January 2015 D i g e s t The Official Publication of the Kiawah Island Community Association Introducing Member Director Nominee Bruce Stemerman At the upcoming 2015 KICA Annual Meeting, scheduled for Friday, March 6 at 2 p.m. at the Sandcastle Community Center, one candidate is running for one open member director position on the KICA board. Watch your mail for your Annual Meeting report and ballot, including information on online voting, a message from the board chair, a recap of 2014 on Kiawah, and a chance to win a $500 rebate on your 2015 assessments. This year’s candidate for board, as identified and selected by the KICA Nominating Committee, is Bruce Stemerman. For more information on the Nominating Committee’s selection process, see the article on Page 3. Below you can find more information on Bruce, including his Statement of Focus and bio. Bruce Stemerman - Statement of Focus Kiawah is a remarkable place, with incredible attributes. I traveled a lot during my career, including to many resort locations. Acknowledging some bias, I never found a place with Kiawah’s special and unique features. Serving on KICA’s board and playing a role in helping to maintain and enhance what makes Kiawah so appealing would be a privilege. As indicated in my work experience, I have enjoyed a varied career. I began as a CPA and moved into the hotel business about 25 years ago, first with Marriott, and then with Host Hotels and Resorts, a Marriott spinoff. At Host, I managed the Asset Management group for 10 years. My career concluded at Jones Lang LaSalle where I was Managing Director of their Hotel Asset Management and Advisory business for the Americas. During my career, I served as a board member and president of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association, a board member and chairman of the Marriott Employees Federal Credit Union and on several Marriott Hotel advisory boards. Having spent so much of my career in the hotel real estate business, I feel particularly well suited for a role on KICA’s board. My focus for much of my career was representing owners' interests in hotels, dealing with both operational and capital issues. Maximizing revenues and profitability through smart and focused investment was key to realizing our objectives. Long term planning was critically important in achieving value enhancement. I believe my familiarity with finance will be particularly helpful if I am elected to a board position. My experience will also be helpful in working with the Board and KICA’s leadership team in identifying Kiawah’s long-term needs and objectives while preserving what makes the Island so special. Maintaining the status quo is not, in my view, the optimum way to protect our considerable investments here. We need to constantly seek appropriate, cost effective and value enhancing opportunities to retain our position as one of the finest islands in the country and the world. I am particularly impressed with everyone I have come into contact with at KICA. The team does an outstanding job keeping the island beautiful and well maintained, delivering member interactions that are positive and friendly and operating facilities that maximize Kiawah values. With such effective day-to-day management, the board can keep its focus on long term strategic planning. If elected, it will be an honor to serve on KICA’s board. Bruce Stemerman - Candidate Bio I am a widower with two adult children who live in the Washington, DC area. I have been coming to Kiawah for more than 20 years, initially on summer vacations. In 1999, we purchased a villa in Turtle Cove and then, in 2003, a home on Bluebill Court. We built a home at 37 Salt Cedar Lane and I moved here full time in the spring of 2014. On Kiawah, I am on the board of the Kiawah Island Motoring Retreat, which took place in November 2013. The event was highly successful and included a weekend of activities that exposed the island to folks from outside the area who might not have otherwise experienced Kiawah. Planning is underway to hold another event in 2016. In April of this year, John Wilson and I started the Sea Islands Cars and Coffee that takes place monthly at Freshfields. I have also served since August 2014 on KICA’s Major Repair and Replacements Committee. I also volunteered as a hole captain at the 2012 PGA Championship at the Ocean Course. Over the years, I have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity both on Johns Island and in Montgomery County, Maryland (near DC), where I resided for nearly 30 years before moving to Kiawah. I also served on an advisory board to Montgomery County’s Office of Consumer Protection. Career Highlights • 1996-2003: Senior Vice President, Asset Management for Host Hotels and Resorts in Bethesda, Maryland. • 2003-2007: Executive Vice President for Capital Hotel Management in Washington, D.C. • 2007-2011: Managing Director, Asset Management and Advisory Practices for the Americas for Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels in Washington, D.C. Continued on Next Page... 2 January 2015 Introducing Bruce Stemerman (Continued from Previous Page) Other Professional Experience • Chairman of the Board, Marriott Employee Federal Credit Union, a 55,000-member, $125 million federally chartered credit union serving numerous companies in the hospitality industry. • President, Hospitality Asset Managers Association, an international association of lodging asset managers representing more than 300,000 hotel rooms throughout the world. • Board member of various Marriott International Advisory Committees. Including Owner, Rooms, Food and Beverage and an association of Marriott franchisees and owners. • Frequent speaker at hospitality industry conferences. Regularly quoted in industry press on issues involving hotel ownership. • Authored chapter on hotel owner/manager relationships for a lodging asset management textbook used in college hospitality programs. Education/Certifications • Bachelor’s Degree, Accounting, Rochester Institute Technology, Rochester, New York • Certified Public Accountant (Inactive) - New York State of Nominating Committee Recommends Stemerman The KICA Nominating Committee is charged with identifying and recruiting candidates for board service. Committee composition includes the chairs of the association's finance, human resources and major repair committees, as well as two at large appointments. In addition, the immediate past chair of the KICA board serves as the Nominating Committee chair. Over a several-month period, the Nominating Committee met to assess board needs and interview candidates. There is one seat to be filled at the 2015 Annual Meeting, and the committee met individually with four excellent candidates. At the end of the process, the committee nominated Bruce F. Stemerman for the board seat to be filled at the Annual Meeting in March. Bruce will be featured in the January issue of Digest. KICA offers special thanks to Nominating Committee members John Connolly, Linda Wilson, Theresa Widuch, David Tharpe, Glenn Brown and Brendan Burke. Letter from the COO: Looking Towards 2015 Happy New Year! I love January because the New Year brings fresh starts, energy, excitement and optimism for the future. Whether it’s a career goal or a new year’s resolution, anything seems possible in January. I am excited about the year ahead and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Reinvestment in Kiawah has been a KICA priority for the last few years. As modern Kiawah turns 40, thoughtful reinvestment is critical to property values and our shared future. Beginning with the West Beach Initiative in 2011, we committed to a comprehensive program of improving Kiawah’s “fit and finish,” including landscaping, signage, trails and other amenities. Not only did we want to improve community-owned property, we also hoped to lead by example and encourage individuals and regimes to undertake similar projects. The initial results have been promising and in 2015 we’ll expand beyond West Beach. Landscape improvement projects will take place island-wide, though the most dramatic will be an overhaul of the Flyway Drive rights-ofway between Governors Drive and Surfsong Road. Though Flyway functions as an arterial road much like the Parkway or Governors Drive, its landscaping standard falls well short of the Kiawah standard. That will change this year. Notably, our amenities evaluation has been a primary focus, and your input is expected to result in a formal proposal this spring. Should you approve such a project, it would represent significant reinvestment in Kiawah. We’ll take steps this year to improve your experience by reinvesting in our trail system, addressing many of the areas where years of resurfacing have created a “cliff” between the asphalt and the adjacent ground. With the help of our friends at the resort, the town and Kiawah Partners, we’ll finalize a recommendation this year on refreshing and improving the island’s signage system. Finally, we’ll continue the never ending work of reinvesting in our infrastructure. This year we’ll continue to replace significant components of the island’s drainage system, we’ll resurface roads and leisure trails, replace curbing, rebuild boardwalks, dredge ponds and a host of other projects to ensure the island continues to function in a first class manner. I look forward to keeping you apprised as the year progresses. Sincerely, Jimmy Bailey KICA Chief Operating Officer 3 January 2015 Security Main gate 843-768-5566 Toll Free 866-596-7184 (911 in emergencies) Commercial pass office 843-768-8240 On The Web KICA.US - KICA is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Visit the KICA website for more information. Digest Contributors Frances Boyd - Member Volunteer Virginia Chapel - Member Volunteer Bill Hindman - Member Volunteer Shauneen Hutchinson - Member Volunteer Mary Beth McAnaney - Member Volunteer Sue Schaffer - Feature reporter Deb Stewart - Member Volunteer Russ Warren - Member Volunteer Staff Production Team Doug Reynolds - Communications Mgr/Editor Tammy McAdory - Executive Director Digest Mission Statement The association is committed to accurately and effectively reporting news affecting it, and its members, board, and volunteers, and to presenting discussions of significant issues in a balanced and constructive manner. Statement of Editorial Policy The association, through its Digest reporters, shall endeavor to report objectively and wholly the significant island news relating to the association and its members. The association welcomes members’ suggestions on issues they deem significant for publication or discussion, and will publish editorials, identified as such, where there is a need to clarify, expand, or express views and opinions on relevant issues. To submit an editorial, write to Digest care of Doug Reynolds or email to [email protected]. Annual Meeting 2015: Your Vote Counts The KICA Annual Meeting gives all association members, full- and part-time residents alike, the opportunity to shape the future of the island. By electing board members and voting on vital issues, members can leave their mark on Kiawah. First, however, a quorum must be reached. The 2015 Annual Meeting packet will be mailed in early February and will contain an absentee ballot/proxy assignment card. It is vital that you either vote online or complete and return this card promptly, even if you plan to attend the meeting. This establishes a quorum, so the meeting can be held and business conducted. Without it, the director election cannot occur. Information on the board candidate for the one open seat will be included in the meeting packet and can also be found on the cover page of this issue of Digest. Please remember that ballots, once posted in the U.S. mail, may not be amended. Absentee ballot/proxy cards will be returned to and processed by, an independent group at the College of Charleston. For further details about the nomination process, motions, voting or any other annual meeting business, please contact Carrie Newbern at [email protected] or 843-768-9194. Reminder - 2015 Annual Meeting Key Dates Jan. 7 by 5 p.m. Official date of record. No adjustments to property status regarding annual meeting votes will be made following this date. Jan. 12 by 5 p.m. Advisory motions are due. Feb. 3 (Approx.) Annual meeting packets are mailed to the membership. Feb. 4, 5 p.m. KICA Board Open House. March 2 by 5 p.m. Deadline to return ballots or vote online. March 6 (Friday), 2 p.m. Annual Meeting at the Sandcastle. Board Open House - Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. Join us at the Sandcastle Community Center on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. for wine and hors d’oeuvres and to converse with members of, and the candidate for, the KICA Board of Directors. This informal open house will give members a chance to socialize with neighbors while learning more about the association board. Please RSVP to [email protected] or 843-768-9194. Navigating KICA's New Website Have you checked out KICA's new website yet? If not, be sure to visit kica.us to view the completely redesigned, reorganized site. To learn how to navigate the site more conveniently, view the online starter guide. Just click on the Announcements button on the home page (button with kayak image). From there, click on the link in the first post Meet the New KICA.us Website! to view the guide. Have any questions or just want to comment on the site? Contact KICA Communications at [email protected]. 2015 Annual Assessments Watch your mailbox for your 2015 KICA assessment statement (mailed in late December). Paid by all members, assessments cover a wide range of KICA services, including the maintenance of common properties and infrastructure, security, recreational and administrative operations. Assessments may be paid online or by check. Visit kica.us (Services/Pay Online) for more information. 4 If you have an event you would like included on the calendar, please e-mail [email protected]. January 2015 Community Calendar Sandcastle: Monday-Friday - 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Saturday - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sunday - 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 01 Friday 02 HAPPY NEW YEAR! Saturday 03 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class Town Hall, KICA Offices and Sandcastle Closed 04 05 06 3 p.m. Opera Lite 3 p.m. Environmental Committee 10 a.m. Charleston County Bookmobile 2 p.m. Town Council 12 13 9 a.m. Photography Club Workshop 9:30 a.m. Garden Club 1 p.m. KICA Board Meeting 3 p.m. Opera Lite 5 p.m. KICA Annual Meeting: Advisory Motions Due 3 p.m. Communications Committee 3 p.m. Wealth Management Seminar 3 p.m. Healthy Plate Cooking 3:30 p.m. SCCC Meeting 18 19 20 4 p.m. Arts Council Presents: CSO Rebellious Leaders in Classical Music (Holy Spirit Catholic Church) Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Town Hall Closed 10 a.m. Kiawah Women's Group Newcomers Coffee (JavaJava) 10 a.m. Photography Club Meeting 3 p.m. Opera Lite 10 a.m. Charleston County Bookmobile 3 p.m. Healthy Plate Cooking 25 26 27 9 a.m. Photography Club Workshop 3 p.m. Opera Lite 4 p.m. Board of Zoning Appeals 2 p.m. Ways and Means Committee 3 p.m. Healthy Plate Cooking 11 4 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Lowcountry Voices (Holy Spirit Catholic Church) 07 KICA Annual Meeting: Official Day of Record 3 p.m. Planning Commission 14 10 a.m. Art Guild Meeting 2 p.m. Public Safety Committee 21 Recurring Events at the Sandcastle KICA (Sandcastle) 843-768-3875 kica.us (Events) Kiawah Cares 843-768-9194 kiawahcares.org 09 10 a.m. CERT Team 10 a.m. Conservation Matters and Kiawah Island Naturalist Group Joint Program 3 p.m. Arts Council 15 10 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class 3 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Art Film #1 - In Good Time, The Piano Jazz of Marian McPartland (Sandcastle) 16 3 p.m. Our World: Cults of Lost Causes - Medieval Japan and the American Civil War 22 7:30 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Billy Novick Quintet with Vocalist Donna Byrne (Seabrook Island House) 17 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class 7 p.m. Trivia Night 23 24 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class 3 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Art Film #2 - Orchestra of Exiles (Sandcastle) 28 • Mondays at 8:30 a.m. • Sandcastle Bible Study • Tuesdays at 1 p.m. • Sandcastle Bridge • Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. Women's Community Bible Study 08 Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Weight Watchers Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Ladies Mah-Jongg Kiawah Island Golf Resort 843-768-2121 kiawahresort.com 30 29 3 p.m. Our World: Economic Outlook 2015 31 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class Association Fitness Classes Offered Yoga Zumba Strength and Stretch Water Aerobics Body Sculpt Assorted Cardio Classes **View class times and descriptions at kica.us (Facilities/Fitness Center). Please note that all fitness classes are complimentary to members. - KICA Paddlesports Program - www.tidaltrailskiawah.com - Freshfields Village 843-768-6491 freshfieldsvillage.com Town of Kiawah Island 843-768-9166 kiawahisland.org If you have an event you would like included on the calendar, please e-mail [email protected]. February 2015 5 Community Calendar Sandcastle: Monday-Friday - 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Saturday - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Sunday - 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday 01 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 07 02 03 04 05 06 9 a.m. Photography Club Workshop 1 p.m. Sandcastle Book Club "Swan" by Frances Mayes 3 p.m. Opera Lite 9 a.m. Internet Security Class 10 a.m. Charleston County Bookmobile 3 p.m. Planning Commission 5 p.m. KICA Board Open House 3 p.m. Arts Council 3 p.m. Conservation Matters KIGR Gourmet and Grapes Weekend 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class 7:30 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Liquid Pleasure (East Beach Conference Center) KIGR Gourmet and Grapes Weekend 14 1:30 p.m. Beginning Mahjong Lessons 2 p.m. Town Council 3 p.m. Healthy Plate Cooking 08 09 10 11 12 13 KIGR Gourmet and Grapes Weekend 7:30 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Charleston Jazz Orchestra (East Beach Conference Center) 9 a.m. Photography Club Workshop 9:30 a.m. Kiawah Island Garden Club 3 p.m. Opera Lite 9 a.m. Internet Security Class 2 p.m. Public Safety Committee 3 p.m. Our World: Understanding the Holocaust Through Art 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class 3 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Art Film #3 - First Position (Sandcastle) 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 President's Day - Town Hall Closed 10 a.m. Kiawah Women's Group Newcomers Coffee (JavaJava) 10 a.m. Photography Club Meeting 3 p.m. Opera Lite 10 a.m. Charleston County Bookmobile 1:30 p.m. Beginning Mahjong Lessons 3 p.m. Wealth Management Seminar 3 p.m. Healthy Plate Cooking 7:30 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Rene Marie, Jazz Vocalist (East Beach Conference Center) 3 p.m. Our World: How the Jenkins Orphanage Affected the Jazz Music Culture in Charleston KIGR Women's Golf Getaway Weekend 3 p.m. Conservation Matters KIGR Women's Golf Getaway Weekend 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class KIGR Women's Golf Getaway Weekend 27 28 1:30 p.m. Beginning Mahjong Lessons 3 p.m. Communications Committee 3 p.m. Healthy Plate Cooking 3:30 p.m. SCCC Meeting 22 23 24 25 26 KIGR Women's Golf Getaway Weekend 4 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Barcino Baroque Tours Europe (River Course Clubhouse) 9 a.m. Photography Club Workshop 3 p.m. Opera Lite 4 p.m. Board of Zoning Appeals 1:30 p.m. Beginning Mahjong Lessons 2 p.m. Ways and Means Committee 4:30 p.m. Kiawah Women's Group Firefly Vodka Tasting Event 5 p.m. Arts Council Piano Bar (Sandcastle) 7:30 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Peter and Will Anderson Jazz Trio (Turtle Point Clubhouse) Recurring Events at the Sandcastle • Mondays at 8:30 a.m. Sandcastle Bible Study • Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Sandcastle Bridge • Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. Women's Community KICA (Sandcastle) 843-768-3875 kica.us (Events) Bible Study • Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Weight Watchers • Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Ladies Mah-Jongg Kiawah Cares 843-768-9194 kiawahcares.org • Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Intermediate and Advanced Bridge Lessons 10 a.m. Oil Painting Class 3 p.m. Arts Council Presents: Art Film #4 Tony Bennett The Music Never Ends (Sandcastle) VALENTINE'S DAY Planning a romantic night out with your sweetheart? Take the Kiawah Shuttle Service and travel in luxury! Book today at 843-768-5566. 5 p.m. POPS Progressive Dinner: Cocktails at the Sandcastle Association Fitness Classes Offered Yoga Zumba Strength and Stretch Water Aerobics Body Sculpt Assorted Cardio Classes **View class times and descriptions at kica.us (Facilities/Fitness Center). Please note that all fitness classes are complimentary to members. - KICA Paddlesports Program - www.tidaltrailskiawah.com - Kiawah Island Golf Resort 843-768-2121 kiawahresort.com Freshfields Village 843-768-6491 freshfieldsvillage.com Town of Kiawah Island 843-768-9166 kiawahisland.org 6 January 2015 What's Happening on Kiawah: Winter 2015 For more information or to make reservations for events at the Sandcastle, please contact the Sandcastle Community Center at [email protected] or at 843-768-3875. Healthy Plate Cooking Classes Tuesdays, Jan. 13 - Feb. 17 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. The Sandcastle is pleased to offer a six-week series presented by Healthy Plate Cooking, promoting nutritional awareness through group classes in which attendees learn to prepare delicious, home-cooked dishes. These fun, interactive classes emphasize the importance of balanced nutrition while exposing attendees to multi-cultural culinary arts. Students will receive step-by-step instructions for delicious dishes, recipes, handouts and useful tips/info. Cost is $150 for the full series. RSVP to the Sandcastle by Jan. 7. **Special offer: Attend the first class on an introductory basis for $25. If satisfied, sign up for balance of series by Jan. 14, Financial Planning Seminar:Tax Harvesting, Roth Conversions, Inherited IRAs and Required Minimum Distributions Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 3 p.m. Presented by E & R Wealth Management As the new year starts, so too does the time for tax planning. This is a time typically filled with strategies to minimize income, maximize deductions and attempts to ensure that the least amount of taxes possible are payable and that any taxes due are pushed as far out into the future as possible. In the past, a "minimize-and-defer-income" approach has been rather effective. But in today's tax environment, with more tax brackets, higher top rates and a myriad of additional phaseouts and surtaxes, the reality is that just pushing income indefinitely into the future is not necessarily the best strategy. As a result, it may be far more effective to consider strategies like Roth conversations or capital gains harvesting that aim to accelerate income into the current year, rather than defer it into the future. This form of tax bracket arbitrage (i.e. creating wealth by reporting income when tax rates will be lower, even if it's now) can actually result in greater lifetime wealth. Please RSVP to the Sandcastle by Jan. 9. Our World Lecture Series Thursdays (times vary) Our World is a complimentary educational lecture series produced by KICA that features presentations by local experts on a wide variety of subjects. A selection of wine and cheese is served. Reservations are due by the Monday prior to the event. • Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. - Cults of Lost Causes: Medieval Japan and the American Civil War. Presented by Katherine Purcell, director of the International Education Office at Trident Technical College. • Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. - Economic Outlook 2015. Presented by Steve Slifer, Lehman Brothers chief US economist from 1980 to 2003 and founder of NumberNomics (Economics Explained). • Feb. 3 and 10 from 9 - 11 a.m. - Mini Course on Internet Security. Topics include malware, the signs of infection and the differences in protection software. Course is $20 per person (paid in advance). Class size is limited to 20 people. Trivia Night at the Sandcastle Friday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. Finish up dinner, put on your thinking cap and come over to the Sandcastle to rattle your brain! Bring your favorite drink (drinks are not provided) and listen to live piano music by Glenn Brown, The Piano Man, while testing your mental fortitude. Play with a team (max six people) or sign up there. Cost is $10 per property owner. Beginning Mahjong Classes Tuesdays, Feb. 3 - March 10 at 1:30 p.m. Are you interested in learning an ancient game with a modern twist? Mahjong has been a popular game in America since the 1920s. Combining luck and skill, you too will find Mahjong to be a friendly, fun and fascinating game for men and women of all ages. Although this game of Chinese tiles is usually played by four people, the play is individual and partners are not needed. Come and see why so many people have enjoyed the game for such a long time. The class instructor is Janet Fine. The class fee is $60 and includes all materials. Please RSVP to the Sandcastle. Sandcastle Library Book Donations For many years, the Sandcastle has welcomed donations of recent novels-fiction and non-fiction, hardcover and paperback--in good condition. Recently, staff have been overwhelmed with members' generosity! If you have books that you would like to bring over, please call first to see if they can accommodate the donation. Regarding specialty and older books, please consider taking them directly to the John's Island Public Library. For more information, contact the Sandcastle. Emergency Response Team Offers Certification Classes The Town of Kiawah Island Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will hold basic certification classes for all of those interested in learning life saving techniques. Attendees who complete the classes will receive Charleston County Certification for CERT programs. The classes will teach important first responder skills such as how to address the three major causes of death in an emergency situation: breathing stoppage, excessive bleeding and shock. Topics such as fire suppression, search and rescue, injury triage and earthquake response will also be covered. Training class dates include (all classes are located on Kiawah Island unless otherwise noted): • Friday, Jan. 23, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Unit 1 Disaster Preparedness, Unit 2 Fire Safety and Utility Controls, Unit 5 Light Search and Rescue Operations • Saturday, Jan. 24, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Unit 3-4 Disaster Medical Operations, Unit 6 CERT Organization • Friday, Jan. 30, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Unit 7 Disaster Psychology, Unit 8 Terrorism and CERT • Saturday, Jan. 31, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Course Review, Final Exam, and Disaster Simulation - Location: Charleston County Rescue Squad 2521 Rescue Drive North Charleston, SC 29405 Those interested in attending these classes may contact Jack Regan at 843-768-1948 or [email protected]. Class sizes will be limited and attendees will be selected on a first come basis. For more information on Kiawah’s CERT program, visit kiawahisland.org/cert-team. 7 January 2015 Dig It With The Kiawah Garden Club The garden club’s season is September through May, and the club typically meets on the second Monday of each month. A full list of upcoming garden club sessions can be found below. Are you an expert gardener looking to refine your skills, or a beginner hoping to grow your green thumb? Regardless of your level of experience or knowledge, the Kiawah Island Garden Club (KIGC) offers something for everyone. KIGC has an interesting schedule of events planned for 2015 and welcomes participation. In addition to regular programs, there are a number of workshops where members can dig in and get their hands dirty while learning some interesting skills and crafts. • Jan. 12 - Gardens of the World documentary movie narrated by Audrey Hepburn. Refreshments at 9:30 a.m., meeting at 10 a.m. at the Sandcastle. • Feb. 9 - Houseplant Do's and Don't's. Refreshments at 9:30 a.m., meeting at 10 a.m. at the Sandcastle. • March 9 - Succulents - Discussion and workshop. Cost TBD. Refreshments at 9:30 a.m., meeting at 10 a.m. at the Sandcastle. • April 13 - This will be a unique tour of Hobcaw Barony, the former Baruck Estate. The club will tour the grounds, the house and the museum, along with a behind-the-scenes tour of all that happens there. Tentatively, there will be morning and afternoon tours. Cost will be $30 plus a boxed lunch. • May 4 - Charleston Gateway Walk, followed by lunch. Cost TBD. All KICA members are invited to join the club. Dues are only $15. Checks payable to Kiawah Island Garden Club may be sent to Donna Pomian, 169 Bluebill Court, Kiawah Island, SC 29455. For more information on the club, visit kiawahislandgardenclub.com. Court Reverses Decision on Captain Sam's Spit Sea Wall After several hearings and appeals, on Dec. 10 the South Carolina Supreme Court ruled 3-2 in favor of not allowing developers to build a sea wall on Kiawah Island's Captain Sam's Spit. Sometimes called CSS, the spit is more than 150 acres of undeveloped land on the western-most end of Kiawah. In 2010, Kiawah Partners received permission from the SC Administrative Law Court to build a 2,783-foot long bulkhead and revetment on the spit. The structure was part of a plan to build 50 homes higher up the spit. In 2011, the SC Supreme Court reversed the ALC decision, but that decision was appealed and in 2013 the state Supreme Court ruled the building of the bulkhead and revetment could move ahead. After further appeals, additional hearings were granted, leading to this most recent decision by the court. For more information and background on the court’s decision, read the article Kiawah Developer Denied Permits for Capt. Sam’s Spit Sea Walls on postandcourier.com. DHEC also approved the structure, but only the 270 feet that was adjacent to Kiawah Beachwalker Park. Council Members, Mayor Begin New Term The newly elected mayor and council members were sworn in on Friday, Dec. 5 during a formal ceremony in the Council Chambers. From left to right: John Labriola, Mary Johnson, Municipal Judge John Strauch, Mayor Charles Lipuma, Craig Weaver and John Wilson. Thank You from Kiawah Cares! Our heartfelt thanks to this year's Kiawah Giving Tree sponsors. Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, over 70 students from Angel Oak and Edith L. Frierson Eementary schools got their Christmas wishes fulfilled this year! D i g e s t c/o Kiawah Island Community Association 23 Beachwalker Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 Address Service Requested Call KICA For Backflow System Inspections Did you know KICA offers the expertise of our irrigation technicians who can perform basic backflow testing and repairs? Backflow prevention devices are used to protect potable water supplies from contamination or pollution due to backflow. In water supply systems, water is normally maintained at a significant pressure to enable water to flow from the tap, shower, etc. When pressure fails or is reduced, as may happen if a water main bursts, pipes freeze or there is unexpectedly high demand on the water system, then such reduced pressure in the pipe may allow contaminated water from the ground, from storage or from other sources to be drawn up into the system. Kiawah Island Utility (KIU) requires residential water systems be tested every two years to ensure that they are working properly. Cost of Services • Basic Backflow Certification: $60 • KICA's technicians can make the repairs, when needed, for $37.50 per hour, plus the cost of materials. A one hour minimum charge applies ($37.50). After one hour, the cost is $18.75 per half hour or $37.50 per hour. Request Backflow Certification Services Email [email protected] or call 843-768-9194 to schedule an appointment. Services will be billed to your existing KICA member account and invoiced to you. PRESORTED FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON, SC PERMIT NO. 167
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