Bluffton Monthly January 2022

EAGLE CAM

LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

HEALTHY LIVING

BLUFFTON INTRIGUING PEOPLE

OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

2022

School

SPOTLIGHT

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MOnthLY

VOICE of the LOWCOUNTRY

843-842-6988 | hiltonheadmonthly.com MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR

Marc Frey marc@hiltonheadmonthly.com

PRESIDENT

Anuska Frey anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com

C0-PUBLISHERS

Meredith DiMuzio meredith@hiltonheadmonthly.com Sasha Sweeney sasha@hiltonheadmonthly.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Anthony Garzilli anthony@hiltonheadmonthly.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Rebecca Cashwell cashwell@hiltonheadmonthly.com

ART DIRECTOR

Madison Elrod madison@hiltonheadmonthly.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Allyson Venrick allyson@hiltonheadmonthly.com

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 Cathy Flory cathy@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-1538

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Heather Edge heather@yourlocalmarketingteam.com PHOTOGRAPHERS: Madison Elrod, Guido Flueck, Rob Kaufman, Ruthe Ritterbeck, Lloyd Wainscott WRITERS: Amy Coyne Bredeson, Nicole Cram, Becca Edwards, Jessica Farthing, Nina Greenplate, Justin Jarrett, Barry Kaufman, Tony Kukulich, Carrie Hirsch, Mark E. Lett, Vickie McIntyre, Dean Rowland, Tim Wood

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IIJANUARY ISSUEII

“must reads”

38

126 38 M ainstay of Cultural Life Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra celebrates 40 years.

50 M aking the Extra Effort

Barbers of the Lowcountry evolves for its customers.

61 I ntriguing People

Meet a collection of the Lowcountry’s unique personalities.

61 80 Top Teacher

Aimee Whitesell is a passionate supporter of her students.

126 E agle Insight

24-7 camera keeps an on eye on nature.

EAGLE CAM

LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

HEALTHY LIVING

BLUFFTONHI

EAGLE CAM

INTRIGUING PEOPLE

OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

LTON HEAD AWARDS

HEALTHY LIVING

2022

School

SPOTLIG HT

2022

School

SPOTLIGHT

intriguin g

156 F it for Life

Professional trainers take fitness to the next level.

LIGHTHOUSE

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people OF THE LO WCOUNT RY

JANUARY

ABOUT THE COVERS:

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95

Photographer Lloyd Wainscott captured Andrea Brown and her pup for our Bluffton cover. Roger Pinckney was shot by photographer Rob Kaufman for our Hilton Head cover.

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IIJANUARY 2022II

contents

42

100

NEWS

26 : Parkways Project Intersection realignment plan sits idle.

COMMUNITY

42 : Ms. South Carolina Motivates Bluffton’s Julia Herrin a ‘change maker.’

BUSINESS

52 : Financial Resolutions Make your money matter in 2022.

58 : Incentive to Save Changes to 529 Plan could benefit grandparents.

EDUCATION

78 : Faith and Knowledge St. Francis Catholic School celebrates 25 years in education.

84 : School Profiles Celebrating first-class centers of learning.

SPORTS

100 : Title Teams High school squads capture championships.

HOME

108 : Lighthouse Awards Recognizing the best in building.

160 HEALTH

145 : Stay in Shape Exercise promotes overall well-being.

150 : Smart Eating Options to help promote optimal health.

154 : Improve Your Posture Be aware of the movement of your body.

PETS

160 : Be the Best Owner Tips to take care of your pet.

GOOD DEEDS

166 : Giving Back Gullah Foundation promotes culture.

DINING

+ IN

EVERY ISSUE

185 : Flavorful Recipes Easy-made meals to savor.

20 : At The Helm 22 : Opinion 24 : Contributor 30 : News

18 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

32 : Pets to Adopt 34 : Photos of the Month 36 : Community Connection 46 : On the Move

132 : Real Estate News 168 : Calendar 178 : Restaurant Listings 192 : Last Call

IIAT THE HELMII

dear reader...

Sasha Sweeney and family.

Meredith DiMuzio and family.

The Lowcountry is full of fascinating people who make our community unique.

Our annual Intriguing People of the Lowcountry issue celebrates who we are and highlights the compelling backgrounds of our neighbors.

You may know some of the people featured, but we promise you’ll learn things about them you didn’t know.

Education is in the spotlight this month and we salute Aimee Whitesell, Beaufort County School District’s teacher of the year, who brings her passion for teaching to her students at Battery Creek High School.

We also profile many of the great school options available to students in this region.

The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra has been a mainstay for 40 years. Learn about its beginnings and how it continues to offer performances that captivate the Lowcountry.

The new year is time to focus on being your best self.

We offer tips that will help you physically and provide a mental boost. Professional trainers can help us build confidence as well as take care of our bodies. Meet some of the area’s best who strive to keep the Lowcountry active and healthy.

It was certainly a successful fall high school sports season. The Lowcountry is proud to be home to South Carolina’s Mr. Football and our area has a repeat state-titlewinning football team in Hilton Head Christian Academy and repeat winners in girls golf (May River and three-peat champions Hilton Head Prep). And the area’s schools had champion swimmers.

Their efforts are worth saluting.

We wish you all the best in 2022.

The team at Monthly is looking forward to sharing the area’s most captivating stories with you and chronicling the history of the Lowcountry as it unfolds.

SASHA SWEENEY MEREDITH DIMUZIO Co-Publishers

SEE OUR

SCHOOL PROFILES PAGE 84

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IIOPINIONII

“letter ” LET’S DO IT TOGETHER

BY JOHN NEWMAN It is that time of year. The holidays are over, and we are ready to hit reset on our personal health initiatives.

Whether you declare a New Year’s Resolution, commit to a dry January, or go out and renew that gym membership once again, let’s agree to one thing: Let’s do it together.

It is widely believed that we will be more successful in these health measures if we share our goals with friends, family and anyone who will help us achieve better health.

Goal-directed therapy with motivational interviewing is a new trend in healthcare to seek out what motivates each of us to actually change behavior.

Changing behavior can be hard, and what motivates you to train for a marathon might not even get me off the couch.

For example, I had a patient who for years was struggling with losing weight until he decided the most important thing on his bucket list was to go sky diving. It turns out that there is a weight limit to what a parachute can support. One hundred pounds lost, and a year later, he was sky diving.

What is going to motivate you this year? It would be well worth your time to truly figure this out, and then put it to use.

The other critical element for success is goal setting and accountability. We all perform better with accountability partners.

Our spouses, coaches, doctors and nurses help us set goals and then hold us accountable to achieve them, celebrating every inch we get closer to that goal.

At the Volunteers in Medicine Clinic we have goals to improve the health of our patients and our community. We are specifically focusing on food as medicine to help blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and other disease conditions. No one would argue that

John Newman is Executive Director of Volunteers in Medicine Clinic.

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some of the food we eat can hurt us, but we are focused more on learning and teaching how good food can improve health and wellness.

Here is a fun medical fact.

The human body can make fat in one specific way. We use a powerful hormone named insulin to grab the excess sugar in our blood and turn it into fat.

We don’t make fat by eating fat, we make fat by eating sugar. When that process happens, our bodies stay so focused on sugar, we are incapable of actually burning fat for up to three days — even if you are eating salads and going to the gym.

An initiative that has begun with our community partners is to change the ask for food donations from pasta, rice, and cereal to a diabetic friendly food donation of beans, canned meat, eggs, and healthy protein sources. These thoughtful donations will be very helpful for those struggling with diabetes and obesity as they are learning new ways to shop and prepare food for themselves and their families.

Might we partner as a community in achieving our health goals this year? Let’s spend that time and identify what it truly is that will motivate each of us.

Let’s share our goals with those who will help us succeed and keep our distance from the saboteurs.

When we commit to a pledge, we tend to follow through. Maybe it is time we pledge something more important than dollars.

Why don’t we pledge our personal health goals (Pledge the Pounds) and show how a community committed to each other can improve health and wellness?

We are all in.

IIBEHIND THE SCENESII

Meet Our Featured Writer

TONY KUKULICH

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

BOOKS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2022 The new year signals the promise of new books ready to be read and savored.

Here are a few titles we are looking forward to this year:

“Being a writer is the best way to get to know a new place. I get to meet and talk to new acquaintances nearly every day. It’s been a great experience so far, and I’m looking forward to doing more of the same.”

A recent transplant to the Lowcountry, Tony and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Bluffton. Before his move to South Carolina, Tony spent nearly seven years in the San Francisco Bay area. He worked as a staff photographer and reporter covering breaking news, environmental issues, the COVID-19 pandemic and public safety as well as general assignments for a weekly newspaper.

His work earned awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the National Newspaper Association.

Prior to his start in journalism, Tony spent nearly three decades working a variety of roles in the financial services industry in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. He was an English major at the University of Delaware.

Tony enjoys hiking, biking and is looking forward to getting a kayak to take advantage of the local rivers and creeks. He has also been a musician for most of his life and is currently working with a Bluffton-based jazz group. Tony and Jennifer have three grown children and two fabulous granddaughters.

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The Swimmers, Julie Otsuka An “intimate” tale of mothers and daughters and the sorrows of implacable loss, Otsuka’s novel focuses on a character who is slowly losing her memory. For Alice, the pool was her stand against the “darkness of her encroaching dementia.”

“The Swimmers” is expected to be released Feb. 22.

The Candy House, Jennifer Egan A Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” Jennifer Egan has written a “deeply moving novel about the quest for authenticity and meaning” in the world.

“The Candy House” is expected to be available April 5.

Gwendy’s Final Task, Stephen King and Richard Chizmar.

This is the final installment in the Gwendy’s Button Box trilogy written with Richard Chizmar.

“Gwendy’s Final Task” is expected to be released Feb. 15.

CHECK IT OUT @ HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 1 // 25

IILOCAL NEWSII

PROGRESS IN PARKWAYS PLAN STALLS

INTERSECTION REALIGNMENT PROJECT SITS IDLE

BY MARK E. LETT

Like a car left at the side of the road, plans for realigning the Buckwalter and Bluffton parkways intersection sit idle, awaiting a jump start.

Plans and proposals for the roads have advanced in fits and starts for more than 15 years.

After a burst of activity in the fall — including a public hearing attended by more than 100 area residents — the much-studied initiative was set aside by a committee of the Beaufort County Council.

Instead of advancing any plans to the full council, members of the Public Facilities Committee agreed to stand down and ask Bluffton town officials to stipulate how, when and whether they would like to proceed.

In a free-wheeling discussion, county committee members initially considered a proposal to “shelve” the project, before agreeing to “punt” the matter to the town.

County Council member Logan Cunningham, whose district covers Bluffton, said he favored the delay.

“I think there are way, way too many questions, too many variables — whether it’s from funding, which options, who is pushing it, what the neighborhoods think and what’s the ultimate goal of the project,” Cunningham said in a video report to constituents.

Jared Fralix, assistant county administrator for engineering, said the overarching goal is to adjust the parkways to accommodate increasing amounts of traffic and development for safety, efficient flow and smart growth.

Traffic continues to increase on the parkways. A 2009 study of the Bluffton Parkway showed average daily traffic flow of 8,548 vehicles. By 2018, volume grew to 14,623, a study showed.

The challenge can be met in either of two ways, Fralix said: By being proactive in designing plans to guide growth and activity, or by taking no action and reacting to future conditions.

The county has developed a fistful of options that range 26 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

from tweaks to a wholesale overhaul and expansion of the parkway system.

From removing the dogleg between the two parkways to extending the parkway system, the process is complicated, controversial and costly.

Homeowners, developers, environmentalists and taxpayers express concerns about who will pay, neighborhood disruption, environmental impact, the benefits and drawbacks to growth and who benefits and who loses.

The October public hearing was heavily attended by homeowners asking whether the so-called 5B project to extend the Bluffton Parkway to Buck Island would slash through empty property at the Woodbridge, Townes and Rose Hill communities.

Depending upon an alternative ultimately approved, costs could range from $2.5 million to some $10 million, officials estimate.

For now, the county is limiting its focus to an access management study of the Buckwalter Parkway between Fording Island and the Bluffton Parkway intersection. The study is limited to county-managed property and is intended to examine traffic signals, traffic volume and the impact on safety and traffic flow.

Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka said the town is discussing how to proceed, now that the county has limited its activity.

“We are in the process of responding to the request from the county and want to set up a time for both governments to meet,” she said.

She said the town “several years” ago put money toward parkway realignment and has plans that show options for the change and also allowing easy access for the neighborhoods that would be affected.

An essential next step, she said, is to “sit down and discuss our issues face-to-face and, hopefully, getting town and county staff and elected officials to go over what we all can agree on will get us back on track.”

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IILOCAL NEWSII

OPTION A: Full access at the Townes subdivision is modified to a limited access with a right-in/right out/left-in intersection. Left turnouts of the subdivision are eliminated. Vehicles headed south on Buckwalter Parkway would be required to head north for an expanded U-turn at the Buckwalter Place signal.

OPTION B: A full median at the Townes subdivision would be installed with only right-in/rightout access. An access road from Buckwalter Townes Blvd. north to the Buckwalter Place signal near Lord of Life Church would allow for left turns on Buckwalter Parkway.

OPTION C: Includes all of Option B with the addition of moving the signal at Parker’s gas station.

Relocating the signal would allow for road improvements behind Parker’s and at the entrance to the Sandy Pointe subdivision to gain access to the signal.

OPTION D: Builds off Option C and provides additional access to the Church of the Cross; extends a second access road north to the Woodbridge subdivision

THE PARKWAYS: A WINDING ROAD Developing the Buckwalter and Bluffton parkways has taken many twists and turns.

• 2006: Project studies begin.

• April 2007: Original alignment shown at public meeting.

• March 2008: Public hearing for alignment plans.

• October 2008: Plans completed, then project put on hold due to funding issues.

• September 2010: Bluffton requests shift in alignment at western portion of project.

• February 2014: Revised, final plans completed.

• November 2019: Bluffton asks county to proceed only with intersection alignment west of Buckwalter Parkway.

• September 2021: Four options presented to Town of Bluffton. Based on comments, a fifth option is developed.

OPTION E: Builds off Options C and D with a two-lane roadway extended from Buckwalter Parkway to north/south Woodbridge subdivision access road. Allows for a future north/south connection to U.S. 278.

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• October 2021: Beaufort County Public Facilities Committee postpones further design on the project and encourages Town of Bluffton to proceed with further design as it chooses.

Source: Beaufort County Engineering

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 2 // 29

IILOCAL NEWSII

“in the know ” The Town of Hilton Head extended the contract of its manager, a Bluffton student was charged with school threats and a Lowcountry tennis legend was honored. Here’s what made news during the past month:

SMITH PAVILION

HILTON HEAD ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL EXTENDS TOWN MANAGER’S CONTRACT Hilton Head Island Town Council voted 7-0 to extend the contract of town manager Marc Orlando and give him a bonus of $15,000. Orlando began working for the town on Feb. 22, 2021.

The terms of the contract were amended to coincide with the February start date and continue through February 21, 2025.

After 2025, the contract will automatically extend for one-year periods unless terminated. “We are very pleased with Marc’s performance and with the accomplishments of Town staff during his time with the Town,” said Mayor John McCann.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OUTDOOR PAVILION DEDICATED TO STAN AND MARGIE SMITH The Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island held a dedication ceremony Dec. 12 for its new outdoor pavilion, which was completed this year. The pavilion was dedicated to Stan and Margie Smith as “Club Champions” in honor of their long-standing commitment to the Club’s mission to serve those in need, a news release said.

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TCL

“We are extremely grateful to have Stan and Margie in our corner,” says Kim Likins, Club director. “Their tireless commitment to making sure our young Members have bright futures is truly remarkable.”

Stan Smith joined the Board in 1994 and has been an advocate for the Club’s mission ever since. The Club also recognized its “Great Futures” Capital Campaign donors who gave generously in support of the Club’s future.

Funding was made possible by a grant from the Town of Hilton Head Island’s HUD Community Development Block Grant.

MORE CHARGES FOR FORMER PROMINENT ATTORNEY Alex Murdaugh, a former Lowcountry attorney involved in numerous criminal and civil cases, faced new charges as of early-December. S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson announced Dec. 9 that Murdaugh faces seven indictments with 21 new charges. The Associated Press said the indictments include seven more alleged schemes between 2016 and 2020 where the attorney told clients their

settlements were smaller than expected or they had to pay extra fees for things like accident reconstruction, according to court records. Murdaugh faces 12 state grand jury indictments, with 48 separate charges.

TCL HONORS ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING GRADUATES The Technical College of the Lowcountry recognized 11 associate degree nursing graduates during a pinning ceremony at the Beaufort Mather Campus. The graduates are Stacy Bajorek, Krystal Deitsch, Isabella Fallon, Sharonda Jenkins, Rashida Johnson, Kerri Jones, Kimberly Lunceford, Katy Sandoval, Brittany Shuman, Kayla Sikes, and Nikole Wright.

TCL’s two-year ADN program prepares graduates to practice as registered nurses.

Students experience on-campus learning using high-tech simulation equipment and receive intense additional hands-on practice at clinical sites located throughout Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton counties.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 2 // 31

IILOCAL NEWSII

“pets”

OF THE MONTH COUNTY SALES TAX RATE CHANGES The sales and use tax rate in Beaufort County changed Jan. 1, dropping the rate in Beaufort County to 6 percent.

Those paying an Accommodations Tax in Beaufort County will pay 7 percent. The 1 percent Transportation Tax became effective May 1, 2019 after Beaufort County voters approved the tax in 2018. The stated goal was raising $120 million for improvements to Beaufort County roads and bridges.

SCHOOLS REPORT THREATENING MESSAGES The Beaufort County School District said threatening messages warning of school shootings were found in bathrooms at Bluffton H.E. McCracken Middle, Bluffton Middle, Beaufort Middle, and Beaufort High schools. Law enforcement investigated the threats and planned an increased presence on the campuses. The Bluffton Police Department said Dec. 10 it charged a juvenile for writing a threatening message in a bathroom at McCracken Middle School. The student was charged with making student threats and malicious injury to property, according to Police Chief Stephenie Price. Hilton Head Island High School was put on lockdown after law enforcement received a phone call about a possible threat to the school.

The lockdown was lifted after two hours.

FOOD TRUCK OWNER ARRESTED ON FEDERAL DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES

PEBBLES Age: 3 years old Gender: Male Weight: 37 pounds Breed: Carolina Dog and Lab mix Temperament: Obedient, loving, laid back.

FRED Age: 3 years old Gender: Male Weight: 57 pounds Breed: Walker hound Temperament: Laid back, loving, easy going.

A Bluffton food truck owner was arrested on federal drug trafficking and conspiracy charges. According to an indictment, Isaac Jimenez Nava, 30, who owns Maiz Taqueria, is accused of working with another man, Sandy Clark to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, 100 grams of heroin and 40 grams of fentanyl, beginning in at least 2019. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to The Post & Courier.

HILTON HEAD ADOPTS PLAN FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS Hilton Head Island Town Council voted unanimously to adopt a strategic plan that guides the work of the Town’s Office of Cultural Affairs, including initiatives to promote art and culture organizations and enhance quality of life for the community. The plan includes goals, strategies and tactics for several initiatives such as public art, the annual Crescendo event, historic sites and cultural preservation. A copy of the plan will be available on the Town’s website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov, and the OCA’s website at culturehhi.org. The adoption of the plan will

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Adopt them at: Rogue Rescue & Sanctuary Located in Bluffton. By appointment only.

Donations and foster families also needed.

CALL 843-816-0097 OR WWW.ROGUERESCUE.ORG.

PRICE

provide direction and support for the Office of Cultural Affairs during the next three years, according to Jenn McEwen, director of the Town’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

LOWCOUNTRY CHURCH PARTNERS WITH DOLLY PARTON BOOK INITIATIVE Lowcountry Community Church has partnered with Dolly Parton’s Imagination

IMAGINATION LIBRARY

Library to bring free books to all children under the age of 5 in Beaufort County.

Since it launched in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has gifted more than 160 million free books.

Register at lowcountrycc.org/ imaginationlibrary, call 843-836-1101 or email jbest@lowcountrycc.org.

MLK CELEBRATION PLANNED ON HILTON HEAD The Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice plans to celebrate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on Jan. 17. The keynote speaker will be Sen. Mia McLeod. The celebration will include worship, speakers, music, a presentation of the MLK Community Service Award and a fellowship luncheon. For more, hiltonheadmlk.com.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 2 // 33

IIMY PERSPECTIVEII

PHOTOS MONTH OF THE

2

1

3

1. This beautiful sunset on Hilton Head Island was photographed by Jude Williams. 2. Gail Sherman photographs a dog taking a dip in the water on Hilton Head.

3. A sunset on Hilton Head as captured by Marc Schwitters.

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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IIIN THE SPOTLIGHTII

“community connection ”

HILTON HEAD CRAFTERS

STAN SMITH EXHIBIT

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY AWARDS MORE THAN $345,000 IN GRANTS TO LOWCOUNTRY NONPROFITS In its first competitive grant cycle of the 2022 fiscal year, Community Foundation of the Lowcountry awarded $345,401 in grants to seven nonprofit organizations. The funds were awarded to Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project ($122,300); Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity ($85,000); Mental Health America of Beaufort/Jasper ($18,351); Programs for Exceptional People ($18,000); Second Founding of America (formerly Reconstruction Beaufort) ($30,150); Second Helpings ($12,000); and Volunteers in Medicine ($59,600).

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION CRAFTERS RAISE MONEY FOR HOSPICE CARE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY Hilton Head Plantation Crafters hosted its 26th crafting and bake sale to benefit Hospice Care of the Lowcountry. The event generated over $16,000 in donations. The crafters began in 1980, and in 1995 Hilton Head Plantation Crafters partnered with Hospice Care of the Lowcountry and began holding annual craft and bake sales with all proceeds supporting the nonprofit organization. To date, these combined sales have generated over $260,000 in donations to Hospice Care of the Lowcountry. To learn more about Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, visit to hospicecarelc.org.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND CITIZENS RECOGNIZED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE Karen Bittman, Carol Clemens, Mike Kelly and Mike Rudy received the Hilton Head Island Mayor’s Honored Islander Award in recognition of their service and contributions to community organizations.

“Our community is filled with amazing residents who unselfishly give back to help our organizations and others who live here,” said Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann.

Bittman has been a volunteer with the Deep Well Project and participates in the All Saints Church Garden Tour; For 15 years, Clemens has been tutoring Hispanic children at the Boys and Girls Club and serving as an interpreter for Hispanic patients at Volunteers in Medicine; For more than 30 years, Kelly has cooked food sold at sports concession stands for the Hilton Head Gator football program. He also built a concession stand at a local high school; Rudy volunteers with the local chapter of the Knights of Columbus. He spearheads the organization’s annual spaghetti dinner and golf tournament.

SEA PINES RESORT ADDS PICKLEBALL COURTS Six pickleball courts are part of the racquet sports’ offerings at Hilton Head’s Sea Pines Resort. Courts are available to resort guests and non-guests.

Pickleball had a 650% increase in participation over the past six years, according to the USA Pickleball Association.

BORASKY’S CIRCUS RAISES FUNDS FOR POCKETS FULL OF SUNSHINE Local golf group Borasky’s Circus donated proceeds from its golf tournament to Pockets Full of Sunshine.

The event, which featured 48 participants, was held at Dolphin Head Golf Club (with lunch provided by New York City Pizza). More than $5,000 was raised.

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NEW EXHIBIT HONORS TENNIS LEGEND STAN SMITH The Smith Stearns Tennis Academy is honoring Stan Smith’s illustrious tennis career and leadership. Staff members of the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy, in collaboration with the staff at The Shops at Sea Pines Center, created the Stan Smith Exhibit. Learn about highlights of Smith’s professional career, which made him a tennis legend on and off court and for Hilton Head Island. Smith won the U.S. Open Championship in 1971 and Wimbledon Championship in 1972.

HILTON HEAD SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY TidePointe, A Vi Community, a Hilton Head-based senior living community, celebrated 25 years of operation in October. The celebration at TidePointe’s clubhouse featured a tapas presentation and entertainment by local jazz band, The John Brackett Trio. Two residents — one of whom is 101 years old — and four staff members were recognized for their 25 years with the community.

WAHHI LUNCHEON

FOUNDATION AWARDS 19 GRANTS TO TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS The Foundation for Educational Excellence awarded 13 Innovative Teacher Grants and six School Resource Grants to teachers across Beaufort County from 14 different schools. The grants totaled more than $26,000. This year’s learning projects range from producing a musical to creating a South Carolina fence garden and from cooking classes for Special Education high school students to a composting program at Bluffton Elementary School. For a list of all winners, visit foundationedexcellence.com.

WAHHI CELEBRATES RESILIENCE IN THE ARTS The Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island held its first indoor luncheon in two years on Dec. 9 at the Sonesta Hotel to celebrate “resilience in the arts” with a panel discussion that took the members behind the scenes to learn how live performances have survived and now thrives in the new normal. The panelists included Myla Lerner, Tony Award winning Broadway Producer and the President of the Board of the Lean Ensemble Theater in Hilton Head; Ron Tucker, President and CEO of the Beaufort Film Society; and Jordan Ross, Captain of Live Acoustical Taming and Talent Acquisition at the Roasting Room in Bluffton. Robyn Zimmerman, WHHI-TV host, moderated the panel. Women also donated over 200 toys for The Children’s Center and Bluffton Self Help.

LOW COUNTRY KAPPA DELTA AND SIGMA CHI ALUMNI CHAPTERS TO HOST BEACH WALK TO BENEFIT CAPA The Low Country Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter and the Hilton Head Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter are hosting a benefit Beach Walk starting at 10 a.m. March 19 at Coligny Beach Park on Hilton Head Island. The Beach Walk will be followed by an optional, socially-distant picnic at Lowcountry Celebration Park. A minimum donation of $10 per person is suggested. All donations will benefit CAPA (Child Abuse Prevention Association) of Beaufort. For more, call 843-384-4612.

IICOMMUNITYII

THE SYMPHONY HAS BECOME A LOWCOUNTRY MAINSTAY

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WORLD CL ASS

HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES 40 YEARS

BY AMY COYNE BREDESON | PHOTOS SUPPLIED

In 1982, a woman named Pat Rose posted handwritten notices titled “Chamber Music Anyone?” around Hilton Head Island, inviting local musicians to a meeting to discuss forming a chamber orchestra.

About 20 people attended that meeting in February 1982, and the group performed its first concert just two months later at Christ Lutheran Church on Hilton Head.

The Hilton Head Community Orchestra was incorporated as a nonprofit arts organization the following year.

Forty years later, that small community orchestra has become the world-class Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, employing more than 100 musicians to perform classical music, pops and jazz for the people of Hilton Head and beyond. The organization not only provides entertainment for music lovers; it offers educational programs to youth, hosts an international piano competition and has helped brand the Lowcountry as an arts and cultural destination.

“The symphony has become — and it’s been this way

for a very long time — a mainstay of cultural life on Hilton Head Island,” Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Alan Jordan said. “And in recent years, it’s becoming more of a mainstay of cultural life in Bluffton.”

In 1990, the orchestra began performing at First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head, which offers seating for 1,000 people. While they still perform at the church, the orchestra also plays at venues around the island and in Bluffton — indoors and outdoors.

One of its newest venues is the orchestra’s headquarters, SoundWaves, located at 7 Lagoon Road. The 7,300-squarefoot facility opened in 2018 and holds staff offices, as well as space for concerts and rehearsals. In the summer, the HHSO offers an intensive chamber music institute for youth at SoundWaves.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down events around the world, the local orchestra launched SoundWaves Streaming Live, a free Monday night series of more than

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50 live streaming performances, which were watched by tens of thousands of viewers.

After a whole year with no live in-person concerts, the orchestra hosted its first concert in April. A small orchestra performed an outdoor pops concert for a socially distanced audience of about 450 people at Lowcountry Celebration Park on Hilton Head. Jordan said the pops concert was a huge success.

In October, the orchestra performed its first indoor concert since the beginning of the pandemic to a limited audience at First Presbyterian Church.

HHSO has been cautious throughout the pandemic. Jordan said because the orchestra has an audience that’s predominantly susceptible to complications from COVID-19, the organization requires proof of vaccination for performers, staff, volunteers and audience members. Masks are recommended but not required.

In November, the orchestra was able to finally play again for a full-capacity audience at First Presbyterian. For many of the musicians, it was their first chance in a year-and-a-half to make music with their colleagues.

Holiday Pops is the HHSO’s most popular offering and this season’s concerts moved many in the audience to tears.

“I heard musicians say they looked out at the audience and

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saw people weeping for joy,” Jordan said. “They were just so happy that they could have this experience again.”

In addition to celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra is celebrating John Morris Russell’s 10th year as music director.

“That’s a pretty extraordinary feat in itself,” Jordan said.

“Hilton Head and the Hilton Head Symphony have been really fortunate to have this partnership with John.”

Russell simultaneously serves as the principal conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and the principal pops conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. The maestro earned a GRAMMY nomination with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in 2019.

Jordan said Russell has done extraordinary things to raise the artistic standard of the local orchestra and has brought exciting programs to the Lowcountry.

The orchestra is looking forward to playing full-scale orchestral music with larger audiences in the new year, starting with the fourth Orchestra Series program Jan. 9-10 when the 2020 Hilton Head International Piano Competition winner, Kevin Chen, will perform Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2.

For more information on HHSO or its upcoming events, visit hhso.org or call 843-842-2055.

IICOMMUNITYII

JULIA HERRIN CELEBRATES BEING CROWNED MISS SOUTH CAROLINA.

A Future Full of

POSSIBILITIES

BLUFFTON’S JULIA HERRIN USES MISS SOUTH CAROLINA PLATFORM TO PROMOTE CHANGE

BY VICKIE MCINTYRE | PHOTOS SUPPLIED Bluffton native Julia Herrin, the reigning Miss South Carolina, looks poised and professional as she strides forward in a fitted blue dress with matching heels.

It’s mid-November and her enthusiasm for the upcoming 100th Miss America Competition is even more striking than her outfit.

She’s also eager to dispel old notions about beauty queens.

“Every single day I speak. I go into schools, rotary clubs, and service organizations. I rarely model or wave in parades,” she laughs, adding that one week in October she traveled over 1,500 miles for presentations.

Another facet of her job is changing people’s perceptions of the Miss America Organization. For starters, the term “beauty pageant” is passe. Swimsuit competitions are gone, and formal evening gowns are no longer required.

“Career ambitions, scholastic goals, and community service,” she explains, are stressed over physical appearance, though how someone speaks and carries herself is still important.

A self-described “change maker,” Herrin’s community outreach revolves around her nonprofit #RealNotPerfect, which educates everyone from elementary students to senior citizens about the

importance of positive self-image and healthy social media use.

At 19, Herrin was the youngest competitor in this year’s field for Miss America (won in December by Miss Alaska Emma Broyles), yet she was unphased by the challenge before her.

“I’ve never seen age as anything other than a number,” she says.

Seeming to possess confidence and passion in spades, Herrin freely admits she’s struggled with self-esteem and anxiety.

As the child of Jeff and Jennifer Herrin, owners of Herrin Piano, she learned to play piano at 7 but avoided performing due to shyness.

Her mother suggested she enter the Miss Teen program at 13 to gain confidence.

“My first reaction was, ‘Absolutely not!’” recalls Herrin, then admits her mother and a friend plotted to make it happen. “My best friend said she’d do it with me. The day of the competition we’re getting ready for our interviews when she announces that she never had applied, and I was on my own.”

Herrin pushed through her comfort zone, determined to finish the competition.

Afterwards, she “felt courageous and decided to do it again.”

Her parents’ support, she stresses, was paramount. “They never

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IICOMMUNITYII made me feel like my worth came from this crown. My mother always insisted if the competitions weren’t fun, then it was time to quit.”

Homeschooling provided the flexibility and freedom to learn a lot about herself and how she works best.

“I was a YouTube junkie,” she said, detailing how she learned skills like applying makeup and curling her hair by watching videos. “I treated it like a class and studied former Miss Americas and Miss Teens.”

Inspired by Theresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011, who also had been homeschooled and was a pianist, Herrin set her sights on competing for Miss America someday.

“I’m not trying to be this person who is larger than life or some kind of celebrity,” she clarifies. “I’m just trying to be authentically Julia, so young women can say, ‘If she can do it, so can I.’ ” Herrin’s journey began in earnest in 2015, when she signed up to compete in Miss Bluffton Teen. As practice, she first competed in Lexington, S.C. — only to walk away as the winner.

At the state level, she earned second runner-up in 2017, followed by first runner-up in 2018. It was during the on-stage question portion of that year’s event when Herrin’s idea for #RealNotPerfect emerged.

When asked to talk about self-esteem in the age of social media, Herrin realized she had a lot to say. The following

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JULIA HERRIN PERFORMS IN COLUMBIA IN 2017.

week she bravely posted her own story on social media — the battles with self-doubt, being bullied, and overwhelming anxiety — and it “blew up.”

“In that moment I knew what I wanted to talk about if I became a state representative,” she says.

But the following year, she finished again as runner-up.

While completing her freshman year at Auburn University in 2021, Herrin decided to give the competition one more try. This time, though, she’d be an adult vying for the title of Miss South Carolina.

With the goal of finishing in the top 15, Herrin found herself in June standing with the top 5 finalists. Upon hearing her name announced as winner, she collapsed in joy.

“Insane, memorable, and unique,” are words she uses to describe her life since.

“I love every second of it,” she raves, confessing that learning to be resilient as she travels the state makes her feel like superwoman.

One thing is certain — Herrin is a changed person. The experience plus the scholarship money ($72,000 so far toward her dual degree in piano performance and communications with future law ambitions) plus the opportunity to do things she’s never done before equals a woman who sees a future full of possibilities.

And she’ll always thank the Miss America Organization for making it possible.

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IIBUSINESSII

“on the move ” 1. NEW STAFF MEMBERS WELCOMED TO HILTON HEAD ISLAND-BLUFFTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce welcomed four new staffers to its organization.

Michelle Pivik is the new Director of Member Recruitment and Engagement.

An island resident for 12 years, she was previously a small business owner and worked in broadcast sales and property management.

Seth Richardson joins the chamber’s Visitor & Convention Bureau division as the Director of Sales and Partnership Management. He was previously the assistant director of sales at the J.W. Marriott in Savannah and has worked at the Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate, Rosen Hotels & Resorts, and the Royal Sonesta in New Orleans.

Robin Bridgers also joins the chamber’s Visitor & Convention Bureau division as the Group Sales Coordinator.

She recently graduated from Clemson University with a degree in parks, recreation, and tourism management.

Megan Goheen is the new Visual Content Coordinator. She is a graduate of Miami of Ohio with a BFA in communications design and arts management and was previously an intern for the chamber.

2. NEW MEMBERS APPOINTED TO DESIGN REVIEW BOARD Beaufort City Council appointed two new members to the Design Review Board in November. The terms of Erik Petersen and William Suter began immediately and extend through June 2023.

Petersen, a Beaufort resident, is an architectural associate with the Beaufort firm, Moser Design Group. Suter, also a Beaufort resident, is retired and has 29 years in project management experience with design/build firms.

4. GIFT-BASKET BUSINESS EXPANDS Hilton Head-based Aunt Laurie’s, a gift-basket business with a mission to help adults with disabilities learn job skills, announced an expansion of fulfillment and warehouse activities with Spectra, a fully integrated fulfillment services provider based in North Charleston, a news release said. The baskets are handwoven at the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Center.

1. PIVIK

1.RICHARDSON

1. BRIDGERS

6. LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK ESTABLISHES FOUNDATION AND ENDOWMENT The Lowcountry Food Bank has established the Lowcountry Food Bank Foundation and the Patricia S. Walker Endowment to provide a sustainable source of income to supplement annual money raised by the Lowcountry Food Bank. The initiatives help expand the Lowcountry Food Bank’s reach to people in outlying areas of the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina it serves.

7. PLANT RIVERSIDE DISTRICT WELCOMES RESIDENT MAGICIAN David Jowers has joined Plant Riverside District in Savannah as its resident magician, performing live magic shows and strolling magic performances throughout the property.

Jowers performs magic regularly and is typically on-site Wednesday through Saturday from 6-10 p.m., performing free strolling magic throughout Savannah’s Entertainment District.

3. CBD BUSINESS EXPANDS Lighthouse CBD & Wellness has opened a third storefront, Coastal Carolina Hot Spot, which is on Palmetto Bay Road. Other locations are at Berkeley Place in Bluffton and Boundary Street in Beaufort. The shop offers CBD, hemp, Delta-8, and Kratom products, according to its website.

7. JOWERS

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5. REPORT: S.C. ECONOMY RECOVERING The state’s economy is doing well according to the Columbia Regional Business Report. Citing reports from the University of South Carolina’s annual economic conference, the CRBR said consumer spending on goods is about 25% higher than it was before the pandemic began, according to data presented at the 2021 conference. The Columbia Regional Business Report notes that University of South Carolina research economist Joey Von Nessen said the state can anticipate “being fully recovered” from the COVID recession in 2022, barring any setbacks. A concern is a tightening labor market and higher inflation, according to the report. Von Nessen said the tight state labor market is mostly the result of strong demand.

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IIBUSINESSII

EFFORT

BY ANTHONY GARZILLI PHOTOS BY GUIDO FLUECK

THREE GENERATIONS OF BARBERS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY: LOU, BRENT AND ANTHONY NELSEN.

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AFTER 25 YEARS, BARBERS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE FOR ITS CUSTOMERS The question nagged at Brent Nelsen back then and continues to motivate him today: What can we do that nobody else is doing?

Nelsen, who runs Barbers of the Lowcountry with his father Lou, was looking for a way to grow the business in 2009. The shop had grown from launching in 1997 on Hilton Head Island to its new spot in Bluffton in 2007, but Nelsen knew it could be much more.

The shop had survived the recession, but Nelsen said the business was a “typical shop,”; it didn’t necessarily stand out.

There was no marketing.

Nelsen, who had stepped away from the business for about a year, decided upon his return it was time to “make this bigger and better than it’s ever been.”

He asked himself, ‘What can we do that nobody else is doing?’

That question has guided Nelsen and his father’s vision ever since.

From bringing in a line of high-end Truefitt & Hill products, to offering straight-razor shaves (“We do it old school, the right way,” Nelsen said), and adding a men’s hair replacement division, to offering a gentlemen’s facial, and seeking input from medical fields to help ensure the health of their clients, the Nelsens have strived to always offer the best to their customers.

The thoughtfulness has been a boon to the business. Not only does it have a dedicated clientele, but last year the shop expanded into Beaufort and this April its first franchise location is expected to open in Pooler, Ga. There are plans to open franchise shops in Lexington, S.C., and Pensacola, Fla. Nelsen said part of the company’s mission statement is to “constantly expand throughout the region.”

Barbers of the Lowcountry began thanks to the urging of the Tramuta family, cousins who own The Barber Shop. Lou was tired of working construction in New Orleans and said his cousin “talked me into barber school.” He learned the trade and eventually convinced Brent to give it a try.

Brent was skeptical but he decided to go to barber school in Alabama. He quickly realized, at 18 years old, he had a “knack” for cutting hair. Combined with his ability to offer a straightrazor shave and cut a flat top, Brent enjoyed talking with people.

He decided to join his father on Hilton Head and start the family business in 1997.

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SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Visit hiltonheadmonthly.com/subscriptions today to get into the spirit of the Lowcountry with the premier lifestyle magazine.

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“We have a real good relationship,” said Lou, 74, who cuts hair twice a week in Bluffton and once a week in Beaufort.

“He’s done a great job.”

Besides providing a welcoming environment (customers are met by a concierge and are offered refreshments, such as local beer on tap, wine, coffee, soda, or water), Barbers of the Lowcountry – which has a staff of 15 employees, including 10 barbers — looks out for the health of its customers.

Brent has invited medical professionals to speak at quarterly socials Barbers of the Lowcountry hosts. Dermatologist and urologists have offered advice to the staff and customers. Brent said the dermatologists have helped staff identify possible wor risome spots on their customers.

The knowledge helped him encourage a client to have a spot on his head examined.

“He came in about once a month, and it took me about three times to remind him to go get this spot looked at,” Brent said. “Finally, right before (a recent) Christmas, he came in and he gave me a huge tip.”

The spot was melanoma. If the customer

had waited longer, it likely “wouldn’t have been good,” Brent said.

“It’s things like that that are really gratifying,” he said.

Barbers of the Lowcountry also participates in No-Shave November, which promotes cancer awareness. The initiative this year raised $600 for the American Cancer Society.

Giving back to the community is a central focus. A few years ago on the golf course, Brent and a few other barbers thought of the idea to host a golf tournament to benefit Bluffton Self Help.

The Clipper Cup was born. Now in its fourth year, this year’s tournament raised $3,100.

“As we started to become more successful, I started to look at ways to give back,” Brent, 47, said. “Bluffton Self Help provides help for the community and the opportunity for people to get back on their feet.”

The quarterly socials also raise money to support Bluffton Self Help.

“We wanted to give back to the community,” Lou said. “It takes so many people to make a barber shop successful.”

Barbers of the Lowcountry, which is now a three-generation business with the addition of Brent’s son, Anthony, as a student barber, has evolved as have the hairstyles. From mid-length to long hair to short fades and pompadour fades and the surprising return of the mullet, Barbers of the Lowcountry has seen all types of styles and is ready to keep flourishing.

“We change with the times,” Brent said. “We are telling our customers that we are making the extra effort to provide the experience they deserve.”

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FINANCIAL RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022

BY ANTHONY GARZILLI

New year’s resolutions are not only about improving your health and finally reading that book that’s been on your nightstand for months. There are financial considerations that you can put in place to help make 2022 a banner year. Consider these financial resolutions to help you achieve your goals.

MAKE YOUR MONEY MATTER

PAY YOURSELF FIRST To save money intended for a new car or high-tech gadget, start by setting aside funds from your paycheck that are connected to your goals before you spend on groceries, the mortgage or rent. This will put a portion of your paycheck directly into a savings account either through direct deposit or via a schedule automatic transfer.

The goal is to ensure your money is put somewhere you will save it, not spend it.

The key to the strategy is having the discipline to always put money aside.

How much should you put away? That’s up to you. It can be $2 or $200, but the goal is to routinely make a point to put some money away into a savings account.

AVOID AN IMPULSE PURCHASE It’s easy to scroll through websites and see a few “must-have” items. But it’s also easy to have buyer’s remorse.

According to User Interface Engineering, a study found that impulse purchases account for almost 40 percent of all the money spent on e-commerce sites.

Some items are worthwhile, but often others end up rarely used or in a drawer never to be seen again. When thinking about a purchase, consider if you truly need the product. Wait a day and then assess if you can live without it.

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If you have plans for a vacation or a larger purchase, think about how the “impulse buy” will affect those goals. Review your budget to see if it fits.

Remember, that flashy product will likely be on sale in a few months. Be patient. Prices in technology often decrease after demand drops.

Another tip is to go old school: Pay in cash.

According to AARP, studies have shown that those who pay in cash instead of using a credit card spend less. The effect is psychological. The Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied said the paying with cash makes you a little more stingy before you spend it. You’re more likely to stick to your budget.

People tend to overspend when using credit cards.

SAVE WITH DIY PROJECTS It can be expensive – and frustrating — to pay for unexpected mishaps or bills. But some projects don’t have to empty your pockets. Try to do things yourself that you normally let others do. For example, when

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the Lowcountry weather is nice (which is often every day), go outside and wash your car. Americans spend about $5.8 billion a year at car wash facilities, according to a report by the US Census Bureau.

That is a lot of money that can be saved.

Homeowners can save cash. A Nerdwallet report said 30 percent of homeowners have not saved enough money to pay for repairs.

There are many reliable tutorials online to help with repairs, including tips on shutters and remodeling the bathroom floor.

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Emergencies happen. Surprise expenses will undoubtedly pop up. It’s important to be prepared.

Create an emergency fund with about three to five months’ worth of living expenses set aside. If possible, try saving about 5% of your monthly income, which should only be used in an emergency.

A little bit added at a time will keep you prepared for a major expense.

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According to a Bankrate Emergency Savings Survey, 51 percent of Americans have less than three months’ worth of expenses covered in an emergency fund. Bankrate said 34 percent of those surveyed say they have less money in their savings account than before the pandemic.

A key to saving money is scrutinizing your purchases. What is essential (groceries, power bill) and what is non-essential (streaming services, tablets)?

INCREASE YOUR CREDIT SCORE A strong credit score is important if you are looking for loans or affordable insurance premiums.

Paying off the balance on a credit card each month is a step toward a better credit score. Make sure you pay bills on time. Your ability to pay bills on time is the “largest scoring factor in both FICO and VantageScore credit scoring systems,” according to Nerdwallet. A tip to pay bills on time: Set up payment reminders. Bills can pile up fast; setting up reminders prevents you from falling behind.

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– SPECIAL TO MONTHLY –

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529 SAVINGS INCENTIVE

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CHANGES TO PLAN COULD BENEFIT GRANDPARENTS

BY HILTON HEAD MONTHLY

Grandparents don’t have to worry about spoiling their grandchildren thanks to changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

A New York Times report noted that funds taken from grandparent-held 529 college savings accounts won’t affect a student’s eligibility for federal aid. The money will no longer be counted as untaxed student income.

The new FAFSA will also no longer include a question asking about cash gifts from grandparents.

The change likely won’t take effect until the 2024-25 school year, according to the New York Times, but the new FAFSA would be based on income from the tax year of 2022.

This is a potential big plus for grandparents who want to help their grandchildren pay for college – and students won’t miss out on the extra funds.

Other advantages of grandparent-held 529 plans, according to Forbes, include the funds being able to help cover college books and supplies, and internet access and room and board and the opportunity to change the beneficiary if needed.

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IIINTRIGUING PEOPLEII

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IIINTRIGUING PEOPLEII

2022 INTRIGUING PEOPLE

OF THE LOW COUNTRY

THE LOWCOUNTRY IS IMMERSED WITH FASCINATING PERSONALITIES. ALLOW MONTHLY TO INTRODUCE YOU TO A FEW OF THE AREA’S MOST INTRIGUING PEOPLE.

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IIINTRIGUING PEOPLEII

BOB LACEY KEEPS ENTERTAINING RADIO LISTENERS NATIONWIDE STORY BY MARK E. LETT | PHOTO BY RUTHE RITTERBECK

Like many Hilton Head Islanders, Bob Lacey can be found many mornings enjoying life from his sunroom.

Ah, but there’s a difference. From a transformed space at the rear of his Sea Pines house, Lacey is at work in his broadcast studio, busily sending his popular radio show to some 70 U.S. markets and more than 170 nations.

Lacey is the “Bob”’ in the “Bob & Sheri Show,” a syndicated program hosted by Lacey and Sheri Lynch for nearly three decades. The show is a deft mix of talk, comedy, advice and entertainment — all presented with gentle humor and good nature.

For Lacey, the show is a cherished part of a career that has covered a half century, starting in Fall River, Mass. From there, he moved on to become such a mainstay in Charlotte television and radio that he was named to the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2019.

Not bad for a native of New Haven, Conn., who decided against a career as a teen singer while fronting a garage band (“I really wasn’t that good,” he concedes). Through chance, talent, hustle and friendships, Lacey made his way in the world of radio and TV. While a singing voice wasn’t his ticket to a career, his mellifluous speaking voice has served him well as a broadcaster.

“It’s been a wonderful ride,” said Lacey.

His career caught an early break in Fall River, where radio producer John Lambis brought him aboard. The two became fast friends.

A few years later Lacey was visiting Lambis in Charlotte, where the producer had taken a job at a bigger station. When a member of the station’s broadcast team quit while on the air, Lambis swung into action “I told Bob, ‘Let’s go into the studio and make a demo tape,’ ” Lambis said.

It worked, and Lacey was hired for the Charlotte station. In the years ahead, Lacey became a familiar voice on local radio — and a familiar face for a decade as TV host of a local edition of the national PM Magazine.

Lacey’s morning drive-time radio show took a fresh

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turn in 1992 when he recruited Lynch as co-host. The two clicked immediately, Lynch said.

“It was instant,” said Lynch, who abandoned plans to become an anthropologist after “Bob corrupted me to go into radio.”

“He was hysterically funny and strategic. Now we are like brother and sister going through life together.

If I wasn’t doing a radio show with him I wouldn’t want to do radio.”

These days the twosome works separately, with Lynch in Charlotte and Lacey at his Hilton Head home. Work weeks generally include mornings and early afternoons putting together their independent talk show for distribution to stations and through the Armed Forces Network. The podcast version of the show draws more than 300,000 downloads per month.

The pair has gained a following and critical acclaim.

They have been nominated for a dozen Marconi Awards for radio excellence. Lynch also has won a fistful of Gracie Awards, given annually to women in broadcasting and named for the late comedian Gracie Allen, the partner and wife of legendary comedian and TV star George Burns.

Lacey, who developed a fondness for Hilton Head while visiting former in-laws on the island, bought a place in Sea Pines in 2014. When the pandemic made working from home a desirable option, he and his wife, Mary, in 2020 made Hilton Head their fulltime home and the base of operations for his radio activities and her work as a therapist.

As chance would have it, Lacey said, he wound up living three doors down from his old buddy, Lambis.

“It’s crazy. It wasn’t planned, but that’s how it worked out,” said Lambis, who worked in radio and operated his own public relations firm in Atlanta before moving to Hilton Head eight years ago.

For Lacey, 72, Hilton Head has become a perfect blend of work and play. Among his favorite haunts: island restaurants, The Jazz Corner and Tower Beach for walking his dog, Finn, a 6-year-old Labradoodle.

“It’s a great place to be able to escape. There’s a certain freedom. Besides, Finn loves crashing in the water. He’s got a good life.”

And, Lacey will tell you, so does he.

voice

A FAMILIAR

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UNBREAKABLE

bond

IIINTRIGUING PEOPLEII

HHI FIRE CAPTAIN LEE JENKINS SAVORS HIS LOVE OF HORSES STORY BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

When Lee Jenkins was a teenager, he was aboard his beloved Palamino stallion, riding at top speed, when the saddle snapped. Jenkins went hurtling face first into the dirt road. When he looked up, he expected to see Smokey bolting away.

But he didn’t. Stallions have a reputation for stubbornness and a bit of a wild streak, but Smokey turned around and returned, lowering his head so Jenkins could pull himself up.

“He could have kept on running, right on back home to the barn,” Jenkins says.

“He came back and picked me up. It’s just a bond between a horse and a human that is so rewarding, but it’s one that you don’t ever want to take for granted.”

It’s a bond that has helped shape Jenkins into the man he is today — a decorated Fire Captain and paramedic with Hilton Head Island Fire and Rescue, and a budding horse breeder, even if he likes to keep some of the details to himself.

Jenkins started riding horses when he was just 4 or 5 years old — “I was probably able to ride a horse before I could walk,” he jokes — and they’ve been an integral part of his life since he can remember.

After graduating from the University of South Carolina in 2004 and returning to the Lowcountry, Jenkins was searching for something to feed his competitive spirit.

Though he is private about the details, Jenkins is an upand-coming breeder who was deemed worthy of a profile in Speedhorse Magazine, and he sits on the American Quarter Horse Association’s Racing Committee. He is noted for his relentless quest for more knowledge, picking the brains of the biggest names and brightest minds in the industry every chance he gets.

But at home, he’s just a guy hanging with his horses.

“I’m blessed to go home every day and see my animals,” Jenkins says. “When I go home, man, it’s like paradise for me. Some people want to go to Hawaii. Some want to go to the Grand Canyon. I just want to go home.”

He jokes that his wife, Kerry — they were married on Nov. 6 — thinks he loves the horses more than her (“But she’s got the edge by a little bit”).

“Oftentimes I tell people I’d rather be around horses

than people because horses have a way of communicating that is just so phenomenal and awesome,” Jenkins says. “Of course, they don’t do it with words, but they do it with body language.”

Jenkins believes growing up around horses, and learning to read their cues, has helped him flourish as a first responder, rising to the rank of Fire Captain in 2018, just 12 years after joining Hilton Head Fire and Rescue.

He earned the department’s Fire Officer of the Year award and the Rotary Club of Hilton Head’s Firefighter of the Year honor in 2020, an honor he doesn’t take lightly, especially given the timing during a worldwide pandemic.

“I think that’s what has enabled me to be a pretty decent first responder and helped me achieve the status that I have now,” Jenkins says. “It’s basically just being a human being and possessing empathy. It’s learning how to read people’s body language, understanding that words are just one form of communication. I learned all of that from horses and animals.”

Jenkins never expected to become a firefighter. His cousin Earl Green was a battalion chief with Hilton Head Fire and Rescue for years, and every time they bumped into one another at church or around town, Green would ask if Jenkins was ready to join the department.

Then he found himself in business slacks and a buttondown shirt and tie, rushing to clean out rental cars in the blazing Lowcountry summer when the call came offering a position at Hilton Head Fire and Rescue. He was ready.

“She began to talk about salary and all of that stuff, but I didn’t hear another word,” Jenkins recalls. “I blacked out.

I think all I heard was fire department, and I thought to myself, ‘Should I finish washing this car?’”

He takes pride in his work, which he describes simply as, “you get there fast, you treat them nice, you do your best to mitigate their emergency, and you move on to the next one.”

“This is a very selfless profession,” Jenkins says.

“People call us heroes, but we aren’t heroes, we’ve just made a decision to put people before us, people we don’t even know, strangers. All for the good of humanity.”

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moment BEING IN THE

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ANDREA BROWN RIDES TO FIND HER INNER ADVENTURER

BY JESSICA FARTHING | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

Registered dental hygienist Andrea Brown rides to work on Hilton Head Island every day on a Honda Shadow Aero 750 named Bella.

Rain or shine, she navigates traffic from Savannah in her signature pink helmet to assist with the patients of Dr. Kowalyk, seeing to their comfort.

As the daughter of a career officer, Brown had always wanted lifetime military service. With dreams of becoming a helicopter pilot, she entered the Army and trained as a combat photographer. At the time, digital photography didn’t exist, so she learned to work in the dark room developing prints. Brown’s service included the Gulf War, giving her status as a veteran.

But she ended up leaving the Army before she could retire.

Post traumatic stress disorder-military sexual trauma (PTSD-MST) is defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs as sexual contact against the will of a veteran.

Brown said she was assaulted by her superior officer during her service. The case was reported but she said she wasn’t believed, finding herself placed under his supervision again.

Having a situation of abuse from a superior eroded her selfesteem and gave her trauma.

When she left the military, Brown worked to improve her PTSD-MST symptoms.

It wasn’t until she went to the Veteran’s Administration to ask for help that she found relief. She was officially diagnosed and found a therapist who was pivotal in her recovery.

That breakthrough led to a new love.

“I’ve always wanted to ride a motorcycle, but I just didn’t have the confidence I needed because of everything that comes with PTSD,” she said. “When I found the right counselor, she was able to unlock a lot of doors and release a lot of pain and anger. Then I was able to pursue the bike riding.”

With her comfort level and the evidence of her adventures on her compelling Instagram, you’d think that Brown had ridden motorcycles for years.

Actually, she started in October 2020 as COVID restrictions

began to ease. She attended the New Rider Academy at Savannah’s Harley-Davidson and obtained her license.

Since she started, she’s logged 20,000 miles on her odometer. One of her first trips was to Asheville, N.C., with her 5-year-old-poodle named Jasper riding along.

They took in the scenery and learned about another chance to ride nearby, the Tale of the Dragon in Deals Gap, N.C. Unaware of what she was signing up for, Brown thought it might be a fun ride. For 11 miles she and Jasper traversed over 300 twists and turns with names like Wheelie Hell and Beginner’s End. She was proud, “I had to learn on the job how to maneuver those curves. I might have been a little slow, but I made it. It put a hunger in me to start conquering different things. On my next trip, I went west.”

As a mother of four, grandmother of nine with seven grandsons and two granddaughters, Brown stays busy with family and friends. The kids are pretty sure that their Yaya is the best, or at least the coolest grandmother that’s ever ridden a motorcycle.

She’s glad they’re proud of her but mostly thankful to have the ability to regain control of her life and defeat fear.

“The longer I ride, the better,” she said. “Since I’ve been riding, I don’t suffer like I used to, though if I didn’t tell you, you would never know I was suffering.”

She credits the bike with retraining her mind to cope with her PTSD-MST symptoms and taking back control of her life.

“Being on Bella, the one thing I do know is that I have to be in the moment. That’s huge for me because with PTSD I can choose to live in the past. To be able to have command of such a machine is absolutely wonderful to me.”

Brown plans on keeping Bella forever, but wants to add a Kawasaki Vulcan Vaquero for long-distance trips.

“I didn’t realize I was going to enjoy being alone so much. I’m a long-distance rider,” she said. “I wanted to be a helicopter pilot; now I’m flying on the ground.”

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DENNIS STOKELY CONTINUES TO DAZZLE IN THE LOWCOUNTRY STORY BY BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

It is a perilous understatement to say that these past few years have been, well, interesting. Apart from everything else, though, one of the most intriguing developments of these early 2020s has been the rebirth of the mullet. If you’re one of the fashion-forward folks who have brought back the Kentucky waterfall, we have good news for you.

Dennis Stokely, hairstylist to the stars, thinks you look amazing.

“I am team mullet,” he said with a laugh. “I’m thrilled that we are living in a time that is embracing all of these unique and fun looks… I think humanity in general seems to be a little more embracing of things outside the norm, and I think it’s freeing people to be themselves.”

Where the rest of us see business in the front and party in the back, Stokely sees unrestrained selfexpression. But it’s that unique eye that has let him create dazzling hairstyles for celebrities and common folk alike, garnering a name in the industry for his beautifully inventive looks.

And if the mullet represents an evolution, that is something Stokely knows well.

“I was a geeky kid. I was the drum major, winning the spelling bee, being voted Most Likely to Succeed.

I was really nerdy,” he said. “My personality didn’t evolve until college.”

Attending the University of Georgia’s school of journalism, Stokely would carry hot rollers in his backpack, doing a brisk trade in $5 hairstyles among the coeds. The rush of being snuck into sorority houses and dorm rooms was second only to the rush of finding his true calling.

“I came back to Savannah, got my license and immediately moved to New York,” he said. “I got to interview with Mr. Kenneth at the Waldorf-Astoria.

It lasted one minute. He said, ‘You’re too young and inexperienced, but you’re a nice young man and you can answer the phones.’ ” Watching the likes of Liza Minnelli, Gloria Vanderbilt and Jackie Kennedy get styled, Stokely knew he was

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following his passion. And like anyone, he had to start somewhere. After completing his training at the Frédéric Fekkai studio in Los Angeles, he answered the call to style the Jacksonville Jaguars cheerleaders for their inaugural photo. And while he looks back fondly on his time with the Jags, it was when he returned to Los Angeles that his career truly blossomed.

It was here that a chance to work with renowned makeup artist Alexis Vogel at a wedding led to what would have been a one-off chance to style Paula Abdul for a photo shoot.

“It was a 10- to 12-hour shoot and I had to give her all these different styles,” he said. “After the shoot she kissed me on the forehead and said, ‘I have to work with you again.’ The next day Idol called.”

For two seasons of American Idol, Stokely was

by Paula’s side during auditions, tapings, PR events and makeup shoots.

“It was the most magical time,” he said. “Paula is a sweetheart…it was just a pinch-me moment for a kid from the Lowcountry.”

No matter where he went, he took the Lowcountry with him, both in his Southern accent and in his impeccable manners and charm. Celebrities noticed, with the likes of Carmen Electra, Jessica Simpson, Eva Longoria and Fox News’ Dana Perino seeking out his talents.

“Getting a chance to have Dennis style my hair is always more than just a hair appointment — it’s an immersive experience,” said Perino. “You get his creativity and talents, plus hilarious stories that put you at ease.”

Stokely has since returned to the Lowcountry, where he now makes every appointment a redcarpet event.

“For me, doing private clients has been a breath of fresh air,” he said. “The Lowcountry has a really laid-back sophistication. This is really a pretty special area.”

HAIRSTYLIST TO

the stars

TENNIS

teacher

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ENDLESS ENERGY OF ALFREDO SOLIZ HELPS TOP JUNIOR PLAYERS MAXIMIZE POTENTIAL STORY BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTO BY RUTHE RITTERBECK

Alfredo Soliz followed his tennis dreams everywhere they took him, from his native Bolivia throughout South America and across the pond to Europe.

And when his dream reached its ceiling, he came to Hilton Head Island and started a new one.

For more than 30 years, Soliz has used the skills and lessons his own tennis journey instilled combined with his relentlessly positive attitude and energy to help top junior players reach even greater heights on the court than he did representing the Bolivian national team as a teenager — and it all started here on Hilton Head.

Soliz began playing tennis at the age of 7 and quickly developed a passion for the game. He rose to become one of the top junior players in Bolivia, competing internationally. He made a run at a professional career but regularly ran into top European players in the early rounds of qualifiers and eventually tired of the grind, recognizing his future in the sport would not be as a player.

He poured himself into learning how to better teach the next generation of standout junior players and sought out the biggest names and brightest minds in the game to help him develop as an instructor.

One of the turning points in Soliz’s young coaching career came in 1988 at an International Tennis Federation conference in Paraguay, where he met noted instructor Richard Schonborn, who coached Steffi Graf and Boris Becker as juniors. Soliz knew that Schonborn and others like him were the key to becoming the coach he wanted to be.

“If I didn’t play, I wanted to help others learn to play,” Soliz says. “I was passionate about the game, and I wanted to learn from the best.”

It was Schonborn who introduced Soliz to Nick Bollettieri, helping to launch a long career coaching top junior players. The Nick Bollettieri Academy boasted an alumni list that included household names such as Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Bjorn Borg, and Anna Kournikova, and Soliz was coaching the next generation of players who were on their heels.

After wrapping up his playing career in 1988, Soliz

returned home to Bolivia and began coaching for a local club. A year later he came to Hilton Head to take part in Dennis and Pat Van Der Meer’s Tennis University, setting him on a new path.

“I said if I wanted to become a tennis pro, I had to learn from the best,” Soliz said of the Van Der Meers, who revolutionized how the game was taught through Tennis University and the Professional Tennis Registry.

After honing his skills and passion for coaching around the world, he returned for good in 2000, accepting a role at the Van Der Meers’ Professional Tennis Registry, which standardized the tennis instructor certification process and provides continuing education and resources to teaching pros. In the interim, Soliz sought out every opportunity to work with the biggest names in the sport, including a stint at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida, the precursor to the renowned IMG Academy.

He continued adding to the list of world-class coaches who helped mold him, first with the Van Der Meers, then at the Ivan Lendl International Junior Tennis Academy in 2011.

When the IJTA closed in 2015, Soliz became the academy coach at Smith-Stearns Tennis Academy, working with yet another legend of the game, Hilton Head’s own former world No. 1 Stan Smith.

“Every day I’m surprised I’m working next to this guy,” Soliz says. “He’s one of the legends, and I learn every day from him.”

Soliz knows all too well that most of his students will eventually hit the same ceiling he did at some point in their careers, whether that’s at the college level or in the professional ranks. He is focused on helping them maximize their potential and allow their passion for the sport to take them as far as possible.

That’s where Soliz’s relentlessly sunny disposition comes in handy.

“When these guys come and ask me how they’re playing,” he says with a smile, “I say, ‘You’re playing good! Someone else is just playing better.’”

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HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR SIDNEY WILSON PENS BOOK TO INSPIRE OTHER KIDS STORY BY TONY KUKULICH | PHOTO BY RUTHE RITTERBECK

On the cusp of graduating from high school, Sidney Wilson is at an age typically marked by a desire to fit in — to conform. But that’s not Sidney. She’s embraced what makes her different and has written a children’s book encouraging others to do the same.

“My book is supposed to teach children that it is good to be different from one another and to accept children that are different from them,” Sidney said.

Part of what makes the Hilton Head Island High School senior special is that she was born with Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome. It’s an exceedingly rare genetic disorder that can affect the heart, skin and face; cause developmental delays and impair intellectual development. There are only an estimated 400 CFC cases worldwide. The rarity of the syndrome can make it very difficult to diagnose, a fact the Wilson family understands all too well as it took 14 years to get Sidney properly diagnosed.

“From 6 months old, we started to notice that something was off,” said Sidney’s dad, Brad. “From that point on, it’s been a moving target. Mom’s the one who buckled down and spent years trying to figure out what it was.”

CFC is undeniably a factor in Sidney’s life, but it is far from what defines her. Initially a little shy, she is warm and friendly. When Tanner and Carley, Sidney’s older siblings, are together with her, the bond shared between them is genuine and immediately apparent.

And for all the affection, Sidney isn’t treated with kid gloves. She is not spared from the good-natured ribbing that goes on between the close-knit family.

“That’s something I’ve gotten out of this little nerd — the sense of humor,” Tanner said with a smile, illustrating the point. “She and I share an identical sense of humor.”

The book, “It’s ‘Cool’ to be Different,” was the result of a school requirement that every student complete a personal project. Knowing Sidney’s

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love of books, a teacher suggested that she write a book for her project.

“I have always wanted to write a book, and I saw it as the perfect opportunity,” Sidney said.

Sidney’s love of cats made the choice of a cat as the main character a natural choice. Along with photos of cats that appear in the book, Sidney added her own illustrations.

“We wanted it to explain a little bit about people with special needs, that it’s not so bad being different,” added Sidney’s mom, Cathy Wilson. “The book kind of explains that she knows that she’s different, it doesn’t bother her, and people shouldn’t feel sorry for her. She does want to have friends, and it’s more interesting to have friends that are different from you. It encourages friendship with people that are different from you.”

Getting the book started was a little stressful, Sidney said. She worked through a lot of rough drafts as the storyline was shaped and finalized. Since its release, the book has gotten much more notice than the family ever expected.

“First we printed a couple of copies for us,” Cathy said. “All of a sudden people started asking how to get one. People we don’t even know have reached out to us asking how to get one.”

Sidney said she doesn’t know if she’ll write another book. She is kicking a couple of ideas around, including a book that focuses on the relationship she has with her brother and sister. And while it’s uncertain if she’ll write another book, books will likely play a big role in her future, as she explains: “I want to work at a library.”

To prepare for that future, Sidney is working every day in the school library. She’s also recently joined a Special Olympics kayak team. Though the challenges of CFC are real, Sidney’s future appears bright.

“She just makes everything better,” Cathy said. “I don’t know what it is. She just makes everyone smile.”

To purchase Sidney’s book, visit lulu.com.

ENCOURAGING

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SEVENTH-GRADER LUKE HARO HELPS PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD STORY BY AMY COYNE BREDESON | PHOTOS BY MADISON ELROD

Luke Haro was attending a private online school when he was assigned a project that inspired him to change the lives of people around the world.

Last school year, the Bluffton boy attended Valor Global Online, a Christian school that focuses on philanthropy and entrepreneurship.

In his global impact class, Luke was required to lend $25 to an individual through a nonprofit organization called Kiva and to create a video asking others to do the same.

Luke decided to go way above and beyond what his teacher required of him. He spent his entire spring break building a website and setting up a GoFundMe page to raise more money so he could give out loans to more people.

“I saw a great opportunity,” Luke said. “It was something so simple yet so big.”

Luke didn’t really think he’d be able to get people interested in helping with the project. But once he got into it, he was having so much fun that he didn’t want to stop.

Kiva uses crowdfunding to provide loans to people in underserved communities around the globe, allowing people to start businesses, pay school tuition or just provide necessities for their families. Loans start at $25. The loans are vetted and approved by the organization.

Luke was able to choose whom he wanted to lend money by going on Kiva’s website and looking through the various requests for funding. His first loan went to Joshua in Nairobi, who needed money to purchase a vehicle to deliver clean water to cities and towns in need.

After creating the video and GoFundMe page, Luke’s mother, Melanie Haro, created a Facebook page called Luke’s Loans that Change Lives.

“I had raised $500 when I woke up the next morning,” Luke said. “It was insane.”

Now a seventh-grader at McCracken Middle School, Luke continues to change lives through Kiva. His original

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goal was to give out 100 loans by the end of 2021. He reached that goal in November, and by early December the 12-year-old boy had given out 107 loans worth a total of $3,575.

“It’s great, but I know there are so many more people, so I’m going to keep going,” Luke said.

When Luke told his mom that he wanted to give out 100 loans, she didn’t think it was possible.

“Seeing him fulfill his vision has been so inspiring,” Melanie said.

Another one of Luke’s goals is to lend money to people in as many countries as he can. So far, he has covered 43 countries. According to Kiva’s website, the organization serves borrowers in more than 80 countries.

“He got a big wall map and labels each new place as the loans go out,” Luke’s father, Chris Haro, said. “He’s like a James Bond villain in reverse.

‘Where’s this one located? Have I funded anyone there yet?

I have to loan there too.’”

Luke’s busy schedule includes Civil Air Patrol, Chinese language classes and piano lessons. He just wrapped up another season of baseball and can’t wait to play again in the spring. He also enjoys playing golf, building things, sketching and reading.

Luke was just certified in CPR through Civil Air Patrol, and he took his first orientation flight in November. In June, he won “Top Gun” at Aviation Challenge Camp, which is part of Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala. Luke hopes to study abroad in high school through the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative. After high school he plans to study engineering at the Air Force Academy and eventually become an astronaut.

To learn more or to help Luke continue changing lives, visit Luke’s Loans that Change Lives on Facebook, go to lukeharo.wixsite.com/loansthatchangelives or visit gofund.me/54c0c46b.

lives

CHANGING

NOT A WORD

out of place

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ROGER PINCKNEY WRITES FOR HIS LOVE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY STORY BY BECCA EDWARDS | PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

Just like his writing, Daufuskie resident and prolific author Roger Pinckney is succinct and entertaining. His voice is in cadence and in keeping with his salty, southern upbringing, drawing out some syllables, omitting others and always reflective of his hard-won wit and love for the Lowcountry.

In a virtual interview with Monthly, Pinckney, a voodoo aficionado (one of his works is, “Got My Mojo Workin’: A Voodoo Memoir”), discussed some of his bestsellers like “Blue Roots” and “Reefer Moon,” his most recently published work “Washed in the Blood” and an upcoming project he is co-writing with Michael Dewitt Jr. about the Murdaugh family and “a culmination of missteps going on for over one hundred years.”

With insightful one-liners like, “I learned young not to buck the tide,” Pinckney also talked about his respect for the outdoors and “nature’s ability to change the human heart.”

What’s influenced his work?

Pinckney references the Mark Twain quote, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter— ‘tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

Pinckney — who believes “getting it right is the most important thing” — continued, “Hemingway’s economy of words immediately draws you in to his story.”

One of Pinckney’s favorite reads is a lesser-known essay Hemingway wrote in the middle of winter about shooting game birds, Pinckney said.

Apparently, Hemingway hired a kid to throw pigeon clays for him to conjure up powerful memories, creating a work that “is beautifully written and not a word out of place.”

Pinckney says writer Cormac McCarthy “taught me not to be ashamed of paraphrasing or using the King James Bible.”

There’s no definitive writing process for Pinckney, who has published 15 books of fiction and nonfiction. Instead, it’s all about grabbing that moment of inspiration.

“If you get an idea at 3 a.m., you better write it down because you will forget it by daybreak,” he said. “If an idea comes in the middle of the night, I don’t turn on the computer, but I do write down five to six words on a

scrap piece of paper to trigger my memory.”

Pinckney also believes in writing what you know because “it won’t take a savvy reader any time to know if you don’t.”

One thing he knows well is the Lowcountry. There’s no need “to make stuff up.”

“I know the people. I know how to rearrange and massage [their stories] and then I’ve got a story,” he said.

He also knows where to find motivation.

“My greatest influence is the power bill. Writer’s block is not a luxury I can afford,” he said.

It is for this reason his days are structured.

His 140-pound Labrador retriever gets him up at first light (generally around 6:30 a.m.). Pinckney gets coffee, takes the dog out, checks his emails, sees “what business” he has generated on Facebook, eats a big breakfast at mid-morning and then starts writing.

Pinckney said he does not waste time.

“If I produce 700 words, and I mean good words a day, that’s enough. Sometimes I’ll even do 1,000,” he said. “But if I don’t do more than 200, I feel bad about myself.”

Animals often appear as almost characters in his books. Pinckney said it’s all about keeping the plot moving.

“Huck Finn had the river. Chaucer, the road to Canterbury. With a road or a river, you always have something to move the plot forward,” he said. “Same thing with an animal. Animals are going to act like animals, and they will always move the plot forward.”

When asked which of his books is his favorite, Pinckney said “Reefer Moon” and “Blow the Man Down” but then, like an outgoing tide, he changed directions and talked about his essay, “Souls of Poets, Washed Ashore” which recounts his experience with being struck by lightning.

In the essay he writes, “The ancestors may have died, but they ain’t dead. They walk among us every day.

They watch our moves and discuss us privately amongst themselves. Properly petitioned, they can help or hurt.”

The powerful passage ties well into Pinckney’s belief that, “If you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going.”

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TOGETHER

ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE

BY TIM WOOD | PHOTOS BY MADISON ELROD

It’s a time for looking back and planning for what’s next as St. Francis Catholic School celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.

The school that began with 45 pre-K and kindergarteners is now graduating its 20th eighth-grade class and principal Brian Pope has been witness to each of those ceremonies.

Pope began as a substitute teacher at St. Francis and is grateful to have experienced the same kind of personal and career growth as he witnessed among the hundreds of SFCS grads.

“Our motto for this milestone is ‘25 Years of Growing Together in Faith and Knowledge.’ It’s truly the lifestyle here and what drew me here and keeps me excited about leading the growth here along with Father Mike Oenbrink, our Parish Pastor,” Pope said. “The biggest comment we hear from parents and kids is that is a home away from home, and in that environment, we celebrate our successes together, work on our shortcomings together and grow together.”

The idea of St. Francis began when Bishop of Charleston David Thompson asked now-Monsignor Martin Laughlin to start the same kind of Catholic school on Hilton Head Island that he launched in Beaufort.

The concept proved to be a hit with the community, as first and second grades were added in 1997, doubling the enrollment to 95 students. Through the years, a new school building, gym/all-purpose center, fine arts center and playground were added to the campus to facilitate a full K-8 experience with 78 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M

enrollment currently at 215 students.

“Catholic schools offer three core principles — quality academics, a safe environment and Catholic identity and faith formation for parents who want to have their kids raised in the Catholic faith,” Pope said.

Non-Catholics are welcomed at SFCS, and while required to go to mass and worship activities, all faiths are welcomed and encouraged.

Pope, who has been principal since 2012, said he is proud of the school’s efforts to make a Catholic education attainable for all, with over $200,000 in financial aid and discounts provided this year alone to families. This is possible thanks to the relationship with the St. Francis parish and donations from parishioners and the parish thrift shop that helped build the school’s annual fund.

“We are so blessed to have the Parish support and the guidance of Father Mike and Monsignor Laughlin. They have made it clear that if a child wants a Catholic education, we will make it possible,” he said. “It has allowed us to focus on keeping tuition affordable and work to keep raises in the cost of tuition as small as possible in increasing accessibility.”

Pope and his staff have worked with Father Mike to build a comprehensive strategic plan to ensure the school is ready for the needs of tomorrow’s students and the growth that will help the school sustain and thrive through its 50th anniversary.

“Our numbers dipped to around 170 back in 2011 and 2012 and have experienced steady growth since then with enrollment now consistently well above 200,” Pope said. “We’ve done a lot of self-assessments and taken a look at what’s needed to meet the needs of our kids and our families as the landscape ahead of them is ever changing.”

While the school has evolved its technology to help train students, Pope said the school has been steadfast in teaching virtues and morals that are more important than ever as students have access to an endless flow of information and influences.

“We don’t vilify technology. We spend October teaching good digital citizenship,” Pope said. “But we also know the tech and the applications we teach now will completely change by the time these kids hit the job market. But engaging higher levels of thinking of truthfulness, gratitude, kindness, these concepts are timeless and so important to preparing our kids for the world ahead of them.

Teaching them how to think, work with others and treat others, that’s the difference we can make in their lives.”

Pope said growing the school’s endowment and building alternative forms of funding will be key to the next 25 years for SFCS. The school can currently accommodate 250 students, though more growth would require additional faculty.

“The enthusiasm for a Catholic education and the involvement of our parents and the community has allowed us to grow,” Pope said. “Whatever form that growth takes in the next 25 years, our foundation will always remain grounded in faith, integrity and scholarship.”

For more information on St. Francis Catholic School, visit sfcshhi.com.

SFCS PRINCIPAL BRIAN POPE

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Supporting

HER STUDENTS

AIMEE WHITESELL HONORED AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR

BY NINA GREENPLATE

When the work you love, loves you back, the results can be extraordinary.

“It’s magic when I think about it,” says Aimee Whitesell, newly named Beaufort County 2021-2022 District Teacher of the Year, and Battery Creek High School’s teacher of the year.

The recognition for Whitesell has been sweet.

“Ask any teacher and most will tell you that they’re just doing their job,” says Whitesell, who leads the science department at the high school. “I love my school and my students.”

That devotion earned Whitesell the nomination and title from a majority vote by Battery Creek’s staff and fellow educators. The humbled biology teacher smiles, remembering her schools’ drum line loudly marching through the hallways.

“They came playing into my room, with students and staff filing in behind them,” she said. “Then they presented me the (teacher of the year) award. It was great.”

Whitesell was later announced as the district winner during a breakfast celebration for the region’s teacher of the year winners. Battery Creek honored her the next school day with more percussion and myriad accolades.

Teaching is Whitesell’s passion and purpose, but it was not her first vocational choice.

Pre-med tapped her interest and was her initial undergraduate pursuit. But chemistry was her nemesis. To pass the semester, she began tutoring sessions to help herself and fellow struggling classmates.

“I created easy tricks and watched videos on simple ways to do it (chemistry),” she recalls. “I taught everyone these techniques, and decided from that moment on, I needed to switch to education. I loved it.”

Whitesell completed her master’s degree in educational leadership from the American College of Education, and her bachelor’s degree in natural science and biology education from Missouri Western State University. She is working toward completion of her National Board Certification within the next

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two years.

Whitesell said she’s honored when her students come to her for advice or a listening ear.

“I feel proud that they trust me and come to me for help or an opinion on something,” she says. “It makes you appreciate them more.

Some are dealing with so much.”

Her students inspire her, and she returns the admiration tenfold.

Whitesell works to have them not only enjoy learning, but to also recognize their worth.

“I work very hard on relationships,” she says. “I want to make sure they know I’m a person and that I care about their feelings and what they think.”

This principle is a complement to Battery Creek’s Leader in Me program, a nationwide course-of-study where Whitesell serves as her school’s Student Lead Coordinator.

She is a liaison between the administration and a student advisory team.

“Leader in Me is very individualized,” says Whitesell.

“It’s cool to see how each student can learn to lead in their own way.”

The curriculum is broad and productive, with work created on per-grade fundamentals.

She helps students grasp and master leadership concepts on a variety of levels, determined by their personal strengths: from learning vocabulary words about leaders, mock interviews, completing job applications, proper handshaking, and the like.

Teacher and student pairings remain together throughout the four-year leadership course for continuity and connection.

“It is about making every student feel they belong to Battery Creek,” she says. “It’s the coolest thing and the biggest cultural shift I’ve seen in our school.”

Some may argue that Whitesell herself is even cooler.

“My students tell the story,” she says, “and they make my story spectacular.”

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EDUCATION NEWS LOWCOUNTRY TEACHERS AWARDED WITH BRIGHT IDEAS GRANTS

Palmetto Electric Cooperative and Palmetto Electric Trust awarded $40,365 in Bright Ideas grants to 50 teachers in southern Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper counties. Since the program’s inception, area teachers have received over $640,000 in grants. Beaufort County winners were Bluffton Elementary School & Early Childhood Center, $350, Laura VanHorn; Bluffton Middle School, $240, Deborah Birkett; $1,000, Heidi McAllister; Cross Schools, $795, Lindsay Bowerman; $910, Heather Brougham-Cook; $625, Pam Donahue; $500, Karen Penale; $1,000, Dr. Nancy Ungvarsky; Heritage Academy, $800, David Fuka; $300, Janice Magnin; Hilton Head Christian Academy, $1,000, Amy Inglis; Hilton Head Island High School, $1,000, Tarken Best; $1,000, Matthew Pheiffer; $1,000, Corinne Spisz; $750, Robert Stine; $1,000, John Wyatt; Hilton Head Island IB Elementary School, $470, Jill Fernandez; $400, Terri Foy; $650, Katie Hawkins; $250, John Slaughter; Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts, $990, Jennifer FriendKerr; Hilton Head Preparatory School, $1,000, Laura Campbell; $525, Louise Goodman; May River Montessori, $1,000, Sari Kandel; Okatie Elementary School, $800, Amanda Altman; Sea Pines Montessori School, $1,000, Kathy Midkiff; St. Francis Catholic School, $430, Kelley Burke; and St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, $1,000, Christina Cleveland.

For a complete list of winners, visit palmetto.coop.

TCL OFFERS FREE TUITION, FEES

Through newly available federal, state and private funding sources, the Technical College of the Lowcountry will cover tuition and fees for those who are eligible for the spring 2022 semester. The deadline to enroll for TCL’s Spring I semester is Jan. 6. Students must be enrolled in at least six credit hours, or about two classes, for

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the spring semester and complete the 2021-2022 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). For more information, visit tcl.edu.

PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

The Parents as Teachers’ National Center named Beaufort County School District as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate, designating it as one of the top performing homevisiting affiliates. BCSD’s PAT program includes home visits, group connections, child screenings, and connecting families to community resources. The district’s program underwent PATNC’s rigorous self-study and review process, demonstrating the accountability and credibility of BCSD’s PAT program to the community, elected officials, and partner organizations.

CYBERSECURITY SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR LOWCOUNTRY STUDENTS

South Coast Cyber Center, in collaboration with the Beaufort Digital Corridor, University of South Carolina Beaufort, Technical College of the Lowcountry, CyberStart America, and the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation, is offering high school students the opportunity to win scholarships for certification and school tuition. Through April 27, students can register and begin the competition.

Students must be at least 13 years old and in 9th-12th grades in public, private, charter or home school. CyberStart’s competition allows students to build a portfolio of desirable skills and certifications sought by employers. The registration link is register.cyberstartamerica.org/student.

For more information, email cory@ beaufortdigital.com.

SCHOOL DISTRICT LAUNCHES PARENT CONNECTIONS STUDENT SUPPORT INITIATIVE

Parents and guardians of the Beaufort County School District can participate in

free, virtual Parent Connections evening workshops aimed at helping them support their students in academic, school, and family-related topics. The goals of Parent Connections are to increase collaboration and engagement between schools, families, and community. Parent Connections will hold two sessions with new topics quarterly. For more information, email parent.connections@beaufort.k12. sc.us.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS NOMINATED FOR U.S. PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR HONORS

The Beaufort County School District selected three high school seniors to compete for prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholar Awards.

Raul Leyva of Hilton Head Island High, Maximus Weitekamper of May River High and Anna Brown of Beaufort High will represent the district as candidates for nominations. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The program has honored more than 7,000 high school seniors based on outstanding scholarship. Nominees chosen to represent the state will receive an expense-paid trip to Washington in June and will be presented with the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion at a ceremony sponsored by the White House.

LOWCOUNTRY SCHOOL HOLDS GROUNDBREAKING

Robert Smalls International Academy School held a groundbreaking for a new school, which marks the beginning of construction on the district’s largest referendum project to be funded through the bond referendum approved by county voters in November 2019. Large-scale construction begins in January with an anticipated completion date of August 2023 for the new school building. Athletic facilities will be completed in January 2024. A total of $62 million in referendum funds was budgeted for the project.

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PROFILES SCHOOL

Lowcountry families have many top-quality options for their children’s education. Experienced administrators, passionate teachers and motivated peers make the difference for students. This section celebrates first-class centers of learning in Bluffton and on Hilton Head Island.

ST. FRANCIS CATHOLIC SCHOOL

AMAZING CREATIONS

Amazing Creations is a licensed child-care center in Bluffton. Business partners (and mother-daughter team) Marsha Davis and Cathy Stevens opened the school with a dream and a promise to provide a loving, nurturing, learning environment so parents could go to work without any worries. The center has grown from a licensing capacity of 75 to 389 students. Amazing Creations serves children 6 weeks though Pre-K, and has an afterschool program for elementary school students. Amazing Creations has served the community since 1998 and looks forward to many more years.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Amazing Creations Preschool is proud to help others in the community. The school has adopted the Seniors in the Memory Care Unit at Sprenger Health. The school has held food drives for Bluffton Self Help, and its favorite charity is St. Jude Children’s Hospital. This year alone, the children raised $8,500 during a Trike a Thon.

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For the past 25 years, St. Francis Catholic School, a fully Cognia-accredited parochial Catholic school for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, has provided an excellent educational environment for all its students. St. Francis Catholic School’s mission is to nurture students’ spiritual and intellectual growth in a Catholic community committed to academic excellence, with a focus on faith formation, quality academics and community. The school offers a variety of opportunities and enrichment activities for students and helps students mature in their faith through participation in the sacramental life of the Church. St. Francis strives to develop each child’s intellect and motivate the child to action and service. St. Francis Catholic School works with children and their families towards the goal that every graduate is a young adult characterized as an individual of faith, integrity and scholarship.

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT USCB offers small class sizes and personalized instruction in 44 areas of study within 19 Bachelor’s degree programs and two Master’s degree programs. Associate’s degrees and 100 percent online degrees also are offered. The University specializes in experiential learning, with students participating in internships, community service projects, international programs, fieldwork and research. The Beaufort College Honors program is open to qualified freshmen of all majors and has specific cohorts in Biology and Nursing. USCB’s graduate programs are: M.S. in Computational Science and M.Ed. in Literacy. The USCB Sand Sharks compete in baseball, softball, soccer, golf, cross country, and indoor and outdoor track and field. The Beaufort and Bluffton campuses house students from 31 states and around the world in apartment-style residences. USCB’s world-renowned Hospitality Program is based on the Hilton Head Island campus.

FEATURED ALUMNA: Antonia Quintero of Hilton Head Island graduated from USCB in Spring 2021 with a BA in Communications Studies and is working as a staff assistant for Rep. James Clyburn. She was recently accepted into the competitive Teach for America program and will spend the next two years teaching in a low-income community near Charlotte, N.C. While at USCB, Antonia served as vice-president of the student body and was selected for South Carolina’s prestigious Washington Semester.

QUINTERO

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IVYBROOK ACADEMY

Ivybrook Academy, an award-winning half-day preschool, is opening its newest location soon at 26 Cassidy Drive in Bluffton. Enrollment is open for the 2022-2023 school year.

Based in the Charlotte, North Carolina area, the academy is recognized for its multi-faceted approach to early childhood education. It combines elements of Montessori and Reggio Emilia education with Multiple Intelligence Research, crafting a balanced curriculum with emphasis on creating a continuous cycle of learning designed to reflect a child’s interests and needs.

“We are very excited by the interest the community has already shown in Ivybrook and hope to be a welcome addition to educational options for young families in the area,” says Stacey Foley, owner and Executive Director of the Bluffton location. “What I love most about Ivybrook Academy’s curriculum is that it is tailored to meet the needs of the individual child. It is not a one size fits all approach to learning.”

For more information, call 843-865-0113 or visit ivybrookacademy.com

FOLEY

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HERITAGE ACADEMY

Rooted in academic excellence and dedicated to students’ pursuit of extracurricular interests, Heritage Academy is a college-preparatory school where champions are made. The goal is to personalize education for each student ensuring success as student-artists, student-athletes, and students seeking to build their academic achievements. Whether their interest is academics only, a sport, the arts, or their own specialized extra-curricular activity, the educational standard to which students are held will prepare them for top-tier colleges and universities. Lowcountry students who have the desire to attend Heritage Academy, and the aptitude required, will find themselves learning alongside students from other countries. Students enter its halls driven to succeed. They graduate as life champions. That is the Heritage Academy difference.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: Amanda Williams-O’Nan’s vision for the school is to support students in small classes, to provide a state-of-the-art college preparatory education, and to keep Heritage Academy affordable.

Flexible hours and a comprehensive program allow students to end their school day early to enjoy and pursue what may be important in their lives. As the face of education is changing, Heritage Academy is committed to meeting these challenges by providing a flexible alternative for students who want a safe, supportive, accredited, fluid and versatile academic experience in place of spending most of their day in a rigid educational setting. Their special programs include aviation, sign language, computer animation, culinary arts, robotics and agriculture/animal science.

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ISLAND ACADEMY

The Island Academy of Hilton Head is a Pre-K through 12 school incorporating academic rigor into an inspiring learning environment that celebrates the individual voice, instills self-confidence, and fosters an understanding of our global interconnectedness.

Students and teachers collaborate by a multidisciplinary approach to engage and develop higher order thinking skills around the big ideas in each of their subjects. This is done through exploration, problem solving, challenging work and play. Students practice teamwork, communication, adaptability, and digital literacy with the goals of maximum development of intellect and personal character.

Core learning traditions provide a structure for students to excel in their current environment and be best prepared for moving on, whether to a traditional four-year college of choice or any number of different paths.

WHAT’S NEW: The Island Academy is thrilled to have Ellyn Levin on staff as its College Counselor. With a master’s degree in education and 35 years of experience in U.S. higher education, including 21 years as a university guidance counselor at the International School of Geneva, Ellyn has successfully helped over 1,000 students of diverse nationalities create admissions applications, securing acceptances at the most selective universities and colleges in the world.

Stay connected in the Lowcountry wherever you go!

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LEVIN

HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

January marks one year since HHCA moved to its new, stateof-the-art campus in Bluffton. Designed to deliver deeper learning in an innovative educational environment, the campus is home to 545 students this year — a record in HHCA’s 42-year history. HHCA’s project-based learning model focuses on outcomes that matter, a culture that empowers, teaching that engages, and technology that enables - in a distinctively Christian environment. Students have the opportunity to learn by putting their hands to use with practical applications, giving them real-world experience that prepares them for future success in their desired field. HHCA has an extraordinary guidance team, dedicated to preparing students for college, career, and life. 100% of students who apply to college are accepted, and over 90% earn merit-based scholarships. Ranked among the top private K-12 schools in South Carolina, HHCA also boasts an award-winning Fine Arts program and over 30 sports teams offering students opportunities to excel. Interest in HHCA is at an all-time high, and families interested in admissions for the 2022-2023 school year are encouraged to begin the application process now.

WHAT’S NEW: Leading HHCA’s campus-wide transition to a project-based academic learning model is Melissa Crosby, Ed. D, Director of Teaching and Learning. Dr. Crosby joined the HHCA team in August 2020. With extensive administrative and instructional experience, Dr. Crosby made an impact in multiple educational settings across South Carolina and beyond before coming to HHCA. She opened the first core competency-based school in South Carolina and designed and implemented the first New Tech Network high school in the state. Dr. Crosby’s other accolades include her role as advisor to the South Carolina Department of Education on the creation and implementation of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate. She also represented Colleton County in the TransformSC Network in partnership with the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness.

The experience and expertise Dr. Crosby brings to HHCA help to ensure that students are future-ready, and mentors are equipped with the cutting-edge resources necessary in HHCA’s exemplary, award-winning learning environment.

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TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

The Technical College of the Lowcountry elevates each student and every community it serves through transformative technology and exceptional teaching. TCL is the region’s primary provider of post-secondary education and workforce training.

The public, two-year, community college serves approximately 5,000 students annually at its four Lowcountry locations and online. Its most recent campus, the Culinary Institute of the South, opened in November 2021 in Bluffton. The college offers a variety of curricular programs including university transfer options, career and continuing education, online learning, and dual enrollment for area high school students.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Dejarvis Eaddy turned to TCL to get his life on track and recently graduated with an associate degree in industrial electronics.

“The cost was affordable, the classes were smaller, and the professors actually knew my name,” Eaddy said. “Technical College changed my life.”

CROSS SCHOOLS

Established in 1998, Cross Schools provides a Christian-based education for children ages 12 months through 10th grade. An 11th-grade class will be added for the 2022-2023 academic season.

Cross Schools strives to create an atmosphere where students develop a passion for learning through small classes, rigorous academics, various enrichment courses, and faith-based learning.

At Cross Schools, students attend weekly chapel, participate in community service projects, and can join multiple clubs. The athletic program features 10 sports and 20 different competitive teams. The guiding principles of the Cross Schools community are academic excellence, Christian values, and community service.

WHAT’S NEW: Cross Schools is excited to announce that its new high school auxiliary building will open in January. The three-story free-standing structure will consist of over 13,500 square feet of finished space that will feature a weight room/ training facility, administrative offices, conference room, faculty lounge/workroom, an art studio space, music suite, and six other classrooms.

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT CENTER FOR EVENT MANAGEMENT AND HOSPITALITY TRAINING

USCB’s Center for Event Management and Hospitality Training offers valuable professional development opportunities, event management resources and assistance with service quality evaluation and management. Its Island Ambassador program is popular with local businesses and includes inperson or virtual seminars about the culture, knowledge and ecology of Hilton Head Island. After the three-part Island Ambassador session, attendees can discuss with island visitors and guests topics ranging from wildlife commonly seen on the beach to Hilton Head Island’s early history. More than 2,500 Island Ambassadors have been certified to date. A similar Bluffton Ambassador Program educates attendees in its virtual classroom about Bluffton’s rich history, unique amenities and diverse ecology. As part of the Center’s event management services, USCB students assist with community events to learn real-world skills and provide extra hands. The quality management program assists local hospitality businesses in their efforts to understand and improve the guest experience. The Education Center offers timely and insightful videos from industry professionals on current hospitality issues. The Research Center conducts festival and event research in compliance with the Center for Disease Control’s COVID-19 guidelines. For more information contact Keri Olivetti at olivetti@ uscb.edu.

STEVEN MOE

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HILTON HEAD PREPARATORY SCHOOL

The 2022 rankings are in, and Hilton Head Prep is leading the way in education — just as it has since its founding in 1965. As it has consistently for 55 years of educating the Lowcountry, Hilton Head Prep continues to inspire students to be exceptional.

According to the Best Schools Rankings list from Niche, Prep is the No. 1 private K-12 school in Beaufort County, the No. 1 boarding school in the state, and in the top 2.5% of all schools nationwide. It all starts with Prep’s faculty — who average 20 years of experience and two-thirds have advanced degrees — and the administration, with more than 30 years of experience, on average — delivering Prep’s rigorous college prep curriculum, a strong arts and athletics program along with community service and character education. But here’s what matters more than the numbers: Faculty and staff members are passionate about learning and love the kids they teach.

FREDERICK

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Allison Frederick ‘12 graduated from Hilton Head Prep as a Lifer, having attended Prep for 12 years. After graduation, she pursued a pre-med degree at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. Genetics and research were her two passions. Upon graduation with honors, Allison was accepted to the University of South Carolina Greenville School of Medicine in 2017. She interviewed for a surgical residency, and MUSC of Charleston matched with her in March of 2021.

She graduated from medical school in May of 2021 and received the Eugene M. Largan III MD Award for Outstanding Student in Surgery. On July 1, 2021, Allison started her surgical residency at MUSC.

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MAY RIVER MONTESSORI

Located in the heart of “Old Town,” Bluffton, May River Montessori has proudly served the children and families of the Lowcountry since 1987. Its mission is to inspire a lifelong passion for learning, to nurture creativity and independence, and to foster compassion and acceptance of others within an authentic Montessori environment enriched by the cultures and ecology of our Lowcountry home. The school cultivates an environment rich with warmth, kindness and respect. May River Montessori is committed to the development of the whole child, enabling each to celebrate individual gifts and reach his or her greatest potential. In addition to a rich academic learning environment, there is a strong emphasis on the arts and environmental and community stewardship through its unique whole campus Organic Gardening Program.

EXPANDED CAMPUS: To support the growing greater Bluffton community, May River Montessori is in phase 1 of a new building on campus to house its expanding Toddler program and middle school as well as a store supporting its students’ micro businesses and gardening programs. This expansion will allow May River Montessori to continue to build community and service within its campus and beyond.

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JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL

John Paul II Catholic School offers students of all faiths an exceptional education in a safe and secure Christ-centered environment.

Students are well prepared to succeed in college through its rigorous Honors, Advanced Placement, and Pre-AP courses. Beyond the classroom, an extensive athletic program, wide-ranging clubs and activities, and a growing performing arts program offer students the opportunity to learn valuable teamwork and life skills.

Community service-learning is embedded in its curriculum allowing students to understand how their Christian faith calls them to be joyful servants to those less fortunate. John Paul II’s students are truly scholars with a soul.

BUCKLAND

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: JPII welcomes college counselor Cara Buckland.

She has more than 20 years of experience as a guidance director/ counselor, English teacher, and supervisor of Special Education Services. She graduated from St. Joseph’s University (Philadelphia, Pa.) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Rowan University with a Master of Arts degree in Student Personnel Services. “I am so excited to share my experience with JPII. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to serve others,” said Buckland, who lives on Hilton Head Island with her family who are parishioners at St. Francis.

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SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Savannah Christian Preparatory School is an independent, non-denominational PK-12 college prep Christian school. The only Savannah school triple accredited through CESA (the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability), SAIS, and Cognia, SCPS offers 27 pre-AP and AP courses. Located just 34 minutes from Bluffton and six minutes from the bridge, consider Savannah Christian Preparatory School for your child’s education.

PROGRAMS SPOTLIGHT: At Savannah Christian, the mission is developing the whole person to the glory of God. In addition to its competitive academics, the athletic and fine arts programs teach students the value of teamwork, goal setting, and discipline.

With 60 athletic teams available within 18 different sports and 33 fine arts program offerings from pre-k through 12th grade, there is something for every student at Savannah Christian. Your child can discover and explore various avenues for future collegiate and career options through the wide range of programs available.

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FIRST PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL

First Presbyterian Day School was established in 1984 and serves working parents in the community. Open year-round from 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the school year beginning each August.

Tuition includes two healthy snacks and a nutritional, well-balanced lunch each day. The Day School is licensed by the South Carolina Department of Social Services and holds an A+ ABC Quality rating through South Carolina’s statewide quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) for early care and education providers. Applications are now being accepted for the 2022-2023 school year.

The Day School is a Reggio Emilia-inspired school, governed by the idea that young children are competent and capable learners.

The curriculum emerges following the lead of the children and their interests as they explore and discover through a long-term project approach to learning. The program flourishes on relationships among children, teachers, parents and the environment while promoting independence.

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A Lowcountry star was crowned South Carolina’s Mr. Football for the first time, and a local squad capped off a second straight perfect season with a state title this fall — and that was just on the gridiron.

It was a terrific fall sports season in the Lowcountry, with the girls golf teams at May River and Hilton Head Prep joining Hilton Head Christian Academy’s football squad as repeat state champs and numerous student-athletes racking up individual honors.

Most notably, the Palmetto State’s top high school football

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player came from the area, as Hilton Head High star Jaylen Sneed was crowned as the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives 2021 South Carolina Mr. Football award winner, earning the title of the state’s most outstanding player.

He’s the first in the Lowcountry to ever achieve the distinction.

“He’s unselfish on the field, in the classroom, and in the community,” HHIHS head coach BJ Payne said. “He does all the right things. On top of being an awesome human being, he’s a great football player.”

Left: Hilton Head Island High’s Jaylen Sneed, left, won the 2021 South Carolina Mr. Football award.

Below: HHCA celebrates winning a state football crown.

SUCCESS

FANTASTIC FALL SPORTS SEASON Sneed was also named as a finalist for the High School Butkus Award and a semifinalist for the Maxwell Club National High School Defensive Player of the Year Award. He has also excelled in the classroom and in the community, carrying a 3.6-grade-point average while taking time to volunteer at his church and across the Lowcountry. He committed to the University of Notre Dame in July.

Sneed was joined on the S.C. Football Coaches Association’s All-State first team by May River’s Garvin Douglas and Jaeon Allen and Bluffton’s Camauri Simmons.

STORY AND PHOTOS

BY JUSTIN JARRETT

REPEAT FOOTBALL CHAMPS HHCA captured a state crown for the second straight year, remaining undefeated since falling in the SCISA 2A title game in 2019.

Speedy Robinson scored three times, Jace Blackshear tossed two touchdown passes, and Jackson Lanier and Riley Shinn anchored a sensational defensive showing in a 34-7 win over previously unbeaten Williamsburg Academy at Charleston Southern.

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DOMINATING THE LINKS The girls golf teams at May River and Hilton Head Prep had little trouble defending their state titles, as the Sharks cruised to a 44-shot win in the Class 4A state meet at Crescent Pointe Golf Club and the Dolphins won their third straight SCISA 3A title by 108 shots.

May River’s Kylie Bowes tied for second with a 36-hole score of 5-over-par at Crescent Pointe, while Hilton Head High surged to a runner-up finish behind the Sharks with Seahawks standout Alexia Milbrandt finishing fourth to join Bowes and May River teammates Robbin Zetrouer and Claire Green on the All-State team.

Hilton Head Prep broke 300 on both days of the SCISA state meet and ran away with a third consecutive state championship. All five Dolphins finished in the top 15, with sophomore Bridget Wilkie leading the way and winning the individual title by four shots. Wilkie made only four bogeys in 36 holes — and nothing worse — and countered them with six birdies in a stellar performance.

HHP’s Camila Burnett finished third and teammate Olivia Wilkie tied for fourth, while Antonina Morgan placed ninth, and Kathryn Schaefer was 15th.

SENSATIONAL SWIMMERS HHCA’s boys placed third behind state champions Jack Ussery and Levi Eidson, Hilton Head Prep’s Sterling Burd matched Ussery with two individual titles, and John Paul II’s Aubrey Porada captured a state crown to lead the Lowco contingent at the SCISA State Swimming Championships.

Ussery won the 100 breaststroke and the 200 freestyle — the latter by 27 seconds — and joined Eidson, JP Reed, and Wells Sharpe on the runner-up 400 free relay and third-place 200 free relay to lead the HHCA boys to a strong third-place showing in the Class 2A/1A standings.

Eidson also placed second in the 200 individual medley, and Sharpe finished second in the 100 fly and the 100 back, finishing just two seconds off the pace in the latter race.

In the Class 3A meet, Burd swam to gold in the 200 free by seven seconds and won the 500 free by 32 seconds. On the boys’ side, Mark Lofye placed second in the 500 free and third in the 200 free for the Dolphins.

At the SCHSL Class 4A boys meet, Hilton Head High’s Blaise Minckler captured a pair of runner-up finishes to lead the Seahawks to a fourth-place showing. Minckler was the area’s top representative, finishing second in the 500 free and 100 breaststroke and contributing to a thirdplace finish in the 400 free relay and a fourth-place showing in the 200 free relay. Jackson Voelkel, Christian Naddy, and Dylan Magda joined Minkler on both AllState relays, and Magda claimed fourth in the 200 IM.

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Hilton Head High’s Blaise Minckler took a pair of runner-up finishes at the SCHSL swimming championships.

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Kylie Bowes helped May River defend its state title.

In the Class 4A girls meet, May River’s Shelby Gourley captured a state title in the 100-yard breaststroke, and Hilton Head High and May River claimed top-four finishes in the team standings. Gourley edged AC Flora’s Hannah Montgomery for the 100 breaststroke title, finishing in 1:05.75.

QUEENS OF THE COURTS Emily Ruckno’s quest for a state singles championship came up just short for the second straight season. The Hilton Head Island High School junior fell to Socastee’s Brooke Rodgers in the championship match at the Florence Tennis Center to earn a runner-up finish and the Coach’s Sportsmanship Award.

The Seahawks volleyball team also came up short in its

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drive for a second straight state title, but Makenna Mason was named the Class 4A Player of the Year and was joined on the Class 4A All-State team by teammate Ady O’Grady.

CLOSE TO A CROSS-COUNTRY CROWN On the cross-country course, Anya Arroyo earned state runner-up honors for the second year in a row, powering May River’s girls to a third-place finish at the SCHSL 4A Cross Country Championships at the Sandhills Research Center in Columbia. Bluffton’s girls placed in fourth place, and Hilton Head High led the boys’ contingent in seventh.

Arroyo posted a time of 18:43.16 to claim silver. Victoria Sosa joined Arroyo in the top five, posting a terrific 19:15.87 to grab fifth place.

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2021

BEST of the BEST LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

INDUSTRY’S ELITE

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BEST of the BEST LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

ANNUAL LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS RECOGNIZES LOWCOUNTRY’S FINEST BUILDERS AND DESIGNERS STORY BY HILTON HEAD MONTHLY | PHOTOS SUPPLIED

The top builders and designers of the Lowcountry were recognized recently at the 22nd Annual LightHouse Awards gala, presented by the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association with the support of Title Sponsor Truist Financial.

The gala, which was held in December at the Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island, honored the area’s elite industry professionals.

“The LightHouse Awards is truly like the Academy Awards for our local building industry. It gives builders and designers the opportunity to be recognized for the hard work, talent and vision they put forward in building some of the most remarkable homes found in this area and beyond,” said Dan Monroe, chairman of the LightHouse Awards program since its inception. “We are so blessed as a community to have such imaginative architects, talented interior designers, quality builders and exceptional trades craftsman whose hands touch each project in the Lowcountry.”

First held 22 years ago in 1999, the LightHouse Awards are presented annually to qualified members of the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association for the demonstration of quality craftsmanship and design excellence in the construction of homes throughout the Lowcountry, a news release said.

Twenty-three builders, including remodelers, custom, semicustom, and light commercial building companies, submitted 55 entries. Six firms submitted 31 interior and architectural design

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projects for a total of 86 qualifying projects.

The construction cost of this year’s remodeled or newly built home entries ranged from $150,000 to over $3 million. Each award was subdivided into categories based on project cost of construction and similar square footage.

The 2021 LightHouse Awards judging panel included builders, remodelers, architects and other industry professionals from North Carolina and South Carolina.

The judges spent two days visiting entries from Hilton Head Island to Fripp Island to Ridgeland. Additional judges, all construction and real estate sales and marketing professionals, were later enlisted to judge the LightHouse Awards program’s sales and marketing awards categories.

Master of ceremonies Monty Jett announced the winners. Also recognized were associate members of the Home Builders Association, including building industry professionals, subcontractors and suppliers, who participated in the design and construction of each of the competing new and remodeled homes.

Winners received marble obelisk awards representing lighthouses.

“For many of these builders, after spending 12 to 15 months or longer working on a project, where even the smallest detail could impact the overall outcome, the LightHouse Awards symbolize one of the highest career honors, and is a true testament to their vision and talent,” Monroe said.

2021

BEST OVERALL LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

FULL REMODEL Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 3 NEW HOMES Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5 Category 6 Category 7 Category 8 Category 9 Category 10 Category 10 Category 11 Category 12 Category 13 Category 14 Category 15 Category 16 Category 16

TDC Builders Element Construction Esposito Construction Inc Roberts Construction Company Logan Homes Advantage Builders, LLC. Artisan Custom Homes - Hilton Head, LLC Artisan Custom Homes - Hilton Head, LLC Reclamation By Design Ltd. Boshaw Residential LLC Reclamation By Design Ltd. Boshaw Residential LLC Compass Custom Homes Ashworth Construction Group, LLC Boshaw Residential LLC Full Circle Construction ACH Custom Homes Element Construction Reclamation By Design Ltd. Full Circle Construction Bunting Construction Simpson Construction

Full Remodel: TDC Builders

Full Remodel: TDC Builders

New Home: Logan Homes

2021

BEST EXTERIOR LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

Full Remodel: Element Construction

Full Remodel: TDC Builders

FULL REMODEL Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

TDC Builders Element Construction Roberts Construction Company

NEW HOMES Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5 Category 6 Category 7 Category 8 Category 9 Category 10 Category 11 Category 12 Category 13 Category 14 Category 15 Category 16

Logan Homes Allen Patterson Builders Artisan Custom Homes - Hilton Head Artisan Custom Homes - Hilton Head Reclamation By Design Ltd. Boshaw Residential LLC Reclamation By Design Ltd. Boshaw Residential LLC Compass Custom Homes Boshaw Residential LLC Meritus Signature Homes Bunting Construction AR Homes Simpson Construction Full Circle Construction Bunting Construction

New Home: Allen Patterson Builders

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BEST BATH LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

FULL REMODEL Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

Allen Patterson Builders Bluffton Builders, LLC Esposito Construction Inc

NEW HOMES Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5 Category 6 Category 7 Category 7 Category 8 Category 9 Category 10 Category 11 Category 12 Category 13 Category 14 Category 15 Category 16

Logan Homes Advantage Builders Kovach Co. Inc. Artisan Custom Homes - Hilton Head, LLC Boshaw Residential LLC Boshaw Residential LLC Reclamation By Design Ltd. Simpson Construction Front Light Building Co Compass Custom Homes Boshaw Residential LLC Full Circle Construction ACH Custom Homes AR Homes Reclamation By Design Ltd. Full Circle Construction Simpson Construction

Full Remodel: Allen Patterson Builders

New Homes: Logan Homes

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BEST KITCHEN LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

Full Remodel: Allen Patterson Builders

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FULL REMODEL Category 1 Category 2 Category 3

Allen Patterson Builders Element Construction Esposito Construction Inc

NEW HOMES Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5 Category 6 Category 7 Category 8 Category 9 Category 10 Category 11 Category 12 Category 13 Category 14 Category 15 Category 15 Category 16

Logan Homes Allen Patterson Builders Artisan Custom Homes - Hilton Head, LLC Meritus Signature Homes Reclamation By Design Ltd. Boshaw Residential LLC Simpson Construction ACH Custom Homes Compass Custom Homes Ashworth Construction Group Full Circle Construction ACH Custom Homes Element Construction Reclamation By Design Ltd. Element Construction Full Circle Construction Bunting Construction

2021

LIGHT COMMERCIAL LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

LIGHT COMMERCIAL Category 1 Ashworth Construction Group Category 1 ACH Custom Homes Category 2 Fraser Construction Category 3 Fraser Construction Category 3 Nix Construction Company, Inc. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN Category 1 ACH Custom Homes Category 2 Court Atkins Group Category 2 Pearce Scott Architects, Inc. Category 3 KRA Architecture + Design Category 4 KRA Architecture + Design Category 5 AR Homes Category 5 Pearce Scott Architects, Inc. Category 6 Court Atkins Group Category 6 KRA Architecture + Design Category 7 Court Atkins Group

New Homes: Allen Patterson Builders

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BEST DESIGN LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

INTERIOR DESIGN Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5 Category 6 Category 7 Category 8

TAKE FORK FUN WHEREVER YOU GO! Get the Mobile App Today

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Southern Grace Interiors Kelly Caron Designs, ASID Kelly Caron Designs, ASID J. Banks Design Group Court Atkins Interior Design Kelly Caron Designs, ASID Kelly Caron Designs, ASID J. Banks Design Group

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Architectural Design: ACH Custom Homes

2021

PARTIAL REDESIGN LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS

BEST INNOVATION OF SPACE Category 1 TDC Builders Category 1 Bluffton Builders, LLC Category 2 Roberts Construction Company Category 3 Element Construction Light Commerical: Ashworth Construction Group

HIGHEST DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY Category 1 TDC Builders Category 1 TDC Builders Category 2 TDC Builders Category 2 Roberts Construction Company Category 3 Simpson Construction

Interior Design: Southern Grace Interiors

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Keeping an eye on

BALD EAGLE CAM OFFERS GLIMPSE INTO LOWCOUNTRY WILDLIFE

NATURE

BY HILTON HEAD MONTHLY The Lowcountry can now keep its eyes on wildlife 24-7.

Hilton Head Island Land Trust has partnered with HDOnTap, Russell Patterson, P.A. and Hargray Communications to launch Hilton Head Island’s first Eagle Cam, the land trust said.

Hilton Head Island locals, visitors, and wildlife enthusiasts worldwide can watch bald eagles in their natural habitat. The live cameras will provide uninterrupted views of eagles from nesting through the fledgling stage, according to a news release.

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pan/tilt/zoom camera, and a fixed 4K camera, which streams 24-7 video, audio and has infrared night vision of the wild bald eagle nest.

The infrared lighting is imperceptible to the eagles. A visit to the nest site at night would look completely dark.

The Land Trust’s mission is to preserve and protect the critical natural habitat and significant historical parcels of land on Hilton Head Island for generations, the news release said.

“With its five properties spread across Hilton Head Island,

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A 24-7 cam gives wildlife enthusiasts a chance to get a view of the lives of bald eagles.

the Land Trust not only preserves these critical habitats but also highlights the history and natural environment of the island. The Land Trust looks forward to introducing people from across the nation to the beauty of the Lowcountry we share with the eagles,” said George Banino, President of the Land Trust.

HDOnTap has installed hundreds of live cameras to view wildlife, from eagle nests to polar bears in the arctic.

“We’re so excited to bring a new eagle camera onto our network,” said HDOnTap Head of Marketing, Kate Alexander.

“Watching wildlife is a blend of unprecedented excitement, awe and anticipation. You never quite know what to expect, but it’s always an educational experience, and this nest will be no exception.”

The nest on the eagle cam is located on private property in an undisclosed area because eagles can be sensitive to human activity while nesting, the trust’s website said.

Eagles generally come back to the nest in September or October to begin ‘nestorations’ from the prior season, Hilton

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Head Island Land Trust said. If there is a successful mating season, eggs are laid in early to mid-December. Normally one to three eggs are laid, and the incubation will take about 35 days on average.

The female incubates the egg and eaglet most of the time, but the male also helps, a news release said. The pair each make sure the eggs are protected from the weather.

There are many bird nests in the Hilton Head area, including eagles, osprey, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, owls, and great blue heron nests.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our Lowcountry residents to observe and listen to eagles in their natural habitat.

We are very happy to be able to have us share this window into the life of these magnificent creatures” said Patterson, a lifetime resident of Beaufort County.

The cam has been an instant Lowcountry — and national — favorite. In December Hilton Head Island Land Trust announced a naming contest for the two eagles in the nest.

To view the cam, visit at hhilandtrust.org/eagle-cam.

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BALD EAGLE BASICS The bald eagle is found in North America, with about half of the bald eagle population living in Alaska. Here are some more facts: • Eagles feed mainly on fish.

• The lifespan of an eagle is 20 years.

• The eagle builds the largest nest of any North American bird and the largest tree nests ever recorded for any animal species, up to 13 feet deep, 8 feet wide and 1 ton.

• The typical wingspan is between 5-feet, 11-inches and 7-feet, 7-inches; mass is normally between 6.6 and 13.9 pounds.

• The bald eagle breeds at the age of 4-5 years old, often returning to the area where they were born.

• The female is 25% larger than the male.

Source: Hilton Head Land Trust

VISIT THE EAGLE CAM hhilandtrust.org/eagle-cam

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Logan

Mascolo

COASTAL VACATION RENTALS ADDS GUEST SERVICES COORDINATOR Kelly Logan has joined Coastal Vacation Rentals as a guest services coordinator. Logan graduated with a bachelor’s degree with first-class honors in International Tourism Management in England, United Kingdom. She worked as an intern at the Inn & Club at Harbour Town for the Sea Pines Resort.

HILTON HEAD REAL ESTATE COUPLE WINS SERVICE AWARD Hilton Head Realtors Gloria and Allan LaCoe were awarded the C. Dan Joyner Community Service Award at the South Carolina Realtors’ awards gala in Columbia. Gloria and Allan are both agents with Dunes Real Estate in Hilton Head. The award is given annually to members whose values represent the utmost in Realtor professionalism, compassion, and volunteerism, according to a news release. The couple was recognized for their work with Hilton Head’s Soup Kitchen by the Sea, an organization that helps provide food for struggling families. Gloria and Allan also

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Graham

Traver

The LaCoes

have been credited for their leadership with the Free Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, a yearly event that began in 1999 and serves 1,500 people with 350 volunteers. The event also raises donations for local social service agencies.

KELLER WILLIAMS WELCOMES SIX AGENTS Dacia Allen, Jared Romero, Randall Moody, Bridget Graham, Anthony Mascolo, and Julie Riley have joined Ke l l e r W i l l i a m s R e a l t y o f T h e Lowcountry.

HOUSING DEMAND REMAINS STRONG According to the November Housing Supply Overview from the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors, from December 2020 to November 2021, pending sales in the Hilton Head region were up 4.8 percent. The overall median sales price was up 10.9 percent to $403, 230. Market-wide, inventory levels were down 50.7 percent. The property type that lost the least inventory was the condo segment, which decreased 34.9 percent. Single-family home sales saw an increase of 3.2 percent.

Riley

SEA PINES REAL ESTATE AT THE BEACH CLUB NAMES AWARD WINNER Sea Pines Real Estate at the Beach Club announced Paula Traver as this year’s receipient of the Tommy Austin Make a Difference Award. The award, named in the memory of long-time Sea Pines Realtor Tommy Austin, honors a member of their team who goes above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others. Traver was selected by her peers for her “tireless work” handsewing over 2,000 masks during the pandemic and giving them away to those in need.

HILTON HEAD NAMED A TOP PLACE TO RETIRE IN SOUTH CAROLINA A study from SmartAsset found the best places to retire in South Carolina, with Hilton Head Island ranked No. 3.

The seventh annual study measures each city’s tax friendliness, availability of medical care and social opportunities for seniors. SmartAsset looked at state and local tax rates, the number of doctors’ offices, recreation centers and retirement centers per thousand residents in each location.

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3Oyst erBayPl ac e •

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5Pi neWar bl erCi r c l e

36RedOakRoad( UC)

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BEING ACTIVE PROMOTES STRONG OVERALL WELL-BEING

TO YOUR HEALTH

BY ANTHONY GARZILLI

The dawning of a new year is the perfect time to give yourself a boost. Being active is essential to feeling great mentally and physically. Here’s why routine exercise will improve your well-being.

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BETTER SLEEP

Exercise plays a vital role in helping us get a good night’s sleep, which is important for overall health.

“We have solid evidence that exercise does, in fact, help you fall asleep more quickly and improves sleep quality,” Charlene Gamaldo, M.D., medical director of Johns Hopkins’ Center for Sleep at Howard County General Hospital in Maryland, said on the hospital’s website.

Exercise helps increase “slow-wave sleep,” the website said, which is a deep sleep that gives the brain and body a chance to rejuvenate. Exercise also helps decompress the mind, which Johns Hopkins said is important to “naturally transitioning to sleep.”

The ideal amount of exercise time for a good sleep according to Johns Hopkins is about 30 minutes of “moderate aerobic” exercise. It might help people see a difference in sleep quality.

SLOWS STRESS

Getting your body moving helps you reduce stress. The Mayo Clinic said exercise “pumps” up your endorphins – giving you a “high” that makes us feel empowered. Exercising also helps protect your

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body from harmful effects of stress and can help you take your mind off your concerns. Exercise also helps us stimulate brain chemicals that could help us feel happier and less anxious.

It’s important to do things you enjoy. Make exercising fun, whether it’s walking, jogging or riding a bike. Frequently playing tennis adds an average of 9.7 years of life expectancy, the Mayo Clinic said.

IMPROVES PRODUCTION

The motion of exercise gives off the pump of endorphins, a rush of positivity and increased energy, the Cleveland Clinic said.

The bolt of energy leads people to claim they feel more productive when they exercise. There’s a feeling of accomplishment after a workout, and exercise can make you feel less groggy and irritable.

Livestrong.com said exercise helps productivity by boosting alertness. The increasing blood flow to the brain can help sharpen awareness. More energy often means you feel more awake.

Do simple things, such as walking during a lunch break.

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CONFIDENCE BOOST

Feeling good while being active gives us renewed confidence and can improve our outlook on life.

Exercise often gives us a rush of improved self-esteem.

Livestrong.com said regular exercise and sticking to a schedule gives people a sense of achievement.

Having an exercise routine and sticking to it provides a mental boost.

PREVENTS PROBLEMS

Being active also helps prevent many health problems.

Regular exercise can help against a stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and arthritis, the Mayo Clinic said. It can also help prevent weight gain. A little bit of exercise each day can help burn calories.

Small tip: Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

KEEPS THE BRAIN ACTIVE

Improved blood flow to the brain is a benefit of exercising, the Cleveland Clinic said, which improves cognition. Regular exercise helps us think clearer;

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exercising your brain is a way to stay mentally sharp.

Engaging in mentally stimulating activities helps build your cognitive reserve.

A study showed each hour of “light-intensity” physical activity and 7,500 steps or more daily was associated with higher total brain volume, which was “equivalent to approximately 1.4 to 2.2 years less brain aging,” according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Try a new hobby, (maybe crossword puzzles or a word search) or read a book each week.

Dancing also gets the heart rate going and your blood flowing.

The Cleveland Clinic said in study of “memoryimpaired older adults,” those who participated in one-hour ballroom dance lessons twice a week for 10 months showed improved brain function and mood and behavior.

Exercise is important to staying healthy.

To stay fit (and motivated) taking part in activities for your body and your brain will help you feel rejuvenated.

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L

E

G W N I E T L A

OPTIONS TO HELP PROMOTE OPTIMAL HEALTH

BY DAVID ANTHONY

The new year can bring resolutions of getting healthier. Often that involves a renewed dedication to workout routines or finally taking the initiative to exercise more. But new eating habits can help you maintain your overall health.

NOURISHING SNACKS

When you need a quick bite, but don’t want to grab something unhealthy (stay away from the inviting potato chips) the American Heart Association suggests choosing pretzels or low-fat potato chips (with reduced sodium).

Try baked tortilla chips: they are better than fried tortilla chips.

Looking to cool off? Try frozen fruit bars instead of ice cream.

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Low-sugar, whole-grain granola bars with 3 grams of fiber, or a handful of unsalted or lightly salted dry-roasted nuts are tasty and healthy snacks, according to WebMd. Low-calorie oatmeal cookies are a good snack. A recipe at wellplated.com replaces half the amount of butter with applesauce. Honey is a great sweetener.

COOK A HEARTY DINNER

There are plenty of healthy ideas for dinner time.

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I I H E A LT H I I Instead of a cup of whole milk, try a cup of fat-free or low-fat milk and a tablespoon of liquid vegetable oil.

The American Heart Association said instead of a tablespoon of butter, use a tablespoon of soft margarine or ¾ tablespoon of liquid vegetable oil.

Low-fat unsalted cottage cheese and low-fat yogurt are alternatives for sour cream.

Instead of bread crumbs, the Mayo Clinic says to substitute rolled oats or crushed bran cereal. If a recipe calls for eggs, use two egg whites or a ¼ cup egg substitute for each whole egg.

A recipe for grilled salmon sliders is a healthy option, suggested by skinnyms.com. The tasty recipe calls for parsley, sweet onion, roma tomatoes and romaine lettuce and whole-wheat slider buns. It’s a yummy dish good for protein and increased nutrients.

TREAT YOURSELF TO A NIGHT OUT It’s always nice to have someone else prepare your meal. Eating out can still mean eating healthy.

To get started, don’t order soups that are creamed-based; instead the American Heart Association said to try brothbased soups with vegetables.

A veggie burger is a good option for an entree. French fries are yummy and tempting, but as your side a better

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choice is a baked potato, brown rice or steamed vegetables.

Fish is a healthy option, including tuna, grilled fish fillet or salmon. If you are worried about high cholesterol or diabetes, stay away from dishes that are fried, buttered or creamed.

The healthiest choices include dishes that are baked, grilled, poached or steamed.

Even pizza can be enjoyed. Order a thin crust and add some vegetable toppings, but not meat. Ask for half the cheese.

Need food on the go? Go for a grilled chicken sandwich or a Southwest salad with chicken.

INDULGE IN DESSERT

Yum. Dessert! You can certainly enjoy healthy options. Dark chocolate is better than milk chocolate, eatthis.com said, noting cocoa flavanols help lower blood pressure.

For something lighter, try nonfat yogurt or sherbet, the American Heart Association said.

A delicious chocolate cake recipe at eatingwell.com suggests using canola oil, nonfat butter milk and wholewheat pastry flour, which is lower in protein than wholewheat flour.

These suggestions can help you eat well and stay healthy.

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DON’T

I I H E A LT H I I

SLOUCH

IT’S EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO IMPROVE YOUR POSTURE

BY CARRIE HIRSCH

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Don’t be a slouch. Sit up straight. Stand up straight and tall. Keep your head above your shoulders and your shoulders over your hips. Let your arms hang naturally at your sides.

It seems like there are many steps to take to achieve good posture. But experts say if you tweak your habits and explore some exercise routines that are designed to specifically improve posture, it can become an achievable goal.

You should be aware of your body movements while doing everyday activities like watching television and walking the dog.

“Good posture can be successfully acquired only when the entire mechanism of the body is under perfect control,” said Joseph Pilates, German physical trainer and founder of the Pilates method of physical fitness.

There are two kinds of posture: Dynamic posture is the way you hold yourself while in motion. Static posture is the way you hold yourself while sitting, standing up, or sleeping.

The key to maintaining good posture is the position of your spine. Slumping and slouching on a regular basis may take a toll on your spine, rendering it more susceptible by misaligning your musculoskeletal system, and may decrease flexibility and invite back, neck, and shoulder pain.

‘Tech neck’ has become a common way to refer to pain due to constant use of devices which requires the user to look down for long periods of time to check emails.

Strengthening muscles around the back, abdomen and pelvis through yoga, Pilates, tai chi, and other types of exercise classes can make the road to improved posture attainable.

It’s also important to maintain a healthy weight. A little extra weight can weaken abdominal muscles, which can affect your pelvis and spine and lead to lower back pain, according to medlineplus.gov.

“You can never make a first impression twice — that’s why good posture is key,” says Judith Jones, a Broadway and ballet dancer and choreographer at Youth Opera International.

JONES OFFERS A FEW TIPS: • Avoid crossing your legs when sitting and make sure you have back support in the form of a pillow or backrest that can support the lower curve of your back.

• Hard chairs are the worst for your posture and your body in general. A well-padded seat gives essential support to your hips and thighs.

• Get in the habit of keeping both soles of your feet on the ground — don’t cross your ankles or tuck your feet under you.

• Keeping your computer at eye level is one of the best ways to help maintain good posture while working.

For women, experts say that wearing comfortable, low-heeled shoes will contribute to better posture; high heels can throw your balance off by over-arching your back.

High heels also put more weight on the knees.

“When someone tells me that I look great, I say thanks, then share a secret: It’s not the clothes or the makeup; it’s my posture,” says Denise Austin, fitness instructor and former member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

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photo: shutterstock

I I H E A LT H I I

PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

BY NICOLE CRAM | PHOTOS BY RUTHE RITTERBECK

Taking fitness to the next level can be a grind, but the Lowcountry has some of the top professional trainers who are motivating and help us reach our goals.

These experts teach us how to work out safely, hold us accountable and understand that optimal wellness is a lifestyle. Inspirational and supportive, these trainers guide us on our journey to stay fit for life.

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KATIE GIRARDI CORE PILATES

At the core of Katie Girardi’s business is an atmosphere of acceptance backed by a team of confidence-building trainers.

She started Core Pilates to embrace everyone and everybody, no matter your experience level.

“This is a positive place to move your body and we want you to feel successful,” she said.

Every instructor at the studio will tell you that pilates is more than just a workout; it’s a system and a lifestyle.

While the studio does incorporate some aspects of yoga and personal training into their classes, the choreography and equipment is deeply rooted in foundational Pilates.

Core Pilates proudly opened their new studio on New Orleans Road one year ago.

“The heart of our studio is our instructors, who are all incredible,” she said. “We are like a family who holds deep care for anyone who walks through the door.”

31 NEW ORLEANS RD. STE A, HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29928 843.681.4267 // WORKTHATCORE.COM

JAMAL EDWARDS HILTON HEAD DANCE THEATRE

From a young dancer to Ballet Master, Jamal Edwards has spent most of his life at the Hilton Head Dance Theatre.

“Classical ballet is our core. We believe the training gives students a strong foundation for any style of dance,” he said.

As a native of Hilton Head Island, Jamal has experienced Hilton Head Dance Theatre as a student and an instructor.

In addition to Ballet Master, he is responsible for assisting with all performances as Resident Choreographer.

“So much goes into performances like The Nutcracker or Terpsichore. It’s an opportunity for students to experience different styles of dance.”

Jamal encourages dance at any age, which is why he offers an adult class for those interested in learning ballet and jazz.

“Dance is such an essential skill. It teaches you the strength and discipline to stay focused in all areas of life,” he said.

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JAKE WITTMER LAVA FITNESS

Jake Wittmer went to school for business management before realizing that fitness is his real passion.

He’s spent the past dozen years training, four of which as LAVA’s Assistant Manager.

“LAVA offers more than just an average gym’s cookie-cutter equipment and services,” he said. “We’re a truly comprehensive fitness facility.”

Jake believes training clients has to begin with both a purpose and a goal.

“Whatever my client is striving for is what we cater to best.

Whether it’s weight loss or just looking better in the mirror, you have to start with a goal.”

When it comes to his personal training journey, his goals have ranged from competing in a marathon to body building.

Jake specializes in one-on-one training with occasional small group training.

811 WILLIAM HILTON PKWY., HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29928 843.842.3225 // LAVA24.COM

LLUVIA ARCOS LAVA FITNESS

For Lluvia Arcos, true wellness is not just a fitness routine, but a lifestyle. She strives to make her circuit-style HIIT classes just one aspect of healthy living.

“Fitness is about more than physically taking care of your body,” she said. “It’s also about eating right and taking care of your mind.”

Lluvia lives a plant-based lifestyle and encourages her clients to do the same, so they can nourish their bodies not just through exercise. She’s trained with LAVA since she was 18 years old; the clients and coworkers she’s met along the way feel like family.

“We’re a tight-nit community at LAVA,” she said. “We all know each other well, so it’s important for us to always motivate one another and hold each other accountable.”

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ARLEIGH THORP LAVA FITNESS

As a California-native, Arleigh Thorp has found a new home in LAVA Fitness. She spends most of her time in group training, connecting with clients and trainers who now feel like family.

“There’s a lot of socializing that goes on at LAVA, both in the gym and outside of it,” she said. “People are motivated to see their workout buddy, then go grab lunch after.”

Her personal fitness philosophy is one that most people can relate to.

“The clients I gravitate towards are the ones who maybe aren’t excited to work out, but know they need to. Even on the days we don’t want to exercise, it’s nice to be around people you enjoy, even if it’s just someone to complain with during an exercise routine.”

811 WILLIAM HILTON PKWY., HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29928 843.842.3225 // LAVA24.COM

SAMMI BURNS LAVA FITNESS

Hilton Head Island is a close community and for trainer Sammi Burns, the gym at LAVA is an extension of that.

“Coming into the gym and seeing the same people every day is what I look forward to most. Everyone is very close, from the clients to the staff,” she said.

Sammi’s fitness philosophy is to train her clients for the every day, so they can stay fit for life.

“Fitness is never a punishment, but a reward and a way to challenge your body. I help my clients live a pain-free lifestyle, so their everyday activities are more enjoyable.”

She’s driven by high-energy classes with upbeat music.

“I always want to make sure everyone is having fun and staying motivated. We feed off each other’s energy.”

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pet

TIPS TO BEING A RESPONSIBLE OWNER OF YOUR FURRY FRIEND

TAKING CARE OF YOUR

BY ANTHONY GARZILLI | ARTWORK BY MADISON ELROD

IIPETSII

We want the best for our pets. We spoil and love them. There are many ways pet owners can ensure their furry friends stay happy and healthy.

Here are some tips to being a responsible pet owner.

PLENTY OF EXERCISE

Our pets like to be active, which is great for having fun and staying fit. Pets want to keep moving — they have a lot of energy — so regular walks or playtime is important.

Playtime helps augment a bond between a pet and the pet owner and gives them an outlet for all that energy.

Walking with your dog is a simple but beneficial way to get exercise. Begin with short, frequent walks. Build gradually to a 15-minutes period of brisk walking, then allow for cool-down time and recovery, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation said.

During warm weather avoid hot surfaces — such as asphalt — that can burn your pet’s feet. During the winter, try to avoid walks during the coldest parts of the day.

Talk to your veterinarian for the best exercise practices.

ROUTINE CHECKUPS

Regular visits to a veterinarian will help prevent disease. It’s recommended to have annual exams (including bloodwork) for adult cats and dogs. Checkups for senior dogs or cats are recommended every six months, according to petmd.com. Taking care of your pet also includes protecting them from fleas and ticks.

“If not prevented, fleas can lead to itching, hair loss, flea allergy dermatitis, secondary skin infections, tapeworms and even severe anemia,” Shermaine Wilson Cox, DVM, a veterinarian, told petmd.com Ticks can transmit diseases. There are overthe-counter products to help protect your pets, such as shampoos and natural sprays.

PROPER GROOMING

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to help keep your pet healthy. Regular brushing will help remove dirt and keep their skin clean, according to mypet.com. Try brushing their hair several times a week.

Bath them routinely to keep them healthy. Use lukewarm water and use specially-labeled formulas for pets.

Regular ear cleaning (with an approved pet ear cleaner) will help prevent dirt buildup that could lead to ear infections.

Your pets’ nails also need regular trimming. Overgrown nails can be a source of pain for your pet, according to petmd.com.

Pets often aren’t fond of getting t h e i r n a i l s t r i m m e d . Yo u r veterinarian might be the best one to properly cut their nails.

“Overgrown nails can create problems throughout the body, especially in the back and hips. When I see a pet come in with pain symptoms, the feet are the first place I look,” Dr. Jim Carlson, DVM CVA CVTP, told petmd.com.

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PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR TEETH

Your pet’s teeth should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian for early signs of trouble, the American Veterinary Medical Foundation said, noting periodontal disease is the most common dental condition in dogs and cats.

Signs that there may be a problem include bad breath, broken or loose teeth, bleeding from the mouth, or refusal to eat.

Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the most effective thing to do to keep their teeth healthy. It’s also important to schedule annual dental cleanings.

During a cleaning appointment, anesthesia will be used. This helps the procedures to be performed without startling your pet. Anesthesia also keeps your pet still, which makes it easier to clean their teeth.

The American Veterinary Medical Foundation said to talk to your veterinarian about dental products, treats, or dentalspecific diets.

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TAKING TIME TO TRAIN

Training will help keep both you and your pets safe. A dog who has had basic obedience training will know what is accepted, which can help him be more cooperative.

Training also can help dogs from getting lost. It can also boost mental stimulation and boost your pet’s confidence.

“Dogs that have anxiety or more timid personalities can benefit from training. It provides a sense of accomplishment and provides a way for us to communicate with our four-legged family members,” according to Loyal Companions Animal Hospital & Pet Resort.

Po sit ive r ei n for c e me nt i s recommended, with rewards ranging from treats, to a toy or praise.

The key, Loyal Companions said, is consistency with training.

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Giving Back to the

COMMUNITY

LOWCOUNTRY GULLAH FOUNDATION HELPS PROMOTE GULLAH CULTURE

BY DEAN ROWLAND

The Gullah community on Hilton Head Island has endured

“Before the bridge, the lifestyle was living off the land and

decades of obstacles to achieve its rightful place as landowners,

sea depending on your skill set. The Gullah culture is really the

stewards of a West African culture, advocates

epitome of southern hospitality. It’s a different

of an improved quality of life on the island and

kind of warmth and kindness. It’s a tradition of

voices of its people and for the people.

the culture — to give of oneself.”

There have been commissions, task forces,

To help preserve and promote the Gullah

organizations, a staff position and a lengthy

culture, Sellars decided to found the Lowcountry

independent repor t over the past years

Gullah Foundation in 2019.

assigned the task of assisting and promoting

Its goal is to promote, document, preserve

the Gullah life to keep it vibrant and preserved

and sustain the culture, and preserve the land,

as a historical treasure.

Sellars said. That means saving each of the 700

“Right now, the culture is at a critical state

remaining acres through education and by offering

for a lot of reasons,” said Luana Graves Sellars, author, speaker and founder of the Lowcountr y Gullah Foundation. “The sustainability of the Gullah culture has taken

solutions.

Luana Graves Sellars Sellars

the hit for people not understanding the richness of what it really was. “(Prior to the bridge being built in 1956) It was a very simple life and based on community.

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The Lowcountry Gullah Foundation believes there is a need to educate.

Sellars’ newsletter and website help keep the spotlight on the Gullah community. The resources spread vital news that affects the community and has a large loyal following. The website (lowcountrygullah.com) offers articles, images and collaborates with the Historic Mitchelville

Freedom Park, the Gullah Museum and the Gullah Heritage Tours.

The home page is populated with a mix of stories; recently articles

“where to worship”

ranged from understanding heirs property to a profile on native islander Chef David, and a look at the island’s “first families.”

An article written by Sellars is titled, ‘Who Are You Really?: A Guide to Researching Your Roots.’

The informative article offers tips to research family history, including searching Census records and death certificates. There are also links to websites such as Ancestry.com and Genealogy Junkie (one stop site for anything related to DNA.).

If one is looking for military records, Sellars suggests Fold3.com, which offers service records. Sometimes family information is listed on draft cards.

The purpose of the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation is to “give back to the community” and offer a consistent voice.

Preserving the history is important to the mission.

The history includes an understanding of the close-knit communal environment and how developers eventually bought Gullah land, and other acreage was lost at county auction.

The Gullah started to lose their land, culture and language. Basic residential and infrastructure needs were ignored, sustainability threatened and voices for change relegated to a background murmur.

“Several reports done over the years were put on the back shelf by the town,” Sellars said.

But t he L owcou nt r y G u l la h Foundation, which has a board of directors, aims to keep the spotlight on the Gullah community.

The most recent proper ty tax auction in October had a profound outcome. For the first time ever, not a single acre of Gullah property was sold because of homeowner failure to pay property taxes. Education, teamwork, coordination and indefatigable effort combined to make the difference.

The Heritage Library assisted in helping families find their ancestral roots and land ownership as heirs.

“The end goal is we want to make sure we’re still here,” said Sheryse DuBose, Historic Neighborhoods Preservation administrator for the Town of Hilton Head. “We’re a unique aspect of Hilton Head that needs to be preserved.”

DuBose is “optimistic” that the town is headed in the right direction in addressing the Gullah’s needs.

In July the town council approved family compound and family subdivision amendments that “basically honors the communal living traditions of the native islanders.”

“Being Gullah is as A mer ican as A mer ica is,” Sellars said.

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JAN. 6

FUN EVENTS FOR

FIRST THURSDAYS ART MARKET: Meet over two dozen local artists as they present their work on the first Thursday of the month. Stroll the plaza, see the exhibits, talk with artists and enjoy live music, complimentary wine samples and more. Free entry.

4-7 p.m., The Shops at Sea Pines Center, 71 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-363-5699 or theshopsatseapinescenter.com.

EVERYONE!

CALENDAR

JAN. 1 DAY OF THE DEAD FOR FOOD AND BEV: Food and beverage employees are invited to celebrate the first day of the new year with a tribute concert to the Grateful Dead. Tickets are $20. 5 p.m., Coligny Theatre, 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-3500 or colignytheatre.com.

POLAR PLUNGE: A fun polar plunge on New Year’s Day to benefit Charli’s Critters. Free. 11 a.m., Coligny Beach, 1 Coligny Circle, Hilton Head Island. 843-8426050 or colignyplaza.com.

THROUGH JAN. 2 ELF THE MUSICAL: An orphan raised at the North Pole embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Suitable for all ages. Cost is $61 for adults, $56 for children. Times vary. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head . 843-842-2787 or artshhi.com.

JAN. 4 BLUFFTON BRANCH LIBRARY REOPENING: The Beaufort County Library system is hosting a ribbon cutting for the reopening of the Bluffton Branch Library. Free. 9 a.m., Bluffton Library, 120 Palmetto Way, Bluffton. 843-255-6547 or beaufortcountylibrary.org.

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JAN. 4, 11, 18, 25 LITTLE HIPPIES AFTER SCHOOL YOGA: Children will learn balance, life skills, self-love, positive socialization and more during this after school yoga program. Cost is $12 per child or $55 for a class pack of 5. 4:30 p.m., The Art of Massage and Yoga Therapy, 14 New Orleans Road, Suite 2, Hilton Head Island.

843-422-8378 or hiltonheadwellness.com.

JAN. 4-29 EXHIBIT: “ANYTHING GOES”: The annual Art League-member show officially kicks off in January, featuring exhibits with truly any kind of art, including any media, shape, size or form. Free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Mondays-Saturdays; 12-4 p.m., Sundays. Art League Gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

843-681-5060 or artleaguehhi.org.

JAN. 5 A MIDWINTERS WHISKEY DINNER: Enjoy a sampling of the highly acclaimed High West Whiskey paired with a savory multi-course dinner. Cost is $125. 6:30 p.m., Sea Pines Beach Club, 87 North Sea Pines Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1888 or seapines.com.

SAVANNAH RIVER BEER DINNER: Enjoy an evening of delicious food and craft beer, featuring

Savannah River Brewing. Guests will experience a five-course dinner, paired with five different Savannah River Brewing beers. Cost is $50. 6 p.m., Old Oyster Factory, 101 Marshland Road, Hilton Head Island.

843-681-6040 or oldoysterfactory.com.

JAN. 6 FIRST THURSDAYS ART MARKET: Meet over two dozen local artists as they present their work on the first Thursday of the month. Stroll the plaza, see the exhibits, talk with artists and enjoy live music, complimentary wine samples and more. Free entry. 4-7 p.m., The Shops at Sea Pines Center, 71 Lighthouse Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-3635699 or theshopsatseapinescenter.com.

JAN. 7 FIRST FRIDAY AFTER FIVE: Shop, dine and enjoy Downtown Beaufort. Explore and support Beaufort’s charming local downtown shops, restaurants and art galleries, featuring tasty refreshments and local live music. Free. 5-8 p.m., Downtown Beaufort. downtownbeaufortsc.org.

HOW WE WIN: COUNTERING EXTREMISM HERE AND ABROAD: Join speaker Farah Pandith for this month’s World Affairs Council presentation about countering extremism here and abroad. Cost is free

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I I J A N U A R Y 2 0 // 2 2 E V E N T G U I D E I I tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. with the first-ever local musical performance and fundraiser. Featuring performances by the MLK Community Choir from 20+ churches.

Tickets are $20. 7 p.m., Christ Lutheran Church Hall, 829 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. celebratemlk2022. eventbrite.com.

JAN. 9-10 TCHAIKOVSKY’S FIFTH: Join Conductor John Morris Russell and the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s Symphony Number 5. Tickets are $25$65. 4 p.m., Sunday; 7:30 p.m., Monday.

First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head. hhso.org.

JAN. 8, 29 BASKETBALL GAME WATCH EVENTS: Join the University of Michigan Alumni Club of Hilton Head/Beaufort County for several basketball game watch gatherings.

Free. Times vary. Mellow Mushroom, 33 Office Park Road, Hilton Head Island. goblueuofmhhi@gmail.com.

JAN. 11 PRESENTATION: “RIGHT WHALES”: Speaker J. Michael Williamson’s presentation about our coastal visitors, the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Cost is $35 for a single event or $90 for a three-part series pack. 6 p.m., SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head.

834-384-6758 or wachh.org.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CONCERT AND TRIBUTE

for members, $20 for guests. 10 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843384-6758 or wachh.org.

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JAN. 8 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CONCERT AND TRIBUTE: The Hilton Head MLK Committee for Justice will pay

JAN. 9 ARTISTS RECEPTION: “NONOBJECTIVE ART”: Join the SoBA Gallery for an artist’s reception with artist Missy Gentile, featuring work from her exhibit “Non-Objective Art.” Free. 3-5 p.m., The Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 6 Church Street, Bluffton. 843-757-6586 or sobagallery.com.

JAN. 12 WORKSHOP: FREELANCE WRITING FOR BEGINNERS: In this online workshop, each participant will brainstorm a story idea in their niche and will work on a successful pitch. Cost is $45. 6-8 p.m. Register for Zoom link. patconroyliterarycenter.org.

JAN. 13 AUDUBON MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING: Join the Hilton Head Audubon Society for a monthly membership meeting with updates on the Hilton Head MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System Project. Free. 3-4:30 p.m., Island Rec Center, 20 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head Island. hiltonheadaudubon.org.

RELUCTANT RADICAL: Explore how Saxton’s determined resistance to President Andrew Johnson’s orders helped shape Emancipation for blacks on the sea islands, in stark contrast to the experience in the rest of the Deep South. Cost is $15. 1-2:30 p.m., USCB Hilton Head Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Room 213, Hilton Head Island.

843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

JAN. 13-22 BEAUFORT OYSTER FESTIVAL: Conceived and hosted by the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association, the Beaufort Oyster Festival will celebrate all aspects of our Lowcountry and Carolina Sea Islands oystering culture and agri-tourism economy from historical, to architectural, ecological, agricultural, culinary, artisan, and more.

Event costs and times vary. Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Downtown Beaufort. bftoysterfestival.com.

JAN. 14 BLACK EXCELLENCE BALL: Join the Bluffton MLK Observance Committee for an evening of food, live music, awards and more. This occasion is a night of celebration for the triumphs and accomplishments of African American entrepreneurs, educators, musicians, artists and community leaders. Cost is $75.

5:30 p.m., Northridge Event Venue, 435 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. blufftonmlk.org.

BEAUFORT OYSTER FESTIVAL

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JAN. 15 MARK RAPP QUINTET AT THE JAZZ CORNER: $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

CHARLIFEST 2022: A music and community festival honoring Charli Bobinchuck. There will be music, art, food and more. Free. 12-4 p.m., Coligny Plaza, Between FISH and Skillets, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-6050 or colignyplaza.com.

BONFIRE AND OYSTER ROAST: Join the Old Oyster Factory for a bonfire and oyster roast. Cost is $35. 5-8 p.m., Old Oyster Factory, 101 Marshland Road, Hilton Head Island.

JAN. 19 LIGHTHOUSES OF THE LOWCOUNTRY: Preserving safe entry to Southeastern coastal ports has always been a challenge due to migrating shoals and sandbars. Learn how lighthouses have helped master

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CHARLIEFEST

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the challenge and allowed Port Royal, among others, to become a major center of shipping. Cost is $15. 1:30-3 p.m., USCB Hilton Head Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Room 214, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

JAN. 19, 26 AND FEB. 2 BRAIN BOOSTERS: A three-week course that is like a tune-up for your brain. Practice neuroplasticity exercises to improve overall brain health with Memory Matters. Cost is $99 for three-week course. 1-3 p.m., Memory Matters, 117 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-6688 or memorymatters.org.

JAN. 20 AN EVENING WITH PAMELA COURTNEY: Join the Pat Conroy Literary Center for a discussion with Pamela Courtney, author of Hotdogs for Hyenas: A Soul Forged in Rhodesia.

Free. 6-7 p.m., Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort. patconroyliterarycenter.org.

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 Forsyth Park, 700 Drayton Street, Savannah. 912-238-5158 or kesslercollection.com.

JAN. 20-30 OTHER DESERT CITIES: A performance about Brooke Wyeth, who returns home to Palm Springs after a six-year absence and announces she is about to publish a memoir dredging up a pivotal tragic event in the family’s history. Tickets are $25$40. Times vary. Hilton Head Preparatory Theatre, 3000 Main Street, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6246 or hhprep.org.

MARTINIS AT THE MANSION CHARITY NETWORKING SERIES

JAN. 21 THE ARC OF CRISES IN THE LEVANT: Join speaker Mona Yacoubian for this month’s World Affairs Council presentation

about Syria, Lebanon and Iraq post-ISIS. Cost is free for members, $20 for guests.

10 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

843-384-6758 or wachh.org.

JAN. 21-22 “BLUEBERRY HILL” AT THE JAZZ CORNER: Featuring Reggie Deas and Deas Guyz. $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.

JAN. 22 BLUFFTON FROSTY 5K: A fun race that winds through Historic Old Town Bluffton along the May River. Walk, run or bring the kids for a day of fun. Dogs and strollers welcome. Proceeds will benefit BLHS Cross Country Team and the Grace Sulak Scholarship Fund. 8 a.m., Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf Street, Bluffton. 843-8151718 or palmettorunningcompany.com.

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I I J A N U A R Y 2 0 // 2 2 E V E N T G U I D E I I PAINT, POTS & PLANTS: Join Art League instructor Andrea Smith for a fun afternoon of plants and painting. Each student will be guided through painting their own terra cotta pot to keep with a live plant.

Cost is $45. 1-2:30 p.m., Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-5738 or artleaguehhi.org.

JAN. 23 EVOLUTION BIG BAND: Enjoy a fun concert with Evolution Big Band. 2 p.m., Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, 10 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton. 843-8156570 or lowcountrypres.org.

JAN. 23-24 PIAZZOLLA, RAVEL AND MORE: Join JoseLuis Novo and Hector Del Curto for a performance featuring the music of Astor Piazzolla, Maurice Ravel and more. Tickets are $25-$65. 4 p.m., Sunday; 7:30 p.m., Monday. First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. hhso.org.

JAN. 24 CEMETERIES AND FAMILIES OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND: A presentation about Hilton Head Island’s fourteen Native Islander cemeteries, some dating to plantation burial grounds in Colonial times. Cost is $15.

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10:30 a.m., USCB Hilton Head Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Room 214, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

p.m., Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-7273 or islandreccenter.org.

JAN. 25 AMBUSH AT PARKER’S FERRY: Often referred to militarily as “the perfect ambush”, Parker’s Ferry was probably Francis Marion’s best battle and is a recent addition to the Liberty Trail. Find out about the Trail and how the Swamp Fox orchestrated an embarrassing and costly defeat for the British forces in Colleton County. Cost is $15. 3-4:30 p.m., USCB Hilton Head Campus, 1 Sand Shark Drive, Room 214, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

TED FLACH MEMORIAL GOLF AND TENNIS CLASSIC: A golf, tennis and pickleball event to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island.

Registration costs vary. 8 a.m., Sea Pines Country Club, 30 Governors Road, Hilton Head Island. “Like” the event on Facebook.

AN EVENING WITH KATHRYN PURCELL: Join the Pat Conroy Literary Center for a discussion with Kathryn Purcell, author of There’s Something Wrong With Us: A Daughter’s Story of Mental Illness, Loss and Healing. Free. 6-7 p.m., Pat Conroy Literary Center, 601 Bladen Street, Beaufort. patconroyliterarycenter. org.

JAN. 29 HILTON HEAD SNOW DAY: A family-friendly event featuring a snowfield, inflatable rides and entertainment. Cost is $10 for ages 2-17. 11 a.m.-4

JAN. 29-FEB. 5 HILTON HEAD ISLAND-BLUFFTON CHAMBER RESTAURANT WEEK: 14th annual Restaurant Week. More than 70 of Bluffton and Hilton Head Island restaurants participating. Restaurants will offer prix-fixe menus starring new entrees, signature dishes, and fan favorites. View menus at ChamberRestaurantWeek.com.

JAN. 30 HILTON HEAD HALF AND QUARTER MARATHON: Experience a half or quarter marathon featuring a course that showcases Hilton Head’s beauty. Cost is $70 for half marathon, $55 for quarter marathon. 8 a.m.-12 p.m., LowCountry Celebration Park, 2 South Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. runsignup.com.

MONDAYS INDIGO TIE DYE: Learn how indigo dye is made from a plant and use it to create a tie dye t-shirt to take home. All supplies are provided. Cost is $12 for adults, $7 for children. 3-4 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-6896767, ext. 223 or coastaldiscovery.org.

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. 10:30 a.m. Watch on Facebook Live at @coastaldiscoverymuseum. 843689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org.

MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, FRIDAYS MEMORY MATTERS: “VIRTUAL COMPASS CLASSES”: An online program designed for adults experiencing mild to moderate cognitive impairment.

Compass provides curriculum-based activities, physical exercise, relaxation techniques, life-long learning, small group discussions and socialization.

Cost is $400 per month. 10 a.m., 1 p.m. 843-8426688 or mymemorymatters.org.

TUESDAYS FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET: 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.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND FARMERS MARKET: Support our local 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.-1 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum. 70 Honey Horn Dr, Hilton Head Island. 843-473-5231 or hhifarmersmarket.com.

OPEN MIC NIGHT AT CORKS: Show up and show off your talent during this open mic night, 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.

TUESDAYS PARTY IN THE PARK: Enjoy the beautiful new Lowcountry Celebration Park with a family happy hour, including live music, bounce houses and beverages.

Free entry. 5:30-8 p.m., Lowcountry Celebration Park, Hilton Head. 843-681-7273 or islandreccenter.org.

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, 10:30 a.m., Corner of U.S. 278 & Matthews Dr, Hilton Head Island. Reservations required- 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

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.

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I I J A N U A R Y 2 0 // 2 2 E V E N T G U I D E I I THURSDAYS DUELING PIANOS SHOW: The only Dueling Pianos Show on Hilton Head Island takes place each Thursday night on the Rooftop Bar. 8-11 p.m., Rooftop Bar at Poseidon, 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843341-3838 or therooftophhi.com.

FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: Meet local farmers, chefs and artisans every Thursday on Boundary 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, 68 Boundary Street, Bluffton. 843-415-2447 or farmersmarketbluffton.org.

HISTORIC FORT MITCHEL TOURS: Immerse yourself in the fascinating Civil War history of Hilton Head Island with a

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visit to Fort Mitchel. Costumed characters and an expert tour guide will demonstrate the vital historic importance of this place and the role the fort and its namesake, General Mitchel, played in shaping Hilton Head history, including historic Mitchelville. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for children. 10:30-11:30 a.m., Hilton Head Plantation, 65 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS SIT AND STITCH: Enjoy knitting, crochet, needlepoint, rug hook practice as Needlepoint Junction stays open late. All levels welcome. Outside food and drink permitted. Free. Virtual Thursdays 3 p.m.; In-person Fridays 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Needlepoint Junction, Suite J-7-E, Village at Wexford, Hilton Head. 843-842-8488 or needlepointjunctionhhi.com.

FRIDAYS 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.

SATURDAYS MARINA MORNINGS: OUTDOOR YOGA: Practice yoga on the pavilion at Shelter Cove, with draft kombucha to follow. All levels welcome. Cost is $20. 8 a.m., Pure Salt Studios, 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-707-7027 or puresaltstudios.com

SIT AND STITCH

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

TRAIL RIDES

ADVENTURE HILTON HEAD: Enjoy a Zipline tour with scenic views of Broad Creek. Ages 10 and older.

Cost is $89 per person. High Ropes courses feature four levels of difficulty. Ages 5 and older. Cost is $49 per person. GoKart Hilton Head debuted last summer.

33 Broad Creek Marina Way, Hilton Head Island. 843682-6000 or visit myadventurehiltonhead.com.

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restaurants OUR FAVORITE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY MONTHLY, FORK & FUN AND VACATION GUIDE

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. Featuring crab, local oysters, seafood “your way,” fresh local shrimp.

Il Carpaccio

200A Museum St. 843.342.9949 ilcarpaccioofhiltonhead.com Authentic Italian cuisine, ranging from cuisine of Northern Italy to crispy, thin-crust, Italian-style pizza.

Street Meet: The American Tavern

Port Royal Plaza 843.842.2570 streetmeethhi.com Specializing 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.

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.

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 out in this bakery/café. Enjoy crepes, breads, baguette & paninis, salads, soups, quiches & pastries.

Giuseppi's Pizza & Pasta

50 Shelter Cove Lane 843.785.4144 giuseppispizza.com Serving excellent, award-winning pizza (since 1984), well-prepared pastas, sandwiches, wings, garden fresh salads and more.

Gruby's New York Deli

890 William Hilton Parkway 843.842.9111 grubysnydeli.com A New York-style deli offering authentic New York sandwichses, soups & offering breakfast & lunch.

Island Bagel & Deli

S. Island Square 843.686.3353 The island's only New York style boiled bagels made daily.

16 flavors of bagels and 12 home-made cream cheeses.

Specialty hoagies, sandwiches & salads.

Jane Bistro & Bar

28 Shelter Cove Lane 843.686.5696 | janehhi.com Bistro fare with Lowcountry influences. Enjoy 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 Marsh & water views. Fresh seafood and steaks. Featured in The Wall Street Journal's “Off the Beaten Track.”

Santa Fe Cafe

807 Wllm Hilton Pkwy 843.785.3838 santafecafeofhiltonhead.com Casually elegant dining in the spirit of New Mexico. Seafood, bone-in ribeye steak, fajitas, & Painted Desert soup.

Sea Grass Grille

807 William Hilton Pkwy 843.785.9990 seagrassgrille.com American, Lowcountry and Continental cuisine. Winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.

Up the Creek Pub & Grill

18 Simmons Road 843-681-3625 upthecreekpubandgrill.com Casual waterfront dining offering shrimp appetizers, burgers, crab cake sandwiches, seafood baskets and dessert.

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HILTON HEAD //SOUTH END:

Amigos Cafe y Cantina

Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte

Delisheeyo

Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Café

Chez Georges

Fish Casual Coastal Seafood

Big Bamboo

ChowDaddy’s

8 New Orleans Road 843.785.9277 charliesgreenstar.com Since 1982, New menu daily.

Dinner offers 14 fresh fish, rack of lamb, filet mignon and more.

Extensive wine list.

70 Pope Ave. 843-785-8226 amigoscafehhi.com Quick, Casual, Healthy. Authentic Mexican Food. Food is prepared fresh daily.

69 Pope Avenue 843.785.7700 auntchiladashhi.com Tex-Mex and American. Enjoy crab legs, sizzling fajitas, & margaritas. Reservations & large parties welcome.

1 N. Forest Beach Dr. 843.686.3443 bigbamboocafe.com The South Pacific meets the Carolina Coast in Coligny Plaza.

Serving burgers, seafood and festive libations.

37 New Orleans Rd 843.785.3200 chezgeorgeshhi.com Serving traditional bistro staples such as steak frites and mussels mariniere, incorporating fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

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.

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.

1 N. Forest Beach Drive 843-342-3474 gofishhhi.com Seafood from local source.

Several different dining, bar and lounge areas. Local oysters offered from a raw bar.

Healthy Habit

33 Office Park Rd. 843-686-5600 healthyhabithhi.com Quick service restaurant serving chopped salads, superfood bowls, fresh bottled juices, smoothies, organic coffee & teas.

British Open Pub

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse

Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill

Captain Woody's

CQ’s Restaurant

Hinoki Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Carolina Crab Company

Crane’s Tavern Steakhouse & Seafood

It’s Greek To Me

Village at Wexford 843.686.6736 thebritishopenpub.com Family-friendly pub with authentic English food with American favorites. Try the signature fish & chips!

6 Target Rd | 843.785.2400 captainwoodys.com Grab a seat at the outside deck, inside, or just belly up to the bar. Full lunch and dinner menu, happy hour daily, live music seasonally, and Sunday brunch.

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 Locally owned. Dinner nightly from 5 p.m. Early Dining Menu.

All beef is aged 28 days, U.S.D.A prime, hand selected and cut in house.

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1000 Wlm Hilton Pkwy 843.715.3565 cowboybraziliansteakhouse.com All-you-can eat “Churrascaria.”

30 item salad bar, 6 Brazilian hot dishes and a “parade” of meats carved tableside.

140 Lighthouse Rd. 843.671.2779 CQsRestaurant.com Fine dining, an intimate atmosphere. Dishes include fresh seafood, beef & game. “Bistro” menu offers smaller portions.

26 New Orleans Rd. 843.341.2333 cranestavern.com Perfect for steak and seafood lovers, serving cuts of only USDA Prime grade beef. Excellent selection seafood & pasta dishes.

Crazy Crab Harbour Town

Harbour Town 843.363.2722 thecrazycrab.com A Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years! Featuring crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” and local shrimp.

70 Pope Avenue 843.686.5959 | hincheys.com A sports bar and a casual restaurant famous for their grouper sandwich. Stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner. Dine inside or out.

37 New Orleans Rd. 843.785.9800 | hinokihhi.com Traditional Japanese dishes including grilled fish, chicken and steak, sukiyaki, noodle dishes, tempura, sushi & sashimi.

Reservations recommended.

11 Lagoon Rd. | 843.842.4033 itsgreektomehhi.com Genuine Greek cuisine, from gyros to fried calamari to souvlaki to baklava for dessert. Authentic Greek recipes. The Isand's only gyro machines.

Java Burrito

1000 William Hilton Parkway, Suite J-6 | 843-842-5282 javaburrito.com Burrito and coffee bars uses natural ingredients. Locally roasted & organic beans, milk & organic cane sugar syrups.

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Kenny B’s Cajun/Creole Seafood

Palmetto Bay Sun Rise Café

Slapfish

Local Pie

Phillys Cafe & Deli

Stack’s Pancakes & More

Michael Anthony’s

Red Fish

Stellini

Nick’s Steak & Seafood

Reilley’s Grill & Bar

TôRō

Nunzio Restaurant + Bar

Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras

Truffles

70-A Pope Ave. | 843.785.3315 eatatkennybs.com New Orleans fare including jambalaya, red beans & rice, and gumbos. The Island’s best po’ boys & fried seafood. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch.

55 New Orleans Road, No. 106 843.842.7437 | localpie.com Offers true Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza with regionally sourced ingredients. House dough stuffed and oven-baked calzones.

Fresh-baked subs.

37 New Orleans Rd. 843.785.6272 michael-anthonys.com Upscale Italian fine dining featuring innovative preparations.

Open Table Top 50 Italian Restaurants in the country.

9 Park Lane | 843.686.2920 | nickssteakandseafood.com Offering steaks, seafood, BBQ, sandwiches, salads, appetizers, soups, burgers, pasta and a kids’s menu. Reservations accepted.

Large parties welcome.

18 New Orleans Road 843.715.2172 | nunziohhi.com Specializes in fresh seafood and homemade pasta. Beautiful 1,300-sq-ft 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.

One Hot Mama's

Reilleys Plaza | 843.682.6262 onehotmamas.com Family-friendly. Meat & 3 combo platters, BBQ platters, hand-cut steaks, burgers, char-grilled chicken and “the world’s best” wings.

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Palmetto Bay Marina 843.686.3232 palmettobaysunrisecafe.com Breakfast and lunch items are available continuously. Cafe offers to-go lunches for boats, beach or office. Open 7 days.

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.

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.

7D Greenwood Dr. 843.842.4414 reilleyshiltonhead.com Serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches 35+ years.

Lunch & dinner daily, & Sunday brunch. The bar is open late.

5 Lagoon Road 843.689.2662 | rockfishhhi.com A family seafood restaurant & bar near the beach. Fresh and local lowcounty ingredients and craft beers and wines. Kids menu. Lunches to Go.

Salty Dog Cafe

Sea Shack

South Beach Marina Village 843.671.7327 | saltydog.com One of Hilton Head’s favorite outdoor cafes 20+ years. Fresh seafood. Indoor and outdoor seating. Live music & children’s entertainment seasonally.

6 Executive Park Rd. 843.785.2464 | seashackhhi.com One of the island’s most extensive menus of seafood.

Voted one of "South Carolina’s best seafood spots" by Coastal Living and Southern Living.

1024 William Hilton Pwy 843.521.5830 Slapfishrestaurant.com Locally owned & operated by the Lomasney family. Serving honest flippin’ seafood infused with lots of flavor!

2 Regency Pkwy. & Hwy. 278 843.341.3347 | stackshh.com Pancakes, waffles, house-made fruit sauces, crepes, crème brûlée French toast, shrimp & grits, crab benedict, shrimp omelet & lobster cream sauce. Gluten free avail.

BLUFFTON:

15 Executive Park Rd. 843.785.7006 | stellinihhi.com Family owned & operated since 1989! Italian appetizers & entrees from NY & Northern NJ. Delicious pasta, poultry, veal, seafood, beef & lamb expertly prepared.

2 N Forest Beach Drive, Unit 107 843.931.8676 | torohhi.com Latin and Asian inspired fare delivering a blend of culinary creativity and culture to a vibrant, yet casual and innovative atmosphere.

Sea Pines Center 843.671.6136 trufflescafe.com Local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, soups, sandwiches, and salads. .

British Open Pub

Sheridan Park | 843.815.6736 britishopenpub.net Family-friendly pub with authentic English food with American favorites. Try the signature fish & chips, shepherd’s pie and certified Angus beef.

Captain Woody's

17 State Of Mind St 843.757.6222 captainwoodys.com Dine outside, inside, or belly up to the bar. Lunch and dinner menu, happy hour, live music seasonally, and Sunday brunch.

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ChowDaddy’s

15 Towne Dr. 843.757.CHOW(2469) chowdaddys.com Buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Enjoy salads, sliders, a house ground rib eye burger, or smoked fried chicken.

Juice Hive

14 Johnston Way 843.757.2899 | thejuicehive.com Cold-pressed juices, smoothies and all-natural, mostly raw food. Salads, zoodles, ancient grains bowls, veggie burgers and wraps.

Cinco Mexican Grill

Local Pie

The Cottage Cafe

Lowcountry Fresh Market & Cafe

102 Buckwalter Pkwy 843.815.2233 cincomexgrill.com Authentic cuisine made from scratch using traditional & modern recipes. Dishes include Piña Fajitas, Carnitas, Flautas & flan.

38 Calhoun Street 843.757.0508 thecottagebluffton.com Scrumptious food with old-world Southern charm.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch. Specialty teas May River Coffee.

Corner Perk Brunch Cafe & Coffee Roasters

1297 May River Road 843.816.5674 | cornerperk.com Locally-owned Brunch Cafe and coffeehouse with house-roasted coffee, homemade syrups, breakfast wraps, sandwiches, lunch wraps, and salads.

Craft Kitchen

7 Johnston Way 843-815-7755 craftkitchen.online Craft beer and wine gastropub Lunch and dinner menu with bar snacks, small plates, sandwiches and sweet treats.

Giuseppi's Pizza & Pasta

25 Bluffton Rd | 843.815.9200 giuseppispizza.com Serving excellent, award-winning pizza (since 1984), plus a variety of well-prepared pastas, sandwiches, wings, garden fresh salads and more.

Island Bagel & Deli

17 Sherington Dr. 843.815.5300 New York style boiled bagels made from scratch daily. 16 flavors of bagels and 12 homemade cream cheeses. Hoagies, sandwiches and salads.

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15 State of Mind | 843.837.7437 localpie.com Offers true Neapolitan-style woodfired pizza with regionally sourced ingredients. House dough stuffed and oven-baked calzones. Freshbaked subs.

303 Bleecker Street 843.815.2780 lowcountryfresh.com Scratch bakery, house-smoked meats, cooking classes. Food market, butcher, local seafood, wine, beer. Eat-in, take-out cafe.

Mellow Mushroom

878 Fording Island Rd. 843.706.0800 mellowmushroom.com Stone-baked pizzas, calzone, salad, hoagies & burgers. Draft beers and handcrafted cocktails.

Gluten-free and vegan options

Truffles

Belfair Towne Village 843.815.5551 trufflescafe.com Cafe featuring the “freshest and finest of everything!” Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups.

SAVANNAH:

The Mansion on Forsyth Park

700 Drayton Street | 912.238.5158 kesslercollection.com/mansion Featuring 700 Drayton, which offers world-class cuisine with locally sourced ingredients.

Breakfast, brunch and dinner.

Plant Riverside District

400 West River Street | 912373-9100 | plantriverside.com A variety of restaurants, bars and lounges. Features an all-day café, a high-end chophouse, a pizza restaurant, a riverside bar and two rooftop bars.

INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon oil 1 oz. garlic, minced 1.5 oz. shaved leeks 1 oz. Calabrese chilis 3 oz. heavy cream 3 oz. white wine 15 fresh mussels 1.5 oz. Parmesan, grated

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

MUSSELS METHOD: In a hot sauté pan, add oil and vegetables. Sauté briefly, add mussels, and toss with vegetables. Deglaze with white wine, add cream, and reduce until sauce thickens.

Serve in a round bowl with grilled bread toast points and enjoy!

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IILOCAL RECIPESII

CHUNKY GUACAMOLE

INGREDIENTS 2 Jalapeños 1.5 Lime 1/4 Bunch of Cilantro 1 teaspoon garlic, minced 1.5 Roma tomato 1/4 yellow onion 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt 12 Avocados METHOD: Remove the stems from the jalapeños and cut them in half.

Take half of the cilantro leaves off the stems and set them aside.

Put the remaining cilantro in a blender with jalapeños and garlic.

Blend until chunky — not liquified (if it's too hard to blend, add a bit of water.)

Dice the tomato and onion, then add the cilantro leaves that you set aside earlier.

Cut the avocados in half and carefully remove the seeds. With a spoon, scoop the avocado into a big bowl.

Smash the avocados in the bowl, leaving them a little chunky Add all ingredients in the bowl with the avocados. Mix together gently, keeping it chunky.

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BROAD CREEK

CIOPPINO

INGREDIENTS 16 oz. crushed tomatoes 2 oz. garlic 2 tablespoon crushed red pepper 4 oz. dry Sherry 8 oz. shellfish stock 8 oz. Andouille sausage 1 lb. shrimp 1 lb. mussels 1 lb. Little Neck Clams

METHOD Sauté sausage, shrimp, clams, and mussels with garlic and red pepper flakes. Deglaze with sherry. Add tomatoes and shellfish stock. Cover and simmer until clams and mussels open. Serve with rice or pasta.

Serves 4.

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Mache SALAD

SALAD INGREDIENTS 2 pints Mache, washed (Boston Bibb or Butter Lettuce can be substituted for Mache Lettuce) 1 sliced avocado 1/2 cup thinly slice Bermuda onion 1 pint black mission figs, quartered 1 cup candied (or not) pecans 1 cup shaved Manchego cheese 1/2 cup fig vinaigrette METHOD: Arrange Mache in a large bowl and place the first five ingredients.

Spoon dressing over as much or as little as you wish. Salad goes great with a toasted baguette.

FIG DRESSING INGREDIENTS 1 cup fig balsamic vinegar 2 Tbls. water 1 Tbls. lemon juice 1 Tbls. minced shallots Pinch fresh thyme 2 teas minced garlic 1 Tbls. Honey 2 Tbls. Extra Virgin Olive oil Salt to taste METHOD: Place first seven ingredients in food processor and blend well for 30 seconds. With machine running slowly add oil. Turn machine off and adjust seasonings. Cover and chill till ready to use. Can be made a couple days ahead.

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IIRECIPESII

AVOCADO TOAST WITH SMOKED SALMON

PREP • 3 oz thinly sliced smoked salmon • 1 slice of multigrain bread, approx. 1/2 inch thick • Extra virgin olive oil • Avocado salad for toast (prepared 2-3 hours before serving)

INGREDIENTS • 6 avocados, sliced in half and pitted • ½ small red onion, diced very finely • Pinch of salt, pinch of pepper • Pinch of sugar (optional) • 1 lime

METHOD: Scoop out the contents of the avocados into a glass bowl. Add finely diced red onion. Add pinch of salt and pinch of pepper (more can be added later to taste). Add pinch of sugar to counteract the bitterness of the avocados and onions. Squeeze the juice of the whole lime into the bowl.

Mix ingredients well with a fork or your hands and allow to sit covered tightly with plastic wrap for 2 or 3 hours for the flavors to blend.

Lightly brush bread with olive oil and toast to desired level of doneness. Spread toast with avocado salad and cover the entire surface, the top with smoked salmon. Can be garnished with sliced tomatoes, sliced/diced cucumber, or thinly sliced red onion.

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THE

HEALER

INGREDIENTS 1 cup organic coconut milk 2 oz. all natural almond butter 1 organic frozen banana 2 oz. of Healthy Habit greens powder (includes 37 different fruits and vegetables in one scoop).

1 oz. of probiotic (helps with healthy digestion) 1 oz. of prebiotic (helps with healthy digestion) 3 oz. of Chocolate Pea Protein (20 grams of protein.)

Scoop of ice METHOD Blend until smooth.

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IIMARC’S PERSPECTIVEII

MP

ADVERSITY CREATES OPPORTUNITIES

Onwards We have been faced with a lot in the last two years.

The anxiousness of how Covid influences our lives; divided opinions about masks, politics, abortion rights, to name just a few; an economy that faces labor shortages and supply-chain issues.

On top of these short-term challenges comes the realization that climate change is real, with negative impacts that can be felt across the country.

It’s time to take a deep breath!

It’s also time to put things in perspective and not just follow the negativity of most news outlets and the hype of social media.

If you look deeper, you will discover that there are real solutions being implemented and that overall the world is making progress toward — may I dare to say — “better prospects.”

Historically adversity has always created opportunities. It gives us a chance to re-tool our economy to be less dependent of China and work toward becoming ecologically more sustainable.

Here in the Lowcountry we can find some solace in the fact that we are surrounded by beautiful nature, the experience that neighbors

can also become our friends and, compared to many cities, our challenges tend to be more manageable.

In a period of uncertainty, we need to find resolve within ourselves and accept what life throws at us, so that we can re-set our compass and be open for new opportunities and become part of the solution.

At Monthly Magazine we have always strived to be part of an encouraging outlook by connecting the community with relevant stories covering all aspects of daily life.

Over the last quarter of a century, we have faced many challenges but always remained steadfast in our resolve to make a positive difference by informing and inspiring our readers.

Fulfilling our mission of being the “Voice of the Lowcountry” would, of course, not be possible without our very engaged readers, our loyal advertisers and the fabulous team at Monthly that works hard every day to publish a trustworthy local information source.

Thank you to all! We feel fortunate.

Wishing you a healthy, successful and Happy New Year!

IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY, WE NEED TO FIND RESOLVE WITHIN OURSELVES.

MARC FREY : media entrepreneur | mfrey@freymedia.com |

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[PHOTO OF MARC BY MIKE RITTERBECK]