The proposed beachfront overlay ordinance on Kiawah Island has created quite a stir. First reading of the ordinance occurred over six months ago. April 7 was supposed to be the day the Kiawah Island Town Council would pass the ordinance on second reading. However, due to public outcry, the final reading of the ordinance was postponed until May, but even that will likely be delayed.
In the meantime, a joint workshop with Town Council and the Planning Commission was held on April 21. The purpose of the workshop was to allow for additional discussion, review with staff and community engagement.
Planning Director John Taylor presented first at the workshop. He highlighted the importance of conservancy on Kiawah Island and the priority that the Town of Kiawah places on protecting its pristine and unique environment. He mentioned that homes on the beach are getting larger and have been constructed closer to the beach over the years.
The ordinance states that two zones would be created within the overlay district. The first zone would be 50 feet from the 2018 setback line, and the second buffer zone B would be another 50 feet beyond the first zone, totaling 100 feet from the setback line. The state does not have authority over these boundaries.
The new beachfront overlay would bar certain homeowners from building seawalls, pools
Workshop on Kiawah’s Beachfront Overlay Ordinance Provided Much-Needed Information
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
and other hard structures within 100 feet of the island’s fragile dune system.
Public comment from affected homeowners, mostly from Eugenia Avenue, focused on how they were concerned that the ordinance would severely impact their ability to expand their homes or rebuild at the level they would like should tragedy occur. Some homeowners also voiced concern over the fact that structures already within the buffer zones would be allowed, but if they experienced hurricane or fire damage, they could only rebuild within that current footprint. One homeowner on Eugenia said they were very concerned with the new zoning, which allows for 50 feet of their property to be taken away.
He said, “There are many who haven’t done renovations for 30 years, and now they can’t. You have reduced the value of their property.”
A homeowner who wants to completely rebuild a home that is currently in zone B would have to meet the new standards, which would require building further back on the lot, away from the beach. Administrative relief will come in for lots that cannot build further back.
Denise John on Eugenia Avenue said zone B goes all the way to her kitchen in the new survey. She was concerned about the value of her home going down.
Council Member Luke Ferrell said, “We want you to have the ability to rebuild without effect from this ordinance. The value is something separate.”
Kiawah Island Golf Resort President Roger Warren said, “The value is something that really needs to be considered. Someone may not want to buy a lot if they can’t build where they want.”
The purpose of the Beachfront Overlay District is to protect the island’s sand dunes, which have always been in jeopardy. The new overlay district would create a safe buffer zone between homes, golf courses and resorts – all of which currently line Kiawah’s eight miles of beach. Potential damage from hurricanes and sea level rise were also major considerations.
Hard structures would be completely prohibited in the zone closest to the beach, while the second zone would have a limit in size. Exceptions would apply to dune walkovers or boardwalks, and the Town’s planning director could allow some homeowners to build if the buffer zones encroach too deeply on their property, which would be called administrative relief.
Resident on Eugenia Avenue, Mike McMann, asked about landscaping in zone B and if that would be affected. Taylor said that the ordinance does not specify that landscaping is non-conforming; if there was a hardscape, that would be considered. They will create a special section detailing information on landscaping due to the voiced concerns.
There are about 600 dwelling units along the beach on Kiawah Island. There are about 180 private homes, and about 40 of those are on Eugenia Avenue.
Interestingly, the Department of Environmental Services plans to release revisions to the state’s jurisdictional lines in the next couple of years. Planning staff would have to review any changes and make adjustments to the ordinance after those changes are released.
Mayor Bradley Belt ended the workshop saying that they will take everything said into consideration and will issue more information to the community before they act on anything.
To listen to the entire workshop and see the slides from the presentation, visit youtube. com/@TownofKiawahIsland/streams.
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Kiawah Commits to Edifice Construction for Pre-Construction of Cultural Center
BY THERESA STRATFORD | For The Island Connection
It was unanimous among members of the Kiawah Island Town Council to approve an action for the mayor to enter into a contract with Edifice Construction for the pre-construction phase of a new civic and cultural center.
Discussion began earlier that day, on April 7, during the Ways and Means Committee meeting. Later, at the Town Council meeting, they approved the committee’s recommendation to move forward with Edifice. However, there was a stipulation regarding a concern voiced by Town Council Member Russell Berner.
Berner voiced his concern at the Ways and Means Committee meeting. Basically, he wasn’t comfortable approving the action without seeing the construction contract.
The stipulation in response to Berner’s concern at the Town Council meeting was announced by Mayor Bradley Belt. “Before there is any contract entered into, every interested council member, particularly Council Member Berner, who’s been a member of the building committee, would have ample opportunity to review and provide input on that contract. Edifice indicated today that they would provide a list of the control tools and steps that they plan to employ and that would be provided as an attachment to the contract,” he said.
The new civic and cultural center on Kiawah Island would be 12,000 square feet and would be located on Town Hall grounds. Features include a new auditorium with 300 seats, a multi-pur-
Town of Kiawah Island
Ways and Means Committee
Tuesday, May 5, 10 a.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, May 5, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Planning Commision
Wednesday, May 6, 2 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Infrastructure and Public Works Committee
Thursday, May 7, 10 a.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Environmental Committee
Wednesday, May 13, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
pose community room with an operational partition to accommodate a total of 40 to 60 seats, a lobby, a loading dock, utilities, AV/IT and staging equipment, as well as a parking lot.
The total budget for the project is estimated at $12.3 million. The pre-construction phase would begin immediately and last until Dec. 2026. Edifice predicted construction would commence in Jan. of 2027.
Edifice plans to hold bi-weekly meetings during the pre-construction phase, as well.
Belt explained that Edifice was chosen through an RFQ process. “I think we had 11 or 12 companies initially, and we whittled that down to a short list of four to participate in an RFP process. We received extensive mate-
Town of Seabrook Island
Planning Commission
Wednesday, May 13, 1:30 p.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
Environment & Wildlife Committee
Thursday, May 14, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, May 19, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
Discretionary Grants Committee
Wednesday, May 20, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
Community Facilities & Infrastructure Committee
Thursday, May 21, 1 p.m.
Seabrook Island Town Hall
rials from the various firms, including not only their bona fides but a rough estimate of the magnitude of the cost estimate for the project, as well as their experience in building similar types of facilities. We had four extraordinarily well-qualified firms, all with a lot of experience in this area. They all had varying degrees of experience with building cultural centers. In the end, the committee unanimously recommended Edifice for a number of reasons, one of which was their extraordinary attention to detail in delivering their ROM. They did a very good job at the presentation, brought a large team and convinced the committee that they were very committed to this project and we’re going to hold them to that.”
K iawah iSland Town h all 4475 Betsy Kerrison Parkway Kiawah Island, S.C. 29455
843-768-9166
SeabrooK iSland Town h all 2001 Seabrook Island Road Seabrook Island, S.C. 29455 843-768-9121 info@townofseabrookisland.org
JohnS iSland c ouncil
Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Highway, Johns Island, S.C. 29455
Chairman Christina Gammons White
charle STon c oun T y c ouncil 4045 Bridge View Drive N. Charleston, S.C. 29405 843-958-4700
ciT y of charle STon 75 Calhoun St. Charleston, S.C. 29401 843-724-3745
Credit: Provided by Edifice Construction
Keeping the Beach Clean, One Bucket at a
Time
For The Island Connection
The Town of Kiawah Island is excited to announce a pilot program that will help keep the beach clean. Through a partnership with the Charleston County Parks and Fill A Bag, an organization based in Key Biscayne, Florida, the Town has installed a Fill A Bag station at Beachwalker Park at the end of the boardwalk.
Fill A Bag stations empower people to turn ordinary beach walks into meaningful cleanups by using the reusable buckets to fill with trash as they stroll. As you take a walk along the beach or search for shorebirds, grab a bucket and help clean up the beach, and keep trash out of the ocean. When you are done, simply dump the trash in the trash can next to the bucket station and return the bucket to the fill station. It’s that easy!
This program is one of the go-green efforts from the Town of Kiawah Island’s Resiliency Committee. Committee Chair and Council Member Madeleine Kaye stated, “The beach is one of the places that makes Kiawah so special for residents and visitors. We are excited to participate in this simple yet impactful program that will help keep the beach clean and prevent trash from getting into the ocean. We hope that we can expand this pilot project to other locations along the beach to enhance its impact and make it easier for others to participate.”
The Fill A Bag effort started in Key Biscayne and has spread quickly. To date, over 59 Fill A Bag stations have been activated in seven states, including Florida, Alabama, South Carolina (including Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms), Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts and Ohio. Other stations are in the works in Connecticut, Illinois, the Philippines, the Gili Islands and Mexico.
Learning about Artificial Intelligence
BY DEBBIE JONES | For The Island Connection
Seabrook Island Village hosted a workshop called Navigating Wise Use of Artificial Intelligence on April 14. This high-interest presentation, with an audience of over 50, was led by Chad Droze of Compu-Experts. Droze led the audience through a basic understanding of what AI is and what AI is not, giving examples along the way. It was very surprising to learn that most of us are using some form of AI without even realizing it whenever we use our devices. The software in our devices uses our information and habits to learn patterns from our data to make decisions, predictions or create new content.
Popular AI apps such as ChatGPT can be beneficial to us, but we also need to be aware of fake AI such as face swapping, voice cloning, lip syncing and full body puppeteering, having us question what is real. A highlight of Droze’s presentation was his creation of a live demo of AI using ChatGPT with a real scenario. Audience members then had the opportunity to share their own experiences using AI apps. The program concluded with the reminder that where AI is going in the future leaves us with more questions than answers.
The Arts in Bloom benefit evening on March 26, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Arts, etc., was a great success, attended by community members, local leaders and supporters. Held at the Kiawah Island River Clubhouse, it was an elegant spring-inspired event with a wonderful dinner and beautiful flower arrangements sourced from local Johns Island gardens, including gorgeous azaleas.
The evening began with performances by students in the Haut Gap Middle School Orchestra, the senior guitarist at St. Johns High School and the Johns Island Elementary School
SALT OF THE EARTH
Choir and Melodica Ensemble. The talented performers highlighted the impact of Arts, etc. programming, which is designed to expand access to arts education through in-school programs, partnerships and opportunities for underserved youth. There was also an extensive gallery of art by students in the schools of the Sea Islands.
President Karen Curth opened the evening by thanking everyone for their support. Opening remarks by past board member and long-time member Marsha Gewirtzman related the history of the organization over 25 years. The founders of Arts, etc., were honored in a video, including
Arts in Bloom
For The Island Connection
Ruth Baker, Cathy Marino and Ellen Walkley. Past board member Jodi Rush gave a wonderful introduction to the featured speaker, Charlton Singleton, of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, and Ranky Tanky. He recounted amusing stories that illustrated his development as a musician and performer, beginning at a young age in school. His first experience on Kiawah Island was when he was part of a performance on the island in which he played a jester. He fell in love with performing and the arts during that experience.
The presenting sponsor, First National Bank, was well represented at the dinner, as well as school liaisons and members of the program partners, especially the Charleston Jazz Orchestra.
The silent auction of art by local artists, experiences and curated packages such as golf, jewelry and spa items contributed significantly toward Arts, etc.’s annual fundraising goals. Enthusiastic bidders were online as well as present that evening. Many of the artists were in attendance, including Mary Whyte, a strong supporter of arts education. Dessert and lively music during the closing minutes of the silent auction wrapped up the wonderful evening.
Donations are still being accepted at kiawahartsetc.org/members-and-friends.
An exhibition of 26 watercolors in celebration of America’s 250th
THE GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART MAY 22 - SEPTEMBER 27 gibbesmuseum.org
Athena Herder, Community Herbalist, Spoke at the April Seabrook Island Garden Club Meeting
For The Island Connection
Athena Herder, community herbalist and founder of Arizkatt’s Herbs, presented to the Seabrook Island Garden Club’s April meeting on “The Healing Power of Herbs and Other Medicinal Plants.”
Herder is a community herbalist with over 20 years of study and hands-on experience working with plants and traditional medicine.
She teaches classes, hands-on workshops and guided plant walks, helping people learn to identify local plants and create their own herbal remedies. Her teaching focuses on practical, accessible skills that empower others to care for themselves and their families while building confidence and a deeper connection with the natural world.
Herder’s presentation focused on herbal allies for everyday ailments, including allergies, burns, colds, arthritis, digestion, muscles, joints and headaches. She reviewed key herbs used for these ailments, how they work, where they work, parts used, how to combine herbs for synergy and safety basics. She emphasized safety while using herbs, determining external versus internal uses, checking with medications you may be currently taking, adjusting for age and starting simple. Visit her website at arizkattsherbs.com
A Day to Celebrate Lowcountry Land Trust
BY ELISABETH ST. JOHN | For The Island Connection
Afestive and varied annual Spring Gathering of the friends of the Lowcountry Land Trust was held on April 18 and was hosted at Hobonny Plantation, located on the Combahee River, which is wisely and beautifully preserved by the Wise family. Preservation does not mean that time stops still, but rather, that the land is managed to enhance wildlife habitat, and to prevent losing its grandeur to subdividing and industrialization. The Wise family has illustrated the conservation framework exceptionally well.
In addition to building their home to complement the low impact guidelines, they enhanced and restored features already extant. The property, which was originally land-granted by King George, held cabins for enslaved laborers, uniquely built with brick walls and floors. Most cabins in those days had dirt floors and were made of wood, so these accommodations were already an upgrade for the norm of the day.
The fully restored cabin has been designated as a House Museum and dates to 1790. Out toward the marsh and the river, stands a beautiful white cross, a tribute to all those who were at Hobonny before, loved the views, called it home and made it what it is today. Further on, towards the forested area, is a restored tenant house, representing a later phase in the plantation’s life.
The Lowcountry Land Trust stewards a substantial portion of the total 350,000 acreage under protection
in the ACE Basin. The ACE name comes from the rivers that flow through the basin and meet the sea. They are Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers.
As water flows from their mountain sources and encounters the ocean tides, fluxes of rising sweet-water are created that made the region a perfect place to grow rice. The quality of the rice grown in the area was superbly different, sold at a premium and was referred to as Carolina Gold rice. Today, many of the former rice fields are managed to support wildlife activities and give sporting club members a place for the occasional hunt.
To emphasize the sportsmanship activities also embraced by the hosts, Haddrell’s offered free fly-casting and instruction. Food was provided by Peculiar Pig Farms of Hardeeville, and Boonie Bevins Music regaled with a soothing bluegrass twang throughout the event.
When David and Morgan Cole Wise purchased the Hobonny Plantation property, it still had the original boundaries that were land-granted to the Middleton family in the 1700s. In a Rice Talk, Travis Folk shared that rice growing on coastal plantations created immense wealth in the 1800s. Rice cultivation is intensely laborious work in pluff mud and required enslaved labor. Brought from Africa, the enslaved were familiar with rice growing techniques, where rice
(Continued on page 15)
AROUND THE ISLANDS
FRIDAY, MAY 1
WHAT: Food Truck Friday
WHERE: Kiawah Island Town Hall, 4475 Betsy Kerrison Pkwy., Johns Island
WHEN: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Town of Kiawah Island will host another edition of the Food Truck Friday series, bringing flavorful foods and diverse selections.
SATURDAY, MAY 2
WHAT: 2026 Charleston Airshow
WHERE: Charleston Harbor
WHEN: 1 p.m.
MORE INFO: On Saturday, May 2nd, Joint Base Charleston is proud to partner with the Cities of Charleston and Mount Pleasant to host a one-day Harbor-Front Airshow. This display of aviation excellence will take place over the Charleston Harbor, South of the Cooper River Bridge between downtown Charleston & Mt Pleasant and will feature the Blue Angels & F16 Demo team!
MORE INFO: Each year in anticipation of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the Kiawah Arts Council collaborates with the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs to coordinate a “sneak-peek” concert that gives Sea Islands residents a taste of what Piccolo Spoleto has to offer!
THURSDAY, MAY 7
WHAT: Stralight Yoga
WHERE: Johns Island County Park WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join Charleston County Parks for evening yoga with a view! Starlight Yoga is inclusive and open to all levels, including beginners, ages 10 and up. A registered and paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Online registration is available at CharlestonCountyParks.com for $12 per person per session. Fees increase to $14 the day of the event.
FRIDAY, MAY 8
WHAT: Food Truck Friday
WHERE: Kiawah Island Town Hall, 4475 Betsy Kerrison Pkwy., Johns Island
WHEN: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Town of Kiawah Island will host another edition of the Food Truck Friday series, bringing flavorful foods and diverse selections.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
Our community calendar keeps you updated on local events. From festivals to workshops to family-friendly gatherings. Stay connected and never miss out on the excitement.
WHERE: Andell Inn, 300 Farm Lake View Rd., Kiawah Island
WHEN: 11:30 a.m.
WHAT: Art Film Series in the Theatre WHERE: Seafields, Kiawah Island WHEN: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Enjoy a screening a “The Great Gatsby.”
THURSDAY, MAY 14
WHAT: Jazz Night at Porch Bar
WHERE: Andell Inn, 300 Farm Lake View Rd., Kiawah Island
WHEN: 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
MORE INFO: Stop by the Porch Bar at the Andell Inn every second and fourth Thursday of the month for a Jazz Night featuring a local group.
SATURDAY, MAY 16
WHAT: Cars & Coffee
WHERE: Freshfields Village WHEN: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
MORE INFO: Arrive in your favorite ride or stop by the Village Green to browse unique, antique and other cool cars. Coffee and breakfast will be available for purchase at Java Java.
FRIDAY, MAY 22
WHAT: Music on the Green WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: Free, family-friendly featuring Michel Jons Band. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.
SATURDAY, MAY 23
WHAT: Music on the Green WHERE: Freshfields Village WHEN: 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: Free, family-friendly featuring Shem Creek Boogie Band. Guests are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs
MONDAY, MAY 25
WHAT: Piano Bars in the Palmera Dining Room
WHERE: Seafields, Kiawah Island
WHEN: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Kiawah Arts Council in partnership with Seafields will host a Piano Bar. This event is open to the public; however, due to limited capacity and parking, RSVPs will be required.
SATURDAY, MAY 30
WHAT: Outdoor Barre Workout
MORE INFO: Join a fun outdoor barre workout for women of all ages. It’ll be a workout focused on strengthening, tightening and toning the full body while enjoying the ocean breeze and watching gators swim in the pond. Bring a mat and a set of light weights (1- 3lbs). Don’t worry if you don’t have anything, they’ll have extras.
ONGOING
WHAT: Fleece+ Friday
WHERE: Beachwalker Center
WHEN: Every Friday from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join the Kiawah Cares Made with Love program to create handmade crafts for children, seniors, veterans, teachers, new moms and neighbors in need. All skill levels are welcome to make no-sew fleece blankets, craft greeting cards, sew fabric totes, knit/crochet scarves and more.
WHAT: Sea Island Farmers Market
WHERE: 2024 Academy Rd., John’s Island
WHEN: Every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. - 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 farm-fresh goodies and unique finds.
WHAT: Weekend Wine-Down
WHERE: Deep Water Vineyard, 6775 Bears Bluff Rd., Wadmalaw Island
WHEN: Every Saturday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Attendees can expect tastings ($15 gets you a tasting of six samples of the vineyard’s wine and a souvenir stemless glass), drinks, food trucks, live music, and more.
WHAT: Southern Sips
WHERE: Dunlin Resort, 1030 Sound Dr., Johns Island
WHEN: Every Tuesday and Friday from 3:30 p.m.4:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Step into the world of mixology with this Southern Sips Class, where you’ll master the art of crafting two unique cocktails using ingredients sourced directly from the resort’s farm.
WHAT: Winedown Wednesdays
WHERE: Freshfields Village, 165 Village Green Ln., Kiawah Island
WHEN: Every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join Showroom Kiawah every Wednesday for Winedown Wednesday.
Kiawah Island Supports $250,000 in Charitable Grants
BY THERESA STRATFORD | For The Island Connection
The Town of Kiawah Island will support 20 organizations in 2026 through its charitable grants program. The budget this year is $250,000, but the total requested comes to $247,609, which is $2,391 shy of meeting the total budget. The budget in 2025 was $200,000. Last year, they were shy of about $1,000 on meeting the total budget with 19 organizations.
The recommendation to approve the charitable grants at Town Council came from the Ways and Means Committee meeting, which was held earlier that day, on April 7. Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Luke Farrell, said that the reason they increased the budget by $50,000 was because of inflation in the cost of food.
“We recognize the inflation of food and the number of lower-income households in Greater Johns Island and Wadmalaw. The charitable grants broadly cover four areas: housing, medical, food and education. We did focus on some of the educational requirements this year, but broadly, we accepted all of the recommendations from staff for allocating the $250,000,” Farrell said.
The 20 organizations that the Town of Kiawah Island approved to help fund are:
• AMOR Healing Kitchen at $15,525
• Backpack Buddies Seabrook Island at $5,000
• Barrier Island Free Medical Clinic, Inc. at $30,000
• Camp Hi Hopes at $10,000
• Charleston Area Senior Citizens Services at $15,000
• Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding at $5,084
• Charleston Collegiate School at $4,500
• HALOS (Helping and Lending Outreach Support) at $8,400
• Kiawah Women’s Foundation at $15,000
• Lowcountry Food Bank at $7,800
• New Webester JIP Food Pantry at $9,700
• Operation Home at $10,000
• Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Services at $20,000
• Paraclete Foundation of Holy Spirit Church at $18,000
• Sea Island Habitat for Humanity at $20,000
• Sea Islands Blessing Basket at $25,000
• St. John’s Parish Church - Feeding the Multitude at $7,000
• Sweetgrass Gardn Coop. at $2,000
• The Lonon Foundation at $9,600
• Vision to Learn at $10,000
Communications and Public Affairs Director Meredith Blair presented information about the grant applicants at the Ways and Means Committee meeting. Each applicant detailed what they would use the requested funding for. Most of the applicants had specific reasons for needing the funding. For example, Charleston Collegiate
would use the funding for a standardized testing course for students at neighboring public schools, like St. John’s High School. There were a couple of organizations that were denied funding. CONNECT, for example, submitted an incomplete application and was therefore disqualified from funding. Kiawah Arts was also denied due to the funding not being requested to directly serve those in need.
Representatives from the organizations were on hand at the Ways and Means Committee meeting to answer questions and explain their needs.
Alan Stein, a board member for Backpack Buddies of Seabrook Island, expressed his appreciation. “This is my first rodeo with you folks, so thank you very much for hearing our application. I learned as a new board member that this would make the 11th year that Kiawah has supported Backpack Buddies. So, there’s a great deal of appreciation for that. It’s all a matter of taking a small grant here, contributions there, etc., that pull it together, so that we can provide service for 375 children. And to be more specific, the funds that you will provide for us will frankly feed about 16 children throughout the course of the year. And that would probably be about 550 meals that will be provided with the resources that you’re recommending. So, thank you.”
Credit: Provided by Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic.
Book on Native Plants Inspires Watercolor Class
For The Island Connection
Local artist and author Audrey Straus will host a watercolor class and book signing event inspired by her new book, Native Plants of Kiawah Island, on Saturday, May 2, at 10 a.m. at the Treehouse Activity Center in Night Heron Park at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, offering a creative, nature-inspired experience just ahead of Mother’s Day.
The morning will begin with a guided watercolor class on the Treehouse’s back patio, where Straus will lead the group in painting native plants featured throughout the book, followed by an 11 a.m. book signing on the front lawn. Designed as both a creative workshop and an intimate artist experience, the event will allow attendees to create their own artwork while learning about the plants that define the Lowcountry. Tickets are $100 and available for purchase online through eventbrite.com. Tickets include all materials, wine and non-alcoholic beverages, a signed copy of the book and finished watercolor paintings to take home.
The event draws from Straus’ 375-page book Native Plants of Kiawah Island, using an interactive class to bring its botanical artwork to life and connect guests with the island’s natural landscape. Guests will also have the opportunity to experience Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Treehouse Activity Center, a recently introduced space that hosts creative, educational and family-friendly programming.
Memorial Day Weekend with the Seabrook Island Artist Guild
For The Island Connection
The Seabrook Island Artist Guild (SAIG) is proud to present its Memorial Day Weekend Art and Craft Show: an exceptional opportunity to explore and experience the creativity of talented local artists and craftsmen.
This year’s event will be held on the green in front of the Seabrook Island Real Estate Company, located at 1002 Landfall Way, just outside the gate. This convenient and welcoming location makes it easy for our neighbors from Kiawah Island and Johns Island to join the Guild for this special event.
Set in a relaxed outdoor setting, this one-day show invites residents and visitors alike to discover a diverse collection of original artwork and finely crafted pieces, all created by Guild members. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists, learn about their creative processes and find something truly unique to take home.
Join the SAIG on Saturday, May 23, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for a day of art, inspiration and community. In the event of inclement weather, the show will be held on Sunday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. A weather decision will be made one to two days before the event.
Credit: Native Plants of Kiawah Island
May Fishing ReportTake to the Sea!
BY CAPT. GEOFF BENNETT
For The Island Connection
It’s an excellent time to get out on the water. Local waterways are full of baitfish, and gamefish are feeding aggressively. With all the summer species now present alongside the usual favorites, anglers have plenty of choices. If you haven’t started fishing yet, now is the perfect opportunity!
When going after redfish, live bait is especially effective. Menhaden is a top option, whether used whole or cut. Many anglers are finding success by casting chunks of menhaden beneath docks. Be sure to use enough weight to keep your bait on the bottom so it stays in place and avoids snags. Split shot weights are a good option since they can be easily adjusted by adding or removing them as needed.
Early mornings offer great topwater action for trout. Lures like the Heddon Super Spook Jr. in silver hues perform well, though chartreuse and black are other strong choices. Try changing your retrieve speed as you move the lure across shell beds and grassy shorelines. When a fish hits, reel in the slack before lifting your rod. After the surface bite slows down, switching to a suspended twitch bait can help keep the action going.
Sharks are also active, with species such as bonnetheads, sharpnose and blacktips commonly found in the area. You may spot their fins as they hunt along riverbanks or search for food near drop-offs in harbors and inlets. Effective bait options include blue crab, cut bait and live shrimp. Using 7/0 circle hooks is recommended. Set your rods in holders and be ready for a strong, sudden strike!
Since 2009, Capt. Geoff Bennett has operated Charleston Charter Fishing, providing light tackle charters. Clients choose from a full menu of artificial, live bait and fly fishing options with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 843-324-3332, visit his website at charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.
Kiawah Island Photography Club Celebrated in April
BY TINA R. SCHELL For
The Island Connection
On April 20, members and guests of the Kiawah Island Photography Club gathered to celebrate the club’s 20th anniversary. Multiple speakers highlighted the club’s history, camaraderie, contributions to the island and surrounding areas, and, of course, its role in expanding members’ photographic knowledge.
Following Club President Cindy Perry’s opening remarks, member and professional photographer Pamela Cohen invited meeting attendees to view the exhibition of images from the club’s “Visions Through a Curious Lens” project. Thirty club members’ works on metal were displayed in a separate area in April.
Attendees then returned to a large meeting room, and following Perry’s introduction, member Jack Kotz reviewed the club’s history and some of its projects supporting Johns Island. Several key initiatives benefiting local organizations were presented. Examples included the club’s production of a Johns Island history and photography book to support the Johns Island Library, as well as local schools and a Firehouse Project, which donated and installed 44 large framed images to brighten area fire stations.
Tina Schell then presented two videos of club members’ images contrasting submissions from 2014 and 2026. The examples offered an interesting perspective on the club’s growth, both in membership and in artistic capability.
In addition to its weekly workshops, over the years the club has hosted monthly lectures by prominent professional photographers, many of whom also led photo shoots to reinforce new skills. The club has welcomed nationally-renowned photographers such as Joyce Tenneson, Tony Sweet, Alan Ross and Denise Ippolito, as well as National Geographic Photographers Bob Krist, Ralph Lee Hopkins, Joe McNally and Eddy Soloway. Local professionals have included John Duckworth, Ben Hamm, Richard Bernabe, Alice Keeney and Kenny McKeithan.
Finally, members Kimberly Wissel and Morris Hanan reviewed the club’s support of Trident Technical College’s photography program. Each year, a scholarship is awarded in honor of the late John Sanders, one of the club’s founders. The 2026 recipient, Epiphany McGregor, will graduate next month and has also received scholarships to both SCAD and Columbia College Chicago. Since its founding in 2020, the scholarship program has helped to support eight students in pursuing their goals.
Following the program, members and guests enjoyed cake and soft drinks to celebrate the occasion and to raise a toast to the next 20 years.
Kiawah Island Photography Club past presidents.
The Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding Program Teaches Valuable Lessons
BY ELISABETH ST. JOHN | For The Island Connection
The weather has been great for members of the Kiawah Island Naturalist Group (KING) to venture out and experience the beauty of the programs, property, staff and horses at the immaculately maintained Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding (CATR) lawns, fields and covered riding arena.
CATR, through planned and monitored programs, has been empowering and transforming lives through therapeutic connections with horses. The program serves a wide range of people with exceptional and traditional disabilities, ranging from special education school groups and support groups to veterans suffering from impairments because of their meritorious service.
The participants or students form valuable relationships with the horses that often result in learning new and challenging skills. The skill development begins physically, since horseback riding requires a strong core. Success in maintaining balance and posture on a horse leads to emotional growth, building self-esteem and confidence. The experiences a student has in the program are life-changing and life-enhancing. The director, Colleen Trepen, shared a memory of a child who came to them and had not been able to speak.
In her interaction riding the horse, she expressed her joy verbally and sang while on the horse. This was a life-change-enhancing result, which is very rewarding to the staff and to the parents, as well. These exceptional results while on the horse can lead to positive and long-lasting changes once the participant goes home and resumes his or her normal life activities.
Why does this therapy succeed with horses, as opposed to other companion animals?
The CATR literature centerfold reads: “What makes horses so special?” It goes on to say that the sheer size of the horse plays into the relationship. Getting someone much bigger than you to communicate and respond is empowering. Also, when interacting with a horse, a human’s respiration rate begins to mirror the horse’s slower breathing, which has a calming effect. A third attribute is the rhythmical motion a horse makes when walking. It is called a three-dimensional gait, and it stimulates muscles in the rider’s body in a way no other exercise does.
The final note in the literature discusses how social horses are. They, like some of their human companions, are experts at reading body language and emotional energy levels. “Horses know when
you need an extra nuzzle or even a challenge!”
Programs are individualized, and a participant’s performance is evaluated. Veterans learn to step outside their comfort zone and regain a sense of purpose and relief from the uncertainty that plagued them after being in a combat zone. There are special halters, with reigns that accommodate hands that are different, and saddles that help those who may have lost the full use of a limb. Schoolaged children may need more supportive tack, or a special saddle. The tack room is well-organized and beautifully arranged, so every participant can be safely and comfortably accommodated while riding. There are conventional two-step mounting blocks, but for those who need more support, there are mounting ramps.
Volunteers work as horse leaders and side-walkers. Leaders are responsible for the horse and sidewalkers are responsible for supporting the student. Just like humans, horses get distracted. One very social horse was interested in our group standing outside the railing and had to be reminded of his job to teach the young boy to like him and work with him. He quickly and calmly resumed his job.
Staff keep the horses fit, calm, engaged and interested. Often, student participants have only seen horses on television and they, just like the horses, also must learn to show engagement and interest in their horse companion. Horses intrinsically prefer to be attached to one person, so they must be retrained to accept a variety of different people who come to work with them. Like humans, horses like
to be valued and loved, but it is not in their nature to like this job, so when the staff takes in a new horse, it is brought in on a 90-day trial to work with the staff and participants to see if it might fit this role.
Trepen added, “We can’t take an unhappy horse because it will not be safe for our students.” CATR only employs docile horses that are curious and brave for their jobs in the planned curricula and programs. Volunteers are needed and welcomed, but must receive background checks and pertinent training before starting at CATR.
The barn staff are highly experienced and knowledgeable on horse education, as well as in maintaining a healthy herd. One staff member has been with CATR for 10 years.
Her brother rode in the program when she was a teenager, and she started her work with the horses then. With such long-time and faithful attendants, much of the horse-care can be done by the staff, and only on occasion does a veterinarian need to be called.
CATR is located on the old Brick House Plantation, which is on 43 acres near Abbapoola Creek on Johns Island. Appropriately, as if embracing the therapy program, there is a cemetery with almost legible, very old, but beautiful markers, right next to where the participants simultaneously learn about plants.
Roses abound around the barns, and in a raised garden, the Stanyarne legacy lives while fragrant rosemary and other herbs are used to teach the senses of smell and tactile differences in plant materials. Another learning spot on the lawn had mats with books about horses, where kids can relax to read about horses. Next to the fragrance garden is a table that holds clues to identify the specific horses working at CATR. For example, one chip reads a name, another chip contains the name of the breed and the children learn to match the name and breed chips to the correct resident-horse pictured. There is so much done to make every visiting participant comfortable and at home in the CATR environment.
For those interested in consecutive days of experience, summer day camps are planned weekly for five weeks, starting in June. Contact Anja Cain, program director, at acain@catr-program. org, and see details on the website at catr-program.org.
And, as with many nonprofit programs, funding is critically dependent on private donations and grants. Please donate to the amazing work the horses, their staffers and volunteers do at CATR.
The Three Little Pigs
BY ELISABETH ST. JOHN For The Island Connection
Kids love distractions from schoolwork, and the College of Charleston Opera program offers local school children that opportunity. They are invited to laugh, learn and enjoy traditional children’s stories in a musical art form that was popular when the great classical composers reigned. This was the inspiration for the Children’s Opera, The Three Little Pigs, an operetta in the English language, performed by College of Charleston students in comic and imaginative settings, yet teaching a contemporary moral and aligning with the familiarity of the fable.
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Emma Brennan, Mezzo Soprano, music major from Clover S.C.; Colin Covington, Baritone, music major from Mechanicsville, V.A.; Juliana Vaccaro, Mezzo Soprano and music major from Charleston; Laila Dye-Sharpe, Soprano, business/entrepreneurship and music major from Clover S.C.
Three Pigs
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Organized by faculty member Dr. Amanda Castellone, the Portable Opera performances are offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings to local schools. The performers have gone as far as Columbia to bring their adorable teachings to children there.
The College of Charleston’s Portable Opera is unique in multiple ways. The audience is instructed in a very friendly way on what appropriate audience behavior is. There is a code of audience behavior verbalized before the performance, which applies later in life to adult audience behavior as well.
There is a moral to each story. Each 30-minute operetta is structured around a contemporary tag line, which, in the case of The Three Little Pigs, is that you can find all sorts of good information at the local library.
In the children’s operas, the music is borrowed from real operas. Music from Don Giovanni and other Mozart operas is used in the Three Little Pigs, with English text appropriate to the fable. And, finally, Portable Opera means four actors, one pianist and a folding stage must all fit into the same car.
For college students in children’s opera, playing a part in one of the productions is fun, occasional and gives a person a chance to perform on stage under less pressure. When a larger group of students audition, roles can be divided up and rotated so that everyone has a chance to perform, and still perform on their other study requirements. Because there is always something that doesn’t go to plan, especially with a travelling show, improvisation is necessary and welcomed. It is a good way to learn to handle the oddities that occur in show business, or life, for that matter.
The ultimate goal is to keep students on stage and keep them in a role. For the recent performance at Opera 101 at Kiawah’s Sandcastle, in attendance were the talents of director Castellone; piglet Emma Brennan, from Clover, S.C. and a music major; golden-fingered Misha Pekar as pianist; piglet Colin Covington from Mechanicsville, V.A., also a music major; adorably-big-bad-wolf Julia Vaccaro, a native Charlestonian music major; and Clover S.C. native Laila Dye-Sharp, a business/entrepreneurship and music major, who brought the house down with her encore rendition of Summertime, from Porgy & Bess.
The benefit to children is that they learn from the storyline, as well as the logical interpretation of the actions on stage, but interactively, in a different way from sitting in front of a TV and watching the same story in cartoons. The live performers interact with the children, and the young audience is mesmerized by the handsome students older than they are, and perceive they can be students, performers, entertainers and teachers just as the role-players are. It stimulates analysis of characters, settings and interactions with others.
Other operettas in the current repertoire include The Billy Goats Gruff, Little Red’s Most Unusual Day, Goldie B. Locks and the Three Singing Bears and Jack and the Beanstalk.
The operettas are available to area schools serving children as young as 3 years old. In the fall, the opera program sends out flyers to schools, inviting them to book a performance. For each performance, a stipend of $500 is needed to pay the performance royalties and pianist fee, as well as cash expenses.
For more information or to book your school or provide funds for the performances, please contact Castellone at castelloneab@ cofc.edu or 843-953-6575.
Seabrook’s PageTurners Connects
Readers and Authors
For The Island Connection
On Wednesday, May 20, PageTurners will host its next author speaker event featuring acclaimed author Bren McClain, who will discuss her award-winning novel, One Good Mama Bone.
Set in rural South Carolina in the 1960s, the story centers on Sarah Creamer, a woman haunted since childhood by her mother’s harsh criticism that she did not possess “one good mama bone” and would never be a good mother. What unfolds is a deeply moving narrative of hardship. As noted in an early review by the Southern Literary Review, the novel weaves together “prophecy, infidelity, poverty and devious people,” anchored by the unusual and memorable bond between a woman and a cow named Big Mama Red. With its vivid characters and deeply human themes, One Good Mama Bone promises to spark meaningful conversation, making it an ideal selection for PageTurners’ upcoming event.
In her foreword, New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe called this novel “a tour de force,” praising its emotional depth, honesty and ultimately healing power. “One Good Mama Bone is everything that Bren is: smart, confident, unflinchingly honest, witty, wise and possessing a reassuring wisdom and kindness that carries the reader from the story’s heartbreaking beginnings to a morally and emotionally satisfying conclusion. This is a novel that just might break your heart, and it might well heal it too, but with both acts, Bren McClain will remind you of why each of us is entrusted with a heart in the first place.”
The novel has received numerous honors, including the Willie Morris Award for Southern Fiction and the Patricia Winn Award for Southern Literature. It was also named a Great Group Reads selection by the Women’s National Book Association, longlisted for the Southern Book Prize and recognized as a finalist for the Crook’s Corner Prize. Internationally, it was published in France as Mama Red, where it received the 2021 Prix Maya.
Registration opened on April 21. The program will take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Atlantic Room at the Seabrook Island Club on May 20. Seabrook Island Club members may register via the club app.
Non-club members may attend as a guest of a Seabrook Island Club member, or may visit seabrookpageturners.com to provide their contact information, and PageTurners will contact them with information and support.
Woods Bros. is Back! Fly Fishing
BY ELISABETH ST. JOHN For The Island Connection
Woods Bros., a store between Ravenel and Beaufort, was an iconic stop in the days when Highway 17 was the main coastal artery between Florida and Charleston, especially when the road was only two lanes. It was the only gas pump if you were going to and from Hilton Head, Edisto, Bennett’s Point, Kiawah, Seabrook and all the islands between.
A very wise couple, by the name of Wise, raised in the marshes and pines of the Lowcountry, has invested in the area and brought back the Woods Bros. store. It truly is a “lagniappe,” a little something extra, for the Green Pond neighborhood.
We dropped by Woods Bros. last Saturday, after a glorious day spent at Hobonny Plantation, also stewarded by the Wise family. A step into the front door yielded copious temptations.
Forgotten was the real reason for stopping, and joy was the new reason for staying. At the end of my perusal through things too fun to pass up, I spoke with the cashier. The crowd had grown into a small throng inside, and I attributed it to people leaving the Lowcountry Land Trust event at Hobonny Plantation.
“Not at all,” she said, “it’s like this here every Saturday!”
The highway is now a glorious four-lane divided highway, connecting our islands south of Charleston with those on the north side. The speed limit is still sleepy, but there doesn’t seem to be speed traps any longer.
It was a “Wise” man who could see the potential in reopening Woods Bros., and to all of y’all who have missed the pit stop in the middle of the bend in the road at 8446 Ace Basin Parkway in Green Pond, we hope to see you soon!
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was grown as a food source. The trunks or gates were most probably of Dutch design, and the amazingly simple, 400-year-old technology, has no need for improvement. Most rice trunks are made of very durable cypress wood. On this property there is a Diamond Gate, one of only four known to exist, that was built with tabby stone walls and movable gates and floors of cypress wood. The floor of this gate, placed in 1795, is still intact. The Wises are hoping to restore the gate to full function and are actively searching for a cypress log beam to bridge the sides and cypress wood to create the wood gates.
Like rice production, preservation is hard work, too. Former chief executive officer, Ashley Demosthenes, and former chief advancement officer, Catherine McCullough, were recognized for their monumental leadership and outreach leading to the public launch of Lowcountry Land Trust’s campaign, It Can’t Wait. The organization is working against the tides of accelerating land development like never before.
It takes countless hours and many dedicated staff, volunteers and donors to help shoulder the expense of everything involved, like working with property owners and conservation partners to purchase additional properties for protection.
One of three current projects is Johns Island’s own Angel Oak Preserve, which will be a unique and interactive park of 44 acres that welcomes all, so we can marvel at the largest tree and its amazing ecosystem in North America. Funds have been raised to 90% of the $8 million target, and very thoughtful friends of conservation, Pierre de Lucy de Fossarieu and Jodie McLean, have pledged to match the next $200,000 gifted to the It Can’t Wait campaign. Now is a great time to preserve the Angel Oak and other projects of the Lowcountry Land Trust. Are you passionate about conserving our beautiful marshes and open spaces? Make a gift to the campaign for conservation at lowcountrylandtrust.org/donate/donation-form/.
