MUSC Health Kiawah Partners Pavilion closer to reality with $6 million donation
BY FAITH ARENTH
For The Island Connection
Kiawah Partners and the Medical University Hospital Authority announced the closing of a conveyed land donation for the future MUSC Health Kiawah Partners Pavilion.
The 3-acre parcel, valued at $6 million and generously donated by Kiawah Partners, will bring emergency and specialty care to the residents of Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns islands. The project, spearheaded by Kiawah Partners, will address the health care needs of the local barrier island communities.
“We are very excited to be able to provide enhanced access to emergency, primary care and specialty services to the residents and visitors of the Sea Islands community,” said Patrick J. Cawley, M.D., CEO of MUSC Health and executive vice president for Health Affairs, University. “Once construction begins, the project is expected to take 15 to
18 months. Once opened, the facility will deliver stateof-the-art health care to meet the needs of the Seabrook, Kiawah and the Johns Island communities.”
As part of MUSC Health’s broader strategy, the MUSC Health-Charleston Division has focused on improving community access and delivering local care across the greater Tri-County region and coastal communities to the north and south of Charleston. This approach enables the flagship facilities downtown to offer specialized and complex care, while enhancing overall accessibility and continuity of care for patients and families, especially in underserved areas. Since 2019, four new multispecialty ambulatory care centers have opened in West Ashley, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant, expanding the reach of high-quality care.
“This project was initiated to meet the immense need for medical services for this important community. With
Power at a Price
CHARGING AN EV ON KIAWAH IS NO LONGER FREE
BY THERESA STRATFORD
For The Island Connection
If you didn’t take advantage of the Town of Kiawah Island’s free electric vehicle charging while you had the chance, well, the proverbial party is over. Owners of EVs in and around Kiawah Island will now have to pay to power up at the Town’s charging station.
The Town’s Operations Manager, Michael Nardelli, presented the options for EV charging payments at the October 1 Town Council meeting. But before he presented the payment options, he provided some important data that has been collected since the chargers were installed on June 21.
Two dual port BLINK EV charging stations were installed at the Municipal Center in April of 2024. At that time, the service to use the charging stations was free for up to 90 days. The Town decided to offer the service for free so that they could track data. Since completion of the 90 days, the
no convenient emergency health care options currently available, we have been working for almost 10 years to figure out a way to bring accessible health care to the Sea Islands,” said Chris Randolph, a partner with South Street Partners.
“This is a very important and momentous step in the development process of the medical facility. It also serves as confirmation of our commitment to this development since we have conveyed this $6 million parcel of land as a donation to MUSC. We feel very grateful to partner with such an excellent health care system.”
Of the estimated $30 million needed to fund the project, MUSC Health is committed to raising $17 million in private support. To date, it has received more than $11 million in confirmed gifts, many of which have come from area residents.
Rules Set Ahead of Public Hearing on Short-Term Rentals
BY THERESA STRATFORD
For The Island Connection
In anticipation of the October 15 public hearing regarding short-term rental policies on Seabrook Island, the Town Council took it upon themselves to set some boundaries about how the meeting will go.
In their regular Town Council meeting on September 24, Mayor Bruce Kleinman proposed a short set of rules for public hearings held outside of special called meetings.
He mentioned that their current ordinance related to the rules for public
hearings wasn’t sufficient. “The ordinance doesn’t even specify that a public hearing could be conducted as a stand-alone meeting as part of the special called meeting,” he said.
Kleinman proposed the following:
• There should be one public hearing for all four of the ordinances related to the short-term rental policy.
• There should be a five-minute time limit for comments.
• The mayor will have
A rendering of the future MUSC Health facility.
Denise K. James editor denisekjames@gmail.com Swan Richards grAPhic design Advertising
chargers have been used 740 hours, provided over 4,851 kWh of power and have saved 36,675 barrels of oil. These chargers have also saved 873 gallons of fuel and ultimately reduced 17,457 pounds of CO2 emissions.
Nardelli said that there are many options for EV charging payments, such as per hour, per kilowatt, establishing idle fees, etc.
The options Nardelli presented were:
1. Charge just the cost of electricity at 16 cents per kilowatt hour.
2. Charge per kilowatt hour of use at a justifiable market rate of 40 cents to cover electricity costs and to break even with the maintenance of the stations. This would cover what Berkeley Electric is charging but would also cover the cost of the $960 a year in warranty and network fees.
3. Charging per kilowatt hour of use at a fair justifiable market of 25 cents to cover electricity costs and help offset the maintenance of the stations.
4. Residents of the Island: Charge by usage: $0.16/kW + idle fee of $3/hour that they are plugged in past charging to encourage moving their vehicle. Visitors: $2/hour + $3/hour idle fee once the charging session is completed (In this case, they will be billed $5 when the car is done charging every hour until it is moved).
Nardelli said that the recommendation by the staff was option three. He said it had the lowest administration issues and it would allow the Town to break even on the costs.
“This option will also help us be a little more competitive with Seabrook Island’s EV chargers. Ours might cost a little more, but ours are also a bit stronger,” he added. Nardelli also provided data on the cost of EV chargers in other municipalities:
• Seabrook Island is charging 18 cents per kilowatt hour.
• Mount Pleasant is charging 20 cents per kilowatt hour.
• Bees Ferry Library in West Ashley is charging 20 cents per kilowatt hour.
• The Sanctuary with the Kiawah
TOWN OF KIAWAH
Board of Zoning Appeals
Monday, October 21 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
CERT Team
Wednesday, October 23, 3 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Planning Commission Workshop
Tuesday, October 29 2 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Ways & Means Committee
Tuesday, November 5, 10 a.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, November 5, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Island Golf Resort is charging 40 cents per kilowatt hour.
The chargers at the Kiawah Island Town Council are the BLINK brand. They will charge an 8% credit card processing fee to the consumers. Nardelli added that the average time for a standard Tesla to charge is about three hours and will cost between $12.50 and $18.75, based on the size of the battery.
“It’s approved at 25 cents per kilowatt hour, which will cover the variable costs. We can revisit as necessary,” Belt concluded. Electric Vehicles (continued from page 1)
The Town’s Ford F150 Lightning EV vehicle takes six hours to charge and costs $24.50. Town Council Member Russell Berner commented on the fact that he didn’t see the chargers being used much when the rate was free. “I have a feeling that half of the time, it was the Town’s fleet using the chargers,” he said.
He recommended that the Town do a better job with marketing for the chargers. Nardelli said that although the usage increased over the summer months, he realizes that the usage would be seasonal. He noted that in the month of June, there were 71 hours used (however, they did not start until June 21), July had 312 hours, and August calculated 357 hours.
Mayor Bradley Belt made the motion to go with staff’s recommendation of option three for the payment of the EV chargers.
Residential Cleaning Services
TOWN OF SEABROOK Town Council
Tuesday, October 22, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Utility Commission
Wednesday, October 23, 8:30 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Board of Zoning Appeals
Thursday, October 23, 1 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Environment & Wildlife Committee
Friday, October 25, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
STR Ordinances, First Reading
Monday, October 28, 9:30 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Short-Term Rental
the authority to adjourn the meeting, if it goes past noon, for lunch.
• Strike in the current ordinance that the public hearing would last 30 minutes.
• People who sign up in advance would be given priority to speak.
Assistant Town Administrator Katharine Watkins will send instructions for those people who will be accessing the meeting via Zoom. There is the option to speak via Zoom. She will also help facilitate phone call comments if someone needs to call in. Watkins noted that they have some people who are going to be accessing the meeting via Zoom, and, at the time of the Seabrook Island Town Council meeting, there were two people signed up via Zoom who will be speaking.
There will also be a sign-up sheet for speakers at the meeting, but for those who want to sign up in advance, which they recommend, the sign-up sheet is on the Town’s website.
The rules were adopted by the Town Council ahead of the public hearing on October 15 at 9:30 a.m. at the Kiawah Island Town Hall. Seabrook is holding their public hearing at the Kiawah Island Town Hall due to its larger size. Some aspects of the ordinances being addressed are:
• Ordinance 2024-06 – Related to short-term rentals and conditional use requirements for short-term rental units operating within the Town. A fee schedule is also reflected with changes relating to permitting requirements and procedures for short-term rental units within the town.
• Ordinance 2024-07 – Amending the official zoning district map of the Town of Seabrook Island to reflect the location of the short-term rental overlay district.
• Ordinance 2024-08 – Relates to amending the rates of short-term rental licenses.
• Ordinance 2024-09 – Refers to regulations pertaining to trash, litter and debris, illegal dumping; the parking of vehicles, etc.
Copies of the full ordinances can be located on the Town of Seabrook Island website. Pre-registration to speak, information to participate virtually, and how to submit a written comment can also be found there. For more information, email kwatkins@ townofseabrookisland.org.
Tea Time
KIAWAH GARDEN CLUB
VISITS CHARLESTON
TEA GARDEN
BY KRISTIN B. THOMPSON For The Island Connection
On October 9, members of the Kiawah Island Garden Club traveled the short distance to Wadmalaw Island to visit the only tea garden in North America where visitors can see hundreds of thousands of tea bushes stretching out acre after acre, almost as far as the eye can see. We were in luck, because on this day, employees of the Charleston Tea Garden were both harvesting tea leaves in the field and processing the new growth to produce tea in the factory.
Our visit began with a trolley tour
through the fields, where the Big Green Machine was busy cutting the tops of the Camellia Sinensis bushes for the first step in making tea. This plant is currently used to produce both black and green teas and exists in over 320 varieties on the 127 acre grounds of the Charleston Tea Garden. The trolley stops at the greenhouse where visitors can watch the cultivation of new plants. Tea is only second to water in worldwide liquid consumption, so the Tea Garden is continuously striving to expand the amount of land under cultivation.
Kick off Holiday Shopping
SIAG PRESENTS ARTS AND CRAFTS SHOW
BY BONNIE YOUNGINER
For The Island Connection
Please stop by our holiday art show, browse the artworks, and, if inclined, make a purchase. All multi-medium artwork produced by our fine artists and artisans are available for purchase, many ideal for Christmas giftgiving.
A portion of all sales will be donated to the St. John’s Island High School to purchase materials and products in support of their art classes. Not only will you be purchasing a one-of-a-kind treasure at this show, you will be supporting a very worthy cause.
This show takes place on Black Friday, November 29, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Live Oak Hall in the Seabrook Lake House. The show is open to everyone on Seabrook Island, Kiawah Island and Johns Island. A restricted gate pass will be issued to all non-Seabrookers upon arrival at the Seabrook entry gate.
The fragrance of tea filled the air as the Garden Club members entered the Factory. Both the unique tea harvesting machines and the employees were hard at work taking the newly shorn tea leaves through the many steps. Five pounds of tea leaves are processed down to one pound of tea. The Garden Club members were intrigued to learn that all types of tea (black, green, oolong, etc.) are produced from the same leaves, which involves the carefully timed implementation of ancient practices of withering, rolling, bruising, fixing, fermentation and drying.
Garden Club members finished their visit with a picnic table lunch under the beautiful live oaks. Fall is the perfect time to take your guests to the Charleston Tea Garden, with a stop to see the Angel Oak on your travels home.
(right) Greenhouse (above) the Big Green Machine.
Experience breathtaking marsh and riverfront views from this beautiful townhome, complete with two private decks perfect for taking in the sunsets. Crab and fish from your own shared dock, or take a short walk to the neighborhood pool, Racquet Club, Lake House, and Equestrian Center. Enjoy features like a vaulted ceiling with skylights, a cozy fireplace, and expansive marsh views from the main living area.
PICTURES BY JOSEPH M. THOMPSON.
New blood pressure monitoring initiative launches in Summerville
The American Heart Association, a global force for longer, healthier lives, announced a new blood pressure monitoring initiative with the YMCA.
Members at the Downtown Family Summerville YMCA and the YMCA at the Ponds now have access to on-site blood pressure monitoring. Additionally, educational materials are available, and patrons can sign up to receive text message updates with more information on managing blood pressure.
of this program.
“Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, often without realizing it. By providing these resources through the YMCA, we’re helping Lowcountry residents become more aware of their blood pressure levels and reduce the risk factors associated with stroke and heart disease.”
Turning Travelers’ Heads
THE SANCTUARY AT KIAWAH ISLAND GOLF RESORT EARNS ACCOLADES
BY BRYAN HUNTER For The Island Connection
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31.3% of adults in the Charleston area have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is often referred to as a “silent killer” because it may not present any symptoms. It’s important to check your blood pressure and know your numbers. Untreated high blood pressure can cause heart attack, stroke and other health threats.
Katie Schumacher, executive director of the American Heart Association in Charleston, emphasized the importance
“I’m excited about the blood pressure monitoring program because it provides a much-needed resource for the Summerville community,” said Brae Dewalt, community health coordinator for the Summerville YMCA. “By offering regular monitoring and education, we’re empowering individuals to take control of their health and prevent the long-term risks associated with high blood pressure. This program will help us promote a healthier community.”
The American Heart Association’s blood pressure education initiatives in the Charleston area are supported by Blackbaud. For more information about high blood pressure, visit heart.org/HBP.
Condé Nast Traveler recently announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards with The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort as the #1 Resort in The South and #23 among Best Resorts in the World.
More than 575,000 readers across the United States submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to offer a comprehensive look at the places they eagerly anticipate revisiting. The Readers’ Choice Awards, with their legacy as the travel industry’s longestrunning and most prestigious accolades,
remain the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of excellence within the travel sector. Kiawah Island also ranked second among Best Islands in the U.S.
“Everyone at The Sanctuary and throughout Kiawah Island Golf Resort joins me in celebrating this remarkable accolade,” said Bill Lacey, general manager at The Sanctuary. “The fact that Condé Nast Traveler’s discerning readers recognize the resort in this manner is a testimony to the unsurpassed experience our entire team strives to offer every guest, so this award is really a recognition of their tireless service.”
Sea Islands HUNGER AWARENESS FOUNDATION 2024 Hunger Awareness Challenge
The Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation (SIHAF) is extremely excited and forever Thankful for the loyal donors, who have again, so generously offered to Match our $100,000 - 2024 Hunger Awareness Challenge! And as we approach the Season of Giving, we hope you will join us in raising awareness, and much needed funds to support our programs and partners in their quest to provide nutritious food and clean water to our sea island neighbors, for the coming year. This is the foundation’s only fundraising event, and we need the entire community’s support. Awareness is our “middle name,” and we would like to make you Aware of some important Hunger Facts regarding our sea island neighbors and What We Do to Help:
SIHAF supports Fourteen (14) local organizations and programs… Eleven (11) Partners - Amor Healing Kitchen, Backpack Buddies of Seabrook Island, Hebron Zion Emergency Food Pantry, Hebron Zion Senior Citizens Ministry, Meals on Mondays of the Rockville Presbyterian Church, Charleston Area Senior Citizens Meals on Wheels Program, New Webster Johns Island Parish Food Pantry, St. James Bethel Food Pantry, Temple Take-Out Ministry of Wesley UMC, and Fields to Families and Sweetgrass Garden Co-op… our precious providers of thousands of pounds of produce, and three (3) Programs - Sea Islands Blessing Basket, Crock-Pot Cooking Classes, and Water Wellness Mission… our wonderful success story, whose “mission” has so inspired our community, that they have installed, and are maintaining 298 wells and are now qualifying new applications, and encourage additional support of our food programs and partners, as their needs continue to increase. Food costs have risen dramatically, and a potential new food pantry partner may be added soon!
SIHAF Programs and Partners serve Johns and Wadmalaw Islands’ residents in need, providing consistent, satisfying, and nourishing food, and clean water, to our sea island neighbors. See sidebar and photos of The Sea Islands Blessing Basket, highlighting their hard work, organization, impact and significant contribution to the community!
SIHAF Programs and Partners provide nutritious food, via meals, groceries, special programs, thousands of pounds of fresh produce, and clean water, to over 2,500 sea island neighbors, including 825 families, who deal with hunger every day.
SIHAF Programs and Partners must BUY nearly all the food they provide to our neighbors, and as you are very much aware, food prices are higher than ever! And of course, as food costs rise, the number of new applicants for assistance continues to rise!
SIHAF also seeks special funds to provide stoves, refrigerators, microwave ovens, crock pots and electric can openers to those who need assistance in preparing, cooking, and storing their food.
SIHAF is an ALL-Volunteer Organization. We, our Programs, Partners, Volunteers, and Generous Donors Feel a Responsibility to Share our good fortunes with our neighbors, and Lift Up those in need. Hundreds of Volunteers, including 11 Board members, give their time, talent, and treasure, to provide, prepare, secure, sort, pack, and distribute food to our clients, as well as work on our many outreach programs. With modest overhead, ninety seven percent of all Donations go toward Fighting Island Hunger. Clients are encouraged to “give back” by volunteering, sharing their good fortune, and doing a good deed for others when they can, and many do!
Please help us reach our goal of at least $200,000 so we can continue to Provide Our Programs, Support Our Partners, and Provide Food and Clean Water to our Sea Island Neighbors in Need in 2025. And please share this information with your friends and neighbors, new and old!
DONATE TODAY!
Mail to: Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation (SIHAF) PO Box 268, Johns Island, SC 29457-0268
Via Credit or Debit Card at: fightislandhunger.org
SIHAF is a 501c3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Sea Islands BLESSING BASKET
In 2016 when the Stono Baptist Church decided to no longer support and run the Sea Islands Blessing Basket, SIHAF was asked by the Low Country Food Bank and local community groups to take it over SIHAF secured a new location, began raising funds, recruited volunteers, and has successfully provided these much-needed services ever since.
Around 300 Blessing Baskets are delivered or distributed once a month in a drive-through at the Community Center located at 2389 Bohicket Road, Johns Island. The baskets are different each month but generally include canned goods, soups, stews, dried beans, rice, pasta, and other staples. Clients also receive fresh meat, vegetables, fruit, eggs, and bread Clients register by demonstrating or attesting to financial need Volunteers acquire the food, organize it for distribution, pack the bags, process clients, and transport the blessing baskets to the client’s vehicles. Blessing baskets are also delivered by volunteers to approximately 100 clients living in public housing or who have no means of transportation to get them to the distribution center.
Some clients access us while on disability or during other temporary periods of need, but most of the people we serve are elderly, unable to work or have chronic health issues that keep them in poverty and therefore return steadily month after month. A significant number of Wadmalaw and Johns Island residents live below the poverty level and struggle to meet their basic food and nutrition needs. There are a significant number of grandparents caring for grandchildren. The Blessing Basket effort addresses hunger for people in need by providing a variety of nutritious, desirable foods to them The number of clients we serve has increased steadily over the last four years and we sign up new clients every month Reliable financial and volunteer support enables us to maintain and improve the quantity, quality, and variety of the items we provide and to offer our clients more fresh, healthy, nutritious food. The food offered by the LCFB is limited in variety and quantity and is subject to changing availability Most of the food we provide is purchased from local retailers at sale prices. It currently costs approximately $10,000 per month to support the Blessing Basket program We rely on fundraising by SIHAF, grants from civic and charitable organizations and individual contributions. We also work to give recipients a feeling of courtesy, friendship, respect, and human dignity during the food distribution process.
The Sea Islands Blessing Basket organization is a partner agency of the Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) that serves low-income individuals and families through USDA’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and USDA’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The food items provided by USDA’s TEFAP are included in the Sea Islands Blessing Baskets The Lowcountry Food Bank provides some shelf stable foods and fresh produce each month We also purchase some non-perishable items as well as meat at subsidized prices from LCFB. In addition, and without subsidy, the Blessing Basket serves as a conduit for LCFB for distributing US Department of Agriculture food to approximately 180 Johns, Wadmalaw and James Islands individuals and families who qualify based on age and income. The record keeping and reporting requirements for this element of our mission are extensive and require many volunteer hours each month.
around the islands...
ONGOING
WHAT: Booze and Boos Tours
WHERE: Henry’s on Market, 54 N Market St., Charleston
WHEN: Seven days a week through November 16
MORE INFO: This 2.5-hour tour will begin at Henry's on the Market where you will have the chance to purchase some spirits of your own to enjoy while your pirate guide shares stories. From there, you will go on a walking adventure to check out some haunted sites on the way to your next libation. The tour will end in Vendue Range.
WHAT: Pumpkin Patch
WHERE: Various
WHEN: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through October 27
MORE INFO: Pumpkins for sale by the pound, food vendors, corn maze, family friendly Halloween tractor tour, petting zoo, pig races, pony rides, rubber duck races, face painting, and more.
WHAT: Holy City Halloween
WHERE: 34 Woolfe Street, Charleston
WHEN: Various days through November 2
MORE INFO: Holy City Halloween, downtown Charleston’s only Haunted House attraction, will make its debut in the old Meddin Meats Slaughterhouse and Woolfe Street Playhouse building. Both family-friendly and adult versions of the experience.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
WHAT: Tipsy Tour
WHERE: Various
WHEN: 11:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Starting at the visitor’s center downtown on Fridays the tour heads to Deep Water Vineyard for a tasting of their wines, includes a fruit and cheese tray and a souvenir stemless wine glass. Next is a sampling of beer at Holy City Brewing before heading to a tasting at Firefly Distillery. The tour ends back downtown by 4 p.m.
WHAT: 2024 Charleston Jazz Gala
WHERE: Festival Hall, 56 Beaufain St., Charleston WHEN: 5 p.m., American Theater, 446 King St.
MORE INFO: The event will include the sounds of renowned jazz vibraphonist and four-time Grammy Award nominee, Stefon Harris. Harris will perform accompanied by members of the CJO with appearances by students from the Charleston Jazz Academy. Included: open bar, dinner, a live auction, a paddle raise, and the presentation of the Tip of the Hat Award to local legend George Kenny. To reserve your seats, visit charlestonjazz.com.
WHAT: CoC and the Gallery by SEWE: Bubbles and Bourbon Tasting WHERE: The Charleston Place, 205 Meeting St. WHEN: 5:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Enjoy a selection of charcuterie, cheeses, beer, wine, and a special lineup of bubbles and bourbon as you explore SEWE’s art gallery and studio space showcasing some of the country's finest wildlife art and artists. Sip on Frianciacorta, Cava, Rosé Trepat, Pet Nat, and Champagne, and savor bourbon favorites like Four Roses Small Batch, Basil Hayden, Woodford Reserve, and Coopers' Craft.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
WHAT: 10th annual Fall Festival and Run Like the Devil 5K and Fun Run WHERE: Kiawah River, 3883 Betsy Kerrison Pkwy, Johns Island WHEN: 9 a.m.
MORE INFO: Charleston Collegiate School hosts its 10th annual Fall Festival at Kiawah River, featuring the Run Like the Devil 5K and Fun Run. Enjoy a vendor village full of local makers and goods, classic fall festival games, live music, beer and wine, food trucks, and more. The 5K race is chip-timed. Pets are welcome and must be leashed at all times.
WHAT: Cars & Coffee
WHERE: Freshfields Village WHEN: 9 a.m.
MORE INFO: The monthly Cars & Coffee event happens on the third Saturday of
every month from 9 to 11 am, showcasing unique cars and offering the opportunity to purchase coffee from Java Java.
WHAT: Sea Island Farmers Market
WHERE: 2024 Academy Rd., John’s Island
WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Sea Island Farmers Market is a year-round delight for locals and visitors alike. This market offers a wide variety of fresh produce, artisanal foods and handmade crafts. It's the perfect spot to start your weekend with a basket full of farmfresh goodies and unique finds.
WHAT: Weekend Wine-Down
WHERE: Deep Water Vineyard, 6775 Bears Bluff Rd., Wadmalaw Island
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Enjoy a wine tastings ($15 gets you a tasting of 6 samples of the vineyard's wine and a souvenir stemless glass), drinks, food trucks, live music, and more.
WHAT: Dogtoberfest
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: In celebration of Halloween, Freshfields Village will host its most popular and dog-friendly annual event. The event offers a fun-filled day featuring a dog costume competition, a pet expo with local rescue groups and local pet vendors. With a variety of activities, both pups and their owners are sure to enjoy.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23
WHAT: AFFA Fall Happy Hour & Fundraiser
WHERE: Union Station, 652A King St., Charleston
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join the Alliance for Full Acceptance as they celebrate their wins and work toward a future re-imagined together.
WHAT: Champagne Wine Dinner with T. Edward Imports
WHERE: Edmund's Oast, 1081 Morrison Dr., Charleston
WHEN: 7 p.m.
MORE INFO: Champagne wine dinner with T. Edward Imports and Mission Grape Distribution in the private dining room at Edmund’s Oast Brewing. Chef Bob Cook will prepare a three course “family style” dinner to complement the featured wines chosen. Karen Ulrich of T. Edward will lead the dinner and tell the stories behind the wines. Tickets are $195, plus tax and ticketing fee. Seating is extremely limited.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24
WHAT: The Ocean Room Chef Tasting Dinner
WHERE: The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary presents a series of wine-paired Chef’s Tasting Dinners every month through October. Chef Steven Brooks and Sommelier Bret Reynolds for an exquisite multi-course dinner featuring an artfullycrafted menu incorporating seasonal flavors and the finest ingredients. Each dinner is $250 per person plus tax and gratuity.
WHAT: Jazz Night
WHERE: Freshfields Village WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: Every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6 to 8 pm at the Porch Bar of the Andell Inn. Guests of the Andell Inn and others can enjoy live music performances from local Charleston groups in a cozy atmosphere.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26
WHAT: Sea Island Farmers Market
WHERE: 2024 Academy Rd., John’s Island WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Sea Island Farmers Market is a year-round delight for locals and visitors alike. This market offers a wide variety of fresh produce, artisanal foods and handmade crafts. It's the perfect spot to start your weekend with a basket full of farmfresh goodies and unique finds.
Volunteers Needed for Tax Prep
BY FRAN WILLIAMS For The Island Connection
VITA (Voluntary Income Tax Assistance) provides tax preparation help, free of charge, to members of our community with a special focus on low to moderate income taxpayers 50 and over. The project helps these taxpayers get credits and deductions they've rightfully earned.
The key to providing this service is finding volunteers who are trained and IRS-certified. Tax counselors receive extensive free tax training and become certified by passing an IRS exam in January. Volunteers of all backgrounds and ages are welcome and needed to serve clients in the Charleston area. Familiarity with income tax returns and technology is helpful but not required.
Please consider joining our team! Contact Fran Williams 803-443-1878, or email francesca.m.williams@gmail.com for more information.
SSwinging in the Lowcountry
BY PAM HARTLEY For The Island Connection
wing for the Lowcountry, a Daniel Island, South Carolina based 501(c)(3) charity, announced its annual event “The Swing” will be held on Monday, October 28, at the Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Drive, Daniel Island, SC, 29492. The breast cancer nonprofit has set a goal to raise $300,000 during the one-day fundraiser to provide financial assistance to local women undergoing treatment for breast cancer at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. Event attendees contribute to the cause by playing golf, pickleball and tennis and/or attending a luncheon that day.
“We are thrilled that our Daniel Island neighbors have decided to partner with us to provide funds for underserved patients who need financial help when they are facing a breast cancer diagnosis,” said MUSC Hollings Cancer Center Director Raymond N. DuBois, M.D., Ph.D. “This type of grassroots effort truly makes a difference in our community, and we are very grateful.”
Swing for the Lowcountry President Lori Bayer emphasized, “The funds we raise help these patients fill their gas tanks, pay for groceries and childcare, and keep the lights and phones on while they are undergoing care for breast cancer. $.90 of every $1 we spend is directly spent on a breast cancer patient.”
The Swing is more than just a fundraiser; it's a celebration of
life, resilience and the strength of the human spirit. This remarkable event not only raises vital funds but also uplifts spirits and fosters a sense of camaraderie.
The Swing is a day filled with unity, celebration and a shared commitment to making a difference. This ladies’ only day out caters to a diverse range of interests. Whether you're an avid golfer aiming for that perfect swing, a tennis enthusiast seeking a thrilling rally or a pickleball lover ready for a friendly match, there's something for everyone. Beyond sports, it's a day of stories, laughter, and forging connections with like-minded individuals. The day culminates with a beautiful catered lunch for 300 women in the Daniel Island Club's ballroom with incredible raffle drawings, plus a silent and live auction.
The event has sold out three years straight. Registration is open now.
• Golf $1,000/Team of Four
• Tennis $350/Team of Two
• Pickleball $350/Team of Two
• Lunch Only $150/Person
• Morning sports events followed by lunch
To donate or sponsor the event or for more information, please visit theswing.org.
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Proceeds from ‘The Swing’ at the Daniel Island Club to fund MUSC Hollings Cancer Center Patients
Life Aquatic
BY JOHN NELSON
For The Island Connection
You could call this a spiny, green, ping-pong ball plant if you wanted, and why not?
It is actually a very common perennial aquatic species found throughout most of eastern North America (although absent in southern Florida), often forming stands along pond and stream edges and along spring runs. Clumps, which may be thick, come up from slender rhizomes. Its leaves tend to be long and bright green. When growing in deep water or at times of recent heavy stream flows, the leaves are slender and ribbon-like, swaying gracefully in the current.
The plants bloom in the spring and summer, when a flowering stalk emerges from the clump. These stalks, somewhat zigzagged, may be 2-3 feet tall at maturity. The flowers are quite small and essentially inconspicuous, but they are arranged in compact heads, or globes, at different points along the stalk. Female flowers form the lowest heads, sometimes up to five or six in a sequence. Several dozen flowers will be crowded into each head. Each flower is dark green, and bears a number of small curious bracts – not exactly petals – at its apex. There is one elongated pistil emerging from the flower's ovary, and as these ovaries mature with time, the bases of the pistils become hardened and spine-like.
The overall effect is a dense, round head that is somewhat prickly. The male flowers, even smaller than the female flowers, are also compacted into heads. These are strung out on the stalk above and beyond the female heads
below. (If you use your imagination, you might find a bit of similarity between this species and our common cat-tail, and indeed, botanists place both in the same plant family.)
In the early autumn, the female heads fully ripen, eventually shattering during the winter and releasing the mature, one-seeded fruits (still with the spine-like attachment). Waterfowl like to eat these fruits, and they've also been used by humans as a sort of wild grain, and even a coffee substitute. The plants are quite charming, and they make good additions to a pool or bog garden.
There is a little problem, though.
Here in the Southeast, our Mystery Plant is a true native species, and as such, would be great for home gardening. However, in the recent past, a very similar species, but more exotic and weedy, has been offered on the market. If you are interested in buying these plants at a gardening center, make sure that you are not buying the species called Sparganium erectum
It's hard to tell these two species apart, so you might want to consult with the friendly botanists at your local herbarium. In any case, please remember never to discard aquatic plants that you have been growing into a nearby creek or pond: the potential for spreading invasive species is too high.
John Nelson is a retired botanist from the herbarium at the University of South Carolina. As a public service, the herbarium offers free plant identifications. For more information, call 803-777-8175, or email johnbnelson@sc.rr.com.
[Answer: “American bur-reed,” Sparganium americanum]
PHOTO BY JOHN NELSON
