In the Beginning.....

Welcome to the Indigo Palms Way Blog

Important Reminder

Don't get caught without cable tv!

This is just a reminder; Xfinity will be ending the contracted starter/cable service to the Indigo Hall Community. If you still want cable service from Xfinity or if you have extended services from Xfinity, you must call the company by AUGUST 15, 2023 to continue service. The residents should have received a letter from Xfinity explaining the procedure, including your account number. 

If you are a renter, this is important information for you to pass on to your landlords. Make sure they have received the notice, or if you, as the renter are responsible for the cable services, please don't forget the contact Xfinity by 8/15. The number to call is 1-800-xfinity. They will be receiving calls Monday - Sunday, 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. You will need your Xfinity account number to continue. As just a sideline comment, I converted over to my personal Xfinity cable tv account, and it took me 10 minutes on the phone. It was easy. 

A Long Way from Home 

Kathy and I were very pleased to have met Janet Graeber's (7226 Indigo Palms Way) son, Drew and her grandchildren Lan (9) and Lona (6). Hearing their family story made me want to feature them in this month's blog post. So instead of the regular Neighbor of the Month feature, this month will be a little different. This will feature Janet's son Drew and his two fantastic kids. Here, in Drews words, their experience at Indigo Hall...

My children and I live in Nagoya Japan.  I teach at an international school over there where expat children come to learn while living abroad.  Each year I fly back and spend time with my mother and my sisters in the Charleston area.  

We love coming to Indigo Hall each summer.  My kids LOVE the pool.  We usually go in the morning and the night each day if we can, in order to avoid the peak sun!  The beach is 10 minutes down the road!  The neighbors are so kind and friendly!  Lastly, we can go up to Fresh Fields on Friday for free live music.

We love to go all around Charleston and do some sightseeing or visit museums.  Additionally, there are lots of summer camps in the local schools and parks for my kids that are bilingual (English and Japanese) and need to load up on culture and language while we are here.

For me coming to Indigo Hall is a time of family, fun, the pool, loading up on American culture and enjoying southern hospitality.

Thank you Janet and your wonderful family. We enjoyed their company, wish all a safe trip home, and look forward in seeing them very soon.

Lona, Drew and Lan enjoying our community pool.

A Sad Goodbye

Frank and Carol (not pictured) Milone

We are sad to say goodbye to one of our favorite couples in our Indigo Hall community. Frank and Carol Milone, 7212 Indigo Palms Way have moved out of our community and landed back  in Connecticut. Frank told me he was extremely happy with our part of the country, but with many of his family and friends in the New England area, he felt a need to be closer to them.

Although we will miss Frank and Carol, we can't fault their reason for moving back to their original home state. 

Frank and Carol are 20 + years residents of our area, including Indigo Hall and Seabrook Island. Many will remember Frank as a driver at the Sanctuary on Kiawah Island. After her retirement from the school system, Carol has become quite the sketch artist and enjoys relaxing days thinking of Tom Brady and Tom Jones. We do wish both Frank and Carol well, and hope they come back to visit us soon.

Somewhat a Casual Glance

Why are my insurance rates through the roof?

Many in our community have serious questions pertaining to the insurance rate hike. Not speaking in just Indigo Hall terms, but several states that are hurricane risks, ocean front properties, and older construction are at the top of the list for massive rate hikes. Living in close proximity to the ocean, we are also suffering the consequences of these rate hikes, but why is this happening now? In short terms, there are two major reasons for these hikes. Indigo Hall community has an added extenuating circumstance for our hike as well. Let's take a look.

We do have Florida to somewhat thank for a good number of these hikes. Florida's insurance rates have almost tripled in the past few years, and yet the insurance companies were continuing to lose money at a large rate. As goes the increases in one coastal state, the other states do follow. As of this year, many insurance companies who serve Florida have become insolvent, not able to meet their debt, and not being able to pay out the insurance claims.

Why is this happening?  Unfortunately, Florida has become the haven of horrendous insurance rates, and the reason is simply this, STORMS. The storms that have hit the lower coastal states have taken their toll. The period from 2000 to the present has been marked by several devastating North Atlantic hurricanes; as of 2017, 79 tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the U.S. state of Florida. Collectively, cyclones in Florida over that period and beyond have resulted in over $123 billion in damage, most of it from Hurricane Irma. To this date approximately 236 billion in damage has been reported. (Wikipedia) Any coastal state that has been or is a hurricane threat most likely will see a huge jump in their premium and deductible. In addition to above, the replacement costs to rebuild, and the material used are getting more and more expensive and are responsible for higher damage than expected.  Building materials themselves are lending this to more catastrophic losses,” said Jared Carillo, director of foundation accounts at SmithBrothers, an insurance brokerage in N.Y /Connecticut. Materials used in construction today include more synthetics that burn faster and hotter, such as particleboard, spray foam and wire insulation, he said. (SmithBrothers)

Another reason, although not specifically just Indigo Halls situation, but contributes to the rate rise is increase in property values. In simply terms, a rise in property values means a rise in insurance rates.  Recently, Indigo Hall Condominiums had an updated insurance assessment. The value of our three buildings has risen quite significantly since the last assessment, thus increasing the insurance rates, including premiums and deductibles. Living in or close to our resort properties has added a measure of real estate increases. While age of structure may affect insurance rates, we must take in consideration the ages of our structures, mainly our roofs. 

How your roof affects your home insurance rates

Your roof is your home's primary protection against hail, wind, fire, and other hazards. That's why insurance companies consider the age, condition, material, and shape of your roof when determining your insurance coverage and costs. In general, your homeowner's insurance may cost less if you have a newer roof made of more durable materials, like metal or slate.  

Roof insurability depends on various factors, such as:

Age: The age of your roof and insurance coverage go hand in hand. A newer roof may mean a lower rate. A roof that's 20 years old or more may be ineligible for coverage or only be covered for its actual cash value.

Condition: Insurance companies are looking for roofs that are in good condition with no visible signs of wear or tear. This includes missing tiles, curled or bent shingles, and wood rot.

Material: A slate roof is considered more stable and may earn you a lower rate. A wooden roof isn't fire-resistant and poses a risk, resulting in a higher rate or may make you ineligible for a policy.

Shape: Gable roofs and hip roofs are the two most common roof types. Their different designs affect their susceptibility to damage, and therefore impact the cost to insure them. Hip roofs tend to perform better during windstorms and discounts may be available in coastal areas.

For more information on roof types and coverage, click here. 

I hope this segment helps in the understanding for why our insurance has increased in the past few years. From what I have researched in write this article, many experts are saying they anticipate these rate rises to last for several years but will begin to regulate or even drop withing the next 3 years or so.

Let's all hope for fewer storms and unforeseen circumstances that may cause emergency insurance outlay and responses. Emergency situations should never be taken lightly. Buildings, plants and trees can be replaced, lives cannot.  

Helpful Things to Know that Can Help During an Emergency

Is It Safe to Go Outside? Heat, flooding and wildfire smoke have made for treacherous conditions. Use your intuition to determine when you should stay home. If in doubt, stay home.

Extreme Weather Maps: Track the possibility of extreme weather in the places that are important to you. Are you planning a trip, check airports for any weather or emergency related cancellations. 

Tech Checklist: Many tech tools and apps can help you in major weather moments — sometimes; even when power and cell service are shaky. Download local news and weather apps on your smart phone. Remember, in an emergency that may cause electrical outages, charging your cellphone by car plug may be the only way. Update your cords and connective apparatus.

Heat Safety: Heat waves are becoming increasingly common across the world. Keep yourself and your loved ones cool, hydrated and healthy; keep water and other nonperishable foods ready for emergencies. Also remember, we care about our community, check on your neighbors, elderly or not.

Flood Safety: Fast rising water can be deadly. Sadly, we recently saw on our local news, a horrific story of how a fast-rushing flash flood can be deadly. NEVER, NEVER DRIVE YOUR CAR THROUGH LARGE STANDING WATER

Fire: If you smell smoke, or see a fire, immediately call 911. Try to stay calm, answer the 911 operators' questions as best as you can, and very importantly, never hang up until the 911 operator says you can. Always make sure you and your family are safely away from the dwelling or outside area. Field and grass fires can be very dangerous as well as a dwelling fire, so keep your distance.

Pet of the Month

This month's Pet of the Month is Rick and Kathy Tracey's beautiful young lady, Chloe. 

Chloe is a 16-year-old English Pointer, with a heart of gold and an appetite to match. 

Chloe was adopted along with her brother, Ray from a fantastic rescue shelter in Monkton, Maryland. They had rescued both from a kill shelter in North Carolina.  Coming to our family was a laughable story. We originally went to adopt another dog we saw on-line. We sadly had just put down our English Springer Spaniel, Darby and at the time we also had our Chocolate Lab, Casey.  Our younger daughter, Erin wanted to "get Casey a new friend"....yeah, "a new friend"... ok... so off we went.

As Erin was making an attempt to be friendly with the dog she went to see...(a biter, growler), I spotted Chloe and Ray. They were lively, running in their double cage, quite happy to see me. Me being the guy I am, I felt it was perfectly fine for me to get into the cage with them. The two dogs didn't mind, and I wanted to see if they and I were a good fit. We were carrying on, I was laughing, they were jumping in my lap, outdoing each other; we were having a great time. It became obvious to me that visitors were not permitted in the cages, as the front desk receptionist stated to me over the intercom system quite sternly. Not too concerned, I did have a great time, and decided Casey really needed "two new friends" not just one. 

We lost Ray, a few years before we moved permanently to Indigo Hall, where Chloe has been enjoying her later years. Not missing a beat, she still has the urge to chase the rabbits and squirrels but gets frustrated knowing she can't catch them anymore...knowing her...she'll keep trying.

As a Neighborhood Service

SNAKES - Steer clear from these guys

What an attention grabber. Ok, so the scenario is... you are walking along the back trail between building 1 and the golf course. You are now in some tallish grass, but life is great; the sky is blue with brilliant white clouds, the air is not too hot and stifling, and the great thoughts of the day are running through you head. Just having a fantastic walk, but.... suddenly you look in front of you and see the thing you NEVER WANT TO SEE! Thats right, you just walked upon... you know, an Anaconda? no wait, it's a 25' king cobra? no. When fear enters our minds, we tend to exaggerate small details, but we live in any area that has some dangerous fellow companions. 

This segment will help you identify the somewhat dangerous snakes we live with. 

What is it and what should I do?

Please remember, there are 38 snake species in South Carolina, only six of which are venomous. 

Many snakes provide an important service keeping rodent and other pest populations under control. The venomous species tend to be secretive and are less frequently encountered. All snakes are nonaggressive when left alone. Click here to download the South Carolina Department of Natural Recourses Guide to venomous snakes of South Carolina (SCDNR) (image of download to the right). 

The Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), also known simply as the copperhead. The eastern copperhead has distinctive, dark brown, hourglass-shaped markings, overlaid on a light reddish brown or brown/gray background. The body type is heavy, rather than slender. Neonates are born with green or yellow tail tips, which progress to a darker brown or black within one year. Adults grow to a typical length (including tail) of 50–95 cm (20–37 in). The eastern copperhead is known to feed on a wide variety of prey.  Like most pit vipers, the eastern copperhead is generally an ambush predator; it takes up a promising position and waits for suitable prey to arrive. As a common species within its range, it may be encountered by humans. Unlike other viperids, they often "freeze" instead of slithering away, due to its habit of relying on excellent camouflage, rather than fleeing. Bites occur due to people unknowingly stepping on or near them. 

Copperhead bites account for half of the treated snake bites in the United States. This tendency to freeze most likely evolved because of the extreme effectiveness of their camouflage. When lying on dead leaves or red clay, they can be almost impossible to notice. They frequently stay still even when approached closely, and generally strike only if physical contact is made. Like most other New World vipers, copperheads exhibit defensive tail vibration behavior when closely approached. This species is capable of vibrating its tail in excess of 40 times per second— faster than almost any other non-rattlesnake snake species. Although venomous, eastern copperheads are generally not aggressive, and bites are rarely fatal. (Photo-Public Health Image Library, a division of the CDC - public domain)

What should you do? If you encounter an Eastern Copperhead, just stop and back away. Most likely, they will mind their business unless agitated. 

Cottonmouth, Northern Cottonmouth, Water Moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorus) is a species of pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. 

It is one of the world's few semiaquatic vipers (along with the Florida cottonmouth) and is native to the Southeastern United States.

As an adult, it is large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite. When threatened, it may respond by coiling its body and displaying its fangs. Individuals may bite when feeling threatened or being handled in any way It tends to be found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes, streams, and marshes. It is a capable swimmer, and like several species of snakes, is known to occasionally enter bays and estuaries and swim between barrier islands and the mainland. Many of the common names refer to the threat display, in which this species often stands its ground and gapes at an intruder, exposing the white lining of its mouth. Many scientists dislike the use of the term water moccasin since it can lead to confusion between the venomous cottonmouth and nonvenomous water snakes. 

Adults commonly exceed 80 cm (31 in) in total length (including tail); females are typically smaller than males. Total length, per one study of adults, was 65 to 90 cm (26 to 35 in). The broad head is distinct from the neck, and the snout is blunt in profile with the rim of the top of the head extending forwards slightly further than the mouth. Though most specimens are almost or even totally black, (with the exception of the head and facial markings), the color pattern may consist of a brown, gray, tan, yellowish-olive, or blackish ground color, which is overlaid with a series of 10–17 dark brown to almost black crossbands. These crossbands, which usually have black edges, are sometimes broken along the dorsal midline to form a series of staggered half-bands on either side of the body. (Photo: Centers for Disease Control - public domain), (Wikipedia)

What should you do? If you encounter a Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin, immediately back away. Try not to panic. Staying calm can help you make the right decisions and help you to stay safe. Most, if not all venomous snakes will not want to engage with you. They only defend if walked upon or cornered.

The Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is a species of pit viper found in Eastern North America.

Like other pit vipers, it is venomous with a very toxic bite. The Timber rattlesnake is the only rattlesnake in the most populous Northern United States. Adults usually grow to total length of 91–152 cm (36–60 in). 

Most adult timber rattlesnakes found measure less than 115 cm (45 in) in total length and weigh between 500 and 1,500 g (1.1 and 3.3 lb), often being towards the lower end of that range. Generally, this species is found in deciduous forests in rugged terrain. C. horridus can be found in a variety of terrestrial habitats including lowland cane thickets, high areas around swamps and river floodplains, hardwood and pine forests, mountainous areas, and rural habitats in farming areas. During the summer, Timbers seem to prefer open, rocky ledges where the temperatures are higher. (photo - Shenandoah Park Service - public domain)

What should you do? If you encounter a Timber Rattlesnake, immediately back away. Try not to panic or make sudden movements. Rattlesnakes will warn you if you are not wanted. Keep your eyes and ears open. The rattle noise is distinctive and somewhat alarming.

Other Venomous snakes in the South Carolina area that will be featured next month are:

Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)

Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius)

If you have any doubt of the specific type of snake you encounter, whether it be venomous or non-venomous, please use your good judgment, and just back away. Most likely, these guys are just looking for a place to hide, hunt and enjoy our hot weather. If you corner them, pick on them or just act like an idiot toward them, they will defend themselves and you may be in for a serious problem.

Our Next-door Communities

I want to congratulate Kim and John Hayes of Kiawah River Estates on their new venture. Hemingway's is now Periwinkle Kitchen Cafe. They will be keeping the favorites, (including hot cinnamon buns on Saturday and Sunday).  A new expresso bar will be added, new lunch menu, grab juices, to-go dinners, and other carry-out items. The new place will be closed on Tuesdays. We wish them all the success. 

Until Next Month

With the beginning of our new community blog, I will, in the near future begin gathering new information to be added. Pet, vacation, new neighbor photos will be added, and small articles of interest about and for our community are in the works. I am also looking into other communities in our Johns Island area for stories, happenings, etc. to add at a later date.

I hope you enjoy the blog as much as I enjoy actually producing it. I love the work, the contact with my neighbors, and the fun facts and stories I am wanted to tell.

Final Image of the Month

Clearing after a low country storm - Rick Tracey