26 PEOPLE & PETS I am a bit more than slightly dismayed at the current number of palmetto trees marked with a rather hideous red circle of paint. These round dots of despair are directly in my line of vision while I am out walking my human, so it is not as if I can just choose to ignore them. To make matters worse, this mess of hastily sprayed circles on our precious island palms serve as indicators to our power company (no need for naming them, it’s our only choice and quite frankly, a monopoly of power). We’re called the Isle of Palms. Palms are in the name of our fair city, yet hundreds of them are soon slated for removal. Speak out, stand up, follow the appeals process. For this particular situation, there is a phone number my dear, fellow citizens may call. Full disclosure, the gentleman on the receiving end of these phone calls for justice is polite. He is kind, even. No matter. His message is consistent. The trees are coming down. Nothing can be done. This polite sir will even come out to your property upon request to inform you that nothing can be done. Burying the cables is one proposed solution, but citing excessive expense seems to be the go-to defense to shut down that suggestion. Another alternative would be to make the utility poles higher, thereby saving the palm trees and all their ecological and aesthetic benefits, while still improving the safety and clearance of the power lines. Again, this option has been met with negativity. Perhaps we could benefit from creating a staff role similar to our dear neighbors on Sullivan’s Island — a director of resilience and natural resource management. This seems to have helped Sullivan’s Island make a case to delay a significant number of palmetto removals and secure donations from Dominion Energy and SCDOT for planting new palm trees. Implementing a “Right Tree, Right Place” campaign encouraging landscaping options that won’t threaten power lines or other utilities could also be of benefit to IOP. Whatever the solution, it simply cannot be the removal of our island’s trees. Continuing on the current path of destruction leaves yours truly with limited restroom options and frankly, no one wants that. Meet Your Island Neighbors! By Laura Fogarty A joyful German shepherd who goes by Santa Klaus By Isabel Alvarez Arata THE WORTHS Klaus Vom Ledgemere, a German shepherd with a heart of gold, was born just in time to join the Taylor family a few Christmases ago. His name is pronounced ‘klouse,’ like mouse and is the shortened version of the German name Nikolaus, derived from the Greek name Nicholas. His fluffy coat, endearing personality and name have earned him the moniker “Santa Klaus,” complete with a festive costume that brings joy to those who have the good fortune of seeing him in it. Cassie and Sean Taylor, along with Pet of the Month Klaus and their two children, split their time between Connecticut and the Isle of Palms. At two and a half years old, Klaus isn’t just their pet; he is a trained hearing dog, accompanying Cassie on flights and handling other tasks as her service animal. As is expected of a service dog, Klaus is a hard worker and a quick learner, excelling in early training. His socialization classes revealed a preference for assertive smaller dogs. His best friends were a dachshund and a French bulldog. Cassie joked that the little ones likely saw Klaus as the muscle and themselves as the brains of the operation. The product of two highly regarded German shepherds, Sire Youles Von Aducht of Germany and Dam Sanni Editor’s Note: To Be Frank is a new pet editorial series featuring the daily life of Robert Francis “Frank” Weatherbee, a petite 2-year-old Jack Russell terrier rescue with a bone to pick for island justice. Frank’s column is the voice and backbone for his community of furry friends. TO BE FRANK, Megan and Brian Worth radiate pure joy to all the people they encounter on our beautiful island. The Worths discovered the Isle of Palms while touring the College of Charleston with their youngest daughter, Holly. “We knew instantly that we wanted to make this our home,” Megan explained. “I grew up in South Florida and always longed to get back to the beach. So, we left the snow and ice of Indiana and quickly set out to make roots here.” Megan started her small business, Three Irish Babes, after becoming a full-time IOP resident. She set out to create cute beach bags that you could pop in the washing machine. You might have seen her and her beautiful creations under her pink tent at the IOP Farmer’s Market, where she and Brian love meeting new neighbors and supporting local artists. Megan beamed while talking about her island home. “The best thing about living here is being able to pop over to the sea to take in the fresh salt air and pray a prayer of gratitude to thank God for letting us live in paradise. We are very grateful every day for the gift of being within walking distance of the ocean and to be surrounded by such beautiful wildlife. The sunsets, the birds, the butterflies, the snakes, the deer, the dolphins, the crabs, the alligators, the pelicans and the turtles are amazing creatures that we get to share this island with, and it makes our lives fuller.” Megan and Brian can often be found walking to The Outpost for breakfast and enjoy spending time at the marina taking in the wonderful scenery. Married for 27 years, Megan and Brian have three grown children, Emily, Zac and Holly and a 9-year-old chocolate lab, ELE (Everybody Love Everybody). ELE has embraced life as an island dog and loves to walk on the beach and ride around the island, windows down, top rolled back. The Worth family views the island as a gift to be cherished and we couldn’t agree more. POWER COMPANY IS BARKING UP THE WRONG TREES Vom Friedenspark of Massachusetts, Klaus has an unexpected quirk – a fear of the ocean. Despite his impressive 90-pound frame, his family avoids “the vortex of certain death,” by taking Klaus for strolls along the marina instead of the beach. Klaus’ loyalty, a hallmark trait of German shepherds, shines through in everything he does. In their home, Klaus positions himself in stairwells and main living areas, keeping a watchful eye on the entire family. For the Taylors, Klaus is more than just a dog. He is a loyal companion, a protector and a beloved family member who brings laughter, love and a touch of Santa’s magic to their lives year-round. -FRANK IslandVibesIOP.com
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