CH2: Celebrate Hilton Head - November 2013

FEATURES

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2013

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>> FEATURES

P44 SAVANNAH FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL It’s a culinary extravaganza complete with wine dinners, spirits seminars and cooking classes.

P52

HAPPY TURKEY DAY! CH2 celebrates Thanksgiving with recipes, community events, locals sharing their traditions, Black Friday madness & much, much more.

P72 BATTLE OF THE SEXES 2014 Thanks to all of the nominees in the race for the title of CH2’s Bachelor OR Bachelorette of 2014!

P106 INKED Rebecca Edwards explores the culture of tattoos.

P114 PREP’S MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Magic, wonder, and family fun

P118 DECORATE YOUR HALLS Follow these festive tips and you will be feeling merry and bright in no time.

>> C2 MEDICAL SECTION

P80 YOU CAN STOP GUM DISEASE This is a mighty big statement that requires an explanation.

P84

FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT… DETOUR AHEAD Living with MS

P92

CONCUSSIONS IN SPORTS What every parent should know

52 P96

LESSONS FOR LIFE Former football star shares story, motivates youth

P100 AVOID SKIN CANCER Treat your skin with TLC

P102 DYSLEXIA Talking is easy...why isn’t reading?

>> BUSINESS PROFILES

P48 CONFIDENT RETIREMENT®: IT IS POSSIBLE Q&A with John Rush, CRPC® Financial Advisor

P74 FACES DAYSPA For over 30 years, Patricia Owen has made it her business to empower women by helping them feel relaxed and beautiful—from head to pedicured toe.

P58 NEW HEADMASTER SPEAKS TO DIGITAL NATIVES Hilton Head Christian Academy sets a new course

>> MONTHLY

P24 EDITOR’S NOTE

P26 A SERIES OF FORTUNATE EVENTS

P30 IT’S 5 O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE

P32 CELEBRATE NOVEMBER

P38 GOLF 101 How to alter your trajectory

P42 CHARITY CORNER Live to Give

P34 A LINE IN THE SAND Common Core

P70 TOWN UPDATE FROM THE MAYOR >>> ON OUR COVERS LOWCOUNTRY TURKEYS BY GARY PALMER

FROM THE EDITOR

Publisher / Editor-in-Chief: MAGGIE WASHO

11.2013

2 Art Director: KELLY STROUD Art & Production CATHERINE DAVIES Advertising Sales: ASHTON KELLEY KIM CROUCH KANDACE WIGHTMAN KAITY BENNETT Executive Assistant HUNTER KOSTYLO Contributing Writers: KITTY BARTELL DR. JOHN BATSON DR. THOMAS BUNDY DR. ALVIN DANNENBERG FRANK DUNNE JR. REBECCA EDWARDS ANDREA GANNON COURTNEY HAMPSON

I Must be Getting Old

Happy Movember!

LINDA S. HOPKINS DREW LAUGHLIN JEFF PAGE MICHAEL PASKEVICH PETE POPOVICH DEBBIE SZPANKA LISA SULKA Contributing Photographers / Artist: PHOTOGRAPHY

BY ANNE MARK STAFF PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISZTIAN ARTWORK BY GARY PALMER JOHN BRACKETT PHOTOGRAPHY Contributing Art Direction: TOM STAEBLER P.O.Box 22949 Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 843.689.2658

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ither that or I’m just losing my nerve. In this month’s issue, we did a story about tattoos and the reasons people get them.

It all started when I got the September issue of GQ in the mail. On the cover was San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, in all of his tattooed splendor. As I thumbed through it I mused to my co-workers that people who get tattoos must be really good at relationships. To which Catherine laughed hysterically and asked why in the world I would think that. To me it was obvious—it is a HUGE commitment to put ink on your body. Sure, tattoos can be removed, but there is usually an unattractive scar that goes along with that removal.

That of course led to an office conversation about how many of us have tattoos, and why we got them. I was operating under the assumption that the majority of people who had tattoos would, at some point in their lives, regret them. After reading Rebecca Edward’s article, it appears I was just downright wrong. Most of the people she interviewed had very personal reasons why they decorated their bodies: milestones, lost friends, big accomplishments.

So much for the “ I got drunk and got a tattoo” stereotype.

Which leads me to the reason I must be getting old. When it came time to pick a cover, I was hesitant to put the man with a giant ship tattooed on his chest on the cover. I found myself

more drawn to the charming little Island turkey that Gary Palmer created for us. My art director, Kelly Stroud strongly (yet respectfully) disagreed with my choice. So now I want to know…

What do you think?

Which cover would you have chosen?

Drop me a line at m.washo@celebratehiltonhead.com and tell me you love the turkey or I’m turning into an old fuddy-duddy.

Happy Thanksgiving to all—tattooed or not!

M. Washo Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

m.washo@celebratehiltonhead.com

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NOVEMBER 2013

C2 A SERIES OF FORTUNATE EVENTS

Look out, Lisa!

Jack Roberts attended his first Bluffton Town Council meeting on August 13. He announced to Mayor Sulka that he wants her job in a few years.

Anthony Barrett, town manager, introduced the sixth-grader and announced Roberts’ wishes to run for public office.

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Another Big Achievement

Welcome to the Team

Christopher Corkern, with The Prudential Insurance Co. and president of The Corkern Group, has been named a Court of the Table and a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), one of the life insurance industry’s most prestigious organizations.

Performance Development Corporation, a Hilton Head Island headquartered web development company, is pleased to announce the addition of Paige Rose to its sales and marketing team.

Sorority Sunshine Jeanette Davis, member of the Low Country, SC Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter, attended the Kappa Delta Sorority’s National Convention in Boston, June 2730. They received four awards: the Philanthropy Award, the Shamrock Award, the Community Visibility Award and the Excellence Award.

NOVEMBER 2013

November 2013

Grand Opening Lowcountry Bride & Gown and Make It Pretty floral designs celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting by the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce on September 26.

New Services Offered

Awards Presentation

The Law Office of Johnson, Smith & Associates, LLC has added residential and commercial real estate closings to their practice. The firm will continue to provide legal services in the areas of wills, trust, estate planning, probate administration and small business planning at its offices at 14 Westbury Park Way, Suite 104 in Bluffton.

The government and business affairs committee, which advises Sun Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of directors on local affairs, hosted a Lowcountry recognition event Oct. 2, honoring Douglas Graham, of the Levy Fire Department; Kathy Cramer and Cherie Taylor, of the Special Olympics; Shaw Chin Capps, Hope Haven of the Lowcountry executive director; and Karen Lavery, Volunteers in Medicine executive director. <

A Big Day On Friday, September 27, Sarah Reed of Edward Jones celebrated the groundbreaking of her new office located on May River Rd.

NOVEMBER 2013

New Location!

Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka and Celia Dunn cut the ribbon to the newly expanded Celia Dunn Sothebyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s International Realty location in historic downtown Bluffton on Calhoun Street.

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C2

A SERIES OF FORTUNATE EVENTS

Another Groundbreaking Event in Bluffton!

Timeless Interiors owner Holly Dixon and Mayor Lisa Sulka joined investment and development partners to celebrate the ground breaking of Timeless Interiors’ new Bluffton Parkway facility–the newest furniture store and full service design studio in Bluffton.

A New Business Brad Tholen has opened Brad Tholen Home Inspectors, LLC; Real Property Inspections and Consulting, providing residential and commercial property inspection services for Realtors, homeowners, homebuyers and home sellers.

A Big Honor Stephen Frederico, a 17-year-old junior at Hilton Head Preparatory School, has been chosen to represent the State of South Carolina in the 2014 International Power Showcase, to be held January 2-5, 2014 at the Miami Marlins Stadium.

Frederico will be competing against the top baseball prospects from around the globe at this event.

A New Stylist Fifth Avenue Salon is delighted to welcome Melissa Meng-Horowitz, a talented stylist with over 12 years of experience.

Her specialties include extensions, Brazilian blowouts, cut & color and special event hair.

Mother-Daughter Duo Offering “shabby chic” paint classes, home decor and custom gifts, Brittany and Donna Jones have opened REVIVAL designs & décor—the island’s newest furniture and accessories store.

A New Certification

Welcome to the Team Larry Meyers and Victor DelGuercio have joined The Alliance Group Realty located in the Fresh Market Shoppes on Hilton Head Island.

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Lynn E. Geiger, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist, has been nationally certified in TraumaFocused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

NOVEMBER 2013

New in Town

Welcome!

Dr. Porcelli and his team at Beaufort Family Dentistry are pleased to announce the expansion of their practice with the opening of a second office at 29 Plantation Park Drive Suite 303 in Bluffton.

Lowcountry Legal Volunteers is happy to welcome Melissa Arnold in the position of Executive Director and Paul E. Williams as a Paralegal.

Welcome!

Helen Schulze, a real estate agent with years of staging and remodeling experience, has joined The Richardson Group, adding a new dynamic to the longestablished real estate company.

Welcome Kiely!

Long Cove Club has hired Kathleen Kiely as director of marketing and communications.

Kathleen has 23 years of experience in the club industry and non-profit world and recently relocated from Cincinnati, Ohio.

To be included in our next Series of Fortunate Events, please email Ashton Kelley a PHOTO and A SENTENCE (not a paragraph) at a.kelley@ celebratehiltonhead.com. Photos will not be accepted without a sentence.

Sentences will not be accepted without a photo. Paragraphs will be edited down to one sentence. Get it? Got it! Good.

NOVEMBER 2013

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O’CLOCK

It’s

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Kingfisher- Joseph the Magician (Every Monday)

Charbar Co.Live music with Reid Richmond!- Join us for half price happy hour from 4-7PM with live music outside (6-9PM) Ruby Lee’s- Terry Grant & All that Jazz (Every Tuesday) Truffles Cafe- Ladies Night (Every Tuesday) Happy Hour (4-Close) $5 Absolute cocktails $5 appetizers at the bar

Charbar Co.-NFL Football, All Games, ALL Day- Join us for NFL food & drink specials all day; gameday bar snacks, $12 beer buckets & More!

Ela’s Blu Water Grille- Live music (6:30-9:30PM)

Bistro 17- Jay Samuels on the baby grand (WednesdaySaturday) Charbar Co.Live music with Whitley Deputy!Join us for half price happy hour from 4-7PM with live music outside (7-10PM)

Charbar Co.Live music with Reid Richmond!- Join us for half price happy hour from 4-7PM with live music outside (6-9PM)

Ruby Lee’s- Motown Monday & Open Mic with Sterling and Shuvette (Every Monday)

Charlie’s L’etoile Verte- Happy Hour: 1/2 off wine by glass, $4.50 house liquors and $2.50 domestics (5-7PM)

Old Fort PubHappy Hour (5-7PM)

Ruby Lee’sNFL Sunday Ticket!

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WEDNESDAY

Old Fort Pub- Happy Hour (5-7PM)

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TUESDAY

SUNDAY

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MONDAY

SOMEWHERE!

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Send your event/entertainment listing to c.davies@celebratehiltonhead.com

Old Fort Pub- Happy Hour(5-7PM) Ruby Lee’sNov. 13 & 27: Reggie Deas Nov. 6 & 20: Reggie Deas & Lavon Stevens (Wednesday’s)

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SATURDAY

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FRIDAY

THURSDAY

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Ela’s Blu Water Grille - Live music (Starting at 8PM) Charbar Co.- Tommy Sims (Every Friday 7-10PM) Bomboras-Nov. 8: HHI Ski Club Monthly Meeting (5-7PM)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Vinyeard 55-Whitley Deputy and Btown Project (Every 2nd The Salty DogThursday) Patterson Colt and the Nov. 9: Pig Pickin’ Peacemakers (Every 3rd & Lowcountry BoilFriday) Lowcountry cooking done

right! (Starts at 4PM) Nov. 27: Thanksgiving Homecoming- The biggest night out of the year! LC Boil from 7-9PM. Plus, Happy Hour from 4-6PM Nov. 29: Holiday Lights & Free Pics with Santa!-Bring the whole famiyl and well behaved pets! (3-7PM)

Ela’s Blu Water Grille - Live music (Starting at 8PM) Charbar Co.- Live Music with Mike Bagenstose!Join us for half price happy hour from 4-7PM with live music outside (7-10PM) Ruby Lee’s- Nov. 7 & 14: Target the Band Nov. 21: Deas Guys Electric Piano- Pinnacle Vodka Ladies Night, CLassic Rock Beach Music & Motown with the Simpson Brothers *Closed for Thanksgiving*

The Jazz CornerNov. 1 & 2: The Christian Tamburr Sextet Nov. 8 & 9: Big Band Singer Lynn Roberts w/ Bob Alberti’s Trio Nov. 15 & 16: The Bria Skonberg Quartet Nov. 22 &2 3: The Scott Giddens Quartet Nov. 29 & 30: Kevin Bales & Friends (Starts at 8:00PM)

Charbar Co.- Jason Damato, Sammy Passaloukas & Special Guest & All Day Football Specials Ruby Lee’s- Earl Williams & Alexander Newton (Every Sat.) Skull Creek Boathouse- Nov. 2 Lobsterfest: Live Music by White Liquor (1PM-Until) Black Marlin- Nov. 23: Total Cluster Shuck(Oyster Roast & Crab Cracking): Begins at 12PM.

NOVEMBER

2013 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

2 NOVEMBER 8-10 3-21

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Shelter Cove Park November 8;4:30-9:00PM November 9 & 10; 11AM-5PM There will also be fried, grilled and rockefeller oysters and other food like grilled chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs.

Admissions: $5.00 www.islandreccenter.org

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WORTH NY HOLIDAY FASHION SHOW & LUNCH! Country Club of Hilton Head $35 each or $350 for a table 11:00AM-1:00PM hospiecarelc.org

CMN TORCH RELAY Marriott’s SurfWatch 4PM Registration 4-545PM www.torch-relay. org/

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VETERAN’S DAY OBSERVANCE Shelter Cove Park 10:15AM Featuring the Parris Island Marine Band!

(843) 681-4960

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A FESTIVAL OF HYMNS Providence Presbyterian Church 8:00AM FREE! lowcountryago.org

SAVE THE DATE! FAMILY WINE TASTING PROMISES 2ND TO BENEFIT THE MUSC ANNUAL GOLF CHILDREN’S TOURNAMENT HOSPITAL HiltonDecember Head 4, 2013 National Shops Golf at Sea Pines Center Club 5:30PM-7:30PM (843) 815-4211

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SATURDAY

JEWELRY TRUNK SHOW Truffles Cafe @ Shops at Sea Pines Center 2-7PM Vintage Jewelry & Scarves! trufflescafe.com

SCBT HILTON HEAD OYSTER FESTIVAL

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FRIDAY

12 & 14

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IT’S NOT YOU, IT’S ME Park Plaza Cinemas Showings at 5PM & 7:30PM $10/ticket Watch the trailer: vimeo. com/71830079

19-24 MUSIC TO YOUR MOUTH Palmetto Bluff All Day Event Get your belly ready for the seventh helping of Palmetto Bluff’s Music To Your Mouth Festival musictoyourmouth.com

26 THANKSGIVING WAGON RIDE Sea Pines Forest Preserve 3:00PM $ 4:15PM $15/adults,$10 / children (12 and under).

GO TRI SPORTS TURKEY TROT Hilton Head Plantation 8:00AM The races begin and end at the Chart House parking lot near the back entrance of Hilton Head Plantation islandreccenter.org

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ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE Hilton Head Christian Academy 9:30AM (843) 681-2878

7-10 FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING Nov. 7-8 at 8PM Nov. 10 at 2PM Arts Center To buy tickets: tickets.artshhi.com

EVERY THURSDAY FARMERS MARKET IN OLD TOWN BLUFFTON Every Thursday 2:00-6:00PM Calhoun Street farmersmarketbluffton .org

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THANKSGIVING SCAVENGER HUNT

Sea Pines Resort 9:00AM-11:30AM Kick off your holiday festivities with this fun family-friendly activity! $20 per family 843.842.1979

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ELEGANT EVENING AT TIDEPOINTE Tidepointe 6:00-9:00PM Annual Elegant Cocktails, Dinner & Silent Auction (843) 671-2951

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BLUFFTON INTERNATIONAL & CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL Calhoun Street Promenade 2:00-6:00PM $20 in advanced, $25 at door

10 9 ASHTON & CLARK’S WEDDING!

15 CAMPUS TOUR Every Friday Hilton Head Christian Academy 9AM-10AM (843) 681-2878 THE NUTCRACKER Nov. 15,16,22 and 23 at 7:30PM Nov. 17 and 23 at 2:30PM Seahawk Cultural Center HHIHS hiltonheaddance. com

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HHIHS ALL SPORTS OYSTER ROAST Hudson’s Seafood 4:00PM-7:00PM $25/Adult

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GREGG RUSSELL THANKSGIVING CONCERT

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

Under the Liberty Oak 7:30PM-9:00PM Concert for entire family, as well as the official lighting of the Christmas Tree!

Arts Center Join Santa, Mrs. Claus and Rudolph at the Town’s official Christmas Tree Lighting www.artshhi.com

NOVEMBER 2013

A LINE IN THE SAND

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE

One subject. Two opinions.

FRANK DUNNE JR.

COMMON CORE? COURTNEY HAMPSON

I

was caught a little off guard when Maggie and Miss C threw Common Core on the table, because I didn’t know anything about it at the time.

Common Core?

What’s that? Some new Pilates modality?

Nevertheless, Courtney’s enthusiasm to take the thumbs up side provided my first

clue that it’s got to be something awful. I jumped online and learned that Common Core is some sort of federal education standards initiative.

I also learned that President Obama is a supporter. I could end it right there, because that’s all the evidence you need to know

something’s a stupid idea, but since I’m supposed to make a whole column out of it I’d better keep writing.

So, here’s what I found out.

Common Core sets common educational achievement standards for all students across the fruited plain with the stated objective—and I’m paraphrasing—of preparing kids for college and careers and returning America to her vaunted status as the global leader in just about everything.

Oooh! Doesn’t that sound just peachy?

Of course it does.

Too bad it’s a bunch of B.S. How do we know it’s a bunch of B.S.?

Answer: it’s a federal program, and what do we know about federal programs? a) The stated objective is a lie

I

do not have children, so I can’t argue on behalf of my child. But I can argue on behalf of yours. For the last decade, I have welcomed more than a thousand college freshmen into my speech communication classroom. Each semester it pains me— and frustrates me—as I witness the great divide among students. A college freshman should know how to cite sources, how to write an outline, how to conduct scholarly research (and understand what scholarly research means. Hint: it isn’t Google.), how to arrive on time, how to stay awake for 50 minutes, how to not look at his or her iPhone for those same 50 minutes, how to complete homework by the due date, how to read a chapter and comprehend the contents, how to type an essay, how to doublespace that essay, how to listen… but many don’t.

While thinking about this article, I went into my

classroom and simply asked, “How many of you felt prepared when you stepped into your first college course?

Only 50 percent of them raised their hands.

That statistic is enough to raise an eyebrow, but not a surprise to me. My students have been batting 500, at best, in the preparation department. (Don’t worry, I whip them into shape.)

The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter credit-bearing entry courses in twoor four-year college programs or enter the workforce. The standards are clear

FRANK DUNNE JR.

intended to distract you from the actual intent. b) The stated objective is never met and the program worsens the problem that it is purported to resolve. c) When the program, by design, inevitably fails to achieve the stated objective, the responsible government trolls are rewarded; people who have nothing to do with it—or tried to stop it in the first place—get blamed, and the program receives more taxpayer money. d) The cycle repeats itself and the program becomes a self-perpetuating money pit for eternity. e) The People suffer.

Common Core is no different, except that it is especially sinister because the youth of America are its primary victims. Mind you, the people behind this thing are the same gang who oppose school choice, i.e., charter schools, private schools and home schooling, where students on average overwhelmingly outperform their public school counterparts. Since Common Core is driven by the U.S. Department of NonEducation, let’s take a look at their record. According to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study of student performance by country, U.S. students rank 33rd in reading, 27th in math and 22nd in science. That’s abysmal. These clowns turned our education system into the laughing stock of the developed world, and now we’re turning to them to administer academic standards for all? C’mon Man! Stanford University mathematics professor James Milgram sat on an expert panel convened to validate Common Core. He refused to sign off on the standards, asserting that the Common Core math scheme 36

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would place American students two years behind their peers in high-achieving countries. Other members of the Validation Committee offered similar comments.

Professor Jonathan Goodman of New York University described Common Core math standards as imposing “significantly lower expectations with respect to algebra and geometry than the published standards of other countries.” Software architect and electrical engineer Ze’ev Wurman, who has served as a math advisory expert on state and national levels, had this to say: “I believe the Common Core marks the cessation of educational standards improvement in the United States. No state has any reason left to aspire for firstrate standards, as all states will be judged by the same mediocre national benchmark enforced by the federal government.”

Whew! Such ringing endorsements! And we haven’t even touched reading and science.

Wurman also hinted at a hidden agenda, noting that teachers unions and other professional teacher associations have a vested interest in lowering accountability standards for their members. I agree, and I’ll take it a step further. The frightening reality is that Common Core is nothing but a dark scheme to put all American youngsters on the same fast track to illiteracy, ignorance, and mediocrity or abject failure. Why on earth would anybody do that?

Because we know who’s really behind this and why—at least those of us who pay attention—and an illiterate, uninformed, desperate populace is a populace that votes Democratic. Perhaps they should change their name to Dumbocrats.  NOVEMBER 2013

COURTNEY HAMPSON

and concise to ensure that parents, teachers, and students understand the expectations in reading, writing, speaking, listening, language and mathematics in school.

If Common Core works, it can level the playing field for students. Your brilliant child (yes you, with the “My Kid is an Honor Student” sticker on the back of your minivan) can continue to excel. The kids who struggle may still struggle, but the Common Core initiative will work to prepare them for the next step and ensure that they are ready to take that next step, which may include walking into my classroom.

Let me tell you a story.

Last semester I had a student whom I’ll call Joe. Joe was taking my Speech Communication class at USCB. The Speech Communication course is designed to make the student an accomplished and confident public speaker and to acquaint the student with a variety of speech forms and oral grammar. Realizing that college isn’t going to be like high school can be a shock to an 18-yearold’s system, but Joe took it all in stride and understood the expectations set forth.

Joe sat in the front row, asked questions often, contributed to class discussions, and completed all of his coursework on time, but really struggled with trying to connect with his audience a.k.a. his classmates.

Joe had an obsession with video games. For every speech he delivered, he would choose a topic somehow related to video games, so he was becoming predictable, and the awkwardness was palpable.

I struggled with how to connect with Joe and help him understand.

As we neared the end of the semester, my students were preparing their persuasive speeches. This is the culminating speech—the skills and theory that I have taught NOVEMBER 2013

them to this point become the building blocks for persuasive brilliance.

Joe, again, was dead-set on persuading the audience to play video games, which was met with moans and groans during his audience analysis. As my “kids” worked in groups to refine their topics, I heard a young lady, whom I’ll call Sue say to Joe, “You have autism, don’t you?” To which Joe replied, “Yes, how do you know?

Sue went on to talk about an educational psychology course she was taking, and I stood there feeling like an idiot. There are no IEPs in college, so I had received no heads-up on Joe or any special accommodations he might need to be successful in my class.

But, this was an “aha moment.” Could it have been the Common Core standards in high school that prepared Joe so well to enter a college classroom? Joe’s revelation that he had autism was a barrier breaker for the entire class, and as a group, we were able to focus with Joe on developing a successful persuasive speech (which is where our time should be spent). He delivered a speech on the educational benefits of video games and received a standing ovation from his classmates and tears from me.

Where would Joe be without Common Core?

College students are paying tuition to receive a “higher education,” but in reality, I have to re-teach half of them core high school curriculum elements in order for them to be able to complete my assignments.

What about the kids who choose not to go to college?

How are they going to enter the job force without these basic skills? Could that be your kid? Do you want fries with that?  www.celebratehiltonhead.com 37

ď ? GOLF TIPS FROM A PRO

Pete Popovich, 2012 HHIPGA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

HOW TO ALTER

TRAJECTORY PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE

A number of instances during a round of golf call for hitting the ball on a lower trajectory. Sometimes hitting it lower is out of necessity and others it is your only option.

Shots out of the rough or into the wind are two that come to mind. Ask a dozen instructors how to hit such a shot, and you are bound to get a dozen answers. Swing theories are like religion, there are many of them, people are passionate about theirs and you can argue each forever.

However, it is difficult to argue physics.

Physics play a vital role in the trajectory a ball flies, and trajectory is affected by a number of elements: the angle the club head comes into the ball, the amount of loft on the clubface at impact and the amount of spin imparted on the ball. To control the trajectory, you need to

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control all of these factors.

The arc of your swing has a bottom out point (tangent point) which is located to the target side of the middle of your stance, regardless of stance width. Widen your stance, and the arc becomes bigger; narrow your stance and the arc becomes smaller. Where you place the ball in relationship to the swingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bottom out point plays a vital role in how it will react in the air, i.e. trajectory and spin.

The common way to hit a knockdown is to move the ball back in the stance, sometimes near the rear foot.

While this allows you to hit it lower, it creates havoc for consistency.

This happens for two reasons: 1) when the ball is too far back in your stance, it limits your body, hands

NOVEMBER 2013



A SIMPLE WAY IS TO KEEP THE BALL POSITION THE SAME AS ANY OTHER SHOT WITH AN IRON. TAKE A LESS LOFTED CLUB, GRIP DOWN (WHICH SHORTENS THE LENGTH) AND NARROW YOUR STANCE SLIGHTLY (WHICH REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT TRANSFER AND ENERGY APPLIED). BOTH OF THESE WILL SHORTEN THE DISTANCE THE BALL TRAVELS, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE HITTING IT WITH MORE CLUB AND LESS LOFT. and club head release while also disrupting the correct sequencing between all three. If the ball is back too far, the club head’s path into the ball is excessively steep. This allows for a lot of de-lofting, which will bring the trajectory down, but it also imparts an inordinate amount of spin on the ball due to the excessive downward strike. Do this a few times then try to hit a “normal” shot, where the ball is to the target side of center, and you will find a major disruption in your timing. 2) Every sport that involves hitting an object (ball) with another object (club, bat, paddle) involves hitting the ball when it is to the target side of the center of your body. As you practice, you repetitively hit balls this way.

Moving the ball to the right of center for one or two shots is contradictory to what your body has become accustomed, and the end result is a disruption in timing and a poor shot.

A simple way is to keep the ball position the same as any other shot with an iron. Take a less lofted club, grip down (which shortens the length) and narrow your stance slightly (which reduces the amount of weight transfer and energy applied). Both of these will shorten the distance the ball travels, even though you are hitting it with more club and less loft. You maintain the same timing in your swing as with a standard shot (the one you have practiced so much), and it does not disrupt other shots and swings. The ball has less spin and a lower trajectory, because you are hitting it with less loft. And the club is bottoming out at the same spot as any other shot, allowing you to maintain consistency.

This may seem like a simple fix for a complicated shot, but keeping it simple is often the easiest way to maintain consistency. Making it complex turns your game into a mess with high peaks and low valleys and keeps you continually having to take lessons.

Many sciences are involved in your golf game: physics, geometry, physiology, neurology and more. Each of them plays a vital role in your improvement, and it is important to know each but more important to know the nuances of each and how they all work together to allow you to improve. This is where we specialize. Not only do we know each of these sciences, we also know how they work together allowing you to get the most out of your game.  To learn more, contact us at (843) 338-6737, pete@ golfacademyhiltonhead.com, Facebook at ‘Golf Proformance Academy-Hilton Head’ or at www.golfacademyhiltonhead. com.

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NOVEMBER 2013

CHARITY CORNER

SWEETENING THE DEAL LIVE TO GIVE—A GOD THING IS GETTING COMPETITIVE KITTY BARTELL

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hat began only a few short months ago as a little shop operating on the principle of giving it all back is sprouting and growing like kudzu on the side of a Carolina roadway.

Deb Copeland, author and former business consulting entrepreneur, now turned retail maven, made a commitment to God when she turned 50. She would work fulltime for Him, returning 100 percent of her income to charitable endeavors through her non-profit Live to Give—A God Thing.

The Live to Give Gallery, situated deliciously behind the Dunkin Donuts on Hilton Head Island, is thriving. Filled with color, art and love, there is always something new to discover, which makes for the best destination if you are looking for a gift, looking

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to decorate your home, or looking to connect. The gallery space is bursting at the seams.

Copeland and her team have built out more square footage on the first floor of the building, and have taken over the upper floor as well, where classes and events in art and faith take place weekly for children and adults.

Offerings include art classes for adults, held every Tuesday and Thursday, with visiting artists teaching and encouraging students of all experience levels. If the projects stay at the gallery to be sold for the non-profit the classes and materials are free.

A $15 materials fee is charged if the project goes home.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the gallery offers free crafting time—great fun for moms and daughters or girlfriends.

The charity has given back to the local community in a big way through educational scholarships, an array of prayer groups and luncheons, and a weekly program for middle schoolers.

Following their successful fundraising endeavors such as their “Chair-ity Auction” this past August, where local artists decorated and renewed chairs that were auctioned to benefit Live to Give, and Copeland’s ongoing fashionista-fundraising with refurbished jean jackets, trimmed, decorated, and sold through the gallery, they are gearing up for a competitive event to benefit their endeavors in a totally sweet way.

The group’s first annual “Sweets for the Soul” dessert tasting competition will take place on Friday, February 7, 2014 at Hilton Head Christian Academy. The competition will include both professional

TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE AT LIVE TO GIVE—A GOD THING, PLEASE STOP BY THE LIVE TO GIVE GALLERY AT 4 SOUTHWOOD PARK DRIVE, SUITE #3, HILTON HEAD ISLAND OR CALL (843) 715-0617.

THEY ARE OPEN MONDAYSATURDAY, 10 A.M. TO 3 P.M. OR BY APPOINTMENT.

and amateur bakers. (I can smell the cinnamon and sugar already.) Live to Give is seeking sponsors and advertisers for the event and is thrilled to be welcoming William Paul Young, author of The Shack as guest speaker—not-to-be missed, so save-the-date!

NOVEMBER 2013

A WORLD-CLASS CULINARY EVENT

T

he Savannah Food & Wine Festival is poised to set the bar high this November with its culinary celebration of one-of-a-kind wine dinners, tastings, cooking demonstrations, classes and more. A stellar line-up of chefs, cookbook authors, events and premium wine and spirit brands from around the world will be showcased in Savannah, Georgia throughout the week of November 11-17.

“This is all so very exciting because this is something new,” said Michael T. Owens, president of the Tourism Leadership Council and president and co-founder of the Savannah Food and Wine Festival. “So many in Savannah have talked about this for years, and the good news is it’s finally happening on a scale bigger than any of us dreamed.”

A few of the James Beard Foundation award-winning chefs include Hugh Acheson, Chris Hastings, Steven Satterfield and Elizabeth Terry. Other notable celebrity guests include: Extreme Chef winner of the Food Network, Anthony Lamas; award-winning chefs Kent Rathbun from Dallas, TX and Shaun Doty from Atlanta, Ga.; Master Sommeliers Robert Jones and Michael McNeill; James Beard Foundation award-winning authors, The Lee Brothers

from Charleston, S.C. and Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart; along with a host of many others making special appearances throughout the seven-day festival. The main event, the Taste of Savannah will feature something for every member of the family, including a “culinary kids” area. A Culinary Court, Artisan Market, Celebrity Chef Kitchen, Cookbook Author Signing Tent, Silent Auction, Waiter’s Race and Bartender’s Challenge will all be a part of the main, Taste of Savannah event on Saturday, November 16.

The festivities begin on November 11, with a Farm to Table Wine Dinner. Festival attendees will enjoy week-long extravagant wine dinners and tastings, sample rare wines from around the world and enjoy cooking demonstrations from local and award winning celebrity chefs. It is certain to be an epicurean celebration of all four senses: taste, smell, sight and sound.

“The event I’m most looking forward to is the Michael Mondavi Family Estate Dinner,” Owen said. “Two of my favorite chefs in the world will be cooking for us, and the wine we will be enjoying is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I know that Rob is reaching into his personal collection along with his dad. It will be an event not to be missed.

“I haven’t decided which connoisseurs dinner I’ll be attending,” Owen continued.

“All of the menus are great, and it will be such a treat to interact directly with the winemakers and vineyards. These are among Savannah’s favorite chefs, and it will be very difficult to choose just one.

I think I can safely say that I will HAVE to go to two!” .

Connoisseur Wine Dinners A select group of Savannah chefs have been exquisitely paired with famous wine makers, wines, Master Sommeliers and more for a one-of-a-kind, wine and dine week in Savannah. Private dinners with white tablecloths, four and five-course meals, and perfectly accompanied wine pairings are being prepared at the finest restaurants in Savannah this November as part of the Savannah Food & Wine Festival.

The official festival dinners are being hosted at the following restaurants: TUESDAY, NOV. 12 • Elizabeth on 37th, 6:30 p.m., An Evening with Suzanne Groth, Groth Vineyards • Circa 1875, 6:30 p.m., An Evening in France with Master Sommelier, Michael McNeill • Noble Fare, 6:30 p.m., An Evening with Gary Eberle, Eberle Winery “The Father of Paso Robles” THURSDAY, NOV. 14 • Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 8 p.m., An Evening with Jeanne Cabral, Principal, Heitz Wine Cellars • Sapphire Grill, 8 p.m., An Evening with Pahlmeyer • The Olde Pink House, 8 p.m., An Evening with Thomas George Estates Specific information on the connoisseur wine dinners and tickets can be found at SavannahFoodAndWineFest. com. or by calling (912) 232-1223.

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NOVEMBER 2013

Mondavi Family to Host “The Ultimate Wine Dinner” Wines aged to perfection for over 40 years are being pulled from the private cellars of the Mondavi Family private collection for the most anticipated event of the Savannah Food & Wine Festival, “The Ultimate Festival Wine Dinner, hosted by Rob Mondavi, Jr.” Special celebrity guests and celebrated chefs, Chris Hastings and Kent Rathbun will be preparing a spectacular four-course meal, along with host chef of The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa, Sir Roger Michel.

“I am thrilled to be joining the inaugural Savannah Food & Wine Festival and feature wines from my family’s estate and personal cellar alongside my great friends and chefs Chris Hastings and Kent Rathbun,” said Rob Mondavi. “Pairing four decades of our wines with Chris and Kent’s food is an honor, and the rare gems we plan to pour will be a treat to share with everyone who joins us. It is sure to be a highlight of an already exciting weekend.”

“The Saturday, November 16 Michael Mondavi Family Estate Dinner is certainly the most exciting wine dinner for the entire festival,” said Jan Gourley, festival director. “The caliber of the wines Rob has chosen from the family’s private collection for the evening is stellar. The Mondavi family has been making wines in Napa

NOVEMBER 2013

Valley California for four generations, and we are so honored and happy to have the opportunity to celebrate Rob and his family along with these very rare wines.

Grand Reserve Tasting to benefit The 200 Club of The Coastal Empire A local nonprofit organization, The 200 Club of The Coastal Empire will be receiving a portion of the proceeds raised during a high profile event at the Savannah Food & Wine Festival, The Grand Reserve Tasting. Wine bottles averaging more than $50 will be opened for those who desire the ultimate in wine tasting. A silent auction will be held at the event with gourmet appetizers served.

Community has been the focal point of the Savannah Food & Wine Festival since the week-long event was first announced. Giving back and supporting nonprofits has also been a high priority for festival organizers.

“The 200 Club of the Coastal Empire goals and objectives are honorable and clearly in line with Savannah’s needs,” said Michael T. Owens. “The organization provides immediate financial assistance for surviving spouses and children of local law enforcement officers and firefighters who lose their lives in the line-of-duty

while protecting their communities. We are very proud to be associated with the amazing work the 200 Club provides to our community.”

Other nonprofits that will benefit from the week-long food and wine festival include, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Bethesda Academy, the West Broad Street YMCA and Mom’s Lemonade Stand.

Special V.I.P. guests at the Grand Reserve Tasting will include worldrenowned wine makers, chefs and authors: Lydia and Rob Mondavi, Jr., Chef Chris Hastings, The Lee Brothers, Chef Anthony Lamas, Chef Shaun Doty, Master Sommeliers, Robert Jones and Michael McNeill, Joy Sterling, Iron Horse Vineyards and more. According to Hugh Golden, chairman of the Grand Reserve Tasting Committee, the event is the must-attend event for wine enthusiasts.

“If you appreciate good wine, the festival has a multitude of events you can attend; if you appreciate great wine, you won’t find a better ticket available in the southeast region to taste extraordinary wine than the Grand Reserve,” Owens said.

Tickets to the Grand Reserve Tasting are available but limited. Silent auction items will include one-of-a-kind wine lots, luxury travel, merchandise and services.

Additionally, all patrons will receive a collectible piece of fine stemware for the tasting as a souvenir. 

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CONFIDENT RETIREMENT®:

IT IS POSSIBLE

Q&A WITH JOHN RUSH,

CRPC® FINANCIAL ADVISOR ARTICLE BY JEFF PAGE // PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK STAFF

JEFF PAGE: Are today’s baby boomers confident in what they have saved for retirement?

JOHN RUSH: No, in fact it is quite the opposite. Recent studies have revealed the following: • 42 percent fear that they might outlive their savings.

• 57 percent of pre-retirees do not have a concrete retirement plan.

• 70 million Baby Boomers lack confidence that they will have enough money to cover their medical expenses during retirement.

When you consider that pensions are becoming a thingof-the-past, and couple this with our current market volatility, low interest rates, and low consumer confidence, addressing these issues is more important than ever!

JP: So, what do people need to know to start planning for retirement?

JR: What many people who are near ing retirement do not realize is how critical all the decisions are that you make at this stage: • What should one do with their 401(k), IRA? • What selections does one make with Social Security— take it early, at retirement or delay until later?

• How does one cover medical insurance after retirement?

Every decision can impact your entire retirement. It is important to make educated decisions, because mistakes in retirement can be costly. It is important to understand that all your financial products must work together.

JP: What advice would you give to someone wanting to feel more confident about their retirement?

JR: Here are a few ideas and actions I encourage people to consider to help ensure long-term financial stability: • Be true to yourself. This is first and foremost; understand your own financial circumstances and resist the urge to keep up with “the Joneses.” Instead, consider your budget, your long-term goals and your personal values. Pursuing your happiness within your own terms will likely lead to the ultimate prize: a secure financial future.

• Pay yourself first. Take advantage of every opportunity you have to fund your savings with minimal effort.

Automatically invest a portion of every paycheck into

•

•

•

your retirement account, and be sure to maximize any employer match that is available to you. Or, another alternative is the set up an automatic transfer from your checking to your savings account. Make saving a priority!

Be prepared for change. Unexpected events are a fact of life, but by planning ahead, you can be proactive instead of re-active to the effects an event like disability, illness or a natural disaster may have on your financial security. It’s difficult to imagine these circumstances might occur, but having an emergency fund or the proper insurance in place could be your saving grace someday.

Control your debt. This is another big one! Payments on consumer debt, student loans, and excessive car and mortgage payments can cripple your ability to save. The best approach is to minimize how much you borrow—don’t borrow beyond your means (see Rule 1— be true to yourself!). Next, take control of your current debts by establishing a plan that will systematically reduce outstanding balances on existing loans.

Put your plan in writing. Create a plan that outlines your personal dreams and goals, as well as the actions you need to take to achieve them. It can be extremely challenging to prioritize, but your financial security depends on it. If it seems overwhelming, consider consulting with a financial advisor and other professionals, such as an accountant and attorney.

They can help you make rational rather than emotional decisions about your finances.

JP: How does one get started planning for a confident retirement?

JR: We can start with a simple conversation and begin a financial planning process. My team puts a great deal of thought and time into helping people feel confident about nearing retirement, moving into retirement and then enjoying their retirement. I get excited about the peace of mind this process can bring, especially during the turbulent times we are currently facing in the world and in the market. I value the opportunity to start this conversation with anyone wanting to improve the confidence they have regarding their own retirement. Whether that retirement is 10 years in the future or quickly approaching, it is never too early to start!

Q&A WITH JOHN RUSH,

CRPC® FINANCIAL ADVISOR

JP: Is it really as easy as having a conversation?

JR: It all begins with a conversation, and from there we work to create a road map for your future. Planning for retirement can be complicated, but breaking it down into basic steps can keep it from being so overwhelming. Ameriprise Financial has developed an approach called The Confident Retirement®. This approach takes into account four fundamental areas: 1. Covering Essentials 2. Ensuring your Lifestyle 3. Preparing for the Unexpected 4. Leaving a Legacy JP: Sounds simple enough, but what does this all really mean?

JR: Let’s take it step-by-step: • Step One is covering the essentials. This is the foundation to any retirement strategy. Essentials are the necessities in life such as food, housing, medical expenses, utilities. My goal in working with someone is to fund these essential expenses with sources of stable or guaranteed income.

Solutions could include Social Security, a defined benefit plan, annuities and CD’s.

• Step Two is ensuring your lifestyle. Most people have additional goals they want to pursue in retirement such as travel, hobbies, spoiling the grandkids—the list can be endless! I look at this as the “How” you want to live. For these, we need to build a flexible investment and withdrawal plan to help ensure this lifestyle. Using products such as equities, variable annuities with guaranteed withdrawal benefits for your lifetime or cash-value life insurance can help provide this income.

• Step Three is preparing for the unexpected. When life throws you a curve ball, being prepared is important. I am a firm believer in being pro-active and not re-active to unanticipated events, as they can have a devastating effect on your retirement plans. Personal liability, an accident or medical emergency and loss of a spouse are some of the common unanticipated events. Solutions to consider in preparing for these can include property and casualty insurance, long-term care insurance and cashvalue life insurance.

• Step Four is leaving a legacy. Thus far, we have accounted for essential, lifestyle and unexpected expenses; now it’s time to create a legacy plan. Legacy is all about giving to family, charities or causes that are important to you. I look at this as “smart giving,” and it is all about control and leverage. Control means having the appropriate documents in place: healthcare directive, living will, power of attorney. It also includes keeping your beneficiary designations up-to-date. Leverage is understanding that life insurance can be used to provide for survivors in the event of a premature death or to pass along to heirs.

JP: You seem really passionate about creating a confident retirement for people. What drives this passion?

JR: As I mentioned earlier, seeing the peace of mind this process has brought to the people I have worked with creates a passion to want to help others in the same way. If I can offer just a few words of advice, I would tell everyone it’s never too early—or too late—to start preparing for retirement. Whether you choose to meet with us or another financial professional, I encourage your readers to enlist help to define and work toward their retirement goals. It’s far more than just a number or a rule of thumb. Too many people spend more time and money planning a vacation than they do planning their retirement. Take the time and gain peace of mind!  John Rush & Associates are located at 1533 Fording Island Road (Moss Creek Shopping Center) Hilton Head Island. For more information call 843.837.1220 and/or visit www.ameripriseadvisors.com/john.b.rush NOVEMBER 2013

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ILLUSTRATIONS BY GARY PALMER

Being Better Stepping one-down this Thanksgiving

Ahh, Thanksgiving … the weather is crisper and Lowcountry autumn colors have begun to appear on the trees. The scent of baking pies and roasting turkey calls you to slow down and take a long breath of appreciation. Family and friends celebrate the day playing games and feasting on the feast of all American feasts. Okay, back up the bus; not everyone has a Thanksgiving quite as idyllic as all that, but wouldn’t it be nice if we did?

Ar ticle by Kitty Bar tell

D

on’t wait for New Year’s to arrive; Thanksgiving is the perfect day to make a resolution. Make a resolution to be better: this year, be a better member of your own family starting on Thanksgiving Day. If holidays have ever been anything less than idyllic, make this the year you leave saying you can’t wait to do it all over again.

I believe the key to real change lies quietly within the one-down approach. I promise that if you try it, this Thanksgiving will be transformed, and quite possibly so will your whole life. The one-down approach comes with a warning, however. Once you get a taste of its power, you won’t give it up easily, and your family and friends will wonder what happened to the old you. You may already know people who live a one-down life. These are the people who make you feel good when you’re around them, even if you’re not really sure why.

Thanksgiving is an excellent laboratory in which to try the one-down approach, because for it to work you need to be pushed a little, and the potential is pretty darn good that the people who push your buttons will all be gathered in one place: around the Thanksgiving table. Lifestyles, politics, religion, education, recipes, dating, hairstyles, childrearing, diets… the list is endless in the ways that disagreements are provoked and good humor is tested. In past years, it may have only taken one question about your haircut, or one snide comment about your favorite politician for the downhill slide to begin. Not this year. This is the year of being better.

At first, the one-down approach may require some intense lip-biting and tongue-holding. The basic idea is that in every encounter, conversation, or decision, you will assume that the other person is the expert. Figuratively, you take one step down from where they stand. I can hear you now: Hold the phone. Are you kidding me? My aunt is full of hot air, and my little brother knows absolutely nothing!

At every opportunity, various members of your family like to corner you and question your lingering single status. When are you going to find someone? Don’t you want to give your parents grandchildren? ARGHHH! Take a deep breath and make the offending relative the expert in the conversation.

Ask your aunt what her favorite part of being married is; ask your mom what she loves about having children; ask your uncle if he has any dating advice.

Guaranteed, you will feel your mood lift, because you are being better.

The opportunities to practice the one-down approach are endless at any given Thanksgiving celebration.

The following scenarios may seem familiar.

At first, the one-down approach may require some intense lip-biting and tongue-holding. The basic idea is that in every encounter, conversation, or decision, you will assume that the other person is the expert. Figuratively, you take one step down from where they stand.

THE LOCATION: Your sprawling home may be perfect for hosting the big day. Plenty of seating around your King Arthur-sized dining room table, a highdefinition television big enough to make you believe you’re actually in the game, and a rumpus room equipped to entertain the children for days. But there’s a fly in the ointment. Your newly married cousinin-law wants to host the big day in their two-bedroom, 800-square-foot, fifth floor walk-up, because she says there’s nothing like a Thanksgiving in the city.

THE MENU: The big day is happening at your home and you want to flex your culinary muscles. You’ve been testing recipes and formulating the perfect menu when your mom informs you that she

is bringing your dad’s favorite squash casserole topped with corn flakes, and your brother tells you his girlfriend will be contributing her family’s traditional tofurkey in case there are other vegetarians in the family. Rage on. Your beautiful plans have just been blown out of the water!

THE ACTIVITIES: Every year, the entire family takes a traditional hike through the nearby nature preserve after polishing off the Thanksgiving feast.

You look forward to it almost as much as the pumpkin pie. The kids burn off some energy after being little ladies and gentlemen at the table, and the adults moan a bit and “walk it off.” This year, however, your husband announces he’s skipping it, and like bees to honey, one by

one the children ask if they can stay home too. Chaos is about to commence.

I am guessing you are getting the picture. The one-down approach will require you to walk up those five flights and eat your meal on your lap sitting in a folding chair in a jam-packed apartment while appreciating the uniqueness of this year’s celebration. Making room on your beautiful buffet for less-thangourmet casseroles and ugly tofurkeys gives everyone something for which to be grateful. And remember, this is your husband’s holiday too. Without all those children running amuck and a whiney spouse dragging along, the crisp air and conversation may be an unexpected added treasure to your day.

Being better may sound a bit like giving in when your instinct is to fight; but remember, it’s only food, it’s only a game, and it’s only one day… but it will always be family, whether that looks like something more traditional, a bit out-of-the box, or friends and neighbors. Who knows where being just a little better might take you. 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LORI MCLAIN

Bluffton Christmas Parade: C O M E D Y, C O M M U N I T Y A N D C A N D Y

ARTICLE BY DEBBIE SZPANKA

F

or many people who live in and near Bluffton, the first Saturday of December, around 11 a.m. is the most magical time of the year. For nearly 50 years, Blufftonians and their guests have lined the streets of Old Town to cheer their neighbors, laugh at the eccentric and eclectic entertainment and celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season.

Between the personalities, the float presentations and the parties, the Bluffton Christmas Parade is an event which could

give any Southern author enough fodder for a novel deep in subplots, character development and peppered with a few giggles. The parade is as a rich and as multilayered as Bluffton’s history, however, it is also just a plain ol’ good time.

“It is like setting up a circus,” said Babbie Guscio, one of the original parade organizers. “It’s fun, it’s funny and it’s the start of the season, complete with pre and post parties and oyster roasts— there’s nothing like Christmas in Old Town Bluffton.” Now with more than 200 entries, town employees organize the parade.

“We are thrilled that the ultradisciplined and impressive Marine Corps Marching Band will join us this year,” said Julie Taylor, the town’s facilities manager and lead parade organizer. “They haven’t been here since 2010 so we are honored to make it on their schedule.”

In addition, the Bluffton High School and Battery Creek Marching Band will entertain the crowd along with crowd favorites such as the Women’s Drill Team, synchronized dancers with power drills, the Rose Buds and the Belfairies, two whimsical groups of wacky women.

Traditionally, parade entrants throw candy into the crowd. “Kids come home with bigger loots than on Halloween,” Taylor said. “However, we are asking people to have designated candy throwers so they can come to the kids, not have our little ones run out in the street.”

THE WEEKEND CELEBRATION BEGINS WITH THE TREE-LIGHTING AT TOWN HALL AT 5 P.M. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6. THE PARADE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, STARTING AT 11 A.M.

Thanksgiving Recipes CQ’S PUMPKIN-TINI This is a sinfully delicious dessert cocktail that we L.O.V.E. A great cocktail to serve before Thanksgiving dinner—and after!

SERVES 6 TO 8 PEOPLE OR 3 TO 4 DRUNKS

INGREDIENTS 1 pumpkin pie Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka Grey Goose La Vanille Vodka Grey Goose Vodka White Crème de Cocoa Graham crackers Brown sugar Whipped cream Ice PREPARATION For the pumpkin purée Scoop the filling out of the pumpkin pie and put in blender.

Add a splash of Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka and a splash of Grey Goose La Vanille Vodka.

Blend until puréed. This will be the base to make several martinis.

For the rim of the martini glass Crush the graham crackers to a semi-fine substance. Sprinkle in some brown sugar. Mix well.

For the cocktail Add some of the pumpkin purée over ice in a cocktail shaker.

Add 1 oz. Grey Goose vodka and 1 oz. Crème de Cocoa. Shake well. Rim your martini glass with graham cracker mixture. Strain cocktail into glass. Top with whipped cream. Get tipsy.

Thanksgiving Recipes

RUBY LEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MAC & CHEESE Serves 12 to 15 people INGREDIENTS 1 lb. elbow macaroni 1 1/2 lbs. cheddar cheese 2 cups milk 3 eggs 1/4 tsp. white pepper 1/4 tsp. salt 1 12x10-inch baking pan Cooking spray

$1 is the average cost per pound in of a frozen whole turkey.

2 tbsp. butter PREPARATION Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a pot with about a gallon of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for about 10 minutes. Remove pasta from heat, drain water using a colander. Rinse with hot water; place into clean pot, add eggs, mix it, and then add the rest of ingredients. Put it back on the stove and cook until cheese is melted. Spray the bottom and around the pan with cooking spray. Put mac and cheese in the oven for 40 minutes. Allow to cool and serve.

NOT LOW FAT

AUNT LUCY’S CHUNKY, CHEESY FATTENING MASHED POTATOES INGREDIENTS 1 5-lb. bag of Yukon Gold potatoes 1 cup sour cream (don’t you dare use the low-fat variety!)

1 12-oz. block of New York cheddar cheese, shredded 1 stick butter Salt & pepper to taste PREPARATION Peel potatoes and cut into quarters while bringing a large pot of water to boil on the stove. Add potatoes to water and cook until you can stick a fork smoothly through one of the quarters. Drain water and return potatoes to pot. Add sour cream, butter and cheese and mash and mix together. It’s okay to leave lumps. Serve immediately, or put in casserole dish and throw in a warm oven to keep.

SKILLETS CAFE PEACH PECAN CORNBREAD STUFFING Makes 15 4-oz. servings INGREDIENTS 3 cups water 1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups peaches, ½” diced 1/2 cup celery, chopped 1 1/2 tsp. fresh ginger, grated 1/2 cup pecans, chopped & toasted 2 cups Uncle Ben’s Cornbread Stuffing Mix PREPARATION Preheat oven to 350 F Bring water and butter to a boil and add seasoning packet from stuffing mix. In a large bowl, blend together the peaches, celery, ginger, pecans & stuffing mix. Add the boiling water and stir until blended. Pour into a 2”-deep pan sprayed with pan release. Cover with foil and place in a 350 F oven for 25-30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes. Fluff with fork before serving.

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird of the United States.

Taste of the Season 

THE CULINARY EVENT OF THE YEAR



T

he Lowcountry culinary scene has become known for the great chefs that define it with their innovative cuisine. With more than 250 restaurants, the area’s scene has never been hotter, and nowhere is this more evident than at Taste of the Season, the Lowcountry’s culinary event of the year!

Celebrate award-winning cuisine from more than 35 of the area’s top chefs at the 24th annual Taste of the Season, presented by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. From haute cuisine to Lowcountry classics, there’s something to please every palate as Lowcountry chefs showcase their culinary skills on Friday, November 22, at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa from 6-9 p.m.

Taste of the Season features well-known favorites, from SERG Group restaurants like WiseGuys to island icons such as Alexander’s, The Old Oyster Factory, and Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks—a truly mouth-watering sampling of the area’s culinary landscape!

Great chefs will tell you that sharing great food is what the holidays are all about. “The holiday season creates special opportunities to showcase regional flavors and infuse exciting seasonal tastes with a bit of traditional twists,” said Chef Greg Tucker of WiseGuys.

Culinary connoisseurs will once again cast their votes as our top chefs compete for “Best Cuisine.” Last year’s award went to Hugo’s Seafood and Steakhouse for their Surf n’ Turf Lollipops, lobster wontons, and Hawaiian-seared filet mignon with celeriac puree, parsnip chips, and soy vinaigrette. “Taste of the Season is our favorite event,” Hugo’s Brandon Arrieta said. “It allows guests and fellow chefs to experience the area’s best cuisine.”

Kick-off your holidays with gourmet grandeur and get a head start on holiday shopping with fabulous silent auction items, featuring great getaways and gift items just in time for the season. It’s always a sell-out!  Tickets on sale now at hiltonheadchamber.org, chamber headquarters and the chamber’s Bluffton office.

Thanksgiving Traditions from the CH2 staff & advertising family PHOTOGRAPHY (MOSTLY) BY ANNE

Kim Crouch, CH2 We potluck a turkey dinner, blending northern and southern traditions in a party-like atmosphere and whoever takes the turkey carcass makes a Pennsylvania Dutch turkey soup for everybody the next day!

Maggie Washo, CH2 No matter which sibling (I am one of five, so it varies) hosts Thanksgiving, one thing stays the same – my mom always cooks the turkey! In recent years we have also added a pre- or post-Thanksgiving oyster roast with close friends.

Catherine Davies, CH2 For the past 8 years I have been a vegetarian, which means that traditionally I have gorged on all of the sides (green bean casserole being my favorite).

However, this year, I will be eating turkey and am looking forward to starting some new traditions.

Tom Staebler, CH2 Growing up in Topeka, KS, Thanksgiving was just as big a tradition as Christmas! My mother always made a big old turkey and several desserts, all make with Hershey’s chocolate. Now that we live in Bluffton, our family tradition is to go to the club at Belfair for turkey dinner.

Hunter Kostylo, CH2 For Thanksgiving my family goes to Beaufort, SC, where my aunt invites our friends and family to a Thanksgiving celebration. Everyone brings food, sets up their family table, and fries up some turkey!

Kelly Stroud, CH2 As much as I love cooking, last year I pre-ordered our Thanksgiving meal from Publix and spent the day fishing with family. That way no one was (translation: me) stuck at home cooking all day!

(I sure hope my boyfriend’s mother doesn’t read this. I told her I cooked for the whole family last year!)

PLUMBERS GE T 6 0 % M O R E P H O N E CA L L S O N T H E DAY A F T E R T H A N K S G I V I N G T H A N T H E Y D O O N OT HER DAYS. (MIAMI HERALD)

Kaity Robinson, CH2 This will be our first Thanksgiving in South Carolina- just my husband and me. We plan on starting new traditions of our own, but sticking with our old family recipes!

Gary Reavis, Teague’s Fine Men Clothing I’ve celebrated Thanksgiving with my wife and family on Hilton Head every year since 1971 because it is a very busy time at Teague’s. Around 20 family members get together Thursday to cook, chop, dice and enjoy a delicious Turkey meal followed by a big oyster roast Saturday night.

Melissa Gross, Dr. Timothy Gross’ Dental Excellence For us, Thanksgiving is all about family, friends, food, and counting our blessings.

Every Thanksgiving Day begins with watching the NYC parade on TV while wonderful smells from family recipes fill our home overwhelming me with feelings of nostalgia and comfort.

Kandace Wightman, CH2 With my family so far away, I’ve started my own Thanksgiving tradition! A stuffed crust Digiorno pizza, pop and my all time favorite dessert éclairs in the comforts of my own home.

Dinner starts at kick-off time, but… if it’s REALLY nice out, me and Bongo might just have to hit the beach!

Courtney Hampson, Palmetto Bluff My house. Mimosas in the morning. Corn hole tourney midafternoon. May River shrimp on the grill.

Roast the biggest bird we can find.

Handmade placecards.

Aunt Mary’s Irish linen.

Mom always makes the gravy. Too much dessert.

Ann Marie Fiore, Cocoon Thanksgiving Morning Round of Golf Virginia Baked Ham, sharp Cheddar cheese and eggs are wrapped in foil and packed up for my husband and his golf buddies. Don’t forget the Bloody Mary’s!

Dr. Michael Szynski, Hilton Head Hearing Annually, my children and I serve at a Hardeeville Community Center to serve turkey and fixings. This year we will celebrate our thankfulness for each other and go on a cruise

Anne Caufmann, Photography by Anne Cooking is stressful. Right? So why spend time trying to do something I am not very good at. Taking photos - yes.

Cooking - no. We pre-order a wonderful “Thanksgiving in a bag” from Fresh Market - fill our glasses with wine - invite friends who are not able to be with their families and let the traditions begin.

Thankful for EVERYTHING!

Patrick Safe, Heritage Fine Jewelry & Gifts For the last several years we’ve had a turkey competition. Mom and Jen compete, each with their own turkey and prepare it however they choose. There was even a year when Doug came with an unexpected ham and beat both of them!

Ashton Kelley, CH2 My fiancée Clark and I are lucky enough to have both of our families nearby, but it can sometimes be difficult to decide how to split Thanksgiving Day. We have made it work by alternating each year; dinner at his family’s house followed by dessert at mine. Then the following year, we switch. This has become a tradition for five years that works well for all parties involved!

IN THE U S , A B O U T 2 8 0 M I L L I O N T U R K E Y S A R E S O L D F O R T H E T H A N K S G I V I N G C E L E B R AT I O N S .

’Tis the season!

Waterboarding, starvation, bamboo shoots under your finger nails, sensory deprivation, Dr. Phil, ex-wives, Black Friday… all methods of torture in one form or another. ’Tis the season to be pushed to the ground at Best Buy so you can get your still turkey-greased hands on the new Xbox game and make your munchkins smile on Christmas morning.

Listen, I am all about ’tising (yes, that is a word) the season. I’ve been accused on more than one occasion of Swiffering beneath my Thanksgiving guests’ feet before they even finish their last crumb of pumpkin pie because I am already mentally prepping for what tomorrow brings.

Deck the halls.

Black Friday: a media-driven-scheme that immediately applies pressure for the perfect holiday. Your breathing gets shallow, the muscles in your neck tighten, and that eyetwitch-thing starts happening. You knew it was coming, but you were unprepared. With a focus on prepping the perfect bird, you couldn’t set your sights on Christmas just yet. But here it is; the season starts tomorrow, and you are already behind.

ARTICLE BY COURTNEY HAMPSON

Back in the day, it wasn’t until Santa rounded the corner in front of Macy’s that it was game on. Today, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, and Target have started sprinkling in Christmas balls just across the aisle from the witches’ brew. Too soon. Too soon! I can’t handle the pressure. I can’t plan three holidays all at the same time.

What’s the point of ’tising the season if the season lasts half the year? And, my neighbors… well, they need time to switch out the hanging plastic bag pumpkins, for the big turkey wreath and then finally the icicle lights. We can’t be sending mixed messages here people.

Why, when we can shop online to our hearts’ content, would anyone sacrifice themselves to the midnight sales, long lines, and Black Friday experience? Same reason we brush our teeth before we go to bed: we are conditioned to do so.

Christmas is supposed to be about the celebration of Christ’s birth (I know, ironic coming from this heathen), when in fact it becomes the prime season for watching real housewives go toe-to-toe at Walmart, wrestling each other to the ground for a $5 Easy Bake Oven that, let’s face it, their son is not going to appreciate.

Habit and good advertising get me out of the house each year on Black Friday. And I do it for the same reason I shop on December 23 each year, even though I’ve nabbed every item on my holiday hit list. It’s the thrill of the chase; it’s the excitement of that fabulous find, and perhaps, the justification that (media-imposed) procrastination can put an exclamation on the seasonal celebration.  MYTH: MANY BELIEVE THAT BLACK FRIDAY IS THE BUSIEST SHOPPING DAY OF THE YEAR. ACTUALLY WEEKEND DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS ARE BUSIER, SHOPPING DAYS.

ARTICLE BY KITTY BARTELL

Hilton Head Island Community Thanksgiving Dinner GRATEFULLY CELEBRATING 15 YEARS

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hanksgiving, the holiday, is a day when America gathers around tables laden with sumptuous feasts from turkey and dressing to buttery mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, surrounded by family and friends. Thanksgiving is also a feeling—a peaceful place of gratitude in one’s soul that is truly the spirit of the day. The community of Hilton Head Island has a reason to give thanks and get into the spirit.

The Hilton Head Island Community Thanksgiving Dinner is celebrating its 15th anniversary and will be commemorating the milestone by putting out a most gracious welcome mat for anyone looking for a place to share the holiday and enjoy a delicious meal.

In December of 1998 Brian Carmines, owner of Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks and Betsy Doughtie, executive director of The Deep Well Project, formulated the idea for a community dinner, arising from a spirit of empathy and a need recognized. That year, The Island Packet published an article just after Thanksgiving about lonely locals having nowhere to go on Thanksgiving. Striking a chord in the hearts of Carmines, Doughtie, and Gloria and Allan LaCoe, members of St. Andrew by- the-Sea United Methodist Church, the Community Thanksgiving Dinner was born.

The event is now the definition of a well-oiled machine, fueled by a whole lot of heart and plenty of gravy.

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“It’s a free dinner in a true partnership with Hudson’s and St. Andrew by- the-Sea,” Gloria LaCoe said. The LaCoes are celebrating their own 15th anniversary as co-chairs of the dinner. “We get people from all walks of life,” she continued, “people who can’t afford it and people who just need to be with other people at this time of year.” This year, in addition to a great meal, the bands Lowcountry Boil and Trillium will perform, a face painter will be on hand, and

Santa is scheduled to make an appearance.

The cooking begins early by the staff of Hudson’s Seafood on the Docks where the celebration has been held

during the event. Last year, $8,500 was raised to bring assistance to islanders in need, providing food, clothing and other essential goods and services.

WHILE THE DINNER IS FREE, THE DEEP WELL PROJECT IS THE BENEFACTOR OF DONATIONS MADE DURING THE EVENT. LAST YEAR, $8,500 WAS RAISED TO BRING ASSISTANCE TO ISLANDERS IN NEED, PROVIDING FOOD, CLOTHING AND OTHER ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SERVICES. each year. “Without Hudson’s this couldn’t happen,” LaCoe said. The menu is tantalizing: green beans almandine, sweet potato soufflé with marshmallow and candied pecans, whipped potatoes with drippings, stuffing, cranberry conserve, cider roasted ham, citrus-brined turkey with garlic glaze and gravy, and assorted holiday pies.

While the dinner is free, The Deep Well Project is the benefactor of donations made

With up to 400 volunteers contributing to the success of the event, the welcome mat stretches far and wide. Last year, one of the volunteers surveyed folks as they waited in line to be seated to find out where they were from; 35 states and 11 countries were represented. It seems a spirit of thankfulness is certainly something to celebrate.

For more information, please visit communitythanksgiving. com or call (843) 505-1370.

NOVEMBER 2013

M AY O R

DREW LAUGHLIN HILTON H E A D I S L A N D

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE

THANKSGIVING: FAMILY, FOOD AND FOOTBALL

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hanksgiving for us has always meant family, food and football. There has always been turkey and all of the usual accompaniments, many more than any reasonable person would try to eat. My father liked his cranberry sauce tart and with the skins of the berries still in it. He was alone in this, except for me imitating him. My father is no longer with us, but to this day, we have two cranberry sauces on our table, one with the skins that I alone eat, and a slightly sweeter one without skins preferred by everyone else.

It used to be that my day consisted of waiting for the meal to be ready. This mostly involved watching or playing the aforementioned football and trying to stay out of the way of the organized chaos going on in the kitchen.

Nowadays, we actually start preparing the food two days in advance. I have become responsible for preparing and carving the bird. I tend to experiment at this. I brine the bird, which means that preparation begins the day before.

I have roasted birds, fried birds, and smoked birds. These are routinely praised at the time, but, it must be said, on some occasions someone requests that we try something different than we did last year. My carving skills continue to be a work in progress. Every year, I vow to get a better carving knife.

ALTHOUGH THANKSGIVING DAY IS FILLED WITH THE BUSTLE OF COOKING, IT ALSO REPRESENTS A PAUSE FROM OUR ROUTINE. IT’S A FREE DAY TO RELAX, CATCH UP WITH FAMILY, AND MAYBE EVEN CATCH UP WITH OURSELVES. IT IS THE BEGINNING OF A TIME FOR REFLECTION THAT CONTINUES THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON. Although Thanksgiving Day is filled with the bustle of cooking, it also represents a pause from our routine. It’s a free day to relax, catch up with family, and maybe even catch up with ourselves. It is the beginning of a time for reflection that continues through the holiday season. We consider all those things that keep us so busy and reflect on whether they are in service of what’s really important. We remember how joyful it is to be truly thankful. Melody Beattie put it well: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

As for me, I have a lot of friends and family out there with whom I need to catch up. Maybe I can find a way to slow down and find time for that. Best wishes for a very Happy Thanksgiving and an enjoyable holiday season.  70

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M AY O R

LISA SULKA B LU F FTON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE

THANKSGIVING

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hanksgiving has always been a special time of year for my family, even when I was a small child. I remember sitting by my mother several weeks before Thanksgiving, and watch her write out the menu. The menu was very important as the four children (my sisters, brother and I) were able to have our favorite side dish along with the turkey and dressing. My side dish was macaroni and cheese, the way my grandmother fixed it. It actually should be called cheese with macaroni, as that was the main ingredient. Our favorites never changed: oyster pie, squash, mashed potatoes and rice, to go along with the giblet gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans and fresh rolls (and plenty of them). Yes, it was a very starch-heavy meal, but oh my, how good it was. After dinner, my father would retreat to watch whatever football game, or games, were on that day.

I AM SO THANKFUL TO HAVE PARENTS WHO RAISED US TO KNOW THAT FAMILY COMES FIRST. AND EVEN THOUGH ONE HOLIDAY ENHANCES THIS, IT IS EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR THAT FAMILY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST. I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE A WONDERFUL FAMILY OF MY OWN, AND A HUSBAND AND THREE TERRIFIC CHILDREN WHO SHARE THE SAME VALUES. Speed forward to when I am the parent. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as I find myself going through the same litany of writing out the menu and getting suggestions from our three children. The schedule of events for Thanksgiving in my family is as follows. The morning of Thanksgiving, our children wake up early to watch the entire Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In our family, this officially starts the holiday season, and there is something so exciting about seeing Santa Claus for the first time. While the parade is on, I am prepping the food for an early evening dinner. With everything ready to go, and the parade over, we head out to visit friends, who for many years have hosted a mid-morning/mid-afternoon get together. This is a great time, because all of our friends are together, and our children have grown up together, so getting them in one place is wonderful.

After this, while the turkey is in the oven, we head out to Pinckney Island, a tradition since our children were infants. This is where we take our Christmas card pictures, usually from the same bench overlooking the river. We walk for about an hour, playing catch with the football, racing, and taking funny photos every step of the way. From here, we head back home and prepare for dinner. At dinner, after our prayer, all of us say one thing we are thankful for.

When asked what I am thankful for, I would say everything above. I am so thankful to have parents who raised us to know that family comes first. And even though one holiday enhances this, it is every day of the year that family is first and foremost. I am thankful to have a wonderful family of my own, and a husband and three terrific children who share the same values.

I am thankful to live in a beautiful town with so many people who love it as much as I do. I am thankful for the opportunity to give back to Bluffton in my role as mayor.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. NOVEMBER 2013

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MEET

ALLISON SAUNDERS

AMBER COHICK

CONTESTANTS! A BIG THANK-YOU TO ALL OF THESE MEN & WOMEN WHO HELPED RAISE MONEY FOR THE ISLAND REC CENTER IN THIS YEAR’S CONTEST. PICK UP OUR DECEMBER ISSUE TO SEE WHO MADE OUR TOP TEN!

BRIAN BROCK

COLLEEN CULLY

BRITTANY SHANE

DR. KWAN JOONG KIM

ASHLEY KEMENY

BRYAN VANGRONIGEN

HOLLI MILLER

BARRY W. GINN

CALLE SHRADER

GREG NEATE

THIS YEAR’S CONTEST & PARTY WAS SPONSORED BY:

Advanced Integrated Controls, CQ’s, South Island Square, The Porcupine, Old Fort Pub, Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, The Art Café, Bomboras Grille, and Outside Hilton Head

JASON NGUYEN

JEFF LONG

JENNIFER FROMMER

JENNIFER TARA

JOE STRIANO

JULIE CAMPBELL

KRISTEN CYRILLA

KYMBERLY VAN LAAR

LEWIS BICKERTON

LINCOLN JOLY

LINDA PICCIOLI

MAGGIE LAMANTIA

MALIN GORDON

MICHAEL DELANCY

MYLINDA RODENBECK

NADIA PAVON

RYAN MITCH

SCOTT OHLSON

SEBASTIAN ARANGO

TAYLOR WHITEHEAD

FACES

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rying to relax in yoga class, I hear the instructor say, “Exhale, touch your toes.” Reaching down, I am so appalled by the sight of my feet that I gasp and think, “I need a pedicure ASAP.” Thankfully FACES DaySpa fit me in that afternoon, and as I multi-tasked my pedicure with a writing assignment (I brought my laptop to the service), I noticed a very blissful person beside me. It was Robin Swift (VP of marketing and development for the Coastal Discovery Museum), and she was relishing in the Pedicure Plus—a body and “sole” experience that includes therapeutic reflexology added to FACES’ basic pedicure.

“The reflexology pedicure includes a full pedicure—cleaning of your heels, soles, and toes—and then an incredible massage of your legs,” Swift explained. “And then the pressure points on your feet are worked while you enjoy a hot or cold wrap around your neck, a night mask to cover your eyes and very soothing music through an iPod. Then they massage your legs and put on a hot steam towel before your nails are polished. What more can a woman want?”

Swift maintains a standing monthly pedicure appointment and considers this treatment part of her wellness routine. She

> The New FACES Lash Studio, located in the Village at Wexford.

believes we all need to invest in ourselves and treatments like this. “Being pampered is very relaxing, and I always leave feeling better than when I arrived,” Swift said.

According to the Mayo Clinic, regular spa visits can rub, scrub, cleanse and ease away “anxiety, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia (related to stress), and muscle and nerve pain.” Other studies (reported by the Huffington Post) found that by booking an appointment, you are booking a well-deserved wellness ticket to increased productivity at work, improved mental health, an improved immune system (and

therefore fewer sick days), fewer PMS symptoms, and improved self-esteem (due to beautifying and anti-aging treatments, as well as the nurturing effects of self-care).

Patricia Owen, owner of FACES, confirmed these reports on a local level when she admitted that she and her staff “are some of FACES’ most dedicated clients” and that they often see their clients find beauty from the inside out through their services. Owen regularly gets the FACES Pedicure of the Month (which is constantly keeping clients on their toes with its originality) and admits that for 45 minutes she “zones out.”

ARTICLE BY REBECCA EDWARDS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISZTIAN LONYAI

DID YOU KNOW?

IN ADDITION TO SKINCARE PRODUCTS, FACES ALSO PROVIDES MAKEUP AND PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP SERVICES, INCLUDING SPECIAL OCCASION (WEDDINGS!) MAKEUP AS WELL AS PRIVATE LESSONS.

With a head nod and a look that says, “Hey, we all deserve this,” Alexis Sargo, FACES general manager, agrees. “You don’t and shouldn’t have to do your own nails,” she said. “Simplify your life. Enjoy it.”

Sargo and Owen both believe that, when you feel beautiful, you feel confident and you excel in all aspects of your life. For over 30 years, Owen has made it her business to empower women by helping them feel relaxed and beautiful— from head to pedicured toe.

“The key focus here is not just offering massage. With our products, we want to zero in on what each client wants and needs,” Owen said.

“Everything we use in the room or in a service can be bought by a client so they can take their treatment home and get a long-term result,” Sargo added.

FACES staff members are encouraged to test and research products and truly get to know their clients so they can best recommend products and services as well as help FACES clients get streamlined on a beauty routine, whether it is monthly pedicures, facials, or massages. In addition to skincare products, FACES also provides makeup and professional makeup services, including special occasion makeup as well as private lessons. Returning customers appreciate a long list of rewards from a 10 percent rebooking discount, to 15 percent off FACES products (after returning empty beauty product bottles for recycling), and other incentive programs.

“I lived on Hilton Head Island for three years and got hooked on FACES. Now I drive two and a half hours one way to come every three weeks for my services,” said Tammy Mertins, who also buys FACES’ products to take home for her daily skin care.

(Products are also available online at facesbeautyboutique.com when she needs something between visits.) Mertins has also inspired her aunt to drive eight hours because she is “hooked on Tanya [a FACES employee], too.”

“Our core, long-term staff members understand the culture of FACES and our long-term clients,” Owen said. “We have very, very, high standards.”

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NOVEMBER 2013

ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE Don’t miss the fun at FACES DaySpa and Lash Studio, Sunday, November 24, from noon to 4 p.m.

FACES DaySpa and Lash Studio are located in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island. For more information, visit facesdayspa.com or faceslashstudio.com or call (843) 7853075 or (843) 785-LASH for appointments.

NOVEMBER 2013

FACES DaySpa: • Demonstrations, refreshments, sampling, door prizes, swag bags, 30 percent off retail items • Receive a free $30 gift card with every $100 spent on gift card purchases.

• Save 20 percent on gift certificates purchased online at FacesDaySpa.com (all day 11/24 only) FACES Lash Studio • Demonstrations, refreshments, door prizes, gift bags with every gift certificate purchase One-day savings in-store or online at • FacesLashStudio.com: 20 percent off a series of 12 lash fills; buy one full set eyelash extensions and get one lash fill for half off

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN BRACKETT

This repartee between staff, services and clients translates to FACES’ newly opened sister space, FACES Lash Studio, which offers three FACES signature lash extension looks (Coy, Captivating and Catwalk), lash tabbing, lash perming, lash tinting, brow tinting, air brushing, and waxing (from brow design to full leg). With its chaise lounges, mirrored tables and black and white marble floors, FACES Lash Studio embodies a glamorous, old Hollywood feel.

FACES DaySpa, on the other hand, is more gender-neutral with muted colors and inspirational quotes on each wall. And yet, both spaces reflect Owen, her staff, and their mission to help you actualize your best self. Both spaces invite you to commit to a monthly spa routine, not only because you want to, but also because you really need to—for your own edification and sanity.

The other day, I got my Robin Swift moment and treated myself to the Pedicure Plus. Reclined in a massage chair set on “full body,” with a warm neck pillow and a light mask for my eyes, listening to the sounds of babbling brooks and other Zenstyle tunes, and melting with each press of a pressure point, I was reminded of the word Namaste—a yoga greeting that essentially translates, “The light in me sees and honors the light in you.” The order of the wording here is important. You have to recognize your own light before you can see others. You have to take time to nurture yourself.

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C2 Medical Section

P80 You can stop Gum Disease

THIS IS A MIGHTY BIG STATEMENT THAT REQUIRES AN EXPLANATION.

P84 Fasten Your Seatbelt…

Detour Ahead LIVING WITH MS

P92 Concussions in Sports

WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW

Table of Contents

P96 Lessons for Life

FORMER FOOTBALL STAR SHARES STORY, MOTIVATES YOUTH

P100 Avoid Skin Cancer

TREAT YOUR SKIN WITH TLC

P102 Dyslexia

TALKING IS EASY...

WHY ISN’T READING?

 Article By Alvin H. Danenberg, DDS (Practice Limited to Periodontics)

YOU CAN STOP GUM DISEASE THIS IS A MIGHTY BIG STATEMENT THAT REQUIRES AN EXPLANATION. FIRST, THINK ABOUT THIS QUESTION: IF THERE WERE A SPECIES WHOSE ONLY MEANS OF GETTING NUTRITION WAS BY CHEWING FOOD, AND IF THIS SPECIES HAD RAMPANT TOOTH AND GUM DISEASE CAUSING THE LOSS OF THOSE PRECIOUS TEETH, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THAT SPECIES OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF EVOLUTION?

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he answer: This species would die off, because it couldn’t survive over time.

Now consider this fact: Primitive man and woman from Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods did not have gum disease or tooth decay. Why is that?

Let’s step back and consider animals in the wild. They don’t develop dental decay or gum disease or degenerative diseases like modern-day humans, and they don’t get fat like modern-day humans, either. They may lose a tooth in combat, and they do gain weight intentionally to prepare for the cold, winter months or hibernation, but they use this storage naturally and lose it naturally. They eat food in the wild when their bodies tell them they are hungry, 80

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and they stop eating when their bodies tell them they are full. But get this: When chimpanzees and other wild animals are raised in captivity, they do have dental problems; they do get fat; and they do develop chronic degenerative diseases if they are not fed their natural diets.

The differences between wild animals and us are that there are no fast foods or sugary drinks or frozen dinners with a gazillion additives and preservatives in the wild. Wild animals don’t eat meat that has been artificially fattened with hormones and antibiotics. And they don’t eat genetically modified foods that have never been tested for long-term effects on their bodies. Wild animals eat what their bodies have been designed to eat

for thousands of years. In contrast, we eat what has been processed, refined, hybridized, and genetically modified over the last several decades. Our bodies are rebelling.

Primitive man and woman were hunters and gatherers. They ate the foods that their environments provided for them. They did not eat the processed, refined, hybridized, and genetically modified “foods” we stuff into our bodies every day.

Today, over 95 percent of all gum disease and tooth decay is caused by harmful bacteria in our mouths. And harmful bacteria in our mouths are created by harmful bacteria in our gut. And harmful bacteria in our gut are increased NOVEMBER 2013

TODAY, OVER 95 PERCENT OF ALL GUM DISEASE AND TOOTH DECAY IS CAUSED BY HARMFUL BACTERIA IN OUR MOUTHS. AND HARMFUL BACTERIA IN OUR MOUTHS ARE CREATED BY HARMFUL BACTERIA IN OUR GUT.

by certain foods we eat—specifically dense carbohydrates and refined sugars—those highly processed, refined, hybridized, and genetically modified “foods” of modern-day lifestyles.

Current medical evidence suggests that many modern-day diseases, including gum disease, may have their root cause from the unhealthy bacteria in our gut. If we can transform the harmful bacteria in our gut into friendly bacteria, then many of our modern-day diseases might be significantly reduced or eliminated altogether.

Wow! What a powerful possibility!

What do you think might happen to gum disease if we actually address the nutritional causes of the disease, and then treat it with the most cutting-edge method that is becoming the standard of care in dentistry today?

Here is what you could do: You could make healthier choices with your meals

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by eliminating the bad foods, specifically grains and grain products, as well as processed foods containing high fructose corn syrup and other refined sugars. In addition, you could include fermented foods like sauerkraut and yogurt and kefir daily, which may help repopulate the good bacteria in your gut and replace the bad bacteria. Of course, this will take time. It won’t happen in just a few weeks.

So be patient.

Along with improving the nutritional balance in your body, the source of major gum problems could be treated with the PerioLase® Laser, that which kills the bacteria causing this disease without harming healthy cells and without using a scalpel or sutures. It also helps grow new bone.

Laser treatment results in better outcomes with less discomfort and quicker recovery times than traditional surgical methods. The laser treatment is called LANAP® (Laser Assisted New

Attachment Procedure).

So here’s the bottom line. You can stop gum disease by: • Making healthier food choices • Repopulating the friendly bacteria in your gut by eating a variety of fermented foods • Eliminating unhealthy mouth bacteria through the use of evidencebased, patient-friendly treatment • Repairing any damage that has already been done in your mouth with necessary dental treatment • Maintaining a healthy body through healthy eating and a physically active lifestyle, incorporating effective exercise, proper sleep, and stress reduction.  Alvin H. Danenberg, DDS

NOVEMBER 2013

FASTEN YOUR SEATBELTâ&#x20AC;Ś DETOUR AHEAD LIVING WITH MS

ARTICLE BY KITTY BARTELL

D

riving an 18-wheel tractor trailer truck requires a great deal of training and a whole lot of practice to be able to navigate all the surprises that big rig may throw at you.

Recently, I was ordered into the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat, told to buckle my seatbelt and head on down the road. Not literally, however, some days this is how I feel since being

diagnosed with multiple sclerosis: the big, scary new rig I had been given to drive was MS. So far, there have been days when the road was smooth, but there have been plenty of potholes and detour signs too. When reading about people who have had MS for years, or even decades, I realize my 11-month perspective on all of this will evolve as surprises will

inevitably be thrown my way.

The definition of MS is relatively straight-forward; diagnosing and treating MS is a whole other bailiwick, as my grandfather would say. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system where the myelin sheath, or insulating covers surrounding nerves cells in the brain and spinal cord, is

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS IS A CHRONIC AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM WHERE THE MYELIN SHEATH, OR INSULATING COVERS SURROUNDING NERVES CELLS IN THE BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD, IS DAMAGED, INTERFERING WITH NERVE PATHWAYS AND CAUSING MYRIAD SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING MUSCLE WEAKNESS, LOSS OF COORDINATION, AND SPEECH AND VISION PROBLEMS.

damaged, interfering with nerve pathways and causing myriad symptoms, including muscle weakness, loss of coordination, and speech and vision problems. For approximately 350,000 Americans who have MS, there are equally as many stories of how their disease appeared and was eventually diagnosed.

I know now that my 36-day ordeal from my first debilitating attack to diagnosis was relatively short. At the time, it seemed like the longest 36 days of my life.

October 31, 2012, I was walking to my car, and without warning my vision went double. Oddly, I literally thought, “It’s Halloween … weird things happen.” Something must have blown into my eyes… I would be able to blink it away as soon as I got into my car. It didn’t go away. In reality, dizziness settled in and the only time that I could see clearly and not feel like the world was turning on its side, was if I held my head perfectly level and looked straight ahead. Five days later, I visited my eye doctor. The verdict was that my eyes were in great shape. What followed was 30 days, five doctors, two grueling MRIs, a trip to the Medical University of South Carolina, and finally a lumbar puncture… a.k.a. spinal tap. On December 5, my neurologist said the puncture had confirmed multiple sclerosis, and he wanted me in the hospital that afternoon to begin treatment.

Honestly, it was a relief … I finally had a diagnosis. Not the diagnosis I wanted, the one that could be easily treated with a Mediterranean vacation, but a diagnosis none-the-less meant that I might get my world turned right-side up again.

Diagnosing MS is difficult at best due the wide variety of symptoms that mimic other diseases. It can take months, sometime years, to put all the pieces together. My doctor told me that the MRI of my brain showed “bright spots.” These bright spots are where the myelin sheath has been worn away from 86

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NOVEMBER 2013

MY DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT THE MRI OF MY BRAIN SHOWED “BRIGHT SPOTS.” THESE BRIGHT SPOTS ARE WHERE THE MYELIN SHEATH HAS BEEN WORN AWAY FROM THE NERVE CELLS. MYELIN IS ESSENTIALLY A FATTY COATING LAYERED MUCH LIKE AN ONION AROUND THE BRANCHES OF NERVE CELLS. LIKE TELEPHONE WIRES, THE NERVE CELLS TALK TO EACH OTHER, AND WITHOUT THEIR MYELIN PROTECTION, THEIR CONVERSATIONS GET INTERRUPTED.

the nerve cells. Myelin is essentially a fatty coating layered much like an onion around the branches of nerve cells. Like telephone wires, the nerve cells talk to each other, and without their myelin protection, their conversations get interrupted.

There are varying degrees of MS, and a specific diagnosis is based primarily on the speed with which the disease progresses.

On one end of this spectrum is benign MS, meaning individuals suffer one or two attacks and rarely have any further incidents.

Primary progressive MS is all the way on the other end of the spectrum, marked by a relentless downhill progression. My MS is relapsing-remitting, the most widely diagnosed form, and characterized by symptom attacks, followed by some recovery, then a remission period. Remission implies the disease is not active; however, with MS, nerve cells are always under attack.

With this form of MS, it seems to be a pretty solid guarantee that another attack is coming, you just never know when.

Statistics are the inevitable side of MS. However, what I have learned is that worst-case scenarios are not inevitable and that I have some control over how my illness progresses, despite the fact that it is always fighting against me.

The first step was clearing up my double vision and dizziness. That took a relatively common course for MS patients of high doses of steroids administered in the hospital. The 88

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NOVEMBER 2013

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF MS IS FATIGUE—NOT THE KIND OF TIRED YOU FEEL AFTER A LONG DAY AT WORK OR RUNNING A 5K. IT’S MORE LIKE GETTING A SOLID 10 HOURS OF SLEEP AND WAKING UP TOO EXHAUSTED TO MAKE A POT OF COFFEE. OTHER DAILY SYMPTOMS THAT COME AND GO INCLUDE NUMBNESS, TINGLING AND WEAKNESS, QUICK, SHARP PAINS, FEELING DISORIENTED OR DIZZY, AND VOICE WEAKNESS.

treatment lasted three days (with several weeks of not-so-fun steroidal side effects) and resulted in significant improvement.

Next came long-term treatment options; after much research and discussion with my neurologist, I am taking a daily injection of a medication that is intended to minimize future attacks. It doesn’t help with my daily symptoms, but I do have other weapons in my arsenal for them.

One of the most common symptoms of MS is fatigue—not the kind of tired you feel after a long day at work or running a 5K. It’s more like getting a solid 10 hours of sleep and waking up too exhausted to make a pot of coffee. Other daily symptoms that come and go include numbness, tingling and weakness, quick, sharp pains, feeling disoriented or dizzy, and voice weakness.

There hasn’t been a day when I have not been aware of my MS; however, I have found that implementing some serious, non-negotiable lifestyle changes, can minimize their effect on my life. The first change I tackled was my diet. All the research about MS and diet include one common theme: avoid unhealthy fats. When fats are processed for human consumption they are heated to create a product with a long shelf life. The problem is that cell membranes—and of particular importance to MS patients, nerve cells—are made up of essential fatty acids. Consumption of these more sticky, processed fats make for rigid cells, slowing down an already compromised nervous system.

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THREE OTHER LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT IMPACT MS IN A POSITIVE WAY ARE GETTING PLENTY OF TIME IN THE SUN, EXERCISE, AND MEDITATION. VITAMIN D, WHICH WE GET PRIMARILY FROM SUN EXPOSURE, HAS PROFOUND EFFECTS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. IT HAS BEEN WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT INSUFFICIENT SUNLIGHT MAY BE THE TRIGGER FOR MS IN GENETICALLY SUSCEPTIBLE PEOPLE. The fat that does work for a MS diet is extra virgin olive oil. Made from the first cold pressing of the olives, it is the only fat not subjected to heat processing. Beyond the fat facts and based on a lot of research, I am following a Mediterranean-type diet focused on fruits, vegetables, legumes, seafood, a little chicken, red meat or pork only one or two times a month, and little or no refined sugar. I have first-hand evidence of the importance of staying on track.

Having fallen off the food wagon around my birthday, I began having a raging set of symptoms much like when my first attack appeared. I thought I was headed back to the hospital for a round of steroids. Fear is a great motivator; I went back to my strict diet guidelines, and within two days the symptoms were passing. I may not always be able to fight off an attack, but this time… lesson learned.

Three other lifestyle changes that impact MS in a positive way are getting plenty of time in the sun, exercise, and meditation. Vitamin D, which we get primarily from sun exposure, has profound effects on the immune system. It has been widely accepted that insufficient sunlight may be the trigger for MS in genetically susceptible people.

My doctor recommends that this former gray-winter Michigan girl spend 20 minutes a day getting unprotected sun exposure along with taking a vitamin D supplement. Exercise is also key to my daily fight. Move-it-or-lose-it couldn’t be more apt when it comes to MS, and I try to ignore the fatigue factor and walk at least 30 minutes a day. Finally, meditation is helpful in combating stress, another symptom trigger that, for me, manifests almost immediately. Meditation is my greatest challenge. With one of those minds that never ceases to run, I will continue practicing this practice and plan to get more skilled over time.

The support and love of my family and friends are the final weapons in my arsenal against MS. My husband was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age NOVEMBER 2013

three, which in a strange twist of fortunes has made him a tremendous support in my new MS adventure. We now both take injections every day; he understands and supports the changes I have made to my diet and lifestyle and how they impact my day-to-day well-being; and he is the most empathic shoulder when it hasn’t been a good day and I just need to moan a little. My parents, sister, brother, and my college-age daughter, along with a handful of treasured friends, are in-touch and always ready to listen, and would travel to me in an instant if I asked. All of this goes a long way toward maintaining a positive mindset.

In these short 11 months, what I have learned is that as I get settled in the driver’s seat of my big rig and travel down this new highway, at least I am still in the driver’s seat. It may be a little harder to handle than my Chevy Malibu, and the road may get rough, but most days I think the weather is going to be just fine.  KITTY BARTELL >

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oncussions are defined as traumatic brain injuries. These injuries are very common in sports such as football, soccer, cheerleading hockey and lacrosse. In recent months, these sports related injuries have been a hot topic. The NFL recently settled a lawsuit, awarding past players $765 million for brain injuries they received while playing football. Former players have been found to have higher rates of problems such as dementia, depression, Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and other brain or psychological disorders after repetitive concussions. Also, we are seeing fines and penalties much more often for inappropriate tackles that intentionally injure another player. All this attention drawn to concussions in professional sports has had a trickle-down effect with more awareness in college and high school sports.

Concussions can occur as a result of a direct blow to the head or trauma to the body with the force transmitted to the head.

The symptoms of a concussion often begin within the first few minutes after the injury. Of note, loss of consciousness (blacking out) does not occur with most concussions. The symptoms of a concussion usually resolve over a period of a few hours, but sometimes can persist for days or weeks.

Common signs and symptoms of concussion include headache, amnesia, dizziness and balance difficulty, feeling foggy or in a daze, visual problems (seeing stars, blurry, sensitive to light), ringing in the ears or sensitivity to loud noise, nausea or vomiting, loss of consciousness (blacking out), difficulty with concentration, and irritability.

Concussion evaluation If an athlete sustains a concussion, it is very important that he or she is evaluated as soon as possible by a medical doctor skilled in concussion management or certified athletic trainer.

We are fortunate in the Lowcountry to have well-qualified athletic trainers associated with the high schools. If the sports medicine team is not readily available to evaluate the injury, it is best to take the athlete to the emergency department. A medical doctor or athletic trainer can perform an appropriate

examination to determine if the athlete has a concussion and if any further evaluation is necessary. Neck injuries can occur along with concussions and should be ruled out prior to moving the injured athlete. It is important to remember concussions are physiologic problems, not structural (visible) problems.

Therefore, tests such as cat scans (CT) or MRI do not have a role in concussion evaluation. CT scans in particular utilize a great deal of radiation. These tests should be performed only when it is necessary to ensure no other injury is present (i.e. bleed in the brain or fracture), not simply because a head injury has occurred.

Concussion management Rest and observation are the mainstays of concussion management. It is important to watch the athlete for any worrisome signs (severe headache, excessive drowsiness, persistent vomiting, seizure activity) after the injury has occurred. Symptoms should gradually improve, not worsen over time. Tylenol can be given to help with mild headaches. It is not necessary to wake the athlete through the night after a concussion. Rather, simply check in periodically to make sure he or she is resting without problems. The athlete should not drive until cleared by a physician or athletic trainer. A relatively new concept is â&#x20AC;&#x153;cognitive or brain rest.â&#x20AC;? Student athletes may need a time off from school, additional time to take tests or other academic accommodations after a concussion while the brain is healing. Computer, iPad and smart phone use is discouraged.

Another new concept in sports concussion management involves brain testing called neuropsychological testing. These computerized tests evaluate brain tasks such as memory and reaction time. Athletes can take these tests before the start of the sports season to have a baseline measurement of their brain skills. If the athlete then has a concussion, this test can be repeated and results compared to the pre-injury level. Along with a proper medical exam these tests can help evaluate concussions and clear athletes to return to sports as their symptoms improve.

Long-term effects of concussions Though most athletes recover without persistent problems, some long-term complications can result from concussions.

These include persistent headaches, attention or concentration difficulties, and personality changes. Some individuals, due to genetic variance, may be more sensitive to subsequent head injuries and sustain repeated concussions. Younger athletes should be treated with extra caution due to the developing brain.

Cognitive (brain function) difficulties can be present if severe head injuries occur or if repetitive minor injuries occur. Rarely devastating brain swelling can occur after concussions. This so called “second impact syndrome” is thought to be due to injuries which occur while a brain is not yet healed from a previous injury. This is one reason why it is so important athletes do not participate while symptoms are still present.

Returning to sports after a concussion If an athlete sustains a concussion, he or she should not be allowed to go back in the game that same day, no matter how important the game. After the athlete’s symptoms have resolved, the team physician and/or athletic trainer will clear the athlete to begin a return to sport protocol. A typical return to sport protocol is as follows: 1. Athlete must have no symptoms at rest.

2. Light aerobic activity (stationary bike) 3. Sport-specific physical activity 4. Non-contact drills (start light resistance training) 5. Full contact after medical clearance 6. Return to competition Progression from each phase occurs over 24 hours. If symptoms return, the athlete must not advance to the next phase.

Concussion prevention Unfortunately there is no fail-safe concussion prevention strategy. As long as kids (and adults) continue to participate in contact and collision sports, we will continue to see athletes with concussions. While mouth guards and helmets do reduce oral, dental, facial and head injuries, they have not been shown to consistently lower concussion incidence in sports. Some would argue the opposite—with fancy helmets and face guards athletes feel invincible and may be more prone to concussions. Proper fitting equipment, tackling technique and other commonsense safe guards in sports are important, and time will tell if new tackling rules will have an impact on concussions. Our best strategy for now is likely continued efforts with education regarding concussions for athletes, parents and coaches. This will best ensure proper recognition and management when these injuries occur.

Summary It is important to keep in mind, in particular with youth sports, that concussions are brain injuries and should be treated with caution. While we still have a lot to learn about concussions, the field of sports medicine has made great strides in recent years.

In the past, when I was covering high school football games, it was not uncommon to have players, coaches or parents argue that “Johnny just got his bell rung; he is okay to get back in the game.” Nowadays, it is not uncommon for players and coaches to approach the sports medicine team and say, “You need to check out Johnny; I think he hit his head and has a concussion.” This awareness and attention drawn to sports related concussions has been one of the greatest advancements in sports medicine I have seen in my 10+ years serving as a team physician for various sports and teams.

 Article Michael Paskevich

HILTON HEAD HOSPITAL TO HOST PA T I E N T E D U C A T I O N PROGRAM TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR DIABETES

LESSONS FOR LIFE F O R M E R F O O T B A L L S T A R S H A R E S S T O R Y, M O T I VA T E S Y O U T H

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endall Simmons took plenty of punishing hits in his Super Bowl-winning football career, but none was bigger than a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes that could have derailed his life were it not for dramatic lifestyle changes. The retired athlete now faces challenges of a different sort as a public speaker, discussing the disease and providing hope and advice to help prevent others, particularly kids, from suffering a similar fate.

He stopped by the Boys and Girls Club of the Lowcountry in Bluffton recently and shared how his Southern upbringing and lack of knowledge about diabetes landed him in a hospital during his first training camp with the Pittsburg Steelers in 2003. But first he had a question for about 100 excited teens and tweens gathered in the bleachers at the club’s gymnasium.

“How many of you know someone with diabetes?” Simmons asked, showing no surprise when nearly every hand shot skyward.

“I grew up in the South, loving the food like everyone else,” said the Mississippi-born Simmons, “so I ate plenty of fried chicken, sweet potato pie, ice cream, cookies and tea cakes. I didn’t know that diabetes has a lot to do with your food choices and staying active.”

While Simmons excelled in high school sports and earned a scholarship

to attend Auburn University in Alabama, he continued to savor his favorite fare as he worked his way to the next level.

“It came out of the blue,” he told the youngsters, recalling how he was stricken shortly after undergoing seemingly routine outpatient surgery to repair an ailing shoulder. “My body just got mad at me, and I lost 45 pounds in a couple of weeks. I fought it for a while and really didn’t want to deal with it, but now I can look back at

Hilton Head Hospital is hosting a special event “Take Charge of your Diabetes” on Saturday, November 9, 2013 from 8:30 am – 12 Noon at the Country Club of Hilton Head for all people affected by diabetes.

This special Diabetes event is a free, 1Ž2 day event that will provide valuable education for individuals with diabetes and their families and caregivers. Diabetes is among the top leading causes of death in both Beaufort and Jasper counties. Our goal is make sure residents have access to information that will help them lead healthier lives.

The free educational event will include the following presentations • 8:30 am - Doors open/ Registration • 9:05 am - A Sweet Journey Presented by Elizabeth Millen • 9:30 am - Nutrition for Diabetes: Separating the Myths from the Facts– Presented by Elizabeth Huggins, MESS,RD,LD,CDE • 10:15 am - Using Technology to Help You Achieve Your Health Goals – Presented by Delisa Staton, RN,BSN,CDE and Elizabeth Huggins, MESS,RD,LD,CDE • 11:00 am - Diabetes and You with Question & Answer – Dr. Orlin Sergev, MD,PhD,FACE The Country Club of Hilton Head in located in Hilton Head Plantation at 70 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head Island. For more information or to register for the special Diabetes event, call 1-877-582-2737 and select “2” for Hilton Head Hospital.

Deadline to register is Wednesday, November 6.

“YOU LOSE STRENGTH AS YOUR BLOOD SUGAR RISES, SO EVERY SNAP OF THE BALL W A S A C H A L L E N G E .” S I M M O N S NONETHELESS BECAME A STAR AT OFFENSIVE GUARD AND PICKED U P A PA I R O F S U P E R B O W L R I N G S BEFORE COLLECTIVE INJURIES LED TO HIS RETIREMENT IN 2008.

what happened as a blessing instead of a hindrance.”

The Steelers didn’t give up on their number-one draft pick, and Simmons adjusted accordingly, changing his eating habits and enduring insulin shots on the sidelines to keep playing. “You lose strength as your blood sugar rises, so every snap of the ball was a challenge,” he said. Simmons nonetheless became a star at offensive guard and picked up a pair of Super Bowl rings before collective injuries led to his retirement in 2008.

Today he spends several days a week on the speaking circuit for Norvo Nordisk, a pharmaceutical firm focusing on diabetes, and wears an insulin pump he calls “my mechanical pancreas” that monitors and regulates his blood sugar. He feels fortunate to share his hard-won knowledge about nutrition with his own four young children as well as others, and his interactive chat in Bluffton also touched on issues that went well beyond achieving athletic excellence.

“We all have our own dreams and expectations of what we want to do with our lives,” Simmons said, advising the youngsters to avoid peer pressure and to turn to trusted adults for crucial advice and support. “You’re all going to run into things in life that seem insurmountable at first, and you can either react negatively or positively,” he said.

“So don’t be afraid to ask questions and get help from adults. Take advantage of your opportunities and remember: there’s nothing you can’t do.” 

 Article By A. Thomas Bundy, MD, FAAD. Hilton Head Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center

AVOID SKIN

CANCER

TREAT YOUR SKIN WITH TLC THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY (AAD) STATES THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING DIAGNOSED WITH MELANOMA. IT NOTES THAT MELANOMA IS THE MOST COMMON FORM OF SKIN CANCER AMONG YOUNG ADULTS AGES 25-29 YEARS OLD, AND WHITE MALES 50 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY (ACS) ESTIMATES APPROXIMATELY 76,690 NEW CASES OF MELANOMA WILL BE DIAGNOSED IN THE UNITED STATES IN 2013. THE ACS ALSO STATES THAT APPROXIMATELY 9,480 ARE EXPECTED TO DIE OF MELANOMA.

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ike the less aggressive skin cancers, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, melanoma is almost always curable when detected in its early stages. Excessive sun exposure, particularly sunburn, sun lamps, and tanning beds are the most important preventable causes of melanoma, especially among light-skinned individuals. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that heredity plays a major role, noting about one in 10 patients with a family history of melanoma has a 50 percent greater chance of developing melanoma. The AAD notes that indoor tanning increases the risk of melanoma by 75 percent, and females ages 15-29 tend to develop melanoma on the torso, possibly due to high-risk tanning behaviors. It has been noted that melanoma rates are tending to increase with age, especially among persons in their 80s.

Atypical moles (dysplastic nevi), which may run in families, and a high number of moles, can serve as warnings for people at higher risk for developing melanoma. Melanoma may suddenly appear, but it may also begin in, or near a mole or another dark spot in the skin.

It is important to know the location and appearance of the moles on the body so that any change will be noticed. People with more than 50 moles are at greater risk for melanoma. Moles larger than a quarter inch in diameter (size of a pencil eraser) and flat moles with irregular borders and different colors can become cancerous in time. These should be watched for changes and checked by a dermatologist

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regularly. Redheads and blondes, and people with blue or green eyes are at an increased risk of developing melanoma.

Warning signs of melanoma include: changes in the surface of a mole; scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or in the appearance of a new bump; spread of pigment from the border into a surrounding skin; and change in sensation, including itchiness, tenderness or pain. Dark-skinned people can develop melanoma, especially on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, under nails, or in the mouth. The most important step in prevention is to have any changing moles examined by a dermatologist so that early melanoma can be removed while still in the curable stage.

Early detection is essential as there is a direct correlation between the thickness of the melanoma and the survival rate.

The warning signs of melanoma can be easily remembered by the pneumonic “ABCDEs” as shown below: • Asymmetry • Border irregularity • Color variability • Diameter • Evolving The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared UV radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, as a known carcinogen. Research by the American Academy of Dermatology recommends regular use of sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30 or higher for everyone, but especially adults and children with fair skin, light colored eyes and hair, and freckles. According to

the AAD, the FDA requires sunscreen to be stable at its original strength for at least three years.

Children get an average of three times more sun exposure than adults, because they spend a lot of time outdoors. For maximum protection, they should wear long-sleeved T-shirts, sunglasses, widebrimmed hats and avoid the mid-day sun.

Tips to avoid skin damage and possible skin cancers include: • Limiting the amount of time you are in direct sun between 10a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Wearing sunglasses with both UVA and UVB blocking lenses to protect your eyes from melanoma.

• Wearing wide-brimmed hats to protect your face.

• Wearing tightly-woven, non-cling clothing serves as the best protection, although most clothing absorbs or reflects UV rays.

• Applying broad-spectrum, waterresistant sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 15-20 minutes before going out into the sun, and reapplying every two hours and after prolonged swimming, vigorous activity, sweating or toweling off. Remember to cover ears, nose, neck, feet and hands with sunscreen. Use extra caution near water, snow and sand because they reflect the damaging rays of the sun, increasing the chance of sunburn. Lips should be protected by using lip balm with SPF 30 or greater.

• Doing a self-exam and seeing a dermatologist for a complete skin exam once or twice a year will help in the prevention of skin cancer.  NOVEMBER 2013

 ARTICLE BY JESSI DOLNIK

TALKING IS EASY...

WHY ISN’T READING? NINE-YEAR-OLD COLE IS ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST CHILDREN IN HIS THIRD-GRADE CLASS. HE HAS A FANTASTIC VOCABULARY AND KNOWS EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT FOOTBALL—HE CAN EVEN TELL YOU WHO PLAYED IN EACH OF THE LAST 10 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES AND WHO WON. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO READING ABOUT FOOTBALL—OR ANYTHING ELSE—COLE HAS A LOT OF TROUBLE. IT TAKES HIM A LONG TIME TO READ EACH WORD AND EVEN LONGER TO READ WHOLE SENTENCES. HE OFTEN HAS TO GUESS AT HOW YOU SAY A WORD—AND SOMETIMES HIS GUESS IS WRONG. HE RELIES ON PICTURES. READING OUT LOUD IS ESPECIALLY STRESSFUL AND EMBARRASSING. HIS TEACHER RECENTLY TOLD COLE’S PARENTS THAT SHE THINKS HE COULD BENEFIT FROM EXTRA HELP IN READING, OR “RESOURCE,” AT SCHOOL.

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ost people assume that part of being smart is being able to read well. About 100 years ago, though, doctors figured out that some people, even some very smart people who do really well at many other things, have trouble learning to read. This difficulty with reading is called dyslexia.

No one is born knowing how to read; we all have to learn how. When you were a baby, just being around people who were talking was enough to get you started talking, too. Human brains are just designed to make talking happen almost automatically. Reading is different, though.

When you read, your brain has to do a lot of things at once. It has to connect letters with sounds and put those sounds together in the right order. Then it has to help you put letters, words, and paragraphs together in ways that let you read them quickly and understand what they mean. It also has to connect words and sentences with other kinds of knowledge. When you see “c-a-t” on a piece of paper, your brain doesn’t just have to read the word “cat”; it also has to make the connection that “cat” means a furry, four-legged animal that meows.

WHAT IS DYSLEXIA? Dyslexia is not just flipping letters and numbers. Dyslexia is sort of an invisible problem. It’s not an illness like chicken pox or a cold. In school, teachers can see Cole working hard, but they can’t see all the steps his brain has to take to make 102

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sense of the words on the worksheet he’s attempting to do.

Many kids with dyslexia worry that there is something wrong with their brain.

That’s a pretty scary thought. Thanks to recent research, though, we have scientific proof that a dyslexic person’s brain is normal and healthy. When you have dyslexia, though, your brain takes longer to make some of these connections, and does it in more steps. It especially has trouble matching the letters you see on the page with the sounds those letters and combinations of letters make. And when you have trouble with that step, it makes all the other steps harder.

Dyslexia isn’t rare. Sometimes several people in the same family have dyslexia.

It is estimated that between 5-10 percent of the population could be classified as dyslexic.

A NEW WAY TO LEARN Cole was diagnosed with dyslexia.

He is actually lucky that he has already found out that he has dyslexia. You see, the younger you are when you figure out that reading is tough for you, the sooner you—with the help of trained professionals in the area of dyslexia, teachers and parents—can find ways to learn that make it easier. Even though

dyslexia isn’t something Cole will grow out of, there are methods and techniques available to help Cole read better… even enjoy reading.

One thing we know for certain about dyslexia is that this is one small area of difficulty in a sea of strengths. Having trouble with reading does not mean that you’ll have trouble with everything.

In fact, most kids with dyslexia are very good at lots of other things.

People with dyslexia are often very creative and typically develop some clever skills to help them figure out words and sentences that give them trouble at first.

Dyslexics often think of unexpected ways to solve a problem or tackle a challenge.

We don’t fully understand whether this kind of creativity comes from the extra work dyslexics have to do to succeed at reading or whether dyslexics are just naturally creative. What we do know is that many, many people with dyslexia, even some who really struggled with reading and writing in elementary school and high school, went on to college and work in jobs they love.

Cole’s family accessed the tools to make his reading experience a better one. He is now reading at grade level with individualized supports in place. Most important, he is happy. 

Jessi Dolnik, MA, CCC-SLP is a pediatric speech-language pathologist & founder of Lowcountry Therapy Center & Lowcountry Dyslexia Center.

NOVEMBER 2013

ARTICLE BY KITTY BARTELL

HHCA SETS A NEW COURSE

ON JULY 1, 2013, LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER ARRIVING ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND, DR. DANIEL WESCHE WAS NAMED HEADMASTER OF HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY. THIS DYNAMIC NEW LEADER ISN’T LETTING ANY GRASS GROW UNDER HIS FEET, SETTING AMBITIOUS GOALS AND CREATING A DIPLOMA-DRIVEN PROGRAM TO ALIGN WITH THOSE GOALS, PREPARING TO SEND STUDENTS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY READY AND ABLE.

Goal #1: to foster an environment that promotes a 21st Century education.

“Not just bringing in more technology,” Wesche explained, “but training our students to be able to use the technology well, as critical consumers of information and Christian thinkers. Kids these days think with their thumbs. They’re born of this digital age, and they’re digital natives. They’re familiar and comfortable with all these digital components, but there is still a need to teach them how

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to think. We want to train them to be responsible consumers of that digital information.”

Goal #2: To invest in discipleship and leadership programs.

In addition to appointing a campus pastor, Douglas Langhals, “we’ve redesigned our Bible curriculum and Bible modules to make them more relational and allow students to get into deeper relationships with adults and mentors so that they can have them speaking into their lives at various points throughout their high school career,” Wesche said.

^

DR. DANIEL WESCHE

The school’s new Diploma of Distinction is the merging of these two goals, first being offered to the class of 2015. “This is an opportunity for students beginning the second half of their junior year, and then all of their senior year, working on a mentor-lead project of real world significance,” Wesche said. Structured much like a graduate thesis, with a proposal, a committee of readers, a review board, a literature review, and a follow-up paper, the Diploma of Distinction will result in a project that “is something of their choosing that they are passionate about, that they get to work on with a faculty member.

It will provide incredible benefits

for themas they go into college applications and scholarship applications.”

With a focus on meeting the needs of the whole family, HHCA will be opening a new preschool in August, 2014. They also recently added a new building, housing an indoor practice gymnasium, an auditorium, a stage for smaller fine arts productions, rooms for band and art, and additional regular classrooms.

Nowhere is Wesche’s vision better demonstrated than in the school’s iLab (Issachar Technology Lab), a place where students gather to learn, take tests, create, and socialize.

The iLab gives a wink to the Apple generation of technology available there, with a firm nod to Christian teaching. Issachar’s tribe in the Old Testament was a group who understood how the times in which they lived could co-exist with their religious beliefs and practices. Issachar and Wesche would have been fast friends.

Hilton Head Christian Academy is located at 55 Gardner Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. For more information, please visit hhca. org or call (843) 681-2878.

NOVEMBER 2013

THE VERY PERSONAL REASONS BEHIND THE TATTOOS

ARTICLE BY

REBECCA EDWARDS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK

STAFF

MAKE-UP BY SKINZIN

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he first time I considered getting a tattoo was the summer before my freshman year in college. I wanted a sprawling ivy image on my ankle. Rather than a mark of rebellion, it would have been an emblem to signify my entrée into adulthood. I thought of it like a stamp in my passport (because that was when passport stamps were decorative and something to be seen and shared), except on my body. I told my mom, and she surprised me with, “Sure, why not?”

Yet, she went on to warn, “But be sure it’s something you want. Draw it on your ankle every day for a few months, and if you still like it afterward, do it.”

It turned out, I didn’t. But the ivy image I had in mind planted a seed. Since then, I have been fascinated by the art of dermal modification and design and curious about the reasons why people “tat it out.” Servicemen do it to be patriotic or to remember a fallen comrade. Collegeaged kids do it on spring break, maybe after one too many rounds of beer pong.

Love struck people do it to honor their “Old Lady” or “Baby Mama” (or Daddy).

Parents do it to honor their children, and conversely,

children (age 18 or older) do it to honor their parents (or to piss them off).

The second time I considered getting a tattoo, I was in Asheville, N.C. on a date with my now husband, Lee. Leaving a vegetarian TexMex restaurant, I noticed a neon sign for a tattoo shop and felt compelled to go in. This time, I wanted a monogram in Sanskrit on my wrist. Maybe it was the wine.

Maybe it was Asheville’s hip vibe. Maybe it was the fact that I was in my early-20s and thought why the hell not?

But I didn’t get it, because it felt too spontaneous. I didn’t want to be “that girl.”

But who is “that girl” (or guy) exactly, and why do I and maybe you have such mixed feelings about tattoos?

TATTOO ATTITUDES To learn more about the psychology of tattoos, I posted the following question on Facebook: “What do you think about tattoos?” Here are a few of the responses from those who have tattoos: “I got one that is hidden last year. I was fiercely against them up until then, and got one that is very personal, meaningful and symbolic of my cultural and Western identity. I love it for myself, but never flaunt it or show it to others.”–Anne

“I have four (yep this Mormon has tattoos), and I love two and hate two. The ones I love have very special and significant meaning; the other two don’t mean anything and are dumb. I’m plotting a few more though.

Very addictive.” –KB “I did it as gift to my husband.”–Julie “I get tattoos because I love decorating my ‘house.’”– Laura Peterson “When I got mine over 15 years ago, they weren’t a ‘fad.’ I knew I wanted one; I looked at a lot of art, and I wanted to be able to see it but not have it exposed to the public. So this was personal. I still love it, and consider it a part of me.”–BK And here are responses from some who chose not to do it: “Here today, gone tomorrow.”–Leisa “I never got one. Jewish religion is against it and, in general, I do not like the idea of permanently marking on my body. But to each their own; I have no issues with what others put on their body, as long as they can afford it and they do not contract a communicable disease.”—TL “I wanted a tattoo in college but never got it because my mom kept telling me to wait until I found a

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design that I could imagine looking good during pregnancy. I never found one.”–Cathy TATTOOING TODAY I recently visited Incredible Ink on New Orleans Road, and 19-yearold Kiefer Clear was getting a tattoo.

“I wanted something to remember my aunt, Marilyn Daly,” he said. Marilyn died 14 years ago and Clear is now of age to legally get a tattoo.

Clear’s experience was very different from what I and maybe you might imagine of a tattoo session. His tattoo artist was Gavan Daly, Marilyn’s son and Clear’s cousin. In tribute to Marilyn, they played one of her old records on an iPod hooked up to a speaker. Her voice was throaty, earthy and forthright like Janis Joplin’s, and the words and rhythm worked well with the staccato buzz of the tattoo needle. There was no blood. Clear did not appear to be in pain. And he and Daly bantered back and forth, telling stories about Marilyn. The room felt full.

Not crowded, but full. It was full with something beautifully understated, something rich with intent and thoughtfulness, and something moving and momentous. As Daly skillfully inked Clear’s calf, I knew I was witnessing skin-deep art in the making.

Daly describes tattooing as “enigmatic.” “Tattooing is a super old craft,” he said, “super-taboo, too. Did you know it was basically underground until 2000?” Daly laughed and added, “Now, it is almost impossible to get an apprenticeship, because the market is so saturated and selective. Most of today’s tattoo artists have advanced degrees in design.”

PHOTO BY PETE BERGERON

< Gavan Daly at work TAT-FACTS There is a difference between a tattoo parlor and art studio. The equipment and procedures of art studios now resemble those of medical clinics—particularly in areas where tattooing is regulated by government health agencies (such as in South

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Carolina). Daly said he had “to learn about germs, cross-born contamination, blood-borne pathogens of serious diseases, aftercare protocol, autoclave sterilization and handling of medical equipment, as well as become certified in adult first aid and CPR.”

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PHOTOS BY PETE BERGERON

I RECENTLY VISITED INCREDIBLE INK ON NEW ORLEANS ROAD, AND 19-YEAR-OLD KIEFER CLEAR WAS GETTING A TATTOO. “I WANTED SOMETHING TO REMEMBER MY AUNT, MARILYN DALY,” HE SAID. MARILYN DIED 14 YEARS AGO AND CLEAR IS NOW OF AGE TO LEGALLY GET A TATTOO.

Twenty-three percent of Americans have a tattoo, according to a Pew Research poll from 2010, and 32 percent of people ages 30 to 45 have at least one tattoo.

TattooArtist.com reports, “Tattooing today is the sixth-fastest-growing retail business in the United States”; and “The single fastest growing demographic group seeking tattoo services is, to the surprise of many, middle-class suburban women.”

The Macy star was actually taken from a tattoo that founder R.H. Macy wore on his forearm. Macy acquired the tattoo in his youth while working on whaling vessels.

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Temporary tattoos don’t carry the stigma of permanent ones and are one of the top selling items for children’s birthday goodie bags, Valentine’s Day cards and Easter eggs and are dispensed in gumball machines in supermarkets.

Although most tattoo ink is made using bone char (burnt animal bones) and sometimes the resin of shellac beetles, vegan tattoos are also available.

TO TAT OR NOT TO TAT? The last time I considered a tattoo was today. Watching Clear and Daly, and feeling Marilyn hovering (in a friendly spirit kind of way), I was swept up in the moment and Daly sensed it. “You want one?” he asked.

My muse Marilyn was in the background being groovy; I paused, and Daly read me.

“Yeah, think about it,” he said. “Or don’t. I’ll be here if you need me.”

To contact Gavan Daly, visit knarlygav. com. To learn more about Incredible Ink, visit incredible-ink.com or call (843) 686INKS. www.celebratehiltonhead.com 113

MAGIC, WONDER, AND FAMILY FUN ARTICLE BY ANDREA GANNON PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE

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n its fall production, Hilton Head Prep brings the whimsical Shakespearean comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, magically to life in its outdoor courtyard on the school’s campus, Saturday and Sunday, November 9-10, at 7 p.m.

The show is the inaugural production under the school’s new performing arts director, Peggy Trecker White, who brings a wealth of theatrical credentials and experience to the position. She joins the Hilton Head Prep community having spent the summer at Interlochen Center for the Arts where she was director of their intermediate musical theatre program and an acting teacher in residence for the 2012 fall semester. No stranger to the spotlight herself, she was

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a company member of the Interlochen Shakespeare Festival this summer, where she played Gertrude in Hamlet.

Trecker White’s onstage talent has been evidenced locally as she has been a leading member of South Carolina Repertory Company since 2007 when she moved to Hilton Head Island.

Trecker White also directed Charlotte’s Web, Into the Woods and Little Women at the Main Street Youth Theatre.

Other stage credits include several Broadway national tours of Miss Saigon; Death of a Salesman with Theatre Mitu/Abu Dhabi; Absolution, Antigone and Richard II with American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University; and, while living in Los Angeles, The Merchant of Venice, The Music Man and Wonderful Town, starring Lucy Arnaz.

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“THE WHOLE SCHOOL—LOWER, MIDDLE AND UPPER— WILL BE INVOLVED, INCLUDING A FEW FACULTY MEMBERS, SURE TO ADD ANOTHER LEVEL OF HUMOR TO THE EVENING! THERE WILL EVEN BE SINGING AND DANCING IN OUR FAIRY WORLD!” - TRECKER WHITE Shakespeare Simplified….

The imaginative plot of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a confluence of magic, hijinks and romance. A quick rundown goes something like this: Hermia loves her schoolmate Lysander, but her father wants her to marry Demetrius— who’s also the heartthrob of her best-friend-forever, Helena.

Threatened with death or a convent if she doesn’t do what Daddy wants, Hermia and Lysander ditch school and head for the woods. With Helena and Demetrius in hot pursuit, they run right into a magical free-for-all between Oberon, the Fairy King, and Titania, his Fairy Queen. It’s a wild night for lovers and lunatics, swirling with Elizabethan flourishes, in this familyfriendly comedy.

“Our stage will be divined in the campus courtyard, with the beautiful, newly-built trellis and its lush greenery, which become part of the set,” Trecker White said. “The whole school—lower, middle and upper—will be involved, including a few faculty members, sure to add another level of humor to the evening! There will even be singing and dancing in our fairy world!”

Ret’s Garden will serve as Prep’s magical outdoor lobby where audience members can partake of “sparkling love juice” and other “enchanted refreshments.” The delightful evening will include fairy face paintings and stadium seating, with the opportunity for audience members to relax on their own picnic blankets if they choose.

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One review of the play calls it “not only the funniest of Shakespeare’s plays, but also the most original, magically interweaving four worlds: the aristocrats in Athens; the rude mechanicals preparing their play; the young lovers; and the fairy kingdom of the warring Titania and Oberon.”

“We’re really excited to perform this show for the Lowcountry. The night promises to be a fun-filled theatrical event that the whole family will enjoy,” Trecker White said. “It is the most accessible of Shakespeare’s works.”

The sizeable cast of 28 Hilton Head Prep students includes an additional “forest of fairies.”

The consistently successful shows produced

by Hilton Head Preparatory School evolve from much hard work on the part of everyone involved.

Students often rehearse six nights a week in preparation, while juggling schoolwork and extracurricular commitments.

Û Performing Arts Director, Peggy Trecker White

Tickets are available now can be purchased with a credit card at hhprep.org and will also be available at the door using cash or check. Prices are $15 for adults; $10 for students and seniors (60 and older). For additional ticket information and group rates (15 or more people), contact Jamie Berndt at (843) 341-9182.

SHOW INFORMATION: WHAT: A Midsummer Night’s Dream WHO: Presented by Hilton Head Preparatory School WHERE: At the Hilton Head Prep Courtyard WHEN: November 9 & 10 @ 7 p.m.

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Decorate

INVEST IN QUALITY WRAPPING PAPER AND RIBBONS. THINK: FEWER PRESENTS, BETTER PACKAGING.

Your Halls

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etting in the holiday spirit and decorating your home this season can feel like getting up early to exercise. You know it’s time. You know it’s good for you. And you know you will be energized afterward. Yet, the motivation might not quite be there.

So, let this guide be your kick butt, cardio blast in a Christmas cardigan. Follow these festive tips and you will be feeling merry and bright in no time.

’TIS THE SEASON BOOT CAMP BASICS • Engage the senses. For the nose, think dried citrus and cloves potpourri, subtle aromatic candles and earthy greenery. For the ears, think a seasonal Pandora station or a playlist created by your family. For the taste buds, keep some holiday fare on hand like spiced nuts (check our farmers markets for local options) or do what one friend (who’s secret to “homemade cakes” will go to the grave) does and get a spiced cake from a bakery like Signe’s and display it in a glass covered cake stand.

• Commit to a theme. I remember one Christmas my parents had a theme-off. My mom, a designer, wanted everything to be white or silver.

My father, an engineer, wanted everything to be lit up and reminiscent of his childhood. So, my brothers and I spent days, I mean days, stringing popcorn and hanging white lights. Growing up on Hilton Head Island, a white Christmas was as rare as a Rudolph sighting, but that year we had one.

• Think like a designer. Small changes can make big statements. Try rearranging furniture to create a focal point around the tree, Menorah, or fireplace.

• Start a tradition, or live by one. One of my friends says her family always decorates the Christmas tree after Thanksgiving lunch. Another says they play Christmas Story 24-hours a-day. A third says each holiday season she expands on the train set that encircles her tree by adding figurines and making the display more elaborate each year.

ARTICLE BY REBECCA EDWARDS

}Decorate } Your Halls

• Invest in quality wrapping paper and ribbons.

Think: fewer presents, better packaging.

• Consider kids and pets. Include the children and/or grandchildren in making decorations and be conscientious of where you put holiday items. (Note: dogs and small children will eat salt dough ornaments if reachable.)

TIPS FROM THE PROS Sarah Perry of Branches and Wendy White of Pyramids offer their best holiday decorating advice: • Start now. “We usually sell out of Christmas trees by early November.

Go ahead and start now, but don’t think you have to do it all in one day. Enjoy decorating in stages and layer it so that you can go from Halloween, to Thanksgiving, to Christmas or other holiday celebrations,” Perry said. “Appointments [to have your home professionally stylized] have been booked since the summer,” said White, who encourages people to visit their store now and speak with their designers and/or book Pyramids for next year.

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GET CRAFTY. IF YOU ARE A “DO-IT-YOURSELFER,” PYRAMIDS IS HOSTING A SERIES OF WEDNESDAY WORKSHOPS DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER FROM 1-3 P.M. • Be trendy. “The quality and variety of the artificial greenery available today is amazing. Eucalyptus, boxwood and many varieties of evergreen look real and will be able to be used over and over for years,” White said. “Pyramids is featuring a Coastal Christmas theme this year, but we also offer traditional red and green and elegant golds and silvers.”

• Make decking the halls easy. “You can either decorate your entire home inside and out or choose to do only the high impact areas, White said. “Why not think about adding new holiday decor in stages? Look at the architectural details of your home and enhance those. Don’t feel that you need to have a large tree either. Sometimes a smaller tabletop tree decorated with your favorite ornaments might be the way to go. With a smaller tree, you can change the theme each year.” Perry added, “White twinkle lights are your friend— they solve all of life’s decorating problems.”

• Invest in the basics. “Invest in the little black dress of a wreath, garland or tree. You will be able to get it out every year, feel in the spirit almost instantly, and save money in the long run,” Perry said.

• Be natural. “Our family grew up in greenhouses in Tennessee,” Perry said. “So we know what the real looks like and spend the time to find real-looking products. We only sell things God could have grown. This doesn’t mean you can’t be creative or playful. Get natural-looking artificial greenery or other natural blank canvases like an oyster shell wreath, and then let your imagination run wild.”

• Forget the rules. “What makes the holidays special is your family. Your children should be able to touch, interact with and help make the decorations. Don’t worry about the rules, and don’t lose sight of the fact that it is a family holiday,” Perry said.

• Get crafty. If you are a “do-it-yourselfer,” Pyramids is hosting a series of Wednesday workshops during the month of November from 1-3 p.m. November 6: Learn how to choose ribbons for fabulous bows, make gorgeous bows and add bows to your garlands, wreaths and trees. November 13: Learn how to embellish garlands, wreaths and trees for a unique look. Also, learn how to highlight focal points throughout your NOVEMBER 2013

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}Decorate } Your Halls

FORGET THE RULES. “WHAT MAKES THE HOLIDAYS SPECIAL IS YOUR FAMILY. YOUR CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO TOUCH, INTERACT WITH AND HELP MAKE THE DECORATIONS.

home for maximum impact. (Examples are front door, mantle and stairway). November 20: Learn how to light your trees and garlands and how to choose the right lights for your project.

• When in doubt, hire it out. Both Pyramids and Branches can get the job done for you. “We have some very talented, hardworking ‘elves’ who have decorated our store for the past 15 years and have been decorating dozens of local homes for the past 13 years,” White said.

“We have several commercial and residential clients and will get your home ready for the holidays,” Perry added.

Pyramids is located at 1600 Main St. on Hilton Head Island. Branches is located at 1000 William Hilton Parkway in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island. For more holiday ideas, visit pyramidshiltonhead.com or call (843) 689-6367, or branchesdesigns.com or call (843) 785-2535.

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