Beaufort Lifestyle June 2017 by JDelSUR Marketing Group

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

JUNE 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

• Beaufort History • Artist Profile • Dining Feature • Real Estate

Shannon Erickson

Our Public Servant

Live the Life Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve Always Imagined

Cora Bett Thomas REALT Y & ASSOCIATES

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CONTRIBUTORS writers

photographers Cindy Reid

Susan Deloach

Cindy Reid has been published in About Town, skirt!, Salon.com and The Coastal 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.

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.

Mary Ellen Thompson

John Wollwerth

Mary Ellen Thompson has never met a train, boat or plane that she didn’t like ~ they represent travel and adventures, two of her most favorite things. Having started life on Philadelphia’s Main Line, she’s lived in houses and on boats on the Chesapeake Bay, New York, Florida, England, France, and now Beaufort. She finds the most secret locavore restaurants, the best dive bars, and the most charming little hotels. When Mary Ellen’s at home, she loves being with her friends, entertaining, listening to the marsh, and her silly cats. Best of all, she loves her son in Denver, her daughter in New York, and her great friend and editor, Meredith, in PA.

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 lives with his wife and three children.

Carol Lauvray

Paul Nurnberg

Carol Lauvray relocated from Ohio to Beaufort in 2011 to enjoy the pristine coastal beauty of the Lowcountry and this friendly, welcoming community. In Beaufort, Carol’s found more than a home--she’s found the ideal place to pursue her passions for history and writing. She became a docent for the Beaufort History Museum in 2013 and now serves as the President of the Museum’s Board of Directors. Carol has more than 20 years of experience in writing marketing communications and holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Communication from Ohio University. Her daughter Cristin and son-in-law Kevin live near Columbus, Ohio.

Paul Nurnberg, whose studio is in Beaufort, SC, specializes in architectural and lifestyle advertising photography. He photographs a variety of subjects including people, products, food, nature and travel for ad agencies, large corporations and magazines. Local clients include Beaufort Memorial Hospital, The Vegetable Kingdom and Swanky J Boutique. Other clients include JCB, (UK/Savannah), Johnson Matthey, Parker’s Markets and StertilKoni. Paul also teaches photography and camera classes and one on one lessons to individuals. He just finished a twoyear term as president of the SC chapter of the American Society of Media Photographers

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WRITE US

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. Letters to the publisher must have a phone number and name of contact. Phone numbers will not be published.

www.beaufortlifestyle.com 04 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

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. 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.

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CONTENTS

JUNE 2017

16 Sew Mary Campbell Talented

20Spreading John Wollworth The Gospel With His Writings

Shannon Erickson Our Public Servant

24 Telling The Saint Elena History Center America’s Untold Story

DEPARTMENTS SPECIALS

09 Publisher’s Thoughts 39 Real Estate 32 Artist Profile 35 Dining Feature 08 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

30 Operation United Way Backpack

PUBLISHER’S THOUGHTS

MEETING A PUBLIC SERVANT

s you can imagine, I am blessed to meet a variety of people in my role as Publisher of Beaufort Lifestyle. I certainly consider this a blessing. Some people I meet are just acquaintances, some are people I get an opportunity to work with and some I get to call friends. Recently I got the opportunity to meet an exceptional lady, a lady very special to many people in Beaufort and all over the state of South Carolina. I attended the Grand Opening of Sea Eagle Market’s new retail location out on Saint Helena Island. The Reaves’ family are very dear to my heart and I was so excited to be there for their special day. They had several people there to speak for their opening, but the one person who grabbed my attention the most was our our very own Shannon Erickson, member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. The sincerity of her words as she spoke of this family and their importance to our community was very touching, especially when she presented them with a state flag that has flown over the state capital in Columbia. You could tell by her words that this family was dear to her heart as well. Mrs. Erickson and I had spoken on the phone and exchanged emails, but I had never met her in person. When the speeches were over and the ribbon had been cut, I took advantage of my chance to meet her.

Very quickly after introducing myself to her, I felt like she and I had known each other for some time. She was very welcoming, very kind and very engaging. As we spoke, her love of the low country and its people became very evident to me. This lady truly loves her community. In that short conversation, we discussed many things...Hunting Island, oyster harvesting, our waterways, our eco-system and others. Her passion and enthusiasm as we spoke about these things was like a breath of fresh air. Her energy and personality left me feeling very excited... excited for having met her and excited about her love for Beaufort and surrounding areas. So, I invite you to read our cover story on Shannon Erickson. She isn’t as complex as most politicians, in fact, she is a great public servant. I am so glad I met you Shannon... and, I hope you will be one of those I will get to call my friend.

Julie Hales Owner/Publisher julie@idpmagazines.com

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

JUNE 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

• Beaufort History • Artist Profile • Dining Feature • Real Estate

Lea Thornton-Allen Administrative Assistant Circulation lea@idpmagazines.com

Our Public Servant

ABOUT THE COVER

STAFF

Naomi Forrestall Graphic Design

Shannon Erickson

Meet Shannon Erickson, member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Read her story and see how she is being a public servant in her political role.She is a tremendous advocate for our community.

Marsha Stewart Account Executive marsha@idpmagazines.com

Beaufort Lifestyle is proudly produced by Independence Day Publishing One Beaufort Town Center • 2015 Boundary Street, Suite 330 • Beaufort, SC 29902 • (843) 379-8696 CIRCULATION: Beaufort Lifestyle is publlished monthly, printing 10,000 copies and distributed to over 175 locations. Reproduction in whole or in part in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited.

www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

SHANNON ERICKSON Our Public Servant

story by Cindy Reid photography by Susan Deloach

“strive to be a public servant, not a politician” says Shannon Erickson, who represents District 124 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Often seen as the “go-to” person for legislative issues, she has been championing Beaufort and its residents in the South Carolina House of Representatives since 2007. Her devotion to community shines through her actions, which reflect her “family first” philosophy. Although often working at the statehouse in Columbia (the legislative session runs from January to June), Shannon found time to sit down with Beaufort Lifestyle and talk about her deep love of the lowcountry and her commitment to its people.

Beaufort Bound

Growing up in South Carolina, Shannon was raised in Florence. She says “My Dad was in the Army in Korea, and my parents were hard working people.” Shannon says she was a quiet and conservative kid in high school, “I seemed to get along with most everyone. I was a nerd but had lots of friends, some were more reserved like me, but I also had friends who played sports, were in the band or in various clubs. I was very active in the Episcopal Youth group but never in any student government or leadership roles. “ “My husband Kendall and I married very young, and his job with the Department of Revenue sent us to Beaufort. We arrived here with a one month old baby, our daughter, Mariah. Kendall is from Charleston and we would go up there and see his family every weekend. After a while, Kendall’s mother said ‘you need to build your life where you are’ and that was the best advice she ever gave us,” she says. “Back in Beaufort, we immersed ourselves in our church. At the time Kendall worked for the Internal Revenue Service. I somewhat joke, “so who would love you besides your church!” she laughs. Continuing, she adds. “Beaufort really became our home when Kendall’s government job meant we would have to follow his position elsewhere. I was teaching preschool at the time and he had been with the IRS about six years. We decided that we had put roots down here and loved this community and decided we would stay in Beaufort -that‘s how Beaufort became home.”

Child Care Advocate

Shannon’s career in early childhood education led directly to her involvement in public service. She recounts, “In 1997,

I was asked if I was interested in buying Hobbit Hill preschool. At that time, there were few good quality curriculum and professional hour child care available for working parents, and I thought I could make a difference.” Over time, Hobbit Hill grew into three locations, Shell Point, Lady’s Island and Mossy Oaks. It currently employees 46 men and women and serves approximately 300 children. “Regulation of child care is extensive, as it should be to protect the children, but,” she says, “what I ran across were folks who came to do inspections who had no real world experience. There was an issue regarding the amount of toilets per child, with the regulation “reinterpretation” to include children in diapers, who do not use toilets. This meant, on paper and per this new application of the regulation, that there were not enough toilets and therefore less children could be served in the child care center. Less children being served meant less parents could go to work. And it was completely nonsensical because babies in diapers don’t use toilets. So, I looked for a solution and ended up joining the South Carolina Early Education and Care Association in order to address this issue. I was in Columbia every Tuesday and bugging Governor Stanford’s office often. He asked SCDSS to work with us and expanded the definition within the regulation to make the age of toilet using children 24 months old. This helped about 500 child care centers across our state. We had come up with a way to work within the system. I always say the ‘potty problem took me into politics!’ It showed me what government can do unto people and, in this case, the end result was punitive to children, families and to business.” While pursing the needed regulatory changes in Columbia, Shannon was also active in the Beaufort community. “I was on the Chamber of Commerce Board, and involved in United Way, and I was becoming more and more vigilant as to how government was dipping into our local Beaufort matters. In 2007, there was an open South Carolina House of Representatives seat and I was saying that ‘someone needs to run for that seat” and then someone said to me- ‘Maybe that someone ought to be you’!” Shannon remains dedicated to children’s issues. “Right now, South Carolina law doesn’t cover child care that is four hours or less. There are no regulations in place. I am currently working on this at the state level, working with non- profits, faith based programs, summer camps, trying to hammer it out. We are getting there.”

Many issues impact local families, and Shannon says, “I am Chair of the South Carolina Joint Citizen and Legislative Commission on Children and we passed a bill on child seat safety. Also, recently we passed a bill allowing foster children to get their driving learner’s permits before the age of 18. In addition, we are involved in using federal resources to fight hunger, by using resources that are readily available. We have championed these things because they are important and make a difference in people’s lives.”

Coastal Champion

As fitting for a representative of Beaufort, Shannon is passionate about our waterways. “One of my hobbies is marine science. The world begins and ends in our salt marshes.” She continues, “I am so happy that we got the summer regulations for submerged basket farmed oysters changed this term. We were losing business and mariculture is potentially a huge job driver for Beaufort. Additionally, these are great products to sell because they are good for people and good for the eco system. Oysters are very effective at filtering and cleaning our water.” Shannon adds. “The balance of business and ecology is one of the key things we have to consider. Yes, it takes more work and may take some compromise but it is so worth the outcome. There can be good in compromise. I am pretty pragmatic, and I recognize that the life we have doesn’t stand still. We can get up every day and make the world better. We can say ‘someone ought to’ or we can grow in our roles.”

Families First

Shannon says, “There is not just one issue for me, although I am known for my expertise and interest in early childhood education. This term, I took up a bill about small group and individual private insurance coverage of autism. We never mandated this coverage before and, because of that, children who had insurance in these two categories were forced to go on Medicaid. This issue came to me from a constituent, a Grandmother, whose grandchild is not able to receive the services he needs. The result is of this contentious bill would be that children of small group and individual policies would be able to have insurance that cover autism spectrum disorder therapies. Currently, the bill is in the South Carolina Senate with Senator John Scott holding it up. Insurance companies are citing high costs but my research shows me that our State Insurance, which added this coverage www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

committee responsibilities and legislative commitments. • Chair, Republican Women’s Leadership Caucus, 2009-2011 and 2016 to present • Member, Abstinence Education Task Force • Member, Affordable Housing Task Force, present • Member, Criminal Domestic Violence Study Committee • Chair, General Assembly Women’s Caucus, South Carolina State Legislature, 2011-2013 • Member, House Education Funding Task Force • Member, House Republican Caucus, present • Member, Rural Counties Caucus, present • Member, South Carolina General Assembly’s Arts Council, present • Member, Sportsman’s Caucus, present • Member, Speaker’s Tax Reform Study Committee, present • Member, SC House Prescription Drug Reform Task Force, present

Community Connection

ten years ago, has seen costs per enrolled member per year rise only about $5 per year. I understand business and costs but I also understand the value of investing in these children in the beginning of their lives in an effort to assist them toward selfreliance and independence later. We will keep trying to see this bill become law.” Her leadership on the issue of domestic violence has directly impacted significant change. “Two years ago I chaired the House Domestic Violence Reform Task Force” she says,” Before our work, domestic violence was treated like a DUI, the severity of the charges was based on the number of occurrences (convictions) of the crime. Now, the charges brought are much more appropriate and based in what actually occurred. Is a weapon used? Did it happen in front of a child? Is the victim’s

12 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

ability to get help compromised? Key factors like these now push the charged crime from the lowest level to much more serious consequences. “ “We also overhauled the counseling system that perpetrators of these crimes attend from statewide oversight to now being monitored by each solicitor. A lot of my interest, information and support came from local agencies such as CODA and Hope Haven, Solicitor Duffy Stone’s office and CAPA. Our success was based in teamwork which I was proud to be part of. I believe strongly in team work.”

Diverse Issues

Shannon is involved with many different issues and serves on multiple committees to ensure her constituents’ voices are heard. Below is a list of her

Well known for her active online presence, Shannon says, “Social media gets a different group of people involved in the governmental part of the world. And I try to share social pieces too. Just this month, I was humbled to be honored by the Junior Service League of Beaufort for my informational social media postings during Hurricane Matthew.” When asked what is her favorite place in Beaufort Shannon is quick to answer definitively, “Anywhere on the water. And the waterfront park or Hunting Island, I can sit there and just be. So time on the water with family and friends- and not having a schedule!”

Golden Rule

Shannon says, “I really pride myself on looking at an issue carefully. I am a conservative person. I realized long ago that there is a lot more to gain by being steadfast and relying on values and ethics. The golden rule can solve a lot of problems. I’ve been told I am over simplistic but I truly believe that.” She takes a moment and reflects, “Politics invites conflict and sometimes things can slide away from what is really the goal. Who is there to stop the slide? For me it is putting children at the center of the issue. My business, my family and at the statehouse- what we do affects families and children profoundly. After living in Beaufort for thirty years, I am proud of how many families and children my life has touched.”

SHANNON ERICKSON House of Representatives -2007 to present, representing District 124 Serves on the House Regulations and Administrative Procedures Committee Serves on the House Ways and Means Committee BA in Early Childhood Education, USCB President of Lowcountry Building Blocks Husband Kendall Erickson, CPA Children Joshua Erickson and Mariah Owen, grandson Wilson Owen

www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

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T Mary Campbell: Sew Talented story by Mary Ellen Thompson photography by John Wollworth

he small sewing group of ladies met in the back of a fabric and smocking shop on Craven and Charles Streets called Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard to learn to quilt. Four of the group, Marjorie Smith, Blanche Gault, Barbara Walters and Peg Allen pioneered the group into creating an official quilters guild in 1987. There were fourteen or fifteen participants and they held their first meeting at the Pigeon Point Senior Citizens Center where they named themselves Sea Island Quilters, adopted by-laws from the Cobblestone Quilters in Charleston, and just celebrated their thirtieth anniversary this June. An original member of the group which has now more than tripled in size, Mary Campbell, enjoys being their spokesperson. When the Sea Island Quilters started the group, they chose a theme for a block of the month and everyone made a block; they drew a name and that person won all the blocks. According to Mary, “There were no experienced quilters when we started, so we all just learned from each other. We had people come and teach us and do workshops. We have quite an outreach program where we make quilts to give away; we’ve given hundreds of quilts away! Every year we have an annual challenge where we have a theme for a quilt - this year it was Santa Elena and our quilts were hung in the history center. We’ve had interesting themes like fortune cookies, water, songs, the millennium, and the tricentennial. We meet once a month at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday but we’re nomads at the moment, because the church we were using is undergoing renovations. (If you’re interested call Karen Guinn 843525-6036 to find out the location.) Anyone is welcome and the dues are $25 a year.” The Campbell home is filled with beautiful textiles that Mary has sewn, quilted, appliquéd and embroidered herself, as well as others that have been given to her as gifts. On the living room wall is a quilt that was made for Mary and her husband, Buddy, as a wedding gift. On the backs of the sofas and chairs, quilts are neatly folded and ready for those chilly nights. Mary’s upstairs workshop has squares and pieces of fabrics, some neatly sorted into piles and others, because of the sheer amount of them, are stuffed into a shelving unit. She still has her first sewing basket. The guest room has not only a basket of quilts, but also a big pile atop a wooden luggage rack in addition to the quilt hanging behind the bed, one on the bed, thrown over a chair and smaller

16 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

pieces hanging on the walls. Mary Campbell loves textiles and especially quilts. She has one quilt in particular, which she calls her “blankey,” that she made long ago of flannel and corduroy that travels with her wherever she goes. She says it has seen better days but she takes it when she travels and enjoys it’s comfort and warmth while riding in the car or on the bed of a hotel. Her passion began way back when. “I’ve always sewn. My grandmother taught me basic embroidery stitches when I was very young. When I was in third grade I was sick and out of school for weeks at a time. My mother sat me in front of her sewing machine and taught me how to sew. I was given a toy sewing machine and made doll clothes.” Originally from Georgia, Mary came to Beaufort in 1979. When she first arrived here, she went to work for Beaufort Memorial Hospital in administration and became Director of Public Relations. From there, she went to work for Environments, Inc. which was a local school supply company for early childhood education. She stayed with them for thirty years and happily remembers, “I met a lot of people and had the opportunity to travel. Environments, Inc. gave me the chance to use my communication and creativity skills. I was on the catalog production and marketing teams as a copywriter. I also helped with product development and materials sourcing for our sewing center. Working on various types of projects with www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

of fabric that can be repurposed; 100% cotton, or natural fibers are her preference. Mary confides she has had some corduroy skirts hanging in her closet for awhile that she envisions using for a quilt one of these days, recalling the old adage, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” A quilt hangs over the top of the stairwell that Mary points to that has not only a complicated piecing pattern, but also a very complex quilting pattern, and she quilted that one herself. Some, she sends out to be quilted, but nevertheless, she laughs and produces a small fabric tag on which is printed, “This took forever.” There should be one attached to every piece she has sewn. very talented people was both fun and rewarding.” “In 1979 some friends gave me one of their family quilts. I had never seen the pattern before so I went to the library to research it and became interested in quilts and their history. Then, in 1983 the South Carolina Quilt Project was documenting quilts at the McKissick Museum in Columbia, SC. Quilts were photographed and the family history was recorded for the database. I volunteered and one of the quilts for which I did the intake made it into one of the books produced as a result.” Mary recalls, “I’d never made a quilt and I wanted to make one. There was a Navy

18 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

wife here who was teaching the Eleanor Burns “Quilt in a Day” class in her home, so I took the class.” With dry humor, Mary continues “Of course they didn’t mention that there are 24 hours in a day.” With so many from which to choose, it would be difficult to find a favorite but Mary produces one of which she is especially fond. The center, a tree of life design, is one panel of fabric and the piecing is done all around the edges. “I’ve made many tree quilts, but they were all pieced.” A purist at heart, Mary prefers the old, original, traditional patterns. As one would expect, she saves clothing and scraps

The most current project Mary completed is a series of twelve wool appliqué rectangles with birds for each month of the year. Mary explains that this is for Buddy, who is a birder. They have taken the course on Spring Island to be South Carolina Master Naturalists, Buddy is the editor of their newsletter and Mary writes the member profiles. She is also interning to be a Master Gardener. Quilts, it turns out, are not just something to keep you warm on a chilly night. They represent the maker’s like, the maker’s skills, and all that the maker might do in the future. They are microcosms which, fortunately, Mary Campbell is happy to share with us.

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JOHN WOLLWORTH Spreading The Gospel With His Writings

story by mary ellen thompson photography by john wollwerth 20 June 2017 | www.Beaufort Lifestyle .com

One of Beaufort Lifestyle’s photographers, John Wollwerth, has written an inspiring book entitled The Missional Life: What I Learned from Engaging in Missions in East Africa, which is a compilation of his experiences, his wisdom and his photography.

t all started with a photo blog in which he tells stories about photo shoots, shares photographic techniques, and mixes it together, often humorously, with life experiences and personal beliefs.

Ever inspired to write, John says, “I’ve always written. I wrote a couple of full length sci-fi novels when I was in high school although I never did anything with them; I’ve just always known how to write.”

You don’t understand how culturally motivated your way of thinking is, until you leave your own culture.” Photographs illustrate heart-stopping wondrous landscapes, arresting poverty, and images where, despite the odds, joy, hope and innate beauty seem to prevail, all captured and locked forever into time and place. Of one series of photographs, John explains, “When people think of Africa, they usually think of herds of animals on the grasslands with the occasional Acacia tree breaking up the horizon. Sure, there’s that aspect of Africa, but there is so much more to it than that. There are jungles, scrublands, deserts, big cities, mountains, even glaciers.” His prose exemplifies the despair that sits alongside hope, conditions that look appalling to most of us, but still we see the beautiful smiles of those people. He tells stories, shares facets of his faith, brings Africa home to us, and does it in such a way that you feel you are part of an important conversation. The religious overtones are down to earth and deeply personal, laced with quotes and observations from not only the Bible, but also such unlikely sources as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the Screwtape Letters, and the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, illustrating his points in common parlance.

In an opening paragraph of the book John declares, “I am the son of a missionary.” John’s mother was a missionary to Nigeria in the 1960’s and three of his brothers preceded him into missionary work in Senegal, Swaziland and China. “You would think that I had some calling to missions, but until 2009 that had not happened. My church was involved in projects in Romania, but that had never interested me. This was the way it was supposed to be. Just because a ministry is available doesn’t mean God has called you there. Sometimes He has something else in mind, and you have to wait for that opportunity to be placed before you.” In 2010, he was getting ready to go to South Sudan, which at that time was the second most dangerous country in the world for aid workers, on his first mission trip. His main purpose on that trip was documentation through photography. He explains, “When I started writing, it wasn’t so that I could eventually put a book together. Rather it was so that I could keep my thoughts in the right place as I got ready to go to some dangerous places and situations where the outcome was unknown. For me, putting things down into the written word helps me to clarify ideas and thoughts that would otherwise be scattered and unintelligible, and aids in my focus.” Subsequently these writings became his mission blog, and the basis for the book.

One memorable experience excerpted from the book: “Just a short note as I sweat here in my hammock in South Sudan. I’m in a partially open, tin shack that serves as the church. As I lay here in complete darkness, but hearing music in the background, I’m reminded again of an observation made on my first visit and only confirmed since then. The South Sudanese hate silence. They listen to music all night. When they’re in a car they crank the stereo up until it distorts. You can be standing in a group of people having a conversation, and one of them will start blasting a song from their cell phone. It’s as if they think as long as there’s music or noise, things are okay. That bad things only happen during the night, when things are silent and dark, and terrible things come out of the darkness and silence. When it’s dark and

What John wanted was, “To open people’s horizons and let them know what the rest of the world looks like. People just don’t have any concept what’s really going on in the world. The blog, and this book, are written to inspire people to join us in this work. www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

silent, that’s when the attacks come, when children and cattle are stolen. It’s when the snakes crawl into your bed for warmth. It’s as if as long as there’s noise, things are all right. It’s like children who are afraid of monsters, only here the monsters are real. There’s been a lot of talk here about insecurity, about the attacks that come from cattle raiders, and the fact that they’re not far away. Seventy people were killed here just last week in cattle raids, and people go to bed afraid. And so I think of that as I lay here in my hammock, wishing for silence.”

asking when she can go to Africa with us. I tell her when she is sixteen.” One touching story from the book is about a woman John photographed. He describes the event. “As in many cases, after I take someone’s picture, I will show it to them on the back of my camera, but this time I got a reaction I’ve never had before. As she looked at her face on the screen, she began to touch her face. It was clear that she didn’t know what she looked like, and it had been a very long time, if ever, that she had seen her face. I am certain she was unaware of how old she really was. She was beautiful to me, but I’m not certain what her thoughts were about that.” (Photo above: Night in the town of Bor, South Sudan. South Sudan has no working electrical grid, so nights are very dark.) John explains his concept of missionary work as, “Long term rehabilitation and development. Most people/organizations want to give aid; it makes them feel good. Aid is what you give after a major disaster that people can’t overcome from on their own; it should be short term. There has to come a point where the people you are helping can survive and thrive when you’re not there anymore. A missionary is someone who goes to spread the gospel, it is what differentiates them from other humanitarian workers. People see poverty in the United States as a lack of things, for people in other countries it is isolation, hopelessness, lack of power in their community, lack of voice. The gospel is those things - a sense of community, hope, worth.” Does he see passing this legacy along and down to his children? “Yes, I do. A lot of people are scared; scared to travel, scared to get out of their comfort zone. Some people are actually proud to have never traveled far from home.” John’s wife, Lynn, has accompanied him on a mission, and he says, “My youngest keeps

22 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

The story continues. “When I come back to Africa, I try to bring pictures back of the people... I simply had to give this woman a picture of herself. On the last evening, I went out again, hoping to find her. Just as before, she was sitting outside her simple home... I greeted her and she recognized me... here are the results.” Hopefully a print copy will be available in the future, but this e-book is now available in Barnes & Noble’s Nook and Smashwords.com, ($5.99); half of the proceeds go towards funding mission work.

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HISTORY

TELLING AMERICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S UNTOLD STORY THE SANTA ELENA HISTORY CENTER story by Carol Lauvray photography by Paul Nurnberg

he saga of Santa Elena is a centuries-old story still unfolding today—a story largely unknown to the public before the Santa Elena History Center opened its doors in 2016. Operated by the Santa Elena Foundation, the History Center’s exhibits showcase 16th century exploration and settlements, focusing on the Spanish town of Santa Elena located on Parris Island, South Carolina from 1566 – 1587. “The Foundation’s vision is to expand the knowledge of Santa Elena and other 16th century European settlements in the area of the Port Royal Sound and make a sustained, positive contribution to the local economy,” says Dr. Andrew J. Beall, Chairman of the Santa Elena Foundation. “We’re achieving that vision through ongoing archaeological research of the Santa Elena site and the History Center’s exhibits and programs, designed to educate visitors about Santa Elena and its historical significance.” Europeans discovered the Beaufort area and Port Royal Sound more than 450 years ago—before St. Augustine, Jamestown and Plymouth. In May 1562, the French explorer Jean Ribaut landed on what is now Parris Island and built a fort called Charlesfort. Without adequate food, the French were forced to abandon Charlesfort less than a year later. During the mid-16th century, Spain was competing with France for control of North America and colonizing points along the Southeastern coast from the Caribbean to the Carolinas. In 1566, Spanish naval officer Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded Santa Elena, the first colonial capital in Spanish La Florida, on the same site as Charlesfort. Uncovering History Archaeologists began unearthing Santa Elena’s secrets at the site on Parris Island in 1979. Chester DePratter, Ph.D., of the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (also an Advisory Board Member of the Santa Elena Foundation), has conducted extensive excavations at the site over the years. This work led to his discovery of the location of Charlesfort, established on Parris Island in 1562, before the founding of Santa Elena there in 1566 by the Spanish. Since archaeologists began their work at Santa Elena, they have uncovered hundreds of French and Spanish artifacts and discovered an intact well and a pottery kiln buried at the site. Just last summer, the location of one of Santa Elena’s Spanish

forts was identified—Fort San Marcos I, built on Santa Elena in 1577. Including France’s Charlesfort, a total of six forts were built on the site during the 16th century. Five of the forts were Spanish and are described in documents and a map preserved in the Archive of the Indies in Seville, Spain. For nearly 20 years, the archaeological search for Fort San Marcos I was unsuccessful, so Dr. DePratter enlisted the aid of his friend and colleague, Dr. Victor Thompson of the University of Georgia, to try a new approach. In 2016, the two archaeologists were finally able to determine the location of Fort San Marcos I, using ground-penetrating radar and other electronic devices to look beneath the ground’s surface. Telling Santa Elena’s Story After that discovery, a new exhibit “Building Fort San Marcos,” featuring a 3-dimensional model of the fort, was unveiled at the Santa Elena History Center this spring. Using a drawing of Fort San Marcos I and a first-hand narrative describing the fort (both from the Archive of the Indies), Dr. DePratter created a

set of detailed scale drawings of the fort. Model maker Ruben Alex Coplo used those drawings to construct the 3-dimensional model, which is the centerpiece of the newest exhibit at the History Center. Andy Beall adds, “When additional funding is available, we’ll be able to take the new 3-D scale model of Fort San Marcos to the next level by developing a virtual reality experience for visitors, so they can ‘walk through’ the reconstructed 440-year-old fort on Santa Elena. The video will allow visitors to tour the fort virtually while listening to the actual words of the Spanish inspector Alvaro Flores, who documented the two-story fort’s rooms and contents, including 80 beds for soldiers and 10 cannons, in his 1578 written report.” Dr. Beall emphasizes that Santa Elena is an emerging story and as ongoing archaeological research reveals more information, the History Center’s exhibits and programs will continually evolve and be enhanced. Megan Meyer, Executive Director of the Santa Elena Foundation and a Beaufort native, says Phase II of the History Center’s main exhibit “Santa Elena: www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

America’s Untold Story” is currently in the planning stage. The second phase of the main exhibit will add the story of Captain Juan Pardo, who led 250 soldiers inland to the Appalachian Mountains; provide more information about the archaeological discoveries of the well, kiln and Fort San Marcos I; and add replicas of weaponry, clothing and other items to the exhibit to help bring the story of Santa Elena to life. “In addition to Phase II of the main exhibit, as funding becomes available other projects will include: creating living history interpretations with period costumes and props; building an archaeological laboratory and research facility at the Santa Elena History Center; and establishing a children’s interactive area at the Center,” says Ms. Meyer. Another project on the Foundation’s wish list is to search for the French ship Le Prince, known to have wrecked in 1577 in Port Royal Sound. “Maritime Historian and Nautical Archaeologist Jim Spirek will lead that research when funding is available,” she says. Collaboration and Partnership— Keys to Realizing the Vision Andy Beall emphasizes the importance of collaboration and partnerships in realizing the Santa Elena Foundation’s mission and vision. The Foundation works with noted archaeologists and scholars, as well as with community, local government, and business leaders, and many of them serve on its board of directors or as advisory board members. Count Alvaro Armada Barcaiztegui of Spain, a direct descendent of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, also serves on the Foundation’s board. “We’re also indebted to the dozens of volunteers in our community who donate thousands of hours of their time annually to greet visitors and keep the History Center open,” says Dr. Beall.

26 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

In addition, the Santa Elena Foundation partners with other local educational, cultural and history organizations. Examples include: the Heritage Library of Hilton Head Island’s new branch for ancestry research, located in the Santa Elena History Center; Beaufort History Museum’s and the Verdier House’s partnership with the History Center on a three-museum pass for visitors; a new station at the History Center sponsored by Kinghorn Insurance that helps visitors of all ages learn about Santa Elena through

video games developed by USCB students; and the Beaufort Art Association’s creation of beautiful murals depicting the founding of Santa Elena in the Center’s first-floor hallway. And Ms. Meyer says another partnership is in the works with the Carolina Marsh Tacky Association to hold a family-oriented Lowcountry Fair in November this year. The event will feature races with Marsh Tacky horses (the horses Spaniards brought here) and will celebrate Santa Elena with living history re-enactors, performances, music and food. The Santa Elena History Center opened at 1501 Bay Street just over a year ago, but has already made great strides telling America’s Untold Story—the exciting story of Santa Elena—to thousands of visitors. Plan to visit soon to learn the most recent findings about how European settlement in America began right here in Beaufort!

For hours and information, visit:

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Women United again works to help children in the Lowcountry start the school year on track.

he lazy, hazy and sometimes crazy days of summer are now upon us. It’s time to fire up the grill, pour a glass of your favorite beverage and then hit the nearest swimming pool. Students who have worked hard all year take the summer to relax and recharge their batteries, that is, until August rolls around and they must prepare to enlighten their minds again with academia. Unfortunately, many families in the Lowcountry will not be able to afford the needed supplies for the upcoming school year. That’s where the United Way of the Lowcountry Women United once again steps in with their initiative called “Operation Backpack,” the purpose of which is to provide local students with the school supplies they will need to start the upcoming year. The 2017-18 school year will mark the fourth year of Operation Backpack, and Women United has seen the program continue to expand every year since its inception. Katie Phifer, Women United Steering Committee Chairperson, says, “We wanted to break any barriers that would prevent a student from succeeding in school, so when we learned that many of our students were starting the school year without the supplies they desperately needed, Operation Backpack was born.” Last year, the initiative provided 465 backpacks which were distributed to six schools. In the upcoming school year, however, the program will serve more than 600 students in eight schools throughout Beaufort and Jasper Counties. “This initiative has continued to grow each year,”says Phifer. “We’ve had communities, businesses, individuals and other non-profit groups step up and truly deliver in order to help these kids. We also closely work with school social workers to help identify the students who would benefit the most from the program and who are not being served by other agencies. We then deliver the backpacks to the schools before school starts so the students will have what they need to succeed on their first day.” Cynthia Brown, a school social worker at St. Helena Elementary, echoes the praises of educators and parents alike, saying, “This program is truly a blessing. The children are so happy when they

30 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

receive their backpacks each year, and it helps them academically because they are prepared for the start of school. It also helps parents and teachers rest easier, knowing the students have the supplies they need for their classes.” According to Jaime Dailey-Vergara, Director of Marketing and Communications for the United Way, donations will be accepted at the various drop-off sites starting in June. “We will be accepting donations between June 5 until the beginning of August. To make it more convenient for participants, there will be more dropoff locations this year, and donations can be made online,” she says. Additionally, Women United will be collecting monetary donations to purchase some of the items in bulk as well as school uniform shirts. Women United Steering Committee member Alison Barton will be leading the initiative and helping to oversee the donation process. “Once the collection process is finalized in August, we organize our volunteers at United Way to help sort all the materials. We set up an assembly line and pack each of the backpacks, school by school,” says Barton. “By working with the schools directly, we can ensure that each backpack will be grade appropriate in terms of the needed materials and will contain the proper uniform shirt size for each child.” The list of donated items include the following: yellow highlighters, index cards, pocket folders (2 pockets), glue sticks, #2 pencils (12 count), crayons (24 count), composition notebooks (marble), filler paper, ruler (12 inch/clear if possible), zipperseal quart and gallon bags, box of facial tissue, wet wipes, hand sanitizer (4 oz bottle), rolls of paper towels. Additionally, gift cards to Old Navy and Walmart will also be accepted as well as monetary donations. Checks can be made out to “United Way of the Lowcountry” with Operation Backpack in the memo line and should be mailed to United Way of the Lowcountry, P.O. Box 202, Beaufort, SC 29901.

For more information about Operation Backpack, contact Jaime Dailey-Vergara at the United Way of the Lowcountry (843) 982-3040 or visit www.uwlowcountry.org

Drop-off Locations: United Way of the Lowcountry Offices: Beaufort – 1277 Ribaut Road Bluffton - 10 Buckingham Plantation Drive, Suite D Ridgeland - 1509 Grays Highway Beaufort Jasper Water & Sewer Authority, 6 Snake Road, Okatie Lowcountry Insurance, 80 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island NBSC Bank on Hilton Head Island, 210 Central Avenue or in Bluffton, 3 Belfair Village Drive YMCA, 1801 Richmond Avenue, Port Royal One Blood, 1001 Boundary Street, Suite A, Beaufort

www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

ARTIST PROFILE

Aki Kato:

From Japan To Beaufort story by Marsha Stewart photography by Susan Deloach

ell-known local artist, Aki Kato, has lived in Beaufort since 2003. But the journey to get here has been a long one. Born in Yokohama, Japan in 1957, Aki attended public elementary and junior high schools. He started drawing and painting at a very young age, and by age 7 he already understood art concepts such as perspective and the color wheel. In 1973, Aki entered military high school and graduated in 1976. Immediately following graduation, he moved alone, with no family, no friends, and no sponsor, to Washington DC to study art and English. While there, he studied English for 10 months at the Catholic University of America. Aki then moved to Gainesville, Florida and spent the next two years at a nearby community college studying math and science before transferring to the University of Florida. At the University of Florida, Aki studied art, intending to major in oil painting. He did not finish the program, concerned that art was “too unpredictable” to make a living at. He relocated to Atlanta and struggled to be noticed. As a young artist who had not graduated from art school, it was difficult to have his portfolio taken seriously. Aki took on different jobs to make ends meet. He worked as a waiter, a manager, and a cook. He then returned to Japan and also worked different jobs there. But he was determined to finish an art program and moved back to the United States. This time he landed in Orlando and attended the University of Central Florida where he completed his bachelor of fine arts degree.

After graduation, Aki worked at Universal Studios as a scenic painter. Before long, he moved to Atlanta and had his works displayed at several art galleries including Eclectica, Chicken Lips, and the Defoe Center. He was then hired by Habersham Plantation in Toccoa, Georgia. At the time, Habersham Plantation was the industry’s leading high end, hand painted furniture manufacturer. For the next year and a half, Aki worked at Habersham Plantation before being recruited as head artist by newly formed company, Camden Field, located in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Camden Field moved to Beaufort in 2002 as a retail custom made hand painted furniture store. The showroom and workshop was located on Robert Smalls Parkway right at Broad River Bridge. In 2004, Aki became an equal partner with owner Lynn Bonge and the pair relocated the showroom to Boundary Street in Beaufort. Camden Field is no longer in business. When he arrived in Beaufort, Aki immediately felt at home. He explains, “When I was in high school in Japan, I saw a movie about Gullah children on Daufuskie Island. I was mesmerized by the smiling faces of children and vast and beautiful scenery of the Lowcountry. Back then I had no idea where ‘Lowcountry’ was. The movie was Conrack and was an adaption of the Pat Conroy novel The Water is Wide. After I came to Beaufort, I found out that the movie was filmed not far from here and that Pat Conroy lives in the same town.” In 2006, after Aki and his partner closed Camden Field. He taught ‘Art of Furniture Painting’ at the Technical

College of the Lowcountry to supplement his income. In his first class, Aki met a lady who showed him a small planter and asked if he could help her paint it. She said it was for her brother’s birthday. There was an open area in the center of the planter and he suggested that she should write his name and message there. She wrote ‘Happy Birthday Pat.’ Aki asked her what his full name was and it was, in fact, Pat Conroy. Since then, the two have become best friends and, through her, he was able to meet Pat and his siblings Mike, Tim and Jim. Conroy’s siblings, along with Conroy’s wife Cassandra King, are Aki’s biggest supporters and they own many pieces of his artwork. Conroy’s writings have become quite an inspiration to Aki. He loves painting Lowcountry scenes: the marsh, tidal rivers, live oak trees – all stemming from his earlier love of the novel The Water is Wide. “I like to paint birds, trees, sea creatures, water scenes and working boats,” Aki says of his love of the Lowcountry. He has recently worked with the Pat Conroy Literary Center where he donated a large scale mural. The Lowcountry Habitat for Humanity is an organization that Aki is actively involved with. “I feel very strongly about their mission and love the idea of ‘re-store.’ They salvage old but good quality furniture and building materials to recycle and repurpose. I have worked in the American furniture industry for 20 years and realized that all the furniture industries in this country are being taken over by foreign countries, especially China. I am very much against buying inexpensive, low quality furniture which is made overseas and has to keep being replaced.”

www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

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political propaganda or social issues or even something much more simple. He says, “For example, I painted a mural, a picture of a big bald eagle about to catch a squirrel on a large tree. The squirrel is so scared and cannot move and is just gazing at the eagle’s talons. It is a very intense scene. When my client first saw the mural he asked me a question which made me very happy. He asked, ‘Aki, what is going to happen next? Did the squirrel escape or was he eaten?’ That is the kind of reaction I love to get from my clients. I think it is something very similar to a good book. We cannot wait to turn to the next page. Except in my case, the homeowner can decide the outcome.”

Job#:

Aki’s art is certainly different from the rest. often GIVE MOMHe OR DAD THE introduces himself as a “blue collar artist.” He explains, “What I mean by that is, instead of painting things which I like on canvas or paper and sell them in a regular gallery, I enjoy new GIVE MOM ORmeeting DAD THE people and interacting with my clients. I paint any subject on any surface or size, including walls, paper, canvas, salvaged wood, tiles, windows, etc and in any location. is not as easy as people At SummitIt Place of Beaufort, everything weplaces do is five star. When a different little help can think. I have worked in different and learned make all the difference, we’re here to styles and techniques. For example, I worked at Universal help you give Mom or Dad the THE best. GIVE OR DAD Studios in Orlando in the early 1990’s asMOM a scenic artist. Scenic ER THE FIVE artists paint backgrounds of theDISCOV amusement rides andSTAR paint steel DIFFERENCE: structures andof fiberglass to make them look like something else. At Summit Place Beaufort, everything Five Star dining here thatWhen I learned large •scale painting as well as faux we doItiswas five star. a little help can • Healthy calendar finish. Right now, my job as an artist is Generation™ to understand whatofmy make all the difference, we’re programs here to client wants and then help them to visualize and refine their idea, • best. 24-hour care help you Mom or Dad thengive execute. Therefore thethe finished product isofa Beaufort, collaboration of At Summit Place everything • Full calendar of activities and outings Summit Place Beaufort, everything weAtdo is five star.ofWhen a little help can my client and myself.”

Notes:

GIVE MOM OR DAD THE

dining guide

BREAKWATER Restaurant & Bar story by cindy reid

photography by paul nurnberg

reakwater Restaurant, now in thirteenth year, has earned the right to be called a Beaufort institution. Their sophisticated menu, lively bar scene and downtown location have come to represent the best of the casual upscale dining and libation environment. But Breakwater doesn’t ride on their reputation, in fact they are committed to shaking things up every few months with seasonal menus, make-you-happy Happy Hours and week night food specials that reflect their fun and fresh hospitality. Summer offers the opportunity for a seasonal reset and Executive Chefs Gary Lang and Beth Shaw have designed the perfect menu for you to enjoy summer’s local bounty. Let’s start with the food. It. Is. Always. Superb. Doesn’t matter what you order. Could be the filet mignon or could be Southern fried shrimp. It simply never disappoints. Breakwater has been using a contemporary approach to traditional Lowcountry dishes

for years and they are always updating the menu to include seasonal seafood and other local fare. It is what good food is supposed to be and exemplifies the best of “New Southern” cuisine. The Sorghum BBQ Pork Belly, a new item on the menu, illustrates this perfectly. At Breakwater, the pork belly is compressed again after cooking, removing fat, making it a more flavorful and updated take on the traditional dish. Served with bacon macaroni and cheese and sorghum barbeque sauce, it is a rare treat. Another popular item is the Ricotta Gnudi, served with wild mushrooms, smoked gouda and spinach. “It is important that we always have a vegetarian entrée available for our customers” says General Manager Donna Lang,” and this one is both healthy and delicious.” www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

dining guide

A perennial diners favorite is the Scottish Salmon, served with caramelized fennel, spinach and grape tomatoes, artichokes, marinated chick peas, charred lemon and basil vin blanc. It is a refreshing and healthy choice, beautiful to look at and even better to eat. Summer Specials Don’t want to eat heavy meals in the summer? Pop in and enjoy one of the many small plate options on the menu or one of the small plate specials served twice a week. Tuesdays are officially dubbed Taco Tuesday, with each week bringing a new version of the fan favorite. One week it might be Kung Pao Chicken with julienned sugar snaps peas and smoked cashews and the next Tuesday it could be Fried Shrimp with corn salsa, green curry creme fraiche and spinach. What a great deal at 2 for $8.00. A new addition is Slide into Thursday, which features the ever popular sliders, in this case the Nashville Fried Chicken sliders. They were such a hit at the Breakwater Kentucky Derby party that they have put on the menu for the summer. That makes all us a winner. Blended Burger Project Donna Lang says, “We are doing the James Beard Foundation Blended Burger challenge for the third year in a row. It is a nationwide competition and our Chef de cuisine Megan Horne is entering her creation the Lowcountry Black and Blue. It starts with a fifty/ fifty blend of chopped wild mushrooms and wagyu beef that’s seasoned with her own Lowcountry blackening spice.” Seared to perfection, it is finished in the oven, topped with blue cheese, port onions, lemon aioli, local melon salsa and arugula all served on a brioche bun. Wow! Starting May 30 and running until July 31st, Breakwater will be serving up Megan’s signature blended burger. The Blended Burger project “asks participants to join a

36 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

movement that strives to make burgers better by blending ground meat with chopped mushrooms, creating an incredibly delicious patty that’s healthier and more sustainable for the planet.” The James Beard foundation will award the top five chefs with the most online votes with a trip to the historic James Beard House in New York City where they will showcase their burger at an exclusive event in 2018. So swing by, try the Lowcountry Black and Blue and then go online and vote for Beaufort’s own Megan Horne! Happy Hour And what about that Happy Hour? Monday through Friday from 5- 7 PM, you can enjoy $4 well drinks and $4 glasses of wine, with a red, white and rose available. In addition, there are seven draft beers on hand, including local craft beers. Donna Lang says, and patrons agree, “It is the best deal in town. Come on in and have a drink and enjoy a summer special, all for well under twenty dollars.” The restaurant’s ambiance compliments the cuisine and libations. The dining room and bar are among the most comfortably cool rooms in Beaufort. Cool in the sense of after a scorching summer day, it is a welcome relief to enter and immediately feel better, and cool in the sense of its modern design and sensibility. Breakwater pulls off the very rare feat of being sophisticated but not stuffy. It is just chill y’all!

Breakwater 843-379-0052 203 Carteret Street, Beaufort, SC www.breakwatersc.com Open at 5 PM, Monday through Saturday (Closed Sunday)

REOPENED AF T E R 1 2 5 Y E AR S

LOWCOUNTRY C O A S TA L C U I S I N E Small Plates And Fine Dining

New Southern Tapas 60 Wines by the Glass Lively Atmosphere 203 Carteret Street Beaufort, SC 843.379.0052 breakwatersc.com

1103 BAY STREET 877-951-1770

802 S. Main St. | 864-271-0046 | breakwatersc.com Sea Eagle Market Ribaut Social Club 2242 Boundary Street, 1103 Bay Street Beaufort, SC. (877) 951-1770 (843) 521-5090 www.seaeaglemarket.com Breakwater Restaurant and Bar 102 Carteret Street, Suite 102, Beaufort SC 29902 (843) 379-0052 www.breakwatersc.com

www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

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REAL ESTATE

“Deep Water Home in Walling Grove” This Home is Offered By: Greg Bennett (843) 812-0623 greg@beaufortrealtyconsultants.com www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

he real estate market in Beaufort is making a comeback. 2017 has proved to have the strongest spring in ten years by being up 139% and shows a strong indication for the second home market. With offices on Harbor Island and in Coosaw Point, Island Realty of the Lowcountry is the leading company in sales for Harbor and Fripp Islands. Their agents in the Harbor Island office reside on one or the other of the islands, and their agents in the Coosaw Point office live in Beaufort. Of the five principle owners, they boast over 150 years of combined real estate sales experience in the area. Island Realty of the Lowcountry is consistently among the sales leaders in all of Beaufort County’s MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and their twelve agents constantly have their fingers on the pulse of existing and forecasted trends. Although Island Realty of the Lowcountry handles properties for buyers and sellers all over Beaufort, and they offer services for not only residential properties, but also commercial properties and land, Fripp and Harbor Islands are their particular specialty. Owning a home on one of the beautiful sea islands is like having your own piece of paradise where all sorts of options abound in terms of price, style, architecture, location and amenities. All part of living away from the hustle and bustle of city life, everything slows down with golf carts and bicycles being the main form of transportation. Both Harbor Island and Fripp Island are wildlife sanctuaries. They offer the enjoyment of deer, rare birds throughout, Snowy White Egrets, Great Blue Herons, Ospreys and Loggerhead

40 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

turtles coming in each spring to lay their nests and hatchlings late summer/fall … not to mention an alligator sunning beside a lagoon drawing never ending interest from guests. Harbor Island, with its beautiful white powder beach, offers inclusive amenities with property ownership on the island. The Swim and Racquet Club includes a community pool, fitness rooms, volleyball, party room, mini-store, tennis and basketball courts as well as a community garden. In addition to three and a half miles of pristine beach, Fripp Island provides broader options offering a resort membership to include two top ranked golf courses, tennis, various pool complexes, restaurants, shops, and a deep water marina. If you’re a golf lover, award winning Ocean Point and Ocean Creek golf courses will delight your very soul. With beautiful beaches and a subtropical climate that enhances the beauty of the landscape as well as bird and animal life, each of the islands has its own character and each is a good choice for a primary or secondary residence. Many options are available for short term rentals on both islands, making an investment there able to provide some return. Jennifer Helms and Ken Willis have extensive history and knowledge of these islands. Ken was president and partner of the Fripp Island Real Estate Company from 1990 until 2001. The Fripp Company, under the leadership of Willis, developed and operated the island during the years that all of the current amenities were developed. He brings that extensive experience as a partner to Island Realty of the Lowcountry and has developed a strategic plan to grow and expand the real estate company. Willis, now Broker-in-Charge, sees a need for a real estate company to

now Broker-in-Charge, sees a need for a real estate company to specialize in specific project marketing and sales. Jennifer has been Island Realty of the Lowcountryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Broker-in-Charge since 2014 and has lived on Fripp Island since 1998. She was one of the original agents selling real estate on Fripp Island when the resort was sold. She, and co-owners Theresa Cooper, Todd McDaniel and Coleman White, started Island Realty of the Lowcountry in 2002. They are looking forward to expansion, and with the help of Ken Willis, the company is currently in negotiations with several developers seeking to develop land in northern Beaufort County. Homes such as the one pictured here on Fripp Island, exemplify the listings Island Realty of the Lowcountry provides. The professionalism with which they handle their clients, buyers and sellers alike, is memorable and makes working with them an enjoyable experience. Their continuous referrals from past clients and friends speak volumes of their integrity and service over the years.

Serving Beaufort and the Sea Islands

Visit Our New Website: www.islandrealty.info Fripp Island • Harbor Island • Coosaw Point • Beaufort 2 Harbor Drive Harbor Island, SC 29920 843-838-3004- office

20 The Horseshoe Coosaw Point, SC 29907 888-374-7747 - toll free

Showcase of Homes... Habersham • 26 Harford

Enjoy year-round outdoor living with this wonderful screened porch and private courtyard in this meticulously maintained 3 BR 3 ½ Bath Townhome with 2 car detached garage $489,000. Eric M. Gnau Realtor (843) 597-0388 egnau@corabettthomas.com CoraBettThomas.com

1124 Palmetto Point

Cul-de-sac seclusion on a protected view of the marsh affords absolute peaceful privacy from your screen porch. $514,000 MLS # 149622 Annette Bryant Realtor (843) 986-7343 Annette.Bryant@ColdwellBanker.com

Talk to an Account Executive today and find out how you can get your listings featured in Beaufort Lifestyle! Have your listings seen by over 40,000 readers per issue...it’s a great 42 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com opportunity to spread the word.

Your “Sea Island Property Pros” Connecting People With Places

Call Sea Island Property Pros Today. Annette and Julianne eagerly await the opportunity to guide you through your home buying or selling journey. 843-986-2444 Annette Bryant REALTOR® 843-986-7343

Annette.Bryant@ColdwellBanker.com

Julianne Steinmetz REALTOR® 843-683-9083

Julianne.Steinmetz@ColdwellBanker.com

1211 Boundary Street Beaufort, SC 29902

SeaIslandPropertyPros.com

Be in the know...

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www.BeaufortLifestyle.com | June 2017

PROMPT. PROFESSIONAL. PREFERRED.

32 Ridge Road $525,000 Cat Island Beauty! Move-in Ready. Live the Lowcountry lifestyle!

4 Pennyroyal Way $264,800 Spacious both indoors and out! 4bedroom. A fantastic value!

Amy Achurch, REALTOR® Mobile: 843-441-5748 Amy@BallengerRealty.com

13 Flycatcher $330,000 Charming 4 bd Home Sitting on 1 Full Acre Updated Kitchen 2 Living Spaces + Dining

Will Achurch, REALTOR® Mobile: 843-592-6986 Will@BallengerRealty.com

10 Mises Road $384,000 Newpoint. 3bd/3ba Priced to sell!

(843) 379-8696 www.beaufortlifestyle.com One Beaufort Town Center 2015 Boundary Street • Suite 330 Beaufort, SC, 29902

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44 June 2017 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com

Your Local Commercial Realtor Very Local Real Estate As a young boy growing up in the Point there was always adventure to be had. Whether it be sneaking around back yards of our neighbors’ homes looking for ghosts or floating down the creek with a couple of buckets and a cast net to catch fresh shrimp. That is growing up in Beaufort. Some of the other adventures included real estate so I felt it was destiny to become a real estate broker. My parents owned Mark Furniture and that was always the family’s primary focus. However, on the side, my father would buy a rental house or commercial building or trade one piece of land for another - we always had work to do or rent to collect. As time went on, I graduated from the University of South Carolina and received a degree in Finance, then went back to work with my brother (who had taken over the furniture business and helped create a wonderful career and shopping experience that is still thriving today).

2008 was time for a change. I had been working in real estate for about 5 years, mostly as an informed investor, and then decided to work full time as a REALTOR. Everyone including my family thought I was crazy, the real estate market was collapsing, and it was a very trying time, but it allowed me to get the systems in place which would benefit my clients, then, and today.

Michael Mark, CCIM

2015 was a pivotal time, the commercial market was starting back in the area and I was asked by many local property owners for assistance. It was time to go back to school and become a CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member). This organization teaches its members to look at all aspects of the investment in real estate. This approach has helped me in the sale and redevelopment of underutilized properties along with sales and acquisitions of investment properties. To see an old trailer park become a hotel or to be able to help someone use a 1031 exchange to create a stream of rental income is very rewarding. In turn, all of this helps my hometown of Beaufort. I am the third generation of my family to live here, and all my siblings also call Beaufort ‘home’, this is very important to me. My hometown gives me the opportunity to enjoy the local waters fishing for redfish, tarpon and other local species. (843) 812-6023 If you have questions about commercial real estate or Beaufort in general please contact me.

Michael Mark

mmark@cbcworldwide.com

BEAUFORT’S COMMERCIAL LISTINGS

High Visibility Downtown $400,000 Completely Renovated Office Building Front Office has 5 Year Lease.

701 Carteret St.

Well maintained 6,500 sq.ft. $449,000 Investment Building. Government Lease in place to 12/2018

1211 Harrington St. Michael Mark, CCIM

Coldwell Banker Commercial Platinum Partners Associate Broker, Previews, ICSC Beaufort, Hilton Head, Bluffton mobile & text- 843-812-6023 email- mmark@cbcworldwide.com www.michaelmarkccim.com

Under Contract 1026 Ribaut Rd. 1815-1817 Boundary St

SOLD

1712 Paris Ave W. $550,000 1850 Ribaut Rd. $650,000 820-832 Paris Ave. $900,000 12 County Shed $1,675,000

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Julie Hales Publisher/Sales

(912) 657-4120 julie@idpmagazines.com

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(843) 379-8696 • www.beaufor tlifestyle.com One Beaufor t Town Center 2015 Boundary Street • Suite 221 • Beaufor t, SC, 29902

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