BOWENS ISLAND RESTAURANT / THE STORY OF SCOUT BOATS / M&G PENNIE FOLDEN VILLAGE POET / ETIQUETTE: DRESS CODES DEFINED / GIN & TONIC: A TWIST ON A CLASSIC A PASTOR VISITS AUSCHWITZ / THE 50 BOOKS EVERY SOUTHERNER SHOULD READ
Plus Growing Local Golden beets pulled fresh from the earth at Wishbone Heritage Farms
The
B E AU T Y in DISCO V ERY
Local interior designer Laura Jones opens the door to her home
SOUT H ERN MOTH ERS
Two loving daughters remember the remarkable women who gave them life and schooled them on life’s most important lessons
PART Y START ERS
Featuring
Behr Family Farm, Wishbone Heritage Farms, Wabi Sabi Farm and nineteen other local farms that are taking root and growing wild
Three cheesy finger foods for any Southern get-together
2 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
F E AT UR E S SP R I NG
2015
80 SOUTH ERN MOTH ERS
As Mother’s Day approaches, two loving daughters remember the remarkable women who gave them life and schooled them on life’s most important lessons.
84
BEAUTY IN DISC OVER Y
63
Local interior designer, Laura Jones opens the door to her home, revealing a warm and eclectic aesthetic.
THE N E W C ROP
Featuring Behr Family Farm, Wishbone Heritage Farms, Wabi Sabi Farm and nineteen other local farms that are growing wild.
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 5
CONT ENT S
/ Spring 2015
33
25 07 Editor’s Letter 12 Contributors 17-23 FIELD GUIDE A brief look into our local culture 22 The 50 Books Every Southerner Should Read SOUTHERN LIFE 25 Southern Spotlight - Food 30 Southern Spotlight - Etiquette 33 Southern Spotlight - Industry
22
25
21
53
COLUMNS 41 Natural Woman by Susan Frampton 45 Patchwork of the South by Michelle Lewis 49 Life & Faith by Will Browning
30
SOUTHERN TASTE 53 Party Starters Three cheesy finger foods for any Southern get together Airships Barry Hannah
41
92 THE LOCAL 92-15th Annual SPCA Downs Byrd Oyster Roast 94-Summerville Winter Farmers' Market 96 THE VILLAGE POET
ON THE COVER: Golden beets pulled fresh from the earth at Wishbone Heritage Farms / Photograph by Dottie Rizzo 6 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
su m me rv i lle , s c
i nt rod uci n g t he
spring home collection mid $200s to $400s
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spent here
IT’S
all RIGHT HERE
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Equal Housing Opportunity. © 2014 Cresswind is a registered trademark of Kolter Homes. Prices, home sites, home designs and other information subject to errors, changes, omissions, deletions, availability, prior sales and withdrawal at any time without notice.
Costa|Rx avail able heRe: Jackson Davenport Vision Center | 101 Old Trolley Rd. Summerville | 843-871-9750 | jacksondavenportvision.com
E DI TOR’S LETTER
"As much as I want to blame it on the soil or my horticulturally inadequate thumb, that fact is, I'm ignorant of all things agricultural."
Growing Local I'm confused. Recently, I have been doing some genealogy research into my family lineage. What I found is that I come from a long line of farmers (on both sides of my family). South Carolina farmers, at that. I knew that I had farming in my roots, but it seems that my family has been working the land ever since they reached the shores of America. Herein lies that aforementioned confusion. I have a brown thumb. I am completely inept at making things grow. The only plant that I can keep alive is monkey grass. And anyone can grow that. It's harder to kill it than to keep it alive. I've even potted it, if that tells you anything. Productive farming and gardening take hard work and know-how. You have to understand the needs of the plants and tend to them regularly. As much as I want to blame it on the soil or my horticulturally inadequate thumb, the fact is, I'm ignorant of all things agricultural. In our cover story, "The New Crop," (pg. 63) we visited three local farms, which produce everything from kale and beets to turkey and pork. These are the folks we rely on, not only to eat, but to eat well. I encourage you to take a Saturday and visit the Summerville Farmers Market. There you can meet these farmers and check out their goods. You can even pick up some monkey grass.
The gardens have over 3000 different varieties of camellia in the collection.
Will Rizzo Editor in Chief
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 9
s c 1788 Visit the Website and
GET YOUR SUBSCRIPTION TODAY
T H E H E A RT AN D S O U L of S O U T H C A R O L I N A A celebration of the spirit of South Carolina, PALMETTO is the authority on our distinctive style of Southern life—documenting her beauty and charm and giving our readers a novel look into the Palmetto State's history and culture as well as stirring narrations of the places and personalities that make South Carolina so captivating.
palmettomagazine.com From the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor & the editors of Azalea Magazine
s c 1788
Will Rizzo Co-Publisher and Editor in Chief will@azaleamag.com Dottie Rizzo Co-Publisher and Managing Editor dottie@azaleamag.com Katie DePoppe Editor at Large katie@azaleamag.com Will Browning Faith Editor Jana Riley Staff Writer
Contributors
Jason Wagener Susan Frampton Michelle Lewis Ellen Hyatt Elizabeth Donehue Charles Sweeney
Advertising Susan Frampton susan@azaleamag.com 843.696.2876 Susie Wimberly susie@azaleamag.com 843.568.7830 Azalea Magazine 114B E. Richardson Avenue Summerville, SC 29483 info@azaleamag.com www.azaleamag.com 843.478.7717
Subscribe
*Available for $16.99 a year (4 Issues). Visit azaleamag.com for details. 12 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
Carnes Crossroads... New Home Shopping Made Easy!
Come Visit Our Model Row!
A New Community in the Heart of Charleston’s Growth Just minutes from the downtowns of both Summerville and Goose Creek, a new community is emerging. Carnes Crossroads will offer the lifestyle of a small town, with charming neighborhoods, beautiful parks, lakes and close proximity to stores, shops, restaurants, offices, schools and church. Homes are being built by David Weekley, Eastwood Homes, Sabal Homes, Ashton Woods and John Wieland Homes. Pricing starts in the mid-$200s. Our Carnes Crossroads Real Estate Information Center is a wonderful resource to learn about life here. Located across from the Village Green and the historic Green Barn, our office is open 7 days a week, with or without an appointment. Or visit CarnesCharleston.com to learn more.
843.761.8600
Residents are now enjoying our 25-meter competitive size pool with beach entry.
CarnesCharleston.com
Where Community Comes Together 513 Wodin Place, Summerville, SC 29483 Carnes Crossroads Real Estate, LLC., Chuck Buck, BIC
F E ATURE D CONTR IBUTO RS
JANA RILEY / Writer
Jana is a writer and editor living in Summerville with her husband, Dan. Jana enjoys adventures with her three favorite kids, Noah, Jude, Forest and their dog, Alfie.
JASON WAGENER / Illustrator Jason started his illustrious art career when he won a coloring contest in third grade, subsequently entitling him proud owner of a Mickey Mouse dry erase board. He moved to the Lowcountry in 1990 and, save an education at The Savannah College of Art and SUSAN FRAMPTON / Writer Susan Frampton is a writer who has Design, has remained a faithful happily called Summerville home transplant ever since. He now lives for over thirty years. When not at in Goose Creek under the thumb her desk, she spends as much time of the dreamy Julie Wagener and as possible with her hands in the dirt, offspring: Toy Story enthusiast, or thinking up new projects for her Henry, and the womb-bound “baby husband, Lewis—who wishes she brudder.” Oddly enough, he lettered in art at Stratford High School. would spend less time thinking.
APRIL 25
th
ELLEN HYATT /Poet
Ellen E. Hyatt’s writing has garnered recognition from professional, literary and mainstream sources. Her works have twice been the recipient of what the Poetry Society of SC refers to as “the big one” (the Dubose & Dorothy Heyward Society Prize). Fellow of the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, professor, columnist and appointee to the Board of Governors of the SC Academy of Authors, Ellen serves organizations promoting literacy and the arts.
11AM to 8PM
$15 Parking
at The Ponds
Under the Oaks
Featuring beach music/shag dancing Music by The Entertainers
Family Friendly KHP15_005_7.5x4.8859_Ad.indd 1 14 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
SOUTHERNFLAMEFESTIVAL.ORG BENEFITTING SUMMERVILLE MIRACLE LEAGUE
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Just think...one tiny incision means virtually no scar and a faster recovery. Currently used for gall bladder removal, single-site will soon be available for other types of surgery, like hysterectomy. And, the South Carolina Institute for Robotic Surgery has more experience with single-site than anyone in the Lowcountry. Trident Health and the South Carolina Institute for Robotic Surgery...Count on Experience. For more information on single-site surgery, or to schedule an appointment,
visit SCRobotics.com or call 843-797-3463. ROBOTIC SURGERY PHYSICIAN TEAM · Christopher Accetta, MD · Joseph C. Allen, MD · Joseph Asaro, MD* · Theodore E. Brisson, MD · Lori A. Campbell, MD · Christine Case, MD
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16 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
Daniel’s Orchard Downtown Summerville
The Calhoun
Daniel’s Orchard Single Family Homes From the $260s 2,041–2,898+ square feet • New Charleston Single Homes in Downtown Summerville • Walk or bike to shops, parks and restaurants • Dorchester II School System • Nearby YMCA provides pools, fitness and family fun
Pulte Life Tested® Homes at Daniel’s Orchard. Life Tested® means homes designed to fit your family’s busy life. With innovative features you won’t find anywhere else. Like Pulte Planning Centers® to organize your daily routine. Everyday Entries™ with convenient drop zones. And Super Laundries to handle everything your family can dish out. Find all of this and more at Daniel’s Orchard, perfectly located a short walk from shopping and dining—just one mile from historic downtown Summerville. Tour Daniel’s Orchard today and see our six Life Tested home models for yourself.
843.695.0339 • www.pulte.com/danielsorchard For more information, contact ken.huggins@pulte.com and gini.rice@pulte.com. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required or if void by law. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be an actual representation of a specific community, neighborhood, or any completed improvements being offered. Please see a sales associate for details. ©2014 Pulte Homes Corporation. All rights reserved. 7.31.14
$2,100,000,000 The dollar amount spent on Easter candy annually. That's billions with a "B."
SEASONAL
Easter
Here are some things about the beloved holiday that you might not know.
16 Billion The number of jelly beans made each year specifically for Easter. That's enough to fill a plastic egg the size of a nine-story building.
The traditional act of painting eggs is called Pysanka. In the early customs, pretzels were associated with Easter because the twists of the pretzel were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer.
8,968 lbs The weight of the largest chocolate egg ever made.
90 The number (in millions) of chocolate bunnies made each year for Easter. Egg dyes were once made out of natural items such as onion peels, tree bark, flower petals and juices.
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 19
"
I love to get down to a sick beat, but I'm also a sucker for a cheesy love song.
"
Q Who or what are you a fan of ? A South Carolina Gamecocks, Summer-
ville Green Wave or any sports team my boys are a part of !
Q Coffee or tea? A Both. They must be sweet...like me! Q What's one thing you've bought in
Q& A
P E NNI E F OLDE N Murphy Law Firm
the last five years that you couldn’t live without?
A There are two.
My iPhone. It may as well be an additional appendage on my body. We go nowhere without each other. NOWHERE! Also my hair straightener. I cannot go a day without it.
Q Q What is your favorite thing about living in the Lowcountry?
A
I love living in Summerville because even though our small town is growing by leaps and bounds, it has maintained the small town feel that I adore. My absolute favorite thing would be friday night football at McKissick Stadium. The sense of community and pride that resonates through the stands is like no other. I also love that you can walk down the street or go in a store, bump into a friend you haven't seen in years, and catch up over a ten minute conversation.
Q What is your dream job? A I'd love to have my own wedding/event
planning business. There's nothing I enjoy more than planning a party.
Q Is there a motto that you live by? A I was taught to live by the Golden Rule. Over the years, I worked in an environment where I've dealt with many different types of people from very different walks of life. I've learned that if you put yourself in their shoes for one second, you're more likely to listen before you speak and think before you react. If all that fails, then my philosophy is to "kill them with kindness," and I am the queen of that.
20 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
What's one thing you've bought in the last five years that you could go the rest of your life ?
A That's a trick question. Q What is your favorite music? A I love to get down to a sick beat, but
I'm also a sucker for a cheesy love song.
Q What is your dream vacation? A I'd love to go to Hawaii, but I'd settle
for anywhere warm, sunny and tropical as long as they will deliver sassy adult beverages to my beach chair. After taking a trip to the Frozen Tundra this year with my husband, he has promised me that our next vacation will not require three layers of clothes. I can't wait!
Q What is your fondest memory of living in Summerville?
A Where do I start? There are so many
memories that I have growing up here and countless things that I love about living here. The tree lighting, the festival, hanging out at Kramers, Green Wave football, my first job at Guerin's Pharmacy, volunteering in the community... the list goes on. However, the two that make me the happiest would be marrying my high school sweetheart, Dennis Folden, and becoming a mom to my two amazing sons, Wesley and Walker. AM
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T H E
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131 S Main St Summerville SC 29483 843-695-8228 Please feel free to call or stop by with any questions, and for a free consultation.
Mixology
BLACKBERRY JAM GIN & TONIC I N G R ED I EN TS 1 1/2 oz gin 1/2 cup tonic water freshly squeezed lime juice 1 generous spoonful of blackberry jam ice cubes frozen blackberries for garnish D I R EC TI O N S Place the gin, jam and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with about 1 cup of ice cubes and shake together. Pour ingredients into a glass containing a few ice cubes, then poor in the tonic and stir. Garnish with frozen blackberries.
OBSTETRICS | GYNECOLOGY
2015 Boss
2005 Wedding
2009 Baby
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 23
Field Guide Literary
The 50 Books Every Southerner Should Baking Soda Read
Our spring issue is the third printed installment in our “50 Books” series. Find more books from the list on our blog at azaleamag.com. Also, be sure to join our online discussion group, The Southern Lit Project, on Facebook to offer your opinions on the books shared here or to make your own must-read suggestions.
K AT I E DEPOPPE The editor at large for Azalea Magazine and the curator of The Azalea Room, the official blog of www.azaleamag.com Connect with her: Twitter @kdepoppe Instagram @katiedepoppe
"
When I read great literature...I feel that the human mind has not achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts through language.
"
- James Earl Jones 24 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
Airships Barry Hannah
Why read it?
Mississippi native, Barry Hannah had already published two full-length novels (his first, Geronimo Rex (1972), which was nominated for a National Book Award) when his short stories caught the attention of Esquire’s fiction editor, Gordon Lish, and were published by the men’s magazine at a record number. Most of the stories would later become the collection, Airships, published in 1978. Hannah, thirty-five years old at the time, haunted readers with his delusory (or “phantasmagoric” as dubbed by the New York Times), darkly comedic and often controversial, complex characters and storylines. While still relatively obscure from the mainstream reader, Hannah established himself as a new voice in Southern literature, veering from the Faulknerian and O’Connor traditions, and spurring debate amongst even the most learned readership of his work through his use of terse, power-packed sentences, re-invented phrasings and the juxtaposition of tender and contentious topics. And while it seems, some people did not know how to take him, Hannah’s ability to capture modern everyday Southern vernacular where sentiment was no longer preferred, has indeed endeared him in the hearts of readers.
A Curtain of Green and Other Stories Eudora Welty
I T ’ S O K AY T O TA L K A B O U T Y O U R FA M I LY B U S I N E S S .
Why read it?
Perhaps the most startling, yet uncomplicated observation by Eudora Welty on the art of writing was her thought that the artist must look squarely at the mysteries of human experience without trying to resolve them; it was that ability to reveal mystery, rather than explain it, which makes Welty’s works hauntingly beautiful and forever endearing. But it was her social life, albeit a simple one in a simple Southern town, which she argues made her a good writer in more palpable ways: Said to have remarked that her fellow townsfolk were the “source of the information that stir[red] [her] imagination,” her characters are known to range from outrageously grotesque to understated or psychologically subdued. Armed with a remarkable ear for language and known to be quite social, Welty’s social prowess, community relationships and ability to skillfully and honestly observe people, led her to become one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. “I would not understand a literary [reclusive] life,” she mused.
The Last Gentleman Walker Percy Why read it?
Known as a philosopher among novelists as well as a writer of deep Catholic faith, Walker Percy’s art seems to have been profoundly affected not only by the suicides of his grandfather, and later his father, but the still-later tragic death of his mother, which he also regarded as a suicide, all before he reached the age of sixteen. The exploration of mortality, among more obscure themes that set out to make sense of the human condition, are recognizable and endearing within his writings – a factor that his formal schooling as a medical doctor also seemed to shape. The Last Gentleman, Percy’s second novel, which chronicles the adventures of Williston Bibb Barrett, was simultaneously praised and summarized by the theologian Thomas Merton: “Walker Percy is one of the few novelists whose books I am able to finish. This is in fact a haunting, disturbing, funny and fantastic anti-novel structured like a long dream and relentlessly insisting that most reality is unconscious. It ends up by being one of the most intelligent and sophisticated statements about the South and about America.”
Melanie A. Maes* Amanda M. Leviner
R E S PO N D I N G to the PR E S E N T PR E PA R I N G for the F U TU R E
The subject of divorce is uncomfortable for many, but an open dialogue can help you to clearly identify where you are and where you want to be. The Maes Law Firm provides thoughtful consideration and a personalized approach in matters of family law, small estate planning, and probate. If you’re seeking answers, please call 843.501.0602 for more information or to schedule a consultation.
207 W Richardson Avenue, Summerville, SC 29483 (843) 501-0602 / info@maeslawfirm.com
www.maeslawfirm.com *Also licensed in Washington State
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 25
SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHT
A Bushel and a Peck
At the end of a rutted shell road, Lowcountry flavor is delivered by the bushel, and the sunsets alone are worth the drive. by
Susan Frampton
Heirloom Seafood Robert Barber looks on as patrons pile into his beloved restaurant
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 27
To one lucky enough to have been brought up in the Lowcountry, the aroma of oysters steaming under blankets of wet burlap downstairs, summons images of beer, bonfires and waxed green jackets fight off the chill of winter.
R
estauranteur Robert Barber was only a year old in 1950, when Doris Day sang a song quantifying her love, using a measurement that would resonate throughout his life. Doris, it seemed, loved the object of her affection a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck. For the family who operated Bowens Island Restaurant, the measurement in the song was familiar–a bushel was approximately forty-five to sixty pounds of oysters, with a peck weighing in at a quarter of that. And as close-knit as they were, the love part wasn’t unfamiliar either. It was Robert Barber’s grandmother, May Bowen, and her husband, Jimmy who first opened Bowens Island Restaurant 28 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
on the small island they purchased in 1946. And though his parents later moved from Charleston to Columbia, Barber recalls that the family returned as often as possible. At points along the way during his high school and college years, he worked in many restaurants; including Bowens Island, and although he had learned the secrets of the successful business at his grandparents’ side, he never intended to end up running the restaurant himself. While Barber’s path to becoming an expert on oysters began when he was born into the family that called Bowens Island home, it took a circuitous route to get him to today. It first sent him to Wofford as an undergraduate, then to divinity school at Duke University, and then on to Laurens County as a minister.
It carried him away to South Texas College of Law to become a lawyer, and back to Charleston, where he practiced law and served on the Charleston County School Board. The path would find him elected to the South Carolina legislature, and bring him a successful career as a lobbyist. But, Bowens Island was a siren singing his name, and the pull back to the fourteen-acre piece of land at the end of a causeway off Folly Road, was as visceral for him as the tide. For a time, he even operated his law practice from a small room at the back of the restaurant, but it was when his grandparents’ health began to fail, that he stepped in, and never looked back. *** We’ve met before – at the statehouse in Columbia, on a day when budget line items were to be passed or vetoed by legislators. On that day he was in his role as a lobbyist, dressed in the requisite suit and tie, but today, when he joins our table at the restaurant dressed in jeans and a worn Wofford cap, his friendly, laid-back manner makes him as much a part of this place as the blackened cinder blocks lining the oyster cooking area, and it is hard to imagine him any other way. To one lucky enough to have been brought up in the Lowcountry, the aroma of oysters steaming under blankets of wet burlap downstairs, summons images of beer, bonfires and waxed green jackets worn to fight off the chill of winter. It brings with it the
30 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
taste of sea air, salty and fresh, and memories of the laughter of friends gathered around sawhorse-legged tables. It is one of the many things that make a visit to Bowens Island feel like a trip home. Down on the first floor, folks are bellied up to tables for the all-you-can-eat oysters, throwing the empties into the hole in the center of the table. The restaurant has been named “One of America’s Great Seafood Dives” and one of the “Top Ten Seafood Dives,” amongst other honors, by numerous publications throughout the years, and though these might seem dubious to the white tablecloth set, they are taken quite seriously by this place that is completely without pretense. Those looking to find slick-shelled oysters, adorned with delicate lemon slices and served on a silver platter, might find themselves disappointed by the no-frills presentation. The gnarled knots of mud-covered shells shoveled onto the tables might not look like much to someone from “away,” but to those brought up with the perfume of pluff mud in their nostrils, they are choice jewels. Upstairs, in the main part of the restaurant, a horseshoe-shaped bar at one end of the room offers libations to wash down the salty treats, and a menu to meet the needs of the most persnickety seafood lovers. The Big Ol’ Shrimp platter carries enough golden-fried sea nuggets, served on a paper plate, to bring down a burly man, and the Big Ol’ Seafood Platter could conceivably
feed a village. Scrumptious slaw, hushpuppies and fries are icing on the virtual crustacean cake. Cocktail sauce from a bottle would be sacrilegious, so patrons pump paper cups full of a concoction invented by Barber’s grandmother to baptize both oysters and shrimp alike with delicious, heavy-on-the-horseradish flavor.
The island is now home to Barber and several of his siblings. “When you come on the island,” he directs me when I call for a visit, “it’s the third house on the right. If you go too far and get to the restaurant, turn around and it will be the third house on the left as you come back.”
***
Like the restaurant, his home has also been rebuilt. Barber’s house burned on a hot August night in 2011, and the family was once again tried by fire when the restaurant’s catering kitchen burned a year later.
In the cinder block structure that Barber’s grandmother and grandfather opened long ago, the standard had been set for Lowcountry seafood, and a mecca established for locals and visitors seeking the timeless fare. Sixty years later, in 2006, the iconic oyster joint with layer after layer of magic marker signatures on its walls, and the best sunset in South Carolina, burned to the ground. Five months earlier, it had earned a James Beard Award as an American Classic. Though the fire marked the end of an era begun by his grandparents, Barber’s hand was by this time firmly at the wheel, and he rebuilt the restaurant into a new, “old favorite.” Today, there are sooty reminders of the fiery end of the original establishment, but they only add to the ambiance. An antique jukebox in the corner croons music that our parents might have danced to, the beer is cold, and the view is spectacular. New generations of devotees leave their marks now on the walls and woodwork, many with no idea that the tradition began long before they were born.
Undaunted, the legendary eating establishment, newer now, but still spectacular in its simplicity, stands looking out over the river. The shellpacked parking lot seems to lie in wait for the arrival of spring, heralded by the sound of flipflop shod feet, and the laughter of happy, sun-kissed families. Some will be returning to remember the same ruby sunsets their parents and grandparents enjoyed over the years, and others will find the gem at the end of a rutted dirt road through the marsh for the very first time. Both will discover Lowcountry treasure – for lying there on the riverbank amidst the pluff mud and oyster shells, they have found the pearl that is Bowens Island Restaurant. AM Open year round, Bowens Island Restaurant can be found at 1870 Bowens Island Road, just off Folly Road.
"
Trina's knowledge of the everchanging real estate market, along with her broad experience in the home buying and selling process, made us confident that, as our realtor, she had everything under control.
" Jonathan & Laura Patterson, Summerville Repeat Clients
It’s a great day to buy real estate!
It’s a great day to buy real estate!
843.412.2676 / trinawoods.com Trina Woods
Nicole Ortiz
(p) 843.412.2676
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Broker Associate Certified Residential Specialist Realtor of Distinction
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Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 31
SOUTHERN SPOTLIGHT
Dress Codes Defined What to wear and when to wear it.
ELIZABETH DONEHUE Arbiter of social graces, with a heart for simple hospitality and a tendency for adventure, Elizabeth lives in Summerville with her husband Wesley, baby boy Harlowe, and yorkie Gucci.
"
Clothes have, they say, more important offices than to merely keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world's view of us.
" -Virginia Woolf 32 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
A
n invitation arrives in the mail requesting your presence at an event. All too soon the dreaded question enters your mind: What will I wear? While the following are not as confusing as “island formal,” “casual chic” or the dreaded “come as you are” requests, these more common dress codes still have specific expectations behind them. Allow me to expound:
DRESSING T H E P A RT Black Tie Formal, and usually reserved for evening affairs. Men wear a tuxedo; women, a long gown. Black Tie Optional Slightly less formal than black tie. Men don a tuxedo or dark suit and tie. Women should wear a long gown, a cocktail dress or dressy separates. Cocktail Festive and fun. For guys, this dress code calls for dark suits with a tie. For women, short dresses. Festive A dress code that tends to pop up around the holidays, festive attire is similar to cocktail attire, but with a holiday bent of added sparkle or color. Business The idea is to wear something business appropriate which also feels dressed up. A suit and tie for the guys, and a tailored dress or suit for women will do the trick. Business Casual Casual but work appropriate. Guys can wear slacks and a collared shirt. For women, pants and a blazer or a pencil skirt and blouse will have you covered. No jeans or sneakers allowed. Garden Party Think colorful and lightweight. Men, choose slacks, an Oxford shirt and sport coat, or a light-colored suit. For ladies, a dress and flats or wedges to avoid sinking into the grass will make for a comfortable event. Remember, Memorial Day to Labor Day, seersucker is fitting attire for any warm weather outdoor Southern gathering. Casual Anything goes, but be tasteful. I suggest khakis and a button down or polo for the Southern gentlemen. For the ladies, a dress, skirt or pants with a pretty top will have you looking both casual and polished. When in doubt, it is certainly appropriate to contact the host to clarify what they expect party guests to wear. AM Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 33
Amanda Patterson South State Bank Branch Manager (843) 737-7117
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It starts with a conversation. Let us help you find the strategy that’s right for you.
At South State Bank, we know every great relationship starts with a conversation. Whether we’re helping you open a new business checking account, find a new home or grow your portfolio — we begin by getting to know you and your company first. Only then can we recommend the right products and services for you. We want you to think of us as an extension of your team. Let us help you plan for tomorrow so you can focus on today. That’s relationship banking. That’s the South State Way.
1 Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Member FINRA/SIPC. Insurance products offered through LPL Financial or its licensed affiliates. South State Bank and South State Investment Services are not registered broker/dealers and are not affiliated with LPL Financial. Not FDIC Insured Not a Bank Deposit
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SOUTHERNSPOTLIGHT Scout Boats:Industry
Floating An Idea The unsinkable team of Scout Boats, Steve and Diane Potts by Susan Frampton
“If a man is to be obsessed by something, I suppose a boat is as good as anything, perhaps a bit better than most.” Though not written to describe Steve Potts, the words of author E.B. White could not be more fitting.
Potts came into the world with a boat on his mind, and an idea that would require a bit of an obsession. It would also require a lot of hard work. But the boy from Connecticut was not afraid of hard work, and as fate would have it, he would grow up in the Lowcountry, surrounded by water. Here, he would find the ideal environment to feed his dream, and the perfect partner to share it. Anchors Aweigh Steve and Diane Potts; attention to detail.
Just outside Summerville, the cavernous buildings housing Scout Boats hold the realization of his idea. Inside, Potts and his wife, Diane, walk amidst the quiet of dozens of boats wrapped in plastic, and covered with a fine coating of dust. “Please excuse the mess,” he says, brushing the white dust from his hands. “Normally this area would be full of people working, but the production process creates a lot of dust, so about every two or three years we shut down the plant to blow it all out. We cover all the Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 35
Floating An Idea continued
Anchor's Aweigh A boat nearing completion, Research and Design.
boats and clean all the way to the rafters.” Through a set of double doors is the research and design area of the plant. Just beyond the doors, are two enormous boats. At forty-two feet long, they are the latest in Scout’s line of luxury boats. Each is breathtakingly sleek. Though they are suspended in cradles and sit perfectly still, the graceful lines of their fiberglass hulls seem to already glide through the air around them. These boats represent the most recent chapter in the story of Scout Boats, which began in the mid-1960s when a young Potts 36 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
went to work for The Outboard Shop in Charleston, spending his summers working with owner, Homer Norton on a sweet, little fourteen foot fishing boat Norton dubbed “Scout.” The tough little fiberglass boat’s reputation grew throughout the area, and with durability ensured by a lifetime warranty, they sold very well.
It was not long before Potts moved on to bigger things, and in the 1970s left The Outboard Shop for a job in Rhode Island, where he trained to repair imperfections for American Fiberglass. Within four months, he was named manager of the finishing department, and by 1974, was promoted to plant manager. He held the position until
He worked nights and weekends repairing fiberglass bathtubs in the hopes of one day realizing what he felt was his true calling. 1980, when he returned to Charleston as plant manager for American Sail. But Potts had a big idea, and he worked nights and weekends repairing fiberglass bathtubs in the hopes of one day realizing what he felt was his true calling – building his own line of boats. The Outboard Shop no longer produced the Scout that he had built alongside Norton, and he asked permission to use the name for a line of boats he intended to build. After receiving their blessing, he registered the name and began setting aside the extra money he made to create his own company. Scout Boats was born in a rented brick barn in 1988, where Potts, along with Diane, created a redesigned, completely fiberglass-hulled craft. He later made the rounds in the area, signing on eight dealers to carry his high-end, highly refined fishing boats. When Steve projected his new business’s income to Diane, she actually laughed out loud at the $650,000 estimate. And when Hurricane Hugo struck in September of 1989, destroying their rented facility along with molds and equipment, those numbers seemed even farther out of reach. But with Diane at his side, the determined Potts moved Scout Boats to a dirt-floored, galvanized shed, where they worked non-stop to produce examples of his fourteen-, fifteen- and newly designed seventeen-foot boats, and gambled on having all three models available for the 1990 Atlanta Boat Show. It was a gamble
Community starts with neighbors who care. Mark Ensley, Agent 2301 Bacons Bridge Rd Summerville, SC 29485 Bus: 843-871-9700 mark@markensley.com
1201196
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State Farm, Bloomington, IL Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 37
It’s a big world out there… are you protected?
Floating An Idea continued
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Certified General Appraiser
that paid off, drawing Scout Boats to the attention of thirty-one prospective dealers from up and down the east coast, and catapulting the company to the top echelon of coastal fishing boats – far past the numbers Steve projected for their first year in business. The weekends spent repairing fiberglass bathtubs were over. Early on, Potts made a conscious decision to build a premium brand. It is a much slower process to use only the best tools and the best products – a reputation now recognized all over the world – but it has certainly been worth the time and effort. “We’re cut from a different cloth,” he says. “We hand-build our boats. When a builder begins to refer to his boats as ‘units,’ he’s lost touch with what it is all about.” The looks that pass between Potts and Diane as they tell their story speak volumes about the two. As successful as they are, there are glimpses of the devoted and determined young couple who struggled to launch the company with little more than a wish and a prayer; and who still can’t quite believe how far they have come. As it has been from the start, Scout Boats is a family-run operation. Diane serves as
We handbuild our boats. When a builder begins to refer to his boats as units, he’s lost touch with what it is all about. -vice president of product development, and their eldest, Stevie, is at the helm of the company’s research and development division. The massive, 420 LXF is Stevie’s brainchild, and one of many models he has designed. Over two years in the making, the highly customized boat brings the latest intelligent technology to the controls, (a Mastervolt
CALLING CUSTOMERS BY NAME SINCE 1905 With over 100 years of service to the community, First National Bank of South Carolina has always been committed to excellence in banking and fostering genuine relationships with our customers. Our doors are always open, so stop by and experience the difference of banking with a neighbor. Summerville 843-873-3310
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www.fnbsc.com Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 39
Floating An Idea continued
CZone system with the Garmin GPSMAP Glass Helm Series) with the swipe of a finger across a screen much like that of a cell phone. It started with a sketch, then a balsa wood scale model built on his dining room table – much to the chagrin of Stevie’s wife, Grayson. He wanted to design something that was different from anything that existed. Having followed in his father’s footsteps by working weekends and summers at the plant from age fourteen, he took the concepts learned at his father’s side and combined them with his keen sense of design, to create a floating work of art with a laundry list of luxuries. Each of the six that have already sold will run from about $650,000 to $900,000. The price tag for the 420 LXF will be around $800,000.
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"Summerville is big enough to draw (employees) from, but also, there are family values and work ethics here that you don’t find in other places."
WORLD CLASS SERVICE FROM A LOCALLY OWNED FIRM “With something this big, you are able to get more creative; the sky is the limit because cost is not really an issue,” Stevie says. “This boat will actually be towed behind a 160-foot mega-yacht. The owner hasn’t even seen it. The captain is the one who has placed the order. There are endless possibilities for special requests.” Along with the Potts’ tenacity and hard work, they credit the company’s employees with having exceptional ability and dedication to the Scout brand. And though it is also true that the Lowcountry’s temperate climate lends itself to boat building, Potts believes that there is something about Summerville, in particular, that has been a factor in Scout’s success. “Summerville is big enough to draw (employees) from, but also, there are family values and work ethics here that you don’t find in other places. A lot of these people are from here; they grew up together, and went to school together. Our employees wear Scout apparel when they’re working and when they’re not. They’re driven by pride in what they do, and the fact that they do it right here in this little town in South Carolina.”
Services • Financial Statements / Audits • CorporateTax Compliance & Consulting • Bookkeeping & Accounting • QuickBooks Consulting
-Jan Waring Woods, CPA Serving the Summerville area since 1984
119 West Luke Street Suite A Summerville, SC 843.261.0096 www.jwwcpa.com
Last year, Scout Boats broke ground on a new building that will double the size of the plant, and bring another 300 jobs to Summerville. They will join Scout’s current 240 employees whose work represents both Scout Boats and Summerville, across the country and as far away as Australia; floating an idea that proves Potts’ obsession with a boat to be “perhaps, a little better than most.”AM
Cary Joseph “Seph” Limehouse 1975-2014
In memory of Seph Limehouse, Project Manager of Research and Design for Scout Boats.
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 41
T H E
SHOPS
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Fine art and gifts by local artists 130 Central Ave. 843.871.0297 www.artcgalleryltd.com HOURS Mon. - Sat. 10am - 5pm Open until 8pm on Third Thursdays A gallery of fine art and crafts all made by local artists. Located in Historic Downtown Summerville.
The Historic District's Neighborhood Pub
138 Central Ave. 843.832.2999 OPEN DAILY
"Find what you're looking for and see why we were voted Summerville's #1 Gift Shop!" 120 Central Ave. 843.879.9792 www.SimpleSublime.com HOURS Mon. -Sat. 10am - 5pm
NATURAL WOMAN
Buried Treasure
E
by Susan Frampton
Every once in a while we get in a home-improvement frenzy—sprucing up the things around the house that we’ve closed our eyes to for a while. In the two and a half decades that we have lived here, it has almost always taken the whirlwind associated with hosting a special occasion to motivate us into hauling out the ladders, prying open the paint cans and seriously tidying the yard. Such was the case a few weeks ago; the current flurry was precipitated by the upcoming nuptials of our niece.
It’s a slippery slope once you start tweaking a house that has stood almost forty years. When the shutters were painted, the white trim looked like it could use a touch-up. This made the light fixtures on either side of the front door look a little sad, so they got a facelift, as did the light post in the yard. Before long, the mailbox was repainted, and the bricks surrounding the flowerbeds went from leaning drunkenly to marching straight and proud. I was knee-deep in relocating iris bulbs in the flowerbed when I remembered vividly the day I dug the first of these flowers from my father-in-law’s house shortly following his death. Holding a bulb
ILLUSTRAT IONS BY JASON WA G E N E R Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 43
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in my gloved hand, I was suddenly struck by the map of family memories living and breathing in the dirt of this place we called home—the stories of our lives written in blossoms and leaves scattered throughout the yard. Our daughter referred to the dark purple blossoms of the irises as “the blooming flowers,” and she thought that they only grew at her Papa’s house. I moved them to our yard in hopes of keeping that memory alive for her. Now, that realization made me look with new eyes at the familiar landscape.
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In front of me stood camellia bushes —one with vivid pink blooms, transplanted from my grandmother’s yard in Savannah, and one with candystriped petals from the yard of my in-laws across town. Both landscapes once teemed with shrubs born from the complicated process of grafting new species. Our loved ones were longdeparted, but each year we watched the transplanted shrubs pay homage to their creators with lush green leaves and riots of colorful flowers. Peeking out from beneath a redberried nandina we relocated from alongside the gate of a beloved farm in Holly Hill, I saw white chrysanthemums I had haphazardly stuck in the ground after a party held over ten years ago. The farm was sold, and both of the party’s honorees married and moved away from Summerville, but the tenacious plants had not forgotten the happy memories that brought them to this place. They bloomed year after year. My glance fell on the sago palms on either side of the porch. How tiny they had been when they were given to me as a birthday gift long ago. For the longest time, their survival was in question; but in both blessing and curse, they now proclaimed their health with huge, sticky limbs that threatened to envelop the front steps. The camphor trees along the driveway stood as fragrant reminders of a
44 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
breathless youngster that raced into the house to report my child was flat on the ground following a fall from a limb far too high for an eight-year-old to reach. It had knocked the breath out of her, and should have ended her tree-climbing career, but if memory serves, did not even slow it down. Those same trees also heralded the annual arrival of the blackbirds that feasted on the berries and artfully decorated our cars with purple stains for weeks each year.
Making the uncomfortable comfortable
There were the daylilies from a morning spent with a neighbor who shared the bounty of beds that were bursting. I think of him each year when the star-shaped flowers open on the far side of the yard and replay in my head the rural Vermont accent that laced his conversation. The open space where a huge pine once stood made me a little sad, but I laughed out loud at the memory of my husband hurling pinecones back up at the squirrels that tormented him from the high branches. And the grass! Like a big, green sponge, it had absorbed hours of his time through the years. (A less confident woman might have been concerned about his obsession with annual threats of brown spotting or chinch bugs lurking amidst the tiny blades.) Looking to the shady side of the yard, I realized the truth in the verse telling us that to every living thing there is a season; a time to be born, and a time to die. In plants that recalled the kindness of friends during times of loss, and hydrangeas marking the resting places of beloved pets, I was reminded that beauty can indeed grow where heartbreak was once sown. When tears threatened to blur my vision, I pulled myself from my musing. Someday, a plant or flower in the yard would recall the memory of this upcoming happy event, and I marked it on the map in my mind. For now, there were windows to be washed, which would inevitably lead to the front door receiving a new coat of paint. But soon I will draw a real map— a map whose legend tells of the triumphs and tragedies of this family and our lives on this parcel of land; a map that marks a lifetime of memories buried like treasure in the soil. AM
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Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 45
PATCH WORK OF THE SOUTH
Spring Renewal
A
Cultivating a New Life by Michelle Lewis
As spring advances across the Lowcountry, the stirrings of renewal begin to blossom in my life. I find myself sifting through closets, file cabinets, and even my pantry. For the next four weeks, there will be an ever-changing “give away” pile sitting next to my front door – a stack of clothes, shoes and miscellaneous items bound for Goodwill. I'm not quite sure how I ended up with nine throw pillows that don't match a single thing in my home. And I have no excuse for
holding on to four umbrellas when one will suffice. All across the land, women will be joining me in this annual rite of passage. Even more than the new year, spring cleaning speaks to us of a fresh start. As we purge, we create space for fresh ideas and new hopes and aspirations. We are reacquainted with the workout shoes we bought but never used. And we are finally able to toss the photographs of that very wrong relationship. Some of us may even update our Facebook profiles, deleting strangers from our friends list, and rewriting our biography in the About Me section. Surely, I’m not the same person as I was last year.
ILLUS TRAT IONS BY JASON WA G E N E R Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 47
H PATC K WOR E OF THH SOUT
What will we show to the world? Do we tell them who we are right now, or do we show them the person we want to be? New beginnings give us the opportunity to choose, but it doesn't take a huge change in circumstances to create a fresh start. We can begin again even while maintaining our same old jobs, and living in the house we've lived in for years. It doesn't even require a new haircut. Our habits define us more than our resumes and online profiles. And they are the simplest way to achieve a new beginning. Our habits reveal to us what is important and what we view as irrelevant. Where do we invest our time? Our energy? Are you stuck in a rut, doing the same thing, day in and day out? Then change some habits. Commit to walking the neighborhood each evening. Or replace that thirty-minute sitcom with prayer. Maybe one of your habits is preventing you from becoming the person you are meant to be. Perhaps there is something you should be doing each day, but you continue to tell yourself you'll start next week. There is an easy solution. Stop doing what you shouldn't do, and start doing what you should. It's our habits that will carry us to the victory. And it's our habits that can prevent us from ever arriving. As I move forward into my spring renewal, I hope to blossom alongside the azaleas. While there are some habits that I will keep, there are many I need to add to the “give away” pile. Some of my habits need to be nurtured, fertilized, and even pruned in certain areas where they have grown a bit undisciplined. And a few of them just need to be given the breath of life. AM 48 AZALEAMAG.COM Spring 2015
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Spring to Life in Summerville Plant the seed now for a healthier, more secure future that is only available at a Continuing Care Retirement Community. The Village at Summerville offers a complete spectrum of retirement and healthcare options, providing peace of mind and allowing you to enjoy each special day with those you love the most. ✤ Spacious Patio Homes & Apartments ✤ Short-term Rehabilitation ✤ Skilled Nursing Care
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Working late for you and your family AFTER HOURS Office Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. MUSC Health North Charleston is conveniently located at 8992 University Blvd., North Charleston (1st Floor) behind the Waffle House. N
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Visit MUSChealth.org/primarycare to see a full list of our physicians today. To make an appointment call 843.876.8554.
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Charleston Southern University
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MUSC Health North Primary Care 78
LIFE & FAITH
Am I a Murderer?
H
by Will Browning
ave you ever had an experience that leaves you completely changed? For the rest of your life, you know you will remain deeply affected? This past November, I had one of those experiences. I had the opportunity to travel with a group of friends to Europe. One stop was the historic city, Krakow, Poland, where we toured the Nazi death camp, Auschwitz/Birkenau. It was here, between 1942 and 1945, that an estimated 1.6 million people were exterminated.
Exterminated may seem like a harsh word, but it is insufficient to describe the manner in which the Third Reich committed their crimes. Walking through those haunted grounds, I faced human depravity in its vilest moments, and two specific experiences will stick with me for the rest of my life. The first involved a simple urn which had been placed in the corner of an unadorned room. Our tour guide, Hans, whose great uncle was murdered on the very ground we walked, said, “The Nazis were adamant about wasting nothing. Once the Jews were gassed and cremated, their remains were
ILLUSTR AT ION BY JASON WA G E N E R Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 51
LIFE & FAITH
placed in urns like you see here, and the ashes were used for fertilizer.”
Walking through those haunted grounds, I faced human depravity at one of its vilest moments. With my stomach in knots, we continued the tour into a dimly lit room with a large glass encasement. Tears welled in my eyes; my legs began to give way as I took in the travesty I was now facing. Hans told us, “The final experience each Jewish woman faced before entering the chamber was having her head shaved.” Behind the glass, which extended some 100 feet long and ten feet tall, was a twisted mass of human hair. Hans continued, “Unwilling to see anything go to waste, the Nazis used this hair as pillow stuffing.” Tables • Chair • Linens • Tents • China • Glassware • Catering Equipment • Arches • Decor
Needing a breath of fresh air, I burst out of the building. With my back bent and my hands on my knees I asked God in silence: “How did the most theologically astute nation of the twentieth century become the place where human remains were nothing more than fertilizer for their gardens and pillows for their comfort?” As I was reeling with anger, sadness and perplexity, God placed this thought in my mind: “Will, don’t be
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SERVING THE COMMUNITY WE CALL HOME. too quick to distance yourself from these atrocities. Remember that you experience pillow-like comfort in this world because one beloved Jew was unjustly murdered as well. Your ministry is fertile only because of his death on a Roman cross. Jesus was killed like these men and women here, and one of many responsible for his death was you.”1 I’d become too comfortable with the idea of Jesus’ heinous murder. It was there in Poland where I finally grasped the atrocity of the crucifixion and began to comprehend that I am guilty of murder. My sins make me as guilty as any conspirator in the sinister death of Jesus.
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I’d become too comfortable with the idea of Jesus’ heinous murder. Rising above persistent grey clouds shrouding Poland’s landscape, I stared out of my airplane window onto a sunkissed cascade of beauty. My thoughts followed upward from the ominous reality of the cross to a new life that awaits me above. Much like this plane, I will burst forth into a new heavenly home shedding the heavy chains of guilt. I will arrive into the accepting arms of my Father whose steadfast mercy welcomes me in-fully forgiven and lavishly loved.2 AM Romans 5:8-11 Ephesians 1:7-8 Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 53
BE AN OUTSIDER Whether it’s on a mountain bike trail or up a coastal creek with a paddle... it’s good to be an outsider in South Carolina
Party Starters
B A Y
T O
B AN Q U E T
Three cheesy finger foods for any Southern get-together
Say Cheese Pimiento cheese crisp cookies.
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B A K E D P RALINE BRIE PASTRIES
I N G R ED I EN TS 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed) 7-8 oz Brie 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons melted butter 3 tablespoons self rising flour D I R EC TI O N S Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 24-cup mini muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Dust the counter with a light coating of flour and gently press the sheet of puff pastry out with your hands until it is about 12X12 inches. Using a knife, cut puff pastry into 25 equal pieces (five strips one way, five strips the other way). Press one square lightly into each muffin cup. Bake the puff pastry for about 8-9 minutes until lightly golden and puffed up. Remove from the oven and using the rounded, blunt edge of a spoon, press the pastry down in the middle so it is no longer puffed. Mix pecans, brown sugar, butter and flour in mixing bowl. Cut the Brie into 24 cubes about 1/2 inch each and place in pastry cups, then top with 1 teaspoon of brown sugar mixture. Return to the oven for about 4-6 minutes to let the cheese melt. Serve warm.
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 57
HER
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P A N K O C R U S TED GOAT CHEESE FRITTERS
I N G R ED I EN TS 1/3 cup all purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 large egg 1 tablespoon milk 1 tablespoon water 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup panko breadcrumbs 11 oz goat cheese (at room temperature) 3 cups cooking oil 1 tsp dried parsley equal portions of ranch dressing and buffalo sauce for dipping D I R EC TI O N S Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour and pepper in a shallow bowl and set aside. Whisk together egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, water and milk in a bowl. In another bowl, combine panko and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Using spoon, remove approximately 1 tablespoon of goat cheese, roll into a ball and slightly flatten into a disk shape. Continue to do this with remaining cheese. Pat cheese disks into flour bowl and coat both sides, then dip in egg mixture, followed by dredging in the panko breadcrumb bowl. Place all on a dish and freeze for 30 minutes. Heat oil in saucepan over medium-high heat and fry goat cheese fritters for 2 minutes or until golden brown, flipping once. Place on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with dried parsley before serving. Mix equal amounts of ranch dressing and buffalo sauce to use for dipping.
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P I M I E N T O CHEESE CRISP COOKIES
INGREDIENTS 1 4 oz jar diced pimiento 1 teaspoon ground mustard 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup Rice Krispies 2 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar 1/2 cup softened butter 1 teaspoon salt
In large bowl mix ground mustard, flour and Rice Krispies. Add pimiento and toss to coat. In another large bowl, mix cheese, butter and salt. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing and mashing down against bowl with a fork to mix well. Once all flour is added, knead with hands to thoroughly mix.
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain pimiento and lay on paper towels.
On large well-floured cutting board, roll out and cut into 1 by 1 1/2 inch squares. Place on parchment paper lined baking pan 1 inch apart and bake 15-20 minutes.
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MWVLandSales.com | 843-509 -1034 10/30/14 2:21 PM Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 61
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STRADA ADVERTISING / 303.407.1976
AZALEA MAGAZINE
EDI 141988
, nal care exceptio g, ive pricin competit ed guarante
At Acuity Orthodontics, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards in orthodontic care and providing you with the best possible service. We create beautiful smiles that last a lifetime.
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Knightsville 953 Orangeburg Rd, Suite A Goose Creek/North Charleston 124 S. Goose Creek Blvd, Suite D Sangaree 2080 Royle Road, Suite C, Summerville, 29485
w w w. a c u i t y o r t h o . c o m
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843-261-2001
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Dangers of plastic bottles Drinking water from a plastic water bottle poses serious health risks to you and your family. Let's take a look at some of these dangers to give you a better idea of why bottled water is not the healthy choice you've been led to believe. Plastic would obviously be an issue for most bottled waters but it also comes into play for home or commercially filtered waters, or even raw spring water, in that you need a container to store your water before you consume it. Obviously the best container is glass, because when you choose plastic you are potentially exposed to the following chemicals. BPA – Bisphenol A or BPA is an estrogen-mimicking chemical that has been linked to a host of serious health problems including: Learning and behavioral problems Altered immune system function
Sourced from mercola.com
Diabetes and obesity Prostate and breast cancer
Early puberty in girls Fertility problems in females
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• Improves cellular hydration • Helps fight disease including arthritis and digestive problems • Has been said to help fight cancer
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
We at LIVEWATER want everyone to be healthy, and it all starts with drinking the right water. Research shows that unless the body's pH level is alkaline, the body cannot heal. If your body's pH level is not balanced, effective absorption of vitamins, minerals and supplements can not happen. Your body’s pH affects everything. Healing of chronic illness only takes place when the blood is restored to a alkaline state. So come and claim your free water. We believe that these 14 days will be the beginning of a better, healthier YOU. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Available at Healthy Delights 805 N. Cedar St, Summerville For more information call 851.8332
Something profoundly else. This is an invitation to you. To dig deep and get your hands dirty. To rediscover what matters most. Nature. Community. Health. Wellbeing. And the unprocessed, unfiltered beauty of the Lowcountry. Welcome to Summers Corner. A new community in the garden with beautiful new homes and Dorchester District Two schools. Coming to Summerville this summer.
|| Learn more at SummersCorner.com
s u m m e rvi l l e , sc
GROWING LOCAL
- F E AT UR I N G BEHR FAMILY FARM, WISHBONE HERITAGE FARMS, WABI SABI FARM AND NINETEEN O T H E R L O C A L F A R M S T H AT A R E GROWING WILD by J A N A
R I L E Y
photos by D O T T I E .
R I Z Z O
2014 AZALEA AWARDS
F R O M C U S T O M F I R E K E T TLE S AND LOCALLY SOUR CE D JE LLI E S TO T HE BE S T I N E DU C AT I O N , THE ARTS, HUMANI TAR I ANI SM AND MOR E , T HI S Y E A RS BAT C H O F AZ ALE A AW AR D W I NNE RS P R OVE THAT T HE R E I S A BO U N T Y OF TALE NT R I GHT HE R E AT HOME
words by S U S A N
F R A M P T O N and J A N A
photos by D O T T I E
R I L E Y
R I Z Z O
Behr Family Farm Harleyville, SC
he knew just the place to start: his own backyard.
BEHR FAMILY FARM Harleyville, SC
From the time he was a young boy in Holly Hill, South Carolina, Bobby Behr toiled in fields -- from the small farms of family friends to thousand-acre farms of corn, soybeans and cotton, he loved getting his hands dirty and growing plants from seed. In high school, he secretly dug up a section of his parent’s land and planted strawberries, surprising them with a large harvest a few months later. As life went on, Behr focused his efforts on other ventures in sports, real estate, the restaurant industry, and education, but always found himself drawn back to the land, and hoped to combine his interests more fluidly one day. In 2008, he was hired as the Athletic Director at Ashley Ridge High School, and an idea began to take root in his mind; he wanted to start a horticulture program at the school, and
Behr and his wife, Myra, have been married twenty-nine years, and have always strongly supported one another in their endeavors. In 2009, Myra’s mother passed, leaving a home and forty acres of land in Harleyville. The Behrs decided to move in, and upon assessing his mother-in-law’s old garden, Bobby gave himself a challenge. “I thought, if I can create a successful farming operation here, I can do it at Ashley Ridge,” he says. “So we started it all here. It was a trial run for the real thing.” Behr began arranging the program at the school, starting with about twenty-five students in the special education program. Dantzler’s U-Pick Farm in Harleyville donated thousands of strawberry plants, and field trips from Ashley Ridge were arranged to the Behr homestead, where students planted rows of berry plants, collards, turnips and more. That year, they planted, picked, washed and weighed enough collards, turnips and rutabagas to service eight of the local schools. Pretty soon, word of his horticulture program spread, and with the help of a grant from Clemson, the program moved to a group of raised beds and a greenhouse at Ashley Ridge. Students began growing vegetables, and as they ripened, the kids sold them to the school cafeteria. Behr and the cafeteria manager began to track lunch time vegetable sales, and within just one year, the consumption
The program now includes ten acres of land, six greenhouses, and a garden at every one of the 22 schools in Dorchester County. of vegetables at Ashley Ridge increased 570 percent. “It’s a good kind of peer pressure,” he explains. “The kids who grew the vegetables are so proud of them, they encourage all of their friends to buy some at lunch time. Tracking the vegetable sales was a great idea, because those numbers helped get a teacher in.” Now, Ashley Ridge has a full-time horticulture teacher, Ben Gibson, and 150 students in the program. With the help of Zack Snipes and Amy Dabbs at the Clemson Extension, as well as College of Charleston Health Sciences professor, Olivia Thompson, Mead Westvaco and Boeing, the program now includes ten acres of land, six greenhouses, and a garden at every one of the twenty-two schools in Dorchester County. Additionally, Charleston and Berkeley County schools have over forty-seven gardens and counting, and Dabbs, from the Clemson Extension, has trained 145 teachers, who often incorporate the gardens and what they learn into their lesson plans. Next on the agenda: a garden in every South Carolina school.
Meanwhile, at the site of the original trial run, Behr Family Farm, Behr continues to tend to his land and crops. The farm now includes eight acres of produce, and Bobby and Myra plan to start a U-Pick blueberry farm in the future. A certified Clemson Master Gardener, Bobby takes care to cultivate rich soil and healthy plants using organic growing practices and a local compost company, Bees Ferry Compost. The Behrs have a small Community Supported Agriculture Program, or CSA, where locals pledge to support the farm for a set fee and receive weekly produce boxes of the farm’s bounty. The farmers also sell occasionally to Limehouse Produce, and do the bulk of their selling at the Summerville Farmer’s Market -- but not before Myra hand-cuts, cleans, and inspects every leaf and item of produce that goes out for sale. “She is meticulous,” Behr laughs. “I have to walk away, because she takes so much time cleaning and looking at each leaf, it drives me crazy. But our customers can be sure they’re clean!” Between managing the athletic department over at Ashley Ridge, to growing a fruitful program from which local students benefit, to cultivating organically-grown food on his farm, Bobby Behr is a busy man. However full his calendar may be, though, each of his endeavors bears the fruit of his passion and talents. For more info, visit Behr Family Farm at the market, or call (843) 696-3894.
Wishbone Heritage Farms Ridgeville, SC
WISHBONE HERITAGE FARMS Ridgeville, SC
After fifteen years in the insurance and finance industries in New York, David Gravelin felt completely burnt out. His job brought stress and financial issues, and all around him, he felt a constant push to make more money; no matter how much he had, it never seemed to be enough.
He made connections through Couchsurfing.com and stayed in strangers’ homes, volunteered in the Dominican Republic for a while and traveled up and down the East Coast looking for a place to settle. Eventually, he stopped in Memphis long enough to rent a place to live, and began visiting the local farmer’s market. There, he met Chris Watson of Renaissance Farms in Saulsbury, Tennessee, who invited Gravelin to visit and volunteer on the farm. “I volunteered on his farm exactly three times before I started looking for property of my own,” says Gravelin. Months prior, Gravelin’s travels brought him to Charleston, where he fell in love with its food culture, particularly the rising organic, locally grown movement. When the opportunity to start a farm presented itself, Gravelin quickly turned his sights toward the Charleston area, and it was not long before he found the perfect parcel of land out in Ridgeville, which he purchased in 2013. From there, it was just a path of trial and error to get his farm running successfully.
“I chased after financial security for a decade and a half,” says Gravelin. “One day, I finally realized that security had no real value to me.”
“I learned to raise pigs by buying pigs and raising them,” says Gravelin. “I think, if you’re going to do something, don’t stop yourself. Just do it, and learn while doing it.”
Gravelin soon sold off nearly all of his worldly possessions and began traveling, opening himself up to the pull of chance and opportunity.
Gravelin wasted no time getting his seventeen-and-a-half acre farm set up and functional. On one side, a forest provides the perfect home
for his pigs, while the other houses chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys.
“I learned to raise pigs by buying pigs and raising them,” says Gravelin. “I think, if you’re going to do something, don’t stop yourself. Just do it, and learn while doing it.” All animals are raised with vast amounts of land on which to forage and graze. Near the farmhouse, rows of crops grow in raised beds made of felled pine logs. Now in its second year, Wishbone Heritage Farms is quite a success, largely due to Gravelin’s hard work in setting up an operation that customers want to support. Interacting on social media accounts, manning the booth at farmer’s markets, opening up the farm to volunteer work days, and even making home deliveries himself,
Gravelin insists on being accessible to his customers. “My goal is to make it easy for people to eat local and maintain a relationship with the farm, not just during the farmer’s market season,” he says. “If you really want to know what you’re eating, you need to know and be able to communicate with the person who raised it.” A self-described conscious consumer, Gravelin is passionate about running a farm that provides a better, “true” organic experience -one that is heavily focused on creating products that are as natural as he can make them. To this end, Gravelin uses no antibiotics, growth hormones or synthetic pesticides or herbicides. He also feeds his animals an abundance of whole grains, establishes natural living conditions, and only uses local, certified humane processing facilities for his meat processing. Currently, Gravelin sells a multitude of pork and chicken cuts and sausages, duck and chicken eggs, turkey, herbs and seasonal produce, which he sells at the Summerville and Mount Pleasant Farmer’s Markets. During the off season, he delivers to four drop-off locations in the area and makes home deliveries for a small fee. For more info, follow Wishbone Heritage Farms on Facebook, visit them online at wishboneheritagefarms.com or call (843) 291-2610.
Wabi Sabi Farm Cordesville, SC
WABI SABI FARM
to get sick from the chemicals, and the business became emotionally exhausting for Johnna. They finally decided to head back to their roots, so to speak, and upon the advice of some strawberry farming friends in McClellanville, opened a strawberry and vegetable farm of their own five years ago. They settled on the name “Wabi Sabi,” the namesake of a Japanese philosophy centering on beauty in imperfections, which they remark is reflected in their slightly uneven rows of crops, rusty and repurposed items around the farm and nonsymmetrical produce.
The smell of onions permeates the air as I pull into Wabi Sabi Farm in Cordesville, South Carolina. Rows of strawberry plants line a large field, and a quaint farmhouse sits tucked against the treeline next to a few small greenhouses. Johnna Livingston, clad in a plaid shirt and work boots, stands at a table, trimming roots off green onions and tossing them into a box.
“Wabi Sabi, for us, represents a simplifying of life,” says Johnna. “It’s about appreciating that everything has its own process -- from the items you use, to the food you eat, to the life you’re living. Then using that understanding to make the best decisions you can, for your family and for the earth.”
Cordesville, SC
“I just got an order from a chef through GrowFood Carolina,” she explains. “As soon as I’m done here, I’ll throw these boxes into the truck and deliver them. Then I’ll head back here and work on trying to save some of these plants from tonight’s freeze.” Livingston and her husband, Jimmy, run Wabi Sabi Farm together, with the help of a few family members and friends. As kids, they both grew up farming—Johnna on her grandfather’s tobacco farm, and Jimmy on the water through his dad’s fishing company. After they met and got married, the pair opened a screen printing company, which they ran successfully for seventeen years. After a while, Jimmy began
“It’s about making the best of what you’ve got,” adds Jimmy. The name is fitting. All over the farm, intentional, sustainable and carefully considered habits abound. With a heavy focus in organic growing practices, the Livingstons shy away from herbicide and pesticide use, only spraying their plants when absolutely necessary, and only with the highest-quality chemicals available. Last year, they only sprayed their crops twice in the season, as opposed to the weekly schedule some farms adopt. The Livingstons focus most of their efforts on making healthy plants by creating healthy soil, including using cover crops to bring nitrogen and organic matter in the off-season. They also plant complimentary plants around pest-heavy crops like strawberries,
which bring insects that kill certain plant-endangering pests. Recently, Jimmy brought in a friend’s beekeeping operation to assist in pollination of some problem plants—it fixed the issue by morning. Listening to the two speak, they sound like a pair of agricultural scholars, with their vast knowledge of plant behavior, soil quality and weather patterns, but when asked, they both are quick to share the major source of their wisdom. “The Clemson Extension Program.” says Johnna. “I cannot tell you how valuable it is for us farmers. We have learned so much from them, and any time we have a question or are puzzled by something, we just have to make a call and Zack Snipes, our local guy, will either look it up and answer it for us, or come out here and walk the rows with us and teach us here on our own land. It’s invaluable.” As a family, the Livingstons place a strong emphasis on sustainable living, and source most of their food from their land, including hoards of vegetables, eggs from their chickens and venison shot from Jimmy’s deer stand on the back field. This all-in-one approach is reflected in their farmers market booths, where Johnna strives to provide a whole meal’s worth of products at their table, including shrimp from Jimmy’s dad’s business in McClellanville, Livingston’s Bulls Bay Seafood, and mushrooms from Mepkin Abbey, where Jimmy also works. “We want to make it easy for people to make meals from locallysourced, nutritionally dense products,” explains Johnna. “So we offer
the vegetables, the fruits, the seafood and sometimes the mushrooms, so they don’t have to make a half-dozen stops if they don’t want to.” Between the farmers markets in Moncks Corner and Summerville, and selling to local restaurants through GrowFood Carolina, Jimmy and Johnna have a full workload, but nothing beats strawberry season. The couple opens their farm for “U-Pick” strawberry picking in April, and the crowds are steady through June. “We may be off the beaten path a bit,” says Jimmy, “But it’s an easy and beautiful drive for most folks, and our three varieties of strawberries are just delicious. Totally worth the drive.” Currently, Wabi Sabi consists of two acres of strawberries, two acres of vegetables, a pen of chickens and a few acres of grazing land for the family’s two longhorn cattle pets, Woolley Bulley and Norman, but they are in the process of preparing an additional five acres for production. Ultimately, the couple wants to run a farm that supports their family through winter, spring and fall, with the opportunity to take time off during the hottest months, while maintaining a connection to consumers and educating people on local, sustainable produce. “It’s just incredibly important to us,” says Johnna. “Feeding our family quality, sustainably grown nutrients is a huge priority for us, and we hope to share that with as many people as we can.” For more info, follow Wabi Sabi Farm on Facebook or call (843) 312-0856.
Hog Heaven David Gravelin of Wishbone Heritage Farms checks on the piglets in the pig pen
Growing Local Summerville Farmers' Market
The Summerville Market, open April through December behind the Summerville Town Hall, is a wealth of locally grown and made products. Here, you can walk your dog, meet up with friends and neighbors, sample treats and enjoy the sunshine. From baked goods, plants, spices and clothing, to jams, dog treats, coffee and so much more, there is always something new to discover at the market. Here is our guide to the farmers at the 2015 Summerville Farmers' Market. Use it when planning meals or browsing the booths. We’ve indicated farms who have active Facebook pages—feel free to follow them for updates on new products and happenings.
LOCAL FARMS Behr Family Farm Harleyville (843) 696-3894 Seasonal vegetables. Big Smile Peaches Johnston (843) 513-4361 Fresh-picked SC peaches. Cypress Hill Farm Ridgeville (843) 851-1741 Seasonal fruits and vegetables. Dantzler Farm Harleyville (843) 560-0407 Carolina sweet corn.
Dorchester Farms Dorchester (843) 563-7650 Seasonal fruits and vegetables. Franklin Brown Produce Johns Island (843) 559-2761 Seasonal fruits and vegetables. Freeman Produce Johns Island (843) 697-2612 Seasonal fruits and vegetables. Gruber Farm Saint George (843) 693-7069 Seasonal fruits and vegetables. Hickory Bluff Berry Farm Holly Hill (843) 814-6555 Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and vegetables.
Keegan-Filion Farm Walterboro (843) 538-2565 Pork, eggs, cheese,chicken, beef, and turkey.
Shuler Peach Company Holly Hill (803) 759-0089 Nectarines, sweet corn, peaches and strawberries.
Kurious Farms Moncks Corner (843) 509-0473 Hydroponically grown cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce.
Smith’s Bee Farm Ridgeville (843) 873-4618 Locally harvested honey and honey products.
M.C. Cannon Farms Moncks Corner (864) 784-6176 Pastured beef and poultry, produce and honey.
Solo Verdi Meats Varnville (843) 830-6579 100% grass-fed beef.
Rivers Vegetable Market Summerville (843) 875-9036 Seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Sunny Cedars Farm Sumter (803) 934-6072 Pastured pork products and farm-fresh eggs.
Ron’s Roots Dorchester (843) 563-2218 Produce, herbs and flowers.
Taylor Family Farm Dorchester (843) 462-2039 Farm-fresh eggs.
Turner’s Farm Fresh Bowman (803) 662-0387 Fresh dairy products including raw milk, pasteurized milk, chocolate milk, cheese, butter and ice cream. Wabi Sabi Farm Cordesville (843) 312-0856 Seasonal vegetables, honey, eggs, shrimp and mushrooms. Wishbone Heritage Farms Ridgeville (843) 291-2610 Forest-raised pork and pork products, eggs, herbs and seasonal vegetables. The Summerville Farmers' Market is located in the First Citizens Bank parking lot behind Summerville Town Hall. Open every Saturday 8am - 1pm, April - Dec. Free parking is available for shoppers in the Town Hall parking garage.
I llust rat io n by Will Riz zo
lives lessons southern mothers . The
and treasured
of our
beloved
dear
sweet
AS M O T HE R ’ S DA Y A P P R O A C HE S, TW O LOVI NG D AU GHTE RS R E ME MB E R T H E R E MA R K ABL E W O M E N W H O GAVE THE M LI FE AND SCHOOLE D THE M ON L I F E ’ S M OST I MP ORTANT LE SSONS.
words by S U S A N
F R A M P T O N
with D O T T I E
R I Z Z O
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 83
We spend the first nine months of our existence tethered to them; their hearts beating out the rhythm marking our waking and our sleeping. They were there when we drew our first breaths, and theirs were the first smiles we saw through unfocused eyes. Their voices were more familiar than our own, and for those of us brought into the world by Southern mothers, they carried a soft, sweet drawl that fell gently on our tender ears.
Betty Durden Roberts
(1930 – 2012)
“You look just like my daughter.” They were the last words my mother said to me; smiling as her eyes came to rest on my face. The paramedics carefully rolled the stretcher through the doorway to take her on a slow journey from her home of over fifty years, to a hospice bed across town. As we followed the flashing red lights, we did not know that in only a matter of hours, she would be gone. Though her words stabbed me straight in the heart, time has softened them into a blessing of sorts; a reminder that even in her moment of confusion, I was in her thoughts. Even now, with her two years gone, she is never far from mine. Every day, my mother’s voice speaks in unison with mine as I utter one of her sayings, or find myself diving across the room to prevent my husband from putting a hat on the bed. It’s bad luck, I keep telling him. She convinced me that an unmade bed invites mayhem to my day. I never tell a bad dream before breakfast, for fear she was right to warn me it would come true, and though I know that the devil does not beat his wife when it rains while the sun is shining, a part of me still wants to put my ear to the ground to listen. My mother was a voracious reader, devouring books like gourmet chocolates. Keenly intelligent, she was a collector of words, savoring the sound of syllables that she stored like treasure and gifted to me and my brother. She delighted once in a note she saved from his kindergarten teacher, detailing a story the four-year-old related in class about “a charging herd of pachyderms.” She taught us that the right word was a tool, one with the power to heal or wound, to paint a picture, open doors or end wars. But, lest I make her sound prissy or pretentious, she could also cuss a blue streak. Those unwise enough to wound anyone she loved crossed an electrified, razor-sharp line into quicksand. Her love and loyalty were fierce and unconditional. She believed in fair, but quick justice, and I was never one of those children told to “wait until your father gets home” to be sentenced for my crimes.
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Betty Roberts was fearless, and I grew up confident that there was nothing she could not do. Though she centered her life on ours, she belonged to what Eleanor Roosevelt once referred to as “that group of people who move their own piano.” It was not until she was diagnosed with cancer that we realized that my mother was not invincible. But she approached the radical surgery, chemo and radiation with courage and grace, never complaining and always looking at the bright side of her situation, and gathering new friends like flowers during the brutal therapy, while wearing her pink ribbon survivor pin like the combat medal that it was. She won her battle, and had five blessed years free of cancer. She would, however, ultimately lose the war, when the very chemotherapy that saved her from breast cancer, traitorously brought on a rare blood disorder that would morph into leukemia. She did not dwell on the irony, choosing rather to be grateful for every single day. We had a difficult time choosing flowers for Mother’s funeral. The woman we mourned was anything but a delicate flower. She was quirky, and funny and unfiltered, and we could imagine her rolling her eyes at an arrangement of fragile petals. We chose a glorious display of bold, colorful sunflowers to mark her resting place in Beaufort National Cemetery. She was very much like the tall, sturdy flowers that turn each day to follow the path of the sun, and I don’t think it is a coincidence that they seem to appear in my life much more often these days. I cannot think of a single piece of advice that my mother ever gave me, yet I see the distinctive swirls and ridges of her fingerprints on every surface of my life. Looking back, I realize that she did not give her advice, but chose rather to live her advice. I miss her every day, but each time I glimpse the bright yellow petals of a sunflower, I am reminded of the woman my mother was, and the advice that she lived: be strong and resilient, be bold and bright - and always, always turn your face to the sun.
Bonnie Allan Langley
(1951 – 2010)
Dragonflies began to gather outside of my mom’s house the month before she died; lighting on flowers and hovering with lacy wings outside her window. She sent the grandchildren out for a closer look at the jewel-colored insects, this was one their last visits with her while she was still able to move about the house. Dragonflies have followed me ever since. My mom grew up in the Summerville of the 1950s, a small town where everybody knew everybody. And she loved it. She loved feeling safe playing outside, and walking from home to her father’s office in town when she was a little girl. She always said that she could not imagine living anywhere else. Born the year that Coach McKissick began coaching in Summerville, there was never a more faithful fan of the Green Wave, and it came as no surprise to anyone when she became a cheerleader for Summerville High School in 1965. In fact, there is a photo of her, many years later at McKissick’s 500th victory game that captures her cheering still – with arms in the air, face beaming, and a giant foam green wave on her head. I felt that she was different from all the other mothers, and so did a lot of my friends. They always told me how lucky I was to have such a mom – one who really listened. It made her a great teacher, and in her years at Summerville High School, her students often confided things in her they did not feel they could tell their own parents. That ability to listen was one of her greatest gifts, and it’s probably the one I miss the most. I try really hard to be like her with my own children in practical ways, but I know that I have passed along some strange and completely illogical things to them that came from my mom. I will not wash clothes on New Year’s Day, and heaven forbid if my Christmas tree is still standing by then. And I wouldn’t think of wearing white shoes before Easter or after Labor Day, even if the fashion industry says it
is okay – and it is ninety degrees outside. My mom believed that if you made a commitment, you should move heaven and earth to keep it. She worked hard, and I watched her go above and beyond what was required – whether in her job, in her marriage or for her family. She taught me that you could be strong and still care about people. She did not worry about what other people thought, and marched to her own drummer. She was my best friend, and although she never hesitated to give her opinion or her advice, and could be quite blunt, we never went through the typical teenage mother/ daughter troubles. She never judged, and I never once had her throw anything I said or did back in my face. Mom was always there for us, no matter what. If we needed anything, she always found a way to provide it; even if it meant sacrificing something that was dear to her. When she was fifty-four, she discovered a lump in her breast. But her life was busy, with children and grandchildren, so she kept it to herself. It cost her many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, and although she recovered, her life would never be the same. She was the glue that held the family together. She brought my grandfather home to care for him when he was diagnosed with cancer, to give him dignity and quality of life in his final days, while never letting on when her own cancer returned. Choosing family over her own health cost her everything, but such was her commitment. My mom has been gone for almost five years now. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her. Sometimes I pick up the phone to call her before I remember. But when the dragonflies appear—lighting on my finger or hovering outside my windows, I know that she is still with me, and that she is at peace. And thanks to the life and lessons of my blessed Southern mother – so am I.
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 85
Warm Welcome The Jones’ foyer is a charming and inviting entryway.
Beauty in Discovery Local interior designer, Laura Jones opens the door to her home, revealing a warm and eclectic aesthetic. by Jana Riley
photos by Dottie Rizzo
Before the hurricane even hit, the house was in rough shape. The structure lacked creature comforts and was put together piecemeal; there were additions upon additions, enclosed porches and inconsistent flooring and roofing. Laura and Neyle worked on the house together—a true labor of love—and continued to do so long after the trees were removed and damage repaired. “We transformed it from a little shack to our little shack,” laughs Laura.
Three months after Laura and Neyle Jones moved into their downtown Summerville home, pine trees came crashing through their roof. It was September 1989, and Hurricane Hugo had just made landfall. Their family narrowly survived the ordeal by huddling together through the devastating storm, and when the skies cleared, they set out putting their home back together.
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If there was any woman perfectly fit for the job of giving the little cottage a makeover, Laura was it. An interior designer since 1992, she currently runs her own residential design business appropriately named Laura Jones & Company, located in downtown Summerville for over twenty years. Her house, she says, is sort of the testing area for many of her designs and themes. “My little house is a guinea pig for my company,” she says. “I do something here, and then I will try it out at a client’s home.” Laura’s daughter, Caroline, who also works with her, graduated from Clemson with a degree in landscape architecture. She helped
Opposite: The hearth and custom bookshelves display carefully curated collections; a trio of botanical prints highlight a beautiful sitting area. This Page: Jade tones lend a pop of color to the living room; porcelain plates and vases are expertly arranged in the entry hall.
Spring 2015 AZALEAMAG.COM 89
Clockwise: A wood stove is a functional and unique focal point; the garden beckons; english conservatory-style windows offer lots of light; a wide front porch with wicker furniture is perfectly Southern. Opposite Page: Family portraits and unique lighting spark curiosity; muted tones and floral motifs create a relaxing atmosphere.
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“Little things clustered about are like jewelry for the house.” with the plan to rejuvenate the yard, which was completely overrun with azaleas and camellias. Caroline transformed the chaotic space by leaving a line of shrubs at the front of the yard adjacent to the street and incorporating paths to the front door. “I like that it’s kind of a surprise when you come into the yard,” says Laura. “It’s all sort of hidden, waiting for you to discover it.” That mentality translates to the interior of the home, which is speckled throughout with unique collections—some of which are small and edited and easy to miss at first. “I love to collect things,” shares Laura. “Little things clustered about are like jewelry for the house.” Exploring her home, global influences rest soundly among typical Southern themes—an unexpected but perfect collaboration. Vintage Turkish and Middle Eastern rugs set the stage, while Asian pottery and art abound. Paintings and decor items reflecting
ships, dogs, and shells dot the space, and curiosities like swords, a miniature pill box collection, vintage presidential pins and turtle shells atop candlesticks entice one to keep exploring. “I like to tease the eye,” explains Laura. “I think it’s wonderful when you don’t necessarily see everything right when you walk in a room, but instead you end up slowly discovering all of these neat little things.” Their house for over twenty-five years now, the Joneses are content with the beautiful home they’ve built around themselves—though Laura will never stop making edits here and there. Their most recent change was the upgrade of their master bath into a luxurious, relaxing oasis, complete with marble bath and shower and heated floor. This renovation inside their classic, French country style cottage speaks to Laura’s most treasured tenant of decorating: “I don’t like structure in general,” she shares. “I like little formalities, but I enjoy the chaos.” AM
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Clockwise: A newly renovated bathroom maintains a luxurious yet classic feel; hand-selected personal items are displayed in a bedroom; the exterior paths frame a truly Southern cottage home.
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We don’t just
BUILD HERE, we live here. Moncks Corner
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At Sabal Homes, we take immense pride in being an award-winning builder but our true sense of accomplishment comes from being a local
52 78 176
Summerville
builder. We don’t just build here. We live and play here. The Lowcountry is our home too and we always translate that sense of pride into every single home we build. We build your home like we’re building our own.
Hanahan 17
526
West Ashley 17
Mount Pleasant
Sabal Homes, your local home builder! Experience the Sabal difference.
526
Charleston
Building Homes in 10 Locations
SabalHomesSC.com
Call us at 844-MYSABAL
LOCAL S OCIA LS , CA US E S & COMMUNITY STAY CONNECTED
15th Annual SPCA Downs Byrd Oyster Roast The 15th Annual SPCA Downs Byrd Oyster Roast was a great night of local oysters, a silent auction and live music by Double Naught Spies and DJ Wendell, all to benefit the Frances R. Willis SPCA. www.summervillespca.org
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LOCAL S OCIA LS , CA US E S & COMMUNITY STAY CONNECTED
Summerville Winter Farmers Market During the winter months when the markets aren’t running, Coastal Coffee Roasters offers a winter farmers market. Offerings include free range and pasture-raised eggs, grassfed beef, raw milk and butter, delicious freerange pork sausages and bacon, pastureraised chicken, fresh local greens and more. All produce and crafts are guaranteed local. www.coastalcoffeeroasters.com
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Your trusted physicians in primary care now offer SPECIALTY CARE SERVICES! ENDOCRINOLOGY
Palmetto Endocrinology - Summerville Joseph Mathews, MD 1101 Old Trolley Rd #300 Summerville, SC 29485 Phone: 843-376-2670 ING OPEN 24! OV.
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Palmetto Endocrinology - Mt. Pleasant Eveline Waring, MD 1280 Hospital Drive, Suite 201 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 Phone: 843-518-6140
GASTROENTEROLOGY
Summerville GI Office Christopher Lawrence, MD; Aaron Domm, MD; Celeste Scalzo, FNP 102-A West 8th North Street Summerville, SC 29483 Phone: 843-376-0670
NEUROLOGY
Charleston Neurology Office John Lucas, MD; John Plyler, MD Karen Raduazo, MD; Christine Brusman, FNP 9313 Medical Plaza Drive, Ste 310 Charleston, SC 29406 Phone: 843-569-1856
PEDIATRICS
Hampton Office Rosita Vega, MD 300 Maple St, West Hampton, SC 29924 Phone: 803-943-3813 Moncks Corner Office Edward Jones, MD 115 Executive Parkway Moncks Corner, SC 29461 Phone: 843-761-2815
SLEEP MEDICINE
Lowcountry Sleep Medicine
7 South Alliance Drive, Ste 202-A Goose Creek, SC 29445 Phone: 843-820-5315
VEIN SPECIALISTS
Palmetto Vein, Imaging & Women’s Health 1101 Old Trolley Rd #200 Summerville, SC 29485 Phone: 843-407-0551
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LIKE our page for the latest PPCP news!
PALMETTO PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS
For additional information on speciality care, please visit www.PalmettoPrimaryCare.com or call (843) 572-7727
W H E N T HE CALL CAME by Ellen E. Hyatt
Just after Cousin Nick asked for the cream, that print of the skyline, any unknown city, slid down the wall—the third time this week. Gathered around my kitchen table, we watched it. In slow motion. This time glass spidered like puddles in a winter freeze. That’s when the call came that told us. Grandmother, we continued eating ice cream alongside birthday cake. We knew you had died long before the pneumonia, long before this last call today. Family land had sustained you. From the barn, you’d look to the pasture. Holsteins, marking time and space, waited for milking and toasted grain. From buckets to trough, it poured. Sounds echoed through the new word in town “rezoning.” Bulldozers eventually took over. They ate up green and spit out dirt, churned it into mudded hunks. Earth, blackened over. Metal and glass monsters rose, built by highrise persons who discarded land, country, earth, cows as catalog gimmicks. Grandmother, early this morning, at an estate sale of gems, linens, glass, silver, I saw a painting: two live oaks anchor the earth, spread like umbrellas over lounging Holsteins. I need to return tomorrow. I hope the painting’s still there for sale. I know exactly where to hang it.
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Lowcountry Orthopaedics -&- Sports Medicine
Get back in the Game! X-ray, Occupational Therapy, MRI, Physical Therapy 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. David Jaskwhich, MD James McCoy, Jr., MD
A MEMBER OF
Adam Schaaf, MD James Spearman, MD
L O W C O U N T R Y
North Charleston 2880 Tricom St. (843) 797-5050
O R T H O P A E D I C S
Downtown Summerville 130 E. 3rd North St. (843) 879-9699
&
S P O R T S
Summerville/Oakbrook 93 B Springview Ln. (843) 285-6060
M E D I C I N E
Occupational Therapy 2881 B Tricom Street (843) 797-5050
styled by margie sutton makeup by morgan porter