CH2 Magazine: October 2022

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

Mascot in Training

Buoy Conrad Crouch Pritchard

Famous Local Musician

Jevon Daly

The Gatekeepers

Greta Von Bowser

Vincent Von Bowser

The Cut & Paste Crew

Catherine Davies

Aspiring Novelists

Cheryl Ricer

Jesse Blanco

Jevon Daly

Becca Edwards

Linda S. Hopkins

Barry Kaufman

Ellen Linnemann

Paula Magrini

John McCann

Lisa Sulka

Kent Thune

Tim Wood

Lighting Experts

J.Baganz Photography

Keylan Hanna Photography

Krisztian Lonyai

Two Lights One Stand Photography

Find Us Here

PO Box 22949

Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 843.816.6247

maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com

Are You a White Rabbit?

There is an ongoing conversation in this office about tardiness. Are there certain people in your life who are always keeping you waiting? Or are you the person who is constantly running to get from point A to B on time?

As a Type A person, I find it extremely disrespectful of my time when someone consistently fails to arrive on time. I know things happen (traffic, unexpected phone calls, etc.) and we can’t control every eventuality, but it does seem to me that it is the same people making me wait. As I’m waiting impatiently, I have time to think about what it is that makes them tardy:

Do they think they can do things faster than everyone else? (God Complex?)

Do they not have a watch? (Maybe I should buy them one for their next birthday.)

Are they not in control of their own transportation? (I’m not buying them a car.)

Are they so self-involved that they have absolutely no concept of the inconvenience they are causing others. (Why is this person allowed in my life again?)

They’ve never had to suffer any consequences from frequently making others wait. (Hmmmm.)

I’m putting this out in the universe because I am genuinely curious. So, please write to me and share your thoughts, whether you are the tardy one or the one who is irritated by being inconvenienced.

My friend Julie and I were discussing this, and she said, “I think people who are always late just don’t have much going

MAGGIE WASHO play

EDITOR'S NOTE OCTOBER

on in their lives. If I was late, my kids would be late to their appointments and school, my husband would be late to his job, the dog wouldn’t get let out on time … so I can’t be late. Because if I am, everything spirals.”

Now that I’ve gotten those deep thoughts off my chest, let’s talk about how this is the best issue of the year. It’s dedicated to Arts + Music, with musical features on the Horan Brothers, Connor Hollifield and Emanuel Ayvas. Becca Edwards dives into how music can affect our mood (page 55). Susan Ballard shares the story of how COVID made her an accidental artist.

We kick off the issue with a fashion spread photographed in Savannah, featuring some of our favorite local boutiques and their new fall fashions. I know technically you aren’t supposed to wear white after Labor Day, but I love this dress by Kelly Caron Curated so much, I’m breaking all the rules.

The October issue is also the second of two big “home” special sections, and we went all out with not one, not two, but three big house features in Palmetto Dunes and Palmetto Bluff.

Enjoy my most favorite month, full of fall festivals and pumpkin spice lattes.

Liverpool White Button-Up Blouse $75, Isle by Melis

Kozan Sweater Vest $125, Liverpool Denim $95, Chocolat Blu Tan Suede Mules $185, Hobo

Crossbody $158

Available at Palmettoes

Hutch Dress $318, Personal Heels Available at Copper Penny

Elan Romper $120, Agabhumi Leather Crossbody, the Traveler $198, Tagua Necklace, Made From Recycled Coconuts $48, Tagua Earrings $28, Tagua Bracelet $24, Sperry Shoes $100

Available at Maggie & Me

Mustard Seed Dress $48.95, Blue B Collection Shacket $54.95, Arider Girl Bootie $58

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Joseph Ribkoff Dress $196, ShoreShapers

Inc. Freshwater, Pearl Necklace $110, CC + Co. Pearl Earring $98

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Southern Tide Dress $118

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LYRICAL LOVEBLOOMSANEW FOR

ARTICLE BY TIM WOOD

PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2 LIGHTS, 1 STAND

Everyone loves a white wedding. We all want to believe in everlasting love. Marriage was a lifetime promise in the not-so-distant past. Newer generations treat the concept like an impulse Amazon buy, a bond as disposable as a trending TikTok video. Yet there is something to be said for a second marriage. Just ask Connor Hollifield, who has emerged rejuvenated three years after a harmonic breakup—the love story his teenage heart thought was The One—to front the trio Hollifeld alongside drummer Drew Lewis and bassist Tommy Merritt.

The Hilton Head Island native made a 2011 love connection with SondorBlue, a foursome of musically gifted childhood friends who toured nationally and have amassed 1.6 million Spotify plays of their song “The Moon and You.”

“I’m fortunate in that I have nothing but love for my first ‘wife,’” Hollifield said, humoring my analogy. “There were lessons learned, both good and bad, but great memories. You see what can be, but you also see that you’re not meant to achieve it in that particular mix and relationship.”

Connor Hollifield, Drew Lewis and Tommy Merritt are photographed in one of Connor’s favorite “secret spots” on Hilton Head Island.

SondorBlue was born out of a pickup hoops game and an exchange of YouTube video demos between Hollifield and eventual front man Andrew Halley. John Sheehan joined on keyboard, guitar and vocals in 2012. Lewis, a longtime Hollifield friend since their fifth grade days riffing together at Central Church, joined in 2015 and helped solidify the band’s Charleston live-show cred. Next came a 2016 EP debut, “The Realometer,” a four-pack of indie earworms that galvanized their up-and-comer buzz on the Chucktown scene.

The group would play three-hour shows, mixing their New Bohemian originals in with a steady diet of covers from faves like Dylan, Oasis, The Beatles, Alabama Shakes, Coldplay, and U2. Their sound also connected outside the Charleston fan bubble, but an 18-month stretch of endless touring dates and a bit too much of each other’s company led to creative burnout. By 2019, a break led to a permanent decoupling.

“On the road, it’s a lot of each other. Plenty of fun but if you’re not communicating right, it can go sideways. We’re in Pennsylvania in a van with three other guys, hungry, homesick, all with 10 percent of a fever,” Hollifield said. “The thrill was gone. I’m just glad we could recognize that and find an amicable endpoint.”

Halley launched a solo career under the moniker JD Moon, complete with an album drop in late 2019. For his part, Hollifield got custody of the van/mobile studio, The Silver Surfer, and a creative lyrical itch that needed scratching. He and Lewis played sampling gigs with other bands, and Hollifield played plenty of solo shows, both around the island pre-pandemic and in Zoom acoustic sets from his family’s island living room during the early days of COVID.

“I got to hand it to my friend Jevon Daly; he really showed me how to make those performances fun and how to create a whole new connection with fans,” Hollifield said. “Still, when we could finally play live gigs again, it was just an incredible gift. It’s just a whole other level of bonding through the performance.”

Hollifield honed his front man skills in the solo gigs, but he missed the collaborative energy of meshing with a band.

Enter Lewis, the connective tissue—spiritually and literally, according to his mates. He played the role of the friend that, after an adequate breakup mourning period, pushes you back into the dating scene through an awkward arranged meetup.

Lewis and Merritt went to USC together—lived three doors down from each other in the Maxcy dormitory.

“I left my door open a lot to get to know people. I had my drums, and I’d see Tommy walking by with his guitar,” Lewis said. “We just got talking and realized we were on the same wavelength. And the music was vibing.”

This wouldn’t be a complete musical blind date. Merritt had played with SondorBlue at Delaware’s Firefly Music Festival in 2017.

“When Drew brought up Tommy, it was like an ‘Oh, yeah!’ moment. I remembered he came along on the trip and played bass, and it all just felt easy—a real brotherly connection there,” Hollifield said.

At first, it was just a new clique of friends hanging out, jamming and talking music with longtime friend and sound guru John Brewster.

“I played them ‘Call Your Friends’ and ‘Mr. Morning Man,’ two songs I wrote during COVID, and it was crazy how much

Hollifield honed his front man skills in the solo gigs, but he missed the collaborative energy of meshing with a band.

Connor Hollifield enjoys a cocktail at Kind of Blue.

Drew and Tommy elevated the songwriting process with their creativity and their ability,” Hollifield said. “I’d played them acoustically on Zoom, but their spice, it just took what it could be to a whole next level.”

Before long, the comfort level of the get togethers made the three think there was something more official coming.

“I mean, when it works, it works,” Merritt said. “We started adding to these songs, it sparked new ideas, and now we’ve got this love child of the three of us. It’s like when you’re with a new lover, and one day, you look at each other and say, ‘Hey, we should do more of this.’”

The kick in the pants to put a label on the relationship came in midOctober 2021, when longtime band friends The Brook and the Bluff called and

asked them to be their opening act at The Pour House, a famed Charleston venue.

After a couple of quiet shows around town, the group hit the stage on Oct. 28, 2001.

“We needed a name. We’re always playing around with names. Just today, we were thinking Laundry Boyz, gotta go all in with the ‘z’ there,” said Merritt, who mixed jokes with deep thought zingers throughout the interview.

“It was going to inflate Connor’s head, but really, Hollifield just has a flavor, a spice to it.”

Lewis said the moment the crew hit their first notes, it felt like a moment right out of a movie script.

“It’s a lot of different emotions—fear, thrill, the adrenaline kicking in—but you want that acceptance; you dread that rejection. Brook and the Bluff sold the place out. We’re staring at 500 people. It’s surreal that first moment when you throw an original out there,” Lewis said. “You’re playing, but it’s a zone. It’s almost silence because you’re waiting to see if the audience is vibing on it. Then we see people smiling, moving, enjoying. Then it’s just on. We could have played all night if they let us.”

Since that first show, each of the trio said finding the groove at gigs and sessions has often felt effortless.

Drew Lewis, Hollifield’s drummer.

“Brewster had this insight into a routine being so important. It’s so amazing how we each get recharged in different ways,” Hollifield said. “We orient our schedule around the things that recharge us, and it makes our sessions so much stronger.”

Hollifield is a surfer—calls his early morning time on Folly Beach his meditation on the water. Golf is also a passion (he says if he was officially rated, he’d be a 12-ish handicap). Drew is a reader and an experienced collector of all things art. His chill time is hanging with his girlfriend and their pets: Yorkie, Chance, his really old cat, Lady, and their new kitten, Ringo. Merritt is a boogie boarder and loves to bike ride and soak in people connections at coffee shops along his rides.

The result for Hollifield has, thus far, been a more mature partnership. “I think our superpower is our communication. That’s something that, just being young and macho, we didn’t do enough in my past music life,” he said. “We’re not afraid to talk about our feelings; that’s important. It leads us to a comfort level where we can bring a half-finished song to the table and just vibe it into a full-grown sound we love playing.”

The evolution comes across in the music. A since-deleted yet telling Reddit comment described SonderBlue’s harmonies as “Hanson trying desperately to sound grown up.” Hollifield fans say there are dashes of Van Morrison, some classic rock, some scratchy antisinging, experimental rocker touches on an Alex G tip. Sure, there are the expected chords that signal indie but with a more layered and thoughtful composition and yes, an authentic maturity.

The band, each now on the other side of 25 and inching toward 30, is happy their fans can’t fully peg them to a genre. There are plenty of influences, The Beatles and Dylan being the gold standard, but they see themselves as constantly in the laboratory.

“Just come to a show; it will answer all your questions,” Merritt said.

The gigs have been steady across the Lowcountry, including opening for island fave Pretty Darn in their July Savannah breakthrough show at District Live, an outgrowth of Connor’s friendship and unofficial island gig fill-in status with Nick Poulin. The band played Black Marlin on Sept. 9 and recorded a live session with Ohm Radio in Charleston that dropped in late September. Up next is recording their premiere album in October. One of the upcoming originals is “Fishcamp” named for a particularly momentous night at the Broad Creek eatery.

“There are trajectory points for sure, but that gelatinous cube we need to break through is definitely the record,” Hollifield said. “I just know we’re riding our best material now, and that’s a blessing.”

There are some definitive milestones Lewis sees ahead as well, like touring in Atlanta, Charlotte, and New York City. “That video-game boss level moment is probably playing The Music Farm in Charleston. That’s like planting a flag in the ground, like, “Yeah, we’re here,’” he said.

Merritt is less about the goals and more about the feeling. “I mean, I just like hanging with these guys, and some rewarding sounds are coming out of it,” he said. “You know, Drew’s the chocolate; Connor and me, I guess we’re the peanut butter. I just stay out of the way mostly. I’m yet to be bored by them or by playing with them, and I like that.” 

Tommy Merritt, bass guitar.

THE LINEUP: Tim Horan, Mark “Crash” Weikinger, Patrick Judd, Jeff Rigg, and Tate Caron S

THE LOWCOUNTRY’S MOST ACCLAIMED PACK OF MISFITS AND PARTY ANIMALS READIES FOR THEIR SHOT AT THE SMALL SCREEN ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2 LIGHTS, 1 STAND

Sonny and Cher solving mysteries with the Scooby Doo Gang. The Beatles saving Pepperland in Yellow Submarine. Green Day rocking Springfield (before tragically dying in a barge accident) in The Simpsons Movie Rock and animation have gone hand-in-hand for years. Whether it’s Kiss stopping by Family Guy or David Bowie ruling Atlantis in SpongeBob SquarePants, the over-the-top world of toons has always offered new territory for musical acts looking to try something outside the stage.

The Horan Brothers are no different. “We always want to tell a story with the songs, so we want to try and tell a story with the cartoon,” said keyboardist Jeff Rigg.

Right now, the plans for an official Horan Brothers cartoon exist in fragments—sketches and character models created by the artist who also does the band’s posters and coloring books. That’s right, coloring books. If anything, the cartoon will only serve as the extension of a band and a brand that is unabashedly all ages.

The cartoon currently also exists in rough storyboards in the band’s collective mind. The first episode, for example, will be called teamwork. It will be loosely based on a gig the band played on Daufuskie Island, where one of their trucks broke down and the only other truck happened to be already filled with oyster shells. It was their combined efforts alone that kept the whole affair from being a disaster.

“We barely made it back,” said Tate Caron. “But we said, ‘Well, there’s the first episode.’”

Horan Brothers

“And we’ll always end up playing a song at the end, like the Monkees,” added Tim Horan. As the only Horan in the Horan Brothers, Tim serves as the de facto leader of this motley crew. But he’ll be the first to tell you that the name isn’t everything.

“We’re not brothers. It’s more like a fraternity,” he said. “If you get up and sign or play with us, you’re in for life. And you get a card and can cut the keg line.”

DRAWN TOGETHER

Before they were the Horan Brothers, they were just a group of guys who were pretty good with their hands. “I work construction, Jeff does pools, we have landscapers; we can play you a song or build you a house,” Horan said.

It was through this small world of construction professionals that Horan first met Rigg, and while each was aware that that other could play, their plans to play together remained an idle threat for years. It wasn’t until Tate Caron crossed Horan’s transom that the idea for a band first took root.

“This kid comes over to my house to play, and I have a room with 13 guitars in it,” Horan said. “I started playing this piece that would require another guy to play harmony, and he just jumped right into it.”

In short, they clicked. As did every other Horan Brother who came on board (drummer Patrick Judd sealed the deal when he brought beer to his first rehearsal).

“The personality has to click,” Caron said. “It’s as much music ability as getting along, and we do all get along very well.”

That much should be obvious to anyone who has been lucky enough to catch the Horan Brothers at their legendary Daufuskie Island shows or their regular appearances at Cheap Seats 2. Across a playlist of rock classics, the band puts on a freeform sonic spectacular that gives each member a chance to show off their own brand of stagecraft.

“We all break out in our own way, like how these guys will let me come up and sing,” Judd said. “Everyone will say, ‘Wait, isn’t he the drummer?’”

“These guys let me cut the fool. I do a bunch of stupid dog tricks like playing behind my head,” Horan said. “We always try to entertain people. Anyone can go out there and play music.”

BEYOND THE MUSIC

Maybe anyone can go out there and play, but few can do it with the panache of The Horan Brothers. Beyond the pure musicianship each brings to the table, there’s the collective setlist that their shows run through.

“It’s hard to put your thumb on it,” Caron said. “It runs the gamut.

From Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones to newer, well, “newer” stuff like Pearl Jam, a show with the Horan Brothers never strays too far from classic rock. It’s a musical forte that will inform the band’s first album of originals, which is currently underway. As of this writing, there are five tracks in the can that will give listeners a new take on the classics that have made the Horan Brothers such a popular party band.

“We play everything you ever heard from your childhood,” Caron added.

So, in that respect, a cartoon makes perfect sense. The Horan Brothers are bringing the sound of their childhood to a new generation, one that gets to see great live music while doodling on the band’s official coloring book, then catching up on their latest adventures on TV.

Not bad for a bunch of guys and their side hustle band.

“We’re not trying to make it. We already have,” Horan said. 

ARTICLE BY BECCA EDWARDS

POWER THE OF MUSIC

Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” crescendos and you find yourself getting lost. Simultaneously, fingers and head start to snap in keeping with the beat. You feel compelled to rap and, out of nowhere, you start singing lyrics you did not even know you knew.

Next up, Ramin Djawadi’s “Game of Thrones Theme”

Title is playing. Suddenly, you can wield a sword, speak with a British accent and, dare say, summon dragons.

Then a smooth transition into Marvin Gaye’s song “Let’s Get It On.” You hear, “I’ve been really tryin’, baby. Tryin’ to hold back this feeling for so long. And if you feel like I feel, baby. Then, c’mon, oh, c’mon,” and, lo and behold, the person next to you starts looking appealing.

Undoubtedly, music has the power to affect moods. Psychology Today writes, “Music has the ability to evoke powerful emotional responses such as chills and thrills in listeners.”

“When I am making the kids’ lunches in the morning, I play frantic music. Louis Cole. Van Halen. It’s what I’m doing, and it gets them up,” said local musician Jevon Daly.

If you are a parent, or ever needed to rouse the teenage quasi-dead, you get what Daly is saying. I have been known to ask Alexa to play Rebecca Black’s annoying song “Friday” or The Bangles’ classic “Manic Monday” to get a little traction

Local SCAD professor and musician, Maggie Evans, plays to a crowd of people.

Q

to start the day with my three girls.

Scientifically, we know music can neurologically help us produce “happy hormones” like dopamine and, cardiovascular-wise, influence heart rate. Personally, Maggie Evans knows music can heal.

On April 14, 2022, while out cycling on her daily training route, Evans was hit from behind by a truck. She was going about 20 miles per hour. The truck was going around 60 miles per hour. Upon impact, Evans was launched 138 feet and landed in a marshy area off the side of the road. She had two broken cervical vertebrae, several broken thoracic vertebrae (one of which was severely ruptured, just millimeters away from leaving her with permanent

damage or paralysis), a broken collarbone, sternum and pubic bone, and a fractured hip and foot. Her ribs were mangled and lacerated her liver, punctured her diaphragm and tore one of her lungs. She had also lost a significant amount of blood.

“Given the level of trauma, doctors and surgeons were not expecting me to survive,” Evans said. But Evans is a high performing cyclist and musician. “It is no accident that both disciplines use the word ‘performance,’” she said. “The adrenalin of racing is similar to the adrenalin of a concert, and riding in a group of cyclists who are working together has the same unspoken interactions, body language and flow that playing with other musicians can have. Both disciplines require putting in a lot of work—training or practicing—but when it is time to perform, you have to almost turn off your brain, trust that you have put in the work, and react intuitively to what is happening around you in the moment. Both require a combination of preparation and improvisation.”

Throughout her recovery from her cycling accident, music has played a role. When Evans was intubated and not yet deemed stable, her husband Jackson Evans and good friend Howard Paul took turns sitting with her. “They both noticed a difference in my behavior when they played guitar for me. Even though I was not conscious, apparently when they stopped playing, I would become more agitated and would immediately calm down when they resumed.

Friend and fellow band mate, Howard Paul, plays guitar for an unconscious Evans after a horrific biking accident.

Q

Sterlin Colvin gets the audience going on a busy night at Kind of Blue, a new nightclub on the south end of Hilton Head Island.

Q

“Music has served as a bit of an escape throughout the healing process,” Evans continued. “Just listening to music can be so soothing and comforting. Playing is more difficult, but each time I have tried playing bass, I have been surprised how much I can do, and it brings a small sense of normalcy. After struggling through so much therapy, stressful uncertainty, and extreme limitations, just playing a song and singing something easy provides a temporary break from the stress of feeling trapped in my current condition.”

Kind of Blue owner and longtime entertainer Sterlin Colvin has also turned to music for healing. “Music has always been an escape for me,” he said. “Not always being the most socially accepted, music was a way to make people feel better about me and about themselves. As an entertainer, I can transform someone’s worst day at home or at work into a positive. Music is a language everyone can understand.”

When his father died of cancer at age 56, Colvin was 20 years old. “As a young man, I had so many unanswered questions for my dad. Music was my whole. My everything. My church. My friend. My blanket. I listened to everything from George Duke to the Pockets from Baltimore.”

Music has been instrumental for Daly, too. “When I was going through my divorce, I was sad for my family—the disintegration of our family. I would play ‘Rainy Days and Mondays’ a lot. It forced me to go through the emotions.”

Growing up in a musical family, Daly recalls his parents dueling out music genres. “My mom controlled the music in the living room and kitchen. She played Lenny Kravitz, Blondie, and Heart. My father had the bedroom. He played The Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers.”

It was this eclectic confluence of genres that helped Daly become the versatile performer (he is in five very different bands) and songwriter he is today. “Certain instruments played a certain way lend themselves to certain moods. When I play ‘The Island is Asleep,’ everyone goes quiet.”

In accord with Daly, Evans said, “I think music really taps into an elemental, subconscious part of our being. The patterns, repetition and sonic frequencies merge to create something intangible, hard to articulate, and absolutely essential to being human. It’s also such an amazing shared experience, between musicians and between musicians and audience.” 

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

Jevon Daly makes lunch for his children whilst torturing them with loud music only old dads listen to.

“The Transformation Power” BY EMANUEL

Recently, I was tagged on Facebook (something viewed by many on the social platform as a “not cool” thing to do). It was a video, and I immediately thought to myself, “I’ve probably already seen this.” I was wrong in a big way.

I watched the video a lot that day and the following day and showed it to Maggie (your faithful editor here at C2 magazine), and she loved it. A few months later, she asked if I would write an article about the video for the song, “The Transformation Power,” by Emanuel Ayvas. So, what I want you to do right now is go find this video on YouTube and watch it before you continue reading. You can search YouTube for “The Transformation Power” or go directly there: https://youtu.be/ AiainZAs4Ck.

When Emanuel and his friend Liz Hanley got together and wrote the song “The Transformation Power,” they knew right away they hit on something special.

This is the world we live in now. On social media, you can converse with famous people if you get lucky, and you can also discover wonderful art, almost by accident. A friend of mine, Joey Naples, tagged me, and so I sent a message to Emanuel. I had no idea we would later be talking about pole vaulting (Emanuel was a track athlete at UNC Chapel Hill.) or the punk rock band the Dead Kennedys and skateboarding, something we both did in our younger days.

I caught up with him on the phone while he was on a trip in Mexico City. He spoke some Spanish as he finished ordering from a waitress where he was staying. I turned on my recorder (something all good writers do when interviewing), and away we went.

Emanuel grew up in a conservative, hard-working Greek family in New York City. His father and grandfather were both musicians and performed two to three days a week throughout Emanuel’s formative years as a kid. He remembers playing his first gig with them on the drums at age 11 “learning the way of the gigging guy.” The music wasn’t easy rock or show tunes either. Songs made up of fives and sevens are normal in the type of traditional music his family played. It wasn’t until later in life that Emanuel got into Nirvana and the punk rock music of the ’80s and ’90s.

“I wasn’t exposed to a lot of modern music as a kid,” Emanuel said. “My parents threw my first CD in the trash!” he said.

He played piano as a child. Chopin and Beethoven created a foundation for his later forays into original music and his touring band Emanuel and the Fear. (Check them out on YouTube or anywhere you listen to music.) “I’m definitely a music nerd,” he said.

When Emanuel and his friend Liz Hanley got together and wrote the song “The Transformation Power,” they knew right away they hit on something special. Emanuel played all the instruments except violin and made the recording in his room. The message is pretty simple: Maybe instead of arguing with

The message is pretty simple: Maybe instead of arguing with people, especially family, we should just listen.

people, especially family, we should just listen.

He reminded me in our conversation that many of us put all our energy into things that alienate and separate us. “Whatever people are upset about has nothing to do with their family members. The world is changing a lot, and I guess that’s scary for everyone,” he said, laughing.

“We need the transformation power” is the song’s answer. In his track suit from UNC, Emanuel and Hanley dance and sing in a DIY video that will make even the grouchiest smile.

We can all relate to the first verse in this song about family get-togethers and the yelling that happens sometimes (or every time). Nowadays, in the current social climate, brothers and mothers aren’t speaking to each other. In fact, many of Emanuel’s family members called him after watching the video and thanked him. Somehow he has managed to put into words how upset he is over this ‘new normal.’

“Everyone has family members who have a different political opinion than their own. Maybe we should be quiet and listen,” Emanuel suggested.

He was also surprised by some of the feedback he got from friends who didn’t like it. “I’m right, you’re wrong” is not the solution Emanuel envisions.

These days, Emanuel spends a lot of time writing. Whether it is for fun (he is releasing a song every week this year) or when he is “getting his hustle on,” music is this man’s life. (He also runs a music school.) And as busy as he gets with the “work” part of music, he always makes sure he can write his own music. A true artist always makes time to create. So, turn off your television and go do something you haven’t done since you were a kid. Go create something. Just for fun.

“We’ve had the television on for too long.” 

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIGHTS, FUELS CREATIVE

An Accidental Artist

WWhen the pandemic hit and we were facing lockdown, Susan Ballard did what most of us did: she moved from the bed to the couch and back again, bingewatching television until there was nothing left to watch. “There were only so many episodes of Schitt’s Creek,” she said. “I knew it was time to get out of bed and do something.”

Ballard and her husband Tommy decided to leave their residence in Charlotte and come to their home on Hilton Head Island for a respite in the sunshine. On one of their outings to Bluffton, they ventured into the Red Piano Gallery where Susan was inspired by a floral painting that had bits of ripped paper incorporated in it, lending a wonderful texture to the piece.

Ballard has always been creative, making collages, decoupaging, and creating 3D art using found objects. She also discovered ATC’s (Artist Trading Cards) collages made on paper the size

Susan Ballard poses in her working studio space in BO ART, located on Hilton Head Island.

of playing cards. When she saw that piece in Bluffton, she thought, “I’d like to try that.”

As soon as she got back to Charlotte, Ballard bought some paint, brushes and canvases and just went for it. “As far as an art education, I had none,” she said. “I had no style to speak of, I didn’t even know how to begin. I’d just paint and paint, then get frustrated because nothing was very good. I didn’t know how to make it better.”

It was then that Ballard turned to—of all things—Instagram for answers. She searched for artists and inspiration, and slowly she found artists she liked. She started following several of them and attempted to make her own version of their art. Knowing she couldn’t simply copy what they were painting and do it like them, she had to find her own style.

“My very first floral painting wasn’t much of a painting,” Ballard said. “Instead of paint, I used markers and glitter pens. The flowers and stems were geometric shapes. You could tell they were meant to be flowers, but because I’d never actually painted a flower before, I made them very abstract.”

She started posting her paintings on her own Instagram page, and people started responding with comments praising her work. Soon they began asking if any of it was for sale. She admits she had no idea what to tell them or what to charge. She didn’t even believe her paintings worthy to be purchased, although naturally, it increased her confidence when others liked her work.

She didn’t feel like an “artist,” so she enrolled in an online course called “Path to Abstraction,” offered by artist Pat Butynski. The course taught Ballard how to look at a white canvas and begin by “just getting some paint on the canvas.”

“It was so liberating,” Ballard explained, “because I learned that I didn’t have to know how the painting would end up. I just chose colors I liked. Then we would make marks around the canvas—initially only in black and white. Then we’d add some color and make more marks on top of that. We continued building layers of paint and marks. It was all about freedom and playing with the paint. I also learned I didn’t need to get frustrated or discouraged if it wasn’t very good. Pat would always say, ‘It’s just paint!’ I managed to save a lot of canvases by painting over what I didn’t like.”

For the longest time, Ballard would look at her work and think it was finished. A day or two later, she’d look again and realize something wasn’t quite right. She’d return to the piece and paint over the parts she didn’t like. Inevitably, the revision was better than the previous “finished” piece.

Unlike artists who only paint landscapes, florals, or portraits, Ballard found that she became bored painting the same thing all the time. That’s when she started painting abstracts and

Journals and keepsake boxes on display in Ballard’s tent. b b

Customers chat with Ballard about her artwork at the Tuesday morning Farmers Market in Sea Pines Center.

playing with a variety of mediums beyond acrylics. She experimented with watercolor, oil pastels, and India ink. She also started adding collage and tissue paper as the first layer of her painting.

In 2020, Ballard sold a lot of what she painted through her Instagram account, and everything grew from there. Every morning after her coffee, she’d go into her art space to paint. It became her obsession. Through the Instagram course, she learned about value, how to use light and dark colors, and different shades of color to make the painting interesting. She learned it was important to make a person’s eye travel around the painting as well, and Butynski became a mentor she still relies on today.

“Now I’m painting like I want to paint,” Ballard said. “I’m not copying anyone else. It’s all instinctual and coming from me.”

Ballard learned that the Shain Gallery in Charlotte was having an open call for submissions to the Up and Coming Charlotte Artist Show. She submitted her work, was accepted, and even sold one of her pieces. With bolstered confidence, this accidental artist began submitting her work to more shows. Soon she entered Art Party 2021, her first juried art show in Rock Hill, South Carolina. This meant her work would be judged by professional artists and prizes for the top three submissions would be awarded. She submitted three pieces, and all were accepted.

After the exhibition, the Ballards went to Rock Hill to attend the awards party where Susan introduced herself to a man who looked as though he was in charge.

“He seemed a little overly friendly and happy that we were there,” Ballard said, “and though we were a bit late—everyone else was seated and had already eaten— he managed to find us a table up front. We watched a performance artist and then it was time for the awards. He announced third place, but the winner wasn’t there, and the same with second place.”

When the emcee announced that he was afraid the first-place artist was also going to be a no-show, Susan and Tommy looked at each other in complete surprise and shock. They realized he was talking about her.

Ballard’s winning piece was an 8x10 “doodle”—a small abstract she made using paint markers and pens. She admitted that she really wasn’t thinking about it while she made it. “I was just playing,” she said. She was awarded $1,500 dollars for that little doodle. Her advice to anyone who wants to make art is to remember to play and have fun.

“Making art should not be frustrating” Ballard advised. “Just like my online teacher said, ‘If you don’t like it, paint over it.’ And maintain your sense of play. I never know how anything I start will end up. I encourage everyone to add some texture—to add depth—and make your paintings more visually stimulating.”

To see Ballard’s work in person, you can find her each Tuesday at the Farmers & Makers Market at The Shops at Sea Pines Center, as well as the Art Market the First Thursdays Art Market, also at The Shops at Sea Pines Center. Her studio is available to visit by appointment. For more information, email Ballard at spbm59@gmail.com or find her on Instagram @ballardesign. 

Upcycled Fashion

Apart from being somewhat sexist, Mark Twain’s idiomatic expression the “clothes make the man” is fashioned in truth: People are often judged according to the way they are dressed.

“We’re raised to not judge a book by its cover,” began Susan Rafetto of Peace by Piece Boutique, “but we do. What we choose to wear tells the story of what is inside of our book. It allows others to kind of see the narrative of our personal story.”

Rafetto says she has always expressed her own style, whether it was as a rebellious youth wearing black leather pants to church or standing out in high school, mixing and matching a variety of styles. “I almost got best dressed in high school but lost out to a girl on student council. It was rigged,” Rafetto joked.

Agreeing with Rafetto, “slow fashion” designer Gioia Di Bartolomeo said, “Fashion is the face you show to the world.” Di Bartolomeo, too, was drawn

Susan Rafetto (and pup Cooper), surrounded by a few of her newly completed pieces.

to self-expression through clothing, as well as to craftsmanship, at an early age. “I was home schooled all the way through to college using the Waldorf method. I learned silk making, embroidery, wood carving. Crafts were part of the curriculum. To activate creativity, we started the day with singing.”

Equally influential, Di Bartolomeo’s grandmother was a skilled embroiderer. “She would make the most intricate doilies.” After Di Bartolomeo graduated from college, she studied under a clothing designer in Varenna, Italy and learned more about the clothing industry.

Both Rafetto and Di Bartolomeo have worked hard to get to where there are now. Putting countless hours into their wearable art has not been easy or financially as comfortable as their clothes. And yet both knew, at some point in their lives, they needed to go all in and pursue a career in sustainable fashion.

“When I was younger, I did not think it was possible to do this. I thought I had to go to fashion school, apprentice and then work for a big company. But I knew I needed to work for myself,” Di Bartolomeo said.

“I always had a full-time job to support my art,” said Rafetto, who also paints custom pet portraits as well as her upcycled garments and accessories. But on the day of the Uvalde shooting, she began questioning her impact in the world. Rafetto had already experienced an emotional day at work, and she found herself asking, “Who am I? Who am I really making happy?”

And then there were the environmental ramifications. The negative impact fast fashion retailers like SHEIN and H&M are having on our environment and certain populations is something Rafetto and Di Bartolomeo literally wear on their sleeve.

“Fast fashion is so unregulated,” Rafetto said. “H&M can make as many black T-shirts with a pocket as they want, and if they don’t sell the shirts, they go to a landfill or into a fire.”

In addition to environmental concerns, for personal reasons, Rafetto and Di Bartolomeo are committed to upcycled fashion. For Rafetto, after a series of signs, she realized she was meant to help people. She has transformed several meaningful garments into lifetime pieces and has started offering the Take Five Fashion Show (a concept she is pitching to HGTV).

“Take Five Fashion Show is an intimate gathering where you shop your

Gioia Di Bartolomeo sits in her design studio on Hilton Head Island.

Di Bartolomeo’s sketches from summer 2022.

own closet, give me five items of clothing, trust me to recreate, and then sit back and be surprised at your personal fashion show,” Rafetto explained.

For Di Bartolomeo, it is about preserving craftsmanship and investing in yourself. “The fashion industry sometimes reminds me of people swiping right on Tender and just moving on to the next thing. We should be investing in pieces that last a long time and are humane in origin and not made in a sweat shop,” she said. “I understand money can be a concern for people, but you do not want a watered down uniform of what everyone else is doing. When you home in on your personal style, you are far less influenced by what other people are doing and promote your own individuality instead.”

So how can you try your hand in upcycled fashion? “Learn your sewing machine and learn your stitches on your sewing machine. The rest will come,” Rafetto said. “And, even though they say measure twice and cut once, I often end up doing the opposite.”

Di Bartolomeo concurs. “I started with a Brother CS70001. Get to know the different types of techniques and the different types of textiles. A beginner can start with cotton and then progress to silks and knits to learn about the right needle and the right thread so the fabric will not snag, bunch or be difficult,” she said. “You can also begin by making pants into shorts and maxi dresses into minis.”

Find Rafetto at the Martin Family Park on Wednesdays, the Sea Pines Farmers Market on Thursdays and online at peacebypieceboutique.com; follow her on Instagram @susanpeacebypiece. Find Di Bartolomeo at revibedvintage.com or follow her on Instagram @gioia_ dibartolomeo. 

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

Environmental Facts:

• The fashion industry accounts for up to 10 percent of global carbon dioxide output.

• 20 percent of global industrial water pollution can be tied to garment manufacturing.

• It takes approximately 1,800 gallons of water to grow enough cotton to produce just one pair of jeans.

• It takes 715 gallons of water to produce the cotton needed for one T-shirt.

• Around 20 percent of industrial wastewater pollution worldwide originates from the fashion industry.

• Approximately 60 percent of all materials used by the fashion industry are made from plastic.

• Garments made from polyester and other synthetic fibers are a prime source of microplastic pollution, which is especially harmful to marine life.

• The U.S. produces 11.3 million tons of textile waste each year. (That’s around 2,150 pieces of clothing per second.)

• Of the total fiber input used for clothing, 87 percent is incinerated or disposed of in a landfill.

RIVER ROAD REVERIE sanctuary at the Bluff

Article By Paula Magrini . Photography by Keylan Hanna

RIVER ROAD REVERIE

Finding Sanctuary At The Bluff

We first visited Palmetto Bluff 10 years ago on our way home from a family vacation in Charleston, and it was love at first sight,” Gina Malkiewicz said. “We were in awe of all the natural beauty that surrounds and connects this community, from the coastal marsh, nature preserves and Lowcountry architecture to the beautifully designed villages, neighborhoods and abundance of outdoor amenities. After our short visit, we could not stop thinking about this enchanted place, so we returned a few months later and purchased our home site.”

Gina and Tom adhered to a classic coastal palette throughout their open concept home. A model of Lowcountry vernacular, the Malkiewiczes’ River Road retreat is nestled along the water trails at Palmetto Bluff

Gina and Tom Malkiewicz agree it was the nuance of their new neighborhood that inspired the design and impeccable details throughout their home, custom crafted by their builder of choice, Boshaw Residential.

“Our mission was to construct a traditional Lowcountry haven for the Malkiewiczes that includes all the charm and warmth of Palmetto Bluff,” Ron Boshaw said. “So many custom features of this River Road home are reminiscent of the original residences in this community. I’m talking about the extensive wood features, from indoor paneling and shiplap to reclaimed wood floors, built-ins, and ceiling beams. Also, the outdoor living amenities, such as the porches and fire pit are genuine Lowcountry touches.”

Elements of classic Lowcountry vernacular are present from the home’s façade to each of its elevations and within the interior spaces. Along with ongoing support from Boshaw’s team, Gina and Tom worked with Savannah architect Erik Puljung (Hansen Architects) and interior designer Amy Porch (Hansen Architects) to achieve the level of detail that reflects a genuine coastal vibe. Gina and Tom relied on Porch

to steer interior design, including all the finishes, cabinet style, countertops, hardware, and paint selection as well as sourcing antique lighting, fabric and furniture for the great room, kitchen, and den.

Construction of the home spanned two years, from fall of 2018 to the fall of 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Despite the threats of Covid and demands of widespread quarantining, they continued to make their sometimes six-hour pilgrimages from Atlanta to Bluffton, guiding the progress at their future retirement address.

“Each time we arrived at the Bluff, we felt like we were escaping to our tranquil hideaway, and with each trip, our appreciation grew for this coastal paradise,” Gina said. “Collaborating with Ron Boshaw’s team and Hansen Architects was such a positive experience. Both were very accommodating when it came to juggling our building deadlines.”

Boshaw echoed her comments and elaborated. “Our clients always come first, so even when a crisis like the pandemic happens in the midst of building, we do everything

The window treatment fabric in the kitchen was the original inspiration for the home’s Southern coastal vibe.

Relaxed and understated, the great room features elegant touches, from light fixtures to layered fabrics and finishes.

Q

W Ron Boshaw notes that the utmost attention to detail resulted in multiple home highlights like this spectacular wet bar.

RIVER ROAD REVERIE

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The home’s primary suite includes its own screened-in porch plus dramatic floor-to-ceiling wood features.

Even the Malkiewiczes’ sumptuous soaking tub offers breathtaking water views.R

in our power to keep the process moving as smoothly as possible so there’s no additional stress,” he said.

Upon entering the Malkiewiczes’ River Road retreat, the light and airy vibe inspires a feeling completely counter to stress. A waterfront open concept, the great room and kitchen areas are the heart of the common spaces, while an adjacent den, media room and large back kitchen embrace water and resort views.

The interior palette is as warm and inviting as the exterior ivory clapboard siding and pale blue shutters. Soothing neutral colors offset the distinctive lighting that includes custom wrought iron chandeliers and pendants, designed specifically for the Malkiewiczes’ Southern retreat.

“All the details have come together beautifully and just in time

Gina, Tom and family enjoy serene evenings year-round from this cozy screened waterfront perch.

S

S

Not your typical back kitchen! Gracious in size and thoughtfully appointed, the space has become Gina’s daily headquarters.

The rewarding collaboration between Ron Boshaw and Hansen Architects is reflected in every elevation, but especially from this stunning perspective.

for us to celebrate our growing family,” Gina said. Daughter Carly recently married and now she and husband Kyle are enjoying the rewards of their new Lowcountry escape in at the family’s beloved community.

“When we started coming to the Lowcountry, our kids were teenagers, and we were a very busy Atlanta household! I was running a technology company; Tom had his own business; and our children, Tyler and Carly were constantly on the go,” Gina said. “Palmetto Bluff became our go-to destination where we enjoyed simpler things, like kayaking and alligator spotting in the lagoon, biking through the River Road preserve or navigating the May River with the dolphins.”

Knowing well the magic of the Bluff, eventually Tyler and Carly offered their parents good advice: “Hey, Mom and Dad, we think this is where you guys should retire.”

Gina and Tom listened and put their dreams in motion, hiring builder Ron Boshaw and the right design team to create their tranquil hideaway that is now home. “When our children, family and friends visit,” Gina said, “we do all the same things together that we did when we first fell for this magical place.”

The Palmetto Dunes community of Hilton Head Island inhabits three miles of sun-kissed Atlantic Ocean beachfront and provides the perfect venue for three world-class golf courses, a tennis & pickleball center, vacation rentals, a full-service marina (the island’s largest deep water marina with 178 slips), and an 11-mile lagoon system. As a resort destination, Palmetto Dunes enjoys a well-earned reputation for creating unforgettable vacation experiences for the entire family. So much so, that it’s no coincidence, as vacationers return year after year, many decide to make Palmetto Dunes their permanent residence.

Sanjay and Frani Kumar are just those folks. Since their first visit in 1993, they never stayed anywhere but Palmetto

Dunes. “We were part-timers here when we bought our first condo in 1997,” Frani said. “We eventually purchased a home in 2004, then we sold that one in 2021 and bought our current residence. We now happily live here full time.”

Jeff Hunt, Realtor at Dunes Real Estate, is a full-time real estate professional with more than 25 years of experience. He has owned and operated several successful multi-milliondollar businesses and bought, sold, leased, managed, and invested in both residential and commercial property. Hunt and his wife are full-time residents of Palmetto Dunes in the Shelter Cove community.

“So much about Palmetto Dunes is special and unique relative to other communities on Hilton Head Island,” Hunt

said. “When I’m selling property here, I use the acronym FAB, which stands for features, amenities, and benefits. It’s truly amazing what you can do within the gates of Palmetto Dunes. I’ve sold many homes and rentals from a boat out on the lagoon. People are mesmerized by the beauty of the water with pristine golf courses on either side and surrounded by magnificent homes. Whether you boat, kayak, fish, play tennis, pickleball or golf, you don’t have to go very far. We have it all right here.”

For over five decades, Palmetto Dunes has shined brightly as an example of what an exceptional golf experience can mean. With three magnificent courses and customer satisfaction that is second to none, exemplary golf is the cornerstone of the Palmetto Dunes experience. The three legend-built courses provide the heartbeat of the community and a satisfying experience for every level of player. The courses are consistently ranked with four or more stars by Fodor’s Golf Digest’s Places to Play.

• Robert Trent Jones course (18 holes, par 72): Located right on the Atlantic Ocean, the shifting winds ensure that every hole plays differently on this top-rated course, providing both challenges and rewards for any player. The panoramic views of the ocean from the elevated green of the par-5 10th hole make playing the Jones course one of the most memorable rounds of golf on the island. The Robert Trent Jones Course also features the first and only Toptracer Range on Hilton Head Island. Toptracer Range consists of 15 covered bays, allowing guests to compete against friends, play virtual courses and receive instant shot feedback. Food and beverages are available, and TV’s have been installed for sports fans to watch their favorite teams.

• George Fazio course (18 holes, par 70): Hilton Head’s only par-70 public golf course, the Fazio course is one of the island’s most distinctive and challenging layouts. In fact, many golfers regard it as the most challenging public course on the island. It is designed to be a true but fair

test for every golfer at any level of play. The Fazio course is one of the youngest golf courses to be featured on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Best and was also recently named South Carolina Golf Course of the Year by the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association. As well, the course boasts new state-of-the-art Diamond Zoysia greens that are sure to deliver an unforgettable, peak golf experience.

• Arthur Hills course (18 holes, par 72): The Hills course has long been regarded as one of South Carolina’s most unique golf layouts and was recently named among the “Top 30 Best Courses You Can Play in South Carolina.” It blends the topographic beauty of the Lowcountry with the inherent challenges of the game. Players are drawn to the course for the layout, which offers both precision play and natural beauty along with an extensive network of lagoons winding through 10 different holes.

But golf isn’t the only lure Palmetto Dunes has to offer residents and guests. With 2,000-acres of activities, the community was named one of the top resorts in the South in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the past three years in a row. The beautiful beach and world-class golf are only the beginning. Biking and water sports, along with a full-service marina at Shelter Cove, an award-winning

tennis and pickleball center, and a sweeping 11-mile lagoon for kayaking, fishing or simply getting back to nature on a boat tour are all available to those who live within the gates.

The Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center provides classes and clinics for players of all ages and skills. The awardwinning complex is one reason Palmetto Dunes was ranked in the 50 Greatest U.S. Tennis Resorts by Tennis Magazine and named “Pickleball Resort of the Year” by Racquet Sports Industry magazine.

“For me, Palmetto Dunes is unique in that it offers all the amenities of a resort as well as the most wonderful, homey, relaxed feeling,” Hunt said. “Everything is close, yet just far enough away. And there are things we can do in Palmetto Dunes that you can’t do in the other communities on the island.”

Hunt describes what he and his wife call their “walking date” where they meet friends at the Dunes House for a drink as the sun is setting, then they walk down the beach to the Omni for dinner at HH Prime, then over to Alexander’s for dessert or vice versa. Then everybody walks home.

“I call the vibe ‘Spanish moss and moon beams,’” Hunt said, “because everyone is so laid back, easy-going, and happy. There is literally something for everyone both in Palmetto Dunes and Shelter Cove. Anything you want, you can walk or ride your bike and get it.”

Residents can also ride the Palmetto Dunes Buggy for free anywhere within Palmetto Dunes and the Shelter Cove Harbour and Marina community. Vans generally arrive within 10 minutes of the request and are available seasonally, April through September.

Jennifer Brown has been in Palmetto Dunes since 1995 when she and her husband began vacationing here with friends who had spent their honeymoon on Hilton Head Island. In previous years, they had visited several New Jersey beaches, then Myrtle Beach, but were not content. On their first visit to Hilton Head Island, they knew this was where they wanted to be. They were drawn to the relaxed atmosphere and pristine, uncrowded beaches.

“We never felt at home in any of the other vacation spots,” Brown said. “We immediately fell in love with the beauty of Hilton Head and Palmetto Dunes. We bought our first property at The Moorings the year after our first visit.”

Brown touts the well-kept beaches and well-maintained grounds as some of the distinctive features she enjoys within Palmetto Dunes. The 11-mile lagoon system is a unique and favorite feature.

“An evening cruise along this calm waterway as the sun is setting is a true joy,” Brown said. “It’s a very attractive and inviting community. The bike paths are wonderful, and there is always something to do. I also enjoy the Palmetto Dunes Women’s Club. There are more than 30 different interest groups available, including cooking groups, lunch clubs, movie nights, a rowing group, bridge, or mahjong, even a group who performs various service projects.”

Another attraction about living in Palmetto Dunes is the access residents and guests have to Shelter Cove Marina, home to a variety of watersports. Everything from kayaks to luxury pontoon boats to two-person catamaran boats are available.

In addition to the dining available at Palmetto Dunes, dining options at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina abound. “When you incorporate Shelter Cove and the activities, dining and shopping there,” Hunt said, “the Palmetto Dunes neighborhood is hard to beat. We frequently walk over to the Harbour to Bistro 17 or ELA’S, then walk to the Arts Center to watch a show before walking home.”

Sunday mornings, residents may ride bikes to the General

Store for a breakfast sandwich before heading to the beach. During select weeks in summer, they can enjoy a movie or fireworks or go to a concert at the park, all for free.

“Living in Palmetto Dunes is idyllic,” Frani said. “Everything we need is in this little haven: the fabulous beach, the miles of bike trails, terrific golf courses, numerous tennis and pickleball courts, and the variety of restaurants from steak places right down to grab-and-go at the General Store. There are so many clubs to get involved in through the women’s group—both couples and women-only activities—that a social calendar can fill up rather quickly. My husband Sanjay and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

The residents agree that the level of satisfaction they have with the lifestyle provided at Palmetto Dunes, the relaxed atmosphere, the experiences the neighborhood affords, and the feeling of belonging is second to none. 

Realtor Jeff Hunt of Dunes Real Estate.

The family initially vacationed several times at the Marriott in Palmetto Dunes and enjoyed the location, landscape, and beaches the neighborhood offered.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER

Ranch

Style Beach Beauty in Palmetto DuneS

ISLAND HOME PROVIDES RELAXING GETAWAY FOR OWNERS AND INVITING SPACE FOR GUESTS

Palmetto Dunes is a Hilton Head Island neighborhood known for its beautiful beach homes, pristine beaches, lush landscaping, and successful investment properties. This third-row ranch style beach home represents all of that and more. The owners of this property are residents of Charlotte, North Carolina, where they’ve lived since 2005. For about 10 years, they only visited Charleston, as they were attracted to the city life and activities available there. When their first child was born, however, they decided to venture further south to Hilton Head Island, and it was love at first sight.

Interiors by Erin Dougherty and Bryn Dunn of ISABELLA Style, Charlotte, N.C. Construction by Residential Home Services Landscape design by Carlos Lopez Landscapes

The couple invited their interior designers to visit the property, and after staying over a weekend, they agreed on a modern design fused with a rustic beach house vibe, utilizing shiplap throughout, contemporary touches, soft wood, beach tones, and lots of light to brighten the space.

It is a single-level, ranch-style home with a 2,500 square-foot pool deck that creates an indoor and outdoor experience of more than 3,500 square feet of entertaining space, which allows for an inclusive experience for everyone.

“From the untouched and preserved landscape and vegetation, the Southern charm, live oaks, Spanish moss, relaxed pace, and cleanliness, to activities for families and people of all ages, world-class and large beaches, bike paths, golf courses, water sports, weather, restaurants, seafood, and beautiful sunsets … these are just a few of the new adventures we experience every time we visit,” they shared.

The family initially vacationed several times at the Marriott in Palmetto Dunes and enjoyed the location, landscape, and beaches the neighborhood offered. They eventually began shopping for a second home/investment

property and soon found the perfect property at 2 East Wind, though it required a complete overhaul that would include remodeling every room in the 2,800 square-foot home.

“The location was the first and most important part of the decision,” they explained. “We were fine with an older home, as we knew that we could bring a modern and luxurious touch with our contacts at ISABELLA Style and Residential Home Services.”

The couple invited their interior designers to visit the property, and after staying over a weekend, they agreed

The master suite, along with the beautiful design, décor, and spalike bath, also allows access to the pool deck.

Beyond their outdoor space, the couple each has a favorite room indoors. The wife loves the open concept kitchen and the tile color choices that support the home’s beachy ocean vibe.

on a modern design fused with a rustic beach house vibe, utilizing shiplap throughout, contemporary touches, soft wood, beach tones, and lots of light to brighten the space. Updating and opening up the kitchen and adding large windows that provide full visibility to the backyard pool were must-haves.

The property is unique in a few ways. It is a singlelevel, ranch-style home with a 2,500 square-foot pool deck that creates an indoor and outdoor experience of more than 3,500 square feet of entertaining space, which allows for an inclusive experience for everyone. The pool is

one of the largest on the island, with a nine-foot swimming well and a large shallow area where kids can play. A huge live oak shades the entire pool area except for about two hours a day, and the outdoor space is surrounded by lush landscaping, providing exceptional privacy—both equally important details.

“Our layout is somewhat unmatched on the island as current building codes would force the first floor to be at 16 feet,” the couple said. “We are grandfathered in with a ranch-style home giving a single level of entertainment, both inside and out, that is visible from the kitchen and dining

area, the office, and the great room. This also provides an extra layer of safety when little ones are outdoors enjoying the expansive deck and pool.”

Beyond their outdoor space, the couple each has a favorite room indoors. The wife loves the open concept kitchen and the tile color choices that support the home’s beachy ocean vibe. She, too, loves spending time in the luxurious and large master bath. Her husband’s favorite is the wide-open great room, which boasts a massive vault, painted white shiplap on all the walls and the ceiling, along with the huge skylights, natural light, the wall of windows

and sliders giving access to the pool area. And when they aren’t outdoors playing on the deck and in the pool, their kids enjoy the one upstairs bedroom, probably because to access the space, they get to climb a spiral staircase.

The other bedrooms are downstairs. The master suite, along with the beautiful design, décor, and spa-like bath, also allows access to the pool deck. The spacious, comfortable ensuite guest rooms are bright and flooded with natural light from huge windows.

“The finished remodel exceeds our expectations,” the couple agree, “and we have our wonderful team to thank.

Because we had prior experience with ISABELLA Style, we knew before we even commenced with the project that we wanted to work with Erin and Bryn. We Facetimed a few agents when we began looking at properties and are so glad we chose Jeff Hunt at Dunes Real Estate. He was super responsive, knowledgeable, and not pushy at all. Our build team—Residential Home Service, a local company— came at Jeff’s recommendation. They were excellent and transparent throughout.”

Jamie Delsandro, director of property management, PMIC, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, said these homeowners put a lot of time, money, and effort into this remodel, which allows them to get

The spacious, comfortable ensuite guest rooms are bright and flooded with natural light from huge windows.

Ranch Style Beach Beauty in Palmetto DuneS

The homeowners put a lot of time, money, and effort into this remodel, which allows them to get a premier price for their rental.

them a premier price for their rental.

“Guests are excited about staying in this beautiful home, and the same guests return year after,” Delsandro said. “They see the work and care that the owners put into the property, and they realize that this is not just a rental; it’s a second home for the owners. This knowledge leaves a deep impression on the guests who visit here.”

Not only are the owners and guests satisfied with 2 East Wind, but they also love Palmetto Dunes. Favorite amenities include the miles of walking and biking trails, access to the ocean and the wellkept beaches, the three world-class golf courses, tennis & pickle ball center, onsite restaurants and access to the restaurants and shopping at Shelter Cove, and the bounty of waterways for fishing, kayaking, and boating.

Delsandro adds that while Hilton Head Island has numerous communities with similar amenities, Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort is unique. “One of the things separates us from other property management companies is our ability to package the resort with guests’ accommodations. We can organize the guests’ entire vacation, including tee times, pickleball or tennis time (two free hours of court time daily are included), boat charters, bike and kayak rentals, and even their restaurant reservations. We understand that families come here not just to enjoy the beaches, but to get the most of out of the resort and their time here,” she said.

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort and their promotions within the resort translates to huge benefits for investors. It is why people choose Palmetto Dunes. The success within the gates is due to all that owners and guests can experience without ever having to leave the resort or get back in their car during vacation time.

“Our ultimate goal is to create wonderful and memorable experiences for our family and for every family that rents and visits our property,” the couple said. “We look forward to sharing this fabulous island, neighborhood, and home with each of you.” 

ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER J. BAGANZ PHOTOGRAPHY

PANDEMIC PARADISE IN PALMETTO DUNES

COUPLE FINDS PEACE ON THE ISLAND AMID COVID CHAOS

Katie Latham and James Norton, partners at Talman consultants, were going a bit stir crazy during the pandemic quarantine in their downtown Chicago residence. In April of 2020, after scouring the country online for places offering respite from the months of chaos caused by the Covid lockdown, they found the first Airbnb available, and it was in South Forest Beach on Hilton Head Island.

“We were never so happy to visit a place we had never been,” James said. “We booked the South Forest Beach rental for a week and spent the entire time outside enjoying the outdoors and exploring the island.”

Katie agreed. “Coming to Hilton Head Island was spontaneous and idyllic. We were simply heading south to somewhere we’d never been, and our kids loved it so much. They got to play on the beach, ride their bikes to the corner store, and experience an independence that they don’t ever get in Chicago. We had so much fun that we stayed a second week, this time at a home in Palmetto Dunes.”

It was during the second week when Katie and James were out walking the Palmetto Dunes neighborhood while simultaneously holding a remote business meeting on the phone when they stumbled on a second-row home for sale. James took picture of the Bunting Construction sign. After their call ended, the couple (both engineers) had a walk around the home, looking astutely at the exterior construction and at the interiors—only what they could see through the windows. They liked what they saw, but it was time to head back to Chicago.

This home was built to last, with solid pour foundations, full under-house garage parking and storage, a maintenance-free exterior of hardy plank and PVC materials that will stand test of time, and then treated with a borate system to prevent pests.

With a generous open concept living room and dining room with a large island and plenty of seating, everyone has a seat at the table for big family dinners, and everyone can participate in the conversation, even when the cooking is going on.

Upon their return north, the peaceful respite offered by the couple’s vacation experience only heightened, and the allure of that home for sale in Palmetto Dunes only strengthened.

“When we got back to Chicago, things were getting worse by the day, which made us long for Hilton Head even more,” James said. “The kids were remote learning at the time, so not only were they at home being tutored, we were also having to run our business from home. It was so disruptive.”

Bolstered by the negative events, Katie and James decided to take things into their own hands and shift to positive. In late May, James called Scott Bunting, and the couple interviewed him about the home they’d only seen from the outside.

“This home was designed to serve as a second home that can handle multi-generations at the same time,” Bunting said. “Everything about the home is built at- or above-code, and its location is close to the beach and accessible to all the best parts of the island.”

Bunting shared with the couple that this home was built to last, with solid pour foundations, full under-house garage parking and storage, a maintenance-free exterior of hardy plank and PVC materials that will stand test of time, and then treated with a borate system to prevent pests. Additionally, the home has generator capabilities to allow things to keep running during a storm.

Once satisfied with the answers Bunting provided and with the images he sent them of the interiors, the couple decided to make an offer.

“Scott’s brother, Robbie Bunting, served as our Realtor,” Katie said. “We closed on the home in August 2020, and we immediately began using it for family retreats. I grew up going on extended family vacations, so being able to host our parents, our brothers and their families, our aunts, uncles, and the cousins, it’s simply perfect.”

Though the home can support a multi-generational family, privacy is maintained. There are six bedrooms, each

suite-like, large enough for lounging and with its own bath. Two oversized master bedrooms offer custom closets, cabinetry, and shelving, and master baths with walk-in showers and free-standing tubs. There is a bunk room with Murphy beds for the kids and a rec room on the second floor. An office at the front part of the house is perfect for Katie and James, who may be on a working getaway and need to make business calls while the family is enjoying the house.

Entertaining here is easy. With a generous open concept living room and dining room with a large island and plenty of seating, everyone has a seat at the table for big family dinners, and everyone can participate in the conversation, even when the cooking is going on.

“I love the Sub-Zero/Wolf appliances,” Katie said, “and the wine refrigerator is super convenient when we have lots of company.”

Two oversized master bedrooms offer custom closets, cabinetry, and shelving, and master baths with walk-in showers and free-standing tubs.

One of the nicest things about the home is the screened-in porch. The vaulted roof allows for more light, both on the porch and into the home. It also makes watching the kids swim in the huge outdoor pool/spa lots more fun for parents and grandparents when it’s hot out. Downstairs is a covered full kitchen and outdoor grilling area, as well as a fitness room.

“The togetherness offered by this home is what makes it so desirable,” James said. “Plus, not only does the house have a great flow, it also has an elevator, which comes in handy for our older family members. The driveway includes lots of parking, which is such a commodity. We have enough parking for family and friends, and an even extra carport parking in addition to our garage.”

The couple says they officially became “locals” when they realized they love the island most during the off season. “We spent the past two holiday seasons in our Palmetto Dunes home,” Katie said. “The kids were swimming in the pool while I was

This home was designed to serve as a second home that can handle multi-generations at the same time.

The vaulted roof allows for more light, both on the porch and into the home. It also makes watching the kids swim in the huge outdoor pool/spa lots more fun for parents and grandparents when it’s hot out.

cooking Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. We golfed on Thanksgiving Day.”

The couple has grown to love the neighborhood and the people in their community. They enjoy the restaurants nearby and at Shelter Cove, along with shopping and family events

there. They additionally tout the benefits of working with the Buntings. They now share their home through vacation rentals, managed by Hilton Head Properties R&R.

“Robbie and Scott live up to everything this island projects,” Katie said. “They are not just a Realtor or contractor. They really rolled out the welcome mat and took us under their wings. They were and still are always available, whether we had a question about the home or the transaction, even if we just need a restaurant recommendation.”

Katie and James consider their Palmetto Dunes home their Covid miracle. Though the decision may have been risky and emotional, they took a gamble; they made it work.

“We come here and focus on family,” James said. “It’s been amazing, and we love it.” 

Ifthere is one lesson many of us have learned the hard way, it is not to trust everything we read or see on the internet—especially those glowing reviews that are often incentivized, paid for, or downright fake. When looking for a professional to work in your home, it pays to come out of the digital world and ask around your neighborhood.

This year, when my travertine floors and granite countertops needed attention, instead of relying on Google or “Angie,” I called a few local stone distributors to ask for a referral. Without hesitation, every single one immediately responded with one name: Doug Hoover. Hoover has since polished every floor in my home (and a

bathroom countertop), and they look better than brand-new.

Hoover, a retired Marine and founder/ owner of Stone Restore, has been in the flooring business since 2000, restoring stone full time in the Lowcountry since 2004. His business partner and now coowner, Roddy Lane, also a former Marine, has been with him since 2008. With over 30 years’ combined experience in stone care, their reputation reverberates among the stone pros as well as elated customers on Hilton Head Island, in Bluffton and beyond.

What sets Stone Restore apart?

It starts with a customer-centric approach and high level of commitment,

Real Customers, Real Reviews

which includes being on time, delivering on promises, and exceeding expectations. “I am the most punctual contractor you will find, with 100 percent customer satisfaction,” Hoover said, not bragging, but stating a well-established fact. They don’t have a crew. Hoover and Lane are doing the work themselves, making personalized service and quality control a given.

The big promise Hoover and Lane make to their customers besides showing up on time and making floors look better than new is a no-stress, no mess experience. “We educate our customers, so they know what to expect. And then it’s like magic. When we leave for the day, the furniture is exactly where it should be and the customer can see the result right away,” Hoover said.

Both Hoover and Lane say that job satisfaction is what drives their enthusiasm and work ethic. “You can’t really wrap your head around what we do to the floor and how it changes the entire home,” Lane said. “At the end of each day, we see the customer’s satisfaction and excitement. We’re changing their world, and that’s rewarding.”

If you’re interested, Hoover and Lane will explain their highly skilled diamond honing process in detail. They have the tools and products necessary along with the expertise and experience to give all your stone surfaces a glorious, handpolished look that isn’t possible in the manufacturing process. They are happy to explain the whys and hows, but all you really need to know is who to trust.

Ask around.

For information or a free inhome consultation, call (843) 4226799.

“When our marble floors were first installed, I was very disappointed. The sealer that was applied made them look dull and cloudy. I placed several calls looking for someone to refinish them. Every call led to Doug Hoover. He took ownership of the floors and made them come alive. They look better than I ever imagined. Doug is a perfectionist in every way, from start to finish.”

—Deb Parlanti, Belfair

“I met and used Doug for the first time 10 years ago to polish and restore my floors, which are travertine and marble. Since that time, 17 of our 18 homeowners in South Shore Commons have used Doug and Roddy to polish and restore their floors, and all have been extremely satisfied. I sort of say Doug is a magician with these floors. He’s highly professional and dependable. He strives for customer satisfaction. His partner Roddy is also a pro, and they make a great team. I highly recommend them. I think they are the BEST.”

—Tom Coyle, President, Southshore Commons, Leamington

Article by Linda S. Hopkins

Photography by 2 Lights, 1 Stand

ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2 LIGHTS, 1 STAND

THE UNSTOPPABLE

BETH DEANGELIS

FOR THIS DEDICATED REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL, IT’S NOT ABOUT JUST DOING THE JOB. IT’S ABOUT DOING IT RIGHT.

How did you spend this past Labor Day weekend? Maybe you took advantage of the extra day off to sneak in 18 holes or have friends over for a cookout. Maybe you spent it on the water, exploring the Lowcountry’s breathtaking inlets, rivers and waterways. Maybe you just relaxed poolside with a cool drink.

Beth DeAngelis, of The Beth DeAngelis Coastal Living team, spent her Labor Day weekend a little differently. While we were all relaxing, she was busy bringing buyers and sellers together.

“I had a real streak of sales over the last five days. In fact, I put one property under contract yesterday,” she said during a day-after-Labor-Day interview. “It was a busy weekend, and in the middle of all that, we’re training our new puppy Cooper and my parents were in town.”

Angelina Singleton, Beth DeAngelis and Joy Gentile

BETH DEANGELIS

We’re sure they understand. As a long-time real estate agent himself, DeAngelis’ dad instilled in her the superhuman work ethic that has become her calling card.

“When you’re all in on work, you have to be all in on the work. And that’s it,” she said. “If you leave your foot off the pedal, you have to be able to ask yourself, ‘Can I be okay with knowing I may have missed the perfect property for a client.’”

And while the sale is the result of all this hard work, it’s not the goal.

“It’s not for the money; it’s that driving factor of being able to help people realize their goals/dreams,” DeAngelis said. “You want to help guide people by getting them acclimated to the area in terms of understanding what communities are going to best fit their lifestyle goals and needs—help them find the right property, not just any property, and ultimately help them get down here and start enjoying the Lowcountry lifestyle.”

As a Realtor, DeAngelis is incredibly driven, but she’s not driven by the sale. For her, it’s about what the sale means to her clients. It’s about finding out where their dreams lie, and then pursuing those dreams with a dogged determination. And sometimes it’s about telling clients what they need to

hear rather than what they want to hear.

“I do a lot of videos for people when starting a relationship with a buyer, and if I don’t like something I’m seeing, I’m going to tell you about it. Like I said, it’s about finding the right property,” she said. “Sometimes it’s painful. When a property looks beautiful but has problems, I have to tell people, ‘You need to move on, or you need to budget for things that are going to come up. If you’re good with it, let’s go forward; if not we pull back.’”

THE ROAD TO HILTON HEAD

While her father first introduced her to real estate, it was not always the path that Beth DeAngelis followed. Following graduation from the University of Richmond, she got her start in the corporate world working at Dun and Bradstreet. Working behind a desk soon proved to be a bad fit for her boundless energy and intense entrepreneurial spirit, and before long she was following the family business.

“Although I didn’t work for my dad initially, I worked for a different company in Lancaster [Pennsylvania] that had really good training,” she said. Eventually joining her father at his brokerage for a spell, she made her way into new home sales for companies like Ryan Homes and Beazer Homes. The new career path brought her down from Pennsylvania to Beaufort just in time for the housing market to collapse.

“It was hard. I was just sitting in Beaufort knowing no one, so I started using an online lead generation tool,” she said. “I couldn’t even pay the $274 a month to pay for the platform; I just loaded up the credit cards and kept plowing through it, slowly but surely. After five or six years of doing that, people were asking me, ‘Where are you getting buyers?’”

Ten years ago, she took that drive, ambition, and dedication to clients over to Keller Williams where she was able to surround herself with like-minded people and create an award-winning team. The Coastal Living Team rose quickly to the top of a very competitive firm, being named the No. 1 team in North and South Carolina. Her team has grown to now include buyer agents Angelina Singleton and Joy Gentile, as well as transaction coordinator Morgan Young, ISA Jennifer Kimball, Marketing Director Pam Lee and her first trusted hire, now on medical leave, Barb Pinkelman. And while she’s proven successful, listing and selling more

than $56 million in the first half of this year, to her, the accolades and the paycheck are still just perks of the real job: helping people.

A perfect example of that came recently when she reached back out to a couple with whom she had worked a few years ago. They were looking for something oceanfront, but as any Realtor will tell you, oceanfront inventory has been essentially non-existent for the past year. Unless, like DeAngelis, you know where to look.

“I started talking to Realtors and found this property that wasn’t on the market yet, and it was a perfect fit,” she said. “It was an unexpected find, but I loved and appreciated that they trusted me with such a big decision since they were only able to see the home briefly with other agents knocking at the door. We were able to act quickly and, ultimately, if they’re happy, I’m happy.”

And that is where Beth DeAngelis’ exhilaration lies: in her clients’ happiness and trust in her.

“I’d love to golf or play tennis, and I have a boat that’s not in the water right now that I’ll get out on at some point,” she said. “But in the meantime, I’m just keeping busy.”

What’s keeping her busy is making all your real estate dreams come true. To learn more about the team, visit coastallivingbybeth.com.

AS A REALTOR, DEANGELIS IS INCREDIBLY DRIVEN, BUT SHE’S NOT DRIVEN BY THE SALE. FOR HER, IT’S ABOUT WHAT THE SALE MEANS TO HER CLIENTS. IT’S ABOUT FINDING OUT WHERE THEIR DREAMS LIE, AND THEN PURSUING THOSE DREAMS WITH A DOGGED DETERMINATION.

Beth DeAngelis and Cooper

New School Thinking, Old School Values

OLD COAST HEATING & HAS A TO

It’s a bold declaration of old-school values. When you talk to Friedman, you see that heating and air is so much more than just thermostats and vents. It’s a service delivered with unimpeachable effort. It’s the comfort that comes with a home free of hot spots and drafts, feeling perfect humidity, and even lower bills to top it all off. And it’s peace of mind that comes with knowing Old Coast backs up its old-school approach with some serious cutting-edge smarts.

“There is just a constant use of science and math. It’s the number one thing everyone is supposed to be doing but doesn’t,” Friedman said. “That’s not just my opinion; that comes from the ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America). Nine out of ten companies won’t do this kind of research because either they don’t know what they’re doing or they don’t care.”

Friedman talks about air conditioning like he’s delivering a Ted talk, dropping knowledge left and right about thermodynamics, efficiency factors, and an esoteric field known as “envelope science.”

“That’s essentially the notion that air conditioning is much more than the equipment and duct work,” he said. “The envelope is what it’s housed in—the passive part of what makes the whole thing work. If you look at it like a car, the envelope is the chassis, and the equipment is the mechanicals. You start by fixing the source. Then you fix the equipment.”

He also points out that Old Coast technicians in the field share this same dedication to taking a smarter approach to heating and air. “To be a good technician, you have to be part mechanic, part plumber, part electrician, part carpenter; you have to know all of the trades,” he said. “You can’t just be excellent in one area. You must be excellent in all of them.”

Old Coast is imparting this wisdom to the next generation through its apprenticeship program in Savannah. Having serviced Hilton Head Island for years, Old Coast set its flag down by opening its location here, helmed by David Roy.

Article by Barry Kaufman

It’s been said by everyone from Oprah Winfrey to your youth football coach that doing the easy thing isn’t always right, and doing the right thing isn’t always easy. It’s something we hear repeatedly throughout our life, but we never really listen to it. We nod our head in agreement, then keep on doing things the way that is going to give us the fewest hassles.

Well, we should say most of us never listen to it. Zachary Friedman, president and owner of Old Coast Heating & Air Conditioning, was clearly taking notes when he first learned the virtues of doing a job correctly.

“We produce a higher tier of quality work and a better level of customer service,” he said. “It’s the proper approach. Hopefully someday more companies will be doing things the right way. Until now, at least there’s one of us.”

“Our mission here goes far beyond the workplace. It’s important to us to be a part of the community and to give back,” Roy said. Immersing themselves in the island, Old Coast has sponsored high school athletics and has helped keep the Island Rec Center cool and comfortable. “We’ve been there all this week getting them clean, doing all the maintenance and making sure they’re taken care of.”

And here again we see the old-school conscientious approach that Old Coast follows. They didn’t have to give so much back to the community. But they did. They don’t have to go the extra mile for each customer. But they do. And they don’t have to build a PhD-level knowledge of AC science to keep your home comfortable. But they do.

Because, as Friedman says, “It’s the proper approach.” 

For more information, visit oldcoasthvac.com or call (843) 352-4745.

b Old Coast technicians working together on diagnostics.

Not all insurance brokers are created equal. Hub International is the fifth largest insurance broker in the world with 530+ offices located in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Their national presence allows them the opportunity to represent larger, financially strong companies, while maintaining their local presence through 20+ employees focused on the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton communities.

Property insurance is at an all-time high, especially in the coastal market. Companies have less desire for growth and, therefore, are more particular with properties they will insure. Even

as economic changes, extreme weather, and rising insurance costs multiply the risks facing households, it’s not all doom and gloom. When you partner with HUB, you’re at the center of a network of personal lines insurance specialists who bring clarity to a changing world with tailored solutions and unrelenting advocacy for their clients.

Seacoast Insurance has been gratefully insuring the families and businesses of Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, and the surrounding areas since 1981. With many top-rated insurance companies, Seacoast Insurance has a long history of providing essential insurance coverage at the most competitive prices.

As your local insurance agency, they believe it’s important to give back to the community they call home and support local businesses and organizations as well as charities like the Island Rec Center, Hilton Head Humane Association, and Deep Well.

“Seacoast Insurance would like to take this opportunity to thank all our wonderful clients, who are

the backbone of our continued success and longevity. And we simply cannot overlook our outstanding employees, who have made Seacoast Insurance the premier destination for all your local insurance needs. Please visit at seacoastinsurance.com or on Facebook & Instagram, stop in the office, or give us a call at (843) 681-4340. We would love to help find an insurance policy that’s right for you!”

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

Kate Boardman, Ray Craver, Tyler Boardman, Cheri Patterson, Bailey Noonan, and Geneve Kelly

Missing from photo – Lisa Craver, Edie Katona, Tiffany Rice, Kat Washburn, Toni Devine and Cindy Schwartz

(pictured from left to right):

Your local McGriff offices on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton offer Personal Lines, Commercial Lines and Employee Benefits Solutions. With more than 65 years of experience, McGriff provides highly customized insurance and risk management solutions for organizations of all sizes. McGriff Insurance has been operating locally in the Lowcountry since 1957 when it was originally known as Carswell Insurance.

“We at McGriff Insurance believe that outstanding insurance is just the start of a great relationship. We view our clients as our partners, with the goal of achieving a long-term relationship that allows us to support our client’s success through changing times and evolving needs. We listen to you; we pay attention to your priorities and focus on the things you value most.”

McGriff Insurance is firmly rooted in the Hilton Head/Bluffton community, and their team is proud to join friends and neighbors in building stronger and more vital communities. “With our clients locally, we are as small as you want us to be but as big as you need us to be. We would welcome the opportunity to work with you, let’s partner together!”

2 Westbury Park Way, Suite 205 Bluffton, SC 29910

One Lafayette Place, 2nd Floor Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 815-0522 SStauffer@McGriff.com

SANDRA FRAZIER, STEVE STAUFFER, THERESA WINE

TRACY MOLLOY, MARC RICCIARDI, KRISTIN WALKER

JESSICA WEAVER, MARY CATHERINE MOORE, STUART BEDENBAUGH

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

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

Our agency specializes in all lines of health insurance ranging from Medicare, individual and group health benefits. We offer all lines of Medicare including Medicare supplements, prescription drug plans, as well as Medicare Advantage plans. If you need individual health insurance, we can help you with plans on and off the Marketplace, as

well as short-term, vision, and dental plans. We also work with all sizes of employers with their employer group benefits, and ancillary lines such as group life, dental, vision, etc.

As your insurance broker, we are your customer service advocate. Our job is to educate and then support your decision and walk you through the steps of enrollment and your customer service needs for the life of your policy.

Open enrollment season is upon us. This is the time of year to review your plans and make the necessary changes to your Marketplace plans, drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans. Remember that changes cannot be made anytime of the year unless you have a special reason. Our clients are not just a number, but a part of our family. Come join our family.

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

www.schealthbenefits.com

John Mallett

John Mallett has long been known and respected as a “good neighbor,” working with State Farm since 1971, starting in Newark, Ohio in the regional office. In 1976, he was promoted to the regional office in Jacksonville, Fla. as underwriting superintendent for the Southeastern region. He then became a local agent on Hilton Head Island in 1983. In 2000, he built a new office in Sheridan Park in Bluffton. He is proud of his experienced and knowledgeable staff,

most of whom have been with him for more than 20 years.

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

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

johnmallett.com

W hen Gary Davis and Jeff Hedden started Hilton Head Insurance & Brokerage over seven years ago, they had no idea it would be the size it has become today. They recently hired their tenth employee, and none of it would have been possible without your business.

“As we continue to service all our policies and customers in house and strive to provide the highest level of customer service, we just want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” Hedden said. “Our goal has remained the same: to provide amazing insurance products at a competitive rate while going above and beyond to exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Hilton Head Insurance & Brokerage has just launched a dedicated account manager for each client to help better serve their individual needs. They have also introduced a new Life and Financial Services division, led by Jessica Baker

“We are really excited about this new division to help round out the services we offer at Hilton Head Insurance & Brokerage,” Hedden said. “If you are interested in any insurance product or any financial service, we would love to meet you! Stop by our office Monday through Friday to meet William, Travers, Coley, and Jessica. Thank you again for your continued support!”

1000 William Hilton Parkway Suite J-13, Village at Wexford Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 hiltonheadinsuranceandbrokerage.com (843) 252-0840

Travers Davis, Stephanie Davis, Ana Grace Dacus, Renee Burcin, William Voelkel, Jeff Hedden, Gary Davis, Coley Davis, Jessica Baker, Lauren Albrecht

(pictured from left to right):

ARTICLE BY KENT THUNE

OUTLOOK ON INTEREST RATES AND THE HOUSING MARKET

If you’re thinking about buying or selling real estate, refinancing a mortgage, investing in the stock or bond market, or you’re just curious about the nearterm future of the U.S. economy, you’ll be interested in the future direction of interest rates.

If you don’t follow economics and capital markets closely, good for you! But you may have a few questions about what’s going on in the world of interest rates: Who or what determines the direction of these rates and how does this affect the housing market, capital markets, and the U.S. economy?

The short answer is the Federal Reserve, or “the Fed.” The longer answer involves their purpose and how their decisions impact the markets and economy.

The Fed has two primary mandates: (1) Maximum employment and (2) Price stability. Since the unemployment rate is near 50-year lows, the Fed isn’t worried about maximum employment at present time. Thus, their primary target now is price stability, and one of the primary tools used to fight inflation is to raise interest rates.

Without getting too deep into economics here, just know that the Fed has several ways to manipulate interest rates. What matters most to those of us in the real world is that higher rates may help to bring down inflation, but they can also do damage to the economy.

For example, when the Fed raises rates, banks and other financial institutions typically follow in kind with their lending rates. This means that the rates for debt instruments, such as home mortgages, home equity lines of credit, and credit cards also go up. Businesses are not immune, either, as the rates for commercial loans also go up.

In general, since higher rates increase the cost of borrowing for everyone, there are fewer dollars floating around in the economy for consumers to buy stuff, and companies spend more of their capital to operate their businesses, which takes away from their bottom line. This all creates downward pressure on stock prices.

So, what’s next? Inflation is beginning to show signs of leveling off, but the Fed is intent on bringing it back down in line with historical averages, which can take some time from today’s elevated levels. In fact, a recent statement by Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, warned: “While higher interest rates, slower growth, and softer labor market conditions will bring down inflation, they will also bring some pain to households and businesses.”

Based upon this explicit statement, higher rates will mean that mortgage rates will continue to climb higher, which could place downward pressure on home prices to compensate for the higher cost of the buyer’s loan payments. If demand from buyers falls, as interest rates rise, the values for homes could come down from their current high levels. A softer labor market also could mean that some people will lose their jobs. The worst-case scenario would be a recession, where the value of many assets, especially real estate and stocks, could fall further.

The only potential good news in all this economic complexity is that economic data over the past few months appear to indicate that inflation is leveling off. If the Fed sees evidence of falling inflation, it will find reason to slow down its interest rate hiking campaign, and if we are all fortunate, the Fed will achieve its “soft landing” of the economy, where price stability is maintained and a recession is avoided.

What does this mean for the housing market going forward?

Of course, there’s no way of accurately and consistently predicting economic conditions far in advance, but it’s relatively safe to say that the summer’s extreme sellers’ market could give way to a buyers’ market in the months ahead. At the end of summer, economic reports were showing an increase in supply for homes. When combined with a higher cost of borrowing, home values may need to come down, especially if buyer demand falls along with the higher rates.

In the short term, buyers’ agents and mortgage lenders may recommend locking in long-term mortgage rates in anticipation of them moving higher through the end of 2022 and possibly longer. Sellers may need to anticipate a softening market, where pricing will become competitive and time on the market will be weeks or months instead of days.

When will interest rates come back down?

The timing of interest rates for mortgages and other debt instruments, isn’t entirely up to the Fed. Other than Federal

“WHILE HIGHER INTEREST RATES, SLOWER GROWTH, AND SOFTER LABOR MARKET CONDITIONS WILL BRING DOWN INFLATION, THEY WILL ALSO BRING SOME PAIN TO HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES.”

Reserve policy, factors that influence interest rates include the health of the economy and the bond market.

For example, the worldwide problems of the post-Covid broken supply chain and the Russia-Ukraine conflict are pushing up prices for commodities like oil, natural gas, and wheat. Fiscal stimulus from politicians also added fuel to inflation’s fire by adding more money to the economy. These problems combine to keep inflation high, which forces the Fed to keep raising rates.

When the economy finally begins to slow, inflation will slow down with it. Investors in the bond market may anticipate a pause in the Fed’s interest rate hikes and begin to bid bond prices higher (bond prices generally move in the opposite direction as bond yields). Since many mortgage lenders use the 10-year Treasury bond as a benchmark for their interest rates, they may begin to lower their rates when bond yields fall back down.

A slower economy may sound like bad news but it’s generally good news for people wanting to see lower interest rates on debt instruments. The largest factors influencing interest rates, including inflation, Fed policy, the health of the economy, and the bond market are all likely to support lower rates sometime in 2023. Let’s just hope that the Fed will accomplish the incredibly challenging feat of achieving the soft landing, where the economy slows enough to tame inflation without tipping the economy into recession. Only time will tell.

Kent Thune, CFP®, MBA, has 23 years of investment management and financial planning experience and has navigated his clients through some of the most challenging economic conditions in history. Thune is the owner of a Hilton Head Island registered investment advisory firm, Atlantic Capital Investments, LLC. His financial guidance has been published on some of the most widely read investment websites, including Seeking Alpha, The Motley Fool, Yahoo Finance, and Kiplinger.com.

Article by Barry Kaufman Photography by M.Kat

Building a Better Future

At Montgomery Law Firm, LLC, your family’s future prosperity is just a simple plan away.

Planning for the end is no simple process. There are countless variables to consider and countless more you don’t even know you should be considering. It can be a labyrinthine process, but the result, knowing that your loved ones will be well taken care of when you’re gone, is worth it.

It can be a lot. Which means you need to ask a lot of questions. And Hunter Montgomery asks a lot of questions.

“By becoming an estate lawyer, I kind of turned a personality flaw into a living,” he said with a laugh. “I ask every question I can—about kids, grandkids, previous marriages, financial situations … I want to get a really big picture of what the family looks like in order to put in as many protections as possible.”

Armed with the information you give him, Montgomery then gets to work. For most attorneys, this part feels like wrangling. But for this architectural engineering student-turned-attorney, it feels more like designing and crafting a beautiful building for your family’s future.

From left to right: Hunter Montgomery (attorney/owner), Kathy Schnelle (paralegal), William Patrick Lee (paralegal/ GA attorney) and Jenny Montgomery (office manager).

“I need a lot of input from the client, because I’m creating a design,” he said. “When I’m drawing up these plans, which protects everything they’ve worked for, I tend to stress the details.”

This unique perspective on the law comes from Montgomery’s background, studying architectural engineering and science at Clemson until his grandfather suffered a stroke. The Hilton Head Island semi-native (he moved here when he was just nine years old) saw the ensuing decade unfold as his grandfather’s legacy was defined and litigated as a pivotal moment for him.

“My grandfather’s stroke changed the course of my life,” he said. “I wanted to use my penchant for organization to help, but I was an 18-year-old engineering kid. I had no idea what a will or a power of attorney was. I just felt there had to be a better way to help people avoid this kind of situation.”

So, like any architect, he built a better way. Returning to school, he pursued the law, focusing his efforts on estate and probate law.

“I found out there’s this nerdy kind of lawyer who doesn’t go to court; they make flowcharts and keep the

Building a Better Future

tax man at bay,” he said. “I like to do things behind the scenes. I was more comfortable helping draw out plans.”

That all changed one fateful day nearly a decade into his law career. His law partner at the time had been leading educational seminars to help people better understand the law, but he wasn’t going to be able to make his 10 a.m. seminar at the Westin. Since Montgomery had heard the seminar several times, it was suggested that he take this one.

“It was a trial by fire,” he said. “But that was a beautiful thing. I’m glad I had to go through that very anxious situation, because I quickly learned I enjoyed it. It’s actually given me new focus.”

His seminars have quickly grown in popularity, becoming a cornerstone of Montgomery Law Firm. Covering all the finer points of estate planning and endof-life preparation with all the fastidious, detail-oriented fervor he utilizes in service to his clients, he is helping people in a way he never thought possible before.

“Giving these seminars, converting these dry and complex subjects into plain English, and then seeing that lightbulb come on over someone’s head gives me immense satisfaction,” he said. “I really enjoy helping people understand the ‘why’ behind something.”

These regular seminars have added an entirely new dynamic to a law practice that has evolved and changed ever since Montgomery founded it. Today, they handle a range of cases from estate planning, asset protection and trust administration to special needs planning, incapacity planning and small business planning.

“All those things really fall underneath the umbrella of estate planning, at least the way I see it,” Montgomery said. “There’s connectivity … we really like to hold people’s hands to minimize the stepping-on of landmines.”

In short, they are in the business of offering you nothing less than the utmost protection under the law for your estate and your assets. Building that protection takes a keen mind, clear and concise directions, and a passion for sweating the details.

It’s a suite of capabilities that Montgomery Law Firm brings to every client that walks through their door. 

To learn more, please to visit montgomeryestateplanning.com.

ARTICLE BY ELLEN LINNEMANN

IDEAS WORTH SPREADING

JEFF MAINE AND CANDACE BLAIR TO SHARE COMPELLING STORIES AT TEDxHILTONHEAD

Among the speakers taking the stage at this year’s much-anticipated TEDxHiltonHead event are Jeff Maine, founder and CEO of Pay Proudly, and Candace Blair, founder of Soul Fire Social. Each truly embodies the idea of “making waves” and making a difference in the world. Following is a brief introduction of these speakers and how their stories and “ideas worth spreading” can help inspire others.

Jeff Maine: “Investing in Your Community is Smart Business”

Jeff Maine is the founder and CEO of Pay Proudly (payproudly.com), the Bluffton-based company offering customized, streamlined electronic payment processing solutions and a unique business platform for credit card processing that not only saves merchants a significant amount of money, but also provides business owners with an extraordinary opportunity to give back to a cause that is important to them at no additional expense to their company.

Maine created Pay Proudly to help business owners and to make a difference in the world by positively impacting great causes—creating and building his company around a “give-back” concept that provides merchants with a unique way to help specific charities of their choice through autocontributions at no additional cost to them.

Maine moved to the Lowcountry eight years ago from Lake St Louis, Missouri, where he and his wife grew up, went to school, got married and had children. His idea to create an electronic payment processing company that could give back through auto-contributions to local causes came about from both years of being in business as well as what his family has experienced with his youngest daughter, who was born with serious health challenges. Being involved with many great organizations and important fundraisers, he points to the key behind his founding of Pay Proudly … and his “making waves” in the industry by directing avoidable fees to give back and do good.

“Through my experiences, I gained an understanding that generous people, and people who give back, make differences in people’s lives, and that’s really what makes our world go around,” he said. “My wife Renae and I had seen firsthand the difference that people can make in helping others, and we knew we wanted to be a part of

that. We’ve been blessed with successful businesses, and our ‘aha’ moment came when we realized we could utilize what we know and what we know we can do to build a better community.”

Maine has continued to build both a better community and a better world for many people through his big idea of giving back through his business and raising money through his successful auto-contribution model—helping many causes that are important to his Pay Proudly customers.

“Looking at the organizations we are involved with right now, we’re helping cancer patients get their electric bills paid; we’re helping people who need food and water; we’re helping moms who need washing machines get them; we’re helping animals,” he said, pointing out just a few of the local charities that Pay Proudly has recently helped. “We’re making a difference for a lot of people, and we’re able to do that through our business.”

When he’s not working, Maine enjoys spending time with his family. “With three children in middle and high school, we spend our time chasing kids’ activities,” he said. “I love to be on the water with my family. That’s my favorite spot to be.”

Maine believes his story and idea could lead to people having their own “aha” moments. “I think people are going to say, ‘Wow, I could do that in my business, and we could also make a difference,” he said. “If we had more businesses in town doing give-back programs, think about how many people that would affect and help. In addition to helping local charities, from the economic side of it, you’re also continuing to roll that money back into your local economy, helping restaurants do more business, helping retailers do more business, and helping the local economy through a give-back program of successful businesses. So, I think the goal is that we have more businesses locally do exactly

Jeff Maine, founder and CEO of Pay Proudly with his family.

what we’re doing to make a difference.”

He also points to the goal of encouraging others to make waves and to making even bigger waves as his company and the giveback program continue to grow.

“I think we are definitely making waves with what we’re doing, and I think we’re going to continue to make waves as our business grows and we’re able to give more money,” Maine said. “I’m hoping that the waves are going to be even bigger.”

Candace Blair: “Riding the Waves of Sound to Relax, Meditate, and Elevate

Candace Blair is the founder of Soul Fire Social (soulfiresocial.com), a platform she created to share her passion for Kundalini yoga, sound healing, cacao ceremonies, Shamanic Reiki, guided meditation and the Alchemy of Becoming methodology. Based on Hilton Head Island from October through May, she also travels for four months each year to bring these powerful, ancient modalities to communities across the USA and abroad.

In 2017 Blair, who spent spending 23 years as an investment banker on the trading floors in San Francisco, London and Zurich, decided to completely change her location, life and lifestyle. Knowing that she had to make it count, she made a commitment to ensuring that she could wake up every morning in gratitude for the day ahead, excited about her offerings, empowered by the teachings she was sharing, and making sure she was creating a healthy work environment so she could be inspired and inspiring. She returned home to America to focus her full-time energies on sharing the transformative power of the practices that transformed her life.

“These practices have altered the course of my life, helping me find my purpose and my passion,” Blair said. “They have opened my heart to more love, an elevated mind, body and spirit, and raised my conscious awareness. I have made it my passion to share these healing modalities with others.”

At TEDxHiltonHead, Blair will be sharing her inspiring messages by showing people the power of sound, sound waves, and vibrational frequency. “It is possible, through the use of ancient vibrational instruments like the gong, crystal singing bowls, and bells, to drop into a deep mediative state without doing anything but receiving the vibrations,” she said. “Sound waves can shift the brain from beta (thinking mind) to theta (dream-like, meditative state) in as little as 3060 seconds, allowing everyone the opportunity to benefit from time

Candace Blair, founder of Soul Fire Social.

in this highly integrative and healing state with a quiet mind and calm body. I want people to understand, through their own personal, visceral experience, that relaxation, release of stress, and elevation of emotions and spirit through sound meditation is possible and easily accessible.”

Blair’s “aha” moment for her big idea came when she was living in London working in equity sales—living what she referred to as a “very masculine, fastpaced lifestyle.”

“Work hard/play hard was my motto, and while I was very successful in the financial arena, I was feeling unfulfilled, disconnected spiritually, and I began having stress-related back issues,” she recalled. “This drove me first to Western medicine but eventually to an alternative healer who suggested Kundalini yoga and sound healing. The first time I heard the gong being played for relaxation, I was literally blown away. My mind was quiet, just taking in the surprisingly beautiful and uplifting sounds. My nervous system completely relaxed, which allowed me to release built-up stress in my body. It was glorious, and I walked out knowing my life had somehow already been impacted and positively altered. Within a year, I was taking teacher training for yoga and learning to play the gong in my free time. These practices made me better at my career. I was calmer, more focused and able to face challenges from a powerful stance of neutrality.”

When she realized she wanted to be a full-time teacher, she knew she had to share the potential she had discovered with sound healing. She hopes TEDxHiltonHead attendees will learn from her talk and experience the relaxation, release, and joyful elevation that sound can bring.

“I hope they come to understand that meditation comes in many forms, and that sound and vibrational healing are a big part of the past and future of healing,” she said. “I hope they experience the happiness I felt the first time I let go—that they simply enjoy the impact of vibrational sound flow and experience the true power of riding the waves of sound.” 

TEDxHilton Head’s “Making Waves” event will be held November 4 from 6:309:45 p.m. at the Seahawk Cultural Center, 70 Wilborn Rd., Hilton Head Island. For more information, including a full list of speakers/topics and to purchase tickets, visit TEDxhiltonhead.com.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL ALEXANDER PHOTOGRAPHY BY 2 LIGHTS, 1 STAND

Candy bounce Back

PEDIATRIC DENTIST HOSTS POST-HALLOWEEN PARTY IN THE PARK

Dr. Shane Harpham, owner of Sea Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is a board-certified pediatric dentist, diplomate for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and recent president of the South Carolina Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. “Dr. Shane” opened his practice in 2014 with a vision to help children with their oral health needs and to engage in the community that he calls home. One way Dr. Shane accomplishes both goals is through an event called the Candy Bounce Back, and this year on Nov. 6 marks the fourth annual occurrence of this fun, family, post-Halloween party in the park.

“We’ve successfully hosted the Candy Bounce Back event each year on the first Sunday after Halloween,” Dr. Shane said, “and this year we’re excited to have the party once again at Oscar Frazier Park in Bluffton. The idea is for kids to bring their leftover Halloween candy, donate it to a great cause, and have lots of free family fun doing it.”

In addition to promoting oral health, another big cause associated with the Candy Bounce Back is Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit organization that proudly supports U.S. troops all over the world. Through the generosity and hands-on efforts of the American

Dr. Shane and the Staff at Sea Smiles Pediatric Dentistry back row left to right: Alexandra Hursey, Alenna Wright, Amber Anderson, Dr. Shane Harpham, Melissa Harpham, Lily Slavin, Denisse Garcia and Amy Bishop. Front row: Dr. Shane’s children Calista and Caleb

people, they send care packages to all who bravely serve, with more than 3.5 million care packages sent since 2003. The care packages contain, among other things, Halloween candy collected from Lowcountry children.

“The idea is getting the candy out of the kids’ hands,” Dr. Shane explained, “and in exchange, they enjoy a fun day and experience the joy of giving back to military families. Our candy is distributed throughout the world to Navy, Army, Marines, and Air Force troops. We have even shipped

boxes to Navy vessels in the middle of the ocean. Some kids write notes to the military recipients letting them know how much they are appreciated, and these notes are included in each care package. It’s our way of reminding military personnel that we are thinking about them.”

Additionally, local schools will benefit from the Candy Bounce Back. When each child makes their candy donation, upon entry into the event, they’ll have an opportunity to put the candy in their school’s collection box. At the end of

“The idea is getting the candy out of the kids’ hands,” Dr. Shane explained, “and in exchange, they enjoy a fun day and experience the joy of giving back to military families. Our candy is distributed throughout the world to Navy, Army, Marines, and Air Force troops.”

The event collected over 1,000 pounds of candy last year

Dr. Shane performing an oral exam on his daughter Calista

Candy bounce Back

the day, the individual boxes will be weighed, and the top three schools will be awarded prizes, with the first place school receiving a check for $2,000. Last year’s winner, Red Cedar Elementary, used their prize money to upgrade their school playground.

“These prize winnings are funded in part by some of our gracious sponsors, including Winning Orthodontic Smiles, Ameris Bank and Don Machete Mexican Restaurant,” Dr. Shane said.

On top of raising awareness about oral health and the nation’s military families, the event promises lots of free fun for everyone. In collaboration with sponsors such as O. C. Welch Ford Lincoln, Bluffton School of Dance, Maginnis Orthodontics, LUX Medical Spa, Harbor Point Dentistry, Lowcountry Therapy, Abbi Keen at State Farm, and Lanier Roofing, Sea Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is providing several free activities to children and their families. These activities include bounce houses, a rock-climbing wall, bungee jump, dunk tank, face painting, a photo booth, pumpkin painting, and much more. Live music by local celebrity musicians Jevon Daly and Kyle Wareham will also be provided.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to be able to work with so many of these local businesses in order to make this such a successful event,” Dr. Shane said.

Dr. Shane Harpham with Dr. Travis Fiegle and his son Karson hanging out at the dunk tank

In addition to the free activities, there will be food trucks on site for purchases as well as a silent auction. Time to Eat, LLC and La Birria Loca will be providing some great grub while Cinnabon Bluffton, Corner Perk and Kona Ice will be serving snacks and refreshments. The silent auction will feature raffles with items donated by Montage, Burnt Church Distillery, The Pearl, and Ombra among others. Any excess funds received through these donations will be donated to the Sea Kids Smile Worldwide Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Dr. Shane, whose mission is to help kids locally, regionally, and globally who need dental treatment but who don’t have access to dental care or funds.

“The Oscar Frazier Park is the perfect venue for this event due to its proximity to Old Town Bluffton,” Dr. Shane said. “And another cool detail is that the same day we’re hosting the Candy Bounce Back—Nov. 6—is also the date of the popular Bike Bluffton event, a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton. Participants in Bike Bluffton can easily access Oscar Frazier Park after they ride in the morning and enjoy the Candy Bounce Back event that afternoon.”

Sea Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is conveniently located, at the entry of Old Town Bluffton at 164 Bluffton Rd. Initially, Dr. Shane opened his Lowcountry office in the building next door, but when he saw the growth and opportunity in Bluffton, he built a beautiful, new facility next door to his original location with the same philosophy— that the dentist’s office can be a fun, exciting, and out of the ordinary place where kids look forward to visiting.

The Sea Smiles lobby has its own playground, fish tank, and treasure chest that kids love to explore. Behind the front desk is a giant surfboard where each child will see their names when they come in for their appointments. Once in the treatment rooms, they have custom-made, surfboard-style dentist chairs to catch the simulated waves during their exams and watch the real waves on the ceiling TVs.

“We try to create a very relaxing atmosphere,” Dr. Shane said. “Our approach is innovative and current. For example, while the old philosophy of drilling and filling cavities still exists, we have less invasive and less fearful treatment options that manage caries, or cavities, versus treating them. If a child is nervous or has anxiety about a filling, we can treat them with a non-invasive procedure that remineralizes the tooth and kills the bacteria that is causing the cavity. We also have traditional restorations that do not include fluoride and zirconia white crowns, and we offer sedations if needed.”

Marines in the Middle East receiving some of the candy collected from our community

Children love the fun atmosphere and parents love the relationships at Sea Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. The staff fosters a happy atmosphere and gets the kids excited about their treatment. When they leave, the kids get lollipops that prevent cavities.

Dr. Shane encourages parents to begin dental treatments when a child turns one or as soon as their first tooth erupts and then to bring them back every six months to begin enforcing the importance of diet and oral hygiene.

“One of the biggest things I teach about is parents giving their children gummy vitamins,” Dr. Shane said. “Many cavities we see in young children come from daily vitamin gummies or different gummy supplements. Parents think they are doing the right thing by giving vitamins, and they are, but the vitamins should not be in a gummy form. Instead, we promote chewable vitamins that taste good and prevent cavities that are made with xylitol sugar that is approved by the American Dental Association.”

Dr. Shane asserts that every member of his staff is exceptional and committed to providing the best pediatric oral care available. One pivotal member of the practice is Amy Bishop, who has been the office manager for eight years. With a master’s degree in psychology, her background helps create and maintain the relationships that are so important to Sea Smiles. As well, Alexandra Hursey, who has been with Sea Smiles for five years, is recognized throughout the Lowcountry for her skills and abilities to provide premier pediatric dental care.

“Your child’s smile is a treasure,” Dr. Shane said, “and our goal is to keep that treasure shining by making visits to the dentist enjoyable and educational.” 

For more information, visit seakidssmile.com or call (843) 815-5437.

Article by Cheryl Alexander

Let’s be honest… Aging beautifully is a lifestyle. And the earlier one embraces the required regimens of this lifestyle, the more satisfied one will be with each passing year. LUX—A Medical Spa, with offices on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, understands this journey perhaps better than any in the Lowcountry. Their commitment to excellence, education, and current technology makes it possible to have and maintain a more youthful appearance with the use of clinical procedures and spa treatments, a combination that provides their clients with the ultimate anti-aging experience.

“Our mission is to be the premier choice for medical aesthetics and body enrichment services such as Botox, dermal fillers, laser hair removal, wrinkle reduction, and sunspot reduction,” said Jasmine L. Alderson, spa director. “At LUX, we strive to help rejuvenate your skin and body through the luxurious union of medicine and beauty.”

LUX—A Medical Spa is co-owned by two physicians, Frederick G. Weniger, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Weniger Plastic Surgery, and Carmen A. Traywick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of May River Dermatology. With their combined experience and knowledge, the two physicians hands-on train each employee at LUX, including their skilled and unmatched nurse practitioners. In the Hilton Head Island office, clients rely on nurse practitioner Elizabeth Appling, and at the Bluffton location, Erin Hutcheson and Kylie Gratton care for clients. With each nurse’s unique training in shadowing the doctors in the operating rooms, they understand a variety of skin conditions and know exactly what to look out for when treating patients.

“We’re excited about so many things this fall,” Alderson said. “Last June, we launched our online schedular, which has been received with huge success. Now the appointment and registration process are seamless, and clients have 24-hour

c The lobby at LUX~ Medical Spa Shelter Cove Towne Center office.

b Dr. Frederick G. Weniger and Dr. Carmen A. Traywick.

access to schedule and cancel appointments. No phone calls are necessary, even for new patients who can fill out all their new-patient paperwork online before they arrive.”

Being well-prepared for your appointment will ensure that your providers have all the necessary information to provide you with the best possible care. Completing your paperwork, educating yourself on pre- or postcare, and reviewing the staff page to familiarize yourself with your provider will best prepare you for your appointment.

Another big fall announcement is the launch of the LUX VIP phone app. When you download the app, you can refer friends, read up on services, and enjoy exclusive discounts and rewards.

“Our LUX VIPs also have access to exclusive packages and accumulate rewards for all purchases, including our skincare products, laser treatments, injectables, and a wide variety of other rewards they’ll be able to claim on the app,” Alderson explained.

LUX—A Medical Spa always offers clients monthly specials to look forward to. This month’s feature, the Fall Radiance Package, includes two laser BBL™ full face treatments and two HydraFacial’s for $999. The BBL, or laser broadband light, is a non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that uses broadband light technology to treat a wide variety of skin conditions including sun damage, acne, and visible signs of age. With each BBL photo rejuvenation treatment, patients will see a noticeable improvement in the tone and texture of their skin. HydraFacial treatments utilize super-serums filled with antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to boost hydration, help address the signs of aging, and protect skin from environmental damages. Patients leave the office feeling more recharged, renewed, and invigorated.

Additionally, the much-anticipated LUX Holiday Sale starts on Black Friday. Subscribe to the VIP app or sign up online to receive monthly emails.

For more information about LUX or to schedule an appointment, visit luxhhi.com or call (843) 252-0037.

ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER

A SURVIVOr’S STOrY

LOCAL NURSE TURNS DIAGNOSIS INTO WITH GREATER PURPOSE

Just off a 2019 diagnosis of melanoma and on the heels of the 2020 COVID pandemic, Kerry Reilly, then 42 years old and an operating room nurse for breast cancer surgeon Dr. Rochelle L. Ringer, made an appointment for her very first mammogram.

“The Bluffton Medical Center had just re-opened,” Reilly said. “I went in for my appointment, and in the next few days, I received a call from them that I needed to come back for more imaging.”

Reilly’s baseline mammogram indicated cancer. Though she’d been working alongside Dr. Ringer for a couple of years and had extensive knowledge about breast cancer from a clinical and surgical perspective, she didn’t know much about it from a patient’s point of view. She learned quickly that navigating treatment is a harrowing, even terrifying process that many times culminates with mastectomy—in Reilly’s case, a bilateral, or double, mastectomy.

Family and/or friend support is important in a patient’s coping and recovery from cancer. Reilly’s husband Lee Jenkins was her extra set of ears when Dr. Ringer sat them down to explain the next steps. It didn’t hurt so much when the weekend before Reilly’s surgery, Lee proposed, and he has been her shoulder to lean on since.

One year after Reilly’s surgery, Dr. Ringer approached her and offered her the position of breast health navigator at Hilton Head Hospital.

“I had never done administrative work before or worked in an office except when I was working as a flight nurse in the Air Force,” Reilly said. “When I wasn’t flying, I was the education and training nurse, which enabled me to be in an office setting. I wasn’t 100 percent sure this new position was for me, but because I now had first-hand experience as a breast cancer survivor, I took the job.”

The amount of knowledge Reilly has amassed as a survivor and now as the hospital’s navigator is huge. She relates that, in 2021 alone, they assisted and treated more than 150 breast cancer patients.

“To be able to relate to the patients and let them know they are in good hands is so gratifying,” Reilly said, “and especially those going into cancer treatment from their first mammogram like I did. It’s terrifying, and the anxiety is overwhelming. We are a multi-disciplinary team. Dr. Ringer is a fellowship-trained breast surgeon, and we also have a nurse practitioner.”

As breast health navigator, Reilly guides those diagnosed with breast cancer through a process that can be overwhelming due to the number of appointments, different doctors, and varying treatments. Plus, with her own personal experience, she gently steers each patient to whatever is next, providing emotional support and encouragement when it’s most needed.

Reilly’s point of navigation starts at the beginning of the patient’s breast problem, indicated either through imaging or an abnormality the patient has identified herself. Educating the patient and helping set expectations comes next. Coordinating referrals to other physicians makes the process less stressful for the patient as well.

“All the patient has to do is pick up the phone for the appointment,” Reilly said. “I find everyone they need in advance. They are supported throughout the entire diagnosis, and when their treatment is over, I provide a survivorship care plan that outlines their diagnosis, treatment plan, recommended follow-up care, and surveillance. My job allows

me to advocate for the patient to make sure that what they want is what happens.”

If any patient has any hesitation during the process, Reilly will simply sit and talk them through the moment. She has a social worker who can connect patients with mental health providers and financial assistance. In addition, when the abnormality is genetic (those with the BRCA gene have a higher percentage of reoccurring cancer), Kerry refers them for genetics counseling.

“During genetics counseling, the counselor will gather the patient’s family history and draw blood, then their results will be back in a few weeks,” Reilly explained. “Some women decide to undergo a double mastectomy to reduce their chances of having cancer down the road.”

Other services include referrals to physical therapists, medical and radiation oncologists, and nutritionists. For those with mastectomies, home health services are also available.

“We have fostered great relationships with every resource our patients will need,” Reilly said. “For example, recently we worked with a patient who had breast cancer 20 years ago, resulting in a lumpectomy. Her breast cancer returned, so she had to have a mastectomy, which requires a drain. The home health care worker helps her with the drain and wound care.”

Reilly facilitates a monthly support group for breast cancer patients and survivors to lend support and encouragement for each other. A different speaker is featured at each meeting, as indicated by the desires and needs of the group.

“We’ve had a nutritionist, a psychologist, a physical therapist, and even the leader of Dragon Boat Day,” Reilly said. “The Breast Health Center has its own dragon boat,

paddled by survivors, family members, and staff. The nonprofit organization helps our breast cancer patients. Their donations help our patients offset medical bills by helping them with mortgage payments, utility bills, etc. At the last Dragon Boat Day in June, paddlers raised more than $80,000.”

Reilly also started free yoga classes for all cancer patients (not just for breast cancer) and survivors in the area, led by Mary Davis, who is also the yoga instructor at Sun City. Yoga sessions are the first and third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bluffton Medical Campus, suite 150. Participants should bring a yoga mat and block. Chairs are available for those who can’t get on the floor. The classes are free for any cancer survivors/patients.

In October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, several events are scheduled to help raise awareness about breast cancer prevention. On October 3 at 7 p.m., a Luminaria event will be held at the Bluffton Medical Campus to honor every life touched by cancer. On October 6, the Breast Cancer Support Group is hosting a Mary Kay “Pamper and Perk” event where attendees can enjoy facials and makeovers. On the same day, Reilly is hosting a Breast Cancer Round Table to educate, share information, and support women who want to come in and talk. On October 27, Dr. Ringer is speaking at Margaritaville about the importance of early detection. And the Bluffton Medical Center department of radiology is offering Mammo Mondays, where they stay open late to make sure everyone who wants to get their mammogram has an opportunity to do so. 

For more information, visit hiltonheadregional.com/ services/breast-cancer or email Kerry.Reilly@tenethealth.com.

A MONTH OF CELEBRATION

In honor of October as National Arts and Humanities Month, the town’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Arts Council of Hilton Head announces the Sixth Annual Crescendo Celebration of Arts & Culture. It will be celebrated from Sunday, October 11 through Saturday, November 12, 2022.

Amid having some tough discussions about workforce housing, short-term rentals, and other projects, it’s nice to take a moment to shift to some lighter subjects. The celebration of the arts and its importance to our island and the Lowcountry is one of them.

Each year in October, we kick off Crescendo, a regional event that highlights and showcases the vast array of arts, culture and history organizations, individual artists, performers, and authors residing and working on Hilton Head Island. It demonstrates the diverse spectrum of talent and culture that are blended into our community.

In 2021, the Crescendo celebration featured more than 100 unique arts and cultural programs, concerts, theatrical productions, museum, and gallery exhibits, lectures, poetry readings, dance performances, historical tours, hands-on arts experiences, and educational offerings. Organizers estimated that more than 10,000 people from all over the United States, Canada and parts of Europe visited our community to participate in the monthlong fete. They anticipate that many or more this year, and I’m excited about the lineup of activities.

Signature events for this year’s Crescendo include the following:

• Tuesday, October 11: Annual Crescendo Community

Celebration featuring all the arts & culture organizations on the island at Shelter Cove Community Park. This is great event and an opportunity to mingle among artists and organizations.

• Saturday, October 15: Rock ’N’ Rib Pitmasters & Music Fest at Coligny Plaza featuring Blues Traveler.

• Sunday, October 16: La Isla Magazine’s Latin Music Festival at Shelter Cove Community

FLOOD PREVENTION

Bluffton received more than its fair share of rain over the past month, overwhelming some areas of our town with flooding. This has revealed the issues which would be forthcoming if a hurricane hit this season. Flood prevention is an ongoing priority for town, state, and county employees. However, every property manager and, most important, each resident of the town needs to be assessing their drains and ditches before a major storm and making continual efforts to prevent waterflow blockages.

Please be mindful of the tasks of each resident, property owners association (POA) and property manager can do to prevent flooding. Please educate your family and neighbors to never blow or put lawn debris or garbage in the storm drains. If you see anyone blowing their yard debris into a drain, kindly tell them this will impede waterflow and could possibly be the reason for flooding.

Pipes, ditches, and storm drains are a part of the stormwater infrastructure and each one needs to be inspected and regularly cleaned. Any obstruction can cause a domino effect of flooding, and that could result in damage to your house, your street, or your property.

The Town of Bluffton has jurisdiction over pollutants in town neighborhoods, not flooding. Flooding is an issue which your POA must address. If you don’t live in a neighborhood with a POA, contact the agency that maintains your streets. In most circumstances, flooding is a

A Note from John McCann Island Mayor

A Note from Lisa Sulka

Photography

Photography by

Park. This event also coincides with Latin American Month, celebrated from midSeptember through mid-October.

• Friday, October 21: Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra presents Symphony Under the Stars at Lowcountry Celebration Park.

• Friday, November 4: TedxHiltonHead at the Seahawk Cultural Center. This will be an exciting opportunity to hear perspectives from different community leaders and company representatives.

• Saturday, November 12: Hilton Head Island Lantern Parade at South Forest Beach. This has become a favorite event that attracts participants from across the region. They carry an array of lanterns that light up the night as they parade on the beach.

Other highly anticipated events during the run of Crescendo include the opening weekend of the holiday favorite The Nutcracker; Hilton Head Island Concours d ’Elegance and Motoring Festival; The Taming at Lean Ensemble Theater; Little Shop of Horrors and Spamilton at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina; Hilton Head Island Oyster Fest; and costumed character tours at Historic Fort Mitchel and Zion Cemetery and Baynard Mausoleum.

Save the dates on your calendar. I look forward to seeing you at these events around town.

result of the neighborhood’s infrastructure or clogged ditches adjacent to streets. Every resident is encouraged to help in this effort and ensure any ditch, pipe, or drain near his or her property is clear of any obstruction.

Town employees routinely inspect and clean out stormwater ditches on town or other public property. However, numerous stormwater ditches are located on private property or in the jurisdiction of state or county roads. If you don’t know which agency is responsible for street maintenance, please view the Road Maintenance Responsibility Map within the Map Gallery on the Town of Bluffton website. The agency responsible for the street is also responsible for the drains. To ensure stormwater can flow unimpeded through the town’s infrastructure, all stormwater ditches need to be maintained and regularly cleaned.

If you see a clogged pipe or storm drain in your neighborhood, please notify your POA or the agency that maintains your street. Let us learn from the late August weather event and together, better prepare and prevent flooding.

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.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS CLAYTON ROLLISON?

ARTICLE BY JESSE BLANCO

Theworker bees in the trenches will tell you that chefs come and go. The only constant in the food and beverage industry is change. You could be in the weeds with a best friend on Thursday night only to find out they took a job across the street on Saturday. The most fortunate restaurant owners will tell you their biggest secret is consistency with the staff. Make them happy whatever it takes.

Far fewer are the cases when a chef leaves a restaurant and makes headlines. People notice. People talk. If you are lucky, customers will adjust to something new.

Still fewer than that are the cases where a restaurant owner/chef runs a relatively successful operation and suddenly walks away. Not to do something across the street, but to take a break from it all. That’s where you find Hilton Head Island native Clayton Rollison.

“If even half the stories I’ve heard about me are true, I’d be living a wonderful life,” Rollison said, referring to the rumor mill that has been doing what it does since he sold Lucky Rooster Kitchen & Bar in 2020. How he got to that point is a very long story, but the bottom line was, he decided after eight years that he needed a break.

“Between opening a second restaurant, remodeling the first one, and Covid, honestly, I was just burnt,” Rollison said. “The market is really tough on Hilton Head.”

And just like that, he sold to a local family looking to do some great things with the brand and disappeared from the public restaurant scene. But he didn’t leave the area as some people will have you believe. He’s still here and currently serving as executive chef at Callawassie Island, a gated community just off Highway 170, roughly between Bluffton and Beaufort.

“I’m really loving this,” Rollison said. “The club, the GM, the residents here … they are just a great group of people. There is different pressure here, for sure. The community is vibrant. They keep us very busy here with lots of club events and wine dinners. For me, it’s great, because at Lucky Rooster we were

so focused on hyper-focused Southern food. I get to do some of that here, but I get to cook globally again, and I haven’t done that in a long time. It has really been fun.”

Of course, the clubhouse at Callawassie Island is a private club, so you can’t just take a ride over there for dinner. But we do know where you can catch up with Rollison and enjoy some of his food.

On October 27, he will be one of three featured chefs participating in our Eat It and Like It Fried Chicken and Bubbles event at the Technical College of the Lowcountry. It will be a fantastic event in a beautiful setting, featuring unlimited amounts of fried chicken and a bottomless supply of bubbles plus a dessert bar.

“I’m looking forward to it. This is going to be fun,” Rollison said. “We are going to do some of the signature fried chicken that we used to do at the Rooster and have fun with some other things. We may smoke some chicken before frying it. We may experiment with some Korean fried chicken. I’m not sure. We’ve just started kicking those ideas around.”

Regardless of what they come up with, you know it will be good. And it will also serve as an opportunity to say hello to Rollison (if you can catch him roaming the venue) and see for yourself that he is not, as some have speculated, driving an Uber in Key West.

“That was my favorite,” he said. “Of all the spots people have placed me, that one sounded like the most fun.”

No, the Conch Republic will have to wait a while to see if he ever shows up down there, which is doubtful. There are still too many things he plans to do with his career. There are too many ideas to take a shot on, and there is too much fun to have in kitchens. All that other stuff can wait. For now, we have Clayton Rollison here in the Lowcountry with plenty of opportunites to Eat It and Like It.

You can find more details and a link for tickets to our Fried Chicken and Champagne event at Eat It and Like It.com.

The Italian-American Club of Hilton Head Island, a local nonprofit organization, is proud to announce that the twelfth annual Italian Heritage Festival will be held Saturday, October 22 at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn, on Hilton Head Island. Offering something for everyone, the festival grows each year, expanding on the Italian-American cultural experience with food, wine, and live music. In keeping with the community focus, proceeds from the Italian Festival go to local charities and scholarships.

As in years past, food booths will line the pathways at Honey Horn with local restaurants serving portions of their signature dishes. Cooking demonstrations are scheduled throughout the afternoon, while volunteers will prepare traditional Italian dessert favorites like cannoli and zeppole. There will be educational booths, a Kids Zone, and Italian arts and crafts.

Entertainment for the day includes live music from the Hilton Head Plantation Big Band along with competitions including grape stomping and pizza eating. Also, shop and bid at the famous Festival Silent Auction featuring an array of items such as rounds of golf, art, jewelry, gift baskets, boat rides, merchandise, and trips.

Tickets are $6 at the gate and in advance, and parking is free (handicap parking is available). If you have questions, email or call Paul Caimano at paccomkt@aol.com or (412) 897-1148.

Please help Weniger Plastic Surgery & Associates in welcoming Dr. Teri Moak to their practice. She is now accepting patients at both LUX A Medical Spa in Hilton Head and Weniger Plastic Surgery in Bluffton and looks forward to serving the Lowcountry.

An extraordinary collection of Lowcountry musical artists will join VIVID Gallery to present “Fun with the Fox,” a special evening of good times to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

“Fun with the Fox became the name, because enjoying life is a big part of the goal,” explained local art photographer Jeff Keefer of VIVID Gallery, the event sponsor. “And the most successful local fundraising events are all about having fun.”

Keefer teamed with singer-songwriter Sara Burns to create the event with Burns enlisting fellow singer-songwriter Taylor Kent. Together they perform as “Gypsy Bleu’s” and bring with them an ensemble of accomplished musicians, including Nate Douglas, Charlie Simpson and Zach Stevens.

A former chair and current vice chair of the national Michael J. Fox Foundation, Keefer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2005. He currently donates the proceeds from his gallery to the Foundation.

“Fun with the Fox will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, October 12, in the plaza of The Shops at Sea Pines Center. Lowcountry Produce will serve complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine, and beer will be available for purchase. For tickets and more information, visit FunwiththeFox.com.