We’ve been focusing on maps a lot lately. Way back in about 2004, we worked with the Environmental committee and some realtors to create a large, foldable map with street addresses, lots, and information about how to live gently on the island. These, it turns out, are pretty expensive to reproduce. In addition, some of the information was out of date, and some of it was hard to read if you were actually looking at the map: the most important information about our conservation culture was hidden on the back.
New Island Map
For a few years, Dewees Real Estate has produced this map:
With the rules on the back of the map.
But it was time for a bit of an overhaul, and we wanted a place where first time visitors could absorb some of our most important cultural guidelines while looking at the map. So HERE is a quick snapshot of the new map: you can get yours on the ferry or there will be multiples around for you to pick up at POA weekend. It’s a great way to give your guests a quick overview of the rules.
In addition, this new map has all the street addresses on the back, as well as information about ferry priorities, calling for a return ride, and trash and recycling. It’s a collaborative effort between me and Reggie, the POA, and dunes properties/Charleston Coast Vacations. We’ll have it for you at POA weekend. (And that photo is of a DRAFT… if you’re quick you can spot a few errors. We’ll have the updated ones available for you this weekend.
New Tourist Map
One of the things I started working on when I began marketing was the fact that Dewees didn’t seem to be featured on local maps. Over the last few years, we’ve been working hard to change that. With the help of dunes properties, what used to be an ad on the previous map is now a map of Dewees. It has a tiny nature center, the Huyler House, The sub tower, the ferry and the streets. You’ll notice that it also says “private” so that people aren’t tempted to just hop on the ferry. And there’s a tiny realtor, which makes us laugh but could come in handy. We’ll have some of these around for pickup on POA weekend, or you can stop in at some local businesses to get a copy. Dunes has some at the office, and we grabbed these at the Refuge near the Harris Teeter.
Real Estate Map
Dunes properties has a Mount Pleasant/Sullivans/IOP map in their offices which does show Dewees, so anyone looking at property from those offices is exposed to the awesomeness that is Dewees.
We have two new books available: we’re really excited about them. They are being printed at Blurb, which is an on-demand printer, so if you want to preorder some to pick up at the POA meeting and save yourself the shipping, shoot us an email with the number of copies you need.
The first one is by Carroll and Jane Savage, with their incredible poem and the history of Dewees Island. Read at the 25th anniversary celebration, this epic poem chronicles the last 300 years on the island, using anecdotes and historical research from Jim Cochrane’s history book. They got together with Esther Doyle to set it to current artwork, and this lovely book is the result.
You can order online with the link below, if you aren’t headed to POA weekend. It’s $15 before shipping.
Also, I had a great time putting together an annotated tide table for the island. It is in the form of a day planner, and each week has the high and low tides of that week, the sunrise and sunset times, and the plants and animals you’re likely to find that week.
On Saturday, we caught our first glimpse of a young eaglet over on our eagle nest. This makes the eighth consecutive year that a pair of nesting bald eagles has hatched at least one youngster. The above photo is from 2017. In 2012, we were so surprised when a pair of Bald Eagles made their nest on a platform build for Osprey nesting, and even more excited to see the chick hatch in the spring. Since then, we consider it our great privilege to watch them care for the young birds until they fledge each spring.
It took me a few days to get you actual photos of this youngster: between the rain this weekend, and fog on Tuesday, it was Wednesday before I could actually capture some footage. We have a pretty good view of what’s going on through our scope, but we are a quarter mile away, and my little (amazing) canon sx60 was able to get some quick video and a shot or two. It was windy, and we are both three stories up in the air with a lot of space between.
Here is some footage of the whole process over the years.
On Tuesday March 5, so long as there are enough participants, artist Beth Bathe will be leading a plein air workshop with mixable oils. Beth is an artist residing in Lancaster, PA, who participates in high profile competitions from Maine to Washington State; a total of ten competitions in 2018 alone. Her paintings have won numerous awards and honors and she is a featured artist in the 2018 February/March issue of PleinAir Magazine:
Water mixable oils can produce stunning paintings that rival the color depth and texture of those done with traditional oils, yet eliminate the need for solvents. Beth’s unique approach incorporates a number of texturizing techniques. If you have experience with oils, watercolors, or acrylics, this workshop is for you.
Our workshop booking depends upon 6 or more confirmed attendees. The workshop fee is $100 per person + $80 supplies. The deadline for receipt of payment is February 15. Details regarding supplies and instructions for payment will be emailed.
Beth’s painting style is unique, looking somewhat like a watercolor, or is it an oil painting?She uses Cobra Water Mixable Oil Colors in thin washes with a limited tonalist palette, using unconventional tools such as squeegees and qtips along with her brushes. Her representational paintings have been described by critics as evoking nostalgia, like that of an old sepia toned photograph, often with just touches of color. She is highly influenced by painter Andrew Wyeth, and her subject matter is often what she refers to as the “vanishing landscape”, including finding beauty in buildings, barns and old towns of a time gone by and often beyond their prime. Old barns, a Victorian farmhouse, a back alley, a fire escape, an old mill, or an old split rail fence down a country road are common subjects. Beth paints primary on location to catch her subject at a specific time, especially how the light and shadows play on the surface create drama and emotion.
Beth has a BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University ‘81. She teaches classes and leads workshops at her studio, Short Dog Studio, in Ephrata, PA, where she shares her space with her photographer partner and three cardigan welsh corgis.
She is currently represented by Charles Fine Art Gallery in Gloucester MA, Vermont Artisan Designs in Brattleboro VT, South Street Gallery in Easton MD, Crystal Moll Gallery, Baltimore MD, Warm Springs Gallery, Warm Springs VA and Red Raven Gallery in 2019.
Beth is a Artist Member and on the Executive Board as Secretary of the Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters (MAPAPA), Oil Painters of America (OPA), Outdoor Painters Society (OPS), Susquehanna Valley Plein Air Painters (SVPAP), Daily Painters of Pennsylvania and Daily Paintworks. In February 2016 she participated in the Plein Air Magazine Invitational trip to Cuba, and has also plein air painted in China.
• Invited Artist 2019 George Island, FL
• Juried Artist 2019 Southwest Plein Air, TX
• Invited Artist 2019 Gloucester Plein Air, VA
• Juried Artist 2018 Door County Plein Air, WI
Please RSVP to: DeweesIslandArtsCouncil@gmail.com
The mission of the Dewees Island Arts Council is to further the appreciation of the arts on Dewees Island and beyond through a series of programs, exhibits, workshops, lectures and field trips. They maintain our gallery space at Huyler House.
Committee Members: Diane Kliros (Chair), Anne Anderson, Claudia DeMayo, Ester Doyle, Brucie Harry, Low Harry, Susan Mashman, Barbara McIntyre, Cassandra McLeod, Cozy Mitchell, Jane Pasquini, Mary Reilly, Jane Savage, and Lisa Ward
1. We still love our cellular Internet connections using data resellers.
To ensure that we always have access for the business Judy runs — Dewees Real Estate — and the rest of our needs, we actually have 2 networks run by different service providers with different underling networks (AT&T and T-Mobile). Plus our cell phones, tablets and Apple Watch run on Verizon. See the article from last year for instructions on how to setup such a system. We think this is overkill and almost certainly not necessary for most households on Dewees, but are happy to know we always have access.
We’re using gobs of data for all kinds of upload and download services. Once in a while we get a warning that we’re approaching the Top 5% of all data users on the plan, but we don’t think we’re being throttled or otherwise limited by the services.
2. We’ve turned off several other services.
Excede satellite Internet – turned off.
AT&T DSL – turned off.
AT&T home telephone line – turned off.
AT&T DirecTV – turned off.
Savings: hundreds of dollars per month.
3. We’ve installed some new services and hardware.
Switched fire and burglar alarm monitoring to cellular black box system.
YouTube TV — a way to get live TV programming, including Charleston stations; we’re still deciding if it’s necessary given HD TV over the attic antenna.
YouTube — great for all kinds of instructional videos, such as Yoga with Adrienne and Touring the Pantanal
While our Internet isn’t as fast as in Manhattan or San Fransisco, it’s highly functional and works well with todays entertainment, communication and business services.
We know that lots all over the island are using it successfully, some with external antennas and some with just the cellular modem box. If you’re not using it, you might want to investigate it for your home.
I’ve been experimenting with some food delivery options to the island recently, and so far my favorite is The Bounty Box. This is a collaborative effort with local and regional farmers, and you sign up to join. (You are not committed to weekly deliveries if that doesn’t work for you~ no worries.) In fact, if you sign up in January (like today) you get free enrollment for the year. Otherwise, it will cost you $23.00.
It works like this: On Fridays, I get an email reminding me to pick my box for the next week. I can choose between a small box, my usual (farmer’s choice) or I can assemble my own box. Sometimes I want all the control, so I assemble my own box, and sometimes I like the random challenge of creating meals out of what is fresh and plentiful. You do have to think ahead a little: any changes have to be finalized by Sunday night or you’ll get your default package.
The following Friday, my box arrives at the ferry dock, usually around the time one of us is coming back to the island. The ferry staff has been very helpful about delivering it and letting me know which ferry to meet on the Dewees side. On Friday mornings I put the boxes back at the IOP side of the ferry dock for re-use.
If you are not a full time resident, no worries: you would just pause the weeks when you aren’t going to be here. Check out the website for more information: www.thebountybox.com.
I asked Kathryn about her involvement with the Bounty Box, and she told me this:
I first heard about The Bounty Box through a friend. The Bounty Box only does “guerrilla marketing” through word of mouth, door hanging and now some paid advertising with social media. I signed up for The Bounty Box as a member but saw they needed NC’s to deliver in my area. I work 1:1 with an adult with special needs full time acting as his life skills tutor/therapist. Together, we volunteer at various organizations as his “job” and his involvement in society. I knew us delivering for The Bounty Box would be the perfect fit into our schedule as we are used to delivering for The Meals on Wheels Program. We have been delivering for The Bounty Box for 3 years and love it! We love the fresh produce and it lasts so much longer and fresher verse a grocery store. We try to use as little plastic as possible. Our produce comes in different cardboard boxes to keep the product from damaging each other. The theory behind the boxes it to return them on your next delivery date. This helps us to reuse and recycle them back to the box manufacturer. We do have to use some produce for packaging such as hydroponic lettuce, meats (to prevent contamination) and cheese. Most of these plastics get sent back in our returned boxes and we can turn around and re-use them to prevent waste. The fruit that bruises easily and you would normally put in a plastic box at the grocery store, comes in biodegradable fruit containers (you would get them at a farm stand). Our costumers always return these in their boxes to be used again and again. We also now have a community box option where instead of the costumer skipping their box for the week, they order a community box and it gets delivered to the Low Country Food Bank. This produce then goes through The Low Country Food Bank and gets sent to smaller non profit Distribution Centers for people in need. One of them is ECCO which is where my student and I volunteer at. The Bounty Box is a great, small local CSA delivery company that has been around for 6 years. Edward, the founder, wanted to go further with a CSA instead of having it be a pick up location and an overabundance of the same produce. Hence why we began delivering boxes that come with a different menu each other or one you can customize. It’s the perfect job for stay at home moms or people with flexible jobs and people that want free produce. Our costumers that are loyal to TBB agree with our mission and know about the importance of supporting local farmers and artisans.
You can sign up using KATHRYN2019 and you will get $5 off your order ($10 off if you sign up today. Use Dewees Island or Judy as your reference. There is also no enrollment fee and there is never a renewal fee. www.thebountybox.com
If you don’t live locally, you may have missed the conversations about Crab Bank, right off of Shem Creek. It’s a narrow strip of land in Charleston Harbor, and there is a good likelihood that most, if not all, of the Brown Pelicans we see were hatched right there. In addition, many of our summer birds also nest there. It’s a relatively isolated strip of land which has been a successful nesting colony for years. Hurricane Irma so significantly eroded the island that there is barely a strip left, and I believe there were NO nesting birds there in 2018 at all. This video from the Post and Courier explains the situation. (You’ll see many island friends like Nolan Schillerstrom, Felicia Sanders, and Chris Crolley in there!)
This morning, I went out to take a look at the ones who are resting and feeding nearby. At the corner, there were several perched on low-lying stumps and stones.
They were so pretty in the morning light, grooming.
This one was scratching his gular pouch:
It’s not just the Pelicans that count on Crab Bank. Have you ever noticed that in the summer, the Royal terns carrying fish all seem to be going the same direction? That’s because they’re bringing fish back to nestlings on Crab Bank.
Sandwich terns also nest there~ they’re the ones with the white tip on their beaks:
There are only 5 seabird sanctuaries along the entire coast of South Carolina where these colonies exist, and as you can see, many of the birds that call Dewees home in non-breeding season really depend on that nesting ground. Chris Crolley, owner of Coastal Expeditions and fellow SC Audubon advisory member describes this as the conservation moment of our lifetime. Here is a video that shows the birds actually nesting on the island: it is incredible footage uploaded to youtube in 2011 by Dakota Walker.
When I spoke with Nolan yesterday, the project was within $276,360 of the goal of $1.4M, due to some corporate sponsorship. Every little bit helps, and time is running out. Island friends Mary Pringle, Mary Alice Monroe, and Mary Edna Frasier sent out a letter yesterday urging donations: if you don’t want to donate online, they have a group called Barrier Island Neighbors for Crab Bank. Below is a photo of one of our Audubon banders Jenny McCarthy Tyrell raising awareness and a video of a fundraiser and awareness paddle out to Crab Bank.
You can donate directly through SC Audubon here, or donate here at the Post and Courier Site, or mail a check to Mary Pringle’s group. All donations will support the critical needs of our coastal birds including habitat protection and restoration, nesting success, and community education.
Mailing address for Mary Pringle’s group is BINCB, 1851 Flag St, Sullivans Island, SC 29482. Individual recognition to you will be
as charter members of SINCB; 501c3 in process.
editors note: I don’t know anything about golf, but I get asked about it a lot. This guest post is written by dear friend and dunes colleague Jennifer O’Brien, who has worked in the local golf industry for years. Leave comments below: Which one of these is your favorite? Where do you play most often?
Is Dewees Island Golf Accessible?
ABSOLUTELY! Dewees Island is regionally located within thirty-six minutes of ten renowned golf clubs, two of which are two of the oldest in South Carolina. Did you know Charleston is credited with bringing golf to America? Shipping records show that clubs and balls were brought to Charleston as early as the 1640s, and the Country Club of Charleston can trace its origin back to 1786. As a novice or scratch player, Dewees Island affords you a quiet, serene beach setting not available on most islands outside of Charleston. Leaving from the Dewees Island parking lot, let’s explore the best courses for you.
Wild dunes Links Course
Wild Dunes Resort
Wild Dunes resort is the closest golf to Dewees. You can see the 17th and 18th holes from the South side of Dewees; they are just across the inlet. Wild Dunes has two courses for you to enjoy. The Harbour Course is only a six minute drive from the Ferry parking lot. Designed by Tom Fazio, the Harbor Golf Course is known for its challenging design and beautiful views, and most of all, water. From lagoons and salt marshes to the Intracoastal Waterway, this varied golf course will test all aspects of your game.
The Links Golf Course was Tom Fazio’s first. Today, it’s newly renovated and still among his favorites – and he’s not the only one. From the rustling palms lining lush, rolling fairways to a finishing hole overlooking the glistening Atlantic Ocean, the Links Course is South Carolina golf at its finest.
Wild dunes Links course
Snee Farm Country Club
Snee Farm is located fifteen minutes from the Ferry and just off the Isle of Palms connector. The Club is home to a George Cobb designed, championship golf course. The 6,834 yard, 18 hole, par 72 course boasts picturesque marsh views and offers an experience that is enjoyable yet challenging. The course is home to the famous amateur tournament, the Rice Planters. Many notable names have won and competed in this event held each June, including Davis Love III, Stewart Cink, and Mark O’Meara.
Daniel Island Club
Only 15 years young, the Daniel Island Club is one of the new kids on the block for golf in the area. As one of the top private golf clubs in Charleston, the Daniel Island Club features the country’s only private pairing of golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and Rees Jones playing out of the same clubhouse. Both nationally ranked courses are perfectly integrated into the breathtaking Lowcountry landscape.
The Beresford Creek Course is the Tom Fazio-design. At 7293 yards from the championship tees, the par 72 course traverses pristine marsh, creeks and waterways, providing incredible views. In traditional Fazio style, holes have been shaped and contoured to create challenge and drama for players at every level. Ralston Creek, Daniel Island’s second 18-hole masterpiece, is a par 72 course playing 7,446 yards from the championship tees. Opened in 2006, the course was named among the nation’s top new private courses by Golfweek and Golf Digest magazines. Once home to a stop by the Web.com tour, you may catch a glimpse of one of Charleston’s local celebrities, a few NASCAR racers and Hollywood stars who play here.
Country Club of Charleston
Charleston’s oldest club is locally referred to as The Country Club. Its present location was built on the McLeod Plantation and designed by renowned architect Seth Raynor. The number 11 hole is a replica of the 15th hole at North Berwick in Scotland and is so treacherous that Sam Snead carded a 13 and Ben Hogan, when asked how he liked the hole, replied that it should be dynamited. The Country Club has been home to several famous golfers. Beth Daniel, who grew up in Charleston. She won the US Women’s Amateur in 1975 and again in 1977. Her professional career includes 41 wins, one major, and she is an inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Henry Picard, a golf professional at The Country Club from 1925 – 1934, is also an inductee of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Henry won the Masters in 1938 and the PGA Championship in 1939. Most recently, the club hosted the 2013 USGA Women’s Amateur Championship, and will host the 2019 US Women’s Open Championship May 27th – June 2nd.
Yeamans Hall Club
Yeamans is the second oldest Charleston course, opening in 1926. Similar to The Country Club of Charleston, the course was also designed by Seth Raynor. Built as a winter retreat for wealthy families from the north such as the Rockefellers and Ford’s, the current design was restored in 2015 to Raynor’s original layout. In the 1980’s the original Raynor blueprints where found by the Superintendent in the clubhouse attic. Once you drive through the gate it’s as if you’re transported back in time. It’s like playing in a Raynor museum with all his characteristics at work here.
Bulls Bay Golf Club
Bulls Bay is a unique club, unlike any others in South Carolina. Designed by Mike Strantz, this once flat stretch of Lowcountry coastline has been transformed into a landscape reminiscent of the great links courses of Scotland and Ireland. Roughly two million cubic yards of earth were moved to reshape the site. At Bulls Bay, Strantz created 75-foot elevation changes and 360-degree views unlike any in the Lowcountry. Unofficially, the club house sits on the highest point of land in the lowcountry. The course boasts firm, sandy turf and ever-present wind off the ocean. It is a true links golf experience reserved exclusively for its members and their guests.
There are several other semi-private courses within thirty minutes of the Dewees Ferry parking lot:
A new program was introduced in 2016, like none other in the Charleston area! Dual and Triple Club Membership options are available with Dunes West Golf, Rivertowne and Snee Farm Country Clubs. You can enjoy all three courses and the amenities each has to offer through one membership. Rivertowne is also affiliated with the ClubCorp network which gives you access to over 200 private clubs and special offerings at more than 700 hotels, resorts, restaurants and entertainment venues worldwide. Living on Dewees Island, you have an abundance of opportunities to play several of the top courses in Charleston. A benefit to lowcountry living is that the courses do not close in the winter. You’ll be able to enjoy golf year-round. The alligators, water hazards and bunkers are ever-present on the course, but so is a cool breeze, plush fairways, and fast greens. Dewees Island is the perfect launching pad for this lifestyle. You’ll enjoy the quiet serenity of a lesser inhabited island, no crowds and the ease and relaxation of lowcountry living. Jump on the ferry to the mainland for some easy swings and the enjoyment brought on by a great round on a great course. Don’t forget to comment in below and let us know which of these courses is the best!
Jennifer O’Brien is a Dunes Agent who helps with Judy’s buyers and sellers on Dewees, and takes care of her own clients on IOP and surrounding areas. If you’re looking for something on Dewees, you can reach her through Dewees Real Estate. If you’re looking for something off Dewees, you can find her here. Tell her we sent you.
A week ago, I was in the middle of writing a leisurely post about how relieved we were NOT to have to pack up and evacuate for Florence when everything went awry with the forecasts and the governor ordered an evacuation. I’ll eventually finish that one, which explains all of the hurricane preparations we go through out here on Dewees, but for now, I want to express some gratitude about being home. Our hearts go out to our friends and colleagues who are still struggling with this monster storm. We are delighted to find the island relatively unscathed. Since I know there are folks out there with a yearning for some visuals, here you go: It was so nice to be back on the island! Terry was taking down the Hurricane Flag When we came past Huyler House pond, there were spoonbills hanging out on the raft Morning glories were in full bloom, covered with gulf fritillaries, cloudless sulfurs, and a zebra longwing!
When we got to Ancient Dunes, the walkway showed that there had been some pretty strong wind
And the wind was still in full force as we got to the beach: Looking north from Ancient Dunes
The strong breezes carved the dunes and sand into some amazing patterns and textures:
[caption id="attachment_10810" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] This shell created a shelf where the wind carved around it. More sand/wind sculpture Clouds at Ancient Dunes
We had much larger waves than normal. The dunes were relatively unscathed, and some of them looked even bigger!
Osprey Walk was our next stop. Looking north from Osprey Walk
As you can see, there was no sign of water intrusion into Lake Timicau.
From the main dock, we could see some large white birds out on the midden. Knowing that sometimes storms drop some unexpected guests by, we grabbed a big lens and some binoculars. Sure enough, the usual suspects of Oystercatchers, Cormorants, Pelicans, and Ruddy Turnstones were joined by a large flock (120) of White Pelicans. They will occasionally winter here, but this is certainly the largest flock we’ve seen, and the earliest we’ve seen it in the season.
We went a little closer to check it out:
And finally, we finished the day with this rainbow over the impoundment:
With a huge sign of relief and gratitude for the kindnesses of staff and neighbors, we turn in for the night.
We installed 2 webcams on the island, roughly 35′ or 40′ above sea level. One faces Southeast over the Impoundment (aka Old House Lagon). The other faces West over the impoundment towards Chapel Pond dock.
If you don’t live locally, you may have missed the conversations about Crab Bank, right off of Shem Creek. It’s a narrow strip of land in Charleston Harbor, and there is a good likelihood that most, if not all, of the Brown Pelicans we see were hatched right there. In addition, many of our summer birds also nest there. It’s a relatively isolated strip of land which has been a successful nesting colony for years. Hurricane Irma so significantly eroded the island that there is barely a strip left, and I believe there were NO nesting birds there in 2018 at all. This video from the Post and Courier explains the situation. (You’ll see many island friends like Nolan Schillerstrom, Felicia Sanders, and Chris Crolley in there!)
This shell created a shelf where the wind carved around it.
