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World of Signs in Punta Arenas, Chile, by Phillip Mason
TABLE OF CONTENTS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
features 50 BY LAND AND BY SEA: From galloping horses to swimming sea turtles, Ginny Worthington has ventured near and far to capture the wonders of nature.
60 PROFESSOR TO GLOBAL PHOTOGRAPHER: Phil Mason, a zoologist and academic, has traversed the world capturing exotic people and places, from Europe to Africa to Patagonia.
70 CHILDHOOD INSPIRATION LEADS TO EXPLORATION: Tom Sweeney grew up flipping through the pages of National Geographic Magazine, and now he’s a seasoned fine art photographer with a portfolio filled with diverse places.
80 ADVENTURES ABOVE AND BELOW: Jim Squires has merged his love of diving with his passion for photography to share perspectives that few have ever experienced.
88 BETTER TOGETHER: Hannah and Johnny Warren have a long love story that includes traveling the world to connect with interesting people and places, especially their second home, the Emerald Isle.
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WORD ON THE STREET
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COASTAL QUEUE
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Contributing Writers
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Contributing Photographers
Raven Allen Derrick Davis Tamara Gibson Phillip Mason Bobby Haven Nancy Reynolds-Haven Austen Risolvato Jim Squires Tom Sweeney Hannah Warren Johnny Warren Chris Worthington Ginny Worthington
Contributing Designers
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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 striking image depicts Kirkjufell Mountain in Iceland. It was captured by fine art photographer Tom Sweeney. Fun fact: It was also featured in Game of Thrones (season 7, episode 6). It was visible when John Snow, Tormund Giantsbane, and crew go north of the fall to confront the White Walkers (it did not go well for them). In the show, it was referred to “Arrowhead Mountain.”
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Submissions Golden Isles Magazine is in need of talented contributors. Unsolicited queries and submissions of art and stories are welcome. Please include an email address and telephone number. Submit by email to the editor, Lindsey Adkison: ladkison@goldenislesmagazine.com or by mail to 3011 Altama Ave, Brunswick. Only work accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope will be returned.
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Editor’s Note
My Belgian Bestie
Come check out The Island’s best keepsake.
No matter how small or big your wrist is, silver or gold, or a bit of both, we’ll make you something special and lasting. It was 2009,12 years ago now. My husband, Josh, and I were celebrating our fifth anniversary in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. We had nabbed a blissful spot at the pool bar, seated with dozens of people from all over the globe. It honestly had a bit of a Small World feel.
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As we started to sip our cocktails, I noticed the couple seated to my left. What stood out initially is that they were speaking in a language I hadn’t heard before. So being the South Alabama gal that I am, I turned to the woman and offered up a classic, “Where y’all from?” With a lyrical accent, the woman replied in flawless English, “We’re from Belgium.” That’s how we met “our Belgians.” Ineke and Tijl lived in Antwerp and it turned out they were staying literally right across the hall from our own room. We spent several days
hanging out with them at the resort. When we left, we agreed to keep in touch on Facebook. And boy, did we. I’ve talked to Ineke, nearly daily — definitely weekly — since we met. For my 30th birthday, we went to visit them in Belgium, with day trips to Paris and Amsterdam (because, you know, trains). They hosted a party for me, and their friends became our friends. They came to visit us when we lived in Miami where we celebrated Thanksgiving. We even gave them a taste of the Black Friday shenanigans. When they got engaged, we met them in New York City to shop for Ineke’s wedding dress and celebrated her birthday. We traveled back to Belgium for their wedding in 2016. They were married in the breathtaking Stadhuis (city hall) at the Grote Markt (great market square) in Antwerp. It was erected during the Renaissance — y’all! — between 1561 and 1565. And, it remains
the coolest place I’ve ever been. At their wedding dinner, I attempted a speech in Dutch ( … thankfully the Belgians are a tolerant and forgiving people who overlooked my drawl and slip-ups).
Dream Homes of the Golden Isles
Since then, there have been meetings here and there, but constant companionship. Ineke and I have helped one another through some of our darkest days, sending both our love and worries across the ocean. In February of 2020, Ineke and Tijl welcomed their sweet girl, Charlot, right before the world shut down for the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, we’ve continued to (virtually) hold one another’s hand as the world came to a standstill. We walked each other through the lockdowns and the close calls. I cannot wait to hug her again. I think one of the many lessons of the pandemic is how precious travel is to all of us, and having it snatched away left a serious void in many of our lives. It certainly did for the artists we are bringing to you for this year’s Arts Issue. We have featured some truly gifted individuals, most of whom are members of the Coastal Photographers’ Guild (CGP), who are sharing the stunning moments captured in exotic locales. We are so grateful to each of them — Tom, Phil, Ginny, Jim, and Johnny and Hannah Warren — for sharing their work. And of course, I have to give a huge “thank you” to my longtime CPG contact, Richard Knight, for helping connect me with these brilliant folks. So please … sit back, grab a glass of your favorite imported brew or vino and enjoy this earth-based eye candy … from the top of the world to the bottom of the sea. As my Belgians say … schol — Lindsey
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Word On The Street Fishin’ Holes
Cover
Gerrie Brookins Barnes: Can’t wait to read the article about Jay Bellflower! Joanne Langford Edgy Sims: Sweet cover, Parker Alexander
Your reactions sent to us by emails, posts, & tweets
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Jackie Whaley Wilkinson: We always feel at home with a warm welcome at the door of Frederica House. Thank you for the tartar sauce recipe. I made it tonight. Now what about the recipe for those hush puppies! They remind me of the ones my Mama made.
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A Seaside Tradition THE RSM CLASSIC NOVEMBER 15-21, 2021
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Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs
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a
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY AUSTEN RISOLVATO
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Austen Risolvato narrowly escapes the downpour as she dashes into the Village Oven in downtown Brunswick. Coffee in hand, the Atlanta native settles into a seat, taking in the bakery’s decor. “Hey, those are Cullen Peck’s,” she notes, pointing to the artwork dotting the walls. Risolvato would know. Her mother, Terri Evans, is currently the executive director of Glynn Visual Arts, a St. Simons art center that recently hosted Peck’s exhibition.
But on this particular dreary day, Risolvato was going to be talking about her own art work, primarily her work as a touring photographer for the likes of alternative rock group 311, hip hop artist that goes by Lil Wayne, and American Idol star Daughtry. During her time working in the entertainment industry, she’s also photographed Green Day, No Doubt, Snoop Dogg, and the All-American Rejects. Risolvato has also captured former President Bill Clinton and screen legend Carrie Fisher. “I’m a huge Star Wars fan, so that was a dream come true,” she says with a smile. It certainly seems as though her entire career has been a long series of celebrity hangouts and glamorous travel. And, while she’s certainly gotten around — from crisscrossing the United States to living in Los Angeles, Paris, and London — Risolvato says that it wasn’t always picture-perfect.
A woman holds a sign during a protest following
“I was touring on and off for about 15 years. A lot of it when you’re on tour is documenting that dayto-day life of the band, and each one is different in how they want that story told,” she says.
the mass shooting at the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris in 2015.
“But they’re long days. It’s a lot of work. Your day starts when the artists’ day starts and it ends after
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A tall ship passes under Tower Bridge in London
Austen Risolvato
everyone else is done. You go back to the tour bus, dump your (memory) card, pull about 100 photos, and deliver them to management. Then, you do it all over again the next day.”
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Risolvato’s path to professional entertainment photographer truly began when she was just a high school student. In the late 90s, she brought along her trusty film camera to capture a friend’s band.
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“They were a band called the Reruns. I started taking pictures at their shows,” she says. “Ben Eberbaugh, the guitarist was the original guitarist for a band called the Black Lips, which actually did take off. But there was a healthy indie rock scene in Atlanta in the 90s. And one band would introduce you to another.” From there, she started taking photos at professional concerts. But, Risolvato notes, that was a tricky task in those pre-smart phone days. “They wouldn’t let you bring in a big camera to the show,” she says. Eventually, she rolled the dice and reached out to the band 311 via their online bulletin board.
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It turns out the bassist’s mother was actually the one running the board, and she put Risolvato in touch with the group’s management. “That was crazy to think because they were a multiplatinum group by then,” she says with a laugh. “I told them that I was ‘a kid, but I really like taking pictures of bands,’ and they probably thought, ‘well, that’s cute.’ But eventually, once I was an adult, they were like, ‘yes you can do this.’” The rest, they say, is history. That provided a spring board for her career, and the travel exposed her to a world of exciting experiences. These days, however, she’s taking a bit of a breather. While she and her husband still have a home in London, the couple and their daughter have a base in Brunswick, where they’re spending time with family.
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Risolvato is also photographing weddings through her company, Carraway Weddings, and working on some special passion projects rooted in social justice. “I really think that we as photographers have a great responsibility. We have to tell the truth through our cameras,” she says.
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Light, Camera, Curls:
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Q+A with Tamara Gibson WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
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Tamara Gibson truly needs no introduction to readers of this publication. Over the last seven years, she’s been an invaluable member of our team, providing countless gorgeous images to tell our stories. Of course, she also has a booming business all her own, Tamara Gibson Photography, where she and her associates provide services all over the country, and sometimes internationally. She operates an Instagram lifestyle page with more than 11,000 followers. So, as this is a photography-themed issue, we decided to put her out front and share a little more about this brilliant gal behind the lens on so many of our favorite GIM pieces. We hope you enjoy getting to know this beautiful genius.
GIM: How did you get into photography? Tamara: I’ve always loved the arts. I tried to fight it as I was deciding on my college major. Finally, in 2009 I gave in and never looked back. GIM: What do you love about this medium? Tamara: I love being creative, so the creative aspect draws me the most. Secondly, freezing time/memories for my clients makes me happy. GIM: What makes a good image? Light, subject, emotion?
GIM: Where are you from, and how did you get here?
Tamara: I would have to say light. I can have the most amazing subject, but it’s a no-go if the lighting is off. So the majority of my job is analyzing light.
Tamara: I’m from New York City. I moved to the Golden Isles in 2012.
GIM: Outside of GIM, what do you shoot — weddings, styled shoots, real estate? SEPTEMB ER/OC TO BE R 2021
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Tamara: Since I’m team-based and have an incredible team of photographers and videographers that work with me, we cover it all. We cover everything from weddings, portraits, and boudoir shoots to celebrity events, products, and all things commercial. We also shoot internationally. In addition, my team members are based throughout the United States and I travel all the time for shoots, which keeps us pretty busy. GIM: What are your best tips for novices? How can we take better photos? Tamara: Don’t buy the most expensive camera. Go with the entry option instead. Heck, use your smartphone. A “fancy camera” won’t make your pictures look better. I’ve seen so many people invest in expensive equipment to only have it sit around collecting dust. If I buy a $200 frying pan, it won’t produce a perfectly seared steak. It will bring about the same result as a $19 frying pan because the problem isn’t the frying pan; it’s my lack of knowledge on properly cooking steak. If you can learn to take great pictures on an inexpensive gear, your images will only be enhanced by the more expensive gear and not dependent on it.
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Education — Read the camera manual. Learn the exposure triangle. I’ve been at this for 10-plus years, and I still take classes. And, of course, have patience, and have fun! GIM: OK, we’ve gotta know … what’s it like to have the best hair in town? Tamara: Do I have the best hair in town?! Golden Isles should have a yearly competition, because there are so many superb hairdos here! My curls stand out. I have quite a few clients who request that I wear my “full curls” when photographing their event. I’m an introvert, but my curls make friends fast, so they’ve been great getting me out of my shell.
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Hunt:
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On The
Fundraiser returns to fall schedule
WORDS BY CHRISTIAN FELT | PHOTOS BY NANCY REYNOLDS-HAVEN/COASTAL ILLUSTRATED
The Hunt Ball returns to the Golden Isles in full swing this year. From 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10, the Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island will host a celebration honoring the Southern hunt.
Waters Band.
According to event chair Amanda Johnson, the ball is a way to raise money that will directly support the local community.
“The ball itself is outdoors, and it is kind of a sportsman event. We will have a really good time. People will dress in hunting attire or casual clothes,” she says. “We will listen to music and have vendors there selling paintings of animals and outdoor scenes. There will also be vendors there that sell guns, even antique shotguns.”
“The Hunt Ball is a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Glynn County, and it is our way of fundraising money locally, and the money stays here,” Johnson says. The organizers conceived of the themed event when they realized there was nothing quite like it in the area, she adds. “The Hunt Ball began in 2019. We were trying to do a fundraiser that was just a little bit different because we have so many fundraisers here in Glynn County, so we felt this was missing in the area,” she says. “It is super casual, and all the men love it. They can wear their casual clothes and not be in a penguin suit all day.” The occasion celebrates a more Southern style of hunting — fishing, fowl, and game — and will feature wildlife artisans, demonstrations, an auction, and live music by the Mason 28
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Attendees can come dressed casually or in their favorite hunting attire, Johnson says.
One of the most popular elements of the event is the food prepared, said Johnson. She said many local chefs come together to create uncommon dishes that are unique to the Hunt Ball. “We bring chefs in from restaurants around town, and they are asked to cook something a little out of the ordinary. You will see things like wild boar, birds, and oysters, and they love preparing these kinds of dishes for the event,” she says. Johnson said she is appreciative of the influence the event has been able to garner. She enjoys getting peo-
ple excited to be involved with Habitat for Humanity and giving back to the community, she said. “The Hunt Ball is important because it gives Habitat for Humanity a platform to talk about what is going on in our community as far as building homes and how many families they are able to help,” she says. “It really just gives us a platform and exposure.” The first ball was a tremendous success, according to Johnson. This year they hope to raise even more to help support a multi-home development program that aims to build affordable homes in a new neighborhood, she said. “We were able to raise $175,000 in 2019 to build homes. This year we would like to do the same or even more to start building Century Place, our newest project,” she says. Due to the global pandemic last year, instead of a ball, a mask-making fundraiser was held. Although grateful to continue to support a worthy cause, Johnson said the festivities of the ball were sorely missed. “We still had a fundraiser last year for Habitat for Humanity. But, I think everybody will be glad just to be back socializing and having a good time with all their neighbors and other people who enjoy the outdoors,” she says. Those looking to get involved with the Hunt Ball can consider sponsorship options. There are several tiers of sponsorship, and all include tickets to the event. Individual tickets are $250. For more information, visit hfhglynn.org.
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Whiskey WORDS BY LAUREN MCDONALD
Wine & Wildlife Returns
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The Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife festival will return this month to Jekyll Island, bringing back its renowned combination of world-class beverage tastings, inspired cuisine and showcases of coastal wildlife.
place that Saturday, Sept. 11.
sell food for Saturday,” Gourley says.
During the main event, attendees can purchase tickets that will include 10 initial “tasting credits,” with the option to purchase more throughout the day.
Attendees will be given bracelets onto which they can load additional credits.
The three-day event, held on Jekyll annually in February, has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which in February 2021 made hosting a large-scale event unsafe. Many, though, have expressed a desire to see the festival return this fall, says Jan Gourley, co-organizer of Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife.
At past events, an all-inclusive ticket allowed attendees to try as many foods and drinks as they wished, but this year’s credit model aims to better support the event’s restaurant partners, who are coming out of a particularly rough year and a half.
“We are basically having the 2021 festival delayed, in September, and then we will go back to our regular schedule in February for 2022,” Gourley says. “This will be a make-up for February 2021.”
Restaurants and others in the hospitality and tourism industry suffered significant hardships throughout the pandemic, starting with closures and staff layoffs in 2020 and later dealing with staff shortages and supply chain issues as customers returned at high rates.
The festival will kick off Sept. 9 with a guest celebrity chef dinner, followed by whiskey-inspired events on the evening of Sept. 10. The W3 main event will take
“They asked us if we could come up with a model that works like it does with Savannah Food & Wine, where we basically have all our restaurant partners
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“It will get everybody started with some tastings, and then you can load additional credits on your bracelet,” Gourley says. “The restaurant partners really felt like that was a great way to compromise, so that they’re not coming out of pocket giving away their food.” This year’s festival will also include a private area with some temporary fencing, Gourley says, rather than being as open on the village green as it has been in the past. Another change this year will be added opportunities to take the wine cruise. Cruises will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sept. 10 and at 1 p.m. Sept. 12. The festival’s charity partner is the Jekyll Island Foundation, and the event
typically incorporates programming that highlights the island’s wildlife. An auction during the festival will raise money for the foundation.
GOLDEN ISLES DENTAL ASSOCIATES C. Scott Morrison, DMD McDonald S. Morrison, DMD
Gourley expects many will welcome the return of festival events on Jekyll Island. “I know they have been extremely busy, so the island’s hotels and the restaurants are ready for a festival again,” she says.
“We had an opportunity to do something in the fall where we normally wouldn’t, and it was just kind of perfect,” she says.
“We love having the opportunity to spread out the event but still keep it more of a boutique event, where it’s like 3,500 people total for the long weekend, the Thursday through Sunday,” Gourley says. “It’s a really great sized event. Our sponsors love it, our exhibitors love it, to just enjoy some beautiful time on the beach.” To learn more or purchase tickets, please visit whiskeywineandwildlife.com.
25 Coral Park Way, Brunswick GA | 912.265.0750 www.goldenislesdental.com
la
erican m A c Di ss i
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The Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife Festival is known for being a culinary weekend like no other, which showcases the beauty of the island along with tremendous food and beverages. All of that magic will return during this year’s event.
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Many were disappointed not see the festival return in February 2021, Gourley says.
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Around the Town september September 5 The Little Light Music Concert Series will feature the Sounds of Motown from 7 to 9 p.m. on the oceanfront lawn of the lighthouse on St. Simons Island. Tickets are $15 per person. For more information, visit coastalgeorgiahistory.org. September 9 through 12 Whiskey, Wine & Wildlife will return to the Jekyll Island green for multiple days of beverage tastings and inspired cuisine from some of the South’s best chefs. Visit whiskeywineandwildlife.com for details and ticket packages. September 16-19 The 2021 Georgia Tribute Festival will feature seven headline shows paying tribute to Elvis Presley and other classic acts at the Ritz Theatre in Brunswick. For more information and ticket packages, visit tributefestival.rocks/georgia. September 17 and 18 The Bounty of the Fleet Festival is a two‑day festival celebrating the fishing industry with parades, live music, and art on display. It will begin at 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday at 105 Fort King George Drive, Darien. For tickets and details, visit festivalnet.com. September 25 and 26 Glynn Visual Arts will celebrate its 50th year hosting the Under the Oaks Art Festival this year. The two-day event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Postell Park on St. Simons Island. Artists will hail from around the region, representing a wide range of mediums. It is free and open to the public. For more information, visit glynnvisualarts.org.
October October 2 CoastFest, hosted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, will return from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick. This free event features exhibitors, games, live entertainment, marine-life touch tanks, and historical demonstrations. For details, visit coastalgadnr.org/ CoastFest. Firebox’s Barbecue on the Bluff, hosted by Southern Soul, will return this year from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Gascoigne Bluff on St. Simons Island. It will feature entertainment and samplings provided by food vendors throughout the region. Tickets are $70 and are available at eventbrite.com. October 7 The Live Oaks Garden Club will host its 21st annual Poinsettia Sale. There will be red, white, and pink plants for sale. They cost $20 each. Orders will be taken through November 18. The poinsettia will be available for pick up from noon to 6 p.m. December 3 in the parking lot of St. Simons United Methodist Church, 624 Ocean Blvd. For details visit, liveoakgardenclubinc.com. October 9 Saint Simons Christian School will partner with the Jekyll Island Authority to sponsor the Under the Oaks Run on Jekyll Island. The half marathon begins at 7:30 a.m.; the 10k starts at 7:45 a.m.; and 8:15 a.m. marks the beginning of the 5k. To register, visit undertheoaksrun.com. October 10 The Hunt Ball, a benefit for Habitat for Humanity, will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Frederica Golf Club Boathouse, 100 Pike’s Bluff Dr., St. Simons Island. The evening will offer music, wildlife artisans, antique hunting trucks, and wildlife demonstrations of hawks, owls, and hunting dogs. Tickets are $150 per person. The event is casual, hunting-chic. For details, visit hfhglynn.org. October 16 MorningStar Children and Family Services will host its annual Dinner Under the Stars beginning at 6 p.m. at the campus, 1 Youth Estate Dr., Brunswick. Halyards Catering will provide a farm-to-table dinner. There will also be live music and a silent auction. Tickets are $125 per person. Funds raised will go to support the on-site programs. For details, visit morningstarcfs.org. Ophelia’s Classic Car Challenge will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, 5556 U.S. 17, Brunswick. Classic cars from all over southeast Georgia will be vying to champion in Brunswick. Attendees will be able to view the cars and vote for their favorites. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for youth. For details, visit explore.gastateparks.org. October 23 The Brunswick Rockin’ Stewbilee will begin at 9 a.m. at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick. There will be a stew cooking contest, live music, and a car show. Visit brunswickstewbilee.com for more information.
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Facts
J U ST T H E
S
pectacular sunrises, majestic wildlife, and long-standing historic sites are just a few of the picturesque settings found in the Golden Isles.
Living on the islands makes capturing shots of the water a popular pastime. Prominent locations include St. Simons Pier and the dock at Gascoigne Bluff on St. Simons Island. For a glimpse into the area’s past, the historic Hamilton
WORDS BY CHRISTIAN FELT
Plantation Tabby Cabins at Gascoigne Bluff also provide beautiful scenery. And it is hard to find a better spot than Driftwood Beach at the north end of Jekyll Island. With the many beautiful scenes surrounding our daily lives in mind, we’ve gathered some fun facts on the history of photography to inspire the photographer in you.
1999
1973
In 1973, the basis of the first digital camera was invented. A charge-coupled device, which made it possible to obtain an image of 100×100 pixels, helped take the first astronomical electronic photo the following year.
Visual artist Andreas Gursky captured Rhein II, an image of the Lower Rhine River, the world’s most expensive photo, in 1999. In 2011,12 years later, it sold for more than $4.3 million at auction. It is still the most expensive photo ever sold.
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560
The world’s largest SLR lens weighs over 560 lbs.
3.8
We have taken over 3.8 trillion photographs, since photography started in the 1800s, standard and digital. 34
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140
Facebook has around 140 billion photos which is 100,000 times more photos than in the Library of Congress.
The oldest surviving image is nearly 200 years old. The photo View From the Window by Joseph Niepce took eight hours to capture.
1861
1996 11
Thomas Sutton, the inventor of the first SLR camera, also created the first color image in 1861 by layering three different images of green, blue, and red filters on top of each other before projecting them onto a photosensitive plate.
The most viewed photograph is the default wallpaper for Windows XP. The image named Bliss, was captured by Charles O’Rear in 1996. The first person to invent negative film was Henry Talbot in 1839.
The Apollo 11 mission took 12 Hasselblad cameras with them to the moon. The astronauts decided the cameras were too heavy for the journey back. So, they left them behind to conserve space for 25 kilos of rock samples, returning to earth only with the camera’s film.
260
The world’s longest photo negative is over 260 ft.
2.8 The world’s most expensive camera sold for nearly $2.8 million.
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DUE SOUTH orange-red hair and hundreds of freckles, had passed me a note, asking, “Will you go on the hay ride with me?” Chris Gooch asked, too, but I chose Neal.
The Wonders of Autumn
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WORDS BY RONDA RICH
Autumn is my favorite time of year. I adore September and October. When I was in the first grade, I won my elementary school’s Halloween Queen to reign alongside King Alan Parker, a darling blond boy. Alan’s father had recently died from cancer and, two weeks before that, his 16-year-old sister — this is truly a Southern Gothic tale — had been killed in a car wreck while going to pick up her father’s medicine. When the principal placed the paper crown on his head, Alan squeezed his eyes together tightly and laughed joyously.
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Sitting on the gym’s bleachers, I was so caught up in his glory and mesmerized by the huge smile on his face that I did not hear my name called as queen. My friend, Lisa, nudged me with her elbow. “Hey, you’re the Queen. Go get your crown.” And what a crown it was — cut out of white cardboard with green Magic Marker lines along the bottom straight edge and the top spiked edges (our school mascot was a green dragon so our colors were green and white) and it had green glitter sprinkled over spots of glue. No one cared that I had won except for me and Mama. That’s because we were all pleased to see radiating delight in the face of a little boy who had known too much sorrow. That was back in the days of school Halloween carnivals when we bobbed for apples, had cake walks, and rode in a wagon pulled by a horse and loaded with hay. Neal O’Kelley, the smartest boy in the class who had
One of the highlights of the carnival was the doll show. I always entered the most dolls allowed by an entrant: four. I varied them from baby dolls to a couple of Barbies dressed in high fashion and usually a Madame Alexander. That booth, as I recall, was packed with dolls but I was mighty proud to see mine among them. Once, I won a third-place ribbon for a doll in a red and gold brocade dress with short hair that could be pulled out into a long fall. I still have her. You can’t throw out an award-winning doll. Whenever the autumn lifts the humidity from the air and a soft wind skitters through the leaves, I think of Friday night high school football and Saturday college games. When I landed the Georgia Bulldogs as a beat, I became the first female sports reporter to cover an SEC team, full time. That’s how I came to be on the sidelines in the final seconds of the fourth quarter in 1984 with Georgia and Clemson tied 23-23. Georgia was stopped in its own territory when Coach Vince Dooley sent kicker Kevin Butler in to try the near-impossible — a 60-yard field goal. Dooley had seen him kick it 59 yards during practice so it was worth a shot. When Butler sent the ball soaring squarely through the goal posts with over a yard to spare and Georgia beat the nation’s number two team, my 20-year-old self witnessed a head-spinning lesson: Never gently accept defeat. Boldly chase victory. That same year, I met another football player who would leave an indelible mark on my life. Never a week passes that I don’t think of Andrew Goudelock who was a lineman on a local high school team. During a pre-season physical, the doctor discovered cancer in
Andrew’s left leg which was immediately amputated above the knee. As he recovered, I visited him in an Atlanta hospital and then he began to call me routinely. He was 16 and needed a friend during his troubles. “I’m gonna play again,” he said one night. I took a deep breath. To me, it was impossible. To Andrew, it was probable. On a chilly, late October night, I watched from a rickety press box in an old high school stadium as Andrew hopped out to take his place on the line. Silence fell over the stands as the steam of warm breath filled the air. The ball snapped, the lines collided, and Andrew, with only one leg, was the last man to fall. The next year, he was named to Georgia’s All-State Team and received a five-minute ovation. Perhaps that’s why autumn means so much to me. I’ve seen such wondrous things happen in the fall. And, after all, I was once the Halloween Queen.
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100 Years of Painting in Glass A NEW EXHIBIT AT MOSAIC, JEKYLL ISLAND MUSEUM Sitting within the walls of Jekyll Island’s historic Faith Chapel is a one-hundred-year-old stained-glass masterpiece by artisan Louis Comfort Tiffany. In celebration of the centennial year for this one-of-its-kind window, visitors can now experience an immersive exhibit within Mosaic, Jekyll Island Museum. Take a peek inside the world of Tiffany Studios and learn how his stained glass works of art were methodically crafted. Visitors can also experience Faith Chapel through an expert-led tour to see the original window up-close, and explore the gift shop’s limited anniversary collection honoring the window. Learn more at jekyllisland.com/faithchapel
LIVING WELL Her classes at the retreat will explore the benefits of essential oils, botanical boosts, and skincare with common household items and food. Nicole Monier is an honors graduate from Le Cordon Bleu Paris and has worked in some of the best restaurants in the world, such as La Tour D’Argent in Paris, Le Bernardin in New York City, and Aqua in San Francisco.
Wellness on Main nurtures body and soul
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WORDS BY LAUREN MCDONALD
Wellness on Main, an all-in-one wellness stop on St. Simons, will soon host its first Wisdom + Wellness Retreat in more than a year. The two-day retreat will feature Wellness on Main’s team of experts, who will share their knowledge and experience in an intimate, relaxed environment.
Classes and workshops are the foundation of each retreat, and new topics are added for each retreat so no two are alike. The COVID-19 pandemic forced Wellness on Main to postpone planned events in 2020 and part of 2021. At the upcoming retreat, Marie Artman will lead a Wisdom + Wellness Retreat class in several Pilates mat exercises using a variety of props to increase effectiveness of the movements. Her workshops at the retreat will include one focused on the fundamentals of the Pilates Method, a dance fitness session, a water sweat class, staying fit on the go, and a Pilates round robin. “Living through a global pandemic has
increased people’s awareness of the importance of their personal health and wellness,” Artman says. “Our Wisdom + Wellness Retreats offer a safe, intimate, and personalized opportunity for participants to connect with a variety of wellness experts and focus on ways to improve or enhance their overall wellbeing.” The goals of the retreat are to expose participants to a variety of health and wellness topics from industry experts to broaden their understanding of overall wellbeing. The weekend event also provides a beautiful space for participants to step away from the stresses of daily life to focus on their health and wellness Organizers also aim to inspire participants with simple tools and actionable tips on ways to incorporate healthy habits into their daily routines. “The two-to-three day schedule provides enough time for participants to get away from daily life and to refuel their mind and body, without the stress of scheduling a weeklong trip,” Artman says. Donna Mastianni is a master licensed esthetician and aromatherapist. She owns the Facial Suite at Wellness on Main. Her focus is on connecting nature and science to provide custom solutions for a lifetime of healthy skin. The Facial Suite has affordable, effective skin care products used in treatment to reveal a natural glow and smooth texture. Mastianni specializes in mature skin care. Treatments she offers include an oxygen hydrating treatment, brightening peels, and CBD anti-inflammatory treatment.
“I have been a cooking teacher for over 25 years and am a Certified Health Coach,” Monier says. “One of my big picture goals is to help change the culture of food in America, and that starts with understanding that your relationship with food is your most intimate. What we eat literally becomes us, and it doesn’t get much more intimate than that.” Monier helps clients achieve a better understanding of issues like nutritional misinformation, as well as familial and cultural biases. Her classes at the retreat will include one focused on creating meals using foods in season and the health benefits of certain foods. She’ll also lead a workshop offering a healthy guide to eating and exploring herbs and spices. Dr. Margaret Goodman will share her expertise in women’s healthcare. She will available to answer questions in a casual and relaxed environment. Goodman, a board-certified gynecologist, will offer an informative chat session that will cover topics like menopause, hormone replacement therapy, safe weight loss strategies, and more. She’ll also set aside time for one-on-one consultations. Wes Scholosser, a master-certified dog trainer, will lead workshops on how dogs can benefit human health, selecting the right breed for a family, living happily with dogs, and training tools to build good behavior. “There has been a lot of difficulty in the face of a global pandemic, and prioritizing our health has climbed to the top of our collective priority list,” Monier says. “Wisdom + Wellness Weekends help you do just that. Take the time to learn, grow and enjoy with some truly talented teachers.” To learn more, please visit wisdomwellnessretreats.com. The website is updated with new locations and dates as they are finalized. SEPTEMB ER/OC TO BE R 2021
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BY DESIGN something that came in or I found something that I thought he would like, I would send him photos and he would say yes or no,” she says. The family named the house “The Blue Heron,” in homage to the coastal bird and to the shades of blue design elements throughout the home. A family trip to the house for this year’s Fourth of July holiday was the first time all but Jonathan saw the new vacation home in person. His wife and children were impressed by the spacious, beautiful house that will be the setting of many, many future trips. “This is really supposed to be a place where we can bring other families and kind of share the island with them,” Stoner says. He chose St. Simons to be the location of their vacation home with his family in mind. Their busy work lives combined with their children’s schedules means downtime is a luxury they try to make the most of.
Vacation home comes to life
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WORDS BY LAUREN MCDONALD | PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
Jonathan Stoner’s vision was clear from the outset. He intended to create the perfect vacation home for his family. This home would be an escape from their busy lives in Gainesville, Georgia, where he works in residential and commercial real state and his wife, Leesa, leads a large logistics company. St. Simons, where the couple came on dates nearly a decade ago before their marriage, offers the ideal beach getaway they can now share with their three children, the oldest of whom is 8. After purchasing a house in a neighborhood near Pier Village in November 2020, Jonathan Stoner began asking around about the best local designer to support their renovation vision. He need-
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ed a local contact who could oversee every detail of the project. Taylor House Interiors, owned by Gail Butler, emerged as the most recommended option. “We started by going through and deciding what we wanted to do,” Stoner says. “Initially, it wasn’t going to be everything.” The project evolved, though, and over the next year the house underwent a total renovation. Every wall was repainted, new flooring and new furniture added, every bathroom redone and more. “If you want to get a high-end finished product, you’re going to have to start with opening yourself up to trusting someone’s opinion,” Stoner says. “… Vision is so hard for people to see. If you can’t be willing to take that in and use the experience of the person you hired, then why are you hiring them in the first place?” Butler begins this kind of project by having an in-depth discussion with her client. Her local storefront and storage space are important assets in the overall services she’s able to provide. “Because he didn’t live here, if I saw
“We had to slow the pace down a little bit,” Stoner says. “The island provides a great family atmosphere. It gives you a place where the community is small enough that you can get to know folks, and it’s safe and the beaches are so close.” Walking down to the village for dinner or ice cream or driving their golf cart down to East Beach and other fun spots along the island are just some of the ways the family is able to enjoy their time away from work and school. “There’s so much to do here on the island that they stay entertained,” Stoner says. Butler says she’s proud of the work they’ve done. “There’s nothing I would change,” she says. “It’s really beautiful.” The family worked solely with Taylor House, 3079 Frederica Road, to furnish the house as well. “We didn’t buy from any other vendor,” Stoner says. “Everything came directly through Gail, and she could source all of that in a time when COVID had hit … That was almost impossible across the country to do.” The house was completed in a timely manner during a period in which supply chain shortages and other delays were frequent everywhere due to the pandemic. Stoner encouraged others who are creating a vacation home on St. Simons
to work with Taylor House. The staff, he says, were consistently helpful and professional. “They were there to make sure that any questions I had were answered, and that was an attribute of what Gail is, who she is, and that carries all the way down to the people who work there,” he says.
There are lots of ways to stay cool during our hot Georgia summers. Giant blocks of ice ... or shopping inside at The Market!
Taylor House staff went above and beyond on the project — checking security at the house frequently, having daily conversations with contractors — to ensure all went smoothly. Butler always had an answer to a question or a suggested resource for whatever need arose, Stoner says. “It was always ‘I’ll call you with a name tomorrow,’ or ‘I’ll send it to you tonight,’” he says. “We talked at 11 o’clock at night, we talked at 7 in the morning. It didn’t matter when. If it had to be done, she picked up the phone and made it happen.”
Artwork in the house includes two original pieces created by his mother, Susan. The family plans to add onto the house, constructing a three-floor addition that will include additional bedrooms and an outdoor dining area on the ground floor. “The house will sleep 22 people when it’s finished,” Stoner says.
MARKET ON NEWCASTLE
THE
The master bedroom on the first floor is around the corner from a movie room designed to entertain children and guests. The house has three upstairs guest bedrooms, each of which has a private bathroom.
marketonnewcastle.com
912.554.7909 Melissa Bagby, Proprietaire Mons. Murphy, Chien de Maison 1624 Newcastle St. | Historic Downtown Brunswick
This was a project of longevity for Stoner, who says he anticipates making many wonderful memories during trips to beautiful St. Simons. “To be able to do something like this and share it with (Leesa) and have it with her is the highlight of my life, and I told the guys before we started working my purpose was for my family,” Stoner says. “I wanted to use everything I know how to do, but I also wanted to source the best people around me that I could because I had to have it at that level.”
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The place for your southern lifestyle
600 Sea Island Rd. • St. Simons Island, GA • 912.634.1521 | Look for us on Instagram! Check out our new and improved website at GentlemensAndLadyOutfitters.net | Gentlemens_Lady_Outfitters
912.265.8652 | cunninghamjewelers.com 42
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Act was key to marsh protection WORDS BY LYDIA THOMPSON | PHOTO BY BOBBY HAVEN of this enormous project, including all kinds of plants and animals using the area. I learned that the marsh was even more fascinating when you viewed it up close. Each of the five sites was laid out in a grid. They were out in the middle of the marsh, not along the road. The salt marsh site was the simplest site. The plants were limited to the species that could tolerate saltwater. The main type of grass is spartina. I learned the taller the grass in a salt marsh, the closer you were to creeks. Because the tide changes twice a day, the mud around the tall grass is called “pudding.” This pudding is like quicksand. You are going to sink.
E
Every time I drive off the island, I sigh and drink in the spacious view. The dramatic, complex marsh system rolls out in front of me. We have this unbroken view of the marsh thanks to some far-sighted individuals. In 2020, the Marsh Protection Act turned 50. A few years back, I had the privilege to work on a marsh study with the U.S. Fish
As you moved away from the ocean, freshwater mixed with the saltwater, which caused the type of plants and animals to increase. People like the view of the marsh, so they build on its edges. They filled in areas to ensure the home didn’t flood. and Wildlife Service on the part of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is huge. It includes the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean and up to the freshwater swamp forest of the Savannah River. It also spills down the coast, including several of our barrier islands. The study examined how the marsh changes from salt marsh at the ocean to the freshwater in the forest swamps. There were five marsh categories: salt marsh, brackish marsh, semi-fresh marsh, fresh marsh, and forest swamp. I never really understood how delicate this complex system is until I worked on this project. I was part of the bird study group. We worked in the spring and in the fall to identify migrating birds using the marsh. The bird study was only a small part
Then, in the 1960s, a proposal to mine phosphates on a couple of small islands in the marsh was proposed. The alarm was sounded. Studies showed the value of an intact marsh, so an idea to create a law to protect the marsh was forged. One of the connections between the Golden Isles and this law is Reid Harris, the state representative from St. Simons Island. He sponsored the Coastal Marshland Protection Act in the Georgia legislature. In 1970, this act became law. The delicate balance of saltwater to freshwater is insured for the wide variety of plants and animals that depend on it. Plus, that beautiful view of the complex marsh system I sigh over is protected for generations to come. SEPTEMB ER/OC TO BE R 2021
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MISSING TEETH? You owe it to yourself to learn about your options to replace missing teeth. At Coastal Oral Surgery, Dr. Jeffrey O. Capes and Dr. Dexter W. Mattox take the time to really listen and explain dental implant choices. Both doctors are dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and physicians. Ask us about our Teeth4Life philosophy. Our success rate with dental implants is over 98%! Coastal Oral Surgery is ready to meet all your needs regarding dental implants and other oral surgery procedures such as removing wisdom teeth. New patients welcome. Serving SE Georgia and NE Florida with convenient, modern locations in St. Simons Island, GA and St. Marys, GA.
87 Lindsey Lane, Unit B St Marys, GA 31558 Phone: (912) 439-3841 Fax: (912) 439-3781
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JUST FOR YOU! 912.264.2922 760 SCRANTON RD. • STE. 103 • BRUNSWICK • GA 31525 Copyright © 2021. Branch NMLS #1046809 Homestar Financial Corporation 332 Washington St. NW, Gainesville, GA 30501. NMLS #70864. For licensing info: NMLSconsumeraccess.org. This is not a commitment to lend and not all customers will qualify. All terms, information, conditions, rates, and programs are subject to credit and property approval and may change without notice. Not all products are available in all states. Certain other restrictions may apply. Homestar Financial Corporation is an equal housing lender and is not affiliated with any government entity.
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M O N E Y TA L K S
1031 Deferred Exchanges offer opportunities
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WORDS BY STEVE GRAHAM
A number of years ago, Schell & Hogan began offering a service that has been helping real estate investors save money. We began acting as a “qualified intermediary” (QI) to help facilitate tax deferred exchanges. If you are selling real estate held for business, rental or investment purposes and you have a gain on the property and are willing to buy another piece of property, don’t sell it — exchange it! Defer the income taxes on the gain and put that money to work for you. Depending on your tax bracket, 34 percent or more of the gain could go to the government if an exchange is not used to defer the tax. With changes being considered in the marginal income tax rates, deferring the gain could become even more important in the future to keep more of your money working for you instead of paying the tax.
In a 1031 deferred exchange, some paperwork is prepared prior to the sale of the property. Then when the property is sold, the sales proceeds go directly to the QI. The QI holds the sale proceeds in a secure escrow account until the replacement property is obtained. The QI also provides the paperwork which makes it qualify as a tax deferred exchange. A QI should be someone with knowledge of like kind exchanges and the tax code, so they can make sure the documentation is appropriate to withstand IRS scrutiny. Since our firm began providing this service, we have participated in nearly 800 exchanges, locally and around the United States. By choosing Schell & Hogan, you have someone experienced and local holding the money rather than dealing with someone from out of town. When the sale occurs, the funds go into the intermediary’s escrow account. From the date of sale, the investor has 45 days to identify potential replacement properties (the investor can always identify up to three potential replacement properties, and in certain cases, may be able to identify more than three properties).
They have 180 days from the sale of the property to close on the purchase of a replacement property. The replacement property has to be “like kind,” but the definition of “like kind” includes most real estate other than principal residences or second homes. So you could sell a residential rental property and replace it with a commercial rental property or with a vacant lot to hold as an investment. You can also sell property in Georgia and replace it with a property in a different state. If you want to replace one property with multiple replacement properties, this can be done as well. When the replacement property is purchased, the QI provides the funds directly to the closing attorney for the purchase. When all steps are followed with proper documentation, you can defer all of the tax on the gain. If you don’t reinvest all of the money, you may still qualify to do a partially tax deferred exchange. The transaction must be reported on your tax return on Form 8824, but if it’s completed and documented properly and you reinvest all of the proceeds it should end up being fully tax deferred. For the transaction to be fully tax deferred, you have to purchase property or properties of equal or greater value than the property you disposed of and you have to use up all of the cash that was received on the sale of the property. If you are interested in a 1031 deferred exchange or have questions about them, call or email Steve Graham at Schell & Hogan for a free consultation. The phone number is 912-638-9031 and email address is steve@schellhogan. com. Steve has been with Schell & Hogan since graduating from University of Michigan in 1983 and has been functioning as a qualified intermediary for over 25 years. Schell & Hogan has been in business in Glynn County for over 50 years. A free consultation may end up saving you a lot of money! SEPTEMB ER/OC TO BE R 2021
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GAME CHANGERS
Responsible for my own photos for the first time, I realized just how powerful still images could be. Photos compliment a story, but the best photos are capable of telling a story in itself. This holds true even in the internet era when many will argue video is king. But in sports, where athletes seemingly move at supernatural speeds at the highest levels, freezing a split second in time can make for awe-inspiring images. Iconic sports photos aren’t captured every night, but they can be captured any night. Each excursion essentially becomes a lesson in Schrödinger’s photo.
captured in a single snapshot
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WORDS BY DERRICK DAVIS
I hate to be cliche and say, “a picture is worth 1,000 words,” especially as someone whose career is based on their written word. Still, I can’t help but admit there is some truth to the expression. What words could possibly convey the dominant, magnetic force that was Muhammad Ali better than the
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famous shot of him flexing over a downed Sonny Liston? The photograph of fans running alongside Hank Aaron during his record-breaking home run trot is nearly as iconic as the slugger himself. Just think of your most treasured sports memory — chances are a specific image immediately came to mind. The most extraordinary moments in sports have often been captured in a single snapshot. Even still, it wasn’t until I entered the journalism industry that I fully grasped the power of photography. Writing for one’s weekly college paper doesn’t quite prepare a young reporter for stepping into a newsroom with limited resources and one shared photographer — if that these days.
That being said, I do believe there are a handful of tell-tale signs that a shot is one that will live on in reverence.
COOL QUIRKS A season-opening basketball game isn’t typically the first setting that comes to mind when you think about remarkable photos, but when that contest is played aboard a U.S. Navy supercarrier off the coast of San Diego, it made for one of the only shots of college hoops in which you will ever see set to a backdrop of a sunset and radar tower. These events might not be historically significant on paper, but they produce an image that one just doesn’t see often. Think of the Fog Bowl — a relatively average NFL playoff game, aside from the thick haze that made it impossible to see 50 yards across the field. Or Dennis Rodman going full-on horizontal to save a ball.
BIG PLAYS, BIG MOMENTS Other times, the moment is what makes the photo. David Tyree is far from a household name, but he became the focus of one of the most recognizable NFL photos since the turn of the millennium when he pinned
a football to the top of his helmet in helping the New York Giants wreck the New England Patriots’ perfect season in Super Bowl XLII. Nearly a decade later, Villanova’s Kris Jenkins cemented himself in college basketball lore, rising up for a national championship-winning buzzer beater as a North Carolina player desperately closes out on the shot. When it comes time for a historic play, the camera doesn’t care who makes it.
POSTER WORTHY There’s still something to be said for star power though. A photo of Otis Smith participating in the 1988 dunk contest is cool. The photo of Michael Jordan soaring through the air as astonished fans stare wide-eyed in the background is hung up in the bedrooms of wonderstruck children everywhere. All-time athletes in the element that perfectly embodies their particular brand of competitive spirit — Pete Rose’s furious dive into third base; Odell Beckham Jr.’s internet-breaking one-handed touchdown catch — are all but guaranteed to make for iconic images.
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SUPERSTARS IN THEIR ELEMENT A combination of sorts of the two previous categories; these are the best and brightest athletes on the biggest stages in their respective crafts. Vince Young basking in the raining confetti of the national championship game, or Kerri Strug holding her pose on the Olympic stage with a grimace on her face and tape around her broken ankle — these are the no doubters. One of the most recent entries on the ledger of timeless sports photos is legend Tiger Woods, clad in his classic red and black, shouting in exuberance with his arms raised after sinking the Masters-winning putt, surrounded by a sea of golf devotees. It’s moments like those that writing cannot fully capture. Those are photos truly worth 1,000 words.
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THE DISH that is good for your body.” The menus is filled with fresh vegetables and island flavors. Starters include, among other things, coco bread, conch fritters, plantains, and falafel. The entrees include an assortment of meats, chicken, pork, shrimp, fish, as well as tofu that can be prepared in styles like jerk, escovitch, curry, or garlic pan-fried. Oxtail is another classic island dish while the sampler trio allows diners to get a taste of a mix of curried meats. There’s also a very popular veggie delight dish that’s a major favorite. “People really love that one,” Gendron says. “But we have food for everyone here ... including vegetarians, vegans, or those who are gluten free. We even have gluten free cake.”
Good for the body and Good for the soul
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WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY TAMARA GIBSON
It was well past lunchtime on a toasty Thursday afternoon. But Island Jerk, located at 1519 Newcastle Street in downtown Brunswick, was packed with hungry customers excited to place their orders. Behind the counter, Bernie Gendron
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was calmly bustling from the kitchen to the register to the tables. The owner and baker, Gendron, who also operates Ms. B’s Boozy Cakes, serves up authentic Jamaican cuisine at the location. The restaurant, which has been open for eight years, has become a local favorite and was even recognized as one of the Top 25 Small Businesses from the Who’s Who in America organization in the fall of 2020.
Regardless of what one selects, everything on the menu is handmade with love right on site. Gendron also sources her ingredients from as many local vendors as possible. “We like to keep everything as local as we possibly can,” she says. “We like to help other businesses out.” That helpful attitude is something that is found amongst many of the downtown restaurateurs. Each one is extremely supportive of new neighbors and views the increasing revitalization of the area as beneficial for all. And that’s certainly how Gendron sees it. “It helps everyone ... it does. Brunswick reminds me of where I grew up in Maine. It was also a small town where everyone supports everyone,” she said.
Over that time, Gendron become a beloved figure, often referred to as Ms. B, who feeds both bellies and souls.
For Gendron, however, that sense of support extends to those who are in the greatest need. A few years ago, she began a Meals in Reserve program to serve the homeless.
“It’s comfort food,” Gendron says with a smile. “Jamaican food is also food
The premise is simple — a diner purchases a meal for themselves and
then offers a $5 tax deductible donation that will cover the cost of a meal — Express Jerk Chicken or falafel as well as a bottle of water — for a local homeless person.
unique, personal, home
“We have about eight people that we feed every day. And people have been very supportive of it. Every single person on this earth deserves to eat. Food is not a luxury,” she says.
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Garlic Pan-Fried Shrimp INGREDIENTS ½ lb shrimp All Purpose Flour, for dusting (this can be gluten free) ¾ cup multi-color sweet peppers (green pepper and onion mix) 2 Tbsp garlic butter ⅛ tsp black pepper Goya Adobo to taste ½ cup water
FOR SLURRY (TO BE SET ASIDE) 1 cup water 2 Tbsp cornstarch
DIRECTIONS Lightly dust shrimp with flour and pan fry. Set aside. Sauté onions and peppers in garlic butter to al dente. Pour in water, black pepper, and Goya Adobo (to taste). Drop in shrimp and bring to a slow roiling boil. Add slurry slowly, by tablespoon until thick. Discard the remainder. Serve over rice.
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A horse at sunset in Burwell, Nebraska
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Land By
Sea
By
Ginny Worthington
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WORDS BY CYNTHIA ROBINSON | PHOTOS BY GINNY WORTHINGTO N St. Simons professional photographer Ginny Worthington says she has only one regret when it comes to her current profession. “I wish I could go back to when my two sons were little with the camera and the skills I have now and take really nice portraits of them, instead of just everyday snapshots. I had a horrible camera when the kids were little,” she says with a laugh. Worthington, a South Carolina native, graduated from Winthrop University in business before spending more than 20 years in Texas teaching horseback riding, raising horses, and founding an equestrian-related nonprofit. She says she didn’t get her first “real” camera until 2014. Her father had recently died, and both her sons were away at college. She found herself searching for something else to do at this stage of her life.
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The rocky shore of the California coast
A sea lion in the Sea of Cortez in California
Land’s End off Cabo San Lucas, Baja, Mexico
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Painful Hands / Feet? Numbness & Tingling?
Cold or Burning Feet? Balance Problems? Loss of Sensation?
A whale in Mexico
“I got my first DLR camera, a Nikon D800, and the rest is history. I fell in love with photography. But it was like going from a scooter to a Ferrari. It was a steep learning curve. I shoot 100 percent manual settings and had to grow into it. I’m still growing into it,” she says. She decided to take her new camera on a National Geographic expedition of the Galapagos Islands. “I was able to keep in touch with the photographers leading the tour and was able to learn from them over the next three to four years.” Worthington immersed herself in learning all she could about her new craft. She also combined her new love of photography with her lifelong love of horses in 2018 when she took a workshop with well-known equestrian photographer, Tony Stromberg. “He is who I want to be when I grow up,” she says, laughing. That same year, her husband retired, and the couple relocated to the Golden Isles. “We visited here every summer for years and had a house on Jekyll Island for 10 years. We always loved coming here.” She not only established her home and photography business on St. Simons, but she brought along her beloved horse, Finn. “I have raised horses since I was seven years old, but Finn is my forever horse. He is the one who has the biggest heart and the one I love the most.” He is also the subject of some of her photographs, along with stunning images of sea life, birds, landscapes, wildlife, intimate family portraits, and more. Her photos have attracted attention around the world, including one rare photo she captured that was published in two marine biology textbooks, as well as an issue of National Geographic. “A friend was visiting, and we took a dolphin boat tour. The water was churning, and
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“Everybody sees the world through their own lens. Photography has opened my eyes to things I would have missed. I see a possible great picture that I wouldn’t have seen before.”
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the guide said that they were mating. You really couldn’t see anything, but I just started shooting,” she says. She didn’t realize that she captured a photo of a dolphin mating ritual until she uploaded the photos to her computer. “I looked and it and was like ‘wow!’” Worthington’s oldest son, then a film student, suggesting contacting marine textbook companies to see if they would be interested in the photo. She was put in touch with a marine biology textbook publisher, and the experts asked to use the photo, which was later picked up by National Geographic. “I had a marine biologist who told me he had seen photos like mine of dolphins in captivity, but never in the wild,” she says. “It was amazing. Sometimes it’s about being at the right place.”
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She also says getting that great shot often means spending many hours waiting, as well as taking photo after photo. “My advice is to take lots, and lots, and lots of photos. And look at lots of photos to see what styles capture your imagination. I look at photos online and social media. Photography is all about light. It is fleeting and if you catch it at the right time, you can capture that image. It might take all day and you may have to come back another day. It’s really a lot of waiting for the right moment,” she says.
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Worthington says some of her favorite photography spots include Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone. On one trip to take commercial photos for a ranch in Nebraska, she also was able to work as a ranch hand. “I got to get on a horse with my camera and got to play cowgirl. It
A flamingo in Maui
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was fantastic!” Photographing nature, however, presents numerous challenges. “I had a horse step on my video camera in Nebraska. Thank goodness, insurance covered it,” she says. She also encountered a mother grizzly and her cubs but was able to stay calm while they went on their way. “I’ve always been attracted to wildlife and nature. Some animals seem to interact intuitively. I’ve always loved animals, and they seem to love me back for the most part,” says Worthington, who adds she always respects the animals’ space and is as non-intrusive as possible. “The most fascinating thing I photographed in the Galapagos were the sea lions. They have no fear of people, so we were able to easily walk among them on the beach. I was able to photograph a sea lion with her newborn pup, which was an experience I’ll always remember. “I also had a cute thing happens to me during a trip to Baja Mexico. I was snorkeling off Cabo with some sea lion cubs. I had a Go-Pro in the water, and one of the cubs came up and booped the camera.” When deciding what to photograph, she tries to focus on the extraordinary. “Everybody sees the world through their own lens. Photography has opened my eyes to things I would have missed. I see a possible great picture that I wouldn’t have seen before,” she says. “A good travel image shows what the photographer saw. A great one reflects what they felt in the moment.” Worthington, who says she would love to travel to Iceland one day to photograph the aurora borealis, had photography trips planned for Scotland last year and Ireland this year. However, the pandemic put those on hold. Instead, she turned her camera to capturing the wild beauty of the Golden Isles. She also organized virtual photography talks in her role as the president of the Coastal Photographers Guild. “Instead of planning trips to capture imagines in places I’ve never seen, the pandemic made me literally look closer to my own backyard. If you look around, you can photograph anywhere. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful area here,” says Worthington, who is recovering from recent tennis elbow surgery. “I have been able to do some field trips with the Guild, and we had some well-known photographers give talks via Zoom.”
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Find her work: Worthington’s photography can be found at ginnyworthington.com. You can also follow her on Instagram @ginny.worthington.photography.
A horse runs on a farm in Idaho
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Worthington says she’s looking forward to more in-person Guild events. “We have about 80 members,” she says. “We all learn from each other. This year for our Big Photo Show (held June 29 to August 7), we wanted to create an atmosphere for novice photographers, so we had two categories — Aspiring and Experienced. We want to encourage new photographers and pass on those skills.” Although she continues to revel in photographing animals and nature and hopes to reschedule her trips abroad, she has been taking more individual and family portraits. “Taking portraits of people is probably the hardest for me, but I’ve been doing much more. The portraiture lens I just got is really sweet, and I’m really looking forward to using it.” Worthington says she now has her lens trained on the stars. “I’m finding that photos of the Milky Way take my breath away,” she says. “After that, who knows? Maybe Iceland or back to the Galapagos.”
A turtle in Maui
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Torres del Paine in Patagonia
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Professor From
to
Photographer
Phillip Mason
f
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY PHILLIP MASON
For as long as he can remember, Phillip Mason has been entranced by the beauty of the people, places, and especially, the animals that have surrounded him. But it was the latter that helped set both his professional and personal course in life. Growing up in Massachusetts, Mason developed an early love of wildlife, so much so that he pursued it as a career. He earned a doctorate in zoology and held a professorship at Berry, Unity, Elon, Fairmont State, and the College of Coastal Georgia. It was during his research in academia that he began to reconnect with a hobby he first picked up in junior high — photography. “I actually started back in eighth grade, when I bought a Ricoh 35mm camera and took a lot of slides. I loved it. I remained an interested beginner for many years, taking many pics for my research as a wildlife biologist and zoologist,” he says. Over the years, Mason’s interest and skills continued to grow. Photography started to become a key component of trips that he and his wife, Elaine, would take. In the early days, the couple would take smaller, shorter trips. They eventually built up to multi-week excursions where they immersed themselves fully in various cultures around the world. “We really love traveling, including trips off the beaten path so you get that exposure to various cultures. We enjoy learning about
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“Market Day,” features a woman in a Peruvian marketplace.
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other people ... how they live, their art, and history,” he says. There was certainly plenty of both to soak up on their trip to Florence, Italy, in 2017. The two rented an apartment for three weeks in the Tuscan city. There, they were fully ensconced in Old World art and architecture, including the Porta Romana, one of the city gates constructed in the early 14th century. “Additionally, we have visited the Swiss Alps in Lauderbrunen on three different occasions for the wonderful hiking and cultural opportunities,” he says. But Europe isn’t the only place where the couple has spent time. They have also traveled a great deal in South America. The Masons have visited Ecuador, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the Galapagos Islands. “Machu Picchu was, surprisingly, a very spiritual experience and visiting the Galapagos Islands fulfilled a longtime dream to explore the islands that Darwin visited,” he says.
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“That picture is like a magnet at a show. It always draws people in ... I don’t know if it’s her face and her expression or the colors but people really love it.”
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A lioness in Africa
“Sometimes we have a guide there for part of the trip, and we’ve also had a translator. But other times we set off on our own. I’ve gone out with the goal of not speaking English at all throughout the day. It’s a challenge.”
A sunrise in Patagonia
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Patagonia, in particular, holds a lot of special memories for them. It’s geographical features include snow covered peaks and ice fields along the Andes Mountain Range. “It really is such a beautiful place. We were in South America last year before the lockdown. We were supposed to go to Buenos Aires from Patagonia for more cultural exposure. We were able to do some fantastic hiking, but we didn’t get to much of the cultural side then,” he says. While that trip didn’t turn out as planned, the Masons’ multiple previous trips to South America have produced some stunning images. They love exploring small markets and lesser-known locations. And, while communication in these places can be a challenge, they do their best, either through translators or with bits of Spanish they’ve picked up throughout the years.
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Find his work: Mason frequently exhibits with the Coastal Photographers’ Guild, including the Big Photo Show held every July. His website is philmasonphotography. slickpic.org.
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“I actually started back in eighth grade, when I bought a Ricoh 35mm camera and took a lot of slides. I loved it. I remained an interested beginner for many years, taking many pics for my research as a wildlife biologist and zoologist.”
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“Sometimes we have a guide there for part of the trip and we’ve also had a translator. But other times we set off on our own. We have gone out with the goal of trying to communicate in our rudimentary Spanish. It’s a challenge,” he says with a laugh. But the sincere desire to communicate has proven endearing to those who live in the small villages. The Masons have spent evenings around the table with families who serve traditional dishes. And, he says, some of those can be quite ... exotic indeed. “I remember one day we were in Cuzco, Peru and traveling with this group of other travelers who were 55 and over. We were having a cultural evening at a home where they had this cage of guinea pigs in their kitchen ... and that’s what they served us for dinner, roasted guinea pig,” he says laughing. Being open to the cultural offerings has served the Masons well. Not only have they been able to connect with many people and learn much from them, he has also taken some truly exquisite photos. One of Mason’s most popular images, in fact, was taken in Peru. It features an elderly lady in a market, surrounded by other women with braids, black hats, and brightly colored shirts.
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Florence, Italy from the top of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
“We really love traveling off the beaten path so you get that exposure to various cultures. We enjoy learning about other people ... how they live, their art and history.”
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A Magellanic penguin in Argentina.
The Schilthorn above Murren, Switzerland
“That picture is like a magnet at a show. It always draws people in ... I don’t know if it’s her face and her expression, or the colors but people really love it,” he said. In fact, it was this image, titled “Market Day,” that won first place in the Coastal Photographers’ Guild’s 2019 Big Photo Show’s People category. But what Mason enjoys most is engaging with the other members and learning about their experiences. “It’s really nice to see everyone’s work and hear about the places they’ve been. It’s really just a group of people who love photography,” he says. That shared sense of interest has continued to fuel his passion for the medium. After traveling across the globe from China to Europe, Africa to Costa Rica, the Masons have found something familiar in each place. It’s a sense of commonality that’s present regardless of the country they visit. “No matter where you go, everybody out there is just doing what you’re doing in one way or another. They’re trying to make a living, raise their kids, take care of their relatives, and enjoy their lives,” he says. “When people travel, I think we often fret being accepted when all we need to do is just smile. That’s a uniquely human thing. It’s part of the human condition. So my biggest revelation is that we have much more in common than we have differences.”
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Childhood
inspiration leads to life of
exploration Tom Sweeney
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY TOM SWEENEY
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The grand palace in Bangkok, Thailand
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Inside, Tom Sweeney leaned on the cashier’s counter, cheerfully chatting with a volunteer. On this particular afternoon, the seasoned photographer had made himself available for guests stopping by to take in the exhibition in the gallery. His work was paired with Craig Farnsworth’s woodworking and Mary Farnsworth’s basketry. But it was Sweeney’s turn to be the artist on hand to personally share his stories and images with visitors.
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Throughout the gallery, Sweeney’s vibrant work wove a cascade of colors around the room. A brilliant Driftwood Beach sunset was situated over an antique fireplace. On the opposite wall, a shrimp boat on the Darien waterfront sat juxtaposed against a blazing orange sky. But the familiar marshes and live oaks weren’t the only subjects on display. There were many exotic photographs, set in distant lands ranging from the Far East to the top of the world and many places in between. Traveling and photographing these locations was a dream Sweeney first developed in childhood.
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Newfoundland
Goodyear Cottage glistened in the Sunday sun, showering the Jekyll Island Historic District with light. The building, constructed in 1906 by lumber baron Frank Goodyear, is now a hub of creativity as it houses the Jekyll Island Arts Association.
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The Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand
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The Northern Lights in Iceland
“I became interested in photography as a teenager growing up in Pittsburgh. I would read hand-me-down copies of National Geographic Magazine and dream of the places and creatures on the glossy pages. I told myself that I would someday go and photograph those places and animals myself,” he recalls, standing in front of a series of his framed prints. And, he did just that. As an adult, Sweeney worked for the IBM Corporation, which afforded him the opportunity to travel across the country. “I thought, ‘Man, this is really neat.’ So as I traveled, I would take my camera with me even back then, which were the days of film. But I would usually shoot in slide film,” he says. “I loved Ansel Adams and the composition of his work.” The inspiration fueled Sweeney’s passion to refine his skills. Over the years, he became a highly decorated fine art photographer, securing Best in Show Awards both locally and in other states. But even with the accolades, he was compelled to dive deeper, going beyond simple pretty pictures to get at the heart of the scenes he captures. “I have loved this journey I’ve been on. I’ve been able to capture so many things and it just gives
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The Gullfoss Waterfall in Selfoss, Iceland
A coastline in Newfoundland
Ginkaku-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan
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Strasbourg, France
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you a warm feeling in your soul. People talk so much about your heart ... they never really talk about the soul. But it’s the thing that drives us,” Sweeney says. “I have such gratitude that people see my work in galleries and it touches their soul. It wakes up the same emotion in them that I had when I took the photograph.” He brings a palpable sense of wonder to each location that he captures. Whether documenting Kirkjufell Mountain in Iceland, the French countryside, or a village in Germany, that transferable experience between artist and viewer is ever-present. It’s similar to the connection between photographer and subject.
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As Sweeney traveled through Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, and many other countries, he found a sense of sameness rather than a disconnect over backgrounds or beliefs. “There is a peace about the Far East that makes you fall more in love with human beings. If you forget about whether people are Muslims, Buddhists, or Christians, you find that they are all so peaceful and so loving,” he says with a wistful smile. “There’s a beauty that’s in human beings and it’s that soul that comes out and shines on our faces. It’s a happiness that comes from the heart. And I’ve seen it on the faces of these people who have nothing, certainly not the kinds of pleasures that we have in America when it comes to material goods or wealth. But they’re so happy. They don’t need it.”
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One of his favorite photographs features one the Karenni people, also known as the “Red Karen.” They are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority of Myanmar. The women famously wear many gold rings around their necks.
Kirkjufell in Iceland
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Find his work: Sweeney frequently exhibits at Goodyear Cottage on Jekyll Island and at the St. Simons Island Welcome Center. His website is tomsweeneyphotography.com and his Instagram handle is @tomsweeneyphotography.
Homes on a coast in Newfoundland
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A bird in Venice, Italy
“They are indigenous to Myanmar but they’ve been persecuted for many years. More and more of them have been pushed out and into Thailand,” he said. “They didn’t have much materially, but they were so happy.” The ancient history and stories of these unfamiliar cultures has continued to intrigue Sweeney. And sharing the sacred spaces of temples and ashrams has proved particularly poignant. “It’s fascinating how these countries develop their culture. For instance, Shintoism is really neat because it’s about seeing God in everything and anything that’s living ... a vegetable growing, a flower, a tree, a bird, and all animals. They believe they all have God inside them and within us,” he says. These perspectives have moved Sweeney, who is also a very spiritual person. He’s grateful to be able to capture and share this sense of tranquility through his images. “It’s been wonderful to be able to do that. You really see that there is so much beauty all around the world,” he says. “And especially that peacefulness of the Far East.”
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A diver over a shipwreck in Roatan, Honduras
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adventures
t
and
Jim Squires
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON | PHOTOS BY JIM SQUIRES
The little boy’s brown eyes sparkled. His smile shined with a sincerity only possible in childhood. “That was in the Solomon Islands. We were there for two weeks for a scuba diving trip. That was the last trip before COVID,” Jim Squires says. “The people in the villages put on a dance for us, and that little boy dressed up for his part. Children are great subjects. They don’t strike a pose the way that adults are kind of trained to do. When they see a lens, they’re themselves.” Squires has loved to capture the innocence of childhood from his international travel. Like the youngster in the Solomon Islands, they all exude a sense of carefree joy that never seems to translate to adulthood. “We were in the Cayman Islands at a park, and I was walking around. I see these children playing. These two brothers were hunting lizards,” he says with a laugh. “So I talked to their mother, explained that I was a photographer and asked if I might photograph them, which I always do of course. She said yes. I got this great shot when they caught the lizard. He was so proud of it, and you can just see it in his face.” Squires has a similar story from Italy when a small girl was pretending that she could fly with a group of
pigeons gathered in a city’s plaza. “That photo was actually on the cover of a children’s magazine because they liked it so much,” he says. “She was adorable … running on the cobblestones with all the pigeons, trying to fly.” Squires artistic appreciation for the exuberance of youth comes after spending decades in early childhood education. The native New Englander spent more than 20 years teaching the discipline at institutes of higher learning including Rutgers University and the University of Vermont. “I have a deep background in education. My wife is from Georgia so she’s the reason I moved South,” he says. “When I first came to Georgia full-time, I worked as the general manager of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, where I did some grant work. Then, I went to work in education policy research.” But his love of photography came much earlier. When he was a child, in fact. His parents were both inquisitive people who loved exploring and trying new things. They both inspired him to do the same. “I’ve always been interested in photography. My mother would take pictures of anything that moved,” he says.
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Squires’ own talent behind the camera developed organically. He never had any formal training outside of a few recent workshops. But he honed his craft through experience.
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“My father loved gadgets, and I would play with their Polaroid camera. They traveled a lot, and I would always look forward to seeing the photographs of the places they went when they left us behind.”
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“That really got me excited about the magic of photography. You can take photographs and make them come to life.” As he moved into adulthood, Squires found other passions that fit perfectly into his evolving love of photography. Two of those were scuba diving and international travel. He’s visited everywhere from the Arctic Circle down to South America. He’s also extensively explored the American West. In each place he’s gone, Squires has discovered that certain truths transcend borders or boundaries. “Mark Twain had a great quote that said, in part, ‘Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,’” he says. “That’s true. The world is a pretty friendly place. No matter where I travel, I learn something about people and places, the natural history and wildlife. I learn things about myself. I’m very fortunate to be able to have traveled the places I have.” That includes trips to the Sinai desert, a voyage he made even before the advent of digital photography. It was a trip that Squires will never forget.
“The world is a pretty friendly place. No matter where I travel, I learn something about people and places, the natural history and wildlife. I learn things about myself. I’m very fortunate to be able to have traveled the places I have.”
Deep sea exploration through a crack in the reef in Grand Turk Island, Turks and Caicos
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A child with a lizard on Grand Cayman Island
A silhouette in the Siani desert
“I think it was 1979, before digital. I decided to travel to Israel, and at the time, the Sinai desert was part of Israel. I went camping in the desert with a tourist group,” he says. “These nomadic folks were hiking up this huge sand dune where there was this lone rock formation. One of them walked behind it as the sun was setting and gave this great silhouette. It was really incredible to be out there in the middle of nowhere, walking in the footsteps of Moses.” While Squires has poignant memories of deserts and mountains, the world beneath the ocean’s waves has become equally beloved. The avid diver has captured all sorts of images of this aquatic universe that so few are able to experience. “I like to do underwater photography and show my photographs to people with the hope of exciting them about what lies beneath the water and to also help them look at conservation through the lens,” he says.
A sunset along the coast in Sagres, Portugal
Whether it’s children playing in the Pacific or a school of fish swimming through a coral reef, Squires’ work aims to share a sense of wonder and unity. “I shoot photography for myself to preserve memories and show them to people. If they like them, great, if not that’s OK because it’s my own visual diary,” he says. “But if you think about those iconic photographs we’ve seen, they linger with us. There’s a sort of spiritual aspect that reminds us of our humanity and our place in the cosmos. I think it speaks to everything.”
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A polar bear in Svalbard, Norway
Find his work: Squires’ work is available at squiresjames.photoshelter. com. He is active with the Coastal Georgia Photographers’ Guild and supports the gallery at Creative Frameworks in Brunswick.
An endless wall of schoolling jacks in A child in the Solomon Islands
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Cabo Pulmo, Mexico
Kylemore Abbey in Galway, Ireland
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better together Couple makes lifelong friends through travel
Johnny and Hannah Warren
H
WORDS BY LINDSEY ADKISON PHOTOS BY JOHNNY AND HANNAH WARREN
Hannah Warren picks up one of the many hardback books situated on the sofa. Flipping through its glossy pages, she pauses. “See, I like to take pictures of flowers,” she says with a smile, pointing to an image of vivid red hydrangeas. “When we take pictures, we have our minds on two completely different things. But we get double the pictures.” Her husband, Johnny, seated in a recliner, nods and smiles. “I like to photograph interesting architectural components,” the retired attorney and judge concedes. The Warrens have definitely been able to get plenty of both throughout their extensive travel. The journey began back in 1967 when the two were wed in Dublin, Georgia. “I was the only person she ever dated and she was the only person I ever dated,” Johnny says with a smile. The couple settled down and began running a number of businesses in their hometown, including a photography studio.
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Johnny was the primary photographer, shooting portraits and capturing weekend weddings. It wasn’t long before they were presented with an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. “An airline, I think, was running a travel special for $299 for two for three days in the Bahamas,” he recalls. “That was our first trip,” Hannah adds. But it would be far from their last. Hannah’s father, an appliance dealer in Dublin, often won trips courtesy of General Electric (GE) as a reward for meeting high sales quotas. And, since her parents didn’t travel, Hannah and Johnny happily accepted the tickets.
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“Hannah’s brother took the one to Japan. He gave us his trips to Denmark and Sweden,” Johnny recalls says. “And Puerto Rico. That whetted our appetite.” “That’s how we got the bug,” Hannah nods with a grin. The two fell in love with travel and made plans to visit Europe as often as they could. They would often seek out specials and make wallet-friendly trips across the pond. “In 73 or 74, we found an American Express special that was a bus tour around England,” Johnny said. The two put the brakes on trips for a while to focus on their education and family. The couple put themselves through college. Hannah eventually obtained three degrees, working as an educator. Johnny pursued his lifelong goal of becoming a lawyer. It certainly wasn’t an easy balance to strike, as they were holding down multiple day jobs while trying to raise small children. “I didn’t go to law school until I was 29. We had three convenience stores, a coin laundry, the photography studio and camera shop. So we’ve actually both been in photography for a while,” he says.
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A museum dedicated to French sculptor
The Eiffel Tower in Paris
Frederic Auguste Bartholdi Colmar, France
Ruins of a monastery in Clonmacnoise, Ireland
“When we take pictures, we have our minds on two completely different things. But we get double the pictures.” A Wittenberg church door in Germany
City hall at night in
A carving of Decebalus along the
Brussels, Belgium
Danube River between Serbia and Romania
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The Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct, near Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France The Monet Gardens in Giverny, France
The Neckar River view from Heidelberg Castle in Germany Nuremberg, Germany
The Doolough Pass in County Mayo, Ireland
The Renvyle Peninsula in Ireland
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“But I learned very quickly that I needed to follow my wishes to go to law school. So, we ran those businesses, and I actually drove from Dublin to Atlanta four nights a week for 36 months to go to law school. I would work in the day time then drive to Atlanta in the afternoon go to class at 5:30 get out at 9:30 and then drive back.” Their hard work and sacrifices paid off and the Warrens had very successful careers. They raised two daughters, Michelle and Heather, and today they have two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family has always been closely-knit, and travel played a role in that as well. For instance, one of their daughters and her family moved to Brussels, Belgium, for work. That provided an ideal base for the Warrens, who would take multi-week trips to both visit and later to explore surrounding countries on their own.
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All told, they’ve traveled to dozens of countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Hungry, France, Greece, Turkey, Prague, Italy, and Ireland. And it was this last country that’s really become a second home to them. “People here know us as the ‘people who go to Ireland all the time,’” Johnny says with a laugh. “We actually thought about retiring there. But we didn’t. We are going back in September though,” Hannah adds. “We’ve gone 21 times in 23 years.” While they adore the stunning landscapes and the pastoral culture, it’s the people that keeps them returning to the Emerald Isle. They’ve befriended shop and hotel owners, many of whom they’ve known for years. Johnny, a long active Rotarian, even kept up his perfect club attendance by visiting meetings there.
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“It’s really the people that keep us going back,” Johnny says. “For us, it’s about the relationships.” Hannah nods. “You meet the nicest people when you travel,” she says. And they make sure to keep all of their fond memories close. Hannah loves to hop on the computer to digitally design coffee table photo albums with all of their trips neatly laid out. They’re categorized by year and location. “I really love doing it because you pull them out and you have all of these memories,” she says turning the page in one of their many Ireland editions. “Before we had digital cameras, we’d print the photos ... and of course, they’re tucked away in a box upstairs.” For the Warrens, the images they snap serve as priceless souvenirs of irreplaceable moments in time. “We just really take the pictures for ourselves, but they’re really special to us,” she says.
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Join Our Community Celebration! Mason Water & The Groove All-Stars
Purchase Tickets at
Friday, December 3rd www.BGCSEGA.com Celebrating Local Heroes Show your appreciation for our local first responders’ tireless efforts and dedication to the fight against COVID-19 by purchasing an admission ticket to Merry Mixer to be donated to local members of our Police, Fire, EMT, and Medical Teams. 94
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Find Their work: Hannah and Johnny Warren are active members of the Coastal Photographers’ Guild and share many of their photographs through the organization’s shows and exhibitions.
Kinderdijk, the Netherlands
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NOISEMAKERS
THE LOTHAR FAMILY WORDS BY LARRY HOBBS PHOTOS BY DERRICK DAVIS
R Right here.
tie-dyed shirt is Swen Knight, the 47-year-old silent partner who forged this whole thing.
Even when he was a self-described high school slacker, lost amid the swaying masses at some jam band festival, Sam
Together they are Lothar Family, which is pretty much what
Rumph knew that where he really needed to be was right
happens when jam band mentality meets the staples that
here.
have fostered classic rock from the FM era to the age of Spotify. With a repertoire that spans everything from Marshall
Right here is a makeshift outdoor stage tucked into a cramped
Tucker’s “Can’t You See” to Phish’s “Everything’s All Right,” the
space where the Pier Village parking lot meets the front porch
Lothar Family sound is striking a pleasing chord with the local
of Brogen’s pub on St. Simons Island.
nightlife crowd.
Right here the black-bearded young man stands in shorts,
The band’s rendition of the Pink Floyd standard is immediately
T-shirt and a ball cap, imbuing Pink Floyd’s “Breathe” with a
recognizable on this fine June night along the coast, where
slide guitar solo that smacks of Macon, which is perhaps fitting.
gentle sea breezes stir the palpably-muggy night air outside at
Standing beside Sam is fellow guitarist Casey Moss, his salt-
Brogen’s. But for those in this eclectic crowd who are paying
and-pepper beard speaking to the generations of musical
attention, Lothar Family’s take on “Breathe” makes no pre-
influence that separate and connect the two. Off to one side
tense of sticking to a musical script. It is evident when Sam
stands Cole Glasscock, happy in his own world of thumping
takes that slide on his left ring finger for a walk around the
riffs — like all good rock-and-roll bass players. Perched behind
guitar’s fret boards, just after Casey croons the song’s second
a drum set in the back corner with a ponytail hanging down a
verse.
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Macon born and bred, Sam’s dad’s Allman Brothers album,
Sam holds the bad habits at bay today, gaining clarity of focus
Decade of Hits, 1969-79, is about as good a place as any to
in the balance. And for a dude whose outside interests range
start tracking his musical influence. That and, of course, some
from fly fishing to soul food, Sam’s music has taken center stage.
Grateful Dead. And those efforts earned results. His smooth slide work, jam-influ“I never thought about it,” Sam says. “But, yeah, I guess the
enced picking and laidback vocals clicked with Swen, who first
Allman Brothers. My dad had that album. And I remember
heard Sam play a couple of years ago at Open Mic Night at
listening to Skeletons in the Closet a lot. A lot of Dead.”
Palm Coast in the island’s Pier Village.
Sam picked up the guitar in adolescence, after his parents
Then came Casey, whose strong bluegrass background shines
balked at the notion of him shaking the rafters of their home
in crisp, fluid guitar solos with Lothar Family. Cole’s solid bass
with a drum set.
playing rounds out this recent incarnation of the band.
“I’m sure I got just as loud with the guitar,” Sam says. “I played a
“This is great,” Swen says. “I’ll try to keep this lineup as long as I can.”
lot of … I don’t know, what’s it called?” Casey’s seasoned musicianship and Sam’s fresh enthusiasm Classic rock?
fit nicely at the forefront of Lothar Family’s act. The two interchangeably blend rhythm and lead work, fluent in the unspo-
“Yeah, ‘Sweet Home Alabama,’ ‘Smoke on the Water.’ But, I
ken language expressed only in music. And neither is shy about
mean, I really never played a lot of songs early on. It was more
stepping up to the mic.
about improvisation.” “Sam and Cole don’t just play music; they love music,” Swen Sam’s formal training ended early on, when his “awesome
says. “And it shows. And Sam’s slide play just keeps getting bet-
guitar teacher” moved away. Influenced heavily by the jam
ter; I’m really encouraging that.”
sounds of Phish, Sam even stood in with a band that picked up a couple of gigs his senior year.
OK, so a stage where the parking lot ends and a pub’s front porch begins is not exactly the big time. But that is not the point
But distractions abounded back then, bad habits chief among
for Sam and the family.
them. Yet, through it all, Sam sensed that he should be more than just a face in the crowd of the music scene.
“It’s all about the energy and the experience,” Sam says. “It’s about something new happening — something that has never
“Even when I wasn’t playing much, and when I was in my, you
happened before, and it’s happening now. In that moment.
know, my using phase, I remember being at shows and feeling
That’s what music is to me.”
like I should be up there,” Sam says. “Like I should be up there creating instead of out here experiencing.”
And it is all right here.
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COASTAL SEEN
Susan and Rick Bartow
Ford, from left, Lauren, Lee, and Grace Hopkins
Sara Giannakakis, left, and Mary Ann Linde
Sunday, left, and Bill Cook
THE FOURTH OF JULY Residents and tourists celebrated the 245th Independence Day with events in downtown Brunswick and Jekyll and St. Simons islands. Golf cart parades, fireworks displays, and live music could be found throughout the area. Photo assistance by Terry Dickson On the front row are Kelly Sigman, from left, Doreen Sigman, Brandon Sigman, and Lea Mae Smith. On the back row is Morgan Keck, left, and Ashleigh Purvis
Dawn Morgan and Kristin Whelan
On the back row are Alyssa and Josh Bruce, from left, Whitney Herndon, Lauren Doucet, and David Herndon. On the front row are Emily Herndon, left, and Presley Keyler
Marcia Stuart, from left, Nancy Bryant, and Betty Ellis
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Meg Spears, from left, Rebecca Parmelee, Erin O’Connell, and Sarah Guest
William Templeton as Button Gwinnett
Ryan and Jessica Lamb with Selah and Canon
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COASTAL SEEN
Joyce Ledingham
Mary Anderson, left, and Lynne Sechler
Lisa Welsh, left, and Louise Viaggio
Paula Watts, left, and Louise Eaton
Lauren Moyer, from left, Terri Evans, Ginny Worthington, and Cheryl Fisher
GALLERIES HOST ART CRAWL The St. Simons Art Crawl recently featured work by dozens of local artists. Five galleries participated in the event. Those included ArtTrends, Anderson Fine Art Gallery, the Artist’s Annex Gallery, Wallin Gallery, and Glynn Visual Arts. The galleries often join forces to promote art through similar events during the year.
Lynne Sechler, from left, Sue Clements, Susan Anderson, and Stephanie Dixon
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G O L DEN I S LES
COASTAL SEEN
Daniel Jackson, left, and William Ours
Gustav Bernstein, left, and Katie Ann Walsh
William Gibson
Nataly Beard, left, and Lily Tillman
GOLDEN ISLES ARTS AND HUMANITIES’ PENGUIN PROJECT Golden Isles Arts and Humanities recently hosted Penguin Project, an annual performance for actors with special needs. The cast members are paired with mentors who help them learn their lines and prepare for the show. This year, they staged Bye Bye Birdie Jr. For details about the Penguin Project, visit goldenislesarts.org.
Sierra Griner, left, and Morgan Keck
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COASTAL SEEN
Duane Harris, from left, Nicole Williams, Carol Harris, Chris Woodward, and Spud Woodward
KEEP GOLDEN ISLES BEAUTIFUL’S COMMUNITY JUBILEE Keep Golden Isles Beautiful recently hosted its Community Jubilee fundraiser at the Tree Bar at Bennie’s Red Barn on St. Simons Island. The proceeds went to continue the nonprofit’s mission of keeping the area “clean, green, and beautiful.” A raffle was held, as was an online up-cycled auction.
Lea King-Badnya, left, and Christy Trowbridge
Peg Corry, from left, Will Corry, and Brian Corry
Burt Bray, from left, Bev Latvala, and Lori and Mike Tigani
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Jay and Mary Morrison
Lynn Haraleruad, from left, Betsy Clark, and Wyn Alexander
COASTAL SEEN
Lorna Bean, from left, Julie Ackerman, and Lynn Love
COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS’ JUNEBALAYA Communities in Schools recently hosted its Junebalaya fundraiser at Village Creek Landing on St. Simons Island. Walker and Sam Tuten of Nashville performed. The nonprofit helps students meet their needs for scholastic success.
Ben and Tonya Smith
Beth Richardson, left, and Melissa Purvis
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COASTAL SEEN
Alan Youngner, from left, Steve Krowder, the Rev. Alan Ackridge, Rosalinda Krowder, and Kathleen Ackridge
Greg Crosby, from left, Mari Crosby, James Turner, Maggie Lusher, and Zack Crosby
Charys Graham, from left, Margie Harris, and Louisa Nightingale
HELLO GOODBUY MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY Hello Goodbuy, a nonprofit resale store and an outreach of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Brunswick, recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary. The group held a barbecue dinner on land adjacent to the store. In its tenure, the store has allowed the church to donate more than $1 million to community programs. In June, it awarded more than $65,000 to 18 local charities. In addition to marking the milestone, the attendees also dedicated a bench to a former volunteer, the late Harold “Jug” McKenzie.
Alice Nightingale, from left, Troupe Nightingale, and Louisa Nightingale
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The Heart Strings of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
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Deliver your decorated bra to the Foundation by
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VOTE
Bras will be on display in Brunswick and Camden at Southeast Georgia Health System. Vote for $1 at either campus, or vote online at wearethefoundation.org
OCTOBER 1ST - 31ST
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The Historic Ritz Theatre in Downtown Brunswick
NOVEMBER 5TH, 6 P.M.
For more information, visit wearethefoundation.org or call 912-466-3360. Proceeds benefit Southeast Georgia Health System cancer care programs.
