inally, my favorite month of the year has arrived: October – with its fall festivals, fabulous weather, and fresh seafood. We always have the most fun putting this issue together, as it highlights arts and music, two things this magazine has trumpeted from the beginning.
Our cover story, “Into the Deep End,” highlights the musical Myhre family. You might know Bob as the front man for Cornbred, and his two sons, Nick and Kevin, as the Nice Guys. Barry Kaufman chats with the family about musical influences and how they got their start. For the photo shoot, we channeled GQ with a look recently made famous by Brad Pitt and George Clooney. Check out page 36 for the story.
To highlight the fashion trends hitting local boutiques this month, we crashed the Arts Center stage as they were putting the final touches on Something Rotten, a hilarious musical directed by Whitaker Gannon. Cruise on over to pages 40-52 and meet Jasmine, Emmett, and Emily, some new faces we found from our Facebook model call last month. The ensembles featured will take you from an evening at the Arts Center to your favorite fall festival and beyond.
And speaking of fall festivals, we have coverage on a few, including Coligny Plaza’s Rock ’n’ Ribs (see page 141) and the 14th annual Italian Heritage Festival (page 145). Let’s not forget Bluffton’s big Arts & Seafood Festival, happening this month. Check out their ad to the right.
The Town of Hilton Head Island also kicks off its salute to arts and music in October, with Crescendo, a month-long celebration of culture. Barry Kaufman gets the dish from Director of Cultural Affairs Natalie Harvey about the exciting lineup of events, culminating with the highly anticipated and very well-attended Lantern Parade on November 23. See page 61. A word to the wise – PLAN AHEAD to attend this year’s Lantern Parade and leave early to account for parking and transportation to the beach. It will be on the Saturday before Thanksgiving again, so it will be a busy traffic day as our visitors arrive for the holiday week. This is always one of my favorite issues, and I’d like to give a shout-out to my sidekick, Jevon Daly, who curated a lot of this content as our famous local musician on staff. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram for behind-the-scenes videos on a lot of this content, and up to the moment coverage on festivals happening all month. Cheers to all my pumpkin-spiceloving besties! Let’s break out the sweaters and boots and celebrate FALL. (and see Heather Quinn’s article on page 135 for ways to do that!).
MAGGIE WASHO Publisher / Editor-in-Chief
Jevon Daly & Maggie Washo channel Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga's latest video for the arts + music issue.
Nick, Bob and Kevin Myhre plunge into the deep end of the music scene on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton.
Article by Barry Kaufman
Photography by M.Kat
Into the Deep End
HOW DID THE NICE GUYS GET SO GOOD AT GETTING THE PARTY STARTED? THEY HAD SOME HELP FROM THE OLD MAN.
It’s a delicate balance, being a father.
On the one hand, you want to nurture your children’s dreams without dictating those dreams.
Ultimately, it’s their life and their decisions, but it’s still your job to help them get there. You can clear the runway, but it’s up to them to take flight.
On the other hand, as a father you also have a duty to nudge them toward those dreams worth pursuing – particularly if it’s something you’re passionate about. And if it turns out they share those passions, it’s on you to get them there.
Even if it means throwing them into the deep end and seeing how well they swim.
“I always thought music was good for kids. It helps with math, it helps with school, it helps with everything,” said Bob Myhre. “To me, (teaching them music) just made sense.”
Fans of local music will recognize Myhre as the front man for Cornbred, and his sons Nick and Kevin
Ever the supportive father, Myhre did everything in his power to help his sons pursue music, whether that meant showing them the ropes, lending them equipment, or simply honing their skills.
as the front-and-center twins on guitar and bass with The Nice Guys.
“They’re both great musicians,” Myhre said of his boys. “They can do it all. They can write originals. They’re both instrumentalists. They’re a lot better than me.”
That is high praise coming from a guy who has been playing in bands since junior high school, with a group he called Pegasus. He would continue playing through college, until – ironically enough – he had kids.
“They were probably 6 years old when I got them piano lessons. At that point I hadn’t picked up a guitar in probably 10 years,” he said. “They hated it. I kind of made them do it.”
And therein lies the rub of being a father. You want your children to share in the things that bring you joy, but you never want to feel like you’re forcing anything on them. Fortunately, as much as Myhre thinks he pushed his sons into lessons, they see it differently.
“We didn’t really excel at it, … but then he got us Guitar Hero,” Kevin said. “We were super good at that, and he realized we need to play guitar.”
“It wasn’t really a thing that he forced,” Nick said. “By 14 or 15, the school we were going to didn’t have a music program so we begged our parents to put us in Hilton Head Christian Academy, which had a great program led by James Berry. We were addicted at that point.”
“Once Nick and I realized we liked playing guitar and bass it was easy to learn songs together,” Kevin said. “And after transferring to HHCA, it was like, ‘We get to play instruments in high school for an hour a day? That’s amazing.’”
Around that time, the boys started a band with their friend Bryce Warthen. Called Bluffton Noise Ordinance, it was a raucous blend of pop punk influences like Blink-182 and Green Day. It was also, oddly enough, a rare case where sons steered a father back toward his passions.
“Our dad really started to play live music again when we were doing it. I think that it kind of awoke something in him,” Nick said. “He hadn’t touched a guitar in maybe 15 years, but when we started playing, he started picking it back up again.”
Ever the supportive father, Myhre did everything in his power to help his sons pursue music, whether that meant showing them the ropes, lending them equipment, or simply honing their skills.
“He taught us to play guitar, but he made us book our own gigs. He made us pay for instruments and repairs,” Kevin said. “Obviously he helped out, but he wasn’t coddling us.”
“What I do appreciate from him is, he was not very critical but he would give us constructive criticism. He wasn’t blowing smoke up our ass growing up,” Nick said. Their dad also helped them navigate the world of gigging. “I know for a fact at some of the bars, he’d make sure the servers were tipped well. ... That’s something you wouldn’t think about, but now, looking back, he was probably taking money out of his pocket to make sure they were taken care of.”
With The Neil & Bob Band, the patriarch of the Myhre family was back in the limelight. And as his own musical journey continued, he would expand from a duo to a trio with Cornbred, joined by Dr. Dave Washack on bass and Chip Larkby on drums. Likewise, Nick and Kevin would go from pop punk to party jams with The Nice Guys, joined by Davis Lentz on sax and keys and Matt Robbins on drums.
Kevin would like it to be known that the musical difference between Cornbred and The Nice Guys can be traced directly back to his mom, Michelle. “My dad likes more yacht rock. It was my mom who liked grunge, ’80s hair metal, and ’90s alternative,” he said. “She always likes to remind us, ‘Remember, it wasn’t just your dad.’”
While Mom may have built the party-rock framework of The Nice Guys, it was on a foundation that Dad laid down. It’s a solid foundation that has allowed their sons to pursue their own dreams, even if it happens to be his dream, too.
“I remember him telling me, ‘If you stick with this, you’ll thank yourself 20 years from now because you’ll have this skill,’” Kevin said. “You can always find yourself making money. We didn’t think anything of that back in the day –we just wanted to play music together.”
“It’s the best side hustle if you look at it that way too. I’m going to be playing gigs for the rest of my life. It’s something I’ll always have,” Nick said. “My dad’s the same way, and we all love the performance aspect of it and entertaining a crowd.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT . STYLED BY KAILA JEFFCOAT SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR MODELS EMILY, JASMINE AND EMMETT
THE CH2 CREW CRASHED THE ARTS CENTER OF COASTAL CAROLINA TO FILM THE LATEST IN FALL FASHION ON THE SET OF “SOMETHING ROTTEN.”
Ensemble by Gigi’s Boutique
Outfit by Southern Tide Shoes from Palmettoes
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Outside Hilton Head
Ensemble by Coastal Bliss
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Outfits available at Palmettoes
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The Groovy Disco Tekniks Dance Band
Agroup of seasoned local musicians and dancers have come together to create a unique and nostalgic experience for the Lowcountry – a disco dance night featuring iconic ’70s hits.
The Disco Tekniks aim to transport audiences back to a time when bell-bottoms were in vogue and the dance floor was a place of pure joy. The group is composed of local musicians Greg and Robin Ross on keyboards and vocals, a funky horn section manned by alto sax player Dave Skinner, tenor sax by Richie Dee, Billy Howe on trumpet, Bill Gwynne on trombone, and percussionist Juan Buzo, with Paul, Alina and Davy Haddad from Fred Astaire Dance Studio Hilton Head on the dance floor.
The group’s mission is to provide a fun night out by performing a repertoire that includes classic disco anthems
like Donna Summers’ “Bad Girls,” the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” and KC & The Sunshine Band’s “Boogie Shoes.” The Disco Tekniks promise to keep the dance floor packed all night long with with a performance characterized by their infectious energy and authentic disco sound – under a mirrored spinning disco ball.
All are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite ’70s attire and embrace the spirit of disco. The best-dressed audience member comes away with a far-out prize right out of the ’70s. There’s even a Soul Train-style dance contest.
We asked each member to tell us their favorite song or band from the disco era. Here are their answers.
Greg: Chic and Kool & the Gang
Robin: Anything Donna Summer
Dave: KC & the Sunshine Band
Richie: Earth, Wind & Fire is my favorite band! But my least favorite song is Electric Slide. We played it so much in the band that I was in at the time that some of the members of our rhythm section threatened to quit if we ever played it again! It’s electric!
Billy: The Hustle. I’ve always wanted to play that solo and dig the groove.
Bill: I Will Survive or Stayin’ Alive, but only with Dave Skinner singing it!
Juan: Stayin’ Alive, Disco Inferno and Ring My Bell
Paul: KC & the Sunshine Band
Alina: Wild Cherry
Davy: Kool & the Gang
To find about more about the band and all their grooviness, visit thedisco-tekniks.com.
The Disco Tekniks (from left to right) Juan Buzo, Richie Dee, Robin Ross, Bill Gwynne, Greg Ross, Dave Skinner and Billy Howe.
Silver Bells, Purple Rain
How the Hilton Head Island tree lighting became the biggest show in town
The thing about traditions is, it’s never too late to start new ones.
Take Hilton Head Island’s annual tree lighting. For years, it was a perfectly fine tradition. Held at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, it was everything you’d expect in a tree lighting – cocoa, carols, a visit from St. Nick, and then they flip the switch.
For years, it delivered Christmas cheer every year (until Hurricane Matthew did away with the tree, but that’s a whole other story).
It wasn’t until a few years after, however, that the first seeds of a new tradition were planted.
“Historically, the Arts Center had done it on (the Town’s) behalf … but in 2022, we decided that we wanted to do more of that kind of community building as the town itself,” said Angie Stone, assistant town manager. “We had expanded our lights display, but what we really wanted was that Hallmark moment. We were trying to really do things to build community, and we set that one up pretty quickly.”
Photography courtesy of Jonathan Dowbiggin
It’s never too late to start new traditions. Particularly when that tradition is the kind of high-wattage family spectacular that last year’s tree lighting became.This year’s event will be on December 7 at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
Operating on a shoestring budget and a seemingly insurmountable time crunch, the town was able to deliver that same perfectly fine experience in their first year.
“We really wanted to do something special. And we got a really big tree and some really nice lights down there,” Stone said. “We had hot chocolate, cookies, popcorn and stuff, we screened a kid-friendly movie and had live music. And it was a huge hit. People lost their minds. So, it was clear from that first year we needed to keep this going.”
But it was about more than just keeping it going. Seeing as they had just put together a great event on a wing and a prayer, the town staff saw huge potential in kicking things up a notch. And they had just the person in mind.
“Martin Lesch does an annual Christmas show with the Jazz Corner that’s very popular and, of course, he has great connections with our local musicians,” said Natalie Harvey, the town’s director of cultural affairs. “He not only jumped at the chance to volunteer, he brought in so many friends who have theatre experience and lighting experience that really pulled together something special.”
From the get-go, Lesch was ready, willing and – as that first year’s event proved – more than able.
“For many years I’ve been trying to create our own Radio City Christmas show, where everybody from all different walks of life and age groups could get together for this awesome show,” Lesch said. “With the success of (the Jazz Corner Christmas Show), I brought some ideas back to the town, and luckily they were in a position where they wanted to do something.”
With the help of Carrie Norris, Lesch began dreaming big. Like arena rock show big, with a laser shower and everything.
“Then I decided the best thing would be to have Deas-Guyz as the band, about six or seven other acts as singers and musicians, along with the laser light show and all the production elements,” Lesch said. “We also did some improvements to the park to ensure that there was enough power, which needed to be done.”
Deas-Guyz not only brought last year’s crowd to their feet with their legendary party music spectacular, they also may have inadvertently launched a new Christmas tradition on Hilton Head Island.
“Deas-Guyz are always going to draw a big crowd. But what really made it special was when they were doing their Christmas tunes, and then launched into ‘Purple Rain,’” Harvey said. “What says ‘Christmas’ more than ‘Purple Rain’? It probably is now a Hilton Head tradition.”
See? It’s never too late to start new traditions. Particularly when that tradition is the kind of high-wattage family spectacular that last year’s tree lighting became.
“That was so much fun last year,” Stone said. “We had a laser light show. We had amazing music, and we had a huge turnout. … It was packed, and
Deas-Guyz not only brought last year’s crowd to their feet with their legendary party music spectacular, they also may have inadvertently launched a new Christmas tradition on Hilton Head Island.
people started showing up at four o’clock, setting up chairs and taking pictures around the park. It was pretty amazing.”
While Lesch has been driving the bus, he’s quick to credit everyone around him who made the event so much beyond the Hallmark moment the town was looking for.
“It’s really the town’s show. I wanted to give something back to the community,” Lesch said. “I wanted everyone to leave with more than just the ‘wow’ factor; I wanted it to be more than a concert or a light show. It’s a heartwarming experience.”
The holiday experience on Hilton Head Island starts with the 20-year tradition of the Holiday Lights at Fire Station 3 (534 William Hilton Parkway) beginning Saturday, November 30. The main event, the Christmas Tree Lighting, will take place December 7 at Celebration Park with C2’s own Maggie Washo and Jevon Daly as emcees. Get there early.
Grammy Award-winner Charlton Singleton will kick off Crescendo at Shelter Cove Community Park on October 15.
ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN
Taming The Wild arTs
CRESCENDO EXPANDS TO SALUTE WIDE ARRAY OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION
As a community, we here on Hilton Head Island have certainly never been afraid to express ourselves. This was evident in the early days of the island’s resort history, when celebrated artists from around the world came to a sleepy little island whose quiet atmosphere made it easier to hear their muses. As the island’s reputation grew, we began to attract incredible musicians and even cultivate a few of our own homegrown talents.
These days, you can’t throw a stick without hitting a dozen artists, whether they’re putting paint to canvas, soul to music, or food on your plate. This is probably why Crescendo, our annual celebration of every artistic muse there is, has become a staple of the local events calendar.
It certainly helps that one of its most visible elements, the Lantern Parade, has quickly asserted itself as an island institution on par with any golf tournament. You certainly don’t need to tell Director of Cultural Affairs Natalie Harvey what a huge event the parade is. Her first year’s parade came just two weeks after she started the job.
“Thank goodness Jenn McEwen left everything packaged up in a neat little package for me,” Harvey said. “She was on speed dial for weeks, because we had Crescendo kickoff, and then I officially started the next Monday.”
While the Lantern Parade is the most visible element of the festivities, it is far from the only can’t-miss ticket. Between the opening celebration featuring Charleton Singleton and Contemporary Flow and the grand finale
Bob Masteller’s Jazz For All Ages Jazz Fest happens October 29 & 30 at the Sonesta Resort.
The 2024 Hilton Head Lantern Parade will occur on November 23. The parade will begin at the Alder Lane Beach access at dusk and proceed north along the beach. The parade will end at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
of the parade, you’ll find poetry readings, Bob Masteller’s Jazz For All Ages, the Hilton Head Dance Theater’s Nutcracker, historical tours and much more. Harvey will be the first to admit that just because it’s the town’s name on the banner doesn’t mean they’re the only ones making this magic happen.
“It’s really kind of grown to where we’re starting to see a lot more collaboration between different groups. We have so many things happening at so many different venues – the poetry readings, for example, started a couple of years ago at Tio’s. That relationship helped start their monthly open mic night,” she said. “And then you have the Heritage Library getting involved to talk about the town’s history… there is a lot of collaboration.”
And those are just a few of the organizations getting involved. Sea Glass Stage Company, Lean Ensemble, and the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina will all put their performers center stage during the events. The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra will once again serenade the night sky with Symphony Under the Stars.
Even the epicurean muse will enjoy a turn in the spotlight, thanks to a showcase of Gullah cuisine and a chili cook off. And a special event held by the Island School Council for the Arts will put the spotlight on our own local talent.
“We’ve had so many people move here in the last few years, and I think that’s where a big part of my focus is, in really reaching some of these new residents and getting them looped in with all of the different cultural opportunities we have here,” Harvey said.
But of course, the entire thing will reach a … what’s the word we’re looking for? Culmination? Finale? Conclusion? Oh, right. It will reach a crescendo with the Lantern Parade.
“We’re doing a little bit different route this year, where we’re still going to end at Lowcountry Celebration Park, but we’re not going to walk through the Coligny beach access … we’re going to walk down to Avocet,” Harvey said.
From there, the parade will turn onto Lagoon Road and wind behind the Piggly Wiggly. “When we approached them, Coligny Plaza said, ‘Absolutely. Whatever you need.’ So, there will be some fun activities and an extended viewing route by the Pig,” Harvey said.
The Office of Cultural Affairs for the Town of Hilton Head Island and the Arts Council of Hilton Head will hold its seventh annual Crescendo Celebration of Arts & Culture Oct. 10-23 at venues all across the island. Check out culturehhi. org for the full schedule.
ARTICLE BY BARRY KAUFMAN . PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
THE REAL ROCK STARS
NO ONE GETS THINGS SHAKING LIKE THE BASS PLAYERS
The spotlight alone does not define a rock star. Sure, Freddie Mercury and Brian May were shining the brightest onstage, but it was John Deacon’s immortal bass lick that let us know that another one had just bitten the dust. Steven Tyler might have been the publicity hound of Aerosmith, but Tom Hamilton was the real frontman on “Sweet Emotion.” They are maybe the least respected members of a rock band – but they are also the ones that truly make it a band.
SAMMY PASSALOUKAS MEET YOUR BASS PLAYERS
Where You’ve Seen Him: Key Theory, with occasional guest spots in Groove Town Assault
Top Three Bass Players: John Myung, Tyler Burgess, John Deacon
Style: “I started playing piano probably when I was 9 and right there it gave me the left-hand bass and the right-hand guitar. … Being an eight-string bass, it allows me to play standard and extra low and extra high. So, when I play with GTA I do some of the guitar leads as well.”
That low-end thump, that driving rhythm underneath the melody is what gives the band its backbone.
“Guitar players and singers get all the chicks, the bass player is in the back noodling with the drummer,” said Dr. Dave Washack, bass player for CornBred. “But unless I start playing, you’re not getting out of your seat.”
They’re the ones making butts shake. They’re usually also the ones running sound, hauling gear, and making sure everything on stage is locked in, while the frontman is out negotiating how big a bar tab they’ll be able to run up. But for the most part, they seem OK with that.
“I like to be in the back, I don’t like to get the attention,” said Dean St. Hilare, bassist extraordinaire. “There’s the stereotype that we play in the background because we don’t want the spotlight.”
Like most stereotypes, it exists on merely the slightest shred of the truth. Most bass players you’ll see onstage started out as guitar players – in fact, it’s a rare thing to find anyone who was a bass player from day one. A famous example would be Paul McCartney, who became the Beatles’ bassist more by default. But as his career since has proven, the man can sing and play guitar.
It’s just that the musicians who graduate to bass player do so because they have a certain respect for the music. They carry it almost as a responsibility.
MEET YOUR BASS PLAYERS
CLARENCE WILLIAMS
Where You’ve Seen Him: Everywhere. “I’m a hired gun. I just so happen to know everyone’s material so that’s why they call me.”
Top Three Bass Players: Marcus Miller, Larry Graham, Anthony Jackson Style: “I’m basically a jazz musician. And everything blossoms out of jazz. Those different styles of music from country to R&B to ballads – it all stems out of the same format of music.”
“Personality wise, they’re mellow and they’re thinking big picture. Their role is very supportive and has to be independent and spot on,” said Maggie Evans, who plays bass with the John Brackett Quartet and Howard Paul. “A guitarist can miss notes, but if bass player misses a note everyone’s looking at them.”
It’s a heavy burden, but it’s worth it for these unsung heroes of rock. Because ultimately, they’re the ones that are separating butts from seats.
“Get back in the pocket and bring the power underneath,” said CW Jameson, prolific “hired gun” bassist for bands from La Bodega to Groove Town Assault, in describing his job. “When that low end hits, that’s what gives it that dynamic. And that’s what people are dancing to.”
You can mock them all you want. You can make jokes like, “What happened when the drummer lost the keys to the van? It took an hour to get the bass player out.” You can put them in the background. But if you feel like rocking out, you can’t ignore them.
“The bass player connects everything – guitar to drums, and adds a little flair to the singer,” said Sammy Passaloukas, bassist for Key Theory. “You hear a drumbeat and you tap your feet, but you don’t bob you head until the bass line kicks in.”
MEET YOUR BASS PLAYERS
PHIL SIRMANS
Where You’ve Seen Him: Cranford Hollow, Bobby Lee and the Magpies, Bon Duppy Top Three Bass
Players: Les Claypool, Ryan Stacic, Barry Oakley
Style: “Like everyone else, I started playing guitar but gravitated to bass. I liked Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, that was more my speed. I never did want to be a shredder.”
MEET YOUR BASS PLAYERS
MAGGIE EVANS
Where You’ve Seen Her: John Brackett Quartet, Howard Paul
Top Three Bass Players: Flea, Peanut from 311, Kim Gordon Style: “A lot of times people come up and say, ‘You play bass like a man.’ I think because my approach is more aggressive. I’m holding down a groove.”
MEET YOUR BASS PLAYERS
DEAN ST. HILLAIRE
Where You’ve Seen Him: Filling in with Martin Lesch, John Brackett, and Pretty Darn (and in underground jazz clubs if you’re ever in Seoul, Korea)
Top Three Bass Players: Delbert Felix, Russell Hall, Jaco Pastorius
Style: A hybrid between electric and upright. “That’s the crisis I have to deal with every day. I don’t want to identify with either because I want to identify with both. I feel slightly like electric is more freeing. The music that sings within me is hip hop jazz fusion, but when it comes to swing, I feel like nothing swings like an upright.”
MEET YOUR BASS PLAYERS
ANDY PITTS
Where You’ve Seen Him: Lowcountry Boil, Silicone Sister, Jojo Squirrel and the Home Pickles
Top Three Bass Players: Ron Carter, Les Claypool, Jack Bruce (honorable mention to Sting)
Style: In JoJo Squirrel, a hybrid between bass and guitar, trading with Jevon Daly as the song calls for it. “It keeps it a little interesting. It’s not monotonous. We have a lot of creative looks. I have my style and he has his. We’re both good, we’re just different.”
MEET YOUR BASS PLAYERS
CW JAMESON
Where You’ve Seen Him: Fresh Hots, Martin Lesch Trio, Spare Parts, Prologic 13, and, more recently, La Bodega and guest spots with Groove Town Assault and Muddy Creek.
Top Three Bass Players: Cliff Burton, Victor Wooten, Getty Lee.
Style: “I play bass the way I would want a bass player to play if I was playing lead guitar. So I think it’s just filling in the space and bringing the low end.”
MEET YOUR BASS PLAYERS
DR. DAVE WASHACK
Where You’ve Seen Him: CornBred, OCD, Trainwreck
Top Three Bass Players: Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, Steve Harris
Style: Raised in a musical family by a trained opera guitarist, Dr. Washack is a Swiss Army Knife on bass. “I can do funk, I can do rock, I can do metal, I’ll do blues if I have to. But I think as a bass player you have to play them all.”
Where You’ve Seen Him: Pretty Darn, guest spots with Zach Stevens Band and Cranford Hollow
Top Three Bass Players: Geddy Lee, Pino Paladino, Paul McCartney
Style: “I’ve always thought of bass playing best when you do the kiss method – ‘keep it simple, stupid.’ Being a foundation of the rhythm section and not overplaying has been something I’ve found my taste and style.”
Article by Barry Kaufman . Photography by M.Kat
HEAVY EQUIPMENT HEAVY EQUIPMENT
Whatever you do... DO NOT ASK
THESE MEN TO PLAY
‘FREEBIRD’
If you’ve listened often to live music around here, odds are good there are a few songs that you’ve heard so many times they’ve officially worn out their welcome.
We’re looking at you, “Wagon Wheel” and “Margaritaville.” These two songs occupy prime spots on a setlist that seems to rotate throughout live music venues, ensuring that somewhere on Hilton Head Island, no matter what day it is, someone is playing “Hotel California.”
Heavy Equipment isn’t that kind of band. Make no mistake, they are a cover band. They’re just not the cover band you ask to play “Freebird.” In fact, definitely don’t ask them to play “Freebird.”
“If someone asks us to play ‘Freebird’ I give them one of these,” said Russell Harley while providing a single-digit salute. “And I say, ‘The next one’s gonna cost you.’” (He’ll be the first to tell you that his lack of a filter is one of the reasons why he prefers a keyboard and a bass to a microphone.)
While fans of the overplayed and the expected might walk away disappointed, those who expect a little more from their live music will definitely be back the next time Heavy Equipment takes the stage.
“We like to say we play songs that people know, but that other bands don’t play,” said drummer Jon Bruner.
“We try to play the oddballs,” added guitarist Scott Evans.
That deep bench of familiar favorites runs across the entire spectrum of popular music. At any given Heavy Equipment show, you might hear Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran (So Far Away)” followed by Rush’s “Subdivision.”
Heavy Equipment (from left to right) John Mitchell, Russell Harley, Jon Bruner and Scott Evans
You might hear some Stone Temple Pilots, or you might hear some more Rush. It all depends on what the band is feeling in that moment.
“We usually look out into the crowd and we’re like, ‘Are these people older than us?’ and if they are, we start out with what we call our light dinner music,” Harley said. “It’s songs to digest your food to.”
But if the crowd lets them, Heavy Equipment has no problem melting some faces.
“That’s actually our goal, is to have people be really hoarse the next day,” Bruner said.
There are two big factors working in Heavy Equipment’s favor, helping them pull off such an impressively diverse set list. The first is the respect each has for each other and for
Special thanks to Tom Curry & Lowcountry Paver for hosting our shoot and letting us borrow their heavy equipment.
Heavy Equipment is a side hustle for four guys who share a love of music and the type of fraternal bond that expresses itself through mutual smack talk.
the music. Each member of Heavy Equipment had established themselves in the local scene years before coming together like the Avengers of Lowcountry music.
“We’ve all been in 90 bands over the years,” Bruner said. “The four of us can learn a song in five minutes.”
The second factor in their favor is the literal heavy equipment from which they draw their name.
“We bring an insane amount of equipment to a small gig,” said front man Jon Mitchell. It certainly helps that Evans happens to be the owner of John’s Music. “Scott is the pusher of the band. He supplies us our drugs of heavy, nice equipment. So, we’re kind of a walking advertisement for the store.”
“Also indentured servants,” added Harley, eliciting laughter from the entire band. “I have a nice $2,000 keyboard so I’m indebted to Scott for the next however many gigs.”
It’s not unheard of for Evans to bring three or four guitars to a gig, for both Mitchell and Harley to bring a selection of bass guitars as they trade off duties, and for Bruner to drag out an eight-piece drum kit along with cymbals.
It’s not just about getting a chance to show off the merchandise. Each piece of equipment serves a purpose.
“I have a 90-pound guitar amp that I can replace with a half-pound digital device, but I just don’t get the same feel and satisfaction from it that I do an old-school tube amp,” Mitchell said. “And Scott will bring all those guitars because you want those flavors. You want a Les Paul for a song if they played a Les Paul on the original recording.”
This comment draws a round of overlapping chatter from the band about tone and matching the original sound as much as possible. This leads to Evans using the word “authentism,” leading to his bandmates giving him a hard time. And here you see the true beauty of what these four men have brought together.
Because as dedicated as they are to the less-famous tunes you love, and as much care as they take in replicating the tone and atmosphere of those classic songs, this is a band built around fun. Of the four, Bruner is the only career musician. Evans owns John’s Music, Mitchell owns New River Pool and Spa, and Harley owns Hitts AutoSound.
“We’re just a bunch of working guys who love to play,” Evans said.
Heavy Equipment is a side hustle for four guys who share a love of music and the type of fraternal bond that expresses itself through mutual smack talk. At one point, Mitchell points out that a band is only as good as their drummer, prompting Bruner to say, “And you can put that in the story that they’re still looking for that drummer.” (Keep in mind, he is the drummer.) And, as Harley quickly reminded him, “At least you’re one of the top three drummers onstage.”
Follow Heavy Equipment on Facebook to see where you can catch them next.
Courtney Cutchins is celebrating the release of her long-awaited debut album at 7:30 p.m. October 5 at Soundwaves.
Article by Cheryl Ricer . Photography courtesy of Courtney Cutchins
GRUNGE GRACE
Local storyteller-songwriter premieres debut album at Soundwaves
With her soul-stirring vocals and impressive command of jazz music, local musician and business owner Courtney Cutchins is celebrating the release of her long-awaited debut album at 7:30 p.m. October 5 at Soundwaves, 7 Lagoon Road, headquarters of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Event attendees will get a preview of the full album before its official release October 18 on all streaming platforms. The album, Grunge to Grace (more than a decade in the making), successfully showcases Cutchins as a rising star.
Not only does her luminous, haunting voice capture your ear, but her unique way of turning phrases and weaving melodies together will capture your imagination, too, as it might be unlike anything you’ve ever heard before. In fact, Cutchins’ style is so unusual that the release of the album pivots her to the forefront of the industry where she now sits primed to launch a new musical genre altogether: jazzgrunge.
Her impact is unsurprising once you become aware of her background. The Seattle native-turned-local Hilton Head islander is a jazz-educated singer who earned a bachelor of music degree in jazz vocal performance from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and a master of music degree in jazz vocal performance from the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Cutchins still spends part
of her time learning from and collaborating with some of the best in the business, a few of whom lend their talents to her album.
While Grunge to Grace offers six moving originals by Cutchins, she also dramatically re-invents three ’90s grunge anthems from her younger days in Seattle by grunge rock stars Soundgarden and Nirvana. When sifted through her roots and heart for jazz, the songs are resurrected to a new life and a whole new audience who will no doubt feel the lingering angst, anarchy, and alienation that punctuated the original versions.
“These profound, brooding grunge rock songs resonate with me,” Cutchins said. “The theme of this album is about living in your authentic truth … the journey of finding freedom to become who you want to be. My reimagining the grunge songs underscores that idea and serves as another vehicle for me to pass that message along to others.”
While she connected with grunge during her teen years, her earliest memories of jazz go back even further. When she was 11 years old, she got her first Ella Fitzgerald album and has been completely in love with jazz ever since.
“In middle school, I was the weird kid playing saxophone and listening to jazz all the time,” Cutchins said. “I studied jazz very intensely, to the point where I developed this purist attitude about it and fell into compartmentalizing it, like, ‘This is jazz and this is not jazz, and this is what jazz should
sound like and how jazz doesn’t sound.’”
Cutchins’ attitude obviously evolved to a point where she recognized that she was really limiting herself. Eventually she realized that she could indeed combine sounds and textures and genres of music. She credits Jeff Buckley, an alternative rock folk/rock blues musician, as a major inspiration to begin
Stills from Courtney’s latest music video shoot with Harden Creative for the song Grunge to Grace.
Courtney Hutchins and Trevor Harden on the set of her latest music video.
Cutchins has broken new ground with this illuminating and illustrious debut album.
experimenting with fusing genres.
“I discovered Buckley’s music in college,” Cutchins said. “It gave me an idea that I could be vocally influenced by both jazz and rock because although he was known more as an alt rock singer, he had this whole background of listening to Nina Simone and Ella. In fact, Grunge to Grace ended up being just a little bit of an homage to him as his only studio album, released in 1994, was titled Grace. As both a beautifully skilled vocalist and songwriter, he was one of my biggest influences.”
Creating her jazzgrunge album represents her coming full circle. Her vision to fuse the two came nine years ago as an epiphany:
“In 2015, while navigating difficult times, I found my way to a supportive music therapy exercise that encouraged people to rediscover songs from early childhood that bring you joy. After combing through dozens of Disney soundtracks, folk songs, and Muppets movies, an unexpected memory hit me from when I was growing up in the Seattle area – hearing Soundgarden’s mystical, soaring ‘Black Hole Sun’ on the radio. With this song as my muse, I created a variety of reinventions of grunge tunes from my youth and had some of the most fun ever performing them in New York City.”
From that experience, Cutchins started blending the genres during gigs she played in New York City at venues like
Cornelia Street Cafe, the 55 Bar, Rockwood Music Hall, and Silvana. The end result of her memories, the therapy exercises, the success she had playing live, is magically merged on Grunge to Grace
That magic is only made more potent by the crew backing Cutchins – each a star in their own right. Consider jazz pianist-producer David Cook (Taylor Swift, Mark Guiliana, Lizz Wright), guitarist Nir Felder (Keyon Harrold, Terri Lyne Carrington), bassist Matt Clohesy (Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, Maria Schneider Orchestra) and drummer Obed Calvaire (Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Dave Holland, Cécile McLorin Salvant).
Cutchins has broken new ground with this illuminating and illustrious debut album. “My entire perspective is captured in Grunge to Grace,” she said. “There’s no better title for this album. We can find beauty in the most unexpected places. Even in the midst of suffering and darkness, we can find daring, honest freedom in the little things that light us up.”
Along with her re-imagining of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” and Soundgarden’s “Boot Camp” and “The Day I Tried to Live,” Cutchins presents six pensive, reflective, and poetic originals in both intimate, hymn-like numbers and edgier, more hardhitting numbers, each representing a superb performer/ songwriter who is unafraid to take risks in order to deliver messages of light and living authentically.
Cutchins also is the founder of Hilton Head Island-based, award-winning voice studio Seadragon Songhouse, which has sparked vocal and creative freedom for her clients since 2018.
“I’ve taught voice for over 15 years,” she said, “but through my work with Seadragon, I’ve really had the chance to coach others in a very unique and profound way. It’s through seeing what a treasure each person is – and that every voice matters – that I was inspired to put this latest musical work into the world.”
At her album debut concert, Cutchins will be joined by Grammy-winning musician David Cook from New York City, along with Charleston jazz heavyweights Lee Barbour on guitar, Brett Belanger on bass, and Ron Wiltrout on drums. An afterparty will feature hors d’oeuvres and dessert. Beer and wine will be available for purchase, the sale of which will benefit the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra (HHSO) and Soundwaves. Guests of all ages are welcome.
For debut party tickets visit grungetogracereleasehhi. eventbrite.com. To learn more about Cutchins, visit CourtneyCutchins.com. For more information about Cutchins’ vocal studio and coaching, visit SeadragonSonghouse.com.
Russell, or JMR, as he prefers to be addressed informally, has worked with numerous orchestras in North America, including the Chicago Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, and the Windsor Symphony in Ontario, Canada.
Photo by Mark Lyons
Interview by Lynne Hummell
Making Music for Everyone
Spotlight on the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra
When Maestro John Morris Russell came to the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra in 2011 as principal guest conductor, he brought his engaging style of directing musicians and his unique ways of interacting with an audience – and a community at large.
Russell brought a fresh perspective on music-making, music education, and outreach. His excitement and high energy were infectious, and he was welcomed warmly by Lowcountry appreciators of classical and modern music.
The following year, Russell was named music director of the HHSO, serving concurrently as conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, an arrangement that continues more than a decade later.
Russell, or JMR, as he prefers to be addressed informally, has worked with numerous orchestras in North America, including the Chicago Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, and the Windsor Symphony in Ontario, Canada. A Grammy-nominated artist, JMR has collaborated with notable performers in a variety of music genres, from Aretha Franklin to Vince Gill to Steve Martin and Leslie Odom Jr.
We wanted to learn more about the local symphony and its impact on our community. JMR was pleased to answer our questions.
CH2: When people think “orchestra,” most likely think of a huge stage full of string, wind, brass, and percussion musicians playing classical music. How is the HHSO different?
JMR: Indeed, the HHSO performs the same great orchestral literature as major orchestras around the world, but we do it in a way that is more intimate, accessible, and meaningful for folks in the Lowcountry. First of all, the venue – First Presbyterian Church –was designed to be a gathering place for musical presentations; the audience literally surrounds the orchestra. Likewise, our musicians and guest artists often mingle with the audience before and after performances – there are always lively conversations going on. We select all the repertoire for our concerts to reflect the diversity of our community and frequently mix classics with eclectic orchestral music that compliments and informs the concert experience. This coming season, for example, we’ll be performing Dvorak’s mighty “New World Symphony” alongside Duke Ellington’s Jazz Suite, “The River.”
CH2: Besides the orchestra series, what other types of programs do you offer?
JMR: Our mantra at the HHSO is “Music for Everyone” and we live by the credo “If it sounds good, it IS good.” Besides our classical subscription programs, the orchestra performs “pops” concerts outdoors in October and April, as well as wildly popular holiday concerts in Bluffton and on Hilton Head. We also have a monthly series of intimate “cabaret” concerts at our Soundwaves Studio in Coligny. There’s the Hilton Head International Piano Competition with annual concerts and recitals, a Gullah Geechee Series, educational concerts, as well as summer chamber music, and outdoor jazz concerts.
CH2: Why is an orchestra important to a small town like Hilton Head Island?
JMR: First of all, Hilton Head is not just a little town on a little island – we are a REGION! I like to think of ourselves as the “Orchestra of the Lowcountry” that inspires, enriches, and unites us all. Our orchestra is just part of the music-making that the HHSO produces and supports: our chorus, including talented young singers in area high schools and colleges; the educational concerts and guest artist visits for schools; and our sister arts ensembles like the Hilton Head Dance Theatre, American Traditions Competition, Milnes VOICExperience, and the Jazz Corner, with whom we collaborate. Also, we must mention the worldwide recognition of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. We possess an extraordinary musical ensemble that communities five
times our size would be envious of, and bring a cultural quotient to our region that attracts and retains the best and brightest residents to this special place.
CH2: There are 58 orchestra members, and only two who live on Hilton Head Island, with many coming from as far as Atlanta and Charlotte. How does this impact rehearsals and performances?
JMR: We are a “per-service” orchestra that attracts some of the finest musicians in the Southeast. This allows us to efficiently and economically produce so many concerts of various sizes throughout the season. As freelancers, most all our players regularly perform in numerous orchestras in the region, including Charleston, Savannah, Atlanta,
Jacksonville, and Charlotte. What is unique to the HHSO, however, is that our players often stay the concert weekend in the homes of many of our patrons (where they are invariably treated regally) and develop a close kinship with them and the community at large. It feels like family – I believe this helps engender the beautiful magic that our HHSO concerts are known for.
CH2: What are some of the highlights of this year’s season?
JMR: There is so much great music, it’s hard to know where to begin. There are favorite orchestral masterworks like Debussy’s “La Mer” (the Sea), Mendelssohn’s “Italian,” and Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, as well as beloved concerti by Bruch, Bach, Beethoven, and Vivaldi. We’ll perform a fully staged production of Kurt Weill’s “Seven Deadly Sins” with the famed Wolf Trap Opera Company; a spectacular celebration of Judy Garland; and the audacious “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff along with the HHSO Chorus, Claflin University Chorus, and a renowned cast of singers.
CH2: Your pre-concert talks are legendary. What makes them so special?
JMR: We like to maintain a less formal environment than our big-city counterparts. I’ll often speak a little before selections during the concert to give context to the work we’ll be performing or special things to listen for that will enhance the experience. But my favorite are our pre-concert chats – a 30-minute talk, often with our guest soloist, an hour before the concert begins. Lighthearted and engaging, it’s a casual opportunity to discuss the many layers of the musicmaking related to the program and featured composers, and oftentimes a little “inside baseball” to boot. Questions and discussion frequently ensue, which creates an atmosphere of curiosity and discovery at every performance.
CH2: How can residents and visitors best get involved and take advantage of the orchestra’s programs?
JMR: Check out hhso.org for the full scoop on the season and ticket information; concerts do sell out, so it’s best to get your season tickets early. It has been a joy over the years to visit with folks who plan their winter getaway around our concerts, who come from as far away as Toronto or Seattle each season. They invariably share with me how our performances consistently exceed all expectations and possess an immediacy and energy that is unique. This is a very special orchestra.
October Songwriter Event to Support Governor’s School Mission
For more than 10 years, the Beaufort County Advisory Committee’s flagship event, Songwriters in the Round, has raised more than $1 million in support of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation. The stand-out event features award-winning singer/songwriters as they perform their original music in an intimate setting, while sharing the personal stories and inspirations behind their hit songs.
This year’s Songwriters in the Round will be held at 6:30 p.m. October 24 on Hilton Head Island. All proceeds from the event benefit the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation to support its mission of bringing arts education to students across South Carolina.
The Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities allows young emerging artists to explore and refine their talents in a unique, arts-centered community. Throughout the 2024-25 school year, the Governor’s School will be celebrating 25 years of excellence in arts education since the residential program began in 1999. Through its residential high school program, summer programs, and outreach activities, students practice their skills in an environment of artistic and academic excellence.
With help from the Beaufort County Advisory Committee, the Governor’s School Foundation raises donations to increase access to the school for students with financial needs, supports the school’s efforts to provide arts education in under-resourced counties, and bridges the gap between state funding and the unique needs of a premier public arts school.
This year’s songwriters include Phillip Lammonds and Mel Washington, both veterans of this event, plus Erin Enderlin and Ty Graham.
Lammonds is a songwriter and talented instrumentalist from the musically rich mountains of North Carolina. From his childhood in the mountains to his time in the South Carolina Lowcountry, it
This year’s Songwriters in the Round will be held at 6:30 p.m. October 24 on Hilton Head Island. All proceeds from the event benefit the Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Foundation to support its mission of bringing arts education to students across South Carolina.
was this melting pot of sounds and rhythms that formed his musical sensibilities. His songs have been recorded by such artists as Hootie and the Blowfish, Josh Turner, Lee Brice, Charles Esten, Kellie Pickler, Craig Morgan, Edwin McCain, Jerrod Niemann, Mo Pitney, and Dylan Scott. After more than 15 years of writing hundreds of songs, Lammonds is releasing his first solo album Cowboy Things. The Lee Briceproduced project features heartfelt, plainspoken tracks from across Lammonds’ career.
Washington was born and raised in Charleston. He’s been a singer/songwriter since he was 18 and has played venues across the U.S., Australia, and Europe. Washington has pursued his career relentlessly and without exception to his principles; he believes music to be profoundly healing and should be shared with an open heart and mind.
Enderlin is at the forefront of current artists rooted in country music’s rich history. A frequent performer on the Grand Ole Opry, her acclaimed 2017 album Whiskeytown Crier cemented her as a literary songwriter and superb vocal stylist. As a writer of Alan Jackson’s “Monday Morning Church,” Lee Ann Womack’s “Last Call,” Luke Bryan’s “You Don’t Know Jack,” and a host of other songs by Randy Travis, Reba McEntire, Terri Clark, Gene Watson, and others, she’s a go-to writer for stars looking for heavyweight country with classic panache.
Graham is a Texas-born singer/songwriter living in Nashville. After dropping out of Berklee College of Music, he honed his songwriting skills in Austin, Texas, before finally moving to Nashville. His songs have been recorded by country artists Dylan Scott, Granger Smith, and Chris Young. His style is widely influenced by John Mayer, Lee Ann Womack, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, and many others.
Find more information about purchasing individual tickets or becoming a corporate partner, visit scgsah.org/songwriters-2024.
Photography by Arno Dimmling
Article by Heather Quinn
M.Kat
Discover your inner artist at
The Art Cafe
Ginny Whitehead loves community.
“We are here for the community. We provide a gathering place for family and friends and we get it,” Whitehead said. “We understand that small, family-owned business is at the core of Hilton Head Island.”
Whitehead is the matriarch and owner of the Art Cafe but she does not operate alone. As with most familyrun businesses, it’s all hands on deck. Three generations (including the youngest grandchildren of the Whitehead clan) work together to make the company an important small business for the Hilton Head Island community.
The “paint your own pottery” store has been owned and operated by the Whitehead family since 2008. Located at 5 Lagoon Road, near Coligny Plaza, the Art Cafe building has an unassuming exterior but upon entry the curious decor awakens the imagination.
By design, visitors to the shop are invited to walk up an unique stairway with colorfully painted steps and railings. The staircase wall boasts a whimsical Alice in Wonderland mural highlighting familiar characters like the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and Alice. The not-so-subtle tribute to the beloved Lewis Carroll novel is seen throughout the space and evokes an undeniable feeling of whimsy, family, warmth, and community.
For Ginny and her daughters Stacey and Brittany, and her son Taylor, family and community are at the heart of their business.
“Besides working side by side with family, the vibe of family is all around,” Ginny said.
Over the 18-plus years of owning the Art Cafe, the Whitehead family is proud that their business model focuses on repeat customers that turn into extended family.
Photography by
The connections formed with their customers are deep, and the Whitehead family doesn’t take those connections for granted. Pictures of past “artists” grace the back wall of the cafe. Ginny lovingly points to one of the photographs. “That’s Jack,” she said. “He was in preschool when he first came into the Art Cafe and he’s in college now. We still see his family and communicate with them often.”
The photo wall featuring beloved customers is a heartwarming representation of how the Art Cafe operates – everyone who walks in the door becomes family.
Storm, Breckin and Halle Jo spend an evening getting creative with paints and pottery.
Storm paints a FrankenPiggy bank, just one of the Halloween-themed options available for the fall.
Carter Ann Whitehead shows off her pumpkin plate, created with love at The Art Cafe.
As guests sit down to paint, it is impossible not to fall in love with the kitschy atmosphere. From the 72-plus paint color options to the vast array of pottery collections, everything in the shop invites guests to create.
It is truly a wonderland of art, with whimsical curiosities throughout the space. Visitors have the opportunity to meet Claudia Monet and Arty Van Gogh, two precocious birds that exchange chirping banter from their Victorian-esque cages in the back of the shop.
Additionally, this back room is lined with colorful picnicstyle art tables, creating the perfect space for children’s birthday parties. Although such parties are a popular event here, the Art Cafe hosts loads of adult events: bachelorette parties, ladies’ nights, corporate events, BYOB parties, and family reunions fill up the store’s calendar all year long.
Fired Up Fridays is the latest creative endeavor for the Cafe, with a nod to the kiln that fires the pottery, and specifically geared towards tweens and teens.
The idea stemmed from the popular spring and summer Kids Night Out event that focuses on younger children. “We’ve noticed a lack of social events in the community for tweens and teens specifically,” Stacey said.
Starting in October, middle school and high school students (sixth through 12th grades) are invited to participate in Fired Up Fridays. The evening will include one piece of pottery and dinner per student for a flat fee.
Beyond pottery, these events will host a different community organization or nonprofit to work side by side with the participants. The goal is to educate students about important and impactful community organizations.
“This endeavor has a dual purpose for our tweens and teens,” Stacey said. “They will be able to socialize in a positive environment and learn about our community at the same time.”
The first Fired Up Friday will be October 4 from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. with Turtle Trackers, a local nonprofit that assists with the preservation efforts for endangered sea turtles.
As the Whitehead family looks towards the future, they are committed to offering opportunities that encourage community involvement while holding true to their Momand-Pop roots. Ginny and Stacey prefer “old school” phone calls and voicemails to book parties. “We like to talk to the customer to get a feel for what they need,” Ginny said.
The Art Cafe is open daily at 11 a.m. Reservations are always recommended. For information, call (843) 785-5525 or visit artcafehhi.com
From left, Jessica Walck, Jennifer Blumenthal, and Michael Murray as Beth, Karen, and Tom, respectively, rehearse a scene in Dinner With Friends, produced by Sea Glass Stage Company at Coligny Theatre Oct. 4-20.
ARTICLE BY LYNNE COPE HUMMELL
Dinner With Friends
EXPLORES UNPREDICTABLE NATURE OF FRIENDSHIPS
Sea Glass Stage Company welcomes autumn with Dinner With Friends, a heartwarming yet poignant comedy about the complexities of friendship, marriage, and the ties that bind.
Written by Donald Margulies, Dinner With Friends follows two couples as they navigate the fallout of a crumbling relationship and confront their own insecurities, desires, and loyalties with humor and heart. This Pulitzer Prize-winning play offers a deeply relatable and touching exploration of love, loss, and the true meaning of friendship.
Dinner With Friends features Gabe and Karen, a happily married couple who are international food writers living
in Connecticut, and their best friends, Tom and Beth, whom they introduced to one another 12 years ago. Tom, a lawyer, travels often for his business, while Beth, an artist of uncertain talent, works from home.
The two couples have drinks and dinner together often, they are raising their children together, and even share Gabe’s family’s vacation house at Martha’s Vineyard every year. They love one another dearly, supporting each other in every phase of their lives.
Gabe (played by Christopher Hoffer) is an easy-going guy who cherishes his family and friendships. Karen (Jennifer Blumenthal) values the life she has built with Gabe. She is
a nurturing woman with a tendency to micro-manage.
Beth (Jessica Walck) is a bit timid but creative as an artist, with a somewhat fragile demeanor, and in a state of emotional upheaval. Tom (Michael Murray) is confident, assertive, and a bit self-centered.
In the opening scene, Gabe and Karen go into grand and comical detail about their recent trip to Italy and the food there – Oh! The food! – but Beth is very distracted. Finally, she blurts that Tom – who is not present – is leaving her for another woman.
Jennifer Blumenthal as Karen and Jessica Walck at Beth rehearse their lunch scene in Dinner With Friends.
Then things start to unravel.
Gabe and Karen are crushed. Tom has been Gabe’s best friend since “the first hour” of college freshman orientation; Beth has been Karen’s bestie for decades.
Later the same evening, seeking to subdue curiosity, Tom regales Gabe with his side of the story about his new love, Nancy (whom we never meet), pointing out that she really listens to him – even as Gabe seems to tune out.
The remainder of the play follows the couples and individuals as they strive to make sense of the new status of their entwined relationships.
How do couple friends navigate the rest of their lives with a now-splintered friendship? How do they take sides – or do they not? Who was right and who was wrong? What about the children? What’s ahead for each couple?
The cast is composed of four seasoned local performers. Hoffer, who is vice president and treasurer of the board of Sea Glass Stage Company, recently appeared as Louie in Sea Glass Stage’s Lost in Yonkers.
Murray, who grew up on Hilton Head Island, as well as Blumenthal and Walck, both of whom recently moved to Bluffton, are appearing on the Sea Glass stage for the first time. All three performers have a history of community theatre.
Directing the local production is Mark Erickson, cofounder and president of Sea Glass Stage Company.
“After our rousing success with our hilarious and large production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical, we wanted to bring a smaller, more thoughtful, yet somewhat humorous drama to the stage,” Erickson said. “Dinner With Friends struck me as a well-written story about the nature of friendship. It is a dramatic comedy – or maybe comedic drama – about how relationships change as we get older. We think the theme will hit home for our community.”
Dinner With Friends made its world premiere at the 1998 Humana Festival of American Plays. It premiered in New York City in 1999 and won high praise from critics. One reviewer for Aisle Say NY, said “What would seem to be a light comedy about friendship and shifting loyalties becomes instead a surprisingly touching rumination about the changes that come with age.”
The play won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2000.
The local production will run October 4-20 at Sea Glass Stage at Coligny Theatre, 1 N. Forest Beach Drive on Hilton Head Island. Shows are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $35 adult, $20 student; the show has a PG-13 rating for language and adult content. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit sgstage.org/ tickets, or follow Sea Glass Stage at Coligny on Facebook and Instagram.
Christopher Hoffer, left, as Gabe and Michael Murray as Tom rehearse their uncomfortable conversation in Dinner With Friends.
SOMETHING ROTTEN!
ARTS CENTER OPENS ’24-’25 SEASON WITH HILARIOUS MUSICAL
Kicking off the Arts Center’s blockbuster ’24-’25 season is the hilarious and wildly entertaining hit musical, Something Rotten, running through October 27.
This big, boisterous tap-happy musical is one of the wittiest shows ever written. The comedy, which is packed with musical theatre references and show-stopping moments, is directed by Whitaker Gannon, who also was at the helm of the Arts Center’s 2023 season opener Clue, as well as Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Little Shop of Horrors, and Red.
The stage is set for a riotous journey back to the Renaissance, where two struggling playwright brothers, Nick (Drake Leach) and Nigel Bottom (Chris Graham) find themselves in the shadow of the illustrious William Shakespeare (John Alejandro Jeffords). But wait! This isn’t your usual Shakespeare fare … trust us on this!
Shakespeare, in this history-twisting tale, is clad in skintight black leather, bringing sexy rock star swagger, while the ladies swoon over his … um, sonnets. Meanwhile, the Bottom brothers crave their own writing acclaim, the Bard be damned.
Desperate to break free from Shakespeare’s overwhelming success, Nick seeks the help of a soothsayer, Nostradamus (Francis Kelly), in hopes of predicting the future of theatre, giving Nick a jolt of inspiration.
Nostradamus, however, was a bit... off. His predictions, it turns out, are hysterically inaccurate, leading Nick and Nigel down a chaotic path of mishaps and misadventures. What he does accurately foretell is that the future of theatre will involve singing, dancing, and acting at the same time. With this newfound intel, Nick then sets out to create the world’s first musical!
But amidst the scandalous excitement of creating their show, the Bottom brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self … and all that jazz.
“We had so many audience members recently request that we produce this show,” said Jeffrey Reeves, the Arts Center’s president and CEO. “Most of these patrons had seen the show on Broadway and couldn’t say enough about it. It’s a wonderful piece for our season opener – it’s a big, over-thetop musical comedy with a dazzling set, incredible dancing, and a brilliant score.”
More than 7,000 actors submitted for roles to be part of this production when the casting notice went out earlier this summer. Following video submissions for around 1,000, in-person auditions were held for approximately 200 actors over the course of several days in New York City, resulting in a top-notch cast.
Casting was interesting for the Arts Center creative team, which included Gannon, Arts Center GM/VP Richard Feldman, music director Dan Gibson, choreographer Jason Holley, and associate choreographer Ashley McManus.
“Naturally, we needed triple-threat talent in acting, singing, and dancing,” Gannon said, “but we also needed actors to fit very distinct comedic roles. Oh, and be incredible tappers. Fortunately, we had an amazing pool of professional actors who auditioned. Our cast is absolutely stellar!”
Rounding out the creative team is the scenic designer Curt Tomczyk, sound designer Marlo Griffith, costume designer Andy Wallach, and lighting designer Annmarie Duggan. Stage managing the show is veteran Ginger James, with Jennie Davies as assistant stage manager.
With its heart on its ruffled sleeve and sequins in its soul, Something Rotten is an uproarious dose of pure Broadway fun and an irresistible ode to musicals.
The musical is onstage now and runs through October 27. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the website at tickets.artshhi.com or by calling (843) 842-2787. Parental discretion advised due to language and innuendo.
The cast of “Something Rotten!”
Photography by Gustavo Rattia
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF EKEDAHL CENTER FOR NONPROFIT EXCELLENCE
There is a vibrant Lowcountry nonprofit network providing programs and services for those most in need. Fortunately, we live in an extremely generous community that provides much-needed support to these nonprofits. But in order to succeed, nonprofits need much more than donations and volunteers.
In an effort to learn more about specific local nonprofits’ needs, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, a 501(c) (3) that serves Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, and Colleton counties, distributed a survey to nonprofit leadership. In addition to fundraising, one of the top needs in the survey results was capacity building. The National Council of Nonprofits defines capacity building as “an investment in the effectiveness and future sustainability of a nonprofit.”
With that in mind, CFL set out to develop a permanent nonprofit resource that would focus on capacity building. The goal of having a nonprofit capacity building center
became a reality due to Dave and Patty Ekedahl, longtime Hilton Head Island residents and supporters of numerous local nonprofits.
“Through CFL’s recent strategic planning process, our nonprofit partners identified capacity building as a top priority,” said Community Foundation of the Lowcountry President and CEO Scott Wierman. “The generous commitment from the Ekedahls allowed CFL to accelerate efforts to meet these needs through the Ekedahl Center for Nonprofit Excellence.”
On September 10, it was a full house at CFL for the Grand Opening ceremony of the Ekedahl Center for Nonprofit Excellence. The center is housed in CFL’s newly renovated offices, located at 4 Northridge Drive in Hilton Head.
The grand opening attendees included the Ekedahl family, nonprofit leaders, training program consultants, and CFL board members and staff. Featured speakers
From left, front are supporters Dave and Patty Ekedahl with their daughter Anne. Standing are Lynn Jennings Taylor and Scott Wierman.
included Dave Ekedahl, CFL Board Chair Lynn Jennings Taylor, President and CEO Scott Wierman, and VP for Community Investment Debbie Cahoon, plus heartfelt testimonials from nonprofit executive directors Ahmad Ward of Mitchelville Freedom Park and Christina Wilson of Child Abuse Prevention Association.
“It is our honor to partner with CFL on this important project,” Dave Ekedahl said. “Nonprofits are critical to the well-being of our community, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to help nonprofits reach their organizational goals.”
The Ekedahl Center for Nonprofit Excellence builds on CFL’s commitment to local nonprofits and organizations. Since its inception 30 years ago, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded more than $115 million in grants to support nonprofits’ programs, initiatives, and training.
There are a variety of programs and workshops scheduled this fall at the Ekedahl Center for Nonprofit Excellence, including the Nonprofit Excellence in Management and Operations (NEMO) program, with leadership from 15 local nonprofits registered. NEMO strengthens nonprofit capacities to enhance community impact and revenue through essential training and consulting. The consulting firm HIGOL (High Impact Growth Oriented Leaders) is leading the year-long NEMO program, which includes six intensive classroom-style presentations, along with one-on-one executive coaching sessions.
Fall workshops scheduled include Board Development, Leading Nonprofit Staff, and Interpersonal Relationship Management. Consultant Neil Sklarew, who currently leads
CFL’s Executive Director Leadership program, along with consultants from the USCB Center for Strategic Planning and other organizations, will direct these workshops.
Programs and workshops will continually be added at the Ekedahl Center for Nonprofit Excellence, and nonprofit leadership and board members from all four counties will have the opportunity to participate.
The grand opening event was a true celebration of the generosity of the Lowcountry and the important partnerships the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has built with nonprofits.
To learn more about the Ekedahl Center for Nonprofit Excellence, visit cf-lowcountry.org or call (843) 681-9100.
Ahmad Ward shares his CFL executive leadership training experience.
Owner/President - Ryan Moore
Vice President - Chris Wells
Article by Barry Kaufman
M.Kat
Faster to any Disaster
HIGH TIDE RESTORATION AND CLEANING IS ALWAYS FIRST ON THE SCENE
Disasters come in all shapes and sizes. Did a dinner guest errantly paint your white carpet with a nice burgundy spatter of a bold pinot noir? That’s a disaster. Did your new four-legged friend decide that your area rug was as good a place as any to do its business? That’s a disaster.
But those are all lowercase disasters. Disasters with a capital D, now they can be a little harder to deal with.
That water heater that breaks while you’re out of town, turning your home’s ground floor into the world’s most expensive wading pool. The fire that destroys your kitchen, while snaking tendrils of damaging smoke throughout the house. The downed tree during a hurricane that punches a hole in your roof, turning it into a funnel for rainwater.
Photography by
These are all Disasters with a capital D
Fortunately, for those of us in Beaufort County, we can turn to High Tide Restoration and Cleaning for relief. When Ryan Moore founded High Tide in 2001, he was just one guy with a van who could take care of disasters with a lowercase d. As a full-service cleaning company, he offered service for tile, upholstery and area rugs that needed a little bit more than the average cleaning.
Eventually, High Tide would take its comprehensive approach to mitigating those little disasters and apply
them to those big ones. Since 2020, Chris Wells has been the man on the scene, making sure every Disaster gets immediate attention. And since these kinds of Disasters never respect anyone’s schedule, they’re always ready at a moment’s notice.
“We pride ourselves on that,” Wells said. “We are 24/7/365. So if it happens at two in the morning, we’ve got an on-call team whose goal is to be to the property within 60 minutes, even in the middle of the night, after hours, or on holidays.”
Before After
Kitchen Remodel
Kitchen Remodel
Water line from refrigerator had been slowly leaking water completely ruining floors and drywall.
And for those big Disasters, cleaning up is just step one.
“A lot of times you call us because there’s an emergency, and we come in and do the work, but then you’ve been thinking about replacing the flooring or the cabinets,” Wells said. “So, what we end up doing is working with the homeowner on the claim, getting the money from their insurance company, and then we do a separate scope of work for the work that they need done, plus the work that they want done.”
One great example can be seen in the before and after pictures on these pages. When the air conditioning system broke while this house was vacant, mold quickly spread throughout the property.
“When that happens, everything is thrown away. From something as big as drywall, cabinets, and tiles to something as small as a picture frame, it’s all thrown away,” Wells said. “You take the house back to the 2-by-4s, then you reverse build the house. Everything is hand cleaned and air dried, then you rebuild the house back. And that happened in less than 10 days.”
It’s a remarkable turnaround for such thorough service, but that’s the idea. That’s the ultimate goal shared by everyone in a company that has grown from one guy in a van to 30 professionals servicing Beaufort and Jasper counties. It stems from a culture Moore has fostered of empowering each employee and going above and beyond to let them know their value as a teammate. By fostering a culture that looks out for employees and being generous both with his guidance and his payroll, Moore has cultivated a team of longtime employees. And each of them shares a common goal of doing the job right.
“I’m proud of that, to have a good culture, and to have a team that has a strong work ethic and a pride in doing what’s best,” Wells said. “Because every day is a challenge and tomorrow’s customer is not promised.”
What is promised, whether it’s a disaster or a Disaster, is that High Tide Cleaning and Restoration will always be there, faster to the disaster.
Before Bathroom Remodel
After Bathroom Remodel
Backup in toilet causing damage to walls, carpet, and floor.
Article by Barry Kaufman
THE FINCH FLIES SOUTH
NEW BLUFFTON INTERIOR DESIGN STUDIO BRINGS A FUN, VIBRANT ENERGY TO HOMES, AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR AREA DESIGNERS.
There are 824 miles between Bluffton, South Carolina and Rye, New York, as the finch flies. But a new shop in Bluffton’s Promenade is erasing that distance, offering Low Country homeowners and designers the refreshingly modern coastal flair that made Rye’s Finch & Co. store iconic.
“We tried to bring something to Bluffton that wasn’t there. It’s a completely different look and feel than you’ll find in any other shop,” said Michelle Sriubas, co-founder and head of design in Bluffton.
Sriubas first moved to Bluffton five years ago, bringing her thriving interior design business with her. When her partner, Bets Miller, launched Finch & Co. in Rye after closing her awardwinning design store, Nest Inspired Home, after 12 years, she partnered with Sriubas to run the firm’s southern branch. With a fresh and colorful aesthetic at its core, the shop boasts designer curated furnishings, lighting, art, along with accessories, gifts, and even some children’s items.
“We want to be the go-to resource whether you’re looking for a special gift to furniture for a whole room,” explains Sriubas. “We’re an instant-gratification shop. If you see it and love it, you can have it immediately.”
Finch and its team of designers can also help you special order furniture and case goods thanks to a complete range of fabrics from vendors including LEE, CR Laine, Norwalk, Arteriors, Made Goods, Four Hands, Universal, and more.
“We can help you with anything from one room to an entire new build house, soup to nuts,” said Sriubas, “Which is different from a lot of local designers, many of whom only tend to do whole houses. We have a full staff here and can take on projects of all sizes.”
Those local designers, incidentally, might be the biggest beneficiaries of Finch & Co.’s arrival. That’s because, in addition
Finch and its team of designers can also help you special order furniture and case goods.
Whether you’re looking to give a room or your whole home a facelift, you’ll find it at Finch & Co.
to being a full service interior design studio, Finch & Co. will offer designers something completely new – a trade floor.
“Many local interior designers don’t have a lot of resources locally, so to pick out a fabric, for example, they have to shop online or go to Atlanta,” said Sriubas. “On our second floor we have a wide array of vendor samples, wood samples, finishes and furniture from all the lines we carry so they can bring their clients up to see and feel it firsthand, just like we offer our own design clients.”
As someone who used to run her interior design business out of her home, Sriubas knows what a difference it makes having this kind of resource available locally.
“It’s almost priceless,” she said. “This is huge for us to have this ability to use this space. When I was doing presentations in my house, if a client wanted to sit on a piece of furniture or feel the weight of a couch, we’d have to go to High Point or Atlanta, which isn’t feasible for most families. Now we have it here in Bluffton.”
And it’s not just about saving designers a trip to Atlanta. One huge advantage Finch & Co. will give local design pros is direct access to some of the biggest vendors in the business.
“We will be hosting events with our trade vendors to present to the local design community in our trade space,” said Sriubas. “These are companies that will usually only meet with the biggest firms, but here they’ll be able to meet local designers and let them see what’s coming for the season. We love working with the trade.”
Whether you’re looking to give a room or your whole home a facelift, you’ll find it at Finch & Co. And if you’re in the design business, you’ve just been given a fabulous new space to ply your trade. Learn more at finchandco.com.
Beyond the collection of amazing art, the home prominently features some equally amazing architectural elements that are synonymous with Neil Gordon-designed homes, not the least of which is light.
Article by Cheryl Ricer . Photography by M.Kat
Architecture by Neil Gordon
Construction by Dan Anderson of Anderson Construction Company in partnership with Ling Graves of Graves Construction Company
Landscape design by Jerry Gentile of By the Sea Landscaping
Interiors by Dean Huntley of Dean Huntley Designs
Cabinets by Tom Lauderdale of A.K.D.
Sound System Light and Shade Control by Sandy Benson of Custom Audio Video Integrated Home Pool by Year Round Pool
Art + Architecture
SEA PINES HOME OFFERS THE PERFECT BALANCE
Living in Sea Pines is all about wide, sandy beaches and world-renowned golf. It’s salt air sunsets and dolphins at dawn. It’s the Salty Dog and Harbour Town. It’s horseback rides and bicycles. It’s an iconic Hilton Head community where beautiful homes abound – almost 4,000 single-family residences, in fact.
Of those 4,000 homes, approximately 400 of them were designed by architect extraordinaire Neil Gordon. And in one of those Neil Gordon homes reside Neil and Sharon Gordon themselves.
While the couple has always lived on Hilton Head Island, this is their third home together over the 47 years of their marriage and it is understandably their favorite. They started out in Point Comfort before moving to Sea Pines, and this creek-side home is their second in the neighborhood.
“We seem to move every 20 years,” Neil said. “Previously we always lived on the marsh. Now we enjoy that we can walk to the beach, and we love living on the creek where we can watch all the wildlife.”
When the Gordons found the lot in 2017, it already had a house on it. They demolished that one in 2018 and began building the existing home in November 2019. The Gordon
Special treats in the master include the motorized drapes where with the push of one button, the shades will open and close, providing the desired lighting scene.
residence reflects all that they learned from living in previous homes, inspiration from his previous design work, and their astounding collection of art.
Among the goals for their new home were an open floor plan, a screened porch suited for year-round use, and a pool near the house level.
“We shifted from a contemporary arts and crafts style design to a coastal modern design in this home, which provides a fresh look for us,” Sharon said. “Preparing for the future was also an important consideration, so now we can feasibly live on one floor.” If they need to go upstairs, they use the elevator.
The Gordons also knew they wanted a full back kitchen where they could house as many appliances as possible. Maintaining a clean and pristine aesthetic in the great room/ kitchen living space (Sharon’s favorite part of the home) allows the art and architecture to be on full display.
The art collection is extensive, so designing the home where every piece has a place – and providing ample room to grow the collection – was one of the challenges Neil met and conquered, though not alone. Not only did he rely on Sharon’s input, but the couple also relied heavily on friend and interior designer Dean Huntley.
“The art collection was important in all decisions,” Huntley said. “Placement, making decisions early in the process, and working with the knowledge that, inevitably, things may change were key to successfully designing around the collection.”
Typically, Huntley’s interiors include lots of color, but the art demanded white walls in the main spaces of the Gordon home.
“Sharon was unsure about having white walls and white trim,” Huntley said. “But it really works with their art, allowing their fabulous collection to take center stage.”
Neil’s favorite piece of art is the Geoffrey Johnson painting over the great room fireplace.
The exterior of the Gordan home, situated with views of the marsh in Sea Pines.
The goals for their new home were an open floor plan, a screened porch suited for year-round use, and a pool near the house level.
Architect extraordinaire Neil Gordon works in his home office.
Typically, Huntley’s interiors include lots of color, but the art demanded white walls in the main spaces of the Gordon home.
“It reminds me of my time at school in New York, walking down one of the avenues,” he said. “And because it’s an impressionistic painting, it also could be a view of Chicago or London. The perspective produces a wonderful depth in this piece.”
Sharon’s favorite is Stephen Scott Young’s painting from his series featuring a Bahamian child, Zaria.
“The painting is called ‘Wondering,’” Sharon said. “You can see the little girl thinking, and you wonder what is going on in her mind.”
Beyond the collection of amazing art, the home prominently features some equally amazing architectural elements that are synonymous with Neil Gordon-designed homes, not the least of which is light.
“In this home, we maintained the requirement to maximize views with lots of well-placed windows,” Neil said. “I also provided opportunity to enjoy natural light for the daytime through the use of light wells and transom lighting.”
A lightwell is an open shaft that extends vertically through a building, allowing natural light to penetrate into the space below. In the Gordon home, for example, one of the lightwells illuminates the second-floor guest bedroom, the second-floor guest bathroom, and the kitchen island on the first floor. In the great room and master bedroom, transom windows provide a wonderful level of natural day lighting. Both illustrate Neil’s attention to detail and exceptional understanding of architectural elements.
“I’ve always thought lighting at night is just as important as good day lighting, because the majority of people are actually indoors and enjoying their homes after dark,” Neil said. “Without thoughtful inclusion and placement of light from a variety of sources, it’s no good.”
Neil employed “layering of light” and “scene lighting” in his and Sharon’s home by installing recessed parabolic reflector lighting, accent lighting for art and architectural elements, and dimming capabilities along with night
light safety lighting. The result is a whole other level of improvement in the home.
“Neil and I are both ‘into’ lighting, so he and Sharon and I all teamed up on this aspect for an excellent result,” Huntley said. “I knew of a visionary line of lighting in the Charleston area, so we worked with them to provide the fixtures in the entrance gallery and the dining area, which are pieces of art in their own right. Ensuring that there are multiple light sources (lamps, recessed, focused, as well as decorative) was very important to provide general, task, mood, and specific lighting.”
Not only does the main home include two bedrooms on the second floor, but there is also an entire apartment with a private entrance over the garage, which includes two en suite bedrooms and sitting areas.
The approach to the home from the circular drive is another example of extraordinary architecture with the Charleston-inspired courtyard, the boxwood-lined walk, the entry porch with its exposed rafters and decking, and the warmth of the gas entry porch lights, which were inspired by the gas street lights alongside Neil’s grandparents’ home in Scotland.
Neil’s grandparents’ 16th century home was the mill house for Balhousie Castle with stone walls more than two feet thick. That home also inspired his desire to include window seats in this Sea Pines home.
“Our previous home did not have any window seats, so I made up for that in this current home, which has three,” Neil said. “One of my favorite childhood memories was sitting in the two-feet-deep window sills in my grandparents’ home, watching people go by or waiting for the rain to stop.”
Nostalgically, Neil also included an “Edinburgh door” as the door to a bathroom in the guest suite. An Edinburgh door is one door that graces two doorways. In this case, the door in one position closes off the bathroom from the bedroom, while moving the door into the other position closes off the toilet compartment.
“I have only seen this in a couple of hotels in Edinburgh,” Neil said. “It’s just like a thrifty Scotsman to only use one door for two doorways.”
In contrast, the front door to the home is weighty at 2-1/4 inches thick and 9 feet tall, much more suitable for the entrance to the Gordons’ castle.
One of Sharon’s favorite parts of the architectural design is the prayer room in the master bedroom.
“We take the Bible’s suggestion to ‘enter your closet to pray’ quite literally,” she said. “I love our prayer closet because I can actually shut out the distractions, focus on my prayer journal, and spend important private time with God.”
Other special treats in the master include the motorized drapes where with the push of one button, the shades will open and close, providing the desired lighting scene. With the push of another button, the television will appear from under the bed.
The home’s architectural design artfully reflects the Gordons’ love of entertaining and hospitality by providing ample space for each. Not only does the main home include two bedrooms on the second floor, but there is also an entire apartment with a private entrance over the garage, which includes two en suite bedrooms and sitting areas, allowing guests to enjoy visiting the Gordons at their own pace with all the privacy they want.
And while the heated portion of the home offers 5,025 square feet of comfortable and copious living space, there’s more: a 480-square-foot screened porch (Neil’s favorite part of the house), which sits adjacent to the creek side pool. Nearby is an outdoor kitchen with dining for six, and a cozy lounging area in front of a brick fireplace that affords them the luxury to enjoy outdoor living year-round.
And since both Neil and Sharon both still work (she is president of The Curry Company, which has provided “meticulous meeting management” since 1992), they have a home office that they share.
“In my opinion, their office has the best view in the house,” Huntley said. “Obviously, an office isn’t the place to overdecorate, but rather ensure that the space fits their needs. Sharon operates her business from here, and Neil draws at home as well as at his office, so it was important that the person who is likely the busiest architect in the Lowcountry has the space to create in a light-filled environment where the outdoors really comes beautifully indoors.”
Any Neil Gordon home will hold its own against any industry rival, yet this home is uniquely “Gordon” due to the idyllic personal touches, improvements on previous designs, and an impressive compilation of art. It’s their dream home, to be sure. That is, according to Neil, “until the next dream.”
Article by Cheryl Alexander
Upkeep YoUr Abode
A CALENDAR FOR HOME MAINTENANCE
While most people are aware of the financial responsibility that homeownership requires, most don’t think much about the time and labor that are required to maintain a home. Regular home maintenance will ensure that your home stays healthy and happy and that you avoid frustration and wasted money.
A home maintenance calendar will allow you to maximize your efficiency and get everything done. To assist, we’ve compiled a list of things that need attention weekly, monthly, quarterly, biannually and annually, by season. To keep from becoming overwhelmed, simply take on things you can do each weekend. Don’t forget to have the big jobs done by the professionals. Biting off more than you can
chew can sometimes carry a heftier price tag in the long run.
Weekly
· Vacuum the floors. A neglected carpet can play host to dirt, dust, mites, and mold.
Wipe down stove top and vent. Detach the filter from the hood, then soak it in a cleaning solution before brushing off any grease.
Mow the lawn. When temperatures drop to around 40 degrees, most grass goes dormant, so you won’t need to cut it until the weather warms up again.
· Clean window sills. Usually a simple wipedown is enough, but if there’s buildup, sprinkle baking soda over the track and sill, then spray with water and vinegar. After a few minutes, scrub it clean.
Wipe down kitchen appliances. Clean them all—microwave, oven, refrigerator—inside and out at least once a week.
Monthly
Inspect, and possibly change out HVAC filters. If the filter is dirty, change it, otherwise inspect it again next month.
· Clean kitchen sink disposal. Put some vinegar in an ice tray and let it freeze, then run the ice cubes through the disposal. It freshens the disposal and sharpens the blades.
Clean range hood filters. Use a degreaser from an auto parts store mixed with hot water. Let the filter sit for a few minutes, rinse it off, and you’re good to go.
· Inspect your fire extinguisher(s). Be sure that the extinguisher has easy access and is unblocked, that the gauge shows adequate pressure, and that it has no visible signs of wear and tear.
Quarterly
· Test smoke/carbon dioxide detectors.
· Test garage door auto-reverse feature. Place a 2×4 on the ground where the door would close. It should reverse when the door hits the wood. If you have photo-electric sensors, place something in front of them (not your body). If the door doesn’t immediately go back up, you have a problem.
· Run water and flush toilets in unused spaces. Sometimes out-ofsight places like seldomly-used guest suites can also be out-of-mind. Don’t forget about rooms and bathrooms that you don’t use everyday.
· Check water softener, add salt if needed. It only takes about 5 seconds.
Biannually
· Test your water heater’s pressure valve. This will prevent mineral and corrosion buildup and help your heater run more efficiently.
· Give your house a deep clean. Take one Saturday every six months with your whole family, and clean the appliances, windows, dust every nook and cranny (including the closets), etc.
Quarterly: Test smoke/carbon dioxide detectors.
Biannually: Replace batteries in smoke/ carbon dioxide detectors. Change these out every six months to give yourself and your family the added security.
· Replace batteries in smoke/carbon dioxide detectors. Change these out every six months to give yourself and your family the added security.
· Vacuum your refrigerator coils. The fridge can use up to 15 percent of your home’s total power, so you want it running as efficiently as possible. You’ll save up to $100 a year.
Annually (by Season)
Spring
Check exterior drainage. Make sure rain water flows away from the house and that puddles don’t stand for more than 24 hours. If anything is questionable, check gutters, grade the area with some dirt, or hire professionals to raise the pavement to drain properly.
Upkeep YoUr Abode
· Clean gutters. You can definitely do this one yourself, but why?
· Inspect the exterior of your home. Paint chipping? Siding damaged from winter? Holes in your brick? Foundation cracking? A good silicone/caulk can fix many of these problems.
· Service your A/C. Having it serviced by a professional should be around $100 or less.
· Repair/replace damaged window screens.
· Clear dead plants/shrubs.
Check trees for interference with electric lines. Have these professionally trimmed if necessary.
Inspect roofing for damage, leaks, etc. Repair as needed; you may need a professional.
Summer
Check grout in bathrooms, kitchen, etc. This will prolong the life and aesthetics of your tiled surfaces. Inspect plumbing for leaks, clean aerators on faucets. If you have poor water pressure out of a faucet, the aerator is likely the issue, and it’s an easy fix.
· Take care of any insect problems you may have. Keep cobwebs clear, have ant poison handy, make sure all doors are tightly closed.
· Clean and repair deck/patio as needed. Wash and possibly re-stain. Check for any loose boards or posts.
Check and clean dryer vent, other exhaust vents to exterior of home.
· Clean garage.
Fall
Flush hot water heater and remove sediment. This prolongs the life of the heater and helps with efficiency.
Winterize A/C systems. Have a cover ready for the outside unit with a tarp or plastic sheeting and secure with bungee cords if a freeze is in the forecast.
Get heating system ready for winter. Check for leaks in doors and windows. Make sure heating vents are open and unblocked. Get furnace serviced/inspected at least every other year, preferably annually. Don’t forget about fireplaces if you have them.
· Turn off and flush outdoor water faucets. Also flush hoses and store them. Winterize sprinkler systems as well.
· Get chimney cleaned, if you have one.
· Check driveway/pavement for cracks. Make sure to have any cracks re-sealed before winter; water can freeze and expand in the cracks, causing more damage.
Winter
Test your electricity to the extent that you can. Be extra careful when working with electricity. You can do a couple things on your own, though. Check that all outlets work, including your GFCI outlets.
Tighten any handles, knobs, racks, etc. Inspect anything that could have a loose screw.
Check all locks and deadbolts on your doors and windows. If anything doesn’t work right, replace it.
Check caulking around showers and bathtubs; repair as needed.
Remove showerheads and clean sediment. This prolongs its life and helps with water pressure as well.
Article by Cheryl Ricer
Architecture by Neil Gordon Architects
Construction by Robert Hopper Builders
Landscape design by AB Landscaping
Interiors by Kelly Caron Designs
Indoor Flooring by KPM Flooring
Outdoor Flooring by Savannah Hardscapes
Cabinetry by Studio Spinola Cabinetry & More
Appliances by Billy Wood Appliance
Pool by TLC Pools
A VISION INSPIRED BY A VIEW
Sea Pines home design offers privacy, livable luxury, panoramic view
Nearly 25 years ago, Bob Hodde, a Hilton Head Island Realtor, suggested that his friend and client, Rob Jordan, senior partner in the SERG restaurant group, look at a piece of property in Sea Pines off Audubon Pond. Hodde kept after Jordan for several months to view the property, even though Jordan already owned a home in Sea Pines and was perfectly content there.
Jordan eventually agreed to take a look at the house.
“As soon as I walked in and saw the view, I said, ‘I’ll buy it,’” Jordan said recently.
Photography by M.Kat
Everything the couple selected is durable and lounge-y. All of the entertaining spaces include performance materials and fabrics.
Then, six years ago on Thanksgiving 2018, Jordan had another life-changing encounter when he showed up to for an early morning Hot HIIT exercise class. Next to him in the practice room was a woman who would help catapult the initial vision of his home into reality.
Julie Martin, formerly with Microsoft and currently a marketing executive with Hilton Grand Vacations, had been on Hilton Head Island only since 2015. While she is an avid exercise enthusiast, she hadn’t been to the studio in a while.
“I always did a Thanksgiving Day workout, and earlier in the week, I had run into the studio owner who invited me to come check out a new class, so I did,” Martin said.
Martin arrived first and set her mat down. Soon after, Jordan arrived and placed his mat down near hers. The two made eye contact and nodded heads in polite greeting before the workout began. A few weeks later, at Harris Teeter, they ran into each other again. This time, Jordan didn’t let her get away without a conversation and a phone number.
Several phone calls, as many workouts, and a few years later, the two decided that living together in Jordan’s home was the next step.
“When I bought the home, which was built in 1976, it was with the expectation that someday I would build the home of my dreams,” Jordan said. “Once we started living together, we started to talk about building a new home together, which would become the home of our dreams.”
Assembling the right team to bring their dream to reality was a key component of the success of this grand project. To draw up the design, the couple enlisted the expertise of Neil Gordon. Jordan and Martin’s initial meeting with Gordon was in the summer of 2021.
The third floor houses the master suite and both of the couple’s offices, each of which is made more lovely and somehow even more intimate by the Lowcountry landscape vista.
The biggest challenges Gordon faced were the shape of the lot and keeping the magnificent view at 270 degrees, which includes the Audubon Pond marsh and Calibogue Sound beyond.
“Neil has an amazing reputation and has designed more than 500 homes in Sea Pines,” Jordan said. “Impressively, he is meticulous. He still handwrites his drawings, which is unique, as most architects today use CAD. He met with us, listened to our ideas and needs, and somehow managed to put it all together.”
The biggest challenges Gordon faced were the shape of the lot and keeping the magnificent view at 270 degrees, which includes the Audubon Pond marsh and Calibogue Sound beyond.
“The Jordan-Martin home was probably the most intriguing design I have done in some time,” Gordon said. “The piece of property was triangular and there was an existing pool that we wanted to design around. The point of the lot was on the street side, and a three-car garage was a requirement. The solution was to position the three-car garage towards the street side and position the entry, which is a tower to the second level, on the panoramic view side of the property. The tower element announces the entry point of the house, affording a first glimpse of one of the
most spectacular marsh views with Daufuskie Island in the distance. The waterside facing portions of the house are all glass and offer view decks at all three levels of the home.”
Gordon gave the couple valuable advice along the way. As a former Architectural Review Board member, he had a good indication of what he thought would work and get through the ARB while still meeting Jordan’s and Martin’s needs, one of which was ensuring privacy.
He was successful. Though there are neighbors nearby, you’d never know it. The home is situated in such a way that you’d be hard pressed to say where other houses are.
Getting started on what was now the couple’s shared dream required starting from scratch. On September 1, 2022, the old home (3,200 square feet) was demolished to make way for the new home (4,000 square feet heated and 6,000 square feet that includes an outdoor living space). The plans include lots of windows and open spaces for entertaining, ensuite guest rooms, his/her bathrooms, and plenty of closets.
“We didn’t waste anything from the tear-down,” Martin said. “We even donated all of our old furniture, and our neighbors came and rescued any and all of the old landscaping they wanted. One of our neighbors asked if they could have the old front doors, which they repurposed into two beautiful headboards. Needless to say, the goal of our project was quite large.”
After getting all the couple’s goals on paper and making the space for them to come to fruition would require the second member of the Jordan-Martin team – Bob Hopper of Robert Hopper Builders.
“Bob lives across the way from us, and he and I have known each other since 2000 when I moved here,” Jordan said. “He’s been building homes on the island for more than 40 years and is renowned for his quality of craftsmanship. He did exceptional work with our home with full attention to every detail.”
To drive that point home, Jordan also emphasized that it’s a good sign when you’re at the end of the job that you and your builder, who lives across the street, are still on speaking terms.
Before construction on the three-story home even began, the couple brought in Kelly Caron of Kelly Caron Designs to do the interiors. Caron had already done multiple projects for several SERG restaurants, her first being Skull Creek Dockside, followed by Frankie Bones in Bluffton, and then the expansion of Wise Guys. Jordan had always admired the quality of her work, and the couple were comfortable with her leading the interior design of their home.
“We wanted a clean and simple aesthetic, and we relied heavily on Kelly to provide several conceptual ideas to get us started,” Martin said.
With three stories of living space, Caron had a tall order to fill.
“The first thing Rob and Julie conveyed to me was that they wanted something livable and unpretentious,” Caron said. “They both had amazing history to bring into the home, so the fact that Neil was able to provide so much wall space for their collective and impressive art was important. And then with the view, I knew I needed to come in and help them make the best selections.”
Caron understood the couple’s lifestyle includes lots of entertaining as well as their love for their pets, which includes two dogs and two cats. She understood that they
like to keep the doors open and enjoy the Lowcountry fresh salt air environment as often as possible. She also understood that their selections must be able to withstand the wear and tear that accompanies that lifestyle without sacrificing the luxury and elegance that a home of this caliber demands.
“One of the best – and most fun – things that Rob and Julie and I did together was to go to the furniture market in High Point, North Carolina,” Caron said “They were able to do ‘the touch, the feel, and the sit test,’ allowing them to be very thoughtful about each purchase of furniture, countertops, and materials.”
Everything the couple selected is durable and lounge-y. All of the entertaining spaces include performance materials and fabrics. Their dogs can join them on the sofas and it’s okay if the corners reveal tell-tale signs of cat scratches.
“It’s a very easy home to live in,” Martin said. “It’s not simply a showplace. While we know that there are amazing and highquality elements to our home, we wanted a home in which we could be comfortable and be ourselves.”
A few of those stunning, showplace elements include the home’s exterior: a blend of oyster shell stucco and cedar shingles, a combination Caron has dubbed “Lowtucket” design. As well, in the downstairs entertaining area, which is open to the pool and outdoor deck, no stone – or oyster shell – was left unturned. The exquisite oyster shell fireplace is a focal point, punctuated by the outdoor kitchen and pizza oven, the full bar, all with the stunning view as a backdrop.
“This is the place we enjoy when we are hosting a crowd,” Jordan said. “When it’s a more intimate group, we head upstairs.”
The second floor living area is dominated by the commanding bar and open concept. No matter where you are in the space, the view steals the show. Everything else, including the expansive kitchen and dining area along with the outdoor balcony – while spectacular in their own right – must play second fiddle to the star, which will always be the view.
The third floor houses the master suite and both of the couple’s offices, each of which is made more lovely and somehow even more intimate by the Lowcountry landscape vista.
All in all, Jordan and Martin agree that the finished product reflects the excellence of their team, the depth of their commitment to each other, and the fusion of a shared dream – inspired by a spectacular view. They also agree that while every Thanksgiving Day will likely include an early morning Hot HIIT class, it will surely include gratitude that in 2018, they both got up early to sweat it out.
TARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER . PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM SMITH
BATHROOM DESIGN BY CHRISTINA RICHARDSON INTERIORS
SOAK IT ALL IN
DESIGN & BUILD A LUXURY BATHROOM
he bathroom, once considered a utilitarian space, has evolved into a sanctuary of relaxation and indulgence where mundane routines have become indulgent rituals.
According to a July 2024 study by Global Market Insights, the North American bathroom remodeling market has a growth rate of 4%, with a projected market value of up to $78 billion in 2027.
Interior designer Christina Richardson’s recent project at a home in Long Cove gives us a peek into why investing in luxurious bathroom upgrades is a good idea, along with the factors driving this growing demand.
“When my clients first contacted me, they wanted help with their primary suite,” Richardson said. “They expressed how much they loved the color (an orange hue) yet remarked that other people didn’t necessarily like it.”
Brass fixtures and accessories make perfect accents against the marbled tile and peach-hued walls.
Richardson advised them to go with what makes them feel happy, pointing out that they are the ones who live there.
“They stayed true to their own tastes, but chose a lighter, peachier version of the original paint,” Richardson said. “Three months after, Pantone announced that ‘Peach Fuzz’ was the Color of the Year, so, as it turns out, my clients were right on trend.”
One luxury bathroom must-have is an open shower with beautiful tile. In Richardson’s case, she installed a gorgeous turquoise glass mosaic tile wall which is a real stunner, especially juxtaposed against the high-end, marbled porcelain tile on the floors and the wall. The rain showerhead and the hand-
A gorgeous turquoise glass mosaic tile wall
held shower head are luxury staples as well. Richardson also replaced the outdated tub with a large, oval soaking tub.
“While many people, including my clients, might not use a tub, a big soaker tub is a statement of luxury and great for resale in any bathroom remodel,” Richardson said.
A luxury bathroom should include high quality finishes and great lighting. In this home, the clients opted for a superior marbled porcelain tile and quartz countertops. Brass fixtures and accessories make perfect accents against the marbled tile and peach-hued walls. Additionally, brass fixtures are durable, making them effective in a bathroom environment.
A luxurious bathroom should allow for as much natural light as possible, and Richardson maximized the natural light in her client’s remodel by installing vanity lights, as well as a beautiful chandelier above the tub. To increase the light in the hallway leading to the shower and decrease risk of falling, canned lights were installed in the ceiling there and in the walk-in shower. A decorative spotlight was also added to highlight a large, colorful painting.
A luxury bathroom design maximizes function. In Richardson’s case, her clients expressed their desire to incorporate elements for aging-in-place. The walkin shower is wide enough for a walker or wheelchair and also includes a sturdy and beautiful built-in bench. There are grab bars, but rather than the traditional design, these resemble high-end towel bars.
After Richardson completed the project, her clients told her that every day when they walk into their bathroom, they feel so lucky and happy.
“That was always the goal,” Richardson said. “I want you to feel like royalty when you walk into your bathroom every single day.”
To view more of Christina Richardson’s work, visit ChristinaRichardsonInteriors. com.
ARTICLE BY AMY BARTLETT
S T ILL SUPERIOR
(After All These Years)
Celebrating 25 years of Superior teamwork
Imagine there was a map with a yellow dot for every home or property throughout the Lowcountry built, repaired, or restored over the past 25 years by the Superior Services of Dave Miller and his inimitable team. Through all the setbacks, changes, growth, and brands that deliver “more ways to serve,” there would barely be a spot left in the region that hasn’t been made better and brighter.
Surprisingly, it was never Miller’s original intention to become all things to all customers, but it was his ability to see and meet that need that turned Superior into the allencompassing home services solution it is today.
For nearly 20 years, while running the company formerly known as Superior Heating and Air, Miller watched clients cave under the chaos of multiple vendors handling all the different areas of their home or facility, balancing communications between disconnected sources and acting as their own contractor even on small projects, trying to translate and trust so many voices on their best options.
Embedded in those decades, and from his unique vantage point, Miller saw all the ingredients for Superior’s recent coming-of-age story as a whole-home, full-service provider.
Doing Things Right
“When I first started after working with my parents in residential construction, I had the contacts of my partner, George Lee, who was well established, and the family
business connections, too,” Miller said. “So even though we were just a one- or two-man show, with just one or two large homes at a time, and only working the HVAC side, we had the ability to hit those jobs head on with expertise, and build from there.”
Build they did, not just the company, but companies and homes throughout the area that bear the Superior name. Branching out on his own five years later, he was still in his 20s and heading into a recession with a steep learning curve ahead. In his toolbox, however, was everything he’d learned watching his dad and from his parents’ client relationships.
“The greatest thing I inherited from this was work ethic,” Miller said. “Instead of saying ‘no’ when he hit a challenge, my dad always said, ‘Somebody’s going to do it, it might as well be me.’ He taught me to ‘figure out how to do it and do it right. Work hard, save when you can, do your best to grow, set the pace, and always do things right for you and the customer.’”
With this as his core, through recessions, Covid, and present-day economic challenges, Miller persisted.
“Every year, there’s been growth,” he said. “Nothing’s been the same for anyone since Covid and we’ve struggled just like any business, but since rebranding in 2019 as Superior Services, we’ve focused on making a whole team for a whole, healthy home approach.”
Miller’s method isn’t traditional – it’s about creating an environment for your family where everything has been managed by someone you trust.
“We manage the air your family breathes, the floors you walk on, ridding carpets of allergens and debris, the water you drink with our plumbing filtration, electrical, and maintenance,” Miller said. “We’ve implemented auto-shutoffs so if there’s a water emergency, the homeowner can shut off from wherever they are,” which is incredibly beneficial for travelers, owners of rental properties, and those who have a second home in the area.
It’s a wide net for which Miller has built a NATE Certified team boasting the highest certification in the industry. “We’ve taken what we’ve learned and created turnkey, one-stop customer services,” he said.
Bringing Superior Home
It’s a methodology that Miller has infused not only into every home, every job, every project, but into his own family’s home in Hampton Hall.
“When it came time to build for us, I had a reputation to live up to. I was ‘Dave Miller with the yellow trucks,’ always in someone’s face about these kinds of things, so I wanted to build something different,” Miller said. “There was a freedom in working on our home because I could be more experimental. If I wanted to change something, redo it, take my time, I was the client and wasn’t going to get frustrated. That gave me room to play a little more, and I love showing people the house. The pool is intense with glass everywhere so you can see through the pool area. It’s an infinity pool that disappears into a firepit, with TVs hanging from the ceiling and hundreds of feet of lowvoltage lighting that highlights the space. I think I have 15 apps on my phone that handle all the tech in the house.”
The Miller family homestead was recognized by the Homebuilders Association. “More than anything I’m grateful for what we’ve been able to build and where God has put us in all of this,” Miller said.
The “us” in that gratitude extends from family to team to clientele. “I’m fully aware there are smarter people out
there, which is why I’ve depended on building a team of knowledgeable experts around me,” Miller said. “I’ve always learned from the management and leadership skills I’ve seen in others. The best managers we’ve had, past or present, have been the ones who know how to get the most out of the team they lead.”
Miller always shares credit, not fully embracing that a climate of that sort is often established by example, from the top down, and by hiring for heart as much as expertise, finding experts who innately bring with them the Superior spirit and work to assure all boats rise together.
Miller takes this commitment to others seriously and personally. “It’s a lot of pressure, not ever wanting to let a customer down. We want to make everybody happy if we can,” he said. “We made the trucks yellow to stand out and be remembered, but the other side of that is, you stick out and are remembered, so you can’t make a wrong move.”
Any genuine expert is going to weigh their work with a heavy hand, as does Miller. He recognizes his own mistakes, he sees what he can fix, and others see what Superior has already fixed in thousands of homes.
When asked what’s over the next hill, Miller isn’t that kind of visionary (he hires the right marketing partners for that sort of thing). His gift is more niche: He reads the room, takes the temperature, and adjusts for the target.
“I’m just focused on holding steady, holding on, holding the course,” Miller said. “I’m looking forward to cruise control for a bit – cruise control and quality control. I know we’re making an impact and it’s a great feeling whenever we get positive reviews, but I just want to focus on continuing to do the things we do well.”
Those “things” include running a longstanding and wellloved local business, doing more with less in challenging times, and still ending up with Superior results. That is where Dave Miller started, what he learned from his parents and his first business partner, and what he’s stayed true to, ever increasingly, for 25 years and counting.
For more information, visit GotoSuperior.com or call (843) 828-2665.
As Superior Services celebrates 25 years in business, their team as well as their fleet have grown. Continuing to do the right things they do well remains the focus of the future.
The Attorneys
(from left to right)
Kimberly Glass, Jim and Meredith Bannon, Jordan Culver and Jacob Spandorfer
ARTICLE BY CHERYL RICER PHOTOGRAPHY BY M.KAT
The Bannon Law Group
COUPLE OFFERS THEIR FORMULA FOR A SUCCESSFUL, ALBEIT UNLIKELY, MARRIAGE
While the two don’t necessarily relate to one another, both buying a home and facing a criminal charge might be two of the most daunting things a person could ever face in life. And while it might not seem logical to everyone, combining a criminal law firm and a residential and commercial real estate law firm makes perfect sense to two Lowcountry legal eagles.
Jim and Meredith Bannon, principals of The Bannon Law Group, can simultaneously and successfully represent you in a DUI case while you are closing on your new home.
“I do real estate closings and Jim does criminal defense,” Meredith said. “But, because we are married (and a little bit quirky), combining our areas of expertise has been a winning formula for us for many years.”
Such a winning formula, in fact, that the Bannons, who currently have offices in Bluffton, Savannah, and Charleston, are now expanding to include a Pooler office. The couple attributes their growth to hard work and community involvement. “And, my general excellence in all things,” Jim wryly added.
They understand the incredulity surrounding their pairing of skill sets and have embraced it with lighthearted, witty slogans
like, “From the big house to your dream house” and “From ROI to DUI.” This kind of humor, along with Jim’s excellence (Meredith’s, too!) and their respective areas of expertise are what positioned this couple solidly in the Bluffton community, where they have their home office.
Plus, with a mission to serve all the legal needs of their local communities and have fun while doing it, the Bannons’ perspective is a uniquely refreshing take in the field of law.
“I think people really just find us approachable, which is one of our core values,” Meredith said. “Facing a legal issue – whether it involves a criminal charge or it involves selling or buying a home – makes people fearful on many levels. And we don’t want to be scary; we want to be friendly and make sure that friendliness conveys to our clients.”
The outgrowth to both Savannah and Charleston came as natural progressions for the Bannons as a result of the overlap of people who live in the Lowcountry, allowing the firm to serve many of the same clients in a slightly different location.
The Charleston office, fully staffed with two attorneys and a paralegal, opened in April with much success. The Savannah office has been open for three years, and by this year’s end, the couple is expanding to Pooler due to the rapid growth in that area.
While it might sound like the Bannons spend a lot of time on the road, their expansion has actually freed them up.
“It’s great because we have attorneys and paralegals in every office,” said Jim, “which allows us to train and supervise them and oversee things, and still remain focused on our clients here in Bluffton as well.”
The Team
(from left to right) Elizabeth Plasters, Sarah Bevan, Mary Evans, Hunter Dye, Julie Reszka, Jim and Meredith Bannon, Donna Edwards, Jordan Culver, Amy Hughes, Kimberly Glass, Jacob Spandorfer and Damaris Nieves
“Plus, our new employees are young, and that’s something that we’re really excited about,” Meredith said. “They bring new eyes to some of our processes and also an enthusiasm for really getting their hands dirty and building their own relationships and forming their own bonds in the community.”
In the Savannah office, Jordan Culver handles real estate and real estate litigation. In Charleston, Kimberly Glass handles real estate closings, and Jake Spandorfer handles litigation all over the state.
The Bannons have been together for 20 years, and they genuinely share a mutual admiration for one another in their work relationship, spending time together daily in careers they enjoy and bouncing ideas off each other.
Their clients, too, benefit from their close relationship. Before they were in private practice, they both worked as prosecutors. As a criminal attorney, Jim appreciates being able to get Meredith’s feedback. While she currently deals entirely in transactions and civil representation and is no longer involved in criminal cases, she can still offer a prosecutor’s perspective on cases that Jim is dealing with.
As well, clients appreciate knowing that if one of the
couple refers them to the other, it’s a solid recommendation because their reputation as a firm is on the line.
“People aren’t normally interacting with both our areas of the law,” Meredith said. “So, when you buy a house or get a speeding ticket or DUI, there is a comfort in knowing that you already have an established relationship with one of us, and confidence that you will be taken care of at the same level as you were in your previous experience. That carries a lot of weight towards peace of mind.”
When considering each other’s strengths, Meredith admires Jim’s ability to bring a sense of calm to any situation.
“Jim is excellent at reassuring everyone in the moment of crisis and keeping a cool head with perspective on longterm goals and long-term consequences,” Meredith said. “He is my No. 1 counselor for every business and personal decision that I make.”
She credits Jim with being the anchor who can not only keep her grounded when she comes up with outside-the-box ideas, but he can also find ways to implement those ideas.
As for Meredith, Jim admires her ability to relate to people and build relationships in a very personal, one-on-one way, as well as being very comfortable relating to a crowd.
“Meredith is fiercely loyal, too, and will fight to protect her clients as well as her friends and family,” Jim said. “Many of her clients have turned into friends over the years, which I think is a testament to not only how great she is to work with and the results that she gets, but also the fact that she is just a wonderful person.”
Conversely, the couple admits that living and working together presents unique challenges.
“Honestly, I think the thing that I find most challenging about Jim is that he is too good of a cook,” Meredith said. “And there are always treats and fabulous dinners waiting at home for me and our 12-year-old daughter. He really spoils us.”
Jim reports that keeping up with Meredith’s energy is a full-time job.
“Trying to keep up with someone who is going 100 miles per hour 24/7 can be exhausting,” he said. “What with opening new offices, hiring new employees, picking up furniture for the new offices … let’s just say she keeps me on my toes.”
It’s no surprise to anyone that this amazingly qualified and skilled husband and wife team of attorneys has not only made their marriage work, but they’ve also successfully married real estate and criminal law. To learn more, visit BannonLawGroup.com.
Jim and Meredith Bannon, Attorneys at Law and owners of The Bannon Group
BRIMS ON THE BLUFF
Hats are having a moment in fashion. Although bigbrimmed hats have come and gone as accessory darlings for decades, this go-around seems different.
Gone are the days of brimmed hats representing the super wealthy or being reserved for utilitarian purposes. Hats are everywhere, for everybody – and the more unique, the better.
Fashion insiders point to the post-pandemic need for selfexpression and the ever-evolving need for individual style as reasons we are seeing an uptick in big hats. This explanation resonates with Brims on the Bluff owner Lauren Dembeck. Her idea for a custom hat shop (the first of its kind in Bluffton) was a direct result of career changes brought upon by the pandemic.
With a background in hospitality, Demback worked with Ritz Carlton, Westin, and Palmetto Bluff’s Montage resort. Finding great success in corporate event planning, she had to evolve in 2020 as the world of event planning drastically changed.
Virtual pop-up events became popular and she decided to go off on her own, creating M2M Events. As luck would have it, a client’s request for a hat pop-up shop in Louisville, Kentucky, sparked Demback’s imagination. The event was wildly successful.
Demback saw a gap in the local market back home. Her idea for a hat shop in the Lowcountry grew organically and Brims on the Bluff was born in July 2024.
Located in the heart of Bluffton Village, Brims on the Bluff has become a destination for tourists and locals alike. Local nature is the focal point for the shop’s aesthetic. A hand-painted mural greets customers as they walk through the door. Natural elements can be seen throughout the store, adorned with marsh greens and blues. Coastal Carolina birds serve as names for each hat style. Toward the back of the shop, one’s gaze is immediately fixed on the vast hat wall that spans the width of the store and is the starting point of the guest experience at Brims on the Bluff. That experience is what makes Brims on the Bluff unique. Every hat is made to order and customizable for each client.
The process begins with a base. Clients choose either a 100% Australian wool or straw hat (the price ranges between $75 and $200). Then, the Brims on the Bluff Team will fit the hat specifically to the individual, using a combination of steam and custom hat molds to give it shape.
The last step is the icing on the cake. Hat enhancements, such as hand-strung beads, handmade bands, feathers, and even the ability to have your hat hand-painted, make each
hat different. Dembeck takes great pride in making everything in-house.
“When we aren’t working with a client or hosting a pop-up event, we are hand beading hat enhancements,” Dembeck said. She and her team scour the country for unique gems and beads. The shop houses an exclusive collection of gems from Telluride, Colorado, and they continually source rare gems whenever possible.
Additionally, if guests aren’t in the mood to be creative or need something in a jiffy, Dembeck and her team have your back. They always have gorgeous pre-made hats ready to go.
Not to be compared to a typical hat store that you might stumble upon in Nashville or Kentucky, Brims on the Bluff is unapologetically Lowcountry. From seagrass straw hats made by local Gullah artisans, to supporting local charities and hosting pop-ups in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, Dembeck’s passion for the Lowcountry is palpable and can be seen throughout the store.
Future trends indicate no signs of the hat frenzy slowing down, so grab your fashion-forward pals and head to Brims on the Bluff.
Visit Brims on the Bluff at 10 Johnston Way in Bluffton Village from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; or Tuesdays by appointment. Find them online at brimsonthebluff.com or @brimsonthebluff on Instagram.
ARTICLE BY HEATHER QUINN
FALL INTO AUTUMN WITH PUMPKINS AND WAGON RIDES
At last, it’s fall in the Lowcountry. The temperature outside has dropped below oppressively sweltering to a more forgiving climate, oyster season is upon us, and pumpkin spice is suddenly a main food group (for better or for worse).
October is the crown jewel of fall and one of the dreamiest months in the Lowcountry. This is due, in part, to the lower rain forecasts and dropping temperatures. The moderate climate creates the perfect environment for festivals and outdoor family events.
Although we don’t have much changing of the leaves
and we won’t be completely abandoning cotton and linen for cashmere and cable knit sweaters, down here, we still celebrate fall with gusto.
Folks here have a love affair with October because we love a good party, we jump at any opportunity for forced family fun, and we live for the perfect photo op. These obsessions are why we go crazy for a good ol’ pumpkin patch and fall wagon ride. These events give us all the things we love: a good time, a place for family gatherings. and the opportunity to snag fun photos. The pumpkins and their accoutrements conveniently serve as props for post-worthy
pics and make any family look like #squashgoals.
Now, if you despise anything pumpkin related or if pumpkin-spice makes your stomach churn, those feelings are fair. But even the most cynical pumpkin critic can’t argue that the true beauty of winter squash lies in their photogenic genius. For example, babies. Sure, they are cute, but perch a babe on a pumpkin and you’ve drastically dialed up the cuteness factor. Now you’ve got a yummy photo that everyone wants to see.
Fall photo opportunities this season are endless. October and the agritourism business invite us all to get creative. The basic khakis and white shirt beach photos of summer are behind us, and it’s time to accessorize with autumn’s bounty. Luckily, there are plenty of local pumpkin patches and wagon rides to assist in this venture.
So, throw your friends or family in flannel shirts, snag a few kids and/ or pets, add some pumpkins, grab your phone, and get to work! Here are a handful of local events that will not disappoint.
Island Rec Pumpkin Patch
October 18, 4-7 p.m.
Shelter Cove Community Park islandreccenter.org
This event has become a beloved local tradition, and it’s free and open to the public. Your entrance includes access to the cutest Pumpkin Patch on the island, plus the littles will be able to choose from a variety of bounce houses and games. For an additional fee, you may purchase tickets to participate in the train ride, concessions, and rock wall.
The fun culminates with the Island Rec Center’s Costume Contest. Various categories include scariest, funniest, and most creative – this event is loaded with a million family photo opportunities.
Be on the lookout for the Island Rec Center staff – they take this competition very seriously and their group costume is always a crowd favorite. Joe Cain, special events director, loves this family friendly event and looks forward to it every year. As he explains, “Two words: Be there!”
Sea Pines Resort Wagon Rides
Full Moon Wagon Ride
October 17, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Tickets $25 adult, $18 child (12 and under)
Halloween Wagon Ride
October 19, 26, 10-11 a.m.
Tickets $16 adult/$18 child (12 and under)
seapines.com
Sea Pines Resort offers several wagon rides in October. Looking for a unique Lowcountry experience? The Full Moon Wagon ride is for you! Explore the Sea Pines Forest Preserve after dark with the moon lighting the way. See how local nature and wildlife exist after the daily crowds have left. This is a special opportunity to experience a different kind of island nightlife.
The CH2 crew carves pumpkins at Cahill’s in Bluffton.
Additionally, the popular Halloween Wagon Ride returns this month. Jump aboard the red wagon for a spooky ride through the Forest Preserve. It’s a perfect outing with kiddos, and there will be no shortage of photo opportunities as costumes are encouraged. Plus, enjoy Halloween themed games throughout the journey. All wagon rides require reservations.
Cahill’s Pumpkin Patch and Hay Pyramid
Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cahill’s Market, 1055 May River Road cahillsmarket.com
The original “farm to table” staple in Bluffton will open its famous Pumpkin Patch October 1 and continue all month. Cahill’s is known for its homegrown seasonal produce and will be offering loads of autumnal goodies for everyone. Robbie Cahill said customers will be able to find “assorted gourds, pumpkins, Indian corn, wheat straw, cornstalks, mums and more!”
It would be a crime to leave Cahill’s without a family photoshoot in front of the giant pyramid made of hay. If you are looking for a true Southern fall experience, Cahill’s is the place.
Holiday Farms
October 4-31
Thursday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sunday, 12-6 p.m.
Tickets $15 per person (age 2 and up) holidayfarmssc.com
The Great Pumpkin Patch at Holiday Farms opened in 2008. Family owned and operated, Holiday Farms offers loads of activities for the entire family. Located in Ridgeland, this farm transports families to a fall wonderland that includes a giant outdoor jump pad, “Haytona” speedway, steer roping, duck races, corn maze and more. Guests hop aboard a covered wagon pulled by a large John Deere tractor to an adorable pumpkin patch filled with hundreds of gourds.
Tickets include one pumpkin per person and the train ride. Holiday Farms is brimming with photo opportunities; giant wooden farm animals and haystack vignettes are located throughout the property, providing the perfect backdrop for family photos.
Photography by M.Kat
Looks modeled by Julia Rockett and Gioia DiBartolomeo
What to Wear to Rock
n’ Ribs
October 17: Kick off Thursday’s Fire + Flavor cooking class at Forrest Fire BBQ with these spicy looks from Blue Moon. Denim is trending in a big way this fall and we love the red accents in these looks.
You’ve got your tickets to Coligny Plaza’s big October bash featuring music, booze, and BBQ. Now comes the hard part –curating the perfect look for four fun-filled days.
We scoured Coligny Plaza for looks that could take our ladies from Thursday’s opening event to Sunday’s farewell Beach Brunch at the Tiki Hut.
Location: Bad Biscuit
For the Friday night Pitmaster’s Table event at FISH, the girls are dressing it up with apparel from Island Girl. Julia’s look is a little more girly-pop while Gioia goes fullblown rockstar in this fabulous blue jacket paired with – yep, you guessed it – more denim. They are ready to dance the night away with the Grateful Dead tribute band, Glass Camels.
October 19: For the Grand BBQ Tasting and Saturday’s main events, featuring entertainment by Cranford Hollow and Drivin and Cryin, our besties are going full glam in these stunning looks from Haskins. These boots are made for dancing!
October 20: Always mindful, always demure, our ladies end the weekend with these laid-back comfortable fits from Banali’s for the Brisket and Biscuits Brunch at the Tiki Hut.
October 18: For Friday’s Lunch on the Lot: Ultimate BBQ showdown, we suggest these comfortable ensembles from Fresh Produce. Gioia is taking a page out of Taylor Swift’s playbook with double denim and red accents; while Julia goes vegan pleather for a rock ’n’ roll vibe.
Article by Jesse Blanco
ROCK ’N’ RIBS:
DISHING UP SOME EXCITEMENT FOR BBQ
We were deep in conversation, a friend and I, a few weeks back talking about this, the most wonderful time of the year in our area. There are several reasons – and I suppose we could start with the weather.
We are fortunate enough to live in an area where the beginning of the fall season is simply ideal for a ton of things. Golf? Check. Boating? Absolutely. Running? That too. Even something as simple as sitting on your porch enjoying that ice cold white zinfandel is made for this time of the year.
It’s also the perfect time for festivals. If I had to guess, there are maybe a dozen going on between October 1 and Thanksgiving Day here in the Lowcountry.
There’s the Italian Heritage event, Chili Cookoff benefitting the Kiwanis Club, Hilton Head Island Shrimp Festival at Sea Pines, the Bluffton Seafood Festival and, of course, November’s Oyster Festival. Need I continue?
But back to that conversation.
We were discussing the upcoming Rock ’n’ Ribs event at Coligny Plaza coming up mid-October. That we know of, it is the region’s only BBQ festival (Google confirms this). Savannah just started a small-ish one last year, but Rock ’n’ Ribs was created to be a big deal. Now in its fourth year, there is growth but the plans are to make it bigger and better every single year.
For starters, there’s the quality of pit masters who visit the island that weekend. I’m not at all taking a shot at our food trucks in the area, but the talent that comes to the island for Rock ’n’ Ribs is among the best in America.
What I think gets lost in translation are those pit masters’ names. My guess is more people recognize the name of their BBQ joint more so than the guy (or gal) behind the goodness. Of note are Charleston’s Swig and Swine; Ubon’s Restaurant in Yazoo City, Mississippi; Pig Beach BBQ; and Brunswick’s Hootenanny’s BBQ (formerly South of Heaven). Beyond those rock stars are Peculiar Pig’s Marvin Ross and Spike TV star Brian Duffy.
Lee Lucier, one of the Rock ’n’ Ribs festival organizers, shared with me that there has never been a shortage of talent looking forward to coming to the island for a weekend and sharing their talents with you at several events. That includes a Thursday evening cooking class with some of these BBQ experts. That includes a Friday lunch event at Coligny Plaza. That includes a gourmet BBQ event on Friday night.
The Big Daddy of the weekend is Saturday’s Grand Tasting main event featuring BBQ from every master in the lineup, with music in the background by recording artists Drivin and Cryin. Sounds like a great time to me.
Of course, the best part is the cause. There are two primary causes wrapped into to the fun-filled weekend. One is the Carl Ruiz Foundation, which provides scholarship awards to assist qualified students who are in pursuit of an apprenticeship, certification, or post-secondary education
two primary causes wrapped into to the fun-filled weekend are the Carl Ruiz Foundation, which provides scholarship awards to assist qualified students, and Second Helpings, a nonprofit organization engaging volunteers to rescue and redistribute food at no cost.
in the culinary arts through an accredited culinary or hospitality school program.
The other beneficiary is the island’s Second Helpings, a nonprofit organization engaging volunteers to rescue and redistribute food at no cost to qualified nonprofit agencies in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties. They acquire funding to buy healthy food to supplement their food rescue efforts. I’ve visited with the wonderful people of Second Helpings, and I know they do a phenomenal job addressing food insecurity in the area. They can use all the help they can get.
The good news about this year’s event is the fact that the ticket price came down from the original listing. That was due in part to sponsor support in helping to raise money for these causes. You can enjoy individual events or purchase a full weekend pass with enough bang for your buck to last you a while.
Believe it or not, due to schedule conflicts the past few years, I’ve never attended this BBQ weekend on the island. This time I will be there and I am very much looking forward to it. You can find anything else you need to know about Hilton Head Island’s only weekend BBQ event October 1720 at RocknRibshhi.com.
The
CELEBRATE NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, OCTOBER 6-12, WITH GRATITUDE
When most of us think of fire and rescue services, it’s easy to pull up mental images of heroism, selflessness, courage, bravery, and compassion. Our Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue team, led by Chief Chris Blankenship, fits within this imagery quite well.
What you might not always think or know about, though, is the variety of ways they give back to our community when there isn’t an emergency medical call or a fire to put out. This incredible group of individuals makes it a priority to learn and implement modern fire and rescue innovations to keep us all as safe as possible. They work equally as hard to prevent catastrophes in our homes; inspire the next generation of fire, rescue, and health care professionals; and lift our community up through special programs.
For example, Fire Prevention Week will kick off this year with a free pancake breakfast and educational event open to the public at Fire Station No. 4 on Sunday, October 6. This year’s National Fire Protection Association’s campaign theme, “Smoke Alarms: Make them work for you!” strives to educate communities about the importance of having working smoke alarms in our homes.
The popular pancake breakfast is a fun, family-friendly morning with learning stations, games, fire truck tours, and a junior firefighter challenger course. This also is a great chance to talk with the pros about smoke alarms and their proper use. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to save lives through education and fellowship.
Another effort is the Ride-Along Program offered by our Hilton Head Island first responders. This program provides an opportunity for town staff and USCB nursing students to observe our team in action, from gaining firsthand understanding of what the job entails to underscoring the important role first responders play as part of the health care team.
MAYOR
BLUFFTON NEEDS EVERYONE TO HELP PROTECT THE MAY RIVER
Water and pollution know no boundaries. What happens in one area affects us all. A prime example is the Stoney Creek community, located just outside the Town of Bluffton’s limits near Palmetto Bluff. As Bluffton’s mayor and a property owner in this community, I’m reaching out to ask property owners in that community to help protect the May River by signing up for BeaufortJasper Water & Sewer Authority’s (BJWSA) sanitary sewer service. Thanks to a multimillion-dollar grant, BJWSA has the funds to connect Stoney Creek residents to the sewer system, transitioning households from septic tanks. This connection is available at no cost to homeowners.
The protection of the May River is at stake. This river is central to Bluffton’s heritage, recreation, and way of life. Why this matters
For years, the Town of Bluffton has conducted microbial tests on the May River, and the results near Stoney Creek are alarming. These tests detected human fecal coliform in the river’s headwaters, which has been directly linked to failing septic systems. These stagnant headwaters lack the natural currents needed to flush away contaminants, making them especially vulnerable.
The Town has explored various methods to clean up the contamination, but the only effective, long-term solution is for residents to connect to a sanitary sewer system.
A Note from Hilton Head Island Mayor, Alan Perry
A Note from Bluffton Mayor, Larry Toomer
Our EMT program for high school seniors who attend the Beaufort-Jasper Academy for Career Excellence teaches these students how to recognize and respond to various emergencies and explores the facets of emergency medical career paths. This one-semester program also includes CPR and AED certifications, which is the first step in becoming an emergency medical technician once they graduate.
Finally, our fire and rescue professionals seek out ways to lift the spirits and sense of pride within our community through special programs such as the Red-Hot Readers Program. The Hilton Head School for the Creative Arts has been a wonderful partner in allowing our team the opportunity to visit weekly with children in the classroom, or during after-school programs. The goal is to help improve their self-esteem and overall confidence through the power of reading and group discussion.
Our fire and rescue team goes above and beyond so that we all have the privilege of going about our daily lives and counting on them to be there on our worst day. I encourage all citizens to think about how we might find ways to express our gratitude for those who give so much, so willingly, for all of us.
continued
The impact on the river
The consequences of inaction are significant. Over the years, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Sciences (formerly known as the Department of Health and Environmental Control, or DHEC) has closed oyster harvesting sites, and continued pollution could further harm the river’s health.
The solution
Thanks to a $6 million grant from the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program, and additional contributions from BJWSA, the Town of Bluffton, and Beaufort County, Stoney Creek residents can now connect to the sewer system at no cost. This connection could save families tens of thousands of dollars in future expenses, especially as new septic systems might not be approved in areas where sewer is available.
To date, about half of the property owners in Stoney Creek have signed up for this free connection. Understandably, some may view a new monthly water bill as an inconvenience. However, the cost of maintaining or replacing a failing septic system can easily reach thousands of dollars, potentially making homes unsellable or even unlivable. Connecting to the sewer system now not only safeguards your property value but also helps protect the river that defines our community.
BJWSA is still honoring the full incentive program and is able to waive select fees before construction begins. If you know someone in the Stoney Creek community, please encourage them to sign up.
For more information, contact BJWSA project manager Beth Lowther at (843) 540-7494, email Go2Sewer@bjwsa. org, or visit Go2Sewer.org.
The Town of Bluffton invests millions each year in stormwater and watershed management, but we can’t protect the May River without everyone’s help. Participation in this program is essential to preserving the river for future generations.
Thank you for your commitment to safeguarding the health of the May River and ensuring our way of life continues.
A Note from Larry Toomer
A Series of Fortunate Events, interesting news and a hodge-podge of other items. You know…this and that! If you would like to submit something for this special section, please email maggie@ch2cb2magazine.com. If we have room and it’s appropriate for public consumption, we’ll be happy to oblige.
> Deas-Guyz
Fun with the Fox fundraiser returns to Sea Pines Center
VIVID Gallery will host the third annual Fun with the Fox, an evening of art, music, food, and fun to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.
The event, scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, in the plaza at The Shops at Sea Pines Center, will feature the music of local favorites Deas-Guyz. Lulu Kitchen will serve complimentary hors d’oeuvres and wine and beer will be available for purchase.
“We call the event ‘Fun with the Fox’ because enjoying life is a big part of the goal of finding a cure,” said VIVID Gallery owner Jeff Keefer, a former chairman of the Fox Foundation who also donates all the proceeds from his gallery to the organization.
“And every dollar of ticket sales goes directly to research for treatments and a cure.”
Tickets are $75 and are available at FunWithTheFox.com.
“All we ask is for you to buy a ticket,” said Keefer, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2007. “There are no auctions or additional fundraising efforts at the event. Just get your tickets and enjoy yourself.”
Island Child is celebrating its 40th birthday the entire month of October.
A Big Birthday Bash will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 25-26. Stop by the store for some fun and exciting weekly events.
Island Child is located in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Island. Follow them on Instagram @ islandchildhhi for more updates.
Second Helpings to Serve Up 30 Tons of Chicken
Second Helpings, the food nonprofit serving Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton counties, will be distributing more than 60,000 pounds of chicken to local food pantries this fall to benefit our neighbors in need.
The distribution is made possible by a grant from S.L. Gimbel Foundation, a component fund at The Inland Empire Community Foundation. The Foundation is based in California.
“We’re consistently asked by food pantries for more protein, especially chicken,” said Marcus Tanner, director of operations. “This generous grant will allow us to supply many families with a healthy source of protein over the next several months. We are extremely grateful to the S.L. Gimbel Foundation for supporting our work.”
Tanner added that David Martin, owner of Hilton Head Island’s Piggly Wiggly, is assisting with the purchase of such a large amount of chicken. “We got the grant and then began investigating how to make almost $100,000 go as far as we can to purchase chicken,” Tanner said. “Mr. Martin stepped up and helped us make the purchase in packages that will be a great size for any household (2.5-pound trays of eight chicken thighs); thus ensuring that our nonprofit receives the most product for the lowest price.”
The first chicken distribution was September 23 and continued that week to some 40 food pantries. Already, food pantry directors are praising this latest effort by Second Helpings to help feed the hungry. “I think this is a blessing as [our clients] always ask about meats. This will put a smile on their faces, and food in their bellies,” said one director. Another called it a “wonderful treat.” Chicken is considered to be an excellent source of protein and has less saturated and trans fats than many other animal protein sources.
To learn more, visit secondhelpingslc.org.
> Second Helpings Director of Operation Marcus Tanner with Sister Canice Adams, co-director of the St. Francis Center, St Helena Island.
Festival set for Oct. 19 at Honey Horn
The 14th annual Italian Heritage Festival will be celebrated 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, October 19, at Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive on Hilton Head Island. The event is presented annually by the Italian American Club of Hilton Head Island.
Celebrating the rich, colorful, Italian culture, and cuisine, while supporting local charities and scholarships, the festival offers something to please everyone. This includes an inflatable kids’ zone, local arts and crafts vendors, a silent auction, and live entertainment by the Hilton Head Plantation Big Band and – back by popular demand, the grape-stomping and pizza-eating contests, raffles. Food booths will line the Honey Horn pathways, with local restaurants serving up portions of their signature dishes.
A number of booths will be dedicated to traditional Italian foods, such as cheeses, breads, pasta, fish, meatballs, sausage and calzones, and delicious sweets, including Italian ice, gelato, biscotti and zeppolis – many sponsored by local restaurants. A silent auction will feature an extensive selection of gift certificates for golf foursomes at our world-famous courses, area restaurants, boat cruises, spa visits, and of course, gift baskets, and a wide range of crafts, gifts, and art works on which to bid.
“Italians are all about food and family, and that is what we are doing with this festival, while at the same time raising money for local charities,” said event chairman Paul Caimano, who expects a crowd of about 4,000-plus this year.
This year, guests can see a Legio XIII Cemina historical reenactment during the festival. The Brothers Brennan will recreate Roman drills, routines, and games at their own encampment for festival attendees.
The IACHH is a non-profit 501(c)(3) service organization, promoting Italian heritage and culture, while raising and distributing funds for local scholarships and charitable organizations in the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton communities.
Tickets are $8 general admission, and children 10 and under are admitted free of charge. Plenty of free parking is available.Tickets are available at the gate or in advance at iachh.org/italian-heritage-festival.
In years past, this event and others sponsored by the club were publicized by a club member, the late Carmen Hawkins DeCecco (January 10, 1965-July 19, 2024). Friends and family, including her husband John DeCecco, club president, have chosen to honor her by including her own creative writing, with minor adjustments as needed, to promote this year’s event as she did for 10 years. The information above was compiled by Carmen’s dear friend, Amy Lee Caimano.
Coastal Carolina Hospital is celebrating a big milestone this year – a decade of service to families in the community via the Women’s Pavilion, which offers maternity services.
Over the past 10 years, the hospital has recorded more than 7,000 deliveries. The Women’s Pavilion offers private labor and delivery suites and a specialized obstetrics physician onsite 24/7 to assist with labor and emergency OB care.
Coastal Carolina has enhanced the care offered over the years, including the 2022 addition of a Level II special care nursery.
This nursery has helped almost 200 newborns in need of additional care, a service that supports families in Hardeeville and surrounding areas.
Visit NovantHealth.org for up-to-date information.
Mingle with some of the Lowcountry’s cutest and most eligible dogs at the third annual Mutt Mixer concert supporting pet rescue on Thursday, October 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head.
Guests will enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres, beverages, door prizes, and live music by the bluegrass band Lowcountry Boil. AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head is a dog-friendly dealership, which means the party is BYOD (Bring Your Own Dog).
For those hoping to find their next great love at the event, feewaived pet adoptions will be available, made possible through a generous grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
The first 100 people to arrive with a donation of pet supplies or cash, valued at $20 or more, for PAL will receive a free event T-shirt.
“The Mutt Mixer creates the perfect atmosphere for animal and music lovers to bring their lawn chairs and relax while supporting pet rescue,” said Bill Harper, AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head customer relations manager and delivery specialist. “Something about the cooler weather, wet noses, and wagging tails just makes you happy!” Attendees may RSVP to be eligible for door prizes at muttmixer2024.eventbrite.com. As another way to support PAL’s no-kill animal rescue programs, AutoNation Subaru Hilton Head will donate $100 to PAL for every dog or cat adopted in October.
“Our dealership is always a lively place, but it’s never more joyful than during this event when playful rescue pups are prancing around in search of their new families,” Harper said. “Helping them find love is what it’s all about, and we love doing it because at the heart of AutoNation, it’s not just about selling cars but helping our communities, whether it’s a person, place, or pup.” For more information, visit PalmettoAnimalLeague.org
Italian
AutoNation Subaru Hosts Mutt Mixer Concert
OCTOBER 2024
BLUFFTON ARTS & SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
Various events all month long! blufftonartsandseafoodfestival.org
FALL SPECTACULAR: A MUSICAL CABARET
October 15-17 7 p.m. hhprep.org for tickets!
SHELTER HALLOWEEN PARTY Noon-2 p.m. Hilton Head Humane, hhhumane.org
GULLAH SPIRITUALS CONCERT
6 p.m. Campbell Chapel AME historicblufftonsc. com
ITALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL October 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Honey Horn $8 at the gate or iachh.org/Italian-heritage-festival EARLY VOTING OPEN Oct. 21 - Nov. 2, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. USCB HH, Room 115 1 Sand Shark Dr.
Free Car Show ROCK ’N’ RIBS BBQ FEST Oct. 17-20, Coligny venues rocknribshhi.com SPOOKY POTS AT ART CAFE Oct. 18, Dinner, pottery painting 5:45-7:45 p.m. artcafehhi.com
ISLAND CHILD
Oct 25 - 26, 40th Anniversary Bash 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Village at Wexford
