Dr. Charles Turner opened Island Eye Care on Daniel Island seven years ago. Originally from Indiana, Dr. Turner was ready to establish his business not only in a place that offered a warmer climate, but also in a town that offered a convenient location. Daniel Island offered both, and so much more.

“I wanted to open my business in a place where I could ride my bike to work – Daniel Island was the perfect fit,” says Dr. Turner. “I love having my office here. I wanted a site that was not only convenient, but that was centrally located and offered plenty of parking. Daniel Island offers all of that and more.”

Dr. Turner’s business has grown exponentially since 2005. Not only does he carry the largest inventory of contact lenses in South Carolina, but he is also the only optometrist in the nation that offers a special recycling program for contact lenses.

“I thought it would be really great to create a program where patients would get excited about recycling their contacts,” says Dr. Turner. “With more and more people switching to daily lens wear, you start to think about all the packaging and plastic that it generates.”

With over 1,000 of his patients wearing contact lenses, that’s a lot of excess waste. Dr. Turner decided to formerly introduce the One Million Lens Challenge. This is a contest where each contact lens patient receives a recycling container. In return, they receive incentives each time they come in for an appointment.

“The patient is to place the recycling container next to their sink or waste basket in their bathroom. That way, each day when they open a new pair of contact lenses they can dispose of the plastic cases properly in the bag. Our goal is to recycle one million lenses and we are on our way!” says Dr. Turner.

Dr. Turner offers a range of prizes for patients that bring in their recycled contacts. This is certainly innovative thinking for a small town optometry business located on Daniel Island.

“I’m always trying to stay on the cutting edge of the eye wear business,” says Dr. Turner. “This includes staying on top of the latest products for innovative care.”

Dr. Turner enjoys promoting his business by being involved in the community and volunteering at the Daniel Island School. He is also the official eye doctor for the Charleston Battery soccer team.

“I really enjoy being active in the community. I particularly like being the guest science teacher for the 8th graders at the Daniel Island School, where I have them dissect an eyeball. They just love it!” says Dr. Turner.

Island Eye Care currently has three full-time employees, including Dr. Turner’s father, and is getting ready to expand.

“I’m really excited about the growth my business has experienced and look forward to being on Daniel Island for many more years to come,” says Dr. Turner.

Island Eye Care is located in the heart of downtown Daniel Island at 250 Seven Farms Drive. Committed to improving the vision of the entire family, Dr. Turner’s unique training has prepared him to perform eye exams tailored for newborns, children and adults with eye health problems. Island Eye Care is a Charleston practice that specializes in providing the highest level of customer service — focusing on fulfilling each patient’s needs and providing the best optical experience in the Lowcountry.  For more information, visit www.dieyecare.com

Daniel Island Resident & Entrepreneur Makes Popular Healthy Snack

When Jason Burke visited Charleston in June 2008, little did he know that he and his wife would soon make Daniel Island their home.

“Kristin and I were living in Tampa, Florida. I was in the financial service business and was working more than eighty hours a week. I knew I couldn’t sustain that lifestyle much longer,” says Jason.

That’s when Jason and Kristin decided to a take spontaneous road trip to Charleston. “We stayed in the historic district and fell in love the city. Charleston just felt right. We loved the charm of the city.”

Soon after returning home, Jason visited Charleston again. It wasn’t until he was called for an interview at Blackbaud, a leading manufacturer of software for non-profit organizations, that he discovered Daniel Island.

“I just loved this place. It was perfect – I could walk or ride my bike to work,” commented Jason. “I had lived in Tampa all my life and nothing I’d seen before compared to what Daniel Island had to offer. It seemed too good to be true.”

Island resident & entrepreneur Jason Burke

Jason accepted the job offer at Blackbaud and he and Kristen purchased a condominium located in downtown Daniel Island. But it wasn’t long before Jason started dreaming of owning his own business.

“I enjoy my work at Blackbaud, but I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart,” says Jason. “Even as a kid, instead of loaning my video games to friends, I would rent my games to them!”

In addition to an entrepreneurial spirit, Jason has an appreciation for Daniel Island’s healthy lifestyle. “I started to notice that Daniel Island was a very active community and thought that a natural foods store would do well on the island.”

That’s when he started doing CrossFit and learned about the Paleo diet and all the benefits that it had to offer. (The Paleo diet mimics the diets of our hunter-gatherer ancestors and includes lean meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.) However, Jason also found that eating on the go and quick meals were not easy while following the strict guidelines of the Paleo diet. “When eating Paleo, you have to plan and prepare a lot of your meals. Its not as easy as grabbing a bag of chips and a soda.”

Jason started experimenting with making homemade, grass-fed beef jerky, a popular Paleo diet snack. Beef jerky has long been a favorite snack with hikers and campers due to its long shelf life and high protein content.

“I came up with a pretty good formula and decided to test it out with the CrossFit community,” says Jason.

The response was very positive. So, he decided to explore the idea even further by adding a variety of nuts and dried fruit. Thus, Pocket Paleo was born. “People just loved the stuff and pretty soon were placing orders. I would come home from work and immediately start making beef jerky.”

This went on for about six months until he got an order for 500 Pocket Paleos from a national online sports equipment retailer.

“That’s when I knew that this had become something with real potential,” says Jason.

Jason decided to put the natural foods store on hold and instead work on getting his USDA Grant of Inspection, researching manufacturing methods and concentrate more on marketing efforts. In June of last year, he moved to a new space and started regularly producing Pocket Paleo for the retail market.

“We get orders from all over the world – it’s amazing how popular the Pocket Paleo is with athletes, bikers, campers, and boaters,” says Jason.

Pocket Paleo can be purchased online at www.thenewprimal.com. It can also be found at Our Local Foods located near Daniel Island just off of Clements Ferry Road and at various CrossFit gyms throughout the region.  Soon it will be readily available in many other retail outlets.

“I’m very excited about the path we’re headed down. We’re currently researching alternate flavors, selling the beef jerky on its own, and even experimenting with some all-natural nut butters,” says Jason.

Jason also plans on taking the Pocket Paleo on the road and promoting it through a variety of athletic and endurance events.

And speaking of events, The New Primal is sponsoring the New Primal Games right here on Daniel Island. Similar to an all-day school “field day,” the New Primal Games will take place on Saturday, June 23rd on Wando Fields.  It will be a fun-filled day with events that include an obstacle course, climbing walls, running and even a slip ‘n slide for the true primal at heart! For more information, click here.

This peaceful shot of the Wando River was taken by Daniel Island resident and professional photographer Peter Finger.

After escaping the cold of upstate New York, professional photographer Peter Finger and his wife Joana discovered  an ideal new lifestyle on Daniel Island. We recently caught up with the photographer in-between assignments to learn more about the artist behind some of the images that were recently displayed at the island’s Honeycomb Cafe.

MIT: What brought you to Daniel Island?
PF: Five years ago when my wife retired from teaching, we decided we were more than ready to move to warmer weather from the cold of upstate New York. We looked all around Charleston. We wanted to be close to downtown, but since we are both active tennis players, knew we had to find a place that offered top-notch tennis. I also wanted to have a place to walk and bike, and of course always have a place to photograph. Daniel Island fit the bill on all counts! We are two minutes from world-class tennis and only 15 minutes to downtown Historic Charleston. It’s really the best of both worlds.

MIT: How long have you been a professional photographer?
PF: This will be my 23rd year as a full-time professional photographer

MIT: What is your professional and educational background?
PF: During high school and college I was always painting and taking photos, and traveled to sell my work. I received a BFA in Fine Arts and a masters in Art Education. I taught Middle and High school for six years before I was offered a great opportunity to join a young start-up company — Apple Computer! I worked with them in regional sales and in the education market. The toughest decision in my professional life was to leave Apple to pursue my creative ambitions full-time. It took a bit of time, but as I look back, it was the best decision ever!

MIT: What are some of things that inspire you and your photography?
PF: For the past ten years I have really focused on weddings. I love shooting weddings, and couples always inspire me to do my best work. Weddings are such a wonderful celebration of love and life and each time I am honored to be an important part of that day. Nature also continues to inspire me and I am blessed to be able to travel the world shooting landscape assignments for magazines, schools and various stock photo agencies. I also love shooting models, portraits and fashion.

MIT: Where are your favorite places to travel and photograph?
PF: My favorite locations are Italy and Spain. I’m looking forward to shooting at Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks this summer. I also love the Canadian Maritimes of Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

MIT: What are your favorite spots on Daniel Island to photograph?
PF: I love shooting the water – particularly along the island’s coastline, but also the ponds found throughout the island and the Smythe Park and lake area.

A sampling of Peter’s diverse work is below. You can see more at peterfinger.com and peterfingerweddings.com.

Tyler Dudley, Executive Chef at the Daniel Island Club

Tyler Dudley, a newly minted Certified Executive Chef, has held the top chef position at Daniel Island for the past ten years. During that time, he and his team of 25, which includes a Chef de Cuisine, Banquet Chef, Sous Chef and Executive Pastry Chef, have created an exciting mix of fine-dining and casual cuisine that ranks the club with the best downtown restaurants in a great food town like Charleston, which appears regularly on Top Ten lists of the nation’s best dining destinations. The Daniel Island Club has even earned the right to participate in the Charleston Wine and Food festival, which is normally limited to public operations.

Chef Dudley was kind enough to take time to share with us how he continually raises the bar in an exceptional club F&B operation.

Q: Chef, for those who are not familiar with Lowcountry cuisine, can you explain all that it encompasses as far as cooking style, geography and history?  Also, how have you integrated it into your menus at Daniel Island?

Chef Tyler's Shrimp & Grits

A: Lowcountry cuisine is the cooking traditionally associated with the coastal area of South Carolina that stretches from Pawley’s Island to the Savannah River in Georgia. This region has a rich diversity in seafood from the coast, and influences from Caribbean and African cuisine.

Lowcountry cooking has a strong correlation with New Orleans and Cajun cuisine as well. We try to utilize as many local ingredients as possible in our menus, and like to put a modern spin on Lowcountry favorites, such as with our versions of Shrimp and Grits (see recipe at right) or Fried Green Tomatoes.

The Main Dining Room at the Daniel Island Club

Q: A huge priority for you has been to get your culinary team out into the community, by participating in events such as the Charleston Wine and Food Festival or fundraisers like “Darkness to Light,” which raises money for the prevention of child abuse. Explain to us the positive impact this has on your relationship with your staff when these become a regular practice.

A: It’s easy sometimes to be “locked in” and focused on the day-to-day operations of a very busy private club, which can lead to forgetting what’s going on in your local culinary community. Our culinary team strives to get out there, not only to support great organizations like Darkness to Light, but also to be involved with events like the Charleston Wine and Food Festival. This not only brings great exposure to the club, it gets our culinary team excited about what we are doing here. And it gives our chefs great networking abilities with the outstanding culinary talent that we have here in Charleston.

Q: Chef, I’m surprised at the number of club chefs who now have extensive gardens on site. Having taken on a huge project with your 100-by-40-yard garden, what tips can you offer for getting beyond just having herb beds outside our kitchen doors?

A: We started about three years ago with a small herb garden, and that soon led to discussions of how to expand that resource. There has been a huge movement, not only in Charleston but also the entire country, around the farm-to-table concept—and when our President of the Daniel Island Company came to us with interest of expanding to a 100% organic garden on the property, it kind of took off from there. Some tips I can give would be to start small, do some research and not only get your culinary team involved but other departments such as course and grounds maintenance, which does the tilling and other upkeep that requires heavy equipment for us.

To read the rest of the article in Club & Resort Business, click here.

Reprinted with permission by The Daniel Island News
Letters to the Editor
December 15, 2011

Christmas as an experience is often very different from the way I envision it in my romantic mind’s eye. Recently though, I had a wonderful treat – an evening with friends on Daniel Island that summed up for me the good things about living on Daniel Island and also helped me to get into the Christmas spirit. It made me think about how the design and texture of a town help make the community what it is. We all know that we live in a fabulously beautiful place. We are incredibly lucky to have a quality school that many of us center our lives around. We have sidewalks, bike trails, pools, parks, lots of green space, playgrounds and even a dog park. Our children run around freely, bicycle to their friends’, the parks and school – something that I marvel at each and every day. We have a library with a staff that is truly dedicated, informative, knowledgeable and helpful.

In fact we have so many interesting, talented and wonderful people living here, I have to pinch myself and ask: “Is this a fairy tale town or actually what a well thought out and planned community looks like?” Do the beauty and thoughtfulness attract more of the same? Frank Lloyd Wright once said: “If you foolishly ignore beauty, you’ll soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you wisely invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.”

On a recent Friday night I felt as though I had gone to heaven….. or at least to a small village in Europe (which for me would be heaven). After watching the Daniel Island tree lighting and entertainment with my kids, husband and friends and munching on some surprisingly good chili, we decided to continue the holiday reveling and go have a glass of cheer at the nearby Irish pub. The pub was bubbling over with people but we were comfortably seated and we easily made room for more friends as they joined us. The children were welcomed and we were able to settle them at tables in different groups around us – far enough that the older kids had a little autonomy though still within view. The pub was teeming with friends and familiar faces – including some of our children’s teachers and even our principal.

My happiness was at its peak when my niece, her husband and their beautiful little ones, also DI locals, popped in for a beer, spying us in the window as they were out for an evening stroll to enjoy the newly lighted tree. What could be more heavenly or Christmassy?

As we made merry, catching up with good friends – our children nearby and happy, familiar faces, loving family, teachers and neighbors all around me in a neighborhood pub, I felt like I was in the greatest little pub, in the greatest little town on earth.

It is a beautiful life on Daniel Island and I am truly grateful!

Jacqueline Gowe
Daniel Island

Molly May and Jennifer Jones enjoy a casual jog on Daniel Island.

“If you live in the Daniel Island, SC area and are looking for other women to keep you motivated in your running, biking or swimming, Daniel Island Girls in Training (DIG IT) can be your networking place. 

We are fortunate to live on a beautiful island with miles of paved and natural paths for running and biking. We also have an outdoor lap pool, Pierce Park Pool, open to residents April-October for lap swimming. 

Members of DIG IT can schedule weekly runs, share their routes, organize pace groups, plan meet-ups at area races, or just communicate with fellow members.

 Can you DIG IT?”

Molly May certainly can DIG IT. This is the description found on the Facebook group that Molly May started last March when she was trying to recruit some running partners. Since then, her group has grown to more than 65 members, all of whom are island residents that are dedicated to getting fit on Daniel Island.

“After I had my third child, I was finding it hard to get back to a regular running schedule,” says Molly.  “After meeting female runners through various social groups on the island, I started wondering if women runners could benefit from a running network where they could arrange meet ups for training or race events.”

That’s when Molly decided to create a Facebook group where members could easily communicate and post comments regarding daily runs.

“I had no idea that the group would grow so fast,” says Molly. “The motivation and camaraderie that the Facebook group offers is really amazing.”

Whether you can run one mile or 10 miles, the group organizes runs that can be modified to everyone’s ability.

“I’d say we have about ten girls in the group who run consistently with one another,” says Molly. “Some of us are training for marathons and others just want to get in shape. We had one girl join us the other week that ran her very first mile ever!”

And the members don’t only run.  It’s a very diverse group that also has members who spin, do Crossfit, Hip Hop, practice yoga and participate in boot camps.

Molly May (left) and Jennifer Jones. Molly created DIG IT in March. The women's-only running group now has more than 65 members.

“What I love most about it is that we’re all out there for similar reasons – to excersie, for a mental release and for the camaraderie.  It’s very therapeutic!” says Molly.

Jennifer Jones, an active DIG IT member, recently moved to Daniel Island  from Jackson, Tennessee.

“When deciding where to live, my husband’s boss recommended we take a look at Daniel Island. One step on the island and we knew this was the place we wanted to be. We didn’t have to look anywhere else. The only downside was that we didn’t know a soul. It’s hard to move to a new place when you don’t know anyone,” says Jennifer.

An avid runner herself, Jennifer was a member of a co-ed running group while living in Tennessee.

“I just loved my running group back in Tennessee, so when I found out about DIG IT I was immediately eager to get involved. I’ve met so many wonderful women. The experience has been amazing! Molly and I are currently training for the Savannah Marathon,” says Jennifer.  “I could not be running the mileage I am without the support and camaraderie that I’ve received from the group.”

Because DIG IT is a members-only Facebook group, postings are private. “This makes the group not only safe, but members have also started to feel comfortable using the Facebook page as a resource to find a babysitter or to get a recommendation for a good hairdresser.  But even though the group is private, all women are welcome to join,” says Molly.

“I’ve made so many new friends through DIG IT. Not only do we organize runs together, but we also schedule social gatherings and outings,” says Jennifer.

Getting healthy and spending time with good friends. Sounds like a wonderful recipe for success.  And rumor has it that they are even designing their own t-shirts.

If you are a woman and would like to get involved with DIG IT, you can find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/groups/danielislandgirlsintraining/

Panoramic waterfront views. A 5,000 square foot custom-built home. A large backyard with a deepwater dock. It just can’t get any better than that.

Last winter, Jay and Kristen Odell decided to purchase a waterfront lot at Mitchell Wharf and build their dream home. In just 8 1/2 months, they were able to move in, 45 days earlier than expected.

“The building process couldn’t have gone smoother. There were certainly numerous decisions to be made and Carson Homes was extremely helpful and easy to get along with every step of the way,” said Kristen. “And being able to move in 45 days early went way beyond our expectations.”

As you enter the home, panoramic water views can be seen from almost every room. The floor plan is light and airy and a high standard of craftsmanship is evident at every corner.

“I just love the way the home turned out,” says Kristen. “Chris (Carson) was extremely attentive to every detail, from assisting with designing the floor plan to picking out paint colors.”

And who wouldn’t love a large custom kitchen where you can cook and watch the kids fish and swim off the dock.

“The kitchen is just beautiful. The colors are very light and I love how everything is flush, including the refrigerator that blends perfectly into the cabinetry,” says Kristen.

Perhaps one of the best features of the home is the outdoor living space. A spacious back porch overlooks an expansive backyard and deepwater dock.

“We were really surprised at how big the backyard turned out. With two young boys, Jay and I were very keen on having a yard that was spacious enough for them to run around in. It’s just great watching them play soccer outside – they really love it,” says Kristen.

A deepwater dock backs up directly to the backyard. At low tide, a small beach is revealed and is perfect for crabbing or just hanging out.

“I often find myself just sitting and enjoying the views,” comments Kristen. “We’ve seen dolphin and it’s really spectacular when a storm is rolling in. The entire building process went smoother than we could have ever imagined. We couldn’t be happier.”

Originally from Plymouth, Michigan, Crystal and Joe Kowalis always knew they wanted to retire in the south. Fortunately, their daughter and son-in-law – who were living in Charleston at the same time Crystal and Joe were looking for retirement options – recommended that they visit Daniel Island.

“We had previously made six trips in search of places to retire in the south, but we immediately fell in love with Daniel Island the minute we stepped foot on it,” says Crystal. With two years left until they planned to retire, they decided to buy a condominium at Daniel’s Landing in the island’s downtown.

“We bought the condominium with our daughter’s in-laws and tried to visit whenever we could,” says Crystal. But with Joe working as an engineer and Crystal a schoolteacher, it was difficult to get away as much as they would have liked.

“We had owned the condominium for only about eight months when our real estate agent suggested we look at a house in Center Park that had recently come on the market. We weren’t ready to move yet, but it was the perfect home for us, so we decided to go ahead and make an offer. We’ve never once regretted that decision,” says Crystal.

Crystal and Joe retired and moved to Daniel Island as full-time residents in 2005. Once they settled in, Crystal began looking for an activity to keep her busy.

“I’ve always had a lot of energy, and being retired from teaching school left a void that I felt I needed to fill,” commented Crystal. It was at that time that Joe bought her a membership to the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Crystal had already helped many friends and colleagues get organized while living in Michigan, so this felt like a good next step. Crystal went on to get certified as a professional organizer and started to network her business both on Daniel Island and in the surrounding Charleston area.

“The business just started to take off. I was helping clients move into new homes, move out of their old homes, and get re-organized in their current homes,” says Crystal.

As a professional organizer, Crystal learns about her client’s personalities as well as their priorities. She then begins to work with them to help them decide which items they really use and want to keep, and which items just get in their way. The next step is finding a permanent and logical place for every single thing. Most of all, she tries to keep the work atmosphere pleasant, and even fun. Many of her clients have become permanent friends.

“I put a lot of humor into my work. You have to – it can be very difficult to bring a stranger into your home and empty out all your drawers and closets in front of them,” continues Crystal. “I do my best to make my clients feel comfortable and get them to make decisions that will, in the end, make their lives much less stressful because they won’t be spending a lot of extra time trying to find things. Or, they won’t be spending extra money on items that they already own and didn’t know they had.”

Crystal takes pride in getting to know her clients and discovering their likes and dislikes.

“It’s like a big puzzle that needs to be solved,” says Crystal. “The idea is to create zones. In a kitchen, we’ll methodically empty everything out of each drawer and cabinet. If my client likes to bake, for example, we decide which things to keep, and then we gather all the utensils, bowls, baking pans and appliances and containerize what we can before placing them within closer reach. Next, we tackle another zone.”

Crystal confesses that it’s not always an easy job to come into a someone’s home and start suggesting alternative solutions for getting organized, such as donating some items to Goodwill or throwing some things away.

“Sometimes it takes a lot of hand holding,” she says. “I once had a client that owned an uncanny number of scissors that they just couldn’t part with. And that was OK. We merely found a special space to store all those scissors. I’ve found that people can also be very sentimental about their personal items. I have strategies and solutions for organizing those kinds of things, too.”

In addition to homes, Crystal also organizes garages, home offices, clothing closets and even children’s playrooms. For more information about how Crystal can help you get organized, visit www.positivelyorganized.us.

Sensei Glenn Raus, 2nd Dan, Wado Ryu

Resident Sensei Glenn Raus runs one of the most successful Japan Karate Institute programs in Charleston.  He has also attained a highly credited 2nd degree Black Belt.  And he runs marathons.  And competes in triathlons.  He also trains for Ironmans.  So, one may wonder, when does he find the time to sleep?

“I have one the best jobs in the world and a terrific staff that offers me a lot of support,” says Glenn.  “I live within walking distance to the Dojo.  And I can train right outside my front door. Daniel Island is a terrific place to run, bike and swim.”

Glenn and his wife, Audra, moved to Daniel Island from James Island four years ago.  Originally from the suburbs of Philadelphia, Glenn always knew that he eventually wanted to move south.

“It was the blizzard of ’96 that finally did it.  I just got tired of shoveling my driveway for hours on end,” Glenn confesses.  “And then having to do it all over again!  I knew I had to make a change.”

Glenn’s brother was living in Charleston and that’s what brought him to the area.  Soon after, he began working as a scorekeeper for the Charleston Battery soccer team, which eventually landed him a job at Blackbaud, a leading software developer headquartered on Daniel Island.

“It was at that time that I developed an interest in karate.  So, I decided to start taking classes at the Japan Karate Institute in West Ashley,” says Glenn.

Not only did he meet his future wife, Audra, at one of those classes, but he also developed a life-long passion that would eventually lead him to opening his own Dojo.

JKI's Little Ninja program is a popular class for preschoolers.

Sensei Glenn opened Japan Karate Institute on Daniel Island in October of 2003.  Just three months later, he had over 40 students enrolled in the program.  A year later, he was able to quit his job at Blackbaud and commit himself to running JKI full time.

“It was when Audra and I were expecting our first child that we started looking for a new home,” Glenn continued.  “One of her prerequisites was that she wanted to be able to safely walk the baby to the Dojo.  And Daniel Island, fortunately, offered numerous choices for that.”

The Dojo kept growing and Sensei Glenn started to not only offer karate classes, but also  adult fitness, women’s self defense and empower hour classes.  Not to mention the popular after school karate program for kids ages 5 and up, as well as a JKI summer camp program.

Not long after Glenn opened the Dojo, one of his students asked him if he was interested in training for a triathlon.

“I had just turned 40, and my clothes were beginning to feel tight. This was a real wake-up call and it was then that I decided to do something about it,” Glenn said.  “So, I decided to just go for it!”

JKI progress evaluations are held every three months.

In 2006, Glenn successfully competed in his first Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series.  He completed his first half marathon in 2007 and shortly thereafter raced the Kiawah Island Marathon.  In 2009 he competed in his first half Ironman, and in 2010 his first full Ironman.  He is currently training for the Louisville Ironman that will take place in August.

“I have three goals:  To complete the Ironman in under 12 1/2 hours, finish the race and not go to the medical tent,” commented Glenn.  “And, most importantly, to have fun!”

Have fun, that is, while doing a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run. So, how does he do it?  What drives him?

“I enjoy the challenge of pushing myself to limits I’ve never achieved before.  It’s about discovery.  It’s just me against myself,” says Glenn.

And not only is Glenn training for the Louisville Ironman, but he has also successfully recruited 20 Daniel Island residents to train for the Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series scheduled for August 14.

“I sent out one e-mail and all of a sudden I had 20 people show up for the first training session!  Some of them are parents and students at the Dojo,” Glenn comments.  “For many, this will be their first triathlon.  It’s really inspiring.”

Glenn has completed numerous Triathlons and Marathons. He is currently training for his second full Ironman.

Glenn uses a 9-week training program in conjunction with TrySports, a specialty fitness retail store, where he serves as an ambassador to expose and inspire more people to participate in triathlons.

So, what could possibly be the next big goal?

“I hear someone might be organizing a 10-mile swim around Charleston,” says Glenn. “I don’t know if I can do it, but I’ll try!”

In the meantime, Japan Karate Institute on Daniel Island will be celebrating its eighth anniversary this year.

“I feel very fortunate to have a successful Dojo, live on the island and even be able to walk to work.  The cool thing about JKI is that I’m passing on the lessons that I’ve learned to students both young and old,” continues Glenn.  “My 6-year old daughter takes karate and she is already talking about inheriting the responsibilities of the Dojo.  It’s reassuring to know that, in some way or form, there will always be a JKI, whether I’m here or not.”

The purpose of Hei-Wado Karate training at the Japan Karate Institute on Daniel Island is “not to conquer others, but to conquer the weakness within oneself.”

Clearly, Sensei Glenn Raus is abiding by this high standard while setting an excellent example for his students and neighbors on Daniel Island.

A good beat. Inspiring dance moves. Motivational instruction. Throw in a little “peace” and “love” and a gymnasium filled with fitness enthusiasts, and you have the perfect recipe for an alternative, funky way to get in shape on Daniel Island. Created by Daniel Island resident Angel Roberts, Hip Hop is a totally unique program that combines exciting dance moves with upbeat music, making it a fun, yet challenging class.

“It’s a great way to get fit,” says Angel. “Unlike traditional exercise and dance classes, Hip Hop is a fun, throw-it-all-out-there kind of workout. It combines all assets of cardio, core balance and strength conditioning, which makes it a really effective workout,” she adds.

Angel and her husband, Robert VanNewkirk, and their two young daughters moved to Daniel Island from California five years ago. The family was looking for a less stressful lifestyle and a community that offered good schools.

“Schools are really important to us, and I was very impressed with the Daniel Island School and everything it had to offer,” says Angel.

Both of Angel’s parents were in the dance and entertainment business, so it comes as no surprise that Angel eventually decided to base her career on dance and Hip Hop.

“I’ve been dancing my entire life,” she says. “My mother had a dance studio and I started assisting classes when I was 10 years old.”

After graduating from college with a degree in clothing and textile design, Angel eventually went on to work for “That 70’s Show” as a costumer designer.  But after eight years with the show, and with two young children at home, she and Robert decided it was a good time to make a change and move to a place that was closer to her family living in Myrtle Beach.

“It was either Charleston or Wilmington, and I’m really glad we chose Charleston and Daniel Island as our new hometown,” says Angel.

Soon after moving to Daniel Island, Angel started teaching Hip Hop at a local ballet studio on the island.

“I was initially hesitant about the potential success of Hip Hop on Daniel Island, but the classes filled right up. When the ballet studio closed, I decided to teach Hip Hop on my own and I negotiated with the Daniel Island School to use their gymnasium,” says Angel. “I really didn’t know whether or not I could fill up a space that big! But then we got 20 students, and then 40, and now our classes can get as big as 70 people.”

Angel teaches Hip Hop several times a week not only at the Daniel Island location, but also in Mt. Pleasant, West Ashley, on the Isle of Palms and in Summerville. And it’s not just for adults.  She also teaches Hip Hop for kids and teenagers ages 5 – 15.

“Hip Hop is a fun, energetic workout that makes you feel good,” said Nancy Abercrombie, who has been attending Hip Hop for two and a half years. “Every week is different. Angel teaches you a totally new way to move and think.”

Carlos Ortiz is also a Hip Hop regular.  He’s been coming to class since March.

“Angel really knows how to connect with the class,” says Carlos. “It’s a lot of fun and Angel has taught me some really cool moves.  I’ve lost 28 pounds since I started coming to Hip Hop.”

It’s no surprise that Hip Hop has been such a success. Far from boring, each class is completely different. There is a lot of energy and inspiration that flows throughout the hour-long workout. Angel’s dance background – combined with her sense of style – creates a lively, cool and upbeat class that is certainly contagious.

“The people that come to my class are so amazing,” Angel says. “It’s so much fun to watch them learn, get healthy and have fun while doing it!  Moving from Los Angeles to Daniel Island was a big change for my family and me. But it has all turned out great  – we’re really happy to live and work here.”

Hip Hop classes cost $10 each and last for a little over one hour. Be prepared to sweat, learn some new dance moves, and have a great time.

For more information about Hip Hop go to www.peacelovehiphop.com or contact Angel Roberts at angelroberts@yahoo.com.