The Breeze December 2015

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The Breeze THE MAGAZINE OF BLUFFTON

Bluffton.com

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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Serving the Needs of Greater Bluffton Since 1988

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Lower brand name prices than the chains Easy access to our helpful pharmacists “We care about every prescription” Bluffton’s Favorite Pharmacy!

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The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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NOTES FROM THE EDITOR: December is the one month that always flies by before we know it.

Last minute shopping, picking out a tree and decorating it. No taking it out of the box and plugging it in for this family! Wrapping, wrapping and more wrapping. I’m one of those who puts presents in a nice bag with tissue – it’s much easier. Kids are coming home for the holiday, everyone’s shopping for the traditional dinner, setting the formal table, all of the family is together – four generations. There’s constant cooking, exchanging gifts, saying grace, laughing, sharing, eating all day and washing dishes all night. It’s the one special day to have family together and remember the birth of Christ. Before you know it New Years is upon us, and December is gone. Don’t forget what is really important – lasting memories.

We hope our fun article about old antique toys sparks a few memories of your own, back before iPads were the norm. One of the best parts of working on this piece for our Christmas issue was rummaging through the antique shops of Bluffton and Savannah. I guess the all time toy for girls must be dolls. For guys it’s balls and marbles, even though we couldn’t find any marbles!

But onto more pressing environmental matters. Did you know that every piece of plastic ever made is still left on the planet? That means that every plastic Christmas tree still exists somewhere.

Delve into Amber Hester Kuehn’s interesting piece that tackles the debate over real versus fake trees and find out which is best for our earth.

While you’re out Christmas shopping, be sure to say hi to the New Girls on the Block. We’re happy to welcome Cocoon, The Roost and Kelly Carson Designs to Old Town and sent Michele Roldán-Shaw on a mission to see what awaits at these three shops new to the Promenade. You’ll have to read her piece to find out what kind of wonderful presents you can buy at these shops, which are sure to attract much more than partygoers to our favorite part of town.

This month we’ve included a special section in place of “Thoughts in the Breeze,” called In the Wind, which is a collection of poems, thoughts, photos and artwork by Art Cornell. He is a writer, artist, photographer and teacher and we are humbled to be able to feature his work.

We are also delighted to be able to explore one of Bluffton’s most beautifully restored historic treasures, The Pine House. Our article on this preservation project dives into its history, architecture and the story of Bluffton’s most known family. What Tommy and Joanie Heyward have done to preserve his childhood home has kept the spirit of the people who lived there alive.

What is red that we can’t be safe without? Did you guess fire engine?

Andrea Six has a very nice and open conversation with two firemen at Station 30 in Bluffton. Their comments are interesting and, more importantly, they do not get the everyday credit for what they do.

When you see them in the Christmas Parade give them all an extra large wave and shout out!

Gene Cashman has a special way of bringing his words home to each and every one of us. When you read and enjoy the story of his family Christmas, it will bring you to fond memories of your own family traditions and sharing. Enjoy.

As the end of the year approaches I must say thank you to all of The Breeze staff and say how much I have enjoyed working with them and our new affiliation with Island Communications. It can only get better with this talented and dedicated team. Merry Christmas to all!

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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 Andrea Six andrea@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 ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Mlay graphics@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Gene Cashman, Jevon Daly, Art Cornell, Marcia Cornell, Michele Roldin-Shaw, Amber Hester Kuehn, Andrea Six PHOTOGRAPHERS , ARTISTS Matt Richardson, Karah G. Simmons, Dickson Dunlap, Art Cornell, Andrea Six, Chierie Smith CORPORATE OFFICE 40 Persimmon St. Suite 102 P.O. Box 472, 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. 2015

CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2015, VOLUME 13, NO. 12

F E AT U R E S

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08 The Toys of Christmas Past 12 Shooting The Breeze with

Firefighter Tyler Marion and

Captain Scott Cochran 16 Real vs. Fake?

There is no debate.

20 A Warm Christmastide 28 The Pine House: Over 150 Years

of Restoration and History 34 New Girls on the Block 42 Who Should You Jam to

This Christmas?

44 Gotta Sing!

D E PA R T M E N T S

08 History 10 Golf Courses 18 Fellowship 22 Over the Bridges and Beyond 24 In The Wind 26 Your Corner 28 Architecture 38 Tide Chart 40 Restaurant Guide 42 Bluffton: Music Town

COVER PHOTO : The Lights Before Christmas Photo by Matt Richardson

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HISTORY

the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a palmetto bug.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, but it wasn’t no sugarplum stuck in their heads – kids care about toys! We can all remember some fondly cherished dream materializing on Christmas morning: that new bike, air rifle, doll with her beautiful dress – sweet triumphs of early life.

Toys have existed presumably as long as humans, but their evolution ties closely to society and economics; children who have to work the fields get little time for play, whereas an affluent culture such as our own spawns toys of startling complexity. Let us revisit for a moment a happy medium, the innocent playthings of yesteryear …

A tot’s first toy might be the rocking horse. Hobby horses are known to have existed over 2,000 years ago – there is evidence of them in ancient Greece and Persia – but what we would recognize today was developed in 18th century England with the belief that it could improve a child’s balance when it came time to ride the real thing.

Even more iconic is the teddy bear. (Apparently we are closely bonded to animals!) This enduring classic has its peculiar origins from a hunting trip by none other than Theodore Roosevelt. His hunting trip became the subject of a political cartoon that went viral, then an enterprising candy-shop owner named Morris Michtum felt inspired to create a tiny plush cub and put it in his shop window with the words “Teddy’s Bear.” It was an instant hit, and Michtum went on to found the largest doll-making company in America.

Some very simple toys for small children have included tops, yo-yos, marbles, kites and balls, this last being without a doubt one of the most universal objects in human history. Even today, resourceful children in the utmost destitute of circumstances will fashion a lump of tied-together rags into a shape round enough to play soccer with. A simple ball can keep children anywhere

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entertained for hours. Less common but still widespread are hoops, whether of metal or wood, which can be rolled along the street; Bluffton old-timers recall this as a highly amusing pastime. And who hasn’t loved blowing bubbles? They say this began with the leftover suds from washday.

Of course the doll is an everlasting staple – whether of fine porcelain and calico, or corn shucks, button-eyes and scraps. But things really got serious with the dollhouse, a way to keep the game (and revenue) going for years by constantly adding to the display.

Miniature beds, chairs, kitchen sets and picture frames; tiny chamber pots, carpets and woodstoves; little people and house-pets frozen within gingerbread facades – irresistible! But what about the boys? They must have model trains, with real whistles and engines going around a track, generating sustained sales in their increasingly elaborate environments. Or perhaps little Tommy only got a clumsy yet adorable toy sailboat, carved lovingly by his father’s careworn hands.

Another object that will never cease to fascinate boys (and a few plucky girls) are toy weapons. Bows and arrows, swords and shields, pop guns, cap guns and pellet guns. Then, of course, there are slingshots.

These can be made of a forked twig

and a rubber band, or high-tech steel and latex; they have been employed

by Native American children hunting squirrel, guerrilla rebels fighting insurgencies, and protestors staging armed clashes; they can fire anything from spit-wads to buckshot, arrows to unmanned aerial vehicles (really, look it up!). But for most of us they merely evoke nostalgia.

In contrast to such primitivism, the Enlightenment Era saw the introduction of toys designed to stimulate children’s intellects: books, puzzles, flashcards and board games. Some games of the ancient world are still around today – Chinese checkers, African mancala, parcheesi from India, backgammon from the Roman Empire – but the most popular board game of all time in America is Monopoly.

It certainly reflects the tastes of our capitalist nation, considering one major function of play is to teach kids the skills they’ll need as adults. (“C’mon sunny, learn how to dominate!”)

Perhaps it’s more comforting to think of the kaleidoscope, that utterly useless play-pretty made of mirrors and bits of colored glass, which has no more purpose in this world than to spin out endless bright visions like a psychedelic cathedral. Your average iPhone-toting kids of today are as likely to be satisfied with a kaleidoscope as they are with a couple of rocks! But then again, they might still take a puppet show over TV from time to time.

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GOLF COURSES GOLF COURSE

DESIGNER COURSE

YDS*

RATING*

Belfair Golf Club 200 Belfair Oaks Blvd. (843) 757-0715

Tom Fazio: East Tom Fazio: West

6,936 7,129

74.4 75.3

Berkeley Hall Golf Club 366 Good Hope Rd. (843) 815-8444

Tom Fazio: North Tom Fazio: South

6,936 7,129

75.1 74.6

Callawassie Island Club 176 Callawassie Island Dr. (843) 987-2161

Palmetto Magnolia

3,443 3,564

n/a n/a

Chechessee Creek Club 18 Chechessee Creek Dr. (843) 987-7070

Coore & Crenshaw

6.606

71.8

Colleton River Plantation Club 60 Colleton River Dr. (843) 837-3131

Jack Nicklaus Pete Dye

6,936 7,129

76.1 74.7

Crescent Pointe Golf Club 1 Crescent Pointe Dr. (843) 292-7778

Arnold Palmer

6,733

n/a

Eagle’s Pointe Golf Club 1 Eagle Pointe Dr. (843) 757-5900

Davis Love III

6,738

73.1

Hampton Hall Golf Club 170 Hampton Hall Blvd. (843) 815-8720

Pete Dye

7,503

76.6

Hilton Head National Golf Club 60 Hilton Head National Dr. (843) 842-5900

Gary Player Bobby Weed

6,731

72.7

May River Golf Club, Palmetto Bluff 350 Mount Pelia Rd. (843) 706-6579

Jack Nicklaus

7,171

75.4

Moss Creek Golf Club 1523 Fording Island Rd. (843) 837-2231

George Fazio: South Tom Fazio: North

6,885 6,555

73.4 72.5

Island West Golf Club 40 Island West Dr. (843) 689-6660

Clyde B. Johnston Fuzzy Zoeller

6,803

73.2

Oldfield Golf Club 9 Oldfield Way, Okatie (843) 379-5052

Greg Norman

7,142

75.4

Old South Golf Club 50 Buckingham Plantation Dr. (843) 837-7375

Clyde B. Johnston

6,772

72.4

Pinecrest Golf Course 1 Pinecrest Way (843) 757-8960

Rocky Rocquemore

7,489

n/a

Rose Hill Golf Club 4 Clubhouse Dr. (843) 757-9030

Gene Hamm

6,961

74.1

Sun City Golf Club 672 Cypress Hills Dr. (843) 705-4057

Mark McCumber: Hidden Cypress Mark McCumber: Okatie Creek

6,946 6,724

73.2 71.9

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*Ratings for the longest tees

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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Shooting with

Firefighter Tyler Marion

Ever wondered what it’s like to be a firefighter?

and

Captain Scott Cochran

To run into blazing buildings, scale ladders and speed down roads in a huge red truck? Well now you can get a little insight being the man behind the fire mask, as we spent a little time chatting to local firefighter Tyler Marion, who’s been a firefighter in Bluffton for two years, and his captain, Scott Cochran, who has 26 years of experience under his belt. You’ll find both of them at Bluffton’s Downtown Station, Station 30 on Burnt Church Road – that is, if they’re not out on a call.

Q A

:

Do you consider this job dangerous?

I consider it inherently dangerous. A Cochran: : typical person would think it’s insane to do some of the things we do, but we’re trained to make the danger as minimal as possible.

Q A

:

When you get a call how long do you have to get ready?

Marion: As part of our training we have 60 : seconds to be in full gear. At the beginning, it’s extremely difficult. You’re not used to getting dressed that fast, but you practice it enough and learn an easier way to do it and then you get it down really fast. … Last time I did the time drill, I was at about 36 seconds. So you really learn over time how to get it down. We’re on the road in less than a minute.

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Q A

:

Have you had any close calls?

: Cochran: I’ve done this for 26 years and I haven’t ever had a close call. It’s all according to training. You’re willing to risk a lot to save someone that you’re able to.

You’re not going to endanger yourself for something that can’t be saved.

Q A

: What does it feel like running into a burning building?

Cochran: When put into that stressful position the : training takes over. We almost have a systematic approach to enter – let me do a right hand search – and we have a lot of tools to help us, whether it be thermal imaging or just physical contact to not get lost. The training we have is to eliminate that fear. It’s all training towards muscle memory, like riding a bicycle. It’s almost automatic.

Q A

:

What’s it like being on call during the holidays?

: Marion: It can be kind of tough for the guys that have a family.

I don’t have one so I usually volunteer to work for them. I’ll do a swap and I’ll take their holidays so they can spend it with their family. But the community takes care of us. Typically on the big holidays – like Thanksgiving or Christmas – we’ll get a donation of some sort. A dinner donated to us or something like that, people bring in pies and cake for us. The community takes care of us and they make it better for us.

Q A

:

What special things happen around the holi- days in a fire station?

: Well we do the Santa truck for about Marion: three weeks in December. We ride around different neighborhoods with Santa and we have the lights going, we throw the siren and horn a lot. All of the kids wave at him.

At the station a lot of times, we’ll have a family come in, hang out a little bit, eat dinner. So it’s not as lonely as it could be.

Q A

: Do you work with the same guys every week?

: We work with the same group of guys for Marion: a good length of time. I’ve been with the same group for my stay at 30. There are four firefighters here and we also have two people from Beaufort County EMS that are with us. And it’s really cool because we get to develop this really close relationship, almost like family. We end up hanging out outside of work too.

A

My operator for the engine – Cochran: : my driver – we’ve been together five years. We spend 24 hours together. We eat together, work together and when we’re not working we spend time with each other’s families – hiking, fishing, hanging out. … That’s the way it’s always been, every department, every shift that I’ve been in.

Alongside Marion and Captain Cochran is Senior Firefighter Dustin Brown and Cam Terio, the newest member to their Station 30 family. These are just a few of the men that serve Bluffton in relief and aid efforts, sacrificing safety to save those in need of help. This season we’d like to honor Marion and his fellow comrades and family for all that they’ve done for the community. We cannot say thank you enough.

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You're Invited to a Book Signing with Margen Agin, Presenting her Photography and What It Means To Be Here on Friday, December11, from 4 - 7 p.m.

O L D T O W N

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 Merchant Society warmly encourages visitors to come and spend an afternoon or a day discovering historic Bluffton.

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1263-B May River Rd. Old Town Bluffton, SC 29910 843.757.8185 fourcornersframing@hargray.com www.FOURCORNERSGALLERYBLUFFTON.COM

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ARCHITECTURE

REAL VS. FAKE?

There is no debate.

By Amber Hester Kuehn

T

R EA L

Environment

he whole idea of bringing greenery into the house at the winter solstice (shortest day and longest night of the year) actually began as a pagan ritual.

The sun god was “sick” in the winter, and the solstice marked the beginning of his recovery. The plants that stayed green in winter months reminded people that the lush landscape would return when the sun god was fully recovered and warmer months approached. Over centuries, the Egyptians, Romans, Druids, Celts and others have had versions of sun gods and greenery representing everlasting life, life over death, and more prosperous times.

Christmas trees as we know them today can be traced back to Christians in 16th century Germany. During this era, Martin Luther, a protestant priest, inspired by stars shining through the trees, wired candles to branches of his tree to replicate the moment. Inspiration through nature – I get that. It wasn’t until the 1800s that Christmas trees appeared on this side of the Atlantic – German immigrants in Pennsylvania decorated small trees with apples, cookies, popcorn, berries and nuts. However, Christmas trees were still regarded as pagan and did not gain in popularity until the very trendy Queen Victoria and Prince Albert put one in their palace in 1846 for all the world to see, illustrated in the London News. The decorated Christmas tree would become Americanized for years to come. Food decorating small trees became floor to ceiling trees with handmade ornaments, and candles gave way to electric lights.

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Facts ~

It takes about six to seven years for a tree to mature to the average Christmas tree size (six to seven feet).

~

About 30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the United States each year and 350 million are currently growing on Christmas tree farms that exist in all 50 states!

~ For every tree harvested, up to three seeds are planted to replace it.

The Misconception

REAL VS FAKE

President Theodore Roosevelt banned the use of natural trees in the White House in 1901 to enhance opposition of deforestation. In 1905, the U.S. Forest Service was established to protect millions of acres of national forests. I am very proud of this major conservation movement, but Christmas trees are harvested from Christmas tree FARMS. They are planted with the intent to harvest and they are replanted constantly. This is not deforestation! I bet you thought I was going to say something else.

Biodegradable?

A

KE

Natural trees are a renewable resource and can be recycled. In other words, it does not end up in a dump for 10 years attempting to biodegrade. I used to think that a fake tree would save the environment, and this may be true if you kept the same fake tree forever and passed it down as a family heirloom. However they - especially the pre-lit trees - last about three years max. Every time you “get rid of” your fake tree, manufactured in China (85%), you are contributing PVC (polyvinyl chloride) to landfills.

After about nine years, lead

R EA L

F AK E

(stabilizer) may leach from the chemical compound. Fake trees became popular as advertised to be fire retardant, but they are not fire resistant. Recycling fake trees? Recycling PVC is cost prohibitive. It can be done, but municipalities are not going to be able to support it. Maybe this could be a business idea for the Don Ryan Center for Innovation?

Production

Shipping fake trees from manufacturing plants in China is no short trip. The fossil fuel consumed may cause more damage to the environment than taking the natural tree in the first place. Visualizing the working conditions does not get me into the Christmas spirit, and I’m pretty sure elves aren’t joyfully dancing while busying themselves producing Christmas decorations.

Buying LOCAL

There are several Christmas tree farms in South Carolina and the closest one is in Okatie! You can also purchase a Fraser Fir, hailing from North Carolina or Virginia. Don’t forget to check out friends at Cahill’s Market, who bring in truckloads of this fragrant tree. Remember, the Lowcountry has a temperate climate and most evergreens prefer a colder climate, so if you want your tree to last longer, purchase a palmetto tree, decorate it and have a Pluff Mud Christmas! Whatever floats your boat!

Just know that by buying a live tree, you’re making a decision that will conserve the environment, which should be a theme in our lives. Natural beauty is a gift from God to show his love, but His ultimate gift is celebrated at Christmas – a savior that is more beautiful than we can imagine.

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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 First Baptist Church of Bluffton Boundary at Church St. (843) 757-3472 Sunday School: 9:15 a.m.

Worship: 11 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

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

Church of the Palms United Methodist

ANGLICAN The Church of the Cross

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

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

103 Pritchard St. (843) 757-4350 Sunday Worship: 11 a.m.

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

St. Matthew’s Baptist Church

GREEK ORTHODOX Holy Resurrection 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 333 Fording Island Rd. (843) 815-3100

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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: 8:45 & 11 a.m.

1425 Okatie Hwy. (843) 379-1888 Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m.

SC Hwy. 170 near Sun City (843) 705-3022 Sunday Worship: 8:30 & 10 a.m.

St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC Bluffton Campus One University Blvd.

(USCB’s HHI Gateway Campus, Hargray Building) (843) 785-4711 Sunday 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 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.

November 27 through December 24 Wednesday—Sunday Nights 6-9pm $8 per adult, $5 per child 12 and under Children under 2 free - $5 Wednesday Nights!

Admission includes: 

Saturday Night Pictures with Santa



Model Train Display by the Coastal Rail Buffs



Story-Time With Mrs. Claus (on select evenings)



Live Musical Entertainment



6 Acres of Lights and Lighted Displays

VISIT MRS. CLAUS’ KITCHEN TO PURCHASE HOLIDAY TREATS AND HOT DRINKS. 100% OF PROCEEDS FROM MRS CLAUS’ KITCHEN SUPPORT 4-H AND AREA NON-PROFITS. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT : COASTALGEORGIABG.ORG Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, GA. 31419

For a full calendar of events, go to Bluffton.com.

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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A

ARCHITECTURE

Warm Christmastide

By Gene Cashman

H

andel’s Hallelujah and Watt’s Joy extinguished the glow of the Christmas Eve candlelight service three minutes before seven o’clock.

I gave a nod to my wife, “let’s roll; we’re responsible for the hors d’oeuvres.”

As family protocol dictated, the first to maneuver the crush of the holiday crowd exiting the service was to beat a path home to light the fire and turn on the oven. Failure to move with the nimbleness of an Indycar crew could have ruinous effects on dinner preparation. So, as soon as the preacher uttered amen, the family would split in a dozen directions. The logistics of the exit were almost always complicated by the nature of the arrival. Usually, driving age members of the family arrived in the order they got ready, bringing in tow any aptly dressed niece or nephew they could grab. Not unlike a paratrooper standing in the doorway preparing to make a jump, as soon as that tie and coat were on you were expected to “Go! Go! Go!” Seats had to be saved. There was great unspoken pressure to ensure a whole row was staked out so the family could sit together. This meant that the family was parked, widely dispersed, in no fewer than five cars. It wasn’t uncommon to not know if one were first or last to leave or to realize as the crowd thinned that you’d been left altogether. Despite the appearance of chaos and drama, there was good reason to rush to worship together and then back to my parents’ place to eat; what awaited you when you arrived was a place to belong.

The assurance of the season filled the hallway from the garage to my mother’s kitchen.

The aroma of warm bread, butter and garlic, mulling spices and rosemary drew me forward eliciting both fond memory and great expectation. An embrace from my mother, a hug from my father and the sheer

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state of activity clearly indicated that this year my car was the last to arrive from church. “How long until the meat is done,” I asked my father as he made a roux for the gravy. “It’s at rest. I turned the oven off,” he replied proudly. “Should be ready when we are. Let’s make a toast and stoke that fire.”

There are various traditions in my family spanning the whole of a calendar year, none more standard yet eloquently simple as Christmas Eve. As we entered the den, the rest of the family, still dressed to the nines, lounged about as if in pajamas. Warmly snuggled up by the fire and the glow of twinkle lights on the tree, the cousins stuffed their faces with Hershey Kisses wrapped in green and red foil. The adult children held glasses of wine, and reminisced about funny stories from years past. I was overcome by how good a feeling it is to belong to something. “Have you been good boys and girls this year?” my father interrupted. Roaring to form with his best Santa voice he whipped the kids into a frenzy of expectation. “What do you have for us,” called out Cousin Mac. “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” cried young Ellie with excitement, “presents, presents!”

As it was every year his wise reply came at the peak of excitement, “well then, we’ll just have to wait and see what the morning brings,” drawing, of course, boos and hisses from the children.

The clink of a glass indicated a transition. “It’s getting cold,” my mother reminded her brood from the dining room, “and children, remember the tide and Santa waits on no man, woman or child.”

Each year my mother prepared a table, festive and shining with a generation’s worth of silver and linen, painted ceramics and crystal

ornamentation. Even with the aged fragility of the arrangement it welcomed all to its bounty gladly and without pretension, even the youngest diner. “I love this meal,” exclaimed my sisters in unison.

“I never eat this meal except at Christmas,” replied Cousin Robert.

The meal always consisted of beef tenderloin, green beans, mashed potatoes and of course gobs of buttery bread. My family locked hands to give thanks allowing joyful fellowship to unfold from there. The meal’s grand finale, the event that signaled the coming long winter’s nap, was the ice cream ball contest. “Each year,” my mother reminisced, “my own mother and grandmother would roll ice cream into a ball and stick a candle in the middle.” The children watched closely as the ice cream treats were distributed to their plate.

“And as tradition goes, the last diner to eat all the ice cream with their candle still lit wins the first stocking of the Christmas morn.”

This, of course, set off competition and friendly argument over who won well into the after dinner coffee conversation, until the grandfather clock dutifully called the night to an end at a quarter of ten. “The most compliant night of the year,” I proclaimed aloud, “for the kids to make it into bed.” My wife smiled and whispered under her breath, “and good thing too because we still have a lot to do!” One by one strewn coats were found and children rustled into warmed cars to be whisked home for bed. As I walked through the den to find a lost shoe I took pause at the family pictures on the mantle to appreciate a place to belong, a family to love. The fire still glowed, the tree shone, the chairs were empty but the new memory fresh. “Thank you mom and dad,” I called out as I walked through the room, “and help me never forget to pay it forward. Merry Christmas!”

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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Over The Bridges

December Events in Bluffton, Beaufort, Hilton Head & Savannah

BLUFFTON: Dec. 4: Community Breakfast hosted by The Literacy Center at Moss Creek Country Club, 1523 Fording Island Rd., from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The event is FREE, but a RSVP is required. For more information about attending or hosting a table, call Dodi Echenbach at (843) 815-6616.

Dec. 4: A Cross Christmas at the Cross Schools Campus, 495 Buckwalter Pkwy., from 6-8 p.m. For more information, contact Sheryl at smaddux@thechurchofthecross.net.

Dec. 4: Light up the Night with a Christmas Walk in Old Town Bluffton from 3-8 p.m. with free rides aboard Old Town Trolley’s Holly Jolly Holiday Trolley from 5-8 p.m. Live holiday music from 4-7 p.m., with the Town Hall Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at 5 p.m., a presentation by the M.C. Riley Chorus and a visit from Santa! Shops open late! 20 Bridge St. oldtownbluffton.com.

Dec. 5: Town of Bluffton Christmas Parade at 10 a.m. The parade starts at Pritchard and Bridge Streets (Town Hall) and ends at Red Cedar Elementary School and is approximately three miles long and and lasts about three hours, rain or shine. (843) 706-4500 or townofbluffton.sc.gov.

Dec. 6: LCC Christmas Tree Lighting from 6-7 p.m. Hear the classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Christmas carols led by guest band Sarah Reeves, Christmas treats, topped off with the Lowcountry’s Largest Christmas Tree Light Show in the area! 801 Buckwalter Pkwy.

Dec. 15: Charleston Symphony Orchestra Holiday Brass will perform at Bluffton United Methodist Church, 101 Calhoun St., at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and can be purchased at the church on Sundays only following worship services and at Markel’s Card & Gift Shop located at Kitties Crossing in Bluffton. (843) 757-3351 or charlestonsymphony.org.

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Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Services at Church of the Cross. CrossPoint Family (Children’s) Service at 3 p.m. at the Cross Schools Campus, located at 495 Buckwalter Pkwy. and CrossPoint Contemporary Service at 4:30 p.m. Historic Campus, located at 110 Calhoun St.: Family (Children’s) Service at 6 p.m. and Candlelight High Mass at 8 and 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 24: St. Andrews By-The-Sea United Methodist Church’s Christmas Eve Under The Stars at 6:30 p.m. at the tent across from Station 300 on Buckwalter Place Blvd. (843) 785-4711 or hhiumc.com.

Dec. 25: Church of the Cross, 110 Calhoun St., Reflective Holy Communion Service at 10 a.m. (843) 757-2661 or thechurchofthecross.net.

BEAUFORT: Dec. 3-8: The 28th Annual Festival of Trees at Tabby Place, located at the corner of Port Republic and Charles St. The Festival kicks off with an Opening Gala featuring a silent auction, wine, beer and appetizers from local restaurants. Contact Andree at (843) 525-6257 or andree.lloyd@ yahoo.com.

Dec. 4: 30th Annual A Night on the Town featuring the City of Beaufort’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at Beaufort City Hall, 1911 Boundary St., from 6-9 p.m. Shops stay open for this special event, welcoming guests with special treats and a preview of their holiday selection.

Dec. 5: Light Up the Night Boat Parade at 5:30 p.m. on the Beaufort River with great views from the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

Dec. 5: Handel’s “Messiah” Part 1 at 2 & 7 p.m. at USCB Performing Arts Center, 805 Carteret St. Under the direction of Charles Frost, the Sea Island Chamber Singers and Guests will present Handel’s “Messiah,” Part 1. Tickets area $15, $20 or $25 and may be purchased by visiting uscbcenterforthearts.com.

Dec. 6: Beaufort Christmas Parade at 3 p.m. featuring floats, bands, walking and personal cars and trucks. For more information, contact Main Street Beaufort, USA at (843) 525-6644 or director@downtownbeaufort.com.

Dec. 6: Holiday Sea Island Gullah Celebration from 7-10 p.m. at USCB Performing Arts Center, 805 Carteret St. Show & Taste of Gullah Soulfood Buffet are $30 in advance and $35 at the door; $10 for students. (843) 986-1102.

Dec. 17 & 20: Winter Wonderland featuring Soloist Frederick Devyatkin, Bach Concerto in A for Violin and Orchestra playing winter holiday favorites at Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Ladys Island Dr., Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15-$40 and can be purchased by calling (843) 812-0183 or online at beaufortorchestra.com.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Dec. 1: Dove Street Festival of Lights public lighting ceremony from 6-10 p.m. at Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 40 Shelter Cove Ln. There will be all kinds of activities, events and entertainment throughout the night. (843) 686-3090 or sheltercovetownecentre.com.

Dec. 1: Holiday Pops from 8-10 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Pkwy. (843) 842-2055 or hhso.org.

Dec. 4: The Winter Wonder Festival at Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Ln., from 4-8 p.m. There will be hayrides, carnival games, petting zoo, children’s parade and Mr. & Mrs. Claus! Admission is $10 for children (2-15). sheltercovetownecentre.com.

Dec. 6: Barnes and Noble Book Fair hosted by The Literacy Center at 20 Hatton Place from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Authors Pat Branning, Kathryn Walls and CJ Lyons will be at the store signing books. (843) 342-6690 or theliteracycenter.org.

Dec. 6 & 7: Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra presents “The Polar Express - A Holiday Celebration” on Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Pkwy. (843) 842-2055 or mrebish@hhso.org.

Dec. 9-31: Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s “Mary Poppins” at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Ln. Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and 2 & 7 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets for preview performances (Dec. 9-10) are $49 for adults and $35 for children 5-15; regular tickets (Dec. 11-31) are $59 for adults and $41 for children. For tickets or more information, call (843) 842-2787 or go to artshhi.com.

Dec. 10: Lunch With Author Allegra Jordan at the Country Club of Hilton Head inside Hilton Head Plantation, 70 Skull Creek Dr. A former book reviewer for USA Today, Allegra Jordan brings to light a real historical debate at Harvard over how to honor students who had fought for the Kaiser. Tickets are $42 and may be purchased by visiting uscbcenterforthearts.com.

Dec. 11: Hilton Head Choral Society’s The Sounds of Christmas “A Merrie Olde Christmas” at 8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Pkwy. Tickets are $20, $25, $30 and $35 and may be ordered online or purchased at the door the night of the concert, if available. For more details, call (843) 341-3818 or go to hiltonheadchoralsociety.org.

Dec. 11-13: Main Street Youth Theatre presents A Holiday Extravaganza.

3000 Main St. (843) 689-6246 or msyt.org.

Dec. 17: Carolina Dreamers Car Club Cruise-In at Shelter Cove Towne Centre, 40 Shelter Cove Ln., from 5-8 p.m. No costs, no reservations, awards, 50/50 raffle, open to all automotive enthusiasts; locals and

visitors. carolinadreamers.info.

Dec. 23: Gregg Russell Christmas Concert with a special visit by Santa at 7:30 p.m. at Harbour Town inside Sea Pines, 149 Lighthouse Rd. (843) 842-1979 or seapines.com/events.

Dec. 25: Enjoy a full turkey buffet at the 13th Annual Community Christmas Day Dinner taking place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Pkwy. Free will offerings accepted. (843) 705-5725 or (843) 304-1086.

SAVANNAH: Dec. 4-5: Christmas on the River at Rousakis Riverfront Plaza, 115 E. River St. Weekend festivities kick off Dec. 4 from 4-10 p.m., with First Friday Fireworks at 9:30 p.m., and continue on Dec. 5 from 10 a.m.10 p.m. The Lighted Christmas Parade will start on West River Street, travel throughout downtown and end in City Market. (912) 234-0295 or riverstreetsavannah.com.

Dec. 5: City Market’s Christmas for Kids Celebration with cookie decorating, ornament making, face painting, photos with Father Christmas and a choir performance. Please bring an unwrapped toy for the Holiday Hope collection box. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in City Market, 219 W. Bryan St. (912) 232-4903 or savannahcitymarket.com.

Dec.12: Holiday Tour of Homes from 12-5 p.m. Tickets are $50 and the starting point is the Massie Heritage Center, 207 E. Gordon St. (912) 236-8362 or tourdirector@dnaholidaytour.com or dnaholidaytour.com.

Dec. 12: Enjoy a Colonial Christmas at Wormsloe, 7601 Skidaway Rd., by participating in activities such as caroling, burning of the yule log, dancing to live period music, and other holiday observances of the colonial period, including games and refreshments. 1-4 p.m. Admission is $4.50-$10. (912) 353-3023.

Dec. 18-19: Fort Pulaski National Monument, 1 Cockspur Island will commemorate the 154th anniversary of the Confederate Nog Party of 1861 with night-time tours of the historic fort by candlelight and oil lamps. Tours leave every 30 minutes from 6-8:30 p.m. $10 for adults, children 15 & under are free. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended. Contact Ron Calhoun at (912) 786-5787 ext. 120 or go to nps.gov/fopu.

Dec. 19: Savannah Reindeer Run 8K at 9 a.m. and a kiddie race at 8:45 a.m. There will be several games and activities as well as a Kids’ Zone, costume and best holiday cookie contest. 1 International Dr. rccsav.org.

Dec. 31: 3rd Annual “Up the Cup” Countdown from 8 p.m.-1 a.m. on River Street. Don’t miss out on our non-traditional “ball drop” with a Savannah twist, followed by a firework display to officially ring in 2016! Rousakis Riverfront Plaza, 115 E. River St. (912) 234-0295 or riverstreetsavannah.com.

Dec. 31: City Market’s New Year’s Eve Celebration! You’re invited to join in the fun at this outdoor street party with live music from 9 p.m.1 a.m. Free and open to the public; no tickets or reservations required.

219 W.Bryan St. (912) 232-4903 or savannahcitymarket.com.

Dec. 31: Annual New Year’s Eve Gala Celebration Cruise. This fourhour cruise includes passed hors d’oeuvres, a dinner buffet, live entertainment, party favors, a bottle wine or champagne, cash bars and more! Advance reservations required. Formal cocktail attire is highly encouraged. Sailing 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. Tickets are $169.95. E. River St. (800) 786-6404 or savannahriverboat.com.

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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In the Wind

Selected poems and photographs by Art Cornell Will you love Me When I’m Old?

Hold On Come…

Hold my hand, Tightly now, For the future is before us And the road Not that clear.

Together we will share In all the joys And sorrows yet to be.

And if things get rough, Well, so what?

With a smile or a tear We will go on.

So come…

Hold on.

Changes My God soul...

Appears When my warrior soul...

Quiets.

I would ask of you, my darling, A question soft and low, That give me many a heartache As the moments come and go.

Your love I know is truthful, But the truest love grows cold; It is this that I would ask you; Will you love me when I’m old?

Life’s morn will soon be waning, And its evening bells be tolled, But my heart shall know no sadness, If you’ll love me when I’m old.

Down the stream of life together We are sailing side by side, Hoping some bright day to anchor Safe beyond the surging tide.

Today our sky is cloudless, But the night may clouds unfold; But, though storms may gather round us, Will you love me when I’m old?

When my hair shall shade the snowdrift, And mine eyes shall dimmer grow, I would lean upon some loved one, Through the Valley as we go.

I would claim of you a promise, Worth to me a world of gold; It is only this, my darling, That you’ll love me when I’m old.

- Anonymous

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Hands These old hands Have felt and done so much…

When young They were always ready, Clenched and proud They help life And even death And more precious stillLove.

Now in age My faithful companions Have more lines And folds, More softness, Less anger, They have done so much For me on our journey together, And still They perform, Sometimes with Difficulty, To touch, To hold, to offer prayers, These old hands.

Eternity Lasting Friendship After all these years, What is there left to say to one another?

I could not imagine what my life Would have been without you For sure, the highs and lows Would have been a lot less interestingAnd all the laugh lines on this old face Would never have been.

Oh, we are different people, and that’s healthy Age has treated you kindly and Has even allowed a new warmth to appear.

Of all the things in my life that I value most, Your friendship is surely one of them.

Morning Canvas Sun bleaching the early sky, With shades of pink and blue, Time when natures’s own Bids the day adieu.

I too welcome the dawn with thoughts Unshared by human earsReaching instead To where God alone can hear.

Many thoughts have come and gone in my life, And more will surely be, Yet if I have but one wish It would be to have your love For the rest of eternity.

Good Night Good night!

Good night!

No more platitudes Or neat little things to say.

Love has left me till Another day, And so I make My way To a safe, Quiet place Where ghouls and ghosts And me All get to play.

Epilogue You have looked into A brief window of My soulThank you for Sharing in My journey

In the Wind © 2003 The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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Send your selfies to Chierie@Bluffton.com

Your Corner

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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By Randolph Stewart

hen you talk about the Pine House in Bluffton, you must talk about the people who lived on the land and how it came to be one of Bluffton’s most beautifully restored historic treasures. Sitting on the banks of May River and the Heyward Cove, this wooded land has magnificent live oaks and majestic magnolias signifying the centuries of those who inhabited this special place.

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General Thomas Ferguson Drayton, of the Civil War fame, owned the original house on the property. His home was burned by Federal troops on June 4, 1862. The property was later owned by Doctor Hammond Eve (but there is some confusion here as Doctor William Raiford Eve, 1847-1916, appeared on the 1900 Bluffton census). Dr. Eve was married to Elizabeth Hammond, the daughter of Senator James Henry Hammond of South Carolina and, perhaps, this is where the Dr. Hammond Eve confusion occurs. I guess that means a trip to the courthouse to help clear up this bit of discrepancy and see who actually had the deed at that time, but rest assured, we will fill you in (my bet is Dr. William Eve). What we do know is that this house was facing Heyward Cove, not the May River, and it also later burned to the ground.

In 1904, Dr. Freeman Valentine Walker (1860-1933) and his wife, Mary McAlpin, of an old wealthy Savannah family purchased the property.

Their house, built by a carpenter and member of a pioneer Bluffton family, Nathan Crosby, was finished in 1905. It was inspired by the New England shore “shingle style” homes where Dr. Walker grew up. The interior walls were fashioned with pine posts in-filled with 5/4” v-groove, tongue and groove heart of pine. It had high 13-foot ceilings and front and rear screened porches. There was a floored attic under the roofline (even though the door to access the attic at the top of the stairs was only five feet high), and a 14’x14’ full height basement (which was rare in the Lowcountry but common in New England). There were large double hung putty-glazed windows with two over two lite, full-size louvered shutters and latches and oversized transoms above. The living rooms had back-to-back fireplaces with distinctive stone arches and smooth slate hearths (again, the style is not typical in the South), gas wall lanterns for lighting in all rooms and, of course, heart of pine tongue and groove floors.

Now in comes Tommy, Guillard and Lucille Heyward’s youngest child. One cannot talk about The Pine House now or ever without mentioning Tommy Heyward. His father was born in January 1910 in the house across the cove, now belonging to George and Lillian Heyward. Perhaps the reason it is called Heyward Cove is the four generations of Heywards who lived and played there. In 1942 the Heywards bought Dr. Walker’s home and Tommy, at the age of two, and his three older sisters, Caroline, Anne and Dorothy, moved into the little brown house now called “The Pine House.” That old house would never be the same.

Tommy could be found swinging off a rope into the cove, riding horses on Foot Point, camping out on the Ulmer’s Island, playing with the Cantrell, Walker, Miles, Gahagan, Graves and Ulmer boys, as well as all those kids who came from Savannah, Estill and Allendale, for the summer. What a way to grow up. Crabbing, hunting, fishing, shrimping and swimming in the May, always in some sort of mischief or another; perhaps he never really grew up, and truly loved life and this place called Bluffton.

Heyward Cove

(l. - r.) Hank Cram, Tommy Heyward and Steve Graves on the steps of Church of the Cross

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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That large addition is clearly modern, and provides enough volume to house a family room and a modern kitchen.”

Sitting room with a two-sided arched fireplace

It is now some 60 years later that Tommy and his wife, Joanie, began the restoration of The Pine House. Their dream was to keep much of the century-old homestead as original as possible, and to add elements that would allow them to share their home and entertain their many friends on every occasion, which they so loved to do. They adhered to the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Historic Restoration and South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office during the restoration. For the architectural design, Tommy and Joanie tapped nephew Brian Felder, AIA of Savannah, whose heart and soul was in the house, and what a masterpiece the restoration became.

“The Pine House has become a favorite of all the projects in my career. I think that’s for a lot of reasons. At the top of the list is that the project was for family members—Joanie and Tommy Heyward and working with my cousin, Matthew Schivera, who was the contractor, which completed the team,” said Felder.

“Closely behind that was the long history that the house had in Tommy’s life. He lived there as a child, and every room, fixture, and detail had a memory.”

“In the design, we needed to accommodate modern living style, while not destroying the existing room arrangement or detailing.

We did this by adding a large addition on the back, where a simple lean-to porch once stood. We retained the exterior wall, so you can still understand the boundaries of the historic house.

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The new changes included the raised rear porch ceiling and the pine and iron staircase that provided access to the “attic,” which now includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, dormers for light and fire egress. Extending the rear porch on the ground floor eight feet permitted a large working kitchen and family room. The original shingled back porch wall and windows were restored and left inside this wonderful space. When walking through the back door into the house, you get a sense of being outside.

Even though there were new additions, they were designed to adapt to the old structure without altering the original look. The carriage house, apartments and brick and wood fencing enclosed the rear yard with a real “cement pond” and outdoor kitchen.

Windows were removed and restored. The pine wall slats were removed, numbered and placed back in the same exact location they had been for over 100 years. New shingles were stained to match the old ones. The kitchen cabinets were milled from floor joists that had deteriorated ends, the original gas lighting was converted to electricity, and an extended butler’s pantry, wet bar and powder room adjacent to the dining room were added (which was Guilliard and Lucille’s bedroom and bath).

In the butler’s pantry, a Victorian lion’s foot, tiger oak glass cabinet holds many of the wonderful treasures and artifacts that were found during restoration. Some of these include items that were excavated from General Drayton’s well, found on the west side of the property.

History has once again given us a little bit of our Bluffton heritage to learn from and appreciate. Tommy and Joanie Heyward understood the importance of historical preservation and we are grateful to them for sharing it with the Bluffton community.

Tommy would tell you he loved growing up here and being able to enjoy living in a small town as Bluffton. Joanie said he had the most endearing look in his eyes when he said, “It has had an enduring effect on my life. I have lived a very good life and have been blessed, so far.”

The Heywards came to South Carolina in 1620. They moved to this area in 1741 from James Island, near Charleston. Tommy is the great, great, great, great grandson of Thomas Heyward, Jr. (1746-1809), who signed the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and fought in the Revolution for America’s independence. He is buried at the Old House Plantation near Ridgeland, in Jasper County.

There are a number of descendants surviving the signers’ four children. Notable descendants include Duncan Clinch Heyward (1864-1943), twice elected Governor of South Carolina. He is the author of Seed of Madagascar, which relates the stories of his riceplanting family. Edwin DuBose Heyward (1880-1940) is best known for his 1925 novel and later a stage play adapted by his wife in 1927, “Porgy” which was later transformed by George Gershwin into the popular opera “Porgy and Bess.” Tommy’s grandfather, Daniel Heyward, was Bluffton’s longest serving Mayor, off and on for some 50 years, and his mother was Bluffton’s Postmaster for 22 years.

The Heyward House on Boundary Street is the headquarters of the Bluffton Historical Preservation Society and is now the Bluffton Visitors Center.

Tommy owned Hilton Head Air Service, which serviced all private aircraft. He also owned Heyward Air Spray that provided mosquito control to Beaufort County in an old DC3 that Tommy flew. He said that he has killed more mosquitoes than anyone alive. When Tommy passed in 2007 he was a member of the Bluffton Town Council. It is so fitting that the bridge across Heyward Cove was named in his honor.

This library was formerly Tommy’s boyhood bedroom – the shelves contain many historical books and manuscripts, including one signed by Dr. Walker. Note the airplane painting collection.

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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匀瀀漀爀琀娀漀渀攀 ☀ 䈀䔀䄀䴀 䜀爀愀瀀栀椀砀 ⠀㠀㐀㌀⤀ 㠀㌀㜀ⴀ㤀㘀㘀㌀ ㄀㈀ 䨀漀栀渀猀琀漀渀 圀愀礀 ⌀ 䄀 ☀ 䈀 䈀氀甀û琀漀渀Ⰰ 匀䌀 ㈀㤀㤀㄀

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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Ann Marie Fiore of Cocoon – Photography by Andrea Six

New Girls on the Block

By Michele Roldán-Shaw

34 bluffton.com

Every town has its famous avenue. Savannah has River Street, New York has Broadway, Paris has Champs Elysees and Bluffton has Calhoun Street. Our central artery since the days of being just a sleepy fishing village, Calhoun now extends into the modern construction of the Promenade. And like any “main street” in small-town America, the extent to which it throbs and pulses with lifeblood gives a reliable indication of how we’re faring. That’s why it’s encouraging to see so many fresh and interesting businesses come in, including shops by three new girls on the block: Ann Marie Fiore of Cocoon, LaCreasa Allen of The Roost, and Kelly Caron, ASID, of Kelly Caron Designs.

“I think it’s an experience to come into a small shop where you want to hang out for a while and actually have people hear what you’re saying,” said LaCreasa, who celebrated her grand opening at The Roost in November. “People want to get back to shopping locally the way it used to be, coming downtown and buying their Christmas gifts – it just feels better after all the years of box-shopping.”

These days it has become not only feel-good and fashionable to buy locally, but also the intelligent choice: by keeping our dollars circulating amongst ourselves, we ensure our own collective welfare. Thriving local businesses are, in LaCreasa’s words, “a reflection of the health, vitality and economic strength of the community.” Accordingly, she and her colleagues at Cocoon and Kelly Caron Designs – like other businesses in the Promenade – make it a priority

Cocoon – Photography by Andrea Six

to feature regional products whenever possible.

“One of the things I’ve really tried to focus on is searching out items that are exclusive to the Lowcountry,” said Ann Marie, who recently relocated Cocoon and its “Live with Style” adage to the Promenade after three years in Sheridan Park. “We carry Savannah Bee Company, Charleston Shoe Company, jewelry made in Beaufort, and dish towels hand-stamped on Hilton Head, including a Bluffton design available only here at Cocoon. Everything we have can be personalized, and our monograms are done locally.”

A browse around the store reveals an elegant yet homey coastal flavor that would be familiar to anyone in Bluffton – flatware decorated with blue crabs, haute perfume beside books by Garden & Gun, and clothing that looks fabulous yet feels like you’re wearing your pajamas.

“From Exquisite to Everyday,” as Ann Marie puts it. “This is a lifestyle store for how we live and entertain in the Lowcountry, and down here we have a lot of company, so we carry products to make you and your guests feel comfortable.”

The Roost – Photography by Andrea Six

Just around the corner, LaCreasa Allen has fashioned a similar ambience at The Roost, yet with her own uniquely personal touch to “Elevate the Everyday.” Fine decanters, gourmet cocktail nuts and snacks, European antiques, custom stationery, animal prints and wood grains alongside orchids and burnished gold; her impeccable tastes come to the shopper’s aid. Many of the things she carries are Southern-made, and all of them are small-batch artisanal products. She’s particularly excited about “getting her hands on” some oyster knives from Williams Knife Company out of Edisto – finely handcrafted and regularly featured in Garden & Gun; they run in short supply during the holidays.

“We have a lot of special little things that bring that extra something,” said LaCreasa, who moved here from North Carolina because she fell in love with the natural beauty and quaint small town environment, but immediately saw the need for more shops as the economy picked up. “I like the idea that someone can call me and say ‘I need three or four gifts for the holidays and I need them to be at a certain price-point,’ then I can put together a grab-and-go gift package.”

This old-world rapport between customer and shopkeeper has been achieved by LaCreasa since her doors first opened. Local resident Heather Bender was recently in the shop and couldn’t contain her enthusiasm. “I’m SO excited you’re open!” she gushed. “I’ve lived here for 25 years but I kind of feel like I’m in Europe right now. I’m in that phase of life where I finally know what my style is – that mix of modern and traditional – and I like things that no one else has. I don’t have a lot of things, but the things I do have I’ve chosen them to be nice. I tell my husband all the time, I’m low-maintenance: a nice candle, some coffee, then I can chill out and be happy.”

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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After perusing around, raving about things and enjoying the sample chocolatecovered peanuts, Heather finally left the store with a joyful declaration: “Can’t wait to come back! I’m going to tell all my friends – this will be my new happy place.”

For LaCreasa it must feel good to know she has filled her intended niche, and provided a customer with the exact experience she was seeking. “I’ve gotten the best feedback like that,” says LaCreasa. “It’s been overwhelming.”

Kelly Caron (above), of Kelly Caron Designs (below)

Kelly Caron Designs

A stone’s throw away is Kelly Caron, ASID (American Society of Interior Design). Her new space in the Promenade is a combination retail boutique and studio for professionally licensed Kelly Caron Designs.

Clients can peruse books of lighting fixtures and fabric samples, or shop the floor with its heavy emphasis on the local. Kelly’s “Lowcountry Eclectic” blends antiques with comfortable furniture, beautiful Lowcountry paintings with sculptures made out of sea coral, big oversize lanterns with jewelry and treasure boxes – all to create what she perceives as the Lowcountry style of “comfortable, casual and unique; relaxed but with a touch of luxury.” Although this rings similar to the words of her colleagues at Cocoon and The Roost, there is no competition—only friendly well-wishing.

“I feel like I’m only successful if they’re successful,” said Kelly. “I think we’re all just happy to be here. We’re excited to be women in business, this has been our goal for a long time, and now the moment has come. Bluffton’s growing and there’s a need for a strong shopping area that’s not Tanger Outlets – we’re full of restaurants and now we’re hungry for retail.”

In Kelly’s vision, however, the Promenade is more than just shops – it’s a comprehensive design center. “We have architects, realtors and a builder; we have a landscaping company and a fireplace showroom coming in; we have someone who does cabinetry, appliances and lighting; we have the Garden Gate and shops like Cocoon and The Roost that carry tableware and accessories. I really don’t think you need to go anywhere other than downtown Bluffton to make your house feel like a home, which is great! We have knowledgeable professionals right here, and we all compliment each other. We’ve all embraced the Bluffton vibe, the Lowcountry and what’s trending, and we’re working together to make sure we’re successful as a community.”

36 bluffton.com

Her sentiments are echoed by both Ann Marie and LaCreasa. “I love being part of Old Town,” said Ann Marie. “There’s such a sense of community; like this morning when I got here I ran next door to the Corner Perk and got a chai latte – it’s just this wonderful sense that we’re all here because we love Bluffton, and now we simply want to give people what they need. We all compliment each other and between us we have so much to offer.”

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The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER TIDES

Tide chart is calculated for the May River.

Full Moon December 25.

MON 21

H L H L

4:53 AM 11:09 AM 5:23 PM 11:27 PM

TUES 22

H L H

5:54 AM 12:09 PM 6:23 PM

WED 23

L H L H

12:23 AM 6:51 AM 1:05 PM 7:19 PM

THURS 24

L H L H

1:16 7:45 1:58 8:12

AM AM PM PM

FRI 25

L H L H

2:08 8:35 2:47 9:01

AM AM PM PM AM AM PM PM

L H L H

2:08 8:45 2:51 8:56

AM AM PM PM

SAT 12

L H L H

2:51 9:23 3:33 9:36

AM AM PM PM

AM AM PM PM

SUN 13

L H L H

3 : 3 4 AM 10:02 AM 4:16 PM 10:17 PM

AM AM PM PM

MON 14

L H L H

4:17 AM 10:45 AM 4:59 PM 11:03 PM

H L H L

4:14 AM 10:11 AM 4:23 PM 10:25 PM

TUES 15

L H L H

5:03 AM 11:32 AM 5:45 PM 11:54 PM

SAT 26

L H L H

2:57 9:22 3:34 9:48

SUN 6

H L H L

5:04 AM 11:04 AM 5:13 PM 11:12 PM

WED 16

L H L

5:52 AM 12:25 PM 6:34 PM

SUN 27

H L H L

5:53 AM 11:53 AM 6:03 PM 11:57 PM

H L H L

12:51 AM 6:46 AM 1:22 PM 7:28 PM

3:43 AM 10:07 AM 4:17 PM 10:34 PM

MON 7

THURS 17

L H L H

MON 28

H L H

L H L

5:10 AM 11:37 AM 5:38 PM

L H L H

SAT 19

H L H L

1:51 7:48 2:21 8:27

2:52 8:55 3:21 9:28

TUES 29

WED 9

6:41 AM 12:40 PM 6:50 PM

12:42 AM 7: 2 5 AM 1:25 PM 7:35 PM

H L H L

4:27 AM 10:52 AM 4:59 PM 11:21 PM

TUES 8

FRI 18

L H L H

AM AM PM PM

WED 30

H L H L

12:09 AM 5:53 AM 12:23 PM 6:18 PM

THURS 10

L H L H

1:25 8:06 2:08 8:17

SUN 20

H L H L

3:52 AM 10:04 AM 4:22 PM 10:29 PM

THURS 31

H L H L

12:58 AM 6:38 AM 1:10 PM 6:59 PM

H L H L

12:45 AM 6:26 AM 1:01 PM 7:00 PM

FRI 11

WED 2

H L H L

1:39 7:18 1:52 7:49

AM AM PM PM

THURS 3

H L H L

2 : 3 1 8:14 2:43 8:42

FRI 4

H L H L

3:23 9:13 3:33 9:35

SAT 5

TUES 1

AM AM PM PM

AM AM PM PM

www.HHBoathouse.net Hilton Head Boathouse Showroom: Hilton Head Boathouse: 843-681-2628 1498 Fording Island Road, Bluffton, SC 29910 405 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island, 29926

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The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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BLUFFTON’S

RESTAURANT GUIDE Cahill’s Chicken Kitchen** - Southern 1055 May River Rd. (843) 757-2921 Mon.-Wed.: 11a.m.-3 p.m.

Thurs.-Sat.: 11a.m.-9 p.m.

Saturday Breakfast: 7 a.m.-12 p.m.

Sunday Brunch: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Corner Perk** - Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee

Sonic Drive In** - Fast food 5 Sherington Dr. (843) 815-3630 Daily: 6 a.m.-Midnight

Squat N’ Gobble** - American, Greek 1231 May River Rd. (843) 757-4242 Daily: 7 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Promenade & May River Road (843) 816-5674 Tues.-Thurs.: 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday Brunch: 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

27 Dr. Mellichamp Dr. (843) 757-0380 Mon.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Latitude Wine Bar** - Wine, Tapas, Lunch

The Village Pasta Shoppe** - Italian, Deli, Wine

6 Promenade St. (843) 706-9463 Wed.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

May River Grill** - Seafood Contemporary

Toomers Bluffton Seafood House**

10 B. Johnston Way (across from post office) (843) 540-2095 Tue-Fri.: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Old Town Bluffton 1263 May River Rd. (843) 757-5755 Lunch Tue-Fri.: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dinner Mon.-Sat.: 5-9 p.m.

Agave Sidebar

Mulberry Street Pizzeria**

Bluffton BBQ - Barbeque, Pork, Ribs

15 State Of Mind St. (843) 757-7007 Tues.-Wed.: 11a.m.-9 p.m.

Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fri.-Sun. 12 p.m.-whenever

Pour Richard’s** - Contemporary 4376 Bluffton Pkwy.

(843) 757-1999 Mon.-Sat.: 5:30-10p.m.

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13 State Of Mind St. (843) 757-9190 Mon.-Thurs.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fri. & Sat.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

11 State Of Mind St. (843) 757-7427 Wed.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-whenever

The Bluffton Room - Fine dining

15 Promenade St. (843) 757-3525 Tues.-Thurs.: 5-10 p.m.

Fri.-Sat.: 5-11 p.m.

Closed Sunday & Monday

British Open Pub - Pub, Seafood, Steaks 1 Sherington Dr. #G, Sheridan Park (843) 705-4005 Mon.-Sun.: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday Brunch: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Buffalo’s - Contemporary

1 Village Park Square (843) 706-6630 Lunch Mon.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Butcher’s Market and Deli - Deli 102 Buckwalter Pkwy.

(843) 815-6328 Tues.-Sat.: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sun.: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Captain Woody’s - Seafood, Sandwich, Salads 17 State Of Mind St., The Promenade (843) 757-6222 Daily: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Choo Choo BBQ Xpress - BBQ, Pork, Ribs 129 Burnt Church Rd. (843) 815-PORK (7675) Tues.-Fri.: 6-10 a.m., 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5:30-8 p.m.

Sat.: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

Claude & Uli’s Bistro - French

1533 Fording Island Rd. #302, Moss Creek Village (843) 837-3336 Mon.-Sat.: lunch & dinner

Corks Wine Co. - Contemporary, Tapas

14 Promenade St. #306, The Promenade (843) 816-5168 Biz hours: Tues.-Sat. 5-12 p.m.

Kitchen hours: Tues.-Wed. 5-10 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. 5-11 p.m.

Downtown Deli - Burgers, Sandwiches 27 Dr. Mellichamp Dr. (843) 815-5005 Mon.-Sat.: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill - American 104 Buckwalter Place, Ste. 1A (843) 836-5959 Daily: 11 a.m.-2 a.m

Hogshead Kitchen - Contemporary 1555 Fording Island Rd. (843) 837-4647 Mon.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

Closed Sunday

Inn At Palmetto Bluff - Continental

1 Village Park Square, Palmetto Bluff Village (843) 706-6500 Daily: 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

Katie O’Donald’s - Irish, American

1008 Fording Island Rd. #B, Kitties Crossing (843) 815-5555 Daily: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Longhorn Steakhouse - American 1262 Fording Island Rd. (843) 705-7001 Sat.: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sun.-Fri.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Mulberry Street Trattoria - Italian 1476 Fording Island Rd.

(843) 837-2426 Tue-Sat.: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. & 5-10 p.m.

Sun.: 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Neo - Gastropub - Farm To Table Fare

1533 Fording Island Rd. #326, Moss Creek Village (843) 837-5111 Mon.-Thurs.: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sunday: 5-9 p.m.

Okatie Ale House - American 25 William Pope Dr. (843) 706-2537 Mon.-Wed.: 11 a.m -9 p.m.

Tues.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sun.: 12 a.m.-9 p.m.

Old Town Dispensary - Contemporary 15 Captains Cove, off Calhoun Street (843) 837-1893 Mon.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

Sunday Brunch

Peaceful Henry’s and the Bluffton Cigar Bar

181 Bluffton Rd. (843) 757-0557 Store: Mon.-Thurs.: 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Fri. & Sat.: 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun.: 12-5 p.m.

Bar: Monday: 12-6 p.m., Tues.-Thurs.: 1-11 p.m., Fri. & Sat.: 1-1 a.m., Sun.: 1-11 p.m.

Pepper’s Old Town - American, Seafood 1255 May River Rd., Old Town Bluffton (843) 757-2522 Daily: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Redfish - Contemporary

32 Bruin Rd., Old Town Bluffton (843) 837-8888 Mon.-Sat.: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 4:30-10 p.m.

Sun.: 10 a.m-2 p.m., 4-10 p.m.

Sigler’s Rotisserie & Seafood - Contemporary 12 Sheridan Park Circle (843) 815-5030 Mon.-Sat.: 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Southern Barrel Brewing Co. - American 375 Buckwalter Place Blvd.

(843) 837-2337 Tues.-Thurs.: 2-9 p.m.

Fri.: 2-11 p.m.

Sat.: 11-11p.m., Sun.: 2-8 p.m.

Stooges Cafe - American 25 Sherington Dr. (843) 706-6178 Mon.-Fri.: 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sat.-Sun.: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Cottage - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 38 Calhoun St. (843) 757-0508 Mon.-Sat.: 8 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-7:30 p.m.

Sunday Brunch 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Vineyard 55 - Pizza, American 55 Calhoun St. (843) 757-9463 Daily 11:30 a.m.-Whenever

** See the ads in the Breeze for more info

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

41

BLUFFTON: MUSIC TOWN

m a J u o Y d l u o h s ?

Who s a m t s i r h C s i h to T Daly

By Jevon

C

hristmas songs. Don’t jam them before Thanksgiving. Don’t play them after Christmas. But, yes, you can leave the tree up till February, you can drink egg nog almost all year round (unless you’re me, your favorite asthmatic), but be careful with those Christmas ditties. Some people don’t like them. Children all around the world wait all year to wake up early that morning and open presents, while Bing Crosby sings on the radio (computer, phone … whatever). So what are some of the most sought after versions of these songs? This is my mission. This is my passion. I love Christmas music.

I love “little” Michael too. I would argue with anyone that when Michael was 9 or 10 he was the finest singer the world had ever known. Who you gonna put against him? Stevie Wonder? Tina?

Aretha? Miley? Just put the Jackson 5 Christmas album on and enjoy. 1970 production at its finest!

Lush, cheesy string arrangements, haunting reverby vocals by the other brothers and Michael’s little tenor voice as the cherry on top. Funk music is a great style for these sometimes-sleepy Christmas songs. Not that “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” has ever been called sleepy, but boom shakalaka! Michael soars on the vocals, backed

by Jermaine, Tito and company. Bass and drums are super greasy and poppy. It’s like P-Funk doin’ the Chipmunks. Ok, maybe that just rolls off the tongue nicely, but I think you’re getting what I’m throwin’ down here.

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Skip over “The Christmas Song.” It’s sung well, but it must be Tito or Ricky or one of the other brothers. Johnny?

I dunno. But it ain’t My Michael! It kinda drags –”chestnuts roasting blah blah blah” – but there’s a cool refrain of “Jingle Bells” at the end. Ok, cute. Then comes “Up on the Housetop,” again with my main man front and center. This isn’t “Thriller,” but it’s a strong version. You can almost smell the frankincense. I bet the boys got plenty o’ presents after they rocked this one. Or maybe they got spanked. Who really cares? There is a quasi-rap in the middle of this one. It’s nasty!

The boys are spittin’ fire and when Michael sings the refrain it makes you question all of the other versions of this yuletide gem. These boys can really throw down on some Christmas.

One of the creepiest Christmas songs ever brings us to the end of Music Town. “Little Michael” takes it up a notch on this one. 5th gear singing. You try to hit these notes. The soul glows here on the bell solo in the middle of the tune. Maybe Santa has an afro. We may never really know. Just make sure you are a good little Blufftonian this year and make sure to leave Santa some cookies with milk.

This guy can’t drink milk, so be thinking of me when you are sucking down the nog and listening to the pre-red leather Michael and his brothers.

5 Sherington Drive Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 815-3630

The

Village

Pasta Shoppe

Delicious homemade Italian dishes ready to heat and serve.

Enjoy home-made Italian dishes without paying restaurant prices. Bring us your dish (or use ours) and we’ll fill it up with authentic Italian favorites like Lasagne, Chicken Parmesan, Ziti, Eggplant Parmesan and more. We also have Fresh Pasta and many hard to find Italian deli products.

It’s like mom or grandma made it!

10B Johnston Way www.villagepastashoppe.com (opposite the Bluffton Post office) 843.540.2095

Tue - Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 4pm The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

43

By Marcia Cornell

D

also entertain at Christmas parties and community events, like caroling throughout Wexford Village at their Festival of Wreaths. Naturally, the Shore Notes are available for hire any time during the year since they have a diverse repertoire.

Barbershop singing has been around since the 1920s, but as Sweet Adelines like to explain, “Men invented it, but women perfected it!” Okay, there are many men barbershoppers who might dispute this claim, but they don’t get to wear gorgeous costumes, glitzy jewelry, fabulous makeup and false eyelashes when they perform. Women not only sing great songs, but they get to dress to the nines!

Every March the Shore Notes hold their annual show at the Hilton Head High School’s Seahawk Cultural Center and invite a top men’s or women’s quartet to be their guest performers.

Their next show will be March 5, 2016, and their guests will be Speed of Sound, who finished second last year at the International Competition in Las Vegas. They are fabulous and fun, and the Shore Notes are thrilled to have them entertain at their March show.

o you love to sing in the shower? Croon in the car? Are you a frustrated diva? If so, then you need to explore the wonderful singing opportunities with the Hilton Head Shore Notes, a women’s four-part a cappella chorus that has been entertaining local audiences since 1997.

The Shore Notes are under the capable direction of Faye McLanahan, a seasoned Sweet Adelines director with over 40 years of experience. She commutes from Jacksonville, Florida, every Monday for rehearsal because she derives great pleasure from the camaraderie of these wonderful women, and she has been successful in improving their sound. The Shore Notes have won medals at their last five Regional Competitions in Daytona, Florida.

One of the greatest joys of being a Shore Note is the opportunity to give back to the community. Christmas season is a wonderful time of year for the chorus since they sing Christmas cheer to all the local retirement communities in Hilton Head and Bluffton as well as Palmetto Bluff and even Charleston. They

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Being a non-profit organization, the Shore Notes are pleased to be able to make a sizable annual contribution to a local designated charity as a result of selling out their March show every year. Some of the recipients have been The Children’s Center, Main Street Theater, Memory Matters, CODA and PEP. The Shore Notes rehearse every Monday evening at the Island Lutheran Church, 4400 Main Street, Hilton Head, from 6:45 to 9:45 p.m. Guests and prospective members are always welcomed. Singers do not need to read music to join this fun group. For more information, go to their website, hiltonheadshorenotes.com, and to hire the Shore Notes or one of their quartets, contact Judy at (843) 681-3516.

The Breeze DECEMBER 2015

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We’ve handpicked and transported our Fraser Fir Christmas trees from the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia. Come and pick your perfect tree and enjoy our wood stove heated dining room on these cold wintry days!

I’ve got a Christmas present for you; BREAKFAST at Cahill’s 7 days a week!!!

(Beginning sometime in December.)

Merry Christmas, Ho Ho Ho! LUNCH Mon to Sat, 11am - 3pm SUPPER Thurs, Fri, Sat, 5 - 9pm BRUNCH Sunday 9am - 3pm SATURDAY BREAKFAST 7am - 12pm

1055 May River Road, Bluffton 1 mile west of Old Town Bluffton 843 757-2921 www.cahillsmarket.com

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Come in for a Good Luck Buffet!

11 a.m. - 5 p.m. New Year’s Day All You Can Eat!!!