Plans Underway for Springtime Events on Daniel Island and in Charleston

It’s still January, but spring is just around the corner and throughout the Lowcountry plans are being finalized for special events of all kinds. If you live here, there are lots of ways to get involved. If a visit to Charleston is in your future, be sure to check out our calendar of upcoming events when making your plans.

Here on Daniel Island, the folks at the Family Circle Tennis Center are now accepting applications for volunteers for the upcoming Family Circle Cup. More than 375 volunteer positions need to be filled for the April 2 – 10 event. Opportunities involve 18 areas, including guest services, the players lounge, transportation, the media center, information technology, the ticket office, ushers and more. Detailed volunteer information and official applications are available on-line at FamilyCircleCup.com.

Also on Daniel Island, the Property Owners Association is preparing for its popular annual oyster roast on February 26th at Pierce Park Pavilion. Roast pig and oysters will be on the menu at this year’s event, which is being called “Pork n’ Pearls.” The event will raise funds for Windwood Farm Homes for Children, a residential treatment center for abused and neglected boys. Advance tickets are being sold at a special price of $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-17 through February 1st. After that the advance price increases to $30/$10. Children three and under are free. Be sure to get your tickets soon by visiting windwoodfarm.org – the event is expected to be a sell-out!

Meanwhile, the Charleston Battery will kick their preparations for the 2011 USL Pro season into high gear when they host the Carolina Challenge Cup featuring Major League Soccer’s D.C. United, Chicago Fire and Toronto F.C. March 5-12 at Daniel Island’s Blackbaud Stadium. The Battery’s official season begins on April 9th with a match at home against the Charlotte Eagles. Click here for the complete schedule and ticket information.

That’s just a taste of what’s in the works here on Daniel Island. Click here for a complete calendar of springtime events throughout Charleston.

From Seattle to Daniel Island

A cross-country move from Seattle to Charleston can be daunting, especially if you’ve never spent time in the southeast or visited the Charleston area. But for Ken and Timi Rawls, the experience has been a pleasure. The couple is looking forward to moving into their new Daniel Island home this summer.

Ken is a production manager for The Boeing Company and has worked for the company for 27 years. He has been relocated several times, so it was no surprise when he found out that he was being transferred to Charleston.

“Ironically, we always dreamed of retiring to the Carolinas because of the mild weather,” says Timi. “The move to the Charleston area came as a natural decision for us.”

Empty nesters, the Rawls have two grown daughters who are living on their own; one in Italy, and one in California.

“The girls will be far away, but I keep reminding them that Charleston will be a wonderful place to visit,” said Timi.

As soon as Ken found out about his transfer to Charleston, Timi started researching the area on the Internet and was contacted by a local real estate agent referred by Boeing.

“When we visited Charleston for the first time, we looked at homes in numerous areas,” says Timi. “We toured communities in Mt. Pleasant, James Island and Johns Island. But when our real estate agent brought us to Daniel Island, I was immediately sold. We fell in love with the charming neighborhoods and all the amenities. And we really liked the coastal feeling that that the community offers.”

“What appealed to me were all of the hiking trails and outdoor activities,” says Ken.  “I love to go boating and fishing and Daniel Island certainly offers plenty of opportunity for that!”

The couple was initially attracted to Center Park because of the mature trees and its convenient location to the grocery store and downtown restaurants. But they just couldn’t seem to find a home that met all of their needs.

“I wanted a one-story home with an open floor plan that I could easily customize. That’s when our agent suggested we build a home and began to show us some homesites in Smythe Park,” commented Timi.

The couple decided to build a David Weekley home on a homesite located just two blocks from the water.

“We were familiar with David Weekley, and they were very accommodating and helped us choose a floor plan that met our needs,” says Timi. “They had a lot of layout and design choices to offer. Now all we have to do is decide on an exterior paint color. We are very happy with our decision and can’t wait to move in this summer!”

“We’ve been so impressed by how helpful and friendly everyone has been throughout this entire process,” commented the couple. “It really is true that southern hospitality exists. And Charleston’s weather isn’t so bad, either.”

“I’m originally from Columbus, Ohio, and after living in Seattle for many years, you’d think I’d get used to the freezing rain and snowy days,” says Timi.  “But as I keep telling Ken, I’m tired of the cold winters and am looking forward to spending my days on Daniel Island with warmer temperatures and sunny skies!”

Charleston Restaurant Week Comes to Daniel Island

It’s time to put your New Year’s resolutions on hold: Charleston Restaurant Week is here! For nine days starting on January 14, more than 80 casual and fine dining establishments throughout the region – including three Daniel Island restaurants – are offering special three-course menus for just $20 or $30. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of the outstanding world-class dining options located in Charleston without breaking the bank.

The three Daniel Island restaurants participating in Restaurant Week fall under the “Casual Dining” category, meaning you pay just $20 for their outstanding Restaurant Week menus. Here’s a look at what they’re planning:

Queen Anne’s Revenge
One of the island’s first restaurants, QAR has become a popular destination for visitors from around the southeast who come to sample the diverse and well-prepared items on the menu, as well as the restaurant’s extensive collection of authentic pirate artifacts and art.

“Restaurant week is a great way to get new and returning guests into the restaurant and to show off my talented chef’s skills at a time that is usually slower for our business,” says General Manager Lorraine Cedotal.

Highlights from the choices on QAR’s $20 Restaurant Week menu include jalapeno corn chowder, stone crab claws with pearl oyster hushpuppies, all-natural New York Strip, butternut squash risotto with prosciutto, chocolate mousse ice cream sandwich, apple strudel and more.

Vespa
Offering an atmosphere that is both cozy and lively, Vespa offers authentic Neapolitan-style pizza right here on Daniel Island, as well as a complete menu of appetizers, salads, pastas and entrees featuring fresh, local ingredients. The $20 menu offerings at Vespa will include mussels, a variety of salads, select pizzas and housemade Tiramisu.

Daniel Island Grill
Daniel Island’s favorite watering hole also offers a diverse menu of appetizers, snacks, entrees and more in its casual indoor and outdoor dining areas. For Restaurant Week, the DIG is highlighting some of the favorite items from its menu, including wings, nachos, spinach salad, Penne Ala Vodka, a Certified Angus Burger and a Three-Layer Chocolate Mousse Cake for dessert.

Hungry yet? Charleston Restaurant Week takes place Jan. 14-22. Click here for further information.

2010 A Year of Giving on Daniel Island

By Beth Bush, The Daniel Island News

Perhaps Daniel Island should be called “the land of giving.” It seems that this island community is good for business, particularly the business of raising money for worthy causes. In 2010, a whopping $1.7 million (and counting) was raised through various island events and initiatives for charitable organizations near and far.

“I think it’s a testament to the power of community, really,” said Julie Dombrowski, communications manager for The Daniel Island Company. “Whether its assisting a neighbor who has experienced a tragedy like a fire or a death in the family, or giving personal resources to help organizations that provide services for those in need throughout the region, the urge to help is infectious.”

The numbers each tell their own story — $152,000 raised at the annual Rotary Duck Race on Daniel Island for local and international charities; $40,000 for Charleston Young Life, a Christian organization targeting middle school students and teens; $24,000 for the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry at the Buddy Walk; $209,000 dispersed for charitable causes by the Daniel Island Community Fund; and a whopping $460,670 for breast cancer research through Daniel Island’s annual Susan G. Komen Lowcountry Race for the Cure.

The Special Olympics also had an exceptionally golden year on Daniel Island, raising $80,000 at the organization’s annual Bocce Bash at Blackbaud Stadium and another $110,000 at a gala held at the Daniel Island Club.

“Daniel Island has been especially warm and generous,” said Paula Byers, district marketing and development coordinator for Special Olympics of South Carolina. “The people, the community, The Daniel Island Company – we just feel like we have a real home on Daniel Island. There is a big Special Olympics connection.”

Two festive tours of homes on the island – the Harvest Tour of Homes in October and the Christmas Tour of Homes in December – brought in about $10,000 each for their charitable beneficiaries.

“The community support was phenomenal!” exclaimed Virginia Cochran of the Daniel Island Garden Club, the sponsoring organization for the holiday tour. “We’re thrilled to death. It was overwhelmingly successful. The support from our homeowners was fabulous. They all outdid themselves! We appreciate everybody getting behind the wheel and helping.”

Proceeds from the event, added Cochran, will go towards enhancing the Garden Club’s “Osprey Trail” in front of the Daniel Island School. The Berkeley County Library on Daniel Island will use funding generated from the fall home tour to upgrade children’s book shelves, replace furniture in the library and meeting room, and purchase additional materials for the facility’s collection.

“I think the people of Daniel Island are extremely generous and quick to share, and have demonstrated a wonderful balance of giving to help locally – right on the island and in the surrounding community – as well as in the larger nation and world,” said Pat Richards, president of the Daniel Island Friends of the Library.

East Cooper Community Outreach (ECCO) was also on the receiving end of Daniel Island’s generosity last year. Close to $12,000 was raised to help those less fortunate through a variety of island events, including the annual oyster roast, a Park Day face painting booth, and a “Santa’s Closet Adopt-A-Family” program.

“We have been amazed at the outpouring of support of the Daniel Island residents this year,” said Jack Little, ECCO executive director. “We are teaching people to fish and the Daniel Island folks believe in our mission of empowering people to break the cycle of generational poverty.”

Island resident Tom Richards has experienced the community’s giving spirit through his work with two locally-based non-profit organizations – the Daniel Island Rotary Club and Water Missions International. When asked to describe the island’s support, Richards’ response began with two simple words.

“Overwhelmingly generous!”

The Duck Race, held in June, has become a highly anticipated event in the community. Funding brought in from the race has netted thousands of dollars for a number of local causes, including food drives for the hungry, Boys and Girls Clubs program support, a “YES Carolina” entrepreneurial education program, and numerous literacy projects at both Daniel Island School and Cainhoy Elementary Middle School. Internationally, the swimmingly successful event allowed the Daniel Island Rotary to lead a clean water project in Peru last year, with a second similar endeavor planned for early 2011.

“Through the generosity of thousands of people here and literally across the country, the Duck Race has generated more than $400,000 in net profits these past four years,” added Richards.

The first ever “SIP of Daniel Island” was held in March of 2010 and poured in over $5000 for Water Missions International. The second SIP is now being planned, said Richards, and is set for March 23.

Daniel Island’s sporting community, and related events, also brought in plenty of green for non-profits in 2010. The Nationwide Tour Championship resulted in a fundraising “hole in one” for the Student Transportation of America Education Foundation (STAEF) and several local charities. The event’s Tickets Fore Charity effort brought in $95,000, according to island resident Denis Gallagher, who is Chairman and CEO of Student Transportation, Inc., and Chairman of the STAEF. Last year, the Foundation was able to give out 16 scholarships to local students attending colleges or universities in South Carolina.

“At Student Transportation, Inc., our corporate theme this year was ‘giving back,’” said Gallagher, who hopes to double the number of scholarships given in 2011. “When you’re part of communities, like we are, you have a sense of pride in your organization when you see everyone pitching in to help those in need. We are thankful to the many people who participated and helped us make this event a real success this year. The folks at The Daniel Island Company, Family Circle and our Foundation have made this great, fun, and exciting event something this community can be proud of.”

At the Family Circle Tennis Center, charitable dollars had an equally impressive impact in 2010. Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, Win4Life (an inner city youth program), Courting Kids, and several local high school tennis teams were among the beneficiaries of a combined $139,280 generated through cash and in-kind donations.

“Daniel Island has always been a very giving community,” added Bob Moran, general manager of the Family Circle Tennis Center. “We sincerely appreciate the support of the businesses and residents who partner with us, contributing their time and money to support charitable initiatives on the island.”

Juvenile Diabetes research also got a much needed financial boost in 2010, thanks to the success of the Abby’s Friends Golf Tournament held at the Daniel Island Club. This local, “grass-roots” initiative is named in honor of Abby Sutterlin, an island youngster who is living with the disease.

“Abby’s Friends has been successful because of the outpouring of support and overwhelming generosity of the Daniel Island community,” said Kendell Sutterlin, Abby’s mother. “It is absolutely amazing how our neighbors/community always pull together to help others. We are truly blessed to live in such a wonderful place.”

Cookie Krumbs Presents: An Overview of Daniel Island

One of the sales associates at Daniel Island Real Estate, Brenda Cook, has employed two very talented and energetic young girls to produce a series of short videos about life on Daniel Island. Katie Lyons and Chloe Hogan are both 12 years old and students at the Daniel Island School. Check out their first installment – it’s great, and we hope there’s more to come!!