Dear Island Neighbors,

It’s hard to believe we’re nearly halfway through the summer. I hope yours is going well with plenty of opportunies for rest and relaxation.

Herewith are several items for your beach reading and/or birdcage.

We had another great Independence Day Golf Cart and Bicycle Parade, with 109 carts and 63 bikes. The decorations were as inventive and entertaining as ever. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the creativeness of our parade! And of course, thanks to all our Town staff who give up their holiday so we can have ours!

SERGEANT JASPER’S ONLY ARTS CLUB STAND!
On June 28, the Park Service held a great assortment of Carolina Day activities to commemorate the patriots’ first victory over the British fleet on that day in 1776, in the Battle of Sullivan’s Island.

Next year will be the 250th anniversary of that event and all the others that began our nation’s path to freedom. This will be a big deal, especially here for Carolina Day, so mark your calendar.

You are no doubt familiar with the iconic depictions of our battle, showing Sgt. Jasper re-raising the fort’s flag with an improvised flagstaff after it was insultingly shot down by the enemy. (As a reminder: http://bit.ly/4euL1sF ).

Now you too can pose as the hero of that action!
As part of the run-up to the aforementioned sestercentennial, the Town applied for and received a grant from the state’s SC250 committee to support an interactive mural based on Sgt. Jasper’s brave deed. It’s at Battery Thompson (the big black concrete structure across I’On from the back of the Post Office).

The mural is intentionally fanciful, by respected interactive street artist Kelsey Montague (@KelseyMontague). It shows what you might see looking through an imagined portal to view a rendition of the event, and it is designed to be photo bombed by you.

The flag and flagstaff are shown, but not the Sergeant. That’s where you come in. The idea is for people to step into the mural while striking Jasper’s famous pose with the flag. If you get a pic taken of that, feel free to share it on social media with “#SC250” (including at the Town’s Instagram site http://bit.ly/4knF3vg , which is being reinvigorated by Riley Dippert, our newest Administrative staff member).

And save the picture for your grandchildren, so you can tell them how you saved them from driving on the wrong side of the road, asking for “chips” at McDonalds, and completely misunderstanding “football”.

WHERE TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER
This time of year is not when you want to hear, “Stay out of the water”, and it has nothing to do with the 50th anniversary of “Jaws”, but nonetheless...

Breach Inlet between us and Isle of Palms has always been a treacherous waterway (ask the Brits who tried to cross it in 1776), and it remains so. Already this year, we have had a tragic double drowning there. Do not even wade into the water there; you never know when you will land in a dropoff infested with fierce currents you would never anticipate. Just stay out and urge others to do so!

Station 12, in front of Fort Moultrie, also as usual, has unexpected drop-offs amidst bad currents, especially on the east (Isle of Palms) side. Please obey the signs about staying out of the water.

And now...you may be familiar with the beach pond at Station 28 ½ , which once was a gully that enjoyed some tidal flushing. Now it is completely shut off from that cleansing activity. It looks like an ideal place for youngsters and others to enjoy the water without having to deal with waves and currents...but it’s not.

Why have we posted several signs telling people to stay out of that water?

Because we want people to STAY OUT OF THAT WATER, because of high levels of harmful bacteria. Where from? Generally, dogs, birds and babies in diapers. (Please email me if I have failed to offend any other groups with avid supporters!)

In these hot summer months, with little rain to dilute it, the conditions in that interdune pond are perfect for bacterial growth, and so the Town has begun monitoring water quality to determine whether that water is safe for swimming or wading.

Regrettably, the results have shown high levels of fecal (yeah, you know what that means) indicator bacteria present in the pool. The Town is testing on a weekly basis, and if the levels drop below the unsafe threshold, we will remove the signs. So far, we’ve had wildly fluctuating levels, none of which are considered safe for swimming.

So please, for now, keep the kiddos (and everyone) out of that pond, and remain vigilant about pet poop. Hopefully, over the next few weeks, we will see enough rain to dilute the bad stuff, but until then, please believe and obey the signs.

OTHER BEACH SAFETY MATTERS
Please be aware that E-bikes are not allowed on the beach. This is true for any other motorized vehicles.

If you see E-bikes on the beach clearly under power, don’t hesitate to call the police non-emergency number, (843-743-7200). Think of the school + 200: SIES200. That is the County consolidated dispatch but be assured that even while they are asking you questions they will be alerting our officers.

SCHOOL?? ALREADY??
The first day of school is Tuesday, August 12. What ever happened to the rest of summer? But anyhow, as of that day school traffic will again be an issue in the morning and afternoon, so please be wary, and respect the crossing guard, crosswalks, and pedestrians and golf carts.

TOWN ELECTION
You may recall that at the urging of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration & Elections, we had to change our Town election date to Tuesday, November 4th this year, and similar dates going forward. Posts up for the next election are 3 Council member seats and 1 Mayor’s seat. For information on running, please see the requirements here: http://bit.ly/3IeLPG5

The required petition packets will be available for pickup at Town Hall starting July 22 and must be returned by August 21st at noon.

See you around the Island!

Pat O’Neil
Mayor
843 670 9266
oneilp@sullivansisland.sc.gov