GIM July/August 2020

It’s time for Truth It’s time for Justice It’s time for Change

You will not have a choice for District Attorney if you do not sign the petition to get my name on the ballot.

Sign the petition by July 31 to make your signature count.

Visit my campaign website or Facebook page for signature locations.

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CONTENTS

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JULY/AUGUST 2020

FEATURES

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STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT Darkness reveals a new world as stargazers capture the cosmos from the shores of Jekyll and St. Simons islands.

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NATURE’S MAJESTY From fishing to rice farming and recreation, the ancient trails and tributaries that flow through the Golden Isles have proven to be the lifeblood of the area.

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STRONGER TOGETHER The coronavirus pandemic has dealt the world a hard blow, but as always, Golden Isles’ residents have stepped up to support one another during the crisis.

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S ta r l ig h t, s tar b r i g h t

BOOMING BUSINESS Young entrepreneurs are reshaping Brunswick’s historic landscape with a flurry of new businesses and revamped residential space.

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HIDDEN HISTORY Those in the know on Jekyll Island offer an exclusive peek at some of the lesser known elements within the historic district.

Photo by John Krivec

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A Community of Life and Living!

MANOR SENIOR LIVING

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Well-made, timeless, Southern clothing for boys & girls.

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COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS 12

EDITOR’S NOTE

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WORD ON THE STREET

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COASTAL QUEUE

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DUE SOUTH

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LIVING WELL

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BY DESIGN

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NATURE CONNECTION

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DIGRESSIONS

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MONEY TALKS

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GAME CHANGERS

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THE DISH

99 NOISEMAKERS AARON LANE Personalized pillows and pillowcases adorned with Scripture to celebrate life’s special moments.

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100 BRIGHT SPOTS

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DREW

Proudly made in the USA!

3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick GA 31520

Publisher Buff Leavy Editor Lindsey Adkison Director of Advertising Jenn Agnew and Marketing Marketing Director Assistant Editor

Becky Derrick Lauren McDonald

Brunswick Sales Manager

Bill Cranford Commercial Printing — Pre-printed Inserts

Contributing Writers

Bud Hearn Larry Hobbs Gordon Jackson Brian Austin Lee Beverly McBride Ronda Rich David Richardson Lydia Thompson

Contributing Photographers

Parker Alexander Bobby Haven Ben Galland John Krivec Teresa Jones Brian Austin Lee Jillisa Milner

Contributing Designers

Stacey Nichols Donte Nunnally Terry Wilson

2463 Demere Road, Suite 104 St. Simons Island, GA 31522 912-268-4819 shoptamarys.com

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 breathtaking image is an aerial view of Village Creek Landing on St. Simons Island, captured by Parker Alexander, owner of Empire Sky Photography.

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3-Day Weekend on Beautiful beautiful Can’t Come? Then Gift it to Someone Special!

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3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick GA 31520

Submissions

Boat Tours of all types

FROM JEKYLL ISLAND Dolphin Tours | Private Boat Tours Sunset Tours | Boat Weddings Group Tours | Specialty Tours Newest Boats in the Golden Isles Up to 98 passengers

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

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Information regarding advertising and rates is available by contacting Becky Derrick by phone at 912.634.8408 or by email at bderrick@goldenislesmagazine.com; Bill Cranford at 912-265-8320, ext. 329 or by email at bcranford@thebrunswicknews.com; or Jenn Agnew at 912-265-8320, ext. 356 or by email at jagnew@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.

Whether it’s lazy laps around Turtle Creek, high-speed thrills down Pirate’s Passage, or the endless fun of Shark Tooth Cove — Summer Waves is splash-tastic fun for the whole family!

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ents m e t a t S r e Summ

Editor’s Note

Isles’ beauty a source of hope We’ve now been here many years and “hereâ€? is home. It makes me incredibly proud to share this place with others ‌ virtually or in person (as life allows). I think they all quickly discover that this place is one of deep connections and a complicated history. But the beauty ‌ ah, the beauty sweeps us all away.

Artistically hand carved, casted and created here in The Golden Isles, we offer unique keepsakes that you’ll love to give or receive. No matter the size of your wrist, silver or gold, or a bit of both, we’ll make you something special and lasting.

There has been so much darkness in recent months. So much so, dear reader, I wasn’t sure I could ever climb out of the despair. But it was the beauty of this place — and its people — that has lifted me up and made me realize that we will all be OK. In 2006, I moved to the Georgia Coast. I never really gave much thought to Georgia having a coast prior to packing up. I was, after all, 22.

I really hadn’t given much thought to anything.

I had just finished college in Troy, Alabama. I packed my bags and rolled out from my hometown of Enterprise, Alabama.

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Fun fact: Enterprise, Alabama, is known for being “the only city in the world with a monument to an insect� — the Boll Weevil Monument.

Fashioned after a bug who had the foresight to swoop in and eat up all our cotton, rerouting our attention to peanuts which became the new cash crop. It’s true, and has been a more-frequent-than-expected Jeopardy query. #TheMoreYouKnow But I did. I moved. I shook the the red clay of Alabama off my feet and I came to live in this lovely land because my then-boyfriend, nowhusband (13 years in October!) was an engineer working on the expansion of the interstate here.

And I knew from the moment I first stepped out of the car, that this place was special. It wasn’t just the trees or the moss or the sand or the ocean.

Meaningful things happened here. I could feel it ‌ I still can.

As we Georgians, emerge from this — let’s try to move slower, steadier, and with greater purpose. Let’s get rid of all of those frivolous worries. If nothing else, let this make us take stock of what matters and what does not.

For me, the beauty and the history of this land (home to many who have endured very dark days), is a living breathing inspiration and assurance that we are, in fact, going to make it. This land withstood the evils of slavery and segregation, as well as epidemics like malaria and the Spanish Flu. It withstood World War I and II. In fact, we made Liberty ships for the latter in the Brunswick harbor.

If anyone has “got this,� we have.

And that’s precisely what this issue is meant to highlight — the fact that we got this. You have to be strong to stand against the darkness. And we are strong.

In these pages you will discover how we have loved our way through this pandemic, taking time to nurture one another, and how this land offers hope and light for a brighter tomorrow.

All my love — Lindsey Adkison

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Word On The Street Shrimp and grits from Sea Palms @goldenislesweddingsofficial: Oooh yay

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

TIME TO GET SOCIAL

Nancy Harper: Enjoyed the history and photos Kim Kent: Magnificent home.

instagram.com/goldenislesmag

Leslie Holt Dettore: Thanks for sharing, I worked for Strachan Shipping Corp. in the 80s and 90s, office was in Savannah until they closed the company down in the 2000s.

If you prefer to send us your comments by

@dustyrosega: I needed this!

We’ve got an awkward mudroom that needs some love.

Anna Hill Tripp: What an amazing house and the history is fascinating!!

facebook.com/goldenislesmag

twitter.com/goldenislesmag

Mudroom @kristenat0528 @danalyn111: beautiful pic!

Downtown Dream homes GuyNel Johnson: Love this house!

email, contact Editor Lindsey Adkison at ladkison@goldenislesmagazine.com. Anything posted to our social media accounts or

Teri Kutz: Beautiful

emailed directly to the editor will be considered for publication. Comments may be edited for clarity or grammar.

High Heel Farms Bud Hearn’s column @stacygowen1: Bungalow @modgyco: Looks great!

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@trolleytoursgoldenisles: Absolutely stunning!

Susan Fyfe Molnar: Love the sunflowers!

Kimberly Cragimile Rotstein Lentz: Looooove!!!!!

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

Murals breathe new life into downtown buildings WORD BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

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It is almost impossible to believe — but Roderrick Davis has never had a formal art lesson. Yet, the Brunswick resident is a master painter in every sense of the word, creating work is so vidid and lifelike it pops off the canvas.

But over the past few years he’s honed his craft, using brushes and oil to share the stories of his African-American heritage. Davis has made a big splash in the local art world, so when the Brunswick Mural Project got off the ground, it was only a matter of time before he was invited to participate.

“I have never done a mural before and I felt like it was a big step for me as an artist. So when they approached me, I jumped on it,” he says.

He consulted mentors and re-worked designs. But finally, “Dreams Have Wings,” a girl and butterfly, was born — blanketing

the facade of 1199 Egmont St., near the library. While the design process took six months, the actual painting took an impressive two days.

“I wanted the kids outside of the library to be able to see it and know that whatever they dream can come true,” he says. “I really love Brunswick and I was so glad to do it.”

Like Davis, Catherine Durrett was also thrilled to be asked to contribute to the effort.

“I did a lot of murals in the past, in fact, I had an indoor mural business in the Atlanta area. So when I heard about the mural project here, I wanted to get involved.”

She was tasked with jazzing up the side of the Subway building, located along Newcastle Street. Like her fellow artists, she was looking to create something that inspired hope.

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“I came up with this idea of children flying with wings … just something really happy and bright,” she says.

After prepping the wall, she started to bring her vision to life. It took some time, and some re-starts due to inclement weather, since she started last September. But the result was well-worth the effort.

“I am so glad to be a part of this project. I’m really happy to see this happening downtown. I love painting murals and this really just spruces the whole area up — a coat of paint goes so far,” she says.

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“I wanted to celebrate the diversity of Brunswick and help make people happy, especially after going through all of this with the coronavirus.”

The project has truly been a labor of love and the collective work of a team of individuals passionate about the community. Officials from the city and the Historic Preservation Board, as well as

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Here are the current mural locations: • “Lady Justice” by Jeff LeMieux, 1425 Union St. • “I Heart Brunswick” by Megan Torello, 1602 Newcastle St. • “Wings” by Catherine Durrett, 1205 Newcastle St. • “Paradise” by Alyson Bruce and Tori Stevens, 1416 Reynolds St. • “Love is Hope” by Kevin Bongang, 1309 Reynolds St. • “Welcome to Brunswick” by Jeff LeMieux and crew, 205 Monk St. • “Dreams Have Wings,” by Roderrick Davis, 1199 Egmont St. • Ahmaud Arbery memorial mural,

by Marvin Weeks For more information, visit: https:// www.glynnvisualarts.org/brunswick-mural-project

Coastal Georgia Community Action Authority were involved, as is a curatorial committee headed by Elizabeth Piazza and Sara Giannakiakis. Local property owners were key, too, as they commissioned work for their buildings.

“When artists and the community come together to create art that reflects a community’s history, aspirations, dreams, and local culture, the community responds with recognition and pride. It is a beautiful thing,” Susan Riles, former executive director of Glynn Visual Arts, says.

While half a dozen of murals have been completed or are in the works, there is more to come. Ryles is excited about what the future holds.

“We are thrilled with how these murals are progressing and the response from everyone so far, the community, the artists, the businesses and the city has been fantastic.

I think folks are beginning to realize that art has a meaningful impact on all our lives and this is a big and tangible example of that,” she says.

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Clean, fresh flavors

the best in summer beers WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY BENJAMIN GALLAND

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ocated on Ocean Drive, Barrier Island Brewing has gained plenty of attention since opening its doors last October.

While it’s new to St. Simons stellar food and beverage line-up, it’s definitely not owner Blake Merrill’s first rodeo. He also operates Half Shell in the Pier Village and his family has owned the adjacent Crab Trap for years. After being in the game for years, Merrill noticed that something was lacking — craft beer.

Luckily, a friend of his Rylie Duncan was becoming quite the brewing enthusiast and, after returning to her St. Simons roots, they teamed up to provide the area with some stellar suds.

“I love beer. I’m a big brewery person. I travel a lot and always go from brewery to brewery,” Duncan says with a grin.

“I went to the University of Georgia and Terrapin was huge. Now, they have like five breweries, but in my day there was only one. It’s just the whole vibe of the brewery, it’s outside, I could bring my dog, there was live music. I just love it.”

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Duncan actually worked in an Alaska brewery for two years before moving back to her hometown in order to help Merrill get Barrier Island Brewery going.

“We’d always thought it would be something great for the island … but it was just a dream for so long,” she says.

Of course, realizing that dream took a lot of work.

Not only was nailing down the food portion of the restaurant challenging, Duncan had to perfect her brewing abilities, which is no easy feat.

“I’m not a ‘brew master’ that’s a distinction, but I have been doing it for a while. There is a lot of science that goes into it. I had my beakers out this

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morning, measuring things out,” she says, standing in front of the enormous steel kegs. “It’s a lot more complicated than people think. It’s so weird, I’m not a science gal by any means … I’m a social worker by trade, but I have learned a lot.”

For the most part, they’ve decided to offer flavors that embrace the Coastal vibe — light, clean, cool, and crisp. They prove drinkable for a variety of palettes — and it’s what summer in the South demands.

“The boat and beach beers … the kinds of things you want to drink outside when it’s 105 degrees out,” she says with a laugh. One of their most popular brews, the Ocean Boulevard Blueberry Wheat, is a perfect example. It combines the freshness of the fruit with the hearty

malt, which proves to be a winning blend.

“People love, love, love it. We started that last June and people went crazy for it,” Duncan says. “We actually didn’t have plans to do it year-round but people wanted it, so we decided to add it. It’s an island, you can get away with doing it yearround.”

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Another prime summer beverage is the brewery’s Golden Ray, named for the cargo ship that capsized in the St. Simons Sound at the end of 2019.

“It’s our most popular beer for sure. It’s a citrus, hazy New England style. It is done with citra-hops that gives it a flavor profile that includes grapefruit, pineapple, and mango,” she says.

Other brews that can often be found on tap include their Altamaha Amber Larger, Whiting Wheat, Traveler’s Belgian Tripel, and the Lagerhead Turtle Lager. Of course, as a true micro-brewery these are subject to change.

“We always have an amber or brown ale. We’ve experimented with both. We’ve been trying to figure out which people wanted more and I think we’ve decided on the amber,” she says.

All of these are available for on-site sipping or grabbing a growler to go. In addition to the brews, the restaurant also offers a number of hand-crafted cocktails, as well as wines.

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Of course, as a bonafide “beer girl” Duncan is excited to keep brewing up unique blends for customers.

“I’m so excited to try funky flavors and sours. There are just so many things you can do,” she says.

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Local photography exhibit to open in Atlanta airport WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY BENJAMIN GALLAND

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ike many artistic greats, Benjamin Galland’s work has become easy to spot. While sweeping marsh vistas bathed in golden sunlight are a common sight in the Golden Isles, Galland often tells the story a different way — from above. His aerial signature landscape photography is both technically brilliant and visually awe-inspiring. And it has garnered accolades from those in the photography world, including the Communication Arts Award in Excellence for Photography.

We took a moment to sit down with this busy fella (he is also a founding partner of h2o Marketing Group in Brunswick) to pick his brain and discuss unveiling his “Georgia Has a Coast” exhibit at the busiest airport in the world — Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta.

Q: Little bit of background … where are you from and how did you get into photography?

Answer: I grew up here on St. Simons. I went to St. Simons Elementary and graduated from

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Glynn Academy. I went to Berry College in Rome, Georgia, where I studied visual communications which is as close as I could get to studying photography there. I did a semester in Florence, Italy, where I studied photography. When I was finished, I moved back here … I am just so passionate about this area, I really couldn’t see myself living anywhere else.

I started actively doing documenting the coast about 12 years ago. I started working with Jingle Davis, who is a retired journalist for the AJC, and together we collaborated on a book on St. Simons Island, published by the University of Georgia Press. That was a jumping off point for me and really got things started.

time. New drones are relatively easy to fly, any novice can do it. The difficult part is the technique. You still have all of the elements within the photo — the form, the light, the shadow — that have to be considered. You have to be more deliberate in what you are trying to photograph.

For me, I was able to find patterns, textures, and light play that I wouldn’t be able to shooting with a handheld.

Question: Talk about your “Georgia Has a Coast” series. Why are they special?

Q: How did you get into drone photography? Describe that process.

Answer: I started thinking about my passion for the coast and for conservation and decided to do something to really show it in a different way, in order to create more awareness.

Answer: At first, like a lot of people, I got one just kind of as a toy. But then I realized that this type of photography could be used as a tool to really elevate images and offer a new perspective. We could see the things we see every day — like the marsh — in a completely new way. The process itself is easy and complicated at the same

The actual “Georgia Has a Coast?” idea came several years back when a good friend of mine growing up — John Wallace Daniel — came up with that tag line. He made a bunch of t-shirts and stickers with that on it … I bet there’s still some on the walls at Bubba’s Up, in fact. So I had always thought about that. Then, when I went

down to Florida for a shoot about six years ago, I stopped at this gas station in Yulee.

The lady behind the counter asked where I was from and I said “St. Simons Island, Georgia.” And she said, “Georgia has an island? What ocean is that?”

I told her “the same one you have — the Atlantic.” I was dumbfounded. It just blew me away … I mean, it’s only 45 minutes from there.

So, long story short, I had been capturing these aerial images of the coast and was looking for a unique way to exhibit them. After a conversation with Elizabeth Piazza, who owns The Art House in Redfern Village, we arranged an exhibit at the Leotis Building in downtown Brunswick in November. We displayed 14 images printed at 44x78 inches. She really helped me pull it together as an exhibit and just put a bow on it.

Question: How did you get the deal with the ATL airport?

Shops at Sea Island 600 Sea Island Rd. St. Simons Island, GA 912-634-8884

Answer: That also came from the Downtown Brunswick exhibit. The art curator for the Atlanta airport got wind of the show and after getting a private tour of the exhibit offered up the exhibition space in the domestic terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson. It was slated to go on display at the beginning of April, but with quarantine and all, has been delayed until later this summer. It will be on display for one to two months. We’re also planning a smaller version at the Brunswick airport to hang simultaneously. All of the flights from here go to Atlanta so they will get the message twice. The whole thing has just been really cool.

Question: As a Golden Isles native, what do you hope people take away from seeing this work?

Answer: Well, I hope they will realize that Georgia does in fact have a coast and that we have to protect it. I hope to play a small part in telling that story.

And too, just how beautiful this area is. You know, I have lived here my whole life and I can wholeheartedly say that I never take this beauty for granted. I’m grateful for it every day. It is constantly changing — the light and whatnot — I have never shot the same thing twice. I will never get tired of it.

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Q

the blooms FLOWER TRUCK BRINGS

WORDS BY LAUREN MCDONALD P H O T O S B Y B O B B Y H AV E N

S

titched into Kate Dart’s memory of childhood years spent in Costa Rica is the sight of flower vendors lining roads to the beach.

“Down there, you would drive to the beach on the weekends, and these older men would come out with their crates, and they’d sell these giant crates of flowers on the side of the road for pennies on the dollar,” recalls Dart, who lived in the Central American country for nearly a decade, from the age of 5 until she turned 15. “… That was just always a big part of growing up.”

Dart moved to St. Simons after college, and recently she was reminiscing with her mother about these memories from her childhood. An idea for a business began to blossom.

She envisioned bringing a flower truck experience to the Golden Isles.

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G O L D E N I S LES

Her business, Merci Bouquet Flower Truck, aims to create a flower-buying experience that has been otherwise lacking in this area. Dart sells flowers, either by the stem or in bouquets, from her truck, which she can drive to weddings, events, homes, businesses or just about anywhere else.

“The truck, it’s an experience really,” Dart says. “It’s not just walking into a store. You get to come up to the truck. You get to learn about the story. You get to have fun and make your own arrangements and play around with the stems.

All in kind of a laid back, coastal vibe that matches our island.”

Merci Bouquet is operated from a four-speed 1960 Volkswagen Transporter. The truck brings a special kind of character to the business. As Dart drives around the community, many will honk or wave, she says. It’s a conversation starter that has advertised her business through nothing more than its eye-catching uniqueness.

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Like any vintage vehicle, the truck comes with its quirks. The gas gauge doesn’t work — Dart knows the gas tank is empty when the truck doesn’t start — and she’s pretty sure the fastest she’s driven it so far was a breathtaking 39 miles per hour down Frederica Road.

“It’s been a lot of fun to drive,” she says. “I didn’t know how to drive a stick shift when I bought the truck. I had to get my mom to teach me.”

© 2020 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. ® Equal Housing Opportunity.

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G O L D E N I S LES

the

Dart officially opened Merci Bouquet in February. She started by hosting pop-ups at local businesses.

“And then of course, corona,” she says.

The business had to halt operations for a few weeks after the COVID-19 pandemic began shuttering most parts of the country in early March.

Dart soon adapted to these new circumstances and began to offer no-contact bouquet deliveries. She received a strong response and found that many customers liked the idea.

Dart, during a conversation in May, hoped that as businesses began to reopen she could return to her original idea of selling flowers at pop-ups and events.

“The truck’s for photo opportunities, for parties, for weddings,” she says. “…Whatever the community wants us to be, we just want to be a part of the community.”

The name of the business stems from Dart’s own sense of humor.

She loves puns, and she did not waste this opportunity to get creative.

“I knew that the name had to be a pun,” she says. “I looked up floral puns, and there was a thank you card that said ‘Merci bouquet,’ with a flower on it. So it’s a play on ‘merci beaucoup,’ the French, and it just kind of stuck.”

yellow canary (912) 638-4061

Dart, who majored in international affairs at Georgia Tech, did not have prior experience with floral design. She relied on her love of entertaining, her natural creativity and her willingness to learn as she started Merci Bouquet.

“Places like Instagram are just a wealth of knowledge,” she says.

“What people are doing with flowers now, it’s just an artistry.”

Dart’s aiming to provide customers with more than a bouquet of flowers to bring home. She hopes to offer an experience.

“I’m not trying to be The Vine, where they’re doing these incredible wedding designs,” she says. “I’m more of the laid back, the boho.”

To learn more about Merci Bouquet or to contact Dart, she says the best place to find her is on Instagram. In May, her website was in the process of being created. Her email is kate@ mercibouqetflowertruck.com.

1178 Chapel Crossing Rd, Brunswick, GA 31525

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31

APPARENTLY, EVEN LOVE REQUIRES INNOVATION.

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Now offering hosted virtual tours.

32

G O L D E N I S LES

Although we’re in this turbulent time known as COVID-19, our innovative spirit remains alive and well. It all started with a desire to keep our residents closely connected with their loved ones. Enter Clear Connection – a simple, clear panel that lets residents safely be within mere inches of their visitors.

We’re not letting COVID-19 bring us down, in fact, in some ways it’s bringing us closer together than ever before.

Please reach out and let us know how we can help you.

Facts

J U ST T H E

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON

FORT KING GEORGE F

Fort King George, nestled in the mossy live oaks bordering the Darien river, is a treasure. Now operated as a state park, this land was home to the oldest fort on Georgia’s Coast. When it was constructed in the late 1720s, it housed a British garrison, but the soldiers faced a great deal of hardships due to disease, terrain, and harsh weather.

Today, the buildings have been recreated to give visitors a real sense of what life was like during these trying times and challenges the soldiers faced. Read on to learn some fun facts about this historical gem:

200

Europeans from various nations struggled to claim footholds in the territory for nearly 200 years before the formal establishment of Georgia in 1733.

1940

The fort was constructed in 1721 and served as the southernmost outpost of the British Empire. It was hoped to provide protection against the Spanish, located to the South.

In 1726, the fort burned under mysterious circumstances. It is suggested that an officer may have been behind the blaze, torching the facility to help alleviate the suffering the soldiers experienced there.

1727

1949

26 The original fort included a 26-square-foot blockhouse made from cypress wood, as well as triangular-shaped earthen fortifications, barracks, palisades, and moats.

SOLDIERS The soldiers who died were killed by dysentery, due to poor sanitation, and malaria brought in by the mosquitos that blanketed the nearby marshes. None perished in battle.

140

On average, 140 privates and several officers, known as His Majesty’s Independent Company of Foot, lived at the fort.

1726 1967

During the first excavations on the site in the 1940s, more than a dozen soldiers’ graves were uncovered.

It was closed in 1727, after only operating for six years.

1721

In 1949, the state of Georgia acquired the site from the Sea Island Company.

302

Fort King George is located at 302 McIntosh Road, Darien. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. Admission price is $7.50 for adults (ages 18 to 61); $7 for seniors (ages 62 and up); $4.50 for youth (ages 6 to 17); and children under 6 are admitted for free. For more information on the park, visit gastateparks.org.

In the late 1960s, the Georgia Historical Commission acquired the site. Money was allotted for building a museum in 1967.

30,000

Today, the site sees more than 30,000 visitors annually and offers a wide range of living history programs dealing with colonial life and military sciences.

3

The soldiers had to travel three miles upriver to find adequate cypress trees to cut for the blockhouse’s framework and siding.

SC

It was originally considered part of South Carolina colony.

JU LY/AU GUS T 2020

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DUE SOUTH me, touring the yard. He did not have a pen or pad. He just asked questions and listened. I thought to myself, ‘Well, this should be interesting.’ It was complex information. When the story came out, it did not have one wrong word in it. He must have some kind of incredible mind.”

I thought that was such high praise from such a high source that I wrote him again and shared the compliment.

He did not respond.

The Elephant in The Room

A

WORDS BY RONDA RICH

A couple of years ago, I read an online magazine story by a St. Simons native named Tommy Tomlinson. It was a lovely ode to his mother who had recently passed away.

He wrote that she had quit school after the first day of fourth grade, made incredible cornbread and kept Christmas lights on her trailer in Jesup year-round as well as pastel Easter eggs hanging from her yard trees. For years, she worked the line at SeaPak on the island and every

34

G O L D E N I S LES

day returned home to immediately strip off her white polyester uniform because it smelled of shrimp.

The piece was such a moving remembrance that I wrote him an email. I am always touched by the kindness of readers who take a moment to tell me which stories of mine have touched their hearts.

I wanted to pass the sweetness along.

He did not respond.

Several months later, he wrote a nicely done piece for Garden and Gun about former University of Georgia football coach, Vince Dooley, and his love for gardening. The article was full of complex gardening words like Sayonara (a magnolia), Prunus Mume, Katsura and Viburnum. Shortly after reading it, we were at the Dooleys’ home for dinner and I mentioned the article.

Dooley shook his head in wonder. “He came and spent a couple of hours with

Last year, Tommy Tomlinson published a book with Simon and Schuster called The Elephant in The Room: One Fat Man’s Quest to Get Smaller in A Growing America. I read outstanding reviews of the book but I couldn’t imagine enjoying the read.

Then, one day recently, I was in the horse barn, passing through the sitting room where I love to read good books during fair weathered days. I have a bookcase there. I glanced over at it and then suddenly moved, surely, by the good Lord, I thought of Mr. Tomlinson’s book and heard ringing in my ears, “Read it.”

I bought the book that afternoon and plunged forth. It is the bravest book I have ever read. Mr. Tomlinson grew up “husky” and then turned “fat,” weighing for years over 450 pounds (he is now around 350 pounds). It is raw, immensely forthcoming and boldly unabashed. I found myself particularly moved as he described the planning that went into meeting a friend for breakfast in New York. On the subway, he held tightly to the pole, fearing he might fall and badly hurt someone then not be able to rise from the floor.

The previous night, he studied the floor plan of the restaurant online to see where he might be able to sit that didn’t include a stool or booth. He arrived 15 minutes early so he could find a chair that would hold his girth.

It is a wake-up call for those of us who might not ever have stopped to think how those suffering from obesity suffer emotionally and mentally.

Despite this lifelong challenge, Mr. Tomlinson, a home-grown product of the Golden Isles, has done very well as a journalist. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist, longtime columnist at the Charlotte Observer, writer for Sports Illustrated, ESPN and earned a prestigious Nieman fellowship.

This illustrious rise in the journalism world began for Mr. Tomlinson with a childhood love, an obsession really, of The Brunswick News. “When I was a kid, I’d listen for the thump of the paper landing in our yard very afternoon,” he writes in the book. “I’d run out and grab it and peel off the green rubber band so we could divide up the sections.”

YOU ARE HERE.

When I read that, I thought of Buff Leavy and the generations of his family who have produced The Brunswick News through good times, bad times and remarkably hard times. I figured that it was probably Buff’s grandfather who was the publisher during the time that journalism issued the siren call to that young boy. My compliments to the Leavy family who has long served their community.

I no longer expect a response from Mr. Tomlinson.

But Buff Leavy? I know I’ll hear from him.

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Copyright © 2019. Homestar Financial Corporation NMLS #70864 Georgia Residential Mortgage Licensee #17 or a commitment to lend. Not all customers will qualify. Certain other restrictions may apply. HFC is not affiliated w

LIVING WELL Physical inactivity is now the fourth leading risk factor for mortality and it may also play a role in the sky-rocketing mental health crisis.

get fit in glynn

Y

WORDS BY DAVID RICHARDSON P HOTO BY BOBBY HAVEN

Your health is your true wealth. There has never been a time where that statement has been more appropriate. Given the recent events in the world, it has become obvious just how important our health is and how it affects our quality of life. It may be a shift away from our sometimes materialistic mindset regarding what exactly wealth is, but I think it’s fair to say that a sound mind and body are invaluable.

There has also never been a time where we as a society have been more distracted. Even though there are still 24 hours in a day, it seems as though our constantly-connected culture has us feeling as though there isn’t enough time for things that are important. While the rate of disease related to insufficient physical activity continues to climb, we have never been more easily influenced to stay glued to the laptop, scroll through social media, or binge on the next best Netflix series and frankly, it’s killing us.

As physical therapists, it is our job to help people move well and encourage them to move often.

Apart from a lack of motivation and priority, we know one of the biggest barriers to exercise is pain. Unfortunately, we also know pain can lead to a sedentary lifestyle which then leads to chronic illness and more pain … the cycle continues. What if we could break the cycle before it even begins? it is a well-known fact that an annual wellness visit with a physician and check up with a dentist every six months goes a long way toward preventing health issues that could hinder a quality life. But what about a yearly check-in with a physical therapist? Could a visit with an “expert of movement” help you gain an understanding of your movement quality and increase your quality of life? What if there was a reliable method to assess movement and predict your risk for injury much the same way bloodwork can identify those at risk for a heart attack or stroke?

What if we could actually detect injuries before they happened? Even more, what if a physical therapist could write a prescription to treat movement dysfunction just as a physician may prescribe medication to control high blood pressure? Finally, for those who are intimidated or don’t know where to start, what if we could show you how to safely and confidently begin exercising? Great news! That’s just what Advance Rehabilitation does.

Introducing Advance Rehabilitation’s Get Glynn Fit program. It is designed to help those individuals who are committed to improving themselves through exercise, but either have pain that is limiting them

or just aren’t sure where to start. Our five week Get Glynn Fit program allows you to receive an evaluation from a physical therapist to assess your functional ability and determine goals for strength, mobility, and endurance along with a plan to treat pain and balance deficits along the way. A therapist will walk with you and help you develop the commitment and confidence to continue independently either at home or at the gym at the conclusion of the program. We have come to realize the lack of viable resources for individuals who want to make better choices regarding healthy habits such as exercise. Our intention is to serve the community in this manner and offer our expertise to those willing to receive it.

There is never a bad time for a good decision. Let us help you change your life. Remember, your health is your true wealth. Make a wise investment and take the first steps towards a better version of yourself with Advance Rehabilitation.

Do I need a prescription for the Get Glynn Fit Program?

No. You do not need a prescription for the assessment itself, but some insurances such as Medicare will require a prescription for follow-ups.

Is the Get Glynn Fit covered by my insurance? Yes, we also offer selfpay options.

Advance Rehabilitation operates two locations in Glynn County: 212 Retreat Village Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 912-638-1444 4204 Coral Park Drive Brunswick, GA 31520 912-280-9205 Any additional questions please contact David at drichardson@advancerehab.com — David Richardson, PT, DPT, OCS clinic director, Advance Rehabilitation St. Simons Island and Brunswick JU LY/AU GUS T 2020

37

BY DESIGN

ACE offers custom planning for yards

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

just don’t know anything at all about plants and just need some assistance.”

While a lot of topics are broached, the one issues that Kiger sees most often improper watering.

“That’s the biggest ... some things are really easy and others are really picky.

Some people think that half a cup is watering, which isn’t necessarily true,” she says. “And different plants have different requirements. Petunias have got to have water ... but you don’t have to drown your lantana twice a day.”

Once Kiger has done some troubleshooting, clients can proceed on their own or ACE can do the work for them. That includes ordering the plants and arranging for them to be picked up at the center.

Or, Kiger says, they can be delivered.

“We got mulch, soil, fertilizer — so whatever they need, we have it here. We deliver anywhere Glynn County and on orders over $300, we do free delivery,” she says.

“We also have a couple of guys here that can plant them if needed. But a lot of times they have their own landscapers too, which is fine.”

L

Leslie Kiger carefully picked up a pot filled with colorful blooms, gently placing it on a cart. The sales associate at ACE Garden Center on St. Simons Island has been incredibly busy as over the spring and into the toasty summer months.

“It has been a record, for sure. Everyone has been outside, working in their yards,” she says, situating the plants.

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G O L D E N I S LES

The turn-around time on organizing the project is often very quick. Kiger can pull the plants and have them ready within a week or so.

“If it’s a lot of stuff that I have to get together, it can take a little longer, but usually it’s pretty fast,” she says.

While she can frequently be found bustling around the center offering guidance to shoppers, Kiger also ventures out to customers’ properties to provide direction for their home gardens.

“Typically, I come out and walk around the yard and talk about issues that I see, whether it’s bugs, fungus, or areas that don’t seem to be getting enough water.

I walk around with the clients and they can make notes or I can do a plan. It just depends on what each person is looking for,” Kiger says.

“Some people want to add color but they don’t know what to do. Some people don’t know what their sun and shade situation is like. Then, some people really

With the arrival of July and August, Kiger suggests holding off on major planting projects, opting instead for adding potted blooms hardy enough to survive the sweltering temperatures.

“I wouldn’t recommend planting your whole landscape in July or August. But you can definitely do the summer flowers — lantana, vinca, and purslane,” she said.

“Purslane comes in lots of different colors and it’s a succulent type of leaf. It opens up in the sun and closes back up at night.

It’s a heat lover.”

Naturally, watering becomes an issue in the extreme heat. Kiger says it’s a good idea to take extra time to check in on potted plants and beds around

the yard to ensure they’re getting the water they need.

“Watch your sprinkler and make sure it’s getting everything. You may need to do some supplemental watering. Pots are particularly difficult in the summer months. You might notice them if they’re close to your front door, but if they’re farther away, you may not,” she says. “It’s just a good idea to pay more attention in the summer.”

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And, of course, for many residents another major gardening issue, regardless of the season — deer. On St. Simons Island, as well as other areas of the county, the creatures frequently venture into yards to nibble on greenery. Kiger says that this can be a tricky issue to remedy.

“First, you never want to feed them because you won’t be able to get rid of them,” she says with a laugh. “But, my best advice for keeping them away is to do something with a smell and taste deterrent.

We have a product called Bobbex that is both. It has a smell and a peppery taste to it that they don’t like.”

It’s information like this that Kiger enjoys sharing with clients. She views it as an education process and a continuation of her teaching career.

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“I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years. I taught school for 10 years but I feel like I’m still teaching, I’m just teaching about plants and fungus and grass. It’s just a little different,” she says with a laugh.

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JU LY/AU GUS T 2020

39

St. Simons Island Beach Rentals

Julie Vaughn | Associate Broker, eXp Realty | Broker/Owner, SSIBR | c: 912.571.7451 40 o: 912.434.9964 G O L D E N I S LES | julievaughn70@gmail.com | 1759 Demere Rd., St. Simons Island

N AT U R E C O N N E CT I O N

The land in between WORDS BY LYDIA THOMPSON It isn’t such a bad thing for the Golden Isles to be left out of the TV conversation.

The more I thought about it. The more I liked the idea of living in the land in between. It is a nature-lover’s paradise.

Whether we want to be with people or to find the space to be alone, our islands are perfect. The idea of space is becoming more critical as the world population grows and we crowd into every corner.

Before settling here, I traveled all over the United States. I choose the Golden Isles.

Why? Because of our habitat.

In 2018, the Georgia Coast became the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network’s (WHSNR) 100th Landscape of Global Importance. We joined places all up and down the western hemisphere as a place for wild birds. We have rare birds in every season — endangered piping plovers in the winter, red knots, whimbrels, and other migrants in the spring and fall. In the summer, we have least terns, Wilson’s plovers and American oystercatchers nesting here. Every season, the Georgia Coast is vital to the birds.

O

Our coast is a wild space in a tame world. When a hurricane is heading for the Georgia coast, the Weather Channel rarely mentions us. It is Jacksonville and Charleston. Every once in a while, the stations will remember that Savan

nah is somewhere in between. Dorian threatened us last year. At the Jekyll Island Guest Information Center, we had DirecTV and the Weather Channel focused on Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and Charlestown, South Carolina.

When it looked like Dorian was headed toward us, they mentioned Tybee Island, but they said Tybee Island, Florida.

(What? Tybee is the northernmost barrier island on the Georgia Coast.) Even the Savannah station doesn’t talk about us.

That station talks about Jesup and the South Carolina Low Country.

“Oh well,” I laughed. “We are the land in between … and we have The Brunswick News to keep us informed.”

These birds are using our coast. Just like the birds, we live here. We have the room to breathe, to move, and to live, so do these birds. For years, people avoided the coast. It had miles of soggy marshes before you could get to the shoreline. The Atlantic Ocean slowly rolled onto this shoreline. There were no wild waves to surf, plus the water is a milky brown. All of these landscapes slowed the influx of people.

There is another reason it isn’t overbuilt.

These Golden Isles were the playground for the super-rich. They liked the isolation — to be able to get away from the clamoring world of people. It is the same today. We come because we can leave the world behind and rest. So, when the next storm comes and it will — it doesn’t matter if we are not in the televised weather reports. We have our treasured Georgia Coast for the nature lovers. And the birds have a safe place to live. It not so bad being the land in between.

JU LY/AU GUS T 2020

41

D I G R E S S I O N S O F A D I L ET TA N T E people, the people who occupy it, who love its diversity, who understand its rhythms, who can discern its mysteries and unlock its unseen secrets.

There is the magical leisure of the sea, the mystical tranquility of the marshes, the solitude of fishing, the teeming estuaries and the historical sites of ages past. Many love these lands.

But there are other lands, wild lands, lands of palmetto hammocks, black-water rivers, green-water cypress swamps, thickets of vines and briars, and forests canopied with ancient live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Fewer yet love these lands.

The land we love … a mosaic

R

Red meat and a hungry hawk … nature, wild, bloody tooth, and nail.

The red-tailed hawk’s black talons gripped the thick leather glove on the falconer’s forearm. Its luminous eyes blazed with intensity on the slab of red meat in his handler’s hand. The hawk’s

42

G O L D E N I S LES

WORDS BY BUD HEARN hunger transcended its natural fear of humans, and in these brief moments, the man and bird bonded.

Ah, yes, love. We love what we love.

Who can figure it out? We can’t even explain it to ourselves. Our natures are hot-wired with primal impulses, proclivities, and inbred intuitions. Weird wiring, indeed.

A vagrant spirit blows through us, “calling” us for this or for that. There are calls of the sea, the mountains, the forests, deserts, the frontiers. We feel it, but living it explains it. And along Georgia’s Coastal plain are diversities of lands to love.

It’s hard to separate the land from its

It’s a crisp spring morning. I stand gazing into a tableau of ancient oaks. The dappled sunlight dances on the forest floor making it appear alive. Nothing else moves. It is from this milieu that Wes Schlosser emerges, his red-tailed hawk riding majestically on his gloved forearm and Rambo, his Patterdale terrier at his heels.

I’ve come at his invitation, to fuel my curiosity about hunting with dogs and hawks in Georgia’s back woods.

Wes is an apprentice falconer, but a master trainer of hunting dogs and other breeds. He has the “whisperer” mystique, the talent to bond with both dogs and hawks. He trains them to hunt together. A delicate balance.

“How are the woods today, Wes?” “Alive like always. Nature is heavy-breathing today.” He is referring to humidity.

“The hawk seems calm.”

“Yeah, sleepy, like we get when we’re over-served. Want to hold him?”

I cautiously slip on the glove. The hawk’s talons tighten on my forearm.

It glares through me with ominous eyes that suggest I’m its next meal. Interlopers are tasty.

“What encouraged you to train hawks to hunt?”

“It’s a calling, I guess. I like challenges.

I’ve trained dogs since I was a teenager. I wondered if I could bond with a hawk. Somehow it works. It’s patience and food. Food builds the bond. Patience calms the fear. They see me as something benevolent, not a threat.”

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“How do you get them to hunt with dogs?”

“Hawks are natural born hunters. It’s inbred. It’s all about survival. Hawks prey on small critters, mostly squirrels, rabbits, and mice. I let the squirrel dogs loose; they tree squirrels and then I set the hawk free.

Hawks can detect the slightest movement at great distances. They have telescopic eyesight. The rest is up to the hawk. It gets excited. It soon learns the process.”

“Can hawks distinguish human voices?”

“Yes. Interestingly, their eyes control their thoughts. If they get stressed, I put the hood on. They calm down, go to sleep.”

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“You spend a lot of time in the woods, right? What are its secrets?”

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He laughs.

“Plenty, but you have to experience the woods to figure them out. Listen, when you set foot into the ocean or the woods, you don’t necessarily enter at the top of the food chain. Walking in the woods your senses become alert, alive, and you begin to relate to life differently. Like the Indians say, you have to look at things twice to see them.”

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“What are the joys of training hawks and dogs?”

“Teamwork. Like any sport, teamwork.

Plus, trained hawks can survive better when released back into the wild.

They’re trained killers. It’s all about survival.”

Wes puts the hawk back in its cote and we lean against the pickup and talk more about dogs, hawks and life.

He checks his watch. “Gotta get going.”

“Another training?”

“Yes, another challenge. A Great Dane that’s deaf.”

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M O N E Y TA L K S

The Fear Factor, You, and Your Money

Time. Sifting through the firehose of financial information spewed out in times of financial upheaval is a full-time job. As is avoiding the “small deviations that can become big ones,” seen with our hikers wandering around in the woods.

Finding a financial planner who also provides investment advice yields a third and crucial value-add. When the fear factor is running rampant and you feel panic rising in your throat, it is probably because you find yourself asking the default question we all ask ourselves when fear wins out: “What is going to happen to me?” Your financial plan answers the question we all should be asking, which is, “what should I do?” Because when you pivot from “what’s going to happen to me” to “what do I do?,” you move back into the driver’s seat rather than assuming you’ll have to end up wherever the winds take you.

A

WORDS BY BY BEVERLY MCBRIDE

A recent Wired magazine article explores the irresistible drive to keep moving experienced by people lost in the forest. A 2009 experiment challenged people simply to walk in a straight line without deviating from it in two places without navigational clues: the Sahara Desert and a forest in Germany — not one pulled it off. The article notes, “Errors quickly accumulated, small deviations became large ones, and they ended up walking in circles.”

Fear is the worst enemy of prudent decision-making, but given free rein when it comes to your money, it wreaks havoc 100 percent of the time in exactly the same way as for those lost wanderers. You find yourself disoriented and possibly moving toward the very danger you’re trying to avoid.

Popular media has been fanning the

flames of fear for months concerning the coronavirus and its effect on the economy. The question here is not whether this pandemic will have significant negative results for America’s balance sheet; it’s how to navigate around the “fear factor” and walk in a financial straight line as those negative results play out. Getting through the financial forest we’re in without a clear, navigational financial plan is akin to walking through the wilderness without GPS. Fear will drive you off course every time.

So, how to navigate around the fear factor? Get a map. In my experience, crises such as the current pandemic shine a bright light on the value of financial planning in four distinct ways.

The first is easy. A financial advisor has access to more, better, and often less inflammatory information. While articles peddled to advisors can contain their fair share of hysterical click-bait, many look at boots on the ground data rather than some media outlet’s self-serving spin on that data. News aimed at the retail investor, i.e. you, is someone else’s take on what the data says. News aimed at your advisor likely contains the raw data itself. Can you dig some of this out for yourself? Sure. But that brings us to our second reason why a financial plan — and planner — are so valuable.

Since a good financial plan is built for a range of investment rises and falls, your best bet usually is to fasten your seatbelt and stay the course when the market gets choppy; you’ve planned for this. When I-95 is backed up, you may hop onto Highway 17 for a bit, but you continue forward in your original direction. In the same way, when we hit uncharted waters such as the unprecedented voluntary shut-down of our economy sparked by Covid-19, your investment manager/planner may employ tactical measures to adjust course for the duration and then steer you back to your original route.

The last value is the most ephemeral, but study after study done by the financial services industry repeatedly find that it is the most looked-for element by advisor clients: Coaching. From Portfolios to People, published by the Vanguard Group in 2018, concluded that “focusing on behavioral coaching … helping clients adhere to their long-term plans … (is) the greatest potential value” advisors add. Why? The fear factor.

Uncertainty slams you with the almost irresistible urge to move, even when you don’t have the answer to “what do I do?” Before you start running in circles, get thyself to a financial planner.

Beverly A McBride, CDFA, is president of Crew Financial Collective, 400 Main Street, Cottage 5, St. Simons Island. For more information, call 912-268-2176 or visit www.welcometocrew.com.

Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, member FINRA/ SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed Insurance products and services offered through Crew Financial Collective.

JU LY/AU GUS T 2020

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GAME CHANGERS

Eight Ball In the corner pocket

ble like Kasparov plotting his next move on the queen. He proceeds to sink four straight shots, tapping in the last one with a finesse that leaves the cue ball on a side rail behind the striped 10 ball.

And me with no clear shot.

“Pool is like a physical game of chess,” Hoyt explained. “Once you get to the level where everybody can make any shot, you’ve got to figure out a different way to win than just knocking the balls in.”

I’m nowhere near that league, but Hoyt sure as heck is. The McIntosh County native has twice competed in the American Poolplayers Association’s World Championship in Las Vegas.

Most recently, Hoyt and sister, Amber, teamed up to place 63rd out of 640 teams in doubles competition there.

Brother Matt Hoyt also competed in last year’s world championship.

C

WORDS BY LARRY HOBBS | PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

Crack!

Sharp, crisp, and ephemeral — like a bullwhip.

The colorful balls scatter pell-mell across the smooth table, only to ricochet off the padded rails and collide again with each other. One ball disap-

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pears down a corner pocket. The rest continue to knock about until time and energy recede, leaving a scattering of balls in motionless position across the green felt expanse.

That is what happens when the greenchalked tip of the tapered cue stick smacks that heavy white ball with precision force and authority, sending it on a tight trajectory into the pyramid of solid and striped balls at the other end.

That is what happens after you say, “rack ‘em up,” to a bona fide billiards player William “Will” Hoyt.

“Looks like you’re stripes,” I said to him during a friendly game of pool at Bardelous in downtown Brunswick.

Hoyt nodded affably, studying the ta-

To earn a spot in the championship, they had to win their APA regionals. The local APA region encompasses Brunswick, Valdosta, Darien, and Jesup, he said. The APA covered the expenses of flying them out there and putting them up in a Vegas hotel for a week.

“If you have a knack for it and you’re looking for something challenging to do, pool’s a good choice,” said Hoyt, 31. “It engages your mind constantly.

There’s not a part of pool that’s not fully engaging your mind.”

Folks of the engaging sort can try their hand at pool around here at places like Bardelous, 1412 Newcastle St., and at Side Pokkets in the Glynn Place Mall.

Side Pokkets is Hoyt’s place, so named because another pool hall already has dibs on the correct spelling of pockets.

Hoyt still holds his day job with McIntosh Heating and Cooling, but Side Pokkets has developed a growing crowd of regulars since opening last July.

If you are nostalgic for pool tables in smoky bars where guys named “Spider” come at you with the business

end of a cue stick for sharking them, Side Pokkets and Bardelous are definitely not your type of pool hall. Side Pokkets features nine professional pool tables, as well as darts and other challenging distractions in a “clean, vibrant atmosphere.” Bardelous has three pool tables, darts, board games, cards, and “absolutely no TV.” Food and snacks are available. Craft beers, imports and wine are about as edgy as it gets at these pool joints.

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“It’s good, clean fun,” Hoyt said. “It’s a family atmosphere, definitely.”

Suddenly, Hoyt is staring down a shot on the 9 ball while thinking ahead to a winning position on the 8 ball. My only defense is the obstacle course created by the five balls I have remaining on the table. The 9 ball drops, but Will is already looking ahead to the cue ball as it glides to a halt in perfect position to sink the 8 ball, side pocket.

“Geometry is 100 percent your friend in this game,” Hoyt explained. “Knowing your angles. And you have to be able to run numbers in your head. You have to adjust speed to the angles because the angle changes.”

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And then the 8-ball drops in the side pocket.

“Wanna play again?” I asked.

“Rack ‘em up,” he said.

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Beverly A. McBride, CDFA 912.268.2176 www.welcometocrew.com 400 Main St Cottage 5, St. Simons Island Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network®, a Registered Investment Adviser, member FINRA/SIPC. Fixed insurance products and services offered through Crew Financial Collective

JU LY/AU GUS T 2020

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THE DISH Amity House. They are wonderful organizations,” he says, seating himself at the bistro’s bar.

When he’s not giving back, Ouimet can often be found at one of his two businesses, where he shares his love of bold flavor. It’s a passion he began to cultivate decades ago when he decided to make creating food his profession, signing on for culinary school in Colorado.

From there, he went on to traverse the country — working at a club in New Jersey, then down to Florida to open a restaurant.

“I started to get burned out working 100 hours a week and a buddy I had just got a job at Sea Island. So I decided to interview ... and I got the position,” Ouimet says.

picture-perfect meal at Bistro Eleven 88

D

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTO BY BOBBY HAVEN

David Ouimet seared the fish in the pan, turning up the heat as the meat sizzled. With a practiced eye, he watched as the transformation from “not quite” to “just right” took place.

At that precise moment, he scooped the fillet from the flame and whisked it onto a plate. He gently placed it on a

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waiting bed of rice, arranging the dish on a table in Bistro Eleven 88.

It’s not just the picture-perfect meal that showcases Ouimet’s skill. It was on display — literally — throughout the room. The walls were papered with awards nabbed at local culinary events like Taste of Glynn and the Shrimp and Grits Festival.

Ouimet, who also owns Purple Sage Catering, says the company is always thrilled to participate in community events for good causes.

“We love doing it. We especially love Taste of Glynn since it benefits the Glynn Community Crisis Center and

He worked at the private resort for eight years, soaking up all the knowledge he could from the talented chefs there. One of his specialities was creating ice carvings around the holidays.

“That was great. I miss doing that,” he says with a laugh.

But, he has plenty to keep him occupied these days. There’s the restaurant, located at 1188 Chapel Crossing Road in Brunswick, where he welcomes diners, many of whom are students at the nearby Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).

“We have salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Everything is made fresh and is locally sourced where we can,” he says.

In addition to serving lunch — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday — there’s the catering operation, Purple Sage, on the weekends. Ouimet and his team are always busy with weddings and other celebrations like bah mitzvahs and birthdays.

And while the pandemic certainly put a damper on those this spring, he’s looking forward to moving past it.

“We’re excited to get back to work and for other people to get back to work ... back to work, and hungry,” he says with a laugh.

Grilled salmon with peaches, coconut rice and curry sauce INGREDIENTS: FOR THE SALMON: 8 oz fresh salmon 5 each fresh Shishito peppers ½ cup small cherry tomatoes FOR THE CURRY SAUCE: 1 cup Gochujang 3 tablespoon olive oil ½ sweet onion, diced 3 inches fresh ginger root, peeled and finely diced 10 cloves black garlic, chopped ½ cup Tamari 1 tablespoon of fish sauce 1 tablespoon of lime juice 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ½ cup palm sugar

Heat a sauté pan over moderately high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil.

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PREPARATION Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add onion and sweat until translucent. Add ginger and sweat for another minute, or until the ginger becomes soft. Add black garlic and Gochujang. Stir to combine; cook for several minutes to allow flavors to mix. Add smoked paprika, palm sugar, fish sauce, Tamari, and lime juice and stir. When mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat and puree with immersion blender until smooth.

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FOR THE COCONUT RICE: 2 cups jasmine rice 2 cans coconut milk (13.66 oz cans, not lite) 1 ¾ cup coconut water 1 tablespoon coconut oil Pinch salt 2 each peaches, grilled and diced Chiffonade 1 sprig fresh basil leaves PREPARATION Combine all ingredients, but peaches and basil in a saucepan, bring to a boil then reduce to barely simmering.

Cook for about 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Fold in peaches and basil. To serve, portion about 2/3 of a cup of rice in the center of a plate. Arrange the blistered peppers and tomatoes around the rice and place the salmon on top, glazed side up. Serve with additional Gochujang curry glaze.

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WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN KRIVEC, JILLISA MILNER, AND TERESA JONES

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“My father gifted me a Canon AE1 35mm camera when I was 16 years old. I’d always been into some form of art, but this was my stepping stone into the world of photography,” Jones says.

“Here it is 25 years later, and it’s honestly my biggest passion. I love so many different things about photography … you’re freezing a moment in time, capturing a memory. I’ve told many people over the years that I capture everything I can so that I never forget anything.”

As she’s collected those memories, she’s also continued to hone her craft, expanding into a

Photo by John Krivec

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eresa Jones has always been drawn to creating, so naturally, the arts have held a particular interest for her. But when she received her first camera, a new world emerged.

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“My father gifted me a Canon AE1 35mm camera when I was 16 years old.

I’d always been into some form of art, but this was my stepping stone into the world of photography.” - Teresa Jones

variety of areas. There’s something about nature that proves to be a particular draw.

Like many photographers, Jones, who operates Gypsy Wild Photography, often takes early morning strolls along the Isles’ beaches, waiting for that first glimpse of dawn.

But, in an unconventional twist, she also shoots beachscapes at night. A friend who also enjoys the art form walked her through the basics, and the results are simply stunning. The darkness provides a rare opportunity to see the cosmos in all of its glory — from full moons to the expanse of the Milky Way galaxy.

True to form, Jones wanted to capture that beauty — but that can be a tricky task.

“I am absolutely fascinated by the sky, especially the night sky. What I like the most about them is the ability to capture a scene that’s hard to see with the naked eye. It’s as if I’ve captured a whole other world,” she says.

The technique also connects on a deeply personal level. Summer stars and moonlight bring back memories of her childhood.

“The biggest thing for me that makes them so special is the memories I have about my paternal grandfather. He’s the inspiration in my night photography. At around the age of 10, he woke me from my sleep in the very early hours of a summer morning,” Jones says.

“He loaded me into his truck and drove us to a field way behind their house away from the city lights. All of this, to show me an incredible meteor shower. The love I have for the sky and the night only multiplied tenfold.”

Jillisa Hope Milner shares that love. The owner of Wings Open Photography started capturing the sky after participating in a program that outlined the method.

Photo by Teresa Jones

JU LY/AU GUS T 2020

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“We are so fortunate to live in a place where it’s possible to photograph the night sky. People who live in big cities can’t get Milky Way shots like this due to light pollution,” - Jillisa Milner

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“I took a night sky photography workshop in 2016 with the photographer Mark Buckler and I immediately fell in love with the magic of it. For me, gazing at and photographing the stars always helps remind me that we are just a little part of a big, wide universe,” she says.

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“Problems and worries always seem much less significant when I gaze at the vastness of space. I also love that the camera can capture even more than the human eye can see — it allows us to see more deeply into the universe around us.”

Milner says that shooting with a shutter speed of 18 to 25 seconds allows the camera to capture all the light the stars emit.

“That’s why it looks even more dramatic. Our eyes see light moment to moment. The camera can capture light across many seconds, or minutes even,” she says.

But there are multiple factors that make these shoots difficult. First off, one must be very comfortable with his or her camera — and it must be a pretty high-tech instrument.

Among other techniques, photographers shoot with specific lenses and in manual-focus mode. Milner adds that one also has to be aware of the celestial movements.

“You can’t just pop out on any night with any camera and get a great Milky Way shot. It has to be the right time of year — about April through September for our area — and you have to know the weather, what phase the moon is in, when the moon will rise and set, and when and where you can see the galactic center of the Milky Way — that’s the thick, beautiful band of stars most people are eager to photograph,” she says.

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“The galactic center rises and sets just like the sun and the moon, so it takes some planning and some luck to get all the conditions to align. It often means being out with your camera between 1 and 4 a.m. I use an app called the Photographers’ Ephemeris to track the best times based on any given location.”

When one gets that perfect shot — all of the planning, effort, and sand gnat bites are worth it. Milner points to the image of a shooting star taken on Cumberland Island as evidence.

“One of my favorite photos is from Cumberland Island, taken while I was camping there during a Perseid meteor shower,” she says.

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“I was on the beach doing time-lapse photography, which involves taking hundreds of photos over the span of hours. I was so lucky to have one of those hundreds be at the perfect moment to capture this shooting star.”

From capturing shimmering celestial bodies over the ocean to tropical maritime forests and sweeping marsh vistas, the land of the Golden Isles offers an unending source of artistic inspiration.

“We are so fortunate to live in a place where it’s possible to photograph the night sky. People who live in big cities can’t get Milky Way shots like this due to light pollution,” Milner says.

“These photos show us a little more about the nature of our area — literally, where we are in the universe. And through these photos, we get to explore the beauty of our coast during the hours when most of us are asleep.”

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Nature’s Majesty : T h e b e a u t y o f G o l d e n I s l e s’ wat e r ways

A

But all was calm ahead. The water before him was as still as glass, reflecting the azure of the sky and the swaying sage of the marsh grass. His keen eyes scanned the horizon, looking for the telltale signs of the wildlife he’s come to know so well. Egrets and herons, dolphins and manatees — as someone who has spent his entire life on the Golden Isles’ waterways, spotting them has become second nature.

Of course, there’s one that the Glynn County native sees less frequently — alligators.

“The gators here get big and big gators don’t get that way by being seen,” he says with a smile.

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Photo by Parker Alexander

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOGRAPHS BY PARKER ALEXANDER/EMP IRE SKY PHOTOGRAPHY AND BOBBY HAVEN

swift salty breeze swept through the vintage Boston Whaler. But Michael Gowen was quick, zipping a hand to keep his booney hat on his head.

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Even though it’s something he does every day, the majesty and beauty never grow old for Gowen, who has parlayed this passion into a profession. He co-owns Southeast Adventure Outfitters with Cindy Dennard. The business, which offers everything from kayak tours to stand up paddle boarding to boating tours, has been open since 1994.

But Gowen’s experiences along the coastal waterways began much earlier.

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“My family and my extended family always had interests on the coast. One of my jokes is that my DNA is well-engrained in the food chain,” he says with a laugh. “And it’s true, especially up in McIntosh County. But doing this, starting back when I was a kid, it was a way to follow my passion.”

Over the years, the intricate system of trails and tributaries have become an integral part of his life, and sharing these otherwise unseen areas offers tourists and locals a perspective that they’d never see otherwise.

“My go-to line is: ‘Coastal Georgia has a huge trail system it’s just all wet.’ Our kayaks and powerboats are our boots, backpacks, and bikes for exploration. I also say you could go every day and never see it all,” he says.

“There’s over 2,500 miles of interconnected waterways just within our coast. It’s pretty amazing. The great majority of our coast and barrier islands are undeveloped which is unique for the Eastern seaboard.”

Gowen’s family also owns Village Creek Landing, which offers an event space, and Southeast Adventure leases the dock as an outpost for water-based activities. Regardless of which method he is sharing, he’s grateful to offer a peek at the unrivaled beauty of Coastal Georgia.

“I love it when we have grandparents and grandkids. I always snap pictures of them along the way and email them back,” the skilled photographer shares.

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Like Gowen, Sam Ghioto also relishes the magic of the area’s waterways. The St. Simons Island native didn’t truly begin taking advantage of the beauty of his homeland until he began working at Southeast Adventure Outfitters.

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explorers welcome Take a trip back in time and experience the rich cultural and natural history of Georgia’s most intriguing barrier island. Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum features in-depth interactive exhibits, stunning visuals and audio, and a new take on the island’s fascinating history.

Mosaic offers a variety of tours and programming for the whole family.

Hop on an open-air tram tour through the Historic District, or take a guided bike ride to Horton House. At Mosaic, there’s something for everyone to discover.

Learn more at jekyllisland.com/mosaic.

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100 Stable Road, in Jekyll Island’s Historic District • 9 12. 6 35 . 4 036

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“I started working (there) as a kayak tour guide last May. A few months before joining the crew, it dawned on me that I have not taken advantage of exploring our unique and beautiful ecosystem, although I have lived on St. Simons Island my entire life and have gone boating with my dad,” Ghioto says.

“So, I began running tours and learned a lot. On top of kayaking, I did a couple paddleboard tours. What I enjoy most about paddleboarding is finding the flow of the moment.”

As the water moves beneath his board, Ghioto feels a sense of balance and peace that can rarely be found anywhere else.

Photo by Parker Alexander

“That’s when nothing else seems to matter. Whenever I’m out paddle boarding or paddlesurfing, I soak in the sun and breathe in the salt air. I become very mindful of my surroundings because the ocean is so expansive and can be very powerful,” he says.

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Paddleboarding also allows a deeper connection to the ocean and its inhabitants, as there is little buffer between the participant and the sea.

“It’s definitely humbling because you’re subject to the tide and the wind. I prefer the challenging days that test my capabilities in the surf.

When the conditions are rough, it makes everything seem so small in comparison,” Ghioto says.

“It’s always magical when you’re sitting in the surf, waiting for a wave, and a dolphin surfaces. If you listen closely, you can hear them breathe before you see them. When one gets close enough, I can see their eyes, and I know that I’m looking into another soul.”

Captain Phillip Kempton also loves the way the sea and surf offer an escape from the trappings of daily life. A lifelong boater, Kempton moved to the area after retiring as a project manager from BellSouth in the early 2000s.

“I initially wanted to be a fishing guide ... I’ve owned over 20 boats in my life. After I got my license and started taking people out, I discovered that’s really not what I wanted to do,” Kempton says.

Instead, he spoke with Cap Fendig, whose family has operated a local tour businesses for decades.

Fendig offered him a position as a first mate as he worked toward his master’s license.

“I told him that I’d have to go home and pray about it and Cap called me when I was in the parking lot. He said his wife had heard me say that and she really wanted me to come work for them,” he says.

So, he did. Eventually, Kempton teamed up with Capt. John McCleskey to purchase Fendig’s Jekyll Island-based tour business. Housed at the wharf in the historic district, Jekyll Island Dolphin Tours offers a number of excursions, including private tours for families.

For Kempton, the waterways of the Golden Isles provide an escape unlike any other.

“We had originally looked at moving to Destin, Florida, but we went down there and there are just boats everywhere. You can barely move,” he says. “Then we came here. You can be out on the water all day and never see another boat.

And it’s so pretty. I tell people that I’ll never live anywhere without palm trees and pelicans.”

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Together:

The community steps up to care for one another during the pandemic WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON AND LAUREN MCDONALD | PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

T

he coronavirus pandemic shook the world to its core, causing staggering death tolls and heart-wrenching scenarios — families having to bid farewell to their loved ones via video chat and foregoing funerals due to the risk they posed.

It also brought daily activities to a screeching halt. Healthcare workers and frontline heroes from doctors and nurses to grocery store workers stepped up to battle the virus.

Citizens did their part too, from dusting off sewing machines to create personal protection equipment to fundraising to saluting teachers and seniors whose school year was cut short.

As always, the Golden Isles community was more than willing to do its part to lend a hand. Here are just a few of the ways that we joined together during this crisis:

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THE MASK MAKERS When the alarm was raised over the lack of personal protection equipment for critical workers, countless individuals sat down at sewing machines to answer the call. Locally, individuals and groups immediately mobilized, cranking out masks on an massive level. Business owners like Auret Cavedo, co-owner of Island Drapes and Upholstery, joined the cause, partnering with Glynn County Community Development for more than 2,000 masks and donated those to the health system, as well. Beverly McBride, a financial analyst, also fired up her machine to make masks for anyone in need.

Groups, too, formed to tackle large-scale projects. One of the these, the Banditas!, included more than 50 men

(Banditos) and women who churned out hundreds of masks for groups like FaithWorks, St. Marks Towers, Safe Harbor, the Salvation Army, and local firehouses. They even whipped up 150 to be sent to sea with a submarine crew departing from Kings Bay in Camden County.

SERVING THE SERVERS

The Firebox Initiative was born out of a tragedy — a blaze that engulfed local hot spot, Southern Soul, in 2010. Co-owners Griffin Bufkin and Harrison Sapp were supported fully by the community who rallied around the business and helped them rebuild. To show their gratitude, they founded the Firebox Initiative, a 501c3 nonprofit modeled after the Giving Kitchen in Atlanta.

The organization raises funds to distribute to service industry workers — waiters, waitresses, and cooks — who have fallen on hard times. With the closing of restaurants due to the coronavirus, Firebox stepped up to donate more than $100,000 to area workers impacted by the pandemic.

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For children, the coronoavirus posed an entirely different set of challenges. They were shifted into homeschooling mode and were restricted from holding playdates with friends. But as families sheltered-in-place, only able to leave homes for essential outings, a curious thing began to happen. Furry faces of stuffed animals began appearing in windows throughout the Isles, forming a virtual safari for children.

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Another way children’s spirits were lifted came in the form of drive-by parades designed to celebrate birthdays and special events when friends couldn’t gather together.

While seemingly small, it helped to bring countless smiles to tiny faces in the midst of great uncertainty and change.

INSTILLING HOPE AND LIFTING SPIRITS

With churches forced to shutter their doors, services quickly moved online. The faithful met through YouTube and in Zoom meetings to keep their souls strong in the midst of such trying times.

Religious organizations also kept their missions moving, boxing food for the needy and holding drive-through or virtual communion.

The arts community too has looked to buoy spirits. Glynn Visual Arts on St. Simons Island erected a Wishing Wall where community members could attach their hopes, prayers, and mementos to inspire others.

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FEEDING THE HUNGRY

As jobs were cut and schools forced to close, many across the Golden Isles began to worry about those who may go without one of life’s basic necessities — food. Numerous community members responded immediately, though, to ensure that daily meals were made available to residents of all ages.

Staff at Glynn County Schools and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Georgia quickly organized daily food distributions for local children, many of who rely on school for breakfast and lunch every day.

America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia hosted massive food drives that served thousands of Glynn County residents, some of who would arrive hours before the distribution events began to secure a spot in line.

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Individuals and business owners with limited means but big hearts, such as Lady K’s Kitchen owner Kristie Cameron, began preparing meals to serve the community. Cameron turned her soul food restaurant into a meal distribution center for the children in her neighborhood in Brunswick. Within weeks, she was serving around 700 children a day.

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SALUTING THE SENIORS COVID-19 canceled many highly anticipated events, but among the most painful experiences lost to the pandemic were high school and college graduations.

Students put in years of work in the classroom while looking forward to the day they’ll turn their tassel on a graduation stage.

The pandemic canceled many treasured end-of-year events in schools, including proms, commencement ceremonies, and other festivities planned for seniors.

The community stepped up, though, to celebrate the accomplishments of local seniors and to showcase pride for the class of 2020.

Award ceremonies were reorganized so that seniors receiving scholarships and honors could still have their moment to shine.

Businesses advertised their support for local seniors. And local schools and the College of Coastal Georgia planned for postponed ceremonies to honor their seniors.

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Downtown Brunswick A Wanderer’s Destination theatre stunning marina

revamped library

majestic marsh view

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our favorite farmer’s market

murals hiding everywhere

dog friendly parks

a brewery, winery, & distillery

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live music and events

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WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GORDON JACKSON | PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN The historic flare of downtown Brunswick’s shops, restaurants, cultural venues, and offices have shaped the landscape for years, providing a steady foundation for the retail district.

But there’s long been a collective hope for more growth. And it looks like the area is on the cusp of an exciting rebirth.

Several local entrepreneurs are working to

answer that call. Longtime Glynn County residents, the Torras family, plan to expand offerings at the downtown marina.

New faces have also stepped up — a father-son team from Cleveland, Jim and Michael Kaufman, started buying properties in 2017. They opened the Wick on Newcastle Street three years ago, the Wick 2.0 on F Street, and lastly, and Wick 3.0 on Gloucester Street, offering 100 office spaces combined.

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“We really want to do something that is eye-catching and beautiful, but that also keeps the historic feel of the Kress building,”

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Stephen Prince and his daughter, Courtney, from Nashville, Tenn., saw the potential of the city’s downtown district.

They are the owners of the Suntrust Bank building on Gloucester Street and the old Gould Ford Building on Newcastle Street.

They plan to build apartments and lofts on the upper floor and have already started leasing office space on the lower level.

Another Nashville native, Bill Bernstein, is the new owner of the Zell Building on Gloucester Street and recently opened Bardelous, a restaurant and family game venue, on storefront property he owns on Newcastle Street.

He is currently planning a farmer’s market in the former Piddler’s Antique on the corner of MLK and Gloucester Street.

More recently, other individuals and families stepped-up to the plate and are working together to help revitalize Brunswick.

Here are just a few of those:

A Glynn county native and former Marine turned Charleston developer, McGraw purchased the Kress Building along Newcastle Street. His plan is to offer commercial space on the ground floor, condominiums on the second level, and a restaurant, and rooftop bar on the third.

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“We think it will be pretty unique. We’re working with a local business owner who wants to put in a fitness center with a rock climbing wall and yoga studio on the bottom floor,” he says.

“Then we have nine condos on the next level, which have already received a ton of interest. On the roof, we are working with a restaurant owner from St. Simons Island for a bar and rooftop restaurant.”

While updating and repurposing, McGraw is working to keep the historic building’s character intact as they modernize the property.

“We really want to do something that is eye-catching and beautiful, but that also keeps the historic feel of the Kress building,” he says.

McGraw hopes that the project is completed by fall of 2021, but concedes that construction is always difficult to predict.

He’s hoping that the result will prove another positive piece to the downtown revitalization effort. And he’s glad to see the momentum the area has gained. In addition to the Kress project, he’s also purchased the former Antiques Etc. building on Newcastle Street.

While plans are not set in stone, he envisions more living space and potentially a coffee shop.

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“I envision approximately 50 rental units over ground level commercial space. Potentially, a coffee shop and large lobby space for the community to utilize to study and meet with clients,” he says.

For McGraw, these are much more than business ventures. They’re stepping stones to help reinvigorate his hometown.

“I was born and raised here. I graduated from Glynn Academy and it always made me sad going through the downtown area because I’ve always thought it had so much potential. I’m just trying to help,” McGraw says.

The Piazzas “You’ve got the Molines and the Coyles at the brewery, Tommy McGraw, the Kaufmans and the Princes … there are so many people doing great things downtown.”

Like the other young entrepreneurs, Elizabeth and Brad Piazza see a wealth of possibilities in downtown Brunswick. The couple, originally from the Northeast, decided to relocate to the Georgia Coast a few years back, searching for a better quality of life and place to raise a family.

“My great-grandparents honeymooned at The Cloister when it first opened and later my grandparents lived on Sea Island, so we would come visit,” Elizabeth says.

“It was always a home away from home for my family — I was here any chance I could growing up — beyond those happy memories of my childhood, Brad and I were married here in 2013, and so it was very much a special place for us from the start.”

Brad also had a connection to the city — his grandfather was a merchant marine and ported in Brunswick returning home from World War II. “Brad was blown away when we drove into Brunswick on the way to visit my Nana for his first time in 2012 and he realized this was the same Brunswick his grandfather had mentioned,” Elizabeth said.

“It felt like fate in so many ways, to have two very important role models in our lives, our grandmother and grandfather, somehow sharing in this special connection leading us on our journey forward.”

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“I don’t think that we would have made it without the encouragement from the community and other business owners. The support has meant so much to us.”

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When the couple moved themselves, they started looking for opportunities to contribute to the community. Elizabeth, an art adviser and appraiser, opened an art gallery in Redfern Village, The Art House.

Our customer service is worth the trip to historic downtown!

But they were also drawn to the downtown area.

To Brad, a real estate developer and investor, one building in particular stood out — the Leotis Building. Constructed in 1940, the two-story structure faces Bay Street and was originally a wholesale grocery store.

Rich in history, the building features a barrel roof, heart pine floors, which created an ideal loft space. It was also held within same family for over 60 years.

The Piazzas’ company Port City Partners has tapped the building for luxury condominiums. They are planning 12 apartments in all: nine studios, one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom floor plans.

“We are going to have some balcony space so you can see Mary Ross and the waterfront. We also want to do some common areas downstairs,” Brad adds, pointing toward the windows.

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“There’s the original antique elevator that‘s no longer in service but is an amazing architectural element and so we plan to use it as a showcase for a unique light or art installation upstairs,” “And we would love to do a gallery space with a coffee bar for residents downstairs,” Elizabeth says.

The two also own more properties on the 1300 block of Newcastle and on Gloucester, across from Howard Coffin Park. They are charged by the energy of all the ideas and unveilings happening in the area.

“You’ve got the Molines and the Coyles at the brewery, Tommy McGraw, the Kaufmans and the Princes … there are so many people doing great things downtown,” Brad says. “It’s great to see these people come from all over and work together to help the downtown area really realize the potential of downtown Brunswick.”

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While the group knows better than to set a formal opening date in print, they are optimistic enough to say it’s within sight.

“Soon … that’s what I’m allowed to say,” Ally says with a grin.

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Chris and Ally Moline Jeff Coyle and Kevin Coyle Silver Bluff Brewing Co.

E S TA B L I S H E D 1 9 8 7

From the looks of it, it seems very likely. The tap room is polished, outfitted with handcrafted wooden tables and enormous wrought iron chandeliers.

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“I believe those came from the original Cloister,” she says, gesturing to the fixtures. “All of the wood came from trees that fell in downtown.”

On the right of the room, the shiny metal of the brewery is fully visible through a glass wall.

The bar itself will offer additional seating and a selection of brews.

“We have 24 taps, which will include two nitros,” she says. “We will also offered bottled beer to go.”

To the left of the taproom, there’s a wall of windows that peep out over the beer garden and adjacent building which the partners also own. They orginally intended to house the brewery there, but for a myriad of reasons had to construct a new building instead.

Still, she is glad customers will be able to see the historic structure’s exterior while sipping their brews.

“We were told that it was originally a brothel when the liberty ships were being built. You can still see the outline of the fireplaces,” she says, pointing to the brick facade. “I think the downstairs space was an apothecary.”

They’re in the process of refurbishing it in order put up for sale.

Each day brings the group closer to seeing this dream realized.

It’s been quite a journey since announcing their plans back in 2017, but the support of their fellow entrepreneurs and the community as a whole has helped pull them through.

“It’s been long and frustrating, honestly. We had a lot of roadblocks that kept coming up,” she says with a smile. “I don’t think that we would have made it without the encouragement from the community and other business owners. The support has meant so much to us.”

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Hidden History of Jekyll Island

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Quietly legible on a third floor wall in Hollybourne Cottage, part of Jekyll Island’s historic district, is a pair of hand-drawn silhouettes that have gone unnoticed for decades.

The artists were daughters of two wealthy families who visited Jekyll annually during an era when the island served as an exclusive winter getaway for millionaires.

Taylor Davis, a historic preservationist for Jekyll Island Authority, has walked past these drawings on the wall more times than he can

count. But the silhouettes remained unseen by Jekyll staff until 2018, when a contractor’s grandson noticed the drawings, which according to a scribbled date on the wall were made in February 1902.

“We had walked past it how many tens of thousands of times and had never noticed it,” Davis says.

These drawings are a small, intimate piece in the rich tapestry of Jekyll Island history. Hidden gems like this can be found throughout the island’s historic district by anyone with a curiosity and a willingness to stop and look closely.

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A MYSTERIOUS DOOR Jekyll Island in the early 1900s was the winter vacation spot for several wellknown names in American history, including the Rockefellers, the Pulitzers, the Vanderbilts, and others.

“The history is the one that a lot of people more readily associate with Jekyll nowadays, is that millionaire’s club era history,” says Alexa Orndoff, JIA director of marketing and communications.

But a trip to Jekyll Island can reveal pieces of its history that few know, and some questions raised by these small details remain unanswered.

One such question is whether the front door into Villa Ospo, once the home of oil tycoon Walter Jennings, is actually as historic as it looks.

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“It is not a 1927 door,” Davis says.

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Jekyll staff have two theories. One is that it’s a mission door, found on an international trip. The other theory, though, raises even more questions. Some have speculated that the door was beaten by chains and scuffed up in 1927 to make it look older.

“This is one that we’re still in the process of trying to uncover its original history,” Orndoff says.

And the true story may forever remain a mystery, Davis adds.

“That door ain’t from around here, I’ll just say that,” he says.

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A HIDDEN ESCAPE During the island’s millionaire club era, Jekyll Island served as a playground for those who could afford the steep price of vacationing there. The island at that time was accessible only by boat, and families would transport not just their suitcases but also their vehicles, staff of servants, and all other accommodations to which they were accustomed.

Their cottage homes, many of which still stand today, were much smaller than the mansions they owned up north, but the families likely lacked few comforts.

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Almira Rockefeller, wife of businessman William Rockefeller, had a different sort of comfort in mind as her family

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renovated and expanded Indian Mound Cottage. Her priority was peace of mind.

Almira’s intense fear of dying in a house fire led her to insist that the cottage have escape routes, including a slide from the top-floor servants’ quarters and windows that swing open like doors from both her bedroom and what is presumed to be her children’s bedroom, allowing them to climb out onto the roof, shimmy around the building and climb down a garden trellis outside to safety on the ground.

“If a fire breaks out in one of these, you’ve got to get to the fire escapes very quickly,” Davis says, noting that construction materials for homes during this period could quickly catch fire and be destroyed.

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A LESS PICTURESQUE FEATURE Visitors to Faith Chapel, the oldest house of worship on Jekyll Island, are likely to notice the two colorful stained glass windows, one of which is signed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

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Distracted by these beautiful pieces of art, it’s possible to miss the grotesques (the term for an interior gargoyle) staring creepily from beams above the pews.

The original steeple on Faith Chapel, built in 1904, had to be replaced due to a leaking problem. The gargoyles perched on the exterior corners of the chapel roof once could have served their intended purpose of gargling water down their spouts. But these gargoyles are relatively new additions, as the originals have deteriorated and were replaced. With the new roof, gargoyles no longer had a purpose

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VISITORS TO FAITH CHAPEL, THE OLDEST HOUSE OF WORSHIP ON JEKYLL ISLAND, ARE LIKELY TO NOTICE TO THE TWO COLORFUL STAINED GLASS WINDOWS, ONE OF WHICH IS SIGNED BY LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY.

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to serve. Today, they simply add a gothic look to the historic structure.

Inside, the original grotesques are made of carved wood and come in a variety of shapes, including that of an eagle, a boar, a horse, and a dragon.

A DISCOVERED DRAWING The silhouettes are not the only time stamps of history sketched onto the walls of Hollybourne Cottage.

Merely feet away, lovebirds Pam and Bobby squeezed their names into an arrow-stricken heart, along with the date of Sept. 6, 1970.

Davis, noting that vandalism is not encouraged in or on any Jekyll Island location, pointed out that the pair snuck upstairs during a time when the house was not in use.

And the house itself, he says, is a gem of Georgia history. Visitors can immediately recognize that the house is structurally different than the island’s other cottages. The home was built in 1890 by well-known bridge builder Charles Steward Maurice, one of the first club members to move to the island.

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“You have this yankee bridge builder who comes down and falls in love with Jekyll, his wife does too, with the history and everything,” Davis says. “So he saw the Horton House ruins on the north end of the island, the colonial era structure, and he decides he wants to build his house of the same material.”

The house is set up today in a permanent state of restoration, to showcase how JIA staff preserve these structures. Davis is able to show visitors how Maurice incorporated elements of bridge design into the structure of his home. He used wooden trusses and long steel bolts that run from the ceiling of the first floor into the top of the truss on the third floor.

“Everything about this house, all these elements, speak to the quality of construction,” Davis says. “It’s not as flashy as many of the other houses, but it’s just such high quality.”

Davis has spent countless hours inside the cottage doing preservation work, yet even he was able discover a new historic gem recently. The drawn silhouettes upstairs had somehow remained a secret until 2018, as no archival documents or other information mentions their existence.

“We don’t believe that anyone else had recognized them or realized that these were here,” Orndoff says.

Emily Maurice, the daughter of Charles, is drawn alongside her friend Alice, another club member’s daughter. They also wrote a French poem beside their artwork.

“A volunteer’s sister-in-law is a French teacher and she read through it, and she said, ‘well, they definitely were learning French,’” Davis says.

It’s discoveries like this, Davis says, that help bring history to life in ways that are best understood through firsthand experience.

“There’ve been a lot of preservation efforts here since the mid- to late-1980s, so when you stumble on something that really wasn’t known about before, it’s really exciting,” he says. “I get to be a steward and find my place in this long line of people who’ve been seeing to these structures.”

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NOISEMAKERS

AARON LANE

A

WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY BOBBY HAVEN

Aaron Lane gazed down at his acoustic guitar, turning a tuning peg between his fingers. Clad in a wide brim hat, blazer, and crisp blue shirt, he emanated major Hank Williams vibes.

“Hopefully, this will help us forget about what’s going on … for a little bit anyway,” he says, before launching into a soulful rendition of Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.”

While Lane was playing his usual blend of “good” country music, and classic and alternative rock, this particular concert was anything but typical. Instead of being in front of a live audience, he was at home, live-streaming on Facebook from his own music room. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, it became a way to keep the music — and the artists — going.

“It’s been a little depressing, that’s for sure. It’s hard times for everybody … especially us starving artists,” Lane says.

Even so, he is grateful to be able to share the music, a love that the Waycross native comes by honestly.

“My dad played bluegrass and country, so I was around it a lot. But, I didn’t get into music until I started learning how to sing correctly in the 11th and 12th grades,” he says.

The guitar bit came about later, and in an unconventional way. He developed real-life musical skills via video games.

“I would always play those guitar games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero. I got to the point where I was

playing multiple guitar tracks and I would rope the microphone over the ceiling fan so I could sing too,” he says with a laugh.

“I got serious about figuring it out the summer I graduated, before I went to college. I downloaded this app that would teach you chords. Then, I started learning easy songs.”

Before too long, Lane had joined his brother in a band called the Red Bugs. True to their roots, the group did a lot of Southern rock, mixing in some classics along the way.

But the group broke up when its young members were pulled in different directions. For Lane, that was actually farther South, across the state line, into Florida.

“I moved to St. Petersberg, Fla., for about a year, where I fell on some hard times. I was actually playing on the street, but I got some really positive feedback,” he recalls. “I remember making like $100, which really helped, but it also gave me more confidence.”

It was this renewed sense of purpose mingled with his natural talent that landed Lane his first official gigs.

“A guy saw me playing on the street and asked me if I had enough to make a setlist so I could go play in his bar. I said ‘sure.’ I’ve been playing nonstop ever since,” he says.

In 2015, Lane moved back to Georgia and organized a new band — Electric Owl. The group, whose repertoire covers everything from Led Zeppelin

to Sam Cook to Cage the Elephant, became a favorite around the Golden Isles, performing at places like Mellow Mushroom on St. Simons Island and Moonshiners in Brunswick.

They also joined some familiar faces — like Them Vagabonds, Bonnie Blue — for the Swamptown Getdown in early March.

“That was right before all of the craziness went down, but it was great,” Lane says.

“We do a lot of different things, from bluesy stuff to modern stuff. We like to put our own sound to things. For instance, we do a really bluesy version of ‘Rocket Man.’” For that tune, he takes to the keyboard, another skill he has picked up over the years. He also rolls it out on his solo performances, as well. Lane can be found giving one man shows at Golden Isles Olive Oil on St. Simons and Toucan’s Alehouse in Brunswick.

“Solo, I do a lot of Paul Simon and James Taylor kind of stuff. It has that kind of feel,” he says. “I also do a lot of 90s country and then good stuff like Jason Isbell.”

But whether he’s on his own or with a group, Lane’s goal is to serve up some sweet tunes in his own folksy style.

“It is the best feeling in the world when someone takes time out of what they’re doing — eating, drinking, hanging out — to tell you that they enjoy your music,” he says.

“There’s nothing better.”

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bright spots Hunter, 8, ase, 6, from left, ily including Ch e stars in th r de un The Callaway fam ht nig having a special and Jack, 3, loved . rd their backya

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During the Covid-19 shutdown, 16-year-old Billy Buyan, a junior at Brunswick High School, starting taking flying lessons and completed his first solo flight and first solo cross-country flight. He follows a family tradition as his father and grandfather are also pilots. Billy, right, is pictured with his flight instructor Justin Clemmer of Savannah Aviation Flight School. Â

bright spots

cross country team, Glynn Academy, the Coach Rooks from a 2.23 mile run in in ted mbers participa and past team me Arbery. resident Ahmaud honor of Brunswick

George Barger celebrates his ninth birthday with an Egyptian theme. Casey Igel created a cookie pyramid.Â

Adam Yoak, fro m left, Karen No rvell, Krista No Moore, all Glyn rvell, and Gary n County resid ents, take a bo at ride in Florid a

Liam Igel, 5, participates in a drive-by teacher appreciation parade for the pre-K teachers at St. Simons Presbyterian preschool.

Jason Umfress, left, and Josh Dukes put in some time working in the yard.

r and l weathe beautifu e rth on St. o th N s y d jo n at Oatla wford en ra rm C a F y b e ir K at th h animals time wit . d n la Simons Is

Sam Austin picks berries at Oglesby Family Farm in Brunswick.

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bright spots The Letson family embraced the outdoors, taking a walk on Jekyll Island.

Brandon, from left, Kim and their daughter, Riley Letson are pictured.

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the pre-sch

ool hlin Laura Loug ation ir sp in drew om her fr and hope (with en d ar g et secr m o fr p some hel arren). pup, Mr. W

Lea King-Badnya used upcycled art to creat garden planters for pollinators with gifted chairs and other materials found around her home.

Coleman, fro m left, Allie, an d Cameron Cl trip to a driveaire McDonal in movie thea d took a ter.

uMortier sh Annelise D Grace and messages. ve ti si h po artwork wit

ared chalk

Joey Harrison, left, and his son, Brooklyn, lead a martial arts class online at The Brick on St. Simons Island.

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and paint

Lewis Jacobs decided to switch seasons, celebrating all things Christmas, including making gingerbread houses, listening to Christmas music, and wearing Christmas pajamas.

Claire Turner of Baxley picked and sold blueberries to raise money for the playground at the new Light of Hope Learning Center in Brunswick.

The Harrison family embraced the outdoors (and bubbles). Pictured are Chloe, from left, Elena, Max, and Liam.

Grant and Ella Ba ker taking the cla ssroom outdoors with th e St. Simons Land Trust’s scavenger hunt on Alice Richards Bo tanical Trail.

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Vic Clepper and her son, Druw, frolic on Jekyll Island with husband, Drake, and daughter, Lincoln, not pictured.

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bright spots

eat d a tasty tr lton enjoye u o ct for M je a ro th p Saman solar oven er h g n ti tary. le ons Elemen after comp s at St. Sim as cl ce n ie her sc

The Landguin family — Darren and Mylyn with children Leighton Everly and Cayden Wesley — enjoyed a day at Oglesby Family Farm in Brunswick.

Brittany Benjamin, an account liaison for Heartland Home Health & Hospice, spread joy to assisted living patients by dancing in a unicorn costume. She also delighted her 3-yearold niece, Aubrey, by surprising her at Moo Cow Ice Cream while in costume.

ces of original pie Rabert left ie her n h n it o B w t e Artis to shar n her porch . d n la her work o Is ns on St. Simo neighbors

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The Rev. Gary Cum by heade the pier in d onto order to li sten, talk and enco with, urage pe ople duri turbulent ng these times.

Landri Be nnett ce lebrated with a ya her 11th rd full of birthday signs fro cake wit in on Ap m her frie h her “fla ril 10th nds and t friends. neighbo ” rs and

Walker Klo noski cau ght his firs while in q t fish uarantine .

Penn Ackerman, from left, Harry Black, and Kerrigan Baxter helping their grandmother, Lee Baxter, pick up food for the Keller Williams food drive to help restock the Salvation Army.

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WHEN IT COMES TO STROKE

BE FAST CALL 911

Any one of these sudden SIGNS could mean STROKE

BALANCE EYES FACE ARM SPEECH TIME Watch for sudden loss of balance

Check for vision loss

Look for an uneven smile

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