CH2 Magazine: July 2022 by CH2/ CB2 : Celebrate Hilton Head / Celebrate Bluffton

JULY 2022

CH2 CELEBRATE HILTON HEAD!

A SUMMER KISS FROM COASTAL BLISS INSTANT FUN: JUST ADD WATER

WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY FUN, THE LOWCOUNTRY’S INDOOR ATTRACTIONS MAKE EVERY RAINY DAY THE BEST DAY EVER.

THE PRODIGAL SON SHELTER COVE HARBOUR AND MARINA BRINGS BACK A FAMILIAR FACE TO SERVE AS HARBOURMASTER.

JULY 2022

ALL BY MYSELF THE POWER OF SOLITUDE & STILLNESS

CH2 SPECIAL SECTION: MEET THE DOCTORS

20 REKINDLING THE FIREWORKS Every Tuesday, HarbourFest reminds visitors and longtime locals alike of the island’s inimitable magic.

WHAT’S INSIDE

INSTANT FUN: JUST ADD WATER WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY FUN, THE LOWCOUNTRY’S INDOOR ATTRACTIONS MAKE EVERY RAINY DAY THE BEST DAY EVER.

THE TOP SHOTS AT FIRST TEE: MEET THE MEN BEHIND THE LIFE SKILLS AND EXPERT INSTRUCTION THAT ARE CHANGING CHILDREN’S LIVES AT FIRST TEE — THE LOWCOUNTRY.

OFF MY CHEST: MY BREAST CANCER JOURNEY

C2 SPECIAL SECTION: MEET THE DOCTORS

FRESH AIR: IS IT TIME FOR A NEW AC?

REMODELING DONE RIGHT: STEVEN W. JEFFCOAT CONSTRUCTION, INC. OFFERS CLIENTS EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY, EXPERTISE

FAÇADE FACELIFT: WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR HOME’S CURB APPEAL

A NOTE FROM OUR MAYORS

O N O U R C OV E R S CB2 CELEBRATE BLUFFTON AND BEYOND

JULY 2022

CH2 CELEBRATE HILTON HEAD!

A SUMMER KISS FROM COASTAL BLISS

INSTANT FUN: JUST ADD WATER WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY FUN, THE LOWCOUNTRY’S INDOOR ATTRACTIONS MAKE EVERY RAINY DAY THE BEST DAY EVER.

HEALTHY HABITS MEETS ‘THE CHALLENGE’ CONTESTANT

INSTANT FUN: JUST ADD WATER

WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY FUN, THE LOWCOUNTRY’S INDOOR ATTRACTIONS MAKE EVERY RAINY DAY THE BEST DAY EVER.

LOCAL TALENTS COLLABORATE TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND PROVIDE CLEAN NUTRITION

THE PRODIGAL SON SHELTER COVE HARBOUR AND MARINA BRINGS BACK A FAMILIAR FACE TO SERVE AS HARBOURMASTER.

MEET THE DOCTORS

ON THE CH2 COVER Coastal Bliss Fashion modeled by Julia Rockett Photography by 2Lights, 1Stand

ALL BY MYSELF THE POWER OF SOLITUDE & STILLNESS JUNE 2022

JULY 2022

ALL BY MYSELF THE POWER OF SOLITUDE & STILLNESS

CH2 SPECIAL SECTION:

JULY 2022

CB2 SPECIAL SECTION:

REMODELING DONE RIGHT

STEVEN W. JEFFCOAT CONSTRUCTION, INC. OFFERS CLIENTS EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY, EXPERTISE

HEALING OUTSIDE THE BOX

A GUIDE TO 10 ALTERNATIVE WELLNESS THERAPIES

RIVER HOUSE LOWCOUNTRY ICON GETS A WHOLE NEW VIBE

MEET THE DOCTORS

ON THE CB2 COVER River House Reopens Photography by Ian Santiago

28 A SUMMER KISS WITH COASTAL BLISS Can you tell where these photos were taken? Enter to win a $100 gift certificate to Coastal Bliss

34 RIVER HOUSE REOPENS Lowcountry icon gets a whole new vibe

80 EXTENDING THE LEGACY Jordan Blaine is a born and bred Southerner who has loved the charm and beauty of the Lowcountry his entire life.

GENIUSES AT WORK

play

The Referee Maggie Marie Washo

Miss Livin' My Best Life Carolyn Hunter Kostylo Master of Coin Marion Elizabeth Bowser Rainmaker Kim Conrad Crouch Master Handshaker “Just Kandace” Cunningham Lead Door Knocker Morgan Ambler Talent Delivery Specialist Kaila Jeffcoat Mascot in Training Buoy Conrad Crouch Pritchard

Editor's Note J

Famous Local Musician Jevon Daly The Gatekeepers Greta Von Bowser Vincent Von Bowser The Cut & Paste Crew Catherine Davies Aspiring Novelists Cheryl Alexander Jesse Blanco Linda S. Hopkins Barry Kaufman John McCann Courtney McDermott Lisa Sulka Lighting Experts Krisztian Lonyai Two Lights One Stand Photography Paul Nurnberg Find Us Here PO Box 22949 Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 843.816.6247 maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com

THE GRASS IS GREEN WHERE YOU WATER IT

found myself in a lot of gardens this past month. Everything is so lush and beautiful in June as flowers bloom and vegetables come into season. My friend Charlotte was giving me a tour of hers, and I marveled at the bounty. As I was educated on lemon balm tea, it occurred to me that I hadn’t been home in about two weeks and the ferns on my back deck were most likely deceased after a week of “feels like” 107-degree weather. The next morning, as I was jogging in Spanish Wells, I was again taking in the beauty of everyone’s front yards and gardens and thought, the grass is green where you water it. I know, super deep, right? We all have the same number of hours in a day. What we set in motion when we decide to spend these hours is our priorities. You will rarely find an unsuccessful businessperson who devotes most of his waking hours to growing his business. Sure, market changes and unexpected events occur, but the secret to success is no secret at all. It’s just a lot of hard work, focus, and effort on what is important to you. Day, after day, after day. Get up and do it again.

This same effort carries over into families. I know there is an age-old debate on nature versus nurture, but generally speaking, where parents put in the time and effort on the front end, raising their kids to be good, kind, honest and caring individuals who will one day be respectable members of society, they mostly succeed. I remember when I first brought my puppy Lucy home, I asked advice from everyone who had a wellbehaved pooch. My friend Erik Olson advised that I take my new dog everywhere in the first year of her life— introducing her to different people, kids, other animals, loud noises, etc. This, of course, was not an easy task. Lucy was 100 pounds of wild Bernese Mountain Dog who didn’t know her own girth. But I did it, and the results were splendid. There never was a finer, more polite dog in all the land. My work paid off. How are you spending your time? Is what you’re doing right now getting you to your goals? Summer is a good time to reset and think about what’s important to you and how your actions, habits, and thought processes can get you there. Wishing everyone a joyful July. Spend time watering the things you love.

MAGGIE WASHO Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

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Fireworks light up the night at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina on the first night of HarbourFest 2022. Photo taken from 405 Mainsail, which is available as a short-term vacation rental through palmettodunes.com.

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND

REKINDLING THE

EVERY TUESDAY, HARBOURFEST REMINDS VISITORS AND LONG-TIME LOCALS ALIKE OF THE ISLAND’S INIMITABLE MAGIC.

t’s an all-too-common lament, one you’ve probably shared at some point. You first came to Hilton Head Island and the magic all around you was almost overwhelming. Odds are, you arrived as a tourist. You and your family spent a day at the beach that still resides in the warmest parts of your memory. You rode your bikes on pathways that wound through enchanting maritime forests. You spent the evening gazing up at the blossoms of fiery color bursting through the night sky over Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina, and you told yourself you wanted to feel this way forever. And then you moved here, and slowly you stopped doing those things. Beach days became a once-a-summer thing at best. Your bike began rusting away in the garage. And you might see the fireworks off in the distance over Shelter Cove, but you put HarbourFest on the list of things you’ll get around to doing at some point before summer is over.

You still love living here, but you’ve stopped living here like you did when you first fell in love with it. It’s time you rekindled that romance. And the best way to do that is to head back to Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina on a Tuesday night. The annual Tuesday night celebration recently returned, bringing with it all the excitement and activity that has made it an island institution. Riding the immense wave of interest that has built up all across the island over the last few years, HarbourFest was absolutely packed on a recent visit. “This is actually a pretty light crowd,” corrected organizer Karen Kozemchak as the crowds swirled around her. “We’ll get around 7,000 people in here some weeks, and you’ll just see this sea of people all along the promenade from one end to another.” 22

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Shannon Tanner leads the boys against the girls in a singing competition of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” on the Shelter Cove main stage while the crowd looks on and applauds with laughter. A crowd of boys takes on the big slide at the top of a bounce house while Grandma looks on. ShelterCoveHiltonHead.com ShelterCoveHarbourfest.com

ShelterCoveHiltonHead.com

Thankfully, that promenade is well suited for the task. There may be a crowd, but there’s never a sense of being crowded. Organizers have made sure to space out the attractions, creating smaller pockets of people that are never stepping on each other. To one end of the promenade, the kids area gives the smallest visitors their place to run amok, leaving only aboard the brightly colored train that traverses the marina. Even at the center of it all, despite the twin attractions of Shannon Tanner and Cappy the Clown, you never feel like you’re being mobbed. During said recent visit, one family was even able to get a family portrait done, right in the heart of HarbourFest’s busiest area. The point being, if you’ve been staying away because it’s too crowded, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Because there is magic in HarbourFest, and in its ability to remind us why we moved here. “I’ve been doing this for 33 years, and it never gets old,” Shannon Tanner told the crowd. As he broke into a Kenny Chesney song, it wasn’t hard to see why. The golden hour’s sun bathing the harbour in gentle light, the crowds building their own “best vacation ever” memories, the laughter of children as they swung around balloon swords crafted by Cappy the Clown… it’s something we all need to make sure we revisit and hold onto. As you live here long enough, it becomes very easy to stop viewing Hilton Head Island with the same eyes you did when you first came here. So, it’s essential that periodically you play tourist. When that first firework lights up the sky over Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina and you feel the excitement surge through the crowd, you’ll start to remember.

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Shannon Tanner and Cappy the Clown will also entertain funloving crowds with music and family fun. Shannon Tanner includes two family shows at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. all week long on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, through Sept. 2. On Thursdays from June 16 through August 18 (plus Sept. 3-4), Tanner shifts into Caribbean sunset celebration mode for Parrot Palooza, a fun, family friendly, islandinspired show with his Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Shannon Tanner & The Oyster Reefers. In addition, fellow Lowcountry legend Cappy the Clown returns for another year of entertaining children with face painting, balloon animals, sand art, glitter tattoos and more. Cappy is set up at the Harbour from 6-9 p.m. Monday through Friday through Sept. 2 — as well as Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-4. Shannon Tanner family show: May 30 – Sept 2 (Mon, Tues, Wed & Fri) – two shows at 6:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Parrot Palooza with Shannon Tanner & the Oyster Reefers: Thursdays, June 16 – August 18 – (June 16, 23 & 30; July 7, 14, 21 & 28; August 4, 11 & 18) plus Labor Day weekend (Saturday, September 3 & Sunday, September 4) – Show starts at 7:00 p.m. Cappy the Clown: May 30 – Sept. 2 (Monday-Friday) and Labor Day weekend (Saturday, Sept. 3 & Sunday, Sept. 4) – 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

The sharpest dressed little man at HarbourFest fills a jar with colored sand with his mom. A volunteer with the Sea Turtle Trackers shows a visiting family what loggerhead turtle eggs look like and how many end up in a typical-sized nest.

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FREE SHUTTLE: Free shuttle service is available from the lot listed above to Shelter Cove Harbour. It will run continuously from 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Text PD to 855-634-3221

Attendees are encouraged to use these parking areas to ensure safe & smooth entry and exit from the event. BIKING/WALKING TO THE EVENT: Bike ride or walk to avoid parking & trafﬁc problems (USE PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS) ATTENTION! For your safety, anyone walking or biking from Palmetto Dunes on July 4 th over to Shelter Cove must utilize the pedestrian underpass that passes underneath Hwy 278. The bridge is located near the entrance to Palmetto Dunes (on the right side of the road if you are exiting) & is connected to the bike path.

to join & receive mobile alerts on all things Palmetto Dunes & Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina!

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK & TAG US IN YOUR PHOTOS! @ShelterCoveHarbourMarina #ShelterCoveHarbour #ShelterCoveMarina #HarbourFest Located at 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island (mid-Island, adjacent to Palmetto Dunes, mile marker 8)

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Locals Andrew and Morgan Ambler bring their family and extended crew to the first night of HarbourFest for baby Asher’s first Shannon Tanner sing-along experience. The Smith Family from Huntsville, Alabama poses for a quick photo near King Neptune.

And then, just as the sparks burst through the sky, the realization will burst through your heart. There is magic on Hilton Head Island. Perhaps nowhere greater than across that stretch of water at Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina, especially when you’re sharing that magic with people who are experiencing it for the

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first time. That moment, that feeling, will make you fall in love all over again. HarbourFest returns every Tuesday during the summer, starting at 6 p.m., with fireworks starting when the sky is dark.  For more information visit sheltercoveharbourfest. com or sheltercovehiltonhead.com.

THE PRODIGAL SON SHELTER COVE HARBOUR AND MARINA BRINGS BACK A FAMILIAR FACE TO SERVE AS HARBOURMASTER. Mason Lemon grew up on the waters of Hilton Head Island. A native son of the island, his childhood was spent with a boat deck below his feet and a fishing pole in his hand. When he was old enough, he went to work on the water at Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina as a dockhand. For five glorious summers, before heading off to Clemson to study travel and tourism management, the harbour was his home as he worked his way up to assistant dock master. He may have bid a farewell to Hilton Head after college, but even as he did, he knew he’d be back. “There’s no place like home,” Lemon said. “I always felt like I’d come back to the island, I just didn’t know when.” He got his answer when he got a call from Shelter Cove asking him to come back and serve as their new harbourmaster. It’s a rare thing for a Hilton Head Island kid to leave and come back, but then it’s also a rare thing for a 27-year-old to serve as harbourmaster. “It’s a fun job, so people tend to want to stay in it; that’s why it’s usually older guys,” Lemon said. “I mean, you get to wear shorts every day and hang out around boaters. And everyone’s usually pretty happy when they’re at the marina.” He makes a solid point. And despite his young age, Shelter Cove isn’t even his first posting. During his threeand-a-half years spent off the island, he worked in marinas from Virginia to Texas, including Virginia’s Tidewater Yacht Marina, whose 300 slips kept him busy. Shelter Cove may have a comparably small 178 slips, but Lemon still stays busy overseeing dock hands, commercial charters and the retail shop. And he has a lot of fun doing it. “It’s like playing Tetris sometimes. We have a few different yachts coming in today that are 70-foot-plus, so that involves moving stuff around—this person is here for six months, this one for three days, where do we put them? It’s a great job,” he said. “I love it.” CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

JULY 2022

a summer

Photography by 2Lights, 1Stand Styled by Kaila Jeffcoat

Hair and Makeup by Emily Allyson Makeup & Hair Modeled by Julia Rockett

KISS from

Coastal Bliss To show off the latest looks from Coastal Bliss in Shelter Cove Town Centre, we headed to some beautiful backdrops right here on the island. Can you tell where each shot was taken? Email your guesses to

maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com for a chance to win $100 to spend at Coastal Bliss. We will draw a name from all correct entries and announce the winner on July 20 on CH2 magazine's instagram and Facebook pages.

Good Luck!

Jodifl shirt $58 Dear John shorts $74 Garden beaded headband $42 Beading Bae bracelets $20 each Beach by Matisse shoes $48

Show Me Your Mumu dress $148 Star earrings $42

Show Me Your Mumu dress $168 Long teardrop necklace $28 Stella beaded earrings $34

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Show Me Your Mumu dress $198 (also available in pastel purple maxi, and multi printed in a mini) Dolce Vita heels $125 Able clutch $85 Beading Bae bracelets $20 each Large hoop earrings $25

Show Me Your Mumu $144 Leather wrap bracelet $40 Earrings $25 Mykonos necklace $98

Tart top $140 Tart skirt $150 Mykonos necklace $98

Just Bellina dress $98 Start beaded box bag $115 Beach by Matisse shoes $48 Mykonos necklace $98

CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

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Beautiful floor-toceiling windows surround the River House, connecting the inside to the outdoors.

Daniel Vesey, Chef de Cuisine for the River House.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER II PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN SANTIAGO

RIVER HOUSE LOWCOUNTRY ICON GETS A WHOLE NEW VIBE

t last, the iconic River House restaurant at Palmetto Bluff, one of the only riverfront dining options in Bluffton, has reopened its doors with an elegant and perfect presentation, highlighting the best of Lowcountry culture and cuisine. It’s an experience you must have in person, but in the meantime, here’s a sneak preview to whet your appetite for the feast that awaits your senses.

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PRIME BEEF TARTARE beef tallow toast, pickled mustard, quail yolk, boquerones butter

An array of creative cocktails from master mixologists at the River House bar.

FLAMING S’MORES BAKED ALASKA smoked marshmallow ice cream, bourbon marshmallow, graham sable, 64% manjari chocolate, 151 rum

THE HISTORY A tiny reminder of the past will pique your interest, as there are nods to the history of the place—which you’ll want to be sure to notice when you visit—preserved in the current iteration. In 2004, the original River House was a space in the building where all guests checked in to visit the resort at Palmetto Bluff. In 2016, the restaurant closed, and the dining room itself was converted into a banquet space with a screened-in porch, reserved for private events. The very intimate bar space remained with a few tables scattered throughout the porch. In 2021, the current renovation began, and now the renovation has returned to its restaurant roots. The former wine cellar downstairs is now HUSH, a speakeasy, and what was once a library is now BUZZ, a boutique grab-and-go coffee shop. The old check-in desk is now a space where guests can enjoy live music with entry to the porch for craft cocktails as well as entry into dining room. THE DINING ROOM It’s a feast for the eyes! The new hugely vibrant dining room stuns with florals, lots of greenery, and a whopping $2 million worth of clean millwork. The former screened-in 36

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porch seemingly floats on the river like a luxury houseboat with floor-to-ceiling windows. As the day turns to night, the varying colors of the sky are part of the show until darkness arrives and envelopes the room in a deep, moody glow. No less than 127 potted plants maintained weekly by professionals with very green thumbs decorate and embellish the entire space, and there are no bad seats; either you are overlooking the river or lagoon, or next to a fireplace or windows. The open, perfectly spaced seating includes beautiful banquettes and a variety of other seating arrangements to suit everyone for any occasion imaginable. As well, the River House has committed to conservancy and sustainability. “We value our stewardship of the land,” said Damien Olsen, River House general manager. “We value our connection to the natural environment insomuch that we’ve directly and purposefully tied the restaurant to the beauty of the outdoor space.” Two fireplaces remain that were part of the original structure, along with other bits and pieces. “Long-time guests of the restaurant will come in and pinpoint where things used to be and how they appreciate the way the renovation and restoration nod to the past,” Olsen said.

Warm southern hospitality is served up with every cocktail and dish at the River House. “Having that acknowledgement is great, and we are proud to honor their perspectives and conjure happy memories.” The restaurant also boasts two private dining rooms: one with an exquisite wall mural that is a Lowcountry forest aesthetic with live oaks that draw you into their majestic and mysterious beauty; on the other side is a bourbon wall. In the other dining room, one side edges to a glassed-in porch overlooking the lagoon. Though each offers a unique aesthetic, both offer unmatched natural views. THE CHEF Meet River House Chef de Cuisine Daniel Vesey. Prior to the River House re-opening, Chef Vesey was at Octagon in the main hotel and with the Octagon team when they received the impressive, world-class Forbes 5-star award. At Octagon, Vesey oversaw the hotel and room service dining, so when this new opportunity opened at River House, he was ripe and ready for the call. Prior to River House, he was chef at venues in Maui, Hawaii, and in Park City, Utah. Olson, too, was at Park City. “I first met Chef Vesey at the Riverhorse in Park City,” said Damian, “which is single-handedly the best dining in town. I knew he was the real deal. At Palmetto Bluff, we recognize that the chef matters, and we support Chef CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

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Vesey to create an incomparable menu comprised of the freshest, best, most impressive ingredients with the most professional staff anywhere.” Nathan Beriau, director of food and beverage agrees. “This level of product and service requires an entire army to execute. Chef Vesey brings all those details together into the guests’ experience here. Our guests look at the menu, they see and experience the details, and they remember them. All the complimentary items add to the value of our space,” he said. THE MENU Chef Vesey’s inspiration at River House is the quality of the product. “When something is in season and it’s rare, we jump at the chance to incorporate it into our dishes. For example, we recently sourced some ramps, so we grabbed them up because ramp season is short and they are elusive plants, and hence quantities are limited.” They’re typically foraged, like truffles and mushrooms. Chef Vesey finds these specialty items, and they dictate how he makes the dishes. Other seasonal menu items look like North Carolina Rainbow Trout, prepared with Nueske bacon, PX sherry butter, marbled potatoes, and smoke trout roe; or Joyce Farms Chicken, served with Carolina gold rice, roasted purplette onions, mushroom conserva, and natural jus. While River House is steak and seafood centric, with the focus being beef, unsurpassed secondary offerings are hogs, chicken, and local fish. “We do our best to source locally, including pork and chicken,” Vesey said. “For our beef program, we gather prime beef from all over the world, including Japanese wagyu or Australian wagyu or small U.S. farm beef (prime dry aged or not) and ranges in portion from 2 oz. to 42 oz. We are proud of the variety we offer in our beef program. Our aim is always to let the ingredient speak for itself.” For those with a taste for game, look for expanded options in the future. In fact, on the menu now, you’ll find a superb Venison Tenderloin, enhanced with a raspberry reduction, smoked maple sweet potato, and delightful rainbow chard. Desserts, too, are unforgettable. In particular, the Flaming S’mores, a play on baked Alaska, done tableside. It looks like a marshmallow on a stick stacked on a graham cracker. Upon serving, a splash of bourbon is poured on top then lit so that the marshmallow roasts, revealing toasted marshmallow ice cream inside. It’s just like cooking s’mores over a campfire at your table. THE BAR The River House bar has 13 comfortable, intimate seats and offers a full bar, from high-end scotches and cognacs to hard-to-find bourbons and popular vodkas. Located centrally, it’s a whole dining experience bar. The wine menu features over 2,500 different labels from the world’s major wine regions in a variety of formats, with an emphasis on benchmark wines and notable emerging wineries. An impressive offering of 41 wines by the glass is available. “Our by-the-glass wine menu is a large feat,” Olsen said. “With our Coravin system, a system designed to pour wine without removing the cork, every pour tastes just like the first.” Though wine centric, River House is also a bespoke cocktail establishment. One crafted cocktail includes carrot juice ice cubes. Another comes served with a jasmine scented

The Bounty of both land and sea is reflected in the River House menu. bubble on top, which you pop when served so that the aromatics kick in, enhancing the drink experience. THE SPEAKEASY Downstairs is HUSH, a speakeasy (formerly the wine cellar) equipped with an intimate bar, seating for 35 guests, a billiards table, a humidor with space just outside to smoke, and prohibition-themed live jazz—all hidden, of course, behind a mirrored glass wall. “It’s the place for the ultimate nightcap and open only three days a week,” Olsen said. “We want you to dine at the restaurant then move down to HUSH to wind down and listen to music.” THE SOMMELIER Certified Sommelier PJ Myers came from Michael Anthony’s and a career in military. His passion is beverages, and his aim is to become a director of beverage. He curated the River House wine list and is the gatekeeper of a $1.5 million inventory. He additionally educates the staff and interested guests on wine, regions, and more, and he works closely with the culinary team to develop wine pairings for changing seasonal selections on the menu. “PJ really breaks it down for us and makes it very interesting,” Olsen said. “If you don’t know wines, it can be an intimidating industry, but he makes it fun, easy to learn, and elevates our restaurant experience.” THE TAKEAWAY In the South, the intimate connection between the table and the land is undeniable: the fertile soil providing nutrition, the shelter provided by palmettos, and the ocean providing its bounty with the incoming tide. River House is a culinary celebration of this relationship and our professed love for the land and waters of the Lowcountry. “This entire space is designed around storytelling,” Olsen said, “and our people are bringing it to life. We have been open for two months. We are proud of our progress, and we can’t wait to share it with you.”  For reservations, call (855) 264-8705 or visit riverhousesc.com. CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

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ESCAPE ROOM HHI

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN . PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1 STAND

Instant Fun: JustAdd Water SS

WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY FUN, THE LOWCOUNTRY’S INDOOR ATTRACTIONS MAKE EVERY RAINY DAY THE BEST DAY EVER.

ure, sunny days are great. You can go to the beach and get sand everywhere, take a walk in the woods and get devoured by no-see-ums, go for a bike ride and discover new and exciting ways to cramp up … it’s a real thrill-a-minute. But for those of us who really know how to have a good time, rainy days are where it’s at. When that first sweet drop of H2O hits, we gear up for indoor adventure. Let the plebians bake their skin to a fiery crimson under the sun; we true connoisseurs of merriment know that when the downpour hits, the real fun begins. Don’t believe us? Then get a load of the sweet adventures for your next rainy day. CAN YOU ESCAPE? The cadence of raindrops on the rooftop only heightens the sense of urgency you feel when you have a padlock in one hand, a coded message in

the other and a head full of theories as to what either one has to do with the algebra equation written on the wall in invisible ink. Escape rooms have exploded over the last decade, testing your puzzle solving abilities in a realworld race against time. Here in the Lowcountry, we’re lucky enough to have our share. Located just off Pope Avenue, Escape Room Hilton Head offers four different scenarios ranging from the terrifying “Taken” to the apocalyptic “Conspiracy Theory,” all of which run about an hour or so. Across the bridge in Bluffton, Lockstar Escape tests your mental mettle with a pair of escape rooms: the hotel-themed “Inncreeper” and the mobster pizzeria “The Rat Trap.” BOWLING They’ve called baseball the great American pastime, but we put to you good people that no CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

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ADVENTURE COVE

sport deserves that honorific like bowling. There’s something about strapping into those shoes, splitting a pitcher of beer with your friends and hurling a few rocks that just feels like a rainy day done right. The Lowcountry’s sole bowling outlet, Station 300, does bowling right with 24 lanes boasting updated seating plus big screen TVs that let you catch the game while you bowl. Send the kids over to the arcade (or play a few games yourself), and then grab a little F&B from Zeppelins and give the whole family a day of fun under one roof. ADVENTURE COVE Forget that whole half-a-glass-of-water metaphor. A true pessimist is someone who sees a rainy day as the reason they’re not able to enjoy Adventure Cove’s 36 holes of amazing mini golf. An optimist is someone who sees a rainy day as an opportunity to load up on tokens and indulge in their sweet arcade. Try your hand at the latest

THE ZONE

and greatest video games or test your skills on a few ticketed attractions and earn some awesome prizes. THE ZONE There’s something brilliant in the way Bluffton’s The Zone sneaks in education through the door of fun. Your kids might just think they’re playing laser tag, indoor putt-putt, or working their way through one of the escape rooms, but they’re also getting an eye-opening education in the world of high finance. Located in Bluffton’s entertainment capital, Berkeley Place, The Zone also offers pulsepounding indoor attractions like the competitionready American Ninja Warrior course, the mechanical shark, indoor batting cages, a mirror maze, and the reflex-testing TimeFREAK. You might need more than one rainy day to experience it all. THE ART CAFÉ Upstairs from Rockfish, the Art Café has been an island tradition for decades, courting locals and visitors on rainy days and sunny days alike. After all, there’s a lot to be said for the chance to express your artistic side with the whole family, custom-painting your own ceramic work of brilliance to be kiln-fired and shelf-ready when you’re done. And hey, as long as you have Rockfish downstairs, you can always help boost your artistic inspiration with a few cocktails, right?

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K1 RACING

K1 RACING Anyone who has tested their reflexes on K1’s indoor track knows that this is far more than just go-karts. This is as close as you can get to the white-knuckle excitement of tearing across the Formula One track at Monaco, with Italian-built karts that push you to your limit. Strap in and test yourself against the area’s best, representing Bluffton’s best opportunity for bragging rights. And then, once you’ve posted your best lap time, you can strap in for VR excitement, try your hand at a few of the arcade games, or refuel at the full kitchen. It’s the most fun you can have this side of the Indy 500. THE SANDBOX This beloved island tradition continues to offer the best family experience for kids young and old, even as it has expanded into new spaces. With locations at Hilton Head Island’s Lowcountry Celebration Park and in Bluffton at Tanger Outlets 2, The Sandbox has made its hallmark the pursuit of family fun that enriches even as it entertains. Expand their scientific mind with S.T.E.M. exhibits, explore their artistic side at a wealth of craft stations, or immerse yourself in the culture and ecology of the Lowcountry with exhibits that celebrate Gullah culture, our marine life and more. The old-fashioned fun of exploring, discovering and learning will have you wishing it could rain every day. 

THE SANDBOX

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JULY 2022

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN . PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND

Executive Director Pat Zuk and Program Director Aaron Immel are photographed at First Tee- The Lowcountry.

THE TOP SHOTS AT FIRST TEE

being better people, they’ll probably find that they’re shaving a few points off their short game. The local chapter of an organization founded in 1997, First Tee — The Lowcountry officially opened the doors of its Gumtree Road facility in 2017, giving local kids a place to learn about life while enjoying a 6-hole par-3 course and multiple areas to practice driving, chipping and putting. And helping guide this organization forward are the men you see here, Executive Director Pat Zuk and Program Director Aaron Immel. While Zuk’s start with First Tee came as a moment of serendipity, it ignited a 25-year career with the organization. As assistant director of instruction at Kansas City’s Heart of America Golf MEET THE MEN BEHIND THE LIFE SKILLS AND EXPERT Academy, he was tasked with steering the First INSTRUCTION THAT ARE CHANGING CHILDREN’S LIVES Tee pilot program there. AT FIRST TEE — THE LOWCOUNTRY. “When you’re the younger assistant pro, at most places, you end up doing the junior t could be that you think First Tee — The Lowcountry simply programs. And when I was doing those, I felt like teaches golf. If that’s the case, you’re not wrong. But you’re also missing the big picture. If you ask Program Director Aaron Immel, he’ll tell you. “We’re teaching life skills as a way to teach golf, not using golf as a way to teach life skills.” The difference lies in the approach that First Tee has used for decades: instilling in children the nine core values of the organization, honesty, integrity, responsibility, respect, courtesy, sportsmanship, judgment, perseverance, and confidence. And yes, along the way toward

“WE’RE TEACHING LIFE SKILLS AS A WAY TO TEACH GOLF, NOT USING GOLF AS A WAY TO TEACH LIFE SKILLS.”

“I THINK MOST PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT GOLF BUILDS CHARACTER. I THINK THAT’S NOT NECESSARILY TRUE UNLESS YOU’RE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT. AND THAT’S WHAT WE DO.”

B Aaron Immel sweeps the putting green after a session with young golfers-intraining.

there should be more to it than hitting balls and learning the rules,” he said. “You’re going to spend that much time with them over the summer, there needs to be more. First Tee was the obvious answer.” This began a long career with the organization, bringing him to First Tee — The Lowcountry in February of 2019. At

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the stunning new facility, he sees an opportunity to build on programming that has defined his tenure with First Tee. “I think most people will say that golf builds character. I think that’s not necessarily true unless you’re very intentional about it. And that’s what we do,” he said.” I feel like I don’t have to get up and go to work, I get to get up

B First Tee students celebrate wins with coaches, building confidence!

and go to work. I’ve probably gotten more from the kids than I’ve ever given them. I’ve been so lucky; it’s been a real passion.” Like Zuk, Immel discovered The First Tee while working in golf and identified right away with its balance of golf and life skills. However, golf was not necessarily the beginning for him. As a Greensboro kid who worked with the Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball team in high school, and a graduate of Catawba University with a degree in sports management, he found First Tee while still charting his athletic future. “I always knew I wanted to work in sports, and through college I was trying to figure out what sport it would be,” he said. “I started working with First Tee in Greensboro, interned with them and soon realized I could start pursuing golf.” He was hooked, both on the game and on the unique approach The First Tee takes to building a better future for its students. “I’m really committed to not only improving the golf game in children but improving their character,” he said. “I love to build character with these kids.”  To find out more about summer programs and upcoming tournaments, visit firstteelowcountry.org.

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JULY 2022

HEALTH AND WELLNESS SECTION

SPECIAL FEATURES

Off My Chest My breast cancer journey

Healing Outside the Box A guide to 10 alternative wellness therapies

It’s not your grandparents’ joint replacement Advancements in surgery can get you from the operating room to your living room in one day…or less!

Healthy Habit Meets ‘The Challenge’ Contestant Local talents collaborate to break down barriers and provide clean nutrition

All By Myself The power of solitude & stillness

C2 Special Section: Meet the Doctors

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JULY 2022

Becca Edwards sits on the back porch of her home, post-surgery, with a mug gifted to her.

JULY 2022

CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

article by becca edwards .. Photography by two lights one stand

off chest T

here’s something I want to tell you. Something I need to get off my chest. I am a breast cancer survivor. Please know, this is difficult for me to say out loud. To admit. To acknowledge. This hard-fought honor is not a medal or badge anyone seeks to earn. And yet, many of us must earn it. Because one in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime, you probably know someone— maybe a relative, close friend, neighbor or your child’s favorite teacher—who is battling or has battled breast cancer. My fight began innocuously, with my morning routine Friday, March 4 at 6 a.m. I had already made the decision to get my breast implants removed and was scheduled for surgery April 1. That fateful March morning I was excitedly thinking about my upcoming explant when I got in the shower and then suddenly felt compelled to do a self-breast exam. I do not know if it was intuition, divine intervention, luck or a combination of all the above, but my hand, as if guided, went directly to a hard, unforgiving lump on my right breast. Time froze. I froze. My index and middle fingers pressing into something that though inside of me was so alien to me. I had just had a 3D mammogram in October. This could not be what I instinctively knew it was: cancer. Despite the early hour, I texted my friend Dr. William Burak, an amazing breast surgeon at Memorial Health, and then shortly thereafter Angie Gillespie, R.T(R)(M) CN-BI, who is also a dear friend and the breast imaging navigator for Hilton Head Hospital and Bluffton Medical (and equally amazing at her job). By 10 a.m., it was one diagnostic test after another: 3D mammogram, ultrasound and

“I am a breast cancer survivor.” then biopsy. By noon it was not a matter of if I had cancer but what type—and how bad. Thank God I had Dr. Burak and Angie and other dear friends like Dr. Brandon Runyan by my side over the next few days as I received the final diagnosis: stage 1, grade 2, estrogen positive, progesterone positive, HER2 negative, mucinous carcinoma. March 28, Dr. Burak and Dr. Campbell of the Georgia Institute for Plastic Surgery performed my lumpectomy, implant removal and reconstruction, and on May 25, after 15 rounds of radiation at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, I rang the bell to celebrate the end of my breast cancer treatment. Throughout my health journey, I recorded the takeaways I thought were most beneficial and that I should share with all the women (and men) who will be diagnosed with breast cancer, too. Some of the takeaways are funny, some poignant, and some somewhere in between. But all are game-changers. UNDERWEAR I’ll start with funny. Always wear panties to medical appointments. This may seem obvious but, as someone who spends most of her life

Edwards with her three daughters: Camellia, Ransom and Ruth Love

in either a tennis skirt, lined running shorts or yoga pants, I’m not much of an underwear-er. So, I learned this one the hard way during my CT scan. (My apologies to the tech who learned way too much about me that day.) Because hospital gowns are about the most poorly designed garment in existence, I highly encourage anyone to include a spare pair in their quick grab hospital bag (as well as all medical and insurance information in a binder or folder, some form of entertainment and a wrap or scarf). And while we are on the subject of clothing, don’t wear a romper, dress or one piece of any sort to appointments. You’ll end up essentially naked. This is a top (as in a button down or zip up shirt) and bottom affair, and

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because most hospitals and medical offices are cold, I would opt for comfortable pants. CONNECTIONS Connect with other breast cancer patients and survivors. Whether you reach out to someone you know who has been affected by breast cancer or you make friends with the other women in the waiting room of your doctor’s office, these women will support and empower you. They are the ones who have or are currently going through your same ordeal and empathize without pitying you. They give you honest feedback and recommendations about healthcare facilities and professionals and insightful solutions to issues like anxiety, radiation rash, and talking to your children about your diagnosis. It was Christy Simpson who introduced me to the husband pillow, your “breast friend” when you have to rest upright post lumpectomy or mastectomy. It was Julie Richardson who told me about Miaderm cream for radiation and other must-have products. She also gifted me “The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen” cookbook. And it was Meg Meccariello who told me the next and maybe the most grace saving takeaway.

off

chest

breast cancer facts resource: breastcancer.org

• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer. • As of January 2022, there are more than 3.8 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment. • Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. In 2022, it’s estimated that about 30 percent of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers. • In women under 45, breast cancer is more common in Black women than white women. Overall, Black women are more likely to die of breast cancer. For Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women, the risk of developing and dying from breast cancer is lower. Ashkenazi Jewish women have a higher risk of breast cancer because of a higher rate of BRCA mutations. • About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.

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GRIEF On one of our many conversations early on in my diagnosis Meg said to me, “Becca, know you will go through the stages of grief, so be kind to yourself.” Her words could not have been more true. If you are unfamiliar with the seven stages of grief, they are shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance. You will not experience all these stages sequentially. Nor will you simply experience a stage and then move on. For me, I would cycle through all seven, with anxiety (rather than depression) being the most consistent. HONESTY Because of the influx of feelings and emotions, it is crucial to be honest with the people around you about your mental and physical state. This includes your children. People will tell you you’re strong, and maybe you are, but you don’t have to be. There were days in the beginning I would wake and throw up from anxiety and then be unable to eat breakfast with my family. I would tell my daughters that eventually I would be fine but that this was the physical manifestation of my anxiety. We would talk about the effects of anxiety and how, when you feel this anxious, it is important to seek help (which I did) and to practice breathing and mediation exercises. Even though my husband is an attentive, caring man, I would also directly let him know my headspace and what I needed from him in terms of support. I had to also set boundaries with people who, though well-meaning, would “research” cancer and make recommendations. FILTERING Which brings me to a sanity saver: Filter out the noise and try to listen to your inner voice. This can be very difficult. Trust me. I was told by one person that the only way I was going to survive breast cancer was by devoting myself to Christ. Another person told me my cancer was from getting the COVID vaccine (which I received in 2021, and my tumor, which was undetected by 3D mammograms for two years, began growing in 2020). Another tried to convince me I needed to get a double mastectomy and hysterectomy. And yet another told me to avoid all surgeries, radiation and medications and opt for energy healing with crystals and herbal supplementation. Yes, everyone’s heart is in the right place, but it is your heart that needs to be followed. INTUITION+RESEARCH Your intuition alongside responsible research will ultimately get you through your breast cancer. There is no better 54

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off chest Though I am breast cancer-free, I am not free from cancer. Moving forward, cancer will always be a part of my life. advocate for your positive outcome than you and the power within you. Once you get your diagnosis, I do not recommend consulting Dr. Google. Instead, fortify your knowledge of your disease and design your cancer plan with the help of the medical professionals as well as other breast cancer resources and survivors that most align with your beliefs and make you feel most safe. Having shared these takeaways, there’s something else I need to get off my chest. Though I am breast cancerfree, I am not free from cancer. Moving forward, cancer will always be a part of my life. Yes, I will be on tamoxifen for the next five years and will need to be monitored regularly for the foreseeable future, but more than that, cancer is now in my mental DNA. I will be having a normal day and then a psychological rogue wave will hit me, and I’ll think, “What the frittata! I’m a breast cancer survivor?” Or, “Holy shiitake! Am I going to get cancer again?” I should also tell you that throughout my health event I never had a religious epiphany, and I am not a necessarily better person because of mucinous carcinoma. Yes, going into my treatment, I did have high hopes of reading spiritual books and “working on myself” through journaling and introspection, but in reality, I just did what I needed to do to survive. I did, however, ultimately discover a part of me that may have been dormant or I may have neglected for many years. Maybe decades. I can dig deep and triumph through adversity. We all can.  B e c c a E d wa r d s i s a we l l n e s s professional, freelance writer, and owner of Female IQ (femaleIQ.com). CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

JULY 2022

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

Healing outside the box A GUIDE TO 10 ALTERNATIVE WELLNESS THERAPIES

ould you call a balneotherapist or try red light therapy to treat acne or psoriasis break outs? Would you trust a reflexologist or an aromatherapist to help with your asthma? Would you turn to cryotherapy or compression therapy to treat your arthritis? No matter how weird they might seem, alternative medical practices are gaining traction in the U.S. WHAT IS ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE? Alternative therapy refers to any non-standard health treatment as defined by Western medical practice. When used as companions to standard medical practices, these alternative approaches are called “complementary” medicine. Because of the inherent diversity, complementary and alternative approaches to healing are sometimes difficult to understand. The benefits of alternative therapies are topics of debate and research. However, that doesn’t stop millions of people from checking them out and endorsing them. According to a 2021 report by Grand View Research, a U.S. company that completes more than 2,000 multi-country research studies worldwide, the global complementary and alternative medicine market size was valued at $82.27 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.03 percent from 2021 to 2028. The market is set to gain momentum in the coming years due to changes in regulation, coupled with hefty government initiatives. Here are some of the practices that are changing the way Americans approach medical care: Naturopathy. Naturopathic medicine is premised on the healing power of nature. Naturopathic doctors are trained in both conventional and alternative medicines and seek to understand the cause of a condition by exploring its mental, physical, and spiritual manifestations in patients. It involves a variety of treatment techniques, including nutrition, behavioral changes, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and acupuncture.

Botanicals (herbal medicines) are the most widely used alternative medicines (38.5 percent in 2020). In most cases, they are used in the form of dietary supplements along with standard food and medicine. Formulations include tablets, ointments, teas, syrups, and whole herbs. Acupuncture. Though many associate needles with acupuncture, the term more accurately describes stimulation of specific points on the body, whose best-known variety involves penetrating the skin with thin needles controlled by a practitioner. However, electrical stimulation can also be used. Stimulation occurs at the body’s “meridians,” which are energetic channels that may become blocked or out of balance. The pressure to those specific points can unblock the energy and allow the qi or chi (life force) to resume its natural flow. It is widely accepted that acupuncture yields positive results on many types of chronic pain, such as neck pain and osteoarthritis. Acupuncture may also be effective for tension or chronic headaches, and many plastic surgeons and med spas are using acupuncture on the face for non-invasive beauty treatments. Acupressure/Compression therapy. Acupressure is similar in practice to acupuncture, only no needles are involved. Practitioners use their hands, elbows, or feet to apply pressure to specific points along the body’s meridians. Studies have revealed that acupressure is effective for insomnia, pain relief (including lower back, headaches, and labor pains), and mental health issues. Compression therapy helps improve the flow of blood and lymphatic fluid and boost recovery, circulation, and healing. This machine treatment (typically used in 30-60-minute sessions) applies controlled, dynamic pressure to extremities like the arms, legs and hips and can be used to treat various lymphedema conditions, including venous insufficiency by moving blood toward the heart. Compression can be particularly helpful to massage and loosen stiff muscles and joints after a long run or tough workout by releasing lactic acids. Chiropractic medicine. Chiropractic medicine is widely accepted in the medical community, deeming it more “complementary” than alternative. It focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, treating issues in the back, neck, joints, arms, legs, and head. Many people have had a spinal manipulation, or “adjustment,” which involves applying controlled force (typically the chiropractor’s hands) to joints that have become hypomobile. The concept is that when surrounding tissues are injured either during a single event, like tweaking a muscle during a weightlifting session or through repetitive stress, like sitting with poor posture for extended periods, then joint movement becomes restricted, so adjustments are needed to restore mobility and loosen the muscles, allowing tissues to heal and the pain to resolve. Studies generally affirm its efficacy, with research suggesting it can improve conditions like neck or low back pain. Cryotherapy. Applying something cold to an injury or ache has been an accepted medical treatment for centuries, dating back to the 1600s. Whole Body Cryotherapy is exposure to subzero temperatures. Extreme cold stimulates skin sensors activating a central nervous system response. This causes the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain inhibitors and mood elevators, while the enhanced circulation decreases inflammation by clearing toxins and metabolic waste and increased oxygen and nutrient-rich bold stimulates faster healing. After treatment, the normal body temperature is gradually restored, and normal blood flow is enhanced. 58

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Cryotherapy’s reported benefits surpass pain relief, reduced inflammation, and faster recovery. It’s also used to treat stress-related conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. As well as burning 500-800 calories after a cryotherapy session, patients say they feel more energized. Red light therapy. Just as plants need light to grow, light provides functional support for the human body. Red Light Therapy (also known as Photo biomodulation Therapy) uses red and infrared wavelengths of light that may help to boost energy levels, relieve minor pain and swelling, and balance your mood—all in as little as 10 minutes per day. By using low levels of red or near-infrared light, healing and energy is delivered to the body’s cells. The low wavelength red light produced by the red light machines is absorbed by the mitochondria in the body, which are responsible for many important processes in your day to day health, healing abilities, and energy production. IV drips. IV Drips infuse a liter of fluids with essential vitamins, nutrients, minerals and amino acids that go far beyond water alone. Whether you’re committed to the prospect of reducing cellular damage with vitamin C, aiding your body’s energy production with B12, or relaxing while supporting muscle health with magnesium, drip ingredients can be customized to deliver the nutrients your body and mind would benefit from most. Many people get IV drip therapy before they travel so they can boost their body’s natural defense system. Others schedule IV drips after explosive workouts to replenish hydration and essential nutrients after sweating it out. Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy uses essential oils—highly concentrated extracts from the roots, leaves, seeds, or blossoms of plants—to promote healing, and can be traced back 5,000 years. Oils can be inhaled using a diffuser or diluted in a carrier oil and massaged into the skin. Some treat inflammation or infections while others are used to promote relaxation and calm. Clinically, researchers have focused on aromatherapy for anxiety, depression, pain relief, nausea, and insomnia. In a recent study, aromatherapy with lavender was found to promote sleep and reduce anxiety for patients with heart disease. Another study reports that pregnant women who inhaled linalool (found in mint) and linalyl acetate (found in lavender) felt calmer after just five minutes. Like other therapies, it is recommended to consult a trained professional to use this method of healing. Ayurvedic medicine. Also known as Ayurveda, this modality originated in India

Healing outside the box

Research shows that a regular yoga practice can address a range of mental and physical health issues like anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and insomnia, among others.

and has been around for thousands of years. Practitioners use a variety of techniques, including herbs, massage, and specialized diets, with the intent of balancing the body, mind, and spirit to promote overall wellness. Several studies support positive results for specific Ayurvedic practices, such as taking turmeric for inflammation, using a neti pot to clear the sinuses (called nasal irrigation), or swishing coconut oil in your mouth to pull out bacteria (known as oil pulling). Yoga, too, is first mentioned in Ayurvedic texts. Research shows that a regular yoga practice can address a range of mental and physical health issues like anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, and insomnia, among others. Balneotherapy. Sometimes confused with hydrotherapy, balneotherapy involves the use of water for therapeutic purposes, and it dates as far back as 1700 BCE. It’s a popular course of treatment in several European countries to this day: think thermal baths in Hungary. It’s based on the idea that water benefits the skin and might treat a range of conditions from acne to pain, swelling to anxiety. Practitioners use mudpacks, douches, long soaks, and wraps in attempts to reap the many rewards. For this reason, it’s often called “spa therapy.” Balneotherapy has been studied for its effects on chronic pain, with many positive results. The take-away The field of alternative medicine is vast. New therapies and studies are cropping up all the time. Integrating a handful of these into your routine may have solid benefits to your health. There’s a reason some of these have been around for thousands of years, after all. As long as you’ve consulted with a doctor or practitioner you can rely on, do what works for you, which probably includes a combination of Western medicine and complementary therapies. As always, listen to your body. No one knows it better than you do. 

CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM JULY 2022

Article by Courtney McDermott

Not Your Grandparents’ Joint Replacement ADVANCEMENTS IN SURGERY CAN GET YOU FROM THE OPERATING ROOM TO YOUR LIVING ROOM IN ONE DAY OR LESS!

hen Beaufort Memorial set its sights on building an advanced joint replacement program more than 20 years ago, no one could have imagined the seismic shifts that were on the horizon—chief among them: same-day joint replacements. At that time, the national average length of stay for a patient undergoing total knee or hip replacement was five days. So, several years ago when the hospital began to look for ways to improve the entire process, staff thought it might be a stretch to aim for a reduced, four-day length of stay. They were wrong. Following an intense “process-improvement” program, the team overhauled every aspect of the patient and surgical experience, from pre-operative education and registration to the surgery itself and everything that follows. “Creating a new process was exciting and eye-opening,” said Dr. Kevin Jones, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Beaufort Memorial. “It really helped all of us to see the whole picture, to understand how to improve it for our patients and,

At Beaufort Memorial orthopedic surgeons use Mako to replace joints with pinpoint precision, allowing for better alignment, more comfort and a longer-lasting joint.

Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Vandit Sardana is one of several Beaufort Memorial surgeons using the latest technology for joint replacements. Photo by Paul Nurnberg

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ultimately, get them out of the hospital sooner rather than later.” Their hard work paid off. Within 14 months, the average length of stay at the hospital’s Joint Replacement Center decreased to about two days. And today, a majority of joint replacement patients stay for one day or less.

Enter technology

Orthopedic surgeons have always been early adopters of new technology and approaches to joint replacement, beginning with the first joint navigation system in the early 2000s to the leading edge Mako SmartRobotics Arm-Assisted Surgery System for knee and hip replacement used today. At Beaufort Memorial, orthopedic surgeons use Mako to replace joints with pinpoint precision, allowing for better alignment, more comfort, and a longer-lasting joint. “The Mako robot has been a game changer for knee replacement,” said Dr. Jones, who performed the first Mako hip replacement at Beaufort Memorial last year and has used the technology to perform nearly 300 knee replacements. “The results have been amazing. Patients are recovering faster. We are seeing similar outcomes with hip replacements.” Clinical studies have shown the robotic surgery system improves outcomes by allowing the surgeon to customize the placement and alignment of the implant components to the patient’s unique anatomy, providing more natural movement of the joint and increasing its longevity. Another benefit? A shorter length of stay. “Our technology and techniques have gotten very sophisticated

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Dr. Kevin Jones performs hip replacement surgery using the Mako SmartRobotics Arm-Assisted Surgery System. which allows us to replace a joint with a much smaller incision, impacting far fewer internal structures, resulting in less post-operative pain and a faster return to normal activities,” said Dr. Vandit Sardana, a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at BMH. Beaufort Memorial surgeons are also using “musclesparing” techniques, like the Direct Anterior Approach, to improve hip replacement outcomes. With the technique, the surgeon avoids having to cut and then reattach the key muscle group that enables you to walk and bend.

Same-day joint replacement

These new, more precise approaches help make it possible to replace some patients’ joints in the morning and discharge them the same day, getting them up

“Our technology and techniques have gotten very sophisticated which allows us to replace a joint with a much smaller incision, impacting far fewer internal structures, resulting in less post-operative pain and a faster return to normal activities.” - Dr. Vandit Sardana.

and on their feet and on their way home where they can fully recover in comfort. While the majority of joint replacement patients at Beaufort Memorial have an overnight stay, currently up to 30 percent are discharged the same day. “Moving from an inpatient to an outpatient surgery isn’t for everyone, but patients who are healthy and who have family and other support measures in place have the same outcomes as patients who stay in the hospital,” said Dr. Sardana, who sees patients at Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists in Okatie and Port Royal. In late 2020, the team created the Preoperative Assessment Clinic to thoroughly screen for any issue that may complicate the surgery and/or recovery. This allows providers to identify and remedy issues in advance, promoting patient safety and ensuring the best possible outcomes through a detailed workup and communication with the team. “The Preoperative Assessment Clinic has no doubt contributed to our ability to move toward same-day joint replacements,” said BMH Joint Coordinator Andrea Sadler, PT. “The extra level of screening and intervention has increased the comfort level of the surgeons and the team in discharging patients more quickly.” To support same-day joint replacement patients the hospital created a unique Bridge to Therapy program, easing the transition from the hospital to outpatient rehabilitation. Through the program, physical therapists visit patients at home several times during the first week of recovery. This important inhome rehabilitation, which is customized to individual needs, often streamlines the transition to outpatient therapy and gets patients quickly on the road to a more effective outcome with greater mobility. “Joint replacement surgery has been moving in this direction for several years,” Dr. Sardana said. “Now we have the tools we need and the support services in place to make it a reality.”  Beaufort Memorial is one of only three hospitals in South Carolina to earn the Joint Commission’s advanced certification for total hip and knee replacement. This certification is a testament to the level of patient safety and quality of care provided by the surgeons and staff. For more information, visit BeaufortMemorial.org/ Ortho. CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

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Jorge Covarrubias, executive chef and partner of Healthy Habit and Angela Rummans pose for a photo at the store’s takeaway window.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

delicious

HEALTHY HABIT meets ‘the challenge’ contestant LOCAL TALENTS COLLABORATE TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS AND PROVIDE CLEAN NUTRITION

he Challenge USA is a brand-new reality show premiering July 6 on CBS, where Angela Rummans, a local reality TV personality, is competing with 27 other reality titans from Survivor, Big Brother, The Amazing Race, and Love Island to find out who has “what it takes to be America’s best.” You might have run into Rummans and her fiancé Tyler Crispen on Hilton Head where they call home, or you might know them from CBS Big Brother where they were both competitors on season 20 in 2018. In addition to her current gig on reality TV, Rummans is a best-selling plantbased cookbook author and activist. “One of the many reasons I accepted the challenge to compete on this show was to break down the stigma behind veganism and plant-based eating,” Rummans said. Nick Bergelt is a local entrepreneur and restaurateur who has been elevating the island’s

food scene since 2012 through innovative and forward-thinking concepts. His newest concept Healthy Habit, located at 33 Office Park Rd., Suite 227 in the Park Plaza shopping center, is focused on delivering approachable and affordable healthy food without compromising quality and taste. “My higher aspirations are to change how people think about food, nutrition, and proactive versus reactive wellness by fostering daily healthy habits,” Bergelt said.

Angela Rummans whips up a fresh salsa for one of her plant-based recipes from her cookbook, “Angela’s Plant-Based Kitchen.” This Crunch Wrap will be available all summer long at Healthy Habit.

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Rummans connected with Bergelt and Healthy Habit through their common mission to provide a platform to educate people further on the benefits of clean, whole food, plant-based nutrition and the impact of being a conscious consumer. Bergelt turned his attention to plant-based eating after a series of personal events and family circumstances forced him to prioritize his health. Rummans found veganism while competing as a professional athlete—a pole vaulter in 2013 and has followed a mostly plant-based diet since. “I read a book about veganism when I was a professional pole vaulter that turned my world upside down,” Rummans said. “I went cold turkey vegan 30 days before the biggest meet of that year. I expected that I might feel lethargic, but I found that when I loaded up on vegetables, it actually gave me a burst of energy, whereas in the past, when I loaded up on meat or protein, I felt like I needed to lie down and take a nap.” She had also been nursing a nagging knee injury, and after changing her diet, the symptoms began disappearing. As for the track meet, she finished sixth in the country, her personal highest finish ever in a national meet. After that, she was on again off again until 2019 when she fully transitioned to a vegan lifestyle. During the pandemic, Rummans’ ongoing passion for cooking and new inspiration led her to deep dive into plant-based cooking. She began creating recipes to mirror her favorite foods that seemed impossibly vegan—so much so that she wrote a cookbook, Angela’s Plant-Based Kitchen, in 2020, and soon followed up with a second edition, Angela’s Plant Based Kitchen, Volume 2, in 2021. With that experience behind her, Rummans’ participation in a physically demanding competition series lends an aspirational angle to her presence on the show, which is to counter what most people think of vegans.

Healthy Habit partners Nick Bergelt and Jorge Covarrubias test the cook times for new menu items.

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Plant-based crabcakes ready to be pan-

Plant-based crabcake sandwiches ready

Angela’s Plant Based Kitchen, Volume 2

seared and baked.

to be devoured.

can be purchased at Healthy Habit.

“On the show, we are doing multiple challenges weekly,” she explained, “so recovery time is super important. I noticed that I was recovering faster than most, which is one huge benefit of a vegan diet.” Improved mental clarity—another crucial element of the competition—is an additional benefit Rummans reported. She feels that her brain is much clearer without meat, which gives her an edge towards strategizing a winning approach. Yet, despite their initial motivation to change their diets due to health, both Bergelt and Rummans are passionate about benefits of plant-based nutrition beyond the physical.

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“We live in a society that doesn’t think about where food is coming from,” said Bergelt, who started his first restaurant as an advocate for sustainability. “I saw the potential for Angela and me to move people to better health and make them more aware of how they are spending money.” The two aspire to offer options that are better for their health and the environment, and to lead others to begin slowly pulling back on the consumption of animals. The alternatives they are proposing don’t compromise on quality or taste; rather they are beyond impressive. They want to serve you a dish you love that plants a seed in your head

A Buffalo Chick-pea pita wrap that may end up on the Healthy Habit menu soon.

and heart to consider how much of your daily or weekly diet you can shift. Once Rummans started learning about problems with the food system, she realized that future generations will not have the same earth we have. “One form of activism people are very reactive to is food,” she explained, “so I am creating a way for people to receive the information in a more palatable way. At the end of the day, people don’t want to be confronted with guilt about diet or animals or environment. But if I can give them something to eat that they love and enjoy, then they will be more receptive to learning about the problems the food chain is creating.” Together, Bergelt’s restaurant and Rummans’ cookbooks provide the perfect synergy to create a seasonal summer menu for the restaurant, bringing her most popular recipes to the public and showcasing the creative possibilities of plant-based eating. They are testing out a variety of different recipes with Healthy Habit executive chef and partner Jorge Covarrubias to find the best of the best for the Healthy Habit + Angela’s Plant-Based Kitchen collaboration, currently landing on the comforting flavors of the island. “For tourists who come to Hilton Head seeking a seafoodinfused week of eating, it’s important to highlight the new menu items that seem ‘impossibly plant-based,’ which include a crab cake sandwich and a lobster roll made entirely of plants,” Bergelt said. “People literally are not able to discern that they are not eating the real thing.” In trying the seafood alternatives, you can feel good about purchasing an item that is nourishing your body, helping the earth, and not harming any crustaceans in the process. Stop in and try the new menu items at Healthy Habit, specifically the “crab” cake sandwich and “lobster roll,” pick up a copy of Angela’s Plant Based Kitchen cookbook, and you might even run into Crispens and Rummans having lunch on the patio.  For more information, visit healthyhabithhi.com and tangelainc.com. CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

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ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS

All by myself THE POWER OF SOLITUDE & STILLNESS

oes the prospect of spending time alone fill you with dread, or do you secretly dream of running off to a deserted island? I often find myself plotting a solo escape, although you might never guess that. Friends have described me as friendly, outspoken, gregarious, and highly social. I would describe myself as a loner, someone who needs and craves time to myself. Both depictions would be accurate, which might seem anomalous, but it turns out there is a pigeonhole for this. As personalities go, I am what some psychology sources define as an “ambivert,” or an outgoing introvert. Even as a child, I exhibited these seemingly opposite traits. At school, I was the girl on the front row raising her hand to answer or ask a question—popular among teachers and my classmates, and a strong leader among my peers. But when I came home, I couldn’t wait to play dolls, color, or read in my room or go outside and climb a tree, make mud pies, or fish for tadpoles in the creek … all by myself.

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“Humans are inherently social creatures, and we need others to maintain our emotional well-being. But interestingly, spending time alone is just as important for us to connect more deeply with ourselves.” Then I grew up and got “busy.” Like most adults, I was handed a free ticket to the Tilt-A-Whirl of life, constantly going and doing, often spinning out of control and screaming to get off the ride. But there was always the next task or chore or goal and the next social expectation—no slowing down to consider the most judicious use of my time and energy or what might be most gratifying. Life was a series of actions on autopilot—lots of yeses and rarely a no. In 2012, I got stopped in my tracks when a surgery took my feet out from under me for several months. Suddenly, there was no place to go and nothing to do (in hindsight, perfect preparation for a pandemic). It was during that time that I began seeing the value of both solitude and stillness—not only to heal the physical body but to soothe the soul—to explore the vast terrain of heart, mind, and spirit. I can say with certainty that being comfortable in my own company has been a lifeline during the lockdowns and forced isolation of recent years. ALONE, NOT LONELY Solitude, to be clear, is not synonymous with loneliness. No matter how introverted or extroverted a person may be, we all need connection with others. “Humans are inherently social creatures, and we need others to maintain our emotional well-being,” said Stanford Healthcare psychologist Sarah Adler. “But interestingly, spending time alone is just as important for us to connect

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more deeply with ourselves. Being alone is actually just a state; it means that you are not with other people. Loneliness is an emotion, which describes a feeling of sadness attributed to not having connection.” Notable is the fact that loneliness can creep in whether we are alone or not. Have you ever felt “alone” at a party or in a crowd? When you feel like people aren’t really seeing or understanding you, it doesn’t matter how many bodies surround you or how many followers you have on Instagram, you’re likely to feel lonely. BENEFITS OF SOLITUDE Multiple studies tout the benefits of solitude, and it is important not to see the word “alone” as a negative. Ester Buchholz, a psychologist and the author of The Call of Solitude: Alonetime in a World of Attachment (Simon and Schuster, 1997), a book she called her “biography of need,” Buchholz urged readers to spend more time on their own and asserted that alone time is a developmental and biological need for both children and adults. “Both needs—to be alone and to engage—are essential to human happiness and survival,” Buchholz wrote. “Alonetime is a great protector of the self and the human spirit.” Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky also wrote about the value of spending time alone. “In solitude we can forge our character away from the often-constricted external demands of others and maintain our independence in the relationships we cultivate thus ensuring we do not, like many today, lose our identity in them.” If you’re not used to spending time alone, solitude can be uncomfortable, awkward, even scary. But if we allow anxiety to keep us from carving out meaningful time for ourselves,

All by myself we will miss out on the joys of self-discovery and the power of inner calm. Ultimately, it’s about getting to know who you are and being at peace with yourself. ADD STILLNESS But is being alone enough? Stillness is not a direct outtake of solitude. One can be alone and remain in a state of inner turmoil and overwhelm. It’s where solitude and stillness meet that the most profound insights occur and the greatest personal growth can take place. Always being on the go and not taking time for stillness is a toxic way to live. Stillness draws you into the present moment, makes thoughts and ideas clearer, and provides a window to all that truly matters. Being still can also lead to better health. Demands of work and life can introduce stressors into your life which can lead to heart problems, high blood pressure, weight loss or gain, emotional instability, and more. Taking a few precious minutes out of your day to be still can act as a reset button, an opportunity to refresh your way of thinking, being, and doing. FIND TIME Time is the X-factor that often prevents us from engaging in much-needed solitude or coveted “me” time. There is no such thing as finding more of it. What it boils down to is making time count. When I mention stillness to friends, I mostly get blank stares and comments such as, “I’m too busy”; “I need to be productive”; I don’t have time to be still”; or “I can’t be still.” I get it. The idea of being still is counter-cultural to our fastpaced, on-the-go society where multitasking is the norm and busyness a badge of honor. You have jobs, families, responsibilities, appointments, and even hobbies demanding segments of your day until it seems impossible to wring out a single moment of quiet contemplation. But here’s the deal. If you are running yourself ragged without a minute to breathe, chances are you are not functioning at your highest level. When we allow the everyday frenzy of our outer life to keep us from fully exploring our inner life, we cheat the world, our loved ones, and ourselves of our best. We may get a lot done, but at what price? What if five minutes of stillness allowed you to be a more pleasant version of yourself? That investment would pay dividends in every area, would it not? If you are the go-to person, the one with the reputation for getting it all done, you may struggle initially to claim time to yourself. Perhaps you need a lot of structure in your day. Busy people usually do. So, schedule your alone time; put it on your calendar. Make a daily appointment with yourself, whether it is 10 minutes or half an hour. You can plan to do something or do nothing, but get in the habit of honoring the commitment as you would any other. Just take care not to make alone time another chore to check off your endless todo list. Use it for something that benefits you physically and/ or mentally: take a nap; listen to music; go for a walk; soak in the bathtub; or sit outside and enjoy nature. Avoid activities such as television or social media that simply distract your mind rather than free you to think and feel. Combining solitude and stillness is not a recipe for the life of a recluse. You may find that a little healthy alone time coupled with a few moments to simply “be” builds confidence, increases productivity, invigorates your social life, and makes you a better person all around.  CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

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DOCTORS MEET

FEATURING: a Nina Paletta, M.D. a Donna Roberts, M.D. a Thomas P. Lenns, M.D.

the

a Thomas Kandl, M.D. a Tara Grahovac, M.D.

CH2/CB2 SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL SECTION

NINA PALETTA, M.D. MUSC Health – Primary Care – May River What is your specialty? My specialty is internal medicine. I trained in a rigorous, well-rounded residency program at a level 1 trauma center and major transfer hub for the entire southwest of Georgia and beyond. What is one aspect of the job that you find rewarding? One of the best parts about medicine for me is the lasting relationships I can build with my patients. I love celebrating the successes, encouraging through the challenges, and comforting through any

situation my patients may face throughout their healthcare journey. Are there any challenges in the profession? What are they and how do you overcome them? One of the most frustrating things for me is the difficulties for patients in getting medications or treatments approved by their insurance companies. After training in an area where the population has limited resources, I have become very adept at finding medications and treatment plans that people can afford.

What drew you to medicine? I grew up watching my dad go through medical school and residency. As I got older, I began working with him in his plastic surgery office. I saw the impact that he had on his patients’ lives and the relationships he would build over time, and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect career. I thought I wanted to go into surgery as well; however, my internal medicine rotation completely threw me for a loop. After only a week, I completely changed my career focus and shifted towards internal medicine. I saw that there was a niche where I could not only build those relationships with people, but I could also help people understand their conditions and excite and encourage them to live the best, healthiest lives they could. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else! What are your hobbies and interests outside medicine? I was a competitive dancer for over 19 years. I still love taking dance classes and hope to one day start teaching dance classes again. I also enjoy learning the Italian language so I can speak with my extended family and reading any mystery or true crime novels I can get my hands on.

If you were not a doctor, what would you be? I would be a teacher. One of the things I love about medicine is making sure that my patients and their families truly understand their medical conditions and treatment plans. If I were a teacher, I could still use those skills in a different environment to teach kids. What are you watching on Netflix these days? My husband and I look forward to unwinding with some smart comedy at the end of a stressful workday. We currently are working our way through Brooklyn Nine-Nine and love laughing our way through each season. What skill or craft would you like to master? My mother and I recently started learning how to quilt. It is a pastime we can enjoy together, and I love learning new, intricate patterns. 1 Burnt Church Road Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 985-1950 MUSChealth.org/PrimaryCare

I enjoy forming professional and personal relationships with thousands of people from all walks of life and being able to make a difference in their health and well-being. Are there any challenges in the profession? What are they and how do you overcome them? Balancing personal life with the demands of a busy medical practice is always a challenge. I rise early and spend time with my family every day in the evenings. What drew you to medicine? My father died suddenly of a massive MI when I was 20 years old, after being misdiagnosed and discharged from the hospital with chest pain. I didn’t want this to happen to anyone else. What are your hobbies and interests outside medicine? I love the outdoors, wildlife, and the water, boating, sailing, and sports, especially SEC football.

DONNA ROBERTS, M.D. MUSC Health – Primary Care – May River What is your specialty? I am board certified in family medicine, primary care treatment for individuals of all ages. After obtaining a BS in pharmacy at UGA and practicing in retail and hospital settings, I desired more involvement in patient care. I completed medical school

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at the Medical College of Georgia and my family practice residency at University of Alabama, Birmingham in the department of medicine. What is one aspect of the job that you find rewarding?

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If you were not a doctor, what would you be? An astronaut—my unanswered dream. What are you watching on Netflix these days? I recently finished Yellowstone, a saga about a Western family’s love for their land and the sacrifices they must make to keep it. What skill or craft would you like to master? I would like to learn to play golf, bridge, and take art lessons, all things I started in childhood but never fully developed. 1 Burnt Church Road Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 985-1950 MUSChealth.org/PrimaryCare

great. I never wavered from that desire—all the way through high school and college. Are there challenges in the profession? There have been many in my career, but the one that has always been there is the frequent conflict between the patients and their health insurance payer. Granted, the health insurance payer has the daunting task of keeping the high cost of health care under control. I am often caught in the middle...and often advocate for my patients for my proposed treatment that should save the insurer higher costs later. What are your hobbies and interests outside of medicine? I’ve been a lifetime golfer. My father was quite a good player, so I started young. I got hooked when I got my first hole-in-one at age 14. And, I must say, I’ve had five more since. Now, my newest hobby with my wife of 39 years, Carol, is spending time with our two granddaughters who live on Hilton Head Island, and next with our soon to arrive grandson in Atlanta. If you were not a physician, what would you be? I would be a play-by-play sports broadcaster or a DJ on a smooth jazz radio station...all my fans tell me I’ve got the voice!

THOMAS P. LENNS, M.D. The Concierge Choice What is your specialty? Internal medicine. I am board certified in this specialty seeing adults starting at age 18. What is one aspect of the job that you find rewarding? A very rewarding moment for me is when I can tell a sickly patient who fears the worst is about to happen that they are going to be okay, that they will get well, and

that they will live to see many, many more days. What drew you to medicine? True story: I started telling my family when I was nine years old that I wanted to be a doctor. I was facincated with my family doctor in my homtown of Taylor, Pennsylvania who was able to transform me (and others) from being ill to being well and feeling

What are you watching on Netflix? Sad to say, I guess, the first thing I need to do is get the manual that explains how to get Netflix on my TV! So, I’ll get back to you on that one. 89 Main Street Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 681-5305 www.drlenns.com

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What is exciting about your field right now? There continue to be new techniques to solve problems that have always existed. We have good solutions to most problems we encounter, but there is always a drive to improve. What do you do outside of work? Anything that involves spending time with my family—outdoor adventures, beach trips, boating, sports, and traveling. What advice would you give someone who just started their career? Find something you are passionate about and follow it. What is a memory from your career that you will always look back on fondly? I’ll always remember the day I graduated from my sub-specialty training. I spent almost a decade working towards that goal, and that diploma allows me to work in a field I’m truly passionate about. When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you pass the time? Thirty minutes of free time are spent playing with my daughter. If she’s asleep, then reading about or watching sports.

THOMAS KANDL, M.D. Georgia Eye Institute What is your specialty? Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. Why did you become a physician? Growing up, I had an early introduction to health care through my dad, who was a dentist in the Air Force. As I went through school, I found myself drawn to the sciences, but what truly led me to my profession was people. I enjoy interacting with people, and medicine allows me to draw on a subject matter I’m interested in and 78

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use my knowledge and skill set to help those people. What inspires you in your practice? Everyone I treat has their own story that is unique to them, and my job allows me to become part of their story in a positive way. What do you do to achieve work/ life balance? I have a wonderful wife, a new daughter, and two giant puppies who keep me grounded and allow me to be present at all times, whether that’s at work or at home.

What skill or craft would you like to master? I like to experiment in the kitchen, so I’d say cooking. Favorite vacation spot? We try to go explore someplace new every vacation. There’s so much to experience, but hands to the fire, I’d say New Zealand. 109 Persimmon St. Bluffton, SC 29910 (843) 757-4400 gaeyeinstitute.com

Photo credit Paul Nurnberg

TARA GRAHOVAC, M.D. Beaufort Memorial Breast Care & Surgery Program What is your specialty? My specialty is breast surgical oncology. This means I am a board-certified surgeon that has expertise and specialty training in breast cancer. I also care for patients that are at high risk of developing breast cancer and those who have non-cancerous breast disease. What is one aspect of the job that you find particularly rewarding? This is a two-part answer for me. As a breast cancer specialist, I am able to walk women through an uncertain time in their lives and see them through to survivorship. This generates uniquely close and long-lasting relationships between my patients and me that I cherish. As a surgeon, I am passionate about operating with an oncoplastic approach, using techniques that focus on removing breast tumors while optimizing the cosmetic outcome postoperatively. Many women expect to look a lot different after surgery, so when I can see them cancer-free while still feeling like themselves, I am very rewarded. Are there any challenges in the profession? What are they and how do you overcome them?

Patients and their families come to me in a particularly fragile state. For most, hearing that they have breast cancer is one of the worst days of their lives. It can be a challenge to explain the complexities of the disease and their treatment options when they are still processing the immensity of a cancer diagnosis. Breast cancer is unfortunately common, and many patients expect their journey to be similar to others they know. In reality, treatments are unique for every new diagnosis and can be quite complicated. I spend a lot of time with patients, talking with them in a comfortable space with visual aids, and make myself very accessible for follow up questions later.

daughters is my main focus outside of work. We love anything outdoors and are excited to explore as a family all that the Lowcountry has to offer.

What drew you to medicine? The scope of medicine and its constant evolution. Each day may present a new science that benefits our patients. This is most apparent in my field where outcomes are excellent thanks to the incredible advances we’ve made over the years.

Beaufort Memorial Breast Care & Surgery Program 122 Okatie Center Blvd., Suite 150 Okatie, SC 29909 (843) 707-8085 BeaufortMemorial.org/TaraGrahovacMD

If you were not a doctor, what would you be? This is tough because I pursued medicine without hesitation and have never wanted to consider a different path. But I am an HGTV enthusiast, so possibly a designer or house flipper. What skill or craft would you like to master? I would love to master food and wine pairing. Sommeliers have such a unique and fun skill.

What are your hobbies and interests outside medicine? Spending time with my husband and two CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

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ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y T W O L I G H T S O N E S TA N D

E x t e n d

y c a g the le

T H E

B L A I N E

ordan Blaine is a born and bred Southerner who has loved the charm and beauty of the Lowcountry his entire life. While he was raised in Augusta, Georgia, his family has been coming to Hilton Head Island since before he was born. His parents moved here permanently more than 20 years ago, and his mom, Marianne, began selling real estate on the island. Blaine joined her in 2016 where they now work together as The Blaine Group for RE/MAX Island Realty. “While real estate was not a self-professed ‘calling’ or my dream job, it has proved to be a wonderful experience because I got on-thejob training with my family, and I acquired full knowledge of the local market,” Blaine said. He acknowledges that working with his family instilled within him great attributes including integrity, compassion, and people skills, which, for a Realtor, are all necessary and important for creating true connections with clients and representing their interests in the best possible way. “I essentially grew up here,” Blaine explained, “so I understand and know the island very well. I can relate to people through a shared history on Hilton Head Island. When people share history in a place, there is a camaraderie that occurs. It kind of allows us to have more care for where we are going as well as where we’ve been.”

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G R O U P

This history, camaraderie, and care for the island are elements that set Blaine apart from other agents. Having spent quality time here for 38 years as a second home and now seven years as his primary home, Blaine understands the different communities on the island. He has witnessed the unprecedented growth, which provides him an uncommon perspective. “I remember when Bluffton was just a flash when you drove to Savannah,” he said. “When they built the Promenade, we really could not have seen where that little town was heading.” Having witnessed Bluffton’s level of growth in such a relatively short span of time sparked a lesson for Blaine’s future. This familiar knowledge of the Lowcountry and Southern way of life has instilled in him a respect for the land and the residential areas as well as the people who are impacted by all the current development. Another distinctive premise of Blaine’s approach to real estate is compassion in that he wants his clients to be as happy as he is here. While “Come to Paradise” is an island real estate slogan, he feels that much more factors into the experience than just buying a house. “People must love where they live,” he said, “and having the right Realtor is like having the right key to the right lock. A direct connection

i n g

Jordan Blaine is photographed near the beach in Port Royal Plantation.

“

There is a direct correlation between financial aid and homebuying as both are pretty much the most expensive transactions a person will encounter: paying for college and buying a home.”

with a Realtor who understands where you want to be and how you want to live is a real asset, and I bring that compassion to all my clients.” Blaine’s career background has given him an advantage in his practice of real estate. For many years he worked in financial aid for different colleges in the Chicago area, and prior to that, he was director of marketing for a telecommunications company in Augusta. Through his work as a college financial aid advisor and a marketing executive, he developed a great rapport with people and the ability to be 110 percent honest. He has an innate understanding of people and how to help guide them when they are making the big decisions. “There is a direct correlation between financial aid and homebuying as both are pretty much the most expensive transactions a person will encounter: paying for college and buying a home,” Blaine said. “I worked for many years with young people or returning older students

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E x t e n d i n g

the legacy

who were trying to figure out how to pay for school, so I deeply understand the emotion behind making a big decision and spending this kind of money.” He understands that emotions run high in any large financial transaction and asserts that his job and focus is not only to learn who his clients are and what they are looking for, but also to read their faces/voices/actions and recognize when they’re making a connection. By working for many years assisting people with making financial decisions, Blaine grew astute at identifying when a person moves from logic into emotion. He knows how to connect with every client so that they trust him and his expertise. Blaine’s financial aid background also allows him to appreciate the law around real estate. He enjoys helping his clients understand all the documentation involved in the process and make sense of all the legal terms. “This is the parallel between the 18-yearold filling out financial aid forms and a firsttime home buyer making a big decision,” he explained. “Clients who have not done a real estate transaction recently may not know what is now involved. None of their questions are stupid, and I’m here to provide clear answers.”

“

With my knowledge of the area and the consumers here, I feel I have a great understanding of how to price homes to sell and market my listings.”

On the flipside, Blaine’s background in marketing and telecommunications experience is helpful when working with clients who are selling their homes. “When listing homes, an agent must know how to market a sellable home,” he said. “With my knowledge of the area and the consumers here, I feel I have a great understanding of how to price homes to sell and market my listings. Just like the buyer must know what they want and what they are buying, the seller needs to understand their product.” Blaine uses his unique skillset to usher people through the home buying process. He is not content with just finding you a home and putting you in it. He wants each client to feel happy and secure about their decision and live in a home that fits their lifestyle. When you give him your home buying criteria, he will bring you options with a realistic approach and the integrity, compassion, and knowledge he learned from his family business.  For more information, call (404) 915-3784 or email jordan.c.blaine@gmail.com.

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JULY 2022

A R T I C L E BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

FRESH AIR IS IT TIME FOR A NEW HVAC?

he air in your home is controlled by the HVAC system, which includes the air conditioner and heater. If you’ve stayed up to date with repair and maintenance, it’s likely your system is efficient. However, your unit could also be dated or contain lowquality parts that reduce performance. Replacing your system or adding a few upgrades or modifications could dramatically improve your heating and cooling experiences. Springtime is the right time for South Carolinians to consider replacing their HVAC system. While it’s a major purchase, nobody wants to wake up to a broken air conditioner on a hot summer day. Mitch Dyess, president of Dyess Air, said, “With the supply chain situation, availability of equipment is scarce, so it is more important than ever to be proactive than reactive.” Dave Miller, owner of Superior Services concurred. “Proactive maintenance on your systems is crucial this year. Most wait for their air conditioner to break before they get it looked at. With supply chain issues plaguing the industry, it is absolutely essential to proactively maintain your system to avoid unnecessary delays for out-of-stock parts; an inspection and service could save you weeks of frustration during the heat of the summer.”

Generally speaking, heating and cooling systems should be silent members of your household. An AC that either smells strange or has begun to make weird noises is one that simply isn’t working properly. HOW CAN YOU TELL IF IT’S TIME TO REPLACE YOUR AC? Age. Like your car, repairs and maintenance are crucial to keeping your air conditioner running smoothly, yet even the most well-maintained vehicles and HVAC systems will eventually need to be retired. If your air conditioner is between 10 and 15 years old, then most industry professionals will recommend that you replace the unit without even coming to inspect it. Many times, the repair on an old unit will do nothing more than postpone the inevitable and cost you more in the long run. Increased energy costs. If your energy bill is increasing, it may be a sign that your AC isn’t running as efficiently as it used to. Having the unit inspected is a good idea that can also serve to isolate any other issues that might be occurring. Also, check the SEER number (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). Today’s minimum SEER is 14 and changing to a 15 SEER by 2023, but if your AC was manufactured before 2006, chances are it’s only a 10. By upgrading, you’ll gain at least four to five SEER points, and each number you go up increases energy efficiency by five to nine percent. That puts money in your pocket in the form of energy savings.

JULY 2022

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Odd noises or smells. Generally speaking, heating and cooling systems should be silent members of your household. An AC that either smells strange or has begun to make weird noises is one that simply isn’t working properly. Schedule maintenance to see what the problem is, or if you know your unit is of a certain age, go ahead and replace it. Inconsistent cooling. Most Lowcountry residents know what it’s like to blast the AC on the hottest day of the year, yet never being able to fully cool certain rooms. It could be a lack of air sealing and insulation that’s the culprit, or poor duct work, but it could also be that your AC is either the wrong size for your home or no longer working properly. Either way, servicing or replacing the unit will fix the problem. An efficient A/C unit will effectively cool your entire home without as much effort. CONSIDER THESE THINGS FIRST An HVAC system works best with a good supporting system in place: a properly programmed thermostat, airtight ductwork, and sufficient insulation. Ensure that these items are in place before you purchase a new system, as they may be the source of your problems. Have an expert perform a home energy audit for you to make sure your ductwork and insulation are sufficient; some companies, like Dyess Air will perform this service for free.

Choose your system. If your HVAC pro indicates it’s time for you to upgrade your system, your options will be largely determined by the fact that you are living in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, where the most efficient units are usually heat pump systems. It may be reasonable to replace only the indoor unit or the outdoor unit separately, rather than putting in an entirely new system. However, keep in mind that replacing components isn’t always the best idea, especially if your system is several years old. Simply, the old parts and the new parts may not be compatible or work together efficiently. Plus, you’ll save a lot on labor costs if you replace the entire system at once. No matter what type of unit you choose, look for Energy Star models, which are about 10 to 15 percent more efficient than standard models. Size it properly. Bigger is not always better. Getting a more efficient system is a great idea, but don’t be tempted to get something larger than you need for your square footage. A system designed for a bigger house and installed in a smaller house won’t run well and can actually make your house less comfortable because it will cycle on and off too frequently and will not provide the humidity removal that is needed. Remember, too, that the HVAC system also acts to dehumidify your home. An oversized system will cool the house too quickly and shut off too soon, leaving you with too much humidity indoors. Colder surfaces and moister air are a combination for condensation and mold, which can spread to drywall or joists and leave you with a repair cost you hadn’t planned for. Leave it to the professionals. Improper installation can reduce your HVAC system’s efficiency by as much as 30 percent, which means that you could cancel out any savings you were looking forward to in your upgrade to a newer, more efficient model. “The most important day in the life of your new system is the day it is installed. You only have one shot to get it right,” Dyess said. This is a job for the pros, so hire a licensed, insured HVAC contractor with good references to do the work for you.

WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR EXISTING AC A HEPA Filter. A HEPA filter produces hospital-level air filtration, capturing 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. If your system can’t be converted to HEPA, consider installing a whole-home air filter. Ductwork. Air ducts can loosen or disconnect, creating leaks that diminish air flow and waste money. “Most homes in the Lowcountry, especially Hilton Head Island, are about 40 to 50 years old and are still utilizing the original duct system,” Dyess said. Upgrading ductwork will improve airflow and distribution. In-duct air purifiers will trap airborne particles before they enter your indoor air. Upgrade to zones. A zoned system allows multiple sections of the house to be set at different settings, creating complementary settings on multiple levels for adequate indoor comfort within each room of your home. Programmable thermostat. Programmable thermostats communicate precisely with the HVAC unit and have a range of custom settings and features enabling you to use your system in new ways. A high-tech thermostat will also boost the value of your home.

CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

JULY 2022

N Rick Saba and Tristin O’Grady

A NEW DAWN AT COAST TWO OF THE ISLAND’S MOST ICONIC REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS HAVE CREATED SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, AND THEY’RE INVITING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST TO JOIN THEM.

hey say there’s nothing new under the sun. Every idea has been imagined, and every frontier has been conquered. They say there’s no room for innovation. But they haven’t been to the coast. If they did, landing on the shores of Coligny Beach and then taking a quick stroll up Pope Avenue, they’d find that two Realtors who play an outsized role in their Hilton Head Island home have completely changed the game by launching COAST Real Estate Professionals. Between them, Rick Saba and Tristan O’Grady have nearly four decades of real estate experience. But most of you know them for something other than their day jobs—Saba as the front man of White Liquor or as a huge supporter of Hilton Head Humane, O’Grady as the long-time owner of Big Bamboo. Most of you just know them. It’s hard not to. And with their new venture together, they are creating an entirely new model of real estate group. “We really want to attract the best agents to come work with us,” O’Grady said. “Part of that appeal will be the office location. On top of that, we’ve aligned ourselves with EXP.” That second part will ring a bell if you’re in the trade. A departure from the traditional brokerage, EXP gives more power to the agent with income streams beyond the traditional commission. But even if you don’t buy or sell for a living, the appeal of their brand-new office is self-explanatory. Enjoying an ideal location at the heart of the bustling Coligny district, the glass-fronted office doesn’t feel like a traditional real estate office. Boasting an updated coastal aesthetic and wide welcoming spaces, there’s an aura of

excitement and new energy that surrounds it. “It’s a beautiful space, for one, and we’ve designed it much more with the experience in mind, with group offices to foster collaboration,” O’Grady said. That collaboration is key. “We want an office with culture, with the highest ethical standards, and with everyone helping each other,” Saba said. What their helping each other create is a promise held in COAST’s slogan: exceptional representation. “Client service is our number one priority.” Part of the success the team has enjoyed in the real estate field stems from the way they’ve become such a vital part of the island. But an even bigger part is the huge priority they place on giving each client the very best treatment. (In fact, during the interview for this story, Saba had to excuse himself to go speak with a client in need). “If we can represent our client at the highest level, they’re going to come back. I’ve done 10 deals with one client,” O’Grady said. “We’re not in it for just one deal.” “I get calls all the time, ‘Hey Rick, what dry cleaner do you use?’ I had a call this morning from a client who needed a patio guy,” Saba said. “It’s definitely not just about selling a house.” With the launch of COAST, they’re looking for agents who share those ideals. And as incentives go, a beautiful new office and greater earning potential are pretty good tools to attract them. “We feel like if we fill the room with great personalities that produce, we’re all going to be better,” O’Grady said.  To find out more, email info@coasthhi.com or better yet, stop by their new offices on Pope Avenue. CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

JULY 2022

 A beautifully remodeled white kitchen in Windmill Harbour, recently completed by Steven W. Jeffcoat Builders.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1 STAND

Remodeling Done Right STEVEN W. JEFFCOAT CONSTRUCTION, INC. OFFERS CLIENTS EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY, EXPERTISE

teven Jeffcoat is in the construction business in the Lowcountry, an extremely competitive industry. He recognizes the importance of going above and beyond the norm to set himself and his business apart from the others. He understands that when someone hires a contractor to work on their home, they expect to receive exactly what they are paying for. He knows that to stay in business, a contractor must meet the expectations of every client. Steven Jeffcoat is dedicated to achieving just that by offering his clients integrity, expertise, and experience. EXPERIENCE “My dad started building homes on Hilton Head Island in late ’70s,” Jeffcoat said. “So, when I was just a boy, he had me helping lay foundations and frame houses. Then later in my high school years, I learned interior trim and cabinetry.” Jeffcoat still works with his now 79-yearold dad, Clyde, who is still involved in home design. He brings tremendous knowledge and expertise to guide the staff and clients at Steven W. Jeffcoat Construction. Notably, Clyde designed and built actor Tom Berenger’s house at Camp St. Mary’s.

 The team works on a new project in their showroom at 3 Cardinal Court on Hilton Head Island. (pictured from left to right: Will Jeffcoat, Gandy Rogers, Steven Jeffcoat and Nick Parrish.)

“It is a blessing to be able to work alongside my dad and absorb as much as possible from him,” Jeffcoat said. In the early ’90s, Jeffcoat quit construction and went into law enforcement. For two years, he served as a deputy sheriff in Orangeburg County where his family home is. In 1993, he met his wife Wanda, and in ’95 when they married, they moved back to Hilton Head and he started Steven W. Jeffcoat Construction, Inc. The first house he built was on Jonesville Road for his high school buddy and football teammate, Terry Jones. “I remember that with a huge sense of accomplishment: I was able to achieve a big goal, not just for any client, but for a special friend,” Jeffcoat said. Growing up on Hilton Head Island in the ’80s and learning how to install foundations and the framing methods of that time gives Jeffcoat the upper hand as he has been building in the Lowcountry for so long. “Many times I’ve walked into a home and immediately recognized that there was formerly a wet bar on the original build,” he explained. “Then the clients would bring out the

JULY 2022

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plans, and sure enough, there used to be a wet bar. I can look at a bathroom with the same perspective.” With his experience in framing, he can quickly assess what can be accomplished in wall removals. This is the intuition that comes from 25 years of design experience and the knowledge to achieve a client’s dream kitchen or bathroom within the limited, defined space. INTEGRITY Jeffcoat also credits his dad for teaching him the integrity he brings to each job, to give his clients his very best. “My dad would say, ‘Son, it takes a lifetime to build integrity. One screw up can hurt you the rest of your life, so always be honorable no matter what the cost.” He remembers a Sea Pines client referred to him by James Wedgeworth who hired Jeffcoat for a kitchen remodel in hopes of selling the home. When Jeffcoat was figuring the estimate, he made a mistake on the cabinet cost by leaving the number 1 off the cost $13,000. Jeffcoat honored that quote, ate the loss, and never personally told the client. “Now, I rely more on my staff to go behind me, checking figures carefully back and forth to make sure I no longer make those mistakes,” Jeffcoat said. “From that act of integrity, I learned to delegate and trust others more to help me, and I kept the respect of my client. Thankfully, I’ve not made a mistake like that again.” Jeffcoat cites industry licensing as a sign of integrity. There are so many companies around that are not licensed, and many remodelers don’t pull building permits to remodel. “We got a call the other day about a relatively new home in Woodbridge,” Jeffcoat said. “The owner was having a problem with the shower. We found that the shower was installed without a water pan, which means that the original job was likely done without a permit. A licensed contractor will provide permits, so there will be inspections all along the way to ensure the contractor is doing the job correctly and the client is getting what they are paying for.”

EXPERTISE Along with Jeffcoat’s experience and integrity, his staff lends their own expertise to each remodeling project. Nick Parrish is the designer at Jeffcoat Construction. Working with Nick is the first step in the design process. He goes into the client’s home, takes all the measurements, and presents different designs for the client to consider. Nick works hand in hand with the client to define their vision and bring their ideas to life. Nick’s dad, too, started him in the construction business. Nick’s freshman year in high school, his dad began working for Jeffcoat Construction. Nick would come over, paint walls, and clean up job sites. Nick brings the expertise of CAD and 2020 Design programming to each project and helps each client to define their vision. Gandy Rogers is the project manager at Jeffcoat Construction. She started about 15 years ago working in countertops and tile. She loves the pace of the construction business, the design process, and that something is always new and different. New to Jeffcoat Construction, Gandy’s role is day-to-day operations, project management, and customer relations.

“I like doing all of the behind-the-scenes activities, taking things off of Steven’s plate, and checking his estimates for any costly errors,” she said with a sly grin. OFF THE JOB Jeffcoat and his wife Wanda have four children and one grandson: Rebecca, 25, is a single mom and office manager, and Landon, age 5, is her son; Sarah, 21, is a schoolteacher and just got married; Laura, 19, is a 911 dispatcher at the sheriff’s office; and Will, 17, is homeschooled and helps his dad enormously with supervising jobs, installing cabinets, and framing. “Wanda is 100 percent ‘Mimi’ all the time,” Jeffcoat said. “She loves teaching Landon life skills and molding his mind and heart.” The couple enjoys spending time on their boat, camping, and grilling out. Jeffcoat has served as a Sunday School teacher, deacon, and on the board of trustees. He also supports and volunteers with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and served on the Student Improvement Council at Bluffton Middle School. Jeffcoat supports many of the local schools’ sports programs with a desire to invest back into his community, occasionally speaking at team meetings. He is a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association, and the South Carolina Trooper’s Association. In both 2020 and 2021, Steven W. Jeffcoat Construction was named Best of the Best Contractor/Remodeler and Best of the Best Kitchen and Bath Remodeler by the Island Packet Lowcountry’s Best. In 2021, they were additionally voted Best Homebuilder.  For more information, visit stevenwjeffcoatconstruction. com, email swjeffcoatbuild4u @gmail.com, or call (843) 686-3226.

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JULY 2022

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

FAÇADE FACELIFT WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR HOME’S CURB APPEAL

our home’s curb appeal gives the first impression of what’s inside. By simply adding a few upgrades to your house, it will be easier to sell when the time comes, and in the meantime, you’ll enjoy pride of ownership. Check out these simple, low-cost curb appeal improvements that you can do in a day, a week, or a month. Paint the front door. A freshly painted front door will brighten your home’s entry. Select a vivid, bold color that coordinates with the other colors of your house. Make sure to prep all the surfaces prior to painting, so your results are great and enduring. Plant a tree, or two or three... Established and groomed trees, shrubs and plants will make a great impression. Start small with a few fast-growing trees or flowering trees (see sidebar). Water them adequately in the first year or two, then fertilize seasonally. Trees will increase your property value, reduce your utility bill, and improve air quality. Upgrade hardware. Your house numbers, entry door handle and lockset, wall-mounted mailbox, and overhead/front door light fixture are all elements that boost exterior appeal. Outdated or dingy fixtures will detract from the beauty of your home’s aesthetic. Select pieces as a set, rather than mixed-andmatched. Install window boxes. Window boxes bring color and charm to your home’s façade. Choose boxes made from copper, iron, or painted wood to match the style and architecture of your home. Mix and match flowers and plants to suit your lighting conditions and seasonal colors. Coordinate colors. A couple of cans of paint will work wonders, and coordinating your home’s colors will enhance and refine its curb appeal. Whether you use paint or stain, synchronize and harmonize the architectural features (front door, shutters, trim, railing, posts and garage door), and limit the color palette

FAST-GROWING TREES: -

Crepe Myrtle Emerald Green Arborvitae Paper Birch Dawn Redwood Linden Tree Sargent Cherry

Leyland Cypress Lombardy Poplar Eastern Redbud Pin Oak River Birch Japanese Zelkova

FLOWERING TREES: - Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’ - ‘Venus’ Dogwood (Cornus x ‘Venus’) - Hyperion Dogwood - ‘Oklahoma’ Redbud (Cercis reniformis ‘Oklahoma’) - ‘Ace Of Hearts’ Redbud - Higan Cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Autumnalis Rosea’) - ‘Dream Catcher’ Flowering Cherry - American Fringe Tree (Chionanthus virginicus) - ‘Evereste’ Crabapple (Malus ‘Evereste’) - Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) - Saucer Magnolia - Japanese Horse Chestnut (Aesculus turbinata) - Red Horse Chestnut - Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria) - Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) - Early Bird Purple Crape Myrtle - Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus var. latifolia) - Seven-Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) - Flowering Almond - Serviceberry - Goldenrain Tree - Pear Tree - ‘Newport’ Cherry Plum - ‘Beauty’ Japanese Plum to two or three colors. Using more will detract and make things too busy. Matching the colors isn’t even necessary. For example, pick one trim color then do a lighter or darker shade for the second color. Another common approach is to have the siding and main trim color be similar in tone, then add a bold accent color on the front door. Create symmetry. Symmetrical light fixtures and front-door accents make your entryway welcoming and boost curb appeal. Flank your front door with sconces or tall, narrow planters. Match the items with your hardware and any porch furniture. Install shutters. If your home lacks shutters, hanging a few (at least on the front) will heighten the symmetry and personality of your home’s façade. Shutter height should be the same as the window trim. For non-functioning shutters, the width should be between 25-50 percent of window’s width, unless the window is a wide picture window. Vinyl shutters start at about $50 a pair. Real wood shutters are more expensive but can sometimes be found at architectural salvage shops. Those usually require a little elbow grease to paint or refinish them to match your home’s color palette. Install your new shutters with French cleats, so you can easily pop them off to clean them. Install outdoor lights. Create a big impact to your curb appeal and increase your home’s security by installing low-voltage landscape lighting. Add fixtures to trees, highlight architectural elements, or illuminate a walking path. For the best effect, utilize a variety of types. If wired lights aren’t an option, consider solar fixtures. 96

JULY 2022 CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

MORE TREES, PLEASE Planting trees is a wonderful way to improve your home’s curb appeal. To help you narrow your options, have a look over this list of both fast-growing and flowering trees, all suitable for our landscape zone.

Makeover your mailbox. Update your mailbox with something fresh and new. It’s super easy, inexpensive, and will make a noticeable difference in your home’s curb appeal. Upgrade house numbers. If you are like most people, unless your home is new, then the house numbers may be diminishing the curb appeal of your home. Upgrading your house numbers will easily and economically give your home a lift. Purchase some new numbers or DIY your own display. If your numbers are on the house, then match the new numbers with the finish of your exterior light fixtures. Simple house numbers can start at $2 per number; customized plaques can cost $50 - $100. Clean your gutters. Clean the inside and outside of gutters, clearing debris and scrubbing until they’re as good as new. With a bit of elbow grease, the effect will be a pleasing and lasting one. Clean and pressure wash. Give your home’s exterior a good shine and polish to freshen the look. You can hire a professional or you can D-I-Y. Rent a pressure washer and rid the driveway, walkways, fences, gutters, siding and even patio furniture of the grunge that’s built up. On the driveway, use a little degreaser to get out those pesky oil stains before pressure washing. Remember to start with the least powerful setting and nozzle to make sure you don’t damage any of your surfaces. Take care of your lawn. Regularly care for your lawn by mowing, raking, and pulling weeds. Water and fertilize your grass and landscape on a schedule to prevent brown spots and dead plants. 

CH2CB2MAGAZINE.COM

JULY 2022

Hilton Head Island Mayor

M A Y O R

Photography by M.Kat

A Note from John McCann

A RETURN TO CIVILITY

s mayor, I enjoy interacting with young people. They are indeed the future. Any time I am invited to share my experiences or words of encouragement with them, I am happy to do so. Last month, I spoke at the graduation ceremonies for Heritage Academy on Hilton Head Island. What an awesome group of students! I was honored to celebrate this milestone with them and shared my thoughts on an important character: civility. When the ceremonies ended, some attendees told me my remarks were right on point and asked if I could share them with others: “It’s been an interesting four years—COVID, war in Ukraine, the economy, and whatever else the news tells you. There are many topics I can touch on, but the most important one I want to share with you today is civility. As you head out into the world today, have the courage to stand for civility. Our world, over the last few years, has edged away from being a place of hope, kindness, and respect for each other and our values. Civility is about more than just politeness, although politeness is a necessary first step. It is about disagreeing without disrespect, seeking common ground as a starting point for dialogue about differences, listening past one’s preconceptions, and teaching others to do the same. One area of everyday life in which to practice civility is that of conversation. A civil discussion is the free and respectful exchange of ideas. This doesn’t mean we all have to agree, but it does mean we must disagree respectfully. Practice listening. Practice gratitude.

< Bluffton Mayor

But you have the power to bring back these values, starting with you, your family, and your circle of friends and influence. Often, in meetings that I lead, I find that people have lost some civility, and that creates disagreement, discourse, and conflict. We don’t want that for you or our community. We all want to live our best lives and create a community that is welcoming, inclusive, warm, and wonderful. It will take all of us to make our community this way. Wherever you land, I hope that you stand up for what is right and do so in a civil manner.

A Note from Lisa Sulka

M AY O R

THE KEY INGREDIENTS THAT CONNECT A SUCCESSFUL STARTUP TO A SUCCESSFUL TOWN

startup and a town have more similarities than are obvious at first glance. In reality, both are in an interdependent relationship. On one hand, the town gives startups the opportunities they need to grow and evolve. At the same time, startups and entrepreneurship can enhance the economic growth of the area. The Don Ryan Center for Innovation works closely with Bluffton to help the town and entrepreneurs achieve greatness. It is a challenging process to make the two work and benefit one another. However, some key ingredients that can be found: (1) A strong leadership figure. One thing that contributes to the success of the one and the other is a strong leadership figure. In essence, it is the innovator, the mayor, or just about anyone willing to take responsibility. Usually, the leader can convince the people around them to believe in their vision. Their passion and commitment are essential ingredients to bringing together the whole team. (2) A sense of purpose. If we are referring to a town or a startup, one important step toward success is having a sense of purpose. For a business, it is why this product or service is meaningful and brings something that will satisfy people’s needs. For a town, it is having a shared vision of what the area should turn into. (3) People who believe in the vision. Despite having strong leadership and a defined purpose, success will not come without a team of loyal

Photography by Krisztian Lonyai

JULY 2022

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Matthew Emerzian, in his book, Every Monday Matters, stated, “Our words, our actions, and our thoughts all matter and have lasting ripple effects. Always think before you act. Make sure your words, actions, and thoughts uplift others.” I encourage you to be strong and respect others along the way. I believe each of you is destined to be greater than you are already and will leave a lasting impression wherever your journey takes you. Congratulations on your well-deserved success and God bless you.” To all graduates and their families, congratulations, and I wish you well on your journey. 

A Note from Lisa Sulka continued employees or citizens. It is about gathering skilled people who are bound together by a sense of community. In fact, community engagement is so important that it can boost the results and draw more genius to the company or town. (4) The right technology and connectivity. Technology plays a huge role in modern people’s lives. Everyone needs to stay connected at all times, and connectivity is one of the key ingredients to the success of a town. Similarly, setting up the right technology can facilitate the operation of the startup and cover any possible needs that will arise. Technology enables the skilled team gathered to bring the organization one step closer to its goal. (5) Striving for innovation. When it comes to achieving success, innovation is crucial. In fact, it is the innovative idea that sparks the need for establishing a new business or bringing people together to boost the town’s growth. And by doing that, both entities can attract the attention of investors, entrepreneurs, and others who will support the vision. (6) Adaptability. Lastly, one key ingredient that is found both in successful towns and businesses is adaptability. Nowadays, things are constantly changing, especially when it comes to technological advancements. Therefore, success is all about recognizing the changing trends and adopting practices that will maximize results. Building a successful startup is just as demanding as creating a strong town. Nevertheless, it is possible for both to achieve results through mentorship. The Don Ryan Center for Innovation and the Town of Bluffton collaborate to create a hub where entrepreneurs and innovators can develop their ideas.

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JULY 2022

This & That

C2 Magazine • July 2022 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.

Four Bites for Summer 2022 A R T I C L E

B Y

J E S S E

B L A N C O

ull disclosure: For as much time as I spend in South Carolina’s Lowcountry throughout the year (and it is a lot), I probably spend less time on Hilton Head Island in the summer than I do at any point in the year—for a couple of hundred thousand reasons. You pickin’ up what I’m putting down? I mean, let’s be real. There is a good time to be had on the island during the summer. Of course there is, but that comes with an asterisk: if you are willing to endure the crowds and long wait times for a table at your favorite outdoor eatery. The most wonderful time of the year? Well, that’s subjective. Restaurant owners see green this time of the year, and we cannot fault them for that. With that said, I still do come over to Eat and Like here and there during our summer months. When I stop to eat, it is generally for a specific dish, four of which I will share with you today. Four bites you should consider this summer if you haven’t already: 1. Gelato (any flavor) at Mama G’s—Bluffton. I raved about the brand-new Mama G’s Pizza a couple of months ago and with very good reason. It is absolutely the talk of the town and maybe the biggest food story in Bluffton for 2022. But while everyone is obsessing over the pies over there, you should make a point of enjoying their gelatos. They are not made in house. They are made by a very small manufacturer in Charleston. Mama G’s is the first brick and mortar to carry the product. They have a very specific set of standards for allowing someone to sell their gelatos, and the final product is proof why. They are outstanding. If you are in there, it’s even worth stopping by for a slice. 2. BBQ at Fraser’s Tavern—Sea Pines Resort. As you might imagine, I get asked for my favorites all the time. I really don’t have any. I operate primarily on cravings. The BBQ at Fraser’s, I crave. I gather it is largely under the radar for anyone who doesn’t spend a regular amount of time in Sea Pines, but it is absolutely open to the public. It’s a casual vibe with a great scene, and their BBQ is the best on the island. A few months ago, I enjoyed a burger they offer topped with pulled pork. I slept like a baby that night. The pork and the brisket are top shelf. And while we are

Fraser’s Burger served with a pickle and tavern fries

at Sea Pines, I should mention the desserts at the all new Quarterdeck Restaurant are also the best on the island. 3. Beedos Burgers—St. Helena Island. Road trips are good. Road trips are healthy. Rarely will I suggest that you drive an hour or so for a burger. But this is worth the drive if you plan to spend any time at Hunting Island State Park this summer. The burgers are juicy and flavorful in a spot that has “roadside dive” written all over it. It’s a great spot and very worthy of a stop if you never popped in on them. 4. Burger at Chez Georges—Hilton Head Island. Guess what? I’ve never had it. But it should tell you something if I am including it here for your summer pleasure. The reason? I have easily had a half dozen people I trust tell me that the burger at Chez Georges is the best on the island. Why haven’t I had it? Well, I don’t get to Chez Georges often, and when I do, it isn’t for a burger. I am, however, going to take up my own advice and get over there this summer to try one. See? I will be on the island this summer.

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JULY 2022

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This & That

Thanks to Sharon Biondo, who participated in the Dunes Real Estate / CH2 Magazine Community Contest and won a $300 check for The Children’s Center from Dunes Real Estate. Follow CH2 magazine and Dunes Real Estate on Facebook and Instagram for funny videos featuring our community, monthly contests and chances to win cash for local charities.

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The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa unveils Oceans, a seaside lounge and bar offering a sophisticated and modern ambiance, after an extensive remodel just in time for the summer season, featuring a brand-new menu, inclusive of craft cocktails, domestic and imported beers, classic wine & spirits, and lite bites. The newly designed 21+ beachfront lounge and bar is open Thursday through Saturday from 6 p.m. until 12:30 a.m.

VERONA, ITALY STUDENTS TO VISIT HILTON HEAD IN FIRST SISTER-CITY EDUCATION PROGRAM The Italian American Club of Hilton Head (IACHH) is pleased to announce the first sister-city education program since the pandemic restricted international travel two years ago. Despite the delay, Bob LeFavi (dean of the University of South Carolina Beaufort Campus – USCB), and Italian liaison, Richard Collins (CEO, Inlingua, Verona) have organized our first student exchange visit scheduled for June 29-July 13, 2022, when 32 “dual diploma” Italian high school students and two chaperones from Verona will arrive in the Lowcountry to tour Southern American colleges and Hilton Head Island. “The students will receive high school diplomas in both the U.S. and Italy,” Dean LeFavi said. “Many are interested in continuing their education at a university in the United States. They will stay at USCB dorms, learning about life at an American university.” They will visit Hilton Head three different days: one for a cultural tour, and another for a nature cruise. On July 7, at 10 a.m. at Hilton Head Town Hall, a meet-and-greet between the Italian students, city officials, and the Chamber of Commerce has been scheduled, followed by a picnic at the Shelter Cove Pavilion in Shelter Cove Town Park, and an afternoon at one of our famous beaches. Background In June of 2019, Hilton Head Island Mayor, John McCann, met with Verona Mayor, Federico Sboarina, to sign a friendship pact in Verona. This would be the first step in the process toward a sister-city pact. Also attending this historical event were Italian dignitaries, 24 Hilton Head Islanders, John DeCecco, president of the IACHH (sponsoring organization), Italian liaison, Richard Collins (director, World Tours Studios), American liaison, Bob LeFavi (dean of the University of South Carolina Beaufort Campus – USCB), Steve Riley, Hilton Head town manager, and family members. “Through this experience, we hope to create new opportunities and forge strong bonds with Verona and its incredible people,” stated Mayor McCann of Hilton Head. After a two-year travel hiatus, we anticipate this upcoming visit from Verona students will help continue the progress towards a steady, mutually beneficial, sister-city relationship. South Carolina Sister-City Agreements: Hilton Head Island joins Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville in the international sister-cities program https:// sistercities.org/. Currently, South Carolina’s towns are partnered with 15 cities overseas in countries as diverse as Northern Ireland, Romania, Germany, Taiwan, Bulgaria, and Ghana. Most towns partner with more than one city from other countries. For example, Greenville has sister-city agreements with four cities: Kortrijk (Belgium), Tianjin (China), Vadodara (India), and Bergamo (Italy). Columbia has seven sister-cities, Charleston has five (most famously, Spoleto), and Anderson has two.

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Charlotte Hardwick, Katie White, Jennifer St John, and Lindsay Bomstein of Joyful Reset are pleased to announce upcoming wellness retreats for women: Oct 16-19, 2022, at Miraval Resort in Tucson, Arizona, and February 5-10, 2023, in Esterillos este, Costa Rica. Joyful Reset is a wellness retreat offering a sacred space to ground, reflect, calm, and nourish the mind, body, and soul. This beautiful collaboration was created by four friends with a shared passion for wellness through meaningful conversation and connection, creativity, yoga and mindfulness, as well as fun and adventure. By incorporating restorative yoga, healthy and delicious meals, therapeutic writing, meditative painting, healing women’s circles and travel, all against a stunning landscape, their intention is for you to feel instant transformation and renewal. The team provides practical tips and tools to cultivate deep relaxation and joyful inspiration supporting your personal goals well beyond the retreat. “My hope is that each woman leaves inspired to gradually make yoga and rest a part of their daily life and learn that it can naturally become the taproot from which all other aspects of their life are fed and nourished,” Hardwick said. Hardwick has 20+ years’ experience developing wellness and life balance programming and workshops, along with counseling in-home and in partner studios for individuals, families, and organizations across the country. These retreats are for everyone + everyBODY. Learn more at joyfulreset.com.

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This & That

Join the team at Forsythe Jewelers during the Sethi Couture Trunk Show, July 7 & 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., for a twoday event featuring the intricate work and design of Sethi Couture’s rare and unusual diamond jewelry collection. Enjoy a gift with purchase.

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J U LY 2 0 2 2 ALL SUMMER LONG! HARBOURFEST ENTERTAINMENT & FIREWORKS Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina Tuesdays; July 4, 12, 19, & 26th (shows start when the sky is dark)

3 JEVON’S KHAOTIC KIDZ SHOW!

Sea Pines Shopping Center 10am-2pm

MONDAYS

MON-FRI

THE NICE GUYS Coligny Plaza’s Center Stage 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. until August 13th www. colignyplaza. com

CAPPY THE CLOWN

TUESDAYS

“ROCK OF AGES”

JOHN CRANFORD AND MARTIN LESCH Coligny Plaza’s Center Stage 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. until August 13th

SUNDAYS MEET THE ISLAND’S TURTLE TRACKERS South Beach Sunday; 5-7pm Learn about the amazing sea turtles that call Hilton Head home.

FARMERS MARKET AT HONEY HORN Coastal Discovery 9am-1pm

7-8 SETHI COUTURE TRUNK SHOW Forsythe Jewelers The Shops at Sea Pines Center July 7 & 8, 10am - 5pm 843.671.7070

Coligny Main Stage Sundays, Wednesdays & Fridays 6:30-8:30pm

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

FAMILY FUN DAY! Boys & Girls Club of HHI 11am-4pm Bounce houses, games & face painting

SUNSET CELEBRATION Shelter Cove Towne Centre from 7-10pm Coolers and pets welcome! Jul 1 & 8 Target & Headliner Horns Jul 15 & 29 Stee & the Ear Candy Jul 22 Deas-Guyz

16 PRETTY DARN WITH SPECIAL GUEST HOLLIFIELD District Live in Savannah, GA. Tickets availabe at ticketmaster.com

EVERY THURSDAY BLUFFTON FARMERS MARKET

FRIDAYS

FREE MOVIES IN THE PARK Shelter Cove Towne Centre Starts at 8:30pm Family fun and pets are welcome. July 7 National Treasure July 14 Secret Life of Pets July 21 Back to the Future July 28 Cars 3

Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina Monday-Friday through Labor Day weekend 6-9pm

THROUGH AUG 14 The Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Tickets are $56/$51 for single adults/children. Recommended for ages 13 and older. 843-842-2787 [ARTS]. www.artshhi.com.

Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday Through September 2 Two shows at 6:30pm & 8:30pm

EVERY TUESDAY! SEA PINES FARMERS MARKET

Coligny Main Stage Sundays, Wednesdays & Fridays 6:30-8:30pm

SHANNON TANNER FAMILY SHOWS

JEVON’S KHAOTIC KIDZ SHOW!

NICK POULIN Coligny Plaza’s Center Stage 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. until August 13th colignyplaza. com

LOWCOUNTRY MADE MARKET Buckwalter Place Commerce Park (next to the Kroger) Every third Saturday 9am-1pm

ALL SUMMER LONG!

THURSDAYS

SATURDAYS

GATHER AROUND, FOR FUN IN HARBOUR TOWN WITH GREGG RUSSELL

COLOR PALOOZA South Beach 6pm Airbrush tattoos, hulahooping and loads of colorful fun!

MIKE KAVANAUGH Coligny Plaza’s Center Stage 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. until August 13th www. colignyplaza.

Under the old oak tree in Harbourtown July -August 19 (Monday-Friday) August 22, 24, & 26, September 1-4 Show starts at 8pm

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