Local Life Magazine December 2021

H I LT O N H E A D • B L U F F T O N • B E AU F O RT

Dec 2021

a to y s to r y

T H E TOY I S S U E + C O L L E CTO RS & C O L L E CT I O N S + P E R F E CT P L AY RO O M S

THE 1-STOP SHOP FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS.

ONLY AT

THE PLAZA AT SHELTER COVE, HILTON HEAD PLANT RIVERSIDE DISTRICT, SAVANNAH WILSON VILLAGE, PALMETTO BLUFF SHOPOUTSIDE.COM | 843.686.6996

Over

100,000,0 0 0 Reasons to Call Catherine Donaldson* * total single-side transaction volume that Catherine Donaldson has sold/contracted since 1/1/20

THE

DONALDSON GROUP

offers

SOUTHERN PARADISE

29 Rose Dhu Drive | Bluffton $2,50 0,0 0 0

A riverfront oasis unlike any other in close proximity to Old Town Bluffton.

With over three acres nestled in a peninsula-like environment along the headwater estuaries of the May River, 29 Rose Dhu Drive underwent an extensive overhaul in recent years, leaving the home in nearly new condition.

The southern exposure still affords amazing vistas across the salt marshes of the Lowcountry and can be seen from nearly every room in the main home, in addition to the fully equipped guest cottage.

There are over 100,000,000 reasons to call Catherine Donaldson.

She has been an agent with Sotheby’s International Realty for over a decade and her commitment to the brand is FIERCE. Call her today to discover why.

CATHERINE DONALDSON Principal Partner - The Donaldson Group Catherine.Donaldson@SothebysRealty.com danielravenelsir.com

843.338.2069

49 Boundary Street Bluffton, SC 29910

844-836-3900

Each office is independently owned and operated

Simply sublime

seapinescountryclub.com (843) 671-2345

Visit us in store: Hilton Head | SHELTER COVE TOWNE CENTRE HILTON HEAD, SOUTH CAROLINA

012_2021 Local Life Magazine_Full Pg.indd 6-7

Old Town Bluf fton | 32 CALHOUN STREET BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

11/9/21 12:54 PM

AC C E S S O R I E S • C L OT H I N G • H A N D B AG S • J E W E L R Y • R E S O R T & T R AV E L • G I F T S

CELEBRATING

40 YEARS OF SAVING SONGBIRDS

Tufted Titmouse

The Mice will play!

Backyard bird feeding has changed a lot over the years, but one thing remains the same...the joy birds bring each time you catch a glimpse of them at your feeders.

As we celebrate Wild Birds Unlimited’s 40th Anniversary, we thank you for sharing this flight with us!

Join the new owners of Wild Birds Unlimited Hilton Head for every aspect of backyard birding. From equipment and outings, to solutions and resources.

Tufted Titmice are regulars at backyard bird feeders, especially in winter. They prefer sunflower seeds but will eat suet, peanuts, and other seeds as well.

Titmice build their nests in cavities, so putting up nest boxes is a good way to attract breeding titmice to your yard.

45 Pembroke Drive, Suite 130 Hilton Head Island 843.802.2010 hiltonhead.wbu.com

ADVERTISEMENT

What Not to Miss

In Each Golden Isles Town Add These One-of-a-Kind Experiences to Your Bucket List

Horseback riding on Sea Island

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rom family-friendly fun on Jekyll Island to the all-inclusive adventures of Little St. Simons Island, all the way to Brunswick’s mainland historic experiences and everything in between, there’s almost too much to do in the Golden Isles to fit everything into a week-long vacation. So, what are the experiences that should be at the top of your list? Explore these top hot spots in each town, all conveniently located just under two hours south of Hilton Head:

Goldenisles.com

GOLD-2885 Local Life 2pg2.indd All Pages

ST. SIMONS ISLAND Find the St. Simons Tree Spirits

Whether you’re traveling with children or exploring without, the St. Simons Tree Spirits should not be missed!

Kids will love this unconventional treasure hunt of sorts, and adults will love the hand-carved art that comes with a unique legend. Insider tip: Start your adventure at the Golden Isles Welcome Center on St. Simons Island to pick up a map.

2

LITTLE ST. SIMONS ISLAND Unique Wildlife & Untouched Wilderness

When you visit Little St. Simons Island whether for a day or overnight, chances are you’re there for the quiet wilderness.

But make sure you opt to head out on a naturalist tour to visit the private 7-mile-long beach and various birding towers to see some of the more than 300 unique species of birds that call the area home. If you’re lucky, you might even see bald eagles or osprey as they soar through the skies in search of their next meals.

3

JEK YLL ISLAND Driftwood Beach

Driftwood Beach is a photographer’s paradise, not only because of the twisted and gnarled branches scattered up and down the sand, but also because of the incredible morning light. Visit this unique tree graveyard for a gorgeous sunrise and stay for a beautiful toes-in-the-sea stroll to enjoy this perfect balance of beauty and eerie charm. Pack a picnic to make the most of your visit to this enchanting beach.

4

SEA ISLAND Horseback Riding on the Beach

Horseback riding is available throughout the Golden Isles, but experiencing it on the private Sea Island is truly a step above the rest. Meet at Rainbow Island and saddle up for an incredible stroll through the marshes and a tour of a beautiful, uncrowded beach. Keep your eye on the water – it’s not uncommon to see a pod of friendly dolphins swimming along the coastline!

5

BRUNSWICK Take a Bike Tour through Old Town

Step back in time to experience Brunswick’s vibrant history and iconic Victorian architecture on a guided bike tour. Pedal your way among the historic squares and along charming streets woven throughout Historic Downtown Brunswick or rent bicycles to explore on your own. Top off your tour with a free pint of locally crafted beer at Brunswick’s newest brewery.

St. Simons Tree Spirits

Goldenisles.com

11/4/21 2:41 PM

Community Focus On Philanthropy AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY TO-DO

D

id you know there are positive mental health benefits attributed to having a generous spirit? And after several COVID-weary years, we’re all looking for ways to feel better.

The end of the year is a great time to practice generosity. In addition to the endorphin spike you might experience from writing a check to your favorite charity, here are some other reasons year-end giving should be added to your holiday to-do list.

1. The pandemic has had a significant impact on the financial health of many local nonprofits, and they are hurting. A March 2021 survey of our Lowcountry nonprofits, conducted under the direction of Together SC, found that 56 percent of responding nonprofits reported having six months or less of operating revenue. Thirtyseven percent had experienced an operating loss.

2. You might get a tax deduction. In 2020 the CARES Act temporarily changed the tax code to allow individuals to take up to a $300 deduction for cash donations to a qualifying organization, even if you don’t itemize. For 2021 that not only has been extended, it’s been enhanced to allow a married couple filing jointly to deduct up to $600. (Gifts to donor advised funds and private foundations don’t count.) This is an above-

3. Have a hard-to-buy-for person on your list? Consider making a charitable donation to a cause that person supports. Many organizations allow you to make a gift “in honor” and they’ll even let the person know a gift has been made in their name.

the-line deduction so it can also help reduce your adjusted gross income. The extension also applies to those who itemize, continuing to eliminate the percent of adjusted gross income limits for charitable deductions.

If you decide to make a year-end gift, here are some things to think about before you do.

1. Does your employer offer matching donations? It will help your gift go even farther.

2. If you have a favorite charity, great! If you don’t, think about what moves you; then do your homework. Make sure the organization you give to is legitimate. Visit GuideStar.org to research local, national and international nonprofits. You can also visit our fund directory at cflowcountry.civicore.com, to find information about our many funds.

4. Avoid scams. Don’t make a gift to an organization you don’t initiate contact with, unless you know they’re legitimate. And if you’re giving online, make sure you see the “https” at the beginning of the URL. 5. Keep accurate records and get receipts.

6. Talk to us about other giving options. Community foundations offer an array of ways to invest in our communities and help our neighbors – from donor advised funds, to scholarships, to gifts of stock, and many others. You can learn more on our website, cf-lowcountry.org. Or call us at 843.681.9100.

- Scott Wierman

President and CEO

When You Endow, You Educate.

Ken George loved his wife, but as the pandemic raged, he was unable to visit her at The Preston Health Care Center, where she was a patient.

For Mother’s Day 2020, he created a beautiful sign and put it outside her window. Sadly, George died just 20 days later.

Lilian Golder, an RN at The Preston, met George as she cared for his wife. She admired him and was inspired by his “hard work brings great rewards” philosophy. She practiced this same philosophy as she earned her LPN degree, working three jobs while attending school. George convinced her to apply for the scholarship he was instrumental in establishing at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. She was awarded the scholarship, which left her debt-free. Wanting to further her education, she later returned to school and received the scholarship a second time, earning her RN, BSN cum laude just this June.

The Cypress of Hilton Head Scholarship Program, an endowed scholarship at the Community Foundation, will continue to provide opportunities to deserving Cypress employees and their dependents for years to come.

What will you endow for future generations?

Let’s start a conversation today.

Life Changing and Everlasting.

843.681.9100 • cf-lowcountry.org

the team WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY?

“It had to be my Easy Bake Oven.

Best cakes ever!”

PUBLISHER Lori Goodridge-Cribb (Local since 1986) lori.goodridge@wearelocallife.com

“G.I. Joe action figures. Dusty was my favorite.”

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lance Hanlin (Local since 2007) lance.hanlin@wearelocallife.com

- LORI

- LANCE

“The original NES gaming system. My parents refused to let me have one, so I spent many years at a friend's house.”- JEREMY

ART DIRECTOR / DESIGNER Jeremy Swartz (Local since 2003) jeremy.swartz@wearelocallife.com

“Ohio Art’s AstroRay ray gun with metal litho planet target. Lights up target and shoots suction darts.” - CHARLES

DESIGNER Charles Grace (Local since 1997) charles.grace@wearelocallife.com AUDIENCE & CONTENT DEVELOPMENT Ashlan Saeger (Local since 2016) ashlan.saeger@wearelocallife.com

“Hands down, the Fisher-Price Dream Dollhouse.”

- ASHLAN

SALES & EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Maddie Bane (Local since 2020) maddie.bane@wearelocallife.com

“The Step 2 Townhouse Laundry Center.

I still have it!”

- MADDIE

“My Baywatch Lifeguard Barbie with her dolphin friend!”

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Melissa Page (Local since 2015) melissa.page@wearelocallife.com

“My 8-year old, '80ss girl self LOVED Mousetrap and Operation!”

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Rebecca Kerns (Local since 1999) rebecca.kerns@wearelocallife.com

- MELISSA

- REBECCA

PHOTO EDITOR Lisa Staff (Local since 2003) lisa@lisastaffphoto.com

“My skipping rope. But don’t ask me about my double dutch skills.” - LISA

Kick Back & Relax.

Thinking about purchasing or already own a vacation rental?

DISTRIBUTION & LIST STRATEGIST Bruce Wolff (Local since 2002) info@wearelocallife.com

“A set of auto diecast replicas. Indestructible.”

- BRUCE

SUBSCRIPTIONS & FINANCE Leah Ortega (Local in spirit) leah.ortega@wearelocallife.com

“Barbie Dream House with the elevator.

Camper was a close second.”

- LEAH

Let the #1 Vacation Rental Company on the Island take care

800 Main Street Hilton Head Island, SC, 29926 843-802-2258 + LocalLifeSC.com

of your investment with the care and professionalism it deserves.

VOL. 5, NO. 12 LOCAL Life is published monthly by Momentum Media Group, Inc. All contents are copyrighted by Momentum Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher.

For back issues or advertising information, call 843-802-2258. Publisher is not responsible for claims and contents of advertisements. Product submissions should be mailed. LOCAL Life is not required to use your submission in any manner, and whether anything from your submission is included in our magazine is in our sole discretion.

Luxury Home & Villa Vacation Rentals

1-843-671-5155 www.beach-property.com 14 LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

omentum MEDIA GROUP

PROUD MEMBERS OF THE CITY AND REGIONAL MAGAZINE ASSOCIATION

#1

Team Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty 2020

$120.39M Total Sales

& Under Contract 2020 and 2021

Homes for the Holidays

107 Okatie Hwy

Nothing Compares

Listed by Nickey Maxey Team for $4.9M

$1.49M

Average Sales Price

SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM

300 Cherry Point Rd

81

Listed by Nickey Maxey Team for $1.99M

Total Transactions

27%

Represented Buyer and Seller

Premium properties currently available 493 Knotty Pine Plantation .

1 Devonwood Drive. . . . . . .

146 Bull Point Drive . . . . . .

300 Cherry Point Road . . . .

441 Old Palmetto Bluff Road

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$1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,700,000 .$1,999,999 $2,200,000

22 Devonwood Drive . .

3 Devonwood Court . . .

171 Burnt Church Road .

7 Magazine Place. . . . .

107 Okatie Highway . . .

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. $2,500,000 . $3,000,000 . $3,500,000 . $1,600,000 . $4,900,000

Additional homes and lots are available and some are preparing to come on the market soon,

The numbers speak for themselves.

49 Boundary Street, Bluffton, SC • 843.836.3900 Each office is independently owned and operated

Nickey Maxey 843.247.0001

The Nickey Maxey Team represents the Lowcountry’s finest homes and land and specializes in waterfront, premiere lots and acreage, plantations and investment properties.

If you are interested in capitalizing on the current strong market conditions, give The Nickey Maxey Team a call.

THE NICKEY MAXEY TEAM nickey.maxey@sothebysrealty.com

features

Dec

Part of the joy of the gift-giving season is passing on that joy. With every box unwrapped, you have the rare opportunity to give someone that treasured memory, something that will live with them forever. Just a toy? Hardly.

It’s a beloved tie to a more innocent time.

This issue highlights the evolution of toys and the impact they've had on us all.

BOUNTY HUNTER An "army build" of Boba Fett action figures is shown in the Bluffton home of Mike Clark. The 39-year-old is making a living buying and selling classic toy collections online. He hopes to open a toy store in Bluffton in 2022. Learn more about Clark and his impressive collection on page 130.

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Hot tech

56

120

126

Great gift ideas for the gadget lovers in your life

Luxury toy

Cruise like James Bond in the 007 San Monique Moke

Evolution of play How toys have changed over the decades

Tease your brain with the stylish wooden puzzles

42

88

124

128

Faces of fun

These locals prove that toys are more than just child’s play.

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LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

Toying with playrooms Design outside the lines to create the ultimate toy room

Treasures found

One man's quest to reclaim favorite toys from his childhood

Knock on wood

Repurposing for reel

Use your old clothes to create upcycled denim fish pillows

© MIKE RITTERBECK

The Toy Issue

Ben Ham Gallery

Inspired by Nature Captured on Film

Ben Ham Galleries 210 Bluffton Road Old Town Bluffton, SC

416 King Street Charleston, SC

843.815.6200

843.410.1495

WWW.BENHAMIMAGES.COM

Dec

contents

20

Publisher

T'was the end of another year, a pandemic not yet left behind. This past year was another one-of-a-kind.

62

22

Contributors

Meet the locals behind this issue

Room with a hue

24

Step inside the colorful world of this dazzling Palmetto Bluff masterpiece.

Links

Special content you can find online at locallifesc.com

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68

26

Blend

68

Living

140

110

Style

162

159

Libations

166

166

Culture

Boost your festive mood at five winter celebrations

Design inspiration to set the tone of your holiday table

Eat, drink, and be stylish with the perfect holiday outfits

Festive cocktails to shake up the season

Experience the art of master felter Margo Duke

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92

118

160

176

Business

Outdoors

Shopping

Sports

Happenings

Learn how a local man builds 18th-century style furniture

Tips for winter gardening in the Lowcountry

Get your holiday shopping done early with local gifts

Sea Pines Country Club unveils new golf upgrades

The top performances and events planned for December

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108

140

162

184

Wellness

Winter training tips to get you ready for springtime races

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History

How Hilton Head played, back in the day

LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

Eats

Pregame with an essential holiday dinner checklist

Destinations

Already sick of the cold? Fly South to the Caribbean

Parting shot

A stunning image from Palmetto Bluff's David Miller

Oystering In A Salt Marsh

Celebrating Over 50 Years of Fine Art in the Lowcountry.

29¼" X 20¾" Watercolor

MICHAEL HARRELL

Michael Harrell

The Red Piano Art Gallery 40 Calhoun Street • Suite 201 • Old Town Bluffton 843.842.4433 • 843.247.2049 • redpianoartgallery.com

publisher

©W PHOTOGRAPHY

“Toys are children's words and play is their language.”

- GARRY L. LANDRETH, THERAPIST

A BLUE CHRISTMAS Happy holidays and best wishes from the LOCAL Life team. Pictured from left: Lance Hanlin, Rebecca Kerns, Lori Goodridge-Cribb, Melissa Page, Jeremy Swartz and Charles Grace.

Every ending is a new beginning 'Twas the end of another year, a pandemic not yet left behind, This past year was another one-of-a-kind.

We launched LOCAL Biz and hired some new folks, And the paper and shipping crisis was not a joke.

Jeremy fought through his bout with Covid in 2020, But this year Laurie and Lori got it, and it was not funny.

While Ashlan and Leah continued working remote, The rest of us gave a hybrid workplace our vote.

Melissa and Rebecca still found LOCAL Life the best clients, Wendy joined the team and will make LOCAL Biz a giant.

Alas, this was not the year to launch The State Birds band, Lance, Jeremy and Charles were too busy with the tasks at hand.

While working late one night to get the final issue done, A Slack notice popped up grabbing the attention of everyone.

THE READERS HAVE SPOKEN Scan this QR code for results from LOCAL Life's online reader survey. Thank you to all and to all a good night!

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"The reader survey results are in and will make you smile; Our readers say LOCAL Life is their favorite magazine by a coastal mile.”

Yes, the pandemic did make many things in the world unstable, But one thing that didn’t change: LOCAL Life is still on the coffee table.

May all of your days be merry and bright. — LOCAL Life

LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

DON’T WORRY, BE HOPPY Have you seen the LOCAL Life Jeep around town? This month we rolled up next to Sarah Ann Vanderslice, author of the book “Just Small Enough: Instigating a Life of Prayer for Children.” The book is available at the J. Banks Design Group Showroom and wherever books are sold.

contributors MEET LOCAL CREATIVES BEHIND THE SCENES Sansing McPherson Poet (It’s an English name, not Asian; but Autocorrect changes it to Samsung. I am not an heir.)

OTHER CREDS: Published two novels — Sweat Sisters (Amazon, 2016) and After Paris (Amazon, 2020). Has numerous short stories and poems in the seven Island Writers’ Network anthologies FOR THIS ISSUE: Wrote the poem, “Slinky Love.” HOMETOWN: Montgomery, Alabama CURRENT HOME: Hilton Head Island LOCAL SINCE: 2002. Best 19 years of my life.

HOBBIES: Reading, writing and editing, napping, water aerobics, traveling, boating SOMETHING ABOUT YOU MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I was a SCUBA diver for 20 years, dived 145 feet into the Blue Hole of Belize and returned alive and unbent! I also dived the Georgia Aquarium shark tank. Came back alive with all limbs and digits. MY FAVORITE TOY: A Crayola box of 48 crayons. Red always broke first. Prussian blue was my favorite. I now own the 120-crayon box. My favorite color name is Macaroni and Cheese. FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEMORY: Spring break when I was teaching, and we would fly to Hilton Head to soak up the sun and eat shrimp and grits. FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION: Having my whole family home, cooking together in the kitchen: them cooking, me giving advice. FAVORITE HOLIDAY TV SHOW OR MOVIE: A Charlie Brown Christmas WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM GIFT: First-class airfare for a family trip to Paris with somebody who speaks French better than I do. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT DECEMBER: Christmas carols, Christmas cookies, chocolate in the stockings, candles and lights, having my family here.

Andrea Smith Artist & graphic designer OTHER CREDS: Owner of 7th & Palm (7thandpalm.com), exhibiting artist at Art League of Hilton Head, BFA in visual communication, Ball State University FOR THIS ISSUE: Illustration “Cat vs. Slinky,” inspired by the poem “Slinky Love.” HOMETOWN: Indianapolis CURRENT HOME: Bluffton LOCAL SINCE: 2010 HOBBIES: Traveling, kayaking, swimming—and taking copious pictures of palm trees. WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW? I'm a really fast reader—I can usually finish a book in about half the time it takes most people. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY? My bike. We were constantly riding bikes when I was growing up. I grew up next to a really busy street in Indianapolis, but my dad would take me to the park and all kinds of places on our bikes — he didn't let lack of bike lanes stop us.

We even had a yellow Schwinn tandem bike and camped a lot. It was so much fun to ride that all over state parks and trails. FAVORITE HOLIDAY MEMORY: Definitely the Christmases at my grandparents' house when my sister and I were little. We were the only grandkids on that side of the family, and Grandpa would hook up his tractor to a toboggan and drive us around their two-acre yard at top speed. My aunt and uncle would "dive bomb" us off the toboggan, and we'd have to chase the tractor to get back on, because Grandpa wouldn't slow down just because we fell off. Lots of laughs, adrenaline and snow in every crevice. Good times. FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION: Stockings and cookies on Christmas Eve. We haven't done stockings since my sister and I got married, but I'm petitioning the fam to bring it back now that my nieces are old enough to enjoy it. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT DECEMBER? Tree lightings, hosting and giving gifts. I love shopping with other local small businesses and picking out presents for our families. We don't have family living here locally at the moment (though they visit often), so I LOVE getting to spoil our nieces rotten and spend time with family over the holidays.

Other elves in the workshop ...

PHOTOGRAPHERS Arno Dimmling + Ryan Greco + Hopkins Studios + David Miller + Mike Newton Photography by Anne + Mike Ritterbeck + Lisa Staff + W Photography + Jay Wooster WRITERS Lisa Allen + Daisy Dow + Becca Edwards + Denise Friday + Barry Kaufman + Christopher Krupl Carolyn Males + Libby O'Regan + Jo Paduch + Margaret Pearman + Nancy Renner + Michele Roldán-Shaw Michaela Satterfield + Shane Sharp + Leslie T. Snadowsky + Richard Thomas + Arlene Williams + Tim Wood CONTRIBUTORS Marcia Cornell + Megan Goheen Kevin Horton + Dario Iudica + Carly Schultz + Jean Meaney Wheatly

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LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

UNPARALLELED REPRESENTATION. If you’re thinking about selling, now is the time to get the best price for

your home! Get in touch with Karen today to buy or sell in the Lowcountry.

KAREN RYAN, Realtor® 843-422-1101 Karen@WeichertCP.com 6 Year Board Member HHI/Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Past Realtor® of the Year & Past President Hilton Head Association of Realtors®

Investing is not a PUZZLE, if your Advisor knows how to FIT the pieces together.

F

iduciaries

links

LOCALLIFESC.COM + DIGITAL OFFERINGS

Digital issue: An enhanced experience LOCAL Life has unveiled an interactive digital platform to take your reading experience to the next level.

Scan this QR code to see all of the cool new features. Highlights include:

Independent Trusted

Search bar: Jump to your favorite section of the magazine.

Contents: Automatically return to the table of contents.

Save my place: A digital bookmark.

Download PDFs: For reading offline and archiving.

Headphones: Listen to articles instead of reading them.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

Zoom backgrounds Add a playful touch to your next Zoom meeting by downloading a virtual toy background at LocalLifeSC.com.

Bruce Brenner Wood Managing Partner/Investment Advisor Representative Robert Schaff, CFP, MBA Executive Vice President/Investment Advisor Representative Thomas Fox, CFA Investment Manager & Strategist Consultant, Waterstreet Research Partners Doug Wilson Fair, JD, CRPC Retirement, Estate & Insurance Strategist, Successful Seniors of the Lowcountry

A Registered Investment Advisory Firm Custom portfolio management and design since 1987 Hilton Head Island, SC • Charlotte, NC 7 Lafayette Place, Suite B, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 24

843.790.7573 hiltonheadcapitalpartners.com LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

YOUR FACE HERE

Sign up for LOCAL Life newsletters Want more LOCAL Life? Have our three newsletters delivered to your inbox each month.

The Dish Best local bites for the weekend The Buzz LOCAL Life’s latest must-reads The Nest Home trends and tips

About the Cover HILTON HEAD CAPITAL WEALTH ADVISORS, LLC HHCP INSURANCE SERVICES, LLC

YOUR FACE HERE

The toy on the cover was made by David Kuhlmann in his shop on Hilton Head Island. It took him four hours of cutting with his CNC router and an additional 10 hours constructing it as a gift for his grandson. The wings, tail and landing gear are made of cherry wood. The body is red oak, the wheels and windshield are maple, the axle is walnut, the propellor is zebrawood, the engine is olive wood and the struts connecting the wings are lacewood. Learn more about Kuhlmann and his hand-crafted toys on page 42. The photo was taken by Lisa Staff.

See more of her work at lisastaffphoto.com.

local blend WORD ON THE STREET + COMMUNITY TIDBITS + FAST FACTS + LOCAL LANDMARKS

I’m Dreaming of a Light Christmas

SHELTER COVE COMMUNITY PARK Shelter Cove is the place to be for a whirlwind of Christmas festivities.

Sponsored by the Hilton Head Island Rec Center, the Winter Wonderland Festival is a free event that creates some holiday fun for every member of your family to enjoy. Featuring carnival games, bounce houses and a children’s parade, be sure to come out to Shelter Cove Community Park on December 3 from 4-7 p.m. to take in the sights and sounds of Christmas joy. For the sleuths among us, the Golden Candy Hunt might be the highlight of your holiday season, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in attendance and cheering us on as the festivities take place. Beyond that, Shelter Cove Towne Center hosts its annual holiday lights throughout the month of December. It would be hard not to get into the holiday spirit while shopping under a canopy of shimmering lights and Southern stars.

t

Spruce up the holiday season

BOOST YOUR FESTIVE MOOD AT FIVE WINTER CELEBRATIONS.

BY DAISY DOW

There’s a reason it is known to be the most wonderful time of the year. As we flip to the last page of the 2021 calendar, there’s no time to waste in getting into the holiday spirit. Be sure to mark these holiday highlights on your schedule to fuel your festive fire. From Harbour Town to Mitchelville Freedom Park, Hilton Head Island is humming with tunes of the holiday season.

Light up the night at Old Town Bluffton’s tree lighting or bask in the glow of Shelter Cove’s boat light display. Wherever you end up around the Lowcountry, be on the lookout for Santa and Mrs. Claus as they join in our celebrations throughout the month of December. Whether you're looking to relax with a movie in the park or want to take a stroll through a winter wonderland, there are opportunities aplenty to get your fill of the season’s spirit around the Lowcountry.

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LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

Do You See What I See?

SHELTER COVE HARBOUR & MARINA Glittering lights, buzzing shops and seven waterfront restaurants make Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina the perfect spot to celebrate the holiday season with a coastal style. For the entire month of December, come down to the waterfront to admire the coastal Christmas boat lights that span the docks. The vibrant colors dotted along the water are sure to boost your spirit and get you in the mood for a little seasonal shopping. Be sure to check out Christmas on the Harbour, the store that celebrates the holiday 365 days a year, to grab some unique decorations to dress up this year’s traditions. Take a brisk walk along the promenade and let the light on the harbour make a beautiful backdrop for some new holiday memories.

How Lovely Are Your Branches

HARBOUR TOWN Be it the magnificent arms of the Liberty Oak Tree or the beautifully decorated limbs of Harbour Town’s Christmas tree, the trees on the south end of Hilton Head will be the talk of the town this holiday season. Take a ride on the Polar Pines Express Wagon on December 18 from 1-3:30 p.m. Enjoy the island’s chilly weather while hearing the story of “The Polar Express” for $16 for children and $18 for adults. Be sure to make a reservation online at seapines.com/events to reserve your spot on this magical journey. At 7:30 p.m. December 23, hear Gregg Russell sing some holiday favorites and prime Harbour Town for a very special visit from Santa Claus! The evenings of December 27-29 will feature holiday movie showings, marshmallow roasting and train rides around the harbor.

Come, They Told Me (Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum)

OLD TOWN BLUFFTON Whether it’s sunny, rainy or by some miracle snowy, come out to Bluffton’s Tree Lighting Ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m., December 3 at Martin Family Park. Stick around for a screening of the movie “Elf” to get the whole family in the holiday spirit. Take in the festivities of Old Town while you walk to the DuBois Park pavilion for a meet and greet at Santa’s workshop. The very next day, December 4 at 10 a.m., join the ranks lining the streets of Bluffton’s Historic District for the Town of Bluffton’s 50th annual Christmas Parade. Spend this holiday channeling your inner little drummer, tapping away to the hustle and bustle of winter cheer all across Bluffton.

Walking in a Historic Wonderland

HISTORIC MITCHELVILLE FREEDOM PARK Starting the first weekend of December, check out Historic Holidays on Hilton Head Island presented by The Heritage Library and its partners. Take part in one of the island’s newest traditions with the Drive-Through Holiday Light Display at the Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. The next weekend on December 11, take part in a 2.5-mile walking tour that explores the holiday traditions that have been practiced in one of Hilton Head’s historic neighborhoods. The tour is at 9:30 a.m., but those who want to sleep in can still enjoy the free open house from 1-4 p.m. with docents who will guide you through the histories of Gullah traditions. Be sure to register online at heritagelib.org/historicholidays for these free events.

Jordan Haire, DMD

Sydney Caskey, DDS

University of Louisville

Indiana University

Matthew Mastrorocco, DMD University of Pittsburgh

Now Open in Bluffton!

ROC Dental Group has opened its Bluffton office in The Plaza at Belfair and is welcoming new patients!

Our private practice has provided the Lowcountry with the most advanced dental care in the country for over 20 years. Expanding our reach to Bluffton enables us to fulfill our mission to serve more of our neighbors while supporting local nonprofits that promote wellness.

We can’t wait to meet you!

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Adva n c i n g We l l n e s s ROCDENTALGROUP.COM DECEMBER + LocalLifeSC.com 27 25 Clark Summit Drive, Bluffton | 843-706-3800 • 4101 Main Street,2021 Hilton Head | 843-682-4601

LL1221

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hot tech

Great gift ideas for the gadget lovers in your life.

Easy rider

PEDAGO ELECTRIC BEACH CRUISER Upgrade your beloved bike to the Pedago Comfort Cruiser.

Enjoy longer rides on the beach with this toy that combines comfort and fun. Available at Outside Hilton Head. $2,295

Switch it up

NINTENDO SWITCH – OLED MODEL The newest member of the Nintendo Switch family has arrived. The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model offers improved color and contrast to the screen that will make winning any game more rewarding.

Available at nintendo.com. $349.99

Take control

RAZER KISHI CONTROLLER Transform your smartphone into the universal gaming machine with this Razer Kishi mobile game controller. With sensitive tactile feedback, this is sure to bring you more wins than ever before. Available at razer.com. $99.99

Game on!

PACMAN ARCADE GAME Throwback it back to 1980 with this retro Pacman arcade game available for the transcendent gamer.

Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde are hungry for their return to the big screen.

Available at hammacher. com. $649.95

Grow your own way

CLICK AND GROW SMART GARDEN Enjoy the benefits of fresh, just-picked produce year-round with the help of this self-watering indoor garden.

Reap the fruits with none of the work. clickandgrow.com. $199.95

Luck of the draw

3DOODLER 3D PEN No magic spells or charms needed with this 3Doodler 3D Pen that allows you to draw real life structures at just the touch of a button. Better get to the drawing board to decide what you will create next! Available at the3Doodler.com. $99.99

Make your own toys TOYBOX 3D PRINTER Be one of Santa’s top performing elves with this 3D printer, which allows you to copy and paste from your imagination to reality. Knock out your toy wish list by hand and skip the delivery fee.

Available at toybox.com. $329

Just my type

LEGO IDEAS TYPEWRITER Looking for a piece of nostalgia this holiday season? Inspired by an old-fashioned typewriter, LEGO has presented the vintage toy lovers' new favorite piece to build.

Available at lego.com. $199.99

Enter the Matrix

OCULUS QUEST 2 Unlock an alternate reality with this VR headset filled with games, workouts, movies and more. You even can meet up with friends from around the globe. Available at oculus.com. $299

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Get the picture

POLAROID NOW+ I-TYPE INSTANT CAMERA Designed for the true retro lover, this instant camera will deliver class like no other. With five additional colored lens filters, make your photos more creative than ever. Available at polaroid.com. $149.99

Just be your selfie

DJI OM 5 GIMBAL Step up your selfies and videos with the DJI OM 5, which stabilizes your phone for professional-grade photography and videography. Enjoy the moment and let this stabilizer capture the rest. Available at DJI.com. $159

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Historical fiction makes the best gift

BOOKS NOT TO BE MISSED THIS WINTER. SELECTIONS BY DENISE FRIDAY THE AVIATOR’S WIFE BY MELANIE BENJAMIN Charles Lindbergh gained instant fame at age 25 when he made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris in 1927. Yet this story is about his wife, Anne Morrow, clearly his better half. She was an amazing aviator herself, helping Charles chart many of his flights and becoming the first female glider pilot in the US. Benjamin pieces together what Anne’s life might have been like in the shadow of Lindbergh, with her own talents always taking a back seat. It includes fascinating details of the flights, the kidnapping, and the hounding of the press, as well as life after Lindbergh’s death.

THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS

DOCTORS AND FRIENDS

BY KRISTIN HARMEL

BY KIMMERY MARTIN

There were approximately 3.3 million Jews living in Poland when WWII started.

Between 2.8 million and 3 million were murdered during the war. Many that survived did so by fleeing into the vast Nalibocka Forest. Harmel has created a story that portrays what that survival might have looked like against incredible odds. Her characters are fictional but faced the same dangers hiding and fleeing from Nazi German soldiers while battling starvation, harsh winters, disease and wild animals. Their story of survival is nothing short of triumphant.

Covid-19 has swept the world into a situation like no other in the past century. Martin, a former emergency medicine doctor, writes the story of three medical school friends who each are faced with tremendous burdens as they descend into a worldwide pandemic. Eerily written prior to Covid-19, the author made changes after the onset of the current pandemic so as to not confuse fact with fiction. It’s a fabulous insider’s perspective into the world of doctors working to save lives during the most difficult situations of their lives.

THE BOOK WOMAN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK

BY KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON

The Kentucky Pack Horse Library Service ran from the 1930s to early ‘40s in the Eastern part of the state. There also were blue-skinned people in this area from a certain lineage due to a rare blood condition. Richardson weaves both of these facts into a delightful story of 19-year-old Cussy, a blue-skinned who joins the Library Service with her trusty mule to travel to isolated and dangerous areas to bring literacy and news to mountain folk during the Depression.

WHITE HOUSES BY AMY BLOOM Eleanor Roosevelt was the longest serving First Lady in history from 1933-1945.

She was the wife of FDR but also had a ‘First Friend.’ Lorena Hicks, a celebrated reporter, befriended Eleanor and her husband while he was governor of New York. When FDR became President, Hicks also moved into the White House as Eleanor’s First Friend. Bloom lays out their enduring friendship and love for each other until Eleanor’s death in 1962. A wonderful read.

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We wish our clients, guests, colleagues, and friends the very best during this holiday season.

If you’re not in the ‘nest yet, we would be honored to serve you in 2022!

(CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT)

Darlene Enright, Managing Director | Financial and Owner Services Manager, BESTNEST by Beverly Serral Vacation Rentals Lakelyn Ward, Reservations and Guest Services Specialist, BESTNEST Lydia Swank, Real Estate and Design Executive Assistant Courtney Woodward May, Realtor Certified Luxury Home Specialist BESTNEST Designer Lizette Perez, Manager, Guest and Property Services, BESTNEST Anna Goebel, Reservations and Guest Services Specialist, BESTNEST Beverly Serral, Founder & CEO Realtor | Certified Luxury Home Specialist | BESTNEST Designer

REAL ESTATE | RENTALS | RENOVATIONS

7 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head Island, SC | 80 Madison Avenue, New York, NY www.BeverlySerral.com 843.341.3600 www.BookaBestNest.com

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The fantastical adventures of Myrtle the Loggerhead Turtle on a familiar island shaped like a shoe

o

BY CAROLYN MALES

Open Myrtle the Loggerhead Turtle, and you enter a whimsical world of sea, sand and magic. Colors and patterns, narrative and rhymes combined with vivid images dance on the book’s 36 pages. Writer Bill Borg and artist Mira Scott teamed up to design a charming bedtime tale to delight not only children, but grownups as well.

The spark for the collaboration was ignited when mutual friend Laura Hill introduced them. Borg was wowed. “Mira’s illustrations are where Peter Max meets van Gogh,” he said. Scott, too, was taken with Borg’s creative way with words and sounds. “His mind is a literally an idea machine that never turns off.” They immediately started riffing off each other, tossing ideas back and forth, a process Borg calls “spontaneous combustion.” Soon Myrtle, a real-life loggerhead celebrated for the record number of nests she’s built and eggs she’s laid (she’s also known as “Fertile Myrtle”), began making deep tracks in their minds.

From the start they knew they wanted to capture their readers’ imaginations while stressing the importance of sea turtle conservation. To do that the duo hit upon mixing fantasy elements (a mermaid named Soraya with a purple tail) with a storyline that tells of the loggerhead’s voyage from birth on these shores to her perilous journey through the Sargasso Sea to the Azores and back to that island shaped like a shoe, Hilton Head. Along the way, allies like Luna the Moon help Myrtle navigate through ocean predators, dodge foes like ghost crabs along the shoreline, and avoid the minefield of hazards we humans inadvertently engineer –– digging holes on the beach, shining bright lights that lead hatchlings astray, and littering their paths to the water.

Borg’s catchy poetry and lullaby, interspersed with the narrative, almost begs to be sung. And Scott’s bold renderings of images like “blankets of seaweed” and “unhatched eggs looking like a pile of marshmallows” are depicted in her trademark bold hues. Even the endpapers are lush with Scott’s rippled blue waves. Yet this fanciful depiction of the real Myrtle is grounded in reality. A prologue by marine biologist Amber Keuhn recounts her awe when she first encountered one of these four hundred-pound creatures while scuba diving. At the end of the book, the authors included two fact-filled pages, one about sea turtles and the other about the real “Fertile Myrtle.” With an elegant layout by Local Life’s Charles Grace, Myrtle tempts one to TURTLE TALE leave its pages spread open on a coffee table.

Above: Soraya the In keeping with their message, the authors are donating a portion Mermaid sings a lullaby of the proceeds from Myrtle the Loggerhead Turtle to the nonprofit to Myrtle as she rests Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island, which monitors nesting sites and in a magical nursery, “a giant floating island hatchling activity. of seaweed called the Meanwhile the authors promise more upcoming Myrtle adventures.

Sargasso Sea." “I believe that the whole idea behind stories, especially children’s Left: Authors Mira Scott stories, is to impart wisdom, but to do it through the conduit of and Bill Borg. fantasy,” says Borg. “Because if you can catch the attention of a child,” Scott adds, “they will teach the parents. And, at the end of the day, they’re the ones who will change the world.” LL

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LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

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SPONSORED BY TITO'S VODKA

MEET THE BEST SOUTHERN BISCUIT IN THE LOWCOUNTRY MORE ABOUT BISCUIT Colors: Black and Brown Age: 2 Weight: 60 pounds Likes: Curling his tongue and his toys. “Not to pull my own tail, but the other dogs at the kennel call me the ‘Canine Gene Simmons,’ so I am kind of a big deal. As for my toys, the real Milk Bones to my heart are Nylabones and KONGS, especially with a little peanut butter inside!” — Biscuit Dislikes: Not having a couch cuddle buddy: “Frankly, my name is Biscuit. If I didn’t like to cuddle, I would have been named, Mark, or Emmanuel or something.” — Biscuit Adopt her: Due to Covid, all Hilton Head Humane Association adoptions are by appointment only. Call 843-681-8686 or visit hhhumane.org.

Mr. Biscuit is a 60-pound, 2-year-old terrier mix that is a firm advocate for cuddling and tug-of-war. Having just finished his heartworm treatment, Biscuit is ready to settle down with a family who loves cuddling and walks out in the beautiful Lowcountry as much as he does. Whether it be a night spent on the couch, or a day by the beach, Mr. Biscuit will love any adventure, as long as it’s with you.

W W

P P

W W te te e e p p T T a a

Y Y

Official Mensa Challenge ®

Answers are available on LocalLifeSC.com/Mensa

1. The names of two colors are hidden in the sentence below. Can you find them? (The letters are in consecutive order.)

I was tired and couldn't make the pie or angel food cake I promised.

2. Find the number that best completes the following sequence. 49 36 25 __ 9 4 1 3. What two words, formed from different arrangements of the same eight letters, can be used to complete the sentences below?

The non-green thumb gardener was having trouble with her ________. A friend told her "It's obvious that the pot lacks good ________."

4. Start with the number of trombones, add the number of days in Around the World in ________ Days, then divide by the number of cities in A Tale of ________ Cities. What number did you get?

5. Some letters have been removed from the names of the following American cities. Fill in the missing letters to find out where you are.

S _ _ R _ _ _ _ O P _ _ AL _ _ A _ _ B _ K _ N P _ _ R _ E M _ _ T _ O M _ _ _ T _ L _ _ H _ _ S _ _ [LAST MONTH'S ANSWERS] 1. The poor little dry roasted peanut was assaulted in the street. (Code: 26 = a; 25 = b, 25 = c, etc.) 2. WORK, PORK, PERK, PEAK, BEAK, BEAN, BRAN, BRAY, PRAY, PLAY (There may be others.) 3. There are six boys and three girls. 5. 95 (Square the number in the left circle to make the number in the upper middle circle and cube to make the number in the right circle. Add the left circle number to the upper middle circle number and subtract the sum from the number in the right circle to get the number in the lower middle circle.)

4. 128

367 495

It's game time. This Mensa quiz will play with your mind!

167 328 495

168 327 495

ARE YOU READY FOR MENSA?

American Mensa is where brilliance belongs – it’s where friendships are forged for life, business connections and opportunities are made, and where brilliant minds find the chance to engage with others in an intellectually stimulating environment. Just for LocalLife readers: Take the Mensa Practice Test for just $5! Visit americanmensa.org/mht and use offer code: Local21. Quiz © 2018 Dr. Abbie F. Salny Mensa provides official tests and answers to LOCAL Life as part of an exclusive license agreement. Answers are available on LocalLifeSC.com/Mensa

World-Class World-Class Doctors Doctors Providing Providing the the Best Best Local Local Care.

Care.

When it comes to the very latest cutting-edge When it comes to the very latest cutting-edge technologies and unparalleled patient outcomes, eye care technologies and unparalleled patient outcomes, eye care experts around the world look to the Lowcountry and the experts around the world look to the Lowcountry and the passionate eye care pioneers at Bishop Eye Center. Yep. passionate eye care pioneers at Bishop Eye Center. Yep. The best of the best in superior compassionate eye care The best of the best in superior compassionate eye care are right here in Hilton Head, Sun City, and now Bluffton. are right here in Hilton Head, Sun City, and now Bluffton.

You don’t have to look – or go – far.

You don’t have to look – or go – far.

The The Leading Leading Center Center for for Cataract Cataract Surgery Surgery H i l ton He ad • New River/Sun City • Bluffton • 843-689-3937 • BishopEye.com DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com H i l ton He ad • New River/Sun City • Bluffton • 843-689-3937 • BishopEye.com

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Feel confident about the choices you make—let us be your guide on the path toward preserving your family’s future.

On location

A LOOK AT THE LOWCOUNTRY’S STARRING ROLE IN THE MOVIES.

FORCES OF NATURE (1999)

The Joseph Johnson House THE CAST The film stars Ben Affleck as Ben Holmes, Sandra Bullock as Sarah Lewis, Maura Tierney as Bridget Cahill, Steve Zahn as Alan, Blythe Danner as Virginia Cahill and Ronny Cox as Hadley Cahill.

Offering FREE monthly in person seminars & online webinars on a wide variety of topics including Wills & Living Trusts, The 5 Myths of Estate Planning, Estate Tax Planning, and many more.

Contact our office and mention LOCAL Life for more information.

843.815.8580 montgomeryestateplanning.com 36

LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

DETAILS Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock star in this 1999 romantic comedy that features scenes shot in Beaufort at “The Castle,” a stately home located at 411 Craven St. The home was used as the Cahill house, where the wedding took place. The grass at "The Castle" was sprayed with green paint to enhance its color on film. During production the parking lot of Carteret Street United Methodist Church was used for the DreamWorks studio's trailers and canteen tent.

Affleck and Bullock stayed at the Rhett House Inn in downtown Beaufort and were frequently spotted riding golf carts around town.

THE PLOT All Ben Holmes (Ben Affleck) wants to do is make it from New York to Savannah in time for his wedding.

When a seagull and a hurricane ruin any chance he has of flying there, Holmes reluctantly joins the quirky Sarah Lewis (Sandra Bullock) in a rental car for a road trip back to his waiting bride-to-be, Bridget Cahill (Maura Tierney). But nature seems to conspire against his every attempt at a timely return — and in the meantime, he finds himself growing closer to Sarah.

PIVOTAL SCENE SHOT IN BEAUFORT As a hurricane approaches, the harsh weather forces Ben and Sarah to abandon their car and run the rest of the way to the wedding. Ben finds Bridget and realizes he does love her and wants to spend his life with her.

Sarah witnesses their reunion and leaves quietly.

FILM FACTS • The amusement park scenes were shot over a three-day period at South of the Border, a tourist attraction near Dillon. One of the scenes featured the spinning sombrero ride. Thousands of people showed up to be extras, but only 70 were used.

Guarding Your Legacy

• Part of the movie was filmed in Savannah.

The Talmadge Bridge, City Hall’s golden dome, the DeRenne globe and other Savannah landmarks are featured. The Kmart scene was also shot in The Hostess City.

• The film was initially marketed as a potentially loose remake of Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987).

REVIEWS

WILLS • TRUSTS • ESTATE ADMINISTRATION • IRA & RETIREMENT PLANNING

“An extremely enjoyable neo-screwball comedy about attractive opposites on the road.”

— Variety “With its terrifyingly beautiful images of molten lava and clouds of ash, shattered cities and whirling storms, 'Forces of Nature' is spectacular, engrossing, and at times almost overwhelming in its power. But its real achievement — and one that's much rarer for a large-format film — is the way it uses its gigantic images to educate, engage, and draw connections between natural disasters and human lives.”

— Boston Globe

Making an estate plan is a big and important step; a step that no one should take without being fully informed.

Our mission and our passion is to make a difference, one family at a time.

“DreamWorks' first reprehensible fiasco.”

— TIME Magazine

WATCH IT

W. A. Hunter Montgomery, Esq. Guarding the legacy and wealth of over 1,000 SC families since 2002.

10 Pinckney Colony Road | Suite 402 | Bluffton, SC

843.815.8580 montgomeryestateplanning.com

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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Charity Spotlight

Berkeley Hall Charitable Foundation MISSION

To make a difference by addressing the basic human needs of the greater Bluffton community, especially those who are most vulnerable.

WHO IT HELPS

HELPING LOCALS IN NEED More than 275 Berkeley Hall members attended the October Charity Cup event. The Berkeley Hall Charitable Foundation raised more than $350,000 to help those in need in our community. Great weather, good friends, fine wines and lots of fabulous bidding made for an exciting event.

HISTORY The Berkeley Hall Charitable Foundation (BHCF) has raised over $2 million for Lowcountry charities since its inception in 2008. Each year monies raised from Berkeley Hall residents and local business partners at the annual Charity Cup Golf Tournament and Auction fundraising event fund grants to local charities that demonstrate that they will have considerable impact on improving the lives of a number of residents in the greater Bluffton community. This year’s Charity Cup event set an all-time record, raising more than $350,000. The more funds raised, the more the foundation can help those in need in the local community.

By providing grants to local charities, (23 grants to 18 local nonprofits last year alone) the BHCF nurtures the community by supporting nonprofits such as Bluffton Self Help, Deep Well, Family Promise, Meals on Wheels, Boys & Girls Club of Bluffton, Hopeful Horizons, Vantage Point, Memory Matters, Bluffton-Jasper VIM, Second Helpings and others that provide food, housing, emergency financial assistance, legal and medical services, childcare and other vital services.

HOW TO HELP The foundation depends solely on the generosity of individuals and sponsors who provide funding as well as items and services for the Charity Cup virtual and live auctions. Tax deductible donations can be made to the Berkeley Hall Charitable Foundation at 366 Good Hope Road, Bluffton SC 29909.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE BERKELEY HALL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION Email bhcharitablefoundation@gmail.com or learn more at BerkeleyHallClub.com 38

LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

LEADERS IN NON-SURGICAL DISC DECOMPRESSION HILTON HEAD ISLAND

FOR OVER 30 YEARS Each year Dr. Brad Fraum, D.C. and Dr. Brian McGinnis, D.C. treat thousands of patients suffering from neck, back and other pain associated with spinal disc related issues. Many of these patients drive over an hour to use the DRX-9000 ® machines located in the Fraum Center for Restorative Health office on Main Street, Hilton Head Island.

BACK AND NECK PAIN The DRX-9000® is used to treat patients suffering with incapacitating lower back pain, spinal stenosis, and sciatica caused by herniated discs, degenerative discs, posterior facet syndrome, and much more.

NON-SURGICAL Spinal decompression therapy is safe, effective, painless and easy. It works by actively decompressing the disc using computer controlled algorithms. All you have to do is lie comfortably on one of our state-of the-art decompression tables.

ONLY AVAILABLE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND Patients drive from all over the Lowcountry and Coastal Empire to The Fraum Center for Restorative Health located on the north end of Hilton Head Island for access to the DRX-9000®. The only facility in our area to offer this innovative service.

LEARN MORE To learn more about the DRX-9000®, scan this QR code with your phone’s camera and open the link to watch the video and book your first session.

Located at 1403 Main Street Village Hilton Head Island 843-612-1820 www.FRAUM.com

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

LOCAL Life asked Sun City resident Joe Paduch to share her thoughts about what it means to be local. Paduch, a former occupational therapist, now dabbles in creative endeavors as a member of the Photography Club and All About Art Club in Sun City. LOCAL Life welcomes letters to the editor and comments to our website.

Write to info@wearelocallife.com.

local What makes it adjective. lo·cal | lō-kəl

n

d Connectio

Reflection an

1: characterized by or relating to position in space: having a definite spatial form or location 2: of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place: not general or widespread: of, relating to, or applicable to part of a whole 3: primarily serving the needs of a particular limited district of a public conveyance: making all the stops on a route

a

For everything there is a season

A family trip to Hilton Head Island in 1968 encouraged daydreams of a return. Sand dollars on the beach were as valuable to me at age 16 as my earned babysitting dollars.

The rhythm of the Gullah language was music to my ears. Gullah history fascinated me. That you could ride a bike on the beach was a thrill.

To witness alligators with their bulging eyes and long snouts cruise through the lagoons like kayaks on a lake was amazing. I considered our family vacation to Hilton Head to be like the 1960s TV show, “Adventures in Paradise.” I yearned to go back to the Island.

And we did.

We retired to the Lowcountry in 2011. For the last decade, we have awakened daily to the cacophonous cawing of crows perched on the towering pine trees surrounding our house. A walk in the neighborhood provides opportunities to see cranes and herons and wood storks build their nests and feed their babies. From our patio we giggle at the gymnastics of a fox playing on a grassy knoll.

Darting across the yard and racing up and down trees are the mischievous masked fox squirrels. The deer are abundant and bold, capable of staring you in the eye as they lust after the flowers you have nurtured for years.

Wild turkeys, with heads held high, march along pathways and scatter into woods when

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LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

BY JO PADUCH

LOCAL SINCE 2011 Jo Paduch is living the good life with her husband, David, in Sun City. They have been together for 48 years. She enjoys photography, creating art, mahjong, golf and travel. “My husband and I enjoy traveling back roads as well as to the distant cities of New York and London, as our children reside there,” she said.

they are spooked. Dragonflies with gossamer wings and rolling eyes take in 360 degrees of information before they fly to their next landing. Hummingbirds collect nectar from trumpet-shaped flowers. Anoles scramble on sidewalks and house walls and garage doors, seeking to pounce on their unsuspecting prey.

The abundance of flora and fauna in the Lowcountry is breathtaking. A symphony of buzzing bees dance in the Spring’s pink and white azaleas. A deep breath of fresh air sweetens the aroma of majestic magnolias. The spartina grass transforms from its dull winter shade to its vibrant lime green that sparkles in the sunshine at the water’s edge. Summer is simply hot and humid. The massive oak trees, draped in Spanish moss, provide shaded relief. The warm ocean waters draw people of all ages to frolic in the surf. Watermelons and fresh tomatoes fill roadside stands. Autumn brings relief from the oppressive heat. The days shorten and nights are cooler. Long walks are cherished. Open windows create soft breezes that choreograph dancing curtains. The air invigorates. Winter season is short. Freezing temperatures are rare. A jacket or sweater is donned by necessity, not by choice. But by mid-February there are welcome signs of spring. Birds chirp. Flowers boom. Grass greens.

For everything there is a season. The Lowcountry provides a smorgasbord of sensory input. The environment provides peace as I listen, see, smell, touch and taste the wonders that living in the Lowcountry stage for us day after day and season after season. LL

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faces

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LL Find additional images from these photo shoots online at LocalLifeSC.com

Faces of fun Whether they’re helping young ones build imagination and create cherished memories or just filling collectors with the joys of the hunt, these locals prove that toys are more than just child’s play.

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STORY BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA STAFF

For each of us, there is that one toy that lives forever in the warmest part of our childhood memories. Like Citizen Kane and his Rosebud or Andy and his Buzz Lightyear, just the thought of it is enough to take us back to a simpler, more carefree time. Maybe you were able to hang onto it as you journeyed from the schoolyard to the real world, maybe it was lost to a garage sale long past. Either way, it lives on with every wistful smile you cast back to those days.

Part of the joy of the gift-giving season is passing on that joy. With every box unwrapped, you have the rare opportunity to give someone that treasured memory, something that will live with them forever.

Just a toy? Hardly. It’s a beloved tie to a more innocent time. And it’s the province of these locals to keep those ties strong.

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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David Kuhlmann

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THIS MECHANICAL ENGINEER MAKES BEAUTIFUL HAND-CARVED WOODEN TOYS.

Before the simple act of creating and sharing toys grew into a multibillion-dollar industry of electronic gadgets, movie-tie-in action figures, and high-tech trinkets, it was the woodworkers of the world that brought joy to children.

Like the mythical elves of the North Pole, these craftsmen would take whatever scrap wood they had lying around and, through the power of their own ingenuity, turn it into something amazing. It’s a lost art, in some senses, but don’t try telling that to David Kuhlmann.

“It started way back when I was a child, and I think maybe it’s somehow in my genes,” he said. Like his great-grandfather, grandfather and his 90-year-old father before him, Kuhlmann is a woodworker, one who delights in creating new and exciting toys each year for his kids and grandkids. “I got into it at a very young age.

I took shop in high school, and it just took off from there.”

Well, there was the slight detour of earning his undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering degrees at The Ohio State University.

But once he became a father, the intricacies and artistry of woodworking came calling once again.

“I got my first table saw when my oldest daughter was an infant,” he said. “That was my toy.”

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MAKING FUN When not carving wooden toys for family and friends, David Kuhlmann enjoys playing guitar (“I made one and am in the midst of another build”), international travel and alpine skiing. His favorite toys are model rockets.

Working out of one corner of his laundry room, with a bedspread hung up to catch the sawdust, he was hardly operating out of an elf-level workshop. Yet he still managed to craft beautiful hand-carved wooden toys for his oldest daughter, then his youngest.

“The first one was a pretty elaborate toy train with a very ornate engine about 16 inches long and a coal car, two to three intermediate cars and a caboose,” he said. That first train gave way to an annual tradition, with his laundry room/woodshop cranking out wooden cars, jewelry boxes and wood-covered scrapbooks as his daughters grew older and his grandchildren entered the world.

In moving from Ohio to Hilton Head, this dyed-in-the-wood toy maker now has a little bit more of a workshop in which to play elf.

“I finally got my dream shop when we moved down here. That was part of our criteria,” he said. “I could spend the whole day out there. I tell people, ‘Woodworking is cheaper than therapy.’”

And a lot more fun to play with.

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DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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Scott and Mandi Lee

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FOR THE OWNERS OF HILTON HEAD TOYS, WORK IS ALL PLAY.

These past few years have represented a fundamental change in the way we do so many things, and indeed the way we look at so many things. We’re a little more aware of the quality of quality time. We’re not so worried about chasing the next hot status symbol as we are of experiencing the world around us.

And for those of us with children, we are becoming very aware of how different it is to be a kid these days.

We remember days spent outdoors, drawn into one game or another with a revolving pack of neighborhood friends.

We remember toys, actual physical toys you held in your hand that weren’t contained within a tablet’s black mirror.

We remember these things, and we’re passing them on. As owners of Hilton Head Toys, Scott and Mandi Lee have seen it firsthand.

“When we were growing up, we had toys to play with; we had imagination,” said Mandi. “Parents are looking for that.

As a parent, you always want that imagination to grow. Having that opportunity to touch and feel toys instead of ordering things online is a great thing for parents, especially when on vacation.”

The couple first took over the venerable institution, a staple of Sea Pines for 46 years and Coligny Plaza for 26 years, a few years ago after wrapping up careers that took them all over the world.

“We’d been living in Louisiana, Australia, the Middle East and decided to come back and retire to this area,” said Scott, a native of South Carolina. “But we weren’t ready to retire yet.”

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The Lees contacted a business broker and found out that the iconic toy stores were going on the market. It was a perfect opportunity, even if it didn’t seem so at the time.

“At the time, Toys ‘R’ Us was going bankrupt,” said Scott. “But when we looked at all of our options, the toy stores ended up checking all those boxes.”

The Lees’ business insight proved correct – far from the big box behemoth of Toys ‘R’ Us or the tactile-free browsing of Amazon, the allure of Hilton Head Toys lies in the old-school appeal of holding a toy in your hands. Whether it’s some unique niche item or the ever-popular Barbies and Hot Wheels, every item seems a little more… real.

“Growing up, we were always outdoors.

I was in high school when Nintendo came out. We had Tetris. That was the only game we had,” said Mandi. “After 10 minutes I didn’t want to play it anymore. That’s why I enjoy seeing kids actually play with toys.”

And it’s an allure that has only become stronger as we start seeking out more opportunities for our children to enjoy the childhoods we had.

“With the whole situation, people are getting outside more, trying to engage more in physical activity and find entertainment outside of the internet,” said Mandi. “I hope that trend continues because it fuels innovation and family time.”

Our Vineyard team is excited to serve you and your family!

At Vineyard, we don’t just care for you, we care about you. Which is why we personalize our programming to each resident’s passions and pursuits that nurture the mind, body and soul. With fresh, chef-prepared meals that are as delicious as they are nutritious, ours is a community where you or your loved one can thrive.

“At Vineyard, we grow purposeful communities that make a positive impact on both people and our planet. This translates into a continuum of personalized care, thoughtful programming, and customized amenities that aim to engage, inspire and elevate life at every stage.”

— Kaylynn Evans, MSM-HC, LTCA, CADDCT Executive Director SUPPORTING PLAYERS Scott and Mandi Lee are the owners of Hilton Head Toys, two classic toy stores located in Harbour Town and Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head Island.

The couple changes 40 percent of its inventory each year to keep the most current toys on their shelves.

Call to schedule a tour today.

Call 843.502.0066

vineyardbluffton.com DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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Frank Capuzello and Bryan Puffinburger

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THESE CHILDHOOD FRIENDS SHARE A CONNECTION THROUGH THEIR LOVE OF TOYS.

From the outside, Frank ‘n’ Puffs Toys and Comics is easy to miss. If you don’t notice the wrap on the door or the colorful hand-painted word “Toys” on the satellite dish, you could easily mistake it for any of the other light industrial buildings that line Buckingham Plantation Road.

But step inside, and immediately you’re met with a kaleidoscope time warp of epic proportions. Like digging through alluvial layers of American pop culture history, each shelf, table and drawer presents a snapshot of different decades of childhood nostalgia.

There are the tried-and-true properties that have remained part of nerd culture – brand-new Star Wars toys still in their boxes hanging side-by-side with time-tested vintage Obi Wans and Darths, both Vader and Maul. The cultural juggernaut that is Marvel Comics bridges the gap between new and old, with brand-new Avengers sharing shelves with old-school Toy Biz “Secret Wars” Spider Men. Digging beyond the testosteronesoaked 1980s nostalgia of He-Man and GI Joe, we find quiet reminders of toys before the rise of cartoon tie-ins – Muhammad Ali action figures, an ET doll still in the box, knock-off Beatles toys (creatively rechristened, “The Swingers”) and realistic cap guns that would never fly today.

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At the center of this journey through time, you’ll find Frank Capuzello and Bryan Puffinberger, the titular Frank and Puff behind the store’s name.

“Bryan and I knew each other since we were little kids,” said Capuzello. “We both had a lot of toys, and his family owned this space at the time.”

Having just moved back to the area from Florida, and finding his personal toy collection expanding beyond what anyone would consider reasonable in size, Capuzello reached out to his friend, and Frank ‘n’ Puffs was born.

Consisting mostly of Capuzello’s toys and the ever-rotating stock of finds that he sells in the shop and online, it is like drinking from a fire hose of nostalgia.

“We have new stuff, old stuff, stuff that came out last week and stuff that came out 70 years ago,” said Capuzello. “Every single drawer you open or anything you look underneath in here, there’s something hidden.”

And the beauty of it is, everything they do is for the love of toys.

“I don’t ever want to be seen as a profiteer or a scalper. I don’t ever want anyone to feel like they’re being ripped off. It’s just toys,” said Capuzello. That’s also a function of the ever-fluctuating market for vintage toys.

“Nothing is priced in here. When we opened, I tried to price stuff and even within those first few months, this thing went up, this thing went down…”

And passing that joy along is a job they take very seriously, as when Capuzello parted with his favorite childhood toy, selling his prized “GoBots Bug Bite” to a special-needs child. “I let it go, but it was for a good cause,” he said.

“I just made him promise to take care of it.”

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DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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Furniture from exquisite to farcical

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STORY BY LISA ALLEN + PHOTOGRAPHY BY LISA STAFF

When it comes to making furniture, boy, does David Lunin have range.

From museum-quality, 18th-century reproductions to humorous optical illusions, Lunin has mastered it all.

Lunin, a New Jersey native, started off thinking he wanted to be an electrical engineer, but a few college courses disproved that theory. He took a few jobs here and there until a friend suggested a job at a furniture refinishing shop. His dad was a carpenter, so the world wasn’t foreign. Far from foreign, he had found his home. From there he became an apprentice in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, repairing, restoring and sometimes reproducing furniture for East Coast museums.

Years later he and his wife, Angela Simmons, discovered Hilton Head and thought about moving here. While his wife met with USCB leaders about the vice chancellor of student affairs position (which she got), he wandered into Signore Coastal Art in Old Town Bluffton.

“I told Chris (Signore) that we were thinking of moving here and asked him what he thought of my chances of starting my own furniture studio. He pointed to a couch in his gallery and told me to sit down and we’d talk. He told me about his marketing research and sales projections and why those numbers would work for me, too. No one does that! That’s when I finally understood what my wife had been telling me about Southern hospitality. Chris has become one of my closest friends.”

Signore introduced him to other local artists and craftsmen. Lunin eventually met a Charleston builder who commissioned some work, and he found the perfect space in Beaufort for a studio and workshop. (The landlord even helped him hang his sign. There’s that Southern hospitality again.)

Tools of the trade

CUSTOM MADE David Lunin designs and builds 18th-century reproduction and traditional furniture in his Beaufort studio. He also restores antiques.

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In Lunin’s workshop near the Spanish Moss Trail in Beaufort are generations of woodworking hand tools, lathes and saws.

Oh, there’s also an eight-foot-high treadle-powered lathe fashioned after a Leonardo da Vinci rendering from the 1400s. Lunin built it himself just out of curiosity to (1) see if it would work, and (2) to see if he could work it. It’s not easy to coordinate rhythmic yet vigorous footwork with minute hand movements. After much practice, one can add treadle-lathe use to Lunin’s list of skills.

y t u a e B

HERE’S THE

OF IT.

We’re #1 again this year for one reason, and that reason is you.

Once again, the readers at Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler magazines have voted Hilton Head Island the #1 Island in the Continental United States.

Of course, awards and accolades don’t make us who we are; but they are a reflection of the world-class Hilton Head Island brand we have all helped to create.

And for that, we should all take a bow.

They call it America’s #1 Island.

And we get get to call it home. home.

We Call It Home.

For more information on tourism and its impact on Hilton Head Island go to

HiltonHeadChamber.org/Tourism-Transparency

business The tales furniture tells Ask any question about the history of furniture, and Lunin can answer it. He’s like a detective investigating the sometimes complex history of a piece. “I named my shop Evolve to reflect how my skills and interests in furniture have evolved, as well as how even individual pieces have evolved. Sometimes I’ll get a piece of furniture that’s 150 years old, but 60 years ago they chopped off the feet and replaced them with another style to follow the fashions of the day,” Lunin said. One has to know what furniture looked like in both eras to notice that.

He also can look at a piece and instantly know if its creator understood and allowed for the fact that wood breathes. It expands and contracts with temperature and humidity, all while steadily shrinking over time.

“If you measure a circular table top that’s a couple of hundred years old, it will be 24 inches one way and 23 and ¾ inches in the other. That’s how I can tell if a piece of furniture is well made.

Did its construction take that inevitable shrinkage into account?”

He also can date a piece by materials. Fine furniture up until the late 1700s was made of four types of wood: walnut, cherry, mahogany and tiger maple. No, tiger maple is not a type of tree.

It’s a maple of any type that has a distinctive grain with tiny stripes much like a tiger. One finds it by luck.

After the Industrial Revolution, furniture was made with lumber cores, then plywood or pressed wood, and now with materials that make the pieces unfixable and therefore disposable. One can hear the pain in Lunin’s voice when he mentions that.

Age-old craftsmanship, today’s humor You won’t find any throw-away pieces at Evolve Furniture Studio. This stuff will last lifetimes, shrinkage and all.

Instead, you’ll find a perfect reproduction of a 17th-century highboy dresser, or a coffee table with knees leading to talons

AS THE WOOD TURNS David Lunin has unique talent for woodturning, a craft that uses a wood lathe with hand-held tools to cut a shape that is symmetrical around the axis of rotation.

clutching balls. Walk a few feet from a piece hanging on the wall, and it looks like a deep cabinet positioned at an angle. Instead, it’s a shallow spice shelf designed to create that optical illusion.

You can’t help but chuckle when you see a table with three legs sawed off, leaving behind one leg and a walking stick seemingly leaning against the table. It’s just Lunin having a little fun with more visual trickery.

All kidding aside, this is quality No matter whether you play it straight or go for a laugh, Lunin’s work is magnificent. He doesn’t use modern sealants but prefers varnish or shellac. His pieces are put together with hand-cut dovetails, not glue or nails. When he does use glue, he chooses the right glue for the right job for the right wood. “I can talk for an hour about glue.”

Furniture and photos are the treasures that get passed down generation to generation. While the identities of those photographed might be lost to time, we know, century after century, that our ancestors sat in this very chair, ate at this same table or dressed in front of this vanity. Those are the connections Lunin can preserve. He also can create new pieces that will begin that chain of family connections that will last far into the future.

It’s your choice — heirlooms of the past or heirlooms of the future.

Evolve Furniture Studio does both to perfection. LL

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THE GIFT OF HEALTHINESS BEYOND STEM CELLS™ LOVING THE LIFE WE’RE LIVING!

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business

Designing for a cause CANSTRUCTION COMPETITION COLLECTS MORE THAN 8,700 CANS OF FOOD FOR LOCAL FOOD BANKS DURING HUNGER ACTION MONTH.

CAN-DO ATTITUDE Court Atkins Group created this laptop structure using 1,800 cans of food for the 2021 CanStruction competition in Savannah. The theme of their design was staying “CAN-nected" during the pandemic. The design reflects a ZOOM call screen. The cans were later donated to Second Helpings of the Lowcountry.

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Everyone knows canned goods are a staple in food donations, but the recent CanStruction competition in Savannah took the idea a step further. Held at the Jepson Center for the Arts, the exhibition invited architects, engineers, contractors and designers to build giant structures made entirely from full cans of food.

The cans used were later donated to local food banks and related charities, including Second Helpings of the Lowcountry and America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia.

Prizes were awarded to LS3P Associates of Savannah, Court Atkins Group of Bluffton and the Savannah College of Art and Design Court Atkins Group won the “Best Use of Labels” category with its laptop structure, made with 1,800 food cans.

“We agreed on a design topic that was relevant to our work culture over the past 18 months,” said Zenos Morris, CAG’s project manager. “There’s no doubt we depended on our laptops and virtual call platforms, like Zoom, to conduct business and stay in touch during the pandemic. We named our design ‘CAN-nected.'”

After submitting its theme to Choate Construction, the sponsor of the local CanStruction event, the CAG team had to determine can specifications, inventory and a game plan for acquiring cans through community partners and local retailers. The design required an assortment of colorful cans that could be obtained only at specific stores.

“Once we came up with the actual design concept, we modeled it in a computer program to calculate the number of cans needed and how they’d translate in the design,” Morris explained. “Then we located the variety of cans required to reflect our laptop vision. The team built a mock-up of the structure in the office prior to the actual build day and then repacked the cans in an organized fashion to be transported to the Jepson Center.”

Choate Construction pledged to host a CanStruction competition in Savannah every fall. More details will be available in the spring for next year’s event. LL

2021 CanStruction winners MOST CANS “Precious Cargo” by LS3P Associates BEST USE OF LABELS “CAN-nected” by Court Atkins Group PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD “Honeybee Strength” by SCAD

CAG FP Local Life 111621-alt.qxp_Layout 1 11/16/21 2:11 PM Page 1

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business

007 San Monique Moke

INSPIRED BY THE 1973 FILM “LIVE AND LET DIE,” THIS LIMITED EDITION ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLE PAYS HOMAGE TO THE WORLD OF JAMES BOND

Moke facts

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Looking for a cooler way to cruise around the streets of the Lowcountry?

Imagine driving around your neighborhood in this stunning, special-edition electric vehicle from Moke America. Drawing inspiration from the Caribbean, a location synonymous with James Bond, the 007 San Monique takes its name from the fictional island featured in “Live and Let Die.” In the film James Bond (Roger Moore) drives a white and blue Moke through the streets of San Monique.

The limited edition 007 Moke has the same striking white-and-blue design and features the unique “San Monique” artwork created for the movie.

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• Mokes are all-electric, low-speed vehicles perfect to drive on streets 35 mph and less.

Get one A very well-equipped Moke is $25,335. The San Monique Edition starts at $26,975 and must be orderd by Dec. 31. Purchase a Moke vehicle through Carolina Rides (carolinarides.com). The store is sold out of vehicles at the moment, but it has inventory arriving in December, February and April. Special-ordered units will deliver in May and June.

Browse inbound Moke vehicles at carolinarides.com.

• Available in 14 colors with a wide array of options that can make your Moke unique to you.

• Four forward-facing seats with seat belts.

• Heavier with a longer and wider wheel base than a golf cart for more stability and trunk space.

• Great for driving around a private neighborhood, heading to the beach or dinner with friends, or just turning heads while cruising around the South End, Old Town Bluffton, Beaufort or any other area with lots of streets 35 mph or less.

007 exterior features • Custom white rims • Blue & white striped bimini top • Full-sized rear spare tire • San Monique tire cover and logo • Contoured, forward-facing black bucket seats • 007 logo • Trailing-arm rear suspension • Heavy-duty roll bar • Hydraulic steering • 3-phase asynchronous AC motor • Independent front suspension

007 interior features • Wood steering wheel with 007 logo • Wood knob on gear shift • San Monique design on dog hitch • Bluetooth radio • Backup camera

Living Our Best Life in the heart of the Lowcountry At Belfair, we believe there’s no better time than now to create your fullest, most balanced life – and there’s no shor tage of oppor tunities to lead you there. With our Reinvented Spor ts & Lifestyle Campus, there’s an abundance of activities the whole family can enjoy. From the social halls and bistro to connect with your neighbors, fitness classes and cour t spor ts to keep you active, friends that make it fun to reach your personal fitness goals and various wellness solutions for your mind and body, Belfair is the place to find your peak levels of health, connections, and happiness.

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wellness

Cool runnings WINTER TRAINING FOR SPRINGTIME RACES STORY BY BECCA EDWARDS + PHOTOS BY HOPKINS STUDIOS

DRESS CODE Running outdoors is always an option here in the Lowcountry, thanks to our mild winters.

The rule of thumb is to dress as if it is 15 degrees warmer than it actually is.

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This is not another one of those articles that tries to tell you how to lose weight or get fit despite overindulging in naughty hors d'oeuvres and nice big pours during the holiday season. Nope.

This article is about taking advantage of the Lowcountry’s relatively mild winter, our robust running community and our spring races. Rob Fyfe, the founder and co-owner of Palmetto Running Company, has been running for nearly 45 years and shares his tips for training.

Benefits of running Goal setting “I tell people to look at a race calendar and sign up for something. The first six weeks are the hardest. You go from hating running to loving it because it becomes part of your lifestyle. Also, races are festive. Music is blasting. People are cheering. If you’re lucky, you win a medal, and at the end you can’t wait until the next race.”

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wellness Mindfulness/moving meditation “People think runners are crazy because we are up at 6 a.m. running. But you have your AirPods on, you’re listening to a podcast or music, and it clears your head. You feel energized and have a positive attitude. What’s better than running on the beach or on a beautiful trail as the sun comes up? You just can’t beat that.”

Longevity “Cardio is biospecific, meaning everyone is different and has to find their own way of doing things, but running keeps your heart and muscles strong. If your leg muscles get soft and can’t support your knees and ankles, that is when you run into problems.”

Weight loss “There is no better way to burn calories than running.”

Social Palmetto Running Company hosts weekly group runs (check out: palmettorunningcompany.com/group-runs) and has a running club. “It is very inclusive and just as much social as it is about walking or running.”

What you need to get started “There are a lot of ways to get started,” said Fyfe. “It all depends on whether you are a beginner, ran in the past and are getting back into it or are currently a recreational runner and want to get more serious by doing races.”

If you are a beginner, Fyfe recommends apps like Couch to 5K. “In a six-week program like Couch to 5K, you start out walking, then run/walking and, as you get deeper in the program, you get more into running. The key to running is not getting injured. You’ve got to start out slowly if you are a beginner.”

You also will want to invest in some gear. “The beauty of running is it is a fairly inexpensive sport. You need good shoes, decent socks, clothing that doesn’t chafe and maybe a water bottle. That’s it.”

It also is prudent to do a running analysis because it will not only give you functional tips, but it will also ensure you get the proper running shoe. “If you go to a big-box store and pick a shoe because you like the color, that can be a problem because the wrong shoe can cause an injury, and you don’t want that.”

Note: Fyfe says that while training in the winter, be even more mindful of stretching. “Stretching is good, but you don’t want to overstretch, especially in the cold. Start in a slow jog and get your core temperature up. Calisthenics before and additional stretching after are also good.” LL

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UPCOMING RACES BLUFFTON FROSTY 5K Place: 63 Wharf Avenue, Bluffton Date: Saturday, January 22 About: “This race benefits the Bluffton High School cross-country team and runs through old downtown Bluffton via historic streets like Calhoun Street.”

RED CEDAR FOXES TROT 5K Place: Red Cedar Elementary 10 Box Elder Street, Bluffton Date: Saturday, February 26 About: “This is a great event for families and people getting started. There are a ton of kids, and you can walk or run. You can also push a stroller.”

2022 PALMETTO BLUFF 10K AND HALF MARATHON Place: 19 Village Park Square, Bluffton Date: Sunday, March 13 About: “This is one of our most popular races in the area. Palmetto Bluff is a beautiful place to run, and they host a great after-party.”

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living

TASTEFULLY DONE Freshen up your spaces in small and creative ways by matching colors with accessories, art and floral arrangements.

The vibrant color palate of this Palmetto Bluff home allows for a different mood for each room.

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HOME SHOWCASE

Room with a hue STEP INSIDE THE COLORFUL WORLD OF THIS DAZZLING PALMETTO BLUFF MASTERPIECE.

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STORY BY BARRY KAUFMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE The provenance of Lowcountry luxury has long been a balancing act between two aesthetics – on the one hand, there are the earthen tones and textures that evoke the region’s beauty: your tabby, your wood, your brick, your subdued palette of blues and greens that mirror the marshes and rivers outside. On the luxurious side of that balance lie the crisp white lines and dramatic architecture that defines modern sophistication.

However, it’s not always white board-and-batten paired with black wrought iron accents. Sometimes, as in the majestic Palmetto Bluff home you see here, Lowcountry luxury can get a little bit colorful.

“I’ll never forget, one of the first things the client said when we were meeting was, ‘I’ve convinced my husband that pink is a neutral color,” said designer Shell Neely of Kelly Caron Designs. Armed with a slew of the client’s vision board images from Houzz and Instagram and mandated to give this Lowcountry home a vibrant tapestry of colors, Neely got to work in conjunction with the team at H2 builders and architect Pierce Scott.

"My client came with a lot of inspiration, so basically I just started pulling colors, tiles and wallpaper to achieve those looks in each of the rooms,” said Neely. “Every suite has wallpaper in it, either in the bathroom or the bedroom, so it was really pulling a wallpaper theme for each room and then building around it.”

The result is a radiant color palate that excites but stops just shy of flamboyance, allowing the beauty of the home to speak for itself.

Be upfront about it Neely’s inspired use of the wallpaper to inform the home’s color palate is best illustrated in the “front kitchen.” Some of you may be mentally correcting that last sentence. After all, it’s the back kitchen that has become a hallmark of Palmetto Bluff design. In this case, however, the more colorful of the home’s kitchens is found at the front of the house, hence the name.

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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living “The first one we selected was the lemon tree wallpaper in the front kitchen. From that we pulled the Midsummer Night Blue for the cabinetry,” said Neely. She didn’t stop there. Neely carried the Midsummer Night Blue across the foyer to the richly detailed office as well, playing up the symmetry between the two spaces.

Although as long as we’re discussing proper names for rooms, perhaps office is too limiting.

“It’s also a lounge space. After dinner the family will pile onto the sectional in there and listen to records. When they have parties, the guys usually end up either on the screened porch watching a game or in this room because it has a bourbon bar,” said Neely.

That same Midsummer Night Blue also finds its way into the exquisite mudroom, not only on the cabinets but in the eyecatching custom hex tile “Later Gator” pattern on the floor. .

Keep it open-ended

Hit the ceiling One eye-catching aspect that sets the dining room apart, and carries the colorful theme found throughout the home, is the wallpapered ceiling.

Popping up in luxury homes as an emerging trend, this sky-high pop of colorful adds sumptuous flair to this space.

“We had always planned on doing that in the dining room,” said Neely. “And then we echoed the pattern of the ceiling in the fabric on the chairs.”

The color not only ties the room together, it creates a sense of intimacy that balances out the openness of its panoramic view. “We really worked with H2 Builders and architect Pearce Scott to get as much window to maximize weight and height, because she really wanted to see the yard from three sides of that space,” said Neely.

“Bringing in the wallpaper on the ceiling still makes it kind of a cozy space, even though you have that light.”

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With their passion for entertaining, the homeowners had one clear mandate: Keep the main living spaces as open as possible.

As such, the living room and kitchen blend not only into one another to create the perfect spot for unforgettable soirees, they have easy access to the outdoor spaces. The kind of color that informs the rest of the house can overwhelm in larger spaces, so the palette is noticeably toned down.

“It is more neutral in the living room, but there are still pops of color. We didn’t do color on the walls, but we did blue and white with teal and orange pillows that echo the wallpaper behind the bar,” said Neely. LL

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Yo u r V i s i o n . B r o u g h t t o L i f e .

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The life of the party

FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE ALWAYS PLANNING THEIR NEXT GET-TOGETHER, A STUNNING OUTDOOR SPACE IS KEY. STORY BY BARRY KAUFMAN + PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNE While the line between indoor spaces and outdoor spaces is often a hard and fast one, with this Palmetto Bluff home it can get a little blurry. And that is very much by design. “Two doors on either side of the fireplace (from the main living room) lead out to the screenedin porch, which is a living area unto itself,” said designer Shell Neely of Kelly Caron Designs. “The idea was that when they had people over to watch football games, those doors stay open and everyone piles onto the sectional to watch the game.”

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

HOT SEATS The patio can get a little crowded during games, so Neely had to get creative. “We didn’t have as much seating directly facing the fireplace, so the solution was to put a bar table right behind the sectional, so there are two levels of seating.

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YOU WANNA PIZZA ME? Few things go together better than football and pizza, so the Kalamazoo countertop artisan fire pizza oven stays busy all game-day long. The eye-catching tile work on the island carries the home’s colorful aesthetic outside.

KING OF SWING An entirely separate outdoor area with phantom screens and a wide porch swing adds another dynamic to the entertainment, creating a quiet, more intimate space for get-togethers. Or, put the screens down and open the doors, and there’s that much more room for revelry.

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living

INSPIRATION BOARD

Set the tone for your table DESIGN INSPIRATION FROM A KITCHEN SUPPLY PROFESSIONAL

Take your dinner parties to the next level with these tablescape inspirations from Cassandra Schultz of Cassandra’s Kitchen.

With several ways to create a casual or formal setting, there is something to fit everyone’s style.

2. DRESS IT UP OR DOWN The Everyday Flatware 24-piece set is artfully designed and can withstand everyday use, yet is sleek enough to be used for special occasions.

1. EARTHY INFLUENCES Add an extra element of casual polish to any table with the Stonewashed Linen Napkins. Each napkin is 100 percent linen and has a comforting, earthy texture.

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3. THIRD TIME’S A CHARM The vintage HÔTEL Silver Sorbet Bowl makes the simplest desserts shine. Each bowl is triple-plated in silver.

4. KEEP IT GLASSY The Glass Hurricane is mouth-blown and has modern, clean lines for a dramatic yet edgy feel.

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5. GIVE PLEATS A CHANCE The Plissé Dinnerware pattern by Pillivuyt is a classic design from the mid-20th century that had been refined with delicate and elegant pleats, giving it a more formal style. Suitable for special occasions or for every day.

6. HAVE IT YOUR WAY The signature glass trees

by Simon Pearce come in many forms from saplingsized to stunningly stately, brilliantly clear or dusted with snow, and much more.

7. MIX & MATCH Add a modern and earthy aesthetic to your table with these Natural Round Placemats. Their neutral tone makes them an easy match for any table and pair beautifully with different prints and solids.

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Welcome Home...

FURNITURE BY CENTURY

We appreciate you buying local.

843. 785. 2227 | johnkilmer.com Fresh Market Shoppes | 890 William Hilton Parkway | Hilton Head Island

living

BE YOUR OWN BARISTA A beverage center streamlines entertaining as well as morning coffee-making. The pantry next to the beverage center makes space for a small appliance, and the pull-out shelves make the storage easily accessible.

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ROOM OF THE MONTH

Thoughtfully designed

CUSTOM CABINETRY GIVES THIS WINDMILL HARBOUR HOME A TOUCH OF FRENCH COUNTRY FLAIR. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE NEWTON

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HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT The beauty of the hallway laundry room is the dual purpose it serves. The cabinet doors and the large countertop covering the front-loading washer and dryer create a laundry space that goes undetected when guests arrive.

What has come to be known as French Country style in home design is actually Provence style. Similar to the Lowcountry, the Provence region of southeastern France is a sun-drenched area that enjoys the vivid blues of the coast, clarity of light and beautiful landscapes which inspired the art of Paul Cézanne.

The kitchen of this Windmill Harbour home was created with a palate to highlight family antiques. Its impact is soft and unexpected.

“Glass front cabinets imbue the room with an expansive feel,” said Nancy Schmitz of Signature Closets of the Low Country. “It’s a French-style home with a Southern spin, filled with modern amenities and a touch of family history.”

According to Schmitz, collectibles can instantly customize your space with the right cabinets and be a constant reminder of your favorite antique shop, a trip or a special person in your life. LL

JOIN US CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9.

Call (843) 473-4266 to receive your invitation.

somersetadvisory.com 200 Carteret Street, Suite 205, Beaufort SC 29902 Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com 71

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BEFORE & AFTER

Two houses become one

A SEA PINES COUPLE COMBINES TWO HOMES INTO ONE WITH A MASSIVE RENOVATION. STORY BY LIBBY O’REGAN + PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN MCMANUS

In a move that you don’t see regularly in architecture or rarely done on Hilton Head Island, this home in Sea Pines was previously two homes on two separate lots that were then combined. Group 3 Designs was hired to reconfigure the layout to make it more functional for living and entertaining and so that the space flowed more naturally. The energetic and vibrant couple wanted a home that matched their personalities. Their love of bright colors and patterns came through in the interior design. Plenty of thought went into making sure the home was great for entertaining, too.

Before

This kitchen was dark and outdated with these fixtures and cabinets.

After

With added recessed lighting, globe chandeliers, green painted cabinets and polished nickel hardware, this kitchen has been refreshed.

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Vibrant color Group 3 Designs chose Habersham furniture pieces for the buffet and the dining room table, which were customized with choice of paint and finish. See how the table top matches the floor to tie everything together so it feels cohesive. The Hickory White dining chairs in a vibrant teal color add pop to the room and coordinate with the other elements like the drapes and the light fixture.

After

A completely redesigned furniture layout added more seating.

Recessed lighting and back-lit display cases add light and vibrancy.

A place to gather The living room is quite large, so careful consideration was given to the design of the room to ensure that it feels cozy. A symmetrical furniture layout and two coffee tables, plus large display cases for books and accessories make this room feel complete. LL

Before

This room previously felt dark due to lack of light and furnishings were outdated.

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The answer is Yes. Upgrade to Sierra Pacific Windows. There are more expensive windows. But none more impressive.

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living

EXPERT ADVICE

Kitchen ideas from a professional MINOR ENHANCEMENTS AND UPGRADES THAT MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE. The kitchen is the sacred hub of the home, where friends and family gather and make memories. Arlene Williams of Arlene Williams Kitchen Design shares her tips and ideas on how to make your kitchen stand out and become even more enticing.

1. LAYERS OF LIGHT Every space benefits from layers of light. Combine ambient lighting in upper cabinets with undercabinet task lighting, overhead recessed lights for function and beautiful pendants for decorative lighting.

2. WORK WITH NATURAL TEXTURES Texture is a key design element in any space, providing visual depth and movement. Incorporate textures by adding natural elements such as brick, wood, shells and stone. Mixing natural elements with more contemporary details keeps the look fresh.

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3. THOUGHTFUL APPLIANCE PLACEMENT Appliances should be placed so efficient work zones are created.

It is also important to consider how many people will be working in the kitchen at one time. Do you live with someone who loves to bake? Then a baking center is a great addition. The correct appliance placement changes a kitchen from unworkable to efficient and fun.

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4. CREATE A SECOND WORK SPACE If space permits, create a secondary kitchen or “butlers pantry. " This room can become the workhorse of your home with the addition of a second sink, a dishwasher and even a baking center.

5. CREATE A FOCAL POINT Choose one or two elements to use as a focal point. It can be a statement hood or a stunning backsplash. This will give you the “wow” factor you are looking for.

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Building

BEYOND

Building a home is one of the most personal things you can do in life. If you can imagine it, we can create it. We build with a passion to serve others and to give you a home to enjoy the lifestyle that you have envisioned.

During this special time of year, we want to thank our clients for trusting us to bring their vision of a perfect home for them to life. We are truly grateful that while we create and build, we get to fulfill our mission combining purpose, passion and process.

We wish you a beautiful holiday season celebrating and making memories with your family and friends.

BrightonBuildersSC.com 843.837.1119

living

HOME TECH

Let there be light!

EVEN THE GRISWOLDS WOULD BE ENVIOUS OF THESE HOLIDAY LIGHTS

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This month we are throwing traditional home-tech ideas out the window in favor of a festive theme with a tech twist. One of the biggest Christmas lighting advancements was in the early ‘70s, when a genius figured out how to stop a single bad light bulb from causing the entire string to not work. Like many other technology advancements, holiday lighting innovation has accelerated at, shall we say, lightning speed.

These are hardly high-tech lighting ideas, but they are pretty, smart and simple to do, even in the strictest of Lowcountry communities.

Live oaks come alive As if live oaks aren’t beautiful enough, try draping them in lanterns or icicle lights. Icicle, or meteor lights, come in an array of colors, but you can never go wrong with snow white.

Pools can be festive too We love these red and green floating balls because they are festive, simple and rechargeable. Kids young and old can’t help but smile at the floating ornaments atop the ocean blue pool glow.

Pretty does not have to be difficult.

Brighten any corner or arrangement with a jar of fairy lights. TIP: Get the battery-operated lights so you don’t need to be near an outlet.

There is something about candlelight, real candlelight, that adds warmth to any room. Before anyone writes a letter to our editor, we will qualify this with a “be safe, don’t leave candles unattended, and don’t place them near flammable items like trees.”

TIP: Quality matters – it is worth paying more for dripless candles.

LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

It doesn’t take long to hang a fairylight curtain panel (yes, they have a name). The effect is magical and creates a festive feel on any porch. Add some candles, twinkle lights and champagne to make the evening sparkle even more.

Fairy lights bring magic inside

A traditional Christmas light

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Add pizzazz to the porch

LIGHT SAFETY TIPS Weatherproof. Indoor and outdoor is not enough. If your lights are in a wet area outside, look for weatherproof.

UL Seal. Always look for the UL seal, which means the lights meet the standard of The American Standards Institute. If you purchase lights online, safety standards are important.

Rule of Three. The Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends connecting no more than three strings of incandescent lights together. If you're using LEDs, most UL-labeled lights will tell you on the package how many strings of lights you can safely string together.

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48 Pennington Dr., Suite B Bluffton, SC

living

Buy it or try it

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THIS LOWCOUNTRY EQUESTRIAN ESTATE IS $9.995 MILLION, BUT ITS INSPIRATION IS FREE. This equestrian estate in Palmetto Bluff is listed by the Catherine Donaldson Group of Daniel Ravenel Sotheby’s International Realty for $9,995,000. This is the only private equestrian oasis of this quality currently available in the Lowcountry. The heated saltwater pool presents the perfect backdrop for the Lowcountry's most spectacular sunsets and is an equine owner’s paradise.

No detail has been spared, and we struggled to choose just two rooms to inspire you to buy it or try it.

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What we love

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The understated elegance is as practical as it is beautiful. Of course, you can’t go wrong with blue in the Lowcountry, and these rooms are designed with both form and function in mind. The natural light and openconcept chef’s kitchen are waiting to host the hunt breakfast, holiday dinners or champagne brunches.

Ideas to steal

1. Choose a seat. The oversized counter provides seating for seven in a square-style format. It works as a bar, a serving area or kitchen table, and the low-back chairs allow for a more seamless look.

2. Light it up. Mix and match light fixtures with an openstyle, oversized metal fixture that works perfectly with the large white wicker-style pendants over the counter area.

3. Roundabout. We don’t see enough round tables. A large round table is intimate enough for conversation and easy wine passing.

4. Baby blues. The sky-blue color is light enough to enhance the open space, but dark enough to be noticed.

Don’t be afraid to mix shades of blues — the navy and white ginger jars by the oven work perfectly with this palette.

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5. Pillow talk. The contrast of the coastal blue pillows on the neutral sofa makes the pillows a focal point and adds a strong pop of color.

6. Look books. Books are décor when arranged so perfectly. The nice thing about using books instead of taller decorative pieces is that it allows for sight lines across the table and gives room on the table for cocktails.

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Just the facts 6

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• 6,500 square feet • 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 3 partial bathrooms • 7.8 private acres including private lake • 400-bottle, climate-controlled wine room and grotto • Dressage arena: 7 pastures, 3 day pens, 6 run-in sheds, 3 wash stalls • 2 offices • 2 games rooms/media spaces • Saltwater pool

Constructing Elements of Inspiration.

E L E M E N T C P. C O M | 8 4 3 . 8 3 7 . 9 3 0 0 29 PLANTATION PARK DR, SUITE 404 | BLUFFTON, SC 29910

living

The best kitchen layouts for your space

If there are usually too many cooks in your kitchen: When everyone is cooking at once, things can get heated – in more ways than one. The key in this situation is to make sure traffic flows well and work zones overlap as a little as possible. A U-shaped kitchen, also known as a horseshoe kitchen, creates space for plenty of different work zones. It consists of three walls, connected in the shape of a U with squared corners. Use some strategy when spacing out the preparation, cooking and storage zones so kitchen users aren’t bumping into each other.

A GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE BEST LAYOUT DESIGN FOR YOUR KITCHEN BASED ON YOUR UNIQUE NEEDS.

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STORY BY MICHAELA SATTERFIELD When it comes to kitchens, there is no “one size fits all.” Traditionally, designers have used the work triangle to guide kitchen layouts. The idea is that an efficient, well-designed kitchen requires the range, refrigerator and sink to form a triangle. This keeps everything needed for cooking and cleaning close by. While this is a good standard to start with, thinking outside of the triangle will allow you to find a layout that is tailor-made to fit your personal kitchen needs. With endless possibilities, where should you start when designing a kitchen layout? Use this handy guide so your kitchen can be as unique as the food you make in it.

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If you prefer cooking alone: We get it – sometimes there is nothing more frustrating than a kitchen full of people when you’re trying to get dinner done before it gets dark outside. A one-wall kitchen or galley kitchen may work for you. One-wall kitchens are confined to one wall which contains all of the appliances and storage spaces in the kitchen, as the name suggests. Galley kitchens consist of two parallel walls, or one wall and a parallel counter top, like an island. If there is space on the other side of the kitchen, galley layouts create a walkway for traffic. As a bonus, choosing one of these layouts will save you some money by eliminating corner cabinets.

If you’re a true chef: Before planning your layout, consider four work zones you use when cooking: storage (of food, dishes and utensils), preparation, cooking and cleaning. Each zone should be arranged so that you can move from one task to another in a clockwise direction while having easy access to everything you will need. A U-shaped kitchen, which consists of three connected walls, or an L-shaped kitchen, which consists of two connected walls, might work the best. Both of these layouts create plenty of space for storage and work zones.

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living If you like to host big parties: Opt for a peninsula kitchen, which consists of an island connected to an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen. Adding an island to an L-shaped kitchen creates a U-shaped kitchen, while adding an island to a U-Shaped kitchen creates a G-shaped kitchen. Regardless of which of these layouts you go with, you will have plenty of storage and work space. The advantage of the peninsula kitchen is that the additional island creates extra seating space or serves as the perfect space to set out food and drinks.

If small, intimate gatherings are more your style: Placing the kitchen near the dining room is a must so you can easily transition from one room to the next. If you like serving food buffet style, avoid traffic jams with a galley kitchen that has space on both ends. Alternatively, a peninsula kitchen creates the perfect setting for impromptu conversations over snacks.

If you hate washing the dishes: Pay attention to where you store your dishes and utensils. The storage zone pertaining to these items is called non-consumable storage. You’ll want to make sure this zone is close to the cleaning zone, which consists of the sink and dishwasher. Putting dishes up will be a breeze when you can simply turn to a nearby cabinet instead of walking across the kitchen.

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If you tend to grab and go more than actually cook: The goal of those who live busy lives on the go is to minimize preparation and cooking space and maximize storage space so you have room for quick meal solutions or leftovers from eating out. Any layout could potentially work for you. One-wall or galley layouts would minimize work zone space, but an L-shaped kitchen would maximize storage space.

If you love keeping things organized: You’re going to want to focus on the storage zone. Consumable storage consists of the refrigerator and pantry. Non-consumable storage consists of tableware, silverware, pots and pans. Before you even organize these items, be intentional in laying out the places they will be stored. U-shaped and L-shaped kitchens maximize storage space with corner cabinets. LL

stone

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living

SHOP LOCAL Find these unique holiday art blocks at Lowcountry Mercantile on Hilton Head Island.

Block it out ADD A TOUCH OF CLASS TO YOUR HOLIDAY DÉCOR WITH THESE REPURPOSED, LOCALLY SOURCED WORKS OF ART.

STORY BY LESLIE T. SNADOWSKY

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Lowcountry Linens and Lowcountry Mercantile’s owner, Millie Burke, has launched a new product line of art blocks showcasing her popular designs transferred onto repurposed, locally sourced wood. These versatile and vibrant, one-of-a-kind curios feature holiday themes (angels, crosses, nutcracker soldiers, snowmen and wreaths) and whimsical motifs found on Burke’s handblock-printed kitchen towels and dinner napkins (birds, bees, crabs, oysters, dogs and plants).

Burke’s artistry begins by applying her original images to the wood blocks, measuring 4” x 6” and weighing one or two pounds, and then placing layers of crushed glass and high-gloss epoxy resin across the top surfaces. After a couple of days to cure, crafty Burke then embellishes the shiny hard surfaces with more paint and gold leaf.

“It’s a timely process and a messy one, but these art blocks are a great gift item and a nice little piece of artwork for someone who doesn't need a big piece of art for the wall,” says Burke of her accessible collectibles

compact enough to adorn bookshelves, clothing dressers, mantels, powder rooms and side tables.

Once the art blocks ($58-$68) are testmarketed at Lowcountry Mercantile in Northridge Plaza, Burke plans to sell her inhouse objets d’arts to more than 400 stores around the nation.

“I wanted to create a new product we may offer as a wholesale item in our wholesale line, but we like to try them out at our retail store here on the island first before we go that far,” Burke said of her hewn handiwork.

“Calling these art blocks unique would be an understatement because you can’t get them anywhere else but in our little store here, and every one comes out differently.

“Sometimes when I create a design, it’ll carry over to our other products, which are the linens and the oyster shells,” says Burke of her oceanic patterns of anchors, corals and starfish. “We have designed quite a few blocks that complement our hand-blockprinted kitchen towels and dinner napkins.

They make beautiful gift sets.” LL

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living

Designing outside the lines

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TOYING WITH PLAYROOMS STORY BY LESLIE T. SNADOWSKY

Indoor rock climbing walls, curvy slides, secret crawl spaces — you don’t need to go to an amusement park to enjoy these kid-friendly features. Nowadays you can incorporate all this and more in your youngster’s playroom. Igniting a child’s imagination has never been easier, or more fun for their parents, with these out-of-the-box design tips that will ensure your toy-laden tots are the most popular in the neighborhood.

Arts & crafts

HAVE FUN It’s easy to get crafty when creating an art studio for your kids by going bold with color and wild with design.

Add some whimsy with a utilitarian feature wall or a statement light fixture.

ABCs of design Nothing engages a child’s mind faster than a good book, so when planning a playroom, create a nurturing reading nook. A real pageturning idea is to design a space that grows with your bookworm as they graduate from Dr. Seuss to Shakespeare. That means adding floating, decorative shelves to display toys and tomes and to conserve floor space for colorful pillows, comfortable bean bag chairs and fluffy carpets – ideal reading vehicles for any age. Plus, adding a desk can repurpose a fanciful child’s library into a serious place to do homework.

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Whether your progeny’s artwork looks like Pop-Art or Picasso, an arts & crafts space within a playroom should lend itself to creativity and utility. For storage, incorporate color-coordinated bins, bookcases, cabinets and cubbies to house crayons, glitter, glues and paints. An art table and bench with storage options can help hide the chaotic mess when company comes, and an easy-to-clean wood or linoleum floor or a vibrant rug that can mitigate or disguise any damage from oopsies and spills, are other ways to delineate an art studio space. Display your child’s masterpieces up high on the walls as a perimeter around the room or hanging from the ceiling.

And a modern-day must-have is a bold focal feature like a mural or a wall covered in Lego base plates or framed for a giant blackboard.

Peel-and-stick chalkboard options or chalkboard paint won’t erase any chances for fun.

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living Wow factor Even if you’re working within the confines of a small space, every playroom can and should have a wow factor. Consider building around a theme, like a pirate’s ship with a rope bridge or a fairytale castle with a fancy throne. Suspend a swing or a disco ball. Add a ping pong table or install an indoor slide.

A bookcase can display a tower of toys and games. And a teepee or fort adds a lot of aesthetic value while providing a fun place for your kid to hide away with their favorite stuffed animals. A pint-sized climbing wall makes a big impression in any playroom and can be painted or designed to fit any style.

Install some monkey bars from the ceiling, or hang an hammock or a basketball hoop, and you’ll be voted the coolest parent on the planet.

Nap time

Song & dance Before your kid wins their Academy Award or goes out on tour to support your rock-star lifestyle, you need to provide them a place to hone their craft. A mini-stage in a playroom lets everyone know who the star is in the family, and it can be embellished with a marquee, a raised platform, lights and mics, musical instruments and sliding curtains to help them rehearse their bows and encore performances. Add some wall hooks, a deep cabinet or some wicker baskets, and convert this backstage area to a costume closet and a private place to practice behind-the-scenes quick changes.

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A playroom also can double as a dreamy destination for your kid to take a nap. No matter how much activity the room is geared to handle or how many toys it may contain, some simple window coverings or a light dimmer, a star projector for the ceiling, a stereo system to broadcast a little night music and a lavender-scented cuddly can go a long way when motivating kids to catch some zzzz’s in the middle of the day. A designated mat, tent or teepee will help do the trick, but daybeds with plush pillows and blankies will always come in handy for future sleepovers and movie marathons. LL REST AREA Kids can be full of energy, but even the most rambunctious need to recharge.

When planning your playroom, carve out a refuge for sleepy time to keep kids focused on tantrum-free R&R.

outdoors

Winter gardening in the Lowcountry

STORY BY NANCY RENNER

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Winter is a great time to garden in the Lowcountry. For newcomers it’s especially exciting to learn that many vegetables including lettuces, arugula, radishes, spinach, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, kale, beets, collards, bok choi, brussel sprouts, peas and turnips can be planted from seeds and transplants and will grow throughout the winter. With our sandy soils most vegetables will need a balanced fertilizer like 10-1010 about once a month. Some vegetables like collards, spinach and other greens will benefit from an occasional side dressing of nitrogen 30-0-0. Some herbs including parsley, cilantro and dill may overwinter, and seeds can be sown outside for perennial herbs such as thyme, sage and rosemary.

Perennials and spring bloomers Winter is the best time to plant and transplant perennials, ferns, ground covers, trees and shrubs. This gives their roots a chance to get established before warm weather and the top growth begins. Be sure to keep them well watered. Speaking of watering, monitor the amount of rainfall we get during the winter and consider watering weekly if there’s limited rainfall. When there’s a freeze forecast, thoroughly water your plants early in the day prior to the freeze to help prevent damage.

Seeds of some hardy annuals such as larkspur, bachelor buttons, hollyhocks and sweet peas benefit from planting during the winter for early spring blooms. A new favorite has been planting ranunculus for early colorful spring blooms which make lovely cut flowers.

“Winter Sowing with Milk Jugs” is an easy, fun way to expand your collection of perennials and experiment with new ones. Make a “mini-greenhouse” by cutting horizontally around a gallon plastic water or clean milk jug just below the base of the handle leaving a ½ inch hinge, poke

CRAZY ABOUT CHOU Ornamental cabbages add color and interesting textures to your winter landscape and container gardens.

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outdoors lots of holes in the bottom (a heated Phillips head screw driver works well ), add 3-4 inches of moistened seed-starting potting soil, plant perennial seeds according to package directions. Use duct tape to secure your “mini-greenhouse” back in place. Label the jug with permanent marker. Do not put cap on jug and check occasionally for moisture. Usually nature’s precipitation is sufficient. For additional details and tips, google Winter Sowing with Milk Jugs.

It’s not too late to plant daffodils here in the Lowcountry.

Some varieties of daffodils that do well in this area include Ice Follies, Carlton, Pink Charm, Saint Keverne, Rijnveld’s Early Sen-sation, Thalia, February Gold and Kedron. DO NOT REFRIGERATE any of these.

Container gardening Incorporate vegetables- mustard greens, kales (lance and curly), swiss chard and decorative cabbage – in with your winter landscape and container gardens. These vegetables add color and interesting textures and look great with mums, pansies, snapdragons and violas. Try some of these in hanging baskets for color through the winter. Even if you have limited space

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EARLY BLOOMER Plant ranunculus in beds and borders, cutting gardens and containers.

Their early colorful spring blooms make lovely cut flowers.

Ranunculus are good companions for other spring flowers such as primroses, pansies and larkspur.

on a deck or a balcony, make your own salad bowls. Just use a shallow container, fill with potting soil and sprinkle leaf lettuces, arugula or mixed baby greens seeds on the soil. Keep moistened, fertilize occasionally, snip and enjoy fresh greens in your winter salad.

Prepare for Spring Begin your soil preparation after the holidays with a soil test which will provide guidelines for soil amendments needed to help attain maximum plant growth. Samples can be dropped off at your local Cooperative Extension office or mailed in. For details refer to soil samples on the Clemson website.

EXPERT ADVICE

Test old seeds Have some packages of leftover seeds and wonder if they are still viable? If stored properly (in a cool and dry environment), many seeds can last for years. To test old seeds, dampen a paper towel and place 3-10 of the same variety of seeds on it and roll it up. Use a Sharpie to write seed name on the towel. To keep towel damp, it can be placed in a zipped-lock bag. Check seeds in about 5 days to see if they have started sprouting- may take longer for some seeds. If a number sprout, seeds are viable. Find more details by searching on line under “Testing Old Seeds”.

Enjoy gardening during our pleasant winter days! LL

Maintaining poinsettias SCAN THIS QR CODE The Clemson Cooperative Extension Service has a wonderful assortment of bulletins on specific crops, pests and diseases. Scan this QR code to learn more.

• Poinsettias prefer moderate temperatures (65-70 degrees) and 6-8 hours of indirect/diffused sunlight (not direct sun) • Keep away from cold drafts and blasts of hot air • Keep moist but do NOT allow to sit in water (poke holes in bottom of foil wrap) • They are only mildly toxic to cats and dogs who ingest the plant (contrary to myth that they are dangerous!)

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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outdoors

The Lowcountry’s iconic Live Oaks

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A TREE TALK WITH MASTER ARBORIST MICHAEL MURPHY STORY BY CAROLYN MALES On a sunny morning, master arborist Michael Murphy and I meet up for some tree talk beneath the live oaks in Whitehall Park on Lady’s Island. Here at the edge of the salt marsh, we position ourselves in front of a stand of live oaks dominated by the park’s Mother Tree, a taller, broader and leafier specimen. I soon will learn that there’s a lot of root movement and “conversations” between the Mother Tree and her arboreal neighbors going on in the soil beneath our feet; conversations that involve life and death. It makes me want to put an ear to the ground. But the bird calls echoing over the Beaufort River are preempting this, not to mention there’s my dignity to consider.

Plus, the above-ground conversation is compelling, and Murphy has made me an intriguing promise. “You’ll soon know more about live oaks than most horticulturists who actively prune trees.” For an hour or so he tutors me here. Then we drive over to a wooded bluff on Battery Creek to see Beaufort County’s oldest and largest documented tree, the Cherry Hill Plantation Live Oak, whose massive trunk rises up from a thicket of yaupons and wildflowers. At its foot lies the grave of Mary Pope, an enslaved young woman who once sat and read beneath its canopy. It turns out that the tree, which won the 2013 South Carolina Heritage Tree Award, measures 113.75 inches in diameter, slightly wider than its more celebrated cousin, Charleston’s Angel Oak. Furthermore, we’re only viewing part of the original tree, Hurricane Gracie having split away its other half in 1959. Both places turn out to be the perfect spots to contemplate these iconic beauties.

DEEP ROOTS The Cherry Hill Plantation Heritage Live Oak plaque and grave of Mary Pope are shown. It is Beaufort’s largest and oldest documented tree.

LIVING DEAD According to master arborist Michael Murphy, it is now acceptable to retain large deadwood in older trees.

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[Q] What is a Mother Tree and why is it important? [Michael Murphy] It’s a term used in forestry for a giant tree with a bunch of younger trees of that same species around it. What they’ve discovered is that these live oaks have huge root systems that talk to each other. The roots graft and interlock, and they can tell when another tree is sick or dying. The mycorrhizae, beneficial fungi that grow off of them, absorb nutrients and moisture in the soil and transfer them to the other trees.

People used to think the root system went to the drip line, but it goes at least double that length. In undisturbed soil the roots grow many times faster than the limbs. A leaf just has to sit out there and catch the sun, while roots have to mine the soil for nutrients they need. These feeder roots are dynamic so the new ones grow and grow. Then they die and new ones grow and then they die. It just keeps going on forever.

[Q] You mentioned that there’s a new and better way to prune live oaks to make them safer and stronger, especially in hurricanes. [MM] We used to think thinning out live oaks would make them “hurricane safe.” The theory was that by thinning out the heavier crowns, winds could blow through them, and there’d be less of “a sail” effect. To do that we’d take out as much interior

wood as possible, allowing you to see the crown from underneath. So if you stood away from the tree and looked back, it would look exactly the same as before because hardly anything was removed from the outer canopy.

[Q] But it turns out, that wasn’t a good idea. What changed? [MM] We’re now preserving live oaks with a method called reduction pruning. The idea is to make bigger trees smaller and safer.

At the University of Florida, researchers developed a giant fan that would imitate hurricane-force winds. They pruned one set of trees the old way, thinning them out and opening them up on the inside. On the other set of trees, they did reduction pruning, leaving in most of the interior crown and just removing the outer live growth to reduce the weight on the tree.

Then they turned on the wind machine and recreated category one, two, and three hurricanes.

Afterward, they looked at films of how both sets of trees responded. When they slowed them down, they discovered that the trees that had been thinned out the old way were flopping back and forth, flailing and breaking. Meanwhile, the trees with their interior branches left in were dancing in the same wind with no damaging effects.

So for years we’d been telling people –– and some horticulturists are still doing this –– that we’re going to take all these interior branches out of the trees to make them safer in storms. But we’d actually been making them more susceptible to wind damage.

[Q] I’m noticing that none of these trees we’re looking at have dramatic “angel wings” like that of Charleston’s Angel Oak.[MM] [He nods.] If a tree has lower limbs that touch the ground, some people like to call that tree “an angel oak” because it was like angel wings that hit the ground. But the Angel Oak in Charleston actually got its name from its location, the Angel Plantation.

Generally, it’s not very good for the tree to have those branches touching the ground. That’s because the bark, even though it can have rain hit upon it, needs to stay relatively dry, while roots have to stay as semi-moist as possible. If you have a smaller tree and you put too much mulch around it, that can create a lot of moisture on the bark and the bark may rot and the tree die. So when these “angel” limbs hit the ground and stay on the ground too long, the bark starts to decay, and sometimes it decays back into the tree and cause problems.

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outdoors [Q] So does that mean you have to cut away branches that touch the ground? [MM] Not necessarily, but if you do have a limb like that, you should buffer it by digging out earth beneath it and placing something like railroad ties or pilings below it to separate it from the ground. Reduction pruning is also important. You’re helping the branch out by taking off that part that is hitting the ground, but you’re also helping the entire tree by removing some of that weight.

[Q] This Mother Tree looks as if it doesn’t have a very full inner crown. [MM] Before it was pruned, this tree had been full of vines. Vines like wild grape or poison ivy are very invasive to trees because they always grow faster than the tree, and they take sunlight needed for photosynthesis and growth away from the leaves.

Some people have trees on their property that are so covered with vines, they just see green and don’t realize their trees could be dead. Getting rid of that vine is the first step in getting the tree to reproduce its inner canopy.

[Q] What about Spanish moss? And resurrection fern? I’m always amazed when it rains and the latter pops up along branches and trunks. [MM] Spanish moss doesn’t sap any nutrients from the tree itself, but it does block the light and creates weight, especially at the ends. If it’s heavy on the limbs, it might not let the sprouts come out.

So every time a tree is pruned, you should remove as many of the clumps as possible. Resurrection fern, on the other hand, grows just on the thicker part of the bark, and since the bark is all dead cells, it doesn’t have any effect on the tree, and it’s not big enough to create shade. It looks dead, but it’s not.

[Q] I’m seeing a freshly cut and a healed-over spot on the trunk where branches were pruned. [MM] The fresh cut was probably deadwood that was removed. The wound directly below it was made fifteen or twenty years ago. Trees create what we call wound wood similar to calluses on our hand. With us the wound heals and goes away. A tree eventually covers up and seals that wound wood, encapsulating that part of that history in its wood. Dendrochronologists who study tree rings can tell you climate conditions over thousands of years. (By the way, if you’re on the fence about climate change, read some of their documentation of weather patterns.)

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[Q] Should you always remove a dead limb? [MM] You don’t have to. On a smaller tree with a dead branch, absolutely, it can come off because young trees are energetic, and the wound is going to seal over. But as a tree gets older and the limbs get bigger, taking off a giant limb is a decision that an arborist has to make. It could do more damage. Making that cut closer to the trunk, it might never seal over. But if you leave the limb on, it will delay any decay that might get into the trunk.

[Q] You mentioned that live oaks are different from most trees.

[MM] Live oaks respond differently than other trees to pruning; it’s called differential species response. When you prune a tree, every cut you make is a wounding, so you have to be careful how you make that cut because on most kinds of trees, decay can start right away.

AFTER BEFORE

FRESH CUT The Whitehall Mother Oak is shown before and after reduction pruning was done to make it safer and more stable.

But trees are actually built to fail. Their purpose in life is to grow up, die and become food for the trees around them. In a real forest atmosphere, hundreds of trees die for one that lives. Those are the things that help nourish other trees.

Live oaks, however, have a capacity not to decay as easily in response to cutting. You can take off more than the rules or standards that arborists have to follow (for example, what percentage of wood can come off at one time, what size limb can be removed in relation to another size limb and so on). Live oaks push the envelope on that. Taking off more of that outer weight helps keep them stable. And so technically if you can keep a live oak stable, it might not fall over like the Succession Oak did. Then it can live forever.

[Q] Ah, the Succession Oak — that’s the historic tree in Bluffton where, in 1844, the seeds of succession were sown as hundreds rallied to protest tariffs they felt were unfair to the South. [MM] Earlier this year it broke apart into two giant pieces, and they had to take away everything that fell over the roadway. Two pieces of the trunk are still there,

and I think one side is still alive. We’ll see what sprouts out on the other side.

[Q] Which brings me to a strange question.

If someone wanted to move a big tree like this Mother Oak, could it be done? [MM] That would be a monumental project. This tree probably weighs hundreds of tons. When we pruned it, we took off about twelve thousand pounds of end-weight plus vines and Spanish moss. But the fact is, live oaks can lose quite a bit of their root system so yes, it could be done. People that move big trees say that there’s no tree that they can’t move. When Disney was building Animal Kingdom in Orlando, they would box trees up, root prune them, put misters in their canopies and move them to their nursery. Then when construction was finished, they would bring the trees back to their original spots or use them in other places.

Lesson over, Murphy heads off to consult on another tree matter, and I head home armed with new knowledge. And while I’m not about to join an arbor maintenance work crew or move a massive tree, after today I will never look at live oaks in quite the same way. LL

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outdoors

New River headwaters SECRET SPOT OFF THE BEATEN TRACK STORY + PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHELE ROLDÁN-SHAW

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The New is a well-kept secret in Bluffton. You’ve likely driven over it countless times — on the back road to Savannah, after the New Riverside Circle but before John’s Junkyard — perhaps without noticing you’d crossed a river at all. The bridge is not impressive enough to convey the scope of New River, which runs many a snaking mile from its headwaters in the swamps behind Sun City to its outlet at Daufuskie Island.

Putting in at New River Landing, you can either go right (downstream toward the ocean) or left (upstream toward the headwaters.) This latter option provides the only real freshwater paddling in our immediate vicinity, as the river changes from salt to brackish to fresh the further inland it goes. The New drains vast tracts of swampland, and it’s possible to enter this secret wilderness hidden behind the gated communities and sprawl. But it takes hard work and a bold heart.

The journey starts easily enough. The river is bluish-brownish-black, lazy and semi-tidal with levels rising and falling against the reeds. On one side are

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old rice fields punctuated by tall pines and cypresses; on the other is scruffy forest. Autumn is pretty with blushes of color mirrored on the water. In warm weather big alligators bask at the edges. Wild blueberries grow prolifically along the banks, and I have foraged from my kayak.

But as one progresses upstream, the trees begin to close in on either side. The vegetation changes — gone are the reeds and marshes, the open sun and wildflowers. The forest darkens and tangles, and vines drape down to your boat. At this point the channel may be choked with huge rafts of dead spartina grass that get pushed upriver by king tides. But if it’s not, or if you manage to muscle through anyway, you soon will have to contend with fallen trees.

Most paddlers take this as a convenient turnaround point, but I have occasionally pushed on, portaging precariously by climbing onto the tree and heaving my kayak over it, then carefully lowering myself back in on the other side. One time I judged that I could just pass under a particular log, but coming nearer I realized I

If you go Location: Pritchardville Mode of transport: Kayak Travel advice: From New River Landing on the Highway 170 bridge, go left and proceed as far as you dare. Once in the narrower part, be aware that a lot of different kinds of spiders live in the swamp, and brushing against foliage will cause them to cling to you and your boat as high ground.

BLACKWATER BEAUTY A ladybug rests on a wild tickseed flower along the New River. The river snakes for miles, flowing from behind Sun City to Daufuskie Island.

OH SNAP! The New River offers the only wild freshwater paddling in the Bluffton/HHI area. Alligators are a common sight.

might scrape my head—and at close range I saw the underside was coated in tarantulas! It was too late to alter course, so I just ducked as low as possible, then franticly brushed my hair off on the other side.

The farthest I’ve ever gone up New River was an unexpected feat. Every time I thought it would end, it just kept going. Each new blockage became an invitation to proceed. I recall reaching a cleared power line right-of-way, after which I reentered the forest at a place I dubbed Alligator Alley. For whatever reason, they had gathered here in the greatest numbers and sizes I have ever seen on New River — but I’d come too far to balk. In the complete solitude and haunting environs, with a feeling of being in terra incognita, I experienced a burst of survival inspiration: I beat the sides of my boat with the paddle as a proclamation to the gator tribe that I would be in their midst. In my memory they parted before me, and I passed through Alligator Alley without incident. I still use the drumming technique today.

I’m not sure exactly where I was when I finally turned around. There came a point where the channel could no longer be discerned, as the river deteriorated into a swampy floodplain forest. I snapped a picture of a behemoth bald cypress, its mossy base and sprawling knees like something you’d see in Georgia or the ACE Basin; I had no idea such ancients lived in our well-trod coastal community. I doubt I’ll ever see it again. LL

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outdoors

WAYBACK LOWCOUNTRY

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Hunting for arrowheads YOU CAN FIND NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS HERE IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR. STORY + ARTWORK BY MICHELE ROLDÁN-SHAW

WHAT DID YOU FIND? Scan this QR code for the largest, most comprehensive online arrowhead identification guide.

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It took me a few years to find my prize spearpoint. I’d put in the time ambling along dirt roads — especially after a rain — and combing freshly ploughed fields, as my old-timer informants advised. They made it seem like finding artifacts around here was easy, and certainly the points and potsherds strewn around their homes bore this out. Yet somehow for all my wanderings I never managed to find more than a few broken flint chips.

Until my 24th birthday. I was on a little solo expedition near the Donnelly Wildlife Management Area, hiking deep in the heart of extensive dirt tracks that crisscross woods and wetlands. The road looked like it had turned to a mud bog in summer rains, then gotten baked dry by a merciless sun until it split into a network of cracks — prime hunting ground for arrowheads. They get unearthed this way and sometimes conveniently display themselves on little raised pedestals after all the mud has washed off around them. Yet I wasn’t actively looking that day, just walking and

talking on my cell phone, when suddenly I happened to glance down and there was a beautiful 3-inch-long spearhead! It had a light buff color with blushes of rich ochre and was museum quality with only the tiniest chip missing from the point. I couldn’t believe it. A short distance away I found a nice white arrowhead and another slate gray point with the butt end broken off. I’ve never found another arrowhead since.

America has been home to human beings for millennia. But exactly how many? It was long thought that the first people arrived 13,000 years ago, yet in recent years that date has been pushed further and further back. South Carolina made a memorable contribution to the debate when archeologists at the Topper Site, an ancient chert quarry on the banks of the Savannah River in Allendale County, announced compelling evidence of human activity dating back 50,000 years. As with any sensational new finding in the scientific community, it caused international controversy and is still disputed today.

JOHN PAUL II CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Sharp points

Admissions SEASON

• The best places to look: dirt roads, plowed fields, eroding banks • If you find one: visit projectilepoints.net to identify the type • Worth a trip: the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., which has a gorgeous collection of hundreds of arrow and spearpoints arrayed in an artful swirl • Contemporary tribes in South Carolina: Pee Dee, Waccamaw, Catawba, Cherokee, Edisto, Santee, Sumter, Natchez, Yamasee, Chicora

Here in the Lowcountry Native inhabitants were laid back seafood eaters, as their old middens of oyster, mussel and clam shells attest. But they also enjoyed an abundance of wild game: deer, rabbit, coon, squirrel, quail, wild turkey, waterfowl, even bear and bison that once roamed this far east. The land we now stand on has been littered with projectile points. Big spearheads are impressive, but I find the tiny “bird points” most fascinating because of their minute size and the skill it must have taken to manufacture them. I always thought that bird point referred to the intended prey; after all, birds are small, so the arrowhead should be too, right? But in fact these beautiful little killers were meant to take down big game (or human enemies!) as their small size made them deadlier by increasing the speed of the projectile.

An arrowhead found locally might be more than 10,000 years old, which is exciting to ponder. A less happy thought is what happened to the descendants of those people: genocide, displacement, decimation by disease, attempted erasure from the collective culture. We can’t change the past — but we can honor those whose mere continued presence bears testament to the strength of their people. According to a 2016 study, 13,000 Native Americans live in South Carolina. Of the 29 tribes thought to have been living here at the time of European contact, just 10 are currently recognized by the state government, and only one has federal recognition. But indigenous people are still here. They are not merely ancient history of arrowheads, potsherds and middens. They are the original Americans, and they deserve the dignity of acknowledgment. LL

January 30 – Virtual Open House, 12pm

March 1 – New Student Applications & Financial Aid Applications DUE APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE ONLINE Educating Students 7th thru 12th Grades

Weekly Mass, Class Retreats & Service Projects

Marian Center for Learning AP Capstone Diploma Program

Dual Enrollment Opportunities

All Faiths Welcome 7th Grade Students Eligible for High School Credits Students of all faiths, race, color, gender, national origin, or ethnicity are welcome.

2022-2023 Applications Available Online. Visit the JPII website for Admissions Information

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Project Lead the Way Courses

AP Courses

Varsity Sports fielding 30 Athletic Teams

Pre-AP Courses

Student Clubs & Organizations

4211 N OKATIE HWY | RIDGELAND, SC 29936 (843) 645-3838 | www.johnpaul2school.org

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outdoors

FREQUENT FLYER

Tufted titmouse CHICKADEE WITH ATTITUDE

STORY BY CHRISTOPHER KRUPL + PHOTOS BY JAY WOOSTER PHOTOGRAPHY

Fun Facts • Tufted titmice’s favorite snacks are sunflower seeds, but they also shake their tail feathers for suet and peanuts.

• Tufted titmice ward off predators by producing a call that intentionally echoes across long distances to fool predators into thinking its prey is on the move.

• Since tufted titmice can’t excavate their own nests in tree holes, they either house themselves in natural holes or inherit old cavities that were made and left by their birds of a feather, woodpeckers.

LISTEN UP!

i

Scan this QR code to hear the call of the tufted titmouse.

It’s got a weird name but a cool mohawk. Yes, “tufted titmouse” does sound like some sort of Star Wars insult that Princess Leia probably used on Han Solo at least once during their relationship. But, alas, in contemporary terms it is a little gray bird with a mighty chirp that is sure to have served as an involuntary alarm clock for many local residents.

The tufted titmouse did not win the lottery when it comes to its sobriquet, but its distinct echoing chirp, sharp round bill and snazzy style make up for its merciless moniker. Identify these eager fowls by their gray-colored backs, white orange-tinged underbellies, large black eyes and imposing gray crests.

During the fall and winter, titmice get their game on — stockpiling food alongside their cousins; chickadees, tits and woodpeckers. They only carry a single seed to and fro, so trips to the feeder are frequent. Storages for their seeds are typically within 130 feet from their usual bird feeder, so you’ll have ample time to find a comfortable seat and enjoy the show. Wild Birds Unlimited on Hilton Head Island has all of the feeders and seed you need for attracting these chickadees with attitude. LL

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• A flock of tufted titmice is called a “banditry.”

Where to see them • Sea Pines Forest Preserve • Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge • Hunting Island State Park • Donnelley Wildlife Management Area

Essentials Find a full line of feeders, seeds and accessories for backyard bird feeding at Wild Birds Unlimited in Festival Centre at Indigo Park on Hilton Head Island.

Food & Accessories FEEDERS • Eliminator SquirrelProof Bird Feeder • EcoClean Extra Large Seed Tube Feeder FOOD • Safflower cylinder • Sunflower chips (Fine)

A luxury gift shop where 100% of the profits go toward saving abused animals at Noah’s Arks Rescue.

Purchase-with-a-Purpose Jennifer Smith, President

Noah’s Arks Rescue is a 501(c)3 notfor-profit organization that supplies emergency medical, surgical, and rehabilitation to tortured and abused dogs.

Wednesday – Saturday 11am – 4pm 231 Hazzard Creek Village, Suite 5, Ridgeland, SC

843.987.0405 FETCH-MKT.COM

outdoors

stargazing DECEMBER

What to bring

BY CARLY SCHULTZ

Besides the notorious shooting stars, there are approximately 9,096 other stars visible to the naked eye to make a wish upon. Grab your stargazing essentials, a little stardust and set out to discover what the starry night has to offer.

Here is your guide for December:

Helinox Beach Chair, $169.95 (Outside Hilton Head)

FORNAX

HOROLOGIUM

MAYMOC Compact Green Laser Dot, $39

December's best constellations Sagittarius NOV 22ND - DEC 21st

Where to go

ARIES

As loyal as a golden retriever, these individuals are recognized for their compassion, intelligence, assertiveness, respect and optimism. Their spontaneity also leads them to great conversations and adventures.

Capricorn DEC 22ND - JAN 19TH

KINGS MOUNTAIN STATE PARK

PERSEUS

Kings Mountain, North Carolina, provides a firstclass seat to the sky. Set in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains, this destination can be reserved for a minimum of two nights for around $40 right alongside multiple hiking or horseback riding trails.

ERIDANUS

When to go (Dec. 13-14)

Capricorns are known for being the ultimate worker bees stemming from their love of rules, ambition and organization. Along with the other members of the Earth crew, they can make very protective, honest and reliable friends.

GEMINIDS METEOR SHOWER

Considered to be one of the most breathtaking meteor showers of the year, Geminids will fill the sky at 120 meteors every hour. Make sure to pack a blanket and layers because these sky shows tend to require lots of patience but are well worth the wait.

STAR WALK 2

NIGHT SKY

STARLIGHT

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With a planetarium at your fingertips, this app notifies you when satellites and space stations are about to fly over your location.

Bass Pro Shops Eclipse 10-Person Cabin Tent, $259.99

Oregon 4 LE WP 8x32 Binoculars, $149 (Wild Birds Unlimited)

The Top-Rated Apps Reveal the gems of the night sky with this easy app. Point your phone to the sky and find your favorite stars, planets and constellations.

Celestron Travel Scope 80 Portable Telescope with Smartphone Adapter, $109.95

Star-crossed lovers and all are welcome to use this app to see the sky come to life. Hover over the constellation and see an image arise.

The North Face One Bag Sleeping Bag, $290

You’ll Feel at Home

We invite you to discover the robust lifestyle at Hampton Hall.

(8 4 3) 8 1 5 -93 4 3

B LU F F TO N , SC

HAMPTONHALLCLUBSC.COM

HamptonHall_2021rv13 9.25x11.125.indd 1

8/17/21 3:00 PM

history

5-MINUTE HISTORY

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How Hilton Head played, back in the day STORY BY RICHARD THOMAS

SPIRIT OF CORN Corn husk dolls do not have faces, and there are a number of traditional explanations for this. One legend is that the Spirit of Corn, one of the Three Sisters, made a doll out of her husks to entertain children. The doll had a beautiful face and began to spend less time with children and more time contemplating her own loveliness. As a result of her vanity, the doll's face was taken away.

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For Hilton Head Island’s earliest residents, there was no concept of leisure or play. All day, every day, waking hours were spent working to provide food, shelter and bodily safety from the harshness of the elements. But as society evolved and social order brought the communal benefits of functional and task specialization, the concept of leisure time began to emerge. In early social groupings leisure time was filled with forms of interpersonal interaction, often founded in contests of one kind or another, or in common pursuits. Men engaged in storytelling and in trade with external groups. Women cooked meals for the village or cured and prepared animal skins for use. Uninvolved social group members became the first spectators, deriving amusement or pleasure from the communal activities. Only among the small children was there time for activity unrelated to bettering communal or personal interests.

By Colonial times common pursuits had assumed a social character but were still closely tied to home or business. Activities for men like hunting and fishing were embraced for more than simply providing food, and drinking had been added as a form of amusement. For women, baking, sewing and quilting bees provided both entertainment and productive labor. Also, involvement with neighbors attached social significance to activities like barn-raising, cattle roundups, sheep-shearing and dining. In rural communities like Hilton Head, the fair assumed prominence as a leisure event. Fairs ran several days and engaged Colonists in livestock trading, craft sales, wrestling matches, foot races, greased pig chases, horse races, cock fighting, target shooting, cooking and beauty contests.

In the South drinking as a leisure “hobby” was quite widespread. In addition to having certain “rituals” connected to the art of alcohol consumption, there were accompanying medicinal rationalizations. Having a “julep” before breakfast was believed to be protection against malaria. A “toddy” of liquor, or wine or beer, at the end of the day was thought to ward off “consumption” and had general health benefits as well. Beer was homemade of molasses or malt and was consumed in vast quantities, and cider was a favorite alternative supported by the planters with apple orchards. The culture of genteel Southern hospitality was based heavily in the free offering of spirits for guests and hosting dances and balls in which attendees displayed their finery and dancing skills.

For some boys and men, contests of strength or speed gave way to games of skill as another form of competition. Many early “toys” were actually props in games, and the toys and games were exceptionally simple. “Roll the Hoop” was one in which a hoop was rolled along the ground with a stick, keeping the hoop upright over a fixed course, or for speed, or for doing tricks with it. Other games were leap frog, marbles, cat’s cradle, hopscotch, hide-andseek, sack racing and kite flying. An outdoor game called “Nine Pins” was an early form of bowling. Another game called bowls was a version of bocce. Indoor games included board games like checkers, chess and backgammon, and the upper class played whist, a card game, and hazard, a strategy dice game.

NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS FOR OUR UPCOMING AUCTIONS Everard Auctions is always accepting quality consignments, from single items to large estates and collections. Send photos of your items to amanda@everard.com or call to schedule an appointment.

Moving? Send us your realty listing.

Our online format allows your items to reach a global audience.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION. SMALL FORTUNE For as long as there have been wars, children have loved to play with toy soldiers. The appeal of small military figures soared in the late 19th century. Today vintage soldiers sell for top dollar, fetching up to $200,000 at auction.

Toys tended to be simple and most often made out of natural materials. Apples would be dried and have objects poked in them as features for a doll head. Dolls were made of corn husks and rags. Corn cobs were cut into pieces and used as building blocks. Shells were used as doll dishes or as tossing pieces for hopscotch. Dandelions and wild flowers were used to make necklaces and bracelets. Walnuts were halved and gilded and hung as ornaments. Fruit pits were used as counters in board games. Gourds were hollowed out and punctured to use as musical instruments. Pressed flowers were used to make designs or pictures. Toys carved out of wood included things like ball-in-cup, jacks, buzz-saw, tops, bean bags and quoits (like horseshoes).

Most of these toys and games were used through the Civil War period, but during the war years toys began to reflect the elements of war. Boys would fashion guns and swords out of wood, and girls would make beds and coffins for the dead and wounded soldiers they would tend to in their play hospitals.

Toys also reflected current events. Puzzles depicted generals, politicians, monuments and landmarks.

Building blocks were manufactured with images of Abraham Lincoln and his family on them. Racial stereotypes were often infused into playthings such as dolls reflecting Harriett Beecher Stowe’s novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Other dolls and puzzles depicted the leading figures of the Confederacy.

Today we have many toys and hobbies, mechanical and electronic, with which to fill the ample time for leisure we have as modern residents; and as residents of Hilton Head, we typically have more than the average amount of time to enjoy the special place in which we live. LL Richard Thomas is an owner and guide for Hilton Head History Tours and is the author of Backwater Frontier: Beaufort Country, SC at the Forefront of American History.

2436 WATERS AVE., SAVANNAH, GA 31404 912.231.1376 | GAL #AU004095

EVERARD.COM

Kneeling Coffee Table

by David Lunin

DESIGN - CONSTRUCT - RESTORE

evolvefurniturestudio.com DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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Eat, drink & be stylish

The season of entertaining in the home is in full swing, and you’re going to need a wardrobe to meet the holiday party standard. Local shops and boutiques shared their ideas for both dressy and casual looks that were perfectly styled in this Sea Pines home designed by Kelly Caron Designs, ASID.

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Available at Island Child

style

Available at Palmettoes + Knickers

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style Available at John Bayley Clothier + Cocoon

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Available at Outside Hilton Head

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style

Available at Southern Tide + Spartina 449

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T:9" S:8"

WHERE the E X TR AORDINARY FEELS LIK E HOME.

S:9.875"

BREAKFAST 8'5" X 11'5"

DEN

11'0" X 11'1"

ISLAND ROOM

SCREENED PORCH

9'9" X 14'0"

78 SQ. FT.

KITCHEN

At TidePointe, a Vi Community, our lifestyle is as vibrant as it is welcoming. Our members enjoy beautiful floor plans, exceptional amenities and neighborly company, all with the knowledge that a plan for the future is in place.

Call a sales counselor today, and discover senior living with a true sense of connection.

DINING

11'0" X 14'4"

BEDROOM 2

LIVING ROOM

12'7" X 15'8"

11'0" X 14'4"

BATH 1 W/D CLOSET BEDROOM 1 12'4" X 18'2"

BATH 2 CLOSET LIN

Floor plan and renderings are subject to change.

All properties at TidePointe, a Vi Community, are condominiums and as such, are subject to availability.

CAPE SAN BLAS I

700 TidePointe Way, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 888.571.1145 • TidePointe.ViLiving.com

HHLLM2021

• $575,000 • Approx. 1,673 sq. ft.

• 2 bedrooms/2 baths + den • Covered parking; climate-controlled walkways connect villas and clubhouse

Community Residential Care Facility #CRC 1036. Skilled Nursing Facility # NCF 0753. Leslie D. Wilmot, Broker-in-Charge.

T:10.875"

ON THE ISLAND. BEYOND EXPECTATIONS.

GIVING & SHARING

style

MEET THE MODELS AMELIA SWARTZ Local connection Student at Red Cedar Elementary, daughter of LOCAL Life art director Jeremy Swartz Hobbies Playing with her toys, playing outside on the swing, drawing (specifically wolves), watching Descendants and gymnastics Favorite toys Baby dolls and stuffed animal wolves

JEWELRY, FINE GIFTS, TREASURES F

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Julie Vos • Ella Stein • Caspari • Le Cadeaux John Medeiros • Crislu • Meghan Browne

EMMA CARON Local connection 5th grade student at Okatie Elementary, daughter of Nate and Kelly Caron Hobbies Watching Harry Potter movies (her favorite is Deathly Hallows Part II), reading the Harry Potter books, baking, playing tennis, playing with her puppy and building with her Harry Potter Lego sets Favorite toy Harry Potter Astronomy Tower Lego set

HARBOUR TOWN | 149 LIGHTHOUSE ROAD

843.671.3643

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NATE CARON Local connection New home sales specialist at D. R. Horton Hobbies Golfing (favorite course is Colleton River), playing tennis with his daughter, Emma, and drinking bourbon

KELLY CARON Local connection Principal Interior Designer at Kelly Caron Designs, ASID

Favorite tech toy BOOM speaker to have on the golf cart or by the pool

Hobbies Going on mini getaways to refresh and recharge, always thinking about the future and how to create, listening to classical piano and Broadway music Favorite tech toy “Technically an app, but Instagram. It’s the ultimate bridge for creative connection.”

FASHION CREDITS

PHOTOGRAPHY Lisa Staff HAIR & MAKEUP ARTIST Samantha Curran, Makeup Madame

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shopping

Local Love Timeless toys. Turn back the clock with these classic toys and games from local businesses.

LUNCHBOX SUPERHERO Save the day with this retro Maileg Superhero Little Mouse in a Suitcase.

Available at Fetch Mkt and fetch-mkt.com

A G A L L E RY O F H A N D C R A F TE D G I FTS Monday thru Friday 10-6 . Saturday 10-5 . Sunday 11-3 843.757.7300 1127 Fording island Road . Suite 103 . Bluffton Near Hobby Lobby . Made in America

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE Expand your wooden toy collection with this crafted Mother Goose Block Wagon.

Available at Smith Galleries

SO DOGGONE CUTE Adopt this stuffed dog named Buddy with his satin Taggies tags on him that little hands adore.

Available at Gifted

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HAVE YOUR ELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS Keep an eye out for this plush Elf on the Shelf.

Available at Pyramids

WE COME IN PIECES! Clear your table for these nature-inspired Artisanal Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles.

Available at Spirited Hand

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN Flip open to this Green Kids Cookbook and create some delicious kids meals.

Available at Coastal Treasures

JINGLE SHELL ROCK Get in the holiday spirit with these exquisite nutcrackerthemed oyster shells.

Available at Lowcountry Mercantile

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toys

The evolution of play

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HOW TOYS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE DECADES Every generation had a toy that was considered the “Ark of the Covenant” to them and their peers at school. With this issue being all about toys, it is prudent to take a trip down memory lane and recall which toy captivated an entire decade of children and those still young at heart.

We highlight our favorites for each decade, along with a few honorable mentions.

Radio Flyer / 1920s Incorporating the mass manufacturing techniques of the auto industry, Antonio Pasin began making metal wagons out of stamped steel in 1927.

The wagon’s name honored the first successful long-distance wireless telegraph and the first solo flight across the Atlantic.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • A.C. Gilbert Chemistry Set • Duncan Yo-Yo • Pop-up book • Lincoln Logs

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Crayola Crayons / 1900s

Raggedy Ann / 1910s

Since their introduction by Binney & Smith in 1903, more than two hundred distinctive colors have been produced in a wide variety of assortments. Crayola became such a hit because the company figured out a way to inexpensively combine paraffin wax with safe pigments.

Based on a character that appeared in a series of popular books for young children, this iconic rag doll had red yarn for hair and a triangle nose. Vintage dolls are still quite collectable, fetching over $500 on eBay.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Rocking Horse • Die-Cast Model T Ford • Spinning Top • Jigsaw Puzzle • Kewpie Dolls

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Lionel Trains • Teddy Bears • Erector Set • Tinker Toys • Ouija Board

View-Master / 1930s

The Slinky / 1940s

The View-Master system was introduced in 1939, four years after the advent of Kodachrome color film made the use of small, high-quality photographic color images practical. Tourist attraction and travel views predominated in View-Master's early lists of reels, most of which were meant to be of interest to users of all ages.

Coming in slinking is none other than the slinky itself.

Invented back in the early ‘40s

by Richard James, the slinky has maintained relevance throughout the years and is still commonly sold today, but typically in a variety of different colors (marketing at its finest).

Play-Doh dominated the beginnings of the baby booming generation, and given that it is still around today, it is safe to say its cultural impact has been solidified.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Sock Monkey • Buck Rogers Rocket Pistol • Microscope Set • Army Men • Red Ryder BB Gun

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Little Golden Books • Magic 8 Ball • Legos • Bubble Solution • Silly Putty

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Barbie • Wiffle Ball • Colorforms • Mr. Potato Head • Hula Hoop

Play-Doh / 1950s

Hot Wheels / 1960s The first line of Hot Wheels Cars, known as The Original Sweet 16, was manufactured in 1968. These were the first of the Red Line Series, named for the tires which had a red pin stripe on their sides. The Rear-Loader Beach Bomb is widely considered the "Holy Grail” of a serious Hot Wheels collection.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • G.I. Joe • Etch A Sketch • Easy-Bake Oven • Lite-Brite • Wham-O Super Ball

Nerf Ball / 1970s

Hilton Head Preparatory School

This iconic foam ball was marketed as the world’s first indoor ball. The first advertisement claimed “You can’t damage lamps or break windows. You can’t hurt babies or old people.”

Educating the Lowcountry since 1965

The history and heritage of Hilton Head Prep dates back to the founding of Hilton Head Island.

Prep is the oldest school on the island still in operation.

With its A+ rating and superior local, regional, and national rankings, Prep continues to educate well-qualified and motivated students while continually striving for excellence, innovation, diversity, and accessibility.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Weebles • Tonka Trucks • Star Wars Action Figures • Simon • The Atari 2600

Rubik’s Cube / 1980s Rubik’s Cubes have remained an essential living room table top accessory for most households since their invention in the 1980s. Between its longevity and being arguably the most portable and commonplace brain teaser in existence, we like to think that this toy had a major part to play in a new generation of Chess Grandmasters.

Apply now at www.hhprep.org for 2022-23 as space is limited.

TUITION ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Cabbage Patch Kids • Teddy Ruxpin • Care Bears • My Little Pony • Transformers

Hilton Head Preparatory School Inspiring Students to Be Exceptional

Please Call for a Personal Tour | www.HHPrep.org

Ratings by

A+ Rating!

8 Fox Grape Road | Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 Sarah DeMaria, Director of Admissions sdemaria@hhprep.org | 843-671-2286 A private, independent school serving students in preschool through twelfth grade

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Furby / 1990s Is it a hamster? Is it an owl? Whatever it is, nearly every kid wanted one back in the ‘90s. Over 40 million Furbies were sold during the three years of its original production.

Furby lovers can find many social media pages dedicated to the adorable little creatures.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Polly Pocket • Game Boy • Beanie Babies • Tickle Me Elmo • Power Rangers

Razor / 2000s Over 5 million units were sold in the six months following the launch of the first Razor scooter in 2000, and it was named as Toy of the Year that same year. The popularity of the scooters has grown rapidly, becoming the transportation mode of choice for the youngest generation.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • iPod touch • Guitar Hero • Bratz Dolls • ZhuZhu Pets • Baby Alive

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L.O.L. Surprise! / 2010s Mystery toys first became a thing 10 years ago — thanks to these tiny dolls that come with tons of tiny wrapped accessories. It’s the ultimate unboxing experience.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Hatchimals • Nintendo Switch • Kindle • Pokémon • iPad

Pop It! / 2020s This silicone toy, which acts like unlimited bubble wrap, rose in popularity in the spring of 2021, due to TikTok influencers as well as boredom and stress attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can’t pop just one.

HONORABLE MENTIONS • Magic Mixies Cauldron • Squeakee the Balloon Dog • Squishmallows • Crayola Tracing Pad • Fidget Spinners

Toys that might have been a bad idea • The U-238 Atomic Energy Lab (1951) • The Daddy Saddle (1965) • Musical Jolly Chimp (1968) • Powermite Mini Tools (1969) • Lawn Darts (1980) • The E.T. Finger Light (1982) • The Tub & Toot Baby Doll (2014) • Play-Doh’s Poop Troop (2018)

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toys

Toy Story RECLAIMING SPECIAL CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

t

BY CHARLES GRACE

CRANK IT UP Sears ad for Mattel's Character "Ge-tars"

SERENADING SIBLINGS My brother and sister are indifferent to my performance

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Things we grew up with are usually met with a smile. An artifact of a simpler time makes us pause to appreciate what we have or had, or what we have become.

"I had that when I was little!" is a familiar cry at auctions or flea markets, but few follow through and actually pick it up, hold it, or even buy it. Again.

Not the case with toy collectors. They will show you their collection but not before they show you their Holy Grail: the toy they grew up with. Cradling it like an ancient tablet, this is their connection to the past.

For many years I have scoured auctions (mostly online) to reclaim the toys that fed my imagination, woke the neighbors and terrorized the family dog. And while you can find just about anything you want on eBay, condition and price always remain factors.

Lost treasures such as the Woody Woodpecker "Ge-tar" evaded me for over a decade until that special day when once again I heard the familiar plink of the music box and strings.

I thank my mother for my rich toy heritage. Christmas was magic at our house. We believed in Santa. And if you were good, the toys would just keep on coming.

But after you grow up, the magic is kinda up to you. LL

OUTTA THIS WORLD The Ohio Art AstroRay raygun with target

Wish List

Here are just a few items still out there — somewhere — to reclaim.

Mattel's Fright Factory Part of the Thingmaker series of play sets, this toy was scary fun creating fangs, skeletons and shrunken heads.

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Mattel's Strange Change Prehistoric animals and science fiction creatures are "brought to life" from compressed time capsule cubes via heat dome.

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TEASE YOUR BRAIN WITH THESE WONDERFUL WOODEN CHALLENGES STORY BY CHRISTOPHER KRUPL

Two thousand years ago, what did we do before we surfed the internet, played video games and binge-watched shows on Netflix? We wrestled with wooden puzzles, and they were hard stumpers to solve! Among the art, crafts and jewelry to be found at Smith Galleries, you also can forage through a thicket of woodblock brain twisters that tested the evergreen wits of our ancestors. Whether you’re 8 or 80, see if you have the intellectual chops to tackle these timeless timber teasers.

A CALIBRON 12 Named for the number of wooden puzzle pieces it contains, the Calibron 12 was invented in 1933 by Theodore Edison, son of famed inventor Thomas Alva Edison. The objective is to fit all 12 different shapes into the square frame of the puzzle, and there is only one solution. The Smith Galleries’ version is made up of parts hewn from at least four different kinds of wood that could include alder, ash, birch, cherry, mahogany, maple, oak and walnut. Size measurements are laser engraved onto each piece. If you can’t conquer this conundrum, the solution is provided with the game.

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RHOMBUS 5 PUZZLE Beginners can cut their teeth on this head-scratcher that features five wood pieces that fit into a rhombus – a quadrilateral with four sides of the same length. The goal is to fit the five pieces back into the fashionable flip-lid box they come in. Plus, the box’s exterior features outlines for 28 additional challenging shapes into which you can try to fashion the enclosed five pieces. The puzzle is very compact, travels well and serves as a popular desk decoration. Written solutions are provided for each shape.

SAFECRACKER 40 To crack this mobile morass of mathematics and logic, you need to align each of the puzzle’s four wooden circular disks so their 16 columns of numbers add to 40 at the same time. Each ring rotates, and because some of the dials are raised and notched, you can’t see all the numbers at the same time, and it feels like you’re juggling 24 columns instead. Made out of alder wood with numbers that are laser engraved, the Safecracker 40 is based on a 1911 puzzle design from England called “The Great Burglar.” There is only one solution to this round riddle.

SPLITTING HEADACHE When tangling with this wooden enigma that resembles a Rubik’s Cube, you need to arrange nine pieces, assembled from smaller parts, into a 3” x 3” x 3” checkered cube. It’s hard not to appreciate the craftsmanship of this 3-D game, with its pieces boasting beveled edges on all sides. The container base has four legs to stand on and two Plexiglas sides to make it easier to see, and sort, all your options when trying to assemble the winning cubic combination. The puzzle is small but can yield a giant headache, hence its menacing moniker.

STOMACHION PUZZLE Considered one of the oldest and most difficult puzzles in history, the Stomachion was created

by Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer and inventor Archimedes (287 BC – 212 BC). The goal is to make a 6" x 6" square out of 14 precision-cut plexiglass puzzle pieces of different shapes and sizes, and there are 536 possible solutions. Also known as loculus Archimedius, Syntomachion and Ostomachion, this puzzle is so perplexing, you may be ancient by the time you solve it.

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TRY OUT THIS ECO-FRIENDLY AND FUN DIY PROJECT

Before you donate all of your old or unused clothes, see if you can create something unique with denim and other textiles. LOCAL Life illustrator Megan Goheen created step-by-step instructions for making your own upcycled denim fish pillows. Kids will play with them like stuffed animals, and adults can use them as decorative throw pillows.

If you’ve got a plethora of fabrics, the outcome can be totally customized to fit your style. This would make a great project for a crafting night with your friends or could serve as homemade holiday gifts that friends and family will cherish for years to come. And in the spirit of being “green,” you also can repurpose old materials for the stuffing, such as old pillows or retired stuffed animals.

Wishing everyone a joyous and safe holiday season!

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Recollection riches

THEIR ENDGAME VARIES FROM TIME-MACHINE SOUL SOOTHING TO MEMORY MOGULDOM, BUT LOWCOUNTRY TOY COLLECTORS ARE UNITED IN THE THRILL OF THE PURSUIT. STORY BY TIM WOOD + PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE RITTERBECK

The baseball cards used as bike-spoke noisemakers. The Little People repurposed for a middle school social studies diorama. The countless Happy Meal trinkets trashed after five minutes of folly. So many of us saw our trinkets as disposable memories and decades later, we’re kicking ourselves as we watch playtime nostalgia traders achieve payouts on par with Amazon stock or cryptocurrency dividends. We found a trio of local collectors who know that while buying Bitcoin is a nebulous rush, the tangible treasure of a coveted childhood toy is a far sweeter score.

Mike Clark

Master of the Toy Universe At first, it was about reminiscing for Mike Clark. The 39-year-old kept a few things his parents were going to throw out, like an original Tyrannosaurus Rex action toy from “Jurassic Park.”

Seven years later, the Hardeeville resident is making a family-supporting living buying and selling classic toy collections online. He became a full-time seller and scavenger during Covid.

“Nostalgia is a powerful thing.

You get your hands on one toy and it can bring you back to the best times of your life,” Clark said. “It’s not a bad thing to bring the kid out in us. That’s why this is not only a business, it’s a passion project for me.”

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PERFECT SETS Top: The Eternia playset from Masters of the Universe. Middle: The Food Fighters collection by Mattel.

Bottom: The Indiana Jones collection by Kenner.

At first, that one thing for Clark was video games. He’d buy, sell and trade Nintendo, Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis cartridges. While looking for classics in Chicago, he came across an original Castle Grayskull, the planet Eternia fortress from “Masters of the Universe.”

“The feeling was overpowering, it just felt so great to hold it and let those memories flood back,” he said. “I thought, if I’m feeling this way, there’s plenty of others who feel the same way.”

That led Clark to take a deep dive into the toy collecting world. Deep as in buying the full inventory of a couple of closing Gamestops in Savannah. His house now looks like the stores he’s bought out.

“You’re always looking for that big score. Action figures from the ‘70s in the original packaging.

My buddy, Ray Ranson from Realm of Relics in Savannah, he was clearing out estates and came across a toy collector who had three storage units

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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full of unopened toys that hadn’t been touched since 2006,” Clark said.

“That’s the adrenaline rush right there that we’re living for. He spent $5,000 on all three units and just went to the bank with that stuff.”

Clark now flies to at least two toy shows per month, looking for finds like GI Joe, MOTU, and his personal favorites, Star Wars and Indiana Jones made by Kenner. Better yet, the rare Toy Belt discovery.

“Columbus, Ohio, is the epicenter, but all the toy companies were in the Midwest and used to put out test products to the locals to see what would spark a hit,” he said. “Those toys, they are magic. And the toy factory workers, they’d bring home prototypes for their kids. Things like an unpainted, unproduced Ewok will sell for $20,000.”

He just returned from the annual mega-show in Chicago, where he spent his full $10,000 budget – too much to fit in his truck for the drive home, so he shipped it back in a couple of giant storage tubs. He then hits Facebook, where he is a regular host and auctioneer on the popular Toy Hive group, doing Facebook Live auctions from his house.

“Nostalgia is a powerful thing.

You get your hands on one toy and it can bring you back to the best times of your life.”

While he loves talking to collectors worldwide, Clark’s dream is to share his passion with locals.

He recently started advertising his business on the back of his truck and said that has led to a strong word-of-mouth Lowcountry following and a big score – a seven-foot USS Flagg from GI Joe that had been sitting in a garage for 25 years. He is looking to parlay that following into opening a store in Bluffton next year.

“It’s harder and harder to find the scores. Think about it. The things that made us passionate as kids, those kinds of toys aren’t being made anymore. In 25 years, our collectibles are going to become antiques,” he said. “But there’s always something new that’s on fire. From Pokemon cards to now NFTs and digital collectibles, it’s all about finding the next big thing.”

Clark laments that the passion is now becoming a way to support his four kids, but says there are far worst things than dealing in memories.

“I get to be with my kids at home. I’m boxing, packing, constantly searching eBay, thrift stores and garage sales for finds,” he said. “But to get to be a kid all day and make money at it, it’s pretty cool.” LL

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THE LAST 17 Top: The last 17 figures Kenner put out during their power of the force run. The figures included collectible coins. Left: Clark's Boba Fett collection. "I have around 25 of them. It’s called an Army Build."

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Sarah Foster

Little People, big passion She grew up in the Toy Belt in the small town of Medina, Ohio. The oldest of three daughters, Sarah Foster gets an instant smile thinking of her days playing with Fisher Price Little People play sets and her mom’s container of vintage Barbies.

She lived in Medina until she moved to Bluffton 10 years ago to take a job with US Foods. And for most of that time in her hometown, she seethed at the memories of all her childhood toys being sent off to the local Goodwill.

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PENNIES SAVED Pictured is Sarah Foster's Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy Talking Bank from 1974. Ann and Andy comment each time a coin is dropped into one of their five slots.

“It’s like a theft, a crime. Those toys go away, you’re stealing memories,” she said.

When Foster had her own child, Kayla, in 1996, she vowed to create new memories for her daughter. And as it turns out, Kayla was born to be a collector.

“She is so good at keeping stuff pristine. Her American Girl dolls look like they just came out of the box,” Foster said. Family members gave Barbies to Kayla through the years, and she decided which ones she played with and which special ones never came out of the box.

“She has this natural instinct for preserving and it just spurred my interest in collecting,” Foster said.

It started small at first, finding any Littlest Pet Shop doll she didn’t have. As Kayla got older, Sarah started to focus on the toys of her childhood.

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LITTLE TREASURES Shown are Sarah Foster's vintage 1970s Fisher Price Circus Train with four Little People and circus animals.

“I don’t do this for money, it’s the memories. By the time Tilly is older, it might all pay for her college. But for now, it’s about always remembering the kid inside.”

“I love a good hunt for Little People and the sets I played with in the ‘70s,” she said. “I never pay too much. I’m good at finding the folks on Facebook Marketplace that just want to find a good home for their memories.”

She scored a Little People train set with the conductor and the passengers from a woman whose main hobby is collecting Little People.

“If you’re a missing a bed from a set, she has it. She makes her own wrapping paper, which she sends the toys out in with a handwritten card and a keychain made out of Little People bodies. It’s so cute.”

Foster has branched out to eccentric memories like a Mulan bank that dances and sings, the Arby’s kids meal characters and Ziggy collectibles.

And she has a couple things from her youth, like an original Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy bank. But she stays focused on Little People, in pursuit

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of a classic farm set. She recently scored the Little People hospital set from 1977.

“That was an epic pursuit.

But the craftsmanship of the toys, the clothes on the Barbies, they were just so well made back then,” she said. “It takes me back to playing with my sisters.”

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Foster doesn’t care that Kayla laughed when her mom reached out to be part of this article.

“My sister Laura laughs, but I bought her a Teddy Ruxpin and Grubby Worm and she loves it. I think she gets it a little bit more now, but most of my family thinks I’m crazy.”

Kayla had a daughter of her own, Tilly. Being a grandma has sparked a new wave of passion and purpose.

“I don’t do this for money, it’s the memories. By the time Tilly is older, it might all pay for her college.

But for now, it’s about always remembering the kid inside,” she said.

And maybe a bit of revenge.

“I had every VHS Disney movie since Kayla was born. I asked my parents to hold on to them and they gave them to Goodwill,” Foster said. “So for sure, when I get a new classic toy, there’s a moment where I go, ‘Ha! I got ‘em back.’” LL

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Bill Walters

Video games are collectibles, too There is a portion of the toy collecting world that scoffs at video game collectors. For the old-school collectors, video games ruined their world when kids turned from action figures to virtual action on their TV screens.

For Bill Walters, the draw of an original Nintendo game cartridge is just as powerful as any old action figure. Well, unless it’s a Hulk Hogan action figure.

“I’m a huge wrestling fan. Anything from Hulkamania, I’m in on it, full steam,” said the 38-year-old Bluffton resident. “But video games, that’s my main lane.”

The New York native has fond memories of Friday nights hanging with friends, playing PlayStation 2 favorites like Metal Gear Solid 2.

“It has such a strong narrative, it’s like a movie you play. So many twists and turns, I mean it shocked me, it really made me emotional,” he said.

That connection led to the beginning of a collection nine years ago. He now owns 13 gaming systems, including a Nintendo 64, a Dreamcast and all five PlayStations. His two passions collide when he plays “No Mercy” for the N64 or “Smackdown: Here Comes the Pain” for the PS2.

“The PS2, it was just such a game-changer and they made so many titles for it,” said Walters, who has scooped up more than 275 titles for the console – the largest portion of his collection today. His most valuable find is a 2005 game full of rappers called “Def Jam: Fight For New York,” which goes for $200 on today’s market.

The lifelong gamer is not looking to make collecting his living. By day, he’s an inventory supervisor for a cabinet company in Ridgeland with wife Kimberly and three kids. By night, he slips in to his Shell Hall man cave, cranks up the heavy metal and grabs a title from his three wall-length shelves of games in their packaging and a myriad of binders full of just the game disks.

“Those moments they’re tough to find with three kids and one on the way,” he said.

“My mother-in-law watches the kids on the weekend, so I can slip in to my world for a

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HE GOT GAMES Bluffton video game collector Bill Walters owns 13 gaming systems, including a Nintendo 64, a Dreamcast and all five PlayStations.

“It’s all about the number of prints of a game. And if you get a Japanese copy of that game, that’s an even bigger score.”

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couple hours, look at my games and my wrestling autographs. These games, they should have a Dad Mode. Like, ‘I see you haven’t played in six months, here’s what you were doing and here’s a reminder of which keys do which things.’ Sometimes, it takes me a couple hours just to get back my mojo.”

He hits flea markets and pawn shops when he can, looking for his next obsession to add to the collection. His white whale: a developer-build PS2 that can play any title from around the world (usually consoles only play games from a specific region like the US or Japan).

“It’s all about the number of prints of a game.

Sometimes, there’s games that just don’t hit it big, but they’re just so good, they find a following,” he said. “And if you get a Japanese copy of that game, that’s an even bigger score.”

He talks to collectors online and watches collectors talk about their prized possessions on Twitch.

“My mom, she thinks it’s ridiculous I’m still playing, let alone collecting these things,” he said. “My wife, she indulges it to a point and I love her for that. I’ve managed to keep it all from becoming an addiction, but it’s easy to get sucked in to a great game or a good hunt. Games like ‘Soul Caliber’ for the Dreamcast, so far ahead of its time, I just marvel at the innovation.”

Walters said as he gets older, he appreciates all the more the work that went in to creating legendary titles.

“It’s just genius,” he said. “I want to always share that with my kids. I’ll be 70 and I’ll still be playing all these games.” LL

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Essential holiday dinner checklist

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MAKE YOUR LIST AND CHECK IT TWICE

BY MADDIE BANE

As things get more hectic around the holidays, planning your trip to the grocery store for a festive feast can be somewhat of a nightmare. Take some of the pressure off by getting some ideas for starters, protein, sides and condiments, fruits and veggies, sweets, drinks and utensils with this essential holiday dinner checklist.

Complete with recipes from local chefs and restaurants, planning your holiday dinner will be a breeze.

Sausage balls: A simple recipe that just uses sausage, cheese and biscuit mix. Serve with a smooth mustard sauce.

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Crab artichoke dip: Who doesn’t love a seafood twist on a party classic?

Stuffed mushrooms: The stuffing possibilities are endless — cream cheese, crab, spinach, salmon and more.

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This recipe from Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte is the perfect start to any feast. Did you know that parsnips are one of the most popular foods consumed on Christmas Day?

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Carrot & Parsnip Bisque INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 pounds carrot 1 1/2 pounds parsnip 1/4 cup butter 1/2 ounce fresh ginger 1 medium yellow onion 3 sprigs fresh thyme 1/2 cup white wine 2 1/2 cups water 2 quarts heavy cream 1 tablespoon salt 1/2 teaspoon white pepper 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1 each star anise 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil DIRECTIONS [1] Take carrots and parsnips in a large mixing bowl and drizzle some oil until veggies are coated. Lay on sheet pan or cookie tray to roast in a 350-degree oven for 45-60 minutes or until they are nice and roasted. [2] In a soup pot, start by adding butter in a cold pot. Put on medium heat and once butter is melted, add onions and ginger. Stir often to make sure there is no uneven cooking and cook for 10-14 minute until nice and tender to the point of the caramelization process beginning. [3] Add roasted veggies to the pot and fresh thyme. Cook for 5-7 minutes and add spices and seasonings. Stir once more and add wine. Cook for 2-4 minutes until wine has chance to simmer. Add the rest of the liquid and bring to a boil. Cook for 20-25 minutes and then let cool for 5-10 minutes. [4] Now pull out thyme sprigs and star anise. With a ladle, add the soup base in batches and pull the center piece slightly out so the pressure does not blow the top off blender. [5] Blend each batch until smooth and pour into another container. Do this until everything has gone through the blender. [6] Mix everything together and run through the blender one more time. It's ready to serve.

Chef’s tip: top with crisped prosciutto or bacon.

From delectable Sweets to any kind of party platter Sprout Momma has you covered this Holiday Season!

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eats TENTACLE YOUR FANCY Chef Scott Hastings from Lulu Kitchen shares one of his favorite seafood dishes — Spanish octopus. The delectable sauce is sure to make this intriguing dish a hit with your guests.

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LULU KITCHEN

Spanish Octopus INGREDIENTS 2 pounds Spanish octopus 4 quarts water 3 tablespoons salt 2 large red peppers, roasted 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 1/4 cup almonds, toasted 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 clove garlic 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil Salt, to taste 1 cup chickpeas, fried 1/2 cup diced chorizo sausage 1/4 cup piquillo peppers, sliced Italian parsley DIRECTIONS [1] Bring salted water to a boil in large stock pot. Add octopus and cover.

Turn heat to low and simmer for 35-45 minutes or until tender. [2] Remove from water and cool to room temperature. [3] Place red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, sherry vinegar, almonds, paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic to a processor and blend until smooth. Slowly add oil and adjust seasoning with salt. Set aside. [4] Place octopus tentacles on hot grill and sprinkle with salt. Char on all sides. [5] On a larger platter, spread sauce and place octopus on top. Sprinkle chorizo, chickpeas, and peppers about, garnish with parsley and serve with toasted baguette.

Perfect proteins

Turkey: A holiday classic, this meat gets gobbled up quickly.

Lamb: Boost the flavor profile by adding a warm couscous salad, roasted vegetables, Dijon mustard and red wine sauce.

Honey-glazed ham: Be sure to wrap in foil to prevent drying out the meat.

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eats HOLY SMOKE Turn your marmalade up a notch with this smokey pepper recipe from executive chef Jeremy Halker at Spring Island.

Chef Jeremy recommends the Camerons Large Stovetop Smoker to get the best results.

SPRING ISLAND

Smokey Farm Pepper Marmalade INGREDIENTS 4 cups small diced peppers (choose your favorite varieties) 1 cup small Vidalia onions, diced 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt, to taste 3 tablespoons fresh cracked black peppercorns 2 cups apple cider vinegar 2 cups sugar 2 cups agave 2 cups fresh basil, chopped 1 cup maple or pecan wood pellets Tabletop smoker DIRECTIONS [1] Combine peppers, onions, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl. Turn tabletop smoker on low and place pepper mixture in pan provided. [2] Smoke on low heat for about 10 minutes until you see a light smoke film on the pepper mixture. [3] Remove from smoker, making sure to save the residual juice from peppers and place into a saucepan on the stove. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. [4] Lower heat to medium low and continue to simmer for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until mixture becomes syrupy. [5] Once cooled, add fresh basil and serve this on your favorite dishes.

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Serving the Lowcountry COLORS Since 1993 Leaves: PMS 382 (Granny Smith) Apple: PMS 180 (Red Delicious) Appliance Center: Black

Stupendous sides

Appliances • Delivery & Installation • Service & Repairs Potatoes: Mashed, scalloped, roasted, au gratin… the list goes on!

Flakey buttermilk biscuits: The flavor of buttermilk will add that tangy yumminess to everyone’s favorite side.

20 Capital Dr. Hilton Head Island, SC

843.681.8234A

AppleApplianceCenter.com

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BREAKFAST | SPECIALTY COFFEES | LUNCH | SMOOTHIES Scratch Made. Always Fresh. Perfectly Delicious

Cranberry sauce: Try something a little different and add orange juice into your favorite recipe.

843.707.9927 | 1536 Fording Island Road, Suite 107, Hilton Head Island In the Bridge Center, across from Moss Creek Tuesday-Friday 7:30am-3:00pm Saturday-Sunday 8:30am-2:00pm

Find us on Facebook & Instagram @oddbirdshhi

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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CARPET • HARDWOOD • LAMINATE TILE & STONE • VINYL • AREA RUGS GRANITE & QUARTZ

Home

for the

Holidays

eats THIS SPUD’S FOR YOU Sweet potatoes are the staple of many holiday celebrations. Wow your family with this simple recipe that includes cranberries, walnuts and marshmallows.

The dish takes just a few minutes to prep ahead of time so you can simply throw it in the oven and bake to perfection.

Fruits & Veggies

LOCAL LIFE TEST KITCHEN

Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows INGREDIENTS 3 cups sweet potatoes, cubed 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/2 brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup cranberries 1/2 cup candied walnuts 1 bag marshmallows Sea salt, to taste

843-681-4925 • 123 MATHEWS DRIVE HILTON HEAD ISLAND HILTONHEADISLAND.FLOORSTOGO.COM 146

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DIRECTIONS [1] In a baking dish, evenly spread sweet potatoes and drizzle over butter. [2] Sprinkle brown sugar evenly, and then top with cranberries, walnuts and marshmallows. Add a little salt if you prefer. [3] Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until marshmallows are browned.

Baked pears: Bake with Ricotta cheese, nuts, honey and cinnamon for delightful flavor.

Brussels sprouts: Roasted or toasted, they go great with a little Parmesan cheese.

Green beans: Add a little butter and garlic to the dish and top off with Parmesan.

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS!

eats HAVE A BERRY CHRISTMAS Enjoy this sweet and refreshing dessert recipe from Vineyard chef Pascal Vignau. Who doesn’t love a good Pavlova?

Delectable desserts

VINEYARD

Brunch with Santa

DECEMBER 12 • 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. $38++ PER PERSON • $20++ CHILDREN 5 - 12 YRS COMPLIMENTARY PHOTOS WITH SANTA!

New Year’s Eve Dinner DECEMBER 31 • 5:00 - 9:00 P.M. $65++ PER PERSON

THREE COURSE PRIX FIXE, CHAMPAGNE TOAST PLUS LIVE MUSIC!

Reservations recommended, call 844.627.1665 after noon daily or visit: AlexandersRestaurant.com

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Open 7 nights a week Dinner 5 - 9 pm, • Early Dining 5 - 5:45 pm Located in Palmetto Dunes 76 Queens Rd, 2021 Hilton Head Island LocalLifeSC.comFolly + DECEMBER

Berry Pavlova (Serves 6) INGREDIENTS 4 egg whites 1 cup white sugar 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon cornstarch 2 tablespoons icing sugar 1 cup Greek yogurt 1 skin of zested lemon 1 pint assorted berries 2 tablespoons rum of your choice 1 tablespoon honey DIRECTIONS [1] Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place egg whites in bowl of electric mixer and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form. Reduce speed and gradually add sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, slowly. [2] Scrape down sides of bowl and add lemon juice and cornstarch. Whisk for 2 minutes or until glossy and combined. Add lemon zest. [3] Spoon 6 rounds of meringue onto large baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper. Using a small spoon, make an indent in the center of each meringue. [4] Reduce oven temperature to 250 degrees and bake for 30 minutes or until crisp to the touch. [5] Cool in the oven for 1 hour. [6] Whisk yogurt and icing sugar until soft peaks form. Top meringues with yogurt cream and rum-marinated berries. Drizzle honey and dust with icing sugar to serve.

Fudge: The beauty is how customizable it can be — nuts, peppermint, toffee, etc.

Tools & accessories

Roasting pan: How can you properly roast without one?

Kitchen scissors: You never know how much you need them until you’re without them.

Thumbprint cookies: These cookies are totally everyone’s jam.

Yule Log Cake: It can be a bit tricky to make but totally worth the oohs and ahhs.

Arte Italica vintage butter tray with spreader: What’s more fabulous than a pewter table accessory? Available at Fetch Market.

Stainless scooper/disher: For all of the yummy cookies to bake. Available at Cassandra’s Kitchen in 2-ounce, 1-3/8 ounce, 7/8-ounce, and 9/16-ounce sizes.

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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eats

Feast of the Seven Fishes STORY BY MADDIE BANE

BRING SOME ITALIAN TRADITIONS TO YOUR TABLE THIS YEAR.

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The tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes originated in the southern region of Italy and has been around for many, many years. No one’s quite sure of the origin of its name, but the number seven is tied to several religious references — seven days of God creating Earth, the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church, etc. Some believe that it could also symbolize the seven hills surrounding Rome.

Nicole Gardner, owner of The G-Free Spot, celebrates this feast with her family every year.

“It’s a traditional Italian meal celebrating family and food and is held on Christmas Eve. Though the menu may change slightly year after year,

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the traditions remain the same. We gather in the kitchen and prepare our family feast together. The importance of the experience and time spent together far outweighs the grandeur of the food that results from it.”

The protocol for the seven fish menu is pretty loose. It’s typically different dishes based around fish or other seafood, usually decided by the best selection of fresh seafood in the region. Popular sides include fried artichokes, various pickled vegetables and squash blossoms, just to name a few.

Here are six fish often associated with the celebration.

Calamari

Italian for “squid,” calamari can be breaded and fried, grilled, or even eaten raw when properly prepared.

15th ANNIVERSARY

Join Us February 21 - 27, 2022

Take in celebrity guest chef dinners, the best of southern pitmasters, local wildlife, cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, mixologist, scholars and more! From incredible seafood meals to rustic barbecue and bonfires, world-class talent and southern charm collide on one gorgeous Island setting.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW. VISIT HILTONHEADSEAFOODFESTIVAL.COM

eats

LULU Kitchen Restaura r nt & Bar ra

Enjoy our Prix-Fixe Menu, Monday-Friday from 4-6pm $26.00 per person.

3 course meal, $5.00 glass of our house wine and Happy Hour specials.

Live Music with ROSS2 every Thursday, 6:30-9:30pm “Newcomer Lulu Kitchen, will give you fresh seafood in a casual atmosphere, with standouts like the Blue Claw Crab Cake and a Lobster Mac n’ Cheese that’s so decadent” — Lia Picard, Thrillist Travel

Frutti di mare

Translating to “fruit of the sea,” frutti di mare includes shellfish such as mussels, clams and prawns.

The Fresh Market Shoppes

890 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island

843.648.5858 | LuluKitchenHHI.com

D I N N E R

I S

S E R V E D Vongole

Italian for “clams,” vongole is typically served baked as a snack-sized appetizer at the feast.

ORDER ONLINE AT JAVABURRITO .COM

LET US COOK TONITE.

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PICK UP. DINE IN. ENJOY.

Baccala

Translating to “salted cod,” baccala brings a higher profile flavor as opposed to regular cod. There are several ways salt cod is prepared, including dry salting, brining or pickling.

Follow me to

THE GREEN STAR!

$25 OFF your lunch or dinner check of $75 or more.

Scungilli

Scungilli refers to conch. The meat can be breaded and fried or simmered in stews or soups.

This offer cannot be combined with any other discounts, coupons or offers. Not valid for special wine events of other prix fixe menus— including Restaurant Week. Limit one per check. Coupon must be presented.

Offer excludes the following dates: 11.24-27.21 | 12.23-31.21 | 2.11-15.22 Offer Valid: 11.15.21 – 2.28.22

843.785.9277

R E S E R V AT I O N S E N C O U R A G E D

LUNCH: Monday—Friday 11:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

DINNER: Monday—Saturday 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

BAR: Monday—Saturday 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

8 New Orleans Road · Hilton Head, SC | CharliesGreenStar.com |

@charliesofhiltonhead

Capitone

No matter what other dishes are present, capitone (another word for eel) is a must-have in several regions of Italy for the feast.

“One of the Best Breakfasts on Hilton Head” SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE

ESPRESSO YOURSELF Looking to start your day in an Italian way? Order the GlutenFree Veggie Frittata with an Espresso Macchiato from the G-Free Spot. Scan this QR code to order online for quick and easy pickup at their Main Street Village location.

INDOOR & OUTDOOR DINING AVAILABLE

OPEN! Wed-Sun 6am-2pm

6am-2pm Wednesday Thru Sunday • Palmetto Bay Marina

843.686.3232 • PalmettoBaySunRiseCafe.com

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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T H E

F I N E S T

I TA L I A N

C U I S I N E

eats

news RESTAURANT

FRESH FOOD + NOW OPEN + HOT PRODUCTS

I N T R O D U C I N G THE MARKET AT MICHAEL ANTHONY’S The new Market Cafe is an active Italian market combined with a cafe atmosphere.

From 11:30am – 2:00pm, we offer a menu of sandwiches and pizza.

At 5:00pm, the Cafe transforms into a cozy trattoria with a small plate menu featuring artisan pizza, pasta, salads and snacks in a casual atmosphere.

We feature a selection of Italian wines by the glass and a full bar.

Please call for reservations.

Salty Dog teams up with Hilton Head Distillery

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The Salty Dog has collaborated with Hilton Head Distillery to create their very own Salty Dog Coconut Rum. It will be available on the menu at The Salty Dog and for purchase by the bottle at Hilton Head Distillery.

18 YEARS

RESTAURANT

CO OKING SCHO OL

Acknowledged by food and wine enthusiasts and critics alike, the restaurant presents a fine dining e perience combining an award winning wine list, exquisite food, and attentive service.

Classes are held several days each week in our uscan inspired state of the art culinary center designed to provide the environment for learning skills and techniques for both novice cooks and culinary enthusiasts.

Orleans Plaza | 37 New Orleans Road | Suite L | Hilton Head Island 843.785.6272 | michael-anthonys.com 154 LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

Brunch with Santa Alexander’s Restaurant is hosting a brunch with Santa at 10 a.m. December 12. The event features a meal and complimentary photos with Santa in front of the fireplace. Attendees are encouraged to bring new and unwrapped toys to the event to benefit The Deep Well Project. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 855-281-2445 or by visiting alexandersrestaurant.com.

Holiday treats to-go at The G-Free Spot By request, The G-Free Spot is now taking orders for baked goods for the holiday season. You can order items such as pies, pumpkin rolls, stuffing, cinnamon rolls, cheesecakes, muffins, cookies and more.

Orders can be made by calling 843-715-4105.

Wine flights are back Every month at Nunzio Restaurant + Bar, discover new delicious wines with its wine flights. Available every Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, they are perfect to pair with appetizers during cocktail hour. Reservations are required by calling 843-715-2172.

Cooking demo: Herb-crusted prime rib

HOT TICKET Salt Water Supper Embark on a culinary adventure featuring seafood creations made with globally influenced flavors and enjoy a dining experience on the surf at the exclusive Salt Water Supper, set for 6-9 p.m. on February 24 in the Shore House at the Omni. The supper, limited to 200 people, will showcase impeccable cuisine, sustainable seafood, cultural dishes and more. Scan this QR code to buy tickets and other events planned for the 2022 Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival (Feb. 21-27).

At this demonstration, attendees will learn how to make herb-crusted prime rib with executive chef Charles Pejeau at Alexander’s Restaurant. This event takes place from 2-3 p.m. December 5. All demonstrations are $25 per person and include a glass of sparkling wine as well as a culinary gift to take home. All money collected will be given to The Deep Well Project. Alexander’s also is offering a burgundy wine dinner that features a selection of wine, food and live music by Jennifer Johnson. Tickets and more information can be found at alexandersrestaurant.com or on its Facebook page.

The Lowcountry’s Premier Gourmet Market

Your Holiday meal plan starts here!

Prime Ribeye | Standing Rib Roasts Tenderloins | Leg of Lamb Pork Crown Roasts | Rack of Lamb Briskets and more!

(All sold uncooked)

1414 Fording Island Rd., Suite D100 • Tanger Outlets 2 • Bluffton Bagel Bakery & Cafe´ • Grocery Items • Beer & Wine • Fresh Seafood • Prime Meat • Prepared Foods • Sushi

Open Daily 8am - 7pm

nantucketsmarket.com DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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eats

From specialty coffees to specialty cakes l.

– we specialize in specia

Try these

Hot picks from the local food scene.

GO HOG WILD Craving bacon? The BBBLT (big bacon BLT) at Bad Biscuit is, in a word, memorable.

In a definition, delicious!

BUTTER ME UP Enjoy this dish at ELA’S On The Water with panseared diver scallops over crab risotto with truffle butter and crispy pancetta.

HUGS AND QUICHES The quiche at Palmetto Bay Sunrise Cafe changes day-to-day, but always comes served with hash browns or grits.

Gourmet Goodies Gluten Free Specialities

GIVE ME A CAUL Holy Tequila’s buffalo cauliflower tacos come with tempura-fried cauliflower, cheddar, celery, buffalo and ranch.

MADE TO ORDER Frankie’s “Made” Meatballs at Frankie Bones are made with veal, pork and beef. A family recipe made with bolognese sauce.

The perfect solution to all of your holiday gatherings!

1511 Main Street • Suite 1511 • Hilton Head Island, SC 156

843.802.4411 • thegfreespot.com

LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

SHRIMP BREAD: NUFF SAID! Sprout Momma Breads’ shrimp bread is sure to keep you warm and full on cold days this season.

Java Burrito to open second location Java Burrito Company will be opening up another location in downtown Savannah on Broughton Street in the space that The 5 Spot formerly occupied. For the latest info and updates, check Java Burrito’s Facebook page.

Holiday boards at Porter & Pig Tis the season for meat and cheese boards. Create your own, or better yet, have Porter & Pig build a beautiful one for you. The fig jam and housemade truffle mustard sauces that come with each board are bursting with flavor.

Holiday roasts at Nantucket's For the holiday season, Nantucket's Meat & Fish Market will be offering several different roasts. Choose from trimmed and tied tenderloins, chuck roasts, pork crown roasts, standing rib roasts, boneless rib roasts, rack of lamb, leg of lamb, or brisket, All items will be sold uncooked, and prices are subject to change based on market availability throughout the season.

libations

WWMD

What would Margaret drink?

Margaret Pearman is a certified sommelier under the Court of Master Sommeliers and is responsible for curating the award-winning wine list at Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte.

Wine toys

Last-minute gifts from local stores are my Christmas tradition. Giving the gift of wine gadgets is a great idea for the experienced oenophile and the novice alike.

Here is a list of my top 9 wine toys:

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1

2 4 5

7

6

8

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1. Coravin Pivot Combines stopper and preservation devices to keep wine fresh for up to four weeks. Available at Rollers Wine and Cheese. $99. 2. Franmara Mighty Pull Electric Cork Screw Easily opens a bottle of wine in 6 seconds without straining.

Available at Rollers Wine and Cheese. $30. 3. Schott Zweisel Cru Wine Glasses This glass collection integrates Tritan technology for added strength and seamless design.

Available at Le Cookery. All cost under $20. 4. Finest Catch Bottle Opener Seriously sleek and stylish double-hinged corkscrew in the shape of a fish. Available at Pretty Papers. $25. 5. Peugeot The Cadillac of prong cork extractors; a necessary tool for those who open bottles of wine older than 10 years; a bonus that it’s practically already wrapped. Available at Le Cookery. $30. 6. Oenophilia Longboard Serving Tray A really cool way to serve your friends wine. Available at Le Cookery. $50. 7. Vinturi Wine Aerator For younger bottles of wine that need to open up, just click on this attachment and pour. Available at Rollers Wine and Cheese. $30. 8. Micheal Aram Coral Wine holder and stopper It’s always a good idea to showcase a bottle of wine.

Available at Pretty Papers. $150. 9. Chirpy Top Wine Pourer Perfect for a stocking stuffer, this wine stopper actually chirps when you pour! Available at Le Cookery. $26.

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Festive cocktails to shake up the season VODKA COCKTAILS THAT IMPLEMENT YOUR FAVORITE SEASONINGS

No matter how you spend the holiday season, there’s no better way to keep spirits bright than a cocktail (or two). Light up this festive time of year with a few favorites from the team at Tito’s Handmade Vodka. They’re sure to have your yuletide cup overflowing with cheer.

Tito’s Merry Mule May your drink be merry and bright and may all your holiday cocktail hours be quite ... delicious. Just add Tito’s, a splash of cranberry and a dash of cheer to get your festive celebrations started.

INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 ounces Tito’s Handmade Vodka 3 ounces ginger beer 1/2 ounce cranberry juice 1/4 ounce lime juice 2 dashes orange bitters DIRECTIONS [1] Add all ingredients to a Tito’s Copper Mug with ice. [2] Stir and garnish with a lime slice.

Toddy 1 ½ Tito’s Handmade Vodka 4 oz earl grey tea, hot ¼ oz lemon juice

Tito’s Chai Cocoa

Do you have a favorite holiday sweater? Cozy, warm, and the perfect accessory for the season? Now, imagine that as a Tito's cocktail. Spiced chai, dark cocoa, and a crackling fire, best served while wearing that sweater of yours.

INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 ounce Tito's Handmade Vodka 3 ounces water 1 chai tea bag 1 teaspoon dark cocoa 1/2 ounce cream or non-dairy substitute

1 dollop of honey 1 lemon slice, garnish Brew tea to your liking. Add Tito’s Handmade Vodka, honey, and lemon juice. Stir and garnish with a lemon slice. Serve warm.

DIRECTIONS [1] Brew tea to your liking. [2] Stir in dark cocoa until it dissolves. [3] Add Tito’s Handmade Vodka and creamer. [4] Garnish with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick.

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sports

s

FIRST LOOK

A new-look golf experience STORY BY SHANE SHARP + PHOTOS BY RYAN GRECO

Sea Pines Country Club unveiled its new-look golf experience on Nov. 1, including a new bag drop station, expanded practice facility, a complete re-grassing of the course’s tees, greens and fairways. A new indoor teaching and practice center, dubbed “The Barn,” is also in the works. Here’s a look at what’s new.

GAME IMPROVEMENT With 18 hitting bays, the tee area at the new practice range is now four times larger and accommodates twice as many golfers. For longer hitters, the range floor was lengthened by 25 yards, allowing for 260 yards of carry. Eight new target pins are placed at various hitting angles at 70- to 250-yard intervals for fine-tuning distance control. The short-game zone houses a multi-tiered chipping green three times larger than the previous one and two practice bunkers for sand shots.

THE BARN Also under construction is a new state-of-the-art indoor teaching and practice center. Dubbed “The Barn,” it features the latest leading-edge technology, including “TrackMan 4” monitors with optically enhanced radar tracking and industry-leading Virtual Golf 2. An indoor hitting bay opens out onto the expanded practice range, providing a convenient year-round option for instruction, practice and club fitting. The TrackMan highdefinition simulator features 200 courses from around the world, bringing many of the greatest golf venues across the globe into play with realistic, vibrant colors. The Barn also houses a new lounge area, replete with a bar, club chairs, restrooms, flat screen TV and a curated selection of beers and wines.

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THE ARRIVAL The new bag drop station will be the first dramatic enhancement upon entering the club parking lot. It houses a new staging area, club-repair services, storage for up to 100 bags, ice and water station and comfortable seating for changing shoes. New Club Car Tempo golf carts outfitted with Visage GPS, USB outlets and bucket seats await to whisk members away for their tee times.

ON COURSE After members warm up at the practice range, it’s on to the club’s 6,429-yard Lowcountry layout. There they will discover beautifully mown Celebration Bermuda grass, the PGA Tour-caliber turf used on Harbour Town Golf Links and Heron Point by Pete Dye at neighboring Sea Pines Resort. With a single strand of grass throughout the fairways, members can expect consistent lies. Arriving on the greens after navigating the Celebration Bermuda fairways, members will putt on the latest variety of TifEagle Bermuda grass. The new strands are extremely hardy and can withstand prolonged cold in the winter months and even frost. Additionally, putting surfaces have been restored to their original dimensions, allowing for more pin placements and improved approach shot receptivity.

GOLF SHOP Back in the clubhouse, the Golf Shop boasts new hardwood flooring and an updated coastal color palette. New built-in fixtures increase display and storage space, and upgraded lighting enriches the overall merchandising presentation. Moveable counter and floor fixtures give the shop a more modern appearance and allow for various interior configurations to improve retail flow.

Thanks!

Thank you for building Game Changers.

The First Tee - Lowcountry extends our heartfelt gratitude for the generous support that made the 8th Annual Champions of the First Tee Golf Tournament a tremendous success.

At First Tee – The Lowcountry we are Building Game Changers and your gifts ensure that when they step up to the next shot, the next math test, the next presentation, the first day at a new school, they have the strength to move forward, aim further, and finish stronger than the last time.

PRESENTING SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

Don & Gloria Graber Watterson Brands

Ken & Joan Campbell Steve and Becky Schuckenbrock Dave & Patty Wetmore

Assured Partners | Club Car Hilton Head Insurance and Brokerage Swingfit | Bill’s Liquors

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Timothy Bakels | Eric Schultz & Jennifer Daly | Colleton River Club | Club Management Team and Staff, Colleton River Club Lowcountry Giving | Chris Dattilo & Mary Shannahan | Bill Fuentes, PGA Tour Superstore Rick Murrell, Titleist - Foot-Joy | Tom Reilley & Erin Booth, CRAB Restaurants | Hilton Head Builders Association

HOLE SPONSORS Gaal Custom Homes & Remodeling Altera Assured Partners BAM Advertising Bambi Boys Bannon Law Group LLC Belzar PC Bills Liquor Bob & Cindi Schultz Budget Blinds Bunker Boys Carolina Morning Firewood Catalyst Development Company Chemical Equipment Labs Club Car of Hilton Head

Coastal States Bank Collins Realty Group Colonial Insurance Colonial South Insurance - Cathy Farmer Colonial South InsuranceRobert Hummel Craig Bright Custom Audio Video D2 Management Dave and Patty Wetmore Deborah and Kim Mason Dick & Cathy Farmer Don & Kitty Krahnke Donna & Mike Perry Eberly Family Charitable Fund F. Lynn McPheeters

PRIZE SPONSOR Reilley’s Bar

Ferguson Team Forsythe Jewelers Geoff & Gwen Masterson Gerald and Pat Coghlan Heddon Hilton Head BMW John & Claire Suslak John and Gail Graham John Patterson Johnny Ussery Katherine and Jim Capps Keith Schmidt - DouleuRX Ken and Joan Campbell Kim & Don Campbell Lawrence Taylor - Charter One Realty Lexus of Hilton Head

LOCAL Life Malcolm & Julia Butler Marsh Contracting Mickelson Law Mike & Mary Briggs Nick Borghi Nix Construction Palmetto Dental Arts Paul & Roberta Gaines Paul and Phyllis Zaffaroni Reid & Susan Farmer Robert & Trish Heaver Trust Robin and Jim McInnis The Gifted Traveler Roc Dental Ruth and Joe Scodari

Simply Southern Homebuilder Site One Landscape Supply Southeastern Turf Grass Supply Stretchzone Susan and Tucker Jones Swing Fit Tactical Baby Gear The Conover Family The Duffers The Ferguson Family Tony and Sue Ying Tuesday Golf Gals Tumlin Levin Sumner Wealth Management/Hall Sumner Wellness Institute Wiseman Law

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

Jim Magruder, Co-Chair | Joe Dattilo, Co-Chair Grace Chu | Laurie Laykish Paul Zaffaroni | Pat Zuk

destinations

The Caribbean ALREADY SICK OF THE COLD? FIND WARMER CLIMES BY FLYING FURTHER SOUTH.

BY CHRISTOPHER KRUPL

CONNECTING FLIGHTS Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ) Duration: 5 hours, 14 minutes Airlines: United, American, Delta Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) to Nassau, Bahamas (NAS) Duration: 5 hours, 8 minutes Airlines: United, American, Delta

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If just hearing the words Anguilla, Barbados, Martinique and Saint Croix mentally transports you to a place where toasty white sand tickles your toes and paper umbrellas adorn your cocktails, then maybe you’re ready to book a trip to the Caribbean this winter to indulge in its more than one million square miles of sun and surf, palm trees and turquoise waters, lavish resorts and balmy, tropical weather.

The Caribbean, located between North and South America, is home to The Lucayan Archipelago, the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles and the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao), and its inlets, reefs, coasts and cays comprise more than 30 countries and territories ripe for island hopping and exciting exploration.

LOCAL Life knows it can get nippy in the Lowcountry this time of year, so here’s your one-way ticket to paradise, colorful culture, fabulous food and exotic marine life. LL

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CASA DE CAMPO RESORT & VILLAS

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) Duration: 5 hours, 49 minutes Airlines: United, American, Delta

Where to stay Dominican Republic: Casa de Campo Resort & Villas Casa de Campo embodies luxury in the Dominican Republic and is considered to be the best golf resort in the Caribbean.

This 7,000-acre private gated community resort, with hotel suite and individual villa options, also offers an equestrian center, a Real Madrid Foundation soccer school, a shooting center, sport fishing, donkey polo and night golf. Reserve a table at La Caña Bar & Restaurant that takes its name from the sugar cane crops that surround the town of La Romana and have been the driving force of the local economy since the 1900s. The restaurant features local ingredients and French-inspired fare, live music, handrolled cigars and an extensive selection of Dominican rums.

Start Your Journey Here 10 AIRLINES • 31 NONSTOP DESTINATIONS 31 Nonstop Destinations

Minneapolis MSP*

Appleton Appleto

*Seasonal Service

MKE* MKE

Detroit

ORD / MDW

CAK

Columbus LCK LC K

Indianapolis St. Louis ouis BLV* / STL BL

Boston Bo on BOS BO S

New Y York ork

Akron/ Akr on/ Canton

DTW DT W

Chicago Chicag

DEN

YYZ* YY Z*

GRR*

Milwauk Milw aukee auk ee

Denver

Toronto

Grand and Rapids Rapids

ATW*

Allentown ABE*

Pi sbur Pi sburgh

SWF*

New Y York LGA / JFK LG

Newark

PIT

EWR

IND*

Philadelphia

Louis ouisville ville

PHL

Cincinnati

Baltimore

CVG CV

SDF** SDF

BWI

Washington D.C. Washington DCA A / IAD

Nashville Nash

Charlo e Charlo e

BNA

CLT CL T

Atlanta lanta ATL

Dallas

DFW / DAL

Houston IAH / HOU

Tampa T Ditch the winter blues and escape to the Caribbean Connect through FLL, TPA, or MIA

TPA

Fort Lauderdale FLL

Miami MIA

flySAV.com

From Travel + Leisure, © 2021 Travel + Leisure Holdco, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations, Inc. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Be You. Be Home.

Be with the Rick Saba Team.

843.683.4701 ricksaba.com

Rick has personally closed more than 100 properties this year and the year’s not over!

Your go-to LOCAL Realtor!

30+ Year Resident 15 Year Top Producing Realtor

843.301.3333 tristanogrady.com 164

LocalLifeSC.com + DECEMBER 2021

ARM COLLECTION

THE OCEAN CLUB, A FOUR SEASONS RESORT

destinations

What to do Dominican Republic: Altos De Chavón Take a day trip to Altos De Chavón, a replica 16th-century Mediterranean village located in the heart of the Dominican countryside. It’s a cultural center for residents, tourists and working artists from all over the world. In its village center lies an awe-inspiring 5,000-seat amphitheater that boasts a rich roster of performances, spanning from Sinatra to Sting. The neighboring St. Stanislaus Church is a beautiful landmark and sought-after wedding destination that hosts Catholic masses every week. As the sun goes down, live music fills the restaurants and bars, and Mediterranean romanticism fills the air.

Bahamas: Aquaventure This 141-acre, 20-million-gallon, all-ages aquatic playground features 20 swimming areas with magnificent Atlantean-themed towers housing high-speed water slides and a mile-long river ride with rolling rapids and wave surges. Water-slide roller coasters include the Abyss, a 200-foot body-slide that sends you plunging 50 feet into a lagoon, The Surge, which starts at the top level of the 120-foot Power Tower and takes twists and turns downwards into the white-water rapids, and The Leap of Faith that takes adventurers on an almost vertical drop from the top of the iconic Mayan Temple by way of a 60-foot body-slide that propels riders through a clear tunnel submerged in a lagoon filled with amazing marine life. For the little ones, there’s Splashers, a Mayan-themed kids pool and water playground with three tube slides, a side-by-side slide, water cannons, cargo nets and rope bridges for climbing.

Jamaica: Dunns River Falls If you’re looking to experience unfiltered Jamaican nature, book a private adventure to Dunns River Falls. This full-day excursion includes hotel pick-ups and drop-offs and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to climb part of the 600-foot-tall iconic falls that continuously renews itself from deposits of travertine rock – the result of calcium carbonate from the river flowing over the falls. With its abundance of natural pools and views of Jamaica’s jungle greenery at every turn, Dunns River Falls is considered to be one of Jamaica’s natural treasures and a Caribbean gem.

establishing a new tradition for distinctive men’s clothing Bahamas: The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort This Bahamian beauty presides over a pristine white sand beach, five miles long, on Paradise Island’s north shore.

Choose to stay in an ocean suite, a plunge-pool villa or a beachfront villa residence and arrange for personal butler service, private chef dining and a coconut-poultice massage at one of eight Balinese-inspired spa villas. The resort also offers a lagoon-style family pool with a waterfall, an Ocean pool, an adult-only Versailles pool and an expansive Versailles Terraced Gardens showcasing statuary and white marble cloisters overlooking Nassau Harbor. No trip to The Ocean Club is complete without a stop at the Martini Bar and Lounge to sample its signature drink – a James Bond Martini with three measures of Gordon’s gin, one of vodka and half a measure of Lillet Blanc. A vacation at The Ocean Club serves as a reminder that no one retires up north.

Jamaica: Secrets St. James Montego Bay Resort Wake up to a sweeping azure ocean or lush tropical garden view at Secrets’ all-inclusive adult resort in St. James, Montego Bay, Jamaica. With 350 luxurious guest suites decked out in British colonial décor, Secrets has nine restaurants that serve up a variety of cuisines from French to Pan-Asian, including authentic Jamaican-Caribbean delicacies at Blue Mountain, and 10 unique bars and lounges.

Daily and nightly entertainment includes live music, theme nights, beach parties and shows. Guests also can enjoy bicycle tours, catamarans, cooking and dance classes, jogging trails, non-motorized water sports, scuba diving, snorkeling, tennis and windsurfing.

monday-saturday 10am-6pm village at wexford, suite j4b hilton head island 843-715-0713 DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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Stepping over the threshold of Her Majesty Margo’s Bluffton studio, I’m hit by a blaze of color, patterns and textures that rocks me back on my heels. There, artfully massed on the long work table sits a tableau of her textile creations that lures me in for a closer look. As we talk, master felter Margo Duke dips into its hills and valleys, pulling out vests, scarves, shawls and purses, along with a sampling of designs she’ll incorporate into garments or wall hangings.

Each piece encompasses hours of work, as she wet- and machine-needles felts, wools and silks and then stitches or hand sculpts them into swirls and flowers. Some even sport shiborri features, vertically embedded Japanese resist-dyed patterned ribbons fashioned into birds and blooms.

I run my fingers across all these raised details. Not only are they beautiful, but they are a tactile feast.

Taking note of my delight, Duke says, “It’s my rainbow.”

When I finally pry my gaze from this sensory banquet to check out the rest of her studio, I discover a wall of cubbyholes organized by color, some brimming with yarn, others with fabric she’s recycled from thrift stores. Over by the window a mannequin sports a hand-crafted coat, while another wears an indigo apron made from a deconstructed man’s shirt and adorned with lace, old earrings, embroidery, and found materials. Another wall displays her botanical hangings on leather, imprinted with blossoms and leaves sourced from her garden and on Lowcountry treks.

The artist, elegant with short blonde hair, has dressed in all black, a perfect background for each scarf, poncho or shawl she models for me. What’s more, so many of these pieces are light and airy, perfect for a Southern night.

When I comment on the sumptuousness of it all, she smiles. “I’m all about fancy things. I think in my last life I was a member of the royal court because I always liked more elaborate things.”

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Her Majesty Margo Duke

BY CAROLYN MALES

Green Vest

FEATURED ARTIST “Is that where Her Majesty Margo, the name of your company, comes from?” I ask.

Shooting me a sly grin, she explains that it partially comes from the fact that she spent her first twelve years in Scotland where “I sort of grew up with Prince Charles. But,” she adds, “It was actually that Princess Margaret’s nickname was Margo. So I figured if ‘Her Majesty’ is good enough for her, it’s good enough for me.”

“So,” I venture, “the roots of your craft go back to your childhood in Glasgow.”

VILLAGE AT WEXFORD HILTON HEAD ISLAND 843.686.KIDS islandchild.com

Get up close with the Port Royal Sound and bring your family to visit us this holiday season! Join us for a fun program or shop for holiday gifts.

“My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was six or seven.

It was right after the World War II, when everything was gray and drab, but my mother had a knitting bee and would give us the colorful ends of yarn,” she replies. “I was never athletic, so while some kids would be out there on the school playground standing on their heads, my friend and I would sit in a corner and crochet. We’d make crazy squares and sew them together.”

Saturday, December 4th 10am-2pm Your one stop shop for holiday gifts!

Featured items will include locally made jewelry, pottery, photography, sweet treats, paintings, steel & woodworking, ornaments and more. FREE ADMISSION!

Happy Holidays from Port Royal Sound Foundation!

310 Okatie Highway, Okatie SC

843.645.7774

Closed Dec 24th & 25th

More at portroyalsoundfoundation.org DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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Shiburri Bird (detail)

FINE APPAREL, SHOES & GIFTS 6 PROMENADE STREET, UNIT 1008 | PROMENADE | DOWNTOWN BLUFFTON 168

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She points out that textile art runs even deeper in her DNA. Her nana’s family, natives of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, were Harris Tweed weavers. On a visit there in 2003 she and her mother found that those elderly relatives still lived in the croft where they kept their loom, and they still had a flock of sheep roaming the hills.

So how does Duke create her textile magic today?

It begins with felting or interlocking fibers to create a matted material. Duke likes to work with merino wool, which she handdyes and combines with silks, cottons and other materials. To felt, she uses different processes — some wet, some dry. To illustrate the latter, she takes me over to her needle felting machine, which resembles a regular sewing machine but instead of a single needle with thread, it has twelve barbed needles (and no thread) that pierce and mesh fibers from one fabric to another.

For wet felting she works soapy water into fine layers of wool, manipulating them until the fibers stay together. “I like to do mostly Nuno felting, which is when you fuse silk with wool using cold water. Once the fibers go through the silk, you can switch to warm water. Now the wool shrinks, but the silk doesn’t, so it creates a shriveled-up, lovely texture.”

Next she offers a sensory lesson. From a bank of plastic drawers she takes out a silk hanky. It should be noted this is not the kind of hanky one would blow one’s nose into, but a layered block of thin silk fibers that have been pulled from a silkworm cocoon. She draws apart the gossamer layers and gives me an end. “Don’t be afraid to stretch it. Silk is very strong,” she says. We pull it between us until it looks like a spider’s web. “You can make it as thin as you want, and you can knit, spin or do whatever you want with it.”

From yet another bin she grabs a fistful of silk carrier rods, hard Tootsie Roll-sized silk tubes that still have sericin or natural gums in them. “I discovered that I can make great flowers from these.”

She hands me one, and we both tease their layers apart with our fingers, split them and shape them into petals for her trademark pinwheel roses.

Any and all of these can be used to embellish whatever piece she’s working on. She’ll also add lace, jewelry and buttons from vintage garments she’s picked up at thrift stores. “I’m a recycler,” she declares.

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Her pieces evolve organically. That means she doesn’t presketch her design. Instead she starts with a color in mind and then combs through her stash looking for other colors to pair up with it. She’ll also give it a jolt with what she calls “a poison” : rs sang And all the sand dolla or unexpected color. Then like a collage artist she continues h and be free!

Hatch little turtles, hatc to the sea! run and les Hatch little turt on, picking from the cornucopia of her collected and created swatches and incorporating them into whatever path (apparel or art piece) the fabric leads her on.

She does her dry work –– machine needle felting, sewing, applique –– in her studio while classical music fills the air.

Evenings she sits in front of the television and does handstitching. The messier parts of the projects, like wet felting and dying, take place in a tent out in her yard. Meanwhile, her botanical prints take life in a big heat press on the screened porch.

Before I leave, she fans out a selection of those hand-made papers, sometimes watercolored but always imprinted with petals and leaves. While they are perfect for journal covers, we both agree the patterns would make beautiful wallpapers. And they are certainly fit for a royal invitation. LL

Tur tle Myr tle the Loggerhead

Look for her work at The Maye River Gallery in Bluffton or at a pop-up show December 4 at the Blair Center for the Arts in Mt. Pleasant. hermajestymargo.blogspot.com

the

Loggerhead Tur tle

Created by Bill Borg & Mira Scott

Join Myrtle on her adventure of survival from Hilton Head Island to the Sargasso Sea and back!

Based on the story of a real-life super turtle, Myrtle the Loggerhead Turtle reimagines the beginning: the magic of a protecting mermaid, the danger of a shark and barracuda, and the yearning to return to Hilton Head Island for a very special job. With the colorful majesty of Mira Scott’s illustrations, we watch Myrtle from a hatchling to laying her first eggs 35 years later.

Scan the QR code and pre-order your copy today.

A signed copy along with a Limited Edition Art Print “Myrtle in the Sargasso Sea” is also available for purchase.

A percentage of every book sale goes to the Sea Turtle Patrol of Hilton Head Island.

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS

t

Have a special artistic talent? Step into LOCAL Life’s and the Hilton Head Island Office of Cultural Affairs’ monthly Creative Conversations spotlight. Go to culturehhi.org/portfolio/artist-of-the-month/ to apply or scan this QR code.

Yajaira Surrett: Stained glass & mosaic artist

BY CAROLYN MALES

The light glints off the vertical bands of yellow, red and blue chunks of glass and the mirrored strips that boldly spell out VENEZUELA. I’m standing here in Ridgeland at the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage, mesmerized by artist Yajaira Surrett’s personal version of her native country’s flag. The reflections bouncing off the mosaic’s irregular surface enhance its color and dimensionality.

“My Venezuelan Flag” and Surrett’s other stained-glass and glass mosaics are part of the center’s current show featuring four Latinx artists: Jesse Aguirre, Luz Celeste Figueroa, Nathalia Celeste Roca and Yajaira Surrett. The show’s title VeMe takes its name from the first two letters of their home countries, Venezuela and Mexico. But it’s also a clever take on the Spanish words for “See Me,” a theme that plays out in their works as they explore their identities and relationships to the Lowcountry.

As I wander through the gallery taking in Surrett’s subjects –– palmettos, mermaid, sea goddess, turtles, flowers, birds –– it’s clear she sees

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the world through prisms of color, texture and shape. It’s a view I will learn more about a few days later when she recounts her artistic journey from Caracas to California and beyond on her way to the Lowcountry.

[Q] You began your career as an architect in Venezuela.

[Yajaira Surrett] When I was young, I always dreamed of living in a huge house. I wasn’t rich and I wasn’t poor, but my mother told me, “You need to think big. I want you to have everything I couldn’t give you. And the only thing I can give you is education.” So I said I want to be an architect. My brother and sister shook their heads and said, “Hmmm. I don’t think so.” But I said I’m going to. And I did it. I went to the University of Venezuela and got my degree in architecture. Then I worked in Caracas as an architect, but only for one year because I met my husband who was there at the American Embassy. After we moved to California, I worked for an architectural firm that focused on commercial work.

[Q] Caracas has beautiful old churches. Did that awaken you to the possibilities of stained glass?

[YS] I am Catholic and every Sunday I went to church with my mother and sister, where you’re supposed to focus on what the priest is saying. But most of the time I was focused on the stained-glass windows. Venezuela used to be a Spanish colony, so they built churches in European style. The work on their windows was very elaborate. And when you’re sitting there and the sun starts moving, you’ll see those colors reflected on you. I also like the stories these windows tell. Back when people were illiterate, the church used them as illustrations for biblical teachings.

Now whenever we go to different towns, I tell my husband we have to visit a church.

[Q] You discovered the craft of stained glass when you were in Hawaii?

[YS] Over the years we lived in many different places, but in 2010 my husband was transferred to Oahu to work on military housing. I’d quit my job when we’d moved from California, so I had nothing to do and was getting bored. Then I saw a notice in the base newspaper about a class in stained glass.

But I was the only one who signed up, and it was canceled. So I got the name of the teacher and took private lessons at his studio. He was retired Navy and when he was ready to go back to the mainland, he asked, “Do you want the studio?” I said, no because we weren’t going to stay in Hawaii. But then what was I going to do with all those jars of glass that I’d paid for? That’s when he told me about mosaics, so I started doing that as well.

[Q] But you’re primarily self-taught?

[YS] Yes. I already knew the basics. If you asked me, “Yajaira, can you teach me how to play chess?” I can teach you how to move the pieces, but after that you have to figure out how to kill the king and queen. My glass teacher in Hawaii said, “I’m giving you the tools, but then you’ve got to start using your imagination.” So I continued educating myself by watching videos.

One Size Fits All. Whether they’re a newcomer to the Lowcountry or an oldtimer, everyone on your gift list will love a copy of Nelle and Ora Smith’s book Paradise: Memories of Hilton Head in the Early Days.

Stick a copy in a stocking, delight your Secret Santa, share it with your neighbors. Book us as a guest speaker for 2022 and beyond.

Call your favorite local store or 843.575.2222 today. Or email oraesmith07@gmail.com.

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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See More: VeMe runs through January 22 at the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage. The exhibition is a partnership between the Morris Center and Palmetto Luna Arts.

[Q] I see from the VeMe show that nature is your favorite subject.

[YS] Exactly. One of the first pieces I made in Hawaii was a bird of paradise flower. Then when we moved to Beaufort in 2013, I began working on pieces related to Lowcountry nature, like live oaks, palmettos, blue herons, sea turtles.

[Q] Those two torsos of Maria Guevara, one adorned with shells and the other with sea-colored glass, remind me of mermaids rising from the waves.

[YS] Everybody who visits Margarita Island, off the coast of Venezuela, goes to see Tetas de Maria Guevara. Guevara, who had owned all this area during the War of Independence, was La Patrona, the boss of all these fishermen who’d used these famous twin mountains as landmarks.

I made two different busts because I wanted people to see and admire the same project done in different materials.

[Q] Glass work is messy and can be hazardous—all those shards from cutting.

[YS] My studio is in our two-car garage. My husband’s antique car is on one side. On the other, he built me cabinets where I’ve organized all my glass and art pieces. My tools hang on the wall, and I have a big table for my cutting and crushing.

I draw my design first. Then I put it on the glass, trace and cut it. Glass can have different thicknesses. I don’t like when the glass is too thin because you just look at it and it breaks. Then I go “Oh, Yajaira, no more breaking glass. Let’s make a different shape...” When I finish working, I vacuum everything.

[Q] You’re also a plan examiner and a building inspector for the Town of Hilton Head. How do you fit your artwork into your schedule?

[YS] When I come home from work, I change my clothes and go into the garage and do some work until it’s time to cook dinner. I also work in my studio on weekends. I like to have on soft music, like Beethoven or Mozart, or no music at all. But sometimes my husband puts the radio on. Then when he goes away to the other side of the house, I turn it low, but when it’s nice crazy music, I play it loud. He sees me dancing and he says, “Are you working or are you dancing?”

The answer? Both. LL

DISCOVER THE COUNTRY DAY DIFFERENCE Are you searching for the best fit for your family—a school where your child will feel known, supported and positioned for success and happiness?

Learn about the multitude of offerings and the transformative curriculum at Savannah Country Day by scheduling a private campus tour tailored to your families' needs. Visit savcds.org.

Bluffton bus service beginning fall 2021!

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LOCAL ART & POETRY

Slinky Love I love to watch you move, sinuous as a cat.

I’m awed when you descend a stair, a cascade, smooth as poured cream, hesitating just enough at each new step to build intrigue.

When we play hand-to-hand, you are balanced and assured, with that subtle zinging hum, as you shift your weight back and forth and set my hands a-tingle.

And every time, you recompose, each coil stacked in place.

Then tragedy!

The cat surveilled, stalked, and pounced.

Curiosity or jealousy?

You can’t guess the motives of a cat.

Now you are all tangled, but trapped inside your twisted snarls, my heart still lies.

— Sansing McPherson

Cat vs. Slinky by Andrea Smith

Lowcountry Fine Art Photography

Email at margeagin@gmail.com

As Good as it Gets

Other Southern Impressions at MargeAginPhotography.com DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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Italian Heritage Festival

The annual Italian Heritage Festival at the Coastal Discovery Museum celebrated Italian culture with food, live entertainment, a grape stomping contest and more.

Keep on truckin’

Attendees of Touch A Truck at Coligny Plaza were able to see and touch vehicles such as a fire truck, ambulance, construction vehicle, turtle patrol, and of course the LOCAL Life Jeep.

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Faces You Know. Results You Trust.

Cocktails on the Sound

A private home on Ribaut Island hosted a fundraiser on Nov. 1 for SOAR Special Olympics. A good time was had by all.

43 RIVER CLUB DRIVE INDIGO RUN

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MONICA DAVIS

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Consistent producers for over 20 years, Becky and Monica have provided professional customized service and expert advice to countless buyers and sellers in the Hilton Head/Bluffton market.

Vroom vroom

At this year’s Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, a 1932 Packard 903 Deluxe Victoria won Best of Show. The car is owned by Richard Lambert of Port Orange, Florida.

www.HermanAndDavisProperties.com DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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TOYS J E W E L R Y A R T FRAMING CRAFT

Play Things Soft Toys by dolce

happenings December

Magnetic Wooden Blocks by tegu

2

1 Mr. Sogs Creatures

by Joelle Medici & Emily Doyle

Blockables Soft Blocks,Endless Fun

3

©ARNO DIMMLING

©LLOYD WAINSCOTT

Heritage Library Events 1. Colonial Christmas Tour Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery from 4-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 7, to learn about what Christmas was like during the Colonial Era on Hilton Head Island. Meet living history characters and hear from them what holidays were like in the past. Cost $5 per adult, children are free. At the intersection of Mathews Drive, Folly Field Road and U.S. 278. heritagelib.org.

2. A Soldier’s Holiday Tour Fort Mitchel, a Civil War era fort, from 4-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, and learn about what the holidays were like for the soldiers serving here during the Civil War. $5 per adult, children are free. Located in Hilton Head Plantation at 65 Skull Creek Drive. Gates passes are available. heritagelib.org.

3. Walking Tour - Historic Corridor Set for 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 11, this 2 1/2-mile walk starts and ends at Mitchelville and includes Queen Chapel AME Church, Cherry Hill School, Ft. Howell and Mitchelville Freedom Park. Participants should wear comfortable shoes, bring water and be prepared to walk 2 1/2 miles. Free and open to everyone, registration is required. 226 Beach City Road. heritagelib.org.

The Island’s premier gallery of contemporary American fine craft and art.

Upper Level, Village at Wexford 1000 William Hilton Parkway, J11 Hilton Head Island, SC

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843.842.2280 smithgalleries.com

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4

4. Historic Sites Open House Set for 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, visitors will step back in time with Hilton Head Island’s rich cultural history on full display as they enjoy each site at their leisure. The sites chosen show the different eras of Hilton Head history. Hear stories of our past from docents and living history characters, learn about the holidays on Hilton Head from the Colonial Period through Reconstruction and the many Gullah traditions that make our island such a special place. Don’t forget the Camellia Gardens and other wonderful sites at the Coastal Discovery Museum. Free and open to everyone, registration is required. heritagelib.org.

December 4-11, 2021

HeritageLib.org/HistoricHolidays Hilton Head Island is always a special place, especially during the holiday season.

Historic Holidays on Hilton Head Island celebrates our past and present and showcases Lowcountry history and culture.

Saturday, December 4

Gullah Market at Lowcountry Celebration Park, curated

by Gullah Celebration. 11am - 5pm. Featuring entertainment by

Louise Cohen of the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, Aunt Pearlie Sue, Ring Shouters and Deaz Guyz!

Visit heritagelib.org/HistoricHolidays to register.

Saturday, Sunday & Monday, December 4-6 Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park’s Drive-Through Holiday Light Display. Begins at dusk each night. This is a drive

through experience of lights in the heart of Historic Mitchelville. Free and open to everyone, registration is requested. 226 Beach City Road.

Visit heritagelib.org/HistoricHolidays to register.

Tuesday, December 7

Colonial Christmas at Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery.

4-5:30pm. Tour the cemetery and learn about what Christmas was

like during the colonial era on Hilton Head Island. Meet living history characters and hear from them what holidays were like in the past. Cost $5 per adult, children are free. At the intersection of Mathews Drive, Folly Field Road and US 278. Visit heritagelib.org/HistoricHolidays to purchase tickets.

Thursday, December 9

A Soldier’s Holiday at Ft. Mitchel. 4-5:30pm. Tour this Civil War era fort and learn about what the holidays were like for the soldiers serving here during the Civil War. Adult/$5, Children/free. 65 Skull Creek Drive in Hilton Head Plantation – gate passes available.

Visit heritagelib.org/HistoricHolidays to purchase tickets.

Saturday, December 11

Walking tour – Historic Corridor. 9:30-11:30am. This 2½ mile

walk starts and ends at Mitchelville and includes Queen Chapel AME Church, Cherry Hill School, Ft. Howell and Mitchelville Freedom Park. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and water. Free and registration is required.

226 Beach City Road. Visit heritagelib.org/HistoricHolidays to register.

Saturday, December 11

Historic Sites Open House. 1-4pm. Visitors will step back in time

with Hilton Head Island’s rich cultural history on full display as they enjoy each site at their leisure. Hear stories of our past from docents and living history characters, learn about the holidays on Hilton Head from the colonial period through Reconstruction and the many Gullah traditions that make our island such a special place. Free, registration is requested.

Visit heritagelib.org/HistoricHolidays to register.

Open sites on December 11th include: Fort Mitchel

Fort Howell

Gullah Museum

Coastal Discovery Museum

Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park

Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery

Register for all Historic Holiday Events at HeritageLib.org/HistoricHolidays

Historic Holidays is a reason for every history lover to celebrate this season.

Presented by The Heritage Library’s partners

happenings

Festivals & fun

Drive-through holiday light display Get in the holiday spirit with a drive-through experience of lights December 4-6 at Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park. Begins at dusk each night. Free and open to everyone, registration is requested. 226 Beach City Road. heritagelib.org.

Christmas Village in South Beach The Salty Dog will have thousands of lights illuminating the waterfront in South Beach now through January 1. Each Saturday until Christmas the Dog also will offer a complimentary s’mores and hot cocoa bar from 3-6 p.m., a fireside holiday happy hour from 4-6 p.m., and Santa will visit from 3-3:30 p.m. on his floating sleigh.

HHI Jingle Jingle 5K The Hilton Head Island Bridge Run and The Hilton Head Jingle Jingle Run are now one great race. The 5K and 10K will be held at 8 a.m. December 24, starting and finishing at Crossings Park. An awards ceremony will feature refreshments, music and door prizes. For more information and to register, visit bearfootsports.com.

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SHELTER COVE HARBOUR & MARINA

Shop Local. Shop Small.

VISIT OUR LOCALLY OWNED STORES & RESTAURANTS

Other great holiday light displays: HILTON HEAD ISLAND Shelter Cove Towne Centre Harbour Town Shelter Cove Harbour Hilton Head Fire & Rescue Station 3 Jim and Carolyn Neely’s house, Port Royal Reilley’s Grill & Bar Coligny Plaza The Village at Wexford Island Recreation Center

STROLL ALONG THE MARINA & SEE THE BOATS LIT UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

BLUFFTON Arborwood Lights, Arbormeade Circle Cahill’s Market The Promenade The Sharman Family Light Show, Neligh Lane RIDGELAND Brendlen’s Lowcountry Christmas, Driggers Lane LADY’S ISLAND Cadd Family Lights, Springfield Road BEAUFORT Bay Street Waterfront Park Mink Point Boulevard

Gi Cards

MAKE THE PERFECT GIFTS! (Visit individual shops & restaurants to purchase)

APPAREL / JEWELRY / GIFTS • Christmas on the Harbour • Dream Boutique • Neptune’s Niche • Ship’s Store • Southern Tide • Tradewinds • Treasure Island

FINE ART

• Nash Gallery

Sparkles & Spirits The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce’s Sparkles & Spirits Holiday Soiree & Silent Auction will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, at Burnt Church Distillery.

From great getaways to self-care and other great items, the holiday silent auction (Dec. 1-13) is a one-stop-shop for your holiday gifts. Your ticket gets you a flight of spirits from Burnt Church Distillery and food from SERG Restaurant Group.

Find more information and purchase tickets at HiltonHeadBlufftonChamber.org.

DINING / TREATS

• A&M Provisions • Bistro 17 • ELA’S On The Water • Frosty’s Italian Ices and More • Hilton Head Social Bakery • San Miguel’s Restaurant • Scott’s Fish Market • TOS Wine Bar • Top Dawg Tavern

SERVICES

• Memory Lane Portraits • Pure Salt Studios • Salon Shelter Cove

BOATS / MARINE

• Harbourside Yacht Sales • Ship’s Store / Marina Office

FISHING / TOURS / CRUISES

• Marina Charters & Water Sports Kiosk • Outside Hilton Head

REAL ESTATE / VILLA RENTALS • Dunes Real Estate • Trident Villa Rentals

ShelterCoveHiltonHead.com

Located Hwy 278 at mile marker 8, across from Palmetto Dunes.

DECEMBER 2021 + LocalLifeSC.com

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happenings

Art shows, plays & performances

The Sounds of Christmas FEATURING

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Matouk Pine Cone Hill John Robshow Barefoot Dreams Sail to Sabel

Join the Hilton Head Choral Society at its holiday concert to celebrate the joy and magic of the season with traditional tunes and carols for the Old Country and New World. The concert takes place at 7 p.m. December 10. hiltonheadchoralsocieety.org.

819 Bay Street • Beaufort, SC

cabana22.com • 843.812.3046

Insurance at the highest standards The Greatest Gifts One of the greatest gifts you can give is to thank someone for being part of your life. Kinghorn Insurance Agency is thankful to continue serving southern Beaufort County and the South Carolina Lowcountry. We are thankful for nights that turn into mornings, friends that turn into family, and dreams that turn into reality. We are thankful for the trust that our insureds place in us and we will be there when you need us most. Thank you!

Claims-Tested Experience You Can Depend On BLUFFTON: 843.837.3911

HILTON HEAD: 843.686.3911

www.KinghornAgency.com

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MLK Rocks The MLK Committee pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 8, with the first-ever music extravaganza, entitled MLK Rocks. The performance will feature five local soloists and the MLK Community Choir, made up of more than 20 churches.

Music will include Lowcountry Gospel, Blues, Motown and American Standards. Tickets are $20 per person and available at celebratemlk2022.eventbrite.com.

FEATURED SPEAKER:

Alex Kershaw

Meet award-winning author Alex Kershaw. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres as Kershaw talks about the 1944 World War II "Champagne Campaign." It followed the Rhone River going through the finest wine region of France and about some of the heroes who were a part of it, like Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in US history. Proceeds go to First Tee - Lowcountry. Attendance is limited to the first 60 people.

Tickets are $75 available at https://cbo.io/firsttee/tix

40 Years of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra 10 Years of John Morris Russell as Music Director during our 2021-2022 Season!

Elf the Musical Elf the Musical will be running at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina from December 8 through January 2.

Tickets can be purchased online at artshhi.com.

An HHSO Gift Certificate is the perfect option for the music lover on your holiday gifting list.

They can choose from many amazing concerts in 2022, including

Our Voices

Thirty-one accomplished artists from South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia join forces for a special art exhibition at University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts in Beaufort. The name of the exhibit — “Visual Conversations: Our Voices” — is inspired by how the artist engages with materials and media “to speak or to mirror a feeling that swells from within,” says artist Penny Beesley who coordinated the show, which runs through December 13.

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VISUAL CONVERSATIONS:

Tchaikovsky’s Fifth and a Spanish-French-Argentinian program in January

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JMR’s Greatest Hits and Tessa Lark’s debut in February

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The WORLD PREMIERE of Jessie Montgomery’s Piano Concerto with Awadagin Pratt in March

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Lean Ensemble Art will be playing at Lean Ensemble Theatre on December 9-19. One of Marc’s best friends, Serge, has just bought a very expensive painting.

To Marc, the painting is a joke, but Serge insists Marc doesn’t have the proper standard to judge the work. Another friend, Ivan, allows himself to be pulled into this disagreement. Lines are drawn, and these old friends square off over the canvas. As their arguments become less theoretical and more personal, they border on destroying their friendships. leanensemble.org.

Symphony Under The Stars and A Dance Party!

Finale in April!

See details and order Orchestra Series tickets at hhso.org or call (843) 842-2055

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

DONATIONS NEEDED! All proceeds go to improve the lives of animals.

happenings

Local markets Bluffton Farmers Market Every Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. the Bluffton Farmers Market will be open at 71 Green Street. Vendors include 7th Heaven Spices, Clark & Sons Farm, Palmetto Pops, Myers Family Farms, Sprout Momma and Tuten Farms, just to name a few. Check out the market’s Facebook page or text FARMER to 484848 for updates.

Farmersmarketbluffton.org

Purrfect!

Bluffton Artisan Market VO Fav TED Thr orit on ift Sto e H r Hea ilton e d!

46 Old Wild Horse Road | 843.MEOW Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm

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The Bluffton Artisan Market will take place from noon to 5 p.m.

December 12 at Burnt Church Distillery. Enjoy live music, food trucks and local makers.

Maritime Marketplace Shop for holiday gifts at Port Royal Sound Foundation’s Maritime Marketplace from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 4. A few of the vendors include Main Street Pottery, Meg’s Sweet Treats and Barb’s Boards. For more information, visit The Port Royal Sound Foundation Facebook page.

Enlightening conversations

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Fashionable

Coker

Friday Speaker Series: A Year of Turmoil The World Affairs Council of Hilton Head’s Friday Speaker Series “A Year of Turmoil” continues with a strong roster of upcoming speakers. Purchase tickets at wachh.org.

Holiday open house at Forsythe

Dec. 3: Nury Turkel, “The Future of the Uyghurs” Jan. 7: Farah Pandith, “How We Win: Countering Extremism Together Here & Abroad” Jan. 21: Mona Yacoubian: “The Arc of Crises in the Levant: Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq Post-ISIS”

Join the team at Forsythe Jewelers for its annual Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. December 8. Browse from a large selection of top brand jewelry designers including Roberto Coin, Marco Bicego, David Yurman, Lagos, Gabriel & Co., Sethi Couture, Jude Frances, Gurhan and more. Shop MacKenzie-Childs holiday decor and housewares in a fun and festive atmosphere. Enjoy complimentary gift wrapping with your purchase.

Evening Speaker Series The WACHH Evening Speaker Series takes place at 6 p.m. at SoundWaves. Tickets can be purchased online at wachh.com and include light appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages.

Jan. 11: J. Michael Williamson, “Right Whale: Our Coastal Visitors” Feb. 8: Margaret Coker, “Spies and Allies” March 8: Dr. William Patterson, “The Role of Foreign Assistance in U.S. Foreign Policy”

Holidays

Home for the

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry is caring for your loved ones in the comfort of their home this holiday season.

843-706-2296

HospiceCareLC.org

Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, Inc. is a registered 501-C(3) nonprofit organization. Serving Beaufort and Jasper Counties since 1982.

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#partingshot

Heart of oak

Palmetto Bluff

“Due to the position of the tree at the edge of the marsh, I was able to capture the full structure, from the exposed base to the twisted, growing branches. The biggest challenge was holding back the surrounding palmetto branches while getting the proper distance to capture and frame the vision.”

- DAVID MILLER, PALMETTO BLUFF

HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT Have you taken a great local photo?

Send your high-res image to info@wearelocallife.com or upload it at locallifesc.com/partingshot.

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Your Local Hearing Experts No Coupons. No Gimmicks. Just Sound Value.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Give the Gift of Hearing!

Call Your Local Hearing Experts.

NAVARRA COLLECTION

The Shops at Sea Pines Center 71 Lighthouse Road | Hilton Head Island | (843) 671-7070 Gate pass always cheerfully refunded!