PRESORT STANDARD

US POSTAGE PAID
FOLLY BEACH, SC
PERMIT NO 27
Vol. 2 Issue 9 Folly Beach’s Newspaper February 19, 2010 w FREE

The race for

mayor
By Lauren Dean
Folly Gras
If it’s true that Folly Beach residents savor
contentious elections, this year’s Mayoral race
will not disappoint them. Current Mayor Carl
Beckmann faces challenges from incumbent City
Council members Eddie Ellis and Tim Goodwin
in the Folly Beach elections on April 6.

Carl Beckmann
Beckmann contends that personal
issues that have interfered with Council’s
functioning this past year have likely spurred
interest in both the mayoral race and the
elections for City Council.
A full-time resident of Folly Beach since
1992, Beckmann served a term on the
Planning Commission and was well-known
around town. Prior to the 2006 Folly Beach
elections, Beckmann said a group of residents
approached him and convinced him to run
for mayor. When asked if the people who put
him in office would keep him in office this
go-round, Beckmann admitted that many of
his previous supporters probably would not
vote for him this year.
“I was not beholden to any group,”
Beckmann said. “I did what I thought was
best for the beach, and not everybody was
happy with that. They don’t have all the
answers because they don’t have all the
information. I made my decisions taking
into account all the information.”
Beckmann, who previously promoted
himself as a one-time Mayor, wants to
continue in the position in order to finish
the projects he’s been working on for the past
four years. “There’s a steep learning curve for
a new mayor,” Beckmann said, “and we have

2 0 1 0
important work we need to complete.”

see Mayorial race on page 4

F o l
Ins
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E Save the light page 6 Sol Legare Parade page 7 Crazy Heart page 14
2 February 19, 2010
Letters to the editor...
Dear Editor,
I learned through the Mayor’s letter in
the Sandspur that the City was making
plans to relocate a diagonal so-called
“ditch” on the corner lot at W Ashley
and 9th Street, just down the street from
me,  and relocate Red Sunset Lane by
the river from its present location on  a
man made causeway to possibly a bridge
causeway combination over the creek and
marsh.
I remember the path of the wetlands and
‘whispering tree creek’ back to the river. I
have also ‘heard’ from a knowledgeable
source that there is a request to relocate
part of ‘whispering tree creek’ and fill the
wetlands behind the 9th and West Ashley
wetland area to the river. I have lived here
over 55 years and remember how this area
was before Mosquito Control, in an effort
to have better drainage of the wetlands,
dug some  4’ wide ditches connecting  It would be more proper if the mini
and re-routing some mini creeks in the
area behind West Ashley Avenue from
8th Street to 9th Street back to the river.
OCRM has marked this wetland area
many times.
The main tidal and drainage blockage  is
the small culvert under Red Sunset Lane
that is the main route for in and out tides
and was once 25’ wide marsh and marsh
grass until the Red Sunset Lane causeway
connector filled it in.  Mosquito Control
made parts of these creeks and wetlands
sections into areas that look like ditches, so
I believe that does not make it ok to relocate
the salt water path. I have documented
pictures of the changes over the years and
have seen fiddler crabs and marsh grass
coming back only to be cut down by the
Mosquito Control maintenance crew.  wetlands.
I believe proper research has not been
done regarding filling and re-routing
those so-called “ditches.”  This is where
the tide has come in since I was a kid here
and obviously before that. A study of old
ariel maps will show how the mini creek
winds through the West 9th Street area.  Dear Editor,
When Mosquito Control came in and
dug out  those areas in the  1950’s   they
re-routed the mini creeks and marsh into
straight lines.  Salt water tidal marsh and
creeks cannot be filled or re-routed.
creeks including ‘whispering tree creek’
were put back to there original path
before mosquito control dug them out
and straightened out there path. The
impact to wildlife  and wetlands in
this area need to be considered because
there are only a few acres left untouched
on Folly Island as it is. The bobcat
population has dwindled to just a few
and the natural environment for the birds
www.follycurrent.com
of Folly Beach has all but disappeared
as new sites are developed, especially the
marsh and wetlands.
 Everyone concerned please look into
the projects and contact the necessary
authorities to put a stop to the
unnecessary abuse of the Folly Island
wetlands.  We should  be putting our
efforts to beach erosion as opposed to
spending money to fill and relocate the
 
how.e davis
816 W Ashley
_________________________
Dear Editor,
Recently I received my residential
parking decal application. Stated in bold
I read, “renters are not eligible to receive
parking stickers”. I’m afraid this is the
first of many steps towards becoming
like Kiawah or Seabrook, where property
owner’s associations run the city. When
I moved here as a renter 29 years ago, I
recognized that, unlike other places, Folly
took in and accepted everyone, regardless
of income or family connections. In this
egalitarian atmosphere the garbage man
was as likely as the city attorney to attend
the same oyster roast. People who move
to Folly do so out of choice. Shortly after
establishing residence, they take pride
in and ownership of their Beach. I’ve
witnessed this over and over. This move
to ban renters and give stickers to owners
only is sure to disenfranchise renters, an
important portion of this community. All
permanent year-round residents should
be allowed parking decals. Otherwise,
rename it an “owners” decal because as
presently restricted it is most definitely not
a “residents” decal.
Anton DuMars
606 E Ashlesy
_________________________
Did you know that the mayor of Folly
Beach has an allotted salary of $9,600?
That number is for the entire year, which
by my calculations would barely cover my
share of rent for the quaint dilapidated
beach shack I call home. Carl Beckmann
can attest to the fact that being mayor is
a full-time job. If I run the numbers at
40 hours a week for 48 weeks out of the
year (I threw in 4 weeks of vacation), our
mayor makes a whopping $5 an hour.
Whoa, that is what I call a labor of love
my friends!
see letters on page 3
February 19, 2010 3

letters from page 2
On top of that, I think it is amazing
that an additional two folks are vying for
this job, fellow councilmen Eddie Ellis
and Tim Goodwin. The question becomes
who should we let sweat for this thankless
job. The answer on everyone’s mind
should be whomever you think can best
work with the city council. Remember
now, there is no ‘i’ in team!
Folly government has been sitting in
gridlock that is as bad as our summer
traffic for far too long. Why is that you
may ask? I’ll cut you some slack, and
instead of searching for my soap box to
convince you to be an active citizen and
figure it out for yourself, I’ll give you the
scoop. There are ego issues on the council
that are so atrocious the council can’t
communicate. I saw this first hand at
the last council meeting on January 26th.
Our council failed to get a unanimous
vote to approve the traffic study taken last
summer for review, not to fund changes
nor actively pursue its recommendations,
just for the Planning Commission to
simply review it. The question I pose to
Eddie Ellis, our Council’s token nay sayer,
why on Earth did we conduct the study if
it wasn’t to review it and make changes to
the status quo? Further communication
problems reached a zenith similar to a
frat-tastic burping contest, which emptied
most of the room, when the issue of a
public recycling bin was brought up. I’ll
explain it for those of you who missed
Lauren Dean’s excellent article on the
meeting, which appeared in the Current
on February 5th.
Once upon a time, we had two options
where to put a large multi-purpose
recycling bin out in the land of Folly, and
each site had pros and cons. They were
all discussed and then the magic fairy,
Councilwoman Beck, waived her wand
and said, “How about we let the County
decide between the locations where to
put the bin, since they are the ones who
have to figure out how to empty it.” The
polite peanut gallery nodded to this wise
comment. But then, Councilman Ellis
through efforts of double speak, showed
how his site was better than Councilman
Goodwin’s citing facts from conversations
with the City about the bin. However,
since he had not conveyed any of that
information previously to the council
nor could figure out a way to succinctly
articulate the issue, he decided to win
the argument by boring the council and
peanut gallery to death. Poor Councilman
Goodwin decided to back down off of the
issue while Ellis chuckled and exclaimed,
“Washington has health care reform and
Folly Beach has recycling bins.”
All I have to say is - it is a solitary
recycling bin. The problem of a Folly
Beach recycling bin should not be as
complex as a multibillion dollar reform
which affects every single American.
Anyone who says they are comparable Lynn Pierotti
publisher
should not be in politics.
lynn@luckydognews.com
Yet, all of this aside, you as a resident
can fix this communication problem. Kristin Hackler
Shazam, you can vote! It is seriously that managing editor
simple. The voter registration deadline kristin@luckydognews.com
for Folly’s City Council election is March Lauren Dean
6th, and the actual elections are April 6th. editor
You can read about the candidates, attend lauren@luckydognews.com
the next council meeting, and see these
storybook characters in action. Swan Richards
senior graphic designer
I know, I know… who has time swan@luckydognews.com
anymore for issues that seem to take
care of themselves? However, this stuff Ellie Smith
is seriously important – the government graphic designer
takes our money for this. Folly government
Lori Dalton
affects you everyday whether you are account executive
willing to admit it or not. We all are part lori@luckydognews.com
of “Follitics,” so let’s put a stop to this
nonsense already and demand a change in Richard Brendel
behavior from our council. Get pumped advertising
843-478-0896
for the next Folly Beach Council Meeting,
richard@luckydognews.com
February 23rd on the second floor of City
Hall - Game Time is 7 PM! I will see you •
there.
Contributors
Richards Beck
Sincerely, Captain Geoff Bennett
Kathryn Miller Megan Carroll
PO Box 104 Dept of Natural Resources
Dr. John Nelson
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Future deadlines:
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Call Pet Helpers at 795-1110. Adoption fees: $125 cats & dogs (6 mo. or younger), $100 for 6 mo. or older. $55 for rabbits. Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC
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4 February 19, 2010
Mayorial race from cover
Prominent among these projects are
finalization of the Zoning and Land
Development ordinance, the replacement
of the Folly River Bridge, and the
relocation of existing sewerage lines
currently attached to the old bridge, but
required by current codes to be buried
underground, according to Beckmann.
If he is reelected, Beckmann said he
will continue to promote policies that
maintain the flavor and character of
Folly Beach and work to improve public
services.
As for his opponents in the Mayoral
race, Beckmann said they are running for
the job because they think they can do a
better job than he has done, but he thinks
they might be surprised at how difficult
the job really is. He said he brings the
experience the job requires.
Eddie Ellis
Eddie Ellis has lived on Folly Beach
since 1992. His first run for a Council seat
in 2002 was not successful, but Ellis said
positive comments from his supporters
convinced him to get more involved in
local politics and research the big issues in
the community.
“I attended every Council meeting for
two years,” Ellis said, and in 2003 he was
appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
When he ran for Council again in 2004,
he was elected, and in 2008 he received
more votes than any other candidate for
CIVIC
Council – 72% of the votes according to
Ellis.
Ellis said he is running because very
little has been accomplished during the past
couple of years in which Council members
have been at odds with the Mayor’s office.
“Improve these relationships," Ellis said,
“and things will start moving again.”
Another goal is to alter the financial
course the City is on by limiting
government growth and decreasing
unnecessary spending. As an example,
Ellis cited the zoning and land use re-write
performed by Clarion, which he called a
“waste of money.” He said the document
had changed significantly since Clarion
submitted it to the City, due primarily to
the work of the Planning Commission,
and asked why Planning couldn’t have
just written it themselves.
“Our Planning Commission is a great
group of people who know Folly Beach
much better than consultants do,” he said.
“And they’re free.”
The third area of concern to Ellis
is how to balance quality of life issues
for residents with the interests of the
business community. He said he would
encourage complimentary businesses that
would create a thriving, viable downtown
business district, but limit seasonal
vendors who compete with year-round
business interests.
Ellis said local business owners are
opposed to vendors having items such
as boogie boards for rent that could be
purchased from a store on Center Street,
and he quoted a local merchant as having
told him, “I don’t want them (rentals)
making a dime on something I have
available in my store.”
Ellis said he is running because he
can achieve his goals more effectively as
Mayor. He admits to having his critics,
but said people know he is honest and
does his homework. “Whatever I say is
straight from the hip,” he said.
Tim Goodwin
The day Tim Goodwin moved to
the island in 1998, Folly Beach was
celebrating its 25th anniversary as a City.
When he came across the bridge and saw
all the traffic, Goodwin told friends who
were helping him move, “Let’s unload
the truck and go downtown and enjoy
the party. No way I’m dealing with that
traffic today.”
Twelve years later, we’ve got traffic
problems that could not even be imagined
back then and Goodwin is still here
enjoying the party. He and his wife
became involved in various community
events and fundraisers, and people started
talking to him about running for public
office. “I’m not a politician,” he told
them, but nonetheless Goodwin ran for
the vacant Council seat created by the
death of Councilman Harvey Wittschen
in 2002. He was re-elected in 2004 and
2008.
“Ten years ago, I described myself as
a ‘concerned citizen’ – not a ‘politician’
– and that’s the way I still feel, but I see
our City headed in the wrong direction,”
Goodwin said. “Residents feel like they
don’t know what’s going on in the City
and that people are making their decisions
for them.”
One of Goodwin’s top priorities is
to utilize information technology so
Folly Beach residents are fully informed
about meetings and issues and have the
opportunity to make information-based
decisions. “You’ll always have different
opinions,” he said, “but common ground
is better reached when everyone has access
to the same information.”
Governments, like people, prosper when
they live within their means. Because such
a large percentage of Folly revenues are
derived from the tourist industry, money
is set aside to pay for services in the event
of another disaster like Hugo that could
shut our economy down.
Goodwin decries the “current
mentality” of taking money out of the
reserve fund when expenditures on
projects cost more than expected, and
cites the present administration’s failure
to do sufficient research on the front end
regarding the “real cost” of projects as an
example of poor use of taxpayer money.
Goodwin spent 28 years as a safety
and occupational health manager at
DuPont and said his experience managing
departmental budgets has given him the
insight to oversee a rapidly increasing
City budget and his 32 years as a state-
registered EMT and fire instructor helps
him understand the increasing demands
on the Department of Public Safety.
Thomas Jefferson warned us that “People
get the government they deserve.” Past Folly
Beach elections have been hotly contested -
residents talk about little else for two months
- and then very few people actually show up
to vote. In order to vote in the Folly Beach
election this year, you must register to vote
by March 6. Voter registration forms are
available at City Hall or the Folly Beach
Branch Library.

A letter from the editor...

Hello again to those of you who know me from around town or from my previous
gig covering Folly Beach for The Journal. For those of you who don’t know me, let
me introduce myself. I’m a University of South Carolina graduate with an MMC
- Masters in Mass Communication. I’ve worked regularly for The State and the
Greenville News-Piedmont and published magazine articles on a variety of topics
for about 30 years.

Although I have lived on Folly since 2003, I don’t know everything that’s going
on, so I hope I can depend on my readers to keep me “On The Edge.” If you hear
about something or have information or concerns to share, please feel free to get
in touch with me. Two potential stories came my way just last week via alert Folly
Beach residents. Inquiring minds want to know! I also want to point out, however,
that rumors run rampant on Folly Beach. Don’t believe everything you hear. Check
it out first in The Folly Current!

I want to tell those readers who asked - and those who didn’t ask, but wondered
- that “The Police Blotter” is alive and well. The reason you have not seen it in the
past two editions of The Folly Current is simply because Public Safety has not had
anything interesting to investigate. Not to worry though, Chief Boatwright said
he expects things to start picking up any day now. So stay tuned, and look for “The
Police Blotter” to reappear again in the March 3rd issue.

I am looking forward to editing The Folly Current and hope I can count on my
readers to help keep me informed. You can reach me laurendean1@comcast.net or
588-2836. I look forward to talking with you.

Lauren Dean
Editor, The Folly Current

www.follycurrent.com
February 19, 2010
New Zoning & Land Use ordinance to be unveiled
C
ity Council will give first reading
to the new zoning and land use
ordinance when it meets on
February 23. This ordinance (commonly
referred to as the “zoning re-write”) is
the culmination of three years’ work
by Clarion, City Council and the
Planning Commission. According to
Zoning Administrator Aaron Pope, the
code has been reorganized into a more
comprehensive and understandable
document. He added that these
proposed changes range from “modern
to radical” and are the sorts of issues
that will potentially impact the lives of
many Folly Beach residents.
One major change is to base house
size on lot size and to limit coverage to
35% of a lot’s high ground. Homes on
standard lots cannot exceed 3,600 square
feet and smaller lots would be limited to
homes of 3,100 square feet. Building a
home of the maximum permitted size –
4,500 square feet – would require a lot
twice the size of standard or “normal”
lots.
Multi-family housing will be an
allowable use again, but there will be
strict controls on the type and height
of these units, with only townhouses
no taller than 24 feet above Base Flood
Elevation (BFE) permitted. Multifamily
will be limited to the existing R-3 and
C-4 zoning districts. There are currently
only two undeveloped properties that
Sudoku
Solution on page 13
CIVIC
By Lauren Dean
meet the criteria for multi-family usage,
according to Pope.
Lots zoned for duplexes (currently
R-2) will be allowed to build detached
units rather than forcing two units
into a single structure. Pope said this
change will increase the “cottage feel”
of our community by scattering smaller
dwellings and eliminating the larger
structures that many residents feel are
out of character for Folly.
Vacation rental issues will be addressed
through a new program of education and
business license provisions, one of which
will require all rental property owners
to have a designated local contact to
deal with any issues that arise. Rental
agencies will be required to post City
regulations in rental properties and to
have renters sign an acknowledgement of
these rules. Although these regulations
are not part of the ordinance, Council
can pass these regulations concurrently.
Bars, restaurants and clubs will be
limited to the Downtown Commercial
Area currently zoned C-1.
Pope called the zoning re-write “the
most met-about subject” in his eight years
as Zoning Administrator, but laments
the fact that so few residents showed up
to participate in the process. “In three
years, we probably had 100 meetings
to which the public was invited, yet no
one showed up for at least 80% of these
Level: Hard
www.follycurrent.com
meetings.” In spite of all this, Pope said
there will be people who say “Why are
they rushing this thing?”
“When people see that Council is
ready to adopt these changes, they’ll
start coming out of the woodworks and
I’m afraid we’ll have to start rehashing
everything all over again.” Pope said.
He said there also will be people
who take issue that Council is trying to
pass the new zoning regulations before
the City elections in April, but pointed
out that after the election there will
be potentially four new faces on the
Planning Commission and Folly Beach
will have lost the expertise of half the
people who have worked so hard to
hammer out the details of this new land
use law.
After first reading on February 23,
the Zoning & Land Use Ordinance will
go to the Planning Commission, which
has scheduled a Public Hearing for
Monday, March 1. The entire proposal is
5
available on line at cityoffollybeach.com.
Interested residents may also contact
Pope directly at 588-2447 ext. 1839 or
e-mail him at apope@cityoffollybeach.
com.
Pope acknowledged recent complaints
about lack of effort by the City to keep
residents informed about what is going
on in their community, but he said
meeting dates and times as well as
agendas for these meetings are posted
on the website and at City Hall and the
Post Office. Numerous demands on a
small staff make it impossible to notify
residents individually of upcoming
meetings and public hearings, according
to Pope.
“At some level there is a basic
responsibility for civic minded residents
to seek out information rather than
have it delivered to them,” Pope said.
“It is frustrating to make efforts to get
information out and then be accused of
not being transparent.”
6 February 19, 2010

Save the Light Marathon

By Lauren Dean
The National Society of the
Children of the American Revolution
chose Save the Light as their 2010
Charity of the Year, and hard-working
volunteers Emily Falkenstein and her
grandparents drove through heavy snow
all the way from Washington, D.C. to
help with registration, according to
Oswald. Other volunteers came from
The Citadel Engineering Department,
the College of Charleston, MUSC,
Porter-Gaud School and, of course,
The Anderson South Carolina Leukemia Society
Save the Light. 
photo by Richard Beck “It was inspiring to see so many

I
t was not an ideal day for a race. Heavy
rains the night before had scattered
huge puddles along the race route,
some of which stretched from each side
almost to the center lane of the street.
The sun came out just at the last
moment. From my vantage point on E.
Arctic Avenue, I experienced the same
thrill I get each year as the first flood of
runners surged past me. I saw the group
of teen-agers from Anderson in their long-
sleeved yellow shirts - pony tails flopping,
smiles as wide as their faces - glide by in
tight formation. A man running behind a
baby stroller waved as he went by.
I saw many of these same faces go by
my house later in the day as they finished
the last leg of the race. Some were still
running, many were walking, and the
last, courageous, sweat-soaked stragglers
simply willed themselves toward the finish
line. What dedication! One woman flew
in from Wisconsin just for the race and
finished third in the “female best overall”
category! I’ll bet she was running for more
than the exercise.
People care about saving the Morris third, Elizabeth Holland, Neewah, WI. young people getting up early on
Island Lighthouse. What’s gone, is gone a Saturday morning to help with a
Event coordinator Doug Oswald said
forever, and without the monumental and more people signed up to participate in community project,” Oswald said, adding
prolonged efforts by many people who the race this year than in any previous that it would have been impossible to
have worked long and hard to raise money year. In the past there have been more stage such an event without the backing
and awareness, she would likely have 5-K runners, he said, but this year more and assistance of Mayor Beckmann, City
slipped into the sea by now. Council, and Chief Terry Boatwright and
runners opted for the half-marathon.
the Public Safety Officers.
Pat Stormer, a Save the Light volunteer “Not only does the Run benefit the
who helped coordinate the race, was pleased preservation of the Morris
to report that there were 789 runners in Island Lighthouse, it brings a Elizabeth Holland traveled all
the Save the Light Half-Marathon & 5-K lot of people to Folly Beach at the way from Wisconsin to
this year and that more than $7,700 was a slow time of year,” Oswald compete in the race.
raised to help in the stabilization of the said.  “Eight hundred hungry,
lighthouse. thirsty runners and their
Winners were: Half-Marathon first, friends and families can make
Ryan Robinson, Anderson, SC; second, quite an impact on the local
Kent Wilson, Candler, NC; third, David economy.”
Quick, Mt. Pleasant, SC. 5-K first, Chris Sponsors of the event
Hicks, Florence, SC; second, Tyler include Piggly Wiggly, Holiday
Cross, James Island, SC; third, Anne Inn, Avocet Realty,  Bagel
Wyman Cipolla, Charleston, SC. Men’s Cafe (formerly Bagel Nation),
Over-all first, Ryan Robinson, Anderson, Rita’s, Charleston County
SC; second, Kent Wilson, Candler, NC; Parks, Recreation & Tourism
third, David Quick, Mt. Pleasant, SC. Commission, Ohlandt
Women’s Over-all first, Anne Clinton, Veterinary Clinic, and C.R.
Charleston, SC; second, Arden Stelly; Hipp.

Home sales blues

A summary of the 2009 island real estate market
By James T. Sears, PhD

Y
ou don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows and you don’t
need an analyst to tell you 2009 was a troublesome year for real estate sellers,
investors, or owners with shrinking or cancelled home equity lines. There were,
however, noteworthy variations in the Charleston market.
Sales volume for single family homes, condos and townhouses picked up significantly
during the fourth quarter (notice I didn’t say sale prices). There was a 44% increase in
the number of homes sold through the Charleston Trident MLS from October through
December 2009 compared to the prior year, but the median sales price dropped about
5%.
The market varied, however, across price points in the county. While there was a
53% increase in sales volume for homes under $200k from the fourth quarter of ’08 to changes appear in Table 2(below).
’09, the market was virtually unchanged for homes selling at a million dollars or more. The decline in sales price, however, has been felt unevenly across the islands, especially
In 2009, 41% of all homes sold were under $200k compared to 35% in 2008. when one compares these data to the market height in 2006.
For 2009 as a whole, the Charleston County home market fared poorly. Last year As Figure 1 (on page 11) shows, the median sales price for all homes (single family,
the median sales price for all homes dropped 12% (from $255k to $228k), the price per
square foot (S/F) collapsed (from $178 to $139), days on the market (DOM) increased
from 115 to 131, months of inventory inched up from 18 to 19 (6 months is considered
a balanced market), and overall sales volume declined 9% (from 4375 to 3986).
What about the islands? Although the overall trend from 2008 to 2009 was downward,
there were variations. Months of inventory increased in most areas, but Kiawah, Edisto,
and Sullivan’s Island improved. Table 1 (next column) details the months of inventory
and number of homes sold (in parentheses) since the market height in 2006.
There was a downward spiral in median sale price and average price per square foot
across the islands. Prices tumbled most on Edisto and Kiawah, where the median see Real Estate on page 11
home price dropped 40.6% and 39.5%, respectively, from 2008 levels. These and other

www.follycurrent.com
February 19, 2010 7

Sol Legare marches in

the King Holiday Parade Snowin’ on Folly
by Corie Hipp

J oseph Jose, James Brown and Ernest Parks of Sol Legare stole the show as they
entertained the crowded streets of downtown Charleston during the King Holiday
Parade on January 18. As active members in the restoration of the Seashore Farmers’
Lodge 767 on Sol Legare, the three men reenacted an old photo from 1938 of their
grandfathers marching in the same parade. Other neighbors followed in a float covered
in photos, paying tribute to the extensive restoration of the Lodge which has spanned
the past year.

Caitie McCarty, 5, a Lowcountry Rescued Lab, displays her instinctive lead sled
dog pose in the snowfall after a winter storm swept past the coast on Saturday
morning. Local area schools, public offices and institutions closed early Friday
afternoon as forecasters predicted howling winds, freezing temperatures and
closed roadways before snow accumulation began in the evening and overnight
hours. Folly Beach citizens braved out these “extreme” conditions Saturday
afternoon, refusing to cancel their FollyGras parade and pre-Lenten celebration.

(above) Participants recreate a photo from 1938 (below) during the 2010 MLK Parade in
downtown Charleston.

www.follycurrent.com
 Folly Current Calendar
Tuesday, February 23
Folly City Council meeting
7pm at Folly Beach City Hall, located at
21 Center St. For more info, visit www.
cityoffollybeach.com or call 588-2447.
Wednesday, February 24
After School Rock Climb
After school, come out and climb with us!  visit legarefarms.org
Learn some basic climbing skills and have
some fun at James Island County Park.  Pre-
registration required. Ages 6 – 12. 2:30pm-
5:00pm. Course # 21623. Fee: $12/$10 CCR
Discount. 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.
Friday, February 26
Moonlight Wall Climb
Enjoy an evening under the moon at The
Climbing Wall at James Island County
Park. Try your favorite route from a different
perspective. Equipment not included
in climbing fee; bring your headlamp/
flashlight. 5pm - 8pm.  Course # 21667. Fee:
$12/$10 CCR Discount. For more info, call
795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.
February 5 - March 14
Sunday, February 28
Legare Farms Winterfest
New this year! From 4-7pm, enjoy local music,
a bonfire, hotdogs, smores, oysters, chili,
gumbo, games for the kids, adult beverages
and more. There will be an open call for
musicians so bring your musical instrument
and join in. for more info or to buy tickets,
Folly Exchange Club Oyster Roast
The Annual Exchange Club Oyster Roast
will be held on Bowens Island from 1-4pm,
with entertainment provided by the Shakin’
Martinis. Tickets are $20 and can be
purchased from an Exchange Club member or
at the event. BYOB and coolers allowed.
Paws Go Red
MUSC, The American Heart Association,
and Pet Helpers team up at the James Island
County Park for human and canine health,
featuring health screenings for dogs and
owners, pet and owner photo sessions, dog
walk, Go Red dog costume competition, and
more! Cost: $1 to enter the park. For more info
call 795-1110 or visit pethelpers.org.
Monday, March 1
Folly Beach Planning Commission
7pm in Folly Beach City Council chambers,
located at 21 Center Street. For more info, visit
www.cityoffollybeach.com or call 588-2447.
Tuesday, March 2
Read Across America Day/Dr. Seuss’
Birthday
Become a Master Naturalist
CCPRC and Clemson University are offering
the Certified Master Naturalist program
for people interested in understanding
and protecting the state’s valuable natural
resources.  MN candidates complete a 13 day
field study course led by a variety of experts in
some of the state’s most beautiful natural areas
as they learn and practice skills naturalists use
to “read” the natural world. Course # 22049.
Caw Caw Interpretive Center. Age: 18 & up.
Fee: $625/$600 CCR Discount. For more info,
call 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.
Thursday, March 4
BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival
March 4-7, 2010. Celebrating its five-year
anniversary, the Charleston Wine + Food
Festival draws top chefs and culinary experts
from around the world. Guests will indulge
in the unique flavors of the Lowcountry,
while feasting on epicurean delights of
the nation’s best chefs, authors and wine
experts. The 2010 festival will feature world-
renowned Chef / Restaurateur Daniel Boulud
as the headlining celebrity chef. For more
information, please call 727-9998 or visit
www.charlestonwineandfood.com.
Saturday, March 6
ACA Introduction to Kayaking -Level 1
Let our ACA certified instructors help you
learn a new skill comfortably and enjoyably at
James Island County Park.  Using a variety of
boats, this entry-level course teaches you basic
strokes and skills to have fun on the water!  Beach.
Pre-registration required. 1pm-5pm. Course
# 22006 Age: 16 & up. Fee: $42/$35 CCR
Discount. 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.
Sunday, March 7
Doggy and Me Day Hike
We welcome friendly, social dogs and their
owners to come explore trails in Francis
Marion National Forest with us.  Owners
and dogs should each have their own water
and snacks.  Meet at the trailhead. 1pm-4pm.
Course # 22098. Fee: $12/$10 CCR Discount.
795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.
Friday, March 12
Folly Beach County Park Bird Walk
Birding experts from Charleston County
Parks and the South Carolina Audubon
Society explore Folly Beach in this partnership
program.  This walk focuses on the southern
shoreline of Folly Beach.  A chaperone is
required for participants ages 15 and under.
10:30am-12:30pm. Course # 22104. Age: 12
& up. 795-4386 or visit www.ccprc.com.
Saturday, March 13
Palmetto Pump & USA Climbing
Competition
Climbers of all ages and abilities will enjoy
competing on these new challenging and fun
routes.  Categories are determined by age
and gender.  No competition experience is
necessary.  Space is limited, so register early
and save. For ages 4+. 8am-2pm. James Island
County Park. Fee: $30. 795-4386 or visit
www.ccprc.com.
“Murder Me, I’m Irish …”
Join the Women’s Guild of Our Lady of Good
Council at the “Shakin’ Shamrock Pub” for
a St. Patty’s Day celebration with a forecast
for murder. A traditional Irish dinner will be
served as participants try to solve the mystery.
Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $20 each
and may be purchased after each Sunday Mass
or from members of the Women’s Guild. Fr.
Kelly Hall at 105 West Hudson Avenue, Folly
Sunday, March 14
Daylight Savings
“Spring” those
clocks forward
one hour!
Family Climbing
- Family Belay Lesson
A great way to spend time together climbing
and learning new skills!  Children ages
4-13 will climb while parents learn to belay. 
Children ages 14 and up can learn to belay as
well as climb.  Pre-registration required. 1pm
- 4pm at James Island County Park. Course #
22063. Age: 4 & up. Fee: $16/$13. For more
information, call 795-4FUN(4386) or visit
www.ccprc.com.
10 February 19, 2010

Folly Gras
T
he second Folly Gras was a big success, according to festival coordinator Mary
Cunningham, who estimated that approximately 3,000 people attended the
Mardi Gras knock-off this year.
Mayor Carl Beckmann and his wife Liz - King and Queen of the festival – led
the parade down Center Street, followed by a collection of mostly golf-cart floats.
Cunningham said she hopes there will be more real floats next year to make the event
even more festive.
Awards were given for Best Float, West End Crew; Best Golf Cart, Follywood;
Best Costume, Cheryl Fallaw. After much deliberation (and some second helpings)
by the Folly Restaurant Critics, the award for Best Food Fare was given to The Surf
Bar. It was a difficult choice, according to Sharon Geiger, who said the boiled crawfish
clinched it for her.
“I think we’ve started a great tradition, Cunningham said. “Some people complained
that it was too cold and we should have Folly Gras later in the year, but that wouldn’t
make any sense. Even as cold as it was, we had a really good crowd.”

www.follycurrent.com
February 19, 2010
Real Estate from page 6
condos, villas, townhouses) has declined
the least on Seabrook, which registered a
19.4% loss since 2006, followed by Daniel
Island (-27.4%). The steepest declines are
Edisto (-61.9%) and Sullivan’s Island
(-51.2%).
There has also been a year-to-year
erosion of the price per square foot (s/f)
from 2006 through 2009, as illustrated in
Figure 2(below).
Some communities, most notably
Daniel Island, have remained relatively
unchanged (declining from $252 s/f to
$208), while others have seen dramatic
reductions. The average price per square
foot for a home sold on Sullivan’s Island
has dropped from $873 to $575. It has,
however, regained its moniker as the
priciest real estate in the area after falling
below Kiawah and Isle of Palms in 2008.
Chill & Grill
Tuesdays – John Woodward and
Friends
Wednesdays – Kevin West
2/19 Suspicious Package
2/20 Elise Testone & the Freeloaders
2/25 The Hawkes
2/26 Po Ridge
2/27 Sho Enuff
3/5 - Louis B project
3/6 – Stereo Reform
3/12 – Soul Captive
3/13 – Dantes Camaro
BLU
2/21 – Nickolai Svishev
2/24 – Calvin Taylor
2/28 – Eric Penrod
Planet Follywood
Fridays and Saturdays – Dan Clamp
Late February fishing report
Although home sale volume (at least in
the first quarter) likely will be strong in
Charleston County’s lower end markets,
there is little optimism for a turn-around
in luxury homes (>$1 million). As I have By Captain Geoff Bennett
W
detailed in my 2010 analysis, (see the e’ve had streaks of rainy and
Reports and Analysis section at www. windy conditions over the last
searspartners.com), we have yet to see
few weeks. Fortunately, the
the bottom of the housing market, and
sales will remain anemic at this end of temperatures have been holding steady
the market during 2010. Foreclosures following last month’s cold snap. If you’re
and short sales will continue to drag like me, though, cleaning your rods and
down prices as buyers wait (maybe too reels or working on your boat during nasty
long!) for prices to bottom out or bargain weather can only keep you
down already significantly reduced listing entertained for so long.
prices. The days are starting to
James T. Sears, PhD, is a Real Estate grow noticeably longer
Broker, Realtor and Analyst. He works with and you may soon find
buyers and sellers at AgentOwned Premier yourself with a case of
Realty, where he specializes in residential spring fever.
island real estate and investment properties.
So what’s an angler
He can be reached at property@searspartners.
com or at 843-478-3911. to do in February? The
answer is that you need
to pick and choose your
days. Although few and
far between, the handful
of warmer, sunnier days
this month have produced
some excellent fishing.
Right now, a redfish has two priorities:
don’t get eaten by a dolphin and try to stay
warm. The sun will make the water on the
flats a few degrees warmer and redfish in
large schools will flood these flats.
During these days, the redfish will be
more likely to consider eating, which is
kind of a daily bonus for them this time
of year(though I suspect that, relative to
getting eaten by a dolphin, anything is a
bonus). Once we locate these schools, we
have been fishing with artificial lures about
four to five inches in length called “jerk
shad.” I usually rig jerk shad weedless,
with the point of the hook pressed into the
lure’s back. The profile of this lure is not
only slender but also lands softly in the
water, which helps to prevent spooking
these already dolphin-wary schools. You
may want to try a flutter hook, which has
weight on the shank that imparts action
Folly Beac h Tide Char t
Folly music Date High Tide
scene
Feb 19 11:05am/ 11:26pm
Surf Bar
Sundays – Dangermuffin Feb 20 11:48am
2/20 – Guilt Ridden Troubadour Feb 21 12:17am/12:42pm
Sand Dollar Feb 22 1:19am/1:48pm
2/19 & 20 – Nu Attitude Feb 23 2:29am/3:00pm
Folly Beach Crab Shack Feb 24 3:42am/4:12pm
Feb 25 4:50am/5:18pm
Sundays – Live Local Music
Mondays –Open Mic Night Feb 26 5:52am/6:18pm
Tuesdays - Trivia Feb 27 6:47am/7:14pm
Wednesdays – Dave Grunstra
Thursdays – Folly Beach Bluegrass Feb 28 7:39am/8:07pm
Society Mar 1 8:28am/8:58pm
Fridays – Folly Dogs
Saturdays – Sarah Smile Mar 2 9:16am/9:48pm
Mar 3 10:03am/10:37pm
Drop In Deli
Mondays – The Hawkes Mar 4 10:50am/11:28pm
Tuesdays – John Lee
www.follycurrent.com
11
on the lure and will help you cast farther.
On occasion, you will find that
anything cast towards a school will send
the fish fleeing when the lure hits the water.
Live bait fished on the bottom becomes
the best alternative. I really like to use
cracked blue crab with cut mullet as my
second choice. Redfish are
scent feeders and you can
image the scent trail crab
infuses into the water.
Put your bait on a #2/0
or # 3/0 circle hook, add
weight to the line near the
hook to hold the bait on
the bottom and wait for
the fish to come to you.
A circle hook is designed
to catch on the edge of
a fish’s mouth without
any additional pressure
applied by the angler.
Try not to set the hook
yourself until that rod is bent over and the
fish is taking line – much easier said than
done!
Think about calling in sick the next time
a beautiful day comes along. In February,
your boss probably won’t suspect you of
playing hooky to fish.
See you on the water!
Capt. Geoff Bennett operates Charleston
Charter Fishing providing fly fishing and
light tackle charters. Clients choose from a
full menu of fly rods, artificial and live bait
fishing options with charters tailored to their
desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt.
Bennett is committed to providing a safe and
enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels
and ages. For more info, call Capt. Bennett
at 843-324-3332, visit his website at www.
charlestoncharterfishing.com or email him at
captain@charlestoncharterfishing.com.
Low Tide
4:48am/5:00pm
5:36am/5:46pm
6:33am/6:42pm
7:38am/7:47pm
8:49am/8:56pm
9:56am/10:05pm
10:57am/11:08pm
11:52am
12:07am/12:44pm
1:02am/1:32pm
1:55am/2:19pm
2:47am/3:05pm
3:38am/3:51pm
4:29am/4:38pm
12 February 19, 2010

Swallow-tailed Kite A mushy green mystery

By Sarah Dargan Harper By Dr. John Nelson

T T
he Swallow-tailed Kite is a raptor, classifying it in the same family as harriers, here are two basic reasons why you
hawks, and eagles (Accipitridae). Kites are diurnal hunters with a varied diet of should make, and eat, guacamole.
insects, rodents, lizards, snakes and birds, which they often skillfully plucked First, it tastes great. Guacamole,
from tree tops. They are most commonly spotted in forested areas and in wetlands. of course, comes from the avocado plant,
Swallow-tailed Kites usually reach a length of about two feet (including the tail) and which is native to the warm, semitropical
both sexes feature the same plumage. Juveniles are somewhat duller in color and forests of the New World; especially those
their tails are not as deeply forked. Kites are also migratory: they summer in the of the Caribbean and Mexico. Avocados
southeastern United States (somewhat near coastal areas) and are found year-round in have received a lot of bad press as food
a large portion of South America. Although the species is federally classified as “Least sources since they contain a good deal of
Concern”, the State of South Carolina lists the Swallow-tailed Kite as “Endangered”. fat, which seems to be the bane of modern
Destruction of wetlands has directly led to a large decline in populations in the existence, but hold on: it turns out that
southeast, especially in South Carolina and Florida. the fat inside ripe avocados is largely
I took this photo while I was standing on an island in the Tambopata River in a unsaturated, or “good” fat. True, there are
rain-forested area about calories, but for the amount of guacamole
two hours by boat from you eat, it tends to be a lot healthier than
Swallow-tailed Kite
Puerto Maldonado, similar foods with lots of calories. (Some
Peru. I saw a group people use ripe avocado to spread on toast
of about 10-15 kites in place of butter or margarine. There
soaring together about are actually plenty of ways to prepare it.)
30 feet from the ground. Besides, avocados are full of vitamins,
However, by the time I especially E and C, as well as plenty of
grabbed my camera minerals. The flesh is also high in fiber,
and changed the lens, and avocado oil, available as a cosmetic, is
the pseudo-flock had great for your skin.
already dispersed and Making guacamole can be an act of
most had rapidly gained creative genius. Guacamole purists, such
altitude within only a as myself, use a simple preparation of lime
few seconds. juice, salt and pepper (and maybe a little hot
sauce), whereas fancy versions frequently
contain combinations of chopped onion,
tomatoes, jalapeño, coriander…
you get the idea. Perhaps the
compared to the size of the fruit; a common
trait of many (though not all) tropical tree
species. The avocado fruit itself consists
of three distinctive layers. The outermost
layer is the bright, shiny skin (green or
brown depending on the variety), then a
thick, soft interior layer (the wonderful
edible part) and finally a thin, brown shell
which covers the seed. The seed consists
of a humble embryo surrounded by two
swollen yellowish or tan “halves”, which
are what we call the seed-leaves. These
seed-leaves store energy for the tiny embryo
during its early growth. Wash off the seed,
leaving the shell on, and place it big-end
down in a jelly jar holding a little water.
After a couple of weeks, a root will appear
at the bottom as the seed slowly sprouts.
Once the leaves start to expand, you can
pot up the seed, and there you are. A little
bit of the tropics, right in your kitchen or
on the patio.
John Nelson is the curator of the
Herbarium at the University of South
Carolina. As a public service, USC
offers free plant identifications. For more
information about the herbarium, visit
www.herbarium.org or call 803-777-
8196.
PHOTO BY John Nelson

S.C. Wildlife’s 26th annual greatest guacamole controversies

concern its texture: really
smooth vs. a little lumpy.
Outdoor Photo Contest By the way, you might be
interested to know that the

S
outh Carolina Wildlife’s Twenty-
Sixth Annual Outdoor Photography
Competition and Print Exhibition
is open to anyone interested in
photography. The magazine’s award-
winning photography staff will serve
as judges for the contest and winning
prints will be displayed at the 2010
Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic to be held
March 26-28 at the State Fairgrounds in
Columbia. There is no entry fee for the
contest.
The subject matter is wildlife, outdoor
scenes and outdoor resource activities in
South Carolina and photographers can
enter either the “amateur” or “advanced”
categories. Deadline for submissions is
5pm on March 1. A signed and completed
entry form, available at www.scwildlife.
com/photocontest, must be included
with photos.
All entries must be mounted on
mount board or foam core, which avocado plant is a member of
should be thick enough to hold up the laurel family (“Lauraceae”).
when hung. Digital 8x10 images will This is the same family which,
be accepted; however we ask that there around these parts, gives us our
be no manipulation of image content. native sassafras and red-bay.
Clean up of photos, including changing
saturation and contrast, burning-in and The second reason for
making your own guacamole
dodging, eliminating dust spots, etc. are
allowed. is that you get a houseplant out
of it. Growing an avocado plant
For the complete set of rules, visit from a seed is rather simple; and
www.scwildlife.com/photocontest.html. it is this seed that poses a bit of
Send entries to Tricia Way, SC Wildlife/ a mystery.
Classic Photo Contest, PO Box 167, The seed is relatively massive
Answer: “Avocado,” Persea americana
Columbia, SC 29202-0167, or if using
FedEx or UPS, send entry to Tricia Way,
SC Wildlife Photo Contest, 1000 Assembly
Street, Room 219, Columbia, SC 29201.
Contact Tricia Way at (803) 734-3972
for more information. See a list of 2009
winners and their photographs: www.
scwildlife.com/contest/winners09.html.

www.follycurrent.com
February 19, 2010
Finding the words for trauma
I
n 2004, my emotional house of cards
tumbled down. With it, years of erratic
rage became an epidemic and decades
of violent dreams became nightmares full
of wounded and dying Marines.
In a year I would have my second
heart attack so my chest hurt all the time,
fueling anxiety and bizarre obsessions
concerning germs and door-locking
rituals. Conversely, depression fills in as
anxiety fades, pulling its victims into the
darkness of “the pit” until it alone releases
us.
Vietnam? I guess at some point I
wondered if what happened in Vietnam
had something to do with feeling this way.
Others had. But why should I complain?
I was only a radioman on a mine truck.
Heck, my Uncle Joe landed at Utah Beach
on D-Day, and Uncle Ben was captured
Sudoku -solution
13
By Jim McGarrity
by the Germans for God’s sake. And they
were OK; I guess.
Who was I to suggest that I could be in
the same league with them? Even if I did,
who would I tell? Where do I go?
“Aw, to hell with it! Quit your whining,”
I’d tell myself. “Get off your butt and get
moving! "Get over it!”
Degradation was a common motivator
and off I’d go. But one or two blocks, or
even a few yards out the door, everything
would change. The idea that somewhere
around the corner, the despair and
hopelessness would disappear was a
fantasy, and within seconds, feeling as
bad as ever, I would turn toward home in
a slump, where beneath the covers I would
find relief from the feelings and nagging
responsibilities of the world.
Then America went to war with Iraq.
The feelings got worse as increasing
numbers of young men and women were
wounded and died. Maybe I should tell
someone!, I thought. That was six years
ago.
Seeking nothing more than help
obtaining medications, I visited a VA
clinic for the first time in November. I had
promised my family that I would tell the
doctor about everything: the nightmares,
the anger and the depression. He referred
me to mental health where a week later (above) Author Jim McGarrity. (left) The author during a tour of Vietnam.
I was diagnosed with Major Depression
and PTSD. I started a regimen of Today I continue reinforcing what I hesitate to come forward.
antidepressants immediately and entered have learned from the VA and I volunteer
as a Peer Specialist with the Center for Jim McGarrity is the author of
individual and group therapy. "Checkpoint One – Four: a Vietnam
Stress Recovery at the VA Medical Center
near Cleveland, Ohio. I recently completed Veterans Chronicle of Survivor Guilt,
a lifelong quest to finish a book about my
experience in Vietnam and how the VA
showed me the path toward recovery, and
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and
Mending the Invisible Wound." Jim is
available to speak around the Charleston
I speak wherever I am asked on PTSD and area through the end of February and
veteran’s mental health. possibly into March. For more information
or to contact Jim, visit www.checkpointone4.
My wife Dorothy and I are staying
com or call 330-958-0947.
on the Isle of Palms as my son Michael
and his family adapt to their new lives in
Summerville. My message to veterans
and all victims of trauma is simple: Don’t
www.follycurrent.com
14 February 19, 2010

By Megan Carroll

Crazy Heart he struggles down the road to redemption, Blake learns

that life will never be easy, but can be satisfying and
worth it.

S
It is hard to pay proper homage to Jeff Bridges’
cott Cooper’s directorial debut, Crazy Heart,
portrayal of Bad Blake. He brings his extensive
is a tired storyline that is only brought back to
knowledge, cunning, untailored charisma and humble
life through a spectacular performance by Jeff
brilliance to what I feel is his defining role. He is so
Bridges. Crazy Heart is based on the 1987 novel of the
attuned to ever feature of this character that you are
same name by Thomas Cobb and includes a phenomenal
lost within the two. Even though the storyline was
score produced and written by T-Bone Burnett.
played-out, Cooper lets you experience Blake’s slow
Bridges plays Bad Blake, a 57 year-old alcoholic revitalization right along with him.
country music singer/songwriter who has allowed his
The dry climate, dramatic red rock landscapes and
addiction to run his life. Once was a star of country
empty flatlands of the US southwest were beautifully
music, a mentor to many, and one of the greats, he now
portrayed in the film. The stark environment only
earns a modest living playing one night gigs and living
added to the desolate life Blake was living. The score at
on the road alone or in cheap motels. He spends more
times felt more bluesy than country, which should be
time drinking than singing, and even less time writing.
no surprise if you are aware of Burnett’s extensive and
Lost and full of guilt and regret, Blake blindly and eclectic musical background. T-Bone Burnett and Ryan
sarcastically stumbles through his daily existence. Bingham have been nominated for an Academy Award
However, all of this soon changes when he meets Jean in the category of Best Song for The Weary Kind and it
Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a young divorced is well deserved.
journalist with a four year-old son, Buddy (Jack Nation).
This film is more forgiving to its characters than
This relationship is the motivation that Blake needs to
real life, but Crazy Heart is a beautiful portrait of a
get his life and career back on track, but we soon find
man unknowingly searching for redemption. The
out that old demons are never that easy to shake. As
performance by Jeff Bridges can not be missed.

www.follycurrent.com
February 19, 2010 15

Folly Gras 2010 Febrruary 13 Folly Beach

photos provided by Ellie Smith
www.follycurrent.com