Since May 2007
PRESORT STANDARD
Volume 11 Issue 6
Pictured from left to right: Ian Freeman (KCF Secretary), Jane Riley-Gambrell (CIS Executive Director), Liz Burwell (KCF Treasurer)
and Tom Stallings (CHIP Volunteer).
Kiawah Cares distributes donations
to education, community programs
BY DOUG REYNOLDS
For The Island Connection
M
ay was Kiawah Giving Month for the Kiawah Cares
Foundation and island property owners responded
with $41,305 in donations, 118 percent of KCFs goal.
In addition, the foundation matched the first $20,000 dollars in
donations to reach a total of $61,305. These donations are being
used to help meet important needs on the Sea Islands.
We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our donors,
said KCF Treasurer Elizabeth Burwell. Without these gifts,
many of these programs and efforts would simply not have been
possible.
On June 13, Burwell and KCF Secretary Ian Freeman
distributed the donations to Communities In Schools and the
Community Home Improvement Program (CHIP Ministry) of
Johns Island Presbyterian Church.
SINHG Fall Expeditions
Page 6
FREE
CIS received donations totaling $35,155. These will be applied
to student support specialist positions at St. John's High School
and Angel Oak Elementary. CHIP Ministry received $26,150,
which they will use to complete repairs on their entire list of over
a dozen homes of Sea Island seniors.
According to its mission statement, CIS works to surround
students with a community of support, empowering them to stay
in school and achieve in life. CHIP Ministry repairs homes for
those in need while reinforcing seniors valuable place in these
growing areas.
For more information on KCF, the programs it supports, and
how to make to a gift to the foundation, visit kiawahcares.org or
contact KCF at 843.768.9194 kiawahcares@kica.us.
Volunteer Spotlight
Page 8
US POSTAGE PAID
CHARLESTON SC
POSTAL PATRON
PERMIT NO 437
June 23, 2017
Local resident,
author releases
first book
COMPTON WRITES
ON PARENTING AND
THE POWER OF
POSITIVE MESSAGES
BY GREGG BRAGG
The Island Connection Staff Writer
B
onnie Compton ditched Maryland
and moved to Seabrook Island 8
years ago. [My husband, Greg and]
I love the island life, the beach, wearing
flip flops year round, nature, and the
wonderful people we've met, Compton
told The Island Connection. She also loves
kids, and feels her greatest calling was to
be a parent to four and grandmother to
three. Acting on these feelings was the
fulcrum of her professional life as well.
Compton has enough letters after her
name for a bowl of alphabet soup. She
spent 30 years as a child and adolescent
therapist, and pediatric nurse practitioner.
Counseling kids means talking with their
parents, too, and Compton also provided
adults with the tools to parent mindfully
and ground them in what really matters.
She believes it is possible to make positive
changes in any family situation, its never
too late, and that a lot of the attention
should be paid to messaging.
We all receive childhood messages
from parents, teachers, siblings, friends,
and family. Some are healthy messages,
and others are not. And we can take
them unconsciously into our adult lives.
Acknowledging them, experiencing the
feelings associated with the messages,
and then consciously making a choice to
change [is one key]. No longer blaming
our parents, but taking responsibility
for ourselves. And then being conscious
about the messages we send to our own
children, says Compton. This is one of
the many insights that prompted her to
author Mothering with Courage.
I opened my mouth 9 years ago
Book Release continues on page 7
World Turtle Day
Page 11
2 June 23, 2017
civic

Town of Kiawah Island Council

Lynn Pierotti
Meeting Report, June 6
publisher
lynn@luckydognews.com BY GREGG BRAGG
The Island Connection Staff Writer

C
Katy Calloway
ouncil for the Town of Kiawah
katy@luckydognews.com
Island was ready to meet on June
managing editor 6. However, neither the towns
attorney, nor town administrator were.
Jennifer Tuohy Both would miss the council meeting
jennifer@luckydognews.com because each had a different meeting they
contributing editor had to attend. I hope we dont encounter
any parliamentary conundrums today,
because we are on our own, jested the
Alejandro Ferreyros mayor.
senior graphic designer Mayor Weaver opened his remarks with
alejandro@luckydognews.com the topic of Ocean and Coastal Resource
Management. OCRM is a division of the
Lori McGee South Carolina Department of Health
and Environmental Control, and will
sales manager be responsible for establishing a line
lori@luckydognews.com along the SC coast, seaward of which
development will not be allowed. The
Carla Foxworth boundary was historically drawn every
sales executive ten years, but passage of S.139 (this time
carla@luckydognews.com
last year) provides for a permanent line to
be drawn. The mayor thinks OCRM will
have a proposal ready by August, followed
Staff Writers by a public hearing, and adoption by years
Gregg Bragg end. He added that only property owners
Meredith Poston would be able to appeal the new limit.
The mayor then mentioned the Kiawah
Contributors Island Golf Resorts (KIGR) plans to
develop some of its properties consistent
Doug Reynolds with the 2010 development agreement.
Arielle Alpino This means several changes in zoning
Norm Powers ordinances should be expected, along
Jennifer Meshanko with updates to the towns comprehensive
Erica Taylor plan. The changes were slated to appear
before the planning commission June
Jeff Watkins
7. Approval is expected and the mayor
anticipates a first reading of the changes
to occur coincident with the hearings, and
the second, final hearing to be part of next
months council meeting.
Kiawah resident Wendy Kulick said she
was thrilled that council has updated its
position opposing offshore drilling. Please
do not interpret my questions as criticism
of that position. Her question being,
How did Council determine what the
majority of Kiawah Island property owners
believe regarding off-shore drilling?
Councilmember Diana Mezzanotte later
explained it was an informal poll of her
environmental committee.
Old business began with ordinance
2017-08, a measure to adopt the 2017-
2018 fiscal year budget for TOKI. This was
the second reading of the ordinance and it
came with plenty of congratulations for a
job well done by the towns treasurer, and
budget committee. There was one change
on the first page of the budget. $350,000
was budgeted for town hall to be spent in
2017, which councilmember Widuch said
has been moved to the budget for 2018.
[The change] does not affect the cost of
town hall, just the budget. The measure
passed unanimously.
Use of the new town hall facilities
was greatly debated last month.
Councilmembers returned to the drawing
board to develop a more general plan
for the use of town hall in the face of
construction plans for the Sandcastle,
which will disrupt meetings, classes,
and everything else held there for an
undetermined period. Councilmember
Mezzanotte wants TOKI to help and
hashed out more of the details, but
there is still some thinking to be done.
Councilmember Wilson, for example,
observed that not all town meetings
were scheduled six months in advance,
in an attempt to explain objections raised
last month (if other groups do schedule
in advance, TOKI would not be able to
use its own facility?), and suggested the
chamber itself be reserved for town use.
New business began with discussion
of the number of county deputies Kiawah
Island should keep on hand for the summer
season. The mayor specified there would
be an additional deputy on weekends, and
one additional overall for the summer.
He couldnt help but marvel at how it
took three deputies to manage traffic to
Beachwalker Park over the Memorial Day
weekend, but thought it was a success.
The mayor was equally quick to disclaim
that TOKI is relying on the county to vet
personnel, and to keep TOKI informed
about the qualifications of any deputies
they brought on board. Councilmember
Jack Koach mentioned the contract is
good until 2018, which gives TOKI time
to review the success of the plan. The
measure passed unanimously.
The second item of new business was
a recommendation to amend resolution
2015-01 by adopting resolution 2017-01
opposing seismic testing and offshore
drilling along the South Carolina
Coast. The original measure was
passed during a brief period when the
Obama administration and Washington
speculated local offshore drilling in the
Atlantic Ocean was a good idea. TOKI
was last among coastal communities to
oppose oil exploration at the time, but
ultimately did so in a 3-2 vote. The new
measure is an entirely different animal.
Councilmember Mezzanotte pointed
out that her poll of the environmental
committee suggested near universal
support for the ordinance. Eyes widened
however, when councilmember Koach
asked why council didnt simply let the
previous resolution stand as is. This
question proved serendipitous, and
enabled several council members to clarify
their positions.
Councilmember Wilson and Mayor
Weaver were both members of counsel
in 2015, and both voted against the
resolution. Koachs question allowed the
mayor to elaborate on his opposition at
the time, which was based on technical
details he felt the previous resolution
shouldnt have made, and express support
for the current measure as more direct.
The mayor went on to say it seemed there

Civic Calendar
K iawah Island Town H all
Published by 21 Beachwalker Drive
Lucky Dog Publishing Kiawah Island, SC 29455
of South Carolina, LLC Phone: 768-9166
P.O. Box 837 Town of Kiawah Board of Zoning Planning Commission Fax: 768-4764
Sullivans Island, SC 29482 Appeals Meeting
Ways and Means July 17, 4 p.m. July 5, 2:30 p.m. Seabrook Island Town H all
843-886-NEWS
Committee Kiawah Town Hall Seabrook Town Hall 2001 Seabrook Island Road
June 27, 2 p.m. Seabrook Island, SC 29455
Future deadlines: June 28 for Environmental Ways and Means
Kiawah Town Hall Phone: 768-9121
submissions for the Committee Meeting Committee
July 7 Issue Fax: 768-9830
Town Council July 18, 3 p.m. July 18, 2:30 p.m. Email: lmanning@townofseabrookisland.org
Meeting Kiawah Town Hall Seabrook Town Hall
Op-Ed articles and letters to the editor do not July 11, 2 p.m. Johns Island Council
necessarily reflect the opinion of Kiawah Town Hall Town of Seabrook Town Council Meetings are held at the Berkeley Electric
Lucky Dog News or its writers. Meeting Co-op located at 3351 Maybank Hwy, Johns
Planning Commission Town Council July 25, 2:30 p.m. Island.
Meeting Meeting Seabrook Town Hall Chairman Chris Cannon: 343-5113
The Island July 12, 3 p.m.
Kiawah Town Hall
June 27, 2:30 p.m.
Seabrook Town Hall Charleston County Council
Connection 4045 Bridge View Dr, N. Charleston
958-4700
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Publishers of Island Eye News, Online at City of Charleston
The Island Connection, facebook.com/ 75 Calhoun St.
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June 23, 2017
civic
is a clear majority of our citizens who
dont want drilling off the coast.
Councilmember Mezzanotte wasnt
done though, adding, This is a matter of
who and what we are. We should make
a statement, and we should feel good
about it. The mayor reminded attendees
he had spent 25 years in oil and gas, but
said he would support the resolution.
Councilmember Widuch made similar
remarks, but conceded that he was in
a minority. Both Weaver and Widuch
joined in a unanimous vote to oppose
offshore oil exploration.
The final item of new business was
a discussion of the annual employee
disclosure statements on ethical conduct
and conflicts of interests. The mayor was
quick to specify this move was unrelated
to past activity among staff, but merely a
matter of best practices. He said the towns
attorney would receive, assess, and report
to council on both full time and contract
staff. Councilmember Koach suggested
failure to provide requested information
and/or sign the contract should be a
dismissal offense. The measure passed
unanimously.
Councilmember Mezzanotte reported
the environmental committee and its
subcommittee on sea level rise had
identified 30 areas of concern and
(potential) improvement for Kiawah. She
said they are working with Seabrook,
Beaufort and Charleston to identify and
Tid e Char t
Date High Tide
Jun 23 8:02am/8:32pm
Jun 24 9:00am/9:27pm
Jun 25 9:58am/10:22pm
Jun 26 10:55am/11:16pm
Jun 27 11:52am
Jun 28 12:08am/12:48pm
Jun 29 1:00am/1:44pm
Jun 30 1:51am/2:39pm
Jul 01 2:42am/3:33pm
Jul 02 3:32am/4:25pm
Jul 03 4:22am/5:15pm
Jul 04 5:12am/6:02pm
Jul 05 6:00am/6:48pm
Jul 06 6:48am/7:32pm
Hurricanes, storms, etc., are NOT included in the predictions.
Tidal current direction changes and tide time predictions can be
very different. Tide predictions are PREDICTIONS; they can be
wrong so use common sense.
improve infrastructure in the face of
rising seas based on the Army Corps of
Engineers assessments.
Councilmember John Wilson reported
on the ways and means committee. He
thanked staff for a smooth budget cycle
and a final product he characterized as
solid and defensible.
Councilmember Widuch said the new
town hall is still on schedule and below
budget. He cautioned progress is fluid,
but said it looks good for an August move
in. He also said the temporary trailer
for firefighters residing at station 6 (the
intersection of Flyaway and Governors)
was onsite. He expects 2 to 6 weeks to
move equipment, and expects the old
building will be torn down in July.
The mayor then announced the
formation of a new project to be headed
by John Wilson and Chris Widuch. The
Federal Emergency Management Agency
turned down the bulk of TOKIs requests
for funds. The town may get $125,000
(without appeal), but council continues
to be perplexed by Hilton Head, which
got $8 million in relief, and is so similar
to Kiawah. The mayor added that FEMA
appears to run counter to moving quickly
to get business back to normal. He noted
one difference; Hilton Head maintains a
reserve of $40 million. The observation
has the mayor asking if Kiawah needs a
TOKI continues on page 4
Low Tide
1:59am/2:02pm
2:54am/2:57pm
3:47am/3:51pm
4:40am/4:46pm
5:32am/5:40pm
6:24am/6:36pm
7:16am/7:33pm
8:07am/8:31pm
8:58am/9:30pm
9:48am/10:26pm
10:36am/11:20pm
11:23am
12:10am/12:08pm
12:57am/12:51pm
Source: saltwatertides.com
4 June 23, 2017
civic
TOKI continues from page 3
bigger reserve fund and/or does the town
need to have credit lines in place (similar
to Seabrooks bond options).
Wendy Kulick was back for the second
round of citizens comments and asked for
TOKIs help in getting the word out about
disaster awareness day, now being held on
Seabrook for the third consecutive year.
Her concern was fewer Kiawah residents
attended when the event was held on
Seabrook.
Kulick also asked about the speed
limit in front of the town hall and asked
the county could be made aware of the
situation. She also thanked council
for the resolution to oppose offshore
oil exploration and commended the
towns efforts to monitor the ethics of its
employees.
Kiawah resident Dennis McGill asked
about the professional services line of
the new budget, noting attorneys fees
correction
Correction
T
he June 9 Island Connection
article covering the May 22
Seabrook Island Town Council
meeting included a quote from
Councilman Turner, that referenced the
Town Liaisons reporting on the recent
change in leadership at the SIPOA.
Turners comment, that he felt the whole
were capped at $90,000. Since the towns
attorney takes up $80,000 in annual
salary, he wanted to know what the other
$10,000 was for. He asked if a final figure
had been determined for the outside
attorney used to assist TOKI in arbitrating
the water rate increase. The mayor said a
final number was still not known.
McGill then asked about the Mercer
Groups contracts with TOKI. The mayor
responded saying the Mercer Group
was currently evaluating the permitting
process and wouldnt move to the issue
of salaries until later this year. McGill
concluded by asking if the four TOKI
staff members who had received excess
payments had retuned all funds due the
town, only to be informed they had not.
The towns treasurer would later agree
to meet with McGill for a review of the
budget.
There being no further business, the
meeting was adjourned.
thing was poorly done, was related to a
matter in which the resigning Presidents
personal information had been circulated
to the community without permission.
It did not refer to how the matter was
handled by the SIPOA Board. The Island
Connection regrets the error.
civic
Revised flood insurance
maps published
CHARLESTON COUNTY OFFICIALS
ADDRESSED SEABROOK
RESIDENTS
STAFF REPORT
The Island Connection
A
t the invitation of Mayor Ron
Ciancio, Charleston County
officials conducted an open
house on Seabrook to give residents an
opportunity to learn about revised Flood
Insurance Rate Maps published recently
by Federal Emergency Management
Agency and to see the maps implications
for their properties.
Carl Simmons, Director of Building
Inspection Services for Charleston
County, briefly explained what is
changing. The maps that are currently
in effect are based on survey information
from 1929 that was updated in 1988.
Coastal Flood Hazard Zones depicted
on these FIRMs are Zone VE (where
the flood elevation includes wave heights
equal to or greater than 3 feet) and Zone
AE (where the flood elevation includes
wave heights less than 3 feet).
The revised FIRMs, considered to
be preliminary until completion of a
review and comment period, are far more
accurate because they were developed
using modern Light Detection and
Ranging technology. These maps depict a
new concept called LiMWA, a curvy line
superimposed on the maps designations
of AE flood zones to indicate Limit of
Moderate Wave Action. According to
FEMA, The addition of the LiMWA
area to FIRMs allows communities and
individuals to better understand the flood
risks to their property. The LiMWA area
alerts property owners on the seaward side
of the line that although their property is
in Zone AE, their property may be affected
by 1.5-foot or higher breaking waves and
may therefore be at significant risk during
a 1-percent-annual-chance flood event.
For a more complete explanation of the
importance of LiMWA, visit the LiMWA
Fact Sheet oat FEMA.gov.
Simmons emphasized that LiMWA
and the related definition of a new
June 23, 2017 5
civic
Coastal A Zone between Zones AE and VE
are not part of the National Flood Insurance
Program regulations at this time. However, they
are under consideration by Congress. He added
that the information provided by the LiMWA
designation should be useful to individuals and
communities as they plan structural elements
for homes located in AE zonesperhaps some
should be constructed with consideration for
requirements that are currently in place for VE
zones.
This open house and others countywide were
held to arm property owners with information
and resources to determine whether there is
reason to dispute the new elevation designations
for their properties. Simmons said that most
properties on Seabrook Island, unlike some other
areas of Charleston County, actually benefit from
an elevation change of about one foot.
According to Mr. Simmons, the timing of
events that will occur before preliminary
FIRMs are finalized and become the basis for
flood insurance rates is likely to be:
A 90-day period for formal review
and comment will not begin until the
preliminary FIRMs are filed in the
Federal Register.
June 2018 is the estimated date for
publishing Letters of Final Determination.
December 2018 is the estimated date for
distribution of FIRMS that have final
FEMA approval to jurisdictions (e.g.,
local governments).
Local governments (such as the Town of
Seabrook Island) will have 6 months to
formally adopt the new FIRMs.
The LiMWA identifies areas that will be affected by waves with a 1.5 foot wave height or greater within the coastal A zone. It is Simmons indicated that it is unlikely the
likely that properties and structures within the LiMWA will receive substantial damage from wave action during a 1%-annual- FIRMs will be in final form for the Towns
adoption before 2019.
chance flood event. Image courtesy of FEMA.
6 June 23, 2017
daily
SINHG adds eighteen new
trips to fall expeditions
BY NORM POWERS
For The Island Connection
A
morning on a working shrimp
boat, three new kayaking
expeditions and a beer fest in a
botanical garden are among more than
fifty expeditions on the schedule for the
Seabrook Island Natural History Groups
fall schedule. Eighteen of the expeditions
are brand new for the coming season.
Registration is open to SINHG members,
and the public is invited to join SINHG
to enjoy these exciting expeditions.
Shrimpings long history in the Sea
Islands culture and economy comes to
the fore in October, when participants
can board the Sea Bounty for a mornings
cruise to catch their own dinner while
learning about the hard work that brings
fresh catches to their tables every day.
Kayakers can take to the water for three
new outings in September and October
along the Edisto River, the Wambaw
Creek Wilderness Area and the Ashepoo
Rivers Horsehoe Creek; while beer
connoisseurs and gardeners can combine
both interests at Moore Farms Botanical
Gardens in Lake City, where samplings
from 35 breweries will be on offer along
with a VIP guided tour of the gardens.
A special tour of the new Zucker
Family Sea Turtle Recovery Center at the
South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston,
PHOTO COURTESY OF NORM POWERS
led by Rescue Program Manager
Kelly Thorvalson, will be of particular
interest to Seabrookers, who annually
share their island home with nesting
loggerhead turtles. Local historian Doug
Bostick returns with his popular tour
of Revolutionary and Civil War sites on
Johns Island, and will add a new tour this
fall of similar sites on James Island. Private
tours of historic homes in downtown
Charleston, including the 24,000-square
foot Calhoun Mansion recently featured
on A&Es American Castles, are on
the schedule for autumn, along with a
downtown Culinary Tour with visits
to four of Charlestons most innovative
restaurants and chefs.
Closer to home are explorations of the
geology of Seabrooks beaches, banding
of southern-bound migrating birds at
Capn Sams Spit, a French cooking
demonstration in a private Seabrook
home kitchen by the Culinary Institute of
Charlestons Dani Manilia and a behind-
the-scenes visit to St. Christopher Camp
to learn about the camps mission and
operations.
A complete program listing and
membership information can be found at
sinhg.org.
June 23, 2017
daily
Mothering with Courage book cover.
Book Release continues from cover
and said, I'm going to write a book for
moms. I believed I was a bad writer (my
11th grade English teacher had confirmed
this) and had a fear of writing! However,
my message was greater than my fear so
3 years ago I began seriously writing and
working with an editor, says Compton.
She had personal experience to draw on as
a child, parent and professional. However,
she also notes of over 100,000 parenting
books on the market, most of them ask
parents to focus on their child's behavior.
[Many of them] provide unsustainable
strategies to fix the behavior. Mothering
with Courage focuses on the mom, says
Compton.
Bonnie Compton and her first book, Mothering with Courage. Photo by Jody Mack.
What moms often forget, or perhaps
dont even realize, is that at the end of
the day they have the answers within. A
courageous perspective will enable her to
consciously choose what works best. It
is only with courage that she can focus
on, reflect on, and then let go of what
no longer serves her and her family. As
a result, the courageous mom feels more
confident in her decisions, learns to adjust
when necessary, and enjoys her journey as
a mom, advises Compton.
Mothering with Courage is available
through Barnes & Noble, and from
Amazon. Compton will be signing copies
of her book at the Seabrook Shoppe on July
5, 2017 from 12-2 pm. She is also planning
a visit to Indigo Books at Freshfields,
but as of this writing, a date is still to be
determined. Visit parentingpartners.info
for updates.
Asked how cool it was to be an author,
Compton told The Island Connection
it was surreal. I always saw myself as a
healing practitioner, but not an author.
However, as I said, my message was more
important than my fear so I wrote...and
wrote...and wroteworked with editors,
[and] was grateful to get a publishing
contract. It takes 9 months to birth a
baby, and it took me 9 years to finally
birth this book.
Compton also said it was scary to put
herself out there like this, but felt it was
both cathartic and insightful. I was very
protective of the book, and although it was
healing for me (and I knew it would be
for moms), it was scary. I've been grateful
for the wonderful reviews, but what really
matters to me is the positive impact it has
already had on moms and their children...
that is priceless, she concluded.
fundraising
BSA Coastal Carolina
Council raised $55,000
BY ARIELLE ALPINO
For The Island Connection
T
he Boy Scouts of America Coastal
Carolina Council held its annual
Select Heath of SC Tenderfoot Golf
Tournament on May 15 at Kiawah Island
Clubs River Course. The 37th annual
tournament raised $55,000 Boy Scouts
in nine coastal, Lowcountry counties.
In total, the proceeds will support 6,500
scouts and 2,500 adult leaders.
This annual golf tournament raises
funds to support summer camp programs
at Camp Ho Non Wah on Wadmalaw
Island, said Legare Clement, Chief
Executive Officer of the Coastal Carolina
Council. In just a few weeks hundreds of
Scouts will enjoy new program equipment
when they arrive for their week-long
summer camp experience!
The 2017 tournament reached its
second highest fundraising amount in
the history of the event. With 28 teams,
112 golfers participated in the sold-out
fundraiser. A lunch, happy hour and
dinner occurred during the tournament.
There were also additional opportunities
to donate with door prizes during the day.
Kiawah Island Club was proud to host
the annual Boys Scouts golf tournament
at the River Course, said Townsend
Clarkson, Chief Operating Officer for
7
Kiawah Partners. Having hosted the
event at both of the Clubs golf courses
over the years, we are thrilled that the
fundraiser continues to be a success for a
great organization.
The mission of the Boy Scouts of
America is to prepare young people to
make ethical and moral choices over their
lifetime by instilling in them the values of
the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.
For additional information on how to
join or support scouting please contact the
Coastal Carolina Council Service Center
at 843-763-0305.
The Coastal Carolina Council is one of
just 260 Boy Scout Councils in America.
The council is incorporated in the State
of South Carolina and headquartered
in Charleston, SC. In total, the council
serves more than 6,500 youth and 2,500
adult members in the nine county area
including: Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley,
Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester,
Georgetown, Hampton and Jasper.
For more information, visit www.
coastalcarolinabsa.org.
8 June 23, 2017
volunteer spotlight
Larry Midla
BY JENNIFER MESHANKO
For The Island Connection
Larry Midla and his wife Therese.
A
fter an attempt at teaching
middle school math, Larry Midla
discovered other ways to help
children and adults learn by volunteering
with Our Lady of Mercy Community
Outreach. I grew up in Pennsylvania,
south of Pittsburgh on a farm in a small
coal mining town named Marianna, says
Larry. He lived in Marianna until he went
to college at Case Institute of Technology
in Cleveland, Ohio, now known as
Case Western Reserve University. Midla
obtained his degree in metallurgy and
materials science. Starting in 1970, Midla
worked for Caterpillar Inc. for seven
years. Then, he worked for Cummins, a
company that designs, produces and sells
engines. The Cummins company brought
Midla and his family to Charleston
in 1994. In 2004, he started his own
business, which he ran for ten years until
his retirement in 2014.
Midla has been married to his wife and
partner, Therese, for 45 years. She has
been an inspiration and the pillar of the
family, he says. They have two daughters
and two grandchildren. While Midla was
working and raising his daughters, he had
limited time to volunteer. He and Therese
volunteered at Junior Achievement with
their church. Now that Midla has more
time, he is able to volunteer with several
local nonprofits and serves as a van driver
for the Veterans Affairs clinic. After
researching online for volunteer tutoring
opportunities, Midla found the Yes, I
Can! after school program at Our Lady
of Mercy Community Outreach. He is
currently helping adult students in the
English as a Second Language program.
Midla enjoys volunteering with the ESL
program, because they work hard, want
to learn, and make it so much fun to work
together! Midla encourages others to get
involved. Volunteer now and see where
it leads. Believe me, if you enjoy working
with people who enjoy being with you,
the immediate reward can mean more
than any other activity!
daily
MUSC Health forums
for consumer input
O F F I C I A L S WA N T T O H E A R H E A LT H
CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS
BY JEFF WATKINS
For The Island Connection
M
USC Health officials want to
hear about health issues from
local residents through a series
of Lowcountry forums scheduled to begin
this month.
The program to collect feedback and
input from local residents was announced
by MUSC Health earlier this month.
The 90-minute forums, or talking circles,
will include eight to twelve participants
with the goal of helping MUSC Health
representatives better meet community
health concerns, according to Philip
Smeltzer, Ph.D., assistant professor in the
Department of Public Health Sciences.
These forums will provide a health
consumers perspective and enable MUSC
Health providers to improve programs
based on the input they receive.
The initial talking circles will be
formed with volunteers age 65 and older.
Individuals of any background or health
status are welcome to attend. Meetings
will be held several times each year.
MUSC Health is seeking increased
collaboration with Lowcountry
communities. The Population Health
area coordinates the talking circles
and other activities with the goal of
improving health of all residents in
the area. Smeltzer a population health
leader at MUSC outlined the talking
circle concept recently. We have found
that asking our consumers of health
care what they need and how to remove
barriers to health is a critical first step,
Smeltzer related. The insights provided by
talking circle participants typically yield
discoveries that program leaders would
have overlooked without the first-hand
input of consumers.
The initial meeting will be held on
Kiawah Island June 28 at 2 p.m. in the
Kiawah Council Chambers. On the
following day, June 29, Seabrook residents
will meet at 2 p.m. in the Osprey Room at
the Lake House. Other meetings are being
planned for West Ashley, Mount Pleasant,
peninsular Charleston and James Island.
Interested volunteers may contact MUSC
Health Population Health at 843.792.6637
or PopulationHealth@musc.edu.
June 23, 2017
World Turtle Day at the SC Aquarium
V I S I T O R S C E L E B R AT E D AT T H E O P E N I N G O F T H E Z U C K E R
FA M I LY S E A T U R T L E R E C O V E R Y C E N T E R
T
he staff of the South Carolina Aquarium had their
fins and flippers full in the run up to the May 27
grand opening of the new sea turtle hospital. The
week prior boasted a raft of soft events associated with
the new facility, which was famously catapulted onto
the world stage with the help of the Zucker familys $3
million donation.
There were days when we had ladders, paint buckets,
tools, construction materials, and contractors to get
things out of the way minutes before [several events],
said the SCAs Kelly Thorvalson with her customary
enthusiasm. Attendance numbers for the actual event,
on what turned out to be a bright, sunny day, were
BY GREGG BRAGG
The Island Connection Staff Writer
something of a mystery to the uninitiated.
There is an emerging pearl of conventional wisdom
circulating amongst staff at the SCA; The aquarium
is the driest place in Charleston. The counterintuitive
statement leverages the common sense observation that
walking tours of the Holy City arent as much fun in the
rain. Lauren McDaniel of the SCA credited an offshore
storm with high attendance numbers during the same
weekend last year, which the combination of the grand
opening and annual celebration of World Turtle Day
didnt match.
Turtle patrol programs from Kiawah, Isle of Palms,
Seabrook, and the South Carolina Department of
9
Natural Resources were on hand with boats of volunteers
as the SCA also played host to World Turtle Day. It was
the eighth installment of a tradition which began in
2010. Although the annual event is technically scheduled
for the 23, May 27 fell on a Saturday and seemed a better
time to highlight the occasion.
World Turtle Day was the brainchild of Susan Tellem
and Marshall Thompson, who founded the American
Tortoise Rescue. The group advocates humane treatment
of all animals, especially seven species of endangered
turtles like the Loggerhead and Diamondback Terrapin.
Turtle Day continues on page 14
10
Regenerative medicine speeds healing
for orthopedic injuries
BY DR. BRIGHT MCCONNELL, III
For The Island Connection
R
egenerative medicine continues
to keep its promise as the greatest
game changer in orthopedic
medicine. For both chronic and acute
pain patients, the scope of minimally
invasive orthopedic treatments available
is widening. Charleston Sports and
Orthopaedic Regenerative Medicine has
kept pace with the regenerative medicine
advancements over the past decade. While
surgeries, such a total knee replacement,
produce excellent outcomes and may
be the best choice for some patients, the
world of regenerative medicine is a game
changer for athletes and active boomers
seeking functional improvement without
surgery. Techniques and technology
advancements such as stem cell therapy,
platelet rich plasma therapy, gene transfer
and tissue engineering, are moving the
field of orthopedics into a new era.
An orthopedic surgeons quality
outcomes for invasive and minimally
invasive treatments are highly contingent
on the patients ability to heal. Injured
tissues including muscle, tendon,
ligament or cartilage are a catalyst for the
body to try and heal the injury through
its own repair mechanisms. Blood flow
is a critical element to the bodys own
health & wellness
healing power. Inside and around joints,
the blood flow is typically lacking. Thus,
the body may be unable to heal the injury
adequately or even at all. The amount of
degeneration or damage and the age of the
patient may further challenge the bodys
own efforts at healing the injury.
When the body is unable to recover, or
heal, the result for the patient manifests
itself as pain, weakness, joint locking,
disability, and swelling. The solution to
this problem is to augment the natural
healing process to heal or even grow
back the damaged tissue.
As surgeons continue to face challenges
regarding the healing of diseased or injured
musculoskeletal tissues, regenerative
medicine aims to develop novel therapies
that will replace, repair, or promote tissue
regeneration. Our practice remains at the
forefront of this growing application of
regenerative medicine in orthopedics. All
orthobiologic procedures are performed
under local anesthesia in the office.
Regenerative medicine services that
incorporate orthobiologic options, include:
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Charleston Sports Medicine specializes
in an orthobiologic treatment known
as platelet rich plasma or PRP. Used
to treat such injuries as tennis elbow,
Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendonitis,
and plantar fasciitis, PRP is blood plasma
June 23, 2017
derived from patients own blood with
concentrated platelets. These bioactive
proteins initiate connective tissue healing:
bone, tendon and ligament regeneration
and repair, promote development of new
blood vessels, and stimulate the wound
healing process.
Amniotic Allograft
Amniotic Allografts (amniotic tissue)
is a promising regenerative treatment
option, due to its rich source of growth
factors, hyaluronic acid, proteins, essential
nutrients, and a low risk of immune Bright McConnell, III, MD is the founder of
Charleston Sports Medicine.
response. Amniotic Allografts are a
tissue graft derived from placenta and are with local anesthesia and with little or
great options for use in osteoarthritis and no discomfort, a concentration of stem
tendinopathy including plantar fasciitis. cells, called bone marrow aspiration
Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem concentrate (BMAC), is then injected
Cells (ADMSC) close to the injured or diseased tissue
ADMSC is a minimally invasive using diagnostic image guidance. This
procedure where stems cells are procedure, sometimes combined with
collected from fat cells found in the ADMSC, is a more advanced form of
patients abdomen. This procedure treats regenerative therapy for patients with
progressive osteoarthritis and is an significant tissue damage.
excellent non-surgical treatment option.
Charleston Sports Medicines founding
Bone Marrow Aspiration physician, Bright McConnell, III, MD,
Concentrate Therapy (BMAC)
is board certified in orthopaedic surgery
BMAC is a minimally invasive and specializes in sports and regenerative
procedure where stems cells are collected
medicine. Dr. McConnell is also certified
by aspirating the bone marrow from the as a clinical densitometrist in the diagnosis
back of the patients pelvis using a small
and treatment of osteoporosis. For more
needle. Performed in an office setting information visit CharlestonSportsMed.com.
June 23, 2017
daily
CCSD names Judith Condon
interim principal at Angel
Oak Elementary
BY ERICA TAYLOR
For The Island Connection
Judith Condon
C
harleston County School District
is proud to announce and welcome
Judith Condon as Interim Principal
of Angel Oak Elementary School. Condon
joins the District from Cobb County
School District in Georgia where she
served as Supervisor of Learning Design
and Visual Arts since 2012.
Condon began her teaching career as
an art specialist at Hightower Trail Middle
School in Cobb County in 2001. For
11 years, Condon taught sixth through
eighth grade visual art and eighth grade
advanced visual art, along with reading
and literacy. In the summer of 2011 and
2012, she served as an art instructor at the
Big Shanty Art Station for Cobb County
11
government, where she taught elementary
and middle school mixed media and K-12
ceramics.
In 2012, Condon stepped into the
role of Learning Design and Visual Arts
Supervisor in her county. In this position,
she was responsible for overseeing
content acquisition and instructional
delivery of programs to 112 schools
while working collaboratively across
content areas to support school strategic
planning. Specifically, Condon focused
on developing new, research-based
programs and student opportunities for
engagement, deeper learning, problem-
solving, and integration of arts, project-
based learning, and STEAM (science,
technology, engineering, arts, and math);
assisting schools with the development of
foundations, partnerships, and marketing
plans; and leading teacher teams in
the development of student learning
objectives (SLOs), standards revisions,
data teaming, and performance and
portfolio-based assessment.
Condon has received many awards
and accolades throughout the years,
including being named the 2006-07
Teacher of Year for Hightower Trail
Middle School in Marietta, GA; the
2011-12 Middle School Art Specialist of
the Year for Cobb County School System;
and the 2013-14 Georgia Art Education
Association Supervisory/Administration
Educator of the Year. Condon is also a
member of the Professional Associate of
Georgia Educators (PAGE), the Georgia
Art Education Association (GAEA), and
the National Art Education Association
(NAEA).
Condon holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts
in Art Education from Valdosta State
University, a Master of Education in
Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley
University, and an Educational Specialist
degree in Educational Leadership from
Kennesaw State University.
 June 23
ONGOING
Mondays
WHAT: Seabrook Island Bridge Group
WHERE: The Lake House
WHEN: 9 a.m.
MORE INFO: The Monday Bridge
Group needs new players. For more
information, please contact Ilse Calcagno
at 843.768.0317.
Tuesdays
WHAT: Bookmobile
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: The first Tuesday of every month
from 10 - 11:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: The Charleston County
Bookmobile will be parked in the lot
behind Heges and Java Java.
Wednesdays
WHAT: Lake House Yoga
WHERE: The Lake House
WHEN: 8:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Rise and Shine Yoga with
Patti Romano, formerly known at Gentle
Flow Yoga. Rise and Shine Yoga is an all
levels practice focused around finding your
days intention, set up yourself for success
and be ready to shine.
WHAT: Kids Art Classes, Acrylic on Canvas
WHERE: 3280 Loft at Bohicket Marina,
1897 Andell Bluff Way, Seabrook Island
WHEN: 10-11 a.m.
MORE INFO: ages 3-12, $15,
843.494.8784, 3280loft.com
Fridays
WHAT: Adult art classes, multimedia
WHERE: 3280 Loft at Bohicket Marina,
1897 Andell Bluff Way, Seabrook Island
WHEN: 10 a.m. - noon
WHAT: Music on the Green
WHERE: Fresh Fields Village, Kiawah
Island
WHEN: 6 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: Each Friday evening
this summer from 6:00 to 9:00 pm for
a complimentary concert on the Village
Green. Guests are encouraged to bring
a beach chair or blanket for the event.
Freshfieldsvillage.com
Thursday
WHAT: Live Music at FortyEight by
Chris Dodson
WHERE: FortyEight - A Wine Bar
WHEN: 6 - 8:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Enjoy 48 wines for tasting
and a selection of 48 beers while you listen
to light and classic rock inside or on the
patio. No cover.
Sunday
WHAT: Live Music at FortyEight
WHERE: FortyEight - A Wine Bar
WHEN: 5 - 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: A fun rotation of
musicians. Enjoy 48 wines for tasting and
a selection of 48 beers while you listen to
light and classic rock inside or on the patio.
No cover.
Island Connection Calendar
SATURDAY, JUNE 24
WHAT: Painting a Portrait with Alana
Knuff
WHERE: Gibbes Museum of Art, 135
Meeting St.
WHEN: 10 a.m. 3 p.m.
MORE INFO: Adult class, requires
advanced registration. Please call
843.722.2706 for more information and to
register.
SUNDAY, JUNE 25
WHAT: Kids Yoga Class
WHERE: Studio 33, Freshfields Village
WHEN: 3 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Drop the little ones off
for an hour of fun and movement with
their Summer Kids Yoga Class! Class
incorporates games, music, themed
movement and story visualizations.
MONDAY, JUNE 26
WHAT: Member Movie Night
WHERE: SC Aquarium, 100 Aquarium
Wharf
WHEN: 6:30 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: Finding Dory in the Great
Ocean Tank Gallery. Bring a pillow and
watch a family-friendly film with your
marine friends. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.,
and the movie will begin promptly at
7 p.m. Free for members. Reservations
required; to reserve, call (843) 579-8518.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28
WHAT: Seining
WHERE: SC Aquarium, event on Daniel
Island
WHEN: 6 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Members Only. Assist
Aquarium staff as we search the sand and
water for aquatic creatures. Well drag a
seine through the surf to find fish, crabs
and maybe even a small shark. Educators
will give you a glimpse into the fascinating
lives of fish, mollusks and other beach
dwellers as we walk along. Tickets are $10;
reservations required. To reserve, call (843)
579-8518.
WHAT: Seabrook Island Birders,
Migratory Shorebirds
WHERE: Live Oak Hall, Lake House
Seabrook Island
WHEN: 7 p.m. registration and social,
program starts at 7:30
MORE INFO: Featuring Felicia Sanders,
Shorebird Lead for SCDNR. SIB
members free, guests $5. Please register at
seabrookislandbirders.org.
WHAT: The California Wine Tasting
presented by RNDC
WHERE: FortyEight - A Wine Bar, 547
Freshfields Drive
WHEN: 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: Join RNDC for a portfolio
tasting of wines crafted
in California and perfect for the summer!
Free, with a $2 donation to LowCountry
Food Bank.
WHAT: Aromatherapy + Yoga
Workshop
WHERE: Studio 33, Freshfields Village
WHEN: 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Katie Daehler, holistic
health coach and yoga instructor, will
guide class through a restorative yoga
practice with essential oils that will balance
and align the seven major chakras in the
body. The workshop is $35 per person.
Reservations by calling 843.619.7210.
WHAT: Starlight Cinema
WHERE: Village Green
WHEN: 8:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: Nine Lives: rated PG; 87
min. Free. Bring a beach chair or blanket
for the event.
FRIDAY, JUNE 30
WHAT: Music on the Green
WHERE: Village Green
WHEN: 6 9 p.m.
MORE INFO: Free concert featuring The
Swingin Richards. Bring a beach chair or
blanket for the event.
SUNDAY JULY 2
WHAT: Seabrook Island Artists Guild
Art Show and Sale
WHERE: Lake House, Seabrook Island
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Meet the Artist
reception 4 6 p.m.
MORE INFO: Artists of Seabrook Island will
show and sell their paintings, photographs, and
crafts. Enjoy a glass of wine while chatting with
the artists during the Artist Reception.
This event is free and open to all.
Please contact Tina@TinaMaylandArt.
com for access through the gate. For
more information on the Guild visit
seabrookislandartistguild.com.
WHAT: Festival of Mountain Music
WHERE: Freshfields Village
WHEN: 3 5 p.m.
MORE INFO: Four-time Grammy
winner, David Holt hosts four of the most
exciting acts performing music of the
southern mountains today. Bring your
lawn chair and join us under the tent. Free
event is sponsored by the Town of Kiawah
Arts and Cultural Events Fun.
MONDAY, JULY 3
WHAT: Independence Day Fireworks
Display
WHERE: The Seabrook Island Club
Driving Range
WHEN: 4 p.m. range opens, 6 p.m. bars/
food/music, 9 p.m. show
MORE INFO: Behind the Island House on
the driving range, picnic on the practice golf
range. Cash bar & BBQ grills. Fireworks
will go off from the 9th fairway. Everyone is
invited and no reservations necessary.
TUESDAY, JULY 4
WHAT: Fourth of July Parade &
Celebration
WHERE: Seabrook Island Road
WHEN: 9:30 a.m.
MORE INFO: Decorate your vehicles,
bikes and yourselves to make the loop
around Seabrook Island Road. Registration
forms are at The Lake House and due by
noon on Saturday, July 1. Details and
regulations available at The Lake House.
WHAT: Sea Stars and Stripes
WHERE: SC Aquarium, 100 Aquarium
Wharf
WHEN: 7 10 p.m.
MORE INFO: The South Carolina
Aquarium is hosting a fishy celebration to
mark our countrys independence. Join the
Aquarium for some tasty American fare, the
Aquarium experience, and an amazing view
of the fireworks show over the Charleston
Harbor. The celebration kicks-off at 7:00
p.m. on July 4th and wraps up after the
fireworks show.
Tickets include:
* Aquarium experience including hands-on
encounters
* American fare
* Local and domestic beer, wine, and non-
alcoholic beverages
July 5
* Spectacular view of fireworks courtesy of
Patriots Point
Sit back, relax, and take in the views below
and above... the sea!
Price:
$60 adult / $55 member adult
$30 children / $25 member children
Children two and under are free
All tickets final. Please bring your own
chairs and blankets. No personal coolers
allowed. Event is rain or shine. Must
present ID for alcohol sales.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5
WHAT: Shark Week
WHERE: SC Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf
WHEN: July 5 July 15
MORE INFO: Find fun shark activities
around every corner as we celebrate the
oceans apex predator. Enjoy special dive
shows, educational stations and photo
opportunities centered on sharks. Shark
Week activities are free with membership.
WHAT: Starlight Cinema
WHERE: Village Green
WHEN: 8:30 p.m.
MORE INFO: ROGUE ONE; rated PG-
13; 133 min. Free. Bring a beach chair or
blanket for the event.
14
Turtle Day continues from page 9
World Turtle Day was started 13 years ago to increase
respect and knowledge for the worlds oldest creatures.
These gentle animals have been around for about 200
million years, yet they are rapidly disappearing as a
result of the exotic food industry, habitat destruction,
global warming and the cruel pet trade, says Tellem
on their website (tortoise.com, also on Facebook). They
hope to make a number of points including;
Never buy a turtle or tortoise from a pet shop as
it increases demand from the wild.
Never remove turtles or tortoises from the wild
unless they are sick or injured.
Remove tortoises from busy streets by sending
them in the same direction they are already
going if you try to make a turtle go back, it will
turn right around again.
Write letters to legislators asking them to keep
sensitive habitat preserved and to prevent off shore
drilling, which can lead to more endangered sea
turtle deaths.
daily
Report cruelty or illegal sales of turtles and
tortoises to your local animal control shelter.
It is illegal to sell any kind of turtle/tortoise under
four inches throughout the U.S. and incidents
should be reported to local animal control.
Educate people about the real risk of contracting
salmonella from turtles (WASH your hands).
Who better to assist in making those points, than the
SCA, the DNR and a host of veteran turtle patrollers
from all over the Lowcountry? Tables were set up on the
first floor of the SCA with the Great Ocean Tank as a
background. Mounds of information were passed along
to aquarium visitors including the Flores family from
Boston.
Boston residents are no strangers to great aquariums.
The New England Aquarium is located there and famed
for its glass tunnel under the biggest of their tanks.
We love aquariums and cant wait to meet Caretta,
said Giselle Rivera-Flores. Her husband Jaime Flores and
their two daughters, 9-year-old Brooklyn and 6-year-old
Evian, couldnt resist donning Seabrooks Loggerhead
turtle carapace.
June 23, 2017
Theres still time to celebrate turtles even if you
missed Mays festivities. The SCA is open every day and
is home to Charlestons favorite loggerhead sea turtle,
Caretta. She is [soon to be] 29-year-old Loggerhead and
joined the SCA 15 years ago. Caretta has been the jewel
of the Great Ocean Tank ever since and her birthday is
usually accompanied by special treats for her and guests
of the aquarium.
Caretta was raised in captivity after being taken from
a nesting site on a Florida beach by a couple who wanted
to keep her as a pet. Caretta was first adopted by an
aquarium in Canada and later moved to the SCA. She
has become an object lesson in conservation.
The [SCA] celebrates World Turtle Day each year
to highlight the care and conservation of turtles and
tortoises, with the goal of creating more awareness for
their protection. People have been fascinated by turtles
for thousands of years so this day is a perfect opportunity
to highlight the many species of turtles that call South
Carolina home. concluded Thorvalson.
For more information or tickets visit scaquarium.org or
call 843.577.FISH (3474).