GIM July/August 2024

A World to Explore,

a vibrant community to come home to. A lifestyle that embraces true independence, friendships, culinary celebrations, and the safety of community. It’s time to enjoy retirement the way it’s meant to be.

(above) The Hurdles: Derrick, Taylor, Witt, and Reynolds

of Contents

53 HIDDEN HORTON:

A pond tucked away on the north end of Jekyll Island is home to an assortment of wildlife, and Carol Ann Wages relishes spending her days watching the dr ama unfold among the gators and the birds there.

59 SETTING SAIL:

Capt. Don Peacock of the Lynx tall ship shares the history of this floating 1812 replica and how it’s designed to be the same type of ship as Old Ironsides, the wood for which came from nearby Gascoigne Bluff.

64 DREAM DRIVE:

Oceanside Corvette Club shares a passion for driving sweet rides and creating community through their love of these classic American cars.

70 SURF’S UP:

The local surfing community is alive and well. Not only is it a way to embrace the great outdoors, it’s also an opportunity to commune with nature amidst the waves.

73 SEEKING SPLENDOR:

The Coastal Photographer’s Guild is gearing up for its annual Big Photo Show. They will share with us what ‘splendor’ means through pictures of their favorite places.

Kyle Morgan

We are community - A group of people who share characteristics or interests. That sense of community exists in a huge way on Saint Simons Island. That’s why so many people love to call it home. Here on our island, we care about one another. We care about our surroundings, our trees, our green space. Have you ever thought about community when it comes to giving? Your old treasures can be a blessing to many.

Harbor and hello Goodbuy are true nonprofits that exist only to help our local community.

Safe Harbor’s mission statement is this:

Established in 1991, Safe Harbor Center is a nationally recognized leader among nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving children, families, and individuals who have been abused, abandoned or neglected; who are homeless or have run away from home, and who are otherwise at risk or feel threatened. Safe Harbor has seven programs which include three group homes for children, a children’s advocacy center, a sexual assault center, a drop-in center for local at-risk and homeless youth. All of our residents and clients shop for free at our thrift shop which is also open to the public.

At hello, Goodbuy, an outreach ministry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, we pride ourselves on being built up BY the community FOR the community. We turn donations and sales into funding opportunities for local charities in Glynn Co. In August we will be giving away our $2

millionth dollar! Over the years, we have supported more than 140 charities like Glynn Community Crisis Center, Coastal Outreach Academics, Saved by Grace, No Kill Glynn, and Hospice of the Golden Isles just to name a few!

We serve our community in many other ways too. We have a voucher program where people can make donations on behalf of one of our partner charities that builds up store credit for them to send individuals and families in need to the store to shop for clothes, furniture and household needs. Through our Monthly Sponsorship Program we partner with groups that might not qualify for our larger funding program, like Glynn Academy’s FBLA, where in exchange for volunteer hours over the month they can receive a portion of the store’s sales. In addition to all of this, we put clothes, furniture, and miscellanous household items out at the back of the store for free on a daily basis. We

also offer to clothe people who walk in and ask for help.

Think of us as your local one-stop shop, for a cause, making a difference one donation and one purchase at a time!

Located at 1523 Glynn Ave, we are open for shopping 9am - 5pm Tuesdays - Saturdays and accept donation drop offs from 10am - 2pm on those same days. Visit our website to learn more http://hellogoodbuystore.com (http://hellogoodbuystore. com/). And follow us on facebook to keep up with the latest inventory!

You may leave your marked, bagged items on your front porch for convenient pick up.

Free Estimate | Honing + Polishing | Sealing

3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick GA 31520

Publisher Buf f Leavy

Editor Lindsey Adkison

Proofer

Account Executives

Heather Murray

Jenn Agnew

David Colvin

Kasey Rowell

Contributing

Writers

Contributing

Photographers

Taylor Cooper

Derrick Davis

Ronald Fordham

Sam Ghioto

Anna Ferguson Hall

Michael Hall

Bryan Hendley

Larry Hobbs

Ronda Rich

Derrick Davis

Riley Dukes

Sebastian Emanuel

John Krivec

Sam Ghioto

Michael Hall

Micelle Holton

Steve Kendall

Kyle Morgan

Contributing Designers

Stacey Nichols

Donte Nunnally

Terry Wilson

Golden Isles Magazine is published six times per year by Brunswick News Publishing Company

To subscribe online to Golden Isles Magazine, go to goldenislesmagazine.com/subscribe

About the Cover: The tall ship Lynx is pictured on one of its sunset cruises. The vessel is a replica of the American privateer that served in the War of 1812. The ship winters at the Morningstar Marina on St. Simons Island. It was photographed by Sam Ghioto.

upcoming Events

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 3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick. Only work accompanied by a self-addr essed stamped envelope will be returned.

Advertising

September 21-22 October 12-13

November 29-Dec 1 December 14-15

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Information regarding advertising and rates is available by contacting Jenn Agnew at 912-265-8320, ext. 356 or by email at jagnew@thebrunswicknews.com; Kasey Rowell at 912-2658320 ext. 334 or by email at krowell@ thebrunswicknews.com; or David Colvin at 912-265-8320 ext. 304 or by email at dcolvin@thebrunswicknews.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.

Your Perfect Staycation Awaits locals already get it:

Plan your perfect staycation with our limited-time special offers and packages, designed to showcase the best of Jekyll Island. Whether it’s for a relaxing retreat or an adventurous escape, there are countless reasons to visit Jekyll Island Club and Jekyll Ocean Club. With a wide variety of activities to explore, our tailored staycation packages and specials make planning your next getaway a breeze. Discover the magic of Jekyll Island without traveling far from home.

By

Catching Splendor Editor’s Note

Y’all know that I’m one for milestones. Last July, I marked a biggie. I celebrated my 40th birthday in what, to me, is the greatest place on Earth — the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England. As a die-hard Beatles fan, it was the pinnacle, the absolute best.

While this year definitely won’t be on that level, there’s still plenty of reason to celebrate. It is my birthday month and my fifth anniversary as editor of Golden Isles Magazine.

And, very recently, I was given the best gift. GIM was crowned Best Magazine Product at the Georgia Press Association awards ceremony. It was such an incredible honor to be dubbed the state’s “best publication,” an accolade we last garnered in 2018. As always, I have to give all the credit to our amazing writers, photographers, proofers, and designers.

Truly, thank you all. I’m equally grateful to all our sources for letting us share their stories. It’s what makes the magazine.

When I started working on this issue, the idea of “splendor” was on my mind. It’s a word that we don’t often see these days. It’s a bit pretentious when you think of its traditional use as a synonym for “pomp” and “magnificence.”

But the term’s actual meaning, returning to its Latin roots, is “great brightness” or “brilliance.” What better term to describe everything that makes the Golden Isles the magical place that it is?

This land is alive, from the light rippling on the water to the egrets tiptoeing in the marsh. It breathes, it moves, and it glows. It’s not just the land — its the people. They have a luminosity all their own.

That’s what this incarnation of GIM is all about — celebrating “Seaside Splendor” in all its “majestic” forms. It’s about drinking in the beauty of the world around us and embracing what lights us up inside. And I feel our stories in this issue do a good job of showcasing that.

In our Coastal Queue, we speak to a group of dedicated women, the Golden Isles Liberty Belles, who work tirelessly to craft quilts for veterans to show their patriotism and appreciation. We also look at the history of the St. Simons Island tree spirits, said to be the faces of sailors claimed by the sea etched into area live oaks.

In our Setting Sail feature, Larry Hobbs meets with Capt. Don Peacock of the tall ship Lynx to learn about the vessel, which winters at Morningstar Marina on St. Simons. Larry also shares the history of tall ships at Gascoigne Bluff in the 1800s. For our Surf’s Up piece, Sam Ghioto meets with area surfers to hear about the tranquility and peace they find when hitting the waves. Our Horton Pond story, we spotlight gator gal Carol Ann Wages, who shares her love of the wildlife there through books and photography. And speaking of photography, we also meet with three prolific photographers who share some of their secrets for snapping the perfect pic in our Seeking Splendor feature.

Last but not least, Michael Hall meets with members of the Oceanside Corvette Club to hear about their four-wheel passion, which also drives deep friendships. We hope this issue is a special one for you and that you have a beautiful summer.

Splendidly yours —  Lindsey

Photo

Haustin Lee

We know how your small business can make our community’s future bright. That takes being more than a banker. We stop in, stop by and, when you need us to, stop everything. Because with all the digital business banking tools and treasury management choices we offer you, none is as powerful as a great banking relationship. If you’re ready to start a business or take that next big step, make the connection with the bank that’s big on your success.

Susan Bates, Owner, Tipsy McSway’s and Tipsy McFly’s, and Joe Riccio, Senior Commercial Lender, PrimeSouth Bank, Brunswick, Georgia

Cover

Nicole Davis: It’s beautiful.

Beth Schlich Lemke: Gina Lever is the BEST!!

Taylor Baldwin: Love!!!

Megan Yarbrough Wilks: I love it!

Kathy Reeves Hubert: Very eye-catching! Good job.

Amanda Johnson: Beautiful cover!

Word On The Street

Your reactions sent to us by emails, posts, & tweets

TIME TO GET SOCIAL

instagram.com/goldenislesmag facebook.com/goldenislesmag twitter.com/goldenislesmag

If you prefer to send us your comments by 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.

Belle Reiss: This is awesome! Keep doing what you love and we will continue being your biggest fans!

Noisemakers: South of Athens

Sandi Leonard: Awesome! My favorite band!

Olivia Hutcheson Hollad: Great feature for a great bunch of guys.

Sea Island Rewind, part I

Nicole Gilman Warren: Beautiful, Gina! Wow!!

Paige Trobaugh Peck: Love!!!

Heather Nichols Jowers: Love it!

Jennifer Ward Chandler: Looks amazing!

@anniericcio: Such a cool project!!

@evgoldenisles: Stunning job! Way to go, @raelaneinteriors!

@esterdeenstudio: Look good!

Beachy Keen

AN INFORMATIVE LINEUP OF THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN ISLES

WORDS AND PHOTOS

BY DERRICK DAVIS

On a quest to find the perfect sweet treat, Josh Brown and Christine Thompson ultimately decided to create their own.

Shake It Up is a mobile dessertery that serves up decadent gourmet milkshakes crafted by the couple’s creative minds.

The “loaded milkshakes” served up by the duo take the velvety, indulgent classic and turn it into a delicious work of art that tantalizes the taste buds.

“It was just our idea to bring something different,” Thompson says. “It’s not just a milkshake, but it has a dessert on top of it too.”

From the Velvet Love, a red velvet milkshake with cream cheese icing and a mini chocolate chip rim topped with whipped cream, a red velvet cookie, and a mini red velvet cupcake, to the Flavor Flav — a vanilla shake with a vanilla icing rim covered in graham cracker crumble and topped with whipped cream, a mini vanilla cupcake, and vanilla sugar wafers — the creamy confections make for a feast for the eyes just as much as they do for the stomach.

Although Brown and Thompson tinkered with the idea for about a year and a half, Shake It Up officially hit the road this past December.

A test run on St. Simons Island spurred the couple to get to work in launching the business.

Summertime

Shakin’

“We did a little popup with some of our friends at their restaurant on the island, which worked very well for us,” Thompson says. “People were very interested in the shakes, and that’s kind of what catapulted us into, ‘We’ve got to get this out there somehow.’”

Brown and Thompson kicked around the idea of a freestanding business, something that has been a dream of Brown’s, but they eventually figured a food truck would give them the ability to take their tasty treats straight to the community.

Not only is Shake It Up a regular at First Friday downtown and Last Sunday at Glynn Isles, the mobile headquarters allows the business to roll to private events.

“It’s been great for us, in my opinion,” Brown says. “We were able to go to Morgan & Morgan, where they were still on the clock. They had to leave the office for maybe 10-15 minutes to come get a milkshake, and then were able to go right back to work. If we were in one location, we probably wouldn’t have been able to do that.

“We’ll go to FLETC, and we’ll get to give milkshakes to over 150 people, and they’ll be able to go right back to work — something we probably wouldn’t be able to do in a brick-and-mortar.”

After deciding where their shakes would be spun — anywhere and everywhere — Brown and Thompson could focus their attention on creating delectable desserts.

Shapely + Chic BOUTIQUE

Unique Stylish Inclusive

DID YOU KNOW?

Brunswick has a boutique specializing in Mid & Plus Size clothing? We offer clothing in s-3x but have a larger variety in size 10-24.

A curated limited stock, high end boutique for the tall and curvy.

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Flexing their ingenuity, the couple churns out up to four new flavors a month, including innovative takes on timeless treats like peach cobbler and s’mores.

In March, Shake It Up put together a St. Patrick’s Day-themed menu loaded with appropriately named shakes like the Charmie, Mint To Be Shamrock, and Luck of the Amy.

And some of the recent concoctions have even come as the result of crowdsourcing their followers.

“We also try to go off what is in season right now and what we think is different for our area. I think one of the best feedbacks that we get from people is that we’re easy to work with, easy to talk to about what they want, what they need,” Thompson says.

“Like our blueberry shake in April, it was actually one of our Instagram followers who suggested it. But we try to just listen to our customers, but also just try to go off what it’s in season right now and what we think is different to our area.”

Shake It Up also occasionally uses the source of its most important ingredient as one fountain of inspiration.

St. Simons Sweets provides the ice cream that serves as the creamy base of the lavish, loaded milkshakes.

“They have a lot of flavors on hand they can make us all the time, and then they have some seasonal flavors,” Thompson says. “That kind of helps us also make our menu because we can see what kind of options they have. We were a little bit shocked that they had blueberry pie ice cream, and that’s really awesome because I think it helps us deliver a more flavorful shake to our customers.”

Customers are the center of everything Shake It Up does.

Business has certainly been good, but the sweetest reward for the owners of Shake It Up is the joy on faces of the recipients of their monster milkshakes.

“That’s our favorite part,” Thompson says. “People think they’re ordering something normal, like a regular chocolate milkshake, but when they get it, the way their eyes just go huge, and the smile on their faces, that’s literally our favorite part.”

RED,

& the Golden Isles: WHITE, BLUE

Independence Day celebrations slated for family-fun holiday

WORDS

BY ANNA FERGUSON HALL

If founding father John Adams had had it his way, the nation’s independence would not be celebrated on the Fourth of July.

Officially, the Continental Congress voted on America’s independence on July 2, but they needed a draft of the document for public explanation. The editing process took two more days. Then, with names signed, the Fourth of July came to be the official day for marking this epochal milestone for America.

In the Golden Isles, this first Thursday in July will be the official marking of America’s independence, but residents and guests can certainly start two days early to appease that bit of trivia. Throughout Brunswick and the Golden Isles, the Fourth of July will be observed with skies lit by shimmering fireworks, live music, and, in one area, even free watermelon while supplies last.

(For personal celebrations, see the codes regarding the fireworks ordinance in Glynn County. Fireworks are prohibited on all Glynn County beaches.)

BRUNSWICK

On the mainland, the Brunswick Downtown Development Authority hosts the signature Old Fashioned 4th of July in the Historic Downtown District. The annual celebration will include free games, food trucks, live music, and the signature free watermelon slices — while supplies last. In the heart of Historic Downtown Brunswick, a classic fireworks display will pop into the sky over Mary Ross Waterfront Park.

“This event has been a longstanding tradition in Brunswick since the 1900s. It has had a few changes throughout the years, but it has always been a family-friendly celebration right on the water,” says Gracie Jordan, marketing manager with the Downtown Development Authority.

“Mary Ross Park serves as the perfect backdrop for all ages of the community to gather, enjoy the festivities, and create lasting memories in Historic Downtown Brunswick.”

The festivities begin at 4 p.m., with a parade from the Mansfield Parking lot, then down Newcastle Street and into Mary Ross Waterfront Park. Grab a leash and the pooch for the annual pet parade, which begins at 5:30 p.m., and a play performance from the Penguin Project will begin at 6 p.m. There will also be live music from the local band Squirt Gun, and Brunswick’s fireworks over the waters of the East River at dark, about 9 p.m., and should be boomed out by 9:30 p.m.

Enjoy custom FISH TALE ALE and beers on tap by Silver Bluff Brewing Co. along with DELICIOUS COCKTAILS at our fab custom made bar!

ST. SIMONS ISLAND JEKYLL ISLAND

Across the F.J. Torras Causeway, on St. Simons, red, white, and blue will likely come in the form of athletic gear, as runners and walkers jumpstart the day’s celebrations with the annual Sunshine Festival 5K and 1-mile fun run.

An island tradition on the 4th holiday for more than 60 years, the Pier Village festival keeps moving well after the runners and walkers cross the finish line. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Sunshine Fest will hold a day of activity near the Pier Village. Storefronts will be open, and arts and craft vendors will be on hand in Postell Park.

Drivers are advised roads will be closed to traffic east of Mallery Street and Butler Avenue, and at 12th Street and Beachview Drive for emergency access. The island fireworks display will begin at sundown, which should be about 9 p.m. Attendees are advised to be aware the fishing pier and southernmost end of Mallery Street will be closed to cars and pedestrian traffic beginning the morning of July 4, and a section of Neptune Park will also be fenced off. Local officials ask all tents be taken down by 7 p.m., as a precaution against igniting sparks.

Jekyll Island plays host to a day of Fourth fun. The state park island will have room for guests on its beaches and in the cool waters of Summer Waves Water Park.

“A ‘crowd fave’ part of the 4th celebration on Jekyll Island is undoubtedly the spectacular fireworks display,” says Kathryn Hearn, marketing communications manager for the Jekyll Island Authority.

“Families and friends gather at various viewing spots across the Island to witness the dazzling pyrotechnic show lighting up the night sky.”

The fireworks show will begin around 8:45 p.m., depending on lighting and weather conditions. The displays will be viewable across an oceanside section of the island. Drivers can park and view the show from their vehicle at a beachside park, adding ideal viewing locations, including Oceanview Beach Park and Great Dunes Beach Park.

Jekyll Island attendees are asked to be aware the Jekyll Island parking fee will be increased by $4 for all daily and weekly passes on July 4th only.

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The magic and mystery of St. Simons Island’s Tree Spirits

Chasing Spirits

WORDS BY RONALD FORDHAM | PHOTOS BY DERRICK DAVIS

While St. Simons Island has a prominent place in not just Georgian but American history, the Golden Isles are also known for its flourishing arts scene. The tree spirits nestled amongst the moss-draped live oaks are a prime example.

A fixture on the island since artist Keith Jennings first started carving the figures back in the early 1980s, these pieces have now become one of the top draws for the island’s tourism industry. The distinct beauty of the spirits remains a key element to their popularity. Not only does Jennings make unique works of art, but he has also found a way to create these carvings without damaging the historic trees that serve as the canvas for his enchanting tree spirits.

The story goes that these figures represent the souls of sailors long lost in the neighboring in Atlantic Ocean. It’s a story that’s capitvated locals and visitors for decades.

According to Golden Isles CEO Scott McQuade, another aspect that contributes to the appeal of the spirits is how they have developed into a scavenger hunt for visitors. While McQuade believes these pieces have always held a bit of an interest for locals and visitors alike, he has also noticed that the popularity of the attraction increased once the St. Simons Welcome Center created a specific map guiding tourists to more than 20 of the spirits.

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“The tree spirits began several decades ago as a whimsical art form of Keith Jennings who was an island resident. As more carvings were created, they became more popular and intriguing. In their first iteration, there were rumblings of their origins with inspiration coming from the individual trees themselves, and they have now expanded to encompass mermaids, sea turtles, and old sailors,” McQuade says.

“THE CVB HAS MADE EFFORTS OVER THE LAST DECADE TO EXPAND AND PROMOTE THIS ART FORM THAT HAS BECOME A BELOVED ATTRACTION FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE.”

McQuade feels that the location of the St. Simons Welcome Center has also buoyed the spirits. The center commissioned its own special tree spirit, Cora, a large-scale mermaid chiseled into a nearby tree which was struck by lightening.

The mermaid, which is accompanied by its own camera mount for visitors to position their phones and cameras to capture selfies of themselves with this landmark, supercharged the public’s interest. These spirits have become as iconic a feature of the island as the historic lighthouse and breathtaking beaches.

The move to the new welcome center and Cora’s newfound popularity also led to increased demand for expanding the tree spirits and Jennings was commissioned to produce more of his unique artwork in subsequent years. The older spirits, overgrown and all but forgotten in the decades since, were restored to their original splendor as part of this process.

Dedication to Jennings’s art has paid off immensely as his tree spirits have become a boon to the island’s tourism. As the community has embraced the spirits as an integral part of St. Simons’ culture, McQuade has witnessed the tree spirits’ rise in popularity first hand. Now a regular stop for the many tour buses visiting the island, some people visit to the Golden Isles specifically to witness the spirits’ magnificence in person. McQuade has said he has seen as many as 50 visitors gathered by Cora at one time.

He feels their appeal lies in their uniqueness and connection to a bit of island folklore.

“Visitors are always looking for something unique to do and see during their vacation and the tree spirits are one of the most popular requests at our welcome centers annually. This attraction has really caught on and become part of our signature attractions and art forms,” he says.

“The children love coming to the welcome centers and getting the map to begin a vacation scavenger hunt. We are currently in the process of releasing an interactive mobile tree spirit hunt. The interactive experience allows visitors to check in at each location and gather points along the way which they can then redeem for exclusive tree spirit prizes and merchandise in our welcome center at the Pier Village.”

• To learn more about the St. Simons Island tree spirits, visit the island’s welcome center at 529 Beachview Dr., St. Simons Island.

Sewing Sisters:

The usual hum of sewing machines was silent on this particular Tuesday morning. Instead, laughter danced in the air of Deeana Hoch’s garage bonus room, a space transformed into a creation hub for the Golden Isles Liberty Belle’s Quilts of Valor (QOV).

Stepping inside, a dozen ladies enjoyed a celebratory birthday cake for one of their members.

But the frivolity didn’t last long, and then it was back to business. The plates were swept away, replaced by straight pins and measuring tape. Each lady took her position, working their station in this well-oiled machine.

While Quilts of Valor is a national program that allows sewers to create quilts for veterans, the Golden Isles branch has existed for only a handful of years.

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON

PHOTOS BY SEBASTIAN EMANUEL AND TERRY DICKSON

Bette Stewart was first introduced to QOV while living in Richmond Hill.

“That was about five years ago. Then, we moved down here, and at the Fourth of July festivities (on Oak Grove Island), I contacted the organizers and said, ‘Can I give some quilts to our vets?” she recalls.

“The first year I did 10. Girls approached me and asked, ‘How do I get involved? I want to sew.’ So I thought, ‘well, I’ll host a little workshop.’… and it just blossomed.”

It started with bi-weekly sessions, but the ladies couldn’t get enough of the sewing and the bonding it nurtured.

“It was every other week, but the girls came to me and said, ‘Can we meet every week?’ We were having so much fun, and everyone was just great friends. They’re such good people,” Stewart says.

And they’re productive, too. Since its formation, the group has churned out nearly 200 quilts, which have been gifted to local veterans.

Marshland Magic

Get away from it all in our luxurious rooms and suites with views of the enchanting Georgia salt marshes. Our spacious and airy accommodations are available with various floor plans and amenities to suit your island holiday. Each space is designed with your comfort in mind.

Enjoy modern amenities like high-speed WiFi and smart televisions with streaming services to stay connected, or lounge on the balcony with a good book to immerse yourself in nature to relax and recharge.

“That’s since July of 2021,” Hoch adds.

They have 12 official members but have other sewers who pop in from time to time. Some regional members also help.

“We have some tops that come from the island. Then, we have sewers from Savannah who send us things,” Stewart says. “There’s a group in St. Marys who sends us things sometimes, but they only do quilts for vets in St. Marys.”

While it takes a good many (wo)man hours to create a quilt, the effort pays off. The ladies say the response from the veterans makes every stitch worthwhile.

“To me, it’s very touching when we give to the veterans. I can’t tell you how emotional it gets sometimes … tears in their eyes. That’s especially true with the Vietnam vets, since they were treated so badly,” Stewart says.

“But we’ve given quilts to Korean veterans and even one World War II vet. He was so cute.”

She remembers wrapping the man in the quilt and him not wanting to let it go.

“He had a walker, but he took his hands off it and held the quilt around his shoulders,” she says. “He just shuffled off holding the quilt.”

The moving ceremonies often conjure up memories for the veterans. Some of those have been bottled up for decades, but often, they feel safe sharing those with the Belles.

“Afterwards, they’ll tell us stories about what they went through, then pretty soon the wife will come up to me and say, ‘My husband has never never told me that,” Stewart says. “It heals a lot of wounds.”

• The Golden Isles Liberty Belles always accept donations of fabric or funds. To learn more about them, email GILibertyBelles@gmail.com.

Around the Town

QJuly 3

The Coastal Photographers Guild will host its 15th annual Big Photo Show at SoGlo Gallery, 1413 Newcastle St., Brunswick. Members will showcase their work. Prizes will be awarded in various categories. For details, visit coastalphotographersguild.com.

July 4

The St. Simons Island Sunshine Festival will be held around the Pier Village on St. Simons Island. A 5K and 1-mile fun run, hosted by the Golden Isles Track Club, will begin at 7 a.m. in Mallery Park. There will be a golf cart parade at 2 p.m. beginning at the park and proceeding down the street toward the pier. At 9 p.m. fireworks will be set off over the ocean. For details, visit goldenisles.com.

Brunswick’s Old Fashioned 4th of July will be held at 4 p.m. with a parade along Newcastle Street to Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick. There will be watermelon, food trucks, and fireworks. Live music will begin at 7 p.m. and at 9 p.m. fireworks will be set off over the East River.

The Jekyll Island Authority will host a fireworks display over the ocean, beginning at 9 p.m. Attendees should secure a parking space at Great Dunes or Oceanview Beach Park on Jekyll Island. The Jekyll Island parking fee will be increased by $4 to all daily and weekly passes on July 4th only. For details, visit jekyllisland.com.

July 5

First Friday, a monthly downtown block party, will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in and around Newcastle Street in downtown Brunswick. Restaurants, stores, and galler-

ies will offer entertainment. For details, visit discover-brunswick.com.

Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host an opening for a new exhibition, “A Potpourri of Work,” by Robert Smith, a Glynn Academy art teacher. It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre in downtown Brunswick. The show will celebrate his retirement. It will be on display through July 26.

July 8 to 12

Golden Isles Arts & Humanities will host a summer camp for students ages 10 to 12 at the Ritz Theatre. The theme will be 10-minute Plays. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. The instructor will be Heather Heath. The cost is $250. For details, call 912-262-6934 or email artsed@goldenislesarts.org.

July 13

Forward Brunswick will host its Brunswick Farmers’ Market from 9 to 11 a.m. at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick. This curated farmer’s market features only local foods sold by the farmers who have grown it. The market will be held every month on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month. For details, visit forwardbrunswick.org.

July

19 and 20

Golden Isles Arts & Humanities will host Ken Ludwig’s “Baskerville: A Sherlock Homes Mystery.” This will be a comedic take on Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic story. The Apex Theatre Studio in Jacksonville is staging the show. Tickets are available at goldenislesarts.org or by calling 912-2626934.

July 21

The Coastal Georgia Historical Society will host its summer concert program, A Little Light Music, featuring the Pine Box Dwellers from 7 to 9 p.m. on the lawn of the St. Simons Island lighthouse. Tickets are $15 for adults; children under 12 and Keepers of the Light are admitted free of charge. No cash will be accepted and tickets are non-refundable. Society staff encourages concert-goers to purchase tickets in advance in the Lighthouse Museum Store or on the society’s website, coastalgeorgiahistory.org.

July 22 to 26

Golden Isles Arts & Humanities will host Camp Create for kids ages 12 to 14. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. The instructor will be Heather Heath. The cost is $250. For details call 912-262-6934 or email artsed@goldenislesarts.org.

July 24 to 28

Golden Isles Arts & Humanities will host a camp for students ages 10 to 14 at the Historic Ritz Theatre. The theme will be, “The Not So Mysterious Disappearance of Cinderella.” It will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ritz. The instructor will be Heather Heath. The cost is $250. For details call 912-262-6934 or email artsed@goldenislesarts.org.

Throughout

August

The Coastal Georgia Historical Society will host its Chautauqua Lecture Series will explore four changemaking election years, one in Georgia and three in the United States. The first session will be held on August 8 and will feature Dr. Scott Buchanan who will speak on the 1946 Georgia gubernatorial election. On August 15, Dr. Laurence Jurdem will speak about Theodore Roosevelt and the election of 1912. On August 22, Harold Holzer, an award-winning historian and recipient of the National Humanities Medal, will deliver a lecture on how Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860. Lectures will take place at 6 p.m. at the St. Simons Presbyterian Church, 205 Kings Way, St. Simons Island. Live streaming will also be available. To register, visit coastalgeorgiahistory.org.

August 2

First Friday, a monthly downtown block party, will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in and around Newcastle Street in downtown Brunswick. Restaurants, stores, and galleries will offer entertainment. For details, visit discover-brunswick. com.

Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host an opening for a new exhibition, the annual Art Teachers’ Art Exhibit. It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre in downtown Brunswick. It will be on display through September 27.

August 10

Forward Brunswick will host its Brunswick Farmer’s Market from 9 to 11 a.m. at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick. This curated farmer’s market features fresh foods sold by local farmers. The market will be held every month on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month.

The Brunswick Actors’ Theatre will perform “Stage Kiss” at 8 p.m. Saturday nights and at 3 p.m. Sunday nights August 10 to 25. Tickets are $25 per person, which includes dessert and beverages. For details, visit SoGloGallery.com.

August 18

Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host an end of summer concert at Neptune Park on St. Simons Island. It will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person. Those are available at goldenislesarts.org.

Call now or visit our website to schedule a no cost review of your options!

Coral Park Way Brunswick, GA 31520 (912) 265-6909 coastalbenefitsinc.com

98

About 98% of American families have ice cream in their freezers at all times.

Summer in the South can be many things but one thing is certain — it will be hot. Mercifically, in our modern world, there’s air conditioning, but there’s also a sweeter way to cool down — ice cream.

This frozen treat has a long history with plenty of fun facts. So in honor of July, National Ice Cream Month, grab your favorite flavor and read on:

$74.49

America’s average annual expenditure on ice cream is about $74.49.

12

It takes 12 pounds of milk to make one gallon of ice cream.

52

52% of ice cream sales nationally are a combination of vanilla and chocolate ice cream.

1904

The first cone was created by accident in 1904. At the St. Louis World’s Fair, an ice cream vendor ran out of bowls. To lend a hand, a waffle maker rolled his pastries into the cone shape to help.

1800s

During the early 19th century, chefs made ice cream in some unique flavorts including asparagus, oyster, and parmesan cheese.

10

In 2015, Norway set a world record for the largest ice cream cone ever at over 10 feet high.

54,914

The largest ice cream sundae in the world weighed 54,914 pounds.

7.5

New Zealand consumes more ice cream per capita than any other country, with an average of 7.5 gallons per person per year.  2nd

5.5

The United States comes in second in ice cream consumption, with an average of 5.5 gallons (or 44 pints) per person per year.

Century BCE

Ice cream was invented in China, although no specific date of origin nor inventor has been credited. But it is hypothocized that the sweet treat began in the 2nd Century BCE. It’s said that Alexander the Great enjoyed snow and ice flavored with honey and nectar.

Summers of Youth

DUE SOUTH

IIn the summers of my youth, I wish I had known how much those hot days would mean to me in the years to come.

I’m not sure what age I was when I came to remember, with love, longing, and nostalgia those blessed days of laughter, books, vegetable gardens, church revivals, and pure joy in the big swimming hole between the towering oak trees where one of our daddies built a rope swing — so someone could

give us a big push, so we would swing high and fast over the deepest part of the water, then drop in with an enormous splash. The dozen or so other kids stood on the grassy embankment and cheered the bravery that swing took.

There was a song we often sang at church. It was not one of my favorites. It was slow, mournful and talked of days that that had melted away and loved ones buried beneath “a new mound grave,” as the mountain people always say.

Now, I hear that song with a sorrow in my heart and a pain that doesn’t easily disappear. As the Bob Seger song says — and no words have ever been truer … “ I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then.”

back when everyone I knew was still alive. In my childhood years, many were the gravesides I stood beside, holding Mama’s hand, watching the undertaker nod to the others, meaning it was time to lower the casket and toss the red clay.

The song of which I speak is called “Precious Memories.” It’s an old-timey gospel hymn. You won’t find it in praise worship or new song books. But, in my heart, it will always live.

A line in the song says, “Precious memories, how they linger; how they ever flood my soul.”

As I grow older, those words are painfully true. Not about Christmas (surprising for a child) or Easter (when bunnies and candy flooded my world) or even the last day of school (when I happily said “goodbye” to math class. Ugh.)

What it brings back are the glorious days of summer, even those days when Mama made me hoe the garden or pick green beans. Daddy, using his tractor (a long, step up from when my grandfather plowed with a mule, making a permanent slouch in his shoulders that all farmers had in those days), turned up the red, Georgia clay into soft, cold, loose dirt.

“Now, drop the seeds about a foot apart,” Mama would instruct, “then cover the seed with your hands.”

The time of which I speak was way

That was just the beginning of the summer garden. There was daily hoeing away of weeds, watering when the skies refused to rain, picking the vege-

WORDS BY RONDA RICH

tables when they ripened, then canning or freezing for winter use, as well as serving them fresh on a summer’s supper table.

But there are other summer memories: church revival in the day and more services at night, visiting with each other on the porches of their houses until time for church, and river baptizing in late summer after all the area churches had their revivals.

Of course, my favorite memory is this: while the adults visited under huge, cool, trees or in the shade of the porch, most often with a cup of coffee and a piece of cake, we children scooted along, down to the water hole. A thoughtful farmer had taken his tractor and built a makeshift dam that would hold the water back enough to cover our heads.

Under the old dirt road, ran a corrugat -

ed pipe that was tall enough, for the tallest child, maybe 5’7”, to stand up. A somewhat shallow pool dribbled over the ridges of the pipe so we took inner tubes and coasted about 70 feet, from one side of the pipe to the end, where we then flew off the edge and into the deeper water. Down under, we’d go; then, seconds later, emerged with wet hair sticking to our faces. Meanwhile, other kids were playing elsewhere, dunking each other and playing Marco Polo.

There are many times in my past life that I wish I could revisit once more — to kiss Mama’s wrinkling cheek, hold Daddy’s farm-calloused hand, touch the crochet blanket that my grandmother labored on, and the horse I used to ride.

However, it is the swimming hole that I’d visit for one more afternoon. I remember, a few times, I stopped in the middle of

the hole and heard squeals and laughter ringing joyously through the summer day. It seemed so loud back then. We laughed because we had yet to know sorrow or worry. Summers in the swimming hole were completely carefree.

Oh, to hear it one more time. How it would make my heart sing again.

At Double Down Charters, we’re not just about fishing; we’re about crafting lasting memories. Whether you’re seeking a peaceful retreat or an

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NATURE CONNECTION

Taming the Coast

IIn the former rice canals of Cathead Creek, the sun strongly glared off the water, magnifying the intensity of the late summer sun. I paddled slowly, soaking in the serene greenery. Occasionally, spiders crawled onto my kayak as I brushed against the vegetation in the tight turns of the labyrinth. Thick black and yellow lined lubber grasshoppers number greatly among the luscious cut grass. Cicadas rang sharply in my ears. I’m not sure where

the center of this altered landscape is, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to find it either. Nature is reclaiming this historic plantation.

Cypress, sweet gum, river birch, and laurel oak prevented winds from reaching the torn, insular fields. Sweat drenched my forehead, and I wiped my brow. All I can think about was how people transformed this place from a fully intact brackish wetland full of dense vegetation into profitable rice production. The only answer: forced labor.

Before the first English came to formally build the colony of Georgia, the Georgia Trustees at the time marketed a notion that came to haunt the first settlers: this coast has fair weather year around and is a place of good health and fortune.

An excellent resource to understand the environmental history of the Georgia Coast is Mart Stewart’s What Nature Suffers to Groe: Life, Labor, and Landscape on the Georgia Coast, 1680-1920.

“By summer the colonists began to suspect that the glowing reports in the promotional material had been greatly misleading and that the physical environment of the region was not the balm of health and good fortune that they had been led to believe it would be,” Stewart writes.

Initially, the English philanthropist James Oglethorpe and the Georgia trustees announced that the colony would have no rum or slaves Oglethorpe’s philosophy was that intemperance off-balanced people’s health and made them sick and idle.

WORDS AND PHOTO BY SAM GHIOTO

“In intemperance and idleness – lay the causes of the evils that plagued the new colony. Oglethorpe admonished the people against inactivity and drinking rum, sent away the slave who had been loaned by South Carolina for the initial building — ‘for so long as they continued here our men were encouraged in idleness by their working for them,’ he wrote — and staved all the casks of rum he could discover,” Stewart writes.

The beginning of the Georgia economy proved to be uneconomical, and the people’s notion about their genetics as fair-skinned Europeans was that they simply could not handle work in this forsaken environment. However, the peoples of West Africa seemed to handle the harsh conditions better, and I believe this was the excuse for the use of slavery to create

a profitable economy. So, in 1751 the precedent was reversed when wealthy South Carolina landowners came in and brought their slaves with them.

This, to me, is a very important time in the coast’s history that is often neglected. The faulty ideas of the first Englishmen who came over believing that they could easily bend the environment by their will, led to a rude awakening, and eventually, Africans were forced to do the backbreaking work. “Slaves working with shovels in ankle-deep mud and water had to move well over 39,000 cubic yards of finegrained river swamp muck to construct an 80-acre plantation, in addition to clearing the land and leveling the ground in the fields,” Stewart illustrates.

When you look throughout the brackish

wetlands in the Southeast, there are not many places that didn’t undergo radical changes through logging and agriculture. The history of the Georgia Coast is one of a power struggle between humanity and nature.

Near the end of the rice canals before entering the main creek, I paddled through what’s called the “Cathedral.” Two rows of a couple dozen cypress trees stood tall on either side of me. Fiddler crabs creeped on flaky strips of cypress bark. In an instant, a mother feral hog and two of its piglets scrambled across the canal. To be a small mammal in this environment is extremely dangerous while gators hide amongst the fray. I felt safe in my 15-foot kayak as a simple onlooker. What a wild place , I thought.

BY

DESIGN

Six Artists, One Goal — Capture Beauty

WORDS BY ANNA FERGUSON HALL | PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN EMANUEL

FFor the past nine years, the navy blue sign has called to passersby, welcoming guests to find solace inside the cool space of ArtTrends Gallery.

Tucked away at 3305 Frederica Road, the St. Simons gallery opened in 2015 with a unique concept. It is a spin not often seen in the collective art world, but once seen, comes across as an obvious way to create an inviting space for onlookers, and potential buyers, says Trish Rugaber, one of six co-founding artists and owners of the gallery.

The gallery maintains a consistent display of six founding artists: Trish Rugaber, Ella Cart, Kathryn McClain, Bettina Dickson Rusher, Dottie Clark, Dina Deason, but likewise adds in varying shades of whimsy with new selections every two months, or so.

When speaking with the six women in the ArtTrends’ regular rotation, a striking thread appears. Each shares a vision of decorating the gallery walls, and hopefully later a client’s home, with a piece only they could create, through their minds eye and interpretation of the world’s winsomeness around them.

In doing so, each woman is hoping to create a gallery of pieces obtainable enough to fit into a client’s home. But also, have a gallery of works which distinctly showcase the end result of what was roadmap of artist folly and organized, colorful chaos.

From looking at the works inside Art-

Trends, said roadmap ends in a thing of beauty. That thing may be oils on canvas, after swift brushes showcase varying hues of a beach horizon, or shades of a sunset over sandy dunes. That thing may be a vivid vision of watercolors, used to capture a scene of florals vibrantly arranged in a neighbor’s garden. Or that thing may be the end result of a few (hundred) dances of twists and turns at a potter’s wheel.

A prime example of how the scope of vision can change between pieces can be found in Rusher’s works. One day, she may be led by styles of realism, such as a past painting project on albino alligators. The next painting project, she can swap into one of the “Ninth Street Women,” who were married to artists like “Jackson Pollock and Williem de Kooning, but didn’t receive the same recognition,” she says.

Each artist admits her work may come across slightly unbalanced when seen

as a complete, personal portfolio. But each piece was a reflection of what moved her in the moment, and more likely, what she was studying on the side.

“You can learn so much just by studying someone else’s piece,” McClain says.

Each artist will attest, she works best when feeling moved to do so, and such movement is often the end result of her own movement. It could be from jet-setting the globe, or simply “what I know and love at home on the Georgia Coast,” as Clark says.

Taking spins into an atmosphere of varying lights, landscapes, and locations can be the ideal impetus of inspiration she needs to jumpstart a new, or wrap up a pending, project, they each said.

Each woman’s use of art as expression can be traced back to what brought her to the drawing board, painter’s palette, or potter’s wheel, in the first place. Rugaber says her father, also a painter, can be thanked for passing the pallet passion down to her.

Cart thanks both her parents for keeping her painter’s lantern lit with encouragement, noting her mother even attended an art class with her when she was in high school.

“I was older when I realized not all families sit around and paint,” Cart says.

McClain credits her art-minded mother and mother-inlaw, both experienced in paints, fabrics, and woodworking, as the first influences to push her into a cradle of creativity.

Just as these women feel moved by current surroundings, moods, studies, and inspirations, Rugaber said, viewers, too, should act accordingly when it comes to being moved for purchases.

“If a guest feels connected with a piece, they are advised not to ponder their purchase for too long. The gallery changes regularly, bringing in a new collection every two months, or so,” Rugaber says. “Pieces can move quickly.”

• ArtTrends Gallery is located at 3305 Frederica Road, St.Simons Island. The website is arttrends.gallery.

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The secret to sensational summer skin

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PROVIDED PHOTO

TThe days are long, and the sun is bright. But while it’s always exciting to embrace fun in the sun, keeping one’s skin safe should be a top priority.

Skincare is something that stays on the minds of the ladies at No Filter Aesthetics. Located at 3216 Shrine Road in Brunswick, the medical spa offers a wide variety of services to keep skin

healthy, even in the sweltering summer months. Not only do they offer medical-grade products for home use, they also provide a broad menu of services designed to keep their patients looking and feeling their best.

That was Kyndra Thomas’ goal when she opened the practice in 2020. As a nurse practitioner and advanced aesthetic injector, she’s always sought to share her medical expertise in ways that boost patients’ self confidence and sense of self worth.

“Over the last three and a half years, we’ve added additional services to offer a really well-rounded medical aesthetics practice,” she says.

After opening the original No Filter Aes-

thetics, a now sister location known as Haus of Beauty on Newcastle Street, they opened the newest No Filter location within the last year near the hospital.

“We like to curate an individualized plan for our patients,” Thomas says.

Sometimes that plan calls for medical aesthetics, including wrinkle relaxers, biostimulation, and volume restoration.

Other times it can focus on a wide-variety of facials that are customized to each particular client. One of their most popular services are the Hydrafacials. As the name implies, these multistep treatments are designed to drench dried skin, offering moisture to repair distressed skin.

The Deluxe Hydrafacial is always very popular, says Ginny Poe, master cosmetologist. There’s also the Platinum Hydrafacial, a luxurious service that incorporates LED light treatment and lymphatic therapy.

“The whole system and formula of the steps of Hydrafacial brings so many nutrients into the skin that you lack. It doesn’t just sit on the skin, with the dermaplaning you’re able to remove the dead skin so the products can penetrate deeper into the skin,” Poe says. “Each step of the facial pushes the products to where they need to go.”

There are other options when it comes to facials too, including their signature No Filter facial.

While keeping skin hydrated and nourished during the summer is key, there’s another

area of the body that needs similar attention — the scalp. There, the skin is often exposed to the elements without sunscreen to protect it.

But a new and innovative offering at No Filter can provide a great deal of relief.

“We launched the Scalp Bar in February,” Thomas says. “It focuses on the overall health of the scalp. It also helps with hair health, hair loss, hair thinning and growth. And it feels amazing … It is so relaxing.”

Poe manages the scalp bar and says the treatments offered include Hydrafacial’s Keravive.

“Keravive is great to mix with the scalp treatment because it is a peptide-rich formula that helps stimulate hair growth,” Poe

said. “With the scalp treatment, it’s already bringing more oxygen and circulation to those follicles that have been dormant or congested. So, pairing them together gives you amazing results.”

And that’s what they aim to give each and every patient. Whether it’s medical aesthetics treatments, medically supervised weight loss, or a custom-tailored skin service, the team is dedicated to providing safe and effective results.

“We want to help our patients and clients feel better … from the inside out,” Thomas says.

• No Filter Aesthetics is located at 3216 Shrine Road, Brunswick. Their website is nofilteraestheticsga.com.

How

do we leverage our money as small business owners?

WORDS BY BRYAN HENDLEY

FFor today’s encouragement, let’s first shift the perspective from utilizing money as a measuring stick to utilizing it as an investment tool. As leverage, rather than an expense. As a personal value-add, rather than a determination of our personal value.

With this is mind, what follows is an encouragement to consider a different look at how we utilize money to make an impact as small business leaders and entrepreneurs.

Leverage Your Money To Impact Your Time, Your Talents, and Your Team

For an in-depth look at this perspective, check out the book, Who Not How, by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.

An exerpt from the book reads: “When we want something done, we’ve been trained to ask ourselves: ‘How can I do this?’ Well, there is a better question to ask. One that unlocks a whole new world of ease and accomplishment… “Who can do this for me?”

Other variations of that question that are worth considering:

• Who could do this better than me?

• Who do I know that could help me with this?

• Who could provide me with a different perspective?

• Who could I partner with to make this more effective?

• Who else could I add to the team to enhance what we are already doing?

We’ll look, there are a plethora of Whos, many in our immediate network, that are ready, willing and able to tackle these problems with or even for us, often times better than we could on our own.

Consider the following three ways to use money as a tool to serve you and your business:

Leverage Money to Impact Your Time

In many ways, tapping into the right “who” can free up your time that can then be “reinvested” in your personal health, your family, or for more high leverage activities within your business. It’s up to you to decide on the true value of this exchange. But I’ve seen time and again that a healthier, happier, more focused entrepreneur has a much greater impact than one who is worn out, haggard, and stressed.

Leverage Money to Impact Your Talents

If you are like most small business owners, you’ve gotten to where you are today by doing it all. You’ve been the marketer, bookkeeper, salesman, designer, manager, laborer, and whatever else needed to be done to make the business work. With all due respect, the odds that you are the best person for each of those jobs is slim. You’ve been good enough, and that’s been good enough.

But time may be running out on that model. And you may not be the kind of person who wants to keep being “good enough.” When you leverage your

money in a way that allows you to step away from the areas that are not strengths, or that someone else may be able to do better than you, you free up the space to focus on what you do best.

Letting go of the belief that it all must come from you can be quite liberating. And spending more of your time in your “sweet spot” (the intersection of your purpose, passion, and profit) will allow for more enjoyment, impact, and probably, in the long run, more money.

Leverage Your Money to Impact Your Team

You may have heard this anecdote from Peter Baklund, referencing a conversation between a CFO and a CEO:

CFO: “What if we invest in our people and they leave?”

CEO: “What if we don’t invest in our people and they stay?”

It may be reasonable to worry if your people will leave and utilize your investment elsewhere. Some of those factors are beyond your control. But which would you rather have? Well-trained people that may leave, as people often do, or untrained, undertrained, or unhappy people that stick around (as people often do).

Investing in training, leadership development, or ways to enhance your company culture is a great way to leverage your money to positively impact the Whos on your team.

Who Not How

The next time you sit down to problem solve for your business, consider Who, Not How, as a shift in perspective and a way to leverage your dollar differently.

I’m pulling for you.

• Bryan Hendley is an ICF Accredited Coach and owner of EFourNine Coaching & Consulting. He may be contacted at P.O. Box 20184, St. Simons Island, GA 31522, at 912-242-1316, or bryan@proadvisorcoach. com. The wesbite is bryanhendley.com.

GAME CHANGERS

Riyon Rankin

WORDS BY DERRICK DAVIS | PROVIDED PHOTO

TThe high jump has taken Riyon Rankin from Brunswick to Athens.

Paris is the next destination on the track and field tour if the former Brunswick High standout has anything to say about it.

Rankin won back-to-back high jump state titles at the GHSA Class 6A Track

and Field Championships as a Pirate, the second of which broke a state record set back in 1983.

A historic leap of 7-3.75 feet set a new state mark and earned Rankin an offer to the University of Georgia, where he hopes to hone his craft to an Olympic level.

But the jump from high school to college athletics is not easy, even for the best athletes in the country. While Rankin dominated at the prep ranks, he quickly learned it takes another degree of dedication and commitment to maintain that success at the collegiate level.

“The first couple of days were all right, but once training and school started, I had to get used to the program here,” Rankin says. “Going to my sessions and just being able to take care of myself

alone because I don’t have anybody here to be on my head about being certain places I’m supposed to be. So I sort of struggled at first, but now I’m getting into the groove, getting right, and doing the things I’m supposed to be doing.”

On his own for the first time, Rankin had to learn how to take care of himself and hold himself accountable.

And the lessons weren’t limited to his life off the track.

“I feel like the training is a little more intense than high school,” Rankin says. “There’s way more stuff to do including warmups, stretching, things of that nature. But it’s all useful and beneficial. I feel like it all plays a role in my performance.”

Rankin wouldn’t have to wait long

to see the fruits of his labor. After just weeks of being on campus, he was set to make his collegiate indoor debut at the Clemson Invite in January.

Although he’d obviously performed on big stages before, Rankin still felt on edge ahead of his first appearance.

“I was nervous — like mad nervous,” Rankin says. “I was low key shaking a little bit, but my coaches were there to be like, ‘We understand it’s your first time, but you know what you can do, we know what you can do.’ They just helped me control myself so I was able to perform pretty good.”

“Pretty good” is an understatement. Rankin won the event with a height of 2.21 meters, which tied him for seventh all-time in the University of Georgia record books.

The performance earned Rankin the SEC Men’s Freshman of the Week Award.

“I liked it and all, but that’s not my main goal,” Rankin says of the accolade. “My main goal is bigger than that.”

Rankin was the runner-up at the Track at New Balance Collegiate Showdown, he tied for third at the Tiger Paw Invite, placed 10th at the SEC Championships, and finished seventh at the NCAA Championships to cap off the indoor season.

Transitioning into the outdoor season, Rankin continued his impressive campaign by matching his personal best height of 2.21 meters at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in April to earn the Men’s Freshman of the Week Award once again.

At 2.21 meters, Rankin ranks fourth nationally, and he’s got the top mark among freshman by more than an inch. And yet, he still isn’t satisfied.

“I feel like I’ve been doing pretty good, but I feel like there is more to come,” Rankin says. “I feel like I haven’t reached where I should be just yet. I’m able to improve even more.”

That likely won’t occur until Rankin is competing for his country.

The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for track and field are set to begin June 21 in Eugene, Oregon, and while Rankin has already met the minimum requirement of 2.17m, the USA Track & Field requires a mark of 2.23m by June 9 for auto qualification.

“My main goal this year is to make the Olympic trials,” Rankin said. “So I have to clear 2.23, I think, which is my high school P.R. of 7-3 3/4. Once I clear that, I’ll be able to go there.”

The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26-August 11.

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Chubs Diner serves up plates of goodness

CCameron Krich knew the past owner of Chubs Diner for a while, but he recalled a time last year when he really looked like he could use a break. Krich had made a few passing comments about wanting to buy Chubs off of him, and last year Josh Nichols finally broke down and divested. Krich had a vision in his head about what he wanted the establishment to be.

He’s not a classically trained chef — he wouldn’t describe himself as a chef at all — but he knows good food. In his own words, “I didn’t ever go to culinary school, but I grew up eating, if you know what I mean.” He estimates he probably

gained a few dozen pounds just from trouble-shooting the revised menu.

Chubs was a breakfast and lunch place when he bought it, but Krich wanted to serve dinner, too. So he added a few more items like steak and seafood to fill that niche, along with some other no-brainer additions like milkshakes. He’s really proud of the Big Chubby Burger, perhaps the restaurant’s flagship meal. It’s loaded with everything good, and not much of it good for you. It also incorporates his signature Chubs Sauce, which will likely be in bottles on shelves by the time this article reaches your eyes.

It’s a type of sweet barbecue sauce that’s proprietary to Chubs, but he’s had several inquiries from other restaurants wanting to serve it. One in particular he wants to try is a pizza place in Dublin that wants to use it on their sub sandwiches.

Customers are the lifeblood of Chubs. The Big Chubby was inspired by a customer, affectionately called Mr. T by

the staff, who had a special burger he custom ordered every time. That was the basis for the sandwich, but it didn’t come together until Mr. T added the restaurant’s barbecue sauce.

“He goes, ‘Man, that’s the Big Chub,’ and that’s kind of what started it,” he laughed.

Going through Krich’s resume is not something he particularly wanted to do. He worked for Ryan’s Restaurant, a steakhouse chain, for some 18 years. It took him all up and down the east Coast opening stores. One, in Greenville, South Carolina, he took over and turned around when it was on the verge of closing.

But, rather than talking about all that, Krich is always much more interested in talking about his current passion project, which in this case is Chubs Diner, located on the northeast corner of the Longview Plaza shopping center on St. Simons Island, just off Frederica Road.

“As a business, you’re supposed to be making money, but there’s more to it than that for me,” Krich says.

The “more to it” being family, atmosphere, good vibes, and good food. It just so happens that having all those things is a good way to start making money.

Chubs is, aside from a business venture, a place for his family to get together and have fun and maybe make a little money. Several family members moved to the area after him. His mom and cousin pitch in around the restaurant and his son works there as well.

“I got a big Eye-talian family,” he says. “Family is our existence, it’s what defines us really. It can be good, it can be bad, but when it comes down to it that’s what makes you who you are.”

WORDS BY TAYLOR COOPER | PHOTO BY MICHAEL HALL

His hand-picked staff has a lot of character. There’s a few words one could use to describe them — friendly, chatty, personable, competent, and certainly not lacking a love of food, much like Krich. Bottom line, they want to make it hard for you to walk in and not feel welcomed.

“I like seeing people eat. It always reminds me of a time with family. That’s my goal, is to create that family vibe,” he said. “Cheers, but in a diner version.”

“Cheers” depicts an awesome bar with awesome people, staff and clientele alike. It’s a place — fictional though it may be — worth emulating. Don’t ask what he thinks of the show, though. He hasn’t seen it.

He and staffer even make some TikTok videos they put out that hit the underlying theme Krich was going for. They’re extremely reminiscent of the classic 1980s sitcoms “Cheers,” of course, but also “Full House.”

“But I like the atmosphere. We know everybody’s name, and when they come in it’s not just another customer. It’s creating that experience,” Krich says.

It’s your typical diner layout with one wall basically being all windows, granting a good view of the beautiful coastal weather on the average day.

Diamond Tours had a deal with Chubs to bring over tour buses throughout the summer. Krich says it was his and his staff’s job to show them a good time.

“St. Simons is a home-type place, and that’s what brought me here. It doesn’t feel too touristy, even though it is,” he says. “I just want everyone who walks in to see it the way I do.”

His most recent venture is the Shake n’ Shine Car Show, which they have on the last Sunday of every month from 3:30-5:30 p.m. It started with a simple suggestion from a family member — “Hey, you’ve got a classic diner, why don’t he have a classic car show — and it’s taken on a life of its own this year.

“Now, we’ve been pushing it for a lot longer with the car clubs,” he says. “I sent it to all my friends and family on Facebook, my mom has a house in Las Vegas and goes back and forth, and now the word is out everywhere.”

Other than that, Krich is trying to take it relatively easy with the businesses’ development, the new sauce, and the car show. Having a good time is central to the Chubs way of thinking, and that’s not something he’s going to change anytime soon.

• Chubs Diner is located at 203 Edwards Plaza PE, St. Simons Island. Their website is chubsdiner.online. The phone number is 912-434-9393.

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Hidden Horton

EMBRACING JEKYLL’S

NATURAL BEAUTY

WWhen I find myself hugging the turns on Jekyll Island’s north end, I’m usually heading one of two places. It’s either for a walk along the secluded shores of Driftwood Beach or to a date night dinner at Driftwood Bistro (which offers a vegan-vegetarian menu, God bless them).

But this morning, it was for a decidedly different reason. I was looking for Horton Pond, a well-known destination for both locals and visitors. (It just happens that this particular local, yours truly, is not the “outdoorsy” type, so this was a first for me).

I squinted to see the signpost I was instructed to look for, right across from my beloved bistro.

And then, there it was. I turned left, my car seemingly swallowed by the grove of maritime trees. I wove my way down the road and stopped when I came to a gate. I hopped out of the car as a soft layer of spring leaves blanketed the pathway.

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON

PHOTOS BY CAROL ANN WAGES

Weaving along the pedestrian gate, I passed a few signs warning of the storied wildlife that call this pond home. To be honest, the resident snakes and gators were part of the reason I’ve kept my distance. But for Carol Ann Wages, it was the draw.

Standing on the observation platform, camera in hand, she was entirely in her element. She turns to welcome me, a grin spreading across her face.

“These are my people,” Carol Ann exclaims, opening her arms wide and gesturing to the pond.

By “people”, of course, she means the gators. She has spent years coming to Horton Pond, documenting the saga of the animals who live there through her camera lens. It’s become a passion for her, one that eventually led her to become an official Jekyll volunteer, leading guests

on nature walks during different seasons.

Her love affair with Horton Pond and nature photography began around the same time.

“I started coming here probably about eight years ago. I was a social worker for healthcare and I had patients on the island. In between patients, I would go take pictures … and I found this place,” she says.

“The platform and the sunning deck have only been here for eight years, so I found them pretty soon after. I’ve been coming here three days a week, and I will stand on this platform for about five hours … in my corner.”

There, she watches the drama of nature unfold: Battles between territorial female gators; the flights of migrating wood ducks; turtles sunning themselves, as herons shimmy in the trees.

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“I just wait on nature because nature is like a two-year-old. It doesn’t do anything on command or when you want it to. You have to wait for it,” she says. There are a lot of people nowadays who don’t have the patience to wait for it. But you can see the serenity of this place. If I’m having a bad day, I come here.”

She pauses to snap a photo.

“I’m sorry. I get distracted,” she says. “This is my natural habitat.”

On this particular day, we are the only two on the platform, but Carol Ann says that’s usually not the case.

“That guy was just here, playing the harmonica for the animals,” she says.

Seemingly on cue, the instrument strikes up as the man moves down the path. While some, like her, came across the spot organically, others have discovered the pond thanks to her sharing.

“It’s usually crawling with people, and I think I’m partly to blame,” Carol Ann says with a giggle, her gator earrings glistening in the sun. “I started sharing my pictures (on Facebook). I’ve also written five books, mostly educational books, with my photography. I’ve done one on Horton Pond and one on Crane Trail.”

Sharing her love of wildlife and educating others has become a driving force behind everything she does. She wants others to better understand the animals and their personalities, viewing them with respect rather than fear.

“The alligators have personalities, especially the alpha female in this pond. She’s extremely petite, I call her Mama — she’s only about 7 ½ feet, but she’s about 20 years old. She is dark, almost black … and she has an attitude,” she says. There’s a 10-½-foot male in here, and she will physically push him around with her nose to make him do what she wants. And he’ll do it. He’s afraid of her, too.”

Carol Ann remembers one day when this lady gator squared off against a would-be rival.

“Another female was up on the platform with the male … and Mama comes rushing across; I’ve never seen her move so fast. She and the gator go in the water. They’re splashing around, and she bites five to six inches off her tail, so I’ve named her Miss Tippy,” she says. “Then, after she ran her off, (the alpha female) came back and laid her head on his shoulder. That’s in the book. I actually made that into a Valentine’s Day card.”

While the gators have her heart, she also shares her love of birds. The eagles, in particular, have been a part of her portfolio for years.

“I volunteer with Jekyll to do nature walks. In the spring, it’s the gators, and in the fall, it’s the eagles. It’s so awesome. The nest on Crane Trail is 10 years old and the size of a Volkswagen,” she says. “It’s the same couple, and they have two babies pretty much every year. I just love sharing knowledge of all of this.”

And she hopes that, by doing it, she will make animals’ lives a little more peaceful and a little safer. That’s particularly true of her beloved gators.

“There’s never been an attack that wasn’t because they’d been habituated,” she says. “Which is why we say, ‘don’t feed them.’”

But for those who want to learn, Carol Ann, who’s been dubbed the “Queen of Horton Pond,” welcomes them to her realm. She hopes they will find as much solace and peace in communing with nature in the same way she has.

“This is probably the best spot that gives you the best variety of the animals here … birds, snakes, gators, turtles. The pond is man-made, so it only changes with the season,” she says. “It’s a wonderful place … and a wonderful place for kids to learn, too.”

• To find Carol Ann Wages’ photos and books, visit fineartamerica.com/profiles/carolann-wages. Her Facebook page is Photography by Carol Ann. She also exhibits and sells her pieces at Goodyear Cottage in the Jekyll Island Historic District.

Celebrating the first 40 years.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Parker’s and we’re celebrating with specials at each of our 11 stores in southeast Georgia. Thanks for your loyal support and please know we’re committed to giving you all that you expect from a convenience store and smiles, More convenience. More savings.

Join us as we celebrate our anniversary in a great place we call home!

40 years • 1984-2024

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Setting

The history of tall ships in the Isles Sail:

WORDS BY LARRY HOBBS | PHOTOS BY JOHN KRIVEC, SAM GHIOTO, AND RILEY DUKES

If you are driving across the Frederica River on the causeway some sunny day, look up and you just might spot Sam Whipple.

Yeah, that is him: his feet stretching a 3-inch-thick rope-like stirrups as he attends to business way up in the mainmast of the tall ship Lynx. With his long hair tied behind him and his hands busy tending the furled sails, the California native resembles a sailor from right out of the early 19th century.

So, too, this ship he serves.

The schooner Lynx is an interpretation of its original namesake, the American privateer that served in the War of 1812. The modern version of the ship and its 11-member crew winter each year from November through

May at Morningstar Marina on the Frederica River.

“It feels like freedom, being out on the yards, standing on a line, clipped in and nothing but open air all around,” Sam says of this routine part of his job. “There’s nothing like it. It’s indescribable.”

From where Whipple works up in the rigging, it is roughly 90 feet and 200 years down to the deck of the ship. It is fitting that the 122-foot-long Lynx has found a part-time home port on St. Simons Island.

A young nation’s new Navy was rooted on St. Simons Island, most notably the unassailable live oak that sealed the famed warship U.S.S. Constitution’s tough-as-iron reputation. Facing the most powerful navy in the world,

“Old Ironsides” destroyed or defeated five British ships during the War of 1812. The Golden Isles itself possesses a rich past that blends with American maritime history as smoothly as the fresh waters of the Altamaha River meeting the salty Atlantic Ocean.

Don Peacock is the captain of the Lynx and the pilot of its educational endeavor.

“I call this area hallowed maritime ground,” Peacock said, standing on the deck of the Lynx one morning in April. “Not hallowed ground like Arlington (National Cemetery in Virginia), but hallowed ground for our Navy’s development. All of this ties into and supports our educational mission with local students in the community. We like to use the ship as a platform for exposing what was

relevant then and how that is still relevant today.”

If you have not been fortunate enough to catch Sam’s highwire act up there in the rigging, surely you have seen the Lynx on a swift reach across the St. Simons Sound in all its full-sailed glory. The more fortunate of you, most likely local school kids, have actually sailed on the Lynx as it cuts across the waters and through the centuries.

“The connections continue to grow as we learn more about the history of this extraordinary spot,” Peacock says. “This is actually where the shipbuilders came when they decided to build America’s first Navy.”

That was in the 1790s, barely a decade after defeating the British in the Revolutionary War. The Naval Act of 1794 decreed construction of six Navy warships to defend American interests on the high seas.

Boston shipbuilder Joshua Humphreys and his New England shipwrights knew exactly what they wanted and where to find it. A great many of the stately live oaks on St. Simons Island remained untouched, although the intensely dense makeup of the trees had gained a formidable reputation going back to colonial times.

“When Washington and Jefferson and Adams finally got the money to build a new Navy, the shipbuilders came to St. Simons Island,” Peacock says. “Joshua Humphreys was explicit. He insist-

ed that live oak be used in building the six frigates.”

Even today visitors are captivated by the elegantly arching enormous lower limbs of the island’s live oaks. That feature did not escape the notice of perceptive shipbuilders in the late 1700s. Using lightweight, exact-sized molds crafted of durable paper or canvas, workers combed the island looking for live oaks that matched their specifications.

These limbs were cut to fit the hull’s framework in single pieces. St. Simons live oak was sought also for ships’ hulls, with enslaved Blacks from surrounding plantations shouldering most of the burden.

Timber felled on St. Simons Island went north for the ships’ final construction.

The U.S.S. Constitution first saw action during the military campaign against Barbary Coast pirates in the late 1790s, helping put down a threat to American merchant shipping.

But the legendary ship came into its own during the War of 1812, a conflict that pitted America against an old nemesis — the powerful British empire.

On Aug. 19, 1812, Capt. Isaac Hull of the 44-gun Constitution spied the British warship Guerriere on the horizon. Hull closed in to pick a fight. While blasting away at each other from a scant 50 yards, a U.S. sailor cried out in battle: “Huzza! Her sides are made of iron!”

The Guerriere was not worth salvaging when the cannonade ended. Baptized in fire, “Old Ironsides” stood tall in the water. The U.S.S. Constitution later destroyed the HMS Java, then went on to defeat the British ships Pictou, Cyane and Levant by war’s end.

While the durable St. Simons live oak proved impenetrable, give further credit to Humphreys and his shipbuilders. Knowing our Navy would be woefully outgunned, he sought to build bigger, faster, and stronger warships.

Long in the keel (304 feet) and narrow of beam (43 ½ feet), the design of Constitution would shock the British with its power and agility.

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Noted one witness to its decisive pummeling of Guerriere: “(Capt.) Hull surprised the British with his heavier broadsides and his ship’s sailing ability. Adding to their astonishment, many of the British shots had rebounded harmlessly off Constitution’s hull.”

Constitution was among the first three ships built under the Naval Act of 1794, along with United States and Constellation; after sorting budgeting problems, the new Navy later christened President, Congress, and Chesapeake.

However, “Old Ironsides” alone remained on active duty until 1881; it became a museum ship in 1907. Today, the Constitution remains the U.S. Navy’s oldest commissioned ship, under the direction of naval crews, as a National Historic Site docked in Boston.

“Isn’t it amazing that because of Joshua Humphreys’ build and design, we still have one of those ships with St. Simons’ wood in it up in Charleston Navy Yard in Boston?” Peacock says. “It really lends a lot of extraordinary history, showing what we represent and what is represented here.”

Though captured by the British in 1813, the original Lynx’s speed and maneuverability astonished its enemy captors. British officials spirited the captured Lynx to England. There, they scrutinized every detail of its construction and design to better understand this Baltimore Clipper that “sailed circles around anything the British had,” Peacock notes.

Construction of this interpretive Lynx was completed in 2001. It has been under his direction and the Lynx Educational Foundation since 2016.

When it returns to the Golden Isles in November from its summer port in Nantucket, the Lynx is available for educational cruises to civic groups, clubs, and organizations. Peacock and the crew are particularly committed to reaching the area’s youth, offering hands-on sailing experiences for school groups and through the local Boys and Girls Club.

“We get them involved; they pitch in and see what it was like to sail one of these ships in that era,” Peacock says. “It’s gratifying to have such a unique platform to spark a child’s interest. You never know where that’s going to lead.”

For Sam, it started with a kid’s dream of harnessing the wind under full sails. Today, he would not think of trading his spot on the Lynx for a desk in an office.

“Everybody likes to ask, ‘If I was born in another time, what would I do?’” Sam says. “If I were born in 1812, I’d be a sailor. But I was born now, and I’m sailing still. You might as well live the life that you dream of.”

• For more information, call 978-479-2197, or email peacock@tallshiplynx.com.

Welcome Home.

DEBBIE BRITT LAW

DEBBIE BRITT LAW

302 Plantation Chase St. Simons Island, GA 31522

302 Plantation Chase St. Simons Island, GA 31522

302 Plantation Chase St. Simons Island, GA 31522

912-268-2655 (office) 912-580-9186 (mobile)

912-268-2655 (office) 912-223-3257 (mobile)

912-268-2655 (office) 912-223-3257 (mobile) debbie@debbiebrittlaw.com debbiebrittlaw.com

302 St. Simons GA (office) (mobile) debbie@debbiebrittlaw.com

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Dream

Drive:

Corvette club celebrates the great American sports car

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY

MICHAEL HALL

To the uninitiated, these may sound like a nonsensical collection of random numbers and letters. But to fans of the Chevrolet Corvette, they are a language of love for the car that captured their hearts and has been captivating enthusiasts and casual automobile fans around the world since its introduction in 1953.

Gary Moore and John Peters speak the language fluently. A few years ago, while having a conversation that no doubt included plenty of letters and numbers, the Brunswick-based pair of Corvette owners decided it was time for the Golden Isles to have its own Corvette club.

They’d seen plenty driving around town and knew that with just a little bit of work, they could create a community of people who appreciated the sleek American icon as much as they did.

“Everyone who owns a Corvette believes it’s the greatest sports car in America. In the world,” Moore says.

With that in mind, Oceanside Corvette Club was born. But any good club needs more than two members, so Peters and Moore began a grassroots effort to get more of their brothers-inall-things-Vette to join.

“We made cards and started leaving them under windshield wipers with our phone numbers,” Peters says.

Before they knew it, they had more than a dozen members who, like them, appreciated the power, style, and history of the Corvette.

The history is a rich one. Harley Earl, the father of the Corvette, had watched for years as Jaguars, MGs, and other European sports cars raced around the road course at Watkins Glen in upstate New York. The automotive designer for General Motors decided America needed its own two-seater sports car and conviced the suits at the company to let him develop one.

The car was originally code named “Project Opel.” He kept the program to himself and a handful of people who worked to create the first one, according to the National Corvette Museum.

ZO6. L88. C4. ZR1. LS1. C6. ZL1. LS3. LS7

Earl didn’t know which division of GM, which owned and still owns several car brands, should produce it, but eventually, he brought the car to Chevrolet, where his friend Ed Cole worked.

Cole was sold, and in 1953, at the Motorama in New York, the Corvette was introduced.

That model is now known as the C1, or a first-generation Corvette. The second generation of design is known as the C2, and so on until the current generation, the mid-engine C8.

The formula has always been simple. Until the current generation, the C1s

through C7s were all front-engined, rear-wheel drive sports cars with big, V8 power.

The numbers, like L88, ZO6, ZR1, LS3, and others, refer to different specialty models, performance packages, and engines that make some Corvettes a little more special than others.

But the most special Corvettes are the ones that capture the attention of new fans. Peters knows that better than most. He remembers vividly the day in 1981 when, at 6 years old, he watched a brand new yellow Vette pull up across the street. Peters was hooked.

“It was the first time I’d ever seen a

car like that, and I said, ‘Wow. That’s amazing,’” Peters says. “My whole life — high school, as a young man — I kept saying, ‘I’ve got to get a Corvette.’”

About a month before his 40th birthday, the dream came true. Peters now drives, almost daily, a yellow C6 Corvette. The C6 was made from 2005 to 2013.

Moore’s love for the car was ignited at a young age, as well. He used to frequent car shows with his father as a child. Among the classic muscle cars and peppering of European roadsters were the then-new C4 Vettes, built from 1984 to 1996.

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When he was looking for a project a few years back, Moore’s curiosity was piqued when he saw a 1995 Corvette for sale for under $10,000. He had considered a newer model, but that would have cost more.

“Or, I could get this one for four-grand and dump another four-grand into it to have a really cool car,” Moore says.

His 1995 Corvette, black with red and yellow Grandsport stripes and powered by an LT1 V8, is now a founding car of Oceanside Corvette Club along with Peters’ C6.

Moore admits it is an unofficial club, mostly a group of Corvette owners who get together for cruises to Fernandina Beach for lunch or just to hang out

somewhere locally. Even so, the club has amassed a list of around 40 phone numbers who they can call for a meetup or, as was the case back in April, a Corvette show.

The club hosted its second-annual Corvettes on the Coast show on April 20, which attracted more than 60 cars and raised money for Hospice of the Golden Isles.

Charles Taylor, of St. Simons Island, was there with his 2012 C6 Corvette, as were other people with cars from every Vette generation. Taylor learned about the club by getting one of Moore and Peters’ cards on his windshield.

“Gary left a note on my windshield, and I called him, and we talked, and the next thing you know, here I am,” Taylor says.

Like Moore and Peters, he had always wanted a sports car, and when the time was right, he bought the one he’d always liked best — a Corvette.

Taylor sat under a tent at the show and watched as admirers peered into engine bays, studied the details of the classic 1960s and 1970s models, and looked in awe at the super-car prowess of the latest model — the evolution of the American icon laid out in a physical timeline.

Peters and Moore ensured all the cars were registered and ready to be judged and smiled at the event they created.

“It’s the great American sports car,” Peters says. “The curves. The power. It’s the best.”

Surf’s Up:

Hitting the waves in the Golden Isles

AND PHOTOS BY SAM GHIOTO

To be a surfer on the Georgia coast, one must be fundamentally optimistic. It requires you to wait day after day, flat spell after flat spell, just to score a few small waves. Some days are bigger … but not much bigger.

In the region, the shallowness between our coastline and the Gulf Stream 80 miles out breaks up the swell. That means the waves are considerably minuscule in comparison to places like Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Yet, the stoke of surfing is very much alive among a core group of surfers here who have organized their entire lives around the daily and year-round pursuit of surf.

When Cannon Gould grew up on St. Simons Island, his family lived near the King and Prince, and often, they went to the beach, where he and his older brother would play in the waves. Right around 10 years old in the mid-to-late 1960s, he and his friend, Mark, were on Sea Island amongst older surfers.

“We started on high-pressure canvas mats, and that was probably in the mid-60s. We transitioned to real boards in the late 60s, around 69 or so. And on the mats, we were just kind of messing around on the inside shore-bound,” Cannon says.

“One day we paddled like crazy, and we made it outside. It was like a northeaster over on Sea Island. I remember looking at Mark, like, ‘Wow, it’s so calm out here.’ That was kind of the first real feeling of surfing we got.”

They experienced the true serenity of surfing — sitting and waiting for waves and being fully immersed in the environment.

“We caught a wave and didn’t get back outside that day. But that was kind of the bug,” Cannon says.

Within a couple of years, Cannon’s older brother got a new board, so Cannon received the hand-me-down board, and the “bug” turned into a lifelong pursuit of that first feeling of surf he experienced on Sea Island. Cannon remembers the exact date of another cathartic experience.

“It was July 11th, 1972. We were on Sea Island, and we walked up, and it was just corduroy lines as far as all the way out to the horizon. That was a standout day for all of us,” he says.

Corduroy lines are long period swells, usually coming from a hurricane, that hit the beach in a clean and rhythmic fashion, one after another. They are a rarity on the Georgia coast, and this is what every surfer in the world wants to see — nice long-period swells and clean, sizable waves. The Georgia coast can get big, but it’s only on occasion.

“The Georgia coast is an outstanding small wave break if you want to ride tiny, fun waves. It’s a good spot. I think everybody will admit to that. That guy Ben Gravy who surfs novelty waves — I’m just like, ‘Dude, the whole Georgia coast is novelty waves,’” Cannon says.

The surf breaks here are never the same. The sand bars, which determine the break, shift all the time. When Cannon grew up, they exclusively surfed Sea Island. Now, if you can even access it, it’s hit or miss. The main surf break right now is between the King and Prince and Fifth Street.

Like Cannon, surfing has dramatically impacted Scott Perkins’ life. He’s reconfigured his life for waves.

“I am self-employed for the sole reason that I can go surf. I think I was 24 when I just dropped out of the idea

WORDS

that I was going to have a nine-to-five, let’s say, because I was going to build my life around surf,” he says.

He wakes up at five every morning to read the surf reports over a cup of coffee.

Scott grew up in Brunswick and spent his childhood summers going to the beach on Jekyll with his mom, and has bodysurfed many times growing up. Finally, his mom bought him a small boogie board.

“I must have broken 10 of those boards in one year trying to surf,” he says.

Standup paddle surfing (SUP surfing) wasn’t on Scott’s radar until one man brought it here.

“Fast-forward 20 years, and I’m standing on 5th Street watching Jason (Latham), and I consider myself a pretty good surfer at the time. Here’s somebody who is ripping apart a Brunswick wave, and it just blew my mind,” Scott says.

“So, for the next six years, I have been paddling. It has taken me all over the place. It increased my surfing by about tenfold. You catch more waves, so you surf better. That’s all it is to it.”

Jason Latham, professional surfer from Brantley County, is part American Samoan and has surfed all over the world. After his initial professional stint in Hawaii, he brought back paddle surfing with him to the East Coast. Scott believes Jason is the reason surfing has progressed in the Golden Isles in the past five or six years.

Jason epitomizes what the term “waterman” means, “mak ing the most out of any weather condition on the ocean.” When the surf isn’t considered good by traditional standards, Jason finds a way to get on the water and take advantage of whatever situation the ocean affords. His arsenal of boards includes shortboards, longboards, paddle boards (short and long), hydrofoils, and now wing foils.

“That’s what it comes down to. All these things are alternative ways of enjoying the ocean, and it makes you better allaround as a surfer and waterman,” he says.

Growing up on dirt roads of Brantley County, Jason read Magazine and traveled most weekends during his teenage years to Fernandina to surf. It’s in his Polynesian blood.

That’s what called on him to move to American Samoa when he turned 18 and eventually to Oahu, Hawaii, where he turned professional and first encountered SUP surfing. He witnessed a young Kai Lenny, Mo Freitas, and Conner Baxter on SUP boards, and of course, at the time Laird Hamilton was making his mark on SUP surfing world too.

Then, it clicked. The paddle is an ancient technology and an extension of the body, and the Polynesians perfected navigating the Pacific Ocean for thousands of years on outrigger canoes using paddles.

“I think that’s why I love paddling. Paddle surfing is more ancestral and it’s more Polynesian than just regular surfing,” Jason says.

Another notable local name creating rippling effects in the surfing community and beyond is Cristi Kavanaugh, skimboard shaper, and the Womp Off SSI skim-boarding competition CEO. Although Cristi moved to the Golden Isles when she was 21 years old and started surfing at 40, Scott says Cristi is innovating the local surf scene: “She’s unreal, dude. She’s like a one-man army with an unrelenting positive attitude. She’s another one that has learned to surf right out there at Fifth Street.”

In 2021, Cristi had the idea to bring back the Womp Off skim-boarding competition, which started in 2006 with Griffin Bufkin and other island “bums,” but the competition fizzled out within about three years. This year, marked the third Womp Off in a row since Cristi took it over, and there’s so much positive energy around the competition. Cristi says, “This is a heartfelt community-loved event. I mean, you could feel it when you’re out there. I’m humbled to be in this family of all these amazing people. The energy, community, and day are just off the chain.”

This year, Cristi had a bigger plan for the community impact of this event.

“We’ve partnered with Firebox, which is our main charity that the proceeds usually go to,” she says.

This year, the charity has turned into an academic scholarship, and they are offering $1,000 for four years and $500 for two years.

Finally, I asked this core group that can be seen frequently between Gould’s Inlet and Fifth Street, “what’s the number one lesson surfing has taught you?”

They all responded in unison — “patience.”

“You’ve got to really wait for these great surf sessions here at our home break. So, it makes you very patient. And that’s been that’s been one of the main things I’ve learned,” Cristi says.

To make a difference, no matter how small, takes time, belief, effort, and of course, patience. That’s what surfing teaches all who seek to learn.

Seeking Splendor

There’s no shortage of breathtaking scenes throughout the Golden Isles. And those who often appreciate it the most are the area’s photographers.

Many are up well before dawn, lugging backpacks and tripods along the sandy shores to set up the perfect shot. It’s a labor of love and worth every effort when they snap that perfect picture.

Many of these frame-worthy images will be displayed during the Coastal Photographers Guild’s 16th annual summer exhibition – The Big Photo Show (TBPS). Opening July 3 at the SoGlo Gallery, 1314 Newcastle St., Brunswick, it will feature dozens of pieces covering an assortment of categories and subject matter.

We caught up with three guild members who will join the show to hear about how they seek out the Coast’s natural splendor.

Michelle Holton

Growing up in Roswell, outside of Atlanta, Michelle Holton was first drawn to videography. While it’s been a continuing passion for her, her focus has changed a bit since relocating to the Golden Isles.

“I went to college for video production and had no intention of getting into photography,” she says.

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY MICHELLE HOLTON, KYLE MORGAN, AND STEVEN KENDALL

Kyle Morgan

“A friend invited me to take pictures on Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island. I’d never been there before, but that was my first taste of photography, which was good because I don’t think you can take a bad picture of Driftwood.”

That was the beginning of her photography journey, though it would take a difficult turn. Her mother was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson’s Disease. Holton used photos to brighten her days.

“She eventually lost the ability to speak, but I would still be able to show her these pictures and see her smile and the expressions on her face,” she says. “She passed, but I kept the connection to her through photography. I think that’s why I’ve dove into photography more than video recently.”

Professionally, Holton offers freelance photography, including real estate images, but she hasn’t lost her creative edge. She will wander around Jekyll or St. Simons when she has free time.

“I never go out knowing what I’m going to photograph. I have places I like to go. So, I like to go to Driftwood Beach, the walking trails on Jekyll, or walking by the pier on St. Simons Island. I’ll know I want to go for sunrise or sunset, but I don’t have expectations of what I’ll get,” she says.

Michelle Holton

Michelle Holton

Michelle Holton

Michelle Holton

Kyle Morgan Kyle Morgan

Kyle Morgan

Kyle Morgan

Kyle Morgan

Kyle Morgan

Steve Kendall Steve Kendall

Steve Kendall

Some days, honestly, it’s not much. But others — it’s pure gold.

“You just never know,” she says with a laugh.

She has some suggestions for locations for those looking to snap some travel keepsakes while in the Isles.

“Definitely Driftwood Beach and historic Jekyll if you’re into any sort of architecture … there’s so much to photograph around here,” she says.

She also has some advice for those who might not have professional gear.

“Don’t let your gear limit you. The best camera you could use is the one you have on you,” Holton says.

• Michelle Holton’s work, including her nature photography, can be found at holtonmedia.com. Her Instagram account is @holtonmedia.

Kyle Morgan

The Brantley County native grew up watching his father Wayne’s passion for photography develop. And while he didn’t pursue his own path as a photographer until three years ago, it’s always seemed to be a part of his life.

“I watched my dad do photography for the past 25 years. It was when COVID hit, I was just stuck in the house, and bored, so asked if I could borrow one of his cameras,” Morgan recalls. “He agreed … and I fell in love with it.”

That spark of enthusiasm fueled a lot of practice. Morgan was spending hours with his trusty Nikon in hand. That dedication (and perhaps some familial talent) allowed him to progress quickly.

And now, he’s racked up a large social media following that eagerly awaits his posts. While the locations vary, he points out that Jekyll is always at the top of his list.

“I love Jekyll. The first photo I took was of a sunset, and I just got hooked on the sunset and sunrises. They’re gorgeous here in the Golden Isles. I’ve also always

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been fascinated by space and the universe, so I’ve taken many pictures of stars and the Milky Way,” he says. “Those are probably my favorites.”

Of course, capturing the stars requires a lot of know-how and patience. Morgan says the process utilizes long exposure to capture the slow movement of the earth.

“I have a tracker which moves along with the stars … because the Earth is rotating.

If you’re using that, you can do 5 to 10-minute exposures. It gives you more detail,” he says.

He credits the app PhotoPills with helping him determine when and where to point his camera.

“It’s a great app. You can go on, and it’ll tell you everything you need to know. You can set your location, and it’ll show you exactly where the sun will rise,” he says.

“It will show you where to photograph the Milky Way or the moon … anything like that. It also tells you the best time to shoot sunrises and sunsets, which is typically 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after sunset. That’s when you’ll get the best colors and the best light, which makes all the difference.”

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Aside from downloading the app and understanding the camera, Morgan says there’s no substitute for getting out and shooting.

“I would say just shoot everything you can … try landscapes, wildlife, and people … that will help you find your niche,” he says.

• Kyle Morgan’s photography can be found at kmorganartistry.mypixieset.com or @k.morganartistry on

The Michigan native has spent decades behind his camera. But like Morgan, inspiration also clicked for him, thanks to his dad.

“My dad was a big photographer. He had his own darkroom, and I always admired his work. He traveled all over and did a lot of nice photography,” he says.

However, his father was of the film era, and Kendall didn’t pick up his own camera until digital reigned

“It was just a lot better for me … you could get an instant picture so you knew what you were looking at. I don’t think I’d be doing photography if digital wasn’t around. Certainly, not as much as I do now,” he chuckles.

And he does it a lot. Kendall travels extensively to capture his beloved landscapes and nature images. He’s been to Alaska, Canada, the Rockies, the eastern Sierra Mountains, and Death Valley.

“Glacier National Park,” he adds. Last year, I spent a week photographing the Grand Canyon during storm season, when afternoon rain and lightning would pop up over the Canyon.”

Closer to home, some of Kendall’s favorite photography spots include Driftwood Beach, St. Andrews Beach, and Horton Pond, all on Jekyll, along with Harrington Park on St. Simons Island.

“Near (the Sidney Lanier) bridge at sunset is good, too. I like it when clouds are coming on, and there are a lot of colors,” he says.

Like Morgan, Kendall likes the PhotoPills app, which helps him plan his excursions. Another useful tool, he says, is Windy.

“It tells you where you will see clouds and at what time. It shows the radar and satellite image to see if it will be a boring blue sky or if clouds will roll in at 6 o’clock. Windy is phenomenal, and it’s free,” he says.

• Steve Kendall’s photography can be found at stevekendallphotography.com or on Instagram @stevekendallphotography.

Neuropathy Pain Breakthrough!

“My feet feel like they’re on fire!”

“Each step feels like I am walking through wet paint.”

“I live in a constant fear that I’ll fall.”

“I can’t sleep, my hands and feet tingle all night.”

What do all of these people have in common? They suffer from Peripheral neuropathy. It’s estimated that more than 20 million people in the United States have peripheral neuropathy.

Kyle Thomas, L.Ac. of Georgia

Acupuncture in Brunswick, Ga shares his beliefs. “I have been treating neuropathy, in all its vari ous forms, for over a decade and so often my patients come to me because of the symptoms not because of the diagnosis. To help them, I seamlessly blend the ancient science of acupuncture with modern medical solutions.”

Kyle has achieved a 90% success rate in reversing the effects of neuropathy.

He starts each patient with an initial consultation during which a sensory exam is performed. “This not only aids in making a proper diagnosis but it helps to define just how much nerve damage has occurred,” tells Kyle. “This is important because if a patient has suffered more than 95% damage, there is little that I can do to help them. I’m familiar with the medical miracle, but I know my limits as a practitioner and the limits of my medicine.”

If you or someone you love are suffering with chronic pain that presents as burning, tingling, or “pins and needles”, or you’ve recently been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, There is hope.

Call (912)-574-7053 to schedule an initial consultation or visit GeorgiaAcu.com to read more incredible success stories.

Steve Kendall

SILENT AND LISTEN

WORDS AND PHOTO BY LINDSEY ADKISON

TThe crowd assembled at SchroGlo Community Bar and Restaurant this spring evening seemed a sampling of the city itself.

Rockers with mohawks, college coeds clad in star-bedazzled sneakers, grizzled trial attorneys, and obviously, an assortment of world-weary journalists.

The mayor may have made an appearance.

Little by little, space became scarce.

As the room filled, a funny thing happened. In unison, the audience secretly tucked in earplugs. It was a quiet warning that things were about to get very, very loud.

Right on cue, Nathan Woody steps to the microphone. Behind him, Michael Farris readies his

drum set. To his right, Michael Key grasps his bass.

“OK, so this is a rock and roll show,” Woody informs the room.

Hoots and hollers ensue. Glow sticks emerge and pairs of dark sunglasses are passed around.

And then, the room explodes in sound.

For a three-piece ensemble, Silent and Listen packs a mighty punch, one that seemingly shakes the soul. It’s been something that’s resonated deeply with Brunswick since the group made its first mark during an appearance at PorchFest 2023.

For Woody, the group’s vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist, it’s been a thrill.

“We have been trying to flex our

lineup a little bit lately. We’ve had to use alternates because we live in different places now. I moved to Brunswick in ’21. Michael (Key) still lives in Athens. This is (Michael) Farris’ first show with us and he’s filling in for our other drummer, Marco, who is in Atlanta,” Woody says.

“We have a decent distance between the three original members. But Farris and I play together at Community Church which is how we know each other.”

Woody first formed the band 16 years ago, after he completed graduate school.

“My son was a baby so that’s how I gauge the time,” he recalls with a laugh. “But I had been in another band for four or five years and that band was breaking up, so it was time to do something different. I decided I

would do a little writing and singing on my own.”

Woody started work and it quickly snowballed. His writing skills paired with solid drum and bass skills propelled the group forward.

“My favorite part is writing … I think that’s what kept me continuing to do it. I just love creating something from scratch and playing with other musicians who I love,” Woody says. “I also love the recording process and layering to add elements that are fun. I love the unpredictability of playing live too.”

And while each song is original, they have flavors of various genres.

“It’s rock but it’s radio-friendly. It’s not aggressive rock, though I like to play aggressively,” Key says with a laugh. “I think the music touches different styles.”

The variety has been thoroughly embraced by local music fans, many of whom are musicians themselves. When Woody relocated, he easily fell in with the thriving network that always embraces independent, original artists.

“There are a lot of great musicians in Brunswick and Golden Isles, so it hasn’t been hard to connect with other musicians. We did (a recording session) where Dakota (of Hot Banana Coffee) did vocals and we recorded in my living room,” Woody says. “Marco recorded the drums in Atlanta and Michael did the bass in Athens … so we just snagged the audio wherever we could and it worked. We’d not done that before.”

Being flexible and plugging in new talent is one of Woody’s strong suits and what Key says has helped the band’s longevity.

“I think the thing Nathan is particularly good at is finding the chemistry that works. Like tonight, it’s the first time playing with Farris and it works. This particular arrangement will work whenever there’s a need and I’m confident Nathan can find others to fill in too,” Key says.

As far as what the future holds, like the band’s past, it’s not something they like to rigidly define. But they plan to keep sharing their unique sound along with Woody’s signature songwriting.

“The music that Nathan writes is commenting on the life he’s living and the reality is we can all relate to it and to each other. But we can’t all express things that way,” Key says. “It’s great when you can listen to music and feel that sense of connection.”

CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN FOR SAFE HARBOR

The second annual Champions for Children campagin recently conc luded. Several local leaders from across industries raised fund s for the cause. The top winner was Jonathan Jerusalmy of Sea Island. The total raised was $250,000. A celebration at Queen and Grant in downtwon Brunswick concluded the eight-week program. Safe Harbor offers homes to local children who have been abused or neglected. For more infromation, visit safeharborcenterinc.org.

Justin and Siera Lowmack, from left, and Libby and Stephen Moreno

Kam and Cheyenne Throckmorton

Jenni Morris, from left, Sube Lawrence, Calen Campbell, and Gina Copeland

Dr. Kyle Fox, left, and Chelsea Parker

Jacqueline Bryant, left, and Wenona Belton

Kate Dart, from left, Lizzie Piazza, and Bentley Kaufman

Leslie Hartman, from left, and Ruan and Savannah Ennis

Michelle Spooner, left, and Miranda Vogt Miller and Matt Dart

Stephanie McCrary, left, and Stacey Semtner

Susan Bryant, from left, Jonathan Jerusalmy, and Randy Bryant

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FREDERICA ACADEMY’S DERBY DAY

Frederica Academy recently hosted its annual Derby Day event at Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island. It included food, dr inks, auctions, and entertainment. Funds raised support every aspect of student life and the school’s programs. For details, visit fredericaac ademy.org.

Michael and Bentley KaufmanRyan and Leslie SuddathSummer and Justin Whitlow

Ashley Williams, from left, Charity Wilson, Heather Day, and Wrenn Kent

Jess McKenzie, left, and Courtney Been

Mary Kathrine and Troy Bland

Ann McGoughlin, from left, Lauren Simmons, Lillian Thigpen, and Sam Hoffnagle

Darrell Dent and Sage Campione, from left, and Jen and Hugh Ada ms Angel Venker, from left, Anna Hart, Carol Pollock, and Katie Peterson

Caroline Champion, left, and Kiel Scates Carson and Matt Jones

Kathrine Swafford, left, and Caroline Flexer

Claire Lawhorne, from left, Robby Speight, and Erika Chambliss

A BETTER GLYNN’S LEGACY GALA

A Better Glynn recently hosted its Legacy Gala. The fundraiser was the official launch of the nonprofit’s scholarship program, where the organization announced the recipients honored for their academi c, civic, and community leadership. The night included food by Strong Roots 9. A Better Glynn is an organization that promotes educat ion and equity-driven decision making. For more information on A Better Glynn, abetterglynn.org.

D’Amber and Jermaine Smith

Jocelyn Vaughn, from left, Michol Young and Porsha Kennedy

Nicole Ransom, left, and Chanthony Andrews

Dr. Kyle Fox, from left, Commissioner Kendra Rolle, and Cherise and Dialo Cartwright

Jerome and Sharay Dixon

Brandi Lyde Whitfield and Jocelyn Vaughn Jay and Brooke Sellars

Photos by Jason Fields

MEMORY MATTERS’ MUSIC AND MEMORIES

Memory Matters is a nonprofit in Brunswick that aids patients a nd families confronting memory loss. It held a fundrasiing even t with musical performers, food, drinks, and a silent auction. Proceed s from ticket sales wil go toward providing their programs free of charge to those in need. For more information, visit memorymattersglynn.c om.

Yolanda Neely, from left, Hilary Kent, Jordan Andrew, Jamie Clayton, Julie Tharpe, John Hartland, Brooke Baskin, Laura Martella, and Billy Copelan

Steve and Chandra Kendall

Ashley Ember, from left, Kylie Harrison, Tavia Harrison, Christian Wright, Anna Wright, and Christ David

Ashley and Jaime HornbuckleBob and Dawn Schlich

Brooke Baskin, left, and Delaney Britt

Claire Campbell, left, and Wendy McNair

Corinne Bachman, left, and John Cowlishew Darby and Tracy GrossDr. Harold and Hilary Kent

Kendall Copelan, Carrie Copelan and Christe Copelan

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CASSINA GARDEN CLUB’S TABBY AND TILANDSIA GARDEN WALK

The Cassina Garden Club recently held its annual Tabby and Tillandsia Garden Walk on St. Simons Island. The tour featured six properties along with a stop by the histroic, tabby cabins at Gascoigne Bluff. The proceeds from ticket sales will go toward maintaining the cabins.

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Maxine Travis, left, and Linda Johnston

Charlene and Rob MacPherson

Sandy Scherzer, left, and Mary Beth Owens

Cindy Lanyon, from left, Linda Stroud, and Robin Pound

Janis Rodriguez, left, and Beverly Nash

STARGAZING FOR STAR OF COASTAL GEORGIA

STAR of Coastal Georgia held its annual STARGazing event featuring a low country boil at Village Creek Landing on St. Simons Island. The fundraiser included music and food, along with a raffle. The or ganization promotes work readiness through a variety of program s. For details, visit starofcoastalga.org.

Bonnie Duncan, from left, Andrea and John Lampo, and Bob Duncan

Paul Pantano, left, and Julia Day

Katie Silva, from left, Frank O’Brien, and Donna Davis

Dr. Sabrina Nixon, left, and Nancy Bowen

Jay and Jeanine Torbert

Betty McKenzie, left, and Adele Tyson

Debbie Britt and Delaney Britt Debbie Banks, left, and Dawn Pantano

Something had to give.

Something had to give.

It wasn’t just her high cholesterol and blood pressure that worried Lisa Krautheim. When she disappointed her only grandchild by cutting a trip to Universal Studios short due to joint pain, swollen feet and shortness of breath –all because of her excess weight – she knew: “Something had to give.”

Lisa found a solution to her lifelong struggle: weight loss surgery. Today, she is healthy, confident and running 5K races. Her only regret: “I wish I’d done it sooner.”

Weight loss surgery can be the first step of a life-changing journey to better health. Our Bariatric Program includes individualized weight loss plans and pre- and post-surgery support to amplify your success, including:

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