PRESORT STANDARD

US POSTAGE PAID
FOLLY BEACH, SC
PERMIT NO 27

Vol. 1 Issue 6 Folly Beach’s Newspaper January 9, 2009 w FREE

Franchise
ordinance
staff report

R
esidents and business owners
will have some new regulations
regarding the front beach this new
year. The City Council met on December
30, in order to pass a “Beachfront Vending
Ordinance”. By passing the ordinance
before the new year, the regulations will
currently be in effect.
While many residents were against
vending of any sort on the beach, Mayor
Carl Beckmann says the ordinance, which
allows some vending, will prevent Folly
Beach from turning into a Myrtle Beach
type of atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the Folly Current was
unable to obtain a current version of
the ordinance before our deadline. But
according to the previous version, only
a few types of businesses will be allowed
to vend on the beach including jet skis,
umbrellas, and chairs. The sale of any item
is prohibited while rentals are allowed.
This commercial activity will only be
allowed between 2nd Street East and 3rd
Street West, roughly in the Commercial
area. That area of the beachfront will be
divided into zones which business owners
can bid on.
Beckmann adds that businesses on
Center Street will benefit from the
ordinance since they will be able to bid
on the available spaces as well. However,
some businesses are worried that any
more competition will stress an already
depressed financial situation.
“We are not extending our commercial
district, but protecting our beach,”
Beckman wrote on the City’s website.

2009 Polar Bear Plunge

I
N
S
I
D
E Meaning of Christmas? on page 3 Local CSA on page 3 Changing energy on page 12
2 January 9, 2009
T
he island has a liquor store again.
It has been about a year since
Folly Beach had its own liquor
store. Since then, any resident wanting a
spirituous substance would have to drive
off the island. But no more. Co-owners
Lauren Dean and Michael Riffert have
opened the Folly Beach Red Dot situated
behind Bert’s on East Cooper.
“Oh, my God. We’re so glad you’re
here,” is one of the many exclamations
Dean has heard visitors to the Red Dot
say.
The store is unlike any liquor store with
which you’re probably familiar. Dean
and Riffert are both six year Folly Beach
residents and believe in the “keep Folly,
Folly” mentality. They have worked with
the purpose to create a “wine store that
sells liquor”, as opposed to the sanitized,
cut-out liquor store that people are used
to seeing.
There’s an ambiance about the Red
Dot that screams “Folly”. Well, scream
probably isn’t the right word. It’s more
like a whisper. The same way the Atlantic
ocean whispers as one sways in a hammock
between two Palmettos, pushed by a
breeze that brushes away the day’s cares.
With some reggae tunes slinking from the
speakers, the store embodies the laid back
attitude that one expects from Folly Beach
and is inclusive of all types of residents.
Dean and Riffert worked with the
owners of 11 Center Street, which boasted
the most impressive wine selection in
the area, to find out what types of wine
Folly Beach residents preferred. Using
that information, the middle of the store
is dedicated to a fine selection of wines
with a range that should please anyone.
Currently there are over 60 different wines
with a low, medium, and high price range
and run the broad range of varietals and
blends. Furthermore, these are not your
“run of the mill” wines, Dean says. They
are quality wines.
But for those that can’t find exactly
what they’re looking for, the Red Dot has
a very unique feature: the “Wish List”
“Be a Tourist in Your
Own Town” passes
Passes offer local Tri-County residents free one-time admission to 37 area
attractions and discounts at 24 family restaurants. Individual passes cost $20 and
family passes, for up to four people of any age, sell for only $50. “Be a Tourist in Your
Own Town” passes may be purchased by logging on to www.beatourist.net, calling
843-853-8000, or visiting any local official visitor center in the Charleston area.
Folly spirits
By Ali Akhyari
board. It’s a dry erase board
where people can request
particular wines and liquors
that the store does not
currently have. When the
store fulfills the wish, the
person who requested it will
receive a phone call letting
them know it has arrived.
For the wine drinker, it can
be Christmas all year long
thanks to the Wish List.
It doesn’t hurt for the
store to buddy up with
Bert’s in a location just
a block away from the
beach. They plan to carry
an admirable assortment
of airplane bottles for
beach convenience. This
way you can have your
margaritas without lugging
a handle, the way it should
be. I’ll leave it up to your
imagination to come up
with a few more of the (above) Lauren Dean and Michael Riffert recently opened the Folly Beach Red Dot and ended the year
long drought of a wine/liquor store on Folly Beach. (below) The “Wish List” one of the many unique
endless possibilities.
features that separate the Folly Beach Red Dot from other liquor stores in the area. It’s an opportunity
Residents are already for residents to request wines and liquors that aren’t already being carried in their impressive
glad to have the Red Dot in inventory.
operation and like it better exists on Folly Beach, resulting in an work to keep their prices fair and
than the store that closed a year ago. especially scrutinizing study of their plans competitive instead of taking advantage
“There’s a lot more inventory. This is by the powers that be. But they’ve trudged of their neighbors as the only store of its
Folly Beach. This is classic,” Harry Ericson through and opened a high quality wine kind on the island. They are currently
says of the store. store that sells liquor of which Folly boasting the lowest price on Firefly Sweet
Riffert says the idea to open the store residents can be proud. Tea Vodka in the area. Be sure to stop in
came when the old liquor store closed. He The co-owners say they will consciously and soak it all in.
and a friend complained that someone
needed to open a new one when the friend
suggested that Riffert do it, to which he
responded, “Okay”. However, he needed
a business partner and asked his friend
Lauren Dean to keep an eye out for
anyone that might be interested. Dean
began thinking of possibilities when she
looked in the mirror and realized she was
the partner she was looking for.
It took them five and a half months to
obtain their liquor license. This is much
longer than the average time, which Riffert
attributes to the “free spirit” attitude that
www.follycurrent.sc
January 9, 2009 3

Have we lost the meaning

of Christmas?
By Dr. Jackie McKool and Jeffrey Knighton MPA.

O
ver this Christmas holiday two
friends of mine told me their
stories of wanting to lend a
helping hand to a needy child through a
local church, but they could not afford
to help! I was told that the items on
these needy children’s “wish lists” were
financially out of reach for the would-be
givers. The churches did not even offer
another way for them to help if they
could not afford the pricey gifts.
This is outrageous.
These children were asking for (and
expecting) high-ticket items such as
X-Box 360s and ten gear bicycles. These
would be out of my budget as well. I
consider myself your typical middle-
income person, as are my friends. We
certainly are blessed and don’t lack for
our basic needs. However, especially
in these lean economic times, we have
to reign in the purse strings and deny
ourselves many of our past luxuries.
Even respected Christian financial
advisors such as Dave Ramsey and Larry
Burkett teach us to be “good stewards” of
our finances.
What kind of example are we
sending when we are entertaining these
extravagant wishes?
Please don’t misunderstand me, I
love helping people who are in need
and the Bible teaches us that we are to
be the hands and the feet and the heart
of Jesus and his representatives here on
Earth. In fact, since both Jeffrey and
I did not have family in town, we ended
up spending our time at the Veterans
Hospital visiting and praying with those
brave soldiers who, like us, did not have
family with whom to share Christmas.
It did not cost us a dime and it really
helped others in need feel loved.
My question is, how do some of
these Christian charity organizations
define “needy?” Is giving to someone
who simply might not be as well off as
the “Jones’” a need, or are we becoming
enablers by fulfilling these extravagant
wishes?
There was many a childhood
Christmas for me where the child next
door received more than I and yet I still
had plenty. There’s always going to be
someone who has more than we do.
Whatever happened to the simple
things in life that used to give us great
joy?
A ministry such as Operation
Christmas Child, which Ashley River
Baptist participates in, asks participants
to fill a shoebox with some wonderful
necessities like shampoo, toothbrushes,
and modest toys, and then give them
to children who normally have NONE
of these things. This is more my
understanding of being a blessing to
someone. Wouldn’t we as the Church
better serve those who might not have
as much as the “Jones’” if we were lead
by example and teach the parents good
stewardship so they in turn could pass
this onto their children? Wouldn’t
we be serving these children better by
demonstrating true love by showing them
Lynn Pierotti
just how valuable they are, how smart
Publisher
they are, how loved they are and spend lynn@luckydognews.com
a little time with them, rather than just
giving them extravagant, overpriced Ali Akhyari
possessions? Editor
The former represents more of the true ali@luckydognews.com
meaning of Christmas than the latter.
Kristin Hackler
Couldn’t we take these less fortunate Managing Editor
children out Christmas caroling, to a kristin@luckydognews.com
nursing home, to a Christmas pageant,
or a multitude of other things that Swan Richards
could show what the true meaning of Graphic Designer
Christmas is? Then maybe those of us swan@luckydognews.com
who want to bless someone can do so,
Brittany Urbach
and in turn get blessed as well! Reporter
brittany@luckydognews.com
About the writers.
Dr. Jackie McKool, a resident of the
Richard Brendel
Advertising
West Ashley Community in Charleston
richard@luckydognews.com
County is a local Christian chiropractor
who is a volunteer for local charities and Chelsea Langan
ministries in South Carolina. You can Advertising
contact Dr. McKool at (843) 571-6440 or chelsea@luckydognews.com
jackiemckool@yahoo.com •
Jeffrey Knighton, also a resident of the
Contributors
Bud Bryan
West Ashley Community in Charleston Mia Burmeister-Laws
County, has been a leader in many Bobby Cummings
community outreach programs for over 14 Hangerhead
years. He has a Masters Degree in Public Jeffrey Knighton, MPA
Administration with a concentration in Dr. Jackie McKool
Public and Non-Profit Organizational John Nelson
Behavior and Structure. You can contact Published by
Mr. Knighton at (804) 874-0620 or Lucky Dog Publishing
JKnightonConsulting@gmail.com of South Carolina, LLC
P.O. Box 837
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
843-886-NEWS

Community Supported Agriculture Future deadlines:

January 14 for submissions.
Special to Folly Current The Folly Current, a wholly owned subsidiary of

L
egare Farms is now
offering shares in their
Community Supported
Agriculture or CSA program
for the 2009 year. A CSA is a
way for the food buying public
to create a relationship with a
farm and to receive a weekly
basket of produce. By making
a financial commitment
to a farm, the community
helps to support the farm as
the crops are being grown.
Members help pay for seeds,
fertilizer, water, equipment,
maintenance, labor, etc. In
return, the farm provides,
to the best of its ability, a
healthy supply of seasonal
fresh produce throughout the
growing season. By becoming
a CSA member, you help to
create a responsible relationship
between the food you eat, the
land on which it is grown and
those who grow it.
This is the second year that
Legare Farms is offering its
CSA program. The first year
of the CSA was extremely
successful for both the
farm and the participating
members. “This was a
wonderful experience for us,”
says farm owner Helen Legare.
“We met some great people
and were able to build lifetime
relationships with many of our
members.”  Legare Farms also
offers shares in their antibiotic
and hormone free beef. Shares
will cost $355 each for the
vegetable CSA. Shareholders
will receive produce for 15
weeks starting in May and
ending mid December with a
break mid summer. Starting
and ending dates are weather
dependent. Shareholders will
receive approximately half a
bushel of produce which will
contain some fruits, but mostly
vegetables. Legare Farms offers
five drop locations to pick up
the produce. The locations are
in North Charleston, West
Ashley, James Island, Mount
Pleasant, and Legare Farms
on River Road, Johns Island.
Other location may be added
for 2009. Shareholders have
the opportunity to purchase
meat, eggs, pickles, jams, and
salsas when they arrive at the
drop locations.
Anyone interested in becoming
a shareholder in Legare Farms
CSA should call 843-559-
0788 or e-mail legarefarms@
bellsouth.net
Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina LLC, is a
free, independent newspaper published every two
weeks and is for and about Folly Beach. Copies
are mailed free of charge to every active mailbox
in our coverage area and are also available at area
businesses and by subscription to non-islanders.
Subscriptions are $30 per year for non-residents
and are available by sending a check to Lucky Dog
Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 837, Sullivan’s Island,
SC 29482. Contributions of information, pictures
and articles are welcomed and are used according
to space limitations and news value and cannot be
returned except by special request. Our editorial
content is primarily dedicated to the area of distribu-
tion; 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 advertising
rates are listed at www.islandeyenews.com under
“advertising”.

Civic Calendar
Tuesday, January 13 Monday, January 19
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC
Folly City Council Design Review Board Publishers of The Folly Current,
7pm call City Hall for times
The Island Eye News and
The Island Connection.
www.follycurrent.sc
4 January 9, 2009
Saving the world starts at home
S
ome people blamed the smoking ban.
Others say it was a change in the
building’s ownership which resulted
in a much higher rent. Whatever the
reason, everyone who lives on Sullivan’s
Island recalls the closing of Bert’s Bar,
the beloved watering hole. I think some
regulars are still recovering from the loss.
Almost a year to the day, the Green Heron
closed its doors on the same island. No
more delicious sandwiches wrapped in
love, foil, and sometimes entertaining
sarcasm. No more toys and candy to
delight the youngsters walking into their
own personal wonderland.
In our current financial crisis where
people are getting laid off, jobs are scarce,
and money is tight, it is difficult to make
an argument for people to buy local,
especially since it usually means spending
more money. The United States market
has been flooded for years with more
affordable foreign goods and American
businesses are drawn to inexpensive
outsourcing in other countries. One could
argue that our government made firing
American workers popular before the
current fad. However, the closing of our
island businesses will not result in jobs
By Hangerhead
being shipped overseas. It results in local
jobs lost and the loss of the lifelong dream
of a friend or neighbor, as well as the loss
of a locally based community resource.
There are so many factors that can be
attributed to businesses like these failing,
especially these days. Like rising costs and
market fluctuations, many of these factors
www.follycurrent.sc
are out of our control. However, local
residents and visitors do have at least some
say in whether our local businesses will
fail in the next couple of years. We can
make a conscious effort to patronize these
businesses instead of those larger corporate
companies off the island. We can shop on
our side of the bridge whenever possible.
Despite the financial strain, many of
your neighbors are spending money in
your local papers to remind you of their
business’ existence. When thinking about
where to eat, which dentist/doctor to
visit, or where to have a drink after work,
remember the places that are reaching out
to you. Christmas has already passed, but
it will come again and there will be other
holidays, birthdays, and occasions in the
 PetsPetofHelpers
the Week 
CECILIA: Hello! My name
is Cecilia and I’m a sweet, af-
fectionate pastel Calico! I’m
almost 2 and love to perch on
the shelf in our Kitty Cat Room
with my friends. I hope you
come to visit me soon!
Pet Helpers is located at 1447 Folly Road, James Island.
Hours: Mon – Fri from 11am – 6pm and Sat from 11am - 5pm.
Closed: Sundays and Holidays.
For more information, please call 843-795-1110.
meantime which will require the purchase
of something. Our local stores have some
of the most unique, character filled gifts
you can find. Remember them.
Our local businesses exude the island
flavor that drew most of us here. The
new Red Dot on Folly Beach is one of
the coolest and coziest wine/liquor stores
you’ll probably step foot in. It’s because it
is a Folly store that has reggae playing in
the background. Bert’s Market is a super-
beachy Red & White that you can walk
into with nothing on but sand on your feet
and a bathing suit. From Dunleavy’s and
Seel’s on Sullivan’s Island to the Marina
Market on Isle of Palms, our local islands
have their own unique resources. It would
be criminal to trade that in for a made-in-
China Wal-Mart t-shirt or a Thick Burger
from Hardee’s. The food is much better
and you’ll find a much more entertaining
t-shirts on the island, I guarantee you. We
should be proud of our islands and should
demonstrate that pride by supporting the
businesses that exemplify what island life
is all about. It’s the residents that have
always had the power. It’s just a matter of
wielding it.
Hangerhead spends his evenings
wandering throughout Charleston,
philosophizing and pontificating on soap
boxes and street corners, sharing his life
views and ignoring the strange stares at
his ubiquitous cranial aerial. He doesn’t
believe in cell phones or email, but we
can usually find him in one of his usual
hiding places. So if you wish to comment
or question Hangerhead, please write to
info@luckydognews.com.
HERMEY AND MOONRACER:
Hello! We are 2 month old, Brin-
dle/Terrier mixes. We were found
and brought in to Pet Helpers.
We are super sweet and are just
puppies. We need a loving home
with lots of love!
January 9, 2009
S
anta was good to me this year. Actually, it was
my family who was good to me; I’m 29 years
old and learned that Santa Claus was not a real
person a long time ago. It was a devastating 2005,
but I digress. On Christmas, my mom informed me
that a brand new surfboard would be arriving at my
Charleston home a few days after Christmas. This was
very exciting news for me as I needed a new board to
replace my Merrick Flyer, but haven’t had the financial
means to do so in a very long time.
I purchased the Flyer in a very used condition for
about $250 and it has served me well. But there’s nothing
like the buoyancy, speed, and overall capabilities of a
brand new board. About a month before Christmas, I
learned that a California company was selling Anacapa
surfboards for $279 with free shipping. Since it is a
Merrick design, I thought this was a great opportunity
and attempted to sway my family to get this for me as a
combined birthday/Christmas present since my birthday
is exactly a week before Christmas.
Sometime after I sent the e-mail blast to relevant family
members, I visited charlestoncrystalball.com to check the
waves. There were none so I decided to read the perpetual
genius that occurs there in the form of a message board. As
I scanned through the inane philosophies of other locals,
I noticed some comments about the $279 surfboard
deal. Someone referred to Anacapa as “Ana-crap-a” in
conjunction with the belief that surfers should not buy
pop-outs (a surfboard created on a manufacturing line).
I have to admit, there was a moment when I thought,
“What have I done? I must send an e-mail to my family
canceling my request. I can only hope that it is not too late
and that the surfing gods will not hold me in contempt.”
However, my simple desire for an affordable board that
is not waterlogged and dinged to death began to override
my guilt. I am very aware of the pop-out debate, but it’s
not always as simple as choosing to support or bury a
shaper. To me, it was more about an elitist mentality in
the world of surfing that made me very comfortable with
getting an Anacapa board.
Elitists in general make me sick, but in a surfing arena
where words like peace, nature, and oneness abound, it is
Tangled up in mystery plants
By John Nelson
I
f you are a cocker-spaniel, you may not want to
look at this picture!
Here’s a plant with a kind of brutal winter
beauty; the drying leaf stalks topped with a
constellation of brown, spiny burs. You might
have a feeling that this is a plant that wants to
spread itself around, if it can. And it wants you
to help.
This is a member of the sunflower family (and
the botanists have determined that it a relative
of the common ragweed). It is an herb that is
widely distributed in North America, is easily
found throughout southern Canada as well as
every one of our United States. It is an extremely
successful weed, usually found on disturbed
ground, agricultural fields, cattle lots, roadsides,
and places that are being excavated. The plants get
to be two to three feet tall with lots of attractive,
dark green leaves. Blooming takes place during
the summer and each plant produces a number of
small, drab flowers. Male and female flowers will be
produced on the same individual plant. (Such a plant
Surfing
Pop surfing
By Ali Akhyari
even more nauseating. I suppose there are a lot of different
types of surfers since they are all human beings and we
are extremely varied within our identifying DNA. But in
my humble opinion, “surfing elitist” is a contradiction in
terms. The word “surfer” to me creates a vision of a person
who is seeking harmony with nature and always has some
piece of wisdom to impart that he/she has taken from the
ocean. But as I look around, I see that this vision can not
be applied to all.
Earlier this year when I was coming off the beach with
my board after a good day of waves, there were four or five
guys hanging out on the walkover, watching everybody
surf. They were all wearing the same gear: hats with flat
bills, shirts with words like “Quicksilver” and “Billabong”
in large print, and flip-flops that come from the surf shop.
They looked like exact copies of another surfer I used to
hang out with who I’ll call “Precious Metal”. He would
only wear surf clothing such as t-shirts that cost $40-$50
because elitists will pay that much to look like a surfer,
even when they’re out of the water. There’s nothing wrong
with wearing the clothing, but to look down on someone
who doesn’t is a form of pop culture that drove me nuts
in high school.
When I saw the group, I immediately became anxious
as I walked by. One guy asked how the waves were. I
couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic since they had been
Photo by Tony Adcock
is termed “monoecious,” and another good example
of such a plant would be corn.) However, it is what
those female flowers develop into that has really made
a name for this species.
see Mystery Plant on page 9
www.follycurrent.sc
5
watching the 75 or so people catching waves in the
water for about 20 minutes. I replied that it had
been really fun. The guy smirked and a couple of
them turned to watch me leave as they whispered
something and laughed. I felt like I was in high
school again. I guess I wasn’t wearing the right
brand of board shorts or maybe my board was too
dirty. I don’t know.
I wondered why they weren’t in the water, since
they looked like surfers.
A long time ago, I realized that one of the
stupidest things I’ve ever done was to try and please
the elitists, the cliques. I’m not going to start again
now. I’m not rich. I don’t have $600 to throw down
on a new Channel Islands Flyer and neither does
my family. I’m not going to spend $40 on a t-shirt
in order to identify with Pop Surfers. I realize this
may seem a bit strange in the South Carolina barrier
island’s community where the beer flows like wine, but
not everyone can throw money around in order to pull off
the surfer clothing that magazines tell you to wear. There
will be a foot of snow on the beach in my homeland of
Costa Rica before I let someone make me feel bad for not
sacrificing my rent for a new board. I went through that
trip in high school and I’d like to think that I’ve matured
a lot since then.
Don’t misunderstand. I completely understand the
argument about pop-outs. It’s a different debate. If I ever
get to a point when I can spend the money on a new,
hand-shaped board without starving for a month, then I
will. But should I be chastised for buying an affordable
pop-out? Am I not entitled to experience the ride of a new
board just because I don’t make enough money? I started
surfing for several reasons, but it begins with my passion
for nature and the ocean in particular. I thought it was
beautiful the way a surfer could have a relationship with
a huge, God-given, moving wall of water. For the same
reason I’ll walk into the woods with a backpack and tent,
I moved to the beach and got into the water.
I don’t think you can brand that.
January 9, 2009 9
Historic and Island Homes

The vanishing island cottages

by Mia Burmeister-Laws

T
he word “cottage” comes from the early Middle
Ages and can mean different things to different
people. For the purpose of this column, “cottage”
will refer to the small and often quaint homes that were
initially built along our coast as getaways for the wealthy.
In the 1800s in Charleston, the affluent were the only
ones that could afford these second homes and who had
the luxury of time to enjoy them.
Back then, a cottage was a simple wooden structure,
consisting of only the necessary sleeping and day rooms
and a small kitchen; quite dissimilar to today’s beach
cottages, which seem to consist of a minimum of three
bedrooms, stainless steel appliances and at least two
baths, one of which is required to be a garden tub/shower
combo. The original cottages had the bare minimum and
required minimal upkeep. Their footprints were smaller
in square footage than the average sized house, allowing
them to be nothing more than a simple retreat, a place
to relax.
It may well be this quest for bigger and better that
is pushing out some of the last tributes to our islands’
simpler pasts. Although current changes in our market
might make these cottages attractive again in the future,
they are still disappearing at a slow but steady rate.
Sullivan’s Island has recently taken action as a
community to protect their historic cottages and homes
with the addition of a Historic District, which, according
to the National Register, protects homes approximately
50 years or older. Folly Beach has also shown recent
interest in protecting historic structures on the island. I
consulted Michael Bedenbaugh, the Executive Director of
the Palmetto Trust of South Carolina - our State Partner
to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to answer
a few questions.
According to Bedenbaugh, the most important step a
community can take in protecting their historic cottages
from vanishing is to have the community leaders answer Island Homes .
the question, “What makes our community unique and Please let me encourage your own thoughts by sending
attractive to loyal visitors?” and then act on the answer by an email to Mia@RealEstateMIA.com or call me at
protecting those positive attributes. 843-810-1000. Let me know what you would be interested
A second option, says Bedenbaugh, is for the citizens to in learning. You can also view this article at any time in the
develop communication systems that encourage positive future on my websites at www.HistoricAndIslandHomes.
action in protecting their local resources. “Write articles com or www.RealEstateMIA.com
in local papers, set up informative meetings and seminars,
use your passion for what you believe, but back it up See you around Charleston!
with facts,” says Bedenbaugh. “Find those persons who
have successfully won protection in similar communities Mia is trained in historic real estate by the National Trust
around our state and utilize their experience.” for Historic Preservation.
Although some may feel that protecting historic homes
slows a community’s economic progress, Bendenbaugh
argues the opposite. For example, he says that “Folly
Beach still has that traditional South Carolina beach feel
that has attracted generations
of beach lovers to the area
for decades. Embedded in
its small business district of
family owned businesses and
neighborhoods is an innate
sense of community that is
lacking in the modern beach
side developments that have
appeared over the past thirty
years. This is what makes
Folly Beach unique among
beach side destinations in
South Carolina. If protected,
it will create a more loyal
visitor base and sustainable
economy over a greater
period of time.
More on cottages in the This picture of a typical cottage was contributed by David Schneider of Schneider
next article of Historic and Historic Preservation, LLC. in Anniston, Alabama who completed surveys for the
Sullivans Island Historic District work. He had several favorites, but called this cottage
“Sullivans Island in a nutshell” - the shutters are a fanciful shade of purple.

Founder of Island West

Real Estate dies of cancer
Mystery Plant from page 5
Each flower has a tiny inferior ovary
Provided by Bud Bryan (same goes for everything else in the
needing to be cut out (carefully) from a
tender ear with a pair of scissors. I have
an idea that the burs sometimes are
attached so deeply that they will never

J
sunflower family, by the way). As the fall out on their own, and following
oyce Bennett, was convinced by
ovaries grow, following pollination, they the demise of whatever animal might
the founder of her friends to open
are ultimately covered up by a special be carrying them along, would still
Island West Real her own real estate
“involucres”, a sort of wrapping that is be associated with the carcass. In such
Estate died Saturday, company.  Her
abundantly equipped with pointed, soft a case, doesn’t it make sense that the
6 December, 2008 company managed
spines. LOTS of them. As the season seeds within the burs would benefit,
after suffering with about 100 vacation
wears on, the involucre’s spines harden, upon sprouting, from an immediately
cancer over the and/or long term
becoming quite stiff, thus forming the available concentrated dose of fertilizer
past two years.  A rentals, plus Buyer
recognizable burs. Of course, the burs in the soil?
memorial service and Seller Sales
was held Saturday, representations and will detach themselves quickly just as (By the way, those of you who are
13 December in auctions. soon as some unfortunate critter runs familiar with the paintings of John
Savannah. through them. The same thing will James Audubon will know his depiction
Prior to her
happen with obliging socks and trouser of the now-extinct Carolina parakeet, a
Joyce and her cancer she sold
legs, so you need to be careful around flock of them noisily chattering away in
husband first came to the company the
this stuff. a patch of our Mystery Plant.)
Folly Beach soon after Maggie Beckmeier,
they were  married.  Joyce Bennett, the founder of who later sold Clearly, the spiny burs make an John Nelson is the curator of the
Her husband, Jesse, Island West Real Estate the company to effective means for this plant to get its Herbarium in the Department of
was a pilot and they had to move to the present owners, Jon & Lisa seeds into new areas; in this case with the Biological Sciences at the University of
accommodate his job.   However, as Weitz.  Jon & Lisa have changed the help of an animal. If you have ever tried South Carolina. As a public service, the
soon as they could they returned to company name to Avocet Properties to comb these things out of Fluffy’s fur, Herbarium offers free plant identifications.
Folly Beach.  She wanted to feel the and have moved the company to it’s you will know what I am talking about. For more information, visit www.
sand between her toes while looking new location at 38 Center Street, A bur, once attached, is only going to herbarium.org or call 803-777-8196.
out over the ocean.   Folly Beach. get more deeply embedded in fur, often
During the time she was away from Joyce made many friends in the
Folly she went to real estate school Folly Beach area, and will be greatly Answer: “Cocklebur,” Xanthium strumarium
and received her Agents, and her missed.
Brokers Licenses.  After returning to Prayers for the Bennett Family
Folly, she opened an ice cream parlor would be greatly appreciated.
at first, and then after Hugo, she
www.follycurrent.sc
10
Incident reports for December 7
through December 28.
December 7- A vehicle was pulled over
for traveling 40mph in a 30mph at
2:22pm. Upon approaching the driver’s
side, the officer detected an odor of
marijuana. The subject admitted to
smoking marijuana earlier in the day,
but not in the vehicle and consented to
a search which revealed a small amount
of what appeared to be marijuana in the
floorboard and a glass pipe that contained
a strong smell of marijuana. The
subject was cited for simple possession
of marijuana, possession of drug
paraphernalia, and speeding. A friend
was called to pick up the subject.
December 11- An individual reported
that a 42” Plasma television had been
stolen from a particular property she
manages. The last tenants left on
November 30 and the television was
present during a walk-through of the
property afterwards. The complainant
noted that access to the property is
granted via a punch pad.
December 12- At approximately
11:46pm, a vehicle was observed
switching lanes without a turn signal and
at a dangerous rate of speed on Center
Street. It came to a sudden stop at the
stop light before turning left onto Ashley
without a turn signal. A traffic stop
was initiated and the officer observed
a smell of alcohol coming from the
subject. Furthermore, the subject had
slurred speech and difficulty following
directions. He agreed to a field sobriety
test which he promptly failed. The
subject was arrested and later refused a
Datamaster test.
December 13- An officer observed a
female stumbling across West Cooper
in what appeared to be a state of
intoxication before getting into a vehicle.
The officer approached the vehicle and
observed her to be grossly intoxicated.
She agreed to stay at a friend’s house
on Folly Beach and was escorted away
by her friend who was not intoxicated.
Approximately one hour later, the officer
Police Reports
followed a vehicle after it failed to use a
turn signal. The vehicle swerved on the
road and nearly struck the sidewalk on
the bridge leaving the island. A traffic
stop was initiated and the vehicle had
trouble pulling over. However, once
it stopped, the driver was discovered
to be the same woman who had been
previously warned. She had difficulty
standing and was unable to perform basic
field sobriety tests. She was arrested for
DUI and forcibly placed into a drunk
tank after she became argumentative
with jail staff during the intake process.
December 14- An individual watching
over a house on Arctic for a friend
reported that she suspected someone of
trespassing on the property after a lock
box had been stolen from under the
house a week earlier. An investigation
of the property revealed a bedroom that
had been used and a backpack full of
toiletries and identification. The suspect
was identified with the information and
located.
December 15- An officer stopped a
vehicle driving erratically on E. Erie at
3:36am. The officer detected a strong
odor of alcohol and performed a standard
field sobriety test which the subject failed,
including an inability to stand on one leg.
Subject was arrested and later refused a
Datamaster test. A half empty bottle of
vodka was discovered on the floorboard.
Subject was charged with DUI and
transporting liquor with a broken seal.
December 18- Officers responded to
a call regarding a subject trespassing at
the Kangaroo. The employee stated the
subject refused to leave after being asked
and stated he did not have any papers
saying he was on trespass notice. Subject
was issued a city summons for trespass
after notice and also issued a trespass
notice.
December 20- At approximately 7pm,
an officer arrived at the scene in reference
to a theft from a motor vehicle which
had been parked down by the Coast
Guard Base. Victims had gone to see
the lighthouse and noticed that a small,
www.follycurrent.sc
passenger side window had been broken
out upon their return. Approximately
$706 worth of merchandise had been
stolen. The suspect left a shirt wrapped
around a rock with glass fragments from
the window. A search of the surrounded
area turned up nothing.
December 21- At approximately 2:33am
officers responded to a white male
walking in the roadway on Folly Road
at Anchorline. The subject appeared
intoxicated and admitted to being so.
He stated he was from Myrtle Beach and
had been at a party when two males ran
him off after talking to their girlfriends.
He stated he had fallen into a pond and
lost a shoe. He was unable to produce a
contact person and had no identification,
claiming he left his wallet at the party.
He said he would rather be arrested than
go back to the party as he had no where
to go. The subject’s wish was granted and
was arrested for public intoxication.
December 21- At 11:43pm police
received a call that an individual had
stolen a Budweiser from the Pantry
convenience store. After receiving a
description and direction, police located
the subject who tossed the beer onto the
ground and ran. Subject was handcuffed,
cited for shoplifting, and placed on
trespass notice. The can of Budweiser was
returned to the store.
December 28- Subject was pulled over
for a driving violation. It was discovered
that the driver was operating the vehicle
on a suspended license and an unpaid
parking ticket. Subject was arrested and
booked.
December 28- Victim parked
his Camaro at 8 Center Street at
approximately 7pm. Upon his return
at 7:46pm it was discovered that an
unidentified subject had thrown a rock
Conch
11 Center St.
633-0100
Nathan Calhoun:
7-10 p.m. Tuesdays.
“Open Stage” with the Folly Beach
Bluegrass Society: Open mic
acoustic.
7-10 p.m. Thursdays.
Jeff Houts: acoustic classic and
contemporary rock. 7-10 p.m.
Sundays.
Crab Shack
26 Center St.
588-3080
Shakin’ Martinis: Shag and
classics. 6pm on Friday, January 9.
Pier View Beach Bar & Grill
1 Center St.
588-6464
Rotie: acoustic guitar. Tuesdays.
.
Sand Dollar
7 Center St.
January 9, 2009
through the driver’s window and stolen a
TomTom GPS unit. Case closed pending
further evidence.
December 28- Officers reported to a
call regarding a theft from a trailer at a
construction site. The victim stated the
larceny had to have occurred sometime
between December 24 and December 28.
The door of the trailer was found open.
The victim stated it had been locked with
two padlocks. The lock on the back of the
trailer was missing and the latch appeared
to have been cut off. An inventory of
the tools inside revealed that several
items had been stolen: a power saw, a
chop saw, a table, an air compressor, and
three nail guns. The items were valued at
approximately $2000.
December 28- At approximately 2am,
an officer observed a female and male
leaving the Sand Dollar Social Club and
entering a parked vehicle. The female,
who seemed to be intoxicated due to an
apparent difficulty in walking, got into
the driver’s seat. The officer observed
the vehicle swerving between lanes on
Center Street in addition to the license
plate light being out. A traffic stop was
initiated. As the officer approached
the vehicle, the male passenger waved
a Charleston City police badge and
asked if he could drive the vehicle. He
was refused due to his own level of
intoxication. The officer detected an odor
of alcohol on the driver who was slurring
her speech and unable to produce proof
of car insurance. She was unable to
follow directions or properly perform the
field sobriety tests. The subject stated she
had “congenital diabetes” and became
angry when informed there was no such
thing. Subject was taken into custody
and booked.
588-9498
Rev. Dr. Johnny Mac & The
BootyRanch: Friday, January 9
and Saturday, January 10.
The Cool: Playing classic rock
and pop. Friday, January 16 and
Saturday, January 17.
Surf Bar
103 Cooper St.
588-2009
Dangermuffin:
8-11pm Sundays.
Folly music
scene
January 9, 2009
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
M
artin Luther King, Jr. day is celebrated on the
third Monday of January and is one of only four
federal holidays commemorating an individual
person. This year, it will be celebrated on January 19,
2009. Although the campaign for a holiday in King’s
name began soon after his assassination in 1968, the day
was not signed into law until President Ronald Regan
passed it in 1983, and it was not celebrated by all 50 states
until 2006. South Carolina was the last state to recognize
the day as a paid holiday for all state employees. Dr. King
is celebrated as the spokesman for the nonviolent civil
rights movement and was successful in getting the Civil
Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965
passed in Congress.
Facts about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:
• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born Michael
King, Jr. on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Five years later, King’s father changed both their
names to Martin Luther, after the Reformation
leader.
• Known for leading the civil rights movement in
the United States Advocating nonviolent protest
against segregation and racial discrimination.
• King skipped the ninth and 12th grades and
entered Morehouse College at age 15
• He received his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology
from Boston University in 1955.
• When King received the Nobel Peace Prize in
1964, he was the youngest man ever to receive the
honor.
• Argued that he was morally responsible for
disobeying unjust laws in his ‘Letter from
Birmingham Jail’, written in 1963, the same year
as his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech at the Lincoln
Memorial in Washington, D.C.
• King’s doctrine was influenced by the non-violent
teachings of Mohandas Gandhi.
• King was Time Magazine’s first African American
Man of the Year.
• Was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in
Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968. James Earl
Ray was convicted of the killing and sentenced to
99 years in jail. Ray, an escaped convict, pleaded
guilty to the crime in March 1969. He died in
1998.
www.follycurrent.sc
11
• Six million signatures were collected for a petition
to Congress to pass the law naming a federal
holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was termed by a 2006 article in The Nation as
“the largest petition in favor of an issue in U.S.
history.”
His publications include:
• Stride Toward Freedom, (New York: Harper &
Row, 1958). The story of the Montgomery Bus
Boycott.
• The Measure of a Man, (Philadelphia: Pilgrim
Press, 1959). A selection of sermons.
• Why We Can’t Wait, (New York: Harper & Row,
1963). The story of the Birmingham Campaign.
• Strength to Love, (New York: Harper & Row,
1963). A selection of sermons.
• Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?
(New York: Harper & Row, 1967). Reflections on
the problems of today’s world, the nuclear arms
race, etc.
• The Trumpet of Conscience, (New York: Harper
& Row, 1968). The Massey Lectures. Sponsored
by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
(Posthumously).
Sources: MSN Encarta; Garrow, David J. “King, Martin
Luther, Jr.” World Book Online Reference Center. 2006.
World Book, Inc. 13 Jan. 2006; Martin Luther King, Jr.
Research and Education Institute Site: http://www.stanford.
edu/group/King/ ; TheKingCenter.org; Nobelprize.org:
http://nobelprize.org/index.html
12
Dynamics of energy usage is changing
The world of energy is undergoing
dramatic change.
Throughout the 1990s, crude oil
prices in the United States averaged
$20 a barrel, with highs of $35 during
the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War and
lows of $11 after the 1998 emerging
market crises, according to the Energy
Information Administration. Since then,
petroleum prices have skyrocketed.
“Oil, the Economy and the Stock
Market,” a white paper by Joseph H.
Davis, Ph.D., and Roger Aliaga-Diaz,
Ph.D., of The Vanguard Group, cites
past oil price increases caused by oil
supply disruptions centered in the Middle
East. Notable oil supply shocks include
the 1956 Suez Crises, the 1973 Arab
Israeli War, the beginning of the Iranian
Revolution in 1978, the onset of the Iran-
Iraq War in 1980, and the Persian Gulf
War.   large wind-generation capacity which is
Today, some analysts believe the
dramatic rise in oil prices from $20 a
barrel in 2001 to more than $140 in
2008 (before its recent dramatic drop
back below $100) results primarily from
the first global demand shock.   financial professional
Throughout this decade, the global
economy has expanded robustly and
commodity demand has surged. China
and India have more than doubled their
combined share of oil consumption since
1990, and many experts anticipate that
China’s demand for oil will double again
in the next two decades.   of Lighthouse Financial of
Economists have long observed that
oil price shocks tend to precede U.S.
recessions as consumer discretionary
spending declines and further investment
plans stall.
According to the study, the U.S.
economy would have avoided five out
of the past six recessions had oil prices
remained unchanged.
Many emerging economies employ
subsidies that keep domestic fuel prices
far below the world price. As a result,
these countries consume far more fuel
than they would otherwise. By one
January 9, 2009
By Bobby Cummings, CFP, CFBS, CLTC
estimate, countries with fuel subsidies expecting their 3rd child in January
accounted for virtually the entire increase 2009.
in worldwide oil consumption last If you wish to learn more about
year. “Without this artificial demand the ideas and strategies in this article,
stimulus, world oil prices would have or if you have any questions about
been significantly lower,” says economist your financial or estate plan, you are
Robert H. Frank at Cornell University’s
invited to reach Bobby via email at
Johnson School of Management. With a
rcummings@finsvcs.com or by contacting
$2 per gallon subsidy in effect, gasoline
his office at (843)884-9898. To find
sold in the world market at $4 would sell
for $2. “The problem is that when the out a little more about Lighthouse
Financial please visit the following web
price of a good is below its cost, people
address: www.lighthousefin.net
use it wastefully. The external costs like
dirtier air and increased congestion are Bobby Cummings is a registered
hard to measure, but are nonetheless representative of and offers securities,
substantial,” says Frank.   investment advisory, and financial
The good news is that the world, planning services through MML
including poorer, rapidly developing Investors Services, Inc. (741 Johnnie
countries, is taking more of an interest in Dodds Blvd. Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464)
renewable energy sources. A recent article member SIPC.
in the Economist, titled “The Power and Opinions expressed
the Glory,” reported that China has a are subject to change
without notice and
expected to grow by two-thirds this year, are not intended as
and that the country is the world’s second investment advice
largest manufacturer of solar panels.
or to predict future
Brazil has the second largest bio-fuel
performance.
industry, which already provides 40% of
Consult your
the fuel consumed by cars there. South
Africa is leading the effort to develop
before making any
a new class of safe and simple nuclear
investment decision.
reactors.
Past performance does
not guarantee future
The world of energy is changing.
results.
Bobby Cummings is the owner
Charleston. He is a Certified
Financial PlannerTM and (above) Wind energy
Certified Family Business is an option in areas of
Specialist and has been in vast plains including
the central US, out at
business since 1990. Bobby’s
sea and at the tops of
focus is providing comprehensive skyscrapers. (middle)
financial planning and Solar panels are
investment advice to business being incorporated
owners, professionals, into everything from
cars to roof shingles.
retirees, and people planning
(below) Tidal turbines
for retirement. He lives on have been used
Sullivan’s Island with his wife successfully in such
Kristin, son Tanner (5), and places as Roosevelt
daughter Keenan (3). They are Island in New York.
www.follycurrent.sc