CB2 Magazine: November 2021

CB2 CELEBRATE I BLUFFTON AND BEYOND!

NOVEMBER 2021

THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE COMMUNITY

NOVEMBER 2021

baNNON law GROUP CB2 SPECIAL SECTION

lOwCOUNTRY iNSURaNCE PROFESSiONalS

featuring the boys & girls club of bluffton

Cb2’S GiFT GUidE FOR HiM all together now! aT MaY RivER THEaTRE

4

SEPTEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 5

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 6

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 7

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 8

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 9

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 10

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 11

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 12

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 13

C2 MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER 2021 15

20 THE TRUE SPIRIT OF THE COMMUNITY WHAT’S INSIDE

28

WITH A STRAIGHT FACE: JIM AND MEREDITH BANNON BRING THEIR LIGHTHEARTED APPROACH TO THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF THE LAW.

39

WHY YOU NEED MONTHLY SPA TREATMENTS

51

THE SHOW MUST GO ON: MAY RIVER THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS ALL TOGETHER NOW!

63

C2 SPECIAL SECTION: LOWCOUNTRY INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

72

A TRUE LOWCOUNTRY TREASURE: MARIA WALLS

86

WILTING ROSE: QUESTIONS HOVER AROUND THE FUTURE OF A HISTORIC MANSION IN BLUFFTON

94

THE SANDBOX: CHILDREN'S MUSEUM FOSTERS DISCOVERY, ENCOURAGES PLAY AND OFFERS COMMUNITY.

110

Meet the legion of selfless locals who call our area home and the organzations they volunteer for.

33 GIFT GUIDE FOR HIM With the current shipping dilemma, what better time than now to SHOP LOCAL this holiday season

46 MAGGIE AND ME BOUTIQUE A pandemic-proof Bluffton boutique.

MUSICIANS IN BATHROOMS FEATURING HEARTS AND HARMONY

O N O U R C OV E R S

90

DESTINATION: WELLNESS

ON THE CH2 COVER NAMI of the Lowcountry volunteer, John DuPont

ON THE CB2 COVER Boys and Girls Club of Bluffton volunteers Jim and Jean Brennan

Photography by M.KAT.

Photography by M.KAT.

Hilton Head Island chef Amanda Russ Cifaldi is ready for her closeup. Get ready, world.

EDITOR'S NOTE N O V E M B E R

2 0 2 1

GENIUSES AT WORK Vibe Manager Maggie Marie Washo

play

Head of Quietly Judging Carolyn Hunter Kostylo Master of Coin Marion Elizabeth Bowser Rainmaker Kim Conrad Crouch Master Handshaker “Just Kandace” Wightman Lead Door Knocker Morgan O'Banion Director of Attracting Talent Kaila Jeffcoat Mascot in Training Buoy Conrad Crouch Pritchard Mr.Back in the Office Jevon Daly The Gatekeepers Greta Von Bowser Vincent Von Bowser The Cut & Paste Crew Jeff Cline Catherine Davies Aspiring Novelists Cheryl Alexander Amy Bartlett Jesse Blanco Becca Edwards Linda S. Hopkins Barry Kaufman John McCann Lisa Sulka Edward Taylor 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

DO YOU HAVE A HEART FOR SERVING OTHERS?

A

fter spending a few weeks photographing and talking to some local volunteers for this issue, I can say that, by and large, our community does. Please read our interviews, starting on the next page, with some of these selfless volunteers who are making life a little easier for those losing loved ones, our furry friends, and neighbors who find themselves in a financial pinch.

Last month, I attended the NAMI walk at Coligny Beach to support my friends Michelle Taylor (pictured above in the booth) and Darlene Schuetz. I was impressed by the number of people gathered early on a Saturday morning to raise funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The walk raised over $50,000 and was an excellent reminder that exercising outdoors is a great way to support your mental health.

Hunter Kostylo, Jevon Daly and I also had the pleasure of touring Bluffton Self Help this month to hear about the remarkable ways they are changing with the times (look for a story on that soon). In a monthly contest with Dunes Real Estate, we are partnering to raise awareness and funds for one local charity per month. This month’s winner, Tamar Rose, selected Bluffton Self Help to receive a $300 check from Dunes Real Estate. Follow our Facebook page for a chance to win local restaurant gift certificates and other gifts from local businesses while also helping our community. Last month, thanks to Jodi Baganz, the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton also received a check from Dunes Real Estate.

We have many generous neighbors and businesses in this tight-knit community, and it makes me proud to live here. What is your favorite organization to support? Do you regularly serve others, financially or with your time?

This issue also includes an article about a young woman who recently graduated from college and decided to hike the Appalachian Trail—alone. Now I consider myself a reasonably brave woman, but my hat is off to Priscilla Neville. Read about her adventures with bears, cereal bars, and more on page 55.

Be sure to follow us on Social Media

While our October issue was dedicated to Arts + Music and Crescendo, the show goes on through November and December in the theatre world. May River Theatre is back in business with All Together Now!, a must-see musical revue at their newly renovated home. The students at Hilton Head Island High School are putting on a production of Little Women this month, and Hilton Head Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker returns for its thirty-sixth season on Hilton Head Island. I’m also looking forward to seeing Elf, the Musical at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina next month—one of my all-time holiday favorites.

Have wonderful November. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

MAGGIE WASHO Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

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

Let it never be said that the Lowcountry doesn’t know how to give back. Ours is a community built on a spirit of volunteerism, where any need that needs filled will soon find itself with a small army of helpers at their disposal. When we set out to spotlight a few of the legion of selfless locals who call our area home, we knew the hardest job would be in limiting our search. While the volunteers you see here are to be lauded for their generosity and spirit, know that for every face you see here, there are hundreds more ready to make life a little better in our community.

Steve

SIEGELBAUM What is the organization’s mission?

Volunteers in Medicine (VIM)’s mission is to understand and serve the health and wellness needs of the medically underserved and their households who live or work on Hilton Head and Daufuskie Islands.

How long have you been a resident of the Lowcountry?

My wife Judi and I built our home in Indigo Run in 2005. We used the house to vacation and visit until my retirement from Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology in 2013, when we moved here full time. I started to volunteer at VIM in 2009.

If we visited for a week, I would attend a clinic session during that time. Since retirement, my clinic visits became a weekly occurrence.

What makes this organization special to you?

Volunteers in Medicine is a wonderful concurrence of retired, well-trained physicians, dentists, nurses, translators and other volunteers giving of their time and expertise to help people who 20

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

Volunteers in Medicine cannot otherwise obtain the quality of care and medications made available in this free clinic. The clinic gives the providers the opportunity to give back to the community. Further, the patients and our colleagues provide us with motivation to read and take part in continuing education so that we can stay current in our areas of expertise.

How many hours a week do you spend volunteering?

I see patients on Tuesday afternoons. I am chair of the Medical Executive Committee and a member of the board of directors. Between these activities, I usually spend 7-10 hours a week. I also really enjoy the comradery of working with other caregivers.

What do you do in your spare time— just for fun?

I work out four to five days a week, walk my dog Boomer two miles a day, and golf two-tothree times a week. Judi and I love to travel both overseas and to Annapolis to see our 22-monthold grandson Brayden.

Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton

Jim & Jean BRENNAN

What is the organization’s mission?

The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

How long have you been a resident of the Lowcountry?

Four years. We stopped in Bluffton to visit an old college roommate on our way to Southwest Florida where we thought we would retire. Basically, my wife fell in love with Bluffton and the surrounding area, and we signed a contract here that weekend.

We love Bluffton. We also never made it to Southwest Florida!

What makes this organization special to you?

The Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton allows young people today to just be young, have fun, and grow as individuals in a safe caring environment. The B&GC of Bluffton staff is outstanding. Each person helps make the world a better place by helping young people grow into caring, productive members of society.

What are your duties as a volunteer?

Helping in the canteen (kitchen) and in the gym; helping club members during study hour known as “Power Hour”; Teen Men’s Mentor, soccer coach of fall B&GC of Bluffton elementary school league team.

How many hours a week do you spend volunteering? Six to eight.

What do you like to do in your spare time—just for fun?

Spend time exploring the area with my beautiful wife Jean, walk outside in nature, golf nine holes once a week, church activities, read.

Photography by M.KAT Design by JEFF CLINE

Jack

TOTI

What is the organization’s mission?

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry is an independent non-profit organization serving Beaufort and Jasper counties for 40 years. It was established to give comfort and dignity to end-of-life patients and their families through compassionate physical, emotional and spiritual care, regardless of their financial circumstances.

How long have you been a resident of the Lowcountry? Twenty-four years.

What makes this organization special to you?

Over the years, I have experienced what help and support hospice can be for individuals and their families. I joined Hospice Care of the Lowcountry in 2007 as a patient volunteer, and as a volunteer I feel very satisfied that I am helping people at the most difficult times in their lives. The fact that the patient I am seeing is terminal, I feel that I am also helping the caregiver with time to take care of things that need to be done and giving them time to feel and do normal things.

What do you like to do in your spare time— just for fun? I am an active volunteer in my church.

I enjoy golfing with a number of good friends. My wife and I have a large vegetable garden that we spend time working all year. I also spend time at a gym four or five mornings a week where I am exercising and meeting friends.

What are your duties as a volunteer?

I am a patient volunteer: I provide support to the families including the patient and the caregiver.

I spend time with the patient and the caregiver and give the caregiver time to do things for him/herself. I also do small jobs around the house, run errands for them, and basically do what I can to help them.

I am a veteran volunteer: Hospice makes it a priority to honor our veterans. We present the veteran with a certificate of appreciation and small meaningful gifts. When available, we use the ROTC cadets from Bluffton High School to make the presentations.

I am an administrative volunteer: I work in the office doing various tasks, which includes indirect bereavement support.

How many hours a week do you spend volunteering? It depends on the patient and the caregiver. Some weeks they do not need any assistance. Other weeks it could be anywhere from five to ten hours per week.

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry

“I am a veteran volunteer: Hospice makes it a priority to honor our veterans. We present the veteran with a certificate of appreciation and small meaningful gifts. When available, we use the ROTC cadets from Bluffton High School to make the presentations.”

Helen

HINDS

What is the organization’s mission?

The Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project will address the basic needs of our clients, while working with them longer term to foster greater self-sufficiency.

How long have you been a resident of the Lowcountry?

My husband and I moved to Hilton Head 20 years ago from Pittsburgh, Pa. and have never regretted a moment.

What are your duties as a volunteer?

I have volunteered for Deep Well for about 12 years and have been exposed to almost every position within the organization at one time or another. I am the immediate past chairman of the board of Deep Well, and I’m afraid my legacy will be being chairman when COVID changed our lives forever. We all worked many many hours to try to help as many families as

The Deep Well Project

possible who found themselves without jobs, many for the first time ever. I am also an office volunteer each week, which entails answering phone calls from clients, documenting their current needs, and verifying their information. For the last eight or nine years, I have been the chief “Elf” in our Santa Shop. We transform the flex space in our facility on Capital Drive into a Christmas Shop where parents of approximately 700 of our vetted clients can come shop for new toys and clothing for their children at no cost to them. Being chairman of the children’s committee, I am also responsible for ordering school uniforms for our school-age children grades pre-K-12. Each child receives five uniform shirts and grade-appropriate school supplies to start the school year.

How many hours a week do you spend volunteering? My volunteer hours fluctuate with the season; some weeks I work just my normal shift of four hours. Other weeks, especially during the Christmas season, I work over 20 hours in the Deep Well Santa Shop, but also many additional hours are spent purchasing the clothing we distribute to the families.

What do you like to do in your spare time—just for fun? I’m a lifelong tennis player, love to play bridge and, of course, spend lots of time at the beach with Poppy, my COVID rescue dog. I have volunteered for non-profits for many years, and, for me, Deep Well is the most fulfilling. Deep Well is extremely supportive of all the volunteers whether they work four or 40 hours per week. We always feel appreciated and know that our thoughts and ideas matter. Many of my best friends are those I have worked with at Deep Well; we are like-minded, work well together, and always know we can depend on each other. I am always rewarded when I can help a family avoid eviction by helping with a month’s rent after an unexpected event in their lives, or to provide two weeks of food and hygiene products to a family suffering from food insecurities. One of my most fulfilling moments, though, is the look of sheer happiness on the face of a young mother after she has shopped at the Santa Shop for her kids’ Christmas gifts and knows they will have an awesome holiday!

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

23

John

DUPONT

What is the organization’s mission?

The mission of NAMI Lowcountry is to provide free education and support to those affected by mental health conditions. The vision of the board, staff, and volunteers is to create awareness, remove the stigma, and improve the quality of life of those with mental health conditions, to include their families and loved ones.

How long have you been a resident of the Lowcountry? My family and I moved to Hilton Head Island four years ago this November.

Prior, we lived in West Ashley in Charleston for four years. We are coming up on a decade in the Lowcountry; we got here as quick as we could!

What makes this organization special to you? The mission is real, and the issues we focus on are real, pertinent, and pervasive. Mental health affects every single person in some form or another. Mental health issues affect every family and community. What really makes NAMI Lowcountry special is that real, affected community members are volunteering in so many capacities.

Everyone involved continues to stay connected and involved because it is real for them, their family, or someone close and dear to them.

What are your duties as a volunteer?

I raise my hand a lot during board and committee meetings. As the board chair, I like to create new energy and offer support to those with good momentum. Prior to becoming the board president, I worked on several of the initiatives to reshape the structure of NAMI to ensure we can operate within the capacities and capabilities of our board, staff, and volunteers. My main duty is to preserve the mission and vision of the organization and support everyone to the best of my ability.

How many hours a week do you spend volunteering? The board meets once a month, and I am on the executive committee. We meet once a month as well. Those meetings are typically around an hour and a half. However, it is our time as a board in between those meetings that we communicate a lot. We are a connected board that communicates very well with one another and collectively. I spend an average of six to eight hours a week on NAMI: discussions, messages, pitching new ideas and possible changes to support the

NAMI community and their personal journeys with mental health issues and concerns. I would be remiss if I did not bring attention to those who volunteer more and have done so with consistency for decades. They are the reason NAMI Lowcountry has been and will continue to be successful in the future. The current board is very grateful for their dedication and efforts in the past, present, and future.

What do you like to do in your spare time— just for fun? What is this spare time that you speak of?

Spare time is limited, so I find myself gravitating toward enjoyable and fulfilling activities. Especially, if they are multifaceted and provide several aspects: physical fitness, connectivity, and decompression. I am a very driven person, so my fun seems like work to some. I like to decompress and work through solutions while I run, cycle, work out, and standup paddle board. I enjoy reading for personal and professional development.

24

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

Julie

JANNING

What is the organization’s mission?

Meals-on-Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head provides meals to homebound clients on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton (including Sun City) who lack capacity to prepare nutritious meals, without regard to their ability to pay.

Warm meals are delivered five days a week. We not only deliver meals, but we also make sure our clients are doing well as part of our daily engagement with them.

Our meal delivery program is the heartbeat of our non-profit organization. Meals-on-Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head relies on the dedication of our volunteers to deliver a hot, nutritious meal every weekday, 52 weeks a year, even on holidays.

Meals-on-Wheels, Bluffton-Hilton Head, Inc. is a local 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to providing our clients with one nutritious meal a day, in their own home, on a temporary or long-term basis.

How long have you been a resident of the Lowcountry? We moved from Ohio to Hilton Head Island in June of 2015 but have owned here since January 2013.

What makes this organization special to you?

No matter where I have lived, I have always felt it was important to give back to your community. Meals on Wheels got my attention when I discovered there was such a need for so many people living on our island for a nutritious, hot meal, whether due to a temporary illness or surgery, or just the inability to get out and about.

I enjoy seeing the smiles on their faces when I come knocking on their door.

What are your duties as a volunteer?

I arrive at our Meals on Wheels location by 9:30 a.m.

The meals, drinks and sides have been set up on tables for each route; I am currently on route 1, which is midisland to the south end. I label the bags with each client’s name and separate the hot foods from the cool drinks and sides. I carry two coolers, one for the hot and one for the cold, which are filled with the delivery order of the route for that day. Then I head out for delivery. Each client has different instructions on delivery, but for the most part, I knock and wait for them to come to the door.

Then off to the next.

How many hours a week do you spend volunteering? On the route I serve, each volunteer is given a day of the week, and then you volunteer every other month. My day is Thursday, and it usually takes about two hours from start to finish.

What do you like to do in your spare time— just for fun? I like to run or walk on the beach or around my neighborhood, and I also like working on jigsaw puzzles, usually 1000 pieces. I almost always have a puzzle going on my puzzle board; it is a good stress reliever.

Meals On Wheels

Daniel G. MERKEL

What is the organization’s mission?

To promote independence, social interaction, and employment opportunities for adults who live with intellectual disabilities. We implement our mission by providing help through guidance and encouragement in a friendly environment for adults with a broad spectrum of intellectual, physical and development disabilities to enhance their live through socialization, literacy, and vocational training.

How long have you been a resident of the Lowcountry? Owned a condo on HHI from 1998-2006, then purchased a house in Windmill Harbour. Have been a permanent resident since July 2010.

What makes this organization special to you? I have been especially blessed in my life and activities with success and health.

PEP provides an opportunity to contribute to the community at large and special members of the community specifically. The members are truly “special”: loving, caring, without prejudice or inhibitions.

What are your duties as a volunteer?

To sustain the vibrancy, financial capability, and viability of the organization through multiple applications of time and efforts while working with others.

As president of the board, my principal contribution is to inform the board members of events and activities at PEP, implement the prerogatives of the board, provide direction and guidance to the executive director and development director (fundraising), represent PEP as needed, and to oversee the financial health of the organization while working with our treasurer.

How many hours a week do you spend volunteering? In addition to PEP, I also serve as a volunteer at St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, the American Boat Club (formerly Sail & Power Squadron), and do boat safety inspections for the U.S. Coast Guard through the American Boating Club. Collectively, on average, I invest approximately 15 hours each week as a volunteer.

What do you do in your spare time— just for fun? Golf once or twice per week as time permits, boating, biking, reading (typically one book per week), work out three times per week, traveling (restricted during COVID), gardening, and a sundry of other activities that fill my day. That’s enough!

Programs for Exceptional People (PEP)

“I have been especially blessed in my life and activities with success and health.

PEP provides an opportunity to contribute to the community at large and special members of the community specifically.

The members are truly “special”: loving, caring, without prejudice or inhibitions.”

Barb & Marshall

GRIMES

What is the organization’s mission? To improve the lives of home-

What are your duties as a volunteer? We are a pretty small

less dogs and cats while also working to substantially lower the numbers of animals reproduced or relinquished.

group. In addition to ourselves, we also have Lori Frankovic and John Welty on the eBay team. The Litter Box benefits from the donation of many quality items, some of which can be better marketed to the wider eBay community. The donation room has become very good at spotting such items, and they are sent upstairs to us for further research and listing. Marshall does most of the ship– ping as well as some listing, and I do most of the listing. We include a packing slip in every box shipped that contains information about our cause. We have sold some interesting things: Mont Blanc pens, an Italian bicycle, snow skis, jewelry, quality art, high end stereo equipment and a motorcycle seat. If people have some nicer things to donate, we can assure you that our eBay team strives to make as much money as possible for the dogs and cats. If you bring an item in that you feel is valuable, please let someone in the donation room know and they will take it from there. The more information we have about items from the donor, the better! If you are an

How long have you been a resident of the Lowcountry?

We moved to Hilton Head 11 years ago from Northern Virginia after vacationing here many years.

What makes this organization special to you? We are big animal lovers and fostered dogs and organized dog adoptions in Virginia for a rescue, so volunteering for Hilton Head Humane was a natural fit. We’ve been volunteering at the Litter Box for 10 years. The shelter is so clean, and they take such great care of their animals. We were also impressed with their goal of making Beaufort County a no-kill county by partnering with Beaufort County Animal Services. This goal was realized a few years ago with the opening of the Okatie Campus. We are very proud to be a part of this effort. Our three cats and dog all came from HHH!

eBay shopper, find our over 300 listed items by clicking on Advanced Search to the right of the search box on the eBay main screen, scrolling down until you see Sellers. Click “only show items from” and type hiltonheadhumaneassociation to the right of include.

How many hours a week do you spend volunteering?

We spend three to four mornings a week at the Litter Box and 10-12 hours weekly at home fielding offers, answering questions, and revising items. We are looking for more volunteers for our team. We always have a backlog of items to list simply because we don’t have enough help. Come join us and help make some money for animals!

What do you like to do in your spare time—just for fun?

We both love being outside, so we kayak, bike, golf, and play pickleball.

Marshall is a big reader, and I enjoy visiting the shelter and socializing the cats every week. We also foster kittens from time to time.

The Litter Box/Hilton Head Humane Association

Bannon Law Group Team: Melissa Arnold, Jim Bannon and Meredith Bannon

Article by Barry Kaufman . Photography by M.Kat

With A Straight Face Jim and Meredith Bannon bring their lighthearted approach to the serious business of the law.

I

f you’ve ever been on the megapopular website Reddit, you know that Redditors, as they are called, love to disagree on things. You can post something as innocuous as a picture of a piece of bread nailed to a tree (and someone has) and expect a full-blown brouhaha to break out. Which is what makes it so weird when they all find something they agree on.

“If I ever needed a criminal defense lawyer or a real estate lawyer in South Carolina, Bannon would be the only one I knew of!” wrote one user with the handle HoratiosGhost.

When kikishe123 commented, “It’s honestly advertising genius,” they were met with GeorgiaJeb’s reply, “‘From your new house to the big house’ made me spit out my wine.” (This last comment was, it should be noted, followed by the classic tears-in-the-eye laughing emoji, so you know they meant it).

This is the kind of universal Reddit adoration usually reserved for the latest Marvel movie or an adorable cat photo, and it’s aimed squarely at Bannon Law Group, the local firm run by Jim and Meredith Bannon. They’ve been locally famous for years due to their unique dual practice — Jim handles criminal defense and Meredith handles real estate law — but now they’re globally famous.

This fame comes courtesy of journalist Mandy Matney’s Murdaugh Murders podcast, focusing on the bizarre legal circus that has put our region in the spotlight. As one of the first sponsors of this national sensation, which has since risen up the ranks to one of the top podcasts in the world, the Bannons definitely got their money’s worth out of their ads.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

29

We take your case seriously… but not ourselves.

“We thought it was a local story that locals would follow, so it would be a good way to reach people around here,” Jim said.

“And now, my friend in Finland sent me an article that cites the podcast,” Meredith added. “This one forensic psychologist asked Jim, ‘Are you the same Bannon that sponsors my favorite podcast?’”

Perhaps part of the reason the ads are getting noticed is the fact that they don’t sound at all like your typical attorney ads. Forget the worn-out tropes about “we will

30

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

fight for you.” These are ads that demand attention, with an ever-revolving array of taglines that spell out the nature of their dual practice. From contract high to contact high.

From contract dispute to hot pursuit. From sitting by the fire to setting it.

Okay, so that last one may have crossed a line.

“I did get one email from a lady telling me arson’s not funny,” Jim said.

“But you don’t want to hear the ideas that didn’t make it to the air,” Meredith added with a laugh.

THESE ARE ADS THAT DEMAND ATTENTION, WITH AN EVERREVOLVING ARRAY OF TAGLINES THAT SPELL OUT THE NATURE OF THEIR DUAL PRACTICE. FROM CONTRACT HIGH TO CONTACT HIGH. FROM CONTRACT DISPUTE TO HOT PURSUIT. FROM SITTING BY THE FIRE TO SETTING IT.

“No, those are in the vault,” Jim said. “When you try to write jokes, not all of them land.”

Beyond highlighting the unorthodox way Bannon Law Group has paired the two very different practices of Jim and Meredith, these ads serve as your first introduction to a couple with a very approachable style to the law.

“If you find it amusing, you get a sense of who we are and the different perspective we take,” Meredith said.

“We’re taking that stuffiness out of it … and we know we can back up what we say.”

“We’ll take your case seriously, but advertising isn’t your case,” Jim added.

And besides, if the Bannons want to lighten things up, it’s hard to blame them. This past year and a half has been a strange time for all of us. And when you work in real estate law, it’s been even stranger.

“It was crazy because we were on pace in March 2020 to have the best year ever. Then it all stopped, and we went from growth mode to hunkering down,” Meredith said. “And then, two months later, it was like someone turned the firehose on. God bless our employees; they did a ton of heavy lifting.”

Added Jim, “I just remember thinking, ‘Who’s going to buy a house in the middle of all this?’”

“And everyone in New York was like, ‘Me,’” Meredith responded.

The volume on the real estate side of the practice has been so explosive over the last year that Jim and Meredith brought on another attorney, Melissa Arnold.

“We’ve known her for years,” Meredith said, “and we just thought, ‘If you’re going to take the time to train a paralegal, why not just train a lawyer?’”

With Jim continuing to build on his criminal defense practice and Meredith managing the surge of interest in the real estate market, it’s a busy time for Bannon Law Group. So busy, in fact, they won’t even have time to plan the party for the 10-year anniversary of their practice coming up this year.

“Jim started off in a one-room windowless office,” Meredith said. “It has been kind of fun to look back.”

“We’ve come a long way,” Jim said. “It’s not always been a straight line.”

But then, playing it straight has never been their style.  For more information, visit bannonlawgroup.com.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

31

Carolina Rides Custom Moke Low-Speed Vehicle Max Speed 25mph, Range 40 miles, Charge time 6-8hrs and much more!

Call us at 844.DRV.MOKE (378.6653) to make one yours.

*Prices change and human error occurs.

Please confirm all pricing with stores listed.

GIFT GUIDE IM

FOR H

Palmettoes Leather Belt $95

Southern Tide Maui Jim Blue Hawaii Nautilus Sunglasses, $330

Southern Tide Southern Tide Yeti Hopper Flop 12 $250

John Bayley Clothier Blue Mark™ Eau de Parfum $78

Outside Hilton Head Patagonia Travel Bag $199

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 33

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please confirm all pricing with stores listed.

Southern Drawl Outfitters Slight Line Provisions Leather Bracelets $70-$100

LUX - A Medical Spa 10% off Glow pads. Retail $95. Give the gift of flawless skin to your man this Christmas.

Palmettoes Johnnie-O Button Up Shirt $145 F/X Fushion Navy Vest $85

Forsythe Jewelers MacKenzieChilds 5” × 7” Hopscotch Frame. It’s decorated with a black and white striped cow hairon-hide pattern, accented with faux suede trim. $135 .

Outside Hilton Head Smathers & Branson wallet $55

Rollers Wine & Spirits Macallan 15YR Double Cask, $147 Burnt Church Distillery Whiskey, $54 Hilton Head Distillery Dark Pineapple Rum, $30

Southern Tide Boxers $24.50 and Boxer Briefs $34.50

Southern Drawl Outfitters Fishpond Backpack $300

Palmetto Dunes Robert Trent Jones Pro Shop Titleist ProV1x Golf Balls, $30 FootJoy TropiCool Golf Glove, $17

Palmetto Dunes Robert Trent Jones Pro Shop Turtleson Wallace 1/4 Zip, $105 C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 35

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please confirm all pricing with stores listed.

Palmetto Dunes Robert Trent Jones Pro Shop Callaway/ OGIO Palmetto Dunes Big Dome Duffle Bag, $72

Eyeland Optique Lindberg from the 8000 series. Plate titanium with acetate inner shields and Zeiss polarized back-surfaced AR treated lenses. $725.

John Bayley Clothier johnnie-O Fox 2-Way Zip Front Lightweight Vest $178

Club Car of Hilton Head Club Car Consumer Connect GPS system, $1299

Optical Solutions FENDI Eyeglasses Come by our store to try yours on today!

Palmettoes

Alan Payne Blue Suede Loafers, $195 Gordon Palmetto Tree Socks, $25

Southern Drawl Outfitters Redington Fly Fishing Kits, ranging from $299-$350 C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 37

ARTICLE BY BECCA EDWARDS

WHY YOU

NEED

MONTHLY

SPA TREATMENTS

M

any people think of spa treatments as a luxury, not a necessity. Facials, massages, mani/pedis, or any service that helps us look or feel better can be misconceived as something decadent to do on special occasions, like on vacation or when we need to right a wrong in the world like the cancellation of ABC’s Bless This Mess.

But ask yourself: Why should lavender scented organic bamboo sheets, music that tricks us into thinking we are suddenly and blissfully in nirvana, and a therapist with the hands of an angel be something we should only do in moderation or when we “deserve it”?

Some people even admit to feeling guilty about getting regular spa treatments, as if it makes them less of a wife, mother or boss if they take time out to get their eyebrows tinted or have their face dermaplaned.

Well, let’s strip down and robe up to all the reasons why we need monthly spa treatments: • Saves you money down the line I can personally attest to the roll-back-the-clock magic and moneysaving benefits of monthly skincare treatments. I joined a monthly program over a year ago and get the HydraFacial, a great resurfacing treatment comparable to getting a microdermabrasion, light chemical peel, and facial all-in-one (and with no downtime). Typically, a HydraFacial costs $180, but the beauty of joining a monthly program is the discounted

AS MANY ESTHETICIANS WILL POINT OUT, OUR SKINCARE NEEDS CHANGE CONSTANTLY BECAUSE OF OUR GENETIC PREDISPOSITION, OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR INTERNAL HEALTH AND, OF COURSE, OUR CHRONOLOGICAL AGE. CONSISTENT MONTHLY TREATMENTS ALLOW US TO CONSTANTLY ASSESS AND RESPOND TO OUR UNIQUE SKINCARE NEEDS AND ARE ESSENTIAL TO AGING GRACEFULLY AND EVEN CORRECTING SKIN CONCERNS AND CONDITIONS.

price on services (e.g., my monthly HydraFacial only costs $99). By joining a monthly maintenance program, I have also found that I am less likely to spend money on the latest fad anti-aging cream; I only spend $1,200 a year (which is almost half the cost of more aggressive yearly treatments); and I am more likely to wear sunscreen (i.e., less likely to develop skin cancer)—just to name a few penny-pinching plus column items. In addition, as many estheticians will point out, our skincare needs change constantly because of our genetic predisposition, our environment, our internal health and, of course, our chronological age. Consistent monthly treatments allow us to constantly assess and respond to our unique

40

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

skincare needs and are essential to aging gracefully and even correcting skin concerns and conditions.

• Becomes an integral part of your overall wellness plan According to an AMTA Consumer Survey, “Sixty-seven percent of individuals surveyed claim their primary reason for receiving a massage in the previous 12 months was medical.”

Medical can mean anything from treating physical conditions like neck pain to mental health issues like stress or anxiety.

(And take it from me, if you have chronic neck pain, it affects your mental game, too.) Furthermore, treatments like a monthly massage work symbiotically with a good diet and exercise. The better your mind and body feel, the more likely you are going to opt for the vegan poke bowl and feel like going for that beach walk, group run or bike ride. Inasmuch, regular bodywork improves your circulation, lymphatic system, mood, and sleep.

• Is a component of self-care As my favorite yoga teacher explained, “Self-care is vital to mental and physical health. If we don’t take care of ourselves first, our relationships with friends and family will be at risk. Taking care of yourself first is an act of self-love

SELF-CARE IS VITAL TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH. IF WE DON’T TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES FIRST, OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY WILL BE AT RISK. TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF FIRST IS AN ACT OF SELF-LOVE WHICH WE CAN THEN SHARE WITH OTHERS.

which we can then share with others.” Self-care comes in many forms, but my favorite method is through acupuncture and massage. After a session, I almost feel like an Etch-ASketch that went from having a continuous confusion of lines to a blank slate.

• Helps you de-stress You could put 100 people in one room, and they would have one thing in common: stress. It’s pervasive. To mitigate stress and therefore be the best version of ourselves, we all must make time to de-stress. When we get spa treatments, we receive the power of touch from a therapist or esthetician.

An article in Psychology Today, which examined the power of touch in our society and its direct effects on the brain, found that oxytocin levels go up, heart rate drops, and our sense of trust and confidence increases with human touch.  Becca Edwards is a wellness professional, freelance writer, and owner of Female IQ (femaleIQ.com).

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 41

NOVEMBER 2021 SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL SECTION

MEDICAL SPAS Great skin doesn't happen by chance.

It happens by appointment.

Bella Sante Esthetics, The Sanctuary Spa and European Wax Center

KENNEDY GEYER

What is a typical work week like for you?

I am busy running all aspects of the business. I grew so fast as a solo esthetician that I decided to follow my dream and go storefront. But I wouldn’t have made the leap without first finding my dream team. I honestly owe so much to Katie and LeeAnne.

What is a common misconception that people have about what you do?

That facials are just cucumbers and fluff. Skin health is similar to fitness. Facials=workouts, skincare products=nutrition, esthetician=personal trainer.

BELLA SANTÉ ESTHETICS

What services do you offer?

A wide variety of corrective facials,

LISA MURPHY GOMEZ

chemical peels, waxing, lash lift/tint, and a little soul healing.

Last book/podcast you read/listened to?

I start every morning with a positive podcast. It truly sets the tone for my day. I think The Ed Mylett Show is inspiring and life-changing.

T H E S A N C T U A R Y S PA

What is your specialty?

Acne and anti-aging. Acne is something I’m extremely passionate about because it’s not only physically painful but emotionally as well.

Bella Santé Esthetics 29 Plantation Park, Suite 204 Bluffton, SC 29910 (317) 698-7912 bsebluffton@gmail.com www.bellasanteesthetics.com

I

have been a licensed esthetician for almost 35 years and opened The Sanctuary in 1997. I wanted to create a relaxing spa atmosphere, while offering treatments that are result-driven as opposed to what I call ‘fluffy’ treatments that may smell and feel nice but don’t accomplish much!

I specialize in customized facials, which include Guinot Hydradermie, micro channeling, dermaplaning, dermabrasion, and chemical peels. I also offer waxing, electrolysis, body wraps, ear candling, spray tans, lash and brow tinting, and massage therapy.

I completed two years’ training in England and had worked internationally before opening my business.

I am blessed that I still love this industry and have had many of my clients for almost 25 years.

I love to help relax people and improve their appearance. I love learning new techniques, and my clients are always keen to

try them. Having had a large Spa for 17 years, for the past seven, I relocated to a smaller space, and love it!

My husband owns JRS Auto Detailing, so we both work long days in order to take three or four off and travel in our RV. The most challenging aspect for me is to not work 12-plus-hour days as I really do love what I do!

We are about to celebrate 25 years since The Sanctuary opened, so next year is going to be so fun and exciting. I truly am thankful to all my clients who are so loyal and supportive.

32 Palmetto Bay Rd. 12a The Village Exchange Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 290-1062 Sanctuary-spa.com Lisasanctuary@yahoo.com

Rebecca Mancini, owner of Maggie and Me Boutique, in Old Town Bluffton.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

maggie + me B

O

U

T

I

Q

U

E

A pandemic-proof Bluffton boutique

A

little over a year ago, Rebecca Mancini, Ohio native and owner of Maggie and Me boutique, was visiting her sorority sister in Bluffton on what she regards as her hiatus from COVID-19. Her original Maggie and Me, located in Circleville, Ohio, was closed, and she was facing the same pressures and uncertainty that other business owners were facing during the throes of the 2020 pandemic.

“Just as it was for many others, it was devastating to be in my situation. My Ohio store is twice as big as our Bluffton space, and our specialty at that store is dresses for prom and homecoming. Obviously, with school closures in 2020 and into 2021, there were no formal events. We were closed for a couple of months, and it was tough,” Mancini said.

Mancini did everything she could to keep her Ohio business alive while it was closed, including selling items on social media, selling gift cards, and hosting private events. She decided to take a road trip to reconnect with a few friends and eventually ended up in Bluffton to visit Leslie Trenta, her friend, and Tri Sigma sister with whom she attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.

Then Mancini experienced a pandemic miracle. “The Bluffton spot found ME!” she said. “Not only did Leslie introduce me to the charm of Old Town Bluffton, but she also literally ignited the spark that became Maggie and Me Bluffton.”

One day after Mancini returned to Ohio, she received a text message with a photo from her friend. The photo was a cottage with a sign out front that said, “For Rent” with a phone number on it. Mancini saw the text and drove straight C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

47

back to Bluffton.

“Here I am just trying to get my head together and keep my Ohio store alive, and Leslie sends me this text with this picture of this great little spot,” she said. “I literally jumped on it and signed the lease the very next day.” In a funny twist of fate, almost a year to the date of opening Maggie and Me, her friend Leslie, is opening her own interior design shop, Marsh on the May, in downtown Bluffton.

48

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

Mancini had lots of help from local Bluffton supporters and stayed busy getting Maggie and Me Bluffton up and running. She relied on vendors she has known forever to help with all the initial merchandise.

Then she simply began to listen to her customers and find out what they wanted in the store.

“My customers are moms, grand moms, daughters and granddaughters,” Mancini said. “I just really enjoy shopping for girls—it is a niche that I truly love—and I have decided to allow my customers take my Bluffton store where they want it to go.”

Maggie and Me is a fashion-forward coastal boutique that specializes in casual clothes for women, girls, tweens, toddlers, and infant girls and boys. The store is also known for beautiful gifts and gift wrapping.

Favorite brands include Free People, a line targeted to smart, creative, confident women of all ages who are comfortable in all aspects of femininity: sweet to tough to tomboy to romantic, and M Rena, a beautiful, high-quality line of tops, tunics, and leggings, made in the USA. “I’ve carried M Rena for 20 years at the Ohio store,” Mancini said, “and I have to reorder it often. The fabrics are great for this climate.”

Other great lines include: • Buttery-soft, “cashmere” denim by Free People, Miss Me, and Grace Jeans of LA. • Trendy tees and sweatshirts by Boat House Apparel, Love Monday, and Sub Urban Riot.

• Unique dresses and tops for special events and weddings by Lucy Paris, FRNCH and HTML. • Mother/daughter, baby, toddler, and tween looks by Rylee + Cru Customers can also find three exciting jewelry lines, each made by local women who have found a new passion and outlet for their creativity:

• EDDA by Cyndy Helmey features uniquely designed, handpounded and twisted metal and beaded earrings.

• Jan Ziter Designs features leather and metal beautifully combined into lightweight, comfortable earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. Her signature piece is a leather bracelet embellished with a turtle.

• Lucie Ann features exquisite, hand-painted, one-of-a-kind earrings.

OluKai is a good-looking, easy, orthopedic shoe line that comes in both shoe and flip-flop options. Maggie and Me stocks these in both men’s and women’s sizes and is, in fact, the only men’s item they carry. Sperry Topsiders, vegan and leather fashion forward purses and bags and other great accessories are also available.

“We love comfort, quality and spoiling our customers,” Mancini said. “When you shop here, you can expect head-to-toe service, and we cater to all ages. We send out old-fashioned postcards to our customers on their birthdays and for in-house events.”

Maggie and Me hosts private shopping and other small, intimate occasions. They recently hosted a group of ladies from Sun City for a special night of desserts and refreshments. Customers can also look forward to fashion shows and trunk shows in the future.

“When we first opened, we were so welcomed by the community and Chamber,” Mancini said. “I have never seen such an outpouring of love and acceptance at a store opening. We received lovely writeups and lots of word-of-mouth referrals from our friends eager to share what our boutique is about, including how customer serviceoriented we are.”

Mancini’s Ohio location recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary, and on Nov. 13, her Maggie and Me Bluffton store will be one year old. Customers old and new can expect a birthday celebration the entire week of Nov. 13, when Mancini and her staff will express their gratitude to the Town of Bluffton for contributing to the success of this new endeavor.

“I have 35 years in the retail business,” Mancini said. “For 15 years, I was opening, running, and buying for others, and for the past 20, I have had my own store. I feel so unbelievably thankful to have a positive story coming out of the pandemic. Our Lowcountry customers truly helped me keep the Ohio boutique alive. We all need to be reminded that there are blessings during this trying time, and we want people to know that Maggie and Me is one of those blessings.”  For more information, connect with Maggie and Me on Facebook @ maggieandmebluffton and on Instagram @maggieandmeoldtownbluffton.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

49

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN Select cast members from May River Theatre’s All Together Now: (left to right) Lucy Reese, Daniel Bittick, Lily Beck, Henry Dreier, Sarah Clemmons, Mary Metsker, Julie Seibold, Don Schlieger, Harper Krimm, Rashad Gadson

The Show Must Go On Bluffton’s biggest little performance troupe, May River Theatre, announces its triumphant comeback with All Together Now!

T

his past month, Broadway celebrated its grand reopening with a massive, televised blowout boasting some of the great white way’s biggest stars. Having been shuttered for more than a year during the COVID pandemic, the most legendary performers in the business had been champing at the bit to hear a round of applause once again, and the world watched as the curtain rose.

That’s all well and good for Broadway, but what about those theatres across the country that don’t get a televised special? For them, this pandemic has been even harder, with

no certainty of packed houses and lucrative merchandise sales waiting on the other side.

“When COVID hit, we were supposed to have a show two weeks after that,” said May River Theatre board president Beth Schlieger. Compounding this horrible timing was the fact that MRT’s home for the last few decades has been Ulmer Auditorium, which, being located entirely within town hall, was under a lockdown long after the first stay-at-home orders were rescinded.

“We didn’t have access to our theatre, so we were trying to make it work,” Schlieger said. “We did pop-up C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

51

A

May River Theatre’s All Together Now: (left to right) Lucy Reese, Daniel Bittick, Lily Beck, Henry Dreier, Sarah Clemmons, Mary Metsker, Julie Seibold, Don Schlieger, Harper Krimm, Rashad Gadson

events at the Heyward House, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at Coastal Discovery, and this summer we did Big Fish at May River High School.”

Back in their home theatre, the troupe finally gets to celebrate Ulmer Auditorium’s beautiful new look, with the old drop ceiling taken out, gorgeous new light fixtures added in, and the sound completely updated.

“The renovated space is so cool. Back when they renovated town hall, they didn’t touch the theatre. They just renovated around us,” director Michelle McElroy said. “Then, right after they renovated it, COVID shut everything down.”

And while there may not be any splashy TV specials commemorating it, May River Theater is still back in a big way. “We’re just really excited,” Schlieger said. “COVID

52

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

threw a lot of wrenches in everyone’s plans, but it gives you the opportunity to think about how you reinvent yourself, and it gave us time as a board to reflect on where we’re headed and what we do.”

The first thing they’re doing is welcoming the Lowcountry’s theatregoers to the biggest little auditorium in the South for their triumphant staging of All Together Now!: A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre. This revue, covering some of Broadway’s greatest hits, is part of theatrical licensor Music Theatre International’s mission to help theatres big and small across the country make their return to the spotlight. “A lot of these songs, we just wouldn’t have access to,” Schlieger said. “I see this as a great opportunity.”

The eclectic show runs the gamut, featuring songs from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins, Disney’s Newsies, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Misérables, Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, Rent, and a host of other Broadway favorites.

Performing these numbers will be a group of 20 performers from all over the Lowcountry, including MRT veterans like Aidan Tibbitt, Daniel Bittick, and Harper Krimm among others (including backstage dresser Lily Beck, who gets a turn in the spotlight). There are also new faces like Rashad Gadson, who will feature in Jekyll & Hyde’s “This is the Moment,” while performing the herculean role of ensemble member in nearly every other number. (“It’s all big numbers, and it’s all back-to-back,” he said with a laugh). Theatre fans from north of the broad will have seen Julie Seibold in a number of productions up in Beaufort, and now they can witness her Bluffton debut as Mary Poppins.

“I actually had a Mary Poppins costume I made for Halloween, so I dressed up for my audition,” Seibold said.

“I had a lot of fun doing that—maybe too much fun.”

Another player making her MRT debut will be Sarah Clemmons, a familiar face around Bluffton, performing what she refers to as “the thirstiest song in Broadway history,” “Take a Chance on Me” from Mamma Mia! “I haven’t been in any shows since college, but they sent me the info on this and I felt like it was right up my alley,” Clemmons said.

And those are just a handful of the talented performers who will take part in All Together Now!, carrying on May River Theatre’s grand tradition of being a true community playhouse. “Over half the people in this cast I’ve worked with previously in other shows,” McElroy said. All Together Now! marks the third show that McElroy, well-known in the community as theatre director at Hilton Head Christian Academy, has directed at May River Theatre, after Little Women and The Outsiders. “It’s an awesome little community of people … I think directing at May River Theatre is my favorite because it’s so laid back,” she said. “Everyone’s here to have a good time. It’s true community theatre as it’s meant to be.” All Together Now! Performances at 7 p.m. November 12 & 13 and 2 p.m. November 13 & 14 at Ulmer Auditorium, 20 Bridge St., Bluffton. Tickets are $15 senior/student, $20 adult. To purchase visit https://www.mayrivertheatre. com/.

Director: Michelle McElroy Music Director: Joshua Wall Choreographer: Jamal Edwards Featured performers Lily Beck, Daniel Bittick, Melinda Bray, Sarah Clemmons, Henry Dreier, Rashad Gadson, Millie Gilbreath, Harper Krimm, Mary Metsker, Logan Naddy, Lucy Reese, Don Schlieger, Julie Seibold, Nora Songer Ensemble Anri Braun, Nicolette Brown, Christa Forntey and Aidan Tibbitt Songs “Pure Imagination” “Matchmaker” “Back to Before” “This is the Moment” “We’re All in this Together” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” “The New World” “Somewhere That’s Green” “Seize the Day” “When I Grow Up” “Take a Chance On Me” “Astonishing” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” “Seasons of Love” C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

53

Article by Barry Kaufman

How Priscilla Neville found lifelong friends, curious wildlife and a deep disgust for Froot Loops Pop-Tarts on the Appalachian Trail.

h On Bondcliff in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

This wasn’t actually on the Appalachian Trail—it was about two miles off trail but was totally worth the extra four miles it added to the day because of how beautiful it was.

t was nighttime on the Appalachian Trail, during a rocky stretch that pinballs between peaks of the Smoky Mountains. The towering Virginia pines held up a sky that was slowly bleeding inky black, and Priscilla Neville was cooking her dinner around a crackling fire.

That was when she saw her first bear. “We looked up at the ridgeline, and we saw a momma bear and her three cubs. A few minutes later, they were right behind our tent,” she said. “So, we ended up packing up and leaving camp and walking two more miles because it was just a really sketchy situation. They were getting really close to our tents.”

It wouldn’t be her last ursine encounter on the trail.

Further along, as the mountains begin the gradual slide toward the northeastern lowlands, she and her group would find a heart-wrenching scene as a bear discovered and attacked a baby deer huddled under a rock.

“One of my friends just started crying,” Neville said. “I didn’t even realize bears ate animals. I thought for the most part they ate berries and plants.”

But that breathless balance between unspeakable tragedy and awe-inspiring beauty is part of what makes hiking the Appalachian Trail a bucket list item for so many.

FROM THE PAGE TO THE TRAIL In 2012, author Cheryl Strayed released her memoir, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. After it was chosen for Oprah’s Book Club, it took a ride to the top of the best seller list and was eventually optioned for a movie starring Reese Witherspoon.

But more germane to our story, Strayed’s unflinching memoir of her time traversing the PCT served as an

enormous inspiration for Neville.

“I was only on the first chapter, and I was like, ‘This is perfect.’ I’d just graduated in May of 2020, and while I’d been nannying, I hadn’t really started my career,” she said.

“It was the perfect time.”

Of course, the Appalachian Trail isn’t the PCT; it’s harder.

The Pacific Coast Trail was graded for horses, while its East Coast counterpoint is decidedly a little more rugged. “On the Appalachian Trail, a lot of times you’re literally climbing,” Neville said.

Undaunted by her lack of experience, Neville did a practice run on the Palmetto Trail just to make sure she was up to it. “I did one overnight just to see if I could make everything work and sleep in the woods without being scared to death. I didn’t sleep, but I figured I would figure out how to sleep,” she said. “(Strayed) had no experience, either.”

LOADING UP THE PACK Life on the trail demands that anyone willing to take it on must also resign themselves to living simply. Spending days, sometimes weeks, far away from civilization in the heart of a mountainous forest means you eat only what you bring with you and dress and sleep in whatever fits on your back.

When Neville set off from the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail at Georgia’s Springer Mountain, she brought with her just a tent, a sleeping bag, two outfits, and three pairs of socks. “Honestly, my pack weighed 30 pounds, but most of that weight was food,” she said.

You eat a lot more than you normally do, so you have to carry a lot of food, and that can be hard.”

This meant cereal with powdered milk for breakfast,

In Grayson Highlands, Virginia with the wild ponies. This was my favorite part of the trail up until the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

At the summit of Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, with the first white blaze.

or perhaps some oatmeal (“I just got tired of that,” she said). For lunch, a block of cheese when it was cold enough to not spoil in her pack, avocados, bell peppers and maybe a packet of chicken or tuna for protein. “Tuna definitely got old really quick,” she said. “I ate it for two weeks straight, and I can never eat tuna again.”

Dehydrated Knorr sides turned out to be a staple, but there was one item that sustained Neville through even the harshest days.

“I became addicted to Pop-Tarts, which is horrible because I studied nutrition in college and I’m out there eating candy and Pop-Tarts every day,” she said. “But you’re still hungry, and you need sugar and fast calories in your blood.”

She even became a connoisseur of sorts. After all, it’s not just about survival. “I’d eat the strawberry ones, just the basics,” she said. “I did try the Froot Loops Pop-Tart and they were absolutely disgusting.”

BUBBLES AND TRAMILIES Of course, humans need far more than just food and water to survive. We need companionship, and Neville found that in spades along the trail. “The first day, I probably met 6-7 people; the second day at the shelter, there were 10-15 people. You get in little bubbles and form a ‘tramily,’” she said. “That’s what they call your trail family. I had a tramily for the first half of the trail, and then I kind of separated and started doing stuff on my own.”

These loosely affiliated tribes are part of the Appalachian Trail experience. You’ll meet people along the way, and since you’re all headed in the same direction, over time you’ll just sort of gel. You share

56

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

At the summit of Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail in Maine—the end of my journey

The sunset from atop Mt. Garfield in the White Mountains of NH.

shelters, you share food, and you share your lives, even if only for this brief moment. And when it’s time to say farewell, most of the time you depart as newfound friends.

“There’s some kind of intimacy on the trail; you get to know them so much quicker than you would in real life,” Neville said.

“Maybe it’s the vulnerability of being out in the wildernesses, but a day is like a week. You trust people pretty quickly out there.”

And these are not just casual flings of deep-seated friendship.

Neville says that, even months after leaving the trail, she keeps in touch. “I met my friend—her name is Feathers—in New Hampshire, and we ended up becoming best friends. We just vibed really well together,” Neville said. “She lives in Nashville, and we’ve talked about moving in together somewhere different for both of us.”

It’s a uniquely instant connection that you’ll find in few places other than the wilderness. “That’s the community; you meet people and get to know them immediately,” Neville continued. “I’m a people person, so it was really cool to meet so many different people from all over the world.”

FROM GEORGIA TO MAINE, WITH A SLIGHT DETOUR As the Appalachian Trail winds 2,190 miles through 14 states, it offers thru-hikers the chance to experience four different seasons in the span of a six-month journey. At the beginning of her journey, the leaves hadn’t yet grown back in the Georgia woods, allowing brisk mountain air and sunshine to take center stage. As the trail ascended into Virginia, spring wildflowers lined the trail. And atop Clingmans Dome, the bountiful Fraser Firs filled the air with the

scent of Christmas.

“It was nice there in the middle range in West Virginia and New Jersey. There are a couple of different states that were relatively flat, but you were just walking on rocks all the time,” Neville said. “It was nice to have the changes in the trail. The mountains are bigger than you’d think in Maine and New Hampshire. It was a hard trail, but it was beautiful.”

It was at the part of the trail considered the most difficult, where it winds through the White Mountains of New Hampshire, that Neville took a well-deserved break from the hiker trash lifestyle.

Her friend was getting married, and there was a bachelorette party in Key West that she couldn’t miss.

“I got off right before the hardest part of the trail, so when I got back on … there had been a lot of drinking at the bachelorette party.

It was some of the hardest mountains I’ve had to climb,” she said. “It was a big switch, but nice because I’d been wearing the same outfit for five months. It was fun to put on makeup and a cute outfit. Being a wilderness woman so long, it was nice to be a girl for a while.”

Nevertheless, she persisted along the trail until finally, after more than six months of a journey that started in the Georgia foothills, she arrived at Maine’s Baxter State Park.

“My mom and sisters came and picked me up and went to Acadia near Bar Harbor. I was honestly so tired,” Neville said. “I was on such a high from being on the trail, but then saying goodbye to friends, I was on a low. Acadia was beautiful, but I was just done.”

Neville had packed a lot of living into those six months, with the same care she had packed her tent, sleeping bag and PopTarts. And every step of those thousands of miles was worth the effort.

“I feel really accomplished, but it was such a great experience, I don’t feel super proud, I just wish it was longer,” she said. And to anyone who might want to follow in her footsteps? “Just do it. There’s nothing holding you back. You just have to get the gear and get out there and give it a go. It’s definitely not as hard as it sounds. You just take one step at a time.” 

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

57

ART IC LE BY AMY BART LE T T

Future site of Osprey Village in Hardeville, SC.

A N E IG H BORHOOD WIT H PU RPOSE

W

ith the amount of the rapid development and burgeoning municipal growth in Bluffton and the surrounding area, there’s a particularly bright spot of city planning that reads like a “restoring faith in humanity” storybook.

Osprey Village is an inspired and innovative dream-inprogress, just off highway 170 in Hardeeville—a fully planned inclusive neighborhood, designed to empower adults with developmental disabilities, that sprouted from a group of advocates and family members with loved ones in need of resources.

Part of a 2008 non-profit corporation associated with the East Argent development, the Osprey vision is to create an environment that provides meaningful employment, social opportunities, and affordable housing, within an inclusive community, maximizing the freedom and independence of adults with developmental disabilities.

A MOTHER’S HOPE Perhaps one of the clearest and dearest examples of this vision is found in the story of Ericha Doubles and her

mother Sue. At 50 years old, managing developmental disability and having survived a stroke that left her paraplegic, Ericha leads an incredibly active life—working, volunteering, working out, and going out with friends.

Unable to drive, she relies on Uber and her mother for transportation. But her mother, Sue, is her source for much more than the occasional lift, and that’s where Sue’s dream comes in.

At this point, both Ericha and Sue must consider the most realistic option for Ericha. Having acquired her driven lifestyle from her mother, there’s reason to believe Ericha won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

Sue, retired and widowed, is a driven, 80-year-old former teacher who is singularly responsible for majority of Ericha’s care. She is also one of the key players in the creation and pending development of Osprey Village. Early on, Sue told a friend, “We’re doing this … for our children,” and her commitment hasn’t waned as she and a group of similarly motivated partners created Osprey which stands for, “Our Special People Reaching Out to Elders and Youth.”

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

59

Not wanting to see her daughter displaced somewhere unfamiliar, Sue said, “I want to be alive to transition her into her new home and spend time with her at her house—to inspire Ericha to think of Osprey Village as her home.”

In Beaufort and Jasper counties, there are few to no options for Ericha or for Sue. But Osprey Village is on the road to changing that by offering a range of affordable options both to purchase and rent. Townhomes, apartments, condos, and cottages, including multi-family housing, will all be designed in true Southern architectural style within a tailored neighborhood, customizing shopping, amenities, job, and community recreation services for special needs utilization.

NEIGHBOR HELPING NEIGHBOR Uniquely, Osprey Village is not meant to be a secluded property contained within itself, but a sustainable environment that enables future residents to remain an integrated and active part of the surrounding community.

Catering to a variety of health and personal needs, Osprey Village will provide residents the benefit of a wide range of individualized care, services, and training opportunities.

Resource programs will be provided to aid residents in essential life goals including employment assistance and organized social activities. Identified as a “neighbor helping neighbor” setting, Osprey is ideal for elevating those who deserve it most to a place of personal respect, equity, and opportunities that set them up for success.

Mirroring the style and natural beauty of the surrounding Lowcountry landscape and lifestyle, Osprey has kept this look and feel a priority, rolling the beauty and peacefulness of the area’s natural resources into a well-situated, walkable neighborhood that, according to their website, will be close to shopping, health care, entertainment, and employment opportunities.

A MODEL FOR VISIONARIES EVERYWHERE Planned to span 25 acres near Argent Boulevard and 170, Osprey Village will not only provide onsite care but extended family resources like respite care, providing families needed time to take a break and regain needed strength and focus. Osprey understands that when we all have a chance to reconnect with ourselves, we can come back together better than ever.

“Better than ever” is the goal behind everything Osprey Village offers, and it can’t come soon enough, especially for families like the Doubles. As of fall 2021, projections are to start the first residential services for one to two dozen 60

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

adults in about two years. To make this happen, Osprey Village has developed a capital campaign, working towards raising the development’s first $14 million and putting out the call for impassioned and compassionate participation.

The variety of ways to get involved, contribute, participate, or even simply patronize their thrift store are all detailed on their website OspreyVillage.org.

The dreamers behind Osprey know how to inspire generosity and impact through their intentional collection of testimonials and vision casting, knowing their aspirations are a game changer for both individuals and the industry of carerelated residential and lifestyle resources. “The Osprey Village neighborhood is a service model to visionaries everywhere.

You are the bridge to the realization of this dream. It will take millions of dollars and enormous community commitment, but we can make it happen!” Sue said.

Can. Will. Are: The stories of hope and future benefit are already unfolding through inspirational videos, fundraising materials, and pages of coverage like the one you’ve just read. The next page of the story, however, is the one you write. You can pass the info on, contact Osprey Village with your questions or opportunities, ask the pertinent questions that open future doors, and of course donate.

You can call to find out more about resources for your loved ones. You can play any one of several life-changing roles in the promise of an independent and hopeful future for so many through Osprey Village.

The motto in our state of South Carolina is “While I breathe, I hope.” Osprey Village embraces that ideal, just like Sue and Ericha, hoping “as long as there’s breath in our lungs,” and believing, as a community comes together to bring their dream to life. 

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

61

ARE YOU COVERED? LOWCOUNTRY INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS

F E A T U R I N G Indepedent Benefit Advisors, McGriff Insurance Services, Premier Insurance Advisors, Hilton Head Insurance and Brokerage, John Mallett (State Farm), Assured Partners, Callen Insurance, Conquest Insurance, Kevin Sevier (State Farm), Seacoast Insurance, and Kinghorn Insurance Agency

KEVIN SEVIER . STATE FARM

K

evin Sevier has been a trusted State Farm® insurance advisor and resident of the Lowcountry since 2008, proudly serving Beaufort and Jasper counties from his location at Buckwalter Place Shopping Center in Bluffton. In establishing long-term relationships with his clients in the community, his mission has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and focus on what is important to each family.

Offering the highest levels of customer care, Kevin and

his team make themselves available. They ask the important and necessary questions to ensure that you don’t have gaps in your coverage. They offer premier policies in auto, home, renters, flood, umbrella and small business insurance to protect your property and liability, working with products such as life, health and disability insurance as well as banking products to help you secure your family’s financial future.

During these uncertain and historic times, monitoring and reviewing clients’ needs is an essential part of their daily

responsibilities. Welcoming one customer at a time, Kevin and his team look forward to the opportunity to establish new relationships by ensuring the highest level of customer care.

State Farm 301 Buckwalter Place Blvd.

Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 837-2886

ASSURED PARTNERS National Scope, Personal Focus

T

o some people, insurance might just be little more than a piece of paper kept in a safe somewhere. But to high-networth individuals, those who know that acquiring the good life and protecting the good life are two very different tasks, insurance is crucial—not just being insured, but having the correct insurance.

As an experienced insurance broker with more than 30 years’ experience protecting the assets of clients across the country, Robert Kerdasha knows all too well how important it is to find the insurance that works for you. He’s seen high-net-worth individuals fail to secure their valuable assets due to ill-fitting coverage and has made it his mission to see these assets protected.

His is a proactive approach, one that has

M C G R I F F I N S U RA N C E S E R V I C E S

T

hink all benefits advisors are the same? Think again. If you’re looking for an experienced partner to provide innovative employee benefit solutions to help you manage costs, mitigate risk, and engage employees, then look to McGriff Insurance Services. Our approach is simple. We listen to your needs, develop recommendations tailored to you, and then execute with precision. We do what we say we’ll do every single time. We are passionate

about making our clients successful.

McGriff Insurance has been operating in the Lowcountry since 1957 when it is was originally Carswell Insurance. The employee benefit department at McGriff in Hilton Head/Bluffton is represented by Stuart Bedenbaugh, Jessica Weaver and Mary Catherine Moore. All are longtime residents of the Lowcountry and have over 60 years’ combined employee benefits experience.

The McGriff team provides a range of

proven successful with more than 1,500 clients from the tranquil Lowcountry of the southeast to the rocky peaks of Big Sky country and everywhere in between. Backing up that approach is a wealth of tools and resources available to him through AssuredPartners.

Having received his Certified Advisor of Personal Insurance (CAPI) designation from the Aresty Institute of Executive Education at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Chubb Personal Insurance, Kerdasha is well-versed in the intricacies of insurance. Furthermore, he can leverage three decades worth of industry connections to serve his clients like few others can.

Yet with this national reach comes a truly personal approach, one borne of a personal dedication to protecting each of his clients and their assets.

1323 May River Rd., Suite 101 Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 706-2438

services and innovative solutions to help their clients’ administrators offer or create a complete, customized employee benefit package.

We at McGriff Insurance Services believe that outstanding insurance is just the start of a great relationship. We view our clients as partners, with a goal of achieving a long-term relationship that allows us to support our client’s success through changing times and evolving needs. We listen to you, we pay attention to your priorities, and we focus on the things you value most. We’re firmly rooted in the Hilton Head/Bluffton community and our team is proud to join their friends and neighbors in building stronger and more vital communities. We would welcome the chance to work with you!

1 Lafayette Place, 2nd Floor Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 815-0522 2 Arley Way, Suite 205 (Westbury Park) Bluffton, SC 29910

PREMIER INSURANCE ADVISORS

T

here is one word missing from Premier Insurance Advisors’ sign—but please know that it is very much by design. You will not hear the firm referred to anywhere as an insurance “agency,” for one simple reason. Insurance agents work for insurance companies. Premier Insurance Advisors does things a little differently.

“We’re advisors first. As an agent, you are representing the company,” said Brian Knapp, one of the founders of this unique new idea in insurance. “We believe we’re the counterpoint.”

Part of being that counterpoint lies in being able to offer something most large corporate insurance agencies cannot: truly personalized coverages and services. As a brokerage firm, they enjoy access to hundreds of different products, giving Premier Insurance Advisors the ability to completely tailor coverage to the needs and risks of clients across the Lowcountry, whether personal or business. Informing that personalization is a collective forty-six plus years of experience between the firm’s founders, Kevin Regan and Brian Knapp.

The founders strongly believe in one philosophy: “We want to educate

the client, so when they walk out of here, they know exactly what they have, what they’re protecting and why they’re protecting it,” Knapp said. “We’re not an agency that is going to look at your existing policy and copy that. We’re going to look at it, dissect it, find any holes in it, and educate you.”

Originally from Long Island, Regan also ran a large agency, but spent enough time in corporate insurance to realize there were limitations on what he was permitted to do for his clients. “One of the driving factors that took us out of the corporate world is that the corporate world does not focus on the client,” he said. “They do not want to have that hands-on experience with the client, which we feel is important.”

Instead, Regan thrives on the way Premier Insurance Advisors puts an emphasis on direct consultation, where it is not unheard of for one of the founders to lay down complete coverage options and explain each right at a client’s kitchen table. “It’s the experience like our parents had with their insurance agent where they sat down and talked about things, not just put a piece of paper in front of you,” he said.

Knapp has compiled over a decade of experience in commercial lines insurance, something that he believes also sets Premier apart from other insurance options. “You can’t be everything to everyone, and you can’t be a Jack of all trades and be the best at what you do,” he said. “An educated consumer is our best client. What we follow in our practice is to be the best at what you focus on.”

Likewise, since combining their experience, insight, and passion for helping clients, the founders of Premier Insurance Advisors have allowed themselves to be the best at what they focus on: delivering a customer-focused experience and personalized insurance with a human touch.

Premier Insurance Advisors is located at 800 Main Street, Suite 201N, Hilton Head Island. For more information, visit premierinshhi.com or call (843) 6895300.

Hilton Head Insurance and Brokerage Team (from left to right): Lauren Albrecht, Ana Grace Dacus, William Voelkel, Jeffrey Hedden , Travers Davis ,Renee Burcin, Brandon Brown, Coley Davis, Gary Davis

other local business owners. We are currently involved in five Business Networking International (BNI) groups in the community and can provide our clients with trusted local business referrals when needed. Please stop by our office or call us at (843) 252-0840 for a free insurance evaluation.

H I LT O N H E A D I N S U RA N C E & B R O K E RAG E

H

ilton Head Insurance & Brokerage was founded in August of 2014 by Jeff Hedden. In 2015, Jeff met his business partner and co-owner Gary Davis. Six years later, the company has grown to over 3,000 clients and nine employees.

All employees are trained to serve in the business and in the community. We are

an old-fashioned business that believes in prompt, honest, and accessible customer service. We are a local independent agency and always will be. That means when you do business with us, we will work to find the right coverage for you, and we will continue to service your account in house. Our company is built on our relationships with our clients as well as

1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suite J-13 The Village at Wexford Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 hiltonheadinsuranceandbrokerage.com

(843) 252-0840

INDEPENDENT BENEFIT ADVISORS

I

ndependent Benefit Advisors (IBA) is a family-ownedand-operated independent health insurance agency that was started in North Carolina in 2005. My dad started IBA after working in the insurance industry for over 20 years.

I am Ashley Gasiorowski, and I joined the family business not long after I graduated from college. In 2018, I was given the amazing opportunity to open our South Carolina location. As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on building longlasting relationships with our clients. We want to ensure that our customers are treated with the same care and dedication as our loved ones.

Our agency specializes in all lines of health insurance ranging from Medicare, individual and group health benefits.

We offer all lines of Medicare including Medicare supplements, prescription drug plans, as well as Medicare Advantage plans.

If you need individual health

insurance, we can help you with plans on and off the Marketplace, as well as short-term, vision, and dental plans. We also work with all sizes of employers with their employer group benefits, and ancillary lines such as group life, dental, vision, etc.

As your insurance broker, we are your customer service advocate. Our job is to educate and then support your decision and walk you through the steps of enrollment and your customer service needs for the life of your policy. Open Enrollment season is upon us. Our clients are not just a number but a part of our family.

Come join our family.

61 Arrow Rd., Suite F Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 681-7400 schealthbenefits.com

KINGHORN INSURANCE AGENCY

A

t Kinghorn Insurance Agency, our goal is to build relationships based on trust, knowledge, integrity and expertise. We require these traits of our partners and our team.

Kinghorn Insurance has been a trusted South Carolina insurance agency since 1898. Locally owned and operated, Kinghorn Insurance is dedicated to addressing the area’s property, casualty, life and health

care needs. As an independent agency, we offer professional, personalized help for businesses and homeowners.

Our longevity is the result of being focused on our customers, experience, communication, and trust. We know the Lowcountry, and we understand the coastal needs. The Kinghorn Agency is claims tested, easily accessible, and focused on our customer’s needs.

Kinghorn Insurance can help you determine business coverage that is right for you. When considering personal insurance, we understand specific types of home, auto, flood, liability and marine insurance coverage. One of the most important insurance decisions you can make for your family or business is health insurance, and we have some of the area’s most knowledgeable and experienced agents who understand how to navigate the ever-changing maze of healthcare options.

We are fortunate to have an experienced and professional staff.

Completing tasks properly and keeping our customers informed, and remaining customer-centric have been our guiding principles throughout our history. We are proud of our place in the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton community, and we can think of no finer place to live, work, and play.

Our long-standing, trusted relationships with our carriers enable us to offer competitive products that properly protect our customers. Through these invaluable relationships, Kinghorn Insurance can offer premier policies.

You are always welcome to call or come by to speak with a Kinghorn Insurance agent to learn more about coverage options, to ask questions, to receive and discuss our recommendations, or to get a quote. We would like to have the opportunity to know you. Our quotes are competitive, and you will get our best price the first time.

We have offices that are conveniently located in Bluffton near the post office, and on Hilton Head in Shelter Cove. Our growing company also has offices covering the Pee Dee and Charleston area.

That is why we are insurance at the highest standards.

Bluffton Office: (843) 837-3911 Hilton Head Island Office: (843) 686-3911 www.kinghornagency.com

JOHN MALLETT . STATE FARM

J

ohn Mallett has long been known and respected as a “good neighbor,” working with State Farm since 1971, starting in Newark, Ohio in the regional office. In 1976, he was promoted to the regional office in Jacksonville, Fla. as underwriting superintendent for the Southeastern region.

He then became a local agent on Hilton Head Island in 1983. In 2000, he built a new office in Sheridan Park in Bluffton. He is proud of his experienced and knowledgeable staff, most of whom have been with him for more than 20 years.

His office provides auto, home, renters and life insurance. “We specialize in reviewing clients’ insurance programs and providing personalized solutions,” he said. “We feel our role in being a good neighbor means providing service that is prompt, accurate, friendly and cost effective.

15 Mallett Way Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 815-4888 johnmallett.com

Callen Insurance Team (from left to right): Back Row: Rich Tiffany, Alex Smith, and Scott Callen Front Row: Julie Trodden, Scott Vincini, Mike Blackshire, Mark White, and Bonnie Taylor

CA L L E N I N S U RA N C E S E R V I C E S

C

oming from a family that owned a large insurance agency, Scott Callen found it natural to continue that legacy on Hilton Head Island when he moved here in 2002. After developing a large client base, he had a vision to start his own agency with experienced people who wanted to provide a level of service that was personal from start to finish. Now entering its eighth year, Callen Insurance Services, has become a full-service agency

for insurance including residential and commercial property & casualty, life, health, and annuities.

Callen grew the agency one client and one agent at a time, and Callen Insurance Services now has eight experienced/licensed agents with clients throughout Beaufort County and the upstate.

“We are grateful that our clients not only trust us with their home, auto and flood insurance but many now look to us

for health insurance and to insure their businesses,” Callen said. “We have assisted many clients with the transition from second-home owner to full-time resident. And with Hilton Head being such a close community, we have been fortunate to interact with our clients on a more personal level through local activities, charities, and town events.”

Callen Insurance Services is a fiercely independent agency, working with many carriers to provide a comprehensive approach to your insurance program, while keeping an eye on quality and pricing.

Callen Insurance Services 1036 William Hilton Parkway Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 (843) 681-2221 callenins.com

Our mission is to build trust, impact lives, and protect. At Conquest, we build trust so customers can rely on us with confidence. We understand that insurance should not be an expense but rather an investment, so building loyalty with our clients is paramount.

Additionally, making a difference and impacting the lives of our clients is what we constantly strive for. Lastly, we want to make sure you are protected and covered. Life is filled with unexpected challenges, and having quality insurance coverage can benefit you and your loved ones as well as your employees.

Above all, our vision is to be the best insurance agency throughout the East Coast while being a tech-savvy business and providing excellent service, quality insurance, and a client-first experience.

CONQUEST INSURANCE AGENCY

F

ounded in 2007 by Liz Castrillon and Javier Restrepo, Conquest Insurance is a Colombian American family owned insurance brokerage that has been a trusted member of the Lowcountry for more than fifteen years. The company is locally owned and operated, there are offices in Pooler, GA, Hilton Head Island, Ridgeland and Bluffton, SC.

At Conquest, earning the trust and loyalty of our customers is of utmost importance. Our professional and experienced staff constantly go above and beyond to ensure our clients have reliable insurance coverage for property and casualty in personal and commercial lines. For us, the welfare of our employees and clients should be the result of our strong sense of work ethic and the mutual help and solidarity we constantly strive for.

Liz Castrillon and Javier Restrepo Hilton Head Island, SC (843) 342-7664 Bluffton, SC (843) 815-6111 Ridgeland, SC (843) 645-0770 Pooler, GA (912) 330-1303 conquestins.com

Seacoast Insurance Team (from left to right): Bailey Noonan, Ray Craver and Kate Boardman

SEACOAST INSURANCE

S

eacoast Insurance has been insuring the families and businesses on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton since 1981. With many top-rated insurance companies, Seacoast Insurance has a long history of providing essential

insurance coverage at competitive prices.

Seacoast believes it’s important to give back to the community we call home and support local businesses and organizations as well as many charities including Island Rec Center, Hilton

Head Humane Association, and Hilton Head Choral Society.

There are many people to thank, including our outstanding employees for our longevity and success, but none more important than our wonderful clients, whom we cannot thank enough!

Please visit us at www. seacoastinsurance.com or on Facebook & Instagram, stop in our office or call us. We would love to help you with your personal or business insurance needs.

88A Main Street Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 681-4340 seacoastinsurance.com

THE BENEFITS OF REINVESTING YOUR DIVIDENDS IF YOU DO NOT NEED THE INCOME ARTICLE BY EDWARD TAYLOR

A

dividend growth investment strategy is one that only invests in companies that increase their dividends to shareholders each year.

A diversified portfolio of these companies can produce a growing stream of dividend income while keeping your savings invested to grow over time. The dividend income can be used to replace your earned income and fund your living expenses, or if not needed, it can be reinvested as additional savings. It turns out that reinvesting the dividends can have a significant impact on your long-term total returns.

To assess the importance of dividends as a component of total returns, let’s first define what we mean by “total returns.”

When investing in stocks, total return is the sum of price appreciation plus dividends.

For example, let’s say you buy a share of stock for $100. Let’s assume that after one year, the stock had increased in value by $5 to $105 and you received a $3.50 dividend.

The total return would be calculated using $5 of appreciation plus the $3.50 dividend for a total of $8.50 on your $100 investment, which would be an 8.5% total return. In this scenario, the dividend amounted to over 40% of the total return.

During periods like the first six months of 2021 when equity valuations rose significantly, we can lose sight of the importance of reinvesting dividends because they made up a relatively small portion of the total return during that period. However, with a longer-term

| | | |

will@verityvip.com jon@verityvip.com andy@verityvip.com michael@verityvip.com

A Bird in the Hand…

As you know, our dividend growth investment approach is designed to produce a growing stream of dividend income while keeping your savings invested to grow over time. We always point out that this dividend income can be used to replace your earned income and fund your living expenses, or if not needed, it can be reinvested as additional savings. So, if you don’t need the income, how important is the reinvestment of dividends to your longterm total returns?

To assess the importance of dividends as a component of total returns, let’s first define what we mean by “total returns”. When investing in stocks, total return is the sum of price appreciation plus dividends. For example, let’s say you buy a share of stock for $100. Let’s assume that after one year, the stock had increased in value by $5.00 to $105.00 and you received a $3.50 dividend. The total return would be calculated using $5.00 of appreciation plus the $3.50 dividend for a total of $8.50 on your $100 investment which would be a 8.5% “total return”. In this scenario, the dividend amounted to over 40% of the total return.

The Verity Investment Partners team

During periods like the first 6 months of this year when equity valuations rose significantly, we can lose sight of the importance of reinvesting dividends because they made up a relatively small portion of the total return during that period. However, with a longer-term perspective, reinvesting dividends has historically been an extremely important component of total investment returns.

ANTAGE POINT

Dividend Growth Investing

FALL 2021 Will Verity Jon Verity Andy Anderson Michael Nix

Q4

perspective, reinvesting dividends has historically been an extremely important component total investment returns.

The chart below shows the returnof on $100 invested in the S&P 500 over the past 50 years with two different assumptions.

In thebelow base case (orange),the the graph shows the investment would price The chart shows return onhow $100 invested ingrow thebased S&Pon500 appreciation alone. In this scenario, the $100 investment grew in value to a little over $4,070 over the 50-year period. over the past 50 years with two different assumptions. In the base case (orange) graph shows how investment would grow based The second the scenario (gold) adds in dividends andthe assumes the dividends are all reinvested.

In this scenario,on the $100 investment grew to $19,256.

In other of the total the return $100 over 50 years in this scenariogrew came from price appreciation alone.

In words, this 79% scenario, investment in dividends and the return on reinvested dividends. The reason for this stark difference in returns is the compounding value to a little over $4,070 over the 50-year period. effect, in which you earn returns on your reinvested returns. This can snowball over time to produce far more growth in value and income than you might expect.

THE POWER OF DIVIDENDS AND COMPOUNDING Growth of $100 over the last 50 years

$25,000

$19,256

$20,000 $15,000 $10,000

$4,070

$5,000 $0 12/30/1970

11/30/1975

11/30/1980

11/30/1985

11/30/1990

S&P 500 PR

11/30/1995

11/30/2000

11/30/2005

11/30/2010

11/30/2015

11/30/2020

S&P 500 TR USD

Data sources: Morningstar and Verity Investment Partners Continued

The second scenario (gold) adds in dividends and assumes the VERITYVIP.COM dividends are all reinvested. In this scenario, the $100 investment grew to $19,256. In other words, 79% of the total return over 50 years in this scenario came from dividends and the return on reinvested dividends.

The reason for this stark difference in returns is the compounding effect, in which you earn returns on your reinvested returns. This can snowball over time to produce far more growth in value and income than you might expect.

In summary, the dividend income that a dividend growth investment portfolio can produce is a great source of investment income to fund your retirement and provide greater financial freedom.

However, if you don’t need the income, the reinvestment of your dividend income can be a fantastic way to significantly boost your long-term total returns. For more information, visit Verity Investment Partners at verityvip.com.

Data sources: Morningstar and Verity Investment Partners

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 71

1

Beaufort County Treasurer, Maria Walls

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

A TRUE

LOWCOUNTRY TREASURE C A N G OV E R NM ENT BU REAU C RACY A N D IN N OVATIO N EVER TRU LY CO - E X IST ? JU ST AS K BEAU FO RT CO U N T Y T R E AS U RE R M ARIA WALLS .

F

ormer president Ronald Reagan once famously said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” With all due respect to the man they called The Great Communicator, that’s not entirely accurate. In certain circumstances, public servants can do amazing, innovative things. They can foster and execute ideas that cut through red tape, delivering vital services and creating—get this— efficiencies. If the Gipper thought government was incapable of helping, it’s only because he never met Maria Walls.

As the duly elected treasurer for Beaufort County, she has taken a radical approach to the department, one that has earned her accolades including the 2021 National Achievement Award, County Executive of the Year, and SCGOP Local Government Award. She is also the only two-time recipient of Thomson Reuters’ Office Holder of the Year, which recognizes government

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

73

A TRUE

LOWCOUNTRY TREASURE From left to right: Tanya Ward (Deputy Treasurer), George Wright (Senior Data Analyst), Kimberly Chesney (Tax Collector), Maria Walls (Treasurer), Doris Bowers (Operations Manager), Jennie Stanek (Executive Assistant), Jeff DeLoach (Deputy Tax Collector) officials who have achieved excellence in planning, leadership, and service.

And while she may be the exception to President Reagan’s famous quote, she certainly sympathizes. “We all have a stereotypical view of government service, and it’s usually not a good one,” she said. “I think what people should expect from our leaders, whether elected or not, is agility, adaptation, innovation and proactiveness. And when you have layers of bureaucracy, that is a hindrance to agility. Because I’m elected, I don’t have those layers.”

Instead, she can focus all her energies on the sort of innovative solutions and streamlined ideas that have set her apart. It also helps her build the right team around her, something that has had a tremendous impact on the work her office does in service to taxpayers.

“Being an elected treasurer allows me the autonomy to lead my office in a way that benefits the taxpayers, not just government,” Walls said. “I don’t have to lead my team in a typical governmental way. We can be innovative. We can have a great office culture. We can offer convenient services. I’m beholden to my taxpayers, and everyone on my team feels the same way.”

That team approach is key, with Walls focusing on core values and ability to innovate when interviewing new applicants. “We’ve really tried to take a different approach,” Walls said. “Really it’s just an alignment of values. I can teach taxes. I can’t make you buy in to the culture we’ve created.”

And that culture is helping Walls and her team do remarkable things. As a registered CPA, she has put her considerable financial acumen to work for Beaufort County’s taxpayers. “We look at the duration of the investment to determine how long the money will be tied up and measure that against how soon we might need it,” she said. “If there are funds available to invest, we put those funds to work. What we used to earn per year in investments, we are now earning per month.”

When last year’s annual tax bills were delivered late, creating potential catastrophe for taxpayers and local governments, Walls’ team created a pre-payment program that allowed customers to pay their tax bills up front. Not only were customers able to take advantage of their income tax deductions, our local governments, which rely heavily on tax revenue, were able to continue functioning seamlessly.

And when COVID hit, her team was ahead of the curve when it came to online payments. But they still saw opportunities to innovate, adding kiosks for contact-free payments. “When I saw pop-up tents in front of county buildings with Rubbermaid 74

NOVEMBER 2021 C2 MAGAZINE

bins where you were supposed to leave your paperwork,” she said, “that was unacceptable to me.”

Because of this constant pursuit of innovation and team-centered approach, Walls has delivered Beaufort County’s highest-ever collection rate. Last month at the delinquent tax auction, the number of properties offered for auction was the lowest it has ever been. In fact, Walls

reports that more people registered to bid than they had properties on which to bid.

“What’s exciting for me is that you could literally have asked anyone on my team what they think, and they’d tell you the same thing,” she said. “We want taxpayers to see us how we see us—through our core values and how those values perpetuate what we’ve built.” 

We see things through your eyes.

Accountability is the Schwab way.

At Schwab, we hold ourselves accountable for your satisfaction.

It’s why we offer a Satisfaction Guarantee, which ensures that if you’re ever dissatisfied with us, we’ll refund your fee and work with you to make things right. You won’t find that kind of promise everywhere, but you will find it here.

Fred Gaskin

Get started at schwab.com/bluffton

Branch Leader Belfair Towne Village, 67 Towne Drive Bluffton, SC 29910 843-473-3620 If you are not completely satisfied for any reason, at your request Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), Charles Schwab Bank (“Schwab Bank”), or another Schwab affiliate, as applicable, will refund any eligible fee related to your concern within the required time frames. Schwab reserves the right to change or terminate the guarantee at any time. Go to schwab.com/satisfaction to learn what’s included and how it works. © 2021 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) Member SIPC. All rights reserved. (1120-0JP6) SCH3468-3 (4/21) C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

75

Article by Cheryl Alexander

10 F

Tips for Remodeling Your Master Bedroom

act: A master bedroom with a fresh look not only feels good but can also give you a return on your investment between 40 and 80 percent. In comparison, high ROI projects—like kitchen and bathroom remodels—come in at about 85 percent (HGTV.com).

The master suite should be your retreat from the world—a space that’s comfy and calm. It should reflect your personal style— everything from the windowpanes to the door panels to the sheets. And it should also be functional—offering adequate storage, a comfortable seating area, and enough space in which to move around. To help you achieve these goals, we’re offering 10 of

our favorite master suite remodeling ideas.

1. Increase square footage. Determine how to structure your remodel by adding space to your master bedroom. You may need to remove walls, adding on to your home’s footprint, or even add a story above your existing home.

2. Upgrade the closet. Don’t settle for a simple closet when you can have a wellappointed dressing room complete with lush carpet, custom shelves, and a fabulous light fixture. Experts say well-designed, expanded closets with furniture-grade cabinets are at the top of the list of master suite remodels—57 percent of renovators and 18 percent of decorators are including

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

77

10

Tips for Remodeling Your Master Bedroom

a closet upgrade in their projects. Among these, almost half or more are choosing to increase the size of their closet (59 percent for renovators and 48 percent for decorators).

3. Windows that WOW! Flood your bedroom with natural light and soak in a stunning view by installing floorto-ceiling windows or a pair of French doors that lead outside. A truly all-encompassing master suite will offer a place to relax in addition to the bed. Additionally, you should have the most efficient windows in your home in your master bedroom. Casement and awning windows utilize compression seal technology around the frame of the window. When the window sash is cranked into a closed position, the compression seal evenly fills the space between frame and sash, making the window airtight.

For this reason, casement or awning windows are ideal for rooms that require the highest levels of comfort. SP Glass, known as soundproof and security glass, is another great upgrade you may consider in your master bedroom.

Having soundproof windows in a room where you sleep can improve your comfort and well-being.

4. Add an adjoined deck or beautiful balcony. Basking in the sunset or sipping your morning coffee is even better when it’s done from a pretty, private perch right outside the bedroom, overlooking the pool or garden area.

5. Add a fireplace. According to a study supported by the National Association of Realtors, a fireplace adds 12 percent to the selling price of a home. Plus, a bedroom fireplace adds instant romance. Any master suite becomes a little cozier when it has a remote-controlled gas fireplace.

78

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

R There is no hard or fast rule that says you must save the chandeliers for the entryway or dining room. If your ceiling height allows, put a striking chandelier over your bed that becomes a dazzling focal point and makes the space feel super special. Low ceilings? Simply select an embellished flush-mount.

6. Install a show-stopper chandelier. There is no hard or fast rule that says you must save the chandeliers for the entryway or dining room.

If your ceiling height allows, put a striking chandelier over your bed that becomes a dazzling focal point and makes the space feel super special.

Low ceilings? Simply select an embellished flush-mount. So how do you know what size chandelier will work for your bedroom? According to Yanic Simard, Houzz contributor and founder, owner, and principal designer at Toronto Interior Design Group, there’s a no-fail equation.

Take the width of the room (in feet) + length of the room (in feet) = diameter/width of chandelier (in inches). For example, if your room is 14 feet long by 10 feet wide, a 24-inch diameter chandelier would look proportionate (14 feet + 10 feet = 24). To choose the vertical dimensions

of the chandelier, the classic rule is to take the room height (in feet) and multiply it by 2.5 to 3 to get a good range (in inches) for the vertical proportions of the light. So, if your room has an 8-foot ceiling, this will mean your chandelier should be roughly 20-24 inches top to bottom (8 feet x 2.5 = 20; 8 feet x 3 = 24).

7. Replace the floor. New floors are a great way to transform your master bedroom without doing major construction.

According to the HGTV survey, 77 percent of renovators and 43 percent of those decorating are updating flooring. Hardwood is the top choice for renovators (38 percent), and carpeting is the top choice for decorators (49 percent). Economical and environmentally sustainable bamboo is also gaining favor. And while your first tendency might be to make your bedroom floor the same as the rest of your home, consider how different materials might affect your goals. For example, to create a softer, quieter feel in the master bedroom, consider using an area rug or carpet instead of hardwood.

8. Age in place. It’s not just for the bathroom. If your master is currently upstairs, consider renovating the downstairs to accommodate a master suite, including closet doors and doors that lead outdoors from the bedroom. Your master bath, too, may be a part of your master suite remodel. Consider these two suggestions: 9. Shower or bath? Believe it or not, oversized tubs have fallen out of favor mainly because of the space they consume.

Instead, custom showers with bells and whistles are in demand.

Consider installing a nice walk-in shower that includes overhead showerheads, wall-mounted showerheads, hand-held showerheads, shower tiles, rain bars, body sprays and steam.

Or even a custom shower with a smaller bathtub. A great big custom shower takes up a lot less space than a great big tub.

10. Deluxe materials. For master baths, no material is too luxurious or too unusual. Homeowners are going over the top to make the master bath a spa-like space. Some are just splurging on one element, such as marble countertops, while others are going top-of-the-line from top to bottom.  Sources: HGTV.com, HOUZZ.com, divinedesignbuild.com

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

79

FROM THE ROOTS UP For more than a century, Bartlett Tree Experts have shown that you can see the forest for the trees.

Article by Barry Kaufman

I

n case you weren’t aware, we take our trees very seriously in the Lowcountry. There are ordinances galore, on both sides of the bridge, telling you what you can and can’t cut down, what trees need to be where, and how many of them there must be.

Yet as seriously as we take trees, we have nothing on Bartlett Tree Experts.

“Trees don’t just grow up out of the ground,” said Madolyn Henderson, a certified arborist with the local Bartlett Tree Experts office. “They tell a story.”

And helping tell that story is what Henderson and the many arborists, scientists and assorted geniuses at Bartlett do best. Theirs is a scientific approach that goes far more in-depth than your average tree service, one born of more than a century of keeping trees healthy across North America. To them, it’s not just a hack-and-slash operation.

“Anyone can go out and trim branches off of trees, but we know what to prune to complement the growth of the tree,” Henderson said. “It’s almost like an art, being able to look at it say, ‘Taking this branch will be good for the tree and make it look pretty, as well.’”

And it’s not just knowing which branches to prune. There’s just as much science as there is art. Backing up the local experts who call the Lowcountry home is Bartlett Tree Experts’ national network of

“ANYONE CAN GO OUT AND TRIM BRANCHES OFF OF TREES, BUT WE KNOW WHAT TO PRUNE TO COMPLEMENT THE GROWTH OF THE TREE.” - MADOLYN HENDERSON tree specialists who help with everything, analyzing soil samples around a tree’s roots to developing pest mitigation techniques that won’t harm the tree or the environment.

“Not a lot of companies have that,” Henderson said. “We have entomologist in the lab as well as plant pathologists, certified arborists, and people have degrees in the related fields.”

That powerful combination of national resources and local expertise is key to maintaining healthy trees. “There is a lot of clay and sand around here, neither of which is great for trees,” Henderson said. Knowing which soil a tree is planted in and how best to treat it to promote root growth is crucial to keeping a tree healthy in the Lowcountry. As is protecting it from the ever-present threat of bugs and the stifling Lowcountry climate.

“We live in an environment where you essentially have one and a half seasons,” Henderson said. “Disease is rampant because of the humidity.

And then bugs never die over the winter, so you have to constantly treat for them … twig bores will absolutely demolish a tree if you don’t treat every other month.”

And that’s on top of the needed upkeep that our native plants demand, whether it’s added lightning protection to our area’s iconic live oaks or cabling Bradford pear branches together, the local team at Bartlett Tree Experts know our fauna better than anyone else. From the roots up, they are the true experts.  Visit bartlett.com to learn more.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 81

The Fabric of a Family Generations of quality come together in two businesses that share a roof, a family, and a dedication to doing it right.

Article by Barry Kaufman Photography by M.Kat

Just Cushions / Hilton Head Furniture Co. Staff Top Row: Andy Dante, Larry Setola Jr., Larry Setola Sr., Victor Oregon, Kevin Borda. Bottom Row: Gulianna Setola, Paulie, Judy Pugatch, Sally O’Connor, Christine Setola

Sally O’Connor stands among hundreds of fabric options available for custom furniture and drapes.

John Brackett

Double Doweled joints

Steel Band Seat Unit 8-way Hand-Tied Base Lux Cushioning

American Hardwoods

T

here’s a particular standard that the Setola family has held itself to for generations. It’s an unyielding pursuit of perfection that has been woven, thread by thread, into countless sentimental heirlooms and everyday furniture. To understand this thread, you need to follow it through generations of craftsmanship and into the dual showroom of Just Cushions and Hilton Head Furniture Co., housed on 45 New Orleans Road.

When the business started in 1994 under the skilled hand of Larry Setola Sr., the name and nature of the business was Just Cushions. The third in a family line that had been working with needle and thread for decades, 84

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

he brought his mastery to bear on thousands of pieces of furniture in the Lowcountry over the years. While the business has since expanded, with Larry Setola Jr. adding Hilton Head Furniture Co. to the offerings on hand, Larry Sr. is still working his wizardry just as he has for more than 40 years.

You might think that in our “buy it cheap, dispose of it after it breaks” culture, re-upholstery would be a dying art. You would be wrong. “We’ve added more staff to the upholstery side of our business due to demand,” Setola Jr. said. “When we have a piece of furniture to work on, we only have it for a week, but we are sure to take all of the necessary steps: retying springs, re-padding, whatever it takes to get it looking and sitting like new.”

Overseeing this side of the operation, Larry Sr. has been relentless in providing the utmost in quality. “We are a progressive family owned and operated business that is growing all while maintaining our core principles of outstanding customer service, quality, and longevity,” he said.

Recently, the furniture market became inundated with cheap materials and innerworkings, the Setola family was among the first to take notice. “When searching for our line of furniture, we noticed that manufacturers aren’t even using genuine hardwoods or proper frame construction anymore,” Setola Jr. said.

There’s a true passion for premier materials and craftsmanship that almost seems built into the Setola DNA. Perhaps some generational memory persists, carried on from a time when things were just built better. In the newest generations of Setolas, it manifests itself as a passion for things that the average person might not even consider.

You might not know what eight-way hand-tied spring construction is, but you’ll know it when you sit on it.

“That’s the old school way, literally handwoven twine tied eight separate ways into the coil spring. It’s a rare skill that has to be taught by someone who knows what they’re doing,” Setola Jr. said. “Even the premier, high-end furniture lines are outsourcing materials and construction overseas. They’re using lesser quality components that will not last over time.”

It was this foundation of generational knowledge and a higher standard that led Setola Jr. to launch Hilton Head Furniture Co., spring boarding off Just Cushions to provide a natural extension to the family brand.

Rather than relying on the cheaply made lines that have flooded the market, the younger Setola pursued his furniture line with an unyielding resolve to find the very best at a great value. And among the vast timberlands of North Carolina, they found it.

“We are exclusive to this particular North Carolina manufacturer which is also a fourth-generation family business. It took us over a year to find a homegrown USA manufacturer, that builds furniture to our standards and expectations,” he said. “We hold ourselves to

Larry Jr. and Gulianna Setola with their pup Paulie in the Just Cushions showroom located on New Orleans Road

being the best in the industry, and they were the furniture builders who checked all the boxes as they construct furniture for quality and longevity.”

Crafted from American hardwood timber milled just one mile from the factory, the furniture on display at Hilton Head Furniture Co. represents the lost art of superior furniture. And yes, it all has eight-way hand-tied springs and real American hardwood frames.

“A really good indication of furniture’s quality is its weight,” said Larry, Jr., adding with a laugh, “And I’ll tell you what, our furniture is heavy.”

It’s also nearly infinitely customizable. Thanks to the upholstery expertise that has always made Just Cushions the Lowcountry’s go-to for breathing new life into existing furniture, Hilton Head Furniture Co. can take any fabric imaginable, pair it with a dizzying selection of frameworks, style and sizes to create a look that is truly your own. And since each piece is built from four generations of craftsmanship and American hardwood amongst other quality components, each piece will last a lifetime.

“People should want to purchase something that they won’t have to revisit in a few years. If you do it right, you only have to do it once,” Setola Jr. said.

It should come as no surprise that bringing back the lost art of doing it right has proven immensely popular, especially over the last year as new residents have flocked to the island seeking beachside living in a home they can truly make their own. “Due to the influx of new transplants, we understand the importance of continuing to prove ourselves every day as we have for the last 27 years,” Setola Jr. said.

Operating in unison, Just Cushions and Hilton Head Furniture offer a complete one-stop shop for your home. Whether you need window treatments, cushions, reupholstery, décor, or new furniture, you will know you are in the right place. While making your vision a reality, be sure to take advantage of the complimentary design expertise provided to ensure perfection.

It’s like a runaway train. The tracks of this train stretch back through generations, laid on a foundation of craftsmanship. Wherever it goes next, you can be sure that foundation will remain its strength.  Just Cushions and Hilton Head Furniture Co. is located at 45 New Orleans Rd., Hilton Head Island. For more information, visit justcushionshhi.com or www.hhifurniture.com or call (843) 681-9995.

One of the many vignettes on display in the Furniture Showroom at Just Cushions C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

85

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN

Wilting Rose QUESTIONS HOVER AROUND THE FUTURE OF A HISTORIC MANSION THAT HAS BEEN A PART OF BLUFFTON’S HISTORY FOR CENTURIES.

I

n many ways, the history of Rose Hill Mansion is the history of Bluffton itself. Resting at the center of what once was a thriving plantation, it was built by Dr. John Kirk, whose family name informed Bluffton’s original moniker, “Kirk’s Bluff.” It housed northern soldiers, whose torches spared the house even as they burned the rest of the town to cinders. Its hollowed-out shell sheltered squatters during the great depression. It enjoyed post-war prosperity under the stewardship of the Sturgeon family.

It anchored a lavish new housing development during Bluffton’s development boom.

It has weathered all of this with the same stately grace that has enchanted visitors for centuries. But unless something is done, and soon, it may not weather its current sad circumstances.

“I’m worried about it day to day. If we don’t get air conditioning in it … mildew will set in and just rot,” said Iva Welton, long-time local historian and more than likely the ultimate living authority on the house. “That’s what scares me to death. Please let the air conditioning be turned on tomorrow. If I had the money, I’d be over there mowing the grass right now.”

As it stands now, it’s hard to recognize the Rose Hill Mansion that has been an icon of Bluffton’s Southern charm and grace for so long. After its latest owners were forced to abandon the property (depending on who you believe, sneaking out in the dead of night) it has sat vacant, exposed to the moisture and salt air it has held at bay for so long.

Its current legal status is one that has become alltoo common in recent years, with ownership lost in the byzantine realm of national banking. Abandoned since 2019 and finally placed up for auction this past April, it fell into the hands of US Bank as a trustee, which has been

86

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

b The Rose Hill Mansion has been an icon of Bluffton’s Southern charm and grace.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 87

Sunlight streams into the mansion.

An abandoned pool.

confirmed by the bank’s law firm. Representatives for the bank itself did not respond to requests for information, meaning as of this moment, the fate of the house is unknown.

And with plaster already starting to peel on the ceiling of the once-grand front parlor, and flecks of paint already piling in the majestic foyer, the clock is ticking.

“It is a national registered site. They should have some ownership of what they have there,” Welton said. “If somebody doesn’t do something soon…”

Fortunately, not all hope is lost.

“The other day I saw a cleaning crew hired by the bank, or they said they were hired by the bank, in preparation for putting it on the market,” said Rose Hill resident Nancy McGregor. “They were supposed to go in clean stuff out, then go 15 feet around the perimeter and mow it and put a lock box on the front door. Now it’s just waiting until it goes on MLS.” Along with a handful of other residents, McGregor has been working diligently to ensure this historic mansion doesn’t fall into disrepair. Calling themselves The Friends of Rose Hill Plantation, they set up a website, rhp21. com, and began pressuring Rose Hill’s POA to step in and save the house.

They were met with immediate resistance. “The more that I talked to the POA, the more I kept getting smacked in the face. I don’t know how many

88

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

times I was told it’s a money pit. It’s not a money pit; I was in it,” McGregor said. “One board member told me they couldn’t afford it. They extended themselves for the golf course and other repairs.”

In its official response, the first reason given by the POA revolves around the uncertainty of the house’s physical structure itself. “…We really have no idea what condition the house is in—not just the plaster and trim, but the ‘bones,’ the plumbing, electrical, foundation, framing, etc.,” wrote Rose Hill’s POA board in a letter to McGregor. “We have no idea what it would take to bring it up to CO level, ADA compliance, lead abatement, etc. Purchasing the house could be the least expensive part of owning it.”

McGregor disagrees. “I took my builder through; he’s built three houses for us over the years. He said there’s very little wrong with it, but the new owner would need to spend the money to clean out the duct system, depending on how the heating and air systems work,” she said. While she acknowledges the peeling plaster and mildew, “other than those things, the house is in really good shape for having sat for a year and a half,” she said.

As for the rest of the reasons given by the POA, they were all financial in nature. The community’s bylaws prevent it from owning a business, so they would need to hire a management company. Plus, banks would be hesitant to loan them money given the uncertain nature of the house’s upkeep. For a board already dealing with ongoing fallout from its former golf club owner’s legal problems, it just isn’t the right time.

So, The Friends of Rose Hill Plantation decided they would just have to do it themselves. “What we

thought we’d do is put together a group of people who would like to save this property,” McGregor said. “To create a board, nonprofit, syndicate or whatever to go in together and save it, protect it and turn it into business. The goal is to keep this from ever happening.”

Leading the charge is Rose Hill resident Frank DeLuca. “I really wanted Rose Hill to buy it … but it looks like that’s not going to happen,” he said. “The next best thing would be to find some people in here with some money to purchase it and bring it in-house.”

At press time, DeLuca was still approaching fellow residents to try and build his coalition. “We’re the ones who know the history of it and have been there, done the tours and met the previous owners,” he said. “I’m not comfortable with someone from out of town purchasing this place and giving homeowners no say so.”

Plans are still very much in flux. Among the options on the table are using it as a wedding venue or as a bed and breakfast, letting it generate revenue and insulating it from future abandonment.

But no matter what comes out of the collective purchase by homeowners, should it happen, DeLuca wants to make sure Rose Hill’s homeowners are part of the conversation. “I’ve already informed the neighbors they will be participants as we come up with ideas. I don’t want to tread on anyone’s driveway,” he said.

“This is heaven to me. That’s how I want to keep it.”

The future of the Rose Hill Mansion is up in the air. The bestcase scenario for some is a family moving in and continuing a legacy that stretches back centuries. For some, the goal is to see the Rose Hill Mansion earn its place as a thriving commercial venture.

But the absolute worst-case scenario, the one everyone involved is working to avoid, is one where the house that survived Yankee torches, Great Depression squatters and a structure fire finally falls into ruin.

“It’s sacrilege to treat something this beautiful like this,” McGregor said. “Just abandoning it to rot, it’s morally wrong.” 

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 89

Amanda Russ Cifaldi and Blake Wearren film a scene at Delisheeyo for the pilot episode of a show.

Josh Jasso and Julio Saldarriaga on the cameras while Maddie Tucker readies an order for a waiting customer.

90 NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

WELL NESS n:

atio n i t s e D

HILTON HEAD ISLAND CHEF AMANDA RUSS CIFALDI IS READY FOR HER CLOSEUP. GET READY, WORLD.

I

f you didn’t know any better, you’d swear that the restaurants of the world existed solely to expand your waistline. Just witness Diners, DriveIns and Dives, in which celebrated bleached dudebro Guy Fieri seeks out the nation’s greasiest and most artery-clogging fare, or Man vs. Food, which celebrates epicurean abominations like the 190-pound Absolutely Ridiculous Burger™.

But what about those of us who want to travel without packing extra Rolaids? Where is the show to satiate the wanderlust of the wellness-minded?

The bad news is, there isn’t one yet. The good news is, we say “yet” because the pilot is in the can, as they say, and a few streaming services and networks have already shown interest. The great news is that said pilot was filmed right here on Hilton Head Island and stars one of our most beloved chefs, Amanda Russ Cifaldi.

“My wife and I, and our children, we plan our trips around healthy activities and good food….

Food is always my compass. It’s always the reason I travel,” Cifaldi said. “We were traveling, and I said, ‘Wow, this would make a really good show.’ It’s something that people can connect with right now.

It’s on trend, it’s going that way, and I just want to be the person to bring it to you.”

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

91

Eat It and Like It’s Jesse Blanco mics up Cifaldi on-set at Delisheeyo.

Cifaldi and Wearren enjoy lunch and an on-screen chat about healthy living.

Cifaldi is photographed in her restaurant, Pomodori, for an article about Women Chefs in the Lowcountry in the September 2019 issue of CH2 & CB2 magazines.

Bringing together her deep culinary knowledge, boundless energy, and love of wellness travel seems like a no-brainer. The concept is called Destination: Wellness.

Each episode will see Chef Cifaldi visiting another small town, seeking out the freshest eats and the most exhilarating activities. If you’re looking for an elevator pitch, think of it as the anti-Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

“It’s basically taking your healthy lifestyle on vacation,” Cifaldi said. She draws inspiration from the places she visits, like California’s Café Gratitude, a plantbased restaurant where you order via an affirmation (like the “I am Magical” black bean burger or the “I am Humble” curry bowl), or the surprisingly large vegan scene in Austin Texas, arguably the steak capital of the world. “It’s highlighting connections. It’s not just healthy food and activities; it’s highlighting ways to reconnect with people around the country.”

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION Beyond serving as owner and restaurateur of Pomodori on the island, Russ has already shown the world her infectiously bright personality on Food Network’s Bite Club, taking home a win against other area chefs. “That was such an excellent experience,” she said. “I got a lot of really good feedback about how I was on camera.”

While Cifaldi already has TV chops and a lifetime of performance experience, hitting the stage with The Young Americans in her youth and as part of islandbased band Finkle and Einhorn, she knew that making Destination: Wellness a success would require some help.

Fortunately, she just happens to be close friends with one of the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire’s biggest TV personalities, Eat It and Like It star Jesse Blanco.

“I’ve known Amanda for six or seven years … we had instant chemistry. We got along from day one when I featured her on my show,” Blanco said. “This is just a 92 NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

wonderful human being.”

Cifaldis’ pitch for Destination: Wellness came over a dinner between the two friends at Chez Georges. “She pitched me her idea, her vision, her dream … and not that I’m any high-profile TV executive, but I’ve been taken out for coffee and ideas a few times. Not all of them are good ideas, much less amazing. This was the best idea that has ever been brought to me. I told her, ‘This is a slam dunk.’”

He may not consider himself a high-profile TV executive, but Blanco has built a solid broadcasting brand in Eat in And Like It. As an executive producer on Destination: Wellness, Blanco says his job is pretty simple: just showcase Russ’ personality and charm.

“When I brought the crew to her, they didn’t know her from Adam. They’d never met her,” he said. “After shooting one segment, the guys were like, ‘If we can bring her to life on camera, if we can share what she is, we will have done our job.’”

“The great thing about Jesse is he doesn’t give advice.

He just says keep it natural and leaves it open ended,” Cifaldi said. “We wrote the art of an episode, then allowed the experiences in the filming to dictate where we went.

He gives me a lot of confidence in that.”

THIS IS YOUR PILOT SPEAKING With all the pieces in place, it was time to start filming.

Fortunately, Cifaldi didn’t have to go too far to get her new travel show off the ground. There’s a world-class health and wellness destination literally outside her back door.

“We started with Hilton Head because, obviously, I live here, but also because this is a very lifestyle-oriented, beautiful place for people to come to.”

Spring boarding off Hilton Head Island’s rising profile as a wellness destination was a natural first step, and

Amanda Cifaldi and Jean Rioux of Jiva Yoga and Soul SUP Paddleboarding Co. get out on the water near the Old Oyster Factory.

Amanda Cifaldi and friends from Jiva Yoga Studio on the beach the pilot episode sees Cifaldi showcasing our healthy lifestyle and natural beauty. On the culinary side of things, you’ll see a visit with Delisheeyo (“I crave that Buddha Bowl,” Russ said) as well as Healthy Habit, before heading outdoors for paddleboarding, sunrise yoga, a trek through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, and so much more.

The hope is to not only create a compelling pilot for Destination: Wellness, but to introduce a healthier side of Hilton Head Island that some people might not be aware of.

“And it’s the type of tourism we want: people who are very conscious of others and the planet,” Cifaldi said. “They won’t litter Miller Lite cans all over the beach. They will find our local restaurants, and they will help our community. That’s a nice bonus for this pilot episode.”

The relationship between the pilot and the setting is symbiotic. True, the pilot will help showcase the island. But the island provided the perfect proving ground for a show aimed at traveling well.

“There’s so much saturation of programming on any channel, including social media, with everyone trying to find their groove. I don’t think what we’re attempting to do exists out there,” Blanco said. “It’s a perfect match.”

Stay tuned for more later this year as the pilot episode wraps production and Amanda Russ Cifaldi’s journey to stardom continues.  C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

93

Autumn plays with learning toys while her mom looks on.

The Sandbox has a new location on Hilton Head Island on Pope Avenue near Coligny Plaza.

Nancy Fowler Fish, Executive Director of the Sandbox.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

The sandbox CHILDREN’S MUSEUM FOSTERS DISCOVERY, ENCOURAGES PLAY, AND OFFERS COMMUNITY

T

Two pilots-intraining on the airplane exhibit, donated

by Gulfstream.

he Sandbox Children’s Museum opened its doors on Hilton Head Island in 2005 with a mission to provide inclusive and safe environments for children to learn and explore with their peers and caregivers through hands-on discovery and imaginative play. The driving force behind the mission is to cultivate the physical, social, and cognitive development of the island’s children as well as the thousands of children from around the world who visit here each year.

The Sandbox opened a second location at Tanger 2 in Bluffton in 2019, and in July of 2021, they moved their island location from St. Andrew by the Sea Methodist Church to the new Lowcountry Celebration Park.

“With the support of, donors, sponsors, and volunteers, The Sandbox shines as a premiere family destination, and we couldn’t be more excited about our new location,” said Nancy Fowler Fish, executive director.

The new space encourages children to play freely and discover their surroundings while positively impacting them through age-appropriate activities and memorable moments that inspire both the children and their families. The child-friendly environment is as safe as it is fun. The new building at Lowcountry Celebration Park has both indoor exhibit space and outdoor exhibit space as well as two separate programing rooms. It was completed through support from board leadership, the community, the Town of Hilton Head Island, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, VanLandingham Rotary Club, and many others. As a nonprofit, the children’s museum relies on community support to keep its doors open so they can provide quality programming and staffing for everyone who

Visitors to The Sandbox play with kinetic sand.

visits and is an important and critical community resource.

When the pandemic happened and schools closed, the Sandbox offered a vital service to community children by creating a pod learning program for Beaufort County students, giving support for virtual learning to both students and parents. As a children’s museum, the Sandbox was uniquely positioned to enrich what the students were learning and their Zoom lessons with interactive learning experiences. The participants were from extremely diverse backgrounds, and many were on scholarships provided by other community organizations. It was a great experience, and they became a family. Out of this program, the museum started a scholarship program for

96

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

these children to attend their summer camp.

“Play is more important than ever now, due to the pandemic,” Fowler Fish said. “We offer children an opportunity to connect with adults and other children while learning through hands-on interactive exhibits and play.

We are still adding exhibits to the new space, so every time you come in, there is something new, and we are constantly introducing new art and Maker’s Space projects.”

A variety of free programming is available at both Sandbox locations including the weekly DIG: Discover, Imagine, Grow Kindergarten readiness program, for ages 3-5 that correlates with S.C. Early Learning Standards. DIG is available at both locations during the school year. Free Family Fun Night is scheduled once a month during the school year with support from The Bargain Box and allows families to experience the museum at no charge.

“Family Fun Night is a popular event,” Fowler Fish said. “Plus, we always try to partner with other community organizations for this event. We recently had a vaccine clinic and had the Lion’s Club offering free vision screenings. We have had the Sea Turtle Patrol, a Big Truck Night, and Pirate Night as some of our themes. Everyone also loves the Second Sunday Author Series (at

A giant tubular slide is housed inside the museum and goes from one level to the next. the Hilton Head Island location) because local children’s authors come over and read their books to the children.”

Some of the favorite programs include STEAM TIME, a science program for ages 5-12, where physics, chemistry or biology are made fun; Bilingual Story Time (only at the Bluffton location); a Toddler’s Program for parents and children (ages 1-3) where each week there is a different activity centered around math, art, or gross motor development; and Imagination Hour, a story followed by a craft that goes with the story.

The Sandbox also serves as resource for other community organizations such as the Lowcountry Autism Foundation that meets at the Tanger location monthly for a Parents’ Night Out; they provide free field trips for Camp Leo and Pockets Full of Sunshine, and admission is always free for Hilton Head Heroes families. They also offer reduced admission for anyone who is on SNAP. Executive director Nancy Fowler Fish has lived on Hilton Head Island since she was nine years old and has overseen operations and programming at the Sandbox for three and a half years. With more than 30 years’ experience in educational administration (specializing in early childhood education), her expertise has proven invaluable to the growth of the

children’s museum. She volunteers on the council of The Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island (WAHHI); she is on the alumni board of Hilton Head Prep; she serves on the Association of Children’s Museum Conference Committee; and she is chairperson of the Childcare Committee of the Heritage Classic Golf Tournament. She conducts alumni interviews for her college alma mater, Dartmouth; she holds a master’s degree in education from Lesley University and has completed her Montessori training.

“Children are my inspiration,” Fowler Fish said, “particularly when I see the light in their eyes as they realize something new or witness the joy of them simply having fun playing and learning.”

The staff at the Sandbox includes Tanger manager Eric Nelson, whose specialty is science, and who came to Bluffton from the Boston Museum of Science. Additional staff members are professionals with specializations in early childhood education, art, and technology, including retired teachers and retired pediatric nurses.

The pandemic created a challenge for the Sandbox to change how they do hands-on interactive learning. The museum is currently open for three-hour play sessions, with a strict cleaning protocol between and after sessions.

Masks are encouraged and staff members are responsive to all concerns regarding cleanliness. As well, the museum utilizes touchless ticketing and reservations and currently operates at a reduced capacity.

Visit the Sandbox where you’ll find that a mess is simply evidence of creativity, where new friends are just around the corner, and where exploring new things doesn’t feel quite so scary.  For more information, visit thesandbox.org.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

97

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN

A FEW NEW ADDITIONS TO THE DÉCOR AT ROCKFISH SEAFOOD & STEAKS MIGHT JUST HOLD THE KEY TO GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

Rocky Whitehead with son Taylor at Rockfish Seafood & Steaks.

S

tep in the wayback machine with us for just a moment as we journey to the year 2018. Can you remember what life was like pre-COVID? Do you recall how you could pack yourself into a tight elevator or sit down in a crowded restaurant without sparing a single thought to the air you were breathing?

Regardless of your position on masks, the pandemic, or the yawning political divide it has caused*, the simple fact of the matter is you’re a lot more cognizant of the air you’re breathing now than you were just a few years ago.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

99

With one pass, you get air that’s 99.999% pure!

But in some parts of the world, particularly in those areas that were hardest hit by SARS in the early aughts, this mindfulness of air quality has been a way of life for nearly 20 years. Fortunately, so has the exact device designed to deliver that peace of mind.

“This was developed in South Korea in 2003 in response to the SARS virus,” said Taylor Whitehead, standing beside the near-silent EnviroClean Air machine at the restaurant, Rockfish Seafood & Steaks. “But it’s been updated so it covers COVID along with other viruses, mold, pollen and dust.”

“There are a lot of different units out there that move stuff around,” added Taylor’s dad and Rockfish owner Rocky Whitehead. “But this unit basically kills everything in one pass.”

The unit, which is easy to miss against one wall of the Coligny restaurant, is one of five different models of EnviroClean Air machines

100

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

that the Whiteheads have begun distributing.

Standing just about five feet tall, the VK103 model pushes out a continuous stream of completely purified air. It cleans just next to 1,000 square feet in about 15 minutes; standing next to it on a sultry summer day, you can feel the soothing effects of pollenfree air right away.

Two more units can be found in the restaurant. One of them, roughly the dimensions of a window a/c unit but half the depth, can clean just north of 600 square feet. The tabletop Hextio model at the bar provides a personalsized bubble of clean air in a portable unit.

Working in tandem, they scrub every breath of air in Rockfish. Other restaurants in the region are following suit, including Southern Coney.

“We’re a seafood restaurant. And when you walk through a seafood restaurant, you smell fish,” Rocky said. “You won’t smell it here.”

Of course, in these post-COVID times, the Whiteheads didn’t just install these units for the halibut (rimshot). Inside there is some serious virus-busting technology.

“There are 18 different patents on this chamber,” Rocky said. Inside the chamber, air is pulled through a series of different filters before being held momentarily in a chamber where it

For a population sick of social distancing, itchy masks, and awkward elbow and/or fist bumps, adding one machine that could conceivably eradicate all the COVID in the room might just make all the difference. is bombarded with UV light. “The UV light is good, but it will just pass right through air unless you hold it there. With one pass, you get air that’s 99.999 percent pure.”

And for a world grappling with air quality in a post-COVID world, that makes a huge difference. “It’s all about indoor air.

The science is showing all the handwashing we did just wasn’t that important,” Rocky said. “All the science shows you have to clean the air—not just for COVID, but for health period.”

As someone who built his career in long-term care pharmacies, Rocky Whitehead was already aware of how widespread these machines had become outside of the U.S. Here, where SARS had never been as big of an issue as elsewhere, we simply didn’t think about our air quality until now. But the rest of the world was already taking precautions; you’ll find EnviroClean Air products in hospitals, schools, retirement homes and other public settings across Asia and Europe.

“These things have been here since SARS … but it’s just getting to the U.S. There are a few distributors, and we’re one of them,” Rocky said.

For a population sick of social distancing, itchy masks, and awkward elbow and/or fist bumps, adding one machine that could conceivably eradicate all the COVID in the room might just make all the difference. “[COVID] isn’t going anywhere. We’ve known that for a long time based off the science,” Rocky said. “It’s just going to morph. I view it like the flu where every year you get a flu shot because every year’s vaccine is based on the latest variant.”

As we approach that new normal, the Whiteheads hope their revolutionary new air cleaners can pave the way.  Find out more at envirocleanair.com.

* And if you do have a position, please don’t scream it at town council members while they’re trying to conduct other business.

It’s not helpful, and you just come across as a crazy person.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

101

This & That

C2 Magazine • November 2021 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.

The Return of the Lucky Rooster ARTICLE BY JESSE BLANCO

O

ne of Hilton Head Island’s more popular restaurants returned to the Eating and Liking grid last spring. Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar re-opened after a nearly year-long COVIDinduced shutdown in 2020. Ultimately, the concept was sold by founder/creator Clayton Rollison and picked up

by Hilton Head Island resident and veteran F&B presence David Leffew.

Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar, with new executive chef David Landrigan, returned to action in April just before the RBC Heritage golf tournament. That burst of energy bled right into the busy summer season.

Now that the dust has settled a bit, we caught up with Mr. Leffew to discuss the acquisition, the vision for the brand going forward, and what you can expect on your next visit.

Jesse Blanco: So how is it going so far?

David Leffew: Taking over a restaurant with such a great reputation as Lucky Rooster with seven years to perfect their craft, the biggest thing is that you’re coming in starting your operation over. You really have to focus on customer quality a lot more than maybe a brand-new restaurant with a brand-new name. There’s a challenge in taking on a concept—something that’s very popular in the community. My belief is that every customer we bring in today will bring us 10 more customers.

JB: What is your background with restaurants?

DL: I’ve actually been on the corporate side. While this is my first private ownership of a restaurant, I have over 20 years of hospitality experience, including seven years here on the island with the Sonesta Resort as the director of food and beverage.

JB: So, you were familiar with the turf, obviously.

DL: Yes. I was familiar with the community, very involved. I knew Clayton very well. We worked together on a number of projects—always considered him a friend. When COVID hit, our positions were eliminated.

It obviously impacted this restaurant, and I was able to make a decision to purchase Lucky Rooster.

JB: Had you always wanted to own your own place, or did this come up when everything came together last year?

DL: It’s funny; everyone tells me I could think of a million other places to invest money instead of in a restaurant. I run them every day, and I know how difficult it can be. I think a great deal of what was on my mind

wasn’t about buying a restaurant; it was about buying Lucky Rooster. I believed in what this stood for. I believed in the dining experience and the amazing craft cocktail program, and I believed there was a spot for it on Hilton Head and we could bring this back. If it was just any restaurant with a different name on it, I don’t know that I would have purchased it. We knew that this should keep going.

JB: Every chef has a vision for a menu. Did you share your vision with David on what you’d like to see going forward or did you let David create it?

DL: It was very important for me that Chef David Landrigan create his own menu. Out of respect for what Clayton had done, we wanted to make sure we differentiated menus. Clayton was a wonderful chef/owner, and his food was his food, but we knew it would be different. Without Clayton here, we weren’t going to try to do his food. He’s an extremely talented chef. Chef David is just as talented but there are differences in their upbringings and where they were trained. Our commitment, though, is the same: great food with Southern inspiration prepared properly every day.

JB: What would you say are your two most popular dishes right now?

DL: Our sales numbers will tell you that our two most popular are the Lucky Burger and the Steak Frites—delicious au poivre that David creates for the steak served with duck fat fries.

JB: When you are walking through here and you’re hungry, what are you looking for?

DL: So many options. I’m always looking for that ribeye. We have a commitment to quality, so we get our beef from Painted Hills Farms—grass-fed, hormone free, delicious—seared on cast iron with compound butter. That’s the thing that I’m always craving here. But really, any of the stuff on the menu is good. For the summer, we knew what we had to do to handle the volume. We went with an all-day menu— created some sandwiches because we knew it had to be done. Now, we will be able to move those to a lunch menu and create a more seasonal-specific dinner menu.

JB: How would you describe the clientele on this island?

DL: When we were talking about what we wanted this to be, we wanted it to be like something you’d find in Nashville or in Charleston—a little more of an urban vibe because it is something that is lacking on this island. There’s fine dining on this island. There are spots for waterfront. We didn’t want to be in any classification of “fine dining” or “casual dining.” What I want is the customer to be confused. The music is a little louder. The vibe is a little more casual, but the execution of the food is going to be more on the fine-dining level. When customers ask, “What is Lucky Rooster?” I want people to say, “I don’t know, but it was amazing, and I want to go back.”

C2 MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

103

This & That

C2 Magazine • November 2021 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.

SouthCoastal FCA is pleased to welcome long-time community member Ford Allen as their new board chair. Allen served on the Hilton Head Christian Academy Board for a total of 13 years (2004-2017) with the last three as board chair. Allen and his family have lived on Hilton Head Island for the past 20 years, and he currently runs a family insurance brokerage business dedicated to health insurance plans for students who attend private secondary schools.

SAVE THE DATE!

Join us on December 5th at 4:30 p.m. at LowCountry Community Church for Light The LowCountry.

A spectacular Christmas light show featuring a field full of lights. This free event will have Santa Claus, refreshments, and tons of Christmas fun! Visit lightthelowcountry.com for more information, times, and additional dates!

104

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

Volunteers in Medicine Clinic (VIM Clinic) will host its premier fundraising event, the 2021 Circle of Caring Gala, on Saturday, November 20 as a livestreamed, virtual experience, beginning at 7 p.m.

Presented by Charter One Realty, this exclusive, virtual fundraising event serves as a tribute evening honoring the many incredible Heroes in our Midst, celebrating their extraordinary contributions and recognizing the important role VIM Clinic has played in protecting and caring for the healthcare needs of our community.

The 2021 Circle of Caring Gala features tribute videos for the Heroes in our Midst, online live and silent auctions, a concert by the Lavon Stevens Band, a FundA-Need Giving Drive for the Raymond L. Cox Gift of Hope Surgery Program, a Forsythe Jewelers Collection Raffle Drawing, and the option of enjoying a three-course gourmet dinner

by Signature Catering & Events by SERG for virtual attendees. Tickets are available at vimclinic. org/gala.

This & That

C2 Magazine • November 2021 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.

Daniel Moskowitz, broker-in-charge at Dunes Real Estate, Maggie Washo and Jevon Daly (CH2 magazine) present Bluffton Self Help’s director, Kimberly Hall, with a check for $300.

Congratulations to Tamar Rose, the second winner of the Dunes Real Estate video contest with CH2 magazine. Rose won a $300 donation check to Bluffton Self Help, a $200 gift box from Little Fish Boateak, and a $100 gift certificate from Santa Fe Café.

Every month, the CH2 crew tours a different house listed with Dunes Real Estate and shares it on the CH2 Facebook and Instagram pages. To be entered to win a $300 check for a local charity, $100 gift certificate to a local restaurant, and a surprise monthly gift from a different local business, just drop a comment on the videos.

The Hospital Auxiliary recently presented $53,000 in scholarships for area nursing and health care students. These scholarships are important in attracting new students and helping to address the shortage of nurses in the Lowcountry. Over the past 30 years, the Auxiliary has donated approximately $850,000 in scholarships through proceeds from its Annual Hospital Auxiliary Invitational Golf Tournament held at Harbour Town and Wexford.

The Nursing and Allied Health Program at the Technical College of the Lowcountry was presented a check for $15,000; the Nursing Program at USC Beaufort was presented a check for $12,000; and the Nurse Extern Scholarship Program at Hilton Head Regional Healthcare received $10,000. An additional $16,000 ($2,000 to each of eight recipients) was presented to qualified children of hospital employees who are pursuing degrees in the medical field.

C2 MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

105

This & That

C2 Magazine • November 2021 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.

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

JUNE 2021

N

MEET THE TURTLE TRACKERS HAVE FOOD, WILL TRAVEL LOWCOUNTRY FOOD TRUCKS

SOUTHERN MANNERS JUNE 2021

106

CH2 CELEBRATE HILTON HEAD!

The Hilton Head Dance Theatre will present the holiday favorite, The Nutcracker, at the Seahawk Cultural Center for six shows only, opening Friday, November 12 and running through Sunday, November 21. With instantly recognizable music by Tchaikovsky, and the charming story by E.T.A. Hoffman, The Nutcracker has become synonymous with the holiday season. The Hilton Head Dance Theatre first presented this classic on Hilton Head Island in 1985, and in the years since, these holiday productions have delighted tens of thousands of residents and visitors alike. At the helm for each of these productions have been artistic directors Karena Brock-Carlyle and her husband, John Carlyle.

The ballet tells the story of a young girl named Marie who is given a magical nutcracker as a Christmas gift. She faces the comically frightening Mouse King (Philip Ingrassia) before setting out on a journey through the Snow Forest and then on to the Land of Sweets.

Last year’s thirty-fifth anniversary production of The Nutcracker was filmed on the stage of the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina without an audience and then shown on the big screens at Park Plaza Cinemas. Dancers and audience members alike will enjoy a return to live performances of this holiday classic!

For this year’s production, Will Scott of Ballet Spartanburg will dance the Grand Pas de deux with Alexandra Wiegel and Avery Wallace in alternating performances. Sydney Cullen and Katelyn Vergakis will share the role of the Snow Queen, dancing with Hilton Head Dance Theatre Ballet Master Jamal Edwards as the Snow King. Also featured will be Sydney Cullen and Katelyn Vergakis, sharing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Sharing the role of the Dew Drop Fairy will be Alexandra Wiegel and Sydney Cullen.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. on November 12, 13, 19 and 20, and 2:30 p.m. on November 14 and 21.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit hiltonheaddance.com or call (843) 842-3262.

IN FLIGHT FASHION LOOKS TO LEAVE THE HOUSE IN

CH2 SPECIAL SECTION

LOWCOUNTRY DADPENEURS

MODEL CALL CH2/CB2 Magazine is looking for female models. Are you 5’7”+ and interested in modeling for upcoming fashion shoots? Submit your information to kaila@ celebratehiltonhead.com along with any previous experience. Must include 3 photos, height and sizes to be considered.

Hilton Head Island High School is proud to present Little Women: The Broadway Musical, by Allan Knee, with Jason Howland’s music and Mindi Dickstein’s lyrics. The musical is based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic American novel by the same name and shares the story of love and family during the Civil War. Little Women brings to the stage the adventures of the March sisters: Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy. Jo is a budding author and is obsessed with selling her stories for publication.

However, publishers are not interested until she weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their experience growing up in nineteenth century America. This enduring, mesmerizing story comes to life on stage in this magnificent musical filled with self-discovery, heartache, and courage.

Little Women is co-directed by Kimberly Guinn, theatre director at Hilton Head Island High School, and Josh Wall, also serving as musical director. Joining Guinn and Wall on the creative team are faculty and students: Virginia Montgomery (choreographer), John Dowbiggin (lighting design), Ben Ramos (technical director), Morgan Clarke (stage manager), and Chris Sykes (sound designer). The cast includes Meagan Berger (Beth), Channing Coulter (Amy), Kit Crosby (Aunt March), Coulson Geltz (Laurie), Ben Gutierrez (John Brooke), George Hussey (Professor Bhaer), Laney Hawkins (Jo), Laurel Hawkins (Meg), Marisa Martucci (Marmie), and Joshua Wall (Mr. Lawrence).

What: Hilton Head Island High School presents Little Women: The Broadway Musical based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott When: November 4-6 at 7 p.m. and November 7 at 4 p.m.

Where: Seahawk Culture Center on the campus of Hilton Head Island High School Tickets: $20 for adults, $10 for students; purchase at hhihstheatre.org/tickets.

C2 MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2021

107

M A Y O R

Hilton Head Island Mayor Photography by M.Kat

A Note from John McCann

GIVING BACK TO HELP OTHERS

H

appy Thanksgiving, everyone! This is the time of year when we express how grateful and blessed we are. However, many people, though thankful, may be having a tough time buying food, paying rent, or dealing with other unfortunate economic situations.

This year, I am grateful that the Town of Hilton Head Island will be able to help some of our residents have a brighter holiday season, thanks to funds—specifically $1 million—we received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.

ARPA is the federal government’s legislation that provides funding to local governments to help them respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. In total, the town received $5,227,178.00 million that will be used for several projects.

We will be working with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry to disburse funds to local organizations that have the capacity to help island residents whose lives have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Helping our residents who may be struggling because of the pandemic is the best way to use some of these funds. There are still individuals trying to get back on their feet after what our community has been through over the last 20 months.

< Bluffton Mayor

The way this will work is by local social service organizations applying for assistance so they can help those who walk through their doors. Organizations can apply to receive up to $50,000 to address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency such as healthcare, housing assistance, childcare and education, rent and utility assistance, food insecurity, and other related issues.

An advisory committee appointed by the Community

A Note from Lisa Sulka

M AY O R

BLUFFTON’S BEST

T

his past month, we recognized an officer in our police department, Sgt. Jason Rodriguez. It seems like yesterday when I wrote an article (2015) about the hiring of several officers, including Sgt Rodriguez. Speed forward to today, and he has shown this town so much love and gratitude that the people of Bluffton nominated and voted him Best of Bluffton 2021 First Responder.

“Best of Bluffton” is a program sponsored by Bluffton Today that celebrates and recognizes the best our community has to offer. Readers get to nominate and then vote on the finalists in each category. There isn’t one particular event that led to Sgt. Rodriquez’ nomination and win, but if you look at his time with our police department, you will quickly understand why our residents thought so much of him to give him this honor.

For those of you who haven’t met Sgt. Rodriguez, I want to give you a little history on him. He has been a police officer since 2003 and joined our department in 2015. Prior to that, he served our country for four years in the Marines. This past year, he was interviewed on our social media program called Cop Connection. If you are interested, visit the Bluffton Police Department’s Facebook page and search this. He

Photography by Krisztian Lonyai

108

NOVEMBER 2021

C2 MAGAZINE

Foundation’s board of directors will review applications. Grants will be distributed over a two-year period with a total of $1 million being awarded by the end of fiscal year 2023.

The first grant cycle will start immediately, with the application deadline of November 30, 2021.

Additional cycles will be defined as needed. Grant guidelines and a link to the grant application can be found at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry’s website: cf-lowcountry. org under non-profits and grantees.

Grantees will be announced once decisions are made.

As the organizations prepare to seek funding, we know there a multitude of individual residents and families who need help. We hope you will connect with organizations that receive grants so you can get support to help ease financial burdens.

A Note from Lisa Sulka continued

is fluent in Spanish, which gives him the ability to communicate with most Bluffton residents. He loves working on cars and spending time with his church and his lovely family. He leads a patrol team and is a supervisor of the department’s K9 units as well. He claims to have the best K9 ever; if you happen to see him on the street, give him and Hunden a wave and a smile.

Most likely he will stop, get to know you, and let you pet Hunden.

I would love to write about each of our officers as they deserve so much thanks and praise for all they do. We are very lucky to have such a great group of men and women. So, on behalf of all your fellow officers, thank you Sgt Rodriguez for serving the Town of Bluffton.

DID YOU KNOW: Have you recently seen planes flying close to the ground? This is a county mosquito control program that has been in place since 1974. With the population growth that has occurred, I wanted to make sure our readers understood what was happening. More information is available on the Beaufort County website, beaufortcountysc.gov/ mosquito-control. Visit to see a schedule as well as information regarding the environmentally friendly spray they use.

C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 109

Special thanks to Pete Popovich and Dunes Real Estate for hosting our shoot at 10 Ketch.

I S C IANS MU in bathrooms BAND NA ME: HEAR T S ASTEVENS ND HARMONY MUSICIAN: ZACH MUSICIANS: LIAM CRONIN & CANDICE RAE 110

NOVEMBER 2021 C2 MAGAZINE

P H OTO G R A P H Y BY M . K AT What’s your sign?

Liam Cronin: Sagittarius Candice Rae: Taurus Most underrated song that, in your opinion, should be a classic?

LC: Probably a song off the B side of Stadium Arcadium, RHCP CR: “You’ll be in My Heart,” Phil Colins

Biggest compliment you’ve ever gotten from a fan?

LC: Your wife has an amazing voice. And she does, fo sho.

CR: A song I sang took them back to their favorite memory or place.

Favorite piece to perform?

LC: “Dear Prudence,” The Beatles CR: “Laundry Room,” The Avett Brothers C2 MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021 111

ICIANS MUSin bathrooms What do you sing in the shower?

LC: “Baby Shark” CR: Opera or jazz

LC: “Wagon Wheel” CR: “Musetta’s Waltz” from La Bohème

Favorite cereal?

LC: Kream Krunch; its real!

CR: Cinnamon Toast Crunch

What do you wish you knew more about?

LC: Iron Man’s suit in Infinity War. I feel like we skipped a couple of steps there from the last movie to Infinity War. I just don’t understand why we didn’t take a few minutes to explain. I mean, it is a long movie, but we’re talking about a few shots of what’s- his-face in his garage, tinkering with some outer space or Wakanda toys and those little robots running around cleaning up spills. Bing, bang, boom. All we get is him tightening (an already tight) jacket, and little things come from his chest and cover his body?! AND they can separate from his suit and shoot laser beams?! Just look at Dr. Banner’s reaction. Homie was blown away. AND he (The Hulk) spent the last few years on ANOTHER planet and helped Thor release a demon fire monster kill his sister, destroy Asgard and get his teeth knocked in

by Thanos. It was a tough time for everyone. Really, but I digress. That and global warming.

CR: Playing piano

At what venue do you most like to perform?

LC: The Westin & OTD CR: Tiki Hut & Dunes House Most requested song at shows?

LC: We often get asked to play our favorite song.

CR: “What’s Up,” 4 Non Blondes First concert you attended?

LC: Jack Johnson CR: Spice Girls Favorite artist?

LC: KOL, Odesza, M83, Allman Brothers, Jay-Z. I’m all over the place.

CR: Whitney Houston Place you go to get away from it all?

LC: The bathroom CR: Saint John, USVI Do you tweet, gram or book?

What’s your handle?

LC: You’re asking the wrong band member.

CR: Insta and book: HeartandHarmonyBand Who would star as you in the epic retelling of your life on film?

LC: The Situation from Jersey Shore CR: Sandra Bullock First instrument you learned to play?

LC: Bass CR: Violin Song you were thrilled to finally master?

112

NOVEMBER 2021 C2 MAGAZINE

What animal do you most identify with?

LC: I am an animal.

CR: A well-pampered house cat with a hefty inheritance If you got super famous and had to change your name, what would your new name be?

LC: Mr. Maybe CR: Reno Sweeney, ha, ha!

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

LC: My wife CR: Jason Mraz

N OV E M B E R 2 02 1 1

4

7

EVERY TUESDAY! SEA PINES FARMERS MARKET

FARMERS MARKET AT HONEY HORN

Sea Pines Shopping Center 10am-2pm

Coastal Discovery 9am-1pm

9

T H U R S D AY S BLUFFTON FARMERS MARKET

FIRST THURSDAYS ART MARKET

Green Street in Old Town Bluffton Every Thursday 12-5pm

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

10

12-14, 19-21 HILTON HEAD DANCE THEATRE PRESENTS THE NUTCRACKER

3RD ANNUAL CANDY BOUNCE BACK Oscar Frazier Park in Bluffton from 12pm-6pm Free event! Bring your Halloween candy and enjoy bounce houses, slides and more!

Seahawk Cultural Center November 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7:30pm November 14 and 21 at 2:30pm www.hiltonheaddance.com

18

16 & 17

14

20

Forsythe Jewelers Tuesday & Wednesday, 10 am - 6 pm Enjoy a complimentary gift with your Marco Bicego purchase.

RSVP to (843) 671-7070 or Andrea@ForsytheJewelers.biz.

23

HAPPY NATIONAL GINGERBREAD COOKIE DAY!

28

24 ANNUAL SALTY DOG HOMECOMING South Beach featuring $10 Lowcountry Boil All monies go to the Deep Well Project saltydog.com

29

30

13 HILTON HEAD OYSTER FESTIVAL Lowcountry Celebration Park 11am-5pm $8/ Adult Children 10 and under admitted FREE.

COMMUNITY TREE LIGHTING Arts Center of Coastal Carolina 4-6:30pm Santa kicks off the holidays with carols, crafts, and yummy treats!

(843) 842-2787

MARCO BICEGO TRUNK SHOW

21

6

MAGGIE AND ME 1-YEAR BIRTHDAY Maggie and Me Boutique 6 Bruin Road, Bluffton (843) 707-9083

25 TURKEY TROT Dockside on Skull Creek 8am-2pm islandrecenter.og

26

27

PHOTOS WITH SANTA! Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina 12-2:30pm Bring a new unwrapped gift for Deep Well Project.

SAVE THE DATE! ELF THE MUSICAL Arts Center of Coastal Carolina December 7 – January 2, 2022 Amazing music, big dance numbers, and a whole lot of Christmas spirit! www.artshhi.com

EVENTS 114

NOVEMBER 2021 C2 MAGAZINE