Greetings Island residents,

With a very long holiday approaching, I wanted to pass along some information you might find helpful.

Independence Day Holiday

• Town Hall Closure – Town Hall will close Monday 7-3-23 at 5pm and reopen Wednesday 7-5-23 at 8am in observance of the Independence Day holiday. While all non-essential employees will enjoy the holiday, first responders will be on duty and standing by at the ready to assist residents and visitors.  Additional Fire and Police employees will be available given the large number of visitors expected to arrive and enjoy a day at the beach. In the event of an emergency always dial 9-1-1; for non-emergency fire and police contact Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch at 843-743-7200.
• Holiday Activities

Golf Cart Parade – The golf cart parade will depart Sunrise Presbyterian Church at 9am 7-4-23, travel along Middle Street to Station 28.5 and then to Atlantic Avenue to arrive at the Sullivan’s Island Elementary School bus loop parking lot. You can register to participate in the golf cart decorating contest by registering at Town Hall through Monday afternoon. Awards will be given to the top three best decorated carts. Upon arrival at the school, doughnuts, coffee, and snow cones will be offered to participants.

Salute From the Shore – The Independence Day flyover by vintage and current military aircraft will begin at 11am.  The flight will be from Murrell’s Inlet to Beaufort and is expected to pass over Sullivan’s Island between 11:40am and 1:30PM. Beachgoers are encouraged to come out early to watch the vintage aircrafts, followed by the military planes flying down the South Carolina coastline.  

Fireworks Display – Residents are invited to bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the evening at Stith Park. Music by Shem Creek Boogie Band will begin at 6pm and fireworks at dusk.

Schedule Changes

Household Garbage and Yard Debris – Because of the Tuesday holiday household garbage collection moves to Wednesday 7-5-23. Yard debris collection normally on Wednesday moves to Thursday 7-6-23. The Friday household collection will move to Saturday 7-8-23. Because there is no curbside recycle collection the week of Independence Day, no schedule adjustment will be required and the next collection will be Wednesday 7-12-23. The collection schedule returns to Tuesday/Friday for household garbage and Wednesday for yard debris during the week of July 10, 2023.

Town Council Workshop – Council Workshop meetings are generally scheduled for the first Monday of each month.  Because the Monday 7-3-23 meeting precedes Independence Day the meeting was rescheduled for 6pm 7-10-23.  The regular meeting of Council remains on Tuesday 7-18-23 at 6pm.  The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

2023 Hurricane Season

• The 2023 season has gotten off to a quick start with two named storms already occurring in June. While the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean are conducive for spawning storms, meteorologists are noticing the Sahara dust moving west which tends to choke storm development. Hopefully, activity remains quiet for a while.
• As for today, at 8am a surface trough is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms several hundred miles south-southeast of Bermuda.  Upper level winds are only marginally conducive for some slow development of this system during the next few days. Movement is anticipated to be northward and out of our range.
• If you have not done so, now is the time to prepare your personal hurricane plan.  Examples can be found on the Town website (www.sullivansisland.sc.gov) or at the Charleston County website (www.charlestoncounty.org).
• Remember this year the Town is introducing a new vehicle identification system.  Be sure to stop by Town Hall and get your new pass. The pass will be necessary for access during times of a natural disaster or exigent circumstances.

Coyotes

This is the time of year when young pups are learning to identify food and search for their own territory. Therefore, sightings have been increasing around the Island. Should you see a coyote experts say hazing is the best means to keep coyotes at bay and afraid of humans. Yell, blow a whistle or throw rocks at a coyote if it is near. Report the encounter to the Town. Small pets should be inside at night and dogs leashed when walking to the beach.

The weather should be perfect for a summer beach weekend. Ambient air temperature is expected to be in the mid-90s and with the humidity the heat index will be near 110’F. Remember to not over exert during the mid-day and stay hydrated. Likewise, a large amount of visitors is anticipated through Tuesday.  Plan your trips on and off of the Island around peak periods of traffic. Likewise, when moving about the Island, exercise great care and caution as visitors are often more focused on finding a parking place or hurrying to the beach.  

Remain safe and have a great 4th.

Regards,

Andy Benke
Town Administrator
Town of Sullivan's Island
Post Office Box 427
Sullivan's Island, SC  29482
Direct Telephone: 843-883-5726
Facsimile: 843-883-3009
Emergency: 9-1-1
Police and Fire Dispatcher: 843-743-7200
Email address: abenke@sullivansisland.sc.gov
Web address: www.sullivansisland.sc.gov