The Breeze August 2016

Au gu s t 20 16

The Breeze THE MAGAZINE OF BLUFFTON

CULTURAL CURRENCY SEE PAGE 8

Bluffton.com

The Breeze AUGUST 2016

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Notes

FROM THE

Editor:

W

ell, it's August and the dog days of summer are here.

Wonder how our grandparents slept without airconditioning?

They had many tricks that can be used today: cotton sheets, pointing box fans out the window to push the hot air out and switching the ceiling fan direction so the hot air is not pushed down.

If you want to go “Old School,” put a pan of water and ice next to the oscillating fan. Take a cool shower and drink a glass of water before bed and, believe it or not, a straw mattress holds less heat than our new cloth-covered ones do. Sleeping in a hammock on the porch was cooler than inside. Sometimes they would hang a wet sheet in the doorway to let the breeze cool off as it blew on the sheet. And, you know, it is debatable about sleeping better au naturale or with jammies.

The Breeze THE MAGAZINE OF BLUFFTON PUBLISHER Lorraine Jenness lorraine@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 EDITOR Randolph Stewart randolph@bluffton.com 843-816-4005 COPY EDITOR Allyson Jones allyson@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 SALES DIRECTOR Chierie Smith chierie@bluffton.com 843-505-5823 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Liz Shumake liz@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889

We have tried to keep our August lineup cool, as well. Let’s start with Jevon Daly and his memories of playing music with the marching band instead of running around the field in the heat chasing balls. If you want to get out and hear some live music, check out our guide to some of Bluffton's best local venues.

ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Mlay graphics@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889

Also in this issue, take a boat ride with Amber Hester Kuehn to see the dolphins and fiddler crabs. There is always something funny when she has a boatload of kids, giggling at the fiddler crabs “passing gas” in the salt marsh.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jevon Daly, Amber Hester Kuehn, Michelle Roldán-Shaw, Mark Vanderpool

We also honor the late Oscar Frazier, Bluffton’s Poet Laureate, with a piece about his life and a few of his poems. Make sure you join the community at Oscar Frazier Park on August 27 for the inaugural BBQ Festival.

PHOTOGRAPHERS, ARTISTS Doug Corken, Art Cornell, Amber Hester Kuehn, Matt Richardson, Chierie Smith, Thompson Turner Construction Co.

Opening a brand new high school is also cool. Michele Roldán-Shaw visits the new May River High School and I think you will be interested in the innovations and technology in both the building construction and the curriculum. Now there is a choice on where to go to school and what courses students may take. The mantra at May River is “Tradition Starts Today.” Go Sharks!

This month, May River Theatre presents The Miracle Worker, the story of Helen Keller. There are some interesting facts about Helen and Anne Sullivan’s life together, the Broadway play and the award-winning movie you will want to know. This is a no-miss performance with a dedicated director and cast that will keep you on the edge of your seat and evoke deep emotions.

Cultural Currency is a term you may not be familiar with. We take a look at how, thanks to increasing prices and taxes, old Blufftonian families are either losing their homes or their properties are being neglected to the point of demolition. A Call To Action is working with grassroots groups so Old Town locals do not become disenfranchised. This restoration and repurposing movement is to save our Cultural Currency. Unless the cycle is changed, 10 years from now there will be very few longtime Blufftonians living in Old Town.

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CORPORATE OFFICE 40 Persimmon St. Suite 102 Bluffton, SC 29910 843.757.8877 DISTRIBUTION Bruce McLemore, John Tant 843.757.9889 The Breeze is published by Island Communications and The Breeze Media, LLC. All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored for retrieval by any means without permission from the Publisher. The Breeze is not responsible for unsolicited materials and the publisher accepts no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of claims in any advertisement in any issue. The Breeze is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions, or changes in information. The opinion of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine and its Publisher. All published photos and copy provided by writers and artists become the property of The Breeze. Copyright. 2016.

CONTENTS

AUGUST 2016, VOLUME 14, NO. 8

F E AT U R E S

08 Cultural Currency 12 Thank Goodness It's Working 18 The Miracle Worker 22 Oscar Frazier

Bluffton's Poet Laureate 38 Time To Play

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39 Music Town: Venue Guide 40 Watermelon Salad Recipe Courtesy of Chef Matt &

The Pearl Kitchen & Bar 44 New School vs. Old School

D E PA R T M E N T S

08 History

10 Fellowship 12 Environment 18 Bluffton: Theater 26 Faces of Bluffton 36 Tide Chart 38 Music 39 Bluffton: Music Town 42 Restaurant Guide

ON THE COVER: Garvin House photography by Chierie Smith

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IN THE LAST TWO DECADES, BLUFFTON HAS seen a great deal of growth—just look at the new houses and buildings in the Historic District. Tabby Roads, Calhoun Promenade and Stock Farm are examples of “smart” growth and new development. We can also point to the awardwinning Wharf Street Revitalization project as a different type of development. It began as affordable housing, and now we see developers, builders and new families transforming Wharf Street into a complete neighborhood; the revitalization spurring new home construction on the street. There are also a few small lot developments beginning to pop up. But at what price? The loss of the indigenous culture?

By Randolph Stewart & Mark Vanderpool Illustrations by Doug Corken Photos by Art Cornell

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“Neighborhood revitalization” generally means “neighborhood turnover.” Most downtown revitalization in historic districts is driven by outside investors with money, vision and connections to capitalize on the historic significance or architectural charm of the neglected, undervalued indigeneous cottages. Old families or heirs tend to benefit primarily from selling their properties to outsiders, who then convert them into viable, profitable venues. New vernacular houses are built, rents go up and businesses that old-timers used to frequent are replaced with versions they cannot afford. Where are the old corner stores? They have turned into trendy shops or vanished! Get in your car and go to the big box store.

Some residents may find new or better jobs, but most do not.

Instead they are displaced—physically and emotionally— seldom sharing in the ongoing success of what was once their neighborhood and their legacy. The longtime resident property

owners and indigenous residents have the lots (which, in many cases, have reverted to “heirs property” with unclear title), history, culture, and creativity, but oftentimes lack funds and end up on the outside looking in. As old neighborhoods and buildings deteriorate, it encourages crime. Sadly, the culture is erased or, at best, preserved in a few black-and-white photos hung in the new or renovated buildings that arise from their gutted, repurposed properties.

Property owners on these streets need options beyond selling and foreclosure. As the demand for these properties increases, values increase, property taxes in turn increase, and the original owners become taxed out of their property.

T

he Bridge Street Cottage was the home of Robbie Brown, an oyster bateaux builder. There are other examples of this same simple cottage vernacular— some are gone. Robbie Cahill saved, enlarged and revitalized his cottage on Bridge Street. The Zokans on Colcock Street restored theirs during the Cedar Bluff Restoration Project. There was one on Bridge Street that was disassembled and moved to Calhoun Street and yet another one on Myrtle Island…gone.

The non-profit organization, A Call to Action, is working toward ending this cycle. Their goal working with grass roots organizations, partners, alliances and local government is to find stakeholders, grants, funding and assistance programs to revitalize these properties through the arts, thereby empowering these old neighborhoods to improve their homes or repurpose them into galleries, studios and boutiques for permanent rental income and, in turn, preserve native Bluffton history and culture in the process. They call it “Cultural Currency.” Using Bluffton Boundary Gallery as a “clearinghouse,” local property owners can receive advice, assistance and guidance.

LET’S TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THE OLDER cottages and businesses that no longer exist with words and illustrations from locals who remember, while we still can. Thank you to Emmett McCracken, Nate Pringle, Jake Martin, Doug Corkern and Frank Gadson for their help and stories, as well as illustrations

by Bluffton artist and emeritus architect, Doug Corkern.

Harry Hamilton was a WWI veteran. Eight went to war from Bluffton and seven came back. Harry’s house was on the corner of Lawrence and Boundary. Sarge, his son, was the last Continued on page 32

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he Peeples Family Home was located next to the The Store on Calhoun.

Thirteen children were raised in that home—including the 11 sons named after disciples—and were, perhaps, Bluffton’s most creative family. As family members passed away, the home deteriorated and was demolished. The land has been repurposed into the May River Montessori school campus.

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FELLOWSHIP AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL Cambell Chapel A.M.E. 25 Boundary St. (843) 757-3652 Sunday School: 8:45 a.m.

Worship: 10 a.m.

ASSEMBLY OF GOD New River Worship Center

Hwy 170 & Argent Blvd. (next to ESPY) (843) 379-1815 Sunday: 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday: 7 p.m.

BAPTIST Cornerstone Church Bluffton Boundary at Church St. (843) 757-3472 Sunday School: 9:15 a.m.

Worship: 10:30 a.m.

First Zion Baptist

Wharf & Robertson St. (843) 757-3128 Sunday School: 9 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 10 a.m.

Maye River Baptist Church 3507 Okatie Hwy. (843) 757-2518 Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 11 a.m.

St. John’s Baptist Church 103 Pritchard St. (843) 757-4350 Sunday Worship: 11 a.m.

St. Matthew’s Baptist Church SC Hwy. 170 (843) 757-3255 Sunday Worship: 11 a.m.

Indian Hill Baptist Church Hwy. 278 next to Eagle’s Point (843) 757-2603 Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 11 a.m.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES Kingdom Hall

119 Bluffton Rd. (843) 815-4455 Sunday Public Talk: 9:30 a.m. & 3:30 p.m.

Spanish Public Talk: 12:30 p.m.

Bible Missionary Baptist Church

Goethe Road Community Center (843) 815-5523 Sunday Worship: 11 a.m., Bible Study: 6 p.m.

CATHOLIC St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church

10 bluffton.com 333 Fording Island Rd.

(843) 815-3100 Sat.: 4 & 6 p.m. Sun.: 7:15 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., Spanish, 12:45 p.m.

Mon.-Fri.: 6:45 a.m. Chapel, 8:30 a.m. Church

ANGLICAN The Church of the Cross

110 Calhoun St. (843) 757-2661 Saturday Worship: 5:28 p.m.

Sunday Worship: 8 & 10 a.m.

495 Buckwalter Pkwy.

(843) 757-2661 Sunday Worship: 9 & 10:30 a.m.

The Church of the Holy Trinity

2718 Bees Creek Rd., Ridgeland (843) 726-3743 Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11 a.m.

Sunday School for All Ages: 9:45 a.m.

Midweek Services: Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

EPISCOPAL The Episcopal Church of Okatie 231 Hazzard Creek, Okatie, SC (843) 592-3965 Worship: Every Sunday 9 a.m.

GREEK ORTHODOX Holy Resurrection Church

at St. Andrews Catholic Church 220 Pickney Colony Rd. (843) 837-4659 Orthros: 9:30 a.m., Liturgy 10 a.m.

JEWISH Temple Oseh Shalom at Lowcountry Presbyterian

278 Simmonsville Rd. (843) 705-2532 Shabbat Worship third Friday of month, 8 p.m.

LUTHERAN Lord of Life Lutheran Church 351 Buckwalter Pkwy.

(843) 757-4774 Sunday School: 10 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 8, 9 & 11 a.m.

METHODIST Bluffton United Methodist Church 101 Calhoun St. (843) 757-3351 Sunday School: 9:45 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 11 a.m.

Church of the Palms United Methodist 1425 Okatie Hwy. (843) 379-1888 Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m.

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church SC Hwy. 170 near Sun City

(843) 705-3022 Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 10 a.m.

St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC

Bluffton Campus 39 Persimmon St. Bldg. 200, #203 (843) 837-4712 Sunday Contemporary Worship: 10:30 a.m.

PRESBYTERIAN Lowcountry Presbyterian Church US 278 and Simmonsville Rd. (843) 815-6570 Sunday School: Adult 9:40 a.m., Child 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.

Grace Coastal Church (PCA) 15 Williams Dr. (off 170) (843) 379-5521 Sunday School: 11 a.m.

Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Freedom Life Church 250 H.E. McCracken Circle (404) 667-3212 Sunday Services: 10:30 a.m.

Live Oak Christian Church

Bluffton High School Auditorium (843) 757-5670 Kidstreet: 9:15 a.m.

Worship: 10:15 a.m.

Lowcountry Community Church Bluffton: 801 Buckwalter Pwky.

(843) 836-1101 Sunday Worship: 8:30, 10, 11:30 a.m.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry 110 Malphrus Rd. (843) 837-3330 Sunday Services: 10 a.m.

Religious Education & Childcare provided

Unity Church of Hilton Head Island Seaquins Ballroom 1300 Fording Island Rd., Bluffton (Near Tanger I) (843) 682-8177 Sunday Services: 10 a.m.

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ENVIRONMENT

By Amber Hester Kuehn

Back to school…already?

The summer solstice has come and gone and soon it will be time to gather together and learn new things in the classroom. Field trips are being organized for the coming months and will provide a smooth transition from play to pay attention.

It was always exciting for me to cover my books with paper bags, buy new pencil boxes and pick out the Trapper Keeper.

Although the focus has changed from actual school supplies and library cards to touch screens and virtual access, the first day of school still seems to bring the same excitement.

It has been over 30 years but, if memory serves, I’m pretty sure I never had the opportunity to take a field trip on a

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motor boat to learn about the local marshland and I certainly did not have access to the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston (May 2000) or the Port Royal Maritime Center (November 2014) just up the street. Our community is bringing emphasis to the Lowcountry marine environment and I am making every effort to support it.

Over the past year, I have performed several field trips aboard my tour boat, Spartina. I have observed the things that catch the attention of a nine-year-old.

Some of them have never been on a boat and are fascinated by the wake left behind by the engine…they love to “go faster.” When I attempt to explain the basis of the ecosystem, the 200,000 acres of marsh in Beaufort County, they could care less. They want to see a dolphin and, when we find one, their attention span is about 30 seconds before they

want me to find another one. The fiddler crabs that I bring along will entertain them for a moment, but only long enough for me to explain that their role in nature is to clean the surface of the mudflat when they emerge from their burrows at low tide. Then they ask, “What else do you have in the bucket?”

I attribute this need for instant gratification and excitement to the immediate access of the computer age. When I was nine, I was fascinated by the feeling of a fiddler crab running over the top of my foot, and those crabby eyes that act independently of one another…one up, one down: “Mom! He’s winking at me!”

How do we get the attention of a nine-year-old who is fascinated with things that move across a screen to notice things that move across a mud flat? Well, I have a funny, TRUE story that happened on one of my first field trips.

It was the beginning of the school year and the first time that this age group had been on the boat. One hundred 2nd and 3rd graders filled the Port Royal Maritime Center and teachers were frantically trying to divide them into groups. I took 20 on each trip for five one-hour boat tours. I will say that at the end of that day, I was completely enlightened—not in a good way or a bad way, just enlightened. I feel that I am more prepared for living in this unpredictable world after this experience and several subsequent ones just like it.

With this age group, I have found that in order to make an impression, there has to be a balance of fun and fact. Although sometimes they end up hating me when I tell them to get their feet off the cushions or to stop talking when I am talking, I continue to try to impress them with nature.

When I am “field tripping” for the Port Royal Maritime Center, I start with a description of the mud flat, constructed of silt and held together by the marsh grass. I proceed to explain that when the fiddler crabs emerge from their burrows at low tide, they release a gas that is the product of an anaerobic bacteria decomposing organic matter deep in the mudflat. I was pleased when one of the students immediately raised his hand with enthusiasm to ask a question. I suddenly felt pride for my attempt to spark interest in the marine environment.

The question was this: “Captain Amber, is that like a bacteria FART?” Having no kids of my own, I had forgotten how comical toilet humor can be for this age group. After I regained control over the group, I announced, “Actually, that is somewhat accurate, but if you are going to use that analogy, you must do me a favor. When you are crossing the Broad River Bridge, roll down the window, smell the hydrogen sulfide gas emitted from the mud flat at low tide and, with your fist in the air, proclaim loudly, “THANK GOODNESS ITS WORKING!”

When your mom asks you what you are talking about, say, “Mom, the bacteria are farting and doing their job!”

Back at the dock, I explained to the teachers that the only thing the kids are going to remember about the one-hour boat ride is the word “fart.” I apologized, but made them aware that I did not introduce the concept, they did.

They assured me, “Amber, we deal with these people on a daily basis. Don’t be shocked…we aren’t.” Now that I was off the hook, I reiterated that if they remember just that one thing, it is accurate and I may have actually taught them something.

Although I am intensely fascinated with the intricate details that work together to keep our unique ecosystem pristine and balanced, I have learned to “bring it down” to a level that nurtures comprehension in a child’s mind. This is harder than you think, especially for a biologist that is passionate about the details.

For all you teachers out there, I appreciate you more than ever. THANK YOU! I’ll see you soon.

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FIVE STAR REVIEWS Thanks for all of your help with my Dadʼs home. I was at my wits-end and you sprang into motion. I truly appreciate your kindness.

- Cindy and Skip Recently, we have had to learn that it is not unique to have a rodent problem when you live in this area. What has been unique is the quality of service provided by Hilton Head Exterminators.

- S. Lindsay

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O L D T O W N

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You don’t want to miss historic Bluffton near the May River for some of the most unique shopping and dining in our area. It’s all blended with colorful and creative art galleries, history up and down local streets, and dining for lunch and dinner in charming settings. The Bluffton Old Town Merchants Society warmly encourages visitors to come and spend an afternoon or a day discovering historic Bluffton.

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T

he Miracle Worker

I

magine living in darkness and silence as a child. The inability to communicate, the utter isolation, the complete lack of language. The anger and violent outbursts due to not understanding that every object has a word to identify it. That is the only world Helen Keller knew as a child in the 1880s. The Miracle Worker is the story of Keller’s life, adapted from her book, The Story of My Life, published in 1903.

According to the Perkins School for the Blind website, Helen was born into an affluent Southern family in Alabama. Her father, Arthur Keller, was a Captain in the Confederate Army, a newspaper editor and plantation owner. His mother’s father was a Confederate General and a second cousin to Robert E. Lee. Helen was pitied and badly spoiled by her parents, taught no discipline and, by the age of six, grew into a wild, angry, tantrum-throwing child in control of the household.

Keller’s mother, inspired by an account in Charles Dickens’ 1842 travelogue American Notes for General Circulation of the successful education of another deaf and blind child, contacted physician J. Julian Chisolm, who referred the Kellers to Alexander Graham Bell, who would become Helen’s lifelong friend. Bell advised them to contact the Perkins Institute for the Blind. Once there,

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Captain Keller selected 20-year-old Anne Sullivan, herself visually impaired and a graduate of the Institute, to become Helen’s instructor. It was the beginning of a 49-year relationship during which Sullivan evolved into Keller’s savior and eventually her companion.

Once home, Anne immediately began to teach Helen to communicate by spelling words into her hand, beginning with “d-o-l-l” for the doll that she had brought Keller as a present. Keller was frustrated, almost having feral wildness, as her mind could not understand the relationship between the signs and objects.

Keller’s big breakthrough in communication came when she realized that the motions her teacher was making on the palm of one hand, while running cool water over the other, symbolized “water.” This is one of the most powerful and compelling moments in the play. Helen learned over 60 words that first day, including Mother, Papa and Teacher.

Later Helen wrote of the experience, “Suddenly I felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten—a thrill of returning thought; and somehow the mystery of language was revealed to me. I knew then that “w-a-t-e-r” meant

the wonderful cool something that was flowing over my hand.

That living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free! …Everything had a name, and each name gave birth to a new thought. As we returned to the house every object which I touched seemed to quiver with life.”

The Miracle Worker premiered on Broadway in 1959 and closed after 719 performances. The play was written by William Gibson and directed by Arthur Penn.

The original cast starred Anne Bancroft as Anne Sullivan and Patty Duke as Helen Keller.

Patty Duke remained with the play for its entire run. Suzanne Pleshette eventually replaced Anne Bancroft. The play received five Tony Awards.

came from doing things for others: “Helping your fellow men were one’s only excuse for being in this world and in the doing of things to help one’s fellows lay the secret of lasting happiness.”

She was a suffragette, a pacifist, a radical socialist and a birth control supporter. In 1915, she founded the Helen Keller International organization, devoted to research in vision, health and nutrition. In 1920, she helped to found the American Civil Liberties Union.

Keller traveled to over 40 countries with Sullivan, and met every U.S. President from Grover Cleveland to Lyndon B. Johnson, who in 1964 presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was friends with many famous figures, including Alexander Graham Bell, Charlie Chaplin and Mark Twain.

The May River Theater production of The Miracle Worker, directed by Ron Ruckle, is a must see, even if one has seen the movie and knows the story. Ruckle and his strong cast, including Elliot Lentz who plays Helen, Rebecca Donaldson as Anne, J.T. Chin as Captain Keller and Christine Grefe as her mother Kate Adams Keller, bring the energy, depth of feeling and understanding of this iconic and powerful play. It appeals to all ages, and the message it portrays brings hope and courage to all. There will not be a dry eye in the audience.

In 1962, again with the same writer and director, plus Bancroft and Duke, The Miracle Worker was presented on the big screen. That year, Bancroft won the Academy Award for Best Actress and Duke won the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Another interesting fact is that Bancroft was married to Mel Brooks, and he asserts that she encouraged and influenced his musical film productions of The Producers, and Young Frankenstein, both plays previously presented by May River Theater.

Keller, with Sullivan’s help, graduated cum laude from Radcliffe College, the first blinddeaf person to receive a degree in America. She became a prolific writer and later a social activist and lecturer, known worldwide.

She was thankful for the faculties and abilities that she did possess and stated that the most productive pleasures she had were curiosity and imagination.

Keller also spoke of the joy of service and the happiness that

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A great learning trip for kids & adults!

Voyage of discovery

Discover the local marsh habitat.

See the richness of life in our tidal estuary.

Learn measures for water quality.

All trips led by Captain Amber Kuehn MS in Marine Biology Contact: SpartinaCharters@gmail.com or Spartinacharters.com 843-338-2716

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OSCAR FRAZIER 22 bluffton.com

Bluffton’s Poet Laureate (1956-2005)

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oet laureate of Bluffton, author of two poetry books and a children’s book illustrated by local school children, a respected community leader, Bluffton Town Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem, Oscar Frazier served on the Board of Directors for the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club, co-founded and served as Deacon at Bible Missionary Baptist Church, as well as serving on numerous governmental and community committees.

In addition, he founded The Bluffton Poets Society and worked closely with Beaufort County’s Parks and Leisure Services department to design Shults Park, a multi-sport community park and event center, which is now named Oscar Frazier Park in his honor.

Buckus loved music. He was constantly teased by his brothers because he liked Elvis over Marvin Gaye. Buckus had to pay hush money to keep it quiet.

Oscar was married to Marcia Renea and had four children: Jacqueline, Oscar James Frazier, Jr., Bridgette and Joshua. Ten days after being diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, Oscar passed away in 2005 at the age of 49.

The brothers had to look after each other at school and in town. Until they reached high school at M.C. Riley, the schools were segregated. Often it was necessary to stand up against local bullies. However, Oscar was rumored to have been good in a ruckus and it didn’t take many incidents before the Frazier family gained the respect of the local boys.

Oneself We spend most of our lives Trying to find our identity I often wonder why How in the world can you not know Who or what you are Or what purpose for which you exist I’m appalled when I hear people say One day I will find myself How do you go about doing that You’re with yourself each and every day One would have to lose oneself In order to look for oneself If one does what God wants them to Then one would never be lost

When reading Oscar’s poetry, you see the man, his questions, the strength of his faith, an insight into his fears, the importance of family and optimism for the future.

Imagine growing up in rural Bluffton in a poor family of 12. The seven boys shared one bed with a mattress stuffed with pine straw or Spanish moss. One brother shared, “You most always have some feet in your face.”

The heritage of his parents—Oscar B., a shrimper, and Daisy Pinkney—was rooted deeply in Gullah tradition and culture where respect for each other, strict discipline and love of family was so important. The older sister raised the younger children; the older brothers picked up spare jobs for a little extra money. Everyone had chores to do—cooking, tending the vegetable patch, washing clothes or dishes—and, for Oscar, it was taking care of the chickens.

Everyone also had nicknames. Oscar’s endearing name, a cause for good-natured ribbing, was “Buckus.” We cannot divulge the reason here, but if you ask one of his close friends or family to tell you why, it will bring a grin to your face.

Family dinner was always special, even when there was nothing to eat. The May River gave the boys a diversion for play and seafood for that large pot of Gullah Gumbo and rice.

Their clothes were always hand-me-downs.

Their mother taught them morals and always told each one, “No one is better than you!”

It is said his children’s book, “What Color is Friendship?” was inspired by his experience in the ninth grade at the newly integrated high school. There he made his first white friend, Bailey Bolen, a fellow member of the track team and, later, godfather to Oscar’s first child.

Faith was at the forefront of everything the Frazier family did. Do unto others, help those who are in need of help, give more than you will receive…this is the light that burned within Oscar throughout this life.

His parents taught their children that you don’t find religion in church, you find it within yourself and then go to church.

All seven brothers served in the military after graduating from high school. They knew that the GI Bill was the only way they could afford to go to college. Oscar served for three Continued on page 28

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Send your selfies to Chierie@Bluffton.com

Faces of Bluffton

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Continued from page 23

years ending up in the infantry at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

He returned home to Bluffton to continue his life and become the local legend that we now know.

He worked in the construction, roofing and landscaping businesses and is fondly remembered for his great food at Oscar’s BBQ, cooked and served out of the Little Red Caboose in Old Town (now moved to Burnt Church Road and used by Choo Choo BBQ Express).

During his term on Bluffton Town Council, Oscar pushed for annexation of the poorer areas so that they might enjoy the benefits of the Town’s growth and expansion. It is said Oscar was the bridge that helped close the gap of the old segregated ways and the new integrated way.

In governing, Emmett McCracken who served with him on Town Council, recounts that Oscar was a mild-mannered man; thoughtful, respectful and straightforward. Oscar stood his ground for what he believed in and gave more than he received. He loved reading his poetry to children, and was beloved by many.

On July 12, the former Mayor Pro Tempore was posthumously inducted in the Town of Bluffton’s Wall of Honor. “His legacy is still alive with his numerous projects to improve the life of Bluffton residents,” stated a post on the Town’s Facebook page.

Bluffton will also honor his memory with the First Annual Oscar Frazier Day BBQ Festival at his namesake park on August 27. Money raised at the event will benefit local youth education and sports.

Oscar began writing in high school and some days would write a dozen poems. His favorite, that he learned by heart and would act out on the school bus coming home from games, was Edgar Allen Poe’s “Annabel Lee.” I asked Art Cornell, a regionally known and respected artist, poet and photographer, what emotions he felt when reading Oscar’s poetry.

“Oscar’s work is genuine and heartfelt. He had a way of interpreting real life, a unique way of looking at the world,” said Cornell. “He had no pretenses and, simply put, wrote about his life with the depth of emotions that we all have, from happiness to anger, from sorrow to love.”

Here are some more of Oscar’s words—let them speak to you!

Anyone and Everyone Anyone can tear down But not everyone can build up Anyone can start a war But everyone can’t make peace Anyone can tell a lie But everyone won’t tell the truth

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Anyone can say they love you But not everyone actually means it Anyone can see others’ faults But everyone can’t see theirs’ Anyone can start something But not everyone can finish Anyone can make one sad But everyone can’t make others laugh Anyone can be a winner But everyone can’t be a loser Anyone can learn to hate But everyone must learn to love Anyone can pretend to be someone else But everyone has to give an account for themselves

The River Runs Can someone tell me why The river runs to the sea I guess it is the same reason That blood runs through our veins The same river that runs to the sea Are tears some say that God has cried Over these many, many years I have heard many different versions Man thinks that he knows everything That’s why we can only estimate As to why the rivers have undertows

Waiting Still They never owned more than Twenty-two acres between the both of them My two grandfathers of whom I’m speaking Worked most of their natural lives Two finer men you’ll never meet again On this side of heaven All they ever wanted was to be treated With dignity and respect given to others And to be able to provide for their families There were both pillars of their communities Promises were made to both of them Which were never kept I often wondered why Society was so unfair then And, by the way, they never got their Forty acres and that blame mule.

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to live there. Known as a handyman, Sarge would be seen doing odd jobs or helping out at oyster roasts. A quiet man, but always willing to carry on a conversation, his home was known for flying the American flag upside down…as a sign of distress. This home was neglected for decades and later demolished.

On the northeast corner of Bridge and Wharf stood Ben Bruin’s little framed shop where you could buy canned goods, bread and necessities.

Ben lived in a small cottage on the same lot, was an oysterman and shrimper, and could often be seen knitting shrimp nets to sell on his front porch. His store and cottage are now gone.

Mr. Alfred Fripp’s store was on the same property that the Fripp-Lowden House sits on today, at the corner of Bridge and Calhoun. It is hard to believe there could have been another building on the same site but, in those days, the right-of-way was small and the road was a narrow oystershell-and-dirt path. Fripp had refrigeration, so he sold meats, cold drinks, dry goods, bread and candy. It was said that if you stood on the porch gossiping away, you can see all of Bluffton passing before your eyes. The candy display case can now be found at Stock Farm Antiques. Here is yet another building gone.

O

n the May River, at the end of Wharf Street, you will find the ongoing restoration of the Cyrus Garvin House (c. 1870). Cyrus was a free slave, and thanks to the Town of Bluffton’s vision, creativity and hard work, plus funding from the South Carolina Dept. of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, the house was saved, just in the nick of time. Plans are to use it for an historical interpretive site.

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Moss Crosby’s house on Bridge Street was a cottage with wrapping porches. The family was large but after the children grew up the Crosbys, who were schoolteachers, converted the spare rooms into a boarding house in the 30s and 40s.

Another example of demolition by neglect, but you can still see the barn in the rear yard.

On the corner of Lawrence and Bridge Streets, there was the Kiss Beach Family Cottage…gone. The Jacob Bruin house was at the end of Calhoun Street across from what was Eggs’…gone. The Praise House on DuBois Street…gone. There are many other examples along DuBois Street, Lawrence Street, Bridge Street, Robinson Street and Guerrard Street…all gone or neglected.

LET’S NOW LOOK AT SOME COTTAGES WE DO not want to lose with the aid of more illustrations by Doug Corkern:

The Graves House on Calhoun Street, though larger, was approved for demolition and reconstruction by the Historical Preservation Commission. After several years of looking at alternatives, it has now been moved on the original site and is undergoing restoration and repurposing for the Bluffton United Methodist Church. This shows how owners, the developer, the Town, churches and the community worked together to save this Cultural Currency. Every cottage left can be saved!

T

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE owned property for over 100 years around Old Town. We can only hope and work to make sure that in 100 more years there will still be Blufftonians living in Bluffton.

he “Green Cottage,” as it is called, on Dubois Lane is a Historical Contributing Structure, but has been condemned by the Town for Public Safety reasons. The land, originally owned by the Huggins Family (who still live on the street) was passed down to Evonne Huggins Mitchell. Later, it was purchased by Edward and Eliza Johnson and then inherited by their daughter, Maggie Mae Johnson, a housekeeper for the Sea Pines Company, who lived there. After she passed away, it became “heirs property” and has been neglected and attracted undesirable elements, until it was condemned.

This cottage must be saved, as it is part of our history! Using Cultural Currency, A Call to Action is working to find a new purpose for the home by offering to help clear the title and providing funds for stabilization, so as to not disenfranchise the indigenous owners.

S

ara Riley Hooks was a public health nurse and daughter of M.C. Riley, who is in the Bluffton Hall of Fame. Her renowned son, Tony, lead guitar player with Sly and the Family Stone, was tragically shot in a lovers’ quarrel on the front porch. Although an arrest was made, the motive and gun were never found. Her home is sorely neglected and in need of revitalization.

A

Call to Action, in the near future, will host a Cultural Currency neighborhood meeting and discussion with stakeholders in the community. If you have ideas and would like to help break the cycle of demolition, call Nate Pringle at (843) 816-4495 or Frank Gadson at (843) 816-1200.

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AUGUST TIDES Tide chart is calculated for the May River.

Full Moon August 18.

MON 1

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Hilton Head Boathouse Showroom: 1498 Fording Island Road Bluffton, SC 29910 Hilton Head Boathouse: 405 Squire Pope Road Hilton Head Island, 29926

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843-681-2628 www.hhboathouse.net

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MUSIC

By Jevon Daly Some kids love science. I’ll admit I’ve always been a fan of “chemistry,” but really had a hard time in school. Being the class clown takes time away from listening, studying, etc. But put something in my hand and I can focus.

When I started playing saxophone in 4th grade up in PA, I had no idea what, where or who was gonna happen. The important thing was that the SCHOOL had us kids come to the band room and “try” the trumpet, hit the snare drum.

Had I heard of John Coltrane or Kenny G? Nope. But I had to play the saxophone. Somehow a bandmate of my father‘s donated an alto sax to an 11-year-old Jevon and I began to play in school. Of course, I still drew pictures of the B.C. Rich guitars I saw on MTV during class (when I was supposed to be listening to the teacher), but I now had the sax. Let’s riff!

Does this anymore?

process

happen

Basketball? Sure, man...you wanna play basketball? Here.

Sign up and play. A decent piano costs hundreds of dollars. Drums are not cheap. Where do the instruments come from?

I know—we could get all the golf courses to donate one day’s worth of watering funds and probably

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buy three schools a full band’s worth of instruments, music and music stands.

Then you need a dedicated teacher.

And parents willing to help. You also need kids with that fire that the HHHS Marching Seahawks had in 1983.

All 18 of us. We actually practiced where M.C. Riley is now—the old McCracken Middle School.

That band had some serious players: Daryl Byrd, Eddie Days, Greg Smalls.

Kim Grant. Oh, and those two skinny kids with the funny names—Jevon and Gavan Daly—ha, ha!

Gavan was an A student (with a flat top haircut back then) and a killer surfer with a lot of focus. Jevon NEEDED that band. I loved it. Yes, I was picked on for the size 42 pants I wore (all we had left in the uniform closet). You should have seen when we got into All County Band and went to Battery Creek in 1985. WOW. Without music, school life was tricky for me. There are kids all over the U.S. just like that kid I was back in 1983. Kids that have trouble studying or sitting still in class. Kids that want attention. The band was IT for me.

What can we do moving forward for our kids? I honestly don’t know.

Music programs are dwindling nationwide. The Arts are fizzling

everywhere, being replaced by website design classes and other classes my son is taking that I cannot even begin to “get.”

First, schools need instruments and a teacher.

Where would guys like me—guys and girls who make a living singing and playing now—be without our band background from school? The pride and confidence I received from that; no one can ever really know how I felt playing in that early Seahawk Band… sitting next to the tubas in the back.

We were BAD. The band played “Word Up,” I mean! Confidence beamed from every one of our faces. The Light!

Hopefully Martin Lesch and the Junior Jazz Association have something up their sleeves. Maybe teachers like Dr. Corley over at Red Cedar here in Bluffton will find a way to spark something. They have a drum corps that marches! Ya never know till ya try.

I hope someone makes some moves. If I can help, gimme a call: (843) 683-BOIL. Ask for the 44-year-old Dad guy who still has that Seahawk Marching Band pride happenin’. Every gig I do is an extension of all those kids I played with. They were some serious players. Thanks to Mr. Smith, too.

That’s where I come from.

Roasting Room

Lounge & Listening Room 1297 May River Rd. (419) 733-0736 roastingroomlounge.com August 11: This One’s For Howard: A Benefit for J. Howard Duff August 20: Zach Deputy CD Release

Toomers’ Bluffton Seafood House

27 Dr. Mellichamp Dr. (843) 757-0380 blufftonoyster.com Tim Malchak plays on Friday and Saturday nights.

Captain Woody’s Bluffton

17 State of Mind St. (843) 757-6222 captainwoodys.com

Corks Wine Co.

14 Promenade St. (843) 815-5168 corkswinecobluffton.com Live music every Tuesday and Friday.

Old Town Dispensary

Carson Cottages 15 Captains Cove Rd. (843) 837-1893 otdbluffton.com Live music nightly in the Budweiser Beer Garden.

BLUFFTON VENUE GUIDE

F

rom Old Town to Palmetto Bluff, outdoors or inside, Bluffton is a true Music Town with a variety of venues showcasing talented local, regional and national bands and musicians. Below are just a few places around town to hear some live music. Call the listed phone numbers or visit individual websites for complete entertainment schedules.

Fat Patties Bluffton 207 Bluffton Rd. (843) 815-6300 fat-patties.com

Bluffton Sunset Party

Bluffton Oyster Factory Park 63 Wharf St. blufftonsunsetparty.com August 19: Chris Jones & The Will Snyder Trio

Palmetto Bluff Summer Concert Series

19 Village Park Sq. palmettobluff.com August 2: The Blue Dogs August 9: The Accomplices The Breeze AUGUST 2016

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CHEF MATT’S Watermelon Salad

INGREDIENTS: Seedless watermelon, cubed Arugula Toasted hazelnuts Red onions, sliced Ricotta salata, grated (available at The Fresh Market) Cucumbers, thinly sliced *Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette

COURTESY OF THE PEARL KITCHEN & BAR

GARNISH: Freshly minced chives Balsamic drizzle *FIG BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE 1 7 oz. jar fig jam (available at World Market) 1 Tablespoon honey 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 medium shallot, finely diced 2 Tablespoons brown sugar ¾ cup balsamic vinegar ¼ cup red wine vinegar 1 cup salad oil 1 cup extra virgin olive oil Blend fig jam, honey, mustard, shallot and sugar until smooth. Add vinegars and continue to blend. Drizzle oils very slowly over salad to emulsify.

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BLUFFTON’S

RESTAURANT GUIDE Agave Side Bar** Southwestern 13 State Of Mind St. (843) 757-9190

Toomers’ Bluffton Seafood House** Seafood 27 Dr. Mellichamp Dr. (843) 757-0380

Butcher’s Market and Dell Deli 102 Buckwalter Pkwy., Ste. 3G (843) 815-6328

Cahill’s Chicken Kitchen** Southern 1055 May River Rd. (843) 757-2921

The Village Pasta Shoppe** Italian, Deli, Wine, 10 B. Johnston Way (across from Post Office) (843) 540-2095

Captain Woody’s Seafood, Sandwich, Salads 17 State Of Mind St., The Promenade (843) 757-6222

Corner Perk** Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee Promenade St. & May River Rd. (843) 816-5674

Walnuts Café** Contemporary 70 Pennington Dr., Ste. 20 (843) 815-2877

Choo Choo BBQ Express Barbeque, Pulled Pork, Ribs 129 Burnt Church Rd. (843) 815-7675

May River Grill** Seafood Contemporary Old Town Bluffton 1263 May River Rd. (843) 757-5755

Bluffton BBQ Barbeque, Pork, Ribs 11 State Of Mind St. (843) 757-7427

Claude & Uli’s Bistro French 1533 Fording Island Rd. #302, Moss Creek Village (843) 837-3336

The Oyster Bar** Seafood 15 State Of Mind St., The Promenade (843) 837-1893

The Bluffton Room Fine dining 15 Promenade St. (843) 757-3525

Corks Wine Co. Contemporary, Tapas 14 Promenade St. #306, The Promenade (843) 816-5168

The Pearl Kitchen and Bar** Fine Dining 55 Calhoun St. (843) 757-5511

The Brick Chicken American 1011 Fording Island Rd. (843) 836-5040

The Cottage Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 38 Calhoun St. (843) 757-0508

Pour Richard’s** Contemporary 4376 Bluffton Pkwy.

(843) 757-1999

British Open Pub Pub, Seafood, Steaks 1 Sherington Dr. #G, Sheridan Park (843) 705-4005

Downtown Deli Burgers, Sandwiches 27 Dr. Mellichamp Dr. (843) 815-5005

Squat ‘N’ Gobble** American, Greek 1231 May River Rd. (843) 757-4242

Buffalo’s Contemporary 1 Village Park Sq. (843) 706-6630

Fat Patties Burgers, Sandwiches 207 Bluffton Rd. (843) 815-6300

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Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill American 104 Buckwalter Pl., Ste. 1A (843) 836-5959

Mulberry Street Trattoria Italian 1476 Fording Island Rd. (843) 837-2426

Sigler’s Rotisserie & Seafood Contemporary 12 Sheridan Park Circle (843) 815-5030

Hogshead Kitchen Contemporary 1555 Fording Island Rd., Moss Creek Village (843) 837-4647

Napoli Bistro Pizzeria & Wine Bar Italian, Mediterranean 68 Bluffton Rd. (843) 706-9999

Southern Barrel Brewing Co. American 375 Buckwalter Place Blvd.

(843) 837-2337

Neo Gastropub - Farm To Table Fare 1533 Fording Island Rd. #326, Moss Creek Village (843) 837-5111

Stooges Cafe American 25 Sherington Dr. (843) 706-6178

Inn At Palmetto Bluff Continental 1 Village Park Sq., Palmetto Bluff Village (843) 706-6500 The Juice Hive Juice Bar 14 Johnston Way, Bluffton Village (843) 757-BUZZ (2889) Katie O’Donald’s Irish, American 1008 Fording Island Rd. #B, Kitties Crossing (843) 815-5555 Longhorn Steakhouse American 1262 Fording Island Rd., Tanger Outlet 1 (843) 705-7001

Okatie Ale House American 25 William Pope Dr. (843) 706-2537

** See the ads in The Breeze and Bluffton.com for more info

Old Town Dispensary Contemporary 15 Captains Cove, off Calhoun St. (843) 837-1893 Redfish Contemporary 32 Bruin Rd. Old Town Bluffton (843) 837-8888

The Breeze AUGUST 2016

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T

he purpose of schooling is to prepare our young people for the world they will one day face on their own, and a defining characteristic of adult life is choice.

We are all masters of our destiny, and the decisions we make every day affect or even determine our experience—shouldn’t our educational system reflect this?

unusual teaching methods. For example, the entire student body will go to lunch at the same time, during an hour-long period when they will have access to faculty the way college students would. All these carefully considered details are intended to take students beyond traditional schooling into a style of education that is being called Acceleration Academy.

That is precisely the concept behind May River High School, opening this month with an estimated enrollment of 950 students and approximately 85 faculty and personnel. Not only will it be the first time there is a choice of high schools in Bluffton, but those who attend will have increased ability to start driving their future in the direction they want it to go.

“In a nutshell, the idea is that students will be exposed to more than they normally would in a typical K-12,” said Todd Bornscheuer, principal of May River High. “Through partnerships with industry and the community, we can offer things like internships and mentoring. So these high school-aged students will have some pretty amazing opportunities that we may not have had, or that we would have had to travel to.”

The freshly constructed facility in the New Riverside area of Pritchardville contains a state-of-the-art grand auditorium and college-style lecture halls, making it conducive to some

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Bornscheuer, formerly the principal of Bluffton’s H.E. McCracken Middle School, brings over two decades of

education experience to his position at May River. But, perhaps more importantly, he has fresh enthusiasm and a passion for ingenuity that enliven his work. His hope is that from the first day students enter the doors of May River High School they will be engaged, excited and encouraged to take an active role in their experience.

“What we are learning is that when students are allowed to choose their own focus and set their own goals, they are more likely to succeed,” said Bornscheuer.

May River will not only offer the full complement of advanced placement courses and college dual-enrollment options, but also technical training, as part of Project Lead the Way. This means a 4-year curriculum in areas like welding, engineering, automotive, nursing, law enforcement, cyber security and the new field of mechatronics, which combines electronics and mechanical engineering. May River

staff members have even been “talking intensively” with Savannah College of Art & Design about potential partnerships. No matter what aptitudes and future dreams a student may have—whether they plan to enter college, the workforce or the military— May River will facilitate their choices.

“So often we, as adults, tell kids what programs they should do,” said Bornscheuer. “But one of the things that will make May River unique is our focus on giving students a voice so that they have some ownership of their school.”

“Opening a new school gives us a chance to establish a culture, and there are three things we talk about: Be Responsible, Be Supportive and Be Present. We want students to be responsible academically for their decisions and for creating a positive climate. Be Supportive means we want academic risk-takers who will raise their hands with innovative new ideas and not worry about teachers or other students shutting them down. And Be Present means be a part of this new culture and really find your niche.”

Bornscheuer says he was a good student in high school but had no idea what he wanted to do in life. In

college, he changed his major three times and “wandered aimlessly” for two years before dropping out. Then he joined the military, and four years later returned to college with a much better sense of direction—but it doesn’t have to be like that, he insists.

or she can be bussed to Bluffton High for those classes, then bussed back.

And same with someone from Bluffton High who wants to come to May River.”

The alternative is for students to discover what they like and don’t like while still in high school. “Let’s say you enroll in a nursing program,” he posits, “and find out, OK, this is not how I thought it would be, I don’t like this at all. You have gained just as valuable an experience as the one where you become entrenched in what you really like, because it’s equally important to know what you don’t want to do, as what you do.”

Last month, 65 May River High students attended a 2-day retreat where they participated in team-building and leadership exercises, so that over the coming year they can serve as ambassadors who will provide visitors to the school with a student perspective.

Likewise, community ambassadors will be invited to experience the school from the inside, so that they gain a better understanding of how they can participate and extend the reach of Acceleration Academy through their involvement; for example, by mentoring.

Families districtwide have the ability to apply for School Choice, or be automatically enrolled where they are zoned. But, according to Bornscheuer, there is another important aspect that now comes into play by having two high schools in Bluffton: “Ultimately the vision of the superintendent is not only school choice, but also shared programming,” he says. “For example, public safety: I have law enforcement at May River, but Bluffton High has firefighters. So let’s say one of my students is interested in firefighting, he

Another forward-thinking approach is the Ambassador Program.

“Our mantra is Tradition Starts Today,” said Bornscheuer. “My message to this community is that we have focused our attention on establishing this new culture, and now it’s time to become a part of it. We are opening a new school where our students, faculty, parents and the community at large can participate, and once you get involved it’s easy to see how having responsible students instead of drop-outs benefits us all.”

(Left) May River High School, July 3, 2016 Photo courtesy of Thompson Turner Construction Company.

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