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A Walkabout Pg 18 Muttcracker Nutcracker Pg 9 Bottle Up Pg 7
I n s i d e I s l a n d Ey e
S u l l i v a n s I s l a n d I s l e o f P a l m s g o a t I s l a n d D e w e e s I s l a n d
Since May 2005
December 9, 2011 Volume 7 Issue 16 FREE
SIES continues on page 2
S
ince last spring, Sullivan's
Island residents have been
participants in (or observers of)
a vigorous, and at times acrimonious,
debate on Charleston County School
District (CCSD) plans for a new
Sullivans Island Elementary School.
Although the planning process for
a new school has been in the works
for two years, it was only last spring
that the frst-pass architectural
plans illustrating size and massing
were presented to Town Council by
CCSD. The reactions were mixed
about the proposed plan, and the
debate was on over appropriate size
and design. This ongoing debate has
been regularly covered in The Island
Eye News.
Size versus Design: It was clear
from the start that a new school
would need to be elevated to meet
FEMA food standards and enlarged
to meet contemporary standards
for classroom size and state-of-the-
art curriculum. Add in three extra
classrooms for additional students
(up to a total of 500 students as
planned by CCSD) and this produces
a considerably larger building
than the single story, ground-
level building that we are used to
seeing. This increase in size makes
the design of the new school all the
more relevant. As a case in point,
A Citizens
Perspective
Desi gn of the new si es
By susan MiDDaugh
Fire House Ablaze
Sullivan'S iSland
Fire & reScue
Holiday ligHting
december 2
photos By leo fetter
2 December 9, 2011
CiviC
compare two of the largest residential buildings on Sullivan's Island,
shown in the photographs. Both multi-unit dwellings are similar in
size but have a very different visual impact. The Bachelor Offcer
Quarters at 1766 Ion Ave is beautifully designed and considered one
of the Island jewels. In comparison, the pink stucco building at 2057
Middle St. is seen as design-challenged and reminiscent of outdated
motel architecture. For our new, larger school, both CCSD and
Sullivans Island Town Council are currently focused on getting the
school design right and are encouraging all of us to participate in the
design process.
The CCSD has emphasized that the frst-draft architectural plans
presented last spring were intended to serve as a starting point for a
yearlong process of stakeholder input and redesign. On September 22,
20, CCSD held a public workshop at Sunrise Presbyterian Church to
offcially present a more detailed, revised design for citizen feedback.
On October 4, a similar workshop was offered at the SIES PTA
meeting on the schools Mt. Pleasant campus. Two additional public
workshops are planned but not yet scheduled. A date and location
for the next public workshop likely to be sometime in January -
should be available soon on the Town of Sullivans Island website.
Watch for this date, plan to attend and provide your opinion on the
latest revision of CCSDs school design.
Town Council is encouraging everyone to follow the design process
and provide citizen input. On October 18, as a culmination of a two-
year planning process, Town Council signed a contract with CCSD
that leases 5.6 acres to CCSD for a new elementary school. This lease
allows for a building of the size planned by CCSD to accommodate up
to 500 students (a maximum of 74,000 sq.ft.). An important point
is that the lease clearly states that CCSD agrees to design the new
school with input from the Town Council and no construction shall
begin until such plans have been approved by the Town Council.
On December 5, the architect and others on the CCSD design team
are meeting with Town Council to review the changes that have
been made due to citizen feedback from the Community Workshop
of September 22. This is to be a working session during the Town
Councils regular frst-Monday-in-the-month committee meeting. The
public is always welcome to attend and observe, but not participate
in these working sessions. Notice was posted in advance on the Town
website. Come to the December 13 Town Council meeting for a report
and an opportunity to ask questions and to comment.
How to Stay in the Loop: Both CCSD and Town Council are
actively encouraging input on the school design. So how can you
stay up-to-date on school design developments? How can you
provide an opinion on the most recent design? One frustrated
citizen spoke for us all at the last Town Council meeting (November
22) when she told how diffcult it was to locate the most recent
SIES architectural plans on the CCSD website. In response, the
Town website has made this easy for us. Here is how you can locate
and track, the SIES design plans and also fnd announcements of
relevant meetings.
Begin at the Town of Sullivan's Island website: www.sullivansisland-
sc.com. Prominently displayed near the top, just to the left of our
Mayors photo, you will fnd Click Here for SIES School News. This
link takes you to a webpage titled Sullivans Island Elementary School.
On this page you will fnd the following:
Announcement of the December 5 CCSD meeting with Town
Council.
Announcement of the next CCSD Community Workshop (when
date/time is set).
A link to the citizen feedback from the September 22 CCSD
Community Workshop.
A link to the Towns land lease with the CCSD: see click here
to read Ord 2011-5.
A link to the architectural plans, presented in monthly
reports, on the CCSD website: See Click Here for Project
Information (CCSD/Consultant link). Scroll down to the items
under the heading MONTHLY REPORT. Click on November
2011 (or, when available, December 2011).
In the November 2011 report, you will fnd a set of small illustrations
at the top of the page. Ignore these and scroll down to the enlarged
versions of drawings for the proposed school showing birdseye views
(from overhead) as well as street level views (elevations) of the four
sides. For those of us not used to looking at architectual drawings,
the North Elevation shows the side of the building facing North (the
front of the school). In these drawings the proposed school is shown in
white and the old school is superimposed in beige. A good way to stay
oriented is to note the location of the batteries, shown in dark gray.
There are also photographs (with the new school drawn in) showing
how the school is expected to look from Ion Ave. and from the beach.
Dont forget to scroll down to the diagram of the school interior that
shows the location and function of the rooms.
Provide your input by attending the December 13 Town Council
Meeting, where citizen questions and comments are welcome. Submit
written comments to Town Council or CCSD at any time. Attend
future CCSD Community Workshops and provide feedback. Visit the
Town website often to stay up-to-date. Keep in mind that the school
design is still in the conceptual design phase and does not include
the many details, such as siding materials and color. Hopefully these
details will be available for the next CCSD Community Workshop.
Keep in mind that our SIES students are attending school off-island
for a second year while eagerly awaiting their new school.
SIES continues from cover
Apartment building at 2057 Middle St.
Bachelor Offcer Quarters at 1766 Ion Ave.
December 9, 2011
3
WWW.SLANDEYENEWS.COM
Isle of Palms
886-6428
www.iop.net
Tuesday, December 13
Personnel Committee
Special Meeting
5:30p.m.
1207 Palm Boulevard
Wednesday, December 14
Municipal Court
10a.m.
1207 Palm Boulevard
Sullivan's Island
883-3198
www.sullivansisland-sc.com
Tuesday, December 13
Regular Council
6p.m.
2050-B Middle Street
Wednesday, December 14
Planning Commission
6:30p.m.
2050-B Middle Street
Monday, December 19
Design Review Board Meeting
originally scheduled for December 21
6p.m.
2050-B Middle Street
Civic Calendar
Recycle - Wednesday, December 14 - Recycle

Daily
Lynn Pierotti
publisher
lynn@luckydognews.com
Bridget Manzella
managing editor
bridget@luckydognews.com
Swan Richards
senior graphic designer
swan@luckydognews.com
Lori Dalton
sales manager
614-0901
lori@luckydognews.com
Melissa Caloca
intern
melissa@luckydognews.com
Alexandra Stott
Jacqueline McCormick
interns

Contributors
Bob Hooper
Dimi Matouchev
Mike Van Beyrer
Anne Anderson
Stephaney Robinson
Kyle Barnett
Susan Middaugh
Mike Arthur
Sarah Diaz

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:
Deadline December 23
for all submissions
for our January 6 issue
Lucky Dog PubLi shi ng
of sc, LLc
Publisher of the Island Eye News, The
Island Connection and The Folly Current.
The Island Eye News, a wholly owned subsid-
iary 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 De-
wees Island. Copies are mailed free of charge
to every active mailbox in our coverage area
and are also available at area businesses and
by subscription to non-islanders. Subscriptions
are $39/year for non-residents.. Contributions
of information, pictures and articles are wel-
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tions and news value and cannot be returned
except by special request. Op-ed articles and
letters to the editor do not necessarily refect
the opinion of Lucky Dog News, or its writers.
All advertising rates are listed at:
www.islandeyenews.com
under advertising.
Dear Editor,
The school board is in the
preliminary process of building
a new school on the front
beach of Sullivans Island. The
residents of Isle of Palms and
Mount Pleasant are very excited
about this new school. Many
of the residents of Sullivans
Island are not so much and
presented the Sullivans Island
town council with a certifed
petition for a referendum, prior
to the ratifcation of the school
lease, to decide whether or not
to proceed with the building of
the new very large and expensive
school. Petitioners asked the
Council not to ratify the lease
until the referendum was
held. Even though the Mayor
understood the wisdom of not
signing lease until the voice of
the townspeople could be heard,
the Mayor Pro-Tem eagerly
signed it. Now the Council will
be required to break the lease if
residents votes are not in favor
of this huge structure. It seems
to me that not one more dollar
should be spent on this project
until the vote has been taken.
Why is the board so eager to
continue throwing money into a
not 100% done deal?
Stephanie Smith
Sullivans Island, SC
Letter to the editor
S
ullivans Island resident and Town
Councilmember Patrick M. ONeil, is
professor of psychiatry and behavioral
sciences at the Medical University of South
Carolina. This October, Dr. ONeil was named
president of The Obesity Society for 2011-
2012.
Dr. ONeil directs MUSCs multi-
disciplinary weight management center,
which offers services for people of all degrees overweight, and oversees
the psychological assessment of bariatric surgery applicants. He has
been professionally involved with obesity since 1977, is the author
of numerous professional publications, chapters, and presentations,
primarily concerning psychological, behavioral and other clinical
aspects of obesity and its management.
Dr. ONeil has been a member of The Obesity Society since 1986
and previously served as chairman of the Education committee. He
was also recently awarded honorary membership by the American
Dietetic Association (ADA) for his long-time service.
Patrick ONeil Named President
of the Obesity Society
T
his fall, Charleston Area
Therapeutic Riding (CATR)
celebrated 20 years of
service to the Lowcountry. CATR
was founded in 1991 by Meta
Carter and Eileen McGuffe who
wanted to help children with
special needs. The classes had a
humble beginning: two students,
volunteer instructor Andrea
Smith, and a donated horse.
A newspaper ad brought
dedicated, reliable volunteers.
CATR soon received its 501(c)
(3) non-proft status and MUSC
contributed tack and equipment.
In six months, CATR had gained
national accreditation, which is
now NARHA Premier status.
The program grew through
the enthusiasm of teachers,
therapists and parents. In just
fve years, CATR had a Board
of Directors and received its
frst grant from the Joanna
Foundation. In 1997, CATR hired
its Executive Director, Murray
Neale.
In 1998, CATRs Public School
program was launched with
one class from Memminger
Elementary. This program
continues to serve children
with the greatest need in our
community and has worked with
thirty-one self-contained special
education classes from twenty
public schools.
CATR has collaborated for
many years with the College
of Charleston, the Citadel,
area private schools and the
CATR Looks Back at
20 Years of Service
By MIkE ArThur
CATR continues on page 10
CATR student.
WWW.SLANDEYENEWS.COM
4 December 9, 2011
Daily
S
aturday, December 17 the
ghost will take the form
of Christmas Present as
John Brannen performs a "Come
Home For Christmas" concert
at the Sullivan's Island Island
Club.
Defning the current Sullivan's
Island resident's music style is
comparable to pinpointing the
various locations in which he
has recorded and performed;
nearly every Music capitol - New
York, Nashville, Memphis and
Los Angeles. "I feel capable of
making a bluegrass record and
I feel capable of making a jazz
record," Brannan has said, "but
what I do is out of the essence of
rock 'n' roll with Americana, soul
and blues infuences."
His newly released album
"Bravado," his third for Sly Dog
Records and his sixth overall,
fnds Brannen doing what he
does best- a project with real
weight and scope.
"It's a record about survival,"
he says.
So will John Brannen actually
perform any Christmas music at
his "Come Home For Christmas
Concert"? I say we throw a sheet
over the ghost of Christmas
Future and see what forms.
Doors open at 7:15 p.m.
Performance begins at 8:00 p.m.
The Island Club offers a room for
socializing as well as a listening
room. Tickets are $20. $15 for
Island Club Members and include
two drink tickets and light
appetizers. Tickets are available
in advance at www.siilsandclub.
com and also available at the
door. The Island Club is located
next to the Tin Roof Fish Fry
Shack on Sullivans Island, near
Station 15.


Christmas Concert at the Island Club
By Stephaney RoBinSon
I never set out to create art. I set out to identify emotions and if all goes well something emerges that hasnt been
apparent. Its something like throwing a sheet over a ghost and fnally the ghost has a form, something we could not have
seen otherwise. ~John Brannen
Singer-songwriter John Brannen.
photo By Michael capoRale
T
he second annual Santa Paws Party is being held to beneft the
Daisy Dogs (older retreivers that have been rescued and are up
for adoption) and SWAT (Southern Women Animal Task Force).
The event is Friday, December 9 at Square Onion, Too in Mt. Pleasant.
There will be good food, adult beverages, great prize drawings, holiday
music and more! Come join
us for some good cheer as
we sit around the fre and
kick off the holiday season.
Dont forget, furry friends
are welcome at this event!
But one night isnt
enough for these cute
canines. Come out and buy
local at the Holiday Sip and
Shop Saturday, December
10 from noon to 5:00 p.m.
at the Square Onion, Too
and Earthy Artifacts in
Mt. Pleasant. Enter to
win fabulous prizes, enjoy
free holiday treats and
beverages, or adopt a Daisy
Dog looking for a home this
holiday.
For more information
please visit www.
daisysplace.org.
Sweet Lily found her home in time for the
holidays. Come meet other dogs from Daisys
looking for their forever homes.
photo By Diane SMith
Daisy Dogs Come
Home for the Holidays
S e c o n D a n n u a l S a n ta pa wS
December 9, 2011
5
Daily
Ten Years Young
t h e b o d y g a r d e n c e l e b r at e s 1 0 y e a r s o n s u l l i va n s
by bridget Manzella
F
all 2011 marks the tenth
year that Elizabeth Siegling,
owner of The Body Garden,
has offered Sullivans Island
residents a relaxing reprieve from
pain, anxiety, and the process of
aging. Located at 2213 Middle
Street in a cozy space that was
once occupied by Sayer Sailing,
The Body Garden offers massage,
facials, waxing and airbrush
tanning. I have come to Elizabeth
for about thirteen years, which
is longer than her shop has
been open. Every two weeks she
massages my pain awayall my
stress, as well, says Isle of Palms
resident, Bunny Johnson, She is
a caring, excellent therapist.
Elizabeth has been a massage
practitioner for seventeen years.
She went to school for massage
therapy and certifcations in
Sports Massage and Shiatsu at
the Florida School of Massage
in Gainsville, FL at a time when
Charleston and the environs did
not offer any programs in the feld.
She received her Esthetics training
at the Charleston Cosmetology
Institute. Elizabeth now teaches
at Trident Technical College for
the Massage Therapy Program in
Charleston, a testament to the
growing popularity of this feld.
According to the U.S. Labor
Dept., massage therapy is
projected to grow in demand as
baby boomers age and people
of all generations recognize the
physical and mental health
benefts of the feld. Ranked near
the top for career growth by the
Milwaukee-based staffng frm
Manpower Inc. and the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, massage therapy
is growing in popularity. Skin care
is also ranked by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics as being among
the top ten professions with the
highest projected job growth.
Elizabeth was on the cutting
edge when she began taking
classes in the feld in 1994. She
began teaching in 1998, just
three years before she opened
the Body Garden. As a teacher,
she has had the opportunity to
pass on what she has learned to
students here in the Lowcountry,
all of whom are eager to be a part
of a fairly dependable feld in an
undependable job market.
The curriculum facing her
students is more rigorous than
many of her prospective students
or her customers realize. The
program is designed to ready the
students for their licensure test
which South Carolina requires.
With being a state-run school
you take anatomy (what is in
the body), physiology (how the
body works), kinesiology (how
the body moves), ethics, history,
as well as massage strokes
and technique, and business
classes. The students also
participate at the Bridge Run,
and at the College of Charlestons
Athletic Department working
with student athletes. Right now
Elizabeth is getting her students
ready for their written and
practical fnals. Interestingly, the
school mandates that massage
students must take courses like
anatomy along with students of
other majors, including pre-med
students.
Born and raised in Charleston,
she reckons herself a third
generation islander. In the 1940s,
her grandfather bought a modest
house between 28 and 28 . Her
family came in the summers at
a time when there were only a
few full-time residents. It looked
like a tropical jungle, she says,
You would never know it was
the same place. Elizabeth loves
Sullivans Island. She now lives
on the island with her husband
Kerry.
There are still tread marks
on the foor from the sailing
equipment that was formerly
available at Sayer Sailing. These
little details are the traces of a
past that is special to her and to
the residents who have watched
the island evolve and change over
the years. Elizabeth never wanted
a big space. Its a place I can be
one-on-one. To her, its a perfect
space.
What has kept her in the feld
and in this space are her loyal
island clients. I would not be
here if it werent for them. People
like Bunny Johnson they are like
family. They trust me with their
bodies. Through pregnancies,
through serious illnesses,
whether they are healthy or
unhealthy. I have been blessed
to be in a career I love and have
such wonderful people come into
my life thats why Ive been here
for so long.
Happy Anniversary!
December 9, 2011 7
WWW.SLANDEYENEWS.COM
Wine & dine
A
t Bottles of Mount Pleasant we have
created the perfect list of wines to
accompany every course for holiday
dinners. Whether it is for a toast to start the
feast or a wine for the big stuffed turkey, we
have a delicious selection of bubbly, white
and red wines. Our list of light whites pair
ideally with turkey starters and fow right
into the main course if you like. Red wines
with lower tannin levels such as Pinot Noir
and Garnacha match better with the array
of favors for that Christmas ham. The most
important thing is to enjoy your family and
not to run out of wine.
Start the celebrations with a bottle of
Santome Prosecco or Billecart Salmon Brut
Reserve. We have hundreds of bottles of
Sparkling Wine and Champagne to choose
from, and these two can meet anyones
expectations. Santome, meaning St. Thomas,
is a classic dry 100% Prosecco that is light,
refreshing and distinct with its harmonious
acidity. Intense fruit favors of green apple,
acacia fowers, and fruit cup round out this
beautifully balanced sparkling.
Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve Champagne
is Grace Kelly in a bottle. This is all about
elegance and fnesse that has tremendous
levels of complexity of fresh pear notes with
a hint of minerality and almond. We have a
once in a lifetime deal on this, and once it is
gone the price will go up.
I recommend Swanson Napa Pinot Grigio
or Bernier Chardonnay 2009 (French) for
your turkey dinner. Swanson Napa Pinot
Grigio is one of the best Pinot Gris/Grigio
made in the U.S. It features rich mouth
coating lychee, meyer lemon and ripe pear,
with a very smooth fnish. This could be the
ultimate turkey wine that is all Napa fruit
from a very well-respected Napa winery.
French wine geeks will tell you the Loire
Valley is all about Chenin Blanc but not
so fast my friends! This Loire beauty is all
minerality and beautiful Chardonnay fruit.
Fans of really good White Burgundy will
love this bargain balanced Bernier 2009
Chardonnay.
For that savory Christmas ham, I prefer a
nice red to pull the favors out. A Spanish
Red always does the trick such as a Protocolo
Red or a Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha.
Protocolo Spanish Red 2009 is 100%
Tempranillo that has deep red, ripe, minty
notes that complement the pure lushness of
this wine. Super tasty, this red received the
#2 Best Buy from the Wine Enthusiast and
will be truly savored by all.
Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2009 one of
my other favorites is another Spanish darling
that takes the wow factor to the next level.
Blackberry and Asian spices lend to a layered,
rich, old vine Garnacha that overdelivers
in a big way. Awarded 92 points from Wine
Advocate.
And you can not forget about a great Pinot
Noir. Old reliable Schug Pinot Noir is bright
with ruby cherry and cranberry notes that
is clean and utterly delicious, and it's one of
the hundreds of Pinots that we carry.
After talking about all of these magnifcent
wines, we must not forget about a desert wine
to fnish off the course. Villa Rosa Moscato
dAsti 2010 is perfect way to complete your
feast. This is a low-alcohol sparkling winner
with fresh fragrant peaches that is incredibly
refreshing, great with a fruit tart or pumpkin
pie. Our best-selling Sparkling Moscato!
Happy Holidays from all of us at Bottles!
Mike van Beyrer is a wine specialist at
the Bottles Beverage Superstore. For more
information, look for Bottles on Facebook or
visit their store at 610 Coleman Blvd.
Bottle Up the Holidays
By Mike van Beyrer
The tasting bar at Bottles.
December 9, 2011 9
WWW.SLANDEYENEWS.SC
Art & style
T
he Charleston Ballet Theatre
will present The Nutcracker from
December 10 and 11 at the Gaillard
Auditorium and December 16 and 17 at the
North Charleston Performing Arts Center.
Resident Choreographer Jill Eathorne Bahr
choreographed The Nutcracker over twenty-
fve years ago. Thus, we are celebrating our
25th Anniversary season this year along with
twenty-fve years of the Nutcracker.
What really sets this Nutcracker apart
is that it is set in 1850s Charleston. From
the Victorian colorful costumes to the
epic moving set pieces and backdrops, the
performance comes alive in lavish period
detail. The opening market scene is set in
the Charleston Market on Market Street
with young Maria shopping for
fruits and gifts among the many
merchants of the market. The
party scene is also uniquely set in
a Charleston home with familiar
family names such as Lowndes
and other Charleston references
scattered throughout.
We have a professional dance
company of over twenty-fve
dancers who all appear in the
Nutcracker along with students
from our extensive dance school
program and children from
the Dorchester school system
performing in our NPAC shows.
This season we are promoting what we call
the Muttcracker,
which is a
partnership with the
Charleston Animal
Society to promote
holiday adoption of
homeless dogs. At
each of our public
performances
both at Gaillard
Auditorium and
at NPAC, we will
feature alumni dogs
from the ASCPA adoption program. The
Charleston Animal Society will have a table
in the lobby with adoption information, as
well as available pups for adoption for the
holidays.
It is a beautiful, colorful, epic ballet with
falling snow and moving grandfather clocks,
dancing mice and all kinds of wonderful
choreography. The Nutcracker is a holiday
classic that everyone will love!
For more information, visit www.
charlestonballet.com.
A Muttcracker Nutcracker
By Kyle Barnett
Photos By scott nilsson PhotograPhy
Stephen Gabriel as Uncle Drosselmeyer and Jennifer Muller as Maria
with one of the Nutcrackers.
T
he Gibbes Museum of
Art announces a holiday-
themed Community Day
on Saturday, December 10 with
complimentary admission and
holiday art-making activities
for children from 10:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. Community Days,
sponsored by Roper St. Francis
Healthcare, are held quarterly to
offer visitors the opportunity to
experience the Gibbes dynamic
programming free of charge. A
special musical performance by
acoustic guitarist Dr. Johnny
Weeks will take place between 10
a.m. and 12 noon. Sample free
cider at the Gibbes Courtyard
throughout the morning.
Visitors can enjoy the
exhibitions Breaking Down
Barriers: 300 Years of Women in Art
in the Main Gallery, and Camera
Works: Masters in Photography in
the Rotunda Galleries. Beginning
with Henrietta Johnstonthe
frst female professional artist
in Americaand continuing
to the present, Breaking Down
Barriers: 300 Years of Women
in Art examines the challenges
faced by women artists over the
past 300 years. Camera Works:
Masters in Photography features
twentieth-century masters of
photography selected from the
Gibbes permanent collection and
local private collections including
works by Alfred Stieglitz,
Margaret Bourke-White, Alfred
Eisenstaedt, and many more.
Both exhibitions are on view
through January 8.
For more information, visit
www.gibbesmuseum.org.
Photo By Julia lynn PhotograPhy
Celebrate the Holidays at the Gibbes
Mu s e u M h o s t s F r e e c o MMu n i t y D ay
ProviDeD
A child enjoys Community Day crafting at the Gibbes.
Family party scene from The Nutcracker.
10 December 9, 2011
WWW.SLANDEYENEWS.COM
occupational and physical
therapy departments of MUSC to
provide learning and volunteer
opportunities in therapeutic
riding. Volunteers from Isle
of Palms, Sullivans and Mt.
Pleasant make the trip over to
Johns Island just to be a part of
this unique effort.
In the past two years, their
programs have expanded to
include Interactive Vaulting as
well as Horses for Heroes. This
program serves wounded military
veterans and active service
members with disabilities.
In 20 years CATR has grown
to 140 students, 100 volunteers,
9 instructors, and 10 horses.
CATR continues to improve the
lives of children and adults with
disabilities at the areas oldest
nationally accredited therapeutic
horseback riding center.
For more information, visit
www.catrfarms.org.
CATR continues from page 3
CATR student.
CATRs 20th Anniversary Celebration at Magnolia Plantation this fall. Current and former
staff (l to r): Andrea Smith, Founders Eileen McGuffe and Meta Carter, Meggett Lavin,
Murray Neale, Helen Warren, Elisa Allan.
O
n Saturday, December
10, an oceanfront lot on
Deweees Island will be
sold at auction. The lot will sell
to the highest bidder at or above
$149,000. The auction will begin
at 10 a.m. at Morgan Creek Grill
on the Isle of Palms.
The 2-acre mid-island lot is
located at 17 Flight Drive (Lot
17). The lot does not have its
own access to the beach, but an
access is located nearby. From the
beach, you can enjoy stunning
views of the ocean, Dewees Inlet,
and the Isle of Palms.
Lot 17 has a
2011 tax value
of $950,000. It
is listed on the
MLS website for
$499,000.
On the MLS
website, oceanfront
properties on
Dewees Island
range in price from
$449,00 to $2
million. There are
12 properties listed
on this site, which
does not refect the total number
of properties for sale, merely
those for sale by broker.
Mike Harper, owner of Harper
Realty says, We have to do
something different. We feel like
if we start the bidding low, and
allow people to compete, they will
do the job for us. We will sell a
property in a month instead of
two of three years.
For more information about
the auction, email Mike Harper
at mike@harperauctionandrealty.
com or visit their website at
harperauctionandrealty.com.
Dewees Lot Auction
By Bridget Manzella
December 25 December 9 Is l and Eye Cal endar
Friday, december 9
Holidays at the S.C. Aquarium
Welcome guest from the North
Pole at their special appearances
in the Great Ocean Tank at select
aquarium dive shows each day,
see Scuba Claus swim with the
fsh, and enjoy The Polar Express
4-D Experience. Free with general
admission. Held through Dec. 23
at the S.C. Aquarium in Downtown
Charleston. For more information,
visit scaquarium.org.
Santa Paws Party
Held to beneft the Daisy Dogs
and SWAT (Southern Women
Animal Task Force). Held at 6.p.m.
at Square Onion, Too in Mt.
Pleasant. The event will feature
holiday music, adult libations,
good food, and lots of great prizes.
Bring your BFF - best fur friend
- or meet an adoptable Daisy Dog
that is looking to go home for the
holidays! For more information,
visit daisysplace.org.
The Holiday Festival of Lights
Come see the Southeasts most
beloved holiday festival. The
journey begins with a three-
mile drive through hundreds
of breathtaking light displays
featuring millions of twinkling
bulbs. Stop to stretch your legs,
your spirit, and your appetite
at Santas Village and Winter
Wonderland. Held at the James
Island County Park. For more
information, visit www.ccprc.com.
Saturday, december 10
Dewees Lot Auction
An oceanfront lot on Deweees
Island will auctioned off.
Starting price is $149,000.
Held at 10 a.m. at the Morgan
Creek Grill on the Isle of Palms.
For more information, visit
harperauctionandrealty.com.
Community Day at the Gibbes
The Gibbes Museum of
Art announces a holiday-
themed Community Day with
complimentary admission and
holiday art-making activities
for children from 10:00 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m. A special musical
performance by acoustic guitarist
Dr. Johnny Weeks will take place
between 10 a.m. and 12 noon.
Free cider will be sampled in the
Gibbes Courtyard throughout the
morning. For more information,
visit www.gibbesmuseum.org.
The Nutcracker
The Charleston Ballet Theatre
will present the Nutcracker
from December 10 to 11. It is
a beautiful, colorful, epic ballet
with falling snow and moving
grandfather clocks, dancing
mice and all kinds of wonderful
choreography. The Nutcracker is
a holiday classic that everyone
will love! Held at the Gaillard
Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. For
more information, visit www.
charlestonballet.com.
Sunday, december 11
Friends of the Library cart sale
Library discards will be available
for sale for $1 each at the Main
Branch Library, 68 Calhoun Street
in downtown Charleston, at the
Information Desk from 2 p.m. to
5 p.m. Every second Sunday. For
more information, look for the
library on Facebook.
monday, december 12
Christmas Bells are Swingin
The Charleston Concert
Association rings in the holiday
season with style as the Boston
Brass and the Brass All-Stars Big
Band present Christmas Bells
are Swingin! at the Gaillard
Auditorium. The program
sublimely captures the spirit of the
holiday season. Held at 7 p.m. To
purchase tickets, contact 1-800-
745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.
com or for more information, visit
www.charlestonconcerts.org
Morning Yoga
Strength yoga. Held Mondays at
the Isle of Palms Recreation Center
from 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. $7 per
class. For more information, visit
ww.iop.net.
tueSday, december 13
Senior Aerobics (50+ Yrs)
Held Tuesdays & Thursdays from
3 - 4 p.m. $5/class or $30/month.
For more information, visit iop.net.
WedneSday, december 14
Home Team BBQ is Shuckin
Every Week
Oysters Season is back! Thursdays
at West Ashley: $10 All U Can Eat
Oysters & Singer/Songwriters
Series from 5pm-midnight & free.
Wednesdays on Sullivans Island:
$10 All U Can Eat Oysters &
Singer/Songwriters Series from
5pm-midnight & free. Home Team
BBQ. www.hometeambbq.com.
Knee Pain Support Group
Join The Knee Pain Guru, Bill
Parravano, and others for support
and tips on how to deal with knee
pain. 7 p.m. at the Isle of Palms
Marina, 50 41st Ave. For more
info, visit TheKneePainGuru.com.
Cookies for Santa
Come to the Recreation Center
and decorate Cookies for Santa!
All materials provided. Free. Must
pre-register for event by Friday,
December 9, 2011. Elementary
participants MUST be accompanied
by a parent or guardian. Held at 4
p.m at the Isle of Palms Recreation
Center. For more information, visit
iop.net.
thurSday, december 15
Buy Local Month
Lowcountry Local First, as well as
the three municipalities, encourage
citizens to spend their money
in locally owned, independent
businesses. LLF will take over a
vacant storefront at 359 King St.
and set up a Mom and Pop-Up
Shop featuring 30 LLF member
businesses with vendor booths.
Held Nov. 15 thru Dec. 15 Visit
their website for additional events
at www.lowcountrylocalfrst.org.
Friday, december 16
Kids Night Out (7-12 yrs)
Held from 6 9 p.m. at the Isle of
Palms Recreation Center. Register
by December 12th. For more
information, call the Isle of Palms
Recreation center at 886-8294.

Saturday, december 17
Wright Brothers Day
Commemorating the day of Orville
and Wilbur Wrights frst fight in
Kitty Hawk, N.C.
Have a Heart Beneft
Lowcountry musicians and
businesses are pitching in together
to hold a beneft for the Frits
family. Fowlers Mustache, The
Average Savage, Baby Fat, and
Sarah Cole and the Hawkes will
perform, and there will be an
oyster roast. $20. Held Saturday
Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. Held at Arts Bar
& Grill in Mt. Pleasant. For more
information, call 849. 3040.
Sunday, december 18
Live Nativity Celebration
Highlights include four youth
performances with live (penned or
tethered) animals (sheep, goats,
camel and donkey). Held from 5 -7
p.m. at the Sunrise Presbyterian
Church on Sullivans Island.
Free. For more information, visit
sunrisepcusa.org.
monday, december 19
Relay for Life Oyster Roast
The donation benefts ACS Relay
For Life. Oysters will be for sale
by the bucket and food and drink
specials available. Live music will
be provided by Beau Johnson. $6/
suggested donation. Held from
12-5 p.m. at the Shem Creek Bar
and Grill in Mt. Pleasant. For more
information, visit www.relayforlife.
org/rfmtpleasant.
Build a Gingerbread House
Build and decorate your own
Gingerbread House. All materials
provided. Register by Wednesday,
December 14. Held at 10 a.m.
at the Isle of Palms Recreation
Center. For more information, visit
www.iop.net.
tueSday, december 20
Team Trivia
Whether youre a TV-buff, a
History major, the guy who knows
everything about sports, or the
one who can remember lines from
every movie youve seen, TEAM
TRIVIA is right for you. Join us
each Tuesday from 8p.m. until
10 p.m. Win house cash prizes!
Held at Fiery Rons Home Team
BBQ on Sullivans Island. For
more information visit www.
hometeambbq.com.
WedneSday, december 21
First Day of winter
The Winter Wonderettes
Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy,
and Suzy are entertaining at the
1968 holiday party for Harpers
Hardware, where Betty Jean has
worked since high school. Chaos
ensues when they cant fnd
Mr.Harper, whos scheduled to play
Santa. Held from the 21 through 23
at 8 p.m. at the Village Playhouse
in Mt.Pleasant. For more info visit
villageplayhouse.com.
Cafe Medley Tasting
Weekly wine tasting. $5, $13 with
cheese plate. Held Wednesdays,
6-9 p.m. at Cafe Medley on
Sullivans Island. For more
information visit cafemedley.com.
thurSday, december 22
Gift of the Magi
The annual music and spoken
word collaboration between
Chamber Music Charleston and
the Actors Theatre of South
Carolina. Held from the 22 through
23 at 7 p.m. at the Dock Street
Theatre in Downtown Charleston.
For more information, visit www.
charlestonstage.com.
Sunday, december 25
Merry Christmas!




Happy Holidays
from the crew at
Lucky Dog News
15 December 9, 2011
Computer Corner
I
ts almost Christmas and the deals they are a-fying! Please shop
locally when you can, especially computers, tablets, cell phones,
etc. I know that most computer gadgets, big or small, are not
available from the mom-and-pop shops, but even if it is a big box
or franchise store its still local rather than a website. Sometimes
you can get a good deal online, but sometimes that great deal can be
beaten right down the road from your house. A bit of checking, a bit
of knowledge, and you can fnd a good deal locally with a place where
you can bang on the countertop, if needed.
If a computer is going to break its usually in the frst couple of
days, and having bought it locally, you can either get another one or
get that one fxed. If you purchase from a website, you will have to
box it up, ship it somewhere, and hope it comes back soon. So shop
locally! If in doubt, use a professional to help you.
So lets do a bit of education for that perfect laptop or desktop. If
you are looking for something not too pricey you should have these
minimums:
A dual core processor
either Intel or AMD
4 GB of RAM (depending
on cost 3GB would do)
300 GB hard drive or
bigger.
These would be good for any
type of normal usage but a bit
better would be an i3, i5 or i7
Intel processor (also called the
CPU) or a quad core AMD CPU.
Each stronger processor generally
comes with more memory and larger hard drive, plus an increase in
price.
For laptops, a good size for travel and use around the house is
the 15.6. It has a decent screen size, not to bulky or heavy, yet
can be very good for all general needs. The larger 17to 19 have
a larger screen and are good for watching movies, but can be a bit
cumbersome to carry around. The smaller sizes like the 13 or the
10 netbooks are both portable, yet the screen can be a bit small for
viewing movies and some websites. It all depends on your needs.
Remember: tablets play a big part today. Dont buy a $600 tablet
to read books on, you can fnd them much cheaper for that use.
There are many popular e-Book readers that are very reasonable and
some that do much more than just allow you to read books. The
more expensive ones are great but as with any computer products,
wait a bit and the price will come down with competition. The Apple
products are great, but I just wish the prices were a bit saner!
I hope your holidays are
wonderful, that all are healthy,
wise and full of great cheer. This
year is winding down but next
year is right around the corner.
If you have any questions you
would like answered just drop me
an email at the address below.
For more information, call
Rent A Bob at 822.7794 or email
rentabob@live.com.
Computers for Christmas
By BoB Hooper AKA rent A BoB
16 December 9, 2011
travel
C
ape San Blas frst strikes
you with its color. Streaks
of teal and azure green
water, capped by white foam and
an endless expanse of navy out
beyond.
The green dune grasses and
tan sea oats stand out against the
blinding white sand, enhancing
everything. Whether its a deep
blue sky or the oranges and
purples of sunset, the effect is an
intense kaleidoscope.
The topography gets you next.
This is Florida its supposed to be
fat. But these stark white dunes
rival Kitty Hawk in grandeur.
Some stretch 50 feet into the sky.
Remarkably, their dense foliage
rarely includes a cactus or briar.
Barefoot, we are free to roam.
Ive come to Apalachicola and
the Forgotten Coast to reconnect
with home. My father grew up
in Panama City, and I went to
Pensacola High School. But for the
eight years since college, Ive called
Charleston home, and these days,
there havent been enough excuses
to return to the Gulf. Add to that
last years oil spill and the supposed
recovery, and the call to revisit my
homeland sounded strong.
Its no small coincidence that
Folly Beach got stuck in my
blood; the vibe here draws strong
parallels with the tourism/
fshing-based small-time
economies along the coast.
Despite at least one holiday
each year spent in Panama City,
Id never ventured east in my adult
life. The horn of Florida, from
Mexico Beach over to St. Marks,
with Apalachicola and St. George
Island as the hub, is known as
the Forgotten Coast. Its a ftting
moniker. In between towns, miles
of undeveloped wooded coastline
borders Highway 98 and the
Gulf of Mexico. The land is
largely protected by Apalachicola
National Forest and Tates Hell
State Forest, but its surreal to
witness so much untouched yet
accessible oceanfront real estate.
When the pine trees and
stretches of beach give way to a
town, its like stepping back in
time.
In Apalachicola, we meet
Captain Tony Phillips, who has
run fshing and sight-seeing
charters here for over two
decades. After years working in
Atlanta, Phillips was taken aback
by the easy-going, close-to-the-
sea lifestyle when he frst visited,
via boat from Destin, and found
a waterfront hotel room that
included a boat slip for $29 a
night. Most of all, in fact, he was
taken aback by the low cost of
waterfront real estate.
Somewhere in those miles
between Destin and Apalachicola,
we went through a 30 year time
warp, says Phillips. His boat
never made the return trip up the
coast.
Although Apalachicola has
changed since the 1980s, the
modern version still looks more
like something youd have found
in another town 30 years ago.
Locals have a choice between a
small Piggly Wiggly and an even
smaller IGA for their groceries. The
neighborhood around downtown
is full of stately homes, mostly
built in the 19th century, with
generous wrap-around porches.
Tire swings dangle lazily from
tree limbs. At one intersection,
a man sits on a bucket with a
carefully painted sign that reads
The Forgotten Coast
L o o k i n g f o r t h e L o wc o u n t r y i n n o r t h f L o r i d a
By Stratton Lawrence
P
h
o
t
o

B
y

h
u
n
t
e
r

M
c
r
a
e
Travel continues on page 22
December 9, 2011 18
WWW.SLANDEYENEWS.COM
NATURE & WILLIEE
O
n a beautifully crisp
fall day, I came across
a small group of nature
lovers along a sand road peering
intently among the fowering
groundsel. All were straining
to hear, quietly jostling for
a closer spot, enchanted by
colorful stories and showered
by an extensive knowledge that
showed obvious love and respect
for all things natural.
Billed as "Butterfies and
Birding," biologist extraordinaire
BillyMcCord, now retired
after years of service with the
Departmentof Natural Resource,
was doing a walkabout on
Dewees Island.
Billy had come to help us
enjoy the thousand migrating
birds and butterfies that were
stopping over on their annual
trek South. The result was to
convert many casual nature
lovers into passionate followers.
The overall goal was butterfy
banding. Yes, you read correctly:
banding of butterfies in order to
gain additional understanding of
the mystery of migration of that
fragile species. Butterfles are
caught, held ever so gently (on
the underside of the wing where
the scales are sturdy), chilled
into a relaxed state, and a tiny
circle of numbered identifcation
is placed carefully on the wing.
Billy has personally tagged
18,000 Monarchs, mostly from
Folly Beach, Sullivans Island,
and now Dewees Island.
Those faithful to such
scientifc research will fnd the
tiny spot from a banded Monarch
somewhere south of here along
the coastal fyway, some as far
away as Mexico. They will take
the time to report where and
when the record was found.
Slowly, piece-by-piece, we will
gain knowledge about the habits
and mysteries of migration.
Sponsored by the Dewees
Island Conservancy, this magical
day will long be remembered by
friends and neighbors. Invited
guests Mary Alice Monroe, a local
author who features a character
much like McCord in her newest
novel, "The Butterfys Daughter,"
participated in the event. Other
participants were photographers
Barbara Bergwerf and Alison
Weick, along with Mary Pringle,
the Loggerhead Turtle Team
Leader for our several islands.
For more information and
pictures on butterfy banding
and migration of Monarchs
along the coastal fyway, visit
deweesislandblog.com.
A Walkabout
By Anne Anderson, CommuniCAtion ChAir, dewees islAnd
A banded Monarch on Dewees Island. Photo By Anne Anderson
19 December 9, 2011
NATURE & WILLIEE
T
he Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in the
Southeastern US, except for the Ivory Woodpecker, which
is widely believed to be extinct. The Pileated Woodpecker
is crow-sized and is easily distinguished by its black body and
red crest. Both sexes have a bright red crest and the males have
a red moustache, which is not present in females. This species
feeds mostly on carpenter ants and beetle larvae, which are
extracted from tree trunks. These woodpeckers excavate large
rectangular or ovate holes in trunks in search of insects. They
often peel off strips of bark to expose ant colonies. During the
breeding season, males excavate large cavities in tree trunks
(usually snags) in order to attract prospective mates. Breeding
pairs are long-term monogamous and both sexes incubate the
eggs and feed the young. A female typically has four young per
brood, which fedge when they are about a month old but will
continue to follow their parents for two or three more months
to learn foraging behavior. The call of this woodpecker is
quite loud and sounds like a series of cackles. Individuals will
loudly drum on trunks to advertise their presence and stake
their territories. Pairs will aggressively defend their territories
throughout most of the year but are more tolerant to visitors
during the winter months.
Pileated Woodpecker
By Sarah Diaz
20 December 9, 2011
Do you know what this is?
Kids, send your guess for this weeks
Eye Spy to: eyespy@luckydognews.com
Please include your mailing address with
your submission.
No one correctly guessed last issue's Eye Spy so we are going to
give you another try. The frst person to send in the correct
answer for this issue will receive a coupon for a frEE ice cream
at Caf Medley on Sullivan's Island.
Eye Spy
Pack 59 Tiger Cubs join Park ranger Carlin Timmons on the
joggling board at Charles Pinckney National Historic Site in Mount
Pleasant. All students at Sullivans Island Elementary, the pack
visited the park to fnd out what life was like 200 years ago.
Joggling Cubs
Home Sweet Home
(above) Island kids participate in the annual Island Club gingerbread decorating
December 4. (below) This year the club also invited the Columbia Marionette Theater
to perform a puppet show called Santa's Christmas Party. The Island Club hosts kid
themed activities once a month for more information please visit siislandclub.com.
21 December 9, 2011
financial
Breach I nl et Ti de Char t
Date High Tide Low Tide
Hurricanes, storms etc., are NOT included in the
predictions. Tidal current direction changes and tide time
predictions can be very different. Tide predictions are
PREDICTIONS; they can be wrong so use common sense.
Source: www.saltwatertides.com
Dec 9
Dec 10
Dec 11
Dec 12
Dec 13
Dec 14
Dec 15
Dec 16
Dec 17
Dec 18
Dec 19
Dec 20
Dec 21
Dec 22
6:40am/7:01pm
7:20am/7:41pm
7:58am/8:19pm
8:35am/8:57pm
9:13am/9:36pm
9:52am/10:20pm
10:36am/11:10pm
11:26am
12:06am/12:20pm
1:09am/1:21pm
2:14am/2:24pm
3:20am/3:28pm
4:23am/4:31pm
5:23am/5:31pm
12:08am/12:56pm
12:48am/1:35pm
1:28am/2:13pm
2:09am/2:52pm
2:50am/3:32pm
3:34am/4:14pm
4:22am/4:59pm
5:16am/5:48pm
6:15am/6:42pm
7:20am/7:41pm
8:27am/8:41pm
9:33am/9:42pm
10:36am/10:41pm
11:34am/11:38pm
A
s you know, the holiday season can
be joyous, hectic, celebratory and
expensive. And while you certainly
enjoy hosting family gatherings and giving
presents to your loved ones, youll find these
things even more pleasurable if they dont
add a lot more weight to your debt load.
And thats why youll want to follow some
smart money-management techniques over
the next few weeks.
To begin with, try to establish realistic
budgets for both your entertaining and
your gift giving. When you host family
and friends, dont go overboard on your
expenditures. Your guests will still
appreciate your efforts, which, with a little
creativity, can create a welcoming and
fun experience for everyone. As a guiding
principal, keep in mind these words
attributed to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,
the famous German poet and philosopher:
What you can do without, do without. Set
a budget and stick to it.
And the same rule applies to your gifting.
You dont need to find the most expensive
presents, or overwhelm recipients with the
sheer volume of your gifts. This is especially
true if you, like so many people, have been
affected by the tough economy. Everyone
you know will understand that gifts dont
have to be lavish to be meaningful.
Furthermore, by sticking to a budget, you
wont be tempted to dip into your long-term
investments to pay for fabulous parties or
mountains of gifts. Its never a good idea to
tap long-term investments for short-term
needs, but can be especially bad when
your investment prices are down, as they
may well be this year.
So, if you want to stick to a budget but
you dont want to raid your investments,
how can you pay for your holiday season
expenses? If you can spread out your
purchases, you may be able to pay for them
from your normal cash flow. But if thats
not possible, you might want to consider
plastic your credit card. Using your
credit card does not, by itself, need to
amount to a financial setback, especially if
youve chosen a card that offers favorable
terms and youve
already shown the
discipline not to
over-use that card.
Just try to minimize
your credit card
usage over the holidays and pay off your
card as soon as you can.
Of course, you can make your holiday
season much easier, financially speaking,
if youve set up a holiday fund to cover your
various expenses. While its too late to set
up such a fund this year, why not get an
early start on the 2012 holiday season? All
you need to do is put away some money each
month into an easily accessible account,
separate from your everyday accounts.
You dont have to put in a great deal, but
you do need to be consistent, which is why
you may want to have the money moved
automatically, once a month, from your
checking or savings account to your holiday
fund. When next years holiday season rolls
around, you might be pleasantly surprised
by how much youve accumulated.
But for now, following some common-
sense money management practices can
help you get through the holiday season in
financial shape and that type of result
can get your new year off to a positive start.
This article was provided Dimi Matouchev
at the Edward Jones on the Isle of Palms.
For more information, call 886-9229 or visit
www.edwardjones.com.
Manage Your Money This Holiday Season
Provided by dimi matouchev
22 December 9, 2011
Prayer Corner. He waves and
offers a huge smile when we drive
past. The following day, hes still
there, smiling and waving.
Its almost surreal to fnd a
place like this in the south, let
alone in Florida, where most of
the coastlines character has
been eroded away by the rush to
capitalize on the pleasant climate
and natural beauty. Maybe its
the lack of industry here no oil
refneries, no visible paper mills
or factories just giant mounds
of oyster shells, stretched out
along Water Street where the
oystermen and fshing boats
unload. We eat dinner in view of
them, at Owl Cafe.
Oysters are harvested and
enjoyed here year-round, thanks
in no small part to the enviable
water quality. Call it blasphemy,
but it only takes one bite of an
Apalachicola oyster, this close to
the source, to understand why we
even occasionally import them to
restaurants in Charleston. Floridas
sandy bottomed oyster shoals
produce the worlds best bivalves.
Despite all the history and
charm amidst us in the town,
our accommodations were
an education, culturally and
historically. Before weve closed
the car door at the Bryant
House Bed & Breakfast, we are
greeted by Einstein, the Blue and
Gold Macaw who occupies the
hundred-year-old homes porch.
Brigitte and Ken Schroeder
bought the house in search of an
escape from Tallahassee in the
late 80s. She initially named the
inn Brigittes Romantic Retreat,
but switched it back to Bryant
House (after the prominent
African-American man who built
the home in 1897) after male
guests complained that they had
to hide the receipts from their
wives because of the name.
When I visited Apalachicola for
the frst time, I met more people
than Id met the whole time I lived
in Tallahassee, says Brigitte,
whose German heritage shows
prominently in her accent. Born in
East Germany and a child during
the second World War, she later
married an American soldier.
They remained in Germany for
years before moving to Florida.
Today, the Bryant House is a
veritable museum of European
antiques. Brigitte and Ken
collected heavily during their days
in Germany, resulting in guest
rooms that are bedecked with
incredibly ornate draperies, king-
sized four-poster canopy beds,
and paintings and furniture from
centuries past. Each room boasts
incredibly intricate chandeliers,
and the sterling silver even
comes out for the traditional
German breakfast each morning,
featuring ham, cheese, soft boiled
eggs, and cherries.
We lost everything in East
Germany, so for me, antiques are
something wonderful, explains
Brigitte, seated in front of a striking
200-year-old German painting of
a nun, with a mysterious bullet
hole in a low corner.
But not everything is formal.
In the evening, Captain Tony
and his frst mate come by to
drink Budweisers and chat
with Brigitte. Tony tells of how
Hurricane Dennis devastated
the town in July 2005, only to
lose the nations attention when
Katrina hit New Orleans soon
thereafter. Before the storm,
claims Tony, Franklin County
(where Apalachicola is the hub)
was the fastest growing county
for property appreciation in
Florida. Its reminiscent of the
lack of attention Folly gets when
an unnamed storm rips away
three vertical feet of beach sand
in front of our homes.
Despite losing the chance
to make a hefty proft on his
waterfront properties, Tony
seems okay with the state of his
home these days. He spent the
morning fshing with his mate,
who explains, straight-faced, how
to wrestle an alligator. (Hold him
close, bear hug him, and let him
roll you under. When he comes
up for air, hes gonna lose a lot of
energy quick.).
Its fnding people like this
that give a town substance.
Developers can fabricate a town
and fll it with accomplished
people, but you cant replicate
a man who takes extreme pride
in his ability to leap into murky
water under the darkness of
night and procure a giant reptile.
You can still fnd those types
of people on Folly Beach. Like
Apalachicola, were not really on
the way to anywhere. If youre in
either place, you sought it out
as a destination. And for anyone
in love with their home in the
Lowcountry but curious about
the real Florida, theres nowhere
else left like the Forgotten Coast.
From the summit of a dune on
Cape San Blas, the lay of the land
is fnally evident. The cape is a
20-mile sliver stretching out into
the Gulf. Geographically, its the
Outer Banks, or the Cape Cod, of
Florida. But its wilder. Seven miles
of beach and dunes stretch to
their terminus without a building
or road. Impenetrable maritime
forest crosses the quarter mile
wide spit, home to coyote, deer,
bobcats, and alligators.
This is the real Florida, one
of few preserved spots like it
(were lucky in S.C. to have the
ACE Basin and Cape Romain to
remind us of our coast before
development). Apart from being
named Dr. Beachs #1 beach in
the nation on multiple occasions,
Cape San Blas has somehow
escaped notice, at least enough
that we can have it to ourselves
on a warm autumn day.
Like the whole Forgotten
Coast, its an amazing anomaly.
Most importantly, its a reminder
of home and a positive lesson
about retaining our water-based
culture and economy and letting
our wild places thrive.
Travel continues from page 16