SCHOOL PROFILES | EXPLORE PINCKNEY ISLAND
VOICE NEW YEAR NEW YOU HGTV DREAM HOME
Intriguing
Immigrants 35 YEARS
JANUARY 2020
LOWCOUNTRYVOICE.COM
C O M M U N I T Y FOCUS HILA T HC RO C O M M U NO NI TP Y FNO UPSY
H IM LA N T HA RO IT’S O AN FPA I LY F PFYA I R
Five generations of Mingeldorffs have called the Savannah/Bluffton area home. The family has always been community-focused, whether local Community politics rolling and the $3 million fundraising campaign Threethrough years ago, Foundation of the (LeeLowcountry Mingeldorff, Jr. was mayor partnered with theofTown of Hilton Head completed. “The project resonated with me for a Savannah the mid-1950s), their Island in and the Hilton Head Public Service District number of reasons,” he says. “First, it’s just the right businesses Shipyard (PSD) to(Savannah launch Project SAFE (Sewer Access for thing to do. It was a promise made to these families and Everyone). Mingeldorff’s, Inc.) or their Through this successful public-private a long time ago and it’s been a long time coming.” commitment to philanthropy. partnership, land was donated, new sewer lines were His passion for the environment, his concern for the Today Bud and Shirley Mingeldorff, laid and already more than 200 lowhealth of local families and children the third generation, continue the income families have been connected and the long-term impact this project family’s legacy of giving. They, in – for the first time – to public sewer. will have, not only on the families, but turn, have engaged their children. on our community, energized him. Their that family Forhope mostisof us,this heavy rains are just tradition will be embracedBut by for some a minor inconvenience. “This was a project that could be theirfamilies grandchildren, as well. living on Hilton Head Island’s done right and could be finished,” he Foundation of the Lowcountry is north end, heavy rains sewage even helps us research the causes continues. “It was fairly finite: We In earlier generations, themeant family’s and organizations we want to not only an easy way to promote bubbling up through the drains knew how many roads, we knew how philanthropy revolved around the in support,” they say. “We used the personal and family philanthropy, theirBud’s homes, yards becoming soggy many families, and we could estimate church. grandparents funded donor advised fund to help fund but can maximize tax savings. Gifts septic or the inability the with building of overflow the Bluffton United how money was needed help the parsonage project. Our kids canmuch be bundled in one year,tothen to run the washing machine or take a Methodist Church. When the time those families connect. And we were able to make donations into distributed over multiple years.had shower duringyears and after a storm. came in recent to replace two partners – Hilton Head PSD and the the fund, as well,” Shirley says. Community Foundation invests the original parsonage, Bud and Town Hilton allowing Head Island who were the of money, the– fund to These homes were on septic Shirley paid for the restoration of Bud, Shirley, and their two fully committed.” increase and giving the family systems, which frequently fail in our the historic Graves house. Shirley sons along with their wives the ability to offer even greater environment of high water tables, The moral of the story, Allhusen worked with contractors, vendors and children, make practicing support to causes they care about. root systems and sandy soil. believes, is that working together and heavy decorators to restore the philanthropy a family affair. This not only historicallyto pollution in home to leads a magnificent brings thatMingeldorff we might not Each solutions of the three They talk about important causes homes and yards, but to sewage and accurate modernity. together around the dinner table. families donates to their donor achieve working alone. chemicals running into our waterways. advised fund, “even though each They’ll diplomatically convince One of the tools the Mingeldorff Our thanksoftothe thefamily partners, and other family members of a branch hasdonors its own Connecting to public sewer comes family uses to execute their volunteers who made this initiative project’s or cause’s value. “It thing it wants to do,” Bud says. with cost donor – an average of $6,700 giving is atheir advised fund per pulls us together as a family to successful. For donor moreadvised information “Even so, our fund household. Foundation For low-income at Community of families, have discussions about whether about Project SAFE, visitthrough the lets us bring it all together who mustBud choose the some Lowcountry. and between Shirley food, a cause is important to support,” Community Foundation’s website at the Community Foundation.” medicine or a car payment, connecting initially thought about settingthe upfees made Shirley says. “And when www.cf-lowcountry.org/projectsafe. we all beyond their reach. the Community Foundation a family foundation, butSowere Whether you want to practice put our money together, we can dissuaded complexity pledgedby tothe raise $3 million and to provide grants to lowQualified families can still apply for a or grant to philanthropy as a family support bigger things.” paperwork. “Whentowe talked Jim to Allhusen, board chair income families connect. connect. Volunteers from Deep Welladvised Project are individually, a donor the for Community Foundation, With thewas recent change in tax fund can be a helpful To available to help families complete thetool. application Community Foundation itofwas the Lowcountry, a so much easier. Community codes, establishing a donor give us a call at process. Contactlearn themmore, at 843.785.2849. driving force The in getting the Project SAFE initiative Foundation does all the work and advised fund with Community 843.681.9100.
A LONG TIME COMING
CHRIS KERRIGAN C President HRIS K ERRIGAN and CEO of the Community Foundation President and CEO of Community Foundation of of the Lowcountry, shares stories and insights on thephilanthropy Lowcountry,inshares stories and insights on the Lowcountry. philanthropy in the Lowcountry.
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14 Westbury Park Way, Suite 200, Bluffton 29910 843-842-6988 | lowcountryvoice.com MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR
Marc Frey marc@hiltonheadmonthly.com PUBLISHER Anuska Frey anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com
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ING THE S | HELP HRISTMA
BAHAMA
EDITOR IN CHIEF Carol Weir carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com
S | GIFTS
SENIOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sasha Sweeney sasha@hiltonheadmonthly.com
Local Journalism
ART & PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Michael Lupi mike@hiltonheadmonthly.com
Inspiring Stories
GRAPHIC DESIGN Allyson Venrick
Everything Lowcountry Bring Hilton Head Monthly home for $1 an issue
DIRECTOR OF SALES Mary Ann Kent maryann@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-9390 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Rebecca V. Kerns rebecca@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-816-2732 Cathy Flory cathy@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-384-1538 Majka Mochnac majka@hiltonheadmonthly.com 843-290-9372
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PHOTOGRAPHERS: Guido Flueck, Allison Goodwin, Rob Kaufman, Scott Lengel, Ruthe Ritterbeck, Shea Sweeney, Lloyd Wainscott. CONTRIBUTORS: Clay Bonnyman Evans, Amy Coyne Bredeson, Raymond Cox, Marco Frey, Anthony Garzilli, Ellis Harman, Carrie Hirsch, Justin Jarrett, Barry Kaufman, Dean Rowland, Edward Thomas, Nicole Schultz, Kathleen Williams
››
January’s
Must Reads
72
34
122
34 Intriguing Immigrants
114 Partner Up
52 School Profiles
122 Pinckney Island
72 HGTV Dream Home
134 All About Family
Meet seven immigrants who have brought their culture and spirit to the Lowcountry.
Local families have many first-class options for their children’s education.
Local businesses worked together to create a TV-ready residence in Windmill Harbour.
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An accountability partner can help you reach your goals in 2020. Take a tour of some beautiful sights right here in our backyard.
Native islander honors ties to the past by maintaining historic cemetery.
››In this Issue 120
62
152
NEWS
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU
Bluffton growth gets mixed reviews.
Pay yourself first to achieve your financial goals.
EDUCATION
120 Going Green
30 Growing Pains
51 A Gift of Learning Nicholas D. Lucchesi Scholarship announced at USCB.
60 Teacher of the Year
Michelle Gordon makes math look as easy as pi.
62 Artistic Connection
110 Savings Plan
Plant-based diets growing in popularity.
RELIGION
136 Changing Lives First Presbyterian welcomes new pastor.
DINING
High school artist bonds with refugee through portrait.
152 Star Power
HOME & GARDEN
Chamber gala brings top chefs to Hilton Head.
68 Crazy for Camellias
Hilton Head couple creates beautiful community garden.
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10 At The Helm 14 Opinion 16 Behind the Scenes 18 News 22 Social Spotlight 28 Where in the World? 34 On the Move 87 Real Estate News 139 Calendar 154 Restaurant Listings 160 Last Call
››At the Helm
VOICE A New Page
H
Anuska Frey – publisher anuska@hiltonheadmonthly.com
Carol Weir – editor carol@hiltonheadmonthly.com
‘‘
Happy New Year! FROM THE MONTHLY TEAM
››
appy new decade! Over the past 35 years, we at Monthly have followed our mission to be the “Voice of the community.” We have grown to be the leading local media channel that inspires, informs and, most importantly, connects Lowcountry residents. As we welcome the new decade, we decided to turn a new page in our long history and make VOICE our new brand going forward. While the word “Monthly” denoted our publishing frequency, we feel “Voice” is more telling of who we are and what we aim to do: Convey all the stories worth telling by covering a wide spectrum of topics, and give our audience a true sense of place. Through our online and social presence, our newsletters, the print edition and other specialty publications, we are uniquely positioned to make a positive difference in our community by being dedicated to local journalism and the place we call home. You’ll see that reflected in this issue: “Intriguing People of the Lowcountry” is a celebration of who we are as a community and highlights the diverse backgrounds of our neighbors. This year, we focus on newcomers to the U.S. who are in search of the American Dream. From Levi Strauss to Albert Einstein, immigrants have always shaped America with their hard work and innovative ideas. And though we think that you, dear reader, are just about perfect, we give you some inspiration to start 2020 on the right foot, whether you’re looking to establish new routines, exercise with an accountability partner or make strides toward financial health. Also in this issue, writer Kathleen Williams profiles student Olivia Waters, whose portrait of an orphan abroad has changed her own life; we salute Michelle Gordon, Beaufort County School District’s teacher of the year, who brings her passion for learning to her students at Bluffton High School every day; and profile many of the great school options on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. We want to be YOUR voice, so please drop us a line, “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and ensure home delivery by subscribing to our newsletter and magazine at www.lowcountryvoice.com We wish all of you the very best in 2020!
Our annual Bridal Show is Sunday, Feb. 16 at Sonesta Hilton Head Island Resort. Get your tickets at hiltonheadbridalshow.com
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SMOOTHIES SALADS BREAKFAST NEW YEAR! NEW YOU!
JUICES SUPERFOOD BOWLS TEAS & COFFEE THE 2020 JUMPST ART CHALLENGE If you haven’t heard of Healthy Habit, they are the local purveyors of delicious nourishment for the wellness-aware who were recently voted Hilton Head’s Best Lunch, Take Out, Service and Salads for the third year in a row. Fresh off opening their brand new flagship store in Park Plaza late last year, the menu consists of their delicious chopped salads in addition to wraps, grain and noodle bowls, superfoods, juices, smoothies and an entirely new breakfast offering. On the walls of the restaurant they share their beliefs that living well isn’t just about eating the right food, but about a lifestyle and mindset that embraces a daily pursuit of self improvement. “When you dine with us, you’re dining with a community that cares enough to enrich their taste buds, their bodies and mind. Our philosophy is simple. Food should make you feel better - not worse - and you shouldn’t have to sacrifice taste to live a healthier lifestyle. Every meal we serve is prepared to that standard,” says Executive Chef Kevin Yeung. As they approach their first New Year in the new store, they are launching an exciting new promotion aimed at helping everyone kick off 2020. “We want to give price conscious consumers a choice when it comes to eating healthy, affordably, come the new year and tackling those New Year resolutions.” So to celebrate the new store and start the new year off with a bang, they’re doubling down on that sentiment and offering the Healthy Habit Jumpstart. A 30 Day
EASY ORDER FROM THE APP!
Time is our most valuable resource. That’s why we created a quick & easy to those who choose to accept and commit to their 30 day challenge way for you to order from your phone to eat well. and pick up in store and skip the line!
wellness challenge centered around delivering unprecedented value
For the month of January they’re offering the Healthy Habit Jumpstart package. Participants receive 30 consecutive days of their delicious pressed juices every morning for free to start your day off right. Jumpstart members will just roll in, grab their juice and go. Then if you choose, every day after work, you can stop by and pick up a healthy dinner for you and your family and receive 50% off your order during your 30 day jumpstart challenge. BONUS-- they will be giving away a few Jumpstart packages to those most in need of a boost to kick off their new goals and priorities. Head on over to their Facebook
START TODAY GET $5 OFF YOUR FIRST Y ORDER ONL $99 Use promocode: “HHM” (Limit 1 per person)
$99 HEALTHY HABIT JUMPSTART CHALLENGE (that’s over $500 in savings for anyone who has Just 1 juice & 1 salad per day!) Now! Call 843-686-5600 to join! Download SIGNUP OFFER ENDS JANUARY 31, 2020
and Instagram page @healthyhabithhi for more details on how to enter to win a FREE Healthy Habit Jumpstart offer while it lasts. We’re in, are you?!
SOUTH END 33 office park road suite 227, HHI, SC 29928 NORTH END Coming Soon
healthyhabithhi.com @healthyhabithhi
››We Asked, You Answered
“What’s on your bucket list?” To survive my third cancer diagnosis in less than two years. — Sheila Warren Armour
I need to see the redwoods. — Erin Markham
A hot-air balloon ride over the Mad River Valley in Vermont during peak leaf week. — Rosemary Orth Savage A visit to Croatia, namely to see the Zadar Sea Organ. —Michelle Curtis
Go to Africa. — Erin Clemmons Reichert
My uncle was command for the Army Corp of Engineers at the Panama Canal, so I would love to go through it to see where he worked. — Jacquie Underhill
Ski in Colorado with the family. — Jessica Shefsick
Attend the FIFA World Cup in a foreign country with my son. — Brendan Lambrix
Ride on Route 66, go out West and see the desert. — Stacie Thrush
Travel the U.S. in a bus home customized by myself. — Brittney Feldt
I want to go to Slovenia. — Kathy Zabak
Be a grandmother. — Michelle Woodcock
Visit the Sydney Opera House. — Kali Cooke Attend an Olympic Games. — Lindsay Davis I want to go sky-diving in Switzerland. — Lisa J. Bernstein Complete a Rubik’s Cube without cheating. — Kaileigh Ridgely
To visit a special friend in Bavaria, Germany, during the Christmas holidays to see what a true Bavarian Christmas is like. — Susan Anderson
Ride horseback from the East Coast to the West Coast on one of the old wagon routes! — Samantha Love Kaufman To be able to afford to return to the small coal town in Kentucky where I’m from and host a Christmas celebration including lots of toys and coats for the kids. — Christy Smith
To see the Great Wall of China. — Joyce Green Smith
I would love to visit an old castle in a European country. — Beverly Rish Parrish
To go to Italy. — Karen Bellantoni Curley
Let us know what you think. email editor@hiltonheadmothly.com 14 lowcountryvoice.com
››Behind the Scenes
ONLINE
EXCLUSIVE
CHECK IT OUT AT: HILTONHEADMONTHLY.COM
(Top) Marc, Anuska and Fabio Frey enjoyed the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. (Above) Sales director Mary Ann Kent and son Tom went to The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in Pasadena, California. (Left) Editor Carol Weir met Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg in Okatie at a campaign stop and forum with local Latinos.
HONORED ISLANDER AWARD PROGRAM
MONTHLY CONTRIBUTORS
The Town of Hilton Head Island’s Mayor’s Honored Islander Award Program recognizes outstanding Hilton Head Island residents who selflessly serve the community. A committee appointed by the mayor reviews nominations and selects the winners.
SCOTT LENGEL photographer
GUIDO FLUECK photographer
ALLISON GOODWIN photograper
An outdoor photographer based in the Lowcountry, Scott Lengel is passionate about art and technology and the blending of the two disciplines. Retired from the tech industry, he now travels the world in search of stunning images.
Switzerland native Guido Flueck is a photographer and videographer who moved to the U.S in 1970 to work as a model. He began his photography career in 1987, travelling the world to shoot photos and videos.
Allison Goodwin was Hilton Head Monthly’s summer 2019 marketing and editorial intern. She is a senior at Hanover College in Indiana.
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Congratulations to new winners: • Ward and Karen Kirby • Dr. James Field • Linda Peterson • Rich and Suzanne Thomas. Read the town’s press release about their service and accomplishments at lowcountryvoice. com and look for more information about them in Monthly this year. In this issue on pages 134-135, read our profile of previous award winner Skeet Williams.
››News
Orchestra, has been nominated for a Grammy Award. Russell’s nomination in the “Best Classical Compendium” category is for the recording “American Originals: 1918,” with the famed Cincinnati Pops. It was released under the Pops Fanfare Cincinnati label owned by the Cincinnati Symphony. The 61st annual Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be held on Jan. 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
FRAZIER
NEW BAN PROHIBITS SOME BEACH SHOVELS AND DEEP HOLES
EVANS
BLUFFTON MOURNS AMEER FRAZIER
The town of Bluffton is mourning 5-year-old Ameer Frazier after a traffic accident following the Bluffton Christmas Parade on Dec. 7. Ameer was severely injured at the end of the parade as all the floats and vehicles were disbanding in the Red Cedar Elementary School parking lot. He was transported by EMS to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, where he died, officials said. No charges are pending in the accident. Ameer’s family remembered him as always happy — a child whose smile could light up a room, his aunt Carletha Frazier Singleton wrote in a widely shared Facebook post. He loved running around and playing football with the Bluffton Bulldogs. A candlelight vigil for Ameer at Bluffton Eagles Field drew a large crowd to celebrate his life and support his friends and family; funeral services were held Dec. 14. Thousands of dollars have been raised for Ameer’s family through fundraisers at 12 Beaufort County schools — Ameer was a student at M.C. Riley Elementary School — as well as individual donations.
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RUSSELL
THREE AREAS ON HILTON HEAD IDENTIFIED FOR POTENTIAL WORKFORCE HOUSING
To meet Hilton Head Island’s goal of providing housing for workers, a housing consultant said the island needs to build 200 homes and apartment units each year for 10 years and make sure about 30% of those units are affordable. The consultant recommended three sites because they are close to employment centers on the island: Squire Pope area on the northwest side of the island; the Palmetto Bay corridor at the southern base of the Cross Island Parkway; and the Main Street opportunity zone in the north central part of the island. Town staff is researching the possibilities in those neighborhoods and what, if any, zoning or ownership changes the council would have to occur to encourage workforce housing developments.
HHSO CONDUCTOR NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY
John Morris Russell, music director and conductor of the Hilton Head Symphony
Shovels longer than 30 inches and holes deeper than 1 foot are now illegal on Hilton Head Island beaches. The Town of Hilton Head Island unanimously approved the ban in November, arguing that holes are dangerous for sea turtles because they can trap turtle hatchlings on their way from the dunes to the sea. All holes on the beach must now be filled in with sand no later than 30 minutes prior to sunset.
JEFFREY ROBINOWICH SELECTED FOR TOWN HALL WALL OF HONOR
Beloved Blufftonian Jeffrey Robinowich, longtime proprietor of Morris Garage and Towing, has been selected to be part of the Bluffton Wall of Honor at Town Hall. His photograph and a short biography will hang on the wall so that visitors can learn what makes Bluffton “a state of mind” — and Robinowich should know, since he moved to the town in 1962.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLED AT INTERSECTION OF POPE AVENUE AND LAGOON ROAD
A new traffic signal is now operational at the intersection of Pope Avenue and Lagoon Road. This new traffic signal, which also includes pedestrian signals to help people with crossing all four approaching streets, is part of the Town of Hilton Head Island’s transportation improvements in the Coligny area. It also will serve traffic going to the new Lowcountry Celebration Park, which is currently under construction.
››News
SCHOOL BOARD OKS CONSTRUCTION PRICES, CONSIDERS RAISING IMPACT FEES
After Beaufort County voters approved a $344 million bond referendum in November, the Beaufort County Board of Education has set maximum prices for building additions at River Ridge Academy and May River High School. M.B. Kahn Construction of Columbia will build the bond referendum’s first two projects for a guaranteed maximum price of $20.9 million. Those projects include River Ridge Academy, which will add four classrooms on each of its two existing wings and add a new eight-classroom wing. May River High will add a new two-story wing containing 23 classrooms. To help offset the cost of future school construction projects necessitated by future population growth, Maryland consulting firm TischlerBise, which was brought in by the school district to examine how to increase impact fees paid by developers, recommended two options. One would require builders to pay an $8,660 fee on single-family dwellings and a $4,076 fee per unit in multi-family dwellings. The other plan would include a $9,535 fee on single-family dwellings and a $4,508 fee per unit in multi-family dwellings. New housing north of the Broad River is expected to be exempt from the fee in both options, as schools there are able to absorb all projected enrollment. TischlerBise is also handling an impact fee study for Beaufort County, which it recently presented to Beaufort County Council’s planning commission. South Carolina requires that impact fees are re-evaluated every five years, or before any changes are made to the fee rate.
COUNTY REMEMBERS EDUCATOR BILL EVANS
William M. “Bill” Evans, former Beaufort County school board chairman and former principal of Hilton Head Island High School, died Dec. 11 at his home on Lady’s Island. He was 72. Evans resigned as school board chairman in October 2015. He held a master’s degree from Penn State University and an undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, where he played on the golf team. Evans was a volunteer with the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing golf tournament from 1987 until 2018; president of the Rotary Club of the Lowcountry; a Eucharist minister at St. Frances Catholic Church; and a volunteer at the Beaufort Water Festival. He also volunteered with Neighborhood Outreach Connection, AMIkids Beaufort, and First Tee of the Lowcountry, in addition to work with Port Royal Sound Foundation and numerous other nonprofit groups over the years.
NONPROFIT GROUP DONATES SWINGS TO BLUFFTON PARKS
The nonprofit organization 50 Red Swings recently donated two adaptive playground swings at Oscar Frazier Park and DuBois Park. The red swings are part of Bluffton’s commitment to install inclusive playground equipment for children with disabilities. The swings are full-body swings with safety harnesses for children up to 125 pounds.
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McDuff
Tabi
PETS
of the month
McDuff
Age: 4 years Gender: Male Weight: 64 pounds Breed: Boxer mix Temperament: Calm and cuddly. McDuff was hit by a car and left on the side of the road. He’s a sweet, lovable tripod dog who needs a forever home.
Tabi
Age: 1 Year Gender: Female Weight: 9 pounds Breed: Jack Russell mix Temperament: Very calm and loves sitting in laps. Tabi has a neurological condition that means she can’t walk properly. Instead of walking calmly, she has a bouncy stride that spreads her love everywhere. Adopt them at: Noah’s Arks Rescue
Noah’s Arks Rescue specializes in helping animals with special needs. Meet these pets and their other adoptable animals by appointment only at 231 Hazzard Creek Village, Suite 3 in Ridgeland. For more information, call 843-540-6755 or go to noahs-arks.net.
›› Social Spotlight 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards Party
››News
######. 22 lowcountryvoice.com
To submit a photo of your event for Social Spotlight, email editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com
January 2020 23
MONTHLY ’S 13TH ANNUAL BRIDAL SHOW!
2020
BRIDAL & WEDDING H ILTON H EAD & BLUFFTON
d l o H o T & To Have Sponsored by:
February 16, 2020 | 1:00-4:00 pm
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head
#OurLowcountry
››Community Connection Michelin Junior Challenge
Teacher Grants
All Saints Garden Tour
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY AWARDS LOCAL GRANTS
Community Foundation of the Lowcountry recently awarded more than $450,000 in grants to six local nonprofit groups: BeaufortJasper YMCA of the Lowcountry, Osprey Village, Port Royal Sound Foundation, Programs for Exceptional People, Sandalwood Community Food Pantry and The Sandbox: An Interactive Children’s Museum. This is the second of three annual community impact grant cycles the foundation undertakes each year.
CALLAWASSIE ISLAND HOSTS SPECIAL OLYMPICS TENNIS EVENT
Thirty-five participants gathered at the Callawassie Island tennis facility in November to celebrate Color Day, a Bluffton Special Olympics tradition. The eight-week Special Olympics tennis program is a partnership between Public Tennis Inc. and SOAR for middle and high school students.
PEACOCK AUTOMOTIVE DONATES COMPUTERS TO JASPER BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
Peacock Automotive presented the Jasper County Boys & Girls Club with 16 refurbished desktop computers that will be used as part of educational programs like the club’s literacy program, which bridges in-person tutoring with online learning engagement to help members learn and retain improved reading abilities.
››
Teacher Grants
ALL SAINTS GARDEN TOUR NAMES GRANT RECIPIENTS
The 2019 All Saints Garden Tour grant recipients included Jasper Backpack Buddies (Antioch Educational Center), Backpack Buddies of Bluffton, Backpack Buddies of Hilton Head Island, St. Stephen’s UMC Outreach Food Bank, Hilton Head Safe Harbour and The Literacy Center. This fall, these charities each received their awards of $5,675 from the 2019 Garden Tour. The 33rd annual All Saints Episcopal Church Garden Tour is scheduled for May 16.
BLUFFTON HIGH WINS CHAMPIONS OF THE ENVIRONMENT GRANT
Bluffton High School is one of 10 South Carolina schools to receive a $2,500 grant through the Champions of the Environment program. Students, teachers and environmental educators apply for grant funding for projects focusing on pollution or waste reduction, water or energy efficiency, or preservation of natural areas. Bluffton High School will add a drip irrigation system to an existing garden and a composting program.
FOUNDATION AWARDS 19 GRANTS TO LOCAL TEACHERS
Recently, the Foundation for Educational Excellence awarded 19 Innovative Teacher and School Resource Grants to teachers across Beaufort County. These grants totaled more than $23,000 and were given to teachers whose educational activities and projects
Peacock Automotive
surpass regular school lessons. This grant cycle was partially funded by contributions from The Bargain Box of Hilton Head, Friends of Callawassie, the Italian American Club of Hilton Head and the foundation’s major fundraiser, “Jewels and Jeans.”
MICHELIN JUNIOR CHALLENGE NAMES DESIGN WINNERS
At the recent Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, Beaufort County high school students were recognized for their winning designs as part of the Michelin Junior Challenge Design Project. MacKenna Pratt and Layla Dupont of Battery Creek High School were the design challenge grand prize winners. Other winners include Michael Dennison, Tyson Adkins and Logan Turner, all of Beaufort High School; Zach Seidner from Bluffton High School; Olivia Jarell and Cassie Ruhl of Hilton Head Island High School; Gracie Wilson from May River High School; Rex Mcnece, Byren Scholten, Jordan Anderson and Edwin Daniel Navarrete Hernandez, all of Whale Branch High School; and Gaililea Gallegos and Briasia Chisolm from the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island.
Generosity is one of the best things about the Lowcountry. Has your business or organization given back to the community? Submit your photos to editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com for this section. Space is limited.
January 2020 25
››Where in the World? Spain
Sue Brouillette and Paul Schulte brought Monthly to the Montserrat mountain range in Spain on a foggy day.
Las Vegas
Cindy and Jerry Green posed with Monthly at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Kenya
Honduras
Larry and Eddie Sanders took Monthly on a cruise that stopped in Roatan, Honduras.
Jenny Repko-King, Nancy Downing Schloss, Kim Baretta, Terri Jackson, Lesa Lesko and Karen McCormick traveled to Kenya with Monthly.
Kohler, WI
››
Margie Lechowicz, Rick Lazzari and Gail and Steven Kuczkowski visited Blackwolf Run Golf Course with Monthly.
Los Angeles
We love to see where Monthly travels! Submit your photos to editor@hiltonheadmonthly.com for this section. Space is limited.
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Anuska and Marc Frey visited their son Fabio on the set of his new movie.
January 2020 27
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DISCLAIMER: This map was created by the IT/GIS Department of the Town of Bluffton and is solely intended to be used as a graphical representation for the Town of Bluffton. The GIS maps and data distributed by the IT/GIS Department of the Town of Bluffton are derived from a variety of public and private sector sources considered to be dependable, but the accuracy, completeness and currency thereof are not guaranteed. The Town of Bluffton makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, reliability, or suitability for any particular purpose of information or data contained in or generated from the town’s Geographic Information Systems database. Additionally, the Town of Bluffton or any agent, servant, or employee thereof assume no liability associated with the use of this data, and assume no responsibility to maintain it in any matter or form.
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Growing Pains BLUFFTON IS THRIVING, BUT GROWTH GETS MIXED REVIEWS
BY KATHLEEN WILLIAMS
I
t’s no secret that the town of Bluffton is experiencing a growth spurt. In the late 1990s, it was a 1-mile hamlet with fewer than 800 residents. Today, it’s 54 square miles with a population estimated at more than 23,000. Its growth is only going to continue. Bluffton is only 44% built out and, when all is said and done, its population might reach 75,000, according to town officials. Growth was ineveitable once Hilton Head Island became a world-class vacation destination and Sun City Hilton Head was permitted and began attracting retirees, say current and former elected officials.The question was: Who would control it? “If this train is coming through the county, it’s best that we’re the engine of the train, not the caboose,” said Emmett McCracken, who served as mayor of Bluffton and a member of Town Council during in the late 1990s through 2004.
HOW IT BEGAN Much of the land that is now part of the town of Bluffton was formerly in unicorporated Beaufort County. From 1998 through 2002, Bluffton annexed huge tracts, including Palmetto Bluff in 1998. At 20,660 acres, Palmetto Bluff is about the size of Hilton Head. State law says that annexation can only occur in areas contingent to existing municipal boundaries and at the request of landowners. Developers viewed Bluffton as a more receptive and agile partner in their plans to build homes and commercial centers in a robust real estate market fueled by the growing popularity of coastal regions. Town officials were looking to increase their tax rolls and have more say in their region’s destiny. It was a marriage of convenience and of opportunity. Former Bluffton Mayor Hank Johnston, who headed the town from 1998-2008, was in the thick of the annexation process.
January 2020 29
››News Town of Bluffton Beaufort County, SC
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“If we don’t take control of that development and planning, then we’re going to be sitting here surrounded by what the county has done,” Johnston said. “We need to control our own destiny.” Other planned unit communities that sit on annexed land include the Schultz tract, 620 acres that are home to the Bluffton Park neighborhood and Oscar Frazier Park; Bluffton Village, 29 acres that include the Bluffton post office and library; 5,600 acres along Buckwalter; the 4,400 acres of the Jones Estate; New Riverside’s 4,006 acres; and Village at Verdier, which includes 125 acres. Within these areas are neighborhoods Cypress Ridge, Hampton Lake, Alston Park, The Farm and others. Smaller annexations continue. These large tracts of land had often been owned by paper companies, which decided there was more money in real estate than in timber and sold the properties to developers. The developers then approached the town with plans to build. At the time, town officials and staff agreed that suburban sprawl, with its associated dependence on vehicular traffic, was not the goal. “We were willing to sit down at the table and develop master plans,” Johnston
30 lowcountryvoice.com
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The pace of growth is difficult to control through the terms of the existing development agreements – BLUFFTON MAYOR LISA SULKA
said, which is why developers came knocking. “At the time, our vision was that Bluffton would be a series of villages connected by Bluffton Parkway. There would be a Village of Old Town, the Village at Buckwalter, Village at Jones Tract. You’d have everything in those villages
Hilton Head Island
DIS CLAIMER: This map was created by the Town of Bluffton Planning and Growth M anagement Department and is solely intended to be used as a graphical representation for the Town of Bluffton. The GIS maps and data distributed by the Town of Bluffton Planning and Growth Management Departm ent are derived from a variety of public and private sector sources considered to be dependable, but the accuracy, completeness and currency thereof are not guaranteed. The Town of Bluffton m akes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, com pleteness, currency, reliability, or suitability for any particular purpose of information or data contained in or generated from the Town’s Geographic Information Systems database. Additionally, the Town of Bluffton or any agent, servant, or em ployee thereof a ssume no liability associated with the use of this data, and assum e no responsibility to m aintain it in any matter or form.
to serve the people living there within 10 minutes.” The development agreements range from 15 years to 40 years and detailed “what the developer can build in terms of structures and density,” said Mayor Lisa Sulka, who was first elected in 2004 to Bluffton’s Town Council. The benefits to the town from these contracts included administrative fees, land donations, easements for future roads, public parks and open space, land set aside for schools, and other community assets, she said. On top of the development agreements are master plans for each neighborhood, “detailing the residential lot layout, commercial buildings, open space, buffers and various amenities,” said Debbie Szpanka, public information officer for the town of Bluffton. For example, the master plan for Cypress Ridge calls for more than 1,800 homes, while The Haven at New Riverside calls for 555.
WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE The Great Recession of 2007-2009 put many of these projects on hold, so the impact of the development agreements is only now truly being realized. Construction permits have been on a steady climb since 2012; in 2018, 807
permits were issued for new residential housing and 58 for new commercial buildings. As of Nov. 30, 2019 the town had issued 592 permits for new residential buildings and 36 permits for new commercial construction, a total value of just under $331 million. With this growth, of course, comes a downside: More traffic, crowded schools, gentrification, and an impact on the fragile Lowcountry environment, including the tree canopy and May River. “The pace of growth is difficult to control through the terms of the existing development agreements,” Sulka said. “Further, as Bluffton evolves, the development agreement provisions remain intact, with little room for unilateral revisions, unless the property owner and town mutually agree. Significant community concerns and Town Council priorities remain on the health of the May River and surrounding watersheds, available school funding, available major roadway funding and public facilities. The agreements, as written and adopted more than 15 years ago, remain void of solutions to these
significant community issues.” How to both protect the May River watershed while also accommodating growth will be one of the town’s greatest challenges. The Beaufort County School District will have to figure out how to educate all the children: With almost 11,000 students in Bluffton schools, “we can’t build schools fast enough,” said Jim Foster, the district’s director of communications. In November, voters overwhelmingly passed two bond measures totalling $345 million — the first since 2008. These new bonds will fund the construction of 16 new classrooms at River Ridge Academy and a 23-classroom, two-story addition at May River High School. As Bluffton grows, so will the schools. “We will continue to monitor Bluffton growth and report to the board on the expected impacts to the school system,” said Robert Oetting, the school district’s chief operations officer. And for the first time, he added, Beaufort County is “working with the school district on establishing impact fees for all new
developments in the county, but those fees are not currently in place.” Meanwhile, the town of Bluffton wants to make sure the once-sleepy Southern hamlet retains its charm and livability even as it grows. The town has acquired land to create more open spaces, added parking throughout the Historic District (most recently at the former CrossFit 843 site on May River Road), converted properties to passive and active parks, restored historic homes, and completed the May River Road and Dr. Mellichamp Drive streetscapes. Residents have taken notice of the town’s transformation. “I grew up in Bluffton and it doesn’t seem like the same town,” said James Lamont, 37, who works in landscaping. “Some things are worse, some are better. But mostly it’s just a completely different thing now. I can’t even imagine that it’s going to get bigger.”
Coming next month: Part 2 of our Bluffton series: “How is growth affecting the May River?”
January 2020 31
››On the Move
Jones
Phillips
Weaver
CRYOTHERAPY CENTER NOW OPEN
Wright
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY ADDS THREE
Julie Jones, Jennifer Phillips and Mary Wright have joined the team at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Jones will serve as a donor services associate, providing relationship management services for donors and fund groups. Previously, she served as the assistant executive director for Bluffton Self Help for eight years. Phillips will serve as a communications specialist, managing social media communication, electronic marketing communication and event planning. Phillips recently relocated to the area from North Carolina, where she was a self-employed content creator and manager. As a program associate, Wright will work with nonprofit agencies as they apply for competitive grants, create profiles in The Giving Marketplace online platform, serve as the liaison for the foundation’s Women in Philanthropy giving circle and nonprofit agencies. She recently relocated from the Midlands, where she was executive director of the Midlands Education and Business Alliance. 32 lowcountryvoice.com
Farrell
9ROUND BLUFFTON COMING TO BERKELEY PLACE
The boxing gym franchise 9Round will soon open a new location in Bluffton off Buckwalter Parkway across from Berkeley Place. 9Round is the world’s largest and fastest-growing kickboxing franchise, a news release from the company states. The company focuses on on-site training and programs that can be completed in a half hour, the release states.For more information, go to 9round.com.
TWO NEW BUSINESSES MOVE TO SHELTER COVE
Pure Salt and Dream Boutique have recently opened at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina. Pure Salt is a state-of-the-art halotherapy and wellness studio, while Dream Boutique is a women’s clothing and accessories boutique that promotes fashion as a lifestyle. Both new businesses are located in the Harbourside III building across from The Other Sister’s Wine Bar, which opened last summer.
Restore Hyper Wellness + Cryotherapy is now open on Hilton Head Island. It offers cryotherapy, body sculpting, IV drips, hyperbaric chamber therapy, red light therapy, infrared sauna, compression therapy, micronutrient testing and Stretch Base. The company states that these therapies can help with alleviating aches and pains, fighting colds, curing hangovers and body sculpting. For more information, go to restore.com.
PALMETTO DUNES GOLF DIRECTOR EARNS TOP HONORS
Doug Weaver, director of instruction at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, is now ranked among the best golf teachers in South Carolina by Golf Digest Magazine. Weaver was inducted into the Lowcountry Golf Hall of Fame in 2017 and has previously been named Hilton Head Island’s PGA Teacher of the Year. He was recently named the 2019 Player of the Year for the CPGA’s Lowcountry area.
NEW MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING OFFICE OPENS
Starting Jan. 20, the new Island Counseling Associates will accept new clients. Owner Donna L. Farrell, LPCA, received her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Regent University. She has previous experience working with adults and children in group and individual counseling settings and plans to focus her new practice on adults and high school-age teens. For more information, go to islandcounselingassociates.com.
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››Intriguing Immigrants
Misael Garzón
Lena Sells
Intriguing Immigrants
Andrew Summers 34 lowcountryvoice.com
Mayra Rivera
Martin McFie
Swati DebRoy
“Everywhere immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life.” – John F. Kennedy
Meet
The Math Professor The Arts Enthusiast The Chef The Soccer Coach The Political Activist The Real Estate Specialist The Golf Entrepreneur These are a few of the many intriguing immigrants making their lives in the Lowcountry. Munjid Yousif January 2020 35
››Intriguing Immigrants
36 lowcountryvoice.com
There was more opportunity here. Better chances for us.
Misael Garzón The Soccer Coach BY JUSTIN JARRETT PHOTO BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT
L
ooking back, Misael Garzón should have been excited about immigrating to the United States during one of the most economically prosperous times in recent history, but he was 6. He was excited about going to Disney World. “And you know, for the record,” the 31-year-old soccer coach said, “I’ve been here for 25 years, and I’ve yet to go to Disney. So that hasn’t panned out.” Even though he hasn’t made it to the Magic Kingdom, Garzón sometimes still feels he is living a fairy tale — like when he coached May River High School’s boys soccer team to the Class 3A state championship last spring. Baseball is king in Venezuela, where Garzón was born and lived until coming to the U.S. But his father’s family is from Colombia — where soccer is king — and he fell hard for “futbol.” Even at an early age, Garzón began marking the years in World Cups. That’s why he remembers it was the fall of 1994 — right after the U.S. hosted the World Cup — when his family made the journey to America. His father was a minister and had an opportunity to work in Texas. “There was never a plan to go back home,” Garzón said. “This was America in the mid-’90s, one of the most prosperous times in American history. So there was more opportunity here. Better chances here for us.” But it didn’t always feel that way. That first winter in Texas was brutal, and the Garzóns felt isolated. They knew no one, had no family in Texas, barely spoke the language, and felt disconnected from the culture. Then they moved to Savannah. Garzón felt more comfortable in a place with more diversity, and he made friends and flourished.
Then, another move. This time to Hardeeville, where Garzón was a freshman at Jasper County High School, a struggling school in the infamous “Corridor of Shame,” operating in a rundown building with a dearth of textbooks. And, as Garzón discovered, a clear divide between students of different races. Garzón did his best to end the social segregation. “I was one of the first people to say, ‘I’m just gonna sit here with these people. I don’t see the issue. I don’t understand what you guys got going on here’” he said. In spite of the subpar conditions at Jasper County High in the early-2000s, Garzón excelled in school. He was determined to buck the stereotypes and chose to attend South Carolina State University on academic and band scholarships. His father had a green card, the rest of the family was applying for permanent residency at the time, and Garzón was loving life at SCSU. Then they got the letter. The office in charge of the Garzóns’ petition for permanent residency couldn’t find their paperwork. Not only were they not being granted permanent resident status, but Garzón was in danger of being deported. He was threatened with a return to Venezuela — a country he hadn’t seen since he was 6 years old — and he was no longer eligible for his scholarships. “When I got that letter and read that I couldn’t go back to school,” Garzón said, “it completely destroyed me.” He sunk into a deep depression. Any hope of returning to college faded when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant. He worked wherever he could find it—gas stations and furniture stores. His daughter
was born. He and his daughter’s mother split. He contemplated suicide. He was not living the American dream. Until he met Danielle, who became his wife and changed his life. She encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a soccer coach, so he took a volunteer assistant position at Jasper County High School. The next season, Beaufort High School needed a junior varsity coach. Garzón was sure he wasn’t qualified, but Danielle made him apply. Coach Terry Rawlins asked him to come in for an interview and hired him on the spot. Rawlins became Garzón’s mentor, and he was so loyal to the coach who took a chance on him that he hesitated before responding when he was offered the head coaching position at May River High School three years later. At May River, Garzón planned to build the Sharks into a competitive, respected program within five years. His team won a state title in three. In addition to his work at the high school, Garzón is well known by legions of Lowcountry boys and their families who praise his energy and passion for developing young players. He coached for club soccer academy Global Premier Soccer for several years and is now with the Savannah-based club Tormenta. Some 25 years after coming to the United States as a boy, 13 years after he feared he might have to leave, and nearly two years after he finally became a naturalized citizen, Garzón has a successful career, a happy marriage and three beautiful children. He’s living the American dream.
January 2020 37
››Intriguing Immigrants
Lena Sells
The Real Estate Specialist BY MARCO FREY PHOTO BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT
L
ena Sells may be the chief operating officer of The PIP Group, a real estate investment firm, but a while back she moved out of her top-floor office and into an open desk near the firm’s entrance. From there, she can easily spot the sign that is a reminder of her mantra: “Work like a captain and play like a pirate.” Sells’ life is evidence that she runs a tight ship: Her husband, Charles, started The PIP Group at the age of 23, and the couple is raising two toddlers and two teenagers from a previous marriage, and their crew also includes two dogs and a cat. But Sells is used to the chaos. As a child, she grew up in Moldova, one of Europe’s poorest countries. Though she has good memories of her childhood, the Eastern European country found itself reeling as the Soviet Union was dissolving. But her parents were determined to give her a good life — and soon discovered she had a knack for languages. She spoke Romanian with her father and Russian with her mother, and learned Spanish from subtitles on TV. Her ear for
38 lowcountryvoice.com
languages led her to study linguistics. After college, Sells signed on with a Moldovan agency to find an internship in America, which is how she found a job as a customer service agent for a theme park company in Wisconsin Dells. Though it wasn’t smooth sailing at first: On one of her first days on the job, she took a wrong turn on the way to work and got lost. After finding her way back — and despite receiving stern warnings about the dangers of hitchhiking and talking to strangers — Sells had her first impression of life in America: “My God, the people in the States are so nice!” It also proved to her that she could stand on her own two feet in a foreign country. Eventually, Sells found herself on Hilton Head Island, working a variety of jobs: at an Argentinian-owned café, at a T-shirt shop, at The Salty Dog. Soon, she decided, she needed “a big-girl job.” And that led her to The PIP Group. When she started at the company, “I sat like a deer in
Resort & Pre-Spring 2020
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headlights. I asked so many questions and soaked everything up,” she said. She worked hard and learned every aspect of the industry. “We are the folks that buy the worst homes, mostly in Savannah, the homes that need the most work, the homes that need structural repairs, homes with massive termite damage,” she said of the company, which then works with investors to “flip” — or restore — the homes. Often, the investor partners are able to utilize city grants that pay a portion of the loan so long as the grantee agrees to live on the property. Sells said helping her partners secure these grants can help empower the homeowners — and transform entire blocks of homes that formerly were made up of boarded-up, rundown homes. Sells has been instrumental in helping The PIP Group build not only its client base but its own portfolio of homes. It’s a far cry from how her career began, but she said it hasn’t changed her. “I started as a waiter speaking broken English, and now I run a company doing good for distressed communities,” she said. “Having money has never changed who I am.” What did help her grow as a person, she said, was something she could only find in the Lowcountry: “There really is a thing called ‘Southern hospitality,’ and it completely changed the person I was to the person I am now.”
January 2020 39
Martin McFie The Arts Enthusiast BY CLAY BONNYMAN EVANS
T
alking with part-time Hilton Head Island resident Martin McFie can feel like a treasure hunt. You’ll be chatting companionably and, then boom, without warning, you find yourself in the midst of a riveting story from the London-born expatriate’s life. For example, a recent semi-technical and mundane discussion of immigration practices in the European Union became a brief account of McFie’s 8,000-mile solo sojourn into the deepest reaches of the vast Sahara, his only method of transportation a 1950s-era London taxi cab. “I’m thinking, ‘Am I really right to go into this Arab country on my own? Is this the safe thing to do?’” says McFie, who divides his time between Nice on the French Riviera and Hilton Head. “But then, you always have to keep in mind that people are basically good and kind.” McFie is quick to point out that he’s not technically an immigrant: His visa allows him to remain in the United States for six months at a time and he lives in France courtesy of the United
40 lowcountryvoice.com
Kingdom’s membership — for now — in the European Union. And he certainly seems to give off the air of a classic, cosmopolitan man of the world. As a young man, he lived in Paris for three years, then Spain. When he returned to London, he took a job with a large shipping company, orchestrating the movements and cargoes of a fleet of ships and trucks. “There wasn’t such a thing as ‘logistics’ in those days,” he says, “but that’s what I did.” McFie then started his own shipping company, eventually focusing on long-haul trucking across Europe and developing a system of double-decking that found success on both land and sea. “We were carrying twice as much as anyone else,” McFie says. “It was kind of a niche market, and nobody else had it. It worked out well for customers and well for me.” He first heard about Hilton Head about 15 years ago while involved with a business shipping flowers from Mexico to Ohio,
a state known for supplying many transplants to the island. “Everyone in Ohio was talking about Hilton Head, so I rented a car and drove down,” McFie says. Finding the beaches beautiful and the people “polite and relaxed,” he had a house built on the island, and now considers it his winter “hibernation” spot. An aficionado of jazz and classical music, especially opera, he’s been a key supporter of the arts on the island, authoring coffee-table books for local symphonies and a junior jazz organization. He has produced jazz versions of classical works such as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony and Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” and in 2017 brought opera professionals to the island to perform Puccini’s “La Bohème.” He is the author of “The Jazz Corner Story,” about the famous local venue, and writes regular pieces for the All About Jazz website, covering everything from local performances to Switzerland’s famous Montreux Jazz Festival. “There is good jazz here on the island, sometimes world-class jazz. There are more than 600 performances a year; this is one of the very few places in the country where you can say that’s true,” McFie says. He’s also got an eye for art. His brightly lit home features an eclectic mix of paintings, sculptures and other pieces, from a small porcelain Ming Dynasty figurine and blue mannikin torsos
You always have to keep in mind that people are basically good and kind. to necklaces from Roman-era Jerusalem and delicate watercolors by local botanical artist Pam Kessler. McFie enjoys living on Hilton Head, but also relishes his annual return to a world whose culture and history stretch back for more than a few centuries. “London is 2,000 years old; it’s a Roman city,” he notes. “There are world-class paintings, architecture and music there.” McFie doesn’t like to talk about his age — “As if that’s all that drives you,” he says — but slowing down doesn’t appear to be on his radar just yet. In fact, he’s planning a new adventure for this spring: A jaunt in that old taxi cab up through Norway and into the Arctic Circle.
January 2020 41
Swati DebRoy The Math Professor BY CLAY BONNYMAN EVANS
“W
hen people from India think of the United States, they picture New York and L.A., but when I describe the Lowcountry I like to say it’s more like ‘The Notebook,’ with the Spanish moss and everything,” said Swati DebRoy with a laugh. A native of Kolkata, India, her new home is a world apart. Her childhood in the so-called City of Joy was a happy one; her parents raised her to think critically and she learned to prize the scientific method while in college. Afterward, she said, she knew she wanted to earn her Ph.D. in America — but didn’t know what to expect when she landed in Gainesville in 2007 to study mathematical biology at the University of Florida. “The streets were so clean,” she said. “It struck me as a dollhouse. In a way, I felt like I was walking inside an HBO movie. Everything I saw in the screen, I was seeing now, touching it, smelling it.” Thanks to a tight-knit Indian community and an established support system at the university, she quickly found her footing. When she began learning the tools of mathematical modeling, “I knew this was
42 lowcountryvoice.com
In a way, I felt like I was walking inside an HBO movie.
meant for me,” she said, and was particularly thrilled to work on emerging research pushing for a better cure for hepatitis C — a treatment whose success in a patient could be measured by doctors within weeks instead of years. After leaving the Sunshine State, DebRoy found herself in Kansas City, but after slipping on black ice and breaking her leg, requiring a steel rod implant, she knew it wasn’t for her. She began applying to teach at colleges across the Sunbelt. Eventually, seven months pregnant with her son and with winter fast approaching, she landed a position at the University of South Carolina Beaufort, where she was excited to find an embracing spirit. Though she relished the Lowcountry’s natural beauty and temperate weather, her first year was a struggle. When professors aren’t teaching, they’re expected to volunteer while also producing research. Holding herself to high standards while giving her son the childhood she envisioned seemed impossible. “I didn’t know to ask for help. That semester was the most challenging time in my life,” she said. “But once I started opening up and asking for help, everyone was more than supportive. It took a lot of weight off my chest.” When a public health professor caught wind of DebRoy’s expertise, it led her to discover a new side of the Lowcountry. “He was like, ‘You’re a modeler, here’s a bunch of data on obesity I’ve been collecting in the surrounding counties. See what you can do!’” DebRoy said. She plotted out the data and immediately started noticing trends in demographics. Eventually, she presented her research to the school boards of Beaufort and Jasper counties, which led to even more studies on health disparities among minorities. It was an eye-opener. For most of her career, she had worked with “nicely giftwrapped data,” she said. Now she found herself collecting data in person at middle schools in some of the Lowcountry’s more impoverished areas, discovering that even a supposedly wealthy country like America could experience such income inequality. “That was life-changing for me,” she said. DebRoy was surprised to find that poor populations were more likely to be obese in the U.S., because this isn’t the case in India. And while that’s still a challenge facing the U.S. today, she is working with USCB students across disciplines to create educational materials on health and good diet choices for area students.
January 2020 43
››Intriguing Immigrants
44 lowcountryvoice.com
Andrew Summers The Golf Entrepreneur BY MARCO FREY PHOTO BY LLOYD WAINSCOTT
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It’s very courageous on their part — some arrive with just a smattering of English and must adapt to American culture.
or Andrew Summers, life is about the long game. During a Thanksgiving round of golf with students from International Junior Golf Academy, he described his swing as “lousy. And yet I probably scored better than all of them. A lot comes down to course strategy,” a fitting metaphor for a well-lived life. Summers was born in Nigeria and brought up in South Africa, where his father led a missionary. The family moved to their home in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1971. His father encouraged Summers to find what made him unique and use it in the service of others — and it was that advice that led Summers to quit a 22-year career in investment management to pursue a career that blended his two passions: golf and education. “Finance was never my natural home; I always imagined a life after,” he said. “I’m pleased to have had that foresight 30 years ago. I retired at age 50 from finance to do something I’m passionate about.” A lifetime golfer, Summers was immediately struck by the natural beauty of Hilton Head Island during a golf getaway to the island. When he married his wife, Didi, they knew the Lowcountry would be an ideal location to raise her three children, balancing academics with quality sports opportunities. They moved to the island in 2008 and enrolled their eldest son at a tennis academy, their middle son at a golf academy, and their youngest daughter in an equestrian training program. In fact, they helped create the International Riding Academy at Lawton Stables. Thanks to his background as a hard-driving change manager at finance firms, Summers was asked to be chairman of Hilton Head Preparatory School in 2008 — the school knew he would have the grit to make unpopular decisions. Despite some initial resistance to his initiatives to open the school to a sports academy and international boarding students, many now applaud this new student body who bring diversity to the school and win awards, and the school stabilized financially. But he didn’t stop there. Summers established a junior golf academy in Florida and in 2014 purchased the International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head. While singlesport boarding schools were a rarity at the time, he saw golf as a way to help students from around the world test their perseverance, grit and determination. “It’s very courageous on their part — some arrive with just a smattering of English and must adapt to American culture,” he said. Once here, they spend 20 hours a week on golf and 20 hours a week on school. “The challenge is to get the message out that golf boarding schools exists,” Summers said. IJGA now has on the two campuses a total of about 150 teenagers from over 40 different countries who have left their homes and families behind to pursue their dreams of becoming champion golfers. Many go on to professional golf careers or earn top scholarships to university golf programs. For many of these students IJGA can change their lives. Summers couldn’t hide his pride when discussing one former student’s success. “I have just watched one of our alumni, Pablo Larrazabal, win the Alfred Dunhill in South Africa— perhaps the most extraordinary victory on any PGA event in the world— playing with amazing courage and heart, epitomizing what we are seeking to achieve in our students,” he said. But Summers’ philanthropic efforts aren’t limited to golf or to the U.S. He also cofounded the Calabar Foundation, which funds educational projects in rural areas of South Africa that use technology to support math and literacy. “Providing these opportunities to develop our wonderful teenagers inspires me each and every morning,” he said.
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Mayra Rivera-Vázquez The Political Activist BY CAROL WEIR PHOTO BY RUTHE RITTERBECK
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hen Mayra Rivera-Vázquez’s husband started looking for jobs in the U.S. as a federal employee, she had one requirement: the new assignment had to be near the East Coast, so she could look at the ocean and know that it connected her with her home in Puerto Rico. “I needed that,” she said. “To know we’re joined by the same water.” The family moved to Bluffton six years ago when he accepted a position in the Lowcountry. Rivera-Vázquez fought homesickness and made friends in a surprising way: by diving into politics in her new homeland. Last year, she became the chairwoman of Beaufort County’s Democratic Party and the first Latina chairwoman at the South Carolina Democratic Party. In 2018, she replaced longtime party leader Blaine Lotz by unanimous vote. Rivera-Vázquez, who was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in the small city of Caguas, isn’t new to politics. She was an active member of the Democratic Popular Party in her home country, which is comparable to the Democratic Party in the U.S., and the co-founder of the Sovereign Union Movement. “All of my family has always been involved in politics,” she said. “I remember being 7 or 8 years old and painting flags in my backyard.” Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but their voting rights, like the voting rights of residents of other U.S. territories, differ from those of U.S. citizens who live in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Residents of Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories do not have voting representation in the United States Congress or electoral votes for president. Rivera-Vázquez has voted in every federal, state and local election since she moved to the Lowcountry. Her first major role in politics was as county deputy commissioner of her county in Puerto Rico. She also was sub-secretary of the Puerto Rico State election committee commission. She was a community organizer and a member of her city’s community affairs advisory board, and also held leadership roles related to housing, vocational and technical education, labor and economic development. And she did all this as a volunteer; professionally, Rivera worked as a compliance officer in a bank for community investment. Rivera has a law degree from the University of Puerto Rico Law School and a master’s degree in international law from the Institute of Law and Economy in Madrid. Despite her achievements, her family — including husband Ricardo Colón, who works in IT at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island; 26-year-old daughter Nicole; and son Ricardo Jr.— has always been her priority. When she first moved to the U.S.,
I hope that we get more Hispanics involved in the election process. her focus was on helping her son, who has autism and is nonverbal, get settled in his new surroundings. He had never been in a public school or on a school bus, and Rivera-Vázquez and her husband feared he wouldn’t adapt. But the family was “blessed to find incredible services at Hilton Head High” and a special teacher in Janice Robinson, she said. With her son happy at school, Rivera-Vázquez was free to get involved in the community and in politics. The first time she attended a meeting of the local Democratic Party, she remembered, it was at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bluffton and her husband commented that it took a real extrovert to go alone, knowing no one there. “I was a little late and the door really squeaked when I came in,” she said. “Everybody turned around and looked at me.” But Rivera-Vázquez’s bubbly personality soon won her friends in the group, and she has been active with the Beaufort County Democratic Party since 2015, volunteering with elections, heading fundraising efforts and motivating people to vote and run for office. “I hope that we get more Hispanics involved in the election process either by running for a position, getting registered or getting out to vote,” she said. Rivera-Vázquez worked hard to help Joe Cunningham get elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and this year has been at the forefront of organizing campaign visits by Democratic hopefuls Julian Castro, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Andrew Yang, Beto O’Rourke and Kamala Harris. The role of party chair is a volunteer position, and RiveraVázquez has to juggle its responsibilities with her full-time work as a legal assistant at Deverall Immigration Law in Bluffton, where she helps people from around the world navigate the complicated U.S. immigration system. She’s also a member of the Lowcountry Immigration Coalition and is on the board of directors for Hilton Head Regional Habitat for Humanity.
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Munjid Yousif The Chef BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN
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racking Munjid Yousif’s background is a bit like sampling the menu at his restaurant, Olive & Fig Mediterranean Kitchen, where he crafts his dishes around the flavors of Lebanese and Greek cuisine. But just like his Lebanese heritage, there’s more to both the chef and the menu than meets the eye. Actually, Yousif wasn’t even born in Lebanon — but then, nationality is more than a place, he said. Growing up in Kuwait as the son of Lebanese parents, he experienced Lebanese culture even if he was geographically removed from its source. His parents taught him everything he needed to know about being Lebanese. “It’s a different culture. Over there, it’s more parental attachment, especially if you’re in a foreign country,” he said. One of seven children in an upper middle-class family, Yousif grew up in a pocket of familiar Lebanese culture amid a transformative period in Kuwait’s history: “It was a modern country,” he said of Kuwait, adding that it has grown since he left. “We never bumped into poverty in Kuwait. We were on the good side. There is poverty, but it’s not that bad. It’s more a protected country. … They don’t allow poverty.” His love of Lebanese cuisine would eventually carry him from Kuwait to the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts in London. You would think the transition from Kuwait to London would be shocking, but Yousif took it all in stride. “I don’t think it was a challenge — it was fun,” he said. “We entered the school and started studying.” After graduating, Yousif returned to Kuwait and served as a sky chef for Kuwait Airways, crisscrossing the globe for eight years as he sampled cuisines and cultures from around the world. “I’m used to multiple cultures because I used to travel and be around people and get
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I’m very passionate. I still practice my culture’s food no matter what. many ideas,” he said. “I used to go to far eastern Asia, so I know how the Filipinos live, how the Thai live, Europe, France Spain…” His international horizons expanded once again when he was accepted into the prestigious hospitality school Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne in Switzerland. This served as his introduction to the wider world of hospitality food service, which would take him from Sheraton Kuwait, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kuwait City, to Hilton Abu Dhabi Corniche (now a Radisson property). It was here, in the wealthiest region in the Middle East, that Yousif began to see the strife developing throughout the region, when the first Gulf War began. “We chose to not stay. At that time, I was newly married and didn’t want to take the risk of staying there. We didn’t know what was going to happen,” he said. “When they start landing the U.S. military in all the ports of Dubai, you began to say, ‘Hold on, what’s going on?’ You never know. Things can erupt any time in the Middle East, unfortunately.” With the American military apparatus heading into Kuwait, Yousif made his way west to Canada, where he enjoyed landed immigrant status. He split his time between The Ritz-Carlton Montreal, helping other restaurateurs spread Lebanese cuisine, and surviving the cold. “Canada was a disaster, a little bit, from the weather side. Although I had lived in Europe, I’d never seen such cold,” he said. “By the second year, it was like, ‘OK, when am I leaving?’” When the opportunity came to help build a hotel franchise in Charlotte, Yousif jumped at the chance. He passed his citizenship test and became an American nine years ago. “Being considered a Canadian national, not a Middle Eastern national, made it way easier,” he said. It was in Charlotte that he met his wife, Tammy, and shortly afterward the pair set their sights on Hilton Head Island: “It wasn’t hard to leave Charlotte for Hilton Head. Overall, Hilton Head and Bluffton have made our lives easier… We meet people from all over the world here.” From Kuwait to London to Switzerland and now the Lowcountry, one thing has remained with Yousif despite all his travels. “Being Lebanese, I’m proud of what we do here (at the restaurant). I’m very passionate,” he said. “I still practice my culture’s food no matter what. No matter where I went, I carried it with me.”
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C
R E ATING OU R
Children’s Futures LOWCOUNTRY FAMILIES HAVE MANY FIRST CLASS OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION. EXPERIENCED ADMINISTRATORS, PASSIONATE TEACHERS AND MOTIVATED PEERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR STUDENTS. IN THIS SECTION WE CELEBRATE HIGH QUALITY CENTERS OF LEARNING IN BLUFFTON AND ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND.
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A Gift of Learning NICHOLAS D. LUCCHESI SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCED AT USCB BY CAROL WEIR | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LUCCHESI FAMILY
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new scholarship fund at the University of South Carolina Beaufort honors a Lowcountry young man who loved the university and provides opportunities for other students. The full-tuition scholarships are in memory of Nicholas D. Lucchesi, who was a junior studying hospitality management at USCB when he passed away in October 2018. Students in any class year and pursuing any major are eligible, but recipients must maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA. The scholarship fund was endowed by “a couple who are dear friends of the Lucchesi family” and will continue in perpetuity, according to Joe and Dana Lucchesi, Nick’s parents. Special consideration may be given to students with financial needs or to students with documented learning disabilities or challenges; however, any student who meets the scholarships’ eligibility requirements is encouraged to apply. The Nicolas D. Lucchesi Memorial Scholarships have a value of $10,000 per year; $5,000 in the fall semester and $5,000 in the spring semester. The four scholarships will be awarded each year. The application is posted on USCB’s website; the first scholarships are likely to be disbursed in August. “The Lucchesi scholarships will create opportunities for students to achieve the full measure of their potential. And more, these young scholars will stand as vibrant reminders of what a remarkable young man Nick was,” said USCB Chancellor Dr. Al Panu. The scholarships cover the cost of tuition at USCB
but not room and board. Local students who are living at home are encouraged to apply. “We thought that students of all academic levels should apply. We want to look at all talented students who may not otherwise receive scholarships,” his parents said in an email. Mr. and Mrs. Lucchesi will be engaged with the USCB faculty and staff, who are charged with the selection process. “Through these scholarships, we look forward to continuing to celebrate what Nick loved. He was an avid outdoorsman. He was active in intramurals, especially flag football. His passion for the Lowcountry and the university was absolutely infectious,” said Kelly McCombs, an instructor in the USCB hospitality management program. Nick was a 2016 graduate of Hilton Head Preparatory School and an avid athlete. He grew up on the water, loved nature and, while attending USCB, obtained his captain’s license. He aspired to be a professional shallow water, backcountry guide. The Nicholas D. Lucchesi Memorial Scholarship Fund is among the largest gifts ever made to USCB. It is open for contributions to donors who would like to fund additional students. For more information, call 843-208-8255 to speak with Dr. Anna Ponder, Vice Chancellor for Advancement.
January 2020 51
John Paul II Catholic School John Paul II Catholic School offers students of all faiths an exceptional education in a safe, secure, Christ-centered environment. Students are well prepared to succeed in college thanks to the school’s rigorous honors and Advanced Placement programs. Beyond the classroom, an extensive athletic program, clubs and activities, and a growing performing arts program offer students opportunities to learn valuable teamwork and life skills.
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Community service learning is embedded in the curriculum, allowing students to understand how their Christian faith calls them to be joyful servants to those less fortunate in their community. Our graduates are truly scholars with a soul. Featured Teacher: This year, John Paul II Catholic School welcomed Dr. George Poole, who recently retired from East Tennessee State University as professor emeritus of mathematics and statistics, into its math department. For the past 20 years, Dr. Poole has worked in
the teaching and professional development of K-12 teachers, and he continues to conduct seminars and workshops on content and pedagogy across the country. He has published 50 scholarly papers and has international recognition in three fields of mathematics: geometry (Moser’s Worm Problem), matrix theory (generalized inverses), and numerical linear algebra (Rook’s Pivoting). Dr. Poole is thrilled about working with John Paul students, families, faculty and administration.
St. Gregory the Great Catholic School
St. Gregory the Great Catholic School opened in 2006 and serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade with an enrollment of 185 students. St. Gregory strives to create a well-rounded environment that meets the needs of all students. The school’s motto of “Where Faith and the Sciences Excel” is enhanced with premiere science and technology labs where all students can explore their faith and the sciences. In Oct. 2019, St. Gregory the Great Catholic School became the first nonpublic school in South Carolina and first Catholic school in the Diocese of Charleston to receive STEM Certification through Cognia (formerly known as AdvancED). This was a great accomplishment for the students, families, staff, and community of the parish. SGGCS worked to meet this goal through collaborative efforts, a strong transdisciplinary approach to education, and introducing new programs to allow students the
opportunity to grow in their faith and their learning. Not only does SGGCS provide a Catholic education that is faithbased and built on the tenants of the
Catholic Church, it provides students with opportunities to explore the world around them with complex and authentic learning experiences.
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››Education
St. Francis Catholic School For the past 23 years, St. Francis Catholic School, a fully SACS-accredited parochial Catholic school for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, has provided an excellent academic environment for students. St. Francis Catholic School’s mission is to nurture students’ spiritual and intellectual growth in a Catholic community committed to academic excellence, with a focus on faith
formation, quality academics and community. The school offers a variety of opportunities and enrichment activities for students and helps students mature in their faith through participation in the sacramental life of the church. St. Francis strives to develop each child’s intellect and motivate the child to action and service. Our hope is that every graduate is a person of faith, integrity and scholarship.
Sea Pines Montessori Academy Sea Pines Montessori Academy is an independent, nonprofit school offering the highest quality of private education based on the principles of the Montessori method. The student body is composed of children from age 12 months through eighth grade, though the school is exploring adding programs for students starting at age 6 months. Celebrating its 51st year on the Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines Montessori promotes character development, leadership, confidence and discovery while encouraging independence and a love of learning.
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The curriculum is geared to each child’s unique abilities and needs, allowing teachers to follow the child through observation and individual/ group lessons in a safe, secure campus.
Technical College of the Lowcountry
The Technical College of the Lowcountry provides quality, affordable academic and technical programs. Students can earn associate degrees, diplomas and certificates in an environment that fosters excellence in teaching and learning. The college prepares graduates with knowledge and skills they will need to transfer to senior colleges and universities and for careers in computer technology, industrial technology, engineering technology, occupational technology, business, health sciences and public service. Student spotlight: Megan Hodges, a Regina and Harry Silletti Scholarship recipient, persevered even when life tried getting in the way of her college dreams. She recently graduated from TCL’s prestigious associate degree nursing program and is now working as a registered nurse at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Megan says, “with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.”
University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for Event Management and Hospitality Training
USCB’s Center for Event Management and Hospitality Training offers valuable professional development opportunities, event management resources and quality standards management services. Its Island Ambassador program is especially popular with local businesses and includes in-person seminars about Hilton Head Island culture, knowledge and ecology. After the three-part Island Ambassador session, attendees can confidently discuss topics ranging from common wildlife seen on the beach to Hilton Head’s early history with island visitors and guests. More than 2,100 Island Ambassadors have been certified to date. The event management department also pairs USCB students with local community events to experience real-world event management. The quality standards management program works with local hospitality businesses, ensuring students learn to provide exceptional experiences for all guests. What’s New in 2019-20: The center launched its Bluffton Ambassador Program to educate participants about Bluffton’s rich history, unique amenities and diverse ecology.
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››Education Hilton Head Preparatory School
The 2020 rankings are in, and Hilton Head Prep is leading the way in education — just as it has since its founding in 1965. According to the Best Schools Rankings list from Niche, Prep is the No. 1 private K-12 school in Beaufort County, the No. 1 boarding school in the state, the No 1. college prep school in the state, the No. 2 private K-12 school in South Carolina, and in the top 13% of all K-12 private schools nationwide. It all starts with Prep’s faculty — who average 20 years of experience and two-thirds have advanced degrees — and the administration, with more than 30 years of experience, on average — delivering Prep’s rigorous college prep curriculum, a strong arts and athletics program along with community service and character education. But here’s what matters more than the numbers: Faculty and staff members are passionate about learning and love the kids they teach. Student spotlight: Hilton Head Preparatory School senior Felipe Mendoza has been awarded a full scholarship to attend the University of Chicago through the QuestBridge program. Felipe was selected from a pool of 15,000 applicants through a rigorous screening process; winners of this scholarship are among the best and brightest in the country. This program “matches” applicants with their top-tier college partners and Felipe’s match was his first choice. His scholarship is worth over $350,000 and includes full tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses. Felipe has attended Hilton Head Prep since kindergarten.
Cross Schools
About the schools: Established in 1998, Cross Schools provides a Christian-based education for children ages 12 months through eighth grade. In 2020, the school will welcome its first high school class. Cross Schools strives to create an atmosphere where students develop a passion for learning through small classes, rigorous academics, various enrichment courses, and faith-based learning. At Cross Schools, students attend weekly chapel, participate in community service projects, and have the opportunity to join various clubs. The athletic program features 14 different competitive teams. The guiding principles of the Cross Schools community are academic excellence, Christian values, and community service. New this year: Cross Schools’ enrollment is up 53%, with over 570 students enrolled from preschool through eighth grade. Cross Schools is now enrolling 9th grade for the Fall of 2020. The school completed its inaugural season for the football program, coached by former NFL player Keith Brooking, with a record of 5-1.
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Hilton Head Christian Academy
When HHCA opens its new Bluffton campus for grades kindergarten through 12th in January 2021, it will be among the top 1% of schools worldwide built from the ground up to deliver an innovative learning environment designed for the future. HHCA faculty have undergone extensive training and are implementing a new learning model under the guidance of international experts in education planning and architectural design at Fielding Nair International. With a 100% college matriculation rate and over 90% of seniors earning merit-based scholarships, graduates are using their God-given talents to impact the world. Ranked among the top private schools in South Carolina, HHCA has a vibrant fine arts program and over 30 sports teams offering opportunities for students to excel. With a new campus on the horizon, interest is soaring, and many classes are nearing capacity as many families apply for the upcoming school year. Faculty spotlight: The influence of James Berry, HHCA’s director of fine arts and music teacher extraordinaire, starts in HHCA’s band room and extends across the United States. Whether teaching fourth- and fifth-grade band students to play instruments or leading his nationally recognized Hilton Head Jazz Camp, which draws students from as far away as Alaska, Mr. Berry is helping a community of musicians develop their passion for music and the arts.
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10
C E L E B R AT
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Buddy System BACKPACK BUDDIES CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF FEEDING STUDENTS BY BARRY KAUFMAN | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
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anet Weingarten had only been living on Hilton Head Island for a short time before she noticed something that wasn’t listed on any of the tourism or real estate brochures. “It’s almost a rite of passage when you move here,” she said. “You see gated communities. Then you start driving down side roads and you see a large part of the population. There are hungry families there.” Feeling that she wanted to help,Weingarten began working with a coalition of area organizations, starting with Congregation Beth Yam, to help feed these families. And thus, Backpack Buddies was born. Now in its 10th year, the organization provides nutritious meals to underserved children at area schools. While various programs allow for free or reduced-price lunches during
the school week, they don’t address the problems students have finding meals on the weekends. That’s where Backpack Buddies steps in, collecting food at four different collection points to be distributed to schools every Friday to help keep kids fed when school is out. “In our first year, we fed 50 children, giving public school kids two meals for the two days over the weekend,” she said. “We’re now feeding 300 kids in the elementary schools and providing food to middle schools and high schools. The kids grow up, and the hunger doesn’t go away.” As the organization has grown, other groups have joined the effort. In addition to Beth Yam, Backpack Buddies also receives support from First Presbyterian Church of Hilton Head,
Backpack Buddies of Hilton Head | P.O. Box 22738 | Hilton Head, SC 29925 | backpackbuddieshh.org
Janet Weingarten (left) founded Backpack Buddies. Students at St. Francis Catholic School and volunteers (above) fill bags of food for Backpack Buddies.
St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, St. Andrew By-The-Sea Methodist Church, Christ Lutheran Church and Hilton Head Island Community Church. Backpack Buddies also now provides food to groups like Neighborhood Outreach Committee to distribute to kids during after-school and summer programs, and it’s developing partnerships with Kroger at Shelter Cove Towne Centre and Carolina Seafood and Produce to improve its offerings of healthy foods. “I’ve been very thankful for the community support that we get,” Weingarten said. “It’s all local support. Businesses as well as different grant endowment organizations have been very good to us.” She also said the organization couldn’t have been successful without the help of local social workers and school personnel, as well as the more than 100 volunteers who work to collect and distribute meals. Weingarten said the volunteers often get as much out of the program as the kids, truly relishing the opportunity to play a hands-on role in their community. “So many people at our age haven’t had time to do hands-on volunteer work. I wrote checks but I never had time to do volunteer work,” Weingarten said. “We wanted to design a program to give people the opportunity to be hands-on — to do the packing and drive food to schools.” Backpack Buddies might be filling students’ stomachs, but the work is filling Weingarten’s soul. “It really has been the most rewarding part of my life,” she said. “To be able to help at a grass-roots level and see the difference we make in these kids’ lives, there’s been nothing like that.” Have a milestone coming up? email Anuska Frey at publisher@hiltonheadmonthly.com
Jazz Brunch for Backpack Buddies Backpack Buddies of Hilton Head will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a New Orleans-style jazz brunch from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at The Jazz Corner that will featuring bottomless mimosas and performances by Dave Masteller & The Jazz Corner Ensemble. Tickets are $60 a person and all proceeds help feed area children. For tickets, go to backpackbuddieshh.org.
How to Help Backpack Buddies is always looking for volunteers to transport food from collection sites to schools. Volunteers must be able to lift more than 40 pounds and have a car. For more information, go to backpackbuddieshh.org.
››Education
Teacher of the Year IT’S NOT EASY TO MAKE MATH FUN, BUT MICHELLE GORDON MAKES IT LOOK AS EASY AS PI BY BARRY KAUFMAN
I’ve had students who were extremely shy, but they feel comfortable in my class. —Michelle Gordon
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o you know which side of the chicken has the most feathers? If you do, you’re either really good at riddles, or you’re one of the lucky students in Michelle Gordon’s math class at Bluffton High School. The chicken riddle recently was her “joke of the day,” one of many ways she likes to lighten the mood when teaching a subject that many students dread. “I want them to enjoy the learning experience, and I want my personality to shine in the classroom,” she said. “We’re all here for a purpose, and that’s to learn.” Her sense of humor is a big part of her personality. Even when accepting the Beaufort County School District Teacher of the Year Award, her first order of business on stage
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was to tell a joke: “What do you call a deer with no eyes?” Answer: “I have no eye-deer.” But the prize that came with the honor was no joke: During a celebration honoring teachers of the year from all of the district’s schools, Shane Gault, executive manager of Hilton Head BuickGMC-Cadillac, presented Gordon with a $5,000 prize. Gordon’s quick wit and playful banter aren’t just ways to keep students’ attention. Each quip or wisecrack, whether it’s a knee-slapper or a groaner, helps create an atmosphere of comfort for students who might otherwise never fully engage with the subject matter. “I’ve had students who are extremely shy, but they feel comfortable in my class,” Gordon said. “One student said that about herself. She’s an introvert, so she doesn’t like to speak out. But when she enters my room, it feels like family.” Helping students come out of their shells speaks to one of the key events in Gordon’s path to teaching. Originally eyeing a job in computer engineering
— or, well, eyeing the large paychecks the field offers — she found she had a greater talent for helping others. “I had a family member who struggled in school, and I tried really hard to help them. It seemed the gap was too wide between where his learning needed to be and where it was, and it really bothered me that I couldn’t help him,” she said. “That’s when I decided I didn’t want anyone else to experience that.” She took that drive to the classroom, where she found that laughter was an unlikely but effective teaching tool: “It’s very personal. Even with my students, I have that family member in mind all the time.” Gordon has more than 15 years of classroom experience, and Bluffton High principal Denise Donica said she is respected not only by her students, but also by her colleagues. “She’s amazing,” Donica said. “She’s so passionate about what she does, and everybody in our building loves her.” Gordon holds master’s degrees in education leadership and mathematics from the University of South Carolina and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from South Carolina State University. As the Beaufort County School District’s Teacher of the Year, she is in the running for South Carolina Teacher of the Year, which will be announced in the spring. And for the record, a chicken has the most feathers on the outside.
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››Education
Artistic Connection HIGH SCHOOL ARTIST BONDS WITH REFUGEE THROUGH PORTRAIT BY KATHLEEN WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
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f I could only capture his smile, Olivia Waters thought, I could capture the essence of Yousup — a 12-year-old Rohingya refugee confined in a camp in Bangladesh. “I couldn’t help but think that despite everything he had been through, despite all the things that must have been thrown at him this past year, he still looked full of joy,” said Olivia, 17, a senior at Hilton Head Island High School. She was introduced to Yousup’s story through The Memory Project, a program that enlists high school art students to create portraits of children around the world who are in crisis. The nonprofit project was established in 2004 by Ben Schumaker, then a student at the University of Wisconsin, and since then has delivered more than 160,000 portraits to children in 49 countries. The program works with charities abroad to identify children. Heart warming videos of the subjects receiving their portraits—which for many are the only likenesses of themselves that they have— are often shared with the artists. Olivia loved the project from the moment she started. “We’re given the child’s name, their age, their favorite color, and where they are from,” she said. “With every portrait, you can really find yourself connecting to the kid you’re drawing.” Olivia’s teacher uses it in her art classes every year. “Ms. Dobbelaere makes us research 10 facts about our refugees and the circumstances they’re in. It not only helps us learn more about them but gives us some perspective into their situation,” Olivia said.
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Dobbelaere said that she learned about the project through a segment on “CBS News,” and she has used it in her Hilton Head High classroom for 14 years. “The heart of this project — combining goodwill and artistic skill — is a powerful combination that can absolutely have global impact, making a positive difference in the life of another through art,” she said. “We are honored to be a part of it.” The Memory Project charges $15 per student; at Hilton Head High, that fee is paid by the Island School Council for the Arts. ISCA also provides funds for the program at several other Beaufort County schools.
During her freshman and sophomore years, Olivia drew portraits of two Syrian refugee girls as part of the project. For the portrait of Yousup, she used colored pencils for the first time. The portrait, which took 12 to 14 hours to finish, shows great depth and contrast. Her teacher urged Olivia to enter Yousup’s portrait in the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards competition, a contest that attracts about 340,000 submissions from students across the country. Olivia won the regional Gold Key and the national Silver Medal in Art & Illustration. “Yousup kept going,” Olivia said. “The judges saw something in this guy,
In addition to portraits, Olivia Waters paints in non-traditional mediums such as this skateboard.
and I am guessing it had something to do with his smile.” Olivia plans to major in art at college. For years, though, she thought she wanted to be a pediatrician, treating children with GI issues — something she herself has coped with since early childhood. “Since I was about 5 years old, I’ve struggled with gastrointestinal problems,” she said. “The doctors believe I have amplified pain syndrome. Basically, my nerve endings don’t turn off, so a stomach problem can turn into years and years of pain.” Art turned out to be the best medicine for her. “I spent most of my childhood in and out of hospitals, but nothing could make the pain go away,” she said. “Art was the one thing that could make me forget about the pain I was in. Focusing on a project made me forget, even if just temporarily, and distracted me enough to give me some relief. Art came into my life right when I needed it, and I honestly believe it saved my life.” Olivia, who’s been memorizing Bible verses with the help of her father since she was very young, says she prayed over her career path and saw her Scholastic Art & Writing Awards recognition as a sign. “I believe that this National Silver Medal that Yousup won was that sign I had been waiting for,” she said. “I feel like it was God’s way of showing me that this was the career path I was supposed to follow, that this was the way I could make an impact on the world.”
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Support Main Street. Not Wall Street.
Tame The Chaos Get organized in the new year By Carrie Hirsch
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rganization has become big business — just ask best-selling author and Japanese organization guru Marie Kondo. Sure, her folding methods open up space in your drawers, and pondering whether each item you own brings you joy does make it easier to decide whether to toss something, but sometimes those methods don’t work for everyone. It might be time to call in a professional. “My customers include individuals. I help people with their daily actionable paper so that tasks are completed in a timely manner and they feel less overwhelmed with all of their paper,” said Stefanie Ardoin, owner of Island Organizing and a certified Sunday Basket Workshop Organizer and a certified Complete In-Home Paper Organizer. “I will also work with people on other paper projects: tax preparation, old files
to purge and bringing it altogether in a way that is more manageable.” Organizing has always been something that comes naturally to Ardoin. During her work over the past 30 years in Louisiana as an administrator for an ENT and facial plastic surgery practice, she had many opportunities to organize people and processes. “I mainly worked at improving workflows and processes in the office. This lead to working with our physicians, friends and family in their homes and offices helping them to get organized in their home life and work life,” she said. “This part of my life was always fulfilling watching the transformation of others and how these changes would give them relief and enjoyment.” Being able to help others in this way gave her the idea to start her business once she moved to Hilton Head Island in 2018.
Still not convinced you need professional help? Consider your closet: It speaks volumes about your life. Are the clothes color-coded, or are there towering piles on the floor? A company like Closets By Design can help you organize your closet — and your life. Closets By Design has been around for about 30 years, but is relatively new to the Hilton Head area. The company services Hilton Head, Bluffton, Savannah, and along the entire South Carolina coast up to North Myrtle Beach. Its services also include building custom pantries, home offices, garage cabinets and flooring, laundry rooms, craft rooms, entertainment areas, butlers’ pantries, and wall beds. “We opened our doors in January 2018 and are one of 50 independently owned and operated franchises. Everything is custom-cut in our shop and showroom in North Charleston, and we have 16 designers who work out
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Island Organizing Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 707.714.1338 islandorganizing@gmail.com www.islandorganizing.net We help people organize their paper, home and office with functional systems to increase their productivity and save them time.
Closets By Design Serving the Lowcountry 843.225.6725 closetsbydesign.com Specializing in custom closets and home office. Closets By Design can design an attractive storage space for any area of your home that needs organizing, from the pantry to the garage and everywhere in between.. of their homes in each territory,” said owner Dena Brown. “The designers bring the showroom to you, providing an in-home consultation where they can see your space(s), listen to your needs, design and price out various options while they are with the client.”
“We are a proud to be a part of the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association,” Brown said. “Our greatest satisfaction comes from a repeat client calling us with another project. There is nothing more gratifying. All of our designers and installers are employees, not sub-contractors. They are highly trained, respectful of your homes, and are even offered health insurance and 401(k) in effort to keep high quality, healthy employees.”
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››Home
Crazy for Camellias HILTON HEAD COUPLE CREATES A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FOR THE COMMUNITY BY DEAN ROWLAND | PHOTO BY ROB KAUFMAN
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The garden also boasts a very special camellia: an Alba Plana, one of the most popular varieties of camellia in the Southeast, with 200 white petals.
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red and Donna Manske have some camellias in the garden at their Hilton Head Island home, but their true camellia craze can be found at the Camellia Garden at the Coastal Discovery Museum. The couple created this free garden in 2009; today, it is home to 131 exotic and historic plants in a multitude of colors, sizes, origins, blooming duration and fragrances that bloom from Halloween to St. Patrick’s Day. The Manskes spent a year researching camellias, meeting with horticultural specialists and attending seminars, before creating the 1.2-acre site and funding the purchase of the camellias. The couple — both Master Gardeners — tend to the garden several times a week. The camellias, which are all identified with brief descriptions, are planted 8 to 10 feet apart, so visitors can see all sides up close. They got the idea for the camellia garden during a walk at Honey Horn. “We were walking out here one day 11 years ago, toward the evening, and it was just a beautiful spot and wide open, and it kind of hit us,” said Fred, who has been on the Coastal Discovery Museum’s board for about 15 years. “This would be a beautiful spot for camellias.” It’s a special place in the Lowcountry, the Manskes say. “When you can’t go to the beach, people can come here and see beauty and have fellowship in the garden,” said Donna, a retired executive leadership coach and past president of the Women’s Association of Hilton Head Island. “It’s a very spiritual place for people and good memories. People come out here to meditate.” The garden, draped by a canopy of oak trees and Spanish moss, earned a spot on the American Camellia Garden Trail in 2016, sponsored by the American Camellia Society and joining
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APRIL DAWN
BALLET IN PINK
CAMELIA X SOLSTICE
CARTER’S SUNBURST
COTTON CANDY
FRANK BROWNLEE
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an elite roster of only 30 other gardens nationwide. Located on the southeast corner of Honey Horn next to the pavilion, the garden is accessible for people with disabilities and those pushing strollers. Its design is tiered, with the biggest and tallest plants positioned in the rear, such as the kumagai, a Japanese native that produces deep scarlet single flowers and can grow to 12-feet high. The garden also boasts a very special camellia: an Alba Plana, one of the most popular varieties of camellia in the Southeast, with 200 white petals. This particular plant was gifted to the Manskes for their garden from Magnolia Plantation and Gardens near Charleston. Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, the historic garden introduced the common camellia japonica from China to the U.S. “It’s a stunning plant and was registered way back in the 1790s,” said Fred of the medium-size, double flowered porcelain-white flower. Around the world, there are about 10,000 registered camellias. None are native to America; the evergreen bush originated in China and Japan and is related to the tea plant.
GET GROWING Ready to grow your own camellia garden? With the right soil, location and irrigation, they’ll provide a dazzling display of color. Plant camellias in the spring or fall in acidic soil that drains well. Go for a shady area, not in direct sun. Dig the hole twice as wide and equal in depth to the camellia’s root ball, and position it 10 to 20 feet away from anything else to accommodate the roots. Regular watering for the first year after planting is essential. As they mature, camellias will need less water and can accept more sun. No room in the yard? Camellias also grow well in containers. Plant them in gallon-size containers with a potting mix with at least 50% organic material, and make sure there’s a liberal drainage hole.
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Living the Dream
LOCAL BUSINESSES WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A MIRACLE
BY EDWARD THOMAS | PHOTOS SUBMITTED
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n a picturesque lane in the upscale Windmill Harbour community on Hilton Head Island, the HGTV 2020 Dream Home has a story almost as remarkable as its sweeping vista. The Lowcountry’s romance with the cable channel started with a few phone calls and included a brush with Hurricane Dorian in early September before concluding with accolades for “perhaps the best Dream Home yet.”
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HGTV had some specific ideas that we needed to incorporate into the design for a home that would reflect new trends in homebuilding while infusing traditional concepts. – WILLIAM COURT, COURT ATKINS GROUP
Chris Dalzell, president of Bluffton’s Shoreline Construction, took the first phone call last January: An HGTV executive said the network was looking to build its upcoming Dream Home in the Savannah or Hilton Head Island area and wondered if Dalzell would be interested in partnering with the network again — Shoreline had worked with HGTV on its 2018 Smart Home in Palmetto Bluff. “I don’t build in Savannah,” Dalzell told the executive, but said he would love to collaborate on Hilton Head Island. And, as it turns out, Hilton Head was at the top of HGTV’s list, according to Karen Kiley, vice president of home promotions for Discovery, Inc., HGTV’s parent company for HGTV and one of the world’s largest providers of video entertainment on television and through streaming services.
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LOCATION,LOCATION Dalzell’s next phone call was to Johnny Ussery, a local Realtor of nearly 40 years and a partner at Charter One Realty. “Time was of the essence,” Dalzell said, “and Johnny knows where all the best available properties are in this area.” HGTV had two requirements for Ussery: The home needed to have a water or marsh view, and the lot needed to have minimal elevation issues. Ussery presented three options, and the Windmill Harbour site won out thanks to its panoramic vista and Lowcountry coastal ambience. As the lot selection was being finalized, Dalzell phoned architect William Court, a principal with the Court Atkins Group design firm in Bluffton, explaining the assignment and the need for expediency. “Of course, we were thrilled to get the call from Chris, but it was obviously going
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to be a challenge,” Court said. “We rarely get a project without a specific homeowner client and the timeline was so short. HGTV had some specific ideas that we needed to incorporate into the design for a home that would reflect new trends in homebuilding while infusing traditional concepts. Needless to say, we also had to be mindful of Windmill Harbour’s architectural review board.” By this time, it was late April. The 3,500 square-foot HGTV Dream House had to be finished by October — just six months away.
BUILDING BOOM “It was a really big undertaking,” Dalzell said. “Generally, we will build a custom home in 10 to 14 months. Now we had less than half that time and the finished
product would be seen by millions. The saving grace was that everyone working on the project was a true professional.” Every step of construction had to be coordinated with HGTV’s film crew, which was traveling back and forth from the Washington, D.C., area weekly to film. Josh Thomas, Shoreline’s on-site superintendent, could only shake his head as he remembered the original planning. “It wasn’t just building a home quickly,” he said. “It was also … collaboration with a video team that needed to capture [footage] of almost every aspect of the building process.” It took careful planning to pull off. “Each Thursday, we would have a conference call with HGTV people, including at least one of the main talent — designer Brian Patrick Flynn and host Tamara Day — to discuss this week’s
THE DREAM HOME Read more about the home in the HGTV 2020 Dream Home in Windmill Harbour at HGTV.com/HGTVDreamHome. “The Dream Home Special 2020” will air on HGTV at 8 p.m. Jan. 1, featuring host Tamara Day and interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn. The sweepstakes to win the home — as well as a 2019 Honda Passport Elite, all the furnishings in the home and $250,000 — started Dec. 30 and entries will be accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 19. Those who meet the eligibility requirements can enter twice a day on HGTV.com. January 2020 77
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work,” Thomas said. “All of our schedules needed to be synchronized.” The job site often became extremely hectic: “Sometimes we had three, four or even more subcontractor teams working on a given day,” Thomas said, “including electrical and plumbing, HVAC, carpenters and landscapers. Normal practice is to have no more than one or two.” But both Dalzell and HGTV’s Kiley give high marks to Thomas for his ability to keep things moving forward smoothly.
QUALITY IS KING While HGTV doesn’t directly release the potential listing price of the home, it is valued between $1.75 million and
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$2 million, according to HGTV promotional rules. Quality control was of highest importance for a home that would be viewed by millions. This responsibility fell to Dalzell, who visited the site regularly, but especially on weekends to carefully inspect work that was done that week and to anticipate any potential issues in the upcoming week. “My eyes were always on the timeline, and how to get tasks completed more expeditiously without sacrificing quality,” said Dalzell, whose background is in construction management. By September, it was looking like the Dream Home was going to come together like a, well, dream: The house was in its
final week of construction and furnishings were beginning to arrive on site. But then Hurricane Dorian appeared on the radar and headed toward the Carolina coast. “It was a really scary week for us,” Kiley said. “All of our corporate executives were glued to the forecasts. We were receiving updates several times each day as Dorian approached. When it was imminent that there was going to be an evacuation, we even took down our time-lapse cameras, which had been monitoring the build from day one and loaded them on a truck.” Fortunately, Dorian passed Hilton Head without doing too much damage and, with only a week’s delay,
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work on the Dream Home was quickly wrapped up. Only the final touches and tweaks remained for final filming and its introduction to local media on Dec. 5.
WELCOME HOME The three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath, two-story home is rendered in a sapphire-tone blue and restful green, with nostalgic neutrals and pops of coal and blush pink. It boasts a gourmet
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kitchen; a spacious, open-air great room; and an expansive laundry and mudroom adjacent to the double-size garage; plus a large multi-purposed entertaining space upstairs. The front door opens onto a twostory foyer, which offers views of the great room, kitchen and dining area as part of the open floor plan. A luxurious master suite with walk-in closet and bath are to the left of the great room on the main level, and upstairs there are two
distinctive, Caribbean-style bedrooms, as well as an entertainment space and an expansive covered porch. But the beauty isn’t limited to the indoors: The home looks out over incredible marsh views, and a screened porch with retractable infinity screens stretches the width of the home so you can make the most of them. The backyard includes a rectangular black-bottom pool, along with an outdoor kitchen and lounging area. It’s an entertainer’s dream.
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››Real Estate News
Rogers
Luce
Wynne
Stewart
Blackwell
Palmetto Dunes
BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY ADDS TWO
Allison Luce and Lynn Rogers have joined the team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hilton Head Bluffton Realty. Luce moved to the Lowcountry from North Carolina after vacationing in the area for many years. She attended Ohio University and has a master’s degree from Hunter College in New York City. Rogers had a 34-year career in information technology and made the move to real estate with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties. Her experience with Berkshire Hathaway made a planned move to Hilton Head Island an easy transition.
SUN CITY TO PHASE OUT FLOOR PLANS FOR NEW 2020 DESIGNS
Sun City Hilton Head has begun construction on a new model home park that will open in early 2020. The developer’s plan is to phase out the current floor plans and introduce 10 all-new designs.
WEICHERT REALTORS-COASTAL PROPERTIES AGENT EARNS DESIGNATION
Virginie Blackwell of Weichert Realtors-Coastal Properties has been awarded the Accredited Buyer’s Representative designation by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors. Blackwell lives in Bluffton. Weichert Realtors-Coastal Properties is an independently owned and operated Weichert affiliate with offices on Hilton Head Island and in Beaufort, Bluffton and Okatie/Sun City
PALMETTO DUNES EARNS GOLF HONORS, RECOGNIZES EDWARDS
The Lowcountry Golf Course Owners Association has named the Robert Trent Jones Course as its 2019 Course of the Year. In addition, Michael Edwards, a longtime member of the greenskeeping staff at Palmetto Dunes, was named 2019 Employee of the Year. Edwards celebrated his 40th year of
employment with Greenwood Communities and Resorts in March.
JEFF WYNNE JOINS COLLINS REALTY GROUP
Collins Group Realty welcomes Jeff Wynne to the company’s Bluffton office, where he will assist buyers and sellers with real estate transactions on the mainland. A licensed real estate agent since 2017, Wynne was recently with Village Park Homes, selling new construction homes in planned communities on Hilton Head Island. He has lived in the Lowcountry since 2012 and has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Southern Methodist University.
STEWART EARNS DESIGNATION
Kristy Stewart has earned the Certified Membership/Marketing Professional designation from the Professional Club Marketing Association. She is the director of membership, marketing and communications at Hampton Hall Club in Bluffton. January 2020 87
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NEW
YEAR Y U OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND IN 2020 TO CREATE FOR OURSELVES EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL ACCOUNTABILITY. THE CATALYST FOR MANY CHANGES IS OFTEN THE COMING OF A NEW YEAR. START THE YEAR OFF RIGHT WITH SMALL, MANAGEABLE CHANGES TO YOUR LIFESTYLE. CONQUER YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS.
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Savings Plan
PAY YOURSELF FIRST TO ACHIEVE YOUR FINANCIAL GOALS
BY ANTHONY GARZILLI
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hether you’re planning for a hardearned vacation or a new car, or if you want to boost your retirement and emergency funds, saving is key. No amount of money is too small to begin squirrelling away, said Bill Brady, managing principal at Hilton Head-based CrossRoads Financial Group. “Minor adjustments can lead to major improvements,” Brady said. “Are you sure you need that $5 Starbucks coffee every day?” In addition to taking small steps to cut spending in minor ways every day, there’s another way to work on your financial goals: Pay yourself first. Following this strategy means you automatically set aside money from your paycheck that’s earmarked for your goals before you spend on things like groceries, the mortgage, rent, or loans and bills. You can have “your” portion of your paycheck go directly to a savings account via direct deposit. Or you can schedule automatic transfers that will move money to your savings account at a specific time. No matter how you do it, the point is to
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put the money somewhere you’ll save it, not spend it. Dorothea Bernique, executive director of the nonprofit Increasing H.O.P.E. Financial Training Center in Charleston, suggests using a separate bank for your savings — and no debit card associated with your savings account — so you are not tempted to use that money. The key to the strategy is having the discipline to always put the money aside. Bernique said the first step in saving money is making sure you have the resolve to do it. “Once you do it, that in itself will motivate people,” she said. “Make it a discipline in your life.” Increasing H.O.P.E. Financial Training seeks to help educate people in personal finance, according to its website, and Bernique said she advises people to make paying yourself first a line item in the budget. The amount of money saved isn’t important (it can be $5 or $500) — it’s about building a routine based on putting some funds into savings.
Tracking your spending will help you better identify where the money is going.
“Just establish the habit; make it a part of who you are,” Bernique said. Saving money is a challenge for some Americans, according to Yahoo Finance. In a report last May, Yahoo Finance said a GOBankingRates.com survey found that 58% of the more than 5,000 people surveyed in 2018 had less than $1,000 in savings. The percentage of those surveyed who reported having no savings was 32%. Bluffton resident Ilo Tefft said paying herself first has helped relieve the stress and anxiety of paying bills. Tefft, who is retired and said she’s on a fixed income, said that about six years ago she became financially conscious. With the aid of everydollar.com, which helps you create a monthly budget, Tefft said she knows exactly how much money she has each month. She said she puts some of her money into an online savings account — separate from her bank — so she’s not tempted to spend the funds. Tefft has savings as a category in her budget and she also has a category for grandchildren, of which she has seven. “They are important parts of my life and I want to spend money on them,” she said. Brady and Bernique said it’s important to outline your financial goals and also scrutinize where you are spending money. Can you cut out a night of going out to eat? How many cable channels or streaming services do you really need? Tracking your spending will help you better identify where the money is going. Mint and YNAB are apps recommended by Yahoo Finance that help consumers track their expenses and manage money. “If you are forced to review something, most times it makes you think,” said Brady, who has been in the financial field for 42 years. “If you know you are spending needlessly, scale back a little bit. Stop and think: Do I need it, or do I want it?” Tefft, who has a budget category for restaurants and groceries, said it’s important to keep emotions in check when thinking about purchases: “I won’t do it if it’s not in my budget,” she said, adding it’s also important to stay committed to being fiscally responsible. “If you don’t have a plan, then your money is gone,” she said. “You have to have some goals. Set a budget.”
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NEWYEAR Y U Tina Toomer and her daughter Jamie Toomer are partners at Burn Boot Camp in Bluffton. They keep each other focused on fitness and healthy living. Research shows that having an accountability partner can help people stay on track.
Strength in Numbers AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER CAN HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS BY CAROL WEIR | PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
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ow often have you set a goal but never quite got around to doing anything to achieve it? Or maybe you’ve found yourself making progress, but then something got in the way and you got off track. People are social animals, so it’s no surprise that research shows one of the best ways to develop positive habits is to pair up with an accountability partner — someone who can help keep you committed to your goals and objectives. Experts say one of the best predictors of whether people will stick with an exercise program is if they have a friend — either an individual or a group — to work out with, keeping them accountable. This
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is true for people looking to make other behavior changes: losing weight, quitting smoking, sticking to a beauty routine, improving their diets. The system works, experts say, because if we promise someone we will meet them at the gym or the salon, for example, we’ll feel guilty if we don’t keep our promise. The sense of obligation we feel toward others often is stronger than the sense of obligation we feel toward ourselves. “Goals take time, hard work, perseverance and commitment to achieve,” said coach Thomas Oppong, who blogs on Medium.com. “Results often do not come as quickly as we might hope, and it’s easy to lose motivation in the process and give up.” Like many wellness professionals, Oppong recommends teaming up with a friend, citing an American Society of Training and Development study that found that people have a 65% chance of reaching a goal if they have an accountability partner. The study also found that people’s chances of successfully reaching their goals rose to 95% when they established a regular appointment with their accountability partners. “If you don’t measure and report your progress, then you’re probably not making much progress at all,” Oppong wrote recently in a post titled “This Is How to Increase the Odds of Reaching Your Goals by 95%.” “According to Pearson’s Law — when performance is measured, it improves; when performance is measured and reported, it improves exponentially.”
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It keeps you motivated and challenged. - LAURA LUTZ
WEIGHT LOSS The ideal accountability partner is someone who is highly motivated. Bluffton friends Nancy Foss, 33, and Carmen Hidalgo, 28, are both serious about losing weight, and last June they decided to team up to improve their efforts. “I knew Carmen from my neighborhood because our kids are friends,” Foss said. “We were at a birthday party and she started talking about weight and everything she was doing. I could tell she had done a lot of research and was really committed.” The next day, Foss texted Hidalgo and asked if they could meet for coffee. Their weight-loss partnership was born over skim-milk lattes with Splenda. “We joined forces,” Hidalgo said. “When I cheat on my diet, I have to tell her about it.”
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The pair set clear goals: They would cook at home more and eat out less. They would call each other when they were upset to avoid emotional eating, and they would track what they ate and weigh in weekly. Their motto became “progress, not perfection,” and it seems to be working — Foss has lost 17 pounds and Hidalgo is down 12. Just as important: Their friendship has deepened by motivating, inspiring and challenging each other. “In the process (of losing weight), we’ve become best friends,” Foss said. “This has been a bigger joy to me than fitting into smaller sizes.”
EXERCISE At Burn Boot Camp in Bluffton, franchise owner Laura Lutz and trainer Katelyn Vitzthum created accountability small groups to help members make it to the gym more often, get in more reps and lift heavier weights. “We wanted to take people out of their comfort zones, hold each other accountable and build a strong community,” Vitzthum said. The pair came up with the idea for the groups after brainstorming last winter about how to keep members’ motivation
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high in a season when people’s workouts “tend to fade off due to holiday parties, travel and visitors,” Lutz said. They matched up members who joined voluntary accountability groups and created a Facebook group for them. A year later, several of the groups — which include five to six people — are still going strong. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or an athlete,” Lutz said. “It keeps you motivated and challenged.” Tina and Jamie Toomer are a mother-daughter accountability team at Burn Boot Camp who consistently work out together and support each other. “For me, it’s a level of comfort, having a buddy,” Tina said. “She pushes me.” Jamie, who is lead trauma nurse at Savannah Memorial Health University Medical Center and works the night shift, finds it easier to get up and go to the gym when she knows her mom will be there. The Toomers are a large, close family, but exercising together is something only Jamie and her mom share. “Jamie has always been health conscious, and this is our niche,” Tina said.
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SMOKING CESSATION
RESOURCE DIRECTORY Bluffton Aesthetics 3 Plantation Park Drive 843.505.0584 BlufftonAesthetics.com Envision Medical Spa 14 Westbury Park Way, Ste. 100 (Bluffton) 843.705.0811 EnvisionMedSpaServices.com Faces Day Spa The Village at Wexford 843.785.3075 FacesDaySpa.com Farmers Market of Bluffton 40 Calhoun Street (at the Carson Cottages) 843.415.2447 FarmersMarketBluffton.org
LUX ~ A Medical Spa 350 Fording Island Road, Suite 101 (Bluffton) 24 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 50 843.781.6672 LuxHHI.com Orangetheory Fitness 430 William Hilton Parkway 843.473.4505 Hilton-Head.OrangeTheoryFitness.com Pure Barre 28 Shelter Cove Lane, Suite 105 843.785.7888 109 Towne Drive (Bluffton) 843.815.6015 PureBarre.com
Dr. Richard J. Greco The Georgia Institute of Plastic Surgery 843.757.0002 MyCosmeticSurgeon.md
Street Meet 95 Mathews Drive Port Royal Plaza 843.842.2570 StreetMeetHHI.com
Good Health Unlimited 124 Arrow Road, Suite 4 843.802.2029 GoodHealthUnlimited.com
Terra’s Style Studio 2 Marshland Road, #3 843.682.4247 TerrasHairStudio.com
The Herb Room Organic Apothecary & The Art of Massage and Yoga 14 New Orleans Road, Suite 2 843.422.8860 TheHerbIsTheWord.com
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Taking a team approach can also help people stop smoking, according to the American Lung Association. “Quitting smoking isn’t just a decision — it’s a process. You have to learn how to smoke, and you have to learn how to stop smoking,” said Bill Blatt, the organization’s national director of tobacco programs. “It’s not the kind of thing you’re just going to know how to successfully accomplish.” Most smokers who are successful in quitting do so over time in fits and starts, said Dr. Laura Knobel, a direct primary doctor in Bluffton. Medical experts say the best quit rates are seen in households where both adults smoke and decide to quit. “Then it becomes a challenge,” Knobel said. “Both people get healthy. You can do this with spouses or with friends.” Because smoking rates have fallen dramatically across the country, it may be hard for smokers to find an accountability partner locally who is also trying to quit. The Center For Disease Control runs a “quit smoking hotline” that offers live support. For more information go to cdc.gov/tobacco.
BEAUTY ROUTINES Non-invasive cosmetic procedures including Botox, microdermabrasion, hydro-facials and chemical peels are popular and can take years off one’s appearance. But they are also costly and time-consuming, so it’s common for people to procrastinate or miss appointments. So a group of friends from Hilton Head Island and Bluffton turned their bi-monthly treatments at a local medical spa into an excuse to see each other regularly. “We have a couple glasses of wine together first,” said one group member. “We all have children and are very busy, so we book our appointments together. We’re happy to be together and we enjoy it more.”
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NEWYEAR Y U
Going Green PLANT-BASED DIETS GROWING IN POPULARITY BY CLAY BONNYMAN EVANS PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
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ho isn’t familiar with the old trope that pre-agricultural humans — cavemen, in casual parlance — were big meat eaters? You know, hairy men spearing mammoths and gnawing on half-raw haunches while huddled over flickering fires. But it turns out that our grunting predecessors might not have been as meat-obsessed as once thought. That theory likely originated because animal bones are better preserved at most paleolithic dig sites than the remains of edible plants, but researchers at the Gesher Benot Ya’aqov archaeological site in northern Israel and others are discovering that many of our ancestors ate mostly plants. Nuts, fruits, seeds, roots, leaves and other plants made up as much as 90% of their diet, in fact. Fast-forward a million years or so, and scientific evidence continues to show that eliminating or reducing animal products from your diet reduces the risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes and other maladies. Eating lower on the food chain — more greens, less meat — also reduces the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. “We are not obligate carnivores,” said Carla Golden of Hilton Head Island, who as a longtime vegan doesn’t consume any animal products. “As a vegan, you are not only eating well for you, but eating well for the planet.” Golden became a vegetarian after the birth of her daughter nearly two decades ago and switched to veganism five years ago. A massage therapist, she earned a bachelor’s degree in holistic health and healing in 2013 to help educate people about nutrition, and later founded the Palmetto Plant Eaters Club and Lowcountry Veg Fest.
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Ross Glatzer
“The club exists to teach people the value of eating whole plant foods, for health primarily,” she said. “But we also talk about environmental issues and compassion for animals.” In Bluffton, plant-based eating has a huge advocate in Sun City resident Ross Glatzer. A Vietnam veteran, Glatzer was a confirmed carnivore until his wife was diagnosed with a rare form of diabetes that hindered her mobility five years ago. He planned to drop her off at her first meeting of Sun City’s Eat Smart Live Longer Club, founded by three sisters in 2013, but decided to stick around. “It was the most intelligent discussion I’d heard in my time in Sun City,” he said. “It immediately dawned on me that I couldn’t continue the standard American diet if my wife was going to transition to a
whole-foods, plant-based lifestyle.” The couple never looked back. Glatzer, now in his third year as president of the club — with nearly 700 members, it’s one of the largest of its kind in the country — has experienced a 65-point reduction in his cholesterol levels and a 21-point decrease in blood pressure, without using medication. Meanwhile, his wife has reduced her blood sugar by nearly a third. Formerly facing kidney dialysis, she now has been given a good bill of health by her nephrologist. “My doctor tells me that we are both in the best shape he has seen us in the 15 years we have known him,” Glatzer said. The Eat Smart Live Longer Club meets monthly and hosts high-profile national speakers such as physicians Pam Popper and Michael Gregor. The group, open only to Sun City residents, produces a
Carla Golden 33-page handbook for members, holds grocery store tours to teach people how to shop and read nutrition labels, and evaluates local restaurants for inclusion on its Dining Partners list. “When we find enough plant-based items on the menu, we include them,” Glatzer said. So far, 22 restaurants have made the grade. Look for the club’s sticker — a round decal with a cornucopia of fruits and vegetables — at participating restaurants. For people interested in learning more about whole-food, plant-based eating, Glatzer and Golden recommend documentaries like “Forks Over Knives,” “PlantPure Nation” and “The Game Changers,” as well as books such as Gregor’s “How Not to Die.” They also offered tips for those thinking about moving to a plant-based diet in the new year. Glatzer suggested trying the free “21-Day Vegan Kickstart” app and program created by Dr. Neal D. Barnard, founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
As a vegan, you are not only eating well for you, you are eating well for the planet. —CARLA GOLDEN
“Get freakin’ fanatical about fiber — and not Metamucil fiber, but whole-plant food fiber,” Golden said. Animal products don’t have fiber, so increasing fiber intake will reduce their amount in your diet. And, she said, don’t sweat the protein: “If you are eating enough calories from whole-plant foods to sustain your weight and energy level, you are probably getting enough protein.”
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››Environment
At Peace in a World Apart PINCKNEY ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE PHOTOS BY GUIDO FLUECK AND SCOTT LENGEL
All good things are wild and free. – HENRY DAVID THOREAU
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More than 14 miles of gravel roads and grass trails wind through Pinckney Island, providing visitor access to a wide range of habitats, including salt marsh, forestland, brushland, fallow fields and freshwater ponds. 124 lowcountryvoice.com
Common Moorhen January 2020 125
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American Alligator January 2020 127
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Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge is a 4,000-acre preserve located between the two bridges to Hilton Head Island. It’s open free of charge sunrise through sunset daily.
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Eastern Oysters
Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge was established in 1975.
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Red-Winged Blackbird
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Common Moorhen juvenile
Monarch butterfly
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››History
‘All About Family’ NATIVE ISLANDER HONORS TIES TO THE PAST BY MAINTAINING TINY CEMETERY BY JAMES A. MALLORY | PHOTOS BY ALLISON GOODWIN
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inding time to tend to Braddock’s Point Cemetery is a no-brainer for Richard “Skeet” Williams. The grandmother who raised him, Ella Williams, lies there, as do other relatives. “It is all about family,” he said during a tour of the tiny cemetery. “Everybody here is family. Somebody has got to keep things going because we are family.”
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Braddock’s Point sits on a small plot of land on Lighthouse Lane in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island. It is within a golf shot of the 18th fairway at Harbour Town Golf Links, but isn’t visible from the course because of a condo complex. The cemetery was originally built in the 1800s for people enslaved on a plantation owned by the Bennett family and
probably was larger, said Gullah historian and native islander Emory Campbell. Many of the slaves’ descendants stayed in the area until the 1940s, when they moved to other parts of the Lowcountry, he said, and though the cemetery was still in use, it fell into disrepair. There was no fence marking the site, so Sea Pine developers built around the marked graves, Campbell said. “Those that weren’t visible probably got buried (under the golf course and the condominiums),” he said. The smaller cemetery remained a place of burial for descendants of the Williams and Chisolm families, but looked abandoned to people walking passed it. Names on some of the older handmade gravestones became indecipherable, other markers disappeared. “Sometimes people would come in here and not respect it as a burial ground,” said Williams’ wife, Vanessa. Things began to change in 2009, after part-time Hilton Head resident and history buff Wendell Grayson Sr. visited the graveyard. Grayson said he took on the project of revitalizing the disheveled cemetery and reached out to Campbell and other Native Islanders when the company excavating headstones wanted a waiver for any damage that might occur. The connection led to his partnership with Williams, who began helping to restore the family burial site. Williams’ knowledge of family history filled in the narratives of those buried at Braddock’s Point and allowed Grayson to map out individual graves. That map and biographies of those buried in the cemetery are included in a book Grayson wrote about Braddock’s Point. Both he and Campbell praised Williams for his commitment to the cemetery and the need to memorialize family buried there.
Richard "Skeet" Williams (at left, with wife Vanessa) takes care of the Braddock's Point Cemetery on Lighthouse Lane in Sea Pines, which dates from the 1800s. Williams received the Mayor's Honored Islander Award for this work.
NOMINATIONS FOR HHI MAYOR'S HONORED ISLANDER AWARDS The Mayor's Honored Islander Awards recognize Hilton Head Island volunteers who excel in bettering our community. Anyone or any organization may nominate individuals for the awards. For more information or a nomination form go to hiltonheadislandsc.gov or email phyllisd@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.
“Skeet is the primary caretaker,” Grayson said. “He does the cutting and weeding. He is very particular, as I am.” Today, there is a fence around the 49 graves in Braddock’s Point — including two new burials added in 2016. There is room for another 15 to 20 graves, said Williams, whose work in preserving and maintaining the cemetery earned him an Honored Islander Award in 2018. “We had a few headstones where the palm trees were growing underneath and lifting them up,” Williams said. “We just about reset all of these headstones in here. Some were leaning, some were way down in the ground. We lifted them up.” The cemetery restoration has helped preserve traditions brought to America by Williams’ forebearers. For example, one grave marker still has a plate set into
it. Indentations on other gravestones hint at missing plates. “One of our traditions is to put on the graves things in memory of the deceased,” Campbell said. The plates might have been favorites of the deceased, or the last one the person used. Sometimes the person’s favorite food was placed on the graves, he said. “It is very West African.” And now that the cemetery has been restored, people who live in the area will pick up branches they see lying inside the fence, Williams said. “Mr. Grayson asks friends to check it out,” said Vanessa Williams. “Sometimes he will send my husband an email and say some friends stopped by and there is some work that needs to be done. They’ve become personal friends.”
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››Where to Worship
Changing Lives FIRST PRESBYTERIAN WELCOMES NEW PASTOR BY AMY COYNE BREDESON | PHOTO SUBMITTED
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n Nov. 10, First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island celebrated its 62nd anniversary by welcoming a new minister, the Rev. Dr. Will Robinson. Robinson moved to the Lowcountry from Salem, Virginia, where he served as pastor and head of staff at Salem Presbyterian Church for 10 years. Prior to that, Robinson was an associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In his new role at the Hilton Head church, Robinson will continue the church’s mission: “Changing Lives … Making Disciples.” As part of that mission, First Presbyterian offers both traditional and contemporary services, small groups and Sunday school, as well as outreach and community service opportunities. Robinson said the church has also been looking at ways to deepen relationships with God while widening the doors of the church so they are open to everyone. “People are more reluctant today to enter the doors of a church than in the past,” Robinson said. “So, how can we
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open those doors to allow them to worship and enter God’s kingdom here?” Started by Fred and Billie Hack in the 1950s, First Presbyterian was formally established on Nov. 10, 1957. The church’s membership has grown from 17 charter members in 1957 to 1,300 members today. The two traditional Sunday services are held at 8:30 and 11 a.m., with a contemporary “CrossRoads” service at 9:45 a.m. Sunday school classes are available for children and adults at 9:45 and 11 a.m. A “Welcome to Worship” program is offered to children after the children’s message during the 11 a.m. service, and the church’s youth group meets Wednesday evenings in the Honey Horn Chapel. Robinson would like the church to better connect with the families of children who attend First Presbyterian Day School but do not have a church home, perhaps by offering a parents’ night out. Established in 1984, the day school is open year-round and has an A+ ABC Quality rating through South Carolina’s statewide quality rating and improvement system for early care and education providers,
according to the school’s website. First Presbyterian supports global ministries, such as Presbyterian Disaster Assistance in Puerto Rico, House of Hope in Nicaragua, and Haiti Outreach Ministries. Locally, the church supports community organizations, including Backpack Buddies, Memory Matters, Book Buddies, Books ‘n Bucks, Habitat for Humanity and Family Promise. “Whether it’s local or global, we want to be a church that really betters the lives of people in the name of God,” Robinson said. Two prominent local nonprofit organizations — Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head Island Clinic and The Bargain Box — were started by members of First Presbyterian. “We believe that Jesus is the one who says this is how we should live,” Robinson said. “I think of Peter and, of course, James, who emphasized that it’s one thing to say, ‘I hope you get the food you need and the help you need’ … We should really be people who help that person get the help they need or provide that help to them.”
Where toWorship
Lowcountry Presbyterian Church Surrounded by God’s grace, we are a family of faith joined together through Christ, offering meaning and hope to all by the way we worship, serve and live.
Sunday Worship Services at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Childcare available at 10:30 a.m. service 10 SIMMONSVILLE ROAD BLUFFTON, SC 29910 (INTERSECTION OF HWY 278)
843-815-6570 LPCOFFICE1@HARGRAY.COM LOWCOUNTRYPRES.ORG
Lord of Life Lutheran Church
We at Lord of Life Lutheran Church seek to serve in the name of Christ.
Sundays 8:30am and 10:30am 351 BUCKWALTER PARKWAY BLUFFTON, SC 29910
A strong faith community starts with a powerful message.
LORDOFLIFE-BLUFFTON.ORG 843-757-4774
LET US HELP YOU REACH NEW MEMBERS. Contact: Heather Edge 843-707-2098 heather@yourlocalmarketingteam.com
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Happy New Year from the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra kicks off the new year with a variety of classical and pops music. Along with Dvořák, Bartók and Beethoven’s 4th with the beautiful and talented HHIPC 2019 Winner, Chaeyoung Park, just back from her outstanding performance at Carnegie Hall, we showcase the amazingly talented young cellist, Miriam K. Smith playing Saint Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1. on January 26 and 27th. Conductor Kellen Gray, the versatile and imaginative Assistant Conductor of the Charleston Symphony, will serve as conductor for the evening.
MOZART & SAINT SAËNS and MONTGOMERY’S STARBURST
HHSO
DVOŘÁK & BARTÓK and BEETHOVEN’S 4TH Sunday, January 12, 2020 • 5pm Monday, January 13, 2020 • 8pm John Morris Russell, Conductor Chaeyoung Park, Piano DVOŘÁK Slavonic Dance No. 8 BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra
One of the most important composers of the 20th century, Bartok’s blazing Concerto for Orchestra is one of his best-known and most popular works.
Sunday, January 26, 2020 – 5pm Monday, January 27, 2020 – 8pm Kellen Gray, Conductor – Miriam K. Smith, Cello
An evening of Superheroes!
Our pops concert, Superheroes – Action and Adventure, on February 9 and 10 will include the scores of your favorite popular movies, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Batman, X-Men, Superman, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many others. It will be a great evening, so bring the family and enjoy a night out together!
SUPERHEROES – ACTION AND ADVENTURE Sunday, February 9, 2020 – 5pm Monday, February 10, 2020 – 8pm John Morris Russell, Conductor – Francis Tsai, Violin
February concludes with the popular Elgar’s Enigma Variations which consists of 14 musical variations about Elgar’s friends and their peculiarities, initially written as a private amusement for his wife, Alice. Our own Reid Messich will perform the Oboe Concerto by Vaughan Williams.
GRIEG & VAUGHAN WILLIAMS and ELGAR’S ENIGMA VARIATIONS
Sunday, February 23, 2020 – 5pm Monday, February 24, 2020 – 8pm John Morris Russell, Conductor – Reid Messich, Oboe Tickets: $30, $50 and $60. Season subscriptions/tickets are available on our website at hhso.org or by calling the office at 843-842-2055. All concerts held at First Presbyterian Church on William Hilton Pkwy.
Tickets: $30, $50 and $60 online at hhso.org or call 843-842-2055 Join us for some exciting events in 2020!
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Jan. 19 JAN. 25 HILTON HEAD SNOW DAY: A family event hosted by the Island Rec Center, featuring inflatable rides, a snowfield and entertainment. Cost is $10 for children ages 2-17, free for adults. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-7273 or islandreccenter.org.
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Calendar | JANUARY
››Arts & Culture JAN. 15 “CONTRASTS AND COLOUR”: Delicate watercolors, dynamic collages, luscious oil paintings and innovative printmaking are among the mediums you will see at this year’s exhibit from Les Bonnes Artistes, on display through Feb. 21. Meet the artists at this opening reception. Free. 5-7 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767 or coastaldiscovery.org.
JAN. 17 LOWCOUNTRY PAINT PARTY: Explore the wonderful world of art with local artist Amiri Farris. Bring a bottle of wine and enjoy an evening with friends while painting your own Lowcountry work of art. No experience necessary. All supplies are provided. $27 for members, $30 for guests. 6-8 p.m., Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. 843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.
JAN. 21 WRECK THIS JOURNAL: Tweens and teens are invited to draw, paint or destroy the pages of their very own “wrecked” journal. Ages 9-17. Registration required. Free. 5 p.m., Hilton Head Library, 11 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-255-6529.
››Community
living with mental illness and their families. Free. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., NAMI Lowcountry, 29 Plantation Park Drive, Suite 204, Bluffton. 843636-3100 or namilowcountry.org.
JAN. 15 CENSUS FORUM: The public is invited to attend a meeting about the 2020 Census, led by Ernest White. Free. 9:30 a.m., Hilton Head Island Library, 11 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island. 843255-6500 or beaufortcountylibrary.org.
JAN. 11
JAN. 25
VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE: Volunteers are welcome to help with this monthly voter registration drive. Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed. Free. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. “Like” the event on Facebook.
COMMUNITY WINTER THRIFT SALE: A well-rounded selection of local treasures for shoppers of all ages. Over 18 unique local sellers will be set up to offer great bargains. Free. 9 a.m.Noon, Frank G. Murray Community Center, 125 Wilmington Island Road, Savannah. 912-898-3320.
JAN. 15 NAMI NEW VOLUNTEERS OPEN HOUSE: Seasoned NAMI members will be on site to answer questions and share how you can become involved to improve the lives of people
JAN. 18-FEB. 2 RECYCLE YOUR JACKET PROGRAM: Bring in a donation of a sweater, coat or jacket for The January 2020 139
››Calendar Deep Well Project and receive a new jacket from Outside Hilton Head for up to 50% off. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Outside Hilton Head, 50 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6996 or outsidehiltonhead.com.
›› Dance & Theatre JAN. 8 JEANNE ROBERTSON: Back by popular demand, this former Miss Congeniality from the Miss America Pageant continues to charm audiences with her humorous commentary on life and her vivacious spirit, clever witticisms, and Southern charm. $62. 8 p.m., Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2787 or artshhi.com
JAN. 9-12 CAROLINA SHAG CLUB’S ISLAND WINTER CLASSIC: This 25th anniversary four-day event draws shag dancers from throughout the Southeast. Open to dancers of all skill levels. $95. Times vary. Marriott Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, 1 Hotel Circle, Hilton Head Island. 603-491-2419 or hiltonheadshagclub.com.
JAN. 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 LEAN ENSEMBLE: “The Christians”: Pastor Paul has spent 20 years successfully growing his church from a small storefront to a gleaming megachurch, but now he fears that there may be a crack in the theological foundation. $25-$40. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday. Lean Ensemble Theater, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head Island. 843-715-6676 or leanensemble.org.
››Food & Drink JAN. 1 NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH: The annual Low Country Boil bluegrass band New Year’s Day brunch. Free entry. 12:30-4:30 p.m., Big Bamboo Cafe, 1 North Forest Drive, Suite 210, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-3443 or bigbamboocafe.com.
JAN. 12
JAN. 18 DAUFUSKIE ISLAND MARATHON: Experience Daufuskie Island during this half-marathon, full marathon and ultra marathon race. Cost is $125 for half-marathon, $145 for full marathon, and $190 for ultra marathon. 6 a.m., Daufuskie Island Ferry, 10 Haig Point Court, Hilton Head Island. daufuskieislandmarathon.com.
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NEW ORLEANS-STYLE JAZZ BRUNCH: Celebrate Backpack Buddies’ 10th anniversary with sticky buns, quiche, bottomless mimosas and live jazz. Cost is $60 per person. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.
JAN. 24 EIALI FRIED CHICKEN AND CHAMPAGNE DINNER: Enjoy unlimited friend chicken and champagne. A television production crew for “Eat It and Like It” with Jesse Blanco will be on site filming for a future episode. $50$65. Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar, 841 William Hilton Parkway, Unit A, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-3474 or luckyroosterhhi.com.
JAN. 25 CLEAN AND TASTY COOKING CLASS: Learn how to break down a fish while cooking fish en papillote with golden milk. Chef Josh Castillo and Margaret Pearman will lead the class, followed by a glass of wine as participants enjoy their creations. Reservations required. $100 per person. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte, 8 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-785-9277 or charliesgreenstar.com.
›› Music JAN. 7 NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY CHOIR: An evening of choral music conducted by Tom Trenney and accompanied by Anne Wilson. 7-9 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-3696 or fpchhi.org.
JAN. 10-11 THE HARRY ALLEN QUARTET AT THE JAZZ CORNER: Featuring Rossano Sportiello. $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-8620 or thejazzcorner.com.
JAN. 11 MUSIC ON MALPHRUS: Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Greg Greenway will perform at Music on Malphrus, an acoustic listening room. Tickets are $20. Doors open at 6 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m., The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. 843-837-3330 or uulowcountry.org.
JAN. 12-13 DVORAK & BARTOK AND BEETHOVEN’S FOURTH: Join the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra for a pre-concert talk one hour before the show. $30$60. 5 p.m. Jan. 12, 8 p.m. Jan. 13. First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2055 or hhso.org. January 2020 141
››Calendar to embrace the wizarding world. 6:30-7:30 p.m., The Art of Massage and Yoga, 14 New Orleans Road, Suite 2, Hilton Head Island. 843-422-8378 or hiltonheadwellness.com.
JAN. 17 SAVANNAH HOCKEY CLASSIC: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will defend their Thrasher Cup championship against Florida State during this annual hockey event. $9-$16. 6-9 p.m., Savannah Civic Center, 301 West Oglethorpe Ave., Savannah. savannahhockeyclassic.com.
JAN. 18 DAUFUSKIE ISLAND MARATHON: Experience Daufuskie Island during this half-marathon, full marathon and ultra marathon race. Cost is $125 for half-marathon, $145 for full marathon, and $190 for ultra marathon. 6 a.m., Daufuskie Island Ferry, 10 Haig Point Court, Hilton Head Island. daufuskieislandmarathon.com.
››Festivals/Events JAN. 17-19 JAN. 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 LEAN ENSEMBLE: “The Christians”: Pastor Paul has spent 20 years successfully growing his church from a small storefront to a gleaming megachurch, but now he fears that there may be a crack in the theological foundation. $25-$40. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m., Sunday. Lean Ensemble Theater, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head Island. 843-715-6676 or leanensemble.org.
JAN. 17-18 CARMEN BRADFORD AND THE QUENTIN BAXTER TRIO AT THE JAZZ CORNER: $10. 7:30-11 p.m., The Jazz Corner, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-8428620 or thejazzcorner.com.
JAN. 26-27 MOZART & SAINT-SAENS AND MONTGOMERY STARBURST: Join the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra for a pre-concert talk one hour before the show. Cost is $30-$60. 5 p.m., Sunday; 8 p.m., Monday. First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-2055 or hhso.org.
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››Outdoors/Sports JAN. 3 OHANA POLAR BEAR PLUNGE: Ring in the New Year with an icy plunge to benefit the World Wildlife Foundation. The event will also feature open water scuba certifications, snorkel workshops, a silent auction, a bonfire and a night dive. Cost is a $10 donation to WWF. Noon-3 p.m., The Ohana Dive Company, Cregor Street, Savannah. 912-856-1328 or theohanadivecompany.com.
JAN. 7 ADULT “HARRY POTTER” YOGA: Find your magical side while listening to the “Harry Potter” soundtrack and turn yoga poses into a fun way
LOW COUNTRY HOME & GARDEN SHOW: Get ideas for all your home and garden projects while exploring thousands of square feet of exhibits under one roof. $17 for adults, $6 for seniors and retired military, free for ages 16 and younger. 2-6 p.m. Jan. 17; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 18; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 19. Savannah Convention Center, 1 International Drive, Savannah. bonnie@showtechnology.com.
JAN. 18 BLACK EXCELLENCE BALL: The Bluffton and Hilton Head Island MLK Observance Committees host the second annual Black Excellence Ball. $90 for general admission, $720 for a reserved table. 6 p.m.-midnight, Hilton Head Island Beach & Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Road, Hilton Head Island. “Like” the event on Facebook.
JAN. 25 HILTON HEAD SNOW DAY: A family event hosted by the Island Rec Center, featuring inflatable rides, a snowfield and entertainment. Cost is $10 for children ages 2-17, free for adults. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Shelter Cove Community Park, 39 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-7273 or islandreccenter.org.
›› Education JAN. 2 NEW YEAR, NEW BOOKS: Teens and tweens are invited to kick off a new year of reading with a “book talk” featuring some of the latest books. Snacks will be served. Registration required. Free. 5-6 p.m., Hilton Head Island Library, 11 Beach City Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-255-6529.
JAN. 2 WINTER STEM WORKSHOPS: Ring in the New Year with this STEMbased workshop for children ages 8-12. Cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Noon-2 p.m., The Sandbox at Tanger 2, 1414 Fording Island Road, Suite E180, Bluffton. 843-705-6235 or thesandbox.org.
JAN. 4 LIVE 2020 WITH INTENTION: Join yoga teacher Shannon Miller for a workshop that will move you through gentle postures preparing for stillness. Share tea and conversation while completing an individualized intention board. Cost is $40. 2-4:30 p.m., Jiva Yoga Center, 1032 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-247-4549 or jivayogacenter.com.
JAN. 6 LOWCOUNTRY DRAGONFLIES: Biologist Vicky McMillan will discuss how dragonflies feed, find mates, defend their territories and reproduce. Reservations are required. $7. 2 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223, or coastaldiscovery.org.
JAN. 6, 14, 20, 28 STEM CELL PRESENTATIONS: Join Dr. Brad Fraum for an educational seminar about stem cell research. Free. 6 p.m. Mondays and noon Tuesdays. Fraum Center for Restorative Health, 1403 Main Street Village, Hilton Head Island. 843-681-7777 or fraum.com. January 2020 143
››Calendar
JAN. 8 THE SECRET LIFE OF TREES: Sally Krebs will discuss topics such as trees that practice chemical warfare, the future of a once common tree on Hilton Head Island, trees that contribute to human health and more. Reservations required. $7. 2 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223, or coastaldiscovery.org.
JAN. 8 SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE: Bring in your seed clearly marked with variety and description, then trade it with a fellow seed saver at this bi-annual seed swap. Free. 9:30-10:30 a.m., The Green Thumb, 35 Dillon Road, Hilton Head Island. 843-715-2908 or greenthumbhhi.com.
JAN. 9 RICE PLANTATIONS OF SOUTH CAROLINA: Dr. Richard Porcher will discuss the rice plantations of South Carolina. Free. 5 p.m., Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. 843284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.
JAN. 11 MODERN-DAY SLAVERY: Learn the facts about modern-day slavery with Sheila Roemeling. Free. 3 p.m., Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. 843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.
JAN. 13 BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF DIAMONDBACK TERRAPINS: Erin Levesque will discuss the biology of these unique turtles as well as past and present challenges facing diamondback terrapin populations. Reservations required. $7. 2 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223, or coastaldiscovery.org. 144 lowcountryvoice.com
JAN. 15 10 BEAUTIFUL PLANTS: Dave DesJardins will discuss topics like native and non-native plants, effects of global warming, tomorrow’s garden, and plant defenses and evolution. Reservations required. $7. 2 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843689-6767, ext. 223, or coastaldiscovery.org.
JAN. 16
JAN. 14 LOWCOUNTRY SPEAKER SERIES: Condoleezza Rice will be the featured speaker at this month’s Lowcountry Speaker Series. $195$235. 7:30-9 p.m., Marriott Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa, 1 Hotel Circle, Hilton Head Island. 843-823-4111 or lowcountryspeakerseries.com.
NUTRITION AND CANCER: A three-part series presented by Jan Kirk, RD, MPH. This month’s presentation will discuss the role of nutrition and physical activity in cancer prevention, including an update from the American Institute of Cancer Research. Nutritious snacks and recipes will follow the presentation. Free. H.O.P.E. Life Lymphedema & Rehab Center, 60 Main St., Unit G, Hilton Head Island. 843-715-4146 or hopelifeandlymphedema.com.
JAN. 16 THE CIVIL WAR, PART II: Dr. Brent Morris will discuss the birth and death of Reconstruction in South Carolina. Free. 5 p.m., Morris Center
for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. 843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.
JAN. 20 WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL: Admiral Cecil Haney will discuss China’s doctrines on space, cyberwarfare and its nuclear program. Cost is free for members, $15 for guests. 10-11:30 a.m., First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. wachh.org.
JAN. 21 ROSE HILL AUTHOR SERIES: Dana Ridenour, author of “Below the Radar,” is this month’s featured speaker. Registration for the lunch is $25. Noon-2:30 p.m., Oak Terrace at Rose Hill, 4 Clubhouse Drive, Bluffton. 843-757-9030.
JAN. 22 BLUE WHALES: Michael Williamson will discuss blue whales and the current research of the Mingan Island Cetacean Study, which is conducting the world’s longest research program on this species. Reservations required. $7. 2 p.m.,
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››Calendar Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223, or coastaldiscovery.org.
JAN. 23 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA BEAUFORT LUNCH WITH THE AUTHOR SERIES: Deborah Goodrich Royce, author of “Finding Mrs. Ford,” is this month’s featured speaker. $45. Noon-2 p.m., Hampton Hall Club, 170 Hampton Hall Boulevard, Bluffton. 843-521-4145.
JAN. 24 EXPLORING PLANKTON: A discussion surrounding plankton with Dawn Brut. Free. 4 p.m., Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. 843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.
JAN. 27 THE BIOGRAPHY OF THE CAROLINAS: Dr. Chris Marsh will give a bird’s-eye view of the biogeographical regions of the Carolinas, discussing how unique habitats add to the region’s diversity of plants and animals. Reservations required. $7. 2 p.m., Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223, or coastaldiscovery.org.
JAN. 30
JANUARY 2020
BOOK TALK AND SIGNING: CAPTAIN WILLIAM HILTON: Enjoy a book talk and signing with Dwayne Pickett, author of “Captain William Hilton.” Free. 5 p.m., Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. 843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org.
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››Save the Date
Feb. 4 TPAC CLASSICAL CONCERT IN MEMORY OF BOB RADA: The Performing Arts Consortium will present a concert by Ukrainian pianist Dasha Bukhartseva and cellist Marcel Krasner at 7 p.m. at Tide Pointe, in memory of Bob Rada. In addition to being a board member of TPAC, Rada was a trombone player in the orchestra, chairman of the orchestra board and mentor to many.
FEB. 7 MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR: Mountainfilm on Tour travels to communities worldwide with a selection of current and best-loved films from the annual Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride. Cost is $10 for matinee, $50 for evening gala showing. 4:30 p.m. matinee; 7:30 p.m. evening gala showing. Coligny Theatre, 1 North Forest Beach Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-342-9826 or theislandacademy.com.
FEB. 13-16 SAVANNAH BOOK FESTIVAL: Bestselling authors like Joseph Kanon and John Grisham will deliver keynote addresses for this annual event. Featuring 45 authors in locations in and around Telfair, Wright and Chippewa squares. Free admission. Tickets to headliner addresses go on sale Jan. 13. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Historic District, Savannah. 912-598-4040 or savannahbookfestival.org.
FEB. 15 HILTON HEAD SHORE NOTES: “Bringin’ Down the House”: Hilton Head Shore Notes, an award-winning a cappella chorus, will present its annual show, “Bringin’ Down the House.” Special guest quartet will be Glamour, a top 10 international quartet. 7 p.m., Seahawk Cultural Center, 70 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head Island. hiltonheadshorenotes.com.
FEB. 15 NAMI MARDI GRAS GALA: Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness for a Mardi Gras Gala to find help and find hope. Colorful masks are a must. Sonesta Resort, 130 Shipyard Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-363-3100 or namilowcountry. org.
FEB. 25 BUFFALO TRACE BOURBON RAFFLE: A special pop-up dinner and bourbon tasting with a portion of proceeds going to support The Literacy Center. Enter a raffle to win an extremely rare bottle of Buffalo Trace Distillery bourbon. Robert Simonson, the spirits writer for The New York Times, will draw the winning raffle ticket. $10 per raffle ticket. 5-7 p.m., 7-9 p.m., Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar, 841 William Hilton Parkway, Unit A, Hilton Head Island. 843-8156616 or theliteracycenter.org.
›› Ongoing MORRIS CENTER MUSEUM GUIDED DAILY TOURS: Get an in-depth look at the exhibitions on view from Lowcountry plantations to the Battle of Honey Hill. Free. 11 a.m., Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, 10782 South Jacob Smart Blvd., Ridgeland. 843-284-9227 or morrisheritagecenter.org. COMMUNITY ACUPUNCTURE HAPPY HOUR: Relieve stress and relax during this acupuncture happy hour, the last Friday of each month. 4-7 p.m., Integrative Pain Relief, 4 Dunmore Court, Building C, Suite 300, Hilton Head Island. 843-422-2592 or integrativepainrelief.net. AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS: Join a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics and addicts who share their experience, strength, and hope to solve common problems. Free. To find a local meeting, go to al-anon-sc.org. BEACH PASSES FOR SALE: Hilton Head Island property owners and residents can now purchase a 2020-21 beach parking pass, valid through Dec. 31, 2021. Cost is $30 per vehicle. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Town of Hilton Head Island, 1 Town Center Court, Hilton Head Island. 843342-4580 or hiltonheadislandsc.gov. SPECIAL STARS DANCE CLASS: A dance class providing movement and selfempowerment for anyone with special needs. Open to dancers with any type of special needs. Classes are free with $50 registration fee. 4:305:15 p.m. Tuesdays, Alliance Dance Academy, 39 Persimmon St., Unit 404, Bluffton. 843-7578277 or allianceacademyofdance.com. SAVANNAH PORT TOUR: The Port of Savannah, the nation’s largest port in volume, contains over 50 piers, wharves and docks. Experience a working port from the water on this 90-minute tour. $55 for adults, $35 for children ages 3-13, free for children younger than 2. 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m., Savannah Harbour, Savannah. 843-686-6996 or outsidehiltonhead.com. SAVANNAH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE TOUR: A naturalist’s dream come true. This three-hour boat tour provides views of the Savannah Riverfront and an in-depth tour of the Georgia Ports Authority. $75 for adults, $60 for children ages 3-13, free for children younger than 2. 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Savannah Harbour, Savannah. 843-686-6996 or outsidehiltonhead.com.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND SPARTANS: The official alumni club for Michigan State University invites all alumni and fans to cheer the Spartans on to victory for all football and basketball games. The group will meet in a private room in the back of the restaurant. Free. For weekly game reminders and times, sign up at hhispartans@ gmail.com or follow the group on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. “UNCOVERING THE ROOTS OF RECONSTRUCTION”: Every other Friday, meet at Mitchelville Preservation for a unique tour of two historic sites connected to the Civil War and Reconstruction eras on Hilton Head Island. Attendees will caravan in their own personal vehicles to the sites. Reservations required. $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6-12. 9:30 a.m., Mitchelville Preservation, 539 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 223. WEDNESDAY TASTINGS AT LE COOKERY: Stop in for Wednesday Tastings, where you can sample Chef’s choice and see a demo of the Gadget of the Week. Free. 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays, Le Cookery, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-785-7171 or lecookeryusa.com. HILTON HEAD FARMERS MARKET: Take home fresh produce, pasture-raised chicken, free-range rabbit, pork, seafood, salsa, fresh sausage, cookies, breads, she-crab soup and much more. Shopping at the Hilton Head Farmers Market is about more than getting great food. It is also about meeting friends, strengthening community, and rebuilding the local food economy. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-689-6767, ext. 226, or coastaldiscovery.org. FARMERS MARKET OF BLUFFTON: Fresh, locally grown vegetables, fruits, flowers, plants and herbs abound at the Farmers Market of Bluffton, a weekly community event where locals and tourists gather not only to buy excellent produce but also to enjoy delicious food, listen to entertainment, and relax with friends. 2-6 p.m. Thursdays, 40 Calhoun St., Bluffton. 843-415-2447. 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.
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››Calendar BIKE TOURS THROUGH HILTON HEAD HISTORY: A casual 3-mile, safe and fun bike tour through some of the island’s most captivating historic sites. See the fishing coop where native islanders once farmed, the hallowed ground of a Gullah cemetery, an Indian Shell Enclosure, the tabby ruins located on a former plantation and visit with volunteers from the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island. $15$25. 10 a.m. Wednesdays, leaving from 137 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island. heritagelib.org. 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. 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Rose Hill Mansion, 199 Rose Hill Way, Bluffton. 843-757-6046. ADULT PAINT AND PLAY: Paint and Play is an adult wine and paint night of fun entertainment for all skill levels — no experience needed. Relax, unwind and let out your inner creativity as artist Kristin Griffis helps you create your own finished piece of artwork. Thursdays, Art League Academy, 106 Cordillo Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-5738 or artleaguehhi.org. GUIDED TOURS OF HEYWARD HOUSE MUSEUM AND WELCOME CENTER: The museum offers guided tours of the four-room Carolina farmhouse and two outbuildings, which are filled with interesting artifacts and furnishings from the late 1800s into the 1920s. Tours last approximately 45 minutes to an hour and are offered as visitors arrive unless previously scheduled. $10; reservations are not required except for groups of 10 or more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, Heyward House Museum and Welcome Center, 70 Boundary St., Bluffton. heywardhouse.org. THE JAZZ CORNER: Deas Guyz. 7:30-11 p.m. Sundays; Martin Lesch Band 7:30-11 p.m. Mondays, Fat Tuesdays 7:30-11 p.m. Tuesdays; Classic Jazz and Blues 7:30-11 p.m. Wednesdays, Lavon Steven. 7:30-11 p.m. Thursdays, 1000 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. thejazzcorner.com. “JAZZ BY THE SEA”: Modern and classic jazz by the Mike Barbara Trio, featuring pianist Bill Peterson. 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ocean Lounge, Sea Pines Beach Club, Hilton Head Island. 842-843-1888. 148 lowcountryvoice.com
CRABBY ENCOUNTERS: Spend your morning trying the art of cast netting and learn about the crabs of Hilton Head Island and other marine creatures that live along the shore. Supplies provided; catch and release. $19 for adults; $14 for children ages 12 and younger. Tuesdays to Thursdays, Sea Pines Resort, 32 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-842-1979 or seapines.com.
FREE GOLF CLASS & EXHIBITION: A golf clinic and demonstration at Palmetto Dunes’ Robert Trent Jones course. Ask questions to former PGA Tour player Doug Weaver and staff. The class is hands-on, interactive and all skill levels will benefit. Free. 4-4:50 p.m. Mondays, Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Course, 7 Trent Jones Lane, Hilton Head Island. 855-293-5838 or palmettodunes.com.
PEDEGO ELECTRIC BIKE RENTAL: Rentals are available at: Outside Hilton Head at Shelter Cove; a kiosk at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa; and Moreland Bike Shop in Palmetto Bluff. Two-hour Pedego bike tours leave from at The Plaza at Shelter Cove. Cruise up to 20 mph for many miles. Price ranges from $40 to $45 daily. Outside Hilton Head, 50 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 800686-6996 or outsidehiltonhead.com.
BRIDGE PARTNER HOTLINE: Need a partner to play bridge? Hilton Head Island Bridge Club, 95 Mathews Drive, Store A8, Port Royal Plaza Center, Hilton Head Island. 843-422-2167.
HAUNTED HISTORY TOURS: Graveside storytelling adventure. After dark, in the eerie setting of the island’s oldest burial ground, come and hear spine-tingling tales of Hilton Head’s shadowy past. $25 for adults; $20 for children ages 8 to 16. 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Zion Cemetery, 574 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6560 or heritagelib.org. FORT MITCHEL IN HILTON HEAD PLANTATION: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site contains the remains of a coastal defense battery erected in 1862 to protect Port Royal Sound by way of Skull Creek from incursions by Confederate gunboats. Costumed characters and an expert tour guide. $15 for adults; $10 for children. 10 a.m. Mondays, Fort Mitchel, Hilton Head Plantation, 65 Skull Creek Drive, Hilton Head Island. 843-6866560 or heritagelib.org. ZION CEMETERY TOUR: Costumed tour guides share fascinating stories of Hilton Head Island’s past. Visit the grave sites of four Revolutionary War heroes and find out about the bloody skirmish that was fought just steps away. Explore the island’s oldest structure and learn about the planters who built it. $15 for adults; $10 for children. 10 a.m. Thursdays. Zion Cemetery, 574 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island. heritagelib.org. SALTY DOG HAPPY HOUR CRUISE: An early happy hour cruise option. The full bar and gallery onboard will be open during this one-and-ahalf-hour boat ride around Calibogue Sound. Prices range from $15 to $24. Daily. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Salty Dog, South Beach, Hilton Head Island. saltydog.com
SUP YOGA: A 90-minute standup paddleboard yoga session. Yoga class with rental is $40; bring your own paddleboard and class is only $15. 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Shelter Cove Marina, 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island. 843-686-6996 or outsidehiltonhead.com. SOCIAL BRIDGE AND SUPERVISED PLAY: An opportunity for players to improve their game and meet new partners in a casual, relaxed environment. $10; free for Junior Bridge members. 10 a.m.-noon. Fridays. Hilton head Island Bridge Club, 95 Mathews Drive, Port Royal Plaza Center, Hilton Head Island. 551-795-6329. SARAH ANSBOURY PICKLEBALL CLINIC: Skills and game play to help improve your pickleball game. $35 per person. 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Palmetto Dunes Tennis & Pickleball Center, 6 Trent Jones Lane, Hilton Head Island. palmettodunes.com. FRIDAY SOCIAL DANCING: Hilton Head Island Shag Club: Anyone who loves to dance is invited to attend — ballroom, swing, country, line, singles and out of towners are welcome. $5 per person. 6-9:30 p.m. Fridays, Dolphin Head Golf Club, 59 High Bluff Road, Hilton Head Island. 757-375-5953 or hiltonheadshagclub.com. OPEN MIC NIGHT: Bring something short to share, or just come to listen, dine and enjoy music by the Hilton Head Jammers. 6:308:30 p.m. Last Thursday of the month. Mikki’s Café, 70 Marshland Rd, Hilton Head Island. islandwritersnetworkhhi.org.
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››Nightlife Hilton Head Island and Bluffton offer a wide variety of entertainment offerings. Here, you will find everything from Jazz to coverbands playing on a deck overlooking the water to a bluegrass band singing about the Lowcountry. Schedules are subject to change. Please confirm with the establishment.
Hilton Head AUNT CHILADA’S Join us for seasonal live entertainment on the patio. See Facebook for full entertainment schedule: facebook. com/auntchiladashhi or call 843-785-7700. CAROLINA CRAB COMPANY Enjoy live entertainment on the outdoor patio. Visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/carolinacrabco. COMEDY MAGIC CABARET Kerry Pollock’s original and only “Funny Not Filthy” Upscale Comedy Venue. Dining and entertainment all in one location. Friday evenings feature the very popular comedy game show “BONK” as seen in multiple Las Vegas casinos and resorts around the world. Unlike the typical comedy club, this is an upscale cabaret style theater. All performances are funny, not filthy for visitors and residents of all ages. South Island Square: 843 William Hilton Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, 843-681-7757 comedymagiccabaret.com THE CRAZY CRAB JARVIS CREEK Live music and crab races nightly during the summer months. Fun for the whole family! Call for schedule: 843-681-5021. ELA’S ON THE WATER Thursdays: John Wasem 7-10 Fridays: John Wasem 7-10 Saturdays: Reid Richmond 7-10 Sunday Brunch: Bill Peterson 11-2 Sunday Evening: Dean St. Hillaire 7-10. FISHCAMP Join us for live entertainment on the waterfront patio (weather permitting). See Facebook for full entertainment schedule: facebook.com/ fishcamphhi or call 843-842-2267. FROSTY FROG Please call, 843-686FROG (3764). HINCHEY’S CHICAGO BAR & GRILL Live entertainment by local artists Saturdays & Sundays suppertime on the deck. Never a cover charge. 843-686-5959.
THE JAZZ CORNER Acclaimed one of the top 100 great jazz rooms in the world by Downbeat Magazine. Open nightly at 6pm-11pm. Reservations highly recommended. OLD OYSTER FACTORY Live music and juggling Sunday–Friday nights, 6-9 p.m., June 9 – August 9. 843-681-6040. RED FISH Live music Tuesday-Thursday nights at 7:30pm. 843-837-8888. REILLEY’S GRILL & BAR Please call 843-842-4414, or visit them on Facebook: facebook.com/reilleyshhi. REILLEY’S NORTH END PUB Join us for Tuesday Night Trivia at 7:30pm. Visit them on Facebook: facebook.com/reilleysnorth. ROCKFISH SEAFOOD AND STEAK AT BOMBORAS Call for details, 843-689-2662. SAN MIGUEL’S Live entertainment in season. In beautiful Shelter Cove Harbour. 843-842-4555. SANTA FE CAFÉ Fun, relaxing guitar and song every Tues-Sat on our recently remodeled rooftop cantina. 7-10 p.m., Tues-Sat. 843-785-3838. THE STUDIO Tuesdays: John Brewster Thursdays: Glenn Jacobsen Classical/Fingerstyle Guitar Fridays & Saturdays - Armand DeMille. Vocalist with Guitar and background track. 843-785-6000 UP THE CREEK PUB & GRILL Live music Friday nights at 6 p.m. 843-681-3625.
Bluffton CALHOUN STREET TAVERN Wednesday–Saturday 7-10pm Sunday 12-3pm. 843-757-4334. CINCO MEXICAN GRILL Please call 843-815-2233. January 2020 149
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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY ADDS THREE
Julie Jones, Jennifer Phillips and Mary Wright have joined the team at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Jones will serve as a donor services associate, providing relationship management services for donors and fund groups. Previously, she served as the assistant executive director for Bluffton Self Help for eight years. Phillips will serve as a communications specialist, managing social media communication, electronic marketing communication and event planning. Phillips recently relocated to the area from North Carolina, where she was a self-employed content creator and manager. As a program associate, Wright will work with nonprofit agencies as they apply for competitive grants, create profiles in The Giving Marketplace online platform, serve as the liaison for the foundation’s Women in Philanthropy giving circle and nonprofit agencies. She recently relocated from the Midlands, where she was executive director of the Midlands Education and Business Alliance.
Farrell
9ROUND BLUFFTON COMING TO BERKELEY PLACE
The boxing gym franchise 9Round will soon open a new location in Bluffton off Buckwalter Parkway across from Berkeley Place. 9Round is the world’s largest and fastest-growing kickboxing franchise, a news release from the company states. The company focuses on on-site training and programs that can be completed in a half hour, the release states.For more information, go to 9round.com.
TWO NEW BUSINESSES MOVE TO SHELTER COVE
Pure Salt and Dream Boutique have recently opened at Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina. Pure Salt is a state-of-the-art halotherapy and wellness studio, while Dream Boutique is a women’s clothing and accessories boutique that promotes fashion as a lifestyle. Both new businesses are located in the Harbourside III building across from The Other Sister’s Wine Bar, which opened last summer.
Restore Hyper Wellness + Cryotherapy is now open on Hilton Head Island. It offers cryotherapy, body sculpting, IV drips, hyperbaric chamber therapy, red light therapy, infrared sauna, compression therapy, micronutrient testing and Stretch Base. The company states that these therapies can help with alleviating aches and pains, fighting colds, curing hangovers and body sculpting. For more information, go to restore.com.
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PALMETTO DUNES GOLF DIRECTOR EARNS TOP HONORS
Doug Weaver, director of instruction at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, is now ranked among the best golf teachers in South Carolina by Golf Digest Magazine. Weaver was inducted into the Lowcountry Golf Hall of Fame in 2017 and has previously been named Hilton Head Island’s PGA Teacher of the Year. He was recently named the 2019 Player of the Year for the CPGA’s Lowcountry area.
NEW MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING OFFICE OPENS
Starting Jan. 20, the new Island Counseling Associates will accept new clients. Owner Donna L. Farrell, LPCA, received her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Regent University. She has previous experience working with adults and children in group and individual counseling settings and plans to focus her new practice on adults and high school-age teens. For more information, go to islandcounselingassociates.com.
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››Dining Masraff
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CHAMBER GALA BRINGS TOP CHEFS TO HILTON HEAD BY CARRIE HIRSCH
T
he stars of the culinary world will be out in force on Feb. 1 for the 2020 Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Ball, to be held at the Marriott Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. The nationally recognized chefs will prepare tapas-style dishes alongside Lowcountry chefs. Some of the notable names that will be on hand include Marc Murphy, executive chef of Landmarc restaurant in
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New York who also is a judge on the TV show “Chopped” and the former chef of Windows on the World; Florian Bellanger, the former pastry chef at Le Bernardin in New York and a judge on the TV show “Cupcake Wars;” and George Masraff, a Michelin-starred chef and the former culinary director at Windows on the World. Other top chefs in attendance: Arnaud Briand, Instant Eats owner and former Windows on the World chef; and
Martin Doyle, chef at Suilan at the Borgata and former Windows on the World chef. Former Windows on the World wine director Kevin Zraly also will attend the gala; his “Windows on the World Complete Wine Course” wine guide has sold more than 3 million copies. Tom Roston also will attend the gala — he is the author of “The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World: The Twin Towers, Windows on the World, and the Rebirth of New York.”
Rollison
That many guest chefs are connected to Windows on the World — the restaurant on the top of the North Tower of the original World Trade Center complex — is no coincidence. “Chef Philippe Feret [owner of Social Bakery on Hilton Head Island] planted the seed and gathered his friends and former chefs from Windows on the World who have gone on to great success following their stints there,” said Charlie Clark, vice president of communications at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. “These chefs have been part of some of the leading restaurants of the world.” Feret once worked at Windows on the World but today is chef of Hilton Head Social Bakery. He will be joined at the gala by fellow local chefs Cesar Acevedo of Marriott Hilton Head Resort & Spa, Chaun Bescos of WiseGuys, Brian Coseo of Sea Pines Country Club, and Clayton Rollison of Lucky Rooster Kitchen + Bar. This year, instead of a traditional seated dinner, guests will have less formal options including loungestyle seating for 10 with couches and chairs along the dance floor, or table groupings where chefs will continuously offer different tapas dishes to sample. The wine bar will be overseen by Zraly, while cocktails will be overseen by George Delgado, who served as the head bartender at Windows on the World. A portion of the event’s proceeds will benefit hunger relief in The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. To purchase tickets, go to www.hiltonheadchamber.org.
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Our Favorite
Restaurants Brought to you by Monthly, Fork & Fun and Vacation Guide
Big Jim’s BBQ, Burgers & Pizza
7 Trent Jones Ln. (Palmetto Dunes) 855.878.1966 | palmettodunes.com/big-jims
Hilton Head – North End CocoNutz Sportz Bar
Big Jim’s offers signature Southern dishes, gourmet burgers, pizzas, soups, salads, seafood, steaks and ribs. Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner.
40 Folly Field Road HHI Beach & Tennis Resort 843.842.0043 Open to the public. Imagine your favorite sporting events shown on dual 125” high-definition screens and 18 other TV’s tuned in to every sporting event imaginable. That’s what you will find at CocoNutz. If you get hungry, try the “Island’s Best Wings,” 1st place at Wingfest 2017, craft burgers and brews, prime rib.
Crazy Crab Jarvis Creek
Hwy. 278 (near Mile Marker 1) 843.681.5021 | thecrazycrab.com
ELA’S Blu Water Grille Il Carpaccio
200A Museum St. (Across from Walmart) 843.342.9949 Serving a wide variety of authentic Italian cuisine, ranging from cuisine of Northern Italy to genuine crispy, thin-crust, Italian-style pizza. Casual, attractive restaurant, with large, attractive bar and a genuine brick oven (imported from Italy) for baking pizza.
1 Shelter Cove Ln. (Shelter Cove) 843-785-3030 | elasgrille.com Fresh catch seafood and prime cut steaks of the highest quality, artfully prepared by their team of culinary experts, compliment the extensive boutique wine selection. Overlooking Shelter Cove marina and Broad Creek, ELA’S offers the island’s best water views. Reservations recommended.
A Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years, enjoy genuine service and fresh seafood. Menu feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” fresh local shrimp.
Fishcamp on Broad Creek
Gator’z Pizza
Fishcamp’s menu consists of seafood and American cuisine, including steak and lobster. They have an outdoor bar and open patio. Family friendly.
11 Simmons Road (Adjacent to Broad Creek Marina) 843.842.2267 | fishcamphhi.com
40 Folly Field Road HHI Beach & Tennis Resort 843.842.0043
The French Bakery & Courtyard Café
Be sure to stop by Gator’z Pizza and order the “Bigly” MEGA Pizza. It’s 400 square inches of pizza perfection! These delicious pizzas are available for both dine in and take out.
28 Shelter Cove Ln. 843.342.5420 | frenchbakeryhiltonhead.com
Healthy Habit
Street Meet: The American Tavern
33 Office Park Road Suite 227 843.686.5600 | healthyhabithhi.com
Port Royal Plaza 843.842.2570 | streetmeethhi.com
AQuick service style restaurant with a focus on chopped salads and other plant based items utilizing the freshest ingredients possible with hand crafted dressings.
Street Meet specializes in homemade versions of regional American bar food. Best Wings, Fish & Chips, Homemade Soups, Salads, Vegetarian Menu, Seafood.
65 Skull Creek Drive 843.681.2386 | OldFortPub.com
Hilton Head – Mid-Island
Reilley’s North End Pub
Alexander’s Restaurant & Wine Bar
95 Mathews Dr. (Port Royal Plaza) 843.681.4153 | reilleysnorth.com
76 Queens Folly Rd. (Palmetto Dunes) 843.785.4999 | alexandersrestaurant.com
An island institution, Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years. Kids eat free Tuesdays with an adult entrée.
Menu uses seasonal ingredients with a strong emphasis on seafood while paying homage to Alexander’s original favorites. Dinner from 5–10pm daily.
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Island Bagel & Deli
S. Island Square 843.686.3353 | islandbagelanddeli.com The island's only New York style boiled bagels made daily. Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 home-made cream cheeses. For lunch: specialty hoagies, classic sandwiches & salads.
Old Fort Pub
Dine indoors or on the patio, enjoy beautiful views of the Intracoastal Waterway. The only AAA Four Diamond Restaurant on Hilton Head. (Won 11 times!) Reservations Recommended.
Have breakfast or lunch inside or outdoors in this bakery/ café. Enjoy crepes, omelets, breads, baguette & panini sandwiches, salads, soups, quiches & pastries. Traditional French recipes.
Jamaica Joe’z Beach Bar
40 Folly Field Rd. (Mid-island) 843.842.0043 | hhibeachandtennis.com Open 7 days. Steps from the beach and a great place to kick back, snack on some pork nachos or a burger, and cool off with a frozen cocktail,cold beer or a soft drink.
Jane Bistro & Bar
28 Shelter Cove Lane (Shelter Cove Towne Centre) 843.686.5696 | janehhi.com Serving classic bistro fare with Lowcountry influences. Favorites include the jumbo lump crab cakes, pecan cranberry chicken salad, crispy flounder and petit filet mignon with pommes frites. Open daily.
Old Oyster Factory
101 Marshland Rd. 843.681.6040 | OldOysterFactory.com Panoramic marsh and water views. Specializing in fresh seafood and some of the best steaks on Hilton Head. featured in The Wall Street Journal's “Off the Beaten Track.” Wine Spectator magazine’s “Award of Excellence.”
San Miguel’s
Grouper, 24-ounce bone-in ribeye steaks, fajitas , & Painted Desert Soup.
Sea Grass Grille
807 William Hilton Parkway (Plantation Center by Palmetto Dunes) 843.785.9990 | seagrassgrille.com American and Lowcountry Continental cuisine. Chef Chad brings 38 years of hands-on culinary expertise. More than 50 wines by the glass. Winner of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence.
Big Bamboo
1 N. Forest Beach Dr. (Coligny Plaza) 843.686.3443 | bigbamboocafe.com Where the South Pacific meets the Carolina Coast just steps from the beach. A casual hangout with a local vibe serving burgers, seafood and festive libations. Come for the food, stay for the live entertainment!
Up the Creek Pub & Grill
18 Simmons Rd. (Broad Creek Marina) 843.681.3625 | upthecreekpubandgrill.com Located on Broad Creek with great marina and water views. Known for smoked wings, hush puppies, buffalo chicken dip, beer selection and the best burgers. Kids menu available. Dogs are welcome.
9 Harbourside Ln. (Shelter Cove Harbour) 843.842.4555 | sanmiguels.com Located directly on the harbour at Shelter Cove and provides good food and fun. Extensive California/Mexican menu. Try San Miguel’s Fish Tacos, fajitas and chimichangas. Lunch and dinner served daily.
Hilton Head – South End Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Café
Santa Fe Cafe
69 Pope Avenue 843.785.7700 | auntchiladashhi.com
Casually elegant dining that captures the spirit of New Mexico. Signature items include Parmesan Chipotle
Excellent Tex-Mex and American fare. Enjoy the all-youcan-eat crab legs, sizzling fajitas, & margaritas. Reservations & large parties welcome. Private dining/event area. Live entertainment (seasonally) on the covered patio.
807 William Hilton Parkway (Plantation Center by Palmetto Dunes) 843.785.3838 | santafecafeofhiltonhead.com
Captain Woody’s
6 Target Rd. (off of Palmetto Bay Rd.) 843.785.2400 Enjoy “Fresh Seafood, Cold Beer & Great Happy Hour & Still A Locals Favorite For Over 30 Years!” Dine inside or outside on the patio. Serving a variety of fresh seafood, sandwiches, award winning soups and salads all at affordable prices.
››Dining | Favorites CQ’s Restaurant
140 Lighthouse Rd. 843.671.2779 | CQsRestaurant.com Fine dining, an intimate atmosphere and a bit of Hilton Head history. Signature dishes include fresh seafood, beef & game.“Bistro” menu offers smaller portions.
Crane’s Tavern Steakhouse & Seafood 26 New Orleans Rd. 843.341.2333 | cranestavern.com
Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte
8 New Orleans Road 843.785.9277 | charliesgreenstar.com Open since 1982, Charlie’s, an island favorite among locals and tourists alike, writes its menu daily based on the freshest seafood available. Dinner menu offers an array of 14 fresh fish, rack of lamb, filet mignon and more. An extensive wine list.
British Open Pub
Village at Wexford 843.686.6736 | thebritishopenpub.com Family friendly pub style restaurant with authentic English food with American favorites and certified Angus beef. Try the signature fish and chips or their shepherd’s pie, steak & mushroom pie, lobster pot pie and bangers & mash.
Carolina Crab Company
86 Helmsman Way 843.842.2016 | carolinacrabco.com Boasting water views, enjoy fresh seafood at an affordable price in a family-friendly atmosphere. Offering an array of seafood; peel-n-eat shrimp, giant Po Boys, burgers, Maine lobster, & crab legs. Pet-friendly outside bar & patio.
Catch 22
37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza near Sea Pines Circle) 843.785.6261 | catch22hhi.com
Perfect for steak and seafood lovers, serving cuts of only USDA Prime grade beef, their Famous Prime Rib. Excellent selection of fresh fish, seafood & pasta dishes.
Crazy Crab Harbour Town
Sea Pines at Harbour Town 843.363.2722 | thecrazycrab.com Genuine service and fresh seafood; a Hilton Head tradition for over 30 years! Menus feature crab clusters, local oysters, seafood “your way,” local shrimp and more. Dine in the heart of Sea Pines at Harbour Town.
Delisheeyo
32 Palmetto Bay Road 843.785.3633 | delisheeeyo.com Vegetarian. Delisheeyo owner Blake Wearren set out to create a place for people to escape for lunch. The fruit and veggie smoothies are a quick meal by themselves. Their Buddha Bowls, consisting of steamed grain and healthy toppings of your choice, is a favorite of the regulars. Provide meals that you can trust, that are real, and healthy.
Dough Boys Pizza
1 New Orleans Rd. 843.686.2697 | DoughBoysHHI.com House-made crusts: traditional hand tossed, thin crust and thick Sicilian. Create-Your-Own-Chopped Salad from 40 different item choices. Specialty subs are served on Amoroso rolls.
Catch 22 is locally owned. Dinner is served nightly from 5 p.m. Early Dining Menu from 5:00– 6:00 p.m. All of our beef is aged 28 days, U.S.D.A prime, hand selected and cut in house.
Flatbread Grill & Bar
ChowDaddy’s
Upscale, casual dining. Enjoy Neapolitan pizza, fresh pasta, gourmet salads, burgers, wraps, flatbread sandwiches and more. Dough & sauces are freshly made.
14b Executive Park Rd. (off of Pope Ave.) 843.757.CHOW(2469) | chowdaddys.com
2 N. Forest Beach Dr. (Beach Market Center) 843.341.2225 | flatbreadgrillhhi.com
Offering a wide variety of menu items focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Serving lunch & dinner daily.
Frosty Frog Cafe & Pizza
Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse
Dine inside or out on the large patio w/retractable roof. Enjoy daiquiris, wine, beer & a full liquor bar; menu includes burgers, crabcakes, salads, wraps, pizza, calzones, crab legs, shrimp, extensive gluten-free options & a kids menu.
1000 William Hilton Parkway, B-6 843.715.3565 | cowboybraziliansteakhouse.com A unique, all-you-can eat “Churrascaria.” Enjoy a 30 item salad bar, 6 Brazilian hot dishes and a “parade” of 16 USDA Prime cuts of beef, lamb, chicken and pork carved at your table by their gauchos. 156 lowcountryvoice.com
Coligny Plaza 843.686.FROG | frostyfrog.com
Healthy Habits
33 Office Park Rd., suite 227 843-686-5600 | healthyhabithhi.com Open since 1982, Charlie’s, an island favorite among locals and tourists alike, writes its menu daily based on the freshest seafood available. Dinner menu offers an array of 14 fresh fish, rack of lamb, filet mignon and more. An extensive wine list.
Gusto Ristorante
890 William Hilton Parkway (Fresh Market Plaza) GustoHiltonHead.com Voted Hilton Head's Best New Restaurant. Executive chef/ owner Giancarlo Balestra and his wife Nancy bring the flavors of his hometown of Rome Italy to Hilton Head. Closed Monday.
Hilton Head Diner
Hwy. 278 at Yacht Cove Dr. 843.686.2400 | hiltonheaddiner.com One of the island’s only 24-hour restaurants. Modern diner boasting one of Hilton Head’s most extensive menus. All baking is done on the premises. Beer, wine & mixed drinks available. breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Hinchey’s Chicago Bar & Grill 70 Pope Avenue 843.686.5959 | hincheys.com
Hinchey’s has much in common with a sports bar, but is very much a restaurant, too. It is casual, with beach-goers invited to stop by for lunch, or for drinks or dinner. Dine inside or out. Open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner.
Hinoki Restaurant & Sushi Bar 37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza) 843.785.9800 | hinokihhi.com
Serving traditional Japanese dishes including grilled fish, chicken and steak, sukiyaki, noodle dishes, tempura, and daily specials, plus sushi and sashimi. More than 20 entrées. Reservations are recommended for dinner.
It’s Greek To Me
11 Lagoon Rd. 843.842.4033 | itsgreektomehhi.com Genuine Greek cuisine, from gyros to fried calamari to souvlaki to baklava for dessert. Food is prepared with authentic Greek recipes and they have the only gyro machines on the island. Greek beer and ouzo. Reservations accepted.
Kenny B’s Cajun/Creole Seafood
Palmetto Bay Sun Rise Café
70-A Pope Ave. 843.785.3315
Palmetto Bay Marina 843.686.3232 | palmettobaysunrisecafe.com
“Creole cuisine with a Lowcountry influence.” Order New Orleans traditions such as jambalaya, red beans and rice, and authentic gumbos. Kenny B’s is home of the Island’s best po’ boys and fried seafood. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch.
Michael Anthony’s
37 New Orleans Rd. (Orleans Plaza) 843.785.6272 | michael-anthonys.com Family owned and operated since 2002, offering upscale classic Italian fine dining featuring innovative preparations and farm fresh ingredients. Open Table rates them as one of the country's Top 50 Italian Restaurants. Dinner is served Monday - Saturday. Reservations suggested.
MidiCi Italian Kitchen
7C Greenwood Dr. (Reilley’s Plaza) 843.842.7999 MidiCi Italian Kitchen brings Italy’s original Neapolitan woodfired pizza and authentic pasta to Reilley’s Plaza on Hilton Head Island. Taste the freshness of quality ingredients – pizza made with Italian flour in authentic wood-fired ovens. Enjoy signature appetizers, salads, and desserts made with fresh, natural and mostly non-GMO ingredients.
Nunzio Restaurant + Bar
18 New Orleans Road 843.715.2172 | nunziohhi.com Popular New Jersey chef Nunzio Patruno has brought his acclaimed cooking style to Hilton Head Island. Nunzio Restaurant + Bar specializes in fresh seafood and homemade pasta. Enjoy a delicious meal in the beautifully renovated 1,300-square-foot restaurant equipped with a large bar area and two outdoor seating areas.
Breakfast fare starting before the sun rises, from 6 a.m. Breakfast and lunch items are available continuously. The cafe offers to-go lunches for charter boats, the beach or any other occasion. Open seven days a week.
Phillys Cafe & Deli
55 New Orleans Rd. 843.785.9966 | phillyscafe.com Locally owned and operated for more than 25 years, Phillys’ motto is “Best sandwiches on the island...Period!” Custom sandwiches with bread baked fresh daily. The pita wraps and salads are both imaginative and health-conscious.
Red Fish
Nick’s Steak & Seafood
8 Archer Rd. (a half mile from Sea Pines Circle) 843-686-3388 | redfishofhiltonhead.com
Nick’s Steak & Seafood emphasizes steaks, seafood and barbecue and offers sandwiches, salads, appetizers, soups, burgers, pasta and a children’s menu. Reservations accepted. Large parties welcome.
Red Fish specializes in beautifully prepared seafood and steaks. Diners may choose from a 1,000-plus bottle selection of wines from around the world. Private dining room for large parties. Multi-course early dining specials from 5-5:45 p.m. feature soup or salad; choice of seven entrées; and complimentary glass of chef’s choice of wine.
9 Park Lane 843.686.2920 | nickssteakandseafood.com
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››Dining | Favorites Stack’s Pancakes & More
British Open Pub
Family owned & operated, serving breakfast & lunch, 7 days. Enjoy pancakes, waffles, house-made fruit sauces, crepes, Crème Brûlée French Toast, shrimp & grits, crab benedict, shrimp omelet topped with lobster cream sauce. Gluten free items.
Pub-style restaurant featuring authentic English food. Excellent signature fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, steak and mushroom pie, and bangers and mash. Also wide selection of American appetizers and entrées. Lunch & dinner daily.
2 Regency Pkwy. & Hwy. 278 843.341.3347
Ombra Cucina Italiana
1000 William Hilton Parkway (Village at Wexford)
843.842.5505 | ombrahhi.com Chef Michael Cirafesi promotes the foods & wines of Italy. He prepares all pastas, homemade gnocchi, desserts and breads daily. An extensive wine list from every region in Italy. A European-style bar & lounge with a vast selection of Italian cocktails. Peanut-free. Gluten-free pasta available. Open 7 days a week from 4:30. Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome.
Stellini
15 Executive Park Rd. (near Sea Pines Circle) 843.785.7006 | stellinihhi.com Family owned & operated since 1989! Popular Italian appetizers and entrees from NY & Northern NJ. Delicious pasta, poultry, veal, seafood, beef and lamb all expertly prepared. Gluten Free & Children’s Menu.
The Studio
Sheridan Park 843.815.6736 | britishopenpub.net
Calhoun Street Tavern
9 Promenade St. 843.757.4334 | calhounstreettavern.co A place where fine spirits are drunk, laughs are had, and stories are told. Cold beer, classic cocktails, and familiar faces paired with a chef driven menu of southern plates and comforting lowcountry classic food.
20 Executive Park Road 843.785.6000 | studiodining.com Dine while enjoying watching artists paint in the elegant studio. The menu is inspired by American and global cuisines and uses the finest regional, natural & organic ingredients. Gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menu offerings.
Truffles
Sea Pines Center 843.671.6136 | trufflescafe.com Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups, sandwiches, and garden salads. Specialties include glazed grouper, mango salmon, crab cakes, chipotle chicken, meatloaf and fried shrimp. Daily from 11am.
Twisted Cork Rockfish Seafood & Steaks at Bomboras 5 Lagoon Road 843.689.2662 | rockfishhhi.com
A unique family seafood restaurant and bar that is located right near the beach. Offering fresh and local lowcounty ingredients paired with craft beers and wines. Kids menu. Lunches to Go for the beach.
Reilley’s Grill & Bar 7D Greenwood Dr. (Reilley’s Plaza) 843.842.4414 | reilleyshiltonhead.com Reilley’s has been serving up steaks, seafood, pasta & sandwiches for more than 35 years. Lunch & dinner daily, & Sunday brunch. The bar is open late. Enjoy Mon.Night Lobster and Fri. & Sat. Prime Rib (reservations required).
Sea Shack
6 Executive Park Rd. (off Pope Ave.) 843.785.2464 | seashackhhi.com Serving up one of the island’s most extensive menus of seafood & more. Voted one of "South Carolina’s best seafood spots" by Coastal Living and Southern Living. Open Mon.-Sat. for lunch & dinner. 158 lowcountryvoice.com
11 Palmetto Bay Road, #102 (next to Staples) 843.802.0510 Open Monday through Saturday, 5-11 p.m. A local cocktail and wine bar. You can find it in Festival Center Plaza, near the Sea Pines Circle.
Vine
Coligny Plaza Shopping Center 1 N Forest Beach Drive 843.686.3900 From marinated octopus to field greens from nearby St. George, the offerings at this intimate bistro are a treat for all. Mediterranean cuisine with a hint of Asian fusion. Reservations. Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m.
BLUFFTON
Captain Woody’s
17 State of Mind St. (Calhoun Street Promenade) 843.757.6222 Enjoy “Fresh Seafood, Cold Beer & Great Happy Hour & Still A Locals Favorite For Over 30 Years!” They have dining inside and outside on the patio. A big outdoor deck bar featurs beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Captain Woody’s serves fresh seafood, great signature sandwiches, award winning soups and salads all at affordable prices.
ChowDaddy’s
15 Towne Dr. (Belfair Towne Village) 843.757.CHOW(2469) | chowdaddys.com Focusing on buns, bowls, and tacos and great libations. Enjoy salads, sliders, a house ground rib eye burger, or their famous smoked fried chicken. Serving lunch & dinner daily.
Amigos, Bluffton
Cinco Mexican Grill
Authentic Mexican taqueria, serving delicious food “inspired by Mexican cuisine from Baja, Mexico, to Santa Barbara, California.” Owner Andrew Farbman created Amigos’ famous BBQ Chicken Salad. Amigos uses the finest ingredients.
Authentic Mexican cuisine made from scratch using both traditional and modern recipes. Popular dishes are the Cinco Bowl, Piña Fajitas, Carnitas, Enchiladas, Chimichangas, Flautas and flan.
133 Belfair Town Village 843.815.8226
102 Buckwalter Parkway, Suite 3D (Berkeley Place) 843.815.2233 | cincomexgrill.com
Island Bagel & Deli 17 Sherington Dr. 843.815.5300 islandbagelanddeli.com
The island's only New York style boiled bagels made from scratch daily. Choose from 16 flavors of bagels, 12 home-made cream cheeses, pastries & breakfast sandwiches. For lunch: specialty hoagies, classic sandwiches & salads.
Corner Perk
843.816.5674 | cornerperk.com A coffeehouse/brunch restaurant where city meets South. Corner Perk offers the most amazing locally roasted Coffees, Teas, Espresso drinks, Cold Brew, Frappes as well as Skillets, Omelettes, Wraps, Sandwiches, and Salads.
Gourmet on Wheels/Grab and Go 61 Riverwalk Blvd., Unit E 843.970.3030 | gourmetonwheels.org
Gourmet on Wheels Delivery provides individually prepared healthy meals and delivers to your door weekly. Go online and choose your entrees with sides each week. Also, check out their Gourmet Grab and Go store with fresh made salads, meals, smoothies and more.
Grind Coffee Roasters
1 Sherington Drive, Suite J 843.368.3348 | grindroasters.com Grab a cup of Grind’s specialty coffee made with beans from Columbia, Brazil, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya and more. Other options include infused coffee barrel-aged in bourbon and whiskey barrels, and coffee infused with essential oils. Come inside or take advantage of the drive-thru.
Jack Frost
25 William Pope Center 843.705.5669 | jackfrosticecream@gmail.com Fresh, frozen treats from scratch. Try our flavors like cake batter and cookie dough, or our sorbets made with seasonal fruits straight from the local farmer's market. Stop by the parlor, where you can sit outside and maybe even sight our friend Jack the alligator. Planning an event or party? We're happy to bring all the sweet stuff to you! Open Monday - Sunday, 1pm - 9pm.
Olive & Fig
1533 Fording Island Road, Suite 326 (Moss Creek Village) 843.605.4093 Olive & Fig provides guests with a unique opportunity to experience authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The menu features Lebanese and Greek dishes alongside traditional Mediterranean fare, and gluten free and vegetarian options. Open Mon-Sat Closed Sundays.
Truffles
Belfair Towne Village 843.815.5551 | trufflescafe.com Casual cafe featuring the “freshest and finest of everything!” Fresh local seafood, Black Angus steaks, baby back ribs, homemade soups and garden salads. Covered patio. Lunch, dinner daily. Full cocktail bar. Happy hour from 4-6. January 2020 159
››Last Call
Culture Shock
I Dr. Raymond L. Cox Executive Director of VIM
Has the onslaught of ‘breaking news’ from social media and the 24-hour news cycle driven us to retreat to our tribal corners?
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was in 10th grade when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963. Five years later, in 1968, I was in college when Dr. Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated within two months of each other. I saw firsthand the profound unrest sweeping America as we grappled with the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War and societal upheaval. But as a nation we were able to maintain the beliefs and values expressed so eloquently in our Constitution and Pledge of Allegiance. There was a sense that we would, eventually, find a way to accept everyone and to peacefully coexist.
community, based on faith and family. We understood how to disagree without being disagreeable. We lived by the Golden Rule — “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” — and the Second Commandment, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” We weren’t always perfect, but we tried. These days, many are questioning if we’re losing our shared value system, our guidepost for determining right from wrong. Has the onslaught of “breaking news” from social media and the 24-hour news cycle driven us to retreat to our tribal corners? Are we so overwhelmed with data that we can’t discern information?
About 30 years ago, that idea of nationally shared values began to shift; we began to rely instead on market forces. “Greed is good,” Michael Douglas memorably declared in the movie “Wall Street,” and it seemed we took that statement to heart. “What’s in it for me?” became far more important than “what’s in it for us?” This has led to the greatest level of income inequality since the 1920s. Upward mobility has become almost nonexistent; most of the job growth since the last recession has been in lower-paying work. A study funded by United Way in 2015 found that an adult with one preschoolaged child needs to earn at least $18.43 an hour to be able to afford to live in Beaufort County without pubic assistance; unfortunately, most readily available jobs here average about $10 an hour. Many of us were raised to believe that if we worked hard and played fair, we would be able to support our families and have decent lives. We were raised with a strong sense of
What made this country great was not a devotion to market forces. Rather, it was the understanding that the whole was greater than the sum of its parts — that a balance between individual rights and common good is a dynamic process that requires constant stewardship of social, human, intellectual and political capital. We are fortunate to live in a community with the talent, resources and better angels to help this country recapture the true American spirit. Every day at work I witness the magic, joy and gratitude that can be created when we set aside our politics and our egos to work toward a common goal. As a diverse community representing a microcosm of many of the issues plaguing our country, we could serve as a learning lab to help find solutions to return us to our core values. We really can be “One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” DR. RAYMOND L. COX IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE HILTON HEAD ISLAND.