Periodically, the Town of Kiawah Island hosts a podcast with people or issues that are of interest to the residents in the area.
In this episode, Town of Kiawah Island Council Member Michael Heidingsfelder speaks with Andell Inn Owner Don Semmler about Don’s background, the history and future of the inn, and his insights on how the island has changed over time.
Click here to listen.
Click here to watch.
–Tidelines Editors
Are you like most people and only go into the Berkeley Electric Cooperative website when you have a question about your service or your bill? Interestingly, there is a wealth of information there that you may find helpful on their website.
World Affairs Council of Charleston is pleased to announce its Fall 2023 events schedule.
Program Details
Topic: “Why Africa Matters” presented by Christopher Day
Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Time: 5:15 – 7:00 pm
Location: The Citadel Alumni Center, 69 Hagood Avenue, Charleston
Topic: “Volvo Cars: From Sweden to South Carolina” presented by Katie Ovenden. This is an International Business Luncheon.
Date: Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Time: 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Location: Halls Signature Events, 5 Faber St, Charleston
Click here to register for the business luncheon presentation. Reservations and prepayment are required. Payment can be made on-line at: www.waccharleston.org or by mailing a check to the World Affairs Council of Charleston, P.O. Box 21260, Charleston, SC 29413-1260.
Topic: “Putin’s War: Russia Against The West and With The Rest” presented by Angela Stent
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023
Time: 5:15 – 7:00 pm
Location: The Citadel Alumni Center, 69 Hagood Avenue, Charleston
The World Affairs Council of Charleston is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is to educate and engage the wider Charleston community through timely non-partisan activities on world affairs and international relations.
–Tidelines Editors
(Image and content credit WAC website)
There are some recent delays in several of the road improvements in our area. Below is a list of some of these delays as well as a link explaining them in more depth:
Please click here for more details.
–Tidelines Editors
(Image credit: Historic Charleston Foundation)
The availability of police presence and services for Seabrook, Kiawah, and Lower Johns Island has long been a concern of local residents and officials. Charleston County Sheriff Kristen Graziano addressed this issue at the August 15 meeting of the Town of Seabrook Island Public Safety Committee. She explained that a realignment of county law enforcement resources was needed.
Previously, District 10 comprised Johns, Wadmalaw, Seabrook and Kiawah Islands, which is an expansive geographic area. Effective July 1, 2023, a new District 11 was created separating a significant area from District 10. The newly configured District 11 now includes Seabrook, Kiawah and Lower Johns Island.
This new district configuration guarantees round-the-clock surveillance with visible patrols, substantially bolstering coverage for the islands. The enhanced coverage serves as a force multiplier for the region and contributes to reduced response times.
–Tidelines Editors
Last August, South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) filed an appeal on behalf of PreserveKiawah, Inc., a non-profit group comprising Kiawah property owners. The appeal challenged the Town of Kiawah Island Planning Commission’s July 6, 2022, decision to extend the approval of the Kiawah developers’ preliminary subdivision plat for Captain Sams Spit for another year.
The plat, initially approved in 2015, laid out plans to construct 50 single family homes on this 190-acre dynamic, teardrop-shaped isthmus located on the southern end of Kiawah Island. This land is surrounded by the Kiawah River, Captain Sams Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean.
As of July 28, 2023, both parties of this dispute now agree that the plat extension has expired and is no longer valid. The parties requested that the case be dismissed as moot. Any further attempt to develop Captain Sams Spit will need to be initiated from square one. To read the complete news release, click here.
-Source: South Carolina Environmental Law Project
(image credit: SCELP)
The Charleston County Planning Commission will hold a meeting on Monday, August 14, at 2:00 pm to consider a request from the Kiawah Island Golf Resort to rezone the Andell West property (behind Freshfields) to a commercial-only Planned Development. The meeting will be held at 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston. The current site plan, shown below, has been revised extensively by the developer in response to input from stakeholders.
If you have any comments, send them to CCPC@charlestoncounty.org by noon on Friday, August 11. The meeting will be held at 4045 Bridge View Drive, North Charleston and will be livestreamed here.
–Tidelines Editors
(Source: The Johns Island Advocate)
The August 2023 edition of The Seabrooker can be accessed online through the Town of Seabrook Island’s website.
Click here and select the August 2023 link to read the following columns:
–Tidelines Editors
Seabrook Island Natural History Group (SINHG) has some insight about the high temperatures and heat wave that we have been experiencing.
The Wave
Weather, hot weather, is leading the news this summer (June was Earth’s hottest month ever recorded, according to the NOAA), and although for us it’s undoubtedly a Lowcountry summer out there, we’re fortunate in having a nearly constant sea breeze to moderate temperatures somewhat during this typically warmest month of the island year.
It’s been considerably hotter in past years on the island – near one hundred degrees back in 2015, for example. The highest temperature recorded to date in greater Charleston was 105 degrees on August 1, 1999, the hottest the city’s ever been since records started being kept in 1893. A close second was in June of 2021, at 102 degrees recorded at the airport.
Heat waves can be stubborn. Formed when a high pressure system forces warm air closer to the ground, that same system pushes other, potentially cooler systems aside until too much static charge builds between the systems and thunderstorms develop. And if that trapped warmer air continues to heat up for too long, the dreaded “heat dome” forms that can last for weeks at a time. So far, though, we’re experiencing mostly average temperatures for the island thanks to coastal winds.
Acclimating to southern heat spells can be challenging, sometimes taking more than week of exposure to adjust. We all know, too, to keep outdoor activity to morning and early evening hours (just like our wildlife does) to avoid the signs of pending hyperthermia – profuse sweating , nausea and red, sensitive skin. And, of course, stay hydrated, even if you don’t feel thirsty while you’re outdoors, especially if you’re jogging or otherwise engaging in physical activity. Make it a cool summer!
Seabrook Island Natural History Group explores the ecology, history, and culture of the Carolina Lowcountry. For more information about SINHG, please go to sinhg.org.
-Submitted by Seabrook Island Natural History Group
(Image credit: SINGH.org)
During the annual Sales Tax Holiday, a variety of purchases are exempt from South Carolina’s 6% sales tax and any applicable local taxes. Tax-free items range from clothing, accessories, and shoes to school supplies, backpacks, and computers. As long as an item is eligible, it is tax-free whether purchased in-store or online. Click here for more information.
In past years, South Carolina shoppers have saved between $2 million and $3 million during the holiday weekend.
Items such as jewelry, cosmetics, eyewear, sports equipment, and layaway purchases are not exempt.
–Tidelines Editors
(Image art: dor.sc.gov website)
On July 9, 2023, a SIPOA resident doing yard work on his property adjacent to the golf course was attacked by an alligator living in a lagoon nearby. While the Property Owner was walking 6-8 feet from the lagoon edge, the alligator quickly emerged from the lagoon, knocked the Owner to the ground, and clenched the Owner’s leg in his jaws. Fortunately, the alligator relaxed its grip, and the Owner was able to escape to safety. The alligator returned to the lagoon.
The Owner contacted 911. SIPOA officers and EMS responded. The Owner was transported by EMS and his injuries were treated at MUSC. During that time the Charleston County Sheriff, SCDNR, an alligator trapper and SIPOA officers were on site. The alligator was captured and transported.
This was a terrifying and rare alligator encounter with a surprisingly fortunate outcome thanks to the Owner’s quick thinking. As we know, not everyone in similar situations is this lucky.
SIPOA publishes alligator safety reminders on a regular basis from early spring through fall. We would like to take this opportunity to again remind our Owners and their guests to be aware of alligators, and actions to take should they encounter one.
Alligators less than four feet long are incapable of eating anything larger than a small turtle and are too small to pose a threat to even small pets or people. Alligators at least four feet in length that are aggressive and pose a threat to people, pets or property are considered “nuisance alligators”. FOR YOUR SAFETY:
If you have a concern about an aggressive or nuisance alligator on SIPOA properties or roadways or at your residence, call the Gatehouse at (843) 768-6641. SIPOA will contact our on-call professional alligator trapper licensed by SCDNR to evaluate the alligator which then may be removed and euthanized. If you are on the golf course contact the golf shop or Sean Hardwick at the Seabrook Island Club for assistance.
In any location, if you are attacked by an alligator or you observe an attack, call 911 for emergency response. Don’t waste valuable response time by calling the Gatehouse – 911 should be your first call for any emergency. When 911 is called, the Gatehouse is automatically notified by Charleston County and can respond as needed.
Again, we are fortunate that this didn’t become a tragic event. We are very thankful that our resident escaped and injuries were minor. Please keep these safety precautions in mind when outdoors.
Be Aware, Be Alert and Stay Safe!
-Seabrook Island Property Owners Association
We have four new nests this week bringing our total to 30 for the season.
July 2, 2023 – Nest 27
Walkers had to contend with a high tide and onshore winds today but Rachel and Neva Carter with Valerie and Mark Doane found Nest 27. The 106 eggs were relocated to higher location North of Boardwalk 3.
July 3, 2023
The tides were high and there isn’t much to report but a few chairs were found above the wrack line and subsequently reported to beach patrol. Fortunately very little other debris was found. Looks like our merry band of Seabrookers, guests and visitors are being caring stewards of our beaches and wildlife. Interestingly, two pelican eggs were found on the beach by Camp Saint Christopher.
July 4, 2023
Happy Fourth of July. Apparently, turtles are not fans of fireworks as there were no new nests left overnight. The good news is the tide last night did not get near the bird nesting area and the Oyster Catcher pair, U5 and mate, are still sitting on their nest.
Special thanks to Judy Morr for entering her LSV in the parade and additional thanks to Lori Porwoll, Marnie Ellis, Vivien Joklik and Donna Mrozek and her granddaughter Kate for helping to decorate Jane Magioncalda’s LSV for the parade. Hope you all enjoy these pictures of the action. Please see the group photo showing from the left – Donna Mrozek, her granddaughter, Kate, Jane Magioncalda, Judy Morr, Carol Heilman, her granddaughter, Lana, Nancy Shenton and Lori Porwoll, reprising her role as “The Turtle”. Thanks to everyone who helped decorate and ride in the parade and those of you along the route who cheered us on!
July 5, 2023
Today’s Post and Courier had the disheartening headline “Dirtiest Day on the Beach” but here on Seabrook Island we are happy to report the amount of trash and beach equipment left was relatively minimal. It was not a “Dirty Day” here so give yourselves a pat on the back! The SITP does so much more than check on Sea Turtle activity. We are also involved in education and daily trash removal from the beach. Yes, SBI is crowded this week, but we all appreciate your efforts to protect our beaches and natural resources. Thank you so much to all the Seabrookers and visitors who help keep our beaches beautiful.
July 6, 2023 – Nests 28 and 29
Storms seemed to encourage the turtles to come up on the beach as we have nests 28 and 29. Both nests were found north of Boardwalk 3 by Pixie Hider, Charlie Faught, Paula Baram (not pictured), Debbie Vaughan, Joanne Galivan and Heather Fife. One hundred six eggs from Nest 28 were relocated about 100 yards north of Boardwalk 3 and 112 eggs from Nest 29 to a spot 20 yards north of Boardwalk 3.
July 7, 2023
It was a very quiet, breezy morning on the beach with very little trash. While there were no new turtle nests, we did spot one of the Oyster Catchers, U5 or his mate, happily sitting on their egg. We hope this beleaguered couple has continued success this time.
July 8, 2023 – Nest 30
Walkers, Nancy Chomel, Vivien Joklik and Elaine Morris found a predated new nest near Boardwalk 3. Sadly, 99 broken eggs were strewn about the area by a coyote. This is the first time in many years that we’ve seen coyote predation on Seabrook Island. Hopefully this won’t be an ongoing issue. The remaining 25 viable eggs, creating Nest 30, were relocated just south of Boardwalk 3.|
In other sad news, a deceased Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle was found floating in the surf between Boardwalks 6 and 7. DNR certified stranding responder, Mike Vinson, took the required DNR information and determined the turtle was the victim of a boat strike. If you find a dead, sick, or injured sea turtle, please call SCDNR’s 24-hour hotline at (800)922-5431.
On a happier note, I would like to again thank all of Seabrook Island’s residents, visitors and guests for their stalwart preservation and care of the island’s natural resources and wildlife. Even during this crowded holiday week, there was a great level of willingness and effort to help preserve the beauty of our little island and very little inconsiderate behavior.
For more information about turtles, go to siturtlepatrol.com
-Submitted by Anne Snelgrove, Seabrook Island Turtle Patrol