IC Jan 26 2024 by luckydognews

Mayor of Kiawah Announces Resignation

BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection

It was a bittersweet start to 2024 when the mayor of Kiawah Island, John Labriola, announced his resignation, effective March 31 of this year, at the first Town Council meeting of 2024 on January 10.

Citing the change to the election cycle to odd years – therefore extending his term by one extra year to November 2025 – Labriola also noted the importance of having the new mayor serve longer than 12 months on the current agenda of issues.

Although Labriola admitted that he supported the change in the election cycle, he has decided to end his term early. The change was also supported by Governor Henry McMaster, state legislators and supported by the entire Kiawah Island Town Council.

Labriola was elected to serve as mayor for four years in 2020. Before that, he served on Town Council from 2013 to 2015 and then was re-elected in 2015 to 2017. He served as mayor pro tem during his Town Council stints.

He said, “This decision has not been made lightly, but, after careful consideration, I have decided to end my term early. I thank you for the opportunity and honor of being the Mayor of Kiawah these last three and a half years. It has been a privilege to serve. I have learned a great deal during my tenure, and I am thankful for the support and collaboration

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Addressing Pressing Issues A Q&A WITH TOWN COUNCIL CANDIDATES

BY THERESA STRATFORD

For The Island Connection

Due to the resignation of former Town Council Member John Moffitt in October of 2023, a special election will be held to replace his position on January 30 at the Sandcastle, located at 1 Shipwatch Road. The polling location will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The two candidates are Alex Fernandez and Madeleine Kaye. The Island Connection conducted a Q&A with both candidates on some of the pressing issues that Kiawah Island faces now and in the near future.

Alex Fernandez

What do you think is the biggest issue that Kiawah Island residents

(continued on page 8)

KIAWAH

ISLAND SENDS DEMAND LETTER TO KIAWAH PARTNERS FOR CAPTAIN SAMS SPIT

BY THERESA STRATFORD

It was in an early morning special call meeting at the start of the new year on January 3 that the Kiawah Town Council decided to issue a demand letter to Kiawah Partners as it relates to the 2013 Amended and Restated Development Agreement (ARDA) and Captain Sams Spit.

The meeting consisted of over two hours of executive session where no decisions or actions were made. Once the Council members were back, they all agreed that ensuring and protecting the pristine nature of Captain Sams Spit was a priority. They therefore approved the issuance of a demand letter to the developer, Kiawah Partners.

In the 2013 Amended and Restated Development Agreement, which has now expired after 10 years, Town Council specifically referenced Section 16F, paragraphs 8 and 9, and reiterated the Town’s rights pertaining to Section 33.

The demand letter from the law firm McCullough Khan Appel Attorneys at Law, specifically Ross Appel, was sent to Kiawah Partners’ lawyers at Walker Gressette Linton on Jaunary 8.

Mayor John Labriola said, “To say this is a complicated issue would be an understatement. We looked at the courses of action. One thing is crystal clear –- there is no disagreement – and that is to ensure the pristine nature of that piece of property. I don’t think there are any residents, Council members, community association members, whatever, that want to see anything happen to that piece of property.

However, after saying that, it is complicated. Some of these issues go back to 2005, so we didn’t make decisions today. There weren’t any real actions taken. We really were focusing on what course of action should be taken, and we settled on the issuance of a demand letter.”

The demand letter states: “Paragraph 13(B)(4)(b) of the ARDA states that the ‘Property Owner shall dedicate conservation open space as provided in Paragraph 16 of this Agreement.’ Paragraph 13(B)(4)(c) specifically identifies the Property as one of many ‘active or passive park sites and open space which have been and/or shall be dedicated to KICA in accordance with Paragraphs 15 and 16 of this Agreement.’” It would be the intention of KICA to keep Captain Sams Spit undeveloped.

The demand letter went on to state the intention of the property if it wasn’t developed before the termination date of the ARDA, which was in December 2023. It says: “Paragraph 16(f) reads, in relevant part and with respect to the Property, as follows: On or before the Termination Date of this Agreement, Property Owner shall convey to KICA (for nominal consideration by quitclaim deed) such areas of highland, depicted in light green and cream on Exhibit 16.2, as are then seaward of the crest of the primary oceanfront dune, less only such areas/lots as may have been encumbered by easements or conveyed to third parties (homeowners, etc.).

Prior to the Termination Date,

(continued on page 2)

For The Island Connection

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PUBLISHERS OF

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Denise K. James editor ICeditor@luckydognews.com

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CONTRIBUTORS

Theresa Stratford

Elizabeth St. John

Rom Reddy

Carol Cronk

Jennifer Wilson Woody

Martha Zink

Bonnie Younginer

Irene Breland

John Nelson

Sams Spit

(continued from page 1)

Property Owner also agrees to restrict all remaining highlands not devoted to the uses or purposes authorized herein, to non-developable, passive green space by restrictive covenant recorded in the Charleston County RMC office. Property Owner shall grant an easement for any acreage not subject to Development, including such acreage as is to be conveyed, ultimately, to KICA. Paragraph 31 states that ‘[e]xcept as provided in Sec. 16(d) herein, all conveyances shall be tendered by the Property Owner so as to close during the duration of this Agreement.’ Despite the passing of the Termination Date, Kiawah Development Partners (KDP) has yet to convey and deed restrict the Property as required by Paragraph 16(f). These obligations are mandatory and unconditional, as the above quoted language utilizes the word ‘shall’ and is expressed in non-contingent terms. The Town views KDP’s failure to perform as required by Paragraph 16(f) as a material breach of the ARDA. KDP’s position appears to be that its obligations under Paragraph 16(f) are somehow contingent on the ‘development’ of the Property. However, a plain reading of Paragraph 16(f) and the ARDA reveals no such contingency.”

The demand letter also noted some historical significance. “Under the Development Agreement by and between the Town and KRA (Kiawah Resort Associates) dated September 26, 1994 (the “Original Development Agreement”), the Property owner committed to conveying the entirety of the Property to KICA. The Original Development Agreement provided no development rights whatsoever with respect to the Property. Paragraph 16(g) therein reads as follows: The Property Owner commits to the permanent reservation of the tract of land known as Captain Sams Spit, shown in Exhibit 16.2 as active and/or passive open space, nature study or parks. Property Owner agrees to convey Captain Sams Spit to KICA, by quit claim deed by January 1, 2008; provided, however, that Property Owner may convey the eastern half of the spit to Charleston County Park & Recreation Commission prior to January 1, 2008.”

The demand letter also states that Kiawah Partners had from October 12, 2005 to December 4, 2023 to develop the Property as contemplated by Paragraph 16(f) but did not. “As such, the clear intention of the parties is for the entirety of the Property to be conveyed and deed restricted as set forth in Paragraph 16(f).”

The demand letter asks that Kiawah Partners performs as Paragraph 16(f) obligates them to. Lastly, it reads, “There can be no question that the Town has standing to enforce these terms of the ARDA. In fact, the Town has a duty to do so for its citizens. KDP (Kiawah Development Partners, aka Kiawah Partners) waived any and all rights to challenge the validity of its conveyance obligations under Paragraph 31.”

Council Member Bradley Belt added, “This is an issue of critical importance to the community. It has been and will continue to be. Everybody’s objective is to make sure that Captain Sams Spit remains in its pristine condition, as it is now untouched and undeveloped. We think that in pursuing our legal obligations and rights under the ARDA, as outlined, this is an appropriate first step in order to protect those interests. We haven’t made any decisions, but this is the appropriate first step. I support it.”

Council Member Russell Berner concluded with, “This was not even a hard decision. The Council was all on board to protecting Captain Sams Spit. Now it is getting down to how we do that. We were unanimously joined together.”

A response from Kiawah Partners to the demand letter was requested by January 15, 2024.

Kiawah Partners’ plan was to develop 50 homes on the 150-acre isthmus on Captain Sams Spit, which is located on the southern tip of Kiawah Island between the Kiawah River and the Atlantic Ocean.

The future development of this small piece of property has been argued in and out of court since 2009 mostly due to its fragile ecosystem and vital importance for local wildlife like the dolphins who strand

Civic Calen dar

TOWN OF KIAWAH

Arts and Cultural Event Council

Friday, Feb. 2, 2 p.m.

Kiawah Town Hall

Ways and Means Committee

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 11:30 a.m.

Kiawah Town Hall

Town Council

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 1 p.m.

Kiawah Town Hall

Planning Commission

Wednesday, Feb 7, 1 p.m.

Kiawah Town Hall

feed there.

In June of 2021, the South Carolina Supreme Court denied permits that Kiawah Partners so desperately needed from DHEC to construct a 2,380-foot steel wall along the neck portion that connects Kiawah to Captain Sams. These permits would have also allowed infrastructure like roadways, stormwater systems and utility lines.

That was actually the third time the state’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of protecting Captain Sams Spit.

Their first ruling against the development of 50 homes on Captain Sams came in 2014 when the state Supreme Court ruled against it because of “the complete loss of area held in trust for the benefit of the people.”

Then again in 2018, the Court ruled in favor of the public benefits for preserving the spit and at that time blocked the construction of a half-mile long bulkhead/ revetment on the Kiawah River.

Despite the rulings, in July 2022, the Kiawah Island Planning Commission approved a preliminary subdivision plat extension for one year. However, Kiawah Partners still did not move forward with any sort of development at that time.

Currently, the space for a road to Captain Sams Spit is underwater. The entirety of the property has also been completely underwater before – three times in recorded history, in fact, and most recently in 1949.

Captain Sams Spit has been identified by local environmental groups, like the Coastal Conservation League, as a place where local wildlife thrive, especially the dolphins that engage in a unique behavior called strand feeding. Many identified bobcats live on the property, as well as the unique shorebird populations that show up on the Spit every year to nest and feed.

TOWN OF SEABROOK

Planning Commission

Wednesday, Feb. 14, 1:30 p.m.

Seabrook Town Hall

Utility Commission Meeting

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 8:30 a.m.

Seabrook Town Hall

Town Council Regular Meeting

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2:30 p.m.

Seabrook Town Hall

Planning Commission

Wednesday, Mar. 13, 1:30 p.m.

Seabrook Town Hall

Dolphins strand feeding.

PHOTO BY CHRIS ROXON

Thumbs Down on Up-Zone

KIAWAH CONSERVANCY OPPOSES UP-ZONING FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS VILLAGE

BY JENNIFER WILSON WOODY For The Island Connection

Like many Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns Islanders, the Kiawah Island Natural Habitat Conservancy, Inc. (Kiawah Conservancy) is strongly opposed to the proposed up-zoning for the Island Park Place Health and Wellness Village on Betsy Kerrison Parkway. The developer’s recently proposed changes offer only minimal reduction in scope and scale of the development and demonstrate no commitment to define which medical services and facilities will be provided. The developer is still not listening to the community.

It has also come to the Kiawah Conservancy’s attention that the developer is putting pressure on Charleston County Council members (via a hired lobbyist) to approve this development. One Council member described this pressure as unprecedented.

The Kiawah Conservancy has long supported a balance of nature and development on Kiawah Island and within its environs. However, for the ecological health of our sea islands, we strongly oppose the rezoning of TMS # 203-00-00-048 and -053 (located on Betsy Kerrison Parkway, Johns Island) from Low-Density Residential (R-4) zoning to Planned Development (PD-187) for the Island Park Place Health and Wellness Village. This ecologically fragile land must be protected.

Our concerns are as follows:

• The proposed Island Park Place Health and Wellness Village development will create habitat loss and fragmentation of critical native habitats and wildlife corridors.

• As proposed, this development will fill up to two acres of critical wetland habitats. Mitigation efforts are not required to take place in the same area as the wetland loss and therefore will not provide a positive benefit to the area.

Mayor

• The expansive septic field required for the development will cause further groundwater and watershed contamination in an area that is already of critical concern.

• The impervious surface parking garage for 96 cars and surface parking for 461 cars will add significantly to the flooding in the area of Betsy Kerrison Parkway and contamination to the watershed.

• The up-zoning of these properties will be a springboard for future up-zoning to high-density development in this rural area further impacting the rural nature and native habitats that support both residential and migratory wildlife species.

• There is no need for this development with the fragile, rural ecosystem of this area, given the new medical facilities from Trident and MUSC that are planned for installation within the same locality.

We encourage all Kiawah, Seabrook and Johns Islanders to contact Charleston County Council members and submit their concerns regarding the up zoning of these properties.

We encourage all Charleston County Council members to vote in opposition to the rezoning of TMS # 203-00-00048 and -053 to ensure the ecosystem of this critical area on rural Johns Island remains healthy and vibrant for the wildlife species and community members that inhabit the area.

Learn more about the Kiawah Conservancy and how you can get involved in our efforts at kiawahconservancy.org.

Resigns (continued from page 1)

with my colleagues. Our residents are the heart of this island, and I look forward to seeing the great endeavors you continue to foster and grow in the years to come.”

Town Council Member Bradley Belt recognized the mayor during the Town Council meeting by saying, “Prior to my running for council and every interaction we had then and subsequent thereto, I have found that you have handled the issues with extraordinary grace. You were always respectful to your colleagues on council as well as to all members of the community at every turn, and I think we should all be very grateful.”

Alex Fernandez also recognized the mayor during the public comments portion of the meeting. He said, “As a full-time resident, I am sorry to hear about your resignation. I personally want to thank you for your service. I am sure this was not an easy decision for you. I know these are difficult times, but we’ll

John Labriola,

Award-winning Art

KIAWAH ARTS, ETC. HONORS YOUNG LOCAL ARTISTS

BY MARTHA ZINK For The Island Connection

rts, etc. has decided this year to bring more focus to their vision of promoting and bringing art to the students on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands. The committee and board decided to feature the artwork of students on the cover of the tour book for the Kiawah Art and House Tour. Each of the five schools partnering with Arts, etc. was asked to participate in an art contest and asked for drawings or paintings of houses. Angel Oak Elementary School, Haut Gap Middle School and St. Johns High School all chose to participate, and over 50 students submitted artwork.

The art works were judged by the Kiawah Art Guild, led by Mary Houston. This group looked carefully with a critic’s eye at each drawing or painting and chose a gold, silver and bronze winner at each school. The cover art work for the tour book was chosen from the three gold medal winners by the Arts, etc. board and the tour book designer.

The winning cover artist is Knox Pastorius, a fourth grader at Angel Oak. He wants to be an architect when he grows up, so this project fits perfectly. Knox is a very talented 9 year old and has been drawing since he began school, preferring to use pencils to create realistic images from observation and imagination. He used his imagination in drawing “a house which I would like to live in, if I had a home in Kiawah. I wanted to design my future home,” he said. He is very grateful his art was recognized and chosen as the winner of the contest.

There will be a display of Knox’s drawing and all the submitted artwork at the Freshfields branch of First National Bank in March before the House Tour on April 5. First National is the presenting sponsor of the Kiawah House Tour.

Knox Pastorius.

Town CouncilFERNANDEZ

Respectfully asks for your vote to represent YOU on the Kiawah Town Council

Active participant in the community, allowing a deeper understanding of homeowner concerns and needs

Firmly believes that the Kiawah goal of “Designing with Nature” must be implemented.

Cares deeply about Kiawah and will lead towards increasing its protection from the threats of flooding and rising sea levels

Will insist that the ARB be composed of community members and supported by a professional staff

Due to overwhelming demand, will propose that the Town provide recreation facilities, like pickleball courts, pools, and others, for its residents

Will bring innovative solutions to manage the Town’s financials more efficiently

Build stronger communications between TOKI and KICA to better serve the community.

Early Voting January 16 - 26

Charleston County Voting Office

4340 Corporate Road, North Charleston Call 843-744-8683 for your absentee ballot

A Prickly Issue

BY JOHN NELSON For The Island Connection

Here’s a plant with a kind of midwinter brutal beauty: drying leaf stalks topped with a constellation of brown, spiny burs. This plant wants to spread itself around if it can, and it wants you (or your dog) to help.

This is a member of the sunflower family, and the botanists have determined that it’s a relative of the common ragweed. It is an herb that is widely distributed in North America, easily found throughout southern Canada and is in every one of our 50 states. It is an extremely successful weed, usually found on disturbed ground, agricultural fields, cattle lots, roadsides and places that are being excavated. The plants get to be 2 to 3 feet tall, with lots of attractive, dark green leaves. Blooming takes place during the summer, and each plant produces a number of small, drab flowers. Male and female flowers will be produced on the same individual plant. (Such a plant is termed “monoecious” – another good example would be corn.) But it is what those female flowers develop into that’s really made a name for this species. Each flower has a tiny inferior ovary (same goes for everything else in the sunflower family, by the way). As the ovaries grow, following pollination, they are ultimately covered up by a special

“involucre” – a sort of wrapping –abundantly equipped with pointed, soft spines. LOTS of them. As the season wears on, the involucre’s spines harden, thus forming the recognizable burs. Of course, the burs will detach themselves quickly just as soon as some unfortunate critter runs through them, reattaching the burs to themselves instead. (The same thing will happen with obliging socks and trouser legs, so you need to be careful around this stuff.)

Clearly, the spiny burs make an effective means for this plant to get its seeds into new areas, often with the help of an animal. If you have ever tried to comb these things out of Fluffy’s fur, you will know what I am talking about. A bur, once attached, is only going to get more deeply embedded in fur, often needing to be cut out (carefully) from a tender ear with a pair of scissors.

I have a theory that these burs sometimes are attached so deeply that they’ll never fall out on their own – and following the demise of a wild animal that might be carrying them, the burs would still be associated with its carcass. In such a case, the seeds within the burs would benefit from the soil. But all that considered, keep in mind the burs also float, and this plant is commonly found in great numbers along sandbars of our larger rivers.

By the way, those of you who are familiar with the paintings of John James Audubon will know his depiction of the now-extinct Carolina parakeet, a flock of them noisily chattering away in a patch of our mystery plant.

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.

PHOTO BY TONY ADCOCK

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face at this current time and how do you plan to tackle it?

The most important issues we presently face are the challenges with development of the Beachwalker parcels. These development projects will generate enormous pressure on our infrastructure, impact on our wildlife and cause significant effects to our tree canopy. The initial plat approval for these parcels occurred back at the October 2022 Planning Commission. The vote to approve the preliminary plan was five for, one abstain and one against. The question to ask is, why did the Planning Commission give its approval without property owner input? Now, a very thorough independent overview with input from the community is required before construction permits are issued. Additionally, serious errors have been detected with the large Cape project. These need to be investigated by an independent person who will report to the Council on, one, how this error occurred; two, how to correct it; and three, how to avoid this happening again. I will continue to follow these issues closely. What is the most polarizing issue, in your opinion, and how do you think you will handle both sides of the coin?

Clearly the most polarizing issue today is the future development of Kiawah. I believe that all property owners have property rights, but any future development must comply with our “Design with Nature” goal so that construction design harmonizes with the Kiawah brand and image, as well as applicable ordinances and regulations. A very good example of all sides working collaboratively is the Andell West development. The community objected to the preliminary plans because they weren’t in harmony with the Kiawah brand and image goals, but after several very serious meetings and discussions, a design was proposed that serves the interests of the Andell West developers as well as the interests of the property owners. Bravo! I will lead the charge for agreements where both sides win.

What is your opinion about the traffic problems in the area?

There is no doubt that traffic has increased in line with new homes and will continue to increase with new developments to come. But the most serious issue we face today is the bottleneck at the KICA front gate. Vehicles going through the gate have increased 10% in the last 12 months. This is not solely a KICA issue but a problem for the Town as well. We need to get all the top minds together – engineers, board and Council members and management – and begin to think outside the box. Do we move the gate? Have a gate pass office prior to the gate? Build more lanes including, possibly, a lane for the right turn to Beachwalker? We need to put this working group together now. And we need to apply a sense of urgency and stop kicking this can down the road.

Please give us a little information about your history on Kiawah Island.

My wife, Gloria, and I first visited Kiawah in 2011, and it was love at first sight. We began bringing our two boys and their families here on vacation starting in 2012 and purchased our Turtle Villa in 2017. We decided to make this paradise our permanent home in 2019 and moved to our present house on Snowy Egret in 2020.

I have been semi-retired for several years, participating with my sons in a family business in Florida. I began to get involved in the community by participating in local events and, in 2018, was appointed to KICA’s Finance Committee. I served on the Town’s Audit Committee in 2021 and 2022 and was elected to the KICA Board of Directors in 2021.

Madeleine Kaye

What do you think is the biggest issue that Kiawah Island residents face at this current time and how do you plan to tackle it?

There are four major issues facing Kiawah in the coming years. One is safety and security issues arising from increased traffic and development. The second issue is the preservation of Kiawah’s natural environment as the island approaches build-out and the Kiawah Island Golf Resort continues its development. The third is protection of the marsh as sea levels rise, and the fourth is ensuring that further island development does not jeopardize animal habitats or maritime forests.

My efforts on issue one will be directed at assessing the results of the ongoing traffic study, determining the best approach to alleviating traffic congestion at Kiawah’s first gate and determining whether there is a legitimate and pressing need for a Kiawah police force. My efforts on the second item will be focused on ensuring that

all development occurs in full compliance with Kiawah’s zoning codes, ordinances and development agreements. For the third issue, I will advocate for expansion of the responsibilities of Kiawah’s intra-island committee, which is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the marsh. For issue four, I will work with the talented and knowledgeable staff at both the Town and the Kiawah Island Conservancy to protect two of the essential elements that drew us to Kiawah: our unique and precious environment and our commitment to the turtles, bobcats and birds whose land and water we share.

What is the most polarizing issue, in your opinion, and how do you think you will handle both sides of the coin?

Each of the four issues mentioned above has the potential to generate strong opinions. My goal will be to study each issue and communicate my position in an objective manner so that the community can see that I’ve been fair and thoughtful. What is your opinion about the traffic problems in the area?

Unfortunately, there’s little subjectivity about the traffic situation on Johns Island and throughout the greater Charleston area. It's a fact that traffic has increased dramatically, along with residential development along Main Road, River Road and Maybank Highway. I think it’s shameful that little to no progress has been made on the very challenging intersection of Main Road and Highway 17 or on the I-526 extension. Additional traffic to Kiawah and Seabrook will be generated by the development of Seafields, the new MUSC facility and the development of Andell West next to Freshfields. I’m hopeful that the efforts of one or more members of the Kiawah Council to reach out to various representatives from the City of Charleston, Charleston County and Seabrook Island will result in joint action on some of these critically important traffic initiatives.

Please give us a little information about your history on Kiawah Island.

My first visit to Kiawah almost 40 years ago was a revelation. I arrived from the Philly suburbs with my 2-year-old daughter in a car seat. We passed through the first gate, and it was love at first sight. I bought my first villa in 2005, and bought my current home about 10 years ago.

I’ve served on Kiawah’s Planning Commission for the past three years and have been instrumental in drafting the Comprehensive Marsh Management Plan, the Beachwalker Zoning Initiative and a sweeping Tree Preservation Ordinance. From 2010 to the present, as a KICA volunteer, I’ve been a member of the ARB work group, which is charged with transitioning the ARB from a developer-owned to a community-led entity; a member of the Sandcastle Task Force; and, for 12 years, chair or co-chair of Kiawah’s “Our World” lecture series. For the past two years, I’ve been a member of the Marsh Management Task Force and served as chair of its communications sub-committee.

Alex Fernandez.

Madeleine Kaye

TCompany’s Coming THE DESIGNER SHOWHOUSE IS BACK

BY CAROL CRONK For The Island Connection

he Charleston Symphony Orchestra League is restoring a tradition sure to amaze and inspire with a historic Charleston home reimagined as a Designer Showhouse. The 44th Showhouse is the circa 1803 John Rudolph Switzer home, located at 6 Montagu. It will be a spectacular union of historic restoration with current architecture, design, layout and finishes. Talented designers are preparing designs for the imaginative spaces, all of which will be on tour March 13 to April 13.

The Showhouse will be open to the public on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for eclectic engagements, featuring esteemed musicians, local artists, culinary leaders and interior designers. Many of these intimate events will also include docent-led tours of the Showhouse. The CSOL’s popular SCORE Boutique will be open throughout the tour with a distinctive, curated selection of gifts, wearables and household items.

The Blue Prints & Blue Jeans Bare Boards Party, scheduled for February 4, will feature the Showhouse before the designers begin installations, while the opening night party will kick off the tour on March 12. This elegant event will feature the Symphony Brass, the official ribbon cutting, bubbles and more. For additional information about tickets, visit csolinc.org.

All proceeds from the 2024 Designer Showhouse will benefit Charleston’s Symphony and music scholarships awarded to talented student musicians in the Lowcountry. The CSOL’s financial support to the Symphony allows the CSO to offer free or low-cost educational opportunities with a special emphasis on reaching Title I schools and underserved areas.

Put in Park

CARS AT KIAWAH RIVER GOES ON INDEFINITE HIATUS

BY IRENE BRELAND For The Island Connection

Fellow enthusiasts, if you are reading this article, you have likely been an exhibitor, volunteer or spectator in the past at Cars on Kiawah or Cars at Kiawah River. As the organizers of these events, we are incredibly appreciative for your support over the years.

We share your interest in automotive history, design and creativity and have been proud to put on an event that displayed a wide variety of wonderful cars. One of the best aspects for each of us has been the opportunity to meet so many incredible people at the shows.

Producing these shows since 2016 has been a special experience for us. However, it requires hundreds of hours to pull it off. There are a lot of moving parts: managing the website, social media and marketing; obtaining sponsors, vendors, and volunteers; making location and parking arrangements; arranging tents, security and food and beverage vendors; assembling exhibitor gift bags; determining show field layout; ordering signage and awards; managing the exhibitor applications; managing funds, making payments and keeping books and records needed to maintain nonprofit status; and much more.

We have reached a point where we are no longer able to commit the time needed to produce a quality show. As a result, we have made the difficult decision to put the show on an indefinite hiatus. We are hopeful that others will step up and produce an even bigger and better event. Thank you for your participation, enthusiasm and positive comments over the years.

From the Cars at Kiawah River Board:

Lauren Binard Dave Rosato

Irene Breland Bruce Stemerman

Millie Horton John Wilson

There’s a new boat club at Bohicket Marina COME CHECK US OUT

BOAT CLUB

• Offers the ultimate boating experience without the hassles of ownership

• Experience the charm of the Lowcountry waterways, where boating dreams come to life

Take advantage of exclusive perks as a member of our Boat Club

Hassle-free boating lifestyle where we do all the work for you

Access reservations through our Custom App for easy bookings

Unlimited access with future reservation options as well as day-of opportunities

Access to the four sister locations throughout the Charleston area

A one-stop shop for all your boating needs

BOAT

RENTALS

Bohicket Marina offers the freedom of boating to all with our new Boat Rental fleet

• Wide range of boats tailored to your needs and preferences, pontoons & center consoles

• Perfect for both experienced boaters and beginners discovering a new hobby

• Convenient online booking system for quick and easy reservations

• Benefit from our professional staff’s expertise and personalized recommendations

Indulge Guilt-Free

FORTYEIGHT – WINE BAR & KITCHEN ANNOUNCES 2024 DINING FOR A CAUSE

BY LOREN BEADLE

For The Island Connection

BRING THE TO YOUR the MyLo Insider

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Island Sport is excited to announce the Spring 2024 Dining For a Cause Tuesday evening dinner series at FortyEight – Wine Bar & Kitchen on Kiawah Island. Starting January 30 and continuing through April 30, FortyEight – Wine Bar & Kitchen will feature a local charity each Tuesday evening. Guests can make a reservation on Resy anytime between 5 and 9 p.m. each Tuesday, and 50% of the revenues from their dinner(s) will automatically be donated to the charity. The owners of FortyEight stated, “We are so pleased to be able to help support these wonderful charities in the Charleston area. Please come by on a Tuesday evening this spring and help us support them. You get a great dinner, and your favorite local charity gets a big check! And, if you can, please give directly to these charities using their websites.”

Here is a list of upcoming Tuesday dinner dates with the charity being featured:

January

January 30 - Fields to Families (fieldstofamilies.org)

February

February 6 - Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic (bifmc.org)

February 20 - Backpack Buddies, Seabrook Island (backpackbuddiesseabrookisland.com)

February 27 - Backpack Buddies, Kiawah Island (kiawahwomensfoundation.org)

March

March 5 – Pet Helpers (pethelpers.org)

March 12 - Arts, etc. (kiawahartsetc.org)

March 19 - Sea Island Habitat for Humanity (seaislandhabitat.org)

April

April 2 – AMOR Healing Kitchen (amorhealingkitchen.org)

April 9 - Respite Care Charleston (respitecarecharleston.org)

April 16 – Charleston Area Therapeutic Care (catr-program.org)

April 23 - Sea Island Hunger Awareness – Blessing Basket (fightislandhunger.org)

April 30 - Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach (olmoutreach.org)

Island Sport was founded in 2005 with the opening of its first retail store, SeaCoast Sports and Outfitters, in Freshfields Village on Kiawah Island. As Freshfields Village and Kiawah Island have grown over the last 19 years, so has Island Sport. Now with nine retail stores and restaurants in two states, Island Sport operates a variety of retail concepts. For a list of its current retail and restaurant locations, please visit islandsportllc.com.

For more information about Dining for a Cause, visit fortyeightwinebar.com.

Scenes of the Sea

MEET FEBRUARY ARTIST OF THE MONTH BOB LEFEVRE

BY BONNIE YOUNGINER For The Island Connection

Bob LeFevre, a resident of Seabrook Island and Salem, South Carolina, retired from a successful career in business at the age of 55 to pursue his passion of oil painting. Since he was a child, he loved the water and everything related to it. It was natural that his paintings would depict scenes of life on and near the oceans and lakes he would visit throughout his life.

LeFevre’s painting career began when, at the urging of his 4th grade teachers, he was enrolled in private art classes. At this early age, he began to develop his perceptual skills as an artist, learning the fundamentals of rendering and depiction of values in a representational way.

Throughout his elementary and high school days, LeFevre continued lessons. He joined every art club and organization he could and began winning awards for his talents. One of these honors was a sculpture scholarship at a local academy; he enjoys sculpting and carving to this day. At the age of 18, he took private lessons from a retired sea captain in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where he painted his first clipper ship.

Following graduation, LeFevre elected to pursue a business career, knowing that he would eventually return to art. After 33 years as an

executive with Procter and Gamble and Pepsi and as an owner of The United States Playing Card Company, the artist retired to pursue his dreams of painting full-time.

Today, LeFevre maintains art studios at both his Seabrook Island and Salem homes. He was President of Seabrook Island Guild, which includes more than 100 members. He was represented by the Spencer Art Galleries in Charleston and maintains a gallery at his home on Seabrook.

He is driven to develop his skills to a higher level through life drawing lessons — including nine years at the Art Academy of Cincinnati — plein air workshops and teaching drawing and painting to teens and adults. For 14 years, LeFevre has been offering weekly individual and group art lessons to several Seabrook, Kiawah and Johns Island artists and always welcomes new participants.

If you are interested in lessons, please contact the artist at rodory@gmail.com or 513-237-4757. Please join the Seabrook Island Artist Guild for a reception to meet the artist and view his work on Tuesday, February 6 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Lake House. More information about the Seabrook Island Artist Guild can be found at seabrookislandartistguild.com.

Thank You!

Sea Islands HUNGER AWARENESS FOUNDATION

2023 Hunger Awareness Challenge

The Sea Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation (SIHAF) is delighted to announce that YOU, our generous donors have met our $200,000 Matching Challenge, and YOU, have once again SURPASSED the Challenge with a Grand Total of $290,350.00!!! This includes all contributions, October 1st through December 31st, 2023, to the Foundation, in support of its fourteen (14) programs and partners. YOU, friends, neighbors, families, honorees, and dear ones in memoriam, continue to accept the challenge and help change the lives of your sea island neighbors. We appreciate all who gave with your heart and contributed in any way to help meet and surpass the 2023-24 SIHAF Hunger Awareness Challenge, making it possible for us to provide healthy food and clean water one meal at a time. It means so much to so many

It means that we can grant more funds that our fourteen (14) local programs and partner organizations NEED to serve our more than 2500 neighbors who deal with hunger every day, via meals, groceries, and special programs, and provide thousands of pounds of produce to our Johns and Wadmalaw Islands families in need.

It means that we can provide more Microwave Ovens, Stoves, and Refrigerators to those who have NONE

It means SIHAF’s ALL-Volunteer Team can continue to serve our neighbors, efficiently and effectively, as recently deemed by the Secretary of State that 98.8% of all donations go directly to our mission of feeding the hungry and providing clean water to those in need.

It means that SIHAF’s Water Wellness Mission has conquered its list of those in need of clean water in their homes, many for the first time, and assure that those wells and filtration systems can be maintained, and future requests for wells, granted.

It means that with multiplying food costs and new applicants we need and welcome your CONTINUED support. Please help us reach our new neighbors and businesses to make them AWARE of our community’s responsibilities…all year long!

Thank You, to Michelle and Roy Waterhouse for printing and donating 1,000 of our trifold brochures to distribute to local businesses and make others more Aware of who we are and what we do. Please look for them and share them with others.

Thank You to our local publications for helping to make our community AWARE of our Challenge, and the needs of our community. Our sincere thanks to our loyal donors who continue their generous support of the foundation, its programs, and partners, throughout the year, through planned or annual giving, grants, and other gifts. Thank you again, to ALL who have met the challenge and their neighborly responsibility to help us continue to Provide Our Programs, Support Our Partners, and Provide Nutritious Food and Clean Water to our Sea Island Neighbors in Need in 2024. We appreciate your continued giving and your sharing this with friends, neighbors, and local businesses: Donate by Check Mailed 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

Anonymous Kelly Family Foundation

Eric and Christine Strobel

Bill and Pat Greubel

Beyond Our Gates Foundation

John and Carolyn Peterson

(In Honor of Russell Owens)

Paul and Joanne Hennessy

Kiawah Cares

Thomas and Denise Nudo

Peter B. and Adeline W. Ruffin Foundation

Buchanan Family Foundation

Barbara Andrews

Brian and Arlene Amery

(In Honor of Jerry and Bonnie Kelly)

Marlisa and Jim Bannister

Joe Bauer

David and Kathleen Bauhs

Paul DePalma

Barbara Johnson

Kiawah Resort Associates

Paul’s Family Foundation

Anonymous

Tom and Cheryl Boswell

John and Sue Carpenter

Peter and Mary Conway

Law Offices of Donald Howe

Steven and Denise Donohoe

Ralph and Nancy Edwards

Laurel and Hank Greer

Randy and Rita Kramer

John Strauch

Robert and Suzanne Stebbins

(In Memory of John Dolan, Chris Woods & Phil Curry)

Tara Foundation

Connie and Steve Andersen

Joseph Liro and Joanne Hill

Jimmy and Patti Addison

Diane and Andrew Allen

Susan Buff

Kathy Garber

Philip Gillespie

Rajan and Suman Govindan

Maggie and Wayne Grzecki

Charles and Deborah Harris

Sue and Quentin Jackson

John and Katherine Kotz

Bob and Susan Leggett

Patricia Linton

George and Wanda Mackie

Darryl May

Larry and Tina Mayland

Robert and Beverly Martin

Brian and Laurie Nejmeh

Eileen Rice

Peter Rupert

Patti Tully

Wells Fargo Clearing Services

Joe and Rebecca Wilson

Michelle and Roy Waterhouse

Geoffrey and Sue Woglom

Charlie and Rose Septer

Church of Our Saviour

Anonymous (In Honor of Shirley Salvo)

James Brown

Joseph and Ronell Berttucci

Tonya and Marvin Cavanaugh

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cooper

Carmine and Arline DeGennaro

Amanda Gregory

James and Mary Hill

Mary Jo Manning

Robert and Linda Matthews

Madeline Nesmith

Melissa Newhall

Rick and Debbie Ross

Shirley Salvo

$290,350!!!

Barbara Sanders

Robert and Susan Speziale

John Snead

Bill and Lou Walthall

Jeffrey and Ellen Ward

Helen Wright

Paul Corkish

J. McLaughlin

Robert Davis

Marvin and Charlotte Kelly

Karen and Leonard Madoff

Rebecca Parsons

Lindy Small and Stephen Shapiro

Bruce VanVoorhis

Bob and Paula Adamson

Robert and Ellen Alexander

Ann Edwards

Steve and Leslie Haines

Paula Julg

Gig and Bill Milowsky

Cheryl and David Morley

Susie and Andy Rush

Anonymous

Debbie Banecker

Kevin Boyle

Linda and William Hart

Pat and Bill Huff

Susan Lobell

Julie Moore

Sue Myrick

Lois Rinehimer

(In Memory of Ed Rinehimer)

Dr. Stan and Carol Ullner

Lee and Lori Newson

Nancy Appel

Sandy Lang

Kristen Wilson

Raymond and Stephanie Hamilton

Anonymous

Barry and Lou Baucom

Richie and Susan Bavasso

Carolyn and Dennis Bernard

Jill and Bill Boissonnault

Rosemarie Booze

William Breunsbach

Lori Burns

Patrick and Lora Connelly

Sarah and David Craig (In Honor of Jada Phillips)

Mary Jane Devins

Carol and Richard Heilman

Janet and Ted Fine

Bernie Kennedy

Gary and Kathy Kunkelman

Ed and Lori Leary

Diane Lehder

Albert Linquist

Vance Mann

Michael and Amy Matthews

Tom and Joyce Pinckney

Alan and Peggy Todd

Indigo Books

Michael Green

Ben Lever

Michele Neelakantappa

Anonymous

Barry and Louise Baucom

(In Honor of Dr. and Mrs. Michael Green)

Eileen Burke and Leslie Sherman

Wanda Carter

Marilyn and David Kloepfer

Shep McKinley

Thomas Ranese

Carol Johnson

Lois and John Bush

Wendy Holschuh

Jane Marvin

Kerry Stubbs

Weaponization of Government

BY ROM REDDY

Government is being increasingly weaponized against its citizens in so many ways that we have forgotten the concept of “we the people.” We are being forced to forget that government works for us. The police powers being exercised by various government entities is frightening. They pull out the entire tool kit, including trying to pit citizen against citizen.

The latest is the land grab by SCDHEC/ OCRM. For waterfront properties, regardless of property lines – for which we’ve paid money and pay taxes – the state has historically had jurisdiction seaward of a setback line that is evaluated every seven to 10 years. Landward of that line is the property owner’s jurisdiction. The latest interpretation by unelected OCRM bureaucrats of this clear jurisdictional separation is that if a storm knocks out any waterfront property, they automatically have jurisdiction over your private property to the new eroded line – not just beachfront but any waterfront property. Say what?

We are a constitutional republic. In its simplest form, this means the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Both the 14th and Fifth Amendments clearly indicate that private property ownership and protection is one of the cornerstones of liberty. If we don’t have the ability to own and protect our property, the very tenets of freedom are threatened. Every homeowner has a right to protect his or her property, and government cannot take that away without buying that property for “just compensation,” defined by the U.S. Supreme Court as fair market value.

When it comes to waterfront properties of any kind, the state used to follow a strategy of “retreat,” which means that water and nature will do their thing, and, instead of fighting it, we retreat, and the government

buys up any private property that is impacted. That policy was changed recently to “hold the line,” as governments realized that with rising ocean levels, climate change and very aggressive water, there was no viable, economic way to keep retreating.

However, even though the policy was changed, the regulations were not. Government now uses retreat regulations to threaten and harass citizens and take their land without compensation. Even the Isle of Palms has retreat regulations that do not let homeowners protect their property in any way from these dangerous waters and forces homeowners to suffer the consequences. Why is IOP the only coastal community that has an ordinance giving its government jurisdiction essentially over your entire property landward of the setback line? IOP bows to the OCRM land grab and supports its illegal and unconstitutional actions.

and approved 50/50 matching grants to homeowners to build structures that protect their properties. Many of these structures are called terminal walls – versus seawalls – that remain hidden and covered by sand and landscaping and are maintained by the homeowner. Government continues to maintain a dune system that supports natural habitat – and we all support that. The protective structures prevent property damage, are exposed only as a result of a catastrophic event and are covered up shortly after. This gets the government out of the business of managing the destruction of private property.

The results of the Florida strategy have been stunningly effective. This is how they shifted from retreat to hold the line and how government supports the protection of private property rather than working against it.

The result is a brewing disaster. In the last nine months, there has been massive property and beach damage. The government so far has spent 80% of its money and effort digging holes in the beach and scraping sand, which does nothing to renourish the beach and drags water into the holes and closer to the shore. Insurance companies are getting nervous, which will impact the availability and cost of insurance for the entire island.

Compare this to Florida, which looked at the same data and the ferocious damage caused by the water

Our local politicians should understand the issues clearly and learn from others instead of hanging on to old regulations that are clearly producing disastrous results. This is not the time to pit citizen against citizen and divide us. We are one minor storm away from a home falling into the ocean. Once that happens, the boomerang impact on property values and insurance rates for everyone will be catastrophic. The focus should be exclusively on property protection and holding the line, not on exercising police powers using outdated regulations.

“Reddy or Not” is a periodic column representing the opinion of Lucky Dog Publishing owner Rom Reddy but not necessarily the opinion of the newspaper. In keeping with the paper’s philosophy of publishing all opinions, the publisher welcomes responses, which must be limited to 300 words and will be published on a space-available basis.

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Source:

around the islands...

ONGOING

WHAT: “Chicken and Biscuits”

WHEN: Jan 24 - Feb 3

WHERE: Historic Dock Street Theatre

MORE INFO: Broadway’s comedy Chicken & Biscuits hilariously portrays the Jenkins, the first family of their African-American church, navigating family, faith, and buried secrets as they attempt to eulogize their patriarch, wondering if the funeral will conclude with a burial, a wedding, or an all-out brawl.

WHAT: Museum Mile Month

WHEN: Jan 1 - Jan 31

WHERE: Participating Museums

MORE INFO: Explore Charleston's rich history and culture throughout January 2024 with the Museum Mile Month pass, granting access to multiple sites at a low price. Adult tickets are $35, children's are $10 for 13 different sites.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26

WHAT: Art Film Series

WHERE: The Sandcastle WHEN: 3 p.m.

MORE INFO: Attend a screening of Big Eyes at The Sandcastle community center as part of Kiawah Island’s Art Film series. Directed by Tim Burton.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1

WHAT: Sean Kennard Pianist

WHERE: Church of our Savior WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

MORE INFO: This season, the Kiawah Island Arts and Cultural Events Council celebrates its 20th anniversary. Pianist Sean Kennard returns to Kiawah for this event.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2

WHAT: Opening day of “Proof” WHERE: Queen Street Playhouse WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

MORE INFO: David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Proof explores the complexities of genius, love, and mental illness as Catherine, inheriting her father's brilliance, grapples with his legacy and her own stability.

WHAT: Young Contemporaries 2024 Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony WHERE: Halsey Institute WHEN: 5 p.m.

MORE INFO: 39th annual juried student exhibition hosted by the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. Celebrate the talented student artists at the College of Charleston, witness the presentation of generous awards, and find out the winners announced at 6 p.m. and on the @halsey_institute Instagram.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3

WHAT: Chamber Trio Featuring Yuriy Bekker, Julian Schwarz, & Marika Bournaki WHERE: Church of our Savior WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

MORE INFO: Experience the harmonious synergy of these remarkable musicians as they explore a dynamic repertoire. Spanning well-loved classics and intriguing modern pieces, selections include Beethoven, Brahms, and Piazzolla.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

WHAT: The Linda Ronstadt Experience with Tristan McIntosh

WHERE: West Beach Conference Center

WHEN: 7:30 p.m.

MORE INFO: American Idol Star Tristan McIntosh channels Linda Ronstadt’s prime with a superb backing band, offering a musical journey through chart-topping hits like “You’re No Good” and “Blue Bayou.”

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11

WHAT: Quentin E. Baxter Presents Dan Wilson Quartet WHERE: Seabrook Island Club

WHEN: 4 p.m.

MORE INFO: Join us for the second concert featuring Benedetto Guitarist Dan Wilson. Accompanied by pianist Glenn Zaleski, bassist Brandon Rose, and drummer Quentin E. Baxter.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16

WHAT: First day of Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE) WHERE: Downtown Charleston WHEN: 9 a.m.

MORE INFO: SEWE is making a comeback, offering attractions at 5 key exhibit locations in downtown Charleston. The event will feature the SEWE Fine Art Gallery, DockDogs®, Center for Birds of Prey demonstrations, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary and and much more. Don't miss out on the exciting return of these favorites.

KEEPER OF THE WILD IS LOOKING FOR DONATIONS

We Love Wildlife ANNUAL OYSTER ROAST RETURNS IN FEBRUARY

BY ELIZABETH ST. JOHN

For The Island Connection

Save the date.

February 25 from 1 until 4 p.m. is the annual oyster roast to benefit Keeper of the Wild. Do you have any items you’d like to add to the auction? Donations of artistic and interesting items, as well as patron-sponsorship gifts, are actively welcomed right now.

Magnolia Plantation has a beautiful garden retreat on the banks of the Ashley River and once again is the gracious host for the fundraiser.

Freshly steamed oysters and delicious chilis, including a vegan chili, taste even better when accompanied by the sounds of guitar and friends laughing and chatting. Plus, the camellias will

be in bloom – what a wonderful place to relax on a weekend afternoon.

Keeper of the Wild Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary operates entirely on the contributions of its many friends. Specializing in mammalian wildlife rescue and rehab, the shelter is upheld by a large group of dedicated volunteers who are supported by professional staff.

Tickets are available now and are only $50. To purchase tickets for yourself or your special Valentine, go to keeperofthewild.org/oyster-roast.

For donations of items to the auction, please contact Suzanne Sortor, at Suzsortor@gmail.com.