Etiwan Park – Touched by Angels

It’s official – angels have visited Daniel island…the Charleston Park Angels, that is!

On Saturday, June 27, the Charleston Parks Conservancy’s base of volunteers – the Park Angels – descended upon the City of Charleston’s Etiwan Park for a beautification project. The Charleston Parks Conservancy is a public/private partnership devoted to increasing the quality, appreciation and use of Charleston’s City parks, and this was their first visit to Daniel Island.

Island residents, including members of the Daniel Island Garden Club, joined the Park Angels as they planted, mulched, watered and transformed Etiwan Park into a beautiful public park to be enjoyed by everyone. The end result? The park looks amazing!

Thanks to all those involved in the effort!

Check out this video about the project:

Click here to see some photos from the Park Angels day at Etiwan Park.

Get Fit Daniel Island!

Do you want to get in shape this summer? Then, get off the couch and make plans to get fit with your neighbors and friends in Daniel Island’s Get Fit Challenge! The City of Charleston Department of Recreation, Daniel Island Property Owners Association, Daniel Island News and Hello! Daniel Island are sponsoring this community-wide fitness initiative, which will begin July 8th and run through September 30th.

Community members in the fitness, health, wellness, nutrition and medical fields are volunteering their time to provide free classes and activities for a 12-week calendar of “Get Fit” events. For a one-time registration fee of just $25 per person, you can participate in daily free fitness activities scheduled throughout the island, including:

• Yoga in the park
• Karate
• Water aerobics
• Cross fit
• Hip Hop
• Personal Training/Circuit
• Nutrition/health consultations
• And much more!

Weekly weigh-ins will track individual and collective results. And at the end of the program, Hello! Daniel Island will host a party to honor participants, sponsors and volunteers, and prizes will be awarded to the individual or team with the highest percentage of weight loss.

The $25 registration fee is the only cost you will incur. It gets you access to any of the events on the Get Fit calendar and a Get Fit T-Shirt. The money will go towards the City of Charleston’s Youth Scholarship Fund and prizes to be awarded at the closing party.

Complete details about the Daniel Island Get Fit Challenge, along with the registration form and calendar of scheduled events, are available at HelloDanielIsland.com. And if you have a business that would like to participate, please be sure to inquire via the website.

So… what are you waiting for? Get Fit, Daniel Island!

Join as an individual or a team, but most importantly – HAVE FUN!

Summertime & the Livin’s Easy!

George Gershwin got it right when he wrote, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy” in his classic American folk opera Porgy and Bess. So, in celebration of summertime in the Lowcountry, we’d like to share with you some of our favorite summer scenes from life on Daniel Island.

Enjoy!

What’s your favorite thing about summertime on Daniel Island and in Charleston? Send in your favorite summer shots and we’ll add them to our gallery. Email photos to contact@myislandtown.com.

Daniel Island Independence Day Celebrations!

With the end of June right around the corner, island residents are busy making their plans for the 4th of July. Picnics, pools, beaches, barbecues, fireworks and more are all on the agenda this Independence Day on Daniel Island and around the Lowcountry!

Daniel Island’s Independence Day traditions continue this year, beginning on Friday, July 3rd, when residents will head over to Pierce Park  to decorate their bikes, golf carts, strollers and wagons in preparation of the July 4th parade the next day. Children’s performer and kazoo-extraordinaire Rick Hubbard will take the stage from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. Then, the Coconut Groove Band, a five-piece band featuring steel drums, breezy acoustic guitar and fun tropical-themed music, will perform.

The next morning, members of Hello! Daniel Island, a group dedicated to welcoming newcomers to the island, will say good morning to island residents with a pancake breakfast in Etiwan Park, a benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Afterwards, live entertainment will get everyone in a patriotic spirit for the parade.

The annual 4th of July parade will begin at 11:00 am at Etiwan Park. From there, residents will march through the neighborhoods to Pierce Park for more fun in the sun and in the pool, where the aquatics staff will lead fun water and poolside games!

Food and drinks will be available for purchase at all these great Independence Day events.

Check out the photo gallery below to see photos from previous years.

International Rugby comes to Daniel Island!

The USA Men’s National Rugby Team will take on Canada on Saturday, July 4 at 5:00 pm at Blackbaud Stadium in what will mark the first of two IRB Rugby World Cup Qualifier matches. The second will be held in Canada on July 11. Both teams are trying to qualify for the 2011 World Cup, which will be held in New Zealand.

This is the first full international Rugby match ever played in South Carolina. USA Rugby CEO and President of Rugby, Nigel Melville commented, saying “USA Rugby is extremely pleased to return to Charleston and build on the match last year. It was certainly one of the most supportive crowds that the Eagles have played to in recent memory. With a crucial World Cup Qualifier on July 4th we are fully expecting Charleston to get behind the USA National Team and help cheer the team on to victory. This year we need a sell out and will pricing the tickets at a value level so everyone can bring their family and friends. With the match being broadcast live on ESPN2 and across the globe we want to show everyone how vibrant the rugby and sporting communities are in the South”

Interested in attending the Rugby World Cup Qualifier? Tickets are available through www.tickets.com, starting at just $15. Group rates of 10 or more are available by calling (843) 971-4625.

Philip Simmons: 1912-2009

Just two weeks ago, we reported on the life and work of Philip Simmons in celebration of the master blacksmith’s 97th birthday. This week we mourn the loss of this Charleston icon and accomplished artisan. Philip Simmons died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, June 22.

Born on Daniel Island in 1912, Mr. Simmons has long been a fixture of our community. Fortunately his memory will be forever preserved at Simmons Park in the center of town, and through the good work of the Philip Simmons Foundation. He will always be with us in spirit!

Daniel Island Again Recognized as a Top Place to Live

We’re proud to report that once again, Daniel Island has landed on a national list of top places to live. The latest accolade comes from the editors of Where to Retire magazine, who for the third time selected our island town as one of “America’s 100 Best Master-Planned Communities.” The list is published in the magazine’s July/August issue.

The news comes as no surprise to those of us who live and work here. Our coastal setting, laid-back lifestyle, charming neighborhoods and mix of shops, restaurants and recreational diversions make this a wonderful place to be. We’re glad that others think so too. As resident John Dietz, who was interviewed for the article, put it: “Next to marrying my wife, (moving here) was the best decision I ever made!”

The article also highlights trends identified from interviews with hundreds of retirees about their search for a place to relocate. See below for some of the most sought-after community attributes. If you live on Daniel Island, these should sound familiar!:

• A community offering the types of homes, lifestyles and amenities found in exclusive vacation properties (There’s no denying that Daniel Island’s miles of trails and waterways, sports facilities, and golf, swim and tennis amenities offer a unique resort lifestyle.)



• A place where children and grandchildren can live nearby (Daniel Island’s small town atmosphere and wide variety of residential opportunities make it perfect for all life stages, and the number of multi-generational families living here continues to grow.)
• Friendly neighbors and a strong sense of community (Talk to virtually any resident here and they will tell you what they like best about living here is the people.)
  

Daniel Island to Get a Visit from the “Park Angels”

The Charleston Parks Conservancy, a public/private partnership devoted to increasing the quality, appreciation and use of Charleston’s City parks, is planning its first-ever event on Daniel Island. On Saturday, June 27 from 8 a.m. until noon, the Conservancy’s base of volunteers – the Park Angels – will descend upon the City of Charleston’s Etiwan Park for a beautification project. Volunteers are invited to join in the fun and come help plant, mulch and water.  No gardening experience is required!

The event came together thanks in part to a $1,200 donation to the Parks Conservancy from the Daniel Island Employee Advised Fund, a philanthropic initiative funded by voluntary payroll deductions from employees of the Daniel Island Company, Daniel Island Property Owners Association, Daniel Island Real Estate and Daniel Island Club.

Park Conservancy director Jim Martin worked with Jimmy Bailey of the Property Owners Association to identify an area in one of the island’s City parks to hold the “Garden in the Park” event. Etiwan Park was chosen and Conservancy staff members carefully selected drought-tolerant plants that could withstand full sun for the project, including varieties like Imperial Blue Plumbago, Lantana and Rosemary, along with a perennial grass called Pink Muhly Grass and flowering shrubs including Pink Knockout Shrub Rose and American Beautyberry.

“I’m really hopeful that between that group of employees that stepped up to donate, Daniel Island Garden Club members – who have already demonstrated a commitment to beautifying the island’s parks and open spaces – and any other residents who want to help, this will be really successful and lead to more island involvement with the Parks Conservancy,” Bailey says.

This is a great opportunity to get outside, learn about gardening, meet new friends and participate in a hands-on community beautification project. Members of the Conservancy’s staff and its volunteer force of Park Angels will be on hand during the event to both work in the park and share information about gardening, the organization and volunteer opportunities.

Volunteers should bring a trowel or favorite planting tool, pruning shears and sunscreen. The planting area is located by the outdoor theater steps on the side of Etiwan Park. Please contact Paul Wentz at pwentz@charlestonparksconservancy.org if you plan to participate.

Summer Lawn Care Tips

By Michael Fabrizio, Director of Grounds and Golf Maintenance, Daniel Island Club

Summer is in full swing so it’s a good time to focus on some seasonal practices that will promote a healthy lawn.

1.    Aeriation and Thatch Removal
If your lawn is more than three to five years old, one of these processes may be in order.  For thick, soft and puffy lawns, thatch removal is probably needed. For thin grass and hard ground (perhaps due to traffic from children or pets), you might need to aeriate.  A lawn care company can take care of both the aerification process and thatch removal, or you can rent the necessary equipment and perform the process yourself.

2.    Topdressing
Topdressing your lawn with sand after aerification and dethatching will help your turf in the long term by mixing with your existing soil and organic matter.  Sand will help reduce compaction and dilute the organic matter to help air and water better infiltrate through the soil profile.

After completing these processes, an application of a balanced controlled release fertilizer will help your lawn heal and give it controlled growth for the rest of the summer.   If a less expensive soluble fertilizer is used, there is a risk of burn, plus there could be an excessive flush of growth that will slow down and not be maintained for the rest of the summer.  A balanced controlled release fertilizer such as a 12-4-8 or similar ratio, that has some minor nutrients in it such as Fe, Mn and Mg, will help promote a healthy green color without excessive growth.

3.    Irrigation
During the summer, the Lowcountry gets a moderate amount of rain. June through September is the wettest time of the year in the region.

Due to this, I don’t recommend setting your irrigation system to water on a predetermined schedule. With normal rainfall, irrigating 0 – 2 times per week is usually an adequate amount of water.  During dry periods, 3 – 4 times per week should be more than adequate.

I can assure you that there is no lawn or landscape on Daniel Island that needs to be watered every day.  More often than not, due to our soil conditions, homes with irrigation systems sometimes have more lawn and landscape plant material suffering from excessive moisture instead of not enough moisture.

Daniel Island Academy Adding Kindergarten to its Curriculum for the 2009-2010 School Year

Daniel Island’s popular early child learning center is expanding its program this fall with the addition of a kindergarten class designed to help prepare children to excel when they enter elementary school. On Tuesday, June 23 from 10 a.m. until noon, parents interested in learning more can come to the school to talk one-on-one with the new Kindergarten teachers.

“Kindergarten is a significant transition hurdle for children, especially when entering a school with larger classrooms and students with a wide range of pre-kindergarten preparation,” stated Kerry Nowosielski, Director of the Daniel Island Academy. “Our program offers an incredible opportunity for a child to prepare to excel in an elementary school program.”

The kindergarten curriculum hours will be from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., but tuition also covers the school’s extended childcare hours (6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Friday). As with all of the Academy’s full-time programs, wholesome and nutritious snacks and lunch, prepared daily by the school’s full-time chef, are included.

Daniel Island Academy is the only East Cooper area pre-school accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the gold standard for early child education. The school offers full-time, part-time and mother’s morning out programs for children ages one through five.

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