CH2 Magazine: May 2023

GIFT

SPOTLIGHT ON THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S TEAM

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?

HERE TO HELP

Meet the folks behind the town and see why a smiling face might be the perfect visual for our local government.

HEROES ON HORSEBACK

Empowering Lives

One Stride at a Time

A TALE OF MODERN ROMANCE

Online dating app leads to Lowcountry dream wedding in Belfair

Photography by Anne

NEIGHBORHOOD STROLL: HAIG POINT, DAUFUSKIE ISLAND

Touring the Lowcountry's premier neighborhoods.

GENIUSES AT WORK

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

The HelpHER

Jevon Daly

Mascot in Training

Buoy Conrad Crouch Pritchard

The Gatekeepers

Greta Von Bowser

Vincent Von Bowser

The Cut & Paste Crew

Catherine Davies

Aspiring Novelists

Martin Armes

Amy Bartlett

Jesse Blanco

Becca Edwards

Linda S. Hopkins

Barry Kaufman

Amber Hester-Kuehn

Mary Frances Lowrey

Alan Perry

Cheryl Ricer

Nancy Renner

Cleteus Smith

Lisa Sulka

Sheila Tucker

Lighting Experts

Krisztian Lonyai

Photography by Anne

Two Lights One Stand Photography

Find Us Here PO Box 22949

Hilton Head Island, SC 29925

843.816.6247

maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com

Every time I think about the enormity of deciding to bring a child into this world, my head explodes. Pops right off my body and heads to points beyond. And yet, 385,000 babies are born every single day.

I am in awe of the unbridled confidence of these parents who choose to attempt this daunting task of conceiving a tiny helpless being and then raising it to be a healthy, productive member of society who brings joy to others and hopefully leaves the world a little better than he/she found it. Then I decided to look a little deeper on the old interwebs and found that, according to a report published last year by UNFPA (The United Nations Population Fund), nearly half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Interesting.

Raising children is the most difficult task you will ever choose to embark upon, and you can’t just tap out midway through if you decide that perhaps it’s not your dream job. As Sheila Tucker states in her article on page 85, “Momming is hard.”

Almost this entire issue is dedicated to the topic young people. Our May issue generally is, with one of the most anticipated sections we do each year: Kids Camps. Just because it is summer doesn’t mean the learning and fun should stop. Find out which extracurricular activities are available to your children on page 67.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14, and we’ve scoured some local boutiques for gift ideas. Check out page 32 and 48 for some items that will make Mom smile. My sister and I always enjoy taking our mom out for brunch; it’s a family tradition that makes everyone happy. Just be sure to make reservations early!

There are many local charitable organizations that serve those in our community who need a helping hand, and in keeping with this month’s theme, we highlighted a few that are focusing on children and youth. PD Cares is one such organization, and with this year’s grants of over $60,000, they assisted 20 charities including Second Helpings, The Children’s Center, and the Outside Foundation.

In “Risky Business” (page 81), Linda Hopkins introduces us to The Lowcountry Alliance for Healthy Youth, an organization started after a tragic car accident

took the life of a 17-year-old driver and seriously harmed her four passengers, leaving one paralyzed for life. The CliffsNotes version of what they do can be boiled down to raising awareness of how harmful alcohol and drugs are to everyone—but especially to those younger than 25 whose brains are not yet completely developed.

Our Neighborhood Stroll highlights Haig Point on Daufuskie Island this month. Be sure to watch our social media channels for some fun content showing off this quirky little island.

There is so much good stuff in this issue—for parents, and for people like me, who may not want to take on the entire job but would like to know how they can help our local kids, either by showing up, donating funds, or raising awareness. 

Have a wonderful May!

The CH2 crew spent a few days in late March producing a music video about inclusion with some of the students in the Jasper County School District. Read all about it on page 50 in Becca Edwards’ article, “What is Your Superpower?”

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN

PHOTOGRAPHY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND

HERE

HELP

SPOTLIGHT ON THE TOWN OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S TEAM

LOOK FOR OUR HIGHLIGHT ON THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON IN JUNE!

EEver wonder who keeps our town postcard-perfect and running like a machine? Meet the folks behind the Town of Hilton Head Island. When someone says the words “the government,” you usually don’t picture a smiling face. You probably don’t think about the people who keep that government running, putting their passions to work for the public. But you should, especially here.

The Town of Hilton Head Island isn’t just a singular entity. It’s a team of people who live and work here just like us. Each one brings their unique spirit, determination and specialty to their field, the culmination of which is an organization that keeps our green spaces beautiful, ensures our citizens have access to the best services, and welcomes millions of visitors each year.

Come meet the folks behind the town and see why a smiling face might be the perfect visual for our local government.

said. “I think with our organization, and the town in general, everything we do has a team approach. Being a member of the senior leadership of the town, I’ve learned even more.”

It may say chief on his business card, and it may be a title that he’s earned after a lifetime of pursuing his dream of being a firefighter, but it’s an honor that he shares with everyone in his command. “We cannot be successful here without members of my team and the people who work with us,” he said.

NICTE BARRIENTOS, ASSISTANT PLANNER - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Having started with the town in August last year, Nicte Barrientos might be a new face at town hall, but she’s certainly not a new face around town.

“I moved here from Spain when I was eight, and I’ve been a resident ever since, other than my four years at Clemson,” she said. “I wanted to stay here on the island because my whole family’s here. I’ve always wanted to make the community a better place.”

She’s certainly fulfilling that goal as an assistant planner – economic development, tackling assistance programs that help residents through home repairs, storm damage and access to sewer connections. “With the home safety and sewer connections programs, I’m working with the community every day, helping them fill out applications and guiding them through the process,” she said. “In the end, I’m here to assist the community.”

CHRIS BLANKENSHIP, FIRE CHIEF

Chief Chris Blankenship has experienced the world of firefighting from every rung of the ladder—literally and figuratively. In the small town of Byron, Illinois, where two of his next-door neighbors were volunteer firefighters, his journey began when he was still in high school as part of the cadet program. He joined the fire service while still a junior, following his passion to Eastern Kentucky University where he earned his degree in fire and safety engineering technology.

Continuing a lifelong pattern of not being able to wait to get started, he landed on Hilton Head Island while still a junior at EKU, interning with the department here. Seven days after the diploma was in his hand, he was getting his official start as a Hilton Head Island firefighter.

“When you get into this, it’s not a job. It’s a career,” he said. In fact, Blankenship will be the first to tell you that “work is my life.” While you can sometimes find him out on the golf course working on his handicap (which is “the highest you can get,” he’ll tell you with a laugh) or out in the field as a member of Savage Trails in Pembroke, Georgia, most of the time you’ll find him right in the thick of things as fire chief.

For him, it’s all part of leading an organization that he’s seen from the intern level up, gaining a newfound respect with every step up the ladder.

“We’re a very diverse organization in the sense that we have people from all over the country that work here and bring different backgrounds and experiences with them. We have amazing opportunities here,” Blankenship

> CHRIS BLANKENSHIP

> NICTE BARRIENTOS

The one-on-one attention she gives is complemented by the slightly broader view she’s taken in helping mitigate the always-thorny workforce housing issues that have dominated discourse on the island. It’s her way of doing what she’s always wanted to do: make the community a better place, on the small scale and large.

“Really what I’m doing with these assistance programs is giving back to a place that gave me so much growing up,” Barrientos said. “I spent a lot of time at the Boys & Girls Club growing up, and my family had a lot of help, so that’s why I wanted to get back here. I wanted to give back.”

It wasn’t all altruistic. While she takes immense pride in the work she does to uplift the community, just being here is reward enough. An active member of the community, she’s a fixture on the island’s adult soccer league and a former coach at the Island Rec Center. “It’s very different now, seeing it from an adult perspective,” she said. “We live where other people vacation, and I think growing up here I took that for granted. Now, I couldn’t imagine myself living anywhere else.”

regulations, she’s been willing to waive fees and do the extra work to get everyone on board.

“We’ve implemented a lot of changes, so I think being fair is important. And I’m very fortunate to have leadership that supports me in that position,” she said. That leadership forms a crucial part of a network that spans the entirety of town government, with everyone from community development to the fire department playing a role in defining how the new short-term ordinance will work.

“It’s cool to be part of such a big program,” Akins said. “I get to say, ‘I remember when this started. I was there the day this went live.’”

It can be a testy proposition, collecting fees that people just learned existed. But it helps that Akins has developed long-term relationships around the island in nearly 28 years living here. “I’m originally from Atlanta, so it came down to the city or the beach,” she said. “I came to the beach and never left.”

LISA STAUFFER, HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR

APRIL AKINS, REVENUE SERVICES MANAGER

Keep your jokes about tax collectors. After 13 years in revenue services with the Town of Hilton Head Island, April Akins has heard them all.

“No one likes paying taxes. I get it,” she said. “Fortunately, our businesses are so easy to work with; I feel very lucky that I don’t have to be the bad guy. I love my job, and that makes it a little easier.”

Beyond overseeing collection of local taxes, Akins leads a team that collects ATAX funds, beach preservation fees, business license fees, EMS revenue and, most pressingly, collects on permitting for the new short-term rental ordinance.

“That has more or less consumed my life for the past year or so and will continue to do so,” she said. “It was a huge undertaking and impacts so many departments across the organization. The town has never regulated short-term rentals, so it’s new territory for everyone involved.”

Fortunately, Akins is the type to find ways to avoid being the bad guy. While property owners get accustomed to the new

Despite having spent the last 25 years in human resources, Lisa Stauffer didn’t always know she’d find her calling in HR. In fact, she studied chemistry in college before realizing that a different kind of chemistry was more her speed.

“I love people, and HR is a people-focused field,” she said. She says she fell into HR while serving as office manager for a manufacturing firm near her native Philadelphia, and it was love at first sight. “I really found that I enjoyed my interactions with employees. And now, in a director role, I enjoy strategic thinking and solving more difficult problems. The workforce is constantly changing; it’s never the same thing. If you don’t like change, you should not be in HR.”

Stauffer and her husband made a big change in 2009, trading the wintry weather of Philly for the sunny shores of Hilton Head Island where her family had already relocated. “We realized we were coming down here every four months for a week. Why not stay?”

> APRIL AKINS

> LISA STAUFFER

As they are both avid golfers, boaters and tennis players, it was a natural transition. “We work hard and play hard, that’s definitely our motto,” she said.

Three years after making the move to the island, Stauffer made another move, this time from the private to the public sector. “This is my first job in local government and there’s something very satisfying about doing meaningful work, and on top of that benefiting the people in the community,” she said. “I’ve loved my career in HR, and this is definitely the icing on the cake.”

Having moved up to HR director two years ago, Stauffer relishes the new opportunities and challenges that come with being in charge. “I have a great team who handles a lot of the day to day of benefits, workers comp, performance management and things like that. My role is really working with senior leadership to make sure the town is a great place to work,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

BEN BROWN, SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE TOWN MANAGER

For most of us, a bicycle ride around the island is a chance to soak up the sun, enjoy the scenery and maybe work up a sweat. For Ben Brown, his regular spins around the island’s bike paths are a chance to bask in a job well done.

“One of my favorite things to do is to ride my bike and see the things I’ve been involved in,” he said. It must take him on a pretty long trip. As senior advisor to the town manager, he’s involved in everything from land acquisition and strategic planning to smaller details like the use of common areas. The biggest thing on his plate lately is the North Pointe project, the public-private

housing partnership initiative currently underway on the north end.

“I’ve always enjoyed planning and implementing projects. We have so many opportunities to shape redevelopment on the island and create a best-in-class community for folks who work and live here,” he said.

And while the big projects make for the most impressive sights on Brown’s regular bike rides, it’s the little things that bring him the greatest joy.

“Some of the smaller things that I’ve been involved in are paying dividends, like common areas, or the way contracts are structured,” he said. “We have such a talented team here that we are able to reimagine a lot of these common areas and think of how they can best serve the community.”

Like many locals, Brown started out as a tourist, visiting family here as far back as the 1980s. After starting his career in the cruise industry where met his wife, the couple moved here in 2001. Within two weeks, he had landed a job at the town as a community development planner. He would go on to spend eight years with Palmetto Dunes, overseeing a massive list of large-scale projects as the community underwent a total overhaul, before returning to the public sector.

“I enjoy working with Marc (Orlando, town manager), Town Council and our senior leadership. There’s a big group of talent here,” he said.

In some ways, Krishana Perry’s Hilton Head Island story is much like anyone else’s. She came here because

KRISHANA PERRY, PRINCIPAL PLANNER - HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD PRESERVATION

> BEN BROWN

she loved the beach and wound up staying. Unlike many of us, however, the allure of the beach was only secondary in drawing Perry. What really drew her to Hilton Head Island was the chance to do something to make a difference.

“I have a background in advocacy for groups that are being marginalized or who haven’t had a seat at the table,” she said. “I started looking into issues in black communities across the country, and when Hilton Head Island came up, I felt called to be a part of a community that’s working to maintain its history while lifting up its own economy.”

Perry’s extensive background in community engagement and public policy began with a stint at the federal government before she left that job to play a more direct role in the communities she sought to serve. In her role with the Town of Hilton Head Island, she brings together her governmental experience and her grassroots approach to community.

“It entails a few different buckets. As a planner, I have responsibilities in land development in historic neighborhoods, and I work with property owners in historic neighborhoods to determine what kind of development they could do. I help them work through the LMO so they understand the standards the town requires,” she said. This role as essentially a liaison between the town and the Gullah community puts her right in the thick of the community she’s here to serve.

“I think it’s very fulfilling to be able to influence people’s daily lives,” she said. Just to be trusted, to show up for others, that’s the biggest thing. There will always be problems, but looking at it from a place of joy, I get to help create solutions.”

ZENOS MORRIS, ASSISTANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

As an employee at one of the largest architectural firms in the country, Zenos Morris helped define the built environment of far-flung places like Doha, Qatar, but the city life of Brooklyn was taking its toll.

“I got a little burnt out in New York and decided to take some time off. After about a year here, I decided I was going to make this my home,” he said. “Originally, when I moved down here, I wanted to have an impact on architecture here in the Lowcountry.”

Morris already had his introduction to the area having worked on Hilton Head Christian Academy’s Bluffton campus. “When I had the opportunity to come to the town, it was the same energy,” he said. “I wanted to have an impact on the built environment of the town and see what the island could be—not only understanding what it is, but also what it could be in 20 years.”

He spent five years at renowned firm Court Atkins Group before moving into the public sector, time he spent immersing himself in the singular architectural beauty of his adopted hometown. “The island has a unique nature and aesthetic that was developed when the island was developed,” he said. “Now we have some opportunities to take it into the twenty-first century by taking advantage of some technologies that have developed in the last 50 years.”

His arrival on the island comes at the perfect moment in our history. “The island is growing. A lot of people have moved down here, and we have to somewhat adapt to accommodate the influx of people as well,” Morris said. “As far as the

> KRISHANA PERRY

built environment, I’m not saying it’s going to change immensely, but we do have to learn to adapt to a new era.”

As for Morris, he’s adapting well to his new built environment after trading Brooklyn’s high rises for the island’s low-profile beauty. “Being here on the island, it’s about the people as well,” he said. “That’s what’s beautiful about the island; it’s truly a place where you can meet people from all over the world. I hope my being here brings something to the table for the island.”

WHITAKER KNIGHT, LANDSCAPE AND GROUNDS MANAGER

When you look at the natural environments of Hilton Head Island, you can still see the driving ethos that served as the bedrock of the island’s modern era. When Charles Fraser founded Sea Pines, the philosophy was simple: work with what nature gives you rather than imposing your own aesthetic on it.

Whitaker Knight moved to the island in 2016, but his appreciation for the richness of the island’s environment goes much farther back.

“My great-great grandma used to have a house on North Forest Beach,” he said. “Six years ago, we found it. The lot was for sale, but the house was free.”

Born and raised in Auburn, Alabama, he would stick close to home in earning his horticulture degree before beginning his career in commercial and residential landscape management, a journey that took him from Charlotte’s Quail Hollow Club to Hilton Head Island. Now, as landscape and grounds manager, he carries on that dedication to working with the island’s natural environment.

“We’re just trying to go through our higher profile areas to promote native species and our hardwood trees like live oaks to allow them to grow better with less competition,” he said. That can be tricky when the competition in question comes from vines that are

aggressive, tenacious and occasionally beautiful. “When you get Carolina jessamine, which is our state flower and is natural and fine, if it’s not managed correctly, it will choke out the live oaks and block sunlight to the understory. If native plants are not getting sunlight, they’re not growing berries and creating habitats for our native species. It’s about maintaining native habitats.”

And he’s maintaining those habitats in an island home that he has fallen for.

“I love being able to have a role in serving the community. I love being able to make a difference in the way people enjoy bike paths and parks,” he said. “To be a part of enhancing it and promoting it is really exciting.”

> ZENOS MORRIS

> WHITAKER KNIGHT

Styled by Kaila Jeffcoat

Photography by M.Kat

GIFT IDEAS FOR MOM

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 14 this year - and we’ve curated some great items to show mom how much you love her. Shop these looks and gifts at our Lowcountry boutiques and shops.

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please see boutique listed for final pricing on all items.

Ensembles modeled by Chiffon Strickland Jenkins

Left page credited items, listed left to right, top to bottom:

at

at Gifted).

Right page credited items, listed left to right, top to bottom:

at Coastal

at Haskins & Co.).

at

at

1. Michelle Allen “Crab Painted” Oyster Dish $30 (Available

Binya); 2. Hobo black with white detail crossbody $268 (Available at Palmettoes); 3. Starfish Earrings $209 (Available at Collage ); 4. Atelier Amour, Apres Minuit Triangle Bra and Tanga in Ink (Available at En Dentelle); 5. Lily Beaded Envelope Clutch, $93 (Available at Gigi’s Boutique); 6. Heart Dishes made with HHI Sand $24.99 (Available

1. Vacay beaded bag: $118, Leopard beaded bag: $98 (Available

Bliss); 2. Dress $368, Earrings $175, Bracelet $225 (Available at Kelly Caron Curated); 3. LAGOS Signature Caviar Collection: Sterling silver and 18K yellow gold and blue sapphire station, 6 mm bracelet with 10 gold stations $1,650 (Available

Forsythe Jewelers); 4. Mama Bear Candle $12.99 (Available at Gifted); 5. Pink and white Southern Tide hats $35 each (Available

Southern Tide); 6. Delaney Clutch $60, Saylor Betty earrings $24 (Available

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please see boutique listed for final pricing on all items.

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please see boutique listed for final pricing on all items.

Items

listed left to right, top to bottom: 1. Necklace $149 (Available at Collage); 2. Cosabella, Bella Long Sleeve Top & Boxer Pajama Set in Cape Fuchsia (Available at En Dentelle); 3. Marc Fisher LTD brown flat sandal $125 (Available at Monkees); 4. Joy Joy top $89, Spanx pants $128 (Available at Haskins & Co.); 5. Color-Changing LED Interior Lights: Roof-mounted LED light kit for interior overhead illumination. Includes user selectable lighting control, providing millions of color options and multiple lighting modes including solid, fade in/out, and sync to music. LED light kits are water resistant. 2 Passenger $277, 4 Passenger $293, 6 Passenger $324 (Available at Club Car); 6. Hobo black and white clutch $148 (Available at Palmettoes); 7. Flamingo Stemless Wine Glass $24.99 (Available at Gifted).

Items listed left to right,

top to bottom: 1. Gilner Farrar dress $349, Laggo yellow clutch $187, JB Martin Paris heels $148 (Available at Collage); 2. l.a. Eyeworks frames $550 (Available Eyeland Optique); 3. Roberto Coin Tiny Treasures Collection: 18K white gold diamond love letter “M” necklace, adjustable length 16-18”. D = 0.08 ctw. Initial letters are available in every letter of the alphabet, available in white gold and yellow gold $750 (Available at Forsythe Jewelers); 4. Musee Shower Steamer Set $24.99/each (Available at Gifted); 5. Cleobella clutch $228 (Available at Birdie James); 6. BC Bag with smaller insert bag $88 (Available at Maggie and Me); 7. Kris Fashion dress $165, Hobo clutch $148 (Available at Palmettoes); 8. Cosabella, Never Say Never Sweetie Bralette and Comfie Cutie Thong in Neela Flower (Available at En Dentelle); 9. Lillies of Charleston Spices $7 each (Available at Binya).

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please see boutique listed for final pricing on all items.

Items listed left to right, top to bottom: 1. Handwoven jute clutch $144 (Available at Collage); 2. David Yurman Madison Collection: Sterling silver 10 mm pearl drop earrings $695 (Available at Forsythe Jewelers); 3. Marie Oliver dress $468, Trade Beads necklace $249 (Available at Monkees); 4. Johnathan Green Stationary Set $29.95 (Available at Binya); 5. Dress: $148, Flip Flops: $59.50 (Available at Southern Tide); 6. B Swim, Stardust One Piece in Amelie (Available at En Dentelle); 7. Maui Jim sunglasses $250 (Available at Eyeland Optique).

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please see boutique listed for final pricing on all items.

Items

listed left to right, top to bottom: 1. Frnch Paris dress $135, Aratta scarf/shawl $134, GlowBox heels $70 (Available at Maggie and Me); 2. Eyeglass Case $22.99 (Available at Gifted); 3. Marc Joseph navy and white loafers $165 (Available at Palmettoes); 4. Lavender cake stand $300 (Available at Kelly Caron Curated); 5. Hand loomed clutch with white square openers $195 (Available at Monkees); 6. Love the Label dress $295, Dec-a-dence heels $188, Earrings $26, Bamboo Bangle $25 (Available at Coastal Bliss); 7. Fifteen Twenty top $258, Fifteen Twenty pant $228, Cleobella clutch $228, Bracelets $38 each (Available at Birdie James); 8. 14kt Yellow Gold Mother and Child Pendant, $340 (Available at Heritage Fine Jewelry)

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please see boutique listed for final pricing on all items.

*Prices change and human error occurs. Please see boutique listed for final pricing on all items.

Items listed left to right, top to bottom: 1. Sleep Sets starting at $144 (Available at The Heavenly Spa at Westin Hilton Head Island Resort) 2. Blue Bird Earrings, $36 (Available at Gigi’s Boutique) 3. 14kt Yellow Gold “Mom” Necklace, $550 (Available at Heritage Fine Jewelry) 4. Tufted Titmouse Mug $ 10.99 (Available at Wild Birds Unlimited) 5. Long Robes starting at $190 (Available at The Heavenly Spa at Westin Hilton Head Island Resort) 6. Lily Top, $70 (Available at Gigi’s Boutique)

A lush garden in Hilton Head Plantation.

Article by Nancy Renner

Enjoy seeing lovely Lowcountry gardens? Frustrated by the damage the cold snap did to your garden? Get your tickets now for the thirty-fourth annual All Saints Garden Tour on Saturday, May 20!

Join us and get inspired by visiting a variety of gardens—different sizes and styles, some on the water, some with stunning views, and many lovingly created and maintained by the owners. The self-guided tour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (note earlier starting and ending times this year) includes six distinctive gardens in gated communities on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. A master gardener will be on hand in one of the gardens to answer gardening related questions.

Your $35 ticket includes the Garden Tour and a boutique and bake sale at All Saints Episcopal Church along with a raffle of an original pastel by the award-winning artist Joyce Nagel. (Can’t attend the tour? You are invited to the boutique and bake sale—no ticket needed.)

Tour and raffle tickets are available online at allsaintsgardentour.com, and if ordered by May 6, will be mailed to you. Tickets ordered online after May 6 through midnight Thursday, May 18 can be picked up at All Saints Episcopal Church Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. or on Friday, May 19 from 10 a.m.-noon, or the day of the tour from 8:30 a.m.-noon.

Tickets sold out in 2019 and 2022, so get yours now! Tour tickets can be purchased through noon on Friday, May 19 by cash or check at All Saints Episcopal Church, area garden centers, and other businesses on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton during normal business hours. If tickets remain, they can be purchased the day of the tour at All Saints Episcopal Church, 3001 Meeting Street, from 8:30 a.m.-noon. Tickets not picked up by noon on May 20, the day of the tour, are forfeited.

All net proceeds are given to smaller, local 501(c)3 charities that focus on hunger, homelessness, literacy and/ or aging. Over the years, more than $500,000 has been given to local charities from this annual event, bringing validation to our logo “Through the Beauty of a Garden … A Gift to the Community.” Join us on May 20 to enjoy this beauty. 

For tickets and updated information, please visit our website, allsaintsgardentour.com, or call (843) 681-8333.

All Saints Garden Tour 2023 promises blooming good time

Photography by 2Lights, 1Stand

A winding path leads to a gorgeous garden tucked away behind this Port Royal home.

A Moss Creek pup prepares to host guests for the 2023 All Saints Garden Tour.

Ocean views accentuate this lovely Port Royal oasis.

Coastal Carolina Hospital now has a threebassinet Level 2 Care Nursery to compliment their maternity services.

PREMATURE BABIES AND THEIR FAMILIES

Alittle over a year ago, Lowcountry expectant parents gained a valuable resource at Coastal Carolina Hospital, where there is now a three-bassinet Level 2 Special Care Nursery to complement maternity services. The nursery can care for preterm infants from 32 weeks’ gestation to term and weighing 3 lbs., 3 oz. or more, with the professionalism of a neonatologist, neonatal nurse practitioners, Level II registered nurses, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists and lactation consultants.

A neo-natal nurse practitioner is on call 24-hours a day and the staff holds telemedicine rounds with a neonatologist from MUSC every day.

“Together, this team works with obstetricians and pediatricians to provide comprehensive advanced care for those patients who need extra support in their first days of life,” said Dr. Tung Giep, neonatologist and medical director of the nursery.

Joel C. Taylor, CEO of Hilton Head Regional Healthcare, which consists of Hilton Head Hospital and Coastal Carolina Hospital, said, “Adding a Level 2 Special Care Nursery is a direct response to the community’s growing need for advanced care for moms and babies. The nursery supports the hospital’s other maternity and infant-focused services and provides an additional point in the continuum of care.”

No one can attest to the support of the staff at the Coastal Carolina NICU better than Morgan and Corey Herndon, who recently welcomed (prematurely) their baby daughter, Roux.

“We married in December 2021, and we knew we wanted to start our family right away,” Morgan said. “I had never been pregnant previously, so I didn’t really know what to expect.”

While Morgan was sick her first trimester, during the second trimester, things seemed to level out. But the third trimester, Morgan felt as though she was going backwards. She had more pain and days where she felt “off,” but there were never any red flags about preeclampsia, a condition in pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, sometimes with fluid retention and proteinuria (the presence of abnormal quantities of protein in the urine, which may indicate damage to the kidneys). Her blood pressure was always within normal range at her checkups, until one day about 33 weeks into the pregnancy.

“I started to swell,” Morgan said. “Because I’m a hairdresser and I own a salon, I’m on my feet all day, so both my doctor and I attributed the swelling to that.”

Soon, however, she went to bed not feeling well. The next morning, when nothing had changed, she stayed on the couch all day and napped. At one point, she awakened startled. When Corey took her blood pressure, it was 165/110, so they knew something was wrong. Corey immediately called Morgan’s sister, Erica, who just happens to be a NICU nurse at Coastal.

“When Corey called, I focused on calming Morgan down,” Erica said. “I questioned Corey about her blood pressure, and because she was so sick, I recommended that they immediately come to the hospital. I also called the hospital

and made sure everything was ready for Morgan to go to the triage as soon as they arrived.”

Probably equally important was that Erica, though she was not scheduled to work, stayed at the hospital, sleeping in the call room, to be there for her sister.

“We got her settled, and they drew labs, which were not so great, and started her on magnesium,” Erica said. “Her blood pressure was very high, so they decided to keep her for 24 hours for observation. They also began administering steroids that would strengthen the baby’s lungs in the instance she was born early.”

When it was deemed necessary to induce labor, the doctor explained all the possible scenarios, and let Morgan and Corey know that, without a doubt, they would not be leaving the hospital without a baby.

“The doctor explained everything so well that I truly wasn’t scared at all,” Morgan said. “Everyone was very understanding and kind, and to be honest, I never realized how sick I really was.”

While the Coastal Carolina Hospital opened in Hardeeville nine years ago, the NICU is still celebrating its one-year anniversary. Its success stories have a lot to do with the same kind of care that Morgan experienced there.

“We are the only Level 2 NICU facility serving the Bluffton and Hilton Head communities,” Erica said. “Parents no longer must travel to Savannah to receive NICU care. And though our unit is only a year old, everyone on staff here has experience—both the nurses and the neo-nurse practitioners. We all came here from different and bigger hospitals around our region, each bringing a wealth of knowledge with us. We have molded our ideas and experiences into Coastal Carolina NICU to make this facility one of the very best anywhere around.”

Being a smaller facility offers advantages which include spending more time with parents and providing more one-onone care for the smallest patients. A neo-natal nurse practitioner is on call 24 hours a day, and the staff holds telemedicine rounds with a neonatologist from MUSC every day. Each family at the Coastal Carolina NICU can visit privately with the doctor every day.

As for Morgan and Corey? Morgan successfully delivered baby girl, Roux, naturally at 34 weeks and 2 days with no complications. Roux weighed 4 lbs. 13 oz. and was 18” long.

“I went through an easy labor,” Morgan said. “I pushed five times, and Roux came out screaming, very healthy, and breathing on her own.”

Baby Roux was in NICU for 10 days. Importantly, while Morgan was in post-partum, she could see her daughter’s bed and hold her newborn daughter, which is a big deal. Morgan attributes her quick recovery to the fact that she had her daughter nearby, and her mind was at ease as a result.

“We were able to stay in the hospital with her,” Morgan said. “We didn’t have to leave and go home every day. Being that Roux is my first baby, and because postpartum is so hard anyway, and the fact she was in NICU hooked up to machines, well … it was a lot. But if I wanted to get up at four in the morning and hold her, they let me. The staff became our family, and most importantly, they loved our little girl.”

Other Coastal Carolina maternity services include 24/7 coverage by a laborist—a certified OB/GYN dedicated to delivering babies and responding to obstetrical and gynecological emergencies in the hospital; 24-hour anesthesia coverage; a maternity navigator; natural birthing process support; and a suite reserved for Cesarean deliveries. The hospital also features Couplet Care bassinets, which provide new mothers a safe, comfortable way to reach, soothe, and care for their newborn independently. 

To learn more about Coastal Carolina, please visit hiltonheadregional.com.

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Celebrate MOM at Coligny

Spend a few hours exploring Coligny for that one-of-a-kind gift for mom this Mother’s Day! Bennali’s Coastal Wear, Haskins & Co, Fresh Produce and Island Girl offer unique & upscale fashions, and you’ll feel good knowing you are supporting locally owned businesses. Kick off the day with brunch and a mimosa at Skillets Cafe or Chicken and Waffles from Gringo’s Diner. Grab a coffee from Sweet

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Al’s or Carolina Coffee & Crumbs. You can find “IT” all, at Coligny!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT

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ARTICLE BY BECCA EDWARDS . PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND

What is your superpower? In his inspiring song Jevon Daly sings, “Your power could be your muscles. Your power could be your brains. Outside we all look different. Inside we’re all the same.” He then asks, “Can you talk to goldfish? Do you have ESP? Can you make origami? Climb way up in a tree?”

For decades, Daly has been writing, producing and performing songs that have uplifted audiences of all ages, and the song “What is Your Superpower” was originally a love letter to his three children. “I started writing the song and thinking about cartoons and characters jumping over buildings and being fast, but then I thought about all the things my kids do when they interact. My son used to make homemade guacamole and braid my girls’ hair. One of my daughters used to make origami.”

The song’s message resonated strongly with Melissa Lane, Jasper County School District Special Education Coordinator, “I

A Team Effort:

heard Jevon’s song a long time ago. I love it because it represents the people I work with; it represents what I stand for,” she said. “We all have a superpower. We all can do something.”

When Lane first arrived on the scene in Jasper County, her objective was to help students with disabilities become more involved and included. A student once asked her, “Why does everybody think we’re not normal?”

Her response was brilliant. “Who wants to be normal?” Lane said. “If anybody is ever talking about me, I want them to say ‘weird, crazy, funny’ … I don’t want anybody to ever describe me as normal.”

In a quest to acknowledge everybody’s ability to contribute, Lane has made it her mission to ensure inclusion for all her students. “What everybody else is doing is what they should be doing, whether it’s going to the lunchroom or going on a field trip. We’re not separating people out,” she said.

Over the course of two days in March, the CH2/CB2 team worked with teachers and students of the Jasper County School District on an anthem video. The children took on various starring roles to go along with the lyrics in Jevon Daly’s song “What is Your Superpower?”— a song about inclusion and highlighting what makes each of us special.

“I’m hoping that soon there will be one or more of us in everything that the Jasper County schools have to offer.”

Daly’s song also has special meaning for SOAR, a non-profit organization that oversees Special Olympics programs which include tennis, equestrian, bowling, swimming, bocce and cheerleading.

“It is a very cute song,” said Morgan Smith, Hilton Head Island native and director of youth programs for SOAR. “It is catchy and makes you want to dance and sing along. It is great to remind our students that there are many different things they can excel in even if they might not be good at another activity.”

Smith learned at an early age that we all can be super humans when it comes to acceptance and kindness. “When I was in sixth grade, my parents used to drop me off early at school so they could get to work. On my first day of school, I was the only

student sitting outside when a teacher [Mrs. Kathy Cramer], asked me to give her a hand carrying supplies to her classroom,” she said. “As we were unloading, I noticed ball pits and hula hoops and was confused as to why these things would be in a middle school classroom. I asked a few questions, and she told me that she taught special education and that it was sensory equipment. She introduced me to her students, and we instantly clicked.

“Every morning after that I was excited to go to school to see, hang out with, and help them off the bus. I was very shy then, and I found it tough to make friends. [Mrs. Cramer’s] students welcomed

The video stars and production team take a time out for a quick bubble party in between takes.

me with open arms and gave me the confidence to be myself with a smile.”

Soon after, Cramer opened SOAR (Special Recreation of the Lowcountry), to help both student and adult athletes with intellectual disabilities get the skills they need to care for their bodies physically and mentally, while creating a strong community of support.

Smith volunteered with Cramer for five years before leaving for college. “She always told me one day I was going to come back and work for her.”

And Cramer was right. In September 2022, Smith stepped into her current role and has been instrumental in achieving SOAR’s goals. “In February, we had a South Carolina State Special Olympic Conference where the area directors and school special education coordinators of each county were invited. One of the biggest things they wanted to accomplish in schools was creating more of a community between the students with intellectual disabilities and those without,” Smith said. “During the last three years, COVID-19 has dropped our participation numbers and the people who know about our programming dramatically. So, a big thing they recommended was filming anthem videos as a fun project to empower and get students excited about Special Olympics again.”

That’s when she teamed up with Lane, who reached out to Daly, resulting in a moving, music video collaboration that is inspiring inclusivity in our area schools as well as in the community at large.

We’re not hiding,” Lane said. “We are considered a Unified Champion School, which means that we are working toward inclusion in everything we do. The goal is to host a Special Olympics event at our schooll next year. We are going to be out in the community. We are ready to rock and roll.”

When asked what her superpower is, Lane said, “When I leave this world, I want to have made a difference. So, you could say that my superpower each day is making a difference in somebody’s life. I want to be that person when you hear my name.”

“My superpower is perseverance,” Smith said. “It will take a lot for me to throw in the towel on a project, job, or relationships with people. With my job, it comes in handy. Every day presents a new obstacle. We provide all our programming at no cost to the athletes or families themselves, so, as you can imagine, a lot of work goes into fundraising, writing grants, finding donors, and volunteers. Things don’t always work out the way they were planned, but you continue and find new solutions.”

As for Daly, he will tell you his superpower is “making people laugh and writing weird songs.” He also acknowledged that the experience of making the video was really rewarding before turning the tables and asking me what my superpower was.

I thought for a moment as Daly’s song played in my mind. Though I may “dance like no one is watching,” I regrettably cannot solve a Rubik’s cube And ultimately, I do agree that “we all need one another, in many different ways.”

“I believe everyone has not one but multiple superpowers,” Smith said. “Recognizing the best in yourself is difficult, but I think the key to identifying the things that make you special comes from the things that you notice that make you and the others around you happy. Once you recognize that, you can be confident in your superpower.”

You, too, can use your power for good and help people with disabilities overcome stereotypes, as well as volunteer with SOAR and be part of something Marvel Universe-worthy. Because of SOAR and volunteers like you, these athletes develop physical skills, create lasting memories, improve longevity, and ensure that “we’re always dreaming, always trying, always searching never giving up, ready to throw down, make us proud of the hometown!”

If you are interested in learning more, visit soarspecialrecreation.org, and be sure to watch the “What is Your Superpower” video by scanning this QR Code. 

Becca Edwards is a wellness professional, freelance writer, and owner of Female IQ (femaleIQ.com).

Article by Cleteus Smith

Start Strong, Finish Stronger

Hilton Head Prep making waves with new junior kindergarten program

“Row, row, row your boat, Gently down the stream. Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.”

— Eliphalet Oram Lyte

Adreamy early childhood song that has been caroled since the 1850s in classrooms across America is just as poignant now as it was then. The meaning is quite simple. The child is the oarsman who needs to put forth his or her best effort every day in life heading down the stream. Similar to the sport crew or rowing, dating back to its introduction to the United States in the 1850s, which revolves around eight athletes working in unison, utilizing every muscle in their bodies to propel their racing shell forward, whether it is one child rowing or eight university students, the focus is on performing at their absolute best.

Hilton Head Prep has modified its beginning enrollment age for Junior Kindergarten.

To optimize a child’s learning, one must first look at when the child enters that “boat” for the first time. With 90 percent of their brain-development happening before age five, it is imperative that our youngest learners take advantage of this rapid brain growth, as it will set the trajectory of their race whether it be on land or sea. During these foundational years, the educational training they receive will determine such ultimate objectives as school readiness, reading achievement, and higher assessment scores which will eventually lead to the finish line, that being university placement. Research has clearly illustrated that having children attend high-quality

early childhood education provides benefits throughout their entire life, but it all begins with the development of their brains.

Dr. Jack Shonkoff and his team of scientists from the Harvard University Center on the Developing Child found that a child’s brain during these early foundational years provides the ability for over one million neural connections to be formed per second. While the brain will remain flexible or “plastic” throughout one’s lifetime which enables neurons to continue creating hardier connections with other neurons, its speed of functioning will ultimately decline, primarily related to learning and other intricate cerebral activities.

Our life experiences and our environment govern when these neural connections are created. As these connections are reinforced and repeated, they become stronger, more rapid, and more stable. By affording children the chance to begin schooling earlier, these neural connections can be formed and reinforced.

Hilton Head Preparatory School realizes this importance and wants to allow their youngest scholars the opportunity to succeed to their highest level no matter their age. Beginning with the 2023/2024 academic school year, Hilton Head Prep has modified its beginning enrollment age for

Start Strong, Finish Stronger

Formative age children learn and reason through play. It is through this application that they increase their language skills, learn how to take turns, and share, as well as how to better self-regulate.

junior kindergarten and will be opening its doors to all children beginning at age three. The goal is to capture every moment they can with the youngest learners to maximize their learning.

By allowing junior kindergartners to begin school at Prep starting at age three, they will be able to provide the cognitive, social, and emotional building blocks of educational achievement earlier as well as create an even stronger foundation for their educational path.

In 2010 the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics reported children who had at least some preschool experience before kindergarten performed better in reading and math assessments than those who did not. Prep’s early scholars will also benefit from learning critical social skills earlier. Formative age children learn and reason through play. It is through this application that they increase their language skills, learn how to take turns, and share, as well as how to better self-regulate. What parents would not appreciate fewer tantrums at this age? They will also be introduced earlier to such interpersonal skills as empathy and cooperation to help them become better global citizens.

The great news is that the benefits do not end there. Research has shown when children are placed in a high-quality junior kindergarten learning environment, they will not only perform better academically but will also have a possible advantage throughout their lifetime. Early childhood education has been linked to higher education (four times more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree) and higher income (25 percent higher wages) as stated by Start Early, a national nonprofit organization focused on early learning. The National Education Association also found that students who had preschool experience were not as likely to be retained in school or be incarcerated later in life. Lower levels of health disorders such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes have had a positive correlation due to starting school earlier as a child. Simply put, what happens early in education has lasting benefits for a lifetime.

Hilton Head Prep realizes the importance of early childhood education and is allowing children’s oars to be placed in the water starting at age three. By allowing students to begin earlier, they will be creating a unified team of students who will not only be better equipped academically but will also be able to slow down and row “gently” with the current at their grace and speed. Oh, life is but a dream at Hilton Head Prep junior kindergarten! 

Cleteus Smith with Hilton Head Prep students.

Article by Mary Frances Lowrey

Commissioning Journey THE

Six years ago, I sat with my husband, our eleventh-grade son, and a Marine Colonel at Truffles, having lunch to discuss taking the road less traveled. As the parents of a child interested in the military when we have no military experience, it seemed the right thing to do to bring in someone qualified to mentor and guide us. I sat there quietly while they asked each other questions, and then the Colonel turned to me and asked, “Mom, how do you feel about all this?”

My eyes watered. I said I supported him in his decision, but I wanted it to be informed, and I meekly finished with, “But I’m scared.” Finally, the truth spilled out, along with some tears. Any parent is a little afraid of having their child make a monumental decision that affects their safety, future, and availability to stay nearby. Our son not only wanted to join the Marines; he desired to become an aviator.

This May, he will be commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the United States Marine Corps with an aviation contract. It has not been without challenges, sacrifices, or mentors guiding us along the way.

I have learned countless acronyms, and I think I know more than I probably do. Once, I was in line at Publix, and an elderly gentleman was in line behind me. He was wearing a hat that said ARMY. I smiled and said, “Thank you for your service.” He responded, “It was my honor.”

His response made me proud; for some reason, I felt compelled to tell him my son would be a Marine. He quickly responded, “MARINE. Muscles Are Required. Intelligence Not Essential.” I laughed. Then he pointed to his hat with the word ARMY and said, “Ain’t Really Marine Yet.”

Proud Mom: Mary Frances Lowrey hugs her son Maximilian in Quantico, Virginia.

Maximilian Lowrey and Baylor Lin, his rack mate.

He had a good sense of humor, and he probably had no idea that I tucked our exchange away in my memory, and it always brings me a smile. It made me realize that all those in this club are a family. A family that teases and understands each other like no one else. A family that is diverse and opinionated, each with their own skills and strengths.

For the last two summers, we have worked around my son’s OCS (Officer Candidate School … see how I used an acronym?) schedule in Quantico, Virginia. The expression “Hurry up and wait” is an actual military mantra. Not knowing for months which session he would attend put a kink in so many plans. Do we plan a vacation? Will he be here for his sibling’s graduation? Does he take that summer school class? Will he be here when his cousins, aunts, and uncles come to visit? I learned early

on that we no longer have a real say in his schedule. We must continue with our plans, and if he can attend the graduation, he will be there. If he can’t, we take more pictures and share them with him.

We will continue learning to accept what we can’t control; letting go of trying to manage everything is also a comfort to him. I know there are times when he feels like he is missing out, so as a parent, my job is to make him aware that it is okay. It is a learning process for us all.

This reminds me of a time when my older sister was deployed to Korea, and we filmed Christmas morning and sent it to her. We opened our presents, interviewed each other, and sent her a VHS tape so she felt included and loved. I wonder if she still has that recording? It was before cell phones, personal computers, and email. This was way before the time when we recorded and

Walter & Bonnie Huff, Maximilian, Mary Frances, Jacqueline and Lawson Lowrey.

documented everything in our lives. Nonetheless, we let her know she was missed, and doesn’t everyone want to feel that their presence or absence matters?

Once your child commits to this path of service, you listen to the news differently. A war far away doesn’t seem so far anymore. I catch myself paying closer attention to military action around the world—things I never concerned myself with before. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I didn’t pay attention to any of these matters until it became personal. A conflict happening in the Middle East, Ukraine, China, and Russia seemed so far removed from my life until recently. And I’m sorry for that selfish attitude.

Thousands of parents have been in my shoes before me, and I took their families’ sacrifices for granted. I’m not special. I’m just another parent who is now awakened to the fact that men and women all over the world serve our country for our peace.

I look forward to standing with friends and family around our flagpole that proudly displays our American flag whipping in the wind over the bank of the May River and watching our son be commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a 2nd Lt. What an honor to witness his commissioning by his mentor, Major Brandon Wilkins. This journey didn’t belong to my son alone; it belonged to all those who guided, taught, loved, pushed, and raised him. It was our journey.

My son is not the only young person in our community making their commissioning this May. It is the road less traveled, and to all of you who are taking this road, may I be the first but not the last to say, “Thank you for your service.”

Pia leading Lacey during an exercise.

Laura Kinsey, lead instructor

Carleigh leading Lacey

Gideon riding Drifter with Colleen Townsend as Sidewalker

ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND

Heroes ON HORSEBACK

EMPOWERING LIVES ONE STRIDE AT A TIME

For thousands of years, the bond between man and animal has proven to be effective in creating an emotional, healing effect. Horses are used by physical, speech, and occupational therapists to reach their patients on a personal level through what is referred to as “hippotherapy.” At Heroes on Horseback, located at 95 Stillwell Rd. in Bluffton, individuals with special needs participate in a variety of equine-assisted activities and therapy that enrich their lives by providing hope, healing, and opportunities for success.

Heroes on Horseback (HOH) was founded 23 years ago by two equestrian women who learned about the therapeutic impacts between horses and special needs individuals. HOH works with the special education classes of Beaufort and Jasper County Schools—both public and private/home schooled. As well, the organization works with disabled military, both retired and active duty, along with emergency responders, many of whom suffer with some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Horses have a unique survival instinct that allows them to detect emotions within humans that no other human or animal can detect,” explained Robert (Bob) Lee, executive director at Heroes on Horseback. “It is this sensitivity to our moods that makes equines the perfect therapists

for special needs children and adults as well as veterans and others struggling with many forms of emotional, mental, and physical challenges.”

HOH is a member of PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship), a worldwide organization with approximately 900 member centers all over the world. PATH provides the programming, the volunteer training, and the instructor training for equine therapy centers. Different levels of accreditation are achievable—the topmost being the premier accreditation, which is the level held by HOH.

“Every five years, they come out to our facility,” Lee said. “They examine all of our programs, our facility, our safety procedures, and they observe our classes to make sure that we’re complying with their program materials.”

Because HOH works collaboratively with the schools, the district provides transportation for students to and from the 20-acre facility. When the students arrive, one third of them will go to the riding arena and ride the horses, typically with a horse leader and two side walkers.

“A certified instructor gives the rider tasks to perform while they’re controlling a 1000-pound animal,” Lee said. “So, it’s not just a matter of trying to center yourself and keep yourself from

falling off the horse. The rider must follow the instructions—whether it’s maneuvering the horse from point A to point B, or starting and stopping, or backing up, or stopping and throwing a ball through a hoop—they must carry out the physical tasks while controlling the animal.”

One third will practice horsemanship on the ground, standing next to the horse. They learn everything about the horse, including anatomy and the equipment of horsemanship. Importantly, the more they know about horses, the better they do when they begin riding the horses.

“In this class, they learn how to interact with a horse and speak its language,” Lee said. “They learn ear positioning: ears pinned back mean the horse isn’t happy; ears perked up, the horse is listening and will follow instruction, etc. They learn voice commands and the parts of the horse, so that when they are riding, they know why the horse is reacting in certain ways. They learn what the horse will do when they press their knees into the horse or how they position the reins.”

The other third of the students will take a horse-inspired art class. Most of the participants are somewhere on the spectrum, and art is a major component for empowering an autistic child.

“They draw horses and play with models, following the verbal instructions of the art instructor,” Lee said. “This, again, helps the students learn anatomy and feel comfortable that they know the animals, as well as the communication skills they are receiving through verbalization, listening, comprehending, and executing.”

Each class lasts one hour, then the students rotate to the other two classes, bringing their total time at HOH to three hours per day. Sessions last for six weeks. A student in a special ed class gets a total of 18 hours of equine therapy at HOH.

At HOH, instructors and volunteers are also certified Special Olympic Coaches, so participants can train for Special Olympics equine events. While they’re getting PATH training, they’re also participating in equestrian competitions for Special Olympics.

“It’s such a cool thing,” Lee said. “In addition to the coaching and the training that they get at HOH, these athletes get to participate in the Special Olympics World Games (which are held every four years), the USA Games, and the South Carolina State Games (both of which are annual events).”

Declan riding Jenna with Laura Badger as Horseleader

To gain an appreciation of the impact HOH is having at Special Olympics, consider these statistics: At the 2015 World Games in Los Angeles, one of the 10 Americans came from HOH in Bluffton; at the 2011 World Games in Athens, Greece, two of the 10 Americans came from HOH Bluffton, one of which was the USA Equestrian Team Captain. These three athletes—who competed at two World Games, entered a total of nine equestrian events, and medaled in five of those events—earned two gold medals, one silver, and two bronzes.

“This is a tremendous opportunity because as these individuals compete and achieve success in equestrian, it gives them a lot of self-confidence, which spills over to all aspects of their lives—at home, at school, at work,” Lee said. “These folks are like anybody else. They want to experience success and be recognized for it.”

While the staff and volunteers are sure that the programs at HOH work well, they also realize that the ultimate test is how their participants succeed cognitively and physically and then duplicate those improvements in other areas of their lives. And they hear repeatedly from schoolteachers, therapists, caregivers, and parents that the transformation is impactful.

One success story involves a special needs Hilton Head Island High School student who rode at HOH for about 10 years. While he participated in a variety of sports, he showed a proclivity for the horses and was selected to represent the United States in the Special Olympic World Games in Greece, competing as an equestrian.

“This kid had probably never been out of the Southeastern United States, much less travelling to Athens, Greece,” Lee said. “When he came back, he had completely broken out of his shell. I would take him with me to different events to speak about HOH because, as a member of the program, he did a much better job of pitching and selling it.”

From there, the student got a job. Today, he works at Walmart and the Hampton Inn and was recently voted Hampton Employee of the Year.

“He got his driver’s license, even bought his first vehicle,” Lee said. “I’m not saying that we were the sole reason he was able to achieve that, but at HOH, he experienced success that developed the character and confidence a person needs to be able to go out and succeed at other things.”

Another success story Lee shared involved a military veteran—still in the

program today—who had a non-combat injury that resulted in a concussion, brain damage, and confinement to a wheelchair. His symptoms were much like someone who had suffered a serious stroke, including an inability to communicate and use one side of his body. At the VA, his wife and daughters were told not to expect much in the way of recovery.

“When he came to us, it took two large men to lift him onto the horse. Today, he walks with a cane, he’s earned his college degree, he can communicate well,” Lee said. “So, we know this therapy works. When we bring somebody into the program, we meet with the caregivers, the parents, the teachers, the therapists to get an idea of the diagnosis, what the goals are, and how we can measure ourselves against that goal. Because it’s more than just having fun on horseback. We are really trying to treat whatever that challenge is in a non-clinical setting.”

So how does one afford to participate in equestrian therapy? Because HOH works in collaboration with both the school districts and the Special Olympics, the costs are shared. The school’s contribution is the bus rides they provide to and from the program. Special Olympics and HOH split the $700 cost per participant/per session. Of HOH’s portion, 90 percent is covered by contributions, donations, and grants. No one is ever turned away from the program if they can’t afford to pay, and tuition assistance and scholarships are available. 

To learn more or to become a volunteer or instructor, visit heroesonhorseback.org.

A family of geese make their way to the water.

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina https://www.artshhi.com/arts-education/ camps

KIDS N' CLAY

TUITION: $175

Students will learn a variety of ceramic hand building techniques: including pinch, slab, coil, surface decoration, glazing and more!

JUN 12–15 & 23

AGES: 7 – 12

TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

THEATRE CAMP

TUITION: $330

Make a cast of new friends during this fun-filled week! Campers will experience a mini-production and will not only be the cast but will also be the writers and production crew. Campers will learn how to create characters, develop storylines, craft simple sets, props, and costumes, then will perform for family and friends on Friday afternoon.

AVAILABLE SESSIONS

JUN 19 – 23

AGES: 9 – 14

TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

ART AROUND THE WORLD

TUITION: $145

Join us for a fun-filled week of art as we “travel” the world and explore art from different cultures. From famous fine artists to folk art from around the world

you’ll fill up your portfolio passport with original art in a variety of mediums on this journey of authentic learning.

AVAILABLE SESSIONS

JUN 26 – 30

AGES: 6 – 8

TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

AGES: 9 – 14

TIME: 12:30 – 3 p.m.

TAKE THE STAGE

TUITION: $145

Students will work with professional artists and will be exposed to a variety of performing art forms in our Black Box Theatre and will create a mini showcase performance on Friday!

AVAILABLE SESSIONS

JUL 10 – 14

AGES: 9 – 14

TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

AGES: 6 – 8

TIME: 12:30 – 3 p.m.

JUL 31 – AUG 4

AGES: 9 – 14

TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

AGES: 6 – 8

TIME: 12:30 – 3 p.m.

MIXED-UP MASTERPIECES

TUITION: $145

In this one-week camp, students will study folk and fine art from all around the world that will inspire both traditional and unusual 2D and 3D masterpieces. A final exhibit and reception will be held on the last day.

AVAILABLE SESSIONS

JUL 10 – 14

AGES: 6 – 8

TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

AGES: 9 – 14

TIME: 12:30 – 3 p.m.

JUL 31 – AUG 4

AGES: 6 – 8

TIME: 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

AGES: 9 – 14

TIME: 12:30 – 3 p.m.

STEAM TINKER

TUITION: $175

STEAM Tinker Camp is an exciting and hands-on learning opportunity for youth, with a special emphasis on the STEAM curriculum areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). During this fun-filled week campers will learn about concepts such as geometry, engineering, circuits, forces of motion, and simple machines, and while creating projects that will have them eager to learn more!

AVAILABLE SESSIONS

JUL 17 – 21

AGES: 9 – 14

TIME: 1 – 3:30 p.m.

ADAPTIVE PERFORMING ARTS

TUITION: $175

Students will build self-esteem as they explore the art of theatre, enjoy a collaborative team building project, and meet new friends! Campers may be involved in the design and development of creating costumes and painting the simple scenery and props for the performance.

AVAILABLE SESSIONS

JUL 17 – 21

AGES 11 – 18

TIME 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

ALLIANCE DANCE ACADEMY

http://alliancedanceacademy.com/

Summer Dance Camp

July 10- 14

Ages: 7 and Up

Monday - Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: $250

Each day is filled with activities based on each style of dance! Celebrate with crafts, movies, music and dance!

Includes: Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical & Musical Theatre

Summer Princess Camp

Each day is filled with activities based on the PRINCESS of the day! Celebrate with crafts, books, movies, music and dance!

Princess Camp I

July 10 -14th

Monday - Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Princess Camp II

July 7-11

Monday - Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Ages: Princesses 3 and older

Cost: $250

Sizzling Summer Session

July 18-27

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Tiny Stars

Cost: $50

Ages: 2 ½ - 3

Time: 5:30-6 p.m.

Creative Movement, Ballet and Tumbling

Twinkling Stars

Cost: 65

Ages: 3-5

Time: 6-7 p.m.

Creative movement, ballet, tap, and tumbling

Shining Stars

Cost: $65

Ages: 5-8

Time: 6-7 p.m. 30-minutes of ballet and 30 minutes of jazz, tumbling, tap or hip hop.

Acro Workshop

July 31-Aug. 3

Ages: 5-9 from 5-6 p.m.

Ages: 10-12 from 6-7pm

Cost: $65 for one workshop or $115 for both

Hip Hop Workshop

July 31-Aug. 3

Ages: 5-9 from 6-7 p.m.

Ages: 10-12 from 7-8 p.m.

Cost: $65 for one workshop or $115 for both

BLUFFTON SCHOOL OF DANCE

https://blufftonschoolofdance.com/ summer/

FULL-DAY CAMPS

This is NOT a performing arts camp, but a full day summer camp for active and creative rising 1st - 6th graders.

Campers arrive at 9 a.m. and participate in both camp-wide and small group activities all day—both indoors and outdoors—with the goal of expanding their creative minds and exercising their bodies.

By pick up time at 4 p.m., campers will leave with new friendships, smiles and awesome memories … and maybe they’ll be a bit tired out from their fun-filled day as well!

Activities include: Outdoor Games, Relays, Playground Visits, Dance Classes, Drama Classes/Games, Outdoor Water Games, Arts & Crafts and more!

HALF-DAY CAMPS

Dancers will THRIVE during a summer full of magic, art, and imagination! We are offering fun-filled summer dance camps for ages 3-5, this summer at Bluffton School of Dance.

From stomping around the safari to rocking out at the disco, we have tons of exciting themes, fun activities, and lots of dancing to make for a memorable week! Your dancer will be talking about it long after they leave the studio.

Ages 3-5 years old, fully potty trained required.

Activities include: Outdoor Games, Playground Visits, Dance parties, Outdoor Water Games, Arts & Crafts and more!

FIRST TEE - LOWCOUNTRY

https://firstteelowcountry.org/programs-2/

4-Day Summer Camps Offered at First Tee – Lowcountry Campus on Hilton Head

A popular summer-time option for both returning First Tee students as well as new participants and visiting youth, our 4-Day Summer Camps run from Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and provide a fun and safe summer activity. Each weekly camp is designed for a target age group, but all skill and experience levels are welcome. Children may be registered for one or multiple camp sessions.

Cost of All Summer Camps: $160 Registration Fee

• Week of June 5 Camp – AGES 7 – 11: Monday through Thursday 9 to 11 a.m.

• Week of June 12 Camp – AGES 12 AND UP: Monday through Thursday 9 to 11 a.m.

• Week of June 19 Camp – AGES 7 – 11: Monday through Thursday 9 to 11 a.m.

• Week of June 26 Camp – AGES 12 AND UP: Monday through Thursday 9 to 11 a.m.

• Week of July 10 Camp – AGES 7 – 11: Monday through Thursday 9 to 11 a.m.

• Week of July 17 Camp – AGES 7 – 11: Monday through Thursday 9 to 11 a.m.

HILTON HEAD PREP

https://www.hhprep.org/school-life/2023-summer-day-camp-athilton-head-prep

Monday, June 12-Friday, July 28. There will be a full-day option and half-day options. Full-day summer camp will be 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Full day is $325 a week.

Half-day options are 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. or 12:30 - 3:30 pm. Halfday is $200 a week.

Week 1: June 12-16 - Nature Week

Week 2: June 19-23 - Water Fun Week

Week 3: June 26-30 - Animal Week

Week 4: July 10-July 14 - Arts and Craft Week

Week 5: July 17-21 - Science and Stem Week

Week 6: July 24-28 - Water Fun Week

*Pricing changes and human error occurs. Please see camp listed for final pricing on all activities.

Swinging into Summer

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN

There are few organizations that can boast the kind of mission that drives First Tee – The Lowcountry. On paper, that mission is fairly straightforward. Through instruction at their Gumtree Road facility and in schools all over Beaufort County, they teach kids the fundamentals of the game of golf—chipping, putting, driving—the whole nine yards.

But that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of what they actually do: change lives. While they’re teaching the game of golf, First Tee instructors also mentor young students, teaching them to be better at the game of golf and the game of life.

It’s about golf, sure, but ultimately if you ask Executive Director Pat Zuk what they do, he’ll tell you, “We build those kids who are going to make a difference in the world.”

For some kids, though, that life-changing instruction and access to teachers who care ends when the final bell of the school year rings. Just because summer is here doesn’t mean kids can’t benefit from First Tee’s enriching life skills programs. This year, parents can keep their young ones on the right track all summer long with a series of fantastic day camps.

“They’ll be out there every day working on skills, but students will also have a chance to play our par-three course,” Zuk said. “All of our classes are designed around playing a game. Whether it’s learning to control distance in putting or getting within range of a target, it’s all structured around games.”

The camps will run June 5-July 20 with various courses for different levels of skill and age. Young golfers between the ages of 7-11 will have four camps, June 5-8, June 19-22, July 10-13 and July 17-20. For those 12 and up, two weeks of camps will run June 12-15 and June 26-29. Each week’s camp will consist of four classes held from 9-11 a.m. Monday-Thursday.

“It’s a great way for kids to continue with, or begin experiencing, First Tee programs,” Zuk

“ALL

OF

Our CLASSeS Are DeSIgneD ArOunD PLAYIng A gAme. wHeTHer IT’S LeArnIng TO COnTrOL DISTAnCe In PuTTIng Or geTTIng wITHIn rAnge OF A TArgeT, IT’S ALL STruCTureD ArOunD gAmeS.”

said. “Parents get an alternative offering for kids, and students get to learn from Aaron Immel, who is a great instructor and coach.”

The summer camps are just one of the diverse offerings that First Tee – The Lowcountry can provide for our youth, and Zuk knows exactly who to thank for that. “Our first year, we had 100 kids total. Last year was had 536. In that time, we’ve gone from zero schools to 24 schools, and none of that is possible without our donors,” he said.

Signups for summer camps are now open, with a cap of 15 students per class, so act quickly. The cost for each week session of First Tee’s camps is $160, and financial aid is available. To sign up or to learn more, visit firstteelowcountry. org/register.

FIRST TEE – THE LOWCOUNTRY KEEPS THE FUN GOING LONG AFTER SCHOOL LETS OUT WITH SIX WEEKS OF SUMMER CAMPS

From the eyes of a child....serious fun!

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND

SeriouS Fun

AT ALLIANCE DANCE ACADEMY, IT’S ABOUT EXPLORING THE JOY OF DANCE. IT’S ABOUT LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS. AND, OH YEAH, IT’S ABOUT HAVING A BLAST DOING IT.

It’s hard to put

into words the sheer hypersonic explosion of sound and spirit that a couple of dozen little kids can create. Their bottomless reserves of energy that can only be tapped through frantic fidgeting, the bombastic fascination that comes from learning about the world around them, the trill of a whole chorus of giggles that can erupt at any moment … it can be chaotic.

It can also be inspiring, especially when that tidal wave of youthful joie de vivre is channeled with the kind of skill, patience and experience on display at Alliance Dance Academy. If you ever want to see just how chaotic it can be, stop by when class is starting. But if you want

to see what these teachers can forge from that tumult, keep watching.

“It can be a bit like herding cats,” said owner Rochelle Clarkson with a laugh. And for 40 years, she has been wrangling them like few others. At her Bluffton school, and on competition stages across the country, Clarkson has guided countless young dancers from wide-eyed tots as young as two years old to seasoned professionals.

They don’t all become professional dancers, but every student benefits from a program whose core philosophy extends far beyond the stage. “So many kids come back to me and say, ‘I didn’t realize what I was learning here,’” Clarkson said. “These kids have to have

an anchor, and kids don’t always find their anchor in the public schools.”

Countless students have found their anchor at Alliance Dance Academy. “That’s why I don’t do auditions,” Clarkson said. “It’s a different philosophy, but we don’t necessarily pick the best of the best. We give everyone a chance to gain that confidence and go out there and make it happen.”

It’s a noted break from an industry that can be competitive to a fault, pushing dancers up to and beyond their limits, sacrificing childhood happiness and experiences on the altar of success. At Alliance, it’s not just about the result but about the process. Students are there to learn, not just how to dance, but how to pursue a goal and create teamwork.

“I think that’s what kind of sets us apart from other studios,” Clarkson said. “Just because your kid isn’t the best dancer, if they have the desire to do it, who am I to tell you they can’t?”

And if the awards and trophies lining the walls are any indication, it’s a philosophy that has paid huge dividends. The whole academy serves as a pipeline to the biggest stages in the country. From a child’s first dance class through the STARS program and into touring programs like LA Dance Magic, Alliance Students benefit from the years of experience each teacher brings to the studio and the inimitable environment that Clarkson has created.

If you want to see how far that journey can take a young dancer, you can stop by the studio and meet some of the older STARS. Kristine Andrade, for example, started training under Miss Rochelle when she was just three years old. “My mom could tell right away I wanted to dance because I’d run to the window as soon as we got to the studio and just watch everyone,” Andrade said. “And I was never bored. I was always excited to dance.”

Now 16 years old, Andrade is already gaining invaluable experience as a dancer and sharing her passion every chance she gets. As part of LA Dance Magic’s Senior Company, she tours the country when she’s not in school or dancing at Alliance. Her natural skill and drive played a massive role in her success, but so did the environment

Kristine, Erin and Frankie shining bright after competing at LADM in Orlando. Dance friends make the Best friends!

Erin’s first taste of competing and she is still going strong 11 years later!

Frankie and Miss Rochelle, a special bond formed many years ago!

Alliance provided for her. “All the teachers are very sweet. They actually understand if you’re feeling bad one day; they’re here to lift you up,” she said. “Of course, they teach you, but they care. It’s just fun.”

Francesca “Frankie” Smith is another dancer at Alliance who got her start as a toddler under Clarkson’s tutelage, starting at age three. “I know I really enjoyed it when I was onstage; none of the other little girls knew what they were doing, and I was doing the whole thing,” she said with a laugh. “I knew I wanted to keep dancing.”

Keep dancing she did, now starting her second year with LA Dance Magic while still dancing and competing at the academy. “It’s such a cool experience, getting to meet so many people across the country,” she said. “Seeing other people grow has inspired me to grow more.”

And it helps her continue to grow, having been a student in the very same academy. “There are a couple kids that I’ll see running around and I’ll think to myself, ‘That was totally me at that age.’”

For Erin McMahon, who started at age two, dancing has always been the cornerstone, but her journey at Alliance Dance Academy has also revealed a love of teaching. “I knew I really wanted to teach after assisting last year. It was really fun,” she said.

Clarkson agreed. “She’s a gifted teacher. Not all great dancers can teach, and she can do both really well.”

McMahon leans toward hip hop dancing, as she has since joining the competition team at age five, but now she finds herself the elder statesman at just 16 years old. “I love them sometimes, but then I have to rein them back in,” she said. “We want them to have fun, but we want them to know they’re in class. But mostly have fun.”

And that seems to be the recurring theme when you enter Alliance Dance Academy and witness the full force of youthful vigor unleashed. These dancers train hard, learn from the best, and go on to explore their own role in the world of dance and life. They take their craft seriously and pursue it with diligence. But you need only listen to the regular outbursts of laughter to know they have a blast doing it. 

Visit alliancedanceacademy.com to learn more.

ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS

The Unseen

LOCAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION, PALMETTO DUNES CARES, UNVEILS REAL NEEDS OF AREA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Would it surprise you to know that there are children living on Hilton Head Island who go to bed hungry? Would you be shocked to learn that many infants born in the Lowcountry die because they lack safe sleeping accommodations? Would you be concerned about children living in houses on the verge of collapse? What about children and teens who are still struggling socially and emotionally after the pandemicinduced isolation?

These are just a few issues that came to light as Palmetto Dunes Cares grants chair, Lisa Mullins, and her committee reviewed grant applications from area nonprofits and began contemplating how to distribute charitable funds collected over the past year. Of the 31 all very worthy organizations that applied, 20 were awarded grants from Palmetto Dunes Cares, addressing a broad range of needs that affect children and youth including food security, safe sleep, infant care, home repair, mental health services, and more.

“Our goal is to make an impact in the lives of our youth and to protect our environment,” said Teresa Carroll, communications and marketing chair for Palmetto Dunes Cares. “As it turns out, 100 percent of our grants this year, totaling $61,350, went to organizations that serve young people under the age of 18. Even the environmental agencies who received grant money are serving youth through their programs,” she explained.

OUT OF SIGHT

Carroll, a retired educator, is deeply touched by the extent of need that exists here. “I spent part of my career in inner-city schools. What a lot of people don’t realize, especially on the island, is how many situations are at the level that you would expect to find in large urban areas,” she said. “Hunger is vast.”

According to Sandy Gillis, executive director of The Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project, the high cost of housing is part of the problem. “People are having to spend

Palmetto Dunes Cares recently donated 100% of their 2023 grants to organizations that serve young people under the age of 18. Some of these generous grants went to The Children’s Center and the Outside Foundation, pictured here.

so much of their income just to make rent, then they are coming up short in some other areas,” she said. “These are people who are part of our workforce and people we depend on.”

One of the biggest areas of need is food, an issue that is exacerbated in the summertime. According to Gillis, over 50 percent of children attending Hilton Head Island schools qualify for free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs. “In the summer when they’re out of school, that’s two meals a day that now have to come out of the family’s budget. It’s a time when more children are susceptible to either being hungry or eating unhealthy foods,” she explained. “It’s why a grant from Palmetto Dunes Cares is so important to our pantry.”

Backpack Buddies, the signature program of The Hunger Coalition of the Lowcountry, also a Palmetto Dunes Cares grant recipient, is another important food distribution program, helping to close the gap by providing healthy snacks to schools to send home with children from low-income families.

Bluffton Self Help and Second Helpings are additional agencies distributing food to families in need that will benefit from Palmetto Dunes Cares grants.

“No one organization can do it all. But when we can build a network of help, as my granny used to say, ‘that’s when you’re cooking with gas,’” Gillis said. But food insecurity isn’t the only issue affecting area families and children, and Palmetto Dunes Cares is pitching in to help alleviate a host of other problems.

“A lot of nonprofits are coming up with new initiatives that are addressing the changing needs of our youth—mental health, for one, which is huge, in particular for the teenage years,” said Claudia Gant, Palmetto Dunes Cares vice chair and grants committee member. Volunteers in Medicine is launching a pilot program to broaden the scope of mental health support for kids in classrooms, and Palmetto Dunes Cares is on board to help. “This is one of the few times I have ever seen mental health being addressed. Children really suffered a lot through the COVID lockdowns,” Gant said.

COMPLETE LIST OF PALMETTO DUNES CARES 2023 GRANT RECIPIENTS

1. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s Adaptive Arts Program

2. Bluffton Self Help

3. Child Abuse Prevention Association (CAPA)

4. Coastal Discovery Museum

5. Family Promise of Beaufort County

6. Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges

7. Heroes on Horseback

8. Hilton Head Audubon Society

9. Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity

10. Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra

11. Hopeful Horizons

12. Lowcountry Legal Volunteers

13. Neighborhood Outreach Connection

14. Sea Turtle Patrol HHI

15. Second Helpings, Inc.

16. The Children’s Center, Inc.

17. The Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project

18. The Hunger Coalition of the Lowcountry DBA Backpack Buddies of Hilton Head Island

19. The Outside Foundation

20. Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head Island

Palmetto Dunes Cares also zeroed in on the Child Abuse Prevention Association’s Safe Sleep program, which provides free portable cribs along with education for parents and caretakers of newborns to spare them the potential heartbreak of Sudden Infant Syndrome (SIDS) or Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID).

Along similar lines, they are supporting The Children’s Center’s Bright Beginnings infant program, which helps educate parents on what to do and what to look for at various stages of development from the time a child is born.

Other grantees include Hopeful Horizons, an organization that helps victims of domestic abuse secure emergency shelter and safe housing; Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, which offers legal protection and helps mitigate custody battles; Family Promise of Beaufort County, which provides transitional housing for homeless families with children; and Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity, whose home repair program helps make necessary improvements for health and safety.

Getting kids outside is another important focus that addresses both the environmental and youth sides of

Palmetto Dunes Cares’ mission. The Outside Foundation is just one of the organizations providing opportunities for kids to learn about and interact with the natural environment.

“It’s not always obvious who needs help,” said Pamela Caywood, Palmetto Dunes Cares committee member. “A person in a kayak in a bathing suit and a T-shirt may be a child who doesn’t have a stable home environment, and now they have someone showing them positive attention for a day and possibly sparking a new interest. Sometimes it is just these basic ideas that can have an important impact.”

“We are neighbors helping neighbors. For those of us blessed to live here, it’s more than just a resort and a vacation place. It’s a community, and we have to help each other,” Gant said.

If you feel a little tug on your heart and would like to join these efforts to shore up area nonprofits who are providing services to families and children, please consider a donation through Palmetto Dunes Cares. They will make sure it is put to good use! 

Palmetto Dunes Cares is a charitable organization whose mission is to support local youth and enhance the natural environment in the greater Hilton Head Island area through grants and scholarships. It is organized by residents of the greater Palmetto Dunes community, which includes Leamington and Shelter Cove but does not exclude others who might wish to get involved. To learn more about their programs and committees or to make a donation, please visit pdpoa.org/community/pdcares or contact them at info@palmettodunescares.org.

ARTICLE BY LINDA S. HOPKINS

Risky Business

LOWCOUNTRY ALLIANCE FOR HEALTHY YOUTH UNITING COMMUNITY TO HELP MITIGATE DANGEROUS TEEN BEHAVIORS

Did you know that drunk driving is the number one cause of death on our roadways and that one-third of drunk driving deaths happen to 16-20 year olds? While that’s certainly a sobering thought, statistics are rarely compelling until they hit home.

In December 2011, the numbers came to town when a 17-year-old local high school student, who reportedly had been drinking, died after crashing her car into a tree on Hilton Head Island, leaving her four teenage passengers with serious injuries, one permanently paralyzed.

In response to this and several other alcohol-related tragedies involving area youth, a group of local educators and concerned citizens got together to discuss what might be done to help save others from the heartbreaking consequences of substance use.

In February 2012, LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth (LCAHY) was born. What started as a grassroots effort to address a local concern grew into a firmly established, federally funded coalition representing all sectors of the community including schools, parents/parent organizations,

law enforcement, government, faith-based organizations, civic organizations, youth/youth organizations, social service agencies, media, health care professionals, and businesses. Their purpose is to work together towards a common goal to promote teen wellness, which means addressing mental health and educating to prevent the use/misuse of substances including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, e-cigarettes, opioids, and prescription medications.

THE TEEN FACTOR

Simply being a teenager is risky business. It’s a time when bodies and brains are still under construction—a time when boundaries are pushed, limits are tested, and peer pressure is at an all-time high. Teenagers are more likely than adults to make risky decisions because areas of the brain that handle impulse control and planning don’t completely mature until about age 25.

“Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness and substance use begin by age 14 and three-fourths by age 24,” said Dr. Loretta Novince, a developmental psychologist and LCAHY consultant. “Substance use is a developmental disorder, which

Teens for Healthy Youth (THY) members educate 7th graders about total health & wellness through the Prevention Plus Wellness Program.

Teens for Healthy Youth Members, Jillian Campanella and Rosie Macias, accept the proclamation on behalf of LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth and Teens for Healthy Youth from Bluffton Mayor, Lisa Sulka.

David Martin, LCAHY Board Member and owner of Piggly Wiggly, proudly posts signage at businesses to discourage providing alcohol to minors with assistance from Teens for Healthy Youth members. Frosty Frog Restaurant and Bar and other restaurants at Coligny Plaza agree to post LCAHY’s signage to discourage individuals from providing alcohol to underage youth.

begins during the childhood and adolescent years. The use of alcohol and other drugs has the potential for impairment to the developing adolescent brain, leading to risk-taking behaviors, learning and memory problems, mental health issues, and addiction.”

While risk taking is a normal teenage phenomenon, this doesn’t mean all teens are destined for trouble. What it does mean is that communities must work together to help promote positive choices.

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

Beloved local businessman and LCAHY board member, David Martin, is doing his part to support the alliance’s goals by taking the lead in the business sector. Driven by his personal experience, he shares his story.

“I come from a ground of recovery. That’s where my passion comes from, because in my teens was where I got in trouble,” Martin said. “I went to rehab September 3, 1987. I got clean and never did relapse, but I became a big advocate for AA.”

Today, Martin, owner of Hilton Head Island’s Piggly Wiggly grocery store and recent winner of the inaugural Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award, uses his knowledge and experience to help educate area youngsters. “I didn’t arrive here on a white horse,” he said. “I don’t go at it and say, ‘You should not.’ I just tell them what happened to me and how lucky I am. A large percentage of people don’t get sober, and it’s a battle most people don’t understand. I’m not a finger pointer, by any means. But if you get in trouble, there’s help.”

Martin has also championed “We I.D. the LCAHY Way,” a training program encouraging business owners to do their part to enforce I.D. laws. “Five or six years ago, we started seeing a drop in tobacco use, and we were part of that. But of course, now the vape shops are here,” he said. “That’s an area we’ve been focusing on, politely asking them to make sure they’re

How Can You Be Part of tHe Solution?

• Become a board member, affiliate member, or community partner

• Assist with/promote LCAHY’s community initiatives & activities

• Support the youth initiative, Teens for Healthy Youth

• Donate online

To get involved, visit lcahealthyyouth.com or contact the LCAHY office at lcalliance4healthyyouth@gmail. com. Teens, parents, or teachers who are interested in Teens for Healthy Youth are invited to contact Laura Pirkey at (843) 384-3351 for more information.

checking I.D.s.”

Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of LCAHY’s drive to educate, Martin said, is the Teens for Healthy Youth (THY) initiative, whereby young people are taking the lead to influence their peers in a positive way.

“It takes a lot of courage for a 16 year old to stand in front of other students and say, ‘Here are the dangers of marijuana,’” Martin said. “Some people might think it’s just weed, but if you look at the data, it can have serious effects on the teenage brain.”

Additionally, the amount of THC in marijuana has steadily climbed. Today’s marijuana has three times the concentration

of THC compared to 25 years ago, increasing the impact on the brain. Plus, it can also be laced with other dangerous substances, Martin pointed out. “Some people like to say God gave it to us. Well, God gave us hemlock too, which will kill you,” he said.

According to Bluffton High School teacher Laura Pirkey, LCAHY’s youth coordinator and Teens for Healthy Youth advisor at Bluffton High School, young people are educating in various ways, making presentations in the schools, posting on social media, and getting out in the community to promote signage and spread the message any way they can. “They are a very energetic and great group of kids,” she said. “People would be surprised how many kids are really passionate about living healthy lives. Teenagers get bad raps sometimes, but there are a lot of kids making good choices.”

An important focus of THY is helping teens learn to manage stress, which is also a risk factor in substance use, according to Pirkey. “A lot of people don’t realize that the onset of mental illness is usually adolescence and the same thing for substance abuse. So, it’s a critical time, and it’s very beneficial for teens to be hearing the message from their peers and from all sectors of the community.”

“Communication is key.” Novince added. “Talking to our youth early and often about the health (physical and mental), safety, social, and legal consequences of substance use will make it more likely that our children and teens will make healthy choices supported by family, peers, and the community.”

If you are struggling to find ways to open the conversation or to get through to your teens, multiple resources are available through LACHY’s website under the Resources tab and “Talk. They Hear You,” a prevention campaign of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), promoted by LCAHY locally.

Many teens simply aren’t aware of the consequences of substance use or how it affects the brain. Setting examples at home and talking with them could be the difference between life and death.

May is Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention Awareness Month. Join LCAHY in raising awareness about the importance of child and adolescent mental health and substance use prevention.

LCAHY is a recipient of the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry serves as the organization’s fiscal agent. Learn more at lcahealthyyouth.com.

ARTICLE BY SHEILA TUCKER

The Good Enough Mom

The heart-wrenching sobbing was becoming more constant—a far cry from the intermittent waves of emotion I first noticed. As I rounded the aisle in the grocery store, there she was—an adorable curly blonde-haired toddler with big tears and even bigger emotions. She was having none of this shopping stuff. With every second, she escalated her demands to leave … immediately.

Mom was at her wit’s end, pulling out all the stops to end this volcanic explosion of a temper tantrum. Goldfish crackers received a “no!” response with little hands pushing them away. Promises to leave soon and future treats to be rewarded at home only made the little one cry harder. With runny nose, heaving chest, tear-stained cheeks, she was on the cusp of an all-out epic meltdown.

Shoulders down and eyes darting around, Mom seemed to silently pray no one could see or hear what was happening. If she were able, I’m sure she would have magically blended into the coconut milk display in a sort of “nothing to see here” manner.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t help but feel solidarity with this toddler leading me to whisper, “Me too, little one. Me too.” I didn’t want to be here either.

As a mom, you’re always trying to get everything right. Are these toys educational enough? Is my child watching too much television? Screen time? Nutritious enough? Schedules too much? Too little? Are they getting enough sleep? Friends? School? Too strict? Too lenient?

Momming is hard work. Somehow you’re supposed to arrange play dates, keep up with your teen’s social calendar, maintain a clean and well-organized household, be productive at work/volunteering, foster friendships, and create a loving relationship with your significant other. Oh, and let’s not forget the early mornings, the never-ending school drop-off and pick-up lines, impromptu bake sales, and practices (why are there so many practices?).

Whew. That’s a lot.

There’s so much pressure to have it all together. To be perfect. To parent perfectly, with the social (and often self-imposed) pressure that you’re only a good mom if you can juggle these tasks perfectly, simultaneously, and with all family members smiling, which, spoiler alert, is an unattainable goal.

The truth is, no matter how hard you try, you cannot sustain this level of attentiveness. And, maybe perfect isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Inevitably there will be a point or several when you’ve convinced yourself you’ve failed your children. Enter compare and despair. In one scroll of social media or memory recall, you’re comparing yourself to that one mom who seems to have it all together—magically, has the best behaved children, always knows the right thing to say, and her home looks like a photo out of a magazine. Then the unhelpful self-talk creeps in.

The Good Enough Mom

You begin to believe the unsolicited opinions (of your in-laws, parents, siblings, that random mom on social media) about how you should raise your children and juggle all of life’s struggles. You begin to feel overwhelming guilt.

Guilt implies you’ve done something wrong, hurt or failed someone, or affected someone negatively in some way. The thing about guilt is that it has a habit of keeping you stuck in your unhelpful thoughts.

Guilt is an intense and stealthy emotion that can be challenging to shake. It hides out waiting; when you least expect it, it invades your thoughts and pulls you down into stuckness.

Unfortunately, I can’t eliminate your guilt. But what if I told you there’s research that shows being a good enough mother is better than being a perfect mother?

I’m sure the idea of good enough brings up sordid thoughts. But being good enough is not synonymous with giving up or being mediocre. It’s not less than or failing. This is also in no way permission to not parent under the guise of being “good enough.” Instead, being a good enough mother grants you flexibility and permission to regularly fail your children in tolerable ways so they can learn to live in an imperfect world.

In the 1950s, Donald Winnicott (pediatrician and psychoanalyst) coined the phrase “good enough mother” after observing thousands of interactions with babies and their mothers. He learned that children are more likely to benefit if mothers fail, dare I say when they fail.

Good enough mothering allows children to learn through experience that life is hard. They’re being taught that sometimes they will be let down, disappointed, or frustrated. You’re teaching your children to be resilient. As a result, they will be ready for whatever life tosses their way.

On the flip side, if you cater to your child’s every whim or you work overtime to shield them from disappointment, they will not learn that it’s ok to feel bored, annoyed, sad, or disappointed. Not to mention, you’ll be exhausted. The unfortunate truth is that there’s no possible way to meet all your child’s varied demands. However, each time you let your children down and they get through it, they get a little bit stronger, emotionally and mentally. This is what Winnicott was saying.

Oh, you’ll still feel that twinge of guilt. And while you’re feeling it, know that you’re imparting the gift of the good enough mother in building this strength.

The next time your child is angry because you said no (you NEVER let them do...) or your little one is inconsolable because you won’t allow her to create her new masterpiece on the walls or leave the grocery store prematurely, whisper to yourself, “I’m building resilience.”

Throughout the rest of my time shopping, I heard several small eruptions of protest. As I was uncarting my items onto the grocery conveyor belt, the mom working so hard to hold it together and the toddler working equally hard to express her displeasure pulled in behind me. Both appeared exhausted.

I turned and smiled at Mom, who gave me a half-grin of sorts, followed by a long sigh.

I took a moment to really look at the little one. Her eyes were still red and a little swollen. Occasionally her chest would heave as she was winding down from all the emotions she expressed.

I wrinkled my nose, grinned, and told her, “I don’t like the grocery store either.”

You want the very best for your children. You want to protect them from getting hurt and help make all their wishes come true. It makes so much sense that you feel mom guilt and the urge to push right past good enough to perfection.

Whether you believe it or not, Momma, you’re doing a great job. Even when you say no, even when your toddler has all the feels in a grocery store, even when they’ve been watching Paw Patrol on loop, and especially when it’s macaroni and cheese for dinner ... again. 

Sheila Tucker is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Heart Mind & Soul Counseling. She specializes in working with couples and individuals to better their relationships so they can connect more deeply to themselves and each other. When not in the office, you’ll find her walking her pups or planning her next mountain getaway with her husband.

Picture Perfect: Stephen and Hayley Pournaras celebrate with a kiss on the lawn at Belfair.

MODERN ROMANCE

Online dating app leads to Lowcountry dream wedding

Article by Cheryl Ricer

Photos by Photography by Anne, Anne Caufmann

Venue by Belfair, Jessica Lineman

Wedding Planned by Beth Baldwin Weddings, Christine Clancy Flowers by A Floral Affair

Music by DJ Gary Lucca at JLK Events

Baked Goods by Ronnie’s Bakery & Cakes by Lou Videography by Artifice Films, Brad Cheshire Wedding dress by Pronovias NYC Wedding Party Glam by Bride Side Beauty String Duomo by Hilton Head Entertainment, David Kimball

About seven years ago, Hayley Edwards, who was born and raised on Hilton Head Island, was working at a law firm in Columbia, S.C. Stephen Pournaras was a third-year medical student at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. Because the two of them were focused on advancing their careers, neither had much time to meet potential dates in the traditional way.

“It was also difficult because we were living in a college town,” Edwards said, “and meeting people who were interested in an actual relationship was hard.”

So, as many singles do, they turned to an online dating app. In Tinder, users “swipe right” to like or “swipe left” to dislike other users’ profiles, which include their photos, a short bio, and a list of their interests. The app uses a “double opt-in” system whereby both users must like each other before they can exchange messages.

Once the couple matched on Tinder, they talked on the phone for more than a month before their first date at a sushi restaurant in Columbia. “He called me right before I arrived at the restaurant to tell me he hadn’t made a reservation, so there was a very long wait. And to this day, he still doesn’t like to make reservations,” Edwards laughed.

The couple took things slowly until Pournaras’ fourth year of med school when they began to date more regularly. “We waited almost one year to officially call ourselves boyfriend and girlfriend because we didn’t want to jinx our relationship by moving too fast,” Edwards said. “We knew we wanted to work towards a forever love, a healthy relationship, and really get to know one another.”

However, Pournaras’ rotations during that year, then a general surgery residency in Wake Forest once he graduated, followed by his taking a job at New York Presbyterian in Lower Manhattan meant a long-distance relationship for them. “We think that being long distance for two years helped us grow in our relationship since we were constantly communicating,” Pournaras said.

The real test, though, came in the form of their respective canines, Edwards’ German Shepherd rescue, Stella, and Pournaras’ Husky, Rocky.

“I was really glad our dogs got along because if they hadn’t, I knew it would’ve been Stella over me,” Pournaras said.

After two years of Edwards traveling back and forth to New York, she decided to move to Brooklyn to be with Pournaras where they currently live.

THE PROPOSAL

In March of 2022, Edwards and Pournaras were on vacation in Long Boat Key, Florida. They met up with some friends for dinner at Shore. After dinner, they walked to the dock for photos, and before Edwards knew what was happening, Pournaras was down on one knee holding out the engagement ring. A two-carat brilliant cut solitaire with diamonds around the band, it is the ring Edwards picked out after they’d been dating for two years.

“I actually picked out the ring with both of our moms,” she said. “I went separately with each of them trying on all different things, and I kept coming back to the same ring—just a round stone, very simple and classic. It’s beautiful and I love it.”

Having their good friends at the proposal made the event extra special. “Them being there to take photos and videos of the whole thing was great,” Pournaras said. “Then seeing Hayley’s face once I proposed, seeing the

tears, her saying yes, and having all of that recorded is priceless for me.”

THE WEDDING

“Hayley and Stephen chose to have their wedding at the most breathtaking venue in the Lowcountry, the Belfair Country Club,” said Christine Clancy from Beth Baldwin Weddings. “I worked with Hayley and Stephen from the very beginning—from the venue tour, food tastings, meeting with the DJ, creating the floor plan, timeline, and logistics of the day, even down to the napkin fold and perfect placement of the chocolates.”

Beth Baldwin Weddings has worked with many local vendors throughout the years, and because of these great relationships, communication is seamless. “Throughout the planning process, the timeline is my lifeline, with all the key information I need to take the stress off the couple,” Clancy said, “whether it is the make-up schedule to the grand sparkler exit, with all the details and logistics in between.”

Interestingly, Edwards booked Belfair as the wedding venue two weeks prior to Pournaras’ proposal. She admits that she knew the proposal was coming, just not exactly when. Because she knew she wanted to get married in the Hilton Head area, and knowing how far in advance everything fills up, she was smart to plan ahead.

Hayley walks down the aisle with her father, George Edwards.

The bridal party poses for a few robe shots before getting into their dresses.

The couple says “I do,” against the gorgeous backdrop of the Belfair clubhouse.

“Belfair was one of the last places that still had a March date available,” Edwards said, “so I jumped on it and locked in the date. It couldn’t have worked out more beautifully. The Avenue of the Oaks is just breathtaking and made for the most amazing photos and such a dramatic entrance.”

Belfair makes a lovely statement as a wedding venue. Upon entering the gates, guests are immediately enchanted with the magnificent half-mile oak-lined drive, dramatic marsh, river views, secluded wetlands and hidden lake. Belfair offers a combination of old Southern tradition with contemporary luxury to make a wedding both unique and memorable.

“Hayley and Stephen’s ceremony and cocktail hour were in the formal garden at Belfair, which is in the back of the property overlooking the river,” said Jessica Lineman, event coordinator at Belfair. “Four lush green quadrants frame a gorgeous fountain. For the reception, they moved into our Oak Dining Room where guests feasted on authentic South Carolina Lowcountry cuisine and a wedding cake from Ronnie’s Bakery, the couple’s favorite sweet shop.”

The Bridgerton-inspired décor theme was embellished with white-, pink-, and cream-colored roses—some as big as baseballs—and simple greenery. The groom’s mom

surprised Edwards with extra florals, including an arbor of flowers that made a great spot for photos.

Wedding favors for the guests were from The Island Fudge Shoppe. “I grew up on the same street as the Robinsons who own the shop. It was special to have their chocolates in our wedding, and they were so beautifully made,” Edwards said.

Edwards’ wedding dress was from Pronovias in New York City, and the groom wore a traditional tux.

“Pronovias is actually a specific designer,” Edwards said. “I got interested in Pronovias when I started watching Say Yes to the Dress and fell in love with their designs.”

The bridesmaids also wore designer dresses. The groomsmen wore traditional tuxes, with the groom’s distinction a peak lapel. The wedding party included friends from all over the country and the world, all of whom the couple treated to a welcome reception at the Old Oyster Factory the night before the wedding.

“Our flower girl and her father—one of my groomsmen, came from Paris with their family,” Pournaras said. “We met and became close friends when they were our next door neighbors in New York City. Our ring bearer’s parents are longtime friends of Hayley’s from Hilton Head. Another groomsman—my medical school roommate— traveled from Switzerland to stand up for me.”

Perhaps the most important member of the wedding party was the couple’s current dog, Callie, a mini Goldendoodle, who was their flower fur girl. This was a dog trick they say they couldn’t have pulled off without the assistance of one of Edwards’ closest friends, local singer Candice Skingley, and their photographer, Anne Caufmann.

“Candice had sourced and assisted in the execution of Callie’s transport to and from the wedding venue,” Edwards said, “and Christine mapped out who would leash the dog during the wedding and who would be responsible for giving her treats to manage her behavior while she was walking down the aisle. Then Anne and her team were wonderful and able to get Callie’s attention for key photos.”

Aside from capturing perfect images of Callie, Caufmann’s team was well acquainted with the venue and knew exactly where to stage the photos at the exact time of day. She was also able to direct a large wedding party, using her creativity to deliver the exceptional photos the couple expected.

THE PARENTS

The bride’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. George and Pamela Edwards, who’ve been married for 35 years. “My mom was on the Beaufort County Board of Education growing up and just retired on March 30, 2022, after working at Carr Legal Group,” Edwards said. “For many years, my dad owned a small contracting business on the island.”

The groom’s parents are Dr. and Mrs. Stephen W. and Christine Pournaras. “My dad is also an orthopedic surgeon, and I am their first-born and his name’s sake who followed in his footsteps,” Pournaras said. “My mom is a nurse practitioner who just started an aesthetics practice.”

Both sets of parents are thrilled about the union and extremely happy that the couple was blessed with so many wonderful friends in attendance at their wedding and the perfect weather that truly was the icing on the cake. 

The men take a few minutes to relax before showtime.

Hayley and Stephen pose with their golden-doodle , Callie.

Mrs. Stephen W. and Christine Pournaras, the groom’s parents.

Shelton Law Firm, LLC

The legal side of what Ben Shelton does for his clients began in 2008 when he started his career as a prosecutor in the 14th Judicial Circuit. But when it comes to everything else he does for his clients, that started with his youth spent in Danbury, North Carolina, a small town in the foothills of about 100 people, a few miles from the tobacco farm where his grandfather was raised with no running water or electricity. He spent much of his childhood in fields and around tobacco smokehouses.

“Danbury didn’t have preschools,” Shelton said. “Instead, I had a caregiver who lived on a tobacco farm who kept me while my parents worked. She was like a third grandmother to me.”

There, Shelton would help with tasks that were deemed appropriate for young children—gathering and setting wooden stakes and twine, picking vegetables and berries, and even priming tobacco leaves at the end of the season, always leaving those fields with his jeans caked with the red-clay soil.

“I strive to maintain that work ethic,” he said. “You never forget your roots and how hard folks have to work to make a dollar. I try to always keep that in perspective when working for people who at times have lost

their ability to make a living because of an injury or have lost a home or business that they have spent their life working towards.”

That foundation of hard work would eventually carry Shelton to the law. He entered undergrad school with his mind set on pursuing a legal career but first chose to follow in his family’s footsteps and pursue a B.A. in music. He would go on to perform professionally (“at bars at night and in church in the morning”) and teach music before enrolling in the Charleston School of Law.

“My mother and father were public music teachers and are true artists. I never broke my mama’s heart like I did when I told her I was going to law school,” he joked. “My foundation was music—it is a passion and skill set I will always carry with me. It also made for a well-rounded education, forcing me to train and practice, to think creatively, to problem solve, and to work with others. I can’t think of a better way to train a trial lawyer than learning the dedication and time it takes to train for a performance where you get one shot at reaching people.”

Shelton’s early legal career found him on the prosecutorial side of the law, but over time he found his true calling in pursuing personal injury and insurance claims for people in need. “They really run together. As a prosecutor, you’re a plaintiff for the state.

Here, rather than enforcing the criminal laws of the state, I’m prosecuting a civil case on behalf of the client,” he said. “Instead of a sentence, I am seeking a monetary judgment or other relief from the court on behalf of individuals and businesses.”

It’s a shift that not only puts his lifetime of hard work and dedication to the test but allows him to channel it in a way that is literally changing lives. “Being able to help people understand their rights and give them personal attention and understanding in their time of absolute need is what drives me. You can’t put the pieces back together, but you can help them move forward,” he said. “Having a client come up and thank me years later—that sort of thing—lets me know that what I’m doing is bigger than myself.”

Shelton may not be working in those red-clay fields anymore, but ask any of his clients and they’ll tell you that the seeds of hope he plants offer a far more enriching yield.

Visit sheltonlawsc.com to learn more.

Butler & College, LLC

152 State Street, Suite 201 Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 277-6220

bandclawfirm.com

Bannon Law Group, LLC

10 Westbury Park Way, Ste. A Bluffton, SC 29910

(843) 815-4505 bannonlawgroup.com

What is your area of practice?

Jim handles criminal defense and Meredith handles residential real estate closings.

What is your most memorable case?

Pre-BLG, we were prosecutors here locally. When Meredith was 8 months pregnant, we were able to try a murder case together. There were a lot of pregnant pauses.

How do you avoid bringing the job home?

By embracing the fact that boundaries do not exist and that our daughter will have a colorful childhood.

What inspired you to become a lawyer?

We learn something new every day and each day pushes us to be

better and stronger. Being a lawyer allows you to dabble in everything.

What is the most valuable thing you do for your clients?

We aim to demystify the legal process and make them feel comfortable be it purchasing a home or facing criminal charges.

What’s something your clients would never guess about you?

Jim was a professional actor prior to being a lawyer, which helps in the courtroom. Meredith was most definitely not a professional actor.

What’s the most important tool you use?

Compassion and common sense are our most used skills. We ask if it makes sense for our clients and the overall goal.

What’s the last great book you read for pleasure?

We both agree that living in the Lowcountry, The Prince of Tides is a prerequisite to understanding where we live.

At Butler & College, LLC, we focus our practice on helping businesses, individuals, and families with their real estate and estate planning needs in a manner that is honest, affordable, and customer oriented. Our firm has eight convenient locations stretching from Calabash, N.C. to Bluffton, S.C.

Owners Ryan Butler, Andrew College, Ashley Brown, and Frances Reindollar believe our team should be with you from contract to closing. Though many of our clients never see us except for the day they sign their closings documents, it is important to understand how much your real estate closing attorney is working for you behind the scenes. From

researching your title and ensuring the closing documents have been executed, Ashley, Natalia, and the Bluffton team make sure things go smoothly on closing day.

In addition to handling real estate transactions, attorney Natalia Chandler is an experienced litigator. She can assist with minor criminal matters and family law related issues.

Tom McNutt is the estate planning attorney for the Bluffton location. He knows that no matter where you are in your life’s journey, you have undoubtedly worked hard to build your personal and financial legacies. You worry about what would happen to your family if you were to become disabled or pass away. When you create an estate plan with Tom, you can worry less. Butler & College offers free estate planning consultations so you will know your options and how much it will cost before you commit.

Ashley Brown

Tom McNutt

Natalia Chandler

Prince Law Firm, P.C.

On her solo family law practice: “I don’t just represent ‘clients.’ I represent people.” My approach to the practice of family law is an integration of serious trial experience with compassionate understanding. Family law clients need strong, solid legal advice, but they also want to be heard. To ensure I can effectively tell each client’s “story” to the court, I dedicate myself to learning the specific details that make each person’s case different.

Emerging issues in family law practice: It is not enough to be knowledgeable about just the law. Modern family law practitioners must stay well-versed on increasingly common issues affecting their cases, such as mental illness, personality disorders, addiction, and abuse. How we present these issues in court may profoundly impact the outcome, particularly regarding child custody,

which is why we often use expert witnesses to assist us. We also often use experts to assist in presenting complex financial issues to the court. For example, many local individuals are selfemployed, which poses a special set of financial issues, such as income verification and business valuations. Experience in handling complex issues and utilizing financial experts can be a crucial factor in achieving a favorable financial result in your case.

On experience: My legal career has afforded me trial experience from both sides of the bench: I started as an Assistant Solicitor and Special Gun Prosecutor for the 14th Judicial Circuit. Following that, I was in private practice as a civil and family trial attorney. Eventually, I was appointed as a Magistrate Court Judge, where I was responsible for the jury trial docket. After I finally returned to private practice, I quickly

narrowed my focus exclusively to family law because that was where I felt I was making the greatest difference in my clients’ lives.

On family and home: Hilton Head has grown tremendously since the days when I could ride my moped from my father’s house in Sea Pines to the (old two-lane) bridge without the burden of the traffic we all expect today. I remember well the car dealership that used to occupy the property where my office is currently located. I love the Lowcountry, and I love practicing law in our community. My husband and I are proud to be raising our daughter here along with our three dogs: Duke, Jax, and Ozzy.

Akins Law Firm, LLC

6 Johnston Way, Unit A, 2nd Floor

Bluffton, South Carolina // (843) 757-7574

dakins@akins.law // www.akins.law

For a trial lawyer, there are few stages more grand than Federal Court and few opponents with the kind of resources that automotive giant General Motors brings to a case. And yet, for Dale Akins, part of a team that took the too-big-to-fail firm to task for negligence, the size of the stage and the enormity of the task was nothing compared against the pressure to be there for his client.

“I’ve always liked to fight for the underdog,” Akins said. The case revolved around defective seatbelts in GM vehicles that had left his client incapacitated. “We tried that case for eight weeks and got a very favorable result.”

In 33 years of practice, it was a big case. But to hear Akins talk about his career as a personal injury attorney and sole practitioner, they’re all big cases. He has been lead counsel on several high profile cases over the years.

Akins is licensed in Georgia and South Carolina and handles serious cases on both sides of the Savannah River. Most of his practice is in Federal Court.

“Every case is special and important, because every case is hopefully the only case my client will ever have,” he said. “When it works correctly, the civil justice system in our country is second to none. It can be a locomotive for social change, and it also works to improve everyone’s quality of life.”

Whether making products safer or holding the powerful accountable, it’s all part of Akins’ all-consuming passion for the law and for the people whose lives he can change by simply standing up for them. “What I really like about it is that you’re able to help people through the whole process and help them heal,” he said.

COURT ADMISSIONS

United States Supreme Court

South Carolina Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals

Fourth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals

Eleventh Circuit

United States District Court

District of South Carolina

United States District Court

Southern District of Georgia

United States District Court

Middle District of Georgia

United States District Court

Northern District of Georgia

Georgia Supreme Court

Georgia Court of Appeals

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

South Carolina Bar

South Carolina Association for Justice

American Association for Justice

Certified South Carolina Circuit Court Mediator

Permanent Member of the United States Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference

Super Lawyers

AVVO Superb Rated Attorney

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

State Bar of Georgia

Georgia Trial Lawyers Association

American Board of Trial Advocates, Southeast Georgia Chapter (ABOTA)

LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell list of Top Lawyers in South Carolina

Former Member of the House of Delegates to the South Carolina Bar

Formerly served on the Commission on Lawyer Conduct for the Supreme Court of South Carolina

Formerly served on the South Carolina Commission on LawyerPhysician Relations

Along the way, his passion for the law has made him one of the most highly respected attorneys in the Lowcountry, with an AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, designation as a South Carolina Super Lawyer in the Plaintiff’s counsel category, and an Associate in the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates, which is an invitation-only organization whose members are required to have tried many cases to jury verdict.

When he’s not standing up for those in need, you’ll find him enjoying the Lowcountry to its fullest. An avid outdoorsman, he even named his bird dog, Boudreaux, an honorary associate of the firm—albeit one who doesn’t keep regular office hours. “I brought him into the office one time. He was just a puppy then. That was a mistake. Now, he mainly telecommutes,” Akins said with a laugh.

Dale Akins practices out of Old Town Bluffton. His wife, Sally, is also a lawyer, and she is the President of the State Bar of Georgia. The two have resided in Rose Hill for over 30 years.

If you’ve been injured or otherwise wronged, consider the Akins Law Firm.

Kennedy & Blackshire, LLC

Kennedy & Blackshire, LLC focuses their practice on family law matters, including divorce, separation, custody and visitation, child support, alimony, name changes, adoptions and related legal issues. Recognizing the emotional and financial concerns that often are involved in family law matters, the firm strives to thoroughly present legal options and develop the best personalized strategy for each case. With more than four decades of combined legal experience, Bree Kennedy and Pam Blackshire provide skilled representation in the Family Court arena. While they are zealous advocates in the courtroom, they also recognize that, with proper handling, many times clients can reach settlements and avoid contentious litigation. Their thorough preparation and extensive family

law knowledge often helps cases settle in a fair and reasonable fashion.

In addition to their role as litigators, both Kennedy and Blackshire are certified Family Court mediators. Their compassion, experience and legal knowledge help parties successfully resolve disputes, often saving legal fees and the emotional strain of the litigation process.

To schedule a confidential consultation, call (843) 341-5555.

70 Arrow Road, Bldg. 5 and 6

Home Style Guide

WITH CONNIE SEWELL

Faux Plant Available at Grayco Hardware & Home Lamp Available at Grayco Hardware & Home

The Gift of Gathering coffee table book Available at Le Cookery

ARE YOU TIRED OF SEEING YOUR DINING ROOM EMPTY OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY BUT FULL OF UNWANTED MESSES? IF THIS IS TYPICAL IN YOUR HOME, IT’S TIME TO GIVE YOURS A FACELIFT. FRESHEN UP YOUR LOOK WITH SPLASHES OF GREENS AND BLUES AND HAVE YOUR FRIENDS BEGGING FOR A DINNER INVITATION!

Connie Sewell loves design and sprucing up spaces that need a little TLC. Whether it’s a renovation that requires a fair amount of detail or room by room, adding pops of color and style to brighten and bring a home to life, she finds her happy place doing just that. When she’s not hauling around rugs and accessories, Sewell spends her time volunteering for charity organizations near to her heart and spending time with her family and friends. She is pursuing her real estate career where she plans to find homes that need a little love to renovate to market.

FEELING BOLD?

This rug from KPM

Flooring paired with this wallpaper will make a statement surrounding the dining room furniture crafted of rich woods, leather, and burlap. Don’t hesitate to be bold and mix fabrics and textures as your accents.

DRESS IT UP!

This crisp wallpaper from Liberty Wallcoverings was my inspiration to bring light and color into the ever-soboring dining room, making it fun and inviting. Let the wallpaper do all the talking, or anchor your table with a beautiful, colorful rug to bring drama to the room.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND

Hooker Furniture Dining Room Beaumont Host Chair Hooker Furniture Dining Room Beaumont Rectangular Dining Table Available at John Kilmer Fine Interiors

HI, I’M CONNIE SEWELL!

Orchids in Planter Available at Branches

Alligator Wine Bottle Holder Available at Le Cookery

Tulips Available at Branches

Vase Available at Le Cookery

MIXED TEXTURES

This striped fabric from Liberty Wallcoverings makes a great table runner to complement the beautiful dinnerware. The featured fabrics are just a few to give you options for window treatments, slip covers for existing chairs, etc. Carry these colors into your kitchen with the vibrant artichoke planter that doubles as a vegetable/fruit bowl. This lovely, zeromaintenance orchid brings life to your countertop, without all the fuss.

Juliska Dining Set Available at Le Cookery

Artichoke Planter Available at Fox and Olive

Blue Vietri Serving Bowl Available at Le Cookery

Framed Egret Painting Available at Grayco Hardware & Home Flower Planter Available at Flowers by Sue

Decorative Pillow Available at Grayco Hardware & Home

White “It’s Porcelain” Serving Set Available at Le Cookery

ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER

HAIG POINT

Daufuskie is the southernmost sea island in the Carolinas –five miles by three, it is 5,000 acres virtually untouched by man, 400 residents (give or take), three miles of uncrowded beach, two lighthouses, and one elementary school. Daufuskie is surrounded by the Atlantic, the Calibogue Sound and the Cooper River. And civilization has thankfully (according to those who call the island home) been kept at bay. The connections there are few and discerning, most between the sea and one another. Since 1664, when English sea captain William Hilton wrote in his log, “The air is clear and sweet, the country pleasant … all that want a happy settlement would be well transported hither,” very little has changed—even getting on and off the island. There is no bridge, so any and everyone who either lives on or visits Daufuskie must come and go by boat.

Laura Leigh is the Lead Realtor Premier Properties at Haig Point, the island’s premier residential community. She and her husband moved to Daufuskie 16 years ago from Savannah.

“Daufuskie is a unique island, suspended in time and steeped in history,” she said, “It is so natural and

pristine, with deep connections to the natural world. What strikes you immediately is the quiet. Your senses literally reawaken because there are no cars here, strictly golf carts and bicycles. We listen now to the dolphins at dawn and the crickets at dusk. Oh, and the birds… by the thousands. Life here moves more slowly and with more appreciation for what is important.”

Doug Egly, CEO of Haig Point Club and Community Association, and his wife have lived on Daufuskie since ????.

“You have to experience it to believe it,” he said. “The serenity. It’s like going back in time. Kids are out riding bikes and playing on the beach all day long and parents don’t worry about them. Before we moved here, I came a couple of times to play golf without my wife. I couldn’t adequately explain it to her. When she visited, she said ‘I see what you mean.’ It is truly breathtaking, quiet, simple.”

There are no grocery stores or gas stations on Daufuskie either. And maybe most importantly… no crime. Everything you need, however, is available to you through the valet services, with literally anything and everything delivered to your door. Even to your refrigerator, if you’re arriving for a visit or after a trip away, or simply out playing.

DAUFUSKIE ISLAND

Ferries to Haig Point carry visitors and residents back and forth to the mainland every hour. There are also two high-speed water taxis available.

You never have to lift a finger. Supplies, sundries, baggage, all make their way magically from the Embarkation Center on Hilton Head Island via the ferry and little trolley cars to your front door.

Vail and Bill Shipley retired to Daufuskie in 2004, and the as soon as they got off the boat, they fell in love.

“We had been making plans to retire,” said Bill, “and had been to Hilton Head, but never to Daufuskie. We got a flyer advertising the ‘Discovery Weekend,’ so we took advantage of that. When we disembarked from the boat, we walked right to the mansion, and it felt so amazing. We made plans to buy that very weekend and never looked back. It’s been great. We get all the benefits of Hilton Head but are just one step removed and can avoid the business and frenzy there, especially during summertime.”

“We’d never give up the magic of living on a bridgeless island,” said Vail. “But the other thing that just works here is convenience. Absolutely everything in our daily lives is delivered, with a smile, right to our home. We never lift a finger. We don’t even think about what we used to do, the pace and stress of our life before,” said Vail. “If you’re a person who needs to be somewhere in 10 minutes, it’s not for you. But the ease of having everything you need

and the ferry or water taxi at your disposal makes the transition very easy to figure out.”

THE FERRIES AND WATER TAXIS

A seven-boat fleet makes crossings effortless –charming double-decker Haig Point ferries and two highspeed water taxis. All are private, reserved for Haig Point residents and guests. And you can set your clock to them – and you can set it whenever you like because Haig Point water taxis are on call, 24/7.

“The crossing defines why we live here,” said Adam Martin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Haig Point Club. “And it is this singular point of departure that separates Haig Point from other Lowcountry communities, and from the world you leave behind when you arrive on Daufuskie.”

The ferry offers 18 round trips a day, so every hour, there is an opportunity to go to the mainland or return to the island. Too, the ferries are well-appointed, heated and cooled, with indoor or outdoor seating. The ferry not only connects you to Hilton Head, but on Thursdays and Saturdays, to Old Town Bluffton.

“The crossing builds togetherness,” said Doug. “When you ride the ferry, you’re sitting next to your neighbors for 30 minutes. Connections are made that are important.

A couple enjoys horseback riding on the beach.

Your social calendar can be as full as you like at the Haig Point Club, with various evening activities available.

Shrimp and grits, a local specialty.

People get to know one another on a boat; they have meaningful conversations.”

A private water taxi runs a regular schedule and is on call 24/7 for quick jaunts (only a seven-minute ride) to Harbour Town – where Haig Point members have access to a luxurious private club to enjoy drinks and dining overlooking the harbor. Enjoy the shops, boutiques, and dining, as well as a jumping off point for golf on Hilton Head. The Point’s water taxi is also available for outings to Palmetto Bluff, for spa, dining and golf, as well as to Savannah.

Ferry transportation for members and guests is included in POA fees and there is only a nominal fee for private, water taxi service.

Once on the island, most residents have golf carts and bicycles. For guests, rentals are available.

“We’ve taken away every objection anyone may have about living here,” said Adam.

AMENITIES

“The amenities our residents enjoy are amazing,” said Doug. “Whether you enjoy great food or drinks, great golf, racquet sports, boating, or horseback riding, you’ll be as busy as you want to be.”

Residents at Haig Point have no trouble getting together, whether it’s on two legs or two wheels by bike or four wheels by golf cart. The only question is where to meet up: the Golf Clubhouse, the beachfront Calibogue Club, or the Strachan Mansion for early risers. Gatherings are fueled by a creative culinary team and talented tenders behind the bar.

• DINING

The Calibogue Club is open out of season Wednesdays through Saturdays for dinner. From March 22 through Labor Day, the beach club deck overlooking the water is available for lunch and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays. For a little extra fun, there is a swimming pool there, too.

“The Tiki Bar down on deck,” said Adam, “is probably the number one used amenity. Our members love it there and use it often as a place to come together as a community, have an afternoon drink, and enjoy the ocean setting.”

•

GOLF

The golf on the island is championship rated and ranked by Golf Digest in the top 100 courses in the nation, and there are two courses: the Signature Course (18 holes) and the Osprey Course (9 holes). Even in an area where there is a plethora of landmark golf courses, Haig Point consistently draws accolades from its noteworthy tournament players.

“If there is anywhere on the Point where pictures are worth 1,000 words it is our Rees Jones masterpiece,” said Adam. “The design and physical beauty are breathtaking, and both contribute to an incomparable experience. Three holes of the course touch the water, providing those memorable ‘get your camera’ moments.”

Part of the fun of playing Haig’s Signature course is that both the 8th and 17th seaside holes have two greens to choose from. Additionally, throughout the Signature and Osprey courses there are multiple tee boxes, many of which present entirely different vantages, distances and wind conditions. Every day on these courses is different because you can play a different scorecard.

While a private club, Haig Point does welcome a limited number of daily guests to the course. Day players embark on the ferries from Hilton Head or other Lowcountry communities, and the Haig Point valets see to transporting bags and gear to and from the golf clubhouse, or, to residences at Haig Point.

• TENNIS & FITNESS CENTER

Tennis and pickleball at Haig Point are active, engaging, and yearround, and the U.S. Tennis Association has granted the Haig Point Tennis Center its Outstanding Tennis Facility Award. Clinics and private lessons are available, and the six Har-Tru courts regularly host USTA-sanctioned adult and senior leagues, regional tournaments, and professional exhibitions.

• EQUESTRIAN CENTERS

The Equestrian Centers (there are two: one private and one public) at Haig Point are spacious, well-equipped, and charming – set under spreading oaks and ringed by the arching fences of training rings and pastures. Lessons and trail rides are offered, and members can board their horses.

“Even those who are not horse people,” said Laura, “make the Equestrian Centers a ‘must visit’ when kids or grandkids visit.”

Grocery delivery is available to Haig Point residents. Just another reason not to leave this island oasis.

Sea Pines is just a short boat ride away from Daufuskie Island. The Harbour Town lighthouse is seen in the distance.

BOAT CLUB

A grassy path and long dock lead from the Mansion grounds to the 12-boat dock Haig Point Boat Club.

“Members arriving from Charleston and points north tie up here, as do those coming day tripping or overnighting from Hilton Head marinas,” said Doug. “The program includes dry dock storage—we drop in and haul out—as well as handle provisions and necessary essentials for days on the water. It’s a treasured amenity.”

• THE GREAT LAWN

On the Great Lawn, a grassy square framed by the Mansion, tabby ruins, and an oak tree that dates to the signing of the Constitution, residents gather for competitive games of Bocce ball and croquet.

Some of the regularly scheduled events that members and guests enjoy at Haig Point include:

• Equestrian Ride ‘n Wine

• Weekly Tennis Round Robin & Clinics

• Monthly Birthday Club

• Beach Club Wine & Dine Events

• Fitness Classes & Water Aerobics

• Men’s & Women’s Golf Days

• Family Dining Specials

• Prime Rib Night

• Can’t Miss Friday Happy Hour at the Calibogue Club

“Our members and guests quickly realize,” said Doug, “that you fall into balance here. You can play golf or pickleball as much or as little as you like. You can dine in or out to your liking. Though we have constant activities to choose from, everyone here respects each other’s privacy.”

Solitude is never a problem, and there may be no better place than an island with no cars to have a walk and listen to the sounds of the Lowcountry.

“No other community has a private, uninhabited stretch of beach like Haig Point,” said Adam. “We have three miles of beachfront at Haig Point where we can walk or bike in complete peace, at one with nature.”

REAL ESTATE

The real estate is distinct, desirable, and dwindling. On the 1,1100 acres that comprise Haig Point, inventory is running low. With no more than 500 homes to be built all total, currently there are 280 existing homes, 16 homes under construction, and only about 125 lots remaining for sale.

Like other Lowcountry communities, the demographic at Haig Point sports a mixture of ages and backgrounds.

“The community is definitely enjoying a younger demographic since the pandemic,” said Laura. “Now that more and more people can work from home, we’re seeing younger families moving here. There are lots of kids’ activities to enjoy, and it’s exciting to see the changes.”

The Haig Point community offers three different Discovery Weekend options for those who want to explore the island as a guest and/or a future resident. If you are overnighting on a Discover Visit your accommodations may be at the Strachan Mansion or the 1873 Lighthouse, two historic properties that showcase the beauty and elegance of the South. 

To learn more about Haig Point and Daufuskie, visit haigpoint.com. To schedule a Discovery Weekend, visit haigpoint.com/discovery-visits.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MCMANUS, SAVANNAH

DAUFUSKIE ISLAND DREAM HOME

The weekend before Hurricane Matthew hit, most people were making plans to evacuate the Lowcountry. But Ty and Kelly Wooldridge—who were living in Franklin, Tennessee, at the time— were fulfilling a longstanding intention to visit Haig Point on Daufuskie Island.

“We arrived on the Friday before the hurricane hit on Tuesday for our Discovery Weekend at Haig Point,” Kelly said. “We stayed the weekend and were evacuated on Monday.”

Rewind to 15 years prior, when one of Ty’s friends planted the seed that he should visit Haig Point. They were discussing ideas around retirement and their desire to be on the water. Ty casually mentioned it to Kelly, and from time to time they discussed visiting one day. Once they hit their 50s, they began to get more serious about exploring places to retire and booked the Discovery Weekend.

“Despite the hurricane, we knew we wanted to come back and stay longer this time, so we booked another visit a few months later,” Ty said. “This time, we stayed an entire week to get the full experience of living on an island with no bridge, no cars, and no grocery store in order to figure out how the whole thing worked. It was then that we fell more in love with the lifestyle—so

COMFORTABLE, CASUAL, AND CONTEMPORARY HAIG POINT HAVEN

Architecture by H. Pearce Scott, Pearce Scott Architects Construction by Chuck Hunter, Osprey Construction, Inc. Interiors by Janis Campbell and Jo Ann Alatis, J and J Designs

much so that we couldn’t find a single reason not to make this our home.”

Despite the weather and inconvenience of the evacuation, the couple chose their lot during their Discovery Weekend based on the multiple views it offered, including the Calibogue Sound and the historic Daufuskie Lighthouse.

“That lighthouse has survived here for 150 years, and our backyard literally backs up to its lawn,” Kelly said. “So, we thought, since that lighthouse is still here after more than a century—knock on wood—maybe this would be a good lot to build on. Plus, it’s one of the highest points on the entire island, and the view over the sound is spectacular. We also realized that even if we decided not to build or move there, it was a beautiful lot and would be a good investment.”

The couple originally planned to build and move after they retired—him as president of a Medicare supplement company; her as a programmer—but when the pandemic enabled them to begin primarily working from home, they decided not to wait.

“We had already begun to work with Pearce Scott, our architect,” Ty said. “While we interviewed four architects, we felt Pearce and his team just really ‘got’ our vision, and he was able to design a home around the way we live, as well as fitting it all into the uniquely shaped lot we had already picked out.”

The layout of the home is such that the couple can live on the main level with plenty of room to expand for guests, including areas for in-laws who may have extended stays. The guest suites are on the second and third floors and all accessible by elevator.

And as crazy as it sounds, the couple’s home was under construction during COVID; they got their certificate of occupancy in May of 2021 and moved in with a lengthy punch list mostly due to supply chain issues. They couldn’t wait to get there. The couple agreed that navigating a home construction in South Carolina from Tennessee during a pandemic was the biggest challenge they faced.

“They were literally framing our house starting in late February of 2020, and we couldn’t even come on the island,” Kelly said. “So, Janice [Janis Campbell, J and J

Designs] and Chuck [Chuck Hunter, Osprey Construction, Inc.] were our eyes and ears because they live on the island full time. Making selections was a bit difficult only because we would pick things out in Franklin, then Chuck and Janis would try to source them locally. They were phenomenal to work with and made even the challenges appear seamless.”

Part of what made that long distance relationship work was the Osprey Construction, Inc. software edge. “Our cutting-edge construction management program allows the homeowner to view the overall project and see photos of their home as its being built—and is accessible from anywhere,” Hunter said. “Since most of our buyers don’t live on the island, getting to see the progress of their home is both exciting and reassuring.”

Osprey Construction, Inc is known for building some of the best homes on Daufuskie Island. Hunter believes Osprey’s success is due largely to a focus on excellence and environmental responsibility coupled with a distinct process that overcomes the challenges of building on a secluded island, accessible only by water.

“Everything—the people, the materials, and the equipment, comes here by ferry or barge,” Hunter said. “In order to better control the build timeline, we now have our own concrete plant, equipment for unloading and transporting materials from the barge, grading

Osprey Construction, Inc is known for building some of the best homes on Daufuskie Island. Hunter believes Osprey’s success is due largely to a focus on excellence and environmental responsibility coupled with a distinct process that overcomes the challenges of building on a secluded island, accessible only by water.

equipment, storage facility, and a cabinet shop for handson millwork.”

Plus, Hunter lives on Daufuskie (since 2010) and is friends with all his clients. He enjoys the bond created during the building process, and he understands that many of these homes are heirlooms intended to remain in families for generations.

“All of our homes include special features,” Hunter said. “If we encounter something the owner wants to change or add, we are always willing to pause and adjust to ensure the owner’s personality is truly reflected in

the home. For example, Ty and Kelly wanted a hidden ‘speakeasy’ wine room and a third-level porch overlooking the sound that includes a small kitchen and pizza oven.”

Janis Campbell, the couple’s interior designer, also lives on Daufuskie Island. She, too, understands the challenges of designing a home from afar.

“Kelly and Ty were a delight,” Campbell said. “And it was so much fun seeing their excitement as their home came to fruition. When your home is on Daufuskie Island with a beautiful view of the water, you want to incorporate a coastal touch, which we did by adding touches of

shiplap and coastal colors on a more contemporary and neutral color palette. They also wanted a casual living style, and they frequently entertain. Their third-floor porch is really a ‘party room,’ perfect for entertaining and with an unforgettable view.”

Everything about the home is custom, including high-quality cabinets and high-end appliances in the kitchen. Adjoining the kitchen is a large butler’s pantry that Hunter called the “Daufuskie Room,” equipped with a secondary refrigerator and ample storage to accommodate island living. Kelly loves her big kitchen that can accommodate the couple’s large family, and she loves to cook.

“We’ve hosted Thanksgiving here two years in a row,” she said. “It was great to have my two sisters cooking with me while one of my nieces was making bread.”

Another unique quality about the kitchen is an idea that Pearce Scott offered. Initially, Kelly wasn’t sure about it, but now she’s glad they installed the double oven in the pantry. It keeps the kitchen clean and uncluttered and offers more counter space. The kitchen and dining room are separated from the screened porch by 16 feet of glass that slides open to the water view.

The master suite has a vaulted ceiling and large windows overlooking the lighthouse, huge palmetto trees, and the Calibogue Sound. The master bath is large even by standards of luxury homes. Included there are a walk-in shower, free-standing tub, his and her vanities with lots of counter space, and large closets that are accessible from the bathroom.

“We have the best shower,” Kelly said. “Janis located a large slab of porcelain that is now the focal point in the

The home was incorporated with coastal touches to enhance the water views; shiplap and blue accents compliment the contemporary neutral color palette.

The master bath is large, even by luxury home standards. Highlights include a walk-in shower, free-standing tub, his and her vanities, abundant counter space and closets accessible from the bathroom.

back of the shower. Also, we can stand in our shower and look through our bathroom right through the bedroom and see the water. The view from our bedroom includes the lighthouse and the water. That view never gets old!”

The couple’s favorite spot, though, is the third-floor party area with the room inside that includes a kitchenette and an 85-inch television, with ample and comfortable lounging furniture. Out on the porch, there is a fire table, the pizza oven, and a bar area, all open to the indoors by a passthrough window.

“We just kind of live up there,” Ty said. “The view is amazing. You just can’t get enough.”

Not even Hurricane Matthew or COVID could interrupt this couple’s plans to build their dream home on Daufuskie Island. “We absolutely love everything about our life at Haig Point,” Kelly said. “The seclusion, the access to nature, the views, the beaches, the amenities we have access to, and most of all our neighbors. Hands down, it’s the people here that make this place so wonderful and inviting.” 

DAILY CAFE + MARKET

LONGTIME HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESIDENTS BRING THE DAILY CAFÉ AND MARKET TO LIFE AT SHELTER COVE

HARBOUR & MARINA

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY 2LIGHTS, 1STAND

Longtime Hilton Head Island residents Scott and Michelle Allen have blended their talents to bring the Daily Café and Market to life at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina. The couple sought to design a convenient café and market, featuring creative grab-and-go market items, using locally sourced goods and quality ingredients. They wanted to create a comfortable place to eat, drink and shop on the waterfront at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina.

All of which has come to fruition with the Daily Café, which opened in early March in the Harbourside 3 building (9 Harbourside Lane, Unit A1) next to the Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina stage.

The Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina location is ideal for Allen, who first started on the island in 1982 at Harbourmaster (now ELA’S on the Water) and later opened Scott’s Fish Market, now a pillar of Shelter Cove H&M, which he owned for 35 years. “I’ve probably been in Shelter Cove longer than any other person,” Allen said with a chuckle.

“I’ve been designing restaurants, not only for myself. I’ve helped other people out along the way,” he said. “But I kept some concepts on the back burner. I sold Scott’s Fish Market about seven years ago to the Ross family, who are a great family. They were my best customers. And the reason why I sold it mainly was to get out of working at night. I had worked at night for over 40 years.”

“I didn’t think that, monetarily, just a market and a breakfast place would [be enough],” Allen said. “So, we expanded the concept to one side being a line producing food—sustainable packaging, really fresh ingredients, locally sourced items as much as possible—and the other side both a specialty and a pedestrian type market.”

Healthy breakfast and lunch items, an eclectic array of creative coffees, and a wide-ranging selection of market items are all available for take away, including sandwiches and wraps, soups and salads.

Allen, who studied architecture and art in college, and his equally creative wife designed the entire space. “It was my concept with the help of my wife, Michelle. She’s got an incredible design sense,” he said. “We did all the work ourselves as far as all the color choices. We wanted it to be an industrial type, modern theme rather than like a lot of places that are more Lowcountry design.”

Like its name, the Daily Café’s products and market items are things people enjoy daily with a beautiful waterfront view. Healthy breakfast and lunch items, an eclectic array of creative coffees, and a wide-ranging selection of market items are all available for take away, including sandwiches and wraps, soups and salads.

The Allens also designed the concept around the coffee brand featured at the Daily Café called King Bean, from Charleston, which is one of the top roasters in the state. “It’s a dark roast that we’re using, but it’s a little less bitter. It’s a product that really excels when you’re looking for a cup of coffee,” Allen said.

“We also have a state-of-the-art espresso machine, which we’re doing lattes, cappuccinos, pretty much any kind of coffee drink you like. We’re featuring a product that’s really hot around the country right now, a nitro cold brew,” he said. “You infuse coffee with nitrogen, and it comes out almost like a Guinness Stout—real frothy.”

The Allens want their customers to feel at home as a welcomed neighbor in Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina’s beautiful waterfront community. Inside the Daily Café is seating for 10, and an outside deck seats up to 24.

“We designed most of the space to be to-go,” Allen said. “You can eat inside or on the patio. But you can also go down to the promenade, sit in the rocking chairs, or enjoy on your boat.

“Customers might want to grab a cold beer or wine,” he said. “We have featured two draft beers on tap. Both will

be local beers from this area of South Carolina—Hilton Head, Charleston, Savannah—and we feature a full selection of wines and beers by the glass, by the half bottle, by the full bottle, along with mimosas, Bellinis, a little bit of everything.”

A true, one-stop shop, the Daily Café and Market also carries a wide variety of decorative jewelry and crafts designed by Michelle, as well as other beach-related items such as T-shirts, hats, and sunscreen.

The Daily Café and Market’s hours are currently Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Daily Café and Market is closed on Sunday. They plan to extend their hours into the evening and feature happy hour on food, beer and wine. For information, call (843) 686-2525. Orders may be placed online at dailyhh.com. Follow them on Instagram & Facebook @dailyhhi. 

The Malibu Salad with homemade dressing

The Sun Up Breakfast Sandwhich

The Daily Cafe + Market also carries a wide variety of decorative jewelry and crafts.

ARTICLE BY AMBER HESTER-KUEHN

Project Turtle Watch

ESTABLISHED 1981

The 2023 sea turtle nesting season officially begins on May 1. Hilton Head Beaches have been monitored for sea turtle nesting for over 40 years.

Not many sea turtle nest monitoring programs can claim to have the very first member currently on staff. Her name is Nanci PolkWeckhorst, and she rejoined Sea Turtle Patrol HHI in 2018. I think she would agree that the program has come a long way since 1981 when she rode her bicycle up and down the beach, responding to reports from a few volunteers and members of the community that were trusted to call her when tracks were spotted on the beach.

Nanci Polk was a beautiful 30-year-old, Charleston native, competitive surfer girl, with a degree in marine biology, living on a pristine island with

A tiny loggerhead turtle makes its way to the ocean on Hilton Head Island.

Cross That Off Your Bike-It List

Finishing Well After 17 years of Milestone Rides with Island Bike Adventure Guide Jim “Captain” Hook

It was an easy nickname. He’s Jim Hook, and he’s the captain of the ride, so, Captain Hook it was. Being a captain of a large vacation and tourism bike ride was never part of the plan; he just loved biking, Hilton Head Island, and bringing people together. When he combined all three, magic happened, and a tradition was born that continued for 17 years. This year marked the final “official” organized ride as we look back over almost two decades, there’s no better time to tell the story than “National Bike Month.”

Years ago, Jim Hook floated the idea to a group of fellow “up north” bike friends to head south to ride the trails of Hilton Head Island with him. Over the years, it grew into organizing full-blown travel adventures, working with travel agencies, local vendors, and community leaders, bringing scores of new visitors to the island, many who had never been before, and most of whom have come back time and time again.

Captain Hook was never one for keeping it simple.

Relaxed, yes, but when folks started following him to South Carolina, bikes in tow, Hook started making phone calls handling perks, swag, discounts, and creating memorable experiences around the ride. The more he saw interest grow from his Western Pennsylvania Rails-toTrails riders and friends, the more he paved the way for a whole-island experience, including member benefits from vacation wholesale program Travel Advantage Network (TAN).

2022 was a milestone year and a milestone ride. Hook was turning 80 and challenged his cohorts to an 80-mile ride to commemorate the occasion. And they did.

“We had a number of condos at the Island Beach and Tennis Resort through TAN, who I’ve worked with for 17 years,” Hook said. “Incredible deals with fantastic people who really look after us every year, and that year we had people coming in from all over.

“On Wednesday morning, with the temperature at 38 degrees, Gloria Goller, Gerianne Basile, Jack Young and I left the Island Beach and Tennis Resort with the goal of biking 80+ miles. Jack was just joining to start, for encouragement, and there was a large group waiting to join us at the halfway point. Michelle Sokolosky joined and stayed for the remaining 42 miles.

“The trails had been widened and were wonderful. Still, I took a tumble when I hit a patch of wet leaves but had my own ‘paramedics’ take care of me. We kept rolling to South Beach, then up to the lighthouse, took a few pictures and headed out of Sea Pines, picked up some miles on Pope and then headed home towards the finish line, figuring whatever mileage we needed to make up, we could do around the Folly Field area. I just needed six tenths of a mile as we went back to the path along 278, and I ended up with 80.82 miles.

“Turns out I finished that whole ride with a fractured sternum from the fall I took earlier. But it was okay; it hadn’t entirely separated,” Hook added with a laissez-faire that would be Herculean for those half as young as someone celebrating his eightieth birthday. “We were successful in achieving our goal.”

That goal inspired others to push through with him, like Gloria Goller and Gerianne Eckenrode for whom the 2022 ride was their first trip to Hilton Head. It wasn’t the first time Hook’s trips had played matchmaker in new visitors’ inevitable love stories with the island.

“We started out wanting to bike our ‘years’ too, like Jim,” Goller said of herself and Eckenrode. “At her 66 and my 70, as we hit those miles, we decided we could continue. It was getting dark and cold as we pulled into the enormous golf and arcade parking lot to finish our mileage doing loops. Lights were put up and they were playing music. Gerianne got up to 80 but then wanted to do one better than her sister, so she kept going to 81, and I finished at 82. I couldn’t believe what we were able to do.”

Off the beaten path, they discovered restaurants, shops, beaches and landscapes, and the temperate winters of the Coastal Southeast. “We missed three snowstorms back home while we were on the island,” Goller laughed. “We walked the beaches, shopped Coligny, and oh, the Jazz Corner was fantastic.”

Captain Hook, meanwhile, was captaining the crew’s whole island experience, on and off the bike paths. In addition to organizing the trip altogether, everything from the important things like arranging resort lodging through TAN to small things like driving directions, Hook also made the rounds to Sea Pines’ nearest grocery stores Kroger, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, and of course the Pig (Piggly Wiggly), who all donated reusable bags for the riders in a win-win of swag.

The crew has just finished another annual ride in 2023, but this one Hook said, was the grand finale. It’s gotten so popular that he was doing some heavy lifting as an accidental island tourism ambassador. He’ll continue himself and already has his summer trip planned, but he’s letting the groups he’s pulled here through the years ride on their own while he allows himself to slow down and “enjoy the ride.”

Last year, after his big birthday ride, Hook finished telling the story in the most endearing of comments. “They threw a birthday and congratulations party for me at Reilley’s. Frank Babel [HHI Bicycling Advisory Committee] joined us and gave me a Bike Hilton Head shirt, and the group got me a shirt that says ‘The Captain.’ My wish when I blew out the candle was for more biking adventures on Hilton Head and for more of our friends to be able to join us.”

Wishes have a way of coming true on Hilton Head Island. 

CELEBRATING TOWN STAFF AND THEIR DEVOTION TO PUBLIC SERVICE

Our emergency responses, permit processing, site inspections, community planning, capital projects, and pathway maintenance are fine examples of services the Town of Hilton Head Island provides for the public. Behind these services is a dedicated team of public servants devoted to their careers and working on your behalf. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the quality of life we treasure on our island.

As part of Public Service Recognition Week this month, I am proud to honor our town employees and their tireless efforts to keep our town working like a well-oiled machine. Public Service Recognition Week is celebrated from May 7 through May 13. It is the perfect time to share with you what public employees in government do, why they do it, and how well they do it. The vital work they do positively affects all of us every day.

In this month’s CH2 magazine, the editorial team highlighted some of our team members and their work on our residents’ behalf. They represent our town’s mission to promote the health and vitality of our community through ethical and inclusive programs, policies, and actions. They reflect a wide range of experiences and positions—from Fire Chief Chris Blankenship, who began his career with the Town 21 years ago, to Nicte Barrientos, who joined the town’s Community Development staff last summer. You will enjoy reading about what attracted them to public service. Thank you CH2 for this special feature.

Public servants deserve thanks for working diligently on our

behalf. The Town of Hilton Head Island proudly serves a diverse community of over 40,000 residents and over 3 million annual visitors in all facets of life, work, and recreation. Each day, a workforce of 127 Town Hall staff and 147 Fire Rescue staff come together to ensure the community’s needs are met through municipal service. Public servants are also those who work in roles besides those in government. They include healthcare professionals and others who risk their lives, airport

THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON WANTS YOU!

If you have ever wanted to give of your time and talent to contribute to the decisions of the town, Bluffton Town Council is currently seeking qualified applicants for appointment to its boards, commissions, and committees. This is a perfect time to consider volunteering because many terms will expire in June and there will be several opportunities to serve.

The town is also debuting its newest committee, the Public Art Committee, and Town Council is seeking seven art-centric committee members.

The most immediate need for new appointees exists on the following committees. Please note that some have special criteria:

• The Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee has four vacancies: two vacancies for representatives of the hospitality industry, one vacancy for a representative of a local cultural organization, and one vacancy for a representative of the lodging industry.

• The Affordable Housing Committee has three vacancies: one vacancy for a representative of a community organization (i.e., non-profit or an organization which exists to serve the community), one vacancy for a representative of the banking/mortgage industry, and one vacancy for a Bluffton resident.

• The Beautification Committee has two vacancies; these vacancies are for a town resident, business owner or freeholder (i.e., Bluffton property owner).

The Board of Zoning Appeals has four vacancies; these vacancies are for a town resident, business owner or freeholder (i.e., Bluffton property owner).

A Note from Alan Perry

A Note from Lisa Sulka

Photography by Krisztian Lonyai

workers, laborers, computer technicians, teachers, and countless other occupations. Day in and day out, they provide various services to people with efficiency and integrity. They are the motor of our community. So, while we should thank them daily, Public Service Recognition Week is an opportunity to shout from the rooftops that we genuinely appreciate their incredible work to meet our needs and address our challenges.

Without these public servants at every level, continuity would be impossible in a democracy that regularly changes its leaders and elected officials. I encourage each of you to reach out to public service employees of our town and let them know their dedication and service are noticed and appreciated. 

• The Construction Board of Adjustments & Appeals has two vacancies: one vacancy for an engineer and the second vacancy for an electrical contractor.

• The Historic Preservation Commission has three vacancies: two vacancies for a resident, business owner or property owner in the Historic District and the third vacancy is an at-large position (i.e., Applicant has a demonstrated interest, competency and/or knowledge in historic preservation).

• The Municipal Election Commission has one vacancy for someone who is a resident and is registered to vote in the Town of Bluffton. The Planning Commission has two vacancies for a town resident, property owner (i.e., freeholder) or business owner.

• The Public Art Committee has seven vacancies. Town Council is seeking inaugural committee members. Applicants for this committee can be someone who produces art, sells art, is an art broker or works within the art community. Members of this committee may not submit proposals for consideration during their tenure on the committee and must recuse themselves from any votes or discussion related to projects/donations/submittals with which they have a relationship.

A full list of the town’s boards, commissions, and committees with a detailed description of their qualifications for appointment, duties and responsibilities can be found on the town’s website, townofbluffton.sc.gov. Under the “Government” Tab, click on the Boards, Commissions and Committees page. Descriptions and requirements for each committee that currently has vacancies are also listed. The application is located online within this section.

Applications should be submitted to the acting town clerk, Kerry Guzman at (kguzman@ townofbluffton.com). Alternatively, applications may also be submitted by mailing to the following address: Town Clerk, Town of Bluffton, P.O. Box 386, Bluffton, SC 29910. For more information, please contact Kerry Guzman via email or call (843) 706-4502. 

A Note from Lisa Sulka continued

This & That

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@ch2cb2magazine.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.

SUMMERTIME SECRETS

ARTICLE BY JESSE BLANCO

Just about summertime, now isn’t it? That time of the year when you don’t dare drive to Hilton Head Island on a Saturday afternoon between 2 and 7 p.m. It took me a couple of seasons to learn about summer Saturday traffic patterns here in the Lowcountry. I got burned a couple of times, not realizing what I was getting myself into. All these years later, now I know. Dinner plans on a Saturday on the island? Allow yourself two hours to get there. If you are early, you can pop in somewhere for a beverage. I do it quite often.

What I don’t do nearly as frequently is visit some of the island’s most popular spots to eat during the busy summer season. I don’t need to tell you that they can be an absolute madhouse at the peak dinner hour. Ninety to 120-minute waits are not uncommon. I’ve heard stories of three-hour waits here and there during Fourth of July week.

I’m very happy everyone is doing well, of course. But there is no way I am waiting two-plus hours for a meal I can enjoy three months from now with little to no wait. The locals know. Many have told me they are right there with me. If you want dinner with a water view in the summer on Hilton Head Island, you are going to wait. Period.

All of that said, there are a few places on your side of the Savannah River I have no problem visiting during the summer. There might be a wait, but it’s not a madhouse—not usually anyway. Here are four of them:

FRASER’S TAVERN

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I am a big fan of what they do at the Sea Pines Beach Club as well as the still relatively new Quarterdeck Restaurant at Harbour Town. But given the crowds there during the summer, I find Fraser’s Tavern in the middle of the property to be excellent. I’d put their BBQ up against anyone’s in the county. How good is it? It was already great, but in an effort to make it better, they took a roadie up to Charleston to see how some serious pitmasters do their thing there. Don’t overlook a BBQ lunch or dinner at Fraser’s—free of the crowds.

THE COTTAGE

The Cottage is in Bluffton, and a lot of islanders like to take shots at that. I still don’t understand why. Yes, I know it is a hefty drive to get from the island to Bluffton anymore these days. But I’d rather sit in my car listening to Shalamar in the AC than sit outside a restaurant in the heat. Leslie has been killing it with The Cottage since she opened, and with good reason. The food is great, the desserts just as much. Plus, Old Town makes for a great backdrop.

RUBY LEE’S

I’ve been a huge fan of the spirit of Ruby Lee’s for a decade or so. When I first happened upon them once upon a time, it was my favorite spot on the island. Live music, good food, good service—hard to beat. The attempt to expand to the south end of the island notwithstanding, the original on Old Wild Horse Road is as good as it has ever been. It’s gotten a makeover; it still has an amazing vibe; and you can still get a table during the week without much of a wait. Reservations? Yes, always recommended. Ruby Lee’s remains an island hideaway.

MAMA G’S

Mama G’s Pizza at Moss Creek is just about a year old now. They shot out of a cannon last year with the region’s best pizza. Since then, they’ve had some growing pains, but after my last visit, I am convinced they’ve gotten it under control. It is exceptional pizza and one of the prettier spaces in Bluffton—even if their address says Hilton Head Island. I’ve never understood that, but you know. Can’t argue with the post office.

Do you have any secrets you'd like to share? I am all ears. tips@eatitandlikeit.com.

Fraser’s Plantation Club“Sandwedge” served with french fries and a pickle.

Frasier’s Fried Chicken BLT Salad with buttermilk and herb dressing

David Martin, owner of Hilton Head Island’s Piggly Wiggly grocery store, was announced as the inaugural Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award winner at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry’s annual community meeting. The event took place at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina and was near capacity with over 300 people in attendance.

Community Foundation board chair Jackie Rosswurm, along with Joan and Wade Webster (longtime supporters of the Community Foundation), presented the award to Martin. In his heartfelt speech, Martin referenced the charitable work of his late father Gene.

Martin, who has resided on Hilton Head Island since 1969, has been a giving member of the community for decades. His nomination for the award focused on his important work with Lowcountry Alliance for Healthy Youth (LCAHY).

Martin received a crystal memento along with a $10,000 grant to distribute to nonprofit organization based in the Community Foundation’s four-county service area of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. He chose the following local organizations to receive funds from the grant: Child Abuse Prevention Association of Beaufort (CAPA); Deep Well Project; Hilton Head Island High School Booster Club; LCAHY; Sandalwood Food Pantry; Volunteers in Medicine (VIM); and You Are Not Alone (YANA) Club.

Help us finish Grady Lambert’s run across America. Run 4 Grady will be held June 10 at 8 a.m. on the beach on Hilton Head Island. Join us for a 5K run or a one mile “Celebration of Life” walk to finish Grady’s heroic mission, followed by the after party at 4 p.m. at Captain Woody’s to celebrate Grady’s accomplishment of running across the country on behalf of frontline workers.

The event is family-friendly, open to everyone, entirely on the hard, flat, and beautiful beach. We invite you to run, walk, skip, dance ... however you want to cover the distance. Come enjoy the community and natural environment.

En Dentelle (French for “made of lace”) will be opening its doors May 2023 in the new Bridge Collective shopping district located in historical Old Town Bluffton at 54 Bridge Street. This new luxury lingerie, sleepwear and swimwear boutique is more than just the clothing products they will carry, but a voice and environment for women to carry a reassured self-image and strength unique to each individual.

Dr. Molly Spears, founder/owner of En Dentelle created the brand from the significant feelings of self-confidence gained when she experienced a personal fitting at an out-of-town boutique. Wearing the items she purchased each day cultivated a passion to share the positive service experience she received as well as the feelings she gained with women here in the Lowcountry area.

En Dentelle offers luxury lingerie solutions for all women—from everyday necessities to special occasion items. “Often, as women (mothers, wives, business and working women), we give so much of ourselves to others and find ourselves sharing everything,” Spears said. “Lingerie can empower you. It can inspire confidence and boost self-worth. We’re here to help you find those pieces and set the tone of beauty and confidence in you every day.”

In addition to building a reassured self-image for their clientele, En Dentelle’s further mission is to fight the myths and misunderstandings that have kept lingerie from being as beneficial and appreciated as it could be by a greater audience. Every woman’s body is unique and therefore requires more attention to fit for a bra to not only be supportive but comfortable as well. “At En Dentelle, we will strive to educate customers through a personalized fitting session as to what works best for their unique shape, size, and stage of life,” Spears said.

To this end, Spears has created a business model and message that lingerie is not taboo; in fact, it’s perhaps the most necessary and important type of clothing a woman could wear. “Shopping for a bra should be a positive experience, not a chore,” Spears said.

The perfect fit for you does exist, and En Dentelle can help you find it. For more information, visit endentelle.com.

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All ages and abilities are invited to join in on the community fun! This inclusive event for people with special needs, their families and friends will include paddleboarding, surfing, boogie boarding, a sandcastle building contest, dancing, and more. Adult/caregiver supervision is required for all attendees. Beach is wheelchair accessible. Pre-registration is encouraged at pocketsfullofsun.org.

Pockets Full of Sunshine invites you to join in their annual Fun in the Sun event, June 9 from

a.m. to noon. The event takes place on the beach in front of the Marriott Surf Watch Resort.

SONDHEIM’S COMPANY

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Through May 28th

Sondheim’s groundbreaking modern musical, is a mature, intelligent, and wildly funny look at relationships, vulnerability, and “being alive.” www.artshhi.com/theater-series/company

Restaurant

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BEACH YOGA Sea Pines Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30am Reservations required. $20/person seapines.com/ events

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COLIGNY PLAZA SUMMER MUSIC SERIES Coligny Center Stage

May 27th - Sept 4th, 6:30-8:30pm

Sun., Wed. & Fri. – Jevon Daly

Monday– John Cranford and friends

Tuesday – Kyle Wareham

Thursday – Nick Poulin

Saturday – Mike Kavanaugh

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SALTY

DOG DERBY

12pm