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Volume 10 Issue 16

November 18, 2016

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Kiawah,
Seabrook
choose
Trump
STAFF REPORT

The Island Connection

A patented sweetpotato energy tuber. Kiawahs Marilyn Blizard with a potted baby tuber
in waiting. Dr. Janice Ryan-Bohac with a field of tubers.
Photos courtesy CAREnergy

A story with a revolutionary twist,

just in time for Thanksgiving
KIAWAH RESIDENT HELPS DEVELOP SWEET
P O TAT O I N T O 1 0 0 P E R C E N T P L A N T- B A S E D F U E L
BY GREGG BRAGG

The Island Connection Staff Writer

hanksgiving is just around the corner and while turkey and

pumpkin pie may top the list of holiday icons, the sweet potato
makes a similar grade. Kiawah resident Marilyn Blizard is a
longtime fan of the sweet potato.
Since childhood, I learned sweet potatoes were tasty and nutritious

Fresh Produce Giveaway

Page 8

as well as modestly priced [at] the supermarket, which meant a lot to our
family. Mom was a widow raising 3 growing children, waxes Blizzard.
Her nostalgia was magnified and repurposed when she met Dr. Janice
Ryan-Bohac.
Ryan-Bohac grew up in Kentuckys horse country. Kentucky is
known for its outstanding thoroughbred race horses. They are perceived

Sweet Potatoes continues on page 7

Shoebox Gifts

Page 9

little over half of Kiawahs

registered voters turned out to vote
for the next President of the United
States, handing Donald Trump a decisive
victory over Democratic candidate Hilary
Clinton. A similar, those less emphatic
victory, occurred in neighboring Seabrook
Island, where voter turnout was higher, at
61 percent.
In Charleston County, Clinton won
with 50.64 percent of the vote, to Trumps
42.78 percent. Sen. Tim Scott won his
bid for election to his senate seat, beating
Democratic challenger Tom Dixon 56
percent to 41 percent. Mark Sanford was
returned to U.S House of Representatives
55 percent to 37 percent. The 1/2 penny
sales tax increase also narrowly passed as
did the related roads bond.
For a full breakdown of the results
go to admin.enr.clarityelections.com/
files/SC/Charleston/64668/183017/en/
summary.html
Kiawah Precinct
Total votes cast, 917 of 1,650 possible
PRESIDENT
Trump (R) 531
Clinton (D) 281
US SENATE
Scott (R) 724
Dixon (D) 153
US HOUSE OF REP.
Sanford (R) 638
Cherney (D) 209
QUESTION 1 (1/2 cent sales tax)
Yes 499
No 393
QUESTION 2 (bonds for road
projects)

Elections continues on page 5

Volunteer Spotlight

Page 10

November 18, 2016

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Lynn Pierotti
publisher
lynn@luckydognews.com
Jennifer Tuohy
managing editor
jennifer@luckydognews.com
Alejandro Ferreyros
senior graphic designer
alejandro@luckydognews.com
Swan Richards
graphic designer
swan@luckydognews.com
Lori McGee
sales manager
lori@luckydognews.com
Carla Foxworth
sales executive
carla@luckydognews.com
Staff Writers
Gregg Bragg
Contributors
Marilyn Ferrell
Sarah Vega
Jamie Gnazzo
Bill Britton
Kate Dittloff
Jennifer S. Roberts
Jennifer Meshanko
Dimi Matouchev

Published by
Lucky Dog Publishing
of South Carolina, LLC
P.O. Box 837
Sullivans Island, SC 29482
843-886-NEWS
Future deadlines: November 22
for submissions for the
December 2 Issue
Op-Ed articles and letters to the editor do not
necessarily reflect the opinion of
Lucky Dog News or its writers.

The Island
Connection

Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC

Publishers of Island Eye News,
The Island Connection,

Kiawah Town Council report,

November 2016
BY GREGG BRAGG

The Island Connection Staff Writer

he October meeting of the Town

of Kiawah Island (TOKI) town
council was cancelled four days
prior to the arrival of hurricane Matthew.
The two month break made for a busy,
daunting look to Novembers meeting
agenda. All five members of town council
confirmed their attendance by responding
to a verbal roll call. The meeting was well
attended and included eight members
of TOKIs staff. Two staff members
had speaking parts related to hurricane
Matthew.
Several sets of minutes were approved
along with several requests for changes.
An unaccustomed silence followed the
call for contributions to the first round of
citizens comments, and it was on to the
first of several presentations.
Paul and Mary Jane Roberts were in
the house to accept an Outstanding
Service Award. Their work on Johns
Island road planning consumed much of
their lives for the past 11 years, but didnt
pay particularly well. Roberts made his
contribution for the low, low price of $1
over the period, despite commanding
a degree from the MIT Center for
Transportation Studies. I have never
worked so hard on anything in my life
and accomplished so little, said Paul
to chuckles of appreciation. Mary Jane
followed with, he has never worked
so hard on anything [peals of raucous
laughter] in his life. The Roberts plan to
stay involved with the project despite their
recent move to Bishop Gadson.
Councilmember and mayoral candidate
Craig Weaver gave the next presentation,
which featured a shell of TOKIs new
website. The lights dimmed and slide
show began showing a familiar look, but
with improved navigation. The feature
came as a welcome to relief to residents
like Wendy Kulick, who says it can take

as many as five clicks to find what youre

looking for. The demonstration displayed
where actual content would end up, and
presenters specified the enhanced design
will enable TOKI staff to make updates
without incurring additional costs.
Interesting as the demo was however,
councilmember Johnson had to prod the
towns attorney from a snoring slumber,
which drew plenty of attention. Initial
testing on the site will be completed in
late November with roll-out scheduled
for early December. Weaver concluded his
remarks by saying he would circle back for
input from residents over the next couple
of weeks.
The last presentation was a summary of
the 2015/2016 Audit. Based on information
supplied by TOKI, a representative of
audit firm Greene, Finney and Horton
delivered their unmodified opinion of
TOKI finances. GFH said TOKI was in
good financial condition as of June 30,
2016, and they continue to work with
staff on improving documentation of
internal controls, processes and policies.
They also cautioned the town not to use
funding balances to level the annual
budget unless they are saving for a major
purchase. Complete, detailed copies of
the report and presentation are available
at town hall while they last.
Old business consisted of a second
reading of ordinances 2016-07 and
2016-08. The matched pair enables
rezoning of parcel 207-05-00-116 to
R3/C residential/commercial status. The
land, owned by the National Christian
Charitable Foundation, is located on the
opposing side of Beachwalker lagoon from
town hall. Lengthy discussions yielded
unanimous approval of the measure.
New business included;
1. Extension of the contract with
Accurate Window Cleaning

Civic Calendar
Town of Kiawah
Arts and Cultural
Events Council
Meeting
Thu, Dec. 1, 3 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall

Town of Seabrook
Planning Commission
Dec. 7, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Ways & Means
Dec. 13, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall
Town Council
Dec. 20, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall

through June 2017.

2. Approval of IPW Construction
Group to improve drainage along
Beachwalker Dr. There was quite a
bit of discussion around this. The
debate centered on a survey of the
area conducted by WK Dixon,
which revealed 30 year old pipes
that had turned more toward
vinegar than wine. However, the
$139,000 price tag from IPW
exceeded the $100,000 budgeted
amount. Councilmember Mary
Johnson asked if this required an
amendment to the budget. She
was informed the overage could be
accounted for in the future.
3. Extension of the contract with
Island Beach Services for an
additional six months.
4. Hiring Dwayne M. Green as
the TOKI attorney for a period
of one year starting January 1.
There has been a bit of change
in compensation suggested by
the search committee. Green
himself was part of TOKIs ad hoc
committee, which recommended
$160/hour for 10 hours/week.
The total was double what TOKI
currently pays for 30 hours/
week, as previously reported
in The Island Connection. The
new agreement specifies a flat
rate of $80,000 per year without
indicating the number of hours.
The only exception being the need
for extraordinary instances, in
which case, a separate contract can
be negotiated.
Standing committee reports were a
bit Spartan in the wake of Matthew,
but councilmember Wilson delivered an
update on Johns Island roads. It seems
federal grant money is available to study

K iawah Island Town H all

21 Beachwalker Drive
Kiawah Island, SC 29455
Phone: 768-9166
Fax: 768-4764
Seabrook Island Town H all
2001 Seabrook Island Road
Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Phone: 768-9121
Fax: 768-9830
Email: lmanning@townofseabrookisland.org
Johns Island Council
Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric
Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Hwy, Johns
Island.
Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113
Charleston County Council
4045 Bridge View Dr, N. Charleston
958-4700
City of Charleston
75 Calhoun St.
724-3745

November 18, 2016

civic

routes for alternative transportation for

say, a bike path, which are not available
to study traditional roads like the Cross
Island Parkway. The engineering study
will cost $100,000. $80,000 will be picked
up by the feds and the remaining $20,000
will be picked by TOKI and split evenly
between an as yet to be built coalition.
Councilmember Johnson seemed to
object when she said, We dont own
this land and were doing this on Johns
Island. However, the Mayor jumped
in and characterized the study as a
good back door approach to studying
this route. The idea is they can get the
route studied and let time take care of
determining if the study can be translated
into a roadway. Theres a lot of benefit
to having the study done. We cant do a
study on a [traditional] roadway, quipped
the mayor.
Johnson asked if there was going
to be more review on the part of
council, but the mayor was ready with a
response. Assuming organizations like
the community association, Resort, and
Town of Seabrook all kick in an equal
amount, the mayor informed Johnson
the remainder fell within the mayors
authority to approve outside of council
review/approval.
Meeting or not, Hurricane Matthew
demanded a report for Weavers public
safety committee. He said the town had
performed well in the crisis, and was
developing an after action report that
will be ready in the next couple weeks.
Weaver seemed ready to be done, but the
mayor prompted him for an update on his
recent activity with the Board of Zoning
Appeals (BZA). Weaver responded by
reminding the room the county had
approved funding to rebuild the fire
stations on Kiawah before saying the BZA
had approved construction on station 6
(Flyway) to begin this December.
The town administrators reported

featured a pair of staff members. Jim

Jordan delivered the summary of a report
from Coastal Science and Engineering.
The report on hurricane damage mirrored
observations previously reported by The
Island Connection, but Theres nothing
we can do right now except continue to
monitor, said Jordan in conclusion.
Rusty Lameo reported on actions being
taken to remedy the many boardwalks
damaged by the storm. Public boardwalks
have up to a year to comply but private
versions are another matter and affected
residents are being informed of their
responsibilities. Particularly interesting
was the observation that of 42 trash/
recycling containers on the beach, only
four remained post-Matthew.
The mayor reported TOKI has closed
on the sale of the existing municipal
complex to the community association,
and secured a $3 million loan to purchase
a new one. The door to the second round
of citizens comments was now open, and
this one would not be so quiet as the first.
Kiawah resident Dennis McGill began
his remarks by observing the minutes for
meetings were chronically late, but he had
other things on his mind. According the
TOKI statute, the town appoints four
positions; clerk, treasurer, attorney and judge,
he observed. The administrators position,
consequently, is purely optional, McGill
said. The remaining positions are to be made
following inauguration he emphasized,
wondering why council had appointed the
new attorney mid-term. Why now, its
not that critical. Rarely does anything get
referred, and its a waste of time to have the
attorney in every meeting. And if youre
paying for it, its a waste of money, too.
Resident Wendy Kulick persisted in
asking when she was going to get answers
to the questions she has been asking for
the past two and half years.
There being no further business the
meeting was adjourned.

Tid e Char t
Date

High Tide

Low Tide

Nov 18
Nov 19
Nov 20
Nov 21
Nov 22
Nov 23
Nov 24
Nov 25
Nov 26
Nov 27
Nov 28
Nov 29
Nov 30
Dec 1

10:59am/11:31pm
11:55am
12:31am/12:53pm
1:32am/1:50pm
2:32am/2:46pm
3:28am/3:38pm
4:20am/4:27pm
5:09am/5:14pm
5:53am/5:57pm
6:35am/6:39pm
7:15am/7:19pm
7:54am/7:58pm
8:31am/8:35pm
9:06am/9:10pm

4:28am/5:15pm
5:24am/6:12pm
6:23am/7:09pm
7:24am/8:06pm
8:26am/9:01pm
9:25am/9:53pm
10:20am/10:40pm
11:10am/11:23pm
11:57am
12:04am/12:40pm
12:42am/1:21pm
1:19am/2:00pm
1:55am/2:38pm
2:30am/3:16pm

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: saltwatertides.com

November 18, 2016

civic

Kiawah gets set for the holidays

ARTS COUNCIL OFFERS SEASONAL CHEER
TO GET YOU IN THE SPIRIT

he Town of Kiawah Island Arts and Cultural

Events Council has a bevvy of seasonal treats in
store. Below are the events lined up for residents of
the island over the next two weeks, pick up complimentary
tickets at Kiawah Town Hall, call 843.768.9166 or visit
www.kiawahisland.org/specialevents.
University of South Carolina Concert Choir
Friday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m., Church of Our
Saviour. Tickets are now available.
The University of South Carolina Concert Choir is
USCs most select, auditioned choral ensemble having
achieved international recognition under the direction
of the late Arpad Darazs. The tradition of excellence
continues under its current director, Dr. Larry Wyatt.
This prestigious choir has performed both far and near
being one of 17 university ensembles selected to perform
on the Mozart Bicentennial Masses in Concert series in
Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center. They have performed
extensively in Europe serving as Choir-in-residence for
the Classical Music Seminar in Eisenstadt, Austria;
performed Handels Messiah in Spain and performed in
the Thomaskirche at Leipzig which is the church served
by J.S. Bach during the latter part of his life. There
are others but beyond these is a performance with the
Jerusalem Symphony under Lawrence Foster, Sergiu
Comissiona and Krystof Penderecki.
Join us for an amazing evening of music and welcome
these young singers to our area. This is a quality choir

November 18, 2016

civic

University school students conduct

exit polls with islanders
BY SARAH VEGA

For The Island Connection

BY MARILYN FERRELL
For The Island Connection

that is sure to deliver the shiver.

Bria Skonberg Quintet
Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 7:30 p.m., Seabrook
Island House. Tickets available now.
Canadian singer, trumpeter, and songwriter Bria
Skonberg is described by The Wall Street Journal as one
of the most versatile and imposing musicians of her
generation. Recognized as one of 25 for the Future by
DownBeat magazine (Summer 2016), Skonberg is newly
signed to Sony Music Masterworks OKeh Records,
and just released her debut LP, simply titled BRIA, in
September 2016.
Wielding a unique blend of modern-day pop sensibility
and sizzling musicianship, Skonberg aims for a sense of
allure on the new collection. She credits producer Matt
Pierson with helping her create music that is both curious
and exotic, playing with tension and storytelling. Elite
jazz chops, artfully mixed with worldly rhythms and
contemporary songwriting, result in a sophisticated pop
sound closely resembling that of Michael Bubl, Diana
Krall, and Harry Connick Jr.
Noted as a Millennial Shaking Up the Jazz World,
according to Vanity Fair, Skonberg is a self-described
small town girl from Chilliwack, British Columbia.
She left for Vancouver straight out of high school and
earned a degree in Jazz Trumpet Performance from
Capilano University.

civic

To date, Bria has performed at some 100 festivals

worldwide. She is the co-founder of the New York Hot
Jazz Camp and New York Hot Jazz Festival. Further
accolades include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet awards
from Hot House Jazz Magazine (2014-15), Outstanding
Jazz Artist at the New York Bistro Awards (2014), a
DownBeat Rising Star (2013-15), and a nominee for Jazz
Journalists' Association Up and Coming Artist (2013).
Moranz Entertainment Kiawah Christmas Special
Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at 7:30 p.m., East Beach
Conf. Center. Ticket Release Nov. 29.
Its the most wonderful time of the year! All new for
2016 producers Brad and Jennifer Moranz have prepared
a special rendition of their annual Charleston Christmas
Special just for Kiawah. This exclusive performance of
the Kiawah Christmas Special is the perfect way to get
into the holiday spirit. This performance is an audience
favorite with entirely new musical performances and
comedy sketches with a tribute to the holiday season.
Since 1995, the Moranz duo has been treating
Charleston audiences of all ages to their brand of
entertainment primarily musical revues that take
existing songs and put together into a theme. They
produce, write, direct, cast and choreograph three
musical revues a year: a retro rock n roll show in March,
a variety show in July and the annual The Charleston
Christmas Special.

Local students polling voters on election day.

he third through 12th graders

from University School of the
Lowcountry (USL) arent old
enough to vote, but that didnt stop
them from showing up at the polls
on November 8. USL students spent
Election Day polling voters at more than
two-dozen sites around Charleston and
Berkeley Counties, including St. Johns
High School on Johns Island.

After collecting almost 2,600 responses

total, they returned to the school to
compile data and make predictions about
the election outcomes. This year the
students correctly predicted the outcomes
of most races, as well as the passing of
the half-cent sales tax referendum in
Charleston County.
Exit polling was the culminating
project in the schools annual exploration

of elections and the democratic process.

During this election cycle, high
school students visited the Lyndon
Johnson Presidential Library to gain a
comprehensive perspective on the Voting
Rights Act of 1965, and various groups of
students had the chance to attend local
presidential primary events for Jeb Bush,
Hillary Clinton, John Kasich, Marco
Rubio, and Donald Trump. The entire
student body also heard presentations
from representatives and candidates of
the Green, Libertarian, Democratic, and
Republican parties.
It is a great learning activity
about mathematics, statistics, and the
democratic process for us all, says Head
of School Jason Kreutner. Doing it yearly
also enables students to see first-hand
the ebb and flow of turnout rates for the
different types of elections, and it helps
to develop students who will be active
participants in the civic arena.
University School of the Lowcountry
(USL) is an independent school serving
students from third through 12th grade
in Mount Pleasant. For more information
please visit www.uslowcountry.org or call
(843) 884-0902.

Elections continues from cover

Yes 511
No 359
Seabrook Precinct
Total votes cast 1,214 of 1,992 possible
PRESIDENT
Trump (R) 637
Clinton (D) 467
US SENATE
Scott (R) 871
Dixon (D) 281
US HOUSE OF REP.
Sanford (R) 776
Cherney (D) 342
QUESTION 1 (1/2 cent sales tax for
roads)
Yes 606
No 583
QUESTION 2 (issuance of bonds for
road projects)
Yes 631
No 533

civic

Correction

In an article in the Nov. 4, 2016 edition

of The Island Connection titled Seabrook
Council learns valuable lessons from
Matthew, the name of the spokesperson
for the Town of Seabrook Utility
Commission was misstated. The President
of the Commission, Jim Bannwart, delivers
the monthly report to council. The Island
Connection regrets the error.

daily

November 18, 2016

Help the Water Wellness Mission

B R I N G C L E A N WAT E R T O T H O S E I N N E E D O N WA D M A L AW

here are currently 23,000 residents

on Johns and Wadmalaw Islands,
of which 3,700 are at or below the
poverty level. The most disturbing statistic
is that 90 percent of the children on these
islands are living below the poverty level.
Surprisingly (and disturbingly), many of
these residents do not have clean, safer water
in their homes. With no alternative, the
people are buying water from the grocery
store to drink and cook with, something

BY BILL BRITTON

For The Island Connection

they can ill afford to do. They are spending

a premium for what most people take for
granted. Their money could be going for
books, clothing and food, but it is going to
buy water!
Many of these people have wells in bad
repair or the wells simply don't work any
longer. With age or flooding from weather
disasters, many problems exist with people's
private water supply. Most of these "in
need" people cannot afford the hundreds
or thousands of dollars to repair or replace
their wells. Some have never even had a well;
they get water from a neighbor.
This is an astonishing situation and one
that exists right here where we live. The most
pressing need for clean water is the homes
on Wadmalaw Island. This low-lying, lesspopulated island has no municipal water,
whereas the more populated Johns Island
has a municipal water system that serves
many of its residents. Based on the smaller
populated area of Wadmalaw, and with no
funding in sight, it is highly unlikely this
island will have municipal water to serve its
residents anytime in the near future. The
estimate by water officials has been $30
million to bring water to Wadmalaw. The
numbers just don't work.
Being a barrier island and so close to sea
level, the well water is not always safe to

drink. Over time, rusty pipes can develop

leading to unsafe drinking water which can
also be high in sulfur content. The health
status of many parents and young children
are at risk without clean water.
In early 2016, the Sea Islands Hunger
Awareness Foundation (SIHAF), a
non-profit on Johns Island, began to
recognize the lack of clean water in homes.
After finding this out, the Foundation went
to work to help find a solution; a solution
that would help bring clean water to these
homes, even if it was one house at a time.
In February of 2016, a committee of
seven volunteers from SIHAF formed the
Water Wellness Mission which became an
affiliate of the Foundation. Their mission
was helping to identify and help one family
at a time obtain clean water. Since starting
over nine months ago, Water Wellness has
quickly raised $45,000.
The need is large. The hearts and
pocketbooks opened up. People reacted.
They graciously responded with donations.
As of early September 2016, all the money
raised has gone directly for the cost of
installing new wells and water filtration
systems for six families on Wadmalaw. The
average cost per family to install the well,
pump, tank and a water filtration system is
$5,000. The Water Wellness goal is to raise

$75,000 in the first year which will help 15

families.
The Water Wellness Mission effort is now
driven by eight volunteers. The group's duties
include raising money, communicating with
its database and donors, and organizing and
supervising all work performed to provide
the wells and water filtration systems for
the families. Each family receiving a well
is visited by a committee member. After
filling out an application and their need is
verified by the Water Wellness committee,
the applying family is approved and placed
on the waiting list for a new well. To date,
there are over 15 applications from people
who do not have clean water and the list
continues to grow.
The group's sole source of funds are
from donations and grants. With so many
struggling families in need of clean water,
we would like to ask for your support to help
these families obtain a well.
Whether you are a business, an individual
or a non-profit, we need your help. In our
country, in our time, in our community this
should not be happening. Clean water is a
basic need for everyone.
Visit fightislandhunger.org/water-wellnessmission for more details and to donate.

November 18, 2016

arts & events

Sweet Potatoes continues from cover

to be a cut above the rest as a result of studied,
quality breeding. Exposure to breeding science
inspired Ryan-Bohac. Selective breeding
worked with animals and led her to wonder if
the proven art could be applied in other ways.
Gasoline shortages and price fluctuations
spawned a growing interest in ethanol and
plants which could produce it.
She earned a PhD in Plant Breeding and
Genetics from Texas A&M university, and
has become an expert in the breeding and
development of a new sweetpotato (now
considered one word in the industry) with
multiple insect and disease resistance qualities,
and new high dry matter types for energy.
Corn was already being used to make fuel
ethanol which we purchase as E-10 or E-85
(denoting the percentage of ethanol at the
pump). Ryan-Bohac added to the tubers
attributes by developing high yielding sweet
potatoes that are more sustainable than corn,
adaptable to the high temperatures and water
stress found in Sunbelt states.
She formed a company called Carolina
Advanced Renewable Energy, LLC.
(CAREnergy). The South Carolina
Department of Energy awarded her two grants
to advance her efforts. She has since been
awarded other state and federal grants, as well
as contracts with companies to develop this
feedstock. She set up an agricultural research
farm for creating the non-GMO Energy
Tuber leveraging her interest and capabilities
with plant breeding. Her strange-looking but
super-sized Energy Tuber is now patented.
The last eight years has witnessed RyanBohac conduct farm trials in four states. She
has worked with The National Corn Ethanol
Research Center, University of Florida,
Auburn University and other partners. She
is ready to commercialize the Energy
Tuber. Her next step is to design and build a
demonstration plant to make fuel ethanol and
valuable co-products.
This will allow us to demonstrate the
economics of using this advanced feedstock
to produce clean energy, and help America
achieve independence from foreign oil while
providing jobs for [local] farmers, adds RyanBohac.
Because I have long been an advocate
for the best that Mother Nature can supply,
I became eager to help CAREnergy in this
cause, says Blizard. This meant I earned the
honorary moniker of Project Coordinator,
a voluntary position that had me assist at
the agricultural lab as well as help in the
preparation of a video fundraiser that will be
launched later this month.
With the public airing of the CAREnergy
video we hope to raise enough funds to

establish the first commercial production

facility in South Carolina dedicated to
sweetpotato biofuel. It need not be a large
facility. The sweetpotato Energy Tuber has
been proven to provide four times the yield
per acre compared to corn with less water and
fertilizer, giving our SC Midland farmers a big
boost towards economic stability and success,
Blizard adds.
Another attribute of the Energy Tuber
is the production protein for human food
and animal feed as co-products. Cleaving
the production process in two halves allows
processing food on one side, and ethanol on
the other seems efficient, but also sounds like
it requires an enormous facility. However, the
two products would all be distilled from the
same acre of sweetpotatoes. Two products
from one facility is a big bonus for investors,
farmers and consumers.
New research at the biofuel laboratories at
Texas A&M University has moved ethanol
from simply being an additive to petroleum,
to making it a drop-in fuel. Translated, this
means cars, ships, and even planes will be able
to use 100 percent plant-based fuel from the
tuber, replacing fossil fuel completely.
CAREnergys tuber going full scale
means we as Sea Islanders could say goodbye
to any further thoughts of offshore oil drilling,
and the damage it could cause to our shoreline.
Also, it could turn around the distress of our
SC Midland farmers, and reenergize the
area with a huge new enterprise. This model
of green, renewable fuel from an advanced,
sustainable crop can be replicated throughout
the Sunbelt states, effuses Blizard.
For more information, you can contact
CAREnergy by sending email to carenergyinfo@
gmail.com.

daily

daily

November 18, 2016

New additions to
Sea Islands Hunger
Freshfields dining scene Foundation hosts Fresh
Produce giveaway

BY JAMIE GNAZZO

For The Island Connection

n 2017, Freshfields Village will welcome

Fuji Sushi Bar and Grill and Cantina 76,
further expanding the villages dining
options. This will be the third location in
the Lowcountry for the Mt. Pleasant based
Japanese Asian fusion restaurant, and the
fourth South Carolina location for the
Columbia based taqueria and bar. The two
restaurants will join a thriving dining scene
within the village that features a range of
options to suit any palate or budget.
Diners at Fuji will find authentic
Japanese cuisine, signature sushi rolls,
traditional hibachi entrees and creative
Asian fusion dishes. The full bar will offer
an extensive selection of wine, beer, sake
and house made cocktails. Fujis modern,
laid back atmosphere with both indoor and
patio seating will make the restaurant an
ideal choice for everything from a business
lunch to a family dinner or a fun night out
with friends. The restaurant plans to offer
weekly specials and happy hour daily.
Cantina 76 offers diners Mexican
inspired cuisine from tacos to salads, as
well as handcrafted margaritas, sangria
and a wide selection of macro and craft
brews. Open for lunch and dinner daily,
Cantina 76 will bring a casual, upbeat
dining experience to Freshfields Village.

The inviting atmosphere encourages guests

to linger with friends over dinner or grab a
seat at the bar to watch the big game.
We are very excited to introduce
Cantina 76 and Fuji Sushi Bar and Grill
to the culinary offerings here at Freshfields
Village, says Ward Kampf, President of
Northwood Retail. As no restaurants in
the village currently offer Asian or Mexican
cuisine, these establishments will make
valuable addition to our dining scene and
complement the robust retail offerings.
With the opening of Fuji and Cantina
76, Freshfields Village will feature a diverse
selection of cuisines at varying price points.
Visitors to this dining destination can
choose from French bistro fare at Heges
or Neapolitan inspired dishes at La Tela,
American pub food at King Street Grille
or nostalgic soda fountain fare at Vincents
Drug Store & Soda Fountain. Homemade
soups and sandwiches are available at
Ladles. Visitors can start their day with
pastries and coffee at Java Java and end the
evening with a glass of wine and cheese
plate from FortyEight A Wine Bar.
Cantina 76 is slated to open in the early
months of 2017 with Fuji Sushi Bar and
Grill following in the spring.

he second Fresh Produce Giveaway

conducted on Saturday, Sept. 24,
2016 was very beneficial to all
the recipients and participants. The Sea
Islands Hunger Awareness Foundation
distributed apples, cabbage, onions,
organically-grown bib lettuce, potatoes,
and watermelons.
Along with the
vegetables, the Foundation distributed
recipes for the participants to utilize.
During this event, 201 households were

served that included 422 adults and 245

children for a total of 667 individuals. The
distribution began at 10 a.m. and ended
shortly before 12 p.m. The recipients were
very appreciative of the giveaway.
SIHAF would like to thank all of its
volunteers as well as the Stono Baptist
Church for hosting the event. Thanks to
all of you for your support. The members
of the SIHAF look forward to the next
Fresh Produce Giveaway.

November 18, 2016

daily

Local volunteers to
collect shoebox gifts for
Children in Need

BY JENNIFER S. ROBERTS
For The Island Connection

undreds of Charleston area

residents will transform empty
shoeboxes into gifts filled with
toys, school supplies and hygiene items
Nov. 14 21. Johns Island volunteers are
opening a new site this year to serve as a
drop-off location for shoebox gifts. The
gifts will then be delivered around the
world by the Samaritans Purse project
Operation Christmas Child to children
who are living in the midst of poverty,
war, disease or natural disaster.
The Johns Island campus of Seacoast
Church will serve as one of around
4,500 U.S. locations collecting gift-filled
shoeboxes for children living in poverty
overseas through the Samaritans Purse
project Operation Christmas Childthe
worlds largest Christmas project of its
kind.
During National Collection Week,
Nov. 14 21, Charleston area residents
will donate shoeboxesfilled with
school supplies, hygiene items, notes of
encouragement and fun toys, such as a doll
or soccer ballfor Operation Christmas
Child to deliver to children in need
around the world. This year, Charleston
area residents hope to contribute shoebox
gifts toward the 2016 global goal of
reaching 12 million children.
Were excited to open our doors and
join the effort to help children facing
difficult circumstances around the
worldby the simple act of packing a

gift-filled shoebox, said Mary Helen

Swift of Johns Island. Swift will serve as
the Relay Center Coordinator, managing
operations at the drop-off location, where
she hopes to receive at least 500 shoebox
gifts to contribute toward the 2016 global
goal of reaching 12 million children in
need.
For more information on how to
participate in Operation Christmas
Child, contact Mary Helen Swift at
maryhelenswift@seacoast.org or visit
samaritanspurse.org/occ. By going online
to give the suggested donation of $7 per
shoebox gift, participants can follow their
box to discover where in the world it will
be delivered. They can also pack a shoebox
gift online and even upload a photo and
note of encouragement.
Operation Christmas Child is a project
of Samaritans Purse, an international
Christian
relief
and
evangelism
organization headed by Franklin
Graham. The mission of Operation
Christmas Child is to demonstrate Gods
love in a tangible way to children in need
around the world, and together with
the local church worldwide, to share the
Good News of Jesus Christ. Since 1993,
Operation Christmas Child has collected
and delivered more than 135 million giftfilled shoeboxes to children in more than
150 countries and territories. For many of
these children, the gift-filled shoebox is
the first gift they have ever received.

Drop Off Times

Seacoast Church, 900 Main Road, Johns Island, SC
Mon. Nov. 14 2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tue. Nov. 15 2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Wed. Nov. 16 2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Thu. Nov. 17 2016: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Fri. Nov. 18 2016: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 19 2016: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Sun. Nov. 20 2016: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Mon. Nov. 21 2016: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

November 18, 2016

volunteer spotlight

Dr. Frankie Bearly

BY JENNIFER MESHANKO
For The Island Connection

hroughout Dr. Frankie Bearlys

career, she has made time to
volunteer and give back to her
community. Dr. Bearly was born in
Norfolk, Virginia. Her father was in the
United States Navy, which moved her
family to the Midwest. She remained in
the Midwest to attend Kansas University,
where she obtained a bachelors degree in
Medical Technology. Dr. Bearly worked
in a blood bank lab at a city hospital for
eight years. While working, she attended
dental school at the University of Missouri
Kansas City.
Dr. Bearly wanted a profession that
would allow her to interact with patients
more. She enjoys the scientific and

creative sides to dentistry. There is an

art to cosmetic dentistry, which involves
designing shapes and matching colors
to create an end result that transforms a
persons smile. After gaining experience
working in other dentists offices, Dr.
Bearly established her own family practice
from 1988 to 2009 in the Country Club
Plaza area of Kansas City, Missouri.
During Dr. Bearlys career, she
volunteered at free health and dental
clinics, including a mobile dental clinic
called Christinas Smile. Dr. Bearly
enjoys volunteering, because it is purely
about helping the clients without having
to collect insurance or payment. Since
1996, Dr. Bearly has been vacationing
in Charleston until she moved here in
2013. After doing some research in the
dental community, a Patterson Dental
representative suggested she get in contact
with the dental clinic at Our Lady of
Mercy Community Outreach. Dental
Director, Dr. John Howard, and Dental
Assistant, Olga Hahn, were instrumental
in assisting Dr. Bearly to complete the
dentistry boards to obtain her South
Carolina license. The Wellness Center
staff are such nice people, and their hearts
are in the right place, says Dr. Bearly. I
enjoy working with clients to provide a
good service and education so they learn
to be proactive with their dental health.
Dr. Bearly believes she can make an
impact in peoples lives by helping them
overcome their fear of visiting the dentist.
Dr. Bearly says, It is rewarding when a
client smiles and says thank you at the
end of the visit. She encourages others to
volunteer. There are a lot more rewards
than you can imagine.
Volunteer Spotlight is a column in The
Island Connection highlighting members of
the community who give their time to help
others. If you know of a volunteer who deserves
the spotlight email jennifer@luckydognews.
com. If you d like to get involved with Our
Lady of Mercy Community Outreach and
make a positive change in someones life,
contact Jennifer Meshanko via phone (843)
559-4109 or email jennifer.meshanko@
olmoutreach.org.

November 18, 2016

11

arts & events

Swimming with Santa

A Q U A R I U M O F F E R S U P H O L I D AY F E S T I V I T I E S
BY KATE DITTLOFF

For The Island Connection

he South Carolina Aquarium, located on the

historic Charleston Harbor, is getting into the
holiday spirit starting on Black Friday. Guests
entering the Great Hall will feel as if theyve walked into
a winter wonderland, with holiday dcor throughout the
gallery. Just a few steps away, Scuba Claus, the jolly old
fellow in the red scuba suit, will dive in the Aquariums
Great Ocean Tank. When Scuba Claus is away working
in his shop, his special elf helpers will dive during the
week.
Holiday dive shows take place November 25 through

December 23 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. During the first three

weekends in December, visitors to the Aquarium will also
receive a complimentary snowman cookie.
The Aquariums newest experience, BricksALIVE,
will see the addition of new, unique holiday elements
as well. Guests to the Aquarium will be greeted by a
giant LEGO present as they walk up the Aquariums
main ramp, a perfect spot for a holiday photo. Inside the
Aquarium, Finzy the LEGO Shark on the Shelf will be
hidden in a secret spot. Guests that spot Finzy will receive
an exclusive holiday surprise. Additionally, on November

25 the Aquarium will unveil a new LEGO sculpture

of a Charleston landmark determined by online voting
earlier this year. Fans voted for their favorite Lowcountry
icon from three options: a mural featuring Charleston
landmarks, the pineapple fountain and a giant sweetgrass
basket.
Come sea the magic at the South Carolina Aquarium this
holiday season. For more information, visit scaquarium.org/
holiday or call (843) 577-FISH (3474).

Holiday Shopping Guide

November 18

Mondays

Intermediate Oil Classes

At the Todd & Huff Art Center located
at Bohicket Marina, Wednesdays, 1 - 4
p.m. Topics include value work, applying
composition elements to your paintings,
edge work, brush and palette knife use,
and painting from still life and photos.
Email toddhuffcenter@gmail.com for
information.
Monday Bridge Group
9 a.m. at the Lake House. The Monday
Bridge Group needs new players. For more
information, please contact Ilse Calcagno
at 843.768.0317.

Tuesdays

Mah Jongg Practice

1 - 4 p.m. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday
of the month. Located at The Lake
HouseOsprey 2. Open to all new
players, those returning to the game, and
anyone else who wants a chance to practice
with others who are learning the game.
If you have any questions, please contact
Helen Thompson at hmtsbsc@gmail.com.
Bookmobile
Freshfields Village on the first Tuesday
of every month from 10 - 11:30 a.m. The
Charleston County Bookmobile will be
parked in the lot behind Heges and Java
Java.

Wednesdays

Lake House Yoga

8:30 a.m. Rise and Shine Yoga with Patti
Romano, formerly known at Gentle Flow
Yoga. Rise and Shine Yoga is an all-levels
practice focused around finding your days
intention, set up yourself for success and be
ready to shine.
Lake House Exercise Class
Join Kelly Gricunas as she returns to
Total Body Toning on Mondays and
Wednesdays at its new start time of 10:45
a.m. A new Zumba class starts at 9:30
a.m. on Wednesdays taught by Meagan
Bergeron. Get Pumped on Fridays will be
moving to 11 a.m.
Kids Art Classes
10-11 a.m. Acrylic on Canvas, ages 3-12,
$15, 3280 Loft at Bohicket Marina,
1897 Andell Bluff Way, Seabrook Island,
843.494.8784, 3280loft.com

Fridays

Adult art classes

10 a.m. - noon, multimedia, $40, 3280
Loft at Bohicket Marina, 1897 Andell
Bluff Way, Seabrook Island, 843.494.8784,
3280loft.com.
Friday Indoor Pickleball
12:30 - 2:30 p.m. at St. Christophers
Camp. For further information, please
contact Mary Torello at 843.768.0056.

Saturdays

December 11

Island Connection Calendar

Homegrown
9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Every Saturday at
3546 Maybank Highway Johns
Island. For more information, visit
johnsislandfarmersmarket.com.
2016 Sea Island Cars and Coffee
9 - 11 a.m. The third Saturday each month
at Freshfields Village.

Sundays

Sunday Afternoon Matinees

The Lake House hosts Sunday Matinees
at 1 p.m. in the Live Oak Hall. You are
welcome to bring your favorite snacks or
refreshments. Water and popcorn will be
provided.
3rd Thursday of the month in November
& December
4-7 p.m. Freshfields Village. Get an early
start on holiday shopping on Thursday,
November 17 during our monthly Sip &
Stroll. Visit participating stores for light
snacks and sips while enjoying special
events, sales, and promotions inside the
shops. The event will be held the 3rd
Thursday of the month in September,
October, November & December.
Visit freshfieldsvillage.com for more
information.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18
Fall Art and Artisan Showcase
Reception: Nov. 18 (4 - 7 p.m.) Showcase

and Sale: Saturday, Nov. 19 (10 - 3 p.m.)

Sandcastle Community Center on Kiawah
Island. Support local artists at the Fall
Art and Artisan Showcase. Items for sale
will include classic oil paintings,local
photography, wearable jewelry and crafts.
The show kicks off Friday, Nov. 18 with
a complimentary cocktail reception
including light hors doeuvres and
continues on Saturday, Nov. 19 with the
show and sale. For more information
on the event, contact the Sandcastle
Community Center at 843.768.3875 or
sandcastle@kica.us.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Emma by Jane Austen
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m, Celeste McMaster
of Charleston Southern University leads
Lets Talk About It, at Johns Island
Regional Library. Call 843-559-1945 for
details.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21
Beer Tasting at SeaCoast Sports and
Outfitters
4-6 p.m. Fish Hippie Skiff is hosting
a Holiday Kickoff Beer Tasting. Taste
Southern craft beers from Fullsteam
and Highlands and get look at artisan
oyster knife crafters, Williams Knife Co.,
opening local oysters with their heirloom
blades created just for Fish Hippie.
Drop-in Champagne Tasting

3-6 p.m., FortyEight - A Wine Bar. Four

celebrated Champagnes, including two
2008 vintage selections will be poured.
Charcuterie and cheese will be served. $15
per person, plus tax and gratuity.
Bourbon Tasting
3-6 p.m., Kiawah Spirits. Four great
bourbons, perfect for sharing, giving, and
sipping through the holidays will be tasted.
Complimentary.

NOVEMBER 23-26
Thanksgiving Retreat
St. Christopher Camp and Conference
Center. Rest, restore, and renew. The
weeks schedule is filled with activities
and periods of rest for your family as
we take care of the food and events for
you. To register, visit stchristopher.org/
thanksgiving-retreat-2016/.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Thanksgiving

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Santa Visits the Village
10-6 p.m.. Visit Santas Workshop all
weekend for a photo and take a turn
running down your Christmas list.
Each family will receive one free print,
compliments of the Village merchants.
Santa will be available Friday & Saturday
10-6 p.m. and Sunday from 1-6 p.m.

Bohickets Merchants Annual Fall Fest

2-5 p.m. Live music, face painting, photo
booth and lots of family fun at Bohicket
Marina. Including a childrens fishing
festival from 12-1 p.m. and a hermit crab
race at 1.30 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Holiday Festival
11-3 p.m., Freshfields Village. Annual
celebration returns to the Village Green. Free
childrens activities include face painting
by Cupcake the Clown, an inflatable
obstacle course, jump castle, and rides on
the Mechanical Reindeer. There will also
be a variety of complimentary holiday craft
and activity booths. Enjoy live music from
an interactive kids band throughout the
afternoon. Food will be available for purchase
from local food vendors.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Santa Paws
1-6 p.m. Freshfields Village. Visit Santas
Workshop with your pet for a photo
opportunity with Santa. Each family will
receive one free print, compliments of
the Village merchants. Donations will be
accepted on behalf of Charleston Animal
Society. Santa will be available 1-6 p.m.
for photos with children as well.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28
Muffins and Mimosas

10-11:30 a.m., The Resort Shop. Join The Resort

Shop for Muffins & Mimosas every Monday in
November from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Pinot Tasting
3-6 p.m., FortyEight - A Wine Bar.
Legendary crafters of Oregon Pinot Noir
and Pinot Gris wines, King Estate, for a
tasting of four King Pinot-varietal wines.
In lieu of a tasting fee, please make a $2
donation to Lowcountry Food Bank.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1
Holy City Messiah
December 1, 2 and 3. For three nights at
three different area churches, Maestro Ken
Lam will conduct Handels most popular
and glorious oratorio, Messiah with the
Charleston Symphony Orchestra, CSO
Chorus, and four guest soloists. Purchase
tickets at charlestonsymphony.org.
Girls Night Out
4-7 p.m., 3280 Loft Interiors & Gallery
in Bohicket Marina. 8th annual Girls
Night Out shopping party. All of the
girls are back together this year with
a huge selection of handmade jewelry,
beaded serving pieces, chocolates and a
variety of glass candles and vases. If you
have any questions please contact Donna
Horack at 843.343.4170 or email her at
donna@3280loft.com.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2
Holiday Book Sale
Friday, December 2nd from 9-5:30 p.m.;
Saturday, December 3rd from 9-4 p.m.,
Mt. Pleasant Regional Library, 1133
Mathis Ferry Rd, Mt. Pleasant. Find great
books, great bargains and support your
local Library. Books, DVDs, and CDs,
will be available with prices starting at
$1 for paperbacks and $3 for hardback
books. Childrens books start at just
$0.50 each. For more information visit
charlestonlibraryfriends.org.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
Snow Queen Story Time
2 p.m., Charleston Library Society, 164
King Street. The Snow Queen Story
Time. Free. For more information
call 843.763.4941 or visit www.
charlestonchristmas.org.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15
Holiday Strings
7 p.m. Charleston Library Society.
The CSO string quartet will perform
a selection of international carols and
sing-along favorites Guests are given the
opportunity to mingle with the CSO
musicians at a complimentary reception
following the concert. Purchase tickets at
charlestonsymphony.org.

14

financial focus

November 18, 2016

Put Thanksgiving lessons to

work in your financial plans
BY DIMI MATOUCHEV
For The Island Connection

hanksgiving is almost here. Over

the years, this holiday has taken
on a variety of meanings, most
of them centered on family, caring and
sharing. You can carry these same values
past Thanksgiving into your daily life
and you can certainly incorporate them
into your financial strategies for taking
care of your loved ones.
So, here are a few suggestions:
Protect your family. If something
were to happen to you, could your
family pay the mortgage? Could
your children still afford to go
to college someday? To protect
your familys current lifestyle
and long-term goals, you may
well need to maintain adequate
life and disability insurance.
Your employer may offer these
types of protection as employee
benefits, but the coverage might
be insufficient for your needs.
Consequently, you might need to
supplement your employer-paid
insurance with additional policies.
Invest in your children. If you
have young children, and youd
like to see them go to college
someday, you may want to start
putting money away toward that
goal. You can save and invest for
college in a variety of ways, but
one popular method is through
a 529 plan, which offers high
contribution limits and potential
tax advantages. Plus, a 529 plan
gives you significant control and
flexibility: if you establish a plan
for one child, but he or she decides
not to go to college, you can name
another child as the recipient.
Be generous. You dont have to be
a millionaire to make meaningful
financial gifts to your family.
For example, if you have grown
children, consider helping them
fund their IRAs. You cant
contribute directly to a childs
IRA, but you can write checks to
your children for that purpose
though, of course, they are then

free to do whatever they want with

the money. Its not always easy
for a young person to max out
on an IRA, which has an annual
contribution limit of $5,500 for
workers under 50, so any help you
can give your children in this area
should be greatly appreciated.
Safeguard your own financial
independence. Almost certainly,
one of the most undesirable
outcomes you can imagine is to
become financially dependent
on your grown children. Even
if you save and invest diligently
throughout your working years,
you could still be vulnerable to
financial dependency if you need
an extensive period of long-term
care, such as a nursing home stay.
These costs can be enormous,
and Medicare typically pays
only a small percentage, and
usually for just a limited time. To
protect your financial freedom,
you should explore ways of
addressing long-term care costs. A
financial professional can explain
those alternatives that may be
appropriate for your situation.
Communicate your wishes to your
family. At some point in your life,
you will need to draw up your
estate plans, which could include
a will, a living trust, a durable
power of attorney, a health care
directive and other documents. To
be fair to your children and other
family members, and to avoid
hurt feelings, you should clearly
communicate your plans and your
wishes while you are still around.
Thanksgiving means more than turkey
and football. And if you can successfully
apply the lessons of this holiday to your
financial plans, both you and your family
will have reason to be thankful.
This article was written by Edward Jones
for use by your local Edward Jones Financial
Advisor.