“Growing Up With Daniel Island” by Nicole Cooper

In 1999, when I was seven years old, I found myself in Charleston, South Carolina on Daniel Island as a result of Dad’s job and a “new opportunity”. “A new town. An island. A new way of life.” Now, ten years later, Daniel Island is not what it used to be; it now has its own exit ramp off of I-526, a real grocery store, and streetlights but I love it just the same.

When I first moved to Daniel Island, I lived at 182 Brady Street in a cute little yellow house we rented while we were building on Beresford Creek. Our house was the last one on the street; the development of Cochran Park and Bounty Street had not even begun. We lived where the sidewalk ended, with a vast plot of dirt being our only neighbors to the right. But our neighbors to the left made up for the lack of neighbors on the right. I remember almost every weekend having block parties and cookouts.

After a year, houses began to start going up in Cochran Park and our house on Beresford Creek was finally built. There still wasn’t much to Daniel Island. Life was simple and that’s what made it so much fun. Boat storage was in the field next to Bishop England. The church with the green roof, as I used to call it, was the last thing on Seven Farms Drive. There weren’t any stoplights and there wasn’t a need for them. Tecklenburg’s was the closest thing to a grocery store we had. If you asked them nicely, they would be sure to stock your favorite brand of cereal for you so you wouldn’t have to leave the island when you ran out. Getting to ride my bike all the way there was a very special privilege, and I would get a fabulous strawberry milkshake on rare occasions.

On Daniel Island, biking has always been the best form of transportation. My friends and I used to meet up every day after school to embark on some new adventure. Bellinger Island was always a favorite destination of ours, and I still love going there. It’s one of the few places on Daniel Island that hasn’t changed at all over the years.

Our bicycles took us all over this island. We would go “park-hopping” between Etiwan Park and the park on Shipwright Street. I remember clearly when Center Park was first built; it was an instant favorite, and in my friend’s opinions and mine, it put all of the other parks to shame. We spent countless hours at that park. Now there are more parks than I can name, with the pirate and “spinny” park being favorites of the new generation. But in my eyes, they all pale in comparison with Center Park. It’s the best; always has been always will be.

When I was in 7th grade we sold the house on the creek and moved to Blakeway Street, right behind Bishop England. In the springtime, you can hear the crack of the bat coming from the baseball fields and see people and their dogs frolicking along the bike path, occasionally stopping at the exercise station.

In the ten years I’ve lived on Daniel Island, it has grown almost, if not more, than I have. I have lived in three different parts of the island and loved each one. Despite all of the changes and growth, one aspect of Daniel Island has remained constant – the sense of community.

Everyone knows everyone, and people still sit on their porches and talk to their neighbors as they pass by. I’ve grown up right along with Daniel Island, and am going to miss it next year when I’m away at school but I know that no matter how much we both continue to grow or where I end up, Daniel Island will always be one thing…home.

Accept the Challenge & Get Fit, Daniel Island!

Last summer, more than 300 island residents and employees participated in the first-ever Get Fit Challenge. Now the island and community-wide fitness program organized by Hello! Daniel Island is back this summer by popular demand!

The Get Fit Challenge is a 12-week program designed to encourage participants to have fun while getting in shape. The program welcomes participants at all levels of fitness, and classes are designed to work for everyone.

Classes will be offered by the community’s diverse array of health, wellness and fitness professionals including:

• CrossFit Charleston
• The Holistic Chick
• Jazzercise
• Butts and Gutts
• MUSC WEight Management Center
• Daniel Island Yoga
• Daniel Island Hip Hop
• CrossFit Discovery

Registration cost is $35 and includes any class on the Get Fit calendar and a t-shirt. Individuals must be 18 and older.

Participants must register by Tues., June 1st. UPDATE: Get Fit organizers have extended registration until Tuesday, June 8th.

For more information on the Get Fit challenge, please click HERE.

'2010 Lowcountry Bocce Bash' Bashes It Out Of The Park!

On Saturday, May 22 hundreds gathered at Blackbaud Stadium, the home of the Charleston Battery, to participate in one of Charleston’s fiercest competitions – the 10th Annual Lowcountry Bocce Bash!

An annual tradition in the Charleston area since 2001, the Lowcountry Bocce Bash came about in hopes of reviving the ancient game of bocce while also raising money for the Special Olympics.

This year’s winner was the Cola & Chucktown Mix under captain Chad Hewitt. The runner-up was the Army Wives – Love is a Bocce Field team under captain Brian McNamara.

The event was a huge hit and a success for the Special Olympics, and even ended with a late afternoon rainbow. Congrats to everyone involved!

Take a look below at some photos from the 2010 Lowcountry Bocce Bash.

Celebrating the United States of Daniel Island

For Jann O’Toole, Marty Sena and their friends and neighbors on Daniel Island, planning for this year’s picnic contest at the annual “Concert in the Park” was a group effort. It all started when Jann, who teaches English as a second language to Russian women, proposed they name Trident Literacy Association, where she volunteers, as the beneficiary should their group win the grand prize of a $500 cash donation to the charity of their choice. From there, the wheels began to turn.

Marty came up with the theme: “The United States of Daniel Island.” An appropriate theme indeed, considering the group of about 16 couples represent 28 different states.

“I didn’t know one of these people six years ago – none of us did.  But this has really come to be a special group of friends,” says Marty. “The one thing that brings us together is Daniel Island.”

Once the idea was hatched, the planning took on a life of its own. A series of “meetings” were held in the weeks leading up to the event, and everyone chipped in. There were banners to be made (each participant wore a sash with the name of their home state printed on it), an interactive map to be assembled (with a ribbon pinned to the city and state where each person was from), decorations to buy, and more.

Each couple was required to bring a dish representing their home state. A table decorated in red, white and blue displayed an all-American feast featuring an eclectic mix of treats from around the country. Fried chicken from South Carolina and muffaletta sandwiches from New Orleans shared the table with guacamole, peach cobbler, popcorn (from Indiana, of course!) and more. A state flag was placed on each of the dishes.

The group proudly displayed their map and invited those walking by to become part of the “United States of Daniel Island” by placing a sticker on their hometown.

“Everyone really enjoyed seeing a visual representation of where their friends and neighbors came from,” said Madeline Cerrudo, who took the lead on organizing the interactive map. “It was a great conversation starter.”

Truly a creative bunch, the group held a “Best Hat” contest amongst themselves, with each friend wearing a hat decorated in a theme that represented their home town.

“Trident Literacy has an amazing capacity for changing people’s lives,” said Jann O’Toole, who previously served on the board and has been volunteering for the organization for almost eight years. “We had so much fun putting this event together in hopes of providing some financial assistance to this wonderful non-profit organization.”

Congratulations to this dedicated group on their hard work on behalf of Trident Literacy Association!

Dedicated Island Resident Gives Back to the Community

Bill Stevens has long believed in the power and importance of giving back to the community. When he moved to Daniel Island from Cincinnati in 2003, that belief helped guide him as he and his wife Ann integrated into their new hometown.

“Giving back allows you to learn so much more about your community than you would if you didn’t reach out beyond your personal circle of friends,” Bill says. “And it ultimately instills a culture of service that results in better individuals and better communities.”

You’ll find Bill’s name associated with a growing number of initiatives on Daniel Island that are doing great things for some of Charleston’s most important charitable organizations.

As a board member of the Rotary Club of Daniel Island, Bill has been instrumental in growing the Club’s signature event, the Charleston Duck Race, into one of the area’s most successful fundraising events. The premise is simple: Rubber ducks are made available for “adoption” at a suggested donation of $10 a piece. On the day of the race, 30,000 ducks are dropped off a bridge high above the Wando River, where they “race” to the finish line at Daniel Island’s community pier and Waterfront Park. The owners of the first 30 ducks to cross the finish line win cash and other prizes. But the real winners are the charities that benefit from the proceeds of this unique event. Last year, more than $70,000 was raised for five local non-profit organizations, and the event was recently recognized as the best rotary project worldwide by Rotary International.

“The race is really a fun, family-focused event that offers an opportunity for folks to enjoy food and entertainment on the banks of the Wando River while cheering on their adopted ducks and contributing to a variety of great causes,” says Bill. One hundred percent of proceeds from this year’s event will benefit 12 local non-profits.

Bill also serves on the board of the Daniel Island Community Fund, a 501(c)4 organization that is funded by a “community enhancement fee” on island real estate transactions to provide resources for civic and cultural programs on Daniel Island and in neighboring communities that are in need. In this role, he serves on the resident-led grants committee, which reviews all funding requests. Since 2003, more than $2 million in grants have been awarded to organizations like the local chapter of the American Red Cross, the Lowcountry Food Bank, Junior Achievement and many others. It also funds an annual scholarship program that sends gifted students from both Daniel Island and the neighborhing Cainhoy community to Daniel Island’s esteemed Bishop England High School.

“Bill Stevens is not just an asset to Daniel Island, but to the entire Charleston area,” says Jimmy Bailey, Vice President of Community Services at Daniel Island’s Property Owners Association. “His dedication is matched by tremendous wisdom and intellect.  Not only has he become a community leader, but I personally look to him as a mentor.”

When he’s not helping make the community a better place, Bill enjoys traveling to spend time with his wife, four children and six (and counting) grandchildren. And, of course, spending time enjoying golf and the many benefits of living on Daniel Island.

“We like that Daniel Island is primarily home to full-time residents who are active members of the community,” says Bill. “Truly, the best part about living here has been getting to know the unique group of folks who have made this community their home.”

A Magical Evening in Smythe Park

A favorite island tradition for six years and counting, Daniel Island’s festive “Concert in the Park” drew thousands of residents and visitors to Smythe Park on Saturday, May 15. Complete with warm breezes and a “palmetto moon” overhead, it was a magical evening with good friends, good food and spectacular entertainment. Jeremy Davis & The Equinox Jazz Orchestra had the crowd dancing to their “Great American Big Band” sound in a performance that lasted more than two hours under the stars.

Following tradition, the Daniel Island Community Fund’s annual Picnic Contest drew some elaborate spreads, with participants trying to outdo one another for the title of “best picnic” and the grand prize – a $500 donation to the charity of their choice. Many residents came out to Smythe Park the day before the event this year to stake out the perfect spot for their soiree.

This year’s winners truly stood out. Second prize went to “Southern Chic,” a picture-perfect setup under a canopy of live oaks, complete with paper lanterns swinging from the trees and a cozy lounging area. The group effort was led by resident and wedding planner Melissa Barton, owner of A Charleston Bride.

The grand prize went to “The United States of Daniel Island,” a diverse group of residents from 28 different states who chose a patriotic theme and invited those walking by to place a star on their home city on a map of the United States. Their effort was dedicated to Trident Literacy Association, who will receive the $500 grand prize donation. To read more about their festive spread, click here.

“This annual event just keeps getting better and better,” said Jimmy Bailey, Vice President of Community Services for the Daniel Island Property Owners Association. “I can’t think of a better way to spend a beautiful springtime evening in Charleston.”

Check out more pictures of this truly special evening below, and make plans to join us for next year’s event!

‘Concert in the Park’ to Feature "Big-Band" Music & Picnic Competition!

The annual Concert in the Park, an island tradition and resident favorite, returns this Saturday, May 15th to the shores of Smythe Lake with a new twist and spin – literally!

The event will feature, for the first time, Jeremy Davis & The Equinox Jazz Orchestra, a high-energy stage show and music ensemble sure to get the crowd on their feet!

Performing in the “Great-American-Big-Band” tradition, Jeremy Davis and his 16-piece orchestra will entertain with music from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr. and much, much more.

In his own words, Jeremy describes the band as, “The Rat Pack meets The Dean Martin Variety Show with a touch of A Prairie Home Companion. It’s plain to see that we love what we do, and we love our fans. We’re not your grandfather’s big band.”

As in previous years, the Daniel Island Community Fund will again host a picnic competition for concertgoers. The best overall picnic spread will win $500 to contribute to their charity of choice.

It’s a great way to be creative and have fun but also compete to win a chance to help others! Guests are invited to come grab a spot and set up their picnic spreads throughout the day on Saturday.

For those who’d rather not pack a picnic, there will be food vendors’ onsite including Orlando’s Italian Eatery, Et Cetera Gourmet and T&T’s Kettle Korn.

Picnic judging will be at 6:00 pm on Saturday evening with the concert beginning at 7:00 pm.

Don’t miss this fun and FREE chance to visit with neighbors and friends, enjoy a beautiful Lowcountry spring night and listen to great music!

Check out these picnic spreads from previous years at the Concert in the Park:

Buy Local! Daniel Island Farmers’ Market Open till Sept. 30

With the growing season in full bloom, the South Carolina Lowcountry is practically overflowing with delicious vegetables, herbs and beautiful flowers! And the best place to get your hands on fresh, local produce is at the Daniel Island Farmers’ Market, which is back for its second year at the Family Circle Tennis Center.

Each Thursday = through September 30, the Daniel Island Farmers Market will feature local farms, artists and vendors selling their locally grown foods and goods. Local produce will include sugar snap peas, arugula and spinach, onions, yellow squash, tomatoes, cantaloupe, watermelon and more delicious spring and summer fare! Our Local Foods will also have organic, grass-fed beef and chicken.

Capt’ Hatt’s Shrimp Market will be selling fresh Carolina shrimp and seafood, as well as their delicious fried shrimp and crab cakes. Other food vendors will be on hand selling everything from kettle corn and hot dogs to southern home cooking. Dinner is served!

Artisans will have a variety of handmade arts and crafts for sale including jewelry and iron work inspired by the work of Philip Simmons, local blacksmith and artist. Money raised from these sales will go to the Philip Simmons Foundation. This week’s Farmers’ Market comes just in time for Mother’s Day so get over there and grab mom something local and unique!

Each week the market will feature great live entertainment and in celebration of this week’s first 2010 market, the Daniel Island Hip Hoppers will perform. Also, at the Daniel Island Academy tent, kics can decorate their own personal planter and pick starter seeds of basil, cilantro and mint to add their home gardens.

Stop by the Daniel Island Farmers Market for fun, food and to support local farms, artists and businesses! More information can be found HERE.

2009 Daniel Island Farmers Market.