Celebrate Bluffton & Beyond - December 2020

CB2 CELEBRATE I BLUFFTON AND BEYOND!

HAPPY

HOLIDAYS!

DECEMBER 2020

THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE

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GOOD VIBRATIONS

Island musicians rally around a message of hope, unity and love DECEMBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

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DECEMBER 2020

C2 MAGAZINE

C2 MAGAZINE

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16 YOU ARE NOT ALONE Meet the mental health professionals who can help you navigate the “new normal.”

WHAT’S INSIDE

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PILATES HILTON HEAD: THE WORKOUT THAT WORKS FOR EVERY BODY

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WHO NEEDS A THERAPIST? I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM...

GOOD VIBRATIONS

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE FOR HER

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SWAMPFIRE RECORDS: THE ROAD TO TEN

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THE NEW FACE OF KITCHENS: N-HANCE OFFERS TWO COSTSAVING SOLUTIONS FOR PUTTING A FRESH FACE ON YOUR CABINETS

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BUDGET BLINDS: WHERE WINDOW SOLUTIONS ARE MADE SIMPLE

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HILTON HEAD PREP: A PATH FOWARD

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THEY'RE BACK: A LINE IN THE SAND ABOUT POLITICAL CRAP

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MUSICIANS IN BATHROOMS FEATURING QUINTIN SMALLS

O N O U R C OV E R S CH2 CELEBRATE HILTON HEAD!

DECEMBER 2020

Island musicians rally around a message of hope, unity and above all things… love.

58 EGAN + ELLA BOUTIQUE Experience the empowerment and confidence that comes with the right outfit

84 FLIPPING THE SCRIPT

DECEMBER 2020

HAPPY HOLIDAYS … FROM OUR DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY TO YOURS! It’s the MENTAL HEALTH Issue. (Just in time for Christmas, COVID-19 and the post-election CRAZINESS

Happy Holidays from the CH2 Family Photography by Krisztian Lonyai

Good Vibrations John Brackett at Shelter Cove Veteran's Park Photography by M.KAT

Proving that no house is too dated to be saved, this Long Cove Club refresh by RCH Construction is a masterpiece of renovation.

GENIUSES AT WORK Architect of Ideas Maggie Marie Washo

play

Technology Mastermind Carolyn Hunter Kostylo Financial Warden Marion Elizabeth Bowser Influencer-In-Residence Kim Conrad Crouch Culture Maven “Just Kandace” Wightman The Boomerang Morgan O'Banion In-house Jeweler on Retainer Kaila Jeffcoat Intimacy Mentor Lucille Rosita Gonzalez Washo Orchid Lord Jevon Daly The Gatekeepers Greta Von Bowser Vincent Von Bowser The Cut & Paste Crew Jeff Cline Catherine Colby Writing Specialists Cheryl Alexander Amy Bartlett Jesse Blanco Lindsay Cranford Denise K. James Linda S. Hopkins Barry Kaufman John McCann Lisa Sulka Tim Wood Lighting Experts M. Kat Photography Krisztian Lonyai Find Us Here PO Box 22949 Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 843.689.2658 m.washo@celebratehiltonhead.com

EDITOR'S NOTE - DECEMBER 2020

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hat better way to close out the worst year in recent history than with an issue dedicated to mental health and the various ways to keep your sanity intact during the holidays. If I’m being completely honest, I chose this topic because I needed the information in these pages this month. If you actually read the magazine and don’t just follow us on social media, you’ve probably noticed a theme over the past six months.

We are highlighting eight different people in our community on a monthly basis in a Q&A format—and this month it’s the shrinks. You know, those people you go to when you want to lie on the couch and talk about your feelings, get validation, and find your way out of the darkness.

These folks are pretty important in life, and I admire how they can take on everyone’s problems all day long and then go home and deal with their own. We asked them to share their success stories, talk about the difference between situational sadness and clinical depression, and asked the question everyone has been discussing since the dawn of time: nature vs. nurture?

If I learned one thing by photographing them and having conversations with each, it’s important to talk to someone when you’re going through a rough patch and equally important to find the right therapist with whom you feel comfortable opening up.

It may be cliché, but you really aren’t alone. We’re all out here trying to figure out this thing called life, and chances are, several hundred million people have gone through the same things you are currently experiencing.

In addition to interviewing people in the mental health field, our team of writers tackled various articles on how to keep your sanity throughout the holidays, COVID-19 and the post-election craziness. (And speaking of the election, Courtney Hampson was so fired up she decided to come back for a very special holiday edition of A Line in the Sand.)

If you read one thing this month, however, let it be the heartwarming story of how Anna Doyle is bringing together all of the island musicians for a good cause. Hunter Kostylo and I have been chronicling this amazing feat of cat-herding for weeks now, and all of the hard work done by Anna, Greg Critchley and Trevor Harden will culminate in a screening of the Lowcountry’s version of “What the World Needs Now” on December 22. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates and check out the story on page 48.

Wishing you and yours a happy holiday season and a very merry Christmas.

Love + Pixie Dust,

MAGGIE WASHO Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

Be sure to follow us on Social Media

Instagram - @ch2hhimag Facebook - facebook.com/ch2magazine TikTok - @ch2mag YouTube - youtube.com/celebratehiltonhead

You Are

Not Alone Meet the mental health professionals who can help you navigate the “new normal.”

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f there is a silver lining in the dumpster fire of a year that was 2020, it is this: all of us have gained a deeper appreciation for our own mental health.

Even the most steadfast among us had their cages rattled this year, leading to the widespread popularity of the notion, “It’s okay to not be okay.”

And it is. All of us have, at some level, felt the stress creeping in from a year that packed in a whole decade worth of turmoil into 12 long months. And we’ve all tried to deal with it as best we can.

As you close out the year with a renewed focus on keeping your head on straight, it’s important to know that you are not alone. Whatever stigma there may have once been around seeking help, we can comfortably call it the product of a bygone era. Today we’re all hurting, we’re all feeling the pressure, and we could all use a hand up in getting through it.

When you’re ready for help, the folks on the following pages are just the people to take you into 2021 with a strong mind for whatever comes next.

Greg Schenkel

LISW-CP, JD, LMT | Practice: Helping people find the good in themselves, in others, in life.

Years as licensed psychologist/mental health professional: 6+ Years in mind-body healing: 30+ What inspired you to work in the mental health field?

Finding the layers of good in myself, in life, in my relationships, with the help of good counseling and mind/body practices. (As an attorney, I would hear of various suffering in people’s lives and always felt more interested in helping people find justice in themselves than justice in their legal affairs.)

Do you see an uptick in mental health crises around the holidays? If so, why do you think that is?

I was surprised to notice, at some point in my life, moments of quiet teary-ness during the holidays, which was very interesting for me to respect and process!

Holidays can set our target high in our aim for a good life but may fall short in helping us to understand how to hit that target.

How do you differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression?

Situational sadness is a normal and healthy part of moving through our life’s trials, while clinical depression is when situational sadness takes deeper roots into perceptions of self and life.

What’s the number one societal change you would like to see with regard to mental health?

I wish everyone knew how to practice good self-care.

Most of us are taught how to take very good care of others and work hard, but when we tend to the garden of our inner well-being, we can be a more authentic source of good for ourselves and others.

What do you wish people knew about the work you do that is perhaps misunderstood?

In the same way most folks would go to a physician if some part of their body wasn’t functioning optimally, they can equally feel welcome to consult with a counselor when any part of their mental/emotional health isn’t

optimal. It helps us broaden our perspectives, horizons, and quality of life.

Without revealing identifying information, can you share one of your success stories?

Me! My life has opened to so much more color, texture and richness since I began my journey of self-discovery!

Nature or nurture: Both, all the way, every day!

P H OT O G R A P H Y B Y M . K AT | D E S I G N BY J E F F C L I N E

and joy during the holiday season only to face disappointment that all the unresolved issues with their families of origin remain the same. The goal is to relinquish one’s attachment to the end result.

How do you differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression?

Depression lasts longer than two weeks and often paralyzes one from participating in daily activities and/ or exacerbates a sense of impending doom. Sadness is a normal reaction to an event, which does not negatively impact or change one’s sense of self. Depression is equivalent to viewing the world through a black veil, in addition to seeing no light at the end of the tunnel.

What’s the number one societal change you would like to see in regard to mental health?

It should be recognized that the healthy people are those who seek therapy. They have the courage to self-examine and make changes. I wish society would ask, rather than, “Do you go to therapy,” “who is your therapist?”

Jocelyn Ann Evans MSW, LISW-CP, P.C. | Practice: Island Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Years as a psychologist or psychiatrist: 27 years as a psychotherapist

What inspired you to work in the mental health field?

I was a theater major during my undergraduate years and teaching tennis in NYC to support that dream. I received a phone call on November 17, 1987 at the club where I taught. My mom told me my little sister Janie was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s. My world turned upside down, and my mom insisted that I and my two older siblings fly in for family therapy. We had a therapist at Dana Farber who supported us through Janie’s illness and death in 1988. At that moment, I realized I wanted to help, as our therapist did us, those suffering from trauma. I left NYC, went to graduate school in Boston, Mass. and have been privileged enough to work in myriad environments.

Do you see an uptick in mental health crises around the holidays? If so, why do you think that is?

There is always an uptick in mental health crises during the holidays, which is even more pronounced with COVID. Oftentimes people hope and wish for harmony

What do you wish people knew about the work you do that is perhaps misunderstood?

People often ask, “How do you go from one session to the next without a break,” and “don’t you get tired?” Each client is different and has their own family of origin. They have different coping mechanisms; hence, my job is the most fascinating daily endeavor.

It is incredibly fulfilling when someone implements a behavioral change that alleviates previously internalized stress or self-doubt.

Without revealing identifying information, can you share one of your success stories?

Actually, my clients do all the work, and I am proud of so many of them. I do recall when working in the emergency room at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. I was called in to see an 18-year-old pregnant woman who was a heroin addict. She was six weeks pregnant, and I made her see me every week, as the state wanted to take her baby. A year later, I was walking by the elevator at the hospital when this woman called out my last name (maiden) before the elevator closed and said, “Hey Awad, look at my baby girl that I got to keep thanks to you.” I smiled and responded before the door closed, “No girl, you did the work!” She reinforced that it is “always darkest before dawn.”

Nature or nurture?

Both. It is astonishing what unconditional love can accomplish when nature is marred. It is just as astounding when nurturing is nonexistent, yet some exhibit phenomenal resilience.

Philip Searcy

MSW, LISW-CP Practice: Co-owner/therapist at Therapy Group, LLC Years as a clinical therapist: 10 What inspired you to work in the mental health field?

The foundation of my drive to work in mental health was growing up in a Christian household. As a young kid, my family were missionaries in South America. This allowed me the opportunity to witness the significance of loving on people who are in need. I was able to watch and be a part of moments that gave others hope in life. As I got older, I realized my two passions in life were loving on people and bringing awareness to the life-changing benefits of mental health care. Being your therapist is a privilege that I strive never to take for granted.

Do you see an uptick in mental health crises around the holidays? If so, why do you think that is?

The holidays can be difficult times for a variety of reasons. For some, they highlight what/who is missing in our life. For others, they force moments where we have to interact with people we rarely spend much time around. There is a heightened level of stress with pressure to entertain, impress or be accepted. This sometimes leads to breakdowns and/or self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, etc. As a therapist, I see this pattern in people all year long, but it is common for the holidays to cause an increase.

How do you differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression?

There are many overlaps of symptoms between these two. When life hits you unexpectedly, it is perfectly justified for someone to feel depressed and have a change in their physical and emotional behaviors.

Oftentimes, six to twelve sessions with a therapist can assist with overall improvement. When symptoms continue for six months or more, it may be time to talk with your primary doctor and build a relationship with a licensed therapist.

What’s the number one societal change you would like to see in regard to mental health?

Educating children on mental health before they go into middle school. Humans are born with thoughts and emotions but never educated on how to effectively manage them.

What do you wish people knew about the work you do that is perhaps misunderstood?

It is very unlikely to find another relationship in life where you can be as vulnerable as you can with a therapist. Every other person in your life is emotionally invested, and they tend to give you advice based on what makes them feel comfortable. A therapist is there to build a trusting, non-judgmental relationship with you, where you can work towards becoming the person you want to be, not the one you were conditioned to be.

Without revealing identifying information, can you share one of your success stories?

Countless examples flood my head because the most rewarding part of being a therapist is getting to see people be the success story of their own life. There are the “rags to riches� type of stories, but my favorite success stories are the faces of everyday clients when they realize there is hope towards living a life with less suffering.

Nature or nurture?

There is no denying the power of each, and there is no way to prevent or change either. So, I encourage people to realize, they may not be fully responsible for what happened in their past, but it is within their power to understand it, accept it, learn from it and then work on it. The work may not always be easy, but it is worth it, and you deserve it!

Sheila Tucker

Practice: Heart Mind & Soul Counseling Years as a psychologist or psychiatrist: 3 years/Licensed Associate Marriage & Family Therapist

What inspired you to work in the mental health field?

Becoming a marriage and family therapist is my second career and my first love. I knew long ago that I wanted work in the mental health field, however I got a little sidetracked. After a few health setbacks, my own therapist’s nudging, and a doctor telling me I needed to make changes “or else,” I applied to graduate school in California.

This may sound cliche, however it was a desire to help other people that brought me into the mental health field.

I’ve also always been curious by nature and have a fascination with how people’s minds work. It’s been incredibly rewarding to witness clients make connections that empower healing and new relationships.

Do you see an uptick in mental health crises around the holidays? If so, why do you think that is?

I don’t see an uptick in mental health crises, per say, around the holidays.

However, in my office, I do see an increase in stress-related complaints, which can exacerbate depression and anxiety symptoms. This year may prove to be even more stressful with the impact of Covid-19 on travel restrictions and gatherings. I typically see the stress of the holidays and its impact on anxiety or depression symptoms play out in family dynamics

and expectations. Most people will think of family and traditions when they think of the holidays. However, for some, this may bring their family issues to the forefront. For someone who’s already managing anxiety and depression, managing the emotions related to family issues can heighten their symptoms.

There’s also the notion of managing expectations, along with the pressure to be social and happy. Not only do people end up managing the expectations of what they think the holiday “should” look like compared with the reality (or social media’s reality), but now you’re also in a position to pretend to be happy. For someone who’s experiencing depression or anxiety, this can be quite fatiguing.

How do you differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression?

Everyone feels sad from time to time.

Sadness is a natural human emotion.

There are, however, differences between situational sadness and clinical depression. As its name implies, situational depression is brought on by a stressful situation. A person will typically experience emotional or behavioral symptoms within three months of the stressful event. These symptoms interfere with your interpersonal relationships and are not caused by another mental health disorder. In the case of situational depression, the person feels overwhelmed and is unable to rely on their coping strategies to feel better. Symptoms will often subside as the situation feels more manageable.

Some examples of situational depression are: loss of a loved one or pet, loss of a job, life transitions, break up, divorce, injury, car accident, sickness, etc.

On the other hand, people who experience clinical depression often report no identifiable cause for their symptoms.

There are times, however, where situational depression will develop into clinical depression. Similarly, an overwhelming situation may worsen a person’s clinical depressive symptoms.

What’s the number one societal change you would like to see in regard to mental health?

If I must only pick one, it’s ending the stigma of receiving support for mental health and wellness. There’s a belief that psychotherapy is only focused on people with mental illness or that only crazy people go to therapy. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. You don’t have to be diagnosed with a mental illness in order to benefit from therapy. Really.

What do you wish people knew about the work you do that is perhaps misunderstood?

Your therapist will not tell you exactly what to do, what decisions to make, or if you’ve made the “right” decision. As your therapist, I will not give you advice. I know, bummer, right? I will, however, help you to explore your thoughts, feelings, values, and personal beliefs so that you’re able to sort out what comprises your best decision. Therapists, myself included, want you to be able to learn to trust yourself. This involves making decisions for yourself.

Also, therapy can be fun. It’s not always a stuffy experience of dredging up ALL of the parts of your past and looking at them under a microscope. Laughing with clients and witty comments is a common occurrence in my office.

Without revealing identifying information, can you share one of your success stories?

A client came to see me due to feeling overwhelmed and being told by their partner that they weren’t emotionally available. This client had a history of trauma and used numbing out or shutting down as a way to cope with their overwhelm. When I first met with this client, they were stoic—unable to tolerate most feelings and emotions. By the end of therapy, this client was able to shift from stoic to a place where they were able to tolerate their emotions and their partner’s emotions without numbing out or shutting down. The process to reach this outcome was intentionally paced very slowly, and nothing about our work was linear. This isn’t my success story but that of my former client, who was the one showing up to sessions, putting in the time, and doing the hard work.

No two individual “success” stories will look the same, and no two therapeutic experiences will look the same. For some people, this is the first time they’ve ever asked for help, and that in and of itself is a success story to be celebrated.

Nature or nurture?

Both. There’s research supporting a genetic component to some mental disorders. I also believe we are shaped by our environment and the attachments to our primary caretakers as children. We also have the ability to learn how to relate to our experiences in a different capacity.

Although you may be genetically prone towards anxiety, you can also take part in corrective emotional experiences and learn coping skills.

Jessica Joyce

Practice: Psychological & Counseling Associates of the Lowcountry, LLC Years as a psychologist or psychiatrist: 2.5 What inspired you to work in the mental health field?

I had a desire to help people and wanted to understand (and to help my patients understand) how thoughts and feelings shape their behaviors and actions.

Do you see an uptick in mental health crises around the holidays? If so, why do you think that is?

We often see an increase in the number of patients seeking mental health treatment around the holidays; however, there is not necessarily an increase in mental health crises. It is common that patients have depressive symptoms and anxiety surrounding thoughts about and/or interactions with different family members during the holidays.

This year, I have noticed an increase in patients who are experiencing distress related to the holidays due to the COVID-19 crisis. Many patients are feeling conflicted about whether or not to see family during the holidays, and many are grappling with the thought of missing out on holiday traditions and family time during the holidays due to the COVID-19 crisis.

How do you differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression?

In cases of clinical depression, patients experience symptoms in addition to (but not limited to) lack of motivation, difficulty completing activities of daily living, apathy, irritability, changes in sleep patterns (excessive sleep or insomnia), significant changes in weight, etc.

Many patients with clinical depression feel incapable of motivating themselves to make changes and/or participate in daily activities.

What’s the number one societal change you would like to see in regard to mental health?

I would like to see the stigma around mental health be reduced. Many people are fearful or apprehensive to admit they are struggling due to fears of being judged by others. When looking at specific professions and/ or demographics of patients, seeking mental health treatment continues to be seen as “being weak” or not strong enough to manage one’s own feelings.

What do you wish people knew about the work you do that is perhaps misunderstood? Therapy is an interactive process between the clinician and the patient in which the patient works towards understanding their thought and behavior patterns and works toward improving their coping skills and changing maladaptive behaviors to help them live a more fulfilling life and change the things in their life that are causing distress

or negative perceptions. For many people, their only exposure to therapy is what they have seen in the movies, and there are misperceptions of what therapy consists of. There are also many people who believe that mental illness looks like what they see in movies or on television (i.e., the military veteran who returns from combat and is violent or abuses substances to deal with his/her trauma/PTSD). Individuals who struggle with mental illness vary in their level of functionality.

Without revealing identifying information, can you share one of your success stories? Throughout my career I have worked with many individuals who have experienced trauma, including many first responders. I have worked with an officer who was shot and seriously injured in the line of duty. Throughout the course of treatment, the patient was able to overcome many of his anxiety symptoms related to his traumatic experience and successfully return to work in the field of law enforcement.

Nature or nurture?

Mental health is often a combination of nature and nurture. Some mental illnesses are heritable; however, the expression of these illnesses may vary in severity based on the patient’s upbringing and support systems.

Dr. Deb Hall

Ed.D. LPC Practice: Therapy Group of Moss Creek Years as a psychologist or psychiatrist: I have been in private practice for three years; however, I have been involved in the education system as a school counselor for 20 plus years.

What inspired you to work in the mental health field?

I have been involved with mental health issues since the ’80s and passionate about preventing domestic/ sexual abuse along with suicide prevention. For many years, I have worked as a volunteer on hotlines for both of these issues. I have been involved with Hopeful Horizons (Hope Haven) for over 10 years as a volunteer coordinator and advocate for families and children.

Do you see an uptick in mental health crises around the holidays? If so, why do you think that is?

Holidays are often triggering to emotional memories that cause mental health crisis. Many family experiences are traumatic, and holidays bring back those memories that may have been unresolved conflict, so the stress can inflame mental health crises. The holidays may bring poor self-care with over-indulgence in food, alcohol and too many activities that cause the body to be sleep deprived. Schedules are interrupted, so normal activity levels are disrupted, e.g. not exercising, relaxing, or engaging in positive interactions with family members.

Holiday stress can stimulate a mental health crisis.

How do you differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression?

Situational sadness and clinical depression are often intertwined, but I differentiate by determining the source or origin of the depression. Depression is highly genetically correlated, so often it falls into the clinical category, whereas situational sadness or depression may occur from life experience that can be interpreted as trauma in life events.

What’s the number one societal change you would like to see in regard to mental health?

As I work with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and at Rape Crisis Centers, the number one barrier to help individuals with mental health issues is societal stigma. I often hear in my support group for families who have lost a loved one to suicide that the individual hid their depression and pain because they feared the stigma of mental health, thus they never

got help for fear of social judgement, which kept them from resolving mental health issues. Then the individual felt that the only way out of their pain was suicide. So, stigma of mental health keeps individuals from getting help for themselves or their loved ones.

What do you wish people knew about the work you do that is perhaps misunderstood?

I wish that people realized how much better their life would be if they got help for their mental health issues.

Often therapy can be fun, along with exhilarating, and individuals find their best self by learning coping skill to deal with daily stress.

Without revealing identifying information, can you share one of your success stories?

I do not have any magic, but cognitive behavior therapy requires work to build different behaviors to enable the client to change their thinking, thus changing behavior then changing the results. Many people respond from their primitive part of their brain and rarely learn to use their cerebral cortex. I worked with a teenager who had been in many institutions in the state and was not progressing. She and her mom came weekly as they acknowledged their feelings and built a relationship of trust and respect. With acceptance of themselves and past trauma, the teen still had moments, but with her coping skills, she was able to function in school and is now a well-adjusted young adult.

Nature or nurture?

This is an age-old question which I do not have a good answer for, although the research helps the mental health providers to improve our skills as practitioners in order to help individuals find their best self. I realize that my clients come with both a predisposition to mental health issues from genetics and have experienced that impact on their mental stability. I accept clients where they are and validate their feeling to support them to utilize positive thinking to change their behavior. So rarely do I analyze nature or nurture since I encourage each individual to develop good mental health habits of self-care and work from a cognitive basis to improve life.

It actually can be very freeing to realize that grandpa’s spirited moments and times of sadness were passed on genetically, but with science, medication and therapy can improve quality of life.

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Lynn E. Geiger

Ph.D.| Practice: Licensed Clinical Psychologist Years as a psychologist or psychiatrist: 38 What inspired you to work in the mental health field?

I love helping people, and this field fits with my interest in getting to know people and learning about and understanding their story. Sharing my curiosity with someone gets them to see how and where they want to make changes in their lives.

Do you see an uptick in mental health crises around the holidays? If so, why do you think that is?

There is such stress between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and all the festivities at this time of year! There is stress to have the perfect holiday, the perfect dinner or party, the best presents, the coolest vacation, and to live up to some ideal. There is also sadness and loss when one’s life and the holidays aren’t perfect, missing family members, adjusting to change and to new traditions. So, there are quite a few crises to cope with.

How do you differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression?

Situational sadness occurs in sad circumstances: loss of a loved one, your house and all of your belongings destroyed in a fire and so on. Often this type of sadness diminishes as time goes on and our situation changes.

Clinical depression relates more to the degree of sadness one experiences: mild, moderate and severe.

So, a situational sadness can be to any degree. Some people have a more chronic depression that doesn’t just go away as a situation changes.

What’s the number one societal change you would like to see in regard to mental health? Decrease the stigma of mental health disorders, increase everyone’s knowledge about these conditions, and promote compassion towards others with a mental health disorder.

What do you wish people knew about the work you do that is perhaps misunderstood? There are different, specific protocols for various problems. We don’t have to use the same treatment approach for each problem.

My approach is to tailor the treatment to THIS person with THIS problem at THIS time and to match their strengths to the treatment plan. It’s not a one-size-fitsall type of work.

Without revealing identifying information, can you share one of your success stories? Working with people struggling with trauma is the most dramatic. To see the positive changes with first responders, combat veterans, car and plane accident victims, survivors of physical and sexual abuse, and assault survivors is so uplifting. And it’s equally special to see a child that can sleep at night without nightmares; or someone with ADHD tell me about their career growth because they learned about their condition and strategies to improve their coping with it; or a family that can heal past wounds and enjoy the holidays together. Our field has grown a lot, and there is a lot of success!

Nature or nurture? YES! This is like asking if hurricanes develop because of barometric pressure or water temperature. It’s a complicated combination of both!

What’s the number one societal change you would like to see in regard to mental health? Compassion for rather than fear of people with mental health problems.

These individuals have burdens to bear just like people with physical health problems and need respectful and compassionate treatment.

Helene Stoller

Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist Practice: Psychological & Counseling Associates of the Lowcountry, LLC Years as a psychologist or psychiatrist: 25 What inspired you to work in the mental health field?

Wanting to help people, wanting to understand why an individual behaves as s/he does.

Do you see an uptick in mental health crises around the holidays? If so, why do you think that is? We do see an increase in calls for help, not necessarily mental health crises, around the holidays. In the past, prior to COVID-19, I believed that the increase was related to wanting to understand and resolve family dynamics prior to the holidays. With the disruption caused by COVID-19, I’m not sure what to expect this year— perhaps more grief and loneliness at not being able to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.

How do you differentiate between situational sadness and clinical depression?

In addition to a difference in severity of symptoms (e.g., sleeping too much or poor sleep, weight loss or gain, poor self-care, etc.), there is also a palpable heavy feeling that accompanies a person with major depression. That heavy feeling of sorrow contributes to strained interpersonal relationships because others find it difficult to be with a clinically depressed person without being affected themselves.

What do you wish people knew about the work you do that is perhaps misunderstood?

I suspect that some people fear psychological assessment, counseling, and psychotherapy as intrusive, invasive, and potentially hurtful. Many may mistakenly believe that clients lie on a couch to get their heads “shrunk.” I and all of the clinicians I know aim to improve people’s lives through seated conversations and questions aimed at helping individuals understand themselves and change things about themselves/their lives that they don’t like or that are getting in the way of achieving their goals.

Without revealing identifying information, can you share one of your success stories? Although I and other clinicians in my practice are generalists, I have several specialties that have contributed to successes I particularly remember. I have performed many assessments for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and I often get feedback from clients I’ve assessed and referred for medication that now they can read, focus, stay on task, and have improved relationships. “It’s like a light switch turned on in my head,” one client said. I also work with trauma survivors using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. I have worked with a number of middle-aged men who were sexually abused as minors.

Males often don’t want to acknowledge their vulnerable feelings, even to themselves, so resist coming to therapy. Men whom I have treated with EMDR therapy were able to release the pent-up feelings they have held surrounding the abuse, including fear, anger, rage, shame, guilt, and self-loathing, to feel whole again—safe, self-confident, and in control of their lives.

Nature or nurture? Mental health, like physical health, is a combination of nature and nurture. We may be born with a propensity for long life or a serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia (both of which are heritable illnesses). What happens to us during our lives determines whether we actually live out that long life expectancy our parent(s) had or experience a psychotic break that precipitates a major mental illness.

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PRACTICAL MAGIC FOR A HEALTHY MIND

Get moving for a better mood and more

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f you’re feeling a little moody these days (and who isn’t?) do yourself a favor before you snap off another head or cry yourself to sleep: get moving! Walk around the block, take a spin on your bicycle, run in place, or do 10 jumping jacks—anything to get your blood pumping—because exercise may just be the closest thing to magic when it comes to improving your state of mind. Don’t believe it? Here’s evidence.

ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS C2 MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 2020

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PRACTICAL MAGIC FOR A HEALTHY MIND A study of 1.2 million people in the U.S. has found that people who exercise report having 1.5 fewer days of poor mental health a month compared to people who do not exercise. The study included all types of physical activity, ranging from childcare, housework, lawn-mowing and fishing to cycling, going to the gym, running and skiing. All forms of exercise were associated with improved mental health, but the strongest associations were seen for team sports, cycling, aerobic and gym exercise (reduction in poor mental health days of 22.3%, 21.6%, and 20.1%, respectively), according to the study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal.

The reduction in number of poor mental health days was even larger for people who had previously been diagnosed with depression; exercise was associated with 3.75 fewer days of poor mental health compared with people who did not exercise, equivalent to a 34.5% reduction.

In another recent study, Texas-based psychiatrist and internationally known brain and behavior researcher Madhukar Trivedi, M.D. has shown that three or more sessions per week of aerobic exercise or resistance training for 45 to 60 minutes per session can help treat even chronic depression. Effects tend to be noticed after about four weeks, and training should be continued for 10-12 weeks for the greatest anti-depressant effect.

Maybe you’re not depressed but want to ward off the blues.

Harvard researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital report

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that increased levels of physical activity can significantly reduce the odds of depression, even among people who are genetically predisposed to the condition. In a paper published in the Journal of Depression and Anxiety, the team reported that individuals who engaged in several hours of exercise each week were less likely to be diagnosed with a new episode of depression, even in the face of high genetic risk for the disorder.

Researchers have also explored exercise as a tool for treating and preventing anxiety disorder, the most common mental ailment in the U.S., affecting more than 40 million adults. Any exercise can help, but aerobic exercise that gets your heart rate up is particularly effective, studies show. Though not aerobic, yoga, which combines physical movement with meditation and deep breathing, can also help offset anxiety symptoms by calming the mind.

This is not to say that exercise is a cure-all. Medication will remain an important treatment option for depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders, which are notoriously complex. But the evidence is clear that physical exercise can play a vital role in both prevention of and recovery from many types of mental distress.

Practically speaking So, if exercise is the magic bullet, why aren’t more doctors prescribing it? Maybe because it’s easier to convince patients to take a pill than to lace up their sneakers?

Some researchers blame an emphasis on the physical effects of exercise for our national aversion to activity.

Physicians frequently tell patients to work out to lose weight, lower cholesterol or prevent diabetes. Unfortunately, it takes months to see the physical results of your hard work, whereas the mood boost is nearly instant.

If you are reluctant to exercise and think you could never stick with it much less enjoy it, take heart, because the brain actually performs its own magic trick. “Even small improvements in exercise levels create a positive upward spiral that increases the sensitivity of the dopamine receptors that signal reward,

FIVE REASONS TO GET OFF YOUR DUFF so that exercise will eventually become rewarding, even if that seems unimaginable at the outset,” said Psychology Today blogger Christopher Bergland, a world-class endurance athlete and founder of City Coach, a New York City-based multi-sport coaching service.

How much and how often?

As researchers continue exploring the effects of exercise on mental health, the news is mostly positive. However, frequency and intensity also play a role. Researchers from Yale University looked at data sourced from 1.2 million people in the U.S. to try to find out how much and which types of exercise are best for mental health. In the process, they found a surprise.

Those who exercised for 30 to 60 minutes three to five times per week saw the most benefit. People who were physically active for more than 90 minutes every day also saw their mental health improve, though less so. But subjects who exercised for more than 90 minutes a day or more than 23 times a month actually had worse mental health than those who did not exercise at all. Yes, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. It’s theorized that the over-exercisers might have obsessive characteristics or addictive tendencies that could place them at greater risk of poor mental health.

According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Adam Chekroud, an adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale, people should not read this the wrong way. “The take-home is, we showed that no exercise is worse than exercise, and that those who exercise too much had the worst mental health. There is a sweet spot, for sure,” he said.

Of course, you should consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine. The information presented here is not a replacement for medical advice or any treatment plan you have been prescribed. But if the subject interests you, why not ask your doctor about incorporating exercise for your mental health? 

We all know that exercise is good for the body, and now research shows that it’s also good for the mind. Here are five compelling reasons to get up off the couch and break a sweat: 1.

Stress relief. Exercise can help relieve stress and anxiety levels, leaving you calmer and more relaxed. This may be attributed to reduced adrenaline and cortisol and increased serotonin and norepinephrine, which regulate the brain’s response to stress. Or it could simply be that physical activity helps distract you from the day’s tensions and worries. Either way, a spot of exercise works like a potent cocktail to ease your troubled mind.

2. Improved mood. Exercise triggers endorphins, the brain’s “feel-good” neurotransmitters. Endorphins boost your mood and help you relax. A dose a day keeps the monsters away!

3. Clear thinking. Physical activity delivers oxygen to the brain and related tissues. Thirty minutes of moderateintensity exercise, five days a week is recommended to release brain chemicals that support memory, focus, and mental concentration. Who knew that exercise could help you look smarter at work and remember where you left your keys?

4. Better sleep. Research participants consistently report physical activity as an important factor in being able to fall asleep and enhancing the quality of their sleep. A good snooze can work wonders for your energy, productivity, and outlook!

5. Higher self-esteem. Physical activity has been known to increase self-esteem and confidence, which can be related to self-perceptions of attractiveness, physical condition and strength. Get moving and love the person looking back at you in the mirror.

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Pilates is an ideal form of exercise for people of all ages, all body types, and all fitness levels, Because there’s no bouncing, jarring, or stress to your body.

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The workout that works for every body Article by Linda S. Hopkins Photography by M.Kat

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don’t want a flat stomach,” said no person on the planet ever. If you’re still walking around with that stubborn belly pooch in spite of all the crunches, planks and mountain climbers you’ve been doing (or not!), it might be time to add Pilates to your workout routine.

But strong abdominal muscles that help create that lean look you’re after are just a nice side effect of Pilates exercise. While Pilates training focuses on core strength, it trains the body as a whole, promoting strength and balanced muscle development as well as flexibility and increased range of motion for the joints.

Got aches and pains? Recovering from an injury or surgery? Good news! Pilates can also address common problems of the neck, back, and joints and is often used as an adjunct to physical therapy. “Pilates is all about strengthening the core because everything in your body is connected. Many times, somebody will have an injury but it’s from a weakness elsewhere,” Pilates Hilton Head owner Martha Stichweh said.

“When I’m training any client, I must figure out exactly what they need. It’s all about modifying the exercise for the client.”

Most exciting is that anyone can do it and get amazing results, whether you are a gym junkie, a weekend warrior, or dedicated couch potato. Because there’s no bouncing, jarring, or stress to your body, Pilates is an ideal form of exercise for people of all ages, all body types, and all fitness levels.

“This is so gentle; it doesn’t matter what age you are. Children, teens, older adults … you can actually enjoy the workout,” Stichweh said. “And the 50 minutes fly by. Once you get into it, you are in your own little world. You are relaxed and in tune with what your body is doing. You’re focused on it.”

The misconception about Pilates, Stichweh pointed out, is that if there is no pain, there is no gain. “Pilates is not about feeling the burn,” she explained. “It’s all resistance-based training. It is about consistent concentration and doing it slowly and consistently with control so that you have a flow to the exercise.”

Stichweh began her personal Pilates practice in 2009 at age 62 when searching for relief from debilitating hip bursitis. After seeing a doctor and getting a shot that didn’t work, she was referred to a hip specialist at MUSC. But because she couldn’t get in for

Joseph Pilates, who developed the pilates technique and original equipment, bringing it to the U.S. in the 1920s.

several months, she started looking for a healthy way to relieve the pain on her own.

An old friend who had turned her own health around recommended Pilates. Figuring she had nothing to lose, Stichweh made an appointment for a private Pilates session and was immediately hooked. By the time she saw the surgeon, she no longer needed treatment.

Stichweh went on to train as an instructor, teaching at a local studio from 2010-2018 when she decided to retire. But she quickly found that she needed something purposeful to do; she missed teaching and began toying with the idea of opening a studio.

The stars began aligning in May of 2018 when her friend and studio owner in Charlotte merged with another studio and put four Pilates wall towers up for sale. Meanwhile, Stichweh had seen the empty space in the Village at Wexford (formerly Avis’s shoe room at the Porcupine). In June, she called her friend back and bought the equipment, storing it in her garage while contemplating her next move.

Stichweh opened Pilates Hilton Head in November of 2019 after a slight delay due to the threat of Hurricane Dorian. “Then, of course, COVID came and shut us down for two months,” she lamented.

During the shutdown, Stichweh had the entire studio treated with an EPA antibacterial, antiviral that is effective for 90 days.

It’s been sprayed every 90 days since. “I felt that it was important to make the studio as safe and clean as possible,” she said. “I’m teaching by myself here now and cleaning thoroughly after every session. My clients love the fact that we have always had a maximum of four to a class. They know I am doing everything possible to have a safe environment for them.”

Stichweh is passionate about proper training and prides herself on offering a pure Pilates experience based on the works of founder Joseph Pilates, who developed the pilates technique and original equipment, bringing it to the U.S. in the 1920s. She studied under Balanced Body’s world-renowned master instructor Jennifer Gianni of Fusion Pilates in Asheville, N.C., receiving certification in Balanced Body’s Comprehensive Program covering all apparatuses. She has also been certified in the SmartSpine Wellness System with master instructor and 30

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P I L AHilton T EHead S SmartSpine Wellness System creator Marie-José Blom and continues to learn through continuing education courses and workshops.

She believes strongly in staying true to the traditional teachings and philosophies of Joseph Pilates. “This is a pure Pilates studio. Pilates is meant to be done in the quiet. You want the mind in touch with the body and to concentrate on the muscles you are using and learn the technique. When you learn to execute the technique of every exercise, you will see results,” Stichweh said.

As Joseph Pilates said, “After 10 sessions you will feel the difference; after 20 sessions you will see the difference; and after 30 sessions you will have a whole new body!”

Stichweh loves to see the changes in her clients and hear how happy they are to have found Pilates!

Call her to schedule an appointment or class today.  Pilates Hilton Head is located at 1000 William Hilton Pkwy Unit E-2, in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island. For more information, please visit pilateshiltonhead.com or call (843) 715-4545 for an appointment.

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Martha Stichweh, owner of Pilates Hilton Head.

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SELF-CARE: THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

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aise your hand if you are exhausted: your multi-tasking, people-pleasing personality keeps you going through the motions, but your body, mind and spirit are screaming for a break. If you find yourself living in this constant state of stress and overwhelm—taking care of everybody else’s needs with no time for yourself—stop it! Because running around like a headless chicken is (a) unattractive (b) draining the life out of you, and (c) stealing your joy. It’s time to start looking out for number one.

ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS C2 MAGAZINE

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THE CASE FOR SELF-CARE As we enter the season of giving and as the year 2020 takes her last breath, never has there been a more compelling time to look at how we’re taking care of ourselves. After all, we cannot possibly show up at our best for others when we are not showing up for ourselves.

If you are accustomed to putting everyone else’s needs at the top of your to-do list, you may feel a twinge of guilt when you begin making yourself a priority. But remember, self-care isn’t selfish. If you don’t set boundaries and take care of yourself, your health and well-being are at risk. And if you are neglecting yourself, you can’t possibly be helping others.

WHAT IS SELF-CARE? The term self-care gets thrown around rather casually these days, most often in the context of spa treatments, which are valid tools for relaxation and rejuvenation and part of a healthy self-care routine. But self-care goes far deeper than a monthly massage.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, self-care can be defined as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one’s own well-being and happiness, in particular during periods of stress.” To be truly effective, self-care must encompass our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs. It must become an integral part of our daily routine without becoming another check box on an endless task list.

Self-care is not something we force ourselves to do, but it is something we actively plan and enjoy. It can be as simple as taking a walk, listening to music, reading a magazine, working a jigsaw puzzle, soaking in a warm bath, taking a nap, chatting with a trusted friend, facetiming with the grandchildren, playing fetch

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EXERCISING REGULARLY IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART OF STAYING BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HEALTHY. IT DOESN’T HAVE TO CONSIST OF A GYM ROUTINE OR TRAINING FOR A MARATHON, ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT VERY WELL IF YOU FIND SATISFACTION IN CHALLENGING WORKOUTS. OTHERWISE, EXERCISE CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS TAKING THE STAIRS INSTEAD OF THE ELEVATOR OR WALKING OR BIKING INSTEAD OF DRIVING.

with the dog, engaging in a sport or hobby, attending church, practicing yoga, praying and/or meditating.

Self-care looks different for different people. For some, a rousing game of pickleball or a round of golf is the ticket to decompressing from the stresses of the day. Others might find a solitary walk on the beach more refreshing. The key is to be honest with yourself about what rejuvenates you vs. what depletes you.

LAYING THE FOUNDATION Healthy eating is a foundational piece of anyone’s self-care plan. But that doesn’t mean dieting. Being hungry, deprived and miserable is not taking care of yourself. Think instead of properly fueling and feeding your body the basic nutrition needed to function at work, home, and play: high-quality protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and water. Eating mostly unprocessed foods can stabilize your

GO AHEAD AND COMMIT TO THE MONTHLY MASSAGE, THE WEEKLY TENNIS LESSON, THE DAILY YOGA PRACTICE, THE MORNING DEVOTIONAL, THE NIGHTLY BUBBLE BATH, REGULAR STRETCH BREAKS IN YOUR DAY—WHATEVER FEEDS YOUR SPIRIT. energy and mood and lower your risk for chronic illness, which is the basis of all self-care.

If you are already a healthy eater, self-care for you might be a planned indulgence—a treat that is not necessarily healthy but gives you pleasure. The trick is to grant yourself permission to enjoy it without the usual side of guilt, regret, or impending payback.

Exercising regularly is also an important part of staying both physically and mentally healthy. It doesn’t have to consist of a gym routine or training for a marathon, although it might very well if you find satisfaction in challenging workouts. Otherwise, exercise can be as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator or walking or biking instead of driving. Daily exercise, however you choose to get it, produces stress-relieving hormones and improves your general health.

Ditto for getting enough sleep and rest. Establishing a regular bedtime and before-bed ritual can go a long way towards a good night’s sleep. Turning off your TV and electronic devices about 30 minutes before you go to bed can also enhance the quality of your sleep and vastly improve your health.

Balancing social time vs. alone time is another essential element of self-care that is highly individual in scope. A whirlwind social schedule can be exhausting or exhilarating, depending on your individual needs. Conversely, spending time alone can be a refreshing part of your self-care plan. Completely isolating yourself from others is not self-care. Look for the sweet spot.

MAKING ROOM FOR ‘ME TIME’ Having a hard time figuring out how to fit in more “me time”?

Self-care does not have to take copious amounts of time. Instead of waiting to see if you have time to spare, add some self-care

activities to your schedule and plan around them. Go ahead and commit to the monthly massage, the weekly tennis lesson, the daily yoga practice, the morning devotional, the nightly bubble bath, regular stretch breaks in your day—whatever feeds your spirit. The idea is to make these activities part of your routine instead of something you squeeze in randomly.

In her book The Art of Extreme Self-Care, work/life balance expert and New York Times bestselling author Cheryl Richardson said, “…if your life is chaotic, your schedule is overcrowded, and your brain is too full to think straight, the key to reclaiming your life has a lot more to do with what you remove from your life than how you organize it.”

This may sound radical, but one of the best ways to begin taking better care of yourself is by learning to say no. Go ahead and disappoint someone, Richardson suggests.

Think of things you no longer want to do or would like to stop doing in order to protect your time and energy. If you are unaccustomed to putting yourself first, weeding out your obligations is likely to be a gradual process rather than an overnight life makeover. And yes, there will be days when selfcare gets put on the back burner in spite of your best intentions.

Be kind to yourself. Don’t punish yourself for being too busy to sit down with a book. It’s more important that the changes you make are sustainable and nourishing, not a burden or a chore.

If you’re still worried about letting others down by focusing on yourself, think of self-care as a gift to all who love you. Family, friends and loved ones will benefit by getting to know a less frazzled, more relaxed and contented version of you—the you that can be fully present for them because your own needs have been met. 

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PanDEMIc Panacea

ARTICLE Cheryl Ale BY xander

lth tal hea dies n e m r e rem e you Improv ese natural h t with

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bingen’t sleep? Can’t stop an’t concentrate? Ca leled ral pa un In a year of eating your feelings? r for yea on cti ele an to -19 anxiety—from Covid ring sha are everywhere the books—people ling cel can , ng nki dri ge ing, bin stories of stress eat through any sit bly ssi po can ho appointments (w mselves s?), and putting the more Zoom meeting to bed for a week.

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PanDEMIc Panacea While there is nothing we can do to change the election results or speed up a coronavirus vaccine, we can do some things to take better care of ourselves. Neuroscientists, psychologists, and meditation experts have offered guidance about how we can ease our minds. Here are a few ideas we can try to help ourselves calm down, gain perspective, and fortify our dispositions for whatever might be next.

1. Deep Breathing. With this powerful breathing exercise, you simply take long, slow, deep breaths (also known as abdominal or belly breathing), gently disengaging your mind from distracting thoughts and sensations to focus solely on the length and pace of the breath. This technique also involves holding your breath. To practice, inhale through your nose for a count of four, then hold your breath for a count of seven. Let the breath out slowly from the mouth for a count of eight. Ideally, you should practice this technique a couple of times a day for about 10 rounds. Then, when you find yourself in a stressful situation, you can pause and use this breathing method to help you regain control of your heart rate and racing thoughts. Your stress levels will drastically go down.

2. Body scan. This technique blends breath focus with progressive muscle relaxation. After a few minutes of deep breathing, you focus on one part of the body or group of muscles at a time and mentally

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and physically release any physical tension you feel there. A body scan can also enhance your mind-body connection. If you find this difficult at first, try imagining the body part illuminates as you focus on it. For example, with your eyes closed and your breath long and steady, think of your right foot and pull a deep breath into the foot.

As the breath arrives there, imagine the foot lighting up. Then move up to the ankle, and imagine it illuminating as the breath arrives, then the lower leg, etc. Allow the warmth of the breath and the warmth of the light to relax your body.

3. Guided imagery. For this technique, you conjure up soothing scenes, places, or experiences in your mind to help you relax and focus. This type of visual therapy can help an anxious person create in their mind a place where they feel calm and relaxed. You can find free apps and online recordings of calming scenes—just make sure to choose imagery you find soothing and that has personal significance. The imagery differs for each person.

For some, their safe place could be nestled at home in bed, while others could find peace if they visualize the face of a loved one.

4. Mindfulness meditation. This practice involves sitting comfortably, focusing on your breathing, and bringing your mind’s attention to the present moment without drifting into concerns about the past or the future. You might easily begin a meditation practice by following these steps: • Step 1: Sit in a quiet place. Take a few deep breaths to connect to the innate intelligence of your whole body, ground down, and access your intuition and inner guidance.

• Step 2: Sit quietly with your eyes closed. Relax. Breathe deeply and listen for the divine guidance. It can come in any form: a vision, an expression, an epiphany, a quiet inner knowing, etc.

Meditation is when the divine talks to you. You can set your timer for 10-15 minutes for this process.

• Step 3: Journal for 10-15 minutes. Divine guidance can come in many different forms. The process of automated writing (when you

You may not feel like laughing when under stress, but even “fake” laughing can relieve anxiety. When you laugh, your brain releases dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure. write even if you have no particular thoughts) is a powerful experience.

Trust that your intuition can guide you through journaling, too.

5. Yoga, tai chi, and qigong. These ancient arts combine mindful breathing with a series of postures or flowing movements.

The physical aspects of each require a mental focus that will distract you from racing thoughts, clear distracting glitches that keep you from accomplishing your goals, and deliver mental clarity.

Afterwards, the practitioner will experience a feeling of euphoria and calm that will translate into your daily routine so that you are more relaxed before entering any potentially stressful situation.

6. Repetitive prayer. For this technique, you silently repeat a short prayer or phrase from a prayer while practicing breath focus.

This method may be especially appealing if religion or spirituality is meaningful to you. You can say something like this: “Thank you for your guidance, your grace and favor, and my abundant blessings.

Thank you for showing me the way. I choose to surrender. I trust your infinite love. I trust your loving guidance. I love you. Thank you.”

7. Tea and aromatics. If you are feeling especially jittery, a nice warm cup of chamomile tea can help soothe away negative feelings

associated with anxiety. Some contents of chamomile—Matricaria recutita in particular—will bind to the same brain receptors as antianxiety drugs. Also, the mere smell of some aromatics, such as lavender, can relieve anxiety. One study cites that dental patients experience less anxiety when the waiting room is filled with the scent of lavender.

8. Exercise. While exercise is a great way to stay in physical shape, it can also give you a break from feeling anxious (many sources say 21 minutes of exercise is effective enough). It does not have to be high-impact activity, either. Even a brisk walk or other simple activity can deliver several hours of relief, much like taking an aspirin for a headache.

9. Omega-3. This fatty acid has positive impacts on your brain. Foods with Omega-3, like tuna, salmon, walnuts, and flax seeds, can lower stress chemicals that can worsen anxiety.

10. Sunlight. You might not feel like going outside when you are depressed, but sunshine offers a great pay off for easing anxiety. Not getting enough sunlight can cause a drop in Vitamin D, which plays an important part in mental health, according to CalmClinic.com. This source offers an online test to determine how severe your anxiety is so you can properly approach it.

12. Laughing. You may not feel like laughing when under stress, but even “fake” laughing can relieve anxiety. When you laugh, your brain releases dopamine, a brain chemical associated with pleasure. You can use a laugh track app on your phone to get into a funny mood or watch a funny movie. One study even suggests that even anticipating laughter can reduce the amount of cortisol, a stress hormone, from your bloodstream.

Rather than choosing just one technique, experts recommend trying on several to see which will work best for you. Try to practice for at least 20 minutes a day, although even just a few minutes can help. But the longer and the more often you practice these techniques, the greater the benefits and the more you can reduce stress. 

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WHO NEEDS A THERAPIST? I

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or many people, including me, two of the hardest words to say are: help me! But they are the two words that have the most potential to positively impact your quality of life or perhaps even save you.

It was a Friday afternoon in 2002. I was at work when I fell off the deep end. Paralyzed by feelings of overwhelm and sadness, crying uncontrollably, thankfully someone threw me a lifeline. It was my boss, Lori Goodridge, who wrapped her arms around me and made a call to someone she knew who could help.

It’s not as if I hadn’t seen it coming. As a new widow dealing with grief mixed with job stress, lack of sleep, and a whole new set of social and economic circumstances, who wouldn’t be out of sorts? But stubborn old me thought I could handle it—until I couldn’t.

Depression had crept up and then lunged at me like a serial killer on a dark corner.

Ever the survivor—the strong, empathetic, mostly cheerful person others often came to for perspective, comfort and advice—asking for help did not come naturally for me. But this

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time, I was on my knees, and I knew I could no longer go it alone.

Enter local psychotherapist, fiery redhead Jocelyn Evans, who, over time, managed to walk me back to the light. While she couldn’t change my circumstances, she listened intently and with compassion and asked thoughtful questions. She brought a fresh perspective to my tangled emotions that simply wouldn’t have been possible by hashing out my problems with a friend. Through a process of connecting a few dots between past and present traumas, she gave me the tools to cope with the changes I was facing and helped me muster the courage to make some necessary decisions to save my own sanity. She also suggested medication and referred me to a doctor who prescribed an anti-depressant and something to help me sleep. These were temporary measures to get me through the crisis, and within a year, I was medication-free and back to a healthier, happier me.

Since that time, I have seen Evans off and on as needed to vent and clear up any murky thinking: after the sudden death of a beloved pet;

ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS

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WHO NEEDS A THERAPIST? when sorting out marital conflicts; when faced with a financial loss; when challenged by physical difficulties; and when disappointed in people. All of these were situations I could have slogged through on my own but where the process of therapy shored me up and helped me navigate with less angst and more grace.

So, who needs therapy or counseling? The long answer is people experiencing emotional difficulties affecting their lives.

The short answer is everyone at some point in time. Whatever you do, if you are suffering from a mental or emotional predicament that is interfering with your quality of life, make an appointment to see a licensed psychotherapist. Remember, there is no shame in asking for help. The real shame is going under while the life preserver is within reach.

OVERCOMING THE OBJECTIONS Here are eight common reasons why people shy away from therapy or refuse to ask for help and some strong support for getting past those objections: 1. I know what I need to do; I just need to pull up my bootstraps. Many of us suffer needlessly because we don’t have enough motivation to take necessary actions to improve our situations. A therapist can help you clarify your goals and create realistic strategies so that you are empowered to do what you need to do to feel and function better.

2. It is awkward and embarrassing to tell a stranger about my problems. Many of us are hesitant to share personal information, dark

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REMEMBER

THAT YOUR THERAPIST IS ALSO HUMAN, WITH HIS OR HER OWN SET OF PROBLEMS, BUT WITH THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND EXPERTISE TO HELP YOU PROCESS THE EMOTIONS THAT ARE CAUSING DISTRESS. thoughts, and true feelings with a stranger. It helps to remember that your therapist is also human, with his or her own set of problems, but with the professional training and expertise to help you process the emotions that are causing distress. Nothing you say will shock or surprise a trained mental health professional, and everything you say is strictly confidential.

3. People will think less of me. What other people will think is a common concern. If you come from a culture or a family environment where seeking therapy was viewed negatively or seen as a weakness, it is important to step over or around that barrier. Afterall, the smartest, healthiest, most well-adjusted people know when to reach out for a helping hand.

4. I should trust God and get my help through prayer.

Spirituality is a powerful coping resource, giving you extra support through prayer, devotion, and meditation. You may also gain communal support through church or another spiritual affiliation. But having faith in a higher power does not mean that you will never face difficult situations that call for additional encouragement and healing. If it is more comfortable, find a therapist who shares your religious and spiritual beliefs.

TALKING ALONE IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR SITUATION, BUT IT IS A STARTING POINT. ADMITTING TO AND ARTICULATING YOUR STRUGGLES IS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS RESOLVING THEM. THE FREEDOM TO VENT FEELINGS AND EXPRESS OPINIONS AS SOMEONE LISTENS SUPPORTIVELY AND ASKS CLARIFYING QUESTIONS IS HEALING IN AND OF ITSELF.

5. My life is pretty good. I shouldn’t complain. Seeking therapy is not a matter of complaining. It is driven by acknowledgement of vulnerability and the desire to live a better life. Therapy requires a state of openness that leads to personal growth and healing, regardless of the size or scope of the problem that brings you to it. Therapy can serve as both intervention and prevention.

6. I have friends who can listen to my problems and give me advice. Unfortunately, no matter how caring and supportive your friends may be, they are not trained mental health professionals who can help identify the roots of your problems and their negative impact. Friends may also be inclined to agree with your perspective, which can lead to getting further stuck in a negative mindset. Therapists can offer a neutral, unbiased view and identify behavioral patterns and mental health issues that may be overlooked by someone close to you. They can also design effective interventions to guide you through to recovery.

7. Talking about my problems is not going to fix them.

Talking alone is not going to change your situation, but it is a starting point. Admitting to and articulating your struggles is a first step towards resolving them. The freedom to vent feelings and express opinions as someone listens supportively and asks clarifying questions is healing in and of itself. And if medications or further interventions are needed, a therapist can refer you to appropriate resources.

8. Therapy is too expensive. Many insurance plans include mental health coverage that pays a percentage of the cost of treatment. If you don’t have health insurance or your plan does not cover counseling, ask the therapist if he or she can offer some discount or work out a payment plan to make it more affordable.

Alternatively, contact NAMI Lowcountry, our local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, at (843) 636-3100. NAMI offers free mental health support and education. Get more information about programs and services at namilowcountry.org. 

IN CASE OF AN IMMEDIATE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS: NAMI Crisis Helpline Text: 741741 National Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 784-2433 Beaufort County 24/7 Local Crisis Intervention Hotline (833) 364-2274 URGENT SITUATION – POLICE AND MEDICAL Emergency: 911 Ask for an officer trained in crisis intervention.

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ARTICLE BY TIM WOOD

Nami Lowcountry: A Beacon of Hope That You Are Never Alone STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE CONSTANT AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT IN OVERCOMING MENTAL HEALTH OBSTACLES

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hug. A hand on the shoulder. A hearty smile. An empathetic nod to let someone know, “I’m listening.” If you have family or friends dealing with mental illness, you know that simple face-to-face human contact is often the most effective tool to pave the road to better health.

The COVID pandemic has put an unprecedented strain on a caregiver community already bursting at the seams due to lack of resources. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll in July showed that more than half of U.S. adults say that COVIDrelated worry and stress has created negative impacts on their mental health. Most important, the quarantine and ongoing safety concerns has limited that vital face-to-face contact.

Folks like Sarah Eliasoph don’t just throw up the white flag in defeat. The director of operations of the Lowcountry chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness quickly mobilized her 300-volunteer crew to adapt their programs to the new challenges.

“By early April, we had pivoted all of our programs to virtual learning and support groups. Once we got sign off from the national organization, we got everyone on to Zoom,” Eliasoph said. A weekly peer-led support group and a twicemonthly family support group both moved to the video

conference format, but not without plenty of challenges.

“The people who have always been part of our support groups are not participating,” she said. “Some are not comfortable with the technology, and for some, it’s just not the atmosphere they want or need. They need that in-person contact. But we have done what we can to show them all that there is still a place for them.”

Eliasoph has been the public face of NAMI Lowcountry for the past decade, a post that began as a part-time accounting job and evolved into her being the group’s only paid employee for many years. She has led the evolution of the organization from NAMI Beaufort County to a fuller regional focus and led the group’s office move from an off-the-beaten-path Hilton Head location to a larger, more visible and centrally located home in Bluffton’s Plantation Business Park.

Her efforts to inform the community and destigmatize mental illness led to the national organization naming NAMI Lowcountry the local chapter of the year in 2012. Eliasoph appreciated the recognition, but she said the battle to increase awareness and connections is more important than ever in the time of coronavirus.

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plan for future needs,” she said. “We have an amazing board of directors and a relentlessly dedicated volunteer base, but there’s always more to do. We have gotten exponentially more calls to the office during COVID, especially from the Latino community. So, we work the phones and just make sure we get folks connected with the help they need.”

Much of NAMI Lowcountry’s work is focused around support, education and outreach. Just as the support groups have moved online, so too have the various educational programs offered locally. The group runs a six-week Basics course for caregivers of children and adolescents with mental health conditions; a 10-session Peer-to-Peer program for adults looking to better understand their condition as they strive for recovery; an eightweek Family-to-Family program for family and friends of people dealing with mental health conditions; and a Family and Friends program, a 90-minute seminar that informs and supports people providing care to loved ones that helps introduce them to all the NAMI resources.

“We’ve taken all these programs virtual. This new avenue to reach people—we were forced to embrace it as the norm, but it gives us another tool in the toolbox,” she said. “The explosion of Zoom and the fast expansion of telehealth has been a big step.

We know there is nothing like sitting and talking to someone in person, but this at least gets or keeps people engaged.”

Outreach has been severely inhibited by COVID. NAMI Lowcountry runs crisis intervention training for nonprofits and service organizations; a Homefront program for military personnel (active and veterans) dealing with PTSD; an In Your Own Voice presentation by trained professionals who have lived through mental health conditions and recovery; babysitting and afterschool programs utilized heavily by the Latino community; and an in-school Ending the Silence presentation for middle and high school students to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness.

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to better train pastors to counsel struggling parishioners have continued online, but all other programs are on hold until it’s safe to continue in person, as is NAMI’s in-hospital outreach to psychiatric patients. She said training with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Department and police staffs in Bluffton and Beaufort have also continued throughout the pandemic.

NAMI Lowcountry also owns and rents out nine apartments— four on Hilton Head Island, five in Beaufort—specifically for adults trying to live independently while seeking treatment. Eliasoph said housing is a crucial priority. She and the board are working with Clubhouse International to bring a peer-run group home to the Lowcountry, based off of the successful Fountain House model run in New York City.

“There are no group homes and that will be a very important step forward for us all here,” she said. “We work with folks to achieve independent living, but we are so short of services.

Anything we can do to help a reduction in hospital use, that’s going to be a win. There are not enough psychiatrists, not enough beds at the hospitals, not enough resources, period.”

Eliasoph said that despite the resource crunch, the Lowcountry mental health community is very tight knit and coordinated. “We are part of the Beaufort County Human Services Alliance and so thankful for that connection. All the agencies, every one fighting this fight, we all talk constantly and work closely to make sure folks are connected with every possible resource.”

Fundraising efforts are the backbone of NAMI Lowcountry’s $175,000 annual budget. While in-person events are largely on hold, the group recently hosted their annual NAMI Walk in October and is planning a virtual version of their annual Mardi Gras-themed fundraiser, set for February 16, 2021. The group has launched a giving campaign on NAMILowcountry.org and has recently started an endowment fund through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, which Eliasoph hopes will give further exposure to NAMI’s mission and efforts.

“We have been very fortunate to have some angel donations

come in anonymously, but we’re continuing to raise donations through our website and through outreach to supporters,” Eliasoph said. “So much of the fundraising comes from just being visible, being out there in the community, speaking to the Rotary and the Elks, and that’s definitely been curtailed due to the virus. But we keep spreading the word.

Once folks know who we are and that we’re here, they want to help.”

Eliasoph does all this while working part-time but was able to double her staff in January, bringing in a second part-time staffer, nonprofit veteran Hilary Bryan.

Bryan has been focused on increasing NAMI Lowcountry’s social media efforts and providing support for outreach and education programs. She organized a virtual event with USCB in November with noted youth advocate Eugene Kim to educate student athletes on recognizing and managing unique stressors that can lead to mental health issues.

“We want to be that beacon of hope that people can gravitate toward, to know they’re not alone,” Bryan said.

“A lot of what I do online is positive tips and reinforcement and just using another avenue to break down barriers—let them know our doors are open. The biggest hurdle is just getting people to feel in control, comfortable and safe enough to ask for help. This is not a handout; it’s a hand up.”

Eliasoph wants to emphasize that despite the Herculean challenges both pre- and post-COVID, NAMI Lowcountry will continue to fight for progress. She points to a pilot program with Coastal Empire Community Mental Health that brought a therapist to the Bluffton office on Mondays that ran for four months before COVID. And she is very hopeful in her discussions with new Secretary of State for Veterans Affairs Gen. Will Grimsley and his plans to overhaul the state’s woefully inadequate mental health support for veterans.

“There is hope and progress. We need donations; we constantly need more adults who have had success living with mental illness to teach our programs,” she said. “Most important, we just want folks to know we’re here. The more people we have openly talking about mental health and not afraid to talk, the better. When you have that courage to bring issues to the surface, that’s when you can really start to make strides.”  We’ve only scratched the surface here on the number of resources NAMI Lowcountry provides. NAMILowcountry. org provides detail on all services offered as well as a clearinghouse of connections to seek help on the local, regional and state level. For more information on programs or how to donate or volunteer, call (843) 636-3100 or email nami@ namilowcountry.org.

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Ben Hughey belts it out on stage at the Coligny Theatre

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Trevor Harden, Anna Doyle, Founder of Hilton Head Island Music and Arts Coalition and Greg Critchley Gary Pratt

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Chris Russell Dean St. Hillaire ISLAND MUSICIANS RALLY AROUND A MESSAGE OF HOPE, UNITY AND ABOVE ALL THINGS…

LOVE.

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CH2’s Barry Kaufman and Anna Doyle watch a performance onstage at the Coligny Theatre

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ound, in and of itself, is a miraculous thing. Taken at its simplest, most granular level, it is merely a vibration, a rippling of the air molecules all around us that generates a sympathetic vibration in everything it touches. Sound can shatter glass, or it can heal emotional wounds. It can move the soul, or it can start an avalanche. Sometimes, it does all those things at once.

The many sounds of Hilton Head Island’s

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musicians have long formed a symphony that could never be heard in one sitting. You have the acoustic rock that fuels summer patio sessions at area restaurants, the soulful R&B that keeps destination weddings hopping, the jazz that pours forth from many a sophisticated night out, and even the hip-hop that is quietly growing in stature in the island’s clubs. All these sounds have all been playing at once, but we’ve never truly heard them brought together. Until now.

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW Anna Goodner Doyle is not a musician. She’s a home care nurse and a mom. Which means that everything we’ve been experiencing from a safe distance during the COVID-19 crisis—the health risks it poses and the impact on children—has been her daily life. As such, the full weight of what is happening is something she carries a little heavier than most.

Yannie Reynecke, Scott Evans, Zachary Stevens, Todd Toho, Billy Martini, Sammy Passaloukas, John Wilkins and Craig Coyne

Stephanie Reed and daughter Hannah

Greg Critchley, Trevor Harden and Jordan Ross Dallas Ackerman

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Michael Carletta, Target the Band

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Julia Clark Meredith Inglesby and Greg Critchley

Brooke Colvin Horne Ritchie Drier

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Trevor Harden captures Rick Saba in action

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It’s something that had been weighing on her mind, not only the pandemic but the ensuing firestorm of negativity that has divided so many people. On a short drive home, the answer came to her in the form of a song. Through the honeyed voice of Jackie DeShannon, the simple message resonated: what the world needs now is love, sweet love.

“I’ve heard this song a million times, but four months ago it just got stuck in my head,” Doyle said.

It immediately brought to mind the “Broadway for Orlando” video, boasting some of the great white way’s finest singing that same tune to benefit victims of the

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Sterlin Colvin and Greg Critchley

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Orlando nightclub shooting. “I thought, wouldn’t it be amazing if we could do something like that.”

Step one was finding the cause. Hoping to put the emphasis on area youth who have been hardest hit by the pandemic, Doyle picked a few including Backpack Buddies, PTOs at area schools and The Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island’s distance learning program.

“This all started because of the situation we’re in, but over time I realized this is an ongoing issue,” she said. “So, I wanted to do the song to launch (the Hilton Head Island Music and Arts Coalition).”

Step two was finding the musicians, no small feat

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Shuvette Colvin

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in and of itself. While the island’s music scene is a patchwork of different musicians who hop in and out of one another’s bands, it’s not as cohesive as it seems from the outside.

“That first night, I called John Cranford, because I know him, and asked him what he thought,” Doyle said. “He was 100 percent in. He got me Martin (Lesch)’s number, then Martin gave me Greg (Critchley)’s number, and it just kept going from there.”

And going. And going. Numbers were still rolling in at this writing, but at press time, nearly 100 musicians stood to be represented on a special recording of “What the World Needs Now Is Love” that will debut in video form online around Christmas. And it reads like a who’s who of the island’s music scene, singing and playing for the first time as one, under the accomplished production of Greg Critchley.

Along with the legendary standbys like Gregg Russell and Shannon Tanner, you’ll find singer-songwriters like Campfire Tyler, Sara Burns and Taylor Kent, jazz and R&B greats like Bobby Ryder, Reggie Deaz and Sterlin and Shuvette Colvin. Yes, Rick Saba and Jevon Daly are in there with their signature showmanship. Even the preeminent Gullah rapper on the island, Q. Smalls puts in an appearance. We’re leaving out a few. Like, a lot. But the list could go on for days.

“These guys are so ingrained in the music community, and they have big giant hearts,” Doyle said. “They’re amazing. They’re inspiring all these people. They leave here so happy, feeling like they’re part of something.”

PART OF SOMETHING As rewarding as it is for Doyle to see her vision come together, it’s even more rewarding for the musicians to be a part of something.

Especially given how hard this year has been for them.

“I missed the entire spring and summer,” Gregg Russell said.

“I’ve been working since I was 10 years old… It’s been strange.”

When he got the note from Doyle, it was a no-brainer. “I was honored to get a note from her, and happy to do it.”

The message has proven especially resonant for the musicians involved. The honeyed voice of Fred Capers, famed for La Bodega, stands out on the track. “I like the song,” he said. “It’s very apropos these days. So, I’m all in, spreading the love and making sure everything is … copacetic.”

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Trevor Hall Stu Enscoe, Jessica Sheridan, Billy Howe, Tommy Ballard, Fred warren, Phillip Mullins, Kim Crouch and Lauren Vaccaro

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David Carroll Brad Swanson “The concept of the whole song, especially what’s going on today, my whole push is about coming together, and this song is the epitome of coming together, bringing different musicians together,” Quintin Smalls said. “Why wouldn’t I add my rap to it? Why wouldn’t I come together with different musicians and make something bigger than music? That’s what the world needs, right?”

As you would imagine with a group this size, the recording session was a marathon. Some of it was

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Phil Mullins

Derrick Ludaway

recorded at Critchley’s home studio, some of it on stage at Coligny Theater, and some of it at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

Making it all sound good falls on Critchley’s shoulders, but making the whole video look good is the responsibility of Trevor Harden at Harden Creative.

“It’s going to be a lot of hours of footage to go through,” Harden said with a laugh. “Thankfully it’s not totally stabbing in the dark because we can come up with a map based on the recording.” Even early in the process, Critchley’s map of the song was an eye-numbing kaleidoscope of different parts all interwoven together in different hues on his laptop. With each person, he adds another layer to the sound and another voice to the chorus.

“When this is all done, it goes down line by line, and there are places where we’ve, in my opinion, deftly put people together,” he said. Pairings include Russell and Tanner for their unchallenged roles as the island’s greatest kids entertainers, plus Saba and Daly for their theatricality. But it’s in the solo sections that you truly hear all these voice coming together as one, whether it’s a vocal solo, Smalls’ rap breakdowns, or the many vocal improvisations.

There’s even a family connection across the track. Stee Colvin performed all the voices on the demo track and was eventually joined by his parents Sterlin and Shuvette later on. “He’s been singing since he started talking,” Shuvette said.

Despite the craziness of lining up so many different musicians’ schedules, the whole thing has come together in the spirit of love. “I have not had a moment where I’ve needed to panic. That’s the crazy part about it,” Doyle said. “Every piece of this is just falling into place.”

But that’s the magic of good intentions.

Like sound, it tends to spread out and seek sympathetic vibrations. Doyle found those good vibrations in the local music scene, and together they are making something amazing on a foundation of love.

To see the final product, follow the Hilton Head Island Music and Arts Coalition on Facebook.

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AFTON RYAN, OWNER OF EGAN + ELLA BOUTIQUE IN BLUFFTON. ARTICLE DESIGNED BY CATHERINE COLBY

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assion peeks out from behind a hot pink facemask as Afton Ryan calls a cheerful, “welcome in” to the customer who has just stepped into her charming Bluffton boutique, Egan + Ella. In spite of a pandemic that shut her doors just three months after opening, Ryan’s eyes gleam with a contagious energy you’ll want to catch.

Her bright spirit is further evidenced in the surrounding merchandise: fun graphic tees, dresses, denim, hats, jewelry, and more! From casual daywear to date-night attire, the clothing speaks a language that every woman understands.

“I definitely feel like clothes have the ability to transform you mentally and emotionally,” Ryan said. “You walk out a totally different person than when you walked in. You’re given the tools to express yourself and to feel confident and happy.”

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THE STORE’S NAME WAS DERIVED FROM RYAN’S DAUGHTER’S AND SISTER’S MIDDLE NAMES RESPECTIVELY. EGAN + ELLA HAS BEEN OPEN JUST OVER A YEAR, AND WHAT A YEAR IT HAS BEEN!

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[STARTING A NEW BUSINESS] WAS VERY SCARY BECAUSE I HAD JUST MOVED HERE. I HAD NO CONTACTS; I HAD NO FRIENDS HERE. SO, I HAD TO START FROM SQUARE ONE AS FAR AS BRANDING NOT ONLY MY BUSINESS BUT MYSELF. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE PANDEMIC, WHICH HAPPENED THREE MONTHS AFTER I OPENED MY DOORS … THERE WERE SO MANY UNKNOWNS.

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Ryan sets a perfect example, wearing a bright pink sweater “because I felt like I needed to cheer up today,” she said. “Here, it’s all about feeling good.”

Originally from Vermont, leaving for college at age 18, Ryan attended the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, earning her undergraduate degree in sports management. She met her husband Joey, a Hilton Head Island native (who is now a Realtor for Weichert Realtors-Coastal Properties), at a party while he was attending Flagler College in St. Augustine.

The couple had married and started their family when Ryan went on to earn a master’s degree in business management.

Working part-time, with an infant and with another child on the way, she still managed to finish school in a year. “I can multi-task!” she said with a hint of pride.

Two years ago, the young parents decided to move back to the Lowcountry to set down roots and raise their children (currently ages four and two), stoking Ryan’s entrepreneurial fire. “I felt like I needed to find a way to insert myself into the community—to feel like I am productive both intellectually and socially. Opening this business checked all my boxes of what I wanted to accomplish,” she said.

Like many little girls who grew up playing dress-up, Ryan loved fashion from an early age. But she never thought she would own a boutique until a couple of years ago when her calling became clear. “I’ve always had an eye for merchandising and making outfits, whether it’s sports apparel or something you might wear on a date. That was kind of a natural talent for me,” she said. “I went to school for something completely different.

But in the back of my head, I’ve always wanted to be a business owner—an entrepreneur.”

The store’s name was derived from Ryan’s daughter’s and sister’s middle names respectively. Egan + Ella has been open just over a year, and what a year it has been! “[Starting a new business] was very scary because I had just moved here. I had no contacts; I had no friends here. So, I had to start from square one as far as branding not only my business but myself. And then, of course, the pandemic, which happened three months after I opened my doors … there were so many unknowns. I still had start-up costs that I hadn’t finished paying off,” Ryan said.

She closed the store just as her website launched and, for the month of April, was able to supplement her rent through online sales. “It was so awesome and so touching. The Bluffton/ Hilton Head community really showed up for me,” she said. “I’m so thankful to be a part of this community.”

Now that her retail store is back up and running, Ryan reflects further on the lessons and blessings of her early struggle.

“Opening a new business during COVID really forced me to get creative when it came to marketing and operation management.

Since June, I’ve been doing a pop-up shop bi-monthly at the Lowcountry Made Artisan Market. Along with approximately 40 other local businesses, I am able to showcase products in an outdoor setting, which allows customers to shop small safely!

Being able to reach so many new customers in our community has been massively beneficial to my business.

I’ve also added a feature to my website where customers can purchase an item online and pick it up in the store on the date and at the time of their choice. Not only is this perfect for shopping safely, but it’s great for the busy woman who has limited time to shop. Lastly, I’ve been hosting a lot of fun giveaways on Instagram for our followers. It’s a great way to boost engagement on social media and reach prospective customers. Being able to reward C2 MAGAZINE

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loyal customers while growing my network has been critical during these times.”

Ryan describes the overall style of her merchandise as Bohemian, for that free-spirited girl. “I really wanted something that reflected that youthful, artistic vibe of Bluffton,” she said. “We do a lot of trendy stuff—like bellbottoms (they’re back!), and lots of denim. I love Western-inspired fringe; I love animal print. Our hats are our bread and butter.

“I like to have things that you can wear fairly casual but that you can dress up,” she continued. “I get new stock every week. I like to keep things fresh.”

Ryan also incorporates regionally made products and items from other small businesses. “We’re all about girl power here.

Any time a female artist or local jewelry maker reaches out to me, I love to support them,” she said, pointing out bracelets from Coast and Cove, made in Jacksonville; necklaces from Market and King, made in Charleston; clay earrings from artists she met on Instagram; and her sister’s handmade copper earrings.

What you won’t get at Egan + Ella is sticker shock. “Ninety percent of our merchandise is $60 or under,” Ryan said, “I pride myself on being a wallet-friendly store where you can get really great pieces but not feel like you have to spend your whole paycheck.”

Most important to her, she said, is empowering other women, whether through an outfit or by her business example. “I love the fact that I can show other young moms like me that you absolutely can be an entrepreneur,” she said.

While Egan + Ella is taking every precaution to provide a safe shopping environment, you are bound to catch an incurable case of confidence there. Stop in for something new to wear. Update your image, recharge your outlook, and leave with a renewed sense of personal power.  Egan + Ella is located in the Belfair Towne Village (Kroger Plaza) in Bluffton, Suite number 35 (next to Amigos). Store hours are Monday-Friday, Noon-6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. -6 p.m.

Closed on Sunday. For more information or to shop online, visit eganandella.com.

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COASTAL BLISS Dolce Vita Fuzzy Slippers $60 Available in multiple colors

Holiday GIFT GUIDE for her

*prices change & human error occurs, please see boutique listed for final pricing on all items.

BLUFFTON PHARMACY Epione customized skin care cream. Comes in a 3-month supply container for $119.99

FORSYTHE JEWELERS David Yurman’s Lexington Collection - Sterling silver 9.8 mm chain link necklace, 18”. D=0.3436 CTW., $1,750.

OPTICAL SOLUTIONS Matsuda Cateye Frames - Call store for pricing and details

EGAN + ELLA Copper Earrings $48

WESTIN RESORT/HEAVENLY SPA Eminence Skin Care Starter Set, four different sets available Bright, Calm, Clear and Firm. Each kit $64

v ROBERT TRENT JONES PRO SHOP Daphne’s Headcovers $34

v CLUB CAR OF HILTON HEAD ONWARD Steering Wheel Covers $33 Available in black, red, blue and silver C2 MAGAZINE

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Holiday GIFT GUIDE

MERLE NORMAN Merle Norman Eye & Cheek Make-up Vanity $60 Merle Norman Creamy Matte Lip Crayon (Various Colors) $20

ISLAND WINERY Winter’s Blend & Cranberry Sunset Assorted Wine Section Available $18.00 24.50

for her ROBERT TRENT JONES PRO SHOP DP Soaker Hat $29

NAMASTE SPA KITSCH Rose Quartz Facial Roller $25 Candlefish Candle No. 78 $24

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PURE SALT STUDIOS PALMETTOES HOBO Valley Leather Handbag in Brick $328 Floral Scarf- $75

Relax & Recharge At Home gift box: includes Eye Therapy Mask, Neck Therapy Wrap, Herbal Bath Tea, Calming Blend Essential Oil with Crystal Roller, Rose Quartz Face Roller, Teapressa Luxe Sugar Cube Cocktail Kit & Wooden Keepsake Box- $158

Holiday GIFT GUIDE for her EGAN + ELLA Hat $36

SOUTHERN TIDE Braided Clutch $99.50 Gameday Gingham Shirt $115 Sweater Fleece Vest $99.50

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QUINN’S 14kt White Gold Bangle Bracelet by Sheila Designs. 2.40 ctw Round diamonds. $11,640.00

Holiday GIFT GUIDE for her ROBERT TRENT JONES PRO SHOP FootJoy Sport Retro Golf Shoes- $99

SOUTHERN TIDE Hoodie Tee $48

HERITAGE FINE JEWELERS Mix-and-match stackable rings are trending in fashion. In many different colors and patterns, even complementing bridal rings as well.

FACES Day Spa JUSTRELAX! SPA ROBE $49

COPPER PENNY Dolce Vita Shana Boot $130

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COPPER PENNY Brodie Fine Cashmere Sweater $334

ROBERT TRENT JONES PRO SHOP Callaway Lime Green Golf Balls $7

COPPER PENNY Layered Star Necklace $48

FORSYTHE JEWELERS Roberto Coin’s Roman Barocco Collection - 18K Yellow Gold 3-row Diamond Bangle Bracelet, D = 1.10 CTW., $7,700.

WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED On-of-a-kind Handmade in America Birdhouses. $47.99 – $89.99

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EYELAND OPTIQUE Tom Davies Eyeglasses $480

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A R TI C LE

F

BY

D ENISE

riends, we’ve all had a rough year, and we most definitely should commemorate the end of 2020 by exchanging tokens of affection and friendship. After all, nothing says “happy holidays, and congrats on surviving this insane year” like swapping thoughtful gifts over food and cocktails. This year, however, there are guidelines, and there are certain gifts that should be left off of Santa’s list. Not sure what you’re getting people yet?

Allow us to narrow it down by process of elimination. Here are 10 gifts that 2020 has deemed either redundant, inappropriate or just plumb useless. You’re welcome in advance for saving you money. #1 Lipsticks and/or lip gloss Ladies, we get it: buying a cute new shade for your best friend or a fun fruity gloss for your young relative is usually a foolproof way to score points during the holidays.

But it’s 2020, and everyone is covering up their face from the bridge of their nose downward. It’s not a great investment, and it’s probably just gonna get smeared on the backside of a mask once someone shoots your 18-year-old niece a dirty look at the market. #2 Travel pillows Remember the days when you would jump on a commercial jet and go someplace sexy with your latest significant other for New Year’s Eve—and on the super-long flights, you’d recline on a cushy travel pillow while a B-rated movie droned on in the background, lulling you to dreams of white sand and clear water? Yeah, no one is doing that. #3 Booze There are two camps of people this holiday season: those who are drinking so much—and have been since March—that they have absolutely no use for or place to put yet another bottle of wine or tequila; and those who have already sworn off all alcohol for the sake of their health or their newfound coping mechanism of religious sobriety. #4 Ridiculous indoor and/or outdoor-themed games We’ve all exhausted our surfboards, bicycles and backyard cornhole setups this year. But guess what? We’ve also exhausted our hand-held video games, 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles and Monopoly Collector’s Editions. If something screams “sunny day” or “rainy day,” just avoid it. Trust me, everyone’s sick of it. #5 Party foods Has anyone actually ever eaten one of those weird seasonal sausages, phony cheeses that somehow don’t need refrigeration or packets of crackers that could honestly still be around after the Apocalypse? An old roommate of mine, whose parents would give him a gift basket of foods like these annually, would stash them away after the gift-opening hullabaloo, only to unearth them when company came by and snacks somehow needed to materialize. But your social circle has shrunk, and no one is coming over—at least no one you’d serve such sketchy food to.

K .

JAMES

REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN YOU WOULD JUMP ON A COMMERCIAL JET AND GO SOMEPLACE SEXY WITH YOUR LATEST SIGNIFICANT OTHER FOR NEW YEAR’S EVE—AND ON THE SUPER-LONG FLIGHTS, YOU’D RECLINE ON A CUSHY TRAVEL PILLOW WHILE A B-RATED MOVIE DRONED ON IN THE BACKGROUND, LULLING YOU TO DREAMS OF WHITE SAND AND CLEAR WATER? YEAH, NO ONE IS DOING THAT.

#6 Office supplies Fun office supplies used to be one of my favorite gift ideas; I grew up during the Lisa Frank era, after all. Pink staplers? Chic notebooks? Cute sayings on pencils? Yes please. But in this work-from-home and teachfrom-home era, I’m saying no to all of it. At best, everyone on my holiday list has already bought scores of this stuff to coax themselves into working at the dining room table. At worst, their spoiled kids will steal it, or the family dog will eat it. #7 Tickets to jam bands and metal We’re slowly getting back to some representation of normal life, and sometimes that means going to see a polite jazz trio while socially distancing from the well-dressed couple at the next table. But mingling with dirty hippie types who don’t respect your space while they spin joyful circles to a Grateful Dead tune? Or braving aggressive metalheads who want to mosh, viruses be damned? Hard no to both. #8 Boss-lady heels Zoom meetings are wonderful because, while your hair shouldn’t look like you just woke up, your bottom half might very well be clad in fuzzy pajama pants and bunny slippers, even at 3 p.m. In short, the idea of giving your sister or mother the latest pair of boardroom-ready stilettos is probably best put on hold. And the same goes for the men on your list; they’re not wearing those shiny oxfords to mow the lawn, are they? #9 Hugs and kisses Scrawling “IOU one big holiday hug and one big kiss” and signing your five-year-old child’s name to the gift tag might seem like a charming way to get out of actually buying something for your in-laws. But this year, it’s just going to make everyone feel sad. And is that really what you want—morose grandparents sitting around a twinkling tree, wishing you weren’t so cheap and shortsighted? I didn’t think so. #10 A cruise Do you want your loved ones to die? Because that’s actually what you’re telling them. 

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he year was 2010, and lifelong mid-westerner John Cranford was about to mark the oneyear anniversary of his relocation to the Lowcountry. When he arrived on Hilton Head Island, he was fresh off several years working in kitchens, chefing hard and sharpening his people skills. The only person he knew here was his mom, but he quickly found solace in now-defunct The Brick Oven Cafe. There, Cranford befriended several people who ended up being integral to his eventual career shift into music.

Born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the self-proclaimed Music Capital of the North, Cranford grew up immersed not only in music, but in the celebration of original music. Original music is a part of his spirit. As early as 12 years old, alongside his friends, he played the middle school dances, moshed in pits of rock shows at the local university, and recorded jam seshes on cassette tapes that still reside in his home studio to this day.

Throughout adolescence and adulthood, Cranford has continued to write and record his own songs.

Back to 2010. The Brick Oven Wednesday night jams had become a safe place for Cranford to share his original music. Jesse Watkins hosted the weekly open mic, and through regular appearances

by John Ruxton, Angie Aparo, Martin Lesch, Jos Vicars, Mike Korbar, John Wilkins and the likes, it transformed into a space to share new material.

Alongside the performers, Brick Oven bartender Phil Mullins worked hard at promoting this eclectic group of talent. Before long, the word got out: it was cool to write and perform original tunes.

Cranford’s plan to culminate the year with an entire evening dedicated to celebrating original music took shape, beginning an unbeknownst at the time annual tradition. The first Swampfire show was presented at The Brick Oven on October 3, 2010. With the purchase of a $5 ticket, attendees

ARTICLE BY LINDSAY CRANFORD DESIGN BY JEFF CLINE

To celebrate 10 years, Cranford’s doing it up big at Coligny Theatre, on December 5, with Swampfire 10.

saw four all-original acts and got a homemade compilation CD of original songs. There was no big stage or fancy sound rig, just a deep-seated love for artists putting their creations into the world.

Over time, as Cranford’s relationships and resources within the community grew, so did his original music celebrations.

Among hundreds of other events, there was ArrowFest music festival at Remy’s on Arrow Road in 2011; packed out, multi-act annual Swampfire Showdown’s at The Smokehouse; Cranford Hollow’s St. Telluride album release show to a crowd of 1,000 on the beach at the Tiki Hut in 2015. And at all of these events, attendees continued to receive physical copies of CDs with original songs from Lowcountry bands and songwriters.

Swampfire has hosted open mic nights and dozens of songwriter showcases. Since partnering with Coligny Theatre in 2018, Cranford has booked dozens of original local and regional acts at the venue and, usually single-handedly, runs high quality sound and light production at every show.

The last decade of Cranford’s work boils down to celebrating original music—those who play it and those who support it.

Swampfire Records is intended to be a collective of musicians, venue operators and music fans working together to make the live music experience on Hilton Head the best it can be. A wealth of musical talent exists on this island, and the music scene is deserving of more appreciation and promotion as a community amenity for locals and visitors alike. For Cranford, it’s always been about getting the music into as many ears, hands and hearts as possible.

To celebrate 10 years, Cranford’s doing it up big at his home field, Coligny Theatre, on December 5, with Swampfire 10: a onestage, indoor, Hilton Head music festival featuring a stacked lineup of local heavy hitters. Key supporters will be honored, toasts will be made, the bands will rock out, and a sold-out room of music lovers will be dancing in the aisles. In what has otherwise been a year of uncertainty, as Swampfire closes out one decade and begins another, one thing is certain: Swampfire 10 will be one hell of a celebration.

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Getting to Know

YOUR CBD STORE® All natural, award-winning, and in the neighborhood ARTICLE BY AMY BARTLETT

he best attention-getting introduction to Your CBD Store® is the same one that opens their website cbdrx4u.com: It’s “the largest hemp retailer in the United States and the exclusive home of award-winning, hemp-derived SunMed and Sunflora Hemp Oil products. With more than 500 stores in 41 states, we’re bringing the highest quality hemp experience to customers nationwide.” And now they’re bringing it to you with new locations in Beaufort and on Hilton Head Island.

HOW DID WE GET HERE? Jessica Rollins, owner and proprietor of both locations, started on the island in 2018, and opened Beaufort in 2019, moving to Bay street this month. For Rollins, it’s not just professional. Her commitment to helping others find relief started with her own personal story.

“I was dealing with a lot of pain from scoliosis, inflammation, tried all the doctors, different muscle relaxers. I just had a bad back,” she said.

When she discovered CBD worked for her (mostly), it was still several years before she’d truly find a solution. “I found brands that made a difference in one way or another but couldn’t find one that helped fully; no one product dealt with 100 percent of what I was trying to address.”

Until she found SunMed. Emphasizing amazement at the difference, she connected with store owners who loved her story and wanted others to hear it. Long story short, she started working there, moved into management, and when it was time for her to branch out, she decided to bring her store to Hilton Head Island first “because of the unique needs of clientele here who can benefit the most,” she said. The island’s heavily retirement-populated community is known for being incredibly active—biking, boating, golfing, pickle balling…. It was the perfect place to tell the CBD story and be the answer to those who hadn’t found it yet.

WHAT IT IS AND ISN’T Contrary to popular belief, CBD is not marijuana. It’s a hemp derivative, which is a closely related cousin, but no more than apes share a distant DNA relationship to humans. To be direct, CBD doesn’t get you high (sorry).

That most frequently asked question is addressed on their site right out of the gate: “Hemp has a unique cannabinoid profile with less than 0.3% of THC-delta-9. Our products come in various forms and levels to

T

meet each customer’s needs and preferences.” Likened to herbal supplements, what it can (and cannot do) might surprise you.

Many hemp oil products work as “adaptogens,” able to change how it works based on what your body needs in that moment. “We have receptors all over our body from our brain to our toes. If you have major migraine and also sprain your wrist and you take ibuprofen, it’s going to split, not just help one area. It’s going to work with different receptors as needed to address different issues, helping one person with pain, another with anxiety, or the same person with both,” Rollins explained. “All hemp is not created equal. It’s important to find a trusted brand with lab reports to ensure the quality of the product, which SunMed has.”

It’s easy to explore, especially with a brand committed to providing options and education at every location. “Stop by our store and talk with our educated staff about what products may be needed for your specific situation,” Rollins said. “We will sit down with you and show you what might be best for your individual needs. It’s not just a store; it’s where you can sit down with us and tell us your story!”

What got Jessica Rollins into this business is the benefit you’ll find when you come into the store: “I want people to know how it works, and that it helps.” It doesn’t hurt to ask. It might hurt not to.

Your CBD Store® is located at 1012 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head Island and 903 Bay Street in Beaufort. For more information, visit cbdrx4u.com or call (843) 802-4422 or (843) 379-4545.

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local distributor before Vura’s selected labels would make their way to favorite spots throughout the Lowcountry. Still carried at Old Oyster Factory, they’ve expanded to Taste of Europe (the island’s new Hungarian restaurant), Red Fish, and stores on the south end, Piggly Wiggly, Shelter Cove, Daddy-O’s in Sun City Hilton Head, and RT’s in Palmetto Bluff, just to name a few well-trafficked haunts.

“WINE OF KINGS, KING OF WINES” HUNGAR I A N W I N E A N D SP I R I T, L LC I S B R I N G I N G “ W INE S YOU SHOUL D KN OW ” TO H I LTO N H E A D.

Article by Amy Bartlett

I

f you haven’t heard the growth and intrigue brewing around Hungarian wines, you haven’t been talking to food and wine enthusiasts. Enter Ferenc Vura, owner, operator, and importer of Hungarian Wine and Spirit, LLC. You won’t have an opportunity to ask for his top recommendation, as Vura is as passionate about “cute” canned wine as he is about Tokaj as pálinka. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. To understand what’s happening with Hungarian wines on Hilton Head Island today, we have to go back a few hundred years.

Of the origin of wine making, most think France or Italy or going all the way back, ancient Greece. Even if you fold in a full history, China, Spain, California, Washington, countless regions rate heavily, but Hungary doesn’t commonly factor into the conversation. But with nearly 100 varietals and 22 wine-growing regions, it’s a winemaking empire said to predate Julius Caesar. Little wonder King Louis XIV of France called Hungarian

Tokaj the “Wine of Kings, King of Wines.”

Hailing from Hungary, Vura knows this history like a native, and his interest was piqued when, in a conversation about wines, a connection asked him, “How are the Hungarian Wines doing?” This is where the film montage would show Vura touring the wineries of the old country, conversations, handshakes, and the budding inspiration for a future import LLC with the first unofficial shipment being only what one can legally bring back in personal luggage on an international flight.

Those bottles sparked other conversations and explorations, for instance around the Furmint Hungarian grape varietal. One of these conversations led to Vura and friends being offered 50 cases of Hungarian wine at no charge (shipping only) to “see how it would do” on the island. Trying out that inventory on the Old Oyster Factory, they sold all 50 cases in three weeks.

It took nearly another year to get licensed to import and to partner with a

DRINKABLE BLACK GOLD If your mouth isn’t watering yet, buckle up buttercup, because it’s about to get irresistible with what some producers have called, “the first drinkable black gold.”

Incoming in December is a poppyseed liqueur that’s a merger of poppy and palinka, Hungary’s traditionally known fruit brandy. Not a moment too soon.

Hungary has long been one of the top exporters of poppy seed, producing nearly 20 million pounds each year of a seed that’s roughly the size of chia.

Throughout the region of surrounding countries, poppy is a popular ingredient in traditional cooking, especially during the holidays—an ideal time to score a bottle or two minimum, because if you buy it for seasonal gift-giving, you’re going to want to hold one back.

Thinking beyond the holidays, look for Hungarian Wine and Spirit, LLC throughout the community, educating and entertaining as they introduce other enchanting imports at events and tastings on and off the island. Wine dinners are scheduled for the new year at Old Oyster Factory and Red Fish, and you can watch the Hungarian Wine Facebook page @ HWaSLLC for other events and pop-ups, where you can learn more about unsung Hungary. Its tune is quickly changing as more afficionados, enthusiasts, sommeliers, and home cellar stockers discover “The Wine of Kings” and all its full-bodied countrymen. Egészségedre!

(Google it.)

Follow Hungarian Wine and Spirit, LLC at facebook.com/HWaSLLC and enjoy at featured locations.

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New Face The

of Kitchens

Dreary Before

N-Hance offers two cost-saving solutions for putting a fresh face on your cabinets.

A

ll year, you tried your best not to look at your dreary, dated kitchen cabinets.

With lockdown, it got even harder. Suddenly you found yourself housebound, the entire world now shrunk to the space within your four walls.

And you got to work.

You patched that crack in the drywall that had always been bugging you. You redid your landscaping where centipede grass had gradually taken over the beds. You bought new linens to freshen up your bedroom. You painted that guest room, removing that godawful tangerine tone left by the previous owner.

And you did all of this while trying not to look at the one biggest item on your honey-do list, the one task that would do the most to liven up your space. A full kitchen remodel just wasn’t in the cards, not this year. Not with, as we keep being told, so much uncertainty.

Until one day that was all that was left on your list. You’d done everything you could to make your home more beautiful and livable, and the only thing remaining where those tired, drab, peeling cabinets. And on that day, you were given some good news.

You didn’t need to remodel your entire kitchen to banish those ugly cabinets from your sight.

Happily Ever After

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTOGRAPY BY M.KAT | DESIGN BY JEFF CLINE

“You can give an older set of cabinets a like-new factory finish with a fresh coat of paint,” said Ambler.

“It’s the most cost-effective way to transform your kitchen, and it can be done in a matter of days.”

Andrew Ambler

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You just needed to call N-Hance. And from the sounds of it, you were not alone.

“We’ve actually been really busy. We’ve had to expand our operation a little bit to meet the demand,” said Andrew Ambler, owner of N-Hance. “Generally speaking, people are staying at home. They didn’t spend money on vacations, so they’re spending it to update their homes.”

And they’re not spending much. The beauty of what N-Hance offers is that it lets you completely transform your kitchen without having to deal with the hassle and expense of a full kitchen remodel. The simplest and easiest method is restoration, which takes the dated stain finish of your cabinets and renders them like new with a fresh coat of paint.

“You can give an older set of cabinets a like-new factory finish with a fresh coat of paint,” said Ambler. “It’s the most cost-effective way to transform your kitchen, and it can be done in a matter of days.”

But if you really want to give your kitchen a fresh new look (or if you hate your existing cabinet doors no matter what their finish looks like) N-Hance also offers a full refacing. While still far less expensive and time consuming than a full kitchen remodel, refacing entails completely replacing your cabinet doors. This not only lets you full customize the style and color of your cabinets, it gives the entire space the feeling of a fully updated custom kitchen.

“Refacing would be a much more complete updated, particularly if you have older door styles,” said Ambler. “If you’ve been doing a lot of updating throughout the home

“Generally speaking, people are staying at home. They didn’t spend money on vacations, so they’re spending it to update their homes.” this year, refacing really lets you tie your home’s design together.”

And N-Hance has been doing more and more of these simple and painless kitchen transformations, particularly this year. One national trend that was already underway before the pandemic, but picked up steam as the year rolled on, was the number of northeastern transplants making their way to our island.

“The people moving down are not just your typical retirees. The recent trend is you have more people moving here who have the ability to work from home and have income because they’re still working,” said Ambler. “And they’re not used to moving into a house with 1980s or 1990s cabinets.”

So whether you’ve been a Lowcountry resident and are sick of looking at your dated cabinets, or you’re one of our many newcomers who wants to transform your new space, you don’t have to put yourself through a full kitchen remodel. Just call N-Hance and find out how the simplest solution could have the biggest impact.

“You’re spending a lot of time at home,” said Ambler.

“So you really want to make it your own private oasis.”

Call N-Hance at (843) 715-8420 or visit nhance.com.

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Flipping

Script THE

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN DESIGN BY JEFF CLINE

Before

After Proving that no house is too dated to be saved, this Long Cove Club refresh

by RCH Construction is a masterpiece of renovation.

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B

Downstairs overview from gallery

Updated wetbar and stairs to gallery

Parlor for casual fun and conversation

T

oby Chod is no stranger to flipping a house. In her native St. Louis, she’s turned around her share of homes, updating and tweaking them to bring them in line with modern sensibilities. With this house in Long Cove Club, however, the situation was slightly different. She wasn’t just flipping this for a profit. This is to be her forever home.

“It had great bones; it just needed updating,” she said. “I love the whole house.

It’s the perfect size, and when the kids come, we all pile in.”

It may have had great bones, but Chod may be understating how much the home needed updating. On the simple side of things were color choices—much of the main

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B living spaces were bathed in a shade of salmon that borders on Pepto Bismol. That salmon crept into the kitchen, contrasting if not outright clashing with the deep earthen countertops.

“It was a dark house when we bought it,” Chod said. The kitchen in particular desperately needed to be pulled out of the late 1990s. “It had two heavy brown islands and one small brown island with an orange stone top … I wanted to lighten it up.”

Working with interior designer Heather Cherichella, Chod selected a more neutral palette, which not only brightens and opens up the space, it makes it easier to display art. But the biggest issue was not color, but space. Hugh Hobus of RCH Construction was brought in to

Before “Like anything else, the kitchen and master bath are what sells a home. She did a great job designing that,” Hobus said. “It really put the wow factor back into that house.” help update the home’s actual bones.

Priority one was to get rid of the great room’s second fireplace. You read that correctly.

“Everybody has different tastes, but it seems like right now people want open space,” Hobus said, diplomatically, of the need for two fireplaces 22 feet apart. “Getting rid of that was easily the most dramatic change. That opened up that whole space.”

Removing the second fireplace opened the great room to the kitchen, which benefited greatly from Hobus’ expertise, Cherichella’s eye, and Chod’s willingness to tear down a few things.

The dual islands came out, replaced by a solid slab of stone that incorporates both a prep sink and a five-burner chef’s range into the center of the space. Cabinets along one wall that had boxed in a window were removed, replaced with a tile backsplash that stretched to the ceiling

A The dual islands came out, replaced by a solid slab of stone that incorporates both a prep sink and a fiveburner chef’s range.

B

re o f e B

Master bathroom

Before

Master bedroom

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surrounded by floating shelving. The result is a remarkably airier space.

“It used to be people didn’t want to see the kitchen, but now kitchens have become a focal point of the living space,” Hobus said. “With people entertaining, they want the kitchen to be a part of it.”

The kitchen transformation wasn’t entirely a matter of subtraction. “I didn’t have a pantry; I had an alcove in the hallway, and they built me a whole closet with shelves,” Chod said. “Their carpenter is the best. He built the whole pantry.”

Another spot in the house that saw a dramatic transformation was the master bath. How dated was the master bath before the renovations, you ask? We have four words for you: Curved. Glass. Block.

Shower. That and the Spanish tiles on the old tub’s deck lent the space an almost 1970s vibe, which was happily jettisoned.

In stark contrast, the master bathroom post-renovation is delightfully open and airy, with the shower now encased in glass (boasting a state-of-the-art misting shower, by the way) and the tub now a free-standing soaker amid updated stone tile floors.

“It came out much better,” Chod said, somewhat understating the gorgeous transformation this space enjoyed.

A

B

Guest bathroom

Before

Guest bedroom

“Like anything else, the kitchen and master bath are what sells a home. She did a great job designing that,” Hobus said. “It really put the wow factor back into that house.”

Of course, if this were a normal flip, Chod may have stopped there. But this was to be her forever home, a place where her four kids and five grandkids could come together as a family. Reimagining this home was about far more important things than profit.

“I didn’t want any fancy rooms,” Chod said. “With five grandkids, if you’re worried about the house, you’re not having fun.”

Designing the home for family fun meant doing away with the stuffiness of the old interior, but it also meant creating a place for everyone to bunk up for the night. Taking that quite literally, Chod had the carriage house over the garage converted into a bunkhouse, with queen-over-king beds that could accommodate adults if need be.

And when the whole family gets together, they will get to enjoy a home thathas undergone a truly startling transformation.

“Working with Hugh was very rewarding,” Chod said. “He was easy to communicate with, and he really accomplished the vision I was looking towards.”

Bunkhouse beds featuring king mattress below and queen mattress above.

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Ü BOB ENGLER IN BLUFFTON’S BUDGET BLINDS SHOWROOM.

budget blinds HILTON HEAD & BEAUFORT

WHERE WINDOW SOLUTIONS ARE MADE SIMPLE ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY M. KAT

B

linds, shades, shutters—what is the difference? And is neutral the way to go, or is this a good time to spring for pattern and color? What about installation, embellishments? And before we go any further, how much will I have to spend?

If these are questions that you are currently asking yourself, then put your mind at ease.

Budget Blinds of Hilton Head and Beaufort has the answers you are seeking. Owner Bob Engler and the entire Budget Blinds staff, from consultants to installers, are the professionals you can rely on when it is time to cover your windows.

“We’re local, and we’re here for you,” Engler said. “We care about the same things you do, and unlike many similar providers, we aren’t going anywhere. We’ve been in business for 15 years, and most of our employees are long-term, which means that not only do they like what they do, but they are good at it.”

Budget Blinds is known for their professional staff, whose knowledge and expertise are unmatched in the industry.

Their qualified, certified employees can offer suggestions on exactly what to do and what not to do based on your particular desires and needs, both before and after the sale.

“We don’t just sell you a blind and then move on,” Engler said. “We provide solutions that fit your needs and preferences, and we are there for you afterwards if you have warranty issues or need service. Reliability and consumer

confidence are cornerstones of our business.”

Convenience is a big part of the success at Budget Blinds.

With two showrooms, one in Bluffton and one in Beaufort, their service areas include Hilton Head, Bluffton, Hardeeville, Ridgeland, Okatie, and Beaufort. However, they bring the showroom to you with free in-home design consultation.

Whether your requirements include uniquely shaped windows, or you are shopping for energy efficient treatments, Budget Blinds does it all, and with style and service for any budget.

Budget Blinds is also backed by the largest provider of custom window coverings in North America, which means they enjoy greater buying power, a large assortment of products at superb prices, and the best warranty in the business. And the

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sooner you bring them in on the process the better Engler urges.

“Typically, people wait until end of the home build or design process to think about window coverings,” he said, “Most folks these days prefer automated shades, so if they bring us into the process early, we can talk about hard-wiring instead of batterypowered blinds and shades. “There is also an option available now for rechargeable batteries,” Engler explained. “This is another option over changing batteries.”

Hard-wired is considered a better long-term choice since you will not have to continually change the batteries, which usually only last a couple of years. Plus, for high windows, changing the batteries becomes very inconvenient. As well, battery tubes can be visible, which can detract from the aesthetic beauty of your home. However, if people consult with us early enough, then we can help them plan which are better for their particular windows and budget.”

The automation of your window coverings will allow you the freedom to set your shades to go up or down to filter the light, reduce the glare, or provide necessary privacy. Your furniture and floor will be protected from harmful UV rays and, without unsightly and sometimes messy strings and cords to worry about, children and pets are safer.

Another popular product is plantation shutters, which complement the style of many of the Lowcountry homes and offer great insulation. These, too, do not have strings or cords, so they offer a clean aesthetic with the added safety features.

“Most people enjoy the fact that plantation shutters allow light and privacy simultaneously,” Engler said. “For example, a shutter with 20 louvers will have 10 on the top and 10 on the bottom, so depending on the effect you desire, you can close the bottom and leave the top open or vice versa.”

If a smart home is your style, then you can take the next step in automation with Budget Blinds, who has partnered with Lutron, the worldwide leader in smart home technology, to make

automation easy and affordable. Wholehome automation for your Budget Blinds window treatments can begin with just a single window or room. Smart shades, smart lights, and smart thermostats integrate with your choice of smart home devices, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, Nest, Sonos, and more.

And if that were not enough, Budget Blinds’ commitment to beautifying interiors extends well beyond these products to deliver style and variety for those homeowners with unique circumstances and needs. For example, their woven natural shades are made from hemp, kenaf and flax and are 100 percent organic, environmentally friendly, and completely recyclable.

They also have a collection of moistureresistant window treatments for high humidity rooms that offers the best in both durability and style. These blinds and shutters will not warp or peel under harsh, moisture-rich conditions brought on by high humidity.

“Many of our customers have unique window styles such as large windows or even skylights, and they want window coverings that complement the style and elegance of their home,” Engler said. “We have solutions for all of these kinds of special windows and individual tastes, including all budgets and style considerations.”

Budget Blinds is also a business that gives back to the community in a variety of ways. They have partnered with local charities such as Heart & Home, Working Wardrobes, Wounded Warriors, and Homes for Our Troops.

“Our goal is simple,” Engler said. “We aim to provide our customers and our community with the best products and services in order to enrich each and every home environment in the Lowcountry.”

Convenience, safety, reliability, professionalism, a variety of products, and service after the sale are the norm at Budget Blinds. When you are ready to transform your home into something special, find them at budgetblinds.com/hiltonheadisland or call (843) 837-4060.

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v Wendy Harvey and Amy Kinasch of Windermere Insurance Group

WINDERMERE INSURANCE GROUP OF HILTON HEAD

WENDY HARVEY, AMY KINASCH, AND AMY SULLIVAN EXCEED EXPECTATIONS EVERY TIME. ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

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inely tuned communications, exceptional customer service and trustworthy teamwork are the norm at Windermere Insurance Group of Hilton Head where private client advisors Wendy Harvey, Amy Kinasch, and Amy Sullivan have a combined 50-plus years of Lowcountry insurance experience. Harvey and Kinasch opened the Hilton Head Island branch of Windermere, a Charlotte-based firm, in November 2016 and moved into their offices the following February, in the South State Bank building, located at the heart of the island, just off Sea Pines Circle. Recently, the dynamic duo has become a trio with the addition of Sullivan.

“When we first met Amy Kinasch and Wendy Harvey, we knew that we had met two incredible insurance agents that would lead our company’s growth on Hilton Head and around Beaufort County, Drew Patterson, partner/private client manager at Windermere said. “Our core mission is to deliver exceptional service to our clients, and now

with the addition of Amy Sullivan, we could not be prouder of how these three have delivered this promise to their clients. They even have exceeded our expectations.”

The team’s primary focus is on the personal insurance needs of clients who have rather complex portfolios. “Many of our clients have more than one home with a variety of considerations or working parts at each place,” Kinasch said.

“For example, the weather considerations between Hilton Head and Florida are different. They have automobiles, art, jewelry, etc., at both locations. And because we are licensed nationwide, we can write all of that together.”

At Windermere, making sure the client has the right coverage to cover all of those working parts is primary, and regular communication is a priority. “Our clients’ coverage needs change from time to time, so scheduling an annual review to discuss their current policies and coverages is critical,” Harvey explained. “Maybe they’ve added a pool or bought or sold a car. Or maybe they added an alarm system or a generator and deserve a credit for those additions. Our clients know we are going to connect with them regularly, ask the right questions, and make sure they are fully covered, as well as getting the credits they deserve and possibly saving money.”

Part of what sets Windermere apart is their commitment to exceptional service, even if it means going the extra mile.

“We take the time to sit down and explain coverage, explain policies, and explain why you may need an umbrella policy over your three homes and your autos—something that may have never been explained before,” Kinasch said. “We let people fine-tune their coverages and their policies.”

The team at Windermere makes the time to know their clients, including what they do in their free time, so that all the bases are covered, including risk management. “Some Lowcountry residents own airplanes, hangars, yachts, boat slips, and more,” Sullivan said. “They may have their insurance through several local agents across many states, but we can offer them the opportunity to streamline their policies and organize everything concisely in one binder. In this way, they know they only have one person to call, which is very reassuring to people with those kinds of assets.”

Gaining and maintaining client trust is a cornerstone at Windermere. Part of that means cultivating relationships within the industry. “Securing the best coverages with the best premiums means that we don’t just go into one market and get one quote,” Sullivan said. “Because we are independent agents, we are able to shop renewal quotes for our clients with different companies and a variety of underwriters, which gives our clients more options and gives us the opportunity to individualize for each client.”

As well, good relationships with underwriters offers a level of trust and knowledge that is above average, especially in an urgent situation. “For example,” explained Harvey, “our clients’ needs typically get bumped up to the front of the line simply because of the respect we enjoy from our colleagues in the industry. It’s a win/win.”

As a group, Windermere also provides commercial coverages and employee benefits packages, all with the support of their Charlotte team. The claims are handled out of Charlotte, including accounting and the full support of the Charlotte executive team, so the Hilton Head team is free to do what they love here, which is focusing on customers and building relationships with the market reps of the individual companies.

“Insurance isn’t a tangible product that a customer holds in their hand,” Sullivan said. “It is about trust in their advisor and the carrier they are insured with. That trust is built by exceptional customer service, annual reviews and knowing that we will be there when our clients need us.”

For more information, visit windinsgroup.com.

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THE KELCA COUNTERS TEAM From Left to Right: Sheila Kelca, Tim Paxton, Kris Trafton, Dominque Lewis, Sheila Hunter, Michael Kelca (Back) & Trish Halle.

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Service You Can Count On Kelca Counters celebrates 20 years of rock-solid reliability in creating beautiful kitchens

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n the year 2000, Michael Kelca was forced to make a complete change in careers when he was employed by an area quartz distributor as controller, and the only option of compensation was to trade some slabs for salary owed. Prior to this, Michael had always worked in corporate finance, traveling the country auditing various mills and manufacturers. The countertop world was one that he found intriguing. He has a natural talent for art and creating and loves a good day of hard work. To turn slabs into countertops and other surfaces was a challenge he welcomed.

He was determined to make lemonade out of sour grapes!

His wife Sheila then came onboard with a background in management, marketing, and interior design to grow the business. What has

set Kelca Counters apart is the skill and artistry they bring to every project.

“We look at ourselves as craftsmen, and that makes a difference with our builders and homeowners,” Michael said. “We go oneon-one with the builder or the homeowner, whether it’s a $2 million home or a smaller villa.

We give them all the same attention to detail.”

With Michael and Sheila’s individual skills and a focus on craftsmanship as a foundation, the business grew. “One important aspect of this is that we have always looked for employees that have the same vision and passion as we do, treating each like family and having retained many of our employees for many years,” Sheila said.

In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a time in which the business has expanded as

article By Charles Edwards photography by m.kat

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much as it has in the past three years. Apart from working on a massive new housing development in Hardeeville and expanding its commercial operations, there is the fact that the Lowcountry is in the middle of a massive influx of new residents, and they all want to update their homes!

“Our number one source of marketing has always been word of mouth,” Sheila said. “We work really hard to establish a great relationship with each client, treating them as we would like to be treated. Many customers come in and state that they were given our name by a friend or realtor. We have also had many clients with multiple home projects for us. And for a little humor, we have completed work for the sale of a property and then gotten to meet the new owners only to tear out the new counters! We always strive to present the best price, best quality, and best customer service as well as products that work for their best interest.”

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E C A

Blue Bahia Welcome Desk One of many counter Displays & Endless Tile Options The areas largest fabricator of Cambria Quartz!

“I always try to educate our customers on stone,” Michael said. “Then we try to figure out their application. If you have a rental on the beach and you know renters are going to abuse it, let’s put in some low-maintenance engineered stone. It won’t stain, and it will take a beating vs. a high-end marble, for example.”

They also value vendor relationships and have worked diligently over the years to maintain those so they may offer best quality for price. They pride themselves in having the largest variety of man-made materials on the market and work

with distributors all over the U.S. “Over the last five years, our tile selections have also increased tremendously. For many clients, a one-stop shop is important and helps to simply the process,” Michael said. That’s right—they sell everything and the kitchen sink!

“I think our success can completely be attributed to the mercy and grace of God,” Sheila said. “We have always turned blessings into praise and owe Him for everything we are and have!”

You can raise a glass of fresh lemonade to that!  For more information, visit kelcacounterssc.com or call (843) 815-7796.

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I

t can be a little tricky to take the long view these days, with so much still so uncertain about what the next few months or even the next year will bring. But one thing is certain: each of us is going to have a “where I was when the pandemic broke out story” that we’ll carry around forever. Much in the same way you may remember where you were when you heard Kennedy had been killed, you’ll be able to recall exactly what those first few weeks were like. For educators, those stories will be particularly harrowing.

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT DESIGN BY JEFF CLINE

“We look back on last spring, and everyone got turned upside down,” said Hilton Head Prep Headmaster Jon Hopman. “We were able to do a number of things based on what we were allowed to do. We were fortunate to still be able to offer in-person graduation outside on the football field, which I don’t think many other schools were able to put together.”

That dedication to the students and willingness to go the extra mile helped Prep weather those first few months of the pandemic while still living up to the standard that the school has set for

Moving Forward Perhaps no field has been rocked by the pandemic as much as education. But at Hilton Head Prep, a swift response and an emphasis on safety has helped keep standards high.

decades. With an entire summer to plan, they started out this school year ready to continue raising the bar while keeping students safe.

Flexibility in scheduling was paramount for a K-12 school, where different age ranges of students would have different needs, so students in grades 7-12 were offered A/B scheduling or full virtual (the grades below that are in school every day with the option of full virtual). During in-person instruction, students are grouped based on their siblings and their extracurriculars—sports, theatre groups, etc.— to limit the spread should one student become sick.

So far, it hasn’t been an issue. “We haven’t had a single student tes t positive,” Hopman said. “And we’ve had very few students who have missed school because of concerns they had come into contact with someone. The plan we had in place is working very well.”

Another big factor in Prep’s pandemic plan has been a massive investment in technology to help create an immersive experience for students learning virtually. “We invested in 360-degree cameras and monitors in every classroom, so if your child is home, they can see the classroom as it’s happening live and they don’t miss anything,” said Director of Development and Finance Margot Brown. “They can ask questions and be asked questions; they can see what’s on the board, what other students are doing, and most importantly, hear what questions other students are asking.”

The results of all this preparation speak for themselves. Hilton Head Prep has not only thus far been completely free of the virus, it has enjoyed continued success in their constant pursuit of excellence. According to the 2021 Niche ratings, Hilton Head Prep is not only the top private school and private school for athletes in Beaufort County, it has been ranked the No. 1 boarding school and No. 2 private K-12 school in the entire state. That puts them in the top 14 percent of all private schools nationally.

And, in addition to a 100 percent college acceptance rate, this year has seen AP scores continue to improve, with the 92 percent of students earning a three or better, representing some of the top scores in the nation.

“None of our students are falling behind,” Hopman said. “In fact, they’re gaining ground.

We’ve made it our goal not to sacrifice academic standards during these unprecedented times.

The one thing we really looked at this year was honor roll and GPA, and they are all consistent from last year.”

Even from an athletic standpoint, the plan put in place by Prep has allowed the school’s students to continue competing at the high level they’ve always enjoyed. The girls golf team earned their second state championship in a row this year; the girls tennis teams won regional championships; the football team made the state playoffs and had eight players named to regional teams; swimming standout Sterling Burd was named a state champion in two events; and the sailing team has won two regattas. That’s in addition to five members of the cross country and volleyball teams being

Another big factor in Prep’s pandemic plan has been a massive investment in technology to help create an immersive experience for students learning virtually.

“We invested in 360-degree cameras and monitors in every classroom, so if your child is home, they can see the classroom as it’s happening live and they don’t miss anything.”

- Margot Brown

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“We have Mindful Mondays and Thankful Thursdays—helping kids work through emotions they are dealing with.” - Margo Brown named to all-region teams.

The theatre department has stepped up as well, with the Fall Spectacular proving that Prep’s students can still light up the stage without an audience. More than 75 Prep students participated in the virtual showcase, with individual segments filmed in isolation and then edited together for a show-stopping performance.

“Between the theatre program and our athletic association, we were able to basically have a full season,” Brown said. “It’s been a great success, and those have been the main avenues for students to have social interaction.”

More and more studies are showing the importance of that social interaction for young people, and Prep has made great strides in serving students’ mental health along with their physical health.

“We have Mindful Mondays and Thankful Thursdays, helping kids work through emotions they are dealing with,” Brown said. “Our counseling office has really ramped up the programs they’re doing just to help on the emotional side of this. It’s really teaching these kids resilience.”

Just as Hilton Head Prep’s students have stepped up in building on their own academic and athletic excellence through difficult times, the faculty has shined through the pandemic. “Our teachers are just doing an amazing job from start to finish, as this is requiring them to do an incredible amount of planning,” Hopman said. “Everything is a good bit more complicated this year in terms of how they view the classroom and how we do testing. We wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing now without an amazing faculty.”

They’re doing such a good job, in fact, that the school is seeing an unprecedented amount of interest in enrollment for next year. If you are thinking of enrolling your child, act quickly as classes are filling up. Visit hhprep.org to set your student on the path to excellence.

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Ê LINE IN THE SAND One Topic Ê Two Opinions S)

ETIME

(SOM

the poltical social media debate

Opinion 1: Barry Kaufman

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irst of all, thank you to Courtney for unexpectedly finding a bee in her bonnet, allowing the two of us to step into the octagon of public discourse that is A Line in the Sand. The issue that brought my counterpart out of exile is one that we’ve all been facing in recent months: dealing with people airing their toxic political opinions on social media and then trying to reconcile our feelings for that person with what they’re saying.

If you’re like Courtney and you’ve found yourself being unable to forgive someone for their views, I have good news. You’re absolutely right; their views are terrible. The bad news is, yours might be as well. As I see it, we are a nation divided into three camps: there are those who cling to a viewpoint despite overwhelming evidence they are wrong, and there are those who also do that, but vote differently.

And then there are those of us who can see past someone’s views. Well maybe not past, but around. There are obviously deal breakers—racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and an insistence on using your when you mean you’re—which, yeah, are all kind of rampant these days.

And while it’s all well and good to punch a Nazi when you have a chance, I prefer to model my response on that of Abraham Lincoln, who said, “I destroy my enemies—by making them my friends.” When you look past the vitriol most people have made their daily Facebook update, you see hurting. Anger, hatred, narrow-mindedness— these things don’t grow in a vacuum. They come from a place of pain, and they are only nurtured by isolation and retaliation.

And we’re all hurting. We’re all feeling isolated. It’s why everything feels so toxic. And you can’t fight that if you’re approaching it from a place of anger. I realize how

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“‘A

gree to disagree’” is reserved for things like ‘I don’t like coffee.’ Or ‘camping is the best.’ Not racism, homophobia, and sexism. Not human rights. Not basic human decency.

It’s not just a difference in opinion; it’s a difference in morality. That’s what needs to be looked at.” Artist Mary Engelbreit said this a week after the election (The. Election.) and after months (years?) of hateful rhetoric filled the feeds as part of the very long campaign process.

For everyone who counted days until the race would end, it has unfortunately only just begun. As conversations got heated in the final stretch, the concept of “I’ll still be your friend no matter who you vote for …” was tweeted about as if that was the solution for a country divided. I wanted to believe that was true, but I also know that to vote for candidates willing to take away human rights means that humans in my circle would adversely be affected by those votes. So, in jest with a raised voice and eye rolls, I joked with people who I knew shared the same opinion as me that actually “I can’t be your friend if that is who you are voting for …” I left it at that. I did not engage.

I share little political content on social media, but I believe: in having a voice, doing the right thing, speaking up when I see something wrong, that there is no shame in showing emotion, and strong women are needed and necessary in every organization.

And this leads me to today and my return to this column after a twoyear hiatus because something was just rubbing me the wrong way and I needed to talk about it. So, I texted Barry and asked, “With a country so divided, when small business owners share their political views with their entire social audience, they are potentially ostracizing 50 percent of their clientele. If you disagree with them, do you still support them?”

It is a loaded question, I know, but I

(WELL

, THEY

TRY)

Opinion 2: Courtney Hampson was struggling with whether I am comfortable taking a loaded baked potato from someone who fuels the online flames of hate and discontent. Can I smile as I hand them my hard-earned money knowing that they think the vice president-elect slept her way to the top (which has nothing to do with politics by the way, but everything to do with jealousy)?

Can I shrug off them shrugging off the president saying, “I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the p*ssy. You can do anything.”

So, the president can sexually assault women, but the vice president-elect cannot sleep with men? Sexism, much? Now I have lost my appetite, and I love baked potatoes.

This is how crazy the current political climate has become. We are not even talking about politics. We are talking about human decency. And my God, anyone with a sister, a daughter, a mother should cringe at the above. And when we cringe it should change our perspective regardless of how our 401k is performing.

A potato is not just a potato, a plumber is not just a plumber, a pair of earrings is not just a pair of earrings when it is laced with such heavy ideas. So, I am going to continue my

Pollyanna this sounds, but you have to fight it with love. It’s the only way to truly get to the root of your differences.

And here is where I’m almost forced to give you an example. There is a local musician who in recent months has gone from being a guy whose views you may not agree with to being a public pariah. I interviewed said musician once, a three-hour late-night marathon of a chat that covered a whole host of topics. We agreed on very few of those topics, but we parted as friends. If not at least friendly acquaintances. Sharing a love for this sleepy little town we called home and an enthusiasm for Stevie Wonder just seemed … bigger than the things we disagreed on.

And then he posted a video that put him in the crosshairs of the cancel culture. Look, I’m not going to defend his actions in the video or the point of view that led him to film it.

But even after watching the video, I still saw him as the same guy. I still disagree with him on a lot. Maybe everything. But in the few times I’ve seen him since, I’ve still said hi and taken a few minutes to catch up.

Courtney social distancing and avoid your business for a while. I am going to hope that when the country settles into this new normal, with new leadership and fewer tweets, everyone will realize that we can be so much stronger (and so much healthier) when we find common ground—when we call out what is wrong and we work together to make things right, with kindness and understanding and a lot less anger.

Pipe dream, maybe? But that dream?

It means more to me than a potato.

Barry

And I’ve caught flak for it. Seriously. For being nice to someone despite them having some pretty awful views on things.

While I understand the impulse to shun these people, I just don’t share it. After all, isn’t forgiveness one of those aspects of the divine we all share? I figure if someone has these viewpoints, the way to show them a better path is through love, not exile.

And not for nothing, we as a culture have been able to forgive some pretty unforgivable things. Do we reject IBM computers just because they created the punch card machines the Nazis used to keep the holocaust organized? Do we stop eating Quaker Oats, just because they once tricked a bunch of disabled children into eating radioactive oatmeal*? Do we boycott drug companies just because they keep putting commercials on during dinner hours outlining some truly disgusting bodily functions?

I’ve heard the phrase “silence is consent,” and I truly sympathize with those who are hurt by the words of others that I choose to respond to with love. But I feel like fighting social media outrage with social media outrage is how we got into this mess in the first place. When you punch back, you become the straw man they’ve been rallying against.

And the cycle only perpetuates.

Their views are terrible. What you choose to do about it determines whether yours are as well. Maybe we could try breaking that cycle before all of this spills out of the echo chamber of social media any more than it already has. *That really happened, by the way. You can look it up.

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M A Y O R

Hilton Head Island Mayor Photography by M.Kat

A Note from John McCann

THANKFUL FOR OUR HEROES, OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR RESILIENCY

T

his year has been unlike any other any of us has ever experienced. While many cannot wait for 2020 to be over and anticipate all of the hopes that come with a brand-new year, I encourage you to take a minute to think about how blessed we are as a community. I am incredibly thankful for many things that reflect our resiliency, especially as we look back over the last 11 months.

I am thankful for our frontline heroes—members of our Fire Rescue services and our medical professionals from across the island who were willing to stand up in the face of great danger and fight a deadly disease for the well-being of our residents. I am thankful that our community has not seen the hospitalization and mortality rates that other areas of our country have experienced. I know that our situation certainly could have been much, much, worse than it has been.

A big part of the reason why it has not is because of you. All of you came together to begin practicing public safety protocols when you were called upon by the town to do so. You wore a mask.

You practiced social distancing. And you cared for each other by consistently carrying out these practices over the last several months.

< Bluffton Mayor

I am thankful that, so far, our economic impacts from this pandemic appear to be substantially less than what other communities are experiencing. Our numbers did take a dip, and many businesses felt the strain as a result. But we have solidly rebounded in many areas, and we are now showing the world what it looks like to be able to work or go to school remotely while living in paradise. We are thankful for this as it helps to sustain

A Note from Lisa Sulka

M AY O R

PERMITTING AND PLANNING DURING OFFICE CLOSURES

A

lthough Town Hall remains closed for the public for safety precautions related to the current pandemic, town staff is still doing business as usual, trying to configure according to the new restrictions on face-toface meeting. Town staff continues to review plans, permits, conduct site inspections, and conduct Zoom meetings.

Process Drop off and pick up bins are placed outside of Town Hall main doors to deliver plans and pick them up once they have been reviewed. The town has also launched its new online platform, which allows contractors, homebuilders and homeowners to electronically apply for permits, submit building plans, track the status of permits/plans, schedule building inspections, and pay town invoices. The new portal, known as Citizen Self Service Portal (CSS), is accepting plans and permits requests. CSS has replaced the former portal, known as the Citizens Access Portal (CAP). This provides another alternative to the traditional process of submitting paper comments and traveling to Town Hall or placing in the mail.

The goal is to streamline the application and inspection process, provide a user-friendly, more efficient method for submittal and processing of applications.

Contractors and home builders are the main users of this new online platform; however, Bluffton residents can use the portal when applying for permits such as tree removal and signs. The improved functionality will

Photography by Krisztian Lonyai

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many of the businesses and jobs that exist here on the island.

It is what helps us all to enjoy a quality of life that is unrivaled anywhere else.

Lastly, I am thankful for you, our residents. When the call went out to support the neediest within our community, so many of you responded. You have given of your time to check on neighbors and to keep each other’s spirits lifted. You have gone out of your way to deliver meals, groceries and comfort to those who cannot go out into the community. Your financial support has meant the difference to so many entities that may not otherwise be able to survive without it. For this, we say thank you.

I know this year has been difficult, and 2021 probably cannot get here soon enough. But for now, we are so very thankful for all that you have done and for all that you will continue to do as part of our most incredible community. Have a safe and wonderful holiday.

A Note from Lisa Sulka continued centralize all of the building permits and plan reviews for each individual and company. The dashboard function will enable customers to track the status of multiple plans and permits at once.

Transition Tips from CAP to CSS • The new portal is located at: css.townofbluffton.com.

• Former users of Citizens Access Portal (CAP) need to register using the same e-mail address they used in CAP when creating their account for CSS. They must use the “register” function, not the “log-in” function, the first time they use the system. The software will then locate the old account based on thee-mail address and ask, “Is this you?” Answer yes, and then it will be able to link the old account to the new account, allowing access to previous records.

• Please be sure to update web browser bookmarks on personal computers. If CAP was bookmarked in the past, please delete it from favorites and replace it with the bookmark for CSS. As a reminder, CAP has been taken offline, so continuing to use an old bookmark will result in an error message.

• All permits and planning applications can now be submitted through the new portal. Paper plans to keep on site are still required once approved. Users are encouraged to contact the Customer Service Center at (843) 706-4500 for more information on process and required documents.

Town staff continues to monitor the process and make adjustments to ensure a high level of customer service, communication, while adhering to all regulations and requirements.

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This & That

C2 Magazine • December 2020 Edition A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items.

You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email hunter@celebratehiltonhead.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND REALTOR TO DELIVER 200 BIKES TO AREA KIDS THIS CHRISTMAS As he has quietly done for years, local Realtor Jeff Hunt will once again make Christmas a little bit brighter for area kids with a donation of hundreds of bicycles.

Paying for them out of his own pocket as well as from generous cash donations from a small circle of friends, Hunt has purchased 200 bicycles along with 200 helmets. After being delivered around Thanksgiving, they will be distributed to Deep Well and to the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton to be given to area kids on Christmas morning.

And it’s not just about giving children something under the tree. In one very special case, Hunt recalls the gift of a bicycle allowed one area girl to get a job, which allowed her to save money, take classes at USCB and eventually attend full-time on a scholarship.

If you’d like to help area kids get something special under the tree and possibly enrich their lives, Hunt is still accepting donations for this year’s drive. Those interested can email jeff@ jeffhuntandassociates.com.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Beaufort County native Dr. Michael Campbell Jr. announced that he has completed his education and training in the field of optometry and will treating patients in the Beaufort County area. He has received extensive training and has experience in glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration management, postop management care for cataract surgery, corneal graft transplant, LASIK/PRK surgery, and specialty lenses.

Island Fudge Shoppe Article by Jesse Blanco or all of the tragic tales that the year 2020 has spun, there’s a pretty sweet story developing down near the southern end of Hilton Head Island—Coligny Plaza, to be exact. You see, just like the rest of us, Gus and Maureen Robinson were forced to shut down last spring. The business they’d run for 30 years, Island Fudge Shoppe, was closed. Just like the rest of us, their only choice was to sit and wait and hope that things would get better soon.

As days turned into weeks, they not only found themselves without their routine of three decades—making their very popular chocolate bites and fudge—but their son, a student at Clemson University was at home. Just like the rest of us, routines were busted. I think that is fair to say.

What is it they say, that necessity is the mother of invention? Don’t quote me on that, but I think I am in the neighborhood. Well, as Gus tells the story, their son, faced with more downtown than he could stand apparently, offered to rebuild Mom and Dad’s website. Gus tells me they had one, but it was a bit antiquated. It got them by, but it didn’t come with any of the bells or whistles that a modern website is capable of in 2020.

Reality is, rebuilding something like that could cost thousands of dollars.

Websites ain’t cheap, y’all. When you lose months of income, it makes it twice as cost prohibitive. But rebuild it he did.

I wish it were possible to share just how proud of this new website Gus and Maureen are and how proud they are of their son for rebuilding it for them.

The biggest difference? This new website allows Island Fudge Shoppe fans to order online. Yes, for the first time. I can’t really say the phone is ringing off the hook, but let’s just say business is good.

I won’t share numbers; frankly I didn’t ask. The smiles say enough for us to know that 2020 may have just been saved by the amount of online orders they are receiving. Families who visit every year but didn’t this year are getting their chocolate fix shipped to them. Corporate entities are ordering chocolates with their logo. Other small businesses are placing gift pack bulk orders to give out as Christmas gifts to their clients. Why? Because it’s local, and they don’t have to leave the comforts of their living rooms to do so.

It’s working, and the Robinsons are over the moon because of it.

There was some question about how busy they would be this holiday season. Foot traffic could possibly slow down for reasons that we all know and don’t need to discuss here, so there was some uncertainty. That’s largely gone now—thanks to a shutdown, a college student bored at home, and a laptop.

Take that 2020! The Robinsons have turned you upside down. If you’d like to order some of their sweet goodness yourself: Islandfudge.com. Click it and like it.

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This & That

C2 Magazine • December 2020 Edition A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items.

You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email hunter@celebratehiltonhead.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

Callawassie Island has retained its designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas, including environmental planning, wildlife & habitat management, outreach and education, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, and water quality management. Callawassie Island is one of over 900 courses in the world to hold the honor.

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For at least eight years, the “coffee ladies” of Port Royal residential community have started their holiday season by collecting for soldiers in outposts overseas who will not be home for the holidays. Patti Soltys has organized this from the beginning as she has many family members who have or do serve in the military. This year, the group adopted an outpost in Kuwait with 80 military (65 men and 15 women).

Their request was for a stocking for each. The call was put out, and ladies hand made the beautiful stockings you see here. Others donated requested goodies to fill them as well as postage to send. “Our hearts are filled with gratitude, and it jump starts our own holidays by giving to those who keep us free” Soltys said.

The Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island’s “Difference Makers” group collected 108 filled holiday stockings for our troops! Renee Smalley, who led the effort, and Linda Donohoe delivered the goods to the local contact of Operation Morale Support. Many WAHHI Difference Makers worked more than 50 hours sewing custom camouflage stockings.

This & That

C2 Magazine • December 2020 Edition A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items.

You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email hunter@celebratehiltonhead.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

Oliver Maner, an award-winning law firm providing legal services since 1897, is pleased to announce that Andrew M. Wilkes has been named to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). ABOTA dedicates itself to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials.

Collins Group Realty held their Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive on Saturday, November 14 in Windmill Harbour, Long Cove Club and Point Comfort Communities, collecting 4,000 pounds of food for The Deep Well Project. In the group’s twentieth year of conducting this food drive, 293 bags of food and pantry items were donated to help stock Deep Well’s nearly empty shelves in time for Thanksgiving food deliveries.

Collins Group Realty utilizes their community vehicle (a box truck they loan, free of charge, to community organizations, non-profits, schools, and clients) and volunteers from within the real estate company, including real estate specialists, staff, and family members to collect the donations and deliver them to Deep Well.

The Deep Well Project provides year-round groceries and pantry items, including special meals at holidays to area families. If you would like to donate, please call (843) 785-2849 to arrange a pick-up. For more information, or to make a monetary donation, visit their website at deepwellproject.org.

Carole May has been hired as an outside sales representative at StoneWorks, Inc. In her new role, May will be responsible for developing professional relationships and connecting different industries with the StoneWorks mission.

Weichert, Realtors® – Coastal Properties is proud to announce the addition of Eric Ruhlin to their real estate team. Ruhlin has been a part of the Hilton Head Island community for over 40 years and will be working out of the Hilton Head Island office.

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A Q&A Series with Local Artists

I S C IANS MU in bathrooms M U S I C I A N :

Q U I N T I N

P H O T O G R A P H Y

What’s your sign?

I’m a Sagittarius, born Dec 9, 1992.

Most underrated song that, in your opinion, should be a classic?

My single, “L.A.D.I.E.S,” was created for all the women in the world for the powers of their existence that may be overlooked on a daily basis.

Biggest compliment you’ve ever gotten from a fan?

That Q. Smalls music is “adult kid friendly,” said by DJ OJ. I create music for everyone to enjoy themselves with content that shies away from cursing and negative notations—all about uplifting positivity and love for all!

What do you sing in the shower?

I like to sing “Cool it Now” by New Edition at the top of my lungs.

Favorite cereal?

My favorite cereal would have to be Lucky Charms.

What is your favorite piece to perform?

My favorite piece to perform would my single, “Go Do What You Do.” I feel as though it gets the crowd hype. It’s very motivational and educational for everyone to vibe to.

At what venue do you most like to perform?

So far in my career, Poseidon’s Rooftop Bar is the venue that’s top notch. I would have never thought two years ago I would have my first album release concert there. It is outstanding from the location to the upscale establishment the Serg Group created.

Most requested song at shows?

Everyone loves the “L.A.D.I.E.S” song. It’s just undeniable coming from a love and unity standpoint.

First concert you attended?

Still haven’t experienced one yet, unfortunately.

Favorite artist?

My all-time favorite artist is Michael Jackson.

Place you go to get away from it all?

The most peaceful place for me would be the Spanish Wells dock—the natural scenery and island breeze is amazing out there for meditating and creating.

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B Y

S M A L L S

M . K A T

Do you tweet, gram, or book?

I’m mainly promoted on Instagram and Facebook. My music page is young_gullah843, and my main Facebook page is Quintin Smalls.

Finish this verse as if it were the hook of a song: “Sally went down to the bayou...”

Sally went down to the bayou On a beautiful day while the skies are blue.

She meditates and catches the vibes On a beautiful day at the bayou.

Who would star as you in the epic retelling of your life on film?

Shameik Moore would definitely be my choice because of his outgoing and very versatile personality like mine.

First instrument you learned to play?

The first instrument I learned to play was the flute in elementary school.

Song you were thrilled to finally master?

“Paradise,” a song I did on my first project featuring Sara Burns and engineered by John Cranford. The song was such a huge collaboration of a group of people on this small island showing the world our paradise on Earth.

What do you wish you knew more about?

My Native Gullah family history and the main changes of our family’s way of living from the past to the way we are living today as Native Americans.”

What animal do you most identify with?

I would say a black panther—for their ability to still be a dominate force in the jungle alongside the lions tigers, etc.

If you got super-famous and had to change your name, what would your new name be?

I would call myself Travis Porter. It’s a name of a hip-hop group I grew up listening to.

What famous musician would you love to sing a duet with?

I would be very thankful to do a duet with Lauryn Hill.

Her voice is so amazing; it brings light to any situation or vibe.

DECEMBER 2020 1 CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND South Beach Now through - Jan.1st Complimentary hot cocoa, cookies and s’mores by the fireside from 3-6pm.

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EVERY TUESDAY!

ZEN AND PEN! Pure Salt Studios Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina @ 1pm A holiday edition calligraphy class!

SEA PINES FARMERS MARKET

FARMERS MARKET AT HONEY HORN

Sea Pines Shopping Center 10am-2pm

Coastal Discovery 9am-1pm

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HISTORY OF THE HOLIDAYS ON THE ISLAND (VIRTUALLY) Visit HeritageLib.org HistoricHolidays

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A CARPENTERS CHRISTMAS Arts Center of Coastal Carolina 4pm & 7:30pm Tickets: $61 Best Suited For 5 and up www.artshhi.com

National Short Girl Appreciation Day!

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SAFE & DISTANCED PHOTOS WITH SANTA AND LIVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC WITH ZACH & BEN Every Saturday, December 5th, 12th, 19th from 1-3pm at Coligny Center Stage

11 JEVON VI The Roasting Room 6-7:30pm 8:30-10pm roastingroom. live

Forsythe Jewelers 10am-7pm Complimentary gift wrapping with your purchase. RSVP to 843.671.7070 or Andrea@ ForsytheJewelers.biz.

WAY BACK WEDNESDAYSNATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION! Coligny Theatre 7pm

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Shops at Sea Pines Center 4-6:30pm Meet the Artists of Sea Pines

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WAY BACK WEDNESDAYSLOVE ACTUALLY Coligny Theatre 7pm $10, cash only please!

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FIRST THURSDAYS ART MARKET

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

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FAMILY HOLIDAY MATINÉE- ELF Coligny Theatre 1pm $10, cash only, kids 12 and under FREE!

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ALL MONTH LONG

17 SOCIALLY DISTANT “HOLIDAY” OPEN HOUSE Permanent Cosmetics HHI & The Beauty Box 10:30am 6:30pm!

Bring a friend & reserve your spot for Botox!

Call (843) 4224141 to sign up for your time!

WINTER WONDERLAND

12 SANTA & S’MORES NIGHT! South Beach Christmas Village Every Saturday

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Island Rec Center Enjoy a treat at the Winter WonderFestival Drive Thru on December 11th from 4pm until goodies run out.

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30 WAY BACK WEDNESDAYSGREMLINS Coligny Theatre 7pm

EVENTS AND MORE COVID-19 INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS

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