Have a Resolution to Serve in 2025?
KIAWAH ISLAND HAS AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
BY THERESA STRATFORD
For The Island Connection
Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” And when it comes to opportunities to serve on Kiawah Island, the options are almost endless.
At the November 5 Kiawah Island Town Council Meeting, Mayor Bradley Belt and Council Members Madeleine Kaye and Russell Berner went through some of the opportunities during their regular town updates.
Belt mentioned that he, along with Kaye and Berner, recently attended an end-of-the-year dinner for the Kiawah
Island Turtle Patrol, which tops out at 300+ volunteers. “More than 100 people were at that dinner, and it was great to see so many residents get together in honor of something they all love to do,” he said. He noted that although they have 300+ volunteers, they could always use more.
“There are also the Shorebird Stewards, and we recently had been dealing with the topic of dogs on leashes and why those volunteers are so important,” he added.
He mentioned the dolphin education program, called
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It Seems the Health and Wellness Village Isn’t Going Anywhere
BY THERESA STRATFORD For the Island Connection
Seabird nests are counted as season ends
BY SCDNR For The Island Connection
South Carolina’s 2024 seabird nesting season has come to an end, and counts from nesting colonies have been compiled by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ biologists.
Don’t call it a comeback; Island Park Place has been here for months. The Health and Wellness Village, which would presumably be located next door to Kiawah Island Town headquarters on Betsy Kerrison Parkway, is back up for approval by Charleston County Council’s Planning Commission.
It was only about a year ago when the Island Park Place Health and Wellness Village was first up for Charleston County Council’s Planning Commission approval, which ultimately led to a unanimous disapproval among the commission members.
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At that time, they recommended that Charleston County Council also disapprove the project. In February of this year, Charleston County Council voted it down, but it wasn’t unanimous. They were split 4 to 3.
From March to October, seabirds such as brown pelicans, royal terns, Sandwich terns, least terns and black skimmers nest in dense colonies on islands along the South Carolina coast. Most of the nesting occurs on seabird sanctuaries – islands owned and managed by SCDNR – and on islands in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in Charleston County.
Each year, SCDNR biologists conduct an aerial survey in partnership with SCDNR Law Enforcement Division pilots to photograph seabird nesting colonies along the coast during the breeding season. Aerial photographs are then analyzed to count the number of nests for each species at each colony.
Royal tern and Sandwich tern nests totaled 7,206 and 2,314 respectively, with the largest colonies on Tomkins Island Seabird Sanctuary in Jasper County (4,672 royal terns and 1,425 Sandwich terns), marking an encouraging comeback after the site was inactive for the last two years. Gull-billed tern nests numbered 236 in the count, spread out in small colonies between Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary and on four islands in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.
Least tern numbers were gathered using ground count techniques. The state threatened seabird nests totaled 747 statewide, with 401 from natural sites and 346 from alternative sites such as rooftops and dredge spoil areas. Long-term monitoring of least terns in South Carolina indicate they are in decline, and this year’s nesting effort is once again below average.
At the November 5 Town Council meeting, Kiawah Island’s Mayor Bradley Belt announced that Charleston County Council’s Planning Commission will have a second chance to approve or disapprove the Health and Wellness Village. He encouraged Kiawah Island constituents to “pay attention” to what is going on with this project.
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SCDNR biologists counted 677 black skimmers nests statewide, including 397 nests from Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary. Brown pelicans were slightly down to 4,265 nests, likely due to a combination of predator pressure at Bird Key-Stono Seabird Sanctuary and limited nesting habitat at Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary. Crab Bank, Bird Key-Stono and Deveaux Bank are all in Charleston County.
While these numbers are used to monitor population and nesting trends, they do not represent the productivity (chick success) for these species. Seabird nesting success will continue to be negatively impacted by the increasing severity and number of storms, abnormal high tide events and disturbance from human activity at nesting sites.
To help nesting seabirds, SCDNR urges beachgoers to be aware of and respect site-specific closures and regulations.
Seabirds such as these brown pelicans on Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary in Charleston County nest in dense colonies from March to October on islands along the South Carolina coast.
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Volunteers (continued from page 1)
the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network, as well. These folks educate passersby about how dolphins strand feed on Kiawah and Seabrook Islands. They also assist with taking pictures of the dolphins for counting purposes.
In addition, Belt mentioned the bird counting and banding volunteer opportunities available by the direction of the Kiawah biologists.
Other volunteer opportunities exist through the Public Safety committee under the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Arts Council.
Openings also exist on the Town’s Audit committee. “This is an opportunity to engage with our auditor, and we welcome people with relevant expertise in that area,” he said.
There are opportunities to serve on the Planning committee, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Construction Board, and the SATAX committee. “Those committees will have defined terms of one year,” he added.
Berner clarified that members of CERT help with emergency preparations before, during, and after a hurricane. “They will help prepare the beach, and they will be out directing traffic during evacuations,” he said. “All members are trained in CPR, some are nurses, some are trained in security, and we also have engineers. They will go in as a first response team.”
Berner said that CERT also helps with other events, like the Kiawah Island Marathon. “CERT will be along the route looking for participants in distress,” he said. “They will assist with lifesaving medical duties. They help people stay calm until an ambulance arrives on the scene.”
CERT currently has 30 members, but they are looking for more.
Kaye provided information on the Environmental committee and subcommittee opportunities. “As you can imagine, we get a lot of inquiries on our opportunities,” she said.
The main Environmental committee is chaired by Kaye and has 10 members –one is Town Biologist Jim Jordan. There is also a Beach Walkover subcommittee, which is chaired by Jordan. There are nine members, and one is Kaye.
Another subcommittee is the Pet Restraint/Shorebird Protection subcommittee, chaired by Town Biologist Aaron Given. This subcommittee has only four members – one is Kaye and another is the Town Administrator
Stephanie Tillerson.
The Kiawah River Bridge subcommittee is chaired by Jordan, and there are eight members; one is Kaye. This group deals with the ramp construction on the bridge. “Everyone knows this area with the 10 parking spots,” Kaye continued. “There is some damage to the marsh there with launching kayaks and paddleboards, but it is complicated because Johns Island folks have been using this area for fishing for generations. We have looked at some ways to protect the area, but there haven’t been any resolutions yet. We will continue to keep this issue alive.”
Lastly, the Marsh Management/ Pervious Surface subcommittee is chaired by Petrea St. John, and there are 25
members. One member is Kiawah Island Planning Manager John Taylor, and another is Communication Director Erin Pomrenke. Kaye is on the subcommittee, as well as Jordan, plus one of the architects for Kiawah Partners, Mark Permar.
Kaye explained that the Marsh Management/Pervious Surface subcommittee is very robust and deals with the issues surrounding the Marsh Management Comprehensive Plan. The first topic they will deal with concerns the previous surfaces.
Committee positions will go up in January. Kiawah residents are encouraged to reach out to Town staff if they are interested in serving on a committee or volunteering for a group.
Civic Calen dar
TOWN OF KIAWAH
Ways & Means Committee
Tuesday, December 3, 10 a.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, December 3, 1 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Planning Commission
Wednesday, December 4, 2 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
Arts & Cultural Event Council
Thursday, December 5, 2 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
December Community Drop-In
Wednesday, December 11, 2 p.m.
Kiawah Island Town Hall
TOWN OF SEABROOK
Planning Commission
Wednesday, December 11, 1:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Environment & Wildlife Committee
Thursday, December 12, 10 a.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Community Promotion & Engagement
Thursday, December 12, 3:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Town Council
Tuesday, December 17, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Board of Zoning Appeals
Wednesday, December 18, 1 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LOWCOUNTRY MARINE MAMMAL NETWORK.
He also expressed his frustration that although he tried to have dialogue with the developers of the Health and Wellness Village, they did not seem interested in communicating with Kiawah Island leaders or residents.
“I hosted a meeting with the developer and other Johns Island stakeholders subsequent to the Charleston County Planning Commission’s decision,” Belt explained. “I wanted to see if there could be some Andell West-like process that we could engage in and that the community could coalesce. They could have scaled down appropriately to the site and met the needs of the community, but unfortunately, at that time, there were modest concessions coming out of the meeting. They had no intention of engaging in a process with the community. They went forward with those modest concessions and sought a vote from the Council.”
For residents against the Health and Wellness Village, their main issue is the size. The plan calls for 18 dwelling units and retail spaces. There would be a minimum of seven acres of open space, a maximum of 159,846 square feet of building area and a maximum of 55,000 square feet of utility sewage service area.
Belt said, “What I find extraordinarily disconcerting is that the plan submitted before the planning commission is exactly the same plan that the council disapproved back in February. The new MUSC facility is a little over 12,000 square feet. I think of a supposed Health and Wellness Village with 10 MUSCs just up the road. It is 14,000 square feet of restaurants. For comparison purposes, I think 48 Wine Bar is 2,000 to 3000 square feet, so that is four to five restaurants, apartments, etc. It is a large mixed-use development.”
For residents in the Johns Island area that are for the Health and Wellness Village, they want to see more services in the area to afford them the luxury of not having to drive to West Ashley, James Island or downtown Charleston
for those same services.
The developers actually reduced the scale of the original plan from 18 buildings to 15 buildings and decreased the square footage by 20% in late 2023. They also tried to preserve as many grand trees as possible.
It is worth noting that Trident Hospital is coming to Maybank Highway soon, and the MUSC Medical Center is currently underway near Freshfields Village. Roper St. Francis also plans to open medical offices in Freshfields Village.
The Town of Kiawah Island conducted a survey among their residents about the development back in December of 2023. The data points from the survey were as follows:
• A total of 881 Kiawah Island fulltime property owners and parttime property owners responded to the survey.
• Almost 80% of respondents said they do not favor the proposed Health and Wellness Village development, in addition to the MUSC and Trident facilities coming to the area.
• More than 80% did not feel the size of the project was appropriate for the area.
• More than 70% did not feel the development would provide the community with access to adequate medical care.
• Survey results suggest that respondents are concerned about the potential impact of traffic, as well as noise and light pollution from the development.
• Regarding impact on the community’s quality of life, about 21% felt it would have a positive impact, 75% noted a negative impact, and 3% saw no impact.
• Overall, 77% of respondents indicated that they opposed the rezoning proposal and 22% were in favor.
The Health and Wellness Village went back up before Charleston County’s Planning Commission on November 18.
Dive into Holiday Fun at the South Carolina Aquarium
BY SUSAN MCLAUGHLIN For The Island Connection
Beginning November 29, guests at the South Carolina Aquarium will enjoy festive fun, including visits from Santa, special animal programs and more. Kids can even drop off letters for Santa in the aquarium’s North Pole mailbox and complete a scavenger hunt to receive a prize.
Dive shows featuring underwater elves will be happening daily within the deepest saltwater tank in North America, the Great Ocean Tank. Guests will encounter thousands of animals as they walk through galleries decorated for the season. Guests can also meet animals up close during daily animal encounters.
Santa will be at the aquarium on weekends this December. Guests can reserve a time to meet Santa between 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22. Guests wishing to meet Santa must have a general admission ticket or member entry reservation to the aquarium. Professional photos will be available for purchase.
Guests can “Feed the RAY-ndeer”
in The Shallows as they give the cownose rays a fishy snack from 10:15 a.m.–4 p.m. daily, while supplies last. Feeding vouchers can be purchased for $5 at Admissions or the Information Desk.
And for those looking for holiday shopping ideas, check out the aquarium’s Gifts that Give Back, a curated guide featuring items that are sustainable in nature and support the aquarium directly. A portion of proceeds from every gift on the list goes directly toward fulfilling the aquarium’s mission, including caring for sick and injured sea turtles, providing education programming for students and continuing critical conservation work throughout the state.
For more information on holiday fun at the South Carolina Aquarium, visit scaquarium.org/holidays or call (843) 577-FISH (3474) . The Aquarium is open daily from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., with the last entry at 3:30 p.m. The Aquarium is open seven days a week with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, December 25 and a half day on December 24.
A Festive Paddle
SEE THE HOLIDAY FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS FROM A DRAGON BOAT
On select evenings this holiday season, Charleston County Parks is offering a terrific opportunity to view the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park from a whole new perspective – while paddling a dragon boat.
As the sun goes down and the lights come on for the evening, participants will enjoy an on-the-water introduction to the ancient sport of dragon boating, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. They will also get an up close and unique view of some of the most iconic light displays on the lake of James Island County Park.
Registration is required and is available at this link. These programs are expected to sell out, so sign up today.
The program is offered for ages 10 and up. Ages 10-15 must be accompanied by a registered chaperone. Registration fees of $30 per person include dragon boating and a day-of Holiday Festival of Lights admission. On-site registration will not be available.
Experience is not necessary. After the paddle is complete, guests will also enjoy a tasty hot chocolate and have the opportunity to enjoy the rest of their evening at the Holiday Festival of Lights.
Dates the dragon boat program will be offered are selected Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Dec. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 16 and 18.
The Holiday Festival of Lights will be open every evening to Dec. 31, 2024, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. nightly. Millions of visitors have toured the Holiday Festival of Lights, which is hosted by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission at James Island County Park. Families will make magical, lasting memories as they drive along the three-mile display of glimmering lights through the park. Guests can also park the car and explore family attractions, shopping, and more.
For more information visit HolidayFestivalofLights.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLESTON COUNTY PARKS
Wreaths Across America Returns for 2024
BY ELIZABETH ST. JOHN For The Island Connection
Have you ever wanted to honor our servicemen but not known how to go about it? There is an opportunity to do so on December 14 in the nearest national cemetery to Charleston.
Wreaths Across America’s goal is to place an evergreen wreath on every grave in a national cemetery, turning the beautiful, hallowed ground into an amazing holiday tribute. Decorating every grave is a hefty undertaking, seeing that there are over 26,000 graves in Beaufort National Cemetery alone. Nationally, the National Cemetery Administration maintains upward of 3.8 million graves.
A sponsor group can turn two wreaths purchased into three wreaths placed. As of this writing, 35% of the funding goal has been achieved for the Beaufort location. Volunteers are also needed to place wreaths on the graves, and service groups, families and individuals are all welcome. If you have a person you’d like to honor or locate, you can use the Beaufort National Cemetery’s website “grave locator” tab to find the location of a specific grave.
Located on Port Royal island, early interments were of soldiers who died in Union hospitals during the occupation of Beaufort in the Civil War. As time progressed, hastily interred men
from other areas of South Carolina were brought to the site. And so, the Confederates lie side by side with their Union counterparts, peace between them at last.
The cemetery is distinctly laid out in a half-wagon-wheel pattern, interspersed with ancient live oaks which have outlived those resting below and withstood centuries of hurricanes. The grounds are surrounded by brick walls
with a rounded coping, and the gates of wrought iron allow a peek into the serene resting place as you drive by on the main artery into downtown.
The cemetery is a living garden as subsequent interments bear witness. Fascinating stories are memorialized on the markers. Especially with the wreaths in place, it is a very beautiful and inspiring place for a day trip, even if you cannot attend the ceremony this year.
The Kiawah Island Naturalist Group is a sponsor group of the wreaths and will be laying wreaths on December 14. Plan to be in place by 11 a.m. to witness the Honor Guard of motorcycles from Walterboro that accompany the trucks bringing the wreaths made in New England.
Ceremonies by service members from all branches will follow. The Beaufort National Cemetery is located at 1601 Boundary St., Beaufort, SC. Everyone is welcome, but please note, no dogs are allowed in national cemeteries. Visit wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Thomas Stowe Mullikin, Ph.D., J.D., appointed director of SCDNR
BY SCDNR For The Island Connection
The seven-member South Carolina Natural Resources Board has unanimously selected retired Maj. Gen. Thomas S. (Tom) Mullikin, Ph.D., J.D., for appointment to serve as the next director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to Section 48-4-60 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. The appointment was made following the announced retirement of Director Robert H. Boyles, Jr. after 32 years of state service and must be submitted to the South Carolina Senate for confirmation when the General Assembly returns next year. Boyles’ retirement is planned for February 2025.
"Dr. Tom Mullikin is precisely the right person to lead SCDNR after Director Boyles’ retirement,” said Norman Pulliam, chairman of the Natural Resources Board. “He is a seasoned expert on environmental policy, a well-regarded attorney, a college professor and a retired senior military officer. We have accomplished so much under Director Boyles’ leadership, and we are certain that Tom Mullikin is the best person to take the baton and keep building upon that success. The SCDNR Board is excited to work with Dr. Mullikin and continue the important work SCDNR does every day to protect and preserve the natural resources of this great state.”
"The Natural Resources Board has made an excellent choice in selecting Tom Mullikin as the next director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources," Gov. Henry McMaster said. "I have had the privilege of working closely with Mr. Mullikin on several environmental initiatives, including appointing him as chairman of the highly successful South Carolina Floodwater Commission.
His extensive background in environmental law and policy will allow him to bring invaluable expertise to DNR. He has my full support."
Mullikin served as chairman of the South Carolina Floodwater Commission, to which he was appointed by Gov. Henry McMaster. He is a seasoned environmental attorney who has studied environmental issues worldwide. In addition, he has a joint appointment as a research professor at the University of South Carolina and Coastal Carolina University’s School of Coastal Environment. An avid outdoorsman, he has logged certified scuba dives in every ocean on earth and has summited more than 20 mountains, including peaks, on every continent.
“I am honored to be selected for appointment as director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and look forward to working with the amazing staff to continue and advance the important work of SCDNR,” Mullikin said. “I thank the board for this incredible opportunity and look forward to earning this position through the Senate confirmation process.”
In addition to his environmental and outdoor experiences, Mullikin is a heavily decorated retired senior military officer, having served with the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps, U.S. Army Reserve, where he was the international legal officer, and assistant staff judge advocate attached to an element of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Mullikin retired as major general/ commander of the S.C. State Guard.
Mullikin is a native of Camden, where he and his wife, Virginia Ann, reside. They have four children and five grandchildren.
Maj. Gen. Thomas S. Mullikin.
around the islands...
ONGOING
WHAT: Holiday Festival of Lights
WHERE: James Island County Park
WHEN: Nightly from 5:30 – 10 p.m. through Dec. 31, 2024
MORE INFO: Join us to cruise along the three-mile display of multicolored lights throughout the park, featuring over 750 light displays or tour other areas of the park, family fun activities, holiday shopping, food and treats, and much more.
WHAT: Aquarium Aglow
WHERE: South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston
WHEN: On select evenings this November and December
MORE INFO: Along with larger-than-life installations created from thousands of lights, Aquarium Aglow includes festive photo ops and the most unique Santa encounter in Charleston, Scuba Claus. Food and drinks, including a selection of alcoholic beverages, will be available for purchase. For more info visit scaquarium.org/aglow.
WHAT: Little Pine, A Holiday Pop-up
WHERE: Little Palm at The Ryder Hotel, 237 Meeting Street, Charleston
WHEN: Various times from Nov. 8 to Jan. 5
MORE INFO: Grab your ugly sweater and get ready for spiked eggnog because this winter, we transport you into a holiday state of mind. Sip seasonal beverages with festive fare inside our cozy gondolas, perfect for groups of up to four. Extend your holiday fun by hitting the synthetic ice rink in The Backyard. Ice skating is available for $15 per person, including skate rentals.
WHAT: Skate the Stadium
WHERE: Credit One Stadium
WHEN: Select nights through December 29
MORE INFO: From festive decorations and twinkling lights to cozy fire pits and a custom-built synthetic rink, it's the perfect setting to celebrate the magic of the season. After a fun skate, guests can enjoy classic winter treats like s’mores, cinnamon sugar pretzels and hot chocolate—and for 21+ guests there will be seasonal beers and specialty cocktails to warm up. New this year is the Outdoor Holiday Movie Series, taking place every Friday night in December, offering free holiday movie screenings on the stadium’s lawn.
WHAT: Sippin’ Santa Holiday Pop-up Bar
WHERE: Prohibition, 547 King Street, Charleston WHEN: Daily from 11 am - 2 am through Jan. 1
MORE INFO: Prohibition will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland with floor-to-ceiling decoration, menus featuring festive original cocktails in Sippin’ Santa’s signature Christmas mugs and glassware and food menus created for the holiday season. The cocktail menu will deliver favorites from years past, as well as some new Christmas cocktails.
WHAT: Sea Island Farmers Market
WHERE: 2024 Academy Rd., John’s Island
WHEN: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: 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.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29
WHAT: Holiday Celebrations
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Freshfields Village will transform into a magical holiday setting, creating the ultimate gathering spot for post-Thanksgiving family fun. Live music from carolers, interactive performances, photos with Santa, and a special Holiday Market filled with local makers.
WHAT: Turkey Scavenger Hunt
WHERE: Night Heron Park at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Oh, no. We’ve lost all of our turkey friends and need your help locating them. Grab your clue sheet from the Night Heron Pool Shop or Nature
Center to start your search. Follow the clues and bring back your completed sheet back to us for a special Thanksgiving prize. This event is complimentary and no reservations are required. Don’t forget a pen or pencil.
WHAT: Mingo Point Oyster Roast & BBQ
WHERE: Mingo Point at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
WHEN: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join us for the last oyster roast and BBQ of 2024. Indulge in a riverside oyster roast and an all-you-can-eat buffet of Southern BBQ specialties highlighting holiday favorites. Enjoy live entertainment from The Island Trio.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
WHAT: Weekend Wine-Down
WHERE: Deep Water Vineyard, 6775 Bears Bluff Rd, Wadmalaw Island
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Attendees can expect tastings ($15 gets you a tasting of 6 samples of the vineyard's wine and a souvenir stemless glass), drinks, food trucks, live music, and more.
WHAT: Outdoor Barre Workout at Andell Inn
WHERE: Freshfields Village WHEN: 11:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Join a fun outdoor barre workout on the last Saturday of every month. Women of all ages are welcome. It’ll be a focused on strengthening, tightening and toning the full body while enjoying the ocean breeze. Bring a mat and a set of light weights (1 to 3 pounds). Don’t worry if you don’t have anything; there will be extras.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3
WHAT: The Nutcracker
WHERE: Charleston Music Hall, 37 John Street, Charleston WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: South Carolina Ballet is excited to bring The Nutcracker to Charleston this holiday season. This beloved truly classical ballet production promises a magical evening filled with romance, adventure, and wonder.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4
WHAT: Fashion for a Cause
WHERE: River Course Ballroom at Kiawah Island Club WHEN: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
MORE INFO: Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic’s annual Fashion for a Cause and Sip n Shop. The event will feature a sip & shop and live runway event and fashion vendors featuring All proceeds will help provide free medical care at BIFMC. General Admission is $75.
WHAT: Piano Bar with Misha Pekar
WHERE: The Sandcastle, 1 Shipwatch Rd., Kiawah Island
WHEN: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
MORE INFO: No tickets required. Not meant to be concerts, piano bars are to enjoy with friends and offer an opportunity to meet neighbors outside your circle for some island socializing. Bring your beverage of choice and a snack.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5
WHAT: Christmas on the Battery: Carols, Candlelight, and Gullah Christmas Stories WHERE: Edmondston-Alston House, 21 East Battery, Charleston WHEN: 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
MORE INFO: Enjoy a special evening at the historic Edmondston-Alston House. Take a self-guided tour of the festively decorated house by candlelight and hear the Charleston Caroling Company. Warm up in the courtyard with wine or hot cider where a local storyteller will perform Gullah Christmas stories.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
WHAT: Harmonize the Holidays
WHERE: West Beach Conference Center WHEN: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Start your season right with the Southern Harmony Chorus and friends, singing your favorite holiday music in barbershop style.
Dine Downtown for the Holidays at Hutson Alley
Holy City Hospitality announced its second annual Holidays on Hutson, a celebration for families and friends. Hutson Alley is a charming cobblestone alley tucked between 39 Rue de Jean, Coast Bar & Grill, Charleston’s Smallest Bar, Victor’s Seafood & Steak, Vincent Chicco’s and the Charleston Music Hall.
Beginning December 5 and lasting throughout the month, Hutson Alley will deck the halls with lights, ornaments, trees and more.
Charleston Party Booth will be on hand to capture those memories with Santa. Snow will fall from the sky twice a night as you sip hot chocolate among the lights. There will be s’mores kits available for purchase, as well as festive cocktails served from Charleston’s Smallest Bar.
The fun kicks off at 5 p.m. with vendors selling all kinds of holiday treats and gifts Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights through Dec. 21.
Santa will be making three appearances at Holidays on Hutson on Dec. 13, 16 and 19.
All Holy City Hospitality restaurants will be featuring signature holiday cocktails throughout the month and stay open for regular service.
Reservations are encouraged and can be made at opentable.com.
Charleston’s Smallest Bar will be open for food and drink purchases with seating along the alley.
For more information, email marketing@holycityhospitality. com.
Get in the Holiday Mood at Hotel Bennett
Celebrate the season at downtown Charleston’s Hotel Bennett. The following festive activities are planned.
• On December 5, the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place on Gabrielle Plaza.
• On December 10, local wreath artist Lucie Kulze leads a holiday wreath-making workshop.
• On December 14, join local artisan Amy Brekke as she leads an ornament painting workshop.
• On December 15, local artisan Andrea Davis of Motherland Essentials leads a festive candle-making class.
• Feel the holiday spirit with special performances by the Charleston Caroling Company on December 12 and Ashley Hall's elementary school choirs on December 19.
• On December 15, Charleston Animal Society is hosting a special Deck the Paws Dog Adoption Event on Gabrielle Plaza.
• Get festive and fun at Fiat Lux’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Party on December 18, when the best (or worst!) holiday sweater wins prizes, a live DJ spins holiday beats, and a joyful celebration takes place under the stars.
• On December 23, indulge in a buffet of sweet and savory breakfast favorites with Breakfast with Santa and finish the evening with carols, classic tales and a mug of hot cocoa on the night before Christmas Eve.
• The fun continues with dinner at Gabrielle. Offered on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, guests will have an extraordinary culinary experience featuring an exclusive Christmas dinner prix fixe menu, meticulously curated for the most magical time of the year.
• The festive season wraps up on New Year's Eve with a multi-course prix fixe dinner at Gabrielle.
Visit hotelbennett.com for more information.
Many of you have heard of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy at the federal level. It is a commendable effort and much needed to reduce the tyranny unleashed when a government uses its power to target the people who elected it.
But wait—it’s not necessarily the elected officials who go after and suppress citizens. It’s the elected officials hiding behind unelected agencies and bureaucrats. These unelected agencies function as a fourth branch of government, wielding unlimited and unaccountable power while teaming up with power-hungry elected officials.
Unfortunately, while these federal agencies and corrupt politicians need to be dismantled, the average citizen rarely interacts with federal agencies in Washington, D.C. Individual citizens are more affected by these same unholy alliances at the state and local levels. State and local officials often have a greater impact on suppressing selfgovernance and freedom than federal officials. This country was founded on a unique system of self-governance and sovereignty, where citizens’ rights come from God—not government.
Let’s look at South Carolina and local
Reddy or Not: The Agency State
BY ROM REDDY
politics. South Carolina’s marginal tax rate is one of the highest among red states. Yet, the state ranks in the bottom 10 in education, health, violent crime, and roads. Spending has increased almost 60% over the past four years, while the population has grown just 4% during the same period. So, where is the money going?
It’s funding the "agency state," which has grown to 103 agencies—so many that they are now out of office space. These agencies harass and intimidate citizens with 36,000 pages of regulations and counting. Remember, the U.S. Constitution began as a seven-page document. Citizens experience these regulations daily through permits, approvals, codes, ordinances, and endless rules dictating what they can and cannot do.
elderly, and small-business owners, cannot. They are the ultimate victims.
As many of you know, the entire agency state descended on my family because we concluded that the government lacked a viable plan to protect the shoreline. I chose to build a protective structure on my property, well landward of the legislature-passed jurisdictional setback line. Before my case, the state had never claimed jurisdiction over private land beyond the setback line.
on a kitchen counter and publicly available manuals copied multiple times.
Disturbingly, I also discovered that some island residents, encouraged by the agency, acted as agents of the state. City officials, rather than assisting citizens, acted as spies. Assistant Administrator Doug Kerr speculated on ways the agency could claim my protective structure would impede the Army Corps’ work. Kerr also provided pictures and narratives of other residents who, in his opinion, could be violating agency edicts.
Local governments, once tasked with protecting citizens’ ability to selfgovern, now act as enforcers for these bureaucrats. I share my brief personal story, not to play the victim but to illustrate how, while I can afford— through the grace of God—to stand up to these government bullies, the vast majority of people, especially the poor,
The environmental agency, along with certain local city officials working behind the scenes, bullied us by filing “emergency” actions in an administrative court (part of the executive branch, not the judicial branch) and then postponing these actions at least four times. They also dumped 20,000 pages of discovery on us to drive up legal costs.
When my wife and I personally reviewed these documents, we found that at least 80% were duplicates, copied between three and 17 times. These required expensive attorney reviews. The documents included irrelevant materials, such as a video of broccoli being chopped
Councilman Hahn frequently sent narratives to contacts at the nonprofit Coastal Conservation League, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Hahn made baseless claims, including, “He had concrete trucks lined up all night on Ocean Blvd”—a blatant lie. The Coastal Conservation League uses taxpayersubsidized funds to target the very taxpayers who subsidize them.
How can normal citizens stand up to these endless assaults on due process? The short answer is they can’t. They are forced to give in.
If federal reform is to benefit citizens, it must extend to the state and local levels. The solution is clear: dismantle these agencies, return money to citizens through tax cuts, and restore the rule of law.
(continued on page 11)
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Healing Through Nature
EVENT AT WOODLANDS NATURE RESERVE HONORS CONSERVATIONIST
BY HENLEY TULLOS For The Island Connection
Beyond Charleston’s urban edges lies a hidden world that feels like stepping back in time—a place where towering cypress trees stand sentinel over blackwater swamps, and the air carries the earthy scent of pine, freedom and adventure. The Woodlands Nature Reserve, a sprawling 6,000-acre sanctuary off Ashley River Road, invites visitors to reconnect with nature, far removed from the distractions of modern life.
This ethos of healing through nature is what makes the Woodlands Nature Reserve the perfect setting for events that touch the soul, such as the upcoming
Lakeside Harmony for Healing: Music for June Waterman on December 7.
Honoring and benefiting the stage 4 cancer fight of a conservationist who embodies the spirit of preservation, the event is an experience rooted in the restorative powers of art, music, community, and nature. It’s also a chance for attendees to reflect on how Waterman has championed a world where nature isn’t just observed but actively experienced and celebrated. With music as a centerpiece and the reserve as the soul-stirring setting, this event offers healing, harmony, and hope.
The music lineup is headlined by Chris
Reddy or Not (continued from page 10)
Citizens should govern themselves within a framework of constitutional laws administered by elected officials accountable to the public. Disputes must be adjudicated by the judicial branch— not the same branch that creates and enforces the rules.
All communications by public officials regarding citizens should be transparent. Instead, we have unelected agencies colluding in secret with powerhungry politicians and radical groups posing as nonprofits.
Marxism and communism seek to make people dependent on government rather than God. This is fundamentally opposed to the principles upon which this nation was founded. As the Declaration of Independence affirms, “All men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”
It is time for us to rise together, restore God’s rightful place, and reclaim the principles of self-governance and freedom.
Roberts; Ben Whitney; Droze and the Drift; and Dallas Baker and Friends. Each performer brings a unique blend of soulful sound that complements the tranquil yet powerful ambience of the reserve. With expert sound engineer Paul Joliet running the pitch, the melodies will ripple through the air like a natural extension of the land itself.
Set along the edge of the North Lake Venue, the event invites families and participants of all ages to immerse themselves in both melody and the
wilderness, fostering a sense of connection to the land and to each other while benefiting a worthy cause. In a world that often demands disconnection, this is an opportunity to reset.
If you're interested in this event, please visit woodlandsnaturereserve.com to learn more and to make a donation to support the cause. Entry will include music, entertainment and art, access to the property, lakeside campfires and the opportunity for overnight camping. The event will have vendors and food available for purchase.
Seabrook Island Real Estate continues our ongoing efforts to gather supplies for those recovering from the devastating impacts of
Helene. We are now accepting any and all outerwear donations through the end of the year, and we will continue to accept food, water, and supply contributions as well. Please drop off all donations at our Sales Office.
Seabrook Island Real Estate is partnering with both Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army to spread joy to our less fortunate children this holiday season. We will accept toy donations at our Sales Office all month long, and our Salvation Army Angel Tree tags are available to pick up today!
SIRE Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
