Fol l y Beac hs Newspaper

Vol . 3 I ssue 18
June 24, 2011 w FREE
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E Bocce scores page 16 Weiner's Word page 16 surfers read, Too page 13
Bl ow Up Your TV
H
ow many times has that question been asked, in one
way or the other, since I have been a part-time
resident of Folly Beach? As Where to Now
is the title of my latest novel, partially written
here on Folly, it obviously translated to
this energetic and enigmatic place, the
Edge of America.
How many times has it been
asked since Europeans pushed
out the Bohicket Indians? How
many times has it been asked, as
the generations tried to give this
special little barrier island
an identity? Even its
very name, Folly, is
misunderstood by the
thousands of people
who pack in here on
weekends for fun and
frolic.
Folly originally meant
foliage and not some kind
of foolishness, though, like
any other place inhabited by h u m a n
beings, we have had plenty of silliness. Just
read the police blotter.
As I worked on Where to Now and watched people
and vehicles pack their way on this small, sandy paradise,
sometimes I almost wondered why the island did not sink
into the Atlantic. Tey come for the sun, fun, and what they
consider the Folly Beach experience.
No doubt, fun is, on balance, a good thing. People spending
money here is a net positive for everyone living, working, or
having some kind of interest here. For better or worse, fun has
become the Folly Beach identity. Tat is not a bad thing, but
Follys identity is not its heart. Follys image, throughout the
country and the world, does not refect the depth of its soul.
Tere is so much inspiration on Folly, for any kind of artist,
but for me it is not what is seen, but what I feel. Te depth
of every human emotion literally comes out of the sand to
envelope ones being. Tere is the anguish and pain of the
wretched refuge, with some kind of disease, put ashore to
Wher e t o Now ,
Fol l y Beac h?
By Rod RogeRs
Rod Rogers continued on page 4
Work SeSSion, 5 p.m.
Te citys proposed 2011-2012 fscal year budget,
awaiting frst reading approval, currently shows total
revenue and expenditures equaling roughly $5 million.
Despite the narrow margin of incoming and outgoing
funds, the budget does not refect a tax increase,
according to City Administrator Toni Connor-Rooks.
In an efort to boost revenue, council members
proposed increasing rates in certain areas, including
parking fees. Council member Pennell Clamp said hed
like to raise fxed parking rates.
Council debated running ads on public access TV,
including during breaks in council meetings. How I see it,
is that were out a thousand dollars, said council member
D.J. Rich, referring to the citys missed opportunities
in gaining advertising funds. Connor-Rooks said she
foresees re-airing council meetings on radio channel 1610
for people without access to the public TV station.
Council member Pennell Clamp expressed concern
for the budgets equal revenue and expenditure fgures,
and said he feels the budgets projected revenue is over-
estimated. You see my concern -- I dont want to budget
for $5 million and end up with $4.5 million, said Clamp.
Te moneys got to come from somewhere. I dont think
well be doing the people of Folly Beach a service if we
have $5 million coming in and we spend $5 million.
Countering Clamps scrutiny, council member Charlie
McCarty expects incoming fees to boost revenue. I
think its conservative, said McCarty, regarding the
budgets projections.
McCarty envisions incoming revenue from franchise
fees, parking program fees, and parking violations to
increase incoming funds. Specifcally, McCarty pointed
out the $49,000 in hospitality fees currently exceeding
last years fees of $45,000. I feel more confdent well
reach our numbers this year, said McCarty.
Promising revenue projections did not sway council
members concerns for various expenditures, however.
Personally, I dont think were ready to vote on the
budget tonight, said Clamp.
Mayor Tim Goodwin proposed removing the budget
from the ensuing council meetings agenda Tuesday
night to allow ample time for revisions before approving
a frst reading. Te reworked budget will await approval
from city department heads until further consideration,
according to Mayor Goodwin.
Council member Paul Hume suggested council
members immediately propose cuts to expenditures in
order to reach a consensus.
Funds were trimmed in public safety services, such as
police and fre departments. Cuts to community projects
were also proposed.
Amidst reducing expenditures, council members
agreed to allocate funds from proposed cuts towards parks
and recreation for refnishing the tennis and basketball
courts, as well as sand and fence repair services. A transfer
of $20,000 from reserve funds to the Community Center
for replacing the pond and other deteriorated parts of the
garden was also proposed.
After carefully revising the budget, council members
conceded and agreed to postpone the budgets frst
reading until June 28. Another budget work session is
anticipated for the following week.
Work session briefy let out at 6:44 p.m.
CounCil meeting, 7 p.m.
Folly Beach Director of Public Safety, Chief Dennis
Brown, commenced the meeting by introducing three
new public safety ofcers of the citys Police department.
I believe we have some of the best of the best
candidates we could select, said Chief Brown. Were
very fortunate to have them and Im truly grateful
theyve decided to join our team. Chief Brown said the
trainees must endure four more weeks of training until
theyre cut loose.
Council approved the consent agenda
Including expenditures of $1,500 toward Turtle Protection
Volunteers from council discretionary fund, as well as a
request to surplus various public safety vehicles no longer
used by the city.
perSonal appearanCeS
Tom ORourke of Charleston County Parks and
Recreation Commission (CCPRC), requested to
commence plans of creating a parking area at 2nd block
east between E. Ashley and E. Arctic Avenues. Te
plan includes a single entryway of E. Ashley and an exit
on E. Arctic, creating 26 parking spaces.
Right now, there are parking issues on this island,
said ORourke. We get calls everyday about what were
going to do and we have to give the speech about beach
re-nourishment. Weve lost over 200 spaces down the
street and, even though its only 26 spaces, it will help a
little.
Initial parking spaces on CCPRC property have been
reduced from 440 to 180, according to ORourke. Tis
is step one -- its going to be gravel, an entrance gate, vinyl
fence and signage to create separation, said ORourke.
Hume said hes caught wind of trafc problems on
E. Ashley, creating hazards for crossing pedestrians. If
you put another 26 spaces there, getting over to Berts
Supermarket is going to be a problem, said Hume. Hume
suggested placing precautions alongside the avenue, such
as a crosswalk and fashing lights.
Council member Laura Beck also proposed a future
sidewalk to ensure pedestrian safety. ORourke responded:
I think were open to anything if itll help, especially if it
deals with safety. Were willing to be apart of whatever
plan thats bigger than us, said ORourke, regarding
members precautionary measures. Were one little piece
of something much bigger.
Council unanimously approved ORourkes request
Hillcrest Baptist Church parishioner Sheila Ray,
4177 Mill Creek Drive, North Charleston, requested
permission for parish members to hand out free water
July 28 on the beach.
Ray said a lack of parish funds has prevented a planned
mission trip, and feels the parishs generous endeavor will
beneft the community. Weve done this in Jekyll Island
and it went real well, said Ray, referring to the parishs
previous initiatives in ofering free water.
Beck suggested parishioners pick up trash during the
event to prevent litter from compiling.
Council member Eddie Ellis commended Hillcrest
Baptist Churchs decision to remain in the area. Te
message can be spread right here just as easy as it can be
spread in other countries, said Ellis.
Council unanimously approved Rays request
Tim and Valda Jones of Johnson City, Tennessee,
requested permission to hold an open house party on
their 309 E. Arctic avenue property from 4 to 8 p.m. on
July 30. Jones was aware the city requires parties of 25
or more to seek approval from city council.
Jones said he and his wife fell in love with Folly Beach
while staying with a friend years ago. Id like to share
Folly with our friends -- mostly from Tennessee and
some from South Carolina, said Jones, who mentioned
attendance will not exceed 100. We like to think we have
a few friends that would be willing to make the trip.
Council member D.J. Rich pointed out potential
parking issues from visitors. Parkings a problem, I
agree, responded Jones, who mentioned that he may
utilize his neighbors empty lot across the street for visitor
parking. Jones said hes also cooperating with the Tides
hotel to provide parking space, and is awaiting council
approval before solidifying plans with the hotel.
Council unanimously approved the Jones request
Jim Setford of 1215 Tabby Drive, sought permission
to maintain a berm and placement of barrels on his
property to protect premises from rising tides, as well as
prevent roadway erosion from weekend parking.
Setford said his property sits lower than 13th Street,
enabling advancing tides to cover property. First seven-
plus tide covered my property with salt water, said
Setford, who rebuilt the propertys berm and fence after
Hurricane Hugo destroyed his property.
All was well until the city decided they could make
a million dollars by making people pay to park, said
Setford lightheartedly. Setford said parked cars from
people frequenting the washout, as well as numerous
day-trippers, are constantly bogging down the marsh and
causing signifcant erosion.
Tere is a bright side, though -- the spot has become
a gold mine for writing tickets for having one tire on the
pavement, said Setford. Te citys making pretty good
money on 13th Street. Setford has placed three barrels
in front of his property to divert visitor parking away
from his berm. It works, said Setford. It protects my
property from tides and parking.
Setford said DOT has been contacted to prevent future
fooding, and feels construction plans should mimic the
arrangement on the 9th and 10th block of East Cooper
street to blockade advancing tides.
If DOT can fx the fooding problem, I wont need to
maintain the berm, and there will be no need for barrels,
said Setford. If its not fxed, its going to be a real big
2 June 24, 2011
WWW.FOLLYCURRENT.COM
ci vi c
Council continued on page 2
Budget Woes and Bi r di ng Fol l i es
Fol l y Beac h Ci t y Counc i l
June 14, 2011
By JacoB Flannick
problem for everyone on Tabby Drive.
Setford said he is seeking a variance
until DOT responds to his requests.
Council unanimously approved Setfords
request
Jan Brewington of Oceana, an
environmental group with initiatives
in ocean protection and preservation,
sought permission to hold Hands Across
the Sand -- an event sponsored by the
South Carolina Conservation League
and Surf Riders Folly Beach chapter -- to
spark ocean conservancy awareness.
Hands Across the Sand brings together
people from all walks of life and diferent
political afliations to work towards
clean energy and reducing fossil fuels,
explained Brewington.
Brewington said roughly 75 people will
gather to simply hold hands for 15 minutes.
We want to involve beach-goers as much
as possible, said Brewington.
Te event is set to take place at 11 a.m.
on June 25 at the 3rd Street east beach
access.
Council unanimously approved
Brewingtons request
CitiZenS CommentS
Jim Setford re-appeared at the stand,
seeking assistance to temporarily build up
the beach area at E. 13th Street. Setford
suggested pushing-up and/or dumping
sand to build up area.
Mayor Goodwin said the citys stuck,
however, until the planned 2013 beach
re-nourishment.
On behalf of a group of interested east
end dog proponents, Anita Praytor of
1670 East Ashley Avenue requested to
delay discussions of Ordinance 20-11
until Folly Beach citizens are given
proper notice of issues.
We want to thank the council for
your consideration in 20-11 to restore
our access and enjoyment of active public
beach by the Coast Guard Station down to
the points outlined in 20-11. Were hoping
for a passed ordinance tonight, so we can
resume our lives with the freedoms a bit
closer to what we had before 2009.
Jamie McDonald, 219 East Ashley
Avenue requested consideration to
place safety precautions along E.
Ashley Avenue, particularly near Berts
Supermarket. McDonald said hes
witnessed numerous pedestrians nearly
struck by vehicles. Its an issue thats
becoming an absolute hazard, said
McDonald, who proposed creating
numerous beach access crosswalks on the
heavily traveled avenue.
Te spot at Berts Supermarket
has become a dire situation for more
visibility, said McDonald, who claimed
the particular crosswalk is poorly marked.
With the increase of trafc weve had
here on Folly Beach, I think we need to do
a little more.
McDonald requested council urge
DOT to place fashing lights and an
accented crosswalk sign, at least 100 feet
on both sides of Berts Market, as well
as change the stretch near Berts into a
no-passing zone.
Nothings scarier than seeing a car full
of kids hit the gas after someones stopped
for crosswalk pedestrians, passing them
going down in front of Berts in wrong
lane, said McDonald. If you go down
there on weekends, I promise youll see a
lot of this yourself. I know weve got a lot
of signs on Folly, but a few more to save
lives wouldnt hurt.
Bird watcher Andy Harrison, James
Island, requested to restrict of-leash dog
use on the islands west end to protect
shorebirds. Harrison said various west
end areas are critical for shorebird use
and should be closed to of-leash dogs.
Reinforcing his request, Harrison
presented data displaying increased
shorebird use on the west end in April,
particularly by endangered migrating
June 24, 2011
3
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC
Publishers of The Folly Current, The Island
Eye News and the Island Connection.
lynn Pierotti
publisher
lynn@luckydognews.com

stratton lawrence
editor
stratton@luckydognews.com
Blake Bunch
associate editor
blake@luckydognews.com

swan Richards
senior graphic designer
swan@luckydognews.com
lori dalton
sales manager
lori@luckydognews.com
Richard Brendel
advertising
843-478-0896
richard@luckydognews.com

contributors
Jacob Flannick
Jud Bushkar
Heather Johnson
Fay a.
Rod Rogers
Bill noel
Michele nutwell
dorothy st. James
Matthew Pridgen
david crawford
Robert Bohrn
Becky sparks
Published by
lucky dog Publishing
of south carolina, llc
P.o. Box 837
sullivans island, sc 29482
843-886-neWs
July 8 Paper Deadline:
June 29 for submissions.
The Folly current, a wholly owned
subsidiary of lucky dog Publishing of
south carolina llc, is a free, indepen-
dent newspaper published every two
weeks and is for and about Folly Beach.
copies are mailed free of charge to ev-
ery active mailbox in our coverage area
and are also available at area business-
es and by subscription to non-islanders.
subscriptions are $39 per year for non-
residents and are available by sending
a check to lucky dog Publishing, llc,
P.o. Box 837, sullivans island, sc
29482. our editorial content is primar-
ily dedicated to the area of distribution;
ad space is open to all businesses who
want to reach the Folly Beach market.
complete ad creation is $50, however,
changes of up to 30% of the original ad
are included at no extra cost. all adver-
tising rates are listed at www.islandey-
enews.com under advertising.
Council continued on page 11
ci vi c
The meeTing began aT 7p.m.
Bob Hatcher of 801 E. Arctic asked
whether the City could provide more
downloadable forms available on
the Web site. Zoning Administrator
Aaron Pope informed those present that
building permits, as well as business
applications, are currently available
on the Citys web site. He added that
credit card payments have been an issue
brought up during the past several years.
You cannot pay your bills via credit card
online, currently, said Pope.
Bob Hatcher then stated that he would
like to make a deposit in advance to his
water account, so when the permit is
approved, he would be able to pay his bills.
Aaron Pope responded that currently
the City cannot accept any payment besides
check or cash, and that the ability to pay bills
by credit card would be a great beneft to the
city. However, Pope that due to fees and the
limited capability of staf, they could present
this before Council, but cannot guarantee
any direct form of change.
Te planning commission requested
that the comptroller bring a report before
council in regards to this issue.
Shortly thereafter, Commissioner
Millard Smith made a motion to
have the City explore the feasibility of
receiving credit card payments online,
with Commissioner Karen Burkette
seconding the motion. Te motion carried
unanimously.
Jim Wilkerson expressed concern that
his family and friends would receive
parking tickets while visiting his property.
Te Planning Commission referred him
to Chief Dennis Brown.
new business:
Commissioner Karen Burkette motioned
to move citizens comments after personal
appearances. Te motion carried.
Continuing on with new business,
the Commission briefy discussed trash
containers and right of way openings.
Out of the discussion came the conclusion
that there are ordinances already on the
books that were cast many years ago that
require citizens to remove their garbage
cans from the side of the road, out of
sight. Te biggest obstacle regarding trash
can regulations is year-round renters, the
Commission agreed. Tere is an ordinance
that says that the cans must have a lid, and
that it would take a considerable amount
of time and efort to inform residents of
these regulations. Some of these
regulations discussed involved who
should be ticketed in the event of trash
can violations the property owner or the
renter. Furthermore, the commissioners
posed the question as to whether residents
should be required to pay for trash cans.
Pope then stated that property
owners have some degree of difculty in
purchasing these cans. He continued
that they frequently write noise ordinance
violations to property owners, most of
which are very rarely at fault.
Commission then discussed right-
of-way openings around the island.
Pope proposed the idea of using leftover
Greenbelt funding to open up the right-
of-ways. Tis will be further discussed at
the July Council meeting.
Fol l y Beac h Pl anni ng Commi ssi on Meet i ng
J u n e 6 , 2 0 1 1
By Blake BuncH
Council continued from page 2
4
Your Fol l y Beac h
Summer Reading Guide
N
ewspaper writers are busy folk. I wish I could say Id spent hours
this week curled away with a good novel I just couldnt drag
myself away from. It can be disheartening to pick up a novel,
knowing it may be months before I can fnd the time to fnish it.
Tose time demands considered, its a lot to ask a fellow writer
to stop and pen something for our humble community newspaper. But a
handful of Follys fnest did just that, including Rod Rogers, Dorothy St.
James, Bill Noel, Michele Nutwell, and Matthew Pridgen, all of whom
have recently published books based upon or written on our dear island.
Tats not to mention Karen White or Dorothea Benton Frank, whose
latest work, Folly Beach, was released this week.
Its quite impressive that our six-mile sliver can produce such prolifc
bodies of work. As Dorothy St. James puts it, perhaps we are indeed at
the center of a mystical, creative vortex.
Among the ever-growing stack of must-reads on my shelf are a handful
of old favorites. Im always quick to recommend what I consider the
great American novel, Edward Abbeys Te Fools Progress. Best all around
novel, ever? I dont hesitate to say Gabriel Garcia Marquezs 100 Years of
Solitude. Want to be wowed? Try Salman Rushdies Te Satanic Verses.
Searching for the meaning of life and a good metaphor (and feeling a bit
horny?). Pick up Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins.
Let us know your summer reading recommendations. Leave them
posted on the Folly Currents wall on Facebook, and well randomly pick
a few favorites and hook you up with free tickets to Cinebarre. Just make
sure you read the book before going to see the movie.
~Stratton Lawrence
the Charleston Harbor. Te mournful
wails, of human chattel, emanate from
ships passing on the way to their holding
station on Sullivans Island. Survivors of
the middle passage wondered where they
were, and distressed over what was to
become of them. Teir agony drifts over
the waves, as much a part of Folly as the
ocean breeze.
Of course, the most poignant period
is Te Civil War/War Between the
States. On this very ground were African
American troops. Some, maybe most, were
descendants of the very chattel that passed
through years before. Tey were joined by
several regiments of the Union Army for
an assault to eventually take Charleston.
Just of the North end of Folly on Morris
Island, young men from the South, many
from South Carolina, desperately fortifed
themselves in a place known as Battery
Wagner. It was a human carnage of
indescribable horror, but just one of many
in a war where American human carnage
became the rule, not the exception.
Tough Where to Now is a modern
novel, I write mostly in a historical
context. My novel Blue-Gray Mist and a
Black Dawn is a Civil War-era work, set in
Virginia and South Carolina. One of the
many real-life characters in the book was
General Quincy A. Gilmore, commander
of the Union forces at Battery Wagner.
Te man and this place were explored in
great depth.
Long before coming to Folly Beach, I
felt the spiritual force of this island. My
psyche was here a long time before my
body. Like so many places from that
period, this is hallowed ground. Beneath
the beach activitybeneath the funis
the birthing of an extraordinary place: a
microcosm of an extraordinary nation.
Everything is hereAmericawarts and
all. In the most real sense, Folly is the
Edge of AmericaHallowed Ground.
On the way to its present identity,
Folly had many adventures. My friend,
Gretchen Stringer Robinson, wrote a great
history of the island. It seems we have
had everything from shootouts on Center
Street, the pier burning down a couple of
times (arson maybe), bootlegging, and
major criminals hiding out. As a writer,
knowing that George Gershwin wrote the
music to the great American Folk Opera,
Porgy and Bess, is very special. Based
on the book and play by Dubose Heyward
and his wife, Dorothy, Porgy and Bess
and Gershwin are a piece of America
Rod Rogers from cover
Rod Rogers continued on page 5
I
f youve spent your whole life going
insane, in search of who you really
are and why, you can now relax. Save
yourself and others
the grief of your
a nxi et y-produci ng
self-analysis, and start
looking at your arms
as fns.
Tank you, Neil
Shubin, for putting
things into proper
perspective with our
arm/fns. Shubin is
a paleontologist who
found, in Greenland,
Tiktaalik, the
375-million-year-old
missing link between
fsh and land animals.
He authored, Your
Inner Fish: A Journey
into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the
Human Body.
Many millions of years ago, a certain
type of fsh tried very hard to not become
food. It kept popping out of the water
onto land to escape predatory, bigger fsh.
It eventually developed, from its fns, tiny
front appendages to help it navigate in the
mud. Te fsh then developed lungs, and
eventually it turned into an amphibian.
Tis new animal, in turn, became other
amphibians, lizards,
birds, mammals,
and eventually,
monkeys like chimps,
gorillas, and Sarah
Palin (Editors note:
Te authors statements
do not necessarily
refect the opinions
of Te Folly Current,
unless such comments
garner us attention and
press in the national
media and grow our
readership).
A bird fapping its
wings; a brontosaurus
trudging its front feet
through a forest of
ancient ferns and cycads; Rush Limbaugh
throttling his morning microphone and
senators texting their wieners with their
cellphones; they all share the use of the
common ancestral tool of two little fns
which turned into bony, mud-navigating,
itself, and it has a big Folly connection.
Our piece of sand is productive and
inspirational.
When relating to the social and political
culture of Folly Beach, I am struck again
by the microcosm efect of the nation
itself. Apart from the fun atmosphere,
we are real people living real lives, with
all the challenges we see anywhere in the
country. For a novelist who tries t o
pull out the very core of what
human beings are, life on Folly
Beach is living in a real place.
It is not some isolated resort
where everything is neat and
orderly. You do not have
to search for the human
struggles that are part of
everyones existence.
Our visitors come
here for some escape
from those struggles,
but that motive, and
their fun, becomes
just another one of
our challenges. We
are not on perpetual
vacation, even
though we live in
a great vacation
spot. Tis
makes a great
sociological soup for a
serious writer. It is not writing
specifcally about the people you observe,
but drawing energy and ideas from their
lives and day-to-day existence.
My latest novel, Where to Now, refects
my interest in humans and the life forces
they have to face. Since it takes place in
Charleston, it will seem familiar to those
of us living in the area, but the human
problems are almost universal to the
American culture. Problems associated
with profession, job, family, divorce,
and on and on. Into these lives comes
a force so strong, so diabolical, and so
determined, the normal challenges pale
by comparison, but do not go away.
Tis force comes in the name of an
incredibly intelligent master criminal
named Billy Jack. With more resources
than most countries, he plays with the lives
of the principal characters, driving them
to the brink of their ability to cope. Te
questionwhere to now?constantly
rises and must be answered.
Very much like everyones real world,
the normal course of human events is
interrupted, and life-changing decisions
must be made. With its emphasis on
coping with ordinary and extraordinary
life forces, I would recommend Where to
Now to anyone who wants to plunge into
the depth of the creature human. It is not
so much escapism, but takes the reader into
a world where human beings deal both with
challenges they created, and trials in which
they had no control. Tere are twists and
turns, and even a few laughs.
In the end, my purpose is to have
a real connection with
the reader.
My hope
is that they
come away
with some
increase in
understanding
human behavior,
as well as being
entertained.
Often, I am
asked about some
of the books that
I read and would
recommend. My
own reading material
is slanted toward the
same purpose as my
writing. For instance,
one of my recent reads
was Robert Morris:
Financier of the American
Revolution, by Charles
Rappl e ye . Tis is an excellent piece of
scholarship about one of the lesser known,
but very signifcant, American Founding
Fathers. Just on my tablet is When
Money Dies, by Adam Fergusson. Tis
is the story of hyperinfation and money
mismanagement in Weimar, Germany.
Tis is a very topical subject. I like the
great classical novels from writers I admire.
For instance, Candide, by Voltaire, is
extraordinary. Often I reread books by
great authors. Recent examples are Te
Jungle, by Upton Sinclair and Darkwater,
by W. E. B. DuBois. Te list goes on, but
I advocate that reading should be personal,
enlightening, and entertaining.
Rod Rogers can be found at: rodrogersbooks.
com. WHERE TO NOW and BLUE-
GRAY MIST AND A BLACK DAWN
are available online at Barnes & Noble,
Amazon and the Rod Rogers website.
June 24, 2011 5
WWW.FOLLYCURRENT.COM
su m m er r ea ding
Rod Rogers from page 4
Neil Shubin continued on page 6
Readi ng Up on t he Or i gi n
of Webbed Toes
By Michael Dietrich
OPINION
Fishy History
I
n the seventeen years Ive lived on Folly
Ive never found a dead body on the
beach. Even though I write the White
House Gardener murder mystery series, I
hope to never stumble across one. Im not
bloodthirsty. Truth be told, Im a bit of a
coward.
Folly Beach suits me. Te easy-going
pace of life here on the island allows me
to putter in my vegetable garden, picking
of hornworms and keeping an eye out for
aphids while I plot new and inventive ways
to kill of unsuspecting characters in my
books. Or when the temperatures turn hot
enough to make a beetle sweat, I can be
found clinging to a boogie board, bobbing
on the waves. Characters whisper to me in
the voice of the breeze. Wave by wave, word
by word, my books get written.
When my husband and I frst moved to
Folly Beach, we were told the island resided
in the middle of a mystical, creative vortex.
I dont know if thats true. Perhaps it must
be. I used to work as an environmental
urban planner. Every year though, the tug
to express myself to fnd my voice
grew stronger, until one day I walked away
from a fulflling career and steady paycheck
so I could wrestle with characters who often
do and say unexpected things and battle
plots that never end up where I plan they
should go. Its a lifestyle that requires me to
let go and simply trust in myself and, well,
the universe. Its a lifestyle thats uniquely
Folly.
My husband and I have tried to move
away. When the storms get too rough or
too frequent or when weve cast a longing
eye on larger homes, we think about leaving
our cozy beach shack. But where would
we go? So far we havent been able to fnd
anywhere that gives us both the freedom
to be ourselves and the convenience of the
beach and the downtown.
I think Ive always loved Folly. Having
spent my childhood in Summerville, my
parents would pack up the wood-sided
station wagon and take daytrips out to Folly
Beach. Back then, Folly felt like a world
away from my suburban neighborhood. I
fondly remember, after a day in the surf,
how the up and down motion of the waves
would linger the entire car ride home. Id
rest my head against the window in the
back seat and close my eyes, savoring the
sensation.
If Im not writing, my evenings are for
reading. I recently fnished Mrs. Whaley
and Her Charleston Garden by Emily
Whaley and William Baldwin. Charleston
has a long history of producing and
attracting passionate gardeners like Emily
Whaley. Her memoir tells of a
delightfully feisty lady
I wish I had met. It
reminded me that
while I didnt have
a mentor to teach
me about gardening, I had the good luck
to grow up in a region rich in horticultural
history and overfowing with a sincere love
of its gardens.
I hope my passion for all things green
shine through in my books. If you get a
chance, be sure to pick up Flowerbed of State
from your local bookseller this summer.
Dorothy St. James (wildlife biologist and
paper pusher) is the author of the White
House Gardener Mysteries with Berkley
Prime Crime. Te frst book in the series,
FLOWERBED OF STATE, has been
called spunky (Library Journal), fast-
paced (Publishers Weekly), and it quite
simply blew me away (Criminal Element).
She can be found on the Internet at www.
dorothystjames.com.
6 June 24, 2011
sudoku
Solution on page 11 Level: Very Hard
Su m m eR R ea dinG
predator-escaping, freedom nubs.
Its a beautiful thing to visualize the
multi-dimensional progression of ever-
evolving life forms if you let yourself
appreciate it.
And, fellow citizens of Folly Beach,
S.C., U.SA., Planet Earth, consider this.
It's been recently discovered that at the
center of our galaxy, like in all galaxies
in the universe, there exists a large black
hole. At our solar systems position in the
galaxy, it takes 350 million years for us to
make one complete revolution.
It just so happens (I just looked this up
on Google) that roughly 350 million years
ago, when we were last at this point of
our rotation, Tiklaalik, and subsequently
amphibians frst emerged. Tats really
pretty amazing.
I dont know if anybody put this
together before but this means Happy
Birthday to our hands!
Our hands are now one galactic year
old (plus or minus 50 million or so earth
years). Te fsh within you is really in there
if you let yourself feel it. Flap your arms
around; wiggle your fns. Its fun.
Its humbling to wiggle your fns, and
humbling is good for your health and the
health of others and the planet.
So, in the name of personal and
planetary health, lets all go outside,
humbly love thy neighbor, and shake fns
with every person walking down Center
Street.
And, ever wonder why you like living
next to the sea? Ask your arms.
Neil Shubin from page 5
Gar deni ng t he Cr eat i ve Vor t ex
By doRoTHy sT. JaMes
C
asey Calhoun has landed the dream
job for any gardener. She has been
expressly requested by the First
Lady to make the gardens at the White
House beautiful and more importantly,
organic no pesticides, more natural,
more beautiful keeping the gardens
in line with top-notch environmental
standards. Caseys eye for detail and
green thumb, which runs as deep as her
Charleston southern roots, makes her a
perfect ft for the assignment. Casey could
never have predicted that her passion for
organic gardening would place her in the
center of mystery and intrigue.
As the
weeds call her
to work of some new-
job jitters, she places the fnal
touches on a premier organic gardening
project located on the lawn of the White
House for the First Lady. Tis project
could launch her career and garner respect
from others in the gardening world, or on
the fip side, fnd her tending fowers at
the local garden store.
Soon she is pulling weeds and pulling
herself out of them. Mud streaming
Beac h t hi s Summer
By Megan caRRoll
Tak e Some Fl ow er s t o t he
Book review continued on page 12
June 24, 2011
7
WWW.FOLLYCURRENT.COM
Su m m eR R ea dinG
P
eaceful. Idyllic. Good surf.
It would impossible to count
the reasons why Folly Beach
is one of the fnest on the planet.
Anyone who has spent even so much
as a day there would agree. And
although my story shades into gray
my history with this incredible place,
Folly will always hold a special place
in my heart.
My story about Folly Beach is
one of redemption. When I was 21
years old, I tried to kill myself in the
ocean. I was high on LSD and fully
convinced that I was the Second
Coming of Jesus Christ. I thought
that when I died in the water, the
world would end. My plan was to
swim out from Folly Beach County
Park as far as I possibly could so that
even if I decided to turn back at the
last minute, it would be too late.
When I fnally sobered up, I could
see nothing but blue all around. I
realized all of sudden that I was not
Jesus, but just some naked dude out
for a swim. I knew that I desperately
needed to get back to land, so I swam
and I swam, and I swamthen the
sun set. I fnally realized how long
I had been in the water, and my
strength failed me.
At that point, I did the only left
to do and prayed to God for the
frst time in years. I told Him that
if he delivered me to land, I would
never drink or drug again as long
as I lived. Eighteen hours after
leaving Folly Beach, I swam ashore
in front of the Sanctuary Hotel on
Kiawah Island. From Folly to the
sanctuary.
Six years later, I remain completely
sober from drugs and alcohol. I
have emerged from the depths of
complete insanity and regained a
life of meaning and purpose. Tis
book then is an invitation to enter
my Folly Beach redemption story,
t o
see what I saw in
the water and to thereby gain a new
perspective on life itself. My desire
is to play the tape through on the
choices that nearly destroyed my life,
in order to tangibly illustrate where
the road I once traveled ends. May it
serve then as a warning, a cautionary
tale from someone who has peered
across the thin veneer of deathand
lived to tell about it.
Published by local Four Winds
Books (www.fourwindsbooks.org),
From Folly tells this harrowing tale of
survival and redemption. Te book will
be released on July 1st, and a signing
will be held downtown. If you would
like to attend the event or pre-order a
copy to be shipped on the release date,
please visit: www.fromfolly.com.
Ac i d J esus
F i n d i n g R e d e mp t i o n , L o s t at s e a
By MaTTHeW lock PRidgen
I
n the late 80s and early 90s, I was a reporter for
Te Islander, covering Folly Beach and James
Island. My job was exciting and simple at the same
time; I got to frolic around the islands talking to
people and got paid to write about them.
Flash forward about twenty years and three
children later. Apparently unimpressed by my ability
to help my husband run our construction business
and care for them, my gangly teenagers asked me a
question. What exactly do you do, anyways?
Te remark stung, and I retorted, Before I
had yall, I was a writer. Tey smirked and raised
their eyebrows, and by the next day Id written the
beginnings of Death on Cofn Island.
Looking back, I did what I naturally do when
unsettled. I took refuge on Folly Beach, but this
time it was with words and imagination. Te choice
to use Folly as my setting was simple. Ive lived here,
worked here, surfed here, played here, and made some
pretty awesome friends in the process. Te island is a
family of people who are zany and loyal, eccentric and
steadfast.
What better place to fnd inspirations for characters?
Its quite fun to remark to someone, Be careful, or
youll be in my next book. Ive actually gotten even
with a couple of folks in these two books, if only in
my imagination.
Te obvious elements in any beach town are true
to Folly. Te ocean, sand, places to go and things to
Bor n on
t he Edge
getting even thRough pRose
By MicHele nuTWell
Michele Nutwell continued on page 10
Folly Current Calendar
June 24 - July ??
Friday, June 24
Movies at the Beach
Beat the heat with popcorn and Kool-aid! Todays feature is
Mulan (rated G; 88 min) at the Folly Library, 4 p.m.
Saturday, June 25
Hands Across the Sand!
Anyone interested in joining hands in support of the health
of our oceans is asked to meet at Public Access 3E. On the
sand at East Arctic and 3rd St. East, 11am.
Hands is a timely event this year, as our South Carolina
congressional delegation recently voted to support legislation
that would double the amount of oil extracted from the
continental shelf, which would open Atlantic waters to
drilling. (H.R.1231) Opponents of ofshore drilling will
gather on the beach to show the world they do not agree
with those actions. Te event is sponsored by Oceana, the
Coastal Conservation League, and Charleston Surfrider.
www.handsacrossthesand.org
62nd Annual Beneft Fish Fry
Sullivans Island Fire and Rescue will be holding their 62nd
Annual Beneft Fish Fry from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Under the
Big Tin with live music by Fowlers Mustache. Tickets are
$5.00.
Sunday, June 26
Band Together for ALS
Cary Ann Hearst, the Graham Whorley Band, the Key
of Q, Ryan Bonner and the Dearly Beloved, and Sarah
Cole and the Hawkes join together to raise money for ALS
research. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease
of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control
voluntary muscle movement. ALS is also known as Lou
Gehrigs disease. Music begins at noon and continues until 9
pm. Bowens Island, 1870 Bowens Island Road. $15 advance,
$20 at the door.
Information session for Hiking, Biking,
and Boot Camp in Italy
At the risk of the words Boot Camp scaring you of
immediately, PrimeTime will be taking members and friends
on a Fitness Field Trip in April 2012 biking in Tuscany,
hiking the Cinque Terra, and providing you with a daily
workout designed not to wear you out, but to enhance and
complement the scheduled activities of the day! Come learn
more at an information session over some Italian wine and
cheese at PrimeTime Fitness at 4 p.m.
tueSday, June 28
Carolina Day
Carolina Day, observed every June 28th throughout South
Carolina, commemorates the successful defeat of British land
and naval forces by Carolina and Virginia patriots on June
28, 1776. Tis was the frst decisive victory by the American
Colonies in their fght for independence and prevented the
British from gaining a foothold into South Carolina for another
four years. Tis year marks the 235th anniversary of the battle
of Sullivans Island.
Presentation by Historian Doug MacIntyre
Doug MacIntyre will speak on the battle of Breech Inlet and
patriot leader, Colonel William Danger Tomson at Fort
Moultrie in honor of Carolina Day. Tis often forgotten battle,
overshadowed by the engagement between the British Navy
and the fort later known as Fort Moultrie, was instrumental
in the overall victory over the British forces. Te
presentation will be held outdoors at 7:00 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and
blankets. Te Fort Moultrie Visitor Center will be
open with extended hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m and
the normal entrance fee will be waived. In case of
rain, Mr. MacIntyres program will take place in the
Fort Moultrie Visitor Center Auditorium.
thurSday, June 30
Llama, Llama Story-rama
Meet everyones favorite Llama from the book series
by Anna Dewdney! At the Folly Library at 4 p.m.
Friday, July 1
Movies at the Beach
Featuring Te Tale of Despereaux (rated G; 93 min)
Beat the heat with popcorn and Kool-aid! At the Folly
Library at 4 p.m.

Monday, July 4
Independence Day
Firework display at sunset, from the beach at sunset in
front of Center Street and the Tides hotel.
thurSday, July 7
Mermaid Tales from Around the World!
Dive into the enchanting underwater world of
mermaids and make your own twinkly mermaid tiara!
At the Folly Library at 4 p.m.
Friday, July 8
Movies at the Beach
featuring Around the World in 80 Days (rated
PG; 120 min) Beat the heat with popcorn and Kool-
aid! At the Folly Library at 4 p.m.
10 June 24, 2011
do; but what sets Folly apart are the locals.
Tey have infuenced my writing by their
utter enjoyment to be a part of this quirky,
mystical little town. Many bad moods
have been lifted after a jaunt to Te Sand
Dollar, where bad moods are simply not
allowed.
My latest book, Born on the Edge, is the
second in the series featuring Kell Palevac,
a reporter for the town of Folly Beach, and
Ill be announcing book signings soon.
Death on Cofn Island is available in
Kindle form for those who like e-books.
Folly Beach is where my children frst put
their toes in the ocean and where theyve
grown up. Ive grown a lot too, since their
comments a few years back. Hey, I guess it
was what I needed to get going. And guess
what? When they introduce me now, they
say, Tis is my mom, shes a writer.
su m m er r ea ding
Michele Nutwell from page 7
S
ince the 2007 publication of Folly,
the frst of fve novels in the Folly
Beach Mystery series, the question
I have been asked most often has been,
Why choose Folly Beach as the setting?
Considering that I live in Louisville,
Kentucky, I think its an excellent question.
My wife and I frst vacationed on Folly
Beach in 2003. Te third day there we
were walking on the beach, and about
a hundred yards in front of us, a body
washed ashore; the police had just arrived.
It proved to be an accidental death, but a
small seed of a story was planted in the
back of my mind. After all, thats not a
sight you see every day, and it struck me
in such contrast to the peaceful, pleasant
vacation we were having.
I didnt give writing another thought
until 2006, when we took my in-laws
to Folly for vacation. As Confucius
should have said, a week in a condo with
ones mother-in-law leads to thoughts
of murder! So, a drowning a few years
earlier, combined with the inspiration
of my mother-in-law, came together to get
me thinking about a murder mystery.
Yes, I know that I still havent answered
the question of, Why Folly? Be patient,
Im getting there. In addition to the two
pleasant vacations on Folly Beach, I
quickly learned to appreciate the character,
and characters, of the uniqueand truly
fantasticisland.
Folly Beach is close to the drastically
diferent world of Charleston. Te
Charleston Visitors Guide describes
Folly Beach as a charming bohemian
enclave perched on the self-anointed
edge of America. To me, it has an
aging hippy, beer-for-breakfast,
shared-with-your-Doberman, feel.
True, Folly Beach has a nice beach,
some excellent restaurants, some
shopping, great walking areas, and
a great view of a historic lighthouse,
but its people are what set it apart
from anywhere else I have been.
I have been privileged to get
to know several residents during
my visits the last fve years,
including some politicians,
public safety ofcers,
storeowners and employees,
out-of-luck residents with unknown
addresses, and even some vacationers who
visit year-after-year. I am continually
impressed by the friendliness, openness,
and caring attitudes of most everyone I
have met. Te characters in the series are
not directly based on anyone on Folly, but
several of you have said that they know
who they really are. Im pleased that I
have captured much of the feel of Folly;
for thats the true inspiration for the books
and what I hope to conveythrough some
humor, some
drama, and large
doses of Folly
Beach.
Folly Beach is
not just the
setting of the Folly
Beach Mystery
series; it is a main
character in the
books. Now, when
anyone asks me,
Why Folly Beach?
I simply respond that
I couldnt think of
anywhere else I would
want my books to take
place.
Bill Noel is the author of
fve novels in the Folly Beach Mystery series:
Folly, Te Pier, Washout, Te Edge, and
the most recent installment, Te Marsh. His
books are available locally at Berts Market,
the Sugar Shack at the Tides, the Piggly
Wiggly, Michelles Salon and Spa, and the
Ravenous Reader. Tey are also available on
line through amazon.com and Barnes and
Noble. More about the books and the author
can be found at www.billnoel.com.
Why Fol l y?
D e a D B o D i e s , a Mo t h e r - i n - L a w, a n D Y o u , D e a r r e a D e r
By Bill Noel
June 24, 2011 11
Sudoku solution
Solution from page 6
Vince Perna is a Folly Beach real estate expert who also loves music. If you want to know if
you can live on Folly, you can fnd him at 31 Center Street or by calling 588-3800.
Folly Music scene Council continued from page 3
shorebirds. Te Beach habitat is very
important to shore birds throughout
year, said Harrison.
Nancy Smith of 1207 Tabby Drive
briefy commented on Mr. Ellis
statement made during last months
council meeting, expressing his anxiety
towards citizen uproar against Ordinance
20-11.
Smith comforted Ellis in saying she
views the ordinance as a win-win situation.
Its as close to a perfect compromise as I
think were going to get, said Smith about
the ordinances attempt to please various
parties. I think youve done a good job of
protecting those interests.
orDinanCeS
(Require three readings for approval)
Third readings:
No. 17-11 (Final approval of 2010-2011
sewer utility budget set to end June 30)
Te ordinance calls for appropriation of
necessary funds for operation of Folly
Beach sewer utility.
Adamantly opposing the ordinance,
Ellis said he doesnt agree with the use of
PILOT money. I dont agree with the
way were charging people, said Ellis. I
voted no last year, and Im going to vote
no this year.
Council passes vote, 6 to 1, and adopts
2010-2011 sewer utility budget. Ellis
opposed.
No. 18-11 (Final approval of 2010-2011
water utility budget ending June 30)
Te ordinance calls for appropriation of
necessary funds for operation of Folly
Beach water utility
Council passes vote, 6 to 1, and adopts
2010-2011 water utility budget. Eddie
Ellis opposed.
second readings:
No. 20-11 (Amending efort to preserve
habitat of birds on Folly Beach by
placing limitations on of-leash dog
locations, as well as banning on-leash
areas towards islands west end)
Rich said he agrees with of-leash dog
restrictions; however, he doesnt believe
leashed dogs pose a threat to west end
bird nests.
My dog who is on a 6 or 7-foot leash
doesnt pose more of a threat than a
little child running around, said Rich,
who requested an amendment to allow
on-leash dogs on the west end.
Andy Harrison appealed Richs
proposed amendment, saying dogs are
indeed a threat to shorebirds, whether on
or of-leash.
Ellis reinforced Harrisons appeal,
saying, I want to protect the environment
and do what I think is right. Yall can
do whatever you want to, I dont even
care, added Ellis.
Council approved Richs amendment
allowing leashed animals beyond the
western end of the county park property
line.
Council passes vote, 6 to 1. Eddie Ellis
opposed.
FirsT readings:
No. 23-11 (Amending Folly Beachs
possession and consumption laws,
including elimination of glass containers)
Mayor Tim Goodwin presented a request
from the Public Safety department to
restrict beer keg use at Folly River Parks
beach area, unless approved before-hand
by city council.
Beck said this ordinance reinforces the
importance of restricting brandished beer
cans on the beach. You take the beer out
of the cooler, pour it in the cup, and put it
back in the cooler -- thats it, said Beck.
Beck said she had to recently explain
to her fve-year old what a beer funnel was
due to nearby college kids relentless beer
chugging festivities on the beach. Tat
is not a family atmosphere and that is not
what Folly locals want on this beach.
Te request is set to take efect
immediately.
Council unanimously passed vote.
Ordinance no. 22-11 (First
Reading of 2011-2012 budget) and
Ordinance no. 21-11 (Terminating
Citys consolidation of Dispatch
Communication) were removed from
Tuesdays agenda and await further
discussion until a later date.
BLU
6/24 - David Fuller
6/25 - Elise Testone Duo
6/26 - McKee & Stone
7/4 - Dustin Brown 12 PM, Southwood
Duo - 3 PM, Two 3 Ways - 6 PM
Bowens Island
6/26 Band Together for ALS w/ Cary
Ann Hearst, Graham Whorley, Te
Key of Q, Ryan Bonner, Te Healing,
Tommy Moneymaker, and Sarah Cole
and the Hawkes
Chill & Grill
Tursdays - Kevin West Band
6/24 - DJ Lucas
6/25 - Elise Testone & the Freeloaders
7/1 - Stereo Reform
7/2 - Top Jimmy
7/3 - Dantes Camaro
7/8 - Louis D project
7/9 - Sho Nuf
Drop In Deli
Mondays the Hawkes
Wednesdays - Trivia
6/24 - Eric Penrod
6/25 - Patrick Blake & friends
7/1 - Fairy Godmuthars
7/15 - Fairy Godmuthars
Folly Beach Brewing Company
6/24 - Crushed Red Pepper
7/1 - SC Broadcasters
7/8 - Mark Jackson
Folly Beach Crab Shack
Sundays Te Bill Show
Mondays Open Mic w/ Dave Grunstra
Tuesdays Trivia
Wednesdays - Jef Houts
Tursdays Island Duo
Fridays Nathan Calhoun
Saturdays Sara Smile
Folly Beach Shrimp Co.
Saturdays - Blue Patina
Tursdays in July - Folly Beach
Bluegrass Society
Locklears
6/30 - Folly Beach Bluegrass Society
Loggerheads
Sundays Eric Penrod 6 pm
Sundays - DJ Mike 10 pm
Wednesdays Karaoke
Tursdays Te Hawkes
6/24 - Da Gullah Rootz
6/25 - Howard Dlugasch 5 pm
6/25 - Bret Mosley - 10 pm
6/26 - Yellowknife - 3 PM
6/27 - Dan Clamp
6/28 - Ben Fagen & Holy City Hooligans
7/1 - Te Dubplates
7/2 - Jamisun - 5 PM
7/2 - Calhouns Calling/Casual Kings - 9 PM
7/3 - Yellowknife - 3 PM
7/4 - Nathan Salley - 5 PM
7/4 - Elise Testone Band - 10 PM
7/5 - Gaslight Street
7/7 - Nathan Calhoun CD release party
7/8 - Top Jimmy
7/9 - Howard Dlugasch - 5 PM
7/9 - Patrick Blake & Co. - 10 PM
Pourhouse - James Island
6/25 - Dangermufn
Planet Follywood
6/25 - Eric Penrod
6/30 - Karaoke w/ Margie
7/1 - Dave Grunstra
7/2 - Nathan Calhoun
7/10 - Teresa Parrish
Ritas
Mondays - Not So Serious
Tursdays - Sgt. Submarine
6/26 - Matt Wink
6/28 - Live Bait Duo
6/29 - Sol Driven Train
7/3 - Matt Wink
7/5 - Joal Rush
7/6 - Stoneking
7/10 - Rotie
Sand Dollar
6/24 & 25 - Johnny Mac & the Booty
Ranch
7/1 & 2 - Te Cool
Surf Bar
Wednesdays - Guilt Ridden
Troubadour
6/24 - Hank the Pirate
6/26 - Dangermufn
7/8 - Wombat
7/9 - Blue Mother Tupelo
7/17 - Gaslight Street
Taco Boy
6/25 - Rawberry Jam
Woodys
Mondays - Live Local music
Tuesdays Jerry Cooper
Tursdays - Trivia
CHANGE
3:11aM/3:46PM
4:01aM/4:37PM
4:52aM/5:26PM
5:43aM/6:15PM
6:34aM/7:02PM
7:22aM/7:48PM
8:10aM/8:33PM
8:56aM/9:16PM
9:42aM/10:00PM
10:29aM/10:44PM
11:17aM/11:30PM
12:09PM
12:18aM/1:04PM
1:10aM/2:03PM
8:58aM/9:43PM
9:44aM/10:38PM
10:33aM/11:31PM
11:21aM
12:21aM/12:10PM
1:08aM/12:57PM
1:53aM/1:44PM
2:37aM/2:31PM
3:20aM/3:18PM
4:04aM/4:07PM
4:49aM/4:58 PM
5:34aM/5:51PM
6:23aM/6:49PM
7:13aM/7:50PM
Date High Tide Low Tide
Storms, hurricanes, 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
Fol l y Beach Ti de char t
Jun 24
Jun 25
Jun 26
Jun 27
Jun 28
Jun 29
Jun 30
Jul 1
Jul 2
Jul 3
Jul 4
Jul 5
Jul 6
Jul 7
Book review from page 12
down her face, she fgures out quickly
that for some reason she has been the
victim of an attack! Her head is the only
thing that seems to be clearing, as things
go from bad to worse. Her Aunt Willow
(an extraordinary woman who raised her
after the murder of her mother) quickly
pops into her mind Casey, child, I
swear some days aint good for nothing
but spreading out on a lawn like fertilizer.
And this is one of those days!
Not a moment after shaking of the
attack, she fnds herself surrounded by the
Secret Service, along with a dead woman
in a nearby trashcan.
If anyone coming into contact with
Casey thinks she is going to wilt away from
a challenge, St. James protagonist shows
that they have another thing coming!
Casey throws herself into a mystery that
has more twists and turns than a tangled
grapevine. Working subtlety through the
clues like Miss Marple, Agatha Christies
classic detective, Casey is not one to be
underestimated. Seeking justice for the
attack on herself and the murdered woman
may be what makes this a mystery, but
what really gnaws at Casey is not knowing
after all these years who murdered her own
mother. Its something Casey wrestles with
as she tries to go along with her daily life.
Flowerbed of State is a murder mystery,
but only on the surface. St. James brings
attention to things she feels strongly about,
from our use of pesticides to fnding plants
that dont require us to waste one of the
many resources we take for granted:
water.
Were reminded through St. James dear
Aunt Alba character that hospitability is
the cornerstone of society. Te strong
sense of family and what is truly important
in life is woven into the background of the
mystery, and only brings you closer to the
main character as well giving the reader a
glimpse into the heart of the author. St.
James must be a fellow dog lover, due to
the cute and furry frst dog who just
adds to the chaos.
St. James has created a strong, full-of-
life character that is not afraid to get her
hands dirty in more ways than one. You
feel like you are a silent partner, solving
the mystery right alongside her. I cannot
wait to read what is next for our strong-
willed heroin, Casey Calhoun! Maybe we
will get to learn more about her mothers
unsolved murder; does the Secret Service
actually know who has murdered her
mother? Who really is Casey Calhoun?
Tis book begs to be read as you bask in
the beautiful Folly sun, listening to the
waves crash in.
Flowerbed of State (A White House
Gardener Mystery) is a must have in your
summer beach bag!
June 24, 2011 13
surf
A
s my fngers hit the keys, life keeps getting better.
Surf was about four feet and semi-clean last
weekend. Te next two days show some promise
as well. Surely, we have rebounded from a fat, boring
May. If you want to check whether someone really surfs
Folly, tell them that you thought the surf was great this
past May. If they agree, they are a grade-A hodad (person
who pretends to surf ).
A two-week late account of surf conditions will
eventually drive right through mundane to mind-
numbing boredom. Tankfully, our editor provided
inspiration in the form of a directive. Tis issue is all
about summer reading.
You might say that surfers do not read. Of course,
stereotypes can be damaging, and Keanu Reeves might
have set the FBI back ffty years with his role in Point
Break. Point of speaking, the media portrays surfers as
lazy, stupid, and more than eccentric. I am not mad about
Fast Times in Ridgemont High or any other portrayal of
surfers as imbeciles. Perhaps, I read because I have good
role models. My wife is big in the library game and my
mom was an English teacher. Maybe, I am just saying I
read to be a positive role model for Follys youth. Take it
how you may.
Well, this role model believes that one surf publication
consistently puts out quality content in every single issue.
It has plenty of spectacular action photos, and (something
the others do not), serious writers. Compared to other
surfng magazines, Te Surfers Journal targets a slightly
older generation 20 years and up. Tey also ofer
numerous viewpoints, from anti-corporate surf dropouts
living abroad to blue-collar shapers dwelling in
Los Angeles County, and everything in between.
If you believe surfng is about 17 year olds with
faux hawk hairdos snaking each others waves
and pretending that you can do rodeo fips and
surf like Kelly Slater or Dane Reynolds, there
are several other surf magazines that might suit
you better. For my money, the journal is the
best surf read in print.
Tis magazine has few advertisements and
the stories are great. I read an article written
by an expatriate in El Salvador. It is a view
of a vastly diferent place that I might never
visit but am happy to have read about.
Another piece was entitled Te Beast
of Moon Tan Mountain. It recounts one
middle-aged surfers return to the waves.
Tese are stories that are real. If I want
Hollywood glitz and foolishness, I will
watch cartoons. Tis magazine has
well-crafted articles about real people
who do two things surf and live life.
Te surfng brings the reader in and
the realism makes the article stick
with you.
If you feel up to it, swing by the
shop and pick up a copy of Te
Surfers Journal. See you in the water my
friends.
Thi s Ar t i c l e Wi l l Hel p You Lose Tw ent y Pounds Today
By Jud BusHkaR, Mckevlins suRF sHoP
WWW.FOLLYCURRENT.COM
14 June 24, 2011
Do you recognize this image? It was taken somewhere on Folly Beach. If you
know what it is, let us know at wtf@luckydognews.com and you could win a free
medium, one-topping pizza from Woodys! No one guessed last issue's "What the
Folly?" We are going to give you all another shot at it..
Brought to you by Woodys Pizza and
Mary Ohl.
PHOTO BY MarY OHl
??
The Lucky Dog cLub is sponsoreD by
LosT Dog cafe
If you have a Lucky Dog please send their information and picture to:

richard@luckydognews.com
Name: Bently
Breed: Lab/Pointer mix
Likes: Women, car rides, Ice cubes,
any toy with a squeaker, taking his
humans for a walks and lazy days
lounging on the front porch.
Dislikes: Tunderstorms, the local
garbage truck and baths.
Why I am a lucky dog? I am a lucky dog
because; when I was born I was stuck in a bag
and taken down
to a river to be
drowned. My next
door neighbor saw
what was going
on and saved me,
my brother and
sisters. Now being
adopted, I get to
live out my life as
a beach dog here
on Folly Beach.
WWW.FOLLYCURRENT.COM
June 24, 2011 15
Dat i ng fol l i es
A
nyone who knows me well
knows that I fancy myself a bit
of a book-dork, so a summer
reading issue is quite a fun assignment
for me to dive into. Sitting around in the
quiet and allowing myself to disappear
into another time; another place; another
life altogether, is one of my absolute
favorite pastimes.
Summer reading issue? Tats Christmas
in June for me. Knowing that I may be
able to turn someone on to a new title or
author gives me great pleasure. I am going
to focus on one of my favorite writers.
His style may take a bit of brain-power
to wrap your head around, but in the end
the experience is more than worth it. In
my eyes he has shared with us one of the
greatest examples of love being expressed
in the English language. So settle in class,
this week we will be talking about some of
the great loves in literature.
Justine, by Lawrence Durrell, may very
well be the most beautiful thing ever done
with the English language. Published in
1957, it is the frst novel of a series referred
to as the Alexandria Quartet. Te story
revolves around a love triangle between
the narrator, a nameless Englishman, a
beautiful woman named Justine, and her
wealthy and powerful husband, Nessim.
Rich with fascinating characters and
fantastic plot twists, the bulk of the story
takes place in Alexandria, Egypt, a city
which by the end of the book becomes a
character all of its own. For me, the draw
of this book is its use of the language.
Durrell has an undeniable gift.
Te narrator has a girlfriend, Melissa,
who loves him and cares for him with
every ounce of her spirit, in every way that
she knows how. Yet for him, Melissa was
a sad painting from a winter landscape
contained by dark sky; a window-box with
a few fowering geraniums lying forgotten
on the window-sill of a cement factory.
And then, he meets Justine, a married
woman who seems almost unable to truly
love or be loved, yet he is powerless when
it comes to his feelings for her. He knows
that his love for her must be only between
the two of them, due to the pain it would
cause all those around them if it ever were
found out. As he refects on the pressure
of having to live with such a secret, he
describes this feeling to a friend saying, I
feel as if heaven lay close upon the earth
and I between them both, breathing
through the eye of a needle.
Such simple words, yet when put
together the way Durrell does, they
become so profound and meaningful.
Tey touch the inside of you and make
you remember a time when you felt exactly
that its beautiful.
As you get deeper into this book, you
become more and more in tune with the
hearts and minds of these characters.
You learn that Justine is much more than
coarse and uncaring; she is fragile, and
struggling with her feelings. At one part
of the story she looks to the narrator and
asks, Who invented the human heart, I
wonder? Tell me, and then show me the
place where he was hanged.
She later writes in her diary, It is hard
to fght with ones hearts desire; whatever
it wished to get, it purchases at the cost
of the soul. Te narrator faces his own
internal battle now, loving a woman who
is so deeply broken. He then begins to
come to his own conclusions on the truth
about love, that it is an absolute which
takes all or forfeits all. Te other feelings,
compassion, tenderness, and so on, exist
only in the periphery and belong to the
constructions of society and habit.
Te plot only grows from here. Tere
is the story of Nessim and the insightful
wisdom of Clea and Balthazar, who
become narrators in other volumes of
the Alexandria Quartet. Tis is a book
busting at its bindings with phrases that
you will want to carry around in your
subconscious forever.
I do not mean to give the impression
that this is one of the great happily-
ever-after love stories of the ages. In my
personal opinion, it is quite far from it;
but it is real, and honest, and full of true
human emotion that will make you look
at life and love in a new light.
Lawrence Durrell teaches us two
very important lessons in Justine, A city
becomes a world when one loves one of its
inhabitants, and, Tere are only three
things to be done with a woman you
can love her, sufer for her, or turn her into
literature.
Love and Li t er at ur e
By Fay a.
2011 Boc c e Bal l League
16 June 24, 2011
S
poletos over, summers here, and okay, maybe
I am a distant relative of Anthony Weiner.
More distant than ever I would say. As you
may imagine, we Weiners dont have enough problems
fending of abuse and bad jokes our whole lives. We
need our cousin Anthony (163 times removed), to
make our lives easier. He is the reason none of us
Weiners are cynical or sarcastic in any way.
Why, we ordinary Weiners live lives of quiet joy,
much like a monk would. I hope he takes some time
of to visit me here in Charleston so that I can drive
him to Spruill Avenue, where, after kicking him out of
the van and speeding away, he could interview some
of the local poor to see how he could help them when
he returns to Congress. Of course, he will return to
Congress. If he doesnt, his next job will be at a male
topless carwash in Greenwich Village. Sorry about
the mental image there. Hope you werent eating
lunch.
Tanks to all who showed up at Bowens Island
for the blues series, there were about 700 in all! We
will produce some more shows out there. In the
meantime, my old friend Graham Whorley, whom
Ive known since he was knee high to a fre hydrant, is
hosting and producing a beneft to help fund research
for ALS also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, which
claimed the life of his beautiful-in-every-sense-of-the-
word sister, Laura, just a few short years ago. She had
just had a baby, her frst, when the dreaded disease
struck. She lived about a year and a half and it was
one of the most awful things I have ever witnessed.
I do not care if you hate music. Go to the beneft
and put money in the jar and thank God youre okay.
Tats all.
Te music at the beneft will be quite good. Cary
Ann Hearst, Graham, Ryan Bonner and Te Dearly
Beloved, Te Key of Q, Sarah Cole and the Hawkes,
Tommy Moneymaker (from Va.) and Te Healing,
who win the Smoky Weiner great band name
competition. Te Healing. Why didnt anyone think
of that one before?
So I saw Councilman D.J. Rich on TV today
talking about how Folly wants to get rid of 911 for
some reason. I didnt know that was his real name. I
always thought he was a hip hop D.J. with ten pounds
of gaudy gold chains around his neck! Te guy looks
like he plays linebacker at the Citadel! I was very
surprised. Does country music have D.J.s now? Oh,
oh, I guess Im stereotyping. Call the A.C.L.U.
I am trying to re-familiarize myself with what is
going on in Folly now that I live here again and I see
that Council is trying to fx certain laws pertaining to
animals, such as ordinance 95.08 Tis presently says
that dogs AND cats must be leashed if they are at
large. Cats? Leave the cats and friendly dogs alone
and leash the raccoons and the people that always
complain about everything. I saw a four-foot snake
under my sink the other night. Teres a hole under
there where he came in from underneath the house. I
just closed the cabinet tight and went to sleep.
I notice those occasional scurrying sounds I used
to hear at night are gone now. Please dont make me
leash him.
The Vi ew f r om Bow ens
By Smoky Weiner
op- ed
After three weeks of Tuesday competition, last year's
champions, Balls on the Edge, remain undefeated. To
participate this season as a substitute, call Adam at
532-2860.
Rank Team Name Wins Losses
1 Balls On The Edge 10 0
2 Balls to the Vol 10 0
3 Bocce Bros 9 1
4 Coach & K - Dog 8 2
5 Loggerhead's 6 2
6 Bocce & Bullwinkle 6 4
7 Off Reality 6 4
8 Phishing for a win! 5 1
9 Deboccery 5 3
10 107mm Sag 5 5
11 Shot Put Flunkies 5 5
12 Shake that Bocce! 5 5
13 Mrs. Newballs 4 2
14 18offcer 4 4
15 Seal Team 6 4 6
16 Bocce Bulldogs 3 5
17 Old Balls 3 5
18 Looking to Score! 3 7
19 Big bocces 3 7
20 Bocculism 3 7
21 Mud Wrestling!! 2 4
22 Stop, Drop 2 8
23 Salty Balls! 2 8
24 The Good,The Bad 2 8
25 Bocce-ka-bow wow 1 3
26 Trippin Balls 1 7
27 The Big Labocce 0 4