Bluffton Monthly February 2017

M BLUFFTON MONTHLY MAGAZINE

bluffton

FEATURE STORY: HONORING THE LOWCOUNTRY’S BLACK HISTORY

C ONNEC TING THE LOWC OUNTRY

Love OF A LIFETIME Love REDISCOVERED Love OF COMMUNITY Love OF NATURE Love LOST FEBRUARY 2017

A FREY MEDIA PUBLICATION

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Marc Frey marc@hiltonheadmonthly.com PRESIDENT Anuska Frey afrey@freymedia.com PUBLISHER Lori Goodridge-Cribb lori@hiltonheadmonthly.com 1-843-842-6988, Option 2 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lance Hanlin lance@hiltonheadmonthly.com 1-843-842-6988, Option 3 ART DIRECTOR Jeremy Swartz jeremy@hiltonheadmonthly.com DESIGN Charles Grace charles@hiltonheadmonthly.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Arno Dimmling, Rob Kaufman, Lloyd Wainscott, Butch Hirsch, Mike Ritterbeck, Michael B. Ritterbeck, W Photography, Faithography, Tr Media World, Craig Stein, Mathew Barlow, Landon Jacob CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dean Rowland, Luana M. Graves Sellars, Barry Kaufman, Robyn Passante, Elihu Spencer, Becca Edwards, Carrie Hirsch, Don McLoud, Dr. Gloria Holmes, Tim Wood, Kim Kachmann-Geltz, Amy Coyne Bredeson, Hallie Martin Hanlin, Marco Frey, Kingston Rhodes, Steven Weber, Lisa Allen, Tim Wood, Charlie Clark, Libby O’Regan, Edward Thomas, Jean Beck EDITORIAL & DESIGN SUPPORT Ellis Harman, Katy Metzger, Jean Meaney Wheatly, Allyson Venrick, Nicole Moore ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Rebecca V. Kerns rebecca@hiltonheadmonthly.com 1-843-842-6988, Option 5 Cathy Flory cathy@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-1538 Majka Yarbrough majka@hiltonheadmonthly.com 1-843-290-9372 Mary Ann Kent maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9390

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FEB

THE LOVE ISSUE

Love

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LOWCOUNTRY = LOVECOUNTRY From beach strolls to exquisite meals, look no further for the perfect getaway

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LOVE OF COMMUNITY

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Area organizations offer aid to Lowcountry residents — and each other

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LONG AND LASTING LOVE Hilton Head couples share their secrets to a lifetime of happiness together

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LOVE AND MARRIAGE, AGAIN Hilton Head Island couples prove there is no expiration date on romance

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LOVE OF NATURE Was our love of trees our downfall in Hurricane Matthew?

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LOST LOVE Garden at Hilton Head Hospital gives parents a place to heal

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MATTERS OF THE HEART Years of cardiovascular research have found plenty of differences in men’s and women’s health

FEATURES 32

26 n H HCA MOVING Private school hopes to break ground on new campus in January 2018

32 n WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Catch up with Hilton Head Island native Vijay Viswanathan

34 n F IRST FAMILIES Learn the story behind the Youngs, one of Hilton Head’s first families

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FEB. CONTENTS 44

36 n WOMAN WITH VISION Shellie West helped put Bluffton on the map for businesses

38 n HAPPY AT SEA Bluffton resident Matt Charest loves life far from shore

4 n CONTACT US 14 n AT THE HELM 14 n ONLINE 16 n NEWS 20 n OPINION 22 n VIBE 32 n PEOPLE 44 n BUSINESS 48 n ON THE MOVE 54 n SHOPPING

40 n COMMUNITY LEADER

57 n BRIDAL

Randy Dolyniuk continues to make his mark on local banking

110 n HEALTH

44 n SOCKS APPEAL: How a tranquil island fostered Fuel, a high-octane action sports brand

54 n LOCAL GIFT GUIDE Find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other at a local shop

98 n LOCAL BLACK HISTORY The impact and importance of Gullah traditions in the black church

116 n L OVE WHERE YOU LIVE Pennsylvania native at home in Oldfield Plantation

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IN EVERY ISSUE

130 n S HORT SUPPLY Hilton Head and Bluffton real estate inventory low so far in 2017

172 n GROOVE TOWN ASSAULT Hilton Head Island has already fallen to this band. Up next: the world

115 n GOLF 116 n HOME 130 n REAL ESTATE 158 n CALENDAR 170 n SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT 171 n MUSIC 175 n DINING 192 n LAST CALL

Weddings

182 n FACES BEHIND THE FOOD A Q&A with Andrew Carmines of Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks 12 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Beautiful brides, gorgeous venues, local professionals and fabulous trends PAGE 57

AT THE HELM

PHOTO BY ARNO DIMMLING

Love: Life’s sweetest reward

LORI GOODRIDGE-CRIBB lori@hiltonheadmonthly.com

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love you. I say those three words quite often. If you know me well, you know that I am a very passionate person. I’m passionate about my family, my friends and my work. I tell many people in my life that I love them, and those three words have meaning when I say or write them.

I say it to people I know that are blessed with a great deal of compassion, selflessness, integrity, strength, devotion, kindness, generosity, optimism, boldness, zaniness … the list goes on.

Working with Monthly for so many years has given me the opportunity to meet many amazing and talented people whom I’ve grown to love. One such person is Paul Cifaldi, president of Coastal Marketing Services (pictured).

Several years ago, we changed our procedure for keeping up with subscribers. Paul asked me to forward subscription information to an email address, so I did. I just assumed it was going exclusively to him.

Each time I emailed a new or a changed subscription, I would always end the note with something along the lines of, “Thank

you! You know I love you!” After a few months of this, I got an unexpected response: “Lori, you do know this is Jody (co-owner of Coastal) receiving your emails, not Paul, right?”

Luckily, I love Jody, too. I always smile when I think about that story because it is so typical of my personality. I am far from perfect, but my heart is warm. I feel the same about the Love issue our team put together this month. We touch on some of the things we all love about living in the Lowcountry. We also look at different types of love that surround us — lifetime love, new love, lost love, love of nature, love of your home, love of your family and much more. I hope you love it!

Speaking of love, are you looking for a unique Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other? Be sure to check out our local gift guide, starting on page 54.

February also marks our annual winter bridal section. Inside, we showcase three beautiful Lowcountry weddings along with all the latest tips and trends in the local bridal industry. We also have all the information you need about our upcoming Hilton Head Bridal Show on Feb. 19 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. If you know anybody who will be planning a wedding soon, make sure they don’t miss it. All the region’s best vendors will be under one roof.

Lastly, we couldn’t let the February issue out the door without honoring the Lowcountry’s black history. Inside you will find articles on Gullah traditions, the Penn Center, Robert Smalls and a look at this month’s Gullah Celebration.

We pride ourselves on serving all members of our community, not just a select few. We are all in this together. Let’s love each other more in 2017! M

ABOUT THE COVER: We were feeling extra “lovey-dovey” when creating the concept and theme of the February issue. Quite frankly, our world could use a hefty dose of love right now. Jane Seymour has her “Open Hearts” collection and we have our “Splattered Heart.” You’ll see it splattered all over the Love section beginning on page 86. Now go hug someone!

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ONLINE EXCLUSIVES HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

ADVICE: HURRICANE RECOVERY Know the facts and ignore the rumors about federal assistance for Hurricane Matthew recovery.

BLOG: MARCH ON WASHINGTON Read writer Carmen DeCecco’s experiences at the Women’s March on Washington online at hiltonheadmonthly.com.

VIDEO: TRIBES PREVIEW If you were deaf, which tribe would you belong to? The hearing world, the deaf world or your family world?

Check out this preview of “Tribes” then go see it at the Hilton Head Preparatory School Main Street Theatre.

As Lowcountry residents rebuild, we’ve launched an initiative to strengthen the community’s economy and social fabric by encouraging the support of locally owned businesses.

NEWS

GROUNDHOG DAY (FEB. 2)

FEBRUARY HIT

LIST

GULLAH CELEBRATION (FEB. 1-25)

JUNIOR HERITAGE GOLF TOURNAMENT (FEB. 4)

ISLAND REC CENTER

EXPANSION PROJECT UNDERWAY The Hilton Head Island Recreation Center Association broke ground on its newest project Jan. 5. The renovations and expansion include a new gymnasium, classrooms, new playground, fitness equipment, indoor walking track, renovated restrooms, pool restroom facilities and more. When the Island Rec Center opened its doors in 1988, it was a state-of-the-art facility that met the needs of Hilton Head’s approximately 17,000 permanent residents, offering after-school recreational programs and day care services.

But while the 14,000-square-foot recreation center hasn’t changed much over the years, Hilton Head’s population certainly has: It’s more than doubled, with more than 35,000 residents. The project is estimated to cost between $12 million and $13 million.

SOUTHEAST BIKING SYMPOSIUM COMING TO HILTON HEAD

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY (FEB. 5)

PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION POSTPONED TO 2018

HILTON HEAD ISLAND MARATHON (FEB. 11) VALENTINE’S DAY (FEB. 14) HILTON HEAD BRIDAL SHOW (FEB. 19) JOURNEY TRIBUTE BAND (FEB. 19) HILTON HEAD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (FEB. 19-20) PRESIDENT’S DAY (FEB. 20) ACADEMY AWARDS (FEB. 26) HILTON HEAD ISLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL (FEB. 20-26) MARDI GRAS (FEB. 28) 16 hiltonheadmonthly.com

On Hilton Head Island, an odd-numbered year — like 2017 — generally signals that the area’s biennial Public Art Exhibition will occur in the fall. But not this year. Though plans were underway for the 2017 Public Art Exhibition on Hilton Head Island, Mother Nature threw them asunder. “We were deep into planning,” says Michael Marks, chairman of the Public Art Fund committee and board member of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. “We’d sent out a call for entry on a national scale. We’d met with the Town of Hilton Head to secure support. We’d begun fundraising. All the pieces were in place for another great exhibition. Hurricane Matthew changed our plans.”

After Matthew hit, the committee did some soul searching. “There were two trains of thought,” Marks says. “One was to go ahead with the exhibition … show the world that we’re Hilton Head Strong and try to get back to normal as quickly as possible. The other was more conservative. Because we rely so heavily on fundraising to offset the cost of the exhibition, we felt that it wasn’t the right time to ask people for money. Many of our donors had experienced damage to their homes or businesses. Just as importantly we didn’t want to compete with disaster recovery fundraising efforts. We felt that that was more important.”

With mixed emotions, the committee decided to delay the exhibition until fall 2018. Since its inception, the biennial Public Art Exhibition on Hilton Head Island has been held at Coastal Discovery Museum during October, November and December. Twenty large-scale sculptures, selected from hundreds of entries created by artists from around the country, grace a mile-long walking trail throughout the Honey Horn site

Hilton Head Island, the only gold-level bike-friendly community in the Southeast, is hosting a biking symposium March 23-25 at The Beach House, a Holiday Inn Resort.

Participants will discuss ways of realizing the region’s bicycling tourism potential, the impact on economic development, and the importance of safety. Organizers hope the exchange of ideas will give participants the chance to build on the region’s rich bicycling tradition, whether it be for active cyclists, seasoned riders or recreational biking. Symposium attendees will participate in, and take home, current and emerging trends for real-world implementation. And because bicycling is such a valuable part of Hilton Head’s culture, many of the events and activities planned for the event will take place outside of the traditional conference rooms and instead on the island’s more than 60-mile-long pathways system, on the wide and hard-packed sand beaches, and in the parks that connect the pathways. Find more information at www. hiltonheadisland.org/southeastbike

NEWS

FINAL PHASE OF MAY RIVER ROAD STREETSCAPE PROJECT BEGINS

PHOTO BY ARNO DIMMLING

LOCAL FUNDRAISER SETS WORLD RECORD FOR GARDEN FLAMINGOS

The town of Bluffton and its contractor, Preferred Materials, started construction for the second and final phase of the May River Road Streetscape Project in January. This 2,800foot project along May River Road runs from Pin Oak Street to Jennifer Court and will include road improvements from Pin Oak Street to Red Cedar Street, including curb and gutter installation. The road-widening portion of the project will enable approximately 30 additional on-street parking spaces to be installed from Pin Oak Street to Whispering Pines Street, as well as sidewalk and street light installation on both sides of May River Road. On the north side of the street, a sidewalk will be installed from Pin Oak Street to Red Cedar Street. On the south side of the street, a sidewalk will be installed from Pin Oak Street to Whispering Pines Street; storm sewer infrastructure, featuring a water quality control device, will also be installed. This device separates oils and sediments from storm water before the water enters the May River. Landscaping, supported by irrigation systems, will also part of this extensive project, which will improve the aesthetic appeal when entering the town along May River Road. The majority of the road and sidewalk construction will occur at night from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. to minimize disruption to traffic.

DON RYAN CENTER EXPANDS WITH BEAUFORT PARTNERSHIP

CONCOURS CAR, BOATS FEATURED IN FILM ‘LIVE BY NIGHT’ Fans of the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival & Concours d'Elegance might recognize an automobile and two boats featured in the new American crime drama film “Live by Night.”

Filmmakers reached out to Concours organizers to help secure the vehicle and boats for scenes filmed in Savannah, on Tybee Island and in other coastal Georgia locations. The vehicle used is a 1927 Pierce Arrow Series 80 Club Brougham, owned by John and Eloise Haulbrook.

Boats used were a 1928 Chris Craft Triple Cockpit owned

by Paul and Kathy Crisp and a 1930 Chris Craft 100 owned

by Ed and Judy Longino. All three have been featured in the popular Motoring Festival, which takes place each Oct. and Nov. in Savannah and on Hilton Head Island.

LEADERSHIP CLASS ANNOUNCES OAK TREE PROJECT Replacing a mature oak tree lost to Hurricane Matthew will be the class project of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2017. The tree, named Matthew's Oak, will be planted in Shelter Cove Community Park and dedicated on Arbor Day, April 28. A plaque dedicated to first responders will also be installed. For 31 years, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Leadership Program has been informing, educating and cultivating leaders in southern Beaufort County. Each class completes a capstone project based on a need identified in the community. Past projects include wayfinding kiosks on Daufuskie Island, signage at Mitchelville and playground equipment in DuBois Park, among others. For more information about the Leadership Program, visit www.leadershiphhib.org.

CORRECTIONS In the January issue, we printed the following errors: • We did not credit photographer Mike Ritterbeck for his images of new Beaufort County School Board members Christina Gwozdz and Patricia Felton-Montgomery.

• We published the incorrect square footage of space Meeting Dynamics offers for scenic and theatrical decorations. It is 35,000.

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LoCo Motion and Callawassie Island became Guinness World Record titleholders for longest line of garden flamingos. LoCo Motion organizers and participants set up more than 1,000 flamingos end to end during the Sept. 26 event at Callawassie.

The bright pink decoration has become a LoCo Motion staple and part of the decorations at each year’s festivities, and officially made the 2016 event “one for the books.” The record was set during an event that benefits the Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center in Connecticut. LoCo Motion is an annual three-day breast cancer awareness run/walk and fundraiser for breast cancer research. It takes place across three different Lowcountry islands, providing a scenic 10-mile course for the walk/run. All registration and sponsorship fees are donated to breast care providers for life-saving screening, treatment and research.

The Don Ryan Center for Innovation recently opened a new location in Beaufort City Hall. “This is an exciting partnership that will complement Beaufort's vision for economic development,” said David Nelems, executive director for the center. “We're pleased to expand the regional accessibility for area entrepreneurs who want to turn ideas and dreams into independence and success.” Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling sees the new site as “another building block in providing a thriving regional economy supportive of small and new business formation.”

The satellite office will offer the same opportunities for hands-on consulting, mentoring and resource support as the center’s Bluffton-based headquarters. First formed in 2012, the center has graduated 28 companies from the formal incubator program.

Together, they represent almost 90 jobs, $5 million in payroll, and over $25 million in annual sales. For more information about the Don Ryan Center for Innovation, go to www.donryancenter.com.

OPINION

SPEAK UP!

Send letters or any comments to editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com EDITOR’S NOTE: The views and opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the original authors and do not necessarily represent those of Monthly magazine, the Monthly staff or any of its contributors.

THE WORD ON THE STREET, ONLINE & IN PRINT

FINDING EDUCATORS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT The “Teachers Wanted” story we published in the January issue got the following responses: • “I asked my sister, who is a teacher in Aiken County, why this is the case. She said when she looked at Beaufort County to apply, she would take a huge pay cut and the cost of living is higher for us. Sounds like the county needs to make some changes.” — Brooke Allen • “All teachers are underpaid, but the county needs to make major changes for this problem to be solved.” — Pam Minter • “Salaries need to be increased. Society needs to affirm the importance of teachers by rewarding them financially. Of course, such rewards should also be based on performance, not just years of service.” — Roger Briney • “All the teachers I know who have quit did so because they were unhappy. It has nothing to do with salary. They are being micromanaged and forced to teach to standardized tests.” — Vicki Wood • “It would make sense if they asked the current teachers what their needs are and actually listen to them or listen to the comments made during exit interviews and work on those issue as well. Teacher input is always important.” — Tina DiBonis Boyle • “What? People don't want to be teachers? I can't believe it — underpaid, overworked and somebody telling you how to do your job every minute?” — Julie Petroff • Our students deserve to have qualified teachers. I hope that this will inspire someone to pursue a career in education.” — Michelle Gordon

SOUTH CAROLINA COMMITTED TO BUILDING JASPER PORT “On Dec. 15, I asked Gov. Nikki Haley to include in her fiscal year 2017-18 executive budget a $19 million appropriation to the Jasper County Port Infrastructure Fund, an infrastructure account established by the South Carolina General Assembly through Act. No. 56 — Session 117 (2007-2008). The purpose of this fund is to escrow funds necessary to build the infrastructure needed by the planned Jasper Port on the Savannah River. As I advised Gov. Haley, the Jasper Ocean Terminal Joint Project Office had adopted a resolution estimating the cost the Jasper Port connector road (i.e., a new fivelane road that would extend in a southerly direction from S.C. 17 along the Savannah River toward the river’s mouth and end at the Jasper Port site) to be $190 million and, since the Joint Project Office is a co-equal joint venture by Georgia and South Carolina, identifying an infrastructure obligation of $95 million for each state. The office’s resolution calls for each of the two states to amortize its $95 million connector-road infrastructure cost over the five-year permitting period for the Jasper Port (which is now underway) so that funds to construct the connector road are on hand when the permit is issued. Each state’s $95 million share of that connector-road cost, spread over that period of time, comes to $19 million year; thus, my budget request to Gov. Haley. By including a $19 million appropriation to the Jasper County Port Facility Infrastructure Fund in the fiscal year 2017-18 executive budget, Gov. Haley has once again reaffirmed South Carolina’s commitment to building the Jasper Port. Next steps now include having the S.C. House Ways & Means Committee include this $19 million appropriation in its budget for fiscal year 2017-18, and encouraging legislators in Georgia to include a similar appropriation in their budget for the coming fiscal year.” — Sen. Tom Davis

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK “I just want to express my thanks for your wonderful magazine. It is very informative and great representation of this great island. Keep up the good work.” — George Pashales

FACEBOOK FEEDBACK • On Hilton Head resident Denny Fraser, featured in the January issue: “Another example of the truly amazing people you come across on Hilton Head Island.”

— Alicia Mullaney • On Bluffton resident Janet Swahn, featured in the January issue: “Sounds like an awesome person.” — CarolAnn Doran • On Hilton Head resident Nicole Arnold, featured in the January issue: “How wonderful! I would have loved to (travel across the U.S. on a bike) at your age. Keep up your wonderful spirit!”

— Mary Jennings • On former Hilton Head resident Lewis Stetson Rowles, featured in the January issue: “Stetson, it is awesome for you to be using your God-given talents. Congratulations!” — Barbara Barrett • On Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank, a part-time Hilton Head resident, featured in the January issue: “Great article. He was super nice to everyone when he came into the restaurant I worked at.” — Joe Cornell “(What Arthur Blank said is) so true. After being on the island for a few hours, a feeling of calmness and serenity washes over me and I'm at peace. I don’t know if that will be the same once I start a family and bring them.” — Tiffany Chantel Jacobs • On the January issue: “Informative, entertaining, inspiring, beautiful! Yet another remarkable issue. On a cold, snowy day here in Pennsylvania, this issue arrived just in time to bring the sunshine and warmth of Hilton Head to my heart. Thank you!” — Lana Ryder

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CARICATURE OF DONALD TRUMP WAS OFFENSIVE “On page 16 of the January 2017 issue, there is a calendar sidebar with a very unflattering caricature of Donald Trump. It amounts to an editorial statement in something that should be neutral. He won the majority vote in Beaufort County. Why offend?” — Judith Hillis 20 hiltonheadmonthly.com

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D I VE R SI TY 1 01 : RE T HINK ING HIS T ORY

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WHOSE ‘STORY’ IS IT, ANYWAY? PART II

BY GLORIA HOLMES, PH.D. Dr. Gloria Holmes is a professor emeritus at the School of Education at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Committed to promoting cultural literacy in schools and communities, she has worked as a diversity trainer for the Anti-Defamation League and has conducted anti-bias workshops for the Connecticut State Department of Education.

“We are trapped in our history, and our history is trapped in us.”

— James Baldwin, author of “Notes of a Native Son”

Editor’s Note: This is the second part of an article printed in November. Dr. Gloria Holmes is presently writing a book on school leadership and social justice.

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t’s February, and I’m torn about the month that typically celebrates black history. Part of me wants to eliminate Black History Month as we know it. The other part of me considers that a kind of sacrilege. What really needs to go is the need for a monthlong celebration of black history as a way to remind America that there is a black history; there are blacks in American history; and that black history is American history.

Even though I have enormous respect for Dr. Carter G. Woodson, whose 1926 celebration of Negro History Week was the precursor of the nationally recognized Black History Month, it is an annual reminder of both how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go as a nation.

There is no doubt that Black History Month as it is presently conceived plays a very important role in challenging discrimination and cultural isolation. And yet, in a sense, Black History Month is a contradiction in terms because the celebrations simultaneously honor black history while segregating it from the body of American history, which to some extent both demeans and trivializes it. This contradiction in terms gives us another way to think about W.E.B. Dubois’ idea of double consciousness. Rather than see double consciousness as Dubois conceived of it — the individual sensation that one’s identity is divided into several parts, making it hard or even impossible to have a unified identity, such as the the divided way American blacks see themselves as both blacks and Americans — the concept can be expanded to show the double consciousness America has about giving “others” equal standing in the history-making of America as a nation. Among other things, this should force us to rethink history and ask ourselves: Whose “story” are we preserving and promoting as “history”?

The Danger of a Single Story Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk “The Danger of a Single Story” has been viewed more than 2.5 million times (see it at https://youtu.be/D9Ihs241zeg). In this talk, she explains that her early writing about her Nigerian culture was flawed and inauthentic because, having been educated in the British tradition, she had internalized and assimilated British cultural norms, ideas and behaviors so completely that they consumed everything about her worldview.

This was a form of cultural annihilation because she could not see her own Nigerian self. As a result, her characters were always preoccupied with the vagaries of weather, even though this was of no concern to Nigerians who lived in perpetual sunshine and heat. Her characters always drank ginger beer and ate apples, even though she had never tasted ginger beer and mangoes, not apples, were a staple in her country. Her point? British history and culture became so dominant and pervasive in her identity that she was unable to see, understand or appreciate her own culture, even though it surrounded her. More importantly, British cultural dominance compromised her identity as a Nigerian woman because it presented her with a single story; a single view of reality that she had accepted even though it did not fit her world, her life or her people.

How is this relevant to Americans and our nation’s history, as well as Black History Month? It should make us consider the danger of a history that tells a single story.

the VIBE If we step back from the subject of history for a moment, we intuitively know that one-sided stories are dangerous because they are inaccurate and incomplete; they leave out perspectives, events and people. Basically, these stories are inherently unreliable and unfair. For example, the American judicial system is designed to provide a hearing for the perspectives of the prosecutor and the defendant; the victim and the perpetrator. Without this setup, due process would be a sham. And all of us, in big and small ways, have had to spend a lifetime defending our right to have our “voices” be heard — to have our side of the “story” validated, whether we’re talking about a simple childhood dispute or global corporate disentanglements.

So let’s rethink how this applies to American history.

A single story of American history belies the fact that America has a complex multicultural and multi-ethnic history that has equal parts of beauty and gore; triumph and failure; joy and pain. There are things in our history that need to be celebrated, and things that rightfully should cause shame. But we need to embrace the whole story, not just the self-serving parts, because there is not, and never was, a single story of American history. Every American group has a story and a history, and each of these perspectives should be validated as part of the whole. The problem is that every group did not have the platform to tell their stories, or the power to have these stories valued and validated.

In the past few years, popular culture has caused a surge of interest in black histor, and has provided a powerful platform to help tell other stories about America’s past that have been either ignored or devalued. Commercial movies have caused Americans to rethink the past and to rewrite American history. Movies like “12 Years a Slave,” “The Help,” “Red Tails,” “The Butler,” “Selma,” “Birth of a Nation,” “Loving” and “Hidden Figures” cover a wide range of American history, from the brutalities of the slave experience to the untold story of war heroism and the valiant fight to marry the person you love.

The common thread among these films is that they give voice to the unique history and experiences of a group that system24 hiltonheadmonthly.com

atically has been oppressed in American society. They give a voice to those who often have been silenced and either marginalized or left out of the history books.

At the very least, these movies challenge history as it traditionally has been taught because they tell different stories.

The lesson here is that no single group, because of power or privilege, should be allowed to kidnap or appropriate American history and to tell a single story that makes their version of the American story the only version that is valued — devaluing, diminishing, silencing and ignoring all other perspectives.

Single stories are dangerous by any measure. In an earlier article, I described how the state of Texas attempted to manipulate history by using American history textbooks that literally and figuratively whitewashed America’s past by removing all references to slavery and calling slaves “workers.” Even more disturbing, these proposed textbooks omitted references to the racial terrorism of the Ku Klux Klan and the institutionalized racism inherent in the oppressive Jim Crow laws. Some Texans were willing to teach the state’s children a twisted and dangerously incomplete single story, and they had the power to do this with impunity.

The Texas example makes us ask: Is history merely a commodity? Can you simply shop for the version you like? Can history be bought like a pound of meat? Does anyone have the right to simply trim off the fat and the gristle of history, wrap it up in a neat little bundle, and present it as truth? Would that neat little bundle be history, or simply someone’s version of it?

We own our history; it’s our DNA. It is what it is. In the end, we can’t change it, or dig it out, or alter it any more than you can unscramble an egg or unbake a cake. Our history is already baked. However, we can look at it honestly, accepting that perspective matters and acknowledging that, like it or not, ours is a multicultural, multiethnic history, not a single story. Different voices, different experiential realities and different perspectives are not easy to manage or contain, but then, America’s story was never neat and tidy. You can’t stuff the ugly parts of the story into a Pandora-like box and expect the demons to go away. M

‘Righting’ History:

People and Events That Changed the World COMPILED BY GLORIA HOLMES, PH.D. There is an African proverb that says, “Only when lions have historians will hunters cease being heroes.” This is another way of saying that the way history is presented shapes what we value and what we ignore; it not only orients us to the past, it shapes how we see and feel about the present. It also is predictive of how we see and respond to the future. We know that what we think of as history can be manipulated. We also know that in history books, invisibility is equivalent to nonexistence. With this in mind, and because February is Black History Month, I would like to offer some facts about American history that you may have missed.

The following is an annotated list of Americans of African descent and their achievements that should be celebrated by all Americans. They represent values our nation most admires: hard work, defying the odds, creativity, and service to others.

Although they are not listed here, many inventions by enslaved blacks were created to make slave labor less onerous, but they received no recognition because enslaved people could not obtain patents for their inventions, according to the Patent Act of 1793 and 1836.

Henrietta Lacks (1920-1951): Lacks was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cancerous cells, called immortal cells because of their unique ability to reproduce quickly, were used in biomedical research on polio, cancer, AIDS, gene mapping and cloning. Scientists around the world use the HeLa cell line, which is considered a vital tool in medical research.

Henry Blair (1807-1860): Blair was the inventor and patent holder of the early spark plug. He was the second African-American to hold a patent.

Otis Boykin (1920-1982): Boykin was the engineer and inventor of the control unit for the artificial heart pacemaker, which uses electrical impulses to regulate heartbeats.

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806): The scientist, surveyor, naturalist, farmer, abolitionist and astronomer was the author of a commercially successful series of almanacs and built America’s first clock.

Mark Dean: Dean is a computer scientist who helped develop the modern personal computer system, color monitors, and the first gigahertz computer chip. He holds three of IBM’s nine original patents, and a total of 20 patents are in his name.

Dr. Charles Drew (1904-1950): As a medical researcher, he studied blood plasma and developed a process for storing blood that led to the creation of blood banks. This process saved thousands of lives during World War II, when wounded soldiers needed transfusions.

Lewis Latimer (1848-1928): An inventor and draftsman, Latimer worked with Alexander Graham Bell on the design for the telephone. He also was a contemporary of Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb; Latimer invented the carbon filament inside Edison’s light bulb Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1856-1931): As a surgeon, Williams is credited with performing the first open-heart surgery in the U.S. in 1893. He founded Provident Hospital in Chicago, the first racially integrated hospital in the nation.

Granville T. Woods (1856-1910): Woods invented the synchronous multiplex telegraph, which allowed trains to telegraph messages between stations and moving trains, improving overall train safety in the U.S. He held 50 patents for his various inventions.

the VIBE

HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY MOVING TO BLUFFTON

Popular private school hopes to break ground for state-of-the-art campus in January 2018

BY CHARLIE CLARK

Conceptual images

You might miss the gray marble marker when driving to Hilton Head Island, but “the bridge,” as it’s commonly known, is named after Robert Graves, patriarch of one of the Lowcountry’s legacy families who had a hand in developing the island.

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raves, along with Konrad Marcus and developer John Reed, built the Hilton Head Christian Academy building on Gardener Drive just a decade after the school began in a church along Mathews Drive in 1979.

There wasn’t even a town government in place when a few families decided the island needed a place where reading, writing and arithmetic were taught along with chapel values, and so Hilton Head Christian was born. The Town of Hilton Head Island would incorporate a few years later in 1983.

Just as the Lowcountry has grown in the past 40 years, Hilton Head Christian administrators and parents have chosen to branch out as well. They’ve recently announced plans to build a new school in rapidly growing Bluffton to meet the needs of a booming population on the mainland and one without a full kindergarten through 12 grade private school option.

“Just over 50 percent of our students are from Bluffton. It’s a growing area with young families and one where we feel we can make an impact,” said Doug Langhals, Hilton Head Christian’s head of school. He said that the 26 hiltonheadmonthly.com

goal is to grow enrollment and expand offerings so that more families who want the option of a faith-based education can have that choice — and that the school has no plans to increase tuition to do so.

“Our goal is actually the opposite,” Langhals said. “We’d like to get to a place where we have an enrollment of 600 to 700 students and can lower tuition levels.”

More than 30 percent of students currently enrolled received some type of financial assistance. According to Langhals, more students mean more possibilities to offer needbased scholarships for families throughout the Lowcountry.

The new school will have a prime location at the corner of Buckwalter Drive and Masters Way. The land is adjacent to one of the nation’s fastest-growing churches, Lowcountry Community Church, but not affiliated with the church.

The land was donated to the school over a decade ago, and the school’s board and administration have been waiting for the right moment to make the move.

Langhals is clearly passionate about the potential to bring a 21st-century education model to students in the Lowcountry.

He described the model as something different than today’s traditional classroom filled with desks in a row; he envisions one where students learn more by application in real-world situations rather than parroting back the right answer without critical thought. Some classrooms and study areas in the new building will have a coffee lounge-like feel to them, with comfortable chairs and group study areas.

He described an educational environment heavy on the technology students are exposed to every day. “Through technology, project-based learning and mentoring, students are empowered to extend their studies beyond the classroom and campus walls,” Langhals said. Online education continues to grow, and the new campus will integrate it into the curriculum.

Hilton Head Christian is known for its rigorous academics. The school has a 100 percent college matriculation rate and test scores that consistently rank at the top levels for Beaufort County schools both public and private. But beyond test scores, Langhals has seen that students who are allowed to discover their passions and pursue them gain confidence

the VIBE and are better prepared to enter college and the real world.

He also noted that high school is more about mentoring and less about lecturing.

Students will have a high school mentor who will be with them for all four years of upper school, committed to their growth and success. Langhals says that many student relationships with teachers continue long after they leave Hilton Head Christian based on the strong mentoring that happens with students, teachers and staff.

The new school is planned to be approximately double the size of the current campus, including athletic facilities and designated space for the academy’s rapidly growing arts program. More than 70 percent of students currently participate in drama, music and art options, and the expanded school will allow more growth and offerings in this area.

Hilton Head Christian will also continue to offer strong athletic programs in a variety of sports. Over half of all students participate in sports from baseball and clay shooting to golf and soccer; just two of the sports in which the school has garnered state championships.

Bluffton students currently commute to the Hilton Head campus by school bus or car, but that commute will be easier for Hilton Head students making their way to Bluffton thanks to a reverse commute that goes against the heavy traffic coming onto the island each morning.

According to school officials, the ideal scenario would be to have the opening of the new campus parallel the 40th anniversary of the school, which is in 2019. As with any undertaking of this size, the project’s timeline relies on a number of factors.

Langhals noted that it’s an ambitious goal, but that big goals are nothing the school hasn’t accomplished in the past. While the building may be new and different, what will remain, according to Langhals, is the school’s priorities of looking at education through a Christian worldview and providing a culture where students are safe and loved. The move isn’t just about a bigger campus; it’s about fulfilling the school’s vision and mission.

“As a private Christian school, we have the unique opportunity to pour into the lives of our students academically and spiritually,” he said. “It really is a special place, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re passionate about growing the Hilton Head Christian family.” M February 2017 27

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS

the VIBE

Submit photos from your trip by emailing editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com.

Please make sure photo size is at least 500KB.

Where in the world is Monthly? u Frank and Carole Parry celebrated their 50th anniversary with Monthly on the Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.  Sal and Bobbie Zuccala with their grandchildren Ryan and Zachary with Monthly at Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain.

p Debby Graves with Monthly in front of the Sphinx and one of the pyramids in Giza, Egypt.

p Jodi and Jim Winslow with Monthly in St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy.

pDave and Terri Wyher with Monthly in Dubrovnik, Croatia.  John and Sue Blake and Carol and Tom Myers with Monthly in front of Matthias Church in Budapest, Hungary. u Mike Balducci, Jerry Fiore, Mark Niewerth, Guy Worthington, Jerry Bieck, Mike Gerace, Evans Hammond and Alan Prenoveau with Monthly on a Hampton Hall “Old Fashion” trip to Whistling Straits in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

p Pat and Joe Corvaia (left) with Gail and Ron Dente stand with Monthly in front of Blarney Castle in Ireland.

p Cynthia and David Coyle with Hannah and

Del Reinmuth at Godafoss Waterfall in Iceland.

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p William Broome with Monthly on Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

 Sue Harris, Jay Graves, Joan Perry, Sue Ehmke and Lane Ehmke at the Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia.

PEOPLE

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Vijay Viswanathan

Editor’s Note: In this series, we catch up with young Hilton Head Island and Bluffton natives who are now making their mark elsewhere.

The article highlights their blossoming lives and how their hometown helped shape who they are today. To nominate a person, email editor@ hiltonheadmonthly.com.

BY MARCO FREY PHOTO BY MATHEW BARLOW

It’s 2009, and Vijay Viswanathan is fly-fishing on a remote river in Alaska’s Togiak National Wildlife Refuge.

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his is grizzly country, where glacial peaks give way to an endless sea of green scrub valleys, through which weave streams where virgin trout that have never known the taste of a steel hook die of old age.

Viswanathan embarked with a small team of professional athletes and biologists carrying all they needed to live and fish for a week.

“Trips like that give me the same feeling I get when skiing through fresh powder,” he said.

“These are memories that will stay with me forever.”

This is an adventure beyond what most of us have ever dared. Now imagine you can’t use your legs.

Viswanathan, who became paralyzed in a climbing accident at the age of 19, has never left nature’s edge. As we talk over Skype, I can hear his girlfriend discussing the elk quarters hanging in the backyard, waiting to be processed into fresh steaks, roasts and treats for his service dog, Kane. Viswanathan shot, field-dressed and hauled the elk back from a remote part of the Colorado Rockies himself.

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Born on Hilton Head Island in 1985 to Kumar and Penny, Viswanathan grew up to love the outdoors. Summers proved most formative, fishing for whiting and sea bass with his grandfather off Amelia Island and frying the day’s catch for dinner. As a teenager, Viswanathan spent day after day in Lowcountry swamps and pine stands, hunting deer and hogs with mentor and friend Mark Peterson. Peterson taught Viswanathan everything he knows about hunting and processing wild game. By 14, Viswanathan had practically circumnavigated the island in Outside Hilton Head’s annual Kayak for Charity race. Soon thereafter, he took a job with the company as a kayak guide, showcasing Hilton Head’s dolphins, mudflats and tidal marshes to visitors.

Viswanathan attended Hilton Head Preparatory School through ninth grade, when he transferred to Phillips Exeter Academy, one of the oldest boarding schools in the country. Located in a small town in woodsy New Hampshire, it was at Exeter that he got a taste for the mountains, becoming the president of the school’s

Outing Club. During his junior year, he also enjoyed a semester at The Mountain School, which integrates organic farming into the fabric of campus life in the beautiful mountains of Vermont. After reading an article in Outside Magazine, Viswanathan realized the University of Colorado Boulder was an obvious choice for college.

Sometimes dubbed the “Silicon Valley of the Rockies,” Boulder is a medium-size town less than an hour’s drive from every imaginable adventure. When in college, he took environmental studies and found himself skiing, kayaking or running trails constantly.

His roommate was “a world-class climber from one of the most rugged little towns in the state,” Viswanathan said.

With an insatiable bug for climbing, the two were rappelling from their dormitory window when it happened: In his haste, Viswanathan missed a step in the rigging.

He fell eight stories, shattering his spine.

As if passing through a one-way door, Viswanathan woke to a very different life. He spent weeks in an intensive care unit, stabilizing and receiving extensive reconstructive surgery of his spine. Then doctors dropped the news: He would be paralyzed from the waist down. It wasn’t reversible. Viswanathan, whose whole being thrived on outdoor adventure, was devastated.

PHOTO BY GREY SATTERFIELD

PHOTO BY CRAIG STEIN

PEOPLE

Vijay Viswanathan became paralyzed in a climbing accident at the age of 19.

It was at Craig Hospital, a world-class spinal cord injury center, where Viswanathan’s true healing began. He met many world-class athletes in his same condition who were doing unimaginable things using adaptive techniques and technology.

“They helped me realize that all that wasn’t over just because I couldn’t use my legs anymore,” he said.

The therapeutic recreation professionals at Craig got him on a hand cycle and later, a sit-ski, leading to his eventual mastery of backcountry skiing and deep powder.

Of course, the injury put his education on hold. Viswanathan got used to his new life through working and adaptive sports. He landed a job at Patagonia, the global outdoor outfitters. Patagonia, which emphasizes slow growth and social responsibility, offered Viswanathan a role as brand ambassador. He traveled to New England sharing his story and the company’s mission at the boarding schools he and his sister, Natasha, had attended.

It was through the Chouinards that Viswanathan met professional climber Timmy O’Neill, whose disabled brother was tackling world-class mountain faces.

“We started doing these epic climbs in Yosemite and Moab and Castle Valley,” Viswanathan said. “Here were two guys who can’t use their legs and are topping out on these epic multi-day climbs.”

Inspired by his brother, O’Neill would go on to found Paradox Sports, a nonprofit group dedicated to helping disabled athletes get back outside. Viswanathan has worked closely with the group ever since, teaching many people with disabilities to climb.

Paradox clients often include military veterans wounded during combat, and the challenge and teamwork required in helping each other summit a rock face reignites their warrior spirit.

“People with spinal cord injuries, amputation, traumatic brain injuries and PTSD have a lot of similar struggles. Powerful things happen when you bring people with these conditions together outside,” Viswanathan said.

In 2008, Viswanathan was driven to enter business school by the gravity of the Great Recession. He’s earning his master's degree in accounting at the University of Colorado Boulder as he pursues a career in investment management. These days, he’s put adventure on the back burner. When he’s not attending classes, Viswanathan has been working at Crestone Capital, a small wealth-management firm that often holds portfolio meetings after a day of powder skiing. “I’m really lucky to work with such high-caliber professionals who also value the importance of getting outside to play,” he said.

After graduating, Viswananthan hopes to summit the El Capitan vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, a huge feat by any standard. M February 2017 33

PEOPLE

THE YOUNGS

Front row, from left: Renee Young, Xavier Major, Lania Frazer, Makel Lopez, Juan Lopez. Second row: Jerome Young, Harold Young Jr., Mary Young, Kendyll Miller, Harold Young Sr., Ida Mae Washington, Leon Young. Back row: Jada Rivers, Elizabeth Young, Jarmaine Miller, James Washington Jr., Alfred Young Jr., Jaquan Rivers, Jeron Rivers, Ethel Lee Young, Ania Frazer, Shania Young

F I R S T FA M I L I E S O F H I LT O N H E A D I S L A N D

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BY LUANA M. GRAVES SELLARS | PHOTO BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

ow 93, Hilton Head Island resident Harold “Mr. Moon” Young could be considered a living encyclopedia of Gullah history. He has known countless families who have called Hilton Head home, and see how they were bonded by love, a sense of community and survival. He has simple but powerful stories to share about the Gullah that help keep the culture alive and thriving.

Young doesn’t remember how he got his “Mr. Moon” nickname, but according to Morris Campbell, “it’s probably because he used to go fishing in the moonlight.” And there begins his story. Young grew up in historic Mitchelville, and remembers the hard but simple life growing up on Broad Creek and working in the fields. He remembers riding his bull, Joe, to school at Honey Horn every morning, and going hunting for raccoon, possum or rabbit in the afternoon.

Hunting was not a sport; he said; you “run them to eat.” Back then, once the animals were caught, the practice was to bury ice in the ground to keep the meat cold.

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“We had grits every day, but rice was saved for Sunday,” he said. Colds were fought with turpentine and sugar; an empty rice sack could be turned into three diapers; soap was homemade, and all clothes were boiled to get them clean. Life was filled with daily chores; there wasn’t much time to reflect on the past. Raised by his grandmother, Ella Young, he said “she didn’t have time to tell stories about their lives [or of her parents], she had too much work to do.”

But the island’s first families who were also residents of Mitchelville are a relatively short list, and even despite the so-called “1865 Slave Wall” — the pivotal point in time before emancipation with black Americans’ lives were not officially documented, so little information about their heritage remains — the search for Young’s ancestors yielded four men who may have been his forefathers.

And even if they are not part of the Young family tree, these men are part of the fabric of Hilton Head’s native island community, and part of the area’s Gullah family.

Young’s grandparents were Sammy and

Ella Young, and his great-grandmother was Mariah Albright. Her parents were Paul Davis and Clarisa Davis. And that’s where the certainty ends. Examining Young’s family tree beyond 1863, there are four Young men who may be branches: Tecumsey, Thomas, Jerimiah and Benjamin.

Records show that Tecumsey Young and his wife, Maria, were savvy enough at the age of 26 to open a bank account with the Freedman’s Savings Bank in an effort to save the money that he earned from working for Clark & Early, “in shipping and with timber.”

The bank was a private company that was sponsored by the U. S. government in an effort to provide economic stability to former slaves during Reconstruction. A lot of the newly freedman used the program to save money as well as to give them the opportunity to establish a primary source of documentation. Unfortunately, the bank failed, leaving many without their money; the company was only viable from 1865 to 1874. However, genealogically speaking, the Freedman’s Bank’s records are a good source of informa-

PEOPLE tion about the area’s early families, as that data is sometimes attached to the bank registration.

More information could be found on the other three Youngs, who were not brothers.

Each came to Hilton Head from different places, but all of them lived in Mitchelville and then the Spanish Wells area of the island.

Pension records show that Jerimiah, Thomas and Benjamin were all soldiers in the Civil War. Benjamin and Jerimiah enlisted in the Union Army on the same day, and both were in the U. S. Colored Troops Company B. Both deserted their units at different times, returning to their regiments during a period of their enlistment. Neither, however, was charged with desertion, possibly because their absence was due to illness.

Jerimiah, also known as Jerry, was the son of James Young, and both were slaves belonging to Squire Harrison of Possom Point.

Jerimiah’s actual age cannot be determined, but his birth was sometime between 1836 and 1845. His military records don’t say much more, but after the war, his vision eventually became so impaired that he said, “I can hardly tell a white man from a colored man at a little distance.”

Thomas was the son of Thomas Young Sr. and was born a slave in about 1834 on Telfair Plantation, which eventually became known as Barnwell Plantation in Bluffton. On Aug. 31, 1864, Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troops Company H’s 21st Regiment. He was not wounded and did not experience any combat during the war, though many in his company were killed on Folly Island. Records show that he contracted rheumatism while his regiment was on Morris Island as a result of sleeping on the damp ground in wet clothes.

He spent time in the hospital in Mitchelville.

After the war, Thomas settled down with his wife, Betsy, and opened a Freedman’s Bank account. He spent the rest of his life farming their 20 acres on Hilton Head. Between the rheumatism and severe pains in his head, which were thought to have caused his impaired vision, he did the best that he could to work the land so that his family could survive.

Benjamin Young was born a slave around 1835—though throughout his whole life, he never knew his exact age. He enlisted in the Civil War and was sent to Knoxville for five years to fight. During his service, he said “that he became deaf from the booming of cannon fire” and only could “hear within one foot”

while his regiment was shelling Charleston.

After the war, he was entitled to a pension, which he partially received, but he was also a victim of U.S. government bureaucracy, and he spent the rest of his life fighting to receive the correct amount of funds that he was owed.

When he enlisted, Benjamin was not asked for any birth information, and this ultimately affected his ability to get a pension after the war. However, despite having been denied over and over and over again, Benjamin never gave up trying to get his due. The denials from the U.S. Department of Interior included memorandum stating that “surgeons should take extreme care in determining hearing power” and that they should “use any medically available tests” and remove all obstructions that “prevent imposition and exaggeration” of hearing capabilities.

To combat this, Benjamin submitted several surgical certificates from doctors to prove that he was disabled because of the war. Each time, he was told that his military records did not show proof of his age. Since he was born a slave, he did not have a birth certificate.

Considered property, he was just listed as a male with an age.

His birth was something that he could never accurately prove. The fact that it was even requested, and the rationale of the denials, was a cruel twist. He was so determined to get his pension that he went back to his former owners to see if they could help him prove his age — but they could not. After his death, his wife, Dianah, and son Solomon continued trying to resolve the issue, which clearly had become the fight of Benjamin’s life. Both Dianah and Solomon applied separately, petitioning for burial and sickness benefits, and both were also denied.

It may not be a complete picture, but it’s a good start at puzzling out Mr. Moon’s history. As frustrating as genealogy can be, it also can be rewarding. The missing pieces in the Young line might not be there today, but because information continues to be input daily into the various collections, who knows?

In a few months or years, the story might suddenly be complete. Like any good mystery, the detective can’t walk away until it’s solved.

Ancestral mysteries are part of our inheritance.

Somehow it seems like our responsibility to look back and honor those who came before us by remembering them. And if we stop looking into the past, our families’ stories will simply fade away. M February 2017 35

PEOPLE

KEEPING THE ‘STATE OF MIND’ WORKING

BY BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

Shellie West ...founder and CEO of the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, helped put Bluffton on the map for businesses.

If

there’s one thing you can say about Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce founder Shellie West, it is this: she has vision. She first thought of creating something akin to the chamber 17 years ago.

Those of you who were in Bluffton 17 years ago, raise your hands. We’re willing to bet there aren’t that many of you. So we should let most of you know: the Bluffton of 2000 was nothing like the Bluffton of 2017.

No Calhoun Street Promenade. No Bluffton Parkway. Just miles and miles of potential. And that’s exactly what West saw.

“We were in an upswing at that time because of Sun City,” said West in her sweet tea and sunshine Southern accent, the product of a Bluffton upbringing. “We could see what was happening.”

Her plans for a chamber were ahead of their time, but would take a few years to reach fruition. In the interim, West put her considerable business acumen into helping out with her father’s construction business.

It was then that she saw the tremendous need home-based businesses had for professional meeting space.

“I saw what he was spending on going out to meet with clients,” she said. “When you work from home, you have pets, you have kids … you need a place to meet that’s a little more professional than home.”

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PEOPLE From there, West had a plan. She just needed the opportunity. It came by way of an unused commercial space her father’s company had built on Goethe Road. After finishing it up, West decided to utilize the space as a member-based business center with the basic services most home-based business lack: a mail room, client meeting space and a quiet place to organize thoughts outside the chaos of home.

She called it the Bluffton Business Club, and right away its mission expanded well beyond a simple office space. Local firms started partnering with her on regular meetups — coffee socials, networking events, etc.

What started as a simple place to get some paperwork done was swiftly becoming a hub for Bluffton’s many small businesses.

“Eventually, I had people saying, ‘You know, this is kind of like a chamber. So why don’t you just make it a chamber?’ ” West said.

Thus began a quest to develop a business plan and transform the Bluffton Business Club into the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. As she put it, “it takes a community to support a chamber,” so West called in business leaders and several mentors to nar-

row in on what exactly Bluffton needed from its chamber.

“We never set out to compete with anybody,” she said. “We saw a need that wasn’t being met. The community wanted it, the business wanted it. The support was there.”

And it was there in force, as West found out shortly after securing her first 25 charter members in early 2012. “Within three weeks, we had 150 member businesses. And we weren’t even releasing information or issuing press releases,” she said. A grand opening party sponsored by Beacon Insurance, Benchmark Fitness and Atlantic Community Bank welcomed nearly 400 guests.

With the business community on board, West never looked back. The Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce grew by leaps and bounds in the ensuing years, expanding to include events like Taste of Bluffton and The Boiled Peanut Festival — home of the world’s largest boiled peanut, because nothing less would be expected of Bluffton.

And, of course, the regular networking events and coffee meetings from the early days of the Bluffton Business Club continue.

There are just a few more people in atten-

dance. “We are still developing, but we’re hovering around 500 member businesses right now, representing a few thousand people,” West said. “It’s been phenomenal how people have gotten behind us.”

Of course, the growth of the Bluffton chamber echoes the growth of Bluffton itself. For years, the chamber offices sat alone toward the south end of Goethe Road, a gorgeous stucco and wrought iron outpost between a forest and the fields of an abandoned mixed-use business center. Today, it fronts a massive cluster of townhomes just steps from a downtown area that officially qualifies as “bustling.”

And for West, who grew up knowing every boat that passed by on the May River and only dialing four digits to make a call within Bluffton, this growth is the rising tide that lifts all ships.

“A lot of people have come here, but they’ve bought into the Lowcountry way of life,” she said. “They’ve all meshed into what Bluffton is, and that’s that state of mind.”

For more information on the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, go to www.blufftonchamberofcommerce.org. M

February 2017 37

PEOPLE

Matt Charest

BLUFFTON RESIDENT LOVES LIFE FAR FROM SHORE Growing up, Matt Charest always wanted to be around water.

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BY LISA ALLEN | PHOTOS BY MIKE RITTERBECK

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he attraction was so great that it pulled him from a small town in Vermont to the Maine Maritime Academy, where he pursued a degree in marine engineering.

"I was looking for something exciting in life. My parents suggested the academy. I wanted to see the world and I heard that merchant mariners made a decent living," he said.

For much of his life, Charest, 47, of Bluffton has been happiest at sea.

He's worked as a marine engineer onboard oil tankers sailing up and down the East and West coasts and through the Panama Canal.

A few years ago, he heard about a job working on a dynamically positioned drill ship. He’s worked on rigs in Brazil, Colombia and Malaysia, and now is assigned to the Ocean Black Lion, a 750-foot, ultra-deepwater drill ship. He joined the ship in South Korea while it was being built

and helped move the vessel to the Gulf of Mexico.

Now, instead of being at sea aboard an oil tanker for three or four months at a time, he boards a helicopter every 28 days to either head to the rig 100 miles offshore or go to his Bluffton home. With a wife and young family, he liked the schedule much better and the new technology intrigued him.

"I work 13 hour days when I'm out there,” he said. “When I'm working, it's work, eat and sleep, maybe read a little or exercise. With three engine rooms, three pump rooms, six thruster rooms and a mini city of auxiliary machinery, it keeps a crew busy.”

As the night shift first engineer, Charest’s job is to make sure he and his crew keep the drill ship on location. Drilling takes place about 3,500 feet under water and 30,000 feet beneath the mud line. Six thrusters that rotate 360 degrees keep the

PEOPLE vessel on location, triangulating its position via GPS signals bouncing off satellites and transponders pinging off the ocean floor. The ship can only deviate 50 to 75 feet from its location before the crew would be forced to perform an emergency disconnect.

About 200 people, mostly men, are aboard the vessel at any given time, coming and going at different intervals.

Charest recalls only one instance where the sea frightened him. A raging storm off the coast of Alaska tossed around an 800-foot oil tanker in 60-foot seas for days.

Fortunately, the drilling ship can sail out of the path of incoming hurricanes or dangerous storms under its own power.

But these days, Charest said it gets harder and harder to leave his wife, Darlene, his

6-year-old daughter, Sofia, and 2-year-old son, Fenn.

“The hardest part of my job is actually saying, 'goodbye, I'll see you next month,’” Charest said. “The best part, however, is the reunion upon my return. I get to be with them for 28 days and have the time to do a lot of things.

Most people will only stay in this field for five to 10 years, and then they start families and don't want to be gone that much. It's not easy doing this, but I have the support of my family and God looks out for all of us. It certainly is an honest living.”

When on land, he spends as much time as possible with his family, gets in a few golf rounds and goes camping.

He also loves to fish offshore for wahoo, dolphin, and blackfin tuna. At sea again, with no land in sight. M

Bluffton's Matt Charest has worked on rigs in Brazil, Colombia and Malaysia, and now is assigned to the Ocean Black Lion, a 750-foot, ultra-deep-water drill ship.

February 2017 39

PEOPLE

MAKING HIS MARK ON LOCAL BANKING

BY KIM KACHMANN PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

Randy Dolyniuk

Making Their Mark

Each month, this column profiles Lowcountry residents who offer fresh insights, renewed hope and a deeper sense of connection to our community.

Know someone making a mark? Email kim@hiltonheadmonthly.com.

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andy Dolyniuk slaloms once a year just to remind himself that he’s not getting any older. The 62-yearold grandson of North Dakota homesteaders and graduate of the University of Georgia wakes at dawn, jogs a couple of miles and lifts weights. His good habits extend to the way he cares for his family and community, including raising four children with his wife of 30 years, Laura.

Dolyniuk is also an ordained deacon and elder at Providence Presbyterian Church and former chairman of several well-known community boards, including the Mitchelville Preservation Project.

“Mitchelville is the greatest untold story,” Dolyniuk said. “It could be the catalyst to unite our community.”

As an entrepreneur, Dolyniuk has been actively involved in founding five financial institutions in the Southeast, including CoastalStates Bank, where he is founder, chairman and chief executive officer. His bank is the largest private financial institution in Beaufort County.

“The past eight years haven’t been easy for our community, and certainly not for banking,” he said. “Many of my friends and colleagues’ banks didn’t survive.”

How have regulations in the wake of the Great Recession impacted financial institutions? When it comes to regulations, Dolyniuk said, it’s “too much. Congress made a huge mistake with Dodd-Frank. So many people want to blame the recession on banking. No one differentiates between Wall Street banks and Main Street banks. And there’s a huge difference between the two. Wall Street banks care nothing about the citizens of a community. Main Street banks thrive on caring for their

PEOPLE

communities, providing capital for job creation and economic growth. We strive to be very good corporate citizens.”

If President-elect Donald Trump nominated Dolyniuk to be chairman of the Federal Reserve, which dictates monetary policy, the first thing he would do — although he admits it’s unrealistic — is move the Fed from the influences of Washington politics to an environment with Main Street influences. Dolyniuk said he believes that in Washington, D.C., the influence does not correspond with local issues and values.

“It’s important for Washington to understand that their decisions effect smaller constituencies like South Carolina,” he said.

He would also work to repeal the Dodd-Frank measures — which focus on promoting financial stability by improving accountability and transparency in the financial system, ending “too big to fail” banking, protecting consumers from abusive financial services practices, and limiting bank bailouts using taxpayer money — and all the unnecessary regulations that increase the cost of credit for businesses and consumers.

“Even former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (one of the lawmakers behind the bill) said recently that Congress made a huge mistake, we should have excluded community banks from the excessive regulatory burden,” Dolyniuk said.

What keeps Dolyniuk up at night?

“Cybersecurity. There are two groups. The first is a small subset of our population that wants to show people they can hack into important things. They don’t really want to cause a lot of harm, they just want to raise a hand: ‘Hey, I’m over here. Look what I can do.’ ” It’s the second group, Dolyniuk said, that we need to be truly worried about.

“Then you’ve got a whole different group of people — most who are foreign hackers — who are today’s Bonnie and Clyde.

They are the new bank robbers. And they search for any chink in the armor. Our banking systems are incredibly good and our clients’ information is safe. We’re keeping them out. Our job is defense. They’re playing offense. Offense is easier to play than defense, because on offense you know what you are going to do next… banks have to defend for all contingencies. It’s a harder game.”

According to Dolyniuk, banks are only as good as their bankers.

“When I founded CoastalStates Bank, it was imperative to hire the best bankers in our community,” he said. “We didn’t build our bank on the foundation of a national brand or interest rate. We built our bank on bankers who are skilled, engaged and energized to understand the unique needs of each client.”

Faith and family mean everything to Dolyniuk, who said his wife, Laura, and children Megan, Harrison, Reese and MaryAllan are the best gifts in his life. ”God is No. 1, family No. 2, then community and country. We’re on this planet for such a short period of time. You don’t recognize it when you’re young,” he said. “It’s important to make a difference — to impact someone’s life in a positive way. I hope I’ve made a difference through banking. If my actions help people’s dreams become a reality, then I’ve served the community well.” M February 2017 41

AFTER OUR ANNUAL REPORT WAS DISTRIBUTED IN THE NEWSPAPER IN

So the boon is that we have grown, in the 22 years of our existence, from about $20 million to about triple that amount, and have given away

EARLY DECEMBER, I RECEIVED AN INTERESTING ITEM IN THE MAIL.

almost $65 million.

Someone used the return envelope included in our annual report,

The bane is that those current assets are divided among over 300

which was part of our appeal for our Disaster Recovery and Rebuilding Fund, to return to us the page from the report that included our combined

different funds—supporting over 300 different causes; I would wager

financials. He/she wrote across the top, “Looks like u have enough

that not a single one of them has enough assets to fully meet the needs/

money already!” and then circled our asset numbers—total liabilities

issues for which it was designed.

and net assets of $63,211,629 and net assets at end of fiscal year of

While I’m at it, I’ll point out another question about our financials that is

$55,871,319. Unfortunately, since a name and contact information were

often raised: Why are our fundraising expenses “so high?” (In the past fiscal

not included, I could not reach out with a response to obvious concerns.

year, this number was $87,336.) If the folks who established a particular fund at the Community Foundation raised money for the fund

A BOON and a BANE Community foundations are not easy organizations to understand,

by having a golf outing, those expenses for the event, if paid by the fund, would be included in that fundraising number. Other groups, in raising money for other funds, did mailings, or had galas, or purchased advertising. All the food, entertainment and music, printing, prizes, t-shirts and the like would be considered “fundraising expenses.” And these collective expenses total that annual fundraising number, and are expenses that we do not influence. These are decisions made by the specific groups for their specific events.

If you have questions about these issues, or others regarding the

though we try to make it so. In the annual report, we list the majority

operation of the Community Foundation, please don’t hesitate to ask. Our

of our over 300 different funds. Each fund has a different purpose,

goal is to be transparent, while protecting donor privacy and the intent of the use of the funds.

So no, for Disaster Recovery and Rebuilding, or Project

Community foundations are not easy organizations to understand, though we try to make it so.

SAFE, or a number of other important causes, we don’t “have enough money already.” But with your help, for causes of your choosing, if you live generously, we can certainly have an impact.

We are always happy to answer any questions you have about the Community Foundation and our operations. Just give us a call at 843.681.9100.

and each was established by separate individuals or groups. The total combined assets of all of these funds, along with our building and other property, make up the Community Foundation’s assets. We would not use

Denise K. Spencer

assets in a scholarship fund for disaster grantmaking. We would not use

President and CEO

assets meant to support one particular cause to support a different one.

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry

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Shane Gould

Socks Appeal: W

BY BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

THE UNLIKELY STORY OF HOW A TRANQUIL SEA ISLAND FOSTERED HIGH-OCTANE ACTION SPORTS BRAND FUEL CLOTHING CO.

44 hiltonheadmonthly.com

CELEBRATING ENTREPRENEURS If you would like to nominate an entrepreneur from Hilton Head Island or Bluffton, please email editor@ hiltonheadmonthly.com

e’ve all seen the Fuel logo, plastered on bumpers and rear windows of mud-caked trucks and salt-battered Jeeps winding their way around Lowcountry roads from one adventure to the next. We’ve seen Fuel-branded hats, shirts and socks — so many socks — on the heads, backs and feet of the Lowcountry’s many eternally young fun junkies.

The logo has become so ubiquitous with the island’s freewheeling youth culture that you have to wonder how a single retail shop managed to attract such a massive local following. The fact is, that logo stands for something much bigger than Hilton Head Island.

Fuel Clothing Co. signs off every Instagram post with #thebiggestlittlecompanyinamerica, and sitting in the spacious office of self-described “founder/slave” Shane Levi Gould, you start to see what that hash tag means.

BUSINESS

Yes, his office is perched over a small warehouse space at the back of the singleroom retail shop on New Orleans Road.

But his reach is global: suppliers and customers in Europe, Asia, on the West Coast. You name a continent; if it has a mountain on it, you can bet someone is shredding its peaks decked out in Fuel clothing. If there is a motocross track, someone’s hurling himself across it with the Fuel logo on his back.

That’s right: Despite its local fame on a flat Sea Island, to the rest of the world Fuel Clothing Co. is by and large famous for its high-quality snowboarding and skiing outerwear and adventure sports branding.

So what makes an action sports brand work on a sleepy island where the only thing extreme is the humidity?

“There were a lot of times where I thought we needed to be in California,” Gould said, his thumbs never far from the phone and his eyes never straying too far from the inbox as he sat in the nerve center of his operation. “But I can leave my keys in my car here … I can walk to work if I want.

I can focus on one thing, and that’s making a good product.”

Besides offering a tranquil oasis from the world of action sports, Hilton Head has also given Fuel the classic “bloom where you’re planted story,” as this was where Gould founded the company, starting with $1,200 and a car he could sell Fuel gear out of.

The line of gear soon expanded, and the brand has continued to adapt to a changing market and mutate with customer demands. In fact, recently the fastest-growing segment in Gould’s multifaceted brand has been the last one you’d associate with the action sports world: socks.

“In the last five years, it’s just blown up,” Gould said. The company’s tech performance socks run the gamut from the humorous (“more” on one foot, “beer” on the other) to motivational (“get” on one foot, “rad” on the other) but the one thing they have in common is quality — something loyal fans recognize.

“They buy it because it’s funny, but it’s also a good sock,” Gould said. “If someone buys something like that and it falls apart, they’re never buying it again.”

five Shane Gould’s

PIECES OF ADVICE

1. Don’t Do It: No joke, the apparel game is very tough and always changing.

2. Honor Your Gift: Have a gift first, and then find out how to use it.

3. Do Your Homework: Know your marketplace and distribution before you start.

4. Amateurs Copy, Professionals Steal: Remember to protect your assets.

5. You Only Live Once: So don’t wait for anyone to give success to you.

Of course, the true fans sign up for Fuel’s Sock Karma subscription program, which donates a pair of socks to the homeless for every pair purchased.

Beyond philanthropy, another factor that has propelled the performance sock line is the private label business Fuel has been pursuing, flushing out its brand with specialty socks for the likes of FedEx, Lowe’s, Corona and a slew of NASCAR teams.

“Our brand is action sports and we keep ourselves there,” said Gould, explaining that the majority of brand sponsors came through athletes and teams that both Fuel and larger brands sponsored. “We’re not far off from where started on day one…

We evolved because our athletes evolved.”

And as the biggest little company in America prepares to turn 25 in April, you can tell that Gould has treasured each moment of the constant hustle that took him from $1,200 and a trunk full of merch to a global brand dominating the action sports world.

“The worst thing that can happen (for a new business) is that you’ll be an overnight success and you think it’s always going to be like that. That’s something I’ve figured out,” he said. “Not matter what the success, it’s always going to rain the next day.”

“There are a lot of people out there that say they have a vision. But do they have the work ethic to go through those (bad) years to get to the good ones?” M February 2017 45

BUSINESS

Elihu Spencer is a local amateur economist with a long business history in global finance. His life work has been centered on understanding credit cycles and their impact on local economies. The information contained in this article has been obtained from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

BY ELIHU SPENCER

As my regular readers know, every January I go out on a limb and make my 10 predictions for the coming year. But, before I take a crack at 2017, it is only fair to grade how I did with my predictions for 2016.

10 PREDICTIONS FOR 2016 No. 10: Starting with the easiest, we will undoubtedly elect our first female president in 2016. I think the economy, and deck, are stacked against whoever ends up being the GOP candidate.

My grade: F No. 9: The Federal Reserve will forgo any interest rate increases in 2016. I predict that the Federal Open Market Committee will be "one and done" at its December meeting.

My grade: B No. 8: Our national economy will continue to expand, albeit at a relatively slow pace of less than 2.5. Slow growth will be accompanied by even lower rates of inflation.

My grade: A No. 7: Driven by continued low interest rates, the equity markets will continue to plod higher, but volatility will be the rule as opposed to the exception.

My grade: A 46 hiltonheadmonthly.com

No. 6: The U.S. dollar will continue to strengthen against the euro, making European vacations attractive for Americans.

My grade: A No. 5: The price of gas might see its high for the year on Jan. 1, 2016. OPEC is a mess and Saudi Arabia and Iran need cash, so they will keep oil product up.

My grade: C

No. 4: The most affordable gas prices in a decade will finally lead the American consumer to start spending again, which will be great news for the overall U.S. economy.

My grade: B No. 3: I am going to try it one more time: Homeownership will begin to make a comeback. We are currently at the lowest homeownership rate since the early 1950s. Housing affordability, coupled with escalating rental rates, will drive millennials to buy homes, which will be another positive factor for the U.S. economy.

My grade: C

No. 2: Auto and truck sales will continue to increase above the 18 million annualized rate as we replace our aging car fleet and construction makes a comeback.

My grade: C No. 1: With Paul Ryan as the Speaker of the House and President Barack Obama in his final year, we may actually see Congress and the White House come together and deal with long-term issues such as corporate tax reform and immigration.

Not an easy thing to accomplish in an election year, but possible.

My grade: F In reviewing my predictions for 2016, I give myself a solid B. I earned two F’s for both of my political predictions, but I can certainly take comfort in the fact that I had a whole lot of company there.

But now it’s time to set my sights on 2017. And this year, with our new president and Republican Congress, my predictions may actually come true. But I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

BUSINESS

10 PREDICTIONS FOR 2017 No. 10: President Donald Trump will host Russian President Vladimir Putin for a state dinner at the White House.

No. 9: Both personal and corporate income tax reform will take place in the Trump administration’s first 100 days.

No. 8: Trump’s proposed wall along the Mexican border will not be built — in fact, work on it won’t even start. I predict the opposite will happen: The U.S. will actually move to improve our relationship with our southern neighbor.

No. 7: Italy and France will vote to leave the European Union, and the euro will be abandoned as a currency.

No. 6: The Federal Open Market Committee will move to raise the Fed’s funds rate three — maybe four — times throughout the year.

No. 5: With tax reform, infrastructure spending and the repatriation of offshore corporate dollars, the U.S.’ gross domestic product will grow to 3 percent.

No. 4: Important to those of us on Hilton Head Island, the Federal Flood Insurance Program will undergo massive reform, leading private insurers to enter the primary flood insurance market.

No. 3: Despite Trump’s election promises, Hillary Clinton will not go to jail.

No. 2: The Affordable Care Act will undergo subtle changes but definitely will not be overturned, as there are millions of Americans who now have insurance thanks to the program.

No. 1: The equities market as measured by the S&P 500 will end the year over 2,500, an increase of more than 10 percent.

There you go. Once again, I have put it all out there, and I believe that while 2017 may be full of surprises, they will be mostly good. M February 2017 47

BUSINESS

ON THE MOVE NEW HIRES/PROMOTIONS/AWARDS

Cerrati

Scanlin

Tolbert

O’Grady

Shostak

Attorney Michael Cerrati will head up the Hilton Head Island branch of Belzer PC, according to an announcement by Nathan Belzer, founder of the Savannah-based law firm. Belzer PC is a client-oriented firm that concentrates in intellectual property and technology and commercial transactions. It offers a broad range of services to assist clients with the protection, acquisition, use and commercialization of intellectual property, technology, and information resources. Belzer PC serves clients locally and throughout the world.

Cerrati, a graduate of Hilton Head Island High School, the University of Vermont and Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, has been involved with intellectual property and business law since 2005, with an emphasis on trademark, copyright and litigation. He is a member of the International Trademark Association and a board member of The First Tee of the Lowcountry.

Kelly Scanlin has been named the public relations manager at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. Scanlin is a Clemson University graduate. She was an intern at the chamber in 2013, and then joined in 2014 as the digital marketing manager. Scanlin grew up on Hilton Head Island and is a member of the Kappa Delta Alumni Association.

Dr. Claude Tolbert, M.D., a boardcertified OB/GYN, has joined the medical staff at Coastal Carolina Hospital and will be delivering babies at the

J. BANKS CHAIR FEATURED IN NATIONAL MAGAZINE The Gerlock Chair from the J. Banks Collection for Stanford Furniture was recently featured in Interior Design Magazine’s Fall Market Tabloid. The J. Banks Collection is a line of casegood and upholstery pieces designed by J. Banks president and founder Joni Vanderslice. Inspired through project and personal travel, Vanderslice continuously designs J Banks Collection upholstery pieces that are comfortable, functional and timeless and meant to be utilized in both contemporary and traditional settings, as well as residential and hospitality venues. The J. Banks Collection also extends into a casegood line through Abner Henry Fine Furnishings and a textile collection with Kravet.

hospital’s Women’s Pavilion. Tolbert brings over 16 years of experience serving the Beaufort community. His areas of expertise include minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, high-risk obstetrics, and reproductive endocrinology. As a da Vinci-trained robotic surgeon, Tolbert will be able to provide minimally invasive surgery using the da Vinci Surgical System at Coastal Carolina Hospital. For robotic surgery, he specializes in performing single-site hysterectomy procedures.

Movement Mortgages announces that Kieron O’Grady, Matt Topping and Tony Leister have joined the Hilton Head office. The team brings over 15 years of local lending expertise. Movement Mortgage is a South Carolina-based mortgage lender specializing in purchase, refinance, remodeling and reverse mortgage lending. Seven-day processing, upfront underwriting and first-rate service are the hallmarks of Movement’s fresh approach to mortgages.

HARGRAY NAMES NEW VP OF CUSTOMER OPERATIONS Hargray Communications recently announced the promotion of Gwynne Lastinger to the role of vice president of customer operations. In this role, Lastinger will be responsible for all customer-facing operations functions including customer care and field operations. Lastinger has been with Hargray since 2001, starting as a customer service representative. Since then, she has received six promotions, leading to her most recent role as director of OSP engineering. “More impressive than the myriad of positions that Gwynne has held is the manner in which she has performed,” said Michael Gottdenker, Hargray chairman and CEO. “She is the epitome of a detail-oriented, disciplined, hands-on, results-oriented manager.”

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Best Gift Idea Ever, the leader in the letter art industry, and a locally owned and operated company, is pleased to announce the newest addition to its team. Samantha Shostak is joining as a district manager, bringing an expansive background in retail. She will be overseeing locations at Savannah’s River Street, Tanger Outlets Hilton Head, and the kiosk at Coligny on Hilton Head. Best Gift Idea Ever was founded on Hilton Head Island by Ryan Martz in 2009.

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has elected two new members to its board of directors.

Allen Ward of Bluffton, is president and principal of Ward Edwards, Inc., a civil/environmental engineering and allied services firm headquartered in Beaufort County and serving coastal South Carolina and Georgia.

He was a founding director of Atlantic Community Bank, chartered in 2006, where he served on the compensation, credit and building committees. Ward holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in engineering and environmental systems engineering from Clemson University. In addition, he’s participated in the management development program for engineers at the University of South Carolina

and has earned a leadership certificate from the U.S. Army War College National Security Program. David Wetmore of Hilton Head Island currently serves as board chairman for Grange Mutual Insurance Companies and Nationwide Mutual Funds Group. Early in his career he worked for KPMG, where he became a managing partner at age 35. He went on to become president and chairman of several publicly held software services companies, and later helped start an investment banking and venture capital fund serving the technology industry.

AWARDS & CERTIFICATIONS School Improvement Councils at 16 South Carolina public schools — including two from Beaufort County — have been named to the South Carolina School Improvement Council’s 2017 Honor Roll for their work in fostering civic engagement in public education. The councils from Bluffton Middle School and Hilton Head Island High School will continue in the running for the 2017 Dick and Tunky Riley Award for School Improvement Council Excellence. Bluffton Middle School’s council was also on the 2016 state Honor Roll. Named for the former U.S. Secretary of Education and South Carolina governor and his late wife, the Riley Award was created in 2002 to recognize contributions made by the 14,000-plus local School Improvement Council members who volunteer in every public school in the state.

Laurie Brown of Aunt Laurie’s has been recognized by the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation (SCVR) Department as its Contractor of the Year. At the center, located in Beaufort, she oversees the production of Aunt Laurie’s custom gift baskets, which are made through a series of processes that are unlike any other in the region. Here, each worker responsible for assembling the products Aunt Laurie’s endorses is an individual with disabilities.

February 2017 49

BUSINESS Bluffton Police Department’s Lt. Christian Gonzales graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy Program, held at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, offers 11 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals within their agencies.

On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience and usually return to their agencies to serve in executive-level positions.

Gonzales currently serves as the lieutenant of the emergency management and training division. He began his law enforcement career as a military police officer in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1996. In 2006, he joined the Bluffton Police Department and has since served in the patrol and investigations divisions. In 2008, he was promoted to master police sergeant and in 2014, Gonzales was transferred to the training division as a sergeant.

In late 2014, the town of Bluffton transferred the emergency management responsibilities to the Bluffton Police Department, where Gonzales was promoted to lieutenant.

Oldfield is the first private community in South Carolina to earn the Audubon Green Community Award for its ongoing sustainability initiatives from Audubon International, a non-profit environmental organization. Members of Audubon International’s Sustainable

Communities Program are eligible for the award, which recognizes significant environmental achievement and recognizes completion of the first stage en route to earning the rigorous designation as a Certified Audubon International Sustainable Community.

Women in Philanthropy, a fund of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, supplied a $50,000 grant — the largest the group has ever awarded — to Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity for a Women Build, the area’s first women’sbuilt home. The project began when Women in Philanthropy selected Habitat for Humanity as a recipient of the grant based on its “Providing Safe Shelter for Our Citizens” grant theme.

The Beaufort County Library is pleased to announce it is the recipient of a $25,000 planning grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation.

The funds will support the development of a creative curation project as part of the comprehensive plan to create a Beaufort County Interpretative Center on Reconstruction History. Partners for the project include SCETV, the University of South Carolina Beaufort, the University of South Carolina’s College of Education, the Mitchelville Project, Penn Center, the Lowcountry Digital Library and the city of Beaufort and its mayor, Billy Keyserling. The creative curation project will work with artists, historians, designers and others to create public artwork in connection with the per-

RECYCLE YOUR JACKET FOR DEEP WELL In an effort to provide warm clothing to those in need, Outside Hilton Head will host its 25th annual Recycle Your Jacket Program Feb. 1-15. The community is asked to bring sweaters, coats, and jackets in good condition to the Outside Hilton Head store at The Plaza at Shelter Cove. Items will be donated to The Deep Well Project.

For those who donate, Outside Hilton Head will provide up to 50 percent off in-stock jackets and outerwear.

manent exhibit being developed in Beaufort for a Lowcountry Reconstruction Center.

The Bluffton Police Department was presented with a $2,000 grant to assist with the department’s annual toy drive. The Lowcountry Strong Foundation, part of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, provided the check as part of its focus on assisting families in need.

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry recently awarded three additional disaster recovery and rebuilding grants to area organizations working directly with individuals affected by Hurricane Matthew. These grants bring the total amount awarded to $127,720 since October 11.

The most recent grants went to St. Stephen’s Outreach Food Bank, Lowcountry Food Bank and Hilton Head Island Recreation Association.

Collins Group Realty’s Bill Weis recently graduated from the third annual Bluffton Police Department Citizens Police Academy. This is a 10–week program equipping citizens with a better understanding of the challenges law enforcement officers face each day. The academy also fosters a deeper sense of trust

HILTON HEAD DERMATOLOGY ADDS FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER Hilton Head Dermatology welcomes Mary Jane Gentry, FNP-BC, who has joined its practice as a family nurse practitioner. Gentry is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Nursing with a master of science degree in nursing and a bachelor of science degree in nursing. Her specialty is family care and she is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a family nurse practitioner.

Gentry is trained in cosmetic injectables and is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society and The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

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and respect for local police officers and provides for increased communication between Bluffton police and the community it serves. Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka was there to congratulate Weis and other graduates at the graduation.

BUSINESS NEWS The Long Cove Club Charitable Advisory Committee is accepting applications for grants that will be made this year to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in Beaufort and Jasper counties. To be considered, organizations should have plans for a project to improve health, housing, hunger or educational issues. The deadline for applications is March 31.

Pledge the pink! Last year alone, LoCo Motion raised $150,000 to fight breast cancer.

The event had participants from 46 states and 13 countries.

LoCo is short for Lowcountry, the beautiful area of South Carolina where the event has island-hopped for six years.

Since then, it has been establishing partnerships and saving lives across the country. No matter how they’ve grown, what the group promises and pledges hasn’t. LoCo Motion is now called Pledge the Pink. For more information, find the group on Facebook.

The Lowcountry Area Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Coalition is offering free income tax assistance in Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell,

Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties for low- to-moderate-income, elderly and limited English proficient individuals and families. Tax preparation will end April 18 and will be held at a number of locations.

Additional locations may be added based on regional needs and the availability of organizations willing to host volunteers. To get involved or to schedule an appointment, call 843-321-9071.

Registration for Beaufort County children whose parents want them to attend public school kindergarten or pre-kindergarten next school year will be held Feb. 1 through March 1. During that month, interested parents with children who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1 should complete kindergarten enrollment packets at the school serving their neighborhood’s attendance area. Parents with questions about school attendance zones should call any elementary school in their area. Parents with children who will be 4 years old by Sept.

1 should register for pre-kindergarten at their neighborhood schools. Because space is limited for pre-kindergarten, 4-year-olds will be assessed for possible enrollment during “Child Find” screenings the week of March 6-10.

Decisions on placement for pre-kindergarten will be made at each school after children’s screenings are complete. Children are ranked in order of greatest need for participation in the program based on the provided list of at-risk indicators. Children who will be 6 years old by Sept. 1 should register for first grade.

The Beaufort County Library has partnered with The Literacy Center and the University of South Carolina Beaufort to offer classes that teach English to parents and their children ages 4 to 10. Family Literacy 360 is an initiative that uses the Parents and Children Together model of instruction, which was developed by Dr. Elizabeth Brinkerhoff, assistant professor and assessment coordinator of USCB’s department of education. The goal is to establish and sustain a network of common literacy services across Beaufort County addressing family literacy and providing skills promoting the growth of English capability within the family. The services are designed to improve language development and reading skills, transforming the home into a more active learning environment. Lessons occur once a week for six weeks. Ten families can be accommodated at each site.

February 2017 51

Street Meet “Shopping Local is Literally Building Community” Every time you choose to purchase local instead of from a national chain or online, you are helping build the community.

For every $100 spent at a local business, $68 stays in the local economy compared to only $43 if spent at a national chain.

If each household redirected $20 of planned weekly spending from chain stores to locally owned merchants, the local economic impact would be approximately $67.7 million.

That means more money for schools, parks and other services.

Owner Carey Basiano (right) with his wife Shelby (left) and his sister and Street Meet’s General Manager, Nicole Basciano.

Photo: Arno Dimmling

Before heading to a big box store, please consider patronizing a Shop More Local business partner.

Find the directory at shopmorelocal.org!

WIN $100 VISA GIFT CARD

Join the Shop More Local effort at www.shopmorelocal.org/win and be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card to be used for shopping locally.

shop more local

.org

QA &

Supporting the Community is Part of Street Meet’s Mission Q. For those that may not know, please tell us a bit about your business. What is something special about your business the public may not know?

A. Street Meet is slang for Street Vendor food. We serve homemade versions of regional American tavern/street food. We have one of the islands largest healthy alternatives menu. And we are open serving a FULL menu until midnight 7 days a week.

Q. Why did you decide to open a local business? Why the Lowcountry?

A. The timing was right. In 2005, the café in Harbourtown that I managed for 12 years sold and we signed our lease the next day. We knew the North end was up and coming and wanted to be a part of it and Hilton Head’s growth there. The Lowcountry has been our home now for longer than Youngstown (me and my sister) or Syracuse (my wife).

“Our money stays right here on Hilton Head (with 3 daughters, it probably gets reinvested too quickly…) We host Spirits Nights on Tuesdays where a portion of the proceeds goes to a local group or charity. This year already we have raised money for PEP, SOAR, and St.Francis School’s Washington DC trip!”

Q.What makes customers in the Lowcountry unique? Does your business reach outside the Lowcountry? If so, what propels that?

A. Lowcountry customers are pretty well traveled and appreciate the casual atmosphere of Hilton Head. Our concept allows visitors or locals both a chance to get some of their previous local fare right here in Hilton Head (think Hofmann hotdogs from Syracuse or Bertman’s mustard form Cleveland).

Q. What is the best/worst thing to happen since you opened your business?

What do you find most challenging about owning a business?

A. Best thing was the first payroll and being able to provide jobs for ourselves and others. And having my sister agree to move down from Ohio and help run the restaurant. The worst thing was probably Hurricane Mathew and all of the uncertainty.

Q. Do you have any favorite memories you have over the years?

A. Ten years after providing concessions for the Island Rec Center soccer programs having the same boys and girls come into the restaurant to celebrate games.

Q. Tell us about any special people you’ve met through your business.

A. Frank (103 yrs old) Rosie (94 years old) and Paul (92 years old), three of our regulars from our hometowns. We didn’t meet them until we opened the restaurant in 2005. We like to say Street Meet equals longevity through community!

Q. If you didn’t own a business, what would you be doing instead or what would your life be like? What do you do when you’re not working?

A. I would probably be working in a resort or hotel and of course watching our three daughters sports and activities and of course heading to Islander’s Beach.

Q. Where do you see the business climate in the Lowcountry going?

Why do you feel that way? What are its strengths?

A. Unfortunately for restaurants, I see more chains and more big development. As consumers, we cast a vote every time we spend money. Every time you go out to lunch or dinner, you are helping to shape Hilton Head’s future. The strengths of the Lowcountry are ALWAYS the people. We have the greatest customers & employees on the island.

shop more local

To learn more about the importance of shopping locally, or to sign up your business for FREE, visit shopmorelocal.org!

.org

VA L E N T I N E ’ S G I F T G U I D E Tivoli Cuff and Earrings by Julie Vos Cocoon 843.815.3315 cocoonbluffton.com

Give your sweetie a mouthwatering gift of dipped strawberries.

Chocolate Canopy 843.842.4567 ChocolateCanopy.com

Aveda’s New Tulasara Wedding Masques, for overnight Beauty. fringe an aveda concept salon 843.785.7400 fringehiltonhead.com

Hilton Head Island Artwork Coastal Treasures Harbour Town 843.671.3643 IslandGiftHHI@Gmail.com

Heart Trinket Trays by Two’s Company Abode Fine Home Furnishings 843.815.3322 abodesc.com

Virgins Saints and Angels necklace with hanky panky panties and hot pink bralette Copper Penny 843.505.6252 shopcopperpenny.com/hilton-head/

Hand Painted Crafts Gifts The Art Café 843.785.5525 artcafehhi.com

Faces Kimono professional spa style robe Faces DaySpa 843.785.3075 facesdayspa.com

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Roberto Coin Princess Flower Stud Earrings with Diamonds, also available in white gold.

Forsythe Jewelers 843.671.7070 ForsytheJewelers.biz

Michael Aram heart dish J. Banks Retail 843.682.1745 jbanksdesign.com

J+I Jewelry Sterling silver and gold plated Handmade in Philidelphia Outside Hilton Head 843.686.6996 outsidehiltonhead.com

Waxing Poetic I Love You Carus Charm Island Girl 843.686.6000 IslandGirlHHI.com

14k gold and Sterling Silver, spring hinged, cuff bracelet with white Sapphire accents by Phillip Gabriel Heritage Fine Jewelry 843.689.2900 HeritageJewelersHHI.com

Jane Iredale LIPDRINK LIP BALM, Perfect for all ages of valentines in your life.

Le Spa 843.363.6000 LeSpaHiltonHead.com

Copper Mugs – Toast your Valentine with a freshly made Moscow Mule!

Hilton Head Distillery 843.686.4443 hiltonheaddistillery.com

Uno de 50 jewelry, handmade in Spain.

Gifted Hilton Head 843.842.8787 giftedhiltonhead.com Say good-bye to your smelly sponge! Nonporous silicone with over 5000 bristles won’t harbor bacteria.

Le Cookery 843.785.7171 LeCookeryUSA.com

Denim Jacket and Jeans by Current Elliot with Top by Sugarlips and Necklace by Ettika Maluka 843.815.4674 shopmaluka.com

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VA L E N T I N E ’ S G I F T G U I D E Liquid Smile Professional Whitening Pen, the first and strongest paint-on whitener available.

Serendipity Medical Spa 843.342.BODY (2639) SerendipityMedSpa.com

Julie Vos Greek Key Cuff in Blue Chal Pretty Papers & Gifts 843.341.5116 PrettyPapersHHI.com

Keepsake - Hugs & Kisses Lariat in sterling silver or gold plate The Porcupine 843.785.2779 porcupinestyle.com

Bosley red top with Love Poppy necklace Too Belles 843.715.3276 shoptoobelles.com

Maggie Lyon’s Chocolates Pyramids 1600 Main Street 843.689.6367 316C Shops at Sea Pines Center 843.363.2040 Pyramidsonhiltonhead.com

Michael Arum Olive Branch Candle Truffles Café Market 843.671.6136 TrufflesCafe.com

Ever After Necklace Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski Sharon Browne 203.736.4438 touchstonecrystal.com/sbrowne

Delicious “Barkery” cookies for the lovable pups in your life.

Tail-Wiggles 843.686.3707 Tailwiggles.com

32” Focus Keynote Locket Necklace - Holds interchangeable magnetic notes inside Spartina 449 843.815.9000 Spartina449.com

Aged silver tone entwined sculpture Plantation Interiors, Inc 843.785.5261 plantationInteriors.com

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brides GORGEOUS venues LOCAL professionals FABULOUS trends BEAUTIFUL

Weddings W

hether your dream wedding is a small and intimate beach gathering or an extravagant country club affair, the South Carolina Lowcountry is the perfect destination. On the following pages, we share real wedding stories from brides and grooms who tied the knot last year using many of the amazing vendors we have right here. Pictured: Lizzie Lewis (Page 70).

February 2017 57

real wedding CAROLINE SANTORUM AND LEE AYRES

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BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding

Longer engagement gave couple time to plan every detail of Sea Pines wedding

BY ROBYN PASSANTE | PHOTOS BY W PHOTOGRAPHY

S

and spent 15 years dancing with Hilton Head Dance Theatre. “I was really trying not to cry (as we said them).”

“We knew we wanted to do a ‘first look,’ and we wanted to add something to that moment,” says Caroline, who grew up on Hilton Head Island

Caroline, a University of South Carolina graduate, and Lee, who attended Georgia Tech, met during the summer of their sophomore years at a Cru event (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) in Florida.

They got engaged during their senior year of college, and had a year and a half to plan the wedding. While it seemed like an awfully long time to wait to tie the knot, Caroline says the longer engagement had its benefits.

ometimes when you’re in love, one set of wedding vows just isn’t enough.

Caroline Santorum and Lee Ayres exchanged traditional wedding vows on June 11 at Sea Pines Country Club in front of 215 family members and friends. But a couple hours before that, they exchanged a different set of vows, promises of love and devotion they wrote themselves.

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BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding

When it came to planning, “we had our pick of anything we wanted, which was awesome,” she says.

The couple opted to have their nuptials at Sea Pines Country Club, with the rehearsal dinner at Sea Pines Beach Club. “It was gorgeous,” says Caroline, a vision herself in a custom gown created by Modern Trousseau from The White Magnolia in Atlanta.

“The top of one dress we loved, but the bottom was a satin cupcake skirt, too much for a summer wedding on Hilton Head. So we took a tulle skirt from the bottom of another dress. I never really tried it on, but I just said ‘I think this will be great, I hope, let’s go with it,’” she says of combining the two dresses.

“I was a little nervous seeing the final dress, but it was stunning. It’s the favorite thing I’ve ever worn.”

Her nine bridesmaids wore coral bridesmaid dresses; Lee’s nine groomsmen wore tuxedoes with gold bow ties. “I’ve always been a fan of coral, and gold is really in right now and they go beautifully together,” she says. Interior designer Gretchen Goss, a close family friend, helped Caroline and her mother plan the wedding’s details. “(Caroline) was very specific on the colors she was interested in, and we played off of the bridesmaids dresses with the flowers, but it was a little bit of a controlled palette,” says Goss. “We worked really closely with Deborah Lamp with Flowers by Sue; I feel like she really listened to Caroline. Even when Caroline didn’t know what she did like, she knew what she didn’t like, and Deborah was able to interpret that.”

Pastor Jay Hackett, Lee’s former youth minister from his hometown in Georgia, officiated the ceremony, which included a special moment for the couple, who both are seeking master’s degrees that will lead them to careers in the church.

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BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding

“After we gave our vows and exchanged the rings, we did Communion just the two of us while the pianist was playing ‘How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,’” says Caroline. “That was a really cool moment just to step aside and be in our own little world during the ceremony.”

When Hackett announced them as a married couple and gave Lee permission to kiss his bride, he did so with a dramatic dip, which Caroline, the former dancer, performed perfectly — in 4-and-a-half-inch heels.

After a cocktail hour outside, guests headed inside for dancing to the Charlotte-based Java Band and dining on fun fare with a sophisticated twist. Offerings included a mashed potato bar, a fajita bar, a prime rib station, and a salad bar.

Goss credits Sea Pines Country Club manager Jerry Vaughan with how well the evening went.

“He was so easy to work with,” she says. “The food was excellent, the servers were excellent.”

Signe’s Heaven Bound Bakery made the couple’s raspberry lemon-filled cake, which was adorned with flowers and their specially designed monogram made out of gold fondant.

Later in the night, the couple surprised their guests with a fireworks display, which not even their wedding party knew about beforehand. “Everyone was like ‘Oh my gosh!’ It was awesome,” Caroline says.

Guests then were treated to an ice cream bar provided by Hilton Head Ice Cream, the bride’s “favorite ice cream in the world,” before sending off the sweet couple with sparklers at the end of the party. M 62 hiltonheadmonthly.com

VENDORS

Bride’s hair: Angela Scharver Bride’s makeup: Bride's Side Beauty Dress: Custom dress by Modern Trousseau from The White Magnolia Atlanta Shoes: Badgley Mischka Bridesmaids’ dresses: WToo from Bella Bridesmaids Atlanta Bride's wedding ring and bands: DaVinci Fine Jewelry Groom's wedding band: Lee's father's refurbished wedding band (it fit him perfectly) Groom’s tuxedo: JFL Corp Groom's shoes: Johnston & Murphy Groomsmen's suits: JFL Corp Groomsmen's ties: The Tie Bar Flowers: Flowers by Sue Cake: Signe's Heaven Bound Bakery Ice cream bar: Hilton Head Ice Cream Venue: Sea Pines Country Club Officiant: Jay Hackett, pastor of Peachtree Corners Baptist Church in Peachtree Corners, Georgia Band: Java Band Coordinator: Gretchen Goss Ceremony music: Nancy McKee and Mallory McKee Seamstress: Island Soiree Videographer: Withers Films February 2017 63

real wedding MEGAN DOLYNIUK AND STEWART KOCH

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BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding

Kentucky Derby-themed wedding a hit at Harbour Town

BY ROBYN PASSANTE PHOTOS BY LANDON JACOB

F

or a bride who grew up in Sea Pines and a groom who hails from Louisville, Kentucky, the Harbour Town wedding of Megan Dolyniuk and Stewart Koch on May 7, 2016 — the same day as the famed horse race in Stewart’s hometown — was a destination wedding with a bit of derby celebration.

“We played off the derby theme,” says Megan of her wedding weekend, which incorporated a specially designed logo featuring a blending of the Harbour Town Lighthouse and the roses from the Kentucky Derby logo to create a unique visual statement that the couple used on everything from save-thedate cards to the koozies they gave as favors.

February 2017 65

Megan and Stewart, who attended Furman University and had mutual friends there but didn’t begin dating until three years ago, when they were both living in New York City, filled their wedding weekend with much more than just the nuptials. The festivities began Thursday night with a beachside barbecue at Tower Beach Club hosted by friends of the couple. The welcome party set the mood for the weekend and introduced guests, who’d come from as far as China, Korea, France and Morocco, to the beauty and hospitality of the Lowcountry.

The following day, Megan enjoyed a bridal luncheon at Sea Pines Country Club with women on both sides of the wedding aisle while Stewart hosted a golf tournament with his wedding party and other guests at Harbour Town Golf Links. Their rehearsal dinner that night at Harbour Town Yacht Club was topped off by Stewart’s parents convincing the rehearsal party guests to join them in singing “My Old Kentucky Home” as an ode to the derby.

The couple’s wedding was held at 4:30 p.m. the following day at Providence Presbyterian Church; it was officiated

by Megan’s uncle, Harold Warlick, a fellow Furman graduate who had married her parents and various other family members.

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BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding

“(Megan’s) family has been longtime members of that church, so just being in the environment that’s been a part of their life for so long was a pretty big highlight of their day,” says the couple’s wedding planner, Kelli Corn of Kelli Corn Weddings & Events. “You could feel the warmth and energy while we were there.”

Megan was a vision in her off-the-shoulder A-line Anna Maier dress with lace overlay. “I just fell in love with the Chantilly lace on it, and the big cathedral-length veil finished it off,” she says. Her bridesmaids wore champagnecolored dresses and carried bouquets of pink peonies and white and pink roses created by Sue Burden with Lighten Your Burden. Stewart and his groomsmen wore their own traditional black tuxedoes.

The couple opted to not do a “first look” before the nuptials, saving the moment for Megan’s entrance at the church.

“I really wanted to see him for the first time when I was coming down the aisle,” she says. “I think you lock eyes and you forget that anybody else is around. I know I did.”

The couple further personalized the ceremony by including readings from both of their parents’ wedding ceremonies.

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BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding

Afterward, guests made the short trip back to Harbour Town for an outdoor cocktail hour with entertainment provided by the six-piece Dixieland jazz band Savannah Stompers. It was during this hour that the newly married couple found a moment to savor their day. “(Our) favorite memory is looking out and seeing all our guests having drinks and chit-chatting, having that panorama of all of them,” Megan says. “Weddings have become so rushed, so having that moment to really see everyone was so special.”

The reception itself was a true Southern party, with the couple’s wedding logo projected on the wall behind the band Deas-Guyz, who played Ray LaMontagne’s “You Are the Best Thing” for the couple’s first dance. The pair opted to serve a less formal buffet-style dinner in order to keep the party casual and extend the dancing. Highlights included Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, scallops, fried green tomatoes, and crab and avocado.

Dancing did stop briefly for the cutting of the cake, though.

“I was very, very excited about the cake,” Megan says of the four-layer confection made by Signe’s Heaven Bound Bakery, featuring two layers with lemon filling and two layers with caramel dulce de leche filling. “Plus, our neighbors had a blueberry farm so we served fresh blueberries with the cake, all on vintage cake plates Kelli found.”

After hours of dancing and dining, guests sent the newlyweds off with rose petals before being treated to one last surprise: A food truck from Downtown Catering Company offering egg sandwiches, chicken biscuits and tater tots. The truck was a definite hit, sending the guests home with full stomachs and full hearts, Corn says.

“There’s nothing like a hot fried egg sandwich at midnight,” she says. M

VENDORS

Wedding planner/event design: Kelli Corn Weddings & Events Flowers: Sue Burden, Lighten your Burden Venue/catering: Sea Pines Country Club Trolleys: Sea Pines Transportation Late-night food truck: Downtown Catering Company Ceremony: Providence Presbyterian Church Ceremony music: Alyssa Jae Schnoover and Joo Soo Son Aisle runner: The Aisle Runner Co. Reception band: Deas-Guyz Cocktail hour band: Savannah Stompers Linens: La Tavola Linen Stationary: Pretty Papers Calligraphy: The Turquoise Cardinal Bridal gown: Anna Maier Bridesmaid dresses: Alfred Sung Hair: Angela Sharver Makeup: Sandra Subacius Photographer: Landon Jacob Videographer: Moonlight Productions February 2017 69

real wedding LIZZIE LEWIS AND NICK DEVINE

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BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding

Love and family the focus of perfect Colleton River wedding

BY LIBBY O’REGAN | PHOTOS BY LANDON JACOB

W

hen planning the ultimate dream wedding, there are many ingredients that go into creating the perfect day. A few key ingredients?

A gorgeous couple, a bride who is supported by her family and enjoys the wedding planning process with her mother, a wedding planning team that is able to translate inspiration into reality, a beautiful location, and plenty of of personal and meaningful details.

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BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding

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Put all these things together, and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect wedding for couple Lizzie Lewis and Nick Devine. The couple was married on the lawn of Colleton River Plantation’s Dye Clubhouse, set against the Port Royal Sound. Spencer Special Events’ team created a churchlike setting, complete with a beautiful altar designed by A Floral Affair. They even sourced a mix of natural wood and white pews that were adorned with coordinating flowers.

Soft blush and peach flowers were used throughout, and perfectly placed petals aligned the pews and set the stage for a romantic and delicate look.

Lizzie accented her beautiful gown with family heirlooms. She wore an aqua marine diamond ring that once belonged to her grandmother; her own mother redid the ring for her years ago and it’s a treasured keepsake. The ring bearer’s pillow was made from one of her grandmother’s old doilies. It’s little touches like these that make a wedding personal and meaningful.

The bride, her mother and the bridesmaids all carried bouquets of garden roses and gardenias. The fragrant smell of the blooms filled the air at the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception, which had a loose, natural look completed with garden roses, seeded eucalyptus, jasmine vine, dusty miller, astilbe and snapdragons.

After the ceremony, the soulful and joyous Voices of El Shaddai greeted the guests on the lawn of the Nicklaus Clubhouse overlooking the Colleton River. A comfortable cocktail hour setting complete with soft seating, custom pillows and glowing candlelight surrounded by beautiful flowers set the stage as guests enjoyed delicious offerings by chef Robert Wysong and his staff. The cocktail menu included prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, bacon-wrapped scallops, February 2017 73

spiced lamp chops, and mini lump crab cakes. There was also an abundance of local seafood thanks to a chilled seafood display featuring freshly shucked oysters, crab claws, poached shrimp and marinated mussels.

Moving into the reception inside the Nicklaus Clubhouse, the ballroom was draped ceiling to floor in soft cream fabric to set a romantic and elegant mood. Flowers hung from light fixtures and the fireplace.

Gold Chiavari chairs and blush sequined specialty linens were used. Tables were topped with a mix of and high floral centerpieces to create a ballroom look that was sophisticated and interesting to the eye.

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VENDORS

Ceremony and reception: Colleton River Plantation Cake: Savannah Custom Cakes Invitations: Pretty Papers Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones Makeup and hair: Bride's Side Beauty Flowers: A Floral Affair Cocktail hour rentals: Savannah Special Events Reception tent and ballroom draping: Party Tables Linens and pillows: Party Tables Lighting and ceremony AV: JLK Events Reception entertainment: The Maxx (East Coast Entertainment) Ceremony music: Alyssa Jae duo of Hilton Head Entertainment Cocktail hour music: The Voices of El Shaddai and Gail Ragland Photographer: Landon Jacob Wedding planner: Amanda Spencer of Spencer Special Events Videographer: Withers Films Transportation: Old Savannah Tours Transportation for the bride and groom: A Rolls-Royce provided by FX Limo

BRIDAL GUIDE | real wedding Guests were served a plated dinner of seared beef filet mignon and spiced roasted grouper.

For dessert, there was a delicious and beautiful cake crafted by Savannah Custom Cakes, then the guests danced the night away and celebrated into the early morning hours before the bride and groom made their spectacular exit.

Looking back, Lizzie has a few pieces of advice for future brides. “Start planning early,” she says.” I think this helped ease a lot of stressors early on. Definitely pick a theme of colors and how you want the wedding to feel in order to set the tone for the rest of your planning.

Lastly, have fun with it. It can be a fun experience if you let it.”

Amanda Spencer, founder and owner of Spencer Special Events, says the big day is truly a reflection of the bride and groom.

“Not only were (Lizzie and Nick) dream clients, but they treated myself and my team like family,” she says. “The warmth and love that this family has for each other, their family, friends and wedding guest was obvious in every detail for the wedding weekend.” M

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ALL YOU NEED FOR THE

perfect wedding

BY ROBYN PASSANTE

A lot of bridal guides will try to tell you what you “must have” to make your wedding day a success.

W

hile it can be exciting to see all the edgy new trends that brides and grooms are incorporating to make their wedding days the best ever, we think the only thing you “must have” for a successful soiree is love.

If you have that — and we’re certain you do — then everything else is just icing on the cake. (Unless you’re serving pie, in which case, mmmm, ice cream!)

Planning a wedding can seem like a stressful undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be. The Lowcountry has a ton of skilled wedding planners, caterers and club managers who have the experience and expertise needed to make sure your special day is free of stress but loaded with memory-making moments.

What planning a wedding should be is fun, and gathering ideas based on current trends, traditions you love, and other people’s weddings is a super fun way to start planning your own. The stress creeps in when brides continue to pore over Pinterest until just before they walk down the aisle, always worried they’re going to miss out on the next great idea. Our advice is to start with the brainstorming and page-turning early, then pick your favorite handful of ideas and hire the right experts to help make those touches a special part of your day.

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trends | WEDDINGS

To get you started on your journey, here are some of the latest trends and ideas we love. Some are cool, some are classy, some are unconventional — but hopefully they’ll spark something in your imagination that will end up being the second-best thing about your own wedding day.

Because the best thing will be the love.

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WEDDINGS |

trends

#nuptialnicknames are #helpful.

Wedding couples are using hash tags early and often, typically one mashup that combines the bride and groom’s names and at least one other fun hash tag that speaks to the theme of the wedding. This is a great way to help organize and search for weddingrelated pics on social media, so get your bridal party and guests on board from the get-go.

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D

igital tools and applications can help keep you organized and on track — and maybe reduce some stress. They’re called “smartphones” for a reason. Here are six apps that can lend you a hand:

• Evernote. This app allows you to share all your notes and images with others and keep everyone in the loop with updates — including your soon-to-be spouse. It also can help reduce paper clutter while keeping you organized with to-do notes.

• WedPics. This wedding photo app allows you to invite your guests to share their wedding photos with you through your unique Wedding ID. A convenient way to keep everyone’s pics in one place for you to browse and share.

• Cozi. This shared calendar app with alert options keeps everyone informed about the myriad appointments for fittings, hair appointments, etc.

• Appy Couple. This app, which has a one-time fee, consolidates everything into one tidy package, making it easy to create a customized wedding app site, establish timelines, set up gift registries and sort through images.

• Zola Wedding Registry. This digitalfriendly app can scan barcodes on gifts and help organize your registry. It lets couples personalize everything with their own notes and pictures, add gifts from any website, and ship at their convenience.

• WeddingHappy. This app serves as a virtual wedding planner to back up your backup ‘to do’ lists and is preloaded with tasks to guide you through your neverending lists of things to get done.

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WEDDINGS |

trends

Make the cocktail hour count.

The cocktail hour used to be nothing more than a time-filler while the wedding party took pictures and the staff readied the reception space for dinner. Now it’s a crucial part of the party, often with special live music and a signature cocktail.

To kick the hour up a notch, hire a caricature artist, barbershop quartet or street performer to entertain the masses while they mingle. Or have a few cornhole stations set up for people to play a quick game while they sip.

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WEDDINGS |

trends

Use technology to wow the crowd.

Want to transform your reception space into an oasis?

Use projection technology to create a cool digital background for your festivities. Or change the scenes — and the mood — to fit the different stages of your reception.

It’s a cool tech tool that can help take your party virtually anywhere you want to go.

Make the naked cake more modest.

The trend of unfrosted cakes is still strong, but more bakers are being asked to create a “translucent cake,” in which a thin layer of frosting is used. That gives the cake a bit more sophistication but leaves the cake layers visible — a look that’s down-to-earth yet chic.

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WEDDINGS |

trends

Giving back can be your wedding’s gift.

In lieu of favors, select a few charities close to your heart and make donations in the names of your guests. (Be sure to let them know using a place card at the table.) And after your reception, deliver the flowers or centerpieces to an assisted-living facility or hospital in town. Instead of a guest book, have your guests sign postcards from your hometown that you can send to troops overseas.

Get a little sentimental.

Honor the great loves of your families’ previous generations by reading something that was included in your parents’ nuptials, displaying your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding dresses, or surprising your parents by having the band play their wedding song at the reception.

Let them eat … again.

The late-night noshing trend is strong, with food trucks, ice cream bars and gourmet coffee stations becoming endof-the-night staples. Want an unconventional take? Offer a late-night cereal bar, with healthy and indulgent options as well as different types of milk. (Soy, regular, coconut, chocolate.) Who wouldn’t want a Cocoa Puffs-Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch combo at 11 p.m.?

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15

PERFECT FIRST DANCE

songs

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t’s your first dance as husband and wife, and you probably have considered dozens of songs to capture that special moment at the reception. Here are 15 popular songs in all different styles that would make a great first dance.

TIMELESS CLASSICS: “At Last” — Etta James (Or go for a modern spin with Beyoncé’s cover) “Unforgettable” — Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole “Can’t Help Falling In Love” — Elvis Presley THROWBACK TUNES: “True Companion” — Marc Cohn “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” — Van Morrison “Just The Way You Are” — Billy Joel COUNTRY CROONERS: “You’re Still The One” — Shania Twain “To Make You Feel My Love” — Garth Brooks “I Hope You Dance” — Lee Ann Womack CONTEMPORARY STANDARDS: “Marry Me” — Train “Thinking Out Loud” — Ed Sheeran “All of Me” — John Legend OFFBEAT CHOICES: “Anyone Else But You” — Moldy Peaches “Just Breathe” — Pearl Jam “1, 2, 3, 4” — Plain White T’s

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DON'T MISS THE LOWCOUNTRY'S ULTIMATE

Bridal Show 10th annual Hilton Head Bridal Show from 1-4 p.m. February 19 at The Westin

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ith more than 50 fantastic vendors under one roof, you can meet many bridal professionals, see their work and get an idea of who would be the best fit to help you bring your vision to life.

You can taste cakes, view wedding portraits, and see the latest in bridal fashions — including bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, tuxedos, and suits.

This show marks our 10th anniversary and promises to be our best yet. When we started the show in 2007, it was in response to brides looking to make it easier to plan their destination weddings in the Lowcountry. The show has outgrown venue after venue, and each year we attract a new crop of brides, grooms and excited family members looking to do their onestop wedding shopping.

The Hilton Head Bridal Show is not only a great opportunity for brides, grooms and families to find the perfect vendors, but it’s a great way for vendors to show off their products and services to many potential clients. Many of our vendors have participated in the show every year and have booked weddings consistently, which keeps them coming back.

The bridal show is a great excuse for a weekend trip to the Lowcountry to see it all for yourself. Make it a couple’s getaway, or a girls’ weekend with mom and the bridesmaids. Call The Westin and ask about specials for bridal show attendees.

In addition to being an amazing resource, the bridal show is affordable. Purchase discounted tickets online at hiltonheadmonthly.com. Tickets will be available at the door for $12.

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rom exchanging vows on the Oceanfront Deck in the light ocean breezes to celebrating above the dunes in the all-new Grand Ocean Terrace, The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is the perfect location for your wedding fantasies to flourish—no passport required!

WONDERFUL WESTIN WEDDING Fresh off a $30 million renovation, the iconic resort showcases a stylish coastal design throughout 416 guest rooms and suites. The expansive beachfront property encompasses three pools under the swaying palms - just steps away from Hilton Head Island’s pristine 12-mile beach.

The Grand Ocean Terrace, Mitchelville Gazebo Room, Oceanfront Deck, and Grand Ballroom are all beautifully suited to a décor scheme that’s as romantic as your love story.

The Heavenly Spa is on-site offering full-service salon and body treatments to relax and beautify. The flexible indoor and outdoor event space, plus six dining and bar venues, gives you the freedom to create the celebration of your dreams. Award-winning cuisine, inspired by local “farm & sea” partners, ensures cherished life-long memories for all.

Whether you live in the Lowcountry or have adopted a Lowcountry state of mind, there's a wonderful wedding waiting for you and your guests at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Let your destination dreams come to life against a backdrop of Spanish moss and sun-soaked palmettos at the oceanfront Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa!

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Love

Lowcountry date ideas

Climb the Harbour Town Lighthouse for a breathtaking view of Hilton Head Island and Calibogue Sound. It’s open every day from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Stroll the beach at sunrise — a piece of cake in the winter, when the sun rises after 7 a.m.

Kayak the lagoons that crisscross the island.

You’ll see all kinds of birds and plants, as well as some pretty awesome homes.

Stroll through the Audubon Newhall Preserve (when it reopens) and take in all of the vegetation that makes Hilton Head such a beautiful place. Likely, there is something in bloom.

Pack a picnic for the middle of your bike excursion along the 14 miles of trails through the 4,000-acre Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Get a peek at a beachside wedding — but only if it’s on public beach. And don’t forget to use a little common sense and be respectful.

Put yourself in the bride and groom’s shoes: Would you want strangers lingering and leering on your big day?

Take the ferry to Daufuskie Island and enjoy the blend of historic sites and quirky artists. The combination of the journey and the destination can’t be beat.

Enjoy a beverage at The Quarterdeck overlooking the Harbour Town Yacht Basin, which can accommodate yachts up to 100 feet.

Meander through Old Town Bluffton and chat with local artists-in-residence.

Or just lay out a few towels on the sand and soak up the sun while enjoying the sound of the waves crashing on the beach.

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Love

Lovecountry From beach strolls to exquisite meals, look no further for the perfect getaway

it's

BY LISA ALLEN | PHOTO BY ALEX KORAL

hard not to love everything — and everyone — when soaking up the best the Lowcountry has to offer, from the beauty of Hilton Head Island to the historic village of Bluffton. Add four-star restaurants, luxurious resorts and around-the-clock activities and entertainment, and our area is unequalled for romantic getaways.

Let’s talk about the surroundings. Hilton Head Island is one of the top 10 best islands in the United States, according to TripAdvisor, and that includes Hawaii. Yeah, it’s gorgeous here. It’s hard not to be all happy inside when you launch over the flyover and see Hilton Head’s water wonderland. It only gets better when you hear the birds, see the alligators and watch the dolphins.

Of course, those experiences mean so much more if you get to share them with someone you love.

Explore together with excursions from land to lagoon to ocean that have been created by people who love the area and love the visitors who love the area. Their passion comes shining through as they share their knowledge of the creatures and vegetation that are unique to the area. Create a memory you’ll both cherish by venturing forth on a kayak, a sailboat, or a fishing charter.

Striking out on your own is easy, too. Grab a couple of bikes and meander along the miles of trails covering the island, or pedal right onto the beach.

Or you can enjoy each other’s company while playing one of the dozens of golf courses in the area, each unique and each with stellar service and ideal conditions. Our courses are the best of the best, designed by renown architects and kept fresh with renovations and sometimes complete re-designs, like Sea Pines’ brandnew Atlantic Dunes, the recently redone Heron Point and

the iconic Harbour Town Golf Links. There are scores of other courses equally deserving of your attention.

Or the two of you can wander through local shops and galleries that showcase collections lovingly selected or created by the owners themselves. No massordered items here. We highly recommend checking out Old Town Bluffton for keepsakes and works of art that will remind you of your perfect getaway every time you look at it.

Then there is the food. Oh, the food! There is nothing better than a delicious meal paired with the perfect wine in a beautiful setting to inspire intimate conversations and warm memories. There is something special about the Lowcountry’s food scene. You can sense that the owners and chefs of these restaurants love what they do. It shines through as soon as you walk in. Each restaurant is unique both in ambiance and menus. No cookie-cutter chain restaurants here. Whether the fare is Lowcountry shrimp and grits or upscale Italian, you can tell these meals are inspired. Choosing is difficult, given the array of indescribable creations using only fresh, local ingredients from garden to sea, but whatever your choice, it’s going to be delicious.

You can choose a restaurant that caters to your mood, from laid-back outdoor dining to white tablecloths and candlelight. Or you can arrange the ideal tableside scenery, from yachts to rivers and creeks to oceans, golf courses or wilderness. Talk about the perfect date night.

Wrap up the day with moonlit beach strolls or a nightcap on an outdoor patio. You won’t be the first to realize you are living a Nicholas Sparks romance novel — complete with a happy ending you can write. M

February 2017 87

Love

Loveof Community

for the

BY AMY COYNE BREDESON

if

From top: Community Foundation of the Lowcountry president and CEO Denise Spencer with three members of the Boys & Girls Club.

Artist James Tyler installs a piece at the 2015 Public Art Exhibition.

Women in Philanthropy provided $50,000 for a Habitat for Humanity house on Hilton Head Island.

Joe South with The Deep Well Project.

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Area organizations offer aid to Lowcountry residents — and each other

it wasn’t already clear that the Lowcountry is filled with generous, caring individuals who are willing to give their money and time to help others, it became obvious after Hurricane Matthew battered the area in October.

Immediately after the hurricane hit, residents rushed to the aid of their neighbors and strangers. They cleared yard debris, helped clean out flooded homes, delivered food to those without electricity and raised money for disaster recovery efforts.

In addition to the area’s natural beauty and rich history, the kind of love seen in Beaufort County over the past few months is what makes the Lowcountry such a wonderful place to live.

“The community that we serve is an extremely generous community,” said Community Foundation of the Lowcountry president and CEO Denise Spencer.

“We’re blessed with both people who want to volunteer and people who want to contribute financially to the issues and needs of the area.”

The group is focused on improving the community, and it does that by providing grants to other local groups to help them fulfill their missions. The foundation’s Lowcountry Volunteer Connections program matches volunteers with opportunities to help their communities.

Thanks to grants from the Community Foundation’s Project Sewer Access for Everyone Fund, native islanders who struggled with the problems associated with septic systems are now connected to the public sewer system, according to the foundation’s website.

According to the Community Foundation’s 2016 annual report, the organization awarded $709,738 in grants between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016. During that same period, the foundation gave $660,703 to various nonprofit groups, including Programs for Exceptional People, the American Red Cross, Bluffton Self Help, Hope Haven of the Lowcountry, Volunteers in Medicine and The Deep Well Project. It also awarded almost $644,000 in scholarships to 145 students.

Spencer said the foundation received more than $4.4 million in contributions from almost 4,000 individual donors in the last fiscal year. Since the hurricane hit, the community has donated $124,000 to the organization’s Disaster Recovery and Rebuilding Fund.

It’s partly because of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry that organizations such as The Deep Well Project are able to do so much for the community.

But Deep Well, which has helped Hilton Head Island residents in emergency situ-

Love

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry awarded grant dollars to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Lowcountry to help fund the construction of a “Discovery Playground” for children.

ations since 1973, also receives a great deal of donations directly from local individuals, businesses and organizations.

Deep Well executive director Betsy Doughtie said local residents volunteered 11,775 hours with the organization in 2016.

“It’s just an incredibly giving community, and we could not exist without it,” Doughtie said.

After the hurricane hit, Hilton Head residents Byron Sewell and Salty Dog owner Bob Gossett raised almost $25,000 by selling “Welcome Home” T-shirts to benefit Deep Well, Doughtie said.

After their own home was badly damaged in the storm, Kyle and Victoria Luckenbill of Hilton Head made Christmas tree ornaments out of downed trees to raise money for Deep Well.

Doughtie said Buona Terra Woodworks owner Michelle Spadafora and her father made serving trays out of fallen trees and gave a portion of their profits to the organization.

Doughtie’s home was damaged in the hurricane as well, and she experienced firsthand the love of a total stranger.

“All of a sudden, this lady I had never met before came to my yard, and she started to pick up trash and bring it to the side of the road,” Doughtie said.

The Hilton Head Rotary Club, another longtime local charitable group, is no stranger to lending a helping hand. It has raised money to benefit organizations like the Island Recreation Association, Deep Well, Memory Matters and the Salvation Army, according to past president and current club historian Mike Jukofsky.

He said the club raised $250,000 to build the Island Recreation Center and $1 million to purchase a building for Deep Well.

Rotary members also raised money to build bus shelters around Hilton Head and to build the Crossings Park soccer field. They have spent hours upon hours ringing bells to collect money for the Salvation Army, have raised money for the community at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing golf tournament, and have provided $15,000 to $25,000 yearly in scholarships.

In addition to all of that, members participate every year in the Rotarians Offering Community Service program, in which each member does something to help the community. Jukofsky cleans up Hilton Head Island Town Hall.

“Pretty remarkable things have happened around the community because of people’s generosity,” Jukofsky said. M February 2017 89

Long A

and lasting

Love

Hilton Head couples share their secrets to a lifetime of happiness together

John and Diane Myers of TidePointe met at a Baltimore ski club event in 1955.

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A

BY EDWARD THOMAS | PHOTOS BY MIKE RITTERBECK

fter 60 years of “mostly” harmony, John and Diane Myers of TidePointe on Hilton Head Island know a few things about making marriage last.

The secret to their success? A mix of patience, communication, compromise and doing things together. Today the Myers, each 86, play golf as a twosome regularly, and enjoy it immensely. John recently had a good day on the fairways — shooting a 94 despite his two replacement knees.

Bill and Connie Rathman live at The Cypress on Hilton Head and agree that the Myers' prescription is on target — but they have one additional requirement: a sense of humor.

Connie, 83, had known Bill, 90, since she was a teenager in boarding school and he was a college upperclassman. Their parents were friends, but Connie thought Bill "was somewhat stuffy" — that is, until a New Year's Eve party in 1950 when she found herself inadvertently locked into an upstairs room of an old two-story house.

When friends couldn't break through the locked door, Bill suddenly appeared outside beneath the window and insisted he could

catch her if she jumped. "I knew then Bill had a real sense of humor, and it attracted me," she says. "We started going out together shortly thereafter."

The Rathmans have lived on Hilton Head since 1989, but first visited 21 years earlier on April 4, 1968. They remember the date only too well. After the long drive on two-lane country roads from Interstate 95, they arrived at the oceanfront Hilton Head Inn totally worn out. Entering the small lobby, they were stunned to see most of the staff weeping.

"We were shocked," Connie says. "We hadn't listened to the radio all day, so we had no idea what had happened. They told us Martin Luther King had just been assassinated."

Children of the Great Depresion, the Rathmans have seen several assassinations, five wars, the birth of television, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the birth of the internet, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the rise of social media, and now 15 different presidents in a span of what has been the greatest preponderance of changes in world history.

"My advice to couples today," says Connie,

Love

Bill and Connie Rathman of The Cypress trace their relationship back to a New Year's Eve party in 1950.

"is stay the course. Life won't always be easy, but love grows if you are committed and take each days as it comes with a smile and good sense of humor."

John and Diane Myers met because of their mutual love of skiing: they were both members of a Baltimore social club that attracted young professionals who enjoyed taking ski trips. "It was a fun time," John says. "We were all friends, but I spotted Diane immediately and yes, it was love at first sight for me."

The problem was Diane had several other fellas pursuing her.

“John became my very best friend,” she says, “and things moved on from there. The year was 1955, and we got pinned, engaged and married. Life was good. We moved to Westport, Connecticut, and in short order (5 1/2 years) we had three strapping sons.”

But it wasn’t always easy.

"John’s business had a lot of travel involved — often overseas and for a week at a time," she says. "Those weren't the easiest years. I was home chasing after the boys between weekends and he was on the road. If we hadn't been such good friends, it would have been more difficult. Fortunately, we always had the ability to talk things through with each other."

“My philosophy is that marriage is a partnership,” John says. “I deeply love Diane and our boys. My own mom was a single parent, and making our marriage work was crucial to me.”

However, after 11 years of John’s constant traveling, Diane finally put her foot down and he agreed it was best to change jobs.

“I realized the importance of the life we had built together,” he said.

The couple moved to Houston, and for the next 21 years travel was kept to a minimum — except when they did it together. “You realize what is truly valuable in life,” John says, “and it was our marriage.”

Golf was also special outlet for both John and Diane. It was the key enticement that Hilton Head Island offered when they started looking for their final home eight years ago. “We had bought a villa in Sea Pines back in 1979, and we loved the island,” Diane says.

Today, the Myers are closer than ever. "We feel extremely blessed to be able to enjoy each other's company so much," Diane said.

“We play together, we golf together, we do yoga together, and we go to the symphony. We also go to New Jersey every summer to see our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.” M February 2017 91

and marriage, again

Hilton Head Island couples prove there is no expiration date on romance

W

here there’s love, there’s a love story.

In the case of two Hilton Head Island couples in their 70s and 80s, they have two love stories to tell after meeting or re-meeting their new spouses later in life. Each of the four was a widow or widower when love struck their hearts again and changed their lives.

THE WHEATLYS

PHOTO BY MIKE RITTERBECK

Dr. Gary and Jean Wheatly, both 73, have known each other since the ninth grade in high school in Lawton, Oklahoma, but it wasn’t until they were seniors that they had their first date — a

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BY DEAN ROWLAND Valentine’s Day banquet at their church.

“He was too bashful to ask me out, so I asked him out,” she said.

“She couldn’t get a date with anybody else,” Gary chided, both of them laughing. “I was pretty excited about it, actually.”

Every so often after that, he would ask her to meet him at a movie theater where he worked.

“He would start the film and then come sit by me,” Jean recalled. “I remember the very first time he held my hand. It took him forever to do that. I even remember which side of me he was sitting on when he held my hand.”

Fifty years later — and nearly a lifetime apart — they got married.

After a handful of dates, graduating from high school and heading off to college, Gary and Jean, both Army brats, basically moved on with their lives.

She got married after graduating from Rice University, and he attended dental school at the University of Tennessee. It was there that they randomly met in the hallway at the medical school, where she worked.

Gary ended up getting married at 27, then moved back to Lawton and opened his dental practice. Jean’s first marriage lasted 13 years, and she spent a few years being a single mom before remarrying. During that time, she moved to Philadelphia, where she worked as a sales training manager at a pharmaceutical company.

Oklahoma was long gone in the rearview mirror of her life until her 50th high school reunion.

She couldn’t attend, but wrote a note to her classmates about what had happened in her life since high school, and mentioned that she had been a widow for a year after 23 years of marriage. Meanwhile, Gary, who had been a widower for 15 years after 27 years of marriage, saw Jean’s reunion note and decided to reach out to her.

“I did not have a date for 15 years,” Gary said. “I told friends of mine who tried to set me up with different people, ‘You know, there’s only one person in the world that I’d like to know where she is … and that was Jean.’ I just

kind of wondered what had happened to her.”

He wrote her, she replied and a flurry of letters and “long, long talks” on the phone ensued.

“We started talking right before Thanksgiving, and right after Christmas, I said to him, ‘I love you very much’ on the phone, without seeing him. I just knew it,” she said.

They met in January for the first time in decades, and “I think we both knew we would get married,” Gary said.

They married on Hilton Head nearly five years ago and split their time between their homes in Sea Pines and Oklahoma.

They also spend time, whenever possible, with their blended family of three children and 13 grandchildren.

“I think from the very beginning, God planned for us to be together,” Jean said. “We just didn’t know when.”

THE BENNETTS When John and Suzie Bennett first met, “I didn’t think I would get married again,” she said. “I was doing very well as a widow,

Love and then John came along and sort of took care of all that.”

Mutual friends on Hilton Head played matchmakers and thought the two would complement each other.

“They told John not to be too serious about anybody until he met me,” Suzie said.

When he proposed to her after about nine months of courtship, “she turned me down, saying ‘I think I might get a better offer,’” he said.

“I did not,” she replied, both of them chuckling.

In May, they will have been married for four years. She’s 77 and he’s 88.

John, a Navy brat and former investment manager, was married for nearly 60 years before his wife died about six years ago. After her death, he spent the majority of his time living on Hilton Head, with long stretches in New Hampshire, and began dating again — and wasn’t opposed to getting married a second time.

Suzie, an artist and picture framer, was living in Ohio when her spouse of 46 years died about nine years ago. She would go out to dinner occasionally with friends, but had no interest in dating. She was content as a widow, and remarrying never entered her mind.

As it turned out, they each had friends on the island who knew one another, and they all agreed that John and Suzie would hit it off.

“Friends put us together,” she said. “They knew him and they knew me, and they decided we should meet each other.”

That prompted John to reach out to Suzie, and for three months they emailed and spoke on the phone. They quickly formed a long-distance connection.

“We grew very fond of each

other through the emails,” he said. “We had similar likes and dislikes, similar senses of humor … so through the emails, we became good friends before we ever met.”

The first meeting happened when Suzie and a girlfriend were driving to Florida and arranged a quick stop at John’s house at The Cypress community.

“The first time we met each other, we hit it off,” he said.

Over the next several months, they saw each other several times and continued corresponding regularly. Both of them knew their hearts were stirring.

“I thought we should be together, and I think Suzie thought pretty much the same thing,” John said.

Suzie agreed — for the most part. “I thought we should be together, but I didn’t think we should get married … but we went ahead and decided to tie the knot,” she said.

“I think I pushed pretty hard for marriage,” John said. “First of all, I’m a fairly conservative standard person, and just shacking up wouldn’t have appealed to me for the longer term. … We’re having a lot of fun together,” he said.

Both of them feel blessed to have the other in their lives, and enjoy spending time with their combined six children and nine grandchildren. M February 2017 93

Loveof trees

for the

Was our love of trees our downfall in Hurricane Matthew?

W

BY LISA ALLEN

ithout a doubt, Hilton Head Island was dealt a wallop by Hurricane Mathew. Tree companies estimate that more than 100,000 trees fell on Hilton Head Island alone.

The question is, did the large number of trees in our area create more damage? Did we pay dearly for our love of trees?

Rocky Browder, an environmental planner with the Town of Hilton Head Island, and Peter Kristian, general manager of Hilton Head Plantation’s property owners association, argue that the density of trees prevented damage.

“Where you saw the most trees down was where there weren’t as many, areas where the wind could funnel, like golf courses and along waterways. In other areas, the trees actually lessened damage from the wind,” Browder said.

Kristian said the thick canopy seems to have thwarted microbursts from harming homes.

“You see trees twisted off at the top,” Kristian said. “As far as I know, we didn’t have any damage to homes or buildings from what could have been small tornadoes. I talked to people from CrowderGulf and they saw a lot of wind damage in Texas and Oklahoma, but none here. It might have been the trees.”

CrowderGulf is the company contracted by the town to oversee storm cleanup.

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Both Browder and Teri Lewis, who is in charge of enforcing compliance with the town’s Land Management Ordinance, said the town’s oversight of trees worked as it should have, but noted that the town doesn’t have as much jurisdiction over trees as people think.

“Single-family lots are exempt from having to seek approval from the town for removing trees,” Lewis said. However, most homes on the island are in gated communities, which do require homeowners to get approval before removing trees.

What might surprise some people, however, is that both gated communities and the town most often will grant permission for tree removal. Property owners might have to plant replacement trees in the same spot or contribute to a tree fund, but they will likely be able to remove trees that pose a risk to their homes.

In areas the town oversees, such as public areas, commercial properties and multi-residential properties, the town will recommend replacement trees if thinning the canopy would adversely affect animal habitats. In other cases, town officials welcome a break in the canopy. It’s all determined case by case, tree by tree, Browder said.

“The gated communities have the same vision that we do,” Browder said. “We’re worked hard to preserve our natural

Love atmosphere. Plus, trees provide flood control, biodiversity, temperature abatement and habitat.”

Just to be sure the town is on the right track, the town’s Planning Commission asked staff members to review the Land Management Ordinance to see if there are any areas that need to be tweaked in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

Lewis doesn’t expect significant changes.

SMARTY PANTS PHOTOGRAPHY Hilton Head Plantation had just revised its tree removal rules in July to allow more latitude in removing trees, Kristian said.

“But we’re not going to allow everyone to take down every tree in their property,” he said. “We don’t want to look like Texas or Oklahoma.”

He urges restraint in deciding which trees to remove. “There is no such thing as a perfect tree. An arborist can tell you whatever you want to hear.”

Not surprisingly most area residents ferociously protect the area’s trees.

“I get more calls complaining about a neighbor taking down than a tree than a resident asking to take down a tree, too,” Kristian said.

Unfortunately, a few businesses on the island took advantage of the storm and cut down specimen trees that the town barred from being cut.

“Some removed signature trees in front of hotels that we hadn’t let them take,” Browder said. “We are investigating five large violations.”

Those cases will wind their way through municipal court.

Looking ahead, Browder recommends that property owners arrange for an annual tree survey by a certified tree service to make sure any future storms cause the least amount of damage. But there is a cost involved, both for the inspection and if any trees need to be removed.

On the bright side, Mother Nature did a very thorough job thinning out trees that posed risk.

“The island was planted for timber, mostly pines for paper production,” Kristian said. “Those trees would have been harvested years ago. That was the species most vulnerable because of their size and their age.”

With those trees cleared away, Kristian and Browder said area officials will replant using trees with stronger root structures and that add diversity.

Mother Nature, we’ll be ready for you. M February 2017 95

children the hardest lost love of all:

For more information about local groups, contact Tears Foundation.

A pregnancy and infant loss support group meets from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, 7 Plantation Park Drive, Bluffton

Left: Hilton Head Children's Memorial Garden co-founders Julie Feldman and Amy Metzger. Right: Tina Szady places flowers on a brick at the garden, located at Hilton Head Hospital.

Garden at Hilton Head Hospital gives parents a place to heal

It

BY LISA ALLEN | PHOTOS BY MIKE RITTERBECK

was only by chance that two women struck up a conversation 16 years ago at a Hilton Head Island park.

Julie Feldman has just moved to Hilton Head when she chatted with Amy Metzger.

They talked about children and Feldman mentioned her daughter Sara was stillborn just six weeks before. Amy said her son Jacob was stillborn years earlier.

They agreed that up until then, they had felt pretty alone in their grief.

“There wasn’t anything on the island (for people who had lost babies). We talked about the national vigil in October and talked about doing something at the hospital,” Feldman said.

They thought about maybe installing a plaque or planting a tree.

96 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Instead, the hospital offered an acre of land for a garden.

“We had a lot of fundraisers and completed it in a year,” Feldman said.

Today, the garden is a peaceful place where people can catch their breath and remember their lost child. More than 400 bricks are adorned with the names of children who died far too young.

Both Metzger and Feldman said the benefit of the garden is it shows parents they aren’t alone. Others have suffered the same devastating loss and understand their pain.

Kelly DeVincentis lost her son Mike in a car accident 10 years ago when he was 18.

“The garden is a special place where you can go and reconnect with the person you’ve lost, “ she said. “It gives you a place

to sit and think about them and honor them. It gives you peace. Seeing all those bricks, it makes me realize I’m not alone.”

DeVincentis pedals her bike to the garden each season to sit and think about Mike.

“The garden provides just what a parent needs. It’s a physical location, it’s beautifully done, it’s outside, it’s personal and private. People are respectful when they see you there. I feel very lucky that it’s there.”

Metzger said the garden helps each person differently.

“Kelly’s son Mike was 18 years and was heading off to college,” Metzger said. “I don’t align my grief with hers, but we are in that same club. Everyone’s loss is different.”

But what is the same is that the loss of a child irreversibly changes every parent.

Love “You become a different person,” Metzger said. “I didn’t want to be different, but I knew I was. You come to peace with it and realize it is OK and you help others. The garden is a sanctuary of healing. “ Each May, a memorial ceremony is held.

The name of each child who died that year is read aloud.

“My child was stillborn,” Metzger said. “No one ever got a chance to meet him. At the ceremony, parents get to tell their child’s story. My fear is that no one will say his name out loud again. It is only an hour, but you breathe a sigh of therapeutic release.”

Metzger said her friends have been very supportive, but said some people make the mistake of thinking the parents don’t want to talk about their loss.

“What I tell people is the worst thing is not to say anything for fear of saying the wrong thing,” she said. “They are afraid they will make that person cry or feel uncomfortable.

Parents want people to say their child’s name out loud.”

Feldman said the garden bring her peace.

“It makes me happy,” she said. “It makes me proud of what we accomplished. Going through something so huge and so heartbreaking, it’s good to know that you’re not alone in your loss. So many people come up to us and are so thankful and kind. Together, we can help each other get through it and live with it.”

And like their grief, the garden is an ongoing effort.

“It takes a monetary and mental effort. I like that it’s never-ending. The memories of our children live forever. It’s nice that the garden is ongoing, too,” Feldman said.

Volunteers recently completely overhauled the garden. Names on the original bricks had faded, so all of the bricks were replaced and now are the same color as the fountain.

The group was very proud that the newly restored garden was chosen to be a part of the annual All Saints Garden Tour. “Nearly 500 people came through the garden and most of them didn’t even know it was there,” Metzger said. “The misconception is that it’s a baby garden. It’s a special place to go to remember children from infants to young adults.”

The garden’s volunteers hope the peaceful place gives parents some solace.

“Time doesn’t heal, but time helps,” Metzger said. M February 2017 97

BLACKHISTORY

Religion is a topic that can create stress and debate in any social circle, often because it is so intensely personal to many people.

THE IMPACT AND IMPORTANCE OF

GULLAH TRADITIONS IN THE BLACK CHURCH

BY LUANA M. GRAVES SELLARS ARTWORK BY SONJA GRIFFIN EVANS

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T

his is especially true for African-Americans because of the role that religion and the black church played during the period of American slavery — and continue to play today. Religion and the church are at the core of African-American life and culture. In fact, in the typical black family, a strong connection to a church, regardless of the denomination, is a vitally important part of the family structure.

Since times of slavery, the black church has provided spiritual and religious sustenance to the black community in so many ways and on so many levels.

It has been the source of life-sustaining information, education and grass-roots political activism. And community outreach is — and always has been — one of the defining elements of the black church. For example, during slavery, in addition to being a praise house for religious worship, the church also was a place of safety and the primary place to give and receive information of vital importance to the slave community.

The importance of the church to the black community has been so significant throughout the years that one hate group used cross-burning as a way to instill fear and terror in the minds of black parishioners, and weaken the influence of the church in the community. However, rather than diminish the power of the church in the black community, these terror tactics had the reverse affect, and over the years, the black church has grown in membership and influence.

One of the most important roles that the black church has played has been as a catalyst for social change. Advocating for civil rights, and taking a stand against inequality often made black churches the targets of racial violence throughout the South. The 1963 church bombings in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four small girls on a Sunday morning is perhaps the most tragic example of this.

Today, as in the past, black churches in America are often recognized as the most independent, stable and dominant institutions in black communities. More than religious centers, they bring the community together to address a variety of issues for the common good and, because of their influence, pastors have traditionally been among the most revered and powerful members of the black community. Politicians have always understood the importance of the “power of the pulpit,” and visiting black churches is a usual campaign stop during election season.

BLACKHISTORY

HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S DEEP RELIGIOUS ROOTS The historic black churches of Hilton Head Island date back more than 150 years. One of the first black churches was First African Baptist Church, founded in 1863 on what is now Beach City Road in Mitchelville. Led by the Rev. Abraham Murchison, an escaped slave preacher, the church helped baptize thousands of newly freed slaves and helped recruit Union soldiers. First African Baptist Church eventually split into several other churches to better serve Hilton Head’s native islanders. From First African Baptist were born St. James Baptist Church, founded in 1886; Central Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1887; Queen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which opened its doors in 1892; and Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1914. To honor this religious history, the state of South Carolina has erected historic markers recognizing First African, St. James and Queen Chapel.

Collectively, these churches continue to stand as the spiritual core of Hilton Head Island’s religious community. As the population on the island grew, so did each of the churches. However, their different denominations and worship traditions did not change their interconnectivity or the way they relate to each other. In the beginning, the congregations rotated services between each of the locations every three months.

The practice of the congregations coming together to share services, celebrations and church anniversaries still continues today.

EARLY AFRICAN INFLUENCES When slaves were brought to America, one of the first things they lost were drums.

This loss was devastating because drums were central to all forms of African cultural expression, especially religious expression. Drums were part of the language of religion, and without drums, Africans were disconnected from their spiritual center.

Drums were also a form of communication, and could be used for coded messaging, not unlike Morse code. The drums were a way to spread information over long distances, as well as amongst the community, without sharing the message with outsiders. Eventually, when slave owners became aware of the practice, they banned slaves from using drums, as demonstrated in Article

36 of the Slave Code of South Carolina, which was passed in 1740 and was widely adopted by other slave states: “It is absolutely necessary to the safety of this Province, that all due care be taken to restrain Negroes from using or keeping of drums, which may call together or give sign or notice to one another of their wicked designs and purposes.”

And although, as novelist Zora Neale Hurston noted, Africans were stripped of everything and left “naked and thingless,” Africans found ways to continue playing.

Without access to traditional drums, slaves began to use whatever was handy: sticks, logs, spoons and even their own bodies to make a beat. Whenever possible, crude drums were made from whatever raw materials that were available. Through creative adaptation, over time, this traditional form of communication has played an important part in the evolution of music from rap to hiphop, jazz, blues and pop.

beat. There are different versions of the ring shout, and they have different meanings. In some cases, the shout is indicative of a particular family or area.

On Hilton Head, there are popular versions called the “knee bone” and the “buzzard loop.” The knee bone is one of the oldest ring shouts that is still practiced today.

Some say it got its name from knees bent in prayer; others associate it with the way people had to bend their knees when travelling by boat.

The buzzard loop was used more for entertainment, but sometimes this shout contained coded messages. If a slave was preparing to run away, the words “move Daniel move eagle fly” were a signal that it was safe to go.

RING SHOUT Although it is no longer widely practiced, one important African tradition is the ring shout. This practice began as a form of resistance to attempts by slave owners to destroy traditional worship patterns, especially the use of body movements and dance as a part of worship. Since they were not permitted to dance, Africans formed a circle while shuffling and stomping their feet and clapping their hands. This was a way to replicate drumming without actual drums. The practice was permitted, and not considered “dancing,” as long as the slaves did not cross their feet. Having been denied access to musical instruments, they used objects found close by or, in most cases, their own bodies rhythmically as a form of worship.

Over time, the practice evolved, and the ring shout was used in different ways. It was sometimes used as a discreet form of communicating messages to one another, and eventually was used as a “grown folks only” form of entertainment.

During the shout, an individual pounds a large tree branch on a hard wood floor to enthusiastically develop a rhythmic beat, accompanied by a chant that involves and motivates the entire group to participate, usually in a call-and-response format. The chant, prayer or song is not dissimilar in style to a modern-day rap that is accompanied by dancing, clapping and shuffling of feet to the

JUMPING THE BROOM Jumping the broom, one of the earliest African wedding ceremonies, comes from Ghana in West Africa. In Ghana, a broom symbolized the ability to sweep away wrongs from the past and “cleaning” the person’s future. When a bride jumped over the broom, it was symbolic confirmation that she accepted domestication and was willing to keep her future home clean. During the ceremony, waving brooms over the couple’s heads was believed to ward off evil spirits.

Over time, the inclusion of a broom became a common wedding ritual. The physical act February 2017 99

BLACKHISTORY of jumping the broom evolved from the Ghanaian marriage ritual of placing two large sticks on the ground to represent the structure of the new couple’s home together. The broom’s interwoven fibers represent unity and strength for the new couple, as well as God’s hand in bringing them together.

At a time when slaves were considered property and not worthy of the legalities of marriage or the traditional exchange of rings, the act of jumping the broom was a visual confirmation of the couple’s commitment in marriage. Jumping the broom conferred dignity and legitimacy on slave relationships at a time when slaves struggled daily to assert their humanity. Today, this ritual pays homage to African heritage and establishes a connection to the black community’s African roots.

SEEKING Another African tradition that was common in Gullah religion is called seeking. Considered a rite of passage both spiritually and socially, seeking was evidence of the transition from childhood into adulthood and offered eligibility for membership in the church.

Seeking continued to be practiced well into the 21st century.

The ritual of seeking required an adolescent or young adult to prove spiritual maturity through a period of self-reflection and discovery. A seeker could be identified by a string with knots around it that was worn on the forehead. Seeking was often done outside alone, with the seeker spending time praying and sometimes sleeping in the woods. The process could last from a few days up to a month, “till you got through” the rite of passage. Dreams are an important part of this process. It was believed that eventually, the individual, motivated by thoughts or dreams, will identify a spiritual mother, father or guide who could interpret their dream. This dream was never to be shared with anyone except the spiritual guide. In the end, the guide would determine when spiritual maturity had been achieved. The seeker is then allowed to be baptized and is only then made a member of the church.

FREEDOM’S EVE: THE BIRTH OF RECONSTRUCTION During slavery, the anticipation of the end of slavery and oppression generated a great deal of excitement and expectation. When the rumor of impending emancipation was circulating, Freedom’s Eve was created as a symbolic way to celebrate the end of slavery. In most black churches, Freedom’s Eve became a tradition that still brings congregations together on Jan. 1 to celebrate “how we got over,” beginning each new year on their knees in praise and worship.

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Jan. 1, 2017, marked the 154th anniversary of Freedom’s Eve celebrations. The term Freedom’s Eve is not widely used anymore; however, the concept was inspired by celebration services held by the Christian Moravian church in the Czech Republic in the 1700s, the Watch Night Service. The practice of the New Year’s Eve Watch Night celebration was eventually adopted by the founder of the Methodist Church, John Wesley. The adoption of the practice into the black church is credited to two slaves, Richard Allen and Absalom Jones, who attended the first American Watch Night Service. The slaves eventually became the founders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.).

The Watch Night tradition became the inspiration for not only the celebration of Freedom’s Eve for African-Americans, but also a remembrance of slaves’ journey toward freedom. These two traditions merged and became a symbolic historical marker on Dec. 31, 1862, when, at the height of the Civil War, freed and enslaved blacks gathered in churches in prayer and worship to wait for news that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, granting them their freedom. Today, the Watch Night Service continues in churches nationwide.

THE CULTURAL IMPORTANCE OF THE BLACK CHURCH C. Eric Lincoln sums up the multi-dimensional role of religion, and the black Church in the African-American community, when he says religion made “the black man’s pilgrimage in America less onerous. [It was] the organizing principle around which his life was structured. His church was his school, his forum, his political arena, his social club, his art gallery, his conservatory of music. … His religion was his fellowship with man, his audience with God. … It was the particular sustaining force which gave him the strength to endure when endurance gave no promise, and the courage to be creative in the face of his own dehumanization.”

In most black communities in America, on corner after corner, churches are visible and accessible to the masses, continuing to act as the spiritual backbone of the community. The black church’s growth and vibrancy is related to its ability to be engaged in the relevant day-to-day issues that affect the lives of the congregation.

Society continues to change, and most churches have evolved in order to remain the vital part of the community that they have always been. The multi-dimensional role that the church played in the past continues today, so in addition to its traditional religious role, it continues to be a social and cultural anchor, and many churches include other quality of life, and life style elements like self-improvement classes, adult education, child care, and in some cases financial support for indigent members.

Black survival looked different 150 years ago, but there is still great urgency and need for the church to provide support for the black community beyond spiritual guidance. The black church has the important responsibility of continuously maintaining an evolutionary role in today’s society as the vehicle for delivering spirituality, culture and empowerment in every aspect of the black experience. If it is to remain relevant and influential, both the church leadership and congregation need to stay connected to the pulse of the community. To some extent, the church has to change as times change to address the spiritual, social, and cultural needs of the black community. M February 2017 101

BLACKHISTORY

PENN CENTER & THE PORT ROYAL EXPERIMENT In 1861, in the early days of the Civil War, the Union Army liberated the Sea Islands off the coast of South Carolina as well as the main harbor, Port Royal.

Ormsby M. Mitchel

Thomas W. Sherman

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At

BY LUANA M. GRAVES SELLARS

the sound of the gunboats, white Confederate soldiers, plantation owners and residents fled Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry, leaving behind everything — including 10,000 black slaves.

THE EXPERIMENT In the midst of this major military triumph, the Union was suddenly faced with a major challenge: it did not just liberate the land; it liberated 10,000 humans. Decisions had to be made to address the needs of these newly freed slaves.

Groups and individuals from the North were anxious to come to South Carolina to help avert a humanitarian crisis. In general, the idea was to develop a comprehensive program to help former slaves work the land that had been abandoned by white plantation owners while providing them with an education to prepare them for their new status as freed men and women.

The report submitted to Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase showed that 200 plantations on the Sea Islands had been abandoned. This included 65 on the island of Port Royal, 50 on St. Helena, 16 on Hilton Head, and five on Daufuskie Island. 10,000 slaves had been left behind with no resources and no direction.

Frederick Law Olmsted, the executive secretary of the U.S. Sanitary Commission, said it was necessary for the U.S. to “train or educate them in a few simple, essential and fundament social duties of free men in civilized life.” His proposal became the federal Port Royal Experiment: a plan to offer the newly freed slaves an education and the chance to work the land and live independently of white control.

Union Gen. Thomas Sherman sought out teachers from the New England Freedmen's Aid Society who were willing to journey south and help to provide life skills and religious studies for the newly freed slaves.

For Northern religious groups, the South became a ripe field for field for mission-

ary work. At first, the group was able to raise enough money to hire 38 teachers.

Eventually, the Freedman’s Aid Society sent 54 teachers to the South: nine men and 45 women who earned $20 to $30 a month teaching the freedmen and women as well as the Colored Troops.

On Feb. 6, 1862, Sherman initiated General Order No. 9, which outlined a plan for the abandoned plantations and opened the door for Northern societies to send volunteers and workers south to aid the freedmen. Although the military was in charge, with help from the charity organizations, skilled workers came to the South to help the former slaves — who represented a fusion of various African languages and cultures that were collectively known as Gullah or Geechee — become self-sufficient.

THE PENN CENTER The Port Royal Experiment was the catalyst for what eventually became two pivotal initiatives that paved the way for Reconstruction. The Towne first initiative, under the direction of Gen. Ormbsy Mitchel, led to the creation of Hilton Head’s Mitchelville, the first self-governed town for freedmen in America.

The second was the formation by Bostonians Ellen Murray and Laura Towne of an educational mission on St. Helena Island named The Penn School. Understanding the importance of education as a major component to becoming self-sufficient, The Penn School, which was named after William Penn, was the first school for the former slaves of the Sea

The Penn School was one of the first schools for blacks in the South.

BLACKHISTORY

Islands. The first class began with only nine students in the Oaks Plantation House, but eventually, growing enrollment forced the school to move to the Brick Church.

Though what is now known as Penn Center began as a school, through the years it also became a community center, continuing its role as an important resource for the Gullah community by providing training for midwives, a health care clinic, and the state’s first daycare center for black children.

Later, Penn Center became one of America’s most influential places in the fight for civil rights. In the 1960s, when there were only a few safe havens for black leaders to gather, Penn Center was frequently visited by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other influential civil rights activists. King spent a significant amount of time at Penn Center, relaxing on the peaceful campus grounds as well as meeting and strategizing with other leaders in the civil rights movement. Penn Center also served as a retreat for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and other organizations. Designated a National Historic Monument in 1974, Penn Center was signifi-

cant in developing black American culture.

Today it continues to play an important role in promoting and preserving black history and culture through education and community outreach.

SHAPING THE FUTURE The Port Royal Experiment — under the direction of the government-sponsored Freedman’s Bureau and also known as the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands — wasn’t the only initiative meant to assist the newly freed slaves. But it was one of the biggest and most influential.

However, after 1868, the Freedmen's Bureau was completely dismantled. History shows that most of the programs that that had been created to benefit the former slaves died along with President Abraham Lincoln in April 1865. A great number of freedmen who invested their hard-earned money in the Freedman’s Bank lost everything they had upon its collapse.

As the Civil War came to a close, support for the Port Royal Experiment began to diminish. Changing politics regarding race,

Most Mitchelville homes had cast iron stoves.

the difficulty of raising money, and growing concerns over land distribution to the freedmen at the expense of former plantation owners led President Andrew Johnson to end the program. He also ordered that the lands previously owned by white plantation owners be returned to them. This closed many opportunities for freed slaves to become independent and self-sufficient.

The Port Royal Experiment was successful but short-lived. We can only speculate on how its continuance could have impacted Reconstruction and shaped the future direction of the South and the U.S. M

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BLACKHISTORY

SAILING FROM SLAVERY

INTO HISTORY

The story of Robert Small’s daring escape to freedom during the Civil War is woven into the fabric of the Lowcountry.

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BY LUANA M. GRAVES SELLARS

he former slave went on to serve in the South Carolina state assembly and five nonconsecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, making him one of the area’s most well-known heroes.

But there is another lesserknown story about Small and his role in the post-Civil War Reconstruction period and in the very foundation of Beaufort County and Hilton Head.

“Robert Smalls was the most consequential South Carolinian to ever live,” said U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, who represents South Carolina’s 6th Congressional district, which includes part of Beaufort County.

“His participation and contributions to our state make him the most consequential person to come from South Carolina.”

Born in 1839 to a house slave in Beaufort, Smalls’ determination, character and strength were evident even when he was a small child.

Trusted by his master, John McKee, Smalls was sent to “hire himself out for work” as a day laborer on the docks in Charleston at the age of 12. By the time he was 17, Smalls had married Hannah Jones, an enslaved hotel maid. Freedom was always his goal, and he tried unsuccessfully several times to buy freedom for his wife and their three children.

SAILING INTO HISTORY When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Smalls had gained considerable experience on and around the water, enabling him to work his way up to being a sailor on the CSS Planter, a Confederate supply ship that delivered supplies to forts as far away as Florida. Not only was he a competent, seasoned sailor, Smalls was smart and observant. He was also trustworthy, which earned him the respect of the ship’s officers. What they didn’t know was that Smalls had devised a risky plan to gain freedom for himself and his family — and that his plan required a detailed understanding of the workings of the ship and the mannerisms of the captain.

Early on the morning of May 13, 1862, while the captain and crew of the Planter were asleep onshore, Smalls and eight other slaves and their families piloted the ship through the Charleston Harbor.

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Robert Smalls

ior of the captain and give the right signals at military checkpoints for the escaping slaves to sail seven miles out of the harbor undetected.

Once away from the Confederacy, however, the group faced a new challenge: They needed to enter waters controlled by Union forces without being fired upon and sunk.

As they sailed towards the Union ship the USS Onward, Smalls and his group quickly removed their ship’s Confederate flag and replaced it with a white bed sheet, which was the universal sign of surrender. When they delivered the Planter to the Union Army, Smalls reportedly told the astonished Union officers: “I am delivering this war material including these cannons, and I think Uncle Abraham Lincoln can put them to good use.”

Smalls’ daring escape was even more significant because the Planter was loaded with ammunition and supplies, important military documents, and a captain’s code book that described shipping routes, mine locations and Confederate ship movements. This acquisition of a Confederate ship was a major boost for the Union, and Smalls was given $1,500 in compensation.

The Union Army recognized Smalls as a Navy captain and war hero. He became one of the Union Army’s first black Naval pilots, and he continued to pilot the Planter in 17 military operations — including several launched from Hilton Head Island.

Smalls’ daring escape was motivated by his burning desire for freedom for himself and his family, as well as his determination to join the Union Army. This was one of the key factors that influenced President Abraham Lincoln to write the order that allowed blacks to join the military campaign against the South, and the 5,000 blacks officially joined the Union Army. They became the 1st and 2nd South Carolina Colored Regiment.

In May 1864, Smalls was named an unofficial delegate to the Republican Convention in Baltimore, where he argued on behalf of the Port Royal Experiment, a U.S. government program meant to help newly freed slaves transition from slavery to freedom. Smalls extolled the benefits of this experiment and argued that it could become a significant portion of the model for post-war reconstruction.

Due in part to the combined support and influence of Smalls and Harriet Tubman, the Port Royal Experiment was approved. The program eventually became the catalyst for the development of two historically important areas in Beaufort County: Mitchelville, notable as the first self-governed town run by former slaves and located on Hilton Head Island; and the Penn School, one of the first schools for newly freed slaves known for its support for education and civil rights for African-Americans since the Civil War. Smalls’ story doesn’t end with his war exploits. After the war and his distinguished service in both the U. S. Army and the U. S. Navy, Smalls returned to Beaufort, where at a tax sale, he bought the home that had been owned by of the McKee family, his former owners. Smalls discovered that the war had left the McKee fam-

BLACKHISTORY ily destitute, and in an extraordinary demonstration of a kind and forgiving heart, he allowed members of the family to continue living in the house. Remarkably, he even allowed the matriarch, who had become senile, to continue to believe that she was still the lady of the house until her death.

FROM SLAVE TO SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR During his time in Beaufort, Smalls became a prosperous businessman. With the help of four other black businessmen, he formed the Enterprise Railroad Company, the only black-owned railroad company in the history of the U.S. The company was organized in 1870 to transport freight by horse-drawn street railway between the Charleston wharves and the surrounding railroad depots creating connections to other cities. Smalls’ business involvements also included publishing the newspaper Southern Standard, running a store to serve freedmen, and opening a school for black children.

Smalls also evolved into a public speaker, frequently retelling his exploits on the Planter. Both his celebrity status and passion for improving the lives of his Robert Smalls freed himself, his crew and their families from slavery on May 13, 1862 people led him toward politics. A founder of South Carolina’s Republican Party, Smalls said that his allegiance to the Republican Party was because it was "the party of Lincoln, which unshackled the necks of 4 million human beings."

Throughout his life, Smalls was a proponent of equality and justice for blacks. “My race needs no special defense, for the past history of them in this country proves them to be equal of any people anywhere,” Smalls said. “All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.”

Despite fierce opposition from the Democratic Party, threats of violence and incarceration, he was not deterred from running for office.

Regardless of the threats to his safety, Smalls believed that as a politician, he could affect positive change for his constituents, and for his party. "Every colored man who has a vote to cast, would cast that vote for the regular Republican Party and thus bury the Democratic Party so deep that there will not be seen even a bubble coming from the spot where the burial took place," he said.

Smalls was first elected to a term in the South Carolina House of Representatives as a Republican from 1870 to 1874. Eventually, he served as a U.S. congressman from 1875 to 1887.

Throughout his tenure in public office, Smalls utilized his political voice to improve the lives of African-Americans by authoring and lobbying several legislative initiatives. His advocacy for civil rights defined his life. While in Philadelphia, even though he was a war hero, he was asked to surrender his seat aboard a streetcar to a white passenger.

Rather than relinquish his seat, he exited the bus, which precipitated mass boycotts against the segregated public transportation system. His advocacy led to the passage of legislation that integrated public transportation in Philadelphia in 1867.

Smalls’ life was transformative. His courage and progressive initiatives helped to shape the nation’s history, as well as the history of the Lowcountry and African-Americans, in ways that make him a hero for all times and for all people. M February 2017 105

BLACKHISTORY

THREE SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES

CHRIS M. ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY, INC.

DIVE DEEP INTO HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY Louise Cohen at the Hilton Head Island Gullah Museum

It’s well-known and well-documented that Hilton Head Island has deep ties to Gullah heritage.

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ARNO DIMMLING

hree groups have recently taken their cultural tours beyond the historical marker, and another is introducing an interactive mobile app to allow residents and visitors to immerse themselves into the island’s African-American history.

Heritage Gullah Tours, the Hilton Head Island Gullah Museum and the Mitchelville Preservation Society each partnered with the Hilton Head IslandBluffton Chamber of Commerce in the chamber’s Signature Experience program to transform their tours and engage participants in the area’s rich history.

These three tours are not the only tours in the Signature Experiences portfolio.

Seven groups partnered with the chamber to reboot their tours and lectures.

Signature Experiences are a collection of enhanced unique tours, performances and

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demonstrations that touch all the senses and allow people to discover the Lowcountry on a deeper, richer level. The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce partnered with consultant Joe Veneto and attraction partners in the crafting and scripting of new experiences, and provided support and further development to many existing Lowcountry tours. The process transforms visitors’ experience by engineering new, engaging and immersive offerings.

The Gullah Heritage Trail, operated by Gullah Heritage Tours, is a two-hour bus tour through 10 Gullah-Geechee neighborhoods on Hilton Head focusing on heritage, language, foods, historical sites and folklore.

Through the Signature Experiences program, Morris Campbell — whose family owns Gullah Heritage Tours — said the company made the tour more interesting by introducing more hands-on and “touchy-feely” elements.

“Once they’ve taken the tour, they get a better feeling for the whole history and life on Hilton Head Island,” he said.

In the Restoring, Preserving, and Sharing the Gullah Culture exhibition at the Hilton Head Island Gullah Museum, attendees step back in time with a visit to “the little blue house” with owner and museum director Louise Cohen. The home preserved the Gullah culture and customs, and is adorned with artifacts that she brings to life.

“When they come to the Gullah Museum, they are looking for our history,” she said.

“And it’s here.”

While the information presented in Cohen’s tour hasn’t changed after joining the Signature Experiences program, the way she presents her story has. “It helped me to really bring the story out more,” she said. “It

really helps to enhance the presentations.”

The Mitchelville Preservation Society brings history to life in its Walk Through Mitchelville. No longer are attendees reading plaques. They are immersed in the evolution of freedom, from arriving as a slave on a ship to meeting Harriet Tubman face-toface and learning about daily life in the first freedman’s town in America.

“The chamber of commerce should be commended for (helping) tell the whole story of Hilton Head Island instead of as just that of beach or tennis destination,” Campbell said.

Hilton Head Island has rich history, but few physical remnants of its heritage remain.

To help bring history to life for visitors, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is also developing a virtual and augmented reality app along with the University of South Carolina and the Don Ryan Center for Innovation. Users will be able to hold their smartphones up to a marker to see what the site was like back in the day or hear a story from a historical figure.

The app will launch later this year, and the first site featured on the app will be Mitchelville.

“We’re proud to work with our partners to take people back in time to experience our history and culture,” said Bill Miles, president and CEO of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. “Besides plaques commemorating significant areas, there isn’t much here that reminds us of our past.

These programs and this app help everyone appreciate and experience our history.

This s a win-win for residents to learn more about where they live and for visitors, who are craving more interactive experiences when they vacation.” M

BLACKHISTORY

CELEBRATING

GULLAH CULTURE

NIBCAA, South Carolina’s Gullah cultural ambassador, will present the 2017 Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration throughout the month of February. The annual festival will include crowd favorites like its awardwinning arts, crafts and food expo; Sweetheart Ball; and Arts Ob We People exhibit and sale.

This year’s Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration will present a series of events that capture the spirit and significance of Gullah culture. The Arts, Craft & Food Expo at the Gullah Market on Saturday, Feb. 18 will be alive with music, dance and messages presented to strengthen the community and enhance the understanding of the native island culture. The Gullah Market will include food and shopping, and there will be children’s events and more as part of this nationally recognized program.

The day will feature the traditional entertainment of the Wona Womalon West African Dance Ensemble, modern entertainment by the Family Slide Dancers of St. Helena Island, and the Whale Branch Middle School steel drummers. A new addition to festival is Da’ Gullah Jazz and Heritage Party on Sunday, Feb. 19, which will feature onstage cultural demonstrations and entertainment, including the acclaimed Voices of El Shaddai gospel singers and the soulful sounds of music legend Earl Williams. All tickets for the party include authentic Gullah food.

The Arts Ob We People art show and sale is the longest-running event of the annual celebration.

Experience Gullah culture through the eyes of local artists, who use handcrafted art to pay tribute to the customs, lifestyle and traditions of the Sea Island Gullah community. The annual exhibit and sale is the largest juried Gullah art exhibit in the world. The exhibit is open for tours daily during the month of February at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.

Throughout the month, other cultural programs will offer perspective on the traditions that have been maintained by the descendants of the West Africans who were brought to the coastal islands of South Carolina and Georgia as slaves hundreds of years ago. Those programs include the Sweetheart Ball at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, the Gullah Gospel Music Series, the Celebration of African American Authors, the Gullah Institute, the Ol’ Fashion Gullah Breakfast, Freedom Day and Taste of Gullah.

Advance tickets are recommended. For tickets or more information about the month-long celebration, go to www.gullahcelebration.com or call 843-255-7303.

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Month-long Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration showcases local art, food, music and more

GULLAH CELEBRATION EVENTS Arts Ob We People Art Exhibition and Sale Venue: Art League of Hilton Head Gallery at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Date: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 Details: The Arts Ob We People Art Exhibition and Sale is a display of original work by emerging and leading artists that represents the life of Gullah people on Hilton Head Island and the surrounding community. Artists will be onsite at various times throughout the exhibit; check schedules at www.gullahcelebration.com. Donations accepted.

Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration Opening Party Venue: Art League of Hilton Head Gallery at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Date: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 Details: Kick off the month-long celebration with a look at the works of emerging and leading artists as part of the Arts Ob We People Annual Art Exhibition and Sale.

Donations accepted.

Gullah Music Series Featuring Modern Gospel Venue: First Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Bluffton Date: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 Details: Celebrate and honor the spiritual thread that binds the African ancestors and the Gullah of today. This kickoff to the Gullah Celebration’s annual music series celebrates the African-American oral tradition. Expect to hear choirs and a cappella performances.

Donations accepted.

Ol’ Fashioned Gullah Breakfast Venue: Historic Cherry Hill School Date: 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 4 Details: A traditional Gullah breakfast featuring your choice of stewed oysters, shrimp in a savory Lowcountry gravy, fried fresh catch fish paired with hot buttered grits and fresh biscuits. Meals are prepared by members of the local Gullah community, coordinated by Ooman Chef Louise Cohen. $12.

Freedom Day: Explore Mitchelville: An Interactive Tour Experience Venue: Historic Cherry Hill School Date: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 Details: In 1863, shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed — while most of the African-American population was still trying to adjust to the idea of their new freedom — the people of Mitchelville were busy creating a completely new, self-governed culture that would be the guidepost for generations to follow.

Take a guided journey through historic Mitchelville to learn more about the people and their methods, by bike or on foot. Free.

BLACKHISTORY Gullah Music Series Featuring Gospel Classics Venue: Historic African Baptist Church Date: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 Details: Celebrate and honor the spiritual thread that binds the African ancestors and the Gullah of today. This second installation in the Gullah Celebration’s annual music series celebrates the origin of gospel music dating back more than 200 years. Expect to hear hymns, spirituals and songs of jubilation. Donations accepted.

Taste Of Gullah Venue: Art Center of Coastal Carolina Date: Noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 Details: This one-of-kind event is an afternoon filled with authentic Gullah dishes such as Okra Gumbo, Conch Stew, fried shrimp dusted in traditional Gullah seasonings and classic barbecue favorites like chargrilled chicken and ribs. While you eat you can enjoy the entertainment from several local artists including traditional dancers, musicians and storytellers. $12

Sweetheart Ball with Deas-Guyz Venue: The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Date: 7-11 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12 Details: Are you ready to dance?

This event is sure to keep you dancing all evening long with the featured band Deas-Guyz, a renowned Hilton Head Island favorite. With the purchase of your ticket, you can enjoy a delicious buffet of Lowcountry food and a cash bar. Tickets are $65$600.

Gullah Music Series Featuring Gospel Choirs Venue: Historic Queen Chapel AME Church Date: 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 17 Details: Celebrate and honor the spiritual thread that binds

the African ancestors and the Gullah of today. This third installation in the Gullah Celebration’s annual music series celebrates the influence of gospel choirs in the African-American musical experience. Expect to have a soul-stirring musical experience that will have you clapping your hands and up on your feet dancing. Donations accepted.

Arts, Craft & Food Expo at the Gullah Marketplace Venue: Hilton Head Island Middle School Date: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 Details: This is your chance to experience all aspects of Gullah culture. The annual Gullah Market offers cultural demonstrations, authentic Gullah and African crafts and food, as well as traditional storytelling and music. This community event is meant to be shared with family and friends — and is a chance for you to make new ones. There will be a free play area for children. You’re encouraged to bring your own chairs, but no coolers. $5-$10.

Da’ Gullah Jazz and Heritage Party Venue: Hilton Head Island Middle School Date: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19 Details: A one-of-a-kind food and music experience that celebrates the influence of Gullah in American crafts and music. You can expect on-stage entertainment from the acclaimed Voices of El Shaddai and the legendary Earl Williams Jazz Band; your choice of Lowcountry favorites like shrimp and grits, Savannah red rice and she crab soup; and local art and craft vendors featuring traditional and modern reflections of Gullah culture. You’re encouraged to bring your own chairs, but no coolers. $5-$20. M February 2017 109

HEALTH

MATTERS of the HEART Years of gender-based cardiovascular research have found plenty of differences in men and women’s health. One out of two women will be diagnosed with heart disease in her lifetime.

It’s the number one killer of women.

F

ifty percent of the time, the first symptom of heart disease in women is sudden cardiac death.

A day after “Star Wars” actress Carrie Fisher died of sudden cardiac arrest, her mother, actress Debbie Reynolds, suffered a fatal stroke. Adrenaline released from intense physical or emotional stress like grief often acts as a trigger for strokes and heart attacks in post-menopausal women who lack protective hormones, according to a 2015 study in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Yes, you really can die of a broken heart.

You can also have a heart attack from intense physical stress.

Last April, 66-year-old Ellen Segal, who had no risk factors for heart disease other than periods of physical stress related to a severe cough, felt a mild pain in her left arm, followed by extreme exhaustion and shortness of breath. Concerned, she went to her doctor, who ordered an electrocardiogram.

The test showed an abnormality found in heart attacks: ST-segment elevation. “My doctor said, ‘Do you realize you had a heart attack sometime in the past week?’ Then he called an ambulance,” Segal said.

The interventionist cardiologist on call in the ER performed an angiogram on Segal 110 hiltonheadmonthly.com

BY KIM KACHMANN to rule out a blockage in her coronary arteries, then did a ventriculogram, a test done during cardiac catheterization that evaluates the main pumping chamber of the heart, the left ventricle. The ventriculogram showed the entire tip of Segal’s heart was ballooned out and not moving — a telltale sign of “takotsubo cardiomyopathy” or “stress-induced cardiomyopathy.”

Also known as “broken-heart syndrome” because it can also be caused by intense

emotional stress, more than 90 percent of reported cases are post-menopausal women, according to the NEJM study.

Up to 20 percent of women evaluated for heart attacks actually have stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Segal received treatment to reduce the stress on her heart and recovered with no long-term heart damage.

Many people still believe that heart dis-

ease is a man’s disease. But the death rate due to heart disease for men has been declining since 1984 — and it has been rising for women ages 60 and younger. Four times more women die from heart disease than men, according to the American Heart Association. And it isn’t just older women; the AHA reports the death rate for young women with heart disease is rising. Experts say there are several contributing factors; rising rates of Type 2 diabetes and obesity are playing a role, as well as the lack of recognition among younger women that heart disease is important. Heart disease kills five times more young women than breast cancer.

Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, a National Institute of Health researcher and cardiologist for women and director of the Barbara Streisand Women’s Heart Center at CedarsSinai Heart Institute, said that women need to advocate for new therapies and diagnostics to detect female-pattern heart disease and heart attacks.

“Today’s cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic strategies were developed for men. The majority of women having heart attacks present differently than men,” Merz said. “They’re also more likely to die than men.”

HEALTH Men and women often experience different heart attack symptoms. While men tend to have intense chest pain, women may feel a dull ache in their left arms, jaws, chests, necks or backs. Women may also feel anxious, nauseous, fatigue, dizzy or short of breath.

When a man has a heart attack, it typically is a circulatory problem caused by an arterial blockage or rupture that blocks blood flow to part of the heart. More often in women, arterial erosion, spasm, microvascular disease or intense emotional or physical stress cause heart attacks.

Microvascular disease is an abnormal dilation of the blood vessels feeding the heart.

Angiograms can pick up male-pattern heart disease, but not the spread of fatty plaque more often seen in women with

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heart disease. In a recent TED Talk, Merz said that the difference between the fatty plaque in men and women reflects how differently they deposit fat in general.

When men become obese, their bodies deposit fat in their bellies, similar to how they deposit lumpy fatty plaques in their arteries. When women gain weight, they often deposit fat all over their bodies. It’s the same with the even spread of plaque found in the eroded arteries of women with heart disease.

But there is hope for women: Catheters with intravascular ultrasound and cardiac MRIs can detect female-pattern heart disease, but more research is needed.

“Research on men with heart disease has been ongoing for 50 years. Research on female-pattern heart disease has been ongoing for 15 years — women are 35 years behind,” Merz said.

Scientists are studying how they can treat female-pattern heart disease more effectively than using stents, surgery and drugs.

One promising field is stem cell therapy.

“The biggest physiological difference

between men and women is that women can bring new life into the world,” Merz said. “Women’s stem cells are robust — much more robust than men’s — and if used to treat damaged heart muscle, they may help heal the injured tissue.”

Managing risk factors for heart disease is critical. Too many women don’t move enough, get outside or maintain a healthy diet — and what’s worse, they often feel apathetic about the consequences. Women are also more stressed and over-stimulated today thanks to 24/7 media blitzes.

“During stress, it’s more common for women than men to experience reduced blood flow to the heart that can lead to chest pain or a heart attack,” said Dr. Carl Pepine, a world-renowned cardiologist for women.

“Critically important for women to know, epidemiological studies show that high blood pressure caries the greatest risk for mortality in women among all modifiable risk factors,” Pepine said.

The AHA now warns that too much added sugar may also increase the risk

HEALTH of heart disease. Refined carbohydrates and sugar-sweetened drinks add to this risk. Sugar addiction contributes to the chronic inflammation and insulin resistance of Type 2 diabetes — major risk factors for cardiovascular disease in both women and men.

Awareness, better lifestyles habits, better diagnostics and better treatments could lower the death rate for women with heart disease.

It’s time to get onboard. M

MORE ONLINE:

Read an article written by Dr. Aaron Ford on broken-heart syndrome online at www.hiltonheadmonthly.com. Ford is a cardiologist with Hilton Head Heart.

The Heart Hospital at St. Joseph’s Hospital offers advanced care for heart attacks with the Chest Pain Center Accreditation with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. The Chest Pain Center, a component of The Heart Hospital, responds quickly with advanced treatment for chest pain and heart attack patients. www.sjchs.org.

Join the American Heart Association’s Palmetto Heart Walk at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29 at Shelter Cove Community Park. You can start or join a team at www.palmettoheartwalk.org or by contacting development director Carla Raines at carla.raines@heart.org.

Prevent Heart Disease

The American Heart Association offers seven tips to help prevent heart diease: n Manage Blood Pressure High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. When your blood pressure stays within a healthy range, you reduce the strain on your heart, arteries and kidneys, which keeps you healthier longer. n Control Cholesterol High cholesterol contributes to plaque, which can clog arteries and lead to heart attack and stroke. When you control your cholesterol, you are giving your arteries their best chance to remain clear of blockages. n Reduce Blood Sugar Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or blood sugar, that our bodies use for energy. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage your heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. n Get Active Living an active life is one of the most rewarding gifts you can give yourself and those you love. Daily physical activity increases your length and quality of life. n Eat Better A healthy diet is one of your best weapons for fighting cardiovascular disease. When you eat a heart-healthy diet, you improve your chances for feeling good and staying healthy — for life. n Lose Weight When you shed extra fat and unnecessary pounds, you reduce the burden on your heart, lungs, blood vessels and skeleton. You give yourself the gift of active living, you lower your blood pressure and you help yourself feel better, too. n Stop Smoking Cigarette smokers have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. If you smoke, quitting is the best thing you can do for your health.

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HEALTH

Like any good “willthey-or-won’t-they” romance novel, there are conflicting theories as to the origin of St. Valentine and how Valentine’s Day became the second most popular cardsending holiday after Christmas.

O

ne legend tells of an imprisoned man, Valentine, who sent the first “valentine” greeting himself after falling in love with a young girl — possibly his jailor’s daughter — who visited him during his confinement. According to the History Channel: “Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today.”

One thing, however, is certain: This month is a reminder to celebrate love. So in honor of February, let’s explore five yoga postures that improve heart health, happiness and overall wellness.

Heart Openers BY BECCA EDWARDS

Dancer Pose

From standing position, bring your love and energy into your right foot and leg. Bend and lift your left leg. Place the top of your left foot in your left palm. Inhale to prepare, and as you exhale lean forward and kick the left leg into your left palm behind you.

Continue to breathe, inhaling to prepare and exhaling to deepen the pose. Repeat on the other leg.

Camel Pose

Kneel on the floor with your knees hip-width apart and your thighs perpendicular to the floor. Inhale, inflating your chest. Exhale, arch your back and rest your palms on your tailbone or heels. Continue to breathe, inhaling to inflate and open the front of the body and exhaling to deepen the backbend.

Cobra Pose

Lie on the floor with your legs straight and together and the tops of your feet on your yoga mat. With your palms under your shoulders and pressing into your mat, draw your elbows in toward your ribs and gently push up, arching your back toward the sky. Hold for five to 10 breaths.

Supported Bridge

Lie on your back with your knees bent, legs hip-width apart and the soles of your feet on the mat. Get long in your spine and place a block under your tailbone. Experiment with the different block heights to find the one that is most comfortable for you. Press both shoulders down and gain length in your neck. With your palms facing the sky, visualize your chest broadening with each inhale and exhale as you breath. Hold the position for 10 to 15 breaths.

Reclined Goddess Pose with Breath Work

From a reclined position on your mat, bring the soles of your feet together and let your knees fall outward, placing a block or pillow under each knee for support if needed. Place a bolster or large pillow under your back, neck and head. Relax your shoulders, lengthen your neck, and let both palms rest on top of your heart. Close your eyes and focus on the connection of your hands and chest. Inhale, feeling your chest inflate. Exhale, feeling your chest deflate. Notice where your breath originates and try to initiate it from your navel, not your sternum. Hold the position for 15 to 20 breaths. M

Becca Edwards is a wellness professional, freelance writer and owner of b.e.WELL+b.e.CREATIVE (bewellbecreative.com).

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GOLF

DARIUS RUCKER INTERCOLLEGIATE RETURNS TO LONG COVE CLUB

Long Cove Club, in partnership with Darius Rucker and the University of South Carolina, is hosting the sixth annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Golf Tournament presented by The Kroger Co. and Reynolds Consumer Products. The tournament will be held March 3-5 at Long Cove Club’s nationally acclaimed golf course on Hilton Head Island. Top teams from around the country will travel to the island to compete for the title. When Puggy Blackmon, USC director of golf, contacted Rucker about a women’s intercollegiate golf tournament similar to Rucker’s involvement with the USC men’s team, he responded, “Absolutely. I’m in.” Rucker, of Hootie and the Blowfish Fame and a successful solo artist, is a USC alum and avid golfer.

Kicking off the event will be a concert by Rucker at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. The concert will be a private event for players, coaches, sponsors and Long Cove Club residents. “Last year, we had an overwhelming response to ticket sales within our gates,” says tournament chairman Rob Ryan. “The concert is expected to be a sellout to sponsors and Long Cove residents again in 2017.”

“This has become a signature event on the women’s collegiate schedule and the membership of Long Cove Club is thrilled to once again play host to these top collegiate teams,” says Ryan.

Joining the University of South Carolina will be University of Alabama, University of Arkansas, Arizona State University, Auburn University, Baylor University, Duke University, Furman University, University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University, University of North Carolina, Oklahoma State University, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University, University of Virginia, and Wake Forest University. The teams will be housed in private vacation homes on Hilton Head Island.

Bob Patton, Long Cove Club director of golf, said, “We are once again extremely excited to host what has quickly become one of the nation’s premiere women’s intercollegiate golf tournaments.”

Spectators are welcome during the days of play. Tee times begin at 8:30 am on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 and 8 a.m. on Sunday, March 5.

“Golf fans should take advantage of seeing some rising stars; these women collegiate players are definitely worth watching,” Patton said.

For additional information, visit www.longcoveclub.com.

RBC HERITAGE TO HOST NEW PRO-AM AT ATLANTIC DUNES

The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing will host an additional Pro-Am on April 12 at Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III at the Sea Pines Resort. Atlantic Dunes is a complete reconstruction and recreation of the resort’s historic Ocean Course, the first golf course built on Hilton Head Island.

“The 49th annual RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is expected to be another excellent event on our Island,” said Steve Wilmot, Heritage tournament director. “This Pro-Am is just one example of bringing our tournament to the next level as we quickly approach our 50th year. Our primary Pro-Ams are sold out, but we still had a high demand from fans to play, so we created this new opportunity.”

Pro-Am tournaments offer a unique experience to play with PGA Tour professionals during tournament week. Each participant in this year’s Pro-Am will receive one playing spot and will be paired with three other amateurs and one PGA Tour professional. In addition, they will receive two Pro-Am credentials, two clubhouse badges good for week-long entry to the tournament, breakfast for two before play, an awards ceremony with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres immediately following play, and entry into the tournament all week. Golfers will take home one gift package, which includes an exclusive shopping spree and a listing in the spectator guide. For more information or to register, visit rbcheritage.com.

WEXFORD INTERCOLLEGIATE RETURNS

Wexford will host the 12th annual Wexford Intercollegiate golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 26 through Tuesday, Feb. 28. The three-day tournament will begin with a collegiate pro-am on Sunday, followed by 36 holes of golf on Monday and Tuesday.

Participating schools include Francis Marion, Akron, Cleveland State, Dartmouth, Davidson, Eastern Kentucky, Gardner-Webb, Hartford, High Point, Mercer, Oakland, Presbyterian College, Radford, Siena, Dayton, University of South Carolina Aiken, Winthrop and Wofford.

The event is free and open to the public.

HAIG POINT WELCOMES NEW DIRECTOR OF GOLF

Musician Darius Rucker poses with the Univeristy of South Carolina golf team at last year's Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Golf Tournament. The 2017 event is March 3-5 at Long Cove Club.

Haig Point rang in a new year with the hire of golf expert Mark Steinbauer as the new director of golf. Steinbauer, a Texas native, brings more than 30 years of experience to the Haig Point golf community. He holds the title of PGA of America Professional Standing: Master Professional-Teaching (Member 86) and has been named a Top 100 Teacher by GOLF Magazine for seven consecutive years. Additionally, Steinbauer is an adjunct faculty member for PGA of America’s Department of Education. For the past seven years, he has been named Top Teacher of the Year by Golf Digest Magazine.

“We are thrilled to have Mark on board and honored to enhance our leadership team with his skillset and experience,” said Doug Egly, CEO of Haig Point.

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Love

where you live

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AT HOME

BY DEAN ROWL AND | PHOTOS BY ROB K AUFMAN

Pennsylvania native at home in Oldfield Plantation

H2 Builders in Bluffton has built more than 300

distinctive custom homes

in the Lowcountry since 1996.

long the storied way, it has amassed countless local, regional and national industry awards. The company’s home office showcases many of them, but display space has long been exhausted.

In the company’s impressive portfolio of luxury homes is a collection of properties located in Oldfield Plantation in Okatie.

“There’s such a warmth to the house,” said homeowner Holly Alexander, who moved into her new Oldfield home on a cul-de-sac last May. “The house turned out perfect. It has an open floor plan, and the flow of the house is great. It turned out to be everything I expected it to be and wanted it to be.”

H2’s peers and judges in the area homebuilding industry thought the residence was pretty special, too, bestowing a clean sweep for Alexander’s home in all 2016 LightHouse Awards categories it was entered (Best Overall, Best Bathroom, Best Exterior and Best Kitchen).

H2 doesn’t build luxurious homes to win awards. It just happens because it builds homes with impeccable craftsmanship to please clients like Alexander.

“I feel like my house is a gift from me, to me,” said Alexander, a Pennsylvania native and retired emergency room nurse who has lived in 13 houses as an adult, building six of them through the years.

February 2017 117

AT HOME

“There are a number of key features that set this house apart, not only from H2 homes, but your standard look of Lowcountry homes,” said Rush Lowther, H2’s vice president of marketing and sales.

There are many special touches inside this 3,349-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bathroom home that sits on a 0.61-acre lot adjacent to the fourth hole of the Greg Normandesigned golf course. Above the garage is a bonus room with a bedroom and a bathroom.

Let’s start in the kitchen, one of Alexander’s favorite rooms — even though she doesn’t cook. The island offers seating for four.

“I love, love, love my wooden countertop,” Alexander said. “It’s eye-catching and beautiful.”

“Her kitchen island is outstanding,” Lowther said. “The Lowcountry luxury homes today have a very white kitchen and cabinets in theme throughout. So having that stained walnut wood top as the countertop adds a contrast in color.

It really makes a statement.”

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H2 Builders’ artisans in its cabinet/ design gallery also made a striking visual statement with the custom-made kitchen cabinetry for utility and storage.

Premium hand-scraped engineered hardwood flooring stretches from the kitchen to the adjacent eight-seat informal dining room, the pantry and throughout the entire downstairs living space. The open floor plan allows sightlines from room to room and out to the grand natural landscape and golf course.

“Everything opens up to the family room and the fireplace,” Alexander said.

“It gives you a very open and comfortable feeling.”

Alexander enjoys reading in the cozy great room with its custom-designed old Savannah brick gas fireplace straddled by built-in bookcases, which also anchor the first-floor study and its 11-foot-high coffered ceiling.

A 12-foot sliding glass door connects the great room with the 320-square-foot screened-in porch, which features a deluxe working kitchen and a tongueand-groove pine ceiling.

Walking down the hallway and through the “signature H2 arch openings” to the master suite leads to the award-winning bathroom, Lowther said.

An elegant chandelier hangs from the vaulted ceiling, and two elevated transoms help usher in the natural light to reflect off the large mirror over the vanities.

“The marble look to the tile with an inset custom Deco tile border underneath the chandelier make it a ‘wow’ piece,” Lowther said. A doorless walk-in shower shares the expansive space, which opens up to a large walk-in closet.

A coastal color scheme bathes the builder’s masterpiece in a casual, comfortable elegance. Alexander gives full credit to interior designer Sharon Cleland of J. Banks Design Group on Hilton Head Island.

“I had the greatest time with Sharon; she is the best,” Alexander said. “I wanted a Lowcountry feel inside of the house … Sharon said we need to go lighter; the fabrics need to be lighter and the furniture lighter.”

But there are some traditional elements mixed in. Alexander said it was easy to furnish the house because she had the plans in hand.

“During the 10-month build process I worked with Sharon; we had the plans, and we were able to go out and purchase the furniture,” Alexander said. “I was able to choose fabrics and get the house decorated with her.”

VENDOR LIST Builder: H2 Builders Interior Design: J. Banks Design Group Architect: Thomas Hiatt Architects Cabinetry: H2 Builders Cabinet/Design Gallery Appliances: Billy Wood Appliance Electrical Fixtures: The Light Post Landscaping: The Landworks Group Flooring: Floor Fashions; R&S Hardwood (installer) Plumbing: Low Tide Plumbing fixtures: Cregger Company Countertops: Distinctive Granite & Marble Windows/Exterior Doors: Grayco Hardware Shelving: Low Country Shelving & Glass Roofing: AmeriPro Roofing

The Lowcountry-accented interior is wrapped by the Lowcountry architectural exterior. The pressure-treated painted front porch accommodates many rocking chairs, and weatherproof fiberglass Permacast round columns add a splash of modern flair. Gas lanterns on the porch complement the neighborhood’s gas-lit street lamps. A long breezeway connects the garage to the main residence, and “allowed us to add some square footage in the owner’s foyer and, more importantly, in the (walk-in) pantry,” Lowther said.

Concrete with a seashell tabby finish can be found on the back porch.

Even though Alexander has lived in many homes around the country, she truly feels at home in the Lowcountry.

“I want to grow old in this house,” she said. M February 2017 119

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EAC Heating & Air is NOT in any way affiliated with any Service Experts companies. If you want to do business with our family-owned business, remember to look for the E.A.C. logo in our advertisements.

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REAL ESTATE

2017 REAL ESTATE INVENTORY

LOW SO FAR

At the end of 2016, most real estate markets across the nation saw little change year over year.

BY JEAN BECK Jean Beck is the executive vice president of the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors.

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B

ut our local market activity doesn’t always follow national trends, and there can be big differences between sales on Hilton Head Island and the mainland.

The Hilton Head condo/villa market ended 2016 down just 2.7 percent from 2015, but prices are starting to increase, with the median sales price up 6.7 percent from 2015 at $221,500. Single-family home sales for Hilton Head almost mimicked the condo/villa market, with closed sales down from 2015 by 4 percent and the median sales price up 1.8 percent at $519,250. However, the mainland market tells a different story. Closed sales were up 11.8 percent and the median sales price up 6.2 percent, at $270,584.

You can see by the numbers that Hilton Head Island and the mainland are two different markets that attract very different buyers. The mainland market also has more development than the island, and therefore has more inventory. However, at the start of 2017, the Lowcountry has a low inventory of available homes, with approximately a six months’ supply.

With a new president office in 2017, few are expecting federal policies to remain as they have under prior leadership. The incoming president has a deep history in real estate development and has shown a strong interest in funding massive infrastructure projects — two points that have

experts wondering about their impact on the immediate future of residential real estate.

Millennials continue to command attention as the next wave of homebuyers, yet the rate at which this massive population is entering the market has been less than stellar. This may be due to a cultural change away from settling into marriage and parenthood until later in life, high student loan debt, or even reservations about real estate as a wise investment in the wake of the Great Recession.

That said, some have suggested that this group is simply willing to wait longer to buy, thus skipping the entry-level purchase altogether to land in their preferred homes.

At the other end of the age and price spectrum, baby boomers are expected to make up nearly one-third of all buyers in 2017. By and large, this group is not looking to invest in oversized homes, but we could see an improvement in higher price ranges as a hedge against inflation and risk.

Shifting wealth away from the stock market into valuable homes may be seen as a safe bet during a transition of power and a period of pronounced change.

Locally, Realtors are very optimistic about the year ahead. Real estate firms are investing in their businesses and growing. The Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors starts the year with just over 1,100 Realtors serving customers and clients from Hilton Head Island to Jasper County. M

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE NEWS Ken Oliver earned Dunes Real Estate’s distinction as Top Listing Agent, Top Selling Agent and Top Producing Agent for 2016. Additionally, Oliver has achieved Top Listing and/or Selling Oliver Agent for the company 31 of the last 38 years. He can be reached at 843-816-0167 or ken@ken-oliver.com, or by visiting www.ken-oliver.com.

Charter One Realty has announced that real estate professional Donna Dunbar has joined the company as an agent.

Dunbar will be working out of the Calhoun Street Promenade office Dunbar of Charter One Realty.

Dunbar recently retired from Parris Island as a Marine Corps sergeant major. Her experience and training have provided a unique skill set sure to add value to buyers and sellers. With a keen eye for detail, excellent communication skills, and polished leadership skills, she is a great addition to the Charter One Realty family.

RE/MAX Island Realty is excited to announce Stephanie Cauller as its director of marketing. As a licensed real estate agent, Cauller will offer extensive support and training to the entire RE/MAX Island Realty Team. She has been in sales and marketing for years and is focused on social media, content marketing and lead generation. She started with RE/MAX Island Realty under the new ownership of Robert Rini, and has been managing lead generation and social media.

ENGEL & VÖLKERS PROVIDES SPACE FOR SOAR/SPECIAL OLYMPICS Engel & Völkers has given Soar/Special Olympics an office and furniture to assist their recovery. Formerly located on Cardinal Road, the Special Olympics’ office was completely wiped out by Hurricane Matthew, including furniture and equipment. The new office is modern and consistent with the Engel & Völkers brand, including red and black furnishings and extreme attention to detail. Some fun touches and branding for Special Olympics were added, including beach balls and logo stickers.

Charter One Realty, the top producing real estate company on Hilton Head Island and throughout the Lowcountry, is proud to have donated $30,000 over the past two years to Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head.

The $30,000 donation will be used to help VIM orchestrate the organization’s three largest and most important fundraisers each year, with Charter One Realty serving as the Diamond Presenting Sponsor for all three events and becoming VIM’s top corporate donor. The Charter One Realty-VIM partnership was kicked off with a presentation of a check for $15,000 for the first year of event sponsorship in 2015. R RE/MAX Island Realty’s Hilton Head Island and Sun City offices wish to congratulate Lea Allen as their No. 1 Realtor in 2016 in total sales volume and commissions paid.

Highly experienced, Allen began her real estate career on Hilton Head Island in 1986 with International Paper’s development of Haig Point on Daufuskie Island. In 1992, she

SEA PINES REAL ESTATE AT THE BEACH CLUB WINS PRESIDENT’S CUP Sea Pines Real Estate at The Beach Club was awarded the 2016 President’s Cup at the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors’ annual Membership Luncheon held at the Country Club of Hilton Head. The President’s Cup is the association’s highest honor and recognizes one brokerage that has actively shown a commitment to the association and that exemplifies the Realtor code of ethics. Sea Pines Real Estate at The Beach Club participates on committees, takes leadership positions including the board of directors, and is dedicated to the betterment of the real estate industry.

was the youngest and only female brokerin-charge in the area. In 1997, she joined RE/MAX Island Realty and will celebrate her 20th year with RE/MAX Island Realty in September. Allen is a certified negotiation expert, lifetime distinguished sales recipient, RE/MAX Hall of Fame recipient and toprated Zillow 5-Star Agent, to name a few of her accomplishments.

Each year, the REALTOR Association chooses one among them as their Realtor of the Year. The Realtor of the Year for 2016 is Cindy Creamer with Lighthouse Realty.

Creamer was recognized Creamer for her leadership in the association as past president and is currently serving as region II vice president for the South Carolina Realtors.

Colette Stevenson of the Multiple Listing Service of Hilton Head Island was named the organization’s chief executive officer effective in January. Stevenson previously served as chief operating officer. HHIMLS is a real estate listing platform that facilitates more than $3 billion in annual real estate transactions and provides its members with real-time statistics, inventory information and trends. Stevenson is one of only 19 real estate executives nationwide — and the only Multiple Listing Service executive in the Carolinas and Georgia — who graduated from the inaugural MLS Expert Program provided by the Certified Multiple Listing Executive Program. As COO, she managed more than 20 real estate data services that are provided to real estate agents in South Carolina and oversaw all departments.

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Island Resident Since 1972 REALTOR of The Year 1996, 2004, 2015

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HiltonHeadIslandSouthCarolina 81 Main Street, Suite 202, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 (843) 384-7300 or (800) 267-3285 ext. 4215

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67 HICKORY FOREST

5 COUGAR RUN

OUTSTANDING home just off the 10th Fairway of the Country Club of Hilton Head – catch the breezes from Skull Creek / the Intracoastal Waterway. 3400 plus sq. ft. with 4 bedroom or 3 plus a bonus room, 3 ½ bath. Formal LR and DR plus a kitchen/family room. Short distance to the Country Club Clubhouse & Skull Creek Docks.

BEST wrap around lagoon views in HHP. A short distance from the Port Royal Sound. Corner lot. 3 BR, 2 ½ BA, formal LR & DR, kitchen/family room plus office and covered patio. Updated wood floors, smooth ceilings, detailed moldings, granite counters, paver driveway and path. New roof, water heaters and HVAC system. $590,000

VIEWS OF BEAR LAKE from the expansive deck. Soaring windows in the living room, updated kitchen and baths, unique garage workshop. 4 BR or 3 plus a bonus, 2 full and 2 half baths. Private Cul de Sac location midway between Dolphin Head Beach Park and Spring Lake Pool. $495,000

PRIVATE CUL-DE-SAC location with distant views of Oyster Reef Golf Club’s par 3 – 3rd hole. Mid Hilton Head Plantation close to Spring Lake Pool complex and the Port Royal Sound. 3 bedroom, 2 ½ bath, LR and DR, high ceilings, updated kitchen, family room and expansive screen porch.

31 PINELAND ROAD

40 ROOKERY WAY

5 TWISTED CAY LANE

16 FERNWOOD TRAIL

GREAT ROOM FLOOR PLAN with panoramic golf view. Granite tops, open kitchen, wood floors, smooth ceilings, just painted in and out. New roof. 2 car garage, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, full size homesite – now used as a 2nd home.

New roof. New HVAC system $445,500

BEST LAGOON VIEWS in Hilton Head Plantation! Full size homesite with a tranquil lagoon and footbridge view. Bright and open 3 BR, 2 BA Formal living room, high ceiling, fireplace and screen porch. Neighborhood pool. $435,000

TRANQUIL LAGOON VIEWS. 3 BR, 2 BA with formal living and dining rooms, split bedroom floorplan, oversized garage, open and covered rear decks and an expansive sunroom.

Convenient private cul-de-sac location. Neighborhood pool and tennis complex. $435,000

PANORAMIC golf view of Dolphin Head Golf Club’s 2nd Fairway and Green. Between Dolphin Head Beach Park along the Port Royal Sound and the new Spring Lake Pool complex. 3 BR, 2BA, updated kitchen. New S/S appliances, Brazilian cherry floors throughout. Living room fireplace, dining room and expansive closets. $318,750

2008 HILTON HEAD CLUB VILLA

15 SEABROOK LANDING DR

18 CHINA COCKLE LANE

7 ANGLERS POND COURT

TRUE LOCK AND LEAVE. Views of 10th fairway and green of Dolphin Head. Short distance to the Beach Park. 3 BR, 3 Full Baths and great room floor plan. All New Flooring & Kitchen Cabinetry. Private patio and outside storage. $325,000

SKULL CREEK/Intracoastal Waterway/Sunset Views 1.27 acre/Country Club of Hilton Head 13 th Fairway/Exclusive Seabrook Landing - neighborhood pool and day dock $325,000

2ND ROW Port Royal Sound Full Size Corner Wooded. Short distance to Dolphin Head Beach Park $189,000

LAGOON AND CONSERVANCY VIEW - private cul-de-sac pie shaped lot. Neighborhood pool and tennis complex $168,500

C U O N N D T E R R A C T

C U O N N D T E R R A C T

OLD FORT DRIVE

CHARTER ONE REALTY The One to Turn to for All Your Real Estate Needs

Charles Sampson (843) 681-3307 x4215 Mobile - (843) 384 -7300

Charles@CharlesSampson.com

Frances Sampson (843) 681-3307 x236 Mobile - (843) 384-1002

Frances@FrancesSampson.com

Angela Mullis (843) 681-3307 x223 Mobile - (843) 384-7301

Debbie Cort (843) 681-3307 Mobile - (843) 384-8491

Give Charles, Frances, Angela, Debbie or Daniel a Call!

Daniel Cort (843) 681-3307 Mobile - (843) 384-2206

DebbieCort@CharterOneRealty.com

DanielCort@CharterOneRealty.com

16 KINGSTON COVE – SHIPYARD

121 BEACHWALK

278 THE LEGENDS II

PANORAMIC MARSH VIEWS, 10 minute bike ride to Harbour Town or the beach, neighborhood pool and tennis courts.This 3 bedroom 3 bath home has many updates including new windows and doors, new deck and entry porch. Open great room/ dining, a large 2nd floor family room. Updated master bath, two car garage with extra storage. $1,195,000

SHORT DISTANCE TO THE BEACH – Great 2nd home, short term rental or a home for full time living. 3 Bedroom, 3 Full Baths, updated kitchen, fireplace and covered parking underneath.

Enjoy sitting on the screen porch watching the bird activity in the lagoon. $398,500

STEPS TO THE BEACH, Sonesta and Van Der Meer Tennis. 2nd floor wraparound deck for outdoor enjoyment. Smooth ceilings, wood floors & granite tops. Fully appointed with 65” flat screen, Tempur-Pedic king, down to the Keurig. Fireplace, Jacuzzi and more. Closest Shipyard Villa to the Beach.

A five-star rental machine. $260,000

FURNISHED one bedroom 2nd floor end unit flat. Convenient North End island location.

Granite counters, tile flooring in kitchen and bath. Private 2nd floor deck with extra storage.

Full size washer and dryer. Short distance to the villa complex pool. $95,300

325 COTTON HOPE

6 DELLINGER LANE

122 KNIGHTSBRIDGE ROAD

BRIDGEPOINTE UNIT 23-202

C U O N N D T E R R A C T

843-384-7300

C U O N N D T E R R A C T

21 SPARTINA CRESCENT SEA PINES

Angela@AngelaMullis.com

TOWNHOUSE STYLE condo overlooking the community pool and marsh. 2 BR, 2.5 BA has wood floors and hard surface counters in kitchen and baths. Wood burning fireplace and back deck with view of the marsh. $60,000

BEAUTIFUL 4 bedroom home with desirable side-load garage offers unique curb appeal in popular Mill Creek at Cypress Ridge. Almost a ¼ acre on private cul-de-sac with water view, enjoy a single-story, open floor plan and many extras. Home warranty included. $279,000

WELCOME HOME to this Woodbridge 2-story, 4 BR, 2.5 BA with a fenced yard and wooded view . Features include patio with a fire pit, hard surface counters in kitchen and baths. $218,000

IN THE HEART OF BLUFFTON, just off the Parkway, convenient to Hilton Head Island.

BridgePointe is a newer condominium complex.

Sought after 3 BR, 3BA with a private balcony, serene wooded view. Bridgepointe has two lakes, a swimming pool and clubhouse with fitness center.

Great to call home, use as a 2nd home or a long term rental. $169,000

? MATTHEW ?

122 KNIGHTSBRIDGE ROAD

1406 BRIGHTON BAY

15 FOX DEN

152 REGENT

2 SPINNAKER COURT

70 CROSSWINDS DRIVE

19 COLONEL HAZZARD ROAD

19 CRANBERRY COURT

2 PINE SKY COURT

217 DILLARD MILL

237 NATIONAL STREET

2 FALCATTA ROAD

26 SAVILE

27 FIELD SPARROW

277 SEABROOK

289 PICKETT MILL

429 LAKE PARK WAY

27 DEERFIELD ROAD

5 COUGAR RUN

5 TWISTED CAY LANE

6 DELLINGER LANE

8 BEAUMONT COURT

4 GLENMOOR

100 SAGO PALM

PROPERTIES PUT UNDER CONTRACT OR SOLD SINCE OCTOBER 8, 2016

BY THE CHARLES SAMPSON GROUP OF CHARTER ONE REALTY. 151 TANNERS RUN

#1 Ranked Real Estate Company in The Lowcountry

Andy Reed

Hilton Head Realtor Since 1997

Charlie Reed

Hilton Head Realtor Since 1980

Rich Reed

Hilton Head Realtor Since 2001

Tom Reed

Hilton Head Realtor Since 2000

Real Experience.

34 Honey Locust Circle | Hilton Head Plantation

261 Turnberry Village Villa | Palmetto Dunes

44 Yorkshire Drive | Wexford

Lagoon Views - 3 Bedroom - 2 Bath MLS #355994 | $399,000

Golf Views - 2 Bedroom - 2 Bath MLS #351054 | $329,000

Golf / Lagoon View - 5 Bedroom - 5.5 Bath MLS #351584 | $1,099,000

29 Oglethorpe Lane | Palmetto Hall

19 Jacana Street | Forest Beach

275 Long Cove Drive | Long Cove

Golf Views - 4 Bedroom - 3.5 Bath MLS #351206 | $650,000

4th Row - 5 Bedroom - 3 Bath MLS #352475 | $999,000

Lagoon View - 4 Bedrooms - 4 Bath MLS #354921 | $595,000

6 Flagg Road | Palmetto Dunes

3 Ensis Road | Port Royal Plantation

9 Rice Lane | Sea Pines

Private Pool - 4 Bedroom - 4.5 Bath MLS # 355269 | $749,000

6th Row - 3 Bedroom - 2 Bath MLS #342661 | $475,000

Lagoon View - 3 Bedroom - 2.5 Bath MLS #356562 | $489,000

Info@ExploreHHI.com | 843.686.9526 www.ExploreHHI.com

T

R

T

he eed eam is a family owned partnership within Charter One Realty that specializes in Hilton Head Island and Bluffton real estate sales. Consistently ranking in the top 1% in local real estate sales, The Reed Team’s real estate business focuses on oceanfront, oceanside, luxury and golf community properties.

Reed Team

left to right: Lisa Fleming, Carri Fuge, Andy Reed, Charlie Reed, Tom Reed, Richard Reed, Mary Aiana, Anne Wilson

Having more than 100 years of combined local real estate experience, The Reed Team applies unparalleled competence, professionalism and innovation to their clients’ real estate goals - delivering real experience and real results.

Real Results.

14 Rice Mill Lane | Long Cove

2114 Windsor Place II Villas | Palmetto Dunes

3 Charlesfort Place | Hilton Head Plantation

Golf Views - 4 Bedroom - 4 Bath MLS #356340 | $719,000

Oceanfront - 1 Bedroom - 2 Bath MLS #353916 | $465,000

Port Royal Sound View - Waterfront - 4 Bedroom - 4.5 Bath MLS #350866 | $2,700,000

8 Oak Point Landing | Long Cove | Broad Creek View

9 Catboat | Palmetto Dunes | Oceanfront

Gorgeous home with an office/library off the master bedroom and an open kitchen/family room with lovely water views. There is a 3-car garage, an elevator, a private pool/spa and an incredible media room or 5th bedroom. Scenic Broad Creek views. Prepare to be impressed!

4 Bedroom - 5.5 Bath | MLS #354310 | $1,849,000

Named “Sea Castle” this spacious oceanfront home provides outstanding views and two open living areas for a great family or group vacation. Features 2 master bedrooms a private walkway to ocean as well as a private heated swimming pool. Excellent for primary, secondary, or rental property.

5 Bedroom - 5 Bath - 3 Half Bath | MLS #342675 | $4,199,000

Make the right move - whether you are buying or selling, call us today!

#1 Ranked Real Estate Company in The Lowcountry

CARROLL & DAYTON

David Carroll Cell 843.384.8111 Tracy Dayton Cell 843.686.4000

15 Gannet Street Brand New Beach Home located 4th row to the Ocean!

7 BEDROOMS | 6.5 BATHS | 4,651 SQ. FT. | $1,895,000 Superior construction and craftsmanship! Finishes, trim and details exceed expectations. Open kitchen to great room, plus 2nd floor family room or bonus room. Private heated pool with hot tub, lanai, 4-car garage, plus abundant storage and play areas. Paver drive and patios. Ocean views from several rooms. Fully Designer furnished. Rental projections of $150K. Rentals starting to book for 2017, instant cash flow. Net Rental Guarantee also available.

Search all MLS Listings on our website HiltonHeadHomeSource.com 60 Years of Combined Real Estate Experience and The #1 Real Estate Company CarrollDaytonRealEstate@gmail.com | www.HiltonhHeadHomeSource.com

Rick helped 90 families in 2016 with their real estate needs

OFF PLANTATION HOME

OFF PLANTATION HOME

2 Kent Ct. Where can you get a 4 Br home with a 2-car garage built in 1999 on Hilton Head Island? Right here!

Beautifully renovated kitchen w/granite counter tops, gorgeous new flooring throughout, custom paint and open floor plan! On a corner lot w/plenty of natural light throughout plus a fenced-in backyard. Homes under $300k on the Island are selling fast and 4Br homes will not last, especially at $285,000.

OFF PLANTATION VILLA

OFF PLANTATION VILLA

OFF PLANTATION VILLA

{

76 Point Comfort Low Country 2-

story home with 3 Br/2.5 Ba in Point Comfort on Hilton Head’s South end.

Elevated front porch, back deck w/lower deck built-in 5-person Spa. Fenced-in backyard. Easy access to community dock, boat launch, playground, park and pavilion. Neighborhood activities such as oyster roasts and shrimp boils with amazing sunsets. Only a 10-minute boat ride to Harbour Town. $365,000

3218 The Spa at Port Royal Sound Lowest 2 Br available at The Spa. Villa comes fully furnished with tenant in place! The Spa at Port Royal Sound is a quiet community, rich with amenities and features 1 indoor/2 outdoor pools, tennis, fitness center and 24-hour gated security. New HVAC 2015. Washer/ dryer only a few years old. $65,000 L-3 Marshside Villas Located in the back, very private w/marsh views! 2 Br townhome has undergone major renovations: new sub flooring, all new kitchen, new tile/wood flooring to name a few. Fireplace, large back deck and great storage make this a super buy. Marshside amenities include swimming pool, tennis & fitness center. $129,900 82 Forest Cove Villas This is the best building and best view in all of Forest Cove! This is a top floor 2 Br w/fireplace, great bedroom separation and very, very private. Broad Creek Landing is located on the South end of the Island w/tennis courts, playground, grill area and pool. On-site management too, all for $149,000.

HILTON HEAD LAKES

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

3 Full Sweep East Curb appeal the

minute you pull up the driveway to this custom 3 Br home w/ bonus room and loft. Features gourmet kitchen, huge master bedroom w/large walk-in closet, custom molding, beautiful tile flooring and amazing outdoor living space!

Large enclosed porch and lanai complete w/built-in grill/refrig and more!

Open floor plan w/natural light and lake views. Offered for $484,900.

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

SHIPYARD

10 Oyster Shell Ln. Tastefully updated

and overlooking the 6th hole of Oyster Reef Golf Club and lagoon with a glimpse of Port Royal Sound. On private cul-de-sac only a few steps to the beach walk along the Sound. Bosch appliances, walk-in door-less shower and separate Jacuzzi in master bath. His/her closets w/built-in wall safe, 4-zone HVAC, new 2-zone 85-gallon water system. Owner added more sq. ft., now 4,265! $999,995

6 Village North Very rare “Spinnaker model”, the larger 3 Br floor plan with views of the ICW. Top floor, end unit has a spectacular screened-in porch and view from nearly every room. Governors Harbor Villas are in demand and once you see a sunset here you’ll know why! Open floor plan, great bedroom separation and a fireplace. $395,000 E-2 Golfmaster II Villas Shipyard villa with golf views is fully furnished and in fantastic condition!

Villa has been exceptional on the rental market consistently for years! Desirable open floor plan, hardwoods, fireplace, vaulted ceilings, Carolina Room and storage. Shipyard is a gated community w/beach access and beach lockers. $419,000

• 34, 36 & 38 Jib Sail Ct. Mid-Island location and one of the last opportunities to pick up a great lot for a great price or better yet, all three. Each offered for $49,900.

• 25 Mossy Oak Lane Deep water views on Broad Creek in Crosswinds, a gated community w/dock, pool & Charleston-style homes. Stunning sunsets and majestic sunrises await you to build your future dream home on the perfect lot! $224,900 • 67 Sandcastle Ct. Ocean oriented lot in the gated community of Sandcastles By the Sea. Steps from the beach in the heart of Folly Field, this is a spectacular buy. $99,900

}

“Rick was very positive and encouraging the entire time our home was listed. Since my home was a 2nd home, Rick checked in on the property periodically and let me know if there were any issues. When we finally got an acceptable offer and sales agreement on the table, Hurricane Matthew hit a week before the closing. The storm dropped several trees on the property and house. Even while Rick was evacuated from his own home and residence, he was in touch with me and communicating what he had heard about the area. When he returned to the island, he made it a point to visit all of his listings before he even spent much time at his residence. Rick is very familiar with HHI and its communities. I would strongly recommend Rick Saba as the listing agent or buyers agent.”

Dennis and Kathy, Atlanta 2017

Rick Saba

Carolina Realty Group (843) 683-4701 Rick@TheBestAddressinTown.com www.RickSaba.com

2009 Realtor® of the Year Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors® 2005 President Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors®

Would you like to get AUTO ALERTS on ANY COMMUNITY OR VILLA COMPLEX? Please call (843) 683-4701 or email me today: Rick@TheBestAddressinTown.com

Follow me on the web and on Facebook & Twitter.

Bill True, Christina Galbreath-Gonzalez, Mary Lou Haraburd, Lisa Medford, Nancy Presley, Chris Walker, David Gerwels, Felice LaMarca, Joe Homa, Ciara McMahon, John McMahon, Roni Kincaid, Chuck Chasar, Susie Boehm, Randy Smith

23C Shelter Cove Lane | Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 | 843-785-9500

CHARTER ONE REALTY The One to Turn to for All Your Real Estate Needs

#1 Ranked Real Estate Company in The Lowcountry

FOREST BEACH

FOREST BEACH

PORT ROYAL

INDIGO RUN

10 SEA HAWK LANE $2,299,000 • MLS#356971

1 QUAIL STREET $999,999• MLS#335624

55 SOUTH PORT ROYAL DRIVE $999,000 • MLS#356749

623 COLONIAL DRIVE $775,900 • MLS#350935

OCEANFRONT lot in Forest Beach. Cleared and ready to build on. This home site is one of the largest with 99’ of beach frontage. Sea Hawk is tucked away but still only a short stroll to all the activity of Coligny Plaza. Plans available. This is one of the least expensive, true ocean front lots on the market. Why wait and risk somebody else building their dream home when it should be yours.

LONNIE GOULET

843.338.0094 | lonniegoulet@gmail.com

Outstanding 5 BR, 4.5 BA beach home!

Hardwood floors, granite counter tops, large heated pool with privacy fence around the elevated deck, 1st floor master BR, and 3+ car garage.

CHRIS DELLA ROSA

843.290.1927 | cdellarosa@yahoo.com

The Finest of Everything! Ocean oriented w glistening lagoon views, high end finishes. 3BR/3BA, open foorplan, gourmet kitchen open to dining area & living room plus family room. Close to new beach house Coming Soon!

CHRISTINA FORBIS

843.301.7339 | christina@christinaforbis.com

Absolutely Incredible Lanai Home! A wall of sliders opens completely to a 1640 sq ft screened cover lanai with heated pool, spa, summer kitchen and fireplace. Inside you will find 5 BR/5.5BA, each bedroom has a bath with jetted tub and separate shower. Great room opens to lanai, kitchen and dining area with fireplace. 1st floor Master, oversized 2 car garage and so much more!

ANDY TWISDALE

843.384.7771 | andy@sellhiltonhead.com

LONG COVE

PORT ROYAL

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

PALMETTO HALL

1 COTTON HALL LANE $639,900 • MLS#353774

7 CENTURY DRIVE $630,000 • MLS#355428

5 HALF HITCH COURT $589,000 • MLS#356498

26 TUCKER RIDGE COURT $398,000 • MLS#354849

Fabulous renovation with over 3,500 sq. ft. of open living space. New custom chef’s kitchen, stainless appliances, 40” custom cabinets with soft close drawers, Carrara marble tops, hardwood floors, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, plus office, workout room / studio, 2-story great room overlooking private pool situated on over a half acre lagoon view lot.

DENNIS PUCKEY

843.683.6779 | dennispuckey@aol.com

Sensational Golf & Sunset Views, casually elegant. Updated eat-in kitchen, great room, fireplace, formal LR & DR, 4BR +office, 3BA. 3,005sq. ft., meticulously cared for & recently updated. Close to private beach paths.

CHRISTINA FORBIS

843.301.7339 | christina@christinaforbis.com

Remodeled in 2016 with water view and a pool to match. Private cul de sac. Brand new kitchen, new built in cabinetry, granite counters throughout, freshly painted inside and out.

Pool has new equipment and has just been resurfaced. 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. 3000sqft all on one level with no stairs. 2 large floored attics with great storage, 2 car garage, great flow to the floor plan. Part of Crooked Pond in HHP.

VINCENT HARRISON

843.422.2029 | hiltonheadpro@gmail.com

Turn Key & Carefree Living! 4BR/3.5BA, first floor master+ 3 guest rooms on 2nd floor. Private manicured lot with long golf to lagoon view. Pristine condition! 2,500 sq. ft.

CHRISTINA FORBIS

843.301.7339 | christina@christinaforbis.com

BAYNARD PARK

HAMPTON LAKE

32 STONEY POINT DRIVE $359,000 • MLS#356667

38 HEARTWOOD COURT $321,000 • MLS#356585

This home boasts hardwood floors, 42” cherry kitchen cabinets and cherry built-ins on either side of the gas fireplace. Three bedrooms plus office/den. Dining room and breakfast area.

Open kitchen with bar top. Stainless appliances.

Large screened in porch and outdoor patio that take in the wonderful lagoon/fountain view.

Spacious side entry 2 car garage.

CHRIS DELLA ROSA

843.290.1927 | cdellarosa@yahoo.com

You’re Never far from ONE of our 10 Charter One Realty Offices ...

Private location for this 3 bed, 3 bath villa.

Energy efficient foam, first floor master, large bonus/bedroom upstairs w/bath. Screened in porch and 2 car garage. World Class Amenities.

Convenient HHI & SAV.

RANDY FIX

843.263.8295 | randyfix22@gmail.com

Throughout Hilton Head Island & the Lowcountry, We’re the ONE You Can Turn to for All of Your Real Estate Needs.

www.CharterOneRealty.com | Toll Free 844.526.0002

Betty Hemphill (c) 843-384-2919 www.bettyhemphill.com betty@bettyhemphill.com

Selling Island-wide for Over 25 Years with Over $250 Million Sold!

Ingrid Low

(o) 843-686-6460 (c) 843-384-7095 www.ingridlow.com ingrid@ingridlow.com

Selling Island-wide for Over 29 Years with Over $245 Million Sold!

Ann Webster

(o) 843-686-2523 (c) 843-384-5338 www.annwebster.com ann@annwebster.com

Selling Island-wide for Over 34 Years with Over $250 Million Sold!

E! IC PR

G! TIN LIS

W NE

W NE

40 BAYNARD PARK RD. — Handsome contemporary 3 br plus office, 3 1/2 ba with remodeled kitchen and baths, high vaulted smooth ceilings, 2 car garage, large year round indoor pool, multiple decks and loads of light. Views of Harbour Town 14th green and across Baynard Park to Calibogue Sound. Great opportunity to be in this sought after neighborhood! $1,250,000.

30 MISTY MORNING DR. – HILTON HEAD PLANTATION – Spacious 3

35 N. CALIBOGUE CAY — Enjoy sunsets and DEEP WATER views over the Calibogue Sound from this stunning setting. A rare opportunity to build the house of your dreams on this secluded Sea Pines peninsula. $1,695,000

30 GULL POINT ROAD IN SEA PINES — Great opportunity to be part of Gull Pt Assn with marina, kayak racks, Har-Tru tennis courts, children’s playground and less than a mile to the beach. Terrific marsh views! 2 car carport, 14 ft elev. Priced at lot value. $975,000

4 CLUB COURSE LANE – SEA PINES – Charming 3 BR/2BA home facing Newhall Preserve. Approx. 2388 s.ft. High and vaulted ceilings throughout. Lovely sun room. Fireplace. All on one floor. Large deck, spacious dining room. 2-car garage. $529,000 $449,000

5 LAUGHING GULL — Quality built beach home located on the 3rd row walkway in Sea Pines. 4 bedrooms, fully furnished, private pool, excellent rental history. $1,595,000

370 LONG COVE DRIVE — Just remodeled 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath with

20 WINDJAMMER COURT - SEA PINES - Unique “Low Country” style home on Lagoon in HT. WALK to Golf /Tennis /new Club House. 4 BR/3½ BA, PLUS office/study. Elaborate Master suite downstairs. Never rented. Pristine condition. FP, pool, fenced area for pets. Ideal primary or 2nd home, or great rental. $795,000 UNF

14 WOODBINE PLACE — SEA PINES Charming Sea Pines home overlooking the new Atlantic Dunes golf course and only minutes from the Beach Club, 4 bedrooms, cozy family room/kitchen combo, ideal bedroom separation, all on one floor. $899,000

1765 BLUFF VILLA – SEA PINES – Delightful top floor 1 BR, 1 BA villa with balcony & great water views. Light & bright end unit. Nicely furnished & well maintained. Good rental property. $219,500 Furn.

4 PINTAIL — SEA PINES – Beautifully updated 3 BR South Beach home; private heated pool, screened porch, lagoon view, 4th row beach house. $699,000 furn.

sunset views over lagoon and 2nd fairway of top ranked Pete Dye Course in Long Cove Club with private marina, heated pool, tennis, golf and new clubhouse. Handsome curb appeal, wood floors, granite and stainless. $788,500

891 KETCH COURT – SEA PINES — Extensive remodel with smooth ceilings, new cabinets, baths, kitchen, furniture this 3 bedroom/3 bath townhome is on the top two floors of the mid rise building.

Great rental history, turn key condition. $369,000 Furnished.

BR/2.5BA home overlooking beautiful lg. lagoon. Lg. living room w/ high ceilings, wood floor and FP. Inviting foyer w/ skylight. Eat-in kitchen, lg. laundry room, screen porch. Generous decking, 2-car garage. $405,000

SEA PINES REAL ESTATE AT THE BEACH CLUB WWW.

BEACHCLUBREALESTATE .COM

8 PLANTERS WOOD DRIVE – SEA PINES

305-C HILTON HEAD BEACH & TENNIS – FOLLY FIELD

50 GOVERNORS LANE – SEA PINES

Fabulous custom home on 2 lots with expansive Heron Point golf and lagoon views. 4 BR, 4 1/2 BA, great room, gourmet kitchen. Perfect for entertaining.

MLS #355296 $1,739,000

Updated December 2016. Open floor plan. Bedroom features a wood like tile for warmth & sound buffering. Electric fireplace & Contemporary furniture throughout. Upscale kitchen & bathroom w/a walk-in tiled shower. Ocean view & a private landscape view from the balcony.

MLS #356619 $170,000

Gently used home has cedar lined closets, two huge bedrooms upstairs with lots of light. Full size lot and is third from cul-de-sac at end of Governors Lane. Full size laundry room, kitchen, walk-in pantry, oversized 2 car garage, high cathedral ceilings and wood floors.

MLS #357028 $439,900

Mary Pracht 843.298.1715

Mary Pracht 843.298.1715

7 BLACK DUCK ROAD – SEA PINES

111 WINDSOR PLACE – VILLA – PALMETTO DUNES

345 GREENWOOD GARDEN – SEA PINES

Stylish contemporary beach house features a Bosch appointed kitchen, a bright open living and dining area that’s ideal for entertaining. Relax in the recreational level that includes game room and bar.

MLS #354405 $3,595,000

1st floor Oceanfront Villa, 1Br 2Ba end unit with views overlooking ocean and pool courtyard area. Nice large balcony. New kitchen appliances as of 2013. One of the brighter and bigger one bedrooms.

MLS #354535 $433,000

Completely remodeled in 2014. Wonderful interior courtyard and back deck looks over the Pete Dye Heron Point golf course.

Granite throughout, with updated floors. 3 bedrooms 3 baths.

Pine plank wood ceilings. Community pool redone in 2014.

MLS #350478 $510,000

840 KETCH COURT – SEA PINES

78 MYRTLE BANK ROAD – HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

2003 TURTLE LANE – SEA PINES

Beautifully redone 3 bedroom, 2 bath 2nd floor flat, upgrades galore and picture perfect Harbour Town marina view right out to Calibogue Sound. Used sparingly - not rented - Easy to show!

MLS #353804 $685,000

4 BR/3 BA home with screened porch, golf view, and walking distance to the Port Royal sound. New flooring in the LR, DR and bedrooms, freshly painted and landscaped. Enjoy amenities of Hilton Head Plantation including a large pool, har-tru tennis courts, and more!.

MLS #355147 $369,000

Updated 3 BR, 3 BA Oceanfront“End Unit.”New granite in beautiful white & stainless kitchen. Largest 3 BR floorplan with custom wall treatments. Tile floors and total privacy with stunning oceanfront views. Private gated enclave with 2 pools. Short walk to amenities.

MLS #357036 $1,749,000

Tommy Austin 843.384.7033

Wendy Corbitt 843.816.2672

Pete Rebish 843.290.0998

CO UN NT DE RA R CT

Jeannie Lawrence 843.816.2275

Jeannie Lawrence

Mary Pracht

Jeff Hall

Recipients of 2016 President’s Cup

YO U R M O S T T R U S T E D R E A LT O R S

Wendy Corbitt

Tommy Austin

Pete Rebish

B E S T I N T H E LOWC O U N T R Y S I N C E 1 9 5 7

Richard MacDonald Team Richard MacDonald

Richard@RMacDonald.com cell: 843-384-8797 | office: 843-681-3307

Joey Doyle

JoeyDoyle@CharterOneRealty.com cell: 843-290-5055 | office: 843-681-3307

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

INDIGO RUN

INDIGO RUN

“WHITE CAPS” Waterfront Estate. Main house, Guest Cottage and Pool House. Infinity edge pool overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway and Port Royal Sound. Screened Porch Garage $2,850,000

RIBAUT ISLAND – Stately Southern Living Home with covered porches with views and breezes over the Port Royal Sound. Grand Foyer; Private Master Suite plus 3 Guest Rooms. $759,900

ISLAND LIFE STYLE Home with a Screened Lanai, Pool and Hot Tub in the private Golf Club of Indigo Run. 4 Bedrooms, 4 Full Baths. Popular Great Room plan opening to large Chef’s Kitchen. 3 car garage. $749,900

SOUGHT AFTER, Raintree Grande Model overlooking the 14th Fairway/15th Green of the private Golf Club. 5 Bedrooms or 4 Bedrooms + Bonus Room, 5.5 Baths. Elegant Living and Dining Room. $739,900

INDIGO RUN

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

PALMETTO HALL

PALMETTO HALL

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL NEW “Homes by Marshside” Covered Porch overlooking 16th Fairway in The Golf Club. 4 Bedrooms and 4 Full Baths $719,000

BEAUTIFUL HOME – Within walking distance to the CCHH and Skull Creek Marina + panoramic view of the 10th Fairway. Completely updated! 3 Bedrooms + Study | Office. $649,900

MODEL PERFECT 5 Bedroom or 4 Bedroom + Bonus Room home with 5.5 Baths with a beautiful Golf View. Professionally decorated home with loads of upgrades. $639,000

CLASSIC LowCountry, custom built home, conveniently located across the street from the Clubhouse and amenities. 4 Bedrooms + Bonus Room. Study/ Den. Screen Porch + tons of storage. $539,000

FOLLY FIELD

FOLLY FIELD

INDIGO RUN

INDIGO RUN

BEAUTIFUL DIRECT OCEANFRONT villa with panoramic OCEANFRONT View! Fully furnished 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, 1st floor Sea Cloisters villa. Great 2nd home or rental property. $535,000

PANORAMIC OCEANFRONT View with 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths, fully furnished villa. Sea Cloisters is a private oceanfront complex with 64 units, a beautiful Oceanside pool and security gated entrance. $530,000

BEAUTIFUL HOME overlooking the 16th Fwy of Golden Bear. 3 Bedrooms + an office (or 4th Bedroom).

Very open floor plan. Spacious Kitchen|Breakfast| Family Room. 2 car garage. $525,000

POPULAR COURTYARD style Home overlooking Otter Creek. Spacious 4 Bedroom, 4 Bath home with a beautiful Courtyard Swimming Pool. $519,000

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

PALMETTO HALL

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

CUSTOM HOME overlooking the 4th Fairway of Oyster Reef. 3 Bedrooms + Bonus Room|Study - possible 4th Bedroom, 3.5 Baths. Quality construction!

Elegant Living and Dining Room. $485,000

PANORAMIC Lagoon | Golf View. 4 Bedrooms (2 down and 2 up) + Bonus Room (or 5th Bedroom) and 3 Full Baths. Light filled Carolina Room. Great Value - New Carpet, New Paint and New Roof! $439,900

RENOVATED HOME at the end of a cul-de-sac overlooking a tranquil lagoon. Spacious Living space opens to a beautiful new kitchen. Elegant Master Bedroom and Bath. Guest Suite. New roof and driveway. $432,500

VIEWS ACROSS GOLF COURSE to Dolphin Head Beach from this cottage style home on a quiet cul-de-sac. Remodeled with beautiful upgrades! 3 Bedrooms and 2 Baths. 2ND Home. $389,000

HILTON HEAD PLANTATION

ROSE HILL

CONTACT RICHARD MACDONALD FOR INCREDIBLE HOMESITES HILTON HEAD PLANTATION 3 Neptune Court . . . . . . . $185,000

PALMETTO HALL 15 Madison Lane . . . . . . . $107,000

INDIGO RUN

HAMPTON HALL 6 Normandy Circle . . . . . . . $60,000

14 Hummock Place . . . . . . $399,000 BEST VALUE 4 Bedroom Home! Large Great Room with hardwood floors and fireplace with brick accent wall. Kitchen/Breakfast Room. Two Master Suites or mother-in-law suite. $325,000

BEAUTIFUL, move in ready home! Open floor plan. 3 Bedrooms and 2.5 Baths. Heart pine floors, Screened-in Porch, new stainless steel appliances, New carpet and paint in guest rooms. New Roof. $319,000

21 Larium Place . . . . . . . $199,000 35 Lancaster Place . . . . . . $179,900

BERKELEY HALL 4 Rice Hope . . . . . . . . . . $10,000

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WHAT TO DO

FEB. 1: URBAN TREES VS. URBAN FORESTS ... FEB. 3: CAROLINA

MARCH 6-11

Hilton Head International Piano Competition: Twenty of the world’s best pianists, ages 13-17, compete in three exciting rounds for $21,500 in cash prizes.

In addition, the First Prize winner earns a return engagement as soloist with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, and other performance opportunities. The prestigious 2017 juries are comprised of eight internationally acclaimed pianists from numerous countries.

For more information and a schedule of events, go to www.hhipc.org.

FEBRUARY CALENDAR FEB. 1

Urban Trees vs. Urban Forests: Why Biodiversity Matters: 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 1, The Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Sally Krebs, the sustainable practices coordinator for the Town of Hilton Head Island, will help guests learn why urban trees and forest matter. One of the most sustainable actions we can take is to help preserve earth’s biodiversity, the many different forms of life with which we share our planet. The cost is $7 per person and reservations are required by calling 843-689-6767, ext. 223.

FEB. 1, 9, 15, 23

Birding at Pinckney Island: 8 a.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 1, 9 and 15, and Thursday, Feb. 23, Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge. The Coastal Discovery Museum will host a winter birdwatching program at Pinckney Island led by experienced bird watchers from the museum. The program is $12 per person and reservations are required by calling 843-689-6767, ext. 223, or by going to www.coastaldiscovery.org.

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FEB. 3

Carolina Swing: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, the Rooftop Bar at Poseidon Restaurant, Shelter Cove Towne Centre, Hilton Head Island. Carolina Swing, a nine-member band featuring the vocals of Candice Skingley, will perform for cocktails and dancing.

Tickets are required for this event and are available at https://carolinaswing. eveyevents.com. For more information, call 843-707-7813.

FEB. 4

HHSO Youth Concerto Competition: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, St. Luke’s Church, Hilton Head Island. Ten instrumentalists from throughout the southeastern United States have been selected from a field of 50 applicants to compete for cash prizes and a chance to perform as a soloist with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra.

They will perform on violin, cello and clarinet. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door the afternoon of the performance or by calling the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra office at 843-842-2055.

Miss Bluffton/ Miss Hilton Head Island Pageant: 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, Hilton Head Island High School’s Seahawk Cultural Center, 70 Wilborn Road. Four young ladies will compete for the crown at this preliminary for the Miss America Pageant.

Presented by the Miss Bluffton/ Miss Hilton Head Island Scholarship Organization. Tickets will be available on the day of the pageant and can be purchased at the door. For more information, visit www.missbluffton.com.

FEB. 4-5

Junior Heritage Golf Tournament: Saturday, Feb. 4, Atlantic Dunes by Davis Love III, and Sunday, Feb. 5, Harbour Town Golf Links. The Junior Heritage has a rich history of worldclass golf with a list of champions that includes Paula Creamer, Charles Howell III, Brittany Lang, Sean O’Hair, Kyle Stanley and Alexis Thompson. For more information, call 843-363-8385.

FEB. 5

Super Sunday Golf Tournament: 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, Palmetto Dunes Resort, 4 Queens Folly Road, Hilton

Head Island. Captain’s choice format on the Robert Trent Jones Course.

Prizes will be awarded for closest to the pin, longest drive, low team gross, and low team net. For more information, go to www.palmettodunes.com.

FEB. 6, 20

Let’s Make a Movie: 4:30 p.m. Feb. 6 and 20, Bluffton Library, 120 Palmetto Way. Make a movie from start to finish. Use camera equipment, editing software and even a green screen.

For ages 8 and older. Registration is required. Free. For more information, go to beaufortcountylibrary.org, contact kbaxter@bcgov.net or call 843255-6510.

FEB. 8

Women’s Association of Hilton Head Luncheon: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, Sonesta Resort in Shipyard Plantation. Kathy Merlino will present “The Changing Landscape of Retirement.” Explore the changing landscape of retirement and how to respond to it. To make a reservation, sign up at www.wahhi.com.

NA SWING ... FEB. 4: HHSO YOUTH CONC Liberal Men of the Lowcountry: noon Wednesday, Feb. 8, the Golf Club at Indigo Run, 101 Berwick Drive.

Beaufort County Solicitor Isaac Stone will discuss his office’s role in assisting victims of crime, his approach to dealing with violent crime and other legal issues that concern the citizens of the county. Lunch is $20. For details, contact Richard Hammes at 847-921-8188 or rhammes@comcast.net.

Hilton Head Area Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America: noon Wednesday, Feb. 8, Santa Fe Café, 807 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. For more information on the monthly luncheon meeting, contact Mary Lou Fehrman at marylou101041@aol.com.

FEB. 9

Heart Making Crafts: 3:30-6 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9, Bluffton Library, 120 Palmetto Way. Drop in and make a Valentine’s Day craft for that special someone. For all ages. Free. For more information, visit beaufortcountylibrary. org, contact kbaxter@bcgov.net or call 843-255-6510.

FEB. 10

Organ/Piano Duet Concert: noon Friday, Feb. 10, St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church, 20 Pope Ave., Hilton Head Island. The Low Country Chapter of the American Guild of Organist’s is presenting an organ/piano duet featuring Debby Graves of St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church, Linda Hamilton of Holy Family Catholic Church, Nina Rodman of St. Luke’s Church, and JooSoo Son of Providence Presbyterian Church. Free.

843-785-4711, hhiumc.com.

FEB. 11

Hilton Head Preparatory School Annual Jubilee: 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, Sonesta Resort, 130 Shipyard Drive, Hilton Head Island. The evening’s theme will be “Love is in the Air,” celebrating the enormous love that is found in Hilton Head Prep’s community. The focus of the evening will be to honor and showcase distinguished individuals for their leadership and unyielding commitment to Hilton Head Prep and the community. hhprep.org, 843-715-8536.

FEB. 18-26

The Intercontinental Art Experience Show and Lecture Series: noon-7 p.m. daily, Tabby Place, 809 Port Republic St., Beaufort. Explore the artistic bridge between Europe and America. The close historical ties between these two geographic regions will be showcased on the local level in Beaufort. Internationally recognized French artists will be joined by popular Lowcountry artists in a curated exhibit that explores life and landscape of coastal France and South Carolina. The show will host a lecture series, “Art for Lunch,” from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. The public is invited to bring a bag lunch and join a conversation led by experts in contemporary art, French regional culture and local history. The event is free, but reservations are required as seating is limited. For more information, contact Anderson Kenney Fine Art at 843-470-0218 or go to andersonkenney.com.

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WHAT TO DO

FEB. 11: PUBLIX HILTON HEAD ISLAND MARATHON .. FEB. 11: FIN

Foundation for Educational Excellence’s JEWELS AND JEANS event set

I

t’s hard to imagine a more fitting local event than the Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival.

Denim, dancing and dedication to a great cause: What could be more fun? The Foundation for Educational Excellence’s annual Jewels and Jeans fundraiser will take place from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4 at the Country Club of Hilton Head, 70 Skull Creek Drive. This year, the foundation will recognize the Esquivel family as the recipients of the 2017 Peggy May Inspiration Award for their lifelong work to bridge the cultural gap on Hilton Head Island and throughout the Lowcountry.

The Peggy May Inspiration Award recognizes those who demonstrate extraordinary dedication, passion and skills that influence and inspire local students. The award is named for the late Peggy May, who served as county and state director of adult literacy,

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and board chairwoman of the Foundation for Educational Excellence. Other previous recipients include 2013 “American Idol” winner Candice Glover and Food Network contestant Orchid Paulmeier.

Established in 2007 to support Beaufort County public schools, the Foundation for Educational Excellence supports student academic enrichment activities and projects through Innovative Teaching Grants, School Resource Grants and Student Enrichment Grants. Proceeds from the Jewels and Jeans event will allow the foundation to award grants to exceptional Beaufort County teachers for projects that are not fully funded through traditional channels.

The fun-filled evening includes a live and silent auction with incredible items, fabulous food and lively entertainment by local favorite Deaz-Guys. Get your tickets soon, because this event usually sells out quickly.

Since 2009, proceeds from this event and other fundraisers have allowed the foundation to award more than $140,000 in grants to teachers and students in the Beaufort County public school system. The foundation is a 501(c)3 and part of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

For more information, go to www. foundationedexcellence.com or call 843415-2331. M

FINE ART & FINE WINE ... FEB. 11: THE SALTY DOG HEART HUNT .. FEB. 11: BIG SCR

FEB. 11

2017 Publix Hilton Head Island Marathon, Half Marathon & 8K: 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, departing from Jarvis Creek Park. Participants will follow a course that will take them on the Cross Island Parkway, through several parks, numerous neighborhoods and over Broad Creek. Participants will receive a colorful long-sleeve tech T-shirt, plus all finishers will receive a medal. The Sonesta Hilton Head Resort & Spa will host a Race Expo and Packet Pick-Up on Friday, Feb. 10. To register, volunteer or for more information, call Bear Foot Sports at 843-757-8520 or visit bearfootsports.com.

“Fine Art & Fine Wine”: 5-9 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11, Rotary Community Center, Oscar Frazier Community Park, Bluffton. Tickets are $25 and include the wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres, and the opportunity to bid on great art donated by local artists. Tickets are available at the SOBA Gallery. For more information, visit sobagallery.com or call 843-247-2868.

The Salty Dog Heart Hunt: 10 a.m.

Salty Dog Bluffton Restaurant and Pizza, 1414 Fording Island Road, Bluffton.

Join in for the beginning of Salty Dog hunting season. Kids can search for hidden hearts that are redeemable for free Salty Dog T-shirts, prizes and treats.

After the hunt, Jake the Salty Dog will be giving away free hugs and Beth Green, The Music Lady, will charm kids of all ages with her whimsical music style. Come out and fall in love with The Salty Dog! Visit bluffton.saltydog.com for more information.

Big Screen Matinee “Iris”: 1-3 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11, Hilton Head Library.

Enjoy the town’s free big screen at our monthly showings with refreshments. “Iris” is a documentary by Albert Maysles about a quick-witted, flamboyantly dressed 93-year-old style maven who had an outsized presence on the New York fashion scene for decades. This screening will be followed by an opportunity to discuss the film.

For more information about the event, contact Lauren Read at 843-255-6531 or lread@bcgov.net,

MARCH 5

Cooks & Books celebrates its 11th year on March 5 at the Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa. The event, the signature fundraiser for The Literacy Center, offers ticketholders more than a dozen tastings from the best Lowcountry restaurants and the opportunity to vote for the People’s Choice Award, naming the best restaurant overall. Other crowd favorites include The Heat Is On chefs competition and the extensive array of authors conducting book-signings and meet-and-greets. This year’s event will feature one-of-akind items up for grabs at a silent auction, including a Gullah dinner party for up to eight, an oyster roast at Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks for 10, and a chef’s gourmet in-home cooking class. The event will include 18 awardwinning authors and 16 area restaurants. Find more information online at theliteracycenter.org.

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WHAT TO DO

FEB. 4: DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE ... FEB. 12: HELPING PARENT

FEB. 12

Helping Parents Heal: 1-4 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 12, Just Be Centre, 159 State St., Bluffton. Monthly meetings of this nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting parents who have lost children, giving them support and resources to aid in the healing process.

For more information, contact Irene Vouvalides at 201-233-6015 or email ivouvalides@aol.com.

MOAA New and Eligible Members: 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. Dinner for new and eligible MOAA members. To make a reservation or for more information, email jayne.danoff@gmail.com.

FEB. 4

Daddy-Daughter Dance: 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4, Rooftop Bar at Poseidon Restaurant, Shelter Cove Towne Centre, Hilton Head Island. The theme of this year’s Daddy-Daughter Dance is “A Sweet Evening,” inspired by “Candy Land”.

Dads and daughters will have fun dancing, indulging at the candy bar, and taking silly photos at the selfie station. Pre-sale prices are $25 per father-daughter couple, and $10 for additional children. At the door, tickets are $30 per couple and $15 for additional children. Tickets are available online at www.islandreccenter.org or at the Island Rec Center office at 20 Wilborn Road.

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FEB. 13

Hilton Head Christian Academy’s Life Plus Seminar: 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, Hilton Head Christian Academy, 55 Gardner Drive, Hilton Head Island. Topics will be: “Let them be Little—K-4th,” “Adolescents—5th7th,” and “Sex and Dating—8th-12th.”

For more information, visit hhca.org.

FEB. 14

Salty Dog Sweetheart Cruise: 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14. This Valentine’s Day set sail for romance. The evening starts with a sunset champagne cruise around Calibogue Sound featuring live music with Sara Burns and concludes with a custom Valentine’s Day menu crafted by executive chef Herb Britton.

Cruise only is $50 per couple, cruise and dinner is $125 per couple. For more information, visit cruise.saltydog. com.

Legal Clinic: Family Law Issues: 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, Hilton Head Library. Free. For more information, contact Priscilla Pomazal at 843-2556524 or priscillap@bcgov.net, or visit beaufortcountylibrary.org.

Microsoft Word Basics: 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Feb. 24, Hilton Head Library.

Get started with this indispensable word processing program. Registration is required. Free. For more information, visit beaufortcountylibrary.org or contact Lauren Read at 843-255-6531.

NTS HEAL ... FEB. 13: HILTON HEAD CHR

HILTON HEAD PREP PRESENTS

JAMES

AND THE

GIANT PEACH H

ilton Head Preparatory School presents its second show of the school year with the Upper School performance of the musical adaptation of the curiously quirky book “James and the Giant Peach.” Featuring a Tony Awardnominated score, “James” is now a musical the whole family can to enjoy! The show runs Feb. 23-26 at Hilton Head Prep’s Main Street Theatre.

The story follows a boy named James, who is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree.

Instead, he discovers a magic potion that results in a tremendous peach and launches a journey of enormous proportions as he finds himself in the center of the gigantic peach among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities. But after the giant fruit falls from the tree and rolls into the ocean, the group faces hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements.

Thanks to James’ quick wit and creative thinking, the peach’s inhabitants learn to live and work together as a family. The dangerous voyage is a success, but the adventure takes a whole new twist once they land on the Empire State Building.

A delightfully offbeat adaptation of the classic Roald Dahl adventure, Prep students are able to get creative with the production of “James and the Giant Peach.” Cast members include Avery Campbell as Ladahlord, Ava Nixon as James, Shannon Hegarty as Spiker, Sophie Rudloff as Sponge, and Serina Xiong, Keegan Crotty, Grace Jarrell, Caylin Campis and Luke Herman.

Also joining the show are ensemble cast members Baylor Horne, Hayden Garniewicz, Logan Blair, Susan Brooks and Anna Pellicci.

This gifted cast, under the inventive and witty direction of Ian McCabe, Prep’s director of performing arts, is sure to sweep you up in the magic of James’ amazing journey across the ocean and to faraway cities. This show is a “masterpeach,” and you won’t want to miss it.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 23-25, with 2 p.m. matinees on Feb. 25-26. Online ticket prices for the “James and the Giant Peach” are $10 for students, $20 for adults, and $15 for seniors ages 65 or older. Prices at the door are $12 for students, $25 for adults, and $15 for seniors ages 65 or older. For tickets and information, go to www.hhprep. org or call 843-715-8510. M February 2017 163

WHAT TO DO

FEB. 20-26: HILTON HEAD ISLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL ... FEB. 7

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL HILTON HEAD ISLAND SEAFOOD FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH WEEK OF EVENTS

I

BY DON MCLOUD

t’s hard to imagine a more fitting local event than the Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival.

This year’s fest spans the week of Feb. 20-26, allowing participants to not only sample the finest delicacies from local waters, but also to learn to catch and cook their own culinary creations. Heading into its 10th year, the event now attracts chefs from near and far to serve up their tastiest dishes in picturesque water-view settings. Along with sumptuous fare, attendees can get lost in the sounds of live bluegrass and R&B tunes and sample an array of special libations. This year also brings a new event, the Coastal Culinary & Heritage Dinner, on Feb. 23 in the courtyard of the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort. The dinner will focus on African influences on coastal cuisine, with chefs from around the country.

The following night, Feb. 24, the scenic grounds of the Waddell Mariculture Center in Bluffton will be filled with mouthwatering aromas from the Pig Pickin’ and Oyster Roast, featuring whole hogs cooked all night by pit masters. Bluegrass band Town Mountain will perform.

Then on Feb. 25, the festival’s main event will fill Shelter Cove Community Park with more than a dozen local restaurants, artisans, beverage sponsors and family-friendly activities. Town Mountain will give an encore performance, and local favorites Deas-Guyz will also hit the stage.

Andrew Carmines, whose family helped start the festival 10 years ago to raise money for the David M. Carmines Foundation, says the festival’s timing couldn’t be better, as many islanders need a chance to blow off steam after dealing with Hurricane Matthew damage.

“I hope people are ready to party,” Carmines says. “Hopefully by February, Matthew will be a distant memory, and everybody will be ready to get together and

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have a good time.”

The festival also carries a more serious purpose, having raised about $250,000 over the years for local and state charities.

The money is distributed by the foundation, which is a memorial to Andrew’s brother David Carmines, who died of cancer at age 24.

Andrew Carmines says organizers focus on attracting talented chefs and coming up with new events that appeal to locals and visitors.

This year, for instance, the festival partnered with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program for the heritage dinner. The watch program helps consumers make seafood choices that are better for the environment. Chef Matthew Beaudin will travel from California to cook and demonstrate sustainable seafood practices. Chef BJ Dennis of Charleston will bring some new twists to Gullah fare. And award-winning cookbook author and chef Nathalie Dupree will whip up mouthwatering Southern delicacies.

“The talent this year is incredible,” says Kelly Smith, public relations official. “We’ve got so many chefs, pit masters and people coming in from out of town that are just so well-known in the culinary industry.”

During the week, participants can take excursions with Capt. Chris Shoemaker to catch shrimp, crabs, clams and oysters in local waters. When they return to the docks, chefs will be standing by to cook up their catches for a feast. And if you ever wanted to learn how to slow-cook a whole hog, you can attend a class with pit masters Feb. 23, the day before the pig pickin’. The festival also features other cooking courses and demos with celebrity chefs on Feb. 21 and 22.

As they celebrate the event’s 10th anniversary, organizers are proud of the festival’s evolution and local flair.

“We want the events to feel very friendly and fun and quintessentially Lowcountry,” Carmines says. M

EVENTS

Here’s a rundown of the events for this month’s Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival Presented by Publix. For event tickets and more details, go to www.hiltonheadseafoodfestival.com: Lowcountry Seafood Experiences on the Water: Feb. 20-24, times vary by the tides. Boat departs from Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks. Call 843-304-2878 for reservations. Tickets are $55 per person.

Celebrity Guest Chef Cooking Classes & Demos: 1-3 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22; 4-6 p.m. Feb. 23. Cost is $39 per person per event; $99 for all three classes.

Coastal Culinary & Heritage Dinner: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Feb. 23, with a special VIP event at 5:30 p.m., Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort. Various ticket options available.

Pig Pickin’ and Oyster Roast: 6-9 p.m.

Feb. 24, Waddell Mariculture Center in Bluffton. Various ticket options available.

Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival: Feb. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Shelter Cove Community Park. Adult admission is $7 at the gate; free for kids 10 and younger.

B. 7-26: LEADING LADIES ... FEB. 8: DIEG

‘LEADING LADIES’ A comedy of cash, courtship and a little concealer

T

he Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s fastpaced winter comedy, “Leading Ladies,” is certain to chase away any February blues. Onstage Feb. 7-26, the “laugh-asecond farce” was penned by Broadway’s reigning comedy writer, Ken Ludwig (“Lend Me a Tenor,” “Moon Over Buffalo”), assuring a hugely entertaining night of theater.

In the play, two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that Florence, an old lady in nearby York is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long-lost English nephews, they decide to pass themselves off as her relatives and get the cash. The only problem? Florence’s relatives aren’t nephews but nieces.

Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-overpetticoat

in love with the old lady’s vivacious niece, Meg, who’s engaged to Duncan, the local minister.

Meg has always wanted to be an actress in a Shakespearean play, especially “Twelfth Night,” and when she finally meets her cousins, “Maxine” and “Stephanie,” she gets the taste of showbiz that she’s longed for. Throw in an lascivious old doctor who can’t seem to diagnose his way out of a paper bag and his addlebrained son, Butch, who is madly in love with Audrey, a ditzy blonde server on roller skates at a nearby restaurant, and you have the necessary ingredients for this madcap farcical romp that will keep you laughing all night long.

Tickets for preview performances Feb. 7-9 are $38 for adults and $27 for children ages 5-15; tickets for performances Feb. 10-26 are $48 for adults and $33 for children. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Arts Center Box Office at 843-8422787 or by going to tickets.artshhi. com. M

Ethan Saks and Jack Lafferty

PHOTO BY TR MEDIA WORLD

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WHAT TO DO

FEB. 15: HUMAN IMPACT ON

FEB. 15

“Human Impact on Wild Fish Populations and the Need for Sustainable Aquaculture”: 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 15, Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Al Stokes, manager of the Waddell Mariculture Center, will present a program on population growth, impacts on fisheries and the need for sustainable aquaculture technology. The cost is $7 per person for ages 12 and older and reservations are required due to limited seating.

For reservations, call 843-689-6767, ext. 223.

The Lowcountry Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon and Fashion Show: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, Hampton Hall Clubhouse, 170 Hampton Hall Blvd., Bluffton. The fashion show will feature the latest fashions and accessories from Chico’s and will be followed by guest speaker Deanna Hansen-Doying of Beaufort.

The cost is $25, with prepaid reservations due by Wednesday, Feb. 8. For more details, contact Carol at 843-7057604.

FEB. 16

The Palmetto Quilt Guild Monthly Meeting : 1 p.m. Feb. 16, Hilton

FEB. 26

Head Beach & Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Road, Hilton Head Island. Guests are welcome. The focus for February is a trunk show of machine quilting techniques. Come and learn how to enhance your quilts with free motion quilting designs. More information can be found at www.palmettoquiltguild. com. Any other questions, please call 304-543-6529.

FEB. 19

Memory Matters 20th Anniversary Kick-Off Brunch: Sunday, Feb. 19, Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Road, Hilton Head Island. Retiring executive director Eddy Hoyle’s countless contributions to Memory Matters and our community will be recognized at Memory Matters’ 20th Anniversary Kick-Off Brunch. For information and tickets, call 843-8426688 or go to www.memory-matters. org.

FEB. 23

MOAA Monthly Meeting: 11:30 a.m., lunch at noon, Thursday, Feb. 23, Country Club of Hilton Head, 70 Skull Creek Drive. Monthly meeting of the Military Officers Association of America.

For more information, contact Mary Lou Fehrman at marylou101041@aol. com.

23rd annual VanLandingham Rotary Auction: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26. Tune in to WTOC and bid on unique items auctioned simultaneously live and online. Proceeds will go to local children’s organizations and charities, including The First Tee of the Lowcountry, The Sandbox and The Deep Well Project. Items will be open for preview on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Open bidding starts Thursday, Feb. 23. For more information, visit vlrauction.com.

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ON WIL

SPORTS CLAY SHOOT

raising funds for local charities

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he Children’s Relief Fund will hold its sixth annual Sports Clay Shoot on March 10. The event has grown from a small casual fundraiser to an annual favorite gathering. Whether it’s the popularity of one of America’s fastest growing sports or the meaningful contribution and purpose behind the event, the day has a good vibe all around — great people having great fun for a great cause.

From the beginning, this event has been about the experience.

The atmosphere is authentic and the participants, sponsors and volunteers are warm-hearted.

It’s a fun day of sportsmanship and camaraderie, all to benefit Children’s Relief Fund, Pockets Full of Sunshine and the area’s specialneeds adult population.

Pockets Full of Sunshine is a relatively new nonprofit group looking to increase opportunities for adults with special needs in the Lowcountry. Through providing inclusive employment opportunities for exceptional individuals, the organization hopes to increase these residents’ exposure and interaction with the community as well as provide them with increased independence, growth and a sense of personal pride.

Since its inception, the sports

IF YOU GO

What: Sports Clay Shoot When: 9 a.m., March 10 Where: Forest City Gun Club, Savannah Details: Exhibition, team shooting, silent auction and more.

More information: 843-384-1315, thechildrensrelieffund.org

clay shoot has been held at the Forest City Gun Club in Savannah. The private club boasts more than 537 acres and is the country’s oldest continuously operated skeet, trap and sporting clay shooting club.

The event begins at 9 a.m. with coffee and check-in, followed by a beginners clinic and five-stand warm-up, with lunch and a reception at 11 a.m., an exhibition at 12:30 p.m. and team shooting at 1 p.m.

The team shooting will be followed by an awards ceremony, reception and silent auction.

Sponsorships and underwriting opportunities are available and community support is greatly appreciated.

For more information or to sign up a team, contact Carol Bartholomew at 843-384-1315 or go to www.thechildrensrelieffund.org and click on the sporting clay shoot banner at the top of the page. M February 2017 167

WHAT TO DO

FEB. 1-MARCH 10: ALL SAINT

FEB. 1-MARCH 10

All Saints Garden Tour Poster Contestants on Display: Feb. 1 through March 10, Hilton Head Hospital, 25 Hospital Center Blvd. Each year, the All Saints Episcopal Church Garden Tour sponsors a poster contest for local artists. The work of the winning artist will appear on the 2017 poster, which will be displayed in businesses throughout Beaufort and Jasper counties. This year, over 60 artists entered work for judging. The public is invited to visit the exhibit and cast their votes for the People’s Choice Award. The contest winner will be announced at a reception in the hospital lobby from 5-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. For more information, call Carole Galli at 843-689-9495.

FEB. 24

First Presbyterian Church Organ Dedication: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, First Presbyterian Church Hilton Head Island, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. Dr. Richard Elliott, principal organist at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, will present an organ dedication concert. At the Mormon Tabernacle,. Elliott participates in the daily recital series on the 206-rank Æolian-Skinner organ and accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on the choir’s weekly radio and TV broadcast, “Music and the Spoken Word.” Free. 843-681-3696.

FEB. 25

Salty Dog Revvin’ Up Oyster Roast: 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Salty Dog Bluffton Restaurant and Pizza, 1414 Fording Island Road, Bluffton. The Lowcountry is known for succulent oysters, and The Salty Dog will be serving them up by the dozen. Enjoy fresh oysters steamed over an open fire and 168 hiltonheadmonthly.com

other cookout favorites served with a side of live entertainment on the café’s stage. Get there early — the oyster bell rings at 4 p.m. Visit bluffton.saltydog. com for more information.

FEB. 25

10th Anniversary Celebration of Justice: 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort.

Sponsored by the board of directors of the Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, the event includes a silent auction and live auction, with music by Harden & Crenshaw. The theme for the event is “Diamonds are Forever” and Dr. Jane Upshaw, recently retired chancellor of University of South Carolina Baufort, will be honored for her service in the community. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 843-815-1570 or go to lowcountrylegalvolunteers.org.

FEB. 27

Otterbein University Concert Choir Concert: 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, Bluffton United Methodist Church, 101

INTS GARDEN TOUR POSTER CONTESTANTS ON DISPLAY ... FEB. 24: FIRST PRE

FEB. 28

Camera Club of Hilton Head Island Meeting: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, 2 Matthews Court, Hilton Head Island. Guest speaker will be Susan Roberts, who will speak on “Hummers to Herons: Adventures in Bird Photography.” Roberts has lived on Edisto Island for the past 20 years and focused on capturing the beauty and mystique of the Lowcountry. Free.

Newcomers and guests are welcome.

For more information, go to www/ cchhi.net.

SAVE THE DATE

MARCH 5

The Hilton Head Shore Notes present “The Magic of Broadway”: 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 5, Seahawk Cultural Center, 70 Wilborn Road. Featured guest quartet is “Speed of Sound,” 2016 International Champions. Tickets are $20 and are available online at www.hhsn2016show.brownpapertickets.com and local outlets: Burke’s, Pretty Papers and Markel’s Gifts. For more information, go to www.hiltonheadshorenotes.com.

FEB. 1-MARCH 31

MARCH 6-12

Hilton Head Food and Wine Festival: Monday, March 6 through Sunday, March 12, Sea Pines Resort. Greet the island’s popular spring season with a six-day celebration to embrace the fruits of global wine partnerships, signature Lowcountry cuisine, grassroots cultural happenings and the authentic fabric of a unique artists’ community. For more information, visit hiltonheadwineandfood.com or call 843-686-4944.

MARCH 14

Tee Off Fore the Arts: 10 a.m.

Tuesday, March 14, Wexford Plantation, 111 Wexford Club Drive, Hilton Head Island. New this year is the addition of a mixed doubles round robin tennis tournament. This will be a perfect day on the links or the court in support of Arts Center of Coastal Carolina programming! For information on how to get involved, contact Lyn Kaplan at 843-686-3945, ext. 210.

MARCH 23-25

Forging Pathways: Southeast Biking Symposium: Thursday, March 23 through Saturday, March 25, The Beach House, 1 S. Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. Come together to showcase the Southeast as a leader in biking and cycling tourism. Exchange ideas on the future of bike friendly communities. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Heather Rath at hrath@heatherrathconsulting.com or 843-415-5978.

Long Cove Club Charitable Advisory Committee Now accepting 2017 Grant Applications: Application deadline is March 31. To be considered, organizations should be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in Beaufort or Jasper counties, and have plans for a project to improve health, housing, hunger or educational issues.

The application and all pertinent information can be found at www.longcoveclub. com under the “People” tab and “Caring Community”, or contact Erin Khalili at 843-686-1070 or ekhalili@longcoveclub.com.

PHOTO BY SCOTT GROOMS

Calhoun St., Bluffton United Methodist Church will host the Otterbein University Concert Choir. The concert is free and a freewill offering will be gratefully appreciated. Visit www.blufftonumc.org or call 843-757-3351 for more information.

Maggie Cunningham, Rob Tillison, J.T. Chinn, Mary Lynn Finn and Barbara Fiscarel.

‘BOEING, BOEING’ takes flight at May River Theatre

BY BARBARA CLARK

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oeing, Boeing. The name of both an airplane and a play. However, there isn’t even a plane or a scene set in a plane in this classic farce, written by French playwright Marc Amoretti.

The English language adaptation was first staged in London at the Apollo Theatre in 1962 and transferred to the Duchess Theatre in 1965, where it ran for a total of seven years. In 1991, the play was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most performed French play throughout the world.

“Boeing, Boeing” will take flight Feb. 17 through March 5 as the closing act of May River Theatre Co.’s season. The broad comedy all boils down to juggling timetables and a reliable maid who never forgets to change the photographs of three stewardesses who are all engaged to swinging bachelor Bernard — and who don’t know about each other. Bernard’s perfect life hits turbulence when his friend Robert comes to stay and a new, speedier Boeing jet throws off all of his careful planning.

Taking the helm as director of the May River production is

David Southern, who was last seen on stage in November’s “Curtains” and last season in “Smoke on the Mountain.”

May River’s cast of six includes four veterans and two newcomers. Playing the role of Bernard is veteran J.T. Chinn, last seen in “The Miracle Worker.” Veteran Rob Tillison plays Robert and was last seen in “Man of La Mancha.”

Mary Lynn Finn graced the May River stage in “Curtains” and will play the Italian stewardess Gabriella. German stewardess Gretchen is played by Maggie Cunningham, who appeared in May River’s production of “Young Frankenstein.” The American stewardess, Gloria, is played by newcomer Cate Mengel. Also new to the May River stage is Barbara Fiscarel, who steps into the role of Berthe the maid.

“Boeing, Boeing” will be performed at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 17 through March 5, with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. All performances will be at Ulmer Auditorium at Bluffton Town Hall.

Tickets are $25 and are available starting Feb. 6 by going to mayrivertheatre.com, or, starting Feb. 13, by calling the box office at 843-815-5581. M February 2017 169

GET IN THE SPOTLIGHT

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOS BY ARNO DIMMLING

To submit photos from your event or party, email editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com or you can share them directly from your Facebook page by liking us on Facebook.

H

undreds took part in the Women’s March on Jan. 21 in Savannah, part of the national Women’s March on Washington held that day in Washington, D.C.

Members of the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island offered a delicious Southwest white chicken chili.

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he 32nd annual Chili Cook-off hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Hilton Head took place at Shelter Cove Community Park.

(Above): Becky Davis and Howard Davis.

(Below): Ken Ballard

Standing (from left): Herb Novit, Bill Haley and Jack Wilson. Front row: Brad McDonald and Dez Darazs.

Pete Lang, president of Lang Capital, center, presents a check to Barbara McFadden, right, and John Mosca of the Rotary Club of Okatie for the group’s Polo for Charity Platinum sponsorship.

Event proceeds will benefit Moss Creek Marines and Paws4Vets, as well as other local charities.

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Award-winning actor and part-time Lowcountry resident Tom Berenger recently brought Hollywood to the Wexford Plantation Charitable Foundation’s fifth annual Gala, themed “A Red Carpet Event.”

Difference Makers and New York City Pizza hosted the Neighborhood Outreach Connection Christmas parties for Simmons Cay and Avalon House in Bluffton.

HHSO 2016-2017 | HHSO.ORG MARY M. BRIGGS President & CEO

A Gullah Celebration!

This month the orchestra celebrates the wonderful Gullah heritage of the Lowcountry.

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his joyous concerts brings a blend of local artists and the return of a much loved soloist to celebrate the music of our region.

The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Chorus is joined by the Savannah Children’s Choir.

Kisma Jordan returns to perform ‘Go Tell it on the Mountain’ and several other selections. Kisma is back by popular demand, having performed twice before to huge acclaim.

The Hilton Head Dance Theater will perform several dances.

The highlight of the program will be the performance of a Gullah adaptation of Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf ’ – ‘Isaiah and de Gatah’. This adaptation, written by Natalie Daise, will be narrated by her. The performance of this work, commissioned by the HHSO, will be its world premiere performance.

The concert includes other popular pieces such as ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ and ‘My Country Tis of Thee’. Tickets are available for performances on February19th and 20th.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Happy 2017, see you at the symphony!

Mary M. Briggs, President & CEO

MUSIC

Welcome to Groove Town Back (from left): Owens Warren and Brian Eason. Front: Derrick Ludaway, Dallas Ackerman, Cory Brodsky, Sammy Passaloukas and Billy Martini.

Hilton Head Island has already fallen to Groove Town Assault. Up next: the world.

BY BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

It’s a Saturday night at The Boardroom, and Groove Town Assault’s resident rapper, Cory Brodsky, has made a giant mistake.

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urrounded by his bandmates, guys he considers friends and family, he has committed the cardinal sin of ordering a less-than-manly drink.

“Is that a buttery nipple?” one of his bandmates asks with sincere dread in his voice. Brodsky admits that, yes, he’s been fighting off a cold and … he never gets to complete that thought.

“What are you drinking that for?” asks Billy Martini, who plays rhythm guitar, with high-pitched incredulity.

The bandmates are quick to pounce on Martini’s screeching. “You realize only dogs can hear you now, right?” cracks bass player Owens Warren.

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PIANO COMPETITION BRINGS WORLD’S BEST TO HILTON HEAD

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he road to Carnegie Hall begins on Hilton Head Island with the 22nd Hilton Head International Piano Competition. This year’s competition, held from March 6-11, will showcase 20 competitors from Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, South Korea and the United States. Past competitors have gone on to perform with internationally renowned orchestras and at festivals all around the world.

With pianists coming from as far away as Australia, there are a lot of details to arrange — transportation, meals, practice time. Without

IF YOU GO Hilton Head host families, there is no way the competition would run so smoothly. Each year, 20 families agree to host a competitor in their homes, meeting them at the airport, feeding them and providing a grand piano for practice at the home. The host family also provides transportation to and from competition venues during the week.

It may seem daunting, but many host families open up their home to competition participants year after year. They say they love meeting and connecting with the future great pianists of this century, and love having their homes

filled with music. In many cases, competitors become part of the family, and the relationships they form last long after the last note has been played. Some hosts have formed such a bond with their guests that they have visited them in their home countries — Russia, Italy, China and more.

The host families are the unsung heroes of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition.

And what better way to repay their contribution to this island institution than to attend this year’s events? For more information and a schedule of events, go to www.hhipc.org.

ROUND I Monday and Tuesday, March 6 & 7 1:30 – 4:35 pm & 7:00 – 9:05 pm Arts Center of Coastal Carolina ROUND II Wednesday and Thursday, March 8 & 9 1:30 – 5:05 pm & 7:00 – 9:25 pm Arts Center of Coastal Carolina Master Classes and Lecture Recital Friday, March 10 Classes 9: 00 – 1:00 Lecture by Janice Weber All Saints Episcopal Church Conversation With the Judges 9:00 – 11:00 am Westin Hotel and Spa ROUND III (Finals) Saturday, March 11, 7:00 pm First Presbyterian Church

MUSIC

Effecting an effete British accent, Derrick Ludaway, lead vocals, calls for another buttery nipple and a white zin.

This sets off a chain reaction of bandmates cracking wise, cracking on each other and cracking each other up.

Eventually, somehow, the group consensus is that a buttery nipple mixed with white zin should be called a “Dirty Shirley.” In a separate conversation running simultaneously, it’s decided that “Two Fingers and a Dog Collar” would make a great title for their next album.

And to think, all I asked was, “How did you all meet?”

It’s a moot question anyway. How they met is meaningless compared to the amazing bond they formed.

To understand what makes Groove Town Assault work, you first have to understand why it shouldn’t.

The best explanation for this strange phenomenon comes by way of the humble bee. You see, according to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. The bee, of course, flies anyway, because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.

In much the same way, this seven-piece genre-defying musical maelstrom should not be able to come together to create such a face-melting sound. Each member looks as if he is on loan from a different band just for the night.

In a band of characters, Warren is the character among characters. After the buttery nipple conversation, the band prepares to go on and Warren is bust174 hiltonheadmonthly.com

ing out his finest dance moves, wearing a hat he’d stolen from someone in the crowd. Drummer Dallas Ackerman is laser-focused, in sharp defiance of his age. Even at 20, he’s fully locked in, asking Sammy Passaloukas, lead guitar and keyboard, to play “November Rain” as he sets up. Passaloukas declines, his long hair swaying as he shakes his head with a chuckle. He’s trying to get two instruments set up, and one of them isn’t cooperating. “This is actually the first time we’ve used this keyboard in a while,” he says, untangling a snarl of cords.

Among them walks Martini, his tie-dyed T-shirt and baggy jeans giving him the appearance of a refugee from a jam band (in fact, he, Passaloukas and Ackerman are the band’s resident metal heads).

Martini is tapping an iPad that is synced to the band’s sound system, getting every level perfect (and showing utter fearlessness in calling out bandmates who haven’t adjusted their volume). Behind the soft glow of his computer, DJ Brian Eason queues up the interludes that keep the music going non-stop and gets his turntables set for that throwback scratching that partially defines the GTA sound.

“Corey and I are really the hip-hop guys,” he says, attempting to define the fuzzy lines that separate every band member’s sensibilities. As he talks, Brodsky paces just off to the side, running lyrics through his brain to the blistering rhymes that he peppers each song with.

Ludaway just tries to stay out of the flurry of activity — which the band refers

to as “beautiful, organized chaos” — while cooling his pipes with a beer. His long dreadlocks, wide smile and imposing physical presence mark him as the frontman, but his voice is what makes him lead vocalist.

At the drop of a hat, he can go from dripping Marvin Gaye levels of honey to snarling out a nu metal growl.

The band is, as Ackerman says, an unusual cast of characters.

“For people who don’t know us, if you just look at us all on stage you might think, ‘Oh this is going to be awful,’” jokes Warren. “And then we start playing — the white dude raps, the black dude sings … you just say to yourself ‘What the … is going on?’”

And when that moment comes, the band playing to a dense crowd despite the looming holiday season, beautiful chaos and seven completely disparate bandmates somehow come together to create something amazing. The band defies genres, flipping back and forth between covers and originals, but through it all they’re still just seven guys who all really like music.

Bees should not fly. But they do. Seven guys from all points of the musical map should not be able to come together with such amazing harmony.

But they do. And if you want to see for yourself, you’ll just have to see them live.

Find Groove Town Assault on Facebook for upcoming dates and pick up the band’s latest album, “Safety Meeting.” M

DINING

WHAT’S

COOKIN’

A HEAPING HELPING OF LOCAL RESTAURANT NEWS

Green Olive Pesto Roast Chicken RECIPE BY CARRIE HIRSCH (Serves 4)

FOR THE PESTO:

1 cup jarred green olives stuffed w/ pimentos, drained 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil 5 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt

FOR THE CHICKEN:

(Ask the butcher to cut the whole chicken into eight parts and discard the wing tips) 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 stick butter, cut into 8 slices 1 large onion, chopped 1/2 cup white wine 4-5 pound whole chicken, cut up 1 navel orange Salt and pepper to taste To make the pesto: Pulse green olives, olive oil, garlic, and salt in a mini food processor until just processed. The texture should be coarse, and not too smooth.

The Multitasking Fruit

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BY CARRIE HIRSCH

lives are everywhere: swirling around in crystal martini glasses, pressed into luxurious extra-virgin oil used by Michelin chefs, and even on the coat of arms of the United States: recognizable on the cover of your passport and other official documents, the American eagle clutches an olive branch with 13 leaves, representing the 13 original colonies.

Many people also use olive oil on their skin and hair as part of their beauty regimes — a ritual that may have started with Cleopatra. Or whip up a batch of homemade furniture polish by using the least expensive olive oil at the market, some white vinegar and a few drops of essential oil for scent, and watch as your scuff marks polish away. There are so many ways to use this impressive fruit.

Some of the more popular types of olives are kalamatas, the glistening dark purple almond-shaped found in Greek salads; Alfonso olives from South America, opaque purple in color with meaty flesh; manzanilla, Spanish for “little apples;” the itty-bitty Niçoise of “salade niçoise” fame; cerignolas from Italy in shades of vivid green and brilliant red; and mission and ascolano olives, which can be enjoyed here in the U.S., no passport needed. M

To make the chicken: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a heavy, oven-proof 12-inch skillet, heat olive oil and 2 slices butter until melted. Sauté chopped onions for 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring often. Add 1/4 cup white wine, and then continue to sauté for 3-4 minutes.

Salt and pepper to taste. Trim any excess fatty skin from chicken pieces and freeze for future use. Gently loosen the skin of the breasts, thighs and drumsticks by sliding your finger between the skin and the meat, forming small open pockets. Using your fingers, stuff the pockets with green olive pesto. Distribute the pesto more evenly underneath the skin by gently patting down the skin from the outside.

Don’t worry if the pesto is not perfectly smooth — it will smooth out while roasting. Arrange the chicken pieces skin side up over the onions in the skillet. The pieces can touch, but do not overlap. Add remaining white wine. Dot chicken with remaining butter. Cut orange in half, leaving the rind on, then cut into ½-inch semi-circular slices. Arrange orange slices between the chicken pieces — but not on top, otherwise the skin will not brown. Lightly salt and pepper.

Roast, uncovered, for 45 minutes. Check the thickest part of the chicken breast for doneness, and return to oven for a few more minutes if needed. Set broiler to high and broil for the last 2-3 minutes to brown the skin. Transfer to a serving dish. Skim excess oil from the surface of the pan juices, and then pour them over the chicken.

CHEF TIP

MELISSA ROY OWNER OF

TWISTED CORK COCKTAIL & WINE BAR Olives are often used as a garnish in the quintessential martini, whether the martini be vodka or gin. The olive brine is also an ingredient in a dirty martini. Olives can also be used in more savory cocktails, such as a bloody mary. The most common olive used is a Spanish green olive. The fun part is stuffing the olives with items such as blue cheese, garlic, pimento, jalapeño — really, anything goes. Other olives can be used in martinis; a martini with a black olive garnish is known as a buckeye martini. There really aren’t any rules— use whatever olive you prefer. The most important thing to remember is not to use olives packed in oil, because it would leave an oily film in the drink.

February 2017 175

BLUFFTON

HILTON HEAD

SAME, BUT DIFFERENT.

32 Bruin Road

8 Archer Road

843.837.8888

843.686.3388

redfishof bluffton.com

redfishof hiltonhead.com

DINING

Hilton Head Distillery: Time Flies When You’re Having Rum

BY CARRIE HIRSCH | PHOTO BY BUTCH HIRSCH

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Blackbeard and his crew on the Queen Anne’s Revenge looted cotton, indigo and sugar, but when not busy pirating, they indulged in consuming barrels of rum from Caribbean sugarcane plantations.

hanks to these unofficial “rum ambassadors,” the distilled spirit’s popularity caught on with Colonial North America, and centuries later it is now made right here at Hilton Head Distillery.

Executive distiller Peter Thompson got his feet wet working at Fort Collins Brewery in Colorado, and then began distilling whisky at the Dark Corner Distillery, a Greenville-based craft distillery. He studied rum distilling in the Cayman Islands before he and assistant distiller Jeff Flanagan began bottling rum under the distillery’s Two Traditions label. Their offerings include includes barrel-aged Dark 23, platinum white, gold and toasted coconut rums. The pair also bottle a spiced rum under the Redlock label.

“My personal favorite? White rum, all day long. I am very traditional when it comes to

my spirits, and I like them as basic as possible,” Thompson said. “The grass-roots of what comes out of the stills is what I enjoy.

Sprits are like going to a fine restaurant — you never want to change what a chef does.

Sprits are that chef’s best course, and you can really tell how a person distills. If you have to mix it, you’re changing the flavors, and you’ve changed what he’s put into it, so I like to keep it simple. It’s like art. You don’t want to change somebody’s art.”

Thompson’s works of art have been well-received by rum aficionados. The distillery was named “South Carolina Rum Distillery of the Year” in 2016 at the New York International Spirits Competition, and was recently featured on “Eat It and Like It,” a show that seeks out the best spots for dining and drinking in the Southeast.

Distillery technician Jeff Flanagan (left) and executive distiller Peter Thompson.

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The well-deserved accolades delight Tim Triplett, co-founder and CEO of parent company Brass Ring Spirits Brands. Triplett was born and raised near Asheville, North Carolina, and spent time on Hilton Head during his college years. Having considered other cities like Galveston, Texas, for his distillery, he said the location off Mathews Drive seems like where the company’s operations are meant to be.

“From a manufacturing standpoint, where we are is an ideal location,” he said. “Our distiller Peter Thompson is a savant. Two of our spirits distilled here will be distributed nationally — Mountain Peak Espresso Rum and Aermoor Vodka. Lots of guys claim to be ‘craft’, but it’s got to taste good.”

Thompson arrived in the Lowcountry in November 2015 to a shell of a building. The floors were covered with yellow paint and there were holes in the walls.

“My first three months were spent redoing the entire office area — spackled the walls, cleaned the floors, and tried to make it look as good as possible. Once we got the OK on the stills, four of us worked together on the designs,” he said. “They are oneof-a-kind pieces and we own all the rights to the designs. The air water generator, a prototype, takes the humidity and turns it into water in its purest form and is used for the vodka made of sugar cane. Tours come through and I’m happy to answer any questions.”

When it came time to opening, it was not all smooth sailing.

“We opened on Sept. 24 and then evacuated a week and a half later due to Hurricane Matthew,” said business manager Jillian Stephens. “Luckily, there was no structural damage or damage to our custom equipment. We are very thankful.”

The distillery is also thankful for the local support it has received.

“The restaurants here are very supportive of a local brand,” Stephens said. “The restaurant scene in the Lowcountry is homegrown and resonates with our mission here.” M

DINING

WHAT’S

COOKIN’ CONTINUED

NEW HAPPY HOUR AT ROCKFISH SEAFOOD & STEAKS AT BOMBORAS

To celebrate the new year, Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras is offering a new happy hour menu. Highlights include 50 cent oysters, 40 cent peel-and-eat shrimp, snow crab legs for $15.95 a pound, $2 select domestic drafts and 1/2 off select appetizers. For more information, call 843-689-2662 or go online to bomborasgrille.com.

Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras is located at 5 Lagoon Road on Hilton Head Island

LOCAL PIE IN BLUFFTON

NOW OPEN

Local pizza lovers now have another dining option in Old Town Bluffton.

Hilton Head Island’s Local Pie has opened a second location in the Calhoun Street Promenade at 15 State of Mind St., where The Oyster Bar used to be. The Neapolitanstyle, wood-fired pizza joint is using the same regionally sourced ingredients and cooking techniques as the island location, which won the award for “Best Pizza” in Hilton Head Monthly’s 2016 Readers’ Choice Awards

PALMETTO PLANT EATERS HOSTING GUEST SPEAKER The Palmetto Plant Eaters Club, a PlantPure Nation pod group that meets monthly to educate and support plant-based eating, will host Karla Yesika as its guest speaker at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry in Bluffton.

Yesika will be discussing vegan tropology and how it healed her body and fuels her dance exercise.

Learn more about the Palmetto Plant Eaters at www.palmettoplanteaters.com

February 2017 179

DINING

PALMETTO DUNES TO REOPEN ALEXANDER’S Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort has announced the spring 2017 reopening of an island favorite, Alexander’s Restaurant and Wine Bar. Alexander’s, a popular spot in the Hilton Head Island dining scene since 1977, will reopen as an upscale seafood restaurant, featuring seasonally inspired cuisine, locally caught seafood and many locally sourced ingredients. The menu will pay tribute to classic Alexander’s favorites such as Stuffed Flounder, Shrimp and Grits, and Wiener Schnitzel.

Alexander’s will be open for early dining and dinner seven nights a week. Brian Couey, the director of food and beverage and a certified sommelier, and executive chef Don Reinheardt will lead the restaurant reopening. Couey worked previously at the Pinehurst Resort and the Biltmore Estate, both in North Carolina, while Reinheardt boasts two decades of experience with Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

SERG GROUP OPENING SKULL CREEK DOCKSIDE The SERG Restaurant Group is opening a new restaurant at 2 Hudson Road, the former home of Chart House restaurant. The waterfront restaurant will be named Skull Creek Dockside Restaurant and is expected to open in early summer. Plans for the new restaurant include a shared space with neighboring SERG restaurant Skull Creek Boathouse that will be used for more family entertainment and special events such as oyster roasts. Other plans include a playground for children, a playground for adults and a stage for performances. More than 100 employees will be hired for the restaurant, which will offer lunch, brunch, happy hours and dinner.

FARM NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH One of Old Town Bluffton’s most popular new restaurants is now open for lunch. FARM is offering a lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Diners choose their meat (brisket, turkey wings or shrimp), their portion size (4, 6 or 8 ounces) and then three sides (toast, butter beans, cauliflower, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, rice or pudding). Salads and hand-fried pies are also available.

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL HRIZUK

MEXICAN RESTAURANT OPENS AT FORMER MONTANA’S LOCATION

NBC NEWS INTERVIEWS LUCKY ROOSTER OWNER Hilton Head Island chef Clayton Rollison, who owns Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar, was recently interviewed by NBC News for an online article titled “Buh-Bye, Hipster: Why the Friendly Bartender is Making a Comeback.” Rollison shared his views on customer service, craft cocktails and more. “Remember when farm to table was cool? Now it’s just what you’re supposed to be doing,” Rollison was quoted as saying. “To have a good bar program, you have to be able to make a proper Negroni, Manhattan, Boulevardier, know that a martini is gin and vermouth stirred the old style. And customers are comfortable. Bartenders feel more comfortable. Everybody feels safer.” Read the full story online at www.nbcnews.com.

LORI CRAVEN

CATERING OFFERING PALMETTO SWEETS

NEW COFFEE ROASTING COMPANY OPENS IN BLUFFTON Grind Coffee Roasters is a new coffee roasting company that specializes in wholesale coffee sales for restaurants, offices, hotels and rentals.

The company offers individual coffee sales and coffee subscription packages, as well as equipment for sale or lease and equipment repair and consultation. The company is located at 7 Simmonsville Road, Suite 600 in Bluffton and is open to the public from 1 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and on Saturdays by appointment. The grand opening is set for 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9. The event will feature live music, food, a chance to win prizes and, of course, coffee.

After more than 20 years as one of Hilton Head Island’s most popular caterers, Lori Craven Catering has branched out to offer a new product line of gourmet treats called Palmetto Sweets. The handcrafted honey pecan squares are made with local honey and pecans, sweet cream, butter, brown sugar and molasses to create a rich and creamy indulgence atop a rich and tender shortbread unlike anything you’ve ever tasted. These decadent homemade treats are a taste of the South in your mouth. Palmetto Sweets can be beautifully packaged and wrapped with grosgrain ribbon for specialty gifts, wedding favors or your own personal indulgence. To place an order, call 843-689-9499.

A new Mexican restaurant, El Nuevo Vallarta Mexican Bar & Grill, has opened in the building that formerly housed Montana’s Grizzly Bar and Tavern 46 at 16 Kitties Landing Road in Bluffton. The extensive menu at El Nuevo Vallarta includes breakfast plates, classic Mexican dishes like sopes, pollo en mole, carne asada and tamales, along with an entire section dedicated to oyster entrees. Prices range from $9 for salads to $65 for a seafood medley that serves two to four people. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

CHARLIE GRANGERS REOPENING IN MARCH

Hilton Head Island hot dog and barbecue restaurant Charlie Graingers plans to reopen in March. The Southern hot dog franchise opened in September at Shelter Cove Towne Centre.

The restaurant closed following Hurricane Matthew and decided to remained closed for the rest of the winter. The grand reopening date is Monday, March 6.

February 2017 181

DININGLISTINGS BBREAKFAST LLUNCH DDINNER OOPEN LATE SSUNDAY BRUNCH

FACES BEHIND THE FOOD SCENE

HILTON HEAD NORTH END

ATLANTA BREAD COMPANY 45 Pembroke Drive. 843-342-2253. BLD BELLA ITALIA BISTRO AND PIZZA 95 Mathews Drive in Port Royal Plaza. 843-6895560. LD THE CAROLINA ROOM The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, Port Royal Plantation.

843-681-4000, ext. 7045. BLD CRAZY CRAB (NORTH) 104 William Hilton Parkway, 843-681-5021, www.thecrazycrab. com. LD FIESTA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL (NORTH) 95 Mathews Drive. 843-342-8808. BLD FRANKIE BONES 1301 Main St. 843-682-4455. LDS

ANDREW CARMINES [Question] After flooding from king tides in 2015 and then Hurricane Matthew damage in 2016, do you feel your restaurant has some good karma coming its way in 2017? [Answer] We have a lot to look forward to in the future. The challenges brought by Hurricane Mathew made us appreciate what we have and gave us a renewed commitment to making it as good as it can be. That being said, I don’t want to do that again for a little while.

[Q] How close are things to normal at the moment?

How is the new dock coming along? [A] Things are really exciting right now. The deck and the dock are looking great.

Dan Anderson and Barrier Island Contractors have been a godsend. They are working quickly and diligently to produce what we think is going to be a huge improvement on what we had before. There is that silver lining again. We plan to have the work completed by the end of February.

[Q] Did the storm have any effect on your oyster beds?

[A] Our cultured oysters took a pretty big hit. We have very few left after the storm. We had some serious issues with shifting sand and a lack of low tides to access the beds following the storm. Unfortunately, we are going to have to start over in the fall. Rob, our head oysterman, is out picking wild local singles every day for the restaurant, but the cultured ones won’t be very plentiful this year. That’s farming, I guess. The nice thing about oysters is we can always grow more.

182 hiltonheadmonthly.com

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL B. RITTERBECK

HUDSON’S SEAFOOD HOUSE ON THE DOCKS 1 Hudson Road. 843-681-2772. hudsonsonthedocks.com. LD

HUDSON’S SEAFOOD HOUSE ON THE DOCKS

IL CARPACCIO If you’re hankering for some authentic Italian cuisine, this island institution is worth finding. Pizza is cooked in a hardwoodburning oven and everything is made from scratch. 200A Museum St. 843-342-9949. ilcarpaccioofhiltonhead.com. LD LAGERHEAD TAVERN 155 High Bluff Road, Hilton Head Plantation. 843-684-2184, www. lagerheadtavern.com. LD MAIN STREET CAFÉ 1411 Main Street Village.

843-689-3999. LDS

[Q] Your family purchased Hudson’s in 1975. How important has the restaurant been in your life?

[A] Many people don’t know this, but the little office across the street was where we lived when I was born. Miss Bessie, our longest-standing employee, used to be baby-sit me as an infant. I started sweeping the parking lot for cigarette butts when I was 6, bussing tables at 12, checking in shrimp at the dock at 13, checking in orders at 14, and so on. I was never good enough to wait tables though … still not. The staff is family. Miss Bessie now watches over my daughters at First Presbyterian on Sundays. You could say the restaurant is pretty important to our entire family.

MANGIAMO! 2000 Main St. 843-682-2444. LD

[Q] Do you plan on making it a large part of your kids’ lives as well? [A] They will certainly have to do their part when they are old enough, but I won’t force them into a career in the restaurant business. My parents handled it the right way. They never asked David or me to consider taking over the restaurant. It just kind of worked out that way. Alice, Milly and Oak will have that option if they choose, but it will be their decision. It’s not for everyone. You have to thrive on pressure and have thick skin.

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE 20 Hatton Place. 843681-4329. LD

[Q] Many visitors that come to the Lowcountry want to eat at a “good” local seafood restaurant. What do you feel makes Hudson’s the perfect spot?

Continued on Page 190

MUNCHIES 1407 Main St. 843-785-3354. LD NEW YORK CITY PIZZA 45 Pembroke Drive.

843-689-2222. LD OCEANS RESTAURANT 2 Grasslawn Ave., The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. 843-681-4000. LDO OKKO 95 Mathews Drive. 843-341-3377. LD OLD FORT PUB 65 Skull Creek Drive. 843-6812386. DS

PAN FRESCO OLE 55 Matthews Drive.

843-681-5989. LD PLANTATION CAFÉ AND DELI 95 Mathews Drive. 843-342-4472. BL THE PURPLE COW 95 Mathews Drive. 843-681-2253, purplecowhhi.com. BLD REILLEY’S NORTH END PUB 95 Mathews Drive. 843-681-4153. LDSO RUAN THAI HUT 1107 Main St., 843-6813700. LD

WANT TO BE LISTED?

All area codes 843. Listings are fluid and heavily dependent on your help; to submit or update, email editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com

RUBY LEE’S 46 Wild Horse Road. 843-681-7829. LDS SKULL CREEK BOATHOUSE 397 Squire Pope Road. 843681-3663. DO STARBUCKS 430 William Hilton Parkway in Pineland Station. 843-689-6823.

STREET MEET 95 Mathews Drive, Port Royal Plaza. 843-8422570. LDO SUNSET GRILLE 43 Jenkins Island Road. 843-689-6744.

LDOS TJ’S TAKE AND BAKE PIZZA 35 Main St. 843-681-2900.

LD WISEGUYS 1513 Main St. 843-842-8866. DO YUMMY HOUSE 2 Southwood Park Drive. 843-681-5888.

LD

HILTON HEAD MID-ISLAND

843 890 William Hilton Parkway, Fresh Market Shoppes.

843-686-8843. LD ALFRED’S European-trained chef Alfred Kettering combines some of the most appealing elements of classic American and Continental cuisine in this tiny Plantation Center hideaway. Grab a seat at the chef’s counter to watch the master at work. 807 William Hilton Parkway, #1200, in Plantation Center. 843-3413117. alfredshiltonhead.com D ARTHUR’S GRILLE Arthur Hills course, Palmetto Dunes. 843785-1191. LD BIG JIM’S BBQ, BURGERS AND PIZZA Robert Trent Jones course, Palmetto Dunes. 843-785-1165.

LD BISTRO 17 17 Harbourside Lane in Shelter Cove. 843-7855517. www.bistro17hhi.com. LD BONEFISH GRILL 890 William Hilton Parkway. 843-3413772. LD BUCCI’S ITALIAN CUISINE 13 Harbourside Lane, Shelter Cove Harbour. 843-785-3300.

LDO CAPTAIN GILLAN’S 18 Harbourside Lane, Shelter Cove Harbour. 843-785-4442 LDO CARRABBA’S ITALIAN GRILL 14 Folly Field Drive. 843-7855007. LD CAFÉ AT THE MARRIOTT Oceanside at Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa, Palmetto Dunes. 843-686-8488. BL COCO’S ON THE BEACH 663 William Hilton Parkway; also located at beach marker 94A. 843-842-2626. LD COCONUTZ SPORTZ BAR Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Road. 843-842-0043. DO CONROY’S Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa, Palmetto Dunes. 843-686-8499. DS DRYDOCK 840 William Hilton Parkway, 843-842-9775. LD DYE’S GULLAH FIXIN’S 840 William Hilton Parkway, Atrium Building. 843-681-8106, www.dyesgullahfixins.com. LD February 2017 183

DINING ELA’S BLU WATER GRILLE Featured in Bon Appétit and the winner of numerous OpenTable awards. Fresh-caught seafood and prime-cut steaks of the highest quality complement the extensive boutique wine selection. ELA’s is known for the best water views on the island. Serving lunch MondayFriday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner nightly starting at 5 p.m., and now offering “Sunday Brunch on the Water” complete with live jazz music every Sunday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 1 Shelter Cove Lane in Shelter Cove Harbour.

843-785-3030. www.elasgrille.com. LD FISHCAMP AT BROAD CREEK 11 Simmons Road. 843-842-2267. LDO FLORA’S ITALIAN CAFE 841 William Hilton Parkway in South Island Square. 843-8428200. D FRENCH BAKERY The bakery was established in 1998 by the Leon family, and taken over by the Belka family from Poland in 2012. The Belka family lovingly create baked goods for their local Hilton Head and Bluffton neighbors, as well as for tourists.

120 Shelter Cove Lane, Shelter Cove Towne Centre. 843-342-5420. BL GATOR’Z PIZZA Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort. 843-842-0004. D GIUSEPPI’S PIZZA AND PASTA 32 Shelter Cove Lane in Shelter Cove. 843-785-4144.

LD

ORANGE LEAF 38 Shelter Cove Lane, 843689-5323. www.orangeleafyogurt.com.

PAZZO 807 William Hilton Parkway in Plantation Center. 843-842-9463. LD THE PHOENIX BISTRO 70 Marshland Road, 843-342-2880, phoenixbistro.com BL PISCES SEAFOOD-STEAK-SUSHI 841 William Hilton Parkway. 843-341-3300, piscesseafoodsteaksushi.com LD POSEIDON 38 Shelter Cove Lane, Shelter Cove Towne Centre. 843-341-3838. www.poseidonhhi.com. LDO RUAN THAI CUISINE I 81 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-7858576. LD SCOTT’S FISH MARKET RESTAURANT AND BAR 17 Harbour Side Lane. 843-7857575. D

HAROLD’S DINER 641 William Hilton Parkway. 843-842-9292. BL

SAN MIGUEL’S 9 Shelter Cove Lane in Shelter Cove Harbour. 843-842-4555. www.sanmiguels.com. LD

HH PRIME Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort in Palmetto Dunes. 843-842-8000.

BLDS

SANTA FE CAFÉ 807 William Hilton Parkway in Plantation Center. 843-7853838. LD

HICKORY TAVERN 50 Shelter Cove Lane. 843802-0010. LD

SEA GRASS GRILLE 807 William Hilton Parkway. 843-785-9990. LD

HILTON HEAD SOCIAL BAKERY 17 Harbourside Lane. 843-715-3349, hiltonheadsocialbakery.com BLD

STARBUCKS 32 Shelter Cove Lane. 843842-4090.

ISLAND BAGEL & DELI South Island Square.

843-686-3353. BL

UP THE CREEK PUB & GRILL Broad Creek Marina, 18 Simmons Road. 843-681-3625.

LDO

JAMAICA JOE’Z BEACH BAR Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Road. 843-842-0044. O

WAYBACK BURGERS 32 Shelter Cove Lane, Shelter Cove Towne Centre. 843-7852650. www.waybackburgers.com. LDO

JANE BISTRO & BAR 28 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 109. 843-686-5696. LD

WORLD OF BEER 30 Shelter Cove Lane, Shelter Cove Towne Centre. www. worldofbeer.com. LDO

LUCKY ROOSTER KITCHEN + BAR 841 William Hilton Parkway, Unit A, South Island Square. 843-681-3474, www.luckyroosterhhi.com. DO MAYWOOD DAVIS 612 William Hilton Parkway. 843-368-2839, www.maywooddavis.com.

MEDITERRANEAN HARBOUR BAR AND GRILL 13 Harbourside Lane, Unit B, Shelter Cove Harbour. 843-842-9991, mediterraneanharbour.com. DO NEW YORK CITY PIZZA 28 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 119, Shelter Cove Towne Centre.

843-785-4200. LD OLD OYSTER FACTORY With panoramic 184 hiltonheadmonthly.com

views overlooking Broad Creek, this Hilton Head landmark was voted one of the country’s “Top 100 Scenic View Restaurants”

by OpenTable. It was also recently recommended in the “Off the Beaten Track” column in The Wall Street Journal. Wine Spectator magazine bestowed its “Award of Excellence” for the restaurant’s wine list and knowledge of wine. 101 Marshland Road. 843-6816040. www.oldoysterfactory.com. DO

XO SPORTS SPIRITS Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort in Palmetto Dunes. 843341-8080.

HILTON HEAD SOUTH END

AMIGOS CAFE Y CANTINA 70 Pope Ave. 843-785-8226. LD ANNIE O’S 124 Arrow Road. 843-3412664. LD ASIAN BISTRO 51 New Orleans Road. 843686-9888. LD AUNT CHILADA’S EASY STREET CAFE

69 Pope Ave. 843-785-7700. LD BAILEY’S BAR & TERRACE Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island; 130 Shipyard Drive.

843-842-2400. LD BEACH BREAK GRILL 24 Palmetto Bay Road, Suite F. 843-785-2466. LD BESS’ DELICATESSEN AND CATERING Lunch specials include fresh homemade soups and assorted salads, and freshly oven-roasted turkey breast. Bess’ features Boar’s Head meats and cheeses. 55 New Orleans Road, Fountain Center. 843-7855504. www.bessdeli.com. BL BIG BAMBOO CAFÉ 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Coligny Plaza. 843-686-3443. www. bigbamboocafe.com. LDO BLACK MARLIN BAYSIDE GRILL AND HURRICANE BAR 86 Helmsman Way in Palmetto Bay Marina. 843-785-4950.

LDS ROCKFISH SEAFOOD & STEAKS AT BOMBORAS An award-winning restaurant and bar, located steps away from the beach.

Offering fresh and local Lowcountry ingredients paired with craft beers and wine.

Open for lunch and dinner. A kid’s menu is available. 5 Lagoon Road. 843-689-2662.

LDO BAYLEY’S 130 Shipyard Drive. Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2400.

BD BRITISH OPEN PUB 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Unit D3 in The Village at Wexford.

843-686-6736. LDO BRICKYARD PUB 45 Shipyard Drive, #200.

843-681-1530. LDO BULLIES BBQ 3 Regents Parkway. 843686-7427. LD CALLAHAN’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL 49 New Orleans Road. 843-686-7665.

LDO CAPTAIN WOODY’S Many restaurants claim to be a favorite of locals. Speaking as locals, one of our favorites is Captain Woody’s. Owners Shannon and Russell Anderson made a good thing even better with their new location at 6 Target Road.

Woody’s now offers more seating, an expanded menu and an attractive outdoor patio with an attached bar. 6 Target Road.

843-785-2400. www.captainwoodys.com.

LDO

CATCH 22 37 New Orleans Plaza. 843-7856261. D CHARBAR CO. Executive chef Scott Bodkin’s burger creations have made this a local favorite, serving award-winning gourmet burgers, sandwiches, salads and more.

33 Office Park Road, Suite 213. Park Plaza, 843-785-2427. LD CHARLIE’S L’ETOILE VERTE A great place for a power lunch or a romantic dinner.

Owner Charlie Golson and his son Palmer write the entire menu by hand each day, based on the freshest local seafood available. The dinner menu offers an array of 14 fresh fish, rack of lamb, filet mignon and more. 8 New Orleans Road. 843-785-9277. www.charliesgreenstar.com.D CHOW DADDY’S Located in the old Dry Dock building on Executive Park Road, using local, organic ingredients with meals prepared to order. Featuring salad bowls, sandwiches, tacos, hot bowls, platters and other snacks. The daily happy hour is 4-6 p.m. 14B Executive Park Road, 843-8422469. www.chowdaddys.com.

COAST Sea Pines Beach Club. 843-8421888. LD COLIGNY DELI & GRILL Coligny Plaza.

843-785-4440. LD COWBOY BRAZILIAN STEAKHOUSE 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Unit B6, The Village at Wexford. 843-715-3565. www. cowboybraziliansteakhouse.com. D CQ’S 140A Lighthouse Lane. 843-6712779. LD CRANE’S TAVERN AND STEAKHOUSE 26 New Orleans Road. 843-341-2333. D CRAZY CRAB (HARBOUR TOWN) 149 Lighthouse Road. 843-363-2722. LD DELISHEE YO This is a hip hangout for healthy locals and travelers of all ages. A colorful and refreshing art-filled oasis of fresh and healthy food. Dig into a custom combo froyo sundae, a superfood smoothie, a big salad, a great green juice or a happy wrap. 32 Palmetto Bay Road in the Village Exchange. 843-785-3633. LD CRAVE BY DANIEL’S 2 North Forest Beach Drive, #108. 843-341-9379. LD DOUGH BOYS PIZZA 1-B New Orleans Road. 843-686-2697. www.doughboyshhi. com. LD

CAROLINA CRAB COMPANY 86 Helmsman Way, Palmetto Bay Marina.

843-842-2016. LD

EARLE OF SANDWICH PUB 1 North Forest Beach Drive in Coligny Plaza. 843-7857767. LD

CARETTA COFFEE CO. Enjoy a cup of coffee made from some of the finest coffee beans in the world. Local baristas carefully grind and brew every shot and mix every cup by hand.

Coligny Plaza. 843-342-6400. BL

ELECTRIC PIANO 33 Office Park Road. 843785-5399. O

CASEY’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILLE 37 New Orleans Road. 843-785-2255.

LDO

FAT BABY’S 1034 William Hilton Parkway.

843-842-4200. LD FIESTA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL 51 New Orleans Road. 843-785-4788. LD FLATBREAD GRILL 2 North Forest Beach Drive. 843-341-2225. flatbreadgrillhhi.

February 2017 185

DINING com. LD FRENCH KISS BAKERY Coligny Plaza, 1 North Forest Beach Drive. 843-687-5471.

BL FROZEN MOO Coligny Plaza, 1 North Forest Beach Drive. 843-842-3131.

FROSTY FROG CAFE 1 North Forest Beach in Coligny Plaza. 843-686-3764. LDO GRINGO’S DINER E-5, Coligny Plaza. 843785-5400.

GRUBY’S NEW YORK DELI 890 William Hilton Parkway, Fresh Market Shoppes. 843842-9111. BL

LAND’S END TAVERN South Beach Marina, Sea Pines. 843-671-5456. BLD LINKS, AN AMERICAN GRILL Harbour Town Golf Links Clubhouse, Sea Pines.

843-363-8380. www.linksamericangrill. com. LD LIVE OAK 100 North Sea Pines Drive. 843842-1441. www.liveoaklowcountrycuisine. com. LD

HARBOURSIDE BURGERS AND BREWS Harbour Town, Sea Pines Resort. 843-8421444, www.seapines.com. LD

LOCAL PIE Only the highest quality, regionally sourced ingredients go into these wood-fired, house-made pies. A local business, with local staff and local suppliers. 55 New Orleans Road. 843-842-7437. info@ localpie.com. LD

HARBOUR TOWN BAKERY AND CAFE Harbour Town, Sea Pines. 843-363-2021.

BL

A LOWCOUNTRY BACKYARD 32 Palmetto Bay Road at The Village Exchange. 843-7859273. BLD

HEYWARD’S 130 Shipyard Drive. Sonesta Resort. 843-842-2400. BD

LODGE BEER AND GROWLER BAR 7B Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Plaza.

843-842-8966. DO

HILTON HEAD DINER 6 Marina Side Drive.

843-686-2400. BLDO HILTON HEAD BREWING COMPANY 7C Greenwood Drive (Reilley’s Plaza), Hilton Head Plaza. 843-785-3900. www.hhbrewingco.com.LD HILTON HEAD ICE CREAM 55 New Orleans Road, #114. 843-852-6333.

HINCHEY’S CHICAGO BAR AND GRILL Circle Center, Pope Ave. 843-686-5959.

LDO HINOKI OF KURAMA 37 New Orleans Road. 843-785-9800. LD HOLY TEQUILA! Holy Tequila! offers a harmonizing blend of Mexican street food with new American flavors. Its inviting space features an open kitchen, an indoor/outdoor open-air seating area, a large tequila bar and a private tasting room. The menu features a wide variety of gourmet tacos, quesadillas, salads and small plates, all priced under $11; and a fully stocked bar with more than 40 premium tequilas, handcrafted specialty cocktails, Mexican beers and Spanish-inspired wines. 33 Office Park Road, Suite 228. 843-681-8226. LD

MARKET STREET CAFE 12 Coligny Plaza.

843-686-4976. LD MARLEY’S ISLAND GRILLE 35 Office Park Road in Park Plaza. 843-686-5800. DO MELLOW MUSHROOM 33 Office Park Road in Park Plaza. 843-686-2474. www.mellowmushroom.com. LDO MI TIERRA (HILTON HEAD) 130 Arrow Road. 843-342-3409. LD MICHAEL ANTHONY’S CUCINA ITALIANA Michael Anthony’s has been recognized

by OpenTable diners as one of the “Top 50 Italian Restaurants” in the United States. 37 New Orleans Road. 843-785-6272. www.michael-anthonys.com.

NEW YORK CITY PIZZA 81 Pope Ave. 843842-2227. LD NICK’S STEAK & SEAFOOD 9 Park Lane.

843-686-2920. D

JAZZ CORNER Village at Wexford. 843842-8620. DO

OMBRA CUCINA RUSTICA Popular local chef Michael Cirafesi and distinguished Philadelphia chef Nunzio Patruno have teamed up to open this upscale Italian restaurant in the Village at Wexford. Many dishes were created hundreds of years ago, passed down from generation to generation. All desserts, pastas and breads are made daily using natural and fresh ingredients imported from Italy. The Village at Wexford. 843-842-5505. www.ombrahhi. com. D

JERSEY MIKE’S 11 Palmetto Bay Road, Island Crossing. 843-341-6800.

ONE HOT MAMA’S 7 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Plaza. 843-682-6262.

LDSO

IT’S GREEK TO ME 11 Lagoon Road in Coligny Plaza. 843-842-4033. LDO JAVA BURRITO COMPANY 1000 William Hilton Parkway. 843-842-5282. BLD

JUMP AND PHIL’S BAR AND GRILL 7 Greenwood Drive, Suite 3B. 843-7859070. LDO KENNY B’S FRENCH QUARTER CAFE 70 Pope Ave. in Circle Center. 843-7853315. BLDS 186 hiltonheadmonthly.com

LA HACIENDA 11 Palmetto Bay Road. 843842-4982. LD

PALMETTO BAY SUNRISE CAFÉ 86 Helmsman Way in Palmetto Bay Marina.

843-686-3232. BL PHILLY’S CAFÉ AND DELI 102 Fountain Center, New Orleans Road.

843-785-9966. L PINO GELATO 1000 William Hilton Parkway, The Village at Wexford. 843-842-2822.

PLANTATION CAFÉ AND DELI (SOUTH) 81 Pope Ave. in Heritage Plaza. 843-7859020. BL

70 Pope Avenue in Circle Center. 843-6892447. BL SPIRIT OF HARBOUR TOWN 843-363-9026. www.vagabondcruise.com.

STACK’S PANCAKES OF HILTON HEAD 2 Regency Parkway. 843-341-3347. BLD

POMODORI 1 New Orleans Road. 843-6863100. D

STARBUCKS (SOUTH) 11 Palmetto Bay Road.

843-341-5477.

THE PORCH The Beach House. 1 South Forest Beach Drive. 843-785-5126. BLD

STELLINI 15 Executive Park Road. 843-7857006. D

PORTER & PIG 1000 William Hilton Parkway, The Village at Wexford. 843-715-3224. www. porter-pig.com. D

STU’S SURFSIDE 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Coligny Plaza. 843-686-7873. LD

PURE NATURAL MARKET 1012 William Hilton Parkway. 843-342-7873. BL QUARTERDECK 149 Lighthouse Road, Harbour Town, Sea Pines. 843-842-1999.

LDO RED FISH Upscale dining at its finest. Head chef Chaun Bescos takes advantage of his close relationship with local growers and farmers markets, tailoring Red Fish’s menu around the foods that are in season. The result is an eclectic blend of seafood, steaks, fresh fruit and local vegetables. 8 Archer Road. 843686-3388. redfishofhiltonhead.com. LD REILLEY’S GRILL & BAR (SOUTH) 7D Greenwood Drive. 843-842-4414. LDO RELISH CAFE 33 Office Park Road, Park Plaza.

843-342-4800. LD

THE STUDIO 20 Executive Park Road. 843785-6000. D SUNSET SLUSH 81 Pope Ave., 843-785-7851.

SWEET CAROLINA CUPCAKES 1 North Forest Beach Drive. 843-342-2611.

TIKI HUT 1 South Forest Beach Drive at the Beach House Resort. 843-785-5126. OLD TOPSIDE WATERFRONT RESTAURANT Harbour Town, Sea Pines. 843-842-1999. D TRATTORIA DIVINA 33 Office Park Road.

843-686-4442. D TRUFFLES CAFE (SEA PINES) Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups and garden salads. 71 Lighthouse Road, Sea Pines Center. 843-6716136. www.trufflescafe.com. LD

RITA’S ITALIAN ICE 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Coligny Plaza. 843-686-2596. ritasice.com.

TWISTED CORK A local cocktail and wine bar.

You can find it in Festival Center Plaza, near the Sea Pines Circle. Open Monday through Saturday, 5-11 p.m. 843-802-0510. LD

ROY’S PLACE 33 Office Park Road, 843-7854646. www.roysplacehhi.com. LD

VINE 1 North Forest Beach Drive in Coligny Plaza. 843-686-3900. LD

RUBY LEE’S SOUTH 19 Dunnigans Alley.

843-785-7825

WATUSI A place for breakfast, lunch and coffee. The cafe’s interior mirrors a warm, cozy living room where families and friends can gather and enjoy food in a casual homestyle setting. 71 Pope Ave. 843-686-5200. www. islandwatusi.com. BL

SALTY DOG CAFE One of Hilton Head’s favorite outdoor cafes for more than 20 years.

Fresh seafood. Located at South Beach Marina, overlooking Braddock Cove. Both indoor and outdoor seating are available. Live music and children’s entertainment nightly during the season. South Beach Marina Village, Sea Pines. 843-671-7327. www.saltydog.com.

LD SAGE ROOM 81 Pope Ave., Heritage Plaza.

843-785-5352. D SEA SHACK 6 Executive Park Drive. 843-7852464. LD SIGNALS LOUNGE 130 Shipyard Drive, Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. 843-8422400. O SIGNE’S BAKERY & CAFE 93 Arrow Road.

843-785-9118. BLS SKILLETS CAFÉ Coligny Plaza. 843-7853131. BLD

WHICH WICH? 70 Pope Ave., Suite 13. 843715-9424. www.whichwich.com. LD WILD WING CAFÉ 72 Pope Ave. 843-7859464. LDO WINE AND CHEESE IF YOU PLEASE 24 Palmetto Bay Road, Suite G. 843-842-1200.

WRECK OF THE SALTY DOG South Beach Marina Village, Sea Pines. 843-671-7327. D XO SPORTS SPIRITS Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, 843-842-8000. LDO

BLUFFTON AGAVE SIDE BAR 13 State of Mind St. 843757-9190. LD

THE SMOKEHOUSE 34 Palmetto Bay Road.

843-842-4227. BLDO

ALVIN ORD’S OF BLUFFTON 1230-A May River Road. 843-757-1300, alvinordsofbluffton.com LD

SOUTHERN CONEY & BREAKFAST

AMIGOS BELFAIR (BLUFFTON) 133 Towne February 2017 187

DINING Drive. 843-815-8226. LD BACKWATER BILL’S 20 Hampton Lake Drive. 843-875-5253. LDO BLACK BALSAM & BLUE 1534 Fording Island Road. 843-837-2583, blackbalsamblue.com LD BLUFFTON BBQ 11 State of Mind St. 843757-7427. www.blufftonbbq.com. LD BLUFFTON FAMILY SEAFOOD HOUSE 27 Dr. Mellichamp Drive. 843-757-4010.

LD THE BLUFFTON ROOM 15 Promenade St. 843-757-3525. www.theblufftonroom. com. D THE BRICK CHICKEN 1011 Fording Island Road in the Best Buy Shopping Center. 843836-5040. LDO THE BRITISH OPEN PUB 1 Sherington Drive, Suite G. 843-815-6736. LDO BUFFALOS RESTAURANT 476 Mount Pelia Road inside Palmetto Bluff. 843-706-6500.

LD BUTCHER’S MARKET AND DELI 102 Buckwalter Parkway, Suite 3-G. 843815-6328. BLD CAHILL’S MARKET & CHICKEN KITCHEN 1055 May River Road. 843-757-2921. LD

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CAPTAIN WOODY’S Many restaurants claim to be a favorite of locals. Speaking as locals, one of our favorites is Captain Woody’s. 17 State of Mind St. in the Calhoun Street Promenade. 843-757-6222. www.captainwoodys.com. LDO CHEAP SEATS TAVERN 2 142 Burnt Church Road, 843-837-3287. LD CHEEBURGER CHEEBURGER 108 Buckwalter Parkway. 843-837-2433.

LD CHIPOTLE Tanger I Outlet Center. 843-8362442, chipotle.com. LD CHOO CHOO BBQ XPRESS 129 Burnt Church Road. 843-815-7675. LDO CHOW DADDY’S This new restaurant is using local, organic ingredients with meals prepared to order. The menu features salad bowls, sandwiches, tacos, hot bowls, platters and other snacks. The daily happy hour is 4-6 p.m. 15 Towne Drive, Belfair Towne Village. 843-842-2469. chowdaddys.com.

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CORKS WINE CO. BAR & BOUTIQUE 14 Promenade St, Suite 306. 843-8155168. DO

FIESTA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL 876 Fording Island Road, Suite 1. 843-7067280. LD

CORNER PERK CAFE 1297 May River Road. 843-816-5674. cornerperk.com. BL

GIUSEPPI’S PIZZA AND PASTA 25 Bluffton Road. 843-815-9200. LD

THE COTTAGE CAFE, BAKERY AND TEA ROOM 38 Calhoun St. 843-757-0508. www.thecottagebluffton.com. BL

HINCHEY’S CHICAGO BAR & GRILL 104 Buckwalter Place, Suite 1A. 843-8365909. LD

THE DEPOT 15 Captains Cove Road, 843-837-1893. thedepotbluffton.com.

HOGSHEAD KITCHEN AND WINE BAR 1555 Fording Island Road. 843-837-4647.

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DOLCE VITA 163 Bluffton Road, Suite F. 843-815-6900. D DOWNTOWN DELI 27 Dr. Mellichamp Drive. 843-815-5005. BL EL NUEVO VALLARTA MEXICAN BAR & GRILL 16 Kitties Landing Rd. 843-7069338, elnuevovallartabluffton.com LD

HONEYBAKED HAM COMPANY 1060 Fording Island Road. 843-815-7388.

ISLAND BAGEL & DELI Sheridan Park.

843-815-5300. BL JAMESON’S CHARHOUSE 671 Cypress Hills Drive, Sun City. 843-705-8200. LD

EL SUPER INTERNACIONAL 33 Sherington Drive. 843-815-8113. LD

JIM ‘N NICK’S BAR-B-Q 872 Fording Island Road. 843-706-9741. LD

FARM 1301 May River Road.

843-707-2041, www.farmbluffton.com.

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JUICE HIVE 14 Johnston Way. 843-7572899.

CINCO MEXICAN GRILL & BAR 102 Buckwalter Parkway #3. 843-815-2233.

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FAT PATTIES AND SALT MARSH BREWING 207 Bluffton Road. 843-8156300. fat-patties.com. LD

CLAUDE & ULI’S BISTRO 1533 Fording Island Road. 843-837-3336. LD

FIREHOUSE SUBS 32 Malphrus Road, #109. 843-815-7827. LD

KATIE O’DONNELL’S 1008 Fording Island Road in Kittie’s Crossing. 843-815-5555.

LDO KELLY’S TAVERN 11B Buckingham Plantation Drive. 843-837-3353. BLDO

DINING KOBE JAPANESE RESTAURANT 30 Plantation Park Drive. 843-757-6688. LD LOCAL PIE Only the highest quality, regionally sourced ingredients go into these wood-fired, house-made pies. A local business, with local staff and local suppliers. 15 State of Mind St. 843-837-7437. localpie. com. LD LONGHORN Inside Tanger I. 843-7057001. LD LOS JALAPENO’S MEXICAN GRILL The Bridge Center. 843-837-2333. LD LOWCOUNTRY FLOWER GIRLS Berkeley Place. 843-837-2253. BL MAY RIVER GRILL 1263 May River Road.

843-757-5755. LD MELLOW MUSHROOM 872 Fording Island Road. 843-706-0800. mellowmushroom. com. LDO

RED FISH Upscale dining at its finest. Head chef Chaun Bescos takes advantage of his close relationship with local growers and farmers markets, tailoring Red Fish’s menu around foods in season. 32 Bruin Road.

843-837-8888. LD RED STRIPES CARIBBEAN CUISINE AND LOUNGE 8 Pin Oak St. 843-757-8111.

LDO RIVER HOUSE RESTAURANT 476 Mount Pelia Road in Palmetto Bluff. 843-706-6500.

LD RUAN THAI CUISINE II 26 Towne Drive, Belfair Town Village. 843-757-9479. LD SAIGON CAFE 1304 Fording Island Road.

843-837-1800. BLD SAKE HOUSE 1017 Fording Island Road, Suite 105. 843-706-9222. LD

MI TIERRA 27 Dr. Mellichamp Drive. 843757-7200. LD

SALTY DOG BLUFFTON Tanger II Outlet.

Offering a diverse menu with favorite dishes from the original Salty Dog Cafe and Jake’s Pizza, Salty Dog Bluffton is sure tp keep the whole family happy. 843-8373344. bluffton.saltydog.com. LD

MI TIERRITA 214 Okatie Village Drive. 843705-0925. LD

SIPPIN COW 1D Promenade St., 843-7575051. BL

MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL 3 Malphrus Road. 843-837-8722. LD

SOUTHERN BARREL BREWING CO. 375 Buckwalter Place Blvd. 843-837-2337. southernbarrelbrewingco.com.

MIDNIGHT BAKER 14 Promenade St. 843815-5355. LB

MULBERRY STREET TRATTORIA 1476 Fording Island Road. 843-837-2426.

LDS NONNA ROSA 198 Okatie Village Drive, Okatie. 843 707-1750. nonnarosabluffton. com LD OLD TOWN DISPENSARY 15 Captains Cove. 843-837-1893. LDO OROBELLO’S BISTRO & PIZZERIA 103 Buckwalter Place, Unit 108. 843-8375637. www.orobellosbluffton.com. LDO OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE 100 Buckwalter Place. 843-757-9888. LD PANDA CHINESE RESTAURANT 25 Bluffton Road. 843-815-6790. LD THE PEARL KITCHEN & BAR Bringing to Old Town Bluffton a bright, fresh take on the dining experience, The Pearl Kitchen & Bar will please your palate with the freshest of ingredients prepared in a manner that will excite, entice, and keep you coming back for more. 55 Calhoun St., 843-7575511. thepearlbluffton.com. LD PLANTATION CAFE 1532 Fording Island Road. 843-815-4445.BL POUR RICHARD’S 4376 Bluffton Parkway.

843-757-1999. DO

SQUAT N’ GOBBLE 1231 May River Road.

843-757-4242. BLD STOOGES CAFE 25 Sherington Drive. 843706-6178. BL TRUFFLES CAFE Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups and garden salads. 91 Towne Drive Belfair Towne Village. 843-815-5551, trufflescafe.com. LD TWISTED EUROPEAN BAKERY 1253 May River Road, Unit A. 843-757-0033, twistedeuropeanbakery.com BL WALNUTS CAFÉ 70 Pennington Drive in Sheridan Park. 843-815-2877. BLS WILD WING CAFÉ (BLUFFTON) 1188 Fording Island Road. 843-837-9453. LD ZEPPLIN’S BAR & GRILL Inside Station 300. 25 Innovation Drive. 843-815-2695.

LDO ZOES KITCHEN Tanger I Outlet Center.

843-837-5410. LD

DAUFUSKIE ISLAND EAGLE’S NEST 56 Fuskie Lane, Bloody Point. 843-341-5522.

R BAR 70 Pennington Drive. 843-7577264. LD

MARSHSIDE MAMA’S CAFE 15 Haig Point Road on County Landing.

843-785-4755. LD

RANCHO ALEGRE CUBAN RESTAURANT 4490 Bluffton Park Crescent #104. 843757-5556. LD

OLD DAUFUSKIE CRAB CO 256 Cooper River Landing Road. 843-7856653. M

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL B. RITTERBECK

DINING

Continued from Page 182 [A] The seafood we serve is better than any restaurant that I know of. We grow and harvest our own oysters. We buy all our shrimp from one of two boats, processing it all in-house. We run a refrigerated truck up and down the Carolina coast, buying whole fish directly from various commercial vessels and processing it in-house. We also have a blue crab fisherman on salary and a dedicated commercial stone crab fisherman. We have built and operate a state-of-the-art seawater system to shed out soft shell crabs in the spring, ensuring that they are of the highest quality. We work very hard to ensure that we are serving the best seafood available. Our staff has a good knowledge of seafood and a passion for what they do. They treat our guests like guests in their own homes. The restaurant is surrounded by water on three sides, creating the best waterfront and sunset views on the island. The indoor areas were all recently renovated, and the historic portions restored. The outdoor dining is over the water and is the only one of its kind on the island. There is a lot of history here as well. Hudson’s is the longeststanding restaurant on the island. For all those reasons, it truly is the “perfect spot.”

[Q] What is the most popular item on your menu? [A] It depends on the time of year. The next two months will be oysters, then soft shell crabs followed by shrimp.

Our local customers know that they should order seasonally. There are a lot of good fish options in the spring and summer as well. We tend to start seeing local swordfish and local mahi in the spring.

[Q] You are heavily involved in many community events, such as setting off fireworks on the Fourth of July and helping with the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. What are you most proud of? [A] I am just happy to do my part. It is an honor to be a steward of these community events. They can be a challenge and make you feel good inside.

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I am getting into conservation now, too. I am on the board at the Port Royal Sound Foundation. It is a great thing for Beaufort County, and I am excited to see where it goes.

[Q] The Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival is just around the corner. It has grown into one of the island’s biggest events. What do you think makes it stand out? [A] There is something for everyone, and everything we raise gets donated back into the local and state community. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t working at some of the events because they look like so much fun. This year, we’ve expanded on our talent and schedule of events. There is more than seafood being showcased.

[Q] Other than the main event on Feb. 25, what Seafood Festival event are you most excited about? [A] I am excited about all of it, but the Oyster Roast and Pig Picking at Waddell Mariculture Center is my favorite. Three pit masters roasting three whole hogs in three different ways. Local oysters picked the same day as they are being served. Whole chickens roasted over a wood fire. Good bluegrass music from Town Mountain. Homemade sausage, chopped pork barbecue and everything from Service Brewing Co. to batch bourbon. Come on.

[Q] Favorite food? [A] Breakfast at Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café with my girls.

[Q] Favorite national band? Favorite local band?

[A] Widespread Panic. Lowcountry Boil.

[Q] If you were forced to move off the island, where would you go?

[A] New Zealand: Good fishing, good hunting, great surf.

[Q] What is something about Andrew Carmines many people don’t know?

[A] I went to college at Ole Miss. Hotty Toddy. M

LAST CALL

MARCO FREY

Send your comments to mfrey@freymedia.com

The In-Between It’s times like these, with rain and snow blurring the shrill light of fire trucks lined five deep down the Brooklyn street outside a raucous jazz session at my neighborhood pizza bar, that I recall the South.

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“the road became a bridge to nowhere, just stopped, and led to nothing but the roosting swamp”

hat I cherish most are the in-betweens — some clash between open space and strange timing. One time, driving home from Charleston for Christmas on Hilton Head Island, I remember dozens of eyes suddenly shining from the median of Interstate 95. The deer had taken the quiet for their own strange church revival. I knew I wasn’t supposed to be there.

Living in Charleston, I drove U.S. 17 back and forth to Hilton Head hundreds of times, practically memorizing the one-stop-sign towns along the way: Ravenel; Jacksonboro, where the beautiful Edisto River meanders; Green Pond; Sheldon, whose church Gen. Sherman burned during his infamous Civil War march; and on to I-95 past Ridgeland, then left on U.S. 278 for the homestretch. I can’t say I’m an old timer, but I sure saw that route change over the years, slowly but surely.

My fondest memories include a hand-pump self-service Texaco station, a hearty Styrofoam cup of boiled peanuts and bountiful swamps on either side, a landscape Southerners have all but taken for granted, drained and raised for homogenous pine plantations. The largest such swamp still remains protected as the Congaree National Park, and I encourage you to visit before summer arrives, sending the large “mosquito-meter” to “War Zone.” The howl of the coyotes rang through those dank woods, and still haunts me.

After awhile, I built up a conscious habit of taking detours every time I drove through the South. It’s safe to say I’ve been to more than half of South Carolina’s towns, whose names peek out over the highway on water towers. Often it’s one cross street, a factory,

maybe a low-security prison. But this isn’t a catalogue of all those places.

One memory I remember vividly is the last bit of protected wetlands belonging to the ACE Basin over near Green Pond, about halfway between Beaufort and Charleston off U.S. 17. If you’re like me, you fiend over maps — Google Maps these days, I suppose — where you hit satellite view and zoom in on the greenest parts. Green Pond is such a place, bordering the Donnelley Wildlife Management area, a place impenetrable, on closer investigation, without deep-water boots. It’s the kind of chlorophyll-laden wetland where herons roost and snakes flourish, where giant orbweavers glint in the sun.

If there’s any degree past the protected, it probably lies in the forgotten. I kept walking, back past houses and past a clearing over a set of railroad tracks, to one of the most overgrown properties I’ve ever laid eyes on.

The thick green forest practically devoured the remaining house. It felt like a dream — if dreams include an army of mosquitoes unaccustomed to warm-blooded primates such as myself. I kept a skull of some small mammal as a souvenir.

Probably the most absurd of these memories, and one I’ll take to the grave, is the time I drove along a stretch of the old U.S. 17, “King’s Highway.” I couldn’t even tell you how to find it, but I followed the very same dirt road Washington had taken to visit the colonies up to where civilization just vanished, where left and right were presumably hunting plantations. Finally the road became a bridge to nowhere, just stopped, and led to nothing but the roosting swamp whose birds echoed like a pure glass of water.

Next time you’re in-between, take more than a moment to soak it in for me, that “exit magic” I miss more than anything in the South. M

While our families and homes were the first concern following Matthew, our local economy is a close and intertwined second. Therefore, I’ve launched a not-for-profit initiative with a clear mission: Support local businesses. Further details about shopmorelocal.org are at the front of the magazine page 56.

Your participation and support of this effort is crucial in order for this initiative to succeed. Please say: YES count on me to be part of making the Lowcountry strong again. Sign at www.shopmorelocal.org

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