If you thought July 3 was a strange date to pick for Independence Day fireworks, you weren’t the only one. Believe it or not, there was a good reason. The City could either do it on July 3 or not do it at all; the reason being that the City discovered late in the process that the pyrotechnic group hired to display the City’s fireworks had its license pulled in another state for unsafe practices. The City, after researching other companies, finally found a local pyrotechnic group who was licensed to display the fireworks for Folly. There was one glitch: they were already completely booked for the 4th of July. Based on this information and knowing that there were no other pyrotechnics who could do it on July 4 , the City of Folly Beach decided to hire the local group and display the fireworks on July 3.

In an effort to notify the residents of the change, the City put this information on the City’s web site, announced it at council meetings, put it on the sign located near the Toll Booth property and put flyers up in the commercial district announcing July 3 as the date fireworks would be d

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Joseph McGill, a program officer for the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is a man with a mission. McGill says there is an “untold story” African-American Union soldiers that “deserves to be told”. After befriending several Confederate civil war reenactors as a park ranger at Fort Sumter National Monument, and watching the movie “Glory,” McGill became a reenactor himself. “We are constantly recruiting men and women to help us tell the story of the 180,000 African-American men that served the Union in the Civil War,” McGill said. The movie “Glory” centers on the 54th Massachusetts “colored” troops historic battle at Battery Wagner, Morris Island, SC on July 18th, 1863.

According to James W. Hagy in To Take Charleston- The Civil War on Folly Island, proximity to Morris Island and the Charleston ship channel prompted Folly’s use as a staging point, starting in February of 1863. Later that year as many as 10,000 Union troops, garrisoned on Folly Island, stood poised for battle. Steven Smith, of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, claims that Folly Island was literally deforested by the Union troops who needed firewood and building wood. On July 10, 1863, after a two-hour barrage of cannon fire from Folly, Union troops launched an amphibious assault across Lighthouse Inlet for an attempt to take Battery Wagner from the Confederates. The troops were driven back by a barrage of musket fire as they reached the walls of the fort. On July 18, Union assault forces from the 6th and 7th Connecticut, and the 54th Massachusetts staged another attempt on Fort Wagner. Union artillery support from gunboats, ironclads, and land batteries landed an estimated 9,000 rounds onto Fort Wagner. Confederate forces answered with batteries from Battery Greg on Cummings Point, Fort Sumter, James Island, and Sullivan’s Island. The Union troops were repelled once more after sustaining heavy casualties, with the 54th Massachusetts suffering the greatest losses.

Civil War re-enactors will commemorate the 147th anniversary of the assault on Battery Wagner on July 16. Volunteer re-enactors from Company I, 54th Massachusetts Re-enactment Regiment, will honor the men who participated in the historic battle on July 18, 1863. The event will occur on Morris Island, and the public is invited and encouraged to attend. The boat for the one-hour event will leave from the Charleston Maritime Center (10 Wharfside St., downtown Charleston) at 3:00 p.m. and return at 5:00 p.m. Make reservations by calling Joseph McGill at 408-7727. Participants should arrive 30 minutes before their reserved time. The cost of the boat ride and visit to the island is $25. Tideline Tours also offers Ferry service from James Island to Cummings Point, leaving at 1:30 p.m. and returning at approximately 6:00 p.m. The cost is $25 per person with a $5 per car parking fee. Make reservations by contacting Tideline Tours at 843-813-2497. The event is sponsored by Company I, 54th Massachusetts Re-enactment Regiment.

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Win or lose, Folly Beach candidates always throw a big party at one of the Center Street eating and drinking establishments, so Tim Goodwin’s supporters started heading for the raw bar at the Crab Shack as soon as the results were announced. There was business at hand for Goodwin as media folks lined up to interview the new Mayor.

Huge cold boiled shrimp, Wayne’s famous crab dip, and some serious libations kept supporters in a celebratory mood as they awaited the arrival of their candidate. “Here he comes,” someone said and Tim and Charlotte made their grand entrance to a roar of cheering and applause.

“The people voted for transparent, open government,” Goodwin said. “Nobody is going to have any problem contacting me.”

Goodwin made his way around the room, thanking his friends and supporters, shaking hands and kissing the ladies, basking in the glow of his success, surprised that he had won the race outright and avoided the expected run-off two weeks later. “I never thought it would be over tonight,” he said. “But, of course, it’s really just beginning.”

And the party continued.

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Although I have lived on Folly since 2003, I don’t know everything that’s going on, so I hope I can depend on my readers to keep me “On The Edge.” If you hear about something or have information or concerns to share, please feel free to get in touch with me. Two potential stories came my way just last week via alert Folly Beach residents. Inquiring minds want to know! I also want to point out, however, that rumors run rampant on Folly Beach. Don’t believe everything you hear. Check it out first in The Folly Current!

I did want to tell those readers who asked – and those that didn’t ask, but wondered – that “The Police Blotter” is alive and well. The reason you have not seen it in the past two editions of The Folly Current is simply because Public Safety has not had anything interesting to investigate. Not to worry though, Chief Boatwright said he expects things to start picking up any day now. So stay tuned, and look for “The Police Blotter” to reappear again in the March 3rd issue.

I am looking forward to editing The Folly Current and hope I can count on my readers to help keep me informed. You can reach me laurendean1@comcast.net or 588-2836. I look forward to talking with you.

Lauren Dean
Editor, The Folly Current

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On January 16, the low temperature on Folly Beach was 26 degrees that day, but some discovered criminal activity expressed the true meaning of cold to Folly Beach Public Safety Director Terry Boatwright. That same afternoon, 47 year-old Paul Hanshaw was arrested for exploiting at least two, elderly Folly Beach residents out of several thousand dollars.
“I find this a particularly despicable act; somebody who will prey on vulnerable, elderly people that have entered their retirement years and are putting money away for the rest of their lives,” Boatwright said. Hanshaw is facing two criminal counts. One for obtaining goods under false pretenses and the other for exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The serious degree to which authorities consider the latter offense was evident in the record setting $500,000 bond placed by the judge. “We think this is the highest bond ever placed on someone we’ve arrested,” Boatwright said of a Folly Beach suspect.
Hanshaw is accused of convincing two Folly Beach residents to give him money with lies of desperately needing their help. Police recovered $2500 of exploited money upon his arrest. However, the case is still under investigation and Boatwright says Hanshaw has swindled significantly more money from victims than what was found at the time of his arrest and that more charges are anticipated pending further investigation.
Hanshaw was told by police not to go within one block of the most recent victim after his arrest. However, he has been living even closer than one block to which the judge responded that he should just avoid Folly Beach all together. Hanshaw is not Folly Beach property owner.
He is expected to appear in court for roll call on March 5 and then again on May 21. However, Hanshaw will be in court before then on January 26 and February 5 for possession of crack/crocaine with intention to distribute and for the same possession and intent within proximity of a school after a December 2009 arrest.
Caption: Photo provided by Folly Beach Public Safety
Paul Hanshaw, 47, was arrested for swindling money from elderly Folly Beach neighbors. He is being held on a $500,000 bond, which is believed to be the largest bond attached to any Folly Beach criminal according to Public Safety Director Terry Boatwright.

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As the South Carolina Film Commission continues its work of bringing “Hollywood” money to our State and local economies, the lowcountry, epitomizing natural and historic beauty, has become an increasingly popular locale for filmmakers. It’s inevitable, then, that stories featuring cultural icons on very local backgrounds will begin to surface. Folly Beach, has hosted the filming of

The Marshall Tucker Band got denied access to the Sand Dollar Social Club on Folly Beach during a recent visit.

at least two major motion pictures just in the last year. True to form, an interesting story has come out of it.
Fans are usually the ones turned away from a private party or backstage encounter, barring exposed cleavage and skimpy outfits, of course. Generally, the majority of fans who want nothing more than a picture with their musical idol go home with nothing but a dream of the next show as backstage doors are slammed in their face, reminding us that we are mere mortals in the presence of man-made gods. However, Marshall Tucker and his band got a reminder of what it’s like on the other side of the fence during a recent visit to Folly Beach, according to the rumor mill.
According to a local source, the “Marshall Tucker Band” was in town doing a gig for the movie Angel Camouflaged which is currently being filmed on Bowen’s Island. The film follows “Scottie” a failed musician who joins her brother in the Florida Keys to reopen a dilapidated bar called Kokonuts left to them by their recently deceased aunt Marie. After fixing the place up they try to figure out what type of music should be played at the bar and they “try out” several genres of music before deciding that Scottie should play the music herself. The Marshall Tucker Band could have been one of the musical acts representing Southern Rock as Kokonuts searches for an identity. Hopefully, we’ll get to see them perform in the film.
The story is that during the band’s stint in the area, they went to the Sand Dollar Social Club to hang out on Sunday, November 8. Of course, anyone familiar with Folly Beach knows that this is a very local, private bar to which you need a membership and is also a glove that fits the band perfectly. Either the bouncer didn’t recognize the group or the Sand Dollar doesn’t bend its rules for anybody; not even a legendary Southern musical group who used to play on the Folly Beach pier in the 60’s. Either way, Marshall Tucker and his band were denied access to our local, locals spot. I have to think they laughed as they turned away and walked the street as mortals for what was probably the first time in a long while. I also have to think the bouncer dislocated his own knee in order to kick himself in the crotch for that one. No offense, but I’d want to punch myself for missing an opportunity to share a drink with Marshall Tucker in my house.
This is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, the Marshall Tucker Band may be permanently burned into film performing at our local Bowen’s Island restaurant for the rest of the world to see. How cool is that? Plus, you heard it here first…hopefully. Second, when you’re watching Angel Camouflaged with a friend sometime in the future, you’ll have a little story to tell when you see the band playing at Bowen’s Island, I mean “Kokonuts” in the Floriday, Keys. You’ll look really cool to whoever you’re telling and you might be able to use it as a springboard to “second base” if the situation is conducive to such a thing. Your best friend might find it offensive. Who knows?
Anyway, congratulations to “Follywood” for owning the rights to the future Folly Beach.

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Squirrel Jam at Surf Bar

The Lonesome Squirrel Acoustic Jam sessions are an opportunity for “closet musicians” to come out and play music with like-minded individuals. Every Monday night at the Surf Bar from 8-11pm, music will be available for your listening and playing pleasure. The Monday night carnival promises to be an easy atmosphere for any music lover on either side of the microphone. So whether you’re a confident musician who has experience playing with a band or you’ve been hiding your talent away in the comfort of your bedroom or shower, feel free to join the Lonesome Squirrel experience and put yourself out there for everyone to see.

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Pet Helpers 5th Annual Fur Ball Black Tie Gala will be held Friday, November 6, 6:30pm, at Memminger Auditorium, located at 56 Beaufain Street in downtown Charleston. This year our theme is Fur Bollywood. Guests are encouraged to wear Bollywood attire and Saris … Bindis will abound!

As you embark on your exotic evening with a delicious beverage from the open bar and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, you will have time to peruse and bid on the many exciting silent auction items including vacation get-a-ways, custom art work, dinners at local hot spots, jewelry, golf packages and many other exciting and unique items. While enjoying your delicious dinner prepared by Barry Waldrop of True Charleston Cuisine, you will also have a chance to bid on items during our exciting live auction, emceed by Tom Crawford and Victoria Hansen of TV 4 News. Following dinner, dance the night away to a DJ spinning your requests.

All proceeds from this gala will fund our Pet Helpers Adoption Center and Spay/ Neuter Clinic.  Our new facility houses over 250 homeless animals on a daily basis, where they are all medically cared for and given TLC in an open, bright and cheerful environment.  All of Pet Helpers animals are kept until adopted.

Tickets to the Fur Ball cost $150 each and can be purchased at the shelter or by calling 795-1110.  Visa and MasterCard are available. Or you can purchase them online by going to www.pethelpers.org.  The Fur Ball Gala has sold out the past four years. With only 250 tickets available seating is limited, so call now. It is an evening you don’t want to miss!

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