The Folly Current

8/14/2019 The Folly Current

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he southeast coast o the UnitedStates aords its residents luxuries

which people rom all over the world travel here to experience. Telush marshlands, the salty breeze and

the unique ocean views are the idea oparadise or many. But all the benets ocoastal living come with a price.

Hurricane season ocially begins onJune 1 and coastal residents are very awareo the Lowcountrys potential or disasteras this date comes and goes. Tis isespecially true in 2009 as we approach the20 year anniversary o Hurricane Hugo.On the back drop o that disastrous storm,it has never been more imperative to beprepared or hurricane season; and part obeing prepared is being aware.

Every year, people turn to varioussources or a hint o what to expect outo the Atlantic Ocean. William Gray, o

Colorado State University, is one o themost popular and analyzed hurricaneorecasters in the United States. Along

with his proteg, Philip Klotzbach, hehas spent many years analyzing data anddeveloping models that are designed toreect an understanding o tropical stormactivity in the Atlantic Basin, the mostinconsistent tropical storm corridor in the

world.

Fortunately, the odds seem to be inavor o an average hurricane season, asopposed to the above average year that wascorrectly predicted last year. According toKlotzbach and Gray, there is a 67% chanceo one or more tropical storms hitting the

East Coast o the U.S. this year. Tat is

Folly Beachs NewspaperVol. 1 Issue 16 May 29, 2009 wFREE

PRESORTSTANDARD

USPOSTAGEPAID

FOLLYBEACH,SC

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E Vacation rentals on page 3 Shaggers Holiday on page 8 Bluegrass birthday on page 12

see Hurricanes on page 9

Global warming

and hurricanes:

A love aairBy Ali AkhyAri

Hurricane Season 2009


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Planet Follywood

Fridays and Saturdays - Dan Clamp

Folly Beach Crab Shack

Mondays - Live Local Musicuesdays - rivia

Wednesdays - Dave Grunstra

Tursdays - Island Duo

Friday - Folly Dogs

Saturdays - Live Local Music

Sur Bar

Sundays - Dangermun

Center Street Kitchen

Tursdays - Folly Beach BluegrassSociety

BLU

5/30 ropicools

5/31 2-5pm Graham Worely

9pm-12am Je Caldwell

Vince Perna is a Folly Beach real estateexpert who also loves music. I you wantto know i you can live on Folly, you canfnd him at 31 Center Street or by calling843-588-3800.

2 May 29, 2009

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F o l l y m u s i c

s c e n e

he Memo. It sounds a bitlike a B rated thriller whereina mutant piece o paper

terrorizes a small New England town onesleepy autumn night. Te memo, though,

will be the highly anticipated report which the City will receive rom hiredconsultants with ndings and suggestionsor improving the trac problems on FollyBeach, a result o their research, expertise,and teamwork with the community.

Te City hired Wilbur Smith & Associates (WSA) out o Raleigh, NC,to conduct the trac study. Te nalproduct will be a plan that the City canuse as a guide or uture capital investmentand to apply or unding through a varietyo sources, Will Letchworth, WSArepresentative, says. Tey have alreadysurveyed the island and discovered severalproblems, as well as possibilities, or

improvement.

I have been impressed by the associatesrom WSA, and hope that the suggestionsthey give to help deal with the impact ovisitors to the island will be well receivedand will help our quality o lie, Councilmember Laura Beck said. She and ellowCouncil member Dave Stormer are

heading up the Citys rac Committee,which will continue to discuss the issuesand solutions.

[Being] pedestrian riendly is themain ocus o what we are trying todo, Beck said. We are also workinghard to deal with the speeding carson Folly.

Approximately 60 residents packedthemselves into Father Kelly Hallat the Our Lady o Good Councilbuilding to express their grievancesabout trac, oer suggestions andto hear what the City is planning todo about it during a May 11 publicmeeting with WSA. Letchworthstressed his desire to work with theresidents in developing solutions andgoals or the island.

Te success or ailure o thisplanning process will depend heavilyon the inormation shared with usby the public, Letchworth admits.Tis project is o to a great start.

Tere was no shortage o ideasand complaints rom the residents

who attended the meeting andMr. Letchworth had to remindthe audience several times that the

meeting would not end beore everyone was heard, as gasps o exhaustion couldbe heard whenever a person was not cal ledupon among the many raised hands. He

was also orced to remind the group thattheir job is to develop strategies or tracow and pedestrian saety, as commentsinevitably turned to keeping visitors othe island all together. Te room eruptedin applause whenever someone alluded tothe nuisance o visitors and suggestions orkeeping them away, even suggesting a $10charge or anyone to cross the bridge ontoFolly Beach.

However, many well-intentionedresidents brought some important issuesto light or the consultants and gavesuggestions or trac control apart rominstalling a private gate at the end o FollyRoad. With beach weather upon us, theocus o many residents was on ways to

improve the congestion associated withthe weekend summer trac, though manyyear-round issues were discussed as well.

Tis is not a Center Street problem,

City brakes or trafc

Staff Poto

Concerned residents identify problem areas fortrafc consultants on a large map of Folly Beach.

see Trafcon page 10

TheMemo

By Ali AkhyAri


3/12

Everyone loves the beach. Tat actis never more apparent than inthese times when the temperature

climbs as high as the midday summersun, and the crowds ock to the islandsor a bit o relie, relaxation and un. Asthe Lowcountrys barrier islands havebecome more accessible over the years,more visitors are taking advantage o theopportunity to share our slice o paradise.Sometimes its just or a day. Other timesit might be a weekend or even longer. oaccommodate overnight guests, manyhomes have been replaced by short-termvacation rentals and a unique dynamichas evolved as a result.

As homes inhabited by long-termresidents are replaced by short-term rentals,neighborhoods are being transormed andissues o livability and property rightsare beginning to rear their heads. SomeFolly Beach residents may recall theClarion Study, which was an attemptto get proessional eedback on how theCity could approach their zoning lawsmore eciently and deal with issues likeshort-term rentals. For about two years,the Planning Commission worked on therewrites o the zoning laws. However, it

was quickly noted by Council that short-term rentals were basically let out o thenew plan.

Council member Charlie McCarty, who has also served on the PlanningCommission, has led the charge todeal with short-term rentals since theCouncil received the new zoning rewrite

a ew months ago. McCarty has expressedhis disappointment in the PlanningCommissions reluctance to address theissue and has encouraged Council to deal

with it.

Te Planning Commission has puntedand we are the receiving team, he toldhis ellow Council members at a recent

workshop. We owe these residents wholive here ull-time some protection. Wepromised it to them three years ago.

Aaron Pope, Assistant to the FollyBeach Building Ocial, worked withthe Planning Commission on the rewriteand has been walking the City Councilthrough each section. According to Pope,the Planning Commission was at a loss asto how to control short-term rentals sincethey are spread throughout the island.

Te cat is out o the bag, Laura Becksaid.

Te only real attempt to deal with short-term rentals was to treat all properties thesame and limit the number o events ahomeowner could host in order to avoidthe complications that accompany largegroups o people gathering at a property.However, the Mayor reerred to thisconcept as ludicrous and the rest oCouncil thought this approach couldinringe on a persons constitutionalreedom to assemble.

McCarty has pointed out several timesthat it is not impossible to legislate short-term rentals and protect livability. Tereare ways, he says, to

write laws that do notnecessarily impact

w e l l - i n t e n t i o n e dresidents, but will catchproblem properties atthe same time. TeIsle o Palms, he says,is an example.

About two yearsago, the Isle o Palms City Council wasgoing through the same livability issues asresidents began to come together, askingthe City to do something about the short-term rentals that were destroying theirneighborhoods with noise, trash, andoverowing parking. Te Isle o Palmsadjusted their building codes to try andcontrol the size and number o bedroomsa building could have.

Our livability ordinances detail, orrental properties, the allowed overnightoccupancy, max anytime occupancy, andovernight parking, as well as other rentalrequirements or postings and licensing,Isle o Palms Mayor Dick Cronin says.

In addition, they have created alivability court which deals specically

with the issues legislated in their livabilityordinances. Te court has its own judgeand a ull-time livability ocer whoinvestigates complaints. While the courtmight hear appeals rom property owners

who are accused o a violation, it alsodeals with other livability issues such asunderage drinking. According to Mayor

Cronin, the City considered a pointsystem, in which properties would accruepoints or violations. Instead, they adopted

an ordinance that allowstheir livability ocer tocite a property owner/manager i police eel thatthere have been repeatedviolations. Te citationbrings them beore thelivability judge who canrevoke their businesslicense. Tis encourages

property owners and/or managers to bemore mindul o who is allowed to renttheir homes.

Last year we had one property ownercited and two others notied that acitation would ollow the next violation,Cronin says. Tose properties had nomore violations last year.

Te ordinances, the Livability ocerand the Court have worked well. We lookor civil behavior and respect or neighborsrom everyone who lives [in] or visits theCity. We communicate this [extensively]to property management rms and rentalproperty owners, says Cronin.

Te City o Isle o Palms was only ableto tackle the problem once they identiedtheir goal o wanting to accept visitors,

while simultaneously protecting theresidential nature o the island. Tere canbe no plan without a goal.

Te Folly Beach City Council seemedto be working toward ways o controlling

short-term rentals without impeding

May 29, 2009 3

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Future deadlines:

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Lucky Dog Publishing, LLCPublishers ofThe Folly Current, TheIsland

Eye News and theIsland Connection .

www.focuen.sc

civic

Pet HelpersPets o the Week

Im an extremely spunky big guy wholoves to play and really digs toys! I likeballs, ropes, squeakies and rawhide andlove to be entertained! I was rescued othe streets o Folly Beach and am dyingto go home with you today. Im airlyyoung and ready or my ree trainingclasses oered here with my adoption.

Just look or the handsome big guy withthe huge heart waiting or love!

You will never see such a handsome bigboy in your lie, until you lay your eyeson me! Im a West Ashley strayabout5 years old and as cool and low key asthey come. I adore being pet and lovethe kitty treats, as you can tell by my sizein my photo! I am absolutely huge and alover o lie. Come get me and show meto your kitchen!!

MerlinGulliver

Pet Helpers is located at 1447 Folly Road, James Island.Hours: Mon Fri rom 11am 6pm and Sat rom 11am - 5pm.

Closed: Sundays and Holidays.For more inormation, please call 843-795-1110.

Crating the uture Folly BeachC O u n C I L T A k e S O n v A C AT I O n r e n T A L S

StAFF rEPOrt

It is not impossible

to legislate short-

term rentals and

protect livability.

see Rentals on page 5


4/12

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I had occasion to go to the First Flushea Festival at the Charleston ea Plantationa couple o Saturdays ago. It was out on

Wadmalaw Island, not ar rom Rockville.As my riend John rott, whose ather lives astones throw rom the property, reminded me,the plantation was started as an experiment bythe Lipton Company back in the 60s.

I want to congratulate the PR departmentso Te Bridge at 105.5 and the tea plantation.Te event was a amily aai r, replete with unnelcakes, and attracted thousands o people withyoung amilies, as well as senior citizens, out toa great concert on a perect May aternoon.

I went by mysel. I sat under a sprawling liveoak, its tendrils draping the ground which wassplashed with shats o sunlight, and enjoyedsome iced tea and tomato pie, grooved onthe music and watched thousands o peopleparade in ront o me. It was an incrediblecross-section o Lowcountry humanity, rom

toddlers to people on walkers, and all racespassing by. Tere was a young girl with greenhair and darned attractive nose rings dressedin a manner that one hoped her mother knewnothing about, to women in their 60s, walkingerect and proud with a condence borne onlyby living lie head on. Lawyers and executivesdressed casually in polo shirts and khaki shorts,hippies in jeans and old men with their pantsup around their sternums shufed along.

Tere were an inordinate amount o youngparents who knew nothing o the recession.On the whole there was money; not scads omoney, but these people were either keeping up

with their bills or on their appearances. Whatstruck me the most, though, was that I didnt

know a single one o them.Who on earth were these people?

I reected back some 30 years when I wentto the Spoleto nale at Middleton Place. Tatalso attracted quite an eclectic crowd and wascertainly a high point o my year. Te thing isthat even though there were thousands there,you could always nd a couple o hundredpeople with whom you had at least a noddingacquaintance.

Not so here. Tere wasnt even a aintglimmer o recognition as the procession moved

on. Finally, I heard a voice call my name, andI discovered my riend John rott right behindme. I sat with him and his neighbors, one o

whom I vaguely knew, and had a perectlygrand aternoon. rott was as puzzled andamazed as I at the act that we didnt knowanyone. Ive known John or almost 50 years(thats a little scary) and between us, I wouldsay we have at least a ew thousand people with

whom we could strike up a conversation.

We were bemused. Tere were a lot oactors: our age, the inux o population, etc.,but one thing struck me in the midst o ourruminations under the oaks. Te children instrollers will see a totally dierent world 50years rom now.

Not only will every vestige o the Old Southbe obliterated, but I suspect the New South

will be a memory as well.

Hal a century rom now, I have seriousdoubts that we will be celebrating ConederateMemorial Day or Carolina Day on the Battery,despite the best eorts o my contemporaries.Tere simply wont be enough people to care.Tose two Charleston holidays one signiyinggreat victory, the other ignominious deeat willbe replaced by other more relevant occasionscelebrating other victories. Te events leadingup to the commemorations will not even bementioned in the history books.

It didnt matter that grand aternoon.

Given the events unurling in all o our lives,I suspect it soon might, but as John and I stoodeating boiled peanuts and laughing, there wereenough distractions to not think about theuncertain uture (when on earth was it evercertain?).

Reality was Shawn Mullins, iced tea, laughswith an old riend and a sterling aternoon inMay. Sometimes, thats as good as it gets.

Want to read more? Visit David Farrows blog atdavidarrow.wordpress.com.

Dear editor:

While on our recent trip to Folly, I picked up a copyoTe Folly Current. I read the article concerning theCity Council meeting and had to throw in my two

cents. We have been coming to Folly or longer thanI can remember. We now have a three year old sonand Folly gives us the ultimate in amily un. I wasshocked to see the Myrtle Beach atmosphere thisyear. I know that as a tourist, we contribute to theproblem, but we are very mindul o the Island andits charms. We do not go to Myrtle or any reason.Te crowds, noise and pollution are just some o thereasons. When we returned to our room and heardthe music rom the pier, I commented, I did notknow we were in Myrtle Beach, this sucks. Please,enjoy the tourism industry, make use o the moneyit brings in, but keep Folly true to its nature: a place

where a amily can have un without the hassle oMyrtle Beach.

Sincerely,

Ryan Hand and amily

Simpsonville, SC

Letters to the Editor

Send your letters to theeditor to:

[email protected]

Do you know your Charleston

AN iNFOrMAl tEABy DAViD FArrOW

CorrectionL A u r A B e C k n O T I n v O L v e D

w I T h S u n & S k IIn our May 15 edition o Te Folly Current, we

incorrectly stated that Council member Laura Beckwas involved with the Sun & Ski rental company who received a variance on the new FranchiseOrdinance at a recent City Council meeting.

However, Ms. Beck is NO involved with Sun &Ski. She is a member o the SunCart Rentals LLC,

which is not involved with the ront beach, Franchise Argreements and was not at all involved with thestory written about in the City Council report romour May 15 edition. We sincerely apologize or anyinconvenience or conusion this may have caused.


5/12

In the hope o getting the 2009 summero to a good start or the loca l youth, kids

16 and under are invited to a ree day oshing at the Folly Beach Pier on June 6.

Te Folly Beach Anglers Fishing Cluband the Charleston County Parks andRecreation Department are teaming upto sponsor a ree day o shing as well asa tournament at the Pier or local kids inrecognition o their rst Saturday out oschool. Dont worry i you or your child isinexperienced! Plenty o volunteers will beavailable to help you catch sh.

Prizes will be awarded or the biggestsh in each o the ollowing categories:

Girls 12 and under, Boys 12 and under,Girls 13-16 and Boys 13-16. Fishing rods

will be provided, but participants areencouraged to bring their own i they havethem as supplies will be limited.

Dont miss this opportunity to toss aline in the water, have some un and spendsome quality time at the beach at no cost.

For more inormation, contact DanielCulpepper at [email protected]

May 29, 2009 5

www.focuen.sc

Hook, line, and stinkersk I D S C A T C h I n g S u m m e r F e v e r

PrOViDED By DANiEl CUlPEPPEr

anyones right to use their property while, at the same time, protectingthe residents who live on the islandthroughout the year.

Te City will continue to addressthese issues in the coming months asthey work through the new zoningcodes. Residents are encouraged tocome to City Council meetings and lettheir representatives know their ideason the uture o Folly Beach.

Rentals fom page 3


6/12

6 May 29, 2009

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Folly CurreMay 29

Friday, May 29

Folly Moonlight MixerFrom 7pm 11pm, local DJ Rob Duren willspin the hottest oldies and beach music around.

Advance tickets are $10 and $8 or CharlestonCounty residents. I available, tickets purchasedon-site are $10. Only 600 tickets will be soldor this event. No reunds or exchanges. Call795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com or moreinormation and additional Mixer dates.

Saturday, May 30

Folly Beach Wahine ClassicMay 30-31 High tide 2pm. See their ad onpage 2. For more ino, call Nancy Hussey at

343-4047 or email [email protected].

Bareoot Beach SweepSurrider Foundation and Charleston

Waterkeeper are continuing the Rise AbovePlastics Campaign by teaming up with Bareoot

Wine to sweep Folly Beach, and we need yourhelp! Check-in will be under the Folly Pier at3pm. At 5:30pm, all participants are invited toattend the aterparty. I interested, go to www.charlestonwaterkeeper.org or early registrationor the sweep.

Folly Beach Exchange Club Fish FryTe Exchange Club will be hosting a Fish Fry atthe Folly River Park located at 80 Center Street.

ickets will be $11 or ried catsh, hush puppiesand two sides and will be available throughoutthe month rom Exchange Club members, as

well as at the event.

Sunday, May 31

Male cat Neuter-a-thonPet Helpers Spay & Neuter Clinic, 1447 FollyRoad, James Island. Cost is $11 per cat. Byappointment only. For more ino and to makean appointment, please call 302-0556.

Wednesday, June 3

Book Signing & wine and cheesereceptionDo Old Dogs Dream, Author HaCreel, Jr. will be signing books at Pet rom 7pm 9pm. Pet Helpers, 144Road, James Island All evening pbenet the rescue and care o Pet Hsenior canines. Te Grey Muzzle Foundnational organization, will be on hand inormation on the care o senior dogs.

Folly Beach Utility Advisory BoardmeetingTe Utility Advisory Board (UAB) merst Tursday o the month at 5pm. Plebeore attending to veriy that the UA

be meeting this month. For more inBelle Condon, Deputy Director o Uat 588-2447 ext 1833 or email Bcocityoollybeach.com.

Body, Mind & Spirit or Dogs and tPeopleDogs o all breeds and their well bpeople - are invited to attend a speciaHeir Labrador Rescue (WHLR) rom 6 to 9pm at Fetch Doggy Day 1990 Ashley River Road in West Ashlproceeds rom the evening will go surgery costs or Callie. For urther in

www.wildheirlabradorrescue.org.

Ater Work Sea Kayak ours: Folly FloatRelieve the stress and unwind rom a he

with a relaxing kayak trip to watch theand the moonrise behind Folly Islandalong a riend rom the oce, but leavbehind! Pre-registration required. Ageup. Fee: $36/$30 CCR Discount. 58:30pm.


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May 29, 2009 7

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t Calendarune 12

ay, June 5

Summer Celebration Series: Arts,s & Musicon the rst Saturday o the monthJune September, the Folly Summerration Series will be held at Folly Riverrom 11am 7pm. Tis months eatureimp City Slim, who will be perormingpavilion rom 2pm 5pm. Admission is

e McCravy 5K Run to Beneft Petersout or a morning run to help ra ise moneyt Helpers in memory o Leslie McCravy.and nish by the Edwin S. aylor FishingFolly Beach; race begins at 8am. Cost:- $25 through June 1 includes t-shirt.

$30 ater June 1st includes t-shirt whilees last. Register at www.pethelpers.org oractive.com

eur and Pro Disc Gol ournamentophy Lakesna Watersports at rophy Lakes on Johnswill be hosting an all day Amateur and

isc Gol ournament, open to the public.Marlin Road, Johns Island. For more

call Matt at 559-2520 or email [email protected].

nt Literacy 1st annual Ride-A-Tonmotorcycle charity runs goal is to raise00 to support literacy. Te event begins

ends at 205 Goose Creek Boulevard,side Square Shopping Center. Bikersave at 12pm and return by 3pm. Cost tor is $15 per bike, and $5 per passenger. may get more inormation and register at www.tridentlit.org, or cal l 747-2223.

day, June 7

nnual ricounty Cancer Survivors

he Charleston Elk Lodge o Cosgrovenue. Please register online atwww.

tricountysurvivors.org or by calling 873-9929.

14th Annual Sea Island Habitat orHumanity Gol BeneftTis event is all about un with a shotgun start,putting contest, hole-in-one challenge andgreat prizes! Come build a house with a golclub at the beautiul Osprey Point Gol Course.Contact Christa Lewis at 843-768-0998 x 111or [email protected] or moredetails! 11am @ Osprey Point Gol Course,Kiawah Island.

James Island Farmers and CratersMarketSelling local produce, bakery items, jams,

jellies, ciders, boiled peanuts, resh herbs, jewelry, photography, pottery, and clothing with live music on the deck. First and Tird

Sunday o every month, 11am to 3pm at TePour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy. 571-4343,

www.charlestonpourhouse.com.

Tuesday, June 9

Folly Beach City CouncilTe Folly Beach City Council meets second andourth uesday o the month at 7:30pm. www.cityoollybeach.com. Folly Beach City Hall, 21Center St., (Folly Beach), (843) 588-2447.

Friday, June 12

Moonlight MixerDance the night away under the stars at theFolly Beach Fishing Pier. From 7pm 11pm,local DJ Rob Duren will spin the hottest oldiesand beach music around. Beverages and ood

will be available or purchase. Advance ticketsare $10 and $8 or Charleston County residents.I available, tickets purchased on-site are $10.Call 795-4FUN or visit www.ccprc.com.


8/12

www.focuen.sc

8 May 29, 2009

The Islanders Shag Clubs annual ShaggersHoliday started at 6pm on Friday night withmusic by Mr. Jim Bowers. The party continuedon Saturday with hot dogs with all the xinsand Pat & Lamars famous PJ. Man, was thatstuff GOOD. The party continued all day withlots of fun, food & of course shagging.The highlight of the party was the annualMs. Shaggers Holiday Contest where themale members of the club dress in their best

womens apparel. After some hard decisionsby our judges a new queen, Lamar Hardy waschosen. After which Ms. Betty Brown spun thetunes well into the night. The event was blastfor everyone.If you or someone you know is interested injoining the Islanders Shag Club you visit www.islandersshagclub.com for an application, Youdont even know how to shag...we can teachyou!

potos by Bo Iso


9/12

up 17% rom last year. Gray says there isa 60% chance o at least one category 1-2hurricane making landall (up 16% romlast year) and a 45% o at least one category3-5 hurricane making landall (up 14%rom last year). Last year, there were sixmajor storms while Gray predicted nine.

Despite the great amount o researchand analysis Gray introduces into

his predictions, even he says that it isimpossible to accurately predict with anycertainty what the Atlantic has in storeor us this early in the season. However,statistics do not lie and the numbersshow a huge decrease in major hurricanes(category 3, 4, or 5) making landall inthe eastern United States over the last 43years, compared to the previous 43 years.From 1923 to 1965, there were 24 majorhurricanes to hit versus just 7 rom 1966to 2008.

Tis phenomenon has many peopleasking why.

Te most popular theories have pointedto global warming. Famous personalities

like Al Gore have paraded the theory inront o the public and shown that anincrease in tropical storms and hurricanesis exactly what many scientists predict

will happen in conjunction with globalwarming.

Hurricanes get their massive amountso power rom warm tropical waters. Soit stands to reason that warmer waterequals more uel or hurricanes. MarkSaunders, proessor o climate predictionat the University College London, recentlypublished his research in the journalNature which suggests a correlationbetween increased water temperature andincreased hurricane activity. Tis explains

why 2005 was a record breaking year orhurricanes and why 2007 saw relativelyew.

Saunders study ocused on a bando water rom around Puerto Rico andNorthern South America to the coasto Arica where Atlantic hurricanes areborn. His study suggests that with everyone degree Fahrenheit increase in watertemperature, hurricane activity willincrease about 50 percent.

In 2005, the average water temperaturein this region was 1.4 degrees higher thannormal. Tat year there was a total o 28named storms and 13 hurricanes. However,in 1971, when water temperatures were the

coolest they have been in recorded history,there were only 13 named storms and sixhurricanes. While Saunders study ocusedsolely on water temperature correlations,he admits that changes in wind patternsactually have a larger impact on hurricaneactivity than water temperature.

A recent study conducted by the ederalgovernment uses this last act to suggestthat global warming may actually decreasethe number o hurricanes we see. Windshear, a change in wind speed or direction,is a crucial actor in the development ohurricanes, which is why El Nino and LaNina shits are so closely watched duringhurricane season. Shits between El Ninoand La Nina change wind shear over the

Atlantic. Increased wind shear disruptshurricane ormation, resulting in ewerhurricanes.

Chunzai Wang, a researchoceanographer at the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),states that an increase o one degree Celsiusin water temperatures in the Indian andPacic Oceans increases wind shear by upto 10mph in the Atlantic. Wangs study

was based on observations and records o

landall hurricanes instead o computermodels. However, critics say Wang usedpoor data that was rejected by the NobelPrize winning Intergovernmental Panelon Climate Change. Furthermore, he onlystudied hurricanes that make landall inthe U.S., which can be as ew as 10 percento all Atlantic hurricanes. Tat panel hasalready stated that man-made global

warming has likely already increasedhurricane activity.

However, Klotzbach says that globalhurricane activity has not increased atall over the past 30 years in relation to

warmer ocean temperatures. He says thatthe only area where hurricane activity

really uctuates is in the Atlantic, whichhe attributes to the multi-decadal increasein the Atlantic Ocean thermohalinecirculation (HC). Ocean salinity, notglobal warming, is what drives thismechanism, according to Klotzbach.

According to their data, the number omajor hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean

was only about 1/3 as many rom 1970to 1994 as they were rom 1945 to 1969,

when the earth was actually experiencinga small cooling cycle and the levels ocarbon dioxide in the atmosphere weresignicantly lower. He suggests thatincreased hurricane activity in the Atlanticis a cyclical event. When comparing the

recent increased activity since 1994 toactivity rom 1950-1964, the numbersare basically the same, although watertemperatures (and ashions) were cooler inthe 50s and 60s.

Researchers on both sides o the global warming ence use dierent sets o dataand details to support their arguments.

As the debate continues, it is apparentthat the relationship between hurricaneactivity and global warming is too poorlyunderstood to make a rm conclusion. Inthe meantime, Mother Nature is content

with continuing her work behind a ewshrouds o mystery. Regardless o whatprediction or theory you choose to ollow,one thing is certain: Te South CarolinaLowcountry is right in the line o re or

Atlantic hurricanes. It is important tobe prepared. For a wealth o emergencyinormation, visit www.charlestoncounty.org. Click on Departments, then LawEnorcement/Public Saety to ndinormation on emergency managementand preparedness. Also, check out the

www.scprepares.org website or emergencynumber lists, emergency kit preparation,tips on handling pets, as well as methodsor dealing with disasters rom tornadoesto biological emergencies.

Detailed inormation on Klotzbach andGrays predictions can be viewed at http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/

May 29, 2009 9

www.focuen.sc

Name that cane 2009Tere are six lists o names that rotate every year or naming hurricanes. Names

are typically removed rom the lists each year as the names o signicant stormsare retired, like Hazel (1954), Fi (1974), Hugo (1989), Andrew (1992) and Katrina

(2005). Tree names were retired rom the 2008 At lantic season. Hurricanes Gustav,Ike and Paloma will be replaced by Gonzalo, Isaias and Paulette and will be inrotation in 2014.

Gustav rst made landall as a Category 1 hurricane in Haiti beore strikingCuba as a Category 4 and nishing up in Louisiana as a Category 2. Gustav wasresponsible or 112 lives, mostly in Haiti, and causing $4 billion worth o damagein Louisiana. Hurricane Ike struck the urks and Caicos Islands and Great InaguaIsland in the Southeastern Bahamas on September 7 as a Category 4, beore hittingCuba ollowed by Galveston, exas, as a Category 2. Ike killed over 80 people andcaused an est imated $19.3 billion in damage.

Since tropical cyclones were rst named in 1953, 70 names have been retired, therst two being Carol and Hazel in 1954. Paloma was the second strongest Novemberhurricane on record, reaching Category 4 status beore hitting Cuba and destroyingan estimated 1400 homes and causing $300 million in damage.

Te naming o hurricanes has been traced back to a tradition in the West Indiesthat is still practiced today, where storms were named or the Catholic Saints Dayon which they landed. For example, hurricane San Filipe struck Puerto Rico onSeptember 13, 1876. When another storm struck exactly ty years later, the storm

was christened San Filipe the Second.

Hurricanes are named a lphabetically, although the letters Q and U are alwayslet out and the lists only go to W. I the list is used up or the year and storms arestill orming, the storms are then named alphabetically rom the Greek alphabet,

Alpha to Omega.

Ana

Bill

Claudette

Danny

Erika

Fred

Grace

Henri

Ida

Joaquin

Kate

Larry

Mindy

Nicholas

Odette

Peter

Rose

Sam

eresa

Victor

Wanda

Hurricanes fom cove

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2009 Storm Names


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10 May 29, 2009

www.focuen.sc

Police ReportsMay 2- A Blackberry and Sidekick cellphone were stolen rom a womans pantspocket while she was swimming in theocean. She discovered the thet when shereturned rom the water.

May 6- A 24 year-old woman was enjoyinghersel by jumping o the docks at the

urn o the River condos. However, theun was cut short when police were called.She was observed to be having troublestanding without the aid o a nearbyence. With the belie that she was doingnothing wrong, she admitted to drinking,being intoxicated, and jumping o thedock. She was then arrested or disorderlyconduct.

May 8- During a routine trac stop, awoman in the rear o the vehicle was seenholding an open container o Budweiserbeer. She was cited or having an opencontainer.

May 9- Ocers responded to 97 CenterStreet at 2:04am in reerence to a manpossibly beating up his wie or girlriend.Upon arrival, the subjects were comingout o the marsh covered in blood. Bothsubjects stated that neither one had hitthe other, and that the blood was theresult o the man breaking the passengerside window causing cuts on their handsand ace. Neither claimed to remember

what they were even arguing about. Teyappeared intoxicated and were treated byEMS beore being arrested or disorderlyconduct.

May 10- A man was assaulted while walking down the beach with a riend.Te assailant approached the two men

in an agitated state. He let, but returnedand punched the victim on the let side ohis ace twice, knocking him down andbreaking the mans cheek bone, which willrequire surgery.

May 14- wo individuals entered a storeand ran out with our boxes o Franzia

wine. One box was dropped and returnedto the store. Video surveillance showedthe two men being dropped o in a

white Mercedes station wagon. Neitherthe vehicle nor the suspects could belocated. Ocers were able to get a detaileddescription o the suspects rom the v ideo.Te value o the stolen wine was $45.

May 15- A mans checkbook was stolenater letting a drunken emale acquaintanceinto his apartment. She arrived at 3am andlet around noon. However, she returneda ew hours later, again in an intoxicatedstate. On May 16, the victim received acall rom his bank stating that the woman

was reused service when she tried to casha check or $1250 on his account, which is

when he called police.

May 15- wo re trucks, two police cars,and an AV towing a jet ski responded tothe pier around 3:30pm where a 20 year oldman jumped o the structure. Witnessespointed to the man as he was swimmingto shore. An ocer approached the man

and showed him all the people who had torespond to his dangerous stunt. He arguedthat he didnt see a sign saying he couldnt,at which point the ocer showed him thesign. Te man had no identication butstated he was rom Georgia, but livingin Alaska. He was arrested or disorderlyconduct.

May 15- Ocers responded to a ghtbetween two males at 6:50pm in thepier area o Arctic Avenue. When ocersarrived, one o the subjects began to walkaway. When asked to stop, he began torun. Te ocer gave chase and the subjectcontinued running ater being told to

stop again. Te ocer caught up to thesubject at 201 East Arctic ater he stoppedand threw his hands up in exhaustion.He smelled heavily o gross alcoholcosumption, was slurring his speech and

was visibly agitated. He was arrested ordisorderly conduct and ailing to stop orpolice. He was also discovered to haveseveral unpaid tickets or which he wasalso charged. Te other subject involved

in the ght did not seem intoxicated anddid not seem to be the aggressor.

May 16- An individual was robbed bya hotel employee as they walked acrossthe Folly Beach Holiday Inn parking lot.Te victim was carrying $200 cash in hishand when the employee simply grabbed

the money and ran. Te victim gavechase, but the suspect was too ast. Otheremployees also tried to help, but could notcatch him. Te employee was identiedby sta and police were given the suspectsinormation.

May 16- An apartment resident calledpolice and demanded that his downstairsneighbor be arrested, reporting that theneighbor had threatened him with ahammer ater he had asked the neighborto stop making noise at 9pm. Te suspectstated that he was installing a door lockgiven to him by the landlord inside ohis apartment when the complainant

began yelling or him to stop. He said thecomplainant then entered his apartment atwhich point he orced the man out o hishome, pushed him against the wall, andtold him to leave him alone. Both men

were told to stay inside o their respectiveapartments and to leave the other alone.

Letchworth noted. Its a Folly Beachproblem.

He has identied our main issues so ar

in his research and communication withresidents. Summer/weekend trac, poorparking practices by visitors, long andstraight roadways that encourage speedingand inadequate roadways that cannotaccommodate parking, pedestrians,bicycles, and vehicular trac.

Te need to discourage speed byvehicle drivers is essential, Stormer says.Drivers are not aware that the crossstreets have minimal sight distance orthose drivers attempting to cross or enterthe main thoroughare.

Better signage which would properlydirect visitors to dierent parts o theisland was one suggestion which wouldhelp trac ow more eciently on FollyBeach, according to Letchworth. He

also pointed out that the current publicright-o-ways are underutilized, uncaredor, and are oten blocked. Making theseareas more appealing or parking anddirecting trac to these areas is another

way Letchworth says trac congestioncould be eased. Mayor Carl Beckmannhas stated that there is enough parkingor everyone who comes to Folly Beach ithe right-o-ways are considered. MakingCenter Street two lanes in order to utilizethe outside lanes or angled parking and

wider sidewalks was another idea which

could ease congestion and encouragesaety year-round. rac circles, speedhumps, stop signs and trac lights werea ew o the ideas that were tossed aroundto help residents and visitors maneuver

the streets o Folly Beach more saely andeciently.

While many o the suggestions orimprovements could make maneuveringFolly Beach much easier and saer orpedestrians, it could also help the businesscommunity, Stormer says.

Another reason or placing thepedestrian rst is to make Center Streetpedestrian riendly and encouragestopping and shopping at the businesses,he says. Currently, Center Street is vehicle

oriented with our lanes o trac andminimal sidewalk capacity. We believethat encouraging pedestrian saety willincrease pedestrian activity.

Letchworth stated that the Wilbur

Smith plan would consist o short-term,as well as long-term, strategies. Short-term strategies are ideas which could beimplemented to impact trac and saetyin the next year or two. Using traccontrol ocers on Center Street and

Ashley Avenue during peak trac times iscritical to the short-term strategies, as wellas the use o additional signage and speedenorcement, Letchworth says. Te long-term strategies would be plans that mightrequire more nancial investment andconstruction and could easibly becomerealities in the next ve to ten years.

It will be up to Council to nd theunding in the budget or through available

grants, Beck stated.Letchworth expects to be back on Folly

Beach in June to see what a busy Saturdayis like. I all goes according to plan, theyhope to have a drat report to the Citysometime in August o this year.

Residents are encouraged to contactMr. Letchworth with any suggestions,concerns, or comments. Will Letchworthcan be called at 919-755-0583, axedat 919-832-8798 and e-mailed at

[email protected]. You canalso reach him through regular mail at:

Wilbur Smith Associates

421 Fayetville Street, Suite 1303

Raleigh, North Carolina 27601

Trafc fom page 2


11/12

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Innovative Creations Ltd. is a newcompany in the Charleston area thatocuses on helping home and businessowners cut their energy consumption inhal through educating and providing theproper tools to achieve maximum energyeciency. Every product that the companysells and installs has a payback periodo ve years or less. Tis means that themoney you save in energy costs will equalthe amount spent on the improvements inno more than ve years.

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May 29, 2009 11

www.focuen.sc

Ma 29

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Date High Tide Low Tide

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12 May 29, 2009

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he air is humid, but a calm onshore breeze sneaksonto the back deck o the Center Street Kitchenand keeps this particular Tursday evening

comortable. Slowly the regulars begin to shufe in.More will ollow. Tey bring in velvet-lined cases whichcontain their particular instrument o expertise and are

warmly greeted with a smile by a short, gray haired el lowin a oral print, button-up shirt; a man whos quick tolaugh and light up a cigarette. Hes been setting up themicrophones and making sure the bar tab is ready. Hisname is Jaime McDonnel and hes been an integral parto the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society since day one.

Hes also one o the ew that didnt bring a case.McDonnel, who graduated rom USC with a degreein Broadcast Journalism, plays the washtub bass. Te

washtub bass, McDonnel says, is an original bluegrassinstrument. It is, literally, an old metal washtub turnedupside with a long pole coming out o the middle with a

wooden arm attached near the top that holds the thick,single string rom which the music ows. Its got a crackin it that has been welded closed and McDonnel reusesto get a new one. His embrace o the aged instrument is

an embodiment o the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society andacts as the perect, subconscious symbol or the Societysexistence.

Bluegrass, according to McDonell, is rooted in Celticand Gospel music. Tere is also an association withpoverty and the washtub bass is an example o how musicthrives no matter what the circumstances. It is an essentialand intertwined part o the human spirit.

In May, the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society celebratedtheir seven year anniversary. Te original idea belonged to

Jamie Wilson, a mandolin player. She put up some yersaround the island, looking or musicians who wanted toplay. McDonell was one o two people who originallyshowed up to share his love o bluegrass. For seven yearsnow, hes consistently shown up and played his washtub

with anybody else who wants to jam. Te society, he says,is constantly evolving.

Like nomads, they have never stayed in one placeor too long. By design or by surprise, theyve movedrom the Holiday Inn, to Bowens Island, to the CrabShack and several other Folly locales. Tey play or reedrinks in exchange or entertaining visitors in whateverestablishment they happen to be in. But more than that -much more than that - they play or the love o music.

Its not about any one person, McDonell says. Its

about the music.

Currently, theyve made a home at the Center StreetKitchen. As many as twenty people will show up on anygiven night. Some are individuals, others are part o agroup. Tey range rom a 10 year old girl named Jenna

who blows everyone away with her voice and talent on the

ddle, to musicians in their 80s who can still show emhow its done. Some musicians are amateurs, others are

well known in the eld. Tey all wait their turn to rotateonto the stage while enjoying being a part o a living,breathing bluegrass animal.

You never know rom one week to the next whosgoing to walk through that door, McDonell says.

Te Folly Beach Bluegrass Society is the longestrunning show o its kind in the area. In addition to theirregular happenings, they are hired to play events andparties as a collective. But currently, youll be able to catchthem on Tursday evenings on the deck o Te CenterStreet Kitchen. Teres nothing like musicians puttingsome lie into the breath o the ocean on a warm summernight , transerring the sound rom one soul to another asits poured onto the nearby street s o Folly Beach.

Whether you want to listen to some eclectic bluegra ssover some classic southern cooking and a cocktail or you

want to participate, do yoursel a avor and experience theFolly Beach Bluegrass Society. But i youre in the lattergroup, Jaime McDonell has at least one thing to say, Iyoure picking, Im buying your beer.

Visit the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society on myspace at:www.myspace.com/ollybeachbluegrasssociety

By Ali AkhyAri

staff poto

Participants of the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society getthings started while others wait their turn.

The Folly Current

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Transcript of The Folly Current