• Bluffton Library to collect items to address community needs 12A
• New autopsy suite aids coroner in getting answers faster 16A
• Noted restaurateur retires, closes shop after 50 years 20A
• County honored for support of those with disabilities 23A
• Community Foundation awards $412,000 24A
On the Tuesday before Christmas in the lobby of the Bluffton Branch Library, about a dozen people gathered for a non-festive reason: To learn how to reverse the effects of a drug overdose.
Tony “Pops” Roberts, a former paramedic in Virginia who now runs with the Lady’s Island-St. Helena Fire District, and Amanda, a peer support specialist, are members of the First Responders Project, part of the Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department. The pair were conducting a free training class in the application of the Narcan nasal spray to anyone who showed up.
“What we do is we respond to opioid overdoses in the county. We’re trying to get those people into recovery, find out why they’re using drugs, and then we move on to try and get them help,” said Roberts. “The biggest thing that we do with this is we try to get Narcan out into the community.”
Narcan – also known as Naloxone – is a first-aid medicine that quickly reverses an opioid overdose. It can restore normal breathing, lasting about 15 minutes per dose,
enough time in Beaufort County for first responders to arrive on the scene to administer further interventions.
Most of the attendees were people worried about their grandchildren.
“I’m here because I have grandchildren, and I’m worried about them,” said Chuck Dulcie. “I have 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. I think this information is going to be helpful.”
When Lorraine Harrison saw the event pop up on Facebook. She put it on her calendar right away.
“I’m worried about my grandchildren. I wasn’t going to miss this,” she said.
Amanda said the six-member team frequently presents this program in schools, churches, the YMCA and anywhere else for groups that want the information. The mother of 17- and 8-year-old sons is just as concerned about what her children might encounter, especially when it comes to sharing lunches, candy and everything else.
“That was my jam for Halloween. (Drugs can be) disguised as Skittles, Smarties, any type of other candy. I tell my kid, ‘No matter what, you don’t take candy from other people. I would rather buy you a big bag of
sugar mess and let you run up and down my house, rather than pass away from opioid overdose,’” she said.
“The biggest issue that we have with what’s
going on right now is that this is making its way into our communities through what
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It’s that time of year that we love and dread. It’s a New Year (we hope it’s going to be happy, as everyone shouted at midnight on Dec. 31), and we look forward to all things “new.”
Starting a new year is not as simple as getting adjusted to writing or typing the date “2023.” We often feel like we must do something different to make our personal year better, bigger, more purposeful.
That’s why some folks make resolutions, set new goals for themselves, and plan ahead for new adventures and such.
It has been quite some time since I made any New Year’s resolutions. Like so many others, I couldn’t keep them past February. But I felt like I had to “play along” with the crowd and make known some sort of intention.
I usually resolved to “eat less, exercise more, and get healthier.” And to stop procrastinating. And I usually didn’t do any of those things, at least not for very long.
Eleven years ago this month, however, I made up my mind to follow through on my broken promises to myself and focused on losing 50 pounds over the course of the year. (If you have been reading this space for a long time, you might recall that I shared much of my adventure.)
I joined a gym, got a trainer, and I did what I set out to do. It wasn’t easy, but I accomplished my goal.
At this point, I’m a little older and more sedentary. I just don’t have as much energy to get up and get out as I used to. Consequently, I have “found” some of what I lost.
Recently, I have been considering going back to the gym, because my new insurance plan includes free membership. In fact, the insurance company just sent me a brochure
to show me how to feel healthier “in body, mind and spirit.”I get it. They want me to exercise, eat better and stay well so they don’t have to pay any medical bills related to NOT doing those things.
They even gave me some suggestions for improving my mental and physical health.
It all starts with a positive attitude. I suppose they have not read the title of this column. “Sunny Side Up” is how I see things. Do they think just because I’m of a certain age that I’ve gotten cranky and angry at the world? I was born with a positive attitude!
They tell me I should “get active” because it’s a mood booster and “reach out” to friends and loved ones to stay happy. My mood is generally bright, thank you. And I don’t need to reach out, because my friends and family are already in touch regularly.
But the physical exertion they suggest is what really got my goat.
I’m to start with “exercises that match my
abilities.” Well, duh! If I am not able to run 10 miles, I’m not going to try. If I can’t lift 200 pounds, I won’t go near the weights.
They suggest dance classes. Oh boy. They haven’t seen me cutting a rug in front of a live band. (Good grief. Did I just say “cutting a rug”? How old AM I?)
They suggest I “do strength exercises” –things like gripping a tennis ball, or wall push-ups. Do they think I’m a shriveled old mushroom of a woman? How heavy is a tennis ball?
The brochure does make a couple of good points, though. I have been doing some brisk walking, as they suggest. Because when it’s 30 degrees outside, I’m not doing anything slowly out there!
Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate the concern, and I recognize that I should be a little (or a lot) more active.
Maybe I’ll start after I finish up all the home projects I started last year.
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How impressive our community is in how it takes care of each other. This is a Bluffton Christmas story about which everyone needs to know.
Since 2018, the Bluffton Police Department hosts an annual holiday event in December called Shop with a Cop. The brainchild of a Bluffton police officer, each Bluffton school resource officer selects children from each Bluffton school whose family is experiencing financial challenges.
These children receive a $100 gift card and, with a Bluffton police officer, go to WalMart and Shop with a Cop. The students use the gift cards to purchase holiday gifts for their families or themselves. This year, the event was held Dec. 10.
Shop with a Cop helps children know there are police officers and neighbors, who they don’t even know, who care and advocate for them. The children and a parent or guardian arrive at Wal-Mart and the gift buying begins. We saw mothers cry from the generosity and children so overwhelmed they didn’t know what to do with this gift or how to even begin shopping with this
money.
There is a group of business leaders in our community who make this event extra special. Their kindness is an essential ingredient, which makes this event so special.
Ken Anderson from Benchmark Interiors is the head elf, and he rallies his colleagues, associates, and friends to donate to this project. This year, they collectively raised an impressive $10,000. I want to acknowledge the following for their efforts to bring joy to many children in Bluffton this holiday.
Ken & Arlene Anderson of Benchmark Interiors, Jim Jansen of Benchmark Interiors, Randy Jeffcoat of Jeffcoat Builders, Mike Lofstedt of All Pro Tires, Matt Bater of Full Circle Builders, Ron Boshaw of Boshaw Residential, Andrew Fishkind of May River
Contracting, Jonny Istrate of Island Plaster, Eugen Pop of Builtmart, Rick Watson of Watson Development, Michael Kronimus of KRA Architecture, Tim Huber of Ironline Steel, Kerrie and Jay Wiendl, and John Russell of Heuser Enterprises.
Donors also include Diane Ward, James Kowalczk, Kieran and Mary Stevens, Deborah Boshaw, Accurate Reproductions, Martha Cousino, Gae Davidson, and Denny Woodring.
Words cannot express the surprise and happiness on these children’s faces due to the wonderful spirit of our neighbors. Bravo, Bluffton!
Lisa Sulka is the mayor of the Town of Bluffton. lsulka@townofbluffton.com
We at Memory Matters wanted to take a moment to thank all the generous local organizations that provided us funding in 2022. We are grateful for their generosity and belief in what we do here.
One grant we are very excited about is the one from the Berkeley Hall Charitable Foundation. These dollars will allow us to partner with Beaufort Memorial Hospital to help detect early onset dementia in diverse communities through free Memory Screens.
Memory Screens, or MoCA’s (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), are non-medical evaluations that include a consultation for next-step recommendations and program options. More than 500 studies have shown that MoCA is superior to existing cognitive screening tools to detect Alzheimer’s Disease and 20 other disorders such as stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, and kidney disease.
The screening takes only about 15 minutes and is administered by a Memory Matters
trained professional.
The Berkeley Hall Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The goal of the Berkeley Hall Charitable Foundation is to help nonprofits improve lives by funding projects that address the basic human needs of the most vulnerable residents of the Greater Bluffton community.
Jill Horner Executive Director
With this feature, we seek to capture a glimpse of what you and your neighbors have to say about a variety of topics, issues, events –
and just plain fun questions. You might see us anywhere around town, with notepad and camera, randomly seeking out folks
who are willing to participate. If we find you, we hope you will want to respond.
On the sidewalks of Tanger 1
Outlet, we asked shoppers, “What are you most excited about for the New Year?”
Monique Frazier, Bluffton: “What business looks like in the New Year, and how it grows.”
Ken Jackson, Sun City: “That this one is over and hopefully they don’t pull what happened last year.”
we would consider to be legal drugs. These people are manufacturing these things in the basement of their houses. And what they’re doing is they’re finding a way to put these things into Tylenol, Advil, to make these things look like they’re Xanax or something that’s familiar to us,” Roberts said.
He told the audience that not long ago a resident complained of a headache to a co-worker, who gave the woman what she thought was two Tylenol. If her daughter had not found her nearly unresponsive, the woman would have died. It’s one example of why people need to be sure of the source of what they are taking, eating or drinking.
“If you didn’t open the seal on the bottle yourself, or it’s not somebody that you implicitly trust with your life, be very careful,” Roberts said. “If you dump a salt shaker out on the table and pick up one grain of salt, it only takes that much fentanyl to kill you.”
Amanda passed around a model of the Narcan nasal spray as she explained how to administer the dose. Those in attendance were given a free box of Narcan and were instructed in how to apply the nasal medi-
cine should they come upon someone who appeared to have a drug overdose.
“I’m going to quickly open the front because in the midst of an emergency, sometimes you forget,” Amanda said. The directions are printed on the inside of the box, but before reading them, she said, “we’re going to call 911. Before we even administer this medication, we know that the EMS/fire is positioned in this county so within two to
six minutes, they should be arriving.”
The next step is to examine the individual in distress by looking in their eyes.
“If their pupils are pinpointed – and you can tell the difference between a pinpoint and a regular pupil – we’re going to give them a sternum rub with our knuckles,” said Amanda. “And I don’t know if any of you have had your chest rubbed (like that), but it hurts. If they’re going to be okay, they’re
going to say, ‘Get off me, crazy, that hurts.’”
In many cases, the individual’s fingertips and the inside of their lips will be blue from lack of oxygen. That’s when one should pull the applicator out of the box, insert the tip in their nostril and firmly push the button at the bottom. This will spray the medicine into their nostrils and normal breathing should return.
Immediately turn the person onto their side because most likely, Amanda said, the person will throw up, and if they aspirate or breathe their own vomit, that becomes an additional problem.
Because opioids are so prevalent in prescription medicines, addiction can grasp anyone, including people like Amanda.
“I am in long-term recovery, and my story didn’t begin in the street. I had signs of blood clots in my lungs, and they were pushing pain medication. I stayed in ICU for two weeks, and it was there that the chemical took up my body. I was, for lack of better words, dependent upon it,” she said. “I have
five years in recovery, so every day if I meet people, I’m able to understand what they’re going through.”
Another surprising factor, said Roberts, is the number of drug overdoses in the population of people age 55 and older.
“We see it in retirement communities. It’s accidental. My father has dementia, and I can tell you I have to regulate his medicine every day,” Roberts said, because his father forgets when he has already taken it. “Or my mother has had surgery … and she’s had this pain medicine she says isn’t working. I tell her all the time that the last thing that’s going to happen is somebody in my family having an overdose.”
Nancy and Gene Horkay came for the information and were looking for ways to help.
“We’re kind of Good Samaritans where, you know, we’ve pulled people out of burning cars, and found people on the ground, on the street. And this could be a lifesaver if we ran into somebody with that kind of a condition,” said Gene Horkay. “We didn’t know about this stuff years ago. Maybe somebody just got hurt, so that was easy. But if somebody’s got
drugs in them, without this they’re dead.”
Nancy said it was an opportunity to separate fact from fiction.
“What’s the real thing? Is that what I’m seeing on TV? How close to the truth is it?” she said. “Now we know the reality of Narcan.”
As for being that Good Samaritan, Roberts and Amanda said that anyone administering the Narcan was protected by South Carolina’s Good Samaritan Laws (SC Codes 15-1-310 and 44-130-50).
“If you choose to use it, as long as it’s in good faith, you are perfectly protected by the Good Samaritan Law. If you choose not to use the Narcan, you are also still protected. That is your choice one way or the other,” said Roberts. “As Amanda said, we always tell everybody call 911 first. You want to make sure that the cavalry, as I call it, is coming.”
For more information on how to get the First Responders Project to give a presentation and training, or for individual training, information, and how to get a free kit, call 843-255-6020.
Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
Knowing that January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month, Debra Henderson wanted to help people struggling in the Lowcountry.
As information services librarian at the Bluffton Branch Library, she wanted to raise awareness about the poverty that is often unseen in the Lowcountry. She also wanted to encourage others to get involved.
Henderson decided to organize a drive for Bluffton Self Help, which could then distribute items to people in need.
Through the end of January, the library will be collecting items for Bluffton Self Help. Henderson said the organization has requested a variety of items, including: size 4 diapers, baby wipes, new socks and shoes, coats of all sizes, shampoo, Band-Aids, hand lotion, body lotion, toothpaste, shaving cream or gel, Q-tips, Kleenex, paper towels, toilet paper. Henderson also suggested donations of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer.
“The library is here to serve the community for life, learning and leisure,” Henderson said. “These are things that are really
important for people in their everyday lives. And right now, so many people are hurting. I was really just flabbergasted when I found out the stats through Bluffton Self Help about what’s happening in our community – and this is before the latest information came out with the inflation figures.”
Some of the statistics Henderson learned from BSH are:
• 6 in 10 Beaufort County neighbors and 3 in 4 Jasper County neighbors are “one flat tire away from crisis.”
• At the beginning of 2022, $57,000 was the livable wage for our area; based on newer data, that number is now $75,000.
• 36% of homes in Beaufort and Jasper Counties are sub-optimal, meaning they lack plumbing or complete kitchens, or it is overcrowded, and multiple families live together.
• At-risk categories: Poverty (less than $25,000 annual income), 14% in Beaufort and 24% in Jasper; vulnerable ($25,000$50,000), 18% and 28%; insecure ($50,000$75,000), 20% and 16%.
• Families in poverty are living in sub-optimal housing and are food insecure. They
from page 12A
receive food stamps/government assistance. As many as 30% have children under 18.
• Vulnerable families are scraping to get by, they are one flat tire from crisis. Often faced with impossible choices between their rent, medicine or food.
• Insecure families may have a little savings, but an illness resulting in lost wages or a large household expense will cause stress and disruption to their life.
Henderson said Bluffton Self Help also requested snack donations, which they will distribute to all the Bluffton public schools. On the organization’s list are the following: baked apple chips, Skinny Pop popcorn, Nature Valley oats and honey granola bars, Nature’s Bakery whole wheat fig bars, pretzels, Goldfish, BelVita Breakfast Biscuits, low-sugar juice boxes and bottled water.
If the drive goes well, Henderson said, the library might plan additional events for Bluffton Self Help.
“We live and work in a beautiful area, which can mask the fact that our community is in crisis,” said Danielle Dekruif,
marketing and communications manager for Bluffton Self Help. She said that 50,000 households in Beaufort and Jasper counties are not making livable wages.
Dekruif said the organization’s mission, which is “to bring our neighbors from surviving to thriving,” would not be possible without the community and partners such as the Bluffton Library.
The library is “helping to not only meet the basic needs of our neighbors but they are keeping the conversation going about what poverty looks like in the Lowcountry – a conversation that affects us all,” Dekruif said.
Donations can be dropped off inside the library between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Library staff will deliver the donations to Bluffton Self Help throughout the month of January.
For more information about Bluffton Self Help, visit blufftonselfhelp.org.
Amy Coyne Bredeson of Bluffton is a freelance writer, a mother of two and a volunteer with the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance.
Sooner or later, many of Beaufort County’s residents and even some visitors will be brought to the one-story brick building on Old Shell Road in Port Royal.
The Beaufort County Coroner’s office is one of the last stops for an individual who has died. The new autopsy suite that opened this past September gives the residents of Beaufort and surrounding counties quicker answers as to the cause of a loved one’s death.
“Having the facility within the county reduces the amount of time it takes to get results for most cases,” said Joni Skipper, the county’s forensic pathologist.
The cases that go to the coroner for autopsy are unaccompanied deaths, individuals that have died suddenly, died unexpectedly or may have died violently by suicide, accident or homicide.
Not every individual brought to the coroner’s facility requires an autopsy, according to Skipper.
Those that are known to be a natural death, in which there is no suspicious sign of foul play, can be signed out by a physi-
cian who had been treating the individual prior to death.
“Our primary goal is to establish the cause and manner of death. But with every case, we want to rule out foul play,” Skipper said. “We want to make sure that no one did something to this person. And also, we’re getting families answers. I think that that’s why most of us do this job.”
Prior to opening the new facility, those who required an autopsy had to be transported to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. It could take four or five days from the date of death to schedule the procedure.
Results can take up to 12 weeks, leaving family questions lingering, and perhaps delaying critical clues that law enforcement needs to help solve a case. According to the press release sent out when county council approved the Forensic Pathology Department along with the FY23 budget, “The addition of this department will cut down the waiting process to 24-36 hours for the autopsy and provide answers on the cause of death in 48 hours,
barring the need for tissue or toxicology-related specimen processing.”
A primary benefit to having the service available within the county is that, in most cases, Skipper and her team can get an exam done fairly quickly, she said, “and have the body ready for release to the family that day.
MUSC is still a backup for the county coroner in the event someone is unavailable, or there are so many cases that the department can’t get to them in a timely manner.
“The odds are if that’s the case, then MUSC is going to be behind, as well, because they serve so many counties in the state. But I think already we’ve seen that we’ve made a difference here,” Skipper said.
In addition to saving time, the proximity of the facility will save the county taxpayers $42,525 per year. Law enforcement agencies will save money because officers will no longer be required to travel to Charleston to observe autopsies or collect items used for evidence. Beaufort County averages 190 autopsies a year. It’s also expected that adjacent counties will be paying to use the Beaufort services about 50 times, according to the county.
Skipper explained that in basic terms a pathologist is a physician who is specially trained to examine body tissues, body fluids, and to diagnose or exclude illness.
“Forensic pathologists are trained to perform post-mortem examinations or autopsies to determine the cause of death or a manner of death,” said Skipper. “In addition to performing the autopsies and generating an autopsy report, we also are called to testify to these findings when those cases go to trial.”
A cause of death is the specific illness or injury that is directly responsible for a death. A gunshot wound to the head is a cause of death. Acute myocardial infarction, or heart attack, is a cause of death.
The manner of death is something used to give some information about the circumstances surrounding the death.
“There are five manners: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, and, in a very small number of cases, undetermined. Either we don’t have enough informa-
tion because of the investigation or the condition of body decomposition,” the pathologist said.
About 5% of cases are designated undetermined, according to Skipper. There might be competing manners of death, as in the case of a gunshot wound to the head: Was it a suicidal gunshot, or was it accidental, or was it a homicide?
“If there’s not enough information for us to determine which of the three, we call it undetermined,” she said. “Another undetermined cause of death would be if I have skeletal remains. We may request a forensic anthropologist to examine the skeletal remains to look for trauma. If they don’t find any, anatomically I don’t have what I need to make a diagnosis.”
Skipper said in examining individuals, there are obvious anatomic findings and there are subtle anatomic findings. If she has to autopsy an otherwise healthy person with no disease or injury found at autopsy, she will send specimens for toxicology tests. The results may come back as fentanyl as the cause.
“At the time of the autopsy, I don’t have a cause of death, so there are additional procedures, additional tests that we perform to help establish that cause of death. Toxicology is one of those services,” said Skipper.
That is one example of the many pieces that go into determining how a person died.
“Everybody has a part to play. We depend on the investigators to provide us investigative information from the scene, from circumstances, and interviews with family or witnesses as to what may have happened,” she said.
All of that information combined with the autopsy findings and any additional tests will result in determining the cause or manner of death.
“None of this can be done in a vacuum. All of the different pieces have to be considered,” said Skipper. “It’s a very challenging job. It’s interesting every day because I never know what I’m going to have.”
Gwyneth J. Saunders is a veteran journalist and freelance writer living in Bluffton.
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Join LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth (LCAHY) in our efforts to unite the community in promoting the positive mental health and wellness of our youth.
Signe Gardo, founder and owner of Hilton Head Island’s landmark eatery, Signe’s Heaven Bound Bakery & Café, has retired and closed her shop Dec. 24. “I have plans to finally relax and then write a cookbook with one of my daughters,” said Signe.
The business marked its 50th year in business, with Signe at the helm the entire time, on Aug. 11, 2022.
Although the iconic Heaven Bound Bakery Café at 93 Arrow Road will be closed for good, the facility itself is being refurbished and will re-open in February with a new eatery, Sprout Momma Breads. This family venture has become popular locally over 12 years as an artisan bread baking enterprise on Hilton Head Island’s north end, with regular appearances at regional festivals and farmers’ markets plus wholesale clients.
“They will do well,” said Signe. “Kim Tavino and her family are enthusiastic, youthful and have the right kind of work ethic to succeed in the restaurant business which can be stressful.”
Signe Gardo was still baking celebration cakes in the final week that her Heaven Bound Bakery & Café was open.
LCAHY is the only non-profit community prevention coalition in Southern Beaufort County that brings together representation from all community sectors to identify and implement strategies that promote positive youth development by addressing mental health, substance use/abuse, and related risk behaviors.
Signe’s original bakery café was opened in the summer of 1972 in a former lighthouse keeper’s cottage in the area of Sea Pines Resort called Harbour Town. It moved to its current location in 1984. Unpretentious in nature, the eatery has garnered both local and national celebrity status for its expansive, unconventional menu and fanciful, low-key décor. It was a favorite stop for Heritage Golf Classic greats like Johnny Miller and Tom Watson, as well as tennis superstars Martina Navratilova, Evonne Goolagong and Chris Evert in the Family Circle Cup.
Named Hilton Head Island’s Small Business of the Year in 2007 by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, Signe’s was once described by the New York Times as a “café with food that is as healthful as the climate and activities on Hilton Head Island.”
Morning and the Today Show. Signe herself has been portrayed in US Weekly Magazine and South Carolina Living.
TV celeb Rachael Ray stopped by in 2004 and swooned over Signe’s deep-dish blueberry French Toast. Grandmothers have routinely arrived with their granddaughters in tow to share the same jumbo oatmeal raisin cookies that they once ate while vacationing on the island.
Now 81, Signe figures she has made more than 4,000 wedding cakes and that she had plenty of help. “Staying in this business for this long, I didn’t do it by myself. I have worked with more than 2,000 employees over the decades,” she said. “They are part of my life and I just try to be respectful and appreciate what they are doing to make it happen.”
She also acknowledges to have never followed a business plan other than making her customers happy and living by her faith.
LCAHY is a recipient of the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grant awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)and administered by the CDC. The Community Foundation of the LowCountry serves as our fiscal agent.
Over its 50-year span, the bakery café has been featured in Southern Living Magazine three times as well as Bon Appetit, Travel & Leisure, Town & Country, Destination Weddings plus numerous other publications, as well as The Food Network, CBS Sunday
“About two years ago when I broke my leg, I began wondering how long this would last,” said Signe. “I did not think of an exit plan.
I just try to listen to the Lord each day. I knew that when it was time, he would let me know. And, now he has.”
Encompass Health and Rehabilitation Hospital of Bluffton recently awarded its first-ever Daisy Award for nursing excellence to Amber Graham, R.N. Graham has worked as a nurse at Encompass Health for four years and was honored at a ceremony held at the hospital with co-workers, friends, and family in attendance. Chief Nursing Officer Nancy Kendall said, “Amber is an outstanding nurse who embraces the art of nursing. She has a passion to serve and take care of others. She touches the lives of our patients every day and we are happy to have her as part of our
team.”
“We are proud to be associated with the Daisy Foundation and proud of the care that Amber delivers to our patients,” said CEO Wayne Boutwell. “The Daisy Award is one of several employee recognition initiatives we support here at Encompass.”
The hospital also recognized Angela Roberts, Rehab Nurse Tech, with the Sunflower Award for the excellent care she provides. Roberts received multiple nominations from patients for this honor.
Encompass Health and Rehabilitation Hospital of Bluffton is a part of Encompass Health Corporation based in Birmingham, Alabama. It is a 38-bed licensed inpatient rehabilitation hospital accredited by the Joint Commission, with Disease Specific Certification in Stroke Care.
The South Carolina (SC) Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN) awarded Beaufort County the 2021 Golden Palmetto Award.
The award is DDSN’s way of honoring SC county governments for providing outstanding support to individuals with disabilities.
DDSN Commissioners Barry Malphrus and Eddie Miller made the presentation to the council at the Beaufort County Council meeting in November at Buckwalter Recreation Center in Bluffton.
Beaufort County has made its Disabilities and Special Needs (DSN) board a county department.
This organization assures supported persons and their families of excellent services and needed resources in well-maintained facilities. A county council member serves on the agency’s Advisory Board to provide support and direction.
Ten years ago, Beaufort County made a commitment to design and construct a stateof-the-art facility to house their day program and other program offices. The county has
also constructed 11 residential homes for persons supported.
The county government commissioned a study by the University of South Carolina to assess the needs of families with individuals with disabilities. The results of the survey were used to inform lawmakers of the needs
of Beaufort’s disability community and how to better serve them.
Most recently, the county approved two accessible playgrounds for families and caregivers, and distributed Beaufort’s policies and service information translated into Spanish to churches, businesses and families.
Beaufort County DSN Director Bill Love said, “Beaufort County government has generously supported our department’s finances and programs and is dedicated to the employment of people with disabilities and special needs in Beaufort County. They definitely deserve the Golden Palmetto Award.”
DDSN has given the Golden Palmetto award for the past 47 years with the exception of 2019 and 2020, due to the pandemic. This year, Beaufort County has become a four-time winner, with previous awards received in 1983, 1990 and 2011.
“Beaufort County employs a significant number of people with disabilities at its agency,” Malphrus said. “Employment is one of the things I am most passionate about because it promotes independence for people who are disabled and is something that is very dear to me as I am a person with cerebral palsy who is self-employed and owner of my own business in our community. Thank you, Beaufort County for all you do for those with disabilities.”
For more information, visit ddsn.sc.gov.
In its first competitive grant cycle of the 2023 fiscal year (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023), Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded $412,000 in grants to five local nonprofit organizations.
These competitive grants are available to nonprofits serving people who live or work in southern Beaufort County. The grants support new or expanded programs that enhance the mission of the recipients.
“We are privileged to work with agencies that serve so many needs in the community,” said CFL Vice President for Community Investment Debbie Cahoon. “The projects that were funded this cycle will bring lasting benefit to the Lowcountry.”
The recipients of the fall 2022 Community Foundation of the Lowcountry grants are:
Memory Matters was awarded $45,000 to offset costs critical to expand Memory Care Adult Day Program, which will allow the agency to expand in-person program days/ hours and maximize the benefit to clients served.
Memory Matters also received up to $50,000 for an Endowment Challenge Matching Grant to grow the agency’s endowment fund.
Mental Health America – Beaufort/ Jasper was awarded up to $90,000, over two
years, to hire a bi-lingual counselor to provide services to Spanish-speaking members of the community who have been diagnosed with and/or need treatment for mental health conditions. Mental Health America will be collaborating with Volunteers in Medicine clinics on Hilton Head Island and Bluffton to maximize the benefit to the community.
Port Royal Sound Foundation was awarded up to $122,000 to develop and implement a research program to monitor the health of the Port Royal Sound. The program includes funding for a Research Coordinator, a database, and an online platform to ensure data is available to the community.
Programs for Exceptional People (PEP) was awarded up to $85,000 to purchase a van to transport PEP members to and from home, and to offsite locations necessary to participate in PEP programs.
Meals-on-Wheels Bluffton-Hilton Head was awarded $20,000 to expand the organization’s talent and technology project, allowing the agency to increase its efficiency and services.
The next competitive grant cycle will occur next spring. For more information about Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, visit cf-lowcountry.org or call 843-681-9100.
• Chuck Swenson will be the featured speaker during the Athletic Club of the Lowcountry meeting Jan. 9 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 351 Buckwalter Parkway.
An informal reception will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by Swenson’s presentation at 7 p.m.
Swenson, former men’s collegiate basketball head coach at William & Mary, worked with teams at three Big Ten schools – Indiana, Michigan, and Penn State, along with stints at Duke and West Point. He was on Bob Knight’s coaching staff during the 1976 undefeated season at Indiana, when the team won the NCAA tournament.
Contact Judy Barry at golfmates202@ gmail.com if you plan to attend.
• The next monthly meeting of Liberal Men of the Lowcountry will begin at noon Jan. 11 at the Country Club of Hilton Head.
Guest speaker is Grant McClure from the Coastal Conservation League, who will talk about the protecting the natural resources of the South Carolina coastal plain.
Cost for the luncheon is $27. Non-members who are considering joining the organization are welcome to come, but they must email bew_50@ hotmail.com in advance.
• Palmetto Quilt Guild will host an open meeting starting at 1 p.m. Jan. 19 at Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort, 40 Folly Field Road on Hilton Head Island. A social hour begins at noon. The meeting is open to anyone interested in the art of quilting.
Featured speaker is Sandy Fitzpatrick, who will demonstrate how to use machine stitching to create dimension with amped -up appliqué, decorative stitches, and thread painting. She is head of Hissyfitz Designs and is an appliqué quilt pattern designer. Her fusible appliqué patterns are full of whimsy.
Guests are welcome at a cost of $5 or become a member for $35 a year.
The next day, Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m., a Fusible Appliqué with Decorative Stitching Workshop will be held at Palmetto Electric Community Room, 1 Cooperative Way, Hardeeville. Participants will learn Fitzpatrick’s techniques for fusible appliqué in the morning and focus on machine stitching enhancements in the afternoon to create a wall-hanging.
This class is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced appliqué artists and machine quilters.
Non-member cost is $48, and member cost is $40. A kit fee of $12 is due day of class. There is still time to register but seats are are limited. For more information and to register, email palmettoquiltguild@gmail.com.
• World Affairs Council of Hilton Head will present Ambassador Lawrence (Larry) Butler, former deputy secretary of state and NSC director for Europe, who will speak on “The Balkans: The Next Battle Ground?” Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head Island.
Butler will address the many issues that affect the Balkans and their path to EU membership and peace. He devoted four decades as an American and international diplomat to deterrence, crisis management, conflict prevention, and promotion of human rights and democracy. He currently helps train U.S. Army units preparing to serve in Europe, the Middle East and Korea.
Guests are welcome for a $20 fee. For more information, call 843-384-6758 or visit wachh.org/event-4791306.
World Affairs Council of Hilton Head is a 501(c)(3) non-partisan organization that takes no political positions. Its mission is to educate, engage and inspire the community about world affairs.
• Lowcountry GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing) provides help, compassion, understanding and grief support for those who have lost a child, spouse, parent, sibling or a loved one to drug or alcohol abuse. The meet-
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The next meetings will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Jan. 21 and Feb. 18 at the Bluffton Library, 120 Palmetto Way. There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is suggested prior to first meeting.
For more information or to pre-register, contact Steven at 843-384-0938 or sweber7151@gmail.com, or visit the GRASP website grasphelp.com.
• James River Greyhounds’ local representatives will be featuring retired race greyhound adoptions at local PetSmart stores on the following dates from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Hilton Head Island, first Saturday of the month; Bluffton, second Saturday of the month and Hardeeville, third Saturday of the month.
Anyone may come meet these sweet gentle dogs and learn about their transi-
tion to pets after their racing years end. For more information, call Chris Schlentner at 847-321-1771 or Karen Shea at 804-356-4102.
• The Bluffton Branch Library will host two special programs this month. A free series of South Carolina Law Talks will begin Jan. 24, held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The first topic is “Starting a Business,” suitable for anyone starting a business, or business owners who have legal questions. Registration is required by calling 843-255-6503.
On Jan. 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., author Suzanna Eibuszyc will discuss her book, “Memory is Our Home,” and travel back in time to Poland during WWI through WWII. She will talk about Soviet Russia, the Ukraine Famine, and of how members of her family survived Stalin’s Russia, Uzbekistan, and a forced labor camp.
This is a two-part presentation, with a short break between Part 1 and Part 2. Registration is not required. Doors open at 10:45 a.m.
The Bluffton Library is located at 120 Palmetto Way, in Bluffton Village. To learn more about these and other events visit beaufortcountylibrary.org/calendar.
• Volunteers have always been the lifeblood of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra (HHSO), and more people are being sought to help existing volunteers.
Opportunities include: Ushering for concerts at First Presbyterian Church, SoundWaves, or during the Hilton Head International Piano Competition; hosting an HHSO musician or HHIPC competitor in one’s home; coordinating HHSO musician hosts; helping out in the HHSO office at SoundWaves; and joining the HHSO League.
Anyone interested may call 843-842-
2055 or email info@hhso.org.
• The quarterly Lowcountry Christian Women’s Connection luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Hampton Hall Clubhouse, 170 Hampton Hall Blvd. in Bluffton.
The event will include a “Jazz It Up” feature, Speaker Tempe Brown, and a mini Jazz and Blues Concert.
Reservations must be prepaid with a $28 check payable to CWC Bluffton mailed to Carol Mock, 607 Argent Way, Bluffton SC 29910. For information contact Mock at 843-705-7604 or Julie Ott at 602-750-5465 or Julie.ott.az@gmail.com.
The Bluffton Sun welcomes news of community, club, church, school and organization events. If the event is open to the public, email info to editor@blufftonsun.com.
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The Town of Bluffton is proud to present a recap of its 2022 highlights and accomplishments.
Improvement Projects:
• May River Road Pocket Park: The May River Road Pocket Park, is a third-acre passive park, located at 1220 May River Road, in front of the Stock Farm neighborhood. It was completed this fall. It features landscaping, a small plaza, seating, and two sidewalks to provide connectivity between the Stock Farm neighborhood and the May River Road sidewalk system. The Marks Family donated this land to the Town in 2017. This land donation enabled the Town to preserve open space and create a small pocket park which complements the amenities of Stock Farm and the May River Road Streetscape Project.
• Bridge Street Streetscape Project: The first phase of the Town’s Bridge Street Streetscape Project began in early December and will continue through the end of summer. This more than $1.1 million dollar project for its first phase will include improvements to sidewalks, parking, street lighting, drainage, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant crosswalks on Bridge Street from Burnt Church Road to Calhoun Street. The project’s objective is to improve pedestrian flow, connectivity, walkability, public safety and improve stormwater runoff drainage and water quality along this route.
• Buck Island Drainage Improvement Project: The Town was scheduled to begin the estimated $119,000 Buck Island Road drainage improvement project Dec. 26. The project will upgrade two existing roadway culverts crossing Buck Island Road that are designed to reduce the risk of flooding. This project is designed to protect residents’ properties and as well as road infrastructure.
• Sidewalk Improvement Projects: The Town completed construction for the Goethe-Shults and Buck Island neighborhood sidewalk projects. These projects are designed to improve pedestrian safety and enhance connectivity to neighborhood parks, schools, and area shopping.
• Park Improvement Projects: The Town completed the following park improvement projects: grass replacement and electricity power pedestals at the “Field of Dreams,” area of Oscar Frazier Park, installed new paver pathway at Pritchard Street Pocket Park and replaced flooring at Rotary Community Center.
• Pritchard Street Sewer Extension Project: The Town completed the first phase of the Historic District’s Sewer Project on Pritchard Street. This first phase installed 2,550 linear feet of main sewer lines and which services 25 properties with houses and four (4) additional undeveloped lots. Additionally, the project also retired 25 septic tanks, a process known as “abandoning septic tanks,” so they pose no further threat to the local environment.
• DRCI’s Strategic Plan Update: DRCI will focus on entrepreneurship and small business growth while working with local & regional partners who specialize in other economic development activities.
• Partnership with City of Hardeeville: DRCI signed a second-year partnership with the City of Hardeeville to grow entrepreneurship and small business in the city and Jasper County. DRCI will be working with existing business owners on expanding or adjusting their business plans and will help new entrepreneurs just starting out in Hardeeville’s growing city.
• DRCI 2022 Statistics: Twelve companies participated in DRCI’s incubator programs in 2022, 65% of them are based in Bluffton. DRCI has 1023 members and 62 business mentors. DRCI hosted 22 events at The Hub.
DRCI companies raised $362,000 in funding for their businesses and 76% of DRCI companies have a 3-year survival rate.
• Small Business Grants/American Recovery Plan Act: Bluffton Town Council
established the Small Business Assistance Grant Fund to assist small businesses which were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses, located in the Town of Bluffton limits, were able to apply for a maximum amount of $20,000 per grant.
• Non-Profit Grants/American Recovery Plan Act: The Town, working with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL), distributed up to $20,000 grants to individual non-profits which were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and whose representatives serve low-to-moderate-income residents of Bluffton and/or underserved communities. The maximum amount which each organization can be awarded is $20,000. Town Council set aside $520,000 for this grant program from the federal funds received by Bluffton via the American Recovery Plan Act.
• Fiscal Year 2023 Consolidated Budget: Town Council approved the Town’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 consolidated budget ($60,459,649). With this proposed consolidated budget, property taxes have remained steady since 2014; with a tax decrease in
2019. The new fiscal year began July 1, 2022 and extends through June 20, 2023. The consolidated budget is comprised of four different funds which include General Fund, Stormwater Utility Fund, Capital Improvements Program Fund and Debt Service Fund. The FY 2023 consolidated budget totals $60,459,649 and is structured to move the Town forward through program enhancements to include improved delivery of services and its capital projects schedule.
• Accommodations Tax Funding: Town Council awarded more than $731,000 to nine (9) non-profit organizations in support of their events which are in part designed to increase tourism to the Town of Bluffton. A sampling of those awarded projects are Town of Bluffton/Squire Pope Carriage House Restoration Project, the Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival, Bluffton’s Farmers Market, Bluffton Gullah Heritage Center and the Town of Bluffton Welcome Center via The Heyward House. The Accommodations Tax funds are generated from a tax on the gross proceeds derived from the rental of rooms for lodging or sleeping accommo-
dations. These funds are then dispersed to non-profit organizations for their events which promote tourism, arts, cultural events, and other tourism-generating activities.
• Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) named Town of Bluffton as a Triple Crown Winner in September 2022. GFOA’s Triple Crown designation recognizes governments who have received GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, and Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for a fiscal year. The Triple Crown designation represents a significant achievement. To qualify, each entity must meet the high standards of all three separate award programs. Each award program recognizes governments that produce reports which communicate their financial stories in a transparent manner and meet award standards.
Bluffton Police Department (BPD):
• Mental Health and Wellness Program: The BPD established a 10-component pro-
gram to promote mental health and prevent officer suicide. This program includes the 2021 hire of a community mental health advocate (the first agency in the state to employ a mental health professional on staff), and a sergeant in charge of recruiting and wellness.
• Reflection Plaza: A component of the Mental Health and Wellness Program is the Reflection Plaza, a paved area behind the BPD that will provide a place of respite for officers to decompress from the demands of policing. It is equipped with a grill, picnic tables and outside furniture. Hargray Communications donated $35,000 for this project which will be completed in early 2023.
• Municipal Association of South Carolina (MASC) Public Safety Achievement Award: The MASC awarded the BPD an Achievement Award in the Public Safety category for its Mental Health and Wellness Program.
• New Chief of Police selected: Town Manager Stephen Steese selected Joseph Babkiewicz as BPD’s new chief. Babkiewicz began as chief Dec. 29, 2022. Please see REVIEW on page 30A
The Hilton Head MLK Committee for Social Justice is sponsoring a Career Day from noon to 4 p.m. Jan. 21 at Hilton Head Island High School, 70 Wilbon Road.
This event is open to all high school students in Beaufort and Jasper counties and their parents.
The goal of the event is to provide families with information about two- and four-year colleges, skilled trade programs with apprenticeships and internships, the educational benefits of a military career, and careers in public safety or utility companies.
Information about the Career Day will be made available to guidance counselors in the high schools prior to the event and students are encouraged to speak with a counselor if they seek assistance or have questions.
Representatives from participating colleges will have information on academic and/or skilled trade programs, information on entrance requirements and financial aid or scholarships offered.
The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, a local nonprofit organization, will also be onsite to discuss the more than 30 different financial aid opportunities available and managed by them.
Several key personnel will be at this event to discuss the financial advantages of joining the Armed Forces while obtaining a college degree or learning specialized skills that will continue to be beneficial as a veteran.
A virtual simulator, like those used in video games, will be onsite, providing a unique opportunity to demonstrate how gaming skills can translate into the lucrative technical skills that local businesses are recruiting.
Essential in every community, public safety and the utility companies’ representatives will be present highlighting careers ranging from administrative to out-in-the-field training. Internships and/or apprenticeships might be available.
Food trucks will be available for food purchase in the school parking lot during the event.
For patients recovering from a stroke, surgery or illness, getting home is their goal – and ours. It’s this passion that makes us the trusted choice in rehabilitation services. This holiday season our hope is that everyone can experience the joy of being home.
Bridge is a game you can enjoy for a lifetime! Please join us this winter at the Hilton Head Island Bridge Club for lessons Friday mornings 10:00 – 12:00. The course will run for ten weeks, you can attend the classes as they fit your schedule. If you are brand new to the game,
Jan 13 Introduction to Bridge and Taking Tricks
Jan 20 Choosing a Contract
Jan 27 Opening Bids, Hand Evaluation
Feb 3 No Trump Opening Bids and Responses
Feb 10 Major Suit Opening Bids & Responses
Feb 17 Major Suit Bidding/Practice Hands
Feb 24 Minor Suit Opening Bids & Responses
March 3 Minor Suit Bidding/Practice Hands
March 10 Overcalls
March 17 Bridge Plus Game
Jan 18 Preemptive Opening Bids
Jan 25 Weak Two Bids
Feb 1 Take Out Doubles
Feb 8 No Class: Hilton Head Regional Tournament
Feb 15 Stayman Basics
Feb 22 More on Using Stayman March 1 Jacoby Transfer Bids March 8 More on Using Jacoby Transfer Bids
10 – 12
Supervised Play! Each session begins with a ten minute mini-lesson, and then each table plays hands at their own pace. You are able to ask questions at any time about bidding, defending, playing the hand. It is a perfect way to practice in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Come alone, come with a partner, or come along with a full table. Cost is $10. Any questions: kristimenees@mac.com 551-795-6329
• Accreditation: The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) reaccredited the Bluffton Police Department (BPD) in November. This is the fifth time CALEA has awarded BPD this distinction since 2009. This accreditation is effective for four years. CALEA Accreditation serves as the International Gold Standard for Public Safety Agencies.
• BPD accepts first major private donation: Through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry’s BPD Benevolence Fund, the BPD accepted its first major private donation. The Town accepted its first donation for one of its three newly established charity funds. Bluffton resident Samantha “Sam” Boyd gave $20,000 to the Bluffton Police Department Benevolence Fund with $10,000 earmarked specifically to better equip Bluffton’s K-9 program and the remaining $10,000 will be used for miscellaneous police programs.
• Town’s Toy Drive and Shop with a Cop: These two programs provide hundreds of gifts to community children, especially those from families who may be experiencing
financial challenges. The community donated gifts and donations and BPD officers distributed the gifts in mid-December for the holiday season.
• Citizens Police Academy: BPD finished its annual Citizens Police Academy in early December. This 8-week, free Academy course gives residents a glimpse into the Bluffton Police Department (BPD), the experiences of its officers, the multi-faceted skill sets required of law enforcement officers and the specialized divisions of BPD. This academy is usually scheduled for the fall.
Neighborhood Assistance Program: The Town spent more funds for this program than in any other year of this program, underscoring the urgent need for affordable housing and affordable venues to maintain houses in our community. The Town spent more than $160,000 in 2022, helping 26 Bluffton households. The program assists with repairs to homes and properties of lowto moderate-income residents and is operated through the Town’s Affordable Housing Committee. Repairs include projects such
as leaking roofs, unstable or unsafe floors, failing septic tanks, inaccessible private roads, removing of unwanted items and unsafe structures from a resident’s property, ensuring local emergency services have an official address to a resident’s property, and assisting in obtaining proper paperwork for heirs’ property. Most projects are focused on keeping Bluffton residents safe and dry in their homes.
Town’s 2022 Initiatives:
• Affordable Housing Neighborhood Initiative: The Town partnered with a private developer, Workforce State of Mind, LLC, to build affordable housing neighborhood as one solution to the regional workforce housing shortage. This project will include at least a dozen housing units at 1095 May River Road, a 1.78-acre site that the Town bought in 2018. The Town will donate the land and reimburse the developer for the planning, permitting, design and infrastructure costs to reduce the overall cost of the homes. This new neighborhood will be protected by a 30-year affordability covenant, which
means these homes will be affordable and reserved for those who are income-qualified, regardless of current market values, for three decades.
• Regional Housing Trust Fund: The Town, along with its neighboring municipal counterparts, have formed a Regional Housing Trust Fund to address the need for affordable housing in the Lowcountry. The partners have pledged $3.4 million to start the initiative, which will launch in January. The objective is to create new housing units or rehabilitate existing housing units at affordable prices, as deemed by certain percentages of the Area Median Incomes. An organization called Community Works will manage the fund.
• Strategic Plan: Town Council approved the Town’s Strategic Plan and its Action Agenda at the April 12 council meeting, putting into motion the Town’s workplan for the next two years. The Action Agenda, which is basically the Town’s updated to-do list, was compiled from input from residents,
Winter in the Lowcountry typically sees a lull in the new business calendar, but that was back in the days when brick and mortar ruled the roost. We have plenty to discuss, both new businesses and some fond farewells.
Welcome, welcome!
Parker’s Kitchen, 5 Oliver Court, Bluffton, 843-901-2280, parkerskitchen.com: You’ve been seeing it sprout up on Bluffton Parkway for most of 2022. It seemed done for the past couple of months. But yes, the new Parker’s is open. So now you have gas options on both sides of that stretch of the parkway. This Parker’s is a bit different than others, though. There are fewer pumps than most of the recent additions around town. On the plus side, the kitchen offerings are a
bit more extensive. I’ve tried the catfish and it more than makes up for Cracker Barrel taking catfish off their menu (Jim ’N’ Nick’s
still the chain fave, Chef B’s and Da Shack the local gems).
Two new gift shops at Tanger
December was a busy month for Jenny Alberson and the crew over at Tanger Outlets Hilton Head, as they welcomed two new themed gift shops. At Tanger 1, Bay Breeze opened in mid-December next to Adidas. The store is all about both beach and ocean-themed apparel and Hilton Head and Bluffton branded tees and sweatshirts. Down the road, Mermaid of Hilton Head has opened next to Zales. What began as an ocean conservation boat tour idea has grown into children’s books and a new retail location for Mermaid Nina, husband Captain Rick, and their ocean-roaming crew. Check out the new store for everything you need to live the mermaid life, including your very own swimmable mermaid tails.
One bit of bummer news out of Tanger:
Please see UPDATE on page 32A
Since 2018, the Bluffton Police Department hosts a holiday event called, “Shop with a Cop.” The brainchild of a Bluffton police officer, each Bluffton school resource officer selects children from each Bluffton school whose family is experiencing financial challenges. These children receive gift cards and with a Bluffton police officer, go to Wal-Mart and “Shop with a Cop.” The students use the gift cards to purchase holiday gifts for their families or themselves. This event was held Saturday, December 10.
This event helps children know there are police officers and neighbors, who they don’t even know, who care and advocate for them. The children and a parent or guardian arrive at Wal-Mart and the gift buying begins. We saw mothers cry from the generosity and children so overwhelmed they didn’t know what to do with this gift or how to even begin shopping with this money.
A group of business leaders made this event extra special.
Ken Anderson from Benchmark Interiors, as head elf, rallied his colleagues, associates, and friends to donate more than $10,000.
The Town of Bluffton and its Police Department is thankful our community as neighbors help neighbors, all year long and especially during the holiday!
The eatery and self-pour concept that is Tapville Social will not be coming to the back parking lot side of Tanger 2. We were excited to see what this was all about, as it’s been teased for months. But alas, it was not meant to be. Tanger officials say a new business is taking over the space in the coming months.
We have some farewells to share and some tips of the cap to three amazing businesses that have brought decades of smiles to the bellies of Lowcountry foodies.
The grand dame of them all, Signe Gardo, decided to hang up her apron after 50 years of baking and cooking on the island’s south end. Gardo cooked her last batch of Christmas meal packages for more than 50 families and closed the doors of Signe’s Heaven Bound Bakery and Café at 93 Arrow Road on Christmas Eve.
Signe’s is believed to be the longest-running restaurant with a single owner on Hilton Head. The adventure began at Signe’s World deli in a lighthouse keeper’s cottage at Harbour Town in August 1972. She moved to Arrow Road in 1984 and proved the roadway could be more than just a cutthrough road, that it could support thriving businesses.
Signe’s has been a favorite of both the golf and tennis pros that have played and stayed on the island. Gardo, now 81, has been easing toward retirement since breaking her leg two years ago, but her most diehard fans never believed this day would come. Gardo plans to share her half-century of kitchen adventures in an upcoming cookbook she is working on with her daughter.
She is one of the kindest and most humble souls you’ll find. Our waistlines may be thinner without her, but the end of an era leaves a gaping hole in the heart of the Lowcountry business community.
The happy news here is the space will continue to host incredible eats. Sprout Momma Breads is taking over the space after a bit of renovating. Kim Tavino and Ryan Fennessey have been a fave of the market circuit with their fresh take on old world bread-making – and now they will have a central location to share their breads and sandwiches. Plans are to open in
February.
We’ve talked about Lisa “Bernie” Bernstein and how her combination of big heart and mouth-watering baked goods has wowed foodies. Well, Bernie will be closing up her Palmetto Bay Road location on Dec. 31 after a rent hike forced her to rethink her operation. Not to fret though: After a three-week break, Bernstein will be doing advance-order baking after working out a deal with a local restaurant to use their kitchen. Watch The Purple Cow Facebook page for updates.
Off island, we’re saying goodbye to the brick-and-mortar Riverwalk location for The Lunch Lady. Mindi and Brandon Meyaard have been comfort food favorites for 15 years, so much so that the business has expanded to a thriving catering and food truck business. The couple have been easing away from dine-in for a bit (COVID and a lack of staff expedited that evolution), and simply put, one of the balls in the air had to go.
Mindi shared on The Lunch Lady Facebook that the family has lost eight family members over the past 30 months, which has caused the couple to reassess priorities. They will continue the catering and the food truck, but their last day at Riverwalk will be Jan. 5.
Finally, Marleigh and Mike Hammer will be closing the doors at their Berkeley Place location for Sunset Slush Hilton Head. Ongoing maintenance issues at the plaza combined with shifting priorities have forced the Hammers to downsize and focus their entrepreneurial efforts on their housecleaning business, HammerTime Cleaning. Marleigh will also be competing in the Miss Plus America state pageant in Columbia in the spring.
This is a quartet of four of the hardest-working and kind-hearted families around, the kind of guts, spirit and talent that make the Lowcountry the special place we know and love.
Tim Wood is a veteran journalist based in Bluffton. timwood@blufftonsun.com.
Jan. 6
Beginner Shag Lessons, four-week series, offered by the Hilton Head Island Carolina Shag Club, resume Jan. 6 at Heinrichs Hall, inside Christ Lutheran Church, 829 William Hilton Parkway on Hilton Head. Lessons 5:30 p.m., with check-in at 5:15 p.m. Visit hiltonheadshagclub, facebook.com/HHICSC, or call Bruce Zimmermann at 843-363-6008
Jan. 7
Kirsten Maxwell, 7 p.m. at Music on Malphrus, 110 Malphrus Road, Bluffton. General admission $25 at door, open at 6:15 p.m. Located at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Lowcountry. 843-837-3330, uulowcountry.org or MusicOnMalphrus@gmail.com
Jan. 8, 9
Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra concert, “Rachmaninoff and Sibelius,” John Morris Russell, conductor; Jaeden-Izik Dzurko, piano. 4 p.m. Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9, at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Pkwy., Hilton Head Island. Pre-concert discussion one hour prior to concerts. Tickets $25-$70 at hhso.org.
Jan. 18 “A Musical Feast,” benefit for Hilton Head International Piano Competition and Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, 6 p.m. Sonesta Resort Ballroom, 130 Shipyard Drive. Performance by 2008 HHIPC winner Ran Dank, with members of HHSO, and tenor Bernard Holcomb. Tickets $150 at hhso.org. Call Eileen Durkin at 570-460-2878 by Jan. 6 for reservations of tables of 8 and other seating requests.
Jan. 19-21, 26-29
“The Lifespan of a Fact,” Lean Ensemble Theatre, a humorous battle of facts vs. fiction, at Main
Street Theatre, 3000 Main St., Hilton Head Island. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19-21 and 26-28, 2 p.m. Jan. 22 and 29. Talk backs after Friday and Sunday performances. Tickets $45, discounts available. leanensemble.org or 843-715-6676
Jan. 22, 23
Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra concert, “Mendelssohn’s Elijah,” John Morris Russell, conductor; featuring vocalists Michael Preacely, Victoria Okafor, Krysty Swann and Bernard Holcomb, with HHSO Chorus and Georgia Southern University’s Southern Chorale. 4 p.m. Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 23, at First Presbyterian Church, 540 William Hilton Pkwy., Hilton Head Island. Pre-concert discussion one hour prior to concerts. Tickets $25-$70 at hhso.org.
Jan. 28
Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Youth Concerto Competition, featuring young musicians from throughout the southeastern U.S. 1 p.m. at SoundWaves, 7 Lagoon Road, Hilton Head Island. Tickets $20 general admission.
“Anything Goes!” at Art League Hilton Head. Annual Member Show, celebrating the many art forms represented by members, in any media, size, shape, form or subject. Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Jan. 11; attendees invited to vote for favorite art pieces. Awards to 1st, 2nd, 3rd places. Gallery hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday, and 90 minutes before every Arts Center performance.
Jan. 29
Pre-Valentine’s Day Party and Tribute to Adele and Amy Winehouse, at Kind of Blue, 19 Dunnagan’s Alley,
Hilton Head Island. Featuring Alyce Marie and the Charleston band Me + Mr. Jones. Shows at 5 and 8 p.m. Music charge $20.
Conceptual Photography by Kendra Natter, featured exhibit at Society of Bluffton Artists gallery, 8 Church St., Bluffton. Opening reception 3-5 p.m. Jan. 8 at the gallery, free and open to the public. sobagallery.com or 843-757-6586
Through Feb. 12, 2023
“Avant Gardener: a Creative Exploration of Imperiled Species,” exhibition by artist Lisa D. Watson, at Coastal Discovery Museum, 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island. Gallery hours 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
Feb. 17-19, 24-26
“The Odd Couple,” by Main Stage Community Theatre at Coligny Theater, Coligny Plaza, Hilton Head Island. Directed by Ron Ruckle, featuring Kyle Price as Oscar, Mark Erickson as Felix. MainStageCommunityTheatre.org
SOBA Call for Artists, for 29th annual Judged Show, March 6-April 2, 2023. Form available at the gallery, 6 Church St. in Old Town Bluffton, or online at sobagallery.com/product/register-for-judged-show. For complete rules, guidelines and more information, visit soba.com or call 843-757-6586.
KYRA SPRING SALAD 12
Mixed Greens, apples, strawberries, candied walnuts, served with white balsamic (GF)
16
Wild caught salmon sauteed with a honey garlic sauce served with jasmine rice
HOUSE REUBEN 12
Sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing on marbled rye
9
Seasonal vegetables, eggs and toasted bread
ANGEL HAIR AIOLI 11
Angel hair mixed with fresh garlic and herbs mixed with evoo and topped with parmesan cheese
CALIFORNIA BURGER 13
Blend of certified angus beef, short rib, and brisket, applewood bacon, avocado, provolone cheese, and tomato on a toasted brioche bun
CHICKEN PARMIGIANA 17
Breaded chicken breast topped with marinara and mozzarella cheese, served over a bed of spaghetti
SICILIAN CHICKEN MARSALA 19
Tender chicken medallions smothered with mushrooms in marsala reduction, tomatoes and greens served with spaghetti
SHRIMP JAMBALAYA 22
Fresh jumbo shrimp sauteed with sausage and onions, seasoned to perfection served over jasmine rice
36
Pan seared scallops with creamy Mediterranean herbs served with sauteed greens
PEPPERCORN FILET 29
8oz. grilled beef tenderloin finished with rich demi glaze, green peppercorn, touch of cream and tarragon, served with baked potato
SHRIMP AND CLAM SPAGHETTI 20
Jumbo shrimp, and chopped clams in a white wine reduction and a touch of marinara over a bed of spaghetti
LOBSTER EGG ROLLS 15
Maine lobster with carrots, kohlrabi, brussels sprouts, and hand tossed pastry shells baked crispy golden brown
SAUTEED MUSSELS 13
Sauteed mussels with fresh garlic touched with homemade marinara (GF)
18
Fresh grouper filet with herb crust served with seasonal vegetable (GFR)
25
Baked wild caught salmon, garlic, spinach, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, white wine reduction served with seasonal vegetable
Crispy pita chips topped with house seasoning, ground lamb, arcadian lettuce, onions, tomatoes,
OVEN
12
BRUSSELS SPROUTS 15
Brussels sprouts roasted with fresh garlic and herbs drizzled with balsamic reduction (GF)
ANTIPASTO MEDLEY 16
Chef selection of fine cheeses and meats (GFR)
NEW YORK STRIP STEAK 25
12oz. char grilled New York strip steak served with baked potato
SPAGHETTI BOLOGNESE 15
Tender semolina pasta tossed in homemade Bolognese sauce
AMERICAN BURGER 14
Blend of certified angus beef, short rib and brisket, caramelized onions and cheddar cheese on a toasted brioche bun
24
Lobster and cheese stuffed ravioli with ala vodka sauce, topped with blackened shrimp
Dr. Erin McCoy, Associate Professor of English and Interdisciplinary Studies at USCB, has released a new book titled “A War Tour of Viet Nam.”
Based on extensive research and interviews, her book examines the cultural history of the Vietnam War and its lasting impact on the regions where it was fought. She examines popular songs as vehicles for expressing ideas about race, patriotism, protest and other defining concepts of the Vietnam War era.
Part history, part travelogue, this new
If you’re looking for exceptional and compassionate eye care, you don’t have to look far. Bishop Eye Center now has seven physicians in three Lowcountry locations to welcome you with an exceptional eye care environment and premier patient experience right where you live.
When it comes to caring for your vision, you deserve the very best.
Celebrated for distinctive live performances spanning American and international roots music, jazz, classical, jam, rock, and blues genres, the Savannah Music Festival is revving up its 2023 season, which runs from March 23 through April 8.
Tickets start at $31 and can be purchased online at savannahmusicfestival.org, by phone at 912-525-5050 or in person at the Savannah Box Office, 216 E. Broughton St.
“Our 34th season expands upon what our organization has always championed, creating a compelling musical experience of global scope within Savannah’s Historic District,” said Artistic Director Ryan McMaken. “We welcome audiences and artists into our creative community to enjoy stellar performances in intimate, historic indoor venues as well as expansive outdoor spaces.”
SMF 2023 features a series of outdoor performances at Trustees’ Garden, including two nights showcasing living legend and blues pioneer Buddy Guy on his “Damn Right Farewell” tour with special guests Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Eric
Gales, King Solomon Hicks and Jontavious Willis. The Tedeschi Trucks Band returns after a four-year hiatus, and New Orleans jam favorites Galactic teams up with funk maestro Cory Wong and the jazz, R&B and pop fusion of Nate Smith + KINFOLK for a special performance.
Classical highlights include the Philip Dukes & Friends chamber music series, led by the world-renowned viola player and SMF Associate Artistic Director Dukes. A concert by the Zurich Chamber Orchestra,
also with Dukes and former SMF Artistic Director Daniel Hope, represents a symbolic passing of the baton from Hope to Dukes. The festival will offer a number of onetime-only programs and special double bills. Melding world music with Americana, Malian master of the ngoni (precursor to the banjo) Bassekou Kouyate shares a bill with Jake Blount, scholar/performer of the Black string band tradition, appearing with Nic Gareiss and Laurel Premo. Master old-time and bluegrass practitioners Bruce Molsky,
Tony Trischka and Michael Daves share the stage with The Onlies, which finds the mentors alongside a young, award-winning string band.
Acclaimed jazz violinist Regina Carter offers “Gone in a Phrase of Air,” an original music and multimedia performance that explores the effects of the urban renewal of the 1950s and 1960s.
Always exceeding expectations for festival goers who are eager to discover new favorites, 2023 debut artists include Terence Blanchard, Patty Griffin, St. Paul & the Broken Bones, Leo Kottke, Regina Carter, Sona Jobarteh, Natu Camara, Stanton Moore Trio, Los Lobos, and more.
Additional highlights include a Zydeco Dance Party featuring Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, a Latin Dance Party with Eddie Palmieri’s Latin Jazz Band, as well as a Cajun Dance Party featuring The Lost Bayou Ramblers.
For more information, visit savannahmusicfestival.org.
community/business leaders and town staff, culminating at the annual strategic planning session that was held Feb. 15, 2022.
• New Comprehensive Plan: After a series of public meetings, surveys and revisions, the Town adopted its Blueprint Bluffton, the Comprehensive Plan for the next 10 years. The plan will guide Bluffton’s next decade of growth and help the Town to prioritize projects and allocate resources.
• Historic Preservation Grant Program: The Town awarded its first Historic Preservation Grant, a $20,000 award, to the Historic Bluffton Foundation Dec. 12, 2022, for exterior renovations to the Heyward House, 70 Boundary St. The Town’s Historic Preservation Grant Program is available to owners of Contributing Resources to the Old Town Bluffton Historic District. Owners of qualifying structures in the Old Town Bluffton Historic District can apply for grants up to $30,000 for residential structures and for up to $20,000 for non-residential/commercial structures.
• Town’s Charitable Funds established: The Town partnered with the Community Foun-
dation of the Lowcountry and established three charitable funds.
The Bluffton Police Department Benevolence Fund will support the department’s mission, program, services, and outreach program, including its annual Toy Drive. This fund can be used to direct funds to other specific police programs, projects, and services.
The Town of Bluffton Parks and Public Art Fund supports the development and enhancement of public parks and art.
The Bluffton Lutzie 43 Scholarship Fund provides annual scholarships to students who are ambassadors of safe driving habits. This scholarship fund is also supported by the Town’s annual Lutzie 43 5K race.
• Mobile Town Halls: The Town hosted two public Mobile Town Halls at Town Hall and at Bluffton Police Department, as well as hosting two Mobile Town Halls for neighborhood associations. Participants received an overview of town government, operations, initiatives, projects, and policies.
If your neighborhood or organization would like to host this presentation, contact Public
Information Officer Debbie Szpanka at dszpanka@townofbluffton.com.
• Inaugural newsletter: The Town mailed its inaugural 12-page newsletter to Town residents with information about the Town’s events, policies, projects, and processes. The Town is scheduled to distribute this newsletter twice a year, in the fall and in the spring.
• Inaugural Independence Day Celebration: The Town of Bluffton hosted its first Independence Day Celebration, July 2, 2022, with a pre-party at Martin Family and DuBois Parks and a fireworks display at Oyster Factory Park, with viewing also at Wright Family Park.
• Inaugural children’s events: The Town of Bluffton hosted two children events this summer at Town parks. “Jump into Summer” was held June 11 at Buckwalter Place Park and “Slide Out of July” was held July 16 at Oscar Frazier Park. Each event attracted hundreds of residents and children.
• Inaugural “Movie in Parks” events: The Town hosted six movie nights at town parks
throughout 2022.
• 7th Annual Historic Preservation Symposium: The Town hosted its annual Historic Preservation Symposium May 19. This year’s theme, “Let Me Tell You About the Bluffton I Know,” featured stories of Bluffton from long-time residents.
• Lutzie 43 5K and Scholarship Program: The Bluffton Lutzie 43 5K, an annual race to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, was held April 2, with nearly 170 participants, raising funds that were used for four scholarships. Scholarship recipients received $1,000 each for being ambassadors of safe driving habits.
• May River Cleanup and River Sweep: The Town hosted its annual two cleanup events April 30 and Sept. 17. These annual cleanups are held at the beginning and end of boating season as an effort to keep the May River and its surrounding areas clean of litter and debris.
• Arbor Day and Palmetto Log Celebration: The Town celebrated Arbor Day Please see REVIEW on page 40A
April 29 by planting a Live Oak tree in Oyster Factory Park and acknowledging the Palmetto Log project at Wright Family Park. The Town honored the 29 Palmetto trees that Dominion Energy removed from the Historic District due to safety reasons and repurposed them as planters for the Wright Family Park.
• Spooktacular: The Bluffton Police Department (BPD) hosted its second annual Safety Spooktacular Oct. 28 at Oscar Frazier Park. This event evolved from the annual National Night Out. In 2021, the National Night Out was canceled due to weather, so BPD combined the objective of National Night, which is to provide a venue for the public to meet with first responders, with Halloween fun. The Spooktacular event was embraced by the community and a new tradition was born. National Night Out event is now officially retired and Spooktacular is BPD’s annual event.
• Annual 9/11 Ceremony: Each year, the Town hosts a ceremony to honor anniversary of 9-11; honoring the 2,977 people killed in the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, at
the World Trade Center, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. It is held at the Buckwalter Place Park at the Bluffton Veterans Memorial.
• 51st Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade: The Town’s 51st tree lighting was held Dec. 2, with the 51st Christmas Parade held the next day.
• Inaugural #ReadyBluffton Preparathon: A week-long #ReadyBluffton Preparathon was held in May to prepare residents for hurricane season, severe weather events and other critical incidents.
Jacob Martin was inducted into the Town’s Wall of Honor Nov. 8, 2022. Martin’s public service career spans decades. He was a police officer in Detroit, Michigan, and a police chief in Waukegan, Illinois. He later taught government and economics at McCracken High School in Bluffton and retired as a district office administrator after 23 years of service. Jacob also served as a municipal court judge for the Town of Bluffton from 1992-1995.
• Chris Hervochon, CPA, CVA has been selected as one of the 2022 “40 Under 40” in the Accounting Profession by CPA Practice Advisor magazine.
This is the fourth consecutive year Hervochon has received this recognition. He is featured in the October digital edition of CPA Practice Advisor magazine. The award recognizes 40 professionals who are under the age of 40 and have emerged as future leaders in the profession.
Hervochon operates a virtual accounting practice that specializes in helping marketing and creative agencies achieve greater profitability and grow confidently.
cooking, painting and entertaining.
Dollenberg Properties is managed by the collaborative team of Eric and Hillary Dollenberg. Lifelong residents of Hilton Head Island, the couple have sold millions of dollars of real estate on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton. For more information, visit dollenbergproperties.com.
• Technical College of the Lowcountry’s marketing department has been honored with two National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) Medallion Awards.
TCL received a gold Medallion for its 2022 State of the College report and a bronze Medallion for its program flyers. The awards, chosen from nearly 300 entries, recognize excellence in design and communication at community and technical colleges at the district level.
TCL marketing staff members are Leigh Copeland, assistant vice president for marketing; Mark Rand, graphic artist; and Mindy Lucas, public relations specialist.
• Matt and Whitney Wortman have joined Dollenberg Properties of KW Luxury Hilton Head. The duo shares a passion for real estate, and both have extensive background in customer service.
Matt has been in the real estate business for a year, and previously owned a mechanical contracting company. He interned for a real estate office while growing up on Hilton Head Island. Whitney recently earned her real estate license and is eager to get her real estate career started and learn from the Dollenberg Properties Team. Previously, she was a retail store manager where she enjoyed the customer service aspect.
Matt & Whitney have a sixth-grade student, Landon, at Hilton Head Prep and enjoy going to his sports events. Matt enjoys fishing, golf, and watching the Miami Dolphins. Whitney enjoys pickleball with a group of local moms,
The awards were presented at the NCMPR Medallion Awards Ceremony at the District 2 Fall Conference in St. Petersburg, Florida, in October. TCL is a member of NCMPR District 2, which includes 11 southeastern states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia – as well as Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and The Bahamas.
The National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) is the leading professional development association exclusively serving those working in communication at two-year community and technical colleges.
The Bluffton Sun welcomes news of new employees, promotions, awards and honors, as well as new businesses and relocations. Email info to editor@blufftonsun.com.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) has entered into a three-year agreement with Telescope Health, an innovator in offering value-based health care solutions, to provide telemedicine services to patients throughout the Lowcountry.
The partnership marks the latest expansion for Telescope Health and represents their initial footprint in South Carolina.
“We’re committed to improving the quality of life in the Lowcountry and that includes providing easy to access care when and where it is needed,” said Russell Baxley, Beaufort Memorial president and CEO. “As we continue to innovate and improve services for the community, this new partnership with Telescope Health will help us ensure that our patients’ needs are met.”
Patients seeking urgent care through the 24/7 BMH Care Anywhere platform via the app, the BMHCareAnywhere.org website, or kiosks at select Publix locations in the Low-
country will now be cared for by one of the board-certified physicians on the Telescope Health team.
The BMH Care Anywhere platform, launched in 2018 as the area’s first consumer telehealth service, will now be enhanced with the addition of Telescope Health staff offering real-time advice for acute symptoms, connecting patients with Beaufort Memorial providers for any necessary follow-up care, and providing prescriptions when appropriate.
“We’re passionate about addressing access to care concerns and our services will integrate seamlessly into Beaufort Memorial’s established tradition of doing just that,” said Telescope Health co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Matthew Thompson. “We’re truly honored to support patients in this region by offering them flexible consultation options during their healthcare journey.”
Kyle Train has been named general manager of Hilton Head National RV Resort in Bluffton, with responsibility for daily operations of the 97-acre RV resort that opened earlier this year.
The promotion of Train was announced in December by Bill Layman, vice president of operations for Scratch Golf Inc.
Scratch Golf is a subsidiary of The United Company, a diversified holdings enterprise whose holdings include RV resorts and golf courses, including the renowned championship Hilton Head National Golf Club that sits adjacent to the new RV Resort.
“Train has excellent management and communications skills that will provide value to our day-to-day operations,” Layman said. “He will have leadership responsibility for operations, marketing and guest experiences.”
A native of Toronto, Canada, Train is a graduate of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he earned a degree in commerce. He is an accomplished business owner, public speaker and golfer.
Train founded a golf instruction company, Fewer Bogeys Golf, after college, and comes to his new position following a year with the
United Company based in Bristol, Virginia.
“United Company has been very supportive, and it’s a privilege to work in the RV industry where I see potential for tremendous growth over the coming decade,” said Train. “Recent studies have shown more than 80% of American households plan to spend more time outdoors in the near future, and the RV industry is a leader in serving this intention.”
Train is eager to begin his new position.
“At Hilton Head National, we are implementing fresh ideas that will highlight the exceptional features of our new RV property in ways that will endear our hospitality and leisure brand identity with our guests,” he said. “We are looking forward to its becoming known as the finest RV Resort in the Southeast.”
Hilton Head National RV Resort opened in January of 2022.
Complementing its 97 acres are an array of special amenities. These include a lazy-river pool complex, children’s playground, a two-acre, fully enclosed dog park, two miles of walking trails, clubhouse and chef-staffed restaurant and tiki bar.
There is also a secluded adults-only area that has a separate pool, hot tub and clubhouse bar.
The resort is open to Class A, B and C motorhomes, as well as 5th wheels and other towables. It is the only RV Resort in the immediate Hilton Head Island area that welcomes towables.
Misconceptions of estate planning can make it sound like a dreadful and time-consuming task, especially for young families. However, with the proper assistance of a qualified estate planning attorney, it can be quite simple.
Crafting an estate plan involves more than just outlining how you want your estate and assets to be managed. Similar to your life changing when you became a parent, your estate plan needs will also change once you have children.
Parents typically expect that their children are going to survive them – we don’t want to think about the alternative. However, there are unfortunate instances where either one or both parents have died leaving minor children behind.
Thus, it is important for you to take the
time to consider who you’d like to raise your minor children – should the unthinkable happen – and manage their inherited assets. If you don’t decide, then a court (a stranger to you) will make its own appointments.
A guardian is an individual appointed by a court to care for your minor children. The appointed guardian would be entrusted with all the power and responsibility of a parent. A good estate plan will name a guardian to care for your minor children and also name a guardian (or trustee) to manage the inherited assets for the minor children until they become adults.
Remember, naming the person who you want to raise your minor children in the event of an unexpected tragedy is one of the most important decisions to make. As you begin to evaluate your potential candidates, here are some things to consider:
1. First and foremost, realize that no one
but you will be the perfect parent to raise your children. Your candidates aren’t you, so there might have to be compromises in some areas.
2. Make a list of those who you would want to raise your children. Narrow the list by ranking the candidates based on certain values and priorities that are important to you.
3. Your named guardian does not have to be a relative. There might be situations where you believe that a close friend would be a better fit.
4. How comfortable are your children with the candidate? Take your children’s opinions into consideration.
5. How far away does the candidate live? Would your children have to relocate from everything that is familiar to them during an emotionally difficult time?
6. Does the candidate have a similar parenting style that you agree with? If the can-
didate has their own children, you should take into consideration how the candidate has raised their own children.
7. If the candidate has children of their own, do your children have a healthy relationship with theirs?
8. Would the candidate have the time and energy to take on a guardianship?
9. Is the candidate willing to serve and assume that responsibility? Don’t just assume that the candidate would be – have a conversation with them to discuss your desire to name them as a guardian.
Thinking about not being around to raise your children is understandably not something that many want to consider. However, planning for that “what if” is something that must be thought about and planned for.
Jada L. Gaines is an associate attorney with Elder Law & Estate Planning Center in Bluffton. hiltonheadelderlaw.com
HALO Primary Care is a new primary care office in Bluffton, SC. Here at HALO, we believe you should be in charge of your health. We understand that each patient is different; therefore, we strive to work with you to develop a plan of care that is obtainable and reasonable.
• House calls are offered to homebound patients living in the 29909 and 29910 zip codes.
• Telehealth visits are also offered for established patients.
40 Okatie Center Blvd., Suite 215 Bluffton, SC 29909 (843) 603-4800 • www.halo-primarycare.com
Many have heard of free radicals. These are basically loose electrons as a result of oxidation (the process of burning oxygen).
Every living person and animal burns oxygen to create cellular heat, which is converted to energy for everything from thinking to muscle movement.
But, oxidation has a downside and that is the formation of free radicals. When a banana or an apple turns brown, or when seafood smells fishy, or metal corrodes, that is oxidation. So, when we age, our bodies are rusting! How can we diminish this process?
The obvious answer is to reduce free radicals (excess sun exposure, smoking, etc.) and eat more antioxidants. The ultimate way would be to consume plant-based food, especially with a variety of colors, which is where antioxidants come from.
The question then may be, “But where would we get our protein?” Protein comes from plants. Horses, elephants and giraffes eat only plants.
How can we treat the results of oxidation, e.g., aging, wrinkles, sagging skin, brown spots, etc.?
The recent higher technology is voluminous. The latest lasers can treat unwanted hair with zero discomfort. Brown spots, large pores, abnormal pigmentation, spider veins, lower eyelid bags, sagging skin and more can also be treated with much less discomfort and recovery time. This includes the wrinkles around the mouth, which everyone despises.
Fillers have been used for years for re-volumizing lost volume mostly in the face, such
as the cheeks, under the lower eyelids, and even cellulite on the legs and buttocks.
Now there is a product that stimulates the production of a patient’s own fat to replace lost fat that occurs with aging. It is felt that this fat will last five years or more, and it can be used virtually anywhere, such as acne scars, the face, hands, cellulite, and most other areas.
New technology enables the treatment of sun-damaged skin of the arms or neck with advanced radiofrequency microneedling, such as the versatile Virtue RF.
Both Smooth and Lifting PDO threads can be used to increase production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid, which rejuvenates the skin while also lifting sagging skin. It might be necessary to combine treatments with fillers (Restylane, Juvederm, etc.) or the previously mentioned fat-increasing product for the maximum result to the face and body.
For fat reduction, liposuction is still the most effective, and there is nothing like removing fat once and for all. This usually can be done under local anesthesia. Often it requires skin tightening also, which can be done with radiofrequency, such as the Renuvion, performed at the same time.
Often combination therapy is used for the best results. Repeat treatments are needed as we continue along the anti-aging road, as well as the mentioned healthful diets and avoidance of environmental hazards.
These anti-aging technologies work every time, but, if we are lucky, we will continue aging chronologically.
E. Ronald Finger, MD, FACS is a board certified plastic surgeon with offices in Savannah and Bluffton. fingerandassociates.com
Highlighting its nationally recognized achievements in patient safety and quality, Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) was named a 2022 Top General Hospital nationally by The Leapfrog Group, a watchdog organization that is widely acknowledged as the toughest standard-setters for health care safety and quality.
Granted to a select group of hospitals who have earned an “A” Hospital Safety Grade, only 5% of the nation’s hospitals were recognized in the “Top” category this year.
BMH is among only three general hospitals in South Carolina to earn the distinction.
“We are honored to recognize Beaufort Memorial as a Top Hospital this year,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “They have demonstrated that they truly put patients first. We congratulate the board, staff and clinicians whose efforts made this honor possible.”
The quality of patient care across many areas of hospital performance is considered in establishing the qualifications for the award, including infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care, and the hospital’s capacity to prevent medication errors.
“The Birthing Center team’s consistent focus on providing the best care to each and every mother and newborn is in part why Beaufort Memorial is being recognized,” said BMH Chief of Obstetrics Dr. Gregory A. Miller, a board-certified OBGYN who delivers hundreds of babies at the hospital each year. “We’re minimizing the need for cesarean deliveries and all the risks they pose to mother and child. Potential health concerns for new mothers are actively addressed. And, we have an experienced and highly skilled team of nurses and pediatricians in the level 2 nursery, caring for babies and ensuring they are screened and treated for conditions before they result in harm.”
Orthopedic care was also among the top patient care areas for which Beaufort Memorial received recognition.
“When compared to the rest of the nation, our team has a level of proficiency with all the aspects of patient care that are essential to a successful surgery,” said Dr. Edward Blocker, a Beaufort Memorial board-certified orthopedic surgeon and chief of orthopedics. “What that means for my joint replacement patients is better outcomes and a shorter length of stay. It also means we see fewer complications and readmissions after surgery.”
For the past 10 years, the Leapfrog Group has assigned letter grades to hospitals throughout the United States, based on a hospital’s ability to prevent medical errors and harm to patients. Hospital Safety Grade results are based on more than 30 national performance measures and are updated each fall and spring. The most recent results can be found at HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
“To be recognized among the nation’s top 5% of hospitals for high quality and safe care is an honor and our entire staff deserves the thanks and congratulations,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “This type of recognition can only be achieved with a hospital-wide commitment to safety, involving everyone from our housekeeping and food services staffs to the nurses, doctors and technicians on our medical team. Their hard work and vigilance to keep patients, visitors and each other safe is central to the values we hold as an institution.”
Did you know that your skin is the largest organ of your body? Not only does it play a very important role in protecting your body, it also determines your appearance.
Taking proper care of your skin can keep it radiant for years to come and help defend against skin cancer and other conditions.
Q: What are some common skin conditions that are treatable?
A: We treat all diseases of the skin hair and nails. The most common conditions include: skin cancer, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, alopecia and vitiligo.
Q: I was recently diagnosed with skin cancer. What do I need to know about treatment?
A: Mohs surgery is today’s most advanced treatment for skin cancer.
Q: My eczema is flaring up with the cold weather. What can I do?
A: Eczema makes your skin dry and scaly. Moisturizing is one of the best ways to minimize symptoms no matter the time of year, but it can be particularly helpful during the cold winter months. Here are a few more tips:
• Avoid hot showers and baths
• Wear layers to protect your skin
• Use a humidifier in your home
• Catch some sun rays for Vitamin D, but
be careful not to get too much exposure
Q: My psoriasis is stressing me out. What can I do?
A: People with psoriasis report that this disease impacts their daily lives, shapes their feelings about themselves, and affects how they believe others perceive them. Psoriasis can have a profound psychological impact on sufferers. Get proper treatment – it can be the best cure for both your stress and psoriasis. If you have good control of your condition and can resolve the symptoms, you’re removing the core source of your stress.
Q: What are these red spots on my skin?
A: They may be angiomas – benign growths made up of small blood vessels. They can appear anywhere on the body. However, since most angiomas are harmless, most people have them treated for cosmetic reasons.
Angiomas can be removed by:
• Electrodessication: Uses an electric needle to destroy the blood vessels in the growth
• Laser treatment: Uses a beam of intense, focused light to remove the growth
If you have more questions about skin conditions, call your dermatologist.
Dr. Oswald Lightsey Mikell, certified by the American Board of Dermatology and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, is the owner of Dermatology Associates of the Lowcountry.
Since I began using laser light therapy in 2009, it has truly been one of my practice’s greatest treatment tools. Laser therapy helps technologically advanced practices achieve greater results for our patients with dramatically less discomfort and much shorter recovery time.
By Matthew Mastrorocco CONTRIBUTOR Matthew Mastrorocco
A dental laser is a focused beam of light emitted from a handheld instrument connected to a standalone machine generating its energy. In dentistry, lasers can be used on both hard (teeth, bone) and soft tissue, depending on the laser type and its
capabilities. Soft tissue laser therapy is the most common in dentistry.
First introduced in dentistry in the 1990s, a dental laser is not a replacement, but rather a supplement to a dental practice’s traditional instruments. Unlike traditional metal instruments, a laser is non-invasive, reduces infection rates by evaporating bacteria, and decreases post-operative pain by sealing nerve endings. When used by trained dental professionals, it is extremely safe and effective.
Dentists use laser therapy to remove gum tissue during procedures that typically require a scalpel. Lasers provide dentists with greater precision and accuracy, allowing for higher preservation of healthy tissue.
Dentists can also use it to remove a tongue tie, recontour gums to eliminate a speech impediment, prepare the gum
tissue prior to a root canal, and alter the tissue around dental implants to achieve a more natural appearance.
The laser works very quickly and even rehydrates tissue to maintain its health. It desensitizes nerves so there is little to no bleeding, pain or discomfort. It can also eliminate cold sores and ulcers, drain abscesses, and assist in removing tissue for biopsy.
Dental hygienists use laser therapy primarily for non-surgical periodontal treatment, which is for patients who require deeper cleaning treatments, rather than traditional hygiene cleaning.
With these patients, the laser decontaminates pockets around teeth that harbor bacteria and can cause gingivitis and lead to gum disease.
Patients love laser therapy because the procedure is much shorter, healing is fast, and there is little to no discomfort.
The laser may also be a good choice for a patient who is years overdue for a professional hygiene cleaning and can benefit from a deep cleaning before resuming regularly scheduled appointments.
Laser treatments are performed in the dental chair and, for most patients, a local anesthetic is used prior to the procedure’s start. The laser is quiet; there is only a small humming sound coming from the machine, and only light pressure is felt on the gums.
You can see why we and our patients absolutely love our dental laser. Its precision and efficiency provides greater comfort with faster recovery and results that exceed those achieved using traditional metal instruments.
Matthew Mastrorocco, DMD is the owner and founder of ROC Dental Group, serving Bluffton and Hilton Head Island.
The 2023 Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is over, but keep in mind you’re not necessarily married to your Medicare Advantage plan for the remainder of the year – and that goes for your Part D drug plan as well.
You can make one more change between Jan. 1 and March 31 (Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period or MAOEP). This is something to consider if you run into any issues such as doctors out of network with your new plan, or perhaps the drugs you take are more expensive or not on the formulary with your new Part D or Part C Advantage plan.
If you have a Medicare supplement, you can keep your exact Medigap Plan F, Plan G, or Plan N but simply change carriers to save $40 to $60 a month in premium. Or if you recently got a rate increase letter, it might be time to shop out the supplement market because there are vast differences in premiums for the exact same Medigap policy with identical coverage.
So between Jan. 1 and March 31, if your Medicare Advantage plan is not all it is cracked up to be (and the agent who sold you the Advantage plan neglected to men-
tion things like a $7,500 annual maximum out of pocket, or the 20% cost to you for all cancer treatments, Part B drugs, and a host of other services like outpatient or observation services), then keep in mind, you can change to original Medicare with a Medicare supplement that pays all or most of your costs left over after traditional Medicare pays its share.
The key is to first apply for a Medicare supplement. You must pass underwriting first. Once you have proof the policy was approved and or issued, then and only then should you enroll in a Part D drug plan, which will automatically disenroll you from your Medicare Advantage the last day of the month.
Your new stand-alone part D drug plan and Medicare supplement will be effective the first of the next month. Most kinks in Advantage plans occur within the first month and most issues can be resolved by calling your agent or the customer service number, but issues that are not easily resolved may prompt you to consider changing.
Wishing you a Happy (and healthy) New Year.
By Abby Bird CONTRIBUTOR
Each year, I write about the holidays being the time of year in which many families purchase or adopt dogs. It is a difficult time to establish routine, since these new family members have been added during the holiday break.
Families can generally spend plenty of time with the new dog, but the routine during this season is not the normal one and the return to a regular routine can be difficult.
As a private dog trainer and behavioral consultant, January is often my busiest time.
The coming quieter times gives owners a chance to embark on training necessary to teach the dog how to become an acceptable pet and acclimate to an everyday routine. Dogs are creatures of habit and do not like change.
For those with new puppies, the most important things to do within their first months are potty training, eliminating nipping and biting, redirecting chewing to positive items, good manners (including not jumping), introduction to their world, proper greetings with children and adults, and socialization with dogs.
A pup trains easily with treats, toys, play, praise and touch rewards. Leadership skills demonstrated by the owner are critical so the puppy learns to respect as well as love you.
For the human, knowing what to do and what NOT to do, so that mixed signals are not sent to your dog, might make the difference between a healthy relationship and one that is fraught with difficulties. Most owners have had dogs before, but somehow memories of puppyhood are very short, and we don’t remember doing all this work.
Basic obedience should begin early and include Sit, Stay, Come (the most important
safety command), Down, Leave it, leash walking and more. These, and solving behavioral issues, need to be incorporated into your earliest training plan with puppies and older dogs.
Adopted dogs, whether adolescent or older, might need dedicated attention since you might not know their history.
Making a plan on how to introduce the dog to his new life will help not only the dog adjust but your family as well. Don’t be surprised if your new older dog is not quite what you expected. Be patient!
Lifestyle and family type play an important role. Are you home during the day? Do you have young children? How much time can you devote to the dog? How long will the dog be alone?
Do you have other pets? Are you expecting a baby? Will your dog be exposed to men, women and children? If the dog is a rescue, are you aware of any history? Are you prepared to be patient with any behavioral issues?
Personally, I look forward to January. Meeting new people and dogs that will become part of my life, as I become part of theirs, is extremely rewarding as it is challenging. Giving a family confidence that their new dog will indeed become the dog they want, with work and patience, is the best reward.
Abby Bird is owner of Alphadog Training Academy. AlphadogTrainingAcademy@gmail. com
Imagine being a shelter pet without the benefit of eyesight to guide you. Surely an animal in this situation would be frightened and hopeless, right? Not if you ask Lou and Ray!
Palmetto Animal League rescued the 5-month-old sisters from a rural shelter. Lou had limited vision and, sadly, Ray lost what little eyesight she had left, leaving her completely blind.
Lou immediately came to her sister’s aid, taking on the all-important role of Ray’s seeing eye cat! Their story touched many people back in September 2020, including PAL supporter Nicole Lucignoli, whose two beloved cats had recently passed away.
“I remember when Nicole came in to look at Lou and Ray the first time, she was in love at first sight,” said Sally Dawkins, PAL
adoption coordinator.
Nicole had no previous experience with special needs pets, but that didn’t matter to her.
“Lou immediately came down to me from where she was perched,” said Nicole. “I noticed her eyes were a little different. I started playing with the other cats and then noticed Ray had no eyes. I went back out and read their profiles and my heart just melted.”
Nicole learned that Lou and Ray had been at PAL for almost a year, and that was it!
She went home and told her boyfriend, Paul Steinberg, that they had just adopted two blind cats.
Six months after adopting Lou and Ray, Nicole came back to PAL and asked if we had any more visually impaired cats up for adoption. That’s how she and Paul fell in love with a blind cat named Birdie.
“We found out Birdie had a little buddy named Belle who was just as cute,” Nicole said. “We knew we didn’t want to split them up, so we adopted both.”
They may be blind, but Lou, Ray, and Birdie navigate their home just as gracefully and masterfully as sharp-sighted Belle.
“Don’t be afraid to adopt an animal just because they look a little different or need a little extra care,” Nicole advises others seeking to adopt. “We really don’t consider them special needs. You would never know they’re blind.”
Nicole and Paul saw the beauty in three blind cats and gave them a forever home but say it’s their life that has changed for the better.
If you are considering adopting a pet, visit Palmetto Animal League’s No Kill Adoption Center, located at 56 Riverwalk Blvd in Okatie’s Riverwalk Business Park Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.
Perry is the marketing coordinator for Palmetto Animal League. PalmettoAnimalLeague.org
By Therese Donlan Lee CONTRIBUTOR
How wondrous that we can see our New Year 2023 as an unfolding of infinite possibility for each of us. Each day forthcoming is a new opportunity to move in the arena of new possibilities. A new phase of living. A new level of consciousness.
You are invited to start this new year by setting intentions (rather than making resolutions). Ask yourself, “Who will I intend to be in this new year?” “What will be my intended actions for 2023?” “What will I let go of?”
An “intention” is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “What one intends to do or bring about.” In Unity, we call this “The Law of Mind Action” – thoughts held in mind produce after their kind.
Putting our attention on the intended outcome(s) for 2023 and what we want
to happen allows for us to create time for prayer and meditation, engaging our imagination to have eyes to see it as so.
We allow ourselves to be Spirit-led by our inner conviction that all things work together for our highest and our best. Setting intentions is about wanting to be on purpose and letting go all that no longer serves us. Allowing for possibilities means setting
our intentions to stay present in the “now” moment. We honor the past, and all its blessings seen and unseen. It has happened. So we let it be. We mindfully choose to leave in 2022 feelings of guilt, regret, shame.
Staying in the now moment and not living in the future allows for possibilities, too. We practice non-attachment to all the somedays – releasing the what ifs, the when’s, etc. We
get to choose to mindfully and purposefully set our intention to live while we are alive in this moment. This is the eternal now. We get to set intentions that keep us reaching upward and onward, so that we will be better than our former self, full of gratitude for our journey thus far. Setting intentions means we practice patience with ourselves without self-condemnation.
In this New Year 2023, we pick ourselves up after we fall. We get to choose to grow through each experience instead of being destroyed by it.
Every day is a day worth living and it’s worth living in a state of higher consciousness. Join me as we resolve to renew our commitment each day to the realization, wherever I Am, God is. Happy New Year.
Rev. Therese Donlan Lee is the senior minister of Unity Spiritual Center on Hilton Head Island. revthereseunityhiltonhead@gmail.com
The New Year is the one time when you simultaneously look back on the year that just passed, while looking forward to the year ahead. We would like to take this time to share some of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry’s 2022 accomplishments and highlight the exciting things already planned for 2023.
The Foundation embraced the theme “All Together Now” in 2022, which focused on our four-county service area of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper. With that theme in mind, the Foundation released the 2022 Community Indicators Report in October (available on our website at cf-lowcountry.org).
We are incredibly proud of the publication, which provides local data on topics like Health, Housing, Employment & Business,
Education, Transportation, Poverty, and the Environment. We recently partnered with Lowcountry Council of Governments to make the Community Indicators Report an online living document that is regularly updated with new data (summer 2023).
The “All Together Now” theme carries through to our 2022 Annual Report, which will be published in early 2023. We as a community can no longer think of the four-county region as simply a series of individual, disconnected zip codes. Residents from all four counties play an important part in the vitality of our region. The report looks at the exciting ways in which we partner with impassioned individuals who have identified a need in the Lowcountry and have taken steps with the Foundation to tackle it, including the nursing shortage, transportation issues, and educational challenges.
We kick off 2023 with excitement building
donors.
WSAV-TV Lowcountry reporter Andrew Davis will MC and we are extremely honored to have Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, as the keynote speaker.
The Foundation will present the inaugural Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award at the event, which recognizes an individual who has dedicated his or her time to improve the quality of life in the region.
The Foundation is incredibly fortunate to partner with so many charitable individuals and nonprofits. If you are interested in starting your philanthropic journey in 2023, please contact the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry at 843-681-9100 or visit cf-lowcountry.org to learn more about your giving options.
Scott Wierman is the president and CEO of Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.
The Kiwanis Club of Bluffton will host its sixth annual Antiques Appraisal event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 18 at Seaquins Ballroom, 1300 Fording Island Road in Bluffton.
The event is an opportunity for attendees to find out what their antiques and collectibles are worth and to learn more about them from our knowledgeable local appraisers.
Four sets of appraisers will be available. Educational verbal appraisals start at $10 per item, or three appraisals for $25. With
prepaid tickets, purchasers can reserve a time slot.
In addition, an online silent auction will begin Jan. 18 and continue through Feb. 18. Participants may view, bid, and share the auction online. There is no cost to bid.
Net proceeds from both the event and the auction will support community programs that serve children and their families. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit blufftonkiwanis.org. Walk-ins are welcome.
Each year at this time, I remind readers NOT to make the first days of the New Year their biggest fitness time by resolving to work out every day. This is something we can’t possibly do and thus we’ll stop.
I again want to encourage everyone to resolve to do what they CAN do and go from there.
You can’t work out hard every day, but you probably can take a few minutes three times a week for a short walk (or bike, swim, jog, treadmill or elliptical machine, etc.). The point is just to do anything regularly.
Once that is established, you can then increase it gradually by just a little more Duration, Intensity or Frequency, in that order of priority. Over time, you will see a big DIFference in your level of fitness.
My usual example is to start with a walk
to the mailbox or the corner and back, then around the block, etc. Once that is established, you can increase your pace for a minute or so.
Stick to just one gradual adjustment at a time, keeping that for a week or more. I’m sure you get the point: Do only what you CAN do.
The same principle applies to working out for strength at home or at a gym. Let me explain by my own example after re-hitting
the gym in July. First, I started with what I CAN do and experimented until I now have about a dozen exercises that use a variety of swimming muscles, supplementing my three times per week choice of aerobic fitness activity.
I work in five-week cycles with the same weights and machines. The first week (Tuesday and Thursday), I do 10 reps of each; second week, 15 reps; third week, two sets of 10 (about 10- or 15-second break between);
fourth week, 15 reps, break, then 10 reps; fifth week, two sets of 15.
Then I adjust weights for the next cycle; one or two might stay the same, but the rest add 5 or 10 pounds for the five-week cycle.
I’m not perfectly regular, with meets, holidays, and closures affecting my schedule, occasionally doing a third one before going on, but it’s fine for the long haul. It’s always what I CAN do, which gradually increases, thus building strength with no stress injuries.
If you will give yourself just 15 minutes a few times a week regularly, you will be amazed at what can be developed gradually. And you build your pride, confidence, and well-being by doing it. Happy New Year!
Dr. Bob Colyer of Bluffton is an actively retired college professor, coach, and author of “Swim Better: A Guide to Greater Efficiency for Swimmers & Instructors,” directed primarily to non-competitors. bobcolyer@yahoo.com
Is it really 2023?
Just so you know, I am one of those folks that has a hard time giving up the past. A perfect example of this happened in early 2022. My bank would call me weekly until around April saying I had put “2021” on checks I had written and could I stop by and correct them.
Even my grade school report cards, which my parents so graciously held on to, include teacher comments like “Collins is likable but he has a hard time accepting what day it is. He is not exactly ‘slow’ but he’s also not very fast either.”
This past year is pretty much a blur. Talk about time flying by! For me, 2022 was like one of those cars going for a land speed record on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
I think a lot of it had to do with the weather. If I remember correctly, it never really got cold and, for a fisherman like myself, it kept me guessing as to when this fish or that fish would show up. In hindsight, every one of them came early.
Starting with shad, which usually show up in late February, they must have migrated up the rivers in early February because I simply missed them.
Then there was the wahoo run, probably my all-time favorite fish to catch. They started chewing in early February and by March and April the bite is insane. There were more
big wahoo caught around here this past year than at any other time in my life.
Always a show when they chase down a trolled bait, without a doubt the best visual wahoo bite happened six years ago on-board Don McCarthy’s boat the Manatee Mac. It was an 84-pound monster that still gives me chills when I think about the way it took the bait.
It was around 1p.m. and I had just put out a lure I had made and just after dropping it back, I tapped my friend Will “Catfish” Thompson on the shoulder and told him to check out my homemade. In the blink of an eye, that monster came straight out of the water a good 10 to 15 feet in the air and like a cat, pounced on the lure on the way down.
It was spectacular! The wahoo fishing here during March and April is as good, if not better, than any other place on the planet. I can’t wait to see what 2023 has in store.
2022 was also a banner year for good friends. I feel so blessed to have friends that accept me for who I am and, if you read my columns with any regularity, that is asking a whole lot of someone.
I am talking friends that would take the shirt off their back for me if asked. I have always cherished friendships more than about anything and during this past year I have held onto tried and true friends from all periods of my life, as well as building onto that stable with a handful of new friends. Even on my very worst days, a call from one of these friends can change my entire attitude
from gloom to laughing so hard I can’t catch a breath. Now that is priceless.
Speaking of weather, we lucked out with hurricanes but, Lord have mercy, was it brutally hot. I was stupid to ride out hurricane Mathew in 2016 on Hilton Head Island, but does that really surprise you? Other than Hurricane David in 1979, in my 65 years here I have never once left for a storm.
Even when I was 6 years old with four brothers and sisters, my folks would take us to the oceanfront William Hilton Inn to ride out hurricanes. Blame my arrogance on genetics.
Even when there are mega lightning storms, I am that idiot that is outside watching the light show.
Extreme weather intrigues me but I do have great respect for the power of Mother Nature. Any of you who spend a great deal of time out on the water, often many miles offshore, know that the ocean can take you in the blink of an eye. That’s where respect, and awareness comes in. I never, ever take the power of nature for granted.
I know many of you think I am a full-time employee of the Sun, but truth be known, I am a lowly freelance writer. I just like to write.
With that said, what I am about to say does not reflect the opinion of the Bluffton Sun/ Hilton Head Sun but is solely my opinion.
I am extremely worried with the direction Beaufort County is taking regarding development, especially when it threatens my greatest love, the ocean. An avid supporter of the Waddell Mariculture Center and the Port Royal Foundation, I pray that more of you, especially those who are new to this area, get involved in some way to protect this incredibly beautiful, yet fragile, ecosystem.
On topics from stormwater runoff to overthe-top development, only our unified voices can ensure preservation of the unique beauty we call the Lowcountry.
May good health be with you all this new year we call 2023.
Collins Doughtie, a 60-year resident of the Lowcountry, is a sportsman, graphic artist, and lover of nature. collinsdoughtie@icloud. com
For some reason, non-golfers often get the crazy impression that golf is easy. Even some seasoned golfers seem to think similarly, as evidenced by their getting so mad when golf gets tough. They think, “This game is so easy, why do I keep messing it up? There is no rhyme nor reason for this!”
Well, the rhyme and the reason are that they have not accepted that golf is a difficult game, thereby setting themselves up for a number of problems:
1. Getting easily frustrated and angry when they fail: “How can I play this lousy,
when the game is so easy?”
2. Blaming the clubs, the course and bad luck, rather than their lack of skill: “I know I am good at golf, and the game is so easy, it has to be the wrong clubs, poor course conditions, or bad luck that are holding me back.”
3. Fudging on their handicaps, turning in only low scores in order to look better than they are, at least on paper. They are pretending to be capable when they really aren’t there yet. “I don’t want anyone to know how bad I am at this easy game.”
4. Most importantly, if golf is easy and mainly a matter of luck, then why practice? “Hey, I shouldn’t have to practice, because golf is easy. And, besides, it will do no good to practice, because the whole game is just a matter of luck.”
The benefit of recognizing and accepting the difficulty of golf is that, going forward, you can relax and welcome the
challenge, rather than getting all upset and creating tension in your swing and confusion in your head.
You can now start learning from your mistakes and practicing what needs to be practiced. You can also not be afraid to keep an honest handicap that reflects your current honest level of play. A true handicap will help you relax in team com-
petitions and allow you to make an actual contribution to your team’s success.
The happiest outcome of all is that gradual improvement will occur, rather than your game going nowhere as you continue with your anger, frustration, blaming and pretending.
An old friend, with whom I had played golf for years, once told me, “You know, the most important thing I have learned from playing with you is that golf is a difficult game.”
Sadly, I have to assume that he merely witnessed how difficult the game was for ME! As for him, he had always known golf’s difficulty cognitively, but had not ever accepted it emotionally, nor let it change his behavior for the better.
Dr. Tom Dorsel of Hilton Head Island is a sport psychologist and author of “Golf: The Mental Game.” Dorsel.com
I hear all the time from students that they “aren’t good enough” to get a club fitting. That is not true.
Even a beginner and high handicapper delivers the golf club a consistent speed and path. Having the correct shafts and head designs will help them improve.
The advanced golfer will definitely improve with the correct golf clubs.
Indoor and outdoor club fittings should yield the same results but the experiences and cost are different. There are pros and cons of both experiences.
Indoor environment: Allen O’Berry, manager of the Bluffton Club Champion, spent more than two hours fitting me with numerous combinations. A full bag fitting lasts about 3 1/2 hours.
balls that have metal in the ball, which helps give accurate numbers on the monitor.
• You see how the ball travels when it leaves your clubface, which gives you a better understanding of how the clubhead works for you.
• Club Champion has 50,000 hit-able clubheads and shafts from more than 60 golf manufacturers. I tried clubs from Titleist, Taylor Made, Callaway, Cobra, Ping and more. You can get a full bag fitting, driver fitting, iron fitting, fairway/hybrid fitting, wedge fitting, or putter fitting. Sessions can be divided in half.
• They will build the right shaft, clubhead and grips for your game. The right shaft is critical to determining the best ball speed and club speed.
O’Berry said, “Our clubs are guaranteed and you can bring them back until the results are what you want.”
Pros:
• Controlled temperature and no wind
• You can use the ball you play instead of range balls. You can also use RCT Titleist
• Use top of the line analysis: Trackman Pro, SAM putt lab, SST Pure shaft alignment
Please see GOLF on page 60A
from page 59A
Cons:
• Hitting off a mat can be more forgiving. Firm mats will cause the ball to launch lower and spin higher. Soft mats give you higher launch with less spin.
• Some golfers prefer to see the actual flight of the ball instead of on a monitor.
• It is more expensive to have the indoor fitting and getting clubs built for your game takes time and more expense.
Outside fitting: I spent two hours with David La Pour, certified club fitter, PGA professional, at Pinecrest Golf Club, hitting clubs from Callaway Golf. I started out hitting my own clubs and getting my numbers on the launch monitor.
La Pour, being an excellent golf professional, would tell me some of my swing errors during the lesson. I highly recommend getting fitted by a golf professional who can cover cause and effect during the fitting. La Pour said, “Coaching and club fitting at the same time gets you the best results.”
Pros:
• The grass offers more resistance to the club at impact due to club/turf interaction.
Wedge fittings outdoors is the way to go to help determine the bounce of your sand wedge. You need to hit out of the sand to get the feeling of a sand shot.
• Hitting off the grass allows the fitter to see divot and turf interactions. You have the opportunity to see the ball flight and feel the contact.
• You can take the fitted club out on the course for a few holes to see how it responds to different conditions.
Cons:
• Hitting range balls can affect the ball flight and distance
• The weather, hot or cold, and wind can affect the distance.
• You are only being fitted for one golf company.
Bottom line: Do yourself a favor and get fitted for clubs in 2023. Your game will improve.
Dr. Jean Harris is an LPGA Master Professional and teaches at local golf courses. jean. golfdoctor.harris@gmail.com; golfdoctorjean. com
According to a study by Woods & Poole Economics Inc., the Hilton Head-Bluffton area is the 25th fastest growing area in the United States.
Here are the real estate implications:
• High demand for housing and low inventory. The influx of new residents to Bluffton and Hilton Head is expanding the need for more houses, villas, and condos to buy and/or to rent.
• Homes appreciate faster and prices rise. Population growth is increasing demand for homes, causing prices to rise and homes to sell faster. In fact, we have seen some pretty wild appreciation over the past year and a half.
• Multiple offers on homes. As more people move here and buy homes, we will continue to see multiple offers, with houses
coming on the market today and going off the market tomorrow. When we were in a hot seller’s market, that is exactly what we saw.
• Great place to buy or build a home. Many folks like “the small town feeling” and “year-round out-door activities” of living in this area, with all the benefits of the big cities a short drive away.
• Still in a seller’s market. A little more than a few years ago, we were in a buyer’s market (inventory high, demand low, and prices very low). Now in 2023, we are in a seller’s market (inventory low, demand high, and prices going up). It’s not as crazy as it was a year and a half ago, but still a great time to sell.
• Residential rental market is very strong. There is a substantial shortage in rental housing in this area. In fact, it would be safe to say it is a landlord’s market (many people looking to rent, high rents, and low vacancy
rates).
• Investing in rental properties makes sense. Even with home prices rising, there are still many good house values here that make it smart to buy rental properties for immediate income flow and for future appreciation expectations.
The Bluffton-Hilton Head local area market statistics for the period Jan. 2021 to Jan. 2022 (from hhrealtor.com) indicate:
• Median sales price up 16.2% (still a good time to sell)
• Average sales price up 17.6% (same as above)
• Inventory of homes for sale up 76.6%% (more homes to choose from)
• Housing affordability index (HAI) down 14.5% (houses are less affordable)
• Days on market up 38.1%
(buyers might be able to get better deals)
• New listings down 4.1% (fewer resales available)
What’s going on in your plantation or housing development? Contact your knowledgeable real estate agent.
Larry Stoller is a broker and Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@ RealEstateFive.com, RealEstateFive.com
SPORTS CARDS WANTED: Vesci Sports Cards, specializing in pre-1972 baseball, football and basketball cards. Looking for personal collections. Cash paid for cards. Hilton Head resident Jim Vesci 215-266-2975 jdvescisr@gmail.com
CONTENTS OF LOCAL 10X15 STORAGE UNIT for sale. All merchandise saleable, from former Reminisce Spots & Gift Shop. 60% sports related, estimated value over $22K, priced at $5,300, includes all merchandise. Sale due to age and health. Call Jerry for appointment at 843-384-0303.
YOUR AD HERE CAN REACH 25,000 households and businesses from Moss Creek to Sun City to Callawassie Island. Promote services, sell goods, announce a yard sale, buy a house, sell a house, find a job, find employees, ask for help, offer help! Ads starting at $28 for 40 words. 843-757-9507.
