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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
MARCH/APRIL 2022
49 FORM + FLOW: Aerial artist Susan Murphy’s life has been an odyssey in search of meaning and beauty, which has landed her in McIntosh County where she founded The Marsh Studio.
56 BEAUTY BOSSES: Two ladies decided to take a leap of faith to open
feat fe atures ures 64 businesses designed to help women cultivate confidence and joy.
64 PRETTY IN PINK: For our annual Beauty spread, we highlighted subtle shades of blush, setting them against colorful canvases and lush greenery.
69 MS. MILLIE: Millie Wilcox has an unmatched sense of grace and style. She shares her story along with some timeless pieces to incorporate into one’s wardrobe.
75 STRENGTH + GRACE: Ayla Wilson’s life hasn’t always been easy, but the strength-training yogini has transformed her body and mind into a palace of peace. And she helps others do the same.
G O L D E N I S LES
A DESTINATION EXPERIENCE WITHOUT THE TRAVEL
Only across the causeway and feel as though you are truly away.
Vac at ion s. Meet i n gs. Event s. D i n i n g. westinjekyllisland.com | 912.635.4545
Trending TrendingNow Now.... .... thAnniversary Our Exhibition Our55thArt Anniversary Exhibition for Springtime!
Ella Cart
Trish Rugaber
Joan Hilliard
“Spirit “SpiritofofTrees” Trees”Through ThroughAugust August15th 15th
Susan SusanAnderson Anderson• •Tori ToriAnderson Anderson• •Ella EllaCart Cart Ella Cart • Dottie Clark • Trish• Rugaber Dottie Clark • Suzanne Clements Roz Dottie Clark • Suzanne Clements • RozHarrell Harrell Suzanne Clements • Susan Anderson • Joan Hilliard Joan JoanHilliard Hilliard• •Joyce JoyceLedingham Ledingham• •Trish TrishRugaber Rugaber Linda Bobinger • Lydia Thompson • Cheryl Keefer
Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 am–4 pm and by appt. 3305 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island (912) 268-4761 Shop online at www.ArtTrends.Gallery • Email: Artists@ArtTrends.Gallery
The Gallery with the Orange Door See us on Facebook & Instagram
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island Ace hardware 329 Longview plaza Longview Shopping plaza 912-638-3800 Like island Ace on Facebook
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COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 12
EDITOR’S NOTE
14
WORD ON THE STREET
17
COASTAL QUEUE
35
DUE SOUTH
37
BY DESIGN
38
LIVING WELL
40
NATURE CONNECTION
42
MONEY TALKS
44
GAME CHANGERS
46
THE DISH
80 NOISEMAKERS HANNAH MAY 82 COASTAL SEEN
Navigate HOME. Page Aiken and his luxury homes team specialize in Sea Island and St. Simons Waterfront Homes, Golf Communities, and Legacy Property Investments.
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3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick GA 31520
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space
With OUR Drapery + Upholstery Services
Publisher Buff Leavy Editor Lindsey Adkison Director of Advertising Jenn Agnew and Marketing Assistant Editor Proofer
Lauren McDonald Heather Murray
Account Executives
Enzo Centofanti Kasey Rowell Tyler Vaughn
Contributing Writers
Auret Cavedo Taylor Cooper Derrick Davis Terry Dickson Gracie Hill Ronda Rich Cynthia Robinson Lydia Thompson
C U S T O M W I N D O W T R E AT M E N T S
Draperies, Cornices & Valances | Roman Shades & Blinds Custom Bedding & Non-Slip Bed Skirts | Pillows of all shapes & sizes Custom Drapery Hardware | Motorization of Drapery, Shades & Blinds Outdoor Cushions | Table Skirts
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Dream Homes of the Golden Isles
Welcome home to Custom Home Design
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Contributing Photographers
Tabitha Baldwin Jan Bone Lindy Cofer Tamara Gibson Derrick Davis Terry Dickson
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: This gorgeous model gracing our cover is Christine Thompson. At the time of the shoot, she was pregnant with her baby girl, Seoul. Christine is standing in front of Dottie Clark’s marsh paintings at ArtTrends Gallery. She was photographed by Tamara Gibson.
A Community of Life and Living!
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(912) 266-8848 • www.magnoliamanor.com Independent Living • Catered Living • Assisted Living • Nursing Center Visit our website for more information.
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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-addressed stamped envelope will be returned. Advertising
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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; Enzo Centofanti at 912265-8320 ext. 333 or at ecentofanti@ thebrunswicknews.com; or Kasey Rowell at 912-265-8320 ext. 334 or krowell@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.
At Frederica Academy, academic achievement and student enrichment through experiential learning are at their most vibrant. For every grade and age, a diverse world of activities ignite learning and expand horizons. From music, drama, foreign language and the visual arts, to group assemblies, field trips, travel, sports, community service and student organizations. At FA, class sizes are small, outside-the-class experiences are large and students are both well-rounded and well-prepared for their future. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Frederica Academy in your child’s education, we invite you to call (912) 638-9981 ext. 106, or visit fredericaacademy.org.
FREDERICA ACADEMY 200 Murray Way St. Simons Island, GA 31522
Frederica Academy does not discriminate in the administration of its policies based on race, sex, color, religion or ethnic group.
Editor’s Note
Boundless Beauty The Roman poet Ovid wrote, “beauty is a fragile gift.” And while he lived roughly 2,000 years ago, this belief is alive and well today. Society pushes the notion that beauty lives in very stringent parameters. To be “beautiful” you have to fit into a specific size, shape, and age range. And, if you don’t … well, don’t worry — there’s always a filter. Now, I’m not here to write out the typical platitudes that so frequently accompany the deeper meaning of beauty. No, instead I’m going to show you. In the following pages, we’re sharing the stories of beauty that span different ages, races, shapes, and sizes. Across this spectrum, we found bright, bold, and courageous women who radiate in a way that no words can truly describe. It’s a blend of strength and confidence that has been hard-earned. Take Ayla Wilson. She is a physical powerhouse, sculpting her body into a work of art through CrossFit and an intense yoga practice. Over the years, she’s helped others reach their fitness goals. While all of that is quite impressive, it’s what she’s had to overcome that really gives her her glow. And it’s the way she uplifts others that truly makes her shine.
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It’s a similar story with Susan Murphy. The aerial artist has dedicated her life to helping others discover the freedom and beauty that comes with self-expression. While the pandemic has caused her to halt teaching at her studio — the Marsh Studio in Meridian — she has found new methods of creating and sharing beauty. Like Susan, Millie Wilcox has a sense of poise and grace that few can claim. Aunt Millie, as I have come to call her, has been a fixture in nearly every aspect of the Golden Isles.
@gibco 215 Mallery Street | St. Simons Island, Georgia 912.638.3636 | www.gibcobracelets.com 12
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Over my many years as a Brunswick News reporter, I’ve had the great privilege of interviewing her on countless occasions — and I tell you this, there’s no lady that I’ve seen
look more fabulous than she does. It was only years after first meeting her that discovered the source of her voguish vibe. It was developed in the European fashion house of couturier Eleanora Garnett. All the while, Millie was rubbing elbows with some of the most fabulous people in Europe, including Pablo Picasso. Her story is absolutely incredible in every sense of the word and I am thrilled that we’re sharing it. We are also excited to share our annual beauty spread — Pretty in Pink — featuring our cover girl, Christine Thompson, with makeup by Sally Barnes, owner of Studio Bleu on St. Simons Island. We staged the shoot in ArtTrends Gallery and at Wesley Gardens, both on St. Simons. Finally, associate editor Lauren McDonald sat down with some local “beauty bosses,” women who own beauty-centric businesses, to find out what they offer and how they’ve grown their respective brands. We hope you enjoy these beautiful people and their stories. With lots of love — Lindsey
You Push Yourself. Bank Where You Have Pull. PrimeSouth Bank has always been the choice of people not afraid to choose their passion. That means they will push us as hard as they push themselves. We are ready for higher expectations with a higher level of service, more responsiveness and accessibility, and local decision making. When you are ready to find your prime, find what you need at PrimeSouth Bank.
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Word On The Street Cover @emilyburtondesigns: Love the cover! @tasha_bobasha:
@jyanelambright: Beautiful
Your reactions sent to us by emails, posts, & tweets
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New Paths Horse Sanctuary C. McGrath: Thank you for sharing! Definitely going to check it out. @britt.lyons: Aw this is such a beautiful story.
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Susan Busby Thornton: I love this happy cover. Both are smiling! I cannot wait to read what’s inside. Megan Rodgers Wilder: I love this so much!!!!! Hannah DeSoto: You could not have chosen a better cover if you had all of Hollywood from which to choose! Congratulations Caroline, Scootie, and Lindsey. Good job! Janice Moore Applegate: Great cover! I look forward to reading it!
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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.
The Wanderer Jayne Lambright: Love Sea Salt Kitchen @tasha_bobasha:
yummy!!!
@davidashostetler: @makeupbypaulaj: The ladies of The Links Inc. @erinvphotos: I love the green, ladies
A Fresh Start with Sea Salt Healthy Kitchen 14
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@puscholar: A wonderful tribute to do this expose in honor of Black History Month.
College is better by the beach!
Come experience for yourself. Apply online today!
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912.434.9600 | 3415 Frederica Rd. | St. Simons Island | (Located next to Delaney’s + Sal’s) | Monday- Saturday 10 am - 6pm | Sunday 12 am - 5 pm THANK YOU FOR VOTING US BEST CLOTHING + CONSIGNMENT 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 + 2019.
Q AN INFORMATIVE LINEUP OF THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE GOLDEN ISLES
Southern Drifter
f
music festival set for Jekyll Island WORDS BY TAYLOR COOPER | PROVIDED PHOTOS
For years, Alan Verlander has wanted to create a small, intimate music festival for country artists and songwriters to interact with real music nerds. As a musician and music fan himself, Verlander had the idea for a small-scale “destination-type fest,” which he was only able to fully realize in 2020. Verlander — founder of Airstream Ventures, a sports management and entertainment planning outfit out of Jacksonville — is familiar with the city of Nashville and its legendary country music scene. The Mecca of country, songwriters’ nights and open mics
are a common occurrence across the town and are hosted by a variety of venues such as The Bluebird Café, which has welcomed many famous and award-winning country stars — before they were such — for over 40 years. Events like songwriters’ and open mic nights present a chance for both established and up-and-coming writers and musicians to meet with fans and generate grassroots interest and word-of-mouth marketing. It was this idea Verlander tapped into when he started working with Kevin Baker, general manager of The Westin Jekyll Island, to form the Southern Drifter Music Festival.
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“As music continues to grow, musicians want to get to know their fans,” Verlander said. “We had this idea last year, but COVID got in the way a little bit, but the idea was to keep it smaller.” This year’s acts include Love and Theft, Parmalee, Karissa Ella, Dan & Alaina Blair, David Nail, John Caldwell, Alex Seier, and Dylan Gerard. “You can come see the names. Love and Theft has some big hits. Parmalee has some big hits. Some of the names we’re announcing have big hits. Come here and see some big hits,” Verlander says. “But then we’ve also got some names who, maybe you’ve never heard of them but you’ve heard most of what they’ve written.” It wasn’t quite in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, but May of 2021, when the first Drifter was held, still did not seem the right time to launch a large festival, Baker says. It was by intent that only around 350 tickets were sold. This year’s event is slated for March 4 to 6, at which point he hopes conditions will be more favorable to big events. “When you spread 350 people out, including on their balconies at the Westin, it felt very spread out I think this year will feel more energetic and more like a festival,” Baker says. Much thought on Verlander’s part went into the event, including where to locate it. Jekyll Island specifically was a strategic move, he said. It’s not far from his home city of Jacksonville, it’s got great oceanfront views in a welcoming community, and brings the Nashville magic to a different part of the country.
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It also exposes some Nashville musicians to a different locale, which was a big draw for some folks like Stephen Barker Liles, one-half of the duo Love and Theft. Highly complimentary of the island, he readily used descriptors like “great place” and “killer vibe.”
x
luxurious
LINENS & MONOGRAMS
“It takes a little while to get a festival going, but we’re willing to play our part and help this grow really big,” Liles says. While he described his and bandmate Eric Gunderson’s sound as more pop country, the band’s biggest influence was a rock group, the Eagles. Further, he said they’ve been described as “modern-day Everly Brothers.” “Which is pretty much the nicest compliment you can get,” Liles concludes. Like many, many before him, Liles made his big break in Nashville. But he started in Clearwater, Florida. Son of a preacher, Liles, 37, and his brother weren’t listening to any of the edgier music of the 1980s and 90s. They were raised on a steady diet of Elvis Presley, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and gospel, and a lot of older and modern country which was fairly clean and tame enough for the strict parental figures.
295 REDFERN VILLAGE ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA 31522 (912)268-4359
@twofriends_stsimons www.twofriends2.com
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A fairly traditional tale followed. He pursued and developed his musical talents until high school when he got the best advice he’d received yet. “They said ‘If you want to be in the country music industry, you have to be in Nashville,’” Liles recalls. “That’s the best advice I was ever given and that’s the advice I give. You got to move there if you want to do it.” He and a friend, Canaan Smith, made the pilgrimage together and started their musical careers, which owed no small debt to the songwriters’ and open mic nights endemic to Nashville. Love and Theft was formed in 2006 after Liles met Gunderson and Brian Bandas. Bandas departed a few years later, but Liles and Gunderson liked their sound as a duo and the rest is, as they say, history. “You know, we’re not like ‘We need to write a radio song or a song like that (one).’ We’ve just been really true to ourselves,” Liles says. It’s worked for them. Chart-toppers in their own right, some of Liles and Gunderson’s songs have also been performed by names like Martina McBride and Darius Rucker. This March’s fest will feature some typical concert-style musical acts like Love and Theft’s — with the venue for the main event on Saturday, March 5, expected to hold upwards of 2,000 people in an outdoor setting — but Verlander feels the main draw of the event is that small, intimate atmosphere he hopes to cultivate. • For more information on the Southern Drifter Music Festival visit southerndrifterfestival.com.
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Signature Agent Page New EIL_Layout 1 3/15/21 10:39 AM Page 1
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highlands | saint simons | atlanta | cornelius | chamblee | athens MARC H/A P RI L 2022
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Brow Down:
Q
The quest for getting perfect eyebrows
L L
ike fashion and home décor, beauty trends come and go, and eyebrow shaping is no exception. Over the years, popular brow shapes have run the gamut from barely visible to highly stylized to full and bushy. According to Brittney High, a professional makeup artist at Haus of Beauty in Brunswick, the currently popular fuller brows will remain popular for the foreseeable future. “Fuller, fluffier brows are still trending, but they do have some structure to them with a nice arch. For lack of a better term, I call it the Kardashian brow,” she says, laughing. While the wispy, thin brows of the 90s have fallen by the wayside, High said the best brow shape is the one that best fits an individual’s face shape. Generally speaking, brows should be shaped opposite of someone’s face shape. For example, someone with a round face should shape their brows with a higher arch to help open up their face. “Brows should be customizable to the shape of your face,” she says. Whether going to a salon or doing your own brows at home, High says that mapping one’s brows is key. “There are three parts to mapping the
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WORDS BY CYNTHIA ROBINSON PHOTOS BY TABITHA BALDWIN
brows. First, measure straight down from where the brow starts with either your finger or brow pencil. Then, you map where the arch should be by placing the pencil at the corner of your nose up through the iris of the eye — that’s where the arch should be. And third, map where the brow should end by placing the pencil at the edge of your nose and align it with the corner of your eye,” she says. Eyebrow mapping tutorials can also be found online, as well as tools for mapping and even eyebrow stencils for those who need more help “Mapping takes time, but you’re more likely to get more symmetrical brows that way. We do say, though, that brows are sisters, but not twins,” she adds with a laugh. Even if your brows are thin due to over-plucking or waxing, High says there is no reason to panic. Anyone can achieve the fuller, more natural look. She said either filling in the eyebrows daily with a good eye pencil or professionally applied permanent makeup, or microblading can achieve the look you’re going for. “A good brow pencil is your friend. Benefit has a brow microfilling pen that is really good, and Anastasia is
another good brand,” she says. “A good pencil will help you fill in and achieve a natural look using short, light strokes.” If someone doesn’t want to spend the time daily using an eyebrow pencil, they can opt for permanent makeup or microblading. “Although it’s called permanent makeup, it’s really semi-permanent because it fades over time. When I apply the makeup, it doesn’t go as deeply into the skin as a traditional tattoo would. With microblading, I go in with a tiny needle with pigment and make little cuts resembling hairs. I know it sounds scary, but I numb my clients prior to service and on a pain scale from one to 10, it’s never over a two or three,” she says, adding that most people can go one to two years before having a minor touchup. For the do-it-yourself route, High notes that patience is key. “It takes patience and practice. When I do someone’s brows, I try to do natural look with a soft arch that gives a pretty, natural, flowing look to the brow,” High says. Haus of Beauty is a medical spa located at 1527 Newcastle St., Brunswick. For more information visit hausofbeautyga.com.
furniture rugs
•
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lamps
bedding
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3079 Frederica Rd. | St. Simons Island 9 1 2 . 6 3 8 . 5 5 6 0 | taylorhousellc.com
AYLOR HOUSE INTERIORS
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Q
Celebrating
40
years
in the Golden Isles
Celebrate
Easter April 17
Cassina Garden Club
Tabby and Tillandsia
Garden Walk Returns April 30
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY PROVIDED PHOTOS
B
ritish architect William Kent once mused “all gardening is landscape painting.” And there are plenty of gorgeous canvases on St. Simons Island.
Jewelry design & repairs done on premises.
The homes and gardens that line the streets here represent the dreams of their occupants. They also put a great deal of time and effort into bringing those visions to life. And while they’re typically only available to friends and family, one annual event has been opening these private worlds to the public.
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Cassina Garden Club’s annual Tabby and Tillandsia Garden Walk offers a tour that allows a peek inside these immaculate properties. This year’s walk is being co-chaired by Judie Mattingly and Julie Sellers. The two faced some high expectations as the 2021 event was the most successful on record.
amily to yours. “Last year, I think, everyone was so excited to get out and do things. And they felt safe going since it is outside in the open air. We sold over 1,000 tickets,” Mattingly says. “There were people lined up at the first garden before we started at 10 a.m. So yes, it was a screaming success, even though it started to rain at the end.” This year, they’re hoping to avoid the showers while maintaining the crowd. The walk will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 30. There will be six gardens and attendees can start from any point on the tour, moving along at their own pace. As in years passed, tour-goers can also expect a variety of garden styles. “We have a team that line them up each year. And this year, like last year, we will have some gorgeous gardens,” Mattingly says. “We have everything from boutique gardens to some really over-the-top homes. We always have a good mix.” In addition to the gardens, the club is also hosting a silent auction and market at its historic tabby cabins in Gascoigne Bluff on St. Simons Island. “At the end, they can come back for entertainment from 4 to 5 p.m.,” she says. The tabby cabins, which date back to the early 1800s, are the primary reason for hosting the tour, as ticket sales go toward the upkeep of the structures.
DEBBIE BRITTYour Serving Attorney at Law Elder Law
DEL Le
Serving Your Needs. Your Serving Elder Law “It’s like owning a second home. We maintain the flower gardens but we have to hire people to do We help you protect your future. Call us Elder Law Needs. the mowing. And we have to keep up with theYour Serving Serving Your to learn more about long-term care and repairs,” she says. “A few years ago we had them Needs. Medicaid planning healthSt. Simons ; enhanced help you protect Call usPlantation Chase completely redone andWe they’re beautiful. But ityour future. 302 Elder Elder Law Law care directives enhanced powers of ; to learn more about long-term care and does cost a lot of money.” We help you protect your future. Call us Needs. Needs. Medicaid planning; enhanced healthattorney ; guardianships; and•more. 912-268-2655 debbie@debbi to learn more about long-term care and Attendees can feel good about purchasing a ticket powers of care directives ; enhanced as the funds help maintain the property — while walk; enhanced health We Wehelp helpyou youattorney protect protectyour future. future. Call Call ususmore.Medicaid planningdebbie@debbiebrittlaw guardianships ; your ; and ing away from the tour with inspiration for their own care directives enhanced powers of totolearn learnmore moreabout aboutlong-term long-termcare careand and Medicaid Medicaidplanning planning health ; enhanced ; enhancedhealth care care directives directives enhanced enhanced powers powers “You can get some wonderful ; ; ideas. It’s always ofof fun to go home and some of the things you’ve attorney attorney guardianships more. more. ; guardianships ; try ; and ; and gardens.
seen,” she says.
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302 Plantation Chase 912-268-2655 (office) debbie@deb St. Simons Island, GA 31522 912-223-3257 (mobile) debbiebrittl LAW OFFICE OFon DEBORAH ESTATE PLANNING ELDER LAW PROBATE Below are brief descriptions of the homes the tour.L. BRITT For privacy reasons, the 302 addresses willChase be disclosed to 912-268-2655 (office) Plantation debbie@debbiebrittlaw.com only to ticket holders: St. Simons Island, GA 31522 912-223-3257 (mobile) debbiebrittlaw.com LAW OFFICE OF DEBORAH L. BRITT ESTATE PLANNING
302 Plantation Chase A Marsh Side Retreat: This lush property boasts a St. Simons Island, GA 31522 LAW LAW OFFICE OFFICE DEBORAH DEBORAH L.L. BRITT BRITT ESTATE PLANNING PLANNING ELDER ELDER LAW LAW variety of fruit trees fromOF aOF Canary Island Date Palm ESTATE to citrus 302 trees. The grove includes Persian912-268-2655 lime, Meyer(office) 302 Plantation Plantation Chase Chase 912-268-2655 (office) debbie@debbiebrittlaw.com debbie@debbiebrittlaw.com lemon, Ponkan tangerine, Satsum tangerine, varie- (mobile) St.St. Simons Simons Island, Island, GA GA 31522 31522 912-223-3257 912-223-3257 (mobile) debbiebrittlaw.com debbiebrittlaw.com gated pink lemon trees, and a fruit cocktail tree. In
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addition to the citrus, the backyard also offers a pool with sweeping views of the St. Simons Island marina and surrounding rivers. Sweeping Vistas at King’s Point: This exquisite Spanish Villa features a formal courtyard garden, centered with massive Enzo Zago Italian terra cotta containers filled with mature Agave plants. A path lined with hydrangeas winds to a rear garden and pool area. It features Muhly and native grasses for low-maintenance, yearround texture and color. A Colorful Hideaway: Vibrant shades are on full display, as brightly colored lanterns bob in the breezes above a wide array of flowers. There are bright Hibiscus along with pops of seasonal color. Koi ponds, Mexican tiles, and whimsical sculptures complete this eclectic picture. Black Banks Sculpture Garden: This home was designed by a local architect who was inspired by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. Large sculptures, Birds of Paradise, and mature Agave flank the home’s entrance. The sculptures of renowned artist Stephen Kishel provide color and structure to the landscaping. Shades of Green: Home to a devoted gardener, this low maintenance landscape features a variety of plants with variegated foliage that provide a lovely soft palate for this semi-shaded area. This peaceful space features a pie-shaped garden bubbling with Ajuga, Agapanthus, Hydrangea, Fatsias, Farfugium Japonica, and African Iris. A Fresh Approach: A winding brick walkway draws visitors through sculpted lawns and beds, creating contrasts of shapes, textures, and values. A variety of coastal plants have been carefully arranged to enhance the beauty and serenity of the landscape.
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Taste of the Vine
Q
makes triumphant return
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
L
ike so many, Cathy Spraetz felt the Golden Isles would be the perfect place to retire. Not only did she have family in the area, but she also enjoyed the slower pace of life under the swaying palm trees. Before relocating to the area a few years back, Spraetz spent more than 35 years as a chief executive officer, including serving in that role at Chimp Haven in Keithville, Louisiana. “It was the largest chimp sanctuary in the world. And it was really just such a wonderful organization ... ask me anything about primates,” Spraetz says with a laugh. Letting go of her longtime mission to help important causes was more difficult than anticipated. So while she enjoyed the freedom of retirement, it wasn’t long before she was back at the helm of a non-profit, the Coastal Coalition for Children.
families the tools they need to create safe, stable homes for children. Its programs include Healthy Families, a nationally accredited home-visiting program, and Grandparent Connection, which supports grandparents and others serving as guardians. Spraetz says that the staff was committed to this critical cause. “It certainly impacted the families in that we couldn’t make home visits, which is a hallmark of our programs, but our staff has been so nimble when it comes to adapting,” she says. “We’ve been operating virtually and offering hybrid meetings with families. It’s been a challenge and certainly not business as usual.”
“When I started looking around, this sweet organization popped up. So now, I’ve been here for two years,” she says. “I started in November 2019.”
Another major factor was the lack of fundraising opportunities. Traditionally, the Coalition hosts its signature gala called Taste of the Vine each fall. The soirée blends fine wines, a stunning venue with fabulous food and entertainment. The event, naturally, had to be shelved in 2020. That was a huge blow to their program, particularly Grandparent Connection.
That was right ahead of the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. While the global health crisis made their work more challenging, the mission of promoting child well-being continued. The coalition offers that support by giving
“Taste of the Vine was really the real source of funding for the Grandparent Connection and when we had to cancel it, we weren’t sure what we were going to do. I called a meeting of the board and told them
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that I didn’t know what we would do to ‘keep the lights on’ when it came to that program,” Spraetz says. But luckily, she says, they were able to appeal to members of their database to help. “We sent out end-of-the-year appeals to everyone in our database, which was about 1,000 people. We ended up with $25,000. I think that was really great considering it was a smaller pool of people,” she says. “It helped us make it to the next year.” Donor generosity coupled with a grant they received allowed the Coalition to continue. But this year, Spraetz says the organization is thrilled to bring Taste of the Vine back. It’s slated to be held from 6 to 9 p.m. March 20 at Frederica Golf Club’s clubhouse and outdoor pavilion on St. Simons Island. Guests will enjoy tastings of high-quality wines curated by local sommeliers Ryan McLoughlin of Sea Island and George Jackson of the Frederica Golf Club. McLoughlin says that attendees should come ready to sample the best of the best. “With Taste of the Vine, the idea is to showcase wines from around the world. Between myself and George Jackson,
we’ve been putting together a group of wineries, distributors, and suppliers that are all supporting the event,” he says. “And these will be wines you can get locally, regionally, and in our wine shops, but also some that are more rare. You’ll certainly be able to taste some things that you’ve never had before.” In addition to top tier wine selection, guests will also be served a buffet of delectable small plates and hors d’oeuvres. A silent auction will offer a wide variety of items up for bid and entertainment will be provided by local favorite, 3 of Us. Spraetz says that she feels confident that the community will be eager to turn out to support their cause, just as they have in the past. “I think, first of all, people are really longing for opportunities to come together after we’ve been apart for so long, but also I think that people really want to come to the event to support the organization,” she says. “They recognize that it really offers a true prevention program that is so important to the community.” Taste of the Vine tickets are $200 per person with packages available. Those may be purchased at cc4children.org.
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March 12 Silver Bluff Brewing Co. will host its Saint Patrick’s Day 5K and Beer Mile Run beginning at 10 a.m. at 1325 Newcastle St., Brunswick. Prices vary depending on race and date of entry. For details, visit runsignup.com March 19 Golden Isles Arts and Humanities will host Real Deal Country featuring singer Katie Deal at 7:30 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre in downtown Brunswick. Ticket prices vary depending membership status and date of purchase. For tickets and more information, visit goldenislesarts.org.
Around the Town MArch Editor’s note: At the time of the printing, these events were slated to be held. However, cancelations are always a possibility. Please check with individual organizations to ensure activities are progressing as planned. March 4 The Downtown Development Authority will host its monthly First Friday block party from 5 to 8 p.m. along Newcastle Street in Brunswick. The event is held on the first Friday of each month. For more information, visit discoverbrunswick. com. March 4 to 6 The Westin Jekyll Island will host its Southern Drifter Music Festival featuring singers and songwriters from throughout the region. For details, visit southerndrifterfestival.com. March 5 Rotary of the Golden Isles will host its annual Chili Cookoff from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Postell Park on St. Simons Island. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 5 and under. Those may be purchased at the Golden Isles Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, St. Simons Drug Company, The Club, or from any Rotary Club member. They’re also available at eventbrite.com. Wine, Women and Shoes, benefiting Hospice of the Golden Isles, will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island. There will be silent and live auctions, a fashion show, raffles, and more. General admission is $150 per person and packages are available. For tickets or more information, visit winewomenandshoes. com/goldenisles.
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March 20 The Coastal Coalition for Children will host its Taste of the Vine event from 6 to 9 p.m. at Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island. There will be wine tastings, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, and entertainment. Tickets are $200 per person. For tickets or package details, visit cc4children.org.
April April 1 to 3 Darien will host its 54th annual Blessing of the Fleet along the city’s waterfront, 1 Screven Dr., Darien. Food, music, and entertainment will be included in the three-day event. Vendors will also have wares for sale. At 2 p.m. April 3, the city’s shrimping fleet will be blessed. For details, visit mcintoshchamber.com/blessing-of-the-fleet. April 3 Memory Matters will host a fundraiser titled Music and Memories at 4 p.m. at Musgrove Retreat and Conference Center on St. Simons Island. For details, visit Memory Matters’ Facebook page. April 11 The Coastal Symphony of Georgia will host a concert titled “Light and Dark” at 8 p.m. at Brunswick High School, 3885 Altama Ave., Brunswick. Selections will include pieces from Boulanger, Vasks, and Brahms. Adult tickets are $50 per person and $15 for students. For details, visit coastalsymphonyofgeorgia.org. April 14 CASA Glynn will host its Luncheon and Fashion show at 11:30 a.m. in the Mizer Ballroom of the Cloister on Sea Island. Ticket prices vary depending on seating. For tickets, contact Lillian Clark at 912-571-1862. April 23 The Magnolia Garden Club will host its Fairy Garden Tour from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at homes around downtown Brunswick. For tickets and further details, visit the garden club’s Facebook page. April 30 The Cassina Garden Club will host its annual Tabby and Tillandsia Garden Walk from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at six picturesque homes and gardens on St. Simons Island. Tickets are $40 per person. For details, visit cassinagardenclub.org.
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1550 Frederica Road, St Simons Island, GA 31522 • At the Roundabout 1550 Frederica Rd. | SSI | Mon.-Sat. 9:00 am - 5:30 pm | 912.638.2257 912-638-2257 • Open Mon - Sat - 9:00am - 5:30 pm
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MISSING TEETH? You owe it to yourself to learn about your options to replace missing teeth. At Coastal Oral Surgery, Dr. Jeffrey O. Capes and Dr. Dexter W. Mattox take the time to really listen and explain dental implant choices. Both doctors are dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and physicians. Ask us about our Teeth4Life philosophy. Our success rate with dental implants is over 98%! Coastal Oral Surgery is ready to meet all your needs regarding dental implants and other oral surgery procedures such as removing wisdom teeth. New patients welcome. Serving SE Georgia and NE Florida with convenient, modern locations in St. Simons Island, GA and St. Marys, GA.
87 Lindsey Lane, Unit B St Marys, GA 31558 Phone: (912) 439-3841 Fax: (912) 439-3781
Our goal is to inspire and enable youth from all backgrounds, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, caring adults. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia help over 6,000 kids and teens develop essential skills, make lasting connections, and have fun each and every year. DONATE AND SUPPORT TODAY BY VISITING:
WWW.BGCSEGA.COM 32
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Dr. Jeffrey O. Capes DMD, MD Dr. Dexter W. Mattox DMD, MD
110 Office Park Ln Suite 104 St. Simons Island, GA 31522 Phone: (912) 634-6600 Fax: (912) 634-3882
Facts
J U ST T H E
T
WORDS BY GRACIE HILL
he Blessing of the Fleet is a three-day extravaganza in Darien that celebrates the town’s cherished shrimping fleet. This year will be the 54th annual blessing on the historic waterfront, beginning at 4 p.m. April 1 and continuing through 10 p.m. April 3. The town’s shrimping fleet will receive a blessing as they set sail down the Darien River. Music, crafts, fireworks, and food will all be a part of this spectacular weekend in Darien. The event has celebrated the shrimping industry as a vital piece of Darien’s economy and history since 1956. It became the dominant catch after an over-harvesting of oysters led fishermen to change course in the early 1900s. The industry boomed, becoming one of the hottest spots for shrimping in the country. Today, international competition has posed challenges for McIntosh County’s shrimpers, but they proudly continue to harvest Wild Georgia Shrimp, which many argue are the best in the world. And the city is thrilled to celebrate the send-off of the boats and to bless them for safe travels and abundance. It’s especially exciting considering the pandemic put a halt on recent festivities. The Blessing was shelved altogether in 2020 and a scaled-down version took place in 2021. Only about 1,000 people turned out to the city’s signature event, which typically draws tens of thousands to the waterfront. Officials are hoping that 2022 will return the Blessing its traditional splendor. For a complete listing of events and updates surrounding the festivities, visit darienmcintoshchamber.com. Here are a few fun facts about the Blessing and the shrimping industry in Darien:
400
7
According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, there are more than 400 licensed shrimp boats in Georgia. The fleet is made up of boats or trawlers, 20 feet to 100 feet in length, with the bulk of the fleet between 55 feet and 75 feet long.
7 to 14 boats typically take part but that figure changes year to year
2.3
Roughly 2.3 million pounds of shrimp were harvested from trawling Georgia waters in 2021
20,000
20,000 visitors come to the city for the blessing each year
1900s
In the early 1900s, Darien was one of the largest Southeastern ports for shipping lumber. When the timber was depleted, Darien became a fishing village, known first for oysters and then its shrimping industry.
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DUE SOUTH blue and began painting the bedroom by kerosene lamps and flashlights since the power had not yet been turned on. I painted or wallpapered every room in that house until not a speck of white showed. Sixteen years ago, I built the house where Tink and I live now. Sherwin-Williams’ Yam, the perfect shade of orange, covers the 20-foot high walls and then, as Mama liked to say, I really went to town. Soft yellow in the kitchen with olive green cabinets, a deeper yellow in the dining room, soft green in one guest bedroom, and a misstep of light lavender in another guest room that was later repainted yellow.
What I Learned from Navajo White
I
WORDS BY RONDA RICH
In the humble home of my childhood, the walls were always cast with cheerful color. The living room and den were mundane shades of beige, but the other rooms were painted sweet and uplifting. Every time a heavy snow shut us in and the power went off, Mama started digging through leftover paint cans to see what she could use to paint a room. Sometimes she combined cans and made her shade of something or the other. This was how we once came to have a kitchen painted the same pink as my bedroom which was decorated with multi-shades of pink shag carpet and
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My family jokingly, mockingly, called it the Crayola House. When two magazines — including Southern Living — did photo shoots at the new house, photographers and editors commented on how photogenic my kitchen is. And it truly is. It looks like a set from a charming British drama.
frilly, chiffon curtains and bedspread. One snow day, it was all she could find so she painted the walls and the cabinets with Chantilly Pink.
So, when I redecorated last summer, how did I wind up with a master suite painted in Navajo White? The very color I had spent my life running from?
Remember this lest you tend toward judgement: My mama and daddy grew up in mountain shacks where the walls were covered with newspapers to keep out the cold. Pictures of movie stars like Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Loretta Young, Betty Grable, and President Franklin Roosevelt were strategically placed so they could look at something prettier than headlines about the Great Depression that was smothering the nation.
Tink was in Canada, on location for a Hallmark series, when I gleefully rubbed my hands together and went to work. I chose leopard print carpet, inspired by Delaney’s on St. Simons, Gryphon’s Tea Room in Savannah, and the fabulous sweeping staircase in Mary Tyler Moore’s house.
When you’ve grown up looking at FDR, then have a pink kitchen in a solid-built brick house, that is high living. My post-college days as a sports writer put me on the road during a time when motels were modest and the rooms were painted stark white. My first studio apartment in Washington, DC, where I worked for USA Today, had once been white but turned dingy sand. After four apartments in Indianapolis, Nashville, and Georgia — all with white walls — I was so ready for color that the night I closed on my first house, I lugged over cans of bright royal
I selected orange velvet, cheetah print, and brown silk for the window treatments and bedding. This exaggerated combination of brown/taupe leopard and orange cheetah was what first led to Navajo White. My friend, Kim, who was designing the treatments, thought I needed Navajo White to tone it down. The painters — a wonderful, nonsensical German Baptist couple — said emphatically, “Navajo White.” My gut started kicking. My years on this earth are plenty and I have never painted a room white. But I’m reasonable. I listened. And I realized that was a pretty wild combination.
Still, I thought I needed to call my dear friend, Edward Armstrong, he of Edward’s on St. Simons, for advice. “Darlin’, Navajo White. That’s what they paint all the grand houses on Sea Island. Darlin’, it is simply the color to use,” he advised. Four people I trusted mightily said “Navajo White.” My gut screamed “don’t!!!” But I swallowed hard and agreed.
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After the first day of painting, my gut started choking my throat. I almost needed a nerve pill. My four advisors continued to insist that Navajo White was right. The next morning, I answered a video call from Tink. “Listen to me: tell them to stop painting now. You will never like it. Stop now.” My gut instinct wanted to hug his neck. Instead, I stayed the course and finished.
155 Skylane Road St. Simons Island, GA 912.638.7700 Monday thru Saturday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
What happened? I spent six weeks repainting the entire master suite — all by myself because I needed to suffer for my sins — to a lovely shade of light caramel that tied everything together beautifully. In the future, should I ever consider going against my gut instinct, I will remember two words: Navajo White.
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Love Slice
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BY DESIGN
Custom Window Treatments Breathe Life into Home
C
WORDS BY AURET CAVEDO | PROVIDED PHOTO
Custom window treatments may not be the first thing that springs to mind when making the decision on layers of finishes for your new or current home. Let me assure you, years in this business have taught us that the right window treatments, for the space, makes as much of a difference as the choice on correct wall colors, flooring, or furniture. Navigating through this process may be daunting, but your local workroom and designers are there to assist you from designing the space and choosing the fabric, to making and installing gorgeous treatments, which will make you smile in admiration every time you walk in the room. What are the most significant differences between custom and pre-made treatments? Custom literally takes all the guesswork out of deciding on window treatments. Pre-made window treatments come in a few standard sizes, not taking into consideration all different size windows. Finished lengths are never exactly what
they are indicated as on the packaging, and you may end up with six panels, all different in size. Custom fits your window like a glove. Custom gives you the choice of different pleated headings, beautiful embellishments like lead edge trims, color blocking, and superior linings which will make them feel luscious to the touch and make them hang perfectly. In short — all the flexibility and functionality you can possibly think of, perfect for your home. Custom hardware, to show off the treatments, is as vital as the treatments themselves. Types and colors of hardware can again be a daunting a choice. Consideration should be given to how you would like the panels to function. Rods and pretty rings may look contemporary and pretty in pictures, but may not be the right option for your space and the functionality required. Heavy treatments need brackets placed closer together and may require a bypass function, which store-bought hardware will not accommodate. Traverse tracks can be baton drawn or cord drawn and generally function better for tall, wide, and heavy treatments. Motorization has become hugely popular and come in at various price points. Motorization also allows you the option of full house automation, available from your mobile device, wherever you may find yourself. Professional installation ensures the absolute correct placement of the hardware, to take the panels to just above the floor, kissing the floor, slightly breaking on the floor or wherever you fancy them stopping. Custom Roman shades have taken the industry by storm. Pre-made shades do
not give you the option of using your custom chosen fabric to match your draperies or the rest of your space. Stock standards are available at a lesser cost, but choices are very limited. Even though windows are “standard” — once installed they are hardly ever exactly equal in size. A custom Roman shade is laser measured and fitted to each individual window for the perfect fit. Lift mechanisms can be chosen to accommodate the easy and difficult windows — those easy to reach and those 20 feet up in a wall. Twin Pull, spring lift, and motorization are the most popular solutions. Think of custom treatments as one of the vital layers of dressing your home, the final layer pulling everything together, making the aesthetic difference that puts your home apart from the premade realm. The process starts with an in-home consultation. At this time we consider “the look,” requirements on functionality, hardware and linings best suited for the space and timing involved in getting the treatments made and installed. Precise measurements and pictures are taken, and with that we are off to the workroom to put together a detailed estimate for consideration and perusal. We always keep budget in mind and try to accommodate the client as best we can, allowing them to acquire their desired treatments. We pride ourselves in coming up with the best solution for the space, never compromising on service and quality, doing so with speed and accuracy.
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LIVING WELL robotic-assisted capabilities, which is cutting edge and makes everything much easier.” Dr. Brooks performed Melnyk’s surgery with the help of OMNIBotics technology. OMNIBotics is a robotic-assisted system used by surgeons to accurately pre-plan and perform total knee replacements. OMNI’s computer guidance allowed Dr. Brooks to measure and track Melnyk’s knee anatomy and create a customized implant placement plan to best fit Melnyk.
Premier Surgery Center offers patients new lease on life
S
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON
Steve Melnyk has spent most of his life on the links. The Brunswick native began his golfing career at Glynn Academy, which laid the foundation for an impressive legacy. At just 18, Melnyk won the Georgia Open as an amateur golfer in 1965. He later went on to the University of Florida, where he played on the golf team and then ventured onto the amateur circuit. During this period, Melnyk claimed both the U.S. and British Amateur titles. That success was followed by a stint as a professional, playing with the PGA Tour beginning in 1971. Melnyk also started work as a sportscaster, offering his take
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on a number of tournaments. But while his career flourished, the strain of the game took a toll on his body. Over the years, he’s endured multiple surgeries and procedures. Most recently, Melnyk underwent a total knee replacement with Southeastern Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine surgeon,Dr. Kevin Brooks, at Premier Surgery Center in Brunswick. This time, however, was much different than his previous operations. “I have experienced more than most, I imagine, in terms of orthopedic procedures. Dr. Brooks also did my other knee,” he says with a chuckle. “This was my 16th (procedure), but it was easily the best imaginable.” Melnyk cannot say enough about the high quality of care he received both prior to the surgery, as well as during his recovery. From his first meetings with the surgical team to being released mere hours after it was completed, it all flowed seamlessly. “I went in for pre-op at 5:30 that morning and I was home by 1 p.m. that afternoon,” he says. “And it was a complicated procedure, but [Premier] Surgery Center is very impressive. They have the
And Melnyk certainly isn’t the only one who has received this type of stellar outcome. In a survey of patients from the Premier Surgery Center, 95 percent claim a high rate of satisfaction with both the care and service they received. “A high satisfaction rate and excellent surgical outcome are always our goals,” says Premier Surgery Center medical director and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brooks. “Premier Surgery Center may sound familiar as it has been around for many years,” explains Dr. Brooks. “A little over a year ago, Southeastern Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine’s Apex Surgery Center merged with Premier, and we’re thrilled to re-introduce Premier Surgery Center in its new location on Glynn Avenue.” The newly expanded Premier Surgery Center is a modern healthcare facility focused on providing same-day, outpatient surgical care. As an alternative to hospital-based care and the only multi-specialty surgery center in Glynn County, Premier offers patients easy access to safe and efficient surgical procedures. His office uses the most advanced, minimally invasive, and robotic-assisted surgical procedures in orthopedics — including hip and knee replacement and complex spine procedures — as well as podiatry, gynecology, general and plastic surgery, urology, ophthalmology, and interventional pain management procedures. As a collaborative effort, the physicians were able to pool their resources to offer an incredibly efficient business model. It allows patients to move safely and effortlessly through the process. The center also provides a lower-cost alternative to surgery in a hospital setting. Their services are offered as outpatient
procedures, which means patients don’t incur, oftentimes steep, overnight fees from stays. There’s the added bonus of allowing patients to recover in their own homes where they are most comfortable.
COSMETIC & FAMILY DENTISTRY
“Of course, that’s not always possible for patients with comorbidities, but for many of those who are healthy, younger, and active it is a viable option,” he says. “Patients like Steve have really good outcomes and we don’t have to worry about the nursing or staffing shortages.” The type of surgery being offered is another reason that the outpatient approach works so well. The high-tech robotic-assisted surgery offers less invasive incisions. That, Dr. Brooks adds, requires anesthesia options that allow patients to rebound much quicker than methods used previously. “It’s been such a game changer in terms of orthopedic surgeries. We are also able to use innovative anesthesia that allows the patient to be lucid within two hours and you don’t have to worry about the side effects. We can get folks up and out much quicker because of this,” Dr. Brooks says. That was certainly Melnyk’s experience. He had his knee replacement on October 13 and was hitting chip shots by November 4. He was back to full swing (pun intended) November 9 and played his first full round December 1. For Dr. Brooks and the rest of the Premier Surgery Center team, results like this make their work incredibly rewarding. “In orthopedics, we say ‘we don’t save lives, we save lifestyles.’ That’s what it’s all about,” Brooks says.
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N AT U R E C O N N E CT I O N
Hummingbirds bring color to gardens WORDS BY LYDIA THOMPSON romance the women. Yes, he is a cad. He is searching out as many females as he can romance. Love-em and leave-em is his way. The love-em part is a courtship meant to amaze. He sees a female. He catches her eyes. Up and up and up he flies. Then he comes flying down. He can be clocked with speeds up to 50 miles an hour in that dive. Just when you think he is going to crash. He spreads out his tail feathers. Swoosh! They act as a parachute. These are special feathers designed to make a loud noise to catch her attention. Up and up, he goes again in the oval loop just for her. She smiles at him, and that is it. He is off to romance another.
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Bedazzled. They are all decked out in spangles of greens with brilliant red touches. But, no! I am not talking about a bridesmaid at a wedding. I am talking about the fantastic tiny hummingbird. March is when our Ruby-Throated Hummingbird male leaves his cushy winter home in Cozumel to go a-courting in your back yard.
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Well, if you have the yard ready for the little guy. You need flowers. They don’t have to be a particular color, like red, just sweet and juicy. The second thing you need is a good hummingbird feeder with an ant trap. Hang it near a window. You can see it from the inside. The food is easy: four parts water and one-part white refined sugar. No red coloring, please. It is not good for them. Now, wait. The tiny hummingbird gets antsy in Mexico. He tanks up. This is what they call it when hummingbirds gorge themselves on sweet flowers or feeders. He triples his weight, then he flies out and over the Gulf of Mexico. It is a non-stop flight to the coast of Florida. There, he makes his way north to
The females don’t mind. They don’t want to share the flowers and insects it takes to raise a family. They get busy. It takes time to pluck strands of stretchy silk from a spider’s web. She finds pretty pieces to decorate her nest. She sews everything together and attaches the nest to a branch. The nest can expand as her little family grows. These Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are little feats of magic. Their feathers are spangled with tiny mirrors that reflect light. That brilliant red throat can look black, making some folks think they have a rare visitor from the west, a Black-Chinned Hummingbird. But wait, another hummingbird comes along, and out he flies, flashing the red throat. No one is taking over his domain. That spangled red throat is a warning to stay away from his flowers. So as the weather warms and flowers bloom, look around, put up a feeder and wait. A tiny hummingbird is flying in to charm you with his spangles of greens, and course, that brilliant red throat.
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M O N E Y TA L K S and a completed application. The exact timeframe of the mortgage loan process often depends on how long it takes to gather the documentation. “Pre-qualification” is the discovery process that reveals what the borrowers can safely afford. It’s an important step that ensures borrowers don’t end up in a situation where they can’t afford their homes.
Ready to Buy Your First Home? Here’s What You Need to Know to Prepare
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One major financial decision a young couple makes is purchasing a home. For first-time home buyers, the mortgage process can seem overwhelming. With so many options, it’s difficult to decide which loan is the best fit. Sara Singleton, Mortgage Lender Originator at South Coast Bank, provides guidance and answers some questions to help borrowers prepare. Q: I am a first-time homebuyer, where do I start? A: My first advice is to contact a Mortgage Loan Originator to apply and get pre-qualified. It can seem overwhelming, but that’s why I’m here. When you work with a real person, he or she can make you feel more at ease, help select the right loan product, and pre-qualify you. I always recommend working with a community bank, like South Coast, because we have the ability to deliver a customized approach for each applicant. Q: What should I expect the market to look like?
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A: 2021 was a seller’s market, and we often saw competing offers on homes. With the price of lumber dropping, I hope to see many new construction homes available in 2022. If you plan to purchase a home, get pre-qualified before you start shopping. Then when an opportunity presents itself, you will be ready to make an offer right away. Some agents and sellers may even request a buyer be pre-approved (a more stringent process that pre-qualification) before viewing a property. Q: What kind of mortgages are there and how do I know what is right for me? A: Every loan situation is as unique as the person looking to purchase. When your Mortgage Loan Originator goes over the pre-qualification process, they will ask you about your individual finances and situation to determine which products align best with your needs, whether it is a true first-time buyer program, something for veterans, or a seasoned homeowner looking for investment opportunities. Q: How should I prepare to buy my first home? And what does it mean to be pre-qualified? A: First, contact your community bank. Then we’ll start a conversation, but remember, there are no dumb questions. I am here to guide you and want you to have a positive, successful mortgage experience. We will determine the documentation needed to move forward. A typical borrower will need pay stubs from the past 30 days, tax returns from the past two years, three months of bank statements
Q: What should I expect from the process and how long does it take? A: Expect to provide financial documentation that details your income, debt and assets. Much of the process depends on the timely submission of the information (like in the list above). Depending on the scenario and loan product, it can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours to receive a true pre-qualification. Once the pre-qualification is complete, the borrowers know how much they can afford when house hunting. With a property selected and under contract, a completed application moves to underwriting and then closing attorney finalizes the loan. At South Coast, we aim to close within 30 days of receiving a completed application, though that may vary depending on loan type. Q: Why should I consider a community bank rather than selecting a big bank or online mortgage provider? A: The mortgage process is less intimidating with a community bank because you are working with a real person with local accountability — and you will receive the best one-on-one service. Community banks put people before products and numbers, and community banks work for you, not the money. You’re more than just a borrower to us. You are a neighbor and friend, and will receive top notch personal service. — Mortgage Lender Sara Singleton at South Coast Bank is ready to find the right mortgage loan to meet your needs. Contact her at 912-580-4773 or Sara.Singleton@SouthCoast.bank to learn more. Her NMLS# is 408004.
100 Years of Painting in Glass A NEW EXHIBIT AT MOSAIC, JEKYLL ISLAND MUSEUM Sitting within the walls of Jekyll Island’s historic Faith Chapel is a one-hundred-year-old stained-glass masterpiece by artisan Louis Comfort Tiffany. In celebration of the centennial year for this one-of-its-kind window, visitors can now experience an immersive exhibit within Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum. Take a peek inside the world of Tiffany Studios and learn how his stained glass works of art were methodically crafted. Visitors can also experience Faith Chapel through an expert-led tour to see the original window up-close, and explore the gift shop’s limited anniversary collection honoring the window. Learn more at jekyllisland.com/faithchapel
GAME CHANGERS
Jack Roberts is a true game changer
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WORDS AND PHOTOS BY DERRICK DAVIS
The term “game changer” would be an understatement in describing Jack Roberts. The Frederica Academy freshman is on the track to golf superstardom in an area that is immensely informed on the subject.
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Coming off an eighth grade campaign that saw him earn GISA All-State honors on a Knights’ varsity golf team that finished second in Class 3A, Jack tore up the summer circuit, notching his second win at the Future Masters following a first-place finish at the Southern Junior Championship at Lake Oconee. Now, Golfweek’s top-ranked golfer in the Class of 2025 has received an exclusive invitation to play in the prestigious Junior Invitational at Sage Valley on March 17 to19. “It’s pretty cool,” Jack says with a smile. “There are a lot of really good players in the Class of 2025, so to be at No. 1 is a great feeling.”
Widely recognized as the No. 1 junior event in golf since it was founded in 2011, the Junior Invitational features a limited field of the best amateur golfers from around the world. Notable tournament alumni are a who’s who of PGA Tour pros and major winners, including Collin Morikawa, Scottie Scheffler, Viktor Hovland, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Cameron Champ, Andy Ogletree, and Akshay Bhatia. “It’s a really hard tournament to get in to, so it’s pretty cool,” Jack says. “You just have to play really good in prior tournaments to get into it.” Multiple factors go into qualifying for the 54-hole stroke-play event. There are a number of automatic qualifiers,
some of which are the top 10 and ties from the 2020 Junior Invitational. Last year’s event was canceled due to COVID-19, but the 2020 field featured players spanning 11 countries over five continents, including 38 of the top 40 players on the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Boys Rankings.
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Jack currently sits at No. 23 overall in the rankings, but he is the only freshman within the top 150. He will be by far the youngest competitor at the Junior Invitational this year, and possibly ever. “It shows that all my hard work has paid off,” Jack says. “I don’t know what to say. It’s really cool to be a part of this tournament and play in it.”
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Jack is no stranger to being the youngest, most successful golfer in a room. He got into golf before graduating from elementary school when it became apparent he hit the ball differently than his peers — his swing speed with the driver registers at 113 miles per hour, about average for the PGA Tour. “It’s been a long journey,” says Kevin Roberts, Jack’s father and coach of the Frederica Academy golf team. “He started playing golf at a very young age; tournaments, maybe 8. Every year, he’s always done well, and he won some big tournaments at 10, 11, and 12. “Then, he gets to be like 13, and he’s still doing well. His ranking is getting closer to No. 1, and that’s just validation to him and motivation to him.” Before Jack heads off to Sage Valley, he continues to help Frederica get off to a strong start to the season a year after the program saw its streak of 14 consecutive state championships snapped.
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Jack could enter this year’s state tournament sporting an illustrious Gold Jacket, though he doesn’t want to put too high of expectations on his appearance at the Junior Invitational. Of course, he’s aiming to win the tournament, if not finish within the top 5-10, but Jack is just happy to get the opportunity to test himself against players committed to playing college golf for elite programs. Players he looks up to. Everything is falling into place perfectly for Jack, who is already drawing plenty of college interest in his own right. “Ever since the Southern Junior, that was really my first big win, and it kind of showed me that I can compete at a high level,” Jack says. “I just kept working hard and trying to play well in these big events, trying to get to where those other kids are one day.”
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THE DISH couple of rules: Taste everything every day and hire cooks, not chefs. “Cooks follow the recipe cards,’’ she says. “Chefs want to make everything their own, and that can deprive regular customers of the consistency they rely on.” The Bartas know what that’s like. They once drove hours to a favorite restaurant in Annapolis only to find the interior and menu changed. They haven’t been back. The menu has changed at Barbara Jean’s but usually from growth. She once cooked crab cakes for a construction manager, who asked, “Are you going to put these on the menu?” “Absolutely not,’’ she responded. She finally relented and they’ve been there for years and are one of the reasons some customers keep coming back. They were popular enough at Barbara Jean’s that other restaurants added them to their menus.
Barbara Jean’s restaurant, an island institution
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WORDS AND PHOTOS BY TERRY DICKSON
For 23 years, the sign on the corner of Mallery Street and Beachview Drive has said Barbara Jean’s. The sign designates more than ownership. It also tells diners the dishes on the tables were prepared to the exacting taste of their creator, Barbara Jean Barta, who owns the restaurant with her husband of 54 years, Jim.
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“We got married on April Fool’s Day,” he says. “Guess who picked the date,” Barbara Jean says. “Even I won’t forget April 1,” says the trim man who led Marine recon units in Vietnam and then piloted Phantom fighter jets. The Bartas had a number of restaurant franchises before they decided to start a new business in the place they would retire. They came to St. Simons where Jim asked Barbara Jean to pick out a location for a restaurant. She found the corner where Don and Wendy Hogan operated Clifton’s, an ice cream parlor, about perfect. When they learned the Hogans wanted to lease the space, they acted quickly to secure it. It also secured a long-time relationship with what the Bartas call wonderful landlords. The Bartas have always stuck with a
“Our goal is to make as many people happy as we can,’’ Jim says. They realize, however, that tastes differ and not everyone enjoys their mostly Southern fare. But perhaps the biggest fan of Barbara Jean’s cooking is Jim who enjoys home-cooked meals almost every night. “Her best food is Italian, and she ain’t Italian,’’ Jim says. Barbara Jean has a record of every meal they’ve eaten at home since January 2013. They do their taste tests before lunch and stay around to greet their regulars.The booths on either side of the door bear little brass plaques that read “One of Wally Spencer’s.” Both were reserved for the World War II Navy veteran the late Wally Spencer. “He’d get up and ask, ‘Are we going to Barbara Jean’s?’’’ she recalls. “He’d always sit and fuss at Jim.” The Bartas were always within easy fussing distance. They take tables near the door and jump to their feet, menus in hand, to seat diners as they arrive. Jim often exchanges good-natured insults with male regulars. The Bartas usually end their day in the early afternoon and leave their son, Tyler, in charge. The food is not the only important thing and Jim Barta notes that people use more than their taste buds to judge restaurants. Indeed, the ketchup bottles and other condiments are lined up laser straight from table-to-table down the center of the restaurant almost like Marines in formation. Customers notice that, he said.
“If it’s neat and clean, it’s good,’’ he said.
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As for the Barbara Jean’s crab cakes, they didn’t just make it on the menu; they made it on the sign. “This is where they started,’’ the sign says. “The original and always the same...” That can be said of about everything on the menu.
Barbara Jean’s Killer Mac and Cheese
Bennie’s Red Barn Restaurant & Special Events Venue
INGREDIENTS ½ lb penne or ziti 2 cups milk 2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated ¾ cup Monterey Jack cheese 1 cup parmesan, finely grated 2 eggs, beaten 4 slices white bread, diced 2 Tbsp butter 1 medium onion, diced small 3 Tbsp flour 2 Tbsp creamy garlic sauce Pinch of cayenne ⅛ tsp nutmeg ¾ cup chicken broth 1 tsp chicken base Kosher salt to taste 1 cup country ham, diced 2 cups ham steak, diced Cooking spray
All space available for private events — traditional menu, bbq dinners, low country boils, oyster roasts, southern-style buffets, full service bar & offsite catering. Receptions • Rehearsal Dinners • Welcome Parties • Cocktail Parties • Special Occasions 5514 Frederica Rd, St. Simons Island 912.638.2844 • benniesredbarn.com
DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 425. Combine all cheeses in a bowl. Beat ½ cup milk and the eggs in a medium-sized bowl. Gently add the bread and half the cheese. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the onion. Cook until the onion is golden brown. Sprinkle the flour, nutmeg and cayenne into the onion mixture and cook until the flour is dissolved and the mixture bubbles. Slowly add the chicken broth, chicken base, remaining milk, and bring to a boil. Stir until thickened. Whisk in the remaining cheese. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain and add to the cheese sauce. Spray a shallow casserole dish. Layer half of the pasta, then half of the hams. Repeat then cover with the bread mixture. Bake until golden and bubbling about 25 minutes. Rest for five minutes and serve.
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The Beauty of Movement with Susan Murphy
Form + Flow: The road stretched on for miles with only hints of humanity along the route — a house here, a dilapidated building there. But as I pass the McIntosh County landmark that is Webber’s Christmas Tree Farm and I feel sure I’m on the right track.
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON P HOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
Turning near the Sapelo Island boat launch, I arrive at the inevitable dirt road. My Alabamian heart is all aflutter. Weaving through the dust, I see a sign post with hand painted names of important destinations ... Athens, to the right, the Blue Heron Inn and Marsh Studio to the left. Pulling up to two properties, a familiar form emerges from a two story structure to my right.
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“Yes, you’re in the right place,” Susan Murphy, assures me with a smile. “Come on in.”
opened a location on the brackish shoreline of Meridian in McIntosh County where she lives with her husband, Don Carson.
Stepping through the door of her studio is quite like entering another world. Wooden floors offer foundation for an expansive open space. Trapeze ropes and cables dangle from the second floor and streams of sheer fabric woven with twinkling lights billow from the ceiling’s center.
“Of course, before the pandemic, we were having classes and retreats here. We’d have six large events a year ... we could fit 100 people around the edges,” Murphy says, gesturing to the upper and lower perimeters of the room. “And now, Don is using this as a staging area for restoring a camper, so some of his stuff is here.”
The space is enchanting. But I honestly would have expected nothing less from Murphy, a woman who’s dedicated her life to the magic of movement. At 74 years young, the Jesup native has created several hubs for aerial performing arts, a journey that’s taken her from New York City to San Francisco to Athens, Georgia. Most recently, she
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Carson, a highly skilled photographer, displays his impressive photographs there too. The images adorn the walls, showcasing pieces of the couple’s many adventures. Murphy turns to ascend the staircase, pausing right before climbing onto the first step. She fixates on a large black and white photograph that features a gaggle of performers clad in circus-like garb.
“Those are my babies. These were my first students at Canopy,” she says wistfully. “A lot of them are teachers themselves now.”
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Climbing to the second floor, Murphy crosses the open floor, passing collections of precious objects — stones and crystals — purposefully situated in circles. Her latest foray into the creative arts is also a part of the mix. “I started doing this stained glass art with my sister, Ellen, when the pandemic started. We choose the pieces and I sand the edges. Don rigs them to these pieces of driftwood,” she says, running her hand along the smooth glass of one design. “I’ve had a really good response from people. I’m looking to get them out more.”
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As the glass and wooden mobiles danced in the breeze on the screened porch, Murphy settles into a cozy spot on her sofa. Picking up a blue book, one of the many that surrounds her, she grins.
504 Beachview Drive, Suite 3-D St. Simons Island, GA 31522 912-638-1174 | www.msclawga.com
“This is a wonderful book. It’s called The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner. He goes to every continent to ask people what their idea of happiness is,” she says flipping through the pages. Murphy’s life has been a similar quest, albeit one lived in search of beauty, which she found in movement. From her early days of taking dance classes at Emory University to founding her aerial studio, Canopy in Athens, to receiving the Georgia Governor’s Individual Award for the Arts and Humanities, her life has been an ever-evolving experience of sharing emotion through performance. She began to develop this passion by taking low-to-the-floor trapeze dance with Terry Sendgraff in Berkley, California, back in the 1970s. “I was attending Mills College during the day and at night, I’d go over and do these wild improvi-
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sational things with Terry. She was also a therapist so a lot of what she does is rooted in emotion,” Murphy says. After earning her master’s of dance degree, she dove in to learning more circus-like trapeze movements in New York City. She also became a certified movement analyst at the Laban Institute for Movement Studies there. But Murphy is one who is always looking to learn more. She continued her training from coast to coast, spending time with the Big Apple Circus in New York and the San Francisco School of Circus Arts. Eventually, she found herself back in her home state, teaching aerial arts at the University of Georgia. “It was at the height of the aerial dance craze and they loved it. The students were perfect for it ... young and healthy,” she recalls. “Then, we found an old warehouse which Don refurbished and we turned into Canopy. We had community classes and it did very well. We would go do performances in bars to generate interest.”
3413 FREDERICA RD | ST SIMONS ISLAND | 638-3641 www.pierceandparkerinteriors.com 52
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E V E RY D AY SPARKLES
But as evolution is a part of Murphy’s nature, she was eventually drawn back to the Coast, closer to home and family. In 2009, they took up residence in Meridian creating the space that became the Marsh Studio. It’s a sanctuary where she can share her unique brand of luminosity and flow with students as well as the broader community. And while Murphy’s not staged a performance since the start of the pandemic, her fountain of creativity never runs dry. Even now, her mind is teeming with ideas for her next show, one that will center on the notion of identity and rebirth. “I’ve been thinking about it and I’m planning on a doing a duet. I would love to draw from these two poems. From part of one of Mary Oliver’s longer poems ... ‘oh what is my name, oh what is my name that I may offer it to this beautiful world,’” she says, her eyes sparkling.
912.265.8652 | cunninghamjewelers.com MARC H/A P RI L 2022
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“I want to meld it somehow with part of this poem from Amanda Gorman, ‘Language is a life raft, we have recalled how to touch each other and how to trust all that is good and alright. We have learned our true names. Not what we are called, but what we are called to carry forth from here. What do we carry, if not what and who we care most for.’” As Murphy considered these concepts and how they could be breathed into form, she found herself sensing a common thread, a notion that continued to inspire her, both in her art and in her life. “For me, I think that beauty is about the harmony of relationships. The harmony of form and function ... of love and connection. And the tenderness of touch,” Murphy says. “I tend to always been drawn toward symmetry and balance. I find a lot of beauty there.”
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Beauty Bosses
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As a child, Morgan Polite detested sitting down to get her hair done. Years later, though, she began to revel in the experience of being pampered during an appointment. She loved how she felt afterward, and she began looking for ways to put the same smile on others’ faces. Polite, 24, has turned that passion into an entrepreneurial endeavor and recently opened her own business, MoeLashes&Mo, a beauty supply store located at 5427 Altama Avenue in Brunswick.
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She says her store is the only one of its kind in this area. Her shelves are stocked with a wide variety of beauty products, and she specializes in eyelashes, wigs and hair extensions, which she began selling online long before opening her storefront.
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Polite conducted plenty of research before she began purchasing the products on her shelves. “Honestly it was all trial and error,” she says. “Before I had the store, I was making money off of social media. I would just make posts and have people pre-order things.” After resigning from a previous job, Polite decided to take a leap and invest herself fully into MoeLashes&Mo.
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“I prayed so hard,” she says. “Like, I’m only 24. I don’t have any kids or anything like that, but I know there’s a lot at stake.”
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The years she spent working at her prior job gave her experience with personal financial management and other responsibilities, which she has carried forward into her new business. “I’m just very grateful to be in my position at my age,” she says. Polite graduated from Brunswick High in 2015. She earned an associate’s degree in marketing management and is now pursuing a bachelor’s in logistics and supply chain management. Her mom, Karen Polite, has been a crucial partner as she’s gone through the steps of opening
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MoeLashes&Mo. Karen has admired the way her daughter maintains a firm grip on her vision and doesn’t let anything derail her.
Allie Stannard, owner of ALo Naturals, also pays close attention to how her products can improve the lives of the clients she serves.
“It’s been great watching her grow and expand month after month,” she says. “She’s really particular about what she wants to have in here.”
ALo Naturals offers natural skincare products, as well. The business began as a hobby that combined many of Stannard’s interests. A dancer and a yoga enthusiast, Stannard started small by making a body butter for herself. She wanted an organic, all-natural product and found few for sale that fit the bill.
Morgan Polite also finds ways to promote other local business owners by selling their products in her store. On the shelves recently were natural and homemade face and skin care products made by Lynn’s Sugar Scrub, which Polite can attest is an effective product. “I have eczema, so I have to work twice as hard on my skin as a lot of people because believe it or not I still have outbreaks as if I was 7 years old,” she says. “When my cousin got into this Lynn’s Sugar Scrub and I saw that it actually worked on my skin, I was like we have to put this in the store. I love the fact that she has something that actually works, especially for skin like mine.”
“I just got nerdy and started researching all these different ingredients and all types of things, and it just kind of grew,” she says. “I shared it with friends and family, and people would ask me, ‘What are you using?’ And they would want to buy it from me.” She eventually decided to invest more time and energy into this endeavor and start her own business. She has focused on ALo Naturals full time since moving to St. Simons five years ago, when she rented space in the kiosks in the Pier Village. When
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those closed in 2020, she moved her store into a space at 265 Redfern Village on the island. Her previous work as a professional dancer for 15 years gave Stannard experience being self-employed, but she had no prior experience opening her business until she launched ALo Naturals. “There’s lots of things to learn,” she says. “I’m constantly learning every day. There are so many little details and things that nobody tells you about running a small business. There’s so many rewards, but there’s a lot of challenges too.” She’s grown her business to feature many more items, including candles, bags and a line of Turkish cotton products that are organic and fair trade. Both Polite and Stannard have found that a crucial part of having a successful business is knowing how to market yourself and promote brand awareness. Polite devotes a lot of time to marketing her store and harnessing the power of social media. Stannard sets up booths at local markets and partners with other businesses to make new connections. And throughout the pandemic, she’s turned even more attention to online sales through her website, alonaturals.com. Polite’s goals down the road include opening a second location and increasing the number of products she sells. She also plans to launch a wig and hair extension revival service, and information about this new option will be added to her website, moelashesandmo.net. Opening a business, though, brings many tedious challenges, they said, and there will unexpected twists and turns along the way.
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“You don’t want to mess up,” Polite says. “You don’t want to move too fast, and you don’t want to put yourself in the position where your back is up against the wall.”
“That pain cream over there for instance — I’ve gotten so much feedback from people who say, ‘Thank you so much. I have arthritis, and this is healing me. Nothing worked for me,’” Stannard says.
A passion for the work is a must, Stannard says. Polite also works daily to make her clients smile. “It’s a seven-day-a-week thing, and it’s a lot of work,” she says. “There’s a lot of work and just little details of things that I would have never known about until I got into it.” Both women highlighted, though, the fulfillment they receive when they’re able to help others look and feel good.
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“I love to see women that come in here and want to buy my hair extensions, and then they come back to show me their hair or they send pictures and they have this big smile on their face,” she says. “I help them smile because of my hair extensions making them feel good about themselves.”
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Christine’s wearing a pink and orange Karlie dress from KJ Klothier on St. Simons. She was photographed at the Wesley Gardens near Wesley United Methodist Church on St. Simons.
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Pretty
in Pink WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
Sally Barnes grabbed the comb and stepped behind the chair. Methodically, she combed through Christine Thompson’s dark hair as she simultaneously picked up a curling iron. Barnes, the owner of Studio Bleu on St. Simons Island, is fully in her element, often tackling both hair and makeup for all sorts of special occasions. “Lots of weddings,” Barnes says with a laugh. “ ... so many weddings.” She has owned her own salon for more than five years, but has worked as a cosmetologist since 2012, though she’s dabbled in makeup for a bit longer. It was an interesting path that led Barnes to her current profession. “I was actually always pretty tomboyish,” she says with a giggle, while turning out a flawless curl. “All
I wore was mascara. I started carrying a purse when I was 21.” But as she moved into adulthood, Barnes found herself in need of some extra income. It started by working the soundboard at St. Simons Methodist Church for weddings. “That’s when I fell in love with weddings. I just loved everything about it. And during the economic crash, I decided to go back to school ... and I wasn’t even really wearing a lot of makeup then, just maybe some lashes and funky lipstick,” she says. “But then I decided that I wanted to try this whole makeup thing. I started doing makeup for prom.” Over time, Barnes refined her skills. She even picked up airbrushing makeup, a technique that
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Christine’s wearing a Lpny top from Lady Outtfitter’s on St. Simons. She was photographed at Wesley Gardens near Wesley United Methodist Church on St. Simons.
she’s continued to master. In fact, it’s one of her most popular application options. “It’s really quick and easy. It’s hypoallergenic. And I think it blends better. I still like makeup the old-fashioned way with sponges and brushes ... but it’s such an easier process,” she says, spraying Thompson’s curls with texturizing spray. On this particular afternoon, Barnes was going to be creating a look featuring a springtime favorite — pink. Available in a broad range of shades, it’s an incredibly versatile hue that never goes out of style. To start, Barnes first applies a base coat that prepares the skin for the application. “I used a face base primer to help the makeup last. And I also use a separate eye shadow primer to help the shadow not crease. It makes it easier to blend too and helps with smoothing.”
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Barnes used Tarte Tartlette in Toasted, which contains a warm palette of various pinks. And the key to building beautiful eyes — blending. “I went to a class with Patrick Starrr, who I just love. It was packed ... but I learned a lot. He says, ‘build and blend,’” Barnes says, sweeping the color on Thompson’s lids. “I usually start with eyeshadow, then work my way to foundation when doing airbrush, because it’s easier to wipe away an excess under the eyes.” She continues to merge the layers to create a flawless shadow.
Christine’s wearing a Hatley denim dress from Lady Outtfitter’s on St. Simons. She’s standing in front of “Camellias” by artist Ella Cart at ArtTrends on St. Simons Island.
Christine’s hair and makeup were done by Sally Barnes at Studio Bleu. She’s wearing a Hatley denim dress from Lady Outfitter’s on St. Simons. She is standing in front a series of marsh paintings by Dottie Clark at ArtTrends Gallery, located at 3305 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island. The paintings are titled "June Marsh," bottom left, "Winter Sky," top left, "Golden Isles," right.
Christine’s wearing a Hatley denim dress from Lady Outtfitter’s on St. Simons. She’s standing in front of “Star Lilies” by artist Ella Cart at ArtTrends on St. Simons Island.
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Christine stands in front of the painting “Serenity” by Joan Hilliard at ArtTrends on St. Simons Island.
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“I usually use from the outside corner of the nose to the outside corner of the eye to the eyebrow as the imaginary line I follow,” she says. “You can do that for your eyebrows too.” Using a deeper pink in the crease and lighter shades at the top lid. Barnes adds a bit of Urban Decay’s brightly colored palette, titled Electric. “I’ve had a few brides over the years ask me for purple. Some of this isn’t as bright as it looks ... it depends on the pigment of the skin too,” Barnes says. Then Barnes utilizes her handy dandy air brush tool to smooth and set the eyes. From there, she continues to apply the foundation to Thompson’s face, creating a soft and flawless finish over the skin. Next, comes blush. Barnes reaches for a palette of blush, Morphe Blush, using a fluffy brush to trace Thompson’s cheek bones. She then applies a set of faux eyelashes and delicately adds liner. “I like to wait to do these. Then, we do the mascara,” she says.
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And last but not least, there’s the lipstick. Barnes chose a subtle but sweet mauve shade from Clinique called Bare Pop. “Then we just line the lips, add the lipstick,” she says. “Beautiful.”
Style Icon, Sitting Down with a
Millie Wilcox
T
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
The first time I met Millie Wilcox, I was an incredibly young newspaper reporter. I may have been 24 or 25. I remember walking into her art gallery, Left Bank, which was located off Frederica Road in the same shopping plaza as Brogen’s North. It was such a bright, airy space filled with vibrant color, just like the lady herself. She was impeccably dressed, a characteristic that I would learn is second nature. Her dark hair was swept into a chic updo paired with oversized glasses. Her dark outfit was punctuated by pops of color. She was every bit the picture of Old Hollywood glam. It was like a brush with Old Hollywood, like meeting Lauren Bacall or Katherine Hepburn. It’s a sense of class and glamour that can’t be faked or phoned in, and I’m honestly a bit worried that it may be extinct. But Millie definitely has it and she always has.
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On that day, our first meeting, she was kind and gracious, as she shared her story — her mother, Mildred Huie, was a legendary local artist. Millie herself spent a good deal of time in Paris, hence the Left Bank Gallery, which she owned with her late husband, Robert. When I shared that I had studied French in school (mostly brutalizing the elegant words with my South Alabama twang), she suggested we sing La Marseillaise, the French national anthem. And we did. Since that first encounter, I’ve seen Ms. Millie (or Aunt Millie as I call her now) countless times. She’s popped up at Chamber meetings, symphony society galas, and everything in between. But one thing that hasn’t changed over the 15 years I’ve known her — she looks like a million bucks. Every single time. Millie’s love of fashion really blossomed when she was 21. The Albany native and University of Georgia graduate decided to take a bold step and move to New York City in 1951.
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“I moved to New York after my mother started charging me room rent,” she says with a laugh. She had originally planned to go into show business. She befriended another eager young actor, a fella named Jim Nabors, who would go on to play Gomer Pyle on The Andy Griffith Show. “Of course, he was on my team and he told me that I did really well. But if you tell a fib, you tend to forget it and years later, he told my husband, ‘Wow you should have seen her in that.’ He didn’t really think I did so good.” The casting team didn’t share that opinion. In fact, they called her home in Albany to talk more about the role. But, unbeknownst to the Hollywood folks, it was the elder Wilcox who answered. “We have the same name so my mother would take a lot of my calls and if she didn’t like them ... I’d never hear from them again. She asked what the costumes were like and they said that they were short and she said, ‘Well no, I don’t think I’d be interested in that,’” Wilcox says with a laugh.
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While a life on stage wasn’t in the cards, Millie did have a glamorous future awaiting her. She became an assistant for couturier Eleanora Garnett, an Estonian designer with her own fashion label. That connection took her to the great cities of Europe — Rome, Paris and everywhere between. “Eleanora was incredible. She was a very interesting woman with a fascinating story. She actually thought I was from Georgia (in the former USSR). She was very strict. But she could work without patterns. She was the first couturier to make her items in Rome and have them sent to New York on TWA,” she said.
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This was how Wilcox first got into the world of fashion, learning all she could about fabrics and material. She also enjoyed connecting it to art. “In those photos, they were done at these homes with exquisite art collections so the fashion and the art were styled together,” Wilcox says. She met a great many interesting people while flitting about Europe. One of those was Pablo Picasso. “I was dating an artist and he was friends with Picasso and Cocteau. We’d have lunch together sometimes. I remember that (Picasso and Cocteau) would keep their paintings in the back of a Chevrolet because they didn’t want to pay for insurance,” she said. It’s stories like these that continue to add form and color to Millie’s extraordinary life. But even though she’s retired, she continues to stay active and engaged. And, of course, stylish.
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I recently stopped by Millie’s gorgeous marsh front home, an island treasure tucked away off a popular subdivision. Colorful canvases and keepsakes dot the interior and the lady, perfectly poised, sits in the middle of it all. On this particular afternoon, the conversation centered on beauty and fashion — and Millie’s tips for looking one’s best. “I think a lot of my habits go back to Eleanora. She helped me by osmosis and being around her with certain principles about your life and your health and what she expected. It got me into some routines that aren’t complicated but you have to be consistent,” she says. “Once you find something that works for you, just stick with it.”
Style Millie’s
Points:
• Less is always more • Use a neutral base with pops of color • Don’t overload on jewelry • Make sure jackets fit, especially in the shoulders
Part of that is reaching for tried-and-true products like Ponds and Witch Hazel, but another is using cold — ice cold — water.
black,” she says. “Younger people can do beige but it’s never been for me. I think it depends on your skin tone and your hair color.”
“I still put ice in my tub. I grew up in Albany, in Radium Springs, and my father would take us out there and we would sit in that cold water to get our temperature down,” she says.
While Millie fully believes in an individualized look and a “less is more” mentality, she also feels that whatever outfit one selects needs to suit the body.
As far as fashion, Millie also enjoys keeping it simple. She favors a black base that is accentuated by pops of color. “I like wearing solid color and a jacket over it. I like a good pop or flash of color but not the whole thing. I’ve found that I like a neutral color. For me, it’s navy or
“You can have a dressy jacket or a sport jacket, but they need to look good on you ... you need to make sure your jacket fits you in the shoulders,” she says. “And I think you know whether something works or not. You can put it on once for dinner or out for the evening and you know. If it doesn’t work, eliminate it so you don’t have to make so many choices.”
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: e c a r G + h t g n e r St A conversation with Ayla Wilson
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
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Ayla Wilson folds forward, placing her hands on the ground. Shifting her weight into her hands, a wave of back and core muscles engage. Then, seemingly by magic, her feet float off the floor. With the poise of a gymnast, she lifts her legs up into a perfect handstand. It’s truly a sight to behold. Wilson’s strength and grace has been a constant commitment for more than a decade. And through both strength training (primarily CrossFit) and a consistent yoga practice, the 34-year-old St. Simons resident has built her body into a chiseled work of art, capable of doing some pretty astounding things. But none of it came easily. “I was never a gymnast. I was never a dancer. I was never on a sports team. I never did any of that,” she says, seated in a training room at The Brick. Instead, she began her fitness journey as a way of dealing with traumas and conflicts rooted in her past. “I had a lot of stuff I was dealing with … unresolved conflicts of growing up in alcoholism and abuse. That weighed me down,” she recalls. “I moved here from Charlotte, North Carolina, when I was 18. I came to live
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with my grandparents and get a fresh start. It forced me to really look at my life and how I was living and the choices I was making.” Once she arrived, Wilson committed to walking a different path. She laid a new foundation with a network of support that helped her change her course. “There were so many people in my life who helped me and who loved me before I knew what it meant to love myself,” Wilson says. “Everything about who I am today was 100 percent a result of the people who loved me, who believed in me, who saw something in me was worthy … because, I certainly didn’t see that.” One of the places she found some of those people was in the CrossFit box. The notoriously difficult fitness regime not only helped her emotional recovery, it also gave her a sense of community unlike any she’d known before. “It felt like a way to communicate with other people, to socialize with other people. It took away the pressure of having to be interesting — we’re all just doing the same thing. And it really just felt good,” she says. The physicality of the workouts also tapped into something inside. And she thrived. Eventually, Wilson would go on to complete a master’s degree program while also teaching various fitness classes and offering personal training. On her “rest” days from her own intense workout routines, Wilson started to practice yoga about eight years ago. “It started as just a way to relax and unwind. I’m kinda wound tight anyway. But it never really resonated with me until I was ready,” she says. “I was in graduate school and I was teaching fitness in Savannah. That’s when I ramped up my yoga practice.” Her commitment to time on her mat paid major dividends, not only in the impressive arm balances and inversions she learned, but also for her mental clarity. “I was feeling kind of lost again, so I thought, ‘I’m going to try this yoga thing.’ But I didn’t quit CrossFit,” Wilson says. “Then, Patricia at OmCore said, ‘You should try our yoga teacher training. I was teaching fitness but I never considered teaching yoga. That really opened the door for me. I didn’t see myself in that spot.”
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nd asks a r o f s k r o w o man wh
n a wo
iful tha t u a e b e r o m g nothin
for
“… there’s what she wants and deserves … and who helps other women to get there too.”
That helped to nurture a new passion. She expanded her practice in the realm of Ashtanga Yoga, a challenging style that originated in Mysore, India. The practice offers six set sequences of increasingly difficult postures. It can be equated to a martial arts form, where students learn a choreographed series of movements. But, Ashtanga Yoga is also like a dance, in that, each pose is accompanied by Sanskrit counting. Students progress at the discretion of a teacher, not moving on the the next pose until having proficiently executed the previous. Wilson’s aunt, Paige Rainwater, who lives in Atlanta, has long practiced Ashtanga Yoga and helped to spark her niece’s interest. “I would go through Primary Series with my Aunt Paige who practices at Balance Yoga in Atlanta,” Wilson says. “It took a while before it really connected, but now I love it.” 78
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For the past year, Wilson has been working in an apprenticeship program with world-renowned Ashtanga teacher Taylor Hunt in Columbus, Ohio. She plans to continue learning to teach the practice. “The more I learn, the more I learn that I really love being a student. It’s the one thing in my life that I don’t feel I have to be so serious about,” she says. “But the practice has definitely made me more grounded. You cultivate a strength within that’s not necessarily visible on the outside, but you walk differently. You know yourself. You’re rooted in your own truth.” Wilson is currently teaching a lead Ashtanga half Primary Series at The Brick. She also continues to teach yoga on Sea Island. “I’ve also started teaching at a place called Telluric in Brunswick. It’s a gun range, where I teach a bunch of former special forces guys who couldn’t
touch their toes before,” she says with a laugh. Regardless, the style of yoga Wilson is teaching or where the students are from, it’s always incredibly rewarding. “The thing I love about yoga is … it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You could be a doctor or a teacher or whatever, and we’re all just there doing the same thing,” she says. “It’s pretty transformative. You see people grow and progress in terms of their strengths and abilities … it’s pretty mind blowing.”
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From Our Kitchens to Your Table E x p l o r e t h e Ta s t e s o f S t . S i m o n s
Through all of her endeavors, the common thread for Wilson is strength. And while her physique reflects the countless hours she dedicates to exercise and a healthy diet, it’s really about something deeper and much more meaningful than looks. “When I’m doing something physically challenging, I feel strong and beautiful … not in an arrogant way, but I feel like I’m my true self. That’s where my confidence comes from,” she says. “It feels good to be strong. It feels good to feel pretty. I think a dress can do that for you or a workout can do that for you. But there’s nothing more beautiful than a woman who works for and asks for what she wants and deserves … and who helps other women to get there too.”
All your Southern coastal favorites are served at Halyards—just-caught fish and produce, paired with wines and handcrafted cocktails.
That last point is a tenet Wilson holds tight to, regardless of whether she’s working with a private client, completing a workout of the day (WOD) at CrossFit St. Simons or leading a yoga class. She’s committed to being a cheerleader rather than a competitor. “We cannot step on each other to get somewhere. That’s a really unstable way to live. I want to be a woman who’s strong, but who helps other women feel that way too,” she says. “There’s no point in me doing this alone.”
Try St. Simons’ best Italian restaurant. Tramici serves up delicious pastas, plus pizzas straight from our brick oven.
La Plancha serves all your Mexican favorites. Enjoy authentic homemade Latin American dishes and specialty margaritas.
H A L YA R D R E S TA U R A N T G R O U P St. Simons, GA | 912.638.3158 halyardrestaurantgroup.com MARC H/A P RI L 2022
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NOISEMAKERS
H Hannah May fluttered through the doors of Wake Up Coffee in Brunswick. The family-owned business has become a second home of sorts for May, who’s worked at the St. Simons location for several years. Removing her beanie, she dropped into a chair. “There’s no music playing,” she immediately notes, her bright blue eyes scanning the room.
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HANNAH MAY PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
May would be one to notice that. After all, music is the thread that has stitched her life together. And the Brunswick-based songstress has grown up sharing her faith through music. “I was actually born in Quebec, Canada, but I grew up in Jesup. My dad was a pastor as I was growing up and there was a pastor in Jesup that supported my family. They ended up wanting to leave the church they were at, so the
job opened up and asked my dad if he was interested,” she says. “My mom was from Waycross so it worked out and we moved back to the states.” Family also played a key role in her musical development. “My mom plays piano and sings. She has always been the worship leader of
my church,” May says. “When I was 12, I asked her to show me some piano chords, so piano came first for me.”
production manager. So now, I’m not on staff like I was before at Community Church, but he is,” she says with a giggle.
She learned the instrument and naturally started to sing the songs she was playing. It wasn’t long before a deep and powerful connection between music and the divine began to blossom.
In addition to the church role, Stephen is also the drummer for a popular local band called Suzy and the Birddogs. The Mays continue to make beautiful music together. They welcomed their first child, a son named Brady, in the fall of 2021. And it’s a pretty safe bet that the baby will grow up in a house filled with light, music, and faith.
“I fell in love with music, just in general. I play by ear so I taught myself a lot,” she says. “But in those moments, I really experienced the presence of God. It was my own time with the Lord.” As she continued to grow, it was clear she had a gift. It wasn’t long before May found herself in front of her father’s congregation. But her mother’s experience as the fellowship’s musical leader was hard to overcome. “I was so nervous … even though it was just like 70 people. My mom was on the front row and she was singing louder than I was on the mic,” May says with a laugh. “I was so mad because it was my big moment … and everyone followed her.” After a silent car ride home, May told her mother how upset she was about the incident. And the elder singer had some wise words to impart. “She told me, ‘If you want to do this for the Lord and want to be a worship leader, it’s never really going to be about you,’” May says with a smile. From that point on, she’s never stopped. Wherever she’s lived, she’s been a part of the local church, either playing, singing, or both. Today, she can be found at Community Church on St. Simons Island, where she serves in a volunteer role. Not only has her music helped nourish her soul, it has also led her to her husband, Stephen, whom she met while at North Island Church on St. Simons.
May can’t wait to share all of it with her little one. “Of course, my husband is hoping he’ll be a drummer like him,” she says with a laugh. “But really, we want him to choose his own passions. Though we also want to encourage music because music brings people from all walks of life together. We want him to speak that language so he can be a light to the world by singing songs of hope.”
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“My husband and I ended up getting married, then he was hired by Community Church as an assistant MARC H/A P RI L 2022
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COASTAL SEEN
Brooke Baskin, left, and Lauren Brown
Carol and Ben Slade
Chris and Rachel Morgan
Elizabeth and Patrick Holladay
ST. SIMONS LAND TRUST’S OYSTER ROAST The St. Simons Land Trust recently hosted its annual oyster roast at Gascoigne Bluff on St. Simons Island. In addition to its namesake dish, the sold-out event also featured area restaurants serving up various dishes from their locations. The proceeds from the roast benefit the many conservation projects the non-profit champions.
George Skarpalezos, left, and Martin Sportschuetz
Lydia and J.P. Thornton
Hannah Jones, from left, Wade Qauattlebaum, Sara and Thomas Cason, and Amy and Andy Broderick
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Valerie Hepburn, from left, Susan Shipman, David Wright, Frances McCrary, Deb Luginbull, Jim Barger, and Greer Brown
Jim and Linda Henderson
Shannon Gilreath, left, and Caroline Dorminy
Holly Wolfe, from left, Paul Dukes, Mitzi Tollison, and Cissy Thompson
COASTAL SEEN
Emily Greer, left, and Anna Henry
Trish Rugaber, left, and Cheryl Keefer
Ella Cart, left, and Trish Rugaber
ARTTRENDS’ FOR THE BIRDS EXHIBITION OPENING ArtTrends Gallery on St. Simons Island recently hosted an opening for its For the Birds exhibition. Lydia Thompson, bird expert and Golden Isles Magazine columnist, was a participating artist. She also gave a talk about the annual bird count and shared her illustrated book, Willia Gets Her Friendship Bands.
Lydia Thompson, left, and Linda Bobbinger
Ed Smith and Linda Caldwell
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COASTAL SEEN
David Foshee, left, and Patrick Johnson
Adrienne Reynolds, left, and Cornell Harvey
Janice Youmans, from left, and LeRoy Dickson
Aimee Edmund, from left, Peyton Foster, and Pam Brown
Photo assistance by Jan Bone
TASTE OF GLYNN
Taste of Glynn, which features samplings from restaurants and chefs, was recently held at the King and Prince Beach & Golf Resort on St. Simons Island. Hundreds attended the event, sampling food and wine, bidding on auction items, and enjoying entertainment. The event is a fundraiser for the Glynn Community Crisis Center and Amity House which aid victims of domestic violence.
Renthia Lewis, left, and Lori Pfaff
Virginia and Hammond Breland
Barry and Jim Kaminer, from left, and Buffy and Ted Williams
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COASTAL SEEN
Bill and Merry Tipton
Brandi Jones, left, and Brittany Tate
Bonnie Duncan, left, and Debbie Banks
Cecile Kirby, left, and Meredith Flagstad
STAR FOUNDATION’S CATCH A RISING STAR GALA The STAR Foundation, which offers work-readiness programs for low-income individuals, recently held its annual fundraising gala, Catch a Rising STAR. The soiree, which was held at the A.W. Jones St. Simons Island Lighthouse, featured entertainment, food, and drinks. The funds raised toward supporting their teachers and programming at their center in Brunswick. Valerice Bell, left, and Audrey Gibbons
Chandra and Steve Kendall
Elaine Griffin, left, and Mike Bauer
Kenneth Searles, from left, Greer Anderson, and Christy and Chris Jordan
Emory Larkin, left, and Ryan Grady
Gene and Dr. Michelle Johnston
Donna Davis, from left, Courtney Prince, Tina Kirby, Debbie Banks, and Markisha Butler MARC H/A P RI L 2022
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COASTAL SEEN
Jan and Marty Carriker
Kay Miller, from left, and Davis and Jo Scott
Linda Sallins, from left, and Karina Bowles with Dianna Wilson standing
Kathleen Orians Dawson, from left, Peggy Tuten, Lauren McGrath, and Angie Votsis
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY FASHION SHOW Photo assistance by Lindy Cofer The Glynn County branch of the American Cancer Society recently held its annual fashion show at Sea Palms on St. Simons. The event was moved from its original October date to February due to the pandemic. The models were all cancer survivors. The group also held a meet-and-greet luncheon, hosted by Jan and Marty Carriker.
Sherrie Beecher, from left, Peggy Tuten, Ruby Jackson, Robin Nunn, Jackie Mull, Judy Sutton, Angie Votsis, and Jo Scott
Jackie Mull, from left, Robin Nunn, Angie Votsis, Ruby Jackson, Jo Scott, Peggy Tuten, Sherrie Beecher, and Judy Sutton
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The fashion show models are pictured. Standing are Peggy Tuten, from left, Sherrie Beecher, Judy Sutton, Jackie Mull, and Angie Votsis. Seated are Robin Nunn, from left, Ruby Jackson, Ken Gaubert, Jo Scott, and Shadah Arnette
Standing are members of the committee Lis McDermitt, from left, Jackie Mull, Peggy Tuten, Kathleen Orians Dawson, and Connie Hiott. Seated are Carol Nolan, from left, Rhonda Barlow, and Joy Cook
Seated are Liz McDermitt, from left, Rhonda Barlow, Kathleen Orians Dawson, Lauren McGrath, and Andrea Vacheron. Standing are Jackie Mull, from left, Carole Nolan, Diann Clark, Joy Cook, Connie Hiott, Christy Hand, Olivia Holland, Stephanie Barwick, and Peggy Tuten
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