PRESORT STANDARD

US POSTAGE PAID
FOLLY BEACH, SC
PERMIT NO 27

Vol. 1 Issue 8 Folly Beach’s Newspaper February 6, 2009 w FREE

Great dates for

Valentine’s Day
By Brittany Urbach and
Bri Horahan
Although there are hundreds of fun
things to do in the Charleston area year
round, coming up with creative ways to
celebrate Valentine’s Day can be a head-
scratcher. So to help out the date-planning
challenged and those simply tapped for
new things to do, we’ve created a list of
traditional, original and off –the-wall
dates, one of which is sure to impress that
special someone:
Dates on the cheaper side
Combine any of these spectacular
items to create the ultimate inexpensive
Valentine’s Day. Mix and match foods,
wine, gifts and sentimental gestures to
come up with a unique gift which comes
from the heart. Your Valentine will be
impressed and delighted by your incredible
dedication.
♥ Spend your date at home
Write a little poem on a card just for
him/her, share a bubble bath, play some
relaxing music (Tord Gustavsen’s Changing
Places is a beautiful, classic jazz album)
and just enjoy each other’s company. An
inexpensive, possibly suggestive dinner
could include the following:
 Red wine ($6 - $14)
 A hors d’oeuvres platter consisting of
any or all of the following:
 Dates ($6 / lb) stuffed with
herbed goat cheese ($6 - $8) and
wrapped with bacon ($3 - $4). This
delicious treat is a fiesta in your mouth,
as the sweet juices from the date pairs
perfectly with the salty flavors of the
bacon and cheese.
 Shrimp scampi ($3 - $9)

see Dates on page 9

I
N
S
I
D
E Enjoying oyster season on page 2 Folly Gras on page 5 Surfing green on page 11
2 February 6, 2009
City gets a new toy
An oyster exchange
T
here’s a chill in the air; the mark
of our short and inconsistent
winters. The surface of Folly
Creek remains glassy from a lack of wind,
but the incoming tide keeps the water
moving. The center of a small pier jutting
out into the water is covered with a roof
and walls. Inside, a long wooden table is
surrounded by people in coats and gloves,
hunkered over and feverishly at work
with their hands. Steam is rising, but
the bodies stacked side by side keep the
source a secret. Then a man turns around,
chewing and swallowing with a smile on
his face. In his hand is a stubby, knife-like
tool. His change in position has opened
up a small window to reveal the source
of his satisfaction: a pile of oysters taken
from our very own Folly River.
Yep, it’s oyster season. For those
fortunate enough to avoid Belle Hall’s
oyster-extravaganza, you might have
found yourself at the Folly Beach
CIVIC
By Ali Akhyari
Exchange Club’s Oyster Roast at Bowen’s
Island on January 25. While some may
have felt a void in their heart by missing
the huge crowds and impossible parking
situations at one of the Southeast’s top
festivals, the Exchange Club’s oyster roast
was an extremely cozy, friendly, and fun
experience.
It was easy to feel comfortable in the
atmosphere provided by a quiet marsh,
an old wooden pier, and people you’ll
probably see again. Folly Beach mayor
Carl Beckmann was there, shuckin’
oysters along side everyone else. Young,
old, and everyone in between scooted past
each other while the oyster shells were
being continuously split. In a place like
that, it’s hard to miss something and hard
to distance yourself from it. You can’t help
but enjoy yourself and be a part of it all.
The $20 admission was a steal as it
included all you could eat oysters and hot
dogs which were replenished throughout
www.follycurrent.sc
Two of Folly’s finest
stand in front of the City’s
brand new fire truck. The
City decided to obtain two
new trucks when Public
Safety officer Chief Terry
Boatwright came across
a great deal that allowed
them to buy two vehicles
for almost the same price
as the one for which they
had budgeted. The other
vehicle is a ladder truck
and was expected to arrive
before this issue of the
Folly Current.
Photo provided by Terry Boatwright
the afternoon. A local Folly band, The
Shakin’ Martini’s, kept things hopping
in the background with strong vocals,
talented musicians and a slide guitar. You
were even allowed to bring a cooler full of
your favorite beverage at no extra charge.
The oyster roast is a staple of life on
our barrier islands and the Folly Beach
Exchange Club’s version is the epitome.
People squeezed into a small space in order
to enjoy some of nature’s wonderful medley
and the company of neighbors; braving
the elements with joy on their face and
the knowledge that our experience here
is unique. Conversations were exchanged,
hands shaken, and laughter abounded, all
because of the annual oyster roasts put on
by our locals that rekindle the warmth
in our hearts, no matter how cold it gets
outside. Be sure you don’t miss the next
one.
See page 8 for pictures.
Letter from Mayor
Carl Beckmann
W
e have a crisis situation
occurring on Folly Beach.
That crisis is the Red Bay
Laurel wilt disease spreading on the
Island. Fortunately, or unfortunately,
the trees affected are located in and
around the 9th through 13th Arctic,
Ashley, Cooper and Tabby. If you
have Red Bay Laurel trees/bushes in
your yard that appear to be “wilting”,
please notify my office. If you desire
to cut the trees, please cut as close to
ground level as possible and leave the
trees on the street, but above all, notify
the City when you do this. There have
been several articles in The Journal and
Folly Current concerning this disease.
The disease has been verified by the SC
Forestry Commission and SC DNR
and unfortunately there is no way of
stopping the Ambrosia Beetles from
moving from tree to tree. All we can
do is slow the process by removing the
dead and dying trees and burning them.
This disease has been spreading up and
down the Coast from Jacksonville,
Florida, to Folly Beach and James
Island. In conjunction with the Forestry
Commission and DNR, our efforts are
to slow down the spread of the disease
north of Folly. Council will consider
an Ordinance on how best to do this
beginning in January.
The bids are in and a decision will be
made on January 27 for the contractor
to remove some of the abandoned boats
in the river. The SC DNR also has a list
of the abandoned and derelict boats as
their clock has begun ticking on the 45
day period and fines will soon be issued.
This includes all boats that appear
abandoned and/or derelict.
Lastly, I want to tell you about
our “Folly Gras Parade” coming on
February 21. Based on Mardi Gras, our
Folly Gras parade will be “Folly style”!
Call Mary Cunningham for further
information. This is another ongoing
effort to help all of the businesses on
Folly throughout the winter.
February 6, 2009
City Council report
T
he following is a summary of the
activity from the Folly Beach City
Council’s January 27 meeting.
Don’t touch that tree
The Council took a bold step against
the spread of Laurel Wilt Disease, a fungus
that is attacking native Redbay Laurels
thanks to an alien beetle. In an effort to
slow the spread and buy some time while
environmental agencies figure out how
to solve the problem, the Council passed
first reading of an ordinance that reflects
recommendations from the Department
of Natural Resources and the SC Forestry
Commission.
If a person suspects a Redbay to be
infected, they are to contact the City’s
Building Official. If the tree is found to be
infected, the property owner is responsible
for cutting the tree into manageable, three
foot pieces and the City will pick them up.
If the City discovers an infected tree on
a property, they will notify the property
owner and that entity will have 10 days to
cut the tree as noted above. If not, the City
will cut the tree and charge the property
owner for the service.
The ordinance also makes it illegal to
cut healthy Redbays or to remove Redbays
from the property on which they sit if
they’ve been cut. Violators will be subject
to a fine between $100 and $500 for failure
to comply with the ordinance.
The City has acquired a burn site in
the infected area of Folly Beach where
infected wood will be taken for disposal.
Burnings are expected to take place on
Wednesdays.
Can you not hear me now
The City Council was faced with a new
version of the noise ordinance they have
been wrestling with recently. Previously,
business owners argued that their input
and concerns were not reflected in the
ordinance. However, this ordinance
seems to be something everyone can
live with according to DJ Rich of Planet
Follywood. He encouraged the Council to
pass the ordinance with as little change as
possible.
Stranded no more
The Council voted unanimously to
award a contract to the Salmon Dredging
Company for the abandoned and derelict
boat removal in and around the Folly
River for an amount of $29,950. Their
bid was the lowest of six while the highest
was $61,798. However, there was some
concern that the removal of one boat in
particular would negatively impact some
local fisherman. The boat in question is
one of the first in Folly Creek and has
Civic Calendar
February 10
City Council
Workshop
7pm
civic
Staff Report
a portion of it sticking out of the water.
Apparently, it has become a habitat for
many fish and is one of the better fishing
spots in the area.
Mayor Beckmann stated they would
attempt to leave the boat where it is in the
interest of concerned fishermen. He stated
they would try to cut off the stern and use
buoy markers so other boats can avoid the
same fate while protecting the “inland
reef”.
Are you being compensated?
Council member Tom Scruggs
announced that he, along with Council
members Dave Stormer and Charlie
McCarty, were interested in forming a
“Compensation Committee” whose goal
would be to conduct a compensation
study. The study would compare similar
municipal jobs in the City of Folly Beach
with those of comparable municipalities
nearby in an effort to make sure employees
are being paid what they should. The work
would also establish a range of salaries
for a job that would allow consideration
of experience, longevity, skills and other
characteristics when it comes to proper
compensation.
The other municipalities which the
Committee would examine are: Bluffton,
Carolina Beach, Goose Creek, Hanahan,
North Myrtle Beach, Oak Island/Holden
Beach, Sullivan’s Island and James Island
Public Service District.
The rest of Council seemed content to
let them go about the business of getting
the information. The Isle of Palms recently
conducted their own compensation study
with the same goals and research. It was
discovered that much of their workforce
was underpaid, but it allowed them to
address problems such as high turnover in
certain departments.
New Deputy, new truck
The City has recently hired a new
Deputy Fire Chief who will also be
getting a new 2009 Chevy Tahoe with a
$23,210 price tag. However, the purchase
of the new vehicle came with some debate.
Council member Scruggs did not believe
the City should spend the money and that
www.follycurrent.sc
3
Lynn Pierotti
Publisher
the purchase was unnecessary.
lynn@luckydognews.sc
The money was not included in this
year’s budget and was the reason Scruggs Ali Akhyari
called the purchase, “a bit extravagant”. Editor
While other Council members contended ali@luckydognews.sc
the Tahoe would allow the new Deputy to
operate a command center out of the back Kristin Hackler
of the vehicle, Scruggs asked what the Managing Editor
City had been doing in the past without kristin@luckydognews.sc
the truck.
Swan Richards
Beckmann argued that most other Fire
Graphic Designer
Departments have SUV’s for the same swan@luckydognews.sc
purpose. The Council voted 5-1, Scruggs
casting the dissenting vote, to purchase the Brittany Urbach
Tahoe. The vehicle will also be available Reporter
for the Deputy Fire Chief’s personal use. brittany@luckydognews.sc
Everything else Richard Brendel
The Council passed first reading of Advertising
an ordinance that will update the City’s richard@luckydognews.sc
code dealing with alcoholic beverages. Becca Finley
According to the current code, the Copy Editor/Reporter
legal drinking age is 18 on Folly Beach. info@luckydognews.sc
Furthermore, liquor was not included
among the list of beverages that are Interns
regulated by the code. The ordinance will Jennifer Millar
bring this section of the City’s codes in Bridget Hinkebein
Bri Horahan
compliance with State law. Ashley Anderson
The Council passed a resolution to
spend no more than $40,000 on a traffic •
study which will be conducted by Wilbur Contributors
Smith Associates. They also agreed to give Brianne Horahan
$2000 to the Fort Johnson Booster Club. Becca Finley
They voted to give $1500 to the Folly Mia Burmeister-Laws
Beach Garden Club who will use the Ashley Anderson
funds to build a meditation garden at the Toni Catoe
Brittany Urbach
Community Center.
Eric Horan
Additionally, Council members passed Haley Merrill
a resolution that set a $1000 minimum
bid for the newly established commercial Published by
zones on the front beach. Four zones have Lucky Dog Publishing
been established from 3rd Street East of South Carolina, LLC
to 3rd Street West where the rental of P.O. Box 837
umbrellas, chairs, and personal watercraft Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
can be conducted. They also passed first 843-886-NEWS
reading of an ordinance that increases
the amount of money that can be spent Future deadlines:
February 11 for submissions.
without a purchase order from $100 to
$500. In addition, a payment voucher or The Folly Current, a wholly owned subsidiary
request for a check has to be submitted, of Lucky Dog Publishing of South Carolina
signed by a department head, with receipts LLC, is a free, independent newspaper pub-
attached. lished 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. Subscrip-
tions 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 informa-
tion, pictures and articles are welcomed and
are used according to space limitations and
Spring Cleaning? Redecorating? news value and cannot be returned except
BUY OURS - CONSIGN YOURS by special request. Our editorial content is
primarily dedicated to the area of distribution;
ad space is open to all businesses who want
Upscale consignments for the to reach the Folly Beach market. Complete
ad creation is $50, however, changes of up to
home. Check us first for BEST 30% of the original ad are included at no extra
selection and prices. cost. All advertising rates are listed at www.
islandeyenews.com under “advertising”.
1214 Fairmont Mt Pleasant
next to GDC off Coleman
We're here mon-sat 10-5:30
or call 843-216-0056
Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC
Publishers of The Folly Current, The Island
Eye News and the Island Connection.
4 February 6, 2009
B
eyond the surf shops, hotels, and
bars that crowd the shores of Folly
Beach, there lies the remains of a
classic, vacant sanctuary: a playground
surrounded by nothing but a few homes
to cast shadows on the shoreline. These
memories of a young Folly Beach rest in
the nostalgic eyes of local resident Bill
Awtrey.
88-year-old Awtrey has been visiting
Folly since his father built their beach home
there in 1931. His wife and childhood
companion, Theresa, also moved into the
home her family had built nearby that
same year. Both of their fathers worked
for the Standard Oil Company, which is
now Exxon. The two spent their summers
playing in the wide open spaces and woods
of Folly Beach with the trees, dunes, rocks,
and sea as their jungle gym.
“Theresa was always that little girl that
tagged along. She was always such a good
climber. We’d say ‘Theresa go climb up
that limb!’ If it would hold her, her brother
and I would go up it. She was our little
tester,” said Awtrey. Theresa laughed, “I
can’t believe my mother turned me loose
with those two boys!”
Decades of childhood memories are
still fresh in their minds. Awtrey even
recalls one of Theresa’s first attempts to
A Folly hero
By Ashley Anderson
read. One of the few homes around the
corner was up for sale and the sign read,
“Apply 111 Wentworth”. She decoded 111
Wentworth to be “I went north”. As they
were driving by, she said, “I wonder where
they went? How far up north?” The two
chuckled at the memory as if it had been
yesterday.
Perhaps Theresa and Bill can replay
these memories with ease because, in a
sense, they have such a young relationship.
These newlyweds were married just six
years ago at an Air Force Base Chapel.
Recent regulations on the base required
that couples have three months of
marriage counseling prior to being wed.
Awtrey was shocked. “Between my wife to
be and me, we’ve had almost 113 years of
previous marriage! You want us to go for
three months to counseling?” said Awtrey
to the chaplain.
Born and raised in West Columbia
(formerly New Brooklyn), Awtrey moved
back to his parent’s vacation home in Folly
permanently when his former wife passed
away in June of 2001. Awtrey graduated
from Clemson University in 1941, while
it was still a military academy. He applied
for pilot training and graduated from
Williams Air Force Base in Arizona in
1944. Awtrey flew a P-38 World War II
www.follycurrent.sc
fighter plane before he was shipped off on
the original Queen Elizabeth to Scotland
and then to the southern coast of England
where he began flying missions. By July,
Awtrey was stationed at a beachhead strip
in Normandy, where the D-Day landings
occurred. He also gave support to ground
forces during the Battle of the Bulge.
Awtrey served from May of 1944 until
July of 1945. Had the war continued, he
would have flown back to the States to
reequip and headed to the far east. By the
time he arrived home, the atom bombs
had been dropped and the war had ended.
Awtrey returned home with 51 holes in his
plane.
“My most exciting experience during
FIVA looks to future
By Toni Catoe
H
appy New Year!! I hope your
holiday season was marvelous.
Let us all be thankful for what
we have and our wonderful quality of life
here on the Folly Islands.
The Folly Island Voters Association or
FIVA will continue to keep you informed
about what is happening in our City.
However, we can use some help. In order
to let you know what is going on, some
involvement is necessary on your part.
The zoning re-write, traffic study, and
vending ordinances are just a few of the
things that are happening in our City
right now. This year we have made greater
use of the straw poll. We appreciate your
responses very much. Results of the straw
polls are being forwarded to the City
administrator so that she can share the
information with the Mayor and other
 Pet Helpers
Pets of the Week 
GRETCHEN
Hi!  My name is Gretchen.  I was
brought in to Pet Helpers because my
previous owner passed away.  I’m
sweet, playful and housebroken.  I
really don’t like being in a kennel.  I
need a nice warm house where I am
loved.  Spayed, vax, chip, fee. 
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.
the War was while I was the wingman for
a man named Lawrence Bloomer from
North Dakota. Everyone called him
Scrappy. Scrappy shot down five German
FW 190’s in just 15 minutes. Being his
wingman, I was there for it all,” said
Awtrey.
Awtrey lost 55 out of the 315 members
of his graduating class in the War, along
with two of his flying school classmates. He
remained in the Air Force and attained his
master’s degree in international relations
and geo-politics from Georgetown
University.
see Awtry on page 6
City officials. We have a membership of
about 300 people, (a good cross-section)
so our responses provide them with a
good idea of how people feel about issues.
You can look to see more straw polls in
the future.
Due to a continuing conflict with
other City meetings, we have moved the
FIVA meetings to the fourth Thursday of
every month. The meetings are held in
City Council Chambers at 7:30pm. If
you have any suggestions for topics for
the coming year, please do not hesitate
to let us know. The “official” e-mail
address is FollyIsResAssoc@aol.com,
or you can contact me directly at fiva.
folly@gmail.com or call me at 588-2055.
I look forward to working with you in
the coming year and hope to see you at
the next meeting.
RIBBONS
Hi!  I’m a 4-year old dark brown tabby
female. I’m sleek and silent and I like my
peace and quiet.  I would be happier in
a childless and dog free home.  Spayed,
vax, chip, fee.
February 6, 2009 5

It always goes down smooth

Staff Report

W
hat do you call a chili cook-off, hot dog
eating contest, lots of fun and lots of
people on Center Street? The first annual
Taste of Folly, of course.
Despite threats of rain, the event was a huge
success. Half of Center Street was closed to vehicular
traffic, but it was as busy as the Fourth of July
weekend. People crowded the streets and our local
restaurants made it easy for festival goers to sample
the eclectic flavors of Folly Beach.
If you were visiting from an area off the island,
one of the first booths you probably came to was a
classic: Woody’s. They were selling their one of kind
pizzas by the slice. Off the bat, you had to know this
was a good place to be. You can’t miss with Woody’s.
Just across the road, the new restaurant Blu, which
will be opening with the Holiday Inn sometime in
March, complimented Woody’s casual aura with
something a bit more upscale. They offered some
delicious shrimp and chicken skewers over blue
cheese coleslaw with a scallop to top it off. The Folly
Beach Brewing Company, a newer addition to the
Center Street crew, offered samples of their many
fine brews that can’t be found any where else in
the area. Of course the Crab Shack and Locklear’s
wouldn’t let visitors step foot on Folly Beach without
first sampling their classic Lowcountry seafood. Hey,
you can’t come to the beach without having some
hushpuppies. Am I right?
There was no shortage of food or fun. In addition
to the many vendors who graced the main drag,
a jump castle kept the kids in high spirits and the
Oscar Rivers Trio and Walkin’ Mike Wolk provided
the music.
Later, Mayor Carl Beckmann and the rest of
the City Council applauded the Taste of Folly as a
huge success, not only as a great event but also as
an economic booster shot for local businesses during
the slow winter months. D.J. Rich was commended
for his work in organizing the event.
See page 8 for pictures

The Big Easy comes to Folly

Staff Report
There’s no denying that we are in hard economic
times. Our local businesses are suffering as much as
anyone. However, the City of Folly Beach is making
an effort to bring more business to the beach with
“Folly Gras”. In the Mayor’s own words, it is like
Mardi Gras, but Folly style.
In the wake of the recent “Taste of Folly” event, spirit
which was a very successful private venture, Mayor o f
Carl Beckmann announced the City will be hosting things.
the first Folly Gras parade designed to bring people Folly Gras
out to the beach during the slow winter months. will be held
Folly Gras, he says, is “nothing more than having on February
a little fun and helping the businesses”. It’s an 21 at 2pm. For
opportunity for people to take advantage of the more information,
off-season and get together for some fun as a contact Mary
community. Cunningham at
If you want to participate, be prepared to get 588-2447.
into the swing of things. Those who want to be
part of the parade are required to dress up in some
sort of costume. Golf carts have to be decorated as
well. But that’s like saying you have to put chocolate
syrup on your ice cream, right? What a sacrifice.
So get your costume ready and get into the

Planet Follywood - 32 Center

Street FB Crab Shack - 26 Center Street
Feb 13, 14, 20, 21- Dan Clamp Feb. 12 & 19- Folly Beach Bluegrass Society
(Thursdays)
Surf Bar - 103 W. Cooper Avenue
Feb. 8- Dangermuffin
Feb. 9- Graham Whorley
Feb. 11- Justin Burke
Feb. 15- Dangermuffin
Feb. 16- Graham Whorley
Feb. 18- Justin Burket

Sand Dollar - 7 Center Street

Feb. 6 & 7- On the Hunt

Folly music
scene
www.follycurrent.sc
8 February 6, 2009
February 6, 2009
Dates from Cover
with cocktail sauce ($2 - $3). A
classic appetizer, which never loses its
popularity.
 Oysters are a traditional aphrodisiac.
You can purchase them fresh at
Crosby’s.
 Hummus ($2 - $3) and pita chips
($3 - $6). A delightful snack to munch
on while the lamb chops are simmering
away in the oven.
 Honey ($2 - $4) with pecorino
cheese ($7 -$8 / lb). Drizzle honey over
wedges of pecorino cheese and enjoy the
incredible combination of this salty and
sweet delicacy.
 Pecan ($2 - $5) crusted brie ($7 -
$10). Warm the brie and pair it with
apple slices, pita wedges or crackers to
create an out-of-this-world flavor.
All of these hors d’oeuvres go perfectly
with a bold glass of red wine—and
remember, it doesn’t have to be an
expensive wine. There are many delicious
wines under $10.
Visit a vineyard:
If you are into wine, head out to
Wadmalaw Island’s Irvin House Vineyards
for a wine tasting. $2.50 covers a guided
tour, a taste of their five wines and a
wrapped glass. Every Thursday - Saturday
from 10am to 5pm. For more info, visit
www.charlestonwine.com.
Taste some tea:
Begin at America’s only tea garden,
Charleston Tea Plantation, located on
Wadmalaw Island. Take a free tour of
the plantation’s fields and their working
tea factory. Afterward, have a free taste
of their teas. For more information, call
843-559-0383.
Take a ride through downtown:
According to a cabbie at the Black Cab
Company, if you tell the driver, “God Save
the Queen!” you can get a ride anywhere
downtown for only $5!
Enjoy the arts:
Stroll down the romantic streets and
alleys of Charleston, visiting the open
galleries of local artists. Don’t forget the
free samples of pecan pralines on Market
Street! Afterwards, step into one of the
many restaurants and bars downtown for
a night of free music and dancing.
Dates on the town
♥ An inexpensive dinner for two and a
movie afterwards is a classic Valentine’s
Day gift. One of the most romantic places
to go to the movies is The Terrace on
Maybank Highway. The Terrace offers
a variety of wine, beer, snacks and soft
drinks to enjoy during the film, all in an
intimate, cozy setting.
♥ A carriage ride ($20 per person)
throughout downtown Charleston—this
is not only romantic but an excellent way
to learn or refresh your knowledge about
the rich history of Charleston.
♥ Design your own personal tour through
the various art galleries in downtown
Charleston. It’s a great way to enjoy each
other while observing gorgeous paintings
and photographs (free!).
♥ Visit Charleston Cooks! for couples’
cooking classes. Three different classes
are being offered on February 14. This
“Couples’ Night” features a Romantic
Italian Valentine’s Dinner, scheduled for
6:30pm. The price is $120. Just a few of
the tasty treats are “Crispy Risotto and
Mozzarella Fritters.” For more info, call
843-722-1212.
♥ To Kill a Mocking Bird is playing at the
Memminger Auditorium, February 11 -
February 28. $29 Adult, $27 Seniors (60+)
and $22 Student admission. For more info,
call Charleston Stage at 843-577-7183.
♥ The Charleston Ballet Company will be
performing the Masterpieces of Dance
February 14 - February 15 at the Sottile
Theatre. Adult tickets range from $35-$45.
Enjoy the creations of choreographers
Twyla Tharp, Kennedy Center Honors
Inductee and George Balanchine. For
more info, call 843-723-7334.
♥ If music is your thing, then be sure to
check out blues singer, songwriter, pianist
and guitarist Leon Russell at the Pour
House on James Island, February 13 -
February 14. Admission is $25. For more
info, call 843-571-4343.
♥ Camellia Walks at Middleton Place
Plantation, February 7 - March 26. $25
Adult, $5 Child and Free 6 and under
admission. Offers a half hour guided tour
of the “original and authentic 1950s era
Camellia gardens”. For more info, call
Middleton Place at 843-556-6020.
Going all out
Planning a Valentine’s Day date with
all the bells and whistles isn’t too difficult.
Here are some great ways to give your
Valentine an all out night out:
♥ Treat your Valentine to a delicious meal
at any one of downtown Charleston’s
critically renowned restaurants. Several
highly recommended restaurants that
are sure to satisfy the most demanding
taste buds include: McCrady’s (which is
currently booking its special Valentine’s
dinner), SNOB (Slightly North of Broad),
Cypress, Magnolia’s, High Cotton, Oak
Steakhouse and Peninsula Grill.
♥ Create an over-the-top cheese platter
with a variety of wines. Food and wine
expert Drew Harris at Café Medley on
Sullivan’s Island would be more than
happy to help you with your pairings and
selections. Call 843-793-4055.
www.follycurrent.sc
♥ Take your Valentine to the jewelry store
just before your dinner and present her
with her favorite selection during dessert.
♥ Do an art walk through downtown
Charleston or any of the art shops on the
islands a few days before Valentines. Then,
on the big day, present her with her favorite
painting or photograph from the trip.
♥ Spend two nights at the Charleston
Place Hotel, which is offering a Sweetheart
Package, complete with a carriage ride,
afternoon picnic, spa amenities, a dozen
roses and Godiva chocolates. For more
info, call 1-800-611-5545.
♥ Spend two nights at the Sanctuary on
Kiawah Island with either their Sanctuary
Romance Package, which includes dinner
at the Ocean Room Prime Steakhouse,
couples massage and rose petal turndown,
or their Villa Romance Package, which
includes a canoe trip, bike rentals and
dinner at the Ocean Room. For more
info, call 843-768-2121.
A date with Mother Earth
Bri Horahan
Spend Valentine’s night, February 14,
at the studio of Mary Edna Fraser on
James Island from 5-11pm. Local artists,
Tina Christophillis and Jeff Kopish,
will showcase their work alongside
Mary Edna Fraser’s Batik, mono and oil
paintings. 50 Houses on Kiawah Sand, a
documentary film by Celie Dailey, will
be shown at 6 and 8pm, followed by a
Q&A with Nancy Vinson, Program
Director for Air and Water Quality at
the Coastal Conservation League. This
show is a celebration of love for Mother
Earth that will increase the awareness of
her needs.
Live music will be performed from
7-11pm by Sweetgrass, Lime and the
Coconuts, ending with Howard Dlugasch’s
acoustic performance. Bowens Island,
the Wine Shop and Alchemy Coffee
will provide roasted oysters, veggie chili,
coffee and drinks. It is a paperless event
to encourage green living; admission for
9
The philanthropic date
For the couple who already has
everything, why not have a philanthropic
date for Valentine’s Day?
♥ Donate the money that you would
spend on a date to different charities. Or,
buy a gift for your date that will benefit
those who need it.
♥ Heifer International will use proceeds
given to them to furnish impoverished
families around the world with various
animals in the hopes of eliminating
hunger. Heifer animals include chicks,
sheep, rabbits, beehives, guinea pigs,
llamas, goats, donkeys, ducks, pigs, geese,
camels, oxen, water buffalo and cows. For
more info, visit www.heifer.org.
♥ Buy a pair of shoes and give a pair to
a child in need when you purchase them
from Toms Shoes. Visit their online store
www.tomsshoes.com, or go to either
Palmetto Moon location or Worthwhile
on King Street to find the pair for you or
your Valentine’s date.
the evening is $20 at the door and $15
with student ID. The studio is located at
1723 Oak Point Road, James Island.
“Delete Apathy: Promoting
Environmental Activism” is the name of
the show that hopes to make the public
aware of the proposed development of
a “spit” of land on the southern tip of
Kiawah Island. Mary Edna Fraser, the
show’s host and in-house artist, is also a
licensed pilot, who has been watching this
spit of land morph for the past 30 years
from the cockpit of her grandfather’s
1940s Air Coop. She, Nancy Vinson
and Dr. Orrin Pilkey have lent their
voices to environmental activism for the
Charleston area in the ultimate goal of
preserving this land in its natural state.
Visit www.coastalconservationleague.
org and www.deleteapathy.com for more
information on the show, or contact Mary
Edna Fraser through her website www.
maryedna.com.
10
Folly Beach Police Reports:
January 16
A resident reported that she had become
the victim of internet fraud two days earlier
after complying with an e-mail in which
the sender, posing as her e-mail provider,
asked for her e-mail address and password
in order to avoid erasing unused contacts
in her address book as a maintenance
operation. On January 16, she attempted
to access her account but the password had
been changed by the bandit. The subject,
posing as the victim, also contacted the
people in her address book claiming to
need $2200 because she was in London
and lost her wallet. Officers provided the
victim with the phone number of the local
FBI office to investigate further.
January 16
An officer pulled over a vehicle for traveling
13mph over the posted speed limit on
Center Street leaving Folly Beach. The
driver was unable to produce a license but
assured the officer it was good. However,
the officer discovered that “good” must
have meant “suspended” after a short
investigation revealed that fact in addition
to several other priors and that the car did
not belong to the driver. Officers were
unable to locate the actual owner of the
vehicle and it was towed while the driver
was arrested.
January 19
A man staying with a friend reported that
wood working tools had been stolen from
his truck within the previous two days.
He had last seen them on January 17 and
noticed them missing on January 19. He
estimated the value of the tools at $4500.
There were no suspects at the time of the
report.
January 19
A local business was broken into sometime
after closing time in the early morning and
reported around 12:26pm that day. It was
believed that the culprit entered through a
small bathroom window which had been
painted shut before taking $759 from the
cash register and drop bag. There were no
suspects at the time of the report.
Police Reports
January 20
A Kangaroo convenience store employee
called police to report that a man who
appeared homeless was scaring people
in the parking lot and had even pulled
out a knife. Upon arrival, the man was
still in the parking lot holding a cup of
coffee, which was taken away from him
for fear of it being used as a weapon as he
began to get belligerent. When asked for
identification, the man responded, “that is
the $50,000,000 question”. Officers were
unable to find identification on the man
and arrested him for disorderly conduct
under the name John Doe and was later
identified as an Illinois resident.
January 20
A resident reported that a decorative
surfboard worth $500 had been stolen
from the side of his house. He had last
seen the board on January 9. There was no
evidence to identify a suspect. The board
was a 7-8 foot Sea and Sand long board.
January 21
After responding to a call, an officer
was directed to a vehicle containing an
intoxicated individual. The officer turned
on his blue lights and watched the driver
sneak over to the passenger side of the car.
The officer approached the vehicle and the
“passenger” opened the car door at the
officer’s request. He could smell alcohol
and noticed the woman was slurring her
speech and slow in her movements. He
asked her to step out of the vehicle and
she responded by trying to close the door
on him. The officer stopped the door and
informed the woman she would not be
able to stay in the vehicle. At this point,
the woman hit and kicked the officer
every time he tried to pull her from the
vehicle. In addition, the woman’s dog
attempted to bite the officer with every
attempt. She kept fighting the officer until
another officer arrived to distract the dog
while he forced her from the car. She was
arrested and charged with assault and
public intoxication.
January 22
Police responded to one of our local
convenience stores in reference to a
www.follycurrent.sc
group of people suspected of shoplifting.
The officer arrived and identified the
suspects, two girls and three guys, and
found two bottles of Bud Light Lime
and one bottle of Smirnoff Ice in their
car. After they could not agree on where
they purchased the beer, video evidence
showed the group of five steal the three
beers. All five were arrested for shoplifting
and the nine dollars worth of merchandise
was returned to the store.
January 23
When a dispatcher observed two
intoxicated individuals in front of the fire
house, a police officer was dispatched.
He noticed both were very intoxicated
and in no shape to drive and offered to
call them a cab and escorted them to the
Public Safety officer, despite some lack
of cooperation from the woman. The
dispatcher was unsuccessful with the cab
companies and the woman began to act
up again. He agreed to let her call a sober
friend, but she responded by “playing
games” and not calling anyone. The officer
offered to attempt a cab ride again when
the woman started being uncooperative,
at which point she was placed under
arrest. The man was allowed to take a
cab and told to go straight home when it
arrived. With the help of the cab driver,
who was directed to contact police if the
man strayed from his instructions, police
found the man when he got out of the cab
at Mariner’s Cay where he admittedly did
not live. The duo was arrested and charged
with disorderly conduct.
January 23
A man was offered a ride back to his house
after refusing to leave a local bar. The man
had no identification but offered his name
and date of birth. On the ride to his home,
it was discovered that the Charleston
County Sheriff’s Office had a warrant for
the man. He was placed under arrest, put
on trespass notice at the bar, and picked
up by a Sheriff’s deputy later that night.
January 24
At about 5:19am, an officer observed a
vehicle drive over the center yellow line
a couple of times while leaving Folly
Beach and conducted a traffic stop. He
saw only a driver but noticed a passenger
sit up after the vehicle came to a stop at
which point another officer was called to
assist. The officer got the male passenger
out of the vehicle and patted him down.
The other officer noticed an opened 32
ounce bottle of Schlitz. The female driver
was unable to produce any identification
or vehicle documentation. She was cited
for driving over the center line, having an
open container in the car, and they were
allowed to leave.
January 24
A pick-up truck was pulled over for
suspected drunk driving. The officer
observed a strong odor of alcohol and
noticed several empty cans of Milwaukee’s
February 6, 2009
Best Ice in the truck bed, an opened
twelve pack of the same beer behind
the driver’s seat, and 32oz Mountain
Dew that had been re-filled with beer.
The driver, already in an agitated state,
miserably failed a field sobriety test and
was arrested for DUI and having an open
container in a moving vehicle. The subject
was handcuffed with his hands behind
his back and seatbelted into the vehicle.
On the ride to the Charleston County
Detention Center, the subject unbuckled
himself and attempted to bring his hands
in front of him. He was advised to stop
doing so and any continuation would be
considered resisting arrest. He continued.
The officer pulled over, further restrained
the subject with some opposition, and took
him to jail. He was additionally charged
with resisting arrest and his driver’s license
was taken after refusing a breathalyzer.
January 24
A female driver was pulled over after
cutting off a police officer while making
a turn. She appeared in an “altered state”
and unaware of her surroundings. She
refused a field sobriety test before dispatch
informed the officer that her license was
suspended. Except for saying “I’m in
love”, her continuous rambling was largely
incoherent. She was arrested for DUI and
her traffic offense.
January 25
A woman requested an “information only”
report after a casual boyfriend ripped a
side mirror from her car. She claimed the
man also pushed her out of the vehicle,
resulting in minor injuries but didn’t want
to press charges. The officer realized he
had seen the woman the day before when
she was so intoxicated that she couldn’t
walk and didn’t know her name.
January 25
A 22 year old man was discovered sleeping
in a men’s restroom. When an officer made
contact, he was sure the man was on some
sort of mind altering substance as he was
“dazed and confused” and unaware of his
surroundings. A search uncovered a small
amount of marijuana, one pill of ecstasy,
and 1.5 pills of diazepam which he had a
prescription for. He was arrested for drug/
narcotic violations, this being his second
offense.
January 25
An officer pulled over a Maryland driver
for going 50mph in a 35mph zone at
9:45pm. The vehicle’s registration had
been expired since March of 2008 and
the driver could not produce proof of
insurance. The vehicle was towed and the
driver given a citation for speeding and the
expired registration. A taxi was contacted
so the driver’s travel could continue.
February 6, 2009
Help Surfrider attack
pollution
Provided by Haley Merrill
I
t’s so easy to say “plastic” at the
grocery store checkout counter. The
plastic bags are both lightweight and
strong—you don’t have to worry about
the handles breaking like the paper bag
handles often do. Plus, you don’t have
to buy small bags for your lunch or the
bathroom trashcans. You’re reusing, and
that’s environmentally friendly, right?
The thing is, even if you reuse that
plastic bag, that plastic will never go
away. Plastic, while it certainly has
made life better in some regards, is not
biodegradable. It photodegrades, which
means the sun breaks it down into smaller
and smaller pieces until we can’t see it, but
even though we can’t see it, it’s still there.
These small pieces get eaten by the
microorganisms in the ocean and then
begin to work their way up the food chain
until they’re eventually concentrated in
the stomachs of large fish, seabirds, and
mammals. Plastic yields no nutritional
value and is not easily digested, so usually
the plastic just sits there, slowly leaking
poison and taking up valuable space.
Eventually, the afflicted animal starves to
death.
Researchers recently found a dead sea
turtle off the coast of Hawaii with more
than 1,000 pieces of plastic in its stomach
and intestines. Others have found dead
seabirds in Alaska with stomachs full of
11
Surfing
A January clean up
W
ell, January has been a pretty disheartening month as far as surf goes. It’s
been really cold, and we’ve even seen some flurries. But, when it looked
like January was going to go “gentle into that good night”, she decided to
give us something to remember her by.
We saw some choppy, waist/chest high surf on January 28. The winds were relatively
calm despite predictions of howling gusts up to 30mph, which didn’t show up until
the late afternoon. For anyone who was able to get out of bed and avoid work the next
morning, the sight was beautiful. Winds calmed down and switched off-shore, giving
Folly surfers a great clean-up session. It wasn’t huge, but it was definitely fun. The
waves were clean with plenty of lines; it was even going down at the pier.
Hopefully, we’ll have more of the same, or better, in February.
plastic, while others have found that some
baby penguins are dying in South Africa
because their parents are regurgitating
mostly plastics at meal times.
The North Pacific Gyre is an area of
the ocean twice the size of the continental
US where it’s estimated that roughly 100
million tons of plastic are trapped. Here,
plastic pieces outnumber zooplankton, the
building blocks for the marine food chain,
by 6 to 1. Photos by Marty Morganello
In order to reduce the amount of Folly Beach surfers had the benefit of a nice clean-up session on January 29. Above:
plastic in the environment, the Surfrider Longboarders at the pier enjoy the fruits.
Foundation Charleston Chapter and
Charleston Waterkeeper will be running
a Rise Above Plastics campaign for the
month of March, starting with an oyster
roast kick off party on February 15, from
2-5pm at Bowens Island. The campaign
will focus on education on the permanence
of plastic and ways in which people can
decrease their use of plastics. It’s all you
can eat oysters and all you can drink beer,
plus live music from The Toasted Beats and
Moonlight Ale. Tickets are $15 in advance
(sold at Folly Brewing Co, Ocean Surf
Shop, Mellow Mushroom, Las Olas, Air,
Charleston Watersports, and Halfmoon
Outfitters in Mount Pleasant) and $20
at the door. All funds raised will go to
support the campaign and other Surfrider
projects. Visit www.charlestonsurfrider.
com for more info.
www.follycurrent.sc
12 February 6, 2009

Morning fog
By Eric Horan

M
y friend Doug Gardner and I passed through
the Sea Pines Plantation gate on Hilton Head
just before sun up this spring morning. We were
headed to Lake Mary in the Forest Preserve to photograph
wading birds. They spend long hours, days even, gathering
nesting materials and preparing for their chicks to arrive.
In another month, the island will be filled with hundreds
of birds, tending to their clutch of chicks full time. But this
trip, we were intent on photographing their nest building.
The rookery in the Forest Preserve used to be on a small
island in the middle of Lake Mary. For a few months
each spring it served as home to egrets, herons and ibis.
We launched our kayaks into the glass-smooth water in
a heavy fog, counting on the fog lifting with the sunrise.
The fog did eventually lift; but while waiting, I got this
nice image of my friend paddling.

Eric Horan publishes a calendar of his work every year and

his columns discuss the picture for each month. You can view
and/or purchase his 2009 calendar at
www.southernlight.biz.

Photo tip: With each situation you
encounter outdoors, plan your gear and
how you want to approach your subject.
You need to pay close attention to the
weather, light direction and quality
for the time you will be out. When in
coastal waters, study the tides. (Check
with local papers, tourist guides or my
annual wall calendar Lowcountry 2009,
South Carolina.)
Once in the field, remain open to the
unexpected. Your spontaneity can bring
new opportunities. In our case, we could
have sat in our boats, grumbling while
waiting for the sun to burn through the
fog. Instead, we managed to capture some
nice kayaking shots.
Extra precaution should be used when
shooting birds on the nest and extreme
care taken when they have chicks. You
do not want to scare birds off their nests
or worse, startle young chicks to flee the
nest prematurely. The chances for their
survival would not be good. The local
waters are full of alligators with others
predators on land such as raccoon, fox
and bobcat, waiting for such a mishap.
With nesting birds, it’s best to use a photo
blind or position yourself with a long lens
far enough away to prevent disturbing
any natural behavior.

www.follycurrent.sc