IOP beach restoration project changes after visit from Idalia
By Brian Sherman
For The Island Eye News
The contractor was ready to start hauling sand, a grant from the state had been approved
and work was within weeks of beginning on a project aimed at protecting Isle of Palms properties that back up to the beach near Breach Inlet. All that changed the night of Aug. 30, when the remnants of Hurricane Idalia skimmed past the Carolina coast and brought the Atlantic Ocean a little closer to the few dozen homes between 100 and 314 Ocean Blvd.
According to IOP City Administrator Desiree Fragoso, plans to have a contractor haul in approximately 6,400 cubic yards of sand to build a 6-foothigh, 20-foot-wide, 1,450-foot-long dune from 114 to 304
For the Turtle Team, Idalia evoked memories of Irene
By Mary Pringle
For The Island Eye News
As Hurricane Idalia approached South Carolina, the Island Turtle Team, just like other nest-protection groups, became anxious about nests that were laid in mid-July through the beginning of August that were still on the beach. We remember 2011, when Hurricane Irene came in on Aug. 26 and destroyed nine nests on the Isle of Palms, mostly between 31st and 37th avenues, and two nests on Sullivan’s Island at Station 20. These dunes washed away even though Irene did not cause much damage or severe weather in our area. By Aug. 30 of this season, there were still 10 unhatched nests and one hatched but uninventoried nest left on the Isle of Palms as well as two unhatched on Sullivan’s.
Based on the major storm response guidelines
(Continued on page 6)
Ocean Blvd. have been scrapped because those properties and several others are now within 20 feet of where the beach erosion begins. Instead, the dunes will be restored by scraping the beach, which the state allows under emergency conditions. Trucking in sand was the city’s only option prior to Idalia’s arrival. Work was scheduled to get underway Sept. 1 on an area of the beach from 100 to 314 Ocean Blvd.
The project originally was expected to cost the city approximately $250,000, with South Carolina Parks and Recreation reimbursing IOP for around half that amount under the Beach Renourishment Funding Assistance Grant Program. Fragoso said Aug. 31 that the revised project would probably have a similar price tag, “maybe more because there’s also going to be debris removal.” She added that she wasn’t sure if the city would still be able to benefit from the state grant.
The original project, approved by the IOP City Council June 27, hit a snag when only five of 21 homeowners agreed to give the city a permanent easement on their property. Fragoso told Council members at (Continued on page 9)
Coyote interactions a cause of concern on Sullivan’s Island
By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News
The town of Sullivan’s Island is encouraging its residents and visitors to be cautious, especially at dawn and dusk, after several reports of interactions with coyotes, including one involving a dog that was dragged into the Maritime Forest.
According the Police Department incident report, Caitlyn Marie Buxton of (Continued on page 10)
Photo by Mary Pringle.
Relocated nest #35 on the Isle of Palms was overwashed by the remnants of Hurricane Idalia but survived. Another nest behind it was higher on the dune.
Canva stock image.
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The Island was lucky to avoid damage from Idalia
Dear Island Neighbors,
Well, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Idalia came and went before I ever learned how to pronounce or spell it. All things considered, we got off light. We did have some beach erosion in a few vulnerable spots, but, otherwise, the main overall effects were some sand re-arrangement on the beach, some of us hosting the Atlantic Ocean in our yards for a short while and some limbs and marsh grass to clean up. We were pretty lucky, and, if you doubt that, just look at the folks in Florida.
hands.
For more information on this matter, please go to bit.ly/SICoyotes.
In fact, do more than look. Please consider helping those Floridian fellow coast-dwellers who have suffered so much. Here is a great place to find organizations that will offer direct help to the people most affected: bit.ly/ MFIdalia.
Your entire town staff worked very diligently and intelligently to prepare us for the storm, maintain safety during it and quickly recover from it. They have much experience in these activities – more than we wish –but, under the leadership of Town Administrator Andy Benke, they put on another clinic in town disaster preparation and management. Many employees spent the hurricane at Town Hall looking after us rather than looking after their families and homes. Please thank town employees you encounter for their service.
And the folks at Dominion Energy also deserve some thanks. The only power outage we experienced – other than a couple blinks – lasted just about an hour. That Dominion was able to get the lights back on in the midst of a tropical storm is a commendable achievement. I have made a promise to say fewer bad words the next time I open my bill.
This should be a reminder to get your hang tags, which would be required for return to the island if access is ever restricted. They are available at Town Hall upon presentation of your driver’s license with your Sullivan’s Island address on it or a deed of ownership for island property. These tags are for residents and property owners only, not visitors, guests, extended family, contractors or employees.
For important emergency preparedness information, please visit bit.ly/SIPrepared. Here’s hoping we won’t need it again any time soon, but now’s the time to get those batteries, flashlights and cellphone battery backups you wished you’d had this time.
Coyotes
As you have no doubt heard, we have had an increase in encounters with coyotes, including the tragic loss of one dog and attacks on some others. We are taking this situation very seriously and following best practices as established by the experts. We now have more traps installed than ever before, and we are working to get more, but at present we seem to have a small number of unusually aggressive and incorrigible animals on our
If you have an encounter, please call it in to the police nonemergency number at 843-743-7200 or, if the situation is ongoing and more urgent, 9-1-1. You can also use the “TOSI Talks” link in the bottom right corner of every page at the Town website.
Stith Park Planning Event
After considerable discussion and review of proposals, the town has retained the firm of Thomas & Hutton to provide a master plan for enhancement and revitalization of Stith Park on Middle Street, which as you know is the home of the Mound, bandstand, kids’ playgrounds and tennis and basketball courts. A critical part of this process includes public meetings to solicit input from islanders about how they would like to see the park develop into an even more vibrant community gathering place.
The first of these informal “charette”-style meetings will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21 at Town Hall. Please come out to see what our consultants’ preliminary thoughts are, and more importantly, to provide your own thoughts.
Beach Bonfires?
Fire Chief Anthony Stith and his experienced team have recommended that we consider no longer permitting fires on the beach. Apparently, we are the only beach town in South Carolina that still permits these. Some other municipalities ended the practice years ago.
There are a number of sound arguments for eliminating them: threat of fire landward of the beach in the Maritime Forest; difficulty in enforcing the cleanup requirements; public safety manpower required to monitor the requirements of the permits during and after the fires; safety hazards posed by people who disregard the requirements; and the surprisingly large burden on our Town Hall administrative staff for issuing the permits and collecting and enforcing the deposits for noncompliance with cleanup requirements.
We will be discussing this matter at a Council Public Safety Committee meeting in the near future. If you have thoughts on this, please use the “TOSI Talks” feature mentioned earlier in this column, and it will be routed to the right folks – and we will also notify you about that Public Safety Committee meeting.
See you around the island.
Mayor Pat O’Neil
843-670-9266
Twitter: @oneilpm1 oneilp@sullivansisland.sc.gov
Approve the referendum
I am an Isle of Palms resident and a board member of the Wild Dunes Community Association. My comments do not reflect the position or opinions of the WDCA.
I have owned property on IOP for 32 years. Before becoming full-time residents, we owned a second home, which we did not rent. Contrary to the claims of those who oppose the Nov. 7 referendum on short-term rentals, it would not abolish or even immediately limit the number of STRs on the island. All those who have a short-term rental license could maintain it as long as they own their property and renew their license annually. It’s true that investors without a license will be unable to obtain one – except those that are grandfathered in – as long as the cap is exceeded, but this must be so if we are to maintain a balance among residents, second-home owners and owners of rental properties. The law of supply and demand would suggest that those who have a license would see the value of their property diminished by unrestricted access to STRLs.
Opponents of limits assert that any cap on STRs will negatively impact property values by reducing the universe of potential buyers. Available data belies that contention. Home values are greater outside the Wild Dunes gates than inside, where a larger percentage of properties are short-term rentals. Failure to enact a limit on STRs could reduce home values – a predominantly rental community is more sensitive to market downturns than a homeowner-based community.
The future of IOP, which is overdeveloped, hangs precariously in the balance. Our winter population doesn’t exceed 5,000. This July the Fourth, our numbers were projected to reach 65,000. We lack the infrastructure, including police and fire services, to safely accommodate that number. Traffic and parking issues make life difficult; emergency vehicle access can make life dangerous. We spend time and effort on how best to re-stripe an inadequate roadway when the problem is too many renters, hotel guests and day-trippers.
We cannot allow IOP to be the only coastal Carolina community without a limit on short-term rentals. Be sure to vote on or before Nov. 7 to approve the referendum and elect a City Council that is in sync with the needs of those who are committed to preserving IOP.
Leslie M. Kutcher, M.D. • Isle of Palms
The full version of this letter is available online at islandeyenews.com.
Residential Community or Place of Transient Occupancy?
As an Isle of Palms resident for 30 years, I support the referendum to cap investment short-term rental licenses at 1,600, which is 35% of dwelling units, and no limits to legal resident short-term rental licenses.
Two opinion articles appeared recently encouraging voters to oppose the cap – one by Terri Haack in The Island Eye News and another in social media posts by the IOP Chamber of Commerce. Haack is a senior vice president of Lowe, which manages Wild Dunes Resort, while all members of the Chamber have ties to real estate and hospitality. Clearly, both Haack and the Chamber have skin in the game.
On social media, the Chamber expressed concern about the impact of a cap on property values, citing “research” from an article in the Harvard Business Review. During 30 years as an MUSC professor, I engaged in, published and critiqued research and served as a peer reviewer for professional journals. The Harvard article was an opinion piece. There was no review of literature or description of methods and statistical procedures used to analyze data and reach conclusions. A search of the authors’ credentials revealed that all had ties to the real estate industry. A true research article is subjected to rigorous peer review and requires authors to disclose financial conflicts of interest.
The Chamber also posted selected statistics regarding property values in 2023 and 2022, leaving out important information. You can find the pertinent data at charlestonrealtors.com/marketreports.
Charleston, Sullivan’s Island and Mount Pleasant have not suffered from STR regulation, nor has Folly Beach. The Chamber failed to mention that townhome/condo average prices on Folly increased by 20.2%.
Proponents of no cap tell us we will lose the property tax benefits of STRs. To be clear, there will be 1,600 available STR licenses, plus those that are grandfathered, which means no loss of revenue. The purpose of the referendum is to establish a reasonable cap on investment STRs, not to eliminate them.
We need reasonable limits on STRs so we don’t lose our sense of community. The city of Charleston stated it best in its STR ordinance: “Absent appropriate controls on the number and manner and places of operation of short-term rentals, neighborhoods stand to be harmed by undue commercialization and disruption to the primary and overarching purpose of a neighborhood being first and foremost a residential community. …”
Sandra Brotherton, Ph.D. • Isle of Palms
The full version of this letter is available online at islandeyenews.com.
Protecting property rights
The effort to cap short-term rentals is simply a minority group of island residents – owners and long-term renters – who wish to limit the property rights of nonresident neighbors who have no vote. Their exaggerations are rampant. There are no big “corporate investors.” And many of the scary numbers being thrown around include hundreds of condominiums, specifically designed for vacation guests and not suitable for year-round living.
As Realtors, we have a fiduciary duty to our clients who buy and sell real estate. We stand to protect the property rights of those who do not live on this island year-round, but, just as importantly, those who do live here and vote. I write this as an IOP resident. I must fight to protect my, and your, ability to rent or sell our home, because we all know circumstances in life change. Someday we may need to rent our properties.
The Isle of Palms is just that, an island, which will always be attractive to vacationing families. They pay to enjoy (Continued on page 5)
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Island
TO THE EDITOR
the paradise we enjoy every day, and we can’t forget they also provide the island with a healthy accommodations tax. They are not the problem.
The truth is, should this ordinance/referendum pass in November, you lose your rights to decide what is best for your property. There will be no reduction in noise, traffic, littering or any of the other issues this shortterm vacation rental ordinance claims to alleviate. Day-trippers will continue to flood our island.
In other words, an arbitrary limit on rental licenses is an elementary political stunt designed to win an election and avoid the real issues of our island. If you really want to preserve IOP, please don’t fall for political pandering. Remember, we all vacationed here before moving to the Isle of Palms.
Myths and truths about short-term rentals
I am compelled to share these thoughts because of the consistent misinformation and myths that are being perpetuated regarding short-term rentals and individual property ownership and rights.
Myth #1: Caps on short-term rentals will negatively affect my property value. I’m wrapping up my ninth year as a Realtor, and the most common question I’ve received over the years from buyers and sellers is, “What is my property worth/what is the value of this property.” There are many factors that go into the valuation of property, but the real value of your property is what a ready and able buyer is willing to pay for it. Whether or not your home is or could be a rental property does not determine the value of your property. In my experience, buyers who want to live in a neighborhood without constant rental turnover won’t look at a home for purchase if it is
Also, investors or second-home owners who are interested in purchasing with the intent to rent have a return-on-investment model that will predetermine what they are willing to purchase the property for because they have to make a profit. That offer will usually be far less than what the normal market will bear.
And has everyone forgotten about supply and demand? If there is an unfettered supply of rental properties, there will only be one way to stand out in the market: price. Offer less than your competition for the week or weekend rental.
Myth #2: It’s my inherent right as a property owner to be able to short-term rent. You have a right to own property – you do not have the right to rent your property. Look it up under South Carolina Legislative Code of Laws. There is no law that says a property owner is entitled to short-term rent their property. A short-term rental is a privilege that is granted when you pay the appropriate fee for a license and abide by the terms and rules of that license.
Those of us supporting the shortterm rental cap want to balance, not eradicate, short-term rentals. We want to preserve our neighborhoods. That is the real truth.
Laura Lovins • Isle of Palms
The Island Eye News welcomes commen
Mark Mitchell • Isle of Palms
Continued from page 1
from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, which we are required to follow under our nesting permit, we are not allowed to inventory any hatched nests in advance of an approaching storm before the required 72-hour waiting period because hatchlings may need those three extra days to mature. By digging the nest up early and releasing any stragglers, we could be causing their deaths and skewing the nest data we report. Those guidelines also say “storms have an impact on sea turtles, but they have adapted their nesting strategy to accommodate for natural events such as hurricanes. Each nesting female turtle deposits several nests throughout the duration of nesting season – essentially hedging her bets to make sure that even if a storm hits at some point during the nesting season, there is still a high probability that at least a few of her nests will incubate successfully without being impacted by a storm. No storm season is a total loss for sea turtle nests.”
They do suggest that we put extra marking sticks a certain distance behind each remaining nest, in a straight line to the ocean. This way, after the storm, we may be able to pinpoint the location of any nests that washed away. We always do this 10 feet landward of the nests. But with Irene, even some of those extra sticks – and the nests as well – were missing due to severe erosion.
As before, we are indebted to John Garrels, owner of Chunky’s Chairs & Umbrellas on the Isle of Palms, who always lends us a drill and large auger for setting those 4-foottall marking sticks behind every nest on both islands. And each nest already has a very accurate GPS location in the data we have recorded throughout the season.
After a hurricane, people sometimes find turtle eggs that have been washing around in the surf. These are not viable after that has happened, but we bury them in the dunes. We also try to recover any nest signs and other sticks that wash up for reuse.
The morning after Idalia passed us, we found that hatchlings left three IOP nests during the storm. Two were washed over by the tide but not damaged. And we were surprised that only four of them had to have the broken orange tape repaired. There was no erosion on the dunes where they had been relocated. However, on Sullivan’s Island, the sign and backup sticks for one of the two remaining nests washed down. We had to use GPS to find where it had been, and we marked it with the sign, which was still on the beach. We are not sure if the water covered the nest long enough to kill its contents, which were due to hatch soon.
Island Turtle Team members Shawn Drackwicz and Barbara Gobien prepared nests for the impending arrival of Idalia by putting up extra marking sticks.
Photo by Ellen Gower.
Isle of Palms Council kicks noise issue to the Planning Commission
By Brian Sherman For The Island Eye News
Is the Isle of Palms City Council mired in the muck in its efforts to create a noise ordinance that will at least partially satisfy the needs and desires of a majority of the island’s residents, businesses and visitors? At least one Council member thinks that is the case, and, as a result, the Planning Commission has been given the opportunity to bring some clarity to an issue that has plagued city leaders for the better part of a year.
Whatever gets enacted should not be detrimental to the rest of the island, either being too severe or not severe enough.”
David Cohen, who explained in a lengthy letter to Council members why the ordinance they are currently considering won’t work. A retired electronics systems engineer, he spent 10 years of his nearly four decades in the Navy working with equipment designed to detect the presence of man-made noise.
• Planning Commission Member David Cohen
“We’re stuck in the mud,” said John Bogosian at the Council’s Aug. 22 meeting. “The path we are on I don’t think is going to yield a noise ordinance that helps this city in any way right now. I want to propose a different path.”
That path leads directly to the city’s Planning Commission, courtesy of one of its members,
“It either wouldn’t be enforced as written or it will be so strict that it would basically abate all noise on the island,” Cohen said of the city’s most recent version of its noise ordinance.
“In reading the proposed ordinance, several things hit me as being off, indicating this ordinance was piecemealed by someone not fully understanding what they were doing,” Cohen said in his letter. “Not blaming our staff, who copied it from Mount Pleasant who copied it from Greenville who I assume copied from somewhere else.”
Cohen pointed out in his letter that: the term
decibel – a unit used to measure the intensity of sound – is defined in different ways in different parts of the ordinance; an appropriate definition of the term “plainly audible” is presented but not used anywhere else in the ordinance; the ordinance mentions a 52-year-old American National Standards Institute standard for sound meters and “sound meter technology has changed significantly since 1971”; and the ordinance relies on maximum decibel levels even though Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines are based on average noise levels.
“These and several other inconsistencies indicate the ordinance was written by someone with limited knowledge of measuring sound levels,” Cohen said. “Sometimes you are better off scrapping your approach and starting over, and it is my opinion this draft is at that point.”
In an interview later in the week, Cohen mentioned another issue that must be addressed. A major sticking point in the Council’s deliberations since last September has been the rocky relationship between the Sweetgrass Hotel and nearby residents. Cohen said (Continued on page 8)
ince my election last year, I've been working to provide residents with a clear and consistent voice at the table from the Isle of Palms to Columbia. I've engaged with as many residents as possible, listening to your opinions, beliefs, information, and perspectives of all of our constituents, so I can earn your trust and reflect your voice in my votes.
We're facing increasing pressures from external growth that is not unusual for such an attractive destination and our effort to retaining the residential nature of our community is not only far from over, it's just beginning.
NOVEMBER
Scott’s exceptional leadership qualities are evident at every City Council Meeting and Workshop. He noticeably prepares in advance by thoroughly researching all issues. His solutions to island concerns are not only clear and factbased but also frequently showcase his innovative thinking.
-Christine Donavan
Scott stepped up to support my efforts, testified, and fielded questions from representatives in Columbia to protect Home Rule for the Isle of Palms residents. He is an asset to the community, always answers the call, and I fully support Scott's re-election to the IOP City Council.
-Joe Bustos, SC State House District 112 Representative E N D O R S E
Scott is far and away one of the best City Council representatives we have had here in our 17 years as residents on Isle of Palms. Scott is intelligent, creative, always extremely prepared and above all honest. He is calm, articulate and unafraid to challenge false narratives. He understands the many complex issues facing our wonderful community and represents all the residents well. Just as important, Scott's actions reflect his promises.
-Rick & Ricia Horton
CAMPSEN
Noise
Continued from page 7
It is no secret that over the years working with Elizabeth, Rick and I have encouraged her to run for a seat on City Council. Each time, in her fact driven, decision making style, she determined that the time was not optimum We cannot be more excited that THE TIME IS NOW and at last, IOP residents have the opportunity to elect one of the most intelligent, detailed researchers and decision-makers we have ever known. Elizabeth will go to the heart of every decision with razor-like acumen for truth She will give residents a champion for the young and old, who love the island and call it home as do she and her husband Richard.
She has a clear sense of reality when it comes to planning projects to be on time, on budget, circumventing delays created by political jargon Elizabeth always puts results before rhetoric and will prove herself as hardworking and honest as she has already proven as a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals. She backs up her opinions with fact and tells you what you need to hear, not always what you want to hear when it comes to difficult decisions IOP is so lucky to have Elizabeth and, when elected, she will live up to our high expectations because that is what she has always done and will continue to do for the future of the island’s residents and visitors "
-Sandy Ferencz, Former IOP City Council Member and ATAX Committee Chair
-Rick Ferencz, Former Chair IOP Planning Commission
the hotel, located in a planned residential development in Wild Dunes, is technically zoned by the city as neither commercial nor residential.
“That’s a question that needs to be answered,” he said. “I think we can bring up the subject and at least come to a recommendation. Whatever gets enacted should not be detrimental to the rest of the island, either being too severe or not severe enough.”
The Planning Commission will meet again on Sept. 13.
Other Council members agreed that the Planning Commission should come up with recommendations on what the final version of the city’s noise ordinance should look like.
“Let’s give them a chance to see what they can do with it. I think we’re at an impasse right now,” Jan Anderson stated, while Rusty Streetman said that if the city hires an acoustics expert to study the situation – a scenario that was on the Council’s agenda Aug. 22 – “we’d be right back in the same spot we were before.”
Earlier in the meeting, during a discussion of a report on a noise survey conducted for Wild Dunes, Council Member Scott Pierce voiced his opinion on the Council’s inability to come up with an equitable noise ordinance.
“This foray we’ve had on trying to create a noise ordinance has been completely unsuccessful. I don’t know any other way to put it. We’ve got some work to do,” he said.
“We are serious about helping our neighbors and controlling the noise. We’ll do our part and have been doing it,” Terri Haack, senior vice president of Lowe, the company that manages Wild Dunes Resort, responded.
And Al Clouse, who lives near the Sweetgrass Inn, made what he said was his 20th presentation to the Council and its committees, asking that they do something about the noise emanating from the hotel.
“Where is everybody’s common sense?” he asked. “The sound study is smoke and mirrors, masking the real problem – the resort.”
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Restoration
Continued from page 1
their Aug. 22 meeting that city staff pivoted to a two-year easement in order to move the project forward.
“We worked with our attorneys. We worked with several coastal experts in crafting a position that would protect the city, that could help us complete a project down there and agreed on a temporary two-year easement,” she said. “Our attorneys are comfortable with that. We believe that there is more risk in not doing a project than some of the risk associated and the administrative hurdles associated with not having permanent easements.”
She added that the Council should eventually adopt a concrete policy concerning beach restoration.
“I think this process highlighted a deficiency that we have,” she said. “Our goal is going to be once we get this project conducted to work with Council so we have a guideline and a blueprint of how we deal with situations like this because we do have a commitment to restoring and protecting the beach. We have a local beach management plan that establishes that according to state regulations. We are collecting funds for the purpose of restoring the beach, and I think it’s upon us to develop a plan moving forward.”
“Our goal is going to be once we get this project conducted to work with Council so we have a guideline and a blueprint of how we deal with situations like this.”
BRING THE ISLAND
Fragoso said Aug. 31 that all but “two or three” of the original 21 landowners had agreed to the temporary two-year easement.
Plans are underway for a much larger Army Corps of Engineers plan that would bring nearly 500,000 cubic yards of sand to the Breach Inlet area of the IOP beach. The beneficial use project, which probably will be completed sometime next year, will also transport beach-quality sand previously dredged from the Intracoastal Waterway to Sullivan’s Island.
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• IOP City Administrator Desiree Fragoso
Coyotes
Continued from page 1
Florence, South Carolina, was walking on the beach near Station 26½ early in the morning of Aug. 26 with two unleashed dogs: her red lab puppy Penny and Willie Nelson, a brown adult terrier mix owned by Theo Jourdan of Mount Pleasant. Buxton told Capt. Christopher Wallace that two coyotes arrived on the scene, each of them chasing a dog in a different direction.
She said Willie Nelson took off toward Station 27, with a coyote in hot pursuit. She told Wallace that she ran after them but fell in the sand dunes, and, when she looked up, the predator was headed for the Maritime Forest with Willie in its mouth.
Buxton told Wallace that the coyotes were unphased by the presence of a human, and she added that also was the case when she returned to the scene looking for Willie Nelson sometime between 11 a.m. and noon. She said a coyote standing in a small pond near the Station 27 beach access path apparently didn’t care that she was nearby.
Twelve coyote-related incidents were reported to the Sullivan’s Island Police Department from Aug. 12 through Aug. 27, five of them involving attacks on dogs.
According to Town Administrator Andy Benke, the state Department of Natural Resources requires government entities that hire a trapper to choose one approved by DNR, which, Benke said, “is what we’ve been doing.” He pointed out that the cost is “probably on the expensive side because they have to come out twice a day
Coyotes on Sullivan’s Island • Aug, 12 through Aug. 27, 2023
Date/Time Sighting or Interaction
8/12/23-7:01 a.m.
8/15/23
8/17/23
8/17/23
8/21/23
8/21/23
8/23/23
8/23/23
8/26/23
8/27/23
8/27/23
8/27/23
Interaction Not listed Caller left a message about two coyotes that approached her dog.
Sighting Breach Inlet bridge Caller reported seeing a coyote on the bridge with foam coming from mouth.
Interaction Station 23 beach Two coyotes chased the complainant and her dog, then retreated to dunes.
Interaction Station 26½ beach Two coyotes followed a complainant at the water’s edge. Complainant’s dog chased the coyotes.
Interaction Station 26 beach A coyote attacked a dog and attempted to carry it off before being confronted by a beach-goer.
Interaction Station 29 beach A coyote attacked a dog on the beach then walked away. Dog not injured.
Interaction Station 26/27 beach Two coyotes attacked two different dogs on beach at water’s edge.
Sighting Station 26 beach Two coyotes seen on beach.
Interaction Station 27 beach Two coyotes attacked a small dog and carried it off.
Sighting Station 25 beach Coyotes reported on beach.
Interaction Station 18 beach A coyote attacked a dog near the water line.
Interaction Station 25 ½ beach Two coyotes stalking people on the beach.
to check the traps to make sure there’s not an animal there.”
He added that coyotes that are trapped must be euthanized because “DNR will not allow a coyote to be relocated.”
In a press release, Benke pointed out that coyotes live in every county in South Carolina and in 49 of the 50 states – Hawaii being the exception. He noted that they are most active at night
and in the early morning and that most complaints come into the Police Department in the middle of the summer and during the fall, “when young coyotes disperse from their home ranges and establish new territories.”
“The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has indicated that recent research has demonstrated that coyotes are compensatory breeders, meaning that (Continued on page 11)
Coyotes
Continued from page 10
they increase reproduction and immigration in response to human-induced killing of coyotes,” he added.
Local residents and visitors who encounter or interact with a coyote should call the Sullivan’s Island Police Department at 843-743-7200.
In a presentation to the Sullivan’s Island Town Council April 18, DNR wildlife biologist Jay Butfiloski noted that coyotes have been in South Carolina since 1978 and that there currently are around 2,000 of them in the Charleston metropolitan area, most weighing from 25 to 40 pounds. He said since they can swim, they might have taken a water route to Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms but added that it’s possible that they simply walked across the Ben Sawyer Bridge or the IOP Connector.
He said a coyote’s normal diet consists of small mammals such as rats, mice and rabbits but that they have been known to feast on cats and small dogs. He added that “one reason they’re so successful is that they’ll eat anything – dead things, plants, vegetation, insects. It really doesn’t matter.”
Butfiloski pointed out that if you are threatened by a coyote, your best bet is to make lots of noise and throw things at the animal. He added that you should keep your dog on a leash and, if you come upon a coyote, don’t make a run for it. Instead, back away slowly.
ATTENTION: STITH PARK MASTER PLAN DESIGN MEETING
One lucky dog
How you doin’? I’m Murphy – a lover not a fighter. I fall in love every day, over and over again, like a Barry White song.
I was born in Maryland, a product of true love. My mom and dad didn’t abide by the arranged “pure breed” partnerships and instead, got together on a special occasion and here I am – an “oops” of pure goodness.
My early days started with a pretty killer life as the Delta Gamma Chi frat house dog at Dartmouth College, where “Animal House” was born. I was named after a bar and conditioned by pizza and lots of lovin’. What more does a dog need? College was cool, and I lived a life of luxury with my dad and his frat buds, but then Dad moved to New York, and I went to live with my grandparents and my new brother Moose – the brains. I’m the brawn.
I’ve slimmed down a bit from my “Chunk” days in college, probably because I’m no longer eating items scattered around the frat house that aren’t dog snacks, so I’m told. But they were so good. Lots of pizza … so yeah, I may have gotten a little chunky. The snacks I find on my grandparents’ counters are still pretty good, but it’s not as easy, so I’ve slimmed down – the ladies like it.
Plus, beach o’clock keeps me active. I’m on the go to make sure everyone knows me. I’m here to spread the love. If you see me on the beach, I may pick your pocket for treats, but that’s my love language. I’m a handsome, happy, drooling love machine and a really lucky dog.
Owner: Alec and Maryanne Chalmers
Dog’s name: Murphy, AKA: “Chunk,” “Murph,” “Moto-Moto”
Age: 6 years
Breed: American Lab + Black Mouth Cur – “an oops breed”
Favorite toy: “What do they have?”
Vet: Crescent Care
The Town of Sullivan’s Island invites residents, property owners, and business owners to attend a meeting on September 21, 2023, at 6pm in Town Hall to provide input on the development of the Stith Park Master Plan. This will be the first of several meetings to receive input that will enhance the property and recreation opportunities. Constituent participation is an essential element in transforming Stith Park into an even more vibrant community gathering place.
You’ve probably seen these wildflowers along Jasper Boulevard
By Mary Pringle For The Island Eye News
One of my favorite native wildflowers is an annual called coreopsis basalis, which is in the aster family. If you drive on Sullivan’s Island in May, I am sure you’ve seen this one all along the right of way on Jasper Boulevard and at the corner of Jasper at Station 22½ at David DeAntonio’s house, where you turn to get on the Ben Sawyer Causeway.
Peggy Pringle Schachte and Hal Currey have planted its seeds at the traffic triangle at Middle and Station 18 streets. Bless the Sullivan’s Island Public Works Department for not mowing them until they finish blooming and leaving seeds for the next spring. My first coreopsis basalis came from seeds Clay Cable, former Isle of Palms mayor, let me collect from his yard on Palm Boulevard about 25 years ago, and they have replanted themselves from seed every year since then. Their happy golden faces with maroon centers never fail to make me
BR AN DUFFY
IT'S NOW OR NEVER. OUR ISLAND CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT.
smile and think of spring. They are also called tickseed because their little brown seeds look like ticks. Their name comes from the Greek word “koris,” referring to bedbugs, another reference to how the seeds look. Native Americans used them to make yellow and orange dye, so they are commonly called dye flower as well. One theory is that coreopsis was brought to Florida from Central America by Native Americans in the 1500s, but there is not much mention of it by early botanists who were studying plants in the 1800s. It was declared the official wildflower of Florida in 1991.
Coreopsis does best in full sun in open spaces and sandy soil and is drought tolerant. Seeds should be sown on the surface of the soil in the fall, where they will do well through the winter and produce blooms. It was amazing that those tiny seedings survived through last winter’s cold spell, when the temperature was in the low 20s. Since coreopsis basalis is an annual, the plants will die by late June and need to be pulled up, leaving lots of seeds to sprout and bloom the next spring. I also have a perennial coreopsis that is all yellow without the maroon center, which I believe is coreopsis lanceolata. I ordered those seeds from Texas many years ago. I don’t pull those up when the flowers die since the plants last from year to year. These beautiful wildflowers are beneficial for pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and the seeds are a food source for birds.
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I got to know Brian when we served together on City Council 10 years ago What most impressed me about him was his honesty and his work ethic. He came to every meeting prepared and with an open mind, and the process he used to make decisions was always built around “how will this affect the residents who live here.”
-Dr. Ralph Piening
I have known Brian Duffy for more than 20 years. He and his wife Catherine Malloy have been involved with and supported the conservation efforts of the Island Turtle Team since the beginning He has always cared about the quality of life of the residents of the Isle of Palms I believe his experience as a City Council member will serve him well.
-Mary Pringle
Brian has always supported the best interests of our permanent residents. He is dedicated to maintaining our current balance of residents to vacation renters, and he is well aware of the threat of corporate investments in our neighborhoods. Brian is a candidate with honesty and integrity, and he has my vote. I encourage you to vote for him as well
-Georgia Roane
Photo by Mary Pringle.
Learn about reptiles at the Rec Department Serenity Sea Stroll & Learn
By Katherine Berry
For The Island Eye News
Serenity Sea Stroll & Learn is a free educational series launched a few months ago by the Isle of Palms Recreation Department. Each stroll features a special guest to lead a nature walk in order to educate anyone interested in learning about our incredible Lowcountry ecosystem.
In August, Abbi Cochran of Coastal Expeditions hosted a dolphin tour, where more than 20 participants of all ages met with their questions to learn more about the Lowcountry’s unique bottlenose dolphins.
“It was a huge success and a lot of fun,” Cochran said. “I invite people to ask questions and see what they’d like to learn about our wildlife.”
On Sept. 14 at 7:30 a.m., Cochran will lead another adventure to learn about our reptiles – especially alligators. The likelihood of seeing an alligator on the beach is slim – “not a 0% chance but it’s really, really rare,” Cochran said jokingly.
Instead, she’ll use bones and pieces of bones to explain more about gators and how they navigate the local waters. She’ll also touch on other reptiles and anything else that may come up from the crowd. The adventure begins at the 25th Avenue beach access.
The Sea Stroll & Learn is also a great space to not only learn about wildlife but also how to interact properly – respectfully and safely.
Knowledge is key in identifying creatures in the wild, and, if you are informed on where they like to habitat and why, you’ll be able to impress your friends by pointing out some of the Lowcountry’s wildlife activity. Cochran is filled with fun facts that help you identify denizens of the local world of wildlife. For example, did you know that alligators’ eyes glow red at night? Or that they love freshwater ponds, which is why we see them so often around golf courses.
Cochran’s pure passion
for the abundant landscape of the Lowcountry makes her so great at what she does.
“If you care about something, you are going to want to learn about it and share what you’ve learned with other people. Everyone that works at Coastal Expeditions has the same mind-set and the same passion on what we’re so lucky to have around us in the Lowcountry. We’re a collective group of nerds,” she said.
Come nerd out with IOP Rec Department in partnership with Coastal Expeditions, and learn about the wildlife that contributes to making our ecosystem so beautiful and how we can cohabitat safely.
Upcoming strolls: Oct. 12 – Birds; Nov. 9 – Next to the Sea. Check out iop.net/recreation/programs-classes/adult-programs#seastroll to sign up or learn more.
Civil War is the subject of Battery Gadsden program
By Mike Walsh
For The Island Eye News
Sept. 17 marks the 161st anniversary of one of the most significant yet saddest events in American history. During the war that turned brother against brother and ultimately caused some 625,000 casualties, this date stands out as the deadliest. In a single day, the Battle of Antietam accounted for more than 22,000 killed, wounded or missing, more than twice the number of Americans killed at Pearl Harbor, D-Day, 9/11 and during our 10 years in Afghanistan combined. While Antietam took place in Maryland, the fuse was lit for the conflict that led up to this deadliest day in American history some 17 months earlier right here in Charleston. Interest in the American Civil War has always run wide and deep in the Lowcountry. Therefore, Battery Gadsden Cultural Center is honored to present a program featuring a true local expert on the Civil War – Rev. Jeff Miller, a lifelong student of that conflict.
Special recognition
Jeff is currently the rector of St. Philip’s Church in downtown Charleston. But before entering the ministry, he was a National Park Service ranger, including at Antietam. He’s led many private tours of both Antietam and Gettysburg, and he’s been inducted into several history-related honor societies and serves as chaplain for the Washington Light Infantry. Jeff remains active in the local Civil War scene, including the Fort Sumter Civil War Roundtable and the South Carolina Battlefield Trust.
The Isle of Palms Police Department was recognized at the Aug. 22 IOP Council meeting for its efforts during and after the April 7 shooting on the beach. Mayor Phillip Pounds pointed out that “the bravery demonstrated by our officers the day of the shooting and the unwavering resolve to bring those responsible to justice is admirable and demonstrates our department’s commitment to protecting the community and ensuring it remains a vibrant, safe community for those that come here to live, work and play.” He added that “special recognition goes to the detective unit, particularly Detective Tumminelli, for his role in the investigation. Left to right: Capt. Jeffrey Swain, Master Police Officer Lance Hammond, Detective Amanda Postell, Detective Joseph Tumminelli, Officer Dustin Griffin, Field Training Officer Jason Santulli and Lt. Robert Forsythe.
– Prelude to Antietam.” The program will take place at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 3222 Middle St. on Sullivan’s Island.
Battery Gadsden Cultural Center is pleased to have Jeff Miller present our September program. At 6 p.m. on Sept. 21, he will speak on “Invasion
PROTECT LIVABILITY
NOVEMBER 7
Jeff is a dynamic speaker. Anyone with an interest in the Civil War will not want to miss this outstanding presentation. As always, this program from Battery Gadsden Cultural Center is free and open to the public. For more information, contact us at BatteryGadsden@gmail.com.
As
Rev. Jeff Miller
Candidates file for Isle of Palms Council seats
Four spots on the IOP Council will be up for grabs when voters go to the polls Nov. 7.
Ashley Carroll
Dear residents of Isle of Palms,
My name is Ashley Carroll, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for City Council. My friends, I am reaching out to you today to ask for your support on Nov. 7.
It has always been my childhood dream to live in a beach community. That dream came true when I moved to Isle of Palms in 2008. IOP has come to mean everything to me. It is where I met and fell in love with my husband Michael, a local island boy who is a third-generation IOP resident, and it is also where we are raising our children, who are fourth-generation IOP residents. Additionally, as owner of our island-based family business, I have an honest and vested interest in protecting my family’s future and the future of this unique, vibrant community.
I am running for City Council because I am
concerned about the current direction our island is moving. I think it is unfortunate that some on Council have chosen divisiveness over progress and that misinformation is promoted to cause discontent and strife among our island neighbors. I promise to do the opposite. I will speak the truth, listen to those I serve and work to ensure a bright future for all residents and also preserve the true character of the island.
As a Council member, I will:
• Listen with an open mind;
• Work to unify, not divide;
• Protect our residential neighborhoods;
• Support better enforcement of current island ordinances;
• Focus on building more respectful and positive relationships between law enforcement and the community they protect;
• Work directly with our rental business community to accurately inform guests of city ordinances and limitations.
If you will honor my campaign for City Council with your support on Nov. 7, I promise to represent all residents of IOP and not just a select few. My door will always be open to you.
Please follow my social media for updates about my campaign, and feel free to call, text or email me using the information below. I welcome and encourage all constructive conversations, ideas and feedback.
The time is now.
I will honor your choice and be your voice. I look forward to serving the people of Isle of Palms.
All my best, Ashley 843-478-4958
AshleyCarrollforIOP@gmail.com
The Windjammer partners with local production company
By Everett White For The Island Eye News
The Windjammer on Isle of Palms has been Charleston’s premier beachfront music venue for over 50 years. Combining a laid-back vibe with the shores of the Atlantic Ocean as its backdrop, The Windjammer has hosted countless national touring artists. Hootie and the Blowfish first cut their teeth at the Windjammer, and other artists such as Edwin McCain, Sister Hazel and Cowboy Mouth continually return to rock the windblown stage.
The Windjammer is now partnering with Charleston-based music and film production company Soul Shine Studios to capture high-quality video content and increase aware-
ness and visibility for upcoming shows on the calendar. Soul Shine Studios’ writer for this column, Chicago-based Vincent Iwinski, is an artist manager of 25 years who calls Charleston home. In the coming weeks, Soul Shine Studios will highlight the incredible array of musical talent coming our way and will feature interviews with artists, sharing their memories of playing Charleston and discussing their recent releases and what fans can expect from their upcoming performances – and more.
Stay tuned to The Island Eye News and Lucky Dog Publishing for your link to this VIP backstage pass.
Tourism at forts contributed thousands to local economy
By Brett Spaulding
For The Island Eye News
A new National Park Service report shows that 385,472 visitors to Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park in 2022 spent $25,453 in communities near the park, spending that supported 330 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $33,177.
“The impact of tourism to national parks is undeniable: bringing jobs and revenue to communities in every state in the country and making national parks an essential driver to the national economy,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams, and Superintendent Tracy
Stakely added that “tourism is a critical driver to the local economy.”
The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists at the National Park Service. The report shows $23.9 billion of direct spending by nearly 312 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 378,400 jobs nationally; 314,600 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to the U.S. economy was $50.3 billion.
As for the economics of visitor spending, the lodging sector had the highest direct effects, with $9 billion in economic output nationally. The
restaurants sector had the second greatest effects, with $4.6 billion in economic output nationally.
The authors of the report produced an interactive tool that enables users to explore visitor spending, jobs, labor income, value added and output effects by sector for national, state and local economies. The interactive tool and report are available at the NPS Social Science Program web page.
To learn more about national parks in South Carolina and how the National Park Service works with South Carolina communities to help preserve local history, conserve the environment and provide outdoor recreation, visit nps.gov/ southcarolina.
Sister Hazel
Photo by Everett Zuraw.
Fight like a girl
IOP Rec Department to host women’s self-defense series
By Katherine Berry
For The Island Eye News
Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic; more than 1 in 4 women have suffered violence at the hands of their loved ones. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 30% of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
We are a target and taught from a young age to always be on alert. However, being alert isn’t always enough. What if we were able to learn one thing that could save our lives in a dangerous situation? It could prevent years of therapy and instill a “Wonder Woman” brand of confidence, projecting power instead of weakness to any monster on the streets.
The Isle of Palms Recreation Department has partnered with Mount Pleasant Family Martial Arts owner and third-degree black belt professional Stile Drewry to host a self-defense series for women 16 and older. The first session is slated for Sept. 11, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Drewry, also a certified intervention coach with five years of experience in law enforcement, teaches the same techniques officers use in threatening situations.
“Participants can expect to learn a variety of knee and elbow strikes, bear hug escapes – if someone grabs you from behind – choke from the front, wrist grab and whatever else arises,” he said. “This is an open forum to learn how to protect yourself and instill confidence.”
Additionally, he encouraged everyone to come with questions based on real life scenarios so he can help participants navigate the safest possible approach to defending themselves.
He also will cover topics we don’t always think about, such as social intelligence and common sense – everything from posting on social media to making good choices with your phone. For
example, Drewry mentioned: “Don’t check your phone when you get in the car immediately. Drive somewhere else, then check. A perp is less likely to follow you in his car versus watch and wait as you walk to your car. Little things we do are often the biggest display of our lives.”
Seize this opportunity to learn something that could save your life. People are weird, so familiarize yourself with being a superhero. Instill confidence and learn to be a badass. Be aware and don’t live in fear.
Registration is open at IOP.net/recreation. The cost of the program is $25 for residents and $30 for nonresidents. Sessions also are scheduled for Oct. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Nov. 13 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. More dates will be added for 2024.
IOP farmers market to celebrate Safety Day
By Tammy Cox
For The Island Eye News
Safety Day will be the theme of the fourth Isle of Palms Recreation farmers market of the 2023 season, scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 21.
The market will include Sandy the police K-9 officer; firetrucks; rescue vehicles; other police vehicles; locally grown produce; local artists, crafters and photographers; other vendors, booths and displays; live music; food trucks; specialty food; fairy hair; free family-friend activities, including balloon art, games, face painting and a scavenger hunt; a playground; open play recreation fields and courts; and free gifts, while supplies last.
“The September farmers market is particularly special because we celebrate our brave police officers, safety officers, firefighters, medics and support and administrative teams on IOP. They risk their lives in an instance
to help the residents and visitors on the island. This is our way of saying thank you so much for all you do,” said Recreation Director Karrie Ferrell.
The last farmers market of the 2023 season is scheduled for Oct. 19.
Visit IOP.net, Facebook and Instagram for the latest events and happenings at the Recreation Department.
Marina Fest will help pay for Exchange Club seawall
By Robbie Berg
For The Island Eye News
I am writing this article as I anticipate king tides and Hurricane Idalia.
As the water was “lapping the seawall” at high tide on Aug. 29 and with the king tides predicted for Aug. 30 and 31 and Sept. 1, I was thankful for the generous donations from our IOP Exchange Club members and those in the community and accommodations tax funds from the city of Isle of Palms – all of which made this seawall possible. We were told by the engineers that without the seawall, erosion would continue, and these weather events were testament to this situation.
Thank you all. Now we have the land and walkway preserved by the seawall, offering the community a passive park for peaceful reflection of the beauty of Hamlin Creek and viewing spectacular Lowcountry sunsets.
Currently, the Exchange Club’s Waterfront Improvement Committee, along with the Marina Outpost staff and the owners and staff of the Islander 71, are planning for a Marina Fest on Nov. 11. Area residents and visitors are welcome to come to a fun-filled day, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Isle of Palms Marina. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, while veterans and children under the age of 10 can come for free.
The Marina Fest is a fundraiser to help pay off the rest of the construction of the seawall/walkway. There will be an Isle of Palms bounce house with slide, face painting, various vendors, a silhouette artist, games and environmental education booths, with food sales available as well at the Outpost and Islander 71.
Thank you again from the Isle of Palms Exchange Club to all for making the seawall/walkway come to fruition for everyone’s enjoyment! See y’all on Nov. 11.
Photo courtesy of the IOP Rec Department.
ONGOING
WHAT: Wild Roll Wednesday
Around the Islands
WHERE: IOP Recreation Center – High Tide Room
WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. • Wednesdays
MORE INFO: Back by popular demand, Wild Roll Wednesday with the Isle of Palms Recreation, Police and Fire Departments started on Sept. 6 and will continue through Spring 2024. Each week will feature a different trainer/coach from a different department, and participants will have the opportunity to work out with multiple department team members. To learn more and register, visit IOP.net.
WHAT: Isle of Palms Cleanup Crew Litter Sweeps
WHERE: Check in at beach access by Coconut Joe’s
WHEN: 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Mondays; 7 a.m.-8 a.m. Wednesdays
MORE INFO: Volunteers help for at least 30 minutes. Supplies provided. Enjoy discount at an IOP restaurant afterward. No advance registration –help when you can. Follow us at facebook.com/IOPCleanup.
WHAT: Community meditation
WHERE: IOP Rec Center
WHEN: Thursdays at 9 a.m.
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: Dog Obedience WHERE: IOP Rec Center
WHEN: Mondays, June-December. Kinderpuppy, 5:30 p.m.; Puppy Junior High, 6:30 p.m.; Canine Good Citizenship, 6:30 p.m.; Tricks, 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: iop.net
WHAT: Beach Yoga
WHERE: 25th Avenue WHEN: 7:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Every Tuesday. To learn more: IOP.net.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
WHAT: Dumpster Day
WHERE: 2304 Cameron Blvd., Isle of Palms WHEN: 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
MORE INFO: To assist you in house cleaning. Bring your old junk and let us help you toss it away. It costs nothing – our treat. Light refreshments and snacks will be provided. Even if you don’t have junk, come by and meet the Sea Island Builders team.
FRIDAYS, SEPTEMBER 8 and 22
WHAT: After School Art Club for Teens and Tweens
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 4 p.m.-5p.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, visit ccpl.org/branches/Sullivans-island.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
WHAT: POE-etry critique group WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 1 p.m. (after hours)
MORE INFO: Gather with fellow poets to share and improve your work. Bring six copies of one or two poems to share with fellow poets (limit 2-3 pages). To learn more, visit ccpl.org/branches/Sullivans-island.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14
WHAT: IOP Rec Department Serenity Sea Stroll & Learn WHERE: IOP 25th Avenue beach access WHEN: 7:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Abbi Cochran of Coastal Expeditions will lead another adventure where you’ll be able to learn about local reptiles – especially alligators. To learn more: iop.net/recreation/programs-classes/adult-programs#seastroll.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
WHAT: Celebrate International Dot Day WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
MORE INFO: In honor of International Dot Day, based on the Peter H. Reynolds book “The Dot,” come “make a mark and see where it takes you.” All ages are welcome to help us create a dot mural on Battery Gadsden and participate in other dot-themed activities around the library. To learn more, visit ccpl.org/branches/Sullivans-island.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
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 Indigo Girl” by Natasha Boyd. To learn more, visit ccpl.org/branches/Sullivans-island.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
WHAT: IOP Farmers Market WHERE: IOP Recreation Department WHEN: 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
MORE INFO: Safety Day with the Isle of Palms Police and Fire Departments. Free to the public. To learn more: IOP.net.
WHAT: “Invasion – Prelude to Antietam”
WHERE: Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 3222 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: Rev. Jeff Miller is the guest speaker for Battery Gadsden’s September program. His presentation will be on the Battle of Antietam, one of the deadliest days of the Civil War. The presentation is free and open to the public. To learn more, email Battery Gadsden@gmail.com.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
WHAT: MUSC Mindfulness Program
WHERE: Edgar Allan Poe Branch Library, 1921 Ion Ave., Sullivan’s Island WHEN: 11 a.m.
MORE INFO: Learning to manage life stressors can help prevent the development of long-term health complications, improve sleep, relieve stress, reduce anxiety, regulate emotion and enhance your ability to manage future adversity. Representatives from the MUSC Health & Wellness Institute Mindfulness Center will share mindfulness strategies to foster growth and resilience. Reservations requested. Call 843-883-3914 or email poe@ccpl.org.
