The beach at Ocracoke, part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Ocracoke was one of two islands evacuated after a construction accident cut power; residents are now able to return.

Rental houses and condos were expected to fill up Saturday on two North Carolina islands where a bridge construction accident cut power for a week and threatened seasonal businesses' bottom lines.

The first day of the weekend is a typical starting point for weeklong rentals, and stores and restaurants were expecting brisk business. Both islands reopened to tourists Friday.

"We want everyone to know that we are open for business," said Tommy Hutcherson, the owner of the Ocracoke Variety Store.

The business, which is the island's only grocery store, had its own generator to keep the doors open but saw few customers during the past week.

"We're in the height of our summer season. We're just happy to see people back," Hutcherson said.

Maryland resident Colleen Sax planned to start her eight-hour drive to Hatteras Island on Saturday morning for a vacation with her husband, two adult daughters and extended family. She's relieved after nervously monitoring updates on the situation. An initial estimate that the problem would take weeks to fix was whittled each day until officials announced visitors could return Friday.

"That changed quickly. ... Then it was Friday. I was like: 'Wow!'" she said.

The kitchen staff at the Back Porch Restaurant on Ocracoke Island was busy chopping vegetables and doing other prep work ahead of a Saturday reopening. Owner Daphne Bennink said generator power allowed them to save some high-priced meat and seafood, but they had to order all new fresh produce.

She said her staff also did a deep clean of the kitchen and tried to stay ready because of the uncertain timeframe for reopening.

"While we're used to having an evacuation, there's almost always a weather event that sort of gives us a tangible, visible timeline," she said. But because of the uncertainty about the outage, she said: "We've been perched, sort of ready."

Power was cut to the two islands early on the morning of July 27 when workers building a new bridge drove a steel casing into underground transmission lines. An estimated 50,000 tourists were ordered to leave during a make-or-break period for seasonal businesses, many of which close during the cold-weather months.

Dare County officials estimate that Hatteras Island businesses easily lost $2 million overall for each day of the outage, county spokeswoman Dorothy Hester said. She said the rough estimate is based on last year's tourism figures and could change.

Meanwhile, about 100 people attended a meeting Friday for business owners to begin tallying losses on Ocracoke, which is in Hyde County. County spokesman Donnie Shumate said one restaurant owner calculated that the power outage was likely to cost the business about 11 percent of its yearly revenue. Shumate said the county attorney will be leading negotiations to recoup business losses from the company that caused the accident, PCL Construction.

The company already faces at least four lawsuits by local business owners. Separately, those who had vacations cut short or canceled are working with property owners and travel insurance underwriters to try to recoup losses.

PCL Construction spokeswoman Stephanie McCay said in an email that the company has started a claims process to offer assistance to those affected by the outage.

Visitors with upcoming vacations spent the past week closely watching updates from Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative.

Jessie-Lee Nichols, of Annapolis, Maryland, said she stayed glued to social media, following utility and county officials.

"I was getting notifications and reading all of the transmission updates three and four times a day," she said.

Six adults and two children from her family are scheduled for a vacation on Ocracoke Island the second week of August. She said the adults, who paid for the vacation as a Christmas present to one another, were ecstatic to find out Thursday that power had been restored.

"I posted to Facebook that the vacation was back on and tagged everyone we were going with," she said. "I definitely texted my mom and my sister, and they were like: 'Fantastic!' and 'Yay!'"

Published at 10:05 AM EDT on Aug 5, 2017

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Outer Banks Islands Expect Busy Saturday After Power Outage - NBC4 Washington

Only a single word is necessary to describe how Daniel OKanes recent tour of the Apostle Islands went.

Swimmingly.

OKane, a 36-year-old bartender from St. Paul, swam to 19 of the 22 Apostle Islands and paddled a stand-up paddleboard to three others in 18 days. He finished Wednesday afternoon.

He was accompanied by Duluths Paul Voge, 57, who kayaked alongside OKane for safety purposes, towing the paddleboard in case OKane needed to climb on.

He had the hard job, OKane said. All I had to do was swim. I dont know if you can swim anyplace else that lets you feel as blessed as Lake Superior.

The man likes to swim. He took up swimming eight years ago to help himself quit smoking. He took to it like well, you know the rest.

Hes very adventurous and an upbeat guy, Voge said. He loves being out in the water. He loves the Apostles.

Its OKanes understanding that others have swum among a few of the Apostle Islands, but that no one has done all of them in a single trip.

He and Voge, a Duluth attorney, left Little Sand Bay on the mainland near Bayfield, Wis., on July 16. Early in the trip, due to frigid 52-degree water, OKane used his stand-up paddleboard to cover legs between three islands. Then the water began to warm, eventually reaching the upper 60s.

The original plan was to swim to them all, OKane said. Plan B was the paddleboard.

He found Plan B plenty challenging.

I didnt expect paddleboarding to be as difficult as it was, he said. Its really hard to stay on that thing in a crosswind.

He started6 by traveling to Sand, York, Bear and Devils islands, then worked through the heart of the Apostles down to Stockton. From there he made about a 4-mile crossing to Madeline and on to Long Island, eventually returning by way of Madeline, Hermit and Basswood to the mainland at Red Cliff. Most of the crossings he swam were from 2 to 2 miles long, OKane said.

Averaging about 2 mph using a freestyle technique, OKane figures he swam 37 miles and paddleboarded 37 more in the 18 days. He hiked trails to cross some islands. Much of his paddleboarding was done to get from one point to another around an island to keep his swims shorter.

With a slow, steady pace and a good song in your head, youd be surprised how far you can go, OKane said. Its like being your own boat. Its nice to know you can get yourself somewhere.

The two men camped on the islands at night and took four days off during their quest.

Twenty-one of the 22 Apostles are in Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Park officials issued OKane and Voge a special permit that allowed them to be in the park longer than the 14-day limit and to use a stand-up paddleboard, otherwise prohibited.

Friends brought the pair food resupplies at various stops.

Weather conditions were near perfect after the first three days of the trip.

We were striking gold every day, OKane said.

He ate a vegan and calorie-laden diet that propelled him with 3,500 to 5,000 calories a day spoonfuls of peanut butter, freeze-dried black bean burritos, custom trail mix and ramen noodles.

Still, toward the end, OKane felt himself wearing down.

I knew there was a wall on the horizon, but I never hit it, he said. And by then, I had the excitement factor.

The last day dealt OKane and Voge a small-craft advisory and 3- to 4-foot waves. But they forged on OKane swimming from Madeline to Hermit to Basswood.

It was a little scary, he said.

For the final leg to Red Cliff on the mainland, he paddled the SUP while being towed behind Voges kayak.

Read more from the original source:

St. Paul bartender's swim encompasses nearly all of the Apostle Islands - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

UNDERWATER MARVELS The waters off the village of Tangnan on Panglao Island in Bohol host a healthy marine life that allows species like whale sharks and sardines to thrive. PHOTO COURTESY OF IAN UY AND KEITH SEPE OF DIVE TA BAI

TAGBILARAN CITY Bohols charm lies in its culture, heritage and rich natural resources. Attractions are aplenty that visitors will need days to fully appreciate how this province in Central Visayas has been blessed with unique spots and warm people.

But a sampling of Bohols best can be packed in 48 hours.

For two days, tourists can visit the Chocolate Hills, interact with a tarsier, experience calm in a manmade forest, forget time while frolicking on the islands white sand beaches, and more.

There are two ways to explore Boholhire a van or go around the island on a motorcycle. But whichever way one chooses to go, or by whatever means, always start the tour in the capital city of Tagbilaran, specifically at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral.

Built in 1595, the cathedral has retained its Baroque and Neoclassical features despite having undergone several renovations.

Tourists can also explore Spanish and American colonial houses and the Tagbilaran wharf, or visit the house of the late President Carlos P. Garcia, the countrys eighth President, right in the heart of the city.

About a five-minute drive away, in Bool district, is the Sandugo Blood Compact monument, one of the historic spots on the island. It was here where an alliance was sealed between Datu Sikatuna and Spanish explorer Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on March 6, 1565.

Moving north, tourists can stop at Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Baclayon town, which was among the heritage churches damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in 2013.

Proceed to Loay town to visit the Clarin ancestral home. Built in 1844, it was the only wooden house that survived the burning of Bohol in 1901.

While in Loay, watch local bolo makers turn slabs of metal into tools and weapons the traditional way, without the aid of machines.

Downtime can be spent in Loboc town, the music capital of Bohol, and home of the world-famous Loboc Childrens Choir.

If they come on a Sunday, tourists will have a chance to hear the choirs angelic voices during Mass.

For P450, visitors can enjoy a buffet lunch at the Loboc floating restaurant, featuring an hourlong river cruise that skirts around small waterfalls. Singers and folk dancers entertain them during the cruise.

After Loboc, visitors can commune with nature and spend quiet time at a manmade forest between Loboc and Bilar towns.

They can also drop by Sevilla town and cross a footbridge thats not for the fainthearted. Made of woven bamboo slats and steel, Sipatan Twin Hanging Bridge is suspended over a river 25 meters (82 feet) below.

EDWIN BACASMAS

Nature trip

In Bilar town, tourists can marvel at the life stages of a butterfly, a science refresher inside Simply Butterflies Conservation Center.

Nature lovers can go bird watching or feed the long-tailed macaques inside Rajah Sikatuna National Park in Barangay Riverside.

After a long walk, they can take a dip in nearby Logarita and Duangon springs. They can also proceed to the tarsier conservation area, where they get to see the worlds smallest primate (entrance fee of P60 for regular visitors and P50 for seniors and students).

A visit to Bohol is not complete without seeing the postcard-pretty Chocolate Hills composed of 1,268 cone-shaped hills. During the dry months, the hills look like mounds of chocolates as grasses wilt and turn brown.

To get a good view of the hills, tourists can choose from among three places: Chocolate Hills Complex and Chocolate Hills Adventure Park in Carmen town, and Sagbayan Peak in Sagbayan town.

For dinner, sample organic food at Bohol Bee Farm in Dauis town.

Beaches, dive spots

Tourists can spend the next day at the beaches of Panglao Island and Dauis for swimming and water sports.

A must-try attraction is the recently discovered school of sardines in Panglao.

The sardines, locally known as malangsi, were found in the waters off Barangay Tangnan and have been attracting bigger species of fish like thresher sharks and mackerel.

For island hopping, go to the islands of Balicasag, Virgin and Pamilacan, which are close to Panglao.

Balicasag Island is one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations in the country, featuring thriving reefs and drop-off (underwater wall) up to 60 meters deep.

Virgin Island, an uninhabited islet, features a string of white sand beaches and sandbars.

Pods of dolphins can be seen in the waters off Pamilacan Island, which also hosts a Spanish watchtower and a fish sanctuary.

The towns of Loon (Cabilao Island), Bien Unido, Anda and President Carlos P. Garcia, formerly known as Pitogo) also have waters rich in marine life.

In Danao town, tourists may try the Extreme Adventure Tour at Danao Adventure Park featuring a zipline, all-terrain vehicles, rock climbing and caving adventures. The park also offers river kayaking and river trekking.

For P15, visitors can go up Laguna mountain in Barangay Concepcion to savor a view of fog-covered mountains.

There are other spots worth visiting, such as the white sand beach in Anda town, the watch tower in Maribojoc town, Inang-angan stairway in Loon town, the flying foxes on Cabgan Island in Tubigon town, and St. Nicholas Tolentino Church and Ermita Ruins (a wall of tombs arranged like a honeycomb) in Dimiao town.

But save these sites for a longer, unhurried visit to Bohol.

Itinerary

Day 1 (Bohol countryside)

Tour duration: 8 hours

Sandugo/Blood Compact site

Baclayon Church

Bolo-making in Loay

Loboc River cruise

Tarsier watching

Manmade forest

Hanging bridge

Chocolate Hills

Souvenir shops

Day 2 (Island hopping)

Wake-up call: 5:30 a.m.

Tour duration: 5 to 8 hours

Dolphin watching and island hopping: Pamilacan, Balicasag and Virgin islands

Snorkeling (Balicasag Island)

Swimming (Virgin Island)

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Charmed on islands, spellbound in water - Inquirer.net

SACKETS HARBOR Antique fire trucks and equipment from previous decades, with some pieces that are more than 100 years old, will be on display today in a parade hosted by the Thousand Islands Hose Haulers that will run throughout the village.

Its going to give people an opportunity to see fire trucks theyve never seen before, said William M. Blunden, president of the Thousand Island Hose Haulers.

Mr. Blunden said the Sackets Harbor Fire Department will lead the parade, followed by several fire chiefs and rescue vehicles, pumpers, ladder trucks and other equipment used anytime between the mid-1800s to the late 1900s. They will travel through the business district and Main Street. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. at the Sackets Harbor Central School, 215 S. Broad St.

The equipment for the parade was supplied by members of the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America, or SPAAMFAA, a national organization which also has members from Canada and Europe, dedicated to preserving and restoring fire apparatus and equipment. The Thousand Islands Hose Haulers serves as the Northern New York chapter of SPAAMFAA.

Its a brotherhood ... to have them all in one place and to do a parade in Sackets is special, Sackets Harbor Mayor Vincent J. Battista said.

The parade will conclude at the polo grounds at the Madison Barracks for a muster, which Mr. Blunden compared to a car show for fire equipment, that will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Mr. Blunden, who also serves as muster chairman, said visitors will have the chance to see equipment from the parade on display as well as additional motorized, horse-drawn and hand-pulled equipment. The Thousand Island Hose Haulers will also give live demonstrations of motorized pumps and hand pumps, and there will be contests and childrens activities.

Theres going to be a little something for everybody, Mr. Blunden said.

The parade and muster serve as celebrations for the last day of the SPAAMFAA National Summer Convention and Muster, which began Wednesday and predominantly took place through meetings at the Hilton Garden Inn in Watertown.

Mr. Blunden, who served with the Carthage Volunteer Fire Department for 34 years before he retired last year, said this was the first year the Thousand Islands Hose Haulers were able to host the national event and they hosted more than 300 members. The local chapter held a trip to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, a boat cruise, a ride along the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, a wine tour and a tour of the fire stations in Watertown and Fort Drum. The event will conclude with a banquet for members tonight.

Theyre getting an opportunity to see some of the best of the north country, Mr. Blunden said. This is a huge boon for local tourism. We are just overjoyed to be a part of this.

The Thousand Islands Hose Haulers was formed 2010 with 12 members. The chapter has grown to a membership of about 45 members from Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego counties.

More here:

Thousand Islands Hose Haulers hosts fire equipment parade and muster - WatertownDailyTimes.com

After 14 years and more than $3 billion in support from Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific partners, what chance has Solomon Islands got of lasting peace?

A boy holds a sign saying "thank you very much RAMSI" as the international mission comes to an end. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins

The true success of the Pacific region's first ever peacekeeping intervention is now being tested in the island nation as it tries to chart a course for its future, while trying to forget the ghosts of the past.

The Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) led by Australia and New Zealand departed the country at the end of June, having spent 14 years helping to restore law and order and build up government institutions.

Has Solomon Islands made the most of RAMSI's time in the country? And, more importantly, can it make the most of the second chance given by the "blood, sweat and tears" of the men and women of 15 nations who came to help a friend in need?

'The Tensions'

More than 200 people lost their lives during the conflict in Solomon Islands. Most were civilians. Many are still missing.

This period from 1998 to 2003 is locally referred to as the 'Ethnic Tensions' or simply 'The Tensions'.

Opinions vary on the cause of the conflict and the list of contributing factors is long and complex.

Photo taken on the 20th of July 2003. A militiaman loyal to renegade warlord Harold Keke guards a church Photo: AFP PHOTO/Ben BOHANE

But in its simplest form, the Ethnic Tensions involved four broad groups: the Guadalcanal Revolutionary Army (GRA), self-described freedom fighters trying to rid their lands of illegal settlers; the Malaita Eagle Force, who fancied themselves defenders of the settlers, repelling the GRA and protecting people in the capital, Honiara; parliamentarians, who probably thought of themselves as victims; and ordinary civilians, who are considered to be the real victims.

The fighting started with disputes over rights to settle on certain areas of land near the capital, Honiara.

First-hand accounts recorded on condition of anonymity by a truth and reconciliation commission, which was set up to look into the causes of the tensions, are harrowing. These are the words of a man who had returned to his village after a militant raid the night before.

"There I saw a man who was shot and had a knife stab wound on his body. I helped carry his body to a helicopter but unfortunately he died at the spot. Another man was lying down in the flower hedges; the militants had removed the skin of his face. His two children were given a piece of biscuit each and stood over their father's body. He was rushed to the hospital but unfortunately he died later."

And this woman described life under a warlord's rule.

"There were several of them who were raped at gunpoint, including my own daughter. We were under his rule and we did not have freedom of movement during that time."

Solomon Islands women at church: Some women are still concerned about what their future might hold. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins

It was an especially dark time for women and children, as another woman explained.

"Mothers gave birth in the middle of the bush. Some in pouring rain, some in heat, but all in fear."

The government, struggling to regain control of the situation, brokered a peace treaty disbanding both militia groups.

But most of the now "ex-militants" hung onto their weapons and Solomon Islands continued its downward spiral into complete lawlessness and chaotic violence, ruled by men with guns.

In 2003, having at first strongly opposed the idea, Australia finally agreed to lead an intervention with support from New Zealand and personnel from 13 Pacific Islands Forum countries.

Help arrives but eventually comes to an end

For Solomon Islanders weary of five years of living hell, the arrival of the RAMSI teams was the answer to their prayers.

"It has become the symbol of peace, hope and order. To all Christians in Solomon Islands RAMSI is a divine intervention," was how Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare described it.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare started his third and most recent term in the role in 2014. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins

Over the course of the next decade RAMSI helped rebuild national institutions, strengthen government processes and restart Solomon Islands' economy.

In 2013 after its 10th anniversary, all of RAMSI's state-building activities were transferred to longer-term bilateral arrangements and it became solely a policing mission.

By 2016 this had further reduced to an advisory support role to the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

The mission, which cost Australia $NZ3bn, ended this year in June.

About 2000 New Zealand men and women took part in RAMSI and the government contributed $NZ150 million to its overall cost.

Around 2000 New Zealand men and women took part in RAMSI and government contributed $150 million to its $3 billion dollar bill 95 percent of which was footed by Australia. Photo: RAMSI gallery/Solomon Islands Govt

Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett said it had been an important investment.

"I think we should be really proud of that. The fact that we put so many personnel here and through the aid programme as well are investing in things that make a practical difference to the people of the Solomons.

"I am really confident... I think that the money has been well spent."

A new chapter

On the eve of RAMSI's departure Australia announced another $NZ150m in support for Solomon Islands over the next four years, $NZ80m of which will fund more than 40 Australian Federal Police officers who are staying on to continue supporting local police in advisory roles.

Australia and New Zealand have both committed extra funds to strengthen the local police force. Photo: RNZ/Koroi Hawkins

New Zealand has committed another $NZ12.5m, which will fund at least four police advisors from New Zealand, to be based in Honiara.

On top of this both Australia and New Zealand will provide ongoing bilateral aid support to Solomon Islands.

Australia's governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove, speaking on behalf of Pacific Islands Forum leaders at the RAMSI farewell celebrations at the Lawson Tama stadium in Honiara, reassured Solomon Islanders of this support.

"We the people of the participating nations stand proud of what has been achieved with the courage and the energy and the tolerance and the wisdom of Solomon Islanders. We look forward to seeing the course you chart into the future... From Australia and New Zealand to the smaller states. from north, south, east and west, we are with you."

John Bishop hails from the Western Solomons. He said he was sad to see RAMSI leave. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins

But despite all of this support there were still mixed feelings among Solomon Islanders about RAMSI's departure.

In Chinatown, John Bishop, a visitor from the Western Province, said the mission's work would be missed.

"It makes me really sad because RAMSI has been doing a lot of work here in the Solomons. And has established a lot of things. Peace and order and people [were] starting to gain confidence when RAMSI was here," Mr Bishop said.

Anthonia Deve and her daughter Janice. Mrs Deve says its the uncertainty more than anything that troubles her about RAMSI's departure. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins

Another citizen RNZ talked to, Anthonia Deve, who had lived through the tensions, said she was still uncertain about the future.

"Sometimes we will be thinking it will be okay, but we are not really sure. We are not really sure what will come after they are leaving the Solomon Islands, as we are the women of Solomon Islands. Because already in the past during this ethnic tension, it really hurt us, and put us in some kind of position that we [were] lost, we [were] nothing. Dying people and all this," she said.

There were some who were glad RAMSI was leaving. With a deep sense of patriotism, local resident Ellen Stennet, said she was proud that Solomon Islands was able to stand on its own.

Ellen Stennet felt very patriotic about RAMSI leaving she said she was proud Solomon Islands could finally stand on its own two feet. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins

"If you regard this country, you name it [as] a Christian country, you stand by yourself like you are independent. And make Solomon Islands a better place. Rather than always relying on other countries. We have our government, we are independent, we educate ourselves. Let us make our country to a better living [standard] if you think you are proud of Solomon Islands," Ellen Stennet said.

Others RNZ spoke to were apathetic. One man at the central market politely explained to me that he was more concerned about selling his produce than talking about the mission leaving.

While views on RAMSI leaving varied greatly, most Solomon Islanders spoken to by RNZ said they were grateful for what the mission had done for their country.

Missed opportunities

RAMSI was never meant to solve all of Solomon Islands' problems.

Considerable gains have been made under RAMSI across all sectors of the nation, thanks to the focus on strengthening institutions such as the courts and streamlining processes like that for registering a business.

But the difficult areas, areas where RAMSI could or would not go - such as addressing the causes of the ethnic crisis, corruption and bringing about political stability - were also not addressed by the island nation while the mission was there.

And they remain the things Solomon Islands must still address, without RAMSI, if it is to move forward.

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Insight: Solomon Islands - Keeping the Peace - Radio New Zealand

This removed Lowcountry land mass impacts traffic on Savannah Highway and Main Road, reaches its southernmost point at Kiawah and Seabrook islands and takes in views across the Stono River from Charleston Municipal Golf Course and James Island County Park.

A tomato-growing belt one generation earlier, Johns Island today sprouts an oversized share of single-family homes, multifamily properties and apartment rental communities. Yet the island, one of the largest on the East Coast and comparable to Martha's Vineyard in size, still manages to cling to its secluded nature -- showcasing a tranquil countryside; narrow dirt roads; and isolated creeks tucked beyond woods, marsh and farms.

At eastern edge, Johns Island works out to a 20-minute round-trip to and from peninsula Charleston.

"The benefit of Fenwick The Preserve, it's the first thing you come to going to Johns Island (on Maybank Highway)," says Stephen Carroll, owner of Landcrafters Inc. real estate land company bankrolling the once-stalled neighborhood overlooking Penny Creek. The company recharged the neighborhood, selling homes including on the water from $775,000 to $925,000. Five houses are under construction, including a spec home under contract and a custom residence being built.

"We've got 34 more lots," he says.

Carroll views Johns Island as a steadily expanding market with no major signs at least now of waning.

"When I do MLS (Multiple Listing Service) research on Johns Island, it's usually in the top five in sales," Carroll says. The island maintains a "20-30 percent growth rate," he says. "Especially with the widening of Maybank Highway under construction now, it would alleviate (traffic)_ pressure," he says.

Figures from Charleston Trident Association of Realtors back up the contention that Johns Island is growing at a faster-than-average pace. The roughly circular shaped island posted 649 closed home sales last year to place ninth of 23 local cities, towns and geographical regions. Homes are staying on the market for 51 days, tied for seventh fastest in sale time in the Lowcountry. Further, median prices on Johns Island reached $275,000, gaining 7.2 percent from 2015 and 39.3 percent in the five-year period since 2012.

New home construction plays a big role in Johns Island's appeal as a place to live. Last year, 45.8 percent of home sales involve just--built houses, the highest rank in metro Charleston. Separately, Johns Island tallies the sixth highest single-family market share in 2015 at 88.2 percent. Most multfamily properties are rentals rather than townhomes and condos.

Johns Island homes run in price to more than $1 million, but there are value deals, agents note.

David Wertan, agent with ReMax Advanced Realty, is listing a 2,100 square foot home in Cedar Springs neighborhood near Maybank Highway and Bohicket Road for $339,900.

The four bedroom custom home is move-in ready and the builder included "tons of upgrades," he says in the listing. Other perks include upgraded floors, cabinets, lighting and trim packages; stainless steel kitchen appliances and a screened-in porch, according to Wertan.

The island on its southern edge benefits from its proximity to Kiawah and Seabrook islands. Homeowners can take advantage of resort amenities either by joining a club or paying a membership fee.

Kiawah River Estates sits three miles from the islands and close to Freshfield Village upscale shopping plaza, Toula DiGiovanni says. The Golden Bear Realty agent lists a lot for sale on Turtle Landing for $109,000.

Located on the eighth hole of Oak Point Golf Course within Kiawah River Estates, the cul-de-sac home site includes fairway and lagoon views, sits 200 yards from Haulover Creek and is a short walk to the community dock and picnic area.

The neighborhood "has seen tremendous growth in the last couple of years as more people are retiring or choosing an easier lifestyle," DiGiovanni says.

Property owners can join the Seabrook Island Club as well as the Kiawah Island Governor's Club, giving them "full access to the amenities on both islands," she says.

The 28 home sites for sale at Kiawah River Estates range price from $77,000 to $429,000, with the higher priced lots on the creek. At least 10 new homes are being built to join 180 houses already constructed, she says.

DiGiovanni also lists a condo at Bohicket Marina Village, typically considered a Seabrook Island property but located on Johns Island.

The property on the market for $599,000 on Marsh Oak Lane in Bohicket Marina Village boasts two bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths, garage, carport, front and rear decks and stairs leading to the Bohicket Marina boardwalk. It's being sold furnished. Owners have access to Seabrook Island and the island's Lakehouse.

"The condos have beautiful views of the marina and the sunsets are out of this world," DiGiovanni says.

For more information and photos, go to http://www.postandcourier.com/business/real_estate/jim-parker.

Reach Jim Parker at 843-937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.

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Freshly Growing -- Once-rural Johns Island attracting house hunters to new neighborhoods, custom sites - Charleston Post Courier

Toronto Sun

Boats ready to set sail to Toronto Islands Toronto Sun Joining the group is the much smaller but equally important Ongiara, being the only one of the boats that can bring the utility vehicles needed to carry out certain work on the Toronto Islands. They all now await the summer crowds and are once ...

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Boats ready to set sail to Toronto Islands - Toronto Sun