Hilton Head Monthly February 2019

LUXURY HOMES • ANTIQUES APPRAISALS • PUPPY BOWL

BRIDAL GUIDE INSIDE SOMETHING

BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE, SOME NEW IDEAS FOR YOU HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS A HEART TRANSPLANT GIVES CHRISTIAN BERNADOTTE A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE

STAR OF THE SMALL SCREEN

LATIA NELSON

SEE HOW FAR SHE’S COME CELEBRATE! FEBRUARY IS FOR GULLAH CULTURE LOCAL ROASTERS GOURMET COFFEE HAS COME TO THE LOWCOUNTRY

{your v ice} FEBRUARY 2019

CHANGE YOUR LATITUDE IN

TRODUCING

Your New Home in Paradise It’s always been that happy place in your mind, and the spirit of adventure in your soul. It’s the state of mind when it all comes together in one of life’s perfect moments. When your mind wanders to this paradise, why not follow it home?

We have heard your call… Minto Communities and Margaritaville welcome you to Latitude Margaritaville!

Inspired by the legendary music and lifestyle of singer, songwriter and best-selling author Jimmy Buffett, your new home in paradise features exciting recreation, unmatched dining and FINtastic nightlife. With Minto’s 40 years of experience developing award-winning, master-planned communities and building quality homes for over 25,000 families, innovative new homes are a given.

Escape to the place where fun and relaxation meet. Escape to island-inspired living as you grow older, but not up.

Escape to Latitude Margaritaville.

Latitude margaritaville Hilton Head New homes from the mid $200s 9 Model Homes Open Daily!

356 Latitude Blvd., Hardeeville, SC 29927 Mon-Sat: 9am-5pm | Sun: 11am-5pm

(844) 388-6776 Visit online for more information LatitudeMargaritaville.com

2018

© Minto Communities, LLC 2019. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Artist’s renderings, dimensions, specifications, prices and features are approximate and subject to change without notice. Latitude Margaritaville and the Latitude Margaritaville logo are trademarks of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC and are used under license.

Minto and the Minto logo, are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. CGC 120919. 2019

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 Allyson Venrick ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca V. Kerns rebecca@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-816-2732 Cathy Flory cathy@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-1538 Majka Yarbrough majka@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-290-9372 Mary Ann Kent maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9390 CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Guido Flueck, Rob Kaufman, Kathryn Mademann, Lloyd Wainscott CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amy Bredeson, Queenie Bontuyan, Jim Collett, Heather Collins, Melinda Copp, Becca Edwards, Suzanne Eisinger, Clay Bonnyman Evans, Jessica Farthing, Anne Feldman, Mary Hall, R.L. Hamilton, Carrie Hirsch, Justin Jarrett, Kim Kachmann, Barry Kaufman, James Mallory, Robyn Passante, Elihu Spencer, Jed Sapio, Nicole Schultz, Jessica Sparks

4 hiltonheadmonthly.com

››

February's

Must Reads

26

38

50

65

26 Gullah Celebration

The month-long Gullah Celebration showcases the food, art and music of the Gullah culture with events across Hilton Head Island. This year marks the 23rd annual event.

38 Ken Kooyman Knows Antiques Decluttering? Ken Kooyman and the Kiwanis Club of Bluffton want to help you decide what to toss and what to keep.

40 Latia Nelson Has Drive

Latia Nelson, communications manager at WHHI-TV, describes her job as a blessing that she walked into.

6 hiltonheadmonthly.com

40

142 50 A New Heart Two decades after a massive heart attack, Christian Bernadotte is enjoying a full life after a heart transplant.

65 2019 Bridal Guide

Our Bridal Guide has everything you need to plan your wedding, with registry advice, honeymoon info, dresses, beauty tips, real wedding photos and more.

142 From Your Table to Nature

A local environmental program is hoping to replenish oyster shells that diners are finished with.

››In this Issue 140

LOCAL VIBE 20 Seismic Testing

74 New Spin on Old Traditions

22 Lost Cat

76 Flower Power

24 Gullah Land

Town of HHI to help save culture.

78 Makeover Contest

BUSINESS

82 Fairy Tale Wedding

Opposition to offshore drilling grows.

Lincoln made an incredible journey.

Make old customs modern.

Wedding blooms add color.

A groom's mom is transformed.

30 Elihu Spencer

Two teachers marry on HHI.

32 Think Your Way Successful

Engagement contest winners wed.

Volatile financial markets continue.

Brain science shows how we succeed.

88 Outdoor Nuptials

94 Engagement Rings

Many options are in style.

EOPLE P 36 Judy Paull

96 Young at Heart

42 Ken Oliver

Contribute to the couple's trip.

She survived Hurricane Michael.

Veteran realtor celebrates 40 years.

OCAL READS L 48 Set in the Lowcountry

Check out these three books.

EALTH H 54 Heart Healthy News

Learn about the latest research.

56 Salt Therapy Halotherapy offers specific benefits.

57 Brain Summit

Memory Matters to host speakers .

58 Beaufort-Jasper VIM

Free clinic in Bluffton has new home.

BRIDAL GUIDE 70 Wedding Fashion

Say yes to the dress.

8 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Should your wedding include kids?

100 Honeymoon Registry

HOME 106 Universal Design

Good design is accessible.

REAL ESTATE 112 Luxury Homes

These beautiful homes can be yours.

SPORTS 140 Best of High School Football All-Area team is full of talent.

RELIGION 146 Christ Lutheran Church They strive to serve.

DINING 160 Local Coffee Roasters

Enjoy a cup roasted in Bluffton.

+

36

IN EVERY ISSUE 10 At The Helm 12 Opinion 14 Behind the Scenes 16 News 34 On the Move 44 Where in the World?

46 Social Spotlight 127 Real Estate News 139 Sports Briefs 150 Calendar 164 Restaurant Listings 176 Last Call

››At the Helm

Dear Reader,

"L Anuska Frey – publisher anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com Carol Weir – editor carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com

10 hiltonheadmonthly.com

ove makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.”

While reading about love and thinking about Valentine’s Day, we stumbled upon this quote by late African-American author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. Even for those who proclaim themselves cynical about the holiday, her words are uplifting: Love makes you brave enough to come out of hiding and reveal yourself. But it’s also complex.

Hurston’s use of the verb “crawl” shows how difficult love is — we sometimes enter it reluctantly, slowly, almost against our will.

This issue of Monthly looks at love in many forms. Lasting love is celebrated in our profile of Realtor Ken Oliver and his wife, Susie, who have been an influential couple on Hilton Head since the early days of the island’s development as a resort destination. Animal lovers will enjoy reading about a lost cat that found its way home after an incredible journey. And if you love a good cup of coffee, you’ll want to spend time with our story about gourmet coffee roasters in Bluffton.

We’ve got you covered if you’re looking for a unique Valentine’s gift for your significant other — be sure to check out our local gift guide, starting on page 60. February is also our big bridal issue. Have you bought your tickets for the 2019 Hilton Head Bridal Show? Now in its 12th year, this annual event has grown into the biggest bridal event in the region and is a natural extension of our work with the local bridal industry. This year’s show takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. Feb. 17 at the gorgeous Belfair Clubhouse (pictured here) in Bluffton. Come meet the area’s best vendors, taste cakes, view wedding portraits and check out the latest in bridal fashions. Advanced tickets are $9 and include a mimosa. To purchase them before the big event, go to mylowcountrytix.com; on the day of the show, tickets are $12 at the door.

February is also important for another reason: Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African-Americans and a time to recognize the central role of blacks in U.S. history. Inside this issue, you’ll find a schedule of events for the Lowcountry’s monthlong Gullah Celebration, paying tribute to Gullah history, culture, food, art, crafts, music and dance.

Since 1996, the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association, a Hilton Head Island nonprofit group, has showcased the island’s rich Gullah heritage and history. The Gullah Celebration has become a major draw for visitors from around the region, so don’t miss this outpouring of love for the unique culture we are fortunate to have here in the Lowcountry.

››Letters to the Editor

Let us know what you think. email editor@hiltonheadmothly.com

Students need a principal like O’Nan

O’Nan deserves our thanks

It would be a ‘tragedy’ to lose O’Nan

I am a 2015 graduate of Hilton Head Island High School, and I am writing to inform you of my time at Hilton Head High and the relationship that has been forged between Amanda O’Nan, the students, staff and community at large. Quite honestly, I do not believe we could have been blessed with a better administrator than Ms. O’Nan. She has proven to be honest, dedicated, demanding of a studentcentered environment and, above all, she has definitely always had the interest of students at heart. She was intricately involved in assisting me and so many other young people with our direction after graduation. Each time I was unclear or undecided with regard to my postgraduation plans, Ms. O’Nan did not hesitate to make recommendations, write letters or make connections that would motivate my next positive step.

Today, I am Airman 1st Class Qur’an Ford, a proud member of the United States Air Force, who graduated from the force as an honor grad as well as an airman leader.

This is partly due to the great leader I encountered in Ms. O’Nan. Please do not deprive the current and future students of Hilton Head High of such a fine, dedicated administrator. She is a necessary force for our students, staff, and community.

– Qur’an Ford

My son, James, attended Hilton Head High from 2005-09 and was in the International Baccalaureate program. I also had occasion, when I was a practicing psychologist, to interact with Ms. O’Nan. In my youth, I went to a prestigious boy’s high school in London, which offered huge opportunities. However, I can say with all honesty that James had a better education even than mine, and some of that has to do with Ms. O’Nan’s vision and leadership, especially the support for classes and courses catering to high-achieving students like the IB program.

Ms. O’Nan has shown herself to be an outstanding education professional, a reputation that shouldn’t be tainted by the details of her private life — details, moreover, that would seem to have very little impact on her professional abilities.

Hypocrisy that masquerades as “the public good” is far more damaging than anything than Ms. O’Nan has done. We all live in glass houses and need to stop pretending that we don’t.

There’s a young man who’s now a captain in the U.S. Army and who graduated from Duke University with an engineering degree who owes some of his amazing success to Ms. O’Nan. And from this proud parent, I can only say, “Thank you, Amanda!”

– Howard Rankin

To illustrate what kind of compassion, integrity, and sense of responsibility Principal Amanda O’Nan has, I want to share a story about her saving the precious life of my child, Samantha, a senior at Hilton Head Island High School.

Samantha was an award-winning varsity coxswain, a high school honors student, secretary of the Debate Club, and a delegate to Model UN. She also served on St. Luke’s Youth Group mission trips and worked at Caretta Coffee.

But after a series of heartbreaking events at home, Samantha hit a wall.

She flunked advanced Chinese. She quit rowing, slept a lot, and for the next several months, her family and all of her teachers — most of all Principal O’Nan — watched her begin to lose her vivacious spirit.

Witnessing a growing crisis, O’Nan stepped in with a plan of action. First, she called together a roundtable meeting with me, Samantha’s father, and all of her teachers to formulate goals. We were all held accountable, including Samantha, to do our part in meeting them. O’Nan also recommended outside professional help and took time out of her busy morning to conduct one-on-one meetings with Sam. The team meetings continued all spring.

O’Nan is an outstanding educator and precious woman who is fallible, just like the rest of us. If we are the kind of community that I think we are, we’ll find the courage to forgive.

– Kim Kachmann (Geltz)

About 100 students and parents held a rally in support of Hilton Head High School Principal Amanda O’Nan on Jan. 10. Photo submitted.

12 hiltonheadmonthly.com

››Behind the Scenes

ONLINE

EXCLUSIVE CHECK IT OUT AT: HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM

Raise a Spoon at the Souper Bowl of Caring On Feb. 2, Lowcountry residents can help improve their community — one bowl of soup at a time.

Top: Guido Flueck, Kathryn Mademann, Georgia Lash, Josie Jones and Kim Seaglund made makeover magic happen at Salon Karma.

Above left: WSAV’s Natalie Hendrix interviewed publisher Anuska Frey for a segment about Monthly’s upcoming Feb. 17 Bridal Show.

Above right: Sinta joined Anuska and Christian Bernadotte for a bike ride and stroll in Moss Creek.

MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS

From noon to 4 p.m. at Coligny Plaza, in the area between FISH Casual Coastal Seafood and Skillets Cafe & Grill, local chefs will serve up their favorite soups as part of the Souper Bowl of Caring, an annual fundraiser to benefit Second Helpings, a local charity that “rescues” food from area grocery stores and delivers it to food pantries for distribution to those in need.

The event costs $10 and all proceeds will go to support Second Helpings. Tickets will be available at the event, which also will feature music by The Matt Brantley Band and pop-up shops.

The Souper Bowl of Caring, held on Super Bowl weekend to help fight hunger and poverty, has gained national attention. Nine NFL teams have partnered with the national movement, and the fundraiser has earned praise from presidents like George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.

Look online for soups from some of the participating Lowcountry restaurants and for favorite soup recipes from Monthly staff.

JESSICA SPARKS Writer

COREY GIBSON Photographer

KATHRYN MADEMANN Stylist

Jessica Sparks is an assistant professor of journalism and a former political reporter from Indianapolis, Ind.

Corey Gibson specializes in weddings, portraits, commercial, fine art and real estate images including photography, drone, and virtual tours.

Kathryn Mademann is a TV host and former fashion model. She also founded and owned a publishing company.

14 hiltonheadmonthly.com

FEB

hit

PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION NAMES WINNERS The Public Art Fund of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has announced the winners of the 2018 Public Art Exhibition’s People’s Choice and Purchase Prize awards.

More than 1,000 votes were cast for the People’s Choice Award. Artists for the top three vote-getting pieces receive a cash award. First place went to Sarah Peters’ “Botanical Fainting Couch,” a cast bronze “couch” made of alphabet letters imprinted with plants. Second place went to “Hilton Head to the Moon” by William Bennett, and third place went to “Beach Umbrella” by Casey Schachner.

list

FEB. 2 HHSO YOUTH CONCERTO COMPETITION The Hilton Head Symphony Youth Concerto Competition has been attracting the most talented young musicians from throughout the southeastern United States every year.

FEB. 9 17TH ANNUAL HILTON HEAD ISLAND MARATHON This year, the Hilton Head Island Marathon has been chosen as the 2019 RRCA Marathon Southern Region Championship.

THROUGHOUT FEB. 2019 GULLAH CELEBRATION The month-long Gullah Celebration showcases the food, art and music of the Gullah culture with events across the Hilton Head Island. This year marks the 23rd iteration of the annual event, organized by the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association.

16 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Local artist Kevin Eichner’s sculpture “Humanus,” won the Purchase Prize. This award is selected by a jury of local artists, art experts and community leaders. “Humanus” is made out of twisted industrial beams and Eichner has said it represents community. It will be permanently installed at the entrance to Hilton Head Island Airport.

LOCAL AIRPORTS ANNOUNCE NEW FLIGHTS

TAX GRANTS BENEFIT LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

Starting this summer, Delta will begin offering nonstop flights from Hilton Head Island Airport to Atlanta and New York City. There will be three daily nonstop flights to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Saturday flights to LaGuardia Airport. Hilton Head Island Airport’s runway expansion project has allowed larger jets to land, which means more flight options and competitive pricing. The airport also is considering revamping its terminal and parking lot to accommodate an expected increase in passengers.

Twenty-nine local organizations will split $4.3 million in accommodations tax money collected from tourists to Hilton Head Island. State law requires 30 percent of all accommodations tax revenue to go to the town’s destination marketing organization, the Hilton Head IslandBluffton Chamber of Commerce. The chamber will receive $535,000 in accommodations tax grant money. Other recipients include the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, which received $250,000; the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, which received $400,000; the Coastal Discovery Museum, which was granted $285,000; the Mitchelville Preservation Project, which got $172,500; and the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, which received $250,000.

At Savannah-Hilton Head Island International Airport, Allegiant airlines is adding four seasonal nonstop routes to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Niagara Falls, New York, both beginning June 7; and to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire, both beginning June 8. The routes will operate twice a week, according to a news release.

Accommodations tax money is generated from hotel room rentals on Hilton Head. Local organizations can apply for the grants if they can prove they serve tourists.

››Vibe REMEMBERING RON TITUS Ronald Titus, a beloved Hilton Head Island resident, was struck and killed by a car on Dec. 29 while walking across U.S. 278 near Jarvis Creek Park. He and his wife, Donna, had just celebrated their 63rd anniversary the night before.

The 22-year-old driver of the car was not charged and witnesses said there was no way she could have avoided the accident. Titus, 84, held leadership positions at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry and was an avid photographer, a lover of good jokes and a retired executive with The Boy Scouts of America. He is survived by his wife, daughters Ellen Titus, Ann Harrison and Kate Titus, son John Titus and six grandchildren.

CUNNINGHAM TO FACE LOCAL CHALLENGER IN 2020

COAST GUARD RESCUES 81-YEAR-OLD FROM PLUFF MUD

Bluffton resident Mike Covert, a Republican, has filed with the South Carolina Federal Election Commission to run in the 2020 election.

He aims to unseat Rep. Joe Cunningham, a freshman congressman and the first Democrat to represent District 1 in more than four decades. Covert is president and managing member of Covert Aire, LLC, a heating and air conditioning business in the Lowcountry, and a member of Beaufort County Council.

Joe Patton, an 81-year-old resident of Hilton Head Island, was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after he became stuck in pluff mud in Skull Creek while riding his personal watercraft. Sea Tow of Hilton Head Island could not perform the rescue, so the U.S. Coast Guard arrived by helicopter to lift Patton to safety. Patton, who regularly rides near Skull Creek Marina by Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks, returned home with no injuries.

ALL SAINTS GARDEN TOUR ARTWORK ON DISPLAY Each year, the All Saints Episcopal Church Garden Tour sponsors a poster contest for local artists.

The work of the winning artist will appear on the 2019 poster, which will be displayed in businesses throughout Beaufort and Jasper counties and on the cover of the ticket booklet. Up to 70 artworks in various media will be on display at Hilton Head Hospital from Feb. 1 to March 3. The contest winner will be announced during a reception for the artists in the hospital lobby on March 3. For more information, go to allsaintsgardentour.com.

OYSTER FACTORY PARK UNDERGOING RENOVATIONS

The town of Bluffton is planning renovations at Oyster Factory Park in Bluffton. The boat ramp will close through mid-February as part of an effort to improve park drainage and walking accessibility, especially by paving over the gravel portion of Wharf Street. Access to the May River will be available at various locations throughout Bluffton including Alljoy Boat Landing as the renovations take place.

PALMETTO ANIMAL LEAGUE FEATURED DURING PUPPY BOWL XV

TOWN TO IMPROVE SHELTER COVE INTERSECTION The corridor between Queens Folly Road and King Neptune Way on William Hilton Parkway will soon undergo construction to improve traffic conditions near Shelter Cove. The consultation, design and construction process of the Shelter Cove Revitalization Project will cost $1.25 million and work should be completed by summer 2020. The project aims to improve conditions for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who frequent the Shelter Cove area. Since 2015, there have been nearly 100 recorded collisions in the Shelter Cove corridor.

18 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Not all the action will be on the football field on Super Bowl Sunday. Pups from Palmetto Animal League will be featured during the 15th annual Puppy Bowl, airing at 3 p.m. Feb. 3 on Animal Planet. The network sent a crew to Peacock Subaru in Hardeeville and PAL’s adoption center in December to film a segment about the nonprofit animal rescue organization and its volunteers for the broadcast. Peacock Subaru will host a Puppy Bowl watch party from 2:30-5 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday at the dealership, located at 111 Drivers Way Suite A, Hardeeville. The event will feature catering by One Hot Mama’s, music from 104.9 The Surf, and puppies available for adoption from PAL. The event is BYOD (bring your own well behaved dog). For more information, call 843-208-1258 or go to peacockautomotive.com.

February 2019 19

OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS PERMITS INSPIRE POLITICAL COLLABORATION

BY CLAY BONNYMAN EVANS

L

ate last year, the Trump administration issued permits to five private companies to use seismic testing to map out oil and gas deposits along the Atlantic coast. The story has continued to develop since then, and on Jan. 18 a federal judge blocked the administration from moving ahead until after the government shutdown ends.

Meanwhile, the issue has created some unexpected political bedfellows in South Carolina.

“U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham, the first Democrat to flip a South Carolina congressional seat in three decades, announced Jan. 8 that he will revive a measure to ban offshore drilling for 10 years first introduced by Mark Sanford, his Republican predecessor. The bill languished in committee under GOP House leadership. “(O)pposition to offshore drilling has bipartisan consensus,” Cunningham said in January, “and I support the attorney general’s efforts to protect our vibrant natural resources, environment and economy from the devastating effects of oil and gas exploration.”

20 hiltonheadmonthly.com

The day before, with Trump supporter Gov. Henry McMaster’s approval, Republican state attorney general Alan Wilson joined nine other state attorneys general, 16 coastal cities — including Hilton Head Island — and environmental groups in a lawsuit against the administration, alleging the permits violate the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act and other federal laws.

Meanwhile, a bill has been introduced into the Republicanled South Carolina legislature to prohibit the development of onshore infrastructure to support drilling.

A poll conducted by Winthrop University in 2018 found that 51 percent of South Carolinians oppose drilling, while 41 percent are in favor. In the state’s six coastal counties, 54 percent oppose drilling and 37 percent are in favor.

The South Carolina Petroleum Council and its parent organization, the American Petroleum Institute, did not respond to interview requests. But supporters of seismic testing argue that it makes sense to take an inventory of available resources for future drilling efforts.

“The United States is blessed with substantial reserves of oil and gas off the Atlantic Coast and it is nothing short of folly not to exploit those abundant resources,” Robert W. Chase, former professor of petroleum engineering and geology at Georgia’s Marietta College and consultant for the oil and gas industry, wrote Jan. 4 in The Hill. “East Coast states stand to gain hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and royalties as the need for increased oil and gas supplies continues to grow.”

Groups opposed to seismic testing say it poses threats to sea life like the endangered North Atlantic right whale, turtles and fish. “Airguns” used in testing are pulled behind boats and send repeated blasts of sound over as many as five square miles that can be heard up to 2,500 miles away, according to the National Resources Defense Council. Such concentrated sound waves can kill and injure mammals and turtles, interfere with their behavior and communications and reduce available prey.

“This harms marine life, especially marine mammals,” says Laura Cantral, executive director of the Charleston-based Coastal

Conservation League. “It also will have a big impact on the health of our fisheries … up and down the Atlantic coast.”

A 396-page report issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service in November found that testing could negatively impact up to 300,000 marine animals, notably turtles and cetaceans.

“It’s harmful, it’s dangerous, it’s extremely loud, and they wouldn’t be doing it if they weren’t headed toward offshore leasing and development,” Cantral says. “People should know that they are only going to provide proprietary information to oil companies, not to the government, and not to South Carolina coastal communities.”

The public will be able to comment on the proposal when the Department of Interior releases a draft five-year plan — delayed by the shutdown of the federal government.

In the meantime, Cantral says, “support those local leaders in opposition and let your federal delegation know. The island lifestyle, the beauty, the 2.3 million visitors to Hilton Head Island — this activity threatens all of that.”

February 2019 21

››Vibe Vibe

Lincoln’s Journey ISLAND CAT TAKES AN INCREDIBLE ROUTE BACK HOME

BY BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

22 hiltonheadmonthly.com

B

en Hughey has always been an animal lover.

Beyond his love of music — he’s the lead singer and guitarist of Naytiv — it’s the thing the Hilton Head Island teenager is perhaps best known for. On his Facebook page, he even posted a photo showing the image of a cat’s face over his heart. So when a friend noticed a stray cat wandering around the NAMI parking lot on the island’s north end, Hughey was the first person to come to mind to help.

“My friend tagged me in a post on Facebook about this cat in a parking lot,” Hughey said. “I said ‘I’m gonna pick this cat up and give it a home.’”

He named the feline Moon Pie, a nod to its black and white fur and the fact that Hughey is a fan of the snack treat. And, in an effort to be a responsible pet owner, he made an appointment with Palmetto Animal League’s Community Clinic to ensure his new companion was up on all of his shots.

The clinic requires cats arrive in a pet carrier, but Hughey didn’t have one — a minor setback that would lead to a major surprise.

“I carried him in my arms,” Hughey said, “and as soon as I walked in, the receptionist looked at him and said, ‘Lincoln?’”

The cat in Hughey’s arms, the one he had rescued from a parking lot on the north end of the island and named Moon Pie, had gone missing from the Yacht Cove home of Heath and Linda Prosser nine months earlier. Working the reception desk at the animal clinic that day was the Prossers’ niece, Sarah Mae. “So many things had to happen that day. If he had brought the cat in in a carrier, I never would have seen it,” she said.

Indeed, had anyone else been working reception that day, the cat might have gone unrecognized. “The other crazy part is that when my aunt and uncle adopted Lincoln, they also adopted his sister, Mercedes,” Mae said. “I had Mercedes in a carrier with me that day.”

Positive she was looking at the same male cat that had slipped away from her aunt and uncle’s place nine months earlier, Mae scanned the cat’s microchip, compared it with photos and let him interact with his sister. Sure enough, it was a match.

“It’s crazy. This doesn’t happen to people like us; this is something you see in a movie,” Mae said.

Lincoln the cat, whose family had placed missing pet posters all over Yacht Cove as they searched for him, completed a

Lincoln the cat made an incredible journey back home to the Prosser family in Yacht Cove thanks to a series of coincidences and animal lover Ben Hughey.

nine-month journey to the north end of the island and returned home under the unlikeliest of circumstances.

His journey over, mysteries still remain — for example, how the whole thing began in the first place. Mae said that Lincoln was very bonded to her cousin, Jacob, the Prossers’ son, who had left to hike the Appalachian Trail shortly before his cat started its own journey.

“When Lincoln disappeared, we figured he was out looking for Jacob,” Mae said. “We don’t know how he wound up on the north end … We figured after a few months, he’s so friendly and he’s an indoor and outdoor cat, it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility that he’d moved in with someone else.”

When the Prossers adopted Lincoln from Hilton Head Humane Association, the cat had been microchipped, but the Prossers’ phone number had changed since then. Eventually, the family had no choice but to accept that their cat was gone. They had given up hope of find him — right up until the moment Ben Hughey carried Lincoln in his arms into PAL’s clinic.

Hughey was heartbroken to give up his new friend, but was glad Lincoln’s story had a happy ending. And it turns out his did, too.

“I was really sad about it at first, but we were at Palmetto Animal League and there’s an adoption center next door. I went next door and adopted two kittens the next day,” Hughey said.

“Not only did he rescue Lincoln, he rescued two other cats,” Mae said. “He’s an incredible young man.”

Hughey named his new furry friends Hanz and Leo, after composer Hans Zimmer and actor Leonardo DiCaprio. And every once in a while, he still drops by to visit his pal Lincoln, back home with his original family following an incredible journey.

February 2019 23

››Vibe

Preserving Gullah Land is about Truth and Trust

BY JAMES A. MALLORY PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

F

or Lavon Stevens, preserving Hilton Head Island’s Gullah heritage comes down to one simple truth: If people lose their land, they lose their culture.

“People have been losing their land here, thereby losing the culture, for many reasons,” said Stevens, chairman of the Gullah-Geechee Land & Cultural Preservation Task Force.

The task force — comprised of Town of Hilton Head Island officials and native islanders — is finishing the first phase of a project designed to identify and resolve issues to help native islanders maintain ownership and maximize the potential of their land.

But there’s another truth for some native islanders: They don’t think anything will change.

After all, attempts to preserve Gullah culture have been made before. For example, the Ward One Master Plan in 1999 and a 1995 project known as the R/UDAT Study included elements addressing Gullah life and culture, but native islanders say the plans did not end up helping their community as Hilton Head developed a reputation as a place for tourists and retirees.

“We are going around in circles,” said native islander Thomas C. Barnwell Jr., 83, a land developer and real estate entrepreneur. “When will we have the oversight?”

Lavon Stevens is the chairman of the GullahGeechee Land and Cultural Preservation task force.

24 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Barnwell said three Hilton Head Town Council members should oversee the implementation of any actions that come out of this latest project.

The Walker Collaborative, a Nashville-based consultant firm, has been hired to create a strategy that will directly address issues raised by native islanders. The consultants, headed by Philip Walker, are targeting Gullah cultural preservation; potential revisions of the Land Management Ordinance and other policies; and heirs’ property — land passed down from one generation to the next without clear title of ownership. Working with Walker are St. Helena Island native Victoria Smalls, who brings cultural expertise, and Craig Richardson of Clarion Associates in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Richardson, a planner and land use attorney, led the last rewrite of the LMO, according to Walker.

Over time on Hilton Head, officials crafted policies for land use and development that did not factor in the Gullah way of life, Walker said. This includes ordinances that limit how owners can use or develop their properties — for example, the number of houses on the property and how those houses are constructed. Walker said more than 1,000 acres of land belong to native islanders.

“Long before we had resorts and gated communities and golf courses, we had the Gullah people. They were the population,” Walker said. “What has happened is you are losing Gullah people. The good news is it is not too late.”

Some landowners want to operate businesses on their properties but are limited by zoning rules. Others want to preserve the family compound-like nature of their properties; often, families have subdivided their land and multiple members of the family live there.

Michael Cohen Jr. has a small farm just off Spanish Wells Road. He wants to continue a business and live the way his grandfather and father did. But his neighbors have filed complaints in the past about alleged animal cruelty, noise and the land’s appearance.

“They move around you and try to control you,” he said during a community meeting held last fall by the town and Walker Collaborative. “They will call the police on you … they moved on top of you.”

Most native islanders are descendants of escaped slaves who found freedom and a home on Hilton Head during the Union occupation in the Civil War. After the war, they maintained many aspects of their African roots — food, art, and religious expression — and their Gullah language, a dialect influenced by both Europe and Africa. Farming and fishing were the way of life.

“Our culture is about surviving — farming, crabbing, oyster fishing and hunting,” said John Stewart during the community meeting. “We lived off the land.”

The task force has targeted education as a way to help property owners keep their land. The town is creating a Gullah Resource Center at Town Hall, as well as a website devoted to resources for the Gullah community. A Gullah liaison also will be added to the town staff.

The consultants’ recommendations are expected go to Town Council by spring.

Council approval would launch an implementation phase, which is what makes this project different from others, said Jayme Lopko, a senior planner for the town.

Native islanders and their supporters also are hopeful.

“We’re hoping that this time will certainly be different and that people can believe and trust in the process … that we will get something done ... ,” said Stevens, a member of the town’s planning commission.

February 2019 25

››Vibe

Gullah Celebration ANNUAL FESTIVAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO NATIVE ISLANDERS’ HERITAGE

BY R.L. HAMILTON | PHOTOS BY JAALA’S PHOTOGRAPHY

S

ummer months are for the beach, and fall is festival season, but February is dedicated to all things Gullah. The monthlong Gullah Celebration showcases the food, art and music of the Gullah culture with events across Hilton Head Island. This year marks the 23rd iteration of the annual event, organized by the Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association.

“We are proud to carry on the traditions of our culture through the annual Gullah Celebration,” said T. Curtis Barnwell III, chairman of the NIBCAA board. “We are keeping several favorite weekend events like ‘Arts Ob We People,’ the Gullah Market, Sweetheart Ball and the Friday night gospel shows, but we’ve added some mid-week experiences like ‘Soul Food and Friends’ cooking demonstrations and our paint-and-sip events.”

The “Arts Ob We People” exhibition and sale kicks off at 10 a.m.

Feb. 1 at the Art League of Hilton Head Gallery at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, with an opening party the night before. It’s followed on Feb. 2 by the popular Ol’ Fashioned Gullah Breakfast, featuring traditional Gullah favorites like stewed oysters, shrimp, fried fish and grits; and Freedom Day, held at the historic Cherry Hill School and offering opportunities to learn about Mitchelville and the freedmen who called the self-governing town for freed slaves home.

Other popular Gullah Celebration events include the Taste of Gullah culinary festival, the Sweetheart Ball and the Gullah Music Series.

For more information, call 843-255-7303 or visit them online at gullahcelebration.com.

26 hiltonheadmonthly.com

2019 GULLAH CELEBRATION EVENTS FEB. 2: Freedom Day: National Freedom Day was established in 1948 by President Harry Truman to mark the anniversary of the day President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, outlawing slavery, on Feb. 1, 1865. Explore Mitchelville and learn about its residents. Free, but donations are accepted. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Cherry Hill School, 209 Dillon Road, Hilton Head Island.

Ol’ Fashioned Gullah Breakfast: Enjoy a home-cooked traditional Gullah breakfast featuring stewed oysters, shrimp in a savory Lowcountry gravy, fried fish, hot buttered grits and biscuits, all coordinated by renowned Gullah chef Louise Cohen. 8 a.m.-noon, Cherry Hill School, 209 Dillon Road, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 9 & 21 “Hilton Head Island Back in the Day: Through Eyes of Gullah Elders”: A featurelength documentary featuring Gullah elders, the descendants of Mitchelville’s freedmen.

They share personal stories about their communities, agriculture, upbringing, education, food, language and life on Hilton Head Island after the bridge was built in 1956. $7. 7 p.m., Coligny Theater, 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head.

FEB. 5 Family & Friends Day: Traditional and contemporary Gullah songs, followed by a reception with samples of authentic Gullah food. Free. 7 p.m., First African Baptist Church, 70 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 10 “Gullah Institute Presents: The Impact of the Great Migration on Gullah Culture”: Hear from historians, authors and artists, including a fireside chat with Dianne Britton Dunham and Anita Singleton Prather, on the impact of the Great Migration — from 1916 to 1970 — on the American South. There also will be a special presentation of culture and community awards to honor outstanding leaders and supporters. $20, includes food and beverages. 4-6 p.m., The Northridge Event Venue, 435 William Hilton Parkway Suite Z, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 8 Gullah Music Series Featuring the Voices of El Shaddai: Celebrate and honor the spiritual thread that binds today’s Gullah community with their African ancestors, featuring the well-known Voice of El Shaddai.

Free. 7 p.m., Queen Chapel AME Church, 114 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 12 “Soul Food and Friends” Cooking Classes: Learn from celebrity chef Sallie Ann Robinson about traditional Gullah cooking, plus the history of the dishes that are staples in the Gullah community. $40. 6-8 p.m., The Northridge Event Venue, 435 William Hilton Parkway Suite Z, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 9 Taste of Gullah: Enjoy classic Gullah dishes like okra gumbo, conch stew, fried shrimp with Gullah seasonings and classic barbecue favorites. While you eat, enjoy performances by local entertainers including traditional dancers, musicians and storytellers. $12 per plate.

Noon-3 p.m., Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 13 & 27 Paint and Sip: Artists from the “Arts Ob We People” exhibit will be on hand to guide you as you paint your own unique masterpiece. Bring your favorite snacks and beverages. $30. 6-8 p.m., The Northridge Event Venue, 435 William Hilton Parkway Suite Z, Hilton Head Island.

Sweetheart Ball: Dance the night away to music by Stee and the Ear Candy. Tickets include a Lowcountry buffet; a cash bar will be available. $65 per person or $650 for a reserved table of eight. 7-11 p.m., The Northridge Event Venue, 435 William Hilton Parkway Suite Z, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 15 Gullah Music Series featuring Male Choruses: This installment to the Gullah Celebration’s annual music series features the Male Choruses from Campbell AME Church, First African Baptist Church, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church and St. James Baptist Church.

Free. 7 p.m., First African Baptist Church, 70 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 16 Gullah Market: This arts, crafts and food expo features cultural demonstrations, authentic Gullah and African crafts and food for sale, as well as traditional storytelling, music and a celebration of African-American authors. $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12 and free for children 4 and younger.

11 a.m.-5 p.m., Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. In case of rain, The Northridge Event Venue, 435 William Hilton Parkway Suite Z, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 17 Community Day at the Gullah Market: Experience the ties that bind the Gullah community through praise and worship followed by a community block party featuring a battle of marching bands, bounce castles, the Gullah Rappers and more. Authentic art, food and beverages will be for sale, with proceeds benefiting Beaufort County youth programs. $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12 and free for children 4 and younger.

11 a.m.-5 p.m., Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. In case of rain, The Northridge Event Venue, 435 William Hilton Parkway Suite Z, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 22 Gullah Music Series Featuring Gospel Classics: This installation in the Gullah Celebration’s music series features St. James Baptist Church Choir and Time 4 Two. Free. 7 p.m., St. James Baptist Church, 209 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.

FEB. 28 Gullah Music Series Featuring Gospel Choirs: Performances by the gospel choirs from Central Oak Grove Baptist Church, First Zion Baptist Church Choir and Campbell AME Gospel Choir. Free. 7 p.m., Central Oak Grove Baptist Church, 161 Mathews Drive, Hilton Head Island.

February 2019 27

››Community Connections

One of the best thing about where we live is how giving our community is. Has your business or organization given back to the community? Submit your photos to editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com for this section. Space is limited.

Police Department Launching Cellphone Program The Bluffton Police Department is accepting donations of old cellphones and will turn each phone into life-saving tools with free 911 emergency access for domestic violence victims and the elderly. All cellphones will be accepted, with or without charging cables, at the Bluffton Police Department at 101 Progressive St. in Buckwalter Place.

Children’s Center Awarded Church Mouse Grant The Children’s Center of Hilton Head Island, a nonprofit organization that provides early childhood education and childcare services for working families in the Lowcountry, has been awarded a grant from the Church Mouse Thrift Shop to provide tuition assistance for qualified families. The Church Mouse Thrift Shop, located at 78 Arrow Road on Hilton Head Island, provides usable goods at a reasonable price. For more information, go to thechildrenscentersc.org.

Neighborhood Shares Holiday Cheer with Families in Need Nearly two dozen Hilton Head families contributed Christmas gifts for children and single mothers identified by Holy Family Catholic Church’s Hispanic Ministry.

Michele Szynal of Oyster Landing Road asked neighbors to join in “adopting” families for Christmas gifting. She led the effort, knocking on doors to ask for support in the form of cash, checks and dozens of gifts, including bicycles, towels, blankets, toys and appliances. The gifts went to 10 children and four single moms.

Outside Hilton Head to Host Clothing Drive and Sale

Outside Hilton Head will host its 27th annual Recycle Your Jacket Program this month to provide warm clothing to those in need. Sweaters, coats and jackets in good condition will be collected Feb. 1-15 at the Outside Hilton Head flagship store in Shelter Cove. Those who donate will receive up to 50 percent off in-stock jackets and outerwear.

28 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Tanger Outlet Centers Help Area Agencies

Tanger Outlet Center Hilton Head presented three Beaufort County agencies with an annual holiday gift in late December: $500 donations each to the Bluffton Township Fire District, Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services Unit and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. Tanger also presented a check to DragonBoat Beaufort, which helps cancer survivors heal and regain physical and psychological strength through the camaraderie of dragon boat racing. This year’s PINKSTYLE campaign raised $13,050 to help fight breast cancer in Beaufort County.

Second Helpings Receives Donation from Food Lion Feeds Nearly two dozen Hilton Head families contributed Christmas gifts for children and single mothers identified by Holy Family Catholic Church’s Hispanic Ministry. Michele Szynal of Oyster Landing Road asked neighbors to join in “adopting” families for Christmas gifting. She led the effort, knocking on doors to ask for support in the form of cash, checks and dozens of gifts, including bicycles, towels, blankets, toys and appliances.

The gifts went to 10 children and four single moms.

Heritage Students Raise Money for Hilton Head Heroes The Heritage Academy of Hilton Head Island Honor Society members held a holiday fundraiser to benefit Hilton Head Heroes. They canvassed their school, parents and friends to raise the money. Pictured: Hilton Head Heroes founders Gregg and Lindy Russell accept the check from students.

Welcome to Our New Shop More Local Members WHEN YOU SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS, YOU SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

dluxe As a fashion-forward boutique, dluxe offers handbags, jewelry, accessories, clothing and more. Build a modern yet tastefully simple wardrobe with Lowcountry flair from dluxe. Owner Deborah Roncarati takes special care to pick out pieces she thinks will create gorgeous silhouettes or provide that beautiful touch of sparkle.

1203B Main Street Village, Hilton Head 843-681-3589 | d-luxehhi.com

Photography 46, LLC Providing high-quality studio and location portraits and photography, Photography 46 makes sure to capture moments you will treasure forever. Bring your children, family, pets and loved ones for studio portraits or location-based shoots. Even book Photography 46 for special events like weddings and small events on request.

39 Shell Hall Way, Bluffton 29910 photography46llc.com 843-655-5439

Kelly Miller Cruise Planners It’s more than just cruise planning — Kelly Miller Cruise Planning can help you plan your next amazing vacation. Kelly helps you to find the best values for families, and the individual traveler as well. Choose from multiple options, from sea cruises to land-locked destinations, for your best vacation yet.

Beaufort SC 29902 kmktravel.com | 843-470-5014

Coastal Floor, LLC Specializing in all different types of flooring, Coastal Floor is your one-stop shop for all your housing floor needs.

From laminate to wood and vinyl to carpet, Coastal Floor literally has you covered. Offering sanding and refinishing as well as instillation, Coastal Floor can help you pick out the right type of floor for your needs and install it as well.

For information on how your business can join Shop More Local please contact meredith@shopmorelocal.com

36 Persimmons St, Bluffton 843-815-5783 February 2019 29

››Business

Uncertain Times

HOW TO UNDERSTAND VOLATILITY IN THE STOCK MARKET

BY ELIHU SPENCER

T

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

30 hiltonheadmonthly.com

he fourth quarter of 2018 was a reminder that financial markets can go both up and down. Some days we saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average swing 1,000 points in both directions — up and down and down and up. We also saw the CBOE Volatility Index, the market measure of potential volatility, increase from 12.12 on Sept. 28 to 25.42 on Dec. 31 — a whopping 100 percent increase.

Both professional market participants and retail investors have been left wondering what happened, and why. Last year started out with much excitement over the prospects for corporate and individual tax cuts and a more relaxed regulatory environment. The promise of renewed growth in America’s domestic economy pushed price-to-earnings ratios higher, and market momentum was on the upswing. As positive economic news was reported and we received growing IRA statements, all was good with the world and there was no end in sight for the country’s “aging” bull market.

Of course, the old sayings are true: Nothing fails like success, and what goes up must come down. The economy today is facing a good deal of uncertainty. Here’s what has changed: First, the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee has had an impact on interest rates and liquidity in financial markets. The U.S. Treasury interest rate curve has continued to flatten, and at certain times invert, as the FOMC has moved the Fed Funds rate higher. And the process of reducing the size of the Fed’s balance sheet, thus dramatically reducing liquidity in the debt markets, is impacting both the pricing and availability of buyers of both public and private debt instruments. Remember that through the quantitative easing program, the Fed’s balance sheet grew from $870 billion to $4.5 trillion in September 2017. Thanks to the quantitative tghtening process, they are no longer the major buyers of both U.S. Treasury bonds and long-dated agency securities.

Retail investors also must acquaint themselves with both the ups and downs of “passive investment” vehicles. Electronically traded funds have become a very popular investment alternative over the past 10 years, thanks to the bull market. ETFs are constructed to mirror the market, and they are designed to match certain market indexes without the need for “active” management — so they’re able to charge smaller fees than traditional mutual funds. To me, indexbased ETFs are no more than a reflection of momentum in the markets. As more dollars flow into passive ETF investments, the ETF sponsors are forced to be buyers, pushing markets higher. When events force the markets to adjust downward, buyers begin to look for safety and outflows from ETF investments multiply the downward pressure on the market.

What kind of events can affect the market? Clearly there are both domestic and global uncertainties out there that will undoubtedly influence both equity and fixed-income markets.

Globally, we need to be concerned about the impact of Brexit on the European Union and the overall economic slowdown led by uncertainty about the financial health of European banks. There is also an economic slowdown underway in Asia, but we also need to fully understand the potential impact of a full-fledged Trade war that could develop into a cold war. That would have major global implications both politically and economically. We must also watch the price of oil; low oil prices could impact geopolitical events in the Middle East, where America’s influence is beginning to wane.

Domestically, the greatest potential risks are political. A divided government doesn’t necessarily indicate bad news, but disruption caused by politically charged congressional hearings can create additional uncertainty for markets — and we’ve already seen consumer confidence decrease month over month as consumers become rattled by market volatility. Then, of course, there’s the matter of America’s growing national debt and whether the country can find new buyers for U.S. Treasury securities. Typically, countries like China, Japan and Saudi Arabia have been the largest buyers of U.S. debt, but no more. Demand for these securities can have far-ranging impact, including on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgagebacked securities, which can influence housing affordability.

I also believe the evolution of computer-based trading and an influx of inexperienced money managers are a big risk to the equity and fixed-income markets in 2019. Computer-based trading can certainly bring efficiency to the investment process, but algorithms used by these trading programs are quantitative by their very nature. My experience tells me that outperforming the mean return requires the value derived from qualitative human intervention. And, of course, it helps if those humans have extensive experience, which is why I’m worried about the new crop of money managers entering the market today. The financial world of 2019 and beyond will be significantly different from the one we have experienced since the mid-1970s — we are likely to enter a prolonged period of rising interest rates and above-trend inflation. Portfolio managers who have seen this kind of market would have to have been born before 1955 to have that real-time market experience, and there are far fewer of us headed to the office every day.

So how can you weather 2019 with your nest egg intact? Don’t overreact to daily market noise. Stay well-diversified, and don’t be afraid to rebalance your portfolio regularly. Most importantly, hire a smart — and experienced — financial adviser.

February 2019 31

››Business

Think Your Way to Success USE YOUR BRAIN TO CONQUER YOUR GOALS

BY DR. HEATHER COLLINS

I

t’s the beginning of a new year and many of us are feeling motivated to take action and make changes in our lives. However, 80 percent of people have strayed from their resolutions by the time February rolls around. The same thing can happen to your professional goals as well, and if you are a business leader this can be a disaster. Failing by February can put you on a devastating path for the entire year. Staying motivated is a skill you can develop to help you reach your goals throughout the year. Here are three tips from brain science to keep you motivated to achieve your goals all year long.

Tip 1: Make it concrete.

What is your goal for the year? Is it to be rich, famous, or successful? Those goals sound great, but really they are terrible for your brain because they are not real.

That’s right. I said it: Those are dreams, not goals. Your goals need to be concrete and actionable. What does it mean to be successful? Instead of saying you want to be successful, set a goal to increase your business revenue by 15 percent over last year, to sell 20 more houses than last year, or to gain 100 more clients this year. Your brain processes concrete and abstract concepts using different neural networks.

By making an abstract concept concrete, you have changed how your brain treats that information. Shifting from a goal of being successful to a goal of gaining 100 new clients in a year boosts your probability of succeeding.

Tip 2: Set subgoals.

Humans are great at procrastinating.

Waiting until November to think about your goal of gaining 100 more clients is bad for your business and bad for your brain.

Procrastinating goal achievement causes stress and increases your body’s production of cortisol, a harmful hormone.

Cortisol also has the undesirable effect of turning your belly’s six-pack into a keg.

32 hiltonheadmonthly.com

By breaking your large goal into smaller subgoals, you decrease stress levels and achieve goals quicker. You need to gain nine clients per month from January to November plus one in December in order to reach your goal of 100 new clients for the year. We know December is a busy month, so we rounded up on the other months and gave you a break at the end of the year. The number nine is much more approachable psychologically than the number 100. Setting smaller subgoals will keep you on track and increase your chances of succeeding in conquering your large goal.

Tip 3: Treat yourself.

Congratulations! You succeeded in attaining nine new clients this month. Now what are you going to do? Go to Disney World! Okay, maybe an epic Disney World vacation is a huge treat and likely not feasible when you reach your goal each month — but it is still crucial to reward yourself after accomplishing a subgoal.

Your reward can be anything that you consider to be a treat. You can spend two hours at the beach, enjoy dinner with some friends, indulge in a spa day, or spend quality time with your furry fourlegged friend.

When you treat yourself and celebrate your accomplishments, you release dopamine and activate your brain’s reward circuits, including areas like the nucleus accumbens. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, reward, desire, and motivation. When our brains are bathed in dopamine, we feel great about accomplishing our goals. This sensation leads to a desire to have another dopamine-enhanced experience and can change our behaviors. In fact, reward-seeking behavior is associated with increased levels of dopamine. This means that after celebrating an achievement, we have an increased drive to reach the next goal and a renewed sense of motivation. The more subgoals you conquer and celebrate, the more motivated you are to continue on that goal-seeking path.

Motivation is the force that propels us forward. Your motivation can grind to a halt, arresting your productivity, or it can roll like a giant boulder down a hill, allowing you to squash anything that gets in your way and race toward your goals. The choice is yours.

We’re ready to stay motivated by making goals concrete, setting subgoals, and treating ourselves.

Bring on 2019!

Dr. Heather Collins is a cognitive neuroscientist who speaks about how brain science can help people improve business, wellness and everyday life. She is the author of numerous scholarly articles and has presented two TEDx talks. Contact her at heather@drheathercollins.com February 2019 33

››On the Move TOOMEY CHOSEN TO LEAD DHEC The board of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has named Richard Toomey as the new agency director. Gov. Henry McMaster nominated Toomey to fill the vacant DHEC seat in March. Previously, Toomey served as president and chief executive of Beaufort Memorial Hospital.

BLUFFTON TARGET TO GET A FACELIFT

COURT ATKINS WINS HONORS

Court Atkins Group has been awarded four prestigious 2018 AIA Awards from the American Institute of Architects. The firm won accolades from Hilton Head AIA chapter across six categories, including Honor Awards for a private transitional resort home in Moreland Village at Palmetto Bluff and, on the commercial side, for the state-of-the-art Lowcountry Kennel. The residential team earned AIA Merit awards for two projects: an expansive contemporary home in Barge Landing in Palmetto Bluff (pictured here) and conceptual plans for Longfields compound.

LOCAL HOSPITALS RECEIVE QUALITY SAFETY AWARDS Coastal Carolina Hospital and Hilton Head Hospital have both received multiple 2018 Zero Harm accolades from the South Carolina Hospital Association. These awards celebrate hospitals that have had extended harm-free stretches in major surgical areas. The hospitals were also recognized for going months without a central line-associated blood stream infection or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

BLUFFTON HAS NEW BUSINESS LICENSE ORDINANCE Bluffton’s new business license ordinance went into effect in January. It aligns the town’s ordinance with neighboring municipalities, creating a more regionally consistent and streamlined process for businesses. The ordinance replaces more than 20 rate classes with an eight-rate class system, provides incentives for intown businesses, provides discounts for startup businesses during the first few years in business and changes the annual license renewal deadline for business licenses to April 30 from April 15.

PARKER’S WELCOMES TWO Corey B. McClimans is Parker’s new chief human resources officer and Jeremy Kanagy has joined the company as a region manager.

Kanagy will lead the operations of 54 stores throughout southeast Georgia and coastal South Carolina.

34 hiltonheadmonthly.com

The Bluffton Target at Kitties Crossing Shopping Center will undergo a renovation in the coming months. Plans have been approved to update the exterior stucco texture to wood-like paneling, repaint the metal roof and replace light fixtures.

The store will remain open during construction.

MEDIA & MARKETING TEAM ADDS ONE Karrie Corneau has joined Media & Marketing Team, a division of Frey Media, in the role of brand ambassador. Corneau has lived in the Lowcountry for the past 10 years. She received a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Endicott College in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in elementary education from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.

She is the owner of Move Fitness, a fitness and yoga studio in Bluffton.

Media & Marketing Team handles Shop More Local, Parenthood IQ, IRMA and several other Frey Media brands, products and services. In addition to Corneau, its team members are Meredith DiMuzzio and Katie Hatfield.

NEW FITNESS STUDIO OPENS IN BLUFFTON A new fitness studio called CannonFit has opened in Bluffton’s Sheridan Park. Owner Chad Cannon aims to help identify each individual’s fitness goals, while providing a customized exercise program and guidance.

OWNER OF PINK HOUSE GALLERY RETIRES Nancy Voegele, owner of the Pink House Gallery on Main Street, has retired after 34 years. Previously, Voegele worked for the Tatler Gallery. Voegele contributed nearly 50 years to the art industry. With her retirement, the Pink House Gallery will close its doors after more than three decades in business.

››people

Surviving the Storm JUDY PAULL HELPED FLORIDA HOSPITAL WEATHER HURRICANE MICHAEL

BY MARY HALL | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

W

hen Judy Paull of Hilton Head Island took a new job as interim chief nursing officer at Bay Medical Sacred Heart Hospital in Panama City, Florida, she had no idea of the dramatic events that awaited her. She started her new job Sept.

17, overseeing the hospital’s nursing care. As luck would have it, she was also the administrator on call for the week that a Category 4 hurricane would slam into the area. When predictions of a probable evacuation ahead of Hurricane Michael came in the early hours of Oct. 8, Paull knew she was in for a wild ride.

“I got a horrible feeling when the hurricane became a category four at 4 a.m.,” Paull said, adding that she remembers thinking, “I can’t believe this is happening.”

By 12:30 p.m. the hurricane hit full force. Paull and the hospital staff focused on ensuring the remaining patients were safe and handling emergencies, while all about them glass was shattering and water was pouring into the building, running down the stairs and elevator shafts. Patients on higher floors were carried by nurses and staff on plastic sleds down stairwells to the next lowest floor due to roof damage. During the hurricane, every patient had a nurse with them.

36 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“Trees and debris, even the hood of a car, blew by the windows,” Paull said. “The sound of the wind was indescribable.”

There was a point during the hurricane when she thought, “After all of my 45-year career, I’m going to die in a hurricane in a hospital.”

Luckily, one of the first things Paull had done on arrival at Bay Medical was conduct a disaster preparedness drill for a Category 3 hurricane. She believes this preparation and her background with disaster preparedness helped her make a difference for the hospital’s patients and staff during the storm.

Ahead of the storm, Bay Medical opened a command center in the hospital. Following health care industry recommendations developed after Hurricane Katrina, members of the hospital staff were allowed to bring their families and pets to the hospital with them to take shelter from the storm. By 6 p.m. Oct. 9, there were 1,500 people and 74 pets at the hospital.

“The intense part of the storm lasted four hours,” she said.

When the winds died down, she and other members of the staff ventured outside in the rain to check the damage. “We were stunned. Parts of the building were gone.”

Paull and many staff members remained in the hospital around the clock for eight days. By the end of the second day, all 231 patients were still in stable condition and were safely evacuated to other hospitals. The Bay Medical emergency room remained open throughout the hurricane.

When Paull finally returned to her Florida condo, there was no power.

“National Guard soldiers were on every street corner with machine guns and lights; it looked like a war zone,” she said.

“I turned around and went back to the hospital. I felt it was the safest place.”

Those who took shelter in the hospital during the storm bonded and became like family, Paull said. She helped with the hospital’s reopening Jan. 2, though it was at a reduced capacity of 75 beds. She also organized a retreat for the hospital’s 400 nurses, telling them that they pulled off a miracle and kept everyone alive.

Looking down on Panama City from the hospital’s fifthfloor window, the landscape is a sea of roofs covered in blue tarps. Debris still lines streets and many businesses have not reopened. Mexico Beach, just 30 miles to the east, sustained direct impact and was devasted.

“Three women came to me after the storm and thanked us for saving their lives,” Paull said. “They had lost their homes.

I’ll never forget that.”

Paull returned home to Moss Creek when her interim position ended Jan. 11, but it is an experience she will never forget.

“One of the things I’ve realized is that ‘stuff’ doesn't matter,” she said.

Judy Paull of Moss Creek rode out Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Florida while she was interim chief nursing officer at a hospital.

February 2019 37

››People

38 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hidden Treasure KIWANIS CLUB OFFERS ANTIQUES APPRAISALS

BY SUZANNE EISINGER | PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

A

t the start of a new year, many people vow to clean out their closets and declutter their homes. But sometimes there can be treasure buried beneath all that junk, and the Kiwanis Club of Bluffton wants to help you know what to toss and what to keep. The club’s second annual Antiques Appraisal and Auction Day will be held from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at Seaquins Ballroom in Bluffton. Appraisers will be on hand to estimate the fair-trade value of items, and there also will be a silent auction featuring beer and wine baskets, service and restaurant gift certificates, getaway weekends and more.

The cost of the appraisals is $10 for one item or $25 for three.

The Kiwanis Club will donate money raised at the event to help support other area programs, like the Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton, United Way of the Lowcountry’s Operation Backpack, and the Red Cedar Elementary School literacy program. The money also will go toward the Bluffton Kiwanis Club’s summer day camp for special needs children. The club launched Camp Sinawik — Kinawis spelled backward — in 2018 to great success.

The Antiques Appraisal and Auction Day is a labor of love for Ken Kooyman, who is organizing the event with Marie ClearyPetillo. A antiques aficionado, Kooyman has appraised many items over the years, including items from Russia’s Winter Palace that once belonged to Tsar Nicholas Romanov and his wife, Alexandra. He said his interest in antiques comes from his two great-aunts, who raised him.

“I was so lucky,” he said. “As a young person, I had no idea (how accomplished) these women were.” One aunt, Florence E. Allen, was a leading activist in the suffrage movement, eventually becoming one of the first female federal judges. The second aunt, Mary Ethel Pierce, was headmistress of a private school in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

He also got some advice on antiques from a mysterious stranger. He was cleaning out his aunt’s home, unpacking boxes of dishes, porcelain and other items for a yard sale. A long black limousine pulled up and an elegant lady stepped out. After viewing the merchandise, she advised him to put aside many items and not sell them. Two weeks later, she sent him several books on antiques, detailing the history and value of the items he’d intended to sell. Kooyman later learned that the mystery woman was Margaretta “Happy” Rockefeller, wife of Nelson Rockefeller, then governor of New York.

Kooyman moved to the Lowcountry in 2015 with his wife, Nancy, after a career working for the nonprofit Disabled American Veterans, helping vets file disability claims, document their post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, and schedule psychological and vocation services.

Today, he manages an online antiques store for Relic Consginment Shop, as well as an online storefront of his own. He said Asian artifacts — particularly those from China — are in high demand right now. Spurred by growing wealth and a strong desire to reclaim their cultural heritage, Chinese collectors are paying large sums for artifacts deemed to be of merit.

HOW MUCH IS IT WORTH? Have an item you’d like appraised? Bring it to the Kiwanis Club of Bluffton’s second annual Antiques Appraisal and Auction Day, to be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 23 at Seaquins Ballroom in Bluffton.

For more information, call Ken Kooyman at 314-750-3752 or go to blufftonkiwanis.org.

February 2019 39

››People

Creative Energy LATIA NELSON FINDS PATH TO SUCCESS AT WHHI

BY MELINDA COPP PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN

40 hiltonheadmonthly.com

L

atia Nelson, communications manager at WHHI-TV, describes her job at the Lowcountry television station as a blessing that she walked into.

“I love that I can be my true self,” she said of her work. “I’m a creator, and as long as I can be creative, I’m happy.”

But getting to that realization wasn’t easy for the 27-year-old mother of two.

Nelson grew up all over the Lowcountry. In 2010, she was accepted into Savannah College of Art and Design’s sound design program, setting herself up for a career in film and television. She interned on a movie set, and when MTV’s “The Real World” came to Savannah during a casting search, she worked as a casting director’s assistant. While these experiences made Nelson realize she wanted to pursue a career in television, life took a detour.

After only one semester, Nelson left SCAD and became a mom.

In 2013, she was working minimum-wage jobs, living on the south end of Hilton Head Island with her young son, Denim, and pregnant with her second child — all while trying to get back into school. Not long after her second son, Daniel, was born, the boys’ father left the family.

It made things even harder for her, she said: “2014 was a rough year.”

But she didn’t lose hope.

Nelson enrolled at Technical College of the Lowcountry, got a job in Bluffton and started a small business. In October 2014, she and her sister found an apartment. Not long afterward, a chance meeting put her back on the path to success.

That December, Nelson happened to be in TD Bank when a WHHI employee saw her SCAD shirt and asked if she was a student.

They started talking, and Nelson told him about her experience and that she wanted to get into TV. It was a fortuitous meeting: He said WHHI was looking for interns and encouraged her to email the station for more information.

She did. And to her surprise, the station emailed her back. “I was so ready to get my identity back,” Nelson said. “I told them they didn’t even have to pay me.”

In January 2015, Nelson began her internship with WHHI. Station manager Wayne Morris said he could see right away that she was a cut above the other interns in the program. A month after she started, the station offered her a part-time job as a program manager. She has since climbed the ranks to communications manager, a full-time position that puts her at the center of the action at the station — coordinating bookings for WHHI shows, running the station’s intern program, managing its social media channels, branding and client relations.

“At a small company like WHHI, everyone has to wear multiple hats, and no one wears more hats than Latia,” Morris said.

“She’s smart, versatile and a vital entity in how we do things.”

In 2017, Nelson graduated cum laude from TCL. She’s currently working on a bachelor’s degree in business administration at Strayer University, and her boys are 6 and 4. When she talks about how far she’s come — in both her career and her life — she credits her experiences at WHHI. “I’ve made so many connections in the community, and my coworkers are like my family,” she said. “I’m just now stepping into my womanhood and who I am, and WHHI has definitely played a role in that.”

And, most importantly, she’s excited about the future. “I just want to be great,” she said. “I want to live out my potential and be the best I can be.”

February 2019 41

››people

Buy, Sell or Play KEN OLIVER CELEBRATES 40 YEARS WITH DUNES REAL ESTATE

BY CLAY BONNYMAN EVANS PHOTOS BY BAILEY WITT

T

ennis has played a huge role in Realtor Ken Oliver’s life — on the court, in business and in love. Thanks to one of the best men’s tennis players of the 20th century, you might say Ken and Susie Oliver’s courtship began on the court.

Ken, 65, didn’t even started playing tennis until he was 16, but was good enough to play on the varsity team at the University of South Florida for four years.

After graduating, he went to work for All American Sports, a New York-based company that held tennis clinics across the country.

Fate intervened when Australian tennis star Rod Laver — ranked No. 1 in the world from 1964 to 1970 — invited Ken to come to Hilton Head Island’s Palmetto Dunes Resort as a touring pro for Laver’s company.

Susie, who grew up and graduated from college in Canada, had already been working in marketing for the company for several years. But Ken traveled for work, and it would take several years before they connected.

On Hilton Head, top officials from the Dunes Marketing Group encouraged Ken to get his real estate license, which would enable him to refer tennis clients Ken Oliver and his to the comson Clay are two generations of real pany for a small estate professionals commission. who love the Lowcountry.

42 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“At that point, I was non-threatening. I was just a tennis pro,” Ken says with a laugh.

Nearly four decades later, Ken remains with Dunes as lead agent of his own group, Ken Oliver and Associates. Specializing in high-end oceanfront properties, he’s been the company’s top seller for 34 of the past 40 years.

Ken and Susie say their partnership has thrived in part because they recognized the importance of family early on. Real estate is a notoriously on-call business, but by the time the couple had their third child, Ken decided to stop working on weekends unless there were no alternative.

“We’ve always been very involved with our kids,” Ken said.

“People would say, ‘Ken and Susie, you want to go out Friday night?’ and we’d say, ‘No, we’re going to a football game.’ Or an art exhibit or cheerleading competition.”

Today their four grown children have found success in a variety of pursuits. Lauren, 29, works in outdoor education and currently lives in Australia; Heather, 26, is a pediatric medical surgery nurse in Charleston; Clay, 24, recently joined his father’s real estate sales team; and Craig, 20, is a sophomore at Clemson University.

The island has always been a great place to raise a family, the couple says.

“Our children grew up ‘shoes off.’ … It’s a very easy place to live,” Susie says. “People talk about Southern hospitality. Well, it truly exists here. That hasn’t changed.”

As the population on the island has soared toward past 40,000, the real estate business has fundamentally shifted, Ken says. Long gone are the days when agents had to wait a month between phone book-sized publications that published listings and most clients just showed up at the office. The product itself has shifted significantly, as well.

“Years ago, there was a lot of new product and new development, and tremendous advertising to bring people in to see the product,” Ken says. “Today, there isn’t anything new. It’s a resale market.”

Ken said that he’s somewhat unusual, having spent his entire career with Dunes at a time when agents frequently bounce from company to company. The rewards of his steadfastness have been palpable, he says.

“I’ve helped thousands of families over generations,” he says.

“I’ve had people who bought from me, and now their grandkids are buying.”

February 2019 43

in the World ››Where is Monthly?

1.

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

2.

3.

4.

1. Christine Camasca, Andrea Walsh, Heather Colin and Petra Zlamalova visited the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul in Prague with Monthly.

2. Judie and Ed Butchko took Monthly to King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas.

3. Susan and Peter Carlson took Monthly to the Valley of the Nuns in Madeira, Portugal.

4. Janet and Richard Goldin had Monthly with them when they visited the Royal Andalusian Equestrian Training and Breeding Center in Cadiz, Spain 44 hiltonheadmonthly.com

››Social Spotlight

To have your event included in Social Spotlight, email editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com

Hilton Head Dance Theatre performed “Snow White” for Beaufort County students at Hilton Head Island High School’s Seahawk Cultural Center.

SC Lowcountry SCORE’s business mentors, clients, sponsors and leaders gathered for the nonprofit group’s annual celebration and awards ceremony.

Athletes, parents and supporters gathered at Station 300 in Bluffton to raise money for Special Olympics at a bowling tournament, silent auction and cookie contest sponsored by SOAR.

46 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Students socialized between classes at the University of South Carolina Beaufort’s new hospitality campus on Hilton Head Island.

local reads

OF THE LOWCOUNTRY

BY AMY COYNE BREDESON

“Our Prince of Scribes” EDITED BY NICOLE SEITZ AND JONATHAN HAUPT

P

at Conroy had a profound impact on the literary world. His work has inspired countless writers, and his generous spirit encouraged many to follow in his footsteps. Their appreciation for his support can be seen in a new collection of essays titled “Our Prince of Scribes.”

Jonathan Haupt, executive director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center, and novelist Nicole Seitz gathered stories from 67 writers about Conroy and his impact on their lives. Haupt said the book reveals so much about Conroy, but the underlying theme is that he never stopped mentoring.

When Seitz began her career as a novelist years ago, she wrote Conroy a letter to ask for his advice. He called her the day after he received the letter and encouragedher to write her second novel, which ended up being named one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2008.

“He was that kind of larger-than-life literary figure, yet he would go out of his way for someone he didn’t even know,” she said.

“Our Prince of Scribes” is available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble and otherbook stores. Royalties from the book support the Pat Conroy Literary Center and the Friends of Story River Books.

“Still a Rising Tide”

BY DAVID BRUCE GRIM

G

rowing up in Salisbury, North Carolina, in the 1950s and 1960s, David Bruce Grim has seen racial inequality firsthand.

His experiences in the segregated South inspired him to get involved in the fight for civil rights, and he worked for the government in civil rights-related enforcement for more than 30 years.

After retiring, Grim moved to Lady’s Island and began researching the history of slavery in the Lowcountry. He knew there were plenty of books about the Civil War, but hadn’t seen much about the actual experience of going from slavery to freedom.

So he set out to write his first novel, “Swift Currents,” which is told from the perspective of a fictional family of slaves who were freed when the Union Navy attacked Port Royal Sound in 1861.

The recently released sequel to that book, “Still a Rising Tide,” is set in 1893 and picks up the story of that family decades later.

“It’s about the rising racism that was occurring in the end of the Reconstruction Era,” Grim said. “But it’s also, of course, about this terrible hurricane. My second book ends with the storm and how the family copes. It’s sort of a comparison with how they’ve been coping with the racial history they’ve been living as well.”

“Still a Rising Tide” can be found on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble, various local bookstores and the Penn Center. For more information, go to davidbrucegrim.com.

48 hiltonheadmonthly.com

“The Black Scorpion Pilot”

BY LAWRENCE A. COLBY

F

ormer Hilton Head Island resident Lawrence A. Colby spent 20 years flying for the U.S. Marine Corps and the Air Force Reserve. He spent five years working as a military assistant at the Pentagon. Now he’s reached new heights: His Ford Stevens Military Aviation Thriller Series is a No. 1 Amazon best-seller; the second book in the series, “The Black Scorpion Pilot,” was released in December.

Though he has lived in the Washington, D.C., area for years, the Lowcountry remains one of Colby’s favorite places, he said. He loves the area so much that he has snuck in mentions of several local spots in his books — for example, Skull Creek Boathouse and Green Wing Teal Road in Sea Pines.

“I love capturing places where I’ve lived or have visited, and I like to work that into my stories so that I write with full authenticity,” Colby said. “Because I lived on Hilton Head, I know the people, the places and the culture.”

Colby’s newest military suspense novel can be found online through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers. It is also stocked locally at the Skull Creek General Store. For more information, go to colbyaviationthrillers.com.

February 2019 49

››Health

50 hiltonheadmonthly.com

SOMETIMES WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN KILL YOU. OTHER TIMES, IT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.

Lucky in Health A NEW HEART MEANS A SECOND CHANCE FOR A FULL LIFE

BY CAROL WEIR

W

hen Christian Bernadotte’s heart was severely damaged after a massive heart attack and triple bypass surgery at age 49, only his doctors and his wife, Marianne, knew how grim his prognosis really was. But two decades later, Christian is enjoying a full life after a heart transplant and doesn’t begrudge them their secret.

“Later, my doctor told me that telling a patient he has only a few months to live is a risk,” he said. “Some people just lie down in bed and don’t do anything more.

They give up.”

Not knowing the extent of his condition meant Christian — a businessman, self-proclaimed optimist and avid golfer — kept travelling for work and pleasure. He also skied, sailed and walked 18 holes when he played golf. But over time, despite pacing himself, following dietary recommendations and taking medication, his heart continued to deteriorate, severely restricting his life. He couldn’t

February 2019 51

››Health climb a flight of stairs. His skin took on a bluish tint.

By then, the couple had scrapped plans to relocate from Cleveland, Ohio, to Hilton Head Island because Christian needed to be near the Cleveland Clinic, a world leader in thoracic medicine.

His situation grew more urgent on Thankgiving 2017, when he collapsed during dinner with friends, slumping over in the lap of the wife of cardiologist Dr. Per Wierup, a fellow Swede.

Luckily, a medical device implanted in his chest delivered a jolt of energy.

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator saved his life and allowed the friends to joke about the incident later. Christian was embarrassed, but Wierup told him, “Don’t worry. Many men have fallen for my wife.”

After all, the group agreed, you can’t be any luckier than having two cardiac surgeons sitting next to you when you go into cardiac arrest — the dinner was hosted by cardiologist Dr. Gosta Peterrsson.

Christian was placed on the list for a heart transplant, but he wasn’t a top priority.

“A heart transplant isn’t something you look forward to,” he said. “I told my doctor, ‘I hear you. I’ll consider it.’”

In February 2018, Christian took a turn for the worse. He went into cardiac arrest on a Sunday morning while he was reading the newspaper at home. This time his ICD wasn’t up to the task. His daughter called Peterrsson — who hosted that fateful Thanksgiving dinner and who lived nearby — and his wife called an ambulance.

Peterrsson arrived a minute and a half before the ambulance and began CPR. “Basically, I died and he brought me back,” Christian said.

He was rushed to the hospital and admitted. Due to the nature of his condition, Christian was moved to top priority on the heart transplant list and told he would remain in the hospital until a donor heart became available. The time he spent there was highly stressful.

“One day I came to visit him in the ICU and he wasn’t there,” Marianne said. “I almost fainted because usually this means only one thing. I didn’t know he had been moved to a private room.”

After a week in the hospital, a donor heart was found. The transplant was performed without complications, and 10

52 hiltonheadmonthly.com

IN FEBRUARY 2018, CHRISTIAN TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE. HE WENT INTO CARDIAC ARREST ON A SUNDAY MORNING WHILE HE WAS READING THE NEWSPAPER AT HOME.

days post-surgery, Christian went home.

His recovery included a weeks-long quarantine followed by physical rehabilitation, as well as a new lifelong medication regime that includes an immune suppressant and a steroid.

But the results were worth it.

“I feel 15 years younger,” Christian said. A year after surgery, he is back to playing golf, and in a few weeks will leave for international trips that include sailing and hiking.

Heart transplant recipient Christian Bernadotte, a frequent visitor to Hilton Head Island, believes his optimistic attitude helped him during his long journey back to good health.

Frequent visitors to Hilton Head, Marianne and Christian were in the Lowcountry recently, riding bikes and enjoying fresh seafood. Once he doesn’t need to be close to the Cleveland Clinic anymore, they may again consider moving to the island.

To other patients who have been told they will need a heart transplant, Christian has words of encouragement: “When you get the new heart, all the ailments that you’ve had disappear. That’s the good news.”

February 2019 53

››Health

Heart Health

Being active is key after a heart attack Heart attack survivors are encouraged to ease back into exercising, and many report feeling anxious about triggering another attack through physical stress and an increased heart rate.

But research shows that it’s important to maintain an active lifestyle for good heart health.

A Swedish study of 22,227 heart attack survivors tracked their physical activity for a year after recovery and found that those who recorded “increased activity” had a 59 percent lower risk of dying over the next four years compared to people classified as “constantly inactive.”

In addition, the “constantly active” group had a 71 percent lower risk of death than the inactive group.

Even those with a moderate level of exercise showed a 44 percent lower risk of death than survivors who were constantly inactive, indicating that even a simple walk around the block can have huge benefits for heart health.

Recycled pacemakers could find new life Every year, millions of people in low-income nations die because they can’t afford a pacemaker or implantable defibrillator. And every year, tens of thousands of these devices are thrown away, often after a patient dies or replaces their device. But the My Heart Your Heart program at the University of Michigan hopes to put the discarded defibrillators to new use.

Many pacemakers, which help manage irregular heartbeats and classified by the FDA as “single-use devices,” have up to 10 years of battery life remaining after they’ve been removed from patients. The nonprofit My Heart Your Heart program is collecting discarded pacemakers and defibrillators from patients, hospitals and funeral homes, and then working with the FDA to properly sterilize them so they can be returned to service.

Clinical trials are underway overseas to see how the recycled devices perform once they’ve been implanted in new patients to broaden the reach of the devices.

54 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Thyroid linked to heart health You might think you’re doing all you can to ensure a healthy heart — you watch what you eat, you don’t smoke, you monitor your blood pressure. But are you taking care of your thyroid?

Located at the base of the neck, the thyroid is the unsung hero of the human body, releasing hormones that control every aspect of your body’s functionality. And that, scientists say, includes your heart. A new study from the University of Pennsylvania has linked two thyroid disorders — subclinical hypothyroidism and low T3 syndrome — to deteriorating conditions in those suffering from heart failure.

According to the study, patients with subclinical hypothyroidism or low T3 syndrome and who also have been diagnosed with heart failure are more likely to require either a mechanical pump or heart transplant during their lives, as well as have a higher risk of death than heart patients without thyroid disease.

In 2013, the American Heart Association recommended that doctors test thyroid hormone levels in all patients with heart failure; however, those guidelines don't define abnormal thyroid levels or give specific advice for treating heart failure patients with possible thyroid problems.

CHONES / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Eyes can offer early warning of high blood pressure High blood pressure is called the silent killer for a reason – it can go undetected for years, right up until the moment it causes a heart attack or stroke. Regular visits to your doctor can help you monitor your blood pressure, but now there’s another way to keep an eye on it.

The American Heart Association recently published a piece highlighting the work of Dr. William White, an optometrist who has begun checking for signs of high blood pressure in his patients’ eyes.

“We can see changes due to vascular conditions caused by diabetes or hypertension,” White said. “The blood vessels in the retina can become a little more stiff and hardened. They'll push on each other and cross, like two hoses in a confined space.”

White’s work follows in the footsteps of a landmark study that checked about 2,900 patients with high blood pressure for hypertensive retinopathy — damaged blood vessels in the eye due to high blood pressure — and then tracked them for an average of 13 years. The study found that those with a mild form of the condition had a 35 percent greater risk of stroke. That risk increased to 137 percent for those with moderate or severe hypertensive retinopathy.

Link between energy drinks and heart damage A new study of caffeine and herbal energy drinks has found that they might help you cram for a final or stay up all night, but they aren’t too good for your heart.

The study looked at the effects of energy drinks on the blood vessel functions of 44 healthy medical students in their 20s, checking the test subjects before and 90 minutes after consuming a 24-ounce energy drink.

Preliminary results showed that the drink reduced the ability of participants’ blood vessels to dilate by half. When blood vessels dilate, the flow of blood increases as vascular resistance decreases, lowering blood pressure.

Researchers say the recorded negative effects aren’t just from the high levels of caffeine in energy drinks — these drinks also often contain ingredients like taurine and guaranine in levels that are sometimes 10 times the recommended daily amount.

February 2019 55

››Health

Just Add Salt

HALOTHERAPY CAN OFFER RELIEF FROM A VARIETY OF ILLNESSES

BY BECCA EDWARDS

W

e often take new health trends with “a grain of salt.”

But that’s especially true for halotherapy, which requires hundreds of thousands of salt grains.

The treatment — which was developed in the 1800s after Polish salt miners observed that frequent exposure to salt helped heal many respiratory and skin ailments — has become popular in recent years for its holistic appeal. And thanks to Pure Salt Studio, this wellness option is now available in the Lowcountry.

Located at 23 Plantation Park in Bluffton, Pure Salt is a state-of-the-art facility offering a relaxing space and the most advanced salt aeration technology available.

“We use a unique machine called a halogenerator that measures, delivers and monitors the exact size and concentration of micro-salt particles to ensure they effectively reach into the sinuses and respiratory system,” said studio owner Lauren Bell.

Bell became interested in halotherapy after she saw how it transformed her father’s health.

“We were living in New York, and my father, Tim, was struggling with a lot of respiratory issues,” she said. “We became exhausted going from one doctor to another and trying so many different medications with very little success.

We began to wonder if there was ever going to be a light at the end of the tunnel. But then we tried halotherapy.”

Tim Bell, who partnered with his daughter on Pure Salt Studio, said he felt the salt therapy had a big impact on his health.

“I felt a difference after the first session,” he said.

“And after several sessions, my cough dissipated. It’s been incredible.”

Pure Salt Studio offers a salt room just for children, as well as an adults-only room with zero-gravity chairs and cozy blankets perfect for relaxation. Both rooms feature walls made of Himalayan sea salt bricks and floors layered with several inches of salt granules. The studio offers either 45-minute meditative sessions or 90-minute sound and energy classes led by an instructor. Private events, which include a juice tasting, also are available.

But don’t take the studio’s word for it when it comes to the healing power of salt. Research also has found that halotherapy can help many chronic or short-term health conditions:

Sinus Infections & Sinusitis Halotherapy can reduce the edema caused by swollen tissues, as well as widen nasal passages, improve drainage, increase aeration behind the tympanic membrane, and reduce infection in the sinus cavities where bacteria often causes problems.

Cystic Fibrosis Inhaling salt particles can help thin the thick and sticky mucus caused by cystic fibrosis, helping to clear accumulated secretions and unclogging airways, making it easier to breathe.

COPD, Emphysema & Bronchitis Halotherapy can cleanse the respiratory system, speeding up the elimination of toxins in the body and reducing inflammation.

Coughs, Colds & Flu Halotherapy benefits those with the flu or a cold in the same way it helps those with cystic fibrosis: Inhaling aerosol salt helps eliminate swelling and thins mucus secretions. And salt’s calming negative ions can have an antispasmodic effect on the respiratory system, easing coughs.

Snoring & Sleep Problems Salt’s anti-inflammatory properties mean that it can help treat snoring and sleep apnea caused by obstructed air passages. Air passages are opened and widened and the spasms of inflamed, irritated tissue and muscles are modulated.

Allergies Because salt particles can reduce inflammation and improve drainage, halotherapy allows for a reduction in contaminants that may trigger or prolong allergy episodes.

Asthma The inhalation of dry salt aerosol over a series of sessions can help clear mucus and decrease bronchial infection, plus eliminate bacteria and other micro-organisms that might cause asthma attacks.

Note: While salt therapy can help many symptoms and conditions, is not recommended for some. If you have any questions about salt therapy, check with your doctor before proceeding.

56 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Think About It

MEMORY MATTERS TO HOST BRAIN SUMMIT SPECIAL TO MONTHLY

M

emory Matters wants to help you keep your mind and memory sharp. That’s why it’s hosting its second annual Brain Health Summit on March 7 at Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort. The action-packed educational seminar will feature international speakers from Harvard and the University of British Columbia, as well as local experts.

Kicking off the day will be Dr. Vik Khurana, who will explore “A Solution in Our Lifetime?” Khurana, a Harvard Stem Cell Institute researcher, leads the Khurana Lab at the Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He will share discoveries regarding “misfolding brain proteins,” using stem cells to “grow” brains for study, and his goal to develop a vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Lara Boyd also will speak at the summit, offering real-life interventions in “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Brains.” Boyd, a neuroscientist, is the Canada Research Chair in neurobiology of motor learning and an associate professor at the University of British Columbia. She is a celebrated TEDxVancouver speaker who will encourage the audience to make changes to improve brain health and quality of life.

Chef Kim Baretta, a Hilton Head expert on the Mediterranean lifestyle, will follow with a live cooking demonstration, where she’ll prepare food that will be served for lunch. Baretta trained at London’s Leiths School of Food and Wine, and she is a soughtafter educator and speaker. She will share valuable tips about where to find brain-healthy ingredients and foods on Hilton Head and in Bluffton.

Wrapping up the day will be Dr. Steven Plenzler, who will discuss the crucial connection between sound sleep and brain health. Plenzler, a board-certified specialist in sleep medicine, earned his doctorate in behavioral neuroscience at Bowling Green University. He is the solutions lead for eviCore Healthcare’s sleep program in Bluffton.

The event is open to the public and it will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It costs $50 per person, and seating is limited. To register or for more information, call 843-842-6688.

IF YOU GO

Memory Matters will hold its second annual Brain Health Summit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 7 at Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort. Cost is $50 per person. To register or for more information, call 843-842-6688.

February 2019 57

››Health

Healthy Move

BLUFFTON PATIENTS FEEL CARED FOR AT NEW VIM FACILITY

BY JAMES A. MALLORY | PHOTOS BY GREG CONRAN PHOTOGRAPHY

P

am Toney proudly points to the artwork hanging throughout the new Bluffton-Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine clinic as she gives a visitor a tour.

She said the colorful folk art by Charleston artist Deane Valentine Bowers, created from reclaimed material, is emblematic of the work done at the clinic.

“She puts them together and makes beautiful pieces for us,” said Toney, executive director of BJVIM. “I think it is sometimes like our patients who come in here. This is a true medical home for our patients in that they see the same doctor for every visit and our doctors make them well, make them beautiful patients and they become active in most of our communities because they are no longer suffering.”

58 hiltonheadmonthly.com

In September, the Bluffton clinic relocated to 29 Plantation Park Drive, where it occupies four former office suites. The space was purchased with the help of community donations, including a $120,000 down payment from Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

At the new Bluffton office, patients are greeted in a large, comfortable waiting room — sponsored by a donor in memory of her late son. The office has six exam rooms, an onsite pharmacy and an ophthalmology room.

In all, Bluffton-Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine offers 16 departments staffed by 90 volunteers, including 16 doctors and 22 nurses. In addition to the Bluffton office, the clinic also sees patients at a facility in Ridgeland.

BJVIM opened in 2011. It is one of 91 Volunteers in Medicine clinics in 29 states.

South Carolina is home to 10, including the original clinic on Hilton Head Island, founded in 1994.

In 2017, according to its annual report, BJVIM had nearly 4,600 patient visits, filled more than 2,700 prescriptions and performed over 2,300 diagnostic tests.

The total value of services provided by the clinic was almost $2.4 million.

“This is truly a free clinic for those who are uninsured,” Toney said.

A patient visit to the Bluffton facility costs about $125, including tests such as blood work done at the clinic, Toney said.

The clinic’s 2018 budget was $518,000, up from $494,000 in 2017. There are five paid staffers.

The clinic is totally funded by private

Dr. Ronald Smith, medical director at Beaufort-Jasper Volunteers in Medicine stands with the clinic's executive director Pamela Toney.

donations, grants and fundraisers. Toney said half of the clinic’s income is from grants.

“We receive about 25 to 30 grants a year,” she said. “Those could be a $500 grant, or it could be a $50,000 grant. All those grants go to patient services.”

The clinic board hired a new resource development director last fall. Dennis Toney — Pam’s husband — was selected from a field of 10 applicants and is an experienced fundraiser. He leads a team of five volunteers working on grant writing, processing, correspondence and acknowledgement letters. The team is also building a database to track donors.

“Foundations have been our biggest donors in the past,” he said. “Going forward, our strategy is to continue finding more of those folks and also find more individuals who will give and build our individual donor base.”

The clinic has about 500 active individual donors with a goal to increase that number by at least 15 percent, he said.

To receive care at a Bluffton-Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine clinic, patients must live in Bluffton or Jasper County and make no more than 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

Most of the clinic’s clients are between the ages of 40 and 50, and are mainly women, Pam Toney said.

In her four years with the Bluffton clinic, she has seen firsthand how it makes a difference in patients’ lives — and how hard it can be for local residents to get medical help. One day a woman walked in when the clinic opened at 8:30 a.m., Toney said. Hours later, she was still sitting in the waiting area. Worried, Toney finally spoke to the woman, who said she was dropped off for her appointment at 6:30 a.m. at a nearby gas station.

“She told me, ‘Well this was the only ride that I could get’,” Toney said. “Her appointment was finished at 2:15 and she wasn’t picked up until 4 o’clock. So she had been out all day to get an appointment to see the gynecologist.”

Another patient told her the new “beautiful building” made him feel special, Toney said.

“He said everything is so lovely and clean — ‘it makes me feel good to come here’,” she said. “That says it all.”

February 2019 59

Gift Guide

FEBRUARY

Must-have essential mineral makeup brushes by jane iredale.

Pure Medical Spa 843.815.6699 Puremedspamd.com

Freshwater Cultured White Edison Pearl Drop Earrings on Sterling Silver French Wires.

Outside Hilton Head 843.686.6996 Outsidehiltonhead.com

We are Celebrating our 3rd Anniversary of Lumen Skin Care from Feb 4th to Feb 9th.

Join in on the Celebration and Save 25% off All Lumen Skin Care Products by using promo code: Celebrate20 on lumenskincare.com and at LUX~A Medical Spa. LUX Medical Spa 843.781.6672

60 hiltonheadmonthly.com

David Yurman sculpted heart pendant with diamonds in 18K gold.

Forsythe Jewelers 843.671.7070 ForsytheJewelers.biz

NUFACE MINI-Facial Toning Device.

Faces Day spa The Village at Wexford 843.785.3075 FacesDaySpa.com

Complete with Champagne cork and label, the Champagne Bottle Candle is perfect to make any celebration festive. Presented in a clear cellophane bag with a tulle ribbon bow at the top, so ready for gift giving.

J Banks Design 843.681.5122 jbanksdesign.com

Blooming Camellias – red, white, & pink varieties available -a gift to last a lifetime!

The Greenery Garden Center, Gift & Home.

The Greenery 843.592.3766

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Chocolate Canopy 843.842.4567 ChocolateCanopy.com

February 2019 61

DECEMBER

Gift Gu i d e

Anorak Additional colors available!

Gigi’s Boutique 843.815.4450 gigisofbluffton@yahoo.com

Power of 3 Age Defense by Bella Face Visibly reducing the appearance of: Redness, Fine lines and wrinkles, Puffiness and pore size.

Bluffton Aesthetics 843.505.0584 Blufftonaesthetics.com

Belle Etoile stunning pave-set brilliant white stones in sterling silver which is rhodium-plated, nickel allergy-free, against luxurious strands of Italian rubber create a contrasting composition unlike any other.

Heritage Fine Jewelry 843.689.2900 HeritageJewelersHHI.com Skin Products from ZO Skin Health by Zein Obagi MD. Envision medical spa 843.815.7222 Envisionmedspaservices.com

Handcrafted PotteryPlease brighten the image.

Art CafĂŠ 843.785.5525 www.artcafehhi.com

62 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Blushing Revolve Necklace Turn heads with just a flip! This gleaming, premium-gold plated, statement pendant is all about mod lines—with a twist. The stone setting flips over for 2 different looks.

Spartina 449 843.815.9000 Spartina449.com

Pearl Necklace from Uno de 50, handmade in Spain.

Gifted Hilton Head 843.842.8787 Giftedhiltonhead.com

February 2019 63

B R AT I

YE

RS

2019

AL

2007

A

N

G

C

LE

12 E

OF BR

ID

H I L T O N

H E A D

BRIDAL SHOW

Sunday, February 17, 2019 1PM UNTIL 4PM

BELFAIR, 200 BELFAIR OAKS BLVD., BLUFFTON SC 29910 Presale $9 (includes mimosa!) $12 at the Door. Visit hiltonheadmonthly.com/bridal for tickets

2019

H I LT O N H E A D , B L U F F T O N & T H E L O W C O U N T R Y

Bridal Guide

! s e Y

FRIENDS AND FAMILY CREATE A PERFECT WEDDING MOTHER OF THE GROOM MAKEOVER

WE HAVE YOUR FASHION ADVICE

MODERN TWISTS ON OLD TRADITIONS

THE LATEST TREND

Registries HONEYMOON

LOCAL WEDDINGS

|

FLOWERS

|

ENGAGEMENT RINGS

HERE COMES THE

bride & Groom W

hether you’re planning a wedding in the Lowcountry now, dreaming about one someday or just watching

PHOTOGRAPHY BY W PHOTOGRAPHY

a friend obsess over hers, we're here to help. With

gorgeous surroundings and luxurious accommodations, Hilton Head and Bluffton offer world-class wedding experiences. Many talented wedding professionals also work in the Lowcountry. The 2019 Bridal Guide is comprehensive, providing advice on wedding styles, trends and ways to connect with local professionals.

We created it to help you navigate the wedding process from the engagement ring all the way through late night snacks after the

Anuska Frey- publisher anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com

reception. Inside, you’ll draw inspiration from detailed stories and

table of contents 70 | FASHION Say yes to the dress.

74 | NEW SPIN ON OLD TRADITIONS Make old customs modern.

76 | FLOWER POWER Wedding blooms add color 78 | MOTHER MAKEOVER A groom's mom is transformed.

82 | FAIRY TALE WEDDING Two teachers marry on HHI. 88 | OUTDOOR NUPTIALS Our engagement contest winners wed.

stunning photography of real local weddings. You’ll find complete listings and profiles of local wedding industry vendors. Whether

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB KAUFMAN

you are the bride, the groom, a family member or a close friend of

Carol Weir-editor carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com

the engaged couple, we’re thrilled to be by your side throughout the planning process. This guide is available at key rack distribution points, bridal shops and other high-end stores across the Lowcountry. You can also pick up a copy at the 2019 Hilton

94 | ENGAGEMENT RINGS Many options are in style.

96 | CHILDREN IN WEDDINGS Should your wedding include kids?

98 | PLANNING CHECKLIST What to do when.

Head Area Bridal Show, which is Feb. 17 at the gorgeous Belfair Clubhouse in Bluffton. For the bride on-the-go, a mobile-friendly digital guide is available online at hiltonheadbridalshow.com.

Please enjoy this idea book and think of it as your direct connection to a network of wedding professionals who look forward to meet-

100 | HONEYMOON REGISTRY Contributing to the couple's trip is the latest trend.

102 | ADVERTISER DIRECTORY Find your wedding professional here.

ing you and bringing your vision to life.

MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR

Marc Frey marc@hiltonheadmonthly.com

SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sasha Sweeney sasha@hiltonheadmonthly.com

PUBLISHER Anuska Frey anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com

ART & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Michael Lupi mike@hiltonheadmonthly.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Carol Weir carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN Allyson Venrick

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca V. Kerns rebecca@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-816-2732

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS W Photography, Taylor Rae Photography, The Happy Bloom, Chris Isham Photography, Jo Rackliff Photography, Landon Jacobs

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Robyn Passante

Majka Yarbrough majka@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-290-9372

monthly

Mary Ann Kent maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9390

SUBSCRIPTIONS

TM

address 14 Westbury Park Way, Suite 200, Bluffton 29910 offices 843-842-6988

fax 843-842-5743 web hiltonheadmonthly.com

One-year (12-issue) subscriptions are $12.

843-785-1889 or subscriptions@hiltonheadmonthly.com

BRIDAL GUIDE | FASHION

Wedding Fashion

What to wear when you say ‘I do’

BY ROBYN PASSANTE

S

ome brides have had the exact dress they want to wear on their big day in mind for years. Others don’t have a clue and can scarcely envision themselves waltzing down the aisle in a fancy dress.

The good news? There truly is a perfect dress for every personal preference. But when it comes to wedding attire, there’s a lot to think about. And we’re not just talking about accessorizing.

In addition to dressing themselves, the bride and groom must also coordinate the clothing of an entire ensemble of loved ones — and most likely those loved ones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The challenge can feel daunting — even hopeless after a full, fruitless day of shopping with your bridesmaids — but if you keep an open mind and a willingness to compromise, it can actually be fun.

For a little inspiration, here are some of the trends that experts say we’ll be seeing in bridal fashion this year.

The open boat neckline, equal parts sweet and sexy, is popular this year.

BRIDES The biggest wedding of 2018 may have been held overseas, but its American bride wowed crowds on both sides of the Atlantic.

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, has inspired this year’s crop of non-royal brides, with elements of both her wedding dress and reception dress seen on runways this fall. The open boat neckline, equal parts sweet and sexy, is popular, as is the sleek silhouette of her gown. It’s a style, sans embellishments, that’s being reproduced by many mainstream designers.

Gowns with sleeves — whether romantic, billowy and sheer or delicate tapered lace — are still making a strong statement. And brides looking for comfort along with sophistication are in for a treat, as the wedding jumpsuit is even bigger this year. Beautiful bridal fashion with pockets for lipstick and tissues is a win-win-win! Fun and fanciful mini dresses also are making a strong showing. This is a particularly great option for Lowcountry brides opting for a beach wedding, or those who are just looking to beat the heat and set a mood through wedding fashion that’s a little less formal.

70 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

GROOMS Guys who want to be trendy but not sweaty are in for a challenge, as the three-piece suit is what’s hot — literally, in the Lowcountry — for 2019. Hilton Head Island grooms can pull off this classic look without suffering from the heat if they’re mindful of their fabric choices.

A straight or tapered trouser leg and a slim jacket are an ofthe-moment choice when it comes to a tailored look. And don’t underestimate the magnitude of just the right accent to pull the whole look together and show off your personality. Funky socks and colorful bowties FTW!

2019 Bridal Guide 71

BRIDAL GUIDE | FASHION

Today's bridesmaids often wear different dresses in the same hue or color family.

For men, trouser legs are straight or tapered this year and jackets are slim.

BRIDESMAIDS Bridesmaids will have a much easier time looking and feeling great than their counterparts from previous decades. Gone are the days of insisting every woman standing up for the bride wear the exact same dress and shoes. Today’s bridesmaids often opt for varied dresses in the same hue or color family, and the results are stunning. This year look for more embroidered embellishments, along with luxurious fabrics like velvet. And what started as a bridal trend for wedding gowns has drifted to the bridesmaids: Bishop, bell and balloon sleeves in sheer fabrics add a bit of fashion-forward fun to their dresses. And while we’re on the topic of bridal fashion trickling down to bridesmaids, get psyched — the bridesmaid jumpsuit is trending. There are lots of complementary colors and styles that will allow you to suit up your whole party, and then party!

GROOMSMEN The slim fit is on trend for every guy in your wedding party, so keep the trouser leg straight or tapered. A slim jacket looks sleek and makes for a masculine, athletic silhouette. The groomsmen are there to look good but make sure their main man stands out, so choose complementary colors and have fun with subtle patterns for shirts and ties and not-so-subtle socks. No sneakers with suits, lads, and leave the regular notch lapel in the boardroom. For

72 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

the big day, opt for a peaked lapel or even a shawl lapel. And it’s more than fine to leave black behind: More grooms and groomsmen are choosing navy, neutral or even bright shades like purple or burgundy.

MOTHER OF THE BRIDE It can stress a mom out to find just the right dress for her daughter’s big day, but take heart: Mother-of-the-bride dress trends for this year will make shopping fun. Consider capes, for instance: They’re popping up in varying lengths on some of the trendiest dresses for moms. And that makes sense — mothers are superheroes, after all. Metallics continue to be a popular color choice for their modern and sophisticated look. And off-the-shoulder necklines will be popular for moms too; it’s an elegant look and can ensure your mom’s gown complements the rest of the bridal party without being matchy-matchy with the bridesmaids.

2019 Bridal Guide 73

BRIDAL GUIDE | NEW SPIN ON OLD TRADITIONS

Everything Old is New Again New spins on old wedding traditions

BY ROBYN PASSANTE

“T

74 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

he night we got engaged in September 2017, our initial thought was ‘We want to do something different for our wedding,’” says Valerie Ruppel (nee Amodeo) of her May 12, 2018 wedding to Patric Ruppel. For the New York couple, that ultimately meant a destination wedding at beautiful Belfair Plantation beneath a canopy of grandiose oak trees. But many couples can create “something different” for their wedding on a much smaller scale.

Take, for instance, the many traditions incorporated without much thought into countless weddings every year, from the cake topper to the party favor. Is it really even a wedding if the bride doesn’t toss a bouquet of flowers over her shoulder and watch single women in the crowd dive for it?

Yes, it is. And today’s brides and grooms are recognizing that not every wedding tradition needs to be included or followed to its historical end. In fact, taking some new spins on old traditions can be a great way to express your personality and love story as a couple, and to give your wedding guests something new to rave about.

Chapel last year. “I have always loved the idea of ‘love birds,’” Casey said, “and now we have the birds on our mantle as a sweet reminder of the day.”

CAKE TOPPER Little plastic brides and grooms have graced the tops of wedding cakes for generations, but these days couples are choosing other options to give their cakes some personality. Words can make a strong statement, from the laser-cut toppers that spell out the happy couple’s names or such celebratory phrases as “Just married!” and “Best Day Ever!” Others opt for a single letter, the couple’s new shared last initial, usually in a font that’s been carefully chosen for all weddingrelated writings. Another popular option is to go with animals on top – tiny swans, which mate for life, for example, or a couple of love birds. That’s exactly what Casey and Joshua Tierney did when they married at St. Andrew

FIRST DANCE The first dance is a sweet moment for many and often kicks off the wedding reception with a solid dose of sentimentality. But there are tons of shy brides and grooms with two left feet who’d rather not have the entire room of people watch them sway in a circle.

Instead, couples can opt for the first dance to be their special song but request all married couples join them on the dance floor.

Alternately, the couple could choose to be serenaded by a professional musician or band performing their favorite song while they sit in special chairs and take it all in. Or opt for a brief slideshow of pics from your lives and love story to play for guests while “your song” is being played.

BOUQUET TOSS The bouquet toss heralds to a time when many single young women yearned for the day they, too, would find their grooms. But singling out all the single ladies as “the next one to get married if you catch the bouquet” today can have women diving away from the flying flowers — for myriad reasons.

Couples are moving the bouquet toss/garter tradition into the 21st century by opting to do things like “pass the bouquet,” where the bouquet is given to the next couple with set plans to walk down the aisle, or to the couple in the room who have been married the longest.

The bride and groom can also pre-select someone unsuspecting and give the second, “toss-able” bouquet to them for their contributions to the wedding or for just being a hero in their lives. Still another lovely twist is to give every lady in attendance a single flower.

GUEST BOOK Traditionally a simple, elegant book in which each guests signs his or her name, the guest book is a wedding’s attendance record. It’s typically something couples make sure to have sitting on a table somewhere — and then often never look at it again. But there are more creative options that give the tradition new meaning and assure that you will indeed peruse the “book of names” at a later date. For instance, take the guest book created by bride Katherine Palmeri for her Palmetto Bluff wedding to Mike Palmeri in 2016.

She included a picture of each person on his or her own page with their name at the top, so guests had a specific space on which to write a personal note to the couple.

“I wanted to keep it simple and really personal,” she says of the book, which became a sweet memento from their day.

2019 Bridal Guide 75

BRIDAL GUIDE | FLOWERS

Love is Blooming Flowers express your wedding’s personality

BY R.L. HAMILTON

F

lowers are a highlight of every wedding’s aesthetic, but they can also be a great way for brides to express their personality and creativity. In 2018, greenery — like palm leaves, ferns and moss — was the standout trend, adding a charmingly natural touch while also being cheaper than flowers. But 2018 is long gone, and in 2019, flowers are making a comeback.

This year’s colors are elegant whites and light grays, along with rich jewel tones that will add a sophisticated air to your wedding. Floral statement pieces are also more popular than ever — think dramatic wall decorations, elaborate arches, and even ceilings covered in blooms and greenery.

And while many brides are opting for big blooming décor, they’re toning down their bouquets and centerpieces to be tastefully minimalist.

ONLINE INSPIRATION Pinterest is your friend if you need some floral inspiration.

The variety of beautiful bouquets, innovative ideas and pretty things in bloom can encourage creativity when it comes to flower choices. Blogs like Snippet & Ink, Style Me Pretty, Green Wedding Shoes and Brides also have a ton of ideas, and some allow you to search by color scheme, season or favorite flower. To save money, look for ways to use floral decorations from the ceremony, such as bouquets and altar arrangements, at your reception site.

76 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

COLOR-CODED This year’s colors are elegant whites and light grays, along with rich jewel tones that will add a sophisticated air to your wedding. Here are a few suggestions on blooms to add those tones to your bridal bouquet, depending on the season: • Winter: Cedar, lemon leaf, succulents, garden roses, lisianthus, burgundy orchids and tallow berries • Spring: Poppies, tulips, jasmine, delphinium, lilacs, sweet peas, peonies and ranunculus • Summer: Freesia, dahlias, carnations, poppy pods, wax flowers and hydrangeas • Fall: Thistle, garden roses, winter eucalyptus, nigella and brunia berry

MAKE IT PROFESSIONAL Hire an experienced local professional to help keep you and your flowers on budget. Rarely does a bride do the flowers herself — almost all hire florists to bring their visions to life. When interviewing florists, ask to see a portfolio of their work. Many professionals also have online galleries or post their work on Instagram, making it easy to view a large variety of the centerpieces and bouquets they have assembled. Look for a florist whose style fits your vision as well as your budget. Make sure you ask about any deposits, fees and payment schedules before signing a contract. Selecting the flowers can be one of the most exciting parts of planning your wedding, since it’s an opportunity to incorporate your theme, your season and your color scheme all in one place. Whatever your budget, you can feel confident that you can pull off something beautiful, because you’re sure to find a local professional who will be more than happy to make your dreams come true.

This year's colors are elegant whites and light grays.

Make sure you know what will be in bloom when you'll be getting married and choose accordingly.

SEASONAL IS SENSIBLE While greenhouses make it possible to get whatever flowers you’d like any time of year, your costs will skyrocket if you select blossoms that are out of season. Make sure you know what will be in bloom when you are getting married and choose those options for your centerpieces, boutonnieres, bouquets, petals for the flower girl and any altar decorations. Flowers usually make up about 5 percent to 12 percent of a bride’s overall wedding budget, and to stay on the lower end of that average will require choosing more economical blooms.

2019 Bridal Guide 77

BRIDAL GUIDE | MOTHER MAKEOVER

Well-groomed Sun City mom wins makeover, gets style update

BY CAROL WEIR | PHOTOS BY GUIDO FLUECK

78 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

“VIOLET OR PURPLE IS A HAPPY COLOR THAT LOOKS GREAT ON MANY PEOPLE. YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND THE SHADE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU.” – Kathryn Mademann, stylist

G

eorgia Lash of Sun City Hilton Head first learned of Monthly’s makeover contest on Facebook.

She scrolled past it, but decided she should look more closely at the opportunity when she realized she qualified for the contest.

“I mean, how many times am I going to be the mother of a groom? Hopefully only once,” Lash said, referring to her only child, Alex, who lives in Charlotte and will marry fiancé Kaitlyn on May 18 at the South Carolina Yacht Club in Windmill Harbour.

Her transformation began in early January. Lash sent in her entry and in a live drawing at Monthly’s headquarters won the services of professional stylist Kathryn Mademann, who would curate her clothes, hair and makeup for the big event.

Lash, 68, is a retired teacher who moved to the Lowcountry from Greenville with her husband, Steve, in 2016. In her contest entry, she wrote, “I’m so excited that my son and his fiancé chose Hilton Head for their wedding site. The memories from the wedding event will make this truly seem like my home.”

Knowing the wedding weekend was approaching, Lash “had my shopping antennae in high gear.” She’d looked online, in stores and even in friends’ closets for an outfit for the casual rehearsal dinner at Skull Creek Dockside and a formal dress for the wedding day. But everything she tried on was “too old or too plain, or there were too many choices” and she was growing frustrated.

“I leapt at the chance to work with Kathryn Mademann,” Lash said.

The two started out with a shopping trip. With the help of Ruth Stern and Jessica Sanders, Mademann selected a comfortable but elegant flowing teal outfit at Birdie James boutique on Hilton Head.

The top and matching pants are from Birdie James’ own collection.

“The drape of the fabric gave this outfit an easy, flowing feel,” Mademann said, adding that the teal accentuated Lash’s beautiful green eyes. Earrings, a bracelet and a ring from Birdie James completed the look.

Then they were off to LowCounty Bridal & Gown in Bluffton’s Sheridan Park, where owner Christina Vicaro helped them pick a dress that would flatter Lash and coordinate with the bridesmaids, who will wear navy blue. Lash tried on several dresses but was stunning in a dark violet, one-shouldered Kanali K gown.

“People shy away from violet or purple, but I am a big fan of it,” 2019 Bridal Guide 79

BRIDAL GUIDE | MOTHER MAKEOVER

Mademann said. “It’s a happy color that looks great on many people. You just have to find the shade that’s right for you.”

Mademann accented Lash’s look with crystal stone dropped earrings.

Lash, who is 5-foot-4 and a size 8-10, was thrilled to have her wardrobe woes solved.

“Kathryn looked, she listened, all the while developing a plan for the style that would match the wedding events and me,” she said. “She was a hawk to the prey when it came to colors and fabrics that flatter.”

A few days later Lash, Mademann and photographer Guido Flueck met at Salon Karma in Bluffton for hair, makeup and photos. Kim Seaglund, the new owner of Salon Karma, and hair stylist and makeup artist Josie Jones agreed that Lash’s hair color was pretty, so instead of a color adjustment they applied a Kerastase customed-tailored Fusion Dose treatment for nourishment, shine, body and density.

Lash wanted a new hairstyle but wasn’t sure what would look good on her.

Jones gave her a fresh, soft lob — a long bob.

“The cut really brought me into the 21st century. It’s contemporary,” Lash said.

For the photo shoot of the "Night Before” outfit, the stylists added a few waves. For the "Wedding Day" look, Jones created a beautiful up-do.

Then came the makeup. Lash said she stayed quiet during the session so she could watch the artist at work.

“Josie had many palettes open and her brushes were flying,” she said. “My favorite moment was when she spun me around in the chair.”

The photo shoot was fun for Lash, who is a producer and co-anchor for Sun City’s TV station.

Flueck “made me feel as worthy a model for him as someone who models full time,” she said.

When it was all over, Mademann said she enjoyed working with Lash because she was very excited for the makeover and updating her look. “Helping people make changes — no matter how large or small — is so gratifying,” Mademann said.

Lash was also pleased.

“While my results were unbelievably fantastic to me, I was never lost in the process. I never felt fake. This is a look I can adapt into my daily lifestyle,” she said.

80 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

Stylist Kathryn Mademann (left) is a former model with 30 years of experience in fashion, media and communications.

She hosted fashion makeover TV show “On Trend” and now leads style workshops and consultations in the Lowcountry. Contact her at kathrynmademann@gmail.com.

2019 Bridal Guide 81

S

BRIDAL GUIDE | FEATURED WEDDING

Sabrina and Corey A modern-day fairy tale

BY JESSICA SPARKS

Venue Belfair Club House | Wedding Planner Jennifer Burns, Belfair | Caterer Belfair Club House Wedding Officiant Father Anthony Nachef | Photographer Gibson Photography Videographer Arial Lifestyle Productions | Band/DJ Party DJ Flow Hernandez Church David Kimball & Guillermo Nellymar Brazon | Entertainment Elvis Jeff Vandenverg Hair Stylez by Natalie Moreno | Makeup Curl Me Lash- Dulce Huerta Baker D’ Flavors Bakery, Daniel Mendoza | Florist Elizabeth Barrientos | Transportation Price4limo 82 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

S T

here was no singing candelabra or teapot in Belfair on the evening of their wedding, but Sabrina Sandoval and Corey Pennington aimed to make their “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired, fairy talethemed wedding a magical affair.

The two met by chance after Sabrina had called the police and Corey responded.

However, their lives were so busy they couldn’t find time for a traditional courtship.

“It just seemed like everything was pinned down like this by God,” said Sabrina, a teacher at St. Francis Catholic School. “It seemed like God had put us together and I just always thought that it was out of this world — like it wasn’t realistic. So I thought our story was always like a fairy tale.”

With Corey’s schedule and Sabrina’s three-job workload, the two would meet for 20-minute coffee dates or have five minutes to chat before they were off to another obligation.

“It was never enough,” Corey said.

“But it was enough to be happy,” Sabrina added.

Corey proposed to Sabrina on March 24 by serenading her under the stars beneath her balcony. He took her to a spot by the water surrounded with candles, flowers and rose petals.

Sabrina and Corey were married Nov. 17, 2018 at St. Peter's Catholic Church on Lady's Island in Beaufort.

Their reception took place at Belfair in Bluffton.

“He said, ‘Will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?’ And I said, ‘Of course!’” Sabrina said. “It was definitely a nice proposal.”

Eight months later, the couple was married Nov. 17 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Lady’s Island in Beaufort, and then celebrated beneath the oak trees in Belfair in Bluffton. Sabrina donned a white princess gown from Gown Boutique of Charleston, completing the look with a tiara.

Belfair’s ballroom was a perfect fit for the 125-guest reception.

Blush, navy and gold were accented with splashes of burgundy, giving the space a royal feel. The cake was a three-tiered masterpiece from D’Flavors Bakery, presented on a stand with crystals hanging between each layer and decorated to match the feel of the party. To match the theme, Sabrina and Corey entered the reception to John Legend’s rendition of “Beauty and the Beast,” and then DJ Flow Hernandez got the party going.

The couple also made sure the fairy tale wedding reflected the Lowcountry setting.

2019 Bridal Guide 83

BRIDAL GUIDE | FEATURED WEDDING

(843)-837-5090 amazingeventrentals.com

POWER OF PINK

PROPERTY

MANAGEMEN

T • LOWCOU

NTRY LIVING

• CRESCENDO ART

FESTIVAL • TATTO O TREN

CHOICE AWAR DS 2018 READERS’

D WINNERS 2019 INNOVA TORS + INV

• BRIDAL your voice

ice}

JANUA RY

SCHOOL SPI RIT? YES, WE DO! TEACHER THE YEAR OF SCHOOL PROFILES PLANNING SABBATICALA IS JAR

ER 2018

ice your vo

RE NIXON TT

BUSINESS’S

City e SUBSCRIBE Guid your voice

OCTOB ER 2018

October 18 _C1-C4

Covers.indd

Garvin-Gar

er 18 C1-C4

Septemb

1

vey Hous

e - by Amir

i Farris

dd 5

Covers.in

1

A NEW YEAR

LADY HERRON | FIRST ACTIVIST TERRY January

9/26/18 C1-C4 Covers.indd December 18 1:29 PM

MOCKTAILS:

ENJOY ALL THE SPRITS AND SPRIGS WITH OUT THE HANGOVER

BOEING TO CHARLE WE TAKE A STON LOOK AT

ISLAND REC CENTER FITNES

TODAY

MUSICIAN AND

4:22 PM

2019

LARGEST EMPL THE CENTER IN OYMENT THE STATE

NEWYO+ U

HiltonHeadMonthly.com/Subscribe 8/22/18

UE

GIVING

{your vo SEPT EMB

ENTORS ISS

GIFTING &

DEC. 2018

19 C1-C4

S FOR BEGINNERS INTELLE

CTUAL GROWTH GET YOU FINANCESR IN CHECK BEFORE APRIL 15T H

MARY FRASER PM 11/20/18 6:18

Covers.in

dd 1

12/20/18

10:05 AM

Sabrina's friends and family came from all over the U.S. and from Mexico to share the couple's special day. Their Beauty and the Beast”-inspired, fairy talethemed wedding was a magical affair.

84 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

“We definitely focused on making it, not necessarily primarily a Lowcountry theme, but we wanted everyone to experience a little bit of the Lowcountry,” said Corey, who is now a teacher at May River High School.

Belfair added gorgeous Lowcountry ambiance to the event. The oak-lined streets and the garden area of the venue lent natural beauty to the wedding photography captured by Corey Gibson.

Belfair catering manager Jennifer Burns helped coordinate the event.

“The availability of space was amazing. They basically gave us the whole venue,” Sabrina said. “They gave us the garden. They gave us the smaller rooms to get ready.

They told us that basically anything we wanted, they could make it happen. She [Burns] did a really good job at that. I wanted to plan my own wedding, but she was there to 2019 Bridal Guide 85

BRIDAL GUIDE | FEATURED WEDDING

Timeline Sabrina and Corey’s reception Cocktail hour 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Transition: guests seated in reception hall 5:30-5:45 p.m.

Wedding party entrance “I Gotta Feeling” by The Black Eyed Peas 6:15-6:20 p.m.

Bride and groom entrance “Beauty and the Beast”

by John Legend and Ariana Grande 6:20-6:30 p.m.

Prayer 6:30 p.m.

Dinner 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Elvis show Cake cutting by the bride and groom help. I think that gave me control, but also gave me help. That’s one thing I really liked.”

The couple arranged for a private horseand-carriage ride from Sea Island Carriage Company through the plantation during the cocktail hour.

“It gave us some time to be alone,” Sabrina said. “It was right after the ceremony, so it gave us some time to realize what just happened and to be prepared to celebrate it. I think the horse and carriage was a beautiful, beautiful moment.”

Sabrina also was sure to add some of her family’s cultural heritage to the big day as well. With family coming from across the United States and Mexico, she wanted to be sure their traditional values were represented alongside the couple’s modern style. Rev. Anthony Nachef led a bilingual service, much to the couple’s surprise, and the band Mariachi Espuelas de America played for Corey and Sabrina as they left St. Peter’s. The reception also featured a “La Vibora de la Mer,” a traditional Mexican wedding dance. But their first dance as a married couple, though, was to “Dusk Till Dawn” by Zayn, featuring Sia. Sabrina and Corey created a routine for the song that mixed hip-hop and waltz dance moves.

“I think that’s who we are, though,” Sabrina said. “I think he and I are very traditional in a modern version. I wanted a church, I wanted a ballroom… but I wanted to dance.”

86 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

The cake was a three-tiered masterpiece from D’Flavors Bakery, presented on a stand with crystals hanging between each layer and decorated to match the feel of the party.

Toast 7:30 p.m.

Surprise dance “Y Como Es El (Salsa Remix)”

by Marc Anthony and “Dusk Till Dawn”

by Zayn featuring Sia 8-8:15 p.m.

Dancing 8:15-10:30 p.m.

“Vibora de La Mar” 9:15 p.m.

Bride and groom outdoor photoshoot Last dance “You Are the Reason” by Calum Scott 10:30 p.m.

2019 Bridal Guide 87

R

BRIDAL GUIDE | FEATURED WEDDING

A Family Affair

Friends and family pitch in to give couple the perfect wedding

BY JESSICA FARTHING

Wedding Planners David and Rachel Eudy (mostly Rachel) Caterer (Rehearsal Dinner) Crystall and Adam Eudy. (Wedding) Quilium Mercer and Sharon Greene Wedding Officiant Mark Eudy, pastor of The Genesis Group Photographer Matthew Roland Miller; Executive Producer and Lead Photographer of Shadow Shine Pictures Videographer Matthew Roland and Grant Larson (drone shots of the ceremony) Band/DJ Adoration Worship/Michael Taylor and Michael Goldman Baker Adam Eudy | Florist: Horst Flowers.

88 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

R R

achel Eudy had always wanted a fall wedding. She loves the outdoors, so when she and her now-husband, David, decided to get married, they knew they wanted nature to play a big part in their September nuptials.

Friend Tim Wright offered to let the couple use the Lowcountry-style clubhouse at The Paddocks, a neighborhood nestled alongside a stretch of Hilton Head Island tidal creeks.

“We got married right on the marsh, on the waterway in Jarvis Creek,” David said. “It was high tide, absolutely beautiful.”

The couple timed their ceremony just right — even though they didn’t plan it that way. Their first dance coincided with sunset, which provided a dramatic background in pink and gold for their first moments as a couple. Matthew Roland, their photographer, was able to show the happy couple a preview of the unexpected shots — and they left Rachel breathless.

“I grew up in Michigan, so I had no idea what it would be like to have a wedding here. Right in that area, the sunsets are beautiful every night,” she said. “It was perfect timing, but we didn’t even plan it. It just happened that way.”

The evening continued to unfold perfectly, with David and Rachel both describing it as “relaxed.” Of course, that could have been because the guests were also involved in the planning of the event.

WHEN I SAW RACHEL COME DOWN THE AISLE, EVERYTHING GOT STILL, AND I DIDN’T HEAR ANYTHING. I COULD ONLY SEE RACHEL. IT WAS JUST PERFECT.

David’s brother, Adam, is a chef who has cooked at the White House and the Pentagon. He put on the rehearsal dinner, opting for a Lowcountry boil and keeping things simple by laying out the food on a long buffet table. After guests had loaded their plates with she-crab soup from Sigler’s Rotisserie & Seafood in Bluffton, fresh shrimp from Bluffton Oyster Co., hush puppies and key lime pie, Adam suggested that everyone sit next to a person they didn’t know — an idea David fully supported.

“It was wonderful to see the family getting to know each other, a great icebreaker,” he said.

For the ceremony, Rachel took advantage of her sister’s design skills — skills she honed as a stage manager in New York. Using seasonal fall flowers from Horst Wholesale Florist in Charleston, Rachel’s sister crafted beautiful bouquets and table arrangements and a wedding arch. She combined the deep fall colors with bright eucalyptus, complementing the dark teal dresses worn by the bridesmaids. She even decorated the red velvet wedding cake, baked by Adam, with the fall blooms.

2019 Bridal Guide 89

BRIDAL GUIDE | FEATURED WEDDING

WWW.BLUSHBRIDALANDFORMALWEAR.COM

Bluffton’s only full service bridal boutique!

David’s father, an ordained Baptist minister, performed the ceremony. David couldn’t imagine anyone else officiating, and his father felt the same: “He’s always wanted to marry his own children,” David said.

Rachel’s aunt, Sharon Greene, volunteered to cater the event. A professional from Michigan, she joined with another family friend for the barbecue meal, creating a menu that reflected some of Rachel’s family favorites. Most importantly, she made sure the wedding party was served dinner before the buffet was opened to their guests, allowing Rachel and David an opportunity to enjoy their own meals without stress or interruption. They ate their 90 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

Rachel’s sister crafted beautiful bouquets with deep fall colors and blooms that were in season at the time of the wedding.

2019 Bridal Guide 91

BRIDAL GUIDE | FEATURED WEDDING

Southern-inspired feast under lights they strung around the fire pit and pool deck area at The Paddocks, enjoying the moments under the stars.

The couple added a few other personal touches to their big day.

To help ward off the late afternoon heat, Rachel and David added handles to their wedding programs so guests could use them as fans. David said the idea “was a hit,” as the evening was still hot despite a constant breeze coming from the river.

The night before the wedding, Rachel took some time to tie ribbons on the programs.

She also made chalkboard signs to point guests to the ceremony site. David was able to add a taste of his native North Carolina, arranging for the local Cheerwine manufacturer to deliver glass bottles of the sweet soda to be served at the reception.

With all this organization, Rachel felt cool and calm on the day of the wedding, but David was still tense.

“I shouldn’t have been nervous, but I was,” he said. That all changed when the 92 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

Family and friends helped David and Rachel create a personalized, relaxed wedding day that helped everyone get to know each other.

ceremony got underway, though. “When I saw Rachel come down the aisle, everything got still, and I didn’t hear anything. I could only see Rachel. It was just perfect.”

The whole night went off without a hitch, the couple said, and they wouldn’t change a thing. It was a reflection of their lives together, but also the love of their family and friends.

“Everybody really came together,” Rachel said. “We felt really honored and blessed to have them be a part of our special day.”

2019 Bridal Guide 93

BRIDAL GUIDE | ENGAGEMENT RINGS

Engaging Rings

Today's styles mean more options than ever when it comes to the ring

BY MARY HALL

94 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

I

t’s more than a ring. It’s the promise of a future filled with love and happiness, tears and joy, all with the most wonderful man in the world. So why shouldn’t your ring be the most wonderful ring in the world, too? And with today’s styles and multitude of choices, there is sure to be a perfect ring out there just for you.

Many of today’s brides-to-be love the tradition of engagement rings, but they don’t want their rings to look traditional. Many women are opting to make a statement with their bands, opting for a variety of styles: colored stones, classic solitaires, unique cuts, vintage looks or family heirlooms.

Of course, the classic — the round brilliant cut — is always in style.

“Simple, tailored styles are popular and the round brilliant cut fits well in this design, whether in a simple solitaire setting or in a halo ring, which has a circle of diamonds around the center stone,” said Jennifer Lance of Heritage Jewelers.

Brides are also influenced by engagement rings adorning the fingers of popular figures such as Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, both of whom selected sapphires and diamonds.

Colored stones combined with diamonds are popular and make for beautiful and very personal engagement rings.

“People want to do something personal,” said Rebecca Lovette of Forsythe Jewelers, who added that many men love blue stones and combining sapphires with diamonds creates a stylish, chic ring. Also popular, she said, is incorporating the bride’s birthstone into the ring’s design.

And what about mixing metals? Whether in the engagement ring alone or adding bands in contrasting yellow or white gold, using a variety of metal hues can make your sparkler truly pop. While white gold is still the metal of choice for engagement and wedding rings, yellow gold is making a comeback. Don’t forget about rose gold; the feminine, rosy color complements all skin tones and is increasingly popular.

Stacked rings also are totally customizable, making for a wider look with the option of mixing metals. “Diamonds can be put into a simple setting, and then you can do something fun with the bands,” Lovette said. “You can also add to or change out the bands later to update the look.”

But in the end, everyone is different and jewelers must understand their client’s personal style when helping them select a ring. “The type of ring depends on lifestyle and how much use the ring will get,” said Laurie McKenzie of Forsythe Jewelers.

Vintage-inspired trends mean brides can have new rings but still incorporate that Old-World feel. Many families pass diamonds down through generations, simply changing out the setting so each new bride has a custom, personalized ring.

No matter the look you and your fiancé choose, it’s important to do your research and understand the value of the stones you are buying.

“An engagement ring is an investment,” Lance said. “It’s important to be educated about the stone and know what you’re getting for your money.”

2019 Bridal Guide 95

BRIDAL GUIDE | CHILDREN IN WEDDINGS

Young at Heart How to host guests of all ages — or adults only — at your big day

BY ROBYN PASSANTE | PHOTO BY MICHEL BERDA OF KING STREET PHOTO WEDDINGS

F

or Billy and Beth Mayer, who were married Oct. 11 on the beach outside of The Dunes House, exchanging their wedding vows wasn’t so much about saying “I do” as it was proclaiming “we all do” — the bride, the groom and the bride’s two children.

“This was about us forming a family, not just getting married,” says Beth, whose 12-year-old son walked her down the aisle and was the best man, even giving a speech he wrote himself. Her 9-year-old daughter, Mia, was a junior bridesmaid at the wedding, and the groom’s then-4year-old niece served as flower girl.

The couple chose to include the bride’s children in the wedding and invite their guests to bring their little ones because the 96 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

couple couldn’t imagine celebrating their marriage any other way.

“I love kids; kids are my life,” says Billy, an elementary school principal in Ohio. “We wanted the kids there. There was no issue.”

But not all couples feel the same about hosting an all-ages party, and that’s perfectly fine too. There are some key ways to make either wedding style — adult-only or family-friendly — a successful affair.

If you’re including kids: Give them age-appropriate — and personality-appropriate — jobs. Everyone loves to “Awwww” at an adorable 2-year-old in a frilly dress and crown of flowers, but can she really toddle up the aisle all by herself while leaving a perfect trail of rose petals?

If you are asking children to be in your wedding party, give them a role that suits their abilities, attention spans and personalities.

Terribly shy children might not want to stand without their parents at an altar, and a pre-teen might feel silly in a “flower girl” role. Talk to their parents to find a suitable way for them to be part of your ceremony or celebration.

Be kind to little taste buds. Some small children have adventurous palates and enjoy “big kid” food; most, however, prefer kid’s meal staples like mac-and-cheese and chicken fingers. Talk to your caterer about what options can be made available for kids. “We were hearing parents say, ‘Oh my gosh, thank you for the kid’s meal!” Billy says. “Having juices and chocolate milk

was a big deal. It’s the little things.”

Give them something to do. A good host entertains all their guests, not just the ones who can sidle up to the bar. Goody bags with small puzzles, coloring books and little crafts or favors will keep kids busy and parents happy. And photo booths with fun costumes and accessories are a hit with all ages. “For me,” says Beth, “the biggest thing I felt was if the parents are bringing their kids, I want the kids to have enough fun that they’ll be occupied so the parents will be able to have fun too.”

Relax your expectations. Kids are often unpredictable and occasionally messy, so put away your rigid tendencies and understand that there might be spills or tantrums, or a small someone who doesn’t perhaps do exactly what they’re supposed to do when they’re supposed to do it. The thing is, the unpredictability of children is often what makes them so charming, so get ready for some of your most memorable moments to feature some of your smallest guests.

If you’re not including kids: Be clear but be tactful. It’s not necessary to print “ADULTS ONLY” in boldface on your invitation to get your message across. Start by addressing the envelope to exactly who is invited to the wedding.

Some couples opt to include wording such as “We’ve reserved 2 seats for you!” on the response card. Also, your wedding website is a good place to be clear about what kind of reception you’re aiming for. And if there are families you think are considering bringing their children, give them a call to personally address the situation.

Try not to make exceptions. Nothing is more infuriating to parents who arrive at a wedding after hiring a baby sitter because the invitation said “Adult reception,” than to find half a dozen kids of varying ages who somehow made the cut. Apart from special circumstances pertaining to immediate family members, if you say no kids, mean it. If you find yourself bending the rules, it might be time to reconsider if you really do not want children there.

Don’t take negative RSVPs personally. Some people just can’t or don’t want to swing a night out without their children.

When you make the decision to exclude kids from your party, do so with the knowledge that their parents might opt out of your big day, too.

Help out-of-town guests. A good way to be family-friendly while keeping your party for grown-ups is to offer baby-sitting services for your out-of-town guests. You can either hire a few sitters and pay them yourself, setting up a suite at the reception location that includes games, an animated movie and a pizza delivery, or simply give parents a list of personally vetted caretakers or a local baby-sitting service.

2019 Bridal Guide 97

BRIDAL GUIDE | CHECKLIST

TOOLS perfect wedding

for a

1 year +

1. Announ ce your en gagemen 2. Discuss t budget, da tes with b 3. Start lo oth familie oking at c s eremony 4. Start lo and recep oking at w ti o n sites edding go 5. Select a wns nd invite a ttendants 6. Select y our cerem ony officia 7. Create e nt mail acco unt for we correspon dding dance 8. Attend a bridal sh ow 9. Set up y our gift reg istry 10. Start lo oking at fl orists, cate and photo rers, entert graphers/ ainment videograp hers

6-9 months 1. Reserve your reception site 2. Reserve your caterers 3. Finalize your guest list 4. Decide on invitations 5. Decide on entertainment 6. Plan your engagement party 7. Start thinking about your honeymoon 8. Start planning your menu

2 months

1. Address and send invitations 2. Book transportation 3. Choose all music for the ceremony and reception 4. Determine ceremony protocol 5. Confirm ceremony details with participants 6. Purchase bridal party gifts 7. Finalize rehearsal dinner plans and reception menu 8. Design and print wedding programs 9. Arrange fittings for bridal party

2 weeks

lans for seating p d n a r o o lete fl 1. Comp tion involved the recep everyone r fo ts if g s and 2. Wrap speeche n o g in rk o 3. Start w toasts g line e receivin 4. Finaliz

1 week

1. Pick up formalwear and ensure it fits properly 2. Make sure passports and marriage lisence are in hand 3. Pack for honeymoon 4. Pamper yourself with a massag e, manicure and pedicure

Day of Wedding

oon thing and honeym 1. Deliver bridal clo a nue or staging are bag to reception ve ed and makeup appli 2. Have hair styled ecklist 3. Review your ch taken -wedding pictures 4. Have candid pre 5. Get dressed ial day!

6. Enjoy your spec 98 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

3 months

ations ses the invit rty dres 1. Order ridal pa b r fo p sport 2. Sho ake pas e rings m th r d n fo a p n o 3. Sho neymo your ho sary s e c 4. Book e nts, if n e m e g g cake arran weddin e th ts r e men 5. Ord party gif grooms r bridal e fo d th p r o fo h ear 6. S iners an enterta formalw t, e s rv ri e o s fl e 7. R rs with rm orde 8. Confi n site try out-ofreceptio ift regis oms for bridal g ro l p u te t o e h S 9. cks of erve blo 10. Res cheons , and lun ests u rs e g w n o w to s, sh all partie 11. Plan

1 month

1. Submit w edding ann ouncemen local media t to 2. Choose all accesso ries 3. Write Th ank-You n otes for an received y gifts 4. Apply fo r marriage license 5. Send reh earsal dinn er invitatio 6. Draft a s ns eating cha rt for the re tion, if nece cepssary 7. Finalize d etails with all hired pro sionals fes8. Finalize jewlery

ing d d e W e r o f e Day b

in safe place nd license a s g ner n ri t u 1. P hearsal din arsal and re e h re d n e 2. Att items dding-day 3. Pack we vendors 4. Pay the nts to attenda 5. Give gifts

2019 Bridal Guide 99

Honeymoon Help Cash in on your wedding dreams

BY ROBYN PASSANTE

S

The bridal registry is a long-standing wedding tradition, an easy way for couples to indicate to their loved ones some of the gifts that would help them start their marriage in style.

The first bridal registry dates back to 1924, when couples were mainly registering for things like china, silver and crystal patterns.

Over the years, brides and grooms began registering for other kinds of items for their homes, from bath linens to garden tools.

But today’s couples are marrying later and often living together first, which means their homes are pretty well equipped long before they walk down the aisle.

That’s one reason honeymoon registries are an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional department store variety. If you’re on the fence about whether a honeymoon registry is a good idea, consider these points: • Registries are helpful, not tacky. The majority of wedding guests find them to be a super-efficient and easy way to celebrate your marriage with all the guesswork removed.

• A honeymoon or “cash registry” allows you to ask for what you really want, not just the best salt and pepper shaker a particular store happens to sell. Your guests want to buy you a present, but they don’t want to spend their money on something you only registered for because you needed another $20 item on your list.

• Experiences and memories matter more than things, and registering for pricier — and priceless — things like tours and tickets allows guests to chip in for expensive items in a way traditional registries don’t allow.

100 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

Several honeymoon registries have popped up in recent years.

Here is a rundown of five of the most popular ones.

Traveler’s Joy: One of the first honeymoon registries, Traveler’s Joy has been helping wedding guests pay for honeymoons since 2004. Couples can list and describe dinners, outings and items that guests can pay for or contribute to, and gift-givers paying by cash or check are not charged a fee. For credit card purchases, the fee is 2.95 percent plus $0.99, paid for by the gift-giver.

Honeyfund: This one is good for those whose wedding gift dreams are on a grander scale, as guests can opt to contribute to anything from a home loan to the cost of the wedding itself, in addition to the typical honeymoon expenses. With Honeyfund, guests pay the couple directly, but there is an upgrade to the registry that allows guests to send money to the couple via the website. Your gift-givers pay the processing fee of 2.8 percent, plus $0.30.

Wanderable: This free site allows you to create a customized registry website and add photographs, your story and other touches that show gift-givers a more personal look at the memories they’re helping to create for you. You can opt to receive your gifts via direct deposit or a mailed check, with a $0.99 transaction fee at checkout and a 2.5 percent service fee for credit card users, which the couple can absorb rather than their guests.

The Newlywed Fund: This digital cash registry from The Knot is another way for couples to ask for cash in creative ways, with all the beautifully designed features you’d expect from the wedding planning pros at The Knot. You can also link to your traditional registries, if you have them, and the standard 2.5 percent processing fee will be charged to your gift-givers.

Zola: This is a bit of a hybrid registry, perfect for couples who want to register for honeymoon experiences as well as items from regular stores. Zola lets you register for gifts, experiences and funds all in one place. There’s a group gifting option and price matching, so if your guest finds a lower price on a qualifying product from an approved retailer, Zola will match that price.

As with other sites, there is a 2.5 percent processing fee, but the bride and groom can opt to pay for that rather than leave the added expense to their guests. A nice bonus: All remaining gifts you’ve registered for are discounted 20 percent for six months after your wedding date.

2019 Bridal Guide 101

y r o t c e r Di The

A Floral Affair

75

Amazing Event Rentals

84

Belfair Country Club

104

Berkeley Hall

69

Bluffton Aesthetics

87

Blush Bridal & Formal Wear

90

Carolina Weddings

75

Chocolate Canopy

97

Circle of Life/Gardenias

71,77

The Cottage

91

Deevanity's Creative Wonderland

72

East Coast Entertainment

93

Envision Med Spa

73

Haig Point

100-101

Heritage Fine Jewelry

95

Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Resort

90

Hilton Head Entertainment

102

Hilton Head Health & Indigo Spa

98

LowCountry Bride & Gown

87

LowCountry Eye Associates

73

Morris Center for LowCountry Heritage

95

Orange Theory Fitness

72

Palmetto Dunes

99

Pure Barre

79

RIM Photography

84

Rockfish Seafood & Steakhouse

103

Roller's Wine and Spirits

102

Salon Karma

79

Seaquins Ballroom

97

SERG 85

102 hiltonheadbridalshow.com

South Carolina Yacht Club

81

Spartina

67

Westin Resort & Spa

66

IN TROD UC I NG

Smart Parenting in the Lowcountry No matter the age or stage, Parenthood I.Q. is your go to resource for parenting in the Lowcountry.

Explore expertly written articles, local events calendar and advice at the touch of a button.

.com @parenthoodiq

parenthood_iq

Parenthood IQ 2017 Bridal Guide 105

››Home

What is Universal Design?

Universal design, also called barrier-free design, focuses on making the home safe and accessible for everyone, regardless of age, physical ability or stature. Modern universal design remains largely invisible to the casual observer.

106 hiltonheadmonthly.com

IN THE KITCHEN

• Use pulls instead of knobs on cabinets and drawers. These are easier on arthritic hands.

• Install a contrasting edge-band on countertops. This makes it easier for someone with failing eyesight to see the edge of the countertop.

• Elevate the dishwasher to accommodate people in wheelchairs as well as those who may not be able to bend easily.

• To accommodate a cook who uses a wheelchair, leave open space under the sink, cooktop, and prep counter, opt for higher toekicks on the base cabinets, install pull-down shelves in the upper cabinets, and choose a stove with controls at the front or to the side of the cooktop (choose a model with a safety lock-out option if there are also young children in the house).

Good design for everybody

IN THE BATHROOM

CAREFUL PLANNING LETS HOMEOWNERS STAY AT HOME LONGER

• Install countertops with contrasting edge-banding.

• Choose an adjustable-height showerhead so it can easily be positioned at a comfortable height for anyone. Use only anti-scald or pressure balancing valves.

BY STEPHANIE WALLS

• Offset shower and tub controls to the room side of the enclosure so they can easily be reached from outside the tub or shower.

W

hen Warren and Elizabeth Karn designed their new home in Bluffton in 2016, they knew they wanted it to be the last home they ever lived in. For almost a decade, while they worked hard at their fast-paced jobs in Chicago, they dreamed of retiring to the Lowcountry and building their dream home on the lot they had purchased in a private community. When that day finally came, they needed a house that would suit them into their golden years.

“I want to live here and enjoy it every day until they haul me out feet first,” said Warren, 68.

Although both husband and wife are in good health, they wanted a home that would be easy to navigate and comfortable for years to come.

Also, Elizabeth’s sister visits frequently and uses a wheelchair, and the couple wanted all aspects of the

• Install grab bars — or install blocking between the studs so that grab bars can easily be added in the future.

• To provide wheelchair access, install a curbfree shower pan, choose a wall-hung sink with covered pipes, and try to provide a 60-inch clear floor space for turning the wheelchair. home to be accessible for her. Enter the principles of universal design.

In addition to raising resale value in a real estate market that reflects the needs of an aging population, applying universal design concepts such as wider doors and hallways makes a house feel more spacious — the Karns’ home incorporates many of these concepts. Here are some other steps homeowners, architects and builders can take to make homes more user-friendly.

THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE

• Choose lever-style handles instead of doorknobs.

• Ensure hallways and doorways are at least 32 inches wide.

• Avoid changes in floor height, including thresholds.

• Lower switches and raise outlets so that they can be reached from a seated position.

February 2019 107

Search These and All Area Listings at CollinsGroupRealty.com

27 Yorkshire Drive

3 Tall Pines Road

38 Plantation Drive

Wexford 4BD | 3.5BA | MLS#386365 Remodeled in 2018, Golf Views $619,000 21 Egret Street

Hilton Head Plantation 0.37 Acres | MLS#383947 Homesite with Lagoon Views $164,900 47 Harbour Passage E

Sea Pines Golf Views | MLS#388957 1.3 Acre Estate, Private Pool $1,325,000 43 S Beach Lagoon Drive

North Forest Beach 3rd Row | MLS#388042 On Beach Path, Ocean Oriented $600,000 5 Balmoral Place

Windmill Harbour 3BD | 2.5BA | MLS#374297 Unbelievable Tidal Marsh Views $655,000 75 Plantation Drive

Sea Pines $600K Remodel | MLS#378492 Oceanfront Estate with 2 Pools $8,900,000 8K Fiddlers Cove Villas

The Golf Club at Indigo Run Golf Views | MLS#379735 4BD | 5.5BA | 3-Car Garage $879,000 3 N Star Lane

Sea Pines 0.43 Acres | MLS#388023 One-of-a-kind Homesite, Golf Views

$695,500 7 Palmetto Beach Lane

Folly Field 2BD | 2BA | MLS#385522 Updated, Top-Floor Location $173,900 602 Havenview Lane

Alljoy Area 3BD | 2.5BA | MLS#385584 Waterfront Home with Private Dock $434,500

Alljoy Area 3BD | 2BA | MLS#388656 Boat Shed, Close to Public Dock $399,000

Sun City 3BD | 3BA | MLS#385500 Willow Bend with Screened Porch $377,900

DOWNSIZING

WORKSHOP

THE LATEST TRENDS AND STRATEGIES

What can I do now to prepare my home for sale?

I’m thinking about downsizing, but where do I start?

Join us for a casual evening as we demystify these important topics in a quality discussion led by Chip Collins, Owner & Listing Specialist of Collins Group Realty. Guest speakers offer robust insight on their respective area of expertise. Plus, bring your questions for the Q&A session. Space is limited - sign up today.

Door prizes, and refreshments to follow!

Call or Visit our Website for Future Event Dates

Collins Structured to Serve

Group Realty

These complimentary workshops fill up fast. Register today.

CollinsGroupRealty.com/Seminar

Hilton Head (843) 341-6300 | Bluffton (843) 837-6700 | CollinsGroupRealty.com This is an educational workshop, no products will be sold. No Agents/Brokers/Advisors permitted. Reader’s Choice Award for Best Real Estate Company in Hilton Head.

››Real Estate News

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY WELCOMES TWO Susie Castellini and Andrew Pietz have joined Berkshire Hathaway as real estate professionals. Castellini is originally from the Cincinnati area and has a degree in sociology from Xavier University. She moved to Hilton Head Island in 2001. Pietz has worked in the service industry for over 20 years, owning three hair salons including Blow the Hair Bar in Bluffton.

CENTURY21 DIAMOND REAL ESTATE ADDS FOUR Tracy Cochran, Robin Fout, Amanda Gossett and Carla Raines have joined CENTURY21 Diamond Real Estate as sales professionals. Cochran has 17 years of experience as a licensed real estate agent and broker with CENTURY21 Allard & Merrill in New Hampshire. Fout relocated to the area from Akron, Ohio, where she worked in sales and management in the dental industry for over 20 years. Gossett has over 15 years of marketing experience with the advertising industry. Raines has lived in the Lowcountry for over 32 years. Previously, she worked in the insurance industry and later the medical industry.

BERKELEY HALL CLUB EARNS TOP HONORS FOR 2019-20 Berkeley Hall Club has been listed among the Top Platinum Clubs of America for 2019-20 by Club Leaders Forum. This is the most highly respected acknowledgement bestowed in the private club industry. Berkeley Hall was No. 54 among the nation's top private clubs.

Qualification is based on criteria including excellence in amenities and facilities, caliber of staff and professional service levels, governance and prudent fiscal management, and other categories.

BORTH JOINS VILLAGE PARK HOMES Village Park Homes has welcomed Debbie Borth to its sales team.

Borth will lead the sales efforts for a new semi-custom, buildon-your-lot division called Village Park Signature Homes.

126 hiltonheadmonthly.com

NEW STATE HOA LAWS GO INTO EFFECT South Carolina lawmakers passed legislation in 2018 that requires homeowners associations to file all governing documents, amendments, rules and regulations with the county land records department. The law went into effect Jan. 1. Granting residents public access to these documents means that homebuyers can know in advance if the HOA governing their new or prospective home limits lawn decorations, garage additions or paint colors, for example.

RE/MAX BLUFFTON OPENS NEW LOCATION RE/MAX Bluffton celebrated the opening of its new location on Bruin Road in Bluffton with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in January. The new office features custom architectural millwork

by Hank Carroll, including wood flooring milled from trees that fell during Hurricane Matthew.

SEA PINES BEACH CLUB WELCOMES FOUR Sea Pines Beach Club Real Estate has added Sara Callen, John Coulter, Susan Ochsner and Paula Traver as real estate sales professionals.

Callen has been a licensed Realtor since 2005. Previously, she worked in pharmaceutical sales. Coutler has lived in the area since 1973. Previously, he worked at Bank of Beaufort and retired in 2005. Ochsner grew up on Hilton Head Island. Traver became a Realtor in 2003. She has been featured on the HGTV show “Island Life” five times, most recently in December.

HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NAMES OFFICERS, PRESENTS HONORS The Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association has named its 2019 officers and directors and presented awards to the group’s Builder and Associate Members of the Year. These awards are presented each year to individuals representing the organization’s builder and associate membership for their outstanding dedication and contributions to the group, the community and the building industry. Michael Saba of Artisan Homes-Hilton Head, LLC was honored as the Builder Member of the Year.

Associate Member of the Year was awarded to Bill Ludwig of Pella Window and Door Co., Inc.

REALTOR TO LEAD SOUTHERN COAST HEART BALL Catherine Donaldson, a Realtor with Celia Dunn Sotheby’s International Realty, has been named chairwoman of the 22nd annual Heart Ball of the Southern Coast by the American Heart Association. The Heart Ball will be held Feb. 2 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Donaldson lost her husband, Brad, after he suffered a massive heart attack in 2016.

DATAW ISLAND EARNS AUDUBON AWARD Dataw Island received an award and re-certification for 10 years as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary-certified golf courses. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary program helps golf courses protect the environment and enhance wildlife habitats that golf courses provide.

February 2019 127

››Sports

Best of the Best TOP HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS RECOGNIZED

BY JUSTIN JARRETT

W

ith the 2018 high school football season in the rear-view mirror, LowcoSports.com recently recognized the area’s best players by naming them to the R Bar & Grill All-Lowco Football Team.

With all 12 area teams qualifying for the postseason, including four region champions, two state champions, a state runner-up, and two teams who completed undefeated regular seasons, there were plenty of outstanding performers across the Lowcountry. Narrowing the list to the area’s top players was no easy task.

Coaches submitted their nominations, and a combination of statistics and coaches’ assessments of both their own players and opponents weighed heavily in determining who made the cut. Factor in the challenge of comparing players from various leagues ranging from SCHSL Class 4A to SCISA 8-Man, and the exercise becomes even more daunting.

Players named to the first and second teams were honored at the inaugural All-Lowco Football Awards Brunch on Jan. 5 at R Bar & Grill in Bluffton. May River High School quarterback Ahmad Green earned Offensive Player of the Year honors and Beaufort High School’s Will Kelley was named Defensive Player of the Year. May River’s Rodney Summers was named Coach of the Year after leading the Sharks to a 12-1 season in their third year of existence following back-to-back two-win seasons.

Diante Richard Hilton Head Island High School wide receiver Diante Richard led the area with 766 receiving yards.

140 hiltonheadmonthly.com

The list included players from public and private schools in Beaufort and Jasper counties. Here are the top picks from Bluffton and Hilton Head Island: OFFENSE Quarterback: Ahmad Green, May River High School Passed for 1,080 yards with 14 touchdowns and 2 interceptions and rushed for 1,034 yards and 14 touchdowns Running Back: Brandon Morales, May River High School Racked up 1,765 rushing yards (135.8 per game) and 23 touchdowns Wide Receiver: Diante Richard, Hilton Head Island High School.

Led area with 766 receiving yards and added 411 rushing yards with 12 total touchdowns Wide Receiver: Shamar Sandgren, Bluffton High School Caught 46 passes for 681 yards and 8 touchdowns and was dangerous return man for Bobcats Offensive Line: Gabe Long, May River High School Selected for the North-South All Star game and anchored a dominant offensive line Offensive Line: Connor Kovacs, May River High School Graded 90 percent for offensive line that led powerful rushing attack DEFENSE Defensive Line: Roderick Grant, May River High School Powerful interior lineman collected 119 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks Defensive Line: Ronald Reid, Bluffton High School Speed rusher was nearly unblockable with 96 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks Linebacker: Melik Frost, John Paul II Catholic School Two-way standout had 124 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 6 sacks Linebacker: Jordan Barrow, May River High School Sharks’ leading tackler (155) had 15 tackles and 4 pass break-ups Defensive Back: Terry Fields, May River High School Led area with 9 interceptions and broke up 6 passes Defensive Back: Jayden Void, May River High School Shut-down corner racked up 23 pass break-ups with 3 picks Defensive Back: Cole DeMarzo, Hilton Head Island High School.

Collected 70 tackles, 2 picks, and 11 pass break-ups in just six games SPECIALISTS Kicker: Evan Hayes, Bluffton High School Led area with 8 field goals, including game-winner vs. Hanahan Punter: Jacob Weaver, Hilton Head Island High School Averaged area-best 46.9 yards per punt February 2019 141

››Environment

142 hiltonheadmonthly.com

O

Shuck It, Don’t Chuck It OYSTER SHELL RECYCLING

BY CARRIE HIRSCH PHOTOS BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

ysters are a familiar sight in the Lowcountry, both on dinner plates and in area waters. But without careful conservation, that won’t always be the case. A local environmental program is hoping to replenish these important natural filters even as local diners slurp more and more of them out of their shells.

Oysters provide a habitat for species including fish, shrimp, crabs, clams, snails and worms, creating the base of the salt march food web.

“Also, oyster reefs create a breakwater, stabilizing shorelines and reducing erosion caused by waves and boat wake,” said Dr. Jean Fruh, executive director of the nonprofit The Outside Foundation.

Oyster larvae must attach to a hard surface — ideally another oyster — to develop. Female oysters releases millions of eggs in the fall, which are fertilized by sperm dispersed in salt water by male oysters. But area diners’ voracious appetite for oysters is having a big impact on oyster populations: We’re eating them faster than they can replenish themselves.

The Outside Foundation is working with the Coastal Discovery Museum and local restaurants to reverse that trend.

Thanks to their efforts, when oysters are served up at area restaurants, the shells are recycled back into the water to help new oysters grow.

February 2019 143

››Environment

“It was a phone call to Al Stokes at the Waddell Mariculture Center that planted the seed for this project,” Fruh said.

In 2017, Fruh received a grant from the Patagonia Foundation to start an oyster shell recycling program on Hilton Head Island. Previously, the closest recycling site was Trask Landing in Bluffton.

The $9,000 grant covered recycling pickups at local restaurants, printing costs for educational materials and signage, and administration costs. When the grant ran out in July, many of the restaurants decided to continue recycling the shells, paying for it themselves. Weekly pickup is $25, so the restaurants pay $100 a month.

The men, women and teenagers who bus tables at Hilton Head seafood restaurants are on the front lines of this conservation effort. They scrape the shells from diners’ plates into special collection buckets that get emptied into 35-gallon bins on wheels. Locally owned commercial recycling company i2 Recycle picks up the bins on Tuesday mornings using a special trailer, then dumps them at the Coastal Discovery Museum’s 68-acre

144 hiltonheadmonthly.com

Honey Horn property where they are sanitized by the sun in piles just past the front gate.

Coastal Discovery Museum president and CEO Rex Garniewicz said the recycling program is educational because many people don't understand the importance of returning oyster shells to the environment.

“There are so many benefits to this recycling; it helps reduce waste in our landfills, it helps new oysters grow, and they in turn help clean our oceans,” he said.

Local and non-local shells are recycled together according to South Carolina Department of Natural Resources guidelines.

“It’s a three- to six-month quarantine, while mother nature eats away all the fleshy bits,” Fruh said.

SCDNR picks up the bags of shells as

needed and submerges them at locations in local waterways.

Because only about 15 percent of oyster shells consumed in South Carolina are recycled, SCDNR — funded by taxpayers — currently must purchase oyster shells from other states to replenish the beds harvested each year.

Area restaurants play an essential role in the Oyster Recycling and Reef Build Initiative.

In addition to recycling shells, Coligny Plaza-based FISH Casual Coastal Seafood restaurant donated $1,800 to The Outside Foundation. J.R. Richardson, owner of FISH, said the restaurant’s menu has always revolved around “the delicious seafood provided by local waterways, and we’re doing what we can to help keep those waterways healthy.”

Fruh said The Sea Pines Resort has been recycling oyster shells for years,

formerly trucking them to the Bluffton site. Last year, the Hilton Head Island Oyster Festival joined the program and recycled 195 bags of shucked shell.

We prevented that enormous amount of shell from going to the landfill, as it had in previous years,” Fruh said.

Abby Wirth of Coastal Restaurants and Bars Group said the company was proud to be involved in this positive community effort. And individuals can also get involved in recycling oyster shells.

“If it’s a shell (oyster, clam and mussels), it can be recycled. Simply place your shucked shell in a bucket and bring the bucket to Honey Horn,” Fruh said. “The oyster shell drop-off site is just inside the main gate on the left side in the open field.

And bagging volunteers ages 12 and older are welcome!”

For more information on the program, go to outsidefoundation.org.

February 2019 145

Christ Lutheran Church & Preschool

We are disciples of Jesus, Growing in Faith, Serving our Community and Connecting others to Christ.

First Presbyterian Church Changing Lives…Making Disciples

Traditional Worship Sundays 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary CrossRoads Contemporary Worship at 9:45 a.m.

Our worship times are: 8:30 a.m. Blended Worship 9:45 a.m. Coffee Fellowship & Faith Formation Classes 10:30 a.m. Traditional Worship (both services include Holy Communion and a Children’s Message) INFO@CLCHHI.COM CLCHHI.ORG

829 WILLIAM HILTON PKWY HILTON HEAD ISLAND (843) 785.5560

St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC

“LOVE MUST BE SINCERE. HATE WHAT IS

Serving Hilton Head, Bluffton & The World

Hilton Head Relaxed Traditional 9 & 11:15am Bluffton Worship Contemporary 10:30am 20 POPE AVE. HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC 29928

39 PERSIMMON, SUITE 203 BLUFFTON, SC 29910

INFO@FPCHHI.ORG FPCHHI.ORG

540 WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY, HILTON HEAD ISLAND (843) 681.3696

EVIL; CLING TO WHAT IS GOOD. BE DEVOTED TO ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE. HONOR ONE ANOTHER ABOVE YOURSELVES.”

STANDREWBYTHESEA@GMAIL.COM SAINTANDREWBYTHESEA.COM (843) 785.4711

~ ROMANS 12:9-10

A strong faith community starts with a powerful message.

LET US HELP YOU REACH NEW MEMBERS. Contact Katie Hatfield at 843-707-2098 or email katie@freymedia.com.

146 hiltonheadmonthly.com

based on interpretation of Scripture. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), of which Christ Lutheran Church, Hilton Head, is a member, has approximately 3.5 million baptized members in 9,252 congregations.

The ELCA ordains men and women to be pastors, and we practice an open table, which means any person who is baptized in the name of the Triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), no matter their affiliation, is welcome to receive Holy Communion.

Christ Lutheran Church was officially organized as a family of faith in 1973. Our mission statement summarizes our purpose here: “We are disciples of Jesus, GROWING in faith, SERVING our community, and CONNECTING others to Christ.”

We gather for worship on Sunday mornings at 8:30 a.m. for a blended service (combining traditional and contemporary elements), 10:30 a.m. for a traditional mass, and Wednesdays at 6 p.m. for our CONNECTED Faith Encounter, an informal, experiential, and interactive worship experience.

We believe in effective ministry, both inside and outside our walls. We greatly emphasize outreach ministries, and are active with local nonprofit organizations Family Promise, Backpack Buddies, The Deep Well Project, and Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity. We support a mission church in the African nation of Malawi and participate in offering a weekly soup kitchen meal at St. James Baptist Church on Beach City Road.

Our flagship ministry to the community, Christ Lutheran Preschool, teaches social skills and prepares young students for future educational challenges, within a Christian environment. Our preschool, staffed by certified teachers, is licensed by the South Carolina Department of Social Services and accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the gold standard in preschool operations.

We invite you into our family to worship God in Christ, experience the joy of the Holy Spirit, discover your spiritual gifts, and apply them in ministries that make a difference for our community.

The Rev. Dr. Emil H. Klatt III is pastor of Christ Lutheran Church-Hilton Head Island

Saved by grace

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH STRIVES TO GROW, CONNECT AND SERVE

BY EMIL KLATT | PHOTO BY MICHAEL LUPI

I

am delighted to have this opportunity to introduce you to Christ Lutheran Church, Hilton Head!

So, what’s a Lutheran, and who is Christ Lutheran Church, Hilton Head?

Lutheranism originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation when a Roman Catholic priest and university professor, Martin Luther, called for major reforms in the authority of the Roman Papacy. Luther had no intention of creating a break-away church or denomination. However, the reaction of the Roman Church to Luther’s writings and teachings made it clear that a schism was inevitable.

While Luther’s theology was firmly based on the Gospels, he was also drawn

deeply into the writings of St. Paul, particularly those citations which teach that salvation is a gift freely given by God in Christ, and that no act on our part can merit that gift. Our “works” are then done in response to this great gift. This perspective on our relationship with the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is meant to free us from the burden of trying to earn our way into heaven. Lutherans believe that we are saved from sin by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of Scripture alone, and that faith itself is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

World-wide, the Lutheran Church, numbering nearly 80 million, is made up of different types of Lutheran denominations,

CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH & PRESCHOOL | 829 WILLIAM HILTON PARKWAY | HILTON HEAD ISLAND | (843) 785.5560

February 2019 147

››Calendar | FEBRUARY

v

Feb. 2 BLUFFTON ROTARY ANNUAL OYSTER ROAST: All-you-caneat fresh roasted local oysters, homemade chili, bratwurst, hot dogs, and our famous hand-cut fresh fries, plus live music by The Chiggers. $35.

5-8 p.m., Bluffton Oyster Factory Park, Bluffton. townofbluffton.sc.gov.

PHOTO BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT

Through Feb. 10 “MONET TO MATISSE: Masterworks of French Impressionism from the Dixon Gallery and Gardens”: “Monet to Matisse” features 30 paintings from the renowned collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Telfair Museums, 207 W York St., Savannah. 912-790-8800 or telfair.org.

Through Feb. 25 “GENERATIONS”: Discover original works created by eight members of the renowned Palmer family of artists. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MondaysSaturdays and 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Sundays, Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223.

Through Feb. 28

150 hiltonheadmonthly.com

BEAUFORT HISTORY MUSEUM PRESENTS SPECIAL FILM EXHIBIT: “Beaufort in Films,” a special exhibit at Beaufort History Museum presented in partnership with Ron and Rebecca Tucker of the Beaufort Film Society, is currently open to the public. It is part of the annual Beaufort International Film Festival, which will be held Feb. 1924. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Beaufort History Museum, 713 Craven St., Beaufort. beauforthistorymuseum.com.

Through March HILTON HEAD ISLAND BRIDGE CLUB’S WINTER WORKSHOPS: The club’s winter workshops will be held January through March.

These workshops are for beginner, beginner plus, and intermediate players and are open to the general public. Tuesdays, “Cuebids and Counting” intermediate classes; and Fridays, beginner classes to learn how to play. $15. 10 a.m.noon, Hilton Head Bridge Club, Port Royal Plaza, Hilton Head Island. kbwalsh@roadrunner.com.

Through March 2 “ARTS OB WE PEOPLE”: Winter Exhibition And Sale: A display of original work by emerging and leading artists that represents the life of Gullah people on Hilton Head Island and the surrounding Lowcountry. Artists will be available at various times throughout the exhibit. Private group tours are available by request. Free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Art League of Hilton Head Gallery, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. gullahcelebration.com.

Feb. 1-3 LEAN ENSEMBLE THEATER PRESENTS “A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2” BY LUCAS HNATH: In the final scene of Ibsen’s 1879 masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and children and begin a life on her own. This climactic event — when Nora slams the door on everything in her life — instantly propelled world drama into the modern age. In “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” many years have passed since Nora’s exit. Now, there’s a knock on

that same door. Nora has returned.

Tickets are $40 for adults; $15 for students and active-duty military.

7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and 2; 2 p.m. Feb. 3. Hilton Head Preparatory School Theater, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head Island. 843-715-6676 or leanensemble.org.

Feb. 1-15 GULLAH MUSIC SERIES FEATURING GOSPEL CHOIRS: Celebrate and honor the spiritual thread that binds the African ancestors and the Gullah of today.

Free. 7 p.m., Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 382 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island. gullahcelebration.com.

OUTSIDE HILTON HEAD’S ANNUAL RECYCLE YOUR JACKET PROGRAM: In an effort to provide warm clothing to those in need, Outside Hilton Head is collecting donations of sweaters, coats and jackets in good condition and will donate to The Deep Well Project. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Outside Hilton Head, 50 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

Feb. 2 OL’ FASHIONED GULLAH BREAKFAST: Enjoy a home-cooked traditional Gullah meal, prepared by members of the local Gullah community coordinated by Ooman Chef Louise Cohen. $12 a plate. 8 a.m.-noon, Cherry Hill School, 209 Dillon Road, Hilton Head Island.

SOUPERBOWL OF CARING FOR SECOND HELPINGS: Local restaurants will be serving up their favorite soups at Coligny Plaza, in the area between FISH Casual Coastal Seafood and Skillets. The event is a fundraiser for Second Helpings, a local charity that “rescues” food from area grocery stores and delivers it to food pantries. $10. Noon-4 p.m., Coligny Plaza, 1 N Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island.

SOUTHERN COAST HEART BALL: The annual Heart Ball celebrates efforts to build a foundation of health in the community and ensure everyone lives a longer, healthier life.

The evening’s festivities will include dinner and a live auction. $225. 5:309:30 p.m., The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, 2 Grasslawn Ave., Hilton Head Island. 843-540-6338.

HHSO YOUTH CONCERTO COMPETITION: The Hilton Head Symphony Youth Concerto Competition has been attracting the most talented young musicians from throughout the southeastern United Sates every year. The competition provides a rare opportunity for young musicians to perfect a concerto movement from the professional repertoire and perform at a level that far exceeds what is required in the studio. $15. 1:30-4:30 p.m.

SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island. 843- 842-2055 or hhso.org.

Feb. 3 PEACOCK SUBARU AND PALMETTO ANIMAL LEAGUE FEATURED IN ANIMAL PLANET’S PUPPY BOWL XV: In celebration of the event, Peacock Subaru will hold a Puppy Bowl Watch Party before the Super Bowl, complete with tailgating refreshments provided by One Hot

Mama’s and music from co-host 104.9 The Surf. Palmetto Animal League will bring adoptable dogs to join the party, so you could leave the event with a new furry family member. 2:30-5 p.m., Peacock Subaru Hilton Head, 111 Drivers Way Suite A, Hardeeville. 843-208-1258 or peacockautomotive.com.

Feb. 5 “CAMELLIAS: HISTORY AND ROMANTIC STORIES OF OUR ‘WINTER ROSE’”: Learn more about the Coastal Discovery Museum’s Camellia Garden from Master Gardeners and garden founders Donna and Fred Manske, who will share legends of the camellia and tips on growing your own in the Lowcountry. $10; reservations are required. 10 a.m.noon, Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS DAY: Join historic First African Baptist Church for a family night program focusing on traditional and contemporary Gullah songs. The program will be followed by a reception featuring samples of authentic Gullah food. Free. 7 p.m., First African Baptist Church, 70 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.

Feb. 6 PALMETTO PLANT EATERS CLUB: The club is open to the public, and meets monthly to teach and support whole-food, plant-based vegan eating. This month’s guest speaker will be Mary Connor. Free. 6:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Congregation Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. palmettoplanteaters.com.

Feb. 6, 13 & 20 THE INTERSECTION OF GREAT ART AND HISTORY: Candace Lovely will take us on a journey in time with background stories about the artists who documented historical events as viewed in the great museums of the world. Membership and registration fees for winter/spring are due immediately, unless you renewed your membership in the fall.

The membership fee is $20 and

February 2019 151

››Calendar Feb. 2 the registration fee is $45. 1:30-3:30 p.m., TidePointe, 700 Tide Point Way, Hilton Head Island. lifelonglearninghhi.org.

Feb. 7

MITCHELVILLE’S FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATES WOMEN

M

itchelville Preservation Project will present “The Women of Mitchelville” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 2 during its annual Freedom Day program, in partnership with the monthlong Gullah Celebration on Hilton Head Island. This program is part of a series focusing on the untold stories of the people of Mitchelville and their experiences during the Reconstruction Era. It will include a follow-up to the BBC series “The Hidden Dawn of Freedom” by Peter Jackson with an in-depth conversation between a descendant of Mitchelville and a descendant of Gen. Ormsby Mitchel and a performance by the renowned Marlena Smalls. Mitchelville is a testament to the perseverance of people who struggled to gain independence and went on to become a thriving community on Hilton Head.

Freedom Day in Mitchelville is a family friendly event. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs, but coolers are not allowed. The event is free, and donations are accepted.

Mitchelville Freedom Park is located at 229 Beach City Road on Hilton Head.

For more information, call 843-255-7301 or go to exploremitchelville.org.

152 hiltonheadmonthly.com

AMERICAN REVOLUTION ROUND TABLE-SC: The Round Table meets quarterly to explore historic events and people of the American Revolution era emphasizing the importance of the South. Douglas Bostick will speak about the work of the S.C. Battleground Preservation Trust. 11:30 a.m., social time and lunch; 1 p.m., speaker. The Golf Club at Indigo Run, 101 Berwick Drive, Hilton Head Island.

757-561-3035 or 843-707-7049.

Feb. 8 HANDEL & BACH: Featuring Handel’s Organ Concerto in G Minor Op 4. No. 3 and Bach’s Solo Cantata, “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen,” sung by Rebecca Flaherty; both with chamber orchestra. $20 suggested donation. 7 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 3001 Meeting St., Hilton Head Island. 843-681-8333 or allsaints-hhi.org.

MATT NAKOA AT MUSIC ON MALPHRUS: Matt Nakoa is an internationally touring singer/songwriter, recently appearing at the White House and regularly with folk icon Tom Rush. His first album, “Light In The Dark,” was a sweeping pop opus, while “A Dozen Other Loves” explores an intimate acoustic palette. Doors open at 6, show starts at 7. $20. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton.

843-837-3330 or uulowcountry.org.

GULLAH MUSIC SERIES FEATURING THE VOICES OF EL SHADDAI: Celebrate and honor the spiritual thread that binds African ancestors to the Gullah of today.

This installment of the Gullah Celebration’s annual music series features the renowned Voice of El Shaddai. Free. 7 p.m., Queen Chapel AME Church, 114 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.

MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR: The tour will visit Hilton Head Island with films that will explore the themes connected to Mountainfilm’s mission: Using the power of film, art and ideas to inspire audiences to create a better world. $15 for matinees; $45 for evening gala. 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Coligny Theatre, Coligny Plaza, Hilton Head Island. For tickets, hhiacademy.com/events.

Feb. 9 17TH ANNUAL HILTON HEAD ISLAND MARATHON, Marathon Team Relay, Half Marathon & 8K Road Runners Club of America Regional Marathon Championship Race: This year, the Hilton Head Island Marathon has been chosen as the 2019 RRCA Marathon Southern Region Championship. All participants receive a colorful long sleeve tech T-shirt plus all marathon, half marathon and 8K finishers will receive a unique finisher’s medal. The Sonesta Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa will host a race expo and packet pickup from 4:30-8 p.m. Feb. 8. 7 a.m., Jarvis Creek Park, 100 Jarvis Park Road, Hilton Head Island. To register, Bear Foot Sports at 843-757-8520 or bearfootsports.com.

FOR THE LOVE OF PAWS VALENTINE’S DAY FUNDRAISER: Save the date for the annual For the Love of Paws Valentine’s Day Fundraiser benefiting Hilton Head Humane Association. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-8686.

TASTE OF GULLAH: This one-of-kind afternoon filled with authentic Gullah dishes such as okra gumbo, conch stew, fried shrimp dusted in traditional Gullah seasonings, and classic barbecue favorites like char-grilled chicken and ribs. While you eat, enjoy the entertainment of several local artists like traditional dancers, musicians and storytellers. $12 a plate. Noon-3 p.m., Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island.

SWEETHEART BALL: This event is sure to keep you dancing all evening long with music

performed by Stee and the Ear Candy. Tickets include a buffet of Lowcountry foods; a cash bar will be available. $65 a person or $650 for a reserved table of eight. 7-11 p.m., The Northridge Club, 435 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

LOVE YOUR SOUND CRAFT DAY: Bring the little ones by the Port Royal Sound Foundation’s Maritime Center for some Valentine’s Day fun. Create a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special just in time for Valentine’s Day. Recommended for ages 3-10. No registration necessary. Free. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Port Royal Sound Foundation, 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie.

Feb. 9 & 10 19TH ANNUAL LOW COUNTRY HOME & GARDEN SHOW: Get inspired by new home and garden ideas and seminars, explore aisles of the latest home products and services, save money with showonly discounts, and have fun with activities for the whole family. Tickets are $7 for adults; free for children 16 and younger, as well as active-duty military and first responders; $6 for seniors ages 65 and older, and for retired military. Discount offers cannot be combined. Coupons only apply to adult admission. Military discount does not apply to dependents. 2 p.m. Feb. 9 and 5 p.m. Feb. 10.

Savannah Convention Center, 1 International Drive, Savannah. savannahhomeandgardenshow.com.

Feb. 9-21 “HILTON HEAD ISLAND BACK IN THE DAY: THROUGH EYES OF GULLAH ELDERS”: A feature-length documentary featuring Gullah elders, the descendants of freedmen, based on historic Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. They share their personal stories about their communities, farming, fishing, upbringing, church, education, Northern Migration, food ways, language and the developmet that came with the construction of the bridge in 1956 and how it greatly impacted their lives. Cost is $7. 7 p.m., Coligny Theater, 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island.

Feb. 10 GULLAH INSTITUTE PRESENTS “THE IMPACT OF THE GREAT MIGRATION ON GULLAH CULTURE”: Come hear from historians, authors and artists including a fireside chat with Dianne Britton Dunham and Anita Singleton Prather on the impact the Great Migration, from 1916 to 1970, had on the American South. Plus a special presentation of culture and community awards for outstanding leaders and supporters. $20; includes food and beverages. 4-6 p.m., The Northridge Club, 435 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

HELPING PARENTS HEAL: This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting parents who have lost children, giving them support and resources to aid in the healing process. Everyone is welcome to join the group’s meeting. 1-3 p.m., The Unitarian Universalist Church, Malphrus Road, Bluffton.

201-233-6015.

“IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER”: Award-winning photographer Edith Wood has always loved the outdoors. She uses natural light and composition to capture perfect moments in time. Her photography exhibit “In the Eye of the Beholder” will showcase wildlife, landscape and macro photography. 3-5 p.m., Society of Bluffton Artists Gallery, 6 Church St., Old Town, Bluffton.

843-757-6586.

Feb. 12 SOUL FOOD AND FRIENDS COOKING CLASSES: Great cooking is about more than recipes — it’s about techniques. This is your chance to learn from celebrity chef Sallie Ann Robinson about traditional Gullah cooking and the history of the dishes that are staple meals of Gullah families and friends. Space is limited. $40. 6-8 p.m., The Northridge Club, 435 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

February 2019 153

››Calendar Fe. 13-17 EVENING SPEAKER SERIES: AMBASSADOR EVERETT BRIGGS: Ambassador Everett Briggs will discuss the future of U.S.-Cuban foreign policy. $25. 5:157:15 p.m. University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Hilton Head Island Campus, 21 Office Park Road, Hilton Head Island.

Feb. 12-March 3

as they sing songs to remind us what love is really about. Ticket price includes three-course dinner and entertainment; for ages 21 and older. $60. 6 p.m., Venue 1223, 1223 May River Road, Bluffton. 231-330-3377.

Feb. 15 GULLAH MUSIC SERIES FEATURING MALE CHORUSES: Celebrate and honor the spiritual thread that binds the African ancestors and the Gullah of today. Free. 7 p.m., First African Baptist Church, 70 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.

Feb. 16

HILTON HEAD PREP PRESENTS

“JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT”

T

he biblical story of Joseph and his famous coat will come to life Feb. 13-17 during Hilton Head Preparatory School’s performance of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

The musical follows Joseph to Egypt after he was sold into slavery by his brothers and his reunion with his family in forgiveness. The show features musical styles from country-western to calypso and bubble gum pop to rock ‘n’ roll. The cast of 30 includes students, faculty, staff and parents. Seniors Avery Campbell, Justin Stone and Frank Milbourn are in lead roles for their final Prep production. The show runs Feb. 13-17 at Hilton Head Preparatory School’s Main Street Theatre. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

For tickets and information, call 843-715-8510 or go to hhprep.org.

154 hiltonheadmonthly.com

”BLITHE SPIRIT”: A Noel Coward comedy classic, “Blithe Spirit” is set at the house of writer Charles Condomine and his wife, Ruth. One evening, Charles invites local eccentric medium Madame Arcati to hold a séance at his house.

He asks his friends Dr. and Mrs. Bradman to join them, intending to gather character inspiration from Madame Arcati for Condomine’s latest book.

Tickets are $39 for adults for performances Feb. 12-14 and $49 for performances Feb. 15-March 3; $26 for children ages 5-15 for performances Feb. 12-14 and $36 for Feb. 15-March 3. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. artshhi.com.

Feb. 13 & 27 PAINT AND SIP: Join us for a two-hour session and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Exhibiting artists in the annual “Arts Ob We People” exhibit and sale will guide you with strokeby-stroke instructions to ensure you paint your own unique masterpiece. $30, bring your snacks and beverages. 6-8 p.m. The Northridge Club, 435 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

Feb. 14 “BIRD SONGS: AN INSPIRATION FOR MUSIC”: This presentation will discuss birds and the music inspired by them. NonAudubon members are welcome, but seating is limited. Free. 3-4:15 p.m., Palmetto Electric Cooperative’s Community Room, 111 Mathews Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-592-7968 or hiltonheadaudubon.org.

A VERY LOVE-LY EVENING: THIS IS THE PERFECT VALENTINES GIFT: Treat your loved one to an experience of delicious creations

by Venue 1223 with Downtown Catering and be transported by local piano/vocal/ukulele duo As Husband & Wife. Enjoy the dinner and a show

ART OF THE MARTINI: The Society of Bluffton Artists will present its first big fundraiser of 2019 with Art of the Martini. The fun-filled evening will include live entertainment, two complimentary martinis for each person, hors d’oeuvres from The Cottage and unique offerings for a silent auction.

Each guest will take home a free hand-painted martini glass to remember the evening. $45. 5-7 p.m., Oscar Frazier Community Center, 77 Shults Road, Bluffton. sobagallery.com.

THE GULLAH MARKET: AN ARTS, CRAFTS AND FOOD EXPO: An all-access experience to Gullah culture. The annual Gullah Market offers cultural demonstrations, authentic Gullah and African crafts and food, as well as an offering of traditional storytelling, music entertainment and the celebration of African-American authors. $10 for general admission; $5 for ages 5-12; free for those ages 4 and younger. Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island.

Feb. 17 COMMUNITY DAY AT THE GULLAH MARKET: Experience the ties that bind the community of Gullah people through praise and worship followed by a community block party featuring a battle of marching bands, bounce castles, health screenings, and the Gullah Rappers. Plus, authentic art, food and beverages for sale. Proceeds from Community Day will benefit youth programs in Beaufort County. $10 for general admission; $5 for ages 5-12; free for those ages 4 and younger. Honey Horn, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island.

Feb. 18-22 LOWCOUNTRY SEAFOOD EXPERIENCE ON THE WATER: A two-hour excursion that includes instruction on shrimping, oystering, clamming, and crabbing with a couple of the Lowcountry’s foremost watermen, Capt.

Christopher and Matthew Shoemaker.

They will demonstrate the skills required to “put food on the table.” After the work is done, guests will enjoy the fruits of their labor at Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks. Times vary based on tide and weather conditions.

Limited availability. $69 and includes a complimentary soft beverage or draft beer. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks, 1 Hudson Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-304-2878.

Feb. 19 “SACRED SONGS AND SPIRITUAL”: The Mary Green Chorale, an auditioned ensemble of 30-40 voices, will present a 7:30 p.m. concert at Holy Family Catholic Church on Hilton Head Island. For more information go to marygreenchorale.org.

RITA RUDNER: Check out awardwinning comedienne Rita Rudner for an evening of laughs. Tickets are $49. 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-3945 or artshhi.com.

NO SCHOOL ART DAYS: Have the kids join us at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina for a fun-filled day of art making. Students should bring snacks and lunch. $55, and online pre-registration is required. Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. Alana Adams at aadams@artshhi.com or artshhi.com/workshops.

Feb. 20 LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S CONNECTION LUNCHEON: Kim Hall, director of Bluffton Self Help, will be the feature for the luncheon. Guests are encouraged to bring a non-perishable item to donate to Bluffton Self Help.

Joyce Stryker from Columbus, Georgia, also will speak. $25. Hampton Hall Clubhouse, Bluffton. 843-705-7604.

Feb. 21 PITMASTER 101: Our guest pitmaster Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ prepares for the

upcoming Pig Pickin’ & Oyster Roast event. You will learn techniques and get to taste a preview of what’s to come.

Seating is limited. $39. 4:30-6:00 p.m., Waddell Mariculture Center, 211 Sawmill Creek Road, Bluffton. hiltonheadseafoodfestival.com/events.

JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION’S CELEBRITY CHEF TOUR: The James Beard Foundation’s Celebrity Chef Tour dinner series brings a taste of what happens at the James Beard House in New York City to our Island. One-night-only, multi-course, line-to-table dinner with wine pairings featuring a diverse group of James Beard Foundation Award winners and nominees. Tickets are $185. 6-10 p.m., Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, 23 Ocean Lane, Hilton Head Island. hiltonheadseafoodfestival.com/events.

THE PALMETTO QUILT GUILD: Guest speaker is Valeria Hill, quilt teacher, longarm quilt teacher and Gammell sales rep from northeast Pennsylvania. The meeting is open to members and guests. Guest fee is $5. Noon-3 p.m. Hilton Head Beach & Tennis Club, 40 Folly Field Road, Hilton Head Island. palmettoquiltguild.org or Facebook.

WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S HOLIDAY LUNCHEON: The Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island will host keynote speaker Kay Stanley, founder and CEO of Spartina 449, for its February luncheon. The luncheon is open to WAHHI members and the general public. Tickets are $30 for members and $38 for guests. Noon, Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, 130 Shipyard Dr, Hilton Head Island. wahhi.org or Anne Lambdin at 443418-6445 or reservations@wahhi.org.

Feb. 22 ALL SAINTS ON BROADWAY: Members of the Parish Choir will perform an array of music from Broadway. Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served during the performance. $25.

6:30 p.m., All Saints Episcopal Church, 3001 Meeting St., Hilton Head Island.

843-681-8333 or allsaints-hhi.org.

February 2019 155

››Calendar PIG PICKIN’ + OYSTER ROAST: Join us for the quintessential Lowcounty family-style culinary celebration as Hilton Head’s best chefs, celebrity guest chefs and pitmasters prepare local shrimp, whole hogs, whole chickens, chopped barbecue and all the side dishes. $79. 6-9 p.m., Waddell Mariculture Center, 211 Sawmill Creek Road, Bluffton. hiltonheadseafoodfestival.com/events.

FEB. TIDES FEB 1

AM

H 05:42

AM

PM

PM

FEB 2 FEB 3 FEB 4 FEB 5

H 06:30 L 12:44 L 01:25 L 02:04

––– H 07:13 H 07:52 H 08:30

L 12:41 L 01:22 L 02:01 L 02:38

H 06:36 H 07:19 H 07:59 H 08:36

FEB 6 FEB 7 FEB 8 FEB 9

L 02:41 L 03:17 L 03:52 L 04:29

H 09:05 H 09:39 H 10:12 H 10:47

L 03:13 L 03:47 L 04:21 L 04:57

H 09:12 H 09:48 H 10:24 H 11:04

FEB 10

L 05:09

H 11:27

L 05:37

H 11:49

FEB 11 FEB 12

L 05:55 H 12:40

––– L 06:50

H 12:13 H 01:05

L 06:22 L 07:16

FEB 13

H 01:36

L 07:55

H 02:04

L 08:19

FEB 14 FEB 15

H 02:37 H 03:41

L 09:05 L 10:13

H 03:07 H 04:12

L 09:25 L 10:29

FEB 16 FEB 17

H 04:46 H 05:48

L 11:15 –––

H 05:16 L 12:13

L 11:30 H 06:16

FEB 18 FEB 19 FEB 20 FEB 21 FEB 22 FEB 23 FEB 24 FEB 25 FEB 26 FEB 27 FEB 28

L 12:28 L 01:23 L 02:16 L 03:08 L 03:58 L 04:49 L 05:41 H 12:30 H 01:26 H 02:22 H 03:20

H 06:46 H 07:39 H 08:30 H 09:20 H 10:10 H 11:01 H 11:53 L 06:36 L 07:36 L 08:40 L 09:41

L 01:07 L 01:58 L 02:47 L 03:34 L 04:21 L 05:07 L 05:56 H 12:46 H 01:41 H 02:36 H 03:32

H 07:12 H 08:05 H 08:57 H 09:48 H 10:41 H 11:35 ––– L 06:48 L 07:46 L 08:48 L 09:49

L 11:55

H 05:48

L 11:59

Tide Information for Port Royal Plantation February 2019

156 hiltonheadmonthly.com

ADOPTION EVENT AT PETSMART BLUFFTON: The Hilton Head Humane Association will hold an adoption event where many furry friends will be eagerly waiting to find their forever families. Noon-2 p.m., 30 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. 843-836-2020.

GULLAH MUSIC SERIES FEATURING GOSPEL CLASSICS: This installation in the Gullah Celebration’s annual music series features the St. James Baptist Church Choir and Time 4 Two. Free. 7 p.m., St. James Baptist Church, 209 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island.

“A PRAYER FOR COMPASSION”: The Palmetto Plant Eaters Club and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry bring the film “A Prayer For Compassion” and its director Thomas Jackson to Bluffton for an exclusive prescreening. Join us for the full film and a Q&A with Jackson. $10 donation will benefit the social justice work of UUCL and the film’s final funding. 6 p.m., 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. 843-816-6179 BROADWAY AT ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH: The “Saints on Broadway” concert will feature the entire choir as well as various solos and ensembles from within the group and some special guests from the community. $25. 6:30 p.m., 3001 Meeting St., Hilton Head Island. 843-681-8333.

Feb. 24 SEAFOOD, CHAMPAGNE + GULLAH SUNDAY BRUNCH: Music, bottomless bloody mary bar and brunch collide for the perfect waterfront experience. The special menu is filled with Southern classics as well as new

dishes, along with raw bar and modern takes on culinary classics. $69. 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., Hudson’s Seafood House On the Docks, 1 Hudson Road, Hilton Head Island. hiltonheadseafoodfestival.com/events.

PET ADOPTION EVENT AT PETSMART HILTON HEAD: Hilton Head Humane Association will hold an adoption event where many furry friends will be eagerly waiting to find their forever families. Noon-2 p.m., 430 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843- 341-2981.

Feb. 25 4TH ANNUAL RED DRESS FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON: The fashion show, clothes and jewelry sale, cash bar, raffles and luncheon will benefit the Southern Coast American Heart Association, which provides CPR education in local schools. Fashions are provide by Aiden Lane (formerly Affordables Apparel) and the event is hosted by service organization GFWC Woman’s League of the Lowcountry. $35. 11 a.m., Sonesta Resort Hilton Head, 130 Shipyard Drive, Hilton Head Island. Mary O’Brien, mob0715@gmail.com, or Nancy Smith, flygirlsuncity@gmail.com.

Feb. 28 GULLAH MUSIC SERIES FEATURING GOSPEL CHOIRS: Celebrate and honor the spiritual thread that binds the African ancestors and the Gullah of today. Free. 7 p.m., Central Oak Grove Baptist Church, 161 Matthews Drive, Hilton Head Island.

THE ROYAL FLUSH CASINO NIGHT: The casino-themed party will feature heavy hors-d’oeuvres, an open bar, live music, dancing and complimentary casino. $55 and $85 for couples. 7 p.m., Savannah Station, 601 Cohen St., Savannah. 720-982-8779.

SAVE THE DATE March 1-June 9 “JAUME PLENSA: TALKING CONTINENT”: Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center is pleased to present

Feb. 23

March 15 AN EVENING IN ITALY WINE DINNER: The evening will include dining, wine pairings, live music and a limited live auction. All proceeds raised by Children’s Relief Fund, now in its 27th year, benefit the Lowcountry’s special needs children and their families. $250. Venue 1223, May River Road, Bluffton. thechildrensrelieffund.org.

a solo exhibition of work by the internationally celebrated artist Jaume Plensa titled “Talking Continents.” 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Jepson Center, 207 W York St., Savannah. 912-790-8800 or telfair.org.

March 2 “JEWELS & JEANS”: The Beaufort County Foundation for Educational Excellence will host its annual “Jewels & Jeans” fundraiser. This year’s event will honor Dr. Jane Upshaw for her many decades of dedication to education in the Lowcountry. $65. 6-9:30 p.m., Country Club of Hilton Head, 70 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-415-2331.

March 8-10 DARIUS RUCKER INTERCOLLEGIATE GOLF TOURNAMENTLong Cove Club, in partnership with Darius Rucker and the University of South Carolina, is hosting the 8th annual Darius Rucker Intercollegiate Golf Tournament.Top teams from around the country will travel to the island to compete for the title. For more informatino visit longcoveclub.com. Call 843-686-1074.

ONGOING “WHERE’S THE WAG WEDNESDAY?”: Receive clues via the Hilton Head Humane Association’s Facebook page to determine where the event will be each week. If you guess the location and the dog the humane association is bringing to the event, you’ll win a prize.

Noon-1 p.m. Wednesdays. 843-681-8686 or membership@hhhumane.org.

BEACH YOGA: Enjoy beautiful views of the ocean as you relax and focus on strength, flexibility and balance. Please bring a beach towel to use as your yoga mat and meet our instructor on the beach behind the Sea Pines Beach Club. $15/adult. Reservations are required. 8 a.m.

Mondays and Wednesdays. The Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island.

843-842-1979 or seapines.com/events.

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/garvin-garvey.

FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: The market now has additional public parking provided by the town of Bluffton. An artisan showcase on the first Thursday of every month highlights a rotating group of local artists and their craftsmanship. Keep an eye out for new food and farm vendors and find your next favorite thing. 1-6 p.m., Thursdays, 1271 May River Road, Bluffton. farmersmarketbluffton.org.

HISTORIC TOURS BY BICYCLE: Take a ride along the waterfront corridor of Squire Pope Road and learn about Hilton Head Island’s unique and rich history, including its Native American history, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gullah community and more. The tour lasts about 90 minutes and is safe, casual and fun.

Helmets are required; bug spray and water are suggested. Bring your own bike. $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 10 and older. 10 a.m.

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

SEA PINES MONTESSORI HOLDS GALA FOR 50 YEARS

S

ea Pines Montessori will mark its 50 years as an island institution with an anniversary Golden Gala from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. The school was the first Montessori program established in the state of South Carolina and was founded

by Mary Fraser, wife of Sea Pines developer Charles Fraser.

The event is black tie optional and will feature an auction, cocktail hour, plated dinner, live music and dancing. Live and silent auctions will include vacation stays and special experiences at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

Proceeds from the gala will help support the school’s Parent Teacher Organization, which helps pay for teachers’ continuing education, updating classrooms with the latest technology and fulfilling teachers’ classroom wish lists.

Gala tickets are $160 per person and available at eventbrite.com or by calling Sea Pines Montessori Academy at 843- 785-2534.

For more information, go to seapinesmontessori.com.

February 2019 157

››Calendar Feb. 18-24

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 Mansion, 199 Rose Hill Way, Bluffton. 843-757-6046.

GOLF CLINICS FOR ALL AGES: Group and individual golf programs for adults and juniors led

by PGA professional Jeff Picus of Excel and Enjoy Golf Academy. Registration is required. Times vary, Country Club of Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island.

843-295-8888 or classapro@pga.com.

ENJOY BOUNTY OF ACTIVITIES AT ANNUAL SEAFOOD FESTIVAL

D

on’t miss the Hilton Head Seafood Festival, a familyfriendly, week-long Feb. 18-24 culinary and cultural tourism event featuring top chefs, mixologists, sommeliers, local seafood, artisans, live music and more. The 12th annual Seafood Festival, hosted by the David M. Carmines Memorial Foundation, raises money for the Coastal Discovery Museum, Island Recreation Scholarship Fund, Waddell Mariculture Center, Port Royal Sound Foundation, Gullah Heritage Museum and Medical University of South Carolina.

Over the course of seven days, guests can enjoy celebrity chef dinners, the best of Southern pit masters, cooking demos, wine tastings and more. Outdoor experiences include a day on the water learning to fish and throw a cast net. The main event is the Seafood Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 23 at Honey Horn, which includes specialties from many local restaurants, cooking demonstrations and kids’ activities. Admission is $9 per person and children younger than 10 get in free. For more information, go to hiltonheadseafoodfestival.com.

158 hiltonheadmonthly.com

ADULT PAINT AND PLAY: An adult wine and paint night of ffor 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 Carolina farmhouse and 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.

POWER HOUR INDUSTRY NIGHT: Club Seats Grille will host the best industry night ever. Specials include $5 Solo cup and $0.25 domestic drafts for the hour, along with other great specials. 10-11 p.m., Thursdays, Club Seats Grille, 2600 Main St., Unit 102, Hilton Head Island. 843-363-2582 or cheapseatsrestaurantgroup.com.

TASTY TUESDAY AT ROLLERS WINE & SPIRITS: Wine and cheese tasting every Tuesday. $15. 9 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head Island.

843-842-1200 or rollerswineandspirits.com.

TUESDAY MORNING HISTORY PROGRAMS: Weekly history programs about the history of Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry. $10; reservations required. 10:30 a.m.-noon Tuesdays, Heritage Library, 2 Corpus Christi, Suite 100, Hilton Head Island. heritagelib.org.

HILTON HEAD ANCESTRY PROGRAM: $15 for Heritage Library members; $20 for nonmembers. Wednesdays, The Heritage Library.

2 Corpus Christi, Suite 100, Hilton Head Island. heritagelib.org.

TOUR OF THE CIVIL WAR BATTERY: Join the Heritage Library for a guided tour of the Civil War battery on Skull Creek in Hilton Head Plantation, which was built to protect Port Royal Sound and the Seabrook Coaling Station and named after Gen. Ormsby Mitchel. $12 for adults and $7 for children; reservations required. 10 a.m.

Thursdays, Fort Mitchel, 65 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head Island. heritagelib.org.

ZION LIVING HISTORY TOURS: “Meet” historical characters who lived on Hilton Head Island during the antebellum period and see inside the oldest existing structure on the island. $12 for adults and $7 for children; reservations required. 10 a.m. Wednesdays, corner of William Hilton Parkway and Mathews Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org.

DEAS GUYZ AT THE JAZZ CORNER: Deas Guyz features an entertaining mix of Motown, R&B, pop, rock, reggae and dance beats. $10.

8-11 p.m. Sundays, The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

“FAT TUESDAYS — A SWINGIN’ CELEBRATION OF NEW ORLEANS & BEYOND”: The Jazz Corner Ensemble features pianist Eric Jones, bassist Dave Masteller and percussionist Chris Russell, with rotating special guests including saxophonist Dean St. Hillaire, trumpeter James Berry and more. $7. 8-11 p.m.

Tuesdays, The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

“JAZZ IN THE KEY OF LIFE”: Pianist and vocalist Lavon Stevens is joined by drummer Jimmy Charles, bassist/vocalist Clarence Williams and rotating weekly special guests including vocalist Louise Spencer, saxophonist Stutz Wimmer, guitarist Jimmy Ward and more. $7. 8-11 p.m. Thursdays, The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island.

Presal

B R AT I N

2019

AL

YE

AR

I

D

2007

LE

12

E

G

C

Don’t Miss These Upcoming Events S OF BR

H I L T O N

H E A D

BRIDAL SHOW

ruary Sunday, FebM

17, 2019

P 1 P M U N T IL 4 BLVD., BLUFFTON SC 29910 LFAIR OAKS

BELFAIR ,200 BE

osa!) $12 le $8 (includes mim

at the Door. Visit

y.com/bridal for

hiltonheadmonthl

tickets

Lu n ch & L e a r n at t C lu bh ou se en sc re C e h T

Sp eaker

Te d P it ts

O Pr esi de nt & CE Co mm erc e SC Ch am be r of

Februar y 19, 2019

11am - 1:30pm Member $25 $35 N on-Member

To purchase tickets go to MyLowcountrytix.com mmerce.org blufftonchamberofco

››Dining

Spill the Beans LOCAL COFFEE ROASTERS

BY ANNE FELDMAN | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN

T Josh Cooke (left) of The Corner Perk and Ian Duncan, owner of The Grind, are part of a new generation of coffee roasters in the Lowcountry.

160 hiltonheadmonthly.com

here’s a new trend brewing in the Lowcountry: A rise in local coffee roasters is creating a new wave of coffee connoisseurs. From Corner Perk and The Grind in Bluffton to School Grounds Coffee on Daufuskie Island, micro-roasters are filling Lowcountry cups and fueling a new appreciation for a good cup of joe.

Sure, we love espressos, lattes and cappuccinos, but also pour-overs, growlers of cold brews to sip on all week, and specialty signature roasts, often boasting local flavors. Much like the complexity, richness and terroirs of beloved wines, coffee roasters are developing flavor profiles that reflect the quality and origin of the beans, roasted to perfection.

WE LOVE ESPRESSOS, LATTES AND CAPPUCCINOS, BUT ALSO POUR-OVERS, GROWLERS OF COLD BREWS TO SIP ON ALL WEEK, AND SPECIALTY SIGNATURE ROASTS. THE GRIND

CORNER PERK One of the first on the scene, Corner Perk became the coffee cornerstone of Old Town Bluffton — after all, its Pluff Mudd Coffee is described as “tasting like the Lowcountry” — and the place to grab a quick coffee or linger with friends over a cup at the coffeehouse, known for its Southern hospitality, good food and city vibe. Roasting is Corner Perk’s specialty.

With 10 different coffees to choose from, they grind the beans and brew them while you wait, pouring the brightest of flavors into each cup and, as owner Josh Cooke says, “building community through artfully crafted goodness.”

A second Corner Perk location is in the works, opening soon at Buckwalter Place. It will bear the urban styling of an industrial Savannah factory — red brick and big windows — and feature the same menu as the Old Town location, plus serve up outdoor seating, beer, wine and classic brunch bloody marys. Cooke also is working on a new roasting facility in Port Royal, in northern Beaufort County, and renovating the adjacent Pluff Mudd Coffeehouse. Guests will be able to get the full experience at The Roastery, observing the roasting process firsthand and picking up a bag of beans to take home.

The Grind is doing its part to put Bluffton on the national coffee map. Owner and head roaster Ian Duncan recently brought home three medals from the Golden Bean Competition in Portland, Oregon, competing against roasters in big coffee states like Oregon, Washington and California.

“This was our first year, and even though we only submitted three beans, each took home an award,” he says.

The award-winners are available at the Bluffton coffeehouse: Brazil Sul de Minus espresso and Tansania Tweego AA and Nicaragua Café Diego pour-overs. New barrel-aged roasts also are available, and The Grind is rolling out a new roast aged in Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrels.

The many options are a testament to The Grind’s dedication to its craft.

“There are about a thousand ways to roast,” Duncan says. “Then there’s getting into it as a craft, with so many nuances and ways to perfect and change roasts to bring out new flavors.”

Coffee fans can sit and savor these brews in The Grind’s new, larger location coming soon to Sheridan Park, while those on the go can cruise through its drive-thru window for a quick to-go order. The new location is expected to open this month.

Try a lightly roasted Lip-Twitcher or a more mellow organic Honduran Rain Forest, with notes of honey, brown sugar and blackberry.

SCHOOL GROUNDS COFFEE On Daufuskie, a special blend of coffee lover and literary landmark can be found at School Grounds Coffee. Housed in the historic Mary Fields School building — the Daufuskie school featured in writer Pat Conroy’s iconic “The Water Is Wide” — School Grounds’ organic coffee comes from a Charleston roaster and small family farms across the United States that do fair trade with other countries.

Many patrons come to the shop for the coffee and stay for the history lesson.

February 2019 161

Olive & Fig

Mediterranean Kitchen

By Carrie Hirsch Photography by Rob Kaufman “Fresh, fabulous and fantastic!” “Seek and you shall find!” So wrote online reviewers – the ultimate compliments for a restaurant, especially a new one on the hot Lowcountry culinary scene. Husbandand-wife team Munjid and Tammy Yousif opened Olive & Fig Mediterranean Kitchen in June and have quickly built up a loyal following with locals and visitors alike.

Like many hidden gems, the restaurant is off the beaten path — it’s tucked away in Moss Creek Village — but once customers discover the comfortable neighborhood environment and its delectable and elaborate menu of Greek, Lebanese and dishes made with other Mediterranean influences, they return with friends to enjoy the food and the ambiance. Décor includes beaded lights imported from Turkey, a copper bar and authentic Middle Eastern music.

“We had the vision for the interior as soon as we walked in,” Munjid said.

Tammy runs the front of house, greeting her regulars by name and leading them to the tables she knows they prefer. “We have customers who drive from Sea Pines and Sun City,” she said.

Chef Munjid has a degree from The Royal Academy of London and trained at the Ecole Hotelière in Lausanne, Switzerland. He has pursued cooking as his lifelong passion and profession. After working in the airline foodservice industry, he launched his career in major cities and countries including Kuwait, Montreal at the Ritz-Carlton, and Charlotte with the Hilton Hotel and other restaurants.

Munjid moved to the Lowcountry in 2013 and worked at private clubs before opening Olive & Fig.

“I wanted to become a pilot. Instead I became a sky chef,” he said. “You learn a lot when you work for the airlines.”

A quarter of a century later, he decided it was time to create his own restaurant and the reception has been stellar. He was invited to participate in Taste of Bluffton and Taste of Hampton Lake Gourmet Chef Tour last spring. The response to his food was tremendous, and that’s when the buzz began.

The core ingredients in Mediterranean cooking are known as the traditional trinity of olives, wheat, and grapes. Proteins are mainly fish and lamb, accompanied by vegetables and fruits like tomatoes, eggplants, roasted red peppers, pomegranates and figs topped with fresh basil, rosemary and marjoram serving as the herbs of choice.

There are eight regions considered to be part of the Mediterranean, broken down graphically as Spanish, French, Italian, Maghrebi, Egyptian, Levantine, Audubon and Greek. Many Mediterranean dishes are gluten-free and vegetarian. The Olive & Fig menu offers an extensive selection of kebab platters, sayadiah — a Lebanese fish preparation of branzino, herbs, roasted nuts, rice with harissa sauce and roasted vegetables. In addition to the familiar sides of hummus and baba ghanoush he serves up muhammara, a fragrant spread made of red pepper and ground walnuts and a tasty option to enjoy with pita.

Looking for live entertainment? A belly dancer performs once a month and on special occasions like Valentine’s Day. The evening menu to enjoy during the performance is prix fixe and reservations book up quickly.

“We seat people together at communal tables during the belly dancing, and people love it because they have just moved here and make instant friends … 2019 is going to be a big year,” said Munjid.

PA RTN E R P R O M OTI O N

Fresh, Fabulous & Fantastic

1533 Fording Island Road #326 Moss Creek Village Bluffton 1-843-605-4093 f Monday-Saturday 11am-9pm Lunch 11 am-4pm Dinner 4-9pm f Reservations recommended but walk-ins welcome. olive-fig-mediterranean-kitchen.business.site

››Last Call

Why I am running photo submitted

BY JIM COLLETT

TO GUIDE OUR ISLAND PARADISE INTO THE FUTURE AND TO ATTRACT NEW RESIDENTS, WE NEED TO REALIZE HOW OUR WORLD IS CHANGING AND HOW HILTON HEAD IS EVOLVING.

G

ood leaders see needs and concerns and bring people together to fix them. My wife would say I have been blessed with this gift, I’d say this is something I love to do. I seek to serve.

Marcia and I adore living on Hilton Head Island, this beautiful place we have called home for 18 years. Both in Maryland, where I spent most of my career as a corporate planner, and here in the Lowcountry during our retirement, I’ve been involved in numerous efforts to improve our community and have developed a strong ability to bring people together to get things done. This requires a lot of listening and developing a high level of trust.

It has saddened me to watch the bickering at Hilton Head Island Town Council over the past four years. I believe I have the skills to help our council get things done while building trust between the council and our fellow citizens — and among the council members themselves.

Over the past 30 years, the values of our island home are something most Lowcountry residents have shared and cherished. As a community, we have placed a very high value on protecting our natural beauty and avoiding uncontrolled development.

We support the arts and our unique history. We have a passionate commitment to volunteerism. These values have made Hilton Head an incredible place to live. As a former chairman of the Town of Hilton Head

Island’s Board of Zoning Appeals for five years, vice chairman of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra for three years, and current chairman of the board for Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head Island Clinic, I have fought to protect these values.

To guide our island paradise into the future and to attract new residents, we need to realize how our world is changing and how Hilton Head is evolving. Getting on and off the island has gotten much worse in the past few years, and off-island communities have grown exponentially. Like most of our country, Lowcountry residents have become very dependent on their cellphones, and our service is spotty at best.

Transportation improvements and improved telecommunications are just some of the major issues we need to address.

Hilton Head Island’s quality of life attracted many people to the area, and parks and recreation are an important component. Families with children need safe places to relax and play. We need to keep Planters Row a green space. It was purchased with the town’s land-acquisition program, which is designed to conserve open space and create parks on the island.

We also need an agreement that ensures that airport expansion is finished, and we need to explore some form of workforce housing. I want to help us work together to address these issues as an island community with the larger good in mind.

JIM COLLETT IS RUNNING FOR THE WARD 6 SEAT ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND TOWN COUNCIL VACATED BY JOHN MCCANN. THE SPECIAL ELECTION IS FEB. 19.

176 hiltonheadmonthly.com