Paint the Town Red, White & Blue at Daniel Island’s 4th of July Celebrations!

Looking for a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate the 4th of July? Look no further! Each year, the Daniel Island Property Owners Association and other island businesses and organizations host a huge, multi-day party and this year is no exception! Take a look below and start planning your July 4th weekend.

Island-Wide Block Party
Friday, July 2 | 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Daniel Island Grill
Sponsored by the Daniel Island POA, the Daniel Island Grill & Camp Bow Wow

Bring the entire family, including your favorite four-legged member, to Daniel Island Grill on Seven Farms Drive for a fun, island-wide block party featuring food, music, games for the kids and much much more!

Food will be available for purchase from the Daniel Island Grill but feel free to bring your favorite appetizer, salad or dessert to share. Et Cetera Gourmet will be selling their delicious gelato – a tasty treat to keep you cool!

It wouldn’t be a party without entertainment! Family-friendly Rick Hubbard will kick off the party with his guitar, banjo, steel drum and, best of all, his kazoo! Then Plane Jane, voted Charleston’s #1 party and cover band for 8 years, will keep the crowd dancing with an assortment of tunes ranging from shag and disco to funk and rock-n-roll favorites.

Other entertainment will include a “Splish-Splash Doggy Bath” hosted by Camp Bow Wow of Charleston, an inflatable water slide to keep the kids cool, face painting and a “Pride Your Ride” tent with patriotic decorations for your bikes, wagons, strollers and golf carts for the parade on Saturday.

Pancake Breakfast
Saturday, July 3 | 8:30 – 10:00 am
Family Circle Tennis Center
Sponsored by Jim N’ Nick’s Bar-B-Q, the Family Circle Tennis Center and the Daniel Island POA

On Saturday morning, head over to the Family Circle Tennis Center for the 2nd annual 4th of July Pancake Breakfast! The menu, provided by Jim N’ Nick’s Bar-B-Q, will feature buttermilk pancakes, hickory-smoked ham, cheese biscuits and watermelon.

Tickets are $5 per person if purchased in advance at the Daniel Island Property Owners Association office. Limited tickets will be available the day of the event for $7 per person.

Pre-Parade Festivities
Saturday, July 3 | 10:00 – 11:00 am
Family Circle Tennis Center

The Daniel Island Property Owners Association certainly has a “star spangled” day planned from start to finish! After the pancake breakfast, stick around the Family Circle Tennis Center to watch some amazing performances by local talent including the North Charleston High School Band, Broadway stars Brad and Jennifer Moranz, local singing sensation Caroline Rhett and family-favorite, Rick Hubbard!

Annual Daniel Island 4th of July Parade
Saturday, July 3 | 11:00 am
Family Circle Tennis Center

Everyone is invited to join the parade, marching from the Family Circle Tennis Center to the Pierce Park Pool & Pavilion, on bikes, wagons, strollers and golf carts. (Don’t forget to get patriotic and decorate your ride at the Island-Wide Block Party on Friday night!)

Cookout & Poolside Celebration
Saturday, July 3 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Pierce Park Pool & Pavilion
This event is for Daniel Island residents and their guests.

Once the parade is over, the party will keep going at the Pierce Park Pool & Pavilion for a cookout and games! The Daniel Island Grill will be serving up delicious food and cold drinks, and there’ll be a number of fun aquatic games for the kids and music provided by the ‘DJ Doctor’.

We look forward to seeing everyone next weekend to celebrate!

Top Ten Daniel Island Gifts For Daniel Island Dads!

Looking for the perfect gift for your Daniel Island dad? Check out our recommendations below:

1. Head over to the Golf Shop at the Daniel Island Club. You don’t have to be a member to shop and they have a wide variety of dad-friendly gifts — Daniel Island logo shirts, ties, bathing suits, leather bags, dopp kits and more. Perfect for any Daniel Island dad!

2. Get him tickets to a Charleston Battery game! The Battery’s 2010 season is in full swing with a number of home matches left, including the July 17th match against the Barclays English Premier League’s Bolton Wanderers, who currently have four players competing in the World Cup. Something tells us dad would love tickets!

3. There’s a new restaurant on Daniel Island and it sounds right up Dad’s alley! Hammett’s Landing specializes in seafood and game, boasting a varied menu including alligator tail, bison and duck burgers, mahi mahi and more. Grab Dad a gift certificate and treat him to dinner for Father’s Day.

4. The craft beer frenzy has kicked into high gear in Charleston so every dad needs his own refillable beer growler from Laura Alberts Tasteful Options. Want to know the best part? Dad can bring his growler to “Growler Hour” each Wednesday to fill up on newly tapped beer for just $3. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

5. Get the golfer in your life what he really wants – a new set of golf clubs, which can be purchased at the Daniel Island Club Golf Shop, and golf lessons from the Club’s head teaching professional and former PGA Tour player Ron Cerrudo. Help dad get into the swing of things!

6. You know dad will want to watch the World Cup this weekend! Pick up a gift certificate to the Daniel Island Grill and treat him to a night out with the boys.

7. Living so close to the water, there are a ton of great recreational ideas for dad! Rent kayaks and take a cruise with the whole family through Daniel Island’s many creeks and waterways. Or call Captain Greg Peralta to charter a fishing trip. Either way, dad will have a memorable time!

8. For the dad who loves gourmet food, stop by Et Cetera Gourmet and build a custom gift basket filled with imported specialty cheeses, cured meats, oils and vinegars, pastries and other sweets.

9. Cook dad dinner with local ingredients from the Daniel Island Farmers’ Market! Grab fresh shrimp, scallops or fish from Capt. Haitt and then head over to the produce stand for green beans, squash and new potatoes. Complete your culinary masterpiece with peach cobbler made with juicy SC peaches. Dad will certainly be impressed!

10. For the Lowcountry lover, head down to the Daniel Island Sales Center and purchase nature photographer Tom Blagden Jr’s book “Lowcountry: The Natural Landscape.” Filled with beautiful images of the Lowcountry’s salt marshes, Carolina bays, beaches, barren islands, rivers and other natural beauties, this gift will remind dad why he calls Daniel Island home.

Professional Golf Helps Give Back

Planning for this year’s Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island is well underway and, once again, a wide array of local non-profit organizations – as well as some lucky local high school graduates – will benefit from the action at this season-ending event for the PGA TOUR’s Nationwide Tour.

Tournament organizers have announced the return of the successful TICKETS Fore CHARITY™ ticket sales fundraising program, which provides an opportunity for non-profit organizations to sell tickets to this major event and keep 100% of the proceeds.  Ticket sales during last year’s tournament raised $21,000 for local charities through this successful program.

Meanwhile, the tournament’s Host Organization, Student Transportation of America Education Foundation (STAEF), recently announced the names of 16 seniors from five Charleston area high schools who will each receive $1,000 cash scholarships for college, a direct result of the Foundation’s partnership with the tournament.

“STAEF’s goal is helping students, and the more support we receive through sponsorship and ticket sales at the Nationwide Tour Championship, the more local students we can help reach their goals,” said Denis J. Gallagher, CEO of Student Transportation of America and a Daniel Island resident.

The Nationwide Tour Championship at Daniel Island concludes the season-long competition to identify the 25 players who will earn PGA TOUR cards for the following season based on the Tour’s final money list. This year’s tournament will take place October 25 – 31 at the Daniel Island Club’s Ralston Creek course.

Charities interested in participating in the TICKETS Fore CHARITY™ program are asked to contact Margaret.Shaw@familycirclecup.com or visit the tournament’s website for further information.

On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!

Each year, thousands of people sign up to participate in marathons and triathlons throughout the country and all over the world. In Charleston, there are a number of races that take place each year. And on Daniel Island, there’s even one just for the kids!

This Saturday, June 19, approximately 100 kids between 7 – 14 will swim, bike and run their hearts out as they race towards the finish line at the 5th Annual Daniel Island Kids Triathlon.

Hosted by the Charleston Department of Recreation and with the help of more than 30 volunteers, the Triathlon gives kids the chance to participate in an active, healthy and fun competition. “The best part about being involved with the Triathlon is the feeling that you may be a part of encouraging a life long activity that will keep children healthy and active, “ said Will Rishovd, Daniel Island Athletic Director for the Charleston Department of Recreation.

The Triathlon starts at the Pierce Park Pool where competitors race between 100-200 meters. Next they race to their bikes, which are waiting for them at the transition area on Pierce Street, and begin a 2.6 to 5.5 miles bike ride through Daniel Island. Last, the kids get ride of their bikes and take to the road on their feet, finishing the race with a half a mile to 1 mile run. All distances are based on age groups with three top finishers from each group winning awards. But everyone is a winner in this race and all finishers will receive a medal.

This year’s triathlon is at capacity but come on out and cheer the kids on as they compete for the title!

Visit the gallery below to see some images from previous years at the Daniel Island Kids Triathlon.

Protecting Daniel Island’s Shoreline

Living on the Carolina coast offers residents and visitors a wide range of activities along our shorelines and on our beaches. But there’s a growing need for eco-awareness: Our beautiful coastlines need attention and protection.

Keeping that in mind, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has recently started work on a new project on the shores of the Wando River on Daniel Island. With the help of residents and other volunteers, the organization hopes to repair 250 feet of eroding shoreline as part of the SCDNAR’s community restoration program, SCORE (South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement).

The area surrounding the project includes the site of a former “Freedmen’s Village,” a post-Civil War cluster of homes that belonged to former slaves. Daniel Island wasn’t involved in any military action, but it was home to African American soldiers, farmers and others directly affected by the war. The archeological remains found at the “Freedman’s Village” settlement are being compromised by the erosion.

SCORE will construct oyster reefs, made of shell-filled mesh bags, along the shoreline to create a habitat for crabs, fish and shrimp. As the reef continues to grow, it will create a seawall that will protect the shores from erosion.

The SCDNR hopes to have the site stocked with nearly 5,000 bags of oysters by the end of the summer with the help of volunteers and area businesses.

Blackbaud, an on-island software company, recently organized employees and their family members to volunteer at the site as part of their “Greenbaud” eco-focused employee volunteer group, creating more than 160 bags of fill for the reef.

Now the SCDNR is registering those who want to get involved. This Friday, June 11, the first group of volunteers will get to work, loading oyster bags and placing them on the new oyster reef. To learn more about the process, click HERE.

For a complete schedule of volunteer times, and to register or for more information, visit the SCORE website.

The Daniel Island Rotary Gets "Quacky" This Saturday

The Daniel Island Rotary Club has been known to act “quacky” at times, but they do have the best intentions!

Each year the Club sponsors its annual Charleston Duck Race, offering rubber ducks up for “adoption” in exchange for a  suggested donation of $10 each. The adopted ducks — all 30,000 of them — are dropped from the top of the James B. Edwards Bridge on I-526 into the Wando River on the day of the race. The first ducks to cross the finish line at Daniel Island’s fishing pier (in front of the Daniel Island Real Estate sales center) win cash and other prizes! Easy, right?

The Daniel Island Rotary Club gets prepared for the 2010 Charleston Duck Race

Just in its 4th year, the Rotary’s Charleston Duck Race has become one of the most successful fundraising initiatives in the Lowcountry. So much so that the club was recently recognized internationally with the Rotary International Significant Achievement Award, which is only given out to one club worldwide each year.

“My first reaction was shock, followed by humility, and, of course, pride,” Bob Wood, upcoming club president, told the Daniel Island News. “We realize that there are 30,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide, virtually all of whom do great work. Thus, it is surprising and humbling to me that we have achieved this special recognition.”

This year’s race on Saturday, June 12th — which could raise more than $300,000 — is a family-friendly event with kids’ activities, food vendors and live music. It’s FREE to come watch as 30,000 ducks are dropped more than 200 feet into the Wando River! Ducks are still available for adoption. Either contact a Rotary Club member or visit www.charlestonduckrace.com for your chance to win.

School’s Out!

It’s beginning to look a lot like summer here on Daniel Island: The pools are filled with the sounds of children, camps at the Daniel Island Club and Family Circle Tennis Center are in full swing, and the temperatures are rising.  As of this week, regular classes are officially finished for the summer at the island’s schools. It was a great year at all three campuses. Here are some highlights from the final months of the 2009/2010 school year on Daniel Island:

Daniel Island School
This spring, Daniel Island’s K-8 public school was one of just four schools in the District to receive the “Palmetto Gold” designation. This coveted title is awarded to schools that receive “excellent” ratings in both performance and improvement on the Palmetto Achievement State Standards Test. Only 16% of schools statewide were recognized with the Palmetto Gold designation this year. Congratulations to the students and faculty for their hard work!

Bishop England High School
The island’s Catholic high school reports that the class of 2010 earned approximately seven million dollars in scholarship money for college this fall. Additionally, more than 50% of the graduating class earned state lottery money to attend in-state colleges or universities. And Bishop England’s impressive athletics programs continued to excel this school year, with eight teams winning state titles: Girls Volleyball, Boys Baseball, Boys & Girls Soccer, Girls Tennis, Boys & Girls Track and Boys Cross Country.

Daniel Island Academy
The young students at Daniel Island Academy, the island’s early child learning center (serving ages 1-5) collectively planted and maintained what surely are the island’s most bountiful gardens this spring. Located in the school’s courtyard, the gardens serve as an important teaching tool each year. Each class is provided a section to plant, and teachers use the experience to talk about nature, ecology, recycling and nutrition. The children cared for their gardens throughout the spring, using water collected in rain barrels to keep the plants hydrated. They harvested herbs and produce and used them in the classroom to prepare nutritious meals and snacks.

Train and the Black Crowes Come To Daniel Island!

The Family Circle Tennis Center’s 2010 summer concert series is winding down for the season but it isn’t over yet!

Take a look below at the amazing line-up below and purchase your tickets today!

Train | August 26 | www.trainline.com

Grammy Award-winning rock band Train will make their Family Circle Stadium debut on Thursday, August 26th.

Train has made its mark on music history for more than 15 years. With wildly popular singles like “Drops of Jupiter”, “Meet Virginia” and “Calling All Angels”, they have earned legions of fans around the globe.

In 2009, Train released its most successful chart-topping single “Hey, Soul Sister” which reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Digital Hot 100, their highest position on the chart to date, #3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and #1 in the U.S. iTunes music store.

Local South Carolina band NeedToBreathe will open the show.

The Black Crowes | September 10 | www.blackcrowes.com

The Black Crowes will appear in Charleston as part of their “Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys” 2010 Tour this summer. The shows are being billed as “Acoustic Hor D’oeuvres followed by an Electric Reception With The Black Crowes,” and will consist of a full hour and a half acoustic set followed by a full hour and a half electric set.