Hilton Head Monthly June 2019

LOWCOUNTRY WEDDINGS • FATHER’S DAY GIFTS

SUMMER FUN GET OUT ON THE WATER MEDICAL CANNABIS BYIDEAS DESIGN FOR YOUR

MORT SOLBERG

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KITCHEN & BATHS

MEET BEAUFORT COUNTY’S NEW LEADER

NATIONAL WILDLIFE ARTIST LIVES AND WORKS IN BLUFFTON

{your voice} JUNE 2019

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monthly

TM

address 14 Westbury Park Way, Suite 200, Bluffton 29910 offices 843-842-6988 web hiltonheadmonthly.com

FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS for Residents of Beaufort and Jasper counties! $1 or less per month for out-of-area mailings hiltonheadmonthly.com/subscriptions

MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR Marc Frey marc@hiltonheadmonthly.com PUBLISHER Anuska Frey anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com EDITOR IN CHIEF Carol Weir carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sasha Sweeney sasha@hiltonheadmonthly.com ART & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Michael Lupi mike@hiltonheadmonthly.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Christine Cannon Allyson Venrick DIRECTOR OF SALES Mary Ann Kent maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9390 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca V. Kerns rebecca@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-816-2732 Cathy Flory cathy@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-1538 Majka Mochnac majka@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-290-9372 Steve Bailey steve@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9302 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Whitney Boring, Christine Cannon, Carrie Hirsch, Rob Kaufman, Terrell Martin Ruthe Ritterbeck, Lloyd Wainscott CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sheena Mal Alcuizak, Mark Anderson, Queenie Bontuyan, Clay Bonnyman Evans, Jessica Farthing, Anne Feldman, Tom Gardo, R.L. Hamilton, Carrie Hirsch, Justin Jarrett, Barry Kaufman, Jim MacLeod, James Mallory, Robyn Passante, Dean Rowland, Nicole Schultz

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June's

Must Reads

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30

68

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16 Mort Solberg

58 Summer Fun

30 Ashley Jacobs

68 By Design

48 Four Generations of Power

128 Bases Loaded

This national wildlife artist lives and works in Bluffton.

He's turning his sights to the Lowcountry's beauty.

Meet Beaufort County's new administrator, a South Carolina native who has plenty of leadership experience.

The Traver family collaborates for success at their electrical supply company, which is quite a commute.

Get out on the water with these HHI activities. From paddleboarding to jet skis and more, splash away.

New Kitchen and bath trends to enhance your home were on display at the industry's trade show in Orlando.

More youth baseball fields are needed in the Lowcountry, and Beaufort County just bought 53 acres for them.

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In this Issue

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IN EVERY ISSUE

54 105

NEWS 32 Campbell Chapel AME

Church earns spot on historic register.

34 Pride Festival

Lowcountry's first LGBTQ festival.

BUSINESS 36 TEDX

Rex Gale is spreading ideas on HHI.

PEOPLE 40 Rachel Stratton

She's a dancer, actor and scientist.

42 Artists' Way

Candace Lovely reaches out.

FATHER'S DAY

HOME 78 Beat the Heat

Keep cool this summer.

WEDDINGS 105 Meant to Be

Couple met as children on HHI.

112 Love Under the Oaks

A destination wedding at Belfair.

118 Wedding Trends New looks for 2019.

52 Gift Guide

120 Lowcountry Style

Make Dad's day with these great gifts.

Fashion trends at local boutiques.

HEALTH

RELIGION

54 Medical Cannabis

134 Faith and Race

Margaret Richardson testifies in favor.

St. Andrew By-the-Sea to host leader.

SUMMER FUN

DINING

56 Dragon Boat Races

146 Barbecue Trail

Community groups will paddle hard.

Follow the Lowcountry BBQ.

10 At The Helm 12 Opinion 14 Behind the Scenes 22 News 26 Where in the World?

28 Social Spotlight 29 Community Connection 38 On the Move 87 Real Estate News 136 Calendar 150 Restaurant Listings 160 Last Call

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››At the Helm

Dear Reader,

I Anuska Frey – publisher anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com

Carol Weir – editor carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com

t’s finally summer — the season that children and teachers have been longing for. All over the Lowcountry, we’re rolling out the red carpet for the visitors who sustain our economy and show us just how good we’ve got it living here year-round. From all over the country and the far corners of the world, they’re arriving to revel in what we sometimes take for granted: wide, clean beaches; rolling waves; and days filled with golden sunshine.

This issue includes many suggestions for summer fun on the water, from paddle boarding and personal watercraft rides to Beaufort’s highly anticipated dragon boat races. Father’s Day is June 16, and it’s a great day to get outside and “play tourist.” Whether your dad prefers golfing, fishing or fine dining, studies show that people treasure gifts of experiences. In addition to something from our Father’s Day Gift Guide, we bet that what your dad really wants is to spend the day with his children, doing something the whole family will enjoy.

June is also a busy month for the Lowcountry’s wedding venues and professionals. Hilton Head Island has become a top national wedding destination, and Bluffton isn’t far behind. In this issue, we invite you to savor the details of two fabulous local weddings, discover trends for brides and grooms in 2019, and explore fashion offered by local boutiques.

In addition to our photo gallery of cute local kids and an easy-to-follow, mouth-watering barbecue trail map, we hope you also appreciate our treatment of more serious topics as well.

We look at the challenges facing local artists looking to earn a living from their art in our resort town, and we profile Margaret Richardson, a high-profile advocate for the state’s Compassionate Care Act. This proposal to legalize medical cannabis will be taken up by the state legislature when it reconvenes.

We also offer practical advice for kitchen and bathroom updates and advances in HVAC systems to keep you cool this summer — and comfortable when winter rolls around again.

So please stick Monthly in your beach bag or your carry-on as you travel and settle in for a good read.

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››We Asked, You Answered What do you think about the proposal to legalize medical cannabis in South Carolina?

No problem, with the proper use of certified and licensed pharmacies only. But the main issue may be where the line is on “under the influence” and possibly employment that requires passing a drug test.

— David Louis Cook Why is this even a discussion? Since the ’90s, pharmaceutical companies have been knowingly peddling something highly addictive and that is literally killing people, but we are discussing the legality of a plant that’s proven to be effective and nonaddictive and that hasn’t killed anyone to treat a lot of the same symptoms.

— Jon Lewallen Absolutely. — Bridget Murphy Medical marijuana is already so highly used, legalizing its medical use can help individuals get the benefits in the correct way, with medical guidance to help prevent any potential negative effects.

— Melissa Bonvissuto No. I feel that a drug is given as an answer for so many things when maybe the answer is better food/diet or exercise.

– Nanette Taber

I’m from Uruguay and there cannabis is legal. Now the government can’t handle it. – Alejandro Viera Medical marijuana is a highly effective medicine that treats numerous conditions.

The state should not keep this medicine away from patients that need it.

— Kelly Housaman No problem with it. Can’t be worse than the meds they push on us.

— Maureen Houston Awesome idea! It helps with cancer, nausea, and a plethora of other ailments ... and I believe it should be legalized recreationally as well and follow similar laws as alcohol. —Lucy Cafiero-Ahl Yes! It would mean a lot people could get off pain meds and use the organic cannabis for pain instead. — Renee Thompson

Marijuana should be legal for casual consumption under laws similar to those governing tobacco and alcohol.

— David Robertson I’m fine with medical marijuana. It’s (apparently) highly effective … if you’ll excuse the pun. — Linda Kramer Keane No reason not to. — Dylan James Moore Hurry up. South Carolina patients need safe access. Do you want your citizens getting the product via a legal route, or on the black market with an entire host of problems?

— Alex Perez The fact that it’s illegal now doesn’t stop folks from providing and consuming it.

We have to stop trying to save people from themselves because more often than not, our attempts at saving them are causing far more harm. — Laura Sterling

It could really change the rate of addiction and overdoses, and help people get off pain pills without getting a substitute.

— Tyler Goodrich

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››Behind the Scenes

ONLINE

EXCLUSIVE CHECK IT OUT AT: HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

Anuska Frey visited the lovely garden of Peggy Parker and Sally Hiers on Myrtle Island on the All Saints Garden Tour May 18.

Karrie Comeau of our Shop More Local team celebrated her birthday on May 20.

Club Med(iterranean)

BY JESSICA SPARKS

The Monthly team gathered in the office kitchen to share a Swiss lunch during production week.

Farley Wickre (left) from USC-Columbia and Khala McNeil (right), a student at USCB, are summer interns at Monthly.

MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS

There is no one-size-fits-all diet, and it can be difficult for people to figure out what kinds of foods might best meet their needs.

Hollie Donelson, nutritional therapy practitioner and owner of Happy Tummies of the Lowcountry, sees clients weeding their way through the fads and trends regularly.

“I believe everyone is different,” she says. “We have a lot of different aspects to genetics and where everybody came from that determines how we fit with our food.”

A few years ago, Donelson noticed that many people started gravitating to the Mediterranean diet, and the trendy eating philosophy has stuck around.

Based on the eating habits of people who live along the Mediterranean coast in places such as Greece, France, Spain, Italy and northern Africa, the diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. And unlike restrictive diets such as keto or paleo, carbs are OK on the Mediterranean eating plan.

Read the full story at hiltonheadmontly.com

WHITNEY BORING Photographer

TERRELL MARTIN Photographer

ALLYSON VENRICK Designer

Whitney Boring is the owner of W Photography on Hilton Head Island. She’s a wife, mom, foodie, self-proclaimed comedian and world traveler.

Terrell Martin is a photographer based in Boiling Springs specializing in wedding and engagement photos. See his work at instagram.com/ williammartinweddings.

Allyson Venrick majored in visual arts at N.C. State’s School of Design. She worked for Anderson Communications for 23 years and has been freelancing for Monthly since 2016.

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LOWCOUN

On the Cover: Mort Solberg is a world-famous wildlife artist who lives and works in Bluffton. Photo by Lloyd Wainscott.

TRY WE

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IDEAS FOR YOU KITCHEN & BATHSR

MEET BEA COUNTY’ UFORT S NE LEADEW R

NATIONA L LIVES AND WILDLIFE ARTIST WORKS IN BLUFFTO N

{your

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ON THE

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Artist

in Residence

MORT SOLBERG BRINGS NEW DIMENSION TO LOWCOUNTRY SCENES

BY DEAN ROWLAND | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

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››News

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MORT SOLBERG IS A FAMOUS, AND

I MEAN FAMOUS,

WILDLIFE ARTIST. - BEN WHITESIDE

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E

very time Mort Solberg and Terri, his wife of 44 years, go out for dinner, he pulls out a pen and sketches something on a piece of paper. And then he leaves the drawing for someone else to discover.

Those who find his sketches in the restaurants of Bluffton and Hilton Head Island might not know how lucky they are: Solberg is a wildlife painter and abstractionist of considerable renown, both in the United States and abroad. His works — done in watercolors, oils and acrylics — sell for thousands of dollars.

Solberg is quick to point out that he doesn’t paint for fame or fortune.

“All I ever wanted was peer recognition,” the 84-year-old Cleveland native said. “I feel very fortunate that I can make a living at what I do.”

He attended night school at the Cleveland Institute of Art to learn about painting and design and worked for American Greetings Corp. as a designer and art director from the late 1950s to the late ’60s. He moved to California to work for a different greeting card company.

He stopped painting for a while and took up photography. He freelanced and then devoted himself full time to painting in 1971 after he exhibited a watercolor series for a retrospective at a gallery, won awards and sold some of his work. In 1977, two limited-edition prints of his work were published and sold in art galleries worldwide, further cementing his standing as an artist.

“My paintings were received very well, and I never looked back,” said Solberg, who has three daughters with his wife and four sons from previous marriages.

Though he’s had some health issues lately, he still has an artist’s charm and a twinkle in his eyes above his white beard.

During one period in California, he painted Native Americans and their culture, fascinated by his family’s ancestral connection to them, as well as his Norwegian heritage.

“Once I started on Native American paintings, they painted themselves,” he said. “I had no idea, when I finished a

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››News

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Painter Mort Solberg has been called the “Andrew Wyeth of wildlife.” He moved to Bluffton in 2015.

painting, how I painted it. All I focused on was shapes, and each one of those shapes became representational.”

Solberg and his wife moved to Rose Hill in late 2015 after she fell in love with the Lowcountry during several visits to the area.

Moving here was fine with him, he said, because he can paint anywhere.

But in his heart, “I love it here, but I’d rather be in the mountains, but I can’t do that physically anymore” because of the altitude and difficulty breathing, he said. “We have everything up there — bears, elks, moose, antelope, wolves.”

Locally, Solberg is represented by The Red Piano Art Gallery in Old Town Bluffton, and he’s quite pleased with the reception he’s received from collectors. He’s also represented by four other galleries nationwide and has two Western watercolor exhibitions coming up that will eventually make their way to Europe. He’s conducted workshops with the Society of Bluffton Artists and in

high schools, has judged local competitions and wants to work with young children.

And the Lowcountry is quite pleased with him, as well.

“Mort Solberg is a famous, and I mean famous, wildlife artist,” said Ben Whiteside, who owns Red Piano with his wife, Lynn.

“We’re thrilled to represent Mort; he’s a feather in our cap.”

Whiteside said Solberg is a master in any medium he showcases on canvas.

“He sells very well, and he’s not inexpensive,” Whiteside said. “I’m looking now at a 10-by-10 watercolor of an egret in the marsh, and it’s $4,800. He brings local to the table in a big way.”

Today, in his home studio — with his wife, “my strength, cracking the whip” and lending her visual perspective to his work — he’s “trying to tell stories of what’s here,” Solberg said.

Egrets, herons, Pinckney Island water at high tide, he wants to paint it all.

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››News

JUNE

hit

list

THE OUTSIDE FOUNDATION BEACH CLEANUP JUNE 1 Volunteers are needed to help clean up the beach area around Coligny.

KROGER OPENS, BUCKWALTER PLACE BOOMS The Kroger at Bluffton’s Buckwalter Place opened May 15. Inside the 113,000-square-foot grocery store is a beer and wine bar along with a sushi bar, hot deli and a Starbucks. Online ordering and delivery options also are available.

Development around Buckwalter Place will continue with the construction of Washington Square, a large residential, office and retail community by Speyside Partners LLC. David Johnson, the property owner and developer, has said Washington Square will include “three-quarters of an acre in the middle of it for a lawn like you see in Savannah.”

Also coming to Buckwalter Place are two health care facilities, including an emergency room and doctors’ offices, and a culinary school for students from the Technical College of the Lowcountry. Work also began in November on a new building for the Don Ryan Center for Innovation, which helps startup companies get off the ground. The new 3,000-square-foot facility, to be located next to Kroger, is scheduled to open later this year.

Also planned for the same area are second locations for local coffee shop The Corner Perk and beloved Hilton Head Island restaurant Frankie Bones.

TOWN BUYS FORMER CAR DEALERSHIP SITE PRO LEAGUE OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND JUNE 7 Watch the island’s best tennis players compete at Long Cove.

HEMP FEST JUNE 8 On Bluffton’s Calhoun Street, explore, purchase and learn about hemp and CBD products at this first-ever festival featuring leading hemp/CBD retailers.

The Town of Hilton Head has purchased a 4.57-acre tract on the north end of the island that will be used initially to create additional green space along William Hilton Parkway.

The former site of Modern Classic Motors may eventually be resold for development, but the $3.65 million acquisition gives the town “the opportunity to guide the future use of this important parcel for the benefit of the community and our local economy,” Mayor John McCann said in a release.

HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CELEBRATES GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY Hilton Head Christian Academy held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new campus in Bluffton in May. The site is located near the corner of Bluffton Parkway and Masters Way. The 27.78-acre campus will cost more than $20 million. Hilton Head Christian currently has nearly 400 students, with nearly 70 percent currently commuting to the school’s Hilton Head campus from Bluffton and beyond.

DUSTIN SCOTT: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AT PALMETTO BLUFF JUNE 24-29 See this Texas-based artisan and sportsman show off his flying fishing nets and skills at a series of events at Palmetto Bluff.

O’NAN RESIGNS FROM HILTON HEAD HIGH After four months of being on paid administrative leave, longtime Hilton Head Island principal Amanda O’Nan announced her resignation last month in a Facebook post that included an apology to her followers for “any hurt or disappointment” she had caused them. District spokesperson Jim Foster confirmed O’Nan’s resignation.

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››News MAY RIVER, HHI WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

May River High School in Bluffton might be a new school, but the Sharks proved their mettle in the Class 3A boys’ soccer playoffs and state track meet. The boys’ soccer team won 6-2 against Indian Land on May 11 at Irmo’s W.C. Hawkins Stadium. And the boys track and field team was victorious on the same day at Spring Valley High School. These are the first state titles in the short three-year history of the school.

In Class 4A boys track and field, Beaufort High School won its second straight championship and finished with 93 points, while Hilton Head Island High School was second with 57. Hilton Head standout Sam Gilman closed out his stellar high school career by winning the 800 and 1,600.

Hilton Head Island boys golf team won their first state championship in more than 20 years.

The Seahawks shot a 303 in the final round to win the Class 4A boys Championship.

Rogue Rescue owner ill, foster families needed

HILTON HEAD NATIONAL RV PARK PLAN GETS COUNTY APPROVAL

BEAUFORT MEMORIAL BREAKS GROUND Beaufort Memorial broke ground this week on a 70,000-square foot medical office building at Okatie Crossing, 122 Okatie Center Boulevard North. The three-story medical building on 19 acres will house fulltime primary care, OB-GYN, orthopedics and urgent care practices and clinics for specialists in cardiology, gastroenterology, general surgery, vascular surgery and neurology.

The building will include Beaufort Memorial’s second full-service cancer center, which is a partnership with MUSC Health and Alliance Oncology, plus a breast health center, outpatient rehabilitation and laboratory and imaging services. It is scheduled to open in late 2020.

The Beaufort County Design Review Board has approved plans to move forward with a 92-acre “luxury RV park.” The RV park is planned for the northwest corner of Hilton Head National golf course off of Bluffton Parkway. The project includes 300 high-end RV stalls, three amenity buildings, a greeting outpost building, a pocket park, a swimming pool, pickleball courts, a playground, kayaking and dock facilities, a dog park and walking paths.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BLUFFTON EXPANDS The Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton opened its new Literacy Center of Excellence, a 2,700-squarefoot expansion made possible with a $75,000 grant from Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Including this grant and other donations, the club raised more than $650,000 in less than a year. The expansion will double the number of children served in the reading intervention program. The club will also renovate its parking lot, expand its STEM program and add about 100 additional members to serve Bluffton’s growing population.

20-YEAR-OLD CHARGED IN FATAL BOATING ACCIDENT

Paul Murdaugh, the 20-year-old Hampton man facing three felony counts of boating under the influence in the February crash near Parris Island that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach and injured others on board, pleaded not guilty in May to all charges at a hearing at the Beaufort County Courthouse. Judge Steven John of the 15th Judicial Circuit granted Murdaugh’s attorneys’ request that Murdaugh be released on his own recognizance, a decision one of the attorneys called standard. But critics are complaining that Murduagh is being given special treatment due to his connections with one of Hampton’s most prominent families. Murdaugh surrendered his passport and cannot leave the 14th Judicial Circuit, which includes Beaufort, Hampton, Allendale, Colleton and Jasper counties, without permission of the court. Murdaugh’s trial date had not been set by press time.

Rogue Rescue and Sanctuary in Bluffton has an urgent need for foster families for its dogs after the nonprofit’s owner had a stroke last month.

“I suffered a stroke, and the doctor is not wanting me to do any type of work, especially in the heat,” said Dianne Chesser All. She needs to recover for at least the next 90 days.

The rescue, which has a second location in Allendale, cares for about 35 dogs, including 20 adoptable dogs that need to go into foster homes, All said.

All was adamant that Rogue Rescue will remain open.

“We are not by any means shutting down,” she said.

The organization is still open for adoptions by appointment only, and volunteers plan to participate in adoption events, but the rescue won’t be taking in dogs until All has recovered. Anyone who is interested in fostering can contact Renee Bishop at 803-671-1604.

The group also is accepting donations of high-quality dog food, which can be placed in the covered plastic bin in front of 15 Tillman St. in Bluffton.

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in the World ››Where is Monthly?

The Wexford Events & Travel Club recently enjoyed a trip to Austin and San Antonio, posing with Monthly at the Alamo.

Texas

Hungary

South Africa John and Lyn Swafford took Monthly on safari at Singita Private Game Reserve in the Sabi Sands region of South Africa.

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We love to see where Monthly travels! Submit your photos to editor@ hiltonheadmonthly.com for this section. Space is limited.

Carol, Donna and Derek Kelly joined Monthly, Pamela and Dean Teague and Lori McConnell for dinner in Budapest, Hungary.

Puerto Rico Justin and Megan Jarrett took Monthly to see “Hamilton” at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré Theatre in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Colorado Phyllis Groves took Monthly outside for some air in Denver.

New York Shea Sweeney brought Monthly to read on the plane in Syracuse, New York.

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Social Spotlight

For the 12th year, the women of All Saints Episcopal Church held a luncheon and fashion show called Saints on The Runway. The men from the church served as the waiters.

The Walk for Dom at Coligny Beach raised money for a music scholarship named after Dominique Williams.

Sea Pines’ Cary Corbett and Jack Purcell of LINKS Magazine helped Nick Edmund kick off Global Golf 4 Cancer on Hilton Head Island.

To submit a photo of your event for Social Spotlight, email editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com

A new gate at Hilton Head Island’s Audubon Newhall Preserve honors former Hilton Head Audubon vice president and Newhall chairman Jack Greenshields.

TacoFest HHI at Shelter Cove Community Park kicked off with a parade of flags.

The South Carolina Yacht Club hosted the first Windmill Harbour Cup and the annual DDS&A Cup. Thirty-five sailboats ranging in length from 18 to 42 feet participated.

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››Community Connection

Generosity is one of the best things about the Lowcountry. Has your business or organization given back to the community?

Submit your photos to editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com for this section. Space is limited.

MAY RIVER BAND WINS AWARD, NEEDS HELP

The May River High School band recently won the state’s Outstanding Performance Award—the first time in 30 years that a Beaufort County school has received this designation and the highest honor that scores marching band, concert band, solo and ensemble pieces. Band director David Carbone is facing challenges next year: Thanks to Beaufort County’s $7.5 million shortfall, the program lost funding for instruments for incoming students and is facing a 95 percent budget cut while experiencing a 60 percent boost in student enrollment. The band is looking for donations, which can be mailed to: May River HS Band Boosters, 51 Spartina Crescent, Bluffton, SC 29910.

LONG COVE MEMBER WINS BYRON NELSON AWARD Golfer Ryan Lumsden, a member of Long Cove and a senior at Northwestern University, has been named the 2019 Byron Nelson Award winner. The committee considered nominees’ collegiate academic and golf careers, as well as character and integrity. Lumsden holds the third-best career stroke average in the Northwestern golf program history. He has volunteered as part of the Student Athlete Advisory Council Canned Food Drive, spent time coaching P.E. Classes at Orrington Elementary School, is an active participant in NU Field Day, and through his fraternity, helped raise over $53,000 for Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

COLLINS GROUP REALTY’S TRUCK IS AVAILABLE

As part of the company’s commitment to giving back, Chip Collins Realty Group lends its community vehicle free of charge to groups who need it. Chip Collins purchased the box truck to loan based on the idea that “everyone needs a (box) truck from time to time, but no one wants to own one.” The community vehicle is available for use by the company’s clients, schools, churches, non-profit organizations and for community events. If your organization is in need of a moving truck, contact Collins Group Realty to make a reservation at 843-341-6300.

HILTON HEAD CEMETERY JOINS NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES In May, representatives from the Heritage Library Foundation joined community members and volunteers in accepting a plaque recognizing the St. Luke’s Parish Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery’s designation on the National Register of Historic Places.

This recognition comes after years of research by Heritage Library volunteers, who combed through records, oversaw restoration and research at the site and served as stewards of one of the island’s most fascinating historical spots. Fundraising efforts to create a history park on the site are ongoing via cf-lowcountry.org (choose Heritage Library-Zion Historic Site Preservation Fund). For information about tours conducted at the cemetery, go to heritagelib.org/tours.

PEACOCK SUBARU ‘SHARES THE LOVE’ WITH VIM

Peacock Subaru has donated $4,875 to Greater Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine as part of the annual Subaru Share the Love event.

The Bluffton Jasper VIM provides care to community members in Bluffton and Jasper County who don’t have medical insurance. The donation will go toward the clinic’s daily operations.

STUDENT NAMES HILTON HEAD REGIONAL HEALTHCARE’S NEW ROBOT Emma Magnin, a student at Hilton Head Elementary International Baccalaureate School, won Hilton Head Regional Healthcare’s contest to name a new robotic navigation system to be used for spine surgeries. Her name: Baxter the Back Fixer. She received a $500 savings bond and $500 has been awarded to her school to be used toward STEM education. The ExcelsiusGPS device allows surgeons at Hilton Head Hospital to provide minimally invasive spine surgery.

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››News

Ready to Lead

MEET NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ASHLEY JACOBS

BY EDWARD THOMAS

DIVERSE TRACK RECORD Jacobs brings 20 years of public administration experience to Beaufort County. She most recently was an assistant county administrator in Aiken County; she’s also held that position in three other South Carolina counties. She also was a senior environmental planner for the Central Midlands Council of Governments in Columbia.

Her former bosses say Jacobs’ experience in community and economic development, emergency management, disaster preparedness, environmental planning and public safety matters make her a good fit for Beaufort County.

She is “very businesslike, who knows how to relate to a diversity of people, and will take on any challenge,” said Aiken County administrator Clay Killian. “Ashley was a good adviser for me. She is an out-of-the-box thinker.”

PASSION FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Jacobs got her first taste of county administration when she was growing up in Aiken, where her family was friends with the town’s city manager, Roland Windham, who held that position for 28 years.

“I often heard stories about what Mr. Windham was doing to fix problems around our city. It was fascinating to me that his job was to improve our community and benefit people's lives,” Jacobs said. After her undergraduate work at Clemson, she decided to pursue a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AIKEN STANDARD

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rowing up in the 1980s in Aiken — which was selected by Southern Living magazine last year as “The South’s No. 1 Small Town” — Ashley Jacobs probably didn’t realize how her surroundings were shaping her future.

Today, Jacobs is Beaufort County’s new administrator, and she’s expected to play a major role in propelling the county forward.

Beaufort County Council was unanimous in selecting her for the position over 70 other applicants after an 18-month search. The position comes with a $190,000 annual salary — $7,500 more than previous administrator Gary Kubic was paid. Kubic retired in 2017, and Jacobs took over in April.

When she was hired by Beaufort County, Jacobs said she believed the county needed stability in its administration.

“Building stability is something that you do over time by delivering on your promises and by establishing and developing relationships within your organization,” she said.

COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY As part of her passion for improving the community, Jacobs has paid particular attention to gender equality in the workplace, including zero tolerance for harassment. As part of these efforts, she has taken a leading role in national organizations — she’s served as president of the League of Women in Government, headquartered in California and working to advance women in local government leadership.

Jacobs is the first woman to fill the role of Beaufort County administrator, and she said she is ready for the challenge.

“City/county management is not for the faint of heart,” she told the audience at a January meeting of the International City/ County Management Association. “When you’re feeling unsure of yourself, just think of this wonderful Italian phrase: Conosco i miei polli. The literal translation is: I know my chickens — meaning, I know what I’m talking about. … So believe in yourself and trust in your instincts.”

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Area officials share words of wisdom for new county administrator “Push aside the petty territorial disputes that keep getting us bogged down and focus on the big picture.” — Steve Riley, Hilton Head Island town manager

“You bring an incredible amount of knowledge with you, and I know this will help you in your new role. The municipalities want to be your partners as working together. This is how we can be truly effective.” — Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka “County Council is your employer. But don’t let it be your conscience, too.” — Rick Caporale, former member of Beaufort County Council “Treat Beaufort County government as the totally public entity that it is, and see that all employees treat correspondence, expenditures, personnel files, meetings and documents as open to the public at all times.” — David Lauderdale, senior editor at The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette

“Always remember to be wise enough to listen to your heart, brave enough to use your voice, and committed enough to do what’s right, especially when it’s not what’s easy.” — Kim Likins, former mayor pro tem of Hilton Head Island “Remember, we are all residents of Beaufort County.”

— Hilton Head Island Mayor John McCann “Learn and understand our county history — there are things that sometimes divide us, but more often they bind us together.”

— City of Beaufort Mayor Billy Keyserling.

“Keep our water and our government as clean as possible. Remember, Beaufort County is almost half water at high tide. Clean water equals good development. Likewise, transparency usually equals clean government.” — S.C. Rep. Weston Newton (District 124) and former chairman of Beaufort County Council

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››News

History Rings True

BLUFFTON’S CAMPBELL CHAPEL AME CHURCH EARNS SPOT ON NATIONAL REGISTER

BY JAMES A. MALLORY PHOTOS BY CHRISTINE CANNON

H

istoric preservationist Carolyn Coppola had to search high and low to find one of the most significant physical clues to support the oral history of the old Campbell Chapel AME Church building in downtown Bluffton.

“I had an intern go up into the old belfry,” said Coppola, who led the effort to document the historic church’s past in a successful push for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. “He took pictures in the attic on his phone — on a hot summer day. We were all looking for clues. We found the yoke inscription and traced it to a company using that name for a short period of time.”

Coppola and her team determined the bell was made sometime between the end of the Civil War and the time Campbell Chapel founders — freedmen who were formerly enslaved — started worshiping in the building. Its board-and-batten siding was likely added when the bell was installed by the new worshipers, she said. By crawling underneath the church, they figured out the approximate time an addition was made.

The Greek Revival-style building, located at 23 Boundary St., dates to 1853 and is Bluffton’s oldest standing church. It was known as Bluffton Methodist Church when wealthy white landowners held services there. Around 1874, according to Campbell Chapel history, trustees of Bluffton Methodist sold the building to former enslaved people for $500. Calling it “unprecedented for the times,” the church history noted that at least one of the purchasers was formerly enslaved by a trustee.

Coppola’s detailed research buttressed the church’s history and led the South Carolina Department of Archives and History to recommend that the building be placed on the national register. In late April, historic Campbell Chapel became Bluffton’s second building listed individually on the national register, joining The Church of the Cross, located at 110 Calhoun St. Descendants of Campbell Chapel’s founders worship in the church’s current sanctuary, found at 25 Boundary St., and some were on hand to help make the pitch to place the old church on the register.

“When they stood up and said who they were descended from, tears were welling up in their eyes,” Coppola said. “This is what their ancestors were striving for, and the success of what they accomplished was laid out in that room.”

The registry listing will help Campbell Chapel, which is raising money to renovate the old building, with grant applications, said the Rev. Dr. Jon R. Black, the church’s pastor.

“We want to restore it to museum-like quality,” he said. “We want to restore much of the historic fabric and get it as close as possible to 1874 and make it a place to do unity projects and have the necessary social and community services — wedding, funerals, daily tours, like the Heyward House.”

Campbell Chapel AME is the oldest church in Bluffton and was recently accepted into the National Register of Historic Places.

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Rev. Dr. Jon R. Black, pastor of Campbell Chapel AME Church, would like to see the historic building restored to museum-like quality and serving as a community resource.

Documenting Campbell Chapel’s history adds another piece to Bluffton’s history, Coppola said. She’s the founder of Celebrate Bluffton Inc., and said that Sabrinna Cox, current executive director of Celebrate Bluffton, is continuing research into Campbell Chapel’s history, “looking to enrich the story presented in the national register.”

To build support for Campbell Chapel’s historic recognition, Coppola had to dig deeply to find early church history. Records of the white congregation were destroyed in a storm in the early 20th century, she said. There were AME church minutes, but most family history was passed down orally.

She did have a typed version of a property transfer deed of the original deed recorded in 1879, likely typed out in the early 20th century. It contained the names of nine freedmen and the trustees from the white congregation.

Ultimately, it was the physical church itself that provided the richest clues.

“You are reading the building as if you are reading an historical document,” Coppola said. “The physical evidence in the building corroborates oral history to enable us to more confidently tell the history of the building.”

Black said the church’s renovation, now in the first of three phases, should be completed within two years. The historic chapel, currently rented to Hispanic congregation Iglesia Torre Fuerte, can become a symbol of community, growth, education and unity, he said.

“We see this as a community project,” he said.

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››News IF YOU GO What: Lowcountry PRIDE Parade & Celebration When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 22 Where: Oscar Frazier Park Field of Dreams, Bluffton Details: lowcountrypride.org

Out and Proud

(L to R): Nathalie Beard, Ashley Mendez, Kathleen Hughes Mardell, and Rahne Ery are organizing the PRIDE festival in Bluffton’s Oscar Frazier Park.

BLUFFTON TO HOST AREA’S FIRST PRIDE FESTIVAL

BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTO BY CHRISTINE CANNON

A

shley Mendez was 12 when she came out as gay to her closest friends and 16 when she broke the news to her family.

She figured being open about who she was would mean leaving her hometown of Bluffton as soon as possible, shoving off from conservative South Carolina in search of a more accepting community.

To Mendez’s surprise, she didn’t have to leave the Lowcountry to find acceptance and support, and she wants to make sure the next generation of LGBTQ+ teens know they have a home here, too.

That’s why Mendez is part of a group organizing the inaugural Lowcountry PRIDE Parade & Celebration. The event will feature a parade through Old Town Bluffton, including the Calhoun Street Promenade, followed by a family-friendly celebration at Oscar Frazier Park’s Field of Dreams.

“I’m not going to say that I didn't have any issues and that other people in the area don't have problems,” Mendez said.

“There are people I know personally who struggle with their identity and with particular people in their life. I and every other queer person I know is still very careful about who they tell, but as a whole I'm seeing more and more that this area is evolving.”

Longtime Bluffton resident Kathleen Mardell has watched that evolution over the years, and while participating in the James E. Clyburn Political Fellowship — an educational fellowship program for community organizers and others — she felt compelled to put in motion plans for the area’s first PRIDE celebration.

Like Mendez, Mardell has been encouraged — if slightly surprised — by the community’s response.

“It’s really been an overwhelmingly positive response from everyone involved from the town of Bluffton down. It’s been so good,” Mardell said. “Nine out of 10 people say something along

the lines of, ‘I can’t believe it hasn’t happened yet. It’s about time.’ ” All it took to finally make it happen was a meeting around Mardell’s kitchen table — where co-founders Mardell, Mendez, Rahne Ery, and Nathalie Beard started hashing out a plan — and the months of hard work that ensued. From that initial meeting, things have taken shape thanks to an influx of sponsors and volunteers and the cooperation of local officials.

Organizers say the parade and celebration will be family-friendly, complete with face painting, an inflatable water slide, and other activities for kids. Local band Heavy Honey is already committed to play, and a DJ will be spinning tunes all day.

The Holy City Twirlers from Charleston and the Savannah Derby Devils roller derby team will be among the visiting groups participating in the parade, which is open to anyone and everyone who wants to show their support.

The idea is to make the event a welcoming space for all.

“Pride to me is more than just spreading our voice and saying, ‘Yeah, we're here and we're queer,’ ” Ery said. “I think it's important to love and know yourself and accept yourself. … It’s not just loving someone of the same gender, but loving yourself and your neighbors, regardless of race, gender, religion. When it comes down to it all we have is each other, and I believe it’s important to embrace that.”

Ery hopes the event will shine a light on Bluffton as a welcoming community with plenty of love — and pride.

“Growing up, Bluffton has always been accepting and loving, and seeing how much this place has grown makes me excited that more and more people are coming to Bluffton,” Ery said.

“I want them to know what this place is all about, not just the beautiful scenery but the beautiful people, too, that make our community great.”

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››Business

Speak Up

TEDX GETS LOCALS TO PRESENT IDEAS WORTH SPREADING

BY CARRIE HIRSCH AND CAROL WEIR | PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

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PHOTO BY CARRIE HIRSCH

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hroughout his career in human resources and management, Rex Gale’s easy, approachable style motivated employees.

Now’s he’s motivating people on Hilton Head Island to take the stage and share their ideas. Gale presented the island’s third TEDx event last month, and between those who have spoken at the forums and the people who have come to hear them, much of the Lowcountry has taken note.

TEDx events are organized by curious individuals who want to discover ideas and spark conversations in their own community. After Gale was invited to be a speaker at TEDx Creative Coast in Savannah in 2014, he was hooked and decided to start a TEDx series in the Lowcountry.

“Hilton Head has always attracted people with incredible life experience and tremendous business experience. I thought that we need to be doing this here,” he said.

TEDx events include live local speakers and short segments of recorded TED Talks, and are organized independently under a free license granted by TED. All the organizers are volunteers, as are the speakers. The license requires that any profits from a TEDx event must be reinvested in the production of the next one. Gale’s organization has nonprofit status through Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

TED — which stands for technology, entertainment and design — focuses on “ideas worth spreading.” The speaker series launched in 1984, and there are now more than 2,400 TED Talks available to view online.

Gale recently retired as national acount director of sales with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina; he also spent many years as a business consultant and has worked with many of the world's most successful companies in designing programs to achieve optimum levels of health, prosperity and life in general. He said that more than a decade after a gathering known as Renaissance Weekend left Hilton Head, he aspired to create a similar intellectual event that would highlight lessons from speakers’ personal experiences.

TEDx Talks fit that description. They are short — each is less than 18 minutes — and organized around a specific theme. Local organizers follow a set of ground rules dictated by the national TED organization, but can choose their own themes, speakers and venues.

Rex Gale (left) organizes TEDx events on HHI. Some of the speakers on May 11 posed for a photo.

Ahead of the May 11 TEDxHiltonHead event, the 19 presenters worked with coaches Jane Jude, David Premo and Laura Hill to help perfect their deliveries. The theme of the event was “Reinvention” and Dr. Debi Lynes acted as the emcee, as she has for the past two.

This was the third Hilton Head TEDx event, and each has grown progressively larger. The next will be TEDxWomen in December, and Gale expects the crowd to continue to grow. In May, the increased interest led local organizers to move from the rooftop bar at Posiedon in Shelter Cove Towne Centre to the larger SoundWaves venue near Coligny Plaza.

“Someday, we’ll be big enough to rent The Arts Center,” Gale said.

Local Voices Speakers and their talk titles at the May TEDx Hilton Head event were: • Juan Carlos Jiménez-Guillén: “My Life as a Cuban Refugee” • Emra Smith: “The Deliberate Walk of Reinvention” • Kaan Çivici: “Do One Simple Thing if You Want Your Child to Save the World” • Jill Johns: “From Entrepreneurship

by Default to Entrepreneurship by Design” • Tricia Mikouchi: “Reimagining

Awareness of Mental Illness” • Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams: “The DaVinci Code for Regional Planning”

• Jane Carson Sandler: “From Victim to Survivor to Thriver” • Jevon Daly: “Collaboration: A Bridge to Creativity”

• Eric Esquivel: “Immigration: Take It to the Bank”

• Dennis Itterbach: “Doing More to Help Cancer Survivors Become Thrivers”

• Jimi Gibson: “You Have Magic Power: Use It for Good”

• Bea Wray, “What Harvard Taught Me But My Kids Made Me Learn”

• Sheila Ferguson: “Be Your Most Effective in the Face of Fear”

• Shirley Peterson: “Mitchelville: A Real Declaration of Independence”

• Joseph Arnegger: “Reinvent Your Town with a Thriving Art Scene”

• Elizabeth Millen: “From Ground Zero to Gratefulness”

• Erin Risius: “Transforming the Negative Messages that Shape Us”

• Imelda Golden: “You Can Choose Your Reality” June 2019 37

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››On the Move VINEYARD BLUFFTON WELCOMES EVANS Kaylynn Evans has joined the team at Vineyard Bluffton assisted living facility and its parent company, Valeo Groupe. Evans will serve on Valeo’s executive leadership team and will be responsible for the operations of Vineyard Bluffton, a 96-bed assisted living facility with a focus on memory care. She has more than 12 years of experience in health care and eight years of experience in dementia care. She is a NCCDP-certified dementia trainer and certified dementia care manager. Vineyard Bluffton is expected to open later this year.

PALMETTO DUNES NAMED ‘BEST WEDDING VENUE’

Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island has been named “The South’s Best Wedding Venue in South Carolina”

by Southern Living magazine. In addition, for the fourth year in a row, the resort’s wedding and events team was voted a WeddingWire Couples Choice Award winner. The resort specializes in weddings large and small, featuring beachside accommodations and a golf course setting.

COASTAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL NAMES CHIEF NURSING OFFICER Christina Brzezinski has joined the team at Coastal Carolina Hospital as its new chief nursing officer.

Brzezinksi has more than 25 years of health care experience and previously served as the director of complex care at Hilton Head Hospital. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Medical College of Ohio and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Toledo.

LONG COVE CLUB WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF

John Soulia has been hired as the new executive chef of Long Cove Club. He brings more than 21 years of culinary leadership and management. Previously, he worked as director of food and beverage and executive chef at Berkeley Hall for six years. Soulia has a degree in culinary arts from Johnson & Wales University, as well as continuing education in the Culinary Institute of America and The Gourmet Institute.

OUTSIDE BRANDS HAS NEW COO Outside Brands has added Jordan Treadway as chief operating officer.

Treadway started with the company in 2005 and held several roles from retail to kayak guide to director of reservations.

She then worked at J. Banks Design for four years as design assistant and then director of operations before returning to Outside Brands recently. Treadway has a bachelor’s degree from Clemson University in business management with concentrations in Spanish and Economics.

ADVANCED AESTHETICS ACADEMY OPENS IN HARDEEVILLE Advanced Aesthetics Academy, owned by Heidi Daly, has opened on Dermis Avenue in Hardeeville. The academy will offer instruction in aesthetic treatments, clinical rotations and elements of running a spalike client service, inventory and retailing. Students will earn more than 450 hours of training and will be able to apply for licensure as an aesthetician. Daly is a longtime resident of Hilton Head Island who has been an aesthetics instructor for nine years. Enrollment is open now.

HILTON HEAD PREP HIRES MAURER

Hilton Head Preparatory School has announced the hiring of Patti Maurer as its new artistic director. Maurer will direct and choreograph the school’s theater productions, as well as teach and manage the performing arts department. She has recently been accepted into the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and is also the chair of the Arts and Cultural Council of Hilton Head Island and the executive director of the Island School Council for the Arts. She has hundreds of dance, musical and directing credits with national and international productions. Maurer has a bachelor’s degree in dance and psychology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and was named a South Carolina Arts Commission Top 40 Arts Educator.

BEAUFORT DERMATOLOGY HAS NEW OWNER

Dr. Audrey Klenke, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Bluffton, recently acquired the Beaufort Dermatology practice from retiring physicians Paul Brewer and Chris Chiavello. Klenke will now manage the practice.

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COUNSELING PRACTICE OPENS IN BLUFFTON May River Counseling has opened in Bluffton and will serve adolescents and their families, as well as offer individual counseling for adults, including women who have lost a pregnancy or who are struggling after an abortion. May River Counseling is owned by Jessica Bender, who has a master’s degree in professional counseling from Liberty University and is licensed by the state of South Carolina as an LPCA.

HAIG POINT NAMES NEW CULINARY TEAM

Haig Point Community has announced six new additions to its culinary team, including four promotions.

Greg Weppner has been promoted to food and beverage manager. Previously, Weppner was the general manager at Sea Pine Resort’s Frasers Tavern and Plantation Clubhouse.

John Taylor Griffin has been promoted to executive chef, bringing more than 15 years of experience to his new role. He previously served as the head chef at Marshside Mama’s Cafe on Daufuskie Island.

Ian Gordon has been promoted to executive sous chef at the Clubhouse Grill Room, after more than 12 years at Haig Point.

Simone Concas recently joined the team as the new executive sous chef at the Calibogue Club. Concas was previously the executive chef of Belfair Country Club.

Damion Buddington has been promoted to restaurant manager and brings more than 10 years of hospitality and food service experience to his new role.

Sarah Sheedy will take over the role of events and catering coordinator.

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››People

Triple Threat

FROM SCIENCE TO THE STAGE, HILTON HEAD PREP STUDENT WINS BIG

BY ANNE FELDMAN

PHOTO BY GUIDO FLUECK

W

hen it comes to achieving goals, Rachel Stratton is a big believer in balance: “I like to get things done so I can be ready for what’s coming next.”

And she’s certainly getting things done. In just the past few months, she has shared the stage at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina with Broadway star Laura Bell Bundy and earned two awards from the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico, including the People’s Choice Award, for her “What’s in Your Water?” project, examining whether containers marketed as BPA-free truly are.

The rising Hilton Head Preparatory School senior describes herself as a science nerd. But she’s also a fierce dancer and an actress — a multi-talented multitasker.

And she does it all while maintaining academic success and pursuing personal passions including photography and varsity volleyball.

Ever since her first science fair as a high school freshman, Rachel has been on a clearly defined trajectory, winning first place in her category at the SCISA State Science Fair and first place at the Sea Island Regional Science Fair, earning the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize and the 2017 Ricoh Sustainable Development Award, and finding success at the 2017-19 INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair.

“Our successful students find something they’re passionate about and build their projects around that,” said Janet Sullivan, the chairwoman of Hilton Head Prep’s science department. “Not to be limited by island resources but reaching out to the university level. That’s what set Rachel apart. She set her bar high and took that approach, working with University of Georgia and University of Florida labs, and it really paid off.”

Others agree that Rachel is a force to be reckoned with.

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SUBMITTED PHOTOS

“Rachel is a triple-threat talent, made even more rare in that she brings a luminous quality to every performance ... the ‘it’ factor,” said Andrea Gannon, the vice president of marketing for the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. “In addition to her onstage prowess, easily evidenced from her roles in our ‘Gypsy’ as Baby June and Jane Banks in our ‘Mary Poppins,’ she is off-the-charts intelligent. Rachel just returned from competing in her third consecutive International Science Fair.

Beauty, brains, and talent ... she has it all, truly.”

Rachel attributes her scientific success to lessons learned during rigorous dance intensives at the Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet, Austin’s American Ballet Theatre and at Hilton Head Dance Theatre, as well as performances onstage at Hilton Head Prep and the Arts Center. “It’s all

Rachel Stratton as Jane Banks in the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina’s production of “Mary Poppins.”

Rachel Stratton was awarded third place in chemistry, and the People’s Choice Award at the Department of Defense’s Junior Science and Humanities Symposium in Albuquerque, NM.

connected – ballet, theater and science,” she said. “Hard work, discipline and performance technique have taught me how to appear in front of large audiences and effectively get my message across.”

New York-based director Casey Colgan first put her onstage in the Arts Center’s production of “Gypsy.”

“The first time we met, I did a little dance step and she followed right along.

I said, ‘Yeah, but can you do this?’ and she could do everything. Baby June called for an incredible little dancer and, hard worker that she is, she did it, and on pointe,” Colgan said. “Later, in ‘Mary Poppins,’ I had so much trust in her, I knew she’d be great in her role, and serve as a leader to the other kids.”

“Saturday Night Fever,” starring “American Idol” winner Candice Glover, was a pivotal step for Rachel, helping her move into more adult roles. And her talent helped her blend seamlessly with the professional dancers onstage.

“As a director, I’m most proud of her growth. Her professional ballet training made it easy for her to take direction – while her beauty and the sparkle in her eyes is honestly the icing on the cake that gives her that star quality on stage.”

“Taking that last bow has been a big part of my life,” Rachel said.

“Connections with actors from New York, partnering and having that trust component, supporting each other, that’s a metaphor for everything in life.”

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››People

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Art in Distress

LOCAL ARTISTS SAY AREA COULD DO MORE TO SUPPORT CREATIVITY

BY JESSICA FARTHING | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

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andace Lovely’s work has hung on walls at some pretty impressive addresses — like 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. The nationally recognized Impressionist painter was commissioned by Barbara Bush to create a portrait of the former first lady that hung in the White House during George H.W. Bush’s presidency.

But despite her successes, Lovely recently turned to the community for help when she fell on hard times— and says her situation is an example of the struggle facing artists on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton who are trying to make a living.

Lovely moved with her parents from Vermont to Hilton Head in the 1970s, settling in a home that her dad built for her mother in Hilton Head Plantation. Today, the prolific painter works at home in her late mother’s studio. Her paintings range from windswept beachfronts to garden scenes to works that document years of experiences in the Lowcountry. This spring, she won first place at South Carolina Chapter National Association of Women Artists exhibit for her oil on linen painting titled “Venus Goes H2O.” Over the years, she has taught art, authored and sold coloring books, and

led art workshops. Her financial troubles started in the early 2000s when her husband, mother and grandmother died.

Lonely and grieving, she fell into a marriage with another artist who ran through her finances. When the market crashed in 2008, people stopped buying art and Lovely struggled to make the minimum payments on her home. The market for investment commissioned pieces has not recovered, and after holding on as long as she could, Lovely recently received a foreclosure notice that evicts her in September.

“People always say that I’m talented and that they love my work, but they can’t afford it,” she said.

Lovely, who is 66, decided to go public with her plight on Facebook, her website (candacelovely.com) and through an e-blast to the media and others. A GoFundMe page (gofundme.com/savethe-art-family-home) is raising money to save her home and studio. For a $200 donation, she’s signing a giclee reproduction of her painting “The Edge,” which depicts the northernmost point of Hilton Head. If she makes her fundraising goal, she’ll donate the original painting, currently housed at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, to the Town of Hilton Head Island.

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››People

‘‘

ESTABLISHING AN ARTS DISTRICT

FROM THE CROSS ISLAND TO SEA PINES CIRCLE, PALMETTO BAY ROAD TO ARROW ROAD AND

GIVING IT A DIFFERENT LAND MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE

WOULD HELP. -MIRA SCOTT

Candace Lovely is a professional artist on Hilton Head Island who painted former first lady Barbara Bush's offical portrait.

She’s also drastically cut the price of her artwork by 70 percent, well under its appraised value. The work is for sale on her website, candacelovely.com.

Lovely is the latest, but not the only, professional artist to bring attention to the difficulties artists face in the Lowcountry.

Sculptor Kevin Eichner, who won this year’s Purchase Prize at the biannual Public Art exhibition by Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, has also been vocal. Soon after the of Town of Hilton Head purchased Eichner’s 10-foot-high“Humanus” sculpture and made plans to install it at the entrance to Hilton Head Island Airport, Eichner announced that he and his partner, artist Sonia Landwehr Hunt, were moving to North Carolina because the state offers more support for the arts.

To try to foster the cultural and artistic scene on Hilton Head, the town in 2017 created the Office of Cultural Affairs and hired Jenn McEwen as director. She is heading marketing efforts to promote the island’s creative talent.

“I work with local organizations to advertise the depths of what we have to offer on Hilton Head,” she said.

McEwen believes in creating opportunities to showcase art, history and culture to boost public participation. So far, her office has launched a website, CultureHHI.com, to promote events and attractions. Any artist can make a landing page there for free,

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››People

Lovely is signing giclée prints of her painting "The Edge" to raise money to avoid foreclosure on her house.

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Oil on linen painting "The Shell" is for sale on Lovely's website.

and the site includes a master calendar linking to arts events.

The office also produced a cultural trail map linking assets like public art and historical sites.

Getting more of the island’s visitors to purchase art is one of Mira Scott’s goals. Scott is a board member of the Arts and Cultural Council of Hilton Head and the co-founder of the new artists’ collaborative space called Bo Art. She would like to see the area around Dunnagans Alley on the south end of Hilton Head, where Bo Art is located, become a walkable destination for art and culture.

“Establishing an arts district from the Cross Island to Sea Pines Circle, Palmetto Bay Road to Arrow Road and giving it a different Land Management Ordinance would help,” Scott said. “If it was supported by the town, we could have walking paths throughout this whole district, which would make it easy for someone to park or catch a trolley, get to the area and have dining, shopping and visual experiences. This would definitely help local artists.”

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››Father’s Day

Jack Traver Jr. (left) and Brandon Traver work together at Traver IDC.

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Four generations of power FAMILY TIES SUSTAIN ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING AND CONSULTING FIRM

BY BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTO BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

I

n 1938, Al Traver Sr. took a gamble on his island. The Travers, like many island residents, family’s future that would eventually lead originally came to Hilton Head on vacation.

After helping his mother-in-law relocate to them to Hilton Head Island. With the Great Depression at its peak, he left behind a job the island, Jack put down roots, moving here as a factory worker to set out his shingle as a with his wife, Paula, daughter Gillian and son Brandon 15 years ago. manufacturer of electric motors in Waterbury, Connecticut. More than 80 years later, Traver Brandon graduated from Hilton Head Island IDC has grown to include 49 employees doing High School and Clemson University. After everything from consulting on energy conserworking for large corporations near Clemson, vation to providing electrical supplies. And just he decided to give Traver IDC a try. as they did four generatios “I really didn’t have all ago, they still manufacture that much interest in the family business until I was electric motors.

YOU’D BE HARD a senior in college,” he said.

Three generations of the PRESSED TO “I thought I would stay in Traver family are still actively involved at the company — South Carolina because I love IMAGINE ANYONE albeit with very different it here.”

WANTING TO MAKE commutes to work. Consider Now he makes his home in Boston, and his commute the staggering frequent flier SUCH A TRIP EACH is roughly two hours each miles being racked up by Traver president and chairway.

WEEK. man Jack Traver Jr. as he jets Jack Traver Sr., — between his home on Hilton Brandon’s grandfather and Jack Jr.’s dad — has it easy. His commute to Head and his office in Connecticut. His comwork is just 10 minutes door to door. The mute not only lets him keep a foot in both eldest Traver started with the company in worlds, it lets him maintain the family busi1955, earning a desk when he graduated colness, working alongside his father and his son.

“I pretty much fly down to Hilton Head lege and eventually running the company with Island on weekends, spending three to four his oldest brother. A few years back, Jack Jr. was named chairman and now, according to days a week here, and then I’m in Connecticut the rest of the week. I’ve been doing that for 15 his father, “he’s the boss.” years now,” he said.

Oddly enough, for a firm rooted in Other than a love for free peanuts in very mechanical engineering, neither of the Jacks small bags, you’d be hard pressed to imagare mechanical engineers. That honor falls ine anyone wanting to make such a trip every to Brandon. week. But to Jack Jr., it’s a tribute to his ded“Jack and I are both electrical engineers, but we’re both working on mechanical ication to his company and his love of the

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››Father’s Day

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things,” said Jack Sr. “Now that we have a mechanical engineer in the business, we might be able to figure some stuff out.”

But the Travers fly in the face of the classic image of the humorless engineer. When Jack Sr. mentions the possibility of retiring, Jack Jr. is quick to quip, “we were thinking we might try a lower-impact approach and just change the locks.”

To which Jack Sr. responds: “Just don’t spend too much money on them.”

It’s a genuine family bond that has served their namesake company well, ushering in greater success with each year.

And it’s one that brings them together as often as possible on Hilton Head Island.

“We used to spend that kind of time in Florida, but Hilton Head is nice and it’s closer,” said Jack Sr. “And it’s an easier drive than Florida.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TRAVER FAMILY

Jack Traver, Jr. (far left) commutes from Hilton Head Island to Connecticut each week, where he works with his father Jack Sr. (middle) and son Brandon. Al Traver (right) founded the company in 1938.

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FAT H E R ’ S DAY G I F T G U I D E Golf Club Bottle Openers.

Gifted Hilton Head 843.842.8787 giftedhiltonhead.com

Aransas Shirt in prickly pear seaspray by Howler Brothers.

Outside Hilton Head Shelter Cove Towne Center 843.686.6996 outsidehiltonhead.com

Crew 11 Luggage at 20% off regular outlet prices.

Travelpro Luggage Outlet 1414 Fording Island Road 843.837.2226 travelproluggageoutlet.com

Turtle Magnifying Glass & Alligator Eyeglass Holder.

The Greenery Garden Center Gift & Home 960 William Hilton Pkwy 843.592.3759

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MacKenze-Childs, Courtly Check Bar Tool Kit. Forsythe Jewelers 843.671.7070 forsythejewelers.biz

Like father, like son! O’Neill Swimwear and Reef Sandals are fun matching father and son favorites.

Quiet Storm  Coligny Plaza 843.671.2551

Leather Power Flexsteel Recliner.

Moss Creek Village Furniture 1569 Fording Island Rd. 843.837.4000 mcvfurniture.com

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››Health

Desperate for Relief MEDICAL CONDITIONS DRIVE LOCAL SUPPORT FOR CANNABIS BILL

BY CLAY BONNYMAN EVANS PHOTO BY RUTHE RITTERBECK

M

argaret Richardson doesn’t match the stereotypical image of a marijuana user, which made her recent testimony about medical cannabis to a panel of state senators all the more riveting.

The 62-year-old mother and grandmother is the wife of Scott Richardson — the former Republican state senator and director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance.

But the week of Thanksgiving 2018, agonized by the searing pain of trigeminal neuralgia — “like having a Bunsen burner turned on inside your head,” she says — Richardson took a friend’s whispered advice to try cannabis.

The opiates prescribed by her physician in 2015 had knocked down the pain, but at the unacceptable cost of destroying her stomach. Three years after a complicated surgery to implant wires controlled by a transmitter, the treatment became less effective in stopping the severe pain.

“I didn’t know what medical marijuana was until then. I didn’t have a clue. I was so desperate that when someone proffered it, I tried it,” she says.

To her astonishment, it worked. Since then, Richardson has reluctantly broken federal and state law against possessing the illegal Schedule I drug because it’s the only thing that seems to help.

“As a law-abiding citizen, I feel awful being thrust into buying something on the black market, not knowing if it’s safe or if the content is what is advertised, not knowing how much to take,” says the longtime Hilton Head Island resident.

Which is why she’s become a vocal and visible advocate for the Compassionate Care Act, state Sen. Tom Davis’ bill to legalize and regulate medical cannabis in South Carolina. Senate Bill 366 cleared a subcommittee before the gavel sounded in late April and will be taken up “first thing” by the Senate Medical Affairs Committee when the S.C. Senate convenes again in January.

“It will retain that place, right where we left off.

So, we’re not starting over again. We’re picking up where we left off,” says Davis, a Beaufort Republican.

He has patiently shepherded the bill through the system for several years, trying to address the concerns of opponents, including the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Medical Association and Gov. Henry McMaster, who has said he won’t sign a bill that conflicts with federal law banning marijuana.

Davis says the bill had the votes to get out of committee this session, but he deferred to colleagues who asked him to give them more time before voting.

“I had several senators tell me, ‘You’ve done a great job with the bill, but it’s 45 pages long, and I’d like to have time to look at it over the summer. Don’t force me into a ‘no’ vote now when I may have a ‘yes’ later,’” Davis says.

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have approved medical cannabis laws, while 10 states have approved so-called “recreational” bills that essentially legalize the drug.

From the outset, Davis has said South Carolinians don’t want a

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‘‘

THESE ARE PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHILDREN, WITH CANCER, EPILEPSY, CHRONIC

PAIN, JUST TRYING TO GET

WHAT THEY NEED LEGALLY, -MARGARET RICHARDSON

DID YOU KNOW? “backdoor bill” to legalize recreational use. As a result, in its current version, the measure would be the strictest medical marijuana law in the nation. Among its provisions, it would: • Allow cannabis prescriptions only for conditions where published medical research has demonstrated a therapeutic effect.

• Require an ongoing relationship between patient and prescribing physician to prevent so-called “pot docs” setting up prescription-writing practices.

• Require growers, processors and dispensers each to be licensed.

Cannabis products would be trackable “seed-to-sale” by SLED and DHAC in real-time.

The drug will be legal in only non-leaf form, to help officers recognize non-legal use.

Anyone attempting to “divert” cannabis for recreational use would be subject to a felony charge punishable by five years in prison.

Davis acknowledges that the bill borders on “regulatory overkill,” but wants to be sure it’s the right law for South Carolina.

“I want this to be an extremely conservative bill,” he said Davis believes the governor’s concerns about federal law would be addressed by the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States, or STATES, Act, now pending in the U.S. Congress. That bill would create an exemption to the U.S. Controlled Substances Act for states that have enacted cannabis laws and allow cannabis businesses to take advantage of safebanking practices.

Richardson just hopes that South Carolina legislators will hear her story and realize that the people who need medical cannabis are not “Woodstock types” looking for a way to get high.

“These are mothers in their 80s trying to help daughters who have cancer or are on chemo,” she says. “These are people, including children, with cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, just trying to get what they need legally. These are veterans with PTSD. These are your friends and neighbors.”

• 33 states have legalized medicinal use of marijuana.

• The term medical marijuana refers to using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions.

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine.

• But scientific study of the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to two FDA-approved medications that contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form.

• The US marijuana market is worth $52 billion — but 87% of sales were on the black market. sourced: markets.businessinsider. com article/8incrediblefactsabout theboomingUSmarijuanaindustry

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››Summer Fun

Paddle Hard

DRAGONBOAT BEAUFORT SPONSORS RACE DAY

BY CAROL WEIR

T

he race takes only minutes, but the excitement of dragon boat racing started months ago.

On June 22, boats bearing 20 paddlers and a drummer will compete on the Beaufort River, setting out from the new day dock at Beaufort’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

Last year’s DragonBoat Race Day drew more than 500 paddlers, 25 teams and thousands of spectators to the seawall at Waterfront Park, raising $55,000 to support people impacted by cancer who live, work or receive treatment in Beaufort County. All money raised by the race goes directly to support DragonBoat Beaufort’s Cancer Survivor Mission. This year marks the seventh annual event for the nonprofit organization.

Beaufort is far from the Pearl River Delta in southern China, but the centuries-old tradition of many paddlers working together to move through the water has taken root in the Lowcountry.

These days, the double-hulled long boats adorned with decorative dragon heads are

made of fiberglass or carbon fiber instead of the traditional teak. Twenty paddlers sit side by side on benches while a costumed drummer in the front keeps cadence.

“The drummers are crucial in that they help with the rhythm of the boat, to keep everybody in synch,” said race director Connie Wegmann.

Anyone can form a dragon boat team and join the competition. Prior to race day, teams are trained how to safely and successfully paddle a dragon boat by experienced coaches and boat steerers. In the past, teams have included civic clubs, groups of neighbors, military, employees of local businesses, cancer survivors, schools, and hospitals. There is also a division for paddlers ages 50 years and older.

A typical race lasts between a minute and a minute and a half. Each team will paddle in three races, weather permitting, competing for medals.

“In the last race of the day, you are competing against boats with similar levels,” Wegmann said.

Awards also will be given for best

TWENTY PADDLERS SIT SIDE BY SIDE ON BENCHES WHILE A COSTUMED DRUMMER IN THE FRONT KEEPS CADENCE.

DRAGON BOAT RACE DAY

The seventh annual DragonBoat Beaufort Race Day is set for 8 a.m.-4 p.m. June 22 at Beaufort’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Space is still available for teams and individual paddlers. For more information, call 843-473-4477 or go to dragonboat-raceday.com.

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SUBMITTED PHOTOS Teams of community members race on the Beaufort River to raise money for cancer survivors.

T-shirt design, best tent design, best dressed drummer and other categories.

“We provide the boat, life jacket, paddle, tent and drum,” Wegmann said. “They just bring themselves and shoes.”

For the two weekends prior to race day and three days before the race, DragonBoat Beaufort hosts practice sessions with instruction.

“The majority of the teams are made up of community members who don’t have the faintest idea of what a dragon boat looks like and have never been in one,” Wegmann said. “It’s great fun.”

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Best Summer Ever

Hilton Head Island shines in warm weather

BY BARRY KAUFMAN

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It’s finally summer — the season kids and local business owners have been waiting for all year. It’s during these months that visitors and locals take to our beaches and waterways in pursuit of the ultimate summer fun.

It’s also crazy hot, so most will want to stay close to the water, if not immersed in it. Ready to make some waves?

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››Summer Fun GET OUT ON THE WATER

Kayaking is the most popular water sport on the island. Paddle local waterways with a guide to learn more about the Lowcountry’s ecology; you might also spot wildlife like jumping shrimp, oysters, ospreys and more. Many companies offer kayak tours of Broad Creek, Jarvis Creek, Skull Creek, and the salt marsh around Pinckney Island.

Stand-up paddle boarding is a little more challenging than kayaking, but most people will be able to master it after a few minutes of instruction. It’s a great workout, and it’s easy to slip in the water for a swim to cool off. Operators are located at South Beach Marina in Sea Pines and several other locations.

If speed is your thing — or your kids’ thing — you’ll go fast and get wet on a banana boat rides leaving from local marinas. Personal watercraft rides and water skiing — including tubing and wake boarding — are favorites for older kids and college students.

In the past few years, Hilton Head has seen a new way of taking to the waves.

Two-person boats called “creek cats” or skiffs are tiny watercraft captained by a guide in single-file lines, buzzing around the island at speeds up to 30 mph. Several operators offer them from Shelter Cove Marina, Hilton Head Harbor RV Resort and Marina, and Skull Creek Marina. They sit low in the water, giving you the same intimate connection to the sea as a kayak, but without all of the laborious paddling.

For amazing views and the sensation of flight, try parasailing. Several companies offer the chance to fly hundreds of feet in the air over the brilliant Atlantic.

Or learn more about local wildlife on a dolphin tour, where naturalist guides and charter captains talk about the habits of bottlenose dolphins. These intelligent mammals are present in Hilton Head’s waters year-round. For true nature aficionados, there’s even an alligator tour in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, where participants learn about the reptiles that live in lagoons and ponds all around the island.

Nature tours are good for all ages, but if your crew includes kids ages 8 and younger, a pirate cruise will be an unforgettable day on the water. The crew

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provides kids with pirate costumes and pirate lessons before setting sail in search of treasure. Kids will be highly engaged with water cannons, a battle with an evil pirate and a bit of history.

There are a few spots on the island where the waves sometimes get big enough for real surfing, but beginners can learn on the island’s gentle swells. Burkes Beach and North Forest Beach are where you’ll find locals when the surf’s up. Native Son Adventures and J.T.’s Surf and Cycle rent equipment and offer lesssons. Their specialized boards are perfect for taking your first paddle out.

But most of the island’s waves are better suited to the more low-key pursuit that is boogie boarding. These foam boards are available nearly everywhere you look during summer and are great for testing your skills on the smaller waves at beaches like Coligny. Or try a thin wooden skim board to hydroplane along the tide at the spot where water meets sand — but beware, it’s easy to trip up on them.

And, of course, Hilton Head is one of the country’s top charter fishing destinations, so have your rod and reel ready. Tarpon arrive in the summer in Port Royal Sound as well as the backcountry creeks that surround Hilton Head. Summer is also a good time to catch flounder, and fishing for trout is exciting in June and July.

No boat? No worries. Shark fishing is legal on the beach outside of designated swimming areas.

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››Summer Fun

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ON THE BEACH

For some people, it’s enough to simply enjoy the beach, relaxing on the sand with the waves crashing and a gentle breeze cooling you while you bake to a golden bronze.

For others, the beach is the world’s most enjoyable stadium, a playing field where champions are crowned. There are several events best suited for Hilton Head’s white sands; combine them for your own island Olympics.

Start with the team sport of KanJam, ideally suited for the sand since you can play it with a drink in your hand — not that anyone enjoys an adult beverage on the beach; after all, it’s prohibited, of course. Players face off over a pair of plastic barrels, flying discs in hand, and try to score points by landing your disc inside the can. Then move on to single events with a rousing round of bocce, a sport generally played on a crisply manicured lawn but easily adapted to hard-packed sand. Get the kids involved and let them put their beach shovels to good use digging out a personalized beach mini golf course. Just remember to fill in any holes you create. Baby turtles have been known to fall into them as they make their way to the sea. End the day with a friendly game of beach volleyball.

Are you a Face of the Lowcountry?

To book your spot for the 2019-20 edition of Faces or for more information contact Mary Ann Kent at sales@hiltonheadmonthly.com

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spendLocal

Let’s turn $20 into a $67,000,000 impact.

If all 65,054 households in Beaufort County shifted from spending $20 per week at national chains to local independently owned businesses the community impact would be $67 million/year.

Supporting local businesses will help the whole community as spending that stays local provides local returns. That means more money for roads, schools, the arts and public service departments.

SUMMER

GIVEAWAY #S ML S UMME R GI VE AWAY

MAY 1 - JUL 31, 2019 ShopMoreLocal is challenging our local residents and visitors all over the Lowcountry to DO local this summer.

SHOP, EAT & PLAY like a local and let us know about it by using our hashtag #SMLSummerGiveaway. Post on Instagram or Facebook and a WINNER will be chosen August 1st!

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Sign up for our newsletter at shopmorelocal.com and get an extra entry!

Winner will receive the

ULTIMATE PRIZE PACKAGE

which includes a cooler of gifts from local vendors!

5/22/19 12:25 PM

We at Shop More Local SHOP, EAT and Play alongside you. We love being with our partners throughout the Lowcountry; celebrating and enjoying all of their milestones. Supporting local business is what we do every day. #supportmainstreetnotwallstreet

#OurLowcountry

We Celebrate Local

Moonlit Lullabye Grand Opening Volunteers in Medicine’s Kentucky Derby Party

with StarBooks at Bluffton MayFest

Bluffton Book Festival Poetry Night Beaufort Digital Corridor

Hands Across the Sand with Palmetto Ocean Conservancy

Rec Soccer Team sponsored by Shop More Local

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2019

hottest pool trends available at Aquarius Pools

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When Tara Middleton took over her father’s company, she decided it was time

plaster, smart homeowners are making a dramatic statement with glass tile. “It’s

to rebrand the business with a nod to the past. Over the years, her family had

an absolutely stunning kaleidoscope effect,” she said.

changed the name according to the scope of work being done at the time.

Updates also are available for filtration, using UV water disinfection. The blue

When she took over, Middleton decided the best reflection of their long history

light effectively kills germs and bacteria and avoids using heavy amounts of

on Hilton Head Island would be to go back to the original name and concept,

salt and chlorine. Combined with the introduction of glass instead of sand in the

Aquarius Pools. Today this full-service pool maintenance, repair, renovation and

filtering mechanism, unsavory microscopic particles are able to be removed from

construction company specializes in both commercial and home pools utilizing

the swimming environment. The glass is also negatively charged to sweep even

Middleton’s 20-plus years in the business: “Anything someone can dream up for a

more tiny debris from the pool. “They are picking up much smaller bacteria and

pool, we can make happen.” This respect for the past blends with the innovation

algae than ever before, producing super clear, healthy water,” Middleton said.

of a new generation to offer the latest in pool construction trends.

The newest trend in pool building doesn’t have

This year brought great advances in pool technology and style. Middleton feels

to do with the pool itself. Homeowners are

that she is positioned to help a homeowner make a statement in their backyard

wanting more space in their yards, but still

or vacation home. “Pools are becoming just as

want a water feature. A good choice is a bigger

customizable as your house,” she said. “The pool

spa rather than a full-sized pool, preserving

industry has been behind in some technology but now

the area for other uses. Often, these spas have

they are catching up quickly.”

negative edges that overflow to the deck,

New trends in 2019 start with app-based controls.

recirculating back into the spa.

With a smartphone, users can interface with their

As a full-service company, Aquarius Pools can

pool for almost any job. Apps test water and adjust

construct or remake your backyard pool project

chemicals including chlorinating from a distance. They can turn on lighting,

using the latest styles. After construction

change the temperature and control a waterfall as well. Basically, a user can have

is done, their technicians, all certified pool operators, use their experience to

complete control over a pool from a distance.

maintain the pool and its healthy environment. With a mixture of long-term

On the construction side, Middleton is excited to have projects lined up

business experience and cutting-edge information, Aquarius Pools is able to

using new, innovative materials for pool surfaces. Instead of the typical pool

make your dream pool come true.

P

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››Home

J. BANKS DESIGN

By Design NEW KITCHEN AND BATH TRENDS TO ENHANCE YOUR HOME

BY KARINA GERSHWIN AND DEAN ROWLAND

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any homeowners find themselves eyeing their homes, wondering if it’s time for an update.

One of the easiest ways is to redo a kitchen or bathroom, changing the color scheme, textures, materials, finishes, fixtures and hardware and adding furnishings, architectural details and smart technology. And while some trends come and go, many Lowcountry interior designers have crafted a coastal aesthetic with staying power — one that still embraces some of the design trends popping up around the country.

Here are some of the trends that were on display at the recent Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando, Fla. Some fit in well with the Lowcountry lifestyle.

DISTINCTIVE GRANITE & MARBLE

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››Home

BILLY WOOD APPLIANCE

COASTAL ENERGY CONSERVATION

TOP KITCHEN TRENDS 1. Induction and steam cooking appliances 2. Customized storage space; pull-out waste or recycling baskets 3. Engineered wood and laminate flooring 4. White, path lighting under cabinets 5. Smart home technology for appliances and lighting 6. Ceramic or porcelain backsplashes 7. Integrated sinks and countertops 8. Prep stations with built-in sinks

WRIGHT HOME SERVICES

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IN THE KITCHEN Gold finishes, quartz counters and painted cabinets in blue and green are among new trends that were in full swing at KBIS. In the Lowcountry, rustic farmhouse style still dominates kitchen design, including elements like reclaimed barn doors, painted cabinets, shiplap wood paneling and assorted mixed metals. White and gray palettes are still the most popular colors for walls, appliances and cabinets. Expect to see bright colors and black making inroads on this.

Nationally, black is making a comeback for cabinets in addition to other 80s-inpsired combinations. Think sinks in bright metallics, hammered finishes, intricate details and gold.

Additionally, brightly colored appliances are in vogue, and matching appliances seem to be fading from favor.

N HANCE WOOD RENEWAL

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››Home

AMERICAN WOOD REFACE

BUDGET BLINDS

In the Lowcountry, it may be a while before you see a bright red refrigerator beside a blue stove. However, while farmhouse style may be king, transitional — a blend of traditional and contemporary — and contemporary designs are gaining ground. With its clean lines, open shelving and delicate curves, sleek contemporary design is making inroads.

Other kitchen trends include the use of quartz countertops instead of marble. Non-porous quartz turns heads for its striking appearance, strength and durability.

IN THE BATHROOM Popular bathroom trends echo what’s happening in kitchens. Expect white and gray painted bathroom cabinets, mosaic tile floors, transitional style elements like brushed-nickel fixtures and white, gray and blue colors, and contemporary quartz countertops, free-standing

HILTON HEAD REMODELING

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››Home

AL & HARRY FURNITURE

bathtubs and curbless showers. Porcelain or tile flooring and floating vanities also are popular.

For those who want to be on the cutting edge of bathroom trends: gold is coming.

Manufacturers are offering up gold patinas, rose golds, black golds and bright golds in fixtures. Shower doors and enclosures are becoming statement pieces in the bathroom.

Bold designs, window panes and color grids were all on display at this year’s KBIS show.

And just like in kitchens, black is on-trend for bathrooms.

People no longer see the bath as a utilitarian space. They’re looking for spa-like experiences as well as a kind of theatrical beauty for what used to be a very private space. Many of the spa-inspired bathrooms on display at the Kitchen & Bath Show were

ELEMENT CONSTRUCTION

TOP BATHROOM TRENDS 1. White and gray painted bathroom cabinets 2. Mosaic tile floors 3. Transitional style elements like brushed-nickel fixtures 4. Contemporary quartz countertops

5. Free-standing bathtubs 6. Curbless showers 7. Porcelain or tile flooring 8. Floating vanities

bold, dark, and sultry to evoke an indulgent high-end experience.

Powder rooms have always been a place to add high drama to a small space, but now oversized floral wall prints and pattern-on-pattern are very of-the-moment, particularly in bold colors. For larger bathrooms, a sophisticated piece of fine art is considered a necessity by designers.

Modern bathroom design means no more tiled, grouted shower floors and visible drain. Now walk-inshowers can feature a luxurious floor made from a large marble slab that hides linear drainage lines beneath.

Sandblasted for a non-slip surface, the full marble floor is a bespoke detail that owners of high end homes may be looking for.

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››Home

Keep cool with HVAC tech trends for 2019

BY KRISTEN HYDE

H

VAC technology continues to evolve due to advancements in equipment and systems. Smart HVAC products increase room-by-room environmental control and regulate heating and cooling methods, allowing customers to manage their energy use easily and efficiently. Advanced technologies involving solar power, natural gas and other mechanisms have also entered the residential market.

1. Zoning Systems Battling over the thermostat is no longer necessary in today’s homes. By using a series of ductwork dampers, different temperature zones in a home or commercial building can be created and controlled by individual thermostats. This can also provide the energy savings without the expense of installing a new system.

2. Smart Thermostats & Sensors Smart HVAC products, like thermostats that can be remotely controlled by smartphone apps, are increasingly common. Beyond that, however, are the benefits offered by sensor-activated ventilation and motion-detection air conditioning systems in commercial settings. These sensors allow you to heat and cool only the parts of a building that are in use. That way, intermittent heavy use of an area — or no use at all — still produces lower energy and equipment operating costs.

3. Heat Pumps Dual-fuel heat pumps use both natural gas and electricity. When temperatures

are low, gas is used for increased efficiency, while electricity provides this benefit at higher temperatures. For those who choose to use the earth to heat their homes, geothermal heat pumps may be appealing. Through the use of underground tubing, geothermal heat pumps draw heat from the ground during the winter. In the summer, the ground is used as a heat sink. Despite higher installation costs, these systems can provide substantial savings over time.

4. New Types of Air Conditioning New types of air conditioning use solar power, natural gas and variable refrigerant flow to cool homes and commercial buildings.

Thermally driven air conditioning uses both solar power and natural gas.

Not only are energy costs lower, but the design utilizes fewer moving parts than traditional HVAC systems and requires less maintenance.

An ice-powered air conditioning system produces hundreds of pounds of ice each night. The next day, this ice is used to cool refrigerant instead of a

traditional AC compressor. The result?

Energy consumption reduced by up to 30 percent.

VRF or variable refrigerant flow consists of an outdoor unit and refrigerant piping that allows for each pipe to be individually controlled. That way, each space or room always has the perfect amount of heating and cooling and they can be controlled independently. Additional benefits include that the unit can automatically adjust to meet current demands, all while improving efficiency and lowering lifetime cost of ownership.

5. On-Demand Hot Water Recirculation For homeowners who want hot water on the spot without first watching cold water pour down the drain, on-demand hot water recirculation systems route cold water into a water heater while directly injecting hot water into the line when a faucet is turned on. The result is up to 12,000 gallons of water saved on average per year in a home.

This story first appeared at news.carrierenterprise.com.

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››Real Estate News CHARTER ONE EARNS TOP NOD FROM REAL TRENDS

NEW COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMING TO BLUFFTON

Charter One Realty has been ranked as one of the nation’s top brokerages by REAL Trends 500. With more than 130 agents and 11 offices throughout the Lowcountry, Charter One Realty is also one of the largest independent firms in the nation with more than $900 million in sales last year. Rankings are based on those firms who choose to participate, and then listed by closed transaction sides and closed sales volume.

Bluffton Centre, a new commercial development project located at 4818 Bluffton Parkway, is currently underway. It will feature six new office buildings ranging from 6,000 to 18,000 square feet and will offer tenants and buyers the opportunity to customize buildout per included tenant improvement allowance. The development is near the intersection of S.C. 46 and the Bluffton Parkway in the town of Bluffton.

HHIMLS LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HOMES.COM

The Multiple Listing Service of Hilton Head Island, in partnership with Homes.com, recently launched a new website to improve the buying and selling experience for Realtors, real estate professionals, sellers, and buyers. The new Listing Enhanced Agent Profile (LEAP) provides HHIMLS members with many benefits that are currently exclusive to HHIMLS. To learn more, go to www.hiltonheadmls.com.

HOMES IN NEW OLD TOWN BLUFFTON COMMUNITY NOW FOR SALE The Walk at Bluffton Square is now selling homes. The new community at the corner of Burnt Church Road and May River Road will have 50 detached single-family homes, each with a two-car garage. It is being developed

by PulteGroup. There are four floorplans and prices range from the low $300,000s to the low $400,000s.

HILTON HEAD INSURANCE & BROKERAGE ADDS ONE Michele Kosto has joined Hilton Head Insurance & Brokerage. Kosto is originally from the Pittsburgh area but has lived in the Lowcountry for 25 years.

She has worked in the insurance industry for 14 years and specializes in personal lines insurance.

CENTURY 21 DIAMOND REALTY ACQUIRES CENTURY 21 ADVANTAGE PROPERTIES

Century 21 Dimond Realty has acquired Century 21 Advantage Properties and is now serving the Lowcountry’s residential and commercial real estate market in Beaufort and Jasper counties. The company now has three branches in Sun City/Okatie and Bluffton and on Hilton Head Island.

TWO JOIN WEICHERT SALES TEAM Weichert, Realtors-Coastal Properties recently welcomed Kelly Ward and Barry Pepper to the agency’s sales team.

Ward has lived in the Lowcountry for 20 years. Pepper previously worked in the golf business and opened his own CrossFit gym in Okatie. Both Ward and Pepper are members of the Hilton Head Area Association of Realtors and will work out of the company’s Bluffton office.

COLLETON RIVER RAISES $34,000

Colleton River Club recently raised more than $34,000 in their annual March Play for P.I.N.K. week. Bridge, Canasta, tennis, and golf events were held throughout the community as well as a silent auction and dinner to help raise money for the cause. Play for P.I.N.K. (Prevention, Immediate Diagnosis, New Technology, Knowledge) supports thousands of volunteers nationwide in an effort to raise money for breast cancer research through sporting and lifestyle events.

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LIVE BY THE WATER PALMETTO DUNES | SHELTER COVE | LEAMINGTON HILTO N H E A D I S L A N D, S OU T H C A R OL I N A

Three communities that are defined by the water. Three miles of pristine white, sandy beaches. An 11-mile man-made lagoon that winds throughout. Two beautiful lakes. The largest deep-water marina on Hilton Head Island and easy access to the sparkling tides of Broad Creek. It’s all here, at the heart of Hilton Head Island’s natural splendor.

It is quite a story told by the water, and since 1976, no one has told this story like Phil Schembra, specializing in these three extraordinary communities since his arrival on Hilton Head Island.

Experience what makes life so special near the water, and learn from a real estate professional who has lived and breathed this community for 43 years.

Give Phil a call to begin creating your own lifetime memories.

Philip A. Schembra Broker-In-Charge

Hilton Head Island’s #1 All-Time Listing and Selling Agent in one community $1,000,000,000 (billion) in personal sales since 1976 phil@schembrarealestate.com schembrarealestategroup.com luxuryrealestate.com

#1 Individual Sales Volume | Hilton Head Island #5 Individual Sales Volume | South Carolina

800.845.9506 | 843.785.2452 The Plaza at Shelter Cove next to Whole Foods

H I LT O N H E A D I S L A N D A N D T H E L O W C O U N T R Y

Jennifer Messier Michael Moore Barbara Frank Jim Laferriere REALTOR®

843.785.2452

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REALTOR®

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

Cris Curtis

Shannon Tanner

Sara Kurtz

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

843.338.6042 315.725.4411 843.684.0755 843.785.2452 843.422.4270 843.422.5931

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Meant To Be

CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WED SURROUNDED BY BEAUTY

BY ROBYN PASSANTE | PHOTOS BY W PHOTOGRAPHY

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››Bridal

K

evin and Victoria Basirico’s love story didn’t bloom until they were young professionals living in two different states, but the seed was planted much, much earlier: They met at Sea Pines Montessori School when they were just 6 years old.

The couple, who are both 30 and now live in Hilton Head Plantation, were married March 30 at a private estate in Bluffton that Victoria said “showcased the beauty of the Lowcountry in a laid-back yet sophisticated way.”

About 300 guests gathered under the oaks to celebrate with the happy couple and their extra-large wedding party — 11 bridesmaids, 12 groomsmen, four flower girls and a ring bearer. But before the crowds came, the couple enjoyed a “first look” that Victoria said is among her favorite moments from the day.

“It was so nice to be outside at the venue, just us, before it was covered with people and music!” she said of seeing her groom, who is a real estate agent with Kevin King Associates at Charter One Realty.

Lynn King, the mother of the bride, didn’t love the idea of the groom seeing his bride before she walked up the aisle, but said watching it from afar — and also seeing her husband’s “first look” at their daughter — was touching and sweet. “(Her dad) was given a letter from her, and he was reading it and I watched her go up and

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‘‘

WE ARE BOTH IN LOVE WITH WHERE WE GREW UP AND

WANTED THE LOWCOUNTRY TO BE A BIG PART OF OUR

WEDDING WEEKEND. -VICTORIA BASIRICO

tap him on the shoulder … that had to be one of the best moments,” she said. “This was his baby girl.”

People used the word “magical” when describing the wedding site, Lynn said.

“We have clients and friends who’ve been to weddings all over the world, and we had people saying, ‘This was the most amazing venue we’ve ever seen.’”

Victoria’s sister had gotten married at the same place in June 2015, but Victoria and Kevin made their nuptials truly unique.

“I refer to our wedding as ‘a little Lowcountry, a little boho, and absolutely us,’” Victoria said. “We are both in love with where we grew up and wanted the Lowcountry to be a big part of our wedding weekend. But I was very passionate about doing so in a classy and sophisticated way.”

That vision included a few key elements she says were “must haves”: • A hanging floral arrangement. “I wanted your eyes to travel upward as you entered the tent,” Victoria said of the striking décor element, which was pulled off beautifully by childhood friend Elaine Savarese at Fresh Weddings and Events in Charleston. “She is so innovative, open to new ideas and making sure she knows what you want. She listened to all my ideas and suggestions and created florals that were beyond what I had dreamed up in my head.”

• String lights all over the property. “Without the decor and lighting, my vision wouldn't have come to life.”

• Lots of color and texture. “I work at an interior design firm and see a lot of designs and concepts regularly,” said Victoria, who is the design and marketing coordinator at J. Banks Design Group. “I knew I wanted to mix and match colors and textures.” Light blue tablecloths were paired with Kelly green and mauve-pink napkins on differently

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shaped tables, which were also styled with fresh green garlands, floating candles and mercury votives in a variety of sizes and colors.

• Good food, good music, and a great time for all.

Caterers Roy and Becky Prescott served a casually elegant Southern dinner that included shrimp and grits in martini glasses, pulled pork sliders, coleslaw, ham biscuits, and beef tenderloin, plus an oyster roast cocktail hour. “Becky is so organized and well-versed in the wedding world; she thinks of everything that you never knew you needed to think about and helps down to every last detail,” Victoria said. “And the food is beyond delicious.”

The vision for the look and feel of the wedding came together, Victoria said, thanks to a lot of help from her mother, the vendors and the gracious hosts. But the people gathered there that day are what truly made the wedding a dream come true.

“After the ceremony and pictures … at one point, Kevin and I stood on the back porch of the house and just took it all in. It is one of my favorite memories — he and I looking over the venue and seeing all these people that mean the world to us, interacting and having a great time together,” she said. “I still get pretty choked up thinking about that, because really that is a once-in-a-lifetime situation where we are able to bring all these people together.”

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Majestic Memories WEDDING AT BELFAIR’S AVENUE OF THE OAKS AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

BY ROBYN PASSANTE | PHOTOS BY WILLIAM MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

W

Valerie Ruppel wore a mermaid style Lazaro lace gown to walk down the "aisle" under majestic oaks.

hen native New Yorkers Valerie and Patric Ruppel got engaged in 2017 and began planning their nuptials, they knew they wanted a destination wedding in a warm climate — but not the same setting as the beach, barn and big city weddings they’d attended. After a quick brainstorming session, they both settled on the perfect vision, and it was a place they’d been to before: the Avenue of the Oaks in Belfair, where Patric’s grandparents live.

“The landscape at Belfair and classic style of the clubhouse on the river was everything we wanted and more,” said Valerie of the couple’s May 12, 2018, wedding at Belfair.

About 120 guests traveled mostly from New York to attend the destination wedding. The whole weekend was a dream come true for Patric and Valerie, both 33, who met in the fall of 2015.

Planning for the big event took place via email and phone calls from the couple’s Huntington, New York, home. Valerie is a brand manager for Nature’s Bounty and Patric works in shipping consulting.

Their celebration began with a rehearsal dinner party at Rose Hill catered by Bluffton BBQ. The wedding was held the next evening right on the Avenue of the Oaks, as the couple had envisioned.

“It was so pretty,” said Valerie, who wore a mermaidstyle Lazaro lace gown with a deep V-neck, a long train and a cathedral veil. Her groom stood out in a traditional tailored black tuxedo, while the bridesmaids wore oyster-colored gowns whose hue complemented the Spanish moss draped above them.

“I loved that neutral look,” Valerie said. “I wanted everything to be white and neutral.”

While she let the grandiose oaks provide most of the ambience, she added to the greenery with a large bouquet that included white peonies, hydrangeas, tulips, Queen Anne’s lace and quicksand roses.

“I wanted a huge bouquet. I know the rule is to not have anything bigger than a dinner plate, but I’m a flower person,” she said. “Gardenias Event Floral — they were awesome, very willing to work with me and give me what I want.”

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››Bridal

From the beginning, flowers had played an important role in Valerie and Patric’s love story, so making them a focal point of the wedding was only natural.

They were living together when Patric proposed in September 2017.

“One day I came home from work and opened the garage door, and there was a huge bouquet of hydrangea — they are my favorite — in the garage,” Valerie said. “I noticed a path of red rose petals that lead into the house. I immediately knew what was happening, and I followed the rose petals through the kitchen and into the living room where he was down on one knee.”

Flash forward 19 months and the couple tied the knot in a short and sweet ceremony, highlighted by the exchanging of traditional vows. Valerie said the majestic setting perfectly matched the moment. “I just remember being under the trees and thinking what a better place to do this than here.”

Afterward, a cocktail hour on Belfair’s manicured grounds gave the couple just enough time to slip away for a few photos on the 18th hole of one of the private golf club’s courses. Then guests moved to the clubhouse ballroom, where nine-piece band Right to Party played the couple’s first dance song, Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are,” before everyone settled in to enjoy a three-course seated dinner.

Then it was on to the dancing, which the band kept encouraging with what Valerie said was the perfect mix of old and new tunes. “They played so much more than what they had on their website,” she said. “I was so pleasantly surprised.”

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The couple tied the knot in Bluffton's Belfair, where Patric's grandparents live.

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››Bridal

Just when the guests were ready to recharge, a large dessert table was unveiled, revealing gourmet cookies, cupcakes and Oreo truffles. That was all in addition to the three-tiered wedding cake by Custom Confections — the bottom a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing, and the top two layers chocolate with peanut butter buttercream.

The evening finished with more dancing for everyone — including the Belfair residents whose home inspired the whole event.

“Patric’s grandparents had such an amazing time,” Valerie said. “I don’t think his grandfather left the dance floor.”

Capturing it all on film was photographer Terrell Martin of William Martin Photographer, who was “amazing,” the bride said. “He was very easy to work with, open to having tons of conversations beforehand; he really wanted to get to know us and know what we wanted.”

What they wanted was a more natural approach to documenting the emotions, actions and breathtaking beauty of the day — and that’s exactly what they got.

“I just think our wedding was the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever been to,” Valerie said. “The avenue of oak trees is what we really wanted. That’s the whole reason we got married down there.”

A dessert table included gourmet cookies, cupcakes and Oreo truffles.

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››Bridal

On Trend

WHAT’S HOT IN THE WORLD OF WEDDINGS

BY ROBYN PASSANTE

S

ome brides and grooms are currently planning their perfect 2020 weddings, while others are making last-minute adjustments to plans for a wedding that’s just a few months away. Whether your nuptials are next year, in a few weeks or not 'til 2021, it’s fun to keep an eye on the trends highlighted on wedding websites across the country that are having a moment — or are about to.

From flowers to favors, here are some of the biggest wedding trends forecasted for the upcoming seasons: Experiential favors: Couples have been getting their wishes granted via experiential wedding registries, and that trend is boomeranging back to guests in the form of experiential wedding favors. Rather than a sachet of Jordan almonds or a decorated photo frame, brides and grooms are organizing outings for their wedding guests as an add-on to the big day. Think sunset booze cruises, guided nature walks, cocktail mixology classes or just a gourmet ice cream truck setting up shop outside the venue or hotel, to treat guests to a sweet surprise.

Flowers: Upcoming weddings are all about the drama, and that includes bold flower arrangements — whether on tables and walls or held in hand. Nontraditional plants and blooms are also hot, including ornamental grasses and dried flowers as a décor element, artfully arranged food as part of table decorations,

and feathery ferns lining the aisle. White or neutral bridal bouquets continue to be popular, while some brides are opting to go with a single striking bloom in a clutch of greenery. Now that’s a show-stopper.

Colors: Color themes are always a very personal choice, but hues are trending darker and more vivid than in years past. Rust is having a moment, and that includes copper accents on tables as well. Pantone’s predictions for spring and summer 2020 suggests a sea theme, “from inky blues and bio-luminous neons, to summer browns and seaweed greens.” Plan accordingly!

Ceremonies: As wedding ceremonies start to get shorter, couples are incorporating new elements and setups to enhance the experience. Ceremonies in the round are gaining popularity, as they feel more intimate and give everyone a great view of the happy couple. Thanks to the internet, friends now often serve as officiants rather than clergy, and couples are starting to mix up another traditional role by giving flower girl duties to treasured older women in their lives. Watching a couple of proud grandmothers walking down the aisle dropping petals will make the whole crowd smile.

Décor: We know this isn’t prom, but well-styled colorful balloons are, ahem, popping up to bring a bit of fun to more traditionally understated wedding décor. Speaking of understated,

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the first of two wildly popular dĂŠcor trends is the minimalist look: small flowers, simple place settings (metallic charger plates have a nice sheen that dresses up the table just a tad), deep green garlands draped across tables, letter boards and light boxes for wedding signage, and transparent ceremony programs. On the other end of that spectrum is "maximalism": dramatic flower arrangements, extravagant centerpieces, crystal chandeliers and lots of lush fabrics.

Beauty: In an age of Facetune and photo filters, the bride who showcases her natural beauty is a true stunner, and more wedding couples are opting to go easy on the glam when it comes to hair, makeup and nails. Look for messy buns, minimalist makeup, fresh faces and clear or opaque nails. Tiaras are being replaced by headbands, both of the simple boho style and the bold, bejeweled variety. And flowers, barrettes and even floppy hats were seen on the 2019 runways of Bridal Fashion Week in April, so it looks like brides have plenty of options for creating a signature, trendy look on top.

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››Style

Fashion-forward LOCAL BOUTIQUES PUT STYLE INTO SUMMER

BY R.L. HAMILTON AND KATHRYN MADEMANN

T

his season, fashion trends are as bright as the Lowcountry sun.

Corals and oranges are the standout hues, setting the tone for 2019’s warm-weather fashion.

Every year designers, clothing brands and retailers work from two color collections from color powerhouse Pantone.

There is a collection of 16 colors that the company predicts will be hot for spring and summer and another set of 16 for fall and winter. The company also announces a color of the year — and this year, appropriately, it’s a peachyp i n k shade called “Living Coral.”

On Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, owners of boutiques take these trends into account. They have to keep abreast of color and style trends while making sure the clothes they buy for their stores will appeal in the Lowcountry.

“We like to feature items that everybody can wear, no matter their age, size or lifestyle,” said Nora Innis, buyer at Aiden Lane, which sells labels like Habitat,

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Moda and Cut Loose. “If I see a trend, I touch on it lightly.”

Harbour Town boutique Radiance also caters to a variety of ages and styles, offering everything from soft bohemian tops and unstructured blazers to velvet pajamas. Women shopping there on a recent afternoon included locals, second-home owners and vacationers.

“It’s not about how old you are; it’s about feeling good,” said Linda Richards, owner of Radiance, which offers brands like Free People, Sanctuary and Michael Stars. “We take a trend and tone it down a little, so that we can all feel comfortable wearing it.”

At Cocoon in Bluffton, owner Ann Marie Goodlife only carries clothes that meet four criteria: the fabric has to be comfortable, the piece has to be easy to wear and fit well, it has to be easy to care for, and it has to travel and fold well.

Because women of a certain age may be reluctant to show offer their arms or legs, Cocoon carries tops with sleeves and a good selection of long summer dresses by brands like Jude Connally, Barbara Erickson and Sailor-Sailor.

Sisters Anna-Pepper Hewett and Emily Burden also keep their customers in mind when shopping for their Bluffton boutique, Gigi’s. They look for unique items by brands like Articles of Society, Barbour, Ciao Milano, Escapada Living and Joy Joy, but they’re “sensitive to the price point,” Hewett said. The boom in Bluffton has meant visitors and locals are browsing the store’s racks, often on the hunt for different types of pieces.

“We sell a fur vest in August for our northern customers, and they’re thrilled!” she said.

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Cute Kids

There's only one cutest kid in the lowcountry…yours.

HUDSON BARTON

CHLOE & SOPHIA HANSEN

COLETON KINISON

BRODY & FINN JENNINGS

JOANNA CRAM

ISABELLE & VICTORIA KNAPP

KENNEDY MADDOX

CLARA REED

AARON & ANNIE RONAY

ANNABELLE FERNANDEZ

GRAHAM GAFGEN

PALMER KLAUS

SAXON SHAPIRO

WAYLON DAY

LAKIN & ANNETTE BOLLIN

DARIS ROBISON

MILA & VALENTINA COX

LEVI BUTTER

LUKE WEINMAN

RYAN ELIZABETH ROLF

CHRISTOPHER DANIELS

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ANNA WISE

CHARLOTTE KAUFMAN

KASH TAYLOR

PARKER AND WYATT CLEGG

KATELYN SMOAK

SIMMONE MURZIC

ADDISON ESWORTHY

CHARLEY WEINMAN CANNON MCCRACKEN

PAISLEY VIOLI

EMERSYN MCFARLAND

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››Cute Kids

CAMDEN & TEAGAN TATE

JENNIBELLE HUGHES

LULA GOWER

ADELINE PAYNE

CAIDEN WEBBER

SOPHIA EAYRS

LYDIA EUDY

DAXTON SCOGGINS

LINCOLN & ISADORA KEENE

CHARLIE PEPPER

MORGAN RILEY EDMUNDS

EMERSON SHORT

MASON PLAIR

HARVEY EMIGH

PARKER WISE

GRACIE GRUBBS

EMMA SPARKS

BRINLEY, CADE, ELLISON & PAIGE REED

RACHEL VASQUEZ

ANNETTE BOLLIN

PAXTON DIAZ

OLIVIA, ETHAN & ELLIOT PEARSON

NOEL GRACE SCOGGINS

STELLA MARSHALL

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ALAYNA COUTURE

WILLIAM KERNS

MADELYN KRUSE

REBECCA WARREN

COLTON YOUMANS

CATELEYAH SMITH AUDREY REED

JORDAN TAULBEE

BO SELF

KODA ARNER

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››Cute Kids

CAMDEN, KENNEDY & ADDISON HALL

NICOLAS LUKA MOCHNAC

ELIANA WHITTINGHAM

WYATT RICHARDS

LILY SPARKS

THOMASON SHORT

CHARLOTTE TAULBEE

PENELOPE KERSEY

KENNEDY HEFFERN

MARIANO MULLINS

GEORGE COOKE & PARKER SMITH

HARPER SONS & HAYDEN SANDERS

MAGNUS JAMES

ANDIE JEAN & CHARLIE COLE

ELSIE MAGEE

BELLA REASE WHEELER

SAGE TELMOS

LILYGRACE PLAIR

EMILY VAN DIJK

AVA KATE CRAM

JAMESON BURNSED

LOGAN DEMPSEY

AMELIA & CHARLOTTE HAIDON

ALEX EDGE

DONOVAN EAYRS

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Bases Loaded NEW PLANS COULD BOOST PLAYING SPACES IN GREATER BLUFFTON

BY JUSTIN JARRETT | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

T

he population growth in greater Bluffton has outpaced resources in numerous areas, but in few cases has the disparity been more apparent than in the need for sports fields.

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0

fficials hope to remedy the acute shortage of sports fields in Beaufort County thanks to two pending land donations that could become the home of a baseball and softball complex featuring up to seven fields, as well as synthetic turf fields for soccer, football, and lacrosse, and a tennis and pickleball facility.

Beaufort County Council member Mike Covert said two land donations from developer John Reed’s Sandlapper Hill LLC are in the final stages of approval, and as soon as they are finalized, the county will begin planning in earnest to develop the properties.

Tentative plans for the 53-acre parcel at Hampton Lake Park along Bluffton Parkway call for a complex with up to seven baseball and softball fields, as well as a building for concessions and restrooms, a maintenance shed, and the potential for RV stalls, according to Beaufort County Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Loper.

“With the location of it, it’s an ideal location for all of Beaufort County,” Loper said.

The acquisition of an additional 100acre property from the same group is

earlier in the process but could become home to a large complex featuring multipurpose fields with synthetic turf, among other recreational opportunities.

If it all works out, the county would finally be able to complete its master plan at the Buckwalter Soccer Complex. Original plans at that complex called for the addition of baseball/softball and tennis/

pickleball facilities, but changes to the protected wetlands map put those amenities on hold. In the interim, plans to add more soccer fields were stalled until the baseball field crunch could be remedied.

With that problem seemingly solved, Loper said plans are moving forward at Buckwalter for three additional synthetic turf soccer fields and additional

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parking. The county also recently finalized the master plan for improvements at Burton Wells Park in Beaufort, which is slated to include an RV park, splash pad, zip line, miniature golf, BMX park, and disc golf, as well as two additional gyms and eight pickleball courts.

The field shortage has long been a problem for Bluffton Youth Sports, the volunteer nonprofit organization that handles the day-to-day operations for Bluffton’s youth baseball and softball leagues. BYS partners with Beaufort County Parks and Recreation to run the league and shares fields with the county’s adult softball program. The growth of both programs — BYS leagues served nearly 700 youth players this spring, and the adult softball program has also seen steady growth — has made field space a dwindling commodity.

The youth leagues already are unable to continue with practices once the game schedule starts, and longtime BYS board

member Alan Arseneau said the situation could soon become even more untenable.

“The growth has been too much for us to run an appropriate recreation league where kids get to play games and practice throughout the season. It’s just not possible anymore,” said Arseneau, who has served on the BYS board for eight years, including three years as president.

“It has gotten to a point where we will be having to look at cutting off registration levels for each division so we don't have a situation where there are not enough fields available to host an entire season.”

The Bluffton leagues currently have only six fields available for games — three at Oscar Frazier Park and three at M.C. Riley Sports Complex — and two more at the Bluffton Recreation Center off Ulmer Road that are only suitable for T-ball and coach pitch practices.

The dearth of fields means games must be played every weeknight and

TENTATIVE PLANS FOR THE 53-ACRE DONATIONAL AT HAMPTON LAKE PARK ALONG BLUFFTON PARKWAY CALL FOR A COMPLEX WITH UP TO SEVEN BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL FIELDS, AS WELL AS A BUILDING FOR CONCESSIONS AND RESTROOMS, A MAINTENANCE SHED, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR RV STALLS.

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on Saturdays, meaning there’s no time for practice once the season starts and no opportunity to hold regional travel tournaments on weekends. Travel teams from Bluffton, Beaufort, and Hilton Head Island head to Savannah, Charleston, Columbia, or beyond almost every weekend in search of tournaments that could just as easily be held in Bluffton.

“If done right, the facility could easily host the rec teams during the week and host tournaments almost every weekend, generating thousands for local community businesses,” Arseneau said. “It would be a great way to expand our ‘tourist destination’ demographics while also providing incredible facilities for our recreation program participants.”

County Council recognizes the need, officials say.

“This is our next evolution in terms of parks and recreation. Because of the size of our county, we need these big complexes,” Covert said. “We’re entering a whole new phase here. These kids, prehigh school and high school, need to have facilities where they can compete and train properly.”

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Where toWorship Where Faith Meets Race

NATIONAL ACTIVIST AND PASTOR TO SPEAK ON HILTON HEAD

BY CAROL WEIR

PHOTO BY CAROL WEIR

H

ow can the intersection of race and faith help calm the troubled waters of today’s society? This theological and practical question will be the heart of Dr. Peter M. Wherry’s presentation on June 22 at Hilton Head Island’s St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church.

Wherry is a pastor, community leader, social activist and scholar who has addressed audiences across the U.S. and in Haiti, Zambia and South Africa.

“Race is an artificial construct that the Bible doesn’t speak of, ever,” Wherry said. “Race is something that unfortunately, humans created. What the Bible does talk about is love for the neighbor and radical hospitality.”

His talk will address God’s concerns, throughout Scripture, for justice and mercy.

Wherry is senior pastor of Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte and founding moderator of the United Missionary Baptist Association, representing a constituency of 40,000 in the Charlotte area. He is a founding “foot soldier” of the Forward Together Moral Movement, which advocates for social issues including voter rights and economic justice. His published works include a musical CD and devotional in collaboration with his wife, Dr. Wanda Wherry. He also partnered to produce “The Forward Together Lectionary” as a resource to help preachers incorporate social justice into houses of faith. His latest book is “Preaching Funerals in the Black Church: Bringing Perspective to Pain.” He also is a singer and actor who has performed in international and national touring productions of Broadway shows including “The Wiz” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”

St. Andrew By-The-Sea invited him to speak following his recent civil rights pilgrimage through the Deep South and panel discussion of the role of race in the criminal justice system. In Virginia, Wherry served urban and rural churches, was appointed to the board for the state Department of Juvenile Justice, and served as a counselor for the Virignia Department of Corrections.

St. Andrews’ Bridge Builders group, which is sponsoring the event, was formed after the shooting at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston. The group partners with other faith-based organizations to address racism and inequality.

“We are asking him to give us some deliverables,” said Sue Yearwood, co-chairwoman of the group with Donna Beavers.

“What are you going to do as an individual?

As a faith-based community?”

St. Andrew By-The-Sea is the home of the Bridge Builders group that promotes racial equality.

BUILDING BRIDGES Dr. Peter M. Wherry will present “Faith & Race” at 10 a.m. June 22 at St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church at 20 Pope Ave., Hilton Head Island. His talk is free and open to the public. A questionand-answer session moderated by Ahmad Ward will follow. For more information, call 843-785-4711 or go to hhiumc.com.

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A strong faith community starts with a powerful message.

LET US HELP YOU REACH NEW MEMBERS. Contact Heather Edge at 843-707-2098 or email heather@mediamarketingteam.com June 2019 135

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June 3-30 KENDRA NATTER PRESENTS “THROUGH MY EYES II”: The Society of Bluffton Artists welcomes featured artist Kendra Natter’s photography. Free. Opening reception June 9, 3-5 p.m. SoBA gallery, 6 Church St., Bluffton. sobagallery.com.

THROUGH JUNE 1 26TH BIENNALE NATIONAL JURIED ART EXHIBITION: Representing 100 artists from 25 states, the Biennale is the longestrunning national juried art exhibition in the area. $10. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mondays-Saturdays; noon-4 p.m.

Sundays and 90 minutes before all Arts Center of Coastal Carolina performances. Art League Gallery at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-5060 or artleaguehhi.org.

THROUGH JUNE 2 “EXPECT THE UNEXPECTING”: Local artist Joy Lillith Hermann works in acrylic and mixed media using molding pastes and layers of glazes and inks to create her paintings. Society of

Bluffton Artists Gallery, 6 Church St., Bluffton. 843-757-6586 or sobagallery.com.

THROUGH JUNE 9 JAUME PLENSA’S “TALKING CONTINENTS” EXHIBITION: Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center presents a solo exhibition by artist Jaume Plensa. $20. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center, 207 W York St., Savannah. telfair.org.

THROUGH JUNE 24 DRONE ESSENTIALS TRAINING: A five-day training course designed for those who wants to learn more about the UAS industry and to prepare for commercial drone operations. Maximum of 10 students per class. $1,495.

8:30 a.m. Mondays through June 24. 28 Dr. Mellichamp Drive,

Bluffton. 843-705-8040 or crossflightskysolutions.com.

THROUGH JUNE 30 “REMBRANDT AND THE JEWISH EXPERIENCE” EXHIBITION: This exhibition contains 21 etchings by Rembrandt and one drawing

by Rembrandt’s teacher, Pieter Lastman, highlighting the artists’ nuanced relationship with Amsterdam’s citizens of the Jewish faith and insights Rembrandt brought to interpretations of Old Testament Bible stories. $20. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center, 207 W York St., Savannah. 912-790-8800.

JUNE 1 THE OUTSIDE FOUNDATION BEACH CLEANUP: Volunteers are needed to help clean up the beach

area around Coligny. All supplies will be provided. Please bring your own water. Free. 8-10 a.m. Tiki Hut, 1 S. Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. outsidebrands.com.

COMMUNITY ART: Paint a Mural at the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island: The Office of Cultural Affairs for the Town of Hilton Head Island and the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island invite the public to help paint artist Lauren Andreu’s “For the Cause of Peace and Brotherhood” mural. It’s a paint-bynumbers project of athlete, activist and philanthropist Muhammad Ali. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 151 Gumtree Road, Hilton Head Island.

June 4-29 COASTAL GLASSWORKS: Beaufort-based glass artist Kathy Oda prsents new glasswork including images of fern leaves, June 2019 137

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flowering bromeliad, sea turtles are abundant in her glass. A fundraiser for the Coastal Discovery Museum, 10 percent of her proceeds will go to the museum. Free.

5-7 p.m., Art League Gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-5060 or artleaguehhi.org.

JUNE 4

MAIN STREET YOUTH THEATRE PRESENTS ‘HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL’

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lass is back in session at Main Street Youth Theatre, where “Disney’s High School Musical” takes the stage June 19-30.

Based on the popular Disney movie, this high-energy production follows the unlikely pair of basketball captain Troy and brainy Gabriella as they surprise their friends by auditioning for the school musical — and deal with young love, friendship and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities.

The cast of 25 includes students from six local high schools. Leading roles include Daniel Harrington as Troy, Harper Krimm as Gabriella, Elliott Lentz as Sharpay, and Luke Herman as Ryan. The show is directed by Michelle McElroy, the theater director at Hilton Head Christian Academy.

Performances are 7 p.m. June 19-30, with 2 p.m. matinees June 23 and June 30. Tickets are $19 for adults and $12 for students and are available by calling 843689-6246 or going to msyt.org.

DEAZ GUYS: PALMETTO BLUFF SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Dance the night away to this popular band on a hot summer night at Mooreland Village.

Proceeds benefit Family Promise of Beaufort County, whose mission is to provide temporary shelter, family stability and permanent housing solutions for homeless families with children by mobilizing community resources. Gates open at 5 p.m., concert starts at 6:30 p.m. Bring your own chair or picnic blanket. Food and drink available for purchase, or bring your own hand-held cooler. $25 per car. Palmetto Bluff. palmettobluff.com.

Shawn Ross of Reilley’s Bar & Grill and R&R Catering. $125 per person. 7:30-10 p.m., Rollers Wine & Spirits, 9 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1200 or rollerswineandspirits.com.

JUNE 7 FUN IN THE SUN FOR EVERYONE: This event will give special-needs children and adults and their families the opportunity to enjoy the beach in a safe and inclusive setting. Activities will include paddle boarding, boogie boarding, surfing, beach games and relaxation. Lifeguards and volunteers will be included in the event to ensure a safe environment for all. Free. 10 a.m.-noon. Marriott’s Surfwatch, 10 Surf Watch Way, Hilton Head Island. Advance registration encouraged but not required.

423-760-2103 or pocketsfullofsun.org.

JUNE 5 KAREN HEITMAN AT PALMETTO PLANT EATERS: The Palmetto Plant Eaters Club is free, open to the public, and meets monthly to teach and support whole-food, plantbased vegan eating. She will discuss the National Health Association, which promotes the benefits of a plant-based diet. She is the founder of the Eat Smart, Live Longer Club of Sun City Hilton Head, which now has more than 60 members. Free. 6:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry building, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. palmettoplanteaters.com.

JUNE 5, 20 & 24 SEA TURTLES OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Learn about the life of sea turtles, their nesting patterns and the best ways to protect them as they venture to our shores.

Led by Amber Kuehn, head of Hilton Head’s Sea Turtle Protection Project. $19 for adults; $15 for children ages 12 and younger. 8-9 p.m., Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

JUNE 6 KRUPP BROTHERS WINE DINNER: Join us for a wonderful dinner featuring Krupp Brothers Wine and cuisine by guest chef

PRO LEAGUE OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND: Watch the island’s best tennis players compete. The league was formed to give local tennis professionals and highly ranked amateurs a place to play competitive tennis and is open to any player with a USTA rating of 4.5 or higher. Food and beverage available for purchase (cash only). Free. 6:30 p.m., Long Cove Club, 399 Long Cove Drive, Hilton Head Island. facebook.com/HHIPTL/.

JUNE 8 HEMP FEST: Explore, purchase and learn about hemp and CBD products at this firstever festival featuring leading hemp/CBD retailers from the Lowcountry and beyond.

Must 18 years old and must have a valid ID to purchase. Event takes place on the green next to Gigi’s Boutique on Calhoun Street.

Free. Noon-4 p.m., 40 Calhoun St., Bluffton. facebook.com/juicehive.

JUNE 8 & 29 SWEETGRASS BASKET-MAKING CLASSES: Learn one of the Lowcountry’s most iconic art forms from a local Gullah

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basket maker. Start a basket of your own using locally found natural materials. $65/person. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext 223.

JUNE 14 FATHER’S DAY PINT NIGHT: Howler Brothers and Outside Hilton Head invite you to celebrate Father’s Day with frosty brews, live music, food hot off the grill and camaraderie while you shop for Dad. The first 100 guests will receive a commemorative pint glass and other goodies from Howler Brothers.

5:30-8:30 p.m. Outside Hilton Head, 50 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. outsidebrands.com.

JUNE 15 AN EVENING WITH ANGIE APARO: Grammy Award-winning songwriter Angie Aparo is the song-writing talent behind Faith Hill’s “Cry”. Aparo has also written songs for Big & Rich, Tim McGraw and Miley Cyrus. $20. 7:3010:30 p.m., Coligny Theatre, 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-6050 or colignyplaza.com.

HOLLYWOOD ACTING WORKSHOP: Main Street Youth Theatre will host Hollywood actor Tara Bianco in a workshop where she will help aspiring actors understand how the industry works and how to make a living acting in TV or film. She will also go over script analysis, character breakdown and cold reads. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Main Street Youth Theatre, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head Island. thetarabianco@gmail.com.

JUNE 15, 16 & 17 FULL MOON KAYAK TOURS: Kayak by the light of the moon for a truly unique experience that guests love. $45 for adults in a single kayak; $67.50 for adults and children in a double kayak; $90 for two adults in a double kayak. 6-8 p.m. Shelter Cove Marina, 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton

Head Island. 843-686-6996 or outsidehiltonhead.com.

JUNE 16 JULIE’S JAM TENNIS TOURNAMENT: Get out on the court to benefit Hilton Head Humane Association. $100 a person includes ferry transportation, tournament fee and lunch. 9 a.m., Haig Point Tennis Center, 130 Club House Lane, Daufuskie Island. 843-341-8155.

PLAYING FOR PAWS TENNIS TOURNAMENT: Get your racquet to benefit Hilton Head Humane Association. 9 a.m., Indigo Run Tennis Center, 101 Berwick Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-8686 or hhhumane.org.

JUNE 17 JUNE STRAWBERRY MOON CRUISE: The Salty Dog’s 63-foot catamaran with upper and lower decks will cruise in Calibogue Sound for the perfect Lowcountry evening. Enjoy celestial snacks and lunar libations from the onboard galley kitchen. $30. 7:30-9:30 p.m., The Salty Dog, South Beach, Hilton Head Island. 843-6836462 or cruise.saltydog.com.

JUNE 22 FAITH AND RACE: St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church will host renowned scholar, activist, author and artist the Rev. Dr. Peter M. Wherry for an engaging discussion on faith and race. Free. 10-11:30 a.m., St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church, 20 Pope Ave., Hilton Head Island. 843-785-4711 or hhiumc.com.

JUNE 22-23 INAUGURAL HILTON HEAD ISLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL: This two-day festival will feature electrifying live performances by a variety of local, state and regional acts and is expected to draw 1,000 to 1,500 attendees. Tickets are $59; children ages 12 and younger get in free. 3 p.m., Coastal Discovery June 2019 139

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Marlena Smalls and the Hallelujah Singers will perform at Hilton Head’s Juneteenth Celebration.

Celebrating Juneteenth in the Lowcountry COME SEE HOW HILTON HEAD ISLAND COMMEMORATES FREEDOM

BY BARRY KAUFMAN

I

n June of 1865, freedom came to the then-Confederate South when the detestable practice of slavery was put to an end. For a people who had struggled for centuries, it was a day of tremendous joy. On Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton, special celebrations this month will mark the occasion with live music, authentic Gullah cuisine and a remembrance of the day the march to freedom began.

Hilton Head Island’s Juneteenth celebration will be held on June 15 at Mitchelville Freedom Park. The site of the celebration is auspicious, as the historic site served as the birthplace of freedom, the first town specifically built for those who had been freed from bondage.

Hosted by WSAV’s Tina Tyus-Shaw, the event will feature interactive

experiences that bring the era of Mitchelville and Reconstruction to life, plus a huge lineup of live entertainment. Headlining the event will be the musical collective “Just A Few Cats,” a group that includes American Idol winner Ruben Studdard among its membership. Joining them on stage will be Marlena Smalls and the Hallelujah Singers.

Besides the live music there will be great Gullah food and a kids zone with craft stations, bounce houses and video games, making this an event for the whole family.

Tickets for the Hilton Head Juneteenth Celebration are $15 for general admission, free for children 12 and under.

Blufffton’s Juneteenth celebration will be held June 7 and 8. The Friday night event will include the Gullah Shout series from 6-8 p.m. with conch stew and other food options inspired by the Gullah culinary heritage, arts and crafts and a slew of activities to immerse yourself in history. Admission is $2 for adults, free for children. The following night, The Heyward House will host a community celebration with food, music and more from 4-9 p.m.

Headlining the event, Akua Page and Chris Cato’s Geechee Experience sees young Gullah misspelling misconceptions about Gullah culture and celebrating the enduring spirit of its people. Tickets are $5 for adults, free for children up to 14.

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Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 216-5547366 or hhimusicfest.com. Get tickets at mylowcountrytix.com.

JUNE 24-29

DUSTIN SCOTT: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AT PALMETTO BLUFF: See this Texas-based artist show off his flying fishing nets at a series of events at Palmetto Bluff. Scott will lead a fishing trip using these beautifully crafted wooden dip nets and will lead a nature photography workshop. palmettobluffartist.com/june2019.

JUNE 26-AUG. 4 “LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL”: A fun and awardwinning musical based on the movie, “Legally Blonde: The Musical” follows the transformation of beautiful and popular Elle Woods as she tackles stereotypes and obstacles in pursuit of her dreams. Tickets for preview performances June 26-27 are $40 for adults and $27 for children ages 5-15; tickets for shows June 28-Aug. 4 are $50 for adults and $37 for children ages 5-15. 8 p.m., Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

843-686-3945, ext. 206, or artshhi.com.

JUNE 27 CAROLINA DREAMERS CAR CLUB CRUISE-IN: Open to all auto enthusiasts, locals and visitors. Free. 5-8 p.m., Shelter Cove Community Park, Hilton Head Island.

JUNE 28-30 SEVENTH ANNUAL SPARTINA 449 WAREHOUSE SALE: This extremely popular event is back to sell colorful scarves, jewelry, handbags and accessories inspired by Daufuskie Island.

8 a.m.-5 p.m., Hilton Head Island High School, 70 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head Island. spartina449.com.

ONGOING HARBOURFEST: An allsummer-long celebration that takes over Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina through Labor Day weekend. Free. 6-9 p.m. Shelter Cove Harbour, 19 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

Shannon Tanner performs at 6:30 and 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Cappy the Clown will paint faces, make balloon animals and offer a variety of other interactive activites from 6-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.

Fireworks will be launched at dusk Tuesday nights June 11-Aug. 20, weather permitting.

Fireworks will be held Thursday, July 4, with no Tuesday show that week.

PARROT PALOOZA: Shannon Tanner plays with his Jimmy Buffett tribute band, the Oyster Reefers. The shows start at 7 p.m.; there will be no Parrot Palooza on July 4. Tuesdays, June 13-Aug. 22.

SUNSET CELEBRATION: Bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy the music and the breeze off Broad Creek. Free.

7-10 p.m. June 14-Aug. 16.

Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. sheltercovetownecentre.com.

HILTON HEAD FARMERS MARKET: Take home fresh produce, pasture-raised chicken, free-range rabbit, pork, seafood, salsa, fresh sausage, cookies, breads,

she-crab soup and much more.

Shopping at the Hilton Head Farmers Market is about more than getting great food. It is also about meeting friends, strengthening community, and rebuilding the local food economy. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Tuesdays, Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island.

843-689-6767, ext. 226, or coastaldiscovery.org.

SUMMER JAMS: On Tuesdays, June 11–August 12, the Island Recreation Association presents a fun-filled, festive atmosphere with the highlight of the night being fireworks, which start around 9 p.m. Kids can enjoy inflatable bounce houses and face painting for a minimal fee. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the fireworks.

5-9 p.m. Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

MOVIE NIGHTS: After the sun sets over Broad Creek, watch favorites under the stars on a 20’ movie screen. Beach chairs, blankets and take-out food from Shelter Cove Towne Centre merchants recommended.

Thursdays from 9-11 p.m. June 14– Despicable Me 3. June 21 – Jaws. June 28 – ET. Free.

MARSH CRITTERS PRESCHOOL PROGRAM: Get up-close and hands-on with several marsh critters as your guide shares a fun short story about the many critters you might encounter while spending a day in the salt marsh. Reservations required. $5 ages 3 and older; children ages 2 and younger are free.

10 & 11 a.m. Thursdays in June through August. Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. www.coastaldiscovery.org WONDERFUL WINGS: Discover lives of butterflies from eggs, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to adult. Explore the Karen Wertheimer May 2019 141

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››Calendar Mansion, 199 Rose Hill Way, Bluffton.

843-757-6046.

June 22-23

Butterfly Habitat with your guide and get an up-close look at all four stages of the butterfly life cycle. Create a simple seed craft to take home and start your own butterfly garden. Reservations required. $5 ages 3 and older; children ages 2 and younger are free. 10 & 11 a.m. Tuesdays in June through August. Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. www.coastaldiscovery.org

MUSIC FESTIVAL TAKES THE STAGE

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ickets are on sale for the inaugural Hilton Head Island Music Festival, to be held June 22-23 at the Coastal Discovery Museum.

The two-day festival, organized by Bear Foot Sports, will feature 16 performances by local, state and regional acts.

Saturday’s lineup includes Just Jevon, Pretty Darn, John Brewster, Stray Fossa, Bobby Magyarosi, Loz, C2 and The Brothers Reed, and Hannah Wickland & The Steppin’ Stones. Gates open at 3 p.m.

On Sunday, jam out to performances by Skinny Bike, Vanna & The Rump Shakers, CornBreD, Shakey Bones, Reggae Infinity Band, Voodoo Visionary, and Eric Culberson Band. Gates will open at 12:30 p.m.

Though the music is taking center stage, the spotlight will also be the environment —beverages will be sold in cans, not single-use plastic bottles, festival T-shirts will be printed on sustainable materials, and the Palmetto Ocean Conservancy will be on hand to share information about how to protect Lowcountry waters.

Two-day festival tickets are $59.

Single-day tickets are $38. Children 12 and younger get in free. Low-profile beach chairs are OK, but no outside food or drinks are allowed.

For more information, go to mylowcountrytix.com.

GARVIN-GARVEY HOUSE TOURS: Visit the newly restored Garvin-Garvey House for a guided tour. $5. By appointment from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St., Bluffton. townofbluffton.sc.gov.

FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: Fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants and herbs abound at the Farmers Market of Bluffton, a weekly community event where locals and tourists gather not only to buy excellent produce but also to enjoy delicious food, listen to entertainment, and relax with friends. 2-6 p.m. Thursdays, 40 Calhoun St., Bluffton.

843-415-2447.

ADULT PAINT AND PLAY: Paint and Play is an adult wine and paint night of fun entertainment for all skill levels — no experience needed. Relax, unwind and let out your inner creativity as artist Kristin Griffis helps you create your own finished piece of artwork. Thursdays, Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-5738 or artleaguehhi.org.

FISHING & CRABBING LESSONS: Ben Green with Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on Squire Pope Road will offer a free missionary program that teaches children fishing and crabbing skills. 4 p.m.

Saturdays, Rowing & Sailing Center, 137 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island.

843-816-0172.

GUIDED TOURS OF HEYWARD HOUSE MUSEUM AND WELCOME CENTER: The museum offers guided tours of the four-room Carolina farmhouse and two outbuildings, which are filled with interesting artifacts and furnishings from the late 1800s into the 1920s. Tours last approximately 45 minutes to an hour and are offered as visitors arrive unless previously scheduled. $10; reservations are not required except for groups of 10 or more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, Heyward House Museum and Welcome Center, 70 Boundary St., Bluffton. heywardhouse.org.

BIKE TOURS IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT: A casual 3-mile, safe and fun bike tour through some of the island’s most captivating historic sites. See the fishing co-op where native islanders once farmed, feasted and fended off the chemical company BASF, the hallowed ground of a Gullah cemetery, an Indian Shell Enclosure, the tabby ruins located on a former plantation and visit with volunteers from the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island.

Price ranges from $15 to $25. 10 a.m.

Wednesdays, leaving from 137 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island. heritagelib.org.

DEAS GUYZ AT THE JAZZ CORNER: $10. 7:30-11 p.m. Sundays, The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620.

TEA TIME AT ROSE HILL MANSION: Experience afternoon tea at a beautiful plantation house in the Lowcountry.

Selections include custom crafted teas, elegant finger sandwiches and heavenly desserts. Small groups or large groups welcome; reservations are required. $40 per person. 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Rose Hill

“JAZZ BY THE SEA”: Modern and classic jazz by the Mike Barbara Trio, featuring pianist Bill Peterson. 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ocean Lounge, Sea Pines Beach Club, Hilton Head Island. 842-843-1888.

MONDAY NIGHT EXHIBITION: Enjoy an exciting tennis demonstration with valuable tips, refreshments, prize drawings, and a traditional fishbowl sale.

Sponsored by Sea Pines Real Estate, Prince, Adidas and Wilson. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays through Aug. 26, Sea Pines Racquet Club, 5 Lighthouse Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-363-4495.

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“SHORTS AT HIGH NOON”: This collection features indie short films, student films and animation films included in the Beaufort Film Society’s library of films. These films were official submissions and finalists and in some cases won at the Beaufort International Film Festival from 2007-19. Free. 11:30 a.m. check-in, screenings begin at noon, Wednesdays, Technical College of the Lowcountry, 921 Ribaut Road, Building 12, Beaufort. beaufortfilmfestival.com.

THE MARKET: The Village at Wexford Market once again is offering local residents and visitors to the area fresh produce, tasty treats, handcrafted goods and other locally inspired items in a unique Lowcountry setting.

Wednesdays through Sept. 4.

For more information about The Market at the Village at Wexford and a complete listing of vendors this season, “like” The Village at Wexford on Facebook. Interested vendors can contact Michele at shoessox@aol.com.

THE NICE GUYS: Get your groove on with the island’s favorite dance/pop/funk band, The Nice Guys, performing a variety of contemporary music that the whole family will enjoy. $8 per car. 7-9 p.m.

Sundays through Aug. 11. Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

DJ ALAN’S FAMILY GAMESHOW COMPETITION: A family-friendly event offering fun for participants and entertainment for the audience.

Prizes, games and music combine for a great family night out. $8 per car. 7-9 p.m. Sunday, June 16. Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island. seapines.com.

GREGG RUSSELL: Over the years, Gregg Russell has become a Sea Pines classic. You’ll find him under the Liberty Oak in Harbour Town entertaining adults and children alike. His concerts are not to be missed. Free. 8-9:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays through Aug. 23. Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island. seapines.com.

CRABBY ENCOUNTERS: Spend your morning trying the art of cast netting and learn about the crabs of Hilton Head Island and other marine creatures that live along the shore. Supplies provided; catch and release. $19 for adults; $14 for children ages 12 and younger.

Tuesdays to Thursdays, Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

CRAFT COVE: Children and adults can enjoy a variety of craft activities at the Sea Pines Beach Club. $16 for ceramics; $11 for sand art; $11 for shark-tooth necklace; $23 for tie-dying; $21 for stuffed animals. Noon-2 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

TIE DYE: Join us at the Sea Pines Beach Club and create tie-dye T-shirts with The Sea Pines Resort logo. A new T-shirt design premiers this summer, as well as a new size.

Now you can create a matching tie-dye for your stuffed animal.

(Sizes available: youth small through adults). $23 per item. Noon-4 p.m., Mondays and Tuesdays; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island.

843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

DIVE-IN MOVIE: Enjoy a fun summer night at the Harbour Town Pool while watching a movie.

Refreshments will be available. $14 for adults; $11 for children ages 12 and younger. Check-in at 8:15 p.m. and the movie starting at 8:30 p.m.

Tuesdays. Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island.

843-832-1979 or seapines.com.

NIGHTTIME SHORE EXPLORE: Join us for a beach walk after dark.

Discover the personality of our nocturnal sea life and learn about the stars and constellations. $17 for adults; $14 for children ages 12 and younger. 8:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

Mondays. Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island.

843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

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››Calendar ONGOING CRITTERS MEET-AND-GREET: Learn about the alligators, snakes, and other critters that share Hilton Head Island. See these animals up close, get hands-on and hold a critter or two, take pictures with your favorite critters, and learn more about these amazing animals and how to safely share the Lowcountry with them. $10 per adult; $5 for children ages 5-12.

Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. www.coastaldiscovery.org.

BEACH YOGA: Enjoy beautiful views of the ocean as you relax and focus on strength, flexibility and balance. Please bring your own beach towel to use as your mat, and meet the instructor on the beach behind the Sea Pines Beach Club. $15 for adults. 8 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island.

843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

SEA PINES HAUNTED HISTORY TALES: After dark in the eerie setting of the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, hear spine-tingling tales of Sea Pines’ shadowy past. $21 for adults; $16 for children ages 12 and younger. 8:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1979 or seapines.com.

PEDEGO ELECTRIC BIKE RENTAL: Rentals are available at three locations: Outside Hilton Head at Shelter Cove; a kiosk at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa; and Moreland Bike Shop in Palmetto Bluff. Cruise up to 20 mph for many miles. It’s like a regular bicycle, only better. Feel like a kid again. Price ranges from $40 to $45 daily. Outside Hilton Head, 50 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 800-686-6996 or outsidehiltonhead.com.

NEW BOAT RENTAL FLEET: Outside has expanded its fleet of safe and comfortable 20-foot pontoon boats. For those wanting to explore the local waterways on their own, these boat rentals are a great pick. Price range from $245 to $615, the boats carry up to 12 passengers and rental rates include fuel. Daily. Shelter Cove Marina, 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6996 or outsidehiltonhead.com.

ZION CEMETERY TOUR: Costumed tour guides share fascinating stories of Hilton Head Island’s past. Visit the gravesites of four Revolutionary War heroes and find out about the bloody skirmish that was fought just steps away.

Explore the island’s oldest structure and learn about the planters who built it. $15 for adults; $10 for children. 10 a.m. Thursdays. Zion Cemetery, 574 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. heritagelib.org.

SALTY DOG HAPPY HOUR CRUISE: An early happy hour cruise option. The full bar and gallery onboard will be open during this one-and-a-half-hour boat ride around Calibogue Sound. Prices range from $15 to $24. Daily.

10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Salty Dog, South Beach, Hilton Head Island. saltydog.com COLORPALOOZA: Tie-dye, Hoola Hoops and face-painting. 6:308:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays.

In the courtyard in front of Jake’s Cargo, 232 S Sea Pines Drive #101, Hilton Head Island. seapines.com.

HAUNTED HISTORY TOURS: Graveside storytelling adventure.

After dark, in the eerie setting of the Island’s oldest burial ground, come and hear spine-tingling tales of Hilton Head’s shadowy past. $25 for adults; $20 for children ages 8 to 16. 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays.

Zion Cemetery, 574 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

PALMETTO DUNES TURTLE TROT 5K: This family-friendly run/ walk event consists of two courses: A beach course for low tide and a road course for high tide. Run over sand, under Palmetto Dunes’ tree canopy, and along lagoons and lakes. $25 for adults; kids 12 and younger run free. 8-9 a.m.

Wednesdays through Aug. 21.

Palmetto Dunes, 14 Dunes House Lane, Hilton Head Island.

843-785-1109 or pdpoa.org.

FORT MITCHEL IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site contains the remains of a coastal defense battery erected in 1862 to protect Port Royal Sound by way of Skull Creek from incursions

by Confederate gunboats.

Costumed characters and an expert tour guide. $15 for adults; $10 for children. 10 a.m. Mondays, Fort Mitchel, Hilton Head Plantation, 65 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head Island.

843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

FREE GOLF CLASS & EXHIBITION: A golf clinic and demonstration at Palmetto Dunes’ Robert Trent Jones course. Ask questions to former PGA Tour player Doug Weaver and staff. The class is hands-on, interactive and all skill levels will benefit. Free. 4-4:50 p.m. Mondays, Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course, 7 Trent Jones Lane, Hilton Head Island. 855-2935838 or palmettodunes.com.

SAVE THE DATE JULY 1 HAIG POINT CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT: This will be a five-person shamble; four players plus one assigned golf professional.

Players can sign up as individuals or teams. $300 per player includes transportation, breakfast and lunch, hole contests and prizes, a donation to the Haig Point Foundation and an oceanfront awards ceremony with refreshments. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., The Haig Point Foundation, 130 Clubhouse Lane, Daufuskie Island. haigpointfoundation.org.

JULY 11-12 MAY RIVER SHRIMP FESTIVAL: Enjoy fresh shrimp dishes from local restaurants and caterers, craft beer and live music. Entertainers scheduled to perform include Pinckney Island Boys and Groove Town Assault on July 11, with Bobby Magyarosi and The Hornan Brothers on July 12. $5 for adults; free for children ages 12 and younger. 5:30-9:30 p.m. July 11; 4:30-9:30 p.m. July 12, Bluffton Oyster Factory Park, 63 Wharf St., Bluffton. 843- 757-8520 or blufftonsunsetparty.com.

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Don’t Miss These Upcoming Events

BLUFFTON CH AM

BER

YOUNG PROFESSIONA Meet-up LS JUNE 5, 2019

STATION 30 0

blufftonchambero fcommerce.org

COFFEE&NET TUESDAY, JUNE 4TH 8:00-9:30AM

5:30 - 7:30 PM

WORKING Location: GREATER BL UFFTON JASPER COUN TY VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICIN 29 PLANTATIO N PARK BLUFFTON, SC 29910

E

Admission: Open to the Pub lic FREE to Chamb er Members $5.00 to Non-Ch amber Members

blufftonchambero fcommerce.org

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To purchase tickets go to MyLowcountrytix.com

5/22/19 1:40 PM

l i a r T BBQ

››Dining

BLUF FTON 5

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BY CARRIE HIRSCH

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South C arolina

278

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The Lowcountry is home to many barbecue joints, and locals and visitors often engage in heated discussion about which is the best. Most of the restaurants offer a choice of pulled pork, ribs, chicken, or brisket with sauce.

There are many different ways to make pulled pork: with a smoker, in a conventional oven, on the stove or in a slow cooker. The term “pulled” refers to the meat being tender enough, after a long cooking time, to be pulled apart or shredded using a fork. Sauce is typically added to the warm meat just before serving, but some barbecue restaurants serve a choice of sauces on the table and let the diner add their own to “naked” meat.

And, of course, sauce leads to a heated discussion of its own: South Carolina is known for its mustard-based sauce—a tangy, spicy and subtly sweet blend of yellow mustard, ketchup, vinegar, honey, sugar and spices. There are entire aisles at the grocery store devoted to bottled barbecue sauce, but few can match a homemade one. Lathered on whole-hog barbeque, it is the epitome of stick-toyour ribs comfort food served with sliders, sandwiches, nachos, tacos, beans, mac ‘n’ cheese and cornbread and in omelets — the possibilities are endless. Just be sure to have plenty of napkins on hand. Other sauces that deserve mention and are very popular in South Carolina are tomato-based sauces or vinegar-pepper sauces.

The art of barbecue is seriously hardcore business. The Southern South Carolina Barbeque Association is a training ground for certifying judges who judge ’cue cookoffs around the state. The Southern BBQ Network also trains people who judge contests that raise money for charitable causes. Judges must learn the technique of judging appearance, aroma, taste, texture and tenderness. It’s a hard job, but somebody’s gotta do it!

HILTON HEAD ISLAND 7

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1

Choo Choo BBQ Xpress

129 Burnt Church Road Bluffton | 843.815.7675 choochoobbq.net Choo Choo BBQ Express offers traditional oak wood smoked, slow-cooked, pulled pork, brisket, chicken and baby back ribs. The variety of home-made BBQ sauces are an exclusive recipe to ‘top off’ your unique dining experience. The restaurant is a short distance from U.S. 278, the gateway to Hilton Head Island.

We have maintained our reputation as being one of the best purveyors of traditional BBQ anywhere in the South Carolina Lowcounty! Choo Choo BBQ Xpress has indoor/ outdoor seating, take-out and Party Pans for your events.

OPEN LUNCH & DINNER - Daily Monday thru Saturday 11:00AM - 8:00PM. Closed Sunday DAILY LUNCH SPECIALS

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3 Big Jim’s BBQ

7 Trent Jones Lane Hilton Head Island 843.785.1165 palmettodunes.com

4 Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q 872 Fording Island Road Bluffton 843.706.9741 jimnnicks.com

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Chow Daddy’s 15 Towne Drive Bluffton 843.757.2469 chowdaddys.com

Smokehouse

34 Palmetto Bay Road Hilton Head Island | 843.842.4227 | smokehousehhi.com You know good BBQ when you taste it —and the Smokehouse has been serving up their famous, award-winning barbeque on Hilton Head Island since 1999, originally at Coligny Circle and now from a beautiful location at 34 Palmetto Bay Road. Owner Jerry Leonard has always had passion for barbecue, and when he first moved to Hilton Head Island in 1989, he realized that there was a niche to be filled. So he opened his BBQ restaurant specializing in smoked ribs and wings. After 20 years in business, Jerry has won many local awards including Best Wings, Best Ribs, Best Chili and more, but he is most proud of his consistency in quality food, pricing and friendly staff. When you walk in the 200-seat restaurant, you are greeted with a smile and fabulous smells of the highest quality meats, slow smoked for hours over hickory.

The Smokehouse offers a diverse lunch and dinner menu with indoor and outdoor seating, including many lunch and dinner specialties, a fantastic Sunday brunch, the best Happy Hour on the Island, and a beautiful indoor bar and outdoor bar with more than 15 TVs to watch your favorite sporting event with a cold beer.

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One Hot Mama’s 1 Greenwood Drive #7A Hilton Head Island 843.682.6262 onehotmamas.com

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Bullies BBQ 3 Regency Parkway Hilton Head Island 843.686.7427 bulliesbbq.com

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Bluffton Barbeque 11 State of Mind Street Bluffton 843.757.7427 bluffton-bbq.com June 2019 147

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››Dining news LOWCOUNTRY RESTAURANTS EARN “EAT IT” FOODIE AWARDS 129 Burnt Church Rd. (just a short distance from Hwy. 278) Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm Choo Choo BBQ’s little red caboose has been a part of Bluffton, and the Lowcountry, for nearly 20 years.

Known to many locals as the best BBQ in the SC Low Country, the “Choo Choo” offers traditional oak wood smoked, slow-cooked, pulled pork, chicken and baby back ribs. The BBQ Sauce is an exclusive recipe to ‘top off ’ your unique BBQ dining experience.

Jesse Blanco, host of the popular TV show “Eat It and Like It,” presents the Eat It and Like It Foodie Awards annually for the best food in the South Carolina Lowcountry and Savannah region. A panel of four judges chose the following winners from Hilton Head Island and Bluffton: Dolce Vita Ristorante, Hilton Head Social Bakery, SERG Group, R Bar, Hilton Head Ice Cream, Earle of Sandwich Pub, Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar, FARM Bluffton, Taqueria del Sabor, Old Bull Tavern, Pour Richard’s, Local Pie, Corner Perk, Skull Creek Dockside, Skull Creek Boathouse and The Bluffton Room.

SAVANNAH CHEF WINS JAMES BEARD AWARD Chef Mashama Bailey of The Grey in Savannah took home the 'Best Chef: Southeast' award at the prestigious James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago, which many consider the Oscars of the culinary world. The Grey is located in a restored 1938 art deco Greyhound Bus Terminal in Savannah’s historic district.

Come try some today!

NEW ITALIAN RESTAURANT COMING TO HILTON HEAD Hilton Head Island is set to welcome a new Italian restaurant in June. Nunzio Patruno, a noted chef from New Jersey, renovated 18 New Orleans Road, the former site of Reebok Crossfit. Menu items will include fresh seafood and homemade pasta. Patruno has added a roughly 1,300-squarefoot kitchen and several new windows, a large bar area and two outdoor seating areas. Patruno also owns Nunzio Ristorante Rustico restaurant in New Jersey.

CAJUN RESTAURANT OPENS IN BLUFFTON Hook & Reel is now open in Bluffton. The restaurant, located in the former Brick Chicken space, features seafood cuisine with a Cajun twist. The menu includes items like snow crab legs, shrimp and crawfish, tossed in sauces like original Cajun, garlic butter and Old Bay seasoning. The restaurant is open daily.

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LOCAL CHEFS FEATURED AT ATLANTA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL Seventeen chefs from South Carolina are serving up tasty bites at the ninth annual Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, held May 30-June 2. Attendees will savor their offerings at immersive learning experiences, epic tasting tents, and unique dinners and other events. Two Lowcountry chefs are participating in the event: Nathan Beriau of Montage Palmetto Bluff and Orchid Paulmeier of One Hot Mama's.

NEW FOOD TRUCK ON HHI Papa Wheelie’s Smoked Eats and Meats is the newest food trailer on Hilton Head Island. It’s parked at 144 Arrow Road, across from Espy Lumber and is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday —cash only.

Owners Bryan Bobinchuck and Tim Moore named the food trailer Papa Wheelie’s because Moore, an avid bike rider and stuntman, often heard kids shout “Hey! Pop a wheelie!” as he rode by.

The food trailer serves barbecue sliders, hot dogs, wraps and nachos.

LUCKY ROOSTER MARKET STREET TO OPEN

Lucky Rooster Market Street in Coligny Plaza will serve a globally influenced menu including Lowcountry rice bowls, catfish Po’ Boy sandwiches, lamb roti rolls and shabazi chicken flatbread. Chef Clayton Rollison, a Hilton Head native and owner of Lucky Rooster Kitchen & Bar, said he wanted to open a second restaurant to offer “elevated food in a quick service setting.” The new restaurant will feature two bars with craft cocktails, beer and frozen drink offerings.

A children’s menu will be offered. The new location at 1 North Forest Beach Drive is expected to open in June.

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Restaurants Brought to you by Monthly, Fork & Fun and Vacation Guide

Our Favorite

Hilton Head – North End

Il Carpaccio nG

200A Museum St. (Across from Walmart) 843.342.9949

CocoNutz Sportz Bar Ga

40 Folly Field Road HHI Beach & Tennis Resort 843.842.0043

Open to the public. Imagine your favorite sporting events shown on dual 125” high-definition screens and 18 other TV’s tuned in to every sporting event imaginable.

That’s what you will find at CocoNutz. If you get hungry, try the “Island’s Best Wings,” 1st place at Wingfest 2017, craft burgers and brews, prime rib.

Serving a wide variety of authentic Italian cuisine, ranging from cuisine of Northern Italy to genuine crispy, thin-crust, Italian-style pizza. Casual, attractive restaurant, with large, attractive bar and a genuine brick oven (imported from Italy) for baking pizza.

Reilley’s North End Pub nGa

95 Mathews Dr. (Port Royal Plaza) 843.681.4153 | reilleysnorth.com

An island institution, Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years. Kids eat free Tuesdays with an adult entrée.

Crazy Crab Jarvis Creek nG Hwy. 278 (near Mile Marker 1) 843.681.5021 | thecrazycrab.com

A Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years, enjoy genuine service and fresh seafood. Menu feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” fresh local shrimp.

Ch

Alfred’s Restaurant G

Plantation Center (Hwy. 278, near Palmetto Dunes) 843.341.3117 | alfredshiltonhead.com Longtime island chef Alfred Kettering's cuisine combines many appealing elements of classic Continental and authentic German cuisine. Casually elegant seating, plus a chef’s counter overlooking the open kitchen.

Reservations recommended.

Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers & Pizza nG 7 Trent Jones Ln. (Palmetto Dunes) 855.878.1966 | palmettodunes.com/big-jims Big Jim’s offers signature Southern dishes, gourmet burgers, pizzas, soups, salads, seafood, steaks and ribs. Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Street Meet: The American Tavern nGa

Port Royal Plaza 843.842.2570 | streetmeethhi.com

Street Meet specializes in homemade versions of regional American bar food. Best Wings, Fish & Chips, Homemade Soups, Salads, Vegetarian Menu, Seafood.

Gator’z Pizza G

40 Folly Field Road HHI Beach & Tennis Resort 843.842.0043 Be sure to stop by Gator’z Pizza and order the “Bigly” MEGA Pizza. It’s 400 square inches of pizza perfection! These delicious pizzas are available for both dine in and take out.

ELA’S Blu Water Grille n G

Hilton Head – Mid-Island

Old Fort Pub G} 65 Skull Creek Drive 843.681.2386 | OldFortPub.com

Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar G

Dine indoors or on the patio, enjoy beautiful views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The only AAA Four Diamond Restaurant on Hilton Head. (Won 11 times!) Reservations Recommended.

Menu uses seasonal ingredients with a strong emphasis on seafood while paying homage to Alexander’s original favorites. Dinner from 5–10pm daily.

76 Queens Folly Rd. (Palmetto Dunes) 843.785.4999 | alexandersrestaurant.com

g BREAKFAST

n LUNCH G DINNER

1 Shelter Cove Ln. (Shelter Cove) 843-785-3030 | elasgrille.com Fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, artfully prepared by their team of culinary experts, compliment the extensive boutique wine selection. Overlooking Shelter Cove marina and Broad Creek, ELA’S offers the island’s best water views. Reservations recommended.

} SUNDAY BRUNCH a OPEN LATE

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Raise a Glass Lauren Cirafesi and their boys.

Chef Michael Cirafesi | Photo by Rob Kaufman

S

OMBRA Cucina Italiana is a pioneer of the Italian wine movement

By Carrie Hirsch

ince opening in 2013, OMBRA Cucina Italia has been recognized as a top restaurant for fine Italian cuisine and wine. Chef Michael Cirafesi and his wife, Lauren, who co-own the restaurant, continue to garner awards, serve their loyal base and attract new customers.

“Ron, our manager, does the front of the house. Lauren runs the business side,” the chef said. “We’ve been extremely busy — summer’s been here since the end of March.”

On the menu, diners will find dishes that highlight the bounty of the season. For example, Cirafesi said summer dishes will feature watermelon and local peaches.

“Right now, we’re serving veal with morels or with chanterelles because they’re in season,” he said. “Soft-shell crab season is not over — they are still in season in Georgia and that’s a hot item; we just got some in this morning.”

The chef said he’s noticed an increase in demand for glutenfree pasta, and he’s happy to accommodate these requests: “I tried a couple of different gluten-free pastas and the one I use is from Florence.”

The award-wining wine list focuses on esoteric Italian wines, and this is where his true passion lies. Cirafesi has been a pioneer in the movement to showcase Italian wines and selects each new addition.

“Many of our customers know fine wine — some can even tell you about the soil and the altitude,” he said. “Our wine list is up to 250 selections and we’ve got some heavy hitters upwards of $800 to $900 a bottle, including Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2010, Masseto Toscana ‘Masseto’ 2013, Gaja San Lorenzo Barbaresco, Damilano Barolo Cannubi Riserva “1752” 2008 and Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2010.”

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Wine — especially Italian wine — long has been a focus for Cirafesi. Over the past year, he said, OMBRA has increased its wine selection by 50 bottles with an eye on variety: Even though the restaurant focuses on Italian cuisine the wine list includes a few vintages from California. Cirafesi said he’s especially excited to bring new wines to the island.

“I have introduced Italian wines in this market that even the sales reps didn’t sell here, although they had them in their portfolio,” he said. “We have Italian wine makers come from Italy, and I’ll do five or six Italian wine dinners throughout the year. The last one was with Guido Damilano. We prepare the food from the same region where the wine is made.”

Both the restaurant’s wine and food win lavish praises. At one recent wine dinner, Cirafesi said a guest from Veneto, Italy, gave him the ultimate compliment: “This is better than what my grandmother makes,” he whispered.

Don’t over-indulge on dinner and wine, however; guests will want to save room for one of OMBRA’s popular desserts. Pana cotta, a classic molded dessert from northern Italy made of sweetened cream and flavorings, is a favorite and gives the chef another chance to serve seasonal fruit, which he adds to the top of the dish.

“We’ve turned into a semifreddo world,” he said. “Semifreddo is a cross between a mousse and a gelato. We’ve been making one with limoncello, an Italian lemon liqueur, which has even overtaken our entire dessert list, along with the chocolate soufflé and the tiramisu.”

Guests know their meal will always be as stellar as the last time they came to OMBRA because Cirafesi never takes a vacation.

“We already live at the beach!” he said with a smile.

5/22/19 11:19 AM

››Dining | Favorites Fishcamp on Broad Creek nGa

11 Simmons Road (Adjacent to Broad Creek Marina) 843.842.2267 | fishcamphhi.com Fishcamp’s menu consists of seafood and American cuisine, including steak and lobster. They have an outdoor bar and open patio. Family friendly.

The French Bakery & Courtyard Café gn 28 Shelter Cove Ln. 843.342.5420 | frenchbakeryhiltonhead.com

Have breakfast or lunch inside or outdoors in this bakery/café.

Enjoy crepes, omelets, breads, baguette & panini sandwiches, salads, soups, quiches & pastries. Traditional French recipes.

Island Bagel & Deli gn

S. Island Square 843.686.3353 | islandbagelanddeli.com The island's only New York style boiled bagels made daily.

Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 home-made cream cheeses. For lunch: specialty hoagies, classic sandwiches & salads.

Jamaica Joe’z Beach Bar nG

40 Folly Field Rd. (Mid-island) 843.842.0043 | hhibeachandtennis.com Open 7 days. Steps from the beach and a great place to kick back, snack on some pork nachos or a burger, and cool off with a frozen cocktail,cold beer or a soft drink.

Jane Bistro & Bar nG

28 Shelter Cove Lane

(Shelter Cove Towne Centre)

843.686.5696 | janehhi.com Serving classic bistro fare with Lowcountry influences. Favorites include the jumbo lump crab cakes, pecan cranberry chicken salad, crispy flounder and petit filet mignon with pommes frites. Open daily.

Mediterranean Harbour Bar & Grill nGa Shelter Cove Harbour 843.842.9991 | mediterraneanharbour.com

Simon Mikhael has brought Lebanese cuisine to Hilton Head.

Most dishes are grilled or baked, ingredients include lemon, garlic, parsley, olive oil & spices. Enjoy their indoor and outdoor seating with a bar. Open daily.

Old Oyster Factory Ga

101 Marshland Rd. 843.681.6040 | OldOysterFactory.com Panoramic marsh and water views. Specializing in fresh seafood and some of the best steaks on Hilton Head. featured in The Wall Street Journal's “Off the Beaten Track.” Wine Spectator magazine’s “Award of Excellence.”

San Miguel’s nG 9 Harbourside Ln. (Shelter Cove Harbour) 843.842.4555 | sanmiguels.com Located directly on the harbour at Shelter Cove and provides good food and fun. Extensive California/Mexican menu. Try San Miguel’s Fish Tacos, fajitas and chimichangas. Lunch and dinner served daily.

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Santa Fe Cafe nG

807 William Hilton Parkway (Plantation Center by Palmetto Dunes)

Hilton Head – South End Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Café nG

843.785.3838 santafecafeofhiltonhead.com

69 Pope Avenue 843.785.7700 | auntchiladashhi.com

Casually elegant dining that captures the spirit of New Mexico.

Signature items include Parmesan Chipotle Grouper, 24-ounce bone-in ribeye steaks, fajitas , & Painted Desert Soup.

Excellent Tex-Mex and American fare. Enjoy the all-youcan-eat crab legs, sizzling fajitas, & margaritas. Reservations & large parties welcome. Private dining/event area. Live entertainment (seasonally) on the covered patio.

Sea Grass Grille G

807 William Hilton Parkway

Big Bamboo n G a

Captain Woody’s n G a 6 Target Rd. (off of Palmetto Bay Rd.) 843.785.2400

843.785.9990 | seagrassgrille.com

1 N. Forest Beach Dr. Coligny Plaza 843.686.3443 | bigbamboocafe.com

American and Lowcountry Continental cuisine. Chef Chad brings 38 years of hands-on culinary expertise. More than 50 wines by the glass. Winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.

Where the South Pacific meets the Carolina Coast just steps from the beach. A casual hangout with a local vibe serving burgers, seafood and festive libations. Come for the food, stay for the live entertainment!

Up the Creek Pub & Grill nGa 18 Simmons Rd. (Broad Creek Marina) 843.681.3625 | upthecreekpubandgrill.com

British Open Pub n G

Village at Wexford 843.686.6736 | thebritishopenpub.com

Carolina Crab Company nG 86 Helmsman Way 843.842.2016 | carolinacrabco.com

Located on Broad Creek with great marina and water views.

Known for smoked wings, hush puppies, buffalo chicken dip, beer selection and the best burgers. Kids menu available.

Dogs are welcome.

Family friendly pub style restaurant with authentic English food with American favorites and certified Angus beef. Try the signature fish and chips or their shepherd’s pie, steak & mushroom pie, lobster pot pie and bangers & mash.

Boasting water views, enjoy fresh seafood at an affordable price in a family-friendly atmosphere. Offering an array of seafood; peel-n-eat shrimp, giant Po Boys, burgers, Maine lobster, & crab legs. Pet-friendly outside bar & patio.

(Plantation Center by Palmetto Dunes)

Enjoy “Fresh Seafood, Cold Beer & Great Happy Hour & Still A Locals Favorite For Over 30 Years!” Dine inside or outside on the patio. Serving a variety of fresh seafood, sandwiches, award winning soups and salads all at affordable prices.

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››Dining | Favorites Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte G 8 New Orleans Road 843.785.9277 | charliesgreenstar.com Open since 1982, Charlie’s, an island favorite among locals and tourists alike, writes its menu daily based on the freshest seafood available.

Dinner menu offers an array of 14 fresh fish, rack of lamb, filet mignon and more. An extensive wine list.

Catch 22 G 37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza near Sea Pines Circle)

843.785.6261 | catch22hhi.com Catch 22 is locally owned. Dinner is served nightly from 5 p.m. Early Dining Menu from 5:00– 6:00 p.m. All of our beef is aged 28 days, U.S.D.A prime, hand selected and cut in house.

ChowDaddy’s nG

14b Executive Park Rd. (off of Pope Ave.) 843.757.CHOW(2469) | chowdaddys.com Offering a wide variety of menu items focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Serving lunch & dinner daily.

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse G 1000 William Hilton Parkway, B-6 843.715.3565 cowboybraziliansteakhouse.com

A unique, all-you-can eat “Churrascaria.”

Enjoy a 30 item salad bar, 6 Brazilian hot dishes and a “parade” of 16 USDA Prime cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork carved at your table by their gauchos.

CQ’s Restaurant nG 140 Lighthouse Rd. 843.671.2779 | CQsRestaurant.com Fine dining, an intimate atmosphere and a bit of Hilton Head history. Signature dishes include fresh seafood, beef & game.“Bistro” menu offers smaller portions.

Crane’s Tavern Steakhouse & Seafood G 26 New Orleans Rd. 843.341.2333 | cranestavern.com

Perfect for steak and seafood lovers, serving cuts of only USDA Prime grade beef, their Famous Prime Rib. Excellent selection of fresh fish, seafood & pasta dishes.

Crazy Crab Harbour Town nG Sea Pines at Harbour Town 843.363.2722 | thecrazycrab.com Genuine service and fresh seafood; a Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years! Menus feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” local shrimp and more. Dine in the heart of Sea Pines at Harbour Town.

Delisheeyo n G

32 Palmetto Bay Road 843.785.3633 | delisheeeyo.com Vegetarian. Delisheeyo owner Blake Wearren set out to create a place for people to escape for lunch.

The fruit and veggie smoothies are a quick meal by themselves. Their Buddha Bowls, consisting of steamed grain and healthy toppings of your choice, is a favorite of the regulars. Delisheeyo’s mission is to provide meals that you can trust, that are real, and healthy.

Dough Boys Pizza nG 1 New Orleans Rd. 843.686.2697 | DoughBoysHHI.com

FISH Seafood & Raw Bar G

House-made crusts: traditional hand tossed, thin crust and thick Sicilian. Create-Your-OwnChopped Salad from 40 different item choices.

Specialty subs are served on Amoroso rolls.

FISH Seafood & Raw Bar places a premium on sourcing seafood from local sources and lightly preparing it with a respect for regional foodways and Lowcountry culinary history.

1 N Forest Beach Dr. (Coligny Plaza) 843.342.3474 | gofishhhi.com

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Flatbread Grill & Bar nG

Hilton Head Diner gnGa Hwy. 278 at Yacht Cove Dr. 843.686.2400 | hiltonheaddiner.com

Upscale, casual dining. Enjoy Neapolitan pizza, fresh pasta, gourmet salads, burgers, wraps, flatbread sandwiches and more. Dough & sauces are freshly made.

One of the island’s only 24-hour restaurants. Modern diner boasting one of Hilton Head’s most extensive menus. All baking is done on the premises. Beer, wine & mixed drinks available. breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

2 N. Forest Beach Dr. (Beach Market Center) 843.341.2225 | flatbreadgrillhhi.com

Frosty Frog Cafe & Pizza nGa Coligny Plaza 843.686.FROG | frostyfrog.com

Dine inside or out on the large patio w/retractable roof. Enjoy daiquiris, wine, beer & a full liquor bar; menu includes burgers, crabcakes, salads, wraps, pizza, calzones, crab legs, shrimp, extensive gluten-free options & a kids menu.

Gusto Ristorante G

890 William Hilton Parkway GustoHiltonHead.com Voted Hilton Head's Best New Restaurant. Executive chef/ owner Giancarlo Balestra and his wife Nancy bring the flavors of his hometown of Rome Italy to Hilton Head. Closed Monday.

Fresh Market Plaza.

Hickory Tavern nGa

Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill n Ga 70 Pope Avenue 843.686.5959 | hincheys.com

Hinchey’s has much in common with a sports bar, but is very much a restaurant, too. It is casual, with beach-goers invited to stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner. Dine inside or out.

Open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner.

Hinoki Restaurant & Sushi Bar nG

37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza) 843.785.9800 | hinokihhi.com

Serving traditional Japanese dishes including grilled fish, chicken and steak, sukiyaki, noodle dishes, tempura, and daily specials, plus sushi and sashimi. More than 20 entrées.

Reservations are recommended for dinner.

843.802.0010 | thehickorytavern.com

It’s Greek To Me nGa

A place where the neighborhood is drawn by a lively bar, great food and a passion for sports and entertainment. Hickory Tavern is the perfect place for a business lunch, or lunch with the girls. Celebrate the day's victories at Happy Hour.

Genuine Greek cuisine, from gyros to fried calamari to souvlaki to baklava for dessert. Food is prepared with authentic

Greek recipes and they have the only gyro machines on the island. Greek beer and ouzo. Reservations accepted.

Kenny B’s Cajun/Creole Seafood gnG} 70-A Pope Ave. 843.785.3315

“Creole cuisine with a Lowcountry influence.” Order New Orleans traditions such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, and authentic gumbos. Kenny B’s is home of the Island’s best po’ boys and fried seafood. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch.

Local Pie n G 55 New Orleans Rd. 843.842.PIES | localpie.com Chefs Lee Lucier, Jack McNulty and partner JR Richardson are oven-fired pizza aficionados. The custom pizza ovens are designed to make pizzas with thin, crisp, crusts - Neapolitanstyle pizza using ‘double 00’ flour. Their duck prosciutto, bacon, sausages, as well as fresh-water mozzarella are all made in-house. Large screen TV’s, a sprawling 800-foot deck with a bar.

11 Lagoon Rd. 843.842.4033 | itsgreektomehhi.com

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››Dining | Favorites Michael Anthony’s G

37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza) 843.785.6272 | michael-anthonys.com Family owned and operated since 2002, Michael Anthony’s offers upscale classic Italian fine dining featuring innovative preparations and farm fresh ingredients. Open Table rates them as one of the country's Top 50 Italian Restaurants.

Dinner is served Monday - Saturday. Reservations suggested.

Nick’s Steak & Seafood G 9 Park Lane 843.686.2920 | nickssteakandseafood.com Nick’s Steak & Seafood emphasizes steaks, seafood and barbecue and offers sandwiches, salads, appetizers, soups, burgers, pasta and a children’s menu. Reservations accepted.

Large parties welcome.

Nunzio Restaurant + Bar G

sandwiches with bread baked fresh daily. The pita wraps and salads are both imaginative and health-conscious.

Reilley’s Grill & Bar nGa

7D Greenwood Dr. (Reilley’s Plaza) 843.842.4414 | reilleyshiltonhead.com Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years. Lunch & dinner daily, & Sunday brunch. The bar is open late. Enjoy Mon.Night Lobster and Fri. & Sat. Prime Rib (reservations required).

Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras G a

5 Lagoon Road 843.689.2662 | rockfishhhi.com

A unique family seafood restaurant and bar that is located right near the beach. Offering fresh and local lowcounty ingredients paired with craft beers and wines. Kids menu. Lunches to Go for the beach.

18 New Orleans Road 843.715.2172 | nunziohhi.com

Sea Shack nG

Popular New Jersey chef Nunzio Patruno is bringing his acclaimed cooking style to Hilton Head Island. Nunzio Restaurant + Bar, set to open in this month, specializes in fresh seafood and homemade pasta. Enjoy a delicious meal in the beautifully renovated 1,300-square-foot restaurant equipped with a large bar area and two outdoor seating areas.

Serving up one of the island’s most extensive menus of seafood & more. Voted one of "South Carolina’s best seafood spots" by Coastal Living and Southern Living. Open Mon.Sat. for lunch & dinner.

6 Executive Park Rd. (off Pope Ave.) 843.785.2464 | seashackhhi.com

Stack’s Pancakes & More g n G

2 Regency Pkwy. & Hwy. 278 843.341.3347

Family owned & operated, serving breakfast & lunch, 7 days. Enjoy pancakes, waffles, house-made fruit sauces, crepes, Crème Brûlée French Toast, shrimp & grits, crab benedict, shrimp omelet topped with lobster cream sauce.

Gluten free items.

Ombra Cucina Italiana G 1000 William Hilton Parkway (Village at Wexford) 843.842.5505 | ombrahhi.com Chef Michael Cirafesi promotes the foods & wines of Italy. He prepares all pastas, homemade gnocchi, desserts and breads daily. An extensive wine list from every region in Italy. A European-style bar & lounge with a vast selection of Italian cocktails. Peanut-free. Gluten-free pasta available. Open 7 days a week from 4:30. Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome.

Palmetto Bay Sun Rise Café gn

Palmetto Bay Marina 843.686.3232 | palmettobaysunrisecafe.com Breakfast fare starting before the sun rises, from 6 a.m.

Breakfast and lunch items are available continuously. The cafe offers to-go lunches for charter boats, the beach or any other occasion. Open seven days a week.

Phillys Cafe & Deli n

55 New Orleans Rd. 843.785.9966 | phillyscafe.com Locally owned and operated for more than 25 years, Phillys’ motto is “Best sandwiches on the island...Period!” Custom

Stellini G

15 Executive Park Rd. (near Sea Pines Circle) 843.785.7006 | stellinihhi.com

Truffles nG Sea Pines Center 843.671.6136 | trufflescafe.com Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups, sandwiches, and garden salads. Specialties include glazed grouper, mango salmon, crab cakes, chipotle chicken, meatloaf and fried shrimp. Daily from 11am.

Twisted Cork n G

11 Palmetto Bay Road, #102 (next to Staples) 843.802.0510 Open Monday through Saturday, 5-11 p.m. A local cocktail and wine bar. You can find it in Festival Center Plaza, near the Sea Pines Circle.

Vine G Coligny Plaza Shopping Center 1 N Forest Beach Drive 843.686.3900 From marinated octopus to field greens from nearby St. George, the offerings at this intimate bistro are a treat for all.

Mediterranean cuisine with a hint of Asian fusion. Reservations.

Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.

BLUFFTON Agave Side Bar nG 13 State of Mind St. 843.757.9190

A fun laid-back Southwest Tex-Mex Patrón margarita and taco bar specializing in authentic tacos and smooth margaritas. Happy Hour daily 4-6pm, Taco Tuesdays. Indoor & Outdoor seating.

Amigos, Bluffton nG 133 Belfair Town Village 843.815.8226

Family owned & operated since 1989! Popular Italian appetizers and entrees from NY & Northern NJ. Delicious pasta, poultry, veal, seafood, beef and lamb all expertly prepared. Gluten Free & Children’s Menu.

Authentic Mexican taqueria, serving delicious food “inspired

by Mexican cuisine from Baja, Mexico, to Santa Barbara, California.” Owner Andrew Farbman created Amigos’ famous BBQ Chicken Salad. Amigos uses the finest ingredients.

The Studio G 20 Executive Park Road 843.785.6000 | studiodining.com

The Bluffton Room Ga

Dine while enjoying watching artists paint in the elegant studio. The menu is inspired by American and global cuisines and uses the finest regional, natural & organic ingredients.

Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menu offerings.

The Ice Cream Cone

1 N. Forest Beach Dr. 843.785.4440 | colignyicecreamcone.com Serving the finest and best selection of ice creams, softserve yogurts, sorbets, shakes, malts, floats, old-fashioned sodas, sundaes, and so much more!

843.757.3525 | theblufftonroom.com Well crafted cocktails and table-side preparations evoke the feeling of a lively dinner party. Dine Tuesday - Saturday for dinner or cocktails. Fridays, they serve a special New Orleans style lunch from 11am to 2pm. Intended as an adult dining experience.

British Open Pub nGa

Sheridan Park 843.815.6736 | britishopenpub.net Pub-style restaurant featuring authentic English food.

Excellent signature fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, steak and mushroom pie, and bangers and mash. Also wide selection of American appetizers and entrées. Lunch & dinner daily.

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››Dining | Favorites Bluffton Brauhaus G 68 Bluffton Rd. 843.757.3334

Brothers Alfred and Volker Kettering offer German classics, like Wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten, roasted duckling with spaetzle and red cabbage. A “Bratwurst Experience” with Thüringer-, Nürnbergerand Müenchner-style sausages, as well as salads, vegetables and fish dishes. 20 beers on tap and bottled beers. Serving dinner only, from 4 p.m. daily.

Calhoun Street Tavern nGa

9 Promenade St. 843.757.4334 | calhounstreettavern.co A place where fine spirits are drunk, laughs are had, and stories are told. Cold beer, classic cocktails, and familiar faces paired with a chef driven menu of southern plates and comforting lowcountry classic food.

ChowDaddy’s nG

843.815.2233 | cincomexgrill.com Authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch using both traditional and modern recipes. Popular dishes are the Cinco Bowl, Piña Fajitas, Carnitas, Enchiladas, Chimichangas, Flautas and flan.

Corner Perk gn 843.816.5674 | cornerperk.com

Focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Enjoy salads, sliders, a house ground rib eye burger, or their famous smoked fried chicken. Serving lunch & dinner daily.

A coffeehouse /brunch restaurant where city meets South. Corner Perk offers the most amazing locally roasted Coffees, Teas, Espresso drinks, Cold Brew, Frappes as well as Skillets, Omelettes, Wraps, Sandwiches, and Salads.

Captain Woody’s n G a 17 State of Mind St. (Calhoun Street Promenade) 843.757.6222

HUGE!

Enjoy “Fresh Seafood, Cold Beer & Great Happy Hour & Still A Locals Favorite For Over 30 Years!” They have dining inside and outside on the patio. A big outdoor deck bar featurs beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Captain Woody’s serves fresh seafood, great signature sandwiches, award winning soups and salads all at affordable prices.

www.facebook.com/GatorzPizza

843.842.0004

Delectable Desserts by Russ g }

4376 Bluffton Parkway, Suite 202 843.422.9702

Russ Gardiner's bakery offers daily specials in addition to regular favorites like cannoli, cinnamon rolls and several types of bread.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. Closed on Tuesdays.

Gourmet on Wheels/Grab and Go

40 Folly Field Rd. • Hilton Head, SC • 843-842-4402 www.hhibeachandtennis.com www.facebook.com/HHIBeachandTennis

102 Buckwalter Parkway, Suite 3D

(Berkeley Place)

15 Towne Dr. (Belfair Towne Village) 843.757.CHOW(2469) | chowdaddys.com

Our Pizzas Are Want something other than Pizza?

We also have our Award Winning Wings, Salads and Grinders!

Cinco Mexican Grill nG

61 Riverwalk Blvd., Unit E 843.970.3030 gourmetonwheels.org

Gourmet on Wheels Delivery provides individually prepared healthy meals and

delivers to your door weekly. Go online (gourmetonwheels.org) and choose your entrees with sides each week; each meal is individually packaged in its own microwavable and freezable container. Also, check out their Gourmet Grab and Go store with fresh made salads, meals, smoothies and more.

Grind Coffee Roasters 1 Sherington Drive, Suite J 843.368.3348 grindroasters.com This award-winning coffee has a new location in Sheridan Park, next to British Open Pub. Grab a cup of Grind’s specialty

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coffee made with beans from Columbia, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya and more. Other options include infused coffee barrel-aged in bourbon and whiskey barrels, and coffee infused with essential oils. Come inside or take advantage of the drive-thru. Open Monday to Saturday.

Tacos Tonight?

Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill nGa 104 Buckwalter Place 843.836.5959 | hincheys.com

Hinchey’s has much in common with a sports bar, but is very much a restaurant, too. It is casual, with beach-goers invited to stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner. Dine inside or out.

Open seven days a week.

Island Bagel & Deli gn

17 Sherington Dr. 843.815.5300 | islandbagelanddeli.com The island's only New York style boiled bagels made from scratch daily. Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 homemade cream cheeses, pastries & breakfast sandwiches. For lunch: specialty hoagies, classic sandwiches & salads.

Local Pie nG Promenade 843.837.PIES | www.localpie.com Chefs Lee Lucier, Jack McNulty and partner JR Richardson are oven-fired pizza aficionados. The custom pizza ovens are designed to make pizzas with thin, crisp, crusts - Neapolitanstyle pizza using ‘double 00’ flour. Their duck prosciutto, bacon, sausages, as well as fresh-water mozzarella are all made inhouse. Lunch, happy hour, dinner & late night.

Olive & Fig nG

1533 Fording Island Road, Suite 326

(Moss Creek Village)

843.605.4093 Olive & Fig provides guests with a unique opportunity to experience authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The menu features Lebanese and Greek dishes alongside traditional Mediterranean fare, and gluten free and vegetarian options.

Open Mon-Sat Closed Sundays.

Truffles nG

Belfair Towne Village 843.815.5551 | trufflescafe.com Casual cafe featuring the “freshest and finest of everything!”

Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups and garden salads. Covered patio. Lunch, dinner daily. Full cocktail bar. Happy hour from 4-6.

™ For The Best Menu Selections, Early Bird Specials, Entertainment, Happy Hours and More.

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››Last Call

Income disparity could affect our whole economy

BY JIM MACLEOD

A Jim Macleod

SINCE CONSUMER SPENDING IS THE GREATEST CONTRIBUTOR OF GDP, THAT WOULD MEAN OUR OVERALL ECONOMIC GROWTH WOULD SLOW.

t risk of ruffling some feathers, we need to look at income inequality in America.

Income distribution in America changed significantly after 2008’s Great Recession, leading to a decrease in the number of families who describe themselves as “middle class.” Consider these 2018 statistics about wealth distribution in the U.S.: the top 1 percent of all households earned 20 percent of the nation’s pre-tax income. The bottom 50 percent of households earned just 13 percent of the nation’s pre-tax income — down from 20 percent in 1979, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The 40 percent of households in the middle of the income distribution today earns less than 40 percent of the nation’s pre-tax income, down from 45 percent in 1979.

According to a 2018 CBO study, the top 1 percent of earners’ after-tax income grew 242 percent between 1979 and 2015, while middle class incomes grew 46 percent and the lowest earners saw an increase of 79 percent. Don’t believe such a gap exists?

Just look around the Lowcountry. Though specific numbers for income inequality in Beaufort County aren’t available, it’s easy to see that national trends apply to our area.

Experts say this widening income gap is due to several factors: Labor unions are in crisis; gains from increased productivity are being sent to shareholders as dividends and through share repurchase programs; increased globalization has moved American jobs overseas to countries with cheaper labor; and the current political agenda has fundamentally changed our tax system from a “progressive” tax policy to a “regressive” system.

Even the opiod crisis facing the nation today has lead to more income inequality; an increase in drug use has led to lower workforce participation rates.

So what do we do about it? There’s been a great debate — both nationally and locally — about how this income disparity will

affect the U.S. It’s possible that our decadeslong sub-trend GDP growth rate is partially caused by shifting income distributions — the wealthiest Americans save or invest nearly 50 percent of their marginal incomes, compared to just 10 percent by the remainder of the population. Fundamentally, the velocity of dollars being spent has got to slow down.

Since consumer spending is the greatest contributor of GDP, that would mean our overall economic growth would slow. Slower growth impacts corporate profits, and lower corporate profits have a negative impact on the debt and equity markets.

Currently, middle and lower wage-earners are relying more on consumer credit, which can carry high interest rates. And as we discovered during the partial government shutdown this winter, many middle-class workers live paycheck to paycheck. In the event of economic or workplace disruption, these earners often will turn to credit or will just stop paying their mortgages, rents, medical bills, etc. The impact of that disruption would send shockwaves through the economy.

As the divide widens between the “haves” and the “have-nots,” the demands for redistribution of wealth will increase.

Ultimately, the largest segment of the population — those without access to health care, education, goods and services — will speak out at the ballot box.

The easy answer to this problem is to invest more in education and health care — the tools needed to climb the economic ladder.

Unfortunately, we have been slow to act in these two areas. We also could try to turn away from globalization and try to limit immigration, but it may be too late for those solutions.

We need national leadership that can find a moderate approach that continues to embrace capitalism while providing services and a support system that treats all with dignity. It seems we are nearing a national tipping point, and cooler heads must ultimately prevail.

JIM MACLEOD 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.

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