On a perfect St. Patrick’s Day Saturday on Folly Beach, Charleston SUP Safaris and Flipper Finders hosted the First Annual Shamrock SUP Race, raising $600 for Pet Helpers and the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation. Congratulations to division winners Caroline Rossi, Bubba Catoe, Sammi Arnold, and Tyler Cross.

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In an old film, The World of Suzie Wong, a Chinese mother uses that very address to send a “letter of reference” to God to accompany the soul of her infant son who died: To Whom It May Concern.

Nancy Wilson died in her Sandbar apartment on Folly Beach last week. As a true “Follyite,” Nancy worked evenings at MUSC for years and spent time at the Crab Shack. She was often surly. She was an artist. She was fond of wine and in love with a guy named Roy. And she was my dear friend for decades.

During difficult times and across distances we’d often console ourselves that someday, as Rose would say, “when the work’s all done,” we’d be two old broads sitting in rockers and just watching the ocean back on the 10^th block east (where our house was before Hugo)– and grumbling. Nancy was just 63.

Nancy’s cousin and sister will be on Folly this Friday to collect her belongings. Later this spring, I hope to be back home to release her ashes to the sea on the pier. I hope to hear from anyone who’d like to participate in that.

You should have seen her back in her Bennington days. She was gorgeous–all legs and Farrah hair –and often surly. I’ll bring a picture.

Jason at the Crab Shack has my number.

Chris Marlow

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The good-ole-boy government system continues to have a decent foot hold on Folly Beach. No one is more aware of this than former mayor Bob Linville.

For years now, Mr. Linville has enjoyed disregarding the public right-of-way midblock easement at his 510 East Ashley Ave. property. This is a strip of land in the public trust, allowing for pedestrian access through the middle of a city block. In our case it is so that beach-goers can park on back streets and walk, without obstructing the road to the beach.

At mid 5^th block East there is a very nice dune walkover that directs you from the beach to the midblock right-of-way between East Arctic and East Ashley. However, at this point a pedestrian is stranded along the busy traffic of East Ashley due to a fence built across the right-of-way at 510 East Ashley.

The Planning Commission recently recommended to City Council that this and other right-of-ways be cleared for access. This Resolution 16-12 died on the council chamber floor because neither council member nor mayor would second the motion. The comments by Mr. Linville from the gallery reeked of self-interest: “Why are you picking on these easements?”

Well, Mr. Linville, in your case it’s because you continue to break the law. Your stance clearly reveals your attitude that the rules don’t apply to you and apparently Mayor Goodwin feels the same way since no code enforcement has been issued for this case.

What was that comment Mayor Goodwin made about everyone playing by the same rules? It’s time for our mayor to use the words of Ronald Reagan and say ”Mr. Linville, tear that wall down!”

Sincerely,

Jim Crow

520 East Huron Ave.

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A sand sculpting competition is part of the fun at the Folly Beach Sea & Sand Festival.

The 2012 Folly Beach Sea & Sand Festival will take place the weekend of Saturday, March 24 and Sunday, March 25. Center Street will be shut down at 8 a.m. March 24 and the arts, crafts and food vendors and non-profits will open their booths at 10 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m., the street party and live music will get kicked off on the Follywood Stage by Reid Stone and Jeff Davis of Guilt Ridden Troubadour, followed by the Folly Beach Bluegrass Society from 12:50-1:50 p.m., and the Shakin’ Martinis from 2:10-3:10 p.m. Concrete Jumpsuit will close the festival down on that stage from 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Meanwhile on the Chill & Grill Stage (the main stage), Champagne & Friends will get things rolling at noon and play until 12:50 p.m., followed by Weigh Station from 1:10-2:10 p.m., Jupiter’s Garden featuring James Justin Burke from 2:30-3:30 p.m., and Stereo Reform will bring it home from 3:50-5:00 p.m.

The Folly Art Guild will also be holding its Tides of March Festival in the Folly River Park on Saturday.

Sunday the festival will continue with the Folly Wahine Surfing Competition and the Folly Beach Now Sand Sculpting Competition. The day will culminate with the East Coast Party Band concert at the Tides Resort.

This festival is free and open to the public, and there will be nearly 100 street vendors offering arts, crafts, clothing, concessions, children’s games, silent auctions plus much more.

The Folly Beach Sea & Sand Festival is presented by the Folly Association of Business, Follywood Productions and Blue Planet Green Events. More information can be found online at www.follybeachseaandsand.com.

Coordinators for the event are now accepting sponsorship and vendor applications, volunteer sign-up forms, silent auction items, etc.. To donate a gift for the silent auction, sign up as a sponsor or vendor, contact Toni Reale at toni.reale@gmail.com. For more information about the music lineup for this year, contact Ben Bounds at follywoodrocks@gmail.com. To join the Folly Art Guild, contact Andie Weathers at andiew@earthlinnk.net or Kerry Hupp at kerryhupp@bellsouth.net. To sign up for the Wahine Surfing Competition, contact Nancy Hussey at nancy@follywahine.com. To pre-register for the Sand Sculpting Competition, contact Vince Perna at vperna@dunesproperties.com.

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Introduction: The Club provides a forum for the candidates to present their positions to voters and respond to brief written questions. The location is the Community Center and commences at 7 P.M. Tuesday, February 21^st. The Club invites as many of the voters/residents to attend as can fit safely in the room.

Process

The Vice President will give a brief welcome.

The moderator will read the biography and the candidate has no more than 4 minutes to speak. There will be a time keeper

After the speeches there will be a refreshment interval. Snacks and soft drinks will be provided.

On reconvening the moderator will read out a question for the candidate. The candidates have one timed minute to reply.

This process will be repeated until either it is time for the meeting to end or the questions become exhausted.

Rules for Questions:

THERE ARE FIVE (5) CANDIDATES SO TIME WILL BE SHORT. QUESTIONS MUST BE SHORT AND CAPABLE OF SHORT ANSWERS.

• must be LEGIBLE and Signed;
• must be a question not a statement;
• must not be defamatory;
• to be used, the author of a question must be present;

Production of Questions

Email questions received before the meeting and questions deposited in a question box at the library ( 12^th March onwards) or handed in at the door will be reviewed for use. Note cards and pencils will be provided. The question cards will be collected and sorted by Club Volunteers. The same Three (?) questions considered of prime importance to the community, created by the Civic Club, will be asked in random order of each candidate. This will allow voters to compare candidates’ answers to the same question.

THERE WILL BE MORE QUESTIONS SUBMITTED THAN THERE WILL BE TIME TO ANSWER SO PLEASE REALIZE YOUR QUESTION MAY NOT GET ASKED.

Library requirements

The room has to be returned for library use so the audience will be asked to allow the club members to restack the chairs and set out the tables for the next day by 10 P.M

DJ Rich

DJ Rich

Dear Friends and Neighbors-

It has been an honor to serve you on Folly Beach City Council, and I look forward to our bright future together. As your representative, I am constantly working with not only other members of our Council, but elected officials statewide, to ensure Folly Beach has the best present and future possible, while learning lessons from our past. You can’t know where you are going without knowing where you have been, and keeping our rich history and heritage should be a top priority.

We have met many of our goals, and our island is in a great place right now. We are very healthy financially, have a thriving business district, new-look police department, more green space and parks. We updated building codes to lower flood insurance, strengthened our Beach Management Patrol, and brought police dispatch back to Folly Beach. Overall, our City has improved significantly over the past 2 years (please visit VOTETEAMDJ.com for more info), and I look forward to new challenges in the future.

As we work towards these goals, we need input from you. This is your island and your future as well, and we need to hear from you on making our island a better place to live. Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions or concerns (djforfolly@yahoo.com). Your vote for me on April 3^rd will ensure that we keep a cohesive Council, working together without mediation, while keeping Folly’s history alive. Thank you for your time and support. 

Sandy Hickman

Sandy Hickman

I am Sandy Hickman, and I am asking you for your support on April 3rd in my bid for city council. I was born and raised on East Erie, where I currently reside with my husband, Ken. Both my parents, Marcia and Angus Smith, were involved in the Folly community. My father was a Volunteer Fireman and Civic Club member. My mother is known by many as the “Bread Lady” for the Sandbar Restaurant. My daughter, Veronica Bolus, was also born and raised here on Folly and is active in the surfing community. I am a Board Member of the Folly Exchange Club where my, brother, Angus, is also currently the President. I am in the process of retiring so I can devote more time to Folly.

I have seen many changes take place here on Folly Beach. The present Council and Mayor are taking Folly in the right direction. Folly Beach has always been a laid back town and I believe it should remain that way for years to come. In order for this to occur, we all must be respectful and considerate of each other in our community as well as visitors. The stress of the day melts away as I approach Folly. “There’s no place like HOME”! I am available to speak to any and all of my fellow Folly Beachers. I can be reached at 437-0340 or sandi4council@yahoo.com.

Tom Scruggs

Tom Scruggs

My links to Folly Beach are broad and deep. I operated the “Twister” at the old amusement park, and helped run Folly Bingo (later the Islanders Shag Club and now Taco Boy). When I wasn’t working, I was either surfing or listening to awesome bands on the old pier. After graduating from James Island High School, I earned a business degree from the University of South Carolina and served in the U.S. Air Force.

In 2000 my wife Sandy and I became permanent residents of Folly Beach. I retired last March from my career as a human resources and risk management specialist (managing compensation, benefits and training programs, workers compensation and safety, and finding personnel for key positions all over the country). I’ve been working part-time on our Beach Management Patrol, helping to keep our beach and streets litter-free and serving as an “ambassador” for our city.

Our son Matt and his wife live on James Island and our daughter Carla lives in North Carolina with her husband and child. My sister Sandra Boyd lives on Folly Beach and my twin brother Tim lives in Hanahan.

I’m a member of the Folly Beach Civic Club, member/past president of the Islanders Shag Club, an Elder for James Island Presbyterian Church. Sandy and I continue to help with the FB Halloween Carnival and “Save the Light” (Morris Island Lighthouse Preservation).

If you elect me, I’ll put my personnel, finance, and planning experience to good use for Folly Beach.

Sincerely, Tom Scruggs

Eddie Ellis

Eddie Ellis

Hi! I’m Eddie Ellis. Thank-you for electing me two terms. In 2004, I promised to vote no to a property tax increase, and an increase in zoning density. In 2008, again I pledged those promises, and “to work to keep Folly a laid back residential community”. I kept my promises! If re-elected, I promise the same. Therefore, I’m asking for your vote on April 3. Please vote for me!

Serving entails more than simply voting no. I have provided fiscal responsibility and looked out for the taxpayer. In 2007, I reduced the property tax increase by $114,000. I improved the sewer finances by eliminating the $60,000 yearly PILOT, which was draining our sewer reserves. Moving forward, I want to work to establish a utilities capital improvement plan, and an infrastructure reserve. I know the city finances, and I’m confident I can serve to provide fiscal integrity, and work against property tax increases.

Legislation I introduced and passed PROHIBITS any further CONDO DEVELOPMENT, and reduces development density. Other legislation prohibits any further increase in beachfront commercialism, and limits transient vendors in our business district. I REFUSE to let Folly be a CASH COW!

Effectiveness takes working with others. I opposed County Consolidated Dispatch, and worked to overturn it. It took perseverance and cooperation from others to return our dispatchers. I’m experienced, effective, and as a graduate of MASC Elected Official’s Institute, I’m educated. Most important, I can work with mayor, council, and staff. That’s what it takes – and your vote – so please do! Contact : 588-9595 or eddie.ellis@comcast.net.


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Mona and Amy were proud PluffMudders at the end of their tour.

Pulling up to an oyster bank, I polled my guests.

“Who likes mud?” I asked.

Hands from Amy and Mona (9 and 7 respectively) shot into the air. Oyster-covered pluff mud banks cushioned the boat’s landing.

“We’ve got millions of oyster here in the salt marsh, maybe billions,” I told the folks on the boat.

“Snails and oysters are mollusks,” Amy stated.

Wow, I thought. Smart kid.

“Octopi are mollusks, too,” she added.

Amy had me off balance. “Uh…yes, octopus are mollusks, class cephalopoda, phylum mollusca,” I dredged up from my cobwebbed memory.

“Don’t you mean octopi?”

“Yes…Octopi”, I repeated. Just as with my students, I smiled and nodded approval. A sheepish smile on the Dad’s face turned wide. Next, we painted pluff mud onto our cheeks. Pluff mud, made up of clays, silts, and organics, settles and deposits in the low-energy salt marsh environment.

“So…what lives in the water and what do they do?” I asked.

Yes, kids…you just put crab poop on your faces. 

A little later in the trip, Amy, now fascinated with pluff mud, requested half a pail from the exposed bank. I obliged. Soon, in beauty spa style, pluff mud caked both Amy’s and Mona’s cheeks. Pluff mud also found its way onto pant legs, onto boat seats, and into hair. I made available a hand-washing bucket of creek water. Potential pluff mud-printed car seats and couches had the adults talking confiscation. The pluff mud bucket went ashore with Amy and Mona during their Morris Island exploration. Then it returned and rode back to the marina, nestled tightly at Mona’s feet.

At the end of our trip, I held my “awards ceremony”, bestowing the kids with the coveted PLUFFMUDDER title and bumper sticker. Amy and Mona, with partially dried, mud-caked cheeks, graciously accepted their new PLUFFMUDDER statuses. Their Mom, who never actually touched the stuff, received the lesser award: “Mother of a Pluffmudder”. She still got a sticker.

Glancing up from my boat cleaning, I saw my departing guests walking up the gangway. The pluff mud bucket left with them, still swinging on Amy’s arm.

 Captain Anton DuMars, a coastal geologist and 31-year Folly Beach resident, owns and operates Tideline Tours, LLC. To find Anton, please call or text 843-813-2497 or visit http://tidelinetours.com

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Narrowing down the entries to the top three was a tough job for our three judges, but they did their best. We wish we could publish them all.

If you sent the Folly Current physical copies of your photos, they’ll be available to pick up from Marlene Estridge at City Hall on March 19. The winners will be contacted with their prizes — gift certificates to the Brick House Kitchen and to Cinebarre.

Thanks again to everyone who entered, and look out for the 2013 contest coming next December.

ABOUT THE JUDGES

Hunter McRae is a professional photographer based in Charleston, specializing in  weddings. She worked for seven years as a photojournalist in Boulder, Colorado Springs, and the Savannah Morning News before moving home to Charleston. Her work can be seen at www.huntermcrae.com

Justin Morris photographs to explore his creative side. “Photography is a never ending road and there is always something new to learn or shoot, which I really love,” he says. His work can be seen at www.follyhood.blogspot.com

Lindsey Graham works as a wildlife photographer specializing in birds. “I am always striving to capture subjects in motion,” she says. “Those split seconds highlight fascinating detail and movement you wouldn’t normally be able to see with the naked eye.” Her work can be seen at www.facebook.com/FlyWayPhotos

BEST SHOT BY A FOLLY BEACH RESIDENT

FIRST PLACE

St. Hilda’s Abbey, Whitby, England

John Appleby

The judges felt that overall, this photograph told a story, between the sky, the castle, and the pond. “You can see the wind. There’s a lot of depth,” says Lindsey. “There’s color popping off of everything,” says Justin. Hunter appreciated how the viewer’s eyes are led in a flow around the photograph.

SECOND PLACE

Dog and Kayaks

Jim Crow

“This gave me an emotion. It’s a simple, nice idea,” says Hunter. Justin liked the simplicity of the two kayaks, and liked that the boats were solid colors without writing — “that would have taken away from the composition.” It made Lindsey yearn for summertime.

THIRD PLACE

Sailor’s Delight

Diana Joan Vincent

“This is a tough picture to get,” says Lindsey. “The boat is exposed nicely and the background isn’t blown out.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Prayers in the Wind, Japan

Diana Joan Vincent

The judges found this photo striking and intriguing, partially due to the mystery of what they were seeing.

BEST PICTURE TAKEN AT FOLLY BEACH

FIRST PLACE

Beach Crossover

Raphael Koenig

The dramatic color of this picture led the judges to believe it was an HDR photograph. Justin admired the vivid, sea-warped lines in the wood. “Your lines lead you to the guy at the end,” says Hunter. “Your eyes know right where to go.”

SECOND PLACE

Sunrise on the Pier

Bill Noel

“Simultaneously dramatic and peaceful and a beautiful image all around of Folly Beach,” says Hunter, pointing out that the photographer took a cliché image and creatively gave it life.” Justin was impressed with the timing capturing the angle of the sun, and the ability to capture the right exposure.

THIRD PLACE

Magical Kayaking

Jan Buffington

The judges were immediately moved by the proximity of the photographer to the dolphin, giving them a feeling that they were in the water with the animal. “It’s hard to capture that split second when they emerge, and to get it while the sun is setting is impressive,” says Lindsey.

HONORABLE MENTION

Tide Pool

Raphael Koenig

“You can tell the photographer was trying to be creative with viewpoints, layering the image,” says Hunter. Koenig, a German exchange student who vacationed on Folly Beach with his host family, took the image before sunset on the beach.

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Based out of Greenville, SC, The Bad Popes are a five-piece ensemble consisting of Jef Chandler (guitar, vocals), Charles Hedgepath (guitar, vocals), Chris Garrett (bass), Mike Bagwell (pedal steel), and Joe Cash (drums). All veterans of the South Carolina music scene, The Bad Popes have been playing as a unit since 2002, with Joe Cash coming on board in 2010. Adept in many different styles of music that fall under the umbrella term Americana, the band plays everything from Western Swing in the manner of Bob Wills to rock in the spirit of the Allman Brothers to straight up country material like Hank Williams, Sr. Featuring original material as well as select covers, The Bad Popes showcase the dueling leads of Mike Bagwell and Charles Hedgepath, and the rhythm section of Chandler, Garrett, and Cash. Having released their eponymous debut CD in 2009, the Bad Popes are currently touring to support their latest release Town and Country, which was released in 2012.

The Bad Popes will be performing at the Surf Bar on Folly Beach on Saturday, March 24 at 9 p.m. For more information on the show and the band check out http://www.badpopes.com/

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Just when you thought it was safe to venture out on the charming, bohemian, one-of-a-kind Folly Beach, author Bill Noel uncovers another (fictional) mystery to make you think twice about who you can trust!

South Carolina’s Folly Beach is again prominently featured in the new novel GHOSTS, the sixth installment in the Folly Beach Mystery series. Folly, the debut novel in the series, was released in 2007; The Pier published 2008; Washout in 2009; The Edge in 2010, and, The Marsh released last year. Author Bill Noel weaves the charm and character of the small barrier island and nearby Charleston throughout the pages of his new mystery novel. There’s also a side trip or two to the Smoky Mountains and Gatlinburg.

Those of you who have read one or more of the first five books will be familiar with Chris Landrum and his merry band of misfits who stumble, bumble, and somehow manage to catch killers who appear almost as often on Folly Beach as sunburned tourists. Charles, Karen, Dude, Mad Mel, Heather, and William will be returning to help Chris solve the mystery.

“Folly Beach is a magical and mysterious place,” said Noel. “I’ve tried to capture the charm, character, and characters of the island in the Folly Beach Mystery series.”

The Folly Beach Mystery series has been described as the “perfect beach read.” The novels are light, humorous, and feature a group of characters who are nearly as quirky as the setting.

Noel lives in Louisville, Kentucky but feels at home on Folly. “I’m not privileged to live on Folly Beach, but have been positively welcomed by everyone I’ve had contact with there the last six years. Residents have offered me valuable insights, information, and more than a few potential plots. If I bumped off everyone Folly residents have suggested, the population would be drastically reduced!”

The Folly Beach Mystery Series is available in Bert’s Market, Piggly Wiggly, Michelle’s Salon and Spa, Mr. John’s Beach Store, and the Sugar Shack in the Tides Folly Beach. The books are also available for order through your local bookseller or on the Internet at www.billnoel.com, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

Noel will be on Folly Beach in March to sign and talk about GHOSTS as well as have copies of the first five books for sale. He will be at the following locations:

RELEASE PARTY Michelle’s Salon and Spa, Saturday, March 17, 3:00-6:00 p.m.

The Lost Dog Café, Tuesday, March 20, 7:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Bert’s Market, Tuesday, March 20, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

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