Charge It!
SOON YOU CAN HEAD TO TOWN HALL
TO CHARGE YOUR EV
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
Kiawah Island is moving forward with installing four electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at Town Hall – the first ones on the island. Qualified firms who can install the charging stations had to submit their proposals to Kiawah Island Town Hall by February 23.
The request for proposal (RFP) had to cover the following: installation drawings and schematics, line items of all materials, cost of civil asphalt work, EV charging signage with striping, bollards and foundation, project phases and a project timeline. There will be four Blink charging stations installed at Town Hall once the work is complete.
Council Member and Mayor Pro Tempore Michael Heidingsfelder said, “We are very excited to take another step forward in providing a more balanced infrastructure for powering vehicles of our fleets and for
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Health and Wellness Village Struck Down by Charleston County
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
It’s back to the drawing board for Principal Developer John Skerchek and his team with Island Park Place. On February 13, Charleston County Council upheld the Charleston County Planning and Public Works Committee’s February 8 recommendation to deny the development’s rezoning request.
However, the developers won’t have to be at the drawing board for very long. In another vote, Charleston County Council waived the requirement for the developer to resubmit another application in a year and any fees that would come with that. That means they could come back to Charleston County with an updated plan for free as soon as they are ready to present one – no need to wait an entire year, as normally required.
The Charleston Animal Society marks its 150th anniversary
BY JOE ELMORE For The Island Connection
As the Charleston Animal Society continues through its sesquicentennial year, one can’t help but be struck by the intertwined threads that link the history of Charleston and the history of the Society.
South Carolina’s first animal organization and one of the oldest in the nation, the Charleston Animal Society will celebrate its 150th anniversary throughout 2024. It originally was formed on March 14, 1874 as the South Carolina Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and focused on working animals such as livestock, farm animals and horses.
A group of prominent Charlestonians established the organization, led by its first president, Nathaniel Russell Middleton. Dr. John L. Ancrum was the second president of the Animal Society; his impact would propel the organization forward into the next century. When he died in 1900, Ancrum willed the Animal Society “the rest and residue” of his estate. The will wound its way through the courts for 40 years before the case was settled at the beginning of World War II, when the organization changed its name to the John Ancrum Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“I still run into people to this day who refer to us as ‘John Ancrum,’” said Charleston Animal Society Senior Director of Community Engagement Kay Hyman.
In 2008, the organization’s name was shortened to Charleston Animal Society, about the same time it moved into its current location at 2455 Remount Road in North Charleston. Not always a shelter
the Society moved west, setting up first on St. Andrews Boulevard and then on Dupont Road in the 1960s. The Animal Society later operated out of a trailer next to the jail for 24 years but had to move when the Sheriff’s Office needed the land to expand the jail. Into the 21st century Planning for the 21st century, the organization’s leaders initiated public spay/ neuter efforts along with teaching compassion to children. Both initiatives continued to grow in the early 2000s. With the move to its current location in North Charleston, the Animal Society was still not adequate in size for the Charleston community. In fact, the Remount Road facility was overcrowded on day one. However, as one of a dozen selected communities to participate in the nationwide Mission Orange project, the Animal Society worked with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals over a five-year period to significantly increase Charleston County’s live release rate.
In 2013, taking in well over 90% of the animals throughout Charleston County and despite overwhelming odds, the Animal Society built the first No Kill Community in the Southeast, saving all of the healthy and treatable animals in its care. With that remarkable achievement and other unprecedented accomplishments, the Animal Society became an international model for lifesaving success.
The Charleston Animal Society has not stopped its momentum as a national leader in improving the plight of animals. Last year, the Society set a Guinness World Record for pet vaccines, organized the nation’s largest annual statewide adoption event for dogs and cats for six years in a row, won a North American competition of nonprofits with Land Rover and sustained Charleston County as a No Kill Community for 11 years.
Celebrating a rich history
The Charleston Animal Society will celebrate its rich history throughout the year at multiple events and will also produce a commemorative edition of its Carolina Tails magazine in June.
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Charleston County Council wasn’t even scheduled to discuss the topic as early on in the meeting on February 13 as they did. It was bumped up from the last item on the agenda to one of the first topics of discussion.
A common misconception is that Charleston Animal Society was formed to shelter homeless animals, but it wasn’t until 74 years after its founding that the Society began to shelter animals in response to the cruelty and death perpetrated on them by local governments. Back then, it was common for government to round up stray dogs and kill animals by inhumane means such as drowning. Countless dogs met their final demise in the Ashley and Cooper River. However, as the government-designated animal shelter in Charleston County, the Charleston Animal Society worked for decades to lower euthanasia rates and push for more humane methods of putting animals to sleep. In 1910, the Society was “authorized to purchase a gas tank,” as an alternative to drowning.
In 1948, building began on a shelter located at 667 Meeting St., now home to Patrick Veterinary Clinic. From downtown,
The remarkable history of Charleston Animal Society, anchored in leadership, tradition and excellence, is only possible through its membership and community support. Over 60% of its funding is through contributions, and its membership comprises more than 20,000 individuals who give a gift of their time, their home or their income.
MYLO N EWS
UNLOCK THE LOWCOUNTRY
PUBLISHERS OF
The Island Eye News, The Island Connection & SiP Magazine
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Jeff Lovins sales manager JLovins@mylonews.com 843-885-8662
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CONTRIBUTORS
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Sean Cannon
Joe Elmore
Emily Speck
Jared Crain
Tina Mayland
Jeannie Colson
Sarah Reynolds John Nelson
Health and Wellness Village
(continued from page 1)
Not to mention this is actually the third Charleston County recommendation to deny this development. The first came from Charleston County staff and the second came from the Charleston County Planning Commission – both back in November 2023.
The collective reasoning for recommending a denial of the application was mostly due to the current scope of the project and the extreme amount of community opposition.
The site is located in an unincorporated area of Charleston County off Betsy Kerrison Parkway. Although it is located adjacent to Kiawah Island’s Town Council Chambers, the Town has no annexation rights to the property.
Island Park Place would be a health and wellness village, described by Skerchek to support a “high quality, mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly environment that would complement and enhance the emerging concentration of world-class health care and supporting wellness practices.”
In the initial August 2023 presentation to Kiawah Island Town Council, Skerchek noted, “The trend toward health villages is to recognize that the industry’s future will transform from a health care system that historically focuses on treating the sick to a valuebased one designed to keep people healthy and well.”
He wanted to make it clear that the development would be considered a low-impact design, meaning that they would put an emphasis on nature and the environment. He noted back then that they would have grand tree protection zones, extended buffers, walking and biking trails, open spaces, a fitness path, wetland preservation and what they call healing zones. They are also adopting the concept of “timeless architecture.”
The healing zones, pedestrian trails and paths, as well as the open spaces, would not only be utilized by patrons of the area, but also by the employees, Skerchek said.
“We have limited our footprint to preserve the natural elements of the wetlands and natural habitats and are confident that we are helping to preserve the iconic Southern live oak trees which will be a master planning focal point throughout the village.”
A potential benefit that Skerchek mentioned in August was a timely political value with hopefully reducing traffic. Island Park Place could reduce some traffic leaving Johns Island, since residents would no longer have to access some of those services off the islands.
In August, Council Member Michael Heidingsfelder asked how the medical services would be divided up in the whole plan. Skerchek replied, “This is a suburban/urban mixed-use property. This would have about 60% direct medical services and about 20% health retail, like eateries.” Pharmacy is also considered medical retail, he noted. Some practitioners have also asked about the availability of dwelling units on the property for employees, so Skerchek said they do plan to have 18 dwelling units above the office and retail spaces as well. There would be a minimum of seven acres of open space. A maximum of 159,846 square feet of building area and a maximum of 55,000 square feet of utility sewage service area.
When Charleston County’s Planning Commission denied the application for Island Park Place, they concluded: “The scale and intensity of the proposed development is incompatible with the existing land use pattern of the area and is, therefore, inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan Future Land Use recommendation. Therefore, staff recommends disapproval.”
The example given by Charleston County staff was with Riverland Terrace, an older neighborhood on James Island. They
said that if a block of homes were bought and something other than an R4 zoning designation was proposed, it would not be approved because of the surrounding area being all residential. He did say that if an R4 was zoned on a road like Maybank Highway or Savannah Highway, the property could perhaps rezone to something other than R4, and they would be in support of that since the surrounding area on those roads has some residential and some businesses.
Skerchek had reduced the scale of the original plan from 18 buildings to 15 buildings and decreased the square footage by 20% in late 2023. He also tried to preserve as many grand trees as possible.
Trident Hospital is coming to Maybank Highway soon, and the MUSC Medical Center is currently underway near Freshfields Village. Roper St. Francis also plans to open medical offices in Freshfields Village.
Members of the community in opposition of this development were concerned with the traffic issues of getting in and out of the complex, especially with the other developments in the works coming nearby.
The Kiawah Conservancy voiced their opposition at a Charleston County public hearing in December in terms of the reduction of habitat life and the loss of freshwater wetlands. This development would fill roughly 2.5 acres of wetlands. They also voiced that they didn’t want the rural community of Johns Island disrupted.
The Town of Kiawah Island conducted a survey among their residents about the development back in December of 2023. A total of 881 Kiawah Island full-time property owners and parttime property owners responded to the survey. The data points from the survey were as follows:
• Almost 80% of respondents said they do not favor the proposed Health and Wellness Village development in addition to the MUSC and Trident facilities coming to the area.
• More than 80% did not feel the size of the project was appropriate for the area.
• More than 70% did not feel the development would provide the community with access to adequate medical care.
Survey results suggest that respondents are concerned about the potential impact of traffic, as well as noise and light pollution from the development.
Regarding impact on the community’s quality of life, about 21% felt it would have a positive impact, 75% a negative impact, and 3% saw no impact.
Overall, 77% of respondents indicated that they opposed the rezoning proposal and 22% were in favor. Due to the results of the survey, Kiawah Island Town Council sent a letter to Charleston County Council back in December expressing their opposition to the development, especially related to its size and scope.
The vote on February 13 was not a landslide. It was voted down 4 to 3, with two members abstaining.
While the rezoning was voted down by Jenny Honeycutt, Joe Boykin, Larry Kobrovsky and Henry Darby, Council Member Teddy Pryor led a separate 4-3 vote that waived the required one-year waiting period for the developer to come back and the fees incurred to do so.
Island Park Place is now in the hands of the developer to resubmit an application that is both smaller in scale and scope. Because the year time limit has been waived, they can resubmit whenever they want, and this time, for free.
Civic Calen dar
TOWN OF KIAWAH
Public Safety Committee
Thursday, Mar. 14, 11 a.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
Board of Zoning Appeals
Monday, Mar. 18, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
Ways and Means Committee
Tuesday, Apr. 2, 10 a.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, Apr. 2, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
TOWN OF SEABROOK
Special Committee/Short-Term Rentals
Wednesday, Mar. 13, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Planning Commission
Wednesday, Mar. 13, 1:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Environment and Wildlife Committee
Thursday, Mar. 14, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Public Safety Meeting
Tuesday, Mar. 19, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Home is Where the Hard Work Is
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
COMPLETES NEW HOME
BY EMILY SPECK For The Island Connection
Sea Island Habitat for Humanity is pleased to announce the successful completion and closing of a new home for a deserving local family. This achievement marks another significant milestone in our ongoing mission to provide safe, decent and affordable housing for families in need within our community.
Located on Johns Island, the newly built home is the result of dedicated efforts from volunteers, donors and community partners who have generously contributed their time, resources and expertise. From laying the foundation to installing the final fixtures, each step of the construction process has been a testament to the power of collaboration and the spirit of giving back.
"We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of this home and the beginning of a new chapter for local Johns Island resident, Ms. Claretha, who will soon move in," said John Rhoden, executive director for Sea Island Habitat for Humanity. "This achievement underscores our commitment to addressing the critical need for affordable
housing in our community and reflects the unwavering support of our volunteers and supporters."
As the community celebrates this milestone, Sea Island Habitat for Humanity reaffirms its dedication to serving families in need and invites community members to join the mission to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
About Sea Island Habitat for Humanity:
Sea Island Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building strength, stability and selfreliance through shelter. Since 1978, we have been working to provide affordable housing solutions for families in need across James, Johns, Wadmalaw Islands and the surrounding areas. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, we empower families to achieve the dream of homeownership and create a lasting impact in our community.
For more information about Sea Island Habitat for Humanity and how you can get involved, please visit seaislandhabitat.org
and
Kiawah Village Dentistry is accepting new patients, please call and schedule your appointment today. From routine care to full smile makeovers, Dr. Plunkett and his caring staff are here to assist you. We are proud to offer the highest level of care to our community.
our community members. This is the start of a key project of our Kiawah Goes Green initiative.” Heidingsfelder also leads the Kiawah Goes Green initiative.
Erin Pomrenke, communications manager for the Town of Kiawah Island, said that statistics on EVs in the area from Dominion Energy puts the number at about 300 for EVs and PHEVs on Kiawah, but that number shoots up to 3,000 for EV owners in areas within 50 miles of Kiawah.
Seabrook Island just approved installation of their first EV charging stations in late 2023. The four Level-2 Universal EV Chargers will be installed in the parking lot of Seabrook Island Town Hall.
The Town of Kiawah Island recently conducted a survey that garnered a total of 1,410 responses about EVs. The survey noted that 455 people would consider purchasing an EV if there were additional EV charging stations on the island. On the other hand, 775 respondents said that they would choose Freshfields Village as the most desirable place for an EV charging station. There were only 211 residents who said they charge their EVs at home.
Heidingsfelder recognized that one of the challenges they face is with the multi-family condo buildings where some HOA regulations do not allow EV charging stations on the premises. For this reason, Heidingsfelder said that they do envision more EV charging stations going up at various amenities on the island in the future.
Pomrenke said that the Town has one electric vehicle that the building department utilizes. She said they are also purchasing another EV, a Ford Lightning truck, that they expect to have available and utilized by the public works department in the spring.
Heidingsfelder said that the Town will study how the EVs perform for their work purposes and, if the results are positive, they will consider purchasing EVs for other entities on the island, like for Beach Patrol and Turtle Patrol.
“We will never intend to switch all fleet vehicles of the Town, KICA, the Resort or the Kiawah Island Conservancy, which together is somewhere around 200 vehicles, to EVs because we need to be flexible enough for certain cases and for our preparedness during and after massive storms. But a certain portion of the fleets can and probably will transfer to EVs over a longer period,” Heidingsfelder said. The EV charging initiative is to:
• Reduce the carbon footprint of the Town’s vehicle fleet.
• Provide a service to the community to have charging stations nearby – otherwise, constituents have to drive to West Ashley to charge their vehicle.
• Provide peace of mind for those that would consider buying an EV but are currently hesitant because of the missing infrastructure.
The Town of Kiawah Island is also currently testing the use of battery-operated landscaping equipment, especially leaf blowers, based on the newest available battery technology.
Sun and Run
THE BARRIER ISLAND EARTH DAY 5K AND FESTIVAL
BY JARED CRAIN
For The Island Connection
On Saturday, April 20, the Barrier Island Environmental Education Program at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center is hosting an Earth Day 5K Fun Run and Festival.
The fundraiser will raise money for the education program’s scholarship and outreach, creating opportunities for South Carolina schools and students in need of financial aid to visit and experience the environmental programming of Barrier Island and become generational stewards of nature.
Whether runners are looking for a fitness challenge, a fun exploration or a pleasant Saturday morning stroll, the Earth Day 5K will guide participants through a network of beautiful maritime ecosystems and coastal scenery. Runners and walkers will experience five environments in five kilometers: maritime
forest, salt marsh, dunes, estuary and beach. A festival with a silent auction, food trucks, games, activities, education booths, live music and live animals will immediately follow the Fun Run at St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center, for which you may register along with the Fun Run or separately.
The 5K will begin at 8:30 a.m., and festival events will begin at 10:00 a.m. You may register ahead of time for both the 5K Fun Run and the Festival or just the Festival. Volunteers, donations and race sponsors are also welcome.
Contact Outreach Coordinator, Jared Crain, at jcrain@stchristopher.org, with any questions about the event. Register now through the St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center Website under the Barrier Island - 2024 Earth Day 5K section.
Spring for Some Original
Art
14TH ANNUAL ART SHOW RETURNS TO SEABROOK
BY TINA MAYLAND For The Island Connection
Nine Artists will display their work Saturday, March 30 under the Big Tent on the Green at Seabrook Island Realty
Some of the area’s leading artists will be participating in the Sea Islands Chamber of Commerce’s 14th Annual Art Show on the green at Seabrook Island Realty (just outside the gate to Seabrook Island). This year’s lineup of juried artists includes Kellie Jacobs, Jennifer Black, Sandra Roper, Lisa Willits, Bob LeFevre, Tina Mayland, Colleen Wiessmann, Jen Stacker and Betsy Jones McDonald.
as well as the followers of their work. The show, which is always held the day before Easter, is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Each artist will be displaying original work, and all pieces are for sale. You’ll see oils, pastels and watercolors, and styles vary from representational to impressionistic to abstract. Some of the artists will also be painting live, so it’s a great opportunity to meet them and see their creative process in action.
There’s no better way to spend a Saturday than looking at amazing art in a Lowcountry setting.
Each of the featured artists is wellknown throughout the region and looks forward to the chance to see each other
For more about the Art Show, visit the Sea Islands Chamber of Commerce website at seaislandschamber.org/Art_Walk.html.
BY KELLIE JACOBS
Love Your Neighbor OUR LADY OF MERCY COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO HOST ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
BY JEANNIE COLSON For The Island Connection
Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach announces its annual fundraising event, the Love Your Neighbor Celebration, is scheduled to take place March 17 at 11:30 a.m. at the exquisite Seabrook Island Club.
This much-anticipated event promises an enchanting afternoon filled with purpose and compassion. Attendees will be treated to a seated lunch, a silent auction, a wine pull and a captivating cocktail hour—all in support of a greater cause. The Love Your Neighbor Celebration brings together the community for an unforgettable experience while contributing to the wellbeing of families and communities in need.
The Love Your Neighbor Celebration is a gathering that goes beyond a delightful lunch and entertainment. It is a moment to come together in support of Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach's mission to build equitable communities and empower individuals to reach their full potential by providing basic and emergency needs, education, employment and health services.
The silent auction and wine pull, integral components of the Love Your Neighbor Celebration, add an element of excitement to the event. Attendees can bid on an array of exclusive items and experiences, with all proceeds going toward supporting Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach's impactful programs and services.
The cocktail hour, featuring the live Gullah singing group Voices of Deliverance and local vendors, will provide a festive atmosphere for attendees to unwind and celebrate the community's spirit of generosity.
All funds from the event will contribute to Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach's ongoing efforts to provide essential programs and services that empower individuals and families.
The community is invited to join this celebration of compassion, community and the shared commitment to building a better future for all.
Tickets for the Love Your Neighbor Celebration can be purchased at event.gives/ olmloveyourneighbor. Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and individuals looking to support the cause. For details, please visit the website or contact Marnie Bonn at Marnie.Bonn@olmoutreach.org.
Cheers to Spring TOAST UNDER THE OAKS
BY SARAH REYNOLDS For The Island Connection
Beverages, live music and beautiful scenery await guests at Toast under the Oaks at Johns Island County Park this spring. The event will be held on Thursday, March 14 and Thursday, April 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. each day. This popular happy hour event is held beneath the sweeping live oak trees at this scenic park on Johns Island. Beer and wine are included with admission. Each event will also feature food trucks selling fare on site.
On March 14, enjoy live music from Mark Jackson and food truck fare from Papa Grande Comfort, Zimos Gyro and Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck. On April 18, Lane Doss will perform, and Empanada Cuisines, Lib's Diner and Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck will be on site.
Admission to each Toast Under the Oaks event is $20 per person in advance
and $25 day of, if available (credit card only). Valid ID must be presented for alcohol, and outside alcohol is prohibited. Ages 20 and under are welcome with a paid chaperone. Dogs are welcome but must remain leashed at the event. Guests are encouraged to bring their own tables and chairs.
Johns Island County Park is located at 2662 Mullet Hall Road, just off River Road. The park is owned and operated by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission and features miles of scenic trails for pedestrian and equestrian use, as well as an archery range and an off-leash dog park.
For more information on Toast Under the Oaks, or to purchase tickets for this event, visit CharlestonCountyParks. com. This event is brought to you by your Charleston County Parks.
Meet REBECCA HAYNES, VP & Executive Director for Audubon of South Carolina and learn about the mission and impact of Audubon in the Palmetto State.
Photo by Melissa McMasters
How Sweet it is PRESERVING SWEETGRASS CULTURE FOR THE FUTURE
BY SEAN CANNON For The Island Connection
In 2022, Collie Farah, land preservation specialist for the Kiawah Conservancy, struck up a conversation with a sweetgrass basket weaver selling her art at the Rosebank Farmstand on Johns Island. The weaver told Farah about the difficulties she and other weavers were having sourcing sweetgrass for their art. This conversation prompted Farah to explore some new possibilities for bridging the Conservancy’s habitat restoration efforts with the cultural preservation of this historic art form.
Could seeds from native sweetgrass plants found on Kiawah Island be harvested and grown to provide this much-needed source? Where would the Conservancy grow the plants? How would they know that the plants grown are the “right” plants for this art form? How would they get plants and/or the parts of the plants needed for the basket weavers? Would sweetgrass basket artisans even be interested in a partnership? With all these questions in mind, the Conservancy’s investigative work began.
In 2023, the Conservancy hired restoration and enhancement specialist Sean Cannon. Farah brought him to speed on the idea, and the investigation took off. Cannon reached out to Marilyn Hemingway, president and founder of the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce
and the Gullah Geechee Chamber Foundation to learn more about the issues facing basket-makers and to see how the Conservancy might partner with the Chamber, Foundation, and local artisans in a mutually beneficial project — a sweetgrass farm.
Hemingway introduced Cannon to fifth-generation sweetgrass artisan Corey Alston, who explained that not all sweetgrass plants are the same. The sweetgrass you see growing on the Kiawah Island Parkway, for example, is certainly beautiful – but although it may have benefits for wildlife and other conservation efforts, it isn’t good for making sweetgrass baskets. The sweetgrass plants found in the medians, landscaping and roadsides throughout Charleston and the surrounding areas have been subject to fertilizers, insecticides and harsh cutting. These subjections make the individual grass strands of each plant tough, and tough grass strands are harder to weave, especially for the older artisans (those who carry and teach the art form). Native untouched sweetgrass is softer, more pliable and therefore better for basket weaving.
With all of this in mind, the Conservancy collected seeds from native sweetgrass plants on remote areas of Kiawah Island. These plants had the feel
that Alston had described and hadn’t been subjected to harsh chemicals or trimming. The seeds were transferred to Charleston Aquatics, where they were grown to plugs and, in the spring of 2023, the Conservancy planted 1,400 of these sweetgrass plugs at a sweetgrass farm. In addition, 130 plugs were distributed to attendees of the first annual Sweetgrass Celebration for planting at their homes or businesses.
Renovated to the studs, this villa is offered turnkey and features custom soft close cabinetry, newer appliances, and an open kitchen perfect for entertaining. Enjoy drinks on your upper deck overlooking Ocean Winds golf course surrounded by beautiful live oaks, or take a quick bike ride to island amenities including a clubhouse, beachfront dining, and pool.
The sweetgrass farm is being watched by Conservancy staff in partnership with Alston and cared for by Sidi Limehouse while everyone watches and waits for harvesting. All are hopeful that this crop will be the “right” sweetgrass – soft, pliable and meeting the needs and wants of Lowcountry sweetgrass basket artisans. Learn more about the Kiawah Conservancy and how you can get involved in their efforts at kiawahconservancy.org.
PHOTO BY SHARONDAWN
New Players Join Tennis Lineup
CHARLESTON OPEN POISED FOR A GOOD GAME
BY ARIELLE ALPINO For The Island Connection
AGrand Slam champion and two former Charleston champions have joined the growing player field for the 2024 Credit One Charleston Open, taking place March 30 - April 7 at the state-of-the-art Credit One Stadium.
World No. 10 and 2017 Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko, World No. 12 and 2017 Charleston Open champion Daria Kasatkina and World No. 19 and 2021 Charleston Open champion Veronika Kudermetova will compete at the largest women’s-only professional tennis tournament in North America next month. The Credit One Charleston Open was recently named the WTA 500 Tournament of the Year for the second consecutive season.
The talented trio joins a list which already includes World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, World No. 6 Ons Jabeur, World No. 9 Maria Sakkari, Americans Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens and Emma Navarro and fan favorites Elina Svitolina, Paula Badosa and Leylah Fernandez.
“The Credit One Charleston Open will welcome a sensational player lineup to the Lowcountry next month,” said Bob
O u r b r a n d n e w f l e e t i s c u s t o m r i g g e d f o r a l l
y o u r L o w c o u n t r y b o a t i n g n e e d s !
O u r c u s t o m “ B o
Moran, tournament director of the Credit One Charleston Open and President of Beemok Sports & Entertainment.
“With Ostapenko being a Grand Slam champion and Kasatkina and Kudermetova both showcasing their skills as past Charleston champions, we’re guaranteed unforgettable tennis. And, off the court, our tournament has invested in fan experiences that will keep our attendees engaged and entertained from day to night. We hope to see everyone at Credit One Stadium for our 52nd tournament.”
The Credit One Charleston Open has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports since 1973, paving the path for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay in the sport.
Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is played on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to the Credit One Stadium.
Tickets can be purchased online at creditonecharlestonopen.com or by calling 843-856-7900. For more information, please email tickets@charlestontennisllc.com or visit creditonecharlestonopen.com.
a n d y o u r c r e w a c c e s s t o A L L S I X l o c a l b o a t c l u b l o c a t i o n s !
PHOTO BY GONZALO FACELLO:
Partners in the Arts
KIAWAH
ARTS, ETC. FUNDS THE ARTS FOR SEA ISLAND SCHOOLS
BY MARTHA ZINK For The Island Connection
Kiawah Arts, etc. raises money to successfully fund local arts organizations, which offer varied programs to bring visual, literary and musical arts to the schoolchildren of Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. In 2024, the following organizations are partnering with Kiawah Arts, etc.
Chamber Music Charleston has worked with K-3rd grade students, introducing them to instruments and sing-along interactive stories set to music. They are also conducting a String Residence program at Haut Gap Middle School, visiting individual strings classes, providing coaching and performing with students in rehearsals. They will partner with Charleston Stage to provide instrumental music for a 30-minute musical, Of Mice and Mozart, performed by 5th graders at Mt. Zion Elementary School. It tells the story of Mozart from the perspective of imaginary ancestor mice who lived in his house.
Elementary School to explore the connection between West Africa and the Lowcountry in cultural traditions of drumming and dance, as well as food and fashion.
The Gaillard Center was funded by Arts, etc as a founding partner in their pilot program for family theatrical programs highlighting Southern minority stories, beginning with the theatrical work Finding Freedom: The Journey of Robert Smalls. Students from all five schools on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands were given in-school workshops and attended performances at The Gaillard.
Palmetto City Ballet, as part of their educational outreach program, will bring performances to Angel Oak and Frierson Elementary Schools, preceded by a short discussion on ballet and followed by a Q&A session.
Charleston Jazz has taught Melodica class to 4th and 5th graders at Angel Oak Elementary School and a Jazz Combo Class at the middle and high schools, expanding musical education and helping them understand an instrument, play in a small ensemble and learn the basics of improvisation. This past Fall, they worked with Charleston Jazz Express to present a special performance by Grammy award-winning artist Quiana Parker.
Charleston Stage Company/City Stage will present to the elementary students on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands a hip-hop/Motown musical called Last Stop on Market Street. In preparation for students attending performances at the Dock Street Theater, resident actors go to the schools and teach literacy standards through theater, music and movement instruction in Arts/Integration workshops.
College of Charleston Children’s Opera will present Jack and the Beanstalk, using music of Gilbert & Sullivan, at Angel Oak, Frierson and Mt. Zion Elementary Schools.
ECM, through its Village Hearts program, allows students at Angel Oak
PURE Theatre provides after-school theater training programs to both Haut Gap Middle School and St. John’s High School. PURE Youth Companies are intensive theater-training programs offering in-depth instruction throughout the year. Septima, performed at St. Johns High School, was especially relevant because Septima Clark taught in Johns Island schools. The performance celebrated St. Johns High school’s rich history while exposing students to professional theater.
YO CODE! is a 10-12 week course designed to teach elementary and middle school students the basic principles of computer coding. The student will use MIT Scratch drop and drag programming for math lessons, then continue to build on this skill set. The pilot program at Haut Gap was a great success.
Arts, etc. has also funded separate requested programs at all of the schools on the two islands. All proceeds from the Arts, etc. Art and House Tour on April 5 will fund these programs, as will all donations, member and business sponsors. The organization especially thanks their presenting sponsor, First National Bank in Freshfields.
Tickets for the tour and sponsorship opportunities are available at kiawahartsetc.org.
ONGOING
WHAT: Dining For A Cause
around the islands...
WHEN: Tuesday evenings, Jan. 30 - Apr. 30
WHERE: FortyEight - Wine Bar & Kitchen, Freshfields Village
MORE INFO: Guests can make a reservation on Resy anytime between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. and 50% of the revenues from their dinner(s) will be donated to the charity. More details at fortyeightwinebar.com.
WHAT: Kiawah Spirits Complimentary Tastings
WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. - 5p.m.
WHERE: Kiawah Spirits, Freshfields Village
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.
WHAT: Ming Smith: Feeling the Future
WHEN: Jan. 31 - Apr. 28
WHERE: International African American Museum
MORE INFO: The International African American Museum (IAAM) presents "Ming Smith: Feeling the Future". This exhibition showcases the groundbreaking career of Ming Smith from the 1970s to the present, exploring her vibrant and multi-layered artistic practice.
SUNDAY, MAR. 10
WHAT: Quentin E. Baxter Presents Jontavious Willis
WHERE: Turtle Point Club House
WHEN: 4 p.m.
MORE INFO: The third concert in the series features GRAMMY®-Nominated, Award-winning vocalist/guitarist Jontavious Willis. He's on a mission to revive traditional Blues with his unique blend of Georgia heritage and reverence for the genre's roots. With dynamic vocals and technical prowess, Jontavious delivers original toe-tapping tunes in the Delta, Piedmont, Texas, and Gospel Blues styles, injecting vitality into the Blues community.
THURSDAY, MAR. 14
WHAT: 5 Course Wine & Food Pairing Dinner
WHEN: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
WHERE: FortyEight - Wine Bar & Kitchen, Freshfields Village
MORE INFO: This dinner features Pahlmeyer, an iconic name in Napa Valley, known for rich Napa Valley Bordeaux wine, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and the namesake winemaker, Jayson Pahlmeyer. We will serve two Pahlmeyer wines and two Jayson wines. More details at fortyeightwinebar.com.
MONDAY, MAR. 18
WHAT: Queens of Rock and Soul: A Tribute to Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin
WHERE: West Beach Conference Center
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Immerse yourself in the electrifying blend of rock and soul with Queens of Rock & Soul, a tribute honoring the legendary Tina Turner and Aretha
Franklin. Prepare to be mesmerized as Nadia Rochelle delivers a sensational portrayal of Tina Turner, igniting the stage with her dynamic performance. Joining her is Christian "Black Diamond" Smalls, paying homage to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, with a soulful tribute that spans the realms of R&B and Soul.
THURSDAY, MAR. 21
WHAT: Wine Tasting
WHEN: 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
WHERE: FortyEight - Wine Bar & Kitchen, Freshfields Village
MORE INFO: Come taste 4 wines from Hamilton Russell/Southern Right of South Africa and learn about these wines from the winery representative. A fun hour of tasting while also enjoying cheese and charcuterie. More information available at fortyeightwinebar.com.
SUNDAY, APR. 7
WHAT: College of Charleston Young Artists: Clara Camacho, Pianist
WHERE: Church of Our Savior
WHEN: 4 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Kiawah Island Arts Council and the College of Charleston Department of Music introduce Clara Camacho, a talented pianist with FrancoVenezuelan roots, hailing from a family of musicians. Throughout her years of dedicated study, Clara achieved remarkable success, winning the prestigious National Piano Competition of Chatou for two consecutive years.
SUNDAY, APR. 14
WHAT: 18th Annual Blues by the Sea
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 3 p.m.
MORE INFO: The much-anticipated event, Blues by the Sea, is making its triumphant return. Gather your friends and family, grab your favorite chair, spread out a picnic blanket, and pack a cooler filled with delicious treats. Settle in for a delightful evening by the sea as you immerse yourself in the soulful melodies and electrifying rhythms of live blues music. The impressive line up will be released soon so stay tuned.
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There are two basic reasons why you should make and eat guacamole. First, it tastes great. Guacamole, of course, comes from the avocado plant, which is native to warm semi-tropical forests of the new world, especially the Caribbean and Mexico. Now, avocados have received a lot of bad press as food sources, since they contain a good deal of fat, which seems to be the bane of modern existence. Hold on, though – it turns out that the fat inside ripe avocados is largely unsaturated, also known as "good" fat. True, there are calories, but for the amount of guacamole you eat, it tends to be a lot healthier than similar foods with lots of calories. Some people use ripe avocado to spread on toast, in place of butter or margarine. There are actually plenty of ways to prepare it. Besides, avocado is full of vitamins, especially E and C, as well as plenty of minerals. The flesh is also high in fiber. Avocado oil is great for your skin too.
Making guacamole can be an act of creative genius. Guacamole purists, such as myself, use only some lime juice, salt and pepper (maybe a little hot sauce) for its preparation, whereas fancy versions frequently contain combinations of chopped onion, tomatoes, jalapeño, coriander . . .. you get the idea. Perhaps the greatest guacamole controversies
Tableside or Windowsill
BY JOHN NELSON For The Island Connection
concern its texture: really smooth, out of a blender versus lightly mashed with a fork and a bit lumpy.
By the way, you might be interested to know that the avocado plant is a member of the laurel family, Lauraceae. This is the same family that gives us our native sassafras and red-bay around these parts. The second reason for
We also offer FREE deconstruction services.
making your own guacamole is that you get a houseplant out of it. Growing an avocado plant from a seed is rather simple . . . and it is this seed that poses a bit of a mystery.
The seed is relatively massive,
compared to the size of the fruit . . . a common trait of many (certainly not all) tropical tree species. The avocado fruit itself consists of three distinctive layers. The outermost layer is the bright, shiny skin (green or brown depending on the variety), then a thick, soft interior layer (the wonderful edible part) and finally, a thin brown shell which covers the seed. The seed consists of an embryo surrounded by two swollen yellowish or tan halves, which are what we call the seed-leaves. These seed-leaves store energy for the tiny embryo during its early growth.
Wash off the seed, leave the shell on, and place the larger end in a jelly jar holding a little water. After a couple of weeks, a root will appear at the bottom as the seed slowly sprouts. Once the leaves start to expand, you can pot up the seed, and there you are. A little bit of the tropics, right in your kitchen or on your patio.
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.
Source: saltwatertides.com 7:13am/7:25pm 9:02am/9:17pm 9:50am/10:07pm 10:38am/10:57pm 11:26am/11:48pm 12:16pm 12:41am/1:10pm 1:37am/1:37pm 2:39am/3:11pm 3:43am/4:14pm 4:47am/5:15pm 5:44am/6:09pm 6:34am/6:58pm 7:17am/7:42pm 12:41am/1:16pm 1:35am/3:03pm 3:28am/3:50pm 4:20am/4:36pm 5:12am/5:23pm 6:06am/6:12pm 7:02am/7:04pm 8:01am/8:02pm 9:04am/9:05pm 10:08am/10:09pm 11:07am/11:11pm 12:00pm 12:06am/12:46pm 12:54am/1:26pm
[Answer: "Avocado," Persea americana]
PHOTO BY JOHN NELSON
Standing: Tom Peck, John Halter, Amanda Benepe, Ryan Straup, Patsy Zanetti, Ingrid Phillips, Mary Ann Lloyd, Stuart Spisak, Joy Dellapina, Michelle Almeyda-Wiedemuth Seated: Pat Polychron, Chip Olsen, Stuart Rumph,
Chafe