The Breeze October 2016

O c t o ber 2 01 6

The Breeze THE MAGAZINE OF BLUFFTON

BLUFFTON GALLERY GUIDE See Page 26

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Notes From The Editor:

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ne of the best things about being part of a community magazine is meeting our readers.

Chierie and I were tending The Breeze booth at the Peanut Festival last month and lost count of the dozens of nice people who stopped by just to pay us compliments on our little magazine. That is so important to us and makes all the work worthwhile. Thanks to all those who stopped by to chat (it was a pleasure meeting you), as well as to our loyal followers. It is both a privilege and obligation for all of our dedicated staff to publish The Breeze every month.

I have good news and bad news. The bad news is we do not have a History or Architecture column this month (we will make it up to you in November). The good news is we have really raised the bar this issue with an extended blockbuster Bluffton Gallery Guide featuring some great local artists in honor of the Arts and Seafood Festival running October 15-23. This year the festival is exceptionally good and we should all give ourselves a pat on the back, as we are also celebrating our state-designated Cultural Arts District—how special is Bluffton!

On top of that, we have a great piece from Steve Nichols on the Annual Okatie Rotary Polo Match at Rose Hill to be held Sunday, October 23.

Those ponies are extraordinary athletes and Steve talks about all the work and care that goes into their training—you won’t believe it! It’s also always fun to see all the great ladies’ hats. Come out and visit us at both Arts and Seafood and Polo, as we will have a tent set up and, yes, some good tailgating snacks at Rose Hill.

Since it is festival season, Jevon Daly is “Wickin’ & Grinnin’” with some tips for musicians playing outside in the hot weather, plus our Music Town Venue Guide lists the shows you don’t want to miss this October.

As Halloween is this month, we are privileged to provide excerpts from the recently published Lowcountry Voodoo A-Z by renowned author, and now a local Blufftonian, Carole Marsh Longmeyer. Enjoy…Boo! We are all so fortunate to have Amber Hester Kuehn serving not just as our environmental writer, but also as the HHI Sea Turtle Protection Project Manager. It never dawned on me that there were 89 nests incubating on the beach when Tropical Storm Hermine hit and the storm surge could have drowned them all. Hats off to her and her team for their quick response and hard work to save them all and, as Amber says, “I never beat Mother Nature, she will just let me win from time to time.”

Send us your thoughts, ideas and pictures and don’t forget to give us a shout out when you visit our advertisers, as they make The Magazine of Bluffton possible!

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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 Allyson Jones allyson@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 SALES DIRECTOR Chierie Smith chierie@bluffton.com 843-505-5823 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Liz Shumake liz@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 ART DIRECTOR Jennifer Mlay graphics@hiltonhead.com 843-757-9889 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lisa Carroll, Amber Hester Kuehn, Carole Marsh Longmeyer, Steve Nichols, Andrea Six PHOTOGRAPHERS, ARTISTS Amber Hester Kuehn, Andrea Six, Chierie Smith Special thanks to the artists and galleries in our Bluffton Gallery Guide 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

OCTOBER 2016, VOLUME 14, NO. 10

F E AT U R E S

08 A Rude Awakening 13 Are Polo Ponies

Pampered Divas?

20 Wickin’ & Grinnin’ 26 Bluffton Gallery Guide

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40

44

Low Country Boil Courtesy of Toomers’ Bluffton Seafood House Lowcountry Voodoo A-Z

D E PA R T M E N T S

08 Environment 10 Fellowship 20 Music 21 Music Town: Bluffton Venue

Guide 22 Faces of Bluffton 26 Bluffton Gallery Guide 36 Tide Chart 40 Featured Recipe 42 Restaurant Guide

ON THE COVER: Transcendent - Art Cornell

44 Heritage The Breeze OCTOBER 2016

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ENVIRONMENT

A Rude Awakening T

Story and photos provided by Amber Hester Kuehn, HHI Sea Turtle Protection Project Manager

he phone call came in around eleven Thursday morning. “Amber, I’m calling to make sure that you have prepared for the storm.”

I recognized the Charleston area code—it was SCDNR (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources) calling—and I knew that I had to come up with some sort of informed report. I had been in denial…maybe the storm will fizzle out or maybe it will move west. This can’t be happening after all that we have been through this season with the beach renourishment project on Hilton Head.

I panicked a bit as I thought to myself, “I still have 89 nests incubating on the second largest barrier island on the Eastern Seaboard! How am I supposed to attend to all of them in the next eight hours?”

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Our discussion closed with special permissions granted to relocate nests in danger of washing away, but I was doubtful that an effort that large could be accomplished in such a short amount of time. I hung up the phone and looked up at my curious colleague as she asked, “What was that all about?” We have known each other for 20 years and although our professional lives have taken us down an identical career path, we couldn’t be more different. She is the eternal optimist and I am the cautious pessimist. bluffton.com

“Get in the car,” she said. “We are going to the beach—NOW.” We gathered our rain gear and cranked the Turtle Gator (the John Deere Gator used for HHI Sea Turtle Patrol). We stopped at the first nest in South Forest Beach and found evidence of hatchlings six inches below the surface, waiting for the perfect moment to emerge. Little did they know that Tropical Storm Hermine was approaching.

The hatchlings had left their shells at the bottom of the nest and we both knew from past experience that the storm surge would drown them if we didn’t release them quickly. Storms Joaquin and Erika came late in the 2015 nesting season and the beach was sparse with sea turtle nests. This storm was much larger and far too early!

The wind was picking up and the tide was coming in fast. We wore our Buffs©, but the sand was stacking up in our hair and ears anyway. One down, 80something to go. Even the eternal optimist was a bit overwhelmed after the third hour. Our progress was inadequate. We just couldn’t move fast enough, so I decided to text an APB to my staff: Storm coming. Need assistance on the beach. Call if you can help.

Four texts came in immediately and their assignments were given. A sense of pride soothed my angst and hope was renewed. However, nests had to be prioritized. Even with five people on the beach, we would not get to all of them. All nests that had shown some sign of emergence were dug up and inventoried and any hatchings alive in the nest were released at the water’s edge.

Nests that had passed 70 days of incubation (overdue, 60-day incubation is average) were also inventoried so that we could collect the data that we needed.

Poles marking these nests would not stand up to the crashing waves and the information would be lost.

Gathering data and hatchlings from soon to be emergent nests progressed.

Fourteen nests revealed live hatchlings ready for release and five nests were painstakingly moved to even higher ground.

It is risky to move an incubating sea turtle egg. Any harsh handling and the embryo will not survive. They need to be warm, dry and still. It was dark and the rain started to be consistent at 10. This was the rallying hour when all hands were to be off the beach, regardless of accomplishments.

Just in time for the heavy rain and lightning bolts, we made it back to the car. Sandy, wet and exhausted, we felt that it was our best effort. The next morning, we rested as the storm continued to wreak havoc. A total of 39 nests had been evaluated and nests selected to remain in place survived the storm.

There were no losses to storm surge—just near misses. I can honestly say that I will never beat Mother Nature, she will just let me win from time to time.

Hilton Head Island had a record breaking 2016 nesting season with a grand total of 411 nests on 15 miles of beach. The previous record was in 2013 with 339 nests. Despite extreme heat, tropical storms and heavy equipment on the beach for the renourishment project, the HHI Sea Turtle Patrol documented a successful hatching season.

Congratulations and thank you to the 10 members of the HHI Sea Turtle Protection Project Staff and to all who have supported the project. For the latest nesting news on Hilton Head Island and in South Carolina, visit seaturtle.org.

TURTLE TRIVIA • The Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta, caretta) is the most common sea turtle in U.S. coastal waters and was listed as a “threatened” species in 1978.

• In 1988, the Loggerhead was designated South Carolina’s State Reptile. The same year, South Carolina became the first state to enact Turtle Excluder Device (TED) regulations.

• Size: Loggerheads in the southeastern U.S. weigh an average of 250 pounds and are generally about 36 inches long.

• Loggerhead nesting season runs May-August; hatching season lasts through October.

• Incubation duration is 45-75 days.

• Hilton Head Island has 18.5 km of beach on the Atlantic Ocean and 7.2 km of beach on Port Royal Sound and averages 225 nests per season.

• The Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project was founded in 1985 and regularly patrols 23 km of the Island’s beaches.

• Lights Out for Turtles: Outside lights may not be visible from the beach, May 1-October 31, 10 p.m.-6 a.m.

• The Coastal Discovery Museum offers an Adopt-A-Nest Program supporting environmental education in the community.

• Call (843) 689-6767 or visit coastaldiscovery.org.

Sources: National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org), South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (dnr.sc.gov) and the Coastal Discovery Museum (coastaldiscovery.org).

The Breeze OCTOBER 2016

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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

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

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

ANGLICAN The Church of the Cross

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

Wednesday: 7 p.m.

110 Calhoun St. (843) 757-2661 Saturday: 5:28 p.m. Sunday: 8 & 10 a.m.

495 Buckwalter Pkwy.

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

BAPTIST

The Church of the Holy Trinity

Bible Missionary Baptist Church

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

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

Worship: 10:30 a.m.

First Zion Baptist

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

Sunday Worship: 10 a.m.

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.

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

Sunday Worship: 11 a.m.

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

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

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.

CATHOLIC St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church

10 bluffton.com 333 Fording Island Rd.

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

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

St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC

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

PRESBYTERIAN Lowcountry Presbyterian Church

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

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.

GREEK ORTHODOX Holy Resurrection Church

Grace Coastal Church (PCA)

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

JEWISH Temple Oseh Shalom at Lowcountry Presbyterian

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

LUTHERAN Lord of Life Lutheran Church 351 Buckwalter Pkwy.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m.

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

Live Oak Christian Church

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

Worship: 10:15 a.m.

Lowcountry Community Church Bluffton: 801 Buckwalter Pwky.

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

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

Religious Education & Childcare provided

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

The Breeze OCTOBER 2016

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began exploring the daily life of the athletes who play polo, in preparation for the 23rd Annual Rotary Club of Okatie Polo for Charity event on Sunday, October 23rd. I assumed that the riders were going to be athlete divas, simply because of the game’s moniker, “the sport of kings.” I quickly learned that the horses, not the riders, are the athletes who get the “diva treatment”—but deservedly so.

First off, they are called ponies, although they are typically huge, hulking creatures of pure muscle and singular intent. When the game began centuries ago, no horse higher than 54 inches was allowed, so the horses were technically “pony” sized. Keep in mind that people were much smaller then, too. Today, there is no size limit.

Polo ponies can typically weigh well over 1,000 pounds.

These full-sized equines get the royal treatment but, frankly, they earn it. Polo is fast, rough and one of the most dangerous sports in the world. They start “playing” the game, or training to play, by age three.

Polo horses run the equivalent of two or more miles at full throttle during a sevenand-a-half-minute period of play, and any polo enthusiast will acknowledge that a good pony contributes up to 80% of the team’s abilities.

Shelia Sulak is a former polo rider who lives in Bluffton and is a fixture at the annual Okatie Rotary Club polo event every fall. She tells me that these horses “are amazing” and go through exceedingly rigorous training. They must learn complex commands from the riders that are given primarily with subtle cues, mostly from the rider’s legs or weight shifts, not the reins. They have to be accustomed to bumping into other thousand-pound horses running at full speed. Sulak says, “You have to have a horse you can trust.

You get to know them and they know you.”

Sulak says they can be compared to human gymnasts—versatile and fit, with the ability to turn or stop on a dime. “They have to run really fast, then suddenly stop, which you don’t find in any other horse sports. It puts a lot of strain on their joints and back, so the horses get intense care.”

It’s a full-time job for several humans to care for each horse/athlete. So, what does a polo pony day look like?

Breakfast could be as early as 5:30 a.m.

Depending on each horse’s dietary requirements, they get a mixture of oats and other feed that is usually measured and mixed individually. Horses are left to eat their breakfast and digest it for around an hour while their stalls are cleaned. The horses are each groomed, and then one horse is tacked up; the rider will ride that horse and lead two horses on each side.

After they are exercised for about an hour, they typically rest for a few hours midday while barn chores are being carried out.

Between Z’s, they munch on hay and relax while their every need is attended to.

Grooming is of the utmost importance to these ponies. They are washed down daily and receive a manicure, where their hooves and shoes are picked and cleaned. Polo ponies even get a new set of shoes about every 21 days from a blacksmith. Horse’s manes are shaved or braided to prevent entanglement. A free flowing mane and tail would increase the likelihood of becoming entangled with players’ mallets or the reins.

Proper healthcare is also essential. All medical needs are met by veterinarians.

The vet may even recommend chiropractic adjustments and vitamin supplements.

Remember, these are expensive athletes, and proper health care is a must to keep them in top physical condition. Polo ponies purchased in the high-goal world are typically very expensive, often well over $30,000 per horse.

At every professional polo match, it is mandatory to have an equine ambulance with a team waiting on the side of the field, ready to rush in if needed. According to the The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA, not one intentional case of neglect has ever been reported in the professional polo world. It is quite clear it is a game played with honor and pride with the utmost respect for the ponies. These horses are intensely cared for, like a professional athlete. They may be pampered, but they are NOT divas.

During a polo match, riders are allowed to change horses as many times as they feel necessary, ensuring their horses are not overworked and are safe from injury. The mental and emotional state of a horse is just as important to the polo players as the physical state. If a polo pony is not a calm and happy horse, having formed a trusting bond with the polo rider, they will simply not do well on or off the field.

The Breeze OCTOBER 2016

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Charity 23rd Match

he Rotary Club of Okatie is entwined with Polo for Charity, as it is the organizing body behind it.

Rotarian Bill Fedorka has been with the Okatie Club since just after it was founded, and served as President in 2004. He has been in Rotary since 1962— an impressive 54 years of service above self! As a retired veterinarian, he has especially enjoyed this equestrian event and notes, “We are accomplishing so much and raising enormous dollars for charities in our area.”

Local organizations that have benefitted from Polo for Charity include the Moss Creek Marines and Paws 4 Vets, which purchase and train service dogs for veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The Rotary Club also supports many worthwhile “calls to serve others,” such as Happy Feet, which provides quality footwear to many children in need. The club is also actively involved with the Interact Club, a high school version of the organization, and has funded numerous other projects, including the Bluffton Boys & Girls Club, Family Promise, USCB Nursing program scholarships, Okatie Rotary student educational scholarships, Heel to Toe for Polio and the United Way. The Okatie Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at noon at Sigler’s Restaurant in Bluffton.

For details, contact Bill Beltz at (843) 706-3760 or email wfbelz@aol.com.

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P LO

Photo by Regine Johnson

Fall 2016

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Tickets: $15 in advance $20 at the gate Children under 12 - Free Available at BB&T bank locations, Markel’s and Engel & Völkers (800 Main Street) INFO: (843) 298-3055 rotarypolo@hotmail.com Okatie-Rotary-Polo-for-Charity

Rose Hill Plantation, Bluffton, SC Gates open at noon Match starts at 2pm Platinum Sponsors

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The Breeze OCTOBER 2016

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O L D T O W N

16 bluffton.com

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

breeze sept ad_Layout 1 9/15/16 8:18 AM Page 1

‘Gay Seafood at High Tide’ by Emily Wilson

Featuring works in oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor and mixed media by: Margaret Crawford Barbara Grubba Murray Sease

Peggy Duncan Don Nagel Emily Wilson

and Lee Grefalda, woodcarver Adjacent to “The Store” 56 Calhoun Street lapetitegallerie.com

The Breeze OCTOBER 2016

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TIDELANDS BANK. WE ARE LOCAL. WE ARE PERSONAL.

United Community Bank and Tidelands Bank are joining together to serve the coastal South Carolina community. With a shared commitment to personal service and a focus on local decision-making, our teams are dedicated to the communities we serve. Together, we are excited to provide our customers with expanded resources and more options than ever before.

Award-Winning Service. Local Leadership. Experience United!

Member FDIC. Š 2016 United Community Bank | ucbi.com/TidelandsBank |

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The Breeze OCTOBER 2016

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MUSIC

By Jevon Daly

P

eople are always asking me where I play around here. It’s a loaded question, to say the least.

We are very lucky to have so many different types of venues around the Lowcountry, but have to adapt to the different temperatures and humidity levels, also. How does a musician stay cool in the heat? How do the strings on the guitar react to extreme heat and humidity? Salt air is good for the soul, but is it mean to your banjo? Everyone in the crowd at the Tiki Hut is wearing bikinis and shorts. What is the most comfortable gear for staying cool and also looking kewl?

Wooden instruments seem to hold up pretty well down here. If you are gonna leave your brand new Martin guitar in the car, think twice. We musicians have all heard of instruments “caving in,” if left in the car on a 100º day. When it is that hot outside, you wouldn’t leave your dog in the car (although some dummies do), right? The shade of a trunk has been a nice comfy home for my fiddle the last few years, but when the temps hit 98 and above I try to bring her inside.

I use a lot of baby powder on my left hand so I can slide with ease up and down the fretboard and when putting a ton on (Jos Vicars and I are trying to get a sponsorship from Johnson & Johnson) you always get a few laughs from the crowd.

As far as clothing goes, you really can’t go wrong shopping at your local Columbia outlet.

The “fishing” shirt has been a mainstay for me on hot days so I can avoid “man-boob sweat.” No one likes playing a nice instrument while you’re soaked in perspiration. “Wickin’ and Grinnin’,” I always say. Field and Stream also makes a nice shirt. More baby powder over here!

Get yourself a fan.

Pedialyte or a homemade electrolyte drink is also nice before or after a gig. Laird Hamilton, the Surf God, has me on this saltwater kick first thing in the morning. After a hot day, I usually

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try to remember to consume some sea salt. I like it in my coffee.

Thanks, Andy and Brandon! Try it. Listen to your body. Sucking down tons of water is usually a good idea, especially when you’re having beers in the heat.

Tents and umbrellas seem like a good idea until you try singing into a microphone under one. The tent causes all kinds of sound issues, tho you won’t get rained out or sunburned. Therein lies the conundrum. I like my trucker hats. They keep the sun off my face, and lately we have been doing a lot of design and logo stuff on them.

The most important thing to remember when playing in the heat is this: Be Excited Like Jevon.

We are so lucky to be able to perform year ‘round here in the South. Now bring on the cooler temps, plz.

Jevon Daly has been performing in the Lowcountry since 1986; first with the HHHS Marching Seahawks and now with a number of different local lineups. He has slept on floors whilst traveling the East Coast on tour with LCB, a group that has played here since 1997. A class clown, fiddler, hair metal enthusiast and self-proclaimed ‘Biggest Deadhead on Earth,” Jevon lives in Bluffton with his wife and three kids. To find out where he’s playing next, check out Jevon Daly or Slowcountry Tunes on Facebook.

October Schedule: Mondays: Unicorn Meat at A Lowcountry

Backyard Restaurant Tuesdays: LCB at Hudson’s Seafood

on the Docks Fridays: Dunes House in Palmetto Dunes Saturdays: JoJo Squirrel and the Home Pickles at the Tiki Hut

BLUFFTON VENUE GUIDE Bluffton is a true Music Town with a variety of venues and festivals

showcasing talented local, regional and national bands and musicians.

Here are just a few places around town to hear some live music. Call the listed phone numbers or visit individual websites for complete entertainment schedules.

The Roasting Room Lounge & Listening Room

1297 May River Rd. (843) 368-4464 roastingroomlounge.com October 1: Nick Poulin, Jared Templeton, Peter Buoniauto, & Kyle Wareham October 20: BYOG October 27: Songwriter Showdown October 29: Forlorn Strangers w/ Pretty Darn presented by Bulrush Gin

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

Historic Bluffton Arts & Seafood Festival October 15-23

Old Town Bluffton (843) 757-2583 blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.com October 15: Lowcountry Gullah Dinner with music from Marlena Smalls and The Hallelujah Singers October 16: Oyster Fest with music by Muddycreek October 16: 5th Annual Invitational Local Artist Showcase with live music and entertainment from the Bluffton School of Dance and May River Theatre October 22-23: Street Fest with live music on three stages, including Native, B Town Playaz, Spike Ivory, Mike Korbar, Jeff Merrill, Lee Tyler Post, Jordan Ross, John Emil, Craig Coyne, Bam Jazz, Julie Gribble, Angela Easterling, Gary Pratt, Night Train and Jeff Beasley.

October 22: Rockin’ on the Dock Seafood Extravaganza presented by Vaux Marscher Berglind Attorneys with live music

by Gary Byrd and the Outlaws.

Family Owned & Operated Free Pick-up & Delivery Drop off -Pick up Each Garment Inspected Dry Cleaning Shirt Laundry Alterations & Repairs Stain Removal Leather Cleaning Household Items

Bluffton Plant: 373 Red Cedar Street 843.815.5885 door2door@hargray.com Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am-5:30 pm

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Send your selfies to Chierie@Bluffton.com

Faces of Bluffton

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By Andrea Six

Bluffton is brimming with all kinds of art—and artists.

From eclectic creators to plein air painters, the artists in our little corner of the Lowcountry marked by meandering marshlands, scenic shores and ravishing rivers, inspires each in its own way. These creative souls aren’t just giving the locals and visitors something pretty to take home; thanks to them, Bluffton has earned the “Cultural District” designation from the South Carolina Arts Commission and garnered state recognition. Now it’s official—the entire Old Town area, from Calhoun Street to Promenade Street, is considered a “Cultural District” by South Carolina.

Don’t just meet these creative composers and expert artisans at the Historic Bluffton Art and Seafood Festival, October 15-23; stop by the studios and galleries brandishing their beautiful works of art and say thanks!

Note: This is just a sample of the all-inclusive galleries and specialty shops in Old Town.

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The Filling Station

3B Lawton St. Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. fillingstationartgallery.com When someone suggests heading over to The Filling Station, most people might think they’re referring to a gas station, but not in Bluffton. Located in the heart of the Historic District, The Filling Station is a gallery featuring an eclectic array of art. For years, the gallery was located in what was once a service bay of a gas station, but Owner Bernie Haag recently relocated to Lawton Street. Inside this gallery, guests will find the work of more than 50 artists ranging in price from $5 to $5,000. In addition to the original art and limited edition prints, also featured are pottery, glass art, jewelry and gift items.

Left to Right: ”Who Do You Say I Am?” Bob Graham. Graphite on paper.

“Bluffton Charmer.” Guido Pertuzzi. Oil on linen board. ”Humble.” Bob Graham. Watercolor on paper.

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La Petite Gallerie

56 Calhoun St. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. lapetitegallerie.com One block away, La Petite Gallerie is nestled in a lovely little space next to The Store on Calhoun Street. This intimate gallery is filled with fine local art and features six of the area’s favorite painters, as well as a woodcarver. Their special collection of art is an ever-changing delight, with many pieces spilling out into the adjacent garden. In addition to the pastel, acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings, visitors will find lovely blown glass, whimsical and soulful clay pieces, wonderful steel cattails, fish, turtles, birds and other fun garden art.

Stop by this special little gallery soon and you might even catch one of the artists on duty painting or carving on the shady garden deck!

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Clockwise: “2 Calhoun Street.” Don Nagel. Pastel on paper.

“Gay Seafood.” Terry Brennan. Oil on canvas.

“Willet.” Murray Sease. Oil on board.

Maye River Gallery 37 Calhoun St. Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. mayerivergallery.com

Walk up Calhoun Street and discover a block chock full of creativity. This sensational street is home to the Maye River Gallery, where artwork is showcased in almost every charming corner of the space, all by artists local to the South Carolina Lowcountry. From fiber to photography, pastel pieces to fine paintings, this quaint gallery not only displays work in a variety of mediums, but is also home to a working studio, so don’t be surprised to find an artist absorbed in an abstract or perfecting a painting.

Left to Right: “Crabs in a Basket.” Mary Grayson Segars. Oil on canvas.

“Bateau & Snowy Egret.” Marci Tressel. Photograph

Pluff Mudd Art 27 Calhoun St. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. pluffmuddart.com

Right next door is one of Old Town’s premier art galleries, Pluff Mudd Art, voted “Best Art Gallery in Bluffton” for three consecutive years.

Located in a charming cottage, Pluff Mudd Art Gallery showcases the work of 16 local artists and five consignment artists in the French “salon style” way with five rooms saturated with work from the floor to the ceiling. Upon entering this distinctive and cheerful gallery, visitors can view original paintings by artists Lynda Potter, Cheryl Eppolito, Terry Brennan, David Knowlton, Michael Pearson, Vickie Jourdan, Mary Lester and Irene Williamson. Also inhouse are the award-winning bird carvings of Bob Berman, the vibrant photography of Ed Funk and Donna Varner, woodworking by Jim Renauer and Doug West, pottery by Steve White and the unique jewelry of Peggy Carvell and Marilyn McDonald.

Top to Bottom: “Misty Morning.” Ed Funk. Photograph.

“Marsh Birds.” Terry Brennan. Oil on canvas.

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SOBA Gallery

6 Church St. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. sobagallery.com Nestled on the corner of Calhoun and Church Streets, the SOBA (Society of Bluffton Artists) Gallery not only showcases a variety of work, but also hosts art classes, workshops and summer camps for kids at their Center for Creative Arts. A non-profit organization, SOBA was established in 1994 to promote a stimulating community environment for the visual arts and assist area students and artists in enhancing their artistic abilities. The SOBA Gallery has a completely new exhibit each month with a gala reception opening.

Left to Right: “Reminiscing.” Norma Deal. Mixed media on canvas.

“Fish Are Jumping.” Vickie Jourdan. Acrylic on canvas.

“Color Burst.” Dennis Lake. Oil on canvas.

Bluffton Boundary Studios • Gallery

21 Boundary St. Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. blufftonboundary.com Hop a street over and discover the newest contemporary art gallery of the Lowcountry—Bluffton Boundary, the Cambell Chapel AME Parsonage turned artist alcove in the summer of 2016.

Featuring the work of Amiri Farris, Victoria Smalls, Dana Rose and Lynn Hicks, the space is not just a place to showcase work, but a studio spilling with experts in the eclectic, visionaries versed in visual arts and professionals passionate about paintings. Stop in and meet the artists working in their creative process and make an offer on their masterpieces.

Left to Right: “Shrimp N’ Grits.” Dana Rose. Mixed media.

“Love’s Contemplation.” Victoria Smalls.

Pastel on paper.

“Old Town Cardinal.” Amiri Farris. Mixed Media.

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Reminisce

30 Promenade St. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday, by chance facebook.com/reminiscepromenade Continue back up Calhoun Street to Promenade Street and stroll into the little red shop—Reminisce. This fascinating space is unlike the other galleries in town, as it’s a sports galore and memorabilia shop, where visitors can discover the many forms of art, whether it be a small piece in their fun collection of prints or old photographs. Art conjures up memories and that’s exactly what owner Jerry Glenn hopes to do—get guests to reminisce. The shop even features two nationally known artists: Baseball Hall of Fame Artist Dick Perez and Steven Fowler, a dog and cat artist. Custom pieces are available upon request.

Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right: “Dachshund Beach Club.” Stephen Fowler. Wrapped canvas.

“The Slide.” Dick Perez. Paper on canvas giclée print.

“Chicago Cubs Typography.” Stephen Fowler. Wrapped canvas.

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Four Corners Fine Art & Framing

1263-B May River Rd. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. fourcornersgallerybluffton.com Ride down May River Road and you’ll run into another set of shops steeped in art, including Four Corners Fine Art and Framing. This uniquely Southern shop is a collector’s gallery, featuring one of the finest collections of artists. With works in oil, acrylic, mixed media, photography and clay, as well as pencil and woodcarvings, the gallery is loaded with Lowcountry flavor. What started in 1998 as a framing shop has steadily grown to include a gallery space featuring both traditional and contemporary artwork. Don’t just take our word for it; stop by and see for yourself !

Top Left, Top Right, Bottom: “Quiet Beach” Jim Palmer. Oil on canvas.

“Laughing Gulls.”

Addison Palmer. Oil on canvas.

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“The Shed.” Jim Lewis.

Oil on canvas.

Coastal Exchange Furniture & Art

1230 May River Rd. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Meander a little further down May River Road to Coastal Exchange Furniture & Art to find unique pieces perfect for your home.

Discover an array of works, from found-art sculptures to paintings and photography ready to hang in a new home. Coastal Exchange ventures away from fine art with a range of fun reclaimed and repurposed dĂŠcor, as well as whimsical and scenic paintings and photography. From boats to fish, birds to beaches, there is a variety of Lowcountry subjects featured in the works, which are created on everything from canvas to wood and even steel.

Top, Bottom Left, Bottom Right: Abstract. Whitney Frazier. Mixed media on paper.

Pottery Basket with driftwood and turtle.

Connie Sheets. Pottery.

Abstract. Kipling Collins. Oil on canvas.

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OCTOBER TIDES Tide chart is calculated for the May River.

Full Moon October 16.

SAT 1

L H L H

3:34 10:00 4:00 10:11

AM AM PM PM

L H L H

4:11 10:38 4:39 10:49

AM AM PM PM

L H L H

4:46 11:15 5:17 11:27

AM AM PM PM

L H L

5:20 11:52 5:54

AM AM PM

H L H L

12:06 5:55 12:32 6:33

AM AM PM PM

H L H L

12:47 6:31 1:15 7:14

AM AM PM PM

H L H L

1:33 7:12 2:02 8:01

AM AM PM PM

H L H L

AM AM PM PM

H L H L

2:22 8:00 2:54 8:55

3:15 8:56 3:49 9:54

MON 10 H L

4:10 9:59

AM AM

SUN 2

MON 3

TUES 4

WED 5

THURS 6

FRI 7

SAT 8

SUN 9

AM AM PM PM

7:33 2:12 8:15

AM PM PM

SAT 22

H L H L

2:48 8:33 3:13 9:18

AM AM PM PM

SUN 23

H L H L

3:49 9:38 4:12 1 0:22

AM AM PM PM

MON 24

H L H L

4:48 1 0:42 5:08 1 1:21

AM AM PM PM

TUES 25

AM AM PM PM

H L H

5:45 1 1:43 6:02

AM AM PM

WED 26

L H L H

1 2:14 6:38 1 2:36 6:52

AM AM PM PM

4:44 10:54

PM PM

TUES 11

H L H L

5:05 11:04 5:40 11:50

AM AM PM PM

WED 12

H L H

6:02 12:05 6:36

AM PM PM

THURS 13

L H L H

12:44 6:57 1:03 7:30

AM AM PM PM

L H L H

AM AM PM PM

FRI 14

SAT 15

L H L H

1:35 7:51 1:58 8:23

2:26 8:43 2:53 9:13

SUN 16

L H L H

3:16 9:34 3:46 10:03

AM AM PM PM

THURS 27

MON 17

L H L H

AM AM PM PM

1:00 7:28 1:25 7:40

AM AM PM PM

FRI 28

TUES 18

L H L H

AM AM PM PM

L H L H

1:43 8:13 2:11 8:23

AM AM PM PM

SAT 29

WED 19

L H L

4:06 10:25 4:38 10:54

4:56 11:17 5:30 1 1:47

5:46 12:12 6:22

L H L H

AM PM PM

L H L H

2:23 8:55 2:54 9:04

AM AM PM PM

SUN 30

THURS 20

H L H L

12:45 6:38 1:11 7:17

AM AM PM PM

L H L H

3:01 9:33 3:34 9:43

AM AM PM PM

MON 31

H

1:46

AM

L H L H

3:38 1 0:10 4:13 10:21

AM AM PM PM

FRI 21

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

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L H L

H L

843-681-2628 www.hhboathouse.net

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A great learning trip for kids & adults!

Voyage of discovery

Discover the local marsh habitat.

See the richness of life in our tidal estuary.

Learn measures for water quality.

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

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

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

- S. Lindsay

FIVE STAR SERVICE

COMMITMENT, REPUTATION, TRADITION SINCE 1968

WWW.HILTONHEADEXTERMINATORS.COM HILTON HEAD: 843-681-2590 • BLUFFTON/BEAUFORT: 843-706-9933

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1 lb. Package Hillshire Farm Polska Kielbasa 4 Ears of Fresh Corn, broken in half 8-10 Small Red Potatoes 2 lbs. Fresh, Wild Caught SC Shrimp, shell on J & O Seasoning (available at Bluffton Oyster Factory) Cocktail Sauce Butter, melted

In a large pot, bring around 1 1/2 gallons of water to a rolling boil. Cut sausage into 2-inch pieces and add to the water; steam for about 10 minutes. Add corn and potatoes and cook just until potatoes are fork tender.

Add the shrimp to the water and tumble with other ingredients to ensure shrimp are covered in the water. Steam for around 2 minutes or so until the shrimp are pink. Be careful not to overcook the shrimp.

Drain all ingredients and spread out onto a large sheet pan and sprinkle with J & O Seasoning to taste.

Serve with cocktail sauce, melted butter and your favorite beverage. Dig in and enjoy!

Serves 4 adults.

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Courtesy of May River Grill

BLUFFTON’S

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

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

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

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

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

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

Corner Perk** Breakfast, Lunch, Coffee Promenade St. & May River Rd. (843) 816-5674 May River Grill** Seafood Contemporary Old Town Bluffton 1263 May River Rd. (843) 757-5755

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inn At Palmetto Bluff Continental 1 Village Park Sq., Palmetto Bluff Village (843) 706-6500

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

Southern Barrel Brewing Co. American 375 Buckwalter Place Blvd.

(843) 837-2337

The Juice Hive Juice Bar 14 Johnston Way, Bluffton Village (843) 757-BUZZ (2889)

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

Katie O’Donald’s Irish, American 1008 Fording Island Rd. #B, Kitties Crossing (843) 815-5555 Longhorn Steakhouse American 1262 Fording Island Rd., Tanger Outlet 1 (843) 705-7001 Mulberry Street Trattoria Italian 1476 Fording Island Rd. (843) 837-2426

Old Town Dispensary Contemporary 15 Captains Cove, off Calhoun St.

Stooges Cafe American 25 Sherington Dr. (843) 706-6178 ** See the ads in The Breeze and Bluffton.com for more info

Pour Richard’s Contemporary 4376 Bluffton Pkwy.

(843) 757-1999 (843) 837-1893 Redfish Contemporary 32 Bruin Rd. Old Town Bluffton (843) 837-8888

Courtesy of Agave Side Bar

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HERITAGE

Lowcountry Voodoo A-Z Hoodoo you do?

Roots, hexes and spells Asphidity bags; Dr. Buzzard, haint blue, And riding boo-hags.

Long live this lore That came to our shore, And seems destined to haunt us Forevermore.

—Carole Marsh Longmeyer

Getting to the Root of the Matter…

“My introduction to voodooish stuff came via my grandmother, Mama Byrd. She was a big believer in signs, potions, spells and such. She was not Gullah; she was not Geechee. She couldn’t have pointed out Haiti on a map. I’m not even sure where her interest or instinctual affinity for such things came from, but it was visceral and omnipresent.”

“The asphidity bag around her neck was always a conundrum to us. A leather pouch about the size of a walnut, we would spy her stuffing it with secret ingredients, presumably medicinal herbs and roots. But to my sister and I, they were magic potions, and probably, knowing our grandmother, black magic.”

“I spent a lot of time in Savannah as a kid. It all seemed a web of magic and spells, hoodoo and voodoo—long before John Berendt’s blockbuster book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Later, as a researcher and writer, my bent was toward mysteries and the mysterious. The 44 bluffton.com

Carole Marsh Longmeyer, author of Lowcountry Voodoo A-Z, portraying a voodoo queen. more I read and learned and witnessed, I became a believer, not in hokey television and movie voodoo, but in the real thing.”

Most folks, the author maintains, swear they put no stock in voodoo, or hoodoo, as it is often referred to in the Lowocountry. “But everyone has attached their keys to a rabbit’s foot, reached down to pluck a four-leaf clover, wished on a shooting star, tossed salt over their shoulder, avoided the black cat about to cross their path, or bought a lottery ticket. We can’t say we don’t believe; we just aren’t sure exactly what we believe in.”

Believe or not, Marsh Longmeyer spent years scouring books on all things related to voodoo. But the thing that drew her back home every time was the Lowcountry.

“I have a great respect for the authenticity, spirituality and longevity of the voodoo that was brought to South Carolina by the people who would become, for a while, the slaves who grew the cotton, indigo and rice staples.

They amaze me with their sincerity, ingenuity and heritage, as well as that lovely, lilting Gullah language. I realized that I had the real voodoo thing right out my back door and I wanted to explore and know more.”

“New Orleans and Haiti are not the only ‘ground zeros’ of voodoo. Historic Beaufort, S.C. (where the author lives) is home to a rich history of voodoo culture and conjurors.

From the ancient knowledge of the Gullah-Geehee on St. Helena Island to avowed voodoo Sheriff James McTeer, Lowcountry Voodoo A-Z by Carole Marsh Longmeyer shares the serious, silly, spooky, believable, unbelievable and amazing influences of voodoo on the Lowcountry.”

A

Alligator tooth: Lordy, we have these aplenty in the Lowcountry.

A gator tooth is the Southern equivalent of a lucky badger tooth in other parts of the country. You can carry the tooth in a pocket and “feed” it with whiskey, urine, or other conjure concoctions to enhance its power. Alligator teeth are said to be powerful mojos for all kind of gambling, including bingo and the lottery. Since gators naturally shed their teeth, they are fairly plentiful. An alligator foot is another kind of conjure curio, although just how you put your hands on one, I would not want to speculate. It’s also called a gator paw.

B

Boo hag: A bad spirit, a boo hag uses witchcraft to get a person to do what they want. At night, a boo hag can shed her skin and become invisible. This spirit can “ride” a person by sitting on his or her chest.

You will know this from the pressure and the smell of rotting meat.

You can sometimes foil a boo hag by putting a broom by your door; she will stop to count the straws, which may take her until dawn, when her powers cease and she has to don her skin once more. (Brushes, sieves, and strainers also work.) It’s also helpful to paint your doors and window shutters haint blue, and to scatter salt around and burn candles throughout the night.

D

Death: Gullah people believe that your soul leaves the body when you die and returns to God. However, your spirit remains on earth to intercede as necessary with loved ones left behind. Spirits can be good or bad, protective or tormenting. To keep the dead from returning

to haunt you, respectful funerals include passing children over the grave, prized possessions left to appease the dead, and broken dishes to indicate that the “chain” of death has been broken.

G

Ghosts: Also known as “hants” in the Gullah community.

Goofer dust: Graveyard dirt gathered just before midnight, right above the corpse’s heart. For an evil root, go for a Christian’s grave; for a benevolent root, shoot for a criminal’s resting spot. It is advised to take care not to disturb the spirits as you harvest this dirt. Leave a new dime on a grave if you don’t want to be followed home.

Also advisable: prayers, or a good cussin’ out. Add sulphur, saltpeter, salt, or sugar to keep the goofer dust active. Other uses for goofer dust include spreading it on your property to keep evil away or inside your shoes so you can walk on evil without picking it up.

Overturned Tombstones Overturned tombstones Mark the place Where restless ghosts Begin to pace.

Who can blame them Covered with sand, To wish again To roam the land Of beginnings That they made, Only now To haunt a grave.

—Carole Marsh Longmeyer (Reprinted with permission) Carole Marsh Longmeyer is a full-time resident of Bluffton, the creator of Bluffton Books and the author of The Kudzu Cookbook. Her next book, Death by Grits, will be released in early 2017. She is scheduled to make an author appearance at the Beaufort Branch Library on October 26 at 11 a.m. For more information on the author, Gallopade International and the Bluffton Imprint, call (800) 536-2438 or visit gallopade.com.

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