SI Council SI PROPOSES BALANCED 2026 BUDGET AMID RISING COSTS
BY JOSHUA UYS
At the May 20 Sullivan’s Island Town Council meeting, Comptroller Jason Blanton presented the draft general fund budget for fiscal year 2026, highlighting increased revenues, rising operational costs and major infrastructure investments.
Blanton attributed a projected $410,000 revenue increase primarily to higher property tax collections and business license fees. These gains are being used to offset a statemandated 3.5% rise in employee pension and health benefit costs, which affect all town departments.
With limited flexibility to raise other revenue streams, such as franchise fees, sales taxes, or grants, the town relied on these traditional sources to balance the budget.
Despite rising costs, the town expects to end the year with a surplus of nearly $500,000 in the general fund, which will help finance capital projects. One of the largest expenditures is the replacement of the stormwater system, a project estimated at $15 million.
“Luckily, over the past few years the town has received grants, and those grants are covering almost all of that $15 million, with the town covering somewhere around $4 million,” Blanton said.
When combined with the capital improvement budget, the town maintains a balanced overall budget.
The town has also established an internal fleet service fund to manage and maintain municipal vehicles. This in-house approach has reduced downtime for essential services like police and fire, while also yielding cost savings.
The Water and Sewer Department is also facing cost pressures. While the sewer budget increased modestly by 1.47%—despite the 3.5% rise in staff benefit costs—the water budget is increasing by 11.6%. This sharp uptick is primarily due to a new 40-year agreement with Charleston Water System, which secures an additional 100,000 gallons of water capacity for the island.
Additionally, new Environmental Protection Agency PFAS compliance regulations, aimed at lowering the permissible levels of “forever chemicals” in drinking water, have
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Isle of Paws & IOP Playground Ribbon Cutting
THE ISLAND CLUB HOSTED ITS TASTE OF SULLIVAN’S ISLAND FUNDRAISER ON SATURDAY, MAY 17. PROCEEDS BENEFITED RENOVATIONS TO THE HISTORIC BUILDING WHICH HAS BEEN HOSTING EVENTS SINCE 1946.
STAFF PHOTOS
PHOTOS BY TAMMY COX
The Raber family from the IOP.
Children and their families attend the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new IOP playground and the Isle of Paws Music Fest on Thursday, May 15.
PUBLISHERS OF:
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ADVERTISING
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ASSISTANT PUBLISHER
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GRAPHIC DESIGNER
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CONTRIBUTORS: Joshua Uys IOP LENS
Morgan Hurley
Tammy Cox
Laura Strecker
Mary Pringle
Rom Reddy
Katherine Berry
PUBLISHED BY Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina 29482 843-886-NEWS
A Community United in Gratitude
BY THE IOP LENS FOUNDATION
On Sunday, June 8, the Isle of Palms Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support (LENS) Foundation invites all residents of Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island to participate in a heartfelt, community-wide Day of Prayer for First Responders. This special day is dedicated to honoring the brave men and women of our local fire and police departments whose courage, sacrifice and service help safeguard our lives every day.
The Day of Prayer is a national tradition observed in many communities across the country, offering a moment of reflection and unity for citizens to express gratitude for the unwavering dedication of public safety personnel. As part of our island community’s continued commitment to supporting those who protect and serve, we are asking churches and congregations across Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island to take a moment during Sunday services to offer special prayers and blessings for our first responders.
We encourage everyone to attend the church and service of their choice and join in a collective gesture of gratitude. Whether through a moment of silence, a spoken prayer or simply offering a word of thanks, your participation will help show our fire and police personnel just how much their service means to the communities they protect.
Below is a list of participating churches and their Sunday service times:
ISLE OF PALMS CHURCHES
First United Methodist Church
12 21st Ave.
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SI Council Continued from page 1
added to the financial burden. Charleston Water System is passing these compliance costs on to customers.
The average island household using 6,000 gallons of water per month can expect a combined rate increase of about 4.8%.
“This is something that is hitting every single water system, and we are just caught up in it like everybody else,” said Justin Novak, chair of the Water and Sewer Committee.
Not all residents were reassured by the presentation. Barbara Spell,
a resident of Atlantic Avenue, voiced concerns about the town's long-term financial trajectory.
“In 2014, the budget was about $4.5 million. Now, fast forward 10 years; the budget has doubled. We now have $40 million in debt, 42 vehicles, and we are borrowing $2.5 million every year just to pay the interest on the debt, yet the population on the island is essentially the same as it was in 2014,” Spell said. “How does all this borrowing and spending and taxing reflect the interests of islanders?”
Services: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Deepwater Church
25th Avenue at IOP Beach
Service: 9:15 a.m.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
300 Palm Blvd.
Service: 10 a.m.
Isle of Palms Baptist Church
14 24th Ave.
Service: 11 a.m.
SULLIVAN’S ISLAND CHURCHES
Sullivan’s Island Baptist Church
1753 Central Ave.
Service: 11 a.m.
Church of the Holy Cross (Episcopal) 2520 Middle St.
Services: 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Stella Maris Roman Catholic
Church 1204 Middle St.
Services:
Saturday Vigil: 5:30 p.m.
Sunday: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m.,
11:30 a.m., and 5:30 p.m.
Sunrise Presbyterian Church 3222 Middle St. Service: 10 a.m.
We hope you'll join us in this island-wide moment of unity and appreciation. The Island Day of Prayer is a simple but powerful way to uplift those who stand ready to protect our families, homes and neighborhoods every day—often without thanks or recognition.
Together, through faith and community, we can show our local heroes that their service is never taken for granted.
If your church would like to participate in future LENS community initiatives, or if you’d like to learn more about how to support our mission, please visit LENSIOP.org or follow us on Instagram at @lensfoundation.iop.
Islander 71 Rolls Out New Summer Menus
BY MORGAN HURLEY
Summer has officially arrived at Islander 71—and so has their brand-new lineup of seasonal dishes. From coastal classics to fun new additions, they have refreshed both their lunch and dinner menus. Highlights from the summer menu include:
• The Seafood Tower — A showstopper packed with oysters, shrimp cocktail, poke and more
• Shrimp & Crab Pasta Marsala — A creamy Southern spin on a coastal classic
• Bettie Jane’s Crab Cakes — Marylandstyle lump crab cakes served with whipped potatoes and roasted vegetables
• Seared Salmon — Served with orzo salad, dill, lemon and pickled red onion
• She Crab Fries — Seasoned fries drizzled with creamy she crab soup For more information, visit islander71.com.
IOP Rec. Kicks Off Farmer’s Market & Food Truck Jam
BY TAMMY COX
The City of Isle of Palms Recreation Department’s Farmers Market & Food Truck Jam series will kick off June 19, 2025, and continue on the third Thursday of each month through October. Each event runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the IOP Recreation Center.
The events will feature local farmers, artisans, crafters,
specialty vendors, food trucks, live music, family-friendly activities and more.
Farmers Market & Food Truck Jam schedule:
• June 19
• July 17
• Aug. 21
• Sept. 18
• Oct. 16 Visit IOP.net for more info.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ISLANDER 71
A Block Party for the Books LENS HONORS FIRST
RESPONDERS WITH COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND CELEBRATION
BY LAURA STRECKER
The clouds may have threatened rain, but not even a few drops could put a damper on the biggest block party the Isle of Palms has seen in years. On Monday, May 12, over 250 residents gathered at Islander 71 for the annual Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support (LENS) Foundation Banquet—this year reimagined as a full-blown Neighborhood Block Party with live music, fire trucks, and enough fairy hair and face paint to rival a carnival. The goal? Celebrate the island’s incredible first responders—and celebrate, they did.
The evening kicked off with the LENS Community Public Safety Awards, honoring Officer Kevin Barattini of the IOP Police Department and Firefighter Braxton Comer of IOP Fire for their outstanding dedication to connecting with residents beyond the badge and public safety.
Residents Jim and Linda Thompson received the George Reeth Leadership Award, with Mike and Claire Powers honored as LENS Founders and Deb Barr named Volunteer of the Year. Barby and Patrick Harrington earned the Lifetime Achievement Award for their enduring commitment to IOP.
The block party delivered all the fun you’d expect—food trucks, balloon art, beaded bracelets, hula hoops, stilt walkers, an interactive touch tank, eco-boat tours, and more. But the real heart of the evening was that every dollar raised through ticket sales, raffles, and sponsorships directly supports our police and fire departments through the LENS Foundation, funding training, equipment, hardship grants, scholarships, and more.
IOP Police Chief Kevin Cornett captured the spirit best, “No other community supports law
enforcement like IOP. LENS is a vital partner, helping us with community policing, hardship requests, our annual awards banquet, and events like this have a profound impact on morale.”
Fire Chief Craig Oliverius echoed the gratitude, especially for the recognition of Firefighter Comer’s creativity and community outreach efforts, “LENS is a phenomenal partner that enhances our public safety efforts. We are incredibly blessed and thankful to serve such an engaged and supportive community.”
Guests were all smiles, and the testimonials poured in faster than the raffle prizes.
“Lots of good community spirit in play,” said resident Jim Thompson. Vice Principal Susan King of Sullivan’s Island Elementary added, “I’m always so impressed with how LENS puts on an event and unites the community.”
Director of IOP LENS, Ted Kinghorn, said it best. “With your support, our little event was amazing. The opportunity for our First Responders to receive recognition and the love of community is priceless.”
Mark Mitchell, a member of the LENS Advisory Board, put it perfectly, “It is wonderful that we can all agree on one thing—LENS is an outstanding organization, bringing our community together with notso-random acts of kindness. Proud to be part of it.”
LENS extends a heartfelt thank you to Islander 71 for hosting, and to the many volunteers, donors, and sponsors—without whom this incredible event wouldn’t be possible. To learn more about LENS or get involved, visit LENSIOP.ORG or follow along on Instagram at @lensfoundation. iop.
(l to r) Award Recipient Firefighter Braxton Comer, Mayor Phillip Pounds, Award Recipient Police Officer Kevin Barattini.
PHOTO:: BOBBY CARRIER
A Pizza You Can’t Refuse
more than just a food, it is a love affair; delicious, hot, affordable. Our goal was to bring this special experience to the Charleston area and help make new memories for our customers. Our secret to great NY-style pizza starts with the dough. Our generational recipe from Barcelona’s Pizzeria in Garfield, NJ (Est. 1933) yields a crispy crust with just the right amount of chew and great flavor. Our team brings over 90 years of pizza-making experience and commits to delivering you great, traditional food made from the highest quality ingredients. From our La Valle Italian tomatoes to our top-quality toppings, we believe that great ingredients and proven recipes are crucial to great food, great pizza, and great memories for you and your family.
Welcome to your local, family pizzeria. We hope you enjoy the great vibes, entertainment, service and most importantly: great NY style pizza!
—The Woodhaven Pizza Family
First Loggerhead Nest of the Season Found on IOP
BY MARY PRINGLE
Right on schedule, on May 14, the first loggerhead turtle laid eggs on the Isle of Palms. There were already more than 200 nests in the state on that day, with the first laid on Folly Beach on April 29. As of May 20, the South Carolina total was more than 400 nests. The Island Turtle Team typically finds the first eggs in mid-May, so this timing is normal.
The first nest was laid on top of the high dune near the 34A access path and was found by Tracy Moses along with Barbara Jervey and Joan Dougherty. Even though this area is known coyote den territory, the nest was left in place because of its safe location high above the tide line. It is protected by a strong mesh screen that is staked down but has holes to allow hatchlings to crawl out. The eggs will incubate until around the third week of July.
As of May 20, when this was written, two additional nests had been laid near 36th and 40th avenues. Both were in zones where the tide would likely destroy the eggs, so they were carefully relocated to safer spots for incubation.
It is fortunate that the first three nests were laid near the center of the Isle of Palms, while sand renourishment work was ongoing in Wild Dunes and around 2nd and 4th avenues. This season, the Turtle Team has been surveying the beach at dawn since May 1— when and where necessary—for signs of turtle activity from the previous night, before daytime work can begin. In 2024, most of the nests are being laid in sections where the two renourishment projects are ongoing. But the loggerhead mothers—wisely or more likely by happenstance—have chosen the area between 34th and 40th avenues to lay their eggs, with no false, non-nesting crawls recorded in the project zones.
Sullivan’s Island has reported two false crawls and is expected to have a nest any day.
To ensure a safe beach for our loggerheads in 2025, please keep the following in mind:
• Lights out at dusk
• All lights visible from the beach must be turned off from dusk to dawn between May 1 and Oct. 31. This is the law on both islands.
• Fill in holes
• Any hole on the beach can trap hatchlings—and even large nesting females.
• Turn off flashlights and avoid flash photography
• If you see a nesting turtle, stay back at least 50 feet and do not disturb her.
• Report stranded turtles
• Call 843-697-8733 or 843-886-6522 to report any stranded turtles, dead or alive. If a dead turtle has orange paint on it, it has already been documented and is awaiting burial.
• Stay updated Follow the season at www.islandturtleteam.org or join the Facebook group Island Turtle Team IOP & SI South Carolina.
Barbara Jervey, Tracy Moses, and Joan Dougherty who found the nest at 34A.
PHOTO: MARY PAIGE ADAMS
Island’s Got a New Hole-y Grail
JEFF’S BAGEL RUN OPENS ON ISLE OF PALMS
BY LAURA STRECKER
There’s a new hole-in-thewall on Isle of Palms — and this one’s got schmear. Jeff’s Bagel Run officially opened its doors last Thursday at 1400 Palm Blvd., and let’s just say, the ribbon wasn’t the only thing getting sliced.
Bagel lovers, rejoice. This New York-style bagel haven is boiling and baking fresh dough daily, slinging everything from churro bagels to ranch-flavored rounds with house-whipped cream cheeses so good, you might cry into your coffee — which is also excellent, by the way. Try the cinnamon vanilla oat milk cold brew if you’re feeling fancy.
The Isle of Palms Chamber of Commerce showed up in full force to welcome Jeff’s Bagel Run as its newest platinum member, scissors in hand and smiles all around. Chamber President Alex Stone summed it up best: “There’s nothing we love more than a fresh bagel — and a fresh business joining the community.” Vice President Zach Lary added, “If ribbon cuttings mean bagels, count me in every time.”
Among the local luminaries in attendance were City Council members Ashley Carroll, Blair Hahn and Rusty Streetman, plus the ever-supportive Ted Kinghorn of the Isle of Palms Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support (LENS) Foundation. Right inside the front doors, visitors were greeted by the warm smell of fresh bagels — and a heartfelt poster tribute to the island’s first responders, courtesy of the LENS Foundation. It’s no surprise Jeff’s Bagel Run jumped on board as a supporter.
But the real hero of the story? Danielle Perera, the logisticsloving powerhouse behind the brand, co-founded the business in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, Jeff. In 2019, Jeff was laid off from his job, while Danielle — a stay-at-home mom at the time — stepped back into the workforce. The couple found themselves constantly driving far just to get a decent bagel, until one day Danielle turned to Jeff and asked, “Hey babe, will you make me a bagel?”
That simple request launched a full-blown flavor experiment in their kitchen.
“He’d keep trying new recipes and ask me to taste them,” Danielle said. “I kept telling him, ‘It’s not there yet.’ But he was determined — he kept workshopping until he landed on the one. Once the recipe was locked down, he really ran with it.”
And “run” is putting it lightly.
What started as a passion project has become a multistate bagel boom, with locations across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Texas — and now, Charleston’s coast.
Danielle describes herself as the logistics operator, while Jeff is the creative visionary behind the menu.
“We make a great team,” she said. “He comes up with all the unique cream cheese spreads, and we’ve got a rotating bagel of the day — every day. Today is ranch, last week was pepper jack, yesterday was churro, and tomorrow will be Cheez-It. We like to have fun and play off trends.” She also emphasized that everything is fresh-baked — no freezers allowed.
Their motto? “Bake fresh, bring joy, build community.” And with a menu like that and hearts set on giving back, it’s safe to say they’re living up to it.
“We love giving back — especially to teachers and first responders.”
The Isle of Palms location is one of two in the Charleston area, owned and operated by local franchisee Matt Immerfall. At the grand opening, he gave a big shout-out to Rob Hamill and the team at Newport Construction for building out the beautiful space.
“We’re just ecstatic to be here,” Matt shared. “This community is amazing, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience what makes Jeff’s Bagel Run so special.”
Whether you’re an early riser or a brunch-time bagel believer, Jeff’s Bagel Run is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. And yes, the drive-thru is coming soon — because sometimes, you just need a banana pudding bagel and lavender honey cold brew without leaving your car.
So next time you’re cruising down Palm Boulevard, follow your nose. Jeff’s Bagel Run is here to prove that the shortest distance between you and joy … is through a bagel.
Jeff’s Bagel Run Owners and IOP Residents at their Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
PHOTOS: LAURA STRECKER
Reddy or Not: Commentary: Citizen vs. Deep State
BY ROM REDDY
My wife, Renee, and I finally finished our trial in administrative court this week, culminating a long year and a half of litigation initiated by the Department of Environmental Services, joined by a 501(c)(3) taxpayer-subsidized NGO, the Coastal Conservation League (CCL), and two liberal newspapers — the far-leftleaning State, which acts as a government mouthpiece, and the Post and Courier, whose owner sits on the board of the Coastal Conservation League.
The week before trial, we terminated the services of our attorneys, who informed me it would cost an additional $200,000 to go to trial in administrative court (no jury), where I was unlikely to prevail, and therefore, I should settle. The easy decision would have been to settle, pay the fine, and move on with our lives. However, as you will see below, settling would have a domino effect not just on island residents but on property owners throughout the state. Therefore, in an unprecedented move, Renee and I — who are not lawyers and have never seen the inside of a courtroom (other than in My Cousin Vinny) — decided to represent ourselves against the
deep state. Unfortunately, instead of citizens standing together, I was informed that some island residents posted on social media that they were praying we would fail. We can always disagree — it is our right. But I hope we can disagree without wishing harm on people we disagree with and do not even know. Matthew 18 in the Scriptures goes one step further and suggests you first talk with the person you disagree with. Religion can be uniting if we let it.
understanding and patient with us novices, and treated both of us with great respect. For that, we are eternally grateful.
Renee and I had three days to prepare before our first day in court. Unfortunately, we had to ignore our child and dog and spend 15-hour days understanding statutes and regulations. Our major weakness was that we did not understand all the complicated procedural issues around entering evidence, questioning witnesses, and so on. We were understandably nervous entering the courtroom that first day and did not know how the judge would react. Luckily for us, Judge Ralph Anderson was very
We walked into the courtroom and were struck by the deep state’s bench, filled to the brim with lawyers for the state and CCL, along with many of their witnesses. On our side: one friend who drove up from Charleston. The trial was scheduled for three days, but DES/CCL took up the entire time with thousands of slides and witnesses. Several slides were apparently sent in by island residents acting as agents for the state. There were also false allegations — which we had to disprove — submitted by sitting Councilmember Blair Hahn to his contact at the Coastal Conservation League, a radical environmental group that believes all residents on barrier islands should retreat and let water reclaim the land, eventually rendering the islands nonresidential.
Since the trial extended to five days, I will summarize their positions. First, they now claim unlimited jurisdiction behind setback lines and critical lines. This applies not only to oceanfront but also to creekside, marshfront, and more. Based on
the testimony of their expert — which DES/CCL agreed with in their closing statement — this theory could theoretically extend to any property, even those not waterfront.
They accused us of egregious violations and of ignoring their orders. One witness said that in her 15 years, she had not seen such a blatant violation of the law. On cross-examination, I asked if, in the last 25 years, anywhere on the South Carolina coast prior to us, she could name a case where jurisdiction had been enforced landward of the state setback line. She could not. In the 2019 Hilton Head seawall case, DES said in a sworn judicial pleading that they did not even have “procedures” to enforce jurisdiction landward of the setback line.
Their new position is that after a major storm, they can inspect the “vegetation line” — even if vegetation was washed away — and declare that area a “beach critical area” under government jurisdiction. That means only beach-compatible sand can be added. You cannot replace your grass, shrubs, pine straw, fence, play equipment, or even furniture. I asked their expert: If another
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Rom Reddy.
ONE LUCKY DOG
BUSTER
Interpreted by: Katherine Berry
OWNER NAME: George, Kelly and George Murphy
AKA: Buster Boo, Big Baby
AGE: 4½ years
BREED: Newfie Poodle Mix
FAVORITE TOY: My Lamb chop chop
FOOD: Homemade
VET: Animal Medical Center
‘Sup everyone, I’m Buster Douglas — King of Chill. I’m 115 lbs of pure goofy goodness. A small dog trapped in a giant, fluffy body. A lap dog who doesn’t always fit in them!
I showed up on my two-legged brother George’s birthday — a walking, wiggling poof ball ready to party. Mom wanted a big dog who could cuddle, protect, and keep her laughing. Well, mission accomplished however, I’m not always the best at following the ‘rules’, which led me to earn the ‘problem child’ role in the family after a few misunderstandings. I was tough, I gotta admit but, I’m better now. I’m just more of a free-spirited dude who doesn’t always listen. In my defense, when you have Mr. Perfect as your 4-legged brother, it’s up to you to keep it real.
I’m named after the only boxer who beat Mike Tyson — fitting, since my brother is Mike Tyson. He’s model material, but I outweigh him by 100lbs and still follow his every command; he has Jedi-level mind control. Freaky!
People call me the King of Chill because I demand comfort — couches, laundry piles, fresh beds. If it’s soft, I’m on it. But if another dog gets near my golf cart or porch? I puff up like a marshmallow with an attitude. Somebody’s gotta defend the realm.
My happiest moments are cuddling my people, squeaking every toy I own (Mom loves that), getting dolled up at the groomer, tearing across the beach with my ball, and devouring
Mom’s homemade food — cooked with love and maybe a little magic. So yeah. I’m Buster Douglas —lovable menace and household royalty. Big, quirky, loyal, and emotionally attached to pillows. And when I’m stretched out on the couch, belly full, toy under paw, ocean breeze in my fur, I know I’m one lucky dog; living my best pillow-supported life. Because life is better with love, softness, and a squeaky toy between your paws. Thank you for picking me for your pack.
AROUND THE ISLANDS
Our community calendar keeps you updated on local events. From festivals to workshops to family-friendly gatherings. Stay connected and never miss out on the excitement.
ONGOING
WHAT: Charleston City Market Night Market
WHERE: Charleston City Market
WHEN: Each Friday and Saturday night, 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., from March – December
MORE INFO: The Night Market is located between Church Street and East Bay Street. It provides the opportunity to discover quality, unique, local and handcrafted items.
WHAT: Mount Pleasant Makers Mart
WHERE: Park West Recreation Complex, 1251 Park W Blvd, Mt Pleasant
WHEN: Every Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. from May – October
MORE INFO: The Mount Pleasant Recreation Department Community Affairs & Marketing is working to organize this new weekly market. The market will feature a diverse selection of vendors offering a wide range of goods, including fresh, locally sourced farm products, prepared foods, and unique handcrafted items.
WHAT: Spoleto Festival USA
WHERE: Various
WHEN: May 23 to June 8
MORE INFO: Charleston's enchanting backdrop sets the stage for over 120 unforgettable performances, including six world premieres and two U.S. premieres across opera, theater, music, and dance. Tickets available at spoletousa.org or by calling 843-579-3100.
WHAT: Piccolo Spoleto Festival
WHERE: Various
WHEN: May 23 to June 8
MORE INFO: 17 days and nights of admission-free and affordably priced performances, exhibitions, and community celebrations. A full schedule of events and online ticketing at piccolospoleto.com.
WHAT: That BIG Book Sale
WHERE: Omar Shrine Temple, 176 Patriots Point Rd, Mt. Pleasant WHEN: June 6 to 8
MORE INFO: Book lovers and bargain hunters are in for a treat when the Charleston Friends of the Library returns to host its annual That BIG Book Sale. The public can expect over 50,000 books in 40 genres, all on sale with prices starting at just $1. Proceeds support programming at the Charleston County Libraries.
FRIDAY, MAY 30
WHAT: Party at The Point - Sol Driven Train
WHERE: Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, 20 Patriots Point Rd, Mt. Pleasant WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: Party at the Point is a family-friendly beachfront event that features live music and plenty of food and drinks. Gates open at 5 p.m., with music starting at 6 p.m. Free parking is available
Tide Chart
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12:23pm 12:41am/1:20pm 1:33am/2:17pm 2:23am/3:11pm 3:12am/4:03pm 4:01am/4:52pm 4:49am/5:38pm 5:36am/6:22pm 6:22am/7:05pm 7:07am/7:47pm 7:50am/8:27pm 8:32am/9:07pm 9:12am/9:45pm 9:52am/10:23pm 6:06am/6:08pm 6:59am/7:05pm 7:50am/8:04pm 8:41am/9:04pm 9:28am/10:01pm 10:14am/10:55pm 10:57am/11:46pm 11:39am 12:33am/12:20pm 1:17am/1:01pm 1:59am/1:41pm 2:40am/2:20pm 3:20am/3:00pm 4:00am/3:41pm
along the road leading into the resort, as well as in the parking lot across from the resort entrance. Uber and Lyft drop off area will be available to all guests to use, located 50 yards from the entrance. Tickets are $15 and be purchased here. Kids 12 and under are free.
SATURDAY, MAY 31
WHAT: Charleston Battery Home Game vs. Greenville Triumph SC
WHERE: Patriots Point Soccer Stadium, 85 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: Catch the Charleston Battery as the take on the Greenville Triumph SC
WHAT: Stop Light Observations on the NÜTRL Beach Stage WHERE: The Windjammer WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: Stop Light Observations is a 4-piece band born and raised in Charleston. The group’s rapidly increasing fan base has found them breaking the record for most consecutive sellouts at the Music Farm and landing coveted slots at Bonnaroo and Firefly Music Festival.
SUNDAY, JUNE 1
WHAT: Red Not Chili Peppers on the NÜTRL Beach Stage WHERE: The Windjammer WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: Red Not Chili Peppers pay tribute to the ultimate funk rock quartet. Combining nostalgic hits, full throttle energy, and virtuosic performances, the Red Nots channel the raging party that has given the Chili Peppers international acclaim.
FRIDAY, JUNE 6
WHAT: Party at The Point - The Midnight City
WHERE: Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina, 20 Patriots Point Rd, Mt. Pleasant WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: Party at the Point is a family-friendly beachfront event that features live music and plenty of food and drinks. Gates open at 5 p.m., with music starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 and be purchased here. Kids 12 and under get in for free.
WHAT: The Stews on the NÜTRL Beach Stage
WHERE: The Windjammer WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: After releasing their debut album, What Was, in April of 2022, The Stews have been a non-stop touring machine. Playing hundreds of shows a year has allowed them to hone in their musical and songwriting skills alike.
WHAT: Legends in the South Game
WHERE: Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park, Charleston WHEN: 7:05 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Charleston RiverDogs will host their annual Legends in the South softball game featuring former Major League Baseball players. For 2025, the team brings a swath of returners from previous games, local products and the addition of influencers from the GenX Takeover.
SATURDAY, JUNE 7
WHAT: Piccolo Spoleto Sand Sculpting Competition
WHERE: Front Beach on Isle of Palms WHEN: 9 a.m.
MORE INFO: The 36th annual Piccolo Spoleto Sand Sculpting Competition. The event is free and open to anyone who would like to show off their sand sculpting skills. Competitors can enter in the following divisions: Children (ages 14 and under), Young Adult (ages 15–20), Family (at least one adult and one child or young adult), and Adult (ages 21 and older). Visit iop.net for the online registration form or by stopping by the IOP Rec Dept or calling 843-886-8294.
SUNDAY, JUNE 8
WHAT: Better Than Ezra on the NÜTRL Beach Stage
WHERE: The Windjammer WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: The New Orleans-bred band’s bittersweet but quickwitted songwriting and supremely catchy sound have led to triumphs for over 35 years like landing on Billboard’s “100 Greatest Alternative Artists of All Time” and “100 Greatest Alternative Songs of All Time.”
TUESDAY, JUNE 10
WHAT: Best of Broadway “Select Your Seat” Open House Party WHERE: North Charleston Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr WHEN: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
MORE INFO: The Best of Broadway series will host its annual “Select Your Seat” Open House Party. Broadway fans are invited to come out and “select their seats” for the 2025-2026 season. The first 100 people through the door will receive a free MJ the Musical coffee mug.
Rom Reddy
Continued from page 8
Hugo came and washed away the soil, covering everything with sand across the road, could they inspect the vegetation line across the street the next day and declare that land under jurisdiction? He said yes. DES and CCL confirmed they agreed with this position. This leads to untethered jurisdiction.
I asked another witness: How can someone buy waterfront property if they can’t rely on the plat and setback lines to know where they can plant a vegetable garden or maintain their yard? The answer: You’d have to contact the department — and the answer could change day by day, storm by storm, and property by property.
As mentioned earlier, they used the full three days for their case. At the end of that time, they rested, and it was our turn. There was a one-week break before we resumed. During that week — even though their case was closed — they sent Christopher Stout, chief of the Bureau of Coastal Management, to our home to gather more photos. When court resumed, they tried a procedural move to enter new evidence. That evidence? Pictures of 116 Ocean and 120 Ocean, our neighbors, to suggest further vegetation retreat. What they didn’t disclose? That they had issued a permit to the city
to dump Army Corps sand, which covered all vegetation in front of the escarpment. No citizen should face this type of government overreach.
We noticed in The State newspaper that reporter Sammy Fretwell claimed we were only arguing to reduce the fine. That is false. I told the judge I was there to defend the Constitution — to argue that a government agency cannot unilaterally seize private property without compensation while the property owner continues paying taxes to the original line. I told the judge I would agree to pay the full fine — I wasn’t there to work it off.
The judge seemed surprised and told the other side to take the deal, as they’d get the full fine if they prevailed. Their response: “We have to talk to our client.”
The judge asked, “Client? Who is your client?” No response. They declined the deal.
I asked several times why CCL, a private charity, was assisting a state agency against private citizens. I cited statute 48-39120, which says the state owns land in public trust below the mean high tide (MHT) line — defined as the line when the property was first developed. That makes sense, since taxes are still paid to that original line. For us, that line is more than 300 feet seaward of our structure.
CCL and DES offered testimony from an island resident saying he couldn’t ride his bike at high tide and submitted an
affidavit from Jimmy Carroll claiming our structure impeded his walks. I reminded the judge that landward of the MHT line at the time of development is legally private and taxable property, and that both the U.S. and South Carolina constitutions prohibit taking it without compensation. Apparently, this was news to the radicals, who insist they can claim any sandy ground without paying for it — or reducing the taxes.
This isn’t a fight we started, but it’s one we intend to finish. It is the first time this century that a “red state” unelected agency is asserting landward jurisdiction beyond a state-approved setback line, using a vegetation line standard born out of a settlement between CCL and DES in the Hilton Head lawsuit. Under that agreement, CCL dropped its suit in exchange for DES enforcing a new definition of “beach critical.”
This is a fight for all of us. I’m happy to discuss it individually with anyone. Once you see the testimony and evidence, you’ll understand: allowing this precedent will lead to the greatest confiscation of private property in South Carolina history. I’ve heard horror stories from people across the state, but those would fill a book.
Let’s stay united as citizens, defending the supreme law of the land — the great Constitution our founders were prepared to die for. As George Washington said, “Property rights and freedom go
hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.” In these modern times, do we still have the courage to fight for our freedom? This commentary represents the opinions of Lucky Dog Publishing owner Rom Reddy about what occurred at a public trial where he was a pro se defendant in a civil enforcement. This piece does not necessarily reflect 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.
