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Volume 21 • Issue 13
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Kiawah ‘elves’ create decorative pieces for roadways Photo of Kiawah Island elves.
December 12, 2025
BY ELISABETH ST JOHN For The Island Connection
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oan Collar’s workshop at Night Heron Park buzzed with excitement and brimmed with greenery and ribbons, as volunteer elves gathered to make wreaths, mailbox decorations, and neighborhood sign decorations. Inspired by longtime Land Management Supervisor Leila Gable, the Kiawah Island Community Association’s Lands and Roads employees spent the early part of Thanksgiving week trimming evergreen shrubbery and gathering the greenery to the Pavillion for the purpose of making the decorative applications. As decorative items were finished and labeled with the planned location of the piece, the men and women who maintain Kiawah’s roadway landscaping came by to pick up, place and secure the newly created decor. Joan Collar talked of a time decades ago when she was new to the island and attended a community party. The decorations were flat ribbons stapled to the wall. When she commented to the then-mayor, his reply was to give her the job to decorate the island. Ever since, she has been leading a group of energetic women and men to create the masterpieces, utilizing Palmettos and other native plant greenery. Happy Holidays to all from all the Kiawah Island elves who are involved in making the island look festive!
Election on Seabrook Island garners two new council members BY THERESA STRATFORD | For The Island Connection
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wo new town council members will join the municipality of Seabrook Island in January after the recent election on November 4. Current town council members Dan Kortvelesy and Gordon Weis will be replaced by Pat Faulkner and Thomas Hund. Returning to Council will be Ray Hamilton and Darryl May, as well as Mayor Bruce Kleinman, who were all re-elected. Jim Ferland was also re-elected as utility commissioner. The votes were as follows: Mayor – Four-Year Term: • Bruce Kleinman - 235 • Write-In - 26 Town Council Members – Two-Year Term: • Pat Faulkner - 223 • Ray Hamilton - 244 • Write-In - 10 Town Council Members – Four-Year Term:
• Thomas J. Hund - 224 • Darryl May - 222 • Write-In - 10 Utility Commissioner: • E. James Ferland - 267 • Write-In - 0 There were 2,218 registered voters, and a total of 328 ballots cast. Voter turnout totaled 14.79% on Seabrook Island. In May of 2025, the Seabrook Island Town Council voted to approve four-year staggered terms starting after this election. The council members who will serve two-year terms from this election will be up for re-election in two years, but those would be for four-year terms. Council members supported this change due to the terms having longer continuity, and the Council could get more done versus in just two years. Opposing views to the four-year staggered terms were in regards to the possibility of some people deciding
not to run for office because four years is much longer than two years. It is important to note that if a council member or the mayor had to quit in the middle of their term, there would be a special election if they had more than six months left in their term. If they quit within six months of their term ending, the seat would remain vacant until the regular election took place. The town will host a swearing-in ceremony for Kleinman, Hamilton, May, Hund, Faulkner and Ferland on Jan. 6, 2026, at noon at Seabrook Island Town Hall. Seabrook Island Town Administrator Joe Cronin said, “We look forward to having our two new council members come on board, and of course, welcoming back our incumbents. We will reach out sometime soon to get you some orientation materials before you all come on board. So, congratulations to all.” The results of the election were certified by the Charleston County Board of Canvassers on Nov. 6, 2025.