MAY 2015
The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
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Notes From the Publisher Honoring those that fought and sacrificed for us, we are privileged to present a never before published true story, written in 1944, of the 50th mission of a B-24bombing crew in combat. Thanks Arnold Rosen, what great Americans. John Samuel Graves, III, presents an insight into Luke Peeples, who did so much to save the music and lyrics of the gospels that were previously remembered only orally. The illustrations are from John’s wife R. S. Perry. Gene Cashman and Richard Trosdal provide us with poignant stories that remind us of the love that our mother’s, some gone and some still here, have shown us, and how that love shaped our lives. The piece on Care Core, Bluffton’s largest employer, by Joe Nehila, reveals what they do and talks of many things that few of us know, including yours truly. It was past time to recognize The Bluffton Rotary Club, in fact all Rotarians worldwide, and give them the recognition they so deserve for all they do for so many, but do not seek recognition. Thanks to Tray Hunter, for what you do to make Bluffton a better place. Take a journey to a historic building on May River Road, discover its past as “The Deer Tongue”, and its present as one of Bluffton’s favorite restaurants, Roberts Vaux, et. al. are preserving this place and creating an institution for us to enjoy for many years to come. Check out Jevon Daly, our music writer, one of Bluffton’s true characters, a great family man and musician. Michele always does such a wonderful job. We hope you love the poetry, the May River Theater, the arts, the photography, upcoming events and so much more. This issue is an example of why The Breeze is loved and read by so many. We thank, and hope you will do the same to our advertisers. Their support, helps keep Bluffton’s’, past, present and culture alive. Oh, least I am remiss. Thanks to FOOD LION for their water contribution for the Taste of Blufftion to help The Breeze raise donations for The Bluffton Historic Preservation Society. Thanks to our Contributors and Staff for their dedication and job well done.
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The
Bluffton Breeze THE MAGAZINE OF BLUFFTON PUBLISHER/EDITOR Randolph Stewart randolphblufftonbreeze@gmail.com 843 816-4005 SALES DIRECTOR Chierie Smith theblufftonbreeze@gmail.com 843-505-2732 ART DIRECTOR Joe Nehila NOSOCO info@noscoco.com 206-304-4481 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amber Hester Kuehn MS, Richard Trosdal Art Cornell, Bill Newby, John Samuel Graves, III Joan Morris, Joe Nehila, Laura Oberle Michele Rholdan-Shaw, Gene Cashman Arnold Rosen, Capt. Jerome Casper Anne M. Jennings, Elizabeth Robins Luke Peeples, Florence Rupert Graves, Lisa Carroll, Laura Wilson, Emily Cambell PHOTOGRAPHERS , ARTISTS Art Cornell, Doug Corkern, Murray Sease Margaret Palmer, Anne M. Jennings PRINTER Accurate Lithograph CORPORATE OFFICE 12 Johnston Way, Suite 300 P.O. Box 472, Bluffton, SC 29910 843.757.8877 The Bluffton Breeze Magazine is published by The Bluffton Breeze 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 Bluffton Breeze Magazine 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 Bluffton Breeze Magazine 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 Bluffton Breeze Magazine. Copyright. 2015
CONTENTS
MAY 2015, VOLUME 13, NO. 5
F E AT U R E S
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26 Jerome Casper: My “Uncle” Luke Peeples: Last Mission A Personal Remembrance
12 A Tribute to Rotary
32 A Mother’s Bedside Manner
17 Everything is OK......
34 Thoughts In The Breeze
18 History of Peppers
42 A Kick in the Pants to Jevon Daly
20 Seasonal Savages 22 Your Billion $ Neighbor
D E PA R T M E N T S
8 History
38 Your Bluffton
20 Environment 24 Tide Chart
40 Over the Bridges and Beyond
25 Fellowship
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34 Thoughts in the Breeze
48 Restaurant Guide
Music Town
COVER PHOTO
Cedar Waxwing By: Margaret Palmer
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HISTORY
“Uncle” Luke Peeples A Personal Remembrance By John Samuel Graves, III
My father’s first cousin, Luke Peeples, was truly one of the most remarkable human beings that I have ever met—poet, musician, composer, story teller, mentor and friend. He has remained one of the most influential people in my life for over sixty years. Hardly a day goes by that I do not think about him and remember him talking about his music and the many experiences he had with people and animals around Bluffton. In 2014, Luke’s first cousins, sisters Estella Saussy Nussbaum and Jeanne Saussy Wright wrote and published A Gullah Psalm, The Musical Life & Work of Luke Peeples. A Gullah Psalm presents and explains much about the life, poetry and music of Bluffton’s local composer and poet, but at the time of its publication, the editing of Luke’s music had not yet been completed. That task has now been accomplished and Luke’s music is available in two volumes. Volume
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One and Volume Two of The Collected Works of Luke Peeples contain some thirty-six pieces of Luke’s music: spirituals, original songs, piano compositions, hymns, choral works and arrangements. Both volumes of Luke’s music and A Gullah Psalm can be seen and purchased at Stock Farm Antiques. The two music volumes are also available online at astarfell.com and thebookpatch.com (go to their bookstore and search by author). More information about the music books and their contents can be found on astarfell.com. Each volume of The Collected Works of Luke Peeples is comprised of two books. Volume One contains Book I: South Carolina Lowcountry Spirituals and Book II, Dolphus’ Lament and Other Songs. Volume Two contains Book III, The Piano Music and Book IV, Hymns and Choral Music. Most of Luke’s compositions were not dated so no effort was made to place them in chronological order. They have mainly been organized by subject matter or music type. Volume Two’s cover is a painting of Luke’s home on Calhoun Street, where he was born in 1906. His grandmother, “Doctor” Jane Guilford, assisted in his delivery. (See Remembering “Doctor” Jane Guilford under “Articles”
on graveshouse.org.) Today, all that remains of his home are the brick front steps. Luke’s brother, Andrew Peeples, was the well known Bluffton author. (See the March 2015 issue of The Bluffton Breeze for one of Andrew’s stories, Grandpa Guilford’s Horseless Buggy.) Luke, Andrew and my father, John Samuel Graves, Jr., were first cousins— grandsons of George Sewell Guilford—the first mayor of Bluffton after its incorporation in 1908, and the builder of the Graves House. My two brothers and I affectionately called Luke “Uncle,” but he was actually our first cousin once removed. Over the years, since Luke’s death in 1994, and even before that, Estella, Jeanne and I struggled to find and preserve all of Luke’s music. Sadly, some of what we found was incomplete, with a page or two missing. We had heard about other works but could not find them. We believe that we have not discovered all of his music. If any of our readers know of the existence of any of Luke’s music, please contact us at LPcollections12@ gmail.com. You may also leave comments at my website, astarfell.com.
Fully understanding Luke, his music and poetry requires some knowledge of his life. Except for his college days at the Atlanta Conservatory of Music, where he graduated with honors in piano performance in 1928, he spent all his working life in Bluffton. Boats, horses, mules, buggies and wagons were the primary means of transportation at the time of his birth. Travel to Savannah meant using wagons and mule drawn ferryboats to get across the Savannah River. The trip would take all day, and often require an overnight stay in Savannah. Despite Bluffton’s remoteness during Luke’s early years, life there was anything but dull. Interests and activities revolved primarily around family, making a living, and church life. Recreation and entertainment often came from making music. Luke felt especially connected to his immediate family of thirteen brothers and sisters, his many cousins, aunts and uncles, and his grandparents. Many of them lived close by, often within blocks. Luke’s mother, Maud, and my father’s mother, Cora Jane, were sisters, children of George Sewell Guilford and his wife, “Doctor” Jane Guilford. Both of Luke’s parents and his Guilford grandparents were musical. Each of them considered religion and education, especially in music, primary values. George Guilford was an authority on the Bible, taught Sunday school and in the The Bluffton Breeze
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public schools. Jane Guilford, who came from England, brought a love of literature and music with her. Many of their children and grandchildren received musical instruction. Grandpa and grandma Guilford loved to recite poetry and put on dramatic presentations. Luke’s mother played the piano and his father, Jesse Peeples, played the violin. Words and music became the central focus of Luke’slife from his earliest days.
Luke also deeply respected and loved the local Gullah people. He was fascinated by their language and their music. These were ubiquitous and powerful influences on his intellectual and creative life. Luke especially admired the Gullahs’ ability to sing multi-part harmony a cappella, and spent hours transcribing the words and music of the spirituals that he heard. Many of his arrangements of those songs are included in The Collected Works of Luke Peeples, Volume One. Luke also wrote original songs, like Trusin’ In Duh Lord and Dolfus’ Lament, and these are included in Volume One. They are not spirituals but show direct Gullah influence, especially the words and themes. Luke was a “regionalist” in the best sense of that word. He took great pains to accurately present real people and real situations in his songs using the exact Gullah dialect that he was so familiar with. Learning to play the piano, or any instrument, teaches us forcefully that “we get out of any endeavor exactly what we are willing to put into it.” During summer months, when I was in Bluffton away from college, Luke would give me Bach Inventions to work on. They
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are technically and artistically challenging. Studying music and the piano with Luke taught me much about discipline, commitment, endurance, perseverance and how to express emotion in soul satisfying ways. Luke, my father and I often took leisurely walks around the streets of Bluffton. We would end up sitting on Luke’s front porch, passing the evening with “small talk,” often about “large” things. Those walks and talks provided me with some of my fondest memories of Luke and my father. Luke read widely, had an endless curiosity about life, a wonderful sense of humor, and loved to tell stories. All of these influenced his creative work. Occasionally, he would play one of his songs for us, and explain its context and meaning. For example, all the church bells of Bluffton, the exact tones, can be heard in his Wouldn’ Tu’n Back. His attention to details like that, and his later use of them as artistic materials, would appear repeatedly in his songs and poems. Like most good artists, he would take these small details and build them into emotionally satisfying music and poetry about life’s central dramas. Luke’s artistic works demonstrate the truth of the statement: “Good art imitates life.” I remember my “Uncle” Luke as a very loving man, who always had a warm spot in his heart for his large extended family and who was at all times gracious to strangers. His love for people and his hometown was incontestable. Human and Divine love are the two main themes that run throughout his music and poetry. The two new volumes of The Collected Works of Luke Peeples are dedicated in loving memory to him, in the hope that he, his times, and his creative output will not be forgotten. Luke is buried in the Bluffton Cemetery. His head stone says simply: “Poet and Composer.” And I would add, “Dear, dear friend and mentor.” Requiescat in pace. (The Image is Dolphus Blake with the
Peeples and Guilford Families)
! t s e f y Ma
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“WHATEVER ROTARY MAY MEAN TO US, TO THE WORLD IT WILL BE KNOWN BY THE RESULTS IT ACHIEVES.” —PAUL P. HARRIS, FOUNDER Our 1.2 million-member organization started with the vision of one man—Paul P. Harris. a Chicago attorney formed one of the world’s first service organizations, the Rotary Club of Chicago, in 1905 as a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of each member. The Rotarian Moto worldwide is “Service Above Self, and pride themselves with, “One profits most who serves best.” ROTARIAN ONGOING COMMITMENT Rotarians have not only been present for major events in history—they have been a part of it. From the beginning, three key traits have remained strong throughout. They are truly international: Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents, working together from around the globe both digitally and in-person to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems. They persevered in tough times: During WWII, Rotary clubs in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Japan were forced to disband. Despite the risks, many continued to meet informally and following the war’s end, Rotary members joined together to rebuild their clubs and their nations. Their commitment to service is ongoing: Around the world they work together helping fight hunger, poverty, illiteracy, disease, caring for orphans, building hospitals, urban and rural reforestation, to mention a very few projects. In 2004 they built 20 schools in tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka. Rotarians began their fight together against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. In 2005 alone, Rotary International contributed $24.2 million and countless volunteer hours to immunize over 400 million children in 49 countries. Over 1 million Rotarians have helped immunize a staggering 2 billion children in 122 countries and have nearly eradicated polio from the face of the earth.
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THE ROTARY CLUB OF B L U F F T O N
An Unofficial History of Having Fun and Getting the Job Done By: Lisa Carroll and Laura Wilson
Their community service projects occur in over 32,000 chapters annually and as you know or can imagine there are far to many achievements to list at this time. NOTABLE ROTARIANS (to name a few) Rotarians are your neighbors, your community leaders and some of the world’s greatest history-makers: • Warren G. Harding, U.S. president • Dr. Charles H. Mayo, co-founder of Mayo Clinic • Guglielmo Marconi, Italian inventor of the wireless radio and Nobel laureate • Thomas Mann, German novelist and Nobel laureate • Friedrich Bergius, German chemist and Nobel laureate • Admiral Richard E. Byrd, American explorer • Dianne Feinstein, U.S. senator • Manny Pacquaio, Filipino world-champion boxer and congressman • Richard Lugar, U.S. senator • Frank Borman, American astronaut • Jean Sibelius, Finnish composer • James Cash Penney, founder of JC Penney Co. • Carlos Romulo, UN General Assembly president
Bluffton Rotarians love to have a good time. It’s their unspoken motto – to serve others and have fun! All would agree that over the past 27 years, The Rotary Club of Bluffton has become an absolute asset to our community. Each year this club has a proven track record of performance – efforts that focus on the Bluffton community as well as national and global needs. Chartered on April 18, 1988, the club started because Bob Onorato, president of The Rotary Club of Hilton Head Island, approached Blufftonian, Carl Wellard to spur action for Bluffton to have its own Rotary presence. Carl immediately went on a recruiting mission successfully signing on twenty members. Ed Lau completed all the “paper work”, and with the help of Paul Terefenko, the Rotary Club of Bluffton was born. Carl, as main organizer found a meeting place and soon christened Arizona Palmer and her husband, Andrew as the first cooks, important for those early morning meetings, cooking up many memorable southern style breakfasts including a mainstay Rotary signature dish - shrimp and grits! Their son, Al became the next chef of Rotary breakfast fame after the death of his mom, Arizona in 1997.
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The first project was a community Thanksgiving Dinner and an oyster roast. The oyster roast has now become one of the major fundraisers of the Rotary club each year. Currently there are 84 active members. Nancy Howes was the first woman , followed by Laura Barret who later became the first woman president . The club tackled a significant project in early 2000. The Rotary Club spearheaded fundraising, planning and completion of the Community Center at Oscar Frazier Park. The center is a 5400 square-foot Lowcountry-style building with southern style wrap around porches. “Prior to its construction there was no space in the community of sufficient size for the people of Bluffton to meet, so there was a tremendous desire to see this dream come true,” described former Bluffton rotary president, Steve Tilton. He added, “Some folks had their doubts, we had a vision.” Contributors and leadership for this project involved many Rotarians along with many others in the community at large! Steve Tilton as president of the club and as a homebuilder was a great asset to the project. A plan was drawn up by architect and Rotarian, Doug Corkern and Bruce Griffin was, “the boots on the ground” for construction. A black tie gala was the first fund raiser spearheaded by Mary O’Neill and Laura Barrett, which according to former Rotary president, Dan Wood raised around $40,000 in one night. “We rented a 60 x 120 tent and did it up with a dance floor; it was a great event.” More support came through grants written by Lisa Carroll, funding received from local groups, donated goods and services and a key day that could best be described as an old fashioned barn-raising. An amusing story comes from Steve Tilton about long time Rotary member, John Kinzer. John wanted to know what type of flooring was budgeted for the building. Kinzer then informed Steve, “I will pay the difference to have wood floors put in. I would like a place where Margaret and I can dance.” Wow, these Rotarians like to have a good time! The Rotary Club of Bluffton formally turned over the community center to the Town of Bluffton in 2003 and it has been utilized by various groups in the community ever since. Currently, the Happy Feet program is an example of a local rotary recipient. Happy Feet provides shoes to children in need. The most recent Happy Feet project
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as noted by current President, Steve Miller was, “the most successful yet, providing shoes to 250 children. In May, the upcoming Bluffton Village Festival (Mayfest) will be The Rotary Club of Bluffton’s largest community service effort and fund raiser. This event involves a massive amount of work and preparation, yet the end result is fabulous fun for all who attend. Looking back, there has been a monumental amount of work and financial support that has been provided by this organization. “Over a million dollars…..it’s somewhere in that range,” describes long time Rotarian and former president, Donald “Dee Dee” Graham. Laura Barrett relays that, “the club has always meant a lot to our community, especially because it has become a ‘hands-on’ club, not just a writing a check type club, but getting out in the community to serve others.” Dot Jeger agrees and adds, “The Club of is known as the ‘fun’ club...very hands on, lots of hard work and lots of fun. We truly are a club that cares about and helps the community.” For more information on the “fun club”, The Rotary Club of Bluffton, check out their website at, www.blufftonrotary.org.
Not Just Living in the Lowcountry, Being a Part of It By Emily Campbell The Presidential theme for this year’s Rotary International is, Light Up Rotary. It is how we make a difference — every day, in every club, and every country we serve”. Letting our light shine in our communities coincides with this year’s message and that is exactly what Tray Hunter does in our town of Bluffton. As former President of Bluffton Self Help, Tray Hunter has seen a lot of people impacted by others helping the community. But watching a mother burst into tears after being handed a package of disposable diapers is something that he will never forget. The mother had been using one disposable diaper a day for her child and then washing it out to use again. When she was given the diapers collected in the Bluffton Self Help Diaper Drive, she started crying because she was just so grateful. “Sometimes we don’t think about what we take for granted every day,” says Hunter. Many years of volunteering in various capacities has been an eye-opener for Tray to the true needs in the Lowcountry community. Some people sit on the sidelines thinking the people of Hilton Head and Bluffton don’t have any needs. While people like Hunter are seeing beyond the gated communities to the people who truly need help, rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty when needed – all in the name of helping others. Originally from Barnwell, SC, he graduated from the Citadel in 1998. Working for the Boy Scouts of America, he is an Eagle Scout, brought him to the Lowcountry in 2001 along with his wife, Leslie. And he has been a “part of ” of the Lowcountry ever since. Try has served on various boards in our area including the Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, The United Way of the Lowcountry, Coastal Empire Council and Lowcountry Young Professionals. But hard work doesn’t often go unnoticed, having been recognized for his achievements several times. He was selected for the “40 under 40” Business Achiever for the Savannah Business Report and the Lowcountry Young Professional CIVITAS Award and In 2014 was honored as the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber Young Professional of the Year.A
graduate of the Hilton Head/Bluffton Chamber Leadership program he continues to remain involved with the Chamber as a member of the Greater Bluffton Business Council. After serving seven years on the board of Bluffton Self Help, he became president in January 2013 and served for two years. During his tenure with BSH, as Building Chair, helped plan the move to BSH’s new location in Sheraton Park. Currently, Hunter is a marketing representative with Palmetto Electric Cooperative. Even while at work, he continues to give back to the community through many of Palmetto Electric’s outreach initiatives. He is the Chair of the Lowcountry District for Boy Scouts responsible for overseeing fund-raising, recruiting and activities and also serves on the Executive Board. This person clearly demonstrates his passion for the community and makes a difference through work on the Beautification Board for the Southern Corridor of Beaufort County, as well as the Bluffton Business Council trying to beautify our area’s roads from Hwy 170 to the Bluffton Parkway. “Rotary, is a hands-on club, supporting events and non-profits. It is good to get involved. Bluffton Rotary Club is a great, dynamic diverse group of folks; everybody there is truly there for the right reasons.” When asked what attributes make him a good volunteer, he humbly yet jokingly responds with “I drive a truck.” But what really makes him such a pivotal part of the organizations he volunteers for is his willingness and ability to do whatever needs to be done. It is important to volunteer to make the community a better place – help those that need help. It’s a civic duty to do so. It is important to share this responsibility with the next generation, volunteer as a family whenever possible. You can live in the community or be a part of the community. He says he would rather be a part of it. We thank and honor Hunter, his wife, and their two children for all they do to make Bluffton the place it is. The Bluffton Breeze
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Everything Is OK...... By: Richard Trosdal In the months that have passed since my mother’s death, I have become so thankful for how it happened. It is hard to believe that I just wrote those words, but yes, I have become thankful for the way in which the most loving, caring and supportive person in my life, died. The experience has become her ultimate gift to me and I want to share it with you. How is it possible that my mother gave me her greatest gifts through her dying process? The question, on the surface, almost doesn’t make sense. Our culture doesn’t want to have anything to do with death. It is as if we are tangent to avoid it at all costs as we glorify youth and worship our bodies. In doing so, we are missing a vital part of life. My mother gave me the gift of peace as she lay dying and in doing so, altered my life, for the good, forever. Her gift came in the form of these last words that she spoke to me. I was sitting by her bed looking at her lying there and I began crying as quietly as I could, because I didn’t want to wake her. She must have sensed that I was crying, because she opened her eyes, turned her face towards mine, looked deeply into me and said, “Richard, it is going to be okay.” To which I replied, “What mama? What is going to be okay? She then closed her eyes and turned her head towards the ceiling and said in a whisper, “Everything.” A few days later, I watched my mother die, which was the most difficult thing I have ever done. Sitting in her bedroom at the foot of her bed with my father and my sister, watching her life fade slowly away one breath at a time, changed me forever. I still see her sometimes in my dreams, rasping and gasping for breath, after her valiant effort to fight an unwinnable war against her brain cancer. Her battle was a long, hard process of letting go. Letting go of what? Letting go of life. Then, in those final desperate moments, I could not sit, I could only stand, hands clasped together at the foot of her bed, tears flowing, as I watched her take her final breath and then the fight to hold on was over. Mom would have been overjoyed by the fact that as the coroners van pulled into our driveway to take her to the funeral home, her family was singing happy birthday to one of her grandchildren. Yes, that is right, not one hour had passed since her death and we were all downstairs celebrating my nephew’s birthday, (it always seems like it is someone’s birthday in my family, seeing as how
there are so many of us). The point is, my mom would not have wanted us to wallow in our sorrow, she would have wanted us to do exactly what we were doing by holding onto each other, singing through the change together, and knowing it was going to be alright. I have come to believe deeply in my mother’s final wish, that our family continues to love one another and in her final pearl of wisdom, that everything is okay. Her simple statement, “ It is going to be okay.”, was her way of giving me peace when my world was coming apart. How could you not believe and embody the last words your mother chose to speak to you? The answer is, you can’t. The phrase has become her lasting legacy imprinted on my heart. So let me share her gift to me, with you: wherever you are, whatever you are facing, whoever you are dealing with, under whatever circumstances, you find yourself – take a moment and remember that everything is okay. Right here, right now, in this very moment, you are okay. The philosopher Ayya Khema puts it this way, “Things are as they are, and however they are, it’s okay.” Mom, I hope you are smiling. You have finally taught me that attitude is everything. I love you. Thank you. Peace. The Bluffton Breeze
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History of Peppers By Laura Oberle
More than 50 years ago, a local man who would become a fixture in Bluffton history constructed a drying barn. Lonnie Mulligan built it from old timber and antique tin brought over from Savannah, and it was fondly called the Deer Tongue Building. The barn served one purpose -- drying deer tongue, a native herb used as filler for tobacco, scents and tea. The barn was relocated at least five times, with its final move in 1980 from Bridge Street to a lot just around the corner on May River Road. There, it served as a storage building for a seed company, and was later home to an artisan co-op and antique store. In 1996, Roberts Vaux acquired the land, and with it the barn that had a leaky roof and no electricity or plumbing. Intending to open a restaurant with his law
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partner, Rick Marscher, Vaux had a couple of practical options -- tear down the building or sell it to be moved once again.
aware of,” Vaux said. “The history and uniqueness of the building is so important, and I wanted to preserve that.”
But Vaux wanted the building -and its history -- to stay. He saw the barn as an important part of Bluffton’s past, and wanted to preserve it in a way that made economical sense.
So he kept the barn and transformed it into the main dining room of what is now Peppers Old Town. The roof was fixed, electricity and water were installed...and yes indoor plumbing. The front porch was screen in and then later glassed in.
“There’s nothing else like it -- it’s the only deer tongue building I’m
Doug Corkern
The Bluffton Historic Preservation Society has honored Vaux for his work in restoring the building, awarding it the Caldwell Award. The Deer Tongue Building is also the only commercial property in Bluffton to receive a historic award. “It’s one of those powerful structures in Bluffton,” Vaux said. “Bluffton has grown, and is growing, so much. It’s important we are able to tie that together and maintain that history.” Located in the heart of Bluffton, the restaurant quickly became the site for commercial ventures and social events, including a town Christmas party with dancing, barbecue and seasonal fun. Vaux and Marscher sold the restaurant in the early 2000s, focusing on their practice at their law firm -- Vaux Marscher Berglind -- but Vaux maintained ownership of the land. The restaurant changed owners several times over the next decade before Vaux took back the reins. Vaux revived the restaurant this year, restoring it to its former glory. Today, Pepper’s Old Town is owned by Vaux, John Cherol and Tyler Goldsmith. The 1.3acre property includes the main restaurant, a bar and pavilion with outdoor seating and fire pits under a towering live oak. The restaurant serves their original signature, home-cooked, Lowcountry menu options Pepper’s is known for. Guests can enjoy fine dining in a historic, casual atmosphere that offers something for the entire family. The restaurant will host Saturday night oyster roasts and special events. The outdoor lounge in the back features six 50-inch flat-screen televisions for sports fans and there is live music nightly in the Back Bar. IMAGES OF NATIVE DEER TONGUE FOUND WILD THROUGHOUT THE LOWCOUNTRY FIELDS, PINES AND YARDS - SOME CALL THEM WEEDS The Bluffton Breeze
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SEASONAL SAVAGES: By: Amber Hester Kuehn, MS Marine Biology These warm spring nights and balmy mornings are a subtle reminder that summer is coming to the Lowcountry. They are so pleasant…until they are perfect. When the temperature is just right, the most vicious of all insects comes out to feast… THE GNAT Gnat is a very broad term. There are over 4,000 species of “gnat”, and over 1,000 species within the genus, Culicoides. Culicoides furens is likely the species that we experience in our area. In general, gnats are referred to as biting midges in the scientific community. Some people call them “No-see-ums”, but you would have to be blind not to see them swarming…up your nose and in your mouth, dive bombing your eye balls, entering your ear canal, attacking your scalp...and so forth. Adults are less than 1/8 inch and the species are identified by the pattern created by dense hairs on their wings.
THE SWARM Gnats travel in swarms, typically at dusk or dawn, near moist areas. The males follow the females to her blood meal (that’s you) and annoy while waiting on the female to feed. Only the female “bites”. They mate directly after she has taken the blood protein meal that she needs for the maturation of her fertilized eggs. Mammals are the preferred source, but reptiles and amphibians also work in a pinch. Our biting midges will lay
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approximately 100 eggs at once, hatching between two and ten days, followed by the larval stage lasting anywhere from two weeks to one year depending on environmental conditions. Pupal stage is only a couple of days. The winged adult swarm will only live for a few weeks…but the next generation will emerge, and we will experience them all season. I think it is safe to say that we have already encountered the first generation in 2015. THE BITE Gnats do not puncture the skin and suck blood like a mosquito. The female tears the skin with razor sharp mouth parts and injects a chemical that inhibits blood clotting. Then she ingests the blood from the wound. On the bright side, gnats do not transmit disease to humans. THE PURPOSE Larval gnats develop in the sandy soil of the coastal plains near moist areas such as lakes, swamps, and mudflats, and consume rotting organic plant matter. Yes… they clean dirt on a microscopic level. They can develop on the edge of the marsh mud flat that is moist, but not completely submerged. They must remain within a few inches of air interface. Apparently, they are not picky when it comes to salt water vs freshwater. They are also happy to inhabit any sort of poop as long as it stays moist for at least a couple of weeks. They can even develop in moist tree bark, but will not develop without moisture and air. The good news is that they cannot develop inside of a host…eat all the gnats you want, they will not come back to haunt you. Adult gnats are a food source for swallows, lizards, and spiders. So if you are going to get mad at nature, ask yourself “Where in the “*#$^” are all of the birds and lizards! And leave the spider webs alone. {INSET} Gnats live and breed in the coastal plain between the Atlantic Ocean and the Piedmont region from Virginia to northern Florida. As I’m sure you know, this sandy soil was covered by ocean millions of years ago. Some call this ancient shoreline the “Deep South”.
Breeze Environment
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
WE MAKE BIKING EASY DID YOU KNOW? A gnat cannot fly over sixteen feet high. Female gnats do not leave a one mile radius of their birthplace. Male gnats do not have biting mouthparts at all. Gnats feed on plant sap and nectar. A gnat cues in on the carbon dioxide in your breath, your sheer mass, perspiration, and possibly the color of clothing that you wear. Apparently white is NOT preferred by gnats. When you spray yourself for gnats, you are not repelling them, you are simply masking your smell. Deet works, but I suggest the less harsh “No Natz” product, created in Georgia. Although nothing is completely effective, this one works best for me. GOOD LUCK Mission impossible. Welcome to the Lowcountry. My advice? Find a screened porch and a fan. If your job requires you to be near a dock, I feel your pain. Capt. Amber
We offer much more than all the great bikes. We’ll get your bike perfectly in tune. Do all the safety checks. So you have peace of mind on the road. And you’ll ride off like never before. New and used bikes, parts, services, tune ups, group rides.
BLUFFTON BICYCLE SHOP 4 Oliver Court 843 706 2453 Blufftonbicycleshop.com
The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
21
Your BILLION DOLLAR NEIGHBOR:
CareCore National By Joseph Nehila
Just down the road sits a quiet building in a development that has seen its share of optimism, starts, false starts, and disappointment - Buckwalter Place. In that building lives CareCore National. But who is CareCore? CareCore is a privately held medical services company now based in Bluffton. CareCore’s claim to fame is providing diagnostic imaging management services to health insurance providers across the nation.
THE LOWCOUNTRY SHIFT In the late 2000’s CareCore moved their headquarters from New York. Donald R. Ryan, then Chief Executive Officer of CareCore, was quoted as saying in 2008, “CareCore strongly believes that Beaufort County provides the best economic and lifestyle environment in which to focus our growth, and we’re happy to have reached an agreement that will help this company thrive and grow in Bluffton’s Buckwalter Place. We are enthusiastic about the region’s business-friendly philosophy and approach to controlled economic development and believe that it fosters strong public/private alliances for the future. This region understands the value of knowledge-based services and the impact that CareCore will bring in the creation of new quality-wage jobs.” Hardeeville housed CareCore’s only facility in the Lowcountry through the headquarters shift. A medical billing center was based in Jasper County until the Buckwalter development was constructed in 2008 and 2009. Now the 48,000 square foot building is the national headquarters of CareCore National, LLC. Local and state official estimated at the time the project which brought the headquarters to Bluffton would account for 125 new local jobs, and cost an estimated $4.4 million in investment. As of South Carolina’s Department of Employment and Workforce’s March 2015 Beaufort County Community Profile, CareCore was listed as one of 20 major employers in the county. An estimated 500+ employees work in Bluffton-area with over 1,200 nationwide.
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FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Ryan reportedly began CareCore from Colorado Springs with just three employees in 1994. Since that time, the company has grown to encapsulate some of the most important growth areas in the medical arena - diagnostic imaging, cardiac devices, and oncology. According to the CareCore website, “in 2005, CareCore National launched CareCore Cardiology to manage cardiac care, including cardiac imaging and implantable devices. In 2007, CareCore National launched CareCore Oncology to manage the use of oncology drugs and therapeutic agents. In 2008, CareCore National added programs for sleep apnea, pain musculoskeletal management and lab services, which include high-cost genome testing.” The World Health Organization published an article in 2014 indicating cancer rates were expected to increase by 57% in the next 20 years. They dubbed this an imminent “human disaster.” The World Cancer Report, produced by the WHO’s specialized cancer agency, predicted new cancer cases would rise from approximately 14 million annually in 2012 to 22 million. Cancer deaths were also predicted to go from 8.2 million to 13 million per year.
A GLIMPSE BEHIND THE PRIVACY CURTAIN Large private companies offer occasional glimpses into their financial health and vitality. In 2014, CareCore announced an acquisition of Franklin, Tennessee based MedSolutions. Most reports estimated the deal around 1 billion dollars. A local Business Journal indicated at the time that MedSolutions was the sixth largest private employer in Middle Tennessee and their 2013 revenue topped $895 million. Moody’s reported that the 2012 revenue for CareCore from Sept. to Sept. was $622 million. The resulting company was expected to be be a 1.5 billion dollar company. MedSolutions dovetailed into CareCore’s medical services support infrastructure. MedSolutions primary purpose is to provide benefits management to help health insurance plans keep costs down. CareCore also has a joint venture PathForward Oncology. They provide pathways, or algorithms, which improve cancer care and reduce costs through establishing best practices for chemotherapy-based treatment and related services. The last available estimates showed CareCore serviced some 30 million patients. MedSolutions employs an addition 1,500 individuals and supports over 33 million patients. (Editor’s Note: Some of these patients may overlap.) GIVING BACK CareCore’s founder Donald Ryan passed away in 2011. Before his passing, Ryan dedicated office space in CareCore National’s headquarters for a business incubator which became the Don Ryan Center for Innovation. The Don Ryan Center receives public and private funding each year to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs bring their ideas to market. Partnering with Clemson University, the Don Ryan center can claim 19 companies as past and current participants. Board Members include current Town of Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka, and numerous CareCore, and country representatives. Beyond the Don Ryan Center, MedSolutions has a similar program named Jumpwerx at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. Jumpwerx focused on helping corporate healthcare partners think like entrepreneurs. According to their materials, they offer two programs: an intensive one week “Sprint” and “Innovation Challenge” in Nashville.
PEERING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL Christopher Wild, the International Agency for Research on Cancer director states, “The rise of cancer worldwide is a major obstacle to human development and well-being. These new figures and projections send a strong signal that immediate action is needed to confront this human disaster, which touches every community worldwide.” “The good news is, in (the United States), cancer mortality is trending downward, and that would be more true if you make an age adjustment,” said Dr. Walter Curran, chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University’s School of Medicine in Atlanta. “Since we have an aging population, the cancer rate increases, and if you adjust for the aging of America, the cancer rate is declining notably.” Corporations like CareCore and initiatives like the PathForward joint venture would appear to be having a positive impact. Beyond cancer, heart disease once plagued the United States. Coronary heart disease mortality rates peaked in 1968. If trends had continued, 1.7 million Americans would have died from this disease. Less than a quarter of this number lost their lives to coronary heart disease, despite rising obesity rates and other factors. The National Institute of Health declared “consortia of individual studies that collectively include tens of thousands of patients are helping scientists.” It is not a stretch to assume a company like CareCore, focused on best practices and improved customer treatment is helping to fight these and other modern medical epidemics. We can all hope that other medical services firms and research will follow CareCore’s example and choose Bluffton as a home in the future. The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
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Tide chart is calculated for the May River Full Moon April 4th & 5th
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Breeze Fellowship AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL Cambell Chapel A.M.E. 25 Boundary Street, 757-3652 Sunday School 8:45am Worship:10am ASSEMBLY OF GOD New River Worship Center Hwy 170 & Argent Blvd. (next to ESPY) 379-1815 Sunday: 10:30am Wednesday 7pm BAPTIST First Baptist Church of Bluffton Boundary at Church Street, 757-3472 Sunday School: 9am Worship: 10:30am & 6pm First Zion Baptist Wharf Street 757-3128 Sunday School: 9am Sunday worship: 10am May River Baptist Church SC-170, North of US 46, 757-2518 Sunday School: 9:45am Sunday Worship: 10am & 7pm St. John’s Baptist Church 103 Pritchard Street, 757-4350 Sunday Worship: 11am St. Matthew’s Baptist Church SC Highway 170, 757-3255 Sunday Worship: 11am Indian Hill Baptist Church Hwy 278 next to Eagle’s Point, 757-2603 Sunday School: 9:45am Sunday Worship: 11am JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES Kingdom Hall, SC 46, 815-4455 Sunday Public Talk: 9:30am & 3:30pm Spanish Public Talk: 12:30pm
Bible Missionary Baptist Church Goethe Road Community Cntr, 815-5523 Sunday Worship: 11am Bible Study: 6pm CATHOLIC St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church 333 Fording Island Road, 815-3100 Sat. 4pm, 6pm Sun. 7:15am, 9am, 11am, 5pm, Espagnol 1pm Mon-Fri 6:45am Chapel, 8:30am Church ANGLICAN The Church of the Cross 110 Calhoun St, 757-2661 495 Buckwalter Parkway, 757-2662 Sunday Worship: 8am & 10am The Church of the Holy Trinity (Grahamville) 2718 Bees Creek Road, Ridgeland, 726-3743 Sunday Worship: 8:30 and 11:00 am Sunday School for All Ages: 9:45 am Midweek Services: Wednesday, 6:30 pm EPISCOPAL The Episcopal Church of Okatie At St. Luke’s Baptist Church Hwy 170 and Snake Road, Worship: 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday, 8:30am GREEK ORTHODOX Holy Resurrection Church at St. Andrews Catholic Church 220 Pickney Colony Road, 837-4659 Orthros: 9:30am, Liturgy 10am
LUTHERAN Lord of Life Lutheran Church 351 Buckwalter Parkway, 757-4774 Sunday School: 10am Sunday Worship: 8am, 9am, 11am METHODIST Bluffton United Methodist Church 101 Calhoun Street, 757-3351 Sunday School 9:45am Sunday Worship: 8:45am & 11am Church of the Palms United Methodist 1425 Okatie Highway, 379-1888 Sunday Worship: 10:30am St. Luke’s United Methodist Church SC Highway 170 near Sun CIty, 705-3022 Sunday Worship: 8:30am and 10am 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 Road, 815-6570 Sunday School: Adult 9:40am, Child 10:30 Sunday Worship: 8:30am & 10:30am Grace Coastal Church (PCA) 1425 Okatie 15 Williams Drive (off 170), 379-5521 Sunday School: 11am Sunday Worship: 9:30am NON-DENOMINATIONAL Live Oak Christian Church Bluffton High School Auditorium 757-5670 Kidstreet: 9:15am, Worship 10:15am
JEWISH Temple Oseh Shalom Lowcountry Community Church at Lowcountry Presbyterian Bluffton: 801 Buckwalter Parkway836-1101 278 Simmonsville Road, 705-2532 Shabbat Worship 3rd Friday of month, 8pm Sunday Worship: 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am
The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
25
By Arnold Rosen P Hank Marcus is my first cousin. He is my father’s sister son. He was adventurous, innovative and lived life to the fullest and I loved being with him to share some of his adventures. Cousin Hank was a skilled cabinet maker, a great photographer; a pilot, flew planes and rode motorcycles all of his life. Hank was a WW II naval aviator and flew the Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. He applied to flight school, earned his wings and was commissioned a naval officer without a college degree and had the good fortune to meet and marry a beautiful widow, Fudgie (yes Fudgie) Sharkey. But this is not a story about my cousin Hank. It is a story about Fudgie’s late husband, Capt. Jerry Casper, who describes his last mission as a U.S. Army Air Corps
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pilot of a B-24 Bomber attached to the 15th Air Force, 98th Bomb Group’s 344th Battle Squadron. It is a story of courage, bravery, survival, love, humor and finally and sadly a tragedy as he died in a plane crash. I never met Jerry, but was always close to Hank, and Fudgie visiting them in their Massapequa, Long Island home on many occasions. Fudgie was vivacious, outgoing and always welcomed me with open arms. During my oneyear tour in Korea she sent me letters every week. Many thanks to Fudgie’s daughter, Merrily Powell, for sending me this story to have it published for the first time. When I read it I was enthralled with the chatter back and forth between Jerry, the pilot and his crew as they encountered relentless flak and attacks by enemy fighters. She said, “My father, Jerry, wrote and typed this story. I suspect all of the
men he refers to in it are gone. It remains exciting for me to read it. It’s an amazing story that he, the crew, and the plane made it back home. Cousin Arnold, I would be grateful if you would consider submitting it to be published someday. If you think there is a way, and I can help, I’m happy to do so.” How could I refuse such an offer?
Here is my father’s story typewritten and saved all these years. This story will keep his memory alive for my children, grandchildren and future generations. I’m hopeful that others can appreciate the sacrifices, dedication and service of these men and women and recognize them by not allowing such efforts to be forgotten:
MY LAST MISSION By Capt. Jerome C. Casper, Dedicated to the boys of “Hey Doc” and my dear wife and child It was cool and dark as I was awaken by a familiar voice, who for several months had called in the same way, “Capt. Casper, it’s 3:30, breakfast is at 3:45, briefing at 4:15” or “Are you up yet, sir?” I had been up all night and had just fell asleep when he called. “Yes,” I answered and proceeded to wash and get dressed for my flight. The events from the time I left the tent to the time I remember being seated in my familiar seat are vague, but I remember some of the ground crews well-wishers and good mornings, and then the voice of our C.O. “The target for today is Friedrichshafen, Germany!” A sudden feeling went through my body, as he continued to give vital information about the flight. “300 fighters, 200 guns, etc.” Boy, what a break! My last mission and look what pops out of the bag—A German high priority target! We were released from briefing and I got aboard the truck to get to my ship. All the boys who were crew members were quiet as they always are when it’s to be a rough one, and myself, I was all choked up. I remember thinking of our baby at home, my pretty wife, and the good times we had together, that vacation in Harlingen, Texas, the marriage ceremony, the birth of our baby. “Good luck, sir. Come back to us soon,“ came the voice from the cab of the truck. “OK, Joe,” I replied. “Will try to do that.” The crew was seated on the floor, or should I say, the mud of the revetment, and no one noticed my arrival. “How’s the ship?” I asked the crew chief. “Swell Captain,” he said. “Did you know this is her 50th mis-
sion?” “No, I said, but we’ll try to make it a complete one, Sis.” Sis was his name, Sis Pantu, from Georgia—a swell kid and the best darn crew chief in this Army. I thought, “Fifty missions without any mechanical failure other than flak damage—that’s quite a feat!” I discussed the mission with my crew—the position we would have, the support, and boarded. My co-pilot was high-spirited as he yelled the signals to Sis. Numbers 4, 3, 2, and 1 engines were started up and we went through our cockpit check. The first plane taxied out and we got into formation—Number 3 of the “Purple Heart” section, the low section of the group; the last one over the target; a bad spot to be in on any mission. Finally we hit the old throttles and “Hey Doc” shot down the runway. Wheels up and we were on our way to Germany and our last mission. Climbing up higher and higher, our formation speed, meeting group after group, wave after wave of bombers going the same way. Testing guns and putting on our oxygen masks was the next signal. We were over the Adriatic Sea. The burst of guns vibrating through our ear drums always made you feel funny, but glad each one was working. Pretty soon the report came through: “Nose gunner, OK.” “Bombardier, OK.” “Co-pilot, OK.” “Waist gunner, OK, and out.” In a bomber crew everything goes on like clockwork, with set routine and signals, and today, Crew N34 “Hey Doc” was in its prime. It made me feel swell, proud and happy, for I was sure I had the best crew in the Army Air Corps. Every pilot thinks his is the best, and I was no exception. Pinly was our Aerial Engineer and Garcia, a small Mexican-American radio operator and gunner, had three ME’s (Messerschmitt’s) to his credit. There was Kerr, our tail gunner, Hergoich, “Red” for short, Blimp and Williams were our waist and ball gunners. The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
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Target time was 9:30 and as I looked at my watch, it was 8:30—one hour to bombs away. We were then flying over Austria and other than the drone of our engines and the vibration of our ship, all was quiet. Our fighters were doing a great job of keeping the Luftwaffe off our backs and in the distance I could be see the smoke of one of our bombers going down in flames. “Flak at 10 o’clock low,” “Flak at 11 o’clock level,” Flak, Flak,” “Hey, Captain, let’s get out of here!” came over my headset from the crew. The formation then swung to the left and the flak came right along with us, but not quite so intense. A minute and we were in the clear again. A check was called for and everyone answered OK. The engineer reported several holes in the side of our fuselage, nothing serious though he said. At 9:00 we prepared to get into bomb formation. The ships tightened up formation for our final climb. We were at 20,000 feet and climbed higher and leveled out. “We were on the run,” the bombardier said quietly. We talked softly so that we would not rattle each other. “OK,” I remarked, and the next thing I heard was, “Bomb run!” We could see flak alley on our right as we had to make an about face to get on the run. Swinging around, we got into position and “Target” was called by our bombardier. My eyes were glued to the instrument board and my wing-man. Airspeed, altimeter, and direction had to be perfect and team work was essential to accurate bombing. “20 seconds” was the call. “Flak at 11 o’clock high, flak at 1 o’clock!” and we were really in it! Brother was it accurate! The sky was black. “Bombs away!” was the call with bomb doors closing!” Flak was bursting all around us. Suddenly, #3 and #4 engines acted erratically! “The left wing is hit, #4 engine on fire, sir!” Our ship went out of control. We just missed our wing man and went into crazy maneuvers. My heart sank.
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“Get in here with me!” I yelled at the co-pilot. “Prepare to bail out,” I commanded as we fought the controls together. I thought of home and America, and this proud ship. I couldn’t let her down, not on my last mission. I’ve got to get control, please god help me. The two damaged engines were roaring out of control but the fire was out. I asked for a heading to Switzerland, “230 degrees” was the reply from our navigator. “Crew from pilot, ditch equipment,” was the next order, and over the phone came, “Roger sir. Everything sir? Guns?” “Yes, everything. We have to hold altitude.” Better head for Switzerland I thought. Not on my last mission, but you have to. You have nine others to think of. I’ll ask them. “Boys,” I said, “we’re a long way from home and we’re in bad shape. There is a thousand and one chance to make home. What is it? Switzerland of home?” “Sir, do you think you can make it?” came a voice back. “I’ll try,” I said. “Home James then sir.” “Let’s get started!” “Roger sir!” “Crew from pilot, does anyone want off at Switzerland?” No answer. “OK boys, start praying, for only God can help us now.” Aside from the condition of the plane and our gas tank leak, we were all alone, and the German fighter likes to attack the crippled straggler. Well it was our last mission. The boys wanted to go home. So we took the chance. We sweated it out over the Alps and then we flew over the Vienna flak belt. Three enemy fighters came up to finish our crippled Liberator. It looked as though we had to bail out after all but suddenly our rear torrent gunner spotted three “friendlies” (three P-38s) diving at the enemy planes. It was an understatement to say I was never so happy to see in my life. We realized then, that our planes (P-38s) had been lagging behind to protect us all the time. But they hadn’t told us; they were using us as a decoy to lure the Nazi fighters out of cloud cover. They shot down the German fighters, then disappeared and we didn’t know they had left us because they were running out of gas or were in hiding again.
HEADING HOME
THE CRASH
“How’s the gas situation, Pinky?” I asked.
On November 19, 1945, Jerry and his passengers boarded a T-50 Cessna from Washington D.C. bound for LaGuardia Airport in New York. It was a very stormy night with rain and haze.
“Scrapping bottom, sir, but those gauges are not accurate,” he added. We were at 1,000 feet and altitude was precious. The field could now be seen dead ahead. “Good work, Peterson, good navigation. There she blows fellows!” I heard cheers from all parts of the plane. It felt great, but a miss is as good as a mile came an afterthought. “Prepare to land,” I signaled. “Engage wheels, R.P.M motors.” Number 3 engine went out. I feathered her and revered up engine 1 and 2. “Tower from pilot, coming in on emergency landing; request clear runway.” “Roger, Field cleared; ambulances and fire truck standing by,” came the voice over the radio. Number 2 engine went and I cut power. Hit the runway hard. She held and we rolled down. I hit the brakes and switches and gas. We came to a stop and all of us scampered out. “We made it! We made it! Thank the lord, and I knelt down and kissed the ground as the crew circled around and patted me on the back. Tears filled my eyes as their happy faces blurred out and they cheered and yelled and whooped. I wiped my eyes and looked at the sky. It was sunset and god’s miracle was in the Italian sky at sunset in full pastel vivid shades. I took a final glance back at our plane and there she stood gallant and erect with her battle wounds and her scars. She was a good ship our B-24 Liberator and we were blessed that she brought us home safe.
Jerry returned from the war on August 31, 1944 and was discharged from the Army Air Corps on September 5, 1944, He returned to his home in Brooklyn, New York and resumed his life as a father to his daughter, Merrily and the husband of his beautiful, wife, Fudgie. Six months later he took a job as an executive pilot for Continental Industries Corporation New York.
Merrily reflects the details of the crash: “When the plane went down it went down with all of the principal executives of the company. The plane literally broke up and search teams didn’t find anything for six months. And do you want to hear the scary part of this story? After six months in the water (the plane crashed in the Hudson River, Jamaica Bay.) nothing is recognizable. The search team finally found his body. The only reason they could identify him after six months because in the Air Corps, guys would fold their wallet over their belt so that one part was inside the belt and the other part was outside the belt. When his body expanded in the water, it tightened the wallet. As a result, when they found the body, they could read the identification; otherwise there was no way to identify him.” Grandson, Devon Powell wrote a captivating article, “A man I’ve Never Met” in which he describes his grandfather, Jerry Casper and the tragedy of his death: “After surviving so many possible and altogether likely occasions where he may have died in combat flying over Europe, the enemy that finally caught up with him was one you’d probably not suspect—Mother Nature. Remembering this brave man through distant memories and photographs is unfortunately all I have been afforded—being that my mother, Merrily, was the two-year old he returned to from the war. Even she was robbed of the opportunity to really know him, and cannot remember anything about him.” Arnold Rosen retired in 1995 as a professor emeritus at Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York. He is the author of, 20 college textbooks, Sea Gate Remembered, Keeping Memories Alive and Before It’s Too Late: Our Aging Veterans Tell Their Stories. As an Historian for the Sun City Veterans Association he continues to write profiles of veterans and arranges visits where Sun City vets are recognized and honored for their stories and military service. Arnold served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, attached to the 75th Air Depot Wing, Chinhae, Korea and the 543rd Ammo Supply Squadron, Ulsan, Korea. He lives in Sun City – Hilton Head, South Carolina and can be reached at arosen@hargray.com The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
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Mother’s Smile to Come…
We are delighted to announce our winner of the 2015 Palmetto Dental Arts Smile Makeover Giveaway. Congratulations to Andi Cannell!! Andi was nominated by her son Andrew, who took the time to write us and tell us about his sweet mom. Here is what Andrew wrote: “I am writing on behalf of my mother. I would love for my mother’s constant smile to shine brighter. She has been an inspiration for so many people. My mother raised me as a single parent since I was in the 8th grade but she humbly credits all of our friends and family by reminding everyone “it takes a village.” This continued to be her mantra as friends and family gathered together to help her as she overcame breast cancer. Despite the fact that she could have died, she always stayed optimistic and focused on my well-being. I would argue that her greatest concern in life has been others and me. As a survivor she constantly goes around encouraging people and pushing them to press on. If being an excellent mother and a loving encouragement meets your criteria, then my mother is the person for you.” Thank you Andrew for nominating your Mom!! She’s an amazing person as well, and we can’t wait to make her smile healthy and beautiful!! The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
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A Mother’s Bedside Manner By Gene Cashman If one were to walk into my home at this very moment they would see that I am in bed shivering with a fever and doubled over with a stomach bug. I have been here for three days. It has been a long three days. Oh, I wish I were alone, but sadly I am the fourth member of my family to be in the same situation, all under the same roof, within the last week. The lone hold out in this mess has been my wife. Yes, my wife, mother of three and most recently, it would seem, of me. She has taken care of it all, with a servant heart and without complaint.
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“How do you feel?” she asked stopping her work gathering laundry from the floor to study my face. “You still look awfully pale.” I managed a smile confirming that I was still squeamish. “You know” she said “the kids are much better. Ellie is eating, Keeny sat in my lap and read a book and Knox kept down a whole juice box.” She said it with a sense of accomplishment. “You” she remarked slyly “are my last holdout. I am going to put you in my get better boot camp.” She walked out with pep in her step. In reality she was running on fumes but her spirit was strong for her family. I lay back down and prayed for the bug to pass.
As I lay shivering my thoughts centered on all she has done. It has been a messy, thankless job managing the ill affects of three children and a husband with gastroenteritis. There may be loftier ways to describe what caregivers do, but perhaps the most impactful and lasting is the consistency and love they provide doing the messy and mundane. Life seems to be about 90% messy and mundane. I thought about my own mom and how she managed in these situations. As a child I can distinctly remember my mother at my bedside with a cool cloth and soothing voice to tell me things would be okay. Those moments, when she was undoubtedly tired or sick herself, left a very real and lasting impression on me. It is from her that I learned so much about compassion and being present at the bedside. To have empathy and to understand what makes people hurt also helps to know how to make them feel better. For instance, no matter how sick I always remember her taking me into her arms. The hug or the hand through my hair was reassuring. I remember her studying my eyes, seeking answer. I felt secure that she was on the case. She understood that a good meal, brushed teeth and a warm shower can make you feel more human than about anything else. A doctor can prescribe medicines to relieve symptoms, but a mother and a true caregiver can give the love and attention to heal. I learned so much about compassion from my mother.
messy and mundane parts of raising me had helped me to understand something profound; true love and service over self. These are two lessons I will carry forward into each day of my adult life. Second, I was grateful to be witness to the regeneration of that gift. Watching my wife care for our children was seeing her building up in them the same fundamental lesson. It was inspiring to watch my wife teach my own children through her selfless actions as their mother.
That night I was able to pull myself out of bed and sit at the far end of the family table. After the meal and once the kids were off to bed Betsy slumped a bit in her seat. I could tell she was totally spent from a week of following us around. “Am I a good mom?” she said wearily. I looked at her crossly “you are the best. Why in the world would you even ask that?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Sometimes I just don’t know what they absorb; sometimes I feel like all I do is repeat what I just said to them.” I gave an semi-understanding nod before interrupting. “I don’t remember every word my mother ever spoke” I said gently “but I remember she was always there, I could always count on her. The way I have seen you this week, with everyone so sick; this isn’t the first time you’ve done all this.” She perked up. My appreciation grew “Those kids” I said more demonstratively “may not two-fold in that moremember what we had for dinner tonight in twenty ment of recollection. years but they will remember how you cared for them. One, I realized that my Guaranteed.” She cracked a smile “guaranteed? How mother’s selflessness can you be so certain?” I smiled and gave a wink “trust in taking charge of the me, I know first hand.” The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
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Thoughts in the Breeze Eternal Music Touches with sweetness Only heaven reveals Blesses with sounds that mesmerize And transform Giving meaning and grace Resonating through flesh To touch the soul Anne M. Jennings
The Last Cars It’s my favorite kind of night, when I arrive tired and leave awake. One beer lasts as time slips away. Food arrives before it’s missed. I don’t see others head out the door, and ours are the last cars in the lot. Bill Newby NO MO’ ROBERT! (Nov., 1937, rev. 1962)
First Gear no one can drive in neutral yet we watch half the creatures on the planet disappear in forty years we shrug in offshore drilling just in case there’s more oil somewhere we turn away and they plough and widen channels for bigger tankers raze and build fresher and taller, to create jobs or whatever and a three hundred year old tree waits for something to put the world back in gear ~Elizabeth Robin
Photo: Anne M. Jennings 34 www.blufftonbreeze.com
She screams as, slowly, the awkward men— Pine box moving to pine woods soil— Toward her pick their way. “No mo’ Robert! De las’ time, Robert! Dis is goodbye today!” She beats her breast while her body rocks. She tears at her oiled untidy locks. “No mo’ he come in de evenin’ cool. No no’ he knock de do’. No mo’,” she gasps. She shrieks to heaven, “My Robert is no mo’! Gawd! No mo’ Robert to laugh an’ talk! He won’t eben see our fus’ chile walk— Po’ Robert! Po’ Robert! Dis is goodbye today—” They lift the lid from the scarred black face, So honest, still and strong. “No mo’ Robert! De las’ time, Robert! Oh, Gawd! Let me look long— Po’ Robert! Po’ Robert! Gawd pity me today!” Florence Rupert Graves
How I write and why--Simplicity is a journey—it controls my thoughts— subjugates them to a higher order that allows me to know myself better. It is illusive but always the goal. This is a week’s worth of writing one sentence each day. 1-The pines whisper in the breeze, a hint of freshly cut hay in the distance, the rhythm of summer setting in. 2-A flash of color, breaking water, rod bending, line whines at its release from winter’s storage. 3-I always thought there was more time-that time existed outside of me and I was not bound by its rules-how arrogant of me. 4-Light bled through the corners of the window alerting another day has begun, the cabin cold and quiet, the Franklin’s embers awaiting my arrival. 5-The strokes a bit labored, water parts, once this was art, the paddle my brush, now it seems to resemble one of my abstract paintings. 6-The lake calm in the deepening shadows of the day, life quiets to a twilight rhythm. 7-I sit in silence mostly, observing life beyond my window, beyond my limitations to understand its contradictions.
Luke Peeples was especially aware of the natural world. He would often reference natural events in his poems and lyrics. His poem about two Summer Thrushes illustrates this. Notice how he links the birdsong to the exact notes on the piano, and to the bell tones of Campbell’s A.M.E. church. Luke later placed this six note melody at the end of his arrangement of the South Carolina Lowcountry spiritual, What Shall I Do? - John Samuel Graves, III Summer Thrushes Two short phrases Each with fervor charged: Complementary, yet far apart. One phrase a flourish— A triplet-penultimate Fast falling from d-flat to b-flat to a-flat, And, fast following An odd leap upward to e-natural. The other— Just “f” and its third below, d-flat. Interspersed, the two, with silences As arbitrarily, ingenious repetitions ensue— Silences so eloquent I fancy it all a duet, Rehearsed by one performer. And My, O My! It all reminds me so Of Campbell’s A.M.E. bell a-tollin’. Luke Peeples
Art Cornell
We invite thoughts, poems, essays from our readers, young and old. Bluffton has a deep creative spirit, often eccentric, but also deeply caring, thoughtful and observant. We encourage submissions, and while we cannot guarantee publication, we will make every attempt to reflect the musings of our talented community. The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
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Designs by Michelle Pearson Interior Design for Hilton Head and Bluffton, South Carolina
Visit Our Showroom at: 49 Pennington Drive Suite E Sheridan Park Bluffton, SC 843.815.6747
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1263-B May River Road Old Town Bluffton 843.757.8185 fourcornersframing@hargray.com www.FOURCORNERSGALLERY.com
3B Lawton Street
Phillip Robinowich charlie moore Ase certified ford certifications We diagnose most all problems
ALL MAKES TIRES TUNING REPAIRS & SERVICE
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May 2015
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Breeze Your Bluffton
CALL 843-842-2055
BLUFFTON HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY MOTHERS DAY TEA HISTORY OF MOTHER DAY For Tickets and Info CALL 843.757.6293
“Quintessential Bluffton” By Lynda Potter SOBA GALLERY Opening Reception May 8 from 5-7pm Call 843.757-6586 sobagallery.com
Discovery Camp Thursdays Ages 7-12 June 11-Aug. 20 9:30-12:30 Call for the schedules and weekly themes 843.689.6767 ext 223 coastaldiscovery.org
SUN CITY CHORUS AND CONCERT BAND MAY 14, 15, 16 - 7 pm MAY 17-2:30 pm Magnolia Hall 843. 368.3153 suncitytix@gmail.com
Bluffton Visitors Center 70 Boundary St 843.757.6293 info@heywardhouse.org LOOK FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP BOOTH AT THE BLUFFTON VILLAGE FESTIVAL
THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS AND VENDORS FOR MAKING TASTE OF BLUFFTON A GREAT SUCCESS
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For future announcements on the For future announcements photos Bulletin Board call theand Breeze Email The Breeze at 843 757 8877
r u
ff u n l B to o Y
The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
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Breeze
OVER THE BRIDGES
*WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE EVENT. ADDITIONAL FEES MAY APPLY.
BEAUFORT and PORT ROYAL *TUESDAY TALKS, ECO-EXPEDITIONS, AND MORE Check the website for Tuesday Talk topics, boat expedition times, special events, and pricing. Port Royal Sound Maritime Center, 645-7774, 310 Okatie Hwy., Okatie. Tues.-Sat. 10 am-5 pm *May 1-2 16TH ANNUAL TASTE OF BEAUFORT! Live music on the pavilion stage, arts and crafts market, children’s activities, and 5k run/walk! Restaurant, beer/wine, and soda booths. Downtown Beaufort, 525-6644. Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, 700 Bay St. See website for events and times. Free admission *May 1-31 “HEART OF THE HOME” EXHIBIT: Kitchen Archaeology From Mont Repose Plantation Artifacts from a kitchen collapse offer a unique opportunity to explore the domestic duties and lifeways of women and girls on a 19th-century plantation. Beaufort County Library, 255-6468, 311 Scott St., Beaufort District Collection, 2nd floor, Beaufort. 10 am-5 pm Free *May 2 PICKIN’ BY THE RIVER Sit back and listen or join in at a music event with no amplifiers and no drums, just acoustic bluegrass, country, and folk music. Bring a lawn chair – all are welcome to come and jam. Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, 379-9084, 700 Bay St., Beaufort. Noon-5:30 pm Free *May 7 & 10 LET’S DANCE Toe-tapping treats from ballet to Broadway are presented by the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra. Purchase in advance online at TIX.com or call 800-5954849. Sea Island Presbyterian Church, 81 Lady’s Island Dr., Beaufort. Thurs. 7:30 pm, Sun. 4 pm $37.50 *May 8-9 2ND ANNUAL BOTTLES & BARRELS Small, breakout wine dinners at private homes on Friday. Craft brews, wines, and farm to table dishes at the Marketplace on Saturday. Habersham Marketplace, 846-3444, 13 Market, Beaufort. See website for details. $30-150 *May 9 THE AFFAIR An evening fundraiser with rooms transformed into themed cocktail parties, a show, dancing on stage, and a silent auction. USCB Center for the Arts, 5214145, 805 Carteret St., Beaufort. 6:30 pm $75 May 15-June 7 HABERSHAM INSPIRED HOMES TOUR Two of the nation’s top lifestyle brands and a dream team of architects, designers, and builders present two professionally decorated homes open to tour on weekends. Habersham SC, 846-1000, Habersham Marketplace, 22 Market, Beaufort. Fri.Sat. 10 am-5 pm, Sun. 11 am-4 pm $10 *May 21-24 29TH ANNUAL ORIGINAL GULLAH FESTIVAL Celebrate the history, customs, cultures, language, and
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accomplishments of the African-Americans of the Lowcountry with food, music, and family entertainment. The Original Gullah Festival, 525-0628, Beaufort. See website for times and locations. Fri. $5 (Free until Noon), Sat. $20, Sun. $15 (Kids Free, Weekend Pass $80)
HILTON HEAD ISLAND *LECTURES, EXHIBITS, AND BOAT TRIPS, including “Horseshoe Crabs, Living Fossils” on May 4-5. See the Event Calendar on their website for details. Coastal Discovery Museum, 6896767 ext. 223, 70 Honey Horn Dr., HHI. Reservations required for most events. *Apr. 29-May 24 GYPSY The backstage tale of vaudeville entertainer-turned-stripper, Gypsy Rose Lee, and her over-bearing mother, Rose. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 842-2787, 14 Shelter Cove Ln., HHI. Tues.-Sat. 8 pm, Sun. 2 pm $55 (Kids $39), Preview: $45 (Kids $31) *May 2 FIRST ANNUAL BEER, BACON & MUSIC FESTIVAL Enjoy top local bands, along with bacon cuisine and confections, plus beer, liquor, wine, and bacon-themed cocktails. Bring lawn chairs. Island Rec Center, 681-7273, Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Ln., HHI. 11 am-5p m $6 admission (Kids 10 & under Free) *May 3-4 CHOPIN AND SIBELIUS: TWO NATIONALISTS Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 and Sibelius’ Finlandia, Op. 26 and Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82. Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, 842-2055, First Presby-terian Church, 540 William Hilton Pkwy., HHI. Sun. 4 pm, Mon. 8 pm $25, 40, 50 *May 14-17 GOD OF CARNAGE Two boys fight in a park, and one gets two teeth knocked out. Their parents meet to settle the matter peaceably, but negotiations deteriorate into a minefield of parenting issues that veer from the comical to unsettling truths. Lean Ensemble Theatre at Main Street Theatre, 689-6246, 3000 Main St., HHI. Thurs.-Sat. 8 pm, Sun. 2 & 8 pm $35 (Students/Active Military $15) *May 18 LUNCH WITH AUTHOR Mary Alice Monroe will talk about The Summer’s End, which is her third book of the Lowcountry Summer Trilogy. USCB Lunch With Author Series, 521-4147, Sea Pines Resort Conference Center, 11 Lighthouse Ln., HHI. Reservations required. Noon $42 (includes lunch) *May 23-24 7TH ANNUAL HILTON HEAD ART FESTIVAL & CRAFT MARKETPLACE Meet with the artists who create paintings, sculpture, jewelry, photography, pottery, and more! This event features a Craft Marketplace, entertain-ment, and food to purchase. Art Festival Hilton Head, 561-746-6615, Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina, 1 Harbourside Ln. 10 am-5 pm Free admission
SAVANNAH AREA May 1 SCAD SAND ARTS FESTIVAL Savannah College of Art & Design competitions constructed completely of sand, water, and beach finds. SCAD Savannah (Calendar/Events), North Beach near Tybee Lighthouse, 30 Meddin Dr., Tybee Island. See website for directions. Rain date is May 8. 10 am Free May 1-3 RIVER STREET SEAFOOD FEST Enjoy seafood, Jimmy Buffet music, fun, and fireworks (Fri. at 9:30 pm)! River Street Savannah, 912-234-0295, Rousakis Riverfront Plaza, 115 East River St. Fri. 4-10 pm, Sat. 10 am-10 pm, Sun. 10 am-5 pm Free admission (food for sale)
three families from very different backgrounds. SCAD Box Office (All Events), 912-525-5050, Lucas Theatre, 32 Abercorn St., Sav. Thurs.-Sat. 8 pm, Sun. 3 pm $25 *May 15 TYBEE ISLAND BEACH BUM PARADE Don’t miss the South’s largest water fight! Parade floats will be filled with water-throwing paraphernalia as spectators line up along the parade route armed with buckets of water, squirt guns, and hoses. Come prepared to get wet! Tybee Island Beach Bum Parade, Butler Ave. 6:30 pm Free
BLUFFTON and Beyond
*May 1-31 SAVANNAH THEATRE, 912-233-7764, 222 Bull St. $39.59 (Coupon $36.38, Group of 20 $31, Kids $19.26) JUKEBOX! A real “blast from the past!” Wed. & Fri. 8 pm, Sun. 3 pm, no show 5/27 SAVANNAH LIVE Great variety show! Tues., Thurs., & Sat. 8 pm, Sat. 5/16 & 6/20 3 & 8 pm, no show 5/26, 6/16, & 6/23
*May 5 The Royal Ballet presents LA FILLE MAL GARDEE Based on an 1828 French ballet, it is a tale of boy meets girl laced with good humor as a whirl of dancing chickens, grouchy guardians, and halfwit suitors take to the stage. Cinemark, 757-2859, 106 Buckwalter Pkwy., Bluffton. Tues. 7 pm $18 (Seniors/Students $17, Kids $16)
May 2 39TH ANNUAL SAVANNAH SCOTTISH GAMES FESTIVAL Competition at the games is fierce, and you are sure to enjoy the food, entertainment, and shopping! Savannah Scottish Games, Bethesda Academy, 9520 Ferguson Ave. 9 am-4:30 pm $12 ($10 in advance, Military $8, Kids 11-17 $5, 10 & under Free)
*May 8 MOTHER’S DAY TEA The Bluffton Historical Preservation Society is hosting a tea to honor mothers. Finger sandwiches, scones, and pastries also will be served. Heyward House, 757-6293, 70 Boundary St., Bluffton. Reservations required. 2-4 pm $25
May 2 TYBEE ISLAND TOUR OF HOMES The tour is held rain or shine! Ticket price includes a full lunch at the Tybee Island Maritime Academy gym (11:30 am-1:30 pm). Tybee Tour of Homes, Tybee Island Maritime Academy, 714 Lovell Ave. 10 am-4 pm $40 ($30-35 in advance) *May 5 MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL This hilarious musical parody staged to classic tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s will have you laughing and cheering. Savannah Civic Center, 912651-6550, Johnny Mercer Theatre, 301 W. Oglethorpe Ave. 7 pm $45-50 *May 9 THE ART OF DIPLOMACY SKETCH WALK Explore elements of painting and hear a presentation about growing up during World War II. Telfair Museums, 912-790-8823 (Kip Bradley), Jepson Center, 207 W. York St., Sav. and then go to sketch at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum. Reservations required. Noon-5 pm Free *May 9 BRAHMS, WAGNER, & STRAUSS Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Wagner’s Overture to Rienzi, and Strauss’ epic Rosenkavalier Suite. Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, 912-525-5050 for tickets, Johnny Mercer Theater, 301 West Oglethorpe Ave. 7:30 pm (pre-concert talk at 6:30) $16-70 *May 14-17 RAGTIME The Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of the quintessential American experience at the turn of the 20th century as seen through the eyes of
*May 8 TROPHY BALL EXHIBITION Students and professionals perform various ballroom dance styles. Social dancing for all and a variety of desserts. Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 8376161, Seaquins Ballroom, 1300 Fording Island Rd., Bluffton. 7 pm $15 *May 8-24 STATE FAIR On the first day of the Iowa State Fair, young adults Margy and Wayne meet attractive new flames; so does father’s prize hog, Blue Boy. May River Theatre, 8155581, Pritchard & Bridge Sts., Bluffton. Fri.-Sat. 8 pm, Sun. 3 pm $25 *May 9 37TH ANNUAL BLUFFTON VILLAGE FESTIVAL – MAYFEST! Local and regional arts and crafts, music, local food for sale, an ugly dog contest, and a pie eating contest! Leashed dogs only. Bluffton Village Festival, 815-2277. Free parking and shuttle buses from Red Cedar Elementary School to the Festival on Calhoun St. 10 am-5 pm Free *May 14 THE PINK PARTINI PARTY! Music, appetizers, door prizes, and drink specials. It’s All Pink, 842-7465. The Cottage, 38 Calhoun St., Bluffton. 5:30-8 pm Free admission May 19 JAZZ CONCERT ON THE GREEN – CRANFORD HOLLOW. Bring your own chairs. Food and beverages will be available for cash purchase or bring your own. Palmetto Bluff (Experiences/Events), 800-501-7405, 19 Village Park Square, Bluffton. Gates open at 5 pm; concert begins at 6:30 pm $25 per carload
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A KICK IN THE PANTS TO JEVON DALY:
LEAD SINGER OF LOWCOUNTRY BOIL TALKS ABOUT ART, SELF, AND
NEW ALBUM “STRINGS & ENVY” By Michele Roldán-Shaw Lowcountry Boil is a local band. You have definitely heard of them, probably seen them play. Pure Bluffton—bars, beers, festivals, grand openings, fried shrimp and boiled peanuts. Solid quality bluegrass with a hometown twist. And they have a new album out, Strings & Envy, which took them a year of hard work to record. Lead singer: Jevon Daly. Depending on your crowd you might also be familiar with their alter-ego Silicon Sister (now defunct), a raunchy hair-band causing late-night ruckuses around town. They’re known for obnoxious behavior, impeccable musicianship, cross-dressing and crotch-stuffing. Lead singer: Jevon Daly. But who do you REALLY know? Not Jevon Daly… he goes way deeper. He’s a dad and a thinker and a Jew’s harp player; he’s taught music to children for 20 years; he’s as much into Joni Mitchell as Guns & Roses; sometimes talking between songs is the most artful thing he does. He gets the random admiring texts and hateful Facebook posts of a small-time celebrity. His real influences are his band director at Hilton Head High, his dad listening to Jackson Brown over and over, and Run DMC, the first group he really got into on his own. The older he gets, the more he realizes he has become one of those people who just wants to hear the songs he likes; so when folks get drunk and request “Brown-Eyed Girl,” how can he get mad and say “Screw you, we’re too good to play that!”? When he saw Van Halen, he wanted to hear “Hot For Teacher.”
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“Can you play me something i
Music is not just what Jevon does, it’s the whole field in which he makes sense of life. He gets to put on whatever face he wants. 120 decibels, a few beers in him and he’s just GOIN’; then the next morning it’s all quiet except for this tremendous ringing in his ears, the kids are slapping his cheeks saying “Daddy, daddy, wake up! Take off your makeup and make me pancakes!” Another day, another personality—which is the fascinating part to him. And by his own admission you’re allowed to love or hate Jevon Daly as you see fit. “Musicians come here and say, ‘Oh, Jevon’s such a jerk.’ But I grew up here listening to punk rock and rap; I’ve been a weightlifter, I’ve been a surfer, I’ve been in the marching band—you don’t know who I am! And usually for every one person that hates you, there’s a hundred that love you.” There’s no question Jevon is a talented musician. He plays guitar, bass, fiddle, ukulele, mandolin, Jew’s harp, harmonica and kazoo. His Lowcountry Boil bandmates are equally sharp. Jevon’s father Mike Daly plays the banjo, Gary Pratt and Andy Pitts play guitar and bass, and Chip Larkby plays the washboard. Taken together they are tight; nothing slack or off-key about them, they know how to play their instruments, and their lyrics are clever but you can relate.
Life is gonna change { for the better } The storm blew Jackie’s home off it’s foundation “A gift from God” he told his family “i hate my job, time to start all over” left there with nothing but the clothes on their backs He just smiled looked in the eyes of his children said ‘your life is gonna change for the better’ ‘the way that we been livin just aint right”
Breeze Music Town
Ten years ago Donna Huffman—founder of the Bluffton Breeze and great friend of the community— reviewed their second album in the pages of this very magazine. Since then they have played and played and played. Meanwhile Jevon has done dishes, paid bills and taken out the trash. For the last two years he’s written a well-followed column in The Breeze, “Music Town”, that reflects his musical tastes, puts forth history, and keeps an edgy style that music lovers appreciate. His kids keep on getting bigger… one day when they went off to school he found himself sitting around the house feeling sad, until finally he realized he was alone in a room full of every kind of musical instrument you could think of, each the best money could buy, and the time for resting on his laurels was over. That was February 2014, and there were other critical moments besides. He’d been working in the studio with a guy who’d written songs for Miley Cirus and stuff, and this guy was loving everything Jevon did; there was a lot of elation there, until one day the guy said, “You don’t seem happy.” Jevon replied, “Screw you, I’m happy.” The guy said “No, you don’t seem satisfied…maybe it’s because you’re not writing.” That was a tough pill to swallow but he needed it. On a separate occasion he was talking to another local band (new kids on the block) and they tried to give him one of their albums; Jevon was like “Whatever, I don’t need your album; I’ve done albums too.” The bass player—whom Jevon calls “a really nice guy”— responded, “Yeah but we’ve never heard it.” In that moment he thought to himself, “Ok Jevon, this is a reality check. You’re a good musician—fine. You’re a charismatic guy, some people like you—great. Some people hate you—even better. But what’s the reality here, what have you done? Your last album is from two-thousand…when was that? 2004. That’s ten years ago.” The Bluffton Breeze
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Perhaps other musicians, even other members of Lowcountry Boil, don’t need a kick in the pants; but yes, the real reason Jevon got back to writing was the competition. One year later, out comes Strings & Envy: ten tracks (including three about beer) of intelligent bluegrass, western swing, and jazzy string band sound. Unlike their previous three albums, all of which were recorded live, this one was intensely labored over with all its various parts. In just one song, “Unlucky But I Like to Win,” Jevon has 100 hours and numerous experimental versions, a process he describes as “throwin’ stuff against the wall to see what sticks.” He likes different ingredients and he likes to synthesize. On this album you will hear the word Bluffton, and you will identify with the down-home material. If you’re hip to the scene you might recognize a local character in the lyrics of “Best I’ve Ever Been,” one of the few numbers they’ve ever written together as a band. People love that song; they applaud SO much, while the fellow in question turns proudly to his neighbor and says, “That song is about me…they got a couple things wrong.” “What we’ve always done with Lowcountry Boil is poke fun at what’s wrong with the South,” says Jevon, and goes on to quote lyrics, “When I was ten I moved to South Cackalackee/I’d never even seen a rebel flag.” (Before that his family lived on St. Thomas.) “But we don’t act crazy like Silicon Sister, because with Lowcountry Boil there’s nothing to hide behind. It’s not this reckless maniac screaming distorted guitar wall of freaken sound…we have to concentrate on what we’re playing and try to keep the art form alive.”
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They also have to praise and uphold beer. A choice bit from Strings & Envy: “Slap me in my face but don’t spill my beer/Dump your drink on me but don’t spill my beer/Cut me down to bone but leave my cold one alone/It’s not responsible for what I’ve done to you.” On rare occasions they even have to be serious, delving into dark themes of life’s troubles on behalf of all those who’ve been there but will never have the guts to pour that stuff over a microphone. “People ask, ‘Who’s that song about?’” says Jevon. “And I’m thinking, ‘It’s about you.’ People change temporarily, but a few years later they say ‘I don’t like working out, I don’t like eating tofu! This is crap, why did I do this?’ Go back to your own personality! Break down the walls! Be you!” But who are YOU? Who is Jevon Daly? Who are any of us? It’s a central question of his work, his music, his life, his art, the inner spinnings of his brain. Yes he’s a clown; no one wants him to be serious on-stage. Yes he’s a daddy; he does all the regular chores. Yes he’s a husband, a professional, a writer, a hometown boy, and many other things that only he knows about. Unplugged, drink gone, crotch-unstuffed, makeup taken off, cut down to the bone, hearing only ringing in his ears…. Ladies and gentlemen, Jevon Daly! On to his next chameleon act to discover some new face. And if all that’s too deep for you, just come hear Lowcountry Boil sing about beer at their CD release party, Saturday May 9th at Vin 55, after the Bluffton Village Festival, oh yeah.
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Come for the wine. Stay for the food!
Now serving lunch! Over 100 great wines to sample! Delicious tapas meals all day Wednesday -Saturday: From 11:00am Live Music Thursday night! 843-706-9463 6 Promenade Street
TRADITIONAL NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA
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ON THE PROMENADE 15 State of Mind Street Bluffton, SC 843.757.7007
M-Th 11-9pm F-Sat 12-10 pm closed Sun www.mulberrystpizzeriabluffton.com
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5 Sherrington Drive Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 815-3630
The
Village
Pasta Shoppe
Delicious homemade Italian dishes ready to heat and serve.
Enjoy home-made Italian dishes without paying restaurant prices. Bring us your dish (or use ours) and we’ll fill it up with authentic Italian favorites like Lasagne, Chicken Parmesan, Ziti, Eggplant Parmesan and more. We also have Fresh Pasta and many hard to find Italian deli products.
It’s like mom or grandma made it! 10B Johnston Way www.villagepastashoppe.com (opposite the Bluffton Post office) 843.540.2095
Tue - Fri 10am - 6pm, Sat 10am - 4pm
The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
47
Restaurant Guide AMIGO’S - MEXICAN BELFAIR TOWN VILLAGE 815-8226 MON-SAT 11-9PM
CORKS WINE CO. - CONTEMPORY, TAPAS THE PROMENADE 816-5168 BIZ HOURS TUE-SAT 5-12 KITCHEN HOURS TUE-WED 5-10, TH-SAT 5-11
BLUFFTON BBQ**- BARBEQUE PORK & RIBS THE PROMENADE 757-RIBS WED-SAT 11AM-WHENEVER
CORNER PERK** - BREAKFAST, LUNCH, COFFEE THE PROMENADE & MAY RIVER ROAD 816-5674 MON-FRI 7-4PM SAT 8-3PM SUN 9-2PM
TOOMERS BLUFFTON SEAFOOD HOUSE** 27 DR. MELLICHAMP DRIVE 757-0380 LUNCH/DINNER MON-SAT 11-9PM
DOWNTOWN DELI - BURGERS & SANDWICHES DR. MELLINCAMP 815-5005 MON-SAT 8-3PM
THE BLUFFTON ROOM - FINE DINING 15 PROMENADE STREET 757-3525 TUE-THUR 5-10PM FRI-SAT 5-11PM CLOSED SUN & MON
FUJIYAMA - SUSHI / ASIAN CUISINE BI-LO CENTER 706-9907 MON-THUR 11-10PM FRI-SAT 11-10:30PM SUN 12-10PM
BRITISH OPEN PUB - PUB, SEAFOOD, STEAKS SHERIDAN PARK 705-4005 MON-SUN 8-9PM SUN BRUNCH 8-1PM
GUISEPPI’S - ITALIAN KITTIES CROSSING 842-8333 MON-SAT 11-10PM SUN 11-9PM
BUFFALO’S - CONTEMPORARY PALMETTO BLUFF VILLAGE 706-6630 LUNCH MON-SAT 11-4PM
HOGSHEAD KITCHEN - CONTEMPORARY 1555 FORDING ISLAND ROAD 837-4647 MON-SAT 11:30AM-11PM SUNDAY CLOSED
CAHILL’S CHICKEN KITCHEN**- SOUTHERN HIGHWAY 46 757-2921 LUNCH MON-SAT 11-3 SUPPER THU-FRI-SAT 5-9 BREAKFAST SAT 7-12 BRUNCH SUN 9-3 CAPTAIN WOODY’S -SEAFOOD SANDWICH SALADS THE PROMENADE 757-6222 MON-SUN 11-10PM CLAUDE & ULI’S BISTRO - FRENCH MOSS CREEK VILLAGE 837-3336 MON-SAT LUNCH & DINNER
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INN AT PALMETTO BLUFF - CONTINENTAL PALMETTO BLUFF VILLAGE 706-6500 DAILY 7AM-10PM KATIE O’DONALD’S - IRISH AMERICAN KITTIES CROSSING 815-5555 MON-SUN 11-2PM LATITUDE WINE BAR** - WINE, TAPAS & LUNCH 6 PROMENADE 706-9463 WED-SAT 11AM - TO CLOSE NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH
LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE - AMERICAN 1262 FORDING ISLAND ROAD 843-705-7001 SAT 11AM-11PM, All OTHERS 11AM-10PM
R&D WINE BOUTIQUE - WINE & FOOD 1011 FORDING ISLAND DRIVE BEST BUY PLAZA 837-3747 THUR-SAT 11:30-9PM
MAY RIVER GRILL** - SEAFOOD CONTEMPORARY 1263 MAY RIVER RD., OLD TOWN 757-5755 TUE-FRI 11:30-2PM LUNCH MON-SAT 5-9PM DINNER
REDFISH 32 BRUIN ROAD OLD TOWN 837-8888 MON-SAT 1130-2 & 4:30-10 SUN 10-2 & 4-10
MULBERRY STREET TRATTORIA - ITALIAN 1476 FORDING ISLAND ROAD HWY 837-2426 TUE-SAT 11-3 & 5-10 SUN 10:30-9 MULBERRY STREET PIZZERIA 15 STATE OF MIND ST. 757-7007 TUE-WED11-9 THUR 11-10 FRI-SUN 12-WHENEVER NEO - GASTROPUB - FARM TO TABLE FARE 326 MOSS CREEK VILLAGE 837-5111 MON-THUR 11:30-9 FRI-SAT 11:30-10 SUNDAY 5-9
OKATIE ALE HOUSE - AMERICAN SUN CITY 706-2537 LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK OLD TOWN DISPENSARY - CONTEMPORARY CALHOUN STREET 837-1893 MON-SAT 11AM-2AM SUNDAY BRUNCH PEACEFUL HENRY’S CIGAR & WINE BAR 161 BLUFFTON ROAD 757-0557 PEPPER’S OLD TOWN - AMERICAN, SEAFOOD 1255 MAY RIVER ROAD OLD TOWN BLUFFTON 757-2522 7 DAYS A WEEK 11AM-9PM MUSIC 5 NIGHTS A WEEK POUR RICHARD’S**- CONTEMPORARY BLUFFTON PARKWAY 757-1999 MON-SAT 5:30-10PM
SIGLER’S ROTISSERIE & SEAFOOD CONTEMPORARY 12 SHERATON PARK CIRCLE 815-5030 MON-SAT 4:30PM-9:30PM SIPPIN COW CAFÉ - BREAKFAST LUNCH 1230 MAY RIVER ROAD 757-5051 TUE–SAT 7-3PM SUN 9-2PM SQUAT N’ GOBBLE** AMERICAN/GREEK 1231 MAY RIVER ROAD 757-4242 EAT IN OR TAKE OUT OPEN DAILY 7-3PM
THE COTTAGE - BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER 38 CALHOUN STREET 757-0508 BREAKFAST M-SAT. 8-11AM LUNCH 11-3PM EARLY BIRD THUR FROM 5, F&S 5 - 5:45PM DINNER FROM 6 PM SUN BRUNCH 8AM-2PM AFTERNOON TEA M-W 3:15PM THE VILLAGE PASTA SHOPPE** ITALIAN DELI & WINE 10 B JOHNSTON WAY (across from Post Office), 540-2095 TUE-FRI 10-6PM SAT 10-4PM VINEYARD 55** PIZZA AMERICAN 55 CALHOUN STREET 757-9463 MON-TUES 4-CLOSE WED-SAT 11-CLOSE
** See the ads in the Breeze for more info
The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
49
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The Bluffton Breeze
May 2015
51
At Cahill’s the flowers have morning dew, the produce is farm fresh and the food is simply delicious!
Every Sunday is Mother’s Day at Cahill’s!
LUNCH Mon to Sat, 11am - 3pm SUPPER Thurs, Fri, Sat, 5 - 9pm BRUNCH Sunday 9am - 3pm SATURDAY BREAKFAST 7am - 12pm 1055 May River Road, Bluffton, SC 1 mile west of the Old Town 843 757-2921 www.cahillsmarket.com
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