Beaufort August September 2012

B EAUFORT, P ORT R OYAL A ND T HE S EA I SLANDS

Ron Parker

From Sea Island to

Seattle

august/september 2012

CONTRIBUTORS

Cindy Reid has been published in About Town, skirt!, Salon.com and TheCoastal Mariner. A graduate of Mills College in Oakland, CA, she spent most of her career working with authors in the retail book business before becoming one herself. She has a daughter who lives in the state of Washington. A native of New York’s Hudson Valley, she now makes her home on St. Helena Island, SC.

An adventurous and inveterate traveler, Mary Ellen, originally from the Main Line of Philadelphia, is now equally at home on St Helena or on the road without reservations. Her best pieces of work ever are a daughter in New York and a son in Denver. Having lived on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and later on the canals in France, she was drawn to Beaufort by the tide, and is waiting to see where it takes her next.

Mary Ellen Thompson Susan Deloach was born Susan Bessinger in Beaufort, where she still resides with her husband Larry and sons Hudson and Tucker. Susan has a gift for capturing the personality and unique essence of her subject whether on location or in the studio.

Her portraits are as diverse as the personalities of the people she photographs - some are edgy, some joyful, but all have one thing in common: the sensitive, skilled and thoughtful approach of the artist behind the camera.

Susan Deloach John Wollwerth is a photographer raised in New York, now living in Beaufort. He specializes in wedding and commercial photography, with additional background in portrait and stock photography. His work has appeared in such publications as The Washington Post, the Minneapolis Tribune, Coastal Living, and South Carolina Homes and Gardens. John is involved with the Photography Club of Beaufort and the Professional Photographer of South Carolina. He is also involved with humanitarian and missions work in Africa. He lives with his wife and three children.

John Wollwerth

Cindy Reid August/September 2012

One Beaufort Town Center 2015 Boundary Street, Suite 311 Beaufort, SC 29902 (843) 379-8696

Julie Hales owner/publisher julie@idpmagazines.com Victoria Patterson officer manager victoria@idpmagazines.com Lane Gallegos layout & design lane@idpmagazines.com Lea Allen administrative assistant/circulation lea@idpmagazines.com

Clark Byron is a freelance writer and author in Savannah and Beaufort whose services are much in demand. He also enjoys cooking, making music and is an avid reader.

In addition to writing books with other client/authors, Clark is in the process if finishing his own novel. He is proud to be writing for Independence Day Publishing and all three of its fine community publications.

Clark Byron Located in Port Royal, SC, Paul Nurnberg’s national and local clients include Beaufort Memorial Hospital, JCB Inc., Spring Island, TCL, and The Tefair Museum of Art. In addition to work for dozens of trade and business publications, he also photographs for many consumer magazines including: People, Southern Accents, Coastal Living, Food Arts, and Elegant Bride. During the year Paul teaches photography classes at ArtWorks and through his studio and photographs select weddings and individual portraits.

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LETTERS TO THE PUBLISHER Write to us and tell us what you think. Beaufort Lifestyle welcomes all letters to the publisher. Please send all letters via email to Julie Hales at julie@ idpmagazines.com, or mail letters to One Beaufort Town Center, 2015 Boundary Street, Suite 311 Beaufort, SC 29902. Letters to the publisher must have a phone number and name of contact. Phone numbers will not be published.

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS Beaufort Lifestyle welcomes story ideas from our readers. If you have a story idea, or photo essay you would like to share, please submit ideas and material by emailing Julie Hales at julie@idpmagazines.com All articles and photos will be reviewed by the publisher, and if the articles and accompanying photos meet the criteria of Independence Day Publishing, Inc., the person submitting the material will be contacted. Stories or ideas for stories must be submitted by email. Only feature stories and photo essays about people, places or things in Beaufort, Port Royal or the Sea Islands will be considered.

Beaufort Lifestyle is published bimonthly by Independence Day Publishing, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

CONTENTS August/September 2012

features

10 From Sea Island To Seattle

St. Helena’s Ron Parker Tackles The NFL

16 Matt Straut

Local Tennis Captain And Player

24 Beaufort’s Future Olympians Team Beaufort’s Shining Stars

30 The New Sport in Town

Dragon Boating? Learn All About It.

36 Robert Johnstone

A Marince Competing in Mixed Martial Arts.

40 Clint Wright

High School Football Spotlight

44 Trey Arant

High School Wrestling Spotlight

48 Goldon House Gallery

departments

53 Low Country Weddings 58 Dining Guide Griffin Market

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PUBLISHER’S Thoughts

On the Cover

Looking ahead... three years and counting.

Ron Parker, CB for the Seattle Seahawks

-Cover Photo by PAUL NURNBERG

Connect with us on Facebook. Be the first to know what is going on with Beaufort Lifestyle and what new and exciting things we are working on.

Become a fan today.

As we were preparing this issue, I had to slow down for a moment and think about where we are, where we have been and where we are going.

I guess it is only normal to think this way as this issue rounds out a complete three years of publishing Beaufort Lifestyle.

It has been a quick three years. It seems like only yesterday that we unveiled the cover of our very first issue at our official Launch Party at Habersham. Since then, we have had some great times, met some wonderful people and experienced many “magical” moments.

Now, we are making plans for our 3 Year Anniversary Party! Our next issue, October/ November will be a special issue, packed with wonderful stories on our local people and wonderful highlights about our community. We will have details of this special event posted on our Facebook page and on our website. Make sure you are on the lookout for the time and Julie Hales, PUBLISHER place....you don’t want to miss this event!

Since the inception of Beaufort Lifestyle, our goal has been to provide Beaufort, Port Royal and the Sea Islands with its own community magazine, a publication that believes in community and the people who make it their home.

As we are making plans for our anniversary party, we are also making plans to show our support for a non-profit organization in this community. This year, we have chosen Dragon Boat Beaufort to be the recipient of this endeavor.

At our 3 Year Anniversary party, we will be having a Silent Auction with all proceeds benefitting DBB. We will choose a non-profit every year for this fundraiser and make it an annual event to help different organizations in our community.

We hope that you will join us in our celebration and also help us in our efforts to give back to the community. If you have something you would like to donate to the auction, please feel free to call or email me. We are in the process now of obtaining auction items and already have some great ones secured. The items will also be seen on our Facebook Page in the next few weeks....so, keep a look out....you might find a great deal and help a worthy cause at the same time.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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From Sea Island to

Seattle

St. Helena’s Ron Parker tackles the NFL. Story by CINDY REID Photography by PAUL NURNBERG

H

umility is not often associated with NFL football players. The nature of their profession calls for an assertive, if not aggressive personality. But spend a few minutes talking with Ron Parker, native son of St. Helena Island, and currently an NFL player with the Seattle Seahawks and his humility comes shining through. Born and raised right here, Ron says “I spent the first five years of my life in Port Royal, and then we moved to St. Helena Island, where I grew up way down by Hunting Island.”

Ron says he had a good start in his football career at Beaufort High School. “I started as a cornerback when I was a junior, which is the position I play today, and then I was a free safety my senior year.” He says of his high school coach, Mark Clifford, “He was a really good coach. “ When asked what the most valuable lesson he learned from Coach Clifford, Ron paused and thought for a minute. Then he looked up and said determinedly, “I learned to play through adversity.”

After graduating from Beaufort High School, Ron attended a junior college, but was looking for something more. After transferring to Newberry College he found the right fit. He says, “Coach Todd Knight started me out slow my first year, and then the second year I picked it up.” Picked it up? There’s that humility. Check out Ron’s statistics from the Newberry College

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Athletic Department’s website….

2010: The Sporting News Preseason All-American... Lindy’s First Team Preseason All-American... Consensus Draft Services Preseason All-American... D2Football.com Preseason first team All-American...

2009: South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year... Don Hansen’s Football Gazette First Team AllAmerican... D2Football.com Second Team All-American...

DAKTRONICS Second Team All-American... The State Newspaper All-South Carolina... Orangeburg Touchdown Club All-South Carolina... DAKTRONICS First Team All-Super Region Two... All-South Atlantic Conference First Team... South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, October 19...

At college Ron says he was “Always trying to get better. The path was cleared for me to always improve.” And today he has the same attitude, saying “I never think I am all done and can’t get better. And I like going back to Newberry and working out with the team. I like to talk to the guys and lead by example.”

Pro Career Ron graduated from Newberry with a degree in Sports Management, completing his education before embarking on a

pro football career. He was picked up by the Seattle Seahawks, but after his first year there, he went to the Oakland Raiders. Ron says , “It was a business decision I made at the time, but then the Seahawks exercised their ‘right’ and claimed me back in October 2011. “ He says “Seattle is good, that’s where all my brothers are at, and it is beautiful city and great place to live.”

He credits his professional success to growing up in a small town, “attending a small high school and a small college, those environments all helped me get to where I am now.” He says the biggest surprise about being in the NFL was, “Going up against the best. I couldn’t believe that I was competing against the best players, making plays on a high level.” When asked if they hit hard at that level he laughed and said, “They hit hard but that’s right up my alley!”

The Seahawks fans are famous for being loud; in fact their stadium is considered the loudest in the NFL. The fans even have their own number, homage to their passionate cheering, collectively they are known as “Number 12”. The point is to support their team of course, but also to intimidate the opposition.

When asked how he handled being out there on the field in the midst of the bedlam, Ron laughed and said, “It brings me more energy

Beaufort and I will see all my friends and family there.”

Part of a close knit family, Ron says, “All of my family is here.

My Dad’s side is in Port Royal and my Mom’s side is on St. Helena.” Ron’s mother, Rose Parker, works at the Lady’s Island Montessori School and his father, Ronzo Parker is a truck driver.

Sister Ronique also works at the Montessori School and Ron’s identical twin brother Donald works with Ron in Seattle, helping his brother throughout the season. Ron made sure to mention his first cousin, Justin Parker, who is making a big name for himself as a linebacker at Clemson. “He really has what it takes” Ron says of Justin. “He is definitely a player to watch. So sorry Gamecock fans, I pull for Clemson!”

Wherever his career takes him, Ron says,” I would like to come back here to Beaufort because there is no place like home.”

and gets me ready to go!”

New Season The Seahawks will have started training camp by the time this goes to press, which Ron says, “Feels like home.” They also have new uniforms this year (not pictured here), designed by Nike, Ron says “They are very sharp.” A relatively new team, the Seahawks joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team. They have made one Superbowl appearance, in 2006, but lost the game to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But as every sports fan knows, every season is a new opportunity. As Ron says, “This could be our year, we have a great team, and a hungry team, and we can do it!”

No Place like Home “I like travelling, I like being on the road but there really is no place like home” Ron says. “I definitely miss lowcountry cooking, and all the seafood.”He says the game he is most looking forward to this season is the Seahawks against the Carolina Panthers, held in North Carolina, because “It is the game that is closest to

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Tennis Anyone?

Matthew Straut Can Get You In The Game.

Story by CLARK BYRON Photography by VICTORIA PATTERSON

Is tennis your racquet?

Matthew Straut is the guy to see in Beaufort. Straut, an appliance repair company owner for over 13 years, has captained local teams for the past 15 years in the US Tennis Association activities in Beaufort. The USTA is a national organization that produces competitive league play for the higher level players, both men and women.

He is an accomplished tennis player in his own right.

Straus and his family moved to Beaufort in 1992 from Connecticut. He was a soccer player. In fact, he met his wife playing soccer. “There wasn’t really any soccer here for adults at the time,” said Straut. “I had to do something so I got into tennis that fall.”

He joined the USTA the following spring, and by 1994 started captaining teams.

That’s how he became a tennis player. USTA tennis is something you play locally.

Players have to win their leagues locally and then advance to the state championship. The winner of the state championship advances to sectionals, and on to nationals. “It gives you something to play for,” said Straut.

According to Staut, numerous Beaufort teams in different levels of play and different brackets, primarily the men’s mixed combo, have made it to the state championships. “Personally, I’ve never been past the semifinals at state,” he said. There are the men’s leagues in the spring, mixed doubles in the summer, and then combo doubles – same gender – mixed level in the fall.

In his 15 years of playing and leading the group, Straut has seen players come and go. “I’ve been here long enough to make it through several generations of players. Here in Beaufort, there has always been a pretty good group of core players,” he said.

“I was in my mid 20s when we moved here so I was one of the youngest and now I’m finding I am not.” At 45, Straut finds that there are a lot of younger players now.

The leagues used to play Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings on the courts across from the national cemetery.

People would come by and see them playing and ask about participation. Play has since moved to several other locations such as Beaufort High School and Beaufort Academy. There’s

also a group over at Habersham on the clay court.

Mixed doubles are at Beaufort Academy and Rose Hill in Bluffton.

“A lot of people when they come into town will meet somebody and someone will give them my name for the men’s teams,” he said.

There are also a couple of women who have been involved for a long time.

One is Cathy McGill, who also gives Straut’s name to interested players. McGill and Straut used to be on the board of the Beaufort Tennis Association. She also runs the Beaufort Splash Tournament each June, which is a USTAsanctioned Tournament held at Dataw. There are also two clay court USTA sanctioned tournaments, one in the spring and one in the fall at Fripp Island.

When people come by and inquire, he sends a text inviting them to participate.

About 25 upper level players participate in all. “I estimate there are 60 to 100 players in Beaufort with 50 to 60 USTA players.

It’s enough to have some leagues and competition,” he said.

“There are some who don’t care for the competitive piece and just want to hit the ball round and not really play a game,” he said. “Me, I’ve always been a competitor. That’s why I opted for the USTA. It gives me the opportunity to play. You win or lose.”

Being in charge has gotten easier now with the advent of text messaging. “My Tuesday night group goes out to about 28 people, said Straut. “I send a text out each week. I ask ‘who’s in, who’s out?’ The people who respond with a yes, I put them with a partner and we go play.” Straut said It’s funny, people like to be told what to do (tongue-in-cheek). They ask me who I want them to play with so I get to set up the whole thing.”

Straut has played adult soccer and adult volleyball, softball and tennis. “Adult sports is a great thing for any community to have,” he said. In the past three months, he has picked up three new guys for the team. People find it and they latch on and the group grows in size. “It’s just a lot of fun, said Straut. “It’s a great way to meet new people, meet locals, and a good way to mix in.”

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Think Unique, off the Beaten Path. Think Sense of Time

History • Shopping • Dining • Nature

26 February/March Lifestyle 20 2012|| B |BBeaufort eaufortLL ifestyle 22August/September February/March 2012 2012 eaufort ifestyle 18 February/March 2012 eaufort ifestyle

Fo r m o re i n fo r m at i o n v i s i t w w w. p o r t roy

and Place. Experience Small Town Charm.

Old Village ofPort Royal

a l . o rg a n d w w w. o l d v i l l a g e p o r t roya l . co m

Beaufort Lifestyle | April/May 2012 2012 21 27 Beaufort Lifestyle | February/March 19 Beaufort Lifestyle | August/September

Port Royal Visit

www.PortRoyal.org

Discover a great shopping experience...

downtown beaufort

Beaufort Lifestyle | August/September 2012 23

H

Team Beaufort’s H

Future Olympians Story by CINDY REID • Photography by SUSAN DELOACH

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H Owen Kirby H

O

wen Kirby didn’t set out to make history but somewhere along the way this 13 year old young man’s grit and quiet determination put him in the elite class of athletic history makers. Born with a birth defect that caused his leg to be amputated above the ankle, Owen became the first athlete to compete in the USA Weightlifting Youth Nationals with a prosthetic leg. And not just compete; Owen earned a Silver Medal after placing second in the 62 kilo weight class for 13 and under.

His coach Ray Jones of Team Beaufort says, “Owen is setting history. He is a trailblazer because this just never has been done before in the history of Olympic weightlifting competition, never has anyone with a prosthetic qualified for a national meet and never has anyone with a prosthetic won a Silver Medal. “ And what does Owen think of his success? “I set history. It was my first national meet. I know I did a very good job but I can do better.”And of Team Beaufort? Owen smiles and says, “They are strong, they are like a big family.”

Let anyone think that Owen had any advantage due to his prosthetic, the

opposite is the truth. He was weighed with the prosthetic, which actually bumped him into a different category, where he was one of the lightest competitors. And the prosthetic leg he had was far from state of the art, it was useful and necessary, but it was not a specially designed or even sports orientated device. In fact, there was the worry that repeated “lifts” would eventually cause the leg to break.

But all that has changed. After hearing about Owens’s ground breaking success, Hanger Prosthetics came forward and offered to create a “new leg” for Owen. A national company with an office here in Beaufort, they were able to make Owen a new leg just right for a weight lifting teenager. As seen in the accompanying photos, it even has a cool camo motif.

When he is not practicing, or making weightlifting history, Owen enjoys typical teenager activities like watching television (favorites are Sports Center and Lizard Lick Towing) and says he is a big fan of the University of North Carolina Tarheels.

He doesn’t hesitate when asked where he would like to attend college, “UNC!” he says.

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H CJ Cumming H

Team Beaufort’s mission is to provide an environment that will foster that growth of well rounded, outstanding citizens and pave an individual path of success for all who participate in the sport of Olympic weightlifting on a local, state, national and international level.

The Olympics are upon us. It is thrilling to watch young people from all over the world compete and a large part of the Olympics coverage is devoted to the “back story” of the athletes, where they come from, what challenges they have faced and what they are all about. It is also an acknowledgement of the sheer amount of work it takes to even get to the Olympics, much less win a medal.

Every Olympian was once a young boy or girl, toiling away at their chosen sport, getting up early to work out, going to practice when everyone else was going to the movies, pushing themselves a little more everyday to master an ever increasingly difficult level of competency, to reach a level that brings them out of their hometown onto a world arena. And every athlete has a coach who gets them on their chosen road.

Coached by Ray Jones, who has been involved in weightlifting for over thirty years, Team Beaufort has achieved a level of success rarely seen in this competitive sport. In addition to being named AAU

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National Weightlifting Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2007, Coach Jones has led the team to such achievements as AAU Junior Olympic Champions 2001 through 2010 and USAW School Age National Champions 2008 through 2010.

(The School Age Nationals are now called the Youth Nationals.)

But trying to get Coach Jones to talk about his success as a coach is simply impossible because for him it is, and always has been, all about the kids. And although Coach Jones believes in every athlete on the team, there are two team members in particular he thinks are pretty special.

Meet the Cumming brothers, Omar and CJ, who just happen to be in a class of their own within the world of weightlifting. At the USAW Youth Nationals held recently in Dearborn, Michigan, fourteen year Omar placed second, earning a Silver Medal, in his weight class and twelve year old CJ placed first in his weight class, earning a Gold Medal.

Both brothers also competed in the Junior National Age held in Chicago in October 2011. Their competition at the Junior Nationals was mostly 18 - 20 year olds who are there trying to make a world team and/or compete in the Olympics. At that meet Omar earned a Silver Medal and CJ earned a Bronze

Medal. (Remember, Omar is 14 years old and CJ is 12 years old.)

About Omar, Coach Jones says, “Omar is ranked in the Youth World Rankings, and is ranked seventh nationally.” Omar says, “I try to do the whole package: Listen, Visualize and Learn, every day, seven days a week.” About CJ, Coach Jones says, “He is an amazing athlete, and he really is breaking all the records.”

CJ says, “I just want to improve and get better, I want to be the best in the USA.” Says Coach Jones about weightlifting in general, “A good attitude is going out there and keeping it in perspective, that it is something you enjoy doing and makes you feel good. “Omar and CJ love weightlifting but they also like hanging out, video games and football. But when asked what their mottos are Omar said, “Try Hard” and CJ said “Work Hard.”

Exactly what Olympians all over the world would answer.

Team Beaufort is a nonprofit 5013C and their sole support is donations from the general public, which help with the team’s travel and other expenses. If you would like help support the team, the mailing address to send a contribution is Team Beaufort c/o Susan DeLoach, 7038 Jefferson Drive, Beaufort, SC 29906.

H The first modern day Olympics

H Omar Cumming H

were held in 1896 and weightlifting was included as an official sport. Weightlifting did not appear in the 1900 Games, but returned in 1904, and has been a regular event since 1920. In 1932, three lifts were standard: the press (eliminated in 1972), the snatch, and the clean & jerk. In 1932, there were five weight classes. Today there are eight weight classes for men and seven weight classes for women. www.teamusa.org/USA-Weightlifting

EXPLORING

The Sea Islands

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Dark Horse – INDIE Films at CFA Wednesday, August 1 at 4 PM Directed by Todd Solondz Starring Justin Bartha, Selma Blair, Mia Farrow, Jordan Gelber, Donna Murphy, Christopher Walken, Zachary Booth, Aasif Mandvi empering his trademark lacerating humor with unexpected tenderness, Solondz creates a poignant and provocative portrait of a besieged man-child and his fractured family—the story of a longtime dark horse struggling to come from behind.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $7, Senior/Military $6, Students $5 Met Opera Encores Lucia di Lammermoor August 2, at 6:30 PM Anna Netrebko sings the title role of Donizetti’s bel canto tragedy in her Met role debut, with Piotr Beczala as her lover, Edgardo.

Mariusz Kwiecien is her tyrannical brother. Mary Zimmerman’s hit production, first seen in 2007, is staged as a Victorian ghost story.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $15, Ollii Members and students $10 Monsieur Lazhar – INDIE Films at CFA Monday, August 6 at 4 PM and August 24 at 4 PM French w/ English subtitles 1 hr 34 mins Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, MONSIEUR LAZHAR tells the poignant story of a Montreal middle school class shaken by thedeath of their well-liked teacher.

Bachir Lazhar (Fellag), a 55-yearold Algerian immigrant, offersthe school his services as a substitute teacher and is quickly hired. As he helps the children heal,he also learns to accept his own painful past.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $7, Senior/Military $6, Students $5 Phantom of the Opera at Albert

Hall - Films at CFA Tuesday, August 7 at 6:30 PM To mark its 25th Anniversary year, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh present “The Phantom of the Opera” in a fully-staged, lavish production, set in the sumptuous Victorian splendor of the Royal Albert Hall. ore than 200 original and current cast members will pay special tribute to “the music of the night” during this special tribute featuring the breathtaking songs “Masquerade,” “Angel of Music,” “All I ask of You,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” and more.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $10, Senior/Military $8, Students $6 Goodbye First Love – INDIE Films at CFA Wednesday, August 8 at 6:30 PM Directed by Mia Hanson-Love French with English subtitles 1 hr 50 mins., “Steeped in the French tradition…a spectacular eyeful that makes wonderful use of locations in Paris and the French countryside… A gorgeous, commanding work of poetic realism” - Andrew O’Hehir, Salon. An acutely perceptive portrait of a bright young woman in the wake of her first romance. her anxiety: her long-estranged mother living far away and off-the-grid.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $7, Senior/Military $6, Students $5 Der Rosenkavalier Met Opera HD Encore August 9 at 6:30 PM 3 hours and 20 minutes Strauss’s comic masterpiece of love and intrigue in 18th-century Vienna stars Renée Fleming as the aristocratic Marschallin and Susan Graham in the trouser role of her young lover. Edo de Waart conducts a cast that also includes Kristinn Sigmundsson and Thomas Allen.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $15, Olli Members and

Students $10 Headhunters – INDIE Films at CFA Monday, August 13 at 6:30 PM Norwegian with English subtitles 1 hr 41 mins, rated R HEADHUNTERS stars the talented Aksel Hennie as Roger, a charming scoundrel and Norway’s most accomplished headhunter.

Roger is living a life of luxury well beyond his means, and stealing art to subsidize his expensive lifestyle.

When his beautiful gallery owner wife introduces him to a former mercenary in the possession of an extremely valuable painting, he decides to risk it all to get his hands on it, and in doing so discovers something which makes him a hunted man.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $7, Senior/Military $6, Students $5 Love Never Dies - Films at CFA Tuesday, August 14 at 6:30 PM Come and enjoy the fully staged pre-recorded performance of Love Never Dies captured from The Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia. This is a mesmerizing follow-up to the multi-award winning The Phantom of the Opera, featuring a 21-piece orchestra and an impressive cast of 36 including actors Ben Lewis as Phantom and Anna O’Byrne as Christine Daaé.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $10, Senior/Military $8, Students $6 Don Giovanni Met Opera Live Encores Thursday, August 16 at 6:30 PM Mariusz Kwiecien is the world’s most famous lover in Michael Grandage’s new production, led by Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi. The lineup of refined Mozartians also includes Marina Rebeka, Barbara Frittoli, Ramón Vargas, and Luca Pisaroni.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $15, Olli Members and Students $10

The Island President – INDIE Films at CFA Friday, August 17 at 4 PM Directed by Jon Shenk English & Dhivehi with English subtitles, 1 hr 41 mins, rated PG Mohamed Nasheed is the handsome, young, crusading president of the Maldives, a paradise composed of 1200 tiny islands, set jewel-like in the Indian Ocean. In a David v. Goliath scenario, he is battling the climate change that threatens to destroy his nation.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $7, Senior/Military $6, Students $5 Elena – INDIE Films at CFA Wednesday, August 22 at 6:30 PM Directed by Mia Hanson-Love, Russian with English subtitles 1 hr 49 mins, rated NR Winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize, Elena is a gripping, modern twist on the classic noir thriller. Masterfully crafted by award-winning Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev (Golden Globe nominee The Return) and featuring evocative, Hitchcockian music by Philip Glass, Elena is a subtly stylish exploration of crime, punishment and human nature.

USCB Center for the Arts – 801 Carteret Street Beaufort SC Adults $7, Senior/Military $6, Students $5

• Contact information for the box office:

843-521-4145 bhargrov@uscb.edu

www.USCBcenterforthearts.com

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Beaufort’s Newest Sport:

Dragon Boat

Racing Story by BARBARA KELLY Photography by RICHARD DARBY

The Chinese tradition of dragon boat racing believed to have begun on the Yangtze River over 2500 years ago has become an international sport with racing clubs in over 60 countries. It is estimated that over 50 million people worldwide currently participate in the sport.

an international Dragon Boat Racing powerhouse. Annual summer dragon boat festivals are held on lakes, rivers, reservoirs and regatta courses in major cities and regions throughout the United States and Canada as a regular part of their summer event schedule.

Dragon boating, the world’s fastest growing water sport has finally arrived in Beaufort.

DRAGON BOATS AND RACING

HISTORY In China, dragons are believed to be the rulers of rivers, lakes and seas. In an ancient Chinese agricultural society dragon boating was seen as a way to honor the water spirits during seasonal festivals celebrating the summer rice planting. It was thought that veneration of the mythical water deity would encourage dragons to reward the farmers with much needed rainfall ensuring that their crops would flourish.

The modern dragon boat race is also linked to the re-enactment of the race to save the beloved poet Qu Yuan. It is said that the poet committed suicide to protest the corrupt ruling regime of his time. The inhabitants of his village rushed into the river and began to beat drums, splashing water with their boat paddles to keep the fish from eating his body. For centuries, village fishing boats have continued to repeat the symbolic search.

PRESENT Although competitions have existed in China for over 20 centuries, dragon boat racing did not emerge as an international sport, until Hong Kong held the first international dragon boat race in 1976.

Since then, the sport has spread exponentially.

Within a relatively short period of time, North America emerged as

Contemporary boat design is based on traditional Chinese fishing vessels.

They are decorated for festivals and competitions with fierce dragon heads, colorful scaled bodies and elaborate tails.

At other times, when docked or during training, the decorative regalia and drum are usually removed and stored.

These boats measure 40+ feet in length, 4 feet in width, and carry a team of twenty paddlers seated in ten rows. A drummer sits facing the crew and a steersperson standing on a raised platform in the stern uses a 10 foot oar to guide the boat. An average boat weighs approximately 500 pounds.

Races are usually 250 to 1,000 meters in length. A seasoned dragon boat crew will have a rate of 70 to 80 strokes per minute.

In competitions, boats are arrayed in lanes on a marked regatta course.

A ritual called “awakening the dragon” often occurs at the opening ceremonies when a dignitary paints the eyes of the carved dragon head essentially ending its slumber and re-activating its spirit.

The sport is recognized for the camaraderie it generates and the strength and endurance it fosters among participants. It can be either a purely recreational activity or a highly competitive sport. The recent growth of the sport at the grassroots level is nothing short of amazing.

Although dragon boat racing is physically challenging, participants of any age and of fitness level can quickly learn the drill and easily develop a passion for

the sport. While most international crews are either all male or female, national and regional competitions seem to attract primarily mixed teams from corporations, public service groups, or school clubs sponsored by small businesses.

Regional dragon boat festivals allow individuals and groups to participate in this challenging sport while celebrating their unique geographic setting. The effect is to rekindle people’s connection to their waterways, and benefit the hosting region by fostering economic vitality. Proceeds from festivals and regattas help promote dragon boat racing and support charitable activities. It is also a way of encouraging physical fitness, while enjoying the local color.

The mission of Dragon Boat Beaufort (DBB) “is to provide cancer survivors the opportunity to heal and regain physical and psychological strength and wellness through camaraderie and competition of dragon boat paddling and racing. As well as outreach through grants to local cancer patients with needs they are unable to afford or for which they lack coverage; and through support and counseling for cancer patients in treatment and in remission, including support of their caregivers.” www.dragonboatbeaufort.org/ THE BACK STORY Although Beaufort Lifestyle has covered the emergence of Dragon Boat Beaufort (DBB) in its last few issues and there has been a recent media blitz surrounding it, we still find people who haven’t heard about this exciting sport.

Those who attended February’s, 6TH Annual Beaufort International Film Festival or the subsequent encore presentation of Liz Oakley’s film Awaken the Dragon recall Festival Director, Ron Tucker warning the audience at the first

Beaufort Lifestyle | August/September 2012 31

“There’s but one heartbeat on this boat, and there for a second, when I didn’t have one, I borrowed one from someone else.”

screening, that the film was going to change their lives. Not only was Oakley’s film BIFF’s Documentary Winner, it was also voted Audience Favorite. The documentary is the story of a group of cancer survivors in Charleston who found a path to wellness through dragon boating.

By the time the film ended, two local viewers and cancer survivors, Mary Ann Thomas and Clare Taylor had decided to bring dragon boating to Beaufort. It was fortuitous that so many of Dragon Boat Charleston’s team were present for the screening that evening because the connections forged that night made it possible for the soon to be formed Dragon Boat Beaufort team to begin land training during March on Saturday mornings at Waterfront Park. By April, they were training with team members from Dragon Boat Charleston. DBB entered and took two 2nd places and a third place in their division in their first competition at Charleston’s Dragon Boat Festival on May 5, 2012, less than three months after forming.

DBB’s first boat, purchased through a combination of fund-raising and matching funds, was delivered in late June and paddled to its new home in July at Port Royal Landing Marina, where Mr. Tom Wilson, has generously donated dock space. The purchase occurred in less than 5 months from formation and was the fastest acquisition of a dragon boat in recent USDBA history.

Braveheart was awakened at the Water Festival when her benefactor, Mr. Dick Stewart, painted the eyes on the figurehead. The following week, she led the parade of vessels for the Blessing of the Fleet at the 2012 Water Festival finale, and was the winner of the Judge’s Choice Award.

32 August/September 2012 | Beaufort Lifestyle

Dick Stewart painting the eye to awaken Braveheart.

A PADDLER’S PERSPECTIVE

Braveheart’s drummer creating its heartbeat.

Stepping from the dock into Braveheart, DBB’s first dragon boat, I feel like I’m reclaiming the “mythical country” most of us yearn to return to - where it doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or a former Yankee a Buddhist, a Baptist, an Episcopalian or a Unitarian, middle-aged or older.

Fit or less fit, heavy or thin, survivor or supporter or both. Married, single, divorced or whatever. In the dragon boat, everyone is equal and necessary.

We are comprised of a motley crew of quilters, nurses, contractors, mail carriers, inn keepers, artists, teachers, retirees, cancer survivors and supporters. Some are Beaufort natives, others hailing from as far as England, Roatan - Honduras, Michigan, New York and Canada. However, it is the thickness of the southern accents that surrounds us and sticks to us like honey during an occasional lull or practice break, that reminds us that wherever we come from that, for that moment, we are all living in the present, in this special place we all call home.

Those of you who have had the distinct pleasure of exploring the lowcountry by canoe or kayak understand what it is like to be immersed in nature gliding down rivers and waterways to the sea. Those who have done tandem kayaking know what a challenge that can be. Now imagine paddling with twenty team members and trying to stay in synch while the steersperson calls out drills.

Dragon boating requires multitasking and coordination. Each group of paddlers has a specific function: the pacers, engine room and rockets.

Everyone keeps their hip hard against the gunnel as they lean forward and out over the side far enough to see the scales on the boat while looking ahead at the pacers, reaching forward with each stroke listening to the commands of the steersman and trying to remember to breathe.

We are not always fortunate enough to have a drummer during our practices, but when we do have a drummer, for our exhibitions and competitions she is often precariously balanced on a seat behind the dragon head. The drumming is organic and primeval. Some believe that the drumbeat is the heartbeat of the dragon boat.

In the film, ‘Awaken the Dragon,’ one of team Charleston’s paddlers captures the essence of it when she said, “There’s but one heartbeat on this boat and there for a second when I didn’t have one, I

borrowed one from someone else.”

For me, paddling is like meditation.

At some point, everything else starts to fall away. The commands of the steersman get through on a subliminal level. The drumbeat is a constant reminder to breathe, to synchronize our strokes. Muscle memory automatically kicks in along with situational awareness. My body automatically adjusts to the rise and fall of the waves, to the minor movements of teammates.

The connection is so intense that sometimes I realize I have my paddle out to stabilize the boat even before the command is issued.

It is easy to lose oneself out on the river – and sometimes that is the goal.

Imagine the percussion of the drum, the cries of shore birds, the snap of the blades hitting the water, the sound of the boat slicing through waves, the slap of the chop against the hull, and sometimes cheers from the crowd and always the silence of the breath.

Imagine the boat surging forward, sensing the wings of loved ones on your shoulders during those exquisite moments when we experience grand spurts of synchronous paddling.

Sometimes it is hard to take a breath out there, because the simple action of inhalation is overtaken by the need to simultaneously shout with pure joy and weep with emotion.

At times, when water races in over the gunnels or we get pelted with rain I think we all feel a connection to our ancestors who crossed oceans without maps, with so little baggage and who led much simpler, less toxic lives.

When the boat is heavy in the water and gently lifted by swells, I feel at one with all who have gone before us.

If we’re paddling at a moderate pace, I have time to whisper the litany of names of those still battling this disease, fighting the difficult fight. I toss them out on the breeze like prayer flags: Paul, stroke, Wendy, stroke, Milbrey, stroke, Cathy, stroke…

As with all meditations, something eventually gets through. The voice of our steersman calling the commands: We Have Alignment. Paddles Up. Attention Please. Take it Away.

And finally everyone’s favorite command after a strenuous practice: Let it Run! Dragon Boat Beaufort is continuously seeking new members.

We practice on Wednesday evenings at 6pm and Saturday mornings at Port Royal Landing Marina. Membership applications are available at www. dragonboatbeaufort.org.

Beaufort Lifestyle | August/September 2012 33

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Beaufort Lifestyle | August/September 2012 35

Mixing It Up In Martial Arts

Marine Corps Sergeant, Robert Johnstone

Story by CLARK BYRON Photography by VICTORIA PATTERSON

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It’s difficult being an active duty marine and trying to train and compete in such a demanding sport as mixed martial arts. But Marie Corps sergeant Robert Johnstone manages to do it. “I started wrestling when I was in high school,” he said. “I wasn’t always the most athletic person but I have a lot of drive and a lot of heart to win that competition. Being able to go one-on-one with another person is something that has always worked for me.”

Johnstone also wrestled on the Marine corps team based at Camp Lejeune for a short while. The tryouts were held in Japan. Upon returning to Beaufort, he took up mixed martial arts because of the close connection to wrestling and because it was an opportunity to compete.

He learned about Brazilian Jiu-jitsu while in Japan. It matches up well for wrestlers because a lot of the moves and techniques from wrestling can be used in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. A lot of the ground work and the strength and techniques you get from wrestling you can use in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. “A lot of wrestlers accept that right off the bat,” he said.

After his time in Japan was over. so was his wrestling. Upon returning to the states, Johnstone found little opportunity to continue to compete as a wrestler. So he chose the rapidly growing phenomena of mixed martial arts and the many opportunities to compete. He also found Beaufort Mixed Martial Arts and coach Abe Stem.

“Marine Corps wrestling is of the Greco-Roman style,” he said. “It’s different from what you would see at high school and college. It was mostly a learning experience for me there. It really helped me in the long run.” For about six months, Johnstone was getting worked out by some All-National and All-World competitors in Marine Corps wrestling and it’s what made him into the athlete he is today.

The competition we’re referring to for mixed martial arts is fighting, the kind that involved a combination of wrestling, boxing and kickboxing. Surprisingly enough, it is a relatively safe sport, according to Johnstone. “They have in

place a lot of great rules and regulations to prevent injury,” he explained. “It’s a lot safer than boxing. There’s no 10 count so the second it appears that a competitor can no longer defend himself, they stop the fight.” Also, competition fights are usually months apart so there’s plenty of time to heal up before the next contest.

Johnstone’s first amateur fight was in Columbia, South Carolina not long ago.

His second fight will likely be in Myrtle Beach or Daytona in August or September.

Obviously, promoters like to have these fights where they can draw the biggest crowds. There are usually about 10 – 15

fights on a fight card and, like boxing and wrestling, fighters compete in their given weight classes. The owner of the gym Abe Stem, who is also Johnstone’s coach, arranges his amateur fights with the promoters.

“I need to get some more amateur fights under my belt,” said Johnstone. “That way I know for sure that I’m ready for a professional fight. I want to be ready. I don’t want to jump into a fight I’m not

ready for.” Johnstone likes to train hard. “I like to make sure I’m going to win a fight before I go into it.”

It’s not clear how many fights he’ll have in the near future. With deployments, one can never be sure. “I didn’t get my first fight until a year and half after I started training, just because of the deployment to Japan and other deployments,” he said.

“Training does get stopped a lot because of my job.” Johnstone is an electrical systems technician for the F18 fighter jets.

Competing in a sport like this is more than just technique. You have to do a lot of strength and cardio training. One thing Johnstone started doing was going to Beaufort Crossfit Gym, a gym where there are trainers that lead groups through a variety of rigorous cardio and strength training regimens.

Even if a person has no desire to compete, mixed martial arts is an excellent self-defense tool, according to Johnstone. “Everybody should learn to defend themselves because you never know when you’re going to find yourself in a situation where you have to,” he said. “I don’t really have a fear of walking the streets at night and getting mugged.

I can stand up for myself.

That’s really important to me.”

Participants can come to these classes and take what they want from it. They come for the fitness part, or the discipline of the martial arts, or to learn how to be a competitor. It’s all up to the individual. “We have the entire mix of people who are coming there, he said.

“We have kids there because the parents want their kids to know how to defend themselves. We have adults who come just because they have fun doing it.

“I’d like to keep fighting if there’s an opportunity to fight,” said Johnstone. “If I can get a pro fight, that would be nice and see where I can go from there. For right now I just like the competition.” Johnstone said he enjoys having a reason to work out and make himself better. “The best competition you can find is one person versus another.”

Beaufort Lifestyle | February/March 2011 37

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Clint Wright

44 40 August/September August/September 2012 2012 || B Beaufort eaufort L Lifestyle ifestyle

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT

Clint Wright

Ready to help lead the Eagles to victory.

Story by CLARK BYRON Photography by JOHN WOLLWERTH

Clint Wright is a strapping 5 feet 10 inch, 180-pound middle linebacker for Beaufort High School. He wears number 44. As he heads into his senior year, Wright says he has his work cut out for him. “I was good but not that good,” he said. “I can be better.” He is clearly a most capable athlete with the potential for great things and an unwavering commitment to reach his goals.

Wright played middle linebacker as a freshman, and made varsity in his junior year and even started a couple of games. He received honorable mention for the Island Packet / Beaufort Gazette All Area Football Team. Back in his sophomore season on junior varsity, he received the Eagle Pride Award for a defensive player.

It appears that being better – in fact, being the best he can be – is the inspirational story of Clint Wright. So many students and adults can relate to this kind of story.

Few of us have come close to our true potential, especially at such a young age. Wright is determined to do just that.

Wright will start this coming fall at middle linebacker. His ambition, as with all his teammates, is to help lead the Eagles to some upper level accomplishments. As a football player, Wright has a plan. He plans to work on his footwork and his reaction time. Middle linebackers have to be as quick as they are solid when it comes to rushing the pass or stopping the run.

Quickness and agility are things even the pros never stop trying to improve. Wright plans to focus on his conditioning with a

lot more running and fitness training. “I’m also going to spend time studying plays,” said Wright. Football is at least as much mental as it is physical and studying plays increases a player’s mental acuity and strategic thinking.

Wright is also a wrestler and placed at state this past year. He placed second in his weight class last December as the Eagles won the Silver Fox Invitational for

the third year in a row.

Wright describes himself as an average student and is deeply committed to bring that performance to the next level. He has college aspirations and has had several colleges show interest in him already as a player. Strong academics make a world of difference even in athletic recruiting.

As for career plans, Wright is leaving his options open.

Clint Wright’s story is a story of potential. It’s a story of the combination of natural talent and laborious development. Hard physical conditioning; learning new skills on the field that can make him even more successful in the heat of the moment, when the ball is snapped and the action ignites on every single defensive down. Having such high quality coaching doesn’t hurt, either. Coach Mark Clifford and his staff provide invaluable guidance to the Eagles and that’s a big part of any player’s development.

It’s also hard work in academics to give Wright the same kind of advantage in the classroom that he seeks on the field. With hopes of playing football at South Carolina, being the best he can be on and off the field is Wright’s overall goal and he exhibits the ultimate commitment to achieving it all.

His is a an athletic career worth following as Wright continues to get better and better at something he’s already very good at.

Beaufort Lifestyle | February/March 2012 2011 41 Beaufort Lifestyle | August/September

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Trey Arant

44 August/September 2012 | Beaufort Lifestyle

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING SPOTLIGHT

Trey Arant

Making his mark on the mat.

Story by CLARK BYRON Photography by SUSAN DELOACH

Trey Arant found his athletic calling very early in life. He is a wrestler, and a good one. “Some friends told me that they thought it would be good for me,” said Arant. “After a while of convincing I decided I’d give it a try and I’m going on six years now.”

His second year of wrestling was in 2009 in the 8th grade. That year, he placed second in Middle School State in the 125-pound weight class. That same year he took first in the Beaufort County Middle School Competition and the Green & Gold Qualifying Tournament.

He just got better from there.

In his freshman year, his first year on the varsity squad, Arant was a 2010 Lower State Qualifier in the 145-pound weight class.

His sophomore year brought a collection of notable accomplishments, including 2011 4A State Qualifier, 2011 Beaufort Gazette / Island Packet All Area Team in the 145-pound class, and first place in the Dutch Fork Silver Fox tournament, among others.

As a junior, Arant made the Beaufort Gazette / Island Packet All Area Team again, this time in the 160-weight class. He took first place in the 2012 4A Region 8 All Region and again topped the Dutch Fork Silver Fox competition.

Arant has amassed an impressive overall record thus far as he goes into his senior year, with a record of 81-43 with 57 pins, 18 reversals, and 76 escapes. He holds the Beaufort High School record for the fastest Technical Fall, 19-3 in just under 2 minutes.

Arant is strong in the classroom as well. His senior year will include college preparatory classes that will help get some of his basic college work done ahead of time. He has dual enrollment at Technical College of the Low Country moving forward with his prerequisite courses.

When he’s not hard at work wrestling or studying, Arant likes to relax around the house, spend time with friends or his girlfriend of seven months, Erin.

“I’d like to major in psychology and hopefully get a doctorate in it someday,” he said.

“He’s never considered himself to be a great wrestler,” said his father, Melton Arant. “He just goes out and wrestles.”

Dad thinks his son has a decent shot at a wrestling scholarship. “People like to go out and watch him wrestle just because of the way he wrestles,” he said.

A crucial point in Arant’s high school

wrestling career came last December when he suffered a shoulder injury and really didn’t tell anybody. He wasn’t the same wrestler. He was unable to do many of the things on the mat that the coaches were accustomed to seeing him do.

Eventually, Arant complained of a strained shoulder. After the season ended, a medical examination revealed a torn shoulder which would eventually require surgery. He wrestled for two months with the injury and made it all the way to second place in state competition, nearly winning the state title. The competitor that beat him had already been a two-time state champion in that weight class.

“People watching him who know him comment on how focused he is,” said his father.

“He walks out on the mat and he’s all business. You never see him taunting and you never see him talking trash. He wants to wrestle and he wants to have a good match.”

Arant had few losses during the regular season. The only wrestlers who defeated Arant last year were placers and state qualifiers.

Some of these losses came when he stepped up to a higher weight class. He lost to several who were state champions in higher weight classes.

The goal for his senior year is clear. “I’m hoping to make it back to state and win this time,” said Arant. “Hopefully, I won’t be bothered by my shoulder surgery.”

His father has a right to be proud.

“We watched him come into his own and become a very independent, very fine young man. There’s great coaching. He got it from wresting because of the discipline and training.”

Beaufort Lifestyle | February/March 2011 45

46 August/September 2012 | Beaufort Lifestyle

Beaufort Lifestyle celebrates 3 years in October! Follow our Facebook page for details on the party!

Silent Auction to benefit Dragon Boat Beaufort! Auction Items Coming In! Great deals for a great cause.

Beaufort Lifestyle

August/September 2012 47

Golden House Gallery

Beaufort’s new gallery featuring eastern inspired antiques and original works of art.

Story by CLARK BYRON • Photography by SUSAN DELOACH It’s almost a reflex. You step through the door at the Goldon House Gallery on Bay Street in Beaufort and your jaw just drops. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before – an aweinspiring collection of authentic Chinese antique furniture – everything from tables and chairs to rice bowls and a baby’s bath bucket, and so much more. It’s everything you can imagine and beyond.

Look around a bit more and you see original artwork by the gallery’s owner, Vincent Golshani.

Golshani is a master with color and form. His paintings sell for many thousands of dollars and they are the most popular items in the gallery.

The Chinese antiques come mainly from the Three Gorges Dam area on the Yangtze River which flooded in 1954 and again in 1998.

Millions of people were evacuated leaving behind a treasure trove of antiques. Golshani was one of only 37 dealers who were able to go into temples and homes and buy this furniture. These genuine artifacts are between 100 and 300 years old. The exact age or century of each piece is not always known but the gallery guarantees that any antique purchased there is at least a century old.

Your charming host greets you with a warm welcome. Her name is Morgan Starling. She is the general manager of this newly opened Beaufort location, dovetailing with the original

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Savannah gallery run by Golshani himself.

Golshani and Starling have known each other for about two years. “We said we were always going to open a gallery together and that I would be the general manager,” said Starling.

“We would laugh about it. In December we finally made a commitment and here we are.”

Both Golshani and Starling have always loved Beaufort.

“There’s nothing like this in the area,” said Starling. “We thought it would bring so much ‘edge’ to the street.

We have a lot of customers around here.”

Starling said she doesn’t think customers really know what they’re walking into.

“They just walk in and go ‘wow.’”

Strangely enough, the customers coming through the door are almost all tourists visiting Beaufort. “We don’t do a lot with locals,” said Starling. She said that about 90 – 95 percent of her business is tourists. “We ship all over the country.” The same is true of the Savannah gallery.

Golshani’s paintings are all originals. He paints the first of a particular series and incorporates his trademark “face” image.

He then makes seven copies of the original work but they do not have the face integrated into it, just a signature. Nevertheless, each copy is actually an original because he paints all the copies himself, so no copy is exactly the same as another. All art sold in the Goldon House Gallery is Vincent Golshani’s work. The art is

Beaufort Lifestyle | June/July 2012 49

Gallery’s Owner, Vincent Golshani and Manager Morgan Starling

It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before – an awe-inspiring collection of authentic Chinese antique furniture – everything from tables and chairs to rice bowls and a baby’s bath bucket, and so much more. It’s everything you can imagine and beyond. the most popular of all the items in the gallery.

The Savannah location has a huge warehouse, complete with its own manager, and sends the pieces to the Beaufort gallery as they get them. Everything has been cleaned up but nothing has been refurbished. “If, for example, an item comes in missing a handle, we will replace that but other than that, everything is in the original state as Vincent has found it,” said Starling. Nothing has actually been in the flood itself. These items came out of their places before the water could get to them.

Starling’s interest in the gallery business stems, at least in part, from her own sales background. She was in dental sales for a year-and-a-half before coming to Goldon House. “I have a sales background, and I felt like in dental sales it was all about the numbers and meeting quotas,” she said. “I feel like we have something interesting here to sell to people. People leave here smiling; some leave here crying because they’re so happy with their piece of art or furniture.” Starling said her real motivation is that she likes to make people feel good and give them what they want. “It brings me joy to see people happy,” she said.

“When they walk out of our door they’re happy.”

The Beaufort Gallery opened this past June 22. “It’s a place that I come to that I don’t consider a job,” said Starling. “It is a job but it’s a happy place for me. I get to meet people from so many walks of life and hear their stories. It’s very interesting.”

The prices on the antiques are incredibly reasonable. What

50 August/September 2012 | Beaufort Lifestyle

you might pay for a similar modern piece will buy a comparable item in the gallery, but you have an antique, well made, in excellent condition, with 100 – 300 years of provenance. “We get that a lot from our customers that we’re on the low end of pricing. We’re happy to be able to make the customer happy.”

Interspersed throughout the Chinese collection are African artifacts, such as tribal masks and ceremonial carvings of animals, all authentic.

Golshani goes to China several times per year to buy his stock. “We are expecting a container in August that will bring between 15,000 and 17,000 pieces,” said Starling. “I think I get first pick since this is the new gallery.” Starling said she plans to select more pieces with color to them to lend some additional brightness and contrast to the new gallery.

As for the future, Starling says the plan is to expand the operation up and down the southeastern coast. “We just want to see it boom and then branch out to Charleston and Jacksonville and just keep opening galleries.”

The jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring experience awaits anyone who comes through the door at Goldon House Gallery. It’s almost like a trip to a small museum but the fascinating displays are for sale at reasonable prices. It’s a chance to own a genuine piece of world history or an amazing original painting that is a product of Golshani’s greatness.

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52 August/September 2012 | Beaufort Lifestyle

LOW COUNTRY WEDDINGS Beaufort Lifestyle | June/July 2012 53

LOW COUNTRY WEDDINGS

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Groom: Mitchell Brown Bride: Kera Cote Wedding Ceremony: Baptist Church of Beaufort Wedding Reception: Kate Gleason Park Caterer: Catering by Debbi Covington Ice Cream from Berry Island Cafe Cakes by Jean DJ: Ramblin’ Coastal DJ Photography: Katie Brown Photography Rentals: Amazing Event Rentals

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Beaufort Lifestyle | April/May 2012 55

Stress: 8 Easy Ways to Prevent Wedding Insanity 1. Declare a wedding-free weekend.

For a full 48-hour period, pretend you’re the two people you were before you got engaged (and, in the meantime, remind yourselves of why you wanted to get married to each other in the first place). No wedding planning or fighting allowed! No talk of hors d’oeuvres, seating charts, or first dance songs. Hang out, laugh, have fun, and flirt with each other for a change.

2. Have a night out with the girls (or boys).

With all the “togetherness” of being a future bride and groom, remind yourselves you’re individuals too. Book a night out with your respective same-sex posse (again, no

wedding talk). Hit the town like a swinging single and stay out past midnight. Take advantage of the fact that your future spouse isn’t around to do something with your friends he or she doesn’t like to do -- we’re talking chick flick, batting cages, steak dinner, manicures. Then entertain each other the next day with tales of your exploits.

3. Go on a fancy date.

Chances are, for the past few months you’ve been scrimping and saving every extra nickel to supplement The Budget. If you’ve done well, reward yourselves for your miserly skills by spending a little of that cold hard cash. Book a table at the fanciest restaurant in town and go for the full monty: fine wine,

appetizer, entree, dessert, and after-dinner drinks. Afterward, stop in a local jazz club and catch a torch singer belting out inspiring tunes de l’amour.

4. Take a drive.

Reserve a weekend afternoon and head for the open road. Check out that little place a couple of towns over that you always mean to visit. Test each other’s map-reading skills.

Play road games like, Who Can Spot the Most Out-of-State License Plates? Sing along to cheesy songs on the radio. Buy a souvenir at a highway truck stop. Stumble upon a romantic restaurant for lunch or dinner before heading home.

5. Mastermind a movie marathon.

There’s nothing like a good movie to transport you from reality to fantasy. Take the phone off the hook, rent a whole slew of films, and spend an evening in, snacking on popcorn and Sno-Caps. The trick here is to stay away from wedding-theme fare -- sorry, this includes Father of the Bride -- while keeping the romance theme going with a steamy story like The Lover. Or opt for the comic relief of a Jim Carrey or Eddie Murphy flick -- laughter, after all, is still the best stress reliever.

6. Get in some game play.

Sometimes a little healthy competition serves to make you closer, right? Challenge your mate to a night of games: Pictionary, Scrabble, backgammon, even good old

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cards. If you own a Sony PlayStation 2, take the high-tech road to fun. Rather venture out? Head for the nearest bowling alley -- or look into go-carts, ice-skating, and tennis tournaments for other fun and sporty activities to enjoy a deux.

7. Revert to childhood.

There’s nothing like a good amusement park to get you feeling like a kid again. Wake up extra early to avoid long lines, then get your fill of roller coasters, log flumes, and Ferris wheels. Challenge your future mate to a bumper car race. Fill up on cotton candy, funnel cake, and waffle cones. Take an old-fashioned photo. Then spend an hour or so trying to win a supersize stuffed animal to take home as a memento of the day.

8. Engage in an eat-a-thon.

If you both love to cook, compose a special theme menu for a romantic at-home date.

Go shopping together and pick the freshest produce around (maybe there’s a farmer’s market near you) -- and remember to include some aphrodisiac ingredients! Nab a bouquet and some candles to pretty up your table while you’re at it. Once at home, take time to really enjoy the meal prep process. Line up all your ingredients on the countertop and open a bottle of wine. And take lots of liberties when it comes to recipes -- nothing’s better than creating signature dishes together.

dining guide

The Griffin Market Story by MARY ELLEN THOMPSON Photos by PAUL NURNBERG

B

uongiorno, Buonasera, Grazie.

Practice your Italian, get in the mindset, wear something that makes you feel beautiful or handsome and get ready for not only a culinary delight, but also a journey to Northern Italy.

Whether it be lunch or dinner, a meal at Griffin Market is as close as many of us may get to someone’s home in Piedmont for a meal. Riccardo and Laura Bonino treat their guests as they would if they were feeding them in their own dining room; as Riccardo proudly says, “This is how you would eat at my home in Italy.”

This hidden jewel of a restaurant is not the place to go for a plate of spaghetti and a basket of bread, but rather an experience to be savored. They accept reservations for dinner based on the fact that you will enjoy and linger for a couple of hours.

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Dinner will begin with an antipasto and then the primo (first) course followed by the secondo (second), and for those brave of heart - finished with the dolce (dessert).

The menu changes daily based on the whims of Chef Laura.

In Piedmont, the antipasto is a series of dishes; three or four hot and cold selections would be put on the table, all served in separate dishes so the olive oil on one doesn’t touch the meat on another, the vinegar doesn’t touch the oil, etc., to keep the flavors separate. This course can be where the vegetables and fruits such as the Insalata di Anguria, made with Farmer’s Market local watermelon, shine. Next, the primo course is usually a starch-based pasta, polenta or risotto, but sometimes a soup, usually a clear broth with vegetables or a smooth bisque. The secondo highlights meats, fish or chicken. For

vegetarians, the secondo can be vegetables, although Riccardo says with a smile “In Italy the concept of ‘bella figura’ wouldn’t allow that, which means that if you don’t serve your guests a meat/chicken/fish dish you may be thought of as being stingy with your food.” The primo and secondo courses are portion sized to create one entree, but Laura is always happy to serve a half-portion of pasta so that one may enjoy all the courses. Since bread is also a starch, it is not served with the primi but can be ordered as a side dish. Salads are deliciously dressed with just a touch of olive oil and sea salt so the flavors of the lettuce come through and compliment the food rather then overwhelm it. To truly embrace this experiential journey, all courses should be sampled. Riccardo remembers, “If I didn’t eat my meat and my pasta, my mom would not let me go out

The best foods in Beaufort, Port Royal and the Sea Islands to play.”

A perfect dinner for a couple eating lightly might consist of the Vitello Tonnato: thinly sliced veal in a creamy tuna sauce and Alici, which are pickled white anchovies with tarragon for antipasti, followed by sharing the Tagliatelle Verde with fresh Herb and Vegetable Sauce as a primi, then for secondi - the crispy Chicken Milanese with Baby Arugula in a Lemon Dressing and Bouilliabaisse- a light local seafood stew in Saffron broth. Panna Cotta, a fruit topped eggless custard, and Budino, a very grownup Butterscotch Pudding, for the dolce shouldn’t be missed.

The luncheon menu follows suit with antipasti choices followed by pasta or a sandwich. A favorite on the lunch menu is the Monaco, which is dark Italian tuna mixed with caper mayonnaise and olives, topped with sliced egg and radishes and served on a ciabatta bread that produces a sandwich that melts in your mouth; it is served with your choice of chips or salad.

Riccardo came to the United States as a wine importer and wound up in Washington, D.C. where he eventually

worked as general manager and wine buyer for the esteemed restaurant Galileo, which was a Piedmontese Italian restaurant with a 1500 bottle wine cellar. After culinary school in Greenville, SC, Laura went to Washington to be one of the chefs in the tasting room restaurant within Galileo. They met and fell in love.

As Laura tells the story, “When I applied to be a chef in Laboratorio del Galileo, it was expected that I would eat dinner in the restaurant and they forced Riccardo, who was doing the wine pairings, to eat with me for that dinner. When I worked there, he kept my stuff for me so that I didn’t have to keep it in the employee locker room; you can imagine what a locker room for eighty five employees in a restaurant looks like ~ it was a mess. One restaurant in which I worked actually had the employee locker room in the crawl space under the building!”

Though precise in all things (Riccardo’s training is as an accountant), if you scratch the surface, you will find he’s a true romantic. Riccardo says, “We wanted to work together, to share our passions and our love and mix it together to create

one thing.” Thus their dream of having a restaurant was born in the form of Griffin Market in D.C. In their small space there, the laws wouldn’t allow them to serve wines to go, and also serve food in the restaurant, so they cooked meals to go.

Eventually, with Laura boxing up sixty three-course dinners in a night, it just became too demanding so they looked toward greener pastures and decided on Beaufort. Laura’s father lives in Beaufort, where they had visited many times and their vision of something new took form.

Laura thought Riccardo would like the lifestyle here, “He loves to fish,” she says.

Riccardo’s self description is “I am a mountain man!” although Laura jokes that the tree lines in the U.S. are a lot higher than those to which he was accustomed.

Riccardo tells this story “For the first time in the thirteen years I have been in this country, the first time I ever saw the face of my landlord was in Beaufort.

Here, is the possibility to do something we really like; it is a lot more comfortable here. Wines are my babies; we have two hundred wines in the restaurant. Mostly they’re Italian; I only buy from people

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dining guide

I know personally, the wine itself, the winery, the wine maker or owner of the vineyard. I drink all of them. I love wine; I can relate to the history of love in a bottle of wine ~ love for each other, for the wine itself, for the restaurant, the food, and the business. I choose wines that are made with love, only estate bottled wines.”

How did he get his training in wines?

“By drinking! My father died and left many bottles of wine, I wanted to know what was behind those labels, why did he buy them?

So, I decided to find out and maybe get to

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know him a little better in the process.”

Laura says that “Riccardo has an amazing taste memory when it comes to wine, he remembers hundreds of them, the nuances of each and every wine. If he knows you, he will know exactly what wine you will like and with which food.” Trained as an engineer, Laura decided to become a chef after her children were through with college. “I went to culinary school and simultaneously worked in restaurants. I traveled to food events which is how I got to Galileo, where I met Riccardo.”

So here they are, nestled in the little green building on the corner of Carteret and Craven Streets, the building without a sign. The sign will come when it meets Riccardo’s standards of perfection, just as they took many months to find just the right art to decorate their walls. Perfection, like love, is something for which they both strive in their food, their ambiance, and attentive service; as proper etiquette dictates, no detail goes unnoticed.

Bella Luna Cafe 859 Sea Island Pkwy St. Helena, SC 29920 (843) 838-3188

Moondoggie’s 930 9th Street Port Royal, SC 29935 (843)522-1222

The Foolish Frog 846 Sea Island Parkway Downtown Frogmore, SC (843)838-9300

Palm & Moon Bagel Co. 221 Scott Street Beaufort, SC 29902 (843)379-9300

Griffin Market 403 Carteret Street Beaufort, SC 29902 (843)524-0240 www.griffinmarket.com

Southern Graces 809 Port Republic Street Beaufort, SC (843)379-0555 www.facebook.com/ southerngraces

Luther’s Rare And Well Done 910 Bay Street Beaufort, SC 29902 (843)521-1888 www.lowcountrydining.com

dining guide

Beaufort Lifestyle | August/September 2012 61

P UBLISHER’S P I C A u g u s t / S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2

Photographer, Margery Boyle, Lady’s Island SC. Member: Photography Club of Beaufort, Beaufort Art Association Featured photograph: Tri-colored Heron in breeding plumage. Photograph taken at the Port Royal cypress wetlands.

To have your photo considered as the Publisher’s Pic in our next issue, submit photo to julie@idpmagazines.com