IEN Feb 23

Council weighs options to let homeowners help themselves

By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News

The Isle of Palms City Council is getting closer to providing some help for property owners whose homes are being threatened by severe erosion at and near Breach Inlet at the southwest end of the island.

At their Feb. 13 workshop, Council members directed city staff to prepare two emergency ordinances that were to be considered at a Feb. 20 meeting – one that would permit homeowners to build seawalls in specific places to protect their properties and another that would at least temporarily lift the city’s restrictions on hard erosion control structures.

certain distance from the beach. Residents with existing pools further than 35 feet from the line would be permitted to build a seawall or revetment up to 8 feet beyond the pool.

“Wherever OCRM says they can build it, they can build it. The city needs to get out of the way.”

The other proposed emergency ordinance would temporarily do away with the current regulation that prohibits erosion control structures within 250 feet landward of the tide’s mean high-water mark.

• IOP Council Member John Bogosian

One of the options Council members considered Feb. 20 would allow property owners to install seawalls or revetments up to 35 feet from the maximum building line, a boundary established by the city in 1988 to keep homes a

Either ordinance, which needed the approval of at least twothirds of Council members present at the Feb. 20 meeting, would have no effect in areas of the beach controlled by the Ocean & Resource Management division of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. The ordinances apply only to properties between 100 and 914 Ocean Blvd. All work would be paid for by homeowners.

The decision to look (Continued on page 4)

Sullivan’s Island will look at changing rules for fires on the beach

By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News

The Sullivan’s Island Town Council was expected to consider proposed modifications in the rules regulating fires on the beach at its regularly scheduled Feb. 20 meeting, but any changes that are made probably won’t go into effect at least until October.

The Council discussed a proposal created by town staff, vetted by the Public Facilities Committee and presented at the Council’s Feb. 5 workshop by Town Clerk Bridget Welch which would limit the season and days of the week when fires would be permitted on the beach. The proposed plan also would raise fees both for residents and nonresidents.

The proposal would permit fires only from October through April – which means they would be prohibited during turtle-nesting season – and only at Station 22 and Station 25 on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday night. No more than two permits would be issued for each night, and reservations would have to be made the week of the fire, in person and on a first come, first served basis.

“This helps staff keep better track of fires, and we can better track the (Continued on page 6)

A celebration for a cause: the IOP Taste of the Island Banquet

By Ada Jenkins For The Island Eye News

It’s that time of year again – always eagerly awaited by Isle of Palms residents – as the LENS Foundation annual fundraising banquet approaches. This year’s event welcomes a new theme: Taste of the Island. Scheduled for May 15 at the Citadel Beach Club, this spectacular event promises an evening of culinary delights, community camaraderie and unwavering support for a noble cause.

The goals of the annual banquet are to acknowledge the IOP (Continued on page 8)

Photo by Brian Sherman.

One way the city of Isle of Palms has been dealing with the erosion of the beach near Breach Inlet is paying a construction company to scrape sand off the beach, creating a barrier between the ocean and homes along Ocean Boulevard.

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The Island Eye News, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC, is a free, independent newspaper published every two weeks and is for and about the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, Goat Island and Dewees Island. Copies are mailed free of charge to every active mailbox in our coverage area and are also available at area businesses. Contributions of information, pictures and articles are welcomed, are used according to space limitations and news value and cannot be returned except by special request. Op-ed articles and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Lucky Dog News or its writers.

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Editor’s note: The map above did not reproduce correctly in the Feb. 9 issue of The Island Eye News. Therefore, we have decided to publish the map and the Mayor’s Message again in this issue.

Some details on storm water management projects

Dear Island Neighbors,

In last month’s column, I briefly mentioned some of the town’s efforts to improve our storm water management. In response to a number of questions, I’ve asked Deputy Town Administrator Joe Henderson to provide more details on the different projects.

The map shows the areas generally included in each watershed. For more details, go to bit.ly/SMPandIIS and bit.ly/SIPPSWIP.

One thing to note: We have to discharge our storm water through outfalls on the marsh side of the island, not the beach – although the marsh side has historically been called the “back beach.” Many of these outfalls will require check valves to prevent tides from coming up the storm water pipes.

Here is Joe’s list of current and proposed storm water projects, with their funding mechanisms:

• Stormwater Master Plan – FEMA; underway: This project will develop our overall blueprint to comprehensively address current island flooding and prepare for tomorrow’s changing coastal environment. It includes assessing the overall system and inspecting and cataloguing our existing drainage infrastructure to prioritize steps to improve it.

• Resilience and Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan –FEMA; consultant selection underway: The plan will produce clear strategies to identify, assess and plan for potential impacts of sea level rise, storm events and other environmental hazards.

• Watershed improvements – South Carolina Infrastructure Improvement Program; in design stage coordinated with master plan: State and federally funded grant of $10 million to improve the storm water collection and discharge system – replace damaged and inadequately sized pipes, improve outfalls, create new inlets and manholes as needed – for the following watersheds:

3 Station 16 watershed - ±48 acres of service area. Intended to mitigate existing flooding along Middle Street and Station 16. Considerable impacts seen between Poe and Atlantic Avenue;

3 Station 25 watershed - ±53 acres of service area;

3 Station 28.5 watershed - ±89 acres of service area;

3 Station 31 watershed - ±83 acres of service area; represents the largest low-lying depressional area.

• Station 18 to Station 19 – FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant: Initial design phase approved in 2017 and completed; awaiting FEMA approval of funds to construct it. One of the worst-affected areas during average to heavy rain events.

• Outfalls at Station 19 and Station 25 – FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant; grant application under review: This work would take place concurrently with other storm water improvement projects.

• Osceola Avenue Outfall Improvements – underway: Improve drainage throughout the western end of the island by cleaning infrastructure and pipes and upgrading outfalls with tide check valves where needed.

• Commercial District watershed improvements from Station 22 to Station 22.5; proposed: Improve flow in ditches and pipes leading to the drainage outfall at Station 22.5.

As you can see, this is a very ambitious and costly program for such a small town, and it will take years to accomplish, but we have taken the important initial steps. We owe our town staff a lot of credit for seeking and getting these grants.

See you around the island!

Pat O’Neil, Mayor 843-670-9266 • Twitter: @oneilpm1 oneilp@sullivansisland.sc.gov

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Indulge in one

our

COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL SELECTS WATER MISSION AS PARTNER IN NEW GLOBAL WASH ALLIANCE DESIGNED TO BRING HOLISTIC CARE TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING POVERTY

STATE'S 10TH CULTURAL DISTRICT IN

as the 10th Cultural District by unanimous vote.

In March, the Kiawah-Seabrook Island Dolphin Education Program will host two introductory gatherings.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina is celebrating all weekend long with ½ price pitchers of Mex 1 and Infused Margaritas.

MEX 1 COASTAL CANTINA MAKES NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY A WEEKEND-LONG CELEBRATION

Kiawah Bobcat GPS Project provides info on bobcat populations in the Lowcountry.

KIAWAH ISLAND PROVIDES UPDATE ON BOBCAT TRAPPING

of

writer’s insights on their dining experience at King Streets newest restaurant: bartaco.

KIAWAH-SEABROOK ISLAND DOLPHIN EDUCATION PROGRAM INTRODUCTORY MEETINGS

LaFaye Benton of LaFaye & the Fellas joins the American Lung Association's 8th annual Lip Sync for Lungs, themed "Totally '80s."

VOCALIST LAFAYE BENTON RETURNS TO CHARLESTON MUSIC HALL TO LIP SYNC FOR LUNGS

The alliance aims to provide comprehensive support to children and families facing poverty by ensuring access to safe water.

The South Carolina Arts Commission joyfully designates Hartsville

S.C. ARTS COMMISSION ANNOUNCES

HARTSVILLE

Breach Inlet property owner thinks city is taking the wrong approach

By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News

An Isle of Palms homeowner whose property has been hit hard by the effects of erosion near Breach Inlet appreciates the city’s efforts to help, but he also thinks IOP officials are taking the wrong approach to solving the problems that have plagued the southwest end of the island for the better part of a year.

Paul Jorgensen, who has owned the home at 116 Ocean Blvd. for three years, said the erosion problem began last May and has continued to worsen, reaching a crescendo with the storm that blistered the island on Dec. 17.

“December was the biggie. It really ate up all of the dune system, a lot of our property and all of our walkway,” he said on Feb. 17, three days before the City Council was to consider two emergency ordinances that would let homeowners between 100 and 914 Ocean Blvd. build seawalls or revetments to protect their homes.

He added, however, that he thinks the city is headed in the wrong direction by paying a construction company to scrape sand while waiting for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project that will deliver 500,000 cubic yards of sand to the beach.

“They have tried hard to protect our houses, but their strategy has proven to be a failure. I say that because the sand scraping is great and we’re very appreciative, but it’s not fixing the issue. We need to be dredging the inlet. We need to push the water back,” he commented.

“They have tried hard to protect our houses, but their strategy has proven to be a failure. ”

• IOP Homeowner Paul Jorgensen

He went on to say that his biggest frustration is that both a city ordinance and the regulations of the Ocean & Resource Management division

Council

Continued from page 1

at the two options emerged after a lengthy discussion concerning OCRM’s ever-changing jurisdiction over various areas of the beach, striking a balance between protecting homes and accounting for in-ground pools and determining how seawalls should be positioned to provide the most reliable help for the largest number of homes.

At the workshop, Council Member Blair Hahn said the city should be concerned about saving homes but not necessarily pools.

“What everybody is talking about isn’t ‘I want to save my pool.’ They’re saying ‘I want to save my house, and I want to save the foundation of my house,’” Hahn pointed out. “The compromise is to do it 20 feet from the max build line and be done with it.”

Much of the discussion concerned finding a way to protect pools and still make it possible for seawalls to be built in a reasonably straight line,

of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control have until now prohibited homeowners from taking action to hold back the ocean with seawalls or revetments.

“The ordinance that prevents us from protecting our own property is ridiculous,” he said.

Jorgensen also is upset that the city is not addressing what he called “the bigger issue.”

“They’re banking on the Army Corps project renourishing our beach, but the Corps has been very clear,” he remarked. “This is not a renourishing program. It probably will help a little, but it’s not the magic bullet the city thinks it is. Their overall strategy is flawed. They have a failed plan with no backup. That’s a source of extreme

which most of the Council agreed would provide the best possible protection against erosion and flooding.

“The problem is that the setback line touches at least three pools,” Council Member Katie Miars noted. “A number of these pools are already too far out. Engineers say a lot of different things about seawalls, but one thing that is consistent is that they need to be consistent.”

“One of the main reasons for us as a city being involved is to make it as effective as possible,” she added. “We can all agree that a continuous seawall would be most effective. If you leave this strictly up to the property owners, there’s no way you’re going to have a straight wall. We have to come up with some line that’s going to be the most possible straight, continuous line.”

Council Member John Bogosian pointed out that even if homeowners are permitted to build seawalls or revetments, the city cannot force them to do so.

“One homeowner may do it and the next five

frustration for me.”

Jorgensen said the Dec. 17 storm brought the ocean within 12 to 15 feet of his pool, which he pointed out is only around 5 feet from his house. He said if the City Council was to approve one of the emergency ordinances on Feb. 20, he’ll put up some type of revetment to protect his home. Beyond that, he thinks the issue could end up in court. Right now, though, he’s more concerned about keeping the ocean from damaging his home.

“I’ve been so focused on how we stop the erosion and protect my property legally, I haven’t worried about what comes next,” he commented, concluding that “The city needs a strategy to manage the inlet and they appear to have none.”

not do it. That’s why the city needs to get out of it – allow the homeowners to do what they want and work with OCRM. Wherever OCRM says they can build it, they can build it. The city needs to get out of the way,” he said.

Hahn added, however, that “We have to have a uniform line. That’s better than having a hodgepodge. If we just leave it with OCRM, it’s going to be a hodgepodge.”

An emergency ordinance can be in effect for 60 days and can be renewed after that. Under either version, seawalls or revetments must be approved by the city, designed by a registered, qualified engineer and be covered by beach-compatible sand that is not taken from the beach; adjacent property owners must be notified in writing; and construction must be coordinated with OCRM. In addition, “seawalls and revetments shall be designed so as to be continuous with any existing or planned revetments installed on adjacent properties, to the extent possible.”

Photo by Brian Sherman.

Paul Jorgensen’s home is located at 116 Ocean Blvd.

Amy Jancewicz

Annette Whitmer

Belton White

Beth Moore

Bill Donovan

Charley Hamrick

Charlie Aikman

Cheryl Isenberg 770.337.2586

Charmaine Kolander

Daniel Bushong

Denise Runza

Janet Newham

Jennifer Gessner

Katrina Shuman

Larry Pierson

Linda Laird 843.209.7571

Mary Hunter Englund 843.732.6220

Michelle Austin

Renee Meyer

Scott Layton

Steve Auerbach

Suzi Baldrick

Tracy Meredith 843.270.4800

Dennis Samuelson 843.906.9500

Ginger Samuelson

Elise Kennedy

Madeleine Kennedy

Noah Moore

Everett Presson

Clay Cunningham

Steve Little

Lucie McLaughlin

Sarah Orberson

Carolina Coastal Team

Elise Kennedy Group

Presson Moore Group

Cunningham Group

One Lucky Dog

By Katherine Berry

Owner: John, Julie and Jack Hoffman

Dog’s name: Lucy – or, alter-ego, Louis

Age: 2

Breed: American bulldog mix

Favorite toy: Squeakers – inside anything

Vet: Park West Veterinary

Food: Purina One + lots of snacks

One day, I made a really good decision – to muster the courage to leave my life in the woods for a boy named Jack. He had a play date with friends, and I just knew he’d be a good friend to have, so I came out from the trees to meet my new buddy. I was only 6 months old, and life in the forest wasn’t very kind, so I took a chance, and I’m so glad I did. Now I’m living the island life.

At first, Jack’s parents didn’t know what to think about me but still let me sleep outside in their lawn chair – with a daily bowl of food. I stayed around for a while and then one day, when a truck jumped in front of me, I got really hurt and hobbled my way back to them and they fixed me. I got a new hip and, at the same time, I became their official dog. Not exactly how I envisioned my adoption, but whatever works, right?

From there, I blossomed into the snoring, stoic, determined and loving companion with unique characteristics such as nine toes – that’s plenty – a crooked tail, one eye and my metal hip. None of that bothers me one bit. In fact, I know I am exceptional since the cute little male dogs I bat my one eye at don’t mind one bit. Big dogs, however: no thanks. Not my type. They brew mixed emotions of anger – puphood trauma – so it’s best to keep me on the sidelines with them. I’m not aggressive, and I just don’t have time to be bothered.

I love my life on the island. Social living is juicy. For example, every afternoon, right in my backyard, there’s a dog party. I don’t engage, but I do observe from the fence and get the scoop on everything and everyone. Then I gossip with Ross, my feline friend next door. The things we know would make your tail go crooked, too.

Other than that, my favorite food is the fries from the Refuge. My favorite things to do are my dog walks and golf cart rides and, overall, there are just too many smells and not enough time. When we meet, I do love belly rubs and snatching kisses, and I’d like show you my sweet smile.

If you have a “Lucky Dog” with a story to share, email me at LuckydogsIOP@gmail. com to set up a quick visit with you and your pup. Thank you • Katherine.

Fires

Continued from page 1

weather so we will have less rescheduling and cancellations,” according to Welch.

Sullivan’s Island residents wishing to build a fire on the beach would pay a $150 fee, while nonresidents would be charged $300. In either case, a $500 deposit would be required.

Welch told Council members that under the proposal, a police officer would make sure those who have fires also have a permit from the town and that the following day, a beach services officer could check the site to make certain it has been properly cleaned up so the deposit could be returned.

Council member Scott Millimet said he anticipates “a fair amount of blowback” from the proposed changes, while Council member Ned Higgins pointed out that “The simpler we keep it, the easier it will all flow.”

Millimet suggested a six-month comment period while the new rules are in effect, “to give people the opportunity to provide feedback,” while Mayor Pat O’Neil and Council Member Justin Novak agreed that the new guidelines probably shouldn’t go into effect until October 2024.

“We’ll get plenty of experience and maybe re-assess,” the mayor said.

Welch told Council members that the fees that will be charged will cover the town’s administrative costs.

Photo by Matthew Peacock.

Banquet

Continued from page 1

Police Department, raise funds to aid the Department and the IOP community and honor the exceptional dedication of volunteers and citizens who provide outstanding support.

“The Police Department values our relationship with the Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support group,” said IOP Police Sgt. Matthew Storen. “Partnering with organizations like LENS allows us to significantly contribute to our community. We deeply value any opportunity to expand our community outreach and give back.”

Co-chairs of the banquet, IOP Exchange Club members Kitty Riley and Kathy Shook, are enthusiastic about the event and looking forward to working with the 2024 theme.

“This year’s format will spotlight our wonderful local restaurants in support of a very worthy cause,” said Riley.

Taste of the Island is not just an ordinary fundraising event; it’s a celebration of the island’s vibrant culinary scene. Local restaurants will provide sample dishes at food stations set up around the venue and

guests can look forward to an array of delectable dishes prepared by renowned local chefs, showcasing the best flavors the island has to offer.

From fresh seafood caught right off the coast to mouthwatering Lowcountry specialties, every bite is a testament to the island’s rich culinary heritage. Participating Isle of Palms eateries include Long Island Cafe, Simmons Seafood, Café Paname, Front Beach Group, The Boathouse, Harris Teeter, Refuge, Islander 71, ACME Lowcountry Kitchen and Wild Dunes, with additional participants yet to be announced.

“This year’s annual LENS banquet is a great way for us to bring our local restaurants, community and police together,” said Shook, adding that “I am thankful for the awesome Police Department that we have and glad to have the opportunity to co-chair an event that supports them and our wonderful community.”

Lynn Pierotti, the founder of The Island Eye News and a platinum sponsor of the event, stated, “For 19 years, we have dedicated ourselves to promoting local restaurants. This event presents a fantastic opportunity to not only spotlight these

businesses but also to acknowledge the contributions of LENS and the Isle of Palms Police Department to our community.”

In addition to the culinary delights, guests also will enjoy live entertainment, online auctions featuring unique island experiences and treasures and the chance to mingle with fellow supporters who share a passion for making a positive impact in the Isle of Palms community.

Wild Dunes Resort and Explore Charleston are presenting sponsors of the event, and honorary co-chairs Tom Nolan, director of Wild Dunes Resort, and Helen Hill, president and CEO of Explore Charleston, have expressed their enthusiasm for supporting this cause.

“It’s my privilege to serve as an honorary co-chair for the 2024 IOP LENS Fundraising Banquet. This important event is an opportunity for the local community to support the IOPPD in its dedication to the safety and well-being of IOP residents and visitors as well as the fundraising efforts of the LENS program,” said Hill.

The Reddy Foundation, co-founded by Rom Reddy and his wife Renee, is another platinum

sponsor.

“Renee and I have directed our Foundation’s mission toward the education and protection of vulnerable children and women, both domestically and internationally. Aligning this mission with robust law enforcement efforts, we are proud to support LENS in our local community,” Reddy said.

Time during the banquet will be dedicated to recognizing the winners of IOPPD awards as well as LENS appreciation awards: 2023 Founders Recognition Award, Mayor Phillip Pounds and Laurie Pounds; 2023 Volunteer of the Year, Dennis McLendon; 2023 George Reeth Leadership Award, Chaplain Paula Mullens; and 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award, Kathryn Marley Magruder.

So mark your calendars, gather your friends and family and join us from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 15 for an evening of culinary excellence, community spirit and philanthropic generosity at the Taste of the Island. General admission is $150 per person, but there is opportunity to give more and even become a sponsor. Visit thelensfoundationiop.charityproud.org for more information.

The sharing economy is changing the way we travel

By Carol Antman For The Island Eye News

“Port wine is like men – the older they are, the more complex.” Sergio was waxing philosophical between sips. My husband and I had booked a private wine experience at his shop (“It’s my wife’s shop”) in lieu of one of the tourist-packed Douro River vineyard cruises in Porto. While we selected our favorite vintages, we were charmed by Sergio’s love of his city’s “aging elegance” and how he’d won the nation’s blind wine tasting contest. Being with him was emblematic of our trip.

Throughout the month, we used the sharing economy to book several experiences that brought Portugal’s culture alive and helped us avoid the forced march we abhor of large group tours. We cruised the river with Sylvia Tomas and Pedro Lemos, an ambitious young couple. They’d found

a neglected boat and fixed it up for tours. As we waved to passengers crowded onto the decks of passing ships, Sylvia told us, “The difference is we don’t want to seem like a business. We want to seem like we opened the door to our house.”

three other passengers on the tour, fascinating young women who’d emigrated from the United States to Israel.

In Lisbon’s “Onion Square,” we shared a dramatic moment with our tour guide Beatrice.

Pedro grew up in a family of sardine fishermen, so his stories of the city’s history were enlivened by childhood memories. Meanwhile, we became fast friends with the

we discover there someday?”

We booked that memorable experience on a free walking tour site where you pay what you will. They’re available in hundreds of cities worldwide.

On the site “gowithguide,” we arranged an informative Jewish history walking tour, where we walked through historic neighborhoods and heard about the Inquisition. We became acquainted with the cuisine of Portugal on a food tour.

“We have 365 recipes for cod, one for each day,” our guide Eloise began, before leading us to a dozen small restaurants where we tried everything from fish to cheeses to flaming pork.

The food tour ended with the ubiquitous pastel de nata pastry, so I was delighted to attend a cooking class to learn how to make them. What a wonderful afternoon. The six other students were from around the world and shared their stories as we baked. Our teacher, Katia, was the real deal: “My grandma used to bake 100 natas each day, and I was the delivery girl. So I’d deliver 95 or 96. …”

“We are standing where people greeted the ships returning from the Far East with new foods, exotic animals and spices. … To them, this ocean was a vast scary place where you might fall off the edge of the Earth. When they tasted onions, they ate them like apples. … Pepper made them sneeze. Chocolate was a revelation – magic.”

Then she compared it to our current perspective on exploring outer space: “What magic will

A big highlight was sharing a meal at João’s apartment, which we booked through eatwith. This website offers dinner parties in locals’ homes. The lavish meal he prepared for the eight of us was delicious, and the international company was very lively. João offers his dinners quite often, and it was apparent that they were an important part of his income.

The sharing economy, which is a lot more than Airbnb and Uber, is changing the way we travel. You can rent everything from a parking spot to ski equipment or travel for free by trading work, pet sitting or house swapping. (See peaksandpotholes.blogspot.com for hot links). It’s a great alternative to either being with a group the whole time or being on your own.

2678 Middle

Photo by Carol Antman.

Photo by Carol Antman.

Photo by Carol Antman.

Baking pastel de nata with Katia.

Flaming pork on the food tour.

Sergio the wine expert.

They’re both coneflowers, but they’re classified differently

By Mary Pringle IOP Environmental Advisory Committee For The Island Eye News

Coneflowers are beautiful perennial native plants that bloom in late summer into fall. They are attractive to bees and butterflies in pollinator gardens and produce seeds that feed birds such as finches. Interestingly, the purple coneflower – echinacea purpurea – and orange coneflower – rudbeckia fulgida – are classified in different genera. However, both species are in asteraceae, a giant plant family that includes more than 1,600 genera. They can reach about 3 feet in height, are relatively unattractive to deer and tolerate a certain degree of drought.

Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish biologist and physician who formalized the scientific system of naming organisms, called purple coneflower rudbeckia purpurea in 1753. But, in 1794, after additional botanical study, it was reclassified as a new genus called echinacea. This history may explain why both species include “coneflower” in their common name.

Purple coneflower’s genus name is based on the Greek word echinos, meaning “spiny one,” because of its spiny central disk which contains many tiny flowers that provide pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds. Echinacea shares this Greek root word with echinodermata, the phylum of marine organisms

with central discs that includes spiny sea urchins, starfish and sand dollars.

Echinacea is sold in pharmacies and health food stores in pill form as an herbal supplement to strengthen the immune system. It is said to be a natural antibiotic and is also a popular herbal tea.

Orange coneflower is sometimes called blackeyed Susan, which is a common name shared by rudbeckia hirta and is less drought tolerant than the purple coneflower. Orange coneflower can spread slowly by branching roots near the surface of the soil called stolons, as well as self-sowing by producing seeds. Its species name, fulgida, means shining or glistening in Latin.

Both orange and purple coneflowers will be planted in the city of Isle of Palms native plant demonstration garden that will be established this March in the grassy triangle at 7th Avenue and Palm Boulevard. This garden is a project initiated by the Environmental Advisory Committee and is being planned by Sharleen John-

son, native habitat garden consultant and owner of Native Plants to the People LLC. The purpose

of this garden is to showcase drought-tolerant native plants in the hope of inspiring residents of the Isle of Palms – and beyond – to consider including water-saving native plants that benefit wildlife in their home landscapes.

Johnson will give native plant gardening talks at the IOP Recreation Center at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 and March 5. You can learn more about gardening for butterflies, bee flies and other pollinators by attending one or both of these free lectures. For more details, visit nativeplantsttp.com/events.

LENS bike rodeo will be held at SIES

The Isle of Palms Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support program will sponsor a bike rodeo at Sullivan’s Island Elementary School April 20.

Children of all ages are welcome to attend the program, scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon.

Participants must bring their own pedal bicycle. The program will include a water and snack station, a fun obstacle course, a helmet and bike sizing station and a mechanical station.

To learn more, visit lensiop.org or email Kinghorn.Ted@gmail.com.

Photos by Sharleen Johnson.

Tickets available for Chamber Music Charleston’s 2024-25 season

By Sandra Nikolajevs

For The Island Eye News

Chamber Music Charleston is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated 2024-2025 season, marking 19 years of bringing exceptional chamber music to diverse venues across the Charleston area.

With a commitment to showcasing the breadth and depth of chamber music repertoire, this season promises to captivate audiences with 36 concerts featuring works by 31 composers. From the timeless compositions of Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johannes Brahms to the lesser-known yet equally brilliant creations of Mel Bonis, H.T. Burleigh and Gaspar Cassadó, the season offers a rich tapestry of musical experiences.

Performances take place in private homes in downtown Charleston, Kiawah Island and Bishop Gadsden; the historic ballroom of South Carolina Society Hall; the revered Dock Street and Sottile Theatres; the stunning sanctuary of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church; and the new West Ashley Theater Center.

Highlights of the season include

guest violinist Daniel Ching of the Miró Quartet and Alan Rafferty of the Cincinnati Symphony joining musicians of Chamber Music Charleston for “Transfigured Night,” a program featuring music for string sextet by Arnold Schoenberg and Brahms at the Dock Street Theatre on Nov. 3, 2025.

On Dec. 8, 2025, violinist Diana Cohen, current concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic and former concertmaster of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, along with virtuoso pianist Roman Rabinovich, join CMC violist Ben Weiss and cellist Timothy O’Malley for Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio in D Major” and Mozart’s “Piano Quartet in E Flat Major” at South Carolina Society Hall.

Flutist Demarre McGill and guest violinist Francisco Fullana join musicians of CMC for Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 4” and Mozart’s “Flute Quartet in D Major” on March 9, 2025, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.

Pianist Andrew Armstrong, violinists Stella Chen and Geneva Lewis, violist Matthew Lipman and cellist Ani Aznavoorian perform

Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s virtuosic and exuberant “Piano Quintet” on March 23, 2025, at the Dock Street Theatre.

On April 4, 2025, musicians of CMC perform Bonis’ “Scènes de la forêt” for flute, horn and piano alongside Brahms’ glorious “Trio for Violin, Horn and Piano in E flat Major” at the West Ashley Theater Center.

The house concert performances feature a variety of duos and trios, from Antonin Dvorak’s “Trio in C

Major” for two violins and viola and Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ghost” piano trio to Jean Francaix’ “Trio for Oboe, Bassoon and Piano” and Burleigh’s “Southland Sketches” for violin and piano.

For tickets and the complete schedule of performances, visit chambermusiccharleston.org and experience the magic of Chamber Music Charleston – where every note tells a story, and every performance is a journey of discovery.

Reddy or not

Beach jurisdiction and property rights

By Rom Reddy

For many of you, there are a multitude of beach erosion and jurisdiction issues that are playing out at the same time, and this has led to confusion for some and anger for others. Social media postings, often with false or faulty information, have fueled this flame. Without promoting any point of view, I will attempt to give you information so you can reach your own conclusions.

First: government jurisdiction over private land. The U.S. Constitution takes a dim view of government taking private land without compensation other than for public safety or health reasons that are clearly and narrowly defined. As George Washington said, “Freedom and property rights are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other.” The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says in summary: “Without just compensation, government regulations cannot limit the use of private property to such a degree that the landowner is deprived of all reasonable use or value.” The state of South Carolina, in Section 48-39-30 of its beach management laws, says: “In the implementation of the chapter, no government agency shall adopt a rule or regulation or issue any order that is unduly restrictive so as to constitute a taking of property without the payment of just compensation in violation of the Constitution of this state or of the United States.”

With this as background, the General Assembly has been very clear about its jurisdiction over private land on beaches by defining a beach critical area in Section 48-39-10. There is a baseline (toe of the primary dune) and a setback line (40-year erosion estimate of baseline) that are set every seven to 10 years and approved by the General Assembly. These lines are fixed until reset, and, for the Isle of Palms, were set in 2018 and are due to be reset in 2026. Based on these lines, beach critical areas are defined, setting the limit of state jurisdiction over private property.

Beach critical areas consist of two components – the beach/dune system, defined as seaward of the setback line, and beaches, defined as those lands subject to periodic or routine tidal and wave action so that no nonlittoral vegetation is established. While active beach is a defined term in the overall tideland and wetlands act, that term is never used anywhere in state jurisdictional law defined in section 48-39-10. Active beach recently became a weapon the Office of Ocean and Resource Management uses to claim that if any waterfront property owner lost any land, even from one storm, that land became state jurisdiction. Once it becomes state jurisdiction, you can only use beach compatible sand to repair the property – no replacing shrubs, fences or even dirt. This is clearly illegal and would make state juris-

Just like the Titanic

On Thursday, Feb. 9, 2024, I attended the first meeting of the IOP Beach Committee. I could not help paralleling the meeting with the movie “Titanic.” The briefings provided by the chief engineers clearly described the current critical situation. The powers that be have been told that pumping may save the ship. No one questioned if the water was coming in faster than the pumping could keep up.

It was clear that the first class passengers on the IOP ship is the private northern end development. The rest of us second and third class passengers will be sacrificed to keep them afloat as long as possible.

It is also clear that the continued scraping of the beach on the south end of IOP is a deliberate decision to lower the beach and let the tides take these homes to sea. They have scraped and dug to

diction constantly variable and different for every owner and be impossible to track. It will be at the discretion of the state to tell you on an individual basis where their jurisdiction is. Baselines and setback lines will be obsolete. For homeowners, with one storm, your backyard can be annexed by the state and essentially become part of a public beach. I would hope that any waterfront owner would stand up and fight this jurisdictional grab that has never been voted on by the General Assembly.

Adding to this, IOP is the only municipality that has restrictions on property owners protecting their property that are more stringent than those of the state. The IOP ordinance states that homeowners cannot protect their property in any way for 250 feet landward from the high tide line, which is to the back porch of most homes. In addition to being inconsistent with constitutional law, this ordinance exposes every taxpayer in IOP to unlimited liability and puts them at the mercy of unpredictable juries. The first homeowner whose home falls into the ocean will claim the city ordinance prevented him from any protection whatsoever, and the city is therefore liable for his losses and could be held negligent for not taking more aggressive action to protect the homeowner after prohibiting him from protecting himself. This unlimited liability is why no other municipality exposes its citizens to this risk.

Finally, in 2018, the state changed its policy from a retreat policy, where no protection was allowed, to a replenish, renourish and “hold the line” policy. Anyone who has watched the ocean rise and beach levels drop as much as 10 feet on the southern side of the island due to insufficient replenishment and excessive scraping will quickly realize that it is impossible to hold the line using only sand. The best compromise is a protective structure that is always covered in sand and landscaped, with sand dunes on the ocean side that support the eco structure we are all in favor of. The structure is only exposed in the event of a catastrophic storm that washes out the dunes and sand. The structure is immediately covered back with sand, having accomplished its goal of property protection. The state and city get out of trying to repair private yards and focus on building a nonexistent dune system and replenishing the public beach. We all have the same goals, but all the rhetoric and false accusations and pitting us against each other gets in the way of coming up with solutions that work for all.

Reddy or Not represents the opinion of Lucky Dog Publishing owner Rom Reddy but not necessarily the opinion of the newspaper. In keeping with our philosophy of publishing all opinions, we welcome responses, which must be limited to 400 words and will be published on a space-available basis.

Island Eye • LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

“recreate and reinforce the dune.” Each time, the tides have washed the now mounting hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of sand out to sea.

This decision has likely been reached for three reasons: First, to keep the other lower class passengers distracted while they cheer on the destruction of the second class passengers – but, more importantly, to keep the funds available to save the private north end developments for the next inevitable erosion events, and, if needed, to transport the sand from the eventually empty south end to the north end.

As the dominoes fall for the remaining IOP residents, the cost of insuring their properties will compound at the federal maximum of 18% per year – every year. Some residents without mortgages will forgo insurance; however, this ever-growing expense will force many homeowners to sell at ever-decreasing prices.

What is the driving force behind this disaster that all of the residents of IOP should know? From the Blair Holloway – lead meteorologist, National Weather Service – article, “2023 Coastal Flooding in Review” https://www.weather.gov/media/chs/ newsletters/StormCourier2023.pdf, page 21:

“There are now 49 tide events of 8 feet MLLW or higher on record. Of these 49 events, 35 have occurred since 2015 – ~71% – and nearly half, 24 of 49, have occurred over the last five years.”

Looking at the chart from the article, IOP should expect both the frequency and the height of these flood events to continue to increase. Keep in mind, as with the movie, those that evacuated right away were saved; those that hesitated lost their lives.

The final question in the Committee meeting was what about these homes that are about to fall into the ocean? The answer was that they can have sandbags. Going back to the (Continued on page 14)

Titanic movie: What about the passengers that can’t fit into the lifeboats? They can wear life jackets. Stay tuned for the next Council meeting, where some of the second class passengers want to build their own lifeboats. Some already have started. This cannot be allowed to happen “by the powers that be” as the survivors would prove them wrong in their plans and designs. Watch while they rearrange the deck chairs.

Mike Hornsby

Address soon to be washed to sea • Isle of Palms

A response to an attack

I submit this letter to both papers as a response to multiple voicemail messages left by Brian Sherman of The Island Eye News. Brian asked that I respond to the allegations made by resident Bev Miller against “a Council member” that refused to vote at a committee meeting in violation of that Council member’s oath of office as well as the rules and regulations of the Isle of Palms.

I openly submit this response to both The Island Eye News and Island Vibes with the expressed understanding that it can only be printed verbatim, with no changes or omissions. I cannot submit any response to The Island Eye News without this requirement, given the ownership of the paper has in the past changed or omitted language from prior letters written by Council members or the mayor without permission or appropriate notice, to serve the political agenda of The Island Eye News and its ownership.

While it is curious that Mr. Sherman as a member of The Island Eye News staff singled me out as the target of Ms. Miller’s attack, it is true that I chose to not vote on the motion for chair and vice chair of the Property Committee. My reasons are as follows: The other two members of the 2024 Property Committee – Scott Pierce and Katie Miars – met, by phone or in person, prior to the first official meeting of the committee in violation of the ordinance that a quorum will not meet without advance notice to the public of the meeting. Any committee meeting that has a quorum is public business.

They did so to establish both the chair and vice chair of the committee without my input. Further, Mr. Scott and Ms. Miars came to chambers before the scheduled time and rearranged the seating positions to suit their pre-arranged agenda. All of these acts are in violation of their oath of office as well as the rules and regulations of the Isle of Palms. As such, the vote for chair and vice chair of the committee was a sham, previously decided in violation of Mr. Scott’s and Ms. Miars’ duty to the residents of the island. I refused to participate in the sham vote and will do so in the future if this behavior continues.

Further, I will continue to publicly call out any Council member that acts in a smug, condescending or deceitful way to other members of the Council or residents of this island, as well as call out any Council member that continues to serve a hidden agenda on any of the issues that face our island.

It is indeed a sad day that I must write this letter to shine a light on the bullying and deceit that has become the order of the day on our island. It is time for honest debate on any and all issues without the “politics” of deceit, finger pointing, name calling, hidden agendas and threatening of lawsuits that is our current suffrage.

Respectfully submitted

Blair Hahn

Isle of Palms City Council

(Publisher’s note: Even though we have every right to do so, we never have and never will edit the content of letters to the editor submitted by local residents to this newspaper. We always strive to present both sides of every issue that affects our readers.)

Coffee,

Grab n’ Go items for a

March

Rec Center to host Easter Egg Hunt

By Kelsey Marsh For The Island Eye News

The Easter Egg Hunt is back.

On March 29 at 4 p.m. sharp, children ages 12 and under will begin a mad dash at the largest Easter egg extravaganza this side of the Isle of Palms Connector. The free event will be held on the grounds of the IOP Recreation Center. Participants will be divided into four age groups: 3 and under; 4 to 6; 7 to 9; and 10 to 12.

All participants will receive a bag of Easter candy. After hunting for eggs, children will be able to enjoy jump castles, snow cones, face painting and a photo with the Easter Bunny.

If the weather is bad, all festivities will be moved into the Rec Center gym. For more information, all 843-886-8294 or visit iop.net.

LENS program is all about boating emergencies

The Isle of Palms Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support program will sponsor a family-friendly boating safety class designed to teach people who aren’t normally at the helm of a boat how to deal with unforeseen circumstances.

“Suddenly in Command” is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. April 13 at the IOP Exchange Club. Participants will learn what to do if the captain of a boat becomes incapacitated or falls overboard or another emergency arises. They will find out about operating a boat and its onboard equipment, as well as about common boating mishaps and how to prevent them.

To register for “Suddenly in Command” or for more information, visit lensiop.org.

Exchange Club scholarship winners make a difference

By Robbie Berg For The Island Eye News

On March 9, the Isle of Palms Exchange Club will host its annual Bud and Cecilia Stack Oyster Roast, which supports the Youth Scholarships Committee awards in April.

Here’s a little bit about one of the past Exchange ACE Scholarship winners.

Our 2021 ACE winner was born deaf to a family in poverty with five siblings. When she was in the fifth grade, she was diagnosed with Usher’s syndrome, which can cause blindness. Currently, she has limited peripheral vision and night blindness; her central vision is stable but may diminish in the future. During her childhood, she spent two summers at the Hellen Keller Center in New York. While attending Wando High School, one of her activities was ROTC. She achieved the rank of major and commanded a squadron of hearing students. She graduated from Wando with a 4.5 grade point average on a 5.0 scale while also taking honors and dual credit classes.

In 2021, she received a $7,000 ACE Scholarship from the Isle of Palms Exchange Club and also was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the South Carolina District Exchange.

Her ability to overcome family hardships and physical disabilities while having a positive attitude and a high level of community service and scholastic achievement is what made it an easy decision for the IOP Exchange Club’s Scholarship Committee to award her the ACE Scholarship. They saw great potential in this student, and they were not wrong.

She is currently a junior majoring in applied math at Rochester Institute of Technology. She continues to demonstrate a commitment to service by participating on the Deaf/Blind Support Committee, College of Science Ambassadors and as treasurer of N.E.R.D. Girls in STEM. She plans to attend graduate school and become an actuary or a financial analyst.

The community’s sponsors and those who attend the Oyster Roast and participate in the online auction make it possible for the Isle of Palms Exchange Club to award scholarships to deserving students. Our award winner stated while thanking the Exchange that “You are helping students achieve their dreams.”

We ask you to join us on March 9 and help make these dreams come true for future scholarship winners. To learn more, visit IOPexchange. org or ticketstripe.com/2024OysterRoast.

LENS Leadership Series

Former state legislator and one-time member of the House of Representatives Tommy Hartnett, right, was the speaker at the first installment of the Isle of Palms Neighborhood Support program’s LENS Leadership Series Feb. 6. Plans call for the “forum for visionary leaders to connect and converse” to be held on the second Tuesday of the first month of each quarter. The moderator was “Lens Whisperer” Ted Kinghorn, left. The one-hour session was held at the IOP Exchange Club building on Palm Boulevard.

Photo courtesy of the LENS program.

Around the Islands

ONGOING

WHAT: GriefShare Recovery Seminar

WHERE: Church of the Holy Cross, 2520 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island.

WHEN: Every Tuesday, 2-4 p.m., through April 9.

MORE INFO: Sponsored by the Church of the Holy Cross, the seminar is free and all are welcome. GriefShare features nationally recognized experts on grief recovery topics. Seminar sessions include “Is This Normal?” “The Challenges of Grief,” “Grief and Your Relationships,” “Why?” and “Guilt and Anger.” To learn more and to register, call 678-523-8783 or email caryn.woodison@gmail.com.

WHAT: Sullivan’s Island Story Share

WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island

MORE INFO: The Poe Branch Library is partnering with the Battery Gadsden Cultural Center in 2024 to collect stories of Sullivan’s Island life, and we need your help. Every month will feature a new writing prompt to guide your story. Stories can be as short as a paragraph or several pages. If your story features characters or memories of Sullivan’s Island, we invite you to share these at our Island Story Share sessions and add them to Battery Gadsden and the South Carolina History Room’s repository of island stories. To learn more and get this month’s prompt, stop by the library or email poe@ccpl.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24

WHAT: Free Oyster Roast Party

WHERE: Islander 71 Fish House and Deck Bar

WHEN: Noon-6 p.m.

MORE INFO: Benefiting the Workshop Foundation. Live music with DJ Vern and Forty Mile Detour, raffles and more. To learn more: islander71.com.

WHAT: Poe in Popular Culture with Scott Peeples

WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 11 a.m.

MORE INFO: From Netflix ventures like “The Pale Blue Eye” and “The Fall of the House of Usher” to fan fiction, winks and nods in cartoons, assorted merchandise and even restaurants, Edgar Allan Poe’s literary contributions and mysterious life story continue to capture our imagination. To learn more: ccpl.org/branches/Sullivans-island.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25

WHAT: Wild Child Triathlon

WHERE: Palmetto Hall, Wild Dunes

WHEN: 8-11 a.m.

MORE INFO: Presented by the LENS program. Swimming, biking and running. Ages 6-12. Limited to 100 participants. Post-race celebration. Register day-of at Palmetto Hall. To learn more: runsignup. com/wildchildtri.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27

WHAT: Free lecture by Sharleen Johnson - Butterflies

WHERE: Isle of Palms Rec Center

WHEN: 6:30-8 p.m.

MORE INFO: This talk will feature colorful photos of diverse butterflies – and a few moths – native to the South Carolina coastal plain; recommendations for specific native plants to add to your gardens to attract and support butterflies; and guidance about how to maintain your yard to create valuable year-round habitat for the delightful diversity of pollinators that call our region home. To learn more: nativeplantsttp.com/events.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

WHAT: After School Art Club for Teens and Tweens

WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island

WHEN: 4-5 p.m.

MORE INFO: Come hang out after school to experiment with different arts and crafts. Meetings every second and fourth Friday. Grades 6-12. No reservation needed. To learn more: ccpl.org/branches/Sullivans-island.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

WHAT: Isle of Palms Front Beach Fest

WHERE: Ocean Boulevard, Isle of Palms

WHEN: Noon-4 p.m.

MORE INFO: Residents and visitors of all ages are invited to a day of dancing, eating and fun. There will be more than 40 local vendors, music by The Coppertones and The Yacht Club and entertainment for the kids. To learn more: IOP.net.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5

WHAT: Free lecture by Sharleen Johnson – Beetles, Flies, Wasps and more

WHERE: Isle of Palms Rec Center

WHEN: 6:30-8 p.m.

MORE INFO: This talk will feature colorful photos of diverse underappreciated pollinators – beetles, flower flies, bee flies, moths and nonaggressive solitary wasps – native to the South Carolina coastal plain; recommendations for specific native plants to add to your gardens to attract and support these fascinating and ecologically important insects; and guidance about how to maintain your yard to create valuable year-round habitat for the delightful diversity of pollinators that call our region home. To learn more: nativeplantsttp.com/events.

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: ccpl.org/branches/Sullivans-island.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

WHAT: So you want to be a carpenter?

WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island

WHEN: 4-5 p.m.

MORE INFO: Join David and Rachael from Habitat for Humanity as we explore careers in carpentry. Through books, activities, crafts, guest speakers, videos and more we’ll see where our current career interests can take us and try out new ones along the way. Ages 6-11. To learn more: ccpl.org/ branches/Sullivans-island.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

WHAT: Golf cart safety program

WHERE: IOP Recreation Center

WHEN: Noon-2 p.m.

MORE INFO: The expo, sponsored by the IOP LENS program, will offer instruction on golf cart safety, along with food trucks, various vendors and displays and more. Register at IOP.net.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

WHAT: Easter Egg Hunt

WHERE: IOP Rec Center

WHEN: 4 p.m.

MORE INFO: Children ages 12 and under will begin a mad dash for eggs at the largest Easter Egg Hunt this side of the IOP Connector. Participants will be divided into four age groups: 3 and under, 4-6 years, 7-9 years and 10-12 years. To learn more: iop.net.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

WHAT: Suddenly in Command

WHERE: Isle of Palms Exchange Club

WHEN: 9-11 a.m.

MORE INFO: The Isle of Palms Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support program will sponsor a family-friendly boating safety class designed to teach people who aren’t normally at the helm of a boat how to deal with unforeseen circumstances. To learn more: lensiop.org.