Tour de Green Space
A self-guided bike and LSV tour hosted by the Seabrook Island Green Space Conservancy in partnership with SIPOA’s Safety & Security Committee.
Date: Sunday April, 26
Check-In: 1:30pm
Start Location: Lake House
Month: March 2026
The Importance of Strength Training while taking a GLP-1 Medication
Strength training is especially important when taking a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro because these drugs often cause rapid weight loss, and without resistance exercise, a significant portion of that weight can come from muscle, not just fat.
- Preserve Muscle Mass: GLP-1 medications reduce appetite and calorie intake. When calories drop quickly, the body may break down muscle for energy. Strength training signals the body to maintain and build muscle, helping ensure more of the weight lost is fat rather than lean tissue.
- Protects Metabolism: Muscle is metabolically active tissue. Losing muscle lowers your resting metabolic rate, which can make long-term weight maintenance harder. Strength training helps keep metabolism higher during weight loss.
- Improves Body Composition: People on GLP-1s can lose a lot of scale weight but still end up “skinny-fat” (lower weight but higher body fat percentage). Resistance training shifts the result toward fat loss with muscle retention, improving how the body looks and functions.
- Maintains Strength & Function: Muscle loss can lead to fatigue, weakness, and reduced physical function. Training preserves mobility, balance, and everyday strength, which becomes increasingly important with age.
- Supports Blood Sugar Control: Strength training increases insulin sensitivity and helps muscles store glucose more effectively, complementing how GLP-1 medications regulate blood sugar.
GLP-1 drugs help you eat less, but strength training tells your body what weight to lose (fat instead of muscle)
For more information on Strength Training while taking a GLP-1 medication or to schedule a personal training appointment with Nancy Steen, please email nsteen@sipoa.org.
TST Funding & Our SBI Road Improvement Project
A joint letter from The Town, The Club, and SIPOA
An Open Letter to the Seabrook Island Community
Dear Residents, Property Owners, Employees, and Friends of Seabrook Island:
The leaders of the Town of Seabrook Island, the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association, and the Seabrook Island Club are united in asking for your help.
Charleston County Council is currently preparing a Transportation Sales Tax referendum that may appear on the ballot in 2026. The draft project list under consideration includes approximately $4.25 billion in funding for road, transit, bike/pedestrian, and greenbelt projects throughout the county.
Unfortunately, the draft project list does not include a single dollar for projects within the town limits of Seabrook Island.
This omission is particularly concerning given the importance—and vulnerability—of Seabrook Island Road, the only means of vehicular access to and from our community.
Low-lying segments of Seabrook Island Road regularly experience tidal flooding during high tides and storm events. When flooding occurs, access to the island can be significantly restricted or completely cut off. This creates serious risks for residents, employees, and visitors and can delay response times from police, fire and emergency medical services.
During a nor’easter in December 2023, first responders were forced to rescue occupants from vehicles stranded in floodwaters on Seabrook Island Road. The roadway became impassable, and our entire community was effectively cut off from the rest of the county until floodwaters receded.
Each day, approximately 7,700 vehicle trips travel along Seabrook Island Road. The corridor serves more than 2,100 full-time residents, 2,600 dwelling units, and thousands of visitors, while also supporting more than 2,400 businesses, contractors, and employees who rely on safe and reliable access to the island. It is also a vital gateway to destinations such as the MUSC Medical Pavilion, Bohicket Marina, Freshfields Village, St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center, and numerous local employers.
For years, improving Seabrook Island Road has been identified as the Town’s highest transportation priority. The proposed Seabrook Island Road Improvement Project would elevate flood-prone segments of the roadway and improve drainage to reduce tidal flooding and improve reliability.
Importantly, this project is already well advanced in design and permitting and is expected to be shovel-ready by the time sales tax collections begin in 2027.
Simply put, this project must move forward. Reliable access to Seabrook Island is not optional—it is essential for public safety, emergency response, evacuation, and the continued vitality of our community.
If the Seabrook Island Road Improvement Project is included in the countywide transportation sales tax program, it can be funded through a revenue source Seabrook Island residents and visitors are already paying. If it is not included, the Town will need to pursue other funding options, such as bonds repaid through property taxes or other local taxes.
That outcome would be fundamentally unfair. Seabrook residents, property owners, employees, and visitors already contribute millions of dollars to the county transportation sales tax—helping finance projects throughout Charleston County. It is only reasonable that our community receive an appropriate investment in return. The Town’s request amounts to roughly one penny for every $10 in transportation sales taxes collected.
Our shared message to Charleston County is simple: Seabrook Island deserves transportation funding that is Faster, Fairer, and Safer.
- Faster because this project is ready to move forward as soon as funding is secured.
- Fairer because Seabrook Island residents and visitors have contributed to the transportation sales tax for decades but have not received comparable investment within the Town.
- Safer because reliable access to the island is essential for emergency response, evacuation, and everyday travel.
We Need Your Voice!
Charleston County is currently asking the public to provide input through an online survey that will help determine which projects are included in the referendum.
We encourage every resident, property owner, employee, and visitor who cares about the future of Seabrook Island to participate.
Please take a moment to complete the county’s survey and tell County Council that our community needs Seabrook Island Road Now!
Your voice can help ensure that Seabrook Island receives the transportation investment necessary to protect public safety, strengthen our resilience to coastal flooding, and support the economic vitality of our community.
Thank you for your support and your advocacy.
Sincerely,
Bruce Kleinman
Mayor
Town of Seabrook Island
John Lassiter
President
Seabrook Island Property Owners Association
John Carpenter
President
Seabrook Island Club
SJFD CPR Certification Class – 4/22/26
The St. Johns Fire Department offers 4 CPR/AED classes for SIPOA annually. These classes occur quarterly on Wednesdays from 9:00am – 12:00pm at the Lake House, Osprey 1.
This class is for SIPOA, TOSI, SIC Employees, Officers, Board and Committee members, and other residents to receive CPR certification.
Each class has a maximum participation number of 20.
NEXT CPR CLASS OFFERING:
When: Wednesday, April 22
Where: Lake House, Osprey 1
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Spring on Seabrook Island: Living Safely with Alligators
Spring has arrived on Seabrook Island, and with the warmer weather comes increased activity from our island wildlife – including alligators.
Seabrook Island is home to a healthy population of American alligators, a native and important South Carolina species. Seeing an alligator in or near freshwater ponds and wetlands is a normal part of living in a coastal environment. With awareness and simple precautions, residents and visitors can safely coexist with these remarkable animals.
SIPOA maintains an Alligator Program Policy that guides staff response to alligator-related calls and concerns. This policy includes information about alligator habitats and behavior, helping staff determine when an alligator is behaving naturally – and when it may meet the criteria of a “nuisance alligator” under the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Nuisance Alligator Program.
UNDERSTANDING ALLIGATOR BEHAVIOR
Alligators are generally shy and prefer to avoid people. They do not naturally view humans as prey. However, when alligators are fed – intentionally or unintentionally – they can begin to associate people with food. This learned behavior can make them bold and potentially aggressive.
Feeding or harassing an alligator not only endangers people and pets, but also ultimately harms the alligator. In South Carolina, it is illegal to feed or harass alligators.
Even tossing objects or splashing near the water can attract unwanted attention, as movement in the water signals a possible food source.
FOR YOUR SAFETY
Please follow these important guidelines:
- Never feed alligators. Feeding them puts everyone at risk.
- Keep your distance. Alligators can move quickly on land and in water.
- Keep pets on a leash and away from pond edges.
- Supervise children closely near any freshwater pond or wetland.
- Do not attempt to move an alligator, even if it is in the roadway.
- Do not approach nests or small alligators. Mother alligators are very protective.
- Do not corner, trap, or throw objects at an alligator.
- Remain alert around the shoreline of ponds and wetlands, especially at dawn and dusk when wildlife is most active.
SIPOA ALLIGATOR PROGRAM POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
SIPOA follows SCDNR guidelines when responding to concerns:
- Alligators less than four feet in length are generally not considered a threat to people or pets.
- Alligators four feet or longer that pose a demonstrable threat to people, pets, or property may be classified as “nuisance alligators.”
- If removal is warranted, a professional alligator trapper licensed by SCDNR will be contacted. Under state regulations, nuisance alligators must be euthanized.
If you observe an alligator behaving aggressively or in a manner that appears unsafe, please contact the Gatehouse at (843) 768-6641. SIPOA staff will assess the situation in accordance with established policy.
By respecting wildlife and following these simple precautions, we can continue to safely enjoy the natural beauty that makes Seabrook Island so special.
Leaf Collection 2026
As spring gets closer, our annual oak leaf shed is underway. In an effort to keep these leaves out of our stormwater pipes and ponds, SIPOA will be working to collect these leaves.
Beginning Monday, March 16th, SIPOA will temporarily discontinue leaf blowing activities. Instead, street sweepers will be utilized to collect leaves from the roadways.
A picture of the street sweeper is shown below. Leaf collection will be carried out for a period of 5 weeks and will end on April 17th.
Last year, we were able to collect approximately 250 cubic yards of leaf debris from our roadways! The street sweeper cannot remove any leaves that are more than 6″ deep, and piling leaves on the roadways is not encouraged.
Thank you for your patience with leaf debris on the road as we work to keep our stormwater system functioning at its best.
