Sullivan’s Island For All will host the first annual Sullivan’s Island Earth Day Celebration April 22. This free, family-friendly event will feature fun and educational nature-themed activities and art projects, bird banding demonstrations and a guided tour of the Maritime Forest. This is a collaborative initiative of Sullivan’s Island For All, the Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station, Poe Library, The Island Turtle Team and the Sullivan’s Island Community Garden.
“We organized this event so we can come togeth-
er as a community to show our love for our island and to celebrate our shared commitment to protect our planet,” said Norman Khoury, Sullivan’s Island For All board member.
The park in front of Poe Library at 1920 I’On will be transformed into an Earth Day village. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., children and adults of all ages will be educated and entertained with nature-themed face painting, bingo, puzzle challenges, art projects, a scavenger hunt and more. Members of Sullivan’s Island For All will be on (Continued on page 7)
IOP to play key role in MLK celebration
By Brian Sherman • For The Island Eye News
The Isle of Palms will be a co-sponsor of the Charleston area’s 2024 Martin Luther King celebration.
At a March 28 meeting, the IOP City Council voted unanimously to participate in the celebration. Plans, still in their early stages, call for the city to play a role in a Jan. 10 VIP reception, in cooperation with Wild Dunes Resort and the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
“This
she is expecting the resort to provide the rooftop ballroom of the Sweetgrass Inn free of charge and that the YWCA of Greater Charleston would be responsiible for the food and beverages.
event is a great example of how the island can come together in supporting a common goal of creating a family-friendly environment.”
- IOP Council Member Jan Anderson
There are no estimates yet on how much the plan will cost the city. Council member Jan Anderson, who brought up the idea to the city’s governing body, said
The Jan. 10 VIP reception would be a new event for the MLK observance, which Anderson said could eventually be a week-long celebration that would attract overnight visitors to Isle of Palms during the slowest time of the year for tourism.
“This will be good for hotels and for short-term rentals outside the gates,” Anderson remarked. “Having the reception highlights (Continued on page 5)
IOP Council says no to plan to study restaurant elevator
By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News
The city of Isle of Palms is not going to spend almost $20,000 to determine the feasibility of spending what could be as much as $750,000 to install an elevator in a restaurant at the IOP Marina.
At its March 28 meeting, the City Council voted by a 6-3 margin not to hire Coast Architects to look into the possibility of installing an elevator at the Islander 71. Voting against the proposal were Council members John Bogosian, Blair Hahn, Katie Miars, Jimmy Ward and Scott Pierce and Mayor Phillip Pounds. Council members Rusty Streetman, Kevin Popson and Jan Anderson supported the measure.
Streetman’s original motion was to pay Coast Architects $60,000 to $90,000 to also complete the construction documents for the project. He eventually withdrew that motion, and the Council voted on whether to spend $19,270 for Coast to determine if the elevator was a possibility in the cityowned building.
Estimates provided last October by Trident Construction put the cost of installing the elevator between $300,000 and $400,000, and Pierce pointed out that on top of that expenditure, the city would be responsible for additional costs as well.
“Who’s going to pick up the 20 years of maintenance and service that goes along with it?” he asked. “That is not an insignificant number. I think we’re looking at a cost that could be three quarters of a million dollars.”
Streetman pointed out that in the past, the City Council has committed to exceeding the standards of the Americans With Disabilities Act so people with disabilities (Continued on page 5)
A guided tour of the Maritime Forest will be one of many highlights of Sullivan’s Island’s Earth Day on April 22.
Photo by Rob Byko.
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Reddy or Not
Island Eye News • OPINION
This is our most pressing security issue
By Rom Reddy
As China’s leader, Xi Jinping, left the Moscow Summit recently, he turned to Putin and told the Russian leader, “Change is coming that has not happened in 100 years, and we are driving this change together.” Putin clasped hands and said, “I agree.” What were they talking about? Among other things, they were discussing one of the worst strategic foreign policy blunders –Washington knowingly or unknowingly pushing China and Russia together. Two powers and neighbors who historically have not shared a great love for each other are now partners. These two intend to hurt us where it matters – the de-dollarization of the world. De-dollarization is the ultimate substitution of the dollar for alternative currencies as the reserve currency of the world. The hegemony of the dollar over the global monetary system is the single most important source of America’s power, and the failure of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency is the no. 1 security issue we have as a nation. Why? Our government spends beyond its means. The United States has accumulated $30 trillion of debt and has been adding to that debt at an average of $2 trillion a year over the last decade. We are 5% of the world’s population accounting for over 20% of the world’s debt. Roughly half our debt is held by domestic investors and half by foreign governments in the form of U.S. Treasuries because the United States is seen as stable, rich and dependable. The biggest foreign holders of U.S. Treasuries are China, Japan, the UK and Saudi and their Sunni allies. If the demand for U.S. Treasuries goes down through de-dollarization, then, as a debtor country, we would be unable to fund our military or our way of life. De-dollarization is driven by countries who feel the U.S. government is using the power of the dollar to indiscriminately impose policy goals through sanctions or by countries who look at the irresponsible spending
Commentary
by the U.S. government and no longer view the dollar as a fiscally stable investment. De-throning the dollar as a world reserve currency significantly reduces our influence on world affairs and jeopardizes our ability to continue selling U.S. Treasuries to the world to fund our military and our myriad spending programs.
Global trade runs in U.S. dollars. Approximately 80% of international payments and 60% of foreign exchange reserves held by central banks all over the world are in dollars, giving the United States extraordinary power over nearly every entity that imports or exports anything anywhere. Since 1998, almost 20 countries worldwide and a quarter of the world’s population have been under some form of U.S. sanctions, causing these countries to look for alternatives to the dollar.
The de-dollarization effort started about a decade ago and gained momentum when sanctions were imposed on Russia in 2014 and on Iran and the EU during the Trump administration. The recent war in Ukraine has accelerated this effort. In 2018, Russia realized that sanctions against them for the Crimea invasion would last forever because giving up Crimea and allowing the Black Sea Port of Sevastopol to become a NATO base was a nonstarter. Russia became the first country to announce a comprehensive, multistep de-dollarization plan, which, among other things, involved selling all $110 billion of U.S. Treasury holdings, replacing them with gold and alternate currencies and shifting import/ export transactions away from the dollar.
“As soon as we and China dump the dollar, it will be the end of U.S. military might,” said Dr. Sergei Glazyev, a key Putin advisor. China, through its Belt and Road initiative, where it loans money to other countries – 68 so far – to build ports, roads and bridges to enhance trade, mostly with China, has made significant inroads in Africa and Asia. These (Continued on page 3)
Noise ordinance won’t work for Wild Dunes residents
By Al Clouse
The IOP administration’s recently crafted proposed noise ordinance will not work for a number of IOP residents. Said proposed ordinance has a number of fingerprints on the current iteration; other than the administrator’s, all are arguably commercial smudges. We have nine City Council members who have a moral obligation to protect the citizens who live on IOP. We, and six additional property owners have been egregiously abused by our new neighbor to the north – the Sweetgrass Inn.
The WDCA board has miserably failed its fiduciary duty, unconscionably carving us out of their empire, except for dues. Conveniently, Lowe’s senior vice president, Terri Haack, has a board seat. On March 3, Debbie Stanley, president, publicly acknowledged the board is not morally obligated to aid us in this situation, further solidifying the board’s “joined at the hip relationship” with the resort.
The Facts
The Sweetgrass Inn was designed to deflect noise
to the south, directly toward a residential community. Somehow, the approval process did not include notification to residential properties abutting and adjacent to the proposed site. You would think common sense and a sense of duty would prevail, with the approval body notifying those who are in harm’s way. Shame on us for not checking the IOP web page on a daily basis to monitor catastrophic events in our neighborhood.
During the past two years, said abuses are comprised of but not limited to: service deliveries at 4 a.m.; building maintenance at 6 a.m.; trash pickup at 6 a.m.; 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily outdoor amplified concerts; obnoxious loud ballroom and rooftop bar events at night; hooping and hollering all hours of the day and night; late night parties; unsupervised day care; athletic competition; food trucks; company picnics; outdoor company celebrations – J & J’s concert from hell – at night.
The hotel’s abuses resulted in annoyance, nuisance, sleep deprivation, sleep disorder, disturbances which prevent property owners from utilizing their property amenities they are taxed on and livability. The National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization (Continued on page 3)
Al Clouse
Security issue
Continued from page 2
countries are now being encouraged not only to trade in yuan but also to barter their oil and minerals for Chinese products. Central banks in Angola, Zimbabwe and Nigeria already have adopted yuan as a reserve currency, and other countries in Africa have plans to follow. More recently, the “petro dollar” has joined the de-dollarization efforts. Oil is ground zero for the dollar as a reserve currency. The dollar has come to dominate trade in oil and other commodities such as minerals, food and agriculture – a $5 trillion per year market.
Several OPEC countries are now under U.S. sanctions, and the Saudi relationship has grown fragile. In addition, Saudi has now become the no. 1 supplier to China and is under pressure to accept the Chinese yuan for oil trades. China also struck deals with Turkey and Pakistan to trade and barter with the yuan. In addition, Iran, Venezuela and Libya have moved away from trade in dollars. The European Union has never been comfortable with the control the dollar gave
Noise ordinance
Continued from page 2
the United States over its policies and has joined the de-dollarization movement. French President Emmanuel Macron: “This is an issue of sovereignty to me, and that’s why I want to work with our partners to be less dollar-dependent.”
Finally, about a decade ago, BRICS was formed to enhance trade among Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Russia and China are now pushing BRICS, which represents 40% of the world’s population and 25% of the world’s gross domestic product, to trade in alternate currencies and maybe even develop their own currency backed by a basket of precious metals. China and Russia are also trying to attract other countries like the Saudis and Turkey to join a BRICS+, which could become ground zero for de-dollarization.
Is this a lost cause and is the dollar doomed to lose its status as a world currency like what happened to the Spanish peso, the French franc and the British pound? No, but we need to wake up. The federal government needs to monitor and influence de-dollarization efforts, including nondollarized oil trading, movement of gold – which
identify noise that aligns with the hotel’s abuses is detrimental to one’s health. Property owners have called the IOP police more than 40 times, which resulted in five citations, all in one night. Based on my junior high math skills, an extremely low citation-to-complaint ratio.
To further complicate the situation, the resort convinced the administrators that I am an “unreasonable person,” thus allowing the resort a “get out of jail free card” regarding 9-2-5 (c). Said section addresses “Amplified Music - Daytime Play. It shall be unlawful for any person, entity or establishment to play, operate ... in such a manner or with such unreasonably loud volume in the circumstances as to disturb the quiet, comfort or repose of any reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities in any dwelling or other residence.”
The Reality
The IOP administration has proposed different iterations of a new noise ordinance for our community. Unfortunately for the seven property owners who have families inhabiting said properties, each respective draft further deteriorates our livability. The proposed ordinance favors the Sweetgrass Inn, a commercial property located in a residential neighborhood. Ironically, our city administrators, who do not live on IOP, are crafting ordinances which impact the people living on IOP, telling us how to live and defining our livability standards with no skin in the game.
Regardless of your position on short-term rentals, the proposed noise ordinance will dramatically compound the issue for all. The no. 1 docu-
Residents Want Short-Term Rental Caps
often replaces dollar reserves – and influencing BRICS through allies like India and Brazil. We also need to back off trigger-happy sanctions or at least understand the impact on de-dollarization when they are applied to major countries. And, finally, we need to restore confidence in our fiscal house and realize that uncontrolled borrowed spending gives our enemies leverage and causes our allies to lose confidence in the stability of our fiscal system. The economic mix of rising interest rates, ballooning debt, slowing global growth and growing pushback against the dollar led by a powerful China/Russia combo is an explosive mix that, if not managed, can have consequences far bigger and wider than almost any other single issue facing us.
Reddy or Not is a periodic column representing the opinion of Lucky Dog Publishing owner Rom Reddy but not necessarily the opinion of the newspaper. In keeping with the paper’s philosophy of publishing all opinions, the publisher welcomes responses, which must be limited to 300 words and will be published on a space-available basis.
mented issue regarding STRs: noise. Section (h) of said proposed ordinance will allow a residential or commercial property owner to apply to City Council for a permit to emit up to 85 decibels up to 15 hours a year. This chaos will exacerbate the STR situation. Frankly, the STR situation, regardless of who’s math you use, is undermined by a lack of enforcement regarding noise. A strong noise ordinance and strong enforcement, will greatly lessen the impact of STRs.
The Consequences
Fact: 70 dBAs are 10 times louder than 60 dBAs. The proposed noise ordinance allows 75 dBAs for commercial properties, 60 dBAs for residential, with the exception of 85 dBAs in the above mentioned permit. In contrast, EPA recommends maximum indoor noise levels of 45 dBAs and maximum outdoor noise level of 55 dBAs. So the question is: Who has the most medical knowledge in our community, the EPA or our IOP administrators?
Interestingly, Columbia, a college town, does not designate between residential and commercial. Their noise ordinance allows 55 dBAs from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; 50 dBAs from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Ironically, a couple of miles up the road, a town called Mount Pleasant also combines residential and commercial – 60 dBAs from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 55 dBAs from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. This includes Shem Creek. Passage of the proposed IOP ordinance will equate to giving a pyromaniacs matches for Christmas.
Hopefully, this is not another “it’s all about the money,” which the resort continues to flaunt in front of the Council and administrators regarding said resort’s generation of accommodations taxes.
We encourage you to review Public Safety Committee and City Council past minutes regarding our situation.
Letters to the editor
Why did the majority of the Isle of Palms City Council ignore the voices and concerns of the majority of our residents? Why are they ignoring the facts of the rapidly increasing number of short-term rental licenses?
No one wants to eliminate STRs. No one wants to make this a private island. We love our visitors. Residents only want to put a cap on STRs owned by nonresidents to ensure against a rapidly growing change in the makeup of our island.
A study of the comments sent to Council as well as viewing the public meetings and workshops since Jan. 1 indicate that the vast majority of residents want some sort of cap or moratorium. (71% of speakers and 85% of written comments). The majority of people opposing the restrictions were business owners on and off the island. This information is available at iop.net
It is a shame that four of our Council members, along with our may-
or, did not listen and vote for a compromise by limiting the number to what we currently have. This has resulted in the need for an expensive and time-consuming referendum as well as a need to elect more resident-friendly representatives in the November election.
Beware. Business owners, both local and international, who wish to capitalize on STRs will be pouring money into the fight. Airbnb put $4.2 million into a battle against residents in Jersey City. (Google Airbnb vs. Jersey City).
Use the same common sense you use when purchasing home or car insurance and support a referendum, ensuring against an increasing number of STRs. More information and facts can be found at preserveiop.org.
Christine Donavan Isle of Palms
Restaurant Elevator
Continued from page 1
“feel welcome in our community.” He noted that the Islander 71 is not required to be fully ADA-compliant because the work done on the building by the company that leases it was a renovation project rather than a complete rebuild. He added, however, that “anyone in a wheelchair would not be able to get to the second level. Basically, they would have to be carried up the stairs.”
Streetman added that the Council previously agreed to consider the feasibility of installing an elevator in the building and possibly pay for the project with accommodations tax funds.
MLK Celebration
Continued from page 1
Wild Dunes and the Isle of Palms as a place to stay.”
She said the VIP reception probably would be for the people who will attend the corporate breakfast in Charleston the following morning.
“We’ve been feuding among ourselves, but not on this,” Anderson commented. “This event is a great example of how the island can come together in supporting a common goal of creating a family-friendly environment.”
“To my knowledge, we have done no research at this point to even see if we could get ATAX funds to cover the cost of the elevator,” he said.
City Administrator Desiree Fragoso said the city has not received a legal opinion on whether it can spend ATAX money on a restaurant elevator.
Miars, who pointed out that there are no ADA-compliant bathrooms on the restaurant’s upper floor, disagreed with Streetman’s plan to find out if an elevator would be a feasible option.
“It’s not like ATAX money is going out and getting money off the money tree in the back. It’s still part of our budget. It’s not free money. I don’t know why we would keep going down this
road,” Miars said. “There’s nothing different from the first floor and the second floor, other than a 10-foot-higher view.”
“You’re basically going to encourage someone who is wheelchair bound to go up an elevator to a floor of a restaurant that does not have bathrooms that can accommodate them,” she added.
In other action March 28, the Council voted 6-3 to direct city staff to prepare an ordinance that would add a $200 application fee to the cost of a short-term rental license. Voting in favor of the measure were Pounds, Pierce, Bogosion, Miars, Anderson and Hahn. Opposing the motion were Ward, Popson and Streetman.
Museum opening this summer, I’m anticipating that the MLK celebration is going to evolve into a week-long destination for Charleston. This event will put us right at the center of it. It will put a positive face forward for us.”
YWCA Executive Director LaVanda Brown addressed the Council March 28, pointing out that the mission of the organization is to eliminate racism and empower women. She said in the past, the YWCA has “largely done our work on the peninsula,” adding that “nothing would make me happier than to be able to bridge the gap between all these communities.”
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“I would like to see the city certainly do more than just pay lip service,” she added. “The level of what we do is what’s in question. I think we will be legitimate partners. With the African American
“Thank you for the opportunity to not just write a check or write a letter,” she said. “We’re looking for a relationship. The relationship and the engagement are what’s really important.”
Birds are on the move
By Sarah Harper • For The Island Eye News
Spring migration season has begun here at the Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station. Northern parulas and prairie warblers are beginning to move through, and some of them may decide to stay here to breed. The chuckwill’s widows arrived last week, and they are establishing territories now. We have been opening nets before dawn to target chuck-will’s. Four of them bounced out of the mist nets this week, but they escaped so quickly that we were unable to capture and band them. We haven’t banded a chuck-will’s since 2016, but we’re hopeful for better luck this spring.
Winter migrants are beginning their journeys north to their breeding grounds. The yellow-rumped warblers that were so abundant over the last five months are all but gone. The few stragglers are molting into their breeding plumage before they migrate north to breed. Other overwintering birds we have captured this week include swamp sparrows, orange-crowned warblers, gray catbirds and cedar waxwings. The bird pictured is an adult male cedar waxwing. We determined that this bird was an adult male due to its dark throat patch and the eight waxy appendages on its secondaries. Female waxwings have a lighter throat patch and fewer waxy appendages. Cedar waxwings are on their way north, but you will continue to see large foraging flocks in our area throughout April. This species is largely frugivorous, and you can spot them feeding in a variety of trees and shrubs in our area, including American holly, mulberries, cedars and palmetto trees. They consume more insects during the breeding season, when they need the extra protein to lay eggs and feed their young.
If you are interested in visiting or volunteering at the Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station, contact Sarah Harper at sullivansislandbirds@gmail.com.
Survey says voters are concerned about short-term rentals
By Franklin Coley
For The Island Eye News
A majority of South Carolina residents are concerned about the negative impact of short-term rentals in their communities, according to a survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the Alliance for Stronger Communities.
The survey results come as South Carolina state legislators are considering HB 3253, a bill that would ban almost all local oversight of short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, and lead to the spread of short-term rental units in neighborhoods throughout the state. Even more concerning is a recent amendment passed in the House budget that would further inhibit local governments’ ability to provide oversight and regulatory measures on short-term rental platforms.
A large majority of South Carolina voters – 77% – believe it is important for local officials to actively monitor short-term rental properties to deter criminal activity in residential areas. Sixty-seven percent of South Carolina voters agree that the presence of commercial short-term rental properties in residential communities raises concerns about neighborhood
Earth Day
Continued from page 1
hand to talk about the Maritime Forest, and the Island Turtle Team will provide an update on how this year’s turtle nesting season is going. You also will have the opportunity to stroll through the Community Garden and a monarch butterfly art exhibit. Inside the Poe Library, local author Pamela Brownstein will share her book of haikus inspired by life in the Lowcountry, and you’ll be
safety.
A majority of voters – 72% – think that active oversight is important to ensure short-term rental owners and companies pay their fair share of taxes. Seventy-three percent of voters also agree that lawmakers should prioritize the interests of homeowners and renters in residential areas above those of out-ofstate commercial short-term rental investors.
“A large majority of South Carolina voters believe short-term rentals like Airbnbs need to be monitored by local officials to deter criminal activity. Local leaders are best equipped to confront the safety risks posed by short-term rentals, but state legislators are considering harmful legislation that would strip neighborhoods of this important oversight tool,” said Alliance for Stronger Communities President Franklin Coley. “We know that when short-term rentals are allowed to operate with little to no local oversight, neighborhood disturbances, crime and violence can arise. South Carolina residents deserve a safe, stable community – not a neighborhood that’s overrun with unregulated rentals that attract problems and risk safety and security.”
able to create your own nature-inspired haiku and illustrate it with thumbprint art. “Low-Ku: Haikus of the Lowcountry” will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Friends of the Library.
At Station 16, you are invited to watch a live demonstration at the Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station or go on a guided nature walk of the Maritime Forest. Both of these events require pre-registration and space is limited – visit SIforAll.org to sign up. Food and drink will be available within a
WDMGA continues its battle against prostate cancer
By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News
The Wild Dunes Mens Golf Association is well over halfway to its 2023 goal of raising $800,000 to help in the fight against prostate cancer.
With two events, its annual golf tournament and an ongoing online auction all expected to contribute to the cause between now and mid-May, the WDMGA already has raised more than $215,000, according to Mike Muzzy, chair of the organization’s Prostate Cancer Foundation Committee.
A member of the board of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the recipient of the WDMGA’s fundraising efforts since 2014, has vowed to match whatever the golf association raises.
Around 320 golfers already have registered to play in the tournament, scheduled for May 13 on the Wild Dunes Links and Harbor courses. In addition, the WDMGA will host a reception April 20 at the Gordon Wheeler Gallery in downtown Charleston. The event, at $50 per person, will feature wine, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Each year, Wheeler donates one of his paintings for the online auction.
The WDMGA also is hosting a cocktail party the night before the tournament at the Islander 71 at the Isle of Palms Marina, also for a $50 donation.
To register for either event or to learn more about golf tournament sponsorships, contact Muzzy at 516-220-6580 or mmuzzy@equitytransfers.com.
In addition to Wheeler’s artwork, the online auction offers the opportunity to bid on more than 100 items, including golf outings and other vacations in South Carolina and elsewhere and the chance to play a round of golf with legendary basketball coach Roy Williams or singer/songwriter Darius Rucker.
short walk of events at local restaurants. There’s still time for you to get involved. You can volunteer or sign up to be a sponsor. Visit SIforAll.org to learn more.
This event is part of Lowcountry Earth Week, a collaborative initiative of more than 40 local conservation organizations taking place from April 15 through April 22. The week-long celebration of the region’s natural beauty and resources features a variety of cleanups, festivals, nature activities and workshops.
Cost of paramedics might be nominal for IOP residents
By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News
It might cost Isle of Palms residents only an additional $40 a year in property taxes to have trained paramedics on the island and ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice, according to IOP Council Member Jan Anderson.
Fire Chief Craig Oliverius offered three options for adding paramedics to the Fire Department at a Public Safety Committee meeting March 6 and again at a Council workshop March 14. The options he presented ranged from $750,000 to $960,000 in first-year costs. The least expensive possibility would include hiring six trained paramedics who also would serve as firefighters. At the workshop, Mayor Phillip Pounds said the city could not absorb nearly a million dollars in new expenses without some type of tax increase.
Anderson said later that the tax hike would be only $40 annually for full-time residents – and possibly less.
“We’re now looking at other ways to cover it, and maybe it won’t be that much,” Anderson said. “Our budget projections are always very conservative. In the past, we’ve always had a surplus. Our goal is to make it happen without a tax increase.”
Regardless of the cost, Anderson thinks it’s important for the IOP Fire Department to have trained paramedics. She cited a recent situation where a person suffered a heart attack. The Fire Department arrived within five minutes and stabilized the patient, but the firefighters were not certified to administer medications. They had to wait until the ambulance that had been dispatched by Charleston County arrived.
“With a paramedic already on the island, that would save an extra five to 10 minutes,” Anderson pointed out.
Anderson said she thinks the city will be able to use accommodations tax funds to help pay to hire paramedics. She also suggested that Sullivan’s Island might be interested in sharing costs and receiving the benefits of having paramedics nearby.
“We’ve not been contacted yet,” Sullivan’s Island Mayor Pat O’Neil said. “But we’re happy to learn about what ideas they might have. We’re always looking for ways we can cooperate with neighboring municipalities and improve our services.”
“I look forward to talking with them if they reach out to us,” he added. “It’s nice that they included us in discussing that.”
Nolan is the new managing director at Wild Dunes Resort
Tom Nolan has been named as the new managing director of Wild Dunes Resort. A seasoned, hospitality industry leader, Nolan is poised to continue evolving the resort’s guest experience and uphold the property’s top-tier reputation.
“Tom brings a wealth of knowledge to this role, and we are excited to have him join the Wild Dunes Resort and Hyatt family,” said Hyatt Senior Vice President Mark Pardue. “His extensive background in the hospitality industry and multifaceted leadership experience make him the perfect can-
didate for the position. We are confident his vision for the resort will leave a lasting impression on our visitors.”
Nolan joins Wild Dunes from Blue Sky Hospitality Solutions in Uniondale, New York, where he served as executive vice president. A graduate of Bentley University, he served as general manager at various Marriott International hotels before moving on to key positions with Sports Travel Plus, Aramark, Meyer Jabara Hotels and Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
2023 spring litter sweeps are underway on the Isle of Palms
By Susan Hill Smith
For The Island Eye News
We kicked off our Isle of Palms spring litter sweep schedule on March 13 with groups from Publix, MSC Global Container Shipping and SC Federal Credit Union boosting our volunteer numbers to nearly 100. We will continue to meet every other Monday through May, with special welcome sessions at 5:30 p.m., followed by litter sweeps from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
If the weather ever looks iffy or concerning, please check our Facebook page for possible cancellations. Above all, be safe. Stay away from the water if there’s thunder or lightning in the vicinity.
The IOP Cleanup Crew volunteers collected more than 60,000 litter items in 2022 – increasing by 130% over previous years – as we doubled the litter sweeps in our yearly schedule and included a new summer series of “Breakfast Club” sweeps targeting the commercial streetscape and city parking areas at Front Beach.
The number of IOP litter items documented in the South Carolina Aquarium’s Litter Journal by the IOP Cleanup Crew, Howard “Beach Santa” Hogue and other citizen scientists totaled more than 105,000 in 2022. The percentage of smoking-related litter in our overall total of beach litter decreased from 34% in 2018, when the IOP Cleanup Crew began, to 28% in 2019, as the issue received increased public attention related to our sweeps. That percentage dropped to 21% after the city of Isle of Palms adopted restrictions against smoking on the beach and beach access paths in 2020. However, that drop has leveled out, and cigarette litter – which contains toxic chemicals and plastic threads – is still the most common litter item found at the beach and in the commercial streetscape, where drains connect to waterways. We still need to get the word out to smokers: Hold onto your cigarettes.
More receptacles for smoking litter added recently to the Front Beach streetscape where smoking is still allowed should help.
Calendar dates
Spring 2023 – every other Monday, with welcome sessions from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. followed by 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. cleanup
Remaining dates: April 10 and 24, May 8 and 22
2023 Beach Season – Memorial Day through Labor Day – weekly Monday nights (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Wednesday morning Breakfast Club (7 a.m. to 8 a.m.)
Wild Roll Wednesday: get fit with
reps from three Isle of Palms departments
By Owen Bailey For The Island Eye News
The Isle of Palms Recreation Department will team up with IOP Police and Fire Departments to host a fun, new group fitness training program. Each Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., the program will feature a different trainer/coach from a different department who will provide a unique, tailored and targeted workout that can be adapted to people of all fitness levels. Activities will take place at the Recreation Center through May 10.
“Wild Roll Wednesday is a true collaboration with all three city of Isle of Palms departments. We are joining together to provide an impactful health and wellness program for our residents. It’s a great way to meet your neighbors and workout side-by-side with the city of Isle of Palms team members,” said Recreation Director Karrie Ferrell.
Visit IOP.net to learn more and to register for Wild Roll Wednesday.
Holy Cross Church Eighth Page
The IOP Bike Rodeo is back
By Owen Bailey For The Island Eye News
The Isle of Palms Recreation Department will hold a Bike Rodeo for the first time since 2009. The event, sponsored by the IOP Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support program, is planned for May 20, beginning at 10 a.m.
Youngsters of all ages are welcome to attend and learn everything they need to know about bike safety. The Recreation Center parking lot will be transformed into a bicycle obstacle course comprised of six stations designed to showcase bicycle safety and riding skills. Participants will learn about proper helmet and bike fittings and minor adjustments on their bikes, and they also will have the chance to learn at interactive stations such as Quick Stop Slalom, Paper Boy and Turtle Race.
Representatives of the Isle of Palms Police Department will be on-site to register participants’ bicycles, and there will be giveaways of new bikes and helmets along with free snacks, snow cones and water.
Thank you to Coastal Cyclist, Harris Teeter, SC Bikes and Charleston Moves for providing voluteers and contributing to the Bike Rodeo. It should be noted that participants are required to bring their own bikes and that motorized variants will not be permitted. Make sure to register in-person or online by Friday, May 12, to secure your spot for this fun and informative experience.
One Lucky Dog
Bella was the absolute best service dog ever. She loved her beach time and beach buddies. She truly believed she was the “mayor” – she loved greeting everyone as they passed and showing them her ball and her well-earned work patches. Her favorite restaurant burgers were Art’s on Coleman, Dockery’s on Daniel Island and Coconut Joe’s on Isle of Palms – and fresh fish with her buddies at the park off of Shrimp Boat Lane. Her favorite “baby” was lamb chop and a pink dinosaur. I will forever miss our sunrises and sunsets together on the gorgeous beach of Isle of palms 365 days a year for her last 4.8 years of life. Luke Bryan couldn’t have sung it any better: “So I’m gonna sit right here on the edge of this pier. Then watch the sunset disappear and drink a beer. So long my friend, until we meet again. I’ll remember you. And drink a beer. And all the times that we used to …”
Do you remember the first time you heard the word “pickleball”? If you didn’t know it was a sport, you may have thought is was a college drinking game. However, it couldn’t be more different, other than the social aspect. In fact, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States, with 4.8 million people now playing – almost double the number from just five years ago.
Pickleball can best be described as a combination of tennis, pingpong and badminton played with a paddle and a plastic perforated ball. The game is growing so fast in popularity, municipalities nationwide are trying to meet the demand for venues. According to National Public Radio, the country has about 10,000 places to play, and
that number is growing by leaps and bounds each month. There are even two national professional tournaments, and organizers are seeking sponsors to gain attention for the possibility of it becoming an Olympic sport.
IOP’s Rec Center added lessons with Nancy Markovich, who said: “Just last year, I have gone from coaching a handful of new players to packed sessions.”
Markovich started playing seven years ago and is now addicted.
“As a former college tennis player, I picked up the game easily, but the ongoing work at mastering the game is endless,” she said, adding that she is “excited to share this awesome game – plus, it’s easier on the body than other ball sports, and the players enjoy the social aspect as well.”
One of Markovich’s students mentioned,
“After 20 years of high level tournament racquetball, I needed both knees replaced. For the next six years, I was really depressed until I discovered pickleball. Wow. What fun. It has improved my quality of life more than I could have hoped.”
Not bad for a sport named after the creator’s family dog, “Pickles.”
If you’re interested in lessons on the island, sign up early at the IOP Rec Center. Markovich’s classes fill up fast. Come join the fun of being a “picklehead” and get out to play with your community.
Authors were inspired by Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse
By Jody Stallings
For The Island Eye News
Authors of the American Christian Fiction Writers South Carolina Lowcountry Chapter announce the publication of “Charleston Light: Stories Inspired by Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse.”
The eight faith-based stories in “Charleston Light” range from romance to fantasy, each one inspired by the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse.
All proceeds from the sale of the anthology will go to Sanctuary of Unborn Life, a nonprofit that provides support, mentoring and housing assistance for pregnant and new mothers in need. According to co-author Laurie Larsen, the Sullivan’s Island lighthouse’s unusual appearance was a source of inspiration to story writers. Larsen noted that there was plenty of material to explore in researching the struc-
ture, “not to mention that literary celebrity Edgar Allan Poe was stationed in the Army on Sullivan’s Island in 1827 and wrote his story, ‘The Gold Bug’ there. Several of our stories threw that angle in, too.”
“Charleston Light” is published by Random Moon Books. The ebook is available for pre-order now and the paperback will be available on April 14 from Amazon.com.
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The Hartnetts are honorary co-chairs of this year’s LENS banquet
By Laura Anderson
For The Island Eye News
Longtime Isle of Palms residents and honorary co-chairs Tommy and Bonnie Hartnett invite everyone to honor first responders and the island community at the annual Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support program’s annual fundraising banquet. The event is scheduled for May 15 at the Sweetgrass Inn in Wild Dunes, beginning at 5 p.m.
The Hartnetts passionately support the LENS program, which knits the island together and draws community members closer – and raises money to support local police officers and their families.
“We are so enthusiastic about it. This program doesn’t raise money to pay the officers’ salaries. Funds are gifted for IOPPD officers and their families who are enduring times of hardship and might need help with hospital bills, paying for education or things of that nature,” Tommy said.
In its first eight months, LENS awarded police officers and the community financial support totaling more than $30,000. The program assisted in domestic abuse cases, housing hardships, those who lost family members and those who needed help paying medical bills.
1944. The Longs would invite Tommy and his family to spend summers on the island in one of their rental homes. When Fort Moultrie was still open in 1947, Tommy recalls watching soldiers in uniform walk up and down the beach.
The Hartnetts bought a house in Wild Dunes in 1978, the first planned residential community in South Carolina, six short years after the private community was established on the island.
The Hartnetts believe that the program’s inception on IOP could not have come at a better time.
“The way officers are treated in the media nowadays is demeaning. One of the few things that stands between us and anarchy is strong law enforcement. We depend on them more than we realize. It is our civic duty to come together to help them when they need it,” Tommy said.
Tommy and Bonnie remember when IOP was nothing more than a few houses – in his words, “a deserted island.” His father was a cousin of developer J.C. Long, who effectively took ownership of the Isle of Palms in
“We spent most summers out here with our families in our little tree house on Sand Crab Court,” Tommy said, chuckling.
“Most of our social life and my childhood memories are on the island, and now I get to watch my grandchildren experience the magic this island has as well,” he added.
The sleepy little Southern island that Tommy remembers from his childhood has evolved quite a bit over the decades.
“There was a time that the island ended where the Methodist church currently sits. There were no houses on front beach. From 41st Avenue to the end of the island, there was nothing. A campground – that was it.”
Now, Tommy said, “The island belongs to the world. The East Coast has seen such an influx of people, and IOP is a world-class destination. With so many residents and tourists, we need the island police now more than ever.”
The Hartnetts are honored to co-chair the 2023 IOP LENS banquet. Thanks to multiple decades serving on the Charleston Port Authority board, Tommy was able to pull a few strings for a special auction item that guests at the event will have the opportunity to bid on – an exclusive tour of the South Carolina Wando Welch port facility.
To check out the full list of auction items, purchase tickets before they are sold out and join the Hartnetts at this year’s event for an incredible cause, visit lensiop.org.
Carl
Tommy and Bonnie Hartnett
The Rec is rockin’ fitness
By Katherine Berry
For The Island Eye News
Spring break has broken and the summer season is just around the corner. To assist in looking and feeling your best, Isle of Palms Recreation Department is adding new fitness programs to keep you mentally strong as well as physically in tune.
Mindful Meditation, led by Susan Boruff, a certified spiritual coach and trained internationally, offers a safe space to explore this life-changing practice. Susan shares her experience to assist in discovering a calmness and establishing resiliency in our busy world. She will help you get started on a practice that will change your life.
Free • Every Wednesday
8 a.m. at the City Dock
9 a.m. at the Rec Center, under the oak or inside, depending on the weather.
Next up is Rxfit Club, an outdoor mobile gym staffed by personal trainers and nutritionists. This six-week series, led by Coach Doug Gordon, lead trainer and creator of the mobile unit, as well as a certified personal trainer with a focus on performance and corrective exercise, is bringing the gym to IOP Rec. His goal is to help you help yourself with a personal analysis of your body, offering exercises to maximize your mobility.
Participants will have a personalized digital fitness assessment designed to identify alignment and imbalances in their bodies. The idea is these assessments will shape the individual experience for maximum results, providing precision and focus during training.
April 11 - May 16
Tuesday and Thursday • 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Cost - $120 • Pre-registration is encouraged
And last but certainly not least, IOP’s Police, Fire and Recreation Departments teams lead a six-week program titled Wild Roll. Each week, a trainer/coach from a different city department will lead a unique workout targeted to make you work, smile and sweat. The name “Wild Roll” is a concept Assistant Director Tammy Cox threw into the mix, where dice are used to shape the workouts. You roll the dice and – voila – your workout begins.
Police Chief Kevin Cornett stepped in to sub a few classes last winter and enjoyed it so much that he agreed to work with the Rec on a program: “Fitness together is a great avenue to enhance the community relationship. Some of my officers were showing up, and it was fun for everyone.”
Fun Fact about Chief Cornett – he’s a registered personal trainer with the National Academy of Sports Medicine as well as a kettle ball and battle rope specialist with Living Fit.
April 5 - May 10
Wednesdays • 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Cost is $15 for series • Late registration accepted
Additionally, Spring Break Soccer Camp registration is open. Soccer Shots is designed to develop fundamental skills with a focus on character development through positive coaching, communication and curriculum.
April 10 - April 14 • Monday through Friday • 9 a.m. - noon Ages 4-12 • $150 for residents
In May, look for details on more programs, including Sunrise Beach Yoga on Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. at 25th Avenue. IOP’s Recreation Department is actively pursuing opportunities to bring the community together, offering more events, fitness classes and activities for all ages. All residents have to do is show up and support the facilitators with an open mind and excitement for new adventures.
Exchange Club celebrates completion of waterfront project
By Robbie Berg
For The Island Eye News
The evening could not have been more perfect for celebrating the Isle of Palms Exchange Club’s accomplishments of preserving its waterfront and completing its beautification project of building a 244-foot-long “passive park” along its new seawall, for club members, renters, the community and tourists to enjoy.
More than 100 club members, city officials and community members came to celebrate with the Exchange Club on March 23. Pat Gillespie the project/construction manager, thanked the engineering firm of Jon Guerry Taylor and Associates, Inc. for its professional construction of the seawall and GrandScapes, for completing the 244-foot walkway, which included 4+ feet of synthetic grass. He also thanked the members of the club for installing all of the seawall cabling along the walkway: Sean Williams, Danny Dubis and Patrick Harrington – and Gillespie as well.
Isle of Palms Mayor Phillip Pounds also spoke, thanking the IOP Exchange Club for its Programs of Service of Americanism, Child Abuse Prevention, Youth and Scholarships, and for providing the community with this project.
Harrington, chairman of the Exchange Club’s Waterfront Improvement Committee, stated that all of this wouldn’t have been possible
without the many donors who contributed to the project. Many thank yous also were given to the Waterfront Committee members who met numerous times to plan and execute the project.
IOP Exchange Club President Robbie Berg reminded everyone that the engineers told the Waterfront Improvement Committee that this project was an absolute necessity to save the parking lot because 3 feet of erosion had been lost over the past two years. The Exchange Club was entrusted with this beautiful and awe-inspiring location along Hamlin Creek and has taken on the responsibility of preserving and enhancing the property for all to enjoy its natural beauty. Berg also thanked the city of Isle of Palms and the ATAX Committee for contributing to the completion of this project.
Harrington was given the honor of cutting the ribbon to the walkway, then everyone proceeded to the area where two benches donated by Berg were unveiled, surprising the Harringtons and the Gillespies. The benches were dedicated to them. A third bench sits along the walkway dedicated to her parents for their example of community giving and pride.
Thank you to the IOP Exchange Club, club members, the city of Isle of Palms and community members for making this dream come to fruition.
These benches were dedicated to the Harringtons and the Gillespies.
Pat Gillespie spoke at the dedication ceremony.
Business Understanding mortgages: they shouldn’t scare you
By Island Eye News and Island Connection staff writers
In today’s uncertain housing market, understanding mortgages is more important than ever. While there are many new and creative ways to finance a home, there are still three basic aspects of a mortgage that everyone should know about: monthly payments, upfront fees and down payments. Since mortgages usually involve a longterm commitment, it’s important to understand how they work.
• Monthly payments: The amount needed to pay off the mortgage over the length of the loan. This includes a payment on the principal of the loan as well as interest. There often are property taxes and other fees included in the monthly bill.
• Upfront fees: Various costs you have to pay in order to get the loan.
• Down payment: The upfront amount you pay to secure a mortgage. Making a higher down payment gets you a better deal – a lower mortgage interest rate, fewer fees and a faster way to build home equity.
There are two main types of mortgages: a conventional loan, guaranteed by a private lender or banking institution, and a government-backed loan. There are several other types, but these are the most common.
Most government-backed mortgages come in one of three forms:
• Veterans Administration (VA) loans – These loans benefit veterans who served in the armed forces on active duty during times of conflict.
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans – These loans were created to help people obtain affordable housing. FHA loans are actually made by a lending institution, such as a bank, but the federal government insures the loan.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans – Backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these loans are for rural property buyers who are unable to secure a
home loan from traditional sources due to income that’s below average for their area.
To compete in today’s marketplace, it’s smart to find a mortgage lender who caters to the unique needs of borrowers. One such Lowcountry lender is Southstate Bank, which offers a variety of portfolio products using the bank’s money and also services the loans. These products include buyer’s advantage (100% financing to qualified first-time buyers); doctor loans for medical professionals such as doctors, dentists and veterinarians; construction to permanent loans; land lot; renovation; and jumbo loans.
Southstate also offers portfolio loans – a kind of mortgage that a lender originates and retains instead of offloading it on the secondary mortgage market. These loans can make sense for real estate investors, self-employed borrowers and individuals who may have had a recent financial hit that affected their credit scores.
After you choose your loan, you’ll decide whether you want a fixed rate or an adjustable rate during the life of the mortgage. Your choice determines the interest you’ll be charged.
According to Joann Terrel, senior vice president and mortgage banker at SouthState in Mount Pleasant and an Isle of Palms homeowner, “The choice of going with a fixed or adjustable
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rate depends on current market conditions and the home buyer or investor’s risk tolerance. An adjustable-rate mortgage allows the interest rate on your loan to vary with prevailing interest rates. So if rates go up, so will your mortgage interest rate and monthly payment. If rates go down, your monthly payments will drop.”
There are many other variables that mortgage professionals work with to get you the best deal possible for your particular income, funds available for a down payment and credit scores. They work with conforming and nonconforming loans based on the size of the loan, upfront fees (called “points”), interest rate “locks” and private mortgage insurance, which protects borrowers and lenders.
Although the current housing and mortgage markets are facing some uncertainty, an experienced mortgage banker can help navigate troubled waters to get you the home you want, whether it’s a rental investment or for personal use.
Terrel has worked in the mortgage and lending fields for more than 25 years, and, aside from helping traditional home buyers, she specializes in less typical loans, which are prevalent in the Lowcountry.
“While each year presents unique challenges, I can safely say that I’ve seen it all,” she said. “The industry is cyclical; we’ve been through this before and will get through it again.”
BY ISABELLE REDDY
Welcome to the Kids Corner. Here you will find fun, games and activities to complete based on the news from today’s issue. You will also get exclusive news like drawing competitions, lemonade stands and fun events. Enjoy the games. The answeres for this Kids Corner are coming out in the next newspaper, so make sure you keep your Kids Corner!
MORE INFO: Outdoors, under the oaks - weather permitting; indoors on colder or bad weather days. Free. To learn more: iop.net/recreation.
WHAT: Yin yoga
WHERE: IOP Rec Center
WHEN: Wednesdays, 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
MORE INFO: Yin Yoga is a beginner-friendly yoga class targeting deep connective tissues and joints and focusing on fascial release and brain health. Beginner class but challenging with limitless benefits. $40/month; $12 per class. Instructor: Kathy Berry. To learn more: iop.net/ recreation.
WHAT: Wild Roll Wednesday
WHERE: IOP Rec Center
WHEN: 8:30-9:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: The Isle of Palms Recreation Department will team up with IOP Police and Fire Departments to host a fun, new group fitness training program. To learn more and register, visit IOP.net.
WHAT: RxFit Club
WHERE: IOP Rec Center
WHEN: 9:30-10:30 a.m. • Tuesdays/Thursdays.
MORE INFO: The RxFit Club is an outdoor mobile gym, staffed by personal trainers and nutritionists • Cost $120 • pre-registration encouraged.
WHAT: Adult programs
Barre
Transform your body through isolated movements and build long, lean muscles while improving posture and flexibility.
Fridays 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., $32/month To learn more: iop.net/recreation.
EASTER SERVICES
Community Sunrise Service
6:30 a.m. Breach Inlet Beach, Sullivan’s Island side • a joint effort of churches on the islands.
DeepWater Church - Front Beach IOP 10 a.m. • bring a chair • free parking in municipal lot.
First United Methodist Church - 12 21st Ave., Isle of Palms • 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services.
Holy Cross Anglican Church - 2520 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island • 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 11a.m. services • 9:30 a.m. children’s family service.
Isle of Palms Baptist Church - 14 24th Ave., Isle of Palms • 10:45 a.m. service.
Morning yoga
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:15 a.m.10:15 a.m. • Instructor: Pat Boyd To learn more: iop.net/recreation.
FRIDAY, APRIL 7
WHAT: Easter Egg Hunt
WHERE: IOP Rec Center
WHEN: 2 p.m.
MORE INFO: The free event will be sectioned off into four different age groups: 3 and under; 4 to 6 years; 7 to 9 years; and 10 to 12 years. After hunting for eggs, children can enjoy jump castles, snow cones, face painting and even get a picture with the Easter Bunny. To learn more, call 843886-8294 or visit iop.net.
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
WHAT: Learn Bridge in a Day seminar WHERE: Isle of Palms Exchange Club WHEN: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
MORE INFO: The $75 donation includes coffee and pastries, a full lunch and handouts. The seminar will be limited to 28 attendees, and all proceeds are donated to charity. To learn more: email graydonvadas7@gmail.com.
TUESDAY, APRIL 11 AND APRIL 18
WHAT: Memoir Writing Circle
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 1 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join us to get your stories started. Write from a provided prompt for 20 minutes, then share for friendly feedback. To learn more: Call 843-883-3914 or email poe@ccpl.org.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12 AND APRIL 19
WHAT: Gentle Yoga
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 2 p.m. (after hours)
• SUNDAY, APRIL 9
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church - 300 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms • 10 a.m. service • brunch to follow.
Stella Maris Catholic Church - 1204 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island • 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Easter Mass • 5:30 p.m. Latin Easter Mass.
Sullivan’s Island Baptist Church - 1753 Central Ave., Sullivan’s Island • 9 a.m. service • family fun to follow.
Sunrise Presbyterian Church - 3222 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island • 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Celebration of the Resurrection.
MORE INFO: Gentle yoga session for improved flexibility, balance and strength. Space is limited, and registration is required. Call 843883-3914 or email poe@ccpl.org for details.
FRIDAY, APRIL 14
WHAT: After School Art Club for Tweens and Teens
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 4-5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Come hang out after school and try our different arts and crafts. Ages 12-18 welcome.
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
WHAT: Beach Lovers Book Club
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 10 a.m.
MORE INFO: Come for a lively discussion of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid
WHAT: Felt Garden in a Tin
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
MORE INFO: Get crafty with us. Welcome spring by making mini faux gardens in recycled metal tins. For teens (grades 6-12, ages 12-18).
TUESDAY, APRIL 18
WHAT: Family Storytime
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 10:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Join us for stories, songs, and rhymes that support early literacy.
THURSDAY, APRIL 20
WHAT: Art Journaling for Kids
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 3 p.m.
MORE INFO Learn to create art journal pages with collage, watercolor and acrylic techniques. Ages 8-11. Registration required. 843-883-3914.
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
WHAT: Low-ku and Haikus for Earth Day WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 10 a.m.
MORE INFO: Join Pamela Brownstein as she shares her book of haikus inspired by life in the Lowcountry. In honor of Earth Day and National Poetry Month, create your own nature-inspired haiku and illustrate it with thumbprint art. To learn more: Call 843-883-3914 or email poe@ccpl.org.
Sullivan’s Island Council Candidates
Four candidates – Jody Latham, Carl Hubbard, Summer Eudy and Ned Higgins – are running for three seats on the Sullivan’s Island Town Council. The election will be held May 2. The Island Eye News asked the candidates five questions that are important to Sullivan’s Island residents. Here are their answers.
What should the town of Sullivan’s Island do with the old Town Hall building, which was abandoned in 2011?
Jody Latham
I think this is a difficult question to answer. The structure is historic and landmarked, which makes major alterations difficult. The mold mitigation and repairs required to use the building are expensive. The building itself was designed more as a warehouse, so there also will be ongoing problems in making it watertight. That being said, it is an interesting idea, and it would be great if we could utilize the building to create housing for town employees who cannot otherwise afford to live near their workplace. Unfortunately, Sullivan’s Island zoning in that area is strictly single family, and I am not a fan of opening the door for bulk zoning for multifamily housing on the island, and we cannot “spot zone” the old Town Hall to accomplish this use. I think as we lose the Island Club to subdivision, a community use space would also be beneficial.
Carl Hubbard
I believe the old Town Hall building, like those around it, is zoned single family residential. At this point, preserving them with this zoning would keep them compatible with the neighborhood and keep the town’s focus on livability and preservation of its historic character. The town looked at this some years ago, and it is my recollection issues regarding density and parking were the immediate concerns raised by the neighbors. Any change in use would require a rezoning of the property that would raise the issue of spot zoning (not legal) were it to be the only property allowed to change its zoning. There are several other properties in the vicinity that would be perfect for multifamily occupancy, but zoning keeps them single family. Allowing a zoning change for all would create more density and parking issues for the neighborhood. It appears to be an asset not being used by the town now that police, fire and rescue are in new quarters. Perhaps it would be best to sell the property to an individual (or, yikes, an LLC!!) that would make it a single-family home, keeping it compatible with the neighborhood.
Summer Eudy
As there is no current financial need, I believe the best course is to maintain ownership of the town property at this time. I am open to suggestions for revitalizing the property and appreciate Councilman Visser’s willingness to begin a discussion regarding whether to consider making the building available to public servants working on the island; however, I would need more information on the scope of work, impact on the community and cost. I would also need more information regarding any safety concerns with the structure itself. Additionally, I would want the opportunity to talk with neighbors in this specific area as their thoughts and feelings on the issue are imperative.
Ned Higgins
The old Town Hall is empty except for mold and rats. Something certainly needs to be done. The first step should be to gather suggestions. I’ve heard several options, but it’s too early to for me to hang my hat on any one plan (See The Island Eye, March 24, 2023). The best approach at this time is to open up the discussion, generate ideas and explore what will be best for the town and the neighbors.
Do you think Pacaso should be permitted to sell fractional ownerships of the house it owns at 3115 I’On? Why or why not?
Ned Higgins
No way!! Timesharing is anathema (good SAT word) to the lifestyle we
love on Sullivan’s Island.
Summer Eudy
No. As interpreted by the town’s zoning administrator and upheld by the Board of Zoning Appeals, the town’s zoning ordinance does not allow for the fractional ownership scheme offered by Pacaso. This is not explicit as to Pacaso and 3115 I’On Ave. but applies to all property owners on Sullivan’s Island. Additionally, it defies the spirit of the town’s ban on shortterm rentals.
Carl Hubbard
No. One can get a good sense of where this issue is likely headed by reading the minutes from the Board of Zoning Appeals’ Feb. 9 meeting on the town website. I support the board’s unanimous denial of a Pacaso appeal from a finding by the zoning administrator that included that usage of the house as set up by Pacaso falls under the definition of a vacation rental and by creating a commercial use of the house that caters to multifamilies on one lot disrupts neighborhood compatibility. A quick online search reveals what must be part of Pacaso’s business model as evidenced by the litigation it has brought since its startup a few years ago. As I have referred to previously, look to the first two guiding principles of the Comprehensive Plan: 1. Sullivan’s Island will strive to maintain a small-town feel that originated from its past and which continues to this day; and 2. Sullivan’s Island will work to remain a predominantly low-density, single-family community.
Jody Latham
In one very clear word, NO. As you know, I am currently on the Board of Zoning Appeals and voted against permitting the fractional sale of 3115 I’On Ave. While the company may try to say their business model is not a “timeshare,” there is no doubt in my mind the functional operations of their properties are in fact timeshares. Just because they dress it up and a 1/8th ownership fraction often sells for a million dollars or more does not change the fact that these are owners with no relationship to each other and who cannot occupy the home at the same time and must utilize a trademarked application to book time to stay in “their” property. Yes, we have many properties owned through LLCs and family trusts on the island, but these are very different arrangements.
Should the town of Sullivan’s Island hire a naturalist?
Jody Latham
I think hiring a naturalist would be an excellent idea. We have so many wonderful natural resources to protect and manage, having an employee with the talent and education to do so is a natural step in protecting the island. In addition to managing the Maritime Forest, a naturalist would be able to help protect beneficial animals and plants and deal with invasive and dangerous ones.
Ned Higgins
The Island needs a director of natural resources – someone who can help us manage the mash side of the island as well as the accreted land. Our maritime habitat holds together our island of shifting sand and provides a buffer against water risks that surround us. It would be prudent to have a knowledgeable person advise us about the best ways to nurture our nature. The ideal person would be experienced, have a master’s degree in the field and be socially gifted.
Summer Eudy
I like the idea of hiring a naturalist to help inform the town’s deci-
Sullivan’s Island Council Candidates
sion-making on a variety of issues. As a small coastal barrier island community, the way the town interacts with our natural environment is becoming more and more important. I would need further information on the job description and expense of creating such a position, but I believe this is something the town should seriously explore and consider.
Carl Hubbard
Since at least 2012, the town has used the services of Jeff Jackson and others associated with him as a consultant arborist/naturalist. I believe this arrangement is working at the moment. He has helped the town identify what species of plants are in the Maritime Forest and on the island. He has assisted in removing invasive species from the forest and the island, but, because of the current litigation that is on hold, the Maritime Forest is not currently being managed (see response #5). At this time, I do not believe the town needs to add a naturalist to staff.
What should be done about the parking situation on Sullivan’s Island?
Carl Hubbard
You won’t see the accidents you prevent. The current parking configuration in the commercial district has vehicles in lined parking spaces, but, in many instances, encroaching into the roadway, causing traffic to veer into the other lane to pass through. In June, the Planning Commission, by unanimous vote and out of concern for pedestrian safety, sent a memo to Town Council endorsing the re-examination of possible parking management solutions outlined in the previously drafted Community Commercial District Masterplan of 2008. A key recommendation of that plan was geared to reconfiguring the existing 25 perpendicular parking spaces along Middle Street between Station 22 and Station 221/2. Taking information directly from the memo, our recommendations included: converting those 25 spaces to parallel configuration to allow sidewalks and safe pedestrian access from intersections; continue endorsing development of privately run short-term auto parking lots; and exploring other public parking options on town-owned properties. In addition, the town should enforce against the encroachments from private property owners of hedges or plantings that take away parking spaces. I do not support paid parking on the island.
Summer Eudy
I believe we should continue to manage parking in a manner consistent with what is done now. Although we are dealing with increased pressure from the Charleston area’s growing population, I am not a proponent of paid parking on the island as I believe it is contrary to the character and feel of our small-town community. Additionally, it is not currently something the town needs to consider for revenue purposes. As with any issue, I am always open to listening to island residents and business owners and re-evaluating the plan as there may be a need to do so.
Ned Higgins
Town Council has done a marvelous job handling the parking situation on the island. First, they restricted parking to only one side of the smaller streets, so emergency vehicles can get to the emergency. Council has also conducted a thorough review of paid parking and found it would be difficult to implement and not be cost-effective. Furthermore, even on busy weekends, we have ample on-street parking. I don’t see that Council needs to do more on this issue at this time.
Jody Latham
Parking is an ongoing and challenging issue for all beach communities, and Sullivan’s Island is no different. We actually have more parking than the vast majority of similar beach communities, but that does not change the fact at peak times that parking is a mess and trying to drive down Atlantic Avenue is virtually impossible. I have thought about the problem and really think mass transit could work. If we could work with CARTA to improve and simplify Park and Ride programs so that people are actually
willing to utilize them, I think that would be a start.
Should the town of Sullivan’s Island do anything to control the growth of trees and other vegetation in the Maritime Forest?
Jody Latham
This question really lines up with the question of hiring a naturalist who would be tasked with its care. I do think we should manage the Maritime Forest in a manner to make sure it stays healthy. This could mean trimming some shrubs and trees, but I am not in favor of any wholesale cutting in any part of the forest or accreted land. We have these exquisite natural assets, and we need to make sure we take care of them.
Summer Eudy
I believe the Maritime Forest is an asset to the island and needs to be cared for. That said, I am not an expert on the issue of accreted land management, and I would rely and defer to such experts for guidance on these issues. A naturalist could help inform the town’s decision-making on the best practices for protecting this important town resource.
Carl Hubbard
Because the pending litigation appears to be in a holding pattern, it is my understanding nothing is being done to manage any part of the Maritime Forest, other than perhaps keeping the beach access paths clear. Maybe this is a good thing. I am not alone in thinking if the forest were left alone without any intervention other than what nature brings, larger trees would create a canopy that would naturally remove smaller species of plants, opening up those enviable view corridors and allowing sea breezes while providing the root systems and buffers that we all agree protects us from storm surges and flooding. But no one seems to be willing to give it the 50 or so years it would take for this to happen. The forest does need to be managed to remove non-native species of flora (see response to # 3). We should be conscious of issues of fire possibilities, relying on experts for that assessment regarding a fire break between homes and the forest.
Ned Higgins
With the guidance of a director of natural resources, we should do our best to eliminate invasive species in the Maritime Forest. Invasive species (think of kudzo) can push out the native species but aren’t as effective against storm surge. The native vegetation has evolved over millions of years to hold fast in the face of rushing (or seeping) saltwater. Actually, FEMA lowered our flood insurance rates because we have a healthy Maritime Forest. And they believe the denser the better. So, by and large, we should leave it alone. Besides, I like knowing birds, traveling between South America and Nova Scotia, stop at our forest to fatten up on our vegetation and bugs before heading off on the next leg of their journey.
