUNTRY

PUBLISHERS OF

The Island Eye News, The Island Connection & SiP Magazine

Denise K. James editor ICeditor@luckydognews.com

Swan Richards graphic design

Ada Jenkins web editor

Jeff Lovins sales manager

JLovins@mylonews.com 843-885-8662

Lynn Pierotti consultant lynn@luckydognews.com

Christian LeBlanc social media christian@luckydognews.com CONTRIBUTORS

Theresa Stratford

Jenny Peterson

Stan MacDonald

Victoria Bock

Bryan Hunter

Kim Anuszkiewicz

Stephanie Ramia Sandifer

Dan Krosse

Liz Crumley

Clinton Colmenares

John Nelson

Island Council (continued from page 1)

gateways, proposing large-scale, mixed-use developments.

“[During the campaign], I talked to a lot of people who assumed that the right decisions were being made for the right reasons,” Belt said.

Belt and May are part of a new generation of elected officials working in tandem to address issues such as development, construction timelines and others that would affect both jurisdictions. They are also engaging with elected officials in Charleston County about development plans.

Two major projects under construction at the entrances to the islands are Andell West development, a shopping center that is set to feature a larger grocery store, a gas station and other commercial businesses like restaurants as well as a freestanding emergency room by the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).

May and Belt noted that a recent proposed project was voted down after coordinated opposition between residents and both municipalities. It would have been a 160,000 square-foot development project along Betsy Kerrison Parkway that was marketed as a health and wellness village – but would have been more retail than medical offices, the council members said.

Belt organized the first “Collaboration of Council” event in January where residents were able to speak with elected officials from both Seabrook and Kiawah Islands, as well as elected officials representing Johns Island and Charleston County, about concerns with development, traffic, quality of life and more.

“At the end of the day, this is about protecting and preserving what is so unique and special about the Lowcountry and the reason we all came here in the first place,” Belt said. “This is an extraordinary place. My primary goal as a council member is to ensure that that is here for future generations.”

The Island Connection sat down with both elected officials about how they are working together on the biggest issues impacting the island.

What specific development prompted you to run for council?

May: The big one to me was a proposal to build a private yacht club next to the Bohicket Marina, by the owner of the Bohicket Marina, [which] would involve the annexation of land. Once annexed, it would be hooked up to our utility commission and would require further rezoning for it and about a dozen cottages for overnight stays. I

[wanted to] get something in return for the citizens of Seabrook – at the very least a revitalization of the Bohicket Marina. And there were promises of that, but there was nothing in writing. There were issues on how closely it encroached on the marsh. There are a lot of issues, but the one thing that was clear was the form in which it was presented to Town Council, it should never have been that far along.

Belt: About two and a half years ago, on a Friday before the Labor Day weekend, all of a sudden, the town of Kiawah Island announced and the Council announced that it had just received a proposal from the developer of Andell West to have this very large mixed-use development that would have included 500 new apartments or condos—building codes that would have had buildings much [taller] than in Freshfields Village. This massive proposal was scheduled for first reading the Tuesday after Labor Day, and the first public hearing from the Planning Commission that Wednesday. There was a hue and cry about that, both substantively [to the project] and with regard to the process. The community rose up and engaged pretty extensively with the Charleston County Planning Commission and the County Council and raised strong objections. Several months later, the developer came back with a new proposal, scaled it down and eliminated all of the residential. The result was a plan that will be fully integrated with Freshfields Village that will maintain the same character of Freshfields. There was very broad community support for the proposal that ultimately came out of this, and the developer acknowledged what we have now is much better than what was originally planned. What new developments are you looking forward to?

Belt: A shared common interest is better access to health care. There has been a recognized need for additional medical services and the MUSC freestanding emergency center is going to be an essential service. What residents also want is access to primary care physicians and specialists. Trident Healthcare System’s COO and new CEO presented to council because they're building a 57 -acre complex in the heart of Johns Island, and we got an update on that. They’ll also plan to build a medical office complex. May: We had MUSC at our last

(L to R) Belt and May agree that the quality of life on the sea islands is of utmost importance and is a common ground.

council meeting, and we're encouraged by the construction schedule. They want to start moving dirt in the next three months.

What are some issues related to development?

Belt: How construction schedules play out—any one of those developments is going to significantly exacerbate the traffic problems that already exist, and you start thinking about all these coming online and overlapping. MUSC construction traffic will be going through the traffic circle. I'd love to have a conversation with Seabrook and the county about staggering [development schedules] or windows to get on the island, so you spread it out, and it doesn't have adverse impacts or create traffic jams.

How are you helping improve the process for resident involvement in government in the future?

May: There is an ordinance, in Seabrook, an administrative ordinance which we're working on changing that deals with the public input. [Currently], there are 30 minutes of public comment, three minutes per person. You can't get too much in three minutes.

Belt: There was a recognition between [Council Members], that there is an increase of issues of common concern. We have started trying to work more collaboratively with our regional counterparts. The first time we've ever done this, I invited County Council members who represent Johns Island and Kiawah—five of us with a packed room with residents talking about the issues we can share in common, roads was a big one and healthcare services is another. All of those things are now getting the attention that they should have gotten more of all along. The idea is to do this kind of [meeting] quarterly.

TOWN OF SEABROOK

State Accommodation and Tax

Thursday, Apr. 25, 11 a.m.

Kiawah Town Hall

Arts and Cultural Event Council

Thursday, May. 2, 2 p.m.

Kiawah Town Hall

Ways and Means Committee

Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m.

Kiawah Town Hall

Town Council

Tuesday, May 7, 1 p.m.

Kiawah Town Hall

Board of Zoning and Appeals

Wednesday, Apr. 24, 1 p.m.

Seabrook Town Hall

Special Committee on Short-term Rentals

Monday, Apr. 29, 10 a.m.

Seabrook Town Hall

Special Meeting on ARPA Expenditures

Monday, Apr. 29, 6 p.m.

Seabrook Town Hall

Town Council Special Called Meeting

Tuesday, Apr. 30, 2:30 p.m.

Seabrook Town Hall

PHOTO BY JENNY PETERSON

Trident (continued from page 1)

Smith explained that the facility would be approximately 10,000 square feet with 11 patient rooms – one being a trauma room.

There will be diagnostic capabilities, a full-service lab and telemedicine capabilities for stroke and mental health.

“This will be a $15 million investment,” Smith said. “It will be staffed by board-certified emergency medical physicians and nurses – all who are trained in the emergency care of patients.”

Smith announced that they will start construction at the end of 2024, and it will be complete by the end of 2025. The emergency department is the beginning of bigger plans for Trident. They have 56 acres at the site and they hope to eventually build a 50-bed hospital – 40 of which would be med-surg and 10 for ICU.

When that occurs, Smith said that the ER would expand to 20 rooms, four operating rooms, two endoscopy suites, two CT scanners and a host of imaging, like X-rays and ultrasounds. He said they would also have an interventional lab, and they have plans to build a medical office building.

“This would be a robust campus in the heart of Johns Island,” he said. “We would partner with our medical staff and independent physicians in the community to add primary care and specialists. We would also offer outpatient imaging, such as mammography and outpatient therapy.”

As the community grows, Smith noted that they would have space to expand and offer labor and delivery and obstetrics.

Smith ended the presentation by noting some accolades. Trident has been serving the Lowcountry for 50 years. They were voted one of America’s best 250 hospitals in 2024, and they were voted in the top 50 by Fortune for cardiac hospitals.

Pointe, Brighton Park, James Island and Moncks Corner. The hospitals – Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center – are located in North Charleston and Summerville.

An example of a free-standing ER on James Island.

How a Lowcountry Garden Grows

NATIVE PLANTING WITH SEA LEVEL RISE IN MIND

ARTICLE BY STAN MACDONALD For The Island Connection

Weeks before her yard at Kiawah Island was flooded, Doreen Chapman had installed a small garden of native plants, ones that are adapted to our coastal climate and soil and support pollinators and wildlife.

The garden was in keeping with her decision to become active in conservation efforts out of concern that the island “is running out of opportunities to preserve the land,” and the natural habitat is being lost. And she was inspired by Mary Reynolds, an internationally known “reformed” landscape designer, who urges homeowners to care for their yards by embracing nature.

Doreen joined the board of the Kiawah Conservancy, and when it sponsored a native plant sale with the Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy last November, she bought the “shade package” and installed the 45 plants – a mix of wild bergamot, woodland phlox, Southern shield fern, Stokes’ aster, and white wood aster – on one side of her house.

She and her husband, Michael Chapman, live at Goldenrod Court, which overlooks a stunning salt marsh along the Kiawah River. The garden got off to a quick start, the Stokes’ asters struck their blue flowers, and the deer, which occasionally visit the yard, didn’t bother the new plants. But then came the mid-December storm, a particularly

powerful nor'easter with a punishing combination of driving coastal winds, heavy rain and high tides – all amplified by sea level rise and climate change.

“The river water came into our yard and actually surrounded the house … our yard was underwater,” Doreen said.

Fortunately, most of her plants survived, but her experience shows the importance of using the right plants for the right place. And while she plans to preorder another plant package at the upcoming Kiawah-Seabrook native plant sale, she also is researching plants that will thrive in yards by a tidal marsh, meaning plants that have some salt tolerance and can withstand occasional flooding.

Karen Madoff, a Master Gardener and chair of the Kiawah Conservancy’s Restoration and Enhancement Committee, had these recommendations:

“For plants near the water’s edge consider “sweetgrass (Muhlenbergia filipes), saltmeadow cordgrass (Spartina patens), and the pretty sea-oxeye daisy (Borrichia frutescens). As you climb the bank, wax myrtle (Morella cerifera), marsh elder (Iva frutescens), wood oats (Chasmanthium laxum), and yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) can be used. These plants will also work next to ponds, helping stabilize the shoreline by their presence and both feed and protect our native wildlife.”

BY ADAM WOLF

Lee Bundrick, the Kiawah Conservancy’s Senior Ecological Health & Conservation Coordinator, recommends adding rain gardens to yards. The gardens, which incorporate native grasses, shrubs and perennials, are landscaped depressions that mitigate flooding by receiving stormwater runoff and allowing it to slowly infiltrate to the groundwater table.

Don’t miss these upcoming native plant opportunities.

Native Plant Packages

Preorder beautiful, large quantity native plant packages at wholesale prices. Order now through April 28 while supplies last. Choose from a sun or shade garden template, carefully designed for plants that thrive on Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns Islands. Pre-purchased plant packages must be picked up on May 18 from 12-3 p.m. at Night Heron Park, Kiawah Island. This plant sale is sponsored by the Kiawah Conservancy and Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy. The packages are offered at cost and the conservancies do not benefit financially. kiawahconservancy.org/

plant-native for more information and to purchase.

Landscaping with Native Plants

Dive into the beauty and ecological benefits of native plants through this series of engaging presentations, workshops and training sessions presented by the Kiawah Conservancy, Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy and Clemson Cooperative Extension. Join Zachary Snipes, Assistant Program Team Leader and Horticulture Agent for Beaufort County Cooperative Extension Office and Charleston County Cooperative Extension Office, on Wednesday, May 29 from 10 a.m. until noon at 2335 Oyster Catcher Court to learn about best practices for installing and maintaining native plant landscapes. Discover techniques for ensuring the long-term health and vitality of your garden, with a focus on integrated pest management and sustainable maintenance practices. Visit kiawahconservancy.org to learn more and register to attend.

The author helps coordinate native plant events sponsored jointly by the Kiawah Conservancy and the Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy.

PHOTO

Sharing Our Shoreline

LOWCOUNTRY MARINE MAMMAL NETWORK TO CONTINUE WORK PROTECTING SEA MAMMALS

BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection

It is that time of year again for Seabrook Island. It is time to renew their agreement with the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network (LMMN). For the past six years, LMMN has been monitoring the behaviors of dolphins in the area and providing educational outreach right there on the beach near Captain Sams Inlet where the dolphins are known to strand feed.

LMMN will have at least one team member stationed near Captain Sams Inlet for four hours a day at low tide. This will continue from mid-April to December 31 for four days a week, including holiday weekends, in the off-season and every day of the week during peak season to educate the community about dolphins and the practice of strand feeding.

On March 26, the Seabrook Island Town Council unanimously voted to continue their relationship with LMMN for at least another year.

LMMN Executive Director Lauren Rust presented the goals of the program and the importance of the support from Seabrook Island.

Strand feeding is a feeding behavior that dolphins engage in which allows them to corral fish near the sandy shores and then create a large wave to push the fish and themselves onto the shore to eat the fish before returning to the water. Dolphins learn the behavior from their mother. LMMN has found that it is not a common behavior and that most dolphins do not engage in strand feeding in other parts of the world.

Giving the dolphins their space to strand feed is important so as not to disrupt this specialized hunting strategy. A primary focus for LMMN is to ensure that dolphins are not harassed by boaters or other people on the shoreline while they are in the water or while strand feeding. The fear is that the dolphins will abandon the strand feeding practice if they are bothered by humans. Along with LMMN’s four-person staff, they also utilize a host of volunteers to help them educate the public on dolphin behaviors and on protecting the ecosystems.

Currently, LMMN has 20 volunteers, and they just recruited 20 more on Seabrook, which equals a total of 40 community members who volunteer to

spend their days on the beach educating the public. Rust said the program has reached 56,000 people total.

“Those are individuals that our educators have spoken to each year. On Seabrook, we have spoken to roughly 4,000 individuals who make their way down to Captain Sams. We're having direct interaction with people – talking dolphins and strand feeding.”

Rust also mentioned that the volunteers put up signs that recommend a distance of 45 feet from the dolphins.

LMMN volunteers collect data for the program as well, according to Rust. “We provide yearly updates as a summary of what we saw the previous year,” she said.

She reported that the grant they received from the Seabrook Island Environmental Committee went to purchase a hydrophone, which is an underwater microphone.

“It doesn’t disturb the dolphins. It just lays on the seafloor and allows us to listen in on the dolphins — and we can hear them clicking, echolocating and communicating with each other. It really adds a lot to our data. Plus, we will let visitors hear the dolphins too,” she added.

They also use the money they get from Seabrook for supplies, shirts for the volunteers, chairs and other equipment.

Seabrook Island Town Council Member Darryl May said, “I did the program last year, and it was fabulous. It’s a great program and I am thrilled to have it here.”

Seabrook Island Town Administrator

Joe Cronin

by mentioning how mutually beneficial the program is.

“It’s like having an extra set of eyes out there,” he said. “That's really the reason why this program started six years ago. We had several high-profile instances of individuals that were harassing and interfering with the dolphins. So, it's really been beneficial from the soft approach aspect with the educational and outreach component – but in instances when we do have an issue, we make sure that their volunteers have the phone number for beach patrol so if they observe something,

they can get that reported.”

LMMN is a nonprofit organization that focuses on protecting South Carolina marine mammals, including dolphins, whales and seals. Their goal is to increase awareness about local marine mammals and to increase awareness about their behavior. LMMN also hopes to decrease harassment of dolphins by boaters and beachgoers. Lauren Rust is also the state coordinator for all dolphins and whales that strand along coastal South Carolina. For more information, visit lowcountrymarinemammalnetwork.org.

concluded

PHOTO COURTESY OF LMMN.

PHOTO BY CHRIS ROXON

Supper by the Sea

KIAWAH’S OCEAN ROOM PRESENTS SIX-COURSE WINE DINER

BY BRYAN HUNTER For The Island Connection

The Ocean Room at the Sanctuary on Kiawah is presenting a special, limited-seating wine-paired dinner from 6 until 9 p.m. on April 26.

Chef de Cuisine Steven Brooks of South Carolina’s only Forbes fivestar restaurant has planned a special six-course menu featuring fresh spring ingredients paired with wines selected by Sommelier Bret Reynolds.

The six-course menu will feature a duo of seafood dishes, along with duck

breast, a German-style rib-eye to reflect Brook’s German heritage and a finale of a flourless chocolate tart with white chocolate mousse and strawberries.

Reynolds has carefully paired each course with a selection of old world and new world wines from Spain, Germany, France and Washington State.

To review the menu and purchase tickets for the event, which are $250 plus tax and gratuity, visit kiawahresort.com/dining/ the-ocean-room.

Think Globally, Celebrate Locally

LOWCOUNTRY EARTH WEEK IS BACK

BY VICTORIA BOCK For The Island Connection

Back by popular demand for the second year, Lowcountry Land Trust will partner with over 50 local, conservation-minded organizations to continue its Lowcountry Earth Week initiative in 2024.

This week-long celebration of the Lowcountry's natural environment (April 22-28) is set to feature a diverse array of volunteer opportunities, nature activities, seminars, workshops and festivals. The initiative aims to engage the community and raise awareness about the importance of the many methods of conservation in the Lowcountry. The grand culmination will be a family-friendly Earth Week celebration and exhibition at Holy City Brewing in North Charleston on Sunday, April 28, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"If there is one thing that Charleston is known for, it is its incredible natural beauty. It is so important for our city to work with organizations to protect and enhance our natural environment. Lowcountry Earth Week is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to learn more about activities, resources and opportunities to keep Charleston beautiful for many years to come.” said Charleston Mayor William Cogswell.

“Lowcountry Earth Week was designed for area residents to come together as a community to celebrate our shared commitment to protecting the natural beauty and ecological diversity of the Lowcountry region,” added Ashley Demosthenes, president and CEO of Lowcountry Land Trust.

“We are honored to have been trusted by over 50 organizations to promote local Earth Week happenings collectively, and we hope community members will participate in whichever events spark their interest.”

Lowcountry Earth Week is poised to be a momentous occasion, bringing together individuals, organizations and communities in a collective effort to celebrate and protect the region’s natural wonders. A complete listing of events that provide an opportunity for everyone to find their own way to connect with and contribute to the soul of the Lowcountry can be found at lowcountryearthweek.org.

3603 Beachcomber Run, Seabrook Island

4 Bed, 3 Full & 2 Half Baths, 3270 Ft2 | Offered for $4,299,000

Situated on Boardwalk 3 in the desirable North Beach area of Seabrook Island, this extensively renovated home boasts easy access to the beach and beautiful ocean views from the top deck. The outdoor living area is the star of the home, featuring a raised, gunite salt water pool, cabana with gas fireplace, expansive deck, and bathroom, as well as an outdoor kitchen and dining area.

Love is in the Air

-

for

Gators, That Is SAY HELLO TO THE AMERICAN ALLIGATOR FAMILY FROM A SAFE DISTANCE

BY KIM ANUSZKIEWICZ AT THE KIAWAH CONSERVANCY For The Island Connection

In the Lowcountry, alligators are preparing for their favorite time of year – mating season. After dark, you will hear the male alligators begin their bellowing serenades in search of a mate. Some may find this sound romantic, while others simply find it noisy. One thing is certain – it's a show best observed from afar. There are nights you can hear particularly melodious bellows from the ponds around the islands. If you’re lucky, you may find a gator with a voice like Frank Sinatra and moves like Elvis Presley. The call starts somewhere low, deep in the chest of the male alligators. Their heads lift to the sky and tails arch out of the water. Then slowly, they release a bone-rattling bellow that comes out like a deep sonic boom carrying for miles. Watch closely, and you can see water dancing over the alligator's back, sprouting and spraying into the air above him as the ultrasonic waves from the bellow displace it.   The charm of their

performance is irresistible to female alligators, who move in slowly to begin the courtship. The courting couple meet in the water and gently touch noses, nuzzling and caressing with their plated armor. A few weeks

later, there will be new additions to the gator family – 20 to 60 eggs will lie nestled snugly in a hidden nest near the pond, covered with tree branches, leaves and other vegetation. The eggs hatch around August or September. Like turtles, the sex of the alligator hatchlings is dependent upon temperature. With incubation temperatures at 33 ºC, alligator eggs will produce males, while incubation

temperatures at just a 3-degree difference (30 ºC) will produce female offspring.

The gator hatchlings will cling closely to their mother for up to a year while she stands guard against predators. You don’t want to stumble between a mama gator and her nest. If you do, you'll be on her "most wanted" list faster than you can say "See ya later, alligator." Alligator mothers are surprisingly some of the best moms in the animal kingdom. However, even with the protection of a dedicated and fierce mother gator, 80-90% of the hatchlings will end up as dinner to predators or even their older gator cousins – talk about family drama.

The most important thing to remember is to keep your distance for your safety and the safety of our wildlife. Give alligators a wide berth (about 60 feet) and never walk between an alligator and their pond. If an alligator feels threatened, they can lunge very quickly, and they need to have space and opportunity to escape into the water. Luckily, here in the Lowcountry, we have many bridges and overlooks where you can stand, look down on, and watch alligators safely. Take joy in how our alligators naturally behave by observing them from a distance.

Now Open to the Charleston Community

Do you know Someone Having a Hip, Knee or Joint Replacement? Need Short-Term Rehab Afterwards?

The award-winning Gadsden Glen welcomes you for your short-term rehab needs within the Christie Rehab Center.

With costs in-line with the Charleston area, Medicare and insurance coverage allow you to select Gadsden Glen for your short-term post-acute rehabilitation, setting you on a successful course of improved health and wellness.

www.bishopgadsden.org

PHOTO BY PAMELA COHEN

Summer Survivor

BY JOHN NELSON For The Island Connection

Are plants wimps? There they are, growing with their little leaves, their roots in the ground, the little delicate flowers smiling up at the sun… and being eaten, trampled on, mowed down, dug up, burned, sprayed with herbicides, yet hardly ever putting up a fight. With some of those little plants out there, it seems like if you just look at them hard enough, they let their petals fall off. Some others are afraid to have their leaves touched and will roll or fold them up, to stay safe. And all those garden plants: so demanding, and always wanting something. Like water!

Of course this is all silly. Plants tend to be some of the most resilient organisms on our planet and have evolved an incredible number of ways to deal with the difficulties of growing and producing a new crop of seeds. All of this means there are no “sissy” plants.

In keeping with this theme, I present to you a native fern, one which is widespread across the eastern half of the United States and much of eastern Canada. This is a plant that is a tough guy. It grows in places that might seem a bit scary—deep, swampy bottomlands and ditches where there are snakes, ticks and wild hogs, for starters. The plants are deeply rooted in wet muck, and they can survive dry periods. Nothing seems to want to chew their leaves. They are

survivors. Tough guys.

In the spring, this species will produce a shock of very handsome, bright green fronds. You can start seeing them now. Each frond is prominently divided into a number of divisions, or “pinnae,” but not divided all the way down to the midrib of the frond. The fronds are smooth along their margins and usually opposite—that is, two arising from the same point off the midrib. But what

about the spores? Don’t ferns reproduce by spores?

Well, yes. Those pretty green fronds coming up now are sterile, having nothing to do with reproduction. Later in the spring, a new set of fertile fronds will be produced, sticking up in the same clump and looking nothing like the

sterile fronds. The fertile fronds will have their pinnae wrapped individually into hard, bead-like structures, and the spores will be produced inside. These fertile fronds with the bead-like structures are called “sporophylls.”

In the image provided here, you can see a nice green sterile frond on the left, with last year’s sporophylls on the right. (This year’s fertile fronds have not come up yet.)

So, yes, this is what we would call a real tough-guy fern, able to take of itself through the hottest, muggiest summers, not caring a whit for all those mosquitoes in the swamp, and just looking good all season long.

However, just as soon as fall comes, this plant starts getting a little bit worried about the coming cool weather, and when the first frost arrives, even a very light one, all the fronds will die. So maybe it’s not so tough. Maybe it should get a sweater.

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, call 803-777-8175 or email johnbnelson@sc.rr.com.

[Answer: “Sensitive fern,” Onoclea sensibilis]

PHOTO BY JOHN NELSON

Community Diaper Drive

SUPPORT LOWCOUNTRY FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL STRAIN

BY STEPHANIE RAMIA SANDIFER For The Island Connection

From April 20-28, the Junior League of Charleston Diaper Bank will host a Spring Diaper Drive to collect diapers, baby wipes and monetary donations for area families experiencing financial strain. Since inception in 2017, the Diaper Bank has distributed over 900,000 diapers and pull-up training pants to 15 area partners.

For countless families, having enough diapers is a constant struggle. Without diapers, children cannot attend daycare, which may prevent parents from making an income. Diapers are not funded by WIC and SNAP programs, and without this financial assistance, babies are left in their diapers longer, leading to severe diaper rash that could lead to other medical problems. Infants and toddlers typically require 8-12 diaper changes per day, which can cost up to $100 every month.

Individuals and groups (neighbors, friends, companies) can get involved and give back to their community by donating disposable diapers (all sizes, full or partial packs) and pull-ups, as well as packs of wipes at one of the participating drop-off locations for the Spring Diaper Drive.

“The Junior League of Charleston Diaper Bank helps to provide diapers to families in need so children can attend daycare and parents can work. Diaper need is a public health crisis, and the JLC Diaper Bank remains committed to ensuring all children in the Tri-County area have access to a sufficient supply of diapers to remain healthy, thriving and reaching their full potential. We could not do this without the help and generosity of our community members who donate unused disposable diapers and baby wipes,” said Meghan Norvell, president of the Junior League of Charleston.  Individuals, families, and local businesses can also get involved in the Spring Diaper Drive by:

• Registering to participate as a diaper drop-off location

• Hosting your own in-person or virtual diaper drive

• Shopping the Junior League of Charleston Diaper Bank wishlists on Amazon, Target Charity and Walmart Registry for Good

• Making a monetary donation to the Junior League of Charleston Diaper Bank.

In addition to the annual diaper drive, the community can get involved throughout the year to increase awareness of the Junior League of Charleston Diaper Bank and its mission throughout the Lowcountry.

Please visit the Junior League of Charleston Diaper Bank’s website at jlcharleston.org/diaperbank/ for more information.

Ready

It

It

ONGOING

WHAT: Textile Gallery

WHEN: Jan 20 - Sep 15

WHERE: Charleston Museum

MORE INFO: Quilting, a timeless form of creative expression, melds colors and patterns into purposeful objects. Like paint on canvas, fabric pieces serve as artistic boundaries, challenging individual visual acuity and imagination. We’re excited to announce a collaborative exhibition with the Gibbes Museum of Art, featuring abstract artwork alongside the Museum's quilts. This showcase highlights the artistic splendor of both mediums.

WHAT: Ming Smith: Feeling the Future

WHEN: Jan 31 - Apr 28

WHERE: International African American Museum

MORE INFO: This special exhibition showcases the groundbreaking career of Ming Smith from the 1970s to the present, exploring her vibrant and multi-layered artistic practice. Black cultural expression, representation, and social examination, offering insight into the unseen moments of life captured by this profoundly gifted artist.

WHAT: Rory McEwen: A New Perspective on Nature

WHEN: Jan 26 - Apr 28

WHERE: Gibbes Museum of Art

MORE INFO: Presented in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (London), and the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, the exhibition and its accompanying programs will showcase the dynamic and diverse career of the acclaimed Scottish artist, Rory McEwen.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

WHAT: Sip and Stroll at Drayton Hall

WHERE: Drayton Hall

WHEN: 3:30 p.m.

MORE INFO: Join us for an unparalleled outdoor culinary and wine experience in Charleston. On various dates in 2024, you're invited to explore the historic Drayton Hall, dating back to 1738 and recognized by Conde Nast Traveler as the Best Place to See in South Carolina. Immerse yourself in our new Landscape Audio Tour while indulging in wine, local brews, and strolling the grounds. Discover the historical significance of the landscape and take home a complimentary wine glass or koozie as a memento of your visit.

SUNDAY, APRIL 21

WHAT: Charleston Jazz Festival

WHERE: Firefly Distillery

WHEN: 4 p.m.

MORE INFO: Experience an electrifying finale at the 2024 Charleston Jazz Festival with The Abdiel Iriarte Experiment. Led by the talented Abdiel Iriarte from Valencia, Venezuela, this hard-driving band merges Afro-Venezuelan-Cuban rhythms with modern jazz. Then, at 5 p.m., groove to the captivating beats of Charlton Singleton & Contemporary Flow, featuring two-time Grammy Award winner Charlton Singleton. With a blend of contemporary jazz, R&B, and original hits, Singleton's vibrant energy shines through his signature trumpet and vocal stylings. Don't miss this outdoor musical experience, bringing joy and excitement to Charleston, a city Singleton proudly calls home.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24

WHAT: Piano Bar with Chris Dodson

WHERE: The Sandcastle

WHEN: 5 p.m.

MORE INFO: Join talented veteran singer/songwriter/teacher Chris Dodson for some good music and good times down at The Sandcastle. Dodson covers an array of genres ranging from Jazz and R&B to acoustic, improvisational music. This event is not meant to be a concert; piano bars are to enjoy with friends and offer an opportunity to meet neighbors outside your circle for some island socializing. Bring your beverage of choice and a snack to tide you over.

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

WHAT: Kiawah Conservancy's Earth Day Celebration

WHERE: Night Heron Park, Kiawah Island

WHEN: 4-7 pm

MORE INFO: The Kiawah Conservancy and presenting sponsor Kiawah Island Golf Resort invite you to the annual Earth Day Celebration at Night Heron Park. This year's celebration will include an Earth Day Village featuring live music, face painting, a variety of educational vendors, artist and artisan showcase, tent talks, live animals, and much more! This event is free to attend and open to the public. Visit kiawahconservancy.org for more information.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30

WHAT: Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher: “Counterpoint”

WHERE: The Seabrook Island Club

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

MORE INFO: A collaboration between Conrad Tao and Caleb Teicher, combining their unique perspectives in music and dance. Their performance encompasses a diverse range of music, including pieces by Bach, Tatum, Schoenberg and Gershwin, weaving together various traditions and styles.

THURSDAY, MAY 16

WHAT: Cocktails and Conservation

WHERE: The Sandcastle (1 Shipwatch Road, Kiawah Island)

WHEN: 5:30 pm

MORE INFO: Are you interested in learning more about the Kiawah Conservancy and the important work they are doing to preserve and protect our critical wildlife and habitats? Join us for cocktails and light snacks and hear about programs and research underway, upcoming events, and how you can get involved. Space is limited and registration is required. Visit kiawahconservancy.salsalabs.org/ cocktailsandconservation/index.html to register.

EXHIBITION AT HALSEY INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART

April 5-July 20

From April 5 to July 20, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art will present concurrent exhibitions – Spandita Malik: Meshes of Resistance and Elisa Harkins: Teach Me a Song – with an array of free and interactive events open to the public, along with for-purchase workshops and performances in partnership with Spoleto Festival USA.

Elisa Harkins is a Native American (Cherokee/Muscogee) artist and composer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “Teach Me a Song” builds on the artist’s interests in translation, language preservation and Indigenous musicology.

Spandita Malik is a visual artist from India who is currently based in New York. Her work is concerned with the current global socio-political state of affairs with an emphasis on women’s rights and gendered violence. To learn more about these exhibits, visit halsey.cofc.edu/events/upcoming.

“I

Don’t be a ‘Catnapper’

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU SEE KITTENS IN THE WILD

BY DAN KROSSE For The Island Connection

f you see, leave ’em be.” That is the best advice animal organizations can give to good Samaritans who respond to the meows of what appear to be abandoned kittens. Nearly all new kitten litters are not far from their mothers, who are typically away temporarily to find food or are hiding from wellmeaning humans as the strangers approach the newborns. Please don’t “catnap” the baby kittens.

be left alone. Abandoned kittens will be dirty and the nest will be soiled, and they will cry continuously because they’re hungry. Watch from a distance for several hours before removing the kittens to be sure the mother is not returning.

In the spring, thousands of kittens are born in communities across America, flooding animal shelters. Last year, over 6,000 felines were brought into the Charleston Animal Society, half of which were kittens and neonates. The Society rescues more than 90% of the animals, including most of the cats and kittens, each year in Charleston County. Kitten season occurs approximately three times during the year, beginning in early spring, peaking in early summer, then rebounding in fall.

Dr. Lucy Fuller, chief veterinary officer for the Charleston Animal Society, warns that the younger the kitten is, the less likely it is to survive without its mother. That’s why we should all think twice before removing a kitten from the outdoors. It is extremely difficult to replace a mother’s milk and natural nutrients. Kittens rescued too young can have a less than 50% chance of survival. Good intentions from people can be disastrous for these young kittens.

Keep in mind that feral cats are usually frightened of strangers and will leave the area before a stranger sees them. When the person leaves, the mother cat returns to her missing litter. If the kittens are clean, plump and sleeping quietly in a heap, odds are that they have an attentive mom and should

Ideally, kittens should not be taken from their mother until they are 5 to 6 weeks old. A kitten this age is about the size of a typical square tissue box; anything smaller should be left with Mom. Also, 5-to-6-week-old kittens are standing upright, full of energy and running and playing.

So while you are right to be concerned if you see kittens in the great outdoors, please remember to “leave them be” until you are sure the mother is not still involved. Mothers don’t typically abandon their kittens.

You can be a foster family for kittens and neonates. Hundreds of kittens will begin flooding Charleston Animal Society this month, and now is the critical time of year that foster volunteers are needed to care for the kittens until they are healthy enough to be spayed or neutered, then placed for adoption. More information on foster opportunities and training may be found at CharlestonAnimalSociety.org/ foster.

Since 1874, the mission of Charleston Animal Society has been the prevention of cruelty to animals. Over 15,000 animals will turn to Charleston Animal Society for caring, compassion and hope this year alone. In addition to caring for homeless animals, adopting them into new homes and reuniting lost pets with their families, the organization responds to animals in crisis as a result of both man-made and natural disasters. For more information, visit CharlestonAnimalSociety.org.

Port City Improvements

SC PORTS TO BUY WESTROCK PAPER MILL SITE

BY LIZ CRUMLEY For The Island Connection

With support from the state and unanimous approval from the SC Ports board of directors, SC Ports plans to purchase the former WestRock paper mill site in North Charleston to further expand port capacity at the Port of Charleston.

“The tremendous backing from our state and an excellent partnership with WestRock allows us to make investments today that will support our state’s economy and create opportunities for future generations of South Carolinians,” SC Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin said. “We are adding significant port capacity to support growth in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast.”

The roughly 280-acre industrial waterfront property is adjacent to North Charleston Terminal, offering a natural extension of the container terminal that will enable SC Ports to handle more cargo for port-dependent businesses. The additional land will expand the terminal’s capacity to handle five million containers in the future and create 5,000 feet of linear berth space for container ships and around 400 acres of terminal space for cargo.

“South Carolina’s economy is prospering, and we must continue to invest in our world-class port system to support the companies investing in our state,” Melvin said. “This is an incredible

opportunity to enhance our highperforming North Charleston Terminal with renewed capacity to handle future growth.”

SC Ports plans to modernize the existing North Charleston Terminal with an optimized layout, upgraded cargohandling equipment and significant new container capacity – yielding even more reliable, productive port service. Customers also will benefit from the on-terminal rail service offered by Palmetto Railways, with dual connectivity to CSX and Norfolk Southern and proximity to Interstate 526.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation is playing a pivotal role in the project. As part of its expansion of Interstate 526, SCDOT plans to replace the Don Holt Bridge, which will remove height constraints for larger vessels.

Plans also are underway to achieve a 52-foot depth up to North Charleston Terminal. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, is undertaking a feasibility study – a critical first step toward deepening this stretch of the Cooper River an additional 5 feet.

This deepening effort, combined with the new bridge height, will allow the biggest container ships to seamlessly access North Charleston Terminal.

“Modernizing the terminal, raising

the Don Holt Bridge, deepening the Cooper River and purchasing the former WestRock property are all critical components that will yield a state-ofthe-art North Charleston Terminal,” Melvin said. “These achievements would not be possible without the support and foresight from Gov. Henry McMaster, South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith, South Carolina Senate President Thomas Alexander and the entire Legislature.”

The site also provides key support functions for Ingevity Corporation’s North Charleston manufacturing facility. SC Ports has been working closely with Ingevity to align its future needs during the transition. SC Ports will work with SCDOT, Palmetto Railways, Ingevity and the city of North Charleston to master plan the infrastructure to best support the region’s economy and residents.

“This land purchase represents a tremendous opportunity to position our port system and our state competitively for decades to come,” SC Ports Board Chairman Bill Stern said. “Our port infrastructure investments directly support thousands of South Carolina companies that depend on SC Ports to do business, and we are expanding to ensure we have the capacity to handle the growth in the Southeast.”

Star Students

BY CLINTON COLMENARES For The Island Connection

The following Furman University students who live in your area were included on the dean's list for the 2023 fall semester. Furman's dean's list is composed of full-time undergraduate students who earn a grade point average of 3.4 or higher on a four-point system.

From Johns Island:

• Isabella DeCosty. Parents and/or guardians are Fiore Decosty, Angela Rumph and Bradford Rumph.

• Jonathan Wade. Parents and/or guardians are Pamela Wade and Terence Wade.

• Meagan White. Parents and/or guardians are Robin White and David White.

Furman is a private, undergraduate liberal arts and sciences university of 2,500 students in Greenville, South Carolina. The university is noted for its rigorous academic program and strong faculty. Its 750-acre campus is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful in the nation.

At the heart of the university's academic experience is The Furman Advantage, a personalized, four-year pathway that combines engaged learning with immersive experiences outside the classroom. The Furman Advantage prepares students for lives of purpose, successful careers and community benefit. Learn more at furman.edu/furman-advantage.

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