“COACH” A CANDID Q&A WITH JOHN McKISSICK
A LESSON IN GRACE / ODE TO CORNBREAD / HAUNTED SUMMERVILLE II THE BANKS HOUSE / UPCYCLED STYLE / POET JULIA KOETS / EYE ON THE PRIZE
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FEATURES AZALEA Magazine / Fall 2012
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DEBUTANTE HUNTERS
Local movie wins big at Sundance Film Festival by Katie DePoppe
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A LESSON IN GRACE
How a hometown ballerina’s story goes far beyond the parameters of a stage by Katie DePoppe
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DWELLING PLACE
Lovely and welcoming, the Banks Home is Southern in all the best ways by Jana Riley
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HAUNTED SUMMERVILLE II Tales Of Mysteries & The Unexplained compiled by Katie DePoppe
AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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CONTENTS
/ AZALEA Magazine / Fall 2012
45 48 LIFE & FAITH
Affair-Proof Your Marriage by Will Browning
SOUTHERN STYLE 55 Upcycled STYLE
From old coins to oil drums, artisans are giving retired objects a new and beautiful lease on life
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15 06 Editor’s Letter 10 Letters 12 Contributors
SOUTHERN LIFE
15 Southern Spotlight - Sport 20 Southern Spotlight - Sport 22 Southern Spotlight - Art COLUMNS 27 On The Road Again by Jana Riley 33 Patchwork Of The South by Michelle Lewis 37 The Literary Note by Julia Koets
41 Social Graces by Elizabeth Donehue 45 TASTE
Husky Bread Try these cornbread recipes for a twist on the classic Southern staple
55 90 THE LOCAL Seasonal Calendar 94 For the Cause
33
Meals On Wheels Sculpture In The South
ON THE COVER: The director and cast of The Debutante Hunters. Dressed by PEARL (www.shoppearlonline.com) / Photograph by Dottie Rizzo 6
AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
Making generation after generation after generation SMILE!
-Patsy Banks, Sarah Banks Tapp, Betsy Banks Tapp
Visit our website at www.lowcountrysmiles.com to view our before and after photos, as well as a complete list of our services Advanced Dental Center of Summerville 89 Old Trolley Road Summerville, SC 29485 Phone: (843) 873-1261
Dr. James Muscott Dr. Will Rahn Dr. Randy Jones AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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/ EDITOR’S LETTER
Are Manners Dead?
THE PASSION CONTINUES Now Serving
Craft Beer CRAFT Wine Unique Fare Rich Desserts LIVE MUSIC
Please allow me a moment to rant. Whether there was a teenage girl at the cash register or a college boy cutting the grass, my father always greeted their inquiries the same way. "Yes ma'am" or "yes sir." Growing up I can vividly remember thinking about how weird it was that he would do that. I'd understand if it was someone his elder or someone in a position of authority, but a kid? As things usually go, I now do the same thing. A few weeks back I was out shopping with my family. On the way out of the store I stopped to hold the door for my wife and kids. Just after they passed over the threshold, a slew of other shoppers headed my way. I stayed with the door. There were two older women, a young mother with her kids and teenage boy. Not one of them looked me in the eye or paused to offer their "thanks." How hard is it to say thanks? Frustrated, I offered a no problem under my breath. Just the other day there was a young girl whose car broke down in the drive through of the bank. Including my own, there were five cars behind her. Her mother stepped from the passenger side to inform the other drivers that their car would not start. All four cars in front of me pulled around her, offering no help. I am not trying to sound preachy or portray that I am, in any way, the example of proper manners. It's not about me. It's about the people with whom we interact. A gesture of respect or a simple "thank you" can go along way in the lives of others. We live in a town that's growing in numbers and in culture. This shouldn't give us the license to abandon the ideals of a small town. Summerville is a great place to live. It is up to all of us to keep it that way.
I am not trying to sound preachy or portray that I am, in any way, the example of proper manners.
I pushed the young girl's car out of the way. And when she thanked me...yes ma'am.
108 East 3rd North Street Summerville / (843) 376-4559 coastalcoffeeroasters.com 8
AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
Will Rizzo
Editor In Chief
Will Rizzo Co-Publisher and Editor in Chief will@azaleamag.com Dottie Langley Rizzo Co-Publisher and Managing Editor dottie@azaleamag.com Katie DePoppe Editor at Large katie@azaleamag.com Margie Sutton Style Editor Will Browning Faith Editor
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/ LETTERS SALTWATER FISHING WITH RALPH PHILLIPS
FLAVOR FANATICS / FOOD WITH SOUL / INTRODUCING:“SOUTHERN GRACES” ADOPTABLE ART / MARY ALICE MONROE’S “TURTLE SUMMER” / LIFE IS A MARATHON
FREE ~ SUMMER 2012
one night - your masterpiece THE BEST SUMMER LOOKS FOR THE NEXT GREAT GENERATION OF SOUTHERNERS
Mini Masters After School Art Classes
THE MUSIC MAKER
A young artisan practices a centuries-old craft
FIELD TRIP
Ol d So u th ~ Su mme r v il l e ’s M agazin e
NEW YORK CITY LIVING
How one Summerville boy took his dream all the way to the movies
THE MAKING of a SOUTHERN WEDDING A three day celebration of love, life and Lowcountry culture
A father & daughter’s first bird hunt
4 OF MY SENSES After tiring of the "same ol' thing" with my Southern Living subcription, I have found an admirable replacement! Azalea Magazine is a delightful experience for four of my senses. I eagerly search each photo (even the ads), knowing that I'll most likely see someplace I've been or see someone I know. That's delightful. I also appreciate that you even use such special paper. I even enjoy the quality feel of the cover and the sound of turning the pages. Azalea exudes quality. That's four senses....luckily, I don't eat paper! Thanks for a great read. Jennifer Bailey Summerville SHOWING SOME LOVE I love Azalea Magazine...the stories, the photos, the ads! Kathy Randall Summerville
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AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
ONLY GOOD THINGS I got the magazine. Each issue gets better and better. I'm not the only one saying that either. Beauty parlors are hot beds of gossip. I heard only good things. I really enjoyed reading it. Fern Michaels Summerville A WONDERFUL LOOK We really enjoyed the piece on Derek. The magazine is a wonderful look into Summerville and having been away from the area for a year, we really enjoyed the articles. Lenore Rozmes Cedar Park, TX A REAL HIT The last issue of Azalea has been a real hit downtown and in Mt. Pleasant. Gerald Caffrey Mt. Pleasant
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JANA RILEY Writer and Copy Editor Jana is a writer and editor living in Summerville with her husband, Dan. Jana enjoys adventures with her two favorite kids, Noah and Jude, and their dog, Alfie.
NFL Kickoff BBQ
JULIA KOETS Poet Julia Koets, a native of Summerville, holds an MFA from the University of South Carolina. Her poetry has appeared in numerous journals, including the Indiana Review, Los Angeles Review, Euphony, and Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts. She will begin her PhD in Creative Writing and Literature this fall at the University of Cincinnati.
OCT. 21
Azalea Magazine Cornhole Tourney
OCT. 27
Halloween Party
Nov. 18
1st Chilli Cookoff
FRI. & Sat. Live Music & Karaoke
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ELIZABETH DONEHUE Writer Elizabeth is a fundraiser, event planner, and etiquette hard-liner. Growing up in Summerville, she has a great love for the “Flowertown in the Pines."
MICHELLE LEWIS Writer Michelle is a mother of two. Currently pursuing a career in children’s literature, she has learned that being called childish may not be such a bad thing after all.
“I had a weekend hysterectomy”
Scan to watch Bridgette’s story.
With three active children, Bridgette couldn’t even consider the down time required after a traditional hysterectomy. Her gynecologist told her about robotic surgery. Bridgette chose the South Carolina Institute for Robotic Surgery at Trident Medical Center, the number one robotic surgery program in the Lowcountry. For more information on the Institute and robotic surgery, visit SCrobotics.com or call 843-797-FIND (3463). “ I came out of surgery with just band aids, and I was at home the next morning. With absolutely no pain, my recovery was amazing.” - Bridgette Manning, Goose Creek, SC
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"Coach" A candid Q&A with John McKissick
AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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I
f you are from the Lowcountry, a fan of football or have paid any attention to national news over the past twenty years, there is a good chance you know a thing or two about Summerville's John McKissick. With sixty-one years coaching experience and almost six hundred wins under his belt, it's fair to say that Coach McKissick is a living legend. You may be familiar with all of his accolades and statistics, but here are some things about John McKissick that you may not know. Rizzo: What led you to become a football coach? McKissick: When I was in college I was majoring in accounting. I knew coaches didn’t make much money, but I always had a feeling in the back of my mind that coaching was something I would like to do. After college I was hired by a finance company as an adjuster. I didn’t know what that was until I got there; an adjuster means you're a collector. After about six months, I realized that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I was home one weekend in Kingstree, South Carolina, and this lawyer friend of mine called and said there was a coaching job open in Clarkton, North Carolina, and if I wanted to get out of what I was doing and go into coaching, he would make a contact for me. I took the job in Clarkton
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over the telephone. I didn’t know anything about the town. When I got there, it was a good basketball school in a little tobacco town. The football was in a six-man football conference. I had already taken the job, but I didn’t know anything about it, so I called my college coach and asked him if he could help me. I told him I didn’t know anything about six-man football. He told me I didn’t know anything about eleven-man football. [laughs] Anyway, I stayed there a year, and then got the job here in Summerville. Rizzo: If you could name one player, who was the best player you ever coached? McKissick: I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do it. We’ve had so many come through here. The latest one I guess would be AJ Green. And then there was Jamar Nesbit who played for the Carolina Panthers and ended up in New Orleans. We had Kevin Long who played for the Tennessee Titans. And there was Stanford Jennings who played for the Cincinnati Bengals. All those were outstanding high school football players. When I first came here, we had a lot of good players. We didn’t play but five games a season. The first five years here we won fifty-two and lost two. There were a lot of good players on those teams, so it would be hard to single out any one player.
20 YEARS OF DREAMING
g THIRD THURSDAY in HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SUMMERVILLE Winner of Main Street SC "Outstanding Promotion"
Third Thursday's special events: September: Sweet Tea Festival brought to us by the new Summerville Restaurant Association, October: The Summerville Orchestra – Chamber music ensemble November: The return of Tim Lowry’s The Christmas Carol Tour around the historic downtown.
Rizzo: How has your wife influenced your coaching and the success of the teams?
PROUDLY CELEBRATING OUR 20th ANNIVERSARY
Preserving the past, promoting the present and protecting the future of Historic Downtown Summerville
McKissick: She has never said anything about how much time I had to spend away from home. And years ago we even had to mark the fields and cut the grass. She has been a great supporter, and she still is. She loves athletics. I've been doing this for sixty years, and she’s only missed three games.
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AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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McKissick Continued
Rizzo: Wow! McKissick: Pretty good, eh? Rizzo: That’s very good. Rizzo: Is there a fan over the years that sticks out in your mind? McKissick: I would say George “Chick” Miler might be that fan. He befriended me when I first came here and was like a daddy to me. I would see him every day. We'd go to ball games together. When he got to where he couldn’t get around, an ambulance would pick him up and bring him to Memorial Stadium, and he would sit near the end zone in a wheelchair. Rizzo: How does the marching band influence the game environment? McKissick: I’ve always got along real good with the band. The band has been a great support for Greenwave football. Some places, the band and the athletic department don’t get along too good. We’ve always been fortunate to have good band directors here. There was Frank DeParley when we came here, and there was Gus Moody. And Leslie Gilreath who’s here now...he does a great job, and we get along real good. The band's a big part of it. They get the kids and the fans excited. Rizzo: What’s the most memorable game that you ever coached?
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AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
Rizzo: What year was that? McKissick: 1955 Rizzo: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
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McKissick: The first one. We were playing Wade Hampton. That was the most excited I’ve been. And the next most memorable game was probably the first state championship we won.
McKissick: Ah...no. There are a lot of little things that you naturally do that you don’t
even think about. Just little routine things, but nothing really special. Rizzo: You don’t wear the same dirty socks every game or anything like that? McKissick: No, I don’t do that. I did have a coaching shirt that I would wear every game. It got old and raggedy, and my wife threw it away. So I cut that out. Rizzo: Who are you a fan of? McKissick: I used to follow the Green Bay Packers. I like their colors. [laughs] I also like the Manning family. I like how they conduct themselves. Three pro quarterbacks in one family is pretty impressive. I received an award this year at the Super Bowl and spent time with Eli [Manning] in the green room. It was fun. Aaron Rodgers [Packers quarterback] was in their too. Rizzo: Any of those guys ask for your autograph? McKissick: No. [laughs] Rizzo: Any hobbies outside of football? McKissick: I used to do a lot of flounder gigging when I was younger. I tried to play golf but never had enough time to get good. And I like working in the yard...I guess football is my hobby. [laughs] Rizzo: How do you want to be remembered? McKissick: I'd like to be remembered as somebody who had a lot of influence on young people and as a friend to all the guys who I have coached. And I want to be remembered as maybe having guided and helped them along the way. Rizzo: Any regrets? McKissick: No regrets. None at all. I'm glad I chose the profession I did. I had some offers to coach in college, but I didn't want to leave Summerville. AM AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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Dr. Reuther in the race that qualified him to compete in Hawaii
SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT
Eye on the Prize
The territory in question is triathlons, and for Reuther, the landscape is incredibly familiar. An ophthalmologist at Carolina Eyecare Physicians by day, on the weekends and in the wee hours of weekday mornings, he is an athlete—relentlessly training for his next swim, bike and run.
Renowned Greek Philosopher Socrates once said, "What a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."
The 42-year-old father of two has competed in eight Ironman triathlons in the last 13 years. Long-distance events consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile marathon run, the races have a strict 17-hour time limit; however, for the well-trained athlete, the race is completed long before the time limit is reached.
Dr. Robert Reuther (Sport)
A local ophthalmologist is swimming, biking and running his way to personal victory / by Jana Riley
For Dr. Robert Reuther, the challenge to push his body to its physical limits is just another part of his daily life—but it does allow for some unique experiences. “It's kind of hokey, running down the street in spandex,” he admits with a laugh. “People look at you like you’re crazy, with your compression socks or ‘barefoot’ running shoes. Some of the attire can make you look insane to those outside the sport.” Shrugging, he smiles. “But that all comes with the territory, I guess.” 22
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“Some of the attire can make you look insane to those outside the sport.”
A native of New Orleans, Reuther attended Tulane University where he played soccer and squash competitively. After years of playing “high level squash,” he began to notice playing injuries. To combat the physical strain of the sport, he cross-trained by swimming, biking and running—activities less damaging to the joints. Then a spin class instructor urged him to try a triathlon, and he readily accepted the challenge. He got a mountain bike (which he acknowledges is not the preferred choice of most triathletes) and signed up. During the swim portion of his first race, he
was passed by all participants—including an 80-year-old woman. “She stopped to ask if I was alright,” he laughs. As soon as he got on the bike and completed the run, however, he caught up—and won first in his age group. He was hooked. A little over a decade later, Reuther has successfully completed the Ironman Lake Placid, Great Floridian Clairmont, Ironman Florida (four times), Ironman Arizona and Ironman Louisville races. His biggest challenge? “Preventing my body from getting old. I want to do it forever,” he says passionately. He adds quickly, “I'm still as fast as I've ever been, actually faster." Since 1978, Ironman competitors have set their sights on the Ironman World Championship held in Hawaii each year. Athletes must qualify for inclusion in the grueling race, and the competition is fierce. Twice, Reuther missed his chance to swim, bike and run some of the toughest courses in Hawaii by just one place. This year, however, the 12 years of training paid off—Dr. Reuther’s finishing time at the Lake Placid Ironman in July secured his spot, and he will compete in the event on October 13. Reuther credits his family for his successes. His wife, Karen, is his strongest cheerleader and an active marathon runner. His daughters, Emma and Hannah, inherited their parents’ passion for being active. Emma, 9, completed a triathlon recently and won first in her age group. Hannah, 13, enjoys rock climbing in Colorado with the family. “I couldn't do any of this if it wasn't for the support of my family. It's a huge time commitment. But they support me, and I love them for it,” he says with a grateful smile. Commitment is key to being an endurance athlete, but balancing life is just as important. “You can be totally encompassed in the sport,” Reuther explains. “You have to be careful because it can become your life, your job.” He takes the task of balancing his career,
his family life and his dedication to being a consistent endurance athlete very seriously. Only training in the mornings, during his lunch hour and on the weekends, he leaves the evenings open to spend time with his wife and children. In preparation for an Ironman, he trains for 30 weeks; swimming three days, biking three days, and running three days—maxing out at 20 hours a week. On the off-season, he spends seven to ten hours weekly on “maintenance.” “Over the weekend, I rode 100 miles and then ran 11. The heat index that day was around 110.” He smiles and sighs. “That’s the insanity part.” Reuther is also passionate about the science of the sport. “There are so many aspects of physiology, power, training and achieving optimal performance that are observable and can be controlled,” he explains. “That can include everything from salt and water intake to food consumption. It involves understanding the idea of undertraining and overtraining, how to layer workouts and when to take recovery. There's a huge science…it's a little unique in that you're the scientist and the specimen.” As a doctor, Reuther dwells in the realm of science regularly and finds a strong link between the tasks at work and on the course. “During eye surgery and while working with patients, it is important to make the proper decisions early on, in order to prepare for future outcomes. In a race, for instance, if you start eating the wrong things in the first five miles, by mile fifty it's going to be coming back to you in a bad way. It's a regimented thing.” With eight Ironman triathlons behind him, Dr. Reuther still acknowledges that each race is a new challenge but insists that the difficulties are not insurmountable. “It's a mental discipline,” he says. “There is a point in every race that you begin to suffer. When you get to that point, you have two options; you can either go harder and suffer more, or finish last and suffer less. You either go for it, or you don’t. And you can go for it.” AM AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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Savannah native Susan Frampton has sculpted a reputation for herself within the Lowcountry art community over the years. A Summerville resident for three decades, the architectural engineer turned art show maven was recently appointed as executive director of Sculpture in the South—and there is good reason to assume her presence at our town’s little art show will be quite influential. As soon as Susan Frampton and I began talking, I knew I was going to like her. It's easy to see she loves what she does. Full of energy and friendliness, Frampton passionately regaled me with stories of her time at the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition (SEWE). For 18 years, she lent her penchant for managing and coordinating to the show, starting as a part-time gallery associate and working her way up to the role of executive director of the entire event. After encountering nearly every possible situation at the show and loving every second of it, Frampton passed the torch, a choice which she explained as “the hardest decision I ever made.” “It was just time,” she said. “It was like my child...but I had to let it fly for it to continue growing at that point.” After her departure, she allowed herself some muchneeded rest. For six years, she was a self-described gypsy traveling with her husband, gardening and visiting their lake house. One day, out of the blue, a friend mentioned that Sculpture in the South was looking for an executive director. Frampton, intrigued by the prospect of a new challenge, toyed with the idea and decided to submit her resume to the organization. “I thought, if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” she recalled. The speedy response from the Sculpture in the South team was telling. After scheduling a Wednesday interview, the board of directors was so confident in Susan Frampton’s ability to successfully head the show, they asked her to start the following Monday. 24
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Frampton agreed and immediately turned her attention to the upcoming event. “It was the end of March when I came on board, and the show was in May. They had been without a director for 10 months. It was truly like jumping onto a moving train,” Frampton confessed. Without a person in charge, the board of directors ran things for the better part of a year, “and they did an amazing job with the resources they had,” she noted with pride. But enough work had accumulated over the lapse that Frampton began to realize it would be nearly impossible to catch up in time for the 2012 show. A predicament that would be overwhelming for most seemed to energize her. “I walked in the door and said, ‘OK, where are we right now?’ And it became clear that I was very unprepared to be immersed so quickly.” She leaned in as if confiding a secret and continued, smiling, “But it felt good to be organizing things again.” Her eyes beamed. “It felt good to be back behind the wheel, driving the bus.” Two weeks before Frampton’s interview, the directors had hired an event director to help produce the show, so the two of them began to chip away at the tasks at hand. “It was rather daunting at first,” she confided. “We both jumped in at 90 miles per hour.” Quickly, the event began to take shape. Frampton is quick to point out, though, that the show’s success comes from numerous sources, many outside of her control. “Everyone involved with Sculpture in the South feels a real sense of ownership in the event,” she shared. “This year especially, they really pitched in and made it happen—from the artists who came strictly on faith and loyalty, to the sponsors who came on at the very last
minute, to the people who bought memberships throughout the year and consistently support it—the event is what it is because of every single person involved.” With Frampton at the helm and a dedicated community of team members, supporters, artists and attendees, the show’s 14th year went off without a hitch. Now that the dust has settled, Frampton looks back on this year’s experience fondly. For her, the reception she received from the Sculpture in the South community affirmed her decision to join the team and continue her commitment in the future.
I really felt the love, you know. I really did. For the first time, I felt that I had come home.
“I really felt the love, you know. I really did. For the first time, I felt that I had come home. For nearly 20 years, I slept in Summerville but spent my days in Charleston. I didn’t know if I would feel that connection, but I did. The reception I got from the people of Summerville, the board of directors and the artists was really gratifying.” Now Frampton and the team at Sculpture are busy making plans for Summerville’s long-term cultural influence. “I saw through my time at SEWE the effect art can have on a community,” she explained.
While many attendees were initially drawn to the show because of its focus on wildlife, over the years it grew to accommodate and place focus on more art forms, and Frampton noticed that the artistic appreciation of the attendees grew in turn. “There is something about an appreciation for art, or artistic preference, that rounds people out,” she added. “When someone puts their roots in the arts, even just slightly, there is a certain depth to them. It is a personal depth that is both intriguing and emotional.”
Observing the continuous metamorphosis of other people’s personal culture over the years has also positively affected Frampton’s own life and family. Her husband a “ducks and dogs” kind of guy (as she puts it), has honed an appreciation for art, and her daughter has set out to fill her own home with pieces that she deems meaningful and important. Now, after years of being the caretaker of one of Charleston’s largest art events, the new executive director of Sculpture in the South wants to foster the culture of her “other family”—the town of Summerville. Frampton and her team are in the process of developing a vision
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Cast In Culture Continued
that includes keeping the show small and intimate, factors which she believes contribute to the accessibility of the event. She also believes that allowing residents to come face to face with the artists and their work enables them to understand the art and its origins easier than a typical art gallery setup. The team strives to ensure that every attendee has an artistic experience free of intimidation—an experience that is all at once educational, exciting and exhilarating. The medium of sculpture is fitting for such a task, as it encourages one to touch it and view it from all angles.
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Currently, the organization has two centered missions—education and public sculpture. They approach the educational mission by bringing artists into schools to interact with students and expose them to artistic expression. The idea is to reach out to an entire generation in an attempt to inspire their creativity. The public sculpture mission has been in effect for years. Most Summerville residents can name a local sculpture or two, but sometimes do not realize the sculptures were placed by the Sculpture in the South team. Over the years, pieces have been placed in Azalea Park, Shepherd Park, Gahagan Fields and at the public library. There are also sculptures in the extended collection on view at the Columbia Zoo and in Berkeley County. When a member of the community purchases art at the annual show, a percentage of their purchase goes toward a future sculptural installation, essentially enabling that person to make an investment in their town. Public sculptures aid in establishing Summerville as a cultural center, which aids in drawing visitors and tourists who, in turn, support the local economy.
Summerville and sculpture just make sense, according to Frampton. She reiterates this point by saying: “Sculpture is a timeless art—it stands the test of time—and Summerville is a place that really places value on things that last.” Residents who want to support the cause can help in a number of ways. Sculpture in the South memberships are available for students, seniors, adults and families, and the team sees membership fees as an investment in the next year’s show. In return, members receive exclusive newsletters and invitations to private functions and special lectures. Businesses can participate through sponsorship of the event, which provides entertainment opportunities for special clients, customers and friends. “Anything that grows this event grows this community,” said Frampton passionately. “We are a non-profit, working to make this community a better, more interesting, beautiful place. The one thing I want the residents of Summerville to understand is that we are working for them.” Presently, the Sculpture in the South team is hard at work on next year’s show as well as an exciting joint project with Summerville D.R.E.A.M. and the Audubon Society—the details of which she cannot disclose quite yet.
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“It’s so exciting,” Frampton said happily. “We can’t wait to share it with the town. It is really going to be an incredible part of Summerville in the future!” AM North Charleston • 2150 Northwoods Blvd. • 843-824-0404 Mt. Pleasant • 2668 U.S. Highway 17 • 843-849-9126
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Much more than just a horse race!
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Destination: Anywhere Exploring the value of sights unseen
Coolers full of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fish-shaped snack crackers, water and wet wipes. Highway maps stuffed between the seats, folded and refolded enough times to create a kaleidoscope of creases. Mad Libs, license plate bingo, twenty questions and the quiet game. Shabby rest areas and glossy travel plazas. Bathroom breaks and stretch-our-legs breaks and beautiful-view breaks. Claimed backseat territory and sibling squabbles and fresh air and “are we there yet?” Road trip. The very words send my heart aflutter. To some, an inconvenience or simply a means to a destination. To others, a journey, a limitless sea of destinations yet to be understood. For members of the latter group, the attractions of a road trip are often discovered as it takes place, transforming the open road into
/ by Jana Riley
a highway of possibilities. I subscribe to the notion that there is no better feeling than being on the precipice of an adventure, and a road trip provides that very opportunity--and more. Like many people, my childhood was made up of nearly a decade and a half of school, birthday parties and holidays and the everyday activities of the typical American youth. We moved between homes, states and schools a few times. We got cats and dogs, built forts and treehouses, rode bikes and played street hockey with the neighborhood kids and grew up every day. But what I remember most–almost exclusively–are the trips. Every few months, my dad would start talking about taking a trip, visiting a new location, explaining the sights, buildings, monuments, memorials and people that we could see along the way. Soon enough, my mom, sisters
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN
and I would be packing our suitcases, and we’d pile in the car on yet another road trip.
I remember feeling utter shock and confusion when I realized that many of my middle school friends had never left the state.
We were always going to or coming back from somewhere. It was such a fact of life that I remember feeling utter shock and confusion when I realized that many of my middle school friends had never left the state. I thought frequent traveling was just what families did. My naivete blossomed into a true gratefulness for the commitment and dedication my parents had toward showing us as much of the world as they were able. With four daughters, far-flung locales were out of reach logistically and financially, but that mattered little. Instead, they focused on the spirit of adventure, of seeing new things and of sharing everything they knew about the places we were able to visit.
We were explorers, all six of us, chart-
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ing new territory in a wood-paneled minivan. We saw mountains, beaches, cities and countryside together. We shared the feeling of relief when a rest area appeared at just the right time and the excitement of reaching a lodging destination after hours of being trapped in said minivan together. I would bet my sisters can still remember the rush of running through the hotels, cabins and houses of road trips past as we claimed beds and rooms and figured out which amenities we wanted to check out first. As a family, we perused the tiered racks of travel brochures in the lobby and weighed in on possible activities. And all along the way, we discovered. Fingers pointed, eyes searching, all of us seeing something for the first time, together. Whether a painted water tower, a herd of cattle, a giant rocking chair, or an oddly shaped cloud, a field of bright colored flowers or a dog enjoy-
The wood-paneled minivan is long gone now. My sisters and I have families of our own. All that remains of the explorations of our youth are photos, memories, a slew of inside jokes and countless lessons learned. For me, the wanderlust felt so strongly by my father became a welcome attribute to my own life, and it has shaped my path considerably. Now, I am doing my part to share the same spirit of exploration with my own family. This past July, my husband and I took his 8-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, Noah and Jude, on a nine-day road trip. It was our first one as a family, and as the days passed, I began to realize the continual impact of the travels of my youth. It was beautiful, and though we were far from home, I felt closer to my parents every single day. I finally realized the immense joy that can come from showing a
child something unfamiliar for the first time. I watched Jude on his first subway ride ever, his little brow furrowed, eyes studying the landscape of New York City, and I shared the feeling that my father had as he watched me do the same when I was Jude’s age. I let them run ahead and claim their beds when we stopped for lodging, channeling the moments of my childhood as I watched them experience the same exhilarating feeling my sisters and I felt not too long ago. I pointed out the White House and the Washington Monument and the Empire State Building and as they became distracted during my explanation of each building’s significance, I remembered my dad attempting to explain the very same ideas to me at a young age while I pondered why the squirrels and pigeons were so very fat. I again saw the world through a child’s eyes and remembered being in their shoes a short time ago. I saw the world through a parent’s eyes and realized the array of emotions my mother and father must have felt on our own vacations. And like my family did on those journeys, my new family and I claimed our own moments. All along the way, we saw, discovered and experienced
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ON THE ROAD AGAIN
new things for the first time, together. Except this time, it was an art hostel and a mountain swimming hole. It was reading a long book aloud to them in the car and stopping at farm stands. It was couch-surfing (staying at homes of fellow travelers–often, welcoming strangers) and learning about sustainability at an off-grid homestead. It was writing in our travel journals together and watching home videos of their dad as a young boy. We made our road trip our own and felt closer to one another than ever before because of it. It is easy to become distracted with the errands, chores, and stresses of daily life; to get so lost in our own thoughts that we lose sight of the fact that ev-
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All along the way, we saw, discovered and experienced new things for the first time, together. ery experience involving another is not something that is happening to us, but instead, a shared moment to which we are simply contributing. Yet along the open road, clarity awaits. The sureties and stark familiarity of everyday life lay behind, and ahead, a hazy and intriguing unknown. Venturing into uncharted territory, whether near or far, requires eyes and mind wide open, receptive to sights and lessons to be learned. With a will to discover, an afternoon drive down a back road, a weekend jaunt to a nearby city or a family road trip can provide the perfect platform for memories to be created and lives to be forever changed. AM AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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SP E C I A L A D V E RT I S M E N T
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When surgery is a necessity, being able to reduce the pain and speed up the recovery is quite desirable. Minimally invasive surgery has accomplished this with great success. Laparoscopic surgery is minimally invasive surgery of the abdominal cavity. Many surgical procedures that previously required large 6-10 inch incisions or larger are being performed through several small 1/2-1 inch incisions. Post operative pain is significantly reduced and recovery is quicker.
unimagined heights. Many of the more complex gynecologic procedures can be performed laparoscopically and with even more precision than an open surgery. 3-D optics and instruments with amazing articulation allow the gynecologist to perform the most intricate and delicate procedures with less risk, blood loss, infections and complications, and with better success.
The surgeon is always in control of the robot device and the instruInstead of a ment goes through thousands 6-8 week recovery, of safety checks during each the majority of procedure.
Thirty years ago, laparoscopic surgery was limited women are back to in scope and was mainly most of their used as a diagnostic tool inInstead of a 6-8 week recovnormal activities stead of a therapeutic one. ery, the majority of women in 1-2 weeks. With advances in technology, are back to most of their norsurgeons were able to visualize mal activities in 1-2 weeks. the organs better and instruments allowed much more extensive treatment of Having performed thousands of laparoscopdiseases. ic surgeries and over 300 robotic surgeries, I can say with confidence that there is only a In the field of gynecology, no longer was rare patient who would not be a candidate large open incision required to treat endo- for minimally invasive surgery. metriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroid tumors or adhesions. Many hysterectomies could be Because of the availability of robotic surperformed laparoscopically as well as many gery, patients are coming to our practice fertility procedures. from other areas of the state as well as from out of state to have their surgery performed With the introduction of Robotics, laparo- with less pain and blood loss as well as a scopic surgery has now gone to previously quicker recovery.
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PATCH WORK OF THE SOUTH
Beach Cruiser Warriors A Biker Gang Enters The Danger Zone / by Michelle Lewis
Like a balloon that’s lost its helium, the heavy sun quietly descends to earth. So far I’m outrunning the mosquitoes. The bicycle bumps along over roots, rocks and stumps. Briars tug at my jeans, leaving shallow pinpricks in my flesh. Suddenly I come to an abrupt stop. A tree branch has lodged itself in my spokes.
Outside, there are no barriers. There’s no roof to hide the starlight. No walls to silence the cicada’s song. No plastic wrap covering the blackberry harvest. Out here, the joy is utterly accessible. And it’s given with abandon.
I take the hint.
The beach cruiser calls my family to adventure. We hop on our bikes and soon we are carving trails through places that even sunlight dare not tread. We slosh through mire. We get tangled in brambles. We race around trees and disappear into the abyss of dark woods.
Bailing off the side, I begin to search around for a seat. A fallen tree becomes my couch. I’m sitting in God’s living room and right now He’s the only one who knows I’m here. I slap at a yellowfly then check out my scratches and scrapes. They sting, but they won’t kill me. Outdoors, we are vulnerable to the elements. To the intrusion of creatures we prefer to avoid. To poison ivy. But we are also more sensitive to the blessings.
No charge.
We crash. We wreck. We fall. And we get scars. But for every battle wound, we have a story to tell. Each bruise is evidence of a life lived dangerously. Ask my son to show you his back. He will tell you about the puddle that was deeper than we thought. He will tell you how we landed in a heap, me and my bike right on top of him. He will tell you how he cried. How much it hurt. The way his sister laughed at us. He will tell you that my handlebars left a swollen black mark that lasted for days. Then he will smile. “That was fun,” he’ll say.
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PATCH WORK OF THE SOUTH
With the advent of cell phones, HDTV, and GPS, we’ve certainly made life a little safer. A little more comfortable. A little more predictable. But what have we forgotten along the way? What have we traded? Do we remember what it is to be lost? To sweat? To catch tadpoles with our bare hands? Do we remember the thrill of nearly falling out of a tree? Or the laughter that follows a slip in the mud? Have we forgotten to let our children build campfires and scale fish? To go barefoot? To explore?
Have we forgotten to let our children build campfires and scale fish?
Do we risk spiders, sunburns, bee stings and sand in our eyes? Being caught in the rain? The fear of happening upon a snake and the relief that follows when it runs away? Do we even recognize the smell of damp earth?
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We can’t allow ourselves to become domesticated, meeting nature only on our terms. What do we gain if we look for a watered down version? Are we gonna run inside at the first hint of a storm cloud? I refuse to be content with paved paths and maps—both physically and metaphorically. And I’ll be damned if I live my adventures through television shows. My bicycle drew me and my children into uncharted territory. Into jungles untamed. We grew bold. We grew courageous. And our little family became warriors.
Bicycle thieves don’t behave very kindly. I woke one morning and she was gone. My pretty blue girl left our lives just as suddenly as she arrived. But I will never forget the lessons she taught us. The world is a wild and dangerous place. But perhaps our recliner is the most dangerous place of all.
Wherever art appears, life disappears. - Robert Motherwell
What art offers is space, a certain breathing room for the spirit. - John Updike The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. - Pablo Picasso
The principles of true art is not to portray, but to evoke. - Jerzy Kosinski
The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection . - Michelangelo
This world is but a canvas to our imagination . - Henry David Thoreau
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING Sculpture in the South is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sculpture through education and the creation of a permanent sculpture collection . www.sculptureinthesouth.com
Sculpture in the South P.O. Box 1030 Summerville, South Carolina 29484-1030
THE LITERARY NOTE
The Title Holds a Book Together by Julia Koets
Webster’s dictionary defines the verb hold as: to bear or carry oneself; to have as a privilege or responsibility; to bear the pressure of; to keep from falling; to enclose; to have strong appeal to; to prevent from leaving; to have in the mind; to think of in a particular way; to assemble for and carry on the activity of; to cover (a part of the body) especially for protection; to remain fastened to something.
Several people have asked me about the title of my new book of poetry Hold Like Owls—what does it mean? What do you mean by hold? In one of the poems in the collection, I write about how a bird’s small mouth can carry or hold a truth that is hard to explain: “It carries this in its tiny beak, where a thousand things can be true at once.” Like the tiny beak of a bird, a short word, such as hold, can unexpectedly mean several things at once.
And if you add a word to hold, like sway or tongue, another meaning emerges. As a noun, hold expands further to mean: a sudden motionless posture at the end of a dance; full comprehension; a state or period of indefinite suspension; the time between the onset and release of a vocal articulation; the interior of a ship below deck; a touch.
Over a year before Hold Like Owls was published, my mom was one of those people who asked me about the title when I sent her my revised manuscript. Over the phone she said something like: “But are you sure of the title? What does it mean exactly?" But then she called me back. As a collector of words herself, she said that she decided to trace the word hold throughout the
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THE Y R LITERTAE NO manuscript to see if she could understand where I was coming from with the title. I had not been fully aware of the ways in which the word hold found itself in so many of the poems. “…no cuts or glue to hold to evening…” “…curve of your clavicle, hold of your hip…” “…with your hands, their sleepy hold…” “…opening its mouth, dawn holds us for an hour …” “…where the roots of what’s fallen still hold on...” “…I question this present, this holding on …” “…holding what we have of day …” “…let itself come from that holding place …” “…I have learned to hold on from her…” “…one of a mother, pink-nosed and holding her young…” “…not everyone holds their dreams, but my brother …” “…Why do you think the river holds so many stones…” “…what makes us love what we cannot hold …” “…slowly what to hold, and what not to let slip …” “…they say it was her thigh where I lost my hold …” “…distanced as sun from the grey of winter’s hold …” “…possible to hold a single reed of grass …” “…the way your palm holds your cheek …” I reread the lines and realized how many people, images and themes, all central to the book, are tied to the word. Throughout, hold is used in different forms—as verb, as noun, as phrase, which all encompass various definitions of the word. In “Octave,” the poem describes how my mom taught me to hold on to things. The walls in the house where I grew up in Summerville are held together with family mementos and photographs. In “Possums,” there is my grandmother for whom I was named, teaching me how to love the unlikely pink-nosed possum that holds her young on her back. In “Blue House on Wheat Street,” the blue and cracking plaster walls in an old house in the South slowly show us what to hold, and what not to let slip through its rattling paned windows. In “Fallen,” the poem asks what makes us love what we cannot hold. Hold becomes a theme itself in the book. But what about owls? What do owls hold? When a friend first heard the title, she said cautiously, “Hold For Al. Who’s Al?” Another person said, “Oh, a nature book?” When I wrote the line for what would become the titular poem in the book, I was looking for an interesting image to describe the way someone’s eyes can have a hold over you. How a lover’s stare can literally hold you where you’re standing. When I think of owls, I am reminded of seeing one at night high in a tree on my college campus in Clinton, South Carolina. I just stood there when I saw it. I’d never seen one so close before, and the surprise of the bird’s unblinking gaze held me there.
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The image of the owl, and of winged things in general, becomes more than that throughout the collection. In her forward to my book, Nikky Finney describes the owl as this “ancient holy bird of the world, this great symbol of knowledge and of warning.” She goes on to say, “The poet jumps us to moths and paper birds, but do not worry, there is still connection and wonder, and the mother image will return to make us turn our heads, all the way around in a revolution of mindfulness, without consideration of rules and limitations, that usually come along with necks.” The owl is a bird of the night, a bird of wide eyes, a bird capable of turning its head almost completely around, a bird of quiet flight. All that being said, when I picked the title for the book, I did so based on sound and instinct, not fully realizing the multitude of ways in which hold and owls find their way into many of the poems. In an interview with poet Li-Young Lee a few years ago, I asked him about the significance of the title for his latest book Behind My Eyes. He laughed a little and said, “It sounded good.” I understand his laughter—poets are always supposed to have deep reasons for the decisions they make. But sometimes, the words just sound right—and that’s all you have to know. AM
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• Football fever brings thousands out to root for the Green Wave, Patriots, Swamp Foxes, and Panthers. • The Farmers’ Market is a popular gathering spot for local produce, baked goods and jellies and jams on Saturday mornings. Located in the parking lot of First Citizens Bank behind Town Hall. • The Summerville Jr. Service League's Annual Harvest Festival and Ghost Walk will be held Oct. 27. Come and enjoy the Scarecrows in the Square Oct. 20 through Nov. 3 in Hutchinson Square. • Fall is the perfect time to enjoy Third Thursday in Downtown Summerville. Come and join this monthly celebration with outdoor entertainment, special offers from local restaurants and businesses, arts and crafts and fun for the whole family. Remaining dates for 2012 are September 20, October 18, November 15 & December 20.
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SOCIAL GRACES
A Guide to Toasting: A Guide to Toasting: Tips for Raising Your Glass / by Elizabeth Donehue
Toasting to love, friendship, health, wealth and happiness has been practiced by nearly every culture from the beginning of recorded history. The longstanding custom of the dinner table toast dates back earlier than the 17th century—it was considered both good manners and a way of enlightening the evening. To this day, a well-made toast can make the simplest of moments special. This gracious gesture can be delivered by anyone. All it takes is a little forethought, practice and a familiarity with basic toast protocol. While there are no hard-fast rules to toasting, what follows are guidelines to get you started:
the dinner table toast dates back earlier than the 17th century
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SOCIAELS GRAC
• Toasting should begin when first drinks are served at the beginning of a meal. Traditionally, the first toast is offered by the host as a welcome to guests. It has become common practice at formal occasions for toasts offered by others to start at the dessert course over champagne. • While traditionally, the host or hostess should be the first to offer a toast, especially in a formal setting, the more informal the occasion the less this tenet applies. If it appears that the host has no intention of offering a toast, ask his or her permission to do so yourself. Around a dinner table with friends, a guest can offer the first toast as a way of thanking the host for bringing everyone together. • Always stand when offering a toast unless it is a small informal occasion. Standing can help you to get the group’s attention. It is best not to signal for quiet by tapping on a glass. Instead, simply stand tall and begin. People will take notice. If absolutely necessary, say in a loud projecting voice, "May I have your attention please?" Repeat as needed.
Never stand or drink to a toast when it is being offered to you.
• Never stand or drink to a toast when it is being offered to you. Do give the speaker your full attention, make eye contact and give thanks when the toast is complete. This is the most gracious way to receive the compliment. • If there is a large group of people toasting an honoree, the clinking of glasses is not performed. Instead, while holding your glass by the stem, simply raise it to shoulder
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height in front of you, gently gesture toward the honoree and take a sip. If it is a small group of people and you are clinking glasses, you should always look the person in the eyes when doing so. • Never refuse to participate in a toast. It is more acceptable to participate with a nonalcoholic beverage or an empty glass than not at all. And remember…The beverage being used or the clink of the glass is not as important as the bestowing of honor. The power of acknowledgment contained in a raised glass can be portrayed most eloquently by the words of Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” So, join me now in raising a glass to wellexecuted toasts!
BE PREPARED A toast is a miniature speech. Craft your lines; know what you plan to say before speaking. BE YOURSELF BE BRIEF, STAY SIMPLE Keep your toast short and to the point. MAKE USE OF ELOQUENCE AND WHIT EXIT Know when to stop and take your seat. End on a positive note. Clearly define the end by saying "Cheers” and asking your audience to raise their glasses. AM
Elizabeth Donehue is a fundraiser, event planner, and etiquette hard-liner. Her childhood spent in Summerville, she has a great love for the “Flowertown in the Pines.” elizabethdonehue@gmail.com
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Try these cornbread recipes for a twist on the classic Southern staple
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Cheesy Jalapeno Cornbread
Breakfast Bacon Cornbread
Building Financial Foundations
Life/Health Insurance Financial Planning Wealth Management Mention Azalea Magazine for a FREE Financial Review 843-376-3350 BREAKFAST BACON CORNBREAD
Ingredients 1/2 lb bacon 1 cup all purpose flour 1 cup corn meal 1 3/4 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 1/4 cup milk 1/3 cup honey 1 egg 1/2 cup frozen yellow corn 5 tbsp bacon drippings maple syrup
Method Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook bacon in a cast iron skillet and crumble and set aside. Pour bacon drippings into a bowl to use later. Keep skillet coated with bacon grease. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt and frozen corn. In another mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, honey and egg. Add 5 tablespoons of the bacon drippings, whisk together. Combine both bowls into one and mix. Pour into the skillet and top with cooked bacon pieces. Bake for 30 minutes until you can cleanly stick with a toothpick. Drizzle with maple syrup.
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CHEESY JALAPENO CORNBREAD
Ingredients 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 4 ounces cheddar cheese 2 large eggs 1 cup fat-free milk 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup sweet corn kernels, from can, drained 2-4 tbsp minced pickled Jalapeno peppers 16 whole pickled jalapeno pepper slices
Method Preheat oven to 400 degrees, and grease an 8-inch square baking pan. In a medium bowl, mix first five ingredients, and half the cheese. In a separate medium bowl, beat the eggs, and then add the milk, vegetable oil, corn kernels, and minced Jalapeno peppers, and mix well. Add the egg mixture to the cornmeal mixture, and fold together until blended. Pour the batter into the greased pan, and top with the 16 whole Jalapeno peppers, distributing them evenly (in an 8-inch pan, that would be a pattern of 4 x 4), then sprinkle the remaining half of the cheddar cheese over the Jalapenos. Bake the cornbread for 20-24 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cheese on top is golden brown.
Forbes Magazine
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LIFE & FAITH
Affair-Proof Your Marriage Six Principles for a Happy, Healthy Marriage
/ by Will Browning
My job often gives me an unflattering perspective on the state of marriages today. As a pastor, I am confronted with the unadulterated truth that many marriages are in trouble. From the outside looking in, many give the impression of stability and happiness, yet upon closer inspection it is painfully obvious there are huge problems. ILLUS TRAT ION BY WIL L RI Z Z O 50
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I recently did a little research concerning the most popular television shows in America. I discovered the AMC show, Mad Men is one of the most critically acclaimed shows in American television history. To find out why, I added season one to my Netflix queue. This show won the primetime Emmy for best drama for five years straight, and I found that it really only has one theme– everyone has problems and the solution to these is to have a passionate affair. Many men and women are buying into the message of Mad Men. The latest statistics say that 57% of American men and 54% of American women will commit adultery. As a pastor, I often have the unsettling task of helping real families deal with the repercussions of unfaithfulness. Adultery creates a tragic, disheartening mess. No one goes into their wedding day thinking that this is in their future, but without careful attention it could easily be in your future. Counseling gives me unique insight as to where many relationships go wrong. Let me share with you six principles that will help you to affair-proof your marriage.
Date each other like you did before you were married The primary reason women cheat is a lack of emotional connection with their spouse. The emotional connection that was formed when you began the relationship needs to be fostered throughout the marriage. Scheduling a weekly date night is one of the best protective hedges a couple can implement to protect their marriage. New rule: No t-shirts and no ponytails. Commit to making each date like it is your first date. Go big! (1 Corinthians 13:8)
Commit to meeting each other’s intimacy expectations The primary reason men cheat is lack of intimacy. Couples should commit to open conversation about their expectations. The
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LIFE & FAITH
most productive conversations will be around frequency and fantasy. Husbands are being bombarded by a culture inundated with perversion. If you do not see this as a threat to your marriage, you are naive. New rule: Do whatever it takes to be your spouse’s one desire. (1 Corinthians 7:5)
Remove x-rated material I have found a direct correlation between men who commit adultery and pornographic use. A spouse who is looking at pornography is drinking poison. Pornography’s cancer-like effects are gradual but definite. I personally believe porn is the single greatest cause for marital problems in America. New rule: Rid your life of pornography. (Matthew 5:27-30)
Commit to never be alone with someone of the opposite sex This principle is one sure way to avoid adultery. The famous evangelist Billy Graham, who spent long periods away from his family, popularized this principle. You may be thinking, “There is no way I could implement this principle. Job expectations alone would make this impossible.” As a pastor whose congregation is more than 60% ladies, it is likely harder for me than you. My marriage is worth it and so is yours! New rule: Never be alone with someone of the opposite sex. (Proverbs 5:1-23)
Challenge for men: Be romantic At the core of every woman’s heart is a desire to be cherished. While every
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woman’s definition of “romantic” is different, to make his marriage affairproof, a husband must work to solve this mystery. It is likely you cracked this code when the relationship began, and it is why she fell in love with you initially. Now it is time to rekindle those flames with some romance. Do not let this be intimidating. There are three secrets to success: #1. Listen carefully. She will tell you what she wants if you listen. #2. Put forward effort. She will see your effort more than the outcome. #3. Think ahead. If you throw everything together at the end, it will show. (Song of Solomon 4:1-16)
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At the core of every man’s heart is a deep desire to be honored and respected. I have found in some counseling sessions that women are often surprised that the woman who seduced their spouse was not necessarily a smoldering temptress. Many times the husband’s affair is centered on discovering someone who makes him feel good about himself. Wives, think of your words of affirmation as a wall you are building around your husband’s heart. New rule: Give your husband one affirming remark each day. (Ephesians 5:33) AM
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Will Browning is the Teaching Pastor at a new modern church in Summerville, The Journey Church. He is the father of three kids and married to his college sweetheart, Tarah. Will is an avid sports fan, a voracious reader and a coach for young leaders. journeychurchsc.com willsjourney@gmail.com
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PLANTER An empty helium tank now serves as a unique and sturdy place for flowers to bloom. Marigolds, $38
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COFFEE TABLE Originally used to move furniture through factories, each restored Lineberry cart is a one-of-a-kind piece of sustainable furniture. vintagesouth.biz, $600-$1,200
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Written by
KATIE DEPOPPE Photos by DOTTIE RIZZO
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“This is gonna sound hokey,” warns Kristy Olson Cuthbert, “but I feel very safe in the woods. I’ve done a lot of healing there. I learned at a young age to feel safe 30 feet in the air.” Kristy is pretty and blonde with flawless make-up, sheer-glossed lips and a string of pearls—an image more conducive to a beauty queen than a woman who hunts wild game. But the walking contradiction that she is— that all of them are (or seem to be) and the bond they share in being so alike yet so different from the rest of the world—is what makes their story fascinating. “All of them” are the cast of director Maria White’s film, The Debutante Hunters—a film selected from a pool of 7,000 entries into the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and winner of Sundance’s “audience award.” A labor of love by those involved in even minor facets, the poignant and meticulously edited movie is the result of eleven hours of footage condensed to eleven minutes, filmed over the course of four days in fall 2010 throughout the Lowcountry. White and the film’s crew followed Cuthbert and friends Kacey Bates Patrick, Beverly Mebane Helms, Sara Frampton and Susan Roberts Frampton as they hunted wild turkey, deer and boar, and asked them to share what their life-long traditions of hunting meant to them. The idea came to White out of preconceived notions. “Because,” she
says, “we think we understand a world and make judgments about it when we really have no idea.” Whether it’s a narrative piece or a documentary, “if you can tell a story and introduce a viewer to a new world and challenge stereotypes,” then you’ve succeeded in creating something special. People seem to have an idea that those who hunt are out to kill any living thing in sight; that they are disconnected from the world in some way. Rather, the film takes a glimpse Opposite: White on set into the emotion, ritual and sacredness of This page: Maria White, the activity and the connection it has to each Kristy Olson Cuthbert woman’s family. “It’s how I bond with my family,” adds Sara, “My dad taught me the skill of hunting, but everything I learned about being a woman I learned from my mom. You don’t have to check just one box.” Maria adds, “This movie is about a lot of things, but it’s mostly a story about relationships.” It began when Cuthbert, White’s best friend since high school, gave her wild game as a Christmas gift. White, who moved to Los Angeles eleven years ago, hadn’t thought much about hunting since leaving the South. “I remember thinking that was the closest I’d been to AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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something that someone hunted and killed, and it got me to thinking,” she says. “It was so spiritual for [Kristy]…She had a passion for it, and I wanted to find out why she kept going to the woods.” White’s fascination with film is rooted in her childhood. Her late mother played classic films for her and her sisters, which, in turn, inspired the girls to produce home-spun productions of their own. She inherited her creative genes honestly. “We were always around creative people,” she adds. Her mother, a painter and costume designer, and father, a This page: Sara Frampton, Susan Frampton Opposite: painter and graphic designer, cultivated her Cast and crew, prepping for love of art merely by living out their passions. an interview Following in those creative footsteps, as a young adult Maria went on to study art at Winthrop University, to work on the sets of local films (The Patriot is where she met her husband, filmmaker Matthew Mebane) and to later take a job at the Eva Carter Gallery downtown. “That time was really influential for me—being around so many Charleston artists,” she says, “writers, filmmakers, playwrights were everywhere. At 23 years old, I felt encouraged seeing people actually walk the walk.” But she didn’t know she wanted to harness that experience into being a filmmaker until she and Matthew volunteered for the Sundance 68
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Film Festival in 2001. As a volunteer, if there’s space, you have access to as many films as you can watch. “That’s when I knew I wanted to be a part of this world; it was a definite turning point,” she says. “I came back to the gallery and told Eva, ‘I think we’re moving to LA.’” And they did just that. After moving, “we did every job imaginable,” says White, including working on the sets of several movies before making their first, Tackle Box (2004), based on a poem written by Maria’s aunt, Patti White, and Locker 13: Down and Out (2009), a second collaboration starring Ricky Schroder. Through these projects, the couple made lasting connections with film professionals that proved valuable in the making of The Debutante Hunters. In the spring of 2010, just as turkey season opened, Maria began research for the film, shooting footage on a borrowed camera. She visited Kristy and the two set out at 5 am one morning, covered in camouflage. “You can’t make a peep,” said Kristy as she planted Maria under an oak tree. “The only things not covered in camo were my eyes,” laughs Maria. “And it was just incredible,” she adds, “to all of a sudden hear the woods wake up.” That first trip prompted talks with other debutante hunters. “She literally was a debutante,” says Maria of Kristy. “And Beverly is Matthew’s cousin, and she’s been hunting her whole life too.
Knowing these women led to meeting another fascinating hunter then another," she adds. Everything was slowly coming together. "Then I got pregnant," says White. "In a documentary, you follow people for a long time, so in August 2010, I suddenly had a deadline." "It really was a fate thing," she continues. The South Carolina Film Commission was accepting applications for its first indie grants program in affiliation with the Division of Film, Media and Visual Arts at Trident Technical College. She quickly got commitments from her editor, cinematographer, sound design and re-recording mixer, composer and producing team and applied. "And we got the grant," she says.
birth of her son, she applied to Sundance. The night before Thanksgiving she got the call. Maria says, "I was in such shock we were accepted, I called back the next day to make sure. In some ways, Sundance was like our film school. It was a huge honor." Now Hunters is making its rounds on the national and international festival circuits, including showings in Romania, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Sonoma, Palm Springs, the sidewalk festival in Birmingham and the Los Angeles Shorts International.White is also currently working to Opposite: Setting up a shot, having a little fun This page: develop the short into a television series. Kacey Bates Patrick, Beverly Mebane Helms
Because they still were short funds, Maria posted the project to kickstarter.com, and thanks to the support of dozens of Summervillians, raised $5,000 in 30 days. "The support from friends in Summerville was so amazing," she says. "It showed me we really have the power to help each other achieve our dreams."
Looking back on the overwhelming positive reception of the film, she says, "I'm just incredibly thankful. I was so emotional when I accepted the award at Sundance. I only remember walking up there, trying to stay focused. For me, it was where it all began. It all came full circle in that moment." But she doesn't take full credit for the success of the film: "I would still be some girl with ideas if it wasn't for all these people who helped me and believed in this project."AM
On March 28, 2011, the short was turned into the Film Commission, exactly one month from Maria's due date. That summer, after the
*A special thank you to Meredith Jones (Edward Meredith III), set photographer, philosopher and friend, who contributed to this article. AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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How a hometown ballerina’s story goes far beyond the parameters of a stage
by
KATIE DEPOPPE
photographs by PETER MUELLER & MAXIMILLIAN TORTORIELLO
photo by Peter Mueller
G
race Reeves’s story is not one that’s just about achieving a goal. Yes, becoming a professional ballet dancer is an obscure career path. Yes, it was her childhood dream. Yes, it was risky (still is) and full of overwhelming disappointments and triumphs. But, the most important part of Grace’s story is her innate ability to persevere—and there’s a lesson for everyone in that—even if you don’t know what a pirouette is. She was seven and athletic and all of her friends were boys. “Yeah, I didn’t really even like to brush my hair,” she jokes. Until she met Emily. Emily was seven too, and she was going to be taking ballet lessons from a “real” ballerina. Grace wanted to take lessons too. (Ballet lessons also meant Emily’s mom, who “could do hair really well” would fix Grace’s hair and take her to 99 cent burger night at Burger King afterward— a sweet deal for an impressionable little girl with gumption.) That real ballerina is Terry-Ellen Shields, wife of the late David Shields (Principal, The Royal Ballet), who trained under Anthony Nelle of the American Ballet Theatre and the Ballet Russe in New York City. She danced primarily in Boston, New York and St. Louis until she opened the Classical Ballet Centre (formerly the SC Children’s Ballet Theatre) in Summerville in 1983. “I made her commit to a year with Terry-Ellen,” says Grace’s mother, Jan. “Our family is musical, so we thought the music coupled with the athleticism of ballet might capture her attention.” Did it ever. From the beginning, those same values Mrs. Shields sought to foster—self-discipline, personal excellence, responsibility, commitment, perseverance and grace—were present in Grace. By
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age nine, the young dancer was attending daily classes by her own urging. “I made up my mind. I was really focused. I was going to be a ballet dancer,” she says. At 11, it was obvious to Mrs. Shields that Grace was one of several extraordinary students in an overwhelmingly talented class of young people. Then suddenly at age 12, Grace’s musicality, her ability “to not just dance to the music but to be inside of the music when she danced,” became undeniable. Mrs. Shields explains, “Most kids dance because they enjoy it, but with Grace, it was something she had to do in order to be happy. When she danced, you could see her soul lighting up the stage.” All that was inside and a part of Grace was suddenly visible on the outside. “It was her integrity and warm, loving heart that made her sensitive to the music and that radiated across the stage.” Others took notice of Grace’s unique ability too. The summers following eighth and ninth grades, she was accepted to the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), an institution open internationally to students of the fine arts. Then, along with her mother and younger brother, James, she moved to attend the school full-time as a sophomore in high school. Her father remained in Summerville to cultivate his law practice, and the family took turns traveling between North Carolina and South Carolina on weekends and holidays. Because the UNCSA is part of the University of North Carolina as a high school curriculum program, Grace was suddenly in the company of renowned teachers and a plethora of extremely talented dancers from around the world. “Tenth grade was hard,” she admits. “I played catch-up
photo by Peter Mueller
“...kids dance because they enjoy it, but with Grace, it was something she had to do in order to be happy."
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for a while, but you have to be around good dancers to get better!” Through eleventh and twelfth grades, she matured as a dancer, making the decision to enter Indiana University the following fall to major in ballet and history.
"A soul makes a dancer.You don’t make a lot of money, so you have to love it to do it. "
Elaborating on her decision to enter a university, Grace says, “The ballet world is very small, and I had remembered hearing some statistic that people who graduated Indiana got into companies. Plus, there were all these famous names to work with.” Famous names indeed. Cynthia Gregory, one of the most famous dancers to ever dance Black Swan, was brought in as a coach. After graduating Indiana in three years, Grace earned a spot in the Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company. This year she will enter her third year, labeled a “new dancer.” “You always work off a year contract,” explains Grace, “and if you make the ‘core’— the next level—things begin to feel a bit more secure. As a ‘CB2,’ my status the first year in the company, my parents supported me. They had to look at it as my fourth year of college,” she adds.
photo by Peter Mueller
But it seems every ballet dancer’s dream is to one day be a principal— the ones who dance the lead in every ballet performed. Of course that’s a possibility for Grace, but she doesn’t approach her life’s plan in such linear terms. “Mrs. Shields used to tell us her husband, a principal himself, could look into a dancer’s eyes and see who was who. A soul makes a dancer. You don’t make a lot of money, so you have to love it to do it. When you have a passion for something, you want to cultivate that,” says Grace. So what’s next for a 23-year-old woman who once walked out of a New York City audition after being told she’d never make it? “You have to remember, you have something to give too,” she says, cracking a smile. That sounds like a lesson for all of us. And one appropriately spoken from a girl named Grace. AM AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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DWELLING PLACE Lovely and welcoming, the Banks home is southern in all the best ways by Jana Riley photos by Dottie Rizzo
P
artially obscured by a line of trees, the warm dwelling on Sumter Avenue greets passersby with the familiar welcome of a genteel southern home. Its cotton white exterior sports a plethora of light-beckoning windows framed by dark shutters. The smooth cement steps rise to a traditional southern porch–complete with rocking chairs and a bench swing. At the door is Ms. Banks, a lovely woman with shining blue eyes and a familial poise. "Come on in," she says warmly. "Ronnie's out playing golf, though I'm sure he would have loved to have met with y'all." Ronnie is Ron Banks, her husband and an executive vice president at Banks Construction Company. Three generations of Banks family members have contributed to the building of Summerville and beyond. Though much of the original home and its elements are still intact, the Banks family did make some renovations upon purchasing it a few decades ago. Ms. Banks embodies the spirit of herself as a 80
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PATTERN PERFECT This Page: the living room side of a double fireplace, the master Opposite Page: The formal dining room
young newlywed when she describes the minor changes the family made to the home. In an effort to expose the true structure of the house, the couple chose to remove parts of the building that were added by former tenants, encumbering its neoclassical architectural style. Hands on her knees, she leans forward with excitement as she remembers how she felt when she saw the home in its original form. “The house was beautiful,” she says enthusiastically. Her sentiment still holds true today. The “Disher House,” named for its original owner, has aged gracefully. The entryway of the home seems to effortlessly envelop visitors in an embrace of comfort. Clean and uncluttered, the space is marked dramatically by a tall staircase, twenty steps high and framed by a softly worn bannister. Here and throughout the house, calming pastel hues are shared between the furniture, artwork, rugs and linens, lending a light and breezy atmosphere to each room. Straight ahead, the garden shines, sunlight glinting off the centered
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OUTSIDE INFLUENCE This Page: the backyard pond and garden Opposite Page: a lesson in neutrals
square pond. Softness abounds in the textures and silhouettes of weeping yaupon, spanish moss and ferns, contrasting well with slate sidewalks and a brick gazebo. The back porch, nearly as wide as the one flanking the front side of the home, seems perfect for lounging and listening to the dramatic summer orchestra of frogs and cicadas. Back inside, the decor reflects the Banks’ classic style. The tall doorways of the home could seem imposing, but the floral, wood and patterned elements of the space afford an opposite effect. Dotting the interior landscape are beautiful pieces picked up from trips to distant lands–handmade rugs, oriental tables, figurines; all sharing stories of the home’s current occupants and their travels. From room to room, the story unfolds. The memories made under its roof are plentiful and span centuries, and the home whispers its stories gently. With each step, the experiences had over 130 years are more easily envisioned; children playing, brides preparing, holidays and birthdays and independence day parties. Flowers left on the doorstep and family dinners, firefly catching and hide-andseek and red rover. Mothers teaching daughters and fathers teaching sons, report cards and engagement rings. The Banks inhabit a space that is far-flung from the traditional definitions of a house. It is, simply and elegantly, a home. On this day and those to come, the home remains a true southern lady and an effortless storyteller. AM
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CURB APPEAL A view from the street
A B C DE FG H I J K L M NOP QR S TU VW YZ HAUNTED SUMMERVILLE II
TALES OF MYSTERYS & THE UNEXPLAINED
Stories Compiled by Katie DePoppe
THE QUATTLEBAUM HOUSE
Margaret Collins got out of bed to get a drink of water. As she headed down the hallway back to her bedroom, she was overcome with the sudden feeling she was not alone. She picked up her pace, nearly running as she jumped into the high-set rice bed where her husband lay sleeping. Don’t look up. It’s nothing. She cracked her eyelids, feeling for her blanket. What happened in the next few seconds changed her mind about many things— namely her belief in the spiritual realm. *** The sprawling 1876 Victorian known as the Quattlebaum House rests on a corner of South Main Street in Summerville. Named for the first owners and home to several prominent families thereafter, Bill and Margaret Collins moved in with their family in 1972. For five happy years, the Collins family lived and worked within the dark walls built a century before. It was not until the winter of 1977 when a mysterious man began to visit the women of the house as they slept. It began when Melissa, the couple’s ten-year-old daughter, frantically called to her mother in the middle of the night. “Mommy, there’s a man in my room,” said the child between desperate gasps. With her daughter visibly scared, Margaret set to checking every nook and cranny. The closet. Under the bed. “I asked her, ‘what did you see?’” said Margaret. She told me he was standing at the foot of her bed with his hand outstretched. When she screamed, he vanished into the floor. Not long after, while home alone with her son, Margaret came from the bathroom to find the family dog barking and clawing at something under her bed. The dog was so upset, she ran from the bedroom, convinced the German Shepherd had cornered an intruder. She called Bill at work but was told by a co-worker that he had already left. The co-worker stayed on the phone with her until she saw her husband’s headlights shine through the windows of the house. In that instant, she heard footsteps
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trail down the hallway. The door to the den opened and closed. In spite of an exhaustive search, there was no intruder to be found. *** As Margaret opened her eyes—a man, his white fingers outstretched, rushed toward her. His fingers spread wide as if attempting to speak through their desperate movements over her body. She screamed, and in a split second, his body was lowered into the floor. She never saw his face. “I thought he had gone under the bed,” said Margaret. After a long night of searching the house for a possible intruder and questioning her sanity, Margaret told the story to her elderly mother at breakfast the next morning. “Oh Margaret, I’ve seen him twice,” she said, “but I was afraid if I said anything you two would have me committed.” “The first time mother saw him was during the day,” said Margaret. She was sleeping and her hands were so cold, she woke up. He was standing over her, his hands in a praying position in her own outstretched hand. When she gasped, he fell into the floor. A few nights later, as the street light glowed dimly through her window from the street, the same piercing cold fell across her stomach. As she opened her eyes, he stood with his hand outstretched, his fingers spread wide as if trying to speak. This time, she noticed the buttons on his uniform. Bill, a newspaperman, began to do a little digging. After a quick record search at the court house, he learned the home was the likely site of a Civil War camp called “Red Hill.” Judging from the uniform coat, “we assumed he was a Union soldier,” said Margaret. In 1983 the Collins prepared to move. As the termite inspector crawled beneath the house—positioned directly beneath where Bill and Margaret’s bed had stood—he found a pile of rocks and stones gathered to form a grave stone.
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THE CEMETERY Through the limbs of gnarled oaks and aged pines, fall winds billowed, scattering brown leaves across the asphalt of Boone Hill Road. When not hidden by looming storm clouds, the moon above was bright and clear and nearly big enough to light the sheriff deputy’s path without headlights. It was four in the morning on a night in October 2010. She and the driver of a small, red pick-up were the only two souls on this road which she had traveled thousands of times— past the service station and the ball field and the quaint, dark houses—toward the fork in the road which marks the edge of the expansive cemetery that sits in eerie, stagnant silence. As she made her way past the acres of sacred ground, she caught site of a man, dressed in white, standing on the side of the road. What came next happened within seconds. The deputy told dispatch she was making contact with a suspicious man on the side of the road. As she hung up her radio, the driver of the truck hit his brakes—hard. He skidded several yards and came to an abrupt and rather violent stop. The man in white had stepped directly in front of him. The driver threw his door open and leapt to the pavement. “I didn’t hit him!” he yelled, visibly shaken. “I didn’t hit anybody. I looked in his eyes…and he disappeared!” The deputy had seen it all. One moment the man in white was there—staunch and dangerously close to the road. The next, he took a step and vanished. They scoured the sides of the road, the ditches. Nothing. The driver, who had been on his way to work, was so understandably upset, he called in sick. The deputy finished her shift
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in a haze of stunned skepticism. Over the next few days, she shared her story with others who she knew had strange experiences—some of them in the same place—while on duty. Over the years, the cemetery seemed to be a magnet for vandals and the mentally unstable. It was patrolled often and carefully. And because of this, there was a plethora of stories. One man heard a child crying. One had witnessed strange lights. Another was so shaken he did not readily share, but rumors circled about his experience with a kneeling woman who vanished before his eyes. A state trooper with several stories of his own was willing to venture back to the cemetery with the deputy. “There had to be a reasonable explanation,” they had said. The dead of night fell onto another crisp evening, and the officers turned slowly onto one of the gravel roads. They parked side by side near the mausoleum and rolled the windows down to talk. Almost immediately a small, red light appeared in the distance. It resembled a laser. “Someone is trying to scare us,” they laughed. They continued to talk. And the light came closer. “That’s…that’s not a laser,” said the trooper. Suddenly, the light began to move—it flew back and forth, levitating as it rushed forward. The deputy scrambled to roll up her window. By now, it hovered within arm’s length. She pulled the gear shift into place only to look up and see the trooper turning frantically back onto Boone Hill, a cloud of dust following. She raced behind him. Neither has returned, day or night, to the cemetery since.
OLD HAG SYNDROME There are several versions of the “Boo Hag” legend throughout the world, but the most prominent is that of the South Carolina Gullah tradition, likely the originator of the tale. According to legend, the Boo Hag is a skinless creature, similar to a vampire, who maintains life by stealing a person’s breath and “riding” them as they sleep. She is believed to gain access to the home through a small crack, crevice or hole. Once positioned over a sleeping victim, the hag sucks their breath or “energy,” temporarily paralyzing the person’s body and voice. Most victims report strange dreams and exhaustion after the occurrence, but those few who attempt to fight her, suffer an excruciating fate—the loss of their skin. The Hag is said to wear the flesh of her victim as “clothes” in order to take on human form by day. Boo Hag accounts vary in detail, but most share the same eerily similar characteristics, namely sleep paralysis. One documented account began 20 years ago on the Smith family homestead just off Central Avenue. Marion Smith and his wife and children lived on long-time family land. The only thing living there longer than the Smiths (or so they thought) was a massive oak that stood behind the house. A large iron hook, fitting with the enormity of the tree, ran all the way through its trunk. “We always accepted the idea that the hook was used to chain slaves,” says Mr. Smith, “It had been there so long, the tree had grown around it.” Through the years, the hook was a testament to the land’s history and an interesting, yet solemn (and sometimes morbid), conversation piece at dinners, birthdays and get-togethers. But despite its oppressive history, nothing bizarre happened in the first 20 years the family lived on the property. It was only after the Smiths’ son, Matthew, shot a BB which ricocheted off the hook and cracked a back window, that everything changed. The haunting began simply enough—with the floor boards creaking as if someone was pacing through the house. Then shadows began to appear. One night, Mr. Smith, while home alone and in the shower, heard the creaking floor boards and
opened the shower curtain to see the figure of a person pacing back and forth outside the bathroom door. Alarmed and a bit confused by what was happening, he installed a motion detector in the hallway. Within weeks of its installation, his teenage daughter and a group of her friends were terrified when Mr. Smith asked the spirit to show itself. The motion detector went off almost immediately. But, the most alarming instances of paranormal activity in the home occurred when Mr. Smith was sleeping. Not long after the strange occurrences began, he awoke in the middle of the night. The only light in the house shone through the bathroom door. A shadow moved across the walls of his bedroom. “I thought it was a car,” he says, laughing in an uneasy tone. “But then it came toward me,” he adds. The shadow had no face or features, but it was clearly the silhouette of a woman. He could not move or scream. The air in the room was heavy, oppressive. It was if she was sitting on his chest. And then, she vanished as quickly as she’d appeared. Mrs. Smith never saw or heard a thing. Not long after, their son also experienced the same horrific event. Mr. Smith became engrossed in research, reading accounts of similar incidents. He concluded he and his family were victims of “old hag syndrome.” For him, this explained the supernatural events that had taken place. This conclusion also helped him determine the accidental vandalism to the hook and window had been the means by which the creature gained entry to their home. “We always had a feeling it was tied to the hook,” says Mr. Smith. Eventually, the great oak was cut down and the activity ceased as quickly as it had begun. “I’m a Christian,” says Mr. Smith. “I don’t know why this happened to us, but I always like to question things,” he adds. “But there was no denying what happened was not of this world.”
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MONTHLY EVENTS WALKING TOURS OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT Daily By Appointment The Summerville Dorchester Museum is offering two guided walking tours around Summerville: one of old planter Summerville and the other of the West End. Walkers will also learn about the railroad history of Summerville. Tours are available daily by appointment. Each tour covers about one mile and takes approximately one hour. Cost: $10 per adult/$5 child (ages 12 - 18; under 12 free) cash only. Call (843) 875-9666 for more information. SUMMERVILLE FARMER'S MARKET Saturdays through November 17, 8am to 1pm. FCB parking lot 218 S. Main St. Visitors have a wide array of products to choose from, including locally grown fruits and vegetables, specialty food items ranging from freshly roasted and ground coffee to stone ground grits and corn meal, as well as a wide variety of hand-made arts and crafts. Free parking in the town parking garage, entrance on Short Central Avenue. Contact Nick Kierpiec, (843) 851-5211, nkierpiec@ summervillesc.gov for more information
Pavilion. The weekend will wrap up with an 18 hole Golf Tournament with prizes going to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Winners, Closest to the PIn and Straightest Drive Winners. We are looking forward to exceeding last years total of $34,008.00, that we were able to give back to support our Local Community in need. Please contact Theresia Ware at (843) 821-4077 EXT 103 Visit our website at http://www.legendoaksgolf.com/ for more information. 9TH ANNUAL SPCA PAW-KER RUN Saturday, September 15, 10am Dorchester Shrine Club The 9th annual Frances R. Willis SPCA PawKer- Run is a 100 mile ride through the Lowcountry with 10 stops. Registration begins at 10:00 AM. Free custom tee shirt, goodie bags, and BBQ meal with $20.00 entry fee as well as a chance to win door prizes. Over 540 riders participated in last year's event to help support this worthy cause. Cash prizes are awarded for first, second, third and worst hands. Visit http://www.summervillespca.org for more information.
SEPTEMBER
4TH ANNUAL GOODWILL UNDY 500 Sunday, September 16 Starting at Low Country Harley Davidson The Undy 500 is a motorcycle charity ride that covers nearly 100 miles of the beautiful TriCounty area and supports our homeless and/ or struggling veterans. 100% of the proceeds goes towards events and programs designed to benefit local veterans! Visit www.GoodwillUndy500.org for more information.
LEGEND OAKS GIVES BACK Friday, September 7 - Sunday, September 9 Legend Oaks Golf & Tennis Club Legend Oaks Gives Back is our Fourth Annual Fundraising Event to benefit Meals on Wheels of Summerville and Palmetto House. The weekend will start with a NTRP Tennis Tournament on Friday. Saturday evening will be a night to enjoy with dinner, silent auction and live music under the fall sky at the
SEPTEMBER THIRD THURSDAY Thursday, September 20, 5-8pm Downtown Summerville Come join us for something new in Downtown Summerville at Third Thursday. The new Summerville Restaurant Association will be hosting their inaugural event –The Sweet Tea Festival. Buy your commemorative Sweet Tea cup for $5 and try out all the variations of sweet tea for free. Restaurants will also have bite size
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goodies to buy for $1-3 each. Of course there will be music all over town and the shops will be open late for shopping. For more information visti www.summervilledream.org. SUMMERVILLE ROTARY GOLF CLASSIC Thursday, September 20, 11:30 am (sign in), 12:30 pm (shotgun start) Coosaw Creek Country Club Captain's Choice Play. Limited to 30 teams Visit www.summerville.rotaryclubs.or for more information. HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR Thursday, September 20, 10am-3pm The Village of Summerville Anyone who is interested in learning about ways to improve your health & lifestyle is encouraged to attend. Contact Beth Stoney at (843) 879-0910 for more information. "THE 39 STEPS" Show Dates: 8PM Sept 20, 21 & 22 Sept 27, 28 & 29 2PM Sept 22 & 23 Sept 29 & 30 The James F. Dean Theatre The 39 Steps is a comedic twist on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1935 film with four actors playing over 150 characters. After agreeing to take a mysterious woman home from the theater, a man finds himself accused of murder and on the run. Contact Info: (843) 875-9251 www.flowertownplayers.org SUMMERVILLE DREAM‘S 20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Tuesday, September 25 The Icehouse Restaurant The membership of Summerville DREAM will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of its founding and the beginning of the Revitalization of Downtown Summerville. Come join in the celebration as the founders are celebrated for their vision and courage to embark on a journey that has given us our precious downtown. Reservations and tickets required. For
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more information contact: (843) 821-7260. www.summervilledream.org 19TH ANNUAL HARVEST FOR HABITAT Saturday, September 29, 6-10pm Summerville (Miler) Country Club Bring the family and enjoy both silent and live auctions, dinner from a variety of food vendors, kid-friendly activities, dancing and music by Wendell, televised Football on largescreen T.V.s, prizes, cash bar, and a brilliant fireworks display at 9pm! Tickets are $35 per person/$10 for children under 12. Tickets may be purchased through http://www.dorchesterhabitat.org/special, or in person at Dorchester Habitat for Humanity (101 Greyback Rd.) or People, Places, and Quilts (129 W. Richardson Ave). For inquiries regarding details sponsorship of this event, please contact Donna by phone 851-1414 or email donna@dorchesterhabitat.org
OCTOBER THE 8TH ANNUAL TROY KNIGHT MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Friday, October 5 Legend Oaks Golf Club Tournament proceeds benefit Children in Crisis. For more information visit www. dorchesterchildren.org 10th ANNUAL SCRUMPTIOUS SUMMERVILLE FIRE & ICE, SPONSOR’S GALA AND AUCTION Saturday, October 6, 7pm-11pm Bud & Peggy Knight’s Party Barn Proceeds benefit Children in Crisis. Visit www.dorchesterchildren.org for tickets and information. 10TH ANNUAL SCRUMPTIOUS SUMMERVILLE KITCHEN TOUR Sunday, October 7, 1:30pm-5:30pm
The Kitchen Tour is a unique delight for the senses as patrons tour grand homes in Summerville and sample gourmet treats prepared by premiere Lowcountry chefs. Local musicians are scheduled to perform in each home or garden and area florists will grace the interior décor with floral arrangements. This year ten homeowners from along West Carolina Avenue have graciously agreed to be a part of the tour making it one of our more spectacular routes. Proceeds benefit Children In Crisis. Visit www.dorchesterchildren.org for more information. SECOND ANNUAL FORE PAWS CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT Sunday, October 7, noon shotgun start Summerville Country Club (Miler) All golfters are invited to participate in the tournament to benefit the homeless shelter animals of the Frances R Willis Shelter. There will be a $5000 putting contest, skill prizes, door prizes, and a BBQ dinner. For more information call (843) 814-2911. PINEWOOD PREP GOLF CLASSIC TOURNAMENT Friday, October 12 Legend Oaks Plantation Golf Club 118 Legend Oaks Way, Summerville Pinewood's annual golf tournament brings together the area’s top golfers in support of one of the top independent schools in the state. This captain's choice tournament includes breakfast and lunch, as well as snacks and beverages on the course. Registration is $400/foursome, $100/individual, and includes 18 holes of golf, cart, goody bag, an auction and great prizes! Space is limited for this popular tournament. For details, visit www.pinewoodprep.com or call 843-376-1042 ext. 2003. OCTOBER THIRD THURSDAY Thursday, October 18, 5-8pm Downtown Summerville Celebrate the cooler weather and the fall season in Historic Downtown Summerville as
we welcome ensembles from the Summerville Community Orchestra coming to give us a preview of their upcoming fall concert. We will also have the last Art Walk of the year and music on Short Central. For more information visit www.summervilledream.org. 19TH ANNUAL SUSAN G. KOMEN LOWCOUNTRY RACE FOR THE CURE (5K RUN/WALK AND FUN RUN/WALK) October 20 Family Circle Cup Stadium on Daniel Island Race for the Cure started as one local 5K (3.1 miles) race and has grown to be a national series of 110+ races in cities around the globe. The Race is one of the nation's top 5K races and would not be possible without the 75,000+ volunteers and respective race committees that help put this event together. The local Race is South Carolina’s largest 5K race. To learn more, visit www.komenlowcountry.org or call the Race hotline at (843) 556-3343. SCARECROWS ON THE SQUARE October 20-November 3 Hutchinson Square The Summerville Junior Service League and Summerville DREAM are hosting the annual Scarecrows on the Square. Local businesses, schools and civic groups compete in a festive competition of creativity. Come view all of the scarecrows on the square and vote for your favorite. HARVEST FEST, GHOST WALKS AND HARVEST MOON HAYRIDE Saturday, October 27, 6-9pm Downtown Summerville Summerville Junior Service League and Summerville D.R.E.A.M. combine forces to present a family-friendly night of fun with games, ghost walks and a hayride around the town. Tickets required for Ghost Walks and Hayride. Vote for your favorite Scarecrow on the Square. So grab your favorite ghoul or goblin and join us in downtown. For more information visit www.summervilledream.org. AZALEAMAG.COM / FALL 2012
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"THE HOBBIT" Show Dates: 7PM: October 25, 26, & 27 3PM: October 27 & 28 The James F. Dean Theatre Before The Lord of the Rings... there was just The Hobbit. Bilbo is a small, unassuming creature called a hobbit, who finds himself on a grand adventure! This hour long children's show will capture the imagination and delight kids of all ages. Contact Info: (843) 875-9251 www.flowertownplayers.org
NOVEMBER 7TH ANNUAL YMCA OYSTER SHINDIG Friday, November 9, 6-10pm Pine Forest Country Club Enjoy food and fun with entertainment featuring the East Coast Party Band. Tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for children (5-12). Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $35. Net proceeds from this event will benefit the Summerville Family YMCA’s Strong Kids Annual Campaign. Visit www.summervilleymca.org/ oyster-shindig/ for more information. NOVEMBER THIRD THURSDAY Thursday, November 15, 5-8pm Downtown Summerville Join us under the twinkling lights of downtown as we kick off the Holiday Season. We will be bringing back a crowd-pleaser ---Tim Lowry’s “Christmas Carol” Tour around Historic Downtown. Reservations and tickets required for this very special holiday highlight. Two tours will be offered during the night. In addition, local groups will entertain with holiday carols around town and hot chocolate and cookies will get you in the holiday spirit. Shops & restaurants will showcase their holiday merchandise and meals. For more information and tickets visit www.summervilledream.org
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HISTORIC HOMES & SITES IN UPPER DORCHESTER COUNTY TOUR Saturday, November 17, 1-4pm The Upper Dorchester County Historical Society would like to invite the public to tour five historic sites in Upper Dorchester County, the Koger House (Ca 1780s), home of the first sheriff of what was then Colleton County, the Appleby Church (Ca 1780s), used during the Civil War as a mustering ground for the 24th SC Regiment, the Indian Field Camp Ground (Ca 1803), the Klauber Building (Ca 1894) an early merchantile store and the Badham House (Ca 1912), home of V. C. Badham, owner of the largest sawmill in SC in the early 1900s. Cost is $5.00 per person, children under 12 are free. For more information contact the Tri-County Chamber of Commerce at 843-563-9091 or visit our website www.upperdorchestercountyhistoricalsociety.com.
Dr. Chellis has had success treating many conditions including: • Colic • Ear infections • Bladder/bowel irregularities (especially in infants) • Headaches • Neck pain
• Breech presentation •Symptoms associated with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders • Low back pain
"Dr. Chellis is the first chiropractor that my son with Autism Spectrum Disorder (AS D) has bonded with. She goes above and beyond for us!" -Taylor T. Mention this ad to receive a FREE exam and consultation! 405 North Magnolia St., Summerville, SC 29483 (Behind FNB)
(843) 871-7775 / www.chellischiropractic.com
PICKIN’ IN THE PINES Friday, November 16th, 6-9pm The Field House at Pinewood Preparatory School Grab your chairs, blankets and appetite and head out to Pickin' in the Pines, Summerville's Fall BBQ and Bluegrass Festival! Featuring entertainment by Home Grown and Common Ground and a lip-smackin' BBQ dinner by Momma Brown’s Barbecue. Enjoy hometown performers, as well as jump slides, games, face painting and family-friendly fun. Tickets are $20 adults; $15 students (children 5 and under free). For tickets, visitwww.pinewoodprep.com or call 843-376-0142 ext. 2003. HOLIDAY MARKET November 23 & 24, 11:30am-2:30pm Middleton Place The Garden Market & Nursery and Museum Shop kick-off the shopping season with an open-air market. Live musicians perform festive carols, complimentary hot cider and treats, local artisan displays and 10% off all purchases with admission or South Carolina ID.
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GET A FREE WEEK WITH ANY TANNING PACKAGE
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MEALS ON WHEELS OF SUMMERVILLE 30th ANNIVERSARY Thursday, June 28
With the Palmetto Dance Band entertaining with dance tunes and Sticky Fingers providing the BBQ, Meals On Wheels of Summerville celebrated 30 years.
DON’T LOSE YOUR SUMMER COLOR 1585 CENTRAL AVE. SUMMERVILLE 843.873.1003 (NEXT TO PUBLIX) 96
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SCULPTURE IN THE SOUTH SHOW AND SALE May 19-20
Held in beautiful Azalea Park, one of South Carolina's premier outdoor arts events showcases a variety of sculptures and features sculptors from around the country demonstrating and discussing their art form. For more information visit www.sculptureinthesouth.com
Service, Integrity, and Advocacy
here for the long haul Chellis & Frampton, P.A., engages in a general practice of law. The firm serves clients engaged in civil litigation in the Circuit, Family, Probate, & Appellate Courts of South Carolina. The firm serves clients in transactional law involving business, real estate, and estate planning.
1832
1978
1982
1991
2012
Summerville’s commercial district is defined by Detmold’s Plan of New Summerville.
James E. Chellis hung out a shingle on the Town Square.
John G. Frampton joined James, where they practiced out of a Summerville Summer Cottage on Richardson Ave.
The firm moved into new law offices at 112 West 4th Street North.
Having considered the future, James & John brought on board young lawyers, Johanna Owens in 2005, Andy Shepherd in 2007, & Greg Hyland in 2009.
Last Call
Oh, The Places We Roam: The UFO Welcome Center is a tourist curiosity located in Bowman, SC
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LET OUR SPORTS MEDICINE PHYSICIANS GET YOU BACK IN THE GAME James McCoy, Jr., MD / James Spearman, MD / David Jaskwhich, MD Xray, Physical Therapy, MRI, and Outpatient Surgery Center By offering the newest techniques and most advanced technology, we have the knowledge to offer our patients an accurate diagnosis for the best possible treatment. North Charleston 2880 Tricom St. 843-797-5050
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Summerville / Oakbrook 93B Springview Ln. 843-285-6060
L owcountry Orthopaedics Sports Medicine
Summerville Spa Salon & Beauty Boutique
styled by MARGIE SUTTON assisted by MORGAN PORTER
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