The Breeze March 2016 by The Breeze

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The Breeze THE MAGAZINE OF BLUFFTON

Bluffton.com The Breeze MARCH 2016

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Lakefront Homes beginning in the low $200's, located at the crossroads of the LowCountry. Turn onto Argent Blvd from Hwy 170 E. Turn right on Jasper Station Rd Community on right.

Annette Bryant • 1211 Boundary Street Beaufort, SC 29902 • Phone: 843-986-2444 • Mobile: 843-986-7343 www.hearthstonelakes.com • Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners

The Breeze MARCH 2016

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The Breeze MARCH 2016

NOTES FROM THE EDITOR:

The Breeze

THE MAGAZINE OF BLUFFTON This morning I sat down to get a haircut with David at ESP Merle Norman Salon in Sheraton Park and began an interesting conversation: “Barbers and bartenders are like amateur psychologists. They have to be able to talk to everyone about a wide variety of subjects.” David agreed, but the difference is he hadn’t been drinking. He thanked me for The Breeze and added that he was most happy to be an advertiser, and has already increased his business. I asked him why he chose us and he replied, "because YOU ARE BLUFFTON." Wow, what a compliment! I want to give kudos to another advertiser, Chris Golis of Golis Family Jewelers. Along with Longhorn Steakhouse and our advertising friends, we collected toys and books for kids for Christmas. Chris is such a kind soul and filled up two huge boxes of the 18 we collected. And again, we must thank Sharon Brown for getting them to the right families. One longtime reader stopped me on the street recently and told me, “I love your ads, they are beautiful!” The graphics department—Jennifer Mlay, Liz Shumake and Lauren Brooks— are so talented and creative. They understand our advertisers and create an aesthetic so that the ads are special, will stand out, be read, and get the message out. The Breeze and our advertisers are a family. Without them The Breeze would not exist. Chierie Smith, our sales director, takes her job seriously. It is about relationships with her and helping new and old clients grow their business. We have some advertisers that have been in all 171 issues. With 10,000 visits each month to our website, Bluffton.com, she is combining digital ads with print ads. Give her a call and see what we can do for your business. Our distribution has also greatly expanded thanks to Bruce McLemore and John Tant in our distribution department. We are now distributing to over 90 locations. Look for us at the Savannah Airport, and next to Bluffton and Hilton Head Post offices, the library, Town Hall, in the waiting room of many offices, car dealers and all off-island hotels. Andrea Six, our copy editor and author should get all the credit for coordinating all our writers. She is one big reason why we have such great editorial content, with very few typos. Keep supporting our advertisers and we will keep writing! Enjoy and let us hear from you.

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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 Lauren Brooks lauren@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Mlay graphics@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chase S. Wilkinson, Jevon Daly, Steve Nichols Gene Cashman, Michele Roldan-Shaw, Andrew Peeples, Amber Hester Kuehn PHOTOGRAPHERS , ARTISTS Luis Barrero Photography, Year Round Pool, Andrea Six, Chierie Smith 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

MARCH 2016, VOLUME 14, NO. 3

F E AT U R E S

08 Bluffton Back in Time 12 Ode to a Little Red Truck 16 Hours Under the Sun 20 The Barrier Battle: Changing Coastlines 24 From Cement Pond to a Pool Paradise

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New Bars Beckon in Bluffton Honoring Education with "Jewels and Jeans" Pointy Guitars, Minimalist Pop and Classic Rock The Stumbling Drunk

D E PA R T M E N T S

08 History 10 Fellowship 20 Environment 22 Faces of Bluffton 24 Architecture 28 New Business Feature 32 Tide Chart 34 Over the Bridges 40 Restaurant Guide 42 Bluffton: Music Town

COVER PHOTO: Belfair courtesy of Luis Barrero PhotographyÂŠ2016 luisbarrerophotography.com The Breeze MARCH 2016

HISTORY

ULMER BRO S.

CHASE & SA N C O S T A L C O F B O R N C O F F E E , p ou n d … ………………… F E E , p ou n d … … … MAXWELL C O F F E E , p ou n … … … … … … … … … … … … … … .3 8 ¢ d ……………… … … .3 0 ¢ BEST LOOSE …… C O F F E E , p ou n d … … … … … … … … … .… … … .3 4 ¢ … … … … … .. … … … .1 5 ¢ S U G A R 1 0 p ou n d s .. .. .. .. BEST AMER IC A N C H E E S .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 4 ¢ E , p ou n d .. .. CLOVERBLO …3 OM BUTTER , p ou n d .. .. .. … 5 ¢ 30¢

hen you look around Bluffton today there are hundreds of places to shop and buy everything you might wish for. The Promenade, Calhoun Street, May River Road, Bluffton Parkway, Buckwalter Place, Berkeley Place, Kitties Corner, Sheraton Park, Plantation Center, and Big Box stores on 278 with more on the way. We start-

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ed to wonder, where did the 500 people living in Old Town shop 80-100 years ago and found the answers in a weekly publication called The Bluffton News Letter. It cost a nickel for a copy, and The Breeze cost even less than that! It contained ads, and an interesting insight into life in our town. We thought it would be fun to recreate the ads with new graphics to get a glimpse of the “good ole days.” The following were the actual ads, most of which were written by hand, and published in the newsletter in black and white. My oh my how prices have changed! Let’s take a trip down memory lane!

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The Breeze MARCH 2016

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: 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

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: 8:30 & 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.

The Breeze MARCH 2016

obody could understand why I wanted a truck, much less a standard transmission. “Why don’t you get a Honda Civic?” they said. “Or a Ford Taurus. We have a nice Toyota Corolla on the lot.” But the little red Mazda pickup with the stick-shift in a squirrelly-lookin’ dealership of the Savannah hood was all I wanted.

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Eleven years and 107,000 miles later I went to buy a new truck and faced the same thing all over again. “What does a girl like you need a pickup truck for?” asked the slicked-up old car salesman with the gold chains, black shirt and white pompadour on a country road outside Charleston, as he leaned in through the passenger’s side window of my friend’s new SUV. I stared back.

How could I tell him about the many forced moves, the furniture hauled, the friends transported, the paintings done and thrown back there with the paint cans? The expeditions with bike and kayak, the sleepouts under the shell. The blessed sight of red paint glinting cheerfully through the trees to let me know I’d made it out of the woods alive yet again! The jungles, swamps, islands and mountaintops where that faithful old truck had been. Even just the naps around town in the cab! The fact that although it was regular cab not extended, still I managed to cram so much behind the seat: blankets, extra clothes, towel, straw sleep-mat, backpacks and tote bags, camp stove and packets of noodles, bottles of water and loose-leaf tea, hobo knife (fork, knife and spoon), paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, matches, saleable copies of my books, fold-out camp stool, cassette tapes and a power converter that you plugged into the cigarette lighter—not to mention ropes, jumper cables, channel-locks, first-aid kit, brake fluid, motor oil, emergency storm radio, can of Fix-a-Flat and the biggest Maglite they make. What could cause him to understand the time I’d spent living out of that truck, the time my dog spent living out of that truck, the whole entire year leading up to this moment of talking to him during which I’d been riding around with my worldly possessions stacked in plastic tubs under the leaky shell? The way that little red truck with its busted-out window and accidental two-tone paint job, so beat-up and worn down by the elements, had come to be entwined with my very identity? Endearing as it was unfortunate, cute in a homely way, little but tough as nails, surprisingly roadworthy and efficient, still going against the odds. “Sir,” I replied, looking him dead in the eyeball, “you have never met a little girl who needed a pickup truck worse than I do.” I learned to drive on a blue 1986 Chevy Astro van, stick-shift with vinyl interior. When at age 21 I came to South Carolina from the West Coast with a one-way ticket and a duffel-bag, I’d never owned a car or even a cell-phone; times were simpler back then. My cousin got me work as a security officer on Hilton Head and I needed transportation, so he rode me around until I saw it: a red 1994 Mazda B2300 (identical to the Ford Ranger) with manual transmission and 117k miles. I wanted it. Other vehicles were offered, even other trucks, but I turned them all down and bought the Mazda for $4000. It had a long crack in the windshield that stayed exactly the same for the entire decade I owned it. The E-brake didn’t work so I kept a wooden block on hand to shove behind one wheel. Shortly after I bought it the AC went out and I never bothered to have it fixed, not through 10 long hot Carolina summers. Yet none of these idiosyncrasies caused me to feel I’d gotten a bad deal, for I was too fresh-faced and innocent to overthink things. Moreover I’m aware I paid too much for it, but it’s a purchase I haven’t regretted for an instant because despite my utter blind ignorance at the time, now I know these old Mazda trucks have a reputation for being one vehicle you just can’t kill, which is a quality I greatly praise. Another thing I have appreciated is that whenever something started to go bad on it, I was given months or even years of warning. In the very early days it developed a problem with the fuel intake hose, but a mechanic was able to patch it up by some sort of layering process; I recall chasing lizards and being bored for hours in the (Continued on Page 38)

Among desolate marsh isles of Barataria, Louisiana The Breeze MARCH 2016

O L D T O W N

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The Breeze MARCH 2016

By Gene Cashman

“Shoot, shoot bang!” a young boy hollered as he dashed through the brush and sandy dirt of his backyard. The boy, James, came to a halt behind a low brick wall. He peered over ever so carefully as to not be seen as he spied his target, an old dog in the neighbor’s yard. He army-crawled his way from the wall to a neatly manicured row of azaleas. “Base, come in. Do you read? Over,” he spoke into an empty Coke bottle. “This is Lieutenant James, base. Do you read?” Muttering under his breath at the lack of response, he stood up and lobbed several pinecones in the general direction of the old dog. “Incoming!” he yelled and then cried out, “boom, boom, boom!” His mother’s voice called out from the house. “Yes,” he exclaimed excitedly, “chow time.” He placed his helmet on the table and looked at his meal. “Ah really? Not another bologna sandwich, I hate bologna.” His mother smiled, “Yes sir sergeant, bologna again. Life sure is tough in the army.” James grimaced, “I’m a lieutenant ma, look at the helmet and I’m a Maaarine.” He emphasized the word to make sure she understood. Appeasing his interest she picked up the helmet and studied it. “Your great grandpa was a lieutenant, in the army. You are a kindergartener.” James took a big bite of the sandwich and rolled his eyes. “Not for long,” he said, mouth full of food. She ran her fingers through his hair as he crammed the remainder of the sandwich in his

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mouth. “This afternoon,” she said in a motherly voice, “I want you to clean up all the tools you pulled from the shed. I want the yard spotless when your father comes home.” He swatted at his mother’s hand, “stop ma,” as he slurped down his milk. He backed out of the kitchen acknowledging her order, “okay okay, I will, I will,” as he swiped another half sandwich from the platter she’d prepared. His mother watched him run out the door and disappear into the yard. “In like a lion out like a lamb,” she said under her breath. “Captain, we need more thrusters,” James yelled impatiently. He pulled hard on the wheel and gear shaft. The elderly neighbor’s large orange cat looked up curiously from the hood of the old, rusted Buick. “Faster, faster,” he pleaded, “we will soon be in range, they’ll blast us out of the sky for sure!” James gripped the wheel and lurched in the seat, avoiding imaginary lasers and rockets hurling towards his intergalactic cruiser. A large crash sent the large orange cat scurrying off and made James believe his ship had been hit with a laser beam. In reality, it was his mother opening the lid of the tin trash can next to the old car. “Young man,” she said, but before she could finish he interrupted, “galactic battle captain.” She cleared her throat. “Ok captain, but you still have a lot of cleaning up to do before your dad gets home.” He saluted and said in the deepest voice he could muster, “aye, aye ma.” Leaping from the car, he disappeared from her sight into the wild unknown yet to be explored.

“The shark hunter needs only the slightest opportunity to capture his prey,” James whispered in a faux British accent as he threaded heavy monofilament line through a large hook. When the knot was secured he reached into his jacket and pulled from his pocket a quarter of the extra bologna sandwich and carefully balled it up around the hook. He stuffed the remainder of the sandwich in his mouth. “There,” he said proudly “bologna sandwich is the best shark bait.” He proceeded to walk to the end of the yard and down a path to the river’s edge; from the bank he surveyed his prospects. “Aha,” he said when he confirmed the most logical position of a potential shark hole. He gave the rod—his older brother’s expensive fishing pole—a few practice heaves before letting it go for real. The heavy rod shot from his hands and raced, quivering like an Olympic javelin, across the top of the water before splashing down. The fishing pole immediately disappeared in the brackish waters. He stood marveling, eyes wide as saucers, at the water. “Well,” he concluded after a few silent moments, “that was a terrible cast.” The sun hung low in the sky. Soon his father would be home. James sat on a stump and looked at the tools and toys strewn about the yard. He looked at the house and could see his mama in the kitchen, cooking dinner. “Well,” he said aloud, “that twister really left a mess of things didn’t it?” He stood up and hitched his britches up, putting his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. “Yeah, I’d say we’re going to need the fire department, police department and FEMA to clean up this mess, don’t cha think Mr. President?” The old dog from the neighbor’s yard, apparently unscathed from the morning’s pinecone attack, and now in the role of Mr. President, looked up at James sardonically. “Huh,” said James realizing he would have no help cleaning up, “I didn’t vote for you anyhow.” His father’s car pulled into the gravel driveway just as James put the last of the tools back in the shed. He could tell his father was surveying the state of the lawn. “Hey son,” his father joyfully called out as James emerged from the dusty, tool-filled shed, arms on both hips. “Great job on the yard son, what else did you do today?” James soaked up the compliment and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Aw, dad,” he said, “nothing really, I just sort of bummed around.” His father knew better, but put his arm around his son’s shoulder accepting his answer. “Let’s go see what your mama has in store for us.” James broke free from their embrace and raced excitedly ahead into the house screaming, “Mom, mom look out! A giant sea monster is headed for the house and boy oh boy is he huuuuungry.” His father smiled deeply, enjoying the innocence and imagination of his youngest son. He met his wife in the kitchen and they watched James singing at the top of his lungs as he joined his brother and they both washed up for dinner. He kissed her cheek. “What in the world happened around here today anyway?” he asked. She smiled, “hours and hours outside in the spring air dreaming up life under the sun.”

The Breeze MARCH 2016

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For a full calendar of events, go to Bluffton.com. The Breeze MARCH 2016

ENVIRONMENT

The Barrier Battle:

Changing Coastlines By Amber Hester Kuehn

owcountry beaches on barrier islands are forever changing their shape. Longshore currents move south along the coast, which usually results in a point to the south. Hilton Head Island looks like a running shoe with the “toe” pointing south and Daufuskie, technically a sea island, has Bloody Point on the south end of the island. Look at a map—Edisto, Capers, Tybee, Wassaw and so on are all pointing south. Natural erosion of the beach carries sand south

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to make the point. The northeasterly winds that are strong in winter months push crashing waves onto the beach which also contribute to natural erosion. And then there are passing storms such as Erika and Joaquin that left their mark on Hilton Head beach at the end of last summer. Most of the dunes were taken away when extreme high tides, combined with storm surge, pounded the shore. So much of the dune was swept away that 14 sea turtle nests were lost along with it!

The beach lost its slope and many homes were in danger of flooding at high tide. Something had to be done. This year, Hilton Head will be RE-nourishing the beach. We can’t call it a beach nourishment, because it has been done before. The last major renourishment on Hilton Head beach was performed in 2006-2007. Preservation efforts, such as the construction of rock jetties, have not produced expected results. There have

been smaller renourishments in between such as the Port Royal Sound Shoreline Restoration and Stabilization Project in 20112012. However, it has been nine years since a project this large has been contracted. The construction will start March 1 on the South End (the “toe”) and move north to Port Royal (the “heel”) and then to Mitchellville Beach. You should expect to see large pipes used to transport a slurry of sand and water from shoals (submerged sand bars) to fill the beach. A dredge will be positioned off shore to act as the pump. No, it’s not an oil rig—thank goodness! I’m sure that question will surface when it appears on the scene. Bulldozers will spread and shape the sand that has been deposited. Inconvenient? Yes, but the contractor will be working 24 hours a day to get it done as quickly as possible. The active construction zone will span approximately 1,500 feet at a time. These areas should be avoided for safety reasons.

Because of my time spent on the beach for sea turtle patrol, I am constantly asked, “How do you feel about the beach renourishment?” From a conservationist standpoint, there are pros and cons to this type of endeavor. The beach will be larger in the end to support more wildlife, however, other benthic (bottom dwelling) sea life will be devastated in the areas that were dredged. These organisms, such as mollusks, sea stars, sand dollars, and small crabs are also a food source for larger marine inhabitants. Will they recover? Yes, eventually. Ultimately, we take the good with the bad in most all situations. From an environmental preservationist standpoint? I think you know, but in that regard, advocating no development on the island at all is unrealistic at this point.

In case you haven’t considered it—or noticed the traffic on 278—Hilton Head relies on its 14 miles of beach to attract thousands of visitors to the island, supporting a significant percentage of the economy. So how is Hilton Head beach regarded? Invaluable, for the love of money, but also for the love of nature. Something so valuable would not be tampered with haphazardly. There was forethought here; I was privileged to see some of the engineering work that is involved in this effort—from determining which areas need the most attention, to which borrow areas have the best sand and least impact on the path of long shore currents. Land surveys, core samples, bathymetric surveys, and data collected from previous renourishments were compiled. U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources were consulted. These agencies granted permits for the construction with consideration for endangered birds such as piping plovers and red knots feeding and nesting on the beach, and endangered nesting sea turtles. During the project, the HHI Sea Turtle Protection Project staff will be required to watch out for nesting sea turtles all night long beginning May 1 as the construction extends into the nesting season (May and June). The sea turtle staff will temporarily shut down renourishment operations if a sea turtle approaches the active construction zone to nest, and will then move her nest away from the activity. However, completely avoiding impact on wildlife in the Lowcountry would be impossible. Although there will be monitoring, the staging areas, active construction zones, and the noise associated may discourage the normal routine of migratory birds and some nesting sea turtles.

First of all, sea turtles don’t have an opinion. They have instinctually been nesting on these beaches for thousands of years. Historically, sea turtles have not been deterred from nesting on renourished beach sand. One downside is that the fresh sand is not as compact as the pre-existing, natural sand and many of the nest chambers are subject to collapse as the nesting sea turtle digs the hole. The typical cylindrical nest chamber is a road map left by the nesting female sea turtle for her hatchlings. The rigid walls of compacted sand guide the hatchling upward. In renourished sand, some of them burrow sideways initially, but they are amazingly strong and determined for something the size of the palm of your hand. But there is another challenge: since it takes a while for dunes to re-establish, the wide open space confuses hatchlings emerging from the sand, attracted to the brightest open horizon in contrast to a dark dune backdrop. Disorientation is common in these areas, but the hatchlings will eventually be able to find the ocean. One hatchling walked 1,000 feet to the dune and turned around to walk 1,300 feet back to the surf!

The other question I’m asked is “How will the sea turtles feel about the beach renourishment?”

The summer of 2016 will be remembered as chaotic in my journal, but it only happens every seven to 10 years. In time, nature will reject our suggestion and shape her beach the way she prefers. Twenty-million dollars worth of sand and effort will be distributed into various shoals and we will continue to resist change. If we didn’t, half of us would not have jobs and we would not have the opportunity to educate visitors from all over the country on the unique wonders of the Lowcountry ecosystem. 21 The Breeze MARCH 2016

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Send your selfies to Chierie@Bluffton.com

Faces of Bluffton

The Breeze MARCH 2016

FROM CEMENT POND

TO A

Pool Paradise

BY RANDOLPH STEWART 24 bluffton.com

ools serve different purposes for different people—an aesthetic for the yard and enhancement of the architecture and landscaping, a centerpiece for outdoor cookouts and entertaining friends, for family fun, exercise and therapeutics, or simply a place to cool off in the summer heat. They have been around for years and played an important part of society since Greek and Roman times. About 2,500 years ago, in addition to enhancing the beauty of one’s property, pools were used for bathing, health, socializing and religious events. The military even used them to physically train for war and the philosopher Plato felt children should learn to swim as part of their education. This still holds so true. Pools became a status symbol after World War II through Hollywood movies. Some can remember Esther Williams gracefully diving and swimming across the Cypress Gardens pool, or the “cement pond” made famous by the Beverly Hillbillies. As Americans became more affluent, pools became commonplace. Today the National Swimming Pool Foundation estimates that there are 10 million pools in the United States, as we fulfill our dreams of taking a backyard vacation. We sat down with a long time friend, Nick Fasciano, of Year Round Pools, to see the various styles of pools and their many uses.

Natural Pool (Left)

Tucked close to the house and surrounded by landscaping, creating privacy, this inviting pool becomes an extension of the interior space and plays with the natural environment. It has a modified beach entry, meanders along the rear of the home and is anchored by the stone-covered spa and spillway, just steps away from the master bedroom.

The Breeze MARCH 2016

Lap & Lounging Pool

The design of the pool was no accident. Located close to the home, it welcomes you from inside as well as outside with the intimate lounging and dining areas. Note the orientation with the oak trees, the raised spa and spillway at one end, and the linear shape for swimming laps or just cooling off while sunning on the deck. The wide landing underwater is called a sun ledge. This is great for sitting and cooling or playing with kids while being partially underwater. The beige color of the pool surface is called sandy beach. It is one of the Pebble Tec products that is replacing marcite for longevity. It has a variety of subtle colors and is easy on your feet.

Screened In Pool

The high kicked-up mansard roof of this screen enclosure creates a volume of space that becomes an outdoor living room around this freeform pool. Surrounded by landscaping both inside as well as outside, the screening creates a subtle sense of privacy while still being able to enjoy the views of the lagoon and golf course. The raised spa is tucked away and the rock waterfall acts as the centerpiece for the pool, which can be seen from inside the home. This gives the entire space a calming ambiance and gives the home the sense of being part of nature.

Grotto Pool

This pool is a masterpiece of design. Guests can swim under the lighted grotto with the spa above spilling over as a waterfall. Both appear to defy gravity. At the other end of the pool is a freeform Pebble Tec sun deck, and just outside the great room is a small rectangular pool and spillway with a fountain that is centered on the room inside.

Romanesque Infinity Pool

Grotto Pool

Reminiscent of Roman times, this pool surrounded by Tuscan columns is a symmetrical extension of the architecture of the home. The vanishing edge of the pool creates the illusion that the pool is one with the ocean, for those sitting inside the home or lounging outside on the terrace. There are deck jets, which send streams of water arching from the deck into the pool when turned on. This completes the aesthetic and creates a calming sound. With so many different types of pools popping up in so many different locations, it might seem like they have always been in the United States. But that is not the case. The first pool in America dates back to 1907 at the Philadelphia Racquet Club. It was constructed by the builder of the Brookline Bridge, the Roebling Construction Company. The first pool to cross the Atlantic Ocean, literally, was installed on the White Star Lines cruise ship, Adriatic, also in 1907. And just one century later, we have an abundance of pools in all different styles, from traditional to modern, tropical to Tuscan, right here in the Lowcountry.

Romanesque Infinity Pool 26 bluffton.com

For information, contact Ted.Graziano@yearroundpool.com.

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The Breeze MARCH 2016

NEW BUSINESS FEATURE

N ew B ars B eckon in B luffton By Andrea Six

The Roasting Room’s bourbon bar.

hoosing the right bar in Bluffton isn’t too much of a tricky task. If you’re looking for craft beer and a burger, Fat Patties, Old Town Dispensary and Captain Woody’s are the places to be. Want a glass of wine? We’ve got Pour Richards, Corks, Red Fish and The Bluffton Room. Music? Well almost all of the above have this. Business is booming in our backyard. With a Walmart Neighborhood Market coming to Bluffton Parkway, Kroger to Buckwalter, and a variety of new shops, firms, and breweries popping up all over the place, it’s no surprise that new bars are beckoning out in Old Town, each with their own specialty.

Craving Creativity

28 bluffton.com

Craft coffee to craft cocktails—that’s the transformation that happens at 1297 May River Road when the sun starts its decent each night. But those aren’t the only creations shown off each evening at The Roasting Room. This team is also here to celebrate the craft of music.

After tirelessly working for an entire year to make the dream a reality, Josh Cooke and Jordan Ross can finally revel in their masterpiece—a music bar above the pulsating Corner Perk in Bluffton’s booming borough we call Old Town. Though there may be 80 bottles of bourbon displayed on the sleek, heart-of-pine shelves behind the cedar bar, it is the music that is the specialty on their menu. Yes, it is a bourbon bar, but this humble abode that was once the place Ian Duncam roasted coffee is now a lounge and listening room. It is a place designed for musicians. Even before they knew what the upstairs would be, Josh and Jordan began building, repurposing Heaven Hill bourbon barrels as supports to hold up the oversized high top pallet tables, using wood from the set of the American Spirit commercial BFG filmed to decorate the walls and coffee bags as shades over the windows. The floating walls, open black-spray-foamed ceiling and wood all act as diffusive surfaces, allowing the

enjoy a Mixed Nut Tray, Smoked Meat & Cheese Platter or Bacon Crusted Bavarian Pretzel along with their Bourbon & Whiskey Flights or craft cocktails. Or along with a Kentucky Mule, Caramel Apple Cider, Hot Toddy or Mint Julep, visitors can get a Turkey Club, Cranberry Pecan Chicken Wrap, Candied Bacon & BBQ Kettle Chips or Bourbon Pecan Pie. Could a place like this that has already seen abrupt success booking shows, filling their schedule and selling out of tickets, be the next Eddie’s Attic or Bluebird Café? It might be too soon to tell, but with the level of success the Blufftonian has seen so far and the drive that his team has, we believe it is possible.

Bringing a Tavern to Town

Down the street, another establishment is making its own noise—the soon-to-be neighborhood tavern at 9 Promenade Street, Calhoun’s. With all-but-total demolition and a complete remodel, this new “upscale yet approachable” cocktail bar hopes to bring in the crowds with chef-driven food, an ambient atmosphere and extensive Whiskey collection.

The Roasting Room lounge and listening room.

sound to create a pleasant reverb, resulting in a more intimate performance by the artists that take the stage. “When you’re listening, you can hear every inflection of the voice of the musician. There’s a very crisp, clear captivating element to the sound of the room,” Josh awes. “We did all those things to create this magical experience, both for the musician and the audience.” And it worked. Well, the 32-channel soundboard at the fingertips of the musician, controlled by an iPad, and the impressive sound system hanging above the audience, also helped. Not to mention the singer-songwriters that are showing up each weekend and killing it with their own original music—which is the real thing that sets The Roasting Room apart from the other bars with music in town. Their musicians don’t do covers on weekends. “We might be a little snobby about that,” Cooke lets slip, but not because he does not appreciate that song covers. He is just working to develop the music scene in Bluffton in another way—bring in better acts and encourage locals to keep creating. “There’s just not a defined music-as-an-art here. So we’re trying to help create and build that music-as-an-art in Bluffton.” When guests are not too entranced by the performers, they can

Peeking inside their window might reveal the vintage horse race theme, but it does not uncover the good times that will be had when Calhoun’s opens this spring. Inspired by the Kentucky Derby Soiree that they throw every year, Charleston restaurateurs James Groetzinger & Joey Rinaldi, who own Warehouse, jumped when Jon Rinaldi, owner of Vineyard 55, presented the opportunity to open a new restaurant in their hometown. Aiming for the classy southern “day drinking” vibe that you find at the derby, Calhoun’s will have a menu full of classic cocktails, including the Whiskey Sour, Aged Negroni + Manhattans, Hemingway’s, Mules and Cal’s Margarita, as well as eclectic wines, craft beer, good bitters, proper recipes and perfectly executed mixes. Their fare is a modern, made-from-scratch reimaginations of Lowcountry favorites—small plates from about $6-$17. Along with an array of bands and DJs, Calhoun’s is expecting to have quite a few scrumptious events—oyster and pig roasts, tap takeovers, guest chefs, whiskey tastings are on their to-do list. Their goal? To have the best happy hour in Bluffton, and not just from a price point, but a quality stand point too. With a great vibe. “The hats and dresses, bow ties and juleps. The bluegrass, the bets, and the race for those roses. It is such a great vibe and a very fun time to eat and drink and be with friends. Why not recreate that vibe all year long,” James asks. With The Roasting Room open and Calhoun’s anxious to swing its door open this spring, it seems this summer is going to be a great one. All these new businesses give us the perfect excuse to get out and try something new. Make new memories and remember that it’s all about the Bluffton State of Mind.

The Breeze MARCH 2016

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CEDAR BLUFF 1890 BLUFFTON, SC

The Breeze MARCH 2016

MARCH TIDES

FRI 11

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4:22 AM 10:45 AM 4:44 PM 11:04 PM

TUES 22

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2:57 9:16 3:15 9:41

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TUES 1

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1:50 7:47 2:11 7:51

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2:43 8:48 3:05 8:52

AM AM PM PM

5:12 AM 11:37 AM 5:33 PM 11:59 PM

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3:38 AM 9:54 AM 3:52 PM 10:18 PM

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7:05 1:34 7:25

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3 : 4 0 9:52 4:01 9:58

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MON 14

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1:57 8:01 2:33 8:21

AM AM PM PM

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4:17 AM 10:31 AM 4:26 PM 10:53 PM

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TUES 15

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2:57 9:03 3:33 9:24

AM AM PM PM

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4:54 AM 11:07 AM 4:59 PM 11:28 PM

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5:30 AM 11:43 AM 5:32 PM

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5:40 AM 11:49 AM 5:58 PM

WED 16

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12:00 AM 6:37 AM 12:42 PM 6:53 PM

3:58 AM 10:11 AM 4:34 PM 10:30 PM

SUN 27

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12:02 AM 6:06 AM 12:20 PM 6:06 PM

THURS 17

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12:56 AM 7:30 AM 1:33 PM 7:45 PM

4:59 AM 11:17 AM 5:36 PM 11:35 PM

MON 28

MON 7

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12:38 AM 6:44 AM 12:59 PM 6:43 PM

FRI 18

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1:19 7:26 1:44 7:25

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WED 9

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1:49 8:19 2:22 8:34 2: 4 1 9:07 3:10 9:23

6:00 AM 12:16 PM 6:35 PM 12:33 AM 6:57 AM 1:08 PM 7:30 PM

AM AM PM PM

SUN 20

L H L H

1:25 7:49 1:54 8:19

AM AM PM PM

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2:07 8:14 2:34 8:15

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THURS 31

THURS 10

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3:32 AM 9:55 AM 3:57 PM 10:13 PM

MON 21

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2:13 8:34 2:36 9:02

AM AM PM PM

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AM AM PM PM

*Daylight Savings Time Begins Mar. 13 at 2 a.m. Tide chart is calculated for the May River. Full Moon March 23.

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The Breeze MARCH 2016

OVER

the

BRIDGES

March Events in Bluffton, Beaufort, Hilton Head & Savannah BLUFFTON: March 3: Painting workshop with Vickie Jourdan at SOBA, 6 Church St., B. Beginners and all levels welcome. $100 for members and $150 for non-members. (843) 247-2868, info@sobagallery.com or sobagallery.com.

sculptors that work with bronzes and clay. 1263 May River Rd. #B. (843) 757-8185 or fourcornersgallerybluffton.com. April 2: Leo's Legacy 5K begins at 2:30 p.m. at Oscar Frazier Park, 11 Recreation Ct. The 2nd Annual Leo’s Legacy Festival follows the race. Packet Pick-up is Thursday, March 31st 4-6 p.m. at Palmetto Running Company. active.com.

March 3 & 10: Check out Bluffton’s Winter Farmers Market at Calhoun Street and Carson Court every Thursday from noon-4 p.m. (843) 415-2447 or farmersmarketbluffton.org.

BEAUFORT:

March 5: NATIVE performs at The Roasting Room above Corner Perk, 1297 May River Rd. at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover. (843) 816-5674 or cornerperk.com/cedar.

March 5: 11th Annual Beaufort Charities Oyster Roast & Microbrew Fest, 1-8 p.m. at Live Oak Park in Port Royal, 14th Street. All you can eat oysters, craft beer, wine, a silent auction, Kid Zone, and live music. eatsleepplaybeaufort.com.

March 7: Palmetto Bluff Half Marathon. Hidden away among an intricate maze of rivers, islands and maritime forests, the course is flat, fast and chip timed. Registration is $20 and benefits BackPack Buddies. (843) 815-1718. March 12: The Old Town Bluffton Merchants Society brings back Shuckin’ and Shaggin’ from 5-9 p.m. Enjoy oysters at $10 per bucket. $5 per person, kids 12 and under are free. Wharf and Bridge Streets, Bluffton. oldtownbluffton.com. March 18: The largest home and garden event in the Lowcountry takes place at the Buckwalter Recreation Center, 905 Buckwalter Pkwy. Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free and open to the public. (843) 681-9240 or lowcountryhomeandgardenshow.com. March 24: Four Corners will have their second annual Sculpture Show on March 24, in which they will showcase six 34 bluffton.com

March 5: The Met: Live in HD – “Puccini's Manon Lescaut” at USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St., from 12:554:03 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for Olli Members and $10 for Students. (843) 521-4145 or uscbcenterforthearts.com. March 11-29: Beaufort Theatre Company presents “Godspell” at USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St. March 11,12,18, and 19 at 7:30 p.m., March 13 and 20, 2016 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students. (843) 521-4145 or uscbcenterforthearts.com. March 11-12: Penn Center presents Sam Day Folk Arts Festival. Details TBA. 16 Penn Center Circle West, St. Helena Island, (843) 838-2432 or penncenter.com. March 12: Hunting Island Vounteer Expo from 10 a.m.-

noon. Get involved, make some friends and volunteer to assist with their many year-round programs. (843) 838-7437 or southcarolinaparks.com/huntingisland. March 19: Beaufort Twilight Run, the Lowcountry’s Running Festival, will not only feature a 5K, one-mile fun run and a kid’s fun run at Habersham Marketplace (13 Market, Beaufort), but also a 10-mile run, 8K, 5K and 13.1-mile Beaufort Challenge Run. Late registration begins at 1 p.m., with races starting at 3:45 p.m. Awards ceremonies at 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. beauforttwilightrun@gmail.com or beauforttwilightrun.com. March 19: Spring Architect’s Tour of Homes hosted by the Historic Beaufort Foundation. Visit private homes on Beaufort’s Sea Islands: Cane, Distant, Polawana, and St. Helena Islands. Tickets are $65. Advance reservations recommended. (843) 379.3331 or historicbeaufort.org. March 31: “Rockapella: A Tribute to Motown” at USCB Center for the Arts, 805 Carteret St. 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and $20 for students. (843) 521-4145 or uscbcenterforthearts.com.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND: March 5: The Hilton Head Island Seafood Fest returns to Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Ln. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $6. Free for kids under 10. (843) 681-7273 or hiltonheadseafoodfestival.com.

12-2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults & $10 for children. (843) 842-2787 or artshhi.com. March 13: The 33rd Annual Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade begins at Coligny Circle at 3 p.m. and will travel down Pope Avenue to Office Park Road, and end at Park Plaza. Rain or Shine! (855) 287-7287 or hiltonheadireland.org. March 19: WingFest returns to Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Ln. Admission is $6; free for ages 10 and under. (843) 681-7273 or islandreccenter.org. March 20: The Harbour Town Spring Fest returns from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (843) 842-1979 or seapines.com. March 26: The Island Rec Center presents Easter EGGstravaganza at the Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Ln., from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission is $10 for children (age 2-10). No charge for adults. (843) 681-7273 or islandreccenter.org. March 26: The Peking Acrobats, a troupe of China's most gifted tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, cyclists, and gymnasts, will take the Elizabeth Wallace Theater stage at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Ln., at 8 p.m. Tickets are $42 for adults and $29 for children (ages 5-15). (843) 842-2787 or artshhi.com.

SAVANNAH:

March 2-6: Long Cove Club, in partnership with Darius Rucker and the University of South Carolina, is hosting the 5th Annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Golf Tournament at Long Cove Club, 399 Long Cove Dr. (843) 686-1074 or lfinger@longcoveclub.org.

March 10-12: Savannah Stopover Music Festival brings musicians en route to Austin’s prestigious SXSW Music Conference for a three-day festival that merges music, visual arts and technology. Event times, locations and ticket prices vary. Savannahstopover.com.

March 5: The Hilton Head Shore Notes presents "The Magic of Broadway" at 7 p.m. at the Seahawk Cultural Center, 70 Wilborn Rd., (843) 705-6852.

March 12: The family friendly Tara Feis festival will feature Irish dancing performances, food, art activities, crafts and more. Free and open to the public. 11 a.m. in Emmet Park. (912) 651-6417.

March 7: The 22nd annual William P. Stevens Jr. Pro-Am Classic will be held at Moss Creek Plantation’s Devils Elbow South Course. Registration is $250 per person, and includes the post tournament reception. Guests are invited to join the awards celebration with a $35 guest fee. (843) 689-6612 or development@vimclinic.org. March 7-13: The 31st annual Hilton Head Wine & Food Festival kicks off this spring with a variety of events in The Sea Pines Resort. Ticket prices vary for each event. (843) 686-4944 or hiltonheadwineandfood.com. March 7-14: At the 2016 Hilton Head International Young Artists Piano Competition, 20 of the world’s best pianists, ages 18-30, will compete in four exciting rounds of competition. Ticket prices vary from $12-$50, with Gold Passes available for $65. (843) 842-5880 or go to hhipc.org. March 12: “Rising Stars” Youth Arts Festival will showcase the talent of budding actors, dancers, musicians, and singers at Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Ln.,

March 17: Savannah’s 192nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will wind through the streets of Downtown Savannah. It all kicks off at 10:15 a.m. and will stretch until about 2 p.m. The parade stars at Gwinnett and Abercorn streets, continues down Abercorn Street and around the Historic District, before ending at Madison Square. savannahsaintpatricksday.com. March 24-April 9: 2016 Savannah Music Festival will present more than 100 performances, celebrating exceptional artistry in jazz, classical and a variety of American and international musical traditions. Event times, locations and ticket prices vary. (912) 525-5050 or savannahmusicfestival.org. March 31-April 3: The Savannah Tour of Homes and Gardens are at 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 12-3 p.m. and 2-5 p.m. daily, featuring the Northeast, Southeast and Southwest Historic Landmark District, as well as Ardsley Park. Reserve tickets early! $30$50. (912) 234-8054 or savannahtourofhomes.org.

The Breeze MARCH 2016

Honoring Education with ” s n a e J d n a s l e w e “J By Steve Nichols

The Foundation for Educational Excellence is a local group of passionate volunteers consisting of retired educators and business trailblazers. Every year, they honor a community leader with the Peggy May Inspiration Award at their “Jewels and Jeans” event on March 5 at The Country Club of Hilton Head.. This year they will recognize the work of Dr. Narendra P. Sharma, founder of the Neighborhood Outreach Connection, whose mission is to help the poor and at-risk students through educational programs, health services, and workforce development. His organization, founded in 2008, achieves significant academic improvement at a very low cost per student by using curriculum and resources already available through Beaufort County schools. Neighborhood Outreach Connection started with just five children in a borrowed space in a Hilton Head apartment. After seven years of operation, it serves more than 300 local children and more than 350 adults annually, and hopes to expand its innovative model across the region and eventually, the nation. In addition to the Peggy May Inspiration Award, The Foundation for Educational Excellence also gives Innovative Teacher Grants every fall and spring. This spring’s grants included 11 teachers from eight Bluffton area schools and total more than $20,800—impacting more than 4,000 local students. Among the educators awarded are two Bluffton teachers. With these grants, Meghan Smith at Red Cedar Elementary will launch a kindergarten composting project that will help introduce young minds to biology and conservation, encouraging them to be better stewards of the world they will inherit. Eric Mohram, a teacher at River Ridge Academy, will use the grant to acquire tools to help students explore science, technology, engineering, and math with hands-on building projects using Legos WeDo, a robotics hardware and software platform specifically designed for Kindergarten to Grade 2 students.

36 bluffton.com

(Above) At Neighborhood Outreach Connection, Dr. Narendra P. Sharma works with students to develop their reading, language art and math skills. What these, and all of the Innovative Teacher Grants have in common, is that they fund learning projects that go beyond the basic, empowering inventive teachers to transform the educational experience and spark inquisitive young minds. These projects support innovative instruction and learning for Beaufort County students, providing them with opportunities that encourage a life-long enthusiasm for learning. These volunteers and teachers know that a great education is the surest means to boost the success of an individual, as well as the prosperity of our entire community. They take this tenet to heart and strive to make sure that every child gets the opportunity to kindle their curiosity and nurture a life-long passion for education. If you’re interested in learning how you can create an extraordinary educational experience for Bluffton and other Lowcountry students, go to FoundationEdExcellence.com or call (843) 415-2331.

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Directory of Advertisers Accurate Lithograph Pg. 19

Palmetto Dental Arts Pg. 23

AllCare Tree Pg. 33

ESP Merle Norman Salon Pg. 27 The Filling Station Art Gallery Pg. 15

Annette Bryant, Coldwell Banker Pg. 3

Four Corners Fine Art & Framing

Pearce Scott Architects Pg. 30

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Pg. 30

Pg. 14

Palmetto State Bank Pg. 19 Pour Richard’s Pg. 43

Bluffton Bicycle Shop Pg. 33

Gigi’s Boutique Pg. 15

R. Stewart Design, LLC Pg. 31

Bluffton Pharmacy Pg. 33

Golis Family Jewelers Pg. 3

Reminisce On the Promenade Pg. 31

Cahill’s Pg. 48

Scrubs Plus Pg. 37

Charter One Realty Pgs. 46-47

Hilton Head Boathouse Pg. 32 Hilton Head Exterminators Pg. 23

Choo Choo BBQ Xpress Pg. 27

Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Pg. 4

The Church of the Cross Christian

Jeanie Larson, The Alliance Group

Spring Island Pg. 5

Women Pg. 11

Realty Pg. 4

Spartina Marine Education Center Pg. 37

Squat N’ Gobble Pg. 43

Coastal Exchange Furniture & Art Pg. 31

La Petite Gallerie Pg. 15

Stephens Land Service Pg. 31

Coastal Signature Homes Pg. 2

Mameen & Maudie Pg. 14

Stock Farm Antiques Pg. 15

Cocoon Pg. 14

The Island Pet Cremation Services

Covert Aire Pg. 27

May River Grill Pg. 43 May River Theatre Company Pg. 18

Door 2 Door Dry Cleaning Service

Morris Garage & Towing Pg. 19

Toomer’s Bluffton Seafood House and

Old Town Bluffton Merchants Society

Pg. 27

eggs n’ tricities Pg. 15

Shuckin’ & Shaggin’ Pg. 30

Pg. 19 Oyster Company Pg. 43

The Village Pasta Shoppe Pg. 43

The Breeze MARCH 2016

(Continued from Page 13) sweltry heat while he applied a coat and let it dry, applied a coat and let it dry…I don’t think he charged much. Years later his fix finally gave out and it started spurting gas every time I went to fill up, but I found that if I just stuck the nozzle in at a very precise angle and held it there the problem was avoided. I let it slide like that for months before gas started pouring out the bottom too, when at last I took it in for proper repair before I could get blown up. Then there was the time the transmission nearly went out on me in Tennessee. Nearly. I was halfway through the longest solo road-trip I’d ever taken—one entire glorious month with my dog around the Deep South, camping and having adventures and trusting in the kindness of strangers— when suddenly the noise I’d been ignoring for months got crucial. The only gear I could drive properly in was fourth, but I managed to limp into Atoka, Tennessee where I stayed with Donna Huffman’s mom (Donna being the founder and then-editor of this magazine.) Miss Dot was kind enough to put me up for a week while they installed a rebuilt transmission, and the time we spent together made a lovely chapter in my book. That was the thing about this truck: it never left me high and dry. I’ve been as far north in it as Charlottesville, VA, as far west as Lafayette, LA, as far south as Crystal River, FL. Everything I did was with cash, a road atlas and my wits

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Outside a barbershop in the Memphis hood about me. There was just nothing better than backing into a weedy pullout on a dirt forest road somewhere and setting up shop for the night, completely undetected (or at least assumed to be a man) as I settled down to rest under the shell. Next morning I’d wake up to the birdies chirping, make tea with my camp stove on the tailgate, soak up some sunlight while poring over maps of the day’s hike. When I felt good and ready I’d pull away and never look back. The first time I slept in the cab was because they got me drunk at Pepper’s Porch, back when it was still a good-time down-home place where people threw horseshoes and treated you like an old friend. I got off my shift as a security officer feelin’ like bein’ bad, so I pulled into Pepper’s and spent the evening drinkin’ beer and takin’ shots on an empty stomach in their screen-porch bar. By the time they started grilling steak and offering strips of it for free, it was too little too late—I went out to my truck and threw up all over the inside of the door before passing out on the bench. Yet strange to say it was not an altogether unpleasant night! The balmy heat and moonlight in wisps of Spanish moss; the way no one cared how I slept it off under live oaks in the gravel parking lot; the simplicity of being just a few miles from home, and the independence of choosing to wait it out all curled up in dreamlike agony until the wee hours when I awoke ready to roll. I don’t drink at all anymore and I’m glad; but I actually have some neat memories from when I did. That was the first time I slept in the cab but not the last. I did it again in North Carolina’s Nantahala National Forest when it was dumping rain and I couldn’t find anywhere to camp. And again in Florida’s Ocala National Forest after a long ordeal involving a flat tire, blistery hike, and subsequent misadventure with two knuckleheads from upstate New York who picked me up and ensnared me in a long evening of going around eating seafood at bars before finally giving me a lift back to the truck and doing a bad patch-job on the tire—after that I was too tired to pitch a tent, so I just slept on the bench seat with my coat for a pillow. This was never comfortable, but always made me feel adventurous. There were many brushes with the law in that truck; but those have been written about and I won’t fall to rehashing here—suffice it to say profiling happens. There were also

“

What driver has not experienced this almost personal connection with a vehicle? ... like a faithful steed, it’s hard not to see it in a romantic light; ...

”

many flat tires but I want to put those days behind me as well. In 2010 when I left the last house I rented, the recession was on and my ever meager income as a starving-writer had become completely unworkable. Yet I wasn’t ready to quit my profession so I started living out of my truck—that is to say I kept everything I needed for daily life in there while crashing with different friends intermittently. Determined to keep my dog Coosaw, I made a home for her in the bed with a crate covered over by a blanket. We got away with this for a surprisingly long time, even where dogs weren’t allowed. And yeah some people gave me a hard time about it, especially when it rained; but Coosaw lived an awesome life and died of old age in my arms. Some years ago my mom put together a scrapbook with little drawings and things from when I was a kid, including one of the very first stories I ever authored. I was too young to write so she just took it down as I dictated. It was very short and went something to the effect of, “I like red trucks. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a red truck!” I have absolutely no recollection of ever being infatuated with red trucks as a kid—I’m not really much of a car person—but somehow it was comforting to stumble across this old memento as confirmation that I am and always have been just me. Towards the very last days my truck got a change of air when I went to live in Orlando as the summer 2015 writer-in-residence of the Kerouac House, a privilege for which I am deeply grateful. The house itself—briefly occupied by literary icon and great American roadtripper Jack Kerouac—was the sweetest little tin-roofed cottage with a perfect porch and baby blue door, Old Florida at its finest, nestled under a centenarian live oak that arched its loving arms over all the neighbors as well. Underneath this canopy my truck just fit in a niche between the house and a fence, where it peeped out slyly like a critter with headlights for eyes. I loved the way it looked there, its buff red paint and orange kayak on top a perfect complement to the cool tones of the house and palmy yard. It was just so perfectly Florida as though it had sat in the neighborhood for years. One day I found a creeping vine starting to grow under the hood. In fact I played the part of reclusive writer so well that I only used one tank of gas the entire summer, mostly to take the kayak to local springs on my days off. When the residency came to its inevitable end I threw everything in back again and headed home to Bluffton. By this point I already had the little R-pod travel trailer that is now my full-time abode, so I knew I would be upgrading to a beefier truck that could pull it. I spent several months searching, zeroing in on what I wanted (basically the same thing as my old truck in terms of longevity and reliability, only one size up). I waited patiently for the right deal to come along, until one day last January the Mazda

wouldn’t start. Turns out it was just cold weather and a bad battery, but that was enough to light a fire under my behind—one week later I had a new truck. And what a truck it is! 2006 Toyota Tacoma V6 double-cab longbed with the shell already on it, all spiffy and clean inside out and I intend to keep it that way, gleaming white with black tinted windows and big wheels that make it look worth three times the actual value. The new Adventure Truck, the new Rambler Mobile, so roomy and nice inside and fully half of my home! I love it. But honestly I never would have upgraded at all if not for the need to pull the R-pod— despite all the trash people talked about it, my old truck was A-okay with me. What driver has not experienced this almost personal connection with a vehicle? When it gives many years of good service like a faithful steed, it’s hard not to see it in a romantic light; one feels a sense of loyalty as though to friend or kin, no matter how irrational this may be. Letting go is not without a certain bittersweet. After I bought the Tacoma a friend said enthusiastically, “Lot different than that little go-cart thing you were ridin’ in, isn’t it Shell!” But I felt validated when my mechanic, to whom I took the new truck for inspection before buying, offered $800 cash for my little red Mazda on the spot. He knew the worth of it and by God so did I! Who cared that the vinyl seat had a big tear in it; that insulation dust rained down where the ceiling fabric ripped off; that the wiring was jacked because my friend got all drunk up when he replaced the tape deck. The important thing is to know that truck still runs like a champ! And so Jeffrey Robinowich of Morris Garage in Bluffton is now proud owner of one noble little machine, which as far as I know still sits unassumingly on his lot. But not for long—he plans to resell so if you act fast you might be able to own a piece of history. And that, dear readers, is my Ode to a Little Red Truck. Michele Roldán-Shaw has written two books about her Southern travels, available at Cahill’s Market or on her website ramblerslife.com.

In North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains The Breeze MARCH 2016

BLUFFTON’S

RESTAURANT GUIDE Cahill’s Chicken Kitchen** - Southern 1055 May River Rd. (843) 757-2921 Mon.-Wed.: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Thurs.-Sat.: 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday Brunch: 9 a.m.-3 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.

Corner Perk** - Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee 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.

Latitude Wine Bar** - Wine, Tapas, Lunch 6 Promenade St. (843) 706-9463 Wed.-Sat. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.

May River Grill** - Seafood Contemporary 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.

Pour Richard’s** - Contemporary 4376 Bluffton Pkwy. (843) 757-1999 Mon.-Sat.: 5:30-10p.m.

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

Toomers Bluffton Seafood House**

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

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

Agave Sidebar

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

Bluffton BBQ - Barbeque, Pork, Ribs 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.

Sun.-Thurs.: 5-8:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.: 5-9:30 p.m. Closed Monday

Buffalo’s - Contemporary

Neo - Gastropub - Farm To Table Fare

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.

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.

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

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 MARCH 2016

MUSIC

Pointy Guitars, Minimalist Pop and Classic Rock A Conversation with two B-Town Bands By Jevon Daly Two kids walk into a bar. The young man is 16, has long hair and plays guitar. The girl is 18, has black lipstick and heels on, and also plays guitar. When Ben Hughey and his band, Native, get up onstage they put on a show. A sweaty, hair-flipping Ben sings in a man voice and moves all over the stage. Guitar player Zach Stevens shreds pretty hard and seems to get better each time you hear him. The brothers Lentz look chiseled and play just as great. Native plays covers we all know, but there is the injection of youth in everything they do, and their supporters follow them everywhere creating hysteria. While Native dresses in black rock T-shirts and converse, Hannah’s stage outfits are much more Joan Jett chic rocker. Hannah Brown is serpentineÅcrowd and her band, Executrix, like a hawk. Both play classic rock, but pull from

different arenas if you will. They are sweet at times on the mic, but can also belt out full tilt rock stuff impressing experienced sud suckers. “That is what really separates you from being in a ‘cover’ band for the rest of your life,” Ben said after we briefly spoke in Hannah’s kitchen, where her dogs sang the whole time. Hannah’s eyes lit up when she spoke of leaving for Nashville in the fall. She went to opera school two years ago and has done a few recordings. Ben is also looking to one day hit the road playing his own songs. Both Ben and Hannah have no problem lugging gear then performing three or four shows a week in season. Heck, Hannah plays three gigs a week in February. They both spoke of how important the ‘show’ aspect of music is—getting the crowd pumped is almost important visually as it is musically. We talked hair products and high heels (Ben doesn’t wear heels unless it’s Halloween). They spoke of bands like Tame Impala and Grace Potter. And talked about pointy guitars.

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The cool thing about these two local musicians is how different they are. Ben wants to record with an orchestra behind him, while Hannah may end up doing a “Halsey” type of minimalist pop. Ya never know. Hannah was dressed very dark and had some pretty sophisticated makeup happening, while Ben looked like he had just gone to the beach to check the waves. But they had both done two musical performances in one day (one ‘gig’ usually takes three hours plus an hour to set up and an hour to break down) and neither one of these two kids show any signs of slowing down. Look Native up and check out Executrix on Facebook. Ya never know how far they may go.

The Breeze MARCH 2016

By Chase S. Wilkinson

avannah, GA is probably the worst place in the world to be if you are sober on St. Patrick’s Day. When the fountains spew green water and the tourists roll in by the freight load, it’s time to either grab a drink or hide for cover. For one long day in March the sleepy cobblestone streets and picturesque squares are invaded by the meandering drunk and rowdy party seeker. If you’re not an alcohol-fueled thrill seeker, St. Patrick’s Day can quickly start to feel like surviving a zombie invasion. As a SCAD alumnus, I’ve heard my fair share of St. Patrick’s Day horror stories. The school knows Savannah’s reputation and always strategically plans our Spring Break during the week of St. Patrick’s Day to get as many kids out of the city as they can before the glorified day of debauchery. But evacuation is not mandatory. My sophomore year, I made the mistake of sticking around in my dorm for the festivities. Now I’ve never been a drinker. In fact, I’ve only had half a beer in my entire life, which was accompanied by an extra large glass of water. It’s never been my thing. I didn’t like the way my tummy got all warm. So I knew that the day would be hard. Two friends of mine had invited me on a quick trip to Atlanta the day before, and we didn’t really think about what a mess we would be coming back to. We hit city limits at promptly 10 a.m. to gridlocked streets. Car horns honked and roared while we inched slowly around downtown. I sat, cowering in the back seat, as I peered out at a mass of roaming, green-clad strangers. All around me, on either side of the street, moving through crosswalks, were impenetrable hoards of St. Patrick’s Day revelers. Old and young alike, several groups dragged babies along in strollers decorated in vile shades of green. They stared into my window, watching

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me as we inched past, and I watched them right back. Our dorm was near the heart of downtown, right on Oglethorpe Avenue. It was a moderate walk from River Street which served as ground zero for the outbreak, but the intoxicated flowed through the streets in astounding numbers even this far out. Orleans Square, once my quiet refuge where I would write contemplative pieces on the nature of growing up, now held several strongholds of tourists. They created base camps full of fold out chairs and University of Georgia-themed ice coolers in the lush green lawn, obscuring the view of the gorgeous fountain that now sprayed thick, green water into the sky. Their placid games of Frisbee didn’t distract me from the fact that they had infiltrated my safe haven for the express purpose of alcohol consumption. I tried not to let it bother me. After all, my dormitory was a fortress. Entrances required student IDs to enter, there was a vigilant-ish security guard scrolling through her phone in the lobby. All I had to do was get to my room and we would be safe. But sadly, there was no parking in our dorm parking lot. Many cars stuffed themselves into spots knowing full well they did not have the school issued parking sticker to use that lot. But these animals had no sanctity for boundaries. After much circling, we eventually found parking on a side street. I braced myself, gripping my overnight bag tight, for the march toward home. We moved swiftly, constantly scanning the streets in order to avoid passing flocks of revelers. While we may have dodged awkward conversations, the sounds they made as they moved by were nerve wracking. Loud pops of laughter, incoherent rambles. In minutes we were inside and finally out of their way. My social anxiety triggered my heart to race, shaky breaths rattling my

lungs. I made it to my room on the second floor without incident. My window looked out over the main street and the hoards that moved along under the cover of the mossy trees. My friends left, and I was alone for the rest of the night. I tried to distract myself from the mess going on outside my walls. I threw myself into cleaning and rearranging the beds and the desks. Maybe a little Feng Shui would calm my nerves? But I could still hear them outside. Their footsteps, the laughter, taunting me.

Now, growing up in New Orleans, I am no stranger to citysanctioned debauchery. I’ve attended my fair share of Mardi Gras parades. I even rode a float once. I’ve been dragged, kicking and screaming down Bourbon Street while my mom and older sister jokingly looked in on Adult Store windows. I’ve been uncomfortable before. But this was something else. An invasion of sorts. I grew up learning what Mardi Gras was about and attending the calm, family-friendly parades on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain, a bridge ride away from the popularized festivities in New Orleans proper.

As it neared mid-day, my stomach began to rumble and I realized that I had not sufficiently stocked my hideaway to survive the long day. I had a few ends of a loaf of bread and the leftovers of a package of sliced honey ham. So I made do the best I could. But I yearned for Panera Bread. It was only a few blocks away. Surely I could make it. What was a little hassle for a Bacon Turkey Bravo and Mac and Cheese?

I watched through my blinds as the day turned into night and the hoards grew larger as they stumbled in the golden street lights, I found myself wondering why everyone was doing this. Surely not everyone here was of Irish heritage. Were they all so excited about driving the snakes out or teaching Pagans Christianity or whatever St. Patrick’s Day is meant to symbolize? Or was it just an exciting day to drink in public? I don’t even know anymore.

I feared what would happen if I attempted to leave the confines of my safe house? I didn’t own any green. How would I blend in? They would find me out. The brazen may even threaten to pinch me. Could I survive around the drunk and the loud? Ultimately, I ignored my cravings. Mostly because I had spent what little money I had on our trip to Atlanta and knew my $2.67 wouldn’t get me far. It wasn’t worth the risk.

I fell into a restless sleep sometime near midnight. The revelers were still going strong but I knew that in the morning I would awake and know I had survived. It was the only time I stayed in Savannah during St. Patrick’s Day. I didn’t feel festive or jolly. I just remembered the advice I received in New Orleans: When there is a storm coming, take everyone’s advice and evacuate while you can.

The Breeze MARCH 2016

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The Breeze MARCH 2016

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