Volume 2 Issue 17

December 29, 2006

Lettitor
By Heather Holbrook

         Blink and the year has almost gone. Say goodbye to 2006 and all that it was. I clearly see what a fabulous place we live. But I don’t need to tell you that; you live here too. As residents, old and new, we each are entrusted to care for our island communities’ many facets. Most of us agree it’s worth preserving our unique way of life that is set apart by much more than water. We will continue to walk that invisible line between progress and inclusivity; preservation and choosing a path of least destruction. I wish us luck.
      The Island Eye may only be 24 pages of ink on 35 lb hi-brite paper, but it has evolved into an accepted and anticipated addition to island life. And as we look to 2007 and our second anniversary in May, I pledge to make it even better. And as always it will be free, but as of January 1 it will cost you 50 cents an issue if you stop by our office on Middle Street. (That’s a joke for you Moultrie News lovers out there.)
      Thanks to you, the reader, whose photos and written contributions in the hands of a great staff make good reading. And a big thank you to all our advertisers in 2006. Without the support of our community, The Island Eye News would be nothing. And I am particularly grateful to friends and strangers alike who take the time to tell me personally how much they appreciate our efforts. And to those of you who don’t like us, thank you for not telling me.
      I am indebted to the people I work with every day and have for these last 43 issues of the paper: Kristin Hackler, Laurie Hellmann-Sharon, Carol Rice, Swan Richard and AshleyUllrich. And to our regular column contributors: Meredith Nelson, Emily Abedon, Richard Hricik, Marty Boren, Ali Akhyari and Ken Brown. Since we don’t actually have a staff photographer, I say thanks to Linda Tucker, Bambi Werner, Carol Killough and Janie Ball for regularly sending good images. Must not forget the two women who lovingly care for my children while I am working, Carey Barati and Maggie Cox. And Tim Holbrook for supporting me unconditionally.
      And last a special appreciation to The Island Eye News publisher Lynn Pierotti, whose vision it was to bring a community paper to our islands like the one he used to read up in Cohasset, Mass. Thanks Lynn for giving me the best job in the world.
      So Happy New Year, y’all! Here’s to 20/20 hindsight. Say yes to joy and all good things on the horizon. As I hear it, the ‘ayes’ have it.

Size “10” houses on size “6” land
by Kristin Hackler

      “Across the nation a teardown epidemic is wiping out historic neighborhoods one house at a time. As older homes are demolished and replaced with dramatically larger, out-of-scale new structures, the historic character of the existing neighborhood is changed forever. Neighborhood livability is diminished as trees are removed, backyards are eliminated, and sunlight is blocked by towering new structures built up to the property lines. Community economic and social diversity is reduced as new mansions replace affordable homes. House by house, neighborhoods are losing a part of their historic fabric and much of their character.”
      So said Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, during an address in San Francisco, California on June 28, 2006. He went on to state that the attack on older homes stretches across the board and the effect of tearing down those homes is not just a matter of material removal; "From 19th-century Victorian to 1920s bungalows, the architecture of America's historic neighborhoods reflects the character of our communities. Teardowns radically change the fabric of a community. Without proper safeguards, historic neighborhoods will lose the identities that drew residents to put down roots in the first place."
      And that’s what is at the heart of the issue; the identity of a neighborhood. Though Richard Moe was addressing San Francisco at the time, his words ring just as true here on South Carolina‘s sea islands. Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms are currently listed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as two of the 300 communities in 33 states that are being negatively affected by teardowns and development, a fact recently brought quite shockingly to the surface on Hartnett Blvd.
      Betty Newsom, an Isle of Palms resident for more than 40 years, recently decided to sell her house and move in with her daughter who had lately fallen ill. Betty hired a professional home appraiser who valued her property at $850,000, a fair price and practically a steal on an island where 8000 square foot lots typically sell for more than $1 million. The small family home quickly received a contract bid from a county tax assessor for the sale sum of $850,000. After being assured multiple times by the buyer that her home would not be torn down, and that they planned to add on a mother-in-law suite, Betty allowed the sales process to progress.
      What Betty didn’t know was that her house was zoned differently than most of the homes on her street. While most of the lots on Hartnett Blvd. are classified as SR-1 (that is, single lots are 17,500 square feet or larger), Betty’s house was an SR-2, which meant her property could be subdivided into two lots, as long as they were both 8000 square feet or larger. Before the final papers were signed, the buyer had written up proposals to tear down the older home and divide the property in two where significantly larger sized homes could be built on both. When the residents of Hartnett Blvd found out about the plan, they were outraged.
      The Planning Commission’s tiny conference room was packed for its meeting December 13. Betty’s friends and neighbors spilled into the hallway to hear the Planning Commission examination of the buyer’s proposal. The issue of tree removal was brought up, a process which requires a review and permit, but the buyer had managed to avoid any tree removal on the property. The final consensus, as the voiceless crowd grumbled, was that the plans met all guidelines and was legally correct. However, because of the stir the property division was causing, the council decided to defer their approval for the allowed 60 days.
      This isn’t the first time this has happened, either. Another woman who lived near Breach Inlet a few years back sold her family home only to find out that her house was torn down and the land subdivided, both properties selling for the price the buyer paid for the whole lot.
      With a contract already signed, Betty is afraid of a lawsuit if she backs out now. Also, she had already bought a home near her daughter in another city when she found out what was happening.
      “We aren’t all rich, even though we live on the island,” one of her neighbors stated. “Most of us moved here several years ago, but we want to do everything we can to help Betty with this situation. We’ve even discussed the neighborhood floating her a loan or buying the house outright.”
      The neighborhood of Hartnett Blvd. called a special meeting on December 20 and will be presenting their case at the next Isle of Palms council meeting on January 2, 2007. This will allow any possible changes to apply at the next Planning Commission meeting, which takes place on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 at 4:30 pm.

Ah-choo:Take care of that winter cold
By Ali Akhyari

       The human body is truly a remarkable phenomenon. We mark its ability by recording the fastest sprints, highest jumps, and strongest muscles. The entire world watches as professional athletes display the limits of a finely tuned body at the Olympics. Its versatility is flagged at the peaks of this planet’s highest mountains, in scorching temperatures below sea level, and even beyond the boundaries of this planet in space.  
      Some may argue, though, that its weakness is witnessed in a simple cold. Organisms so small that a microscope is required to see them, often wreak havoc on these otherwise amazing bodies, especially this time of year. Our vulnerabilities are exposed through something as simple as a runny nose. The accomplishments of mankind become secondary next to a 100+ degree fever. But perhaps we overlook another opportunity to marvel at our own design during these times of distress.  
       Coughing, sneezing and many other symptoms of illness are all responses by the body to deal with potentially dangerous situations. Viruses and bacteria, the culprits in most cases, do not directly cause the symptoms. In fact, they would probably prefer there were none. Consider the symptoms defense mechanisms, ways that your body naturally handles foreign germs. Instead of abhorring the temporary discomfort, think about why the body does these things.   For example, coughing, as a defense mechanism, is a tool used by your body to expel foreign organisms. In other words, coughing gets rid of germs. A particular type of infection causes your throat swell. A signal is sent to your brain that says "itch." Your body has a natural reaction to cough in such a case. When you do so, you are clearing many things from the infected area including germs which leaves less for your body to fight. If there was no sore throat, there would be no cough, which would result in an ever increasing number of infection causing germs.   A fever is nothing to be trifled with. But evidence shows that infections in the body are handled better with a higher temperature.
      Reptiles, cold blooded organisms, will sit in the sun longer than usual when faced with an internal infection in order to raise the body temperature to an unusually high degree. Laboratory rats have exhibited similar behavior. Older rodents that no longer have the faculties to have a fever, stayed in warmer areas of the cage in an attempt to raise body temperature when faced with an infection. The higher temperature can be handled by the body while the infecting organisms are taken out of their ideal range and easier to handle.   Mucus, an overlooked and underappreciated piece of nature, owes its existence in large part to white blood cells. White blood cells are the body's warriors in dealing with germs. They kill the intruders. The body gets rid of the evidence in the form of mucus. So while a runny nose may seem inconvenient, taking a medicine to deal with the "problem" may actually be the equivalent of a stopped up toilet.   Over-the-counter medications (OTCs) simply deal with the symptoms of a cold or other sickness. They don't actually help you fight the infection. As studies have shown, bodies are not as efficient in dealing with an infection when symptoms are prohibited. Although the body may feel better because the throat no longer itches or the nose no longer runs, the story of what's happening internally may be quite different. The white blood cells are still fighting. Where does the mucus go? What is happening to the germs in the throat?   OTCs help us to function in the "40 hour a week" society we have created so that the bills get paid and food stays on the table. But, it is possible that we have become increasingly distant from nature and its processes as we "pave paradise [to] put up a parking lot." It is possible that we have become so distant that we are no longer aware of what our very own bodies are capable of.  
       Certainly, there are situations when help outside of our immune system is needed. Infections can be so severe that the fever our body prescribes is too much and can actually cause more harm than good. Common sense must be utilized with health issues. Antibiotics, medicines that actually help to fight infections, should be taken when prescribed.   Now, the point here isn't that medicine is bad. Simply stated, everything has a purpose. A "gets rid of stuffy, coughing, itchy so you can feel better" medicine will certainly do what it says. It may even be necessary to get through a day at work so that the paychecks keep coming. However, we should probably think twice before downing a dose of Dimetapp at the first sign of a cold. Instead, think about what your body is actually trying to do and weigh the pros and cons against what is happening in your life at the moment. No mattter the decision, take a moment to marvel at the amazing nature of your own body.
Ali Akhyari is an experienced naturalist who leads guided tours at Middleton Plantation .