Since May 2007 PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON, SC PERMIT NO. 137 POSTAL PATRON
Volume 21 • Issue 9
FREE
October 3, 2025
The American Red Cross solidifies partnership with Kiawah BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
Mind-blowing findings about leaf-blowing options for Kiawah BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
T
he Kiawah Goes Green Initiative has a tall order to fill. Among all the environmental measures the subcommittee is researching – nature, wildlife, marsh, and beaches – they also recently took on the Town’s request for background research on the impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers. What they found was mind-blowing – or should I say, leaf-blowing. Fran Williams, chair of Kiawah Goes Green, attended the September 9 Kiawah Island Town Council meeting and presented the findings. She began by comparing the different leaf blowers, specifically the gas-powered two-cycle leaf blowers, electric leaf blowers, and gas-powered four-cycle leaf blowers. The results she presented showed that although the cost for a gas-powered two-cycle leaf blower was the lowest, this leaf blower emitted the most air pollution, particulate matter, and greenhouse gases, which could lead to respiratory issues. The noise level was also highest with gas-powered two-cycle leaf blowers, which could lead to hearing loss and stress.
M
eaghan Silsby, executive director for the American Red Cross Lowcountry Chapter, spoke at the Town of Kiawah Island’s Town Council meeting on September 9. Her purpose was to introduce herself and share how the American Red Cross serves the area. The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of its volunteers and the generosity of its donors. Silsby said that they are prepared to show up in force when storms wreak havoc across the Lowcountry. They responded to 300 local disasters in 2024, most of which were home fires. “We partner with local fire departments, who call on us when one of our neighbors experiences a home fire so that we can come to the scene and provide the victims with support,” she said. According to Silsby, home fires claim nearly seven lives a day in the United States. “Working smoke alarms cut that risk in half,” she said. (Continued on page 5)
Kiawah searches for a new debris site BY THERESA STRATFORD For The Island Connection
O
f the many situations to deal with after a major storm rips through an area, one of the most difficult is dealing with the massive amounts of debris that inevitably pile up on the streets. This is why municipalities must have debris sites in place before disaster strikes. These sites act as a staging area for processing debris until it can be hauled off to the county’s main debris management site, which would be the Bees Ferry Landfill. (Continued on page 2)
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28 t h Annual Symphony Tour of Homes September 25 - Preview Party at Hagan FIne Art Gallery, 135 Church Street
28th Annual CHARLESTON SYMPHONY October 31 - Friday at Freshfields TOUR OF HOMES November 1 - Tour of Homes November 1, 2025
with our title sponsor
October 30 - Island Celebration Soirée
Kiawah Island Aldous Bertram
Scan the QR code for more details and to purchase tickets
CHARLESTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LEAGUE, INC. Playing our part
Exclusive access to the best of the arts and architecture at the longest running island home tour