Folly Current - March 2, 2012

8/2/2019 Folly Current - March 2, 2012

1/15

Buzz. Tats the goal o any good marketer.Its the idea o taking a product or an eventand making noise about it. When it catches,

you hear about it rom all dierent angles and iteventually sticks in your mind. For example, I ownmy own business on Folly (Flipper Finders) oeringboat and kayak tours. I also work or the bandsDangermun, James Justin & Co and Te Royalinoil. I youre not already a an, you shouldbe. Did you see what I just did? I just took thisopportunity to create buzz or things Im involvedin.

When I booked a Habitat International tripto Paraguay, I thought I was just going to go to apoor country in South America and build houses.Instead, I went to a very rich country that alsohappens to be poor. Tis Habitat trip, deemedBuild Louder, was not just to go and to buildhouses, but to create awareness buzz about

Habitat and their mission and the problems theyare helping to solve.

O course, it wasnt until we got to ourorientation in Paraguay that I began to realize this.We arrived as a group o people rom all walkso lie, sharing a common desire to help out andmake a dierence. Previously, Ive been a monetarysupporter o Habitat or Humanity. Like manyothers, I even volunteered a day o labor at the

Sea Island Habitat on Johns Island. Beore now,however, I had never really part icipated on this levelo giving.

On our rst day, we were educated about theissues that ace Paraguay, mostly regarding housing.We visited a school/community center deep in therural countryside. Our group quickly learned o theproblems the locals here ace, including how all thekids walk or miles to attend school or how only 1kid in 13 even went to school in the rst place. We

then visited amilies in their living situation. Terst house was built with old wood and logs nofoors, no real bathroom, primitive electricity andkind-o-running water. Te water had only recentlybeen brought to them by a large project backed byCoca-Cola.

A second house was that o a amily whoseparents had gone to the city looking or work,leaving the oldest daughter with the responsibility

o raising her siblings ve or six total. Tey toolived in shambles, with just basic electricity andpoor plumbing.

Te last house we visited was a hair nicer, butnot really. Te old lady was very generous andproud. She started telling us her story and startedcrying because her oldest son had recently let to

PRESORTSTANDARD

USPOSTAGEPAID

FOLLYBEACH,SC

PERMITNO27

Helping Handscontinueson page 4

Folly Beachs NewspaperVol. 4 Issue 10 March 2, 2012 w FREE

Helping Hands Ten Days in Paraguay with Habitat For HumanityBy Richard Brendel

Inside Recap of Ice BoxCompetition. p11

View from the Edge:"No You Dinnt!". p12

Letter from MayorGoodwin. p3

Golf cart crashesinto the P.O. p5


2/15

2 March 2, 2012

CIVIC

WORK SESSION, 5 P.M.Council met to discuss the our topics

o a Public Saety Transition Plan,quarterly fnancials, paid parking andactivity permits.

PUBLIC SAFET YDennis Brown, Director o Public Saety,

spoke on restructuring the department.Brown said he wanted to revisit the tra inedreserve ocer program because o theinux people in the summer months. Heseemed concerned that using the SherisDepartment during the summer meantdealing with people who arent as preparedto enorce city ordinances.

But a reserve ocer would, heconcluded.

Council Member Clamp asked howmany more ocers might be required in thesummer months. Brown replied around six.

Council Member Rich asked i it wascheaper to send them to actual Police Academy or to train them here. Brownsaid it was better or the Academy to doit so theyre ocially certifed ater goingthrough the class.

Council member Ellis wondered i it wasworth it, or i they should just keep usingCharlestons Sheri Department peopleduring the season.

Brown said he was just oering options.

QUARTERLY BUDGETCity Comptroller Charlie McManus

handed out quarter reports to Council.Council Member Clamp, ater riingthrough his, mentioned that i the currenttrend continues the city would end up

paying 5.5 million this year, when thebudget is just fve. He a lso pointed out thatsalaries and benefts or city employees keepchanging.

Council Member Clamp and McManuswent back through the document and it wasdiscovered that their documents reectedtwo dierent numbers in some sections.

McManus decided to go back throughthe document and represent it to councilat a later date.

PAID PARKINGMayor Goodwin suggested making the

ocean side o Ashley paid parking, andthe marsh side as decal only. CouncilMember Hume said that it sounded air.

Activity Permits

Council Member Hume wanted todiscuss one-day long special events as wellas public events like weddings at rented

beach houses. He said both those thingsare not worth discussion during CityCouncil meetings because council knowsthe answer is yes. He said that those types

o things could be handled outside o themeetings.I agree, said Council Member Ellis.

I someone wants to stand on a beach andmarry me, why shouldnt they?!

Tats a whole other can o worms,joked Council Member Hume.

Council Member Rich also talkedabout a main calendar where all events arerecorded.

Council Member Stuckey said that shewas fne with a wedding section in CityCode but that some o the terminologymight need to be made clearer, such asnumber o people invited.

COUNCIL MEETING NOTES,7 P.M.

All council members were present.COMMENTS & APPEAR ANCES

Mayor Goodwin opened the meeting bypresenting a short speech on Rick Hu,a songwriter o Folly Beach who recentlypassed away. He then proclaimed the 23rdo every February to be Rick Hu Day.

Mayor Goodwin also remindedeveryone that Folly Beach River Parkis closed in order to construct the newbridge and that the plaque will be replacedupon completion. Apparently, some beachresidents had raised concern about theplaques whereabouts.

Council Member Rich wanted torecognize Mike Rie or helping out withthe Dog Park and presented him with theGood Neighbor Award.

Five weddings were approvedunanimously to take place on the beachduring spring and early summer.

Janice Felter o Hal Moon Outfttersapproached Council or permission tohave a paddleboard race on April 22nd.

Council approved the race unanimously.Michelle Mazyc approached Council

or permission to host a RenourishmentFundraiser in the orm o a RedneckHorseshoe ournament or April 14th.

Council approved the undraiserunanimously.

Jordan Sullivan approached Council orpermission to host Walboba on the beachor May 19th.

Council approved the eventunanimously.

Chuck ruluck o ruluck Constructionapproached Council or permission towork on Saturdays

Council, all opposed except MayorGoodwin, rejected the proposition.

Brian McConnell approached Councilabout how his wedding at Folly River Park

had to suer a switched venue becauseo the park closure. He asked Councilwhether the City o Folly would help withcosts o switching the venues.

Council approved the proposition.

UNFINISHED BUSINESSOrdinance 02-12 An ordinance

amending the Folly Beach Codeo Ordinances, Chapter 31; CityGovernment, by enacting a new section31.40; Municipal Election Commission.

Council Member Stuckey moved topostpone until ater the April election.

Motion to postpone was rejected.Passed, all in avor except Stuckey.Ordinance 03-12 An ordinance

amending the Folly Beach Code o

Ordinances, by amending Chapter 164:Use Standards, Section 164.02-04,Commercial Use Categories.

Passed, all in avor.

NEW BUSINESS Appointment or Vacated Seat o

Election CommissionerEllis moved to postpone electing

an Election Commissioner until aterElections.

Motion passed, all in avor except Richand Hume.

Resolution R11-12 A Resolution by theFolly Beach City Council authorizing theincrease o three public saety personnelshourly salary or a period o three months.

Passed, all in avor except or Hume.Resolution 12-12 A Resolution by

Folly Beach City Council approving theappointment o the Associate Judge

Council Member Ellis moved tonominate people and thus nominatedChristopher Skipper.

Passed, all in avor.Resolution R13-12 A Resolution by the

Folly Beach City Council agreeing to theuse o a certain tract o property.

Council clarifed that, under thisResolution, the ides Hotels will have tosell ood and beverage on their propertyonly, not on the beach. Other restaurantsmentioned or this Resolution includedLocklears or any place near beach.

Passed, all in avor.Resolution R 14-12 A Resolution by

the Folly Beach City Council setting theminimum and maximum bid amount onthe our ront beach sites.

Council Member Clamp moved to doaway with maximum bid.

Motion passed, all in avor.Resolution passed all in avor.

Resolution 15-12 A Resolution by theFolly Beach City Council authorizingthe application or greenbelt unds orthe construction o a handicap accessiblewalkover at 1561 Ashley.

Passed, all in avorResolution 16-12 A Resolution by the

Folly Beach City Council authorizingsigning, cleaning and delineation o themid block easements between Artic andCooper rom 2nd through 7th street east.

Resolution was dead on arrival, ater noone seconded the motion to approve.

Ordinance 4-12 An ordinance amendingthe Folly Beach Code o Ordinances byamending chapter 151; Beach Preservationand Construction Provisions 151.60(); Public each Vending; Franchise

AgreementsPassed, all in avor.Ordinance 5-12 An Ordinance by the

Folly Beach City Council authorizingthe transer o a certain tract o land to James Island Public Service District andauthorizing the Mayor to execute alldocuments necessary to eectuate saidtransaction.

Passed, all in avor.Ordinance 6-12 An ordinance by

the Folly Beach City Council enactingChapter 96; City o Folly Beach Public Accommodations Ordinance.

Passed, all in avor except Hume andClamp.

Ordinance 7-12 An ordinanceestablishing the water utility budgets andappropriating the necessary unds or theoperation o the Folly Beach Water Utilityo Folly Beach or FY 11-12 BeginningJuly 1 2011 and Ending June 30 2012.

Passed, all in avor except Ellis.Ordinance 8-12 An ordinance

establishing the sewer utility budgets andappropriating the necessary unds or theoperation o the Folly Beach Water Utilityo Folly Beach or FY 11-12 beginningJuly 1 2011 and Ending June 30 2012.

Passed, all in avor except Ellis.

COMMENTSCouncil Member Hume said that the

long meeting shows that its good to havetwo meetings per month. He also saidcontinually postponing issues is not agreat idea.

Council Member Ellis thanked publicsaety and Mary Cunningham or theirwork at Folly Gras.

BY DENISE K. JAMES

Getting Ready or Spring FeverFolly Beach City Council Notes, 2.21.12


3/15

We would like to announce thatLucky Dog Publishing is now onwitter. You can ollow updates andbreaking news rom Island Eye News,Island Connection, and Folly Currentusing your witter account. Along

with Facebook, witter will enhanceconnectivity and interactions with ourpapers and the wider community. FollowIsland Eye News at @IslandEyeNews or

www.twitter.com/islandeyenews. FollowIsland Connection at @IslandConnect1or www.twitter.com/islandconnect1.Follow Folly Current at @FollyCurrent or

www.twitter.com/ollycurrent.We also now have Mingle Forums on

our sites where readers can post topicsand replies on issues in our communities.

We will be posting new orum categoriesoten with questions dealing with currentevents in our area. You can access theMingle Forums in the link bar under our

website banners. We look orward to newdiscussions on our sites.

Dear Editor,Tere are three major industries on Folly Beach: ood &

beverage, accommodations, and Eco-tourism.I a large company like the County Park System opens

another park on Folly Beach, this will directly aect two othe three industries that support Follys local economy.

Te ood and beverage industry may see only about a 7%

gain. Folly is a seasonal area o the Charleston region and itsnot going to put people on the streets in January or February.Tere are three accommodation businesses on Folly Beach andtwo are Bed & Breakasts. Te eect o an additional lodgingby the County Park System will lower annual revenue andemployment opportunity or these B&Bs.

What is the Park System going to do or business owners oFolly Beach? Te only return is added revenue or ood andbeverage. Tats it! All the other revenue is taken out o FollyBeach and put into County o Charleston and not the City o

Folly Beach. Te roads, street signs, public saety ocers, fredepartment, and education in Charleston will gain, not in theCity o Folly Beach.

What this will ultimately do is increase the cost o living onFolly--adding more saety public ocers, more trash cost andmore road damage.

Another important thing to remember is public saety. Te

County Park System is going to dramatically increase the watertrac at a major access area o Charleston. I you dont thinkthis is going to cause problems then youve never been on the

water. With the increased trac this could lead to an accidento bodily injury whether rom the County Park System or aprivate resident.

SincerelyJoseph M. LottsConcerned Business Owner o Folly Beach

Dear Friends and Neighbors:We have some big issues acing us and I emphasize us

because all o us will be aected.First on the list this month and every month is

renourishment. Tere have been some developments, but nogood news. Congressman Scott and Governor Haley triedto get $5.5 million in FEMA unds to repair the county parkdamaged by Hurricane Irene tides. Tey were turned down,primarily because $15 million to renourish the whole beach

was in the Corps o Engineers budget. No sooner did we learnabout that bad news, we got word that the administration haddeleted the $15 million rom the budget it sent to Congress.Tey did put in $400,000 o planning unds, which wont getus very ar.

Tis has happened beore. Were basically back where westarted were depending on Congress. Tat means we needevery one o you to write your Congressmen and Senators,and ask every one o your renters to do the same. Weve had agood response rom the letter we sent to every owner I know,because youve told me that many o you have written. We

need everyone to write, and e-mail, and call. Please make it apriority. Many people including the countys whole legislativedelegation to the Statehouse are working on our behal, buttheir impact will be much greater i legislators in DC hear romthe people who elect them.

Second, some bad news: when you get your utility bill thismonth, youll fnd increases or sewer and water. Te sewer

increase is just under 10% (specifcally, its a service chargeo $29.34 per ERU and a volume charge o $ 5.19 per 1,000gallons). It was orced on us by pass-through costs rom the

James Island PSD, which transports our waste. Council workedvery hard to reduce the increase rom over 30%. Te waterincrease is a little over fve cents per 1000 gallons (specifcally,.0535 cents), another pass-through o a rate increa se romCharleston Public Works, which provides our water.

Tird, Im sure youve noticed pipes along the Causeway anddigging in the Folly River Park. Tats a sign that constructiono the new bridges is on its way. Te sewer, water, gas,electricity and phone lines were slung under the old bridges, butthey wont be allowed under the new bridges, so they have tobe piped and buried. And or those o you worried about theMass. 55th plaque in the park, we took it down or saekeeping

while the work was going on. It will be back when the parkreopens.

We have some big things happening on our little islands. I

you have concerns, or questions, or comments, or inormation,please call or e-mail me. My cell is (843) 729-0298 and mye-mail is [email protected]. I I dont know about it, Icant fx it, so please let me know.

im Goodwin

March 2, 2012 3

Lucky Dog Publishing, LLC

Publishers ofThe Folly Current, TheIslandEye News and theIsland Connection .

Lynn Pierotti

publisher

[email protected]

Stratton Lawrence

editor

[email protected]

Denise K. Jamesguest editor

[email protected]

Swan Richards

senior graphic designer

[email protected]

Marcus Amaker

graphic designer

[email protected]

Lori Dalton

sales manager

[email protected]

Chris Wilkerson

advertising

843-469-8050

[email protected]

Richard Brendel

advertising

843-478-0896

[email protected]

Melissa Caloca

designer

[email protected]

Contributors

Megan Carroll

Owen MacLeod

Denise K. James

Vince Perna

Jacob Flannick

Justin Morris

Bonne IsenhourJoel Flores

Anton Dumars

Jud Bushkar

Heather Johnson

Fay A.

David Crawford

Brian Sanders

Published by

Lucky Dog Publishing

of South Carolina, LLC

P.O. Box 837

Sullivans Island, SC 29482

843-886-NEWS

March 16 paper deadline is March 7for submissions

The Folly Current, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lucky

Dog Publishing of South Carolina LLC, is a free, indepen-dent 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 $39 per year for non-residents

and are available by sending a check to Lucky Dog Pub-

lishing, LLC, P.O. Box 837, Sullivans Island, SC 29482.

Our editorial content is primarily dedicated to the area of

distribution; 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.

Letter to the Editor

Mayor's Letter

Lucky Dog Publishing has witter and Mingle Forums


4/15

go work at the recycling plant, and twodays prior had gotten his hand stuck inthe machine and lost all o his ngers.

One o the common themes thatkept re-occurring was the term Landenure. It reers to the issue o whoreally owns the land that these andthousands o other Paraguayan amilieslived on.

Te ollowing day, our grouptransitioned to downtown Asuncion,the capital o Paraguay. We met witha group called Te Roundtable thatwas appointed by the Paraguayangovernment to nd housing solutions.We learned that one o the problemsParaguay aces is that a small raction othe wealthy people own all o the land.

We next met with ParaguaysMinister o Housing. Tese meetingswere arranged because o the inuenceo Habitat International (as opposedto the local Paraguayan Habitat). Telocal aliate has made large leaps andbounds since its ounding 13 years ago,but they still needed the help o theInternational Habitat to open thesedoors. As a group, we were the oneswho not only got to attend, but actuallyparticipate, in these meetings. Ourconversations were trying at times,because everything that was said hadto be translated and repeated. I couldtell that this man this Paraguayanpolitical gure really cared about thehousing issue but was mired in politicalred tape blocking a solution. As aproblem solver, I elt like I had to putmy two cents into the discussion.

Here I was, Captain Richard,

dolphin nder/band manager,consulting a high-ranking member o

the government o a South Americancountry. Not only were theyanswering our questions, but they werealso listening to our thoughts and ideas.

We kept having these meetings andI kept learning about the problems thataced this country, as well as manypoor nations all over the world. Weeven made it into the national paper& I got to meet the US Ambassador toParaguay. Check out the story here:

www.abc.com.py/nota/buscan-crear-promotores-de-viviendas

Te primary lesson I began to graspwas that this country, while acing ahuge problem with heath and housing,had taken the rst step toward ndinga solution, and that was that they hadidentied the problem. One o themost inspiring parts o the trip or mewas not the politicians and dignitariesthat we met with, but the actual peopleo Habitat Paraguay that believed in thecause o improving their country. Fromyoung to old, you could tell they cared,and every little success was a hugevictory or them.

By Tursday we had nally gottento the day I had been looking orwardto building day. It was awesome.Our group was building a bedroom.Tis bedroom was unattached to themain house and would house Ronny

and his young amily. No bathroom.We started with a small plot o land

that had a tree on it that had to be cutdown. Our only tool was an ax and, ocourse, Ronny. Ronny took to that treelike a manic and Matt Loda, co-ownero the Drop In Deli, and mysel tookto helping Ronny remove the tree. Anhour later, ater a l ittle bit o bloodand sweat, we had removed the treeand were digging a trench to lay a rockoundation. Our only tools were acouple o shovels, a pick ax, a hoe anda ve-pound hammer. Ater two dayswe had the oundation laid and had toleave just as the rst layer o brick wallwas going up. Our time building wasextremely therapeutic and rewarding.

On the nal day o our trip, we

traveled back into downtown Asuncionto the slums. Tis area was locateddirectly in ront o all the governmentoces. Tere was trash everywhere.Our tour guides were reaking outbecause o the saety issues presentedby a group o Americans amongst thepeople o the slums. I ound myselangry that people were living like this.

I think it was more than just anger maybe rustration a rustrationat humanity, or maybe just political BSthat they had been eeding us. WhatI had learned so ar during the week isthat Paraguay, while having acceptedthat there is a housing problem, has a

long road ahead. I am typical ly a greatproblem solver and a very optimistic

person, but as we walked around theseslums, I elt at a loss. I had no solution,no advice, no nothing.

Our slum visit ended at the localcommunity center. Several o thetown people had gathered to welcomeus. I knew things were about to turnaround when a ve-piece band madeup o drums, trombones, and trumpetswalked in and started playing theirtraditional estival music. Ten theold ladies o the town got up andperormed the dance they do everyyear during Carnival. All o a sudden,everything became clear.

Te people, while they have almostnothing, had everything. Even thoughthe people o Paraguay have a longroad ahead o them, they are on theright track. Te solution, I realized,was that Paraguay was going to haveto recondition itsel to a new way othinking. Te solution lies in peoplestanding up and making a diference,

like the people who work or HabitatParaguay. Just like any movement, itwas slowly gaining momentum.

I knew that our trip had been asuccess because it showed these peoplethat they were not alone in their ght.Tat night we got some awesome news.Because o our trip to the Minister oHousing, the Paraguayan governmentwas going to give Habitat Paraguay$50,000 US dollars to be ensure thatthe three amilies we visited early inthe week were going to get new houses!Not only that, we helped create massiveawareness o Habitats mission withinthe decision makers in Paraguay,

which will urther strengthen Habitatspresence.

4 March 2, 2012

Helping Hands cont. from cover What I had learned so far during the week is that Paraguay,while having accepted that there is a housing problem, has along road ahead. I am typically a great problem solver and avery optimistic person, but as we walked around these slums, I

felt at a loss. I had no solution, no advice, no nothing.

Get InvolvedFor Folly Beach and James Island

residents, the Sea Island Habitat hasstarted a build of o Grimball Road,which is only a couple o miles of

the beach. Tey are always lookingor volunteers to help. Contact theSea Island Habitat or go onlineand donate to their cause: www.seaislandhabitat.org 843.768.0998.Volunteer or donate to HabitatInternational: www.habitat.org.


5/15

On February 23, 2012 an ocerwas dispatched to 107 East Indian(Te U.S. Post Oce) on report o anaccident involving a gol cart and thepost oce.

Upon arrival at that location PSOobserved a gol cart through the lobbyo the post oce that had apparentlycrashed through the doors and cometo a rest when it cra shed into the lobbymail box and wall.

Te orce o the impact actuallydestroyed that section o the wall,pushing the mailbox into the work areao the post oce. Te driver o the gol

cart, Mr. Joseph B. Bukowsky, statedthat he was not injured and did notneed any medical attention.

Mr. Bukowsky stated that he sat in

the gol cart while his grandmotherwas inside the post oce when all oa sudden the cart lurched orward,crashing through the post oce doubleglass doors and knocking the rightdoor o o its hinges.

Mr. Bukowsky stated that whenthe cart took o, he applied the brakesbut the cart had jumped the curband lunged into the doors, then intothe inner wall o the lobby beorecoming to a rest partially inside themail sorting area. Several witnesses onthe scene confrmed Mr. Bukowskysaccount o the incident.

Te degree o damage to the innerwall o the lobby would require thewall to be boarded with plywood untilpermanent repairs can be made.

Gol Cart Wrecks intoFolly Beach Post OceFolly Beach Public Safety

Communications Narrative Report

Rise Above Plastics

Artists Welcome to Apply orGrant to Create Work o ArtLowcountry Artist Award announced for ninth yearPROVIDED BY COASAL COMMUNIY FOUNDAION OF SC

Are you an artist who enjoys creating works that convey the look and eelo the lowcountrys unique lie, culture, or environment? I so, then the Grith/

Reyburn Lowcountry Artist Award o Coastal Community Foundation invitesyou to submit your application or their annual grant. Tis $5,000 grant isintended to support the artist during the creation o a work o art, which willthen be the personal property o the artist to keep, show, or sell at his or herown discretion. Tis is the ninth year o what is expected to be an annualcompetition.

Applicants must be citizens or residents o Charleston County in SouthCarolina and must be at least fteen years o age. Te proposed work o artmay be done in oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, drawing, or a combinationo those media, or it may be a work o three-dimensional fne art sculpture.Specifc guidelines and applications may be downloaded rom the CommunityFoundation website at www.coastalcommunityoundation.org or requesteddirectly rom [email protected]. Te application must bepostmarked on or beore March 15, or hand-delivered to the Foundations ocedowntown at 635 Rutledge Avenue, Suite 201 no later than 5:30 p.m. on March16, 2012.

Tere will be an open meeting to give prospective artists the opportunityto ask questions about this award at the Community Foundation's oce at 635Rutledge Avenue, Suite 201 on Saturday, March 3, 2012 rom 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.Seating will be limited, so please contact Richard Hendry, Program Ocer, [email protected] or 723-3635 i you wish to attend.

March 2, 2012 5

Every day in the United States 80million bottles o water are consumed.

30 million o these bottles willend up in a landfll. 10 million othese bottles will be recycled and theremaining 40 million will either beincinerated (thereby releasing toxicchemicals into the atmosphere), or endup as roadside trash.

I oten wonder why we spend somuch money to consume somethingyou get or ractions o a penny pergallon at home, and create one o thelargest and most damaging wastestreams o plastic on the planet whiledoing so? Is it because the bottled watercompanies are great at advertising? Is itthe convenience o grabbing a

bottle out o the ridge? Or is itbecause we believe our drinking waterisn't sae?

Te bottled water industry drawsthe consumer in by printing thingslike crisp, clean pure water, and usesnames like Crystal Geyser AlpineSpring evoking thoughts o snowcovered mountains and clear mountainstreams. Te truth is that most o thebottled water on the market is takenrom the same source as the municipalwater supply. ake a close look atthe label on a bottle o Aquafna, thenumber one brand in retail sales inthe U.S. and you will see that it clearlyreads originates rom public watersources. Tey bottle tap water andsell it to you in a container made rompetroleum (oil), because they have usthinking that their water is better than

our tap water. It's the same water.Consider this. In 2009, the

Environmental Working Group oundthat our fne City o Charleston hadthe 4th best drinking water in theentire nation. In 2010 the Charlestonwater supply was tested 20,600 timesto ensure it's quality and to makesure it adhered to strict US EPA, andDHEC regulations (you can fnd allthis inormation on charlestonwater.com).

Te bottled water industry onthe other hand is pretty muchunregulated. As o 2009 the FDA hadone person who oversaw the bottled

water industry. Tere are no ederalregulations requiring bottled watercompanies to submit their testingreports to the FDA, and they only haveto abide by Federal drinking waterquality standards i the water they arebottling is being shipped across statelines. Te Crystal Geyser Alpine Springwater bottled rom an aquier (well)in Salem S.C. is shipped all across thestate and has to adhere to no Federal

drinking water quality regulations.Would you rather drink water that istested 56 times per day, or water thatis marked up 1900% and stored inplastic?

Consider the economic impact onyou the consumer. I you purchase a24 oz. bottle o water at a gas stationit costs about $1.50. I you purchase 5o these which equals a little less thana gallon, you paid $7.50 or a gallono water. We're complaining about gaspossibly costing $4 per gallon and yetwe're ok with paying $7.50 a gal lon orsomething that we can get at home orractions o a penny.

What you are really paying or isthe plastic bottle, because the watercompany pretty much gets the wateror ree. Plastic water bottles used inthe bottled water industry are maderom polyethylene terephthalate orPE, which is created by processing

crude oil.Every year 714 million gallons o

oil are used to make plastic bottles,enough oil to uel 100,000 cars or ayear. At a time o rising gas prices weare processing millions o gallons o oileveryday to create a product designedto be used or an hour (or less) andthen throwing it away. Is it just me ordoes that sound like one o the mostinsane things in the world (besidespaying $7.50 or a gallon o water)?

Independent studies have oundnumerous chemicals in bottled waterthat leach out o the plastic. Teseinclude benzene and toluene (both

ound in gasoline and paint thinner),styrene (causes cancer and birthdeects) and three dierent types ophthalates (causes birth deects). Noneo these chemicals are ound in tapwater.

Unortunately we cannot stopplastics rom being used. Tey are allaround us, every second o the day,everywhere we look, but we can reduceour use o them by purchasing a metalwater bottle and flling it up romyour tap. Let's show the bottled waterindustry that we are smarter than theythink we are, and at the same time,without even trying you will be doing a

great thing or the environment by notdelivering 70 million bottles a day intothe environment.

I you would like more inormationon how you can rise against plasticsvisit charleston.surrider.org

Marty Morganello

Chair, Surrider Foundation,Charleston Chapter.


6/15

6 March 2, 2012

Hats Of o Us!

A proverbial tip o the cap this weekto Folly Beachers everywhere, myselincluded, who went all o Folly Gras andValentines Day without getting caughtornicating in public.

Grammar Police

Tat being said, we still managedto produce at least one (1) highlyintoxicated white male harassing citizensat 2nd and East Ashley during FollyGras. Upon arrival, the reportingOcer ound the man staggering backand orth and singing a song. Te manreused to stop and discuss the matterseveral times, telling the Ocer, screwyou Im not talk ing to you and Hellno Im not stopping. Final ly he askedthe Ocer to F**k o, Im not talkingto no one. Needle ss to say, the Ocercited the man or Improper Use o a

Double Negative, amongst other things.101 Stupid Ways o Smoke Pot

#37: While sitting indiscreet lyslouched in the dr ivers seat o yourparked car w ith the windows down,outside the old Coast Guard building,holding 8 grams o a certain greenleay substance to ll your glass pipewith. Why would a cop ever patrol thatsecluded, non-public, couch-like area ?

He Said/ She said

Te Landlord says his tenant letsher dogs bark and deecate all over theapartment while shes at work all day(she does). She says hes lashing out due

to the act that his two dogs, now buriedin the back yard, recently died (theydid). Whos to blame?

How o Avoid A Speed ing icket

An Ocer clocked a man drivingo the island at 65mph and activatedhis sirens. Te car reused to stop,eventually reaching speeds o 72mph.Te cop ollowed with his lights on allthe way to the mans driveway, wherehe was arrested or reckless driving. Hedid manage to give the keys to his w ieso she could pick him up at CharlestonCounty Jail later that night.

Whatever Happened o Te ArmedRobber Guy With Te Aro?

For real this time.

101 Stupid Ways o Smoke Pot#55: When youre 18 years old,

driving home to Mom and Dad s romSol Legare, heed the ollowing advice:should you not have the ability to stopat the designated red signs or rerainrom telling police your slow speech andblood shot eyes are rom smoking theweed in your let pocket, your Dadsgoing to know youre high when you get

home. Especially when escorted by saidcop to your ront door.

Read In Jef Fox xworthys Voice

I you show up at your tenantsex-girlriends residence to serve him an

eviction notice, throw it on the foor,slap her across the head and say, tellhim hes served beore storming o,you might just be a

Future Folly Cat Lady

A woman backed her SUV into thear end o an empty ides hotel parkinglot, patiently waiting as she watchedthe building. She later told Ocersshe was there to meet with (a) HotelManager due to her discovering they arelong lost brother and sister, and that(he) was well aware o her stopping by tomeet him. Ironically, the Manager saidthey were not related and had no ideawho she was or why she was there.

CSI: Folly Beach

Ocer dispatched to 1st block onCooper St. Subject ound lying on theground next to a vehicle with bloodon the ground coming rom the backo his head. Both the subject and hisriend were highly intoxicated andincoherent, unable to answer questions,sending the Ocer to the complainant.He explained he ound the subjecturinating on his lawn and told him to

stop, at which point the subject bangedon his truck. He then aggressivelyapproached the complainant who, actingin sel-deense, pushed the man over.Te subject was cited or DisorderlyConduct-Urinating in Public and,depending on how merciul his Judgeeels, may just nd himsel on theRegistered Sex Oenders list or notpeeing beore he let the bar.

101 Stupid Ways o Smoke Pot

#12 I the possibility exists youllgo 20mph over the speed limit whiledriving onto the island at 1:30 in themorning, nearly hitting both a guardrailand a parked cop c ar along the way, waitthe extra 4 minutes to partake in illicitactivities.

Grab Bag

Quit driving with a suspendedlicense: contrary to popular belie theydo check or thatA woman pulled over

or a padoodle ended up with a DUITere are still 30 year old thrill seekersjumping the ence to the pier ater hoursto drink beers and talk to copsA manreported his van stolen, only to nd outits original owner took the vehicle backor lack o paymentA woman reportedto police that either a small rock or a BBgun pellet struck her windshield pullingonto the island

BLOTTER

Te Beach BlotterBY DAVID CRAWFORD


7/15

March 2, 2012 7

www.follycurrent.com

CREATIVE

Idont like ying. Other than itbeing by ar my least avoriterom o transportation, (behind

skateboarding and even swimming), itmakes me very anxious. My heart races,I sweat, and claustrophobia sets in assoon as the cabin door is closed.

In the past, all Ive had was myheadphones and an iPod to hopeullykeep me calm and busy enough to keeprom rightening other passengers withspastic ticks. My ights usually makeme ocus on my saety rather than theact that we were Passing over theGrand Canyon! Recently, I was pickingup my riend, Franklin, at Myrtle Beach

Airport ater a ight rom his home inDetroit to Atlanta and then connectingto Myrtle Beach.

Franklin woke at seven a.m. onWednesday, the morning o his ight,to drop o his gi rlriend, Lindsay, at thevery airport he needed to return to laterthat day. Lindsay was ying to see mygirlriend, Karina, in Maryland, so theycould drive down to school together orthe spring semester on Saturday.

Lindsay had been in Maryland twohours beore Franklin arrived at theairport or his ight to Atlanta. He hadchecked two large bags. One was a pinkbag flled with 63 pounds o Lindsaysclothing, and it cost $100. Te secondbag, a Camo duel that was a mere 48pounds, cost another $54 beore theythrew it on the plane. Te thing thatreally broke his bank, and his spirits, wasFranklins cat. It sported a $125 carry-oncost, and the extreme embarrassmentthat ensued.

Franklins cat, Kaeli (pronouncedCali; ask Lindsay), had been brought

to Detroit or Christmas to be in ahouse ull o cats and dogs. FranklinsMom rescues dogs and cats, so as youcan imagine, their house displays thecharacteristics o an animal hoarder.Kaeli had had a remarkable Christmas,and there was a big scratching post/cat motel that awaited any good littlekitties who behaved on their ights to

Atlanta, then their connector to MyrtleBeach. But Kaeli didnt give a shit.

She took a pill at the house that wassupposed to knock her out beore theyhit the road to the airport. Kaeli tookthe pill, but still sprinted and dovearound the room, doing whatever ittook to get away rom Franklin andhis Mother. She avoided the cage at allcosts, and as soon as Franklins Motherpinned her down in the kitchen, she

was orced to swallow two additionalBenadryl beore being stued into hercarrier.

As soon as Franklin set oot insidethe airport, Kaeli started screaming.She yelled, hollered, whined, moaned,and embarrassed the shi* out o him.

It was manageable at the check-indesk. She was crying and people werelooking, but Franklin could handlea little extra attention. But it was atthe security check that Franklin wasorced to carry Kaeli through the

X-Ray terrace, sans-carrier. Forcedto handle the wiggling cat, Franklinheld her in ront o him as he hurriedthrough the X-Ray machine. He

waited to be scanned with the securitywand, when Kaeli began scratching hishands. It was the kind o scratch catsdo when they eel that nothing elsematters except reedom. She balled upFranklins hands on her stomach andkicked her clawed toes at his hands

until, bleeding, he was orced to let go

o the cat. She bolted up his shoulderand jumped at the busy Detroit

Airport. I not or Franklins cat-likereexes, and the strength o Kaelis tail,the little cat would have been lost inthe airport or years, doomed to an airvent and airport rats.

But Franklin snatched her just as shelited rom his shoulder, put her back inher cage, and put his shoes back on asKaeli began whining again.

Shhhh, Franklin said, liting hisfnger up to his mouth and leaningtowards the cat. It shut her up or asecond as she stared blankly at him, butshe continued as soon as her cage waspicked up. It got worse on the plane. Assoon as they started down the corridorleading to the airplane door, Kaelistarted making horrible noises. Tecaptain surely heard the cat as Franklinrushed her to 17B. o Franklins credit,I would have let her at home ratherthan bring a cat on a ight across thecountry. I I had been orced to bringher, Id have stued her in a trashcan orsomething by now.

Kaeli had our more Benadrylmuscled into her mouth by the timeshe took her seat between Franklinslegs. He had decided to take the

window seat, so as not to burden bothpassengers with the demon cat he hadin the crate that he rested his eet on.

Whats uhwhats this? asked theguy whose seat was obviously the 17Cand saw Franklin and a pet carrier inhis window spot.

Im sorry can you just switch seatswith me? Franklin replied practically

bumping his chin on his knees when

he talked. Te man sat down and laterawkwardly asked, So...why exactly did

we switch? with an expression on hisace that made Franklin describe himas a jerk.

Because Ive got this cat with meand I didnt want to have it be in your

way, Franklin said.

Te man accepted it but saidnothing. By this time, Kaeli was

making noises that youd hear on therecording o an exorcism. Te little catthat rolicked around the sweet smello a winters pine just a day earlier, wasnow producing guttural meows that

would have defnitely orced me to killher i I hadnt already.

She cried rom Detroit to Atlanta.Whined in the airport. And moanedagain on the connector to Myrtle,Franklin said, relaying the story to me,resh o the plane.

I had planned to tell him a storyabout my ight to Charlotte. I satnext to a morbidly obese woman thatbragged about having her own seat beltextender. Te ight attendant madea special trip to our two-seat row toinorm my seatmate that there wereempty rows in the ront o the planei she wanted to move up and save mylie.

Nah, Im good, she said.

I was already settled, reading abook, so I didnt want to move either.I planned on just surviving in my

window seat, and having a story to tellpeople when I got back to school. Ididnt end up telling Franklin, though.

His story was much worse.

Kaeli, the CatBY: OWEN MACLEOD


8/15

March 2 - March 16

Folly Current Calendar

Friday, March 2

Read Across America!Celebrate Dr. Seuss Birthday by reading Seussstories with a special guest reader! 4 pm.

Voting DEADLINE!Dont orget that today is the deadline to mailyour voters registration in. Te city Electionsare coming up on April 3rd, so dont miss it!Everything must be postmarked NO LAERHAN Saturday March 3rd.

Saturday, March 3

Parent and Child Kayak and SUP SamplerLearn how un and easy stand uppaddleboarding and kayaking can be or thewhole amily. Tis hands-on class introducesbasic strokes and equipment beore givingamilies a chance to paddle. A registered andpaid chaperone is required or participantsages 15 and under. Pre-registration is required.James Island County Park. 9:00 a.m.-12:00p.m. $18/$15 CCR Discount.

Introduction to Climbing - Climbing 101Tis class is designed to introduce you to theworld o climbing. We will teach you aboutgear, basic knots, technique, and how to belay.Ater completion, participants will be preparedto take a belay test upon t heir next visit to theClimbing Wall. Pre-registration is required.Ages 14 and up. James Island County Park.1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Fee: $24/$20 CCRDiscount.

Exchange Clubs Annual Oyster RoastRain or Shine! $22 per person or oysters, $10admission without oysters. Live music andcoolers allowed. 1-4 p.m. Bowens Island.

tueSdayMarch 6

Night ClimbingEnjoy an evening under the moon at TeClimbing Wall! ry your avorite route rom adierent perspective. Equipment not includedin climbing ee; bring your headlamp/ashlight. Registration is not necessary.7:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Age 16 and up. JamesIsland County Park. Fee: $12/$10 CCRDiscount.

thurSday March 8

James Island Bird WalksBirding experts will help identiy and countsongbirds, birds o prey, wading birds, andothers ound in the park s diverse habitats. Teprogram is ree; however pre-registration isrequired. A registered chaperone is required orparticipants ages 15 and up. 8:30 a.m.-10:30a.m. Meet at James Island County Park. Ages9 and up. Free.

After Work Paddling Trips - Sunset/Moonrise from Sunrise ParkJoin us or some sunset views o the CharlestonBattery as we head up with the tide romSunrise Park to the Wappoo Boat Landing.Well watch the sun set to our west and catchthe moonrise an hour later. Pre-registration isrequired. Ages 16 and up. 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.Meet at James Island County Park. $36/$30CCR discount.

FridayMarch 9

Folly Beach Bird Walks - Lighthouse InletHeritage Preserve Bird WalkBirding experts help participants explore the

surprisingly diverse north end o Folly Beach.Tis walk ocuses on the northern shorelineo Folly Beach. We hope to see a variety oseabirds, shorebirds, and songbirds. Hopeulsinclude Wilsons Plovers and Painted Buntings.Te program is ree; however, pre-registrationis required. A registered chaperone is requiredor participants ages 15 and under.8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Lighthouse InletHeritage Preserve. Ages 12 & up Free.

Saturday, March 10

Mullet RunTe Mullet Haul trail run returns on March10! Tis second annual run at Mullet HallEquestrian Center on Johns Island encouragesrunners to sport either real or imitationmullet hairstyles during t heir participationin the race. A prize will be awarded or thebest mullet in the race. Both races begin at

10 a.m. Following the races, awards will bepresented and participants may take part in apost-race party eaturing live music, ood andbeverages. Online registration is open nowthrough March 9. Late registration and packetpickup will be available on race day rom 8 9:30 a.m. Fees to participate in the 5-milerun portion o the event are $34 or $28 orresidents o Charleston County. Fees to runthe 10-mile leg are $44 or $36 or residentso Charleston County. Te Mullet Haul is orages 10 and older, and participants ages 10-15must be accompanied by an adult; however,adult chaperones do not need to participate.Dogs and strollers are not allowed at thisevent. o register, visit www.ccprc.com.

Palmetto Pump & USA ClimbingCompetitionCome out to the Climbing Wall at JamesIsland County Park and witness a spectacularcompetition o strength, balance andendurance rom some o the best climbersin the Southeast at the Palmetto Pump &

USA Climbing Competition! Te ClimbingWall at James Island County Park is a 50-oot tall structure eaturing over 4500 squareeet o climbing space. Climbers o all agesand abilities will enjoy competing on thesenew challenging and un routes. Categoriesare determined by age and gender. Nocompetition experience is necessary. Space islimited so register early and save. Free eventt-shirts are available to participants whoregister beore March 4. Registration: 8-9a.m.; event is held 9:30 a.m. 2 p.m. Fees:$40 beore March 1; $45 on or ater March 1.Participants not registered with USA Climbingwill need to pay a $5 day membership ee tocompete. Free to spectators (park admissionees apply). o register, visit www.ccprc.com orcall 843-795-4386.

Birding BasicsEven the best birders were edglings at

one time. Te class will begin with birdingessentials, covering everything rom properattire, gear, basic terminology, characteristicso bird groups, etc. We then move into thefeld to spot and identiy our winged riends.A registered and paid chaperone is requiredor participants ages 15 and under. Pre-registration is required.9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. James Island CountyPark. Ages 10 & up$6/$5 CCR Discount.

Intro to Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP)Because o its simplicity and the un actorit creates, SUP is the astest growingpaddle sport in the country. Tese smalland individualized classes will allow youto progress comortably at your own pace,and introduce you to proper techniques andsaety considerations. Pre-registration isrequired.12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. James IslandCounty Park. Ages 16 & up. $24/$20 CCRDiscount.

:

-

r ' i t r , ri i t i t tr it iti t i t r i ti t r r t t i t r r ,

t r r r ti r rri , t tit it' ti t r r t t t r t rti t t r , it

't r r r r i i t

r t tr i t r r r i t it t r ,r " t t t t i t , i ri i r i t i r ri t it r t ti i rr i t r

ti i - r r r t i i r tt i t t t r r r ri t, it t r i

it t t t i t t r t ri ti i i t r tt r rt ri , it i t r r r i t t t i i i t

t r ri tr i ti t i , i r r t rr i t r t r - r it , i t t r , r

t i , ri t r i t r it r triti r rr it r t ir , t t tr i r

i i

t rt t t r t i , t r i- , ri t r , t r i t t , t t rt r r r t t ' , t r i , r t r i t irtri t t t r r i t t t t r tr ir , i t ri t i i t ri r tt

i -ti i t r t t t r rt r i , it it t tr ir i i t ir t t r, t rt t , t i i i r t r

ti t ri i , t r i t r t t t rti t ti r i " t r "

i t i t i - r r t r t rt r t r i t, t t t r rt r ri

t " r t r " i , t t i , t rt t i rt i , t i t t t i i t t t r t i ri i tr ti ti , t , it i t it t , it ,

, t it t t t it t t r i i t ti it i t it r ri r ri i t t r it , t

t i t r, t t t i ti it i it r

,,

, - -

t .

r,"rri


9/15

It is a medical truth that every humanon earth literally has a blind spot directlyin ront o them. An honest to goodnessblind spot directly in ront o our aces atall times. No matter who we are, or whatwe are doing, there is always a piece o theworld that we are missing out on. But

which piece is it?I think that the answer to this question

is a bit dierent or everyone. Some ous are blind to the reality o other people.Maybe we only want to see the best incertain people, or maybe we only wantto see the worst. In my experience thisnormally applies to those who are theclosest to us personally, our riends, amily,lovers. It is easy to block out certain partso personalities when it comes to thepeople we love.

For many other people, I think thatour blind spots apply to ourselves. Noone wants to believe that there is a parto our sel that is ugly, uncontrollable,unkind, weak o will, sel-centered, orselsh. Chances are however, that we allcan be, have been, and most o us willagain be at least one o these things. Yetor most people, when they refect back onthemselves in the bigger picture, none othese words will be in the mix o adjectivesused to describe themselves.

Otentimes I think that the tendenciestowards anger tend to top the list oemotions that we seem to cover upwith our blind spots. Tere is not one

person on Earth who does not relate to,appreciate, or understand the dynamicso anger. It is natural and oten timesjustied. Anger is a ckle riend who caneither creep up on you slowly or slap youin the ace prior to you ever realizing it hasentered the room. It is a hasty, reactive,unapologetic emotion that can overtakesituations without notice. And when

you allow yoursel to be blinded to it inyoursel or those around you; that is whenyou are at the most risk. Anger can bedangerous to you in many ways, and notjust the physical sense which most peoplethink o rst. Much more dangerous arethe mental and emotional scars that cancome rom anger, not just or whoever it isthat you are angry with but the atermatho sel loathing that many people infictupon themselves aterwards.

Te fip side o that coin would behappiness. So many people that I knowand many that I have just meet arewalking through lie with a ake smilesand sunny demeanors that make themcome o as nothing but phonies. I you

are unhappy in your current situationwhatever it may be, get o your butt andchange it. No one else is going to do itor you, not to mention, i someone orsomething is wronging you they willnever know i you dont speak up. I otenwonder i these people even realize thatthey are unhappy. Are they blind to theireelings or just so used to making excusesor whatever it is that they have actuallybegun to believe it?

See, the problem here is not theemotion itsel. Its the turning a blind eyeto the act that the emotion exists. I youat least acknowledge whatever it is that isgoing on; you are then given the goldenopportunity to change it.

I hear many people utter the words,people never change. I have issues withthis. Te only people who never change

are the people who have given up. Itsone thing to be condent and proud owho you are, but in my opinion it is those

people who are constantly striving to bemore that I always try to surround myselwith. So when you hear that little voicein your head whispering some truthsthat you maybe dont want to hear, eitherabout yoursel or someone close to you,try to listen. As opposed to allowingdiscouragement to take over, look at it asa challenge. It is never too late to change.

Never underestimate the ability to be evergrowing and cultivating yoursel into abetter version. I nothing else it mayjust restore your a ith in tomorrow.

10 March 2, 2012


DATING FOLLIES

I See YouBY FAY A


10/15

March 2, 2012 11

current.com

As I got out o my car Sunday February19th, I was alone at the west end o the

Washout. Te morning was cold andrainy with almost no wind. Wave height

was little more than knee-high and I

decided against surng that morning.Every car at the Washout was parkedat the east end near the contest shack.Folly Beach's Ice Box Open had been wellpublicized, and I was not surprised to seethe covered hut, lled with judges andphotographers.

Te contest began around 8:15 andMax Mason won the rst our-man heat.I watched my riend Joe all in the secondheat. Ten it came time or McKevlin'steam rider, McHenry Jackson, to paddleout. Catching three waves at the start othe heat, you could tell he was in it to winit; would take no prisoners; was giving ithis best shot; and would not let anythingstand in his way.

Tat's right, I dropped the our mostcliched sporting euphemisms o our dayinto one sentence. It's a good thing too,since he loses about teen years to most ohis competition during open ormat events.But while there was plenty o enthusiasmat the contest shack, I could not help butthink the ocean had once again under-delivered or a sur contest at Folly Beach.

Te scheduling ormat o the Icebox

Open diered rom the other contests atFolly. A three-weekend window had been

chosen several months in advance. Tebest single day rom the window would bechosen on a ew days notice. Tis wouldguarantee decent waves or the contest,

which was to have a cash prize or bothmale and emale competitors.

With our legs o a stool on the oorat work, I listened as the sur reports wentrom dismal to promising. I spoke withClint Tomas, one o the judges. He

characterized wave height and conditionsas steadily improving, reaching chest-to-

shoulder height with big drops or the nalround. Te scheduling ormat denitelypaid o, with the best waves or a FollyBeach sur contest in my memory.

When the dust settled, the popularpicks to win, Kyle Busey and GraceMuckenuss, did not want any surprises.Tey made out well and brought home$1000 and $400 prize checks, respectively.Mens runners-up in order o place

included Blue Spivey, Patrick Evers, andJosh Wilson. Ladies runners-up were CatRogerson, Laura Butler Peirano, and M..Bourque, in order o place.

Speaking with ten-year old McHenry

ater the contest, I recorded a ew ohis impressions on the day's event. Hisweapon o choice was a Lost Brandsurboard barely over ve eet in length.He elt the small wave height was in hisavor or the opening round. Whenasked i he was intimidated by guys twicehis age and weight, he responded: Idon't understand the concept. I was notintimidated at all.

McHenry, his brother Grifn, and hisriend Holden Silverman agreed that KyleBusey's 360 degree aerial on a two-oot

wave was by ar the most impressive thingthey saw that day. Kyle is a big guy andthrowing a trick like that on a small waveis something special. rust me dear reader:

there is a ton o talent or riding waves onFolly Beach, especially when someone putsup a cash prize.

Te Ice Box Open was a great eventand really showcased the Low Country'sbest surers. Everyone had a great timeand I got to stand in the rain. Tere is nocash prize or reading this article. Tanksor doing me the honor. Do treat eachother kindly.

Ice Box Starts Cool, Burns Hot in EndBY JUD BUSHKAR


11/15

CREATIVE

A View From the EdgeNo, You Dinnt!

I was at the Laundry on 110 WestHudson Avenue, and there was a crowd

o three other people there. A busynight, especially since it was a Friday at11:00 pm. Tis is usually when olksare out getting their drink on--the veryreason I chose this night and time towash clothes. I just wanted to be letalone to do my due diligence.

My routine is to charge my ipod, andget the deed done. While my clothesare in the wash cycle I wander or 20minutes. I sometimes go to Woodysand have a slice o pizza, maybe a beer.I then transer the clothes to the dryerand go to the Drop-In to have anotherbeer. Ten I come back and old. Onthis occa sion, however, I orgot to

charge my ipodDarn! With no ipodto make me oblivious, I was way tootuned-in to my surroundings.

As I pulled my clothes rom thedrier and took in my three guests, Idid a triple-take o this trio. I assumedthey were waiting on their c lothes tonish in the driers since there were nowashers running. Again, I was way too

tuned-in. Having just retrieved myclothes, I was beginning to old. Teclothes were still warm and I was tryingto hurry to minimize the wrink le-actor,

but I couldnt help but to catch someo the animated conversation a ew eetaway.

Doing laundry, as you must know, isa mundane task, not as un as taking ashower, but in both you a re perormingthe quite natural habit o cleaning. Yougo on autopilot, multitask in thought.Tat was where I wanted to be, but Icontinued to catch the reakin edgeso the exchange between my laundrymates. Teir conversation turned outto be one o my least avorite topics:religion. Little did I know that I wouldbe drawn in even deeper. Fortunately, Ihad a small load that night.

My three laundry mates were ina passionate discussion about, o allthings, God.

Just who is God? seemed to be thetheme. I thought it was somewhatinteresting, despite my being agnosticand an opponent o organized religion,that these three people would be

discussing God at the laundry: asouthern Baptist woman o 30ishclutching a tome o the 1611 KingJames Bible, a tall skinny male with a

camo hat and sucking on a d ip packet(no doubt trying to cozy-up with theBible-thumper), and an older black malewith ropes o dreds down his back. Doyou remember the late 1960s show LostIn Space? Danger Will Robinson! issuddenly echoing in my head.

Wait a minute, I recognize theguy with dredsits Das Weed! Tatdred-headed rascal! I know Das Weedrom Folly Island and have hung outwith him a ew times. Weve playedping-pong at Da Dollar and had somemusic and beers on my deck. Weveeven imbibed homemade wine at hishouse. Das Weed is a cool guy, very laid

back. I dont know his real name, but itdoesnt matter.

I would have readily accepted this asusual conversation late at a bar amongdrunks (or perhaps even a church), butmost olks at the laundry kinda keepto themselves. It seemed very unlikelyor this motley group to be engagedin a conversation about Godat thelaundry. And I was caught up in thismess. Where is the unlike button?

Brian, said Das Weed, who do youthink God is?

I stopped olding clothes and turnedto ace the trio. Tey were looking atme expectantly, Das Weed grinninglike Sylvester having eaten weetyand wanting to burp eathers. Teother two I had neither met nor seenbeore. Danger Will Robinson! thebackground mantra continued.

Well, I said, ignoring the mantraand pausing to urther take i n mydiverse audience, I think God is alarge, angry black woman with herhands on her hips and looking at uswith a hard stare, and say ing: No youdinnt! Tink Aunt Jemima or Miss.Butterworth.

I had my hands on my hips, hitthe dialect okay, and added a veryconvincing side-to-side head movementwhen I intoned "No you dinnt!" I wassemiserious and semijoking, but theywere not amused. Well, two o themwerent anyway.

In the ensuing awkward silence, Ireturned to olding my clothes. Otherthan the churning o the driers, it wasdeathly silent. Das Weed suddenlyburst out laughing, slapping both kneesand approaching his dryer to checkclothes. He stuck his head into the

drier, still laughing. Something tellsme he knew my response would be less

than orthodox or ar rom politicallycorrect. I dont know what his religiousviews are, but Im gonna guess they arenot Christian. Im gonna also guess

that the Bible-thumper had been tryingto convert him. But or all I know,though, Das Weed is a Roman Catholic.

Te woman, now clutching her bibleeven tighter, and the tall skinny guywith his dip-stained mouth agape, juststared at me as i I were rom anotherplanet, or perhapsrom hell. Oh,yeah, we were Lost In Space now! Itbecame awkward ater awhile, so Itossed the remainder o my unoldedclothes atop the olded, smiledpleasantly and let. Te rest o mylaundry was to go on hangars anyway. Icouldnt resist a parting shot

No you dinnt! I laughed aloudas I let the laundry. Just had to dothat, wouldnt seem right not to. Noinquisition ollowed and lighteningdidnt strike. I did discern, however, thecontinuing echo o Das Weeds laughter.Wow, I thought, Ive never crashed aBible study.

I there is a God, and i She real lyis a large, angry black woman, Sheshould be very angry and intoning,No you Dinnt! She is angry that wehave mucked things up! I know romexperience.

Miss Congaree (a large black woman)was my ourth grade English teacher,and she did not accept excuses, andmost certainly not any sass. I hell hathno ury like t hat o a scorned woman, ithasnt seen the ur y o a ticked-o Miss.Congaree. I I had a dime each timeshe smacked me I may not be rich indimes, but I did come away with a richvocabulary beholden to Miss. Congareesaying, Boy, look in the dictionary!Smack.

Miss Congaree had a dictionary atthe ront o the class on a small podium(so we nine-year olds could reach it) thatwas the size o a suitcase; you needed

both hands just to open the book. Ibecame a requent visitor to thatpodium, oten getting a nod rom her,sometimes even a smile. Despite a ewlumps on my noggin, I passed her classwith fying colors.

God being angry does imply thatthere is a certain degree o ree-willallowed to us peons. She does notcontrol us, and doesnt necessarilywant to, butShe is gonna give us justenough o that proverbial rope or us tohang ourselves in our own olly. No youdinnt!

Oh Yes we did! Can I get an Amen?A Hallelujah, maybe?

BY BRIAN SANDERS



12/15

March 2, 2012 13

Sudoku

Solutiononpage14Level: very hard

We apologize or accidentally reprinting an oldWF picture in the last issue. Here's a new one.Good luck! Te frst person to correctly identiy

its location gets a ree large pizza rom Woody's.Send your guesses to [email protected]

Brought to you by Woodys Pizza and

Mary Ohl.


13/15


Sudoku solution

Solutionfrompage13

Its no wonder why Charleston, South

Carolina was voted op City in t he UnitedStates in the 2011 Cond Nast ravelerReaders Choice Awards when people like idesBellman, Jay Vaughan, are representing our city.

Vaughan was awarded t he Charleston AreasCharlestonly Ambassadors Award presented bythe CVB uesday night. Te CACVB createdthe Charleston Ambassadors award to honor therontline olks who take pride in providing agreat customer service experience. Recognizingthe untold heroes working in our hospitalitycommunity is a way o saying Tanks Yall orhelping the Charleston area put its best aceorward everyday.

When asked to describe Jay Vaughan, SarahIrving, ides Director o Rooms, said she could

go on or hours about stories o him going aboveand beyond. Vaughan has been known oreverything, rom stocking extra shirts in his carso he can give them to people walking throughthe lobby without a shirt, to spending t wenty-ve minutes helping someone look or a park ingspot only to reuse the tip.

One time I watched him take of his belt inthe middle o the lobby to give to a groomsmanthat was having a wardrobe malunction shortlybeore his brothers beach wedding, sharesIrving.

Vaughan has gone grocery shopping or idesguests, picked up their prescriptions, and drivenguests to concerts and then back at midnight topick them up because he hates to see t hem paya cab!

But his stories o going beyond the cal l oduty dont stop there. It was this past New YearsEve that made Jay Vaughans actions speaklouder than ever. Ater working a 15+ hourshit to prepare the hotel or their annual NewYears Eve Beach Bash, Vaughan encountered acouple rom Mount Pleasant stranded with noride home. Vaughan personal ly drove the coupleto their home 45 minutes away and then droveback to his residence in West Ashley.

It is the men and women like Jay Vaughanwho truly make a diference in our community.I you havent met Jay yet, swing into theides Folly Beach and congratulate our ownCharlestonly Ambassador!

Ambassadors AwardTides Folly Beach Bellman, Jay Vaughanreceives Charlestons CVB Charlestonly Award

AWARD


14/15


15/15

16 March 2, 2012

BLU3/17 - Lane Gregory rio3/25 - East Coast Party Band

Drop In DeliMondays the Hawkesuesdays - Honky onk w/ Lewis

Wednesdays - rivia3/9 - James Justin Burke3/10 - Yellowkni e3/16 - Fairy Godmuthars3/23 - Reid Stone3/24 - James Justin Burke

Folly Beach Brewing Company3/2 - Dallas Corbett3/16 - Mark Jackson

Folly Beach Crab ShackSundays Te Bill ShowMondays Open Mic w/ Dave Grunstrauesdays - riviaTursdays Folly Beach BluegrassSocietyFridays Nathan Calhoun

3/3 - Sara Smile3/17 - Sara Smile3/24 - Howard Dlugasch

LoggerheadsWednesdays - Karaoke3/2 - Gaslight Street3/3 - Give Tanks Reggae Band3/6 - Step Down3/8 - Bringers o the Dawn3/9 - Te Zealots

3/10 - ida l Jive3/13 - Yellowknie3/15 - Te Shack Band3/16 - Lionz o Zion3/17 - Rawberry Jam3/17 - Stereo Reorm3/20 - Ben Fagen3/22 - Te Hawkes

Planet FollywoodSundays - Reggae Sundaysuesdays - Open Mic night3/2 - Dan Clamp3/3 - Nathan Calhoun3/8 - Karaoke3/9 - Tomas Champagne3/10 - Eric Penrod3/16 - Dave Grunstra3/17 - Shakin Martinis3/22 - Karaoke

Sand Dollar3/2 & 3 - Ripones

Sea & Sand Festival - March 24Follywood Stage11:30 12:30 pm - Reid Stone & JefDavis12:50 1:50 pm - Folly Beach Bluegrass

Society2:10 3:10 pm - Shakin Martinis3:30 4:50 pm - Concrete JumpsuitChill & Grill StageNoon 12:50 pm Champagne withFriends1:10 2:10 pm WeighStation2:30 3:30 pm Jupiters Garden3:50 4:50 pm Stereo Reorm

Surf Bar

Wednesdays - Guilt Ridden roubadour3/3 - David Earl & the Plowshares - Doug Jones, Charles Hedgepath, &Hank Futch3/8 - Silas Got It Right3/9 - Johnsons Crossroads

3/11 - Reckoning3/24 - Te Bad Popes3/29 - own Mountain

WoodysMondays & uesdays - Live Local MusicTursdays - rivia

MUSIC

Music Calendar

Folly Current - March 2, 2012

Documents

Transcript of Folly Current - March 2, 2012