GIM Jan/Feb 2020 by Golden Isles Magazine

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Soak up the benefitslike the Celebrate of a salt millionaires at the bath Jekyll Island Club

Pursue what you love as a career

Real women offer advice on embracing yourself

Discover the healing powers of acupuncture Casseroles serve up holiday cheer For the love of gourds

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JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2020

LOVE YO’ SELF Regardless of shape or size, religion or creed — you deserve love. And that starts with you. Local women offer their takes on sprinkling more

self-love into your life.

82 95

SET THOSE AFFIRMATIONS There’s power in the positive. Members of the area’s wellness community share phrases to inspire for the new year.

DETOX TIME Salt soaks provide a peaceful respite from the hustle of daily life. Not only that, but taking a break for a bath can also brighten skin and give one that new year’s glow.

EMBRACE AN ANCIENT ART Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used by the Chinese for thousands of years. In today’s modern world, two area practitioners are

105 6

GOLDEN I S LES

sharing the secrets of self-care.

PURSUE ONE’S PASSION Everyone wants to do what they love. But that’s a tricky task. Three locals offer ideas on how to transform a hobby into a career.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

WORD ON THE STREET

COASTAL QUEUE

DUE SOUTH

LIVING WELL

MONEY TALKS

NATURE CONNECTION

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BY DESIGN

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GOLDEN I S LES

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261 Redfern Village St. Simons Island, GA 31522 912.634.8466 Publisher Buff Leavy Editor Lindsey Adkison Marketing Director Becky Derrick Production Director Terry Wilson Assistant Editor Lauren McDonald Contributing Debbie Britt Writers Alexis Denley Bud Hearn Beth Lindly Alexa Orndoff Ronda Rich Kathryn Schiliro Lydia Thompson Contributing Photographers

Tamara Gibson Bobby Haven Candace Hires

Contributing Stylist

Jess Austin

Katie Curry Robin Harrison Russ Hutto Eugene Johnson Stacey Nichols dnaargo sm nire athst eshi t asigi ro ae igG roDonte ela Gtsa laNunnally fogeellgoeClloe ChTehT sm rparsg'roorp lehsc'raoblehgcnairbefgfO .effgOell.oecgenllooictan no itsita en ditsse'edtasts'ete otsCaofC o e sedivorp aigroeG latsaoC ,enilno dna ,retneC nedmaC ,supmaC kciwsnurBTerry ruoWilson ta smargorp etaicossA Contributing Designers

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UDE.AGCC.WWW UDE.AGCC.WWW

by Tamara Gibson.

GOLDEN I S LES

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NEVER SETTLE FOR LESS YOU DESERVE MOORE 261 Redfern Village St. Simons Island, GA 31522 912.634.8466 Submissions Golden Isles Magazine is in need of talented contributors. Unsolicited queries and submissions of art and stories are welcome. Please include an email address and telephone number. Submit by email to the editor, Lindsey Adkison: ladkison@goldenislesmagazine.com or by mail to the St. Simons Island address above. Only work accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope will be returned.

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Information regarding advertising and rates is available by contacting Becky Derrick by phone at 912.634.8408 or by email at bderrick@goldenislesmagazine.com All content is copyright of Golden Isles Magazine, a publication of Brunswick News Publishing Company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without express written permission from the publisher. We have sought to ensure accuracy and completeness of the content herein, but neither Golden Isles Magazine nor the publisher assumes responsibility for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or other inconsistencies, including those related to quotations. We reserve the right to refuse advertising. All advertisements appearing herein are accepted and published on the representation that the advertiser is properly authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. All ads are paid advertisements and/or gifts given as part of a contractual agreement regarding Brunswick News Publishing Company. Neither Golden Isles Magazine nor the publisher is responsible for any statements, claims, or representations made by contributing writers, columnists, or photographers. Golden Isles Magazine and the publisher are also not responsible for anyone’s reliance on the content included in the publication. All projects described in this publication are for private, noncommercial use only. No right for commercial use or exploitation is given or implied.

GOLDEN I S LES

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Editor’s Note

Cultivating a Sense of Love Welcome to 2020, y’all! Not only is

purpose.

it a new year, it’s a new decade, and that in itself offers up loads of

Now, yoga might not be everyone’s

potential.

cup of tea, and that is just fine. Still, I think the path to self love includes

But rather than focusing on the typical

finding that one thing that is solely

"resolutions" avowed this time of year,

yours — space to be with yourself,

we’re taking a look at something that

decompress, and let whatever you’ve

seems to hold more value than losing

been holding onto go.

that 10 pounds

Keepsake Jewelry from the artist of the original St Simons Island Signature Bracelet and Jekyll Island Turtle Bracelet.

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and lasting. Artistically hand carved,casted and created here in All pieces proudly handcrafted in the Thebeautiful GoldenGolden Isles, Isles. we offer unique keepsakes that you’ll Located At love toPier give or receive. #106 Village Market St. Simons Island, Georgia 912-638-3636

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or putting in

In these pages,

extra hours at

we’ve enlisted

the gym. We’re

the help of

looking at

many in the

ways that we

local mindfulness

can cultivate

community to

a sense of self-

explore ways to

love.

approach that. From setting

Sure, that’s a

aside time for a

broad topic,

soothing salt soak

one that is

or a rejuvenating

difficult to really

acupuncture

comprehend,

session, it’s about finding the best

much less put into practice. But I feel that

method for you to

Editor Lindsey Adkison Photo by Candace Hires

take care of you.

it is incredibly important. As many of you may already know, my "other

And I think that cultivating that sense

life" is a yogic one. I’ve been a

of self care sets the tone for a life filled

teacher in the area for six years, and

with love — toward oneself and for

a practitioner for a bit longer. The style

others, as well. Because the truth is

of yoga I do is called Ashtanga, an

you can’t pour from an empty cup,

ancient and challenging system that

and you can’t really care for others if

generates both humility and self-

you’re not caring for yourself. So this

acceptance which extends beyond

year, this new decade, let’s set the

physical postures — it permeates

intention to do that. Love yourself and

one’s life.

mean it. There’s no one in the world who deserves your love or affection

This is my way of loving myself, of

more than you, yourself.

taking care of my body, mind, and

GOLDEN I S LES

soul by meeting myself on my mat

Happy 2020, cheers!

every day. I am grateful for it. Along

Sending you love and hope for a

the way, it has helped me develop

beautiful new year —

a greater sense of compassion and

Lindsey Adkison

h o l i d ay i s s u e : E at s a n d D r i n k s o f t h e S e a s o n

Celebrate like the millionaires at the Jekyll Island Club

Coastal Christmas

DISPLAY UNTIL DECEMBER 31ST

Casseroles serve up holiday cheer For the love of gourds

COVER: @pillowgrace

“Oh yes!!”

GAME CHANGERS: PICKLEBALL

Word On The Street Thanksgiving Your reactions sent to us by emails, posts, & tweets

TIME TO GET SOCIAL

JUST THE FACTS: KING & PRINCE OCEANFRONT RESTAURANT

Various displays are manned by a chef, smoked alligator referenced earlier, and ing station with giblet gravy. There are a cakes, chilled seafood, and carved prim

The King and Prince Oceanfront Restaur the Thanksgiving feast from 11 a.m. to 3 November 28. Rather than stress over pr holiday, sit back, relax, and enjoy your f lovely meal provided by Flack and his c

To reserve your spot or to view the full m be served, visit the King and Prince web www.kingandprince.com/holiday-menu

“I will see y’all as soon as Chefthe Flack and his crew prepare 20 gallons of South Georgia ch BY THE NUMBERS: a starter to this feast. weather warms a bit”—Dianne Wisner

white onions are used for various dishes.

facebook.com/goldenislesmag

@washeduptreasures: “ home cooking”

instagram.com/goldenislesmag twitter.com/goldenislesmag If you prefer to send us your comments by

“Famous once again!” — SSI Pickleball “

“— Leah Tucker @Pickleballgirls“

150

email, contact Editor Lindsey Adkison at ladkison@goldenislesmagazine.com. Anything posted to our social media accounts or emailed directly to the editor will be considered for publication. Comments may be edited for clarity or grammar.

Five cases each of raspberries and blueberries

4-5

40 pounds of short rib

Their house salad prepared with 5 cases of mixed greens, and around 100 cucumbers

40 pounds of black bass

Three wheels of blue cheese are used, as well

100 10

For the smoked alligator display, a 4-5 foot alligator is smoked to perfection

“

30 pounds of duck for duck confit

THE ART OF THE CASSEROLE

40 pounds of whole oven roasted chicken

@chism.trail: “No other dining room like it.” 150 pounds of red and

An a with 2 talou

If you’re a bacon lover, then brunch may be the way to go for you. 10 cases of bacon is used with an added 15 cases of sausage.

NOVEMBER/DECEM

DRINK LIKE A JEKYLL MILLIONAIRE

THE ART OF THE CASSEROLE

featuring John Belecheck

“Oh nice! I’ve got to make one tonight!” — Elena Harrison “There’s nothing quite like a wellmade Old Fashioned at the end of a long day!” — James Laurens 20

GOLDEN I S LES

@porchssi “Way to go, chef!” @jesscangram “People say casseroles are dated? I’m so happy I don’t know these people.”

“Great recipes in the magazine. Good ideas for feeding a crowd!” —Susan Molnar

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23 Q AN INFORMATIVE LINEUP OF THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN ISLES

Jekyll treasures dot coast of “Georgia’s jewel”

WORDS BY ALEXA ORNDOFF PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE JEKYLL ISLAND AUTHORITY

n the Golden Isles, the waters are rich with treasures. From fresh white Georgia shrimp to large blue crabs, and a scattering of tiny sharks’ teeth — there’s always something to find for locals and visitors alike.

With the arrival of the new year, also comes the return of another unique treasure to Jekyll Island. The Island Treasures tradition is an annual event that attracts visitors to the island from around the region in search of one-of-a-kind glass floats. The event dates back to the early 1900s, when fishermen used glass floats as markers on their nets. The floats were made of recycled glass, resulting in imperfections that made each one unique. Occa-

sionally, the floats would break loose and wash ashore for lucky beachcombers to find and keep. Collecting the rare, highly sought-after glass floats became a leisure activity in the 1950s. In the early 2000s, the island turned this hobby into an annual hide-and-seek style event, as a nod to its rich history. During January and February each year, visitors scour the island in search of plastic floats marked with an individual number inside. They then exchange these at the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center for their prized glass float, each one as individual as they are. Each day, volunteers called Beach Buddies hide a select number of the plastic floats around the island. Beach Buddies are employees of the Jekyll

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Week 5 This 5 week program, designed and This 5 week program, designed and implemented by physical • Retest and Phase Into Independent Program implemented by physical therapists, therapists, gives the tools needed to live a healthier lifestyle. This 5 patients week program, designed and gives patients the tools needed to live

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Island Authority (JIA) chosen through a lottery process to keep the selection random. Employees vie for the opportunity, as they too receive an Island Treasure for their participation in making the event a continued success. Beach Buddies take great care in hiding the globes where visitors will find them. With a habitat so rare and pristine, floats are only hidden in common places where visitors are likely to frequent. One might find themselves wandering the historic district and stumble upon a float on the steps to Mistletoe Cottage, or shopping in the Beach Village and discover one on a bench in plain sight. For the protection of the island’s delicate habitats like sand dunes and marshes, Island Treasures will never be hidden off-thebeaten path. The real beauty of the annual Island Treasures event lies in the opportunity to explore. From historical sites within the historic district to watching the active wildlife roaming one of the island’s four golf courses, it’s a peaceful place with many treasures to discover. But for those lucky enough to also find a float upon their visit to the island, these works of art become a collector’s item. Artists for the glass floats are hand-picked from across the country, with last year’s designers, the Glass Quest Hand Blown Art Glass Studio from Stanwood, Washington, returning. Each float is marked with a unique stamp signifying the year it was made, and each treasure-finder also receives a certificate of authenticity and an artist biography as a keepsake. All in all, approximately 250 floats are hidden around the island over the two-month period. Some seekers plan their vacations around the tradition, while others visit for the day. First-time hunters looking to join in on the treasure hunt can visit jekyllisland.com/islandtreasures for details on the best places to explore. For those who find one, they are a treasure worth keeping for a lifetime. And for those who do not, a visit to the island provides a treasured experience of its own.

G E N E R AT I O N S O F Q UA L I T Y S E R V I C E

Candle wax on grandmother’s heirloom lace tablecloth? Musty winter coat? Wine on the sassy pantsuit you wore to your friend’s 40th? Remember that Google doesn’t have to look you in the eye when your beloved piece is ruined. So … what to do? Michael Cannon of Cannon’s Coastal Cleaners says it’s best to follow the directions on the label. “Many textiles can be damaged if washed in water. In order to preserve the life and quality of your fabrics, dry cleaning is essential.” He explains that home remedies people use to treat stains often make them more difficult or impossible to remove. “They very best thing you can do is to bring the garment in as soon as possible,” he says. Coastal Cleaners was purchased in 1993 by Eldridge and Bobbie Cannon, Michael’s parents, just a year after it opened. He and his siblings worked there after school and in summers through college under the motto, “Service is our Business.” So when Michael purchases the family business and takes the helm in 2020, the transition should be seamless. He says he’s excited to take what his parents built to the next level while continuing to provide unparalleled customer service. "Our family keeps our word to our customers. We always have and always will. The customers are why our business is what it is today." Michael says Eldridge is a firm believer in reinvesting. Many dry cleaners have been using the same equipment for 20-30 years. “We started with used equipment, no computers, and no standard procedures in place. Today, we are a Sanitone Certified Master Dry Cleaner and we use state of the art equipment in all aspects of our business," Michael says. His pride is evident when he says, “Our finished product speaks for itself. We are second and third generation dry cleaners and the only certified master dry cleaners in Southeast Georgia. I grew up in this community and want to provide my neighbors the full range of convenient and high-quality services that they and their garments deserve.” Professional Dry Cleaning & Laundry • Sheets & Linens • Alterations • Households • Wedding Dress Cleaning, Pressing, & Preservation • Leather & Fur Cleaning

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The staff of Golden Isles magazine received a FOLIO: Award, as well as three honorable mentions during the annual ceremony in New York City.

The publication earned the Eddie or editorial award for the Southeast city and regional category for “George’s Bait” from the July/ August 2018 edition. The story was written by Larry Hobbs and photographed by Benjamin Galland. GIM also received an Eddie honorable mention for Long Form Feature Content Magazine Section for “Ask A Local” in Sept/ Oct 2018. It was awarded an Ozzie (design) honorable mention for the the Spirit of Christmas published in Nov/Dec 2018 and for Illustration in the “Ask a Local” story in Sept/Oct 2018.

Editor Lindsey Adkison is thrilled by the recognition the magazine continues to receive. “Naturally, the credit for achievement goes to my predecessor, Bethany Leggett. She has set the bar so incredibly high, and should certainly be commended for her vision,” she says. “Larry and Ben also did outstanding work in creating an engaging and truly beautiful story. It really is such an honor to be a part of this outstanding team.” Becky Derrick, marketing director for Golden Isles Magazine says it is a privilege to tell the stories of the area’s treasured coastline. “Our collaborative team treats that responsibility with great care and it’s apparent in our finished product,” Derrick says. “Every year I wonder how we’re going to top the last one, but our team always comes through. They make sure we are undeniably the area’s premier lifestyle publication, and I’m grateful to them for making my job so easy.”

Golden Isles Magazine has an impressive history with the FOLIO: Awards, securing numerous honors over the years. GIM received its Folio’s Eddie & Ozzie award in 2014. Since that time, the publication has received five awards for editorial and design content. It has also garnered nine honorable mentions. Competition for Golden Isles Magazine includes publications covering large metropolitan areas, like Baltimore Magazine, and regional heavyweights like Charleston-based Garden and Gun. For Adkison, the awards are well-deserved and represent the tireless work of a team of writers, editors, photographers, and designers. “Each issue of Golden Isles Magazine has the fingerprints of so many people throughout its pages,” she said. “There is no way that it would be the publication it is without the creativity and brilliance of individuals working behind the scenes — from marketing to design. It truly is a labor of love.” JANUA RY / F E BRUA RY 2020

Dish stews up a bit of controversy, with side of fun W O R D S B Y B E T H L I N D LY P HO T O S B Y B O B B Y H AV E N

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ot many cities can claim a native dish that houses as much controversy as it does acclaim — but that’s precisely what Brunswick stew brings to Brunswick.

The stew, which both Brunswick County, Virginia, and the Coastal Georgia city lay claim to, is the center of attention for the 21st annual Brunswick Rockin’ Stewbilee. The Stewbilee is part music festival, part cook-off, part cultural institution, and part good old-fashioned get-together for the citizens of Brunswick and beyond. Different cooking teams come together to present their takes on Brunswick stew for judges and attendees to taste. The Stewbilee is a joint effort between its committee and the local Kiwanis Club. The committee’s responsibilities include the logistics — road closures, sponsorships, and security, among others — while the Kiwanis Club organizes the actual stew competition, the classic car show, and the kids’ area. All funds that the committee raises through sponsorships go to the Boys and Girls Club, while all the Kiwanis Club funds go to the organization’s general fund. Teeple Hill is Stewbilee’s chairman and has been involved in the event since 2007. He said that it takes everyone — the volunteers, musicians, cooks, and judges — to create such a memorable and, at this point, historic event.

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“All these different teams donate their time, their work, and their stew to make a successful event,” Hill emphasizes. “Without the teams, we don’t have Stewbilee.” Ron Adams is a cook in this year’s Stewbilee, but was one of the key organizers from its inception. Since its first event in 1999, the event has gone through as many iterations and changes as there are differences from one person’s stew recipe to another. At one time, it was a three-day event in October or November, featuring musical acts such as the B-52s, The Neville Brothers, and Casey and the Sunshine Band. When the 2008-2009 recession hit however, the organizers decided it was time to size the event down. Then, when hurricanes caused problems two years in a row, the decision was made to move the date to January, which Adams says has worked out well for the competition. Even after going through so many changes, the Stewbilee is such an economic boon for the city that even the best cooks of downtown aren’t able to take the day off to compete, Adams says. “I’ve tried to get (Tipsy McSway’s owner) Susan Bates to cook in the Stewbilee, but she can’t be out of the restaurant because she has so much business that day,” he says, laughing. While the event has become a downtown staple, Stewbilee almost had to change venues this year due to the city’s plans to renovate Mary Ross Waterfront Park. However, the powers that be, due in part to urging by the Brunswick Exchange Club, promised they would wait until after 2020 to make any changes. As it stands, the event stretches on Bay Street from Newcastle to Gloucester, as well as all of Mary Ross Park. Adams says Stewbilee not only aids the Boys and Girls Club, but also the city’s inhabitants through sheer exposure and attendance. “It’s a great calling card for the city of Brunswick,” he said. “It helps people see the real beauty of our city. It’s been a very mutually beneficial event.”

The 21st annual Brunswick Rockin’ Stewbilee will take place January 25 in Mary Ross Park, Brunswick. •The fun starts with a 9 a.m. motorcycle ride, followed by local band, Pier Pressure, at 10 a.m. • Canines will don their best costumes for the Pooch Parade at 10:15 a.m.

Hill agrees.

• The stew tasting will commence at 11 a.m.

“This is an event that brings the entire community together,” he said. “Everyone comes out for this and has a good time. It’s a real melting pot for the community,” Hill says.

•The band 3 Day Weekend will also provide entertainment, starting at 12:15 p.m. at Mary Ross.

Though Brunswick, Georgia, is the home of the Stewbilee, and even has a pot at the intersection of F and Bay Streets labeled “in this pot the first Brunswick Stew was made on St. Simon Isle, July 2, 1898” — many Virginians will argue that the coastal city doesn’t deserve to host it. When asked where he thought Brunswick stew originated, Hill immediately responded, “Brunswick.” A pause, then with a small laugh, “Georgia.”

GOLDEN I S LES

•A classic car show will be held simultaneously. Pre-sale tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children, while tickets on the day of the event are $10 for adults and $5 for children. One ticket will allow attendees to sample every team’s version of Brunswick stew. Visit the website stewbilee.com for more information.

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Coastal Symphony of Georgia’s Annual Cabaret Fundraiser, “A Gatsby Gala,” to Commemorate the Roaring ‘20s

or a celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Roaring ‘20s, supporters of the Coastal Symphony of Georgia will channel their inner Jay Gatsbys for the Symphony Society’s annual Cabaret fundraiser, “A Gatsby Gala.”

The event will celebrate the spirit of the time, which is most often recognized as the “Jazz Era.” “(The Roaring ‘20s) marked a huge change in culture for America and for the music scene,” says Gail McCarty, Cabaret chairperson. “People had cars and small appliances. Women could vote for the first time. It was a fascinating time in American history. We went from being isolated to — with cars and airplanes — the beginning of globalization. For the first time in history, families gathered around their radios and had music playing in their living rooms. A great deal of that music was jazz, such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.”

gin with the cocktail reception. Attendees are encouraged to don Gatsby-like attire. This year’s “A Gatsby Gala” marks the 16th year that the symphony and the society have sponsored Cabaret. The themes of past Cabarets have ranged from the excitement of Paris and Venice to that of Vegas and Broadway, but the event always includes a seated dinner and entertainment. “It is the major fundraiser of the year,” says Sharon Flores, Coastal Symphony’s executive director. Established in 2006, the Symphony Society currently includes more than 200 members. Proceeds from concert tickets only cover a portion of the operating budget; fundraising events and activities keep the symphony viable. Initially, the symphony’s board was doing that work. “So, we started the society,” Flores says. “It has been a fundraiser and friend-raiser since 2006. It’s an affiliate of the Coastal Symphony that serves as the volunteer arm.”

The event will take place Friday, January 24, at the Cloister on Sea Island. The cocktail reception starts at 6 p.m. and precedes a seated dinner. The Jordan Gilman Septet, which includes a trombone, trumpet, clarinet, double bass, saxophone, and a singer, will perform jazz music of the era.

The symphony itself dates back 37 years. From its start as the Brunswick Community Orchestra until 2005, the symphony was made up of local musicians, amateurs, and some professionals from the Jacksonville Symphony, according to Flores.

The fundraiser includes both silent and live auctions, and attendees can bid on artwork, adventures, and a stay in a Tuscan villa, among other items. The silent auction will be-

The makeup of the symphony transitioned to professional musicians around 2013, when music director/conductor Luis Haza and general manager Jorge Peña were hired.

GOLDEN I S LES

About 70 musicians make up the Coastal Symphony, although the size of the orchestra changes depending on the musical selection. Currently, the Coastal Symphony is under the direction of Michelle Merrill, who came to the symphony from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, where she was the associate conductor for four years.

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“Our symphony is more than music from 1750 to 1820,” McCarty says. “Our new director, Michelle Merrill, has featured American composers, women composers, and living composers. The music our symphony is performing is exciting and gives us a possible glimpse into where orchestral music may be heading in the future. We listen to classical music constantly when watching television and movies, we’ve just stopped recognizing it as classical music.” The symphony performs four concerts each season. There are two concerts left in the 2019-2020 season: March 2 and April 13. Concerts take place at the Brunswick High School auditorium.

The Coastal Symphony of Georgia supports local music education by maintaining a presence in local schools. Through a program called, “Musical Mentors,” the symphony takes guest musicians or artists, flown in for concerts, to schools to talk to students about music. For example, last spring, the symphony played a piece by a composer from Colorado. The symphony flew the composer in, and he visited with high school band and chorus students at Glynn Academy and students at Frederica Academy. Through another program, “Music in the Schools,” members of the symphony visit fourth and fifth graders and, in an hour-long presentation by the musicians, students see, hear, and touch different instruments.

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“A Gatsby Gala,” the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and Symphony Society’s annual Cabaret fundraiser, will be held January 24, 2020, at The Cloister at Sea Island. The cocktail reception and silent auction starts at 6 p.m., and the seated dinner begins at 7 p.m. The event also includes a live auction and jazz music by the Jordan Gilman Septet. Mildred Huie Wilcox, a community icon and veteran of the fashion and art worlds, is the honorary chairperson. Attendees are encouraged to wear clothes inspired by the Roaring ‘20s. To purchase tickets, visit coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.org or call Sharon Flores at 912-223-6755.

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Participation in this year’s Cabaret event supports the symphony as well as its outreach efforts. The event can accommodate 300 people. To purchase tickets, visit www. coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.org or call Sharon Flores at 912-223-6755. “It’s very unusual for a community this size to have a symphony like this,” McCarty says. “The symphony is a tremendous cultural asset to the Golden Isles community. It’s an asset worth protecting and supporting.”

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They’ve been called horrible names. They’ve been told they’re only good for one thing. And so they believe it.” To receive help, these women need someone to come to them, Riccio says. And they needed somewhere to retreat. So Riccio and the others bought a house in Brunswick that could offer what these women need. The property they purchased, ironically, used to be a trap house, a hotbed of drugs and other illegal activities.

Faithful Love

Creates safe space for abused women WORDS BY LAUREN MCDONALD PHOTO BY BOBBY HAVEN

Healing is a process that adheres to no deadline. Self-love cannot be reclaimed on demand. Survivors of abuse carry with them personal stories that shape and define what kind of healing they need. And until they find a safe space, the process cannot even begin. Faithful Love, a nonprofit founded in Brunswick in 2017, aims to offer that safe space. The nonprofit reaches out to women ages 18 and older who are survivors of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation. These women, most of whom live in Glynn County, are invited to come to a house in Brunswick opened by Faithful Love, where the nonprofit’s leaders and volunteers offer therapeutic programming, addiction counseling, and other services, as well as a place away from these women’s normal lives. “We tell them this is a safe place, just 34

GOLDEN I S LES

for women,” says Judi Riccio, executive director of Faithful Love. AN OFFER TO HELP Before Faithful Love existed and offered a house for local women, Riccio and two other women were going out into the community to find women they knew were being sexually exploited, hoping to bring them help. “We would always have something in hand to give them, whether it would be some home-baked cookies or sometimes we would go out with bags of personal sized toiletries for the women,” Riccio says. Many wonderful ministries and nonprofits exist in this area that help local women trapped in sex trafficking, Riccio says. But these women in Brunswick were not seeking out these services. “They walk in shame,” Riccio says. “They walk in guilt … they’ve been told horrible things all their lives.

Today, it’s a place of escape for these women where healing can take place. For the first couple of months, the nonprofit’s leaders invited the women in and waited to see what could be offered to them. “We wanted to just get to know them … this was an environment where they would come and get to know us and learn to trust.” They offered the women hot meals and opportunities for counseling. Soon, though, they found another valuable way to pass time at the house. They began to make jewelry. “There are several different organizations that work with trafficked women and they teach them how to make jewelry, to teach them a trade,” Riccio says. Learning to make jewelry does much more than teach a trade, though. The activity also shows the women the value their work has. A CYCLE OF ABUSE The average age across the United States for a girl to be pulled into prostitution is 12 to 14 years old. The women being served by Faithful Love are adults. They’ve been caught in the world of sex trafficking for many years, through a cycle that can affect generations. “I can tell you that every woman that’s sitting around my table today, they have had some kind of sexual trauma as a child, and that was either not believed, covered up or happened to mama, so it’s a familial cycle,” Riccio says. This kind of trauma can become

normalized, Riccio says, if a girl doesn’t know a different world exists or if she doesn’t receive help early. And as girls age, drugs will often become involved. “You get into middle school or high school and drugs are offered to you and all of a sudden your pain goes away,” Riccio says. Many organizations, in the Golden Isles and around the country, are working to help these women. But as long as the demand for sex trafficking exists, the issue will not go away. And as sex trafficking victims get older, many will also be manipulated into recruiting younger girls into the system as well. “That happens in our middle schools, that happens in our high schools. Right here in Glynn County, girls are being groomed.” A CHANCE TO GET OUT Faithful Love’s logo is a birdcage with an open door. In many survivors’ stories, Riccio says, women will describe themselves as feeling trapped in a cage. Faithful Love’s logo reclaims that idea and redefines the cage as an opportunity to escape. “They’re right at the door, and they can go free,” Riccio says. “And we’re here to help them.” Some women say they’re ready to get out, Riccio says, while others are too afraid. “We can say, ‘That’s OK,’” Riccio says. “’We’re here for you, for however long it takes.’” They tell the women that when they’re ready, the resources are available, and Faithful Love will help them get out. “In the meantime, it’s building that trust,” Riccio says. “It’s getting

them things and proving to them that we are going to help them. And that there is a way out.” A WAY OF LIFE When the women with whom Faithful Love works express their willingness to get out of this lifestyle, Riccio and her partners are ready to help. “There are several organizations up in Atlanta that have long term therapeutic programs for adults that we can get them to,” Riccio says. “Part of the thing that we run into is that a lot of our women don’t want to leave the area. They’ve been here all their lives, that’s where their families are.” Faithful Love’s house provides the beginning steps of healing. Sometimes, that healing takes place around the jewelry-making table. The jewelry made by the women with Faithful Love is created with paper beads. “We taught them how to roll the beads,” Riccio says. “… they’ll print them, they learn what shape to cut the paper in, they roll it. And we put about five glazes, so there’s a whole process.” Faithful Love is able to pay the women an hourly wage for the work they do. The jewelry the women make is sold most often at craft bazaars. Faithful Love hopes to begin selling the pieces in some local shops. As the women sit around the table, rolling the beads and making jewelry, they also have a chance to talk, to share their feelings and their stories — and sometimes, to heal. “All of a sudden one day, one of them just poured her heart out,” Riccio says. “And one over here, that I never thought I’d hear, just starts encouraging. Because they know what they’re going through — they know what it’s like.”

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If you’ve been a part of the local yoga and wellness community for any length of time there’s one name you’ve definitely heard — Sabine Vera. She has been a mother of sorts to the area’s mindfulness movement, sharing her extensive knowledge of asana (poses) and philosophy with countless practitioners beginning in 1993. A massage therapist as well as a yoga instructor, Vera founded Elysian Fields Yoga Center on St. Simons Island, where she taught for twelve years. In 2008, she began studying Ayurveda with Jai Dev Singh of the California College of Ayurveda, and K.P. Khalsa of the American Herbalist Guild, Dr. Scott Blossom of Shunyata Yoga, in Berkley California, and Dr. John Duillard, of Lifespa in Boulder, Colorado. Her approach to Ayurvedic cleansing is founded on the works of Dr. Blossom and Dr. Duillard. She believes deeply in a life of alertness and learning. What is Ayurveda? What is its origin and how old is it? Ayurveda is thought of as a sister practice of yoga. Both have their roots in East Indian antiquity, and have remained relevant through the ages. The exact age of Ayurveda is debatable. It’s spoken of as being thousands of years old, but has continuously been verified and refined through success as a source for healing and personal improvement. Plus, modern science is actively rediscovering the truth of this approach, redefining it in culturally familiar context.

Ayurveda is similar to Chinese medicine in that it uses the five natural elements of earth, air, water, fire, and space (or ether) as a basis for understanding all living tissue and structural responses. It gives us detailed patterning methods to map out each individual person’s strengths and weaknesses so they can choose their ideal dietary direction, their best kind of exercise, and either make adjustments or realize acceptance of what their best home and work life should look like. Ayurvedic assessment is illuminating for everyone and will always offer some kind of combination of adjustment and acceptance, all crowned with the reward of just being you optimized. What are the Doshas? Ayurvedic assessment starts by categorizing what physiological tendencies you were born with and where you fit in among all the varieties that humans come in. These are known as Doshas. They have three basic starting categories: Pitta (fire and air), Kapha (water and earth), and Vata (air and space). No one is just one or the other of these, so the assessment goes on to figure out what combination of those three you are. Then, there are sub-doshas to further refine your understanding. Doshas also define things like the stage of life you’re in and the time of year under consideration. The entire Dosha assessment then progresses to something called Vikriti testing, which is used to understand the nuances of your current condition, and to some degree, how you got there. Then, empowered by detailed knowledge of your uniqueness, you’re ready to move forward with valid ideas for improvement. How is an Ayurvedic diet beneficial? First of all, Ayurveda understands that digestive health is the absolute basis for all health. It’s the starting point for all restoration and proceeds through informed choices based on your uniqueness. That’s what it’s all about. Once we learn the biological tendencies you were born with and the conditions that have been created within you over time, we can draw parallels and connections, again by using nature’s elements to match you up with foods, methods, and products that are supportive to you. Regarding the current debate over best types of diet — although Ayurveda does require restraint and a good variety of high quality, fresh foods, as well as eliminating sugary, processed foods, it does not require things like veganism. You learn to know what’s right for you at the right time of your life. Here though, I would make one more point — that as we clarify our bodies and improve our cognitive/emotional strength, it becomes undeniable that we cannot create our best health without active consideration for the benefit of all of life. This life choice can give us deep pleasure and peace of mind that translates directly to digestive health. How important are cleanses? What does it do for you and how often should you cleanse? No matter what health disciplines you align with, cleanses are very important. They’re done a minimum of twice a year during spring and fall in order to work within the potency of seasonal transitions. Four times a year is even better. And for more active health concerns, one can cleanse once a month for a shorter period of time. A more accurate descriptor would be cleanse, rebalance, and restore because that’s what actually happens. These cleanses are a non-starvation, mono-diet fast. That means the body is getting just enough protein and nutrients to

glide along for anywhere from 5 to 10 days without losing muscle mass. Toxins stored in the liver and body fat are flushed out. Inflammation is reduced. Digestion quiets down and gets much needed rest from its typical daily challenges from things like bad food and bad food combinations, hasty or nervous eating, and stress in general. The food that provides for this in an Ayurvedic cleanse is called Kitchari, a very tasty split lentil, rice, and herb dish that is designed to have a complete nutrient profile while being gentle and healing for the stomach. The cleanse I offer starts with three or four days of highvariety, super-healthy, yummy meals. Then a set number of days of Kitchari fasting, finishing with one to three more days of the same type of super-healthy meals you started with. The cleanse protocol also includes herbs for intestinal health, and digestion/metabolic support, plus specific exercise, mind quieting, and body care suggestions. Throughout the process, you’re learning about yourself, as well as new ways to prepare food, how to expand your choices for personal refinement, and where to find support when you need it. After a cleanse is over, digestion is more robust, meaning you not only feel greater comfort, but your body is getting the proper nutrient value from what you eat. You can come away with a greater resolve to follow a smarter dietary lifestyle. And everything that’s good about you is visibly heightened. Your eyes, skin, and hair shine. Your belly and waist are trimmer. Your attitude is great, and you’re proud of yourself for having done it. Why is taking care of your body a form of self-love? To me, self-love is like waking up. How can we be our best without it? Improvement in bodily health immediately creates clearer emotional and cognitive responses. How does the saying go — “love is a verb?”And I would add that along with love being a verb, it’s also bi-directional. By taking action on behalf of our own well-being, we’re stoking the fires of our capacity to both feel and give love. It’s more of a circle than a straight line, don’t you think? The joy of being your best in order to give your best.

How can people learn more or join a cleanse? Cleanses and non-starvation fasts are widely available these days in on-line and home kit form: • Almost all Ayurvedic physicians and practitioners offer them. • Therapeutic vacations at destination spas are very easy to find these days. • Valter Longo, a PhD Biogerontologist at UC Davis who is credited with doing the most extensive research to date on the effects of fasting, now offers a home kit for what he calls a “fasting mimicking diet” which compares closely to an Ayurvedic cleanse. • I offer richly supported, community-based cleanses two to four times a year. If you would like to receive notification and information please contact me at sabinevera@me.com.

JANUA RY / F E BRUA RY 2020

Attendees can peruse shops and enjoy live music. For more information, visit discoverbrunswick.com.

Around the Town Ongoing “Georgia’s jewel” is the perfect place for a treasure hunt. From January 1 to February 28, colorful orbs will be placed along the beaches of Jekyll Island for visitors to find. Those who come across the plastic pieces may return to the Welcome Center to exchange them for a glass globe. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily on the island’s causeway. For more information, visit jekyllisland.com. The SoGlo Gallery will host an exhibit by artist Sue Byrne Russell at 1413 Newcastle St., Brunswick. It will be open for free viewing from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays to Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit SoGloGallery.com or call 912-2620628. The Horton House Bike Tour is open for pedaling enthusiasts to join from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. January 10 through February 14 at the Mosaic Jekyll Island Museum, 100 Stable Road, Jekyll Island. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Those under 4 will be admitted for free. For more information visit jekyllisland.com.

January January 2 to 4 The 44th Annual New Year’s Bluegrass Festival, hosted by Adams Bluegrass LLC, will return to Jekyll Island with performances beginning at noon January 2 through 10 p.m. January 4 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. For a full line-up visit, adamsbluegrass.com. January 3 First Friday returns to historic Downtown Brunswick from 5 to 8 p.m. along Newcastle and surrounding streets. 38

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January 4 The Polar Plunge is going down in the chilly waters of the Neptune Park Fun Zone, 550 Beachview Dr., St. Simons Island. Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. with the dive at noon. It is a free event and refreshments will be served. January 18 The 20th Annual St. Simons Land Trust Oyster Roast will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at Gascoigne Bluff on St. Simons Island. Tickets are $85 per person for non-members and $60 for members. For more information or to join the Land Trust, visit sslt.org. January 19 The 20th anniversary of A Taste of Glynn will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the King and Prince Beach and Golf Resort. The proceeds from the event benefit Glynn Community Crisis Center, which cares for survivors of domestic violence and their children. A shuttle service will be provided from the parking area of Massengale Park to the resort. Tickets are $45 in advance and $60 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit atasteofglynn.com. January 19 The Coastal Historical Society of Georgia will host award-winning journalist Ed Caesar at 3 p.m. at the Cloister ballroom on Sea Island. He will present a program titled “The Epic Hunt for a Lost World War II Aircraft Carrier.” Society members may attend free of charge. The cost is $25 for nonmembers. Registration is required and may be made by visiting coastalgeorgiahistory.org. January 21 The Coastal Symphony of Georgia will host its third SoundBites titled “Out From Behind.” Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at Thrive Senior Living, 3615 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island. Tickets are $45 per person. Contact Chris Emde at cemde7714@gmail.com or 239-877-3856 or go to coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.org for ticket reservations. January 24 Get ready to celebrate Gatsby style. Cabaret, which is returning to the Cloister, will be held at 6 p.m. on Sea Island. The Jordan Gilman Septet will perform jazz music. Tickets are $180 per person. For more information, visit coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.com. January 25 The Brunswick Rockin’ Stewbilee will begin at 9 a.m. at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick. Cooking teams will square off to compete for the top honor, as judges taste stew, and attendees vote for the People’s Choice winner. There will also be a pooch parade, arts and craft vendors, plus live music. For more information, visit discoverbrunswick.com.

January 26 The Peach State Opera, hosted by Golden Isles Arts and Humanities, will perform â&#x20AC;&#x153;Carmenâ&#x20AC;? at 3 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., Brunswick. Advance tickets range in price from $15 for adult GIAH members; $10 for senior members; and $20 for non-members. Prices increase by $5 on the day of the performance. For more information, visit goldenislesarts.org.

February February 1 Glynn Visual Arts will host the Art of Flight, a fundraiser with an aviation theme, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Museum Hangar, 1759 Demere Road, St. Simons Island. An aerial dance troupe will perform while flight-themed cocktails and food are served. A band will perform music from the 70s and 80s. Tickets are $150 per person. For more information, call 912-638-8770 or visit glynnvisualarts.org. February 6 to 9 Whiskey, Wine and Wildlife will return with a variety of events taking place over a three-day span. There will be culinary exhibits by area chefs, a wine cruise, in addition to seminars and classes. Uncaged at the Westin will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. February 8. It will include a falconry demonstration and breakfast bites. Tickets are $49 per person on the day of the event or $45 in advance. Later

in the day, the W3, featuring food and beverage tastings, and animal exhibitions, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on the Beach Village Green on Jekyll Island. Tickets are $75 per person on the day of the event or $69 in advance. VIP Tickets are also available. A brunch will be held at 11 a.m. February 9 at The Westin. Tickets are $79 on the day or $70 in advance. For tickets, visit whiskeywineandwildlife.com. February 7 First Friday will be back in historic Downtown Brunswick from 5 to 8 p.m. January 3 along Newcastle and surrounding streets. Attendees can peruse shops and enjoy live music. For more information, visit discoverbrunswick.com. February 7 to 28 The Big Read Coastal Georgia will return with a number of activities and events over the course of the month. The selected book is The Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick. The middle school book is The Wreckers by Iain Lawrence. The book for young children will be I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long. Discussions, lectures, and other events with a focus on these books will be held. For a complete listing, visit goldenislesarts.org. February 9 Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host Atwater-Donnelly in concert at 3 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre in downtown Brunswick. The duo offers American and Celtic folk rock music. Advance tickets for members are $10 and $15 for

Saturday, January 25, 2020 Tickets on sale starting December 15th Enjoy silent and live auctions along with live music! For more information visit www.bgcsega.com 40

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non-members. Prices increase by $5 on the day of the show. For more information, visit goldenislesarts.org. February 14 to 16 The Fifth Annual St. Simons Island Storytelling Festival will be held from February 14 to 16 at Epworth By the Sea, 100 Arthur J. Moore Dr., St. Simons Island. Various authors will offer workshops and activities. For more information, visit epworthbythesea.org/st-simons-island-storytelling-festival. February 15 The Southeast Georgia Health System’s Annual Bridge Run will begin with registration for the 5K race at 8:30 a.m. at the base of the Sidney Lanier Bridge. The runners begin at 9:30 a.m. with the walkers starting at 10:30 a.m. with vendors, live music, and other entertainment on the grounds. For more information, visit the-bridge-run.org.

mons Island. Tickets are $75 per person and are available at Eventbrite. For more information, contact Casey Cate at ccate@cisglynn.org. February 29 Ashantilly Center will present “Trailblazing African American Women of Coastal Georgia” at 1:30 p.m. at St. Cyprians Episcopal Church, Fort King George Dr., Darien. The keynote address will be given by Melissa Cooper, PhD, author of “Making Gullah: A History of Sapelo Islanders, Race, and the American Imagination.” For more information or to reserve a space, call 912-437-4473 or visit ashantillycenter.org.

February 22 Wine, Women and Shoes, a benefit for Hospice of the Golden Isles, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cloister on Sea Island. Attendees can sip fine wines while exploring the latest fashions and mingling with friends. General admission is $100 per person. For tickets, visit winewomenandshoes.com/goldenisles. February 28 Communities in Schools will host its fundraiser “JAMbalaya” from 6 to 9 p.m. at Village Creek Landing on St. Si-

JANUA RY / F E BRUA RY 2020

JUST THE FACTS

New Year’s Resolutions

WORDS BY ALEXIS DENLEY

“New year, new me,” we exclaim at the beginning of each new year, swearing that we are going to stick to the resolutions we set for ourselves. New year’s resolutions are a way to start fresh. They give you something to work toward with a renewed sense of energy, and a boost of motivation. Many of us will set goals to eat healthier, get into better shape, spend more time with family, etc., while others will opt out of setting resolutions altogether.

them, 38 percent stick to a few, leaving only 31 percent actually stick to the resolutions they set.

Odds are, many of those who set resolutions give in before January is over. The reason behind why many of us quit before we are able to fulfill our resolutions is because we want immediate gratification. We want what we want, and if we don’t see the results we want to see, we get discouraged. Only a select few stick to their resolutions long enough to see the change they want.

Most Common New Year’s Resolutions The most popular of the new year’s resolutions is of course to eat healthier and exercise more.

Of those who make resolutions, 31 percent don’t stick to

Top two resolutions:

The first week of a newly-made resolution is always the easiest. The sense of “I can do this” is still strong in our minds, and we want to make a change. As the days pass and turn into weeks, we begin to find excuses to not do whatever we’ve set our our minds on.

With some overlap in resolutions, people’s top two goals by percentage were exercising more (fifty-nine percent) and eating healthier (fifty-four percent). The first couple of weeks in January are when gyms are at their highest capacity. Walking through the front door, you won’t find

48%

24%

to lose weight

to exercise more

30%

51%

to spend more time with family and friends

to eat healthier

to get more sleep

to travel more

to spend more time with family

31%

38%

to reduce stress

stick to a few

31% don’t stick to resolutions

to save money

to stick to a budget

27% 31% to learn a new skill

stick to them

(Please note, the percentages were based on 2,000 individuals surveyed. Many of the participants had overlapping resolutions).

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many treadmills or free weights available. Aside from eating healthier and exercising, other most common resolutions include saving money, learning a new skill or finding a new hobby, traveling more, and spending more time with family and friends. How to maintain and stick with your resolution When setting a resolution for yourself, remember that change takes time and effort. To make the slow process work for you, make smaller “stepping stone” goals along the way so that you are getting the gratification that helps propel you forward. Seeing improvement, even with smaller goals, gives you the extra drive that helps keep you motivated. If you’re working toward going to the gym, don’t start with a seven-day-a-week schedule. Instead, shoot for three or four days. Want to read more but you don’t have the attention span to do so? Read a few pages or even a chapter or two at a time. Soon enough, you’ll be able to push yourself to do more. Be realistic. Remember that the habits you are trying to change didn’t come to be overnight. Don’t expect the changes you want to see to happen overnight. Talk to someone. Discussing your goals with a friend, family member, or support group could be the push you need to maintain your commitment.

Forgive yourself. Keep in mind that it’s okay if you drift away from your goals for a bit. The progress you’ve made is still progress. Don’t give up on your resolution. Jump back on that horse and keep working toward your goals. If you’re working on a resolution that you’ve set for yourself in the past and failed, that’s okay. Learn from your past mistakes and use those mistakes to push yourself into achieving your goals. Reward yourself. When hitting smaller goals, the satisfaction of inching closer to your resolution is enough to keep yourself going, but you don’t want to get burned out.

k to s

Reward yourself with something that makes you happy. Did you go to the gym each day you said you were going to? Did you eat healthy for most every meal? Treat yourself to a new gym outfit or eat your favorite cookie. It’s the best way to train yourself to stick to your goals.

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DUE SOUTH

WORDS BY RONDA RICH

bout a year before I met John Tinker, the man I call “Tink” and who I married eight years ago, I was at dinner with a longtime buddy.

We began to talk about television shows and movies we would recommend to each other. Matthew said, “I’ve been watching a show called "Justified" on the FX channel. It’s really good.” Over the years, I had never heard him express such enthusiasm. I wanted to know more. “It’s about a U.S. Marshal who is sent back to Eastern Kentucky where he grew up. It’s my favorite show,” he said. I viewed the extraordinary pilot episode, based on a short story by renowned author, Elmore Leonard, then could not stop watching the first season that centered around Marshal Raylan Givens. Though I’m not an expert, I consider that first year to be the best season of drama that I have watched in the last 20 years. The casting is phenomenal, the writing is incredible, and the actors underplay their parts brilliantly. It depicts the rural South authentically without creating a parody, something that is very hard to do.

Hollywood, like the South, is a small place. The personal connections are often intriguing and elaborately intertwined. Tink became an admirer of the show, too. He was particularly drawn to it because his former producing partner at Fox, Michael Dinner, was the director of the pilot and an ex-

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ecutive producer on the show. Timothy Olyphant, who starred as Raylan, was the sheriff on HBO’s Deadwood, on which Tink’s brother, Mark, had been a director and executive producer. Tink had also worked with other producers on the show and is friends with Graham Yost who developed the show. If you are a "Justified" fan — and I think everyone who loves good storytelling should be a fan — then you’ll know that one of the backstories was that Raylan and his Kentucky boss, Art Mullen, had been firearms instructors together at Glynco (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center). It would come up fairly regular in an episode conversation when, for instance, Art said, “Back when we were at Glynco together…” The December before Tink and I married — at the Cloister Chapel on Sea Island — I took him to St. Simons to experience the place I love deeply and to meet the friends who are like family. It quickly became one of his favorite places, too. Now, he will often say with a wistful sigh, “Oh, our beloved St. Simons and Sea Island.” On that first trip, evening had fallen as the marshes came into view. It is a sight that Tink adores because it reminds him of his Connecticut childhood where he grew up in a small town embedded with marshes. As we crossed the county line, Tink saw the sign and said, a bit quietly, “Glynn County.” “Yeah,” I replied. “This is where Glynco is.” Tink’s head spun around. “Glynco as in Glynco on 'Justified'?”

New Year, Healthier You

Why I had not explained that previously, I am baffled. The only reason I can fathom is that we always were absorbed in the expert storytelling to the point that it never occurred to me.

Beauty Inside & Out

One of my favorite times ever was when we were invited to a day’s shooting of Justified on location in Pasadena. I was excited. There was a break in shooting and several of the crew and cast were sprawled on the front porch of the house, waiting as cameras and lights were set. Michael Dinner, unaware we were to visit, spotted his old pal, Tinker, and ran toward him, grabbing him in a big hug. Quickly, we were surrounded by folks who know and love Tinker. Olyphant watched all the excitement then came over, stuck his hand out and introduced himself. It was an experience that did not disappoint. Recently — again in that small world of Hollywood and the South — our paths have crossed with Nick Searcy, who played Art. He grew up in the North Carolina mountains an hour from where we live. A Los Angeles friend introduced us and we have helped, in whatever way we can, with a small movie that Nick is developing. In the early stages of our getting to know each other, I said to Nick, “Here’s a piece of trivia for you: Tink and I got married in Glynco.” “What!?!” “Well, actually, it was Sea Island which is in Glynn County. Our marriage certificate came from Glynn County and is filed there.”

In the South or in Hollywood, it is amazing how lives connect.

This is part of a series of articles where bestselling author Ronda Rich recalls how she met and fell in love with the Golden Isles and its people. Ronda’s new book, “Let Me Tell You Something,” is available at rondarich.com.

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This is part of a series of articles where bestselling author Ronda Rich recalls how she met and fell in love with the Golden

LIVING WELL

PROCEDURE OFFERS PATH TO HEALTHY SMILE PROVIDED BY COASTAL ORAL SURGERY So, what exactly is a dental implant? The implants themselves are tiny, titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as root substitutes. The bone bonds with titanium, creating a strong foundation for your new teeth. If you have heard of Dr. Capes’ office, you may have read about a concept he founded called Teeth4Life. If you are missing one or multiple teeth, you have probably done research to make the best decision possible. Media and advertisements can make this overwhelming process seem easy. You’ve heard all the T.V. advertisements about “teeth in a day,” one-stop-shops with immediate results. Unfortunately today, this misinformation leaves you in a fog of uncertainty. This was the motivation behind Dr. Capes’ Teeth4Life concept. “People need to know the truth, the facts, about the dental implant process,” says Dr. Capes. “All the information out there is only focused on the procedures and the process, not about the people that they are taking care of and providing a solution that can last a lifetime.” Dental implant treatment was founded on a team approach process that always focused on the patient. Unfortunately today, the industry has tried to create a-oneshoe-fits-all model. That model is broken! Teeth4Life is a patient-centered philosophy whose core embraces the fact that everyone is unique and deserves personalized care.

Here are five questions you should ask before getting dental implants:

GOLDEN I S LES

1. Who will be performing your surgery and what is their training? While at Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Capes trained under Dr. Charles Babbush, one of the early pioneers in implant dentistry. This opportunity provided him with a wealth of knowledge, training, and experience that provided Dr. Capes’ with a solid foundation in implant dentistry. The learning didn’t stop there! Dr. Capes continues to participate in national meetings, study clubs, and other learning possibilities to make sure his practice is up to date on current procedures and technologies in order to provide you with the best care.

2. How many implants has the doctor placed? Do they do it every day, and in what environment? Dr. Capes has placed over 14,000 implants in his career. He and his team at Coastal Oral Surgery place dental implants every single day, so it is a part of their daily routine. They have a surgical wing dedicated to this procedure, so you can feel confident that you are being cared for in the best possible environment.

3. Is the person performing your procedure capable of handling any issue that may arise during or after your procedure? The goal at Coastal Oral Surgery is that everything goes perfectly during and after your surgical procedure. However, medicine is not a perfect science, and sometimes Dr. Capes may not find

what he expected during your procedure. Certain deviations sometimes need to occur. In the proper hands, those of Dr. Capes and his team, you can rest assured that they can handle any issues or complications that may arise. They will be with you every step of the way.

4. What is the doctor’s success rate? The staff at Dr. Capes’ office is diligent in keeping track of their procedures. Over the years, they have consistently achieved a 98 percent success rate. This exceeds the national average, an incredible achievement to be proud of.

5. Is your dental procedure being done under a team approach? Dr. Capes believes in using a team approach to provide you with the best care possible. The team approach has three

corners all working for you: A restoring dentist, a surgical specialist (Dr. Jeffrey Capes), and a dental laboratory. You, the patient, are in the center.

The Revolutionary Dental Implant Approach That Can CHANGE YOUR LIFE !

Ask yourself this — can you truly be exceptional at everything? Dr. Capes and the team at Coastal Oral Surgery don’t think so. They collaborate with others who are masters in their field so that all aspects of your care are excellent. Their focus is on the surgical aspect of your care and it is extraordinary. Your talented general dentist and Teeth4Life is a revolutionary approach to providing some of the best dental laboratories in the country will be our patients a lifetime of confidence in achieving right by your side as well during your treatment. Constant the smile they’ve always wanted. communication with the rest of your dental team is kept continual so no matter how far you to inour it’s Dr. travel Capes believes usingoffice a ‘Team’ approach like they are in the room during your procedure. When Dr. Jeff Capes, founder of Coast to provide our patients with the best you care possible. have a team working together toward a common goal, and a dentist, specializing in oral an The ‘Team’ approach has 3 corners, all working for guess who benefits? You, the patient. the patient’s benefit. You, as the patient, are always

Dr. Capes has performed more tha

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Restorative Dentists – Dr. Ca

care is the essential focus of Dr. Capes and our staff.

complete the restorative phase of

Dr. Jeff Capes is a native of Georgia, growing up in Covington where his father practiced dentistry for over 20 years. Dr. Capes attended the University of Georgia en route to the Medical College of Georgia, where he received his doctorate in dentistry. In Cleveland, Ohio, at Case Western Reserve University he completed his specialty training in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Specialized Dental Labora

COASTAL ORAL SURGERY

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To better serve his patients, Dr. Capes undertook a very unique process. He went back to medical school at Case Western Reserve and completed a doctorate degree in medicine, a rare distinction. To further his ability to serve patients, he then completed a one-year residency in general surgery. Dr. Capes now holds doctorate degrees in dentistry and medicine and is licensed in Georgia to practice RESTORING DENTAL DENTIST LABORATORY both dentistry and medicine. The extensive training that Dr. Capes has received allows him to provide you with the most comprehensive care available. If you are interested in a dental implant consultation with Dr. Capes, please call 912-254-0064 to set up your consultation.

Discover the Teeth4Life Difference yourself! Visit Teeth4Lifeus.com and read the many five-star reviews by patients in whose lives Coastal Oral Surgery has made a difference. Or, give us a call to get your FREE REPORT “How TEETH4LIFE Can Benefit You”

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MONEY TALKS

Paying for long term nursing home care BY DEBORAH L. BRITT, ESQ.

s we age, we begin to wonder about paying for our long-term care. Long-term care needs vary from home-based services to assisted living facilities to skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes). Sources of payment vary as well. Of course, private pay is the first option to consider, but not necessarily the most favorable. Many of us have understandable concern about outliving our money. Longterm care insurance is another possible payment source for some. Should private funds and/or insurance benefits prove insufficient to cover the expenses of long-term care, government programs can provide the financial solution. Paying for nursing home care has become more and more of a worry for older Americans. Many mistakenly believe Medicare will cover nursing home care indefinitely. In most situations, Medicare benefits for nursing home patients end after 100 days. After that, nursing home expenses must be paid from non-Medicare sources. When considering government benefits as a payment source, it is important to understand the difference between Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is an insurance program that provides payment for medical services for individuals who are 65 or older (as well as for certain individuals with disabilities). Financial resources are not

GOLDEN I S LES

considered in determining eligibility for the Medicare program. However, Medicaid will pay for long-term nursing home care for certain, eligible individuals. Eligibility for Medicaid payments is based on financial need. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides payment for eligible individuals who cannot afford to pay for medical services. While basic eligibility criteria stems from federal law and are the same across the country, Medicaid is independently administered at the state level. Each state has its own unique set of Medicaid rules that are applied to each person’s situation. In general, eligibility for Medicaid depends on a person’s assets and income. If that person is married, both parties’ assets and income are included in the determination process. When making an eligibility determination regarding whether a person may receive payment from Medicaid for longterm nursing home care expenses, necessity for such care is reviewed first. Once need for the care is established, an evaluation is made regarding that person’s available financial resources. All assets (e.g. real estate, retirement accounts, life insurance, checking and savings accounts, cash) are

reviewed, as well as the person’s income received from all sources. If married, the financial resources of the person’s spouse are also included in the eligibility determination process. In order to be eligible for nursing home Medicaid benefits, an individual must have no more than $2,000 in countable resources. Spouses at home may keep $126,400 (2019) in countable resources. Some assets may be excluded from a person’s countable resources for Medicaid eligibility purposes. Examples include a home residence, household personal items, a vehicle, and prepaid funeral expenses. Careful consideration of Georgia’s specific rules regarding countable and non-countable resources is vital to avoid unnecessary depletion of financial resources prior to applying for Medicaid. Value limitations apply to some exempt assets and are continually updated. Asset transfers for less than fair market value within five years of application are subject to penalty. Georgia is one of the states that includes income level in Medicaid eligibility determinations. If an individual’s income exceeds a certain amount ($2,313 in 2019), that individual is not eligible, even if the income received would not cover long-term care expenses. There are different income eligibility caps for married couples depending on whether both parties are receiving long-term nursing home care or whether one party remains at home. Depending on specifics, special rules also allow the community spouse to receive a portion of the applicant/recipient’s income, rather than it being paid to the nursing home as patient liability. Special trusts (Qualified Income Trusts) can be created to deal with excess income over allowable limits. Seeking the advice of an experienced elder law attorney is vital. These specially trained and knowledgeable attorneys help individuals plan for Medicaid eligibility and provide valuable guidance in protecting family assets. They work with other professionals (e.g. accountants, financial planners) and employ useful tools and strategies to navigate the complex Medicaid planning process. The primary goal is to legally protect as many resources as possible to ensure the best quality of life for individuals and their families.

Benefiting

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Whenever anyone starts to talk about traveling out of Glynn County, my friend Sandy says, “We don’t travel, OK!” Over the years, I have met travelers who are always on the move. Their boats and RVs are their homes. Then there are other folks, like Sandy, who are happy just where they are. Variety is the spice of life. In the ocean, there are big fish and whales that travel long distances with no qualms. On the other side of the coin, there are organisms that, once they find a home, they stick to it like glue. If you are a boat person, these creatures can be a nuisance. For this reason, creatures like sea anemones, barnacles, and oysters are called "fouling organisms." 50

GOLDEN I S LES

currents take the sand from the north ends of barrier N islands and tumble D IA TH O M P SO W O R D S BY LY it south to build the south end of these islands. But, the trees on the north end are left stranded in the sand. The tide washes around the root systems and branches, leaving tide pools. Out on I decided to explore Jekyll Island's the Pacific Coast of California, OreDriftwood Beach one quiet day. It is a gon, and Washington State, people fascinating place. Trees are stranded like to go tide pooling, looking for sea on the beach with the tide washing creatures stranded in the pools of over them twice a day. It is a fantastic example of nature’s sculpture garden. water. People visiting for the first time think that storms washed them up on the This quiet day, I was exbeach. The trees were once on high, ploring the tide pools on dry land, and the ocean ate away at that land. The barrier islands of South Driftwood Beach. There Carolina, Georgia, and Northern Florwere living sand dollars ida are always moving. The concept is called "sand sharing." The offshore stranded on the dry sand.

I picked them up and placed them in the water. The creatures slowly disappeared into the sand. While watching them, something moved in the water at the base of a fallen tree. Wow! It was real, live sea anemones just like the ones in the movie, Finding Nemo. Discovering these sea anemones in the wild was thrilling. I have seen them in salt-water fish tanks, but here they were on Driftwood Beach. They were stuck deep in the pools attached to a root. Some of the creatures were closed up. They looked like funny, bumpy, squishy pale rocks. I timidly touched one, and it sprung open. It had tentacles. They were larger on the outer rim and smaller closer to the central opening. It was a stunning creature. Richard Chewning is the 4-H Center’s director of Camp Jekyll, a UGA/Jekyll Island Authority Environmental Educational Center at the south end of Jekyll. He is my go-to guy for all things ocean. He told me that these were warty anemones. These are common sea anemones found around the big driftwood trees at the north end. Chewning said the kids at Camp Jekyll got a kick out of these anemones because tentacles called nematocysts do not sting. An interesting fact, he added, is these warty anemones are not found on the south end of Jekyll because the sand is too fine, but love to attach themselves to the roots and rocks at the north end. There is always something to learn in this diverse Georgia Coast. Take some time and explore. Find the animals that will travel long distances to get here. Discover the creatures like the warty sea anemones that find a home and stick to it like glue.

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JANUA RY / F E BRUA RY 2020

DIGRESSIONS OF A DILETTANTE

WORDS BY BUD HEARN

'm sitting in the Snip and Clip Hair Emporium, a fancy name for a "beauty parlor." I’m waiting my turn for a haircut. It’s weird, sitting in the midst of women who can both talk and hear at the same time. Times have changed. Everything is unisex now. Old stigmas are gone. Men are women, women are men. Like men, women have short hair, long hair, and no hair. Everyone here has a tattoo. Who can make sense of it anymore? The women eye me suspiciously, or lustily. Who knows what women think? The subject of today is about falling in love. Being the lone male, I keep my opinions to myself. It’s foolish to engage a bunch of women in such places. Especially those who pay big money in hopes of finding, or keeping, love affairs hot and torrid. The subject of love reminds me of S. J. Lec’s comment, “The dying fire of enthusiasm should leave ashes to provide disguising makeup for our faces.” I keep the quote to myself. 52

GOLDEN I S LES

Soon, it’s my turn. As she snips my hair, it falls, sliding down the black silk robe to the floor. It mingles with other hair clippings. It reminds me of a visit to the New York Stock Exchange when it was a paper world. Slips of pink paper, like so much hair and confetti, lie strewn in profusion throughout the floor. Traders walk on it, oblivious to each slip’s past significance. Old news, old loves, they say. Some love good, some gone bad, but all past ashes of love. I listen to the women carry on about love, how to find it, how to keep it hot. I want to tell them fried blonde hair won’t do the job. But I’m outnumbered. Old loves come into my mind. How many were there? Too many to count. My first love was my bicycle. Like all loves, it’s a means of escape. The affair lasted until I was 13. A motor scooter replaced it. Boys are fickle … no loyalty to old lovers. The bike rusted. Life moved on. Ashes of love. I fell in love with music. I had every Elvis 45 rpm record, not to mention Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, and Bo Diddley. I lay awake at night, straining to hear snippets of WLAC, Nashville, or WCKY, Cincinnati. One can lose lots of sleep when in

love. Music is a great lover, but it’s as capricious as the listener. Songs wear out, lose their fire. Ashes of love. In 7th grade, I fell in love with my second cousin ten times removed. At that genetic distance, it seemed safe. Blue eyes, and some crossed eyes, ran prominently in our family. The entire town showed up at our family reunions. Who would notice, I thought? Alas, in 8th grade she was hustled off to a "finishing" school for girls, which finished that romance. All that remained were love letters. I learned an important lesson from that experience … never take chances with ink, even at 13. I burned the letters. Ashes of love are ageless. I have fallen in love often … with dogs, boots, backpacks, cars, guns, airplanes, and fishing, just to name a few. But sooner or later they all get old, like lovers do. I ruthlessly discarded them without remorse, waiting for another one to show up. It always does. Inanimate divorces are cheap. Ashes of love litter my past. Some fall in love with sports, like golf, or running. Loves of athletic origins are often bitter-sweet affairs but can turn on you quickly. Such ashes of love keep orthopedic surgeons smiling.

It’s risky to fall in love. Like dreams, love often evaporates into illusions, then remorse when the novelty wears off. Relationships, human or otherwise, often have a short shelf-life. We live for the next new thing. Suddenly, I’m jolted back into the present.

“Mister, what’s your opinion of keeping love hot and burning?” a woman asks. Be careful, I think, this is a trap. I just shake my head and shrug. Somewhere in the back seat of my youth I hear Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty singing, “Love is where you find it, when you find no love at home; and there’s

nothing cold as ashes, after the fire is gone.” I look at my haircut in the mirror. I smile and say aloud to myself, “You handsome devil.” Some loves never die.

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GAME CHANGERS

C h e s s: An an c T E n t ar t WORDS AND PHOTOS BY TERRY DICKSON olume upon volume has been written on chess. But now, in its 20th century since the game emerged in India around 600 A.D., there is still no requiem for it.

To a novice player he says, “These are your fighting pieces, the knights and the bishops, OK? You need to attack the middle and get your people fighting.”

Instead, it thrives, grown by some highprofile matches of the past, especially between Russian and American masters, and a scholastic boom among children still mastering their multiplication tables. Gary Cumby, a Baptist pastor, has been playing since his childhood. A St. Simons Island resident, he teaches dozens of students at Frederica Academy, St. Simons Christian School, and St. Simons Elementary. On a Monday afternoon, Cumby guided his motorized wheelchair between rows of tables at St. Simons Elementary where students faced off over chess mats.

Cumby has to keep track of student's abilities and ensure no one is over-matched.

Cumby arranged the matches and offered advice as they played. The students would be mismatched in tennis, basketball, and athletic contests, but not in chess, and that, Cumby, says is the beauty of the game. “Equal sides, equal opportunity,'' he says. “It doesn't matter how old you are or how big.” As in events played on courts and fields, there is trash talk, but it is good-natured to the point of comedy. One player says “check,” and his opponent grunts and grabs his chest as if stabbed. There is another difference in chess and recreational athletics. “When we have tournaments, not everybody gets a trophy,'' Cumby says. Checkmate. As he made the rounds between tables, he sometimes smiled slightly upon spotting a doomed move. He sometimes offers advice, but often lets it play out. “I'll let them play a few minutes then I'll tell them some things,'' Cumby says.

GOLDEN I S LES

“You don't want to put anyone in to just crush someone. It's discouraging,'' Cumby says. But losing is an important thing with its own lessons, says Shannon Biddle, whose sons, Cormac, 10, and Nolan, 7, are Cumby's students and also young athletes. “I like it when they lose. They learn more. I just think it's a phenomenal game, the strategy, the critical thinking,'' Biddle says. “I enjoy the opportunity for them (to engage) in an independent activity.” Given Cumby's physical limitations, she serves as his “chess mom,'' handing out snacks and drawing a grid and pieces on a whiteboard so Cumby can talk his students through a defensive move. Snacks can be strategic. As his students crunch popcorn and granola, they aren't talking and Cumby can teach uninterrupted. She also helps teach, having learned first from Cormac, then Cumby as she advanced. Biddle was working with a young girl who had been playing just two weeks encouraging her to consider whether letting her opponent take a piece would be beneficial. “You have to decide if you want to sacrifice that man,'' she said. Later, she explained a competitive rule as the young player sat with a fingertip on top of a bishop pondering a move.

“OK. If you're playing in a tournament and you touch a piece, you have to move it,'' Biddle says. “It's a hard habit to break.” It's best, she said, to sit on your hands until you're sure. Not all of his students are this young. “I had some grandmothers come talk to me about teaching them because they wanted to play their grandchildren,'' he says. “They ended up playing each other.” Indeed, a lot of chess is passed up the family chain instead of down. Frederica Academy students Sophie McGlaughlin and her sister, Amelia, 12, take private lessons from Cumby each week as well as at school. A fourth grader, Sophie was drawn into chess watching older children play. “They had snacks,'' she says. “But mainly because, it's fun.” Surrounded by the aroma of Starbucks coffee, Cumby was teaching Sophie the old fashioned way, referencing a book of 2,000 checkmates in two moves. “Most can do it in three or four,'' but two moves adds an element, he said. “It forces them to look at the board and evaluate.” He had Sophie set up the board. “Put a white knight on F1, a black king on G1, and a black bishop on G2,'' he says. After arranging the white pieces in opposition, Sophie sat with sunlight turning her blonde hair into a halo. Studying the board, she fingered the five beaded bracelets on her wrist. “Evaluate the board,'' Cumby says. “See what the situations are. Force the issue.”

"Forcing the issue is not a problem for Sophie," Cumby says. "Her cuteness conceals her tenacity."

Raising his eyebrows and smiling slightly, Cumby said, “she's vicious” in tournament play. As she listened to Cumby, her father, physician Tim McGlaughlin sat reading at a nearby table. He likes for both of his daughters to play. “I think it just expands the mind. It makes them think analytically,'' he says. Indeed, studies have shown that chess players perform better in the classroom. The benefits don't stop with the young. Chess appears to slow the progression of Alzhiemer's and similar diseases of the memory in the elderly and there are plenty of other pluses in playing. McGlaughlin says he wishes he could play more chess with his daughters. “I used to try to let them win. Now, it's everything I can do to win,'' he says. Cumby's students do well in chess tournaments taking a lot of first places and there are two coming up, Feb. 22 and April 18 at Frederica Academy. While some opt for the game as an extracurricular activity, chess’ history as a required subject is scattered. But the game is popular in Eastern Europe. In 2011, Armenia began requiring all students 6 and older to take chess. There are an estimated 600 million people playing the game around the world including 25 to 30 million in the U.S. A few of them are at Frederica Academy where students study under Cumby on Fridays. At one such session, the students were having too much fun in practice. Cumby shook his head with an expression that said, "some days are like this." Looking across the board at opponent Ethan Tsai, Ved Stephen asks, “Are you ready?”

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As he does with other students, Cumby makes his rounds saying to one student, ”you had a good idea, but ...”

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Not all of Cumby's advice is appreciated, depending on which side of the board he's on when he makes a suggestion.

“Pastor Gary helps students crush other students’ mojo,'' Luke Smith grouses with a smile. Soon after, Cumby changed up the matches, pitting girls against boys in some cases and splitting up pairs of close friends. It got quieter as young minds pondered moves in a very old game.

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BY DESIGN And, during a Bible study, she found her answer.

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON good night's sleep is critical to every aspect of one's being. But for so many, bedtime is the point of the day where the proverbial demons arise. A flood of "should haves" or "to-dos" can often rush in, making rest elusive. That's something Julie Rowland knows well. "For me, night time is when I feel like I'm the most vulnerable. That is when the anxiety sets in. It's when I can start listening to the outside world and not the truth," Rowland says. Luckily, Rowland is deeply rooted in her faith. A devout Christian, it has carried her through countless nights and continues to inspire her every morning. It also prompted her to think of practical ways to share the Gospel with others.

"Kay Arthur was preaching about resting in God's word and she demonstrated that by laying her head on the Bible. I thought, 'well sleeping on your Bible wouldn't be very comfortable,'" Rowland says. "Later on, in small group, there was a prayer request for a little boy named Luke, who was diagnosed with Leukemia. (The prayer request) was for his total healing but also for his mother. What was said was, 'I know she won't be sleeping at night with all of the worry.' So I just thought, I'll make her a pillowcase and we can take care of that.” That was how the first PillowGrace was born. Rowland customized a design complete with Bible verses so that the mother could literally could rest on her faith. But she knew there were so many others who could benefit from doing the same, so she decided to create a business based around this mission. "His word is a safe place. It is unchanging, alive, and active. A few examples of our verse designs include scripture for comfort, scripture for a happy heart, scripture for babies, scripture for moms — the list goes on," Rowland says.

sleep. The designs can be silk, linen, or cotton, and come as standard pillowcases or throws. The font, colors, trim, and other detailing are completely unique with the dedicated staff — Rowland and Heather Burrell — walking each individual through the very personal process. "We sit at this station and put it all up on the computer screen. We go over everything so they can see it first," Burrell said. "Customization is what we do. For the most part, our product is entering the most intimate place in a person's home — their bedroom," Rowland added. "It's important to us that it fits a person's design aesthetic and matches their home," Rowland added. Often times, the purchase is a gift. Rowland notes that many people receive a PillowGrace item, and then give one to someone else.

"We have something for everyone, going through any season of life. This is important and helps create a safe space, because the scripture most relevant to an 18-year-old heading off to college is not the same as one for a woman who just had her first child." The customization creates a sense of calm and comfort that eases one into

GOLDEN I S LES

people-friendly culture of care

Julie Rowland, left, and Heather Burrell

"To this day, word of mouth is the number one way people hear about us," Rowland said. While news of their inspirational products has spread far and wide, they are committed to also taking the message to a broader audience. To create real and lasting change, they established a 501c3 nonprofit called the PillowGrace Project, which partners with other like-minded groups such as Operation Bedspread, Safe Harbor, and the Salvation Army. "Since applying for and receiving our official 501c3 designation from the IRS, we have provided over 300 pillowcases to our armed forces, survivors of human trafficking, victims of Hurricane Dorian, and birth mothers in the open adoption process." Whether it's cradling the head of a sick child, exhausted mother, or a solider overseas, PillowGrace is committed to promoting faith, self-care, and the luxury of resting assured and arising restored.

The GCM difference is our people-friendly approach and culture of “care” that is integrated into everything we do. Our staff is friendly, knowledgeable and our technology is top notch. We drive through your neighborhood in a GCM wrapped vehicle so your homeowners have “peace of mind.” Our commitment to our Associations is also demonstrated by our simplified contract terms including a 30day cancellation with or without cause. GCM achieved the Accredited Association Management Company designation for our industry through (Community Associations Institute) CAI. For over a decade we have been honored to serve HOA and Condo Associations throughout Georgia making Association living simple and enjoyable!

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"You can read study after study about how important a good night's sleep is to your overall health. It impacts everything you do," Burrell says. "But if you lay down and everything comes crashing in on you, you can take your pillow and read the scripture and remember what you know."

JANUA RY / F E BRUA RY 2020

N RE

N DO

THE DISH

ne of the most popular delicacies at Sugar Marsh Cottage, a small batch artisan confectioner in Darien, is the shell-shaped chocolate, individually wrapped and delicious.

The chocolate, made on-site in the historic house near downtown, is infused with fine bits of sea salt toffee. The shell-shaped chocolates are a customer favorite year-round, says Sugar Marsh’s owner Dale Potts. So much so that the only time Potts and her team stray from their staple is during Valentine’s Day — when heart-shaped chocolates become one of the most sought after treats the shop crafts. Sugar Marsh offers award winning gourmet shortbread, artisan toffees, luxury chocolates, and gift box combinations that are perfect for Valentine’s Day or any other holiday. “For Valentine's Day, we do an awful lot of truffles,” Potts says. A Chambord dessert sauce is another go-to. It is a festive and elegant white chocolate raspberry sauce that’s easy to make and looks impressive on the holiday dessert table as a topping for favorite sweets. The sauce can also be used as a simple but lovely dipping sauce for vanilla or chocolate pound cake, Potts says. Only a few ingredients are needed — heavy whipped cream, white chocolate, unsalted butter, Chambord raspberry liqueur and some sea salt. Potts begins by bringing the cream to a boil. “A lot of people are afraid to boil cream,” she says. “You do have to watch it.” Next, she added Chambord liqueur and stirs, before pouring the hot cream mixture over chopped white chocolate. “We buy our chocolate in either 25 pound boxes of, we call them pallets, or wafers, or 10-pound blocks,” she says. Bulk purchasing isn’t necessary, though, as Harris Teeter sells white chocolate bars in the candy section and Ghirardelli white chocolate chips in the baking section, Potts says.

If the chocolate doesn’t melt quickly enough, Potts recommends placing the bowl in the microwave at 30-second intervals. GOLDEN I S LES

A couple drops of red food coloring will give the finished product a beautiful pink color perfect for Valentine’s Day, Potts said. “It’s delicious served as a dipping sauce,” she says. Potts poured her finished sauce into small jars and tied pink ribbon around the lids.

“They just make perfect little hostess gifts, and you can store this in your refrigerator and it will thicken,” she says. In a matter of minutes, Potts created a wonderful and delicious Valentine’s Day gift. “How easy was that?” she says.

Chambord sauce recipe

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup heavy whipping cream ½ lb 31 % cacao white chocolate (white chocolate bars or Ghirardelli white chips) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter Pinch of sea salt

P R E PA R A T I O N : Chop white chocolate and place in a heat-proof glass bowl Bring butter to room temperature

PROCEDURE: Carefully bring cream to a boil over medium high heat and remove from heat immediately. Add Chambord and stir. Pour hot cream mixture over chopped white chocolate in a heat proof glass bowl. Let sit for a minute and stir until white chocolate is melted and cream mixture is incorporated. (It should be smooth and creamy). Add butter, and stir until fully melted. If necessary, place bowl in microwave and heat for 30 seconds and stir. Repeat in 30 second intervals until all chocolate and butter is melted and the sauce is smooth. Add salt and stir to incorporate. Add a tiny bit of red food coloring if desired to obtain a beautiful pink color. The sauce can be jarred and kept in the refrigerator for several weeks. To serve, warm slowly in microwave safe container at 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until it’s pourable and enjoy.

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GOLDEN I S LES

Self~

2020

Love

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON

Self-love is a concept often batted around on social media, bubbling forth in a flurry of pomp, platitudes, memes, and hashtags. But what does that really even mean? And in this flashy new decade — 2020 — how can we collectively use it as a turning point, moving toward more acceptance of who we really are? It’s a tricky subject, and one that women (and yes men, too) of all backgrounds, colors, creeds, shapes, and sizes are forced to grapple with day in, day out. Since the dawn of civilization, people have been expected to adhere to certain “norms” or face ridicule. That’s not to say we aren’t making strides — we are. Twenty-five years ago, it would be unlikely that a plus-sized female rapper like Lizzo or Winnie Harlow, a model with the skin condi-

tion vitiligo, would grace the covers of fashion magazines. Today, they are. Many women with powerful platforms are breaking down barriers — loud and proud about who they are, what they look like, and most of all, what they represent. But it doesn’t take a celebrity with a hit Instagram account to inspire others. Local ladies do it every day. On a shimmering Sunday, a group of five exceptionally beautiful women gathered on Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island. A stunning array of confidence and strength, they came packaged in a spectrum of shades, sizes, and shapes. Each of the women — aged mid-20s to early-60s — have left their marks on those around them, serving as pixies of positivity and inspirations in the business of self-love. Here are their experiences and advice on how to cultivate a sense of self-love in one’s own life: JANUA RY / F E BRUA RY 2020

GOLDEN I S LES

Jessica Bush

the

yellow canary (912) 638-4061

A 36-year-old mother, daughter, and sister, who shares the love of Zumba (and a positive body image) with students weekly at The Club on St. Simons Island.

What’s been your greatest challenge in cultivating self-love? I think the main thing that made me self-conscious in life has just been the fact that I’ve always been really shy. I was in a lot of sports and activities, but for some reason I just hated being in front of people, and looking back now, worried about what everyone was thinking of me.

How did you overcome this? The thing that helped me overcome my shyness and really just be confident in who I am was beginning to teach fitness classes. It was a little scary in the beginning, just wondering if I was good enough to teach other women and wondering if they would actually like my classes, and even questioning if they would like me. After working through those beginning stages, I finally realized that I was there to help other women. I couldn’t worry if anyone liked me. I had to just do my best and be true to myself. People would see my passion and how much I care about them.

In your mind, what is beauty? Beauty is when I see someone come into their own, and completely unafraid to be who they are, and loving life fearlessly. Beauty is kindness. Why is it hard for women to feel as beautiful as they are? I think the self-love journey is difficult for women because there are a lot of social pressures to be perfect. I think as women, we compare ourselves a lot as well, but this does not do us any favors.

What is your best advice for others? One piece of advice I would give someone struggling with self-consciousness is to be the best version of yourself. Work on bettering yourself in a physical, emotional, and spiritual way. When I started loving my body for all the things it did for me and appreciated it more, I realized I could enjoy life more. I am not worrying about the negative things, but focusing on the positive things about myself — and finally loving myself and who I am today.

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GOLDEN I S LES

Michelle Evors Michelle Evors is a 30-year-old hair stylist who underwent weight loss surgery, which she documented on social media. She works daily to combat social pressures with sass and a whole lot of humor.

What has made you self-conscious in life? I’d like to reword the question to “who has made me self-conscious in life?” I could go on about how my weight was constantly brought up by my dad, as if I had no other worthy qualities and how it has affected me my entire life. I could, but I won’t ... because the answer is “me.” Until here recently, I’d been the one allowing myself to stay a victim, and to continue to see my weight as an unworthy flaw.

How did you overcome that? I wouldn’t say I’ve completely overcome my issues with my weight. Even after losing 125 pounds, I’m still “fat” in the eyes of my inner child. It is a choice I make every day to see myself as more than the number on a scale or the size of my clothing.

What is beauty to you? Personally, I think authenticity is the most beautiful quality of any individual. Learning to accept your unique differences, inside and out, without looking at them as “flaws” is a great start. You are who you are. Be proud of who you’ve fought to become.

How do you love yourself and celebrate your beauty? Why do you think self-love is difficult for women? Personally, I express myself by wearing what I want, how I want. Societal standards brainwash us as children into believing a (plus-size) woman should only wear certain styles of tops, bottoms, dresses, etc. I call bull. I fully intend to show you who I am, and whether or not you see what I see — which is total gorgeousness — isn’t my business.

What advice would you give someone who’s struggling with self-consciousness? Acknowledge you feel the way(s) you do, forgive yourself for allowing those thoughts to negatively effect how you view your mind/body, and create a healthier relationship with you.

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Megan Manders, a 25-year-old yoga instructor, who helps students to find health, strength, and flexibility on and off the mat.

What has made you self-conscious in the past? When I was younger, I was self-conscious about how skinny I was. I began to love myself as I am. My body type is and always has looked the same. I’ve always played sports, exercised, and lived a healthy lifestyle, which has contributed to my size.

What is beauty to you? Beauty can be many things. Beauty in people to me is being confident and comfortable in your own skin. The self-love journey is difficult for women because we live in a society that profits off of our insecurities.

How do you love yourself and celebrate your beauty? I love myself

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by accepting myself, and taking care of my physical and mental health on a daily basis. I celebrate my beauty by being confident and embracing my imperfections.

What advice you would give someone who is struggling with self-consciousness? Challenge negative thoughts and work on accepting yourself as you are.

JANUA RY / F E BRUA RY 2020

GOLDEN I S LES

Tina Kim-Brinkman Tina Kim-Brinkman, 60-something persistent optimist, dedicated to cultivating creativity, while still working on her headstand.

What has made you self-conscious in life? Self-consciousness is relative, right? What has always served to make me feel this way is to be treated differently, or as second-class, or not important. All things that are feelings women everywhere have had, although very different depending on their age, their color, their socio-economic state, or where they live.

Can you recall a scenario where you overcame the issue and came into your own? My reality is that when I have a few extra pounds (because baking!) I am self-conscious. The other side of that is the pride of saying, “hey — have you been blessed with my cooking?” I think that being self-conscious looks different in the seasons of our lives. It’s our job to see it and do what we can to ease the feeling.

How do you love yourself and celebrate your beauty? This actually makes me laugh … because if a woman says that she always loves herself and has the ease to celebrate her beauty, she’s being somewhat disingenuous. For me, age has changed self-love and celebrating my beauty different in ways I didn’t see coming. I tell others when the subject comes up that I thought I was going to age a whole heck of a lot better than I have. I can be pretty tough on myself. I hate the fact that my knees are garbage, and that I can’t do as much physically as I once did. I can still do plenty and I celebrate that. I also try to balance the shortcomings with saying that I’m far wiser with each passing day. I love myself by practicing yoga every weekday, and hot yoga is my passion. As my tank top says, “I’m stronger than I look.” My practice has changed in that I do not see my poses always advancing or moving toward perfection as they might have years ago. I fight with everything to hold the line, to keep what I have. In that is the celebration. You show up, you give it all you have, and you are gentle with yourself when what you have falls short of your expectations. Self-love and celebration are gifts you choose to give yourself. I believe

that when others see your effort and your attempts to make the “less” acceptable, it shares the gift of self-love.

How did you overcome your insecurities? One of the “gifts” my mother gave to me was to honestly give zero cares to what other people think about me. That has allowed me to speak out more, to be honest with myself, and to encourage others to do the same. Making another person self-conscious is just control, and it is never okay to control another person.

What is beauty to you? Beauty is being authentic — to speak your own truth, to know your value. Most of all, it’s extending love and compassion to everyone. That is beauty. I appreciate gorgeous eyebrows and glowing skin as much as the next person, but it’s true, it’s what is on the inside that counts. Love is beautiful, sharing is beautiful, honesty is beautiful, and caring about others is maybe the most beautiful of all.

Why do you think the self-love journey is difficult for women? Women are taught that they have a long list of mustdos in order to be accepted, to be loved, to be fairly compensated. Women are incredibly strong, and that strength is not always taught from an early age or applauded when it is demonstrated. Most often, I think that women have a difficult journey because they are just flat tired. They do it all, and they are expected to do so in many cases. We are not taught that we can draw our own boundaries, choose our own roles, and stand in our own power. This faulty teaching diminishes the individual and the group. Self-love has wrongly been called out as being “selfish,” when in fact, to care for ourselves is the greatest gift we can give to others who rely on us.

What advice would you give someone who’s struggling with self-confidence? Take care of yourself first and foremost. If something gets in the way of your self-confidence, ask if you can change it or if you have to learn ways to make dealing with that easier. There are amazing women today who are role models in the areas of body size, age, sexuality — and everything else that women struggle with. Find a role model, a mentor. Pull up alongside them and ask for help. Mr. Rogers was right, “look for the helpers.” I bet he heard that from Mrs. Rogers.

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GOLDEN I S LES

Roxana Bush

Roxana Bush is a 60-year-old native of El Salvador. She is

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Jessica’s mother (and has three other daughters) and a grandmother to nine. She is a Zumba and fitness teacher who packs the house multiple times a day at The Club.

In the past, what was a challenge for you? I was self-conscious of being on stage teaching a group

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power class where the students taking the class were going to be scrutinizing everything I said because of my accent. I felt like they were going to compare me with the other teachers who have been teaching for years.

How did you work through that?

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I knew not everyone would be judging me on my accent but on the way I was teaching my class. I trusted that the people around me would see that I was doing my best and would see how much I love to exercise.

How do you cultivate self-love? I love myself by taking care of me. I eat healthy, exercise, am positive, get good sleep, and surround myself with family and friends who love and support me.

What makes this hard for women? Because we are always thinking of others and putting

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How do you suggest overcoming it? Accepting yourself unconditionally as a valuable person in spite of your faults, celebrating your strengths and differences ... and being patient and kind to yourself.

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Rowling penned many memorable lines throughout her Harry Potter series. One of the most profound was offered by Hogwarts’ headmaster Albus Dumbledore. In the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Dumbledore tells the boy wizard that, “words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic — capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” How true that is (even for us muggles). Words are indeed powerful, and when one needs to find the strength to carry on or create change, turning to inspirational phrases can lay the foundation. Affirmations have long been used as tools within the mindfulness community.

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As an author who holds Enneagram and prayer workshops at Christ Church Frederica, Randy Siegel has incorporated affirmations into his programs. He feels these are simple ways to connect participants to their higher selves.

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GOLDEN I S LES

“A form of neuro-linguistic programming, affirmations can change the way we think and help forge new habits that create positive change in our lives.” In various traditions, phrases, prayers, or mantras are repeated to help facilitate a meditative state. Siegel says that the repetition can prove grounding, serving as a base as one moves through the day. “I am most attracted to a way of using affirmations that mirrors centering prayer, a contemplative practice. I select one word — today it’s “grace” — that I repeat throughout the day whenever I want to return to feeling the presence of the divine,” Siegel says.

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“While there’s little in life that we can actually control, we can control where we place our attention. Affirmations are a means for focusing our attention on that we wish to manifest in our lives, whether it be peace, self-love, abundance, a relationship, or communion with the divine,” he says.

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“For example, I might be standing in line at the grocery store and realize that I am focused on all I have to do that day. I silently say to myself, ‘grace,’ and I become present. And, as a wise teacher once told me, ‘When you are present, just whose presence do you think you’re in?’” Siegel also uses affirmations as a way to reorient himself during stressful periods throughout the day. “Another way that I use affirmations is when I find myself getting impatient, which is often. I might be stuck in traffic and feel myself getting upset and angry. I take a deep breath and say to myself, ‘patience, trust, surrender,’ and I begin to relax,” he says. There are dozens of ways to incorporate affirmations into one’s life. Some like to jot down positive phrases or single words on paper, drop them in a jar, and then select one each day. Others prefer to situate decorative cards throughout one’s home or office to keep an affirmation in the forefront of one’s mind.

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Of course, they can also serve as a basis for a full mindfulness practice. John Hartland, founder of Hartland Yoga, says that creating a simple daily ceremony can set the tone for the day or prove a settling way to end an evening. “Affirmations are a reminder of the power of the mind. When we repeat a word or phrase, we explore the power of the mantra. We create a mental imprint in the brain,” Hartland says. “They are an excellent way to train the brain, center yourself, and set the tone for the day. Combined with breath and repetition, you can take an affirmation and make it into a powerful meditation tool by creating a mantra.” Hartland says that can be an easy process. A few simple steps can be used to create one’s own affirmation practice. “Start small — your mantra should be affirming, uplifting, easy to remember, and a reflection of you,” he says. “Mantras or repetitive affirmations are one of the most powerful ways to engage the mind and explore the power of meditation. Five minutes a day is all it requires.”

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An exercise provided by Randy Siegel

ur inner dialogue determines in large part how effectively we operate in the world. Words lead to thoughts, thoughts to emotions, and emotions to energy. One way to raise your vibration and operate on a higher level is to focus on one power word that has a particular charge for you. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see if you can determine yours.

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Step One: Circle one of the three following scenarios that holds the most energy for you right now. One: Imagine you are living your ideal life. You are happy, fulfilled, and at peace. Two: Picture yourself on your death bed, congratulating yourself on a life well-lived. Three: Identify one area of your life or work that is not working, in which you feel stuck.

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Step Two: Take a minute and step into that scenario. Daydream. What is happening? How do you feel? For example, if you chose scenario three, how would it feel to be unstuck, to have your career or life working perfectly?

I write: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Joy/Gratitude Purpose Love/Open Heart Accomplishment Wisdom Gentle Grounded

I choose scenario two. I see myself at home, in bed, and surrounded by those who love me. I know death is imminent, but I am not afraid. I am slightly smiling. I am at peace.

Your turn:

Step Three: Write down seven words that describe your ideal life, life well-lived, or unstuck life.

2. _____________________________________________________

I wrote:

3. _____________________________________________________

1. Legacy 2. Service 3. Purposeful 4. Love 5. Enlightenment 6. God 7. Joy

4. _____________________________________________________

1. _____________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________ 6. _____________________________________________________ 7. _____________________________________________________

Step Six: Convert these words into complete sentences using first person and present tense.

Your turn: 1. _____________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________ 4. _____________________________________________ 5. _____________________________________________

I write: I am filled with joy and gratitude. I am purposeful (and passionate about my purpose). I am loving; my heart is open. I am accomplished. I am wise. I am gentle.

6. _____________________________________________

I am grounded.

7. _____________________________________________

Your turn:

Step Four:

1. _____________________________________________________

Say each word out loud. Does one word have more charge than the others? None stands out for me. But as I review my list, another word emerges: “transcendence.” Chills run up my spine. When I think about the word “transcendence,” I think about transcending ego and tapping into my authentic self and higher power. I have found my power word.

2. _____________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________ 4. _____________________________________________________ 5. _____________________________________________________

Your Power Word: ______________________________

6. _____________________________________________________

Step Five: Think about your word,

7. _____________________________________________________

and write down seven words or phrases that describe your life when you are living your word. What are you doing? How are you being? What does this bring you? 80

GOLDEN I S LES

Say each sentence out loud. As you do, check in with your feelings. Do you feel powerful, peaceful, and inspired? If not, try rewriting the sentence and repeating it

it out loud. Change the wording until each sentence feels right. I say each of my sentences out loud. I feel great.

Step Seven: Post your power word and seven supporting sentences where you can see them. Repeat your power word often, but especially when you are feeling low. Notice how it changes your thinking. By remembering and repeating your power word throughout the day, you will raise your vibration and operate on a higher level.

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The bright and airy atmosphere inside

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a dark and rainy Savannah morning. Stepping into the toasty (and thankfully dry) space,

waves of lavender mingled with crisp, clean cotton proved to be a warm welcoming Âcommittee.

The boutique, situated on historic Hall Street, is the brainchild of Cari Phelps.

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The The wedding wedding bowl bowl It was a literal dream that inspired her — and it completely changed her life, transforming the marketing and design aficionado into a bonafide salt guru. "It’s kind of a crazy thing. My husband and I were renovating a building from the 1800s here in Savannah. It was a Friday night; and I had a dream that I was packaging salt for a client in a reclaimed bottle we found in our backyard," she says. "My background is packaging and design and marketing. I helped launch Savannah Bee Company’s packaging about 20 years ago, so I think I was combining everything that was happening in my personal and professional lives." Upon waking, Phelps’ husband shared that the area’s natives, the Euchee, had a specific word for salt — Tybee. That sparked a big idea.

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"I decided that we should come up with a company that utilized that link to the natural world," she says. That’s how Salacia Salt was born. Throughout the years, Phelps and her

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"It’s kind of a crazy thing. My husband and I were renovating a building from the 1800s here in Savannah. It was a Friday night; and I had a dream that I was packaging salt for a client in a reclaimed bottle we found in our backyard," Phelps says.

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“You think salt would be a drying agent, since it has historically been used for curing and preserving things. But it actually exfoliates and helps your your skin reach its fullest potential.” CARI PHELPS

team have focused on building a brand that married Georgia-grown with uniquely Coastal materials for a variety of products. They are, of course, centered around the same foundation — salt. For thousands of years, salt has been used to detoxify the body, drawing impurities out of the skin through soothing soaks. Phelps says the variation they use — Atlantic sea salt — promotes a flawless and dewy complexion.

GOLDEN I S LES

"You think salt would be a drying agent, since it has historically been used for curing and preserving things. But it actually exfoliates and helps your your skin reach its fullest potential. It’s really like bringing home that feeling you have after a day at the beach," Phelps says. Salt soaks also offer minerals to help heal the body from the inside out, says boutique manager Jasmine Head. Sitting in a warm bath for 15 to 20 minutes allows time for the nutrients to steep into the body.

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"The minerals that are found in naturally occurring salts offer more benefits than those that are m anufactured. Epsom salt, for instance, is one that works to soothe tired muscles, but does not provide the same nutrients," Phelps adds.

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"The Atlantic sea salts that we use in our salt soaks offer 32 different minerals. They include high amounts of essentials like zinc, magnesium, potassium, and calcium," Head says. "Those natural occurring minerals are antioxidants, and they have anti-inflammatory properties. After 15 to 20 minutes, it absorbs through the skin, the body’s largest organ, and disperses throughout the body. So the minerals are reducing the inflammation in the body, helping to calm the central nervous system." The minerals that are found in naturally occurring salts offer more benefits than those that are manufactured. Epsom salt, for instance, is one that works to soothe tired muscles, but does not provide the same nutrients, Phelps adds. "Epsom salts are man-made, so that doesn’t give you the minerals. The salt does help to relax the muscles and tension, but doesn’t have the other benefits of the minerals," she says.

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S A L T The salts, which are available locally at the Salt Table on Jekyll Island and at Southern Finds on St. Simons Island, are also infused with a number of Georgia-sourced herbs, nuts, and seeds to boost the benefits for the body. "We blend different Southern botanicals that we source in the area or that are native to the land. And I think we use things in ways really not used before. For instance, we use grits as an exfoliant, which removes the dead skin and helps to keep the skin looking youthful," Phelps says. "We use the pecan nuts, not the shell but the meat, and the natural oils come out in our salt soaks and bars. You are getting the oil right from the pecan into your skin. We get both the pecans and the grits from Georgia farmers. The grits come from a female-owned farm in South Georgia, outside of Valdosta, in fact." Salacia Salts has been branching out in recent years, extending their product line beyond the salts and scrubs to include moisturizers, candles, and aromatherapy. "It’s been a labor of love starting with the salt soaks and scrubs. Now we are moving into other areas like moisturizers, aromatherapy products, and candles," Phelps says.

“We blend different Southern botanicals that we source in the area or that are native to the land. And I think we use things in ways really not used before.”

CARI PHELPS

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"There really is a self-love piece to it. A bath is often times the only part of the day where women are by themselves and when they’re not needed. It’s a few minutes of quiet just for them," Head says. JASMINE HEAD

They have partnered with wholesalers across the country, including Universal Studios in Orlando, which carry their products. But they also invite customers to come in to their shop to learn more about the science behind the salts. They often host groups at the boutique where Head guides them as they craft their own customized salt mixture. She is available to explain the benefits of the oils and salts, describing how fragrance profiles can meld together to produce personalized products.

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"We offer skin care workshops where people can come in and make their own customized body or face scrubs, as well as clay mask workshops, which are really focused on the benefits of the clay. We talk about the different extracts and oils that they can use. You’re combining three elements to create something completely unique," Phelps says. While all of the natural products — from the masks to the salt soaks — have detoxification benefits, they also offer an opportunity to create space for taking a break.

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Head says taking a salt soak is also about pressing pause on one’s busy life. "There really is a self-love piece to it. A bath is oftentimes the only part of the day where women are by themselves and when they’re not needed. It’s a few minutes of quiet just for them," Head says. "Even the act of just being seated quietly is therapeutic. You let the outside world go and calm yourself from the inside out."

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OUT WITH THE OLD …

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Ling Sun arranged her white lab coat as she settled into her seat at Feeling Great Wellness Center in Brunswick. Behind her an anatomical chart outlining the meridians of the body was displayed on the wall. For many, it may look like a chaotic mass of lines and numbers — not so for the native of Luoyang, China, who has been studying these complex energetic systems for more than 20 years. W

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Ling Sun In Chinese tradition, there is a concept called , (châ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i) an Âenergy that flows within all living beings. It travels within the body through energetic highways known as meridians.

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“I came here in 1998 from central China, from Luoyang. There’s a peony flower festival there every year,” she remembers with a smile. The city, situated between Beijing and Xi’an, is an ancient one, where residents are deeply connected to history, as well as the natural world around them. These links between the past and present shaped Sun’s future.

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“My grandmother was what we call a ‘bare foot doctor’ in China, which means she had skills in healing people. She would always give medicine to people in the countryside,” she says. “If people had a problem, they would run to our house. She would give them medicine, but she wouldn’t charge them. Sometimes they would give her eggs or things like that in exchange.” Her grandmother eventually experienced her own health problems, suffering from heart disease. That, Sun says, prompted her father to become a doctor, which in turn inspired her own journey into Chinese medicine and the world of acupuncture.

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Sun spent a great deal of time learning the healing practices that have been used by the Chinese for thousands of years. “In China, acupuncture is used in hospitals along with Western medicine. You still check everything with machines and tests, but it is also used,” she says. As an acupuncturist, who works in Brunswick and at Balance Wellness on St. Simons Island, Sun feels these Chinese methods provide a wealth of benefits. Acupuncture, for instance, aims to cure everything from physical pains to emotional stress. It’s all based on energy. In the Chinese tradition, there is a concept called Qi, an energy that flows within all living beings. It travels within the body through energetic highways known as meridians. The body is divided in half, with 12 meridians running through each side. Along these channels are roughly 360 acupuncture points that correspond to organ systems. “The meridians are invisible. They’re energetic lines. Along the lines, there are points that have different functions and correspond to different organs,” Sun says. “When there is a

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blockage in these points, then you have pain or a problem.” That can include anything from a headache to depression. The goal through acupuncture is to clear the energetic lines, allowing the Qi to flow freely. That’s where the needles come in. The single-use pins stimulate and unblock the knotted energy, much like dry needling does for muscles. “You make a diagnosis, put your pins in, and it usually takes between 25 to 30 minutes with the needles in … but it is different for every person. The energy runs to different organs at different times, through different meridians. So we have to follow that,” she says. “These aren’t the needles like needles in the hospital. They are very thin, and not hollow like a shot, which causes pain. It is more like a pinch. You put the needles in different points in the body, and they remove the blockage.”

JANUA RY / F E BRUA RY 2020

Like Sun, Mark Brinson has been practicing acupuncture and Chinese medicine for decades. The owner of Saint Acupuncture and Wellness in Redfern Village also incorporates his training in massage, physical therapy, and herbal treatments to combat a variety of ailments.

Acupuncture,

Brinson notes, still has some mystic qualities even after thousands of years and modern exploration.

Acupuncture, he notes, still has some mystic qualities even after thousands of years and modern exploration. “It really is basically just boosting an electrical signal within the body. It’s not only the point that you put the pin in, it’s the combination of points, that stimulates the body to heal itself,” he says. It was an unlikely path that led the Florida native to delve into the realm of ancient medicine. “I’d never had acupuncture, and I was deathly afraid of needles,” he says with a laugh. “Needles and public speaking were my two biggest fears in high school. Now, I do this

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Mark Brinson

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and have lectured internationally.”

Cupping

Glass caps are used to create suction on the skin, drawing in the tissue, which according to practitioners, triggers a healing response in the body.

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But after extensive training in both Chinese medicine and other therapeutic practices, he began to customize plans for each patient. That has helped to produce solid results, which have contributed to his stellar local reputation as a healer. “I think the combination of the hands-on work, the herbs, and acupuncture makes the difference. Any of those three tools could probably solve the problem, but I think it will take longer. You could come in, and I could treat you 10 times. Or you could come in once, and we could just go ahead and fix it,” Brinson says. “We can treat just about anything that comes through the door. I do well with musculoskeletal because that is my background There are some things that are super easy to treat — anxiety, shingles, vertigo, and fertility for both men

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“If I’ve treated you before, I know that you could use this particular herbal formula. But if someone else comes in, they would get something completely different. It is very much based on the individual,” he says. Another technique Brinson incorporates is cupping. Glass caps are used to create suction on the skin, drawing in the tissue, which according to practitioners, triggers a healing response in the body. A cotton ball soaked in alcohol can be lit aflame to heat the cup and increase the suction prior to application.

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“It can be used with a stubborn injury that won’t heal. After a while the body stops paying attention to (an injury), so this just brings it back to the body’s attention and stimulates it to heal itself,” Brinson says. “It’s really about the body healing itself.” Like Brinson, Sun feels the ancient practice provides solutions for a modern world. Promoting the balance of the energy that lies beneath the physical can pave a way to one’s best life. “Everything is energy … the yin and yang. It is nature. Sunrise is yang, sunPANTONE COLORS set is yin,” she says with a smile. “We are always comparing the yin and the yang, the positive and negative. We live under the sky and on the earth. It’s a yin and yang world.”

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Words by Lauren McDonald | Photos by Bobby Haven

Few are fortunate enough to make their passion their profession. Those who have, though, didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t succeed at that feat overnight. Many first had to work to discover their passion and then to build their professional lives around what they love. In doing so, some can reach a level of fulfillment many others crave.

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ea King-Badyna, executive director of Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, pairs her talents for communication with her passion to conserve the natural environment. Her love for her work translates into the dedication she shows toward keeping her community beautiful.

Bill and Mendi Rush, owners of the Golden Isles American Taekwondo Association school in Brunswick, spent years training in martial arts before opening their own school, at which they’re able to educate the next generation in the art of Taekwondo. And Catherine Hillis, a plein air artist, travels the country creating paintings and sharing her talents. These are just a few of the local residents who’ve made their passions into their professions, and below they share their stories.

Lea King-Badyna, executive director of Keep Golden Isles Beautiful Lea King-Badyna’s favorite pastime

“Since I was not good in the biologies

“It’s working within the community,

is talking trash. Fortunately, that’s her

in college, I didn’t major in any of

for community betterment, working

day job.

that, but working in public relations

with local officials and the public and

and working with both of those

businesses, basically for the health of

King-Badyna is the executive director

organizations let me work in that field

local natural resources.”

of Keep Golden Isles Beautiful, a

anyway,” she says. “This job was just

nonprofit in Glynn County that brings

an extension of that, of still getting

Her goal, she says, is to preserve her

together the public, the business

to work with the coastal natural

home’s beauty.

community, and many more to keep

resources.”

this area eco-friendly and

“What I most enjoy is

litter free.

working with a lot of different people to help

King-Badyna has served as

make our community the

the executive director for

most vibrant and best it

six years, and she says the

can be for all of us,” she

position marries many of her

says.

professional and personal passions.

Her job allows her to be creative and

King-Badyna volunteered

challenges her to problem

with Keep Golden Isles Beautiful

King-Badyna, when working for the

solve and develop solutions. And

before joining the staff.

advancement office at the College

she encourages others to seek

of Coastal Georgia, most enjoyed

opportunities that fulfill them and help

She worked previously for the Coastal

working on campus-wide projects.

them grow.

Resources Division of the Department

That passion carried over into her

of Natural Resources, helping to

future interest in community-wide

“Even just volunteering and getting

organize CoastFest each year, as

collaborations.

that kind of experience can open

well as for the University of Georgia’s

doors and lead down pathways a

Marine Extension office. Both jobs

“Keep Golden Isles Beautiful is like

person’s never thought of before,”

solidified her love and interest in

if all those jobs married and had a

King-Badyna says. “Be open to

working with coastal natural resources.

baby, it would be this job,” she says.

possibility.”

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GOLDEN I S LES

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Bill and Mendi Rush, owners of Golden Isles American Taekwondo Association Mendi Rush built her career before she

Her husband, Bill, is also a third degree

“I’m 68 now,” he says. “I’ve been

discovered her passion.

black belt who has won many awards.

doing this on and off a long time.”

Since they began teaching together,

It’s too easy, Bill says, to go down a

Mendi works as a computer

the pair have instructed more than

career path without following any

programmer and project manager

500 students in Florida and Georgia.

real passion.

for a third party administrator for a

They moved to Brunswick a few

health insurance company, at which

years ago to open the Golden Isles

“We tend to go through our

she’s been employed for 28 years.

American Taekwondo Association

education, and we start applying

Taekwondo did not enter her world

school.

for jobs and oftentimes you get

until later in her life.

hooked into a profession because of Taekwondo is special, they say,

When she began attending her

because it teaches self-confidence.

daughter’s first lessons at a martial arts

Through the teaching of Taekwondo,

school, Mendi had her first opportunity

Bill and Mendi

to gave Taekwondo a try. She did, and

help students

she quickly fell in love.

overcome shyness and

“I learned that I was a very

find self-

competitive person,” she says.

discipline.

Today, Mendi is a third degree black belt in Taekwondo with numerous

Neither has an

championship wins to her credit.

educational background in childhood development. But baked into the

an opportunity — as opposed to a

foundations of martial arts, Mendi says,

love or something that inspires you,”

is a teaching of respect that is passed

he says. “Often we get a handout

down from instructor to student.

from a friend or an introduction from someone else, and that opens an

“We are the example of what martial

easy door and there we are. That

arts does — it’s a giveback. That’s

becomes the career.”

the whole purpose,” she says. “Most people think it’s about winning

But to stay challenged and grow

trophies or sweeping the leg … but

throughout life, he recommends

it truly is about giving back. You take

getting out there, trying something,

what you accumulated and learned

and discovering a passion.

from all the instructors you’ve had over the years you’ve practiced and

To find a passion — at any age —

you take all the best parts and you

Bill and Mendi recommend taking

give it to the generation after you.”

chances and trying new things. “Do not discount any opportunity you

Bill previously worked in resort and

have to do something … try it once,”

restaurant management. He got

Mendi says. “It may spark something

started in martial arts when he was 28.

in you.”

JANUARY / F E BRUA RY 2020

109

Catherine Hillis, professional painter Hillis has long been involved in the

watercolor classes when my youngest

because it’s my deep passion, and my

arts. But it was not until later in life that

child was born,” she says. “One thing

personality, energy level, and ability

painting became her profession.

led to another, and I started getting

match the demands of the job,”

“I actually majored in theater at the

into national watercolor competitions.

Hillis says.

University of Georgia and majored in

Then I began teaching, and then I

costume design,” she says. “But I did

decided to start my own business. And

On the plein air circuit, she brings

acting, and also I actually did work

this was 20 years ago.”

her supplies along and creates

professionally before I had children, so I’ve always been in the arts.”

paintings daily. Then, she’s able to She moved to St. Simons in 2017 and

share her work and her passion with

began teaching classes. She works

fellow art lovers.

After having children, she began

now as a professional painter, traveling

focusing more on drawing and

around the country on the plein air

“I love to paint. I feel like I’m so lucky

painting, and eventually she took her

painting market.

to be able to have my own business,

talents to the national stage.

to make a living off of it. I get to go “I’m glad I can work as an artist,

to such wonderful places and paint

“I’ve always been able to draw

even though it’s the physically most

the historic sites in each place. I’m so

and paint, and I did just take some

demanding job I’ve ever done,

lucky to be able to do this,” Hillis says.

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GOLDEN I S LES

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N O I S E M A K E R S W

The bows laid into the strings and the violins sprung to life. As the crowd O

RD Y SB LIN DS EY AD

stood transfixed, two petite — and identical — women unleashed a fury of sound. There were no lyrics, but of course, they were unnecessary. The audience knew the words all too well.

SO N

“The devil went down to Georgia, he was looking for a soul to steal. He was in a bind because he was way behind and he was looking to make a deal.” As the classic Charlie Daniels’ tune raged, drummer Butch Braddy chimed in and the crowd burst into applause. It’s a scene that has been recreated across the Golden Isles. “The ‘Devil went Down to Georgia’ is a big one for us because it’s such a popular fiddle song. We find ourselves playing it a couple of times a night ... people want to hear it,” he says. “The second time we play it is usually a little more lively if people have been partying.” The Free Spirit Orchestra have pumped up a number of such parties and events. From the Shrimp and Grits Festival on Jekyll Island to Rhythm on the River in Brunswick, the trio has blazed a path through the area. One reason for the interest is, of course, the unique set up — two violins played by twin sisters, Aiman and Sholpan Beibitbeyava, and one drummer, Braddy. The sisters have a fascinating back story to boot. Born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the sisters started violin training when they were just seven years old. They then attended Kurmangazy Kazakh National Conservatory until graduation at the age of 24. “After conservatory, each earned first chair violin positions with the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Kazakhstan, where they toured the world several times. While not touring the world with the symphony,

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GOLDEN I S LES

the girls played as a duo that was very popular throughout their country,” Braddy explains. “The duo played restaurants, casinos, and at conventions. They played for the president of Kazakhstan, which is a very cool honor. They are really rock stars in their home country.” Braddy is no light-weight either, and offers decades of experience. Growing up in Savannah, he played in numerous bands and has toured nationally, as well as internationally. But it was in his hometown that he met the sisters, one of whom (Aiman) would become his future bride. “I was playing in my pop band at one of our favorite places in Savannah. It was getting toward end of our set when I see these two beautiful women come in and sit down right in front of the stage,” Braddy recalls. “There was a guy with them too, so when we were done, I walked up to him and asked how he got two such beautiful women. He says ‘just lucky I guess.’” Braddy sat down with the group and began to chat. It turned out, one of the women, Sholpan, was married to the man at the table. The other, her sister, was visiting the couple from Kazakhstan — and Braddy was completely smitten. Aiman also remembers the night they met vividly. “In 2016, I came to Savannah with my daughter to visit my twin sister. Many years we celebrated our birthdays separate, but this time, we were together. We decided to celebrate it in restaurant where is life music. Jazz’d Tapa’s is a very stylish and beautiful plays with good music and food,” she said. “A great band was playing there. We were listening and dancing. When musicians had break, the drummer came to us and started talking to my sister’s husband.”

Braddy recalled talking about music with the women, and that’s when they suggested that they all play together.

We protect it. You live it.

“I was thinking ‘that doesn’t make any sense, drums and violins don’t go together,’ but in order to stay close to my future wife, I said ‘alright,’” he says with a laugh. “But in the back of my mind, I didn’t think it would work.” It did though. And after the group started playing as a three piece, Braddy was thrilled with how the music — and relationship — evolved. “One day he took me to see his parents in retirement home. They were the most beautiful and best parents. I loved them at once, and they loved me too,” Aiman said. “It was so different, the more we met, the more we realized that we were happy together.” Eventually, he and Aiman were married and she came to live in the United States. “It was crazy cool,” Braddy says. “It wasn’t a long courtship, but it was the best thing in the world. I thought she was completely out of my league.” The trio started playing through the region as the Free Spirits Orchestra with ladies up front and Braddy holding down the beat. The trio covered an impressive number of popular tunes, ranging from Led Zepplin to classical music to traditional songs from the women’s homeland.

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“Those songs from Kazakhstan are really incredible. They are so pretty and have this driving sound where you can just imagine horses running on the plains of Kazakhstan. It lets us expose people to all kinds of music that they probably wouldn’t hear otherwise.” Recently, Free Spirits Orchestra has shifted from a trio to a duo. Aiman’s sister had to relocate, leaving the couple to reconfigure their act. But that’s not a bad thing, Braddy says, the couple is excited for what the future holds. “It’s really great being married and playing music together. We’ve been working really hard to reimagine ourselves as a duo. We have been touring a bit up the East Coast,” he says. “We want to travel a lot and would love to work on cruise ships or resorts. Our children are adults now so there’s really nothing holding us back. We hope to do some international traveling. It’s exciting ... the whole thing has been a crazy ride.” “Now we are together, and we have everything for happiness: two beautiful daughters, our duo, and love,” Aiman adds.

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Emily McCarthy, from left, Caitlin Whatley, and Grace Moxley

Ali Blizzard, from left, Kimsey Langford, and Ryan Smith

Candice Hires, from left, Gerri Mullis, and Mandy Miller

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE GOLDEN ISLES

Junior Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association of the Golden Isles was recently reborn, becoming the Junior League of the Golden Isles. A celebration and networking event was hosted by Lizzie Piazza, owner of The Art House, in Redfern Village on St. Simons Island. The group boasts 94 active members and 120 sustaining members. It promotes female leadership and philanthropic efforts in the community. For more information, visit jlgi.org.

Nicole Rodgers and Tania McRae, from left, Jane Ranier, and Mary Margaret Shiver Marianne Stonefield

Denesha Summers and Robin Love

Lillian Clarke and Lizzie Piazza

Tori Payne, from left, Michelle Brown, and Tavia Harrison

Alyssa Thomas, from left, Nicole Rodgers, Lizzie Piazza, Brooke Parmelee, and Jennifer Morrow

Michael and Bentley Kaufman, from left, Molly and Brett Nobles, and Ashley and Jimmy Seaman

BLUE JEAN BALL

The Blue Jean Ball, benefiting the Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia, was hosted by Davis and Robin Love at Sinclair Plantation on St. Simons Island. Guests enjoyed a night full of Southern flavors and upbeat tunes, as well as silent and live auctions. The proceeds went to helping the organization find forever homes for cats and dogs. For more information about the humane society, visit HSSCG.org.

Matt and Beth Lemke

Larissa and Brad Harris

Janet and Freddie Zeh

Brad and Kate Danowski

Clark and Cindy Hendley

JANUARY / F E BRUA RY 2020

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Tres Hamilton, from left, Rita Spalding, and Celia Eisenträger

COMMUNITY SHABBAT

A Community Shabbat was held in November at First United Methodist Church in Brunswick. Hosted by Temple Beth Tefilloh, the evening featured a description of Jewish practices that take place on the Sabbath led by Rabbi Rachael Bregman. More than 80 attendees, spanning the faith spectrum, took part in the night, which included a potluck meal, games, and fellowship.

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makeup features a rosy romantic blush lips that match her colorful t of various roses, ranunculi, and kling of Italian ruscus. The look is e with the chapel-length Espana veil from Toni Federici.

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GOLDEN I S LESThis sapphire and diamond

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COASTAL SEEN

Herman and Dawne Hudson

Beverly Billenback and Marie Hines

Corinne Ramsey and Alberta Adams

GOLDEN ISLES LIVE

Golden Isles Live hosted Jeff Dayton, Glen Campbellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s band leader, in concert for the first performance of its season. The organization will host innovative pianist Jason Lyle Black on March 6 and Sail On a Beach Boys Tribute Band April 18. Both concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Glynn Academy Auditorium in Brunswick. For more information about concerts, visit goldenisleslive.org.

Jim and Claudia Royal, from left, and Rose and Richard Applegate

Tony and Linda Etheridge

Mary Beth Wester

Kern and Jane Baker

Jackie Turbidy and Molly McChesney

Phyllis and Willie Strange

Bob and MaryLou MacKlan

Karin and Larry Mills

Mary and Bill Askew

Jack and Kay Cantrell, from left, and Janis Rodriquez JANUARY / F E BRUA RY 2020

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COASTAL SEEN

Elizabeth Halderson owner of Elizabeth Pottery

Sarah Pettinger owner of Lady Hanover Press

Ashley Flynn owner of Alchemy and the Sea

MOXIE CRAFT FEST

The Moxie Craft Fest Holiday Handmade Market brought together local makers as well as those from throughout the region for a market at Old City Hall in downtown Brunswick. The event, organized by Jenny Van’t Land, is one of two held throughout the year to showcase the wares of crafters and creators. More than 40 vendors attended the holiday market.

Jenny Van’t Land, Moxie founder, and Jami Stone Bowden owner Flight of the Parcel

Courtney Prince and her father, Stephen Prince

Denice and Eddie Esserman

Jason Darcy, from left, Kim and Carl Coolidge

Leah King-Badyna, from left, Nancy Butler, and Jan Hailey

Mary Boatright and Jennifer Podlin

RSM CLASSIC

The 10th annual RSM Classic at Sea was held November 18 to 24 at the Seaside Golf Course on St. Simons Island. Hosted by local PGA Tour pro Davis Love III, the tournament drew locals and visitors to the picturesque greens, while raising money for local charities. This year’s winner was Tyler Duncan.

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GOLDEN I S LES

COASTAL SEEN

COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY

Dowling Gibson owner of Drift Away Jewelry

Jess Austin owner of Peculiar Abode

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COASTAL SEEN

Attendees flock to Brunswick Manor for a performance by the Pine Box Dwellers. It is estimated thousands came out to the event.

PorchFest

Downtown Brunswickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second annual PorchFest drew thousands to the historic district on a chilly November afternoon. Attendees meandered from home to home while bands played on various porches throughout the area. The free event will return Nov. 8, 2020.

Jim Weber, from left, Beau Knott, and Justin Hammack

Kosmo Hose, from left, Ed Hose, Ogden Hose, Kate and Buck Buchanan and Hayden Wright

Members of Golden Isles Belly Dancing

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GOLDEN I S LES

Beth Ann and Mike Johnston, from left, and Anna and Michael Hall

Christina and Terry Godwin

Omar and Shirley Douglass

PorchFest was based at Brunswick Manor.

Jeff McMahon, from left, Troy Castellano, and A. Joy

St. Simons Island Beach Rentals

654 Oglethorpe Sophisticated & luxurious 6 owner building graced by soaring ceilings and wall-to-wall windows is a haven for gazing at Ocean views from multiple vantage points. . Excellent south end location only steps to the Ocean & the Pier Village. Accompanied by an elegant formal dining room, tremendous chef's kitchen, den/family room with a fireplace and gorgeous built-ins. This beach home reflects inspiration & architecture including extensive moldings, hardwood floors, and all bedrooms include en suite baths. Sprawling entertainment spaces flow outside to the ample sized covered lanai.The kitchen has stainless appliances, granite counter tops, gas stove with the wet bar nearby. Condo comes attractively furnished.

150 Salt Air Villas Enjoy the feel of luxury living at the beach in this professionally decorated, fully furnished 1 bedroom, 1 bath. Floor plan with large living room open to dining room that seats 6, and a full gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances & granite countertops. Features hardwood floors in bedroom, tile throughout remaining condo, 10' ceilings, & private balcony. Gorgeous master bedroom features a King, Simmons, Beautyrest mattress, 43" smart tv, and nice linens. Comfortable couch (pulls of to Queen sleeper sofa) with chic end & coffee tables. 2 custom, very comfy rocking/swivel chairs for kicking back relaxing and watching the 55" smart tv. Just a quarter mile to the beach, close to Pier Village w/ shops & restaurants. Close to everything the island's south end has to offer. Gated complex, community pool, and ELEVATOR. Building has rolling racks/carts for easily transporting items from car to condo.

427 Beach Drive SHORT TERM VACATION RENTAL ONLY - Charming decor and laid-back style 3BR/2BH home just 2 blocks to the beach. Fully Furnished and equipped for all of your vacation needs. Side deck for grilling out on 1 of 2 different grills with fence around deck for ultimate privacy. Large kitchen, stocked with just about anything you could imagine and more for any meals you may want to prepare or walking distance to Crab Daddy's and Crab Trap restaurants! FLETC welcome with full per diem and maid service monthly. Call Chae at office to check availability! GREAT for FLETC or professionals.ACCEPT FULL FLETC per diem for utilities & maid service.

205 Reserve

Brand New Construction Townhomes, 3 Bedroom 2.5 bath, 1740 square feet finished out with custom upgrades including ceramic tile and hardwood floors, granite countertops, custom kitchen cabinets, 9 ft. ceilings, travertine back splashes, powder room, single car garage, patio and more. Not to mention, ALL Stainless Steel appliances are included, as well as blinds and wired with an alarm system! Choose all your interior colors to create your own style of living, great investment for St. Simon's ... close to the beach, shopping and dining.

Julie Vaughn, RealtorÂŽ | Associate Broker | c: 912.571.7451 o: 912.434.9964 | julievaughn70@gmail.com | 1759 Demere Rd., St. Simons Island

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