This article is second in a series showcasing how Seabrookers are actively working to protect and enrich our natural environment.
Bee Cause: Protecting the Bees
Seabrook Island, a certified Audubon Sanctuary, is home to diverse wildlife, including birds, sea turtles, dolphins, and bees. While bees are often considered pests, they play a crucial role in our ecosystem serving as vital pollinators that contribute to the reproduction of many flowering plants. By transferring pollen from one bloom to another, bees enhance biodiversity and promote healthy ecosystems, ensuring that plants thrive and provide habitats for numerous other species. As key players in agriculture, their decline poses significant risks not only to food security but also to the overall balance of our natural environment, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these essential pollinators.
We are fortunate to have an apiary on our island with a dozen managed colonies, maintained by three beekeepers: Karen Babb, Jean Phillips, and Valerie Doane. Our island’s apiary, Bee Cause, features Italian honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica), which are known for their gentleness and excellent honey production.
Save the Date – Property Owners Luau, Saturday, May 23, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on the Lake House Lawn. Back by popular demand, enjoy traditional pig roast, live music, beer, and wine. Click here for more details.
Fitness Classes
Please welcome two new instructors to the Lake House – Nancy Trapp and Stephanie Stappelli! Joining our talented fitness staff, they are dedicated to helping Seabrookers achieve their wellness goals.
Monthly Schedule New Classes – Mark Durinsky will be leading two new fitness classes. Beginning Thursday, May 14, Mark will lead the first session of 30/30 Beginner Boxing & Stretch at 12:00 pm. Then, on July 11, he will offer a fan favorite- Heated Stretch at 8:00 am.
The May Group Exercise Schedule
Semi-Private Series Sign up now for the following semi-private classes. For more information about the series and detailed descriptions of the individual classes, click here.
Yin Yoga – Tuesdays at 5:15 pm. The May series meets from May 5 to 26. The June series meets from June 2 – 30. No class on June 9.
Chair Yoga – Wednesdays at 2:30 pm. The May series meets from May 6 to 27. The June series meets from June 3 to 24
Classic Mat Pilates – Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 am from June 1 to June 24 at Oyster Catcher Community Center. Please bring your own mat, as they are not available at Oyster Catcher.
Vinyasa Yoga – Starting Thursday, June 4, this 6-week series combines standing and seated movements that flow together, incorporating balance, strength, flexibility, and breathwork. It will meet at 11:00 am from June 4 to July 9.
A Special Benefit Concert at Middleton Place June 1, 2026 7:30-10:00 pm
Enjoy a one-night-only evening with New Worlds, featuring Bill Murray, Jan Vogler, and friends, presented beneath a tent under the Oaks at Middleton Place.
Blending classical music, literature, and storytelling, New Worlds is a dynamic, engaging performance that is both thoughtful and deeply moving. This Charleston premiere brings together acclaimed actor and writer Bill Murray and renowned cellist Jan Vogler in a program that has been performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages. Set within an intimate, open-air environment, this rare appearance offers a unique opportunity to experience world-class artists in a unique setting.
This special evening is a benefit concert supporting the urgent stabilization and restoration of the historic Chapel and Spring House at Middleton Place.
Click here to learn more about the program and to purchase tickets.
Pathway Repairs – Monday, May 11, and Tuesday, May 12, asphalt crews will be conducting repairs to the pathway adjacent to Seafields leading up to Freshfields. The pathway will be closed and inaccessible in that area while repairs are being completed. “Pathway Closed” signs will be placed in the appropriate locations so crews can safely complete their work.
Beach Rules – Peak season beach rules are now in effect.
Disaster Awareness Day – The Town of Kiawah Island will host Disaster Awareness Day on Friday, May 29, from 10:00 am to noon at Kiawah Island Town Hall, 4475 Betsy Kerrison Parkway. Click here for more information.
Chow Town Food Truck Rodeo – The first Chow Town is coming! On Wednesday, May 27, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, food trucks from various local vendors will take over theTown Hall parking lot.
2026 Town Grant Program – The Town is now accepting applications for funding from the 2026 Discretionary Grant Program. For more information about the Discretionary Grant Program, or to download a grant application form, please click here.
Business License Renewal – The deadline for TOSI business license renewal was April 30, 2026. Renewals after April 30 are subject to late penalties. Click here for more information.
TOSI Monthly E-newsletter – To stay up-to-date with town communications, sign up for the e-newsletter by clicking here.
MEETINGS
To stay up to date on meeting dates and times, visit TOSI’s calendar located on its homepage.
Public Safety and Environmental & Wildlife Committee Joint Meeting Thursday, May 14 – 9:00 am The agenda can be viewed by clicking here. Watch Live on YouTube.
View the calendar of meetings beyond this week by visiting the home page of TownofSeabrookIsland.org.
Agendas will be posted at least 24 hours before each meeting. All videos can be found on the town’s YouTube channel. Individuals wishing to participate in the meeting via Zoom can call (843) 768-9121 or email pwiggins@townofseabrookisland.org for login information before the meeting.
In March 2026, all members of the Seabrook Island Artist Guild were invited to create an original work of art for a bold new exhibition extravaganza titled: “Treasures of Seabrook Island.” Participating artists submitted an anonymous piece that captures what they believe is a true treasure of Seabrook Island — its beauty, spirit, wildlife, landscapes, people, or hidden gems. Entries were on display at the Seabrook Island Real Estate Office from April 1 to April 25. Seabrookers and visitors viewed the exhibit and cast votes for each of their three favorite pieces to identify the People’s Choice.
Save the Date – Property Owners Luau, Saturday, May 23, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on the Lake House Lawn. Back by popular demand, enjoy traditional pig roast, live music, beer, and wine. Click here for more details.
Fitness Classes
Please welcome two new instructors to the Lake House – Nancy Trapp and Stephanie Stappelli! Joining our talented fitness staff, they are dedicated to helping Seabrookers achieve their wellness goals.
Monthly Schedule New Classes – Mark Durinsky will be leading two new fitness classes. Beginning Thursday, May 14, Mark will lead the first session of 30/30 Beginner Boxing & Stretch at 12:00 pm. Then, on July 11, he will offer a fan favorite- Heated Stretch at 8:00 am.
The May Group Exercise Schedule
Semi-Private Series Sign up now for the following semi-private classes. For more information about the series and detailed descriptions of the individual classes, click here.
Yin Yoga – Tuesdays at 5:15 pm. The May series meets from May 5 to 26. The June series meets from June 2 – 30. No class on June 9.
Chair Yoga – Wednesdays at 2:30 pm. The May series meets from May 6 to 27. The June series meets from June 3 to 24
Classic Mat Pilates – Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:30 am from June 1 to June 24 at Oyster Catcher Community Center. Please bring your own mat, as they are not available at Oyster Catcher.
Vinyasa Yoga – Starting Thursday, June 4, this 6-week series combines standing and seated movements that flow together, incorporating balance, strength, flexibility, and breathwork. It will meet at 11:00 am from June 4 to July 9.
Gardens of Glass: The Art of Craig Mitchell Smith May 27-August 22, 2026
Gardens of Glass: The Art of Craig Mitchell Smith showcases vibrant glass sculptures that capture nature’s beauty. The pieces shine by day with intricate colors and details, and on select summer evenings are illuminated, creating a magical atmosphere.
Daytime admission is included with the general admission ticket to the Gardens, while evening visits require a separate event ticket to Summer Light: Art by Night, Wednesday and Saturday evenings, May 27 – August 22.
Society of Animal Artists Exhibition: May 9-July 26, 2026
Society of Animal Artists Exhibition brings together work focused on wildlife and close observation of the natural world, showing how Anna Hyatt Huntington’s influence shaped the directions of contemporary animal art.
This juried exhibition, featuring many of today’s leading sculptors and painters, pays tribute to her remarkable legacy and celebrates the 150th anniversary of her birth.
Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is located on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast, and is open to the public daily.
King Tide is a commonly used term describing high tides that are higher than normal. They usually occur during a full or new moon or during specific seasons throughout the year. Charleston’s average high tide range is about 5.5 ft., but during a King Tide event, it can reach 7 ft. or higher.
King Tides can cause flooding in low-lying areas, resulting in road closures on Seabrook Island, as well as the Johns Island and Charleston areas. This is particularly true when a king tide coincides with significant rain and/or wind.
The next 2026 dates of predicted King Tides is May 15-18.
A Two-Day Scholarly Symposium Exploring 250 Years of American Independence
Revolutionary Ideas: Origins, Contexts, and Legacies of American Independence welcomes a remarkable international gathering of historians, biographers, and statesmen at the Dock Street Theatre on June 24 and 25, 2026. Scholars Jon Meacham, Vincent Brown, Maya Jasanoff, Andrew O’Shaughnessy, Sir Michael Fallon, and more will be featured over the two days. Co-presented with SC250 Charleston, the symposium asks the questions that anniversaries can skip past — what made the Revolution possible, who it left out, what it set in motion, and why it still resonates today.
When: Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25, 2026
Where: The Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church Street, Charleston, SC
Presented by: Charleston Literary Festival and SC250 Charleston
In collaboration with: International African American Museum (IAAM), Charleston Library Society, South Carolina Historical Society, and the Ditchley Foundation (UK).
Experience Drayton Hall After Hours and bring a date, gather your friends, or make it a family night out at Drayton Hall at Night.
Stroll the grounds as the sun sets and enjoy the stunning beauty of the landscape, enhanced by live music from the Charleston Symphony Orchestra’s Brass Quartet, performing from the iconic portico throughout the evening. The house will be open for self-guided tours, with knowledgeable interpreters on hand to share the rich history of Drayton Hall.
A Cup of History: The Way of Tea◊ May 30, 2026
Tea lovers and history enthusiasts alike are invited to experience A Cup of History at Drayton Hall, a one-of-a-kind event that explores the intersection of fine Chinese teas and the fight for American independence.
At the heart of this experience is a curated tea service featuring premium Chinese teas, carefully selected to reflect the types imported to the American colonies before the Revolution. Savor prized teas produced in China using centuries-old traditional methods and experience Cha Dao, The Way of Tea, while learning how tea—once a luxury of empire—became a catalyst for protest and political upheaval.
Guests will enjoy a tour of Drayton Hall with curator Amber Satterthwaite followed by a presentation and guided tea tasting led by tea expert Richard Kligler of For All the Tea in Charleston. You’ll also explore how global commerce, British taxation, and local resistance converged over tea, and how it became both a daily ritual and a symbol of resistance during a time of tension and transformation.
Click here for additional information on these and other events at Drayton Hall.
After Hours Wine Stroll◊ May 15, 2026
As the golden hour hits the gardens, enjoy an evening where the wine flows as easily as the conversation. Wander world-famous garden paths, drink in hand, and witness the spectacular May blooms. Hydrangeas will be bursting with color, and namesake Southern magnolia trees will be showing off their iconic white blossoms.
Savor curated wine selections paired with delicious light bites, all while unwinding to the soulful sounds of live music in the garden.
A Fairytale Summer: Fairies & Flowers◊ May 16 through July 12, 2026
This summer, step into the Fairies & Flowers exhibit and experience a dreamy adventure through 20+ whimsical fairy village dwellings along acres of winding garden paths.
Layered scenes and stories appear among historic gardens, inviting guests of all ages to seek and discover hidden treasures tucked throughout the displays.
Each delicate installation is skillfully created by Charleston-based artists, revealing talent and charm in the tiniest details.
Click here for additional information on these and other events at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens.
Roots Uprising Dance Company: Witness Trees ◊ May 31, 2026
As part of Middleton Place’s 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution programming, Witness Trees at Middleton Place is the premiere of a site-specific dance performance inspired by the Conversations of Freedom exhibit. Presented by Roots Uprising Dance Company with live music from the Colour of Music Festival, this powerful outdoor performance reflects on the stories of freedom, struggle, and resilience connected to the Middleton Place landscape, honoring the deep relationship enslaved Africans and African Americans had with the land.
Click here for additional coverage information on these and other events at Middleton Plantation.
We apologize that the link to the updated Rules and Regulations did not work on the post this morning. We instead are directing you to the SIPOA website, where they are housed. Once there, click on Governance, then on Governing Documents, then on Rules and Regulations.
