Hilton Head Monthly April 2021

SPRING FASHION

RBC HERITAGE

LOCAL READS

HILTON HEAD LEADING

Ladies 2021

BRYSON NIMMER

pga pro

A p r i l 2 0 2 1 // $ 4. 9 5

LOWCOUNTRY

Coming Summer of 2021

BE THE

Claim your title today!

It’s more than a profile, it’s recognition of being the face of your profession.

In this special publication we showcase those who best represent the Lowcountry in their respective areas of expertise. And we do it with superior quality in design, photography, and storytelling.

Contact your sales representitive today to reserve your space or email Meredith DiMuzio at meredith@hiltonheadmonthly.com

Dear Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry Community, Under new ownership, Heritage Academy is expanding academic excellence, enrichment and athletic opportunities by providing a re-envisioned choice for families seeking an outstanding academic school to achieve their student’s full potential.

My background and Heritage Academy: As Head of School, I am currently certified with the State Department of Education in Education Administration, holding a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Education and a Master’s in Educational Leadership. I resigned from the Beaufort public school district in May 2019. Heritage is a private for-profit school. Unlike some private schools, whether for profit or non-profit, we will be happy to share the school’s finances, payroll as well as Head of School compensation with current and prospective families. My goal is to create the preeminent academic institution of the Southeast and the financial resources of the school will be directed to support your child’s education.

Athletic Program and SCISA: Heritage Academy will be fully approved by SCISA for registration and expansion of its athletic program for the 2021-2022 school year. Heritage has communicated with SCISA and guidance has been received for completion.

Heritage Academy Vision: Heritage Academy offers a personalized educational program for every student to ensure success and create educational champions, prepared to thrive in every area of life. Every great school offers high level classes (AP courses), clubs, and extracurriculars. Today’s schools, educators and administrations need to go the extra mile to prepare students to be competitive on an international level. Heritage has now instituted a Concierge Service where students will have practicums and internships in a meaningful career program, differentiating themselves, helping to support their aspirations. Networking and connections are an important component and a key to success in this process.

Offerings: Heritage Academy serves grades 6–12. Heritage Academy is positioned as a visionary academic institution offering a myriad of options designed specifically for each student’s requirements, including a non-denominational faith based offering, a Dual Language Diploma through the U.S. State Department, a dual enrollment with the University of South Carolina Beaufort for college credits for 11th and 12th grade, as well as a personalized concierge enrichment.

Campus and Student Body: Previously, Heritage Academy focused on elite athletes while providing tailored academics. Heritage is now focused on “elite” academics, athletics and enrichment, supporting, educating and pushing students to their fullest potential whether for placement in Ivy League schools, in-state or out of state schools, the military or in some cases the workforce. Heritage is seeking to be an optimal choice for students across the Southeastern United States and as such is planning a larger campus for its much-expanded enrollment. For the 2021-22 school year, Heritage will be utilizing additional premises to its main building to provide a cohesive educational experience. It is envisioned that 2021-22 enrollment will surpass 125 students in grades 6 to 12, while maintaining class sizes not exceeding 12 students. Enrichment courses are offered many evenings and some post high school courses are available for graduates.

Tuition: Heritage Academy strives to maintain affordable private school tuition levels. Tuition for the 2021-22 school year is $11,950 in Upper School and $9,950 for Middle School. Heritage is offering a 10% scholarship to all local families. The criteria are that families must have their primary residence on HHI. I am thrilled to bring together top students who value academics, athletics and unique external interests combined with outstanding educators and support from the Beaufort community, including its higher education universities, to create an environment where academic scholars and athletic champions will thrive. I hope you will join me in our goal to achieve unsurpassed educational accomplishments, as well as preeminent athletics and unique opportunities for our children of the Southeast. I welcome you to call me or visit Heritage Academy either online or in person.

Amanda O’Nan Williams Owner and Head of School, Heritage Academy

11 New Orleans Road • Hilton Head, SC 29928 • 843-842-8600 • 843-707-6455 (cell)

MOnthLY

VOICE of the LOWCOUNTRY

843-842-6988 | hiltonheadmonthly.com MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR

Marc Frey marc@hiltonheadmonthly.com

PUBLISHER

Anuska Frey anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Anthony Garzilli anthony@hiltonheadmonthly.com

SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sasha Sweeney sasha@hiltonheadmonthly.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rebecca Cashwell cashwell@hiltonheadmonthly.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Madison Elrod madison@hiltonheadmonthly.com Allyson Venrick allyson@hiltonheadmonthly.com

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Meredith DiMuzio meredith@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-4488

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Majka Mochnac majka@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-290-9372 Mary Ann Kent maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9390 Markey McInerney markey@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-949-2591 Kevin Paige kevin@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-298-6168

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IIAPRIL ISSUEII

“must reads”

102

196 22 Economic Boost

114 Ocean Terminal

progressing.

38 Island Icons Forsythe Jewelers celebrates 40 years.

56 Dream Fulfilled

Bryson Nimmer ready for RBC Heritage debut.

102 Showcasing Spring Inspiring styles to brighten up your wardrobe.

114 L eading Ladies Women who make an impact in the Lowcountry.

SPRING FASHION

RBC HERITAGE

HILTON HEAD LOCAL READS

LEADING

Ladies 2021

BRYSON NIMMER

pga pro

196 Artistic Touch Marianne Stillwagon gets creative.

A p r i l 2 0 2 1 // $ 4. 9 5

ABOUT THE COVERS:

Photographer Lloyd Wainscott captured these shots of golfer Bryson Nimmer.

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IIAPRIL 2021II

contents

52

78

COMMUNITY

30 : In the Family Three Sisters have passion for local produce.

BUSINESS

42 : Smart Money Tips to refinancing your mortgage.

44 : Stock-market Success Investment lessons from the pandemic.

46 : Ecommerce Opportunities Start selling online.

48 : High-Tech Golf SwingFit explores the science behind your swing.

GOLF

52 : Love of the Game Husband-andwife pros share passion for the sport.

64 : Returning Champ Webb Simpson to defend RBC Heritage crown.

66 : Peak Performers Ambassadors are supporters of RBC. 70 : 2021 RBC Heritage Guide Everything you need to know.

+ IN

EVERY ISSUE

12 : At The Helm 14 : Opinion 16 : Contributors 18 : News 20 : Pets to Adopt

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GOLF COMMUNITIES

78 : Best of the Best Top courses of the Lowcountry.

HOME

166 : Task master Spring cleaning guide.

HEALTH

194 : Benefit to your Body Why Vitamin D is a big deal.

EDUCATION

200 : School News Get caught up on the goings on in learning.

LOCAL READS

204 : A Good Book These authors will grab your attention.

PARENTING

232 SPORTS

208 : Life Lessons First Tee of the Lowcountry teaches core values.

WHERE TO WORSHIP

212 : Offering Hope Church of the Palms optimistic for future.

DAY TRIP

214 : Preserving History Morris Center offers cultural experience.

DINING

228 : Dine in style Tips for a beautiful tablescape.

230 : Unwind with Wine Big bottles to enjoy.

232 : Delicious dishes Recipes to savor.

206 : Get in the Game Sports titles for kids.

24 : Photo of the Month 26 : Social Spotlight 28 : Community Connection 40 : On the Move

176 : Real Estate News 218 : Calendar 226 : Dining Briefs 234 : Restaurant Listings 240 : Last Call

IIAT THE HELMII

OUR PUBLISHER WITH APRIL LANGILL FROM SCYC

dear reader...

It is time once again for the Lowcountry to get its plaid on.

We are excited for the return of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing golf tournament, which has been played annually at Harbour Town Golf Links since 1969.

This year the tournament has made health a priority, with strict safety protocols in place.

But unlike last year, a limited number of spectators will be able to enjoy the action. We can’t wait to see the sport’s best view for the prestigious crown — and we look forward to seeing the community reveling in one of the state’s prime events.

Planning to watch the tournament? Don’t miss our RBC Heritage guide, which looks at the top players, offers a full schedule of events and details the ways the event is keeping fans and staff safe.

Bluffton native Bryson Nimmer earned an invitation to the tournament. Read how he starred in high school, excelled at Clemson University and will fulfill a dream by competing at the RBC Heritage.

Learn about Hilton Head-based SwingFit, which is embracing the science of the sport, and read about James and Calay Swift, a fun and exuberant husband-and-wife golf-pro duo.

Make sure to check out our descriptions of the Lowcountry’s top golf course communities.

Local women throughout the Lowcountry continue to impact the community. We shine a spotlight on their efforts with profiles in our Leading Ladies special section. And we learn how three sisters decided to take their passion for living off the land by operating their own certified organic farm.

You’ll also find the best of colorful spring fashion from top local boutiques.

Looking to take a day trip? Ridgeland is a small town in Jasper County, but the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage is one of the biggest promoters of preserving history. Read about its programs, cooking and arts-and-crafts classes and history lessons.

If you are looking to relax and enjoy a good book, we offer suggestions from authors that you won’t want to put down.

Thank you for making Monthly a part of your spring and for continuing to inspire us.

CHECK OUT

ANUSKA FREY : Publisher anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com

Spring FASHION PAGE 102

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IIOPINIONII

“letter ” WELCOME BACK TO PLAID NATION

By Steve Wilmot

It certainly has been a year like no other. And in no other year have we been more excited or grateful to welcome you back to the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

COVID-19 brought great perspective for all of us: Community is so important, especially through the biggest challenges. Challenges unimagined. To have the opportunity to welcome our fans back to the grounds is an honor.

We are able to restart our two charitable giving programs (Birdies for Charity and Champions Fore Charity) and continue to enhance the lives of families and individuals across the state who need it most.

Although signs of normalcy are returning, the effects from the near year-long pause that COVID-19 forced on the community will be felt for some time, and many of our neighbors are still working hard to rebuild their lives.

Thanks to your unwavering support, the Heritage Classic Foundation can restore hope and help. Plaid Nation is the fabric of our community and the reason why we can improve the lives of those living in South Carolina. Since 1987, we’ve distributed $45.8 million to nearly 100 nonprofits across the state.

Your commitment to Plaid Nation is helping feed families who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. It’s investing in the future of our great state and fostering youth scholars to strive for excellence in their education. These are our future leaders. It’s supporting healthcare, the arts, culture,

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history, the environment, and so much more that provide sustainability and purpose.

We all have a responsibility to our community, our neighbors and each other. Plaid Nation is a community in and of itself, and what a year it is to celebrate that.

This year, fans attending the RBC Heritage will be part of a one-of-a-kind event. Health and safety remain the number one priority, and the tournament has implemented a number of new protocols to keep everyone safe during the reimagined event.

The 2021 RBC Heritage will offer a unique and intimate experience. With fewer spectators on the course, fans will get an enhanced viewing opportunity to watch the world’s best golfers play the iconic holes of

Harbour Town Golf Links.

New COVID-19 safety protocols mean some elements of the tournament have changed. The skyboxes and private hospitality venues that usually surround the golf course will be replaced with open-air villages and concession areas. The use of facial coverings and social distancing will be mandatory.

We are resilient, ready and eager to have the international spotlight shine once again on South Carolina’s only PGA TOUR event April 12-18. And we are so excited to welcome you back to Plaid Nation.

Steve Wilmot is tournament director of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

IIBEHIND THE SCENESII

spring

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

FASHION SHOOT Spring is in the air and we couldn’t think of a better place to shoot our fashion feature than at the South Carolina Yacht Club. The combination of beautiful outfits, gorgeous jewelry, amazing models (some of whom are SCYC members) and a fabulous location made for a great day. Thanks to everyone who took time out of their day to make this one of our favorite shoots this year! – Sasha Sweeney, Senior Creative Director.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE LOWCOUNTRY NAMES YOUTH OF THE YEAR

Mia Fotia, model

Sebastian Vela Garcia of the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island was named 2021 Lowcountry Youth of the Year. He is a junior at Hilton Head High School.

As the Lowcountry Youth of the Year, Sebastian will receive a college scholarship worth $500 and will compete in Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s State Youth of the Year competition on April 22, a news release said.

“Sebastian has grown so much over his years at the Club — maturing from a shy and reserved kid to one of the most outgoing and social teens in the Club’s Keystone Service Club,” said Kim Likins, Club director.

Last year, Sebastian and a few other members of the Keystone Club took on a new business project. The teens hatched the idea of running a snack shack during Club hours. Sebastian and his fellow Keystone Club members worked through all the details, named the business Snackity Shack, and one season into the business, the group earned enough money to plan a trip to New York City.

Sebastian excels in school with straight A’s and received an invitation last year to Hilton Head High School’s Beta Club. He also works during the summer as part of the Club’s Jr. Staff.

“Sebastian embodies the Club values of leadership, service and academic excellence and serves as an excellent role model for other young people in the Club,” said Chris Protz, Chief Executive Officer, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry.

Lilly Atkinson

, model

Mary & Lilly Bach, models

Guido Flueck, photos

Our publisher, Anuska Frey, couldn’t resist trying on some of the jewelry from Forsythe Jewelers.

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Heather Edge, makeup

CHECK IT OUT @ HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

IILOCAL NEWSII

“in the know ” Two Hilton Head Island tennis icons earned the sport’s highest honor, coronavirus vaccinations expanded, and a Lowcountry school celebrated winning a state basketball championship. Here’s what made news during the previous month:

ORIGINAL 9

HILTON HEAD LEGENDS HEADED TO INTERNATIONAL TENNIS HALL OF FAME Tennis icons and Hilton Head residents Dennis Van der Meer and Kerry Melville Reid will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Known as the “teacher of teachers,” Van der Meer founded the Van der Meer Tennis Center on Hilton Head and Professional Tennis Registry. He was named Olympic Developmental Coach of the Year in 1997. Van der Meer, who died in 2019 at 86 years old, will be inducted posthumously.

Reid, who lives on the island, will be inducted as part of the Original 9, which was a group of women in 1970 who signed $1 contracts to compete in a new women’s tournament, paving the way for the WTA Tour. The induction ceremony is set for July.

COVID-19 VACCINATION ELIGIBILITY EXPANDS More people are eligible for coronavirus vaccinations. The S.C. Department of Health in March moved to Phase 1b, which includes all people age 55 and older. It also includes

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BLUFFTON BRANCH LIBRARY

people 16-64 with “high-risk” medical conditions, frontline workers with occupational risk, and school staff. The state expects to further expand eligibility around April 12 by implementing Phase 1c, which will include those age 45 and up. Phase 2 is set to begin around May 3, in which people 16 and older will be eligible. Online appointments can be made at scdhec.gov/ vaxlocator or by calling 1-866-365-8110.

BLUFFTON BRANCH LIBRARY UNDERGOING RENOVATIONS The Beaufort County Library Bluffton Branch is beginning renovations that are estimated to last several months. The library will be open with the same hours, but the main portion of the library will be closed. The library’s entryway and large meeting room will serve as a “miniature pop-up” library for the coming months as the renovation project begins. Updates will be posted on the library system’s Bluffton Renovation page and Facebook page. For more information, call 843-255-6497.

THE BREEZE TROLLEY SERVICE BEGINS APRIL 10 The Breeze trolleys serving Hilton Head Island will begin service starting Saturday, April 10. The free service includes a second route serving mid-island residents and guests. The trolley service is expected to operate every day through Labor Day. The South Island Route will follow the same service hours, routing, and stops as last year using two trolleys each day. The new MidIsland Route will use one trolley and will serve portions of William Hilton Parkway, Folly Field Road, and Shelter Cove Lane. The service will run 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 1 p.m. to midnight, Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, visit breezetrolley.com.

BLUFFTON MAYFEST CANCELED The Rotary Club of Bluffton canceled 2021 Mayfest due to the COVID-19 concerns. This would have been the event’s 43rd year.

“We look forward to better days ahead and to hosting Mayfest in 2022,” a news release said.

IILOCAL NEWSII

“pets”

OF THE MONTH

ZOOEY Age: 9 months Gender: Female Weight: 41 pounds Breed: German Shepard Temperament: Big puppy. Learning manners. Is a sweet girl who wants to play non-stop.

HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY GIRLS WIN STATE BASKETBALL CROWN Led by Dior Shelton’s 17 points, Hilton Head Christian Academy’s girls basketball team won the SCISA Class AA state basketball championship. The Eagles defeated Palmetto Christian Academy 48-32 at Sumter Civic Center to earn their third straight title. Abby Peduzzi added 11 points.

In SCHSL competition, the Hilton Head High boys basketball team fell to South Point High 52-50 in the Class AAAA state-title game at the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

At t h e S C H S L s t at e w re s t l i n g championships, Eli Hall (220 pounds) and Gabe Juarez (160 pounds) of May River High and Hilton Head High’s James Levy (113 pounds) won state titles.

BEAUFORT COUNTY SITES PART OF RECONSTRUCTION ERA NATIONAL HISTORIC NETWORK Three Beaufort County sites are now among six spots joining the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network. The national collection includes 67 public and private sites and programs 20 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

that provide education, historical interpretation, and research related to the American Reconstruction era from 1861 to 1900, a news release said. The local sites are Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Hilton Head Island, Penn Center on St. Helena Island and Wesley United Methodist Church in Beaufort.

ELI Age: 3 Gender: Male Weight: 70 pounds Breed: Lab Mix Temperament: Sweet, low key. Loves walks and just hanging out with you.

LOWCOUNTRY WOMAN WINS $100,000 LOTTERY PRIZE A Bluffton woman’s lucky numbers won her a $100,000 prize playing the South Carolina Education Lottery.

The winning ticket was bought at the Parker’s No. 33 on Buckwalter Parkway in Bluffton. The numbers for the Feb. 25 drawing were 2-12-15-19-35.

“I was shocked,” said the woman, who was not identified in a news release.

Parker’s received a $1,000 commission for selling the ticket. The odds of winning $100,000 playing Palmetto Cash 5 games are 1 in 501,942.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, VISIT US @HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

Adopt them at: Noah’s Arks Rescue Noah’s Arks Rescue specializes in helping animals with special needs. Meet these pets and their other adoptable animals by appointment only at 231 Hazzard Creek Village, Suite 3 in Ridgeland.

For more information: 843-540-6755 OR WWW.NOAHS-ARKS.NET

“in memoriam” LOIS RICHARDSON

Lois Richardson, known as a pillar of the Hilton Head Island community, died March 19. She was 101. Richardson, one of the earliest residents of Hilton Head, along with her husband, the late Norris Richardson, built the first grocery LOIS RICHARDSON store on the island in the Coligny area.

Norris and Lois started other firsts, according to her obituary, including the island’s first bakery, hair salon, clothing store, laundromat, dry cleaners, real estate office and other businesses. She and Norris founded the First Baptist Church In celebration of her 100th birthday in 2019, Lois told Hilton Head Monthly: “Go do something you dream about and live your dream.”

DWON FIELDS JR.

Dwon Fields Jr., an 18-year-old senior at Bluffton High School, was shot and killed on March 5, Bluffton Police said. A vigil was held at Bobcat Stadium several days after the shooting.

Fields, who competed for the Bluffton High football team, was known for being humble. “He was just so sweet,” Bluffton Town Councilwoman Bridgette Frazier said, according to Bluffton Today. “Just always a happy kid and all the kids DWON FIELDS JR. around him fed off that.”

Two suspects were charged with accessory after the fact of murder, according to the Town of Bluffton.

Two other suspects were charged with murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The shooting, which was at Bluffton and Hampton parkways, also injured two other Bluffton High students, E.J. Graham Jr. and Kylan Simmons.

The community is assisting the families with fundraisers. For a list of ways to help, including donating to GoFundMe pages, visit townofbluffton.sc.gov or lowcosports.com.

FIELDS

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 // 21

PORT

PROGRESS

JASPER OCEAN TERMINAL COULD BOOST LOWCOUNTRY ECONOMY, TRIGGER INVESTMENT

BY MARK E. LETT

legislative reviews, a Jasper County and Georgia construction plan, site officials share a vision of a day preparation, environmental when their collaboration will protections, and agreement on enable mammoth, ocean-going who will control operations. ships to dock at a spanking new Previous initiatives had port in Jasper County. envisioned an operating port It will take teamwork to make by 2025, then 2035, but those their dream work. targets foundered in the Progress on a Jasper port has backwash of disagreements proven elusive for two decades, between the two states and in awash in disputes and delays. the South Carolina Legislature.

Now, however, officials are The project was first floated embracing fresh agreements to in 2004. Iterations have make the county and the Georgia included public-private Ports Authority partners in partnerships and a 50-50 developing a multi-billion-dollar collaboration between the S.C. port.

Ports Authority and the Georgia The anticipated $5 billion Ports Authority.

Ocean Terminal on 1,500 acres EXHIBIT 1 - VICINITY MAP None of those arrangements along the Savannah River in have succeeded, leaving Jasper County officials in line for another try.

Jasper County would be less than 10 miles from the Savannah Port.

The newest plan calls for transferring the S.C. Ports Authority’s The Jasper development would relieve congestion at Savannah, where 50-percent ownership to Jasper County. additional capacity is expected to be strained by 2035.

A choreography of approvals — from the county level to the S.C. Moreover, a deep-water port in Jasper could be designed to receive Ports Authority and Georgia’s Ports Authority — is in motion to supersized-ships carrying thousands more containers than the Savannah seal the deal. At press time, Jasper County and the SCPA had voted operation handles. to ratify the agreement.

Lowcountry officials see the project as a big-bang to boost the Proponents are hopeful the new arrangement will result in an Lowcountry economy.

“It’s transformational,” said Marty Sauls, a member of the Jasper operating port sooner than 2035.

Davis noted that the Jasper property — once a dumping ground County council and president of the county’s Chamber of Commerce. for dredging from the port of Savannah and Savannah River — sits The port has the potential, he said, to be the county’s “Golden Egg” for job creation and economic health. idle and undeveloped.

“It looks like the surface of the moon,” he said.

Barbara Clark, council chair, said the economic ripple from building, That barren landscape can be shaped into an efficient, economical supporting and operating the port will provide a “brighter future” for port — a lifeline to the world – capable of handling the world’s “young people in school right now.” largest cargo ships, Davis said.

South Carolina State Sen. Tom Davis — who has tracked the port Making that a reality will test the 50-50 partnership of Jasper project for 20 years, initially as chief of staff to then-Gov. Mark County and the Georgia Ports Authority.

Sanford and later as an elected official — said a Jasper port could “We’re partners, not enemies,” said Sauls. “We are going to trigger unprecedented investment in the Lowcountry. proceed in a friendly and harmonious way.”

“We’re about to bring prosperity to a region of the state that has Jasper County Administrator Andrew Fulghum said the county been ignored historically,” Davis said. “The global shipping industry welcomes the opportunity to partner with the Georgia Ports Authority. is very sophisticated. The partnership between Jasper County and “We look forward to working directly with them,” he said. “We’ve Georgia Ports sends a tremendous signal to investors.” not had that opportunity previously.”

Long lists of details remain to be worked out. Among those: PROPOSED LOCATION OF JASPER OCEAN TERMINAL

NORTH

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1 // 23

IILOCAL CONTESTII

PHOTOS MONTH OF THE

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1. Jeanne Befano captured this image on a stroll into the salt marsh via the Fiddler Crab Cove boardwalk at historic Honey Horn. 2. Alison Ruh took this pictureperfect photo of a sunset at Wright Family Park in Old Town Bluffton 3. A sunset view from a home on Alljoy Road in Bluffton as captured by Marisa Cain.

4. After a recent storm on Mitchelville Beach, Donna Pernice took a photo of the aftermath.

H AV E A N I N C R E D I B LE P H OTO TO S H A R E? W E’D LOV E TO S E E IT. SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS TO EDITOR @ HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

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Xxxxxx

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 // 25

IIIN THE SPOTLIGHTII

GET SOCIAL!

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1. The Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade took the festivities to the water with a boat parade. The Hilton Head St. Patrick’s Day Committee hosted the celebration.

2. A fun time was enjoyed at Coligny’s Spring Shop-Around event which highlighted locally owned fashion boutiques. 3. Fans of the Savannah Bananas celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by fashioning their best green attire.

TO SUBMIT A PHOTO OF YOUR EVENT, EMAI L EDITOR @ HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1 // 27

IIIN THE SPOTLIGHTII

“community connection ”

SOLICITOR’S OFFICE

LITERACY CENTER

THE LITERACY CENTER EARNS AWARDS; 8 VOLUNTEERS INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME

Adult literacy nonprofit The Literacy Center was recently awarded two honors: the Stepped Up to the Plate Award and the Facility Enhancement Award. TLC earned the Stepped Up to the Plate honor, presented by the Department of South Carolina Adult Education, for its COVID-19 response. The Facility Enhancement honor was earned for TLC’s improvements made to its learning centers on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton.

Eight TLC volunteers — with a combined total of 125 years of service — were inducted into the SCAE‘s Hall of Fame: Charlie McOuat, Tim Drake, Barbara Bates, Steven Fee, James Kadra, Corina Altamirano, Peggy Geraghty and Betty Hershman.

WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF HILTON HEAD GIVES BACK

The Women’s Association of Hilton Head recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with a community outreach event benefiting Second Helpings in front of the Whole Foods Market off U.S. 278. More than 2,100 pounds of food were donated in four hours. Through the generosity of WAHHI members and community neighbors, $2,265 in cash and check donations were collected.

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WAHHI

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY AWARDS GRANTS TO 13 NONPROFITS

In its ninth round of COVID-19 grantmaking, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry awarded $99,400 to 13 nonprofit organizations working the front lines of COVID-19 relief efforts. To date, $655,481 has been granted. Antioch Educational Center (Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties) was awarded $6,500; Bluffton Community Food Kitchen (Beaufort County) received $7,000; Bluffton Self Help (Beaufort County) was awarded $7,000; First Estill Baptist Church (Hampton County) received $4,600; Greater Faith International Ministries (Hampton County) was awarded $3,500; Hampton United Methodist Church (Hampton County) was awarded $10,000; Healing Waters Mission & Wellness Center (Beaufort and Jasper counties) was awarded $4,500; Love Abound CDC (Hampton and Jasper counties) was awarded $3,500; Lowcountry Food Bank (Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties) received $20,000; Marshview Community Organic Farms (Beaufort County) was awarded $10,800; New Destiny Center Inc. (Jasper County) received $5,500; Partners in Transition, Inc. (Beaufort and Jasper counties)

WOMAN’S LEAGUE

was awarded $6,500; and Women of Faith and Power Ministries (Beaufort and Jasper counties) received $10,000.

SOLICITOR’S OFFICE COLLECTS ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR CHILDREN’S SHELTER

Essential items were donated recently to the area’s only home for abused and neglected children thanks to a community partnership between the Child Abuse Prevention Association, the 14th Circuit Victims Services Center and a Solicitor’s Office program.

The Victims Services Center and the PreTrial Intervention program donated toiletries, healthy snacks, school supplies, and clothing to CAPA and the Open Arms Children’s Home, which primarily serves children ages 12 and older who have been removed from an abusive or neglectful situation.

FOUR NONPROFITS RECEIVE HUD FUNDING

In the final round of COVID-19-related grantmaking, four nonprofits received $55,221 to help Hilton Head Island residents with rent, utilities, mortgage, food, transportation, childcare, education and other needs. The funds come from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grants the

Town of Hilton Head Island received last year. The nonprofits receiving grants were: Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island ($4,739) for cleaning expenses and PPE; The Children’s Center ($18,482) for tuition assistance for students from low- to moderate-income families on Hilton Head Island whose families must quarantine due to COVID exposure; The Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project ($16,000) to be paid to landlords or utility providers on behalf of residents who meet income requirements; and Sandalwood Community Food Pantry ($16,000) for food and PPE to be distributed to low- to moderate-income residents of Hilton Head Island.

and communities: Amelie Ratliff, May River High School; Hannah Reilley, RidgelandHardeeville; Owen Sullivan, John Paul II Catholic School; Mattison Vaigneur, Thomas Heyward Academy. Each received a pin, DAR Award certificate and a $50 check.

GOOD CITIZENS AWARDS GIVEN TO FOUR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

GFWC WOMAN’S LEAGUE OPENS 3RD ‘BOOK NOOK’ LIBRARY

Four high school seniors received the DAR Good Citizens Award from the Emily Geiger Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution for exhibiting qualities of good citizenship in their schools, homes

WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY AWARDS $75,000 FOR COVID-19 RECOVERY

Three nonprofit organizations received grants from the Women in Philanthropy to help with coronavirus recovery. Antioch Education Center, Foundation for Educational Excellence, and Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head Island each received $25,000.

The GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry in Bluffton opened the third Mr. Pig’s Book Nook Lending Library in Piggly Wiggly, this time in Hardeeville.

Two other Book Nooks have been

established in Piggly Wigglys in Ridgeland and Port Royal.

VILLAGE COVE ASSISTED LIVING EARNS AWARD

Senioradvisor.com and A Place For Mom honored Village Cove Assisted Living on Hilton Head the “Best of the Best” award.

Village Cove is Hilton Head’s only freestanding assisted living community, according to its website.

BEAUFORT COUNTY VA RELOCATES

The Beaufort County Veterans Affairs has moved to the Department of Special Needs Building on 100 Clear Water Way. The office number is 843-255-6880.

HILTON HEAD HOSPITAL PERFORMS ROBOTIC KNEE REPLACEMENT

Hilton Head Hospital completed its first same-day robotic-assisted total knee replacement using the CORI Surgical System.

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THREE SISTERS FARM HONORS A PASSION FOR LOCAL PRODUCE FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD

“THE STORY OF FAMILY FARMING UNDERSCORES A LEGACY OF SUSTAINABILITY.” Amanda Zaluckyj, “The Farmer’s Daughter USA”

STORY BY BECCA EDWARDS | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THREE SISTERS FARM

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Three Sisters Farm is a certfied organic farm that its owners say helps educate the public about farming and local produce.

If you have siblings, you understand the repartee that is generated when you are together and the seamless storytelling in which one begins a story, another interjects and yet another finishes it. Personalities emerge and there is a subtle revelry to the conversation. Listening to Beth Lee, Mary Connor, and Priscilla Coleman of Three Sisters Farm, it is evident that their bond with each other is as strong as their bond with their family’s land.

“People don’t realize there was a time when Bluffton did not even have a grocery store,” said Mary Conner.

“Mom would have to go to Savannah every six months,” added Priscilla Coleman.

“We had vegetables, cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys and goats and lived off the river. We were self-sufficient, but what we didn’t grow we had to get from Savannah,” finished Beth Lee. This love of and living off the land transcended from childhood to adulthood and in 2008 the sisters decided to “mess around and give [Three Sisters Farm] a little try.”

With their USDA certified organic farm in the Pinckney

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Colony Community of Bluffton, the sisters grow certified organic vegetables, berries, herbs, flowers, sugarcane, indigo and mushrooms.

“We’re self-sufficient again,” said Connor.

“With the exception of toilet tissue,” joked Coleman.

“But we have eggs, a garden and again live off of the river,” said Lee. The sisters agree it is important to support local farmers and grow and eat organic foods.

“It’s important for us to help educate the general public about farming and promote local produce and flowers and sustainable practices,” Coleman said. “For me, organic isn’t just about not using pesticides on what we grow. That is one aspect, but it’s about the health and care of the ecosystem, land, soil and environment.”

Said Connor: “Most people do not realize that by eating organic, you are not putting these chemicals into other ecosystems like our rivers. That’s why we practice no till or low till, too. We are also supporting an industry that is protecting the workers who work these farms.”

IT’S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HELP EDUCATE THE GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT FARMING AND PROMOTE LOCAL PRODUCE AND FLOWERS AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES. Priscilla Coleman

The reaping of 2020 has enabled Three Sisters Farm to harvest new beginnings both personally and professionally.

Coleman oversees the cultivation of the flowers and indigo and is looking forward to once again offering a CSA flower subscription and returning to local farmers’ markets, as well as launching a series of workshops that teach people about natural dyes and “educate the public on how to grow your own food.”

The sisters admitted they saw “a disconnect in our younger generation who don’t understand our food system and how to cook whole foods” and expressed a passion to empower people to live, as they do, sustainably, thoughtfully and consuming nutritious foods (visit 3sistersorganicfarm.com for recipes).

Reflecting on the past year, Connor said, “During the pandemic, people saw the importance of supporting local farmers. But we have to support them all the time, not just during a crisis.”

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THREE SISTERS FARM ADHERES TO THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM’S GUIDELINES FOR GROWING CROPS AND EMPLOYS ITS OWN SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES: NO-TILL

Prevents soil runoff and prevents runoff into streams.

Retains soil nutrients.

SOIL BLOCKING FOR TRANSPLANTS

Blocks are made on the farm. No plastic involved.

Produces healthier plant starts.

MULCHING

Helps prevent weeds and conserves water.

COMPOSTING

Plant waste is composted.

DRIP AND MICRO-IRRIGATION

Conserves water and helps with runoff.

HAND WEEDING

Gentle on the plants and allows for less soil disturbance.

SHALLOW WEEDING

Disturbs only the first half-inch of soil. Prevents disturbance of the soil structure.

RAISED BEDS

Prevents plants from “drowning” in heavy rains.

COVER CROPPING AND ROLLER CRIMPING

Cover crops keep soil from being exposed and washed away in rain or blown away by wind. Roller crimping cover crops creates a pre-mulched bed.

BENEFICIAL INSECT HABITAT

Many flowers create a habitat for beneficial insects who help contain pest populations.

HONEY BEES

Help with pollination of crops.

OCCULTATION

Cuts the soil off from sunlight.

Source: Three Sisters Farm

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XXXX

[ 2021 LOWCOUNTRY ]

BUSINESS & FINANCIAL

JOURNAL

COMMUNITY STALWARTS : FORSYTHE JEWELERS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS ON THE MOVE REFINANCE ADVICE: MORTGAGE TIPS TO SAVE MONEY FEATURED BUSINESS: SWINGFIT’S CLUB FITTING

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FORSYTHE JEWELERS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND

BY JAMES MALLORY | PHOTOS BY CAITLIN RYAN OF MEMORY LANE PORTRAITS

Andrea Bragg, owner of Forsythe Jewelers, has been around high-end bling for more than 20 years. In a year that forced a lot of people to reassess their lives and relationships, Bragg noticed a trend.

“We’ve sold more engagement rings in the past 12 months than we probably have in the past five years,” she said. “The pandemic forced everybody to hit pause and to think about those they hold dear.”

Designer rings, pendants, necklaces and earrings can be passed down through the generations. For the giver, it can be a way to show that the relationship will be long-lasting, Bragg said.

The recipient will have a reminder of a special occasion, who gave it to them and when, she said.

“This time last year, no one knew what the pandemic would bring,” Bragg said. “What makes this (40th) anniversary sweeter is that we’ve been through it and

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survived — which we owe to the strong support of our community and clients. It has been amazing. Forty years is a memorable number, and it is more significant because we have made it through this pandemic. It is just a testament to how relationships are important.”

Building relationships and customer loyalty start with her staff, most of whom have been with the store eight years or longer, Bragg said. The sales associates, known as the Forsythe Gems, stay in contact with regular customers, sending texts and emails about new merchandise and trunk shows. They also remind them about special occasions like anniversaries and birthdays and assist them with favorite items noted on a client’s wish list.

“We have an amazing team who care about what they do and their relationships with clients,” Bragg said. “This is a relationship business. There has to be a high level of trust when you are purchasing a piece of jewelry.”

WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM WHO CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH CLIENTS. THIS IS A RELATIONSHIP BUSINESS. THERE HAS TO BE A HIGH LEVEL OF TRUST WHEN YOU ARE PURCHASING A PIECE OF JEWELRY. ANDREA BRAGG Some relationships stretch back many years, with regular clients stopping by whenever they are visiting Hilton Head Island. The retailer, which opened on the island in 1981, was founded in 1927 in Rochester, N.Y. Bragg has been associated with the jeweler for 20 years and bought the store in 2015.

“I love the business because of the relationships that we have formed with our customers over the years. It’s like welcoming family into your home,” she said. “We enjoy seeing our long-time friends, catching up with returning visitors, and enjoy meeting new people every day.”

To celebrate its anniversary, the store is hosting a Roberto Coin trunk show on April 27-28. Coin’s signature mark is a ruby, hidden inside each piece of jewelry, representing long life, health, and happiness, Bragg said. Coincidentally, the ruby is the traditional 40th wedding anniversary stone.

“The Roberto Coin brand has been a loyal partner of Forsythe Jewelers for 19 years, so it’s the perfect synergy to mark the occasion,” she said.

A sign of a successful business is the ability to adapt to its environment, including the pandemic. Forsythe Jewelers took the opportunity to revamp their website and add an online shopping component so that customers could safely shop from their homes.

“An online presence is important,” said Bragg, “because it allows shoppers to see the brands. In the end, though, people still want to touch what they are buying. And while the designer brands draw people into the store, it is the atmosphere and merchandise that customers love.”

She described the atmosphere as fun and relaxed.

“It is not stuffy,” she said. “Customers who have shopped in larger, high-end stores often comment on the extensive selection we offer and how knowledgeable and friendly our staff is. We look forward to reconnecting with our longtime friends and seeing new faces as we celebrate our 40th anniversary with the community.”

Forsythe is located in The Shops at Sea Pines Center. Sea Pines Resort gate passes are reimbursed — or call ahead and they’ll leave a pass for you at the Sea Pines Welcome Center.

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“on the move ” 5.HORIZON HOME INSPECTORS DESIGNATED AS CERTIFIED MASTER INSPECTORS

1. BERKELEY HALL CLUB NAMES ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, CFO

Jeff Dekruif has joined the Berkeley Hall team as assistant general manager and chief financial officer.

He brings more than 20 years of experience in the golf resort and country club industries. Most recently, Dekruif served as the CFO and assistant general manager for Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, Calif.

2. J. BANKS DESIGN GROUP WELCOMES FOUR TO THE TEAM

Brooke Hasselwander, Isabella Possinger, Aimee Rusch and Amelia Sauter have joined J. Banks Design Group. Hasselwander and Possinger are residential design assistants.

Hasselwander has three years of independent design experience.

Possinger was previously the procurement/fulfillment manager for Salacia Salts.

Rusch, executive assistant, relocated to the Lowcountry from Columbus, Ga., where she worked at Hinson Galleries.

Sauter joins the company as commercial design assistant. Prior to coming to J. Banks, Sauter was a commercial design intern for MCG Explore Design in Alaska.

Tom Hanlon of Horizon Home Inspectors has achieved the status of Certified Master Inspectors as designated by the Master Inspector Certification Board. Hanlon has been a professional home inspector in Beaufort County since 2018 with Horizon Home Inspectors.

1. DEKRUIF

2. RUSCH

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Bethany Marcinkowski, the United Way of the Lowcountry’s Vice President of Education Impact, was honored for 20 years in the organization. She leads the Early Grade Reading Initiative. Marcinkowski has also been involved in the Catholic HEART Workcamp program for the past two decades.

8.HIGH TIDE RESTORATION AND CLEANING CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

4. MCALISTER

Family-owned High Tide Restoration and Cleaning is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Ryan Moore started the business as a carpet-cleaning company in 2001. It grew to offer other services, including water, fire and smoke restoration, mold mitigation, and air duct and dryer vent cleaning. The business has more than 25 employees.

9.HHI COMPUTER CLUB OFFERS COVID-19 VACCINE ASSISTANCE

4.HOPEFUL HORIZONS ELECTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS

Hopeful Horizons has named new members to its Board of Directors: Michelle Elliott, Realtor, Weichert Realtors; Tom Faas, CPA, BDO Seidman; Pamela Steele, Hilton Head Island Elementary School; and Sally McAlister, retired health scientist. The board officers are Chairperson Meredith Bannon, Esq., The Bannon Group; Chair-Elect Jim Rumer; Treasurer Sandi Atkins and Secretary Jennifer Moneagle.

Amber Linaburg has joined ROC Dental Group as a dental hygienist.

She has practiced dental hygiene for nine years and recently moved to the Lowcountry from West Virginia.

7.UNITED WAY RECOGNIZES VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION IMPACT

3.ST. HELENA ISLAND VOLUNTEER JOINS SECOND HELPINGS BOARD

Mike Chambers is the newest member selected for the Second Helpings Board of Directors. Chambers, a Second Helpings volunteer coordinator for Dataw Island, joins the board after five years as a truck volunteer. He has coordinated Dataw Island truck volunteers for Second Helpings for more than two years.

6.ROC DENTAL WELCOMES DENTAL HYGIENIST

5. HANLON

Hilton Head Island Computer Club’s office is closed, but it provides vaccination appointment assistance over the phone. To schedule a phone session with a volunteer, send a request to vaccineapt@hhicc.org or call 843-842-4475. HHI Computer Club recently teamed with Hilton Head Regional Healthcare to conducted three in-person events for those who needed help registering for COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

6. LINABURG

10.PARKINSON’S DISEASE FITNESS PROGRAM LAUNCHES

Your Active Life on Hilton Head Island has started a Parkinson’s Disease fitness program with OhioHealth’s Delay the Disease — a leading Parkinson’s Disease exercise program. The program improves the physical, mental, and emotional realities of PD patients, a news release said.

OhioHealth Delay the Disease helps improve mobility, handwriting and speech volume.

11. BROCK

11. THE GREENERY NAMES BUSINESS DIRECTOR

Melissa Brock has been promoted to director of business development at The Greenery.

Brock will be responsible for overseeing the business development team. She has been with The Greenery for 10 years.

Areas The Greenery serves include Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Beaufort and Savannah.

12. BRYANT

12. COASTAL CARE PARTNERS WELCOMES FINANCE DIRECTOR Bernadette Bryant has been named director of finance at Coastal Care Partners, which serves Savannah, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. Bryant will contribute to strategic business development, planning and growth.

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LOWERING YOUR INTEREST RATE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO SAVE YOU TONS OF MONEY OVER THE LIFE OF THE LOAN.

$MART MONEY SHOULD YOU REFINANCE YOUR MORTGAGE IN 2021?

BY JENN SOKOLOWSKI

With mortgage interest rates at historically low levels, it is a great time to consider refinancing. Lowering your interest rate has the potential to save you tons of money over the life of the loan.

However, there are a few points to consider beyond simply locking in the lowest interest rate possible: 1. How long you plan on owning the home: If you are planning on moving in the next few years, the amount you will save on monthly payments may not be enough to offset the amount you will pay in closing costs for your new mortgage. Closing costs to refinance are typically 2%-5% of the loan amount, so it is important to calculate the breakeven point. If you sell the home before you reach the breakeven point, you will lose money on the refinance.

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2. Potentially reducing the term: It is not all about a lower payment. If you can refinance to a mortgage that will be paid in full sooner than your current loan, you may want to consider refinancing. Often, a slightly higher monthly payment with a reduced term can save you a substantial amount of money by reducing the amount of time the interest can compound.

Furthermore, a 15- or 20-year mortgage will typically have a lower interest rate. However, it is important not to stretch

your monthly budget too much — your mortgage payment (including principal, interest, taxes, and insurance) should be a maximum of 28% of your pre-tax income.

3. Switch from a variable rate to a fixed rate: You may already have a low rate if you have a variable rate loan, but in the future that rate could move higher. Current low rates on fixed mortgages may make this a great opportunity to lock in an historically low rate that will not fluctuate over the life of the loan.

4. You are currently paying PMI: If you did not put enough down when you purchased your home, you may be paying private mortgage insurance or PMI. Many homes have seen a significant increase in value this year, so you may now have enough equity to eliminate your PMI. Refinancing is not the only way to achieve this, but you may be able to score a lower rate and get rid of your PMI at the same time.

Marc Stuckart, CPFA® & Creighton Stuckart, CFP®

Seeking out a path toward financial wellness that works for you.

Financial Advisors offering securities through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Summit Financial Group, Inc, a registered investment adviser.

2 Park Lane, Suite 203, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | 843-341-3300 | atlanticinvestorshhi.com Summit and Cetera are affiliated and under separate ownership from any other named entity.

5. Cash out refinances: There are many different reasons you might want to access some of your home’s equity such as a renovation or addition or to pay off higher interest credit card or student loan debt. You may be able to access some of the equity in your home while simultaneously the term and/or interest rate of your loan.

If you do lower your payment, consider how you will use that money. One option is to pay down other debt, like credit cards or student loans, more aggressively, or you could make additional principal payments on your mortgage.

This will reduce the amount you pay to interest on those debts. Another option is to save or invest your monthly mortgage savings. This is money that you are used to spending every month, so it’s a great idea to put it to work toward your financial goals.

Jenn Sokolowski is a certified financial planner for Metis Wealth Management and Planning.

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SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

INVESTMENT LESSONS FROM THE PANDEMIC STORY BY MICK KUEHN

With 2020 barely in the rearview mirror and the headlines thus far in early 2021 feeling similar to last year’s COVID-driven challenges, investors may find themselves scratching their heads wondering why the stock market continues to establish new highs and what they should do in the face of this. How do you protect yourself from the potential for renewed market volatility? Will the rollout of the vaccines push the market even higher or are companies over-valued and due for a correction?

The stock market, as a forward-looking entity, is looking past COVID to a time, hopefully in the nottoo-distant future, when the set of recently approved vaccines have been widely administered, and herd

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immunity has been achieved. In other words, the stock market is refocusing on the trends that will dominate when life starts to look normal again.

Despite its generally upward trajectory recently, this is not to say that the stock market will continue to increase uninterrupted and without periodic corrections.

On the contrary, the market valuations will continue to be unpredictable in the short-term — in fact, there has been an average annual intra-year correction of approximately 14% since 1980. Yet, in spite of this “volatility,” the S&P 500 has increased from 108 at the beginning of 1980 to 3,756 at the end of 2020.

So, what can you do to set yourself up for success

with your investments in the face of continued uncertainty surrounding the ongoing effects of the pandemic?

The short answer is to remember that the stock market is forward-looking, and you should remain disciplined, diversified, and focused on quality and income. This logic applies pre-pandemic, postpandemic, and right now.

1. Stay Disciplined. When headlines are predicting challenging times ahead and/or stocks are selling off, people think they need to do something, anything. Stay disciplined in your approach and avoid the temptation to try to time the market. As famed investor, Peter Lynch, pointed out, “Far more money has been lost by investors preparing for corrections, or trying to anticipate corrections, than has been lost in corrections themselves.”

2. Be Diversified. A diversified portfolio that is spread across the different sectors that make up the stock market – technology, health care, industrials, utilities, to name a few – can help you navigate through different market environments. Another important aspect of diversification is not putting all your eggs in one or a few companies – a good rule of thumb is to have not more than 5% of your portfolio in any individual stock.

3. Focus on Quality and Income. A diversified portfolio of high quality, dividend-paying equities, can enable you to weather volatility while also providing income to fund your spending needs.

High-quality companies tend to have strong balance sheets and prolonged track records of earnings growth and often pay a healthy and growing dividend.

Regardless of current headlines, the vaccine rollout, or whatever tumultuous events may be occurring, doing these three things should help you maintain a sense of “calm amidst the storm,” so to speak, so you can continue making progress towards achieving your long-term financial goals.

Mick Kuehn is a Senior Equity Analyst for Verity Investment Partners.

Stay connected in the Lowcountry wherever you go!

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ECOMMERCE FOR ENTREPRENEURS OPTIONS TO START SELLING PRODUCTS ONLINE

BY ANITA CAMPBELL

The U.S. ecommerce market brought in more than $504 billion in revenue in 2018. And it’s expected to grow to more than $735 billion by 2023.

With so much potential in the market, it’s the perfect time for entrepreneurs to get started selling products online. Today’s sellers have a ton of options to make this happen. Here are five of the most popular.

YOUR OWN ECOMMERCE STORE Building an ecommerce store from scratch is the most traditional option. With this option, you need to find your own website hosting and domain. Then you need to design the layout, add products and fill it with content. You can hire a designer or developer to do some of this for you.

You’ll have your own site that you can control every aspect of. You have the freedom to add new products, change content and fiddle with the back-end functionality.

HOSTED ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS Hosted ecommerce platforms differ from dedicated ecommerce sites because most of the work that goes into 46 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

creating the site is done for you. Shopify, BigCommerce and Big Cartel are examples. They allow you to quickly set up a storefront from a select set of options. Often you can choose from themes and templates. Some even offer further customization options. They also give you instructions for adding products, photos and other content.

To your customers, this might appear like an ecommerce site that you set up on your own. But if you have specific design or back-end preferences, they might not be available. Additionally, this type of site is often easier or less expensive to get up and running. They usually charge monthly fees that may exceed basic hosting fees over time.

MARKETPLACE SITES Marketplace sites include things like Etsy, eBay and Amazon, where small businesses can sell their products alongside other sellers. On the back end, these work like hosted ecommerce platforms. But there are usually fewer options for customization. Most of these sites also charge a listing fee or take a percentage of each sale.

However, these sites have one very clear benefit over other options — a built-in audience. Amazon gets nearly 59 million monthly unique visitors. EBay gets nearly 27 million. And Etsy gets nearly 16 million who are specifically looking for vintage or handmade products.

In searches, your products will most likely show up alongside others from competing sellers. But the chances that you’d get all those visitors to your own website are slim. If you’re able to create attractive listings that set your products apart, this could be the option for you. Some sellers make their products available on these platforms, while keeping their own dedicated sites for loyal shoppers.

SOCIAL MEDIA Today, about 72 percent of U.S. adults use at least one social media platform. The options for selling products on social media vary by platform. Facebook, for example, allows page owners to set up storefronts on their business page. Instagram has a feature that lets users create shoppable posts.

The built-in audience is the key benefit of this option.

However, many of the people spending time on social media aren’t in the mindset of making purchases. You may have to do more work to convert buyers.

ECOMMERCE ADD-ONS Ecommerce add-ons give you an option that sits somewhere between building your own site and using a hosted platform.

You create your own site and then use plug-ins or pre-made options to facilitate things like payments or buy buttons.

This makes the process of getting up and running easier and can save you money in the long run. However, there are a lot of moving parts to organize if you go this route; it can get a bit complicated.

Anita Campbell runs online communities and information websites. The Small Business Administration helps small business owners and entrepreneurs start, grow and expand.

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HITTING 250 YARDSTHE SWEET SPOT PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC RAYBURN

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SWINGFIT’S CLUB FITTING PUTS SCIENCE OVER ASSUMPTIONS STORY BY TIM WOOD | PHOTO BY MADISON ELROD

There is an emerging revolution in golf, building momentum in our own backyard.

Chris Wycoff knows golfers love new toys.

The latest tech, the newest gadgets, the sleekest golf balls — anything to give them a leg up in a game that is too often mental torture.

It’s why he launched Golf Etc. on Palmetto Bay Boulevard nine years ago. As much as the avid golfer and former General Electric data and analytics consultant loved all aspects of the game, he found club fitting to be his passion.

“It was selling stock clubs and products versus crafting something personal through data that could truly help people enjoy golf even more,” Wycoff said. “Sign me up for Door No. 2. That’s my sweet spot.”

It’s a sweet spot that has catapulted Wycoff’s SwingFit brand into being one of Golf Digest’s 100 best club fitters and one of Golf Magazine’s top 50 club fitters in 2020.

Wycoff initially set up his club fitting operation at Palmetto Dunes, finding moderate success but mounting personal frustration with the fundamentals of club fitting.

“We see all this new tech in the game, but the truth is, the science behind your swing is very outdated,” he said. “The assumptions of the world’s top club fitters are based on scientific models from the 1950s.”

So Wycoff began a two-year journey to evolve that thinking through data gatherPHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC RAYBURN ing and science. He teamed with physicists, MIT scientists and engineers to evolve the art of club fitting.

“For 75 years, swing speed has been the one variable, the key measurement. We identified a set of variables to measure the swing and found that, actually, swing speed was the 52nd most important measurement,” he said. “But humans can’t calculate 50-plus variables in a second. Computers can.”

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IT’S SO FUN TO SEE THE SMILES, THE RESULTS OF ALL THIS SCIENCE AND DATA PAY OFF. CHRIS WYCOFF

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC RAYBURN

Wycoff’s SwingFit system is based on data collected using optical motion cameras to record hundreds of golfers’ swings.

SwingFit uses the data to create an AI-powered algorithm that factors these 50-plus pin-pointed variables of each individual golfer’s swing to tailor a more effective club.

Simply put, the full picture of how you generate that swing speed is much more important than the actual speed measurement at impact. Most fitters wait for a golfer’s best swing and base composite against AI to create the optimal club tailored to each golfer’s game.

Wycoff is not a marketer.

He needed help translating the science into a succinct pitch that golfers would understand. So, he turned to SCORE SC Lowcountry, a nonprofit group of mentors that helps small businesses get off the ground.

Art Gopalan is part of the mentorship team with Rod Casavant and Frank Lipari that has advised Wycoff since 2018. He spent 35

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years as an engineer for GE in New England before moving south to enjoy golf and warm weather in retirement. He saw a pioneer with a gem of an idea when he met Wycoff.

“It was so intriguing, but he needed a plan and a pitch,” Gopalan said. “Golfers want results. Chris crafted a game-changing simplicity built on science. SwingFit integrates your physique into the club.

“It’s not you adapting to the club. The tech is adapting to you.

That’s the pitch, why they should buy this. So, then we set out to develop a business plan around that.”

Wycoff moved his base operation to Colleton River and set up a second shop with renowned golf instructor Jim McLean at his academy in Miami.

“Jim sees the results and gives us that industry validation,” Wycoff said. “The proof is in the results. When you can transform a guy from the shortest drive in his foursome to the long-ball hitter, the guy that goes from losing to winning money in a round, word

of mouth gets around very quickly.”

Wycoff said a fitting at Colleton River is usually a two-hour process. Wycoff works with all the top club manufacturers. A customfit full set of clubs is $400. Done separately, drivers and fairway woods are $150, irons and hybrids are $150, and short-game wedges and putters are $75 apiece.

SwingFit is working with investors to expand to a handful of golf academies across the country.

Wycoff also plans to license the tech to golf instructors but said he will continue to build out all the clubs at his Office Park Road warehouse.

“It’s been one hell of a ride,” he said. “We’re moving needles in an industry extremely resistant to change. I took a chance, invested money in an idea and have had some amazing help to get this moving. It’s so fun to see the smiles, the results of all this science and data pay off for each and every client.”

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IIBUSINESSII

Husband and wife Calay, left, and James Swift are each golf pros in the Lowcountry.

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JAMES & CALAY SWIFT, HUSBAND & WIFE, SHARE LOVE OF THE SPORT

a couple of

GOLF PROS STORY BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTOS BY MADISON ELROD

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When a married couple shares the same line of work, and it’s one that revolves around competition, there’s bound to be some tension, and the stakes can be high.

When husband-and-wife golf pros James and Calay Swift had more time to hone their game, a date with the dishes was often on the line. But those days are gone, replaced by new concerns like who is going to get the kids to practice or round up dinner.

“I would say it was competitive a while ago; now it’s more like a pillow fight,” Calay quips.

“Yes, true. Who can hit worse, less?” says James, who insists Calay was the better golfer in their prime, citing her success at James Madison University and a stint playing professionally.

The irony of becoming a golf pro is the better you are the more your game suffers. Time spent on the course or range is replaced with board meetings and desk work, but it’s a life that has served the Swifts well.

After meeting as part of a tightknit crew of assistant pros in the Charlotte area while James was working at Myers Park Country Club and Calay was uptown at Charlotte Country Club, the Swifts followed the golf business to Pittsburgh when James landed a job at the prestigious Oakmont Golf Club, where Calay grew up; then to San Diego when they were hired as a team at The Santaluz Club; and back to Charlotte for four years before settling on Hilton Head Island.

It’s where they always knew they wanted to wind up. James first visited while en route to Charlotte to attend Queens University and play golf, then came back with Calay and her family, who has been visiting since falling in love with the island while following Calay around the amateur golf circuit.

When James had the opportunity to become the Director of Golf at Belfair Golf Club in Bluffton in 2011, they jumped at the chance. Calay caught on at

Colleton River, then landed at Moss Creek six years ago, enticed by a Monday to Friday schedule — a rarity in the golf business and a necessity for a working mom whose husband also works in the industry.

“That was impossible to pass up,” Calay says.

“So, at least on the weekends we weren’t juggling sitters and missing sports and all that. It’s hard. It’s a balance. But at least with me having the weekends off, we know that one of us has set days off, and he tries hard to get Sundays. Typically on a Sunday, you’ll find us somewhere near the water, or in the water, or under the water, or paddling on the water.”

Things got a bit easier when James made the move from Belfair to Sea Pines Country Club in January, cutting down on his commute and resulting in a major life change as he shifted from managing Belfair’s two courses to one 18-hole track in Sea Pines.

“I still keep looking for the second golf course here,” James laughs. “It’s not here.”

He also likes that the new gig gives him the opportunity to develop an instructional program and get back to focusing more on the game. He hopes that carries over to the couple’s children. Their 11-year-old son Andrew has taken to the game and has a nice lefty swing, but 16-yearold Delcie is into just about everything else, including crew, lacrosse, and softball.

“I think the best thing in our lives now is going to be actually getting our children involved in the game in some way,” James says.

Whatever the Swifts do, it will happen here, at least until the kids are grown.

“When the kids are out of college, it’s Calay’s turn to become the Director of Golf and everything,” James jokes. “So, she gets to go wherever she wants to go.

The Bahamas would be nice.”

I WOULD SAY IT WAS COMPETITIVE A WHILE AGO, NOW IT’S MORE LIKE A PILLOW FIGHT. CALAY SWIFT

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1 // 55

IIRBC HERITAGEII

BLUFFTON’S BRYSON NIMMER READY TO COMPETE AT RBC HERITAGE STORY BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

IIRBC HERITAGEII

It was the Tuesday before Bryson Nimmer would begin play in the Puerto Rico Open, when he got the phone call he had long dreamed about.

Steve Wilmot was on the other end.

The 24-year-old Nimmer, who first saw a professional golfer in person as a 10-year-old sitting on the range at Harbour Town Golf Links, was informed he was going to play the 53rd RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. The event is set for April 12-18.

“I think he was just letting me know, trying to take some pressure off me for the week,” Nimmer recalls of the recent phone call from the RBC Heritage tournament director telling him he had been awarded a sponsors exemption. “It definitely helped, because it took me from trying to make the cut and prove it to just playing. It was a good phone call.”

And the start of a good week. Nimmer started the Puerto Rico Open, which was this February, with an evenpar 72 and improved by one stroke each day, finishing 6-under par and tying for 39th at the same event where he made his PGA Tour debut in 2019.

The performance continued a run of strong play.

Nimmer won the first two events and the season-long points race on the start-up LOCALiQ Series last fall, earning him more chances on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour.

A Bluffton native, Nimmer owes his quick success to a lifelong love of the game, a supportive family, and plenty of fortunate circumstances.

The fact that Nimmer found a home on the golf course is befitting his family legacy. His father, Tony, was a four-year starter at Clemson from 1980-83, and the family business, Nimmer Turf Farm, is grass — an all-important factor in golf.

But golf wasn’t always Nimmer’s favorite sport.

Bryson grew up playing everything, but he stuck with tennis, golf, and baseball through his adolescence.

Around middle school, it became too difficult to maintain the baseball swing and the golf swing, so he had to make a choice. At the time, Bryson weighed almost 220 pounds (he now hovers around 165).

“I thought, ‘Well, I can walk to my golf ball, but I’ve got to run to first base,’ ” Nimmer says with a laugh.

“That made it an easy choice.”

In all seriousness, he saw a brighter future in golf, in part because of the opportunities he would have in the golf-crazed Lowcountry.

“I just had a lot better access and availability when it came to golf,” Nimmer said. “It’s really hard to reach the top levels of a sport because you have to have people who know a lot about it, and you have to have the resources to get better at it.”

Those resources started with his dad, but around age 15, Nimmer began working with Hilton Head Island-based instructor Tim Cooke, who remains his swing coach today.

While starring at Hilton Head Christian Academy (he led the school to the 2013 state title), Nimmer began training at the Junior Players Golf Academy, working on his game and his fitness.

Nimmer still recalls the analogy instructor Chris Tremblay used to make a point about his physique.

“He told me, with where your body is right now, you’re like a V4 engine. You can only go so fast,” Nimmer said. “But the more tuned-up you get, the higher your ceiling goes. He told me I could only be so good at 220 pounds.”

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Bryson Nimmer, who starred at Hilton Head Christian Academy and Clemson University, will compete in his first RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

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HARBOUR TOWN IS A PLACE THAT I’VE BEEN TO 100 TIMES, BUT IT’S GOT SUCH A DIFFERENT FEEL WHEN YOU’RE STANDING ON THE GREEN AND ALL THOSE GUYS ARE STANDING RIGHT THERE.

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A P R I L 2 0 2 1 // 61

IIRBC HERITAGEII

In three months, Nimmer dropped 60 pounds by overhauling his diet and working out two hours a day, and his game took off. He picked up several big wins on the junior circuit and was named the S.C. Junior Golf Association’s Player of the Year.

Nimmer already had offers from in-state schools Wofford and Furman, and he was getting interest elsewhere, but he wanted to play at Clemson, just like his dad. When he visited the campus, the Tigers offered him a spot on the team, but not a scholarship.

He passed.

They called the next day and offered a scholarship.

He accepted.

“I think they weren’t too sure about me because I had just lost all that weight and I was kind of in a transition phase,” Nimmer says. “I think they felt like they were taking a risk. It worked out on both sides, and I don’t really blame them for the hesitation they had.”

At Clemson he was the ACC Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-ACC pick. He brought a two-shot lead up the

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final fairway in the 2017 Players Amateur at Berkeley Hall — his home course — and let it slip away, eventually losing in a playoff, which cost him an invitation to the following year’s RBC Heritage.

“It was a learning experience, and I’m glad it happened then,” Nimmer says. “I got back to school and started focusing on routines and processes so that if I ever got back in that situation, it wouldn’t happen again.”

It hasn’t.

Nimmer has been waiting for another home game ever since, and for the first time in a year, he will be playing in front of his biggest fans — mom and dad — and he’ll be doing it on the stage he always dreamed of.

“I don’t think it will honestly sink in until I walk out there that first day,” said Nimmer, who caddied at last year’s Heritage for Spencer Ralston. “Harbour Town is a place that I’ve been to 100 times, but it’s got such a different feel when you’re standing on the green and all those guys are standing right there.”

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WEBB SIMPSON RETURNS TO DEFEND HIS RBC HERITAGE PRESENTED BY BOEING TITLE.

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IIRBC HERITAGEII

TEE OFF I time

WEBB SIMPSON WILL DEFEND RBC HERITAGE TITLE

BY ANTHONY GARZILLI

Webb Simpson is back to defend his championship at half feels like a vacation. I think that’s what’s led me to the 53rd RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. The April play pretty good there each year because I’m in a fresh 12-18 tournament is at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton mindset.”

Head Island.

Simpson said his ability to be one of the world's top Simpson, a Team RBC Ambassador, surged through a golfers is a credit to the team that surrounds him, including tightly packed leaderboard last June to win the Heritage. his family, caddie and agent.

He finished 22-under-par 262 to beat a group that included “I’ve learned I need to get away from results and get Daniel Berger, Sergio Garcia and Brooks Koepka. The closer to my process,” he said. “I’ve learned in this game, winning score was a record, beating Brian Gay’s 20-under it’s a funny game, you can’t define it as clear as you want 264 finish in 2009. to. If you have a good process and “I’ll never forget that walk up 18,” have a good team around you, you Simpson said during RBC Heritage are going to see results.”

Presented by Boeing virtual media day.

Simpson will be joined by South “It was an honor to win there.”

Carolina native Dustin Johnson.

Simpson said last year’s win was J o h n s o n , a Te a m R B C extra special because of the coronavirus Ambassador, earned his second pandemic. He stayed sharp by major championship at the 2020 practicing before the tournament and Masters, where he won by five was ready to perform at a high level. strokes and became the first player He said the win offered something with a 72-hole score lower than positive during trying times for his 270. friends and family.

He won the FedExCup for the “I got a lot of great texts from first time in 2020. friends and family saying they missed Garcia and Berger are scheduled golf, they missed their Saturday to compete. afternoons, Sunday afternoons Garcia won the Sanderson watching us try to beat each other,” Farms Championship on October, Simpson said. where he birdied the 72nd hole to The win was Simpson’s seventh win by one stroke. It was his first PGA Tour title. win since the 2017 Masters. He His other PGA Tour victories finished last year’s RBC Heritage include the 2020 Waste Management tied for fifth place and will be Open, 2018 Players Championship and making his fifth start at Harbour the 2012 U.S. Open. In his 10 previous Town.

Webb Simpson starts at Harbour Town, he carded six Berger earned his fourth victory top-20 finishes, including a secondon the PGA Tour at the 2021 place finish in 2013.

AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He Simpson, who in mid-March was won by two strokes over Maverick ranked No. 9 in the World Golf Rankings, said he’s excited McNealy after sinking a 30-foot, 7-inch eagle putt on the to compete in front of a limited number of fans.

72nd hole. He was tied for third place at last year's RBC “We have missed the fans,” he said. “There is excitement Heritage and will making his fourth start at Harbour Town. from the fans. I love it.”

Other golfers scheduled to compete are RBC Hilton Head Island offers a great distraction away from Ambassadors Jim Furyk, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker, golf, Simpson said, noting the bike rides, beach and and Graeme McDowell (read more about them on page restaurants. The relaxation allows him to compete at his 66). Bluffton native Bryson Nimmer earned a sponsors best. exemption.

“Anything we can do to get our minds off of golf, off Also committed are Paul Casey, Matthew Fitzpatrick, of competing, off of preparing is a good thing,” Simpson Tommy Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton.

For updates on the field, visit rbcheritage.com. said. “It feels like a work week half the time and the other

I’VE LEARNED IN THIS GAME, IT’S A FUNNY GAME, YOU CAN’T DEFINE IT AS CLEAR AS YOU WANT TO. IF YOU HAVE A GOOD PROCESS AND HAVE A GOOD TEAM AROUND YOU, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE RESULTS.

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JIM FURYK Height: 6 ft., 2 ins.

Weight: 185 pounds Age: 50 Hometown: West Chester, Pa. Career highlights: A two-time RBC Heritage champion, he has won 17 PGA Tour titles and was the 2010 Player of the Year and FedExCup champion. Earned two victories on the Champions Tour in 2020. Will make his 21st start at the RBC Heritage.

Fun fact: Lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

THE I ambassadors TEAM RBC EMBODIES PINNACLE OF PERFORMANCE

BY HILTON HEAD MONTHLY

Team RBC was established in 2009 and consists of 14 elite male and female golfers who embody the pinnacle of golf performance, according to Heritage Classic Foundation marketing and communications director Angela McSwain. Ambassadors support RBC's client-hosting experiences and marketing initiatives and display RBC branding on their apparel and golf bags. Webb Simpson, the RBC Heritage defending champion, is an ambassador. These are a few of the other ambassadors who are scheduled to play at the RBC Heritage Presented

by Boeing this year, including South Carolina-born Dustin Johnson.

DUSTIN JOHNSON Height: 6 ft. 4 ins.

Weight: 190 Age: 36 Hometown: Columbia, S.C. Career highlights: Began 2021 with 24 career PGA Tour victories. Won 2020 Masters and 2016 U.S. Open.

Fun fact: Launched the Dustin Johnson Foundation in 2010 to support various youth initiatives.

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GRAEME MCDOWELL Height: 5 ft. 10 ins.

Weight: 160 Age: 41 Hometown: Portrush, Northern Ireland Career highlights: Won 2013 RBC Heritage and 2010 U.S. Open Championship. Has 10 victories on European Tour. Has two career PGA Tour playoff victories.

Fun fact: Began playing at age 7 at urging of his dad.

BRANDT SNEDEKER Height: 6 ft. 1 inch Weight: 185 pounds Age: 40 Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.

Career highlights: Earned his 9th win on the PGA Tour at the 2018 Wyndham Championship. After winning the 2011 Heritage, Snedeker secured two PGA Tour victories in 2012, which helped him earn the 2012 FedExCup title.

Fun fact: Attended the same Nashville private school as Reese Witherspoon.

MATT KUCHAR Height: 6 ft., 4 ins.

Weight: 195 pounds Age: 42 Hometown: Winter Park, Fla. Career highlights: Won the 2014 Heritage. A Team RBC member since 2011. Has competed in the Heritage 17 times.

Fun fact: His father, Peter, was ranked No. 1 in doubles at one time in Florida.

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IIRBC HERITAGEII

Opportunity I OF A LIFETIME YOUNG GOLFERS CONNECT WITH THE PROS BY VOLUNTEERING AT HARBOUR TOWN DRIVING RANGE

BY WES KERR | PHOTOS SUPPLIED

LOCAL YOUNGSTERS EACH YEAR VOLUNTEER AT THE DRIVING RANGE AT HARBOUR TOWN GOLF LINKS.

Every year at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, a group of aspiring young golfers get an opportunity of a lifetime to share the spotlight on Hilton Head Island’s grandest stage. Local middle- and high school students are given the chance to volunteer on the PGA Tour event’s driving range at Harbour Town Golf Links, connecting with players, caddies, and sponsors along the way while building lasting memories.

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SAVANNAH HYLTON, HAS VOLUNTEERED FOR SEVEN YEARS AT THE RBC HERITAGE.

“It’s one of the greatest treats for me every year,” Harbour Town head pro John Farrell said.

This spring marks 30 years of Farrell at the helm of the world-famous course, and he’s conducted the program almost every year.

“It’s such a privilege to work here, and if I can share that with young men and women, I’m going to do that every chance I get,” he said.

For the young volunteers and aspiring golfers, it’s a dream come true. The children are tasked with welcoming the Heritage participants, the competitors’ families, and the tournament’s corporate sponsors to the practice facility. Responsibilities include washing, cleaning, and sorting golf balls before delivering them to the driving range for use.

Most importantly, the opportunity teaches life skills while giving youngsters firsthand experience of working in the golf industry.

“They’re representing their families, the resort, the title sponsor, the course, and myself,” Farrell said. “The expectations are clearly defined, and we make them aware that it’s one strike and you’re out. We hire attitude, and we train the rest.”

The young volunteers are expected to perform their duties efficiently from the start. For example, the kids must sort the golf balls by brand and model before transferring the sorted golf balls to the correct golfer. With the COVID-19 pandemic playing a major role in last year’s event, the children’s jobs were an even bigger responsibility. The duties included disinfecting balls and materials along with following the “three W’s” of mask-wearing, hand-washing, and distance-watching.

“We don’t leave anything to chance, we’ve got an international audience watching,” Farrell said.

The program was initiated in 1992 with just three kids and has

grown into an indispensable part of the tournament for volunteers, professionals, and the Harbour Town staff alike.

Close to 10 kids are expected to participate this year, For aspiring golfers like 18-year-old Savannah Hylton, it was an opportunity to learn from the best in the business while meeting her childhood idols.

Hylton, a Hilton Head Island resident, has spent seven years volunteering at the tournament, taking in knowledge from the world’s greatest to help her own game.

After achieving several tremendous accomplishments on the junior circuit, including a victory at a 2018 AJGA All-Star event in Kannapolis, N.C., and becoming the top-ranked junior in South Carolina, she signed this fall with Furman University to continue her golfing and educational careers. Her favorite memories as a volunteer include meeting PGA Tour stars such as Team RBC Ambassador Dustin Johnson, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, and 2021 Players champion Justin Thomas.

This year, Hylton will help out for the final time before joining the college ranks.

“I will really miss being out there,” Hylton said. “I made a bunch of friends and will miss all the opportunities it brings and everyone I met.”

For Hylton and so many other youngsters, it’s a chance to learn lifelong skills, meet the game’s superstars, and help put on the greatest golfing weekend of the year in the Lowcountry.

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IIHERITAGE INSIDER GUIDEII

53RD

Heritage PRESENTED BY BOEING

The 53rd RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing takes place at Harbour Town Golf Links April 12-18. The prestigious event will feature limited spectators on-site and strict health and safety protocols, which you can learn about in our RBC Heritage Guide. The tournament, held annually since 1969, is expected to feature some of the world's best golfers. Webb Simpson returns to defend his title, and Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia are scheduled to compete. Our guide offers a snapshot of some of the top golfers set to participate, offers an update on the Heritage's safety protocols and takes a look at the economic impact in our community. The guide also provides a complete listing of the televison coverage. Enjoy the action.

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IIHERITAGE INSIDER GUIDEII

6

2

5

7 8

1

4

9

M

E

3

DR

PG

11 12

?

10 16

15

Sponsor Village

E

M

18

13

17 14

Map Key

Sponsor Village Bicycle Parking

Food & Beverage Concession

Restrooms

Cell Phone Zone

Fraser’s Tavern

Tartan Bar (spirits)

TICKET REQUIRED Clubhouse

Restrooms Cell Phone Zone Food Stations

DR

?

Lost & Found/Bag Check/ Customer Service

Driving Range

M

Merchandise Tent

First Aid

PG

Putting Green

E

Tournament Entrance Video Board

Beverage Stations Bleachers Video Board

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Inclement Weather Policy For Spectators

Spectators will be alerted to weather that officials for the tournament identify as potentially dangerous. Weather warnings will be broadcast on the electronic leader boards that are located throughout the golf course. Spectators should take appropriate precautions upon observing any weather warnings. A prolonged blast on an air horn, repeated once, will indicate that tournament play has been suspended, and all attendees should seek safe shelter immediately. Two short blasts of an air horn, repeated once, will indicate play has resumed.

Avoid the following: Hilltops/high places; Golf carts; Isolated trees; Wire fences

Heritage I PRESENTED BY BOEING

53RD

2021 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

APRIL 12-18, 2021 TOURNAMENT FACTS

MONDAY, APRIL 12 Pro-Am Presented by Boeing: Course closed to public

7

LOCATION: Harbour Town Golf Links, The Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island

TUESDAY, APRIL 13 Course is closed to public

PAR: 71

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14 RBC Heritage Pro-Am Starting on the 1st and 10th tees

1

7 a.m–6 p.m.

First Round Starting on the 1st and 10th tees Morning starting times: Afternoon starting times:

PURSE: $7.4 million

FRIDAY, APRIL 16 Second Round Starting on the 1st and 10th tees Morning starting times: Afternoon starting times:

9

M

7:20 a.m.–9 a.m.

11:50 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

E

DR

PG ?

8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

E

VOLUNTEER EFFORT: More than 1,200 volunteers work during tournament week.

11

BROADCAST INFORMATION: The RBC Heritage is broadcast in 23 languages to 226 countries outside the United States. More than 1 billion households across the world can tune in to see Harbour Town’s famous candy cane striped lighthouse.

10

16

8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18

HISTORY: Harbour Town Golf Links was designed

by Pete Dye, in consultation with Jack Nicklaus, in the fall of 1969. Past champions include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Hale Irwin, Bernhard Langer, Johnny Miller, Greg Norman, Nick Price, Tom Watson and the late Payne Stewart.

ATTENDANCE: 135,000 people attended the RBC Heritage in 2019.

7:20 a.m.–9 a.m.

11:50 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 17 Third Round Plaid Nation Day – Wear Plaid Starting times:

8

YARDAGE: 7,099 yards

THURSDAY, APRIL 15

Final Round Starting times:

2

TELEVISION:

(all times EDT)

The Golf Channel Thursday-Friday Sponsor Village Saturday-Sunday

Trophy Presentation 18th green: Immediately following the close of play. * Times are approximate

18

MOBILE DEVICE POLICY: Devices must be on silent at all times; flash may not be used. Devices may be used to capture video, audio and photos (content) in all areas throughout tournament week.

Content may be used for personal purposes (e.g., personal social media); no commercial use. No live streaming or real-time coverage (e.g., no shot-byshot coverage). Data use (e.g., texting) is permitted in all areas throughout tournament week.

Phone calls are allowed only in designated areas: Concessions located at holes 2/7, 9, 13 15, 17 Neighborhood roads.

Sponsor Village

M

CBS Sports Saturday-Sunday

17

PGA TOUR LIVE Thursday – Friday

Saturday – Sunday

Saturday – Sunday

3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

1 p.m. -3 p.m.

3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

(Featured Groups)

8 a.m. –3 p.m.

(Featured Groups)

3 p.m. –6 p.m.

(Featured Holes)

TICKETS: A limited number of tickets are available.

For updated information, visit rbcheritage.com or call 843-671-2448.

Bicycle Parking

Cell Phone Zone TICKET REQUIRED

A P R I L 2 0 2 1 // 73

Ma

Food & Conce

Fraser

IIHERITAGE INSIDER GUIDEII

FAN SAFETY I guidelines HEALTH AND SAFETY ARE A PRIORITY AT THE RBC HERITAGE PRESENTED BY BOEING. THE TOURNAMENT AND THE PGA TOUR HAVE IMPLEMENTED COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES. HERE’S A SNAPSHOT OF THE GUIDELINES, PER THE RBC HERITAGE WEBSITE.

SOCIAL DISTANCING: Everyone on-site is expected to practice social distancing. Patrons are asked to pay attention to visual and verbal cues for capacity, directional flow and viewing area guidelines.

MASKS/FACE COVERINGS: Masks are required at all times at the RBC Heritage, indoors and outdoors.

Exceptions include: • Medical conditions that make wearing a mask difficult.

• Children under the age of 2.

• While actively eating or drinking.

Guests are asked to bring their own CDC-approved face covering or mask.

Per CDC guidelines, a face shield is not an appropriate substitute for a face covering. Masks must be affixed prior to arrival at the main entry gate.

PRIOR TO ARRIVAL: Those who feel ill or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will not be admitted.

ARRIVAL: Upon arrival, each guest will be subject to a thermal screening and health questionnaire. Once guests receive an admissible result, they will proceed through standard security checks and bag search in a safe and socially distant manner.

TICKETING ADMISSIONS: Guests are required to present a valid ticket to enter tournament grounds via a contactless admissions process. Patrons will proceed through the gates once a valid scan has been registered.

Practice social distancing when queuing for entry. Wear a mask.

WILL CALL: Will Call is not available at the RBC Heritage. Guests are strongly encouraged to distribute tickets before the tournament.

SIGNAGE AND GUIDELINES: There will be increased safety signage throughout the golf course, as well as visual and verbal reminders of safe behavior guidelines. Failure to comply with any posted or verbal guidelines may result in consequential action, including expulsion from the tournament grounds.

ROPELINE POLICY: Consumption of food and beverage is prohibited within 10 feet of the ropeline. Masks must be always worn within 10 feet of the ropeline and in the first two rows of any bleacher, even with food or beverages.

SANITIZATION: Enhanced sanitization protocols are implemented to ensure all areas are routinely cleaned and sanitized. Sanitization and handwashing are encouraged. Guests are permitted to bring their own sanitizer from home.

NO AUTOGRAPHS: For the health and safety of everyone on property, no handshakes, fist bumps, or autographs are permitted.

FEELING ILL ON-SITE: Those who begin to feel ill or have symptoms after arrival at the event, should go directly to a First Aid tent. Medical professionals will be able to assist in accordance with their COVID-19 protocols.

THE FINAL PUTT: Once the final putt drops, exit the tournament venue safely and patiently, while keeping socially distant from others.

For complete safety protocols, visit rbcheritage.com/covid19.

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PROHIBITED ITEMS

Headed to the RBC Heritage? There are a few items you’ll have to leave at home.

• No bags larger than a small 6-inch-by-6-inch purse, including carrying cases, backpacks, camera bags, or chair bags • No clear plastic, vinyl, or other carry items larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches.

• No glass cups or bottles except for medical or infant needs.

• No computers or laptops.

• No fireworks or laser pointers.

• No lounges or over-sized chairs with extended foot rests.

• No seat cushions in a carrying case or that have pockets or compartments.

• No pets, except for service animals.

• No knives, firearms or weapons.

• No video cameras (all week) • No point and shoot, film or DSLR cameras (during competition rounds).

• No selfie sticks or hand-held camera stabilizers.

• No beverages (patrons may not bring in or exit with beverages) or coolers.

• No radios, TVs, or portable speakers.

• No posters, signs or banners.

• No motorcycles, mopeds, tricycles, bicycles, skateboards, hoverboards, or similar devices permitted. Motorized scooters or other personal transportation devices are prohibited if not used as a mobility aid by individuals with mobility impairment.

• No drones, remote controlled model aircrafts or other devices that can be operated in airspace.

SOURCE: PGATOUR.COM

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ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RBC HERITAGE This year’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing will be played with limited spectators and strict health protocols because of the coronavirus pandemic. The annual event will still make an impact in the community.

Patrons who flock to Harbour Town Golf Links to watch some of the world’s top golfers have traditionally pumped millions of dollars into Hilton Head Island’s shops, restaurants and hotels.

How big of an impact has the event had on the Lowcountry? In 2019, the Heritage Classic Foundation hired Clemson University, in partnership with University of South Carolina Beaufort, to conduct a study to determine the economic impacts of the event.

THE FOLLOWING IS AN ABBREVIATED LOOK AT THE STUDY:

. In 2019, 135,000 people attended the event, bringing $102 million to the state’s economy. The event supported 1,131 jobs and generated $6.72 million in state and local taxes.

. Of the more than 2,220 people surveyed, more than 90% said they’d likely return to Hilton Head during another time of year.

. Visitors stayed on Hilton Head or in other areas of Beaufort County an average of five nights, spending an average of $672.70 per person.

An estimated $38 million was spent by visitors on lodging and dining.

. Since 1987, the RBC Heritage has also contributed $44.6 million (now $45.8 million) to those in need in South Carolina and Georgia, including $3.2 million through the Heritage Classic Foundation in 2019.

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Heritage

2

BY THE NUMBERS $102 MILLION

ADDED TO SOUTH CAROLINA’S ECONOMY

1,131

8

1

NEW JOBS SUPPORTED

94.6%

OF THOSE SURVEYED EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE TOURNAMENT

90.8%

M

OF VISITORS PLAN TO VISIT HILTON HEAD ISLAND AGAIN

75.4%

OF RESPONDENTS HAVE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE

E

57.8%

PG

9 DR

?

10

OF THOSE SURVEYED MAKE MORE THAN $100,000 A YEAR

16

56.8%

OF RESPONDENTS LIVE OUTSIDE BEAUFORT COUNTY

53

WAS THE AVERAGE AGE OF RESPONDENTS

41.4%

Sponsor Village

E

OF THOSE SURVEYED SAID “WORD OF MOUTH” INFLUENCED THEIR DECISION TO ATTEND

M

18

17

28.8%

OF RESPONDENTS WERE FIRST-TIME SPECTATORS

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25 TOP

GOLF

COMMUNITIES IN THE LOWCOUNTRY & COASTAL GEORGIA B Y H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY

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{ AMENITIES } 18-Hole Golf Course 7 Lighted Tennis Courts 4 Lighted Pickleball Courts Fitness Center Outdoor Pool, Splash Pool and Hot Tub Indoor Heated Saline Pool Bocce Court Blue Heron Pub & Grille offering casual and fine dining Club Course Café, with poolside service and quick-serve options for our fitness patrons, golf and tennis players

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GO

OMMUNITIE LF C S

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SEA PINES COUNTRY CLUB With its breathtaking waterside finishing hole, the Sea Pines Country Club golf course has been called “Little Harbour Town.”

Perched on a stunning expanse of saltwater marsh, Sea Pines Country Club is a private haven for its members, with luxury amenities including 18 exciting holes of golf distinguished by a stunning finishing hole overlooking the water. Exceptional year-round conditions and a hands-on team of PGA professionals enhance the club’s golf experience, and its full-service Golf Shop carries top brands and logoed apparel.

Racquet-minded members enjoy the club’s Courts Complex, which features seven Har-Tru tennis courts, all lighted for after-dark play. Private lessons and clinics are taught by a team of USPTR professionals, who specialize in introducing new players to the sport, or elevating an experienced player’s skills. Four new pickleball courts have also been added and have been one of the fastestgrowing pastimes at the club.

The club’s new 7,500-square-foot Fitness Center boasts an exercise room with the very latest in cardio and weight training equipment, a 28-meter indoor heated saline pool, and an array of all-levels fitness classes including yoga, spin, TRX and aquatic options. Well-appointed locker rooms and infrared saunas, a fully stocked fitness and tennis retail space, and licensed on-site physical therapy and massage treatments round out the Sea Pines Country Club fitness experience.

Sea Pines Country Club’s expert culinary team ensures exceptional dining in the Blue Heron Pub & Grille, with menus ranging from casual poolside fare to elegant candlelit gourmet dinners. The chef sources seasonal local ingredients, and the property has a chef’s garden for the freshest vegetables, fruits and herbs.

The club appeals to all ages, and kids enjoy year-round programs, menus and activities, including Dive-In Movies at the outdoor pool, Summer Camp, beginner tennis and golf clinics, and special dining events throughout the year. Many members “grew up” at the club and are delighted to see their own children creating the same wonderful memories.

But it may be the club’s social activities that make it truly special, with plenty of opportunities for members to gather – around the firepit, over a spirited game of bocce or cornhole, or on the lawn enjoying what is sure to be another beautiful Hilton Head sunset.

Sea Pines Country Club is a welcoming place, and members interact at social gatherings and clubs, including Book Club, mah jongg and cards. Lively men’s and ladies’ golf outings, tennis round robins and special events including Trivia, Wine Tastings, and speaker series, offer members the chance to meet new friends and enjoy myriad activities together.

With its resort-caliber amenities, exceptional service and engaging programs and activities, Sea Pines Country Club is a private club unlike any other on Hilton Head Island. For information on our membership options, call Nic Booth at 843-671-2335.

30 GOVERNORS ROAD, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29928 // 843.671.2345 SEAPINESCOUNTRYCLUB.COM

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25 TOP

GOLF COURSES IN THE LOWCOUNTRY AND COASTAL GEORGIA B Y H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY

Coastal South Carolina and coastal Georgia are home to many of the country’s top 100 private residential golf communities, as rated by Links magazine. From Sea Pines to Savannah Harbor, the area is ripe with lush greens just waiting for hackers.

Two of the most iconic and most visited historic towns in the U.S., Savannah and Charleston, draw millions of tourists, and Hilton Head Island does pretty well, too. Many play golf while visiting, and some decide they want to retire to the Lowcountry. The mild climate, dramatic marsh vistas, live oaks, palm trees and the availability of vast tracts of affordable land all favored

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development of high-end residential communities centered around golf.

On Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines was one of the first and, at that time, most innovative planned golf communities on the East Coast. Visionary developer Charles Fraser worked with talented planners, architects, landscapers and builders who eventually branched out on their own. They continued to apply the knowledge they acquired during these pioneer years, and the results can be seen today in upscale golf communities throughout the island, in Bluffton and in Northern Beaufort County.

BELFAIR Bluffton, SC

East Course | Par 71 | Yardage 6936 | Private West Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7129 | Private Featuring two courses considered to be among noted designer Tom Fazio’s best work, Belfair’s two tracks provide championship golf with completely differing personalities. The East is reminiscent of a Scottish links course, while the West, the original home of the Players Amateur, accentuates the best of the Lowcountry and features one of the finest finishing holes in the area.

843-757-0715 | belfair1811.com

Belfair

BERKELEY HALL Bluffton, SC

North Course | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7148 South Course | Par: 72 | Yardage: 7254 Berkeley Hall claims to be the lowest-density private club in the Southeast, with an average of 5.3 home sites per hole. The result is a tranquil setting that allows designer Tom Fazio’s work to shine.

The North Course features elevation changes that are rare in the Lowcountry, while the South’s tree-lined fairways and contoured green complexes provide a different type of challenge.

843-815-8444 | berkeleyhallclub.com

CALLAWASSIE ISLAND Okatie, SC

Dogwood Course | Par 36 Yardage 3501 | Private Magnolia Course | Par 36 Yardage 3564 | Private Palmetto Course | Par 36 Yardage 3443 | Private

Callawassie Island has a unique setup with three nine-hole courses, all designed by Tom Fazio. The Dogwood Course features beautiful marsh vistas, the Magnolia Course puts even the longest hitters to the test, and the Palmetto Course requires a strategic approach to avoid ample water hazards.

843-987-2125 | callawassieisland.com

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CHECHESSEE CREEK CLUB Okatie, SC

Par 70 | Yardage 6641| Private

Although it opened in 2000, Chechessee Creek Club feels like a throwback to a bygone era of golf. The Ben Crenshaw-designed course is short by today’s standards, rewarding strategic shot-making over pure power, and the secluded setting nestled among mature pines and live oaks evokes a nostalgic feel.

843-987-7000 | chechesseecreekclub.com

COLLETON RIVER Bluffton, SC

Dye Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7403 | Private Nicklaus Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7085 | Private Colleton River’s two championship courses are consistently rated among the best in the state, and the club also features a nine-hole par-3 course. The links style of the Dye Course might make a golfer think they’re playing the British Open if not for the Lowcountry weather, and the Nicklaus Course features a stunning stretch of holes on the back nine, finishing on a peninsula flanked by the Colleton River.

843-836-4400 | colletonriverclub.com

CRESCENT POINTE Bluffton, SC

Par: 71 | Yardage: 6773

The only public course in the area designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, Crescent Pointe features wide fairways and challenging approaches to elevated green complexes. Gorgeous marsh views and live oak, pine, and magnolia stands give the layout a distinctly Lowcountry feel.

843-706-4400 | hallmarkgolf.com

Colleton River

FRIPP ISLAND Northern Beaufort County, SC

Ocean Creek Course Par 71 | Yardage 6586 Ocean Point Course Par 72 | Yardage 6556

You can’t go wrong with either course on Fripp Island, both of which feature breathtaking views of the island’s natural beauty. Ocean Point came first in 1964, designed by noted Augusta architect George Cobb, and was renovated and modernized in 1996. Davis Love III and Paul Cowley worked together on Ocean Creek, which opened in 1995 and features sweeping views of salt marshes and plenty of wildlife. Private and available to resort guests.

843-838-1558 | frippislandresort.com

DATAW ISLAND CLUB

Northern Beaufort County, SC Cotton Dike Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6787 | Private Morgan River Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6657 | Private Both of Dataw Island’s championship courses — Tom Fazio’s Cotton Dike Course and Arthur Hills’ Morgan River Course — have been renovated in the past few years, elevating the profile of one of the Beaufort area’s finest golf communities even higher. Almost every hole on the Cotton Dike Course is flanked by marsh or Jenkins Creek, while massive stands of live oaks on the Morgan River Course reward accuracy and execution.

843-838-3838 | dataw.com

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Dataw Island Club

HAIG POINT Daufuskie Island, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7380 | Private

Only accessible by boat, Daufuskie Island is home to Haig Point Club, which uniquely features 29 holes of championship golf. The club’s Rees Jones signature course has 20 holes – golfers have two options at Nos. 8 and 17 — and has landed on plenty of “best of” lists, including an appearance on Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 in the World.” The Osprey Course is a par-36 track that is perfect for getting in a quick nine.

843-341-8155 | haigpoint.com

Hilton Head Plantation

HAMPTON HALL Bluffton, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7503 | Private One of the most playable of renowned designer Pete Dye’s works, Hampton Hall features an open design that is accessible to golfers of all experience and skill levels. Five sets of tees stretch from 4,454 yards to 7,503 from the tips, and the par-4 18th is one of the area’s best finishing holes.

843-815-8720 | hamptonhallclubsc.com

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Moss Creek

HILTON HEAD LAKES Bluffton, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7300 | Public

The newest 18-hole championship course in the Lowcountry, The Golf Club at Hilton Head Lakes is designed to accommodate players of all experience and skill levels. The Tommy Fazio design plays a whopping 7,300 yards from the tips but has four other sets of tees, as well as a par-3 course and a fullservice practice facility.

843-784-5253 | hiltonheadlakes.com

INDIGO RUN Hilton Head, SC

The Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 7072 | Private Golden Bear | Par 72 | Yardage 6643 | Semi-Private Indigo Run features two Jack Nicklaus designs – the private Golf Club and the semi-private Golden Bear Golf Club. The Golf Club was the first course Nicklaus designed with his son, Jack Nicklaus II, and has a throwback feel reminiscent of Augusta National or a traditional U.S. Open venue, as well as a state-of-the-art practice facility. Golden Bear favors strategy over strength, with ample bunkers and water hazards requiring smart shot-making.

843-689-7300 | clubcorp.com

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION Hilton Head, SC

Dolphin Head Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 6606 | Semi-Private Bear Creek Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 6804 | Semi-Private Oyster Reef Golf Club | Par 72 | Yardage 7014 | Semi-Private Country Club of Hilton Head | Par 72 | Yardage 6919 | Private Three of Hilton Head Plantation’s four courses are the work of noted designer Rees Jones, including the challenging layout at Country Club of Hilton Head, which has hosted a pair of U.S. Open local qualifiers. The exception is Dolphin Head Golf Club, a Gary Player design renovated by local architect Clyde Johnston in 2010. While the Country Club of Hilton Head is a fully private club, the plantation’s other three courses are semi-private, offering memberships as well as tee times to the public.

843-681-8800 | hiltonheadplantation.com

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LONG COVE CLUB Hilton Head, SC

Par: 71 | Yardage: 7094

Another Pete Dye masterpiece, Long Cove Club is consistently rated among the state’s best courses and was recently named No. 18 among Golfweek’s Top 200 Residential Courses in the U.S. The beautiful setting among live oaks, towering pines and salt marsh vistas is matched by the caliber of play required to conquer the course, which is why it plays host to the annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate featuring the nation’s best collegiate women’s teams.

843-686-1070 | longcoveclub.com

MOSS CREEK Hilton Head, SC

Devil’s Elbow North | Par 72 | Yardage 65510 | Private Devil’s Elbow South | Par 72 | Yardage 6878 | Private Two of the Lowcountry’s older courses, the Fazio designs at Moss Creek don’t play as long as some of the more modern tracks, but they are just as challenging. The longer Devil’s Elbow South Course provides plenty of trouble for golfers to contend with, as well as tight greens that demand accuracy. The North Course is short and tight with elevated greens that amplify the importance of the short game.

843-837-2229 | mosscreek-hiltonhead.com

OLDFIELD Okatie, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7134 | Private Greg Norman’s first design in the Lowcountry blends perfectly into Oldfield, which is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. Wildlife such as alligators, cranes, and fox squirrels are common on the course, which demands golfers use every club in their bag. The back nine is especially challenging and offers plenty of risk/reward opportunities like the 12th, a short par-4 that is reachable from the tee for the bold.

843-645-4624 | oldfield1732.com

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Palmetto Dunes

PALMETTO BLUFF Bluffton, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7171 | Public

May River Golf Club’s Jack Nicklaus signature course is one of the area’s most challenging layouts, thanks to elevated greens that test the short game. The setting is unmatched, winding through centuries-old live oak forests and along the banks of the splendid May River, and the course conditioning is always impeccable.

843-706-6580 | palmettobluffresort.com

PALMETTO DUNES Hilton Head, SC

PALMETTO HALL Hilton Head, SC

Arthur Hills Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6918 | Semi-Private Robert Cupp Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7079 | Semi-Private Whether you’re looking for a traditional layout or a modern, quirky course, you can find it at Palmetto Hall. The Arthur Hills Course is classic Lowcountry golf, forcing players to navigate tree-lined fairways and avoid bunkers to reach the greens.

The Robert Cupp Course is one of the most unique and innovative designs in the area that provides a fun test for every golfer.

Semi-private.

843-342-2582 | palmettohallcc.com

Arthur Hills | Par 72 | Yardage 6651 | Public George Fazio | Par 70 | Yardage 6873 | Public Robert Trent Jones | Par 72 | Yardage 7005 | Public Palmetto Dunes features three of the area’s finest courses, and all are open to the public but are in top-notch condition usually reserved for private clubs. The Robert Trent Jones Course probably is the most famous, in large part because of the view of the Atlantic Ocean from the par-5 10th. The George Fazio Course is one of the Lowcountry’s most challenging, featuring only two par-5s. The Arthur Hills Course is the community’s best-kept secret, a rolling layout with dramatic elevation changes.

843-785-1136 | palmettodunes.com

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Palmetto Club

SEA PINES RESORT Hilton Head, SC

Harbour Town Golf Links | Par 71 | Yardage 7099 Semi-Private Atlantic Dunes | Par 72 | Yardage 7065 | Semi-Private Heron Point | Par 72 | Yardage 7035 | Semi-Private Sea Pines Country Club | Par 72 | Yardage 6383 | Private The father of Hilton Head golf, The Sea Pines Resort is still the granddaddy of them all. Harbour Town Golf Links, home of the RBC Heritage, is the highest-profile of the four championship courses within the resort, but Pete Dye oversaw a recent renovation to make Heron Point more player-friendly, resulting in South Carolina Course of the Year honors in 2015, and Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III was voted the national Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners’ Association last year. While the three resort courses are open to the public, Sea Pines Country Club is private.

843-842-8484 | seapines.com

SPRING ISLAND Okatie, SC

Par 72 | Yardage 7004 | Private Opened in 1992, Old Tabby Links was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay to play off the rugged natural environment of Spring Island. The course weaves through nature preserves and feels more like a pastoral setting than a private residential club. A 2012 restoration project renewed the course’s strategic value by widening fairways to offer alternative angles of attack.

843-987-2200 | springisland.com

WEXFORD PLANTATION Hilton Head, SC

Par 72 | Yardage: 6913 | Private

Originally opened in 1983, Wexford underwent a major renovation by legendary golfer and designer Arnold Palmer in 2011. The redesign opened up the course and created more strategic options to reach the challenging green complexes. The new layout combined with immaculate conditions have landed Wexford on Golfweek’s Top 100 Residential Golf Courses list for many years.

843-686-8810 | wexfordplantation.com

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You don’t have to be playing golf, to enjoy the course.

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Ford Plantation

THE FORD PLANTATION Richmond Hill, Georgia

Par 72 | Yardage 7409 | Private

The luxurious community features a Pete Dye signature course that the legendary designer recreated in 2014. The course is more playable than some of Dye’s diabolical creations, but the greens are still a challenge for the experienced player. The front nine plays like a parkland course, while the back nine is a links style layout where the howling wind can play havoc.

912-756-2742 | fordplantation.com

SAVANNAH QUARTERS Pooler, Georgia

Par 72 | Yardage 7066 | Private

Savannah Quarters features a top-notch golf learning center, and the Greg Norman signature course has hosted big events such as the NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship. The course is long enough to test the best players, but with six sets of tees it can accommodate everyone from beginners to pros.

912-450-2700 | savannahquarters.com

THE LANDINGS CLUB Savannah, Georgia

Marshwood Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6904 | Private Magnolia Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6891 | Private Terrapin Point Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6837 | Private Palmetto Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6941 | Private Oakridge Course | Par 72 | Yardage 6603 | Private Deer Creek Course | Par 72 | Yardage 7094 | Private Savannah’s largest club gives members access to six private 18-hole championship courses, including two Arnold Palmer designs (Marshwood and Magnolia) and two Arthur Hills tracks (Palmetto and Oakridge). Tom Fazio’s Deer Creek Course is the site of the Savannah Golf Championship Web.com Tour event.

912-598-8050 | landingsclub.com

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IIFASHIONII

Photographer: Guido Flueck | Makeup: Heather Edge | Location: South Carolina Yacht Club | Models: Mary Bach, Mia Fotia, Lilly Bach, Lilly Atkinson

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Moonlit Lullaby 55 Bridge St, Bluffton, SC 29910 moonlitlullaby.com

S.M Bradford Co. | 149D Lighthouse Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | www.smbradfordco.com Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store | 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Village at Wexford B-2, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | www.smbradfordco.com

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Maggie & Me | 6 Bruin Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910

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Apparel & Shoes: Carolina Me Crazy Tanger 1, Suite 310, 1256 Fording Island Rd. Bluffton, SC 29910 @CarolinaMeCrazy Jewelry: Forsythe Jewelers 71 Lighthouse Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 forsythejewelers.biz

IIFASHIONII

Coastal Bliss | 38 Shelter Cove Ln, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | coastalblisshiltonhead.com

Island Girl | Coligny Plaza | 1 N Forest Beach Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | islandgirlhhi.com

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Jewelry: Forsythe Jewelers | 71 Lighthouse Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | forsythejewelers.biz Apparel: Island Girl | Coligny Plaza | 1 N Forest Beach Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | islandgirlhhi.com

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Island Child | 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | shopislandchild.com

IIFASHIONII

THE AREA’S

NO.1 FORCITY MAGAZINE THE PAST 35 YEARS “I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WATCHING OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES THRIVE AND ENJOYING THE ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AND BEAUTY THAT THIS AREA PROVIDES FOR ALL OF US.”

MARY ANN KENT

Account Executive

Mary Ann is a New Jersey native. She graduated from the University of Richmond with a major in Marketing where she met her husband, Geoff. They raised their two sons, Tom and Michael and a daughter, Laura in Westfield, N.J. The family was pleased to recently announce the marriage of their daughter and son-in-law, Jayson, and celebrated with a riverfront wedding ceremony in Beaufort.

Mary Ann has been a key member of the Monthly team for more than five years since moving to Bluffton. Her extensive publishing career started with NJ Family Magazine where her passion for magazines and helping businesses succeed began. Mary Ann has also enjoyed representing print and digital publications such as Where South Florida Visitor publications, the NFL Super Bowl Visitor guides and a national legal journal.

She and her husband enjoy running, biking, tennis, travel, visiting breweries and wineries. Taking up golf is next on her list.

Let us help you to connect you with your clients and see why Hilton Head Monthly and Bluffton Monthly are the #1 City Magazines in the Lowcountry.

Contact Mary Ann today at maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com

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LEADING

LADIES of the Lowcountry

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THE VACATION COMPANY

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HILTON HEAD PREP

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KELLY CARON DESIGNS

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THE WESTIN HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESORT & SPA 132

THE BEAUTIQUE

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ROC DENTAL GROUP

DRAB 2 FAB

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LOWCOUNTRY PAVER

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PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN BUILDING Story by Barry Kaufman Photo by Guido Flueck

NAMI 156

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HEARTHWOOD HULL BAKERY 147 Story by Barry Kaufman Photo by Ruthe Ritterbeck

LOWCOUNTRY AUTISM FOUNDATION 160

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TRACY DAYTON

STREET MEET

BLOOM INSTITUTE

COLIGNY PLAZA

DISTINCTIVE GRANITE

THE WOMEN OF WEXFORD 138

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BETH DRAKE

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OAK ADVISORS

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LAVA 24 FITNESS

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LASH LOUNGE

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BENNY HUDSON

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PAWS ON LEARNING

ALLIANCE DANCE ACADEMY 140

Story by Amy Coyne Bredeson Photo by Lloyd Wainscott

HILTON HEAD PLASTIC SURGERY 163

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JESSE’S FOOD TRUCK

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SALON KARMA

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VACATION COMPANY

From left. Carrie, Beth, Elizabeth, Cheryl, Rhonda, Holly, Tiffany and Mary Kate

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27 Dr Mellichamp Dr | Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-0380 | blufftonoyster.com

For more than 30 years, Vacation Company has been defining the ideal in Hilton Head Island vacations, with a portfolio of hundreds of vacation homes and villas to suit anyone’s dream getaway.

While the sheer variety of options they offer would be enough to put them in a class by themselves, it’s their commitment to service that truly sets them apart. Each property is watched over by a trio of professionals, one Internal Property Manager and two External Property Managers, to ensure no detail is overlooked.

Beyond their service, Vacation Company has proven themselves a leader in technology and marketing for properties, utilizing cutting edge web-based tools to showcase properties to the world and to keep properties safe and secure with internet-controlled door locks and systems.

However, technology and dedication alone aren’t enough to make an experience truly memorable. It takes people, and people are perhaps Vacation Company’s biggest strength. Among the many friendly faces and tireless professionals who have helped set Vacation Company apart over the last 30 years, you’ll find their leading ladies front and center.

Beth Henzler was the first employee at the Vacation Company and eventually became part owner along with Bob Hawkins. She has overseen the company during a period of explosive growth, nurturing it from a collection of 13 private homes and villas to today’s expansive

portfolio of almost 400 properties.

Her expertise and experience have played a tremendous role in the company’s continued success, but for her it’s all about the experiences they create.

When asked what she felt was the most rewarding part of her job, Henzler replied, “I feel that assisting guests with creating memories that they will remember for years to come and building relationships with our homeowners, and with knowing that they trust and depend on us.”

As broker-in-charge of the entire Vacation Company portfolio of vacation properties, Tiffany Woollacott is tasked with not only ensuring owners enjoy a return on their investment, but also with delivering the utmost in service to guests. Having been with Vacation Company for nearly 20 years, she too has helped usher in this period of expansive growth while ensuring every customer has the best experience.

“I enjoy the relationships that I create with both the property owners and rental guests, in assisting owners with the management of their property and in assisting guests with choosing the perfect vacation spot,” said Woollacott.

These two leading ladies, as well as all the leading ladies at Vacation Company, are vital to the firm’s success and a key part of what sets this short-term rental and property management firm apart.

Perhaps Beth put it best when she said ““What makes us different makes all the difference in the world.”

42 New Orleans Road, Suite 102 | 843-686-6100 | vacationcompany.com

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HILTON HEAD PREP Education is ultimately the pursuit of goals, whatever form those goals might take. At Hilton Head Prep, these goals vary from student to student and can be attained in the classroom, on the field or in the world that awaits beyond graduation. Giving students the tools to achieve these goals falls on the celebrated staff at Hilton Head Prep, who all share one singular goal: Excellence.

And excellence is rarely achieved alone.

To be ranked the No. 1 private K-12 school in Beaufort County, No.1 private school for athletes in Beaufort County, No. 1 boarding school in the state, No. 2 private K-12 school in the state and in the top 14 percent of all private K-12 schools in America takes teamwork. It takes a group of outstanding leading ladies (ladies who, incidentally, have put 10 of their own children through Prep collectively).

Margot Brown, director of development and finance, is a 31-year veteran of the educational field who led a capital campaign that raised $6.5 million for the Joseph B. Fraser Jr. Field House, the largest non-profit fundraising effort in island history.

“The most rewarding part of this job is that I get to impact the lives of children every day,” says Brown. “Knowing the mission behind my work, makes me happy to come to school every morning.”

Sarah DeMaria, director of admissions, is among the first friendly faces a new student encounters as they begin their journey to excellence at Hilton Head Prep. Helping those students fulfill their passion is what drives her.

“I love seeing students shine in an environment in which each can pursue their passion, whether it’s in athletics, on the stage in performing arts, and of course, academically,” she said.

Head of the lower and middle schools, Darcy Devrnja, has been in education for 35 years, the last seven of which were spent at Prep. The task of overseeing such a wide age range of students presents a unique set of challenges, and never was that truer than this past year.

“The teachers did a fantastic job handling COVID protocol while providing a stellar academic program. They successfully navigated this hybrid virtual/ in person world of learning due to their dedication, collaboration, and determination,” she said.

Tina Webb-Browning is the head of the upper school, a career educator of 37 years who finds the greatest rewards come from the lives she reaches.

“There is nothing more rewarding than working with young people and helping them find the right path… helping them believe in themselves during those crazy teenage years,” she said.

Excellence can be found in all aspects of Hilton Head Prep. Business Manager Jennifer Cody Murphy has spent 34 years in education, serving Prep with a steady fiscal hand and ensuring that the school’s finances reflect the excellence found in the classroom.

“The most rewarding part of my job is developing solutions that benefit the various goals and needs of our constituents; hoping to balance the fiscal with the ideal,” she said.

Each of these leading ladies serves a vital role in Hilton Head Prep’s ceaseless pursuit of that one goal above all others: Excellence.

8 Fox Grape Road | 843-671-2286 | hhprep.org

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If you’ve ever lost yourself in a pictorial magazine spread spotlighting one of the Lowcountry’s many dream homes, you’ll know that there is a distinct style that sets our homes apart. Coastal yet contemporary, sophisticated yet lushly livable, this unique look has made our region the envy of the world. It’s the style of the Lowcountry, and no one has done more to bring it to life than Kelly Caron Designs, ASID. You’ll find their hallmarks in some of the area’s most dazzling homes, a CV written in luxury that has made Kelly Caron Designs, ASID the most sought-after interior designers in the southeast.

Beyond our borders, the company has expanded down the coast as far south as Palm Beach, Florida, but still calls our area home.

“We’re still very much anchored here,” said owner and

principal designer Kelly Caron, ASID. “The heart of our design is still the Lowcountry… I have been excited to be working with amazing clients throughout the Lowcountry; builders and vendors who help bring all of our projects together. And we couldn’t do it without this amazing team.”

Guiding Kelly Caron Designs, ASID into the future are Interior Designers Brianna Owens and Sara Boyles, Interior Design Assistant Kaylee Nash, Project Coordinator Molly Thomas and VP Finance/Controller Erin Fisher.

Together, they foster an environment of true teamwork.

“We all have different strengths,” said Caron. “We lead within the group and balance that leadership and that helps us be successful.”

5778 Guilford Place | 843-815-4737 | kellycarondesigns.com 120 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

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There are few people in this world Dr. Molly who can claim that their job is a calling. Dr. Molly Spears is definitely one of them.

“I’ve wanted to be a vet since I was three years old,” she said.

It began with a love of animals, but quickly grew beyond that.

“As I got older, what appealed to me was the challenge of it, and the fact that there is something new every day.”

There’s certainly something new every day at Coastal Veterinary Clinic where she practices. This highly popular Bluffton vet’s office sees all manner of maladies and ailments from creatures big and small, caring for each with signature care and compassion. While her areas of interest lie in ultrasound and surgery, Dr. Spears has found the

most rewarding part of her work is in late-stage hospice care for pets.

“There’s something about me that I really like to help people and their pets make that transition,” she said. “I try to make a point of helping people take as much time as possible to process and say goodbye.”

As a newly minted Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, Dr. Spears’ care extends far beyond the office of Coastal Veterinary Clinic. For the last eight years, she has been traveling from as far as Natchez, Miss., and Norwich, N.Y., to run spay and neuter clinics.

“I’ve had some really cool experiences traveling to underserved areas,” she said. “You get to meet people from all over.”

Spears

COASTAL VETERINARY CLINIC

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The job market can be a harrowing place Susan to navigate. For a small business owner, it’s a daunting task to weed through candidates, find the right person for the job and then get them up to speed within your company’s culture so they have every opportunity to shine. For those seeking a job, just crafting the right resume is half the battle. You then have to get in front of the right people and make sure you put your best foot forward during the interview.

The market is a complicated place, but few know its many twists and turns like Susan Edwards of Forwards Career Services. A PHR and SHRM-CP certified human resources professional, she has not only helped guide companies toward their ideal candidates, she’s seen first-hand what makes applicants stand out from the crowd.

Edwards

While still maintaining her day job as the Director of Human Resources at Colleton River Club, Edwards launched Forwards Career Services last year as a way to do more with the business degree she obtained from Georgia Southern in 2004 . “I had always thought about owning my own business – but it was always on the back burner. I am always looking for ways to do better or help other people, and this is a natural fit because I’ve been working in human resources for so long and have gained so much experience here in the Lowcountry,” she said. “It’s a perfect marriage because I get to help people recognize their strengths, build confidence and go into an interview with a better perspective.”

Her expertise has made her a valued consultant on both sides of the interview table - small business and candidates alike. And now she’s putting that experience to work for you.

FORWARDS CAREER SERVICES

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Within the beautiful Bridge Street storefront The of Moonlit Lullaby, you’ll find a wonderland of gifts, toys, books and apparel for babies and toddlers. Whether shopping for your own child or for a birthday, you’ll find some of the most delightful items for tots in the world, right in the heart of Old Town Bluffton.

However, despite the kid-friendly focus, curating such an enchanting collection and developing the ideal location for Moonlit Lullaby was definitely not child’s play.

“We moved from a previous location to Old Town two years ago, and I wound up having my second child a week before the new location opened,” said owner Jillian Atkinson. “It was definitely an interesting time. We were the baby store with the baby in the bassinet behind the counter.”

Debuting a new location for a popular retail store with a newborn in

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tow is a daunting task, but Atkinson wasn’t alone.

Proud mom Lynn Ruocco was waiting in the wings to take on her share of the heavy lifting while Atkinson tended to her newest pride and joy.

A retired teacher, Ruocco had already been helping out here and there as needed, but with the new location’s opening, she was only too happy to take on more. And since Atkinson’s newborn son was now a constant fixture in the store, the mother-daughter duo could count on each other to run everything smoothly, plus manage feedings, diaper changes and the occasional fussy baby.

“We have made such a great team, working together seamlessly,” said Atkinson. “And we have a terrific staff of part-timers who are always ready to help out.”

That selfless help is perhaps the best gift a mother can give her child. Other than something special from Moonlit Lullaby, of course.

MOONLIT LULLABY

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In the history of true Lowcountry success Cheryl stories, Lowcountry Paver stands apart.

Helping transform outdoor spaces across the area, the Curry family business has expanded from a mom and pop shop to a regional economic driver with dozens of employees.

At the heart of this success, you’ll find Lowcountry Paver’s unwavering commitment to customer service, and the way that commitment permeates every aspect of the business. And the driving force behind that philosophy is Vice President of Customer Service Cheryl LaMar. In fact, if you ask founder Tom Curry, she’s the driving force behind… well, everything. “She is one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met in my life… and she runs everything,” he said. “I don’t know how she does it.”

LaMar

Having started just six years ago as a customer service representative, LaMar’s meteoric rise to the top was fueled by her endless drive and her passion for what she does. And while it says customer service on her business card, LaMar has a hand in nearly every aspect of the business, from accounting to staffing, working long hours to ensure every aspect of the business meets her high standards for service.

“It can sometimes be a challenge to find people who are what we’re looking for – friendly, outgoing and conscientious about what they are doing,” she said. “It’s the same thing if you’re out in the yard or driving a truck. You’re dealing with people.”

As a vital lynchpin of the whole operation, LaMar is hands down the Leading Lady of Lowcountry Paver.

LOWCOUNTRY PAVER

535 State Rd S-27-104, Hardeeville, SC 29927 | 843-784-7104 | lcpaver.com 124 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

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Susana Cook

PALMERA INN AND SUITES Hospitality has always been the essence of Hilton Head Island, and few places embrace that essence like Palmera Inn and Suites. Independently owned and operated, this mid-island hotel and event facility has recently undergone extensive renovations that have elevated every aspect of the guests’ experience.

With local firms Plantation Interiors designing the rooms and J. Banks designing the lobby, plus artwork from local artist Julie Jones, the spirit of Hilton Head Island is everywhere.

“Because we are not affiliated with a corporate chain, we have that kind of freedom to choose designs that keep our island community and environment in mind,” said General Manager Susana Cook.

Originally from Venezuela, Cook came to the island in 2001 to continue her hospitality career. Doing an internship with the American Hospitality Academy, she gained hands-on experience working at some of the finest resorts on the island. That access to world-class instruction, plus meeting her husband David in 2002, gave her all the incentive she needed to stay.

And our community is all the better for it, with Cook serving as an active member of the community, volunteering with the Zonta Club of Hilton Head, graduating from the Chamber’s Leadership Program in 2016 and recently being selected to chair the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce board.

Yet her biggest point of pride comes from the team she leads.

“We have a philosophy that we want all our team members to wake up happy that they get to work at Palmera Inn and Suites,” she said. “We have accomplished that through hard work.”

12 Park Lane | 843-686-5700 | palmerainnandsuites.com

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Premiering earlier this year, Smart Maria Company Kids Zone has been a revelation for parents across the Lowcountry. On the surface, it may seem like your child is simply having fun exploring, playing and challenging themselves. But dig deeper and you’ll find a set of programming designed to push your child – and yourself — to greater heights, mentally and physically.

Nearly every activity inside, whether it’s the escape rooms, laser tag, or the pulse-pounding “time freak,” is designed to not just provide endless entertainment, but to teach children and adults about financial intelligence. That could mean pretending to ride a subway to Wall Street, managing the ups and downs of the stock market or seeing first-hand how the bulls and the bears can impact the market.

The whole family will be learning, but they will be having too much fun to realize it.

Gonzalez

“Basically the whole premise of this was that we wanted to integrate financial intelligence with the entertainment side of a family fun center,” said Maria Gonzalez.

Gonzalez’s role at Smart Company Kids Zone is to oversee one of the most exciting aspects of this thrill-a-minute entertainment mecca – the officially sanctioned American Ninja Warrior course. Augmenting the youthoriented activities, this pulse-pounding course tests everyone from families to corporate team building groups. Along with a crew of Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association-certified coaches, Gonzalez coaches students of all ages as the scramble across rings, cargo nets, salmon ladders and other challenging elements to achieve greatness.

“Being a coach for so many years, I love making a difference,” she said. “You’re giving these kids skills for life – confidence, self-esteem…

You don’t have to be an athlete to start working toward this.”

SMART COMPANY KIDS ZONE

108 Buckwalter Pkwy Suite 2F, Bluffton | 843-836-3700 | sckzone.com

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For Cindy Creamer, real estate is Leading more than just buying or selling a house. It is about being an advocate for her clients and customers, as well as protecting and promoting private property rights. Since getting her start 15 years ago, she has immersed herself in the industry like few others, serving as the current president-elect of the South Carolina Realtors and twice as president of the Hilton Head Area Realtors. While earning those positions alone set her apart as a real estate professional, it is what those positions mean to her that provides her clients’ exceptional service.

“Knowledge is key to everything,” she said. “I stay involved as a Realtor so that I can keep my clients informed. Education is very important to me whether it

Lady

is something as specific to our local market as flood insurance, or as broad as regulations and legislation on the state and federal level that may impact my clients. The more knowledge I have, the better I serve my clients.”

Ultimately, her leadership roles have allowed her to give back to the industry and the communities she serves. Service is paramount, whether it is to her clients or as a board member at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, or as chair of the Town of Hilton Head Venue Committee.

“I’m here to serve,” she said. “It’s sharing the best that our communities have to offer, highlighting their lifestyle benefits and explaining the conditions of our markets and properties so that every client I represent makes informed real estate decisions.”

CINDY CREAMER

Dunes Real Estate | 6 Queens Folly Road | 843-298-2356 | cindycreamer.com

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LOWCOUNTRY MADE If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that sometimes you just have to do it for yourself. For the leading ladies of Lowcountry Made, an organization that supports local artisans and makers with events and other opportunities to sell their wares, that meant pooling their talents as artisans to recreate what it means to shop local.

Selling their wares at pop-ups across the Lowcountry, with regular stops at Burnt Church Distillery, these women are the definition of leading ladies. Through their partnership with Lowcountry Made, they have taken charge of their own destinies, helping their businesses thrive.

“The mission of Lowcountry Made is the success of our makers,” said founder Katie Silva. “Through the start of Lowcountry Made we’ve been able to develop a creative marketing strategy to promote these talented entrepreneurs and their businesses. These business owners are remarkable and through their creativity and hard work they not only sustained but grew their businesses during a pandemic.”

Examples abound of this creativity. Elizabeth Brubaker of Handmade Beaufort expanded on her line of carefully crafted gifts, accessories and home décor items to include to face masks during the start of the pandemic. Colleen Laux of Cottonwood Soap Company, as well as Marianne and Stephanie of True South, purveyors of attractive Southern-inspired apparel and décor, began offering live sales on Facebook.

But there’s still nothing like a live event. When the pandemic lockdowns forced the closure of major events, many local artists like Kathy Oda of KODA Glass Designs, which sells colorful, handmade decorative glass plates and sculptures, struggled

until Silva created Lowcountry Made’s artisan markets. “I am forever grateful to Katie for giving these opportunities for local small businesses.”

Analisa Chase sells her fine art wares at Lowcountry Made’s shop in Old Town Bluffton, and said, “Lowcountry Made is a wonderful collaborative storefront that provides effortless opportunities for my business to shine and prosper.”

Artists and artisans are well represented among Lowcountry Made’s membership, like the beautiful hand-thrown ceramic pottery from Emily Raymonda of Raymonda Ceramics.

“Lowcountry Made has allowed me to connect and collaborate with other local artists that work in a variety of different mediums,” said Raymonda.

Lowcountry Made isn’t just for those whose works dazzle the eye. In the case of Shannon Gonzales of Tout Sweet Macarons, her mouth-water macarons and sweets tickle the taste buds. Ditto for Margaret Skalla The Bluffton Bakery and Connie Kitzmiller of Bluffton Tea Company.

The timing of this venture could not be better, with the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way people shop, urging them outside the typical indoor experience.

“This has been a great way for Sativa Health Products to meet and educate our customers on the positive health benefits of CBD and Hemp products,” said Cynthia Groff of Sativa Health Products.

“Starting a small business during a pandemic can be quite daunting,” said Tina Kelsy of Sun Dog boutique. “However, Sun Dog has flourished, with the support of Lowcountry Made, and the local artisan markets.”

14 Johnston Way Suite A | Lcmade.com

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Women are increasingly making their The Leadership mark on the traditionally male-dominated field of construction, and they’re just getting started. Within the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association led by Executive Officer, Meg James, you’ll find Professional Women in Building (PWB) of the Lowcountry, a group of extraordinary women who have banded together to offer networking, education and mentoring to the next generation of leading ladies in their industry.

Established June 16, 2020 as the first and only PWB council chartered by the National Association of Home Builders in South Carolina, this remarkable group is represented here by just a few of its leading ladies. All told, they are 71 members strong (across several homebuilding-related industries), and growing fast, with a goal to reach 100 members in its first year.

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The 2021 PWB leadership team is lead by four board members; Kathryn Drury of Drury & Associates is a residential construction consultant and real estate broker, working with lot owners in the Bluffton and Hilton Head area.

Andrea Eldred is the co-owner of Element Construction, a boutique luxury builder, with a focus on client relationships and business development. Brantley King, owner and president of BWA, Billy Wood Appliance, has taken her sophisticated showroom concept to new heights on Hilton Head and in Bluffton. And finally, Missy Layman is a Partner at Kinghorn Insurance Agency with over 30 years of experience serving our community.

Individually, they represent the starring role that women are taking in the homebuilding industry. Together, they represent a group that will lift up others and give a voice to women.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN IN BUILDING

386 Spanish Wells Road | 843-681-9240 | hhahba.com

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more easily in this highly competitive market.

Standing out in the highly competitive The Ladies of Home buying and selling can be very real estate market of the Lowcountry challenging, and the goal for the Joan Kelly takes a little bit more. At the Joan Kelly Group is to make real estate real simple.

Group, they didn’t just stop at a little bit.

That, in turn, requires a great team. “We Their approach takes service to an entirely truly believe TEAM stands for Together different level, offering a true concierge Everyone Achieves More,” said Kelly. “We experience. support and encourage each other and can “Our goal is to create clients for life,” said provide much more for our clients together Joan Kelly. “No two buyers or sellers are the than we could ever do individually.” same, and they potentially have different “It is not just about success at work, it is challenges in achieving their real estate about creating lives worth living,” said Kelly. “That applies not only goals. We want to be the company that has solutions that meet to our team but also to the community at large. I am motivated their needs.” to be the change we would like to see in the world. One of our That could mean anything from providing a loan for repairs or core values is volunteering and donating to local, national and renovation to maximize a seller’s return, to making a cash offer international causes and non-profits.” on their home so they can get their new home under contract

THE JOAN KELLY GROUP

36 William Pope Dr. Ste 203 | 8 Lafayette Place, Suite 203 | 843-682-8181 | joankellygroup.com

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Neha Rajebhosale

THE WESTIN HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESORT AND SPA Hilton Head Island is a community of transplants, built on a foundation of Southern hospitality. Few people embody that spirit like Neha Rajebhosale, Director of Human Resources for The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Neha leads on the resort’s Executive Team, where she is passionate about creating a platform for inclusion, talent development, and paving the way for other female leaders in the industry.

And as a new member of our community, she already feels at home.

“I’ve always been a city girl,” she said, having spent much of her extensive Marriott International career in Washington, D.C. and Florida.

“Now when I travel to places like Atlanta or Charlotte, I miss Hilton Head.

It grows on you. It’s beautiful and the people are so warm. I don’t know who would move here and not love it.”

It helps if you work somewhere that exemplifies the best in hospitality.

2 Grasslawn Ave. | 843-681-4000 | westinHHI.com

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THE BEAUTIQUE Whoever said that beauty is more than skin deep must have been thinking about The Beautique. At this one micro-medical spa, you can enjoy everything from aesthetics, microneedling and facials to chemical peels and hydrafacials. But that’s just part of the full experience. Offering permanent cosmetics, The Beautique goes beyond the skin to enhance your experience and leave you looking your best.

Behind this two-prong approach are leading ladies Amanda Ellis and Sarah Rhoades-Howlett, each of whom employ years of experience in helping you look fabulous. And in their new location, they can serve you even better.

“During the time of corona, we decided it would be better and safer for clients to go into a smaller, more private, studio space and offer a more intimate experience,” said Ellis.

55a Sheridan Park Circle | 843-227-5501 | mayrivermadeup.com Permanent Cosmetics HHI 843-422-4141 | permanentcosmeticshhi.com 132 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

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From the moment you walk through the The doors, you realize that there’s something different about ROC Dental Group. It’s not just the way the staff has dedicated themselves to the latest advancements in dental technology, carefully pursuing only those new innovations that can best benefit the patient.

It’s not just the decades of experience each member brings to the team.

It’s the experience. As in your experience as a patient.

“I always want to make sure my team treats the patient with the utmost respect and compassion. They’re not just another person coming into the chair,” said Lead Dental Hygienist Kelly Paxton. “It’s about professionalism and building a true rapport with your patient.”

That patient-first approach is built into the DNA of ROC Dental

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Group. And as a happy side effect, it creates a fantastic working environment for the practice’s leading ladies.

Lead Dental Assistant April Jenkins has been with ROC Dental Group for five years, drawn to them by their reputation. “I’d heard nothing but amazing things about that office,” she said.

“Between how professional and courteous everyone is, and how it’s a great environment, they were telling nothing but the truth.”

It’s a reciprocal relationship. Putting the patients first makes for a happier office, and a happier office puts each patient at ease.

“A lot of the times, patients don’t necessarily want to be in that chair,” said Practice Manager Claudette Stewart. “When patients hear us laughing and enjoying ourselves, it makes them a little more open and receptive. And that starts with a great team who loves what they’re doing.”

ROC DENTAL GROUP

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DRAB 2 FAB For years, while working a full-time job, Nadine Stohr dreamed of opening her own business. When she realized her skill at painting furniture, she began selling on the side at mall kiosks until she could launch her own store.

With Drab 2 Fab, opened alongside co-owner Hilary Bryan, her dream has come true. Drab 2 Fab has been providing custom, oneof-a-kind new and refurbished furniture, housewares, home decor and customized accessories for the past four years in the Bluffton area. From costal to shabby chic to eclectic decorating, gifting and accessorizing, Drab 2 Fab has something for every design, decoration and gifting taste and experience in the Lowcountry.

“We believe in providing our customers with unique and authentic styling, design and gift giving experiences. Our shop is full of rare and cultivated items that we hope brings some glitter and sunshine to each of our customers,” said Drab 2 Fab’s leading ladies.

3C Lawton St. | 843-940-7500 | shopdrab2fab.com

Katie Girardi

CORE PILATES For some, Pilates is a way to stay fit or to simply expand what their body can do. Katie Girardi of Core Pilates sees it a little differently.

“Pilates could honestly change the world,” she said. “It is a modality that works for every single human and enhances every movement whether reading a book or running a marathon.”

Her outlook on Pilates has led her to a level of training few achieved, having spent nearly 750 hours just focusing on the educational aspect of the practice.

“That’s a couple of master’s degrees,” she said with a laugh. “I’m a forever student so I’ve gone through certification three times and learned something every time.”

From her new expanded studio, Girardi helps men and women achieve their physical fitness and mobility goals through the world-changing practice of Pilates.

Work that core, Y’all.

31 New Orleans Road, Suite A | 843-681-4267 | workthatcore.com

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The magic of a real partnership comes The when two sets of strengths balance each other out. It’s the very essence of teamwork — finding that one person who complements you so completely that together you can accomplish anything.

You won’t find a better example of this than the Lowcountry resident real estate power duo, Monica Davis and Becky Herman of Herman & Davis Properties. Before partnering up, each had built their own successful real estate businesses. But when they joined forces, they were able to provide their clients with the highest level of service and accountability as well as a one-two punch of real estate skillsets.

“Becky is extremely analytical and an incredible negotiator,” said Davis of her partner. “I’m the more creative part and that’s why we mesh well together.”

Augmenting this right brain/left brain approach is a team whose individual talents and skills create one of the most well-

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rounded full-service real estate groups in the Lowcountry. In addition to talented marketing and support staff dedicated to giving you a stress-free experience, on the front lines you’ll find three extraordinarily skilled agents ready to serve.

Hailing from Georgia, Lynn Shealy has spent more than a decade in the Lowcountry as an invaluable asset to both the team and her clients. As a certified ambassador in the Hilton Head and Bluffton areas, Tierra Schaffer serves her clients with a tremendous depth of local knowledge. And Michelle Elliot brings her wealth of experience in both real estate and mortgage lending to the table, making her an incredible asset to both buyers and sellers.

Together, these leading ladies forge their individual talents into a team that, above all else, goes the extra mile.

“It’s ultimately about one thing: doing the right thing for the right reasons,” said Herman.

HERMAN AND DAVIS

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THE PARLOUR

When did a trip to the salon become a chore? When did it go from being a rare chance to truly unwind to being an appointment in a book, a quick service and a rushed farewell?

The Leading Ladies of The Parlour don’t know the answer to that question, because as far as they’re concerned, the experience has always been what it is all about.

“When you step inside, it more than just hair and beauty, it’s the entire experience,” said owner Anna Kendrick.

Indeed, its classy 1940’s Manhattan vibe, prosecco in crystal flutes and warm hospitality from the top down make a visit to The Parlour unlike anything else. Here you’ll not only find state-of-the-art equipment and a dazzling array of

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offerings and services, you’ll find an atmosphere that invites you to stay a while and indulge.

Delivering that experience is a team of stylists who have earned scores of accolades, including a Best of Bluffton in 2020 after having been open less than a year. While that was a team win, you’ll also find individual awards among seven of the 14 stylists at The Parlour.

“Although eventually, everyone here will be an awardwinning stylist,” said Kendrick.

That’s because of Kendrick’s brilliant approach to hiring.

“My motto is hire character, train skill,” she said. “When an inexperienced stylist comes in, we take her in and train her together. For a new stylist, it is a big deal to come in and have this support system and be able to build clientele so fast.”

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Hearing Kendrick discuss the unique bond that permeates the entire staff at The Parlour, you get a sense that this is more a sisterhood than simply a group of employees.

“That is very unique in our industry. And the guests can feel it when they come in,” said Kendrick. “Everyone is so happy to be there, and the conversation is just flowing; it’s such a pleasant environment.”

This environment of effortless cooperation not only adds to the guest experience (and the guest experience is what it’s all about) it also creates a rising tide that lifts all ships.

“After 10 years, I’ve stepped away from the styling chair and moved into a management role within the salon with an emphasis on mentoring the younger stylists,” said Kendrick.

“My dream is to watch them become successful stylists and eventually business owners Each stylist at The Parlour takes great care in giving newer stylists the benefit of their award-winning experience.

“They’re getting the best training you can get.”

Bluffton was quick to embrace The Parlour, and the leading ladies were quick to return the favor, celebrating their Best of Bluffton win with a sizable donation to the top three nonprofit charities (Bluffton Self Help, Palmetto Animal League and God’s Goods).

“Community service is very important to me,” Kendrick said.

The experience will only get better when their expanded upstairs studio opens in May!

10A Palmetto Way | 843-815-4526 | theparlourbluffton.com

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The Leading

WOMEN OF WEXFORD 1000 William Hilton Pkwy. villageatwexford.com

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The wonderful thing about the Village at Wexford is that no two trips to this legendary mid-island shopping, dining and entertainment mecca are the same. The sheer variety of things to do, places to see and people to meet have provided endless enjoyment to countless locals and visitors over the years.

And perhaps the best part of the Village at Wexford experience is the exquisite local flavor found behind every door. Every smiling face behind every business is one of your neighbors — a valuable member of our community and a member of our extended local family.

With each visit, you get a chance to not only support local business, but to meet one of the fascinating women of Wexford.

Ready to update your style? The Village at Wexford is a veritable fashion district, with shops offering the latest dazzling looks from the hottest designers, curated by locals who stay on top of the lastest trends. Visit with Kay Emmert at Currents and you can browse sophisticated women’s fashions and Brighton leather goods and jewelry.

Or swing by Evelyn & Arthur where Brittany Smart offers a wardrobe of smart, elegant looks for today’s woman. At Mandy & Ally, Allison Seferian has collected a stylish,

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youthful collection of women’s apparel. And of course, you can never go wrong with something fabulous and fresh from S.M. Bradford Co., Lily Pulitzer. Ready to refresh your young ones’ style? Head to Island Child and ask Senny Powell what the well-dressed youngster is wearing now.

It’s not just about trying on the next hot look, however. The magic of Village at Wexford lies in its wealth of retail therapy options, with each shop stocking endless surprises.

Stop by Gifted Hilton Head and you can browse through the enchanting selection of gifts, apparel and jewelry personally curated by owner Meredith Taylor. Foodies will delight in the bounty of gourmet gadgets and kitchenware Laurel Greif has compiled at Le Cookery. At Quinn’s Diamond Jewelers, where Nancy Quinn runs the show, you’ll find a meticulously sourced collection of the most elegant customcrafted diamond jewelry. At Seasons, Linda Conklin has an exquistie collection of upscale decor and her interior design skills can transfrom

your house into something beautiful. - And at Mums the Word, you can stop by and pick up some flowers, artfully arranged by Julie Alkire and Dorothy Howard.

There truly is something for everyone. Ready to make your move full time to Hilton Head Island? Visit Laura Williams at Exit Realty Hilton Head. Have you, like so many, been bitten by the knitting bug? Michele Kay-Green at Needlepoint Junction has just the remedy.

And once you’ve shopped ‘til you’ve dropped, take a break and enjoy the mouth-watering all-you-can-eat fare at Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse where Marie Rich has your table waiting. Then stop by The Jazz Corner and tap your toes to a few tunes while Lois Masteller keeps the hospitality flowing.

In just one visit, you’ve met so many of the fascinating Women of Wexford. Imagine what you’ll find on your next visit.

Supporting local businesses has never been more fun.

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teaching- from Zoom to less contact when Teamwork makes the dream work.

The Ladies of giving corrections to filling in for each other Since its inception, Alliance Dance during our own quarantines,” said instructor Academy has been about the team, Ashley Casstevens. the families and the way the lines They found these new ways as they do can sometimes blur between them. everything – together.

Parents get just as involved as their “Having each other has meant everything. kids, teachers become a second family With all the uncertainty that has come from to students and the group effort lifts up this pandemic my one constant has been each dancer to their highest potential. my dance family,” said Ashlyn LaRiche.

The past year has tested the strength “It just takes a little creativity,” added of that group like no other. Between Jennie Beneway. “It’s more important than teaching over Zoom, altering class sizes, ever to make the students feel comfortable while pushing adding new sanitization procedures and taking extra steps them to better themselves, grow and continue with their to ensure safety, it has been an entirely new experience for passion for dance.” the staff.

It may be hard, but the results are worth it. “We have really “It’s like putting a puzzle together and everyone has to do learned the value of quality time within the studio,” said their part to make it work,” said founder Rochelle Clarkson.

Andrea Pennell. “We have zeroed in on what our dancers Fortunately, choreographing the complicated is what they need to work on in person and have structured class time to do best. meet those needs.”

“Because of the pandemic, we all had to learn new ways of

ALLIANCE DANCE ACADEMY

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The talented leading ladies of Salon Karma have The one goal above all others: to help you achieve your hair goals and make you feel beautiful on the inside while creating your most desired style.

It’s a goal they achieve with each and every client, but there’s more to the mission statement than just beauty.

“My main goal is to promote and support my talented team and keep them educated and help them grow while providing exceptional customer service to each guest,” said Owner Kim Seaglund.

Erica Horton, hair and makeup artist, specializes in haircutting, smoothing treatments, color, balayage, highlighting services, corrective color and hair extensions as well as special event wedding makeup and hairstyling.

Samantha Oliveira specializes in color, corrective color, highlighting, balayage, haircutting, and is also the salon’s men’s haircutting specialist.

Cassie Palmer specializes in the French cutting system, balayage/blonding, color, corrective color, hair extensions and

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formal occasion styling.

Emily White, hair artist, enjoys creating customized looks with balayage and blonding services and also specializes in color, haircutting, styling and smoothing treatments.

Madison Conner specializes in color, balayage, highlights, cutting and is also certified in DevaCurl.

Amy Ramirez, hair and makeup artist, specializes in color, balayage, highlighting and special occasion makeup and hairstyling.

Madyson Mardson, hair and makeup artist, specializes in color, haircutting, balayage and highlights.

Brittany Bentz, hair artist, specializes in highlighting, color, haircutting and styling.

After managing Salon Karma for many years, Seaglund purchased the salon in 2018. This year, Kim purchased the building where Salon Karma is located in downtown Bluffton.

“My hope in the future is to expand my business and my team and also allow my artists to offer other services which they are passionate about,” she said.

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Laura Lyons Karrh

STANLEY MARTIN HOMES For the past 17 years, Laura Lyons Karrh has built her career on her marketing and sales savvy when it comes to homebuilding. As a neighborhood sales manager for Stanley Martin Homes at Oldfield, she’s found a company that works just as hard as she does.

“It’s a great company, and a great culture,” she said. She also recalled how Stanley Martin, a homebuilder whose core values center around having a homebuyer-focused team with a passion for excellence, got behind her charitable efforts in organizing a Christmas toy drive for children in foster care.

Originally from New Jersey and having spent most her life in New York City, she came here — like many of us — to escape the cold. And in the process, she has built a solid reputation as one of the leading ladies of homebuilding.

1 Great Heron Way, Bluffton 843-427-0087 | StanleyMartin.com

Leading Lady

ALLYSON ETHERIDGE Relocating to Hilton Head Island just 18 months ago from Asheville, Allyson Etheridge is already making significant impacts to real estate in our area having been inducted as director of Hilton Head Area Board of Realtors, earning the 2020 Realtor Service Award and gaining significant market share in the luxury market on the island.

Etheridge, co-leading The Etheridge Group at Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty, successfully marketed and sold the most expensive home in Long Cove Club in over a decade. With over 17 years of experience, The Etheridge Group has personally closed over 700 transactions while leading teams who have closed nearly 3,000 transactions and $1 billion in volume.

Etheridge attributes this track record to her innate passion for the business, uncompromising level of attention to every client’s needs, and her alignment with Sotheby’s International Realty’s brand and its unmatched marketing platform.

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For decades, Heritage Academy has The been the standard bearer for educational excellence on Hilton Head Island. But under the stewardship of its newest leading ladies, the renowned school will soon extend that reach and reputation far beyond the borders of the island.

“Education is key to strong communities,” said new principal Amanda Williams-O’Nan. “But I want to be able to compete on a much larger level than just within the Lowcountry.”

Taking the school to that next level requires what Williams-O’Nan refers to as a tag-team approach. While she, as principal, works to raise the school’s academic standards, new Athletic Director Liz Nash will put her vast athletic experience to work making Heritage Academy competitive on the field.

“The excitement of this opportunity is to build a sports program

for Heritage Academy from the ground up,” said Nash. “In my mind, there’s no better classroom than the athletic field.”

Using her decades of experience and close connections with other school ADs and the South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA), Nash has put a singular focus on raising the school’s profile on the field of competition.

Dovetailing with Nash’s efforts, Williams-O’Nan has put her distinctive academic stamp on the school already, rounding out the academic offerings that made the school famous with new opportunities for immersive language learning, artistic development, faith-based study and real-world instruction from the island’s many thought leaders.

“To me, it’s a tag-team approach,” she said. “She’s the principal leader of athletics and I’m the principal leader of academics.”

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HERITAGE ACADEMY

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It was nearly 50 years ago that The Walter Greer first gathered a group of like-minded artists with a vision to create a world-class arts coalition.

Over the years, Art League of Hilton Head would become one of the island’s most beloved institutions, supporting a thriving gallery as well as an arts academy.

At the heart of today’s Art League of Hilton Head, you’ll find its leading ladies.

Serving as General Manager, Kristen McIntosh first made her way to the island six years ago. Embracing the Art League right away, she rose from gallery associate to gallery manager before taking leadership.

“I think probably my favorite part is the community within the art league — we have close to 500 members and the whole community

is supportive of one another,” she said.

“And it’s rewarding to see the impact the visual arts has on our community and how it can affect everyone and everything.”

Approaching her role as Academy Manager with an analytical mind and a background in accounting and business management, Amy Wehrman has found that her strategic approach meshes well with the unbridled creativity that the Art League defines.

“It’s neat to be surrounded by creative minds. It works with my right-brain approach,” she said.

As both an exhibiting artist and Gallery Manager, Kristin “KG” Griffis brings a wealth of sheer artistic energy and enthusiasm to her role. “I really enjoy when someone makes a connection and I’m able to know they’re going to enjoy one of our works in their home,” she said.

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ART LEAGUE OF HILTON HEAD

14 Shelter Cove Lane (Gallery) | 106 Cordillo Parkway (Academy) | 843-681-5060 | artleaguehhi.org

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For Tracy Dayton, “Life is Better Leading at the Beach” is more than just a slogan. It’s a six-word love letter to the Lowcountry she calls home.

Her real estate career allows her to live that life to the fullest. For Tracy, real estate is more than just a transaction.

For the last three decades, it has been how she shares the dream of a lifetime with her clients.

“It’s the feeling of love and home. It’s a safe place.

It’s something that has always brought me comfort,” she said. “To be able to do that for someone else, to give them that comfort of home, is a gift and a privilege for me.”

Starting at just 15 years old, answering the phone

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at a real estate firm in her native New York, she has pursued a style of real estate service that goes above and beyond with every aspect. It’s more than just the professionalism you’d come to expect from a Realtor with 30 years experience. It’s a total dedication to her clients’ needs.

“There are people who travel here and are not familiar with the area. I take the time to explain the different neighborhoods, their amenities and what they offer in terms of a lifestyle,” she said. “I enjoy helping people with one of the biggest decisions of their lives. I consider it an honor to be an ambassador for this amazing place to live. Thank you.”

TRACEY DAYTON

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Shelby Basciano

STREET MEET A common refrain when learning about some of the Leading Ladies of the Lowcountry is, “I don’t know how she does it.”

For Shelby Basciano, pictured with her sister-in-law and Street Meet General Manager Nicole Basciano, that sentiment becomes even more of a wonder – not only is she raising three teenage girls, she is also a successful personal trainer and co-owner of Street Meet. So how does she do it?

“A small amount of sleep, support from friends and family and the understanding that even in the busiest of times, time goes by so quickly,” she said.

“So, I need to enjoy it no matter what.”

Having her daughters work alongside her at Street Meet certainly helps carve out family time, as does the way her two professional worlds dovetail together. The healthy items at Street Meet are especially popular with her fitness clients.

“There is no good food or bad food, just choices,” she said.

Port Royal Plaza, 95 Mathews Dr. Hilton Head Island 843-842-2570 | streetmeethhi.com

Beth Bloom

BLOOM INSTITUTE For more than 33 years, Beth Bloom has been in the business of excellence. Working with Fortune 500 clients such as Disney, HE&R, Geisinger Medical Center, PPL and Lutron Electronics, she provides customized initiatives and course-changing impact through assessment and professional development that has set thousands of executives on a path of upward mobility.

Beth has expanded her coaching to include, “Students to Professionals” by applying those same principals to 16-22-year-olds to determine, “What’s Next”? Each individualized plan may include college, career decisions, setting and achieving actionable goals, increasing self-confidence, communication skills and providing the tools necessary to secure their future.

Beth can provide opportunities for shadowing a business professional or corporate executive to help students tap into their areas of interest and determine what motivates them by focusing on potential opportunities and occupational fits.

Through assessment and real-world education, Beth Bloom is guiding the youth of today for future excellence.

570-594-6490 | bloominstitute.com

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Generally speaking, baking is not a game Katie of improvisation. The subtle chemistry that emerges between flour, sugar and yeast demands rigid adherence to a recipe.

With Hearthwood Hull Bakery, Katie DeVries has found that sometimes improvising creates the sweetest treats of all. A 2019 graduate of Johnson & Wales University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Culinary Arts, DeVries was ready to make her mark on the kitchens of New York City when the COVID outbreak effectively shuttered the Big Apple.

“I came back home to Hilton Head in March, and was supposed to go to New York, but that didn’t happen. So, I decided to make something positive out of it,” she said.

What she made was Hearthwood Hull Bakery, where DeVries makes tantalizing cookies, cupcakes and specialty breads out of her home kitchen. Word quickly spread, and now her made-to-

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order creations are some of the hottest ticket items on the island.

“It wasn’t going to be a huge business, just a neighborhood bakery. It’s definitely blown up, which is great,” she said.

The cupcakes have proven especially popular, particularly at the Bluffton Farmer’s Market where Hearthwood Hull Bakery has set up in recent weeks. But then, popular is a relative term in a bakery where everything is custom-baked and special orders are the norm.

“Whatever someone wants, I’ll see if I can do it,” she said, adding that she has fielded everything from vegan to gluten-free recipes, and has replicated childhood favorites of customers.

This past year may have cost New York City one of its hottest new culinary stars, but thanks to a little improvisation, it gained Hilton Head Island a treasured new bakery.

HEARTHWOOD HULL BAKERY

301-448-2974 | hearthwoodhullbakery.com

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COLIGNY 1 N Forest Beach Dr .

843-842-6050 | colignyplaza.com

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By now, we’ve all come to realize the power of shopping local. We’ve seen how re-investing in our own community, patronizing the stores run by our friends and neighbors, can be the rising tide that lifts all ships.

These past few years have helped us see it, but it’s something that has been the lifeblood of Coligny for more than 65 years.

“Coligny was home to the island’s first supermarket, its first barbershop, its first bike rental shop. The list goes on and on,” said Coligny owner Leslie Richardson. “But each of these businesses wasn’t just a first for our community; it was also a chance for a local entrepreneur to create something of their own.”

That dedication to local businesses has always been part of Coligny plaza’s philosophy, creating a spot in the heart of Hilton Head Island’s Downtown where islanders can build a business and a legacy. Today, this thriving shopping, dining and entertainment plaza is home to a huge array of shops. And inside some of those iconic storefronts you’ll find a new generation of leading ladies.

Erika Waronosky came to the island 20 years ago and quickly worked her way up through the island’s food and beverage industry. Five years ago she took a leap of faith and opened her own restaurant, Sandbar

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Beach Eats, followed a few years later with Carolina Coffee & Crumbs. When she first struck out on her own, she had no doubt where she’d like to be.

“I love the people in Coligny; I love all the small businesses here. It’s such an eclectic group of mom-and-pop shops and we do a lot of stuff together,” she said. “I knew when I had the opportunity to do something on my own I knew I wanted to do something here.”

Cheryl Klippel brought her store, Island Girl, to Coligny 14 years ago after spending a few years at a different location and immediately saw the difference this storied plaza makes for shop owners. “Everyone comes to Coligny, whether they live here or they’re visiting,” she said. “I chose Coligny because of that. When a space opened up, it was a no-brainer.”

Of the many things Klippel enjoys about being part of Coligny and its long legacy on Hilton Head Island, she mentions the visitors who come back to

her store year after year. Ivy Rowland, general manager at Black Market Minerals, echoes that sentiment.

“I have such a broad family now of people from all over who come down every year,” she said.

She also counts a number of locals in her extended family, islanders and their families she’s watched grow over her 21 years in the store. “I’ve seen a lot of different generations grow up here… I love Coligny. Having this variety of different cultures and people who live here and visit, it’s different from anything else.”

And those people, locals and visitors, have played a huge role in Coligny’s 65-year history of supporting locals and helping build their dreams.

Dedicated to the original leading lady of Coligny, Mrs. Lois Herring Richardson 1919-2021.

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Andrea McGilton

DISTINCTIVE GRANITE AND MARBLE Distinctive Granite & Marble founder John Antunes was just 16 when he traveled to America from Portugal in search of a better life. Today, 55 years later, that dream lives on as Distinctive Granite & Marble, a thriving family owned-andoperated company dedicated to offering the finest in stone material and craftsmanship.

Having stepped up to the role of Chief Operating Officer, his daughter Andrea McGilton carries on that dream.

“It means everything to me, that I step into my father’s shoes and shape the new generation of Distinctive,” she said.

“It’s also important to me that I pay tribute to all the things he set in stone.”

It was a role she earned through sweat equity, becoming ingrained in the family business at age 11 answering phones.

As she worked her way up through sales, she carried her father’s philosophy in her heart.

“He told me, ‘Always remember who the customer is. Never deliver any less than you would expect for yourself or our family,’ ” recalled McGilton. “I will always see our customers as people and our employees as family. I will always maintain the level of integrity that he instilled in me.”

Having earned her diploma from the “School of Distinctive” as she calls it, she steps into her new role with a profound appreciation for her team and the legacy they’ll carry on together.

“I couldn’t do any of this without the people around me,” she said. “Every single person on our team plays a significant part in operating this well-oiled machine effectively.”

33 Hunter Road | 843-689-3237 | distinctivegraniteandmarble.com

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After 18 years as an elementary school Ashley teacher, Ashley Douglas changed career paths. She loved teaching but kept feeling she was being called elsewhere.

The Hilton Head Island resident always loved animals and had experience working and volunteering at animal shelters and veterinary offices.

“Over the years I toyed with the idea of being a vet tech or working in any number of animal service settings,” Douglas said. “But my love of working with children kept pulling me back to the classroom.”

In 2015, Douglas, who was living in Charleston, took a year off from teaching to work at a law enforcement dog training facility on Edisto Island. She was introduced to tracking and trailing and scent detection, but rather enjoyed the obedience side of training.

Douglas returned to teaching, and during the summer of

2017 attended National K-9 Dog Trainer School in Columbus, Ohio. In June 2018, Douglas opened her dog training business, Paws on Learning, on her own, working with four or five dogs at a time. Less than three years later, she has multiple staff members who work with 15 or more dogs a day.

Douglas attributes her success to her entrepreneurial grit and the years she spent teaching. The classroom helped her to learn important skills such as managing students and communicating properly with people of all ages and backgrounds.

“Because I was an educator for a long time, I know how to teach,” Douglas said. “I can train a dog, but more importantly, I can help people connect and communicate with their dogs.I have helped hundreds of clients improve the Human-animal bond along the way. I love what I do.”

Douglas

PAWS ON LEARNING

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‘ JESSE S ISLAND FOOD TRUCK Ana Rojas

When you pull up to Jesse’s Island Food Truck, parked behind Barnacle Bill’s Seafood on Hwy. 278, you are in for a treat.

Opened March 13, 2020 (just in time for the pandemic lockdown), the truck’s menu is a testament to the flavors that make Mexican cuisine so irresistible. Tacos, enchiladas, burritos, street corn… each item on the menu delights with authentic flavor made fresh from scratch daily. But more than that, you’re enjoying the fruits of Leading Lady Ana Rojas’ fierce dedication.

“We’re are so excited because we have been working on this vision since 2019,” she said. “God has been so good to me. I’m truly blessed.” After 20 years in food and beverage, it represents the culmination of Rojas’ perseverance and faith.

So yes, at Jesse’s Island Food Truck you’re sampling authentic Mexican cuisine. But you’re also tasting the American dream come true.

Leading Lady

RUTHE RITTERBECK At its heart, a photo is a moment in time captured forever. In that fraction of a second, a treasured memory is preserved for a lifetime. But as Ruthe Ritterbeck knows, that fraction of a second is just a small part of getting the perfect image.

When asked what it takes to capture that image that will last a lifetime, she says it calls for, “lots of experience and a willingness to do whatever it takes to make the wedding, the family shoot or event perfect for my client. This has included jumping into the pool with a fully dressed wedding party during the reception!”

Even if it means occasionally taking a swim with a bunch of camera gear, it’s worth it for Ritterbeck. With 22 years of experience and hundreds of clients from around the world, Ruthe has made an art of making friends of her clients and capturing the memories that matter.

843-338-4007 | photosbyruthe.com

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Gymnastics is a sport of passion, dedication Leading and endurance. It requires the sort of person who can chase a goal and persevere through early morning practices, fierce competition and setbacks small and large in pursuit of victory.

Blanca Martinez of At Home Realty understands more than most the tenacity and commitment the sport requires, because she has pursued it all the way to the top. Before emigrating to the United States in 2003, she represented her native country in the Pan American Games, taking first place in the all-around competition. Her love of gymnastics would continue in her new home in the Lowcountry as a coach and eventual owner at Island Gymnastics, where she would take her team to the

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top of a slew of competitions.

It’s a singular sense of motivation, and a massive part of what sets her apart as a Realtor.

“Whether guiding a gymnastics team to victory or helping a client buy or sell their home, it’s all about that commitment and that drive,” she said.

“I’m proud to say I put it all on the line for every person who puts their trust in me to serve their real estate needs.”

For clients looking to sell their home, and buyers looking to relocate, it means being able to rest easy. Martinez works side-by-side with you and handles every detail, from marketing the home to working with inspectors and loan officers to create a true stress-free experience.

BLANCA MARTINEZ

At Home Realty | 7 Palmetto Way Bluffton SC 29910 | 843.802.9002 | blancamathome@gmail.com

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STONEWORKS 28 Hunter Road, Hilton Head Island 779 Robert Smalls Parkway, Beaufort 843-689-6980 | hiltonheadstone.com

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For more than 30 years, StoneWorks has created beautiful homes and commercial spaces throughout the Lowcountry. Their work with both homeowners and homebuilders transforms the everyday into the extraordinary.

Following their mission statement of creating spaces where family and friends make memories, StoneWorks’ leading ladies do whatever it takes to amplify this message in every facet of the company. Their combined diverse talents allow them to go above and beyond for their clients and the company as a whole. From sales and design to manufacturing and administration, each leading lady of StoneWorks is willing to put their heads together and collaborate to achieve the best possible results.

That team approach plays a noteworthy role in what sets StoneWorks apart and it begins with their template to install design process.

“The design process with the customer is like a boutique experience at StoneWorks,” said designer Martha Moore. “We understand that each client has their own vision for their kitchens and baths, which is why we offer our one-on-one design appointments to keep this part fun, creative and stress-free.”

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After clients finalize their design, the project then moves to scheduling, which is more complex than you’d think.

“My responsibility is to get our client’s project to the finish line,” said head scheduler Sandra Priest. “I become the point-person for our clients to ensure StoneWorks delivers seamless operations with the end goal of a beautiful installation.”

The give and take of this collaborative approach allows every leading lady to shine.

“I have always appreciated the allowance we have to grow into our own strengths,” added sales and administrative specialist Shannon Baltzegar. “I admire each of our differences that we bring to that Team Table.”

Controller Melidza Cruz arrived at StoneWorks in 2005 after moving to the area from her native country, and that collaborative atmosphere was key to making her feel welcome. “Being a StoneWorks team member means that I’m part of a family,” she said. “Each of us will do our part and work together, so that we can all reach our goals.”

Much like how StoneWorks views the projects they create in terms of the memories and happiness those spaces will nourish, their “not

one of us, but all” approach shares the same philosophy. It’s about what they can accomplish together for the benefit of their customers and StoneWorks as a whole.

Sales specialist, Kim Thorn agrees that StoneWorks provides a work environment that always prioritizes professional growth.

“StoneWorks has a great working relationship, both with each other and our customers,” she shared. “We have a very knowledgeable and helpful group all with the same goal: a successful and beautiful install with very happy clients.”

Receptionist Diane Heim sees this “together we succeed” approach, and the ensuing results, as a major pillar in what makes the StoneWorks experience unique. “Being part of this highly-regarded, intelligent and experienced group is a pleasure and so exciting. I love coming to work each day,” she said.

From design to final installation, the leading ladies of StoneWorks are a phenomenal team of passionate, talented and experienced women who complete client projects on time and on budget with spectacular results. It’s what keeps this growing company on the cutting edge and a leader in the industry.

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If there is a bright side to last year’s hardships, The it’s that the conversation surrounding mental health has taken a large step into the spotlight.

Once stigmatized, it is increasingly seen as another crucial aspect of a person’s overall health as lockdowns and quarantines lead to social strain and skyrocketing mental stress.

For NAMI Lowcountry, the local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, this increased awareness has been part of the mission since day one.

“Our goal is to make mental health part of the everyday conversation,” said Executive Director Sarah Eliasoph.

Achieving that goal means reaching out to those who need it

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most, providing free mental health education and support to the most vulnerable. “We’re doing a lot of public programming, particularly with youth.”

It is the younger generation, after all, who may be the silent victims of this past year.

“We’re providing resources for youth and adolescents – people they can talk to, people they can text,” said Eliasoph. “We get a lot of calls from parents concerned about their children.”

As a leading lady at NAMI Lowcountry, Eliasoph is not alone.

“For a while, we were an all-female organization,” she said.

That wasn’t by design, of course, and today you’ll find three male board members, but it is by and large the leading ladies who are helping create a better future for those struggling with mental illness.

NAMI

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In the highly competitive field of Lowcountry Leading real estate, some Realtors rise to the top of the pack based on their depth of local knowledge.

These are the real estate professionals who know the market and its neighborhoods inside and out, bringing this wealth of expertise to every client. Then, there are some who bring an innate knowledge of how a home sells, what buyers are looking for and what subtle changes a seller can make to increase their homes value.

Beth Drake is both. First, she has the local knowledge that clients need to find their ideal home.

“I don’t specialize in one community. If someone is coming down here to relocate, that’s very helpful,” she said. “I like to

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know I’m guiding them toward the perfect spot for them.”

Second, with her BFA in interior design, she carries an extraordinary eye for what makes a home sell. “When I’m listing a property, my sellers are essentially getting free staging advice.”

It’s this rare combination of talents that has landed Beth on REAL Trends and Tom Ferry International’s “America’s Best Real Estate Agents” list for the third year in a row. Ranking her fourth in the entire state, and among the top 1.5 percent of the more than 1.4 million Realtors nationwide, this distinction is the result of her dedication.

“I’m passionate and I love what I do,” she said. “I love helping people.”

BETH DRAKE

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Whether you are retired or building your wealth The for retirement, protecting your financial interests is of paramount importance. Oak Advisors believes that protecting client assets is their greatest responsibility as wealth managers.

Helping ensure that your life plan is sound, and your money is well cared for are the priorities of these leading ladies of Oak Advisors.

Michelle Myhre, CFP®, Managing Director/ partner and her team (Heidi Yoshida, CFP®, Carman Franklin and Sarah Huie) approach each client with a high level of service, emphasizing professionalism, expertise, and honesty. They recognize that people have different personalities, life goals and complex financial needs that benefit from an individualized comprehensive approach.

As Certified Financial PlannersTM, they utilize a broad range of skills and utilize their expertise to analyze the current economic environment,

a variety of financial data, as well as the current tax and estate laws.

A solid relationship is built on trust. They believe that being honest, communicating well and acting with integrity establishes the foundation of that trust.

Michelle said, “To truly understand our clients, we actively listen so that we can provide the best service to them.”

Since 2005, Oak Advisors has been one of Hilton Head Island’s most respected wealth management firms. The company, a feeonly, SEC registered investment advisor, creates customized investment management and financial planning solutions. As a fee-only firm, the company has removed conflicts of interest and works in a transparent, fiduciary capacity with its clients where all fees are disclosed. .

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OAK ADVISORS

3 Clark Summit Dr. #201 | 843-757-9339 | OakAdvisors.net

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The time has finally come. After a year The spent in sweatpants, we’re all wondering if it’s even possible to get our pre-pandemic selves back. Even if we can muster up enough motivation.

Where do we start?

Anyone who has ever bounced back from the depths of inactivity can tell you there is more to rediscovering the “old you” than setting a target weight, meal prepping for a week, or dusting off and rolling out your yoga mat.

Your journey may start with good intentions and goal setting, but it doesn’t stop there. You’ll also need guidance and inspiration from individuals with highly focused expertise and loads of experience who have done the heavy lifting (literally) and research necessary to ensure your success.

That’s where LAVA 24 Fitness comes in.

Specifically, Sammi Burns, Arleigh Throp, Elzabeth Barron, Olga Dolgova, Lluvia Arcos, Julie Lilly, Abby Rhodes and Myranda McAfee.

They have made it possible for you to reject any excuses the devil on your shoulder is whispering in your ear. Don’t have time? They have workouts as short as 30 minutes. Don’t want to go out? It’s as easy as opening your laptop and tuning into one of their virtual group workouts or one-onone training sessions. Won’t actually do it unless you have someone coaching you in person? All of their services are offered in person, too! Working unusual hours? Their 24-hour availability makes it possible for everyone to fit a workout into their routine.

It all starts with you, a desire to live a healthier, stronger lifestyle, and LAVA 24 Fitness.

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LAVA 24 FITNESS

811 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, S.C. | 843-842-3225 | lava24.com

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LOWCOUNTRY AUTISM FOUNDATION Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability that occurs in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. With a current prevalence rate of 1:54, which is a 175% increase from the year 2000, there is a growing awareness of Autism and focus on ways to help families. As such many people know and love someone with ASD. Receiving a diagnosis and supporting a loved one with ASD throughout their lifespan can be stressful but, for families in the Lowcountry, there is help.

“The importance of what Lowcountry Autism Foundation (LAF) does, and why it was created in 2007, was to fill gaps in services and provide support to the community,” said Executive Director Kat Bodkin. “Nearly 90 percent of families we serve are on Medicaid, but still struggle to get therapies they need for children.

We fundraise and secure grants to offer supplemental therapies for families at no cost.”

With a very small staff and dedicated group of volunteers, Lowcountry Autism Foundation has provided over half a million dollars in free autism services to over 2300 Lowcountry Families. At the forefront of these efforts, you’ll find the leading ladies of LAF. For Bodkin, the mission is personal. When her son was diagnosed with ASD at 18 months old, Bodkin put her 14-year career in sales and marketing on hold, devoting herself not just to her son’s treatment, but

to the advancement of the entire autism community.

Becoming the Executive Director of LAF has allowed her to perfectly combine her love of building relationships with people in the community and her passion for supporting those with ASD and their families, Joining her in this task is a cast of leading ladies, starting with Program Manager Stacy LauderdaleLittin, Ph.D., BCBA-D. A Hilton Head Island native, and Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at Monmouth University, Dr. Lauderdale-Littin has devoted her life to studying autism and researching ways to improve the lives of those with ASD and their families. Joining the LAF family has allowed her to move back to the Lowcountry and provide support to the community she knows and loves.

In Beaufort County, families know Program Coordinator Sophia Townes as the heart of the autism community. As a mother of two children with ASD, she has seen first-hand the impact these programs can have and how being able to reach out to someone for resources and support can make all of the difference.

Sophia’s dedication to LAF’s mission as well as personal and professional knowledge make her such an asset to the community.

Together, these leading ladies are helping families cope with the unique stressors of autism with love and support.

401 Seacoast Parkway, Charleston, SC 29464 (main office) | 843-800-7171

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BLUFFTON LASH LOUNGE When you’re making the leap and starting a new business, you want someone by your side that you trust. In 2014, Jenifer Locklair and Bethany James made the leap together in opening Bluffton Lash Lounge and haven’t looked back.

“We literally started from nothing,” said James. The two were then neighbors, and both well-versed in the art and science of beauty, so the decision to go into business seemed like a nobrainer. What they didn’t anticipate was how immensely popular their boutique studio would become.

“It was just the two of us being busy, then the demand just grew,” said Locklair. “It feels amazing to have a team of girls with us now.”

From their Magnolia Village Business Park boutique, the whole team now offers Bluffton a range of services including eyelash extensions, lash and brow tinting, threading services and facial and full-body waxing.

181 Bluffton Road Suite A103 | 843-505-0645 | blufftonlashlounge.com

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BENNY HUDSON S SEAFOOD In the modern era of Hilton Head Island, few names loom as large as Benny Hudson. Renowned for supplying the freshest, most delicious seafood known to man, he was actually the third generation of Hudson in the family business. At the helm of this legacy that goes back more than a century, you’ll find his daughter, leading lady Tonya Hudson.

“I’m happy that newcomers find us online or ask a neighbor and are interested in buying local and sustainable,” she said. “And I’m really proud to be carrying on the Hudson family legacy.”

That family has grown to include this leading lady’s supporting cast, seen here. “I’m lucky to have this great set of ladies who are my family,” she said. “And I coax mom out of retirement around the Fourth of July every year to help out.”

175 Squire Pope Rd, Hilton Head Island 843-682-3474 | bennyhudsonseafood.com

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We all want to look our best and often The times we feel like our outside doesn’t match the youth we feel on the inside.

Well, this aesthetics duo at Hilton Head Plastic Surgery and MedSpa is packing a powerful punch to aging!

Jennifer Peden has recently joined the practice with 23 years in aesthetics and aesthetic medicine, providing patients with expertise in aging gracefully. “Meeting your aesthetic goals begins with knowing what they are and how they can be achieved. It all starts with that initial conversation and I enjoy taking time to listen, educate, and consult my clients on best options.”

She backs that conversation with extensive knowledge and experience with the safest and most up-to-date injectables techniques, having been trained by leading injectors from all over the country. “It’s not just about filling lines anymore. It’s about really understanding the aging face and treating it as a whole. My

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patients end up looking like younger, healthier versions of themselves, with dramatic but natural looking improvements.”

A native of South Carolina and 20-year island resident, Mandy Fulmer has spent those 20 years in the aesthetics industry drawing on a wide body of knowledge to serve her clients in the best possible way. Having perfected the arts of microblading, microneedling, CoolSculpting, CoolTone and laser treatments, Fulmer brings compassion, empathy, listening skills and amazing results to her clients! She specializes in designing aggressive and preventive treatments for aging skin, using Obagi and SkinCeuticals products, that result in dramatic transformation. Fulmer’s infectious, positive attitude, calming presence and passion for her career are reflected in the satisfaction of her many longtime clients.

HILTON HEAD PLASTIC SURGERY AND MEDSPA

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MONTAGE PALMETTO BLUFF 477 Mt Pelia Rd, Bluffton, SC, 29910 843.706.6565 | Montagepalmettobluff.com

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Tucked away along the banks of May River, among some of the most beautiful scenery on earth, you’ll find a little slice of heaven known as Palmetto Bluff. This celebrated sanctuary of Southern grandeur not only offers a haven for luxury living, it also boasts one of the most lauded resorts in the world at Montage Palmetto Bluff.

Consistently hailed as one of the top resorts in the country by outlets like Travel + Leisure, this oasis of 5-star tranquility has become the envy of the world.

And its leading ladies have been crucial in ensuring that 5-star remains the standard.

“For me, it means standards and no matter what part of the resort you go to you will receive the same level of service every day,” said Director of Catering and Conference Services Marisa Faverio. “It also instills a sense of pride that we are in a very elite group of hoteliers.

For those of us that know the work that goes into receiving the 5-star designation we are a group of our peers that strive to be the best of the best and a lot of heart and soul that comes from us each day.”

Growing up in Ireland, Director of Finance Aisling Kennedy brings

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an innate sense of hospitality to her role.

“My parents instilled in me a great work ethic,” she said. “‘You always show up, on time and give it your all.”

Which is exactly what I do every day, with my interaction with both our internal and external guests – while always upholding a 5-star touch.”

Director of People Courtney Mumford knows that achieving perfection means finding the right personnel. Having doubled the size of the staff in the last five years, she’s found them.

“We have some of the most committed & passionate hospitality professionals out there - I am proud to work alongside all of them.”

That teamwork is essential.

“To be 5-star and to maintain it, each day starts as an ‘inside job’ – making sure that we are a solid team, taking care of each other,” said Director of Public Relations & Marketing Christine Wrobel.

“When we feel happy and connected, that radiates out and we are able to share it with others, creating incredible moments and seamless service.”

Director of Spa Livia Reddington agrees. “This team leads with love; there is a true sense of family amongst associates on property, always willing to do what it takes. The creativity and vision behind the collaborative efforts to create curated memorable experiences for guests and members is like no other.”

“We truly are a family who has very strong bond. We know that we can lean on each other, no matter what department we are in,” added Director of Reservations Jill Dollahan.

This is echoed by Lisa Jones, Director of Retail, who said, “The brilliance that the entire team delivers in their unique individual ways makes me feel like I can accomplish extraordinary things here.”

Ultimately, this sense of teamwork exists to serve one purpose.

Creating the best experience possible.

“I’m eternally grateful to have the experience of working towards the 5-star achievement and then obtaining it,” said Director of Palmetto Bluff Luxury Home Rental Program Caroline Park. “It is extremely hard work, but incredibly rewarding.”

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ROOM-BY-ROOM GUIDE TO SPRING CLEANING

CONQUER THE TASK

By Kimberly Blaker

BY X X X X

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The emergence of spring has long been associated with the deep cleaning of our homes. For most, it signifies a fresh home, or a new start to complement the blossoming of spring.

To keep the job from feeling overwhelming, schedule a block of time each day, or even each week, for your annual cleaning. Work on one room at a time and reward yourself for each room until you’ve completed the job.

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THE BASICS: FOR EVERY ROOM IN YOUR HOME

● Dust wall and ceiling light fixtures; remove globes and wash them. Dust ceiling fan blades. ● Remove and wash window coverings and dust the top of curtain rods and window trim. ● Remove wall hangings, knick-knacks, and other décor, then rinse in warm soapy water. ● Wash walls with an all-purpose cleaning solution.

Touch up mars and chips with paint. ● Empty cabinets and drawers, then wash them inside and out. Wash out and arrange drawer organizers. ● Clean unupholstered furniture from top to bottom with an appropriate cleaner. ● Vacuum upholstered furniture from top to bottom and under cushions. ● Unplug electrical cords and run through a damp rag to remove built-up dust. ● Wash baseboards, then vacuum carpet edges with a narrow attachment.

BEDROOM ODDS ’N ENDS

● Remove items from under the bed, dust off storage containers, and dispose of clutter. ● Vacuum under beds using attachments.

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THE BATHROOM: SCOUR AND DISINFECT

● Remove and launder shower curtain and liner, bath mat, toilet cover, and rugs. ● Scour tub and shower from top to bottom, inside and out. Use a toothbrush to remove mold, mildew, and soap scum accumulation around the drain, faucet, knobs, and showerhead. ● Clean glass shower doors inside and out, including the track. ● Spray exterior of toilets with a sanitizing solution and wipe down. ● Wash toilet brush container and wastebasket. ● Scrub sink and countertop, including grooves around the drain, faucet, and knobs.

CLOSETS: ALWAYS FORGOTTEN

● ● ● ●

Dust shelving, brackets, and rods.

Organize shelves and eliminate unneeded items.

Remove clothing you haven’t worn in two years.

Dust shoe racks and rarely worn shoes.

KITCHEN: CONTAMINATION ZONES

● Dust the top of kitchen cabinets. ● Remove grease and grime from small kitchen appliances.

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● Clean stove, oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher inside and out. ● Scrub countertops with a mild abrasive or degreaser. ● Wash table and chairs from top to bottom; don’t forget the cracks where table leaves meet.

BASEMENT, ATTIC, AND GARAGE: CLUTTER HAVENS

● Install racks, shelving, and hooks, then organize and eliminate clutter. ● Dust shelving and stored items. ● Remove oil, paint, and other stains from concrete with trisodium phosphate. Be sure to follow directions carefully and protect the skin and eyes.

OUTDOORS: DIRT EVERYWHERE

● Hose down siding and windows. ● Wash screens with soapy water, then rinse with a hose and wash window exteriors. ● Scrub doormats with an all-purpose cleaner and a brush, then rinse. ● Spray off patio furniture, then wipe clean. ● Clean light fixtures. ● Remove lint from dryer vent and nests and hives that have formed on or near the house.

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TIME SAVING TIPS

◊ ◊

Wo r k r o o m - b y - r o o m f o r efficiency and to avoid duplicating or missing tasks.

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Work around the room from top to bottom.

◊

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Gather cleaning tools and supplies before you get started.

Have plenty of rags, an old toothbrush, Q-tips, toothpicks, cleaning solutions, spray bottle, step stool or small ladder, and vacuum and attachments.

Play music as you clean. It may not save time but will make time pass more quickly.

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IIREAL ESTATE NEWSII

DIAZ-VELEZ

CENTO

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY

GRIFFITH

BAlZER

THOMAS

CHARTER ONE REALTY WELCOMES FOUR AGENTS Michelle Elliott, Billy Keyserling, Meg Winkler and Amy Cento have joined Charter One Realty as agents.

Elliott will work out of its Park Lane office in Hilton Head. She serves on several boards, including Hopeful Horizons, the Shipyard Board, and Hilton Head Association of Realtors. Elliot was a Realtor Service Award winner from 2018-2020.

Keyserling, who served for 12 years as the city of Beaufort’s mayor, will work from the downtown Beaufort office. Keyserling entered real estate almost 50 years ago, eventually starting Keyserling Real Estate which became Coldwell Banker Keyserling and then merged with Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners.

Winkler, who joins the company at its Belfair office in Bluffton, has experience in several metropolitan areas (Orlando, Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia).

Cento has more than 25 years of sales and account management experience. She is president of the Women’s Association. Cento will work out of the Belfair office.

WEICHERT REALTORS ADDS SIX AGENTS Jet Angel, Scott Griffith, Nick and Carol Thomas, Chetina Balzer, and Ally Diaz-Velez have joined Weichert Realtors as agents.

Angel will work out of the Bluffton office. He’s served as the Savannah Area Radio Association President and held board positions with The Savannah COC, The

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KEYSERLING

LACOE

Savannah CVB, ACS, ALA, AHA and currently Family Promise of Beaufort County. He enjoys following the Clemson Tigers.

Griffith, who will work out of the Sun City office, had a 33-year hotel management career. He started as a management trainee with Marriott Hotels and Resorts in Shipyard on Hilton Head Island in the spring of 1986.

He became a hotel general manager at multiple Marriott locations.

Nick and Carol Thomas will work out of the Savannah office. They moved to Savannah from Ohio and bought their dream home.

Balzer will work out of the Savannah office. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. She completed her military contract within the active-duty Army and holds licensure as a clinical certified medical assistant and emergency medical technician.

Diaz-Velez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but has lived Savannah for most of her life. She is a certified veterinary assistant who has two cats, Tobi and Pepper.

Diaz-Velez will work out of the Savannah office.

LACOE NAMED TOP REALTOR Gloria LaCoe was selected as the Realtor of the Year by the Realtors Association. LaCoe led the Community Outreach Team in raising $6,000 for Deep Well and Bluffton Self Help. LaCoe also serves on the association’s

WINKLER

ANGEL

ELLIOTT

Professional Development Team and the South Carolina Realtors Professional Standards Committee.

“Given the unusual circumstances this year, LaCoe was the right person in the right place leading the association’s Community Outreach Team,” said Heather A. Baker, 2020 President.

WEICHERT REALTORS-COASTAL PROPERTIES RECOGNIZED AS TOP AFFILIATE With four offices in South Carolina and one in Georgia, Weichert Realtors-Coastal Properties has been named to the prestigious Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. Premier Client Group for 2020. The Weichert affiliate is one of only 30 – out of more than 260 – companies from the Weichert national franchise network named to the elite group of real estate brokerages.

MOUL REALTORS ADDS TRANSACTION COORDINATOR Saida Razmetova has been hired as transaction coordinator and an agent at Moul Realtors. She will work out of the Bluffton office. Razmetova has been a Lowcountry resident since 2014.

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY SELECTED FOR COOSAW DEVELOPMENT Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bay Street Realty Group was selected by Forino Co., to serve as its local real estate brokerage for the newly-acquired development, Coosaw Point, a 400-acre luxury community on the Coosaw River.

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D

I I H E A LT H I I

VITAMIN D HERE’S WHY IT BENEFITS YOUR OVERALL HEALTH

BY HILTON HEAD REGIONAL HEALTH CARE

If you’re looking for a reason to enjoy some time in the sun, call it “getting your vitamin D.” Five to 10 minutes a day, two to three times a week, can help your body create the vitamin D it needs. Technically, vitamin D is a pro-hormone. (Vitamins are nutrients that you primarily receive through diet.) Here’s why vitamin D is so important:

ENABLES STRONG BONES. Vitamin D helps regulate and make use of calcium and phosphorus, two ingredients of strong bones. And strong bones are your best defense against osteoporosis.

SUPPORTS MUSCLE MOVEMENTS. Nerves need vitamin D to carry messages from the brain to parts of the body.

DEFENDS AGAINST COLDS AND FLU. Studies show that ade-

quate levels of vitamin D can help reduce the risks of colds and flu.

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MAY LOWER RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASES. Vitamin D

deficiency has been connected to the incidence of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. While the direct evidence is not conclusive due to many variables, vitamin D plays a role across numerous body functions.

ARE YOU AT RISK FOR VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY?

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may not be obvious, and it can be difficult to get sufficient vitamin D from only natural sources.

Six factors that may decrease availability of vitamin D include:

AGE. Your skin has reduced ability to synthesize vitamin D as you get older. And elderly people may be more likely to spend time indoors.

INDOOR LIFESTYLE . Office workers, homebound individuals or people who consistently wear long sleeve shirts and pants reduce the opportunity for natural vitamin D. DARK SKIN. Darker skin tends to produce less vitamin D from the sun.

OBESITY. Greater amounts of fat absorb vitamin D,

inhibiting its use via blood.

GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY . Because part of the small intestine that absorbs vitamin D is bypassed, the vitamin may not be available for use.

LACK OF FAT ABSORPTION. Vitamin D is fat-soluble and needs the body’s ability to process fat properly. Diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, Celiac disease, some liver diseases or cystic fibrosis can decrease fat absorption and may inhibit the use of vitamin D. FOOD SOURCES OF VITAMIN D

Sunlight is the most common natural source for vitamin D. Fish oils and fatty fish such as cod liver oil, herring, salmon and sardines are also natural sources.

Milk is also often fortified with vitamin D.

NEXT STEPS

Having less than 30 nmol/L is too low for overall health for most people. It is rare that someone would have too much. Groups that are most likely to have lower levels of vitamin D are: ● Older adults: Skin doesn’t produce as efficiently and kidneys less able to convert to active form. ● People with dark skin: Less ability to convert vitamin D from the sun. ● People with Crohn’s disease or celiac disease: Disease inhibits absorption. ● Obese people: Body fat may prevent absorption. ● Breastfed infants: Human milk is not a good source of vitamin D. Talk with your doctor before self-prescribing a vitamin D supplement. Vitamin D supplements may interact with several types of medications. Ask your doctor if he or she recommends a blood test to determine your vitamin D level as part of routine bloodwork.

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IIARTSII

MARIANNE STILLWAGON FOLLOWS HER ARTISTIC PATH

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playing with

COLOR.

BY VICKIE MCINTYRE PHOTOS BY MADISON ELROD

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IIARTSII

“I LOVE EXPERIMENTING WITH COLOR,” STILLWAGON SAID. “SOMETIMES I THINK IT’S AN OUTLET OF MY MOOD.” For Marianne Stillwagon, becoming an artist was never about following a straight line.

“I was always a creator,” she laughs, admitting that she loved being a Girl Scout because, “we were always making things.”

Painting and playing with colors made Stillwagon happy, but when Douglas College, part of Rutgers University, offered her a full scholarship, her mother refused to let her go unless she promised not to major in art.

“This was back in the ‘60s,” she said.

Her mother feared she’d end up on a street corner trying to make a living, so she majored in microbiology.

A year later, unhappy with her choice, she put her studies on hold. Marriage and raising two sons followed. Eventually, Stillwagon pursued a degree in graphic design.

As a freelancer, she poured her talents into creating handdrawn ads and designs, but when computer software made her skills unnecessary, she said, “Okay, I’ll paint.”

Her husband became her biggest cheerleader, always promoting her work, even to strangers.

Residing in New Hampshire at the time, she put her training as a designer to use, depicting the colonial towns and snowy villages surrounding her in a style she calls, “Contemporary Primitive Americana.”

Embraced by the New Hampshire Art Association, she garnered a loyal following and became a full-time, recognized artist.

Life changed drastically in 1995, when her husband had a massive stroke. Committed to being his primary caregiver, Stillwagon often rose at 5 a.m. to find a few hours for painting before tending to his needs.

Six years ago, the couple relocated to Hardeeville for half the year to escape New England’s cold winters. Stillwagon decided it was the perfect time to branch out and do something different.

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“People here don’t want to look at winter scenes,” she quips.

Her first paintings focused on magnolia blossoms. Then blue herons. Eventually wood storks and egrets.

“I morphed into being freer,” she says, adding that she found a receptive audience at local shows like the Art Market at Historic Honey Horn and the Shelter Cove Festival.

Her work, “Reflections of The Lowcountry,” was featured at the Society of Bluffton Artists gallery in January.

Inspired by photos she’s taken, Stillwagon works only in acrylics. Her palate often includes soft tones like seafoam green or misty blue, but her collection of poppy-filled canvases burst with rich reds and hints of orange.

“I love experimenting with color,” she said. “Sometimes I think it’s an outlet of my mood.”

Shrugging at the need for rules, she paints when she’s inspired and walks away when she’s not. She’ll use tubes of paint as readily as gallon cans from the hardware store, though she rarely uses an easel. Instead, she places canvases on the coffee table in her studio, located atop a short flight of stairs from her living room.

Kneeling or standing, she works as long as she’s “in the zone,” often skipping meals and refusing to take breaks.

Art fills her home, much of it her own. From canvas floor cloths bearing flower blossoms to bold abstracts highlighted in metallic paint to contemporary depictions of palm trees and deserted beaches, Stillwagon’s creations reflect the beauty of the natural world.

Her latest obsession is painting skyscapes, something she attributes to her husband, who passed away in September.

With every stroke, she feels his influence.

“Everybody has their own pathway to follow in art,” she reflects.

“And sometimes you get inspiration from places unknown.”

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IIEDUCATIONII

EDUCATION

NEWS BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANS OUTDOOR GRADUATION CEREMONIES

The Beaufort County School District plans on holding in-person outdoor graduation ceremonies for its 2021 graduates. To hold the ceremonies outdoors, the graduation schedule is adjusted in order to accommodate rain days: Beaufort High School, June 14 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 22 at 10 a.m.); May River High School, June 15 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 22 at 7 p.m.); Whale Branch Early College High School, June 16 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 21 at 7 p.m.); Hilton Head Island High School, June 17 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 19 at 7 p.m.); Bluffton High School, June 18 at 10 a.m. (Rain date: June 19 at 10 a.m.), Battery Creek High School, June 18 at 7 p.m. (Rain date: June 21 at 10 a.m.); June 23 is an extra rain day if needed. The district planned to submit plans to the S.C. Department of Commerce and Department of Health and Environmental Control for approval.

BATTERY CREEK HIGH EDUCATOR HONORED AS SCHOOL COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR

Latoshia Middleton of Battery Creek High School is the Beaufort County School District’s 2021 School Counselor of the Year.

A recent graduate of The Citadel’s Educational Leadership master’s degree program, Middleton is passionate about helping young people explore their options for the future, a news release said.

“Since I was a young girl, I loved to help people,” said Middleton. “Just knowing that I could leave someone in a better position than when I met them makes my heart smile.”

Battery Creek Principal Chad Cox described Middleton as organized, interpersonal, and a strong communicator.

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Latoshia Middleton

The district also recognized River Ridge Academy’s Jillian Power as Middle School Counselor of the Year, Joseph S. Shanklin’s Latesha Jennings as Elementary School Counselor of the Year, and Hilton Head High’s Lisa Ditroia as Rookie School Counselor of the Year.

A four-person panel of district administrators evaluated this year’s candidates and selected the honorees.

Mixed Media.

Brittany Ramirez,

PRITCHARDVILLE ELEMENTARY EARNS TOP RECOGNITION

Pritchardville Elementary School has been named a 2021 Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School. The award will be presented to the school during the Blue Ribbon Schools’ Conference in Orlando, Fla., at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Convention Center on Dec. 3. Designation as a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School lasts for five years, at which time Pritchardville Elementary will be eligible for renewal.

COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD SETS ACADEMIC YEAR CALENDAR

The Beaufort County Board of Education has set its 20212022 academic calendar. The first day for students will be Monday, Aug. 16; the final day of classes will be Friday, May 27, 2022. Holiday dates are Sept. 6 (Labor Day); Nov. 11 (Veterans Day); Nov. 24-26 (Thanksgiving); Dec. 20-Jan. 3, 2022 (winter break); Jan. 17, 2022 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day); Feb. 21, 2022 (President’s Day); April 11-15, 2022 (spring break, includes Good Friday); and May 30 (Memorial Day). Potential virtual weather make-up days are Dec. 20-21 and April 11.

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IIEDUCATIONII

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EARN RECOGNITION IN REGIONAL ARTS AND WRITING CONTEST

Beaufort County School District students won 48 Southeast regional recognitions in the 2021 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards competition. There were 34 winners at Hilton Head Island High, eight at May River High and six at Bluffton High.

Students in grades 7 through 12 typically submit more than 350,000 works of art and writing in 30 categories.

The district’s 10 award-winners — Gold Key recipients — advance to judging at the national level.

Gold Key winners from Bluffton High were Kelsey Buck for “Old Things” (Senior Art Portfolio); and Nathalia Roca for “Words Build Words” (Drawing and Illustration), “Selfimprisonment” (Drawing and Illustration), and “You Are What You Say” (Painting); Hilton Head High winners were Summer

Nathalia Roca

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Carder for “Murky Skies” (Photography); Ellie Clark for “Wild Dream” (Photography); Katharine Crosby for “War Paint” (Photography); and Brittany Ramirez for “Untitled” (Mixed Media); and the May River High winner was Jirattikarn Yakhasem for “Checkerboard” (Drawing and Illustration) and “Hoop” (Painting).

Silver Key winners from Hilton Head High were Regina Aguilar for “The Memory Project” (Drawing and Illustration); Camden Bernstein for “When Life Gives You Lemons” (Photography) and “Hidden Beauties” (Photography); Olivia Blondeau for “The Spiral of Nature” (Photography); Laney Duncan for “Sprout” (Photography); Emilie Fister for “Mind Blown” (Mixed Media); Cassidy Iverson for “Skater Vision” (Photography); Ryan Kurz for “Hilton Head Island Photos” (Photography); Amanda Magnin for “Death of the Ocean”

Jirattikarn Yakhas em

, “Hoop”

(Sculpture); Kyle Pirnat for “Chiaroscuro Portrait” (Drawing and Illustration); Sasha Udvornocky for “The Memory Project” (Drawing and Illustration); and Mae Williams for “The Met” (Drawing and Illustration). A Silver Key winner from May River High was Sophia Wendel for “Vintage Camera” (Drawing and Illustration).

HERITAGE ACADEMY NAMES ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Liz Nash has been named new athletic director for Heritage Academy. The school’s new program will have cross country, track, sailing, basketball, tennis, golf, swimming, and a sports performance academy. Nash has more than 20 years of coaching experience, including more than 20 years serving in the administration at Hilton Head Preparatory School and as associate athletic director and director of facilities and operations for Hilton Head Preparatory School.

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IILOCAL READSII

LOCAL READS of the

Lowcountry

THERE’S COMFORT IN BEING ENGAGED WITH A COMPELLING BOOK. HERE ARE TITLES FROM LOCAL AUTHORS THAT WILL GRAB YOUR ATTENTION.

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SURVIVING SAVANNAH By Patti Callahan.

A New York Times best-selling author, Callahan’s latest historical fiction novel tells the true and untold story of the wreck of the steamship Pulaski, which sank after an explosion in 1838.

Savannah history professor Everly Winthrop’s research leads her to the “astounding history” of a family of 11 who boarded the Pulaski and two women from the family: Augusta Longstreet, a known survivor, and her niece, Lilly Forsyth, who was never found. They were part of Savannah’s society. When the ship exploded, each was faced with “difficult and heartbreaking decisions.”

Callahan, who lives in Alabama and also has a home in Palmetto Bluff, has written 15 novels. She earned the Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year in 2020.

THE DEADENING By Kerry Peresta. The first suspense novel in the Olivia Callahan series from Hilton Head’s Peresta details a woman’s battle after an assault that “steals her memory, her marriage, and her identity.”

After regaining consciousness in a hospital, Callahan discovers she is paralyzed but doesn’t remember what happened. She attempts to reclaim her life, but as she begins to understand her past, she questions whether she wants her old life back.

The Lowcountry is featured, and readers will “enjoy visualizing familiar names and places sprinkled throughout the Olivia Callahan series,” Peresta said in a news release.

SHRIMP TALES: SMALL BITES OF HISTORY By Beverly Jennings. The book by

Hilton Head’s Jennings portrays the birth and development of the commercial shrimping industry in the southern United States.

With more than 800 pictures of the people, places and boats of that era, “Shrimp Tales” provides explanations of shrimping operations and equipment, including early methods of catching shrimp, how to head shrimp, net sewing, turtle excluding devices, ice and refrigeration and boat building and repairs.

From the region’s earliest shrimpers to a chapter offering a “colorful glimpse” of the Blessing of the Fleet ceremonies, the book tells the story of a community and culture.

Recipes in each chapter are often provided by a member of one of the local shrimping families.

Proceeds go to the South Carolina Seafood Alliance.

A SPOUSAL CONSPIRACY ON HILTON HEAD By Al Emanuelli. A firsttime author, Emanuelli, a former trial attorney and Supreme Court Justice in New York, pens a “legal thriller of greed and vengeance.”

The novel follows Dr. Victor Rossi, whose wife has plotted against him. A court drama ensues which includes “explosive” cross examination of witnesses and evidentiary rulings by the presiding Supreme Court judges.

Emanuelli was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for his past pro bono legal work for newly admitted immigrants.

He and his wife have lived in the Lowcountry since 2005.

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IIPARENTINGII

GET IN THE HIT A HOME RUN WITH THESE SPORTS BOOKS FOR KIDS

Game

BY GREG CRISPELL

Whether you are a player or just a fan, sports can play a big part in our lives. If you need a sports fix, you can always turn to the bookshelves at the library to get back in the game.

Here are some suggestions for kids who love sports and reading.

BASEBALL

Yankees superstar and now Hall of Famer Derek Jeter has turned his childhood into a chapter book series.

The first book, The Contract, talks of a deal made with his parents — keep up with his schoolwork or no baseball. The eighth book in the series is expected to publish this spring.

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SOCCER

Alex Morgan, a forward on the goldmedal winning and World Cup champion U.S Women’s Soccer team, has written a book series called The Kicks. The series centers around a girl named Devin who moves to California and tries to turn around her school’s soccer team, the Kentville Kangaroos. There are 12 books in the series with plans for more in the future.

FOOTBALL

Tim Green is a former NFL defensive end who turned to writing after his playing career ended. He has written for both children and adults. His children’s book series, Football Genius, focuses on 12-year-old Troy White who has the special ability to predict football plays.

There are six books in this series.

TRACK

Jason Reynolds, the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, has written a series of books about an inner-city track team. Each book in the series focuses on one of the members of the team. The first book in the series is titled, Ghost. There are four books in the series.

FAMOUS ATHLETES

For those who like to read about real people, Kid Athletes might be right for you. This book features 16 short stories featuring childhood tales of famous athletes. Some of these athletes include Babe Ruth, Danica Patrick, Gabby Douglas, and Lionel Messi.

AWARD-WINNING AUTHORS

For many years, the go-to writer for sports fiction has been Matt Christopher. This author has written more than 100 books. He won the 1993 Milner Award. Although the author passed away in 1997, his estate has allowed his name to still be used to create new titles. So, whether you read a classic like Catcher with a Glass Arm, or a newer title such as On the Ice with Mario Lemieux, a Matt Christopher book will be sure to entertain you.Although he was not a professional athlete, Mike Lupica is an awardwinning sportswriter that has been writing sports columns for more than 30 years. He has written about many different sports in his books for children. These titles include QB1 (football), Fast Break (basketball) and Heat (baseball). His newest books are a mystery and sports series featuring Zach and Zoe, with the latest title being The Lacrosse Mix-Up.

ROOKIE BOOKS

Sports Illustrated Kids has produced a series called Rookie Books. These books give a breakdown of basic concepts from different sports. Titles in the series include My First Book of Basketball, My First Book of Baseball, and My First Book of Soccer.

Greg Crispell is Youth Services Programmer for the Hilton Head Branch of the Beaufort County Library System.

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TEACHING LIFE LESSONS

TEE TIME

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IISPORTSII

FIRST TEE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY INSTILLS CORE VALUES IN KIDS THROUGH GOLF STORY BY TIM WOOD | PHOTOS SUPPLIED

The first time Nick Dunham volunteered to teach a program at the First Tee of the Lowcountry, he was hooked.

The Syracuse, N.Y., native came here to pursue a career in the golf industry as a student at Bluffton’s Professional Golfers Career College. What he found at First Tee was a way to use his love of golf to teach kids important life skills through the game.

“It’s just such a natural fit,” said the program director for the Hilton Head Island-based First Tee chapter, who was expected to leave the First Tee at the end of March to became a personal coach at GolfTEC training center in Wisconsin. “Sports in general teach you so many life lessons, but golf especially is an arena where we can apply so many facets of being a better person.”

The First Tee national program began in 1997 as a partnership between the LPGA, the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America, the PGA Tour and the USGA to make golf more affordable and accessible to kids. The Lowcountry chapter has been a national leader in spreading the program’s curriculum since building its six-hole, par 3 Gumtree Road facility next to the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head in 2016.

Dunham has worked with executive director Patrick Zuk and a team of more than 100 volunteer coaches and board members to grow the program’s reach exponentially each year.

The center of that learning is the program’s nine core values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. The program has evolved to incorporate healthy habits as well — everything from having fun and staying safe while playing, to good nutrition practices, setting and achieving goals, and developing social and problemsolving skills.

The learning happens through school-based class lessons and in-person programs, school at the Hilton Head facility and at participating golf courses like Eagles Pointe, Crescent Pointe and Olde Beaufort Golf Club.

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IISPORTSII

MORE THAN 14,000 LOWCOUNTRY STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST TEE SCHOOL PROGRAM IN 2019 AND MORE THAN 550 PARTICIPATED IN THE LIFE SKILLS CLASSES.

Physical education teachers at most of the Beaufort and Jasper county schools have helped incorporate the First Tee program into their PE classes — both in training teachers in the curriculum and providing equipment to practice. The result: more than 14,000 Lowcountry students used the First Tee school program in 2019. First Tee also provided an online curriculum during the COVID shutdown.

First Tee’s six- and eight-week in-person Life Skills classes ($75 for full program) run throughout the year.

The class meets for an hour each week and focuses on equal parts game instruction and core value integration.

“It’s amazing how easily the life skills fit into the game teachings. The kids are having fun and just absorb these lessons as they’re having fun learning the game,” Dunham said. “Simple things like good sportsmanship or how to react after hitting a bad shot; it’s just so natural to help prepare these kids for life through golf.”

More than 550 kids are participating in the Life Skills classes.

First Tee is busy preparing for the program’s series of one-week summer camp programs ($150 per week), which provide 10 hours of more intensive teaching and on-course experience.

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hidden gems of the local golf community since opening to the public in 2017. Everyone has unlimited access to the course and the driving range for a small donation ($10 for adults, $5 for kids per visit).

Dunham said his five years with First Tee have set him up for a fulfilling career in the golf industry.

“To see the maturity and the progression, to see the light bulbs go on and see them realize how much they can accomplish in life with these core values as a foundation, it has been an incredible experience,” said Dunham, who noted his time at the First Tee was an “incredible” experience that he will “cherish” and never forget.

There have been plenty of kids both locally and with the national program who aspire to play the game at a higher level.

But for the vast majority, First Tee is the initial spark in their love of the game and in believing what they can achieve in their future.

“That’s a powerful combination that we are so proud to be part of,” Dunham said. “Our volunteers are committed and so passionate because we know we’re making a difference.”

For more information, visit firstteelowcountry.org.

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IIWHERE TO WORSHIPII

RAY OF

HOPE

CHURCH OF THE PALMS LOOKS FORWARD TO REOPENING ITS DOORS SOON

BY AMY COYNE BREDESON

Although a date has not been set, Church of the Palms in Okatie is hoping to soon reopen its doors — at least partially.

Since the majority of the church’s members are in the high-risk age group, Church of the Palms has been extremely cautious during the COVID-19 pandemic. The church, which is part of the United Methodist Church, has offered live streaming worship services since the beginning of the crisis. They also host Bible studies, spiritual formation classes and small group meetings on Zoom.

“We’re eager to start moving those to a hybrid mode,” Pastor Pete Berntson said. “People can be a part of it in person if they feel safe or continue to use the live streaming capabilities until things get a little bit more safe for them.”

Since many of the church’s members have been vaccinated, Berntson feels it’s time to start reopening. He said the church will continue to follow CDC guidelines, such as mask wearing and social distancing. He said the biggest challenge will be singing.

Throughout the pandemic, the church has kept members informed about COVID-19 and connected them with the right resources when they needed them. The church publishes a daily online newsletter Monday through Friday. The newsletter includes words of encouragement, ways to help, ways to connect with others, prayers, devotions, as well as the latest COVID-19 statistics. The church has also helped people sign up for vaccines.

The people of Church of the Palms have not been able to gather in person for worship, fellowship or meals as they normally would, and that has been difficult for many. But Berntson said the worst part

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is not being able to physically be there for church members who are ill or grieving.

There have been several medical situations and several deaths among church members during the past year. Because of the pandemic, the church has not been able to offer as much support as it normally would.

Widows and widowers have had to Pastor Pete Berntson grieve at home alone. So, when the church does reopen, Berntson said they will probably be performing a few celebrations of life.

“It’s been a long year,” Berntson said. “But we are seeing some rays of hope.”

Spring has sprung, and Berntson is looking forward to the church’s upcoming outdoor events, including festivals and musical events. He’s also excited about the church’s famous pumpkin patch, which they’ve already started planning for the fall.

Berntson said the pandemic has been traumatic for many, but it has also been a good time of discernment for the church. It has given the church a chance to reflect on what is and is not important in life, and where to go from here.

“What will we as a church be on the other side of this?” Berntson asked. “We have the opportunity to be stronger, more faithful. So that’s the challenge — how do we use that to do what’s really vital and meaningful?”

The Church of the Palms offers two live streaming services – a contemporary-style worship service at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and a classic-style worship service at 11 a.m. on Sundays. For more information on Church of the Palms, call 843-379-1888 or visit palmsumc.org.

Services can be found by searching for The Church of the Palms on YouTube.

“where to worship” First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church Changing Lives…Making Disciples

Join us for Easter Drive-In at Coastal Discovery Museum!

ChangingWorship Lives…Making Disciples

Worship Service link posted by 10:00 AM 8am service; 7:30am gates open on fpchhi.org andlink ourposted Facebook page AM Worship Service by 10:00 Due to COVID-19 protocols, everyone must remain in@FirstPresbyterianChurchHHI cars. Service broadcast via FM radio. ontheir fpchhi.org and our Facebooklive page 10am pre-recorded worship service @FirstPresbyterianChurchHHI Visit fpchhi.org for more info.

540 William Hilton Parkway 540 William Hilton Parkway HiltonHead Head Island Hilton 540 WilliamIsland Hilton Parkway 843.681.3696 843.681.3696 Hilton Head Island 843.681.3696

Grace Coastal Church Come. Experience Grace.

Saturday Night “Come As You Are” Service Online at 7pm Sunday Morning Schedule Worship Services 9am and 11am 15 WILLIAMS DRIVE OKATIE SC 29909

843 379 5520 GCCOFFICE16 GMAIL.COM

info@FPCHHI.org Senior Pastor Will Robinson FPCHHI.org Associate Pastor Lisa Schrott info@FPCHHI.org FPCHHI.org

Lord of Life Lutheran Church

We at Lord of Life Lutheran Church seek to serve in the name of Christ.

Sunday Worship Service at 8:30am & 10:30am in the Sanctuary Virtual Worship on YouTube at 10am Lord Of Life Lutheran Church Virtual Worship on Facebook Lord of Life, Bluffton 351 BUCKWALTER PARKWAY BLUFFTON, SC 29910

LORDOFLIFE BLUFFTON.ORG 843 757 4774

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IIDAY TRIP: RIDGELANDII

Experience

culture MORRIS CENTER FOR LOWCOUNTRY HERITAGE PRESERVES HISTORY

BY MELINDA COPP | PHOTOS SUPPLIED

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IIDAYTRIP: RIDGELANDII

The Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage in Jasper County is a place for learning about local and regional culture.

xxxxx

The Sinclair Service Station building sits on a bustling corner in the center of Ridgeland’s downtown. With its red-tiled roof and antique gas pumps, it is a relic of another time.

The Mission Revival-style service station was built in 1937 and operated for three decades. But today, thanks to the vision of a local businessman, it embodies both the past and future of the Jasper County seat.

The Morris Center opened in September 2015, transforming the station into a place to learn and experience local and regional culture.

And in 2018 it expanded the space to include a commercial kitchen, outdoor space, and gallery. The learning and exhibition center aims to preserve the history and culture of Jasper County and the surrounding counties.

COVID-19 initially forced the Morris Center to reduce its hours and make their programs virtual. The website offers a trove of video lectures, workshops, and programs on a variety of topics, including book discussions, cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, and history lessons.

They have lesson plans and resources for educators that can supplement an on-site visit or be incorporated into classwork. And they’ve recently started hosting in-person events again, with masks and social distancing practices in place.

At the end of February, the Morris Center installed a permanent exhibit about the Battle of Honey Hill, a Civil War battle fought in Ridgeland. A Union mission to cut off the railroad between Charleston and Savannah ahead of Sherman’s arrival ended in defeat when they encountered Confederate forces.

The battle historic marker can be seen along Old House Road on the way into town. In addition to this exhibit, the Morris Center features temporary exhibits that borrow from museum collections around the state.

On April 17, the Center will host an intermediate indigo dyeing workshop with artists Leanne Coulter and Rhonda Davis.

Other upcoming programs include a Seasons of Daufuskie exhibit (May 1-July 31) showcasing 20 black-and-white photographs by Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe. The Morris Center has borrowed the collection from the Columbia Museum of Art. The images were taken in the 1970s and reveal how life on the island has changed over the years.

To coincide with the Daufuskie exhibit, the Center plans to host a digital photography workshop (May 4). On June 11, the Morris Center will also partner with the Pat Conroy Literary Center for a book club discussion on Conroy’s, “The Water is Wide.”

LOVE OF HISTORY Daniel Morris was born and raised in Tillman, an unincorporated hamlet seven miles from Ridgeland. He was both an antique enthusiast and forward-thinking businessman. The entrepreneurial spirit caught him young, and he knew opportunity wasn’t far from home.

The Tillman school was a colonial-style brick building built in 1926 but closed in the 1960s. In his 20s, Morris purchased the Tillman School building and opened an antique refinishing business. Building on his passion for bringing new life to old things, he later bought the Tillman Store and converted it into a self-service station called Handy Dan’s.

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IF YOU GO HOURS 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday WHERE 1078 S. Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland “He loved history,” said Tamara Herring, the executive director of the Morris Center.

When Morris died in 2005, his legacy was in creating a trust dedicated to preserving the history and culture of the area for future generations. That trust includes the Tillman School structure and four vintage buildings, including the Sinclair Station building where the Center resides.

The Morris Center is about 45 minutes from Hilton Head Island.

If you plan to make the trip, the Center asks that you schedule an appointment via its website.

For safety reasons, the maximum number of visitors at one time is 10 people.

ADMISSION Free TO SCHEDULE A VISIT morrisheritagecenter.org

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I I A P R I L 2 0 // 2 1 E V E N T G U I D E I I

APRIL 1-4

FUN

HILTON HEAD PREP THEATER: “CLUE”

EVENTS FOR EVERYONE!

CALENDAR

APRIL 1-3 PRIVATE EASTER WAGON RIDE: Hop aboard the red wagon for a spring exploration of the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, while playing a game of Easter I-Spy. Cost is $95 for a group of 20 people. Reservations required. 1-4 p.m., Heritage Farms, Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-785-3333 or seapines.com.

APRIL 1-4 HILTON HEAD PREP THEATER: “CLUE”: A hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie. Ten talented student actors will skillfully bring each of these iconic board game characters to life in this 90-minute play. Make a small donation to support Hilton Head Prep’s performing arts and receive a link for online access. 843-263-5346 or hhprep.org.

APRIL 2-3 MARK RAPP AT THE JAZZ CORNER: Featuring The Great Gatsby and music from the Roaring

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‘20s. $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

APRIL 3 DRIVE-THRU EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA: Stay in your cars and receive a goodie bag full of eggs at two different locations. 10:30 a.m., Shelter Cove Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island; Lowcountry Celebration Park, 2 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-7273 or islandreccenter.org.

PERSONALIZED EASTER PAILS AND PORTRAITS: Order a personalized Easter pail for your child and pick it up at the Liberty Oak Stage, where the Easter Bunny will be celebrating and taking photos. Reservations required.

Cost is $35 per pail. 9:30-11:30 a.m., Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island. 843-785-3333 or seapines.com.

RED SHOES RUN OF BLUFFTON: Run or walk through the streets of Historic Old Town

Bluffton to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Coastal Empire. Registration is $35. 8 a.m., Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street, Bluffton. 843-757-8520 or bearfootsports.com.

APRIL 4 EASTER DRIVE-IN WORSHIP SERVICES: First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head will offer an Easter Sunday service from the comfort of your car. Service broadcast live via FM radio. Free. 8 a.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-3696 or fpchhi.org.

SUNRISE SERVICE: St. Andrew By-The-Sea will offer two in-person Easter Sunday services. Don’t forget your mask and a chair. Free. 7 a.m., Coligny Beach, Hilton Head Island; Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street, Bluffton. 843-785-4711 or hhiumc.com.

APRIL 4-11 SIP & SHOP FOR A CAUSE:

The Zonta Club of Hilton Head will host its annual auction online this year. Funds raised will go directly to scholarships for deserving local students and programs to support Zonta’s missions. Visit their website for a link to the auction. zontahhi.org.

APRIL 5 VIRTUAL LECTURE: “THE CONVERGENCE OF HISTORIC RICE FIELDS”: Join Dr. Ernie Wiggers for a conversation about the convergence of historic rice fields into cornerstones for modern-day conservation in the Lowcountry.

Reservations required. Cost is $5. 2 p.m. Register for Zoom link. 843-689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org.

APRIL 6 VIRTUAL LECTURE: “WHAT’S IN A LOWCOUNTRY BACKYARD”: Jay Keck of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation will discuss different types of animal and plant life in your backyard. Free. 5 p.m. Watch live on the Morris Center Facebook page @MorrisHeritageCenter. Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Boulevard, Ridgeland.

843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.

APRIL 7 BLOOD DRIVE: Donate blood inside the climate-controlled OneBlood truck in the Arts Center parking lot. Donors will receive a mask, a $10 e-gift card, a COVID-19 antibody test and a wellness checkup. Chef B’s Eatz food truck will also be on-site. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2787 or artshhi.com.

OPENING RECEPTION: “TAKING A LEAP; THE ART OF DISCOVERY”: Artist Joan Moreau McKeever will showcase her latest exhibit through May 1. An opening reception will be held to celebrate the exhibit. 5-7 p.m., Art League Gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-5060 or artleaguehhi.org.

APRIL 8 OPENING RECEPTION: “SURVEYING THE LOWCOUNTRY”: Join Four Corners Gallery for an opening reception featuring the works of artists Stephanie Amato, Jill McGannon and Marc Hanson. Refreshments will be served. 4-7 p.m., Four Corners, 1263 May River Road, Bluffton. 843-757-8185 or fourcornersgallerybluffton.com.

APRIL 8-11 ARTS CENTER PERFORMANCE: “RED”: A Tony-award winning play about Mark Rothko’s art and his shades of genius. Suitable for ages 15 and older. Cost is $16 for students, $35 for adults. Times vary. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2787 or artshhi.com.

APRIL 9 WEBINAR: “HOW TO LOSE THE INFORMATION WAR”: Nina Jankowicz, author of “How to Lose the Information War,” will present how the Western world has begun to wake up to the threat of online warfare and the attacks from Russia. Cost is $10 for guests, free for members. Register for Zoom link. 843-384-6758 or wachh.org.

APRIL 9-10 CHARLTON SINGLETON’S QUARTET AT THE JAZZ CORNER: $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 Wilm Hilton Pkwy, HHI. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

APRIL 12 HHSO: “WATER MUSIC”: Live-stream this orchestra series concert, featuring Conductor John Morris Russell and members of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Tickets are $25.

7:30 p.m. Register for a private website link to view the live-stream. 843-842-2055 or hhso.org.

INTERMEDIATE INDIGO DYEING WORKSHOP

APRIL 12-18 RBC HERITAGE PRESENTED BY BOEING: The 53rd annual RBC Heritage golf tournament will take place on-site with limited spectators.

Event times and ticket prices vary. 843671-2448 or rbcheritage.com.

APRIL 14 VIRTUAL AUTHOR CHAT: “THE CIVIL WAR IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY”: Join author Ron Roth for a discussion about how a confederate artillery and a black union regiment defined the meaning of war. Cost is $5. Register for Zoom link. 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

VIRTUAL LECTURE: “THE CANARY OF THE SWAMP”: Matt Johnson, Director at the Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest, will discuss recent work involving Prothonotary Warblers conservation.

Reservations required. Cost is $5. 2 p.m. Register for Zoom link. 843-689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org.

APRIL 14 ZOOM SEMINAR: “SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SMALL BUSINESS”: The Don Ryan Center for Innovation presents a free seminar with Lindsy Mueller, who will provide insight into how local businesses can best utilize the power of social media and ways to create engaging content. Free. 8-9 a.m. Register for Zoom link. 843-540-0405 or donryancenter.com.

APRIL 14 WINE FEST: The First Wine Fest at Hazel Dean’s. Proceeds benefit local charities. 5:30 p.m. Enjoy samplings of several fine wines, along with tasty tapas, music and more. The Shops at Sea Pines Center. Limited tickets. $75. HazelDeans.com or 843 802-2001.

MUELLER

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THE QUENTIN BAXTER TRIO AT THE JAZZ CORNER: Featuring Grammy-award winning artist Quiana Parler. $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

APRIL 24-25 THE ART MARKET AT HISTORIC HONEY HORN: A juried fine art and craft festival held under the live oaks.

Featuring over 90 artists with various mediums of art on display, plus food and beverages available for purchase.

Admission is $5 for adults, free for children 12 and under. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday.

Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org.

VIRTUAL LECTURE: “THE CONVERGENCE OF HISTORIC RICE FIELDS”

APRIL 15 MARTINIS AT THE MANSION: The Mansion on Forsyth Park’s charity networking series will take place on the third Thursday of every month to benefit a different local nonprofit. Admission is a suggested $5 donation. 5:30-7 p.m., Mansion on Forsythe Park, 700 Drayson Street, Savannah. 912238-5158 or kesslercollection.com.

WAHHI VIRTUAL AUTHOR SERIES: Kristy Woodson Harvey, author of “Under the Southern Sky,” will be the featured speaker at this month’s Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island’s Author Series. Free for members.

5 p.m. Register for Zoom link. wahhi.org.

APRIL 16-17 BOBBY RYDER’S QUINTET AT THE JAZZ CORNER: Featuring the very best of the RAT Pack, honoring Sammy, Frank and Dean. $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

APRIL 17XXXXXX INTERMEDIATE INDIGO DYEING WORKSHOP: Artists Leanne Coutler and Rhonda Davis, owners of the Daufuskie Blues Art Gallery, will teach advanced techniques for dyeing cotton silk scarves.

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Class is designed for past students. Cost is $35. 11 a.m.2p.m., Morris Center, 10782 S. Jacob Smart Boulevard, Ridgeland. 843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.

APRIL 19 LOWCOUNTRY COMMUNITY GOLF CHALLENGE: This sixth annual event will benefit the Port Royal Sound Maritime Center’s education programs. Tickets include 18 holes of golf, a cart, grab-and-go breakfast, boxed lunch, cold beverages and a silent auction. Cost is $175 per golfer. 9 a.m., Oldfield Plantation, 130 Oldfield Way, Okatie. 843-645-7774 or portroyalsoundfoundation.org.

APRIL 20 VIRTUAL LECTURE: “THE YAMASEE WAR IN THE LOWCOUNTRY”: Dr. William Ramsey of Lander University will discuss the Yamasee War and how it unfolded in the Lowcountry region. Free. 5 p.m. Watch Live on the Morris Center Facebook page @MorrisHeritageCenter.

843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.

APRIL 23 BLUFFTON SUNSET KICK OFF FESTIVAL: Enjoy live music from Acoustic Mayhem, plus a food court, wine bar and craft beer garden. This event will benefit the Bluffton Paddle Club charity. Event is limited to 250 spectators. Free entry. 5:30-9:30 p.m., Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street, Bluffton. 843-757-8520 or bearfootsports.com.APRIL 23-24

APRIL 25 PUBLIC POLICY MEETING: A meeting place to exchange ideas and dialogue on matters of public policy in our community. Free. 8 a.m., Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, 1 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Hilton Head Island.

843-785-3673 or hiltonheadchamber.org.

APRIL 26 HHSO: “HARP IMPRESSIONS”: Live-stream this orchestra series concert, featuring Conductor John Morris Russell, Harpist Bridget Kibbey, and members of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets are $25. 7:30 p.m. Register for a private website link to view the live-stream. 843-842-2055 or hhso.org.

VIRTUAL LECTURE: “FROM DATA TO DECISIONS”: Kim Jones will present how the Town of Bluffton actively collects different types of data that reflect the health of the May River watershed. Cost is $5. 2 p.m., Register for Zoom link. 843-689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org.

APRIL 27-28 40TH ANNIVERSARY & ROBERTO COIN TRUNK SHOW: Forsythe Jewelers is celebrating 40 years in business.

Join them as they toast to their growth, evolution and commitment to the community during their Roberto Coin Trunk Show. Enjoy a complimentary gift with every Roberto Coin purchase. Reservation required. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Forsythe Jewelers, 71 Lighthouse Rd, Suite 311, Hilton Head Island.

843-671-7070 or forsythejewelers.biz.

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MAY 1 SPRING SWING: The Hilton Head Firefighters’ Association has teamed with Sea Pines Montessori Academy to host the 13th annual Spring Swing for Charity Golf Tournament presented by SERVPRO. Bear Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head Plantation. Shotgun start at 9 a.m. Birdease. com/2021SpringSwing or bryans@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

HILTON HEAD HUMANE DOG WALK: Coligny Beach, Hilton Head Island. 8:15 a.m. No same-day registration. hhhumane.org or call 843-681-8686 to pre-register.

VIRTUAL LECTURE: “THE CANARY OF THE SWAMP”

APRIL 29 VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: “WHAT IS DEMENTIA?”: Learn what dementia is, the differences between dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, brain changes, symptoms, warning signs, risk factors, prevention and more with certified Dementia specialist Melissa Chambers. Free. 6-7 p.m.

Register for Zoom link. 843-321-9425 or seniorlivingconnections.org.

APRIL 30 MUSIC AND MEMORIES VIRTUAL GALA: Join Memory Matters for a virtual gala, featuring musical entertainment by The John Brackett Trio. The event will include a musical telethon, prizes and a trivia contest. Tickets include to-go appetizer and wine, local pick up. Cost is $50 per person. 6-7 p.m. Register for Live-stream access from SoundWaves Performing Arts Center. 843-842-6688 or mymemorymatters.org.

THE CHRISTIAN TAMBURR TRIO AT THE JAZZ CORNER: Featuring vocalist and cellist Shana Tucker. $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

VIRTUAL LECTURE: “US-CHINA RELATIONS IN A POSTCORONAVIRUS WORLD”: Robert S. Spalding will discuss the coronavirus outbreak, its spread and the CCP’s responsibility. He will also talk about the evolving rivalry and entry into a Cold War bipolar world. Cost is $10 for guests, free for members. Register for Zoom link. 843-384-6758 or wachh.org.

APRIL 23-MAY 2 LEAN ENSEMBLE: “PRIVATE LIVES - A RADIO PLAY”: Lean Ensemble brings Noel Coward’s classic wit to life. Let your senses take you to a 1930 British hotel where a newly divorced couple meet honeymooners in adjacent rooms as barbs fly, love is shattered and rekindled.

Free. Times vary. Registration required. 843-715-6676 or leanensemble.org.

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MAY 15 MAY DAY 5K: Race begins at the Bluffton Oyster Factory and winds through Historic Old Town Bluffton and along the May River. Virtual option available. Beaufort Memorial is the title sponsor for LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth’s inaugural race. 8-10 a.m. Bluffton Oyster Factory Park 63 Wharf St. $20-$30.

843-815-1718. runsignup.com/Race/SC/Bluffton/BlufftonMayDay5K.

MONDAYS VIRTUAL KID’S STORY TIME: Listen to Rebecca read family favorites about the Lowcountry’s natural and cultural history on the Coastal Discovery Museum’s Facebook page. Watch on Facebook Live at @ coastaldiscoverymuseum. 843- 689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org.

TUESDAYS FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET: |Now in its 8th year, the Market will present more fresh, local produce, seafood, breads and cheeses, crafts and artisans than ever before. Enjoy the colorful displays that grow and change each week throughout the season. Free entry. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., The Shops at Sea Pines Center, 71 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island.

TUESDAYS HILTON HEAD ISLAND FARMERS MARKET: Support locl farmers and producers and take home fresh produce, pasture-raised chicken, free range rabbit, pork, seafood, salsa, sausage, cookies, bread, she crab soup and more. Entrance and parking are free. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum. 70 Honey Horn Dr, Hilton Head Island. 843-473-5231 or hhifarmersmarket.com.

TUESDAYS OPEN MIC NIGHT AT CORKS: Every Tuesday night at Corks Bluffton. 7-10 p.m., Corks Wine Bar and Restaurant, 14 Promenade Street, Bluffton.

843-815-5168 or corkswinecobluffton.com.

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TUESDAYS SIT AND STITCH IN THE EVENING: Enjoy knitting, crochet, needlepoint, rug hook practice as Needlepoint Junction stays open late. All levels welcome. Outside food and drink permitted.

Free. 5-8 p.m., Needlepoint Junction, Suite J-7-E, Village at Wexford, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8488 or needlepointjunctionhhi.com.

TUESDAYS ZION CEMETERY AND BAYNARD MAUSOLEUM COSTUMED CEMETERY TOUR: Visit the gravesites of four Revolutionary War heroes and learn about the blood skirmish. fought just a few steps away. $15 Adult/$10 Child, 11 a.m., Corner of U.S. 278 & Matthews Dr, Hilton Head Island.

Reservations required- 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS MARINA MORNINGS: OUTDOOR YOGA: Practice yoga on the pavilion at Shelter Cove, with draft kombucha to follow.

All levels welcome. Cost is $20. 9:30 a.m., Pure Salt Studios, 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-707-7027 or puresaltstudios.com.

WEDNESDAYS HAUNTED HISTORY TALES: Listen to graveside storytelling in the eerie setting of Hilton Head Island’s oldest burial ground and hear spine-tingling tales of the Island’s shadowy past.

Cost is $25 for adults, $20 for children ages 8-16. 9 p.m., Zion Cemetery, 574 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

WAHHI VIRTUAL AUTHOR SERIES

THURSDAYS CIVIL WAR ERA: Hilton Head Island was home to thousands of Union soldiers during the Civil War. Join this presentation featuring maps and historic photos of this time on Hilton Head from 1861-1865. Reservations required. Cost is $12 for adults, $7 for children. 3 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223. or coastaldiscovery.org.

THURSDAYS PAINT ’N PARTY ONLINE: A fun evening of painting online. Any number of people can join, plus no need to pay for a babysitter or an expensive dinner out. Cost is $15 per household. 6:30-8:30 p.m. 843-342-5439 or scartstudio.com.

THURSDAYS DUELING PIANOS SHOW: The only Dueling Pianos Show on Hilton Head Island takes place each Thursday night on the Rooftop Bar. Cost is $5. 8-11 p.m., Rooftop Bar at Poseidon, 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-341-3838 or therooftophhi.com.

SIT AND STITCH: Practice needlepoint every Friday during this casual sit and stitch event. All levels welcome. Free. 10 a.m., Needlepoint Junction, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suite 6134, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8488 or shopneedlepointjunction.com.

THURSDAYS FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: New location! Meet local farmers, chefs and artisans every Thursday on Green Street. Buy a fresh assortment of strawberries, produce, beets, potatoes and more. Also, hear local, live entertainment and educational lectures. Noon-5 p.m., Martin Family Park, Green Street, Bluffton. 843-415-2447 or farmersmarketbluffton.org.

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FRIDAYS

SATURDAYS YOGA ON THE BEACH AT TYBEE: All levels are welcome to attend this beach yoga session on Tybee Island. Bring a beach towel or mat. Cost is $20. 9 a.m., North Beach at Tybee, Gulick Street, Tybee Island. “Like” the event on Facebook.

ALLIGATOR AND WILDLIFE BOAT TOUR Alligator & Wildlife Boat Tour with H2O Sports in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve. Get an up-close view of indigenous plant and animal life, including the American alligator, on a one-hour guided boat tour.

Reservations are required, 843-671-4386 or h2osports.com.

CURBSIDE CRAFTS TO-GO Children and adults can order a variety of craft activities pre-assembled and ready to enjoy at your home or villa. Book online. Cost is $12-$20.

Sea Pines Resort Fitness and Recreation Department, 71 Lighthouse Road, Suite 122, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

TRAIL RIDES THROUGH THE SEA PINES FOREST PRESERVE WITH LAWTON STABLES Trail Rides through the Sea Pines Forest Preserve with Lawton Stables.

Meander through the preserve on horseback for the true feel of the untouched Lowcountry. Trail riders must be at least 8 years old.

Reservations are required. 843-671-2586 lawtonstables.com.

PICKLEBALL AT PALMETTO DUNES Learn how to play Pickleball with daily clinics and round robins at the Palmetto Dunes Pickleball Center in Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort. Courts and equipment are available to rent. Reservations recommended. palmettodunes.com THE HARBOUR TOWN LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM Explore Hilton Head Island’s rich history and learn the story behind its famous lighthouse in a unique, museum-like setting. Admission is $4.25/person, complimentary for children ages 5 and younger. 149 Lighthouse Rd. 843-671-2810 or harbourtownlighthouse.com.

TO FIND MORE VISIT US @ HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

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IIHAPPENINGSII

RESTAURANT

NEWS

Nectar Farm Kitchen

LUCKY ROOSTER KITCHEN + BAR READY TO REOPEN IN APRIL

Eric Golden

NEW RESTAURANTS COMING TO TANGER OUTLETS HILTON HEAD

Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar plans to reopen in April, according to new owners Leffew Restaurant Group, a news release said. Executive chef David Landrigan leads the kitchen. Landrigan is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. He spent 11 years with Circa 1875 and La Scala Ristorante in Savannah, Ga. Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar will be open every day. For more information, visit luckyroosterhhi.com.

New businesses are opening at Tanger Outlets Hilton Head this spring, including two restaurants. Meg’s Sweet Treats will open in late April.

Meg’s will offer custom cupcakes, cakes, cakewiches and other sweets.

Nantucket’s Meat & Fish Market is expected to open in May. The gourmet grocer will feature fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, prime meats, and an in-house bakery.

CHEZ GEORGES WELCOMES NEW CHEF

NECTAR FARM KITCHEN MAKES DEBUT

Eric Golden has been named the new chef at Chez Georges. Golden had served as the executive sous chef at Sea Pines Country Club and then Chef de Cuisine at the Lucky Rooster.

Chef Golden's 20-year career in the culinary world has taken him to major cities throughout the country.

A new restaurant on Hilton Head recently opened its doors. Nectar Farm Kitchen, serving locally sourced southern inspired dishes, debuted in February.

Nectar Farm Kitchen, next to Marley’s Shrimp & Burger Shack, is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It works with farmers throughout the South.

DELIVERY SERVICE LAUNCHES IN LOWCOUNTRY

‘LAST CALL’ RESTRICTIONS LIFTED

Cool Delivery, a delivery and takeout service geared for local businesses, has launched in Bluffton and Hilton Head. Cool Delivery said customers can place orders online only from locally owned restaurants.

“By offering this service to only local restaurants, we are providing an additional option to their service portfolio in an effort to keep these businesses alive,” operations manager Lynzee Fazio said in a news release.

As of early March, more than 10 local restaurants signed up for the service. For more information, visit itscooldelivery.com.

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Gov. Henry McMaster said effective March 1 restaurants could resume normal alcohol sales as licensed by the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

The order had restricted restaurants and bars from serving alcohol after 11 p.m. South Carolina Department of Commerce approval for events involving more than 250 people is also no longer required. South Carolinians are urged to practice social distancing and wear a face covering.

Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar

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SETTING A BEAUTIFUL SCENE

STAND OUT IN

Style

BY J. BANKS DESIGN

I I S P E C I A L T O M O N T H LY I I

Setting a beautiful scene for your next dinner party offers an alluring backdrop for any occasion.

Whether entertaining friends or family or celebrating a momentous event, a gorgeous set table will make your meal stand out in style.

Here are tips to creating a beautiful tablescape.

MIX OLD WITH NEW Use all the small treasures— the simple and fancy ones. Pull out rarely used vintage pieces and pair with newer items to create a one-of-a-kind table setting. A good tablescape evokes conversation and represents the personality of the homeowner. Mix it up to make a unique and memorable dining experience for guests.

GO SEASONAL Decorate the table with something that speaks to the season or the locale. Florals, seasonal fruits and vegetables, shells or driftwood from the beach make great additions. Pick some items and build your scheme around them.

CENTER OR SCATTER Place florals and greenery in a pretty vase or bowl, or scatter several small vases around the center – both are simple but beautiful way to style any table.

LAYER IT ON Don’t be afraid of color and texture.

Natural materials like wicker and rattan add depth and allow you to turn your attention to the plates,

glassware, and other pieces, building layers of color and texture.

Items available for purchase in the J. Banks Retail Showroom. 35 Main St, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926. jbanksdesign.com

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unwind with

Wine

ENJOY SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH THESE BIG BOTTLES

BY STEPHANIE SK AGER As we continue to forge through the pandemic, and vaccinations become more prevalent, we all can focus on celebrating (with people again) those once “normal” highly anticipated occasions. One of those occasions that falls in April is Easter, but even more important for those of us in the Lowcountry? The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

In 1969, the first year of the Heritage, many had doubts it would become a success. Hilton Head was a little-known island and the course was

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foreign to all the big names in golf. Fast forward 50 years and the Heritage has been won by some wildly successful golfers including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Matt Kuchar, and Boo Weekley.

It has become a tournament that attracts people from all over the world for our island’s amazing hospitality, big parties, bigger yachts, and fun.

There is never a better time to pick up some big bottles to share with your friends, family, and maybe even a stranger or two. Check out these along with others at Rollers Wine and Spirits.

IIWINEII

WILLIAMS SELYEM ESTATE PINOT NOIR 2012 1.5L:

After aging for nine years in our cellar, this wine offers a complex array of aromas and flavors. Red cherry and cinnamon surge from the glass with additional notes of cardamom and fennel that transition into ripe juicy red fruit on the palate and finish with fine cocoa powder-like tannins.

CONTINUUM PROPRIETARY RED 2016 1.5L: Delicacy on the nose with citrus blossom and rose petal aromas. The wine builds in power and presence on the palate with cassis, dark fruits, bergamot, dried wild herb, and notes of cigar box and leather.

DARIOUSH DARIUS II CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 1.5L: Layered aromas of blackberry liqueur, incense,

and licorice introduce depth and intensity on the palate, abundant black fruits, black currants and plum mingle notes of Darjeeling tea, five-spice, dried orange peel and finely ground espresso. A flourish of soft, seamlessly integrated tannins adds texture; Darius II has a long finish with persistent cedar, tobacco, and sweet oak.

THE

SPRING 2021 ISSUE IS HERE!

RUINART BLANC DE BLANC NV 3L: An intense nose with notes of fresh ripe citrus, white flowers and white peach. Roundness on the palate supporting the fruit on the nose with minerality on the long refreshing finish.

SHAFER HILLSIDE SELECT 2009 3L: Wine explodes from the glass with this a nose of crème de cassis, Black Forest cake, baked plums and boysenberries plus hints of licorice, mocha, cedar chest and pencil lead with a waft of garrigue. Full-bodied, the palate is a concentrated, full-on behemoth, possessing fantastic balance and expressiveness, finishing with epic length and a fantastically velvety texture.

VEUVE CLICQUOT YELLOW LABEL NV 15L:

classic, but in a big, big bottle.

An old

GFORuide THE YOUR FREE

BEST VACATIONS & RESTAURANTS VISIT US @ FORK&FUN.COM

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Recipes

beef kofta

TZATZIKI & MEDITERRANEAN TOMATO SALAD MANSION ON FORSYTHE BEEF KOFTA 6-10 each Bamboo skewers * can also use shish kebab swords.

1 piece sandwich bread, toasted 1 lb ground beef ½ each onion, grated 2 each garlic cloves, minced ¼ tsp Ground pepper ¼ tsp Kosher salt 1 tsp Allspice ¼ tsp Nutmeg ½ tsp Ground cumin ½ tsp Sumac (optional) ¼ tsp Cinnamon ½ tsp (2-3 sprigs)Fresh rosemary, chopped fine ½ tsp (2-3 sprigs)Fresh oregano, chopped fine

TZATZIKI ½ each Lg. cucumber unpeeled 1 ½ cups Full fat greek yogurt 2 each Garlic cloves, minced 2 Tbs Extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbs Distilled white vinegar ½ tsp Salt 1 Tbs Fresh dill, minced

METHOD

MEDITERRANEAN TOMATO SALAD 1 each Cucumber, peeled and seeded 3-4 each slicing tomatoes ¼ each Small red onion ½ each Juice of lemon 1 tbs Red wine vinegar 1 tsp Sugar 1 tbs Mint, finely chopped 1 tbs Parsley, finely chopped Salt and pepper

Soak bread in water for a few minutes; wring out slightly and transfer to a large stainless bowl.

Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly using hands.

Divide mixture into 3-4 oz. balls (approx. ½ cup) and form around skewers. Ideally, chill prior to grilling.

Grill 2-3 minutes on each side, taking care not to burn skewers.

Finish on top shelf of grill or in oven until beef is fully cooked. dd to a plate the starch and vegetable of your choice A and enjoy. *Serve with grilled pita or naan, chopped parsley, tzatziki, hummus and/or crumbled feta.

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METHOD

Grate cucumber and press through sieve or cheesecloth (or a clean towel) to remove excess liquid.

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl, including cucumber pulp.

Best made the day before.

METHOD

Slice cucumber, wedge tomatoes and slice onion very thin.

In a bowl, mix lemon juice, vinegar, sugar and oil and pour over vegetables. Mix with chopped herbs and season with salt and pepper.

Recipes

Blackened Grouper WITH HAVARTI GRITS AND RED PEPPER COULIS FISH CASUAL COASTAL SEAFOOD BLACKENED GROUPER 1 6 oz. piece of grouper 2 oz. Blackened Seasoning 1 oz. vegetable oil 1 oz. vegetable oil METHOD Season grouper heavily with blackened seasoning.

Add oil.

Slowly place fish in center of the pan. (Be careful not to splash the oil).

Cook fish for 2 minutes on each side, or until fish is white and flaky in the center.

Turn off heat, then remove fish from the pan.

Heat medium sauté pan until hot.

Add oil.

Slowly place fish in center of the pan. (Be careful not to splash the oil).

Cook fish for 2 minutes on each side, or until fish is white and flaky in the center.

Turn off heat then remove fish from the pan.

HAVARTI GRITS ( YIELDS 1 GALLON) 3 quarts – Chicken Stock 1 pound – Cream Cheese 3 cups - Stone Ground Grits ¼ cup - Shredded Parmesan Cheese 1 pound– Havarti Cheese, shredded Salt and pepper to taste

RED PEPPER COULIS (YIELDS- 3/4 QUART; SHELF LIFE: 3 DAYS; 3 HOURS ON LINE) 3 each- Red peppers ½ cup- Apple juice concentrate ½ cup- Goat cheese Salt and pepper to taste METHOD For peppers: over medium high heat, char exterior evenly on all sides, remove from heat and allow to cool for 1 minute.

Next, place cooked pepper in a bag, seal and allow charred exterior to sweat off, this should take 4-5 minutes. Remove pepper from bag, remove exterior skin, fillet pepper and discard seeds.

In a blender or food processor, puree peppers until smooth, then add apple juice, pulse 2-3 times and then finish with goat cheese. Taste, season and serve or store.

METHOD Season grouper heavily with blackened seasoning.

Heat medium sauté pan until hot.

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IIDINE OUTII

OUR FAVORITES

restaurants BROUGHT TO YOU BY MONTHLY, FORK & FUN AND VACATION GUIDE

"let's go out to eat."

THE LOWCOUNTRY HAS MANY GREAT RESTAURANTS. HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITES.

HILTON HEAD // NORTH END:

Crazy Crab Jarvis Creek

Hwy. 278 | 843.681.5021 | thecrazycrab.com A Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years, enjoy genuine service and fresh seafood. Menu feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” fresh local shrimp.

Healthy Habit

33 Office Park Road | 843.686.5600 | healthyhabithhi.com A quick service style restaurant with a focus on chopped salads and other plant based items utilizing the freshest ingredients possible with hand crafted dressings.

Il Carpaccio

200A Museum St. (Across from Walmart) | 843.342.9949 Authentic Italian cuisine, ranging from cuisine of Northern Italy to crispy, thin-crust, Italian-style pizza. Casual restaurant, with a genuine brick pizza oven (imported from Italy).

Old Fort Pub

65 Skull Creek Drive | 843.681.2386 | OldFortPub.com Enjoy beautiful views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The only AAA Four Diamond Restaurant on Hilton Head. (Won 11 times!) Reservations Recommended.

Reilley’s North End Pub

95 Mathews Dr. | 843.681.4153 | reilleysnorth.com An island institution, Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years. Kids eat free Tuesdays with an adult entrée.

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Street Meet: The American Tavern

Port Royal Plaza | 843.842.2570 | streetmeethhi.com Street Meet specializes in homemade versions of regional American bar food. Best Wings, Fish & Chips, Homemade Soups, Salads, Vegetarian Menu, Seafood.

HILTON HEAD // MID-ISLAND:

Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar 76 Queens Folly Rd. | 843.785.4999 | alexandersrestaurant.com Menu uses seasonal ingredients with a strong emphasis on seafood while paying homage to Alexander’s original favorites. Dinner from 5–10pm daily.

Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers & Pizza

7 Trent Jones Ln. | 855.878.1966 | palmettodunes.com/big-jims Big Jim’s offers signature Southern dishes, gourmet burgers, pizzas, soups, salads, seafood, steaks and ribs. Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Fishcamp on Broad Creek

11 Simmons Road | 843.842.2267 | fishcamphhi.com Fishcamp’s menu consists of seafood and American cuisine, including steak and lobster. They have an outdoor bar and open patio. Family friendly.

The French Bakery & Courtyard Café 28 Shelter Cove Ln. | 843.342.5420 | frenchbakeryhiltonhead.com

Breakfast or lunch inside or outdoors in this bakery/café.

Enjoy crepes, breads, baguette & panini sandwiches, salads, soups, quiches & pastries. Traditional French recipes.

Giuseppi's Pizza & Pasta

50 Shelter Cove Lane | 843.785.4144 | giuseppispizza.com They take pride in serving excellent, award-winning pizza (since 1984), plus a broad variety of well-prepared pastas, sandwiches, wings, garden fresh salads and more.

Gruby's New York Deli

890 William Hilton Parkway | 843.842.9111 grubysnydeli.com Bringing Authentic New York Sandwiches to the South. A New York-style deli offering classic sandwiches, soups & breakfast dishes in a casual setting offering breakfast and lunch.

Island Bagel & Deli

S. Island Square | 843.686.3353 | islandbagelanddeli.com The island's only New York style boiled bagels made daily.

16 flavors of bagels and 12 home-made cream cheeses. For lunch: specialty hoagies, classic sandwiches & salads.

Jane Bistro & Bar

28 Shelter Cove Lane | 843.686.5696 | janehhi.com Classic bistro fare with Lowcountry influences. Favorites include jumbo lump crab cakes, pecan cranberry chicken salad, crispy flounder and petit filet mignon. Open daily.

Old Oyster Factory

101 Marshland Rd. | 843.681.6040 | OldOysterFactory.com Panoramic marsh and water views. Specializes in fresh seafood and some of the best steaks on Hilton Head. Featured in The Wall Street Journal's “Off the Beaten Track.”

San Miguel’s

9 Harbourside Ln. | 843.842.4555 | sanmiguels.com Located directly on the harbour at Shelter Cove and provides good food and fun. Extensive California/Mexican menu. Lunch and dinner served daily.

Santa Fe Cafe

807 William Hilton Pkwy | 843.785.3838 | santafecafeofhiltonhead.com Casually elegant dining that captures the spirit of New Mexico.

Signature items include Parmesan Chipotle Grouper, 24-oz bone-in ribeye steak, fajitas, & Painted Desert Soup.

Sea Grass Grille

807 William Hilton Pkwy | 843.785.9990 | seagrassgrille.com American and Lowcountry Continental cuisine. Chef Chad brings 38 years of hands-on culinary expertise. More than 50 wines by the glass. Winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.

HILTON HEAD // SOUTH END: Amigos Cafe y Cantina

70 Pope Ave. | 843-785-8226 | amigoscafehhi.com Quick, Casual, Healthy. Serving Authentic Mexican Food. food is prepared fresh daily using the finest ingredients possible and served by friendly, helpful people, in a clean comfortable atmosphere.

Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Café

69 Pope Avenue | 843.785.7700 | auntchiladashhi.com Excellent Tex-Mex and American fare. Enjoy the crab legs, sizzling fajitas, & margaritas. Reservations & large parties welcome. Private dining/event area. Seasonal live entertainment.

Big Bamboo

1 N. Forest Beach Dr. | 843.686.3443 | bigbamboocafe.com The South Pacific meets the Carolina Coast just steps from the beach. A casual hangout serving burgers, seafood and festive libations. Come for the food, stay for the live entertainment!

British Open Pub

Village at Wexford | 843.686.6736 | thebritishopenpub.com Family-friendly pub style restaurant with authentic English food with American favorites and certified Angus beef. Try the signature fish and chips or their shepherd’s pie.

Captain Woody's

6 Target Rd | 843.785.2400 | captainwoodys.com Grab a seat at the outside deck, inside, or just belly up to the bar. Offering a full lunch and dinner menu, happy hour daily, live music seasonally, and brunch on Sundays.

Carolina Crab Company

86 Helmsman Way | 843.842.2016 | carolinacrabco.com Enjoy water views and fresh seafood at an affordable price in a family-friendly atmosphere. Pet-friendly outside bar & patio.

Catch 22

37 New Orleans Rd. | 843.785.6261 | catch22hhi.com Catch 22 is locally owned. Dinner is served nightly from 5 p.m. Early Dining Menu from 5:00– 6:00 p.m. All beef is aged 28 days, U.S.D.A prime, hand selected and cut in house.

Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte

8 New Orleans Road | 843.785.9277 | charliesgreenstar.com Open since 1982, Charlie’s writes its menu daily based on the freshest seafood available. Dinner offers 14 fresh fish, rack of lamb, filet mignon and more. An extensive wine list.

Chez Georges

37 New Orleans Rd | 843-785-3200 | chezgeorgeshhi.com.

Chez Georges serves traditional bistro staples such as steak frites and mussels mariniere, incorporating fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

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ChowDaddy’s

14b Executive Park Rd. | 843.757.CHOW | chowdaddys.com Offering a wide variety of menu items focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations.

Lunch & dinner daily.

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse

1000 William Hilton Parkway, B-6 843.715.3565 | cowboybraziliansteakhouse.com A unique, all-you-can eat “Churrascaria.” Enjoy a 30 item salad bar, 6 Brazilian hot dishes and a “parade” of 16 USDA Prime cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork carved tableside.

CQ’s Restaurant

140 Lighthouse Rd. | 843.671.2779 | CQsRestaurant.com Fine dining, an intimate atmosphere and a bit of Hilton Head history. Signature dishes include fresh seafood, beef & game.“Bistro” menu offers smaller portions.

Crane’s Tavern Steakhouse & Seafood

"pizza, pizza, or pita" pita

26 New Orleans Rd. | 843.341.2333 | cranestavern.com Perfect for steak and seafood lovers, serving cuts of only USDA Prime grade beef, their Famous Prime Rib. Excellent selection of fresh fish, seafood & pasta dishes.

Crazy Crab Harbour Town

Harbour Town | 843.363.2722 | thecrazycrab.com Genuine service and fresh seafood; a Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years! Menus feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” local shrimp and more.

Delisheeyo

32 Palmetto Bay Road | 843.785.3633 | delisheeeyo.com Vegetarian. Smoothies, Buddha Bowls and more. They provide meals that you can trust, that are real, and healthy.

Healthy Habit

33 Office Park Rd. | 843-686-5600 | healthyhabithhi.com Quick service style restaurant with a focus on chopped salads, superfood bowls, fresh bottled juices, smoothies, breakfast and organic coffee & teas and other plant based items.

Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill

70 Pope Avenue | 843.686.5959 | hincheys.com Hinchey’s has much in common with a sports bar, but is very much a restaurant, too. It is casual, with beach-goers invited to stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner. Dine inside or out.

Hinoki Restaurant & Sushi Bar

37 New Orleans Rd. | 843.785.9800 | hinokihhi.com Serving traditional Japanese dishes including grilled fish, chicken and steak, sukiyaki, noodle dishes, tempura, and daily specials, plus sushi and sashimi. Reservations recommended.

It’s Greek To Me

11 Lagoon Rd. | 843.842.4033 | itsgreektomehhi.com Genuine Greek cuisine, from gyros to fried calamari to souvlaki to baklava for dessert. Food is prepared with authentic Greek recipes and they have the only gyro machines on the island.

Kenny B’s Cajun/Creole Seafood

70-A Pope Ave. | 843.785.3315 New Orleans traditions such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, and authentic gumbos. Home of the Island’s best po’ boys and fried seafood. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch.

Michael Anthony’s

37 New Orleans Rd. | 843.785.6272 | michael-anthonys.com Offering upscale classic Italian fine dining featuring innovative preparations and farm fresh ingredients. Open Table rates them as one of the country's Top 50 Italian Restaurants.

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Nick’s Steak & Seafood

9 Park Lane | 843.686.2920 | nickssteakandseafood.com Nick’s Steak & Seafood offers steaks, seafood, barbecue, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, soups, burgers, pasta and a kids’s menu. Reservations accepted. Large parties welcome.

Nunzio Restaurant + Bar

18 New Orleans Road | 843.715.2172 | nunziohhi.com Nunzio Restaurant + Bar specializes in fresh seafood and homemade pasta. Beautiful 1,300-square-foot restaurant with a large bar area and two outdoor seating areas.

Ombra Cucina Italiana

1000 William Hilton Pkwy | 843.842.5505 | ombrahhi.com Chef Michael Cirafesi promotes the foods & wines of Italy. He prepares all pastas, homemade gnocchi, desserts and breads daily. A European-style bar & lounge with Italian cocktails.

One Hot Mama's

Reilleys Plaza | 843.682.6262 | onehotmamas.com One Hot mama’s is a family-friendly restaurant. Try their delicious Meat & 3 combo platters, authentic BBQ platters, hand-cut steaks, burgers, char-grilled chicken and “the world’s best” wings.

Palmetto Bay Sun Rise Café

Palmetto Bay Marina | 843.686.3232 | palmettobaysunrisecafe.com Breakfast fare starting from 6 a.m. Breakfast and lunch items are available continuously. The cafe offers to-go lunches for charter boats, the beach or any occasion. Open 7 days a week.

Phillys Cafe & Deli

55 New Orleans Rd. | 843.785.9966 | phillyscafe.com Phillys’ motto is “Best sandwiches on the island...Period!” Custom sandwiches with bread baked fresh daily. The pita wraps and salads are both imaginative and health-conscious.

Red Fish

8 Archer Rd. | 843-686-3388 | redfishofhiltonhead.com Red Fish specializes in beautifully prepared seafood and steaks. Choose from a 1,000-plus bottle selection of wines from around the world. Private dining room for large parties.

Reilley’s Grill & Bar

7D Greenwood Dr. | 843.842.4414 | reilleyshiltonhead.com Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years.

Lunch & dinner daily, & Sunday brunch. The bar is open late.

Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras

5 Lagoon Road | 843.689.2662 | rockfishhhi.com A family seafood restaurant and bar near the beach. Offering fresh and local lowcounty ingredients paired with craft beers and wines. Kids menu. Lunches to Go for the beach.

Salty Dog Cafe

South Beach Marina Village | 843.671.7327 | saltydog.com One of Hilton Head’s favorite outdoor cafes for more than 20 years. Fresh seafood. Both indoor and outdoor seating. Live music & children’s entertainment nightly seasonally.

Sea Shack

6 Executive Park Rd. | 843.785.2464 | seashackhhi.com One of the island’s most extensive menus of seafood & more. Voted one of "South Carolina’s best seafood spots" by Coastal Living and Southern Living.

Slapfish

1024 William Hilton Pwy (by Sea Pines Circle) | 843.521.5830 | Slapfishrestaurant.com Slapfish, the nation’s fastest growing seafood restaurants is locally owned and operated by the Lomasney family serving honest flippin’ seafood infused with lots of flavor!

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IIDINE OUTII

OUR FAVORITES FOR

"breakfast,

Stack’s Pancakes & More

2 Regency Pkwy. & Hwy. 278 | 843.341.3347 Enjoy pancakes, waffles, house-made fruit sauces, crepes, Crème Brûlée French Toast, shrimp & grits, crab benedict, shrimp omelet with lobster cream sauce. Gluten free items.

Stellini

15 Executive Park Rd. | 843.785.7006 | stellinihhi.com Family owned & operated since 1989! Popular Italian appetizers and entrees from NY & Northern NJ. Delicious pasta, poultry, veal, seafood, beef and lamb all expertly prepared.

The Studio

20 Executive Park Road | 843.785.6000 | studiodining.com Dine while enjoying watching artists paint in the elegant studio. The menu uses the finest regional, natural & organic ingredients. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menu offerings.

Truffles

Sea Pines Center | 843.671.6136 | trufflescafe.com Local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, soups, sandwiches, and salads.

Specialties include glazed grouper, mango salmon, crab cakes, meatloaf and fried shrimp.

Vine

1 N Forest Beach Drive | 843.686.3900 From marinated octopus to field greens from nearby St. George, the offerings at this intimate bistro are a treat for all. Mediterranean cuisine with a hint of Asian fusion.

Reservations.

BLUFFTON:

Amigos, Bluffton

133 Belfair Town Village | 843.815.8226 Authentic Mexican taqueria, serving delicious food “inspired by Mexican cuisine from Baja, Mexico, to Santa Barbara, California.” Owner Andrew Farbman created Amigos’ famous BBQ Chicken Salad. Amigos uses the finest ingredients.

British Open Pub

Sheridan Park | 843.815.6736 | britishopenpub.net Pub-style restaurant featuring authentic English food. Excellent signature fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, steak and mushroom pie, and bangers and mash. Also wide selection of American appetizers and entrées. Lunch & dinner daily.

Captain Woody's

17 State Of Mind St | 843.757.6222 | captainwoodys.com Grab a seat at the rooftop deck, inside, or just belly up to the bar and enjoy a casual awesome meal. Offering a full lunch and dinner menu day and evening, happy hour daily, live music seasonally, and brunch on Sundays.

ChowDaddy’s

15 Towne Dr. | 843.757.CHOW(2469) | chowdaddys.com Focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Enjoy salads, sliders, a house ground rib eye burger, or their famous smoked fried chicken. Serving lunch & dinner daily.

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CELEBRATING 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS... GRAZIE!!!

lunch & dinner" Cinco Mexican Grill

102 Buckwalter Pkwy | 843.815.2233 | cincomexgrill.com Authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch using traditional and modern recipes.

Popular dishes include Cinco Bowl, Piña Fajitas, Carnitas, Enchiladas, Chimichangas, Flautas & flan.

Corner Perk Brunch Cafe & Coffee Roasters

1297 May River Road | 843.816.5674 | cornerperk.com Locally owned Brunch Cafe and coffeehouse that takes great pride in it’s house roasted coffee, homemade syrups, and high quality service. Enjoy breakfast wraps, sandwiches and lunch wraps, sandwiches, and salads.

Giuseppi's Pizza & Pasta

25 Bluffton Rd | 843.815.9200 | giuseppispizza.com They take pride in serving excellent, award-winning pizza (since 1984), plus a broad variety of well-prepared pastas, sandwiches, wings, garden fresh salads and more.

Island Bagel & Deli

17 Sherington Dr. | 843.815.5300 | islandbagelanddeli.com The island's only New York style boiled bagels made from scratch daily. Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 home-made cream cheeses, pastries & breakfast sandwiches. For lunch: specialty hoagies, classic sandwiches & salads.

RISTORANTE ITALIANO MONDAY-SATURDAY LUNCH 11:30-2PM • DINNER 5:30-UNTIL

We are taking all necessary precautions for your safe dining experience!

843-342-9949 • ilcarpaccioofhh.com 200A Museum Street, Hilton Head Island

Nonna Lucia

5 Godfrey Place | 843.707.4281 | blufftonnonnalucia.com Bluffton's only BYOB! Nonna Lucia is a casual award winning Italian Restaurant, Early dining daily, live music every Friday and Saturday evening. Opens 4pm. Closed Mondays.

Olive & Fig

1533 Fording Island Road | 843.707.1934 Olive & Fig provides guests with a unique opportunity to experience authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The menu features Lebanese and Greek dishes alongside traditional Mediterranean fare, and gluten free and vegetarian options.

Truffles

Belfair Towne Village | 843.815.5551 | trufflescafe.com Casual cafe featuring the “freshest and finest of everything!” Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups and garden salads. Covered patio. Lunch, dinner daily. Full cocktail bar. Happy hour from 4-6.

VISIT US @ HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

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IIMARCO’S PERSPECTIVEII

MP reflecting ON A PANDEMIC

April, this time last year, marked the pandemic raging on our shores, when we went into full lockdown. Remembering its anniversary, I’m sending this letter back in time to anyone who wishes to read it.

Brace yourself. The whispers of a global pandemic have become sirens. But not the Odyssean kind.

You’ll never quite hear them the same way again, their Doppler shift shuttling yet another soul to the E.R. It’s not the flu; it’s different this time. You’re no economist, but you’re pretty sure something in the supply chain has to break. But you just want to know if you’ve got enough toilet paper.

The stocks are going haywire; it’s madness on Wall Street.

But right now, you’re sifting through the noise for the sound of something you can control. You’re wondering how much hand sanitizer helps, if you should wipe down your groceries, and whether you should let your kids play with the neighbors. You’re wondering just how many cans of soup to stock up on, and if you shouldn’t take it a step further — enough water for two weeks, flashlights, a generator for fear of power failure?

But you’re wrong to worry — at least not about that. If you’re fortunate, you won’t have to worry about food, water or shelter. The hurt is going to be something far less tangible — your livelihood, the way you thought your life was headed, even who you are. You’ll find just how flimsy “identity” really is without a social web to remind you you’re needed.

Some of you will feel very much unneeded by society for a long time. But you’re most cherished by your family.

Perhaps it’s a welcome change, you decide. Cruelly, some

of you will be so needed by society your family languishes for the crumbs of time you have to share, after taking off your scrubs to shower the virus off.

But if you’re like most of us, time is something you’ll have in spades. Without the commute or obliged social functions, perhaps being out of work altogether, you’ll finally come to understand Einstein’s special relativity. You’re not in motion, you chuckle, and you won’t be for some time. And doesn’t time slow for the observer, or is it the other way around?

Faces will lose their expression, so you have to follow the eyes. You’ll get the mood wrong half the time, but keep trying.

It’s emotional relativity. Behind their masks and their worries, they’re in their world and you’re in yours. You try for small talk but most of the time, it falls to the floor. You’ll give anything to see the barista break into a smile.

Oh, you’ll be late with flowers for Valentine’s Day but that’s just the kind of year it’ll be. When everything’s relative, it’s the thought that counts.

We’ve sprung forward for daylight saving time now. If only it wasn’t an hour but a year.

But then I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of writing to you.

P.S. They made a vaccine! It’s a feat without precedent.

WHEN EVERYTHING’S RELATIVE, IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS.

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MARCO FREY : marcofreythinks@gmail.com