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Volume 9 Issue 24 Sullivans Island

FREE Isle of Palms

March 28, 2014 Goat Island Dewees Island

FA M I LY C I R C L E C U P BRINGS TOP NAMES IN WOMENS TENNIS

Its time for tennis

ISLAND EYE NEWS EDITOR

Dewees gets two new residents

E A G L E PA I R H AT C H E S E A G L E T S
BY JUDY DREW FAIRCHILD
FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

BY JENNIFER TUOHY

or tennis fans in the Charleston area the next nine days is pure heaven. Right here on Daniel Island the worlds greatest female tennis players will compete for the title of the 42nd Family Circle Cup Champion. The Family Circle Cup begins Saturday, March 29 and runs through April 6. It is the first stop on the clay season tour for these ladies, making it a very important warm-up tournament for the French Open on the red clay of Paris Roland Garros in May. This years line-up includes some of the greats of womens tennis and some great looking up-and-comers. We have Serena Williams, the 2-time defending champion, and Venus, who just won for the first time this year in Dubai a couple weeks ago, Bob Moran, tournament director, said in an interview with Island Eye News. We have some young guns including American Sloane Stephens and Eugenie Bouchard, a young Canadian who is 17 or 18 in the world and only 20 years old. Its a really good combination of the old guard and the next generations of players that are coming up. The player field now has six returning past champions; Nadia Petrova joins the Williams sisters, Sabine Lisicki, Jelena Tennis continues on page 20

Dewees Island provides a perfect habitat for this pair of nesting eagles. This is the third year they have produced eaglets.

E A G L E PA I R H AT C H E S T W O C H I C K S
BY JUDY DREW FAIRCHILD

FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

he pair of nesting eagles on Dewees Island have hatched two chicks. Technically referred to as eaglets, we got a clear view of them today. I have been watching the eagles from my porch, and theres been a different sort of activity for the last 8 or 9 days. Instead of quietly sitting on the nest, the adults have been standing, flying off in search of food, and bending down into the nest. Last year, the first time I heard a chick was on March 6. This year, they probably hatched a week earlier, but the weather has been dreadful to try to go closer to the nest and listen. Finally, we have a sunny spring day, so I headed out in search of a closer look. In the wind, it was all but impossible to hear the faint cries from the nest. I found the highest vantage point and set up the camera. Even with the tripod, the wind bounced us around a little. The nest is much deeper than in previous years, but I was able to see
PHOTOS BY BARB BERGWERF

Eagles continues on page 11

INSIDE THE ISLAND EYE NEWS SOMETHING MAGIC & FISHY MORE
PG 6 PG 14

CELEBRATING SPRING
PG 19

Message from the Mayor

M I K E P E R K I S , S U L L I VA N S I S L A N D
General Obligation Bond Placed After the required sealed bid process, the Town successfully obtained the $4.1 million general obligation bond with a local lending institution. These funds will be used to finance the building of the new Town Hall, Police Station, park enhancements and the purchase of a new ladder truck. Our timing was perfect. The accepted bid has an interest rate of 1.8 percent with the ability to repay portions of the principle on an annual basis from sale of Town property. Interest savings from the original placement plan was over $700,000 and by acting quickly this placement also represents a savings of over $270,000 from the most recent projections by most lending institutions. This is real money and we are thrilled to be able to save this money for our residents. The Town staff is now studying cash flow requirements to determine if there are investment options available to maximize these funds before they are needed. Nature Trails Charleston County Council approved a grant to the Town from the Urban Greenbelt Fund to enhance the Station 16 nature trails to provide enjoyment of the accreted lands and provide better access to the beach. Jeff Jackson, working collaboratively with the local Audubon Society, Lowcountry Open Land Trust, DNR and SCDHEC, recommended some boardwalks be added to follow the contour of the land and several observation decks will be strategically placed to fully capture the essence of a maritime forest eco-system on a barrier island. Included in the grant is the addition of boardwalks to low lying areas on existing access paths. This is to limit damage to the environment and provide additional handicap access to the beach. These plans are still being developed so please become involved as we examine the different options. Town Hall Building The Public Facility Committee continues to work hard on be in a central location within the business district. The latest information on this project is on the Town website. Also the committee meeting schedule is also on the town website. You can make comments online and stay engaged. Our Town Hall will be a physical symbol of our community for many years to come so everyones input is important. Update On The Multi-Use Path Construction of the new pedestrian/bike path on the causeway is on schedule and should be completed by the end of May. The new wider path should take the majority of bikers off the roadway making for much safer driving conditions. Please note the new speed limit on the causeway during the construction is 35mph, not the normal 50 mph.

CIVIC

March 28, 2014

Mayor Mike Perkis.

conceptual designs for the new Town Hall/Police building. The committee has had one meeting and several resident such as Steve Herlong, Pat Ilderton, Eddie Fava and Duke Wright have volunteered their time to participate in the design phase. The building is planned for the parking area adjacent to the Fire Station so all Town offices will

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March 28, 2014

Public calls for unity at SI Council meeting

CIVIC

3 LUCKY DOG PUBlISHING O F SC , LL C

ISLAND EYE NEWS EDITOR

BY JENNIFER TUOHY

Publisher of the Island Eye News and the Island Connection

t the recent Sullivans Island Town Council meeting, held Tuesday, March 18, there was CHARLESTON COUNTY WILL BE AERIALLY SPRAYING a plea for town unity from some members STANDING WATER FOR AQUATIC STAGE MOSQUITOES of the public during the public comments session. Based on last few months of meetings Id like THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY FROMMARCH 25 THROUGH MARCH 31 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 6 A.M. AND 9 P.M. to address the issue of citizens being allowed to address council during meetings and being small, very fragile little neighborhood. aggressive and throwing accusations, town Mayor Perkis addressed Brown directly. resident Wayne Stelljes said. Id like to suggest We heard you, he said. And we have advised public comments not be allowed during the the planning commission that Council does not meetings. Its clearly become a charade, this isnt support a dock there. We have an ordinance that open mic night. This is a place for serious business. prohibits docs between St. 18 and St. 27. Enough is enough. Loren Ziff stood to express public thanks to Nancy Carroll Geckler stood up in support of Council for their work on the elementary school. Stelljes. I wanted to thank Council for all the hard The lessons of history are here on the island, work theyve done with the school. Theres a lot of she said. There has been a lot of division and a lot excitement within the school about moving over, of war, we need to learn from history. We dont need he said. Were in the process of looking at ocean another hurricane to teach us the power of unity. touch tanks to really bring the environment into I would plead with you to go to your churches and the school and were revamping the curriculum to pray for the spirit of unity. In other public comments, resident Heidi Brown really take advantage of our phenomenal location. appealed to Council to re-consider the proposed Thank you doesnt even begin to encapsulate it. In other construction news the Town Council is installation of a public dock from Ben Sawyer Bridge actively seeking public input on the construction of through the marsh to near her home on St. 21. the new Town Hall. The Public Facilities Committee Were a very fragile little neighborhood there and met Tuesday, March 25, where the latest changes we have an increasing amount of traffic in our area, of conceptual design based on feedback from the she said. Weve been bombarded on all three sides by commercial. In order to get this dock it has to be community were scheduled to be discussed. To public, it will be a fishing pier, which means it will provide input visit www.sullivansisland-sc.com/ have to have water and bathrooms. You cant park SITownHallProject. The next Town Council meeting will be held on Ben Sawyer so theyll all be parking on Patriots Street or St. 22, she said. Please consider a very Tuesday, April 22, 2014.

Lynn Pierotti publisher lynn@luckydognews.com Jennifer Tuohy managing editor jennifer@luckydognews.com Swan Richards graphic designer swan@luckydognews.com Lori McGee 614.0901 Catherine Lambert 452.9903 advertising executives Christian LeBlanc social media christian@luckydognews.com Steve Rosamilia photographer Contributors: Judy Drew Fairchild Bob Hooper Lauren Adams Kaye Smith Laura Bright Sarah Reynolds Katie Ditloff Bill Martin Nicole Streetman Delores Schweitzer Dimi Matouchev Jeanne Juhos Published by: Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina, LLC P.O. Box 837 Sullivans Island, SC 29482 843-886-NEWS Submit your letters to the editor to: info@luckydognews.com Future deadline: April 2 for our April 11 issue The Island Eye News, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lucky Dog Publishing of SC LLC, is a free, independent newspaper published every two weeks and is for and about the Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Goat Island and Dewees Island. Copies are mailed free of charge to every active mailbox in our coverage area and are also available at area businesses. Contributions of information, pictures and articles are welcomed and are used according to space limitations and news value and cannot be returned except by special request. Op-ed articles and letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Lucky Dog News, or its writers. All advertising rates are listed at: WWW.ISLANDEYENEWS.COM under advertising.

Isle of Palms 886.6428 www.iop.net

Recycle - WEDNESDAY- APRIL 2 - Recycle

1207 Palm Boulevard Planning Commission 4:30 p.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard 2213 Middle Street.

Civic Calendar

Tuesday, April 1 Board of Zoning Appeals 5:30 p.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard Wednesday, April 2 Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee 11 a.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard Monday, April 7 Recreation Committee 5 p.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard Tuesday, April 8 Real Property Committee 5:30 p.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard Wednesday, April 9 Municipal Court 9 a.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard
Public Safety Committee 10 a.m.

Thursday, April 10 Personnel Committee 10 a.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard

Livability Court 5 p.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard Public Works Committee 5:30 p.m. 1207 Palm Boulevard Sullivan's Island 883.3198 www.sullivansisland-sc.com

Friday, April 4 Water & Sewer Committee of Council 9 a.m. 2050 Middle Street Monday, April 7 Council Workshop 6 p.m. 2050 Middle Street Tuesday, April 8 Municipal Court* 5:30 p.m. 2050 Middle Street Wednesday, April 9 Coffee with the Chief! See Wednesday, April 2.
Planning Commission 6:30 p.m. 2050 Middle Street

Monday, March 31-April 2 Municipal Court Jury Trials 2 p.m. Island Club, 1453 Hennessy St Wednesday, April 2 Coffee with the Chief! Stop by for a chat about SI with Police Chief Howard at Cafe Medley. 8:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 10 Municipal Court* 6 p.m. 2050 Middle Street

* Bench Trials will be at a temporary Town Hall facility located behind the Fire Station, next to the Stith Park (2050 Middle Street). Contact SI Clerk of Court directly at 883-5734 (Maria LoRusso) for payments or questions.

I O P W E L C O M E S I G N S T O G E T D I G I TA L U P D AT E

Signs of the times

ISLAND EYE NEWS EDITOR

CIVIC

March 28, 2014

BY JENNIFER TUOHY

he entrance to the Isle of Palms may be getting a high tech makeover courtesy of proposed digital message boards. The old analogue boards at the intersection of 14th Avenue and Palm Boulevard and at Breach Inlet are in the process of being replaced to provide more time-efficient, visually appealing welcome and information signs. The existing signs are in such a shape that they would need to be refurbished even if they werent changed, said Emily Dziuban, Assistant to the Isle of Palms City Administrator. They are also very labor intensive. The letters are stored at the recreation center and someone has to go down and change the signs almost every day. It gets tricky to do especially if there is something that changes at short notice. Currently it takes recreation staff an average of 7.5 hours a month to update the signs, something that could be done instantaneously if the sign were electronic. This would be especially important in the event of some type of emergency or weather

Rendition of proposed new digital sign.

Current sign.

he Island Eye News is looking to hire a part-time reporter to assist with covering municipal government on the Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island. The successful candidate will be required to attend various municipal committee meetings and translate the information succinctly and entertainingly to the citizens of the islands. He or she will also have the opportunity to contribute occasional feature stories to the newspaper. Previous reporting experience preferred, but training will be offered to a candidate who demonstrates enthusiasm and interest in the subject matter. To apply for the position please email a cover letter, resume and samples of your writing to jennifer@ luckydognews.com, or drop them by the Island Eye News office at 2205 Middle Street Sullivans Island, SC 29482.

Island Eye News seeks community reporter

alert. The city has received the required encroachment permit from the DOT to place the new signs. The next step is to go through the public procurement process. We will send them out to public bid, well publish the design

drawings and let people submit public bids. That process will take 30 to 60 days, Dziuban said. The City Council will then have the opportunity to decide whether to award a contract.

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Fancy footwork at Sullivans St. Paddys Day celebration

PHOTOS BY STEVEN ROSAMILA
FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

March 28, 2014

Jack Kersting helps the Magic Man during the Irishthemed celebrations.

Dancers from Glor Na Daire Academy of Irish dance perform at Sullivans Islands St. Patricks Day celebrations in Stith Park on Saturday, March 15.

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March 28, 2014

IOP Community Yard Sale set for Saturday

The annual community yard sale brings out the bargain hunters.

he Isle of Palms Recreation Department will host the Annual Community Yard Sale onSaturday, March 29 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 24 28thAvenue. Over 50 vendors will be selling used or like new items. Spaces are limited so call and reserve your spot now. For information please contact Will McElheny at843.886.8294or visitwww.iop.net.

He shoots, he scores!

. Frayer from the City of Charleston Peninsula Team takes a shot in his teams 53 47 victory over North Charleston in the All Star Basketball District Tournament. The tournament, which featured players from IOP, St. Andrew, North Charleston, James Island the peninsula and Mount Pleasant, was held at the Isle of Palms Recreation center, Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8.
PHOTO BY STEVEN ROSAMILIA

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East Cooper Meals on Wheels hosts Community Champions week

FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

March 28, 2014

BY LAUREN ADAMS

n Tuesday, March 18, elected officials and members of our community partnered with East Cooper Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to homebound recipients as part of Meals on Wheels Association of Americas national campaign to raise awareness of senior hunger. East Cooper Meals on Wheels welcomed the following participants to the 2014 Community Champions Day: Mayor Linda Page, Mount Pleasant Mayor Pro-Tem, Jerry Kaynard, Sullivans Island Mayor Dick Cronin, Isle of Palms Mark Smith, Town of Mount Pleasant Council Member Thomasena Stokes - Marshall, Town of Mount Pleasant Council Member Christina Zapolski, Miss South Carolina USA March for Meals is a time when the community can come together and support our mission

Mayor Pro-Tem Jerry Kaynard, Sullivan's Island, Mount Pleasant Mayor Linda Page, Mr. George Roberts, President and CEO of East Cooper Meals on Wheels, Mayor Dick Cronin, Isle of Palms

to ensure that no homebound resident goes hungry, said East Cooper Meals on Wheels President and CEO George Roberts. We are excited to have our local elected officials and other special guests

participate in our March for Meals Community Champions week. During their visit, elected officials and other special guests worked side-by-side with volunteers to deliver meals.

East Cooper Meals on Wheels delivers daily nutrition to residents within its service area who are homebound or unable to provide their own meals as well as advocating on behalf of recipients whose needs exceed the scope of its programs. The organizations mission extends beyond the poor elderly to include anyone of any age who is homebound for any length of time and/or unable to independently provide a meal. Most recipients are over 60 years of age and live at or below the poverty line. Each meal delivered provides 33 percent of the Dietary Reference Intake for a senior, with one midday meal being delivered daily to each recipient. The most needy and isolated recipients rely on Meals on Wheels for 66 percent of their DRI through the delivery of a second daily (supper) meal. The find out more and to volunteer visit www.ecmow.org.

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March 28, 2014

Bringing ragin Cajun fun to the Lowcountry

G E T S E T F O R T H E 2 3 R D A N N U A L L O W C O U N T R Y C A J U N F E S T I VA L
FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

BY SARAH REYNOLDS

et ready for some ragin Cajun fun in Charleston! The 23rd Annual Lowcountry Cajun Festival heats up James Island County Park on Sunday, April 6, 2014 from 12 6 p.m. Bringing Louisiana living to the Lowcountry, Cajun Fest is a full-day of Zydeco music, Cajun and Creole foods, childrens activities and lots of entertainment straight from the bayou! Full-bellied fun is what this festival is all about as local and regional restaurants, caterers and food trucks cook up a variety of mouth-watering foods. Savor the tastes of a variety of Cajun and Creole dishes like jambalaya, alligator, etouffe, andouille sausage and of course, crawfish, crawfish, and more crawfish. Also enjoy Lowcountry favorites like

seafood and Southern barbecue, plus traditional festival foods like hot dogs, snow cones, funnel cakes and more. People who love crawfish will discover paradise at the Lowcountry Cajun Festival. Visitors travel from near and far for huge servings of fresh, steaming crawfish, undoubtedly the festivals most popular food item. Those who consider themselves crawfish-eating connoisseurs will have the chance to show off their talent at the popular annual crawfish eating contest, which begins at 2:30 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to sign up for the contest when they arrive at the festival. After getting their fill of spicy food, festival-goers can kick back and enjoy live, non-stop Zydeco music. Featured performers will

be Swamp Pop Princess Shelly Waters, who will take the stage at 1 p.m.; Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, who will perform at 2:15 and 4:45 p.m.; and Felix y Los Gatos, who will play at 3:30 p.m. Other festivities include a crafts market, mechanical rides, inflatables and games for kids. Admission to the Lowcountry Cajun Festival is $10. The event is free for ages 12 and under with a paying adult. Current Gold Pass holders are also admitted free. Gold Passes will not be sold on site the day of the festival, but may be purchased in advance at GoldPassMember.com for $65 ($80 for non-Charleston County residents). Food vendors operate on a ticket basis. No coolers or outside alcohol permitted. Carpooling is highly encouraged. Pets are not permitted to this

event. The dog park at James Island County Park will be closed on April 6 in order to host the festival. This event is hosted by the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, who continues to work with the South Carolina Green Fair to provide recycling and composting stations on site. This Lowcountry Cajun Festival is presented by Southern Eagle Distributing and your Charleston County Parks. For more information, call 795.4386 or visit www. charlestoncountyparks.com/ cajun. Volunteers are also being recruited to help at the Lowcountry Cajun Festival. For more information on volunteering for this and other Charleston County Parks events, call 843.795.4386 or email eguerrero@ccprc.com.

Bye Bye Biggert Waters

OBAMA SIGNS FLOOD INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY ACT INTO LAW
ISLAND EYE NEWS EDITOR

BY JENNIFER TUOHY

n Friday, March 21 WHILE IT IS IMPORTANT TO PUT [THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM] ON SOUND President Barack Obama FINANCIAL FOOTING, MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES signed into law SHOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE INSURANCE the Homeowner THEY NEED TO STAY IN THEIR HOMES. Flood Insurance ~ The White House Affordability Act of 2014 after it passed both the Senate and the House with bipartisan support and overwhelming majorities. The act essentially reverses the Biggert Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, which saw communities across the country facing sky rocketing flood insurance premiums. While it is important to put [the National Flood Insurance Program] on sound financial footing, middle-class families should be able to afford the insurance they need to stay in their homes, the White House said in a statement. The bill allows an existing insurance policy to stay with the home, rather than immediately requiring new owners to pay full risk rates, as Biggert Waters had mandated. The subsidized rates will eventually be phased out, but at no more than 18 percent a year for homeowners, and 25 percent for businesses and second homeowners. There will be refunds for people who have experienced high rate hikes following the sale or purchase of a home. Grandfathered properties built to code after FEMAs flood insurance rate map was introduced (post-FIRM properties) will go back to subsidized rates. These properties will see premium increases, but at a rate of up to 18 percent a year until they reach actuarial rates. However, pre-FIRM grandfathered second homes and commercial properties are not covered by the legislation and could face significant increases. This is of particular concern for historic properties in the Charleston area. Some relief may come in a provision of the bill that requires FEMA to keep flood insurance policies under 1 percent of a property's total coverage.
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10

WELLNESS BOOT CAMPS AND SPRING TRAINING RETURN TO PRIMETIME FITNESS

FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

Get fit this spring

BY STAFF REPORT

March 28, 2014

pring Trainingreturns to PrimeTime Fitness on Monday, March 31.This month-long program promises to start participants on the path to a healthier lifestyle. This outdoor workout will incorporate body weight exercises, core training, cardiovascular activity and flexibility, and is designed to be a precursor for the more intense program, Boot Camp. The class is held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. until April 25, and costs $225 (prorated fees will also be available). Participants that have already been a part of Spring Training and want to take their fitness to the next level may want to partake in the Wellness Boot Camp. Although Spring Training isnt a required prerequisite, members are encouraged to be in good shape before they take on this challenging camp. PrimeTime Fitness and Rise-Well Coaching teamed up to develop the Wellness Boot Camp for partakers of the Spring Training program that wanted to take it to the next level. Working hard in the gym to get fit, but not developing the right eating habits,

mind set, work environments, or having to deal with stress or the responsibility of a family can sidetrack the tip-top level of fitness. The program is eight weeks long, with the opportunity to work one-on-one with a nutritionist and wellness coach to gain the knowledge, motivation, confidence and behaviors to take wellness to the next level, for a lifetime. The schedule of the workshop is as follows: Week 1 In-Home Nutritional Consultation & Grocery Tour Week 2 Wellness Assessment and One-onOne Coaching Week 3 One-on-One Wellness Coaching Week 4 In-Home Massage Week 5 One-on-One Wellness Coaching Week 6 Meal Planning Week 7 One-on-One Wellness Coaching Week 8 Coaching, Massage, or Nutritional Consultation The Wellness Boot Camp is $650 per person with an opportunity to do a 4-week program and a la carte options upon request. For more information call 843.883.0101 for details or go online to www.primetimefit.net.

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March 28, 2014

S U P P O R T S U L L I VA N S PA R K S W I T H A N E V E N I N G O F E X C E L L E N T F O O D A N D E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Get ready for a Round on the Mound

FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

11 Eagles continues from cover some movement inside, and eventually two heads popped up. As the babies cried for food, both adults left the nest and one brought back a fish. One circled periodically and returned to feed the chicks while the other tore off small pieces of fish and fed each baby. This is the first time in the three years of nesting that we have known about a second chick on this platform. If there is a shortage of resources, the older chick will often starve the younger one, so well be watching to see how that all works out. Today, it seemed that both adults were actively feeding both eaglets, so thats a good sign. To see a video of the chicks and follow their progress visit deweesislandblog.com.

BY KAYE SMITH

he Sullivans Island Park Foundation has set Saturday, April 5 as the date for its 3rd annual Round on the Mound. The event will be held on top of the mound in the Marshall Stith Park. The evening starts at 6:30 p.m. with beer, wine and food from the best local restaurants. Every year, with great enthusiasm, these restaurants provide an outstanding array of heavy hors doeuvres. The following establishments are participating: The Co-Op, Taco Mamacita, Caf Medley, Home Team BBQ, Triangle Char Bar, Salt, High Thyme, Sullivans, The Obstinate Daughter and My Fathers Mustache. Edmunds Oast will provide craft beer and Bottles will provide wine. The entertainment portion of the evening begins at 8 p.m., featuring Nashville songwriters who share their songs and the stories behind them, in the spirit of Nashville and the famous Bluebird Caf. It is always a magical evening with rare acoustic performances in an intimate setting with the people that create the music you know and love. The songwriter line-up this year includes Phillip Lammonds, Ruth Collins

and Brett Jones. The fourth songwriter asked to be kept anonymous. Many proclaim this to be their "favorite event of the year." All proceeds from this popular event go to support the parks on Sullivans Island. In order to provide an intimate setting, ticket sales are limited to 350. They may be purchased online at: www. SullivansIslandParkFoundation.org. The money raised is used to improve the quality of the Marshall Stith Park by contributing to the building of two new tennis courts and a full basketball court in 2012. It also purchased new play equipment for children of all ages in the Marshall Stith Park in 2012 and 2013. In 2014, contributions are going to help with an exciting new project; the reconstruction of the Poe Park tennis courts. The project will begin soon and should be completed during the summer months. In the immediate future a master plan is being developed for the Marshall Stith Park. Included in this plan are improvements to the mound, playing fields/green space and overall usability.

March 28
ONGOING EVENTS
Mondays Core and More 10:30-11:30 a.m. Isle of Palms Recreation Center. Build core muscles and a sculpted body with this $10 class every Monday. For more information visit www.iop.net or call 843.886.8294
Ballet (2-5 yrs) Mondays 4/21-5/12, 12:30 p.m.1 p.m., Isle of Palms Recreation Center. $50 residents fee and $55 non-residential fee. For more information call 843.886.8294 or visit www.iop.net and $45 non-residents. For more information call 843.886.8294 or visit www.iop.net Storytime and Arts and Crafts with Mac at the Edgar Allan Poe Library April 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29 at 10:30 a.m. wine, hors d'oeuvres, and live music while visiting this new West Ashley park. A commemorative wine glass is included with admission. Fee: $20/$15 CCR Discount with advance registration. For more information call 843-795-4386 or visit www. charlestoncountyparks.com

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Is l a nd E y e C a l e nda r
IOP Community Yard Sale See details page 7.

April 12
Recreation Center. Ages 1.53 years old are welcome for $10. For more information call 843.886.8294 or visit www.iop.net Mommy/Daddy & Me 9:30-11 a.m., free at the Isle of Palms Recreation Center. For more information call 843.886.8294 or visit www.iop.net charlestoncountyparks.com or call 843.795.4386. Todd Sniders What the Folk Festival April 11-12, Sewee Outpost Awendaw. Todd Sniders traveling What the Folk show is coming through for the inaugural festival. Todd Snider-The Bottle Rockets Kevn Kinney-Charlie Mars-Pierce Eden & the Dirty Work-Megan Jean& the KFB SwampcandyDoug Jones-HalleyAnna FinlaySierra Elizabeth Ferrell Vinegar Creek Constituency-Ryan BonnerDanielle Howle and special guests will be playing. Visit www. whatthefolkfest.org

Wednesdays Little Lotus Yoga (3-5 Yrs) Wednesdays, 12:30 1:15 p.m., April 2 through May 14. $60 residents/$65 non-residents. Register www.iop.net. Call 843.886.8294 for more information and to register.
Barn Jam The Awendaw Green Barn every Wednesday, 6-10 p.m. $5 at the door, all ages welcome. Enjoy a night of diverse music from around the globe on the uniquely bohemian ground of the Sewee Outpost. Wood fired pizza and fresh grilled oysters (while in season) will be available as well as libations. www.facebook.com/ awendawgreen Wine Down Wednesday Wednesday, April 2, 16 & 30, 5 7 p.m. Old Towne Creek County Park. Old Towne Creek County Park is not yet open to the public, but on select dates throughout the year, this property is available to visit during Wine Down Wednesday. Guests will enjoy

Thursdays Mah Jongg Nights (adults) Poes Library hosts Mah Jongg Thursdays at 6 p.m. Learn to play American Mah Jongg. No experience necessary. 1921 Ion Avenue, 883.3914.
Spike Nights Advanced Isle of Palms Recreation Center 5-6:30 p.m., 4/1-4/29. $40 residents fee and $45 for nonresidents. For more information call 843.886.8294 or visit iop.net.

Morning History Walks in honor of the 67th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens 9:30 a.m., 108 Meeting Street. The shops of Historic Charleston Foundation. Led by Charlestons most experienced guides, these two-hour walking tours of the Old & Historic District provide an afternoon or evening house and garden tours. Check in promptly at 9:15 a.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and children are $10. For more information call 843.722.3405.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30
Sea Kayak Instructional Classes: ACA Intro to Kayaking - Level 1 12 p.m.-4 p.m., Meets at James Island County Park, Ages 16 and up. Learn a new sport comfortably and enjoyably. Using a variety of boats, this entry-level course teaches you the basic strokes and skills to have fun on the water! Pre-registration is required. Fee: $42/$35 CCR Discount. For more information call 843.795.4386 or visit charlestoncountyparks.com

SATURDAY, APRIL 5
VFW Fish Fry 6-8 p.m. 1004 Ocean Blvd. Support the veterans and join their first fish fry of the season. Tickets are $8 a plate or all you can eat for $12. For more information call 843.886.6840. Cooper River Bridge Run The annual 10k race across the Ravenel Bridge begins at 8 a.m. The bridge will be closed in both directions from 7 a.m. Play: DIY Arts & Crafts at the Edgar Allan Poe Library 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Being crafty and creative is easy with Ms. Graces help. 1921 I'on Ave. Living History April 5-6, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Dozens of Revolutionary War-era reenactors will bring history to life on the 232nd anniversary of General Nathanael Greene's encampment of the Southern Army at Middleton Place during the Revolutionary War. Living History Days activities are complimentary with regular admission to Middleton Place, visit www.middletonplace.org for details.

FRIDAY, APRIL 11
Coast Paddlesports & Outdoor Festival Friday, April 11, 7 p.m. James Island County Park. Kicking off the festival weekend is a concert in the park by local favorite Sol Driven Train. $10. Concert-goers will receive a discount on the festivals Try It Pass for Saturday or Sunday. Visit charlestoncountyparks.com or call 843.795.4386. East Coast Paddlesports & Outdoor Festival (ECPOF) Friday, April 11 Sunday, April 13, James Island County Park. One of the countrys premier showcases of canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding, the festival now includes a multitude of popular outdoor recreation activities like mountain biking, slack lining, archery, climbing, and disc golf. Park admission starts at $1 per person. To try activities, get the Try It pass for $10. Or, register for a full-day or full-weekend pass. demos and much more. For a full event schedule and to register, visit

SATURDAY, MARCH 29
Play: Clay Craft 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Edgar Allan Poe Sullivans Island Branch Library. Mold and decorate your own pottery masterpiece. Wilderness Explorer Jr. Ranger Program 10 a.m. Learn about wilderness and wilderness safety, go on a wilderness outing and journal the journal in the program booklets. Call the Seewee Center at 843.928.3368 The Holy Cross Island School Open House See details on page 18. Family Circle Cup Tennis Tournament March 29 to April 6, 161 Seven Farms Drive, Daniel Island. Celebrate one of the most rich and traditional events in womens professional tennis. As one of the hottest tickets in professional sports, the Family Circle Cup is more than just a tennis tournaments, its a festival with some world-class sport thrown in. During the week, fans are entertained with a variety of activities aimed at making their week on Daniel Island a memorable one. For more information call 800.677.2293 or visit www.familycirclecup.com

Tuesdays Gymnastics at IOP Rec (3+ years) Tuesdays 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., February 18 March 25, $70 residents/$75 non-residents. Instructor: Tricha Tapio. Register www.iop.net. Call 843.886.8294 for more information and to register.
Tai Chi/Qigong 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Isle of Palms Recreation Center. $10 per class. For more information call 843.886.8294 Spike Nights Beginners Isle of Palms Recreation Center, 5-6:30 p.m. 4/1-4/29, 10-14 years of age welcome. $40 residents

MONDAY, MARCH 31
Spring Training Boot Camp See details on page 10.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12
Americas Boating Course CSPS Headquarters, 1376 Orange Grove Road, West Ashley. Course is free from ages 12-18. The Charleston Sail & Power Squadron will offer a basic training class approved by the SC Department of Natural Resources. The class is open to the public and students who pass the final exam will receive a DNR Boater Education Certificate. Register by contacting rhowells125@gmail.com or by phone 843.437.6241

Fridays Acoustic Sunset Oyster Roast The Wreckfish, 7690 Northwoods Blvd. Every Friday 5-8 p.m. on the outdoor patio. There is $12 all you can eat oysters as well as live music and drink specials. Call 843.580.4040 for more information. Saturdays Celebrate Gullah Heritage with Free Saturday Programs 2 p.m., 1254 Long Point Road. Celebrate Gullah heritage! The National Park Service, in partnership with the Town of Mount Pleasant, is sponsoring a series of free cultural programs at Charles Pinckney National Historic site every Saturday during March. For more information, call 843.881.5516 or visit www.nps. gov/chpi.
Tae Kwon Do for Seniors Must be 50 or older. 9-10 a.m. at the Isle of Palms Recreational Center. $35 resident fee and $40 non-resident fee. There is a drop in fee of $10 per class. For more information call 843.886.8294

TUEsDAY, APRIL 1
After School Adventures: Kayaking 4:30 -6 p.m., meets at Palmetto Islands County Park, Ages 8-12. Paddle after school. Participants will learn basic kayak strokes, and then play some fun paddling games. Pre-registration is required. Fee: $6/$5 CCR Discount. For more information call 843.795.4386 or visit www. charlestoncountyparks.com

WEDNEsDAY, APRIL 2
College Days at the Climbing Wall 12 -7 p.m., Meets at James Island County Park. Climbing is a fun way to get into shape and to meet new people. It is also a great social activity. Students with a current ID receive a free harness and shoe rental with the regular price of admission. Registration is not necessary. Fee: $12. For more information call 843-795-4386 or visit charlestoncountyparks.com

SUNDAY, APRIL 6

Lowcountry Cajun Festival See details page 9.

WEDNEsDAY, APRIL 9
Holiday Happenings 12-2 p.m. Isle of Palms Recreation Center. Ages 3-5 are welcome for some Spring fun. $20 resident fee and $25 non-resident fee. For more information call 843.886.8294 or visit www.iop.net

FRIDAY, APRIL 4
Lil Sports Fit 9:30-10 a.m., Isle of Palms

No shoes, no legs, no problem

MERMAIDS VISIT THE SC AQUARIUM
FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

BY KATE DITLOFF

ith 95 percent of our oceans yet to be discovered, you better believe theres more out there than singing crabs and treasure chests full of gold theres mystery, wonder and worlds waiting to be explored. This spring, sea lore and fantasy flourish at South Carolina Aquarium as mermaid legends come to life in an unforgettable experience. Through April 12-20, the World-Famous Mermaids of Floridas Weeki Wachee Springs will make the Aquariums Great Ocean Tank their home as they

entertain guests of all ages. These underwater beauties will swim alongside fellow aquatic friends as they perform choreography and dance, with further educational programs available during and after the performances. Shows will run daily at 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., each show lasting approximately 20 minutes. Dont miss out on the chance to take a photo with one of the world-famous Weeki Wachee Mermaids while learning about conservation efforts to sustain the beauty of these mermaids and the marine life around them. The performances at the South Carolina Aquarium are included with general admission ticket price. Be sure to book early to ensure that you get to experience this unique enchantment under the sea. Call 843.577.FISH or visit scaquarium.org to purchase your ticket in advance.

March 28, 2014

15

Hope on Goat

he 5th annual Hope on Goat benefit took place Saturday, March 15 from 2-6 p.m. on Goat Island at Goat Island Gatherings. This fundraiser directly benefits the children in the Louies Kids programs.

PHOTOS BY STEVEN ROSAMILIA

WWW.ISLANDEYENEWS.COM

The Co-Op turns 3

he Co-Op on Sullivans Island celebrated its third anniversary Monday, March 10 with a party featuring wine samples from Country Vintner, pizza from D'Alessandro's, crab dip from Big T Coastal Provisions, and Sherry's delicious cake.

Owner, Jess Patterson, far right celebrates his establishments birthday with friends.
PHOTO BY STEVEN ROSAMILIA

18

Ring Around Charleston

BELL RINGERS FROM THREE COUNTRIES CONVERGE ON CHARLESTON FOR A WEEKEND OF CHANGE RINGING BY DELORES SCHWEITZER
FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

March 28, 2014

f Edgar Allan Poe were longing for the jingling, tinkling, rhyming, chiming, clamoring, clanging experience explored in his poem The Bells, he need look no further than the Ring Around Charleston, which took place the weekend of February 21-23. The Holy City is not just a destination for weekends, weddings, or wildlife. With three change ringing church bell towers downtown and one a short drive away on Sullivans Island, Charleston is the most ring-rich city in North America. Consequently the city is a popular mid-winter trip for ringers hoping to improve their skills on different sized bells. Change ringing is essentially the practice of controlling really heavy bells in such a way that a band of 6-12 members can ring simple patterns with a conductor calling changes. A more experienced group can ring elaborate methods called peals and quarter peals, which may last over three hours and go through more than 5000 changes. The North American Guild of Change Ringers defines change ringing as a team sport, a musical performance, an antique art and a demanding patternbased exercise, all at once. And so it

is all those things. Says Eve Gentieu of Sullivans Island, who rings at Stella Maris on the island and Grace Episcopal church downtown, I enjoy four things about change ringing: The challenge getting control of the rope and the bell, and once that is mastered, the continual challenge of learning new methods, how to call changes and methods, and trying to get the big picture of how all the bells fit together. Second, the concentration each person must maintain his own pattern while being aware of what the other ringers are doing. Third, the camaraderie the Charleston bell-ringers are an affable group, and the teamwork that goes into ringing creates a bond between us. Finally, the sound when everything goes right, it is very satisfying to be a part of that glorious noise. This year, the Ring Around Charleston provided opportunities for over 100 ringers from the United States, Canada and Great Britain to try out the bells at different towers, attempt quarter peals and full peals, Bell-ringers continues on page 20
(l to r) Cathy Burton of Mt. Pleasant, SC; Steve Collins of Charleston, SC; Phil Teague of Birmingham, AL; Stephen Aldridge of Leicester, England.

PHOTO BY STEVEN ROSAMILIA

WWW.ISLANDEYENEWS.COM

Celebrating spring
FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

BY NICOLE STREETMAN

he Holy Cross Island School hosts "A Celebration of Spring" open house onSaturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to Noonat its campus, 2520 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island. The open house is for families interested in seeing what the Holy Cross Island Schoolis all about. The preschool formerly known as The Garden School merged with Students at Holy Cross Island School. the preschool program of the HIS based on Daniel Island to create the Sullivans Island Holy Cross Island School and is accepting children ages 1 to 4. The open house event will feature fun for the whole family with jump castles, face painting, games and more. To schedule a tour, call Sue at843.883.3586 or just show up to the open house. Holy Cross Island School on Sullivan's Island offers preschool classes in a fun, challenging and creative environment with specials in Spanish, music, cooking, PE and chapel. Friday fun on the beach and extended day available until2 p.m.

20 Tennis continues from cover Jankovic and Samantha Stosur. Charleston local Shelby Rogers brings the American player list to ten, the most American entries into the main draw since 2001, when 11 players from the U.S. played. While 2014 is the tournaments 15th year in Charleston, its roots are much deeper in the South Carolina history. In fact the Bell-ringers continues from page 19 and participate in Sunday service rings at St. Michael Episcopal, Grace Episcopal, the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, and St. Paul and Stella Maris Catholic Churches. Isabelle Couture of Quebec commented, I loved ringing at Stella Maris, even if we didnt complete our quarter-peal attempt. The bells were small and easy to ring [200-500 pounds], compared to the ones at home, where the tenor is 1600 pounds. Stella Maris ringer Tommy Knisley enjoyed being a tower tourist in his own town, listening to the quarter peals at Grace and St. Michaels, and meeting people from Canada and England. Jackie ORourke of Mt. Pleasant sees ringing as a chance to exercise your brains we well as your arms. She was challenged to tweak her posture of the past seven years. Bob Aldinger from Hendersonville, NC, helped me with my form and how to watch other ringers shoulders and arms pulling down, instead of the ropes. He had me look at the bell differently than Ive done in the past. Just as the Brits drive on the left side of the road, they call bells differently, too, so it is a mental challenge for many new ringers to make the shift. Fortunately, the Brits at RAC are kind and patient with the colonials. Says Arlene Southerland, 14-year ringer and tower captain at Stella Maris, I enjoyed Rodger and Kath Baldwin of Hertfordshire, who coordinated most of the ringing at Stella Maris. Both are in their 80s and still enjoy, teaching, ringing and traveling. Steve Collins started change ringing in Houston 36 years ago and joined the Charleston ringing community in 2003. As some tourists collect lighthouses or National Parks, ringers find themselves collecting towers, particularly when the bands are so welcoming of newcomers. Collins has rung in 17 towers in the US and about 100 in Great Britain, and he still enjoys learning from visiting ringers. Alan Regin of London was a particular inspiration. Regin runs ringing tours of the States where the traveling band ring a peal at a towers, practices with local band and shares a meal after. This year, Alans group completed a full peal of Charleston Surprise Major at Stella Maris with 5152 changes in 2 hours and 30 minutes. The RAC wrapped with a lively party of speeches, awards and singing downtown on Saturday night, but skills and friendships will continue to grow as ringers visit other towers and bands in the interlude, until the tintinnabulation comes happily back around to Charleston in 2016. If you are interested in trying your hand at change ringing contact one of thechurches and ask to speak to the tower captain about practice times and how to get involved. Family Circle Cup was developed before there was even a Womens Tennis Association tour, and has been held in the state for 42 years; 28 in Hilton Head and 15 in Charleston. Throughout that time it has been sponsored by Family Circle magazine Theres really no other event thats had the same title sponsor for that long a period, Moran said. Family Circle got involved in tennis is 1973, when there was no women sports on TV, it was the first womens sporting event broadcast on NBC. Rosie Casals had the distinction of being the tournaments first winner, and her winners check of $30,000 was the biggest single check won by any female professional tennis player in 1973. Her match against Nancy Richey in the final was the first womens tennis match seen on the NBC network. But if youre not sure if tennis is really your thing, theres still a lot of good reasons to check out the tournament next week. We really focus a lot on what happens outside the tennis, Moran said. Our opening weekend is family weekend where kids under 13 are free. There are all sorts of kids activities, jump castles, face painting, tennis clinics. We are really trying to develop that younger generations interest in tennis. Monday, March 31 is the first ever Ladies Day Out. For the price of a regular Monday ticket ($60 for terrace level, $25 for GA grandstand), ladies will enjoy a variety of extra activities including a red carpet entrance and photo opportunity, attendee gifts for the first 1,000 through gates, a tennis fashion show, skirt! Serves Lounge, Vanity Salon Style Bus,

March 28, 2014 seminars on health and wellness and liquor tastings. We also have live music every night, Tuesday through Friday, Moran said. We want people to enjoy the experience outside the stadium just as much as they do inside. The tournament is also an excellent advertisement for the Charleston area. Thursday through Sunday matches will be broadcast live on ESPN2 with tennis veterans Cliff Drysdale and Pam Shriver providing the commentary. Theyve been with us as long as weve been here, Moran said. They love Charleston and welove them. In addition, for the first time all matches played in the stadium will be broadcast live online on ESPN3. But thats no excuse to stay at home to watch great tennis when you can see it live, right here in your own backyard. Tickets to the 2014 Family Circle Cup are on sale viaTicketmaster or by calling the box office at 800. 677.2293. Patrons can purchase single session tickets, or choose from a variety of ticket packages. For more information and for a schedule of matches visit www. familycirclecup.com.

WWW.ISLANDEYENEWS.COM

22

Book Club discusses Scarier than tax time for some And the Mountains Echoed
FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

COMPUTER CORNER
BY BOB HOOPER

March 28, 2014

pril 8 could be a much more important date than that tax date of April 15 if you have Windows XP as your Operating System. That's the date that Microsoft stops supporting the software and hackers/spammers and all other bad guys/gals are waiting for. XP will no longer receive Windows updates, Microsoft Security Essentials updates. So what does that really mean? Your computer will still work, you can still get on the internet, compose documents in Word, do Excel spreadsheets, etc. What can happen is that every time you go on the internet you will be exposing your computer and the contents of it to being "hacked." If you have a large company Microsoft or some other third party company may offer extended service, but at a yearly rate. Those of us who do not have a large company may find ourselves left to the wolves. Most likely the same company offering updates to large companies may offer it to individuals but it is not going to be free! Your best bet is to consider upgrading to a Windows 7 computer or Windows 8. I would suggest (very strongly) that you consider Windows 7 as it is not a great jump from XP. Windows 8 in its latest edition is

much different from XP and would need some serious adjustment. Windows 8 laptops/desktops are about all you can find locally and if needing something now, may be the only option. If you find yourself with 8 and need help I do training and can make it look and function like 7. Windows 7 can be bought online from both Dell and HP right now for between $350 to around $700 (and up) for desktops and starting at about $400 for laptops. They generally have great computing power and should be good for years to come. Windows will still support 7 for many years. Again it's something that using a pro to transfer your data, pictures, songs, etc. from the old to the new will make the whole process much smoother. If you wait until after the April 8 date, your computer will still work, it just will be more venerable to malware attacks including viruses, Trojans, bootkits, bots and many other "wonderful" things. Please remember not to "click" on anything that just pops up and says "YOU WON," because all you are going to win is a headache. As always if you have questions or need help you can call Rent A Bob at 843.822.7794 or email at rentabob@ live.com.

A N U N F O R G E T TA B L E N O V E L A B O U T FINDING A LOST PIECE OF YOURSELF IN SOMEONE ELSE

haled Hosseini, the New York Times bestselling author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, has written a new novel about how we love, how we take care of one another, and how the choices we make resonate through generations. Beach Lovers Book Club will meet at the Edgar Allan Poe Library on April 19 at 10:30 a.m. for coffee, treats, conversation, and a great book discussion on "And the Mountains Echoed." Everyone is welcome.

MPAG holds juried exhibition

FOR ISLAND EYE NEWS

BY JEANNE JUHOS

(l to r)Ann Marie McKay, Barbara Smith, Judith Chamberlin, Becky Taylor and Ginny Versteegen.

he Mount Pleasant Artists Guild held a juried art exhibition as part of the ArtFest at Towne Centre on March 15 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The following awards were presented: First Place Ribbon: Sandra Booker Second Place Ribbon: Mary Brigman Third Place Ribbon: Ginny Versteegen Roberta Smith Watterson Watercolor Award: Becky Taylor People's Choice Award: Faye Sullivan Six Honorable Mention Ribbons were given to the following: Mary Brigman, Susanne Frenzel, Gazie Nagel, Wayne Northcutt, Lynn Salkeld and Nancy Wilson. The Mount Pleasant Artists Guild meetings are held the first night of each month, September through May at the Mount Pleasant City Hall, 100 Ann Edwards Lane. A social is at 6:30 p.m. followed by the meeting at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 7. The speaker will be Brian Koury, whose photography captures moods and reflections of the natural world. His amazing photography is on display at the Charleston Artist Guild Gallery in Charleston. New members, including beginners, are always welcome. For more information visit our website at www.mtpleasantartistsguild.com or call 843.388.5425.