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Volume 21 • Issue 6
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Could Kiawah Island Finally Have Better Cell Coverage?
August 22, 2025
Full support continues for the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
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an you hear me now? How often have you said that as you walk around to different spots on your Kiawah Island property? There’s no sugar-coating it – the cell phone coverage on Kiawah is not great, and it’s about time to get that under control. At least that is what the Town of Kiawah Island is finally trying to do. After receiving the Kiawah Island Planning Commission’s recommendation, the Town of Kiawah Island passed a first reading on an ordinance that deals with improving the cell towers on the island. Led by Kiawah Island Town Council Member Lance Spencer, the idea is to improve cell coverage on the island once and for all, and to bring the island up to modern times when it comes to general quality of life (Continued on page 5)
Low Tide Brewing launches Charity of Month program BY CAROL CRONK
For The Island Connection
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ow Tide Brewing is not just about crafting exceptional beer. The popular Johns Island brewery has become known for fostering a sense of community, belonging and goodwill. “Nestled in the heart of Johns Island, we’re dedicated to curating experiences that bring people together,” said Allison Havens, operations manager. “Supporting local causes has always been part of who we are.” Each year, Low Tide partners with over 80 organizations and has donated more than $45,000 to local charitable causes. “For years, we have hosted pint nights to raise funds for local nonprofits. While they were meaningful, we wanted to create a program that could make an even bigger impact,” Havens said. “This deep commitment to giving back was the inspiration for the Charity of the Month program. In 2023, during a point-of-sale system upgrade, we discovered the option to add donation (Continued on page 2)
Strand feeding is unique to dolphins in this area and involves eating fish on shore before returning to the ocean. (Photo courtesy of LMMN.)
BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
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ithout hesitation, the Seabrook Island Town Council voted unanimously on July 22 to support a grant awarded to the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network. The recommendation for approval came from the Environment and Wildlife Committee, chaired by Gordon Weis. The grant of $2,450 would cover supplies for LMMN, like gloves, vials, bags, scalpels and binoculars, as well as the printing of outreach materials. They would also use the money to fund a piece of equipment called a YSI to test water quality. Lauen Rust, LMMN’s executive director, said, “Oxygen, temperature and salinity relate directly to animal health. Lesions, poor health or reproductive issues can be correlated to poor water quality.” Seabrook Island renewed its relationship with LMMN in March. For the past six years, LMMN has been monitoring the behaviors of dolphins in the area and providing educational outreach near Captain Sams Inlet, where the dolphins are known to strand feed. LMMN will have at least one team member stationed near Captain Sams Inlet on Seabrook Island and Kiawah Island for four hours a day at low tide from mid-April to December 31. The four-day-a-week schedule includes holiday weekends in the off-season and every day of the week during peak season. These efforts are meant to educate the community about dolphins and the practice of strand feeding.
A primary focus for LMMN is to ensure that dolphins are not harassed by boaters or other people on the shoreline while they are in the water or while strand feeding. The fear is that the dolphins will abandon the strand feeding practice if they are bothered by humans. Along with LMMN’s four-person staff, they utilize a host of volunteers to help them educate the public on dolphin behaviors and protecting their ecosystems. Currently, LMMN has 40 volunteers. These volunteers spend their days on the beach educating the public about dolphin behavior. According to Rust, the program has reached 56,000 people total. Strand feeding is a feeding behavior that dolphins engage in, which allows them to corral fish near the sandy shores and then create a large wave to push the fish and themselves onto the shore to eat the fish before returning to the water. Dolphins learn their behavior from their mother. LMMN has found that it is not a common behavior and that most dolphins do not engage in strand feeding in other parts of the world. Giving the dolphins their space to strand feed is important, so as not to disrupt this specialized hunting strategy. The grant they received from the Town of Seabrook Island last year helped LMMN purchase a hydrophone, which is an underwater microphone. (Continued on page 2) Rust described it at